cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Designing high frequency AC inductors using ferrite and molypermalloy powder cores (MPP)

This paper sets down the major considerations in the design of high frequency AC inductors. It describes two methods for designing the inductor— the area product method and the core geometry method. The two major effects of the inductor air gap, fringing flux power loss and increase of inductance, are discussed. Equations for the inductor design and a step-by-step design procedure are given. The use of a lumped air gap or a distributed air gap are discussed and a comparison of the losses resulting from these gaps together with experimental results are presented.
Narrow-band optical filter through phase conjugation by nondegenerate four-wave mixing in sodium vapor

An ultrahigh-Q tunable optical filter with a FWHM bandwidth of 41 MHz is demonstrated. The filtering is produced by nondegenerate phase conjugation through four-wave mixing in atomic-sodium vapor. The filter is observed to have a maximum quantum efficiency of 4 x 10^-3. However, degenerate phase-conjugation experiments in sodium suggest that a quantum efficiency of greater than unity can be attained on a cw basis.
GORENSTEIN AND Ω-GORENSTEIN INJECTIVE COVERS AND FLAT PREENVELOPES

ABSTRACT The aim of this paper is to show that if R is a commutative local Cohen–Macaulay ring admitting a dualizing module Ω , then Gorenstein and Ω -Gorenstein injective covers and Gorenstein and Ω -Gorenstein flat preenvelopes exist for certain classes of R -modules.
Composition and growth mechanism of anodic oxide on Hg(1−x)CdxTe

The composition of HgCdTe oxides obtained by anodization in a standard KOH/ethylene glycol solution has been determined by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy for the first time. This technique is advantageous because it is not as surface sensitive as Auger or x‐ray photoemission spectroscopy and it provides a nondestructive depth profile of the oxide which can be quantitatively modeled without relying on standards for comparison, as is necessary when using the electron microprobe. The measured composition (61% O, 23% Te, 11.8% Hg, 4.2% Cd for material with x=0.202) is within 0.4% of a stoichiometric mixture of 51.3% HgTeO3, 18.3% CdTeO3, and 30.4% TeO2. While the Hg content in the oxide relative to Te is reduced from the bulk value, it is substantially larger than what is normally reported by other techniques, which found much higher levels of Cd. This composition is consistent with oxide growth occurring primarily by oxygen ions moving into the substrate by a hopping mechanism, while metal ions simul...
Influence of Resistance Exercise on Lumbar Strength in Older, Overweight Adults

Abstract Vincent KR, Braith RW, Vincent HK. Influence of resistance exercise on lumbar strength in older, overweight adults. Objective To measure lumbar extensor strength in overweight (OVW) and nonoverweight (NOVW) elderly adults before and after resistance exercise training (RX). Design Descriptive, comparative study. Setting University-based wellness center and research facility. Participants Eighty-four adults (age range, 60−83y) were placed into 1 of 2 groups based on body mass index (BMI): control (NOVW; mean BMI, 22.5kg/m 2 ) or OVW (mean BMI, 29.2kg/m 2 ). Subjects were then randomly assigned to either a resistance exercise (RX) or nonexercising group. Intervention Six months of total body RX and isolated lumbar extension exercise. Main Outcome Measures Body composition, isometric lumbar extension strength, and 1-repetition maximum for each of the training exercises. Results Upper-body strength increased by 18.3% and 17.2% for the NOVW-RX and OVW-RX groups, respectively. Lower-body strength increased by 12.7% and 19.5% for the NOVW-RX and OVW-RX groups, respectively. At baseline, the OVW participants had greater total lumbar extension strength (1067Nm vs 714Nm) compared with the NOVW participants ( P P Conclusions OVW subjects were found to have greater absolute and similar relative, upper-body, lower-body, and lumbar extension strength at baseline when compared with their NOVW counterparts. Also, isolated lumbar extension exercise was effective in improving lumbar extensor strength in OVW and NOVW persons.
On the generation of seamount-trapped waves

Abstract A model is presented for the excitation, by ambient currents, of subinertial frequency motions over a seamount. Continous density stratification, bottom friction and linear f -plane dynamics are assumed. For the case of a horizontally uniform ambient flow, the first few seamount-trapped wave modes are clearly excited, but more complex (lower frequency) modes are not generated because of frictional damping. For a horizontally-sheared ambient flow, resonances are less obvious, and the low-frequency response is dominated by flow having no azimuthal variations. In all cases, responses are strong enough that it seems likely that seamount-trapped motions often will be observable in nature.
Value Formation and Postmaterialism: Inglehart's Theory of Value Change Reconsidered

The argument that the rise of postmaterialist values is bringing about fundamental changes in Western societies is based on a theory devised by Ronald Inglehart that has not received thorough testing. This article presents a rigorous test of his theory employing data collected from secondary school students in the United States and West Germany. The test consists of two parts: (a) an analysis of the relationship between a measure of Maslow's need hierarchy and values, and (b) an assessment of the relationship between economic conditions, measured at the macro and micro levels, and both the need hierarchy and values. A relatively strong relationship was found between the need hierarchy and values among the German sample, whereas a weak relationship was found among the American sample. The mixed nature of this finding suggests that this theoretical relationship may not exist, or at least not develop during childhood, in all Western nations. More important, the data indicate, in contrast to theoretical expec...
Reduced startle gating after D1 blockade: Effects of concurrent D2 blockade

Background Prefrontal D1 systems have been implicated in the regulation of working memory and in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. D1 hypofunction might contribute to reduced sensorimotor gating in schizophrenia patients since D1 activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) regulates prepulse inhibition of startle (PPI) in animal models. We studied the neurochemical basis for the D1 regulation of PPI in rats.
Bureaucracy, inefficiency, and time

This paper examines the bureaucrat's choice between devoting resources to economic rents (organizational slack) and maximizing the budget of the agency. A new model of bureaucracy is developed using utility rather than a demand function as its foundation. It is shown that increases in income alter the slack-budget constraint to favor organizational slack over budget-maximization. Modern federal bureaucracies in the U.S. are predicted to be slack-maximizing and X-inefficient.
Sexual Orientation and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: A Meta-Analytic Review

The aim of this study was to conduct the first meta-analysis comparing risk for NSSI between sexual minority and heterosexual persons. Eleven published and 4 unpublished studies were reviewed, describing associations between sexual orientation and NSSI in 7,147 sexual minority and 61,701 heterosexual participants. The overall weighted effect size for the relationship between sexual orientation and NSSI using a random-effects model was OR = 3.00 (95% CI = 2.46–3.66), indicating a medium-to-large effect. Sexual minority adolescents and bisexuals were found to be at particularly high-risk. These findings highlight the need to examine mechanisms linking sexual orientation and NSSI in future research. Building on these findings can add to understanding the associations between sexual orientation, NSSI, and suicidality, as well as prevention/intervention.
The Reorienting System of the Human Brain: From Environment to Theory of Mind

Survival can depend on the ability to change a current course of action to respond to potentially advantageous or threatening stimuli. This "reorienting" response involves the coordinated action of a right hemisphere dominant ventral frontoparietal network that interrupts and resets ongoing activity and a dorsal frontoparietal network specialized for selecting and linking stimuli and responses. At rest, each network is distinct and internally correlated, but when attention is focused, the ventral network is suppressed to prevent reorienting to distracting events. These different patterns of recruitment may reflect inputs to the ventral attention network from the locus coeruleus/norepinephrine system. While originally conceptualized as a system for redirecting attention from one object to another, recent evidence suggests a more general role in switching between networks, which may explain recent evidence of its involvement in functions such as social cognition.
Original paper: Comparing high density LIDAR and medium resolution GPS generated elevation data for predicting yield stability

High density light detection and ranging (LIDAR) imaging has been shown to be able to define yield stability areas of a field for multi-cropping. Since LIDAR imaging is expensive and not widely available, it was hypothesized that medium resolution GPS elevation data which is commonly collected with variable rate technology (VRT) controllers and crop yield monitors could be used in lieu of LIDAR imaging. If proven, growers would be able to construct yield stability maps of their fields without the expense of obtaining LIDAR imaging. After substituting medium resolution GPS elevation data derived from the crop yield monitors, the procedure developed for developing a crop yield stability map was invoked and tested. The hypothesis that medium resolution GPS data could be used in lieu of LIDAR data was found to be invalid as the map generated incorrectly identified both high yield and medium yield areas of the field as low yielding areas as well as the inverse. While disappointing, high resolution GPS data from real-time kinetics (RTK) systems is yet to be tested and may offer an additional avenue to developing crop yield stability maps.
Simulation of shear band formation in plane strain tension and compression using FEM

Abstract A phenomenological constitutive relation using the conventional J 2 -flow isotropic hardening yield function as well as a threshold shear stress based yield function that governs a ‘directionally preferred plastic component’ of shear strain, developed by the authors in an earlier work, is used for the simulation of the shear band formation. The constitutive relation which is expressed as an explicit function of elastic constants, deviatoric stress state, direction of the principal shear strain and material flow stresses, is shown to be fully capable of capturing the formation of the shear band even under material hardening conditions and does not demand any prior knowledge of the orientation of the shear band. This dual yield constitutive relation is incorporated in an FEM procedure capable of handling large strains and rotations and a numerical simulation of a tensile and compressive deformation of a plane strain specimen is performed. It is demonstrated that the formation of the shear band can be captured more easily as a natural outcome of the simulation, without resorting to any instability criterion or ‘enriched’ elements that are usually employed in the contemporary procedures. Nevertheless, the usefulness of a ‘local instability criterion’ (Ortiz et al. (1987), Comp. Meth. Appl. Mech. Eng. 61 , 189) is demonstrated in this study. The model is verified using the experimental data of Anand and Spitzig (1980, J. Mech. Phys. Solids 28 , 113) and the agreement between the results of the simulation and the experimental data is found to be reasonably good.
Student Perceptions of the Peer Review Process in Student Writing Projects.

The process of academic peer review—i.e., students evaluating each other's work—can help instructors address a host of higher institutional objectives, not the least of which is the total quality m...
Comparative Study Of Permanent Prostate Brachytherapy In Patients With And Without Median Lobe Hyperplasia: Evaluation Of Dosimetric Factors, Acute Urinary Toxicity And Biochemical Outcomes

Purpose/Objective(s): Median Lobe Hyperplasia (MLH) is a known relative contraindication for permanent prostate brachytherapy (PPB). We wanted to evaluate the effects of MLH with regards to acute toxicity and outcome and compared them to patients without MLH, treated during the same time-period. Materials/Methods: In our center, we had 26 patients who had a prominent median lobe out of 89 patients who received PPB between Jan’ 2007 to Dec’ 2009. The patients having MLH were carefully implanted by judicious placement of seeds, limiting the dose to the bladder neck area. We retrospectively analysed these patients along with randomly selected 36 patients who did not have MLH and underwent PPB during the same period. Their dosimetric parameters, acute urinary toxicity and outcomes were comparatively evaluated. Results: The median IPSS at presentation for patients with MLH was 7 while for patients without MLH was 8. The mean PSA values were 7.15 and 10.2 for patients with and without MLH respectively. The mean prostatic CT volumes in patients with MLH was 52.12cc (including mean ML volume 15.54cc) compared to 28.19cc for patients without MLH. Among patients with MLH, 50% received hormonal therapy, and 15% received external beam radiation in addition to PPB. Similarly, 47% patients without MLH received hormones and external beam radiation. The dosimetric parameters evaluated are described in Table. None of the dose differences between MLH and non-MLH patients were statistically significant. As per treatment related acute toxicity, 3 patients (11.5%) who had MLH developed acute urinary retention(AUR). Two of these patients recovered urinary function by the 3-month follow-up period. None of the patients without MLH had any incidence of AUR but one patient developed retention three months later and is on intermittent self-catheterisation. Biochemical failure rate at the end of the mean follow-up of 21 months in patients with and without MLH was 4% and 5.5%, while median IPSS was 7 and 10 respectively. Conclusions: The dosimetric and biochemical outcomes among patients with or without MLH was comparable. Although the AUR rate was higher in the patient group with MLH, it was still within the reported incidence of AUR , published for patients without MLH. Careful attention to seed placement in patients with MLH results in comparable outcomes and toxicity.
Impact of the Multi-Gene ThyroSeq Next-Generation Sequencing Assay on Cancer Diagnosis in Thyroid Nodules with Atypia of Undetermined Significance/Follicular Lesion of Undetermined Significance Cytology

Background: Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is a common approach to evaluate thyroid nodules. It offers definitive diagnosis of a benign or malignant nodule in the majority of cases. However, 10–25% of nodules yield one of three indeterminate cytologic diagnoses, leading to suboptimal management of these patients. Atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undermined significance (AUS/FLUS) is a common indeterminate diagnosis, with the cancer risk ranging from 6% to 48%. This study assessed whether a multi-gene next-generation sequencing (NGS) assay can offer significant improvement in diagnosis in AUS/FLUS nodules. Methods: From May 2014 to March 2015, 465 consecutive FNA samples with the cytologic diagnosis of AUS/FLUS underwent prospective molecular testing using the ThyroSeq v2.1 panel. The panel included 14 genes analyzed for point mutations and 42 types of gene fusions occurring in thyroid cancer. In addition, eight genes were assessed for expression in order to evaluate the cell...
Multirate and event driven Kalman filters for helicopter passive ranging

The use of passive range estimation methods for helicopters equipped with a single camera and an inertial navigation system is described. It is shown that the same level of estimation accuracy can be maintained by using multirate and event-driven Kalman filters as with a standard Kalman filter, resulting in a substantial reduction in the amount of computation. These results are based on helicopter flight test images. The actual savings will depend on the details of the implementation. >
On the Formation of Exchange Relations in Political Systems

Structural analysis has paid little attention to the formation of social ties. This article inquires into the origin of one type of tie, the exchange relationship, in a specific context, the political arena. The article focuses on the link between the configuration of actors' interests and the likelihood of exchange. Using the conceptual framework underlying Coleman's model of purposive action, two aspects of the interest configuration are specified: complementarity and ideological dissimilarity. Complementarity refers to the extent to which actors attach dissimilar importance to events in the political system, while ideological dissimilarity reflects the extent to which actors have different preferences for event outcomes. Prior work on social exchange makes the importance of complementarity clear, but this article holds that ideological dissimilarity impedes formation of exchange relations because it creates a lack of trust and a fear of harmful externalities. Informal experimental results are presented...
Basis set and correlation effects on computed lithium ion affinities of some oxygen and nitrogen bases

Basis set expansion and correlation effects on computed lithium cation affinities have been evaluated for the oxygen and nitrogen bases CH3OH, H2CO, CO, CH3NH2, CH2NH, and HCN. The presence of diffuse functions on nonhydrogen atoms is found to be the most important single enhancement of double- and triple-split valence plus polarization basis sets. With the triple-split basis, enhancement effects are nearly additive. Correlation usually decreases computed lithium ion affinities, with the second order Moller-Plesset correlation term being the dominant term.
Maternal responses to child frustration and requests for help in dyads with fragile X syndrome

Background Variability in behaviour displayed by children with fragile X syndrome (FXS) may be partially attributable to environmental factors such as maternal responsivity. The purpose of this study was to explore variables associated with maternal behaviour during a task designed to elicit frustration in their children with FXS. Methods Forty-six mother–child dyads, in which the child had full-mutation FXS, were observed in their homes during a task designed to elicit frustration in the child. Each child was given a wrong set of keys and asked to open a box to retrieve a desired toy. Mothers were provided with the correct set of keys and instructed to intervene when they perceived their child was getting too frustrated. Child-expressed frustration and requests for help and maternal behaviours (comforting, negative control, and encouraging/directing) were observed and coded. Maternal variables (e.g. depression, stress, education levels), child variables (e.g. autistic behaviours, age, medication use) and child behaviours (frustration, requests for help) were explored as predictors of maternal behaviour. Results Almost all mothers intervened to help their children and most used encouraging/directing behaviours, whereas very few used comforting or negative control. Child age and child behaviours during the frustrating event were significant predictors of encouraging/directing behaviours in the mothers. Children whose mothers reported higher depressive symptomology used fewer requests for help, and mothers of children with more autistic behaviours used more negative control. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that child age and immediate behaviours are more strongly related to maternal responsivity than maternal traits such as depression and stress.
Liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin inhibits tumor necrosis factor release from rabbit alveolar macrophages by a posttranscriptional mechanism

Macrophages contribute to the systemic inflammatory response that characterizes the sepsis syn- drome through the production of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Liposome- encapsulated hemoglobin (LEH), a potential red cell sub- stitute, is cleared by fixed tissue macrophages. In these studies, in vitro incubation of alveolar macrophages with stored LEH was shown to inhibit the expression of TNF induced by endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) stimula- tion. This effect was dependent on LEH dose but in- dependent of the period of exposure to the LEH. Despite inhibition of TNF expression, Northern blot analysis of total cellular RNA from LPS-stimulated macrophages rev- ealed accumulations of TNF-specific transcripts in cells treated with or without LEH. Thus the mechanism of LEH inhibition of TNF expression appears to involve a posttranscriptional event. Although these results suggest a potential advantage of resuscitation with LEH when sep- sis complicates hemorrhagic shock, immunomodulation in vivo remains to be defined. J. Lcukoc. Biol. 52: 679-686; 1992.
Optimal dynamic power control for CDMA systems

The design of binary power control algorithms for cellular communication systems is considered in context of code division multiple access (CDMA). The control problem is posed as a tradeoff between the desire for users to meet their signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) requirements and the need to minimize the transmitted signal energy over the duration of their calls. The dynamic nature of the wireless channel for mobile users is incorporated in the problem definition. Based on dynamic programming arguments, an optimal single-user solution is obtained.
A Novel Role for Adiponectin in the Regulation of Inflammation

Accumulating evidence indicates that chronic inflammation linked to obesity is closely associated with the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disorders.1 The inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) has been shown to be an independent predictor of future risk for cardiovascular events and a risk factor of developing diabetes.2,3 High levels of CRP are also associated with obesity and coronary heart disease,4,5 suggesting that CRP is a useful biomarker for obesity-linked chronic inflammatory states. Furthermore, although CRP is primarily made by liver, new studies have shown that CRP is also produced by diseased tissues (eg, atherosclerotic lesions) and by various cell types including macrophages, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells.6–8 Increasing evidence indicates that CRP is not just a biomarker of inflammation but that it has a direct proinflammatory action through its ability to promote the induction of cytokines.6 Thus, agents that lower CRP levels have clinical utility for treatment of inflammatory diseases. See accompanying article on page 1368 A number of bioactive molecules secreted from fat tissue, referred to as adipokines, could participate in the development of obesity-related complications through regulation of inflammatory responses.9,10 Most adipokines are proinflammatory. In contrast, adiponectin, also referred to as adipocyte complement-related protein 30 (ACRP30), is an antiinflammatory adipokine that is abundantly present in blood stream. Whereas adiponectin is expressed almost exclusively in adipose tissue,11,12 plasma adiponectin levels are paradoxically decreased in obese individuals.13 This regulation of adiponectin results, at least …
On a Derivative-Free Fan-Beam Reconstruction Formula

We clarify that the derivative-free fan-beam reconstruction formula [IEEE Trans. Image Process. 2, 543-547, 1993] only allows exact reconstruction of an object for a circular trajectory or at the origin of the coordinate system for a radially symmetric noncircular trajectory.
Autonomous planning in time-varying environments: a case study

A simulation of a specific example of an intelligent control system is described. The simulation includes a rich description of the environment in which the intelligent controller operates, including dynamic models of the physical systems under control. The primary goal of the modeling effort is to evaluate alternative real-time resource algorithms needed for certain planning tasks in stressing time-varying environments. The simulation permits investigation into high-level plan generation (e.g. object sequencing), which relies on a rather rich internal description of the operational environment. Simple sequencing algorithms have been developed and evaluated using the simulation. The model provides a tool suitable for addressing the interdependence of platform engineering parameters (acceleration, refire rate, field of view, range) and platform management (e.g. sequencing algorithm) and the resulting overall effectiveness. >
THE DARK SIDE OF SUBSIDIES: ADULT STREAM INSECTS EXPORT ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS TO RIPARIAN PREDATORS

Aquatic insects provide a critical energy subsidy to riparian food webs, yet their role as vectors of contaminants to terrestrial ecosystems is poorly understood. We investigated relationships between aquatic resource utilization and contaminant exposure for a riparian invertivore assemblage (spiders and herptiles) along a stream contaminated with polychlori nated biphenyls (PCBs). Stable carbon (813C) and nitrogen (615N) isotopes indicated that aquatic insect utilization varied among predators, with progressive enrichment of 513C and depletion of ?15N as predators shifted from aquatic to terrestrial prey. PCB concentrations significantly increased along these isotopic gradients; S13C and 615N explained 65% and 15% of the variance in predator ZPCBs, respectively. PCBs in predators were high, exceeding 2000 ng/g wet mass (the human-health advisory prohibiting any consumption of fish tissue) in three species. Greater consideration should be given to streams as lateral exporters rather than simply as longitudinal conduits for contaminants. Persistent contaminants are underutilized for addressing landscape-level questions in subsidy research, but our results demonstrate they are an ideal in situ tracer of stream-derived energy because they label stream organic matter and invertebrates over large distances. Likewise, riparian predators such as tetragnathid spiders have great potential as biological monitors of stream condition and as an assessment tool for risk management of contaminated aquatic sediments.
Dynamics of clustering multiple backpropagation networks

It is known that synergistic effects of clustering multiple backpropagation nets improves supervised learning, generalization, fault tolerance, and self-organization with respect to a comparably complex nonclustered system. A model that captures the underlying reasons for the synergy of clustering is outlined. The underlying ideas can apply to any net trained with a supervised learning rule. >
[FeFe]- and [NiFe]-hydrogenase diversity, mechanism, and maturation

The [FeFe]- and [NiFe]-hydrogenases catalyze the formal interconversion between hydrogen and protons and electrons, possess characteristic non-protein ligands at their catalytic sites and thus share common mechanistic features. Despite the similarities between these two types of hydrogenases, they clearly have distinct evolutionary origins and likely emerged from different selective pressures. [FeFe]-hydrogenases are widely distributed in fermentative anaerobic microorganisms and likely evolved under selective pressure to couple hydrogen production to the recycling of electron carriers that accumulate during anaerobic metabolism. In contrast, many [NiFe]-hydrogenases catalyze hydrogen oxidation as part of energy metabolism and were likely key enzymes in early life and arguably represent the predecessors of modern respiratory metabolism. Although the reversible combination of protons and electrons to generate hydrogen gas is the simplest of chemical reactions, the [FeFe]- and [NiFe]-hydrogenases have distinct mechanisms and differ in the fundamental chemistry associated with proton transfer and control of electron flow that also help to define catalytic bias. A unifying feature of these enzymes is that hydrogen activation itself has been restricted to one solution involving diatomic ligands (carbon monoxide and cyanide) bound to an Fe ion. On the other hand, and quite remarkably, the biosynthetic mechanisms to produce these ligands are exclusive to each type of enzyme. Furthermore, these mechanisms represent two independent solutions to the formation of complex bioinorganic active sites for catalyzing the simplest of chemical reactions, reversible hydrogen oxidation. As such, the [FeFe]- and [NiFe]-hydrogenases are arguably the most profound case of convergent evolution. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Fe/S proteins: Analysis, structure, function, biogenesis and diseases.
The Risks of High Ultrafiltration Rate in Chronic Hemodialysis: Implications for Patient Care

As dialytic practice has evolved, hemodialysis (HD) adequacy has come to be defined in terms of small molecule clearance. A growing body of evidence suggests that fluid dynamics, specifically ultrafiltration rate (UFR), bear clinical and physiological significance and should perhaps play a more central role in titrating HD therapy. Three recent studies have shown an independent association between higher UFR and mortality. Further work is needed to determine whether this relationship represents a direct toxic effect of rapid fluid perturbations or whether this association is a consequence of confounding on the basis of large interdialytic weight gain, as each would prompt a different therapeutic response. This mounting evidence builds the case that fluid management should play a more central role in the dialytic prescription and that more individualized approaches to fluid management should be encouraged.
Nonreligious coping and religious coping as predictors of expressed emotion in relatives of patients with schizophrenia

Expressed emotion (EE) is a measure of the amount of criticism and emotional over involvement expressed by a key relative towards a relative with a disorder or illness. Research has established that living in a high EE environment, which is characterised by increased levels of critical and emotionally exaggerated communication, leads to a poorer prognosis for patients with a mental illness when compared to low EE environments. Despite evidence that EE is a strong predictor of the course of the illness, there continue to be questions concerning why some family members express excessive levels of high EE attitudes about their mentally ill relatives while others do not. Based on indirect evidence from previous research, the current study tested whether religious and nonreligious coping serve as predictors of EE. A sample of 72 family members of patients with schizophrenia completed an EE interview, along with questionnaires assessing situational nonreligious coping and religious coping. In line with the hypo...
Expression of Pseudomonas stutzeri Zobell cytochrome c-551 and its H47A variant in Escherichia coli

The nirM gene encoding cytochrome c-551 from Pseudomonas stutzeri Zobell (PZ) has been expressed in Escherichia coli at levels higher than those previously reported but only under strict anaerobic growth conditions. Expression yields for wild-type cytochrome in this study typically reached 0.6 micromol per liter of saturated E. coli culture (5.5mg/L). Culture conditions investigated are compared to obtained c-551 expression levels; the results may lead to a greater understanding of the challenges encountered when expressing c-type hemoproteins in E. coli. The nirM gene was mutated to produce a histidine-47-alanine mutation of c-551 that been heterologously expressed in E. coli using optimum culture conditions and had its physiochemical properties compared to those of the wild-type protein. In PZ, the histidine-47 residue is part of a conserved hydrogen-bonding network located at the bottom of the heme crevice that also involves tryptophan-56 and a heme propionate. Ionization events within this network are experimentally demonstrated to modulate c-551 oxidation-reduction potential and its observed dependence on pH around neutrality. The redox potential of the mutant cytochrome still displays pH-dependence; however, the midpoint potential is approximately 25mV lower with respect to wild-type c-551 at neutral pH while the pK at which the heme propionate (HP-17) ionizes is lowered by 1.3 pH units. Temperature and chemical denaturant studies also show that loss of the hydrogen-bond-donating imidazole leads to a large decrease in c-551 tertiary stability.
An overview of decentralized Kalman filter techniques

The federated Kalman filter, which combines data from multiple Kalman filters, is discussed. The federated filter can provide performance equal to that of a single Kalman filter that integrates all the independent sensor data in the system. The advantage is that a single filter is impractical with existing sensors. The federated filter is practical, but for true optimal performance it is necessary that all Kalman filters contain the same process model and make their covariance matrices available on the serial data bus. The federated filter can be reconfigured to provide a less optimal solution with a higher degree of fault tolerance. The application of the federated filter to combine data from two Kalman filters in a navigation system is simulated, and results are provided. >
Counterplanning deceptions to foil cyber-attack plans

Tactics involving deception are important in military strategies. We have been exploring deliberate deception in defensive tactics by information systems under cyber-attack as during information warfare. We have developed a tool to systematically "counterplan" or find ways to foil a particular attack plan. Our approach is to first find all possible atomic "ploys" that can interfere with the plan. Ploys are simple deceits the operating system can do such as lying about the status of a file. We analyze ploys as to the degree of difficulty they cause to the plan wherever they can be applied. We then formulate a "counterplan" by selecting the most cost-effective set of ploys and assign appropriate presentation methods for them, taking into account the likelihood that, if we are not careful, the attacker will realize they are being deceived and will terminate our game with them. The counterplan can be effected by a modified operating system. We have implemented our counterplanner in a tool MECOUNTER that uses multiagent planning coupled with some novel inference methods to efficiently find a best counterplan. We apply the tool to an example of a rootkit-installation plan and discuss the results.
Fetal diuretic responses to maternal hyponatremia: contribution of placental sodium gradient.

Maternal hyponatremia induces fetal hyponatremia and increased fetal urine flow. We sought to examine the relative contributions of the placental Na+gradient vs. the absolute decrease in fetal plas...
Modeling and diagnosis of structural systems through sparse dynamic graphical models

Abstract Since their introduction into the structural health monitoring field, time-domain statistical models have been applied with considerable success. Current approaches still have several flaws, however, as they typically ignore the structure of the system, using individual sensor data for modeling and diagnosis. This paper introduces a Bayesian framework containing much of the previous work with autoregressive models as a special case. In addition, the framework allows for natural inclusion of structural knowledge through the form of prior distributions on the model parameters. Acknowledging the need for computational efficiency, we extend the framework through the use of decomposable graphical models, exploiting sparsity in the system to give models that are simple to fit and understand. This sparsity can be specified from knowledge of the system, from the data itself, or through a combination of the two. Using both simulated and real data, we demonstrate the capability of the model to capture the dynamics of the system and to provide clear indications of structural change and damage. We also demonstrate how learning the sparsity in the system gives insight into the structure׳s physical properties.
Causes of Propagation Failure in Excitable Media

In the cardiac conduction system, temporal order is related to spatial order and temporal disorder may very well be due to spatial disorder. For example, the normal heartbeat is initiated by a wave of excitation generated by the SA node which propagates across the atrium, through the AV node, down the His-Purkinje system and finally across the ventricles. However, if there is some disruption of the way action potentials propagate, it is possible that the normal sequence of events can change and lead to a disorder ot the EKG, that is, to a temporal disorder.
Pathways to improving combined modality therapy for stage III nonsmall-cell lung cancer

ABSTRACT Background Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths, having caused an estimated 1.6 million deaths worldwide in 2012 [Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Dikshit R et al. Cancer incidence and mortality worldwide: sources, methods and major patterns in GLOBOCAN 2012. Int J Cancer 2015; 136: E359–E386]. Materials and methods Although the majority of patients are not cured with currently available therapies, there have been significant improvements in stage-specific outcomes over time [Videtic G, Vokes E, Turrisi A et al. The survival of patients treated for stage III non-small cell lung cancer in North America has increased during the past 25 years. In The 39th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, ASCO 2003, Chicago, IL. Abstract 2557. p. 291]. This review focuses on past progress and ongoing research in the treatment of locally advanced, inoperable nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Results In the past, randomized trials revealed advantages to the use of thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) and then, the addition of induction chemotherapy. This was followed by studies that determined concurrent chemoradiotherapy to be superior to sequential therapy. A recent large phase III trial found that the administration of 74 Gy of conventionally fractionated photon-based TRT provided poorer survival than did the standard 60 Gy. However, further research on other methods of applying radiotherapy (hypofractionation, adaptive TRT, proton therapy, and stereotactic TRT boosting) is proceeding and may improve outcomes. The molecular characterization of tumors has provided more effective and less toxic targeted treatments in the stage IV setting and these agents are currently under investigation for earlier stage disease. Similarly, immune-enhancing therapies have shown promise in stage IV disease and are also being tested in the locally advanced setting. Conclusion For locally advanced, inoperable NSCLC, standard therapy has evolved from TRT alone to combined modality therapy. We summarize the recent clinical trial experience and outline promising areas of investigation in an era of greater molecular and immunologic understanding of cancer care.
Training Teachers to Integrate Computational Thinking into K-12 Teaching

Computational thinking (CT), which encompasses strategies for problem analysis and solution design, is highly applicable in all STEM disciplines, including computer science, for learning concepts as well as solving problems. Yet, the exposure of K-12 students to CT in many schools is practically non-existent. For students to acquire this important skill, teachers require in-depth knowledge of the problem solving strategies that define CT, and strategies for integrating CT into their lesson plans. The proposed special session will be both a tutorial on CT and an interactive session for sharing the experience and results from a CT workshop held at Columbus State University for middle and high school STEM subject teachers. This workshop, offered as a part of the ACT4STEM (Applying Computational Thinking for STEM Disciplines) project, took place in the summer of 2015. It brought together teachers from the metropolitan Columbus area in Georgia with priority given to teachers from high-need schools (as determined by the GA Department of Education [1]). The workshop introduced the participants to CT concepts and demonstrated how CT strategies of pattern recognition, generalization, problem decomposition and algorithmic thinking can be used to improve student learning of STEM concepts. The proposed special session will present sample CT modules developed for the ACT4STEM workshop in the form of a tutorial and projects and lesson plans designed by participants during the workshop. It will include interactive, hands-on activities and discussions in addition to results from the teachers' actual experiences on applying these lesson plans in their classes. This special session will benefit K12 teachers of STEM subjects interested in improving their students' comprehension of discipline related concepts and their application. Moreover, computer science faculty interested in helping K-12 teachers by organizing training sessions will gain valuable insights from the first-hand accounts of the presenters of their own experience with such an effort.
Cation Size Mismatch and Charge Interactions Drive Dopant Segregation at the Surfaces of Manganite Perovskites

Cation segregation on perovskite oxide surfaces affects vastly the oxygen reduction activity and stability of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cathodes. A unified theory that explains the physical origins of this phenomenon is therefore needed for designing cathode materials with optimal surface chemistry. We quantitatively assessed the elastic and electrostatic interactions of the dopant with the surrounding lattice as the key driving forces for segregation on model perovskite compounds, LnMnO3 (host cation Ln = La, Sm). Our approach combines surface chemical analysis with X-ray photoelectron and Auger electron spectroscopy on model dense thin films and computational analysis with density functional theory (DFT) calculations and analytical models. Elastic energy differences were systematically induced in the system by varying the radius of the selected dopants (Ca, Sr, Ba) with respect to the host cations (La, Sm) while retaining the same charge state. Electrostatic energy differences were introduced by varying the distribution of charged oxygen and cation vacancies in our models. Varying the oxygen chemical potential in our experiments induced changes in both the elastic energy and electrostatic interactions. Our results quantitatively demonstrate that the mechanism of dopant segregation on perovskite oxides includes both the elastic and electrostatic energy contributions. A smaller size mismatch between the host and dopant cations and a chemically expanded lattice were found to reduce the segregation level of the dopant and to enable more stable cathode surfaces. Ca-doped LaMnO3 was found to have the most stable surface composition with the least cation segregation among the compositions surveyed. The diffusion kinetics of the larger dopants, Ba and Sr, was found to be slower and can kinetically trap the segregation at reduced temperatures despite the larger elastic energy driving force. Lastly, scanning probe image contrast showed that the surface chemical heterogeneities made of dopant oxides upon segregation were electronically insulating. The consistency between the results obtained from experiments, DFT calculations, and analytical theory in this work provides a predictive capability to tailor the cathode surface compositions for high-performance SOFCs.
The Effect and Implications of a “Self-Correcting” Assessment Procedure

We investigated Montepare’s (2005, 2007) self-correcting procedure for multiple-choice exams. Findings related to memory suggest this procedure should lead to improved retention by encouraging students to distribute the time spent reviewing the material. Results from a general psychology class (n = 98) indicate that the benefits are not as definitive as expected. Students’ initial performance moderated the benefits of the procedure such that comprehensive final exam scores were significantly higher for the self-correcting condition when controlling for initial quiz performance, with a marginally significant interaction (p = .06) between initial quiz scores and condition. The findings underscore the importance of using the scientist-educator model to evaluate pedagogical decisions while considering practical implications and return on investment.
Pediatric exposures to laundry and dishwasher detergents in the United States: 2013-2014

OBJECTIVE: This study analyzes and compares pediatric exposures to packet and nonpacket forms of laundry and dishwasher detergents in the United States. METHODS: Data from the National Poison Data System involving exposures to laundry and dishwasher detergents among children younger than 6 years old from 2013 through 2014 were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 62 254 children younger than 6 years old exposed to laundry and dishwasher detergents from 2013 to 2014. The number of exposures to detergent increased over the study period, but the increase was greatest for laundry detergent packets (17.0%) and dishwasher detergent packets (14.0%). Eighty-five percent of children were exposed through ingestion. The odds of clinical effects (3.9–8.2), hospitalization (4.8–23.5), intubation (6.9–71.3), and serious medical outcomes (8.4–22.6) were significantly higher for laundry detergent packet exposures than for other types of detergent. There were 117 children who required intubation, and 104 of these were exposed to laundry detergent packets. There were 2 deaths, and both were associated with laundry detergent packets. CONCLUSIONS: This national study demonstrates that pediatric laundry detergent packet exposures are more severe than laundry detergent nonpacket and dishwasher detergent (packet and nonpacket) exposures. Pediatric exposures to laundry detergent packets increased by 17% during the study period nationally and should be closely monitored to assess the effectiveness of the newly adopted voluntary safety standard; this standard should be strengthened if the number of exposures does not demonstrate a substantial decrease.
"Prediction" of the one-minute Apgar score from fetal heart rate data.

The value of any fetal monitoring technic is in its ability to predict infant outcome. In the present study, the ability of fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring data to "predict" a measure of short-term infant outcome, the 1-minute Apgar score, was evaluated using univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. Of 61 monitored high-risk infants, 46 had high (7 to 10) and 15 had low (1 to 6) 1-minute Apgar scores. Computer analysis of FHR/intrauterine pressure (IUP) data for these 61 infants revealed that the infants with low Apgar scores had more than the expected number of late decelerations (LD). Using a threshold of ten LD and univariate analysis, 74% of the infants could be properly classified for high or low Apgar scores, but 60% of the infants with low Apgar scores were not identified. Using discriminant function (multivariate) analysis for the numbers of LD and uterine contractions, 47% of the depressed infants were appropriately identified and simple risk scoring equations were devised. Using additional observation vectors, including the number of accelerations and early decelerations, 67% of the depressed infants could be identified. The results of this study suggest that using multiple observation vectors improves the predictive capacity and, thus, the value of fetal monitoring data. Clinical experience suggests that the value of monitoring data can be further enhanced by simultaneous evaluation of other observation vectors from additional perinatal data sets using the technics of this study.
Further Morphology and Syntax

In this chapter, I address further topics which arise in working with morphological and syntactic field data.