cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Postimplantation pregnancy disruptions in meadow voles: Relationship to variation in male sexual and aggressive behavior

Previous research on Microtines indicates that the presence of new males may more effectively produce pregnancy disruptions than do pheromones alone. If the male's presence is important, behavioral differences among males may be related to the occurrence of disruptions. We observed female meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) interacting with new males twelve days after they had been paired with stud males. Behavioral interactions were recorded for one hour on each of Days 12-14. Timing of parturition and weight gain by Day 12 were used to assess whether a disruption had occurred. Females with disrupted pregnancies were frequently observed mating within an hour of being placed with the new male, whereas females that retained their original pregnancies rarely copulated with the new male. When pregnancies were disrupted, female-new male pairs fought more, but also engaged in more nonaggressive contact than when pregnancies were retained. Pup survival and male attendance of pups were lower when females retained litters, suggesting that females could successfully rear more pups if the original pregnancy was reabsorbed. However, relatively aggressive females paired with nonaggressive new males protected retained litters from new males. New males were tested for aggressive and pup care responses to an unrelated pup on the day before they were placed with the females. Males aggressive to unrelated pups in these tests were also more aggressive to females on Day 12. These data suggest that male aggressiveness may signal females when it would be advantageous to disrupt pregnancy.
Prediction of negative dispersion by a nonlocal poroelastic theory

The objective of this work is to show that the negative dispersion of ultrasonic waves propagating in cancellous bone can be explained by a nonlocal version of Biot’s theory of poroelasticity. The nonlocal poroelastic formulation is presented in this work and the exact solutions for one- and two-dimensional systems are obtained by the method of Fourier transform. The nonlocal phase speeds for solid- and fluid-borne waves show the desired negative dispersion where the magnitude of dispersion is strongly dependent on the nonlocal parameters and porosity. Dependence of the phase speed and attenuation is studied for both porosity and frequency variation. It is shown that the nonlocal parameter can be easily estimated by comparing the theoretical dispersion rate with experimental observations. It is also shown that the modes of Lamb waves show similar negative dispersion when predicted by the nonlocal poroelastic theory.
New variational-Lagrangian thermodynamics of viscous fluid mixtures with thermomolecular diffusion

A principle of virtual dissipation generalizing d’Alembert’s principle to nonlinear irreversible thermodynamics is applied to viscous fluid mixtures with coupled thermomolecular diffusion. Original dynamical field equations are obtained directly from the variational principle. The use of new fundamental concepts and methods in the thermodynamics of open systems avoids the difficulties inherent in the classical Gibbs approach.The dissipative forces incorporated explicitly in the field equations are expressed by means of a dissipation invariant evaluated in detail in terms of coupled viscous and diffusive properties. Partial pressures and dissipative stresses are given new, unambiguous thermodynamic definitions. Lagrangian type equations with generalized coordinates are also obtained directly from the variational principle. They provide a powerful tool of simplified analysis of complex open systems as well as the foundation of a variety of finite element methods.
A free-volume term based on the van der Waals partition function for the UNIFAC model

The objective of this work was to develop a model that takes into account the unique free-volume effect of water. The free-volume percentage of water is less than that of most polymers. This is opposite to the free-volume behavior of most solvents with polymers. As a result, the free-volume term in the UNIFAC-FV model introduced by Oishi and Prausnitz fails for aqueous systems. In the new model a free-volume term derived from the generalized van der Waals partition function is added to the combinatorial and residual terms of UNIFAC. In UNIFAC the geometric parameters were generally obtained directly from the van der Waals values. For water, however, these parameters were regressed. With the new free-volume term better predictions were obtained when the standard van der Waals geometric parameters for water were used. The new model was compared with the UNIFAC-FV model of Oishi and Prausnitz and the Entropic-FV model of Elbro et al. The new model was found to give better predictions for the aqueous polymer systems as well as for the non-aqueous polymer systems.
Evasion of alternative complement pathway by Trypanosoma cruzi results from inefficient binding of factor B.

Abstract During its differentiation in the insect vector to a stage infective for the mammalian host, Trypanosoma cruzi becomes resistant to lysis by the alternative pathway of complement. To elucidate the mechanism of complement evasion, we studied control of complement activation on the surface of the noninfective epimastigote and the infective culture-derived metacyclic trypomastigote stages (CMT) of T. cruzi. It was found that the predominant form of complement component C3 on epimastigotes is C3b, whereas the majority of C3 on CMT is in the form of the hemolytically inactive fragment iC3b, which cannot participate in C5 convertase formation or lead to deposition of the lytic C5b-9 complex. Our results also showed that C3 binds by a covalent ester linkage to surface molecules of different molecular weight in the epimastigote stage and CMT. Binding studies with purified complement components indicated that CMT do not support efficient formation of an alternative pathway C3 convertase. C3b on the parasite surface fails to bind the amplification component, factor B, rather than showing enhanced binding of the control component, factor H. These results identify the biochemical basis for evasion of complement-mediated killing in T. cruzi and reveal a mechanism for developmental regulation of complement activation.
Attraction to Competent and Incompetent Members of Cooperative and Competitive Groups1

A laboratory experiment and a reanalysis of data collected in a previous field study examined the effects of cooperation and competition on liking for other group members who varied in competence. It was hypothesized that when other members of a cooperative group are relatively incompetent, they will tend to be disliked because they decrease the subject's chances of success. On the other hand, in competitive groups incompetent group members should not be disliked because they do not reduce the probability of the subject's success. Both the laboratory experiment and the field study found support for these suggestions. In addition, in the field study it was found that the race of the other group members did not affect these tendencies. Other results from the present study yielded information concerning some of the psychological processes that determine attraction in cooperative and competitive groups. These results were discussed in terms of their implications for the use of cooperative groups in desegregated schools.
Multidimensional Assessment of Emerging Technologies: Case of Next Generation Internet and Online Gaming Application

The Internet has changed the world in many ways. Online communications, financial and business-to-business transactions, electronic shopping, banking, and entertainment have become the norm in the digital age. The combined package of technologies that comprise the Internet-the information superhighway-have made all of this possible. The aging technological infrastructure that supports these webs of interconnected networks is being stressed to its performance limits. Recent advances in the backbone infrastructure that supports the Internet have helped alleviate some of these problems, but more challenges lie ahead for solving technology-related performance bottlenecks for many online applications, including high-definition interactive gaming. In this paper, the authors developed a technology assessment through multiple perspectives. While different components of the technology such as applications, protocols and network components are identified, other impact areas such as market and management are also evaluated. Elements of user behavior are evaluated within the market perspective. Evaluating technologies through these dimensions concurrently provides a balanced assessment among technical, economical, social and political factors.
Solubilization of calcium dodecyl sulfate in a micellar solution and in lamellar liquid crystal

Abstract Calcium dodecyl sulfate (CDS) was solubilized in the aqueous micellar solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate and in the lamellar liquid crystal obtained from water, sodium dodecyl sulfate and decanol. The solubilization of CDS in the micellar solution was strongly increased with the concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate while the maximum amount of CDS solubilized in the liquid crystal remained similar. The solubilization in the micellar solution was gradually increased with the alcohol content with a sudden reduction to zero at the decanol/sodium-dodecyl-sulfate ratio marking the end of the micellar region with no calcium soap being present. The dependence of the solubilization on the decanol/sodium-dodecyl-sulfate ratio was the opposite in the lamellar liquid-crystalline phase. It suddenly rose to a maximum at the lowest values of the alcohol/sodium-dodecyl-sulfate ratio and the interlayer spacing in the lamellar liquid crystal showed a pronounced reduction for initial addition of the calcium soap.
A National Assessment of Local Earthquake Mitigation: Implications for Planning and Public Policy

Abstract This paper presents conclusions and their implications for planning and public policy from a comprehensive study of local seismic hazard mitigation programs throughout the United States. Data from the study were obtained from a mail survey and three case communities. A key study conclusion is that while earthquake mitigation activity is higher among California communities than in communities of other states, it is considerably lower than for other types of hazards. Other key conclusions are that local officials can undertake a variety of activities to effectively advance planning for earthquakes, and that the more effective activities occurred through an interactive learning process where creative compromises among differing community perspectives were more likely. These conclusions imply that while there is a substantial need to better integrate earthquake mitigation into development and land use decision making, local government efforts to advance mitigation programs have a substantial potentia...
Molecular dynamics simulation of cocaine binding with human butyrylcholinesterase and its mutants.

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out to study cocaine binding with wild-type human butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and its mutants based on a recently reported X-ray crystal structure of human BChE. For each BChE−cocaine system, we simulated both the nonprereactive and prereactive complexes in water. Despite the significant difference found at the acyl binding pocket, the simulated structures confirm the fundamental structural and mechanistic insights obtained from earlier computational studies of wild-type BChE with cocaine based on a homology model, e.g. the rate-determining step for BChE-catalyzed hydrolysis of biologically active (−)-cocaine is the (−)-cocaine rotation in the active site from the nonprereactive BChE−(−)-cocaine complex to the prereactive complex. It has been demonstrated that the MD simulations on both the nonprereactive and prereactive BChE−cocaine complexes can clearly reveal whether specific mutations produce the desired BChE−(−)-cocaine binding structures in which the...
Detection of high-phosphorus tolerant VAM-fungi colonizing hops and peppermint

In a continuing search for field sources of endomycorrhizal fungi that tolerate high levels of available phosphorus in soil, samples were obtained from long-established liberally fertilized hops (Humulus lupulus L.) and peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) fields. In hops fields, where extractable P (Bray) levels ranged from 21–196 ppm, spores of twoAcaulospora spp. and sixGlomus spp. were isolated. From peppermint fields with P levels of 44 to 244 ppm, spores of oneAcaulospora sp., fourGlomus spp. and oneGigaspora sp. were obtained. Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi were found colonizing most roots to some extent, despite the very high fertility of several sites. Although percentages of colonization in hops tended to be low, ranging from 0 to 9.3%, colonizations in peppermint roots were considerably higher averaging 26.5% between the sampled fields, notwithstanding P levels as high as 244 ppm. Curiously, considerable external VAM hyphae were found adherent to or entangling roots in many cases, even where percentage of root length with internal VAM structures was low. The functional benefit, neutrality, or detriment to plants of such high-P tolerant species remains to be determined.
Real-time construction worker posture analysis for ergonomics training

Construction activities performed by workers are usually repetitive and physically demanding. Execution of such tasks in awkward postures can strain their body parts and can result in fatigue, injuries or in severe cases permanent disabilities. In view of this, it is essential to train workers, before the commencement of any construction activity. Furthermore, traditional worker monitoring methods are tedious, inefficient and are carried out manually whereas, an automated approach, apart from monitoring, can yield valuable information concerning work-related behavior of worker that can be beneficial for worker training in a virtual reality world. Our research work focuses on developing an automated approach for posture estimation and classification using a range camera for posture analysis and categorizing it as ergonomic or non-ergonomic. Using a range camera, first we classify worker's pose to determine whether a worker is 'standing', 'bending', 'sitting', or 'crawling' and then estimate the posture of the worker using OpenNI middleware to get the body joint angles and spatial locations. A predefined set of rules is then formulated to use this body posture information to categorize tasks as ergonomic or non-ergonomic.
Factor VIIa Interaction With Tissue Factor and Endothelial Cell Protein C Receptor on Cell Surfaces

Factor VIIa (FVIIa) is the enzyme that triggers activation of the clotting cascade that eventually leads to fibrin deposition and platelet activation. Association of FVIIa with its cellular receptor, tissue factor (TF), which greatly increases FVIIa enzymatic activity, is essential for the effective initiation of the coagulation pathway. FVIIa also complexes with endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR), but this association does not increase the enzymatic activity of FVIIa. This article reviews current knowledge of FVIIa interaction with TF and EPCR on cell surfaces with a specific focus on how these interactions may contribute to FVIIa and TF clearance, thereby regulating TF–FVIIa activity.
Band tails in amorphous semiconductors

Abstract The current understanding of the band tails is reviewed, emphasizing the contributions at this Conference.
Temperature dependent ultraviolet absorption cross sections of 1,3-butadiene and butadiyne

Abstract The temperature dependence of the ultraviolet absorption cross sections of 1,3-butadiene, from 160 to 240 nm, and butadiyne (diacetylene) from 160 to 260 nm have been measured, in the gas phase, for temperatures ranging from about 220 to 330 K. The absorption spectrum of 1,3-butadiene shows several sharp absorption features between 160 and 190 nm and strong diffuse bands between 190 and 220 nm. The absorption cross sections, at absorption peaks, increased significantly with decreasing temperature, particularly in the range 185 to 215 nm. At about 220 nm, a cross over point, the absorption cross section remained unchanged with temperature variations while at wavelengths greater than 220 nm the cross section values decreased with decreasing temperature. A sharp absorption feature at 186.6 nm shows the most pronounced relative temperature effect with an increase in the cross section from 42.55 × 10−18 to 78.70 × 10−18 cm2 for a temperature change of 333 to 218 K. The spectrum for butadiyne consists of a very strong absorption at 164.6 nm with a cross section of4.40 × 10−16 cm2, at 295 K, followed by the complex absorption features between about 200 to 250 nm. The cross section values at absorption peaks determined at low temperatures are significantly higher than those at higher temperatures.
Effect of chronic uremia on the cardiovascular alpha1 receptor

Abstract Adrenergic dysfunction in uremia has been well described. Several lines of evidence suggest disorders of blood pressure regulation and myocardial response may occur secondary to adrenergic dysfunction; 1) attenuated pressor response to norepinephrine (NE) in uremia; 2) attenuated chronotropic responses during dialysis induced hypotension. Since the adrenergic receptors are the effector component of the adrenergic nervous system, we have employed the partially nephrectomized uremic rat, to examine the effect of chronic uremia (4–6 weeks) on the binding properties of alpha 1 receptors in rat mesenteric artery and myocardial tissue. The results indicate that moderate levels of uremia alter the binding properties of both the alpha 1 vascular and myocardial receptor.
Posttraumatic stress disorder prevalence and risk of recurrence in acute coronary syndrome patients: a meta-analytic review.

Background: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS; myocardial infarction or unstable angina) can induce posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and ACS-induced PTSD may increase patients’ risk for subsequent cardiac events and mortality. Objective: To determine the prevalence of PTSD induced by ACS and to quantify the association between ACS-induced PTSD and adverse clinical outcomes using systematic review and meta-analysis. Data Sources: Articles were identified by searching Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus, and through manual search of reference lists. Methodology/Principal Findings: Observational cohort studies that assessed PTSD with specific reference to an ACS event at least 1 month prior. We extracted estimates of the prevalence of ACS-induced PTSD and associations with clinical outcomes, as well as study characteristics. We identified 56 potentially relevant articles, 24 of which met our criteria (N=2383). Meta-analysis yielded an aggregated prevalence estimate of 12% (95% confidence interval [CI], 9%–16%) for clinically significant symptoms of ACS-induced PTSD in a random effects model. Individual study prevalence estimates varied widely (0%–32%), with significant heterogeneity in estimates explained by the use of a screening instrument (prevalence estimate was 16% [95% CI, 13%–20%] in 16 studies) vs a clinical diagnostic interview (prevalence estimate was 4% [95% CI, 3%–5%] in 8 studies). The aggregated point estimate for the magnitude of the relationship between ACSinduced PTSD and clinical outcomes (ie, mortality and/or ACS recurrence) across the 3 studies that met our criteria (N=609) suggested a doubling of risk (risk ratio, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.69–2.37) in ACS patients with clinically significant PTSD symptoms relative to patients without PTSD symptoms. Conclusions/Significance: This meta-analysis suggests that clinically significant PTSD symptoms induced by ACS are moderately prevalent and are associated with increased risk for recurrent cardiac events and mortality. Further tests of the association of ACS-induced PTSD and clinical outcomes are needed.
Issues and advances in product positioning models in marketing research

Mathematical models used for product positioning are proliferating at a rapid rate. To provide a structure to this research, we have categorized the models/algorithms into three basic approaches: utility functions, maps and trees. In this article we identify and discuss the recent advances related to these approaches, discuss data requirements and indicate issues that influence that choice of the particular product positioning approach best-suited for various situations.
The in vivo, driving-point impedance of the human ulna--a viscoelastic beam model.

Abstract A simply-supported, linear viscoelastic beam subjected to a harmonically varying force near its midspan is proposed as a model of Thompson's experimental procedure for measuring the drivingpoint impedance of the human ulna. The soft tissue squeezed between the impedance head and the ulna is modeled as a tri-parameter viscous solid whose material constants are functions of the static component of the forcing function. Theoretical impedance curves obtained using the model are in much better agreement with Thompson's impedance data than the theoretical results that can be obtained with Thompson's earlier lumped-parameter model. Computational procedures are outlined for inferring the in vivo Young's modulus of the ulna utilizing the proposed model. Supplemental photon absorption and skin-fold measurements are suggested to provide reliable values of the parameters used in the model. Recommendations for improving the model are made.
SU-E-CAMPUS-T-02: Selecting Reference Patients for Automatic Treatment Planning Using Multiple Geometrical Features

Purpose: To discover the geometric features that best identify an anatomically‐similar reference patient from a library of previous treatments to predict achievable dose distributions for automatic IMRT treatment planning of a new patient. Methods: Using a library of previously‐treated patients, two similarity functions are defined in the domain of the dose distributions and geometrical features that match a patient with their most similar member from the cohort. The goal is to attain the same patient matches from these similarity functions, so that when a new patient without dosimetric information is input into the geometric similarity function a similar patient from the library can be identified with good dosimetric predictive power for the new patient. The dosimetric similarity function is defined by a weighted sum of the difference area between two DVHs for all organs and PTV, with the weights tuned to reflect clinical priorities. The generalized geometric similarity function was defined as a nonlinear combination of organ/PTV volume, organ/PTV overlapping volume, and Dice index between a pair of two organs/PTVs/intersections. A genetic‐algorithm‐based learning technique was then employed to find the optimal combination of geometrical features to predict patient similarity. Results: For a database of 10 prostate cancer treated patients, a combination of bladder volume and (PTV, rectum) overlapping Dice index achieved 80% accuracy compared to the DVH similarity function. Validation on a library of 15 patients reduced the accuracy to 60%, implying that other geometric features could be needed. Conclusion: We have developed a method using machine learning to identify the best match of a new patient to the prior patients to guide automatic IMRT planning. Initial results from this feasibility study have modest predictive power but future work will focus in the incorporation of other geometric features, e.g. mutual information and overlap‐volume‐histograms, to increase selection accuracy.
Restoration of Dopamine Signaling to the Dorsal Striatum Is Sufficient for Aspects of Active Maternal Behavior in Female Mice

Striatal dopamine (DA) is important for motivated behaviors, including maternal behavior. Recent evidence linking the dorsal striatum with goal-directed behavior suggests that DA signaling in the dorsal striatum, not just the nucleus accumbens, could be involved in maternal behavior. To investigate this question, we tested the maternal behavior of mice with DA genetically restricted to the dorsal striatum. These mice had a mild deficit in pup retrieval but had normal licking/grooming and nursing behavior; consequently, pups were weaned successfully. We also tested a separate group of mice with severely depleted DA in all striatal areas. They had severe deficits in pup retrieval and licking/grooming behavior, whereas nursing behavior was left intact; again, pups survived to weaning at normal rates. We conclude that DA signaling in the striatum is a part of the circuitry mediating maternal behavior and is specifically relevant for active, but not passive, maternal behaviors. In addition, DA in the dorsal striatum is sufficient to allow for active maternal behavior.
Band Gap Shift of GaN under Uniaxial Strain Compression

The band-gap shift of GaN:Mg epilayers on (0001)-oriented sapphire was studied as a function of uniaxial strain compression along the c-axis using time-resolved, optical absorption measurements in shock wave experiments. For longitudinal stresses ranging from 4 to 14 GPa, the band gap shift is approximately 0.026 eV/GPa. Combining this result with the known behavior of wurtzite GaN under hydrostatic pressure and biaxial stress, a new set of deformation potentials has been estimated: acz-D1 = -10.2 eV, act-D2 = -7.9 eV, D3 = 1.33 eV and D4 = -0.74 eV. A slow band gap shift is also observed following the immediate band gap increase upon impact. This phenomenon can be explained by a time-dependent screening of the piezoelectric field. INTRODUCTION In recent years, much attention has been devoted to the study of the properties of GaN-based III-V semiconductors. The effect of strain on the optical properties of wurtzite GaN thin films and quantum-well structures is of great interest. Strain is always present in such heterostructures due to the large differences in lattice parameters and expansion coefficients between the substrate and III-nitride epilayers. In addition to its role in band-gap engineering, strain influences the electrical and optical properties of the devices through the piezoelectric effect (1- 3). The values of the deformation potentials for wurtzite GaN are important for device modeling. However, the values found in the literature are scattered over a relatively large range (4-7). In this study, we present band-gap measurements of GaN:Mg under uniaxial strain compression along the c-axis using time-resolved, optical absorption spectroscopy in shock-wave experiments. This unique method enables us to obtain the hydrostatic deformation potential along the c-axis (acz-D1) directly. EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS The samples used in this work were thin (4 µm), semi-insulating, Mg-doped GaN epilayers on c-cut sapphire substrates (420 µm) grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. Shock waves were generated by the impact of an optically transparent sapphire impactor onto the sample. The impactor was mounted on a projectile that was accelerated by a light gas gun. The GaN:Mg sample was backed by a sapphire buffer window. The transmitted light was collected by a UV-transparent lens and focused into an optical fiber. This light was spectrally dispersed by a spectrometer (ARC SpectraPro 150, 600 grooves/mm grating blazed at 300 nm), temporally dispersed by an electronic streak camera (Imacon 500) and digitally recorded on a charge- coupled device (CCD) detector as a series of transmission spectra, each separated in time by 20
Histiocytic leukemia following lifelong infection and thrombocytopenia: histologic, metabolic, and bactericidal studies.

A 9-year-old girl with lifelong susceptibility to infection and thrombocytopenia subsequently developed an unusual form of histiocytic leukemia and died six months later. The abnormal histiocyte had been identified in bone marrow aspirates for four years prior to the onset of leukemia. Splenectomy hastened the progression of the disease that shared clinical and pathologic features of histiocytic medullary reticulosis and leukemic reticuloendotheliosis. Histologic, metabolic, and bactericidal studies of the patient's phagocytes indicated that the abnormal histiocytes could phagocytize and sequester bacteria, lacked lysosomes and peroxidase, and were likely responsible for the ineffective in vitro killing of three species of bacteria.
Keynote: Answering Questions of Health and Medicine Using Internet Data

Answering questions of health and medicine frequently necessitates the collection of data from large cohorts during real-world interactions. This is costly and, in many cases, extremely challenging due to the nature of these interactions and the difficulty in getting people to report about them. Work in recent years has shown that data generated by people as they browse the Web, including queries submitted to Internet search engines, social media postings, and even merely browsing histories can be used to learn about peoples’ activities in the virtual as well as the physical worlds. Therefore, these data could potentially serve as a cheap alternative for real-world data. In this talk I will show that specific types of Internet data are less influenced by reporting biases, and are thus a low-cost alternative for extracting medical information from very large populations. I will discuss areas where Internet data are especially advantageous for addressing questions of health and medicine, and how these data can be coupled with other information in a privacy-preserving manner to improve the range of questions we can answer. I will illustrate with several recent examples such as post-market drug surveillance, discovery of a link between medial portrayal of underweight models and the development of anorexia, and the prediction of mood disorder events. []
Correlates of interventions with self-injurious behaviour

A review was conducted of published intervention research on the self-injurious behaviour (SIB) of individuals with severe or profound mental retardation. The review comprised articles published between 1980 and 1990. Thirty-eight biodemographic and environmental variables were investigated, with type of SIB and intervention type considered primary variable classes. Efficacy was also investigated as an additional variable. Cross-tabulations were performed on selected variables with 24 significant and five marginally significant results obtained. These results indicated that there were possible biases in treatment approaches, problems in compliance with standards of practice, and differential efficacy levels related to certain variable types. Findings were discussed in relation to establishing a prototype for successful SIB interventions.
Subtraction imaging: applications for nonvascular abdominal MRI.

OBJECTIVE. In this article we will illustrate the role of subtraction imaging for abdominal MRI applications.CONCLUSION. Subtraction imaging has multiple applications for imaging the mediastinum, abdomen, and pelvis. Removing any preexisting signal of T1 unenhanced images causes contrast enhancement within a mass to become more conspicuous on subtracted sequences. This is helpful when evaluating a lesion with high signal on unenhanced T1-weighted sequences, where visual detection of enhancement can be difficult on conventional MRI.
Transport-limited electrochemical formation of long nanosharp probes from tungsten

We show that electrochemical formation of long probes with nanosharp tips can be controlled by choosing an appropriate thermodynamic pathway of metal to metal oxide and hydroxide transformation. Currently, convection-limited electropolishing (CLE) is extensively used. Nanosharp probes are produced by electrochemically etching a wire until it breaks into two pieces. This process is difficult to control because of the complexity of the associated hydrodynamic flows. We introduce transport-limited electropolishing (TLE), where the electrochemical reaction results in the formation of metal oxides and hydroxides which form a porous surface layer hindering the flow of electrolyte. The developed TLE method enables one to make long tapered needles. The taper can spread over more than 6 mm while the radius of tip curvature can be decreased down to 30 nm. These needles are strong and were successfully applied for piercing single smooth vascular muscle cells.
Input–output energy analysis in pistachio production of Turkey

The purpose of this study is to determine the energy consumption of input and output used in pistachio production in Turkey. Data were collected from 147 pistachio farms in Gaziantep, Turkey by using a face-to-face questionnaire. The sample farms were selected through a stratified random sampling technique. The population investigated was divided into two strata based on the size of pistachio farms as 0.1–10.0 ha (98 farms) and larger than 10.1 ha (49 farms). The results revealed that 23,454.33 MJ ha−1 energy were consumed by first group and 20,473.06 MJ ha−1 second group of farms. The input–output ratio was 0.40 in the first stratum and 0.43 in the second stratum. The energy productivity was 0.02 for both groups of farm. The economic analyses showed that the profit–cost ratios of farms were 1.52 and 1.69, respectively. Net returns calculated were 1429.10 $ ha−1 and 1595.11 $ ha−1 in the farms investigated. Large farms were more successful in use efficiency and economic performance. It was concluded that energy management at farm level could be improved to provide more efficient and economic use of energy. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 32: 128–133, 2013.
Line-by-line pulse shaping at spectral resolution below 1 GHz

Line-by-line pulse shaping is demonstrated on mode-locked titanium sapphire laser with a repetition rate < 1 GHz. The necessary high spectral resolution pulse shaper is described and its output analyzed.
The Geography of Federal Fiscal Politics in the United States of America: An Exploration:

Two of the major tasks of government are representing the interests of citizens and making budgetary allocations for the provision of public goods and services. In the United States of America, these two tasks are interdependent and both have a territorial base; elected members represent particular parts of the country and, in performing their representational role, advance the interests of the people living in the areas they represent. The result, according to both popular and academic theory, is pork-barrel politics, whereby representatives seek to direct a substantial portion of that part of the budget under their control to the benefits of their constituents. Academic analyses seeking the consequent geographical element to federal spending in the USA have failed in general however to substantiate that hypothesis. In this paper, I review that literature and suggest reasons for the failures.
Mechanical properties of polyurethane‐unsaturated polyester interpenetrating polymer networks

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) based on a polyurethane (PU) and two unsaturated polyester (UPE) resins (a commercially available UPE and a partially endcapped UPE) were prepared. The mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, elongation at break, impact strength, and dynamic mechanical properties of IPNs, were studied by changing reaction temperature, PU reaction rate, and UPE reaction rate. Owing to the unique microgel formation of UPE, the first formed network tends to be the dispersed phase in the PU-UPE IPN system. The reaction sequence was found to be an important factor in determining the phase mixing and phase morphology of the IPNs. When the PU reaction was faster, extensive phase mixing due to strong grafting or chain interpenetration was obtained. When the UPE reacted first, grafting was retarded by the microgel formation of the UPE network. It was found that simultaneous reaction of the two reacting system resulted in a co-continuous structure that provided enhanced tensile properties and impact strength.
Adaptive intelligent control of ionic polymer?metal composites

Electroactive polymers undergo physical deformation in response to external voltage stimuli. These electrically activated polymers possess extraordinary features making them capable of use as lightweight sensors and actuators in manifold applications. The characteristics of applied voltage and environmental conditions, especially the moisture content surrounding the polymer, have a combined influence on the dynamical behavior of these polymers. In order to characterize these polymers under varying environmental conditions, this paper discusses the experimental procedure and modeling techniques used to derive a representative model. Validation of the model derived is provided by comparison tests of the simulated model results and those for experimental specimens. Ionic polymer–metal composites are used for this humidity and electrodynamical study. Insight into the numerous applications of electroactive polymers as actuators is given. The extended model allows for controller design for typical tracking problems. The control architecture presented includes a model reference adaptive scheme along with pole-placement control strategies for achieving the goal of tracking. A genetic algorithm approach is employed to carry out the optimization for the control action. The resulting tracking control of ionic polymer–metal composites, acting as actuators, is simulated. Simulations show that tracking results can be achieved with a correlation of 99% and a root mean square error of less than 30%.
Unemployment after the Great Recession: Why so High? What Can We Do? *

The surprising increase in U.S. unemployment in the Great Recession and the persistence of long-term unemployment in the economic recovery pose important questions for employment policy. Why did unemployment grow more than forecast? Is the character of long-term unemployment the result of cyclical or structural causes? I discuss eight policy changes that would reduce the ranks of the unemployed and that would improve the efficiency of the labor market. Most of these proposals do not add big-ticket items to the Federal budget; their merits are independent of the question of how large the federal deficit should be at this time.
“To Numb Out and Start to Feel Nothing”: Experiences of Stress among Crack-Cocaine Using Women in a Midwestern City

The study uses qualitative interviews conducted with 19 crack using women to explore their experiences of stress and their views regarding the relationship between stress and drug use. Fifteen of the women participated in follow-up interviews conducted 5–7 years after the baseline. Life history interviews unveiled a pattern of close connection between the intensity of women's drug use and the level of stress they experienced in relation to their past adversities and current life circumstances. The majority of the women viewed stress as an important causal explanation of their drug use. Tensions related to romantic relationships, traumatic childhood, motherhood failures, unabated grief, and humiliating experiences of “crack life” were discussed as the most common sources of psychosocial stress. Most women had very limited positive coping resources and skills. Crack use was perceived as a very common, although highly maladaptive, way to deal with stress. Implications for interventions are discussed.
Effect of system and operational parameters on the performance of an immersion-cooled multichip module for high performance computing

Immersion cooling is making a resurgence for use in server applications driven by an increase in chip densities and the need for reduction in overall data center power usage. This paper focuses on pool boiling characteristics from an array of heaters which simulate electronic chips on a vertically-oriented printed circuit board. A pool boiling study was conducted on an array of four bare die using two different dielectric fluids; namely Novec 649 and HFE 7100, both with low global warming potential (GWP). Tests were conducted at two die spacings; 25mm and 10mm under two different pool conditions: saturated and 15°C subcooled representing a start-up transient. Data were collected for increasing and decreasing heat flux cycles. The flux dissipated was found to be 14.6 W/cm 2 and 14.2 W/cm 2 with Novec 649 and HFE 7100 respectively for the test board with 10mm die spacings under subcooled conditions. These values are recorded at self-imposed maximum surface temperatures that ensured operation well below the critical heat flux. These flux values are quite high especially since they are attained without the need to modify the surface or add heat sinks. In an effort to increase thermal performance, tests were also conducted on dies spaced 25mm apart augmented with two different enhanced heat sinks featuring microporous and microfinned surfaces. Enhanced heat sinks performed better than bare die and the flux dissipated was found to be 18.87 W/cm 2 and 18.31 W/cm 2 using Novec 649 and HFE 7100 respectively under subcooled conditions. Additionally, these values were achieved at surface temperatures 15°C lower than the surface temperatures recorded by the bare dies for dissipating the same amount of heat. High speed images were obtained to provide a better understanding of nucleation characteristics.
Lag screw fixation of anterior mandibular fractures

A technique of applying lag screws for treating fractures of the anterior mandible is presented. A review of 41 patients who had lag screws placed to treat such fractures showed that it is a successful method of providing rigid internal fixation. The advantages of this technique over bone-plate fixation are discussed.
MicroRNA-18a inhibits hypoxia-inducible factor 1α activity and lung metastasis in basal breast cancers.

In breast cancer, distinct expression profiles of microRNAs (miRNAs) have been associated with molecular subgroups and clinicopathological characteristics, implicating a diagnostic and prognostic role of miRNAs. However, the biological functions of deregulated miRNAs in tumor progression are not yet completely defined. In this study, we investigated the function of miR-18a in regulating breast cancer metastasis through the hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1A)–dependent hypoxic response. An orthotopic metastatic breast cancer xenograft model (MDA-MB-231 cells) was used to identify miRNAs associated with spontaneous lung metastasis. The function of miR-18a in regulating HIF1A expression, as well as cellular responses to hypoxia and metastasis, were then studied in vitro and in vivo by assessing ectopic miR-18a expression or miR-18a inhibition. miRNA–mRNA interactions (AGO2 immunoprecipitation and 3′ untranslated region Luciferase reporter assays), gene expression (quantitative PCR and microarray), cell migration and invasion, and cell growth were assessed under normoxic or hypoxic conditions, complemented by orthotopic xenograft of tumor cells to the mammary fat pad to investigate the effect of modulating miR-18a expression on primary tumor growth and lung metastasis. Last, clinically relevant correlations between miR-18a, HIF1A, hypoxia-responsive gene expression and distant metastasis–free survival (DMFS) were assessed using published expression array breast tumors data sets. miRNAs encoded by the MIR17HG gene were downregulated in lung metastases compared to primary tumors. Ectopic expression of miR-18a, a MIR17HG family member, in a metastatic variant of MDA-MB-231 cells reduced primary tumor growth and lung metastasis, whereas miR-18a inhibition in the parental cells promoted tumor growth and lung metastasis. We identified HIF1A as a direct target of miR-18a. Modulating miR-18a expression significantly affected hypoxic gene expression, cell invasiveness and sensitivity to anoikis and hypoxia in vitro in a HIF1A-dependent manner. Analysis of previously published data revealed that higher expression of HIF1A and a panel of hypoxic genes is associated with shorter DMFS interval in patients with basal-like breast tumors, and that, within this subtype, miR-18a expression is inversely correlated with hypoxic gene expression. Together, these data support a role of miR-18a in repressing distant metastasis through a HIF1A-dependent pathway. The results of this study reveal a novel role for miR-18a in targeting HIF1A and repressing metastasis of basal-like breast tumors.
Enantiospecific synthesis and cytotoxicity of 7-(4-methoxyphenyl)-6-phenyl-2,3,8,8a-tetrahydroindolizin-5(1H)-one enantiomers.

Abstract An enantiospecific synthesis was developed to generate both enantiomers of 7-(4-methoxyphenyl)-6-phenyl-2,3,8,8a-tetrahydroindolizin-5(1H)-one. A biological assay utilizing the HCT-116 colon cancer cell line to determine the cytotoxicity of these analogs revealed that only the (R)-enantiomer exhibited appreciable cytotoxicity with an IC50 value of 0.2 μM.
Critical thinking and accuracy of nurses' diagnoses. Part II: application of cognitive skills and guidelines for self-development

Part I of this article, the author explained the difficulties of achieving accuracy of nurses' diagnoses, the relevance of critical thinking to the achievement of accuracy, and newer views of critical thinking. In Part II, the critical thinking dimensions identified as important for nursing practice are applied in the diagnostic process using a case study of a 16 year old girl with type 1 diabetes. Application of seven cognitive skills and ten habits of mind illustrate the importance of using critical thinking for accuracy of nurses' diagnoses. Ten strategies are proposed for self-development of critical thinking abilities.
Wireless power recharging for implantable bladder pressure sensor

This paper presents a wireless power recharging system design for implantable bladder pressure chronic monitoring application. The power recharging system consists of an external 4-turn 15-cm-diameter powering coil and a silicone-encapsulated implantable spiral coil with a dimension of 7 mm × 17 mm × 2.5 mm and 18 turns, which further encloses an ASIC with a programmable charging current and logic control capability, a 3-mm-diameter 12-mm-long rechargeable battery, and two ferrite rods. The ferrite rods are employed to improve the quality factor of the implantable coil. For a constant charging current of 100 µA, an RF power of 2.4 mW needs to be coupled into the implantable microsystem through tuned coil loops. With the two coils aligned coaxially or with a tilting angle up to 30°, an external RF power of 7W or 25W is required, respectively, for a large coupling distance of 20 cm at an optimal frequency of 3 MHz.
Band faults: Efficient approximations to fault bands for the simulation before fault diagnosis of linear circuits

"Band faults," the approximate movements of nominal worstcase boundaries with catastropic faults, are much more efficiently computed than the "fault bands" that they approximate. Derived from a simulation before test, band faults can be used to create a fault dictionary that is supposed to isolate single element catastrophic faults. By no means general, the approach when applied to several example linear circuits nonetheless has yielded promising results.
Full length article: Terahertz band: Next frontier for wireless communications

This paper provides an in-depth view of Terahertz Band (0.1-10 THz) communication, which is envisioned as a key technology to satisfy the increasing demand for higher speed wireless communication. THz Band communication will alleviate the spectrum scarcity and capacity limitations of current wireless systems, and enable new applications both in classical networking domains as well as in novel nanoscale communication paradigms. In this paper, the device design and development challenges for THz Band are surveyed first. The limitations and possible solutions for high-speed transceiver architectures are highlighted. The challenges for the development of new ultra-broadband antennas and very large antenna arrays are explained. When the devices are finally developed, then they need to communicate in the THz band. There exist many novel communication challenges such as propagation modeling, capacity analysis, modulation schemes, and other physical and link layer solutions, in the THz band which can be seen as a new frontier in the communication research. These challenges are treated in depth in this paper explaining the existing plethora of work and what still needs to be tackled.