cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Narrow-Band Based Multiscale Full-Spectrum k-Distribution Method for Radiative Transfer in Inhomogeneous Gas Mixtures

The full-spectrum k-distribution (FSK) method has become the most promising model for radiative transfer in participating media since its introduction a few years ago. It achieves line-by-line (LBL) accuracy for homogeneous media with only a tiny fraction of LBL’s computational cost. Among the variants of the FSK method for dealing with inhomogeneous media, the multiscale FSK (MSFSK) method not only provides a strategy to treat the inhomogeneity problem by introducing an overlap coefficient, it also accommodates a solution to the so-called mixing problem (mixing of k-distributions for different gas species). The evaluation of MSFSK parameters, however, is tedious and excludes the MSFSK method from practical applications. In this paper a new scheme of evaluating k-distributions and overlap coefficients from a database of narrow-band k-distributions is formulated, treating each gas specie as a single scale. The new scheme makes the MSFSK method efficient and convenient for practical applications, and ready to accommodate nongray absorbing particles (such as soot) in the medium. The method virtually eliminates errors caused by uncorrelatedness due to independently varying species concentrations. It was also found that, in addition, breaking up a gas mixture into gas scales reduces the error caused by temperature inhomogeneities. The mathematical development of the new scheme is described and validated; the concept and the implication of the overlap coefficient are discussed. Sample calculations for inhomogeneous media with step changes in species mole fraction and temperature are performed to demonstrate the accuracy of the new scheme by comparison with LBL calculations.
Experimental studies of the formation process and morphologies of carbon nanotubes with bamboo mode structures

Abstract Carbon nanotubes (CNT) were synthesized by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition, and the formation process and morphologies of bamboo mode structures were systematically analyzed. Thin films of Fe on Si substrates were used as the catalyst, and the CNT films were characterized with electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and Auger electron spectroscopy. For growth up to 15 min, the films grow with vertically aligned CNT with evidence of amorphous carbon at the top surface. For longer growth times the films exhibit a layer of amorphous carbon and a CNT mat on top of the aligned carbon nanotube ‘forest.’ Transmission electron microscopy measurements displayed multiwalled CNT with bamboo structure and encapsulated tips some of which contained catalyst particles. Two kinds of bamboo mode structures were observed: cone shaped, and cylindrical. The results indicate that the CNT growth is predominantly of the base growth mode, and the formation of the compartments was attributed to the difference in the bulk and surface diffusion of carbon species at the catalyst.
Elastic effects in intercalation compounds: Comparison of lithium in graphite and TiS 2

We compare the concentration dependence of stage-1 package thicknesses for the intercalation compound families Li/sub x/C/sub 6/ and Li/sub x/TiS/sub 2/ in order to study the influence of host elastic properties on staging. In both families the data suggest that local host-layer distortions around isolated intercalates are important, an elastic model based on rigid layers giving a poor fit. The decay lengths for local distortions are 5 and 7 A, respectively, for graphite and TiS/sub 2/. We argue that a more concentrated strain field associated with the smaller decay length gives rise to a larger value of U/sub 0/, the effective in-plane two-body attractive potential, for Li in graphite relative to TiS/sub 2/. This in turn explains qualitatively why Li/sub x/C/sub 6/ exhibits high stages at 300 K for various x while Li/sub x/TiS/sub 2/ is restricted to stage 1.
Fatal traumatic brain injury, West Virginia, 1989-1998.

Objective.The objective of this study was to describe fatal cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI) among West Virginia residents.Methods.The authors analyzed data from the National Center for Health Statistics Multiple Cause of Death tapes for the period 1989–1998. They compared West Virginia's annualized average TBI death rate with the rates of other states and with the rate among U.S. residents for the same period. U.S. Bureau of Census population estimates were used as denominators.Results.A total of 4,416 TBI deaths occurred in West Virginia in 1989–1998, for an annual average death rate of 23.6 per 100,000 population. From 1989 to 1998, TBI death rates declined 5% (p=0.4042). Seventy-five percent (n=3,315) of fatalities occurred among men. Adults ⩾65 years of age accounted for the highest percentage of fatal injuries (n = 1,135). The leading external causes of fatal TBI were: firearm-related (39% of reported fatalities), motor vehicles–related (34%), and fall-related (10%). Firearm-related TBI became ...
The New Asianism: Japanese Foreign Policy under the Democratic Party of Japan

This article examines the foreign policy views of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), from the party's founding through its first year in power.
How egocentrism and optimism change in response to feedback in repeated competitions

People tend to egocentrically focus on how adverse or beneficial conditions in competitions affect the self, while inadequately considering the comparable impact on opponents. This leads to overoptimism for a victory in easy tasks and underoptimism in hard tasks. Four experiments investigated whether experience and performance feedback in a multi-round competition would influence egocentric weighting and optimism biases across rounds. The results indicated that egocentric weighting and optimism biases decreased across rounds. However, this apparent debiasing occurred under restrictive conditions, and participants did not generalize their learned, non-egocentric tendencies to novel contexts. The roles of differential confidence and surface/structural similarity are discussed as reasons why optimism biases were generally pervasive.
Young's modulus of polycrystalline Li22Si5

Abstract In order for Li–Si alloys to be used in Li-ion batteries as anodes, knowledge of their mechanical properties, such as Young's moduli, is crucial. Young's modulus of polycrystalline Li 22 Si 5 was determined from nanoindentation testing. The value of Young's modulus was 35.4 ± 4.3 GPa. This value is approximately one-half of the predicted value based on density functional theory calculations. This difference was not a result of the testing procedure or microstructural variables.
A study on the tensile response and fracture in carbon nanotube-based composites using molecular mechanics

Abstract A study on the mechanical properties of polyethylene and carbon nanotube (CNT) based composites is presented using molecular mechanics simulations. The systems being investigated consist of amorphous as well as crystalline polyethylene (PE) composites with embedded single-walled CNTs. All the systems are subjected to quasi-static tensile loading, with the assumption that no cross-link chemical bonds exist between the CNT and polyethylene matrix in the case of nanocomposites. Based on the numerical simulations, we report Young’s moduli (C33) of 212–215 GPa for crystalline PE, which closely match the experimental measurement. Furthermore, elastic stiffness of 3.19–3.69 GPa and tensile strength of 0.21–0.25 GPa are obtained for amorphous PE. The tensile responses are found to be highly isotropic. In the case of crystalline PE reinforced by long through CNTs, moderate improvements in the tensile strength and elastic stiffness are observed. However, the results differ from the predictions using the rule of mixtures. On the other hand, although significant increase in the overall tensile properties is observed when amorphous PE is reinforced by long through CNTs, the load transfer at the nanotube/polymer interface has negligible effect. Finally, degradations in both tensile strength and elastic stiffness are reported when amorphous PE is reinforced by embedded CNTs. The study presented indicates the importance of specific CNT and polymer configurations on the overall properties of the nanocomposite.
Capsule endoscopy performed across the pediatric age range: indications, incomplete studies, and utility in management of inflammatory bowel disease.

Background Capsule endoscopy (CE) is used increasingly to evaluate the small bowel in children. An upper GI series is recommended before CE to evaluate the risk of obstruction. Despite normal findings on an upper GI series, CE may still be incomplete. Although large adult studies have demonstrated the safety and diagnostic yield of CE, similar pediatric studies have not been available. Objective To identify factors associated with incomplete studies and the diagnostic yield in pediatric patients. Design Retrospective review of consecutive CE studies from February 2005 through June 2008. Setting Large tertiary children's hospital. Patients A total of 123 CE studies in 117 patients; median age 12.9 years (range 0.8-22.4 years). Main Outcome Measurements Demographic information, indication, placement technique, pre-CE imaging results, and cecal completion status were recorded. Risk factors were analyzed with bivariate and multivariate regression analysis. Results There were 27 (22%) incomplete studies; of these, there were normal pre-CE radiologic study findings in 12 (44%), and findings requiring medical, endoscopic, or operative intervention in 6. Of the 117 patients, CE produced a new diagnosis in 21 (18%). Abnormal findings on previous imaging (odds ratio [OR] 3.0; 95% CI, 1.2-8.0), endoscopic placement (OR 3.1; 95% CI, 1.1-8.4), and female sex (OR 3.3; 95% CI, 1.2-9.4) were associated with incomplete studies. Limitations Retrospective, incomplete follow-up. Conclusions CE may be performed in children as small as 11.5 kg, with 18% yield in all studies, and 28% in pediatric known inflammatory bowel disease. Capsule retention requiring retrieval did not pose life-threatening risk in our series, and CE may be used to identify disease-associated small-bowel stenosis.
Integrating prior domain knowledge into discriminative learning using automatic model construction and phantom examples

Domain knowledge captures an expert's approximate understanding of the world, its objects, and their properties. When available, it should serve to augment the information in a classification learner's training set. But this form of prior knowledge does not easily fit into the statistical learning paradigm. We propose and evaluate the use of phantom examples to remedy this. Our system performs automated model construction and learns generative models for phantom examples that adapt to the need of individual tasks. The approach is validated on the challenging real-world task of distinguishing handwritten Chinese characters. The approach improves learning significantly, provides additional robustness, and works well even though the domain knowledge is imperfect and approximate.
Differentiation and malignant transformation: two roads diverged in a wood.

Growth factors and their receptors are known to send at times contradictory signals, such as proliferation or differentiation. Recent developments in our knowledge of growth factor receptors and their signaling pathways have clarified the basis for this puzzling behavior. Separate domains of a receptor and/or the availability of specific substrates determine the fate of a cell stimulated by the same growth factor. In some models, the difference between malignant transformation and differentiation (leading to cell death) may depend on the presence or absence of a single agonist or antagonist molecule. The type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor will serve as the paradigm for this review. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppls. 32/33:68–75, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A thermodynamic and kinetic approach to the study of biological models, with particular reference to membranes containing immobilized enzyme.

Summary Biological models are defined and their salient features outlined. The advantages and limitations of nonequilibrium thermodynamics as a conceptual tool in the study or such models is discussed. In order to utilize this tool it is necessary that the sets of flows and forces characterizing a system be linearly related to one another. This seems to be the case over a comparatively wide range in studies of active sodium transport in natural membranes such as frog skin, and permits an examination of the effects of drugs and hormones on energetic factors. It is also necessary that the linear phenomenological relations show Onsager reciprocity. In one model system, a complex synthetic membrane containing immobilized enzyme which exhibits «active transport of electric current, this property was verified experimentally. For model enzymemembranes in general, a unique formulation of coupled transport and chemical reaction exists such that the phenomenological description satistes a macroscopic analogue of Curie's principle. Consequently the global coupling coefficients relating mass flow to reaction flow are zero in symmetric membranes. This treatment is illustrated by means of appropriate experimental studies on papain-collodion membranes, and is shown to lead to a method of obtaining local reaction and diffusion parameters from global measurements.
Flow characteristics around a wall-mounted spherical obstacle in a thin boundary layer

The mean wake structures and turbulent flow fields of a wall-mounted spherical obstacle placed in a thin laminar boundary layer, of thickness 14 % of the sphere diameter, were investigated at a Reynolds number of 17,800. Digital particle image velocimetry was used to interrogate the flow in the vicinity of the obstacle, and thermal anemometry measurements were performed to characterize unsteadiness in the wake. Streamwise features observed in the mean wake flow included counter-rotating tip vortices inducing downwash, horseshoe vortices, weak vortices inducing upwash at the top of the near wake, and counter-rotating ‘lobe’ vortices formed by the somewhat unique convex geometry of the sphere near the base. Under the present flow conditions, the sphere base geometry also prevented the roll-up of a horseshoe system upstream of the obstacle. The wake flow field, including lobe structures, is consistent with a vortex skeleton model developed to describe the simpler wakes of low-aspect-ratio wall-mounted semi-ellipsoidal obstacles, with modifications due to the unique junction geometry. Point velocity measurements in the wake identified a weak dominant frequency close to the bed. Cross-spectral analysis of these data at symmetrically located points revealed that, on average, flow oscillations were in phase. The turbulent stress distribution in the wake of the sphere showed a region of high magnitude near the bed not observed for other geometries, and spatially consistent with the lobe structures.
Serum potassium and cardiovascular mortality.

BACKGROUND: The impact of serum potassium on mortality is inadequately defined. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of serum potassium with mortality. METHODS: We analyzed NHANES I Epidemiological Follow-up Study data from 1974–1992. Of 2,992 subjects with baseline serum potassium, 156 were excluded because their vital status was not known. A total of 2,836 subjects with serum potassium within 2.7–5.4 mmol/L were studied. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality were assessed controlling for sociodemographic status, smoking, medical history, and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: At baseline, mean age was 46.6 years, and mean serum potassium was 4.07 mmol/L. Subjects were stratified into three groups by mean ± 1 standard deviation of serum potassium: low, 2.7–3.7 mmol/L (N= 77); middle, 3.8–4.4 mmol/L (N=1,982); and high, 4.5–5.4 mmol/L (N=377). The cardiovascular mortality rate per 1,000 person-years adjusted for age, gender, and race for the high serum potassium group (8.1) was significantly higher than the middle (5.3) and low (6.5) serum potassium groups. Further analysis, controlling for age, gender, race, smoking status, cholesterol, and history of diabetes, renal disease, and cardiovascular disease, revealed that the increased cardiovascular mortality among subjects with moderately increased serum potassium was most prominent in those reporting use of diuretics (hazard ratio, 2.65; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.20 to 5.85) and those with abnormal renal function (hazard ratio, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.05 to 3.41). CONCLUSION: In this general population sample with mostly normal serum potassium, higher serum potassium was independently associated with increased cardiovascular mortality.
SU-E-T-640: Using An Open Source Interior Point Optimization Solver for Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy Treatment Planning

Purpose: To support IMRT research, we developed an open‐source, computationally efficient, and flexible optimization solver that can solve a wide range of problem formulations, including constrained optimization, convex and non‐convex polynomial functions, and hierarchical optimization formulations. Methods: The solver is an adaptation and modification of the open‐source Interior Point Optimization Solver (IPOPT), with some performance enhancements. Previously, we implemented the IMRT optimization based on the commercial Mosek solver. Mosek can solve convex linear and quadratic problems but cannot solve convex or non‐convex polynomials of higher orders. This limits the ability to model IMRT optimization using more appropriate metrics like gEUD. Therefore, we implemented the optimization problem using C++ interface of IPOPT. IPOPT can use the Newton or Quasi‐Newton method to solve the optimization problem. In the Newton method, the exact Hessian matrix provided by the user is used to find the direction in each iteration while in the Quasi‐Newton method the Hessian matrix is approximated from the Jacobian matrix. After integrating IPOPT with CERR, we found that the Newton method converges more quickly than the Quasi‐Newton method. To increase the computational efficiency, we incorporated the uBLAS matrix library. Results: Few compared the modified IPOPT code to Mosek for a set of convex quadratic problems using realistic, anonymized treatment planning data and dose data accessed using CERR. These problems have a unique global minimum and both solvers were observed to give the same results for eight head and neck planning datasets. The median speedup of IPOPT compared to Mosek was a factor of 3.5. Conclusion: Our IPOPT implementation provides an open‐source framework to model the IMRT optimization using complex objective functions; is integrated with CERR; and our C++ implementation of the optimization problem gives increased control over the optimization process. This tool provides a basis for future IMRT treatment planning research. Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer Center
Amorphous rigid-rod polymers

Synthese de tels polyamides, polyesters et polyesteramides influence de la structure moleculaire sur les proprietes optiques et morphologiques
Case Study of Sequence Capture Enrichment Technology: Identification of Variation Underpinning Developmental Syndromes in an Amniote Model

Chicken developmental mutants are valuable for discovering sequences and pathways controlling amniote development. Herein we applied the advanced technologies of targeted sequence genomic capture enrichment and next-generation sequencing to discover the causative element for three inherited mutations affecting craniofacial, limb and/or organ development. Since the mutations (coloboma, diplopodia-1 and wingless-2) were bred into a congenic line series and previously mapped to different chromosomes, each targeted mutant causative region could be compared to that of the other two congenic partners, thereby providing internal controls on a single array. Of the ~73 million 50-bp sequence reads, ~76% were specific to the enriched targeted regions with an average target coverage of 132-fold. Analysis of the three targeted regions (2.06 Mb combined) identified line-specific single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) and micro (1-3 nt) indels. Sequence content for regions indicated as gaps in the reference genome was generated, thus contributing to its refinement. Additionally, Mauve alignments were constructed and indicated putative chromosomal rearrangements. This is the first report of targeted capture array technology in an avian species, the chicken, an important vertebrate model; the work highlights the utility of employing advanced technologies in an organism with only a "draft stage" reference genome sequence.
An innovation representation for nonlinear systems with application to parameter and state estimation

Abstract An innovation model is derived for a nonlinear stochastic system described by a state variable representation. The problem of state and system parameter estimation is solved through identification of the innovation model. A recursive prediction error (RPE) algorithm is derived for the joint system parameter and state estimation through minimization of the innovation variance (MIV). The algorithm is robust against the use of an erroneous model. Convergence and stability properties of the algorithm are also analyzed. In order to ensure stability, the algorithm needs an on-line stability check at each iteration.
Vacuum-Ultraviolet Atomic-Beam Light Source*

An atomic-beam light source for the vacuum-ultraviolet region of the spectrum is described. The light source can be used with any permanent gas for the emission of spectra under conditions of low atom density and windowless light paths. These conditions are necessary for the emission of the resonance lines of the rare gases with little self-absorption. Operating characteristics are presented for beams of air molecules and argon atoms.
A convenient synthesis of C5(CD3)5H. Synthesis and characterisation of Fe{η5-C5(CD3)5}2

The large scale synthesis of deuterio(pentamethylcyclopentadiene), C5(CD3)5H ([2H30]Cp*H), and subsequent synthesis of [2H30][Fe(η-Cp*)2] is described, together with i.r., Ramah, and solid state 2H n.m.r. spectroscopic characterisation.
The Bellingshausen Sea earthquake of February 5, 1977: Evidence for ridge-generated compression in the Antarctic plate

Abstract Body- and surface-wave data from a magnitude M s = 6.4 event in the Bellingshausen Sea are used to infer a thrust fault mechanism, with compressional stress directed parallel to the vector of relative motion between Antarctica and the Pacific plate at the nearby ridge. The solution would not, on the other hand, be compatible with stress fields involving absolute plate motion, such as asthenospheric drag.
Radionuclide transport modeling of diffusion cell experiments specific to a backfill barrier in a salt repository

Experimental radionuclide migration diffusion cell data have been collected as part of the WIPP Waste Package Performance Program. This data was collected under conditions approximating geologic isolation of a backfill barrier in a salt repository. The experiments are designed to aid in the evaluation of engineered backfill barriers. This paper describes a radionuclide transport model designed to aid interpreting experimental diffusion cell migration data and eventually to simulate the long-term effectiveness of the backfill barrier in a salt repository. The model is designed to test a variety of expressions representative of potential mechanisms for retardation within the backfill for the best-fit with experimental data. From the comparison, the aim is to select the appropriate mechanism from the host of potential mechanisms for retardation. The model employs a novel integral equation approach to the solution of the transport equation with nonlinear retardation terms. The solution technique used in this model is a semi-analytical, iterative method for the general nonlinear problem. It is felt the technique offers improved computational efficiency over comparable finite difference methods. Comparisons between experimental migration diffusion cell data and the model predictions are presented in this paper. Tentative conclusions concerning the importance of the retardation mechanism to radionuclide transport in the backfill barrier will be drawn.
Quantitative analysis of the anatomy of the epineurium of the canine recurrent laryngeal nerve.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the amount of epineurium surrounding the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) compared with a limb nerve, that to flexor hallicus longus (NFHL). Nerve samples were obtained from 10 adult dogs and studied using scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy to measure the relative proportion of epineurium and the relative proportions of adipose and collagenous tissue comprising the epineurium in both nerves. Significantly greater relative epineurial cross-sectional areas and adipose content were found in the RLN than in the NFHL. Based on observations on noncranial peripheral nerves, the findings indicate that the RLN is better protected against deformational forces associated with compression than stretching forces. The RLN may not be structured well for successful reinnervation after injury. The patterns observed for adipose tissue in RLN epineurial tissue appeared unique compared with those previously reported in peripheral nerves. The primary role associated with adipose tissue is to ‘package’ the nerve for protection. The RLN is considered to be a vital nerve in the body, as are other cranial nerves. The large proportions of adipose tissue in the epineurium may relate to the importance of protecting this nerve from injury.
Testing local search move operators on the vehicle routing problem with split deliveries and time windows

The vehicle routing problem (VRP) is an important transportation problem. The literature addresses several extensions of this problem, including variants having delivery time windows associated with customers and variants allowing split deliveries to customers. The problem extension including both of these variations has received less attention in the literature. This research effort sheds further light on this problem. Specifically, this paper analyzes the effects of combinations of local search (LS) move operators commonly used on the VRP and its variants. We find when paired with a MAX-MIN Ant System constructive heuristic, Or-opt or 2-opt* appear to be the ideal LS operators to employ on the VRP with split deliveries and time windows with Or-opt finding higher quality solutions and 2-opt* requiring less run time.
Functional Linkages Can Reveal Protein Complexes for Structure Determination

In the study of protein complexes, is there a computational method for inferring which combinations of proteins in an organism are likely to form a crystallizable complex? Here we attempt to answer this question, using the Protein Data Bank (PDB) to assess the usefulness of inferred functional protein linkages from the Prolinks database. We find that of the 242 nonredundant prokaryotic protein complexes shared between the current PDB and Prolinks, 44% (107/242) contain proteins linked at high confidence by one or more methods of computed functional linkages. Similarly, high-confidence linkages detect 47% of known Escherichia coli protein complexes, with 45% accuracy. Together these findings suggest that functional linkages will be useful in defining protein complexes for structural studies, including for structural genomics. We offer a database of inferred linkages corresponding to likely protein complexes for some 629,952 pairs of proteins in 154 prokaryotes and archaea.
The Persistence of Aldrin, Dieldrin, and Endrin Residues on Fresh Forage and on Hay Under Various Conditions of Curing

Aldrin, dieldrin, and endrin were applied as emulsions to alfalfa and to an alfalfa-grass mixture at rates of 2 or 4 ounces per acre of active ingredients in 1956 and 1957. Samples of forage for residue analysis were taken at varying intervals up to 28 days. Some of the samples were analyzed fresh, others were cut and air-dried 3 days while still others were cut, air-dried 3 days a lid ovendried for 24 hours more. The persistence of the insecticides was as follows: dieldrin>endrin>aldrin. The aldrin samples were not analyzed for dieldrin.
Functional Based Analysis and Visualization of Gene Expression Data from Hepatocytes Grown on Different Substrates

The ability to grow a fully functional Hepatocyte in vitro would be a prodigious breakthrough for modern day drug testing and regenerative medicine. However there are many factors affecting Hepatocyte functionality in vitro that need to be studied before this is possible, like the effect of the underlying substrate that the Hepatocyte is grown on. To better understand this interaction, gene expression profiles of Hepatocytes were measured on four different substrates: Corning(r) CellBIND(r), Collagen, Corning Matrigel(r) and Locust Bean Gum (S906). Here, we present data analysis methods that enable data reduction, identification of differentially expressed genes, and grouping of genes with similar intensities by implementing data clustering. The optimum number of clusters in a given data set is estimated using the gap statistic method. We further employ Cytoscape to help visualize the data and incorporate GeneMania to help identify potentially interesting patterns across substrates. One of the interesting findings from our analysis suggests up-regulation of genes involved in vasculature development on all four substrates. Such findings can be used to design new experiments that can provide further insight on the interactions between hepatocytes and their substrates and help understand the mechanism behind responses of hepatocytes on these substrates.
Ferritins as nanoplatforms for imaging and drug delivery.

Introduction: Due to unique architecture and surface properties, ferritin has emerged as an important class of biomaterial. Many studies suggest that ferritin and its derivatives hold great potential in a wide range of bio-applications.Areas covered: In this review, we summarize recent progress on employing ferritins as a platform to construct functional nanoparticles for applications in MRI, optical imaging, cell tracking, and drug delivery.Expert opinion: As a natural polymer, ferritins afford advantages such as high biocompatibility, good biodegradability, and a relatively long plasma half-life. These attributes put ferritins ahead of conventional materials in clinical translation for imaging and drug delivery purposes.
Nonlinear matrix decompositions and an application to parallel processing

This paper introduces several decomposition results for a class of nonlinear transforms calledlattice transforms. A lattice transform has a matrix representation in the context of minimax algebra, a matrix algebraic structure developed for operations research. A general matrix decomposition method is presented and is then extended to provide necessary and sufficient conditions for mapping a lattice transform to a limited-connection parallel architecture. An additional result, necessary and sufficient conditions for finding a decomposition of a block Toeplitz matrix with Toeplitz blocks, is also given. Prior to these results, no minimax matrix decompositions had been developed.
Managed mental health experience in colorado

Early experience with managed mental health among Colorado Medicaid enrollees who have severe and persistent mental illness indicates that costs can be reduced without negative short-term outcomes.
Nurses' perception of beeper calls. Implications for resident stress and patient care.

Objectives: To describe beeper calls made by nurses to physicians and to compare the nurses' ratings of the urgency of the beeper calls with the physicians' responses to the calls. Design: Nurses were asked to complete beeper logs for all calls made to physicians. Nurses also recorded the physician's response to the call. Nurses assessed each call as routine (answer needed in 12 to 24 hours), urgent (answer needed soon to accomplish patient care), or an emergency (patient assessment needed immediately). Setting: A university-affiliated children's hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Results: Nurses recorded 849 beeper calls. Of this number, 30 (4%) were judged to be an emergency, 275 (32%) were perceived to be urgent, and 471 (55%) were considered to be routine. The recorded physician response for 597 calls is as follows: 60 calls (10%) resulted in physician assessment of the patient; 211 calls (35%) resulted in verbal orders given over the telephone; 136 calls (23%) resulted in other action taken; and 190 calls (32%) resulted in no action taken. While calls that were judged to be an emergency were more likely to result in physician assessment of the patient than were other calls (nine [45%] of 20 vs 49 [9%] of 541 calls) ( P Conclusions: Nurses' ratings of the urgency of beeper calls are not good predictors of physician response to the call. Unless nurses' and physicians' perceptions of the urgency of beeper calls are similar, delaying response to routine calls cannot be assumed to be a safe and effective way to decrease unnecessary interruptions to resident activities. (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1995;149:187-191)
Distributed Active Filtering for Protecting Critical Servers

We propose an overlay filtering framework that enables protected servers to actively defend themselves and filter out specific attack flows as early as possible close to attack sources without collateral damages, different from current filtering approaches that provide passive protection at or close to destinations. This framework is designed to protect many distributed network applications that do not require pre-existing trust relationships, different from the previous overlay schemes designed for pre-authenticated known clients[9]. We present the basic architecture and performance analysis in this paper.
Linear response theory for superradiant lasers

We theoretically study a superradiant laser, deriving both the steady-state behaviors and small-amplitude responses of the laser’s atomic inversion, atomic polarization, and light field amplitude. Our minimum model for a three-level laser includes atomic population accumulating outside of the lasing transition and dynamics of the atomic population distribution causing cavity frequency tuning, as can occur in realistic experimental systems. We show that the population dynamics can act as real-time feedback to stabilize or destabilize the laser’s output power, and we derive the cavity frequency tuning for a Raman laser. We extend the minimal model to describe a cold-atom Raman laser using 87 Rb, showing that the minimal model qualitatively captures the essential features of the more complex system [Bohnet et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 253602 (2012)]. This work informs our understanding of the stability of proposed millihertz linewidth lasers based on ultranarrow optical atomic transitions and will guide the design and development of these next-generation optical frequency references.
Indomethacin-induced gastrointestinal ulcers in rats: effects of dietary fatty acids and endotoxin

The purpose of this study was to determine how dietary n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) affected the gastrointestinal response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and indomethacin (INDO) in the rat. Rats were fed diets containing 12.5% linseed oil (LO-enriched in short-chain n-3 PUFA) or corn oil (CO-enriched in n-6 PUFA). After 30 days on the diets, rats were given one of three treatments 1:10 mg/kg O55:B5 Escherichia coli LPS intraperitoneally (i.p.), 2:25 mg/kg INDO subcutaneously (s.c.), 3: a combination of 10 mg/kg i.p. LPS and 25 mg/kg (s.c.) INDO given 30 min before LPS. 20 h after challenge, rats were given an intravenous injection of Monastral Blue B to stain ulcer areas in the gastrointestinal tract. Lipopolysaccharide did not result in any Monastral Blue B vascular leakage in the gastrointestinal tract. Rats on the LO diet had significantly increased stomach and intestinal ulcers compared to CO fed rats. When rats were challenged with LPS and INDO, the LPS almost completely eliminated small intestinal ulcers, but enhanced ulcer development in the stomach.
Raman spectroscopic study of the proteins of egg white.

The Raman spectra of ovalbumin, ovomucoid, and conalbumin are reported. Spectral shifts in the conformationally sensitive amide I and amide III lines as a result of thermal denaturation indicate the formation of intermolecular β- sheets. A medium intensity line at 1260 cm−1 in the spectra of ovomucoid and ribonuclease is demonstrated to contain a substantial contribution from tyrosine residues.
A robust control design technique for nonlinear uncertain systems with unknown time varying control direction

In this paper, a continuous robust control design scheme is proposed for first-order nonlinear systems that have both nonlinear uncertainties and unknown time varying control directions. The so-called control direction is the multiplier of the control term that effectively represents the direction of motion under any given control. Nonlinear robust control is designed to online and continuously identify sign changes of the unknown control direction and to guarantee stability of uniform ultimate boundedness. Robust control requires only three conditions: the nominal system is stable, the control direction is smooth, and the uncertainties are bounded by known functions. Continuity of the proposed robust control is achieved by using a so-called shifting law that changes smoothly the sign of robust control and tracks the change of the control direction. The analysis and design is proceeded using the Lyapunov's direct method.
K-space and image space combination for motion artifact correction in multicoil multishot diffusion weighted imaging

Motion during diffusion encodings leads to phase errors in different shots of a multishot acquisition. Phase differences in k-space data among shots result in phase cancellation artifacts in the reconstructed image. Due to aliasing of the phase from under-sampled regions of the shot, correction of the phase error using direct low-resolution phase subtraction is incomplete. We introduce a new k-space and image-space combination (KICT) method for motion artifacts cancellation that avoids incomplete phase error correction. Further, the method preserves the phase of the object, which is important for parallel imaging applications.
Modification and operation of a size selective atmospheric particulate sampler

Statistically significant differences were observed between total suspended particulate measurements in Chicago collected concurrently with a HiVol and a six-stage fractionating sampler. The size-selective sampler was modified and atmospheric suspended particulate data were collected for 1 year using the modified sampler. Based on these data it appears that: 1. (1) the agreement between HiVol and the size selective sampler is seasonally dependent; 2. (2) comparison of HiVol and size-selective sampler data, before and after modification, indicates that the modifications were partially successful but that a significant difference remained between the two collection devices; 3. (3) a least squares fit of total particulate concentration for the modified sampler vs the HiVol gave a relationship essentially the same as one reported by other observers for a similar type of sampler; 4. (4) correlation coefficients between each fraction of the modified size-selection sampler and the HiVol were > 0.74 for the largest and smallest fractions (d > 2.76 μm; d < 0.39 μm) and < 0.31 for the intermediate fractions (0.39 μan < d < 2.76μm): and 5. (5) the annual average size distribution shows a lower mass median diameter than has been reported for 1970 and 1972 for Chicago, which may reflect the implementation of stationary source control regulations.
High-Speed High-Isolation 2 $\, \times \,$ 2 Fiber-Optic Switch for Wideband Radar Photonic Beamforming Controls

A new high-performance 2 x 2 fiber-optic switch is designed and demonstrated for wideband radar photonic beamforming controls. The switch deploys two bulk acoustooptic deflectors (AODs) in an imaging free-space symmetric optical design that exploits image inversion control via a Dove prism to form a 2 X 2 fully reversible low crosstalk noise high-speed switching structure. Experiments at the 1550-nm test wavelength show the switch to handle 0.5-W level optical input powers, < 2.2-mus switching time, <2.6-dB fiber-to-fiber optical loss, better than 56-dB optical crosstalk levels, and <0.2-dB polarization-dependent loss (PDL).and <0.2-dB polarization-dependent loss (PDL). Index terms-delay lines, optical switches, phased-array radar.
High-Resolution Optical Imaging of Zebrafish Larval Ribbon Synapse Protein RIBEYE, RIM2, and CaV 1.4 by Stimulation Emission Depletion Microscopy

The synaptic ribbon is a unique presynaptic structure with an intricate morphology in photoreceptors. Because of the resolution limit in conventional fluorescence microscopy, investigating ribbon protein locations has been challenging, especially in the early development stages of model animals. Here, we used stimulated emission depletion microscopy, a super-resolution imaging technique, to look at retina sections in 4 days post-fertilization (dpf) zebrafish. We observed that in photoreceptor cells, RIBEYE and RIM2 are expressed along the synaptic ribbon, with RIM2 consistently located inside of the horseshoe-shaped synaptic ribbon structure with RIBEYE located on the outside. The L-type calcium channel subunit, CACNA1F, exhibited small spot-like staining beneath the RIM2 and RIBEYE structures. Using morpholino antisense oligonucleotides to knock down RIBEYE expression, we observed fewer and shorter ribbons in the photoreceptor outer plexiform layers of 4 dpf fish retina as well as a reduction in RIM2 expression. The clustering of CACNA1F in these blind fish was no longer observed, but instead showed a diffuse expression in the photoreceptor terminal.
Effect of doublecortin on self-renewal and differentiation in brain tumor stem cells

Analysis of microarray probe data from glioma patient samples, in conjunction with patient Kaplan–Meier survival plots, indicates that expression of a glioma suppressor gene doublecortin (DCX) favors glioma patient survival. From neurosphere formation in culture, time-lapse microscopic video recording, and tumor xenograft, we show that DCX synthesis significantly reduces self-renewal of brain tumor stem cells (BTSC) in human primary glioma (YU-PG, HF66) cells from surgically removed human glioma specimens and U87 cells in vitro and in vivo. Time-lapse microscopic video recording revealed that double transfection of YU-PG, HF66, and U87 cells with DCX and neurabin II caused incomplete cell cycle with failure of cytokinesis, that is, endomitosis by dividing into three daughter cells from one mother BTSC. Activation of c-jun NH2-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) after simvastatin (10 nM) treatment of DCX+neurabin II+ BTSC from YU-PG, HF66, and U87 cells induced terminal differentiation into neuron-like cells. dUTP nick end labeling data indicated that JNK1 activation also induced apoptosis only in double transfected BTSC with DCX and neurabin II, but not in single transfected BTSC from YU-PG, HF66, and U87 cells. Western blot analysis showed that procaspase-3 was induced after DCX transfection and activated after simvastatin treatment in YU-PG, HF66, and U87 BTSC. Sequential immunoprecipitation and Western blot data revealed that DCX synthesis blocked protein phosphatase-1 (PP1)/caspase-3 protein–protein interaction and increased PP1–DCX interaction. These data show that DCX synthesis induces apoptosis in BTSC through a novel JNK1/neurabin II/DCX/PP1/caspase-3 pathway. (Cancer Sci 2011; 102: 1350–1357)
Optimization of resonant power supply circuit

A resonant power supply has been proposed to power rapid cycling accelerator magnets. In the present work, the resonant power supply circuit is optimized by selecting the most feasible choke inductance. For this optimization, a computer model and an approximate design method were developed. The effect of choke inductance on the component's rating and cost was determined. It was found that the increase of choke inductance reduces the maximum and increases the minimum choke current, leading to a significant increase in system losses. The maximum voltage is independent of the choke inductance. The described change of choke current reduces the current of the bypass thyristor switch and the capacitor bank switch, which results in cost reduction. The increase of choke inductance reduces the size of capacitor banks. >
Aging, Empathy, and Prosociality

Objectives. Although empathy is a well-established motivation in younger adults for helping others, it is not known whether this extends to aging. Prioritization of socioemotional goals with age may increase the salience of helping others (i.e., prosocial behavior), but older adults also experience decreased cognitive empathy. Thus, we investigated age-related differences in relationships among empathy and prosocial behavior. Method. Participants were 24 younger ( M = 19.8 years) and 24 older (M = 77.9 years) healthy adults. Whereas partici pants believed the study involved playing the dictator game, in reality, state emotional empathy was induced implicitly through a note from an opponent describing their experience with cancer. Prosocial behavior was measured by partici pants’ monetary offers to that opponent. Results. Older adults showed greater prosocial behavior due to the empathy induction than younger adults. There was a positive association between state emotional empathy ratings and prosocial behavior in older, but not in younger adults, and preliminary evidence for higher state emotional empathy levels in older adults with higher trait cognitive empathy. Discussion. This suggests that in contexts relevant to socioemotional goals, older adults may be more motivated than younger adults to help others and state emotional empathy may be a potential mechanism for greater prosocial behavior in aging.
Evaluative and Taxonomic Encoding in Children's Memory.

Abstract The experiments were conducted to investigate the development of evaluative and taxonomic encoding in children's memory. The task used was a modification of the Wickens short-term memory task in which subjects' recall of words is tested following a distraction task. The first experiment found that 11-year-old children, but not 8-year-old children, encoded words using the evaluative dimension of the semantic differential. In the second experiment, both 7- and 11-year-olds demonstrated the ability to encode words according to taxonomic categories. These findings were related to other recent work on the development of encoding in memory.
School choice and educational opportunity: Rationales, outcomes and racial disparities

This article examines the rationales for school choice, and the significance of choice mechanisms for racial disparities in educational opportunities and outcomes. It identifies tensions between li...