cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ultracold Neutral Plasmas Well into the Strongly Coupled Regime

Abstract Ultracold neutral plasmas (UNPs) are plasmas generated through a rapid photoionization process of a laser-cooled atomic gas. Because of the very low initial ionic temperature ( T i (0) ∼mK), UNPs are extremely strongly coupled. Following the formation of correlations, UNPs settle into a coupling regime with Γ ∼ 1, where Γ is the usual Coulomb coupling parameter. The observation of a wider range of plasma phenomena requires experimental control over the details of this process. We describe the generation and diagnosis of UNPs in the strongly coupled plasma regime with Γ ≥ 1 using calcium in a magneto-optical trap. We discuss four avenues to achieve such couplings, including the use of electron screening, multiple ionization to higher ionization states, Rydberg atom dynamics, and direct laser-cooling of the ions. Electron screening mitigates the initial Coulomb repulsion, but also impacts the final effective coupling. We illustrate this by calculating the structural properties of UNPs for different strengths of electron screening for typical values of Γ. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to reveal the dynamical impacts of electron screening, and show that the final Γ is readily increased whereas the effective coupling remains of order unity. Similarly, we perform MD for a double ionization process in which the second ionization is timed carefully to correspond to a minimum in the time evolution of g ( r , t ). In addition to their intrinsic interest, UNPs can provide a platform for exploring basic plasma physics relevant to a wide range of seemingly disparate plasmas, including fusion-class plasmas.
Foreign political instability and U.S. agricultural exports: Evidence from panel data

The intent of this paper is to examine the impact of political instability in importing nations on U.S. agricultural trade. A panel data set representing eighty-seven importing countries covering the 1990-2000 period was used to investigate how the degree of democratic practices and three types of political instability (violent, social, and elite) affect U.S agricultural exports. The empirical results suggest that political instability do have a statistically significant effect on U.S. agricultural export demand.
Extending the Nomological Network of Assessment Center Construct Validity: Prediction of Cross-Situationally Consistent and Specific Aspects of Assessment Center Performance

The purpose of this study was to expand the nomological validity of assessment centers (ACs) by investigating predictors of cross-situationally consistent versus specific aspects of AC performance. Consistent with hypotheses, (a) Big Five personality factors predicted AC performance as it related to a cross-situationally consistent general performance factor but not as it related to exercise (i.e., situationally specific) factors, and (b) job knowledge predicted performance as it related to both the general performance factor and exercise-specific factors. Results are interpreted as they relate to the growing literature on AC construct validity.
Safety and tolerability of medications approved for chronic weight management

In 2014 we have 4 new weight loss medications and one older medication with very different mechanisms of action – all approved for chronic weight management. Each medication has its own unique risk profile that makes patient selection important. Knowledge of the contraindications and safety issues can guide physicians to the most appropriate choice for a particular patient. Obesity medicine is entering a new era where our available options for prescribing have been very well studied. There should be no surprises, because bupropion, naltrexone, phentermine, topiramate and liraglutide have been prescribed for many years in millions of patients and lorcaserin has high specificity for a single receptor subtype. The FDA demanded very detailed risk-oriented studies to have these medications approved. In addition, the FDA has established REMS programs or risk management strategies to help ensure that the patients do not receive inappropriate medications. These medications were approved by the US FDA after very thorough testing. The decision to approve these medications was based on the benefits out-weighing the risks. Thus, if following the appropriate guidelines according to package labels, the practitioner can feel safe in prescribing these medications.
Critical Care Medicine Tutorials

CCMTutorials.com is a comprehensive, interactive website that introduces the reader to the field of critical care medicine. It includes both information in lecture format and clinical scenarios covering a variety of conditions that are commonly encountered in intensive care units. The website has six main subjects (introduction, problem oriented approach, respiratory failure, shock, renal failure, and sepsis), which are hierarchically subdivided into numerous smaller topics. Each topic has a main menu containing numerous subtopics. The discussion of each subtopic is one or more pages long, often with links to related subjects. The site is thorough and well organized, and has information for visitors of all levels of training. However, much of the information is introductory, and more experienced clinicians can expect a lower yield from the site than may medical students. CCMTutorials.com has much to offer the casual, interested viewer. However, the site only works well if one thinks like the author. Because it does not have a 'search' feature, the site can be quite difficult to navigate if one is looking for a topic that does not appear in one of the main menus. In addition, the clinical scenarios are superficial and brief. They do not allow any direct participation and often discuss only one point of interest before moving on to the next scenario. For help with these, or any other questions, there is a window that allows the visitor to e-mail a question to Dr Neligan (the author). The main disadvantage of CCMTutorials.com is that there is no information about the website itself. Although the site is clearly licensed to a physician at the University of Pennsylvania, no other information about the site's author is presented. Much of the information posted on the site is not referenced. There is no indication of how often the site is updated. Text is often written from the first person perspective, implying that we are getting only this author's opinion on a particular subject. This is substantiated by the author's acknowledgement that the 'tutorials are not peer reviewed'.
Selective Packet Inspection to Detect DoS Flooding Using Software Defined Networking (SDN)

Software-defined networking (SDN) and Open Flow have been driving new security applications and services. However, even if some of these studies provide interesting visions of what can be achieved, they stop short of presenting realistic application scenarios and experimental results. In this paper, we discuss a novel attack detection approach that coordinates monitors distributed over a network and controllers centralized on an SDN Open Virtual Switch (OVS), selectively inspecting network packets on demand. With different scale of network views and information availability, these two elements collaboratively detect signature constituents of an attack. Therefore, this approach is able to quickly issue an alert against potential threats followed by careful verification for high accuracy, while balancing the workload on the OVS. We have applied this method for detection and mitigation of TCP SYN flood attacks on Global Environment for Network Innovations (GENI). This realistic experimentation has provided us with insightful findings helpful toward a systematic methodology of SDN-supported attack detection and containment.
Control Theory for Random Systems

Automatic control is used in connection with goal-oriented, man-made systems. There are several, usually overlapping, reasons for using automatic control: (a) to relieve human operators from tedious, repetitive tasks (e.g., dial telephones, traffic signals, automatic elevators, autopilots), (b) to speed up and/or lower costs of production processes (e.g., chemical process control, automatic cutting and drilling machines), and (c) to control rapidly-changing or complicated systems accurately and safely (e.g., guidance and control of spacecraft, automatic landing of aircraft).
A driver glare-discomfort model to evaluate automotive stop lamp brightness

Laboratory and field studies were conducted to explore the applicability of previously reported laboratory-based discomfort glare threshold data to the prediction of the discomfort level drivers may experience due to glare from the stop lamps of a lead vehicle. The results show that the BCD (Borderline between Comfort and Discomfort) threshold brightness data developed by Putnam and Faucett (1951)* can be used to predict various discomfort levels experienced by the driver under field conditions. A prototype glare-discomfort model was developed which predicts driver discomfort as a function of distance between the two vehicles, lamp intensity, size, and the driver's adaptation to ambient luminance levels. The model incorporates a threshold multiplier to account for differences between the BCD thresholds and field-observed glare-discomfort ratings due to glare-exposure duration and multiple-glare sources. Language: en
A Randomized Trial of Oral Naltrexone for Treating Opioid-Dependent Offenders

Offenders with a history of opioid dependence are a particularly difficult group to treat. A large proportion of offenders typically relapse shortly after release from prison, commit drug-related crimes, and then are arrested and eventually re-incarcerated. Previous research demonstrated that oral naltrexone was effective in reducing opioid use and preventing recidivism among offenders under federal supervision. The 111 opioid-dependent offenders in this study were under various levels of supervision that included county and federal probation/parole, a treatment court, an alternative disposition program, and an intermediate punishment program. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive 6 months of either 300 mg per week of oral naltrexone plus standard psychosocial treatment as usual (n = 56) or standard psychosocial treatment as usual (TAU) without naltrexone (n = 55). While the TAU subjects who remained in treatment used more opioids than the naltrexone subjects who remained, the high dropout rate for both groups made it difficult to assess the effectiveness of naltrexone. The study provides limited support for the use of oral naltrexone for offenders who are not closely monitored by the criminal justice system.
A data processing method for salinity, temperature, depth profiles

Abstract A reduction procedure is described for data from salinity, temperature, depth (STD) and conductivity, temperature, depth (CTD) oceanic profilers. The procedure was used on data from eight profilers and three different logging systems in the MODE-I experiment, and the resulting processed profiles are largely instrument-independent. Filtering, time lag correction, cell heating spike removal, calibration, and averaging are included.
High-k gate dielectrics with ultra-low leakage current for sub-45nm CMOS

The results of a new method of high-kappa dielectric formation are reported. For effective oxide thickness of 0.39 nm, the leakage current density of metal-high-kappa-silicon structure is about 1 times 10 -12 A/cm 2 for gate voltage from +3 to -3 V. The descriptive statistics and process variation data presented demonstrate that the process is robust and manufacturing tools can be developed without any fundamental barrier.
Design of a self-forming, self-healing small-medium infrastructure wireless mesh network

The Internet access may not be a reality in many scenarios such as poor communities and disaster-hit areas. A mesh network is a solution for such scenarios, where a wireless backbone will enable communication and needed services. In this paper we propose the design of a self-forming, self-healing infrastructure wireless mesh network architecture, composed using 802.11 based multi-radio network nodes. The design incorporates the peculiarities of these scenarios in a lean scheme based on well-established DHCP protocol and reduces auto-configuration as well as routing overhead.
Development of 3He solid state detectors epithermal neutron spectrometer

Abstract A neutron spectrometer was developed for measuring the neutron energy in the range from 1–300 keV. Its fabrication was based on the 3He(n,p)3H reaction, with two Si solid state detectors used for measuring the energy of the two charged particles. The sum of the energies of the two particles is the neutron energy En plus the reaction Q-value (764 keV). The FWHM detector resolution is ≈3%. The detector efficiency, ≈3% for thermal neutrons, is proportional to 1 E (i.e., to the detection reaction cross section). Cooling improves the resolution. To avoid obscuring of the low keV energy range by thermal neutrons, the detector was covered with a 1 mm layer of Cd. Background due to neutron interaction with the Si detector, and with the detector construction materials and gamma rays, was removed by repeating the foreground measurement with no 3He in the detector. Neutron spectra were measured both with a moderated 252Cf source and with an epithermal beam at the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor (BMRR). Results were in good agreement with Monte Carlo calculations using the MCNP code.
Panel discussion: mechanisms and health effects of chromium.

The Panel was asked questions that had been prepared prior to the conference as well as queries from the audience, as follows. In response to a question from R. Bartlett as to how CryV can get past the digestive tract without being reduced, M. Costa (New York University Medical Center) stated that it is, in fact, likely reduced. He emphasized that the pharmacokinetics of chromium have not been sufficiently studied. R. Wedeen (Veterans Administration Medical Center, East Orange, New Jersey) was then asked whether exposure to chromium causes increased renal excretion of chromium and of other compounds, a finding which seemed to be alluded to in Mutti's work (1), and if a) this is similar to low molecular weight proteinuria and b) whether the chromium excretion can be correlated with
Social and Emotional Learning: Promoting the Development of All Students

High-stakes tests. Substance abuse. Suicide. Academic standards. Delinquency. Media and technology. Teacher retention. Interpersonal violence. Dropouts. Changes in families. The list of issues faci...
Fifteen Year Follow-Up Geography Skills Test Administered in Indiana, 1987 and 2002

Abstract After fifteen years of geographic education efforts, a baseline geography skills test was repeated in Indiana. In 2002, 2,278 students in college freshman geography courses were tested with a revision of the National Council for Geographic Education Competency-Based Geography Test, Secondary Level Form II. The test measured geographic ability in map skills, place name location, physical geography, and human geography. As in 1987, the 2002 test gathered personal information from each student on age, gender, travel experience, and prior geographic education. Test scores were lower by two percent in 2002. Travel and lifetime experience are again the best teachers of geography as opposed to high school geography course work. Significant performance differences persist between gender and ethnic groups. Arts and science students perform significantly higher than students from education, business, and other schools. Test results underscore the need to emphasize more intentional classroom focus on state ...
Prospects for the International Migration of U.S.-Style Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Laws

Sex offender registration and community notification laws have proved enormously popular in the U.S. This is so even though the avowed sexual violence preventive benefits of the laws remain largely untested and unproven; indeed, it remains an open question whether the laws actually have anti-therapeutic and criminogenic effect. This paper, part of a symposium, examines why this data deficit has characterized the social and political evolution of the laws and considers the prospects for the migration of U.S.-style registration and community notification to other nations.
Mechanisms of renal tissue destruction in an experimental acute pyelonephritis.

Abstract To find out the mechanism of renal tissue destruction in Escherichia coli -induced acute pyelonephritis, the relationship between the infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes into the kidney and the renal tissue damage has been investigated. An acute pyelonephritis was produced by administration of E. coli into the kidneysof the leukocyte-depleted and the leukocyte-nondepleted rats, and the sequence of morphologic events in the kidneys has been studied by light and electron microscopy. There was little infiltration of leukocytes into the E. coli -infected kidneys of the leukocyte-depleted rats despite formation of prominent bacterial colonies. Associated with this suppressed leukocytic infiltration into the kidney was a good structural preservation of those kidneys of leukocyte-depleted rats. On the contrary, a massive infiltration of polymorphonuclear luekocytes into the E. coli -infected kidneys was present in the leukocyte-nondepleted rats. Associated with this massive infiltration of leukocytes was a destruction of tubular basement membrane and tubular epithelia. The data appear to indicate that the polymorphonuclear leukocytes infiltrated into the kidney plays a role in renal tissue destruction in the early phase of E. coli -induced acute pyelonephritis.
Studies on the subunits of the anthranilate synthetase-phosphoribosyltransferase enzyme complex from Salmonella typhimurium.

Abstract Both uncomplexed subunits of the anthranilate synthetase-phosphoribosyltransferase enzyme complex from Salmonella typhimurium have an absolute requirement for divalent metal ions which can be satisfied by Mg 2+ , Mn 2+ , or Co 2+ . The metal ion kinetics for uncomplexed anthranilate synthetase give biphasic double-reciprocal plots and higher apparent K m values than those for anthranilate synthetase in the enzyme complex. In contrast, the apparent K m values for phosphoribosyltransferase are the same whether the enzyme is uncomplexed or complexed with anthranilate synthetase. This suggests that the metal ion sites on anthranilate synthetase, but not those on phosphoribosyltransferase, are altered upon formation of the enzyme complex. These results and the results of studies reported by others, suggest that complex formation between anthranilate synthetase and phosphoribosyltransferase leads to marked alterations at the active site of the former, but not the latter enzyme. Uncomplexed anthranilate synthetase can be stoichiometrically labeled with Co(III) under conditions which lead to inactivation of 75% of its activity. A comparison of the effects of anthranilate and tryptophan on phosphoribosyltransferase activity in the uncomplexed and complexed forms shows that anthranilate, but not tryptophan, inhibits the uncomplexed enzyme. The complexed phosphoribosyltransferase shows substrate inhibition by anthranilate binding to the phosphoribosyltransferase subunits. In contrast, in a tryptophan-hypersensitive variant complex, anthranilate inhibits phosphoribosyltransferase activity by acting on the anthranilate synthetase subunits. The data are interpreted to mean that there are two classes of binding sites for anthranilate, one on each type of subunit, which may participate in the regulation of anthranilate synthetase and phosphoribosyltransferase under different conditions.
Is bird song a reliable signal of aggressive intent? A reply

We advocate assessing the reliability of signals of aggressive intent by eliciting aggressive signaling from a subject, giving the subject an opportunity to attack a model, and testing whether the subject’s displays predict a subsequent attack. Using this design, we found that most singing behaviors are poor predictors of attack in song sparrows (Melospiza melodia). Laidre and Vehrencamp (Behav Ecol Sociobiol, DOI 10.1007/s00265-007-0539-3, 2008) suggested altering our experimental design to make the model more realistic; it remains to be seen whether such design changes would change the association between display and attack. Laidre and Vehrencamp (Behav Ecol Sociobiol, DOI 10.1007/s00265-007-0539-3, 2008) also suggested that the reliability of soft song, the one display that predicts attack in song sparrows, can be explained by a vulnerability cost. We question the rationale for a vulnerability cost for this display and suggest instead that soft song has a competing functions cost, in that, by using soft song to counter an intruder, a male sacrifices other possible functions of vocal signaling.
Load-independent behavioural model for CMOS operational amplifiers

The paper describes a general purpose behavioural model for CMOS operational amplifiers. The model is completely characterised by the operational amplifier's performance specifications ; it represents correctly both large- and small-signal behaviour, and is independent of load conditions. Being described entirely in terms of a set of differential equations, the model can be implemented in any analogue hardware description language. The model's performance is illustrated by a number of simulations run on a C-language implementation of the model, the results of which are compared with SPICE simulations of device-level descriptions of the opamps being modelled.
Meager and replete failures of relative completeness

The nature of programming languages that fail to have a relatively complete proof formalism is discussed. First, it is shown that such failures may be due to the meagerness of the programming language, rather than to the presence of complex control structures as in the cases studied so far. The failure of relative completeness is then derived for two languages with a rich control structure, using simple simulations of general recursive functions by procedure call mechanisms.
The quest for the sea urchin egg receptor for sperm

This review discusses identification, isolation and characterization of proteins mediating species-selective sperm-to-egg adhesion during sea urchin fertilization. Bindin is the only sea urchin sperm protein known to mediate species-selective sperm attachment to eggs. Two completely different egg surface proteins, 350-kDa and EBR1, have affinity for bindin and each one meets all the criteria to be a species-selective sperm receptor. Experiments suggest that sperm bindin recognizes both the sulfated O-linked oligosaccharides on the egg 350-kDa glycoprotein, and also the repeated protein sequence modules of EBR1.
Human papillomavirus infection of the cervix detected by cervicovaginal lavage and molecular hybridization: correlation with biopsy results and Papanicolaou smear.

Abstract Human papillomaviruses have previously been identified by molecular hybridization in the majority of dysplastic and cancerous lesions of the cervix. Since human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 have been strongly associated with cervical cancer, the identification of patients infected with these specific human papillomavirus types may provide useful prognostic information. We have developed a painless, noninvasive cervicovaginal lavage technique to collect exfoliated cervicovaginal cells, which can be reliably analyzed for the presence of human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid by Southern blot analysis with the use of deoxyribonucleic acid cloned from human papillomaviruses 6, 11, 16, and 18. In a prospective study of 60 women referred to a colposcopy clinic for evaluation of abnormal Papanicolaou smears, we have detected human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid in 16 of 17 (94%) women with a Class III (dysplasia) or IV (carcinoma in situ) Papanicolaou smear, five of 11 (45%) women with a Class II (atypical Papanicolaou smear, and 10 of 34 (29%) women with a normal Papanicolaou smear. Detection of human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid in cervicovaginal cells was indicative of a dysppassic cervical lesion in 19 of 20 (95%) patients irrespective of Papanicolaou smear results. We conclude that human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid analysis in cervicovaginal cells is a sensitive method to detect dysplastic lesions of the cervix and may be useful in identifying patients with specific types of human papillomavirus infection, who are at risk to develop cervical cancer.
Subacute stent thrombosis associated with a heparin-coated stent and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Subacute stent thrombosis occurred in a patient 34 days after receiving a heparin-coated (HC) stent. The patient developed heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and diffuse thrombosis after the stent was placed. This raises the concern that patients who develop heparin-associated antibodies in the context of a recently placed HC stent may have an increased risk for subacute stent thrombosis.
Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy Phase 2 (CALERIE Phase 2) screening and recruitment: Methods and results

The Comprehensive Assessment of the Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy Phase 2 (CALERIE) study is a systematic investigation of sustained 25% calorie restriction (CR) in non-obese humans. CALERIE is a multicenter (3 clinical sites, one coordinating center), parallel group, randomized controlled trial. Participants were recruited, screened, and randomized to the CR or control group with a 2:1 allocation. Inclusion criteria included ages 21-50 years for men and 21-47 years for women, and a body mass index (BMI) of 22.0 ≤ BMI < 28.0 kg/m(2). Exclusion criteria included abnormal laboratory markers, significant medical conditions, psychiatric/behavioral problems, and an inability to adhere to the rigors of the evaluation/intervention schedule. A multi-stage screening process (telephone screen and 3 in-clinic visits) was applied to identify eligible participants. Recruitment was effective and enrollment targets were met on time. 10,856 individuals contacted the clinical sites, of whom 9787 (90%) failed one or more eligibility criteria. Of the 1069 volunteers who started the in-clinic screening, 831 (78%) were either ineligible or dropped. 238 volunteers were enrolled (i.e., initiated the baseline evaluations), 220 were randomized, and 218 started the assigned intervention (2% from the first screening step). This study offered lessons for future multi-center trials engaging non-disease populations. Recruitment strategies must be tailored to specific sites. A multi-disciplinary screening process should be applied to address medical, physical, and psychological/behavioral suitability of participants. Finally, a multi-step screening process with simple criteria first, followed by more elaborate procedures has the potential to reduce the use of study resources.
Improved Thermal Conductivity in Carbon Nanotubes-Reinforced Syntactic Foam Achieved by a New Dispersing Technique

Syntactic foams are composite materials in which the matrix phase is reinforced with hollow micro-particles. Traditionally, syntactic foams are used for many high strength applications and as insulating materials. However, for applications demanding better heat dissipation, such as thermal management of electronic packaging, conductive fillers need to be added to syntactic foam. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), although extremely conductive, have issues of agglomeration in the matrix. In this research, CNT-reinforced syntactic foam was developed based on our approach through which CNTs were dispersed throughout the matrix by growing them on the surface of glass microballoons. The thermal conductivity of nanotube-grown syntactic foam was tested with a Flashline® thermal analyzer. For comparison purposes, plain and nanotube-mixed syntactic foams were also fabricated and tested. Nanotube-grown microballoons improved the thermal conductivity of syntactic foam by 86% and 92% (at 50°C) compared to plain and nanotube-mixed syntactic foams, respectively. The improved thermal conductivity as well as the microstructural analysis proved the effectiveness of this approach for dispersing the carbon nanotubes in syntactic foams.
Health, SES, and the Timing of Education among Military Retirees.

The timing of education across the life cycle is differentially associated with older age health outcomes and socioeconomic status among military retirees, a subpopulation with common levels of adolescent health, but variation in educational timing. A year of education obtained before military service lowers the probability of poor health in retirement by 2.5 percentage points, while a year obtained after service reduces poor health by only 0.6 percentage point. By contrast, education raises income and wealth uniformly through vintage. This suggests that education improves health through fostering the lifelong accumulation of healthy behaviors and habits rather than raising income or wealth.
Driven intrinsic localized modes and their stability in anharmonic lattices with realistic potentials

Abstract Highly localized response to a spatially extended harmonic driving force is found in one-dimensional periodic lattices with realistic anharmonic interaction potentials. Using specific examples of these driven intrinsic localized modes, we describe some new aspects introduced by the driving force and briefly discuss the modes' stability properties.
Repetitive lagging strand DNA synthesis by the bacteriophage T4 replisome

Our studies on the T4 replisome build on the seminal work from the Alberts laboratory. They discovered essentially all the proteins that constitute the T4 replisome, isolated them, and measured their enzymatic activities. Ultimately, in brilliant experiments they reconstituted in vitro a functioning replisome and in the absence of structural information created a mosaic as to how such a machine might be assembled. Their consideration of the problem of continuous leading strand synthesis opposing discontinuous lagging strand synthesis led to their imaginative proposal of the trombone model, an illustration that graces all textbooks of biochemistry. Our subsequent work deepens their findings through experiments that focus on defining the kinetics, structural elements, and protein-protein contacts essential for replisome assembly and function. In this highlight we address when Okazaki primer synthesis is initiated and how the primer is captured by a recycling lagging strand polymerase--problems that the Alberts laboratory likewise found mysterious and significant for all replisomes.
The Changing Culture of Childhood: A Perfect Storm

ignoring individual differences in all dimensions of education and child development spelled failure for this program. Well before the advent of the testing mania, educators learned the lessons of such folly from the scholarly research of the child study movement in the early 1900s, which was influenced by such philosophers as Rousseau, Pestalozzi, Froebel, Hall, and Dewey, and later Piaget and
Organic electro-optics: exploiting the best of electronics and photonics

Utilizing guidance from quantum and statistical mechanics, the electro-optic coefficients of organic materials have been increased to values greater than 100 pm/V at telecommunication wavelengths (e.g., to 130 pm/V at 1.3 microns). Electro-optic materials now afford significant advantages in terms of bandwidth and electro-optic activity over inorganic materials such as lithium niobate. Moreover, organic materials have also been found to be quite processable permitting the fabrication, by reactive ion etching and photolithographic techniques, of 3-D active waveguide structures and integration with both VLSI semiconductor electronics and silica fiber optics. Stripline, cascaded prism, and microresonator structures have been fabricated, as have low-optical-loss coupling structures. A number of prototype devices demonstrating superior performance have been produced; however, the long-term, in-field performance of such devices still remains to be evaluated. Nevertheless, significant advances have been made in improving the thermal and photochemical stability of organic materials and in defining the mechanisms that define these stabilities (by testing under accelerated conditions). The role of nanoscale architecture in systematically improving stability of organic electro-optic materials, as well as contributing to enhanced electro-optic activity and reduced optical loss, has been clarified.
An Approach to Learning About Social Work with People with Disabilities

The author shares some practice experience and personal reflection on her introduction to working with people with disabilities. Recognizing that the construct of "disability" is in the eye of the beholder, she shares an outline for one approach to an introductory course in working with people with physical, cognitive and developmental, and psychiatric disabilities. Common themes in practice and service delivery are discussed, as well as the unique role social workers can play in interagency collaboration.
Molecular dynamics simulations of Mg-doped beta″-alumina with potential models fitted for accurate structural response to thermal vibrations

Abstract A new interatomic potential model has been developed for Mg-doped beta″-alumina, using free energy optimization. By including the thermal expansion during potential fitting, the new potentials allow for an improved description of the structural behavior at different temperatures in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The new model was applied to study the detailed structural responses to temperature and transport properties of Mg-doped beta″-alumina. Results suggest that the sodium diffusion in beta″-alumina is highly correlated, and reliable electrical conductivity of beta″-alumina can only be extracted from molecular dynamics with substantial simulation duration and resolution, which may be best provided by long time scale classical simulations with accurate potentials.
Impact of obesity on disease-specific health status after percutaneous coronary intervention in coronary disease patients

OBJECTIVE: Several investigators have focused on obesity as a specific risk factor for mortality in patients undergoing bypass surgery, but few have examined it as a risk factor among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). In addition, none have evaluated the impact of obesity on post-PCI quality of life or disease-specific health status. This study examined whether obesity is a risk factor for poor quality of life or diminished health status 12-months postprocedure among a large cohort of PCI patients. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A total of 1631 consecutive PCI patients were enrolled into the study and classified as underweight (BMI <20 kg/m2), normal weight range (BMI ≥20 and <25 kg/m2), overweight (BMI ≥25 and <30 kg/m2), class I obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2), or class II and III obese (BMI ≥35 kg/m2). The 12-month postprocedure outcomes included need for repeat procedure, survival, quality of life and health status, assessed using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) and the Short Form-12. RESULTS: Obese patients with and without a history of revascularization were significantly younger than overweight, normal weight range, or underweight patients at the time of PCI. However, obese patients demonstrated similar long-term recovery and improved disease-specific health status and quality of life when compared to patients in the normal weight range after PCI. In addition, mortality and risk for repeat procedure was similar to those patients in the normal weight range patients at 12-months postrevascularization. Underweight patients who had no previous history of revascularization reported lower quality of life (F=3.02; P=0.018) and poorer physical functioning (F=2.82; P=0.024) than other BMI groups. CONCLUSION: Obese patients presenting for revascularization were younger when compared to patients in the normal weight range, regardless of previous history of revascularization. However, weight status was not a significant predictor of differences in long-term disease-specific health status, quality of life, repeat procedures, or survival. Underweight patients demonstrated less improvement in quality of life and physical functioning than other BMI groups.
125-µm-cladding 8-core multi-core fiber realizing ultra-high-density cable suitable for O-band short-reach optical interconnects

A 125-µm-cladding 8-core fiber applicable to short-reach transmissions and compatible with conventional components is proposed. An ultra-high-density 12-MCF cable was fabricated with the proposed MCF, and error-free 8-SDM×4-WDM×25-Gb/s (800-Gb/s/fiber) transmission was demonstrated in O-band.
A new approach to the wide bandwidth of piezoelectric transducers for vibration energy harvesting

This paper proposes a control system to widen the bandwidth of piezoelectric transducers (PZTs) for vibration energy harvesting while extracting near maximum power. A straightforward complex conjugate match achieves maximum power transfer only at a single frequency while requiring an impractically large inductance. The proposed system intends to address the problem. It incorporates a bi-directional DC/DC converter with feed-forward control for a complex conjugate match over a wide range of frequencies. Analysis of the proposed system and simulation results are presented to verify validity of the proposed method.
Quantum control design via adaptive tracking

An adaptive tracking algorithm is developed to achieve quantum system control field designs. The adaptive algorithm has the advantage of operating noniteratively to efficiently find desirable controls, and has the feature of high stability by suppressing the influence of disturbances from tracking singularities. The core of the adaptive tracking control algorithm is a self-learning track switch technique which is triggered by monitoring of the evolving system trajectory. The adaptive tracking algorithm is successfully tested for population transfer.
Non-linear radio frequency model identification using a hybrid genetic optimiser for minimal user intervention

An adaptive reduced-order procedure for developing grey-box models of radio frequency systems is presented. The stochastic model extraction combines a modified genetic algorithm and the Nelder–Mead simplex algorithm to present a user with a range of possible good models from which the user can use intuition to select the most physically realistic candidate. The procedure is ideal for identifying models given incomplete observations, noisy data and inexact model structure. This procedure replaces the commonly used human-in-the-loop ad hoc deterministic approach in which a skilled operator must guide model fitting. Being able to use an expanded range of model architectures beyond the Wiener and Hammerstein family, the stochastic approach, utilisation of incomplete observations and extraction of multiple distinct model candidates, enables the insight and intuition of a skilled operator to be used to advantage. The extraction of a multistage microwave amplifier exhibiting long-term memory effects is used as an example.
Photochemistry of Dianthrylsilanes: A Study of σ,π*-Interaction†

In this article, we demonstrated by the application of time-resolved spectroscopy, X-ray structural analysis and other spectroscopic techniques that 9-Anthrylsilanes exhibits σ,π*-interaction between 9-anthryl group and the Si−Si linkage in anthryl-disilanes, ASi2, ASi2A, and ASi3A which does not occur in the analogous alkyl derivatives as well as the pyrenylsilane derivatives, in spite of the fact that the 0,0-band of PSi2 is about 12.8 KJ more energetic than that of ASi2 (Figure 1). More interestingly, the X-ray structural studies reveal that ASi3A exists in a butterfly-like structure in agree-ment with other spectroscopic analyses that the two anthryl groups do not interact in their excited states, while those in ASi2A do. This is in contrast to the analogous pyrenylsilanes; the trisilanes exhibits a stronger excimer interaction than that of disilane.10b Our results show that the σ,π*-interactions in ASi3A has imparted rigidity to the tri-silyl linkage. Potential applications of anthrylsilanes in mater...
Low brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in serum of depressed patients probably results from lowered platelet BDNF release unrelated to platelet reactivity.

Background Recent reports have suggested a role for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in psychiatric disorders. Decreased serum BDNF levels have been reported in major depression, but the cause of this decrease has not yet been investigated. The goal of this study was to assess blood BDNF and a platelet activation index, PF4. Methods Forty-three drug-free patients (27 female, 16 male) diagnosed with major depression and 35 healthy control subjects (18 female, 17 male) were assessed for plasma, serum, and blood BDNF content. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and PF4 were assayed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods, and severity of depression was evaluated with the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Results Serum and plasma BDNF levels were decreased in depressed patients compared with control subjects. In whole blood, BDNF levels were unaltered in the depressed subjects compared with control subjects. The serum/blood BDNF ratio was lower in patients with major depression. Increased plasma but not serum PF4 levels were observed in depressed subjects compared with control subjects. Conclusions Our results suggest that an alteration of serum or plasma BDNF is not due to the change in blood BDNF but rather is probably related to mechanisms of BDNF release. Secretion of BDNF seems to be independent of platelet reactivity; other mechanisms are therefore probably involved and need to be elucidated.
Left hemispheric strokes in coronary surgery: implications for end-hole aortic cannulas

Abstract Background . Perioperative stroke (POS) is a devastating complication of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Many studies have been published concerning risk factors and possible causes of POS but none have studied which side of the brain is more frequently involved. The finding of a strong preponderance of left-sided strokes calls into question some widely held theories as to the cause of POS and implicates end-hole aortic perfusion catheters as a major factor. Methods . During a 3-year period (1996 to 1998), prospective data were collected on all 2,217 consecutive CABG patients at one hospital (with surgery by different surgeons in different groups). Strokes were classified as perioperative (within 3 days of surgery) or late (beyond 3 days but during hospitalization). Results . There were a total of 51 strokes (2.3%): 21 left, 10 right, 7 bilateral, 7 lacunar, 1 brainstem, and 5 indeterminate. There were 18 major territorial perioperative strokes on the left side and 6 on the right side. Thus, 75% (18 of 24) of POS were left-sided. Stroke patients were significantly younger than nonstroke patients (66.3 ± 10.52 versus 71.4 ± 8.47 years, p = 0.009). Other demographic data did not differ significantly. Conclusions . If aortic clamping, cannulation, or manipulation were responsible for most strokes, then right-sided strokes should predominate, as the innominate artery is closest to the source of such emboli. In contrast, end-hole aortic cannulas direct a high-velocity jet at the left carotid orifice and may be responsible for a large proportion of POS. Side-hole aortic cannulas may reduce the incidence of this complication.
Pattern switching in human multilimb coordination dynamics

A relative phase model of four coupled oscillators is used to interpret experiments on the coordination between rhythmically moving human limbs. The pairwise coupling functions in the model are motivated by experiments on two-limb coordination. Stable patterns of coordination between the limbs are represented by fixed points in relative phase coordinates. Four invariant circles exist in the model, each containing two patterns of coordination seen experimentally. The direction of switches between two four-limb patterns on the same circle can be understood in terms of two-limb coordination. Transitions between patterns in the human four-limb system are theoretically interpreted as bifurcations in a nonlinear dynamical system.
Transient Nonsimilarity Nonlinear Heat Diffusion Solutions

An approximate analytical method for treating parabolic type nonlinear heat diffusion equations is described in this study. The method involves transformation of the partial differential equations along with their initial and boundary conditions in terms of several pseudo-similarity variables followed by numerical solution of a system of quasi-ordinary differential equations. One obvious advantage of the approach is that the solution at a particular time can be found independently of the previous history of the temperature field. The simplicity and directness of the method are illustrated by solving the problem of combined conduction and thermal radiation in a large, heat-generating, particulate bed in contact with a solid. Comparison of the present analytical results is made with available finite difference solutions and found to be good.
739 TRANSIENT BIOPTERIN SYNTHETASE DEFICIENCY IN A NEW-BORN WITH PHENYLKETONURIA

Atypical forms of phenylketonuria (PKU) are associated with defects in the synthesis or regeneration of the biopterin cofactors. In order to prevent irreversible neurological damage, patients with hyperphenylalaninemia are being screened for biopterin. A newborn male was found to have 34.4 mg/dl of phenylalanine on the 7th day of life. Dietary therapy for PKU was begun and at the age of 19 days urine biopterin levels were analyzed by the method of Fukushima and Nixon (Anal.Bioch. 102, 177, 1980). Urine neopterin (N) was 879 ng/ml and biopterin (B) 142 ng/ml with an abnormal ratio of N/B of 6.2 (normal ≤ 2).Urine biopterin determination was repeated on the 28th day of life and at this time N was 2155 ng/ml and B was 605 ng/ml, N/B 3.6. A week later the baby's urine was examined again and the ratio of N/B was 3.0. Because of the abnormal ratio of N/B, challenge with L-tetrahydrobiopterin, 2 mg/Kg, was given orally with no effect on blood phenylalanine which remained at 18 mg/dl after 4 and 6 hours. At 40 days of age urine biopterin approached normal values and N/B was 1.3. These findings suggest a transient form of biopterin synthetase deficiency not previously reported. In newborns with hyperphenylalaninemia where abnormal ratio of N/B is found, repeated determinations are needed in order to avoid a false diagnosis of atypical PKU.
Glenohumeral range of motion and lower extremity flexibility in collegiate-level baseball players.

Background: The throwing motion results in unilateral increases in dominant arm external rotation (ER) range of motion (ROM). Trunk forward tilt at ball release is related to ball velocity. The rel...
Source region identification using kernel smoothing.

As described in this paper, nonparametric wind regression is a source-to-receptor source apportionment model that can be used to identify and quantify the impact of possible source regions of pollu...
Structural Characterization of Self-Organized TiO2 Nanoclusters Studied by Small Angle Neutron Scattering

Thiolactate-modified 45 A TiO2 particles were observed to self-assemble into rodlike structures. The rod formation was observed using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The diameter of the rods was determined to be 43.2 ± 1.6 A, the same diameter as unassembled TiO2 particles. The rod diameter was found to be independent of TiO2 concentration or pH, while rod length was sensitive to both. An independent determination of the molecular weight per unit length of a rod using SANS confirms the beadlike structure of the rods with a bead diameter of 40 ± 3 A. Further confirmation of self-assembly was obtained from transmission electron microscopy where long rods with a diameter of 42.8 ± 3.5 A were observed. The formation of rodlike structures was not detected when the mercapto group was either blocked by a methyl group or separated from the carboxyl group with an additional methylene group. The self-organization of TiO2 particles in rodlike structures was found to be a consequence of the special conformatio...