cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systematic Approaches for Precise and Approximate Quantum State Runtime Assertion

With the rapid growth of quantum computing technology, programmers need new tools for debugging quantum programs. Recent works show that assertions are a promising way for debugging quantum programs. However, there are two main drawbacks with the existing schemes. First, the existing schemes, including both statistical and dynamic assertions are only capable of asserting limited types of states, namely classical, superposition, and specific entanglement states. Second, the use cases of these assertions are limited, since the programmer has to know the exact/precise state to assert.In this work, we propose two systematic approaches for dynamic quantum state assertion and they can assert a much broader range of quantum states including both pure states and mixed states. We also introduce the idea of approximate quantum state assertion for the cases where the programmers only have limited knowledge of the quantum states. Approximate assertion is capable of checking membership in a set of states $\{|\psi\rangle,\ |\phi\rangle,\ldots\}$. While precise quantum state assertion can check a specific quantum state, approximate assertion enables a way to check whether the qubits of interest are in a super-set of some expected states, which is analogous to the well-known Bloom filter for membership checking in classical computing. Our experiments demonstrate that our systematic approaches can assert many more quantum states and can be used in various assertion locations for qubit state checking.
DeCEMBERT: Learning from Noisy Instructional Videos via Dense Captions and Entropy Minimization

Leveraging large-scale unlabeled web videos such as instructional videos for pre-training followed by task-specific finetuning has become the de facto approach for many video-and-language tasks. However, these instructional videos are very noisy, the accompanying ASR narrations are often incomplete, and can be irrelevant to or temporally misaligned with the visual content, limiting the performance of the models trained on such data. To address these issues, we propose an improved video-and-language pre-training method that first adds automatically-extracted dense region captions from the video frames as auxiliary text input, to provide informative visual cues for learning better video and language associations. Second, to alleviate the temporal misalignment issue, our method incorporates an entropy minimization-based constrained attention loss, to encourage the model to automatically focus on the correct caption from a pool of candidate ASR captions. Our overall approach is named DeCEMBERT (Dense Captions and Entropy Minimization). Comprehensive experiments on three video-and-language tasks (text-to-video retrieval, video captioning, and video question answering) across five datasets demonstrate that our approach outperforms previous state-of-the-art methods. Ablation studies on pre-training and downstream tasks show that adding dense captions and constrained attention loss help improve the model performance. Lastly, we also provide attention visualization to show the effect of applying the proposed constrained attention loss.
Community College Finances and International Student Enrollment

Despite the prevalence of international students in US community colleges, little is known about how their presence affects this sector. To begin addressing this gap in the literature, we used institutional-level and county-level data on community colleges and panel regression techniques to examine the relationship between international student enrollment and institutional finances. Specifically, using fixed-effects panel regression models, we tested whether variations in public sources of funding are associated with international student enrollment changes as well as whether international student enrollment variations impact tuition revenue generation. Overall, we found that the sector as a whole still retains its local nature. Although international student enrollment in the community college sector has grown over the years, it is still not large enough to move the needle on our institutional finance indicators. Our findings have implications for future research as our conceptual framework and analytic approach can be employed with subsequent years of data.
Lack of Atorvastatin Effect on Monocyte Gene Expression and Inflammatory Markers in HIV-1-infected ART-suppressed Individuals at Risk of non-AIDS Comorbidities.

Background: Many people living with HIV have persistent monocyte activation despite viral suppression by antiretroviral therapy (ART), which contributes to non-AIDS complications including neurocognitive and other disorders. Statins have immunomodulatory properties that might be beneficial by reducing monocyte activation. Methods: We previously characterized monocyte gene expression and inflammatory markers in 11 HIV-positive individuals on long-term ART (HIV/ART) at risk for non-AIDS complications because of low nadir CD4+ counts (median 129 cells/uL) and elevated hsCRP. Here, these individuals participated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study of 12 weeks of atorvastatin treatment. Monocyte surface markers were assessed by flow cytometry, plasma mediators by ELISA and Luminex, and monocyte gene expression by microarray analysis. Results: Among primary outcome measures, 12 weeks of atorvastatin treatment led to an unexpected increase in CCR2+ monocytes (P=0.04), but did not affect CD16+ or CD163+ monocytes, nor levels in plasma of CCL2/MCP-1 or sCD14. Among secondary outcomes, atorvastatin treatment was associated with decreased plasma hsCRP (P=0.035) and IL-2R (P=0.012). Treatment was also associated with increased total CD14+ monocytes (P=0.015), and increased plasma CXCL9 (P=0.003) and IL-12 (P<0.001). Comparable results were seen in a subgroup that had inflammatory marker elevations at baseline. Atorvastatin treatment did not significantly alter monocyte gene expression or normalize aberrant baseline transcriptional patterns. Conclusions: In this study of aviremic HIV+ individuals at high risk of non-AIDS events, 12 weeks of atorvastatin did not normalize monocyte gene expression patterns nor lead to significant changes in monocyte surface markers or plasma mediators linked to non-AIDS comorbidities.
Reset Sequences for Finite Automata with Application to Design of Parts Orienters

Natarajan reduced the problem of designing a certain type of mechanical parts orienter to that of finding reset sequences for monotonic deterministic finite automata. He gave algorithms that in polynomial time either find such sequences or prove that no such sequence exists. In this paper we present a new algorithm based on breadth first search that runs in faster asymptotic time than Natarajan's algorithms, and in addition finds the shortest possible reset sequence if such a sequence exists. We give tight bounds on the length of the minimum reset sequence. We further improve the time and space bounds of another algorithm given by Natarajan, which finds reset sequences for arbitrary deterministic finite automata when all states are initially possible.
A Conceptual Framework to Enhance Community Resilience Using Social Capital

Community resilience has been recognized and promoted as both a vision and a strategy for disaster management. This paper establishes the importance of community resilience in disaster management, describes disaster management phases and the disaster system of care, reviews definitions and dimensions of community resilience and related foundational concepts (social groups, social networks, and social capital), and endorses a conceptual framework for enhancing community resilience through social capital. Resilience, both personal and community resilience, is increased by the social capital that emerges from improved social connections and social networks. Effective disaster management, which requires an informed and engaged public, relies on social networks to connect and support individuals, families, groups, and organizations within the community and to link the community with the disaster system of care. Community disaster teams can identify and engage in activities that promote personal and community resilience, and the team process itself can create social capital that also advances personal and community resilience. The enhancement framework advocated in this paper focuses on the role of social capital in augmenting community resilience derived from people’s interactions in groups, social networks, and teams.
STUDIES OF BEHAVIOR AND BEHAVIOR DEVELOPMENT BY LABORATORY MANIPULATION OF CONDITIONS

Book reviewed in this article: Mother-Love. By H. F. HARLOW Nature and Development of Affection. By H. R. HARLOW and R. ZIMMERMAN
SMI 2011: Full Paper: Localized Cocone surface reconstruction

We introduce a surface reconstruction algorithm suitable for large point sets. The algorithm is an octree-based version of the Cocone reconstruction algorithm [4], allowing independent processing of small subsets of the total input point set. When the points are sufficiently sampled from a smooth surface, the global guarantee of topological correctness of the original algorithm is preserved, together with the geometric accuracy guarantees.
Pack aluminisation kinetics of nickel rods and foams

AbstractThe kinetics of pack aluminisation has been described through a multiphase, finite difference model considering diffusion of aluminium into nickel under conditions of concentration dependent diffusivity and finite specimen dimensions, allowing complete conversion of the specimen to the equilibrium intermetallic phase. For a cylindrical geometry, the model accurately predicts the growth of an outer Ni2Al3 shell, the increase in diameter, and the average composition as measured for 0.5 and 1 mm diameter nickel rods aluminised at 1000°C for up to 4 h. For nickel foams with hollow struts, which are modelled as thin sheets, good agreement is found with the average aluminium concentration measured on two foams with strut wall thicknesses of 41 and 84 νm. The measured aluminisation kinetics for a foam with strut thickness of 6 νm, however, is much slower than predicted owing to the high surface area of this foam, which prevents the centre of the specimen from reaching the equilibrium aluminium surface co...
An analysis of nonuniform and localized deformation in ductile single crystals

Abstract The nonuniform and localized deformations of ductile single crystals subject to tensile loading are analyzed numerically. The crystal is modelled by a rate independent, elastic-plastic relation based on Schmid's law which precisely accounts for lattice rotations. Both self hardening and latent hardening of the slip systems are included in the model. The crystal geometry is idealized in terms of a planar double slip model. Initial imperfections are specified in the form of slight thickness inhomogeneities and the calculations follow the crystal deformation through diffuse necking and the formation of shear bands. The pattern of shear bands depends on the initial imperfection, but, independent of the particular small imperfection, the material planes of the bands are inclined at a characteristic angle to the slip planes. Also, the lattice misorientation across the shear band, which is such as to cause geometrical softening of the bands, is not sensitive to the imperfection form. For high strength, low hardening crystals a comparison with existing experimental data shows remarkably good qualitative and quantitative agreement between the calculations and observations. We also model a relatively soft high hardening crystal which undergoes more diffuse necking than the strong high hardening crystal. Diffuse necking leads to lattice rotations which produce geometrical softening and hence promote shear band formation. Furthermore, we carry out a calculation for a high strength low hardening crystal with the latent hardening rate prescribed somewhat larger than for isotropic hardening. In this case a ‘patchy’ pattern of slip emerges. However, the course of shear band development is unaffected.
Simplicial groups that are models for algebraic K-theory

In this paper, we present and compare some simplicial groups, functorially associated to a ring R, whose homotopy groups are Quillen’s K-groups of R. The first such simplicial group is the group Ω(NQPR), where Ω is the loop space construction of Clemens Berger, applied to the simplicial set NQPR (the nerve of Quillen’s category QPR). The second is a subgroup GR of the simplicial group Ω(NQPR). This second group is compared to Kan’s construction [12] of a loop group for a connected simplicial set, and shown to be isomorphic to it as a simplicial group. Other simplicial groups that are models for algebraic K-theory are also presented; in particular, the subgroup G(s.PR) of Ω(s.PR); here, s.PR is Waldhausen’s simplicial set [25], [26]. We initially give an exposition of Berger’s construction in general; then, we present the construction of GR and a summary of Kan’s construction. Next, we point out that GR is an infinite loop object in the category of simplicial groups, and draw some corollaries. We then compare directly the homotopy groups thus constructed with the classical K-theory in degrees 0 and 1. The final section compares various models.
The formation and thermal stability of amorphous Ni-Nb alloy powder synthesized by mechanical alloying

NixNb1−x alloys were synthesized from pure crystalline Ni and Nb powder by mechanical alloying under a controlled atmosphere. The mechanically alloyed powders were amorphous in the range 0.20
Exceptionally Large Eggs from Dwarf Leghorn Pullets

Abstract Two groups of dwarf (dw) Leghorn pullets reaching an adult weight of 1.36 and 1.38 kg. and a mature egg weight of 71.3 and 76.1 g. laid eggs in 2.9 and 3.0 sequences during a seven month laying period.
Deacetylation of 4-(5-acetylamino-2-furyl)thiazole and formation of 1-(4-thiazolyl)-3-cyano-1-propanone by rat liver tissues.

Abstract The reductive metabolism of the rat carcinogen 4-(5-nitro-2furyl)thiazole (NFT) to 1-4-thiazolyl)-3-cyano-1-propanone (TCP) is reported. Formation of TCP from NFT involved furan ring fission. This could have occurred through involvement of either aminofuran or N -hydroxylaminofuran as precursors. To examine if 4-(5-amino-2-furyl)thiazole is a precursor for TCP, a stable model compound, 4-(5-acetylamino-2-furyl)thiazole (AAFT), was prepared and subjected to enzymatic deacetylation, using rat liver tissue homogenates. AAFT was synthesized by catalytic hydrogenation of NFT with 5% palladium on activated carbon, followed by acetylation with acetic anhydride. AAFT, a white crystalline powder, melted at 168–170°, had an extinction coefficient of 17.9 mM −1 cm −1 at 293 nm in ethyl acetate, and exhibited spectroscopic and mass spectral characteristics consistent with the assigned structure. Incubation with rat liver 10,000 g supernatant preparations resulted in the biotransformation of AAFT as evidenced by a decrease in absorption at 290 nm. Incubation of 14 C-labeled AAFT followed by extraction with chloroform-diethyl ether (1:1) resulted in the recovery of a major portion (56%) of the radioactivity in the organic phase when the label was at the 2-position of the thiazole ring, while the major amount (82%) of radioactivity was recovered in the aqueous phase when the 1- 14 C-acetyl group was labeled. The radioactivity from the aqueous phase was extractable into the organic phase following acidification to pH 1, an observation consistent with deacetylation. Furthermore, the deacetylation product exhibited a mass spectrum, and retention times in gas and high pressure liquid chromatography, similar to those of synthetic TCP. These data establish 4-(5-amino-2-furyl)thiazole, derived from AAFT by deacetylation, as a precursor for TCP.
Electric dipole moment of the neutron in supersymmetric theories.

We reexamine the dipole electric moment of the neutron {ital d}{sub {ital n}} in supersymmetric theories. We reassess the contributions to {ital d}{sub {ital n}} from Weinberg's gluonic operator and the color and electric dipole operators, emphasizing the proper evaluation of their QCD correction factors, and see that {ital d}{sub {ital n}} is a very sensitive probe of these theories. We also give a calculation of the phrase that determines {ital d}{sub {ital n}} in realistic models and conclude that the dominant contribution to {ital d}{sub {ital n}} is expected to be due to strong (and not weak) {ital CP}-violating effects.
Pharmacobezoars described and demystified

Introduction. A bezoar is a concretion of foreign material that forms and persists in the gastrointestinal tract. Bezoars are classified by their material origins. Phytobezoars contain plant materi...
Tuning Thiophene with Phosphorus: Synthesis and Electronic Properties of Benzobisthiaphospholes

1,4-Dimercapto-2,5-diphosphinobenzene and 3,6-bis(hexyloxy)-1,4-dimercapto-2,5-diphosphinobenzene were synthesized and combined with various acid chlorides to obtain a series of benzobisthiaphospholes. Electrochemical and photophysical properties of the substituted benzobisthiaphospholes have been evaluated, and the observed reductions are more facile than the related benzothiaphospholes and 2,6-diphenylbenzobisthiazole. A benzobisthiaphosphole with C6H4-p-CN substituents was reduced at E(1/2)=-1.08 V (vs. saturated calomel electrode (SCE)). X-ray diffraction data for several of these phosphorus heterocycles has been obtained, and DFT calculations at the B3LYP level have been performed.
Excision of Internal Jugular Vein for Catheter-Related Thrombophlebitis

This report describes a case of internal jugular vein (IJV) thrombophlebitis refractory to intravenous (IV) antibiotics and anticoagulation managed with ligation and excision of the vein. Our patient was immunosuppressed for a transplanted organ and developed a catheter-related infection following major pelvic surgery. His symptoms worsened, and failure of medical management prompted operative intervention. Excision of the inflamed, thrombosed vein led to complete resolution of his symptoms.
Measuring Force of Massage Produced by the Teatcup Liner

Abstract Physiological implications of liner movement were considered. An artificial teat was used to measure teatcup liner force considered to be massage only when it exceeded atmospheric pressure. Liner force was maximum at the midpoint of the width of the collapsed liner walls and maximum in the middle third of total liner length. Liner force was at least 90% of maximum for 64% of the time the liner was collapsed but reached its maximum only for 8% of the time the liner was collapsed. Pulsated pressure, liner opening and closing, and liner pressure were recorded simultaneously. From this recording, a table was presented with numbers for liner opening pressure, closing pressure, maximum massage, massage time, liner closed time, liner open time, and the product massage×massage time. Some teat end lesions may be explained by observations that the liner collapses in a fixed plane, and liner pressure can vary with lateral teat position and depth of teat penetration. Regardless of the desirability of liner massage, forces on the teat end should be distributed as evenly as possible by routine rotation of the liner within the shell.
A Case of Monilial Granulomas Associated with Widespread Superficial Moniliasis and Epidermophytosis1

The following report deals with a case of monilial granulomas and superficial moniliasis due to Candida albicans, together with epidermophytosis due to Epidermophyton floccosum.
Comparison of numerical and analytical solutions for fly casting dynamics

This paper presents an approximate analytical model of the dynamics of a tapered fly line during a standard overhead cast. During casting, the line forms a nonlinear propagating wave that is frequently referred to as a ‘loop’ by fly casters. The geometry of the loop is described by three distinct parts: a straight bottom segment (attached to a stationary fly rod), a semi-circular segment that is propagating (i.e. the loop), and a straight top segment that is also propagating, (i.e. the traveling line). A fly (particle) is attached at the end of the traveling line. A work-energy balance yields the velocity of the fly as a function of the length of the traveling line. For a uniform fly line (level line), a closed-form solution is found, while for a tapered fly line, the solution is obtained by quadrature. A critical loop diameter arises in the analysis, and it determines whether the final velocity of the fly is greater or lesser than the initial velocity of the traveling line. The analytical solutions are critically compared against numerical solutions of a general model for fly line dynamics that relaxes many of the assumptions employed in the analytical model. The agreement between the two solutions remains close during the loop propagation phase, provided a significant amount of fly line remains in the traveling line. However, as the traveling line vanishes and the loop ‘turns over’, the two solutions diverge abruptly due to the many simplifying assumptions employed in the analytical model.
Treatment of equinocavovarus deformity in a severely hemophilic child: The role of a monolateral multiplanar-geared fixation device

Equinovarus deformity is associated with various disorders and diseases, including this case of recurrent hemarthrosis due to hemophilia. The patient demonstrated progressive deformation in the ankle and foot over the course of several years of evaluation. Until medical hemostatic control was possible, surgery was contraindicated. At age 9, therapeutic control of bleeding was attained, and surgical intervention was initiated. Due to concerns for skin and soft tissue compromise in this patient, a monolateral multiplanar-geared external fixator (M2 MultiPlanar MiniRail, Orthofix) was placed using two sets of half pins. The use of the M2 fixation device demonstrated its ease of use and application, along with the staged correction that was completed both in the orthopaedic office and at home. This case presents an effective approach to the surgical correction of equinocavovarus deformity using a monolateral multiplanar-geared fixation device.
The Undergraduate Origins of PhD Economists

The authors document the types of undergraduate colleges and universities attended by those who earned a doctorate in economics from an American university from 1966 through 2003. They examine relationships between type of undergraduate institution and attrition and time-to-degree in PhD programs. The total number of new economics PhDs awarded to U.S. citizens has declined precipitously over the past 30 years. Concurrently, the number of new economics doctorates who hold undergraduate degrees from U.S. universities has fallen by half, from a high of about 800 in 1972 to about 400 in 2003. Among those who have earned undergraduate degrees from American institutions, the mix of schools attended by the doctorates has remained relatively stable, with about 55 percent of those who earn a PhD in economics each year holding their bachelor's degree from a university that offers a PhD in economics and a bit more than 10 percent holding a bachelors degree from a selective liberal arts college. Currently, 18 of the ...
The influence of adrenal cortical hormones on sensitivity of mice to ionizing radiation.

The ability to alter resistance of animals to ionizing radiation is now well established (Treadwell et al., 1943, Graham and Graham, 1949, Patt et al., 1949). However, the physiological processes that accomplish this end are totally obscured. This paper attempts to define the place of the adrenal cortex in radio-sensitivity or resistance. The adrenal cortex is known to have a protective function from various kinds of trauma. It responds promptly to stress in many forms (Selye, 1947). Adrenalectomized animals are much more vulnerable to infection, toxins and mechanical trauma than their intact brothers (Perla and Marmorston, 1941). The administration of potent adrenal cortical extract to adrenal deficient individuals may restore them to a normal state of resistance but when given to normal animals, does not ordinarily endow a super immunity (Perla and Marmorston, 1941). When we began this study, estradiol (Treadwell et al., 1943) and foreign protein (Hektoen, 1918, Auer and Witherbee, 1921) given about 10 ...
Determination of the 4 mm Gamma Knife helmet relative output factor using a variety of detectors

Though the 4 mm Gamma Knife helmet is used routinely, there is disagreement in the Gamma Knife users community on the value of the 4 mm helmet relative output factor. A range of relative output factors is used, and this variation may impair observations of dose response and optimization of prescribed dose. To study this variation, measurements were performed using the following radiation detectors: silicon diode, diamond detector, radiographic film, radiochromic film, and TLD cubes. To facilitate positioning of the silicon diode and diamond detector, a three-dimensional translation micrometer was used to iteratively determine the position of maximum detector response. Positioning of the films and TLDs was accomplished by manufacturing custom holders for each technique. Results from all five measurement techniques indicate that the 4 mm helmet relative output factor is 0.868 +/- 0.014. Within the experimental uncertainties, this value is in good agreement with results obtained by other investigators using diverse techniques.
A robust malicious user detection scheme in cooperative spectrum sensing

In cognitive radio networks, cooperative spectrum sensing is critical for secondary users to accurately detect primary users. However, it is vulnerable to attacks from malicious users, which intentionally report incorrect sensing results, to mislead other secondary users or the fusion center in decision making. Therefore, detection of malicious users is extremely important for spectrum sensing. This paper proposes a decentralized scheme to detect malicious users in cooperative spectrum sensing. The scheme utilizes spatial correlation of received signal strengths among secondary users in close proximity and is based on robust outlier-detection technique. We have also proposed a neighborhood majority voting approach for the secondary users to decide if a specific user is malicious. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme can achieve a very good performance in detecting malicious users.
A penalty finite element approach for couple stress elasticity

There is mounting evidence for size dependent elastic deformation at micron and submicron length scales. Material formulations incorporating higher order gradients in displacements have been successful in modeling such size dependent deformation behavior. A couple stress theory without micro-rotation is considered here as micro-rotations increase complexity and necessitate parameters that are difficult to determine. Higher order gradient theories require continuity in both displacements and their derivatives and direct approaches with both displacements and their derivatives as nodal variables results in a large number of degrees of freedom. Here nodal rotations are applied along with nodal displacements to obtain a simpler finite element formulation with fewer degrees of freedom. The difference in rotation gradients determined with nodal displacements and rotations are minimized by a penalty term. To assess the suggested approach simulations are presented and discussed, where the material parameters have been obtained from experiments of epoxy microbeams in the literature.
Assessing attitudes toward spinal immobilization.

Abstract Background Prospective studies have improved knowledge of prehospital spinal immobilization. The opinion of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers regarding spinal immobilization is unknown, as is their knowledge of recent research advances. Study Objectives To examine the attitudes, knowledge, and comfort of prehospital and Emergency Department (ED) EMS providers regarding spinal immobilization performed under a non-selective protocol. Methods: An online survey was conducted from May to July of 2011. Participants were drawn from the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services and the Howard County General Hospital ED. The survey included multiple choice questions and responses on a modified Likert scale. Correlation analysis and descriptive data were used to analyze results. Results Comfort using the Kendrick Extrication Device was low among ED providers. Experienced providers were more likely to indicate comfort using this device. Respondents often believed that spinal immobilization is appropriate in the management of penetrating trauma to the chest and abdomen. Reported use of padding decreased along with the frequency with which providers practice and encounter immobilized patients. Respondents often indicated that they perform spinal immobilization due solely to mechanism of injury. Providers who feel as if spinal immobilization is often performed unnecessarily were more likely to agree that immobilization causes an unnecessary delay in patient care. Conclusions The results demonstrate the need for improved EMS education in the use of the Kendrick Extrication Device, backboard padding, and spinal immobilization in the management of penetrating trauma. The attitudes highlighted in this study are relevant to the implementation of a selective spinal immobilization protocol.
Neonatal endocrine abnormalities in myelin deficient Jimpy-Tabby mice

Abstract The Jimpy mouse is a sex-linked recessive mutant characterized by a paucity of myelin in the Central Nervous System. These mice are bred with another sex-linked gene bearing a fur mutation known as Tabby. The endocrine system of these animals was examined for histologic abnormalites because growth hormone and thyroxine play important roles in controlling myelinogenesis. The results of the present study show that the pituitary and thyroid are abnormal in appearance by two days after birth. The number of somatotrophs in the Jimpy-Tabby pituitary is reduced about 30% but the number of granules in these cells is increased 25%. The endoplasmic reticulum of the thyroid follicular cells in the mutants is dilated and occupies most of the cytoplasm. The results of this study demonstrate for the first time that Jimpy-Tabby mice exhibit abnormalities outside the Central Nervous System. The neonatal changes observed in the endocrine system are the basis for continued studies to determine if they are responsible for the myelin deficit.
Elevated Temperature Tensile Behavior of Nextel™ 720 Fibers

The tensile behavior of Nextel 720 fibers at elevated temperature was compared with room temperature results for both bare and monazite-coated fibers. While coated and uncoated fibers have nearly identical tensile strengths and Weibull moduli at room temperature, differences in response were seen at elevated temperature. Coated fibers tested at 1200°C were found to have a 40% drop in strength. Uncoated fibers at high temperature exhibited 55% less strength than at room temperature. However, the tensile strength distribution for uncoated fibers tested at high temperature exhibited two distinct populations, indicating two different failure mechanisms. One population showed a 50% drop while the other showed a 64% drop. The coating was thus found to have a protective effect in terms of short-duration high-temperature exposure. Further, the effect of soaking on strength was investigated by thermally soaking coated and uncoated fibers in air at 1200°C for 100 hours prior to tensile testing at elevated temperature. In this case, the long duration of thermal exposure appeared to eliminate the beneficial effects of the coating. Soaked fibers, both coated and uncoated, were found to have nearly identical strengths at 1200°C—a reduction of about 60%.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Silicon photonics technology: past, present, and future

Due to recent investments by government and industry, silicon-based photonics has a chance of becoming “the” mainstream photonics technology. This paper presents a survey of recent results found in journal articles and conference proceedings. Emerging trends in silicon-based photonic components (waveguides, ultrafast modulators, switches, light sources, detectors, direct bandgap SiGeSn/GeSn devices, photonic-crystal and plasmonic devices) are identified and discussed. In principle, Si PICs and OEICs can operate anywhere within the 0.3 to 100 μm wavelength range -- enabling transceivers, on-chip processing, and interfacing with fibers or free-space light beams. Thus, in addition to the very important 1.55 μm telecomm applications, there are significant Si photonic opportunities throughout the infrared-and-visible spectrum. The push towards smarter, ever-denser on-chip photonic networks, drives a “convergence” of micro-, nano- and plasmo-photonic techniques for progressively smaller devices (Moore’s law for photonics) and for improved functionality of modulators, switches, emitters, detectors, waveguides, resonators, tapers and filters. This convergence includes composite components: monolithic integration of microstrip waveguides, 2D and 3D photonic-crystal elements and metal/Si plasmon-optics that ultilize buried or surface-mounted 2D arrays of metal stripes or nanodots.
A measurement of the τ leptonic branching fractions

Using data from 1993 and 1994, preliminary measurements of the tau leptonic branching fractions, τ → evv¯ and τ → uvv¯ are presented. The results yield the ratio g μ g e = 0.988 ± 0.007 between the muon and electron couplings to the weak charged current. Combined with previous DELPHI measurements the result g μ g e = 0.991 ± 0.006 is obtained.
Attack of the Butterfly Spirits: The Impact of Movement Framing by Community Garden Preservation Activists

This study of the community garden preservation movement on the Lower East Side of New York examines the role of movement framing by activists in their struggle to save hundreds of gardens from destruction. In repeated confrontations with the Giuliani administration, gardeners successfully de-routinized the process of urban redevelopment by portraying the loss of a garden as an unimaginable violation against themselves, and the city. This process of re-framing urban development helped activists to compensate for their disempowered political status, and was instrumental in forcing the Giuliani administration to negotiate to save the gardens. Focusing on framing by movement activists demonstrates the purposive and strategic character of neighborhood identity. Emphasizing the strategy of neighborhood identities is a useful corrective to the many studies of community movements that emphasize their emergence from a relational, presumably non-strategic, local reality.
A mathematical model of fibrinolysis

Abstract In the present paper we discuss a mathematical model of fibrinolysis and show that it agrees with experimental evidence. We hope that such a model might ultimately serve as a basis for simplifying and speeding up certain clinical assays.
Adoptive transfer of unselected or leukemia-reactive T-cells in the treatment of relapse following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation

Adoptive transfer of in vivo generated antigen-specific donor-derived T-cells is increasingly recognized as an effective approach for the treatment or prevention of EBV lymphomas and cytomegalovirus infections complicating allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplants. This review examines evidence from preclinical experiments and initial clinical trials to critically assess both the potential and current limitations of adoptive transfer of donor T-cells sensitized to selected minor alloantigens of the host or to peptide epitopes of proteins, differentially expressed by clonogenic leukemia cells, such as the Wilms tumor protein, WT-1, as a strategy to treat or prevent recurrence of leukemia in the post-transplant period.
Large Nonlinear Random Responses of Spatially Non-Homogeneous Stochastic Shell Structures

This paper is concerned with large nonlinear random response analysis of spatially non-homogeneous stochastic shell structures under transient excitations. The latter are treated as nonstationary random excitation processes. The emphases are on (i) spatially non-homogeneous and homogeneous stochastic shell structures with large spatial variations, (ii) large nonlinear responses with finite strains and finite rotations, and (iii) intensive nonstationary random disturbances. The shell structures are approximated by the lower order mixed or hybrid strain based triangular shell finite elements developed earlier by the author and his associate. The nonstationary random nonlinear responses are evaluated by a procedure that consists of the stochastic central difference method, time co-ordinate transformation, and modified adaptive time scheme. Computationally, the procedure is very efficient compared with those entirely and partially based on Monte Carlo simulation, and is free from the limitations associated with those employing perturbation approximation techniques, such as the so-called stochastic finite element or probabilistic finite element method.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Daytime sleepiness and REM abnormalities in Prader-Willi syndrome : Evidence of generalized hypoarousal

AbstractThe aim of this study was to clarify the nature of the sleep abnormalities (excessive daytime sleepiness [EDS] and rapid eye movement [REM] sleep alterations) in Prader-Willi, Syndrome (PWS). Eight PWS patients, 15 normal, 16 narcoleptic, and 16 obese subjects were recorded in the sleep laboratory, both during daytime and nighttime. A principal-finding was that EDS in PWS was associated with an increased amount and depth of sleep. In PWS patients with EDS, compared to those PWS patients without EDS or the narcoleptic. obese, and normal groups, there were significant decreases in wakefulness and increases in percentage of sleep time (ST) and slow-wave sleep (SWS) both during daytime and nighttime testing. Also, in the adult PWS subjects (n=6), in contrast to normal and narcoleptic subjects, intensity of EDS was correlated with increased nocturnal percentage of ST and SWS and % SWS was positively correlated with % ST (both during daytime and nighttime testing). Another principal finding was that in ...
Coulomb interactions and the metal-insulator transition in p-SiGe

Abstract Magnetoresistance data in p-SiGe samples is analysed using the Renormalisation Group theories of Finkel'stein and Castellani et al. The interaction parameter, γ 2 is found to be of order one or larger than one, sufficient to explain the metallic behaviour in terms of delocalising Coulomb interaction corrections.
Cardiac Repolarization Abnormalities Among Patients With Various Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease

Background Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at increased risk of life-threatening cardiovascular arrhythmias. Although these arrhythmias are usually secondary to structural heart diseases that are commonly associated with CKD, a significant proportion of cases with sudden cardiac death have no obvious structural heart disease. This study aims to explore the relationship of cardiac repolarization in patients with CKD and worsening kidney function. Hypothesis There is cardiac repolarization abnormalities among patients with chronic kidney disease. Methods This was a retrospective, chart-review study of admissions or clinic visits to a university hospital between 2005 and 2010 by patients with a diagnosis of CKD. Inclusion criteria selected patients who had 12-lead surface electrocardiography (ECG), renal function tests within 24 hours, and transthoracic echocardiography within 6 months. Cases with a documented etiology for the corrected Qt (Qtc) interval prolongation including structural heart disease, QT prolonging drugs, or relevant disease conditions, were excluded. Results Our sample size was 154 ECGs. Two-thirds of patients with CKD had QTc interval prolongation, and about 20% had a QTc interval >500 ms. QTc interval was significantly different and increased with each successive stage of CKD using the Bazett (P < 0.006) or Fridericia (P = 0.03) formula. QTc interval correlated significantly with serum creatinine (P = 0.01). These finding were independent of age, gender, potassium, and calcium concentrations. Conclusions The progression of CKD resulted in a significant delay of cardiac repolarization, independent of other risk factors. This effect may potentially increase the risk of sudden cardiac death, and may also increase the susceptibility of drug-induced arrhythmia.
Cognitive Radios for Spectrum Sharing [Applications Corner]

The signal processing issues involved in cognitive radios are quite diverse and have led us on a figurative journey from Berkeley, California to Washington D.C. A holistic signal processing perspective shows that while the goal of reducing the regulatory overhead is admirable, everything will have to be put together in a balanced way in order to realize the true potential of this wireless revolution.
The stability of human respiratory syncytial virus is enhanced by incorporation of the baculovirus GP64 protein.

Current efforts to develop a vaccine against human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) are focused on live attenuated strains. However, the unstable nature of HRSV is a major challenge for the preparation, storage and distribution of live vaccine candidates. We report here that the stability of HRSV can be improved by incorporation of the GP64 glycoprotein from baculovirus Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus. GP64 was incorporated in place of or in addition to the homologous HRSV glycoproteins and was either expressed from the HRSV genome or provided by propagating the virus in a Vero cell line constitutively expressing GP64 (Vbac cells). The infectivity of the different virus stocks was monitored after storage at 4 °, 22 ° or 37 °C, over a period of 8 weeks. The results showed that the infectivity of HRSV could be stabilized by up to 10,000-fold by the GP64 protein, when stored at 22 °C for 6 weeks. This approach for stabilizing live HRSV may be important for vaccine development and may also prove useful for stabilizing other enveloped viruses.
A Validation of the Use of the American College Testing Proficiency Examination Program for Advanced Upper Division Placement of Nursing Students Graduated from Hospital-Based (Diploma) Nursing Programs:

At an upper division university, students entering the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program were graduated from Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs or graduated from hospital-based (diploma) programs. The admission criteria for the two groups of students were almost identical. The exception was that the diploma nurses were required to pass three ACT Proficiency Examination Program (PEP) tests with a standard score of 45 or more. The cumulative grade point averages (CGPAs) of the two groups of students at the upper division institution were compared. The CGPA of the diploma nurses was significantly higher than that of their ADN peers. Thus, the PEP credit-by-examination testing model was found to be an effective alternative to determine the advanced standing of students graduated from hospital-based nursing programs who were entering a BSN program at an upper division university.
Actions of GABA, picrotoxin and bicuculline on adrenal medulla.

Abstract GABA releases catecholamines from isolated perfused bovine adrenal glands. The secretory response is dependent on calcium and independent of acetylcholine. Tachyphylaxis to the releasing effect is observed. Picrotoxin inhibits the effect of acetylcholine and the effect of low but not high concentrations of GABA. Bicuculline, another reported GABA antagonist, blocks the effect of all concentrations of GABA but not the effect of acetylcholine. Bicuculline is therefore a more specific GABA blocker in adrenal medulla than picrotoxin. These findings suggest the existence of GABA receptors in adrenal medulla which may be analogous in some respects to those reported in autonomic ganglia.
Tracking-FCS: Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy of individual particles

We exploit recent advances in single-particle tracking to perform fluorescence correlation spectroscopy on individual fluorescent particles, in contrast to traditional methods that build up statistics over a sequence of many measurements. By rapidly scanning the focus of an excitation laser in a circular pattern, demodulating the measured fluorescence, and feeding these results back to a piezoelectric translation stage, we track the Brownian motion of fluorescent polymer microspheres in aqueous solution in the plane transverse to the laser axis. We discuss the estimation of particle diffusion statistics from closed-loop position measurements, and we present a generalized theory of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy for the case that the motion of a single fluorescent particle is actively tracked by a time-dependent laser intensity. We model the motion of a tracked particle using Ornstein-Uhlenbeck statistics, using a general theory that contains a umber of existing results as specific cases. We find good agreement between our theory and experimental results, and discuss possible future applications of these techniques to passive, single-shot, single-molecule fluorescence measurements with many orders of magnitude in time resolution.
5.7 A graphics execution core in 22nm CMOS featuring adaptive clocking, selective boosting and state-retentive sleep

In this paper, we present a low-power graphics processing core that achieves a 40% improvement in peak energy efficiency using dual-VCC arrays, adaptive clocking for voltage droop mitigation, and state retention capability with an integrated retention clamping circuit for low-power sleep mode. The 22nm testchip includes a graphics execution core connected to an SRAM array and test controller used for storage and delivery of at-speed test vectors. Correct execution of the tests is validated through a multiple-input signature register (MISR), which accumulates key signals in the core and generates a 32b signature at test completion.
Unifying model for associative thickener influences on waterborne coatings: II. Competitive adsorption of nonionic surfactants and HEUR thickeners on titanium dioxide pretreated with inorganic stabilizers and organic oligomeric dispersants

Size exclusion chromatography in tandem with UV absorbance of the surfactant is used to separate and quantify the amount of nonionic surfactant and model hydrophobically modified ethoxylated urethane (HEUR) thickeners adsorbed on different organic oligomeric polyacid, metal oxide-treated TiO2 surfaces. The isoelectric point imposed on TiO2 by the metal oxide surface treatment determines the amount of organic dispersant adsorbed. The size of the α-olefin on the maleic acid dispersant is also important in the adsorption of the dispersant. The size of the α-olefin on the organic acid dispersant, in turn, determines the amount of surfactant and HEUR thickener adsorbed. The surfactant, unlike the HEUR thickener, exhibits a dependence on the metal oxide treatment in neutral media, independent in several aspects of the amount of organic dispersant adsorbed. The adsorption dependence of HEUR thickeners and nonionic surfactant on the hydrophobe size of the HEUR is discussed.
Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis in the Rat: Response to Encephalitogenic Proteins and Peptides

Lewis rats were used to determine the encephalitogenic activity of myelin basic protein of different species and of 45-residue fragments of basic protein. Basic protein from guinea pigs was more active than that from rats, and the fragments from the two species showed the same order of activity. Bovine basic protein was the least active of the intact proteins, and the respective fragment was inactive. Studies of serum-binding capacity did not support the hypothesis that blocking antibody played a role in this biological variation, whereas consideration of the amino acid sequences of the three fragments suggested that differences in primary structure, operating either at the sensitization or the effector phase of the immune response, could account for the variation.