cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AlN on SOI pMUTs for ultrasonic power transfer

This work presents preliminary results on vicinity-based power transfer using MHz-range ultrasonic transducers. In principle, bulk acoustic waves (BAW) launched by a commercial ultrasonic probe are absorbed by a flexural mode transducer and converted to an electrical signal through direct piezoelectric effect. The proposed link leverages the enhancement of energy transfer at resonance and is empowered by piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers (pMUTs). The aluminum nitride (AlN) pMUTs used in this work are fabricated on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates via a fully CMOS compatible process. Power transfer efficiencies (PTEs) as high as −29 dB and −36 dB were achieved when the probe was in direct contact with and at a 5 mm distance from the 200μm-diameter disk-shape pMUT, respectively.
Framing Care for Planners of Education Programs

Using a framework of care to design experiences in formal or informal learning does two things. It acknowledges intentions of reflective learning through open communication and meets expectations o...
Heterogeneous Effects in Education: The Promise and Challenge of Incorporating Intersectionality Into Quantitative Methodological Approaches:

To date, the theory of intersectionality has largely guided qualitative efforts in social science and education research. Translating the construct to new methodological approaches is inherently co...
The Conceptualization and Measurement of Values: A Review of the Psychometric Properties of Measures Developed to Inform Values Work with Adults

The construct of values, or principles that are personally meaningful and influence behavior, has long been implicated in psychological health and well-being. Recently, research documenting the benefits associated with articulating and behaving consistently with one’s values has led to an increase in the integration of values work into evidence-based therapies. However, the operational definition and measurement of values across studies is inconsistent. This paper presents a systematic review of values measures that have been the focus at least one published study of its psychometric properties. Each measure was rated on several domains including reliability, validity, interpretability, and generalizability to provide an indicator of the availability and quality of psychometric data. Recommendations regarding the next steps needed to improve the assessment of this important construct are provided.
Relationship 2.0

Ebner and Kamp examine the treatment of relationships in typical negotiation teaching, and conclude that critics of our field and its doctrines have a point: in several ways, our doctrines set students up for failure when dealing with "hard" bargainers, because of a tension that is not only unresolved but unadmitted. The authors argue that the first thing needed is for teachers to be transparent about "relationship doctrine" - because actually doing something different is going to be a daunting task. They go on to explain why.
Sensing the Environment: Adaptation and Amplification in Cells

One important requirement of sensory eukaryotic cells and single-cell organisms such as bacteria is detecting weak signals in noisy extracellular environments. As we briefly discussed in Sect.2.4.2 within the context of bacterial chemoreception, there are fundamental limits to the strength of signal that can be detected. However, even if a weak signal is detected, it is necessary for some form of amplification to occur in order that the signal is not lost in subsequent stages of processing within the cell. Moreover, it is advantageous for a cell to be able to shift its response so that it always operates in a regime of maximal gain, that is, it is able to respond to small changes in signal irrespective of the mean strength of the signal—a process known as adaptation.
Management of severe preeclampsia and eclampsia.

Preeclampsia/eclampsia is a disorder unique to the obstetric patient and is often associated with poor maternal and perinatal outcome. The multisystemic nature of this disorder may lead to severe dysfunction of almost any organ system. In addition to these often critically ill patients, the health care provider must also manage the pregnant patient in whom preeclampsia is present but not recognized as the precipitating factor leading to systemic dysfunction. A thorough understanding of this disease is essential to the critical care specialist as well as the obstetrician/ gynecologist and perinatologist.
How does your password measure up? the effect of strength meters on password creation

To help users create stronger text-based passwords, many web sites have deployed password meters that provide visual feedback on password strength. Although these meters are in wide use, their effects on the security and usability of passwords have not been well studied. We present a 2,931-subject study of password creation in the presence of 14 password meters. We found that meters with a variety of visual appearances led users to create longer passwords. However, significant increases in resistance to a password-cracking algorithm were only achieved using meters that scored passwords stringently. These stringent meters also led participants to include more digits, symbols, and uppercase letters. Password meters also affected the act of password creation. Participants who saw stringent meters spent longer creating their password and were more likely to change their password while entering it, yet they were also more likely to find the password meter annoying. However, the most stringent meter and those without visual bars caused participants to place less importance on satisfying the meter. Participants who saw more lenient meters tried to fill the meter and were averse to choosing passwords a meter deemed "bad" or "poor." Our findings can serve as guidelines for administrators seeking to nudge users towards stronger passwords.
Sleep quality is differentially related to adiposity in adults

Abstract Objectives Sleep duration is associated with adiposity in adults. Abdominal adiposity specifically is strongly correlated with metabolic alterations, however, the relationships between abdominal adiposity and sleep quality are incompletely understood. The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that abdominal adiposity is related to poor sleep quality while total adiposity is not; and to explore whether pathways, including immune system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, link abdominal adiposity to poor sleep quality. Methods Subjects were 101 men and women aged 38.88 ± 11.96 years with body mass index between 29.35 ± 6.93 kg/m2. Subjective sleep quality was determined by the Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire Index (PSQI). Body composition was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Saliva and blood samples were collected for assessment of cortisol and markers of inflammation. In a cross-sectional study design, correlation analysis was conducted to determine the relationships between poor sleep quality and adiposity. Participants were stratified based on PSQI score to evaluate differences in main outcomes between subjects with normal (NSQ; PSQI ≤ 5) vs poor sleep quality (PSQ; PSQI > 5). Results Poor sleep quality was related to greater visceral fat (r = 0.26; p Conclusions Poor sleep quality is associated with greater visceral adiposity and leptin secretion. Further research is needed to probe potential cause and effect relationships among visceral adipose tissue, leptin, and sleep quality.
Justice Versus Freedom: The Dilemma of Political Islam

This chapter argues that the US and its allies are engaged in two broad conflicts with groups associated with Islam: a decades-long, often violent battle with militant Islamists, and a more passive fight against political Islam; militant Islam is another form of extremism within political Islam. The chapter offers a nuanced look at the nature of this conflict, arguing that there are two divergent visions of political culture: the Islamist justice project and the neo-liberal freedom agenda. Militant Islam draws on the “just-cause” principle to substantiate its jihad project, while the neo-liberal world, dominated by the US, brandishes the “defense of freedom” principle when marshaling its forces against militant Islam. How this difference exhibits itself loudly in the political thinking and ideological language of the warring parties is explored. The chapter also highlights the research method employed, as well as the rationale for selecting the cases of Sudan’s Islamists, Morsi’s short-lived rule in Egypt, and DAESH in Iraq and Syria.
Rates of symptomatology are lower in recurrent sinonasal malignancy than in other recurrent cancers of the head and neck: a multi-institutional study.

BACKGROUND Sinonasal malignancies are a rare subset of head and neck tumors, and surveillance strategies after definitive tumor treatment are often generalized from those for overall head and neck cancer outcomes data. However, recent literature suggests that the posttreatment period in sinonasal cancer is fundamentally different and a more tailored surveillance approach may be beneficial. Although rates of symptomatology are high in head and neck cancer recurrence and patient-driven follow-up is common, rates of symptomatology are unknown in sinonasal cancer specifically. METHODS Patients with recurrence of sinonasal malignancy were identified at 3 academic rhinology and skull base surgery centers. Demographic, tumor, and treatment data were collected. Rates of symptomatology at presentation were tabulated and examined in the context of several other variables. RESULTS Fifty-five patients had recurrence of sinonasal malignancy after definitive treatment. Fifty-one percent of patients had no suspicious symptoms at the time of tumor recurrence, with an average time to recurrence of 33 months. Male patients and patients with stage IVA or lower disease were significantly more likely to be asymptomatic at the time of recurrence (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Patients with sinonasal malignancy have a much lower rate of symptomatology during tumor recurrence than that observed in head and neck cancer overall. Furthermore, time to recurrence is substantially longer, as a majority of head and neck cancer recurrences occur in the first 12 months after treatment. These differences highlight the need for more tailored surveillance paradigms in asymptomatic patients with a history of a definitively treated sinonasal neoplasm.
Observation of exceptional points in magnonic parity-time symmetry devices

Non-Hermitian Hamiltonians may still have real eigenvalues, provided that a combined parity-time (ƤƮ) symmetry exists. The prospect of ƤƮ symmetry has been explored in several physical systems such as photonics, acoustics, and electronics. The eigenvalues in these systems undergo a transition from real to complex at exceptional points (EPs), where the ƤƮ symmetry is broken. Here, we demonstrate the existence of EP in magnonic devices composed of two coupled magnets with different magnon losses. The eigenfrequencies and damping rates change from crossing to anti-crossing at the EP when the coupling strength increases. The magnonic dispersion includes a strong "acoustic-like" mode and a weak "optic-like" mode. Moreover, upon microwave radiation, the ƤƮ magnonic devices act as magnon resonant cavity with unique response compared to conventional magnonic systems.
Deep Reinforcement Learning Based Traffic- and Channel-Aware OFDMA Resource Allocation

Efficient radio resource allocation is a fundamental optimization problem for wireless networks, and has been widely studied in the past. However, wireless systems are evolving to have a much larger parameter space along with richer set of applications and user requirements leading to significant increase in complexity. This paper draws from recent breakthroughs in applying deep reinforcement learning (RL) for control problems containing large state space dimensionality. In particular, a deep RL approach is explored for the problem of allocating time and frequency resources in OFDMA wireless systems to optimize different objective functions using per-station channel quality and traffic information as inputs. Such approaches hold the potential for agents to learn resource allocation and scheduling policies directly from experience rather than using carefully crafted heuristic algorithms based upon models of the environment and stations. Learning directly from experience also means that the policies that result from the online learning should be more robust to imperfect inputs such as noisy, delayed or missing information compared to model-based heuristic approaches. The results in this paper show promise for a deep RL agent using a policy gradient algorithm to learn policies that approach or exceed the performance of well-known model-based approaches such as max-weight and proportional fair policies. The online adaptation algorithms used for the deep RL agent also demonstrate reasonable adaptability and robustness to varying traffic conditions.
New Tools to Automatically Generate Derived Products upon Downlink Passes for Mars Science Laboratory Operations

As the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission continues into its third extended mission, the value of automating operational procedures grows increasingly important. The Operational Product Generation Subsystem (OPGS) of MSL is responsible for generating Level 0 products for all rover instruments (including non-imaging) and downstream Level 1 products for the engineering cameras. Mosaic imagery generated by the OPGS team on downlink assessment is comprised of data from the Navcam and Mastcam camera instruments. OPGS downlink analysts are responsible for generating key mosaics from the automatically generated single frame products for tactical and strategic operations. On Mars landed missions, data is transmitted to Earth in discrete passes that correspond to orbiter overflights, which are then assessed by representatives from each subsystem when there is a downlink assessment for the rover. Product generation at downlink assessment nominally takes 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete, and each data production process follows a specific procedure. Automating these processes reduces the time required to generate products from 1 hour and 15 minutes of intensive activity to a 10-minute validation process. Additionally, the current downlink analyst role requires up to two months training; with this automation effort, the need for learning complex procedures is greatly reduced. Beyond saving time for the analyst, automating the pilot position decreases the delay between downlink and delivering mosaics to the science users and uplink team. Giving researchers quicker access to the data is highly desirable especially as the science team is spread out across many geographic locations and time zones. It also automates and deterministically adheres to a rigid process, which allows for uniformity in all mosaic creation. In addition, it allows robustness to modifying the process as future requirements change, without the overhead of thorough user training.
Modeling and analysis of material anisotropy-topology effects of 3D cellular structures fabricated by powder bed fusion additive manufacturing

Abstract For lightweight cellular structures fabricated via powder bed fusion additive manufacturing (PBF-AM), both the material anisotropy and the cellular topology design are both important design factors. In this work, a direct stiffness matrix-based analytical modeling approach was employed for the evaluation of material anisotropy-topology effects on three representative 3D cellular structures (auxetic, BCC and octahedral). The established models were verified via experimentation with samples fabricated by EB-PBF using Ti6Al4V as material, using the material anisotropy information established experimentally using single struts with different build orientations (0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75° and 90°). The predicted mechanical properties of the Ti6Al4V cellular structures showed good agreement with experimental results. It was shown that both the strength and elastic modulus anisotropy of the materials affect the strength of the cellular structures, which must be determined based on the topology design. In addition, the material anisotropy-topology effects on cellular structures of varying cellular pattern sizes were also investigated in order to quantify the pattern size effects. It was found that the pattern size effects and the material anisotropy effects can be decoupled during the design of the mechanical properties of these cellular structures.
Temporal Stability of Modal Choice Models

A number of methods for evaluating the temporal stability of travel demand models are outlined. Several of the methods are applied to disaggregate modal choice models for CBD work trips in Detroit for 1953 and 1965. Graphical analysis is used initially to evaluate the probability of using the bus, auto driver, and auto passenger modes as a function of travel time difference and autos owned. Based on the graphical analysis, binary choice models using linear regression are developed and tested statistically for temporal stability. Chow’s tests for the equality of two sets of regression coefficients confirms the graphically observed lack of temporal stability. Improved specification of the auto driver model by including the variable, number of transit captives, does result in temporal stability. The lack of excess time and cost variables limit the generality of conclusions based on the models developed. Compatible data for a third time period are necessary to test fully the temporal stability assumption.
Browsing wildlife and heavy grazing indirectly facilitate sapling recruitment in an East African savanna.

Management of tree cover, either to curb bush encroachment or to mitigate losses of woody cover to over-browsing, is a major concern in savanna ecosystems. Once established, trees are often "trapped" as saplings, since interactions among disturbance, plant competition, and precipitation delay sapling recruitment into adult size classes. Saplings can be directly suppressed by wildlife browsing and competition from adjacent plants, and indirectly facilitated by grazers, such as cattle, which feed on neighboring grasses. Yet few experimental studies have simultaneously quantified the effects of cattle and wildlife on sapling growth, particularly over long time scales. We used a series of replicated 4-ha herbivore-manipulation plots to investigate the net effects of wildlife and moderate cattle grazing on Acacia drepanolobium sapling growth over 10 years that encompassed extended wet and dry periods. We also simulated more intense cattle grazing using grass removal treatments (0.5-m radius around saplings), and we quantified the role of intraspecific tree competition using neighborhood tree surveys (trees within a 3-m radius). Wildlife, which included elephants, had a positive effect on sapling growth. Wildlife also reduced neighbor tree density during the 10-yr study, which likely caused the positive effect of wildlife on saplings. Although moderate cattle grazing did not affect sapling growth, grass removal treatments simulating heavy grazing increased sapling growth. Both grass removal and neighbor tree effects on saplings were strongest during above-average rainfall years following drought. This highlights that livestock-driven reductions in grass cover and catastrophic wildlife damage to trees during droughts present a need, or an opportunity, for targeted management of sapling growth and woody plant cover during ensuing wet periods.
Micropropagation of Three Endemic Begonias Using Various Hormones Concentration and Culture Media Application

Three species of Begonias endemic to Java and Sumatra, namely Begonia leuserensis, Begonia atricha and Begonia scottii, were conserved in Cibodas Botanic Gardens as sources of germplasm for ornamental plant and/or medicines. However, the information on efficient hormones concentration and their culture media application through an in vitro propagation effort is still limited. Therefore, this study aimed to explain the growth response of three species of Begonias using various hormones concentrations and culture media through in vitro propagation. The culture media using Murashige & Skoog (MS) media that combinedwith 6-Benzyladenine (BA) dan Thidiazuron (TDZ) hormones in different concentrations i.e. 0.5 mg/L, 1 mg/L, 2 mg/L, and 3 mg/L. Observation parameter included shoot number, plantlets height, and leaves number. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the F test at a 5% significance level. The results showed that three species of Begonias were observed to have different growth responses in the combination of MS+BA and MS+TDZ media. The combination of MS+TDZ media produces more shoots number, while the combination of MS+BA media influenced higher in leaves number. A concentration of 0.5 mg/L of hormone showed a good regeneration, therefore were recommended for in vitro propagation of Begonia species.
On gravity currents in heterogeneous porous media

We examine the case of density-dependent flow in heterogeneous porous medium systems bounded by a free surface using homogenization methods for leading-order approximations. Specifically we consider the two-dimensional case in which variations occur in both the horizontal and vertical directions. Such problems lead to the need to solve cell problems to compute the solution, which is generally done using numerical approaches. We review the general homogenization results for general topology and aspect ratio. We derive an analytical solution for a case with two-dimensional variability in the slender limit for certain assumed scaling of the permeability, and we find excellent agreement with the numerical solution. We also consider the case of two miscible fluids with an assumed sharp interface and contrasting densities. We derive an analytical solution in a thin limit neglecting mixing and show agreement with known solutions for limiting cases.
A note on a question of J. Nekovár and the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer Conjecture

If D is a square-free integer, then let E(D) denote the elliptic curve over Q given by the equation E(D) : Dy = 4x − 27. (1) Let L(E(D), s) denote the Hasse-Weil L-function of E(D), and let L∗(E(D), 1) denote the ‘algebraic part’ of the central critical value L(E(D), 1). Using a theorem of Sturm, we verify a congruence conjectured by J. Nekovař. By his work, if S(3, E(D)) denotes the 3-Selmer group of E(D) and D 6= 1 is a square-free integer with |D| ≡ 1 (mod 3), then we find that L∗(E(D), 1) 6≡ 0 (mod 3) ⇐⇒ S(3, E(D)) = 0. If D 6= 1 is a square-free integer, then E(D) is the D-quadratic twist of the Fermat cubic x + y = 1. J. Nekovař explicitly computed the 3-Selmer ranks of these elliptic curves, and verified the ‘mod 3’ part of the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer Conjecture for most of these curves when |D| ≡ 1 (mod 3) using Waldspurger’s theorem on the Shimura correspondence. If q := e, and η(z) and Θ(z) denote the usual weight 1/2 modular forms η(z) := q ∞ ∏ n=1 (1− q) and Θ(z) := 1 + 2 ∞ ∑ n=1 q 2 , then define a(n) by ∑∞ n=1 a(n)q n := η(3z)η(9z) ∈ S2(Γ0(27)). The Hasse-Weil L-function L(E(D), s) is given by
Tumors of the Liver

The increasing use of imaging modalities has led to a dramatic rise in the detection of liver lesions, making it crucial to distinguish benign from malignant lesions. The distinction is important in the geriatric patients who pose a higher risk for malignancy and may undergo unnecessary interventions. Benign liver tumors affect approximately 20% of the population, the two most common being hemangiomas and focal nodular hyperplasia. Other benign tumors include hepatocellular adenoma, regenerative nodular hyperplasia, and simple cysts, as well as cysts associated with polycystic liver disease. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography are the most useful diagnostic tests. Most of these tumors have a benign course, with no intervention necessary. Malignant tumors include hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and liver metastasis. Malignant tumors have characteristic appearance on dynamic computed tomography and MRI. Liver biopsy is an option if diagnosis is uncertain.
Histological Assessment of Ovarian Follicle Number in Mice as a Screen for Ovarian Toxicity

Reproductive processes in both males and females are susceptible to interference from chemical insult (1). While there are biological markers of male reproductive toxicity (2,3), there are few markers for female reproductive toxicity (4,5). In addition, current methods for assessing female reproductive vulnerability to xenobiotics are inadequate. For example, some forms of end-organ toxicity (e.g., ovarian, tubal or uterine) are not addressed. For that reason, subtle disruption of reproductive function is not detected in standard reproductive toxicity protocols.
Adaptation versus Retrieval Trade-Off Revisited: An Analysis of Boundary Conditions

In this paper we revisit the trade-off between adaptation and retrieval effort traditionally held as a principle in case-based reasoning. This principle states that the time needed for adaptation reduces with the time spent searching for an adequate case to be retrieved. In particular, if very little time is spent in retrieval, the adaptation effort will be high. Correspondingly, if the retrieval effort is high, the adaption effort is low. We analyzed this principle in two boundary conditions: (1) when very bad and (2) when highly capable adaptation procedures are used. We conclude that in the first boundary condition the adaptation-retrieval trade-off does not necessarily exist. We also claim that the second does not hold for a class of planning domains frequently used in the literature. To validate this claim, we performed experiments on two domains of this type.
Future trends in multisensor integration and fusion

The need for intelligent systems that can operate in an unstructured dynamic environment has created a growing demand for the use of multiple, distributed sensors. While most research in multisensor fusion has revolved around applications in object recognition-including military applications for automatic target recognition-developments in microsensor technology are encouraging more research in affordable, highly-redundant sensor networks. Three trends that are described at length are the increasing use of microsensors, the techniques that are used in the handling of partial or uncertain data, and the application of neural network techniques for sensor fusion. >
Detection and attribution of anthropogenic climate change impacts

Human-influenced climate change is an observed phenomenon affecting physical and biological systems across the globe. The majority of observed impacts are related to temperature changes and are located in the northern high- and midlatitudes. However, new evidence is emerging that demonstrates that impacts are related to precipitation changes as well as temperature, and that climate change is impacting systems and sectors beyond the Northern Hemisphere. In this paper, we highlight some of this new evidence-focusing on regions and sectors that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report (IPCC AR4) noted as under-represented-in the context of observed climate change impacts, direct and indirect drivers of change (including carbon dioxide itself), and methods of detection. We also present methods and studies attributing observed impacts to anthropogenic forcing. We argue that the expansion of methods of detection (in terms of a broader array of climate variables and data sources, inclusion of the major modes of climate variability, and incorporation of other drivers of change) is key to discerning the climate sensitivities of sectors and systems in regions where the impacts of climate change currently remain elusive. Attributing such changes to human forcing of the climate system, where possible, is important for development of effective mitigation and adaptation. Current challenges in documenting adaptation and the role of indigenous knowledge in detection and attribution are described.
Howell designs with sub-designs

Abstract A Howell design of side s and order 2n , or more briefly an H(s, 2n) , is an s × s array in which each cell is either empty or contains an unordered pair of elements from some (2 n )-set V such that (1) every element of V occurs in precisely one cell of each row and each column, and (2) every unordered pair of elements from V is in at most one cell of the array. It follows immediately from the definition of an H(s, 2n) that n ⩽ s ⩽2 n − 1. The two boundary cases are well known designs: an H(2n − 1, 2n) is a Room square of side 2 n − 1 and the existence of a pair of mutually orthogonal Latin squares of order n implies the existence of an H(n, 2n) . We are interested in the existence of Howell designs which contain as a subarray another Howell design. The existence of Room squares with Room square sub-designs and a pair of mutually orthogonal Latin squares with Latin square sub-designs has been investigated. In this paper, we consider the general problem of constructing H(s, 2n) which contain as sub-designs H(t, 2m) . We describe some bounds on the parameters and several constructions for the general case, then we concentrate on determining the spectrum for Howell designs where t = m or t =2 m −1.
Residents' Sense Of Control And Ownership In A Mutual Housing Association

: This paper presents results from a survey of residents of a self-managed mutual housing association for older people. Specifically, it explores the relationship between residents' actual level of participation in the management and ownership of low income housing and their perceptions of control and ownership over their living environment. The model of mutual housing studied here appears to contribute to overall high levels of perceived control over decision making and moderately strong feelings of ownership. However, results suggest that these experiences are influenced by a number of factors in addition to direct participation. In particular, the quality of relations with resident leaders, satisfaction with the social and physical environment, and gender differences all significantly affect perceptions of control and ownership. This analysis suggests that researchers, policy makers, and program administrators must pay careful attention to the influence of social dynamics in a residential community and overall housing quality when evaluating the effectiveness of resident-controlled housing programs.
On a probabilistic method in graph theory

Abstract We show that a simple graph U is edge-transitive if and only if it has the property that for any subgraphs G and H of U , there is a subgraph G 1 of G , isomorphic to a subgraph of H , with |E(G 1 )|⩾ E(G)|·|E(H)| |E(U)| , where | E ( K )| denotes the number of edges of a graph K .
Endoprothèses de l’aorte thoracique pour dissections aortiques de type B

Objectif Le traitement endovasculaire de l’aorte thoracique (TEVAR) s’est impose comme une modalite therapeutique adaptee aux dissections aortiques. Nous rapportons notre experience de traitement endovasculaire de cette affection en nous focalisant sur la description des complications. Methodes Nous avons retrospectivement repris tous (n = 90) les patients ayant une pathologie de l’aorte thoracique et traites par TEVAR entre fevrier 2005 et decembre 2007. La dissection aortique etait l’indication chez 23 (26%) patients (48% aigue, 52% chronique; Stanford A 17%, Stanford B 83%). Pour les besoins de cet article, nous nous sommes concentres sur les dissections de type B (17 patients). Quatre-vingt-deux pour cent des patients etaient symptomatiques a l’admission et 56% des cas ont ete effectues en urgence absolue ou relative. Resultats Il y a eu 100% de succes technique, avec une duree operatoire moyenne de 178 ± 119 min. Quarante-sept pour cent des cas ont necessite un pontage de l’artere sous-claviere gauche. La mortalite a trente jours etait de 5,5% et la morbidite de 12%. Les complications post-operatoires ont comporte une defaillance respiratoire dans 28% des cas, des symptomes gastro-intestinaux dans 11% des cas et des symptomes cerebrovasculaires dans 5,5% des cas. Il n’y a pas eu de defaillance renale. Malgre un drainage du liquide cephalo-rachidien effectue dans 35% des cas, nous avons observe une ischemie medullaire transitoire dans 5,5% des cas. La duree moyenne de sejour etait de 13 ± 12 jours; 63% des patients ont regagne leur domicile, 12% ont necessite une rehabilitation et 25% ont rejoint un centre de soins de suite. Il n’y a pas eu d’association entre les resultats et le mode de presentation ou l’extension anatomique. Conclusion La dissection aortique reste une entite clinique de prise en charge delicate. L’histoire du TEVAR a ameliore son pronostic mais il persiste une morbidite considerable et des differences selon le mode de presentation et l’expansion anatomique.
α-Fluoro-β-alanine: Effects on the antitumor activity and toxicity of 5-fluorouracil

We have shown previously that (R)-5-fluoro-5,6-dihydrouracil (FUraH(2)) attenuates the antitumor activity of 5-fluorouracil (FUra) in rats bearing advanced colorectal carcinoma. Presently, we found that alpha-fluoro-beta-alanine (FBAL), the predominant catabolite of FUra that is formed rapidly via FUraH(2), also decreased the antitumor activity and potentiated the toxicity of FUra. In rats treated with Eniluracil (5-ethynyluracil, GW776), excess FBAL, in a 9:1 ratio to FUra, produced similar effects when administered 1 hr before, simultaneously with, or 2 hr after FUra. FBAL also decreased the antitumor activity of FUra in Eniluracil-treated mice bearing MOPC-315 myeloma at a 9:1 ratio with FUra, but not at a 2:1 ratio. FBAL did not affect the antitumor activity of FUra in mice bearing Colon 38 tumors. We also evaluated the effect of thymidylate synthase (TS) and thymidine kinase (TK) from tumor extracts after FUra +/- Eniluracil +/- FBAL treatment. The activity of TK was similar among the three groups at both 18 and 120 hr. There was also no difference in TS inhibition ( approximately 35%) at 18 hr. However, significantly more TS inhibition was observed in the Eniluracil/FUra group than in the FUra-alone group at 120 hr. FBAL did not alter the effect of Eniluracil/FUra in TS inhibition. Neither FUraH(2) nor FBAL affected the IC(50) of FUra in culture. Thus, the effect of FBAL did not result from direct competition with FUra uptake or immediate anabolism. Either another downstream catabolite that is not formed in cell culture is the active agent, or the effect requires the complexity of a living organism or an established tumor.
An application of 1H nuclear magnetic resonance to the determination of hydrophobic interactions in peptides

Intermolecular hydrophobic interactions between the indole or phenyl moieties of the peptides containing L-tryptophan (L-Trp) or L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) residues and the apolar isopropyl groups of the peptides containing L-leucine (L-Leu) or L-valine (L-Val) in aqueous solutions have been detected by 1H NMR by monitoring the observed changes in the proton magnetic resonance parameters of the methyl resonances of the peptides containing L-Leu or L-Val residues. The 1H NMR data indicate that intermolecular hydrophobic interactions are responsible for the observed changes in the proton magnetic resonance parameters of the methyl resonances. For example, when a solution of glycylglycylleucine (Gly-Gly-L-Leu) in deuterium oxide was mixed with glycylglycyltryptophan (Gly-Gly-L-Trp), the methyl protons of Gly-Gly-L-Leu exhibited large diamagnetic ring current shifts. However, when glycylglycylglycine (Gly-Gly-Gly) was substituted for Gly-Gly-L-Trp in the NMR experiment, the methyl resonances did not show any upfield or downfield shift, thereby demonstrating that the observed upfield shifts are not due to bulk susceptibility differences between solutions. The C-terminus peptides containing L-Leu or L-Val residues bind to the aromatic L-Trp or L-Phe peptides better than the N-terminus L-Leu or L-Val peptides. The C-terminus Gly-Gly-L-Leu binds better than the C-terminus glycylglycylvaline (Gly-Gly-L-Val). The strength and specificity of hydrophobic interactions in several small peptides are discussed.
Multi-material ALE with AMR for modeling hot plasmas and cold fragmenting materials

We have developed a new 3D multi-physics multi-material code, ALE-AMR, which combines Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) hydrodynamics with Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) to connect the continuum to the microstructural regimes. The code is unique in its ability to model hot radiating plasmas and cold fragmenting solids. New numerical techniques were developed for many of the physics packages to work efficiently on a dynamically moving and adapting mesh. We use interface reconstruction based on volume fractions of the material components within mixed zones and reconstruct interfaces as needed. This interface reconstruction model is also used for void coalescence and fragmentation. A flexible strength/failure framework allows for pluggable material models, which may require material history arrays to determine the level of accumulated damage or the evolving yield stress in J2 plasticity models. For some applications laser rays are propagating through a virtual composite mesh consisting of the finest resolution representation of the modeled space. A new 2nd order accurate diffusion solver has been implemented for the thermal conduction and radiation transport packages. One application area is the modeling of laser/target effects including debris/shrapnel generation. Other application areas include warm dense matter, EUV lithography, and material wall interactions for fusion devices.
Mineralogy and geochemistry of vanadium in the Colorado Plateau

Abstract The chief domestic source of vanadium is uraniferous sandstone in the Colorado Plateau. Vanadium is 3-, 4-, or 5-valent in nature and, as oxides or combined with other elements, it forms more than 40 minerals in the Plateau ores. These ores have been studied with regard to the relative amounts of vanadium silicates and oxide-vanadates, uranium-vanadium ratios, the progressive oxidation of black low-valent ores to high-valent carnotite-type ores, and theories of origin.
Imaging modalities and tests for cervical myelopathy

Abstract Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a progressively degenerative disease of the spine that results from compression of the spinal cord. Diagnostic imaging, in addition to a history and physical examination, is essential to diagnose CSM, to guide surgical decision making, and to identify prognostic indicators to surgical success. We discuss the modalities of imaging in common practice and examine the use of radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT/CT myelography, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and magnetization transfer imaging (MT) in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with CSM.
The Prime Meridian of Mars and the Longitudes of the Viking Landers

A planetwide control net of Mars has been computed by a single large-block analytical triangulation derived from 17,224 measurements of 3,037 control points on 928 Mariner 9 pictures. The computation incorporated the Viking-determined direction of the spin axis and rotation rate of Mars. The angle measured from the vernal equinox to the prime meridian (areocentric right ascension) of Mars was determined to be 148.368 deg + 350.891986 deg (JD - 2433282.5), where JD refers to the Julian date. The prime meridian of Mars passes through the center of the small crater Airy-O. The longitudes of the Viking landers are 47.82 + or - 0.1 deg for Lander 1 and 225.59 + or - 0.1 deg for Lander 2.
Practical frequency domain ICA algorithm capable of solving permutation and gain ambiguities for digital communication system

A computationally efficient frequency domain independent component analysis (ICA) algorithm (ICA-F), which separates the source signals from the measurements of their convolution mixtures, is proposed. Techniques are developed to solve the permutation and gain ambiguities. Simulation results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed ICA-F algorithm.
Pediatric ARF epidemiology at a tertiary care center from 1999 to 2001

Background: Previous epidemiological data for pediatric patients with acute renal failure (ARF) predate current intensive care unit (ICU) technology and practice, and do not reflect newer disease therapies for bone marrow, hepatic, and cardiac transplantation and congenital heart disease surgery. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 254 ARF episodes in 248 children discharged from a tertiary referral center, Texas Children's Hospital (Houston, TX), between January 1998 and June 2001 to update current pediatric ARF epidemiological characteristics. Results: The most common causes of ARF were renal ischemia (21%), nephrotoxic medications (16%), and sepsis (11%). Primary renal diseases accounted for only 17 cases (7%), and hemolytic uremic syndrome accounted for only 3 cases. Overall ARF survival for the entire cohort was 176 of 254 patients (70%), whereas 110 of 185 patients (60%) requiring ICU admission and 43 of 77 patients (56%) receiving renal replacement therapy survived. Conclusion: These current pediatric ARF data show that pediatric ARF epidemiological characteristics have changed from primary renal disease to renal involvement secondary to other systemic illness. Longitudinal data from this cohort are underway to determine the long-term sequelae of pediatric ARF.
Protective role of human milk against sudden death from infant botulism.

We examined the possibility that human milk and formula milk might differentially affect the severity of infant botulism because they differ in immunologic composition and in influence on the normal intestinal microflora against which Clostridium botulinum must compete. A beneficial effect of human milk was suggested by the different feeding experiences of the moderate, hospitalized patients and the sudden death cases. Of patients hospitalized in California, 66% (33/50) were still being nursed at onset of illness, a percentage significantly greater than that of matched controls ( P C. botulinum infection were being fed iron-supplemented formula milk at death (unlike their controls, P P
Saccade Reward Signals in Posterior Cingulate Cortex

Movement selection depends on the outcome of prior behavior. Posterior cingulate cortex (CGp) is strongly connected with both limbic and oculomotor circuitry, and CGp neurons respond following saccades, suggesting a role in signaling the motivational outcome of gaze shifts. To test this hypothesis, single CGp neurons were studied in monkeys while they shifted gaze to visual targets for liquid rewards that varied in size or were delivered probabilistically. CGp neurons responded following saccades as well as following reward delivery, and these responses were correlated with reward size. CGp neurons also responded following the omission of predicted rewards. The timing of CGp activation and its modulation by reward could provide signals useful for updating representations of expected saccade value.
Pharmacists From Health Practioners’ Perspectives

I had the opportunity to attend the September 2012 conference of the National Academies of Practice entitled “Patient-Centered Care: Working Together in an Interprofessional World.” Practitioners from over 12 health professions, along with public health proponents, educators, students, and health administrators, challenged the status quo in health professions education and practice. One conference exercise involved about 60 individuals in an interprofessional competencies workshop facilitated by faculty members from Case Western Reserve University. Posters were mounted around the room for nursing, physical therapy, dentistry, medicine, social work, and pharmacy. We were given markers to write a word or phrase in the top section of the posters labeled “Words.” I wrote “committed” on the nursing poster and “problem-solver” on the social work poster, but there were entries such as “controlling” for nurses and “pain” for physical therapists. Gradually profiles developed as participants made their way around the room. After about 10 minutes, we were asked to gather around the poster for our own profession. There were just a few pharmacists in attendance including my former student, a new faculty acquaintance from a New England school, a pharmacist on faculty at an osteopathic medicine school, and myself. We were asked to reflect on the words others had written about pharmacy and to write in the bottom “Surprises” section of the poster. All of us had been a little apprehensive about what we would read. The words and phrases we found were: hidden expertise, adherence focus, intelligence, medications, patient education, knowledgeable, precise, interpreter, broad-based knowledge of medications, behind the scenes, and chemistry. As pharmacists we were somewhat relieved by the positive terms such as “patient education.” We were surprised that no one wrote “formulary police,” but we also wondered why there was no mention of helpfulness, dedication, supportiveness, collaboration, or partnership from the other professions. It is true that this sampling involved people exploring ways to improve interprofessional education and health care delivery. They were not likely to be the most critical or negative. However, there is a clear message from their perspectives. If pharmacists are viewed as “behind the scenes” with “hidden expertise,” then our role on the health care team is challenging at best. Collectively we will need to leverage our recognized expertise in medications with the people and processes working to ensure better health, better care, and lower cost in this era of health care reform and quality assurance. This is more than getting out from behind the prescription counter. It means joining the team (or forming one), learning the rules, improving our skills, and keeping sight of the goal for improved health.
Mycophenolate mofetil treatment for primary glomerular diseases.

Mycophenolate mofetil treatment for primary glomerular diseases. Background Treatment of primary glomerular diseases may be unsuccessful or have potential toxicities. Therefore, we evaluated the use of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for empirical treatment of primary glomerulopathies. Methods Forty-six patients with biopsy-proven primary glomerulopathies received MMF for ≥3 months as adjunctive or primary treatment. Median (range) 24-hour urine protein to creatinine ratio (U p/c ) and serum creatinine at the start and end of MMF therapy were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-ranks test. Results Overall, the median U p/c decreased from 4.7 (range P P P p/c that decreased from 2.7 (0.1, 20.3) to 0.8 ( P = 0.001) in 18 patients. In membranous nephropathy (MN) patients, the median U p/c decreased from 7.3 (0.1, 18.5) to 1.5 ( P = 0.001) in 17 patients. No significant change in median serum creatinine was detected in FSGS or MN patient groups during treatment. Conclusions Empirical MMF therapy in the majority of patients with primary glomerulopathies was well tolerated and achieved the goals of steroid withdrawal, improvement of nephrotic syndrome, and stabilization of renal function.
One-Carrier and Two-Carrier Steady-State Space-Charge-Limited Currents in Amorphous Selenium Films

Steady-state one-carrier and two-carrier space-charge-limited currents (SCLC) and emission-limited currents were observed in amorphous selenium films ranging in thickness from 0.83 to 42 \ensuremath{\mu}m. Above a threshold $\frac{V}{{L}^{2}}\ensuremath{\sim}1.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{7}$ V/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ and below an upper limit of $\frac{V}{{L}^{2}}\ensuremath{\sim}5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{8}$ V/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ relating the applied voltage $V$ and the film thickness $L$, the trap-free insulator model accounts for both the one-carrier and the two-carrier SCLC and yields the values ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{p}=6.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$ and ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{n}=2.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ for the ratios of free to trapped holes and electrons, respectively, and $\ensuremath{\tau}\ensuremath{\sim}1$ sec for the effective carrier recombination time.