cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systemic Corticosteroid Use after Central Serous Chorioretinopathy Diagnosis

Purpose To analyze the frequency of systemic corticosteroid prescriptions before and after central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) diagnosis. Design Retrospective claims-based analysis. Participants A nationally representative sample of commercial insurance beneficiaries who received care between 2007 and 2015. Methods We limited the study population to beneficiaries with incident CSC diagnosed by an eye care provider, excluding those with other major ophthalmologic comorbidities. We developed a non-CSC comparison cohort matched to CSC patients by age, sex, general health (Charlson Comorbidity Index), and geographic region. We compared systemic corticosteroid prescriptions before and after CSC diagnosis and by diagnosing provider (optometrist vs. ophthalmologist) and evaluated likelihood of steroids treatment among CSC versus matched control patients using logistic and Cox proportional hazard regression models. Main Outcome Measures Systemic corticosteroid prescription frequency among CSC patients within 12 months pre-diagnosis and at 6, 12, and 24 months post-diagnosis, median time to steroid initiation and discontinuation, and odds of receiving steroids post-diagnosis among CSC and control patients. Results We identified 3418 CSC patients. Nearly 39% (n = 1326) were prescribed systemic steroids at some point during the analysis period, versus 23% of controls (4033 of 17 178 patients). Over 12% of CSC patients (n = 430) within 1 year pre-diagnosis, and nearly 12% (n = 404) within 1 year post-diagnosis. Most patients who received steroids after diagnosis were steroid naive (n = 231). Among those receiving steroids, CSC patients demonstrated longer median time to first post-diagnosis steroid prescription (1.82 years vs. 0.50 years for non-CSC patients) and longer time to last steroid prescription (1.62 years vs. 0.35 years for non-CSC patients). Although CSC patients were significantly less likely to receive steroids within 6 months post-diagnosis compared with non-CSC patients (odds ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.59–0.89), they were significantly more likely to receive steroids by 2 years post-diagnosis. Prescribing patterns were similar for patients diagnosed by an ophthalmologist versus optometrist. Conclusions Despite evidence showing that steroids contribute to CSC development, many patients continue to be prescribed systemic corticosteroids after CSC diagnosis. Our results suggest a need for greater communication and collaboration among providers to ensure that clinical practice reflects evidence-based recommendations.
Optimizing Flow Bandwidth Consumption with Traffic-diminishing Middlebox Placement

The implementation of network services is changed from dedicated hardware to software middleboxes with the evolution of Network Function Virtualization (NFV). The placement of such middleboxes are complicated not only by the selection of multiple available hosting servers, but also by the traffic-changing effect of middleboxes. In this paper, we address the placement problem of a single type of traffic-diminishing middlebox (e.g., spam filters), where the objective is to minimize the total bandwidth consumption when the total number of placed middleboxes is limited. We prove the NP-hardness of checking the feasibility of our problem in general topologies. Then we propose a greedy solution and prove that it is performance-guaranteed when it generates a feasible deployment. Next we narrow down to tree-structured networks and propose an optimal dynamic programming based strategy. In order to improve the time efficiency, we also introduce an efficient greedy solution with an intuitive insight. Extensive simulations are conducted on a real-world dataset to evaluate the performance of our algorithms.
An analysis of clinical and geographical metadata of over 75,000 records in the GISAID COVID-19 database

Author(s): Velazquez, Anjelina; Bustria, Mhealyssah; Ouyang, Youwen; Moshiri, Niema | Abstract: During the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak that caused the coronavirus pandemic it is important now more than ever that scientists and public health officials work side-by-side and use their available resources to track patient information from those that have been affected by the novel coronavirus. The ability to track the disease helps identify possible trends and patterns that can be used by public health officials to make more informed decisions. Tracking data like this may be the key to helping states and countries safely re-open. However, when analyzing large collections of data there is the occurrence of confounding factors such as biases in patient sampling. In this project, a massive collection of COVID-19 data was analyzed, and explored potential biases in patient sampling were explored.
Rast: A Language for Resource-Aware Session Types.

Traditional session types prescribe bidirectional communication protocols for concurrent computations, where well-typed programs are guaranteed to adhere to the protocols. However, simple session types cannot capture properties beyond the basic type of the exchanged messages. In response, recent work has extended session types with refinements from linear arithmetic, capturing intrinsic attributes of processes and data. These refinements then play a central role in describing sequential and parallel complexity bounds on session-typed programs. The Rast language provides an open-source implementation of session-typed concurrent programs extended with arithmetic refinements as well as ergometric and temporal types to capture work and span of program execution. To further support generic programming, Rast also enhances arithmetically refined session types with recently developed nested parametric polymorphism. Type checking relies on Cooper's algorithm for quantifier elimination in Presburger arithmetic with a few significant optimizations, and a heuristic extension to nonlinear constraints. Rast furthermore includes a reconstruction engine so that most program constructs pertaining the layers of refinements and resources are inserted automatically. We provide a variety of examples to demonstrate the expressivity of the language.
Divide & Conquer: A Privacy Safeguarding Framework for the Smart Grid

Smart grid requires granular smart metering data collection at frequent time intervals. However, this introduces unique risks to consumer privacy. To address this challenge, several privacy-preserving data collection frameworks have been proposed. Data aggregation-based frameworks show promise in terms of privacy preservation. However, the related frameworks in the literature either have a high computational overhead on the smart meters or rely on architectures that may lead to single points of compromise. Also, most studies focus on solving the privacy problem and do not consider the integration of accurate billing in the framework. In this paper, we study a multiple aggregator based distributed privacy-preserving framework to address these challenges. The aggregators carry out the bulk of the computational load, thus making the framework lightweight for the smart meters. Our proposed framework and two other related schemes are deployed in an embedded environment for assessing the computational overhead on the smart meters due to temporal aggregation. The schemes are also studied via simulation to assess their end-to-end delay for spatial aggregation and scalability, and it is shown that our scheme outperforms the other two schemes. In addition, we analyze the resilience of our scheme against passive threats to privacy. A qualitative analysis of our scheme against other aggregation-based schemes in the literature is also presented in this paper.
Automating Internet of Things Network Traffic Collection with Robotic Arm Interactions.

Consumer Internet of things research often involves collecting network traffic sent or received by IoT devices. These data are typically collected via crowdsourcing or while researchers manually interact with IoT devices in a laboratory setting. However, manual interactions and crowdsourcing are often tedious, expensive, inaccurate, or do not provide comprehensive coverage of possible IoT device behaviors. We present a new method for generating IoT network traffic using a robotic arm to automate user interactions with devices. This eliminates manual button pressing and enables permutation-based interaction sequences that rigorously explore the range of possible device behaviors. We test this approach with an Arduino-controlled robotic arm, a smart speaker and a smart thermostat, using machine learning to demonstrate that collected network traffic contains information about device interactions that could be useful for network, security, or privacy analyses. We also provide source code and documentation allowing researchers to easily automate IoT device interactions and network traffic collection in future studies.
Time Series, Periodic

This entry overviews time series with periodic autocovariance structures. Such series often arise in the environmental sciences. Here, extensions to the class of covariance stationary time series are introduced and used to model and describe the autocovariance periodicities. Detection of autocovariance periodicities is considered. A series of monthly averaged temperatures from Griffin, Georgia (United States) is used to illustrate aspects of the discourse. Keywords: cyclostationarity; periodic autoregressive moving-average model; periodic correlation; periodic stationarity; seasonal autoregressive moving-average model; spectrum
1.36 /spl mu/m InGaNAs/GaNAs laser diodes grown by molecular beam epitaxy using an Ar/N/sub 2/ RF plasma

Among the advantages of dilute nitride III-V heterostructures is the opportunity for advanced strain and bandgap engineering in the active regions of laser diode structures. In the present work we use tensile-strained GaNAs barrier layers to reduce the confinement energies in compressively-strained InGaNAs single quantum wells on GaAs. We also demonstrate the effectiveness of Ar gas dilution for producing high-quality dilute nitride layers with an RF plasma cell.
Bacteriology of Spoilage of Fish Muscle: IV. Role of Protein

Clarified muscle press juice from English sole (Parophrys vetulus) was fractionated by gel filtration into a protein and a protein-free fraction. Upon inoculation with spoilage bacteria, the protein fraction failed to show any signs of spoilage, but the protein-free fraction spoiled according to the usual organoleptic and chemical criteria. Despite its spoilage-resistant qualities, the protein fraction accelerated spoilage of the protein-free fraction when the two were combined. Protein breadkown due to bacterial action was greatest in the unfractionated juice and was least in the protein fraction. No significant proteolysis occurred until after spoilage became evident.
Visna virus Tat protein: a potent transcription factor with both activator and suppressor domains.

Abstract Visna virus is a pathogenic lentivirus of sheep tat is distantly related to the primate lentiviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1. The visna virus genome encodes a small regulatory protein, Tat, which is necessary for efficient viral replication and enhanced viral transcription. To investigate the mechanism of action of the visna Tat protein and to localize the protein domain(s) responsible for transcriptional activation, chimeric proteins containing visna virus Tat sequences fused to the DNA binding domain of the yeast transactivation factor GAL4 (residues 1 to 147) were made. The GAL4-Tat fusion proteins were transfected into cells and tested for the ability to activate the adenovirus E1b promoter via upstream GAL4 DNA binding sites. Full-length GAL4-Tat fusion proteins were weak transactivators in this system, giving only a two- to fourfold increase in transcription in several cell types, including HeLa and sheep choroid plexus cells. In contrast, fusion of the N-terminal region of the Tat protein to GAL4 revealed a potent activation domain. Amino acids 13 to 38 appeared to be the most critical for activation. No other region of the protein showed any activation in the GAL4 system. This N-terminal region of the visna virus Tat protein has a large number of acidic and hydrophobic residues, suggesting that Tat has an acidic activation domain common to many transcriptional transactivators. Mutations in hydrophobic and bulky aromatic residues dramatically reduced the activity of the chimeric protein. Competition experiments suggest that mechanism of the visna virus Tat activation domain may closely resemble that of the herpesvirus activator VP16 and human immunodeficiency virus Tat, a related lentivirus activator, since both significantly reduce the level of visna virus Tat activation. Finally, a domain between residues 39 and 53 was identified in the Tat protein that, in the GAL4 system, negatively regulates activation by Tat.
When Homeowners Associations Go Too Far: Political Responses to Unpopular Rules in Common Interest Communities

Common Interest Communities (CICs) are an increasingly ubiquitous form of homeownership and land use control in the United States. The statutory and common law frameworks that govern CICs are characterized by deference to homeowners association (HOA) actions. While courts have generally deferred to HOA decisions, however, the political branches of government — legislatures at the federal, state, and local level — have increasingly intervened to carve out specific, discrete rights for homeowners that override the rules of CICs, creating rights to keep a pet, hang a clothesline, and fly an American flag, among others. As yet, no article has attempted to explain why legislatures have repeatedly stepped in to carve out limited exceptions to the general rule of deference to HOA decisions. In this Article, I suggest reasons why some owner-HOA disputes trigger political intervention, even though most such disputes attract little attention outside the CIC. I argue that homeowner-HOA conflicts are most likely to attract political attention where the owner is a sympathetic litigant able to attract political empathy, and where the rule at issue is intrusive and salient rather than relating to something perceived as of minimal importance. Finally, if the homeowner’s cause aligns with an interest group and does not trigger opposition from a different interest group, the owner’s chance of triggering political change is likely to be significantly increased.
Modulation of Viral Immunoinflammatory Responses with Cytokine DNA Administered by Different Routes

The efficacy of plasmid DNA encoding cytokine administered by different routes, systemic or surface exposure, was evaluated and compared for their modulating effects on subsequent lesions caused by infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV). Systemic or topical administration of both interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 DNA but not IL-2 DNA caused a long-lasting suppression of HSV-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity response. IL-4 or IL-10 DNA preadministration also modulated the expression of immunoinflammatory lesions associated with corneal infection of HSV. Suppression of ocular lesions required that the DNA be administered to the nasal mucosa or ocular surfaces and was not evident after intramuscular administration. The modulating effect of IL-10 DNA was most evident after topical ocular administration, whereas the effects of IL-4 DNA given by both routes appeared to be equal. Preexposure of IL-4 DNA, but not IL-10 DNA, resulted in a significant change in Th subset balance following HSV infection. Our results indicate that the modulating effect of IL-4 or IL-10 DNA may proceed by different mechanisms. Furthermore, our results suggest that surface administration of cytokine DNA is a convenient means of modulating immunoinflammatory lesions.
The Ontogeny of Human Flavor Perception

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on one aspect of developmental research, which relates to the chemical senses, with particular emphasis on food acceptance and its implications for “education.” The chemical senses, that is, the senses of taste, smell, and chemical irritation, together convey information to the infant about the overall flavor of a food. These senses not only function in the human neonate but they change during development, probably as a function of both physical maturation and response to the environment. The following review will focus on their senses of taste and smell because little experimental work has been done on infants' perception of chemical irritation. The sensation of taste or gustation occurs when chemicals stimulate taste receptors on the tongue and other parts of the oropharynx. The sensation of smell or olfaction occurs when chemicals stimulate the olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity. These receptors are located on the cilia of the neurons of cranial nerve. The responsiveness of the fetus and premature infant to flavors is explained in the chapter.
Amplitude-dependency of response of SI cortex to flutter stimulation

Background It is established that increasing the amplitude of a flutter stimulus increases its perceived intensity. Although many studies have examined this phenomenon with regard to the responding afferent population, the way in which the intensity of a stimulus is coded in primary somatosensory cortex (SI) remains unclear.
Applying the χ 2 Regularization Parameter Estimator by Downsampling Through Relations with The Singular Value Expansion

The solution of the linear system of equations Ax ≈ b arising from the discretization of an illposed integral equation with a square integrable kernel is considered. The solution by means of Tikhonov regularization in which x is found to as the minimizer of J(x) = {kAx−bk 2 + λ 2 kLxk 2 } introduces the unknown regularization parameter λ which trades off the fidelity of the solution data fit and its smoothing norm which is determined by the choice of L. The χ 2 method is a very efficient method for findingλ given prior conditions on the noise in the measurements b and knowledge of an estimate x0 for the mean of x. Given the generalized singular value decomposition for the matrix pair [A,L], or singular value decomposition for A in the case L = I, a fast Newton rooting finding method finds λ 2 interpreted as the inverse of the covariance of white noise in Lx. Here the relationship between the singular value expansion and the singular value decomposition for square integrable kernels is employed to prove that the χ 2 estimate yields a convergent sequence for λ with increasing problem size. Hence the estimate of λ for a large problem may be found by downsampling to a smaller problem, or to a set of smaller problems, and applying the χ 2 estimator more efficiently on the smaller problems. In consequence the large scale problem can be solved in a single step immediately with the parameter found from the down sampled problem(s). In this draft of the paper we provide the proof of the key convergence results.
Did They Get What They Paid For? The Global Analyst Research Settlement and Analyst Research Quality

We examine the impact of a specific facet of the Global Research Analyst Settlement (Global Settlement) - the $460 million spent to procure independent analyst research. We compare independent research funded by the Global Settlement to that of the sanctioned investment banks as well as that of independent research firms not receiving such funding. Our results suggest that funded research is of lower quality than that of the sanctioned banks and non-funded independent research based on future performance of recommendations and the market reaction to the recommendations. Additional tests reveal that the main reason for this lack of quality is associated with industry inexperience on the part of independent research analysts; independent analysts tend to have less industry experience, and recommendations of inexperienced analysts were generally of lower quality.
Thalamo-Basal Ganglia Connectivity in Postmenopausal Women Receiving Estrogen Therapy

Cumulative data on the effects of estrogen therapy (ET) on brain function in postmenopausal women suggests that ET influences cerebral metabolism and may protect against age-related declines in various domains of cognitive function. The beneficial cognitive effects of ET may relate to its modulation of the thalamic-striatum cholinergic and dopaminergic systems, as the activity of both neurotransmitter systems in the thalamus appears to be positively influenced by estrogen. In the current study, we attempted to evaluated regional cerebral brain metabolism utilizing [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in 11 healthy recently-postmenopausal women on ET (ET+) in comparison to 11 recently-postmenopausal and ET-naive women (ET−) in order to assess the effects of ET on cholinergic and dopaminergic system regulation. Results showed thalamo-basal ganglia connectivity among ET+ women but not among ET− women. The presence of connectivity in the thalamo-striatal pathway in recently postmenopausal women suggests estrogen effects in preserving integrity of the cholinergic and dopaminergic systems. The results also suggest that ET initiated at or near the menopausal transition may modulate brain aging by mediating complex sensory-motor functions.
Depth of consciousness and deep sedation attained in children as administered by nonanaesthesiologists in a children's hospital

SummaryBackgroundSedation of children is administered by nonanaesthesiologists in a variety of locations within our children's hospital. The purpose of this study was to assess the depth of sedation administered to children in four locations using the Bispectral Index (BIS) and the University of Mic
Interactions of fiber and nonstructural carbohydrates on lactation and ruminal function.

Abstract Four Holstein cows averaging 147 DIM and fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square trial to determine diet effects on DMI, milk production, and ruminal metabolism. Diets contained either rapidly or slowly degraded NDF, referred to as low fill and high fill, respectively, combined with two percentages of nonstructural carbohydrate. Treatments were 39% nonstructural carbohydrate (low or high fill) and 29% nonstructural carbohydrate (low or high fill). Intake of DM was not affected by either fill or nonstructural carbohydrate. Ruminal NDF digestibilities averaged 43.1 and 35.6% for the low fill and high fill diets, respectively. Ruminally digested nonstructural and total carbohydrate increased, but milk production decreased, as nonstructural carbohydrate increased from 29 to 39% in diets. Liquid and solid ruminal passage rates, as measured by Co-EDTA and Yb, respectively, were reduced by either 39% nonstructural carbohydrate or low fill diets. Lower microbial N flow to the duodenum and lower efficiency of microbial growth also were observed for diets with 39% nonstructural carbohydrate. The combination of 39% nonstructural carbohydrate and rapidly degraded gave the highest DM and nonstructural carbohydrate digestion in the rumen but resulted in low microbial N synthesis per day and the least microbial N per kilogram of OM digested.
The superscalar architecture of the MC68060

As the newest member of the 68000 microprocessor family, the MC68060 microprocessor offers a cost-effective, power-thrifty solution for high-performance embedded processing applications. This article focuses on its microarchitectural features, such as superscalar pipeline implementation, that enable it to achieve its high-performance objectives while maintaining 68000 user-code compatability. Running at 50 and 66 MHz, the first 3.3V implementations achieve 103 Dhrystone MIPS performance at 66 MHz. >
Prognostic factors in children and adolescents with acute myeloid leukemia (excluding children with Down syndrome and acute promyelocytic leukemia): univariate and recursive partitioning analysis of patients treated on Pediatric Oncology Group (POG) Study 8821

The purpose of the paper was to define clinical or biological features associated with the risk for treatment failure for children with acute myeloid leukemia. Data from 560 children and adolescents with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia who entered the Pediatric Oncology Group Study 8821 from June 1988 to March 1993 were analyzed by univariate and recursive partitioning methods. Children with Down syndrome or acute promyelocytic leukemia were excluded from the study. Factors examined included age, number of leukocytes, sex, FAB morphologic subtype, cytogenetic findings, and extramedullary disease at the time of diagnosis. The overall event-free survival (EFS) rate at 4 years was 32.7% (s.e. = 2.2%). Age > or =2 years, fewer than 50 x 10(9)/I leukocytes, and t(8;21) or inv(16), and normal chromosomes were associated with higher rates of EFS (P value = 0.003, 0.049, 0.0003, 0.031, respectively), whereas the M5 subtype of AML (P value = 0.0003) and chromosome abnormalities other than t(8;21) and inv(16) were associated with lower rates of EFS (P value = 0.0001). Recursive partitioning analysis defined three groups of patients with widely varied prognoses: female patients with t(8;21), inv(16), or a normal karyotype (n = 89) had the best prognosis (4-year EFS = 55.1%, s.e. = 5.7%); male patients with t(8;21), inv(16) or normal chromosomes (n = 106) had an intermediate prognosis (4-year EFS = 38.1%, s.e. = 5.3%); patients with chromosome abnormalities other than t(8;21) and inv(16) (n = 233) had the worst prognosis (4-year EFS = 27.0%, s.e. = 3.2%). One hundred and thirty-two patients (24%) could not be grouped because of missing cytogenetic data, mainly due to inadequate marrow samples. The results suggest that pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia can be categorized into three potential risk groups for prognosis and that differences in sex and chromosomal abnormalities are associated with differences in estimates of EFS. These results are tentative and must be confirmed by a large prospective clinical trial.
Household and farm transitions in environmental context

Recent debate in the literature on population, environment, and land use questions the applicability of theory that patterns of farm extensification and intensification correspond to the life course of farmers and to the life cycle of farm families. This paper extends the debate to the agricultural development of the United States Great Plains region, using unique data from 1875 to 1930 that link families to farms over time in 25 environmentally diverse Kansas townships. Results of multilevel statistical modeling indicate that farmer’s age, household size, and household structure are simultaneously related to both the extent of farm operations and the intensity of land use, taking into account local environmental conditions and time trends as Kansas was settled and developed. These findings validate farm- and life cycle theories and offer support for intergenerational motivations for farm development that include both daughters and sons. Environmental variation in aridity was a key driver of farm structure.
ASSEMBLY AND REGULATION OF NADPH OXIDASE AND NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE

Research over the past year has revealed several interesting advances in the biosynthesis of the superoxide anion and nitric oxide. Highlights include the demonstration that the G protein Rac 2 is required for NADPH oxidase activation, the finding that nitric oxide is a feedback inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase isoforms, and the discovery that the continuous catalytic activity of the immune/inflammatory nitric oxide synthase is due to strong calmodulin binding, which is independent of elevated calcium levels. Interferon-gamma primes neutrophils and macrophages for both O2- and nitric oxide synthesis. However, NADPH oxidase and immune/inflammatory nitric oxide synthase are differentially regulated such that their activities are not simultaneously induced.
Virtual phase technology: A new approach to fabrication of large-area CCD's

This article presents a new technology for fabrication of a single-phase CCD. This new technology called virtual phase (VP) employs only a single level gate structure, and is, therefore, ideally suited for fabrication of large-area high-performance devices with high yield, The fundamentals of operation of VP CCD's are discussed, and the advantages and limitations of this new technology are presented. The design, fabrication, and operation of a 490 × 328 TV compatible VP imager is described, and performance parameters as well as imagery are presented.
Small-business viability in America’s urban minority communities

Although minority and immigrant entrepreneurs in the US have chosen to concentrate in low-profit retail and service lines of business clustered geographically in urban minority neighbourhoods, their reasons for doing so are unclear. We investigate their motivations by analysing viability among urban small businesses; specifically, we compare the longevity of firms targeting clients in minority neighbourhoods to those serving clients in nonminority-white residential areas. Our broader concerns are to understand why the entrepreneurial occupational choice has been embraced. A key objective is to identify specific barriers that may retard small-firm creation and development in minority-neighbourhood environs. While some claim this market offers attractive opportunities, others stress that predominance of minority- and immigrant-owned firms in this sector reflects the fact that only the least desirable market niches are accessible to them. We find that serving local clienteles in minority neighbourhoods is strongly related to firm closure and low profitability.
Natural Bond Orbital Analyses of Persulfoxide Stabilization by Remote Functional Groups. The Conformationally Induced Electrostatic Stabilization Sulfide Photooxygenation Mechanism

The conformationally induced electrostatic stabilization (CIES) sulfide photooxygenation mechanism was computationally examined using an ab initio model and extended to the study of new donor atoms. The MP2/6-31G(d) geometries and a natural population analysis of natural lone-pair orbitals on the donor atoms support the mechanism and reveal that oxygen and nitrogen donor groups are more stabilizing than sulfur.
Effects of polarization rotation in the detection and tracking of orbiting objects using LabVIEW

The detection and tracking of orbiting space debris is vital for spacecraft safety and satellite longevity. The United States Air Force Space Surveillance System (AFSSS) uses a continuous wave (CW), multiplestatic site radar system designed to detect, catalog, & track objects orbiting over the continental United States. Object position data collected by the AFSSS stations is categorized by the operation center and sent to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) to issue warnings to the aerospace community. The AFSSS was designed using cost effective linear polarization for their transmitter's (vertical polarized) and receiver's antennae (horizontal polarized). When the vertically transmitted polarized radio frequency (RF) fence is crossed by an orbiting object, the object rotates the RF polarization, resulting in a RF horizontally polarized echo. However, charged particles in the ionosphere often randomly rotate the RF polarization as RF travels through the atmosphere. The AFSSS receivers' antennae lack the equipment to detect vertically polarized RF echoes, which leads to a substantial loss of RF echo signal and degradation in AFSSS performance. A LabVIEW-based Monitor Receiver System (MRS) was designed to receive vertical & horizontal polarized signals of a selected target. By comparing signals received using the MRS vertically & horizontally polarized antennae, we show that there is significant signal power transfer from horizontal polarized to vertical polarized echoes, as a result of signal polarization rotation. In addition, this work: 1) Compares control of antennae direction models using transfer functions (TF), 2) Develops a proportional integral derivative (PID) controller TF for improved antennae positioning, 3) Tracks John Glenn 1998 space shuttle trip. This makes the MRS a viable tool for evaluating AFSSS performance and future modifications to increase detection and tracking of orbiting objects
The Therapeutic Alliance in Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment: A One-With-Many Analysis

Studies of the therapeutic alliance typically use a one-with-many (OWM) design in which each therapist (the one) treats multiple clients (the many). This study used Kenny, Kashy, and Cook's (2006) OWM method to examine the composition of the therapeutic alliance and to analyze the association between alliance and outcome in a sample of 398 adolescents treated for substance abuse by 14 therapists. Both the client and therapist alliance ratings yielded large relationship variances, with limited consensus among clients treated by the same therapist about the quality of the alliance. If a client reported an especially strong alliance with his or her therapist, the therapist was likely to also report an especially strong alliance with that client (dyadic reciprocity). The association between the components of the alliance and treatment outcome was complicated, with different levels of measurement and different components of the alliance (perceiver, partner, or relationship) derived from different informants (therapist or client) relating to different outcomes.
Effects of Anaplasma phagocytophilum Infection on the Molting Success of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Larvae

We assessed the effects of sympatric (occupying the same or overlapping geographic areas) and allopatric (occurring in separate geographic areas) isolates of Anaplasma phagocytophilum on the survival of Ixodes scapularis Say larvae that were derived from ticks collected in Bridgeport, CT. Seven isolates of A. phagocytophilum, originating from different geographic regions of the United States, were tested: four isolates from the northeast (Bridgeport, Dawson, Gaillard, and NY-8), two from the Midwest (Webster and Sp-Is), and one from California (MRK). BALB/c mice were infected with each of the seven isolates via exposure to infected I. scapularis nymphs, whereas uninfected nymphs fed upon control mice. Both infected and control mice were infested with uninfected larvae at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 9 wk after nymphal infestation. The molting success in cohorts of infected and uninfected ticks was calculated as the percentage of larvae successfully molting into nymphal stage, and the prevalence of infection in molted nymphs was determined by polymerase chain reaction. In ticks that became infected with the Bridgeport or Sp-Is isolates, the molting success decreased with an increase in the prevalence of infection. Ticks that fed upon mice infected with six allopatric isolates (Dawson, Gaillard, NY-8, Sp-Is, Webster, and MRK) showed significantly lower levels of survival than those fed upon control mice, regardless of the prevalence of infection, whereas in ticks fed upon mice infected with a sympatric isolate (Bridgeport), the overall molting success was similar to the control. Thus, some but not all of the A. phagocytophilum isolates have adverse effects on ticks. Ticks exposed to harmful isolates may experience higher levels of bacterial metabolism, and/or reduced quality of their blood meal, thereby reducing their survival. Noted differences between isolates may be due to the origin of a particular isolate and/or the degree of coadaptation between the pathogen and its vector on the population level.
Operative management of islet-cell tumors arising in the head of the pancreas

Abstract Background: Pancreatic islet cell tumors (ICTs) can be treated by enucleation or pancreatic resection. We reviewed our experience with ICTs in the head of the pancreas to define indications for enucleation versus pancreaticoduodenectomy. Methods: Between January 1982 and December 1997, 48 patients underwent surgical resection for presumed ICTs of the pancreatic head. Of these, 18 were found on pathologic examination to be disease in a lymph node. Thirty patients had 32 true pancreatic head ICTs. We reviewed the operative results and postoperative courses in these patients. Results: Mean diameter of the ICTs was 15 mm. Twenty-seven patients (90%) underwent successful enucleations. Three patients failed enucleation and underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy. There was no operative mortality. The median time to regular diet was 7 days. The median time to removal of all drains was 22 days. The most common complication was pancreatic fistula (15%). No patient required reoperation for treatment of a fistula. Conclusion: Most ICTs of the pancreatic head can be removed with enucleation, preserving pancreatic tissue and avoiding the morbidity of pancreaticoduodenectomy. The primary indication for pancreaticoduodenectomy is not the size of the lesion but its proximity to the pancreatic duct. (Surgery 1998;124:1056-62.)
State-, parameter-, and graph-dynamics: Constraints and the distillation of postural control systems

The seemingly effortless ability to maintain and adapt posture has traditionally been explained as the achievement of a single, relatively permanent postural control system. However, the extreme variability observed in postural performance challenges the idea that posture is controlled by a static system of fixed components. In this article we suggest that postural control is achieved by special-purpose, softly assembled postural devices that arise from parameter- and graph-dynamics. A brief summary of empirical studies utilizing nonlinear analyses of postural state dynamics is presented as evidence. Implications for this claim and future directions of research are also presented.
Aging effects on microstructural and mechanical properties of select refractory metal alloys for space-reactor applications

Abstract Refractory alloys based on niobium, tantalum and molybdenum are potential candidate materials for structural applications in proposed space nuclear reactors. Long-term microstructural stability is a requirement of these materials for their use in this type of creep dominated application. Early work on refractory metal alloys has shown aging embrittlement occurring for some niobium and tantalum-base alloys at temperatures near 40% of their melting temperatures in either the base metal or in weldments. Other work has suggested microstructural instabilities during long-term creep testing, leading to decreased creep performance. This paper examines the effect of aging 1100 h at 1098, 1248 and 1398 K on the microstructural and mechanical properties of two niobium (Nb–1Zr and FS-85), tantalum (T-111 and ASTAR-811C) and molybdenum (Mo–41Re and Mo–47.5Re) base alloys. Changes in material properties are examined through mechanical tensile testing coupled with electrical resistivity changes and microstructural examination through optical and electron microscopy analysis.
The Political Activities of Religious Congregations in the United States

In recent decades, much research has focused on how religious congregations affect individuals' political participation. However, only scant attention has been paid to examining the various ways in which religious congregations engage in political activism as formal organizational entities. Using data from the 1998 National Congregations Study (NCS), a survey of a nationally representative sample of 1,236 religious congregations, we begin to fill this gap in our knowledge about religion and politics. We report the rates at which congregations engage in a broad range of political activity, and we examine variations in this activity among major religious traditions. We emphasize two basic findings. First, although in absolute terms congregations' levels of political activism seem rather low, relative to other nonpolitical organizations they engage in politics in substantial numbers. Second, there are qualitative rather than quantitative differences in political activity across religious traditions. Religious traditions specialize in different modes of political participation, a fact that is obscured when attention is focused solely on the political activities of conservative religious groups.
Investigating the effect of aging on transpassive behavior of Ni-based alloys in sulfuric acid with shell-isolated nanoparticle enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS)

Abstract The effect of high temperature aging on the electrochemical behavior of Ni superalloys has implications for their use in Generation IV nuclear reactors. Linear sweep voltammetry, shell-isolated nanoparticle enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to interrogate the passivation layer formed on heat-treated and as-received samples of Inconel 617 and Haynes 230. Results demonstrate that heat treatment improves electrochemical corrosion resistance for both alloys. The improved electrochemical behavior is associated with differences in the spectra; specifically, the appearance of a mixed Cr(III/VI) oxide.
Survey of Wastewater Indicators and Human Pathogen Genomes in Biosolids Produced by Class A and Class B Stabilization Treatments

Accurate modeling of the infectious aerosol risk associated with the land application of biosolids requires an in-depth knowledge of the magnitudes and changes in pathogen concentrations for a variety of class A and class B stabilization methods. The following survey used quantitative PCR (qPCR) and culture assays to detect environmentally resistant bacterial and viral pathogens and biosolid indicator organisms for 36 biosolid grab samples. Biosolids were collected from 14 U.S. states and included 16 class B mesophilic anaerobic digestion (MAD) samples and 20 class A biosolid samples from temperature-phased anaerobic digestion (TPAD), MAD plus composting (COM), and MAD plus heat pelletization processes. The indicator concentrations of fecal coliforms and male-specific coliphages as well as pathogen genome concentrations for human adenovirus species, Legionella pneumophila, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium difficile were significantly lower in the class A samples, and a multivariate analysis of variance ranked the stabilization processes from the lowest pathogen/indicator load to the highest as (i) class A COM, (ii) class A TPAD, and (iii) class B MAD. Human adenovirus genomes were found in 88% of the class B samples and 70 to 100% of the class A samples. L. pneumophila, S. aureus, and C. difficile genomes were detected at the qPCR assay detection limits in 19 to 50% of the class B and class A anaerobic digestion samples, while L. pneumophila was detected in 50% of the class A compost samples. When considering all the stabilization methods, both the fecal coliform and the male-specific coliphage concentrations show a significant linear correlation with the pathogen genome concentrations. This survey provides the necessary pathogen concentrations to add to biosolid aerosol risk and pathogen exposure analyses and clarifies the effectiveness of class A stabilization methods with the pathogen and indicator loads in biosolids.
Development And Modification Of Photorefractive Properties In The Tungsten Bronze Family Crystals

The Sr1-xBaxNb2O6 (SBN) and Ba2-xSrxK1-yNayNb5O15 (BSKNN) tungsten bronze solid-solution systems are shown to be promising photo-refractive materials. Because of the versatility of the bronze structure, both the response time and spectral response can be controlled by altering the type of dopant and its crystallographic site preference. This paper reviews the current status of the tungsten bronze crystals SBN and BSKNN for photorefractive applications in terms of their growth, electro-optic character, and the role of cerium dopants. Ferroelectric morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) bronze materials are also discussed as potentially important for future development.
Theoretical investigation of intra-atomic electronic excitation energies of divalent Cu in YBa2Cu3O7-x

Ab initio molecular-orbital calculations of small CuO clusters are used to investigate intra-atomic electronic excitation energies of divalent Cu in ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{x}}$. In clusters representing the ${\mathrm{CuO}}_{2}$ planes, all of the Cu d-d excitation energies are found to be in the range 1.3--1.8 eV. The presence of an O 2${p}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}$ hole has only a small effect on the excitation energies. Similar results are found for clusters having geometries representing the chains. The relation of the results to experimental optical spectra of ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{x}}$ is discussed.
DPCS: Dynamic Power/Capacity Scaling for SRAM Caches in the Nanoscale Era

Fault-Tolerant Voltage-Scalable (FTVS) SRAM cache architectures are a promising approach to improve energy efficiency of memories in the presence of nanoscale process variation. Complex FTVS schemes are commonly proposed to achieve very low minimum supply voltages, but these can suffer from high overheads and thus do not always offer the best power/capacity trade-offs. We observe on our 45nm test chips that the “fault inclusion property” can enable lightweight fault maps that support multiple runtime supply voltages. Based on this observation, we propose a simple and low-overhead FTVS cache architecture for power/capacity scaling. Our mechanism combines multilevel voltage scaling with optional architectural support for power gating of blocks as they become faulty at low voltages. A static (SPCS) policy sets the runtime cache VDD once such that a only a few cache blocks may be faulty in order to minimize the impact on performance. We describe a Static Power/Capacity Scaling (SPCS) policy and two alternate Dynamic Power/Capacity Scaling (DPCS) policies that opportunistically reduce the cache voltage even further for more energy savings. This architecture achieves lower static power for all effective cache capacities than a recent more complex FTVS scheme. This is due to significantly lower overheads, despite the inability of our approach to match the min-VDD of the competing work at a fixed target yield. Over a set of SPEC CPU2006 benchmarks on two system configurations, the average total cache (system) energy saved by SPCS is 62p (22p), while the two DPCS policies achieve roughly similar energy reduction, around 79p (26p). On average, the DPCS approaches incur 2.24p performance and 6p area penalties.
Methodology for Creating a Scale Model of an Assembly

This paper attempts to provide an understanding of some of the issues involved in creating a physical scale model of an assembly using (primarily) rapid prototyping (RP) technology and to develop a semi-formal methodology of interest to scale model builders that guides the process. The methodology starts with either the full scale assembly or the CAD files and all assembly liaison diagrams which are then transformed into the scaled versions assuming use of a nominal scale factor. In the process a “scaling structure table” is created that documents the transformation and it only needs to focus on scaling issues, vs. angular dimensions and other geometric constraints which are invariant with respect to scale. The case study assembly used in this effort is a previously designed hand-powered breadfruit shredder of modest complexity. For various reasons, the process was not as simple as applying the nominal scale factor to all relevant dimensions. The transformation process included strategically adding special scaling features such as ribs, wall thickening, and fillets to ensure adequate strength, and merging of a subassembly into a single part. The final step was to create the physical scale model using mostly plastic-based RP.Copyright © 2010 by ASME