cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
IIR Digital Filters

In this chapter we will describe the design of infinite impulse response (IIR) digital filters. The impulse response of an IIR digital filter has an infinite extent or length or duration, hence the name IIR filters. Design of an IIR filter amounts to the determination of its impulse response sequence {h[n]} in the discrete-time domain or to the determination of its transfer function H(ejΩ) in the frequency domain. The design can also be accomplished in the Z-domain. In fact, this is the most commonly used domain. The theory of analog filters preceded that of digital filters. Elegant design techniques for analog filters in the frequency domain were developed much earlier than the development of digital filters. As a result, we will adopt some of the techniques used to design analog filters in designing an IIR digital filter. In order to facilitate the design of an IIR digital filter, one must specify certain parameters of the desired filter. These parameters can be in the discrete-time domain or in the frequency domain. Once the parameters or specifications are known, the task is to come up with either the impulse response sequence or the transfer function that approximates the specifications of the desired filter as closely as possible. In the discrete-time domain, one of the design techniques is known as the impulse invariance method. In the frequency domain, the design will yield a Butterworth or Chebyshev or elliptic filter. These three design procedures will result in a closed-form solution. Similarly, the impulse invariance technique will also result in a closed-form solution to the design of IIR digital filters. In addition to these analytical methods, an IIR digital filter can also be designed using iterative techniques. These are called the computer-aided design. Let us first describe the impulse invariance method of designing an IIR digital filter. We will then deal with the design in the frequency domain and the computer-aided design.
Performance Comparison of Mainframe, Workstations, Clusters, and Desktop Computers

A performance evaluation of a variety of computers frequently found in a scientific or engineering research environment was conducted using a synthetic and application program benchmarks. From a performance perspective, emerging commodity processors have superior performance relative to legacy mainframe computers. In many cases, the PC clusters exhibited comparable performance with traditional mainframe hardware when 8-12 processors were used. The main advantage of the PC clusters was related to their cost. Regardless of whether the clusters were built from new computers or whether they were created from retired computers their performance to cost ratio was superior to the legacy mainframe computers. Finally, the typical annual maintenance cost of legacy mainframe computers is several times the cost of new equipment such as multiprocessor PC workstations. The savings from eliminating the annual maintenance fee on legacy hardware can result in a yearly increase in total computational capability for an organization.
Development and performance of a ductile shear tie for precast concrete insulated wall panels

Abstract This paper presents the development and experimental evaluation of a new ductile shear tie system for precast concrete insulated wall panels subjected to large flexural demands from blast or impact loading . The ties develop a stable plastic hinge mechanism with a multi-legged design, enabling larger inter-wythe shear deformations without sacrificing structural integrity. The performance of these ties is assessed in conjunction with two types of rigid insulation, extruded (XPS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS), that are commonly used for insulated precast concrete facade panels. Shear test specimens with either bonded or unbonded insulation layers were both fabricated to determine the individual contributions of the shear ties and insulation to the total shear strength. A double shear experimental test procedure is proposed to mechanically emulate the flexure-induced behavior of shear ties in insulated wall panels. A series of shear tests was conducted, first under semi-static loading and then at higher strain rates to quantify shear resistance of panels subjected to blast loading. A qualitative comparison is made between failure mechanisms of XPS and EPS insulation, and the new tie is able to achieve a reliably high level of shear deformation ductility relative to other commercially available ties. The shear resistance backbone curves obtained from this study can be used as input for enhanced design and analysis of precast concrete insulated wall panels to resist blast loading.
Loss Minimization and Maximum Torque-Per-Ampere Operation for Variable-Pole Induction Machines

High power density, high efficiency, inexpensive drivetrains operating over a wide torque/speed range are critical for traction applications. An induction machine (IM) offers a cost-effective, rugged, and reliable alternative to permanent magnet solutions. Varying the IM’s pole count on-the-fly overcomes the finite inverter voltage constraint and extends the machine’s speed range. To date, the operating pole count of variable-pole IMs has been determined based on the operating speed irrespective of the torque requirement, utilizing a high pole count at low speeds and a low pole count at high speeds. This article expands the pole-selection strategy of variable-pole IMs to both torque and speed. The pole count is used to improve the machine efficiency and minimize the stator current over the entire operating torque–speed range. An experimental 36-slot toroidally wound IM driven by an 18-leg inverter validates the proposed pole-selection method for variable-pole IMs. Stator current and machine losses are reduced at partial loading conditions by utilizing lower pole counts rather than selecting the pole with the highest rated torque capability. The average loss reduction by 1/3 and torque-per-ampere improvement of $2\times $ are experimentally achieved at partial loading by using the proposed pole-selection method compared to linking the pole count solely to the operating speed.
Combined pembrolizumab and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in platinum resistant ovarian cancer: A phase 2 clinical trial.

Abstract Objective Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in vitro may have immunomodulatory abilities and preclinical evidence suggests it synergizes with immune checkpoint blockade. We hypothesized that combining PLD and pembrolizumab would be active in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC). Methods This was a single-arm, multi-center phase II trial. Eligible patients had PROC with ≤2 prior lines of cytotoxic therapy for recurrent or persistent disease. Twenty-six patients were enrolled and given pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously (IV) every 3 weeks and PLD 40 mg/m2 IV every 4 weeks. Patients were assessed radiographically every 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was clinical benefit rate (CBR), defined as complete response (CR) + partial response (PR) + stable disease (SD) ≥24 weeks. The study was powered to detect an improvement in CBR from 25% to 50%, with rejection of the null hypothesis if at least 10 patients achieved clinical benefit. T-cell inflamed gene expression profiles (GEP) and PD-L1 were assessed and correlated with clinical outcome. Results Twenty-three patients were evaluable for best overall response. The study satisfied its primary endpoint, with 12 patients achieving clinical benefit for a CBR of 52.2% (95% CI 30.6–73.2%). There were 5 PRs (21.7%) and 1 CR (4.3%), for an overall response rate (ORR) of 26.1%. Six patients had SD lasting at least 24 weeks. Combination therapy was well tolerated without unexpected toxicities. Conclusions The combination of pembrolizumab and PLD was manageable, without unexpected toxicities, and showed preliminary evidence of clinical benefit in the treatment of platinum resistant ovarian cancer. ORR and median PFS of combination therapy in this study was higher than historical comparisons of PLD alone or anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents alone. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02865811
Correction: Long-range mechanical signaling in biological systems.

Correction for ‘Long-range mechanical signaling in biological systems’ by Farid Alisafaei et al., Soft Matter, 2020, DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01442g.
Abstract 13085: Post-icd Implant Intervention: Secondary Prevention and Partner Support Associated With Improved Physical and Psychological Outcomes

Introduction: Health characteristics and symptoms of patients with an ICD differ based on ICD indication (primary or secondary prevention). The purpose of this study was to examine for differential...
Changes in Levels and Determinants of Maternal Health Service Utilization in Ethiopia: Comparative Analysis of Two Rounds Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys.

Antenatal care (ANC), delivery by skilled birth attendants, and postnatal care (PNC) are critical components of maternal health services for reducing maternal mortality. The study aimed to compare the utilization of maternal health services in the two most recent rounds of Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) and identify the factors influencing the utilization of these services using the 2016 EDHS. Two rounds of EDHS data in 2011 and 2016 were used to estimate the proportion of women who had ANC, delivered by skilled birth attendants, and had a postnatal checkup and other characteristics of the surveyed population. The most recent round of data—the 2016 EDHS—was used to examine the socio-cultural and reproductive health factors associated with the three maternal health services utilization. Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses with adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) were conducted using Stata 15.0. The use of ANC services and skilled birth attendants increased significantly between 2011 and 2016 EDHS, utilization of ANC services increased from 34.0 to 65.5%, and use of skilled birth attendants increased from 11.7 to 35.9%, respectively. The use of postnatal care decreased from 9.3 to 6.9%. Utilization of maternal health service was significantly associated with urban residence, Protestant religion, Oromo ethnicity, more education, more household wealth, and less parity. Furthermore, women who had ANC visits during pregnancy were more likely to subsequently use skilled birth attendants (AOR 5.5, p < 0.001) and PNC (AOR 2.9, p < 0.001). The study highlighted the inequalities in the utilization of maternal health services between rural and urban areas, and the need of addressing the social, economic, and physical barriers that prevent women from using these services. Further, programs should be targeted at promoting the use of professional birth and postnatal services in Ethiopia.
Femoral triangle block plus iPACK block versus local infiltration analgesia for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: an infographic.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction can be painful, and both the femoral triangle block and local infiltration analgesia have been shown to provide effective analgesia after this surgery. A relatively new block, the iPACK (infiltration between the popliteal artery and the capsule of the knee
Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Individuals Incarcerated in an Arizona County Jail

We aimed to estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity among a sample of individuals incarcerated in an Arizona county jail and compare prevalence estimates to a matched non-institutionalized population. From 2017–2018, individuals housed at a county jail completed a cross-sectional health survey. We estimated the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, overweight/obesity, cigarette smoking, binge drinking, and self-reported health among individuals incarcerated. We compared prevalence estimates of cardiovascular risk factors to a matched sample of 2017–2018 NHANES participants. Overall, 35.9%, 7.7%, and 17.8% of individuals incarcerated in jail self-reported hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol, respectively. Of individuals incarcerated, 59.6% were overweight or obese and 36.8% self-reported fair or poor general health. Over half of individuals incarcerated reported ever smoking cigarettes (72.3%) and binge drinking (60.7%). Compared to a matched sample of NHANES participants, individuals incarcerated in jail had a statistically higher prevalence of cigarette smoking and binge drinking. Screening of cardiovascular risk factors and providing preventive measures and interventions, such as healthy eating, physical activity, or pharmacological adherence interventions, while individuals are incarcerated may contribute to the prevention and management of cardiovascular risk factors and, eventually, cardiovascular disease.
The Number of Organ System Injuries is a Predictor of Intrahospital Mortality in Complete Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.

Abstract Objectives The objective is to determine the extent to which polytrauma significantly impacts intrahospital mortality among patients with complete cervical SCI and to assess whether an organ system-based approach would be appropriate as a mortality predictor as compared to conventional standards to help guide prognosis and management. Methods We retrospectively reviewed patient medical records and assessed the type of associated trauma at presentation. We then reviewed its correlation with mortality in patients who were admitted at our institution between 2012 and 2021. Types of associated trauma were classified under the following: traumatic brain injury, abdominal injury, thoracic injury, orthopedic injury, craniofacial injury, genitourinary injury, and vascular injury. Results Thirty patients with complete cSCIs were identified. Increased organ system-based polytrauma had a statistically significant increase in intrahospital mortality (p=0.01). Using the logistic regression model, for each additional gain in organ system-based trauma, patients had a 2.455 odds ratio of mortality (p=0.03, 95% confidence interval 1.171-6.348). Zero other organ system injuries in the setting of cSCI provided a predictive mortality probability of 6.6%. One organ system-based trauma provided a 14.8% intrahospital mortality probability, two traumas provided a 29.9% mortality probability, three traumas provided a 51.1% mortality probability, and four other organ-system traumas provided a 72.0% mortality probability. The predictive prognostic accuracy of using number of organ system-based trauma to predict mortality probability was quantified at AUC=0.8264 (95% CI 0.6729-0.9799, p=0.01). Conclusions Our research shows that increased number of organ system injuries is associated with greater intrahospital mortality in polytrauma patients with complete cSCI.
Behavioral and Predictive Validation of a Self-Assessment of Parental Feeding Style in Low-Income Parents of Young Children

To improve the capacity of researchers and practitioners to work toward integrating parenting styles into their work on child obesity, valid assessment tools aimed at measuring these dimensions of ...
Diglyceride Kinase Mutants of Escherichia coli: Inner Membrane Association of 1,2-Diglyceride and Its Relation to Synthesis of Membrane-Derived Oligosaccharides

Mutants of Escherichia coli defective in diglyceride kinase contain 10 to 20 times more sn-1,2-diglyceride than normal cells. This material constitutes about 8% of the total lipid in such strains. We now report that this excess diglyceride is recovered in the particulate fraction, primarily in association with the inner, cytoplasmic membrane. The diglyceride kinase of wild-type cells was recovered in the same inner membrane fractions. The conditions employed for the preparation of the membranes did not appear to cause significant redistribution of lipids and proteins. The biochemical reactions leading to the formation of diglyceride in E. coli are not known. To determine whether diglyceride formation requires concurrent synthesis of the membrane-derived oligosaccharides (H. Schulman and E. P. Kennedy, J. Biol. Chem. 252:4250-4255, 1977), we have constructed a double mutant defective in both the kinase (dgk) and phosphoglucose isomerase (pgi). When oligosaccharide synthesis was inhibited in this organism by growing the cells on amino acids as the sole carbon source, the diglyceride was no longer present in large amounts. When glucose was also added to the medium, the pgi mutation was bypassed, oligosaccharide synthesis resumed, and diglyceride again accumulated. These findings suggest that diglyceride may arise during the transfer of the sn-glycero-1-P moiety from phosphatidylglycerol (and possibly cardiolipin) to the oligosaccharides. In wild-type cells the kinase permits the cyclical reutilization of diglyceride molecules for phospholipid biosynthesis.
The influence of religion on the leisure behavior of immigrant Muslims in the United States.

Using the concepts of ethnic resilience and selective acculturation as a theoretical foundation, this study analyzes the effect of religion on the leisure behavior of Muslim immigrants to the U.S. ...
Electrically small wire monopole antenna with Non-Foster impedance element

Electrically small antennas have excessively high radiation quality factors and low radiation resistances. This also implies that these type of antennas are narrow band. Hence it is necessary to add appropriate matching networks between the generator and the antenna. With conventional passive matching networks it is difficult to match over wide frequency bands due to the limitation of the Gain-Bandwidth product. However, it is feasible for matching networks based on Non-Foster elements to overcome this limitation. In this paper, we present a Non-Foster matching network for an electrically small receiver antenna. The antenna with Non-Foster matching show remarkable improvement in antenna gain compared to the antenna without a matching network.
Synthesis By Rule as a Tool for Phonological Research

The phonologist, having analysed a corpus of phonetic data and proposed tentative phonological rules, must test these rules by generating novel utterances for acceptance or rejection by an informant. There are certain methodological problems in such testing which could be avoided by the use of speech synthesized by rule. Synthesis by rule is now a practical technique, and a synthesis-by-rule system at Haskins Laboratories has been used to formulate rules for General American English.
Influences of transect relocation errors on line-point estimates of plant cover

The line-point transect method has been used to estimate plant cover for about nine decades. In particular, the method is often used to determine baseline plant cover and monitor for changes in plant cover over time. In such cases, detection of change requires both the initial transect starting position and angle of orientation are exact in relocation without error. A study was conducted on influences of errors in basal cover estimates that resulted from inexact relocation and orientation of a resample transect. Simulation studies of actual field data showed that variation in plant cover estimates from relocated line-point transects increased with each source of error and combinations of these errors. Relocated transects resulted in unbiased estimates of total-plant cover only when means over all transects are used to detect changes over time. Substantial errors were observed when the mean cover of individually relocated transect was compared to its original transect.
Using web demographics to model population change of Vietnamese-Americans in Texas between 2000 and 2009

With respect to the great wealth of information available online, the Internet can be viewed as a gigantic database with diverse resources. One of the pressing issues is to investigate the effectiveness and usefulness of the available information over the Internet. This research modeled the population change of Vietnamese-Americans (VA) in Texas from 2000 to 2009 by obtaining web demographic data from the Internet. The project objective is to pilot study a novel approach to conducting online “census” by using Web 2.0 technologies and to investigate the effectiveness of web data for GIS-based demographic application. The solicited VA demographics were geocoded at both county and census tract levels and compared with the Census 2000 demographics in the Geographic Information Systems. Spatial and statistical analyses were used to explore the spatial distribution of VA and to model their population change between 2000 and 2009. The findings of this study include: (1) in general, there are significant differences in the spatial distribution of the VA population between the web demographics and Census 2000 at both county and census tract levels, (2) the Hoover Indices of VA population in Texas at 2000 and 2009 revealed a trend of deconcentration which conforms to the general rural-urban-suburban migration among major metropolitan areas in Texas. This study sheds new insights to using web demographic data for population predictions and applications to plan services for ethnic groups.
Advanced materials for improved PEMFC performance and life

Abstract Physical and functional attributes are reviewed for recently developed Nafion ® products that satisfy emerging fuel cell requirements—including stronger, more durable membranes, and polymer dispersions of higher quality and consistency for catalyst inks and film formation. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) analysis has confirmed that dispersion viscosity is related to an “apparent” molar mass, resulting from a molecular aggregate structure. Membranes produced with solution-casting and advanced extrusion technologies exhibit improved water management and mechanical durability features, respectively. Additionally, DuPont has shown that experimentally modified Nafion ® polymer exhibits 56% reduction in fluoride ion generation, which is considered a measure of membrane lifetime.
Co-occurring Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders Within a Countywide System: Who Interfaces With the Jail and Who Does Not?

The presence of a co-occurring substance use disorder increases the risk of incarceration for those with a serious mental illness. To examine the interface between jail and mental health systems, a sample of 1,440 individuals diagnosed with both disorders was followed for 48 months using administrative data. The majority (63%) experienced incarceration with a median length of stay of 14 days. Predictors of incarceration were a more severe substance use diagnosis and younger age. These findings inform community-wide discussions aimed at enhancing coordination and collaboration between systems with the specific goal of decreasing the high prevalence of jail interface for this population.
A mathematical analysis and simulation of a localized measles epidemic

A mathematical model for the simulation of a localized measles epidemic is presented along with a computer simulation based on this model. The simulation results are compared with the results of a measles outbreak which occured at Texas Tech University. The effectiveness of the vaccination program undertaken during the Texas Tech epidemic and the effect of altering the level of herd immuninityare also considered.
Mediating Analysis Approaches Trends and Implications for Advanced Applications in HRD Research

The ProblemIn HRD research, while mediation research is receiving more attention, less is known about to what extent it has been used and what methodological approaches have been adopted by HRD res...
EEG response to sine wave modulated light in XYY, XXY, and XY men

Ten XYY, 14 XXY, and 47 control XY men were located in a birth cohort of non-institutionalized, tall men. Their EEGs were recorded during stimulation with sine were modulated light; 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 Hz were the modulation frequencies. EEGs with and without stimulation were subjected to power spectral analysis. The frequency-specific EEG change due to visual stimulation (i.e. photic driving) was studied. The XYY subjects showed generally lower levels of driving than their XY controls. At stimulation frequencies of 10 and 20 Hz, the EEG driving in the XYY subjects were significantly smaller when measured in the same frequency bands (i.e. 10 and 20 Hz). In addition, stimulation at 10 Hz elicited a significantly smaller response at the third harmonic frequency (i.e. 30 Hz) in the XYY subjects. No consistent differences in EEG driving were detected between the XXY subjects and their XY controls, or between XXY and XYY subjects.
The effect of audit firm size on audit prices

Abstract In a recent issue of Journal of Accounting and Economics, Francis, 1 developed a theory for determining the effect of audit firm size on audit prices (EAFSA). The present study offers an extension to his multivariable theory, which is otherwise viewed as an excellent attempt at presenting a realistic model of EAFSA. Further analysis of the data included in the present paper ranks the dominant variables and factors as (1) External audit fee (AFE), and Percentage of Assets (AST), and (2) Loss in last three years (LLS). In addition, this analysis reduces the multicollinearity and data redundancy of the original 11 variables by creating 6 less redundant factors from them. These new factors yield a EAFSA model of measurement with a fewer number of terms, a lower multicollinearity, and a multivariate normal distribution. The variable entitled Return on Investment (ROI) is ranked as the most subordinant, and most dependent, while (AFE) is ranked as the most dominant variable.
Case Study: Hypersomnolence and Precocious Puberty in a Child with Pica and Chronic Lead Intoxication

The limited literature on hypersomnolence suggests that it is a poorly defined symptom associated with a spectrum of disorders from monosymptomatic hypersomnolence to the Kleine-Levin syndrome. These disorders often herald an organic central nervous system syndrome. Recent evidence suggests a frequent association between these disorders and hypothalamic dysfunction, which itself may be caused by a variety of factors. This case study of a patient with persistent hypersomnolence, hypothalamic dysfunction (in the form of precocious puberty), pica, and chronic lead intoxication strengthens the association between hypersomnolence and hypothalamic dysfunction and suggests a heretofore unreported cause of hypothalamic dysfunction in humans.
Amateur satellites: A neglected vehicle for satellite communication education

Abstract At present, satellite communication is rarely pursued in laboratory exercises at educational institutions around the world. The idea that it is a prohibitively expensive venture contributes to the lack of such exercises. While this may be true for commercial endeavors, strictly educational pursuits of space-based communication are accessible to institutions and even individuals through the Amateur Satellite Service. It is thus proposed that this service be used as a means to acquire knowledge and skills in the field and subfields of satellite communication.
Screening schiff-base complexes for activity in dehalogenation of chloroform

Abstract The metal-chelate assisted dehalogenation of chloroform was studied using bis(salicylaldimine)nickel(II) compounds of the type (5-ZC6H3-2-0-1-CHNR)2 Ni in the presence of (CH3)2NCH2CH2N(CH3)2. The nickel compounds were screened for activity in terms of percent chlorine converted to chloride ion following a 6 h reflux period. The conversion was insensitive to the nature of Z, but sensitive to the nature of R (=H, alkyl, and substituted phenyl). Chloride conversion was related to the electronic effects of substituents on substituted phenyls that affected two competing effects in the transition state: (1) increase in electron density on the coordinated nitrogen to enhance the basicity and ease of proton removal from chloroform vs. (2) reduction in the formal charge of nickel that would reduce the tendency of chlorine from chloroform to be coordinated. Effects of other structural changes are considered.
Reaction of tricarbonyl(dienal)iron complexes with B-allyldiisopinocampheylborane

Abstract Addition of allyldiisopinocampheylborane to racemic (dienal)iron complexes, followed by oxidation, affords diastereomeric (1,4,6-trien-3-ol)iron complexes with moderate to low enantioselectivity. The high enantioselectivity typically observed for this allylborane reagent is attenuated by steric interaction between the Fe(CO) 3 group and the chiral isopinocampheyl groups. Further diminution of the enantioselectivity is observed for dienal complexes in which one rotomer predominates.
Linearization Techniques for CMOS Low Noise Amplifiers: A Tutorial

This tutorial catalogues and analyzes previously reported CMOS low noise amplifier (LNA) linearization techniques. These techniques comprise eight categories: a) feedback; b) harmonic termination; c) optimum biasing; d) feedforward; e) derivative superposition (DS); f) IM2 injection; g) noise/distortion cancellation; and h) post-distortion. This paper also addresses broadband-LNA-linearization issues for emerging reconfigurable multiband/multistandard and wideband transceivers. Furthermore, we highlight the impact of CMOS technology scaling on linearity and outline how to design a linear LNA in a deep submicrometer process. Finally, general design guidelines for high-linearity LNAs are provided.
Behavior of the Yb 3 + Ion on Anomalous Sites in Ytterbium-Doped Yttrium Iron Garnet

The theoretical behavior of the ${\mathrm{Yb}}^{3+}$ ion on octahedral $a$ sites in ytterbium-doped YIG is examined with regard to some of the so-called anomalous properties of this substance. First, a simple spin Hamiltonian is proposed and discussed in the light of the crystal-field properties of the anomalous site. Next, the implications of the model for static torque are derived and compared with experiment. Excellent agreement may be achieved provided that the maximum separation of the doublet levels is taken to be 55 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The minimum level spacing is not precisely determined, but is surely less than 2 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, and is thus the smallest to be observed in rare-earth-doped YIG. Last, the prediction of the model for the resonance anomaly is derived in a molecular-field model. A version of the theory involving only two adjustable parameters may be used to explain many details of the resonance measurements, including the variation of properties with angle and, to a lesser extent, with frequency. Since measurements are available at frequencies above the assumed level splitting, the degree of agreement is very sensitive to the form chosen for the susceptibility of the anomalous ytterbium ions to the exchange field. None of the forms examined produced quantitative agreement for the entire range of frequencies, although a form of inhomogeneous broadening is indicated. A more complete understanding of the problem could probably be achieved if resonance measurements at higher frequencies, and torque measurements at lower temperatures, became available.
Constructing international relations: The role of transnational migrants and other non‐state actors

This article explores the relationship between states and transnational movements of people through the trope of diplomacy. A standard definition of diplomacy is the conduct of negotiations between nations. From the normative perspective, international migration lies within the jurisdiction of diplomacy—often precipitating diplomatic crises—but is not usually viewed as constitutive of diplomatic relations. Likewise, such migration is widely acknowledged as structured by colonial and neocolonial ties but is not often construed to structure, produce, or reproduce these ties. Lastly, diplomacy is generally seen as the domain of state agents or diplomats. What about non‐state actors such as migrants and even tourists? Can they also be agents in the construction and exercise of international relations? I will argue that transnational actors actually construct and affect the relationships between states, but that these relations have not been developed fully.
THE USE OF VESICOSTOMY AS PERMANENT URINARY DIVERSION IN THE CHILD WITH MYELOMENINGOCELE

Purpose: Treatment of the child with myelomeningocele presents the urologist with many challenges. While vesicostomies are usually used for temporary bladder drainage until continent reconstruction is performed, we have a population of postpubertal patients with myelomeningocele in whom vesicostomies have been preserved. We review our experience with these older children.Materials and Methods: A search of our database of 350 patients with myelodysplasia identified 23 with urinary diversion accomplished by permanent vesicostomy. Those who had undergone vesicostomy after age 11 years were designated as group 1. Those who received a vesicostomy early in life that was maintained post puberty were designated as group 2. Indications for vesicostomy, upper tract status before and after vesicostomy, recurrent infections and complications were noted. Upper tract status was determined by serial ultrasounds during routine followup.Results: Group 1 was comprised of 5 patients with mean age at vesicostomy of 17 years ...
The use of protamine after radiofrequency catheter ablation: A pilot study

Objective Evaluate the effect of administering intravenous protamine immediately post-radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) on thrombotic and bleeding complications in heparinized patients.
Design Principles for Effective Knowledge Discovery from Big Data

Big data phenomenon refers to the practice of collection and processing of very large data sets and associated systems and algorithms used to analyze these massive datasets. Architectures for big data usually range across multiple machines and clusters, and they commonly consist of multiple special purpose sub-systems. Coupled with the knowledge discovery process, big data movement offers many unique opportunities for organizations to benefit (with respect to new insights, business optimizations, etc.). However, due to the difficulty of analyzing such large datasets, big data presents unique systems engineering and architectural challenges. In this paper, we present three system design principles that can inform organizations on effective analytic and data collection processes, system organization, and data dissemination practices. The principles presented derive from our own research and development experiences with big data problems from various federal agencies, and we illustrate each principle with our own experiences and recommendations.
Symmetric Truncal Aplasia Cutis Congenita following Multifetal Reduction of a Sextuplet Pregnancy

Aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) in a symmetric, stellate pattern on the trunk or extremities is classically associated with a fetus papyraceus. We report symmetric truncal ACC in a neonate born of a sextuplet pregnancy that had been reduced to twins. This case highlights truncal ACC as a consequence of modern reproductive medicine.
The chloramphenicol resistance gene cmlA is disseminated on transferable plasmids that confer multiple-drug resistance in swine Escherichia coli

A recent study of β-hemolytic Escherichia coli isolated from diarrheic swine found that 53% were resistant to chloramphenicol, a drug that has been prohibited from use in food animals in the US since the mid-1980s. To identify the factors governing the persistence of chloramphenicol resistance in the absence of specific selection pressure, the location of the chloramphenicol resistance gene cmlA and its linkage to other resistance determinants were investigated. Southern blot analysis of plasmid DNA from 46 swine E. coli isolates indicated that cmlA was present on large plasmids greater than 100 kbp. Fifty-two percent of the isolates were able to transfer chloramphenicol resistance to an E. coli recipient at conjugation frequencies ranging from 10−3 to 10−8 per recipient. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests on transconjugant strains demonstrated that resistance to sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and kanamycin frequently transferred along with chloramphenicol resistance. The transconjugant strains possessed at least two distinct class 1 integrons that linked cmlA to both aminoglycoside resistance genes aadA1 and aadA2 and either to sul1 or to sul3 sulphonamide resistance genes. These results suggest that in the absence of specific chloramphenicol selection pressure, the cmlA gene is maintained by virtue of gene linkage to genes encoding resistance to antimicrobials that are currently approved for use in food animals.
Photoacoustic Doppler flowmetry

We report flow measurements based on the photoacoustic Doppler effect. We have performed flow experiments with a suspension of micrometer carbon particles and have detected the photoacoustic Doppler shift at various average flow speeds. We have also observed the directional dependence of the photoacoustic Doppler shift. Our experiment is based on the continuous wave (cw) photoacoustic generation. It is the goal of noninvasively monitoring hemodynamics in functional photoacoustic imaging that motivates our study.
Layering transitions, disordered flat phases, reconstruction, and roughening

We study in light of recent ellipsometry, vapor pressure isotherm and specific-heat measurements on the thermodynamics of adsorbed thin films on graphite, the connection between the layering phase diagrams of thin films on periodic substrates and the thermodynamics of the solid-vapor interface of a semi-infinite crystal. The latter is the limit of the former when the film becomes infinitely thick, and we are interested in connecting this limiting behavior to the thermodynamics of films of finite thickness. We argue that the concepts of surface roughening, preroughening, and reconstruction provide a quantitatively useful framework within which to discuss this connection. Through general renormalization-group arguments and, in more detail, through a self-consistent mean-field treatment that explicitly accounts for all relevant phases, we show that the same types of interactions that lead to these different surface phases lead also to the reentrant layering transitions seen in the recent experiments. By appropriate tuning of the mean-field parameters we can semiquantitatively reconstruct all the observed experimental phase diagrams. It turns out that certain experimental phase diagrams with “zippers” require that the preroughening transition become first order. Our renormalization-group arguments predict such behavior in certain parameter ranges. In addition, for different parameters we predict the existence of an, as yet unobserved, θ disordered flat phase with spontaneously broken particle-hole symmetry and continuously varying surface height with an accompanying intermeshing layering phase diagram. The underlying lattice in the experiments is triangular, and this actually enhances the stability of the disordered flat phase and the corresponding reentrant layering transitions in the films.
Variation in cue duration reveals top-down modulation of involuntary orienting to uninformative symbolic cues

This article reports three experiments in which the effects of cue duration on involuntary orienting to uninformative symbolic cues (arrows presented at fixation) were investigated. Experiment 1 showed that symbolic cues had less effect on involuntary orienting when they were presented for only 25 msec than when they were presented for 200 msec across a range of stimulus onset asynchronies. Experiment 2 suggested that the effect of cue duration on involuntary orienting was due primarily to top-down strategic factors, rather than to bottom-up stimulus factors, and Experiment 3 suggested that these strategic factors may involve differences in how the cue is processed. Altogether, the present findings are important because they emphasize the distinction between cue processing and the putative involuntary orienting that results from such processing in the symbolic-cuing paradigm. In so doing, the present results help resolve discrepant findings that have been reported across previous studies.
Kinetics of thorium humate

Abstract The rate constants for thorium dissociation from humic acid were measured in the pH range from 4.20 to 5.94. A kinetic spectrum analysis of the data revealed that thorium was bound to humic acid in seven different binding states. These binding states have been interpreted as territorial bound, surface site bound and internally site bound thorium.
Simple office spirometry.

One of the most useful instruments for office practice is the spirometer. Today, the spirometer must find its rightful place alongside the sphygmomanometer, the electrocardiograph, and the ophthalmoscope. Abnormal spirometry is an indicator of increased risk for premature death from all causes. This indication has been known since the time of its invention in 1846 by John Hutchinson, a surgeon. 21 Why has spirometry been so slow to be accepted in the mainstream of clinical practice? The author believes that spirometry has been couched in too much mystique. It also has required the careful study of structure– function relationships of the human lung to understand what causes alterations in spirometric measurements. Longitudinal studies have helped clarify the clinical significance of tests purported to indicate early stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Also, in the past, inexpensive and user-friendly devices were not available for office and clinic use. All of this is changing rapidly. Now the primary care physician and his or her assistant can learn the basics of spirometry easily, which provides two main values—the forced vital capacity (FVC) and the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ). Reviewing how these values can be applied immediately to everyday practice is the purpose of this article.
Automatic generation of RBF networks using wavelets

Abstract Learning can be viewed as mapping from an input space to an output space. Examples of these mappings are used to construct a continuous function that approximates the given data and generalizes for intermediate instances. Radial-basis function (RBF) networks are used to formulate this approximating function. A novel method is introduced that automatically constructs a generalized radial-basis function (GRBF) network for a given mapping and error bound. This network is shown to be the smallest network within the error bound for the given mapping. The integral wavelet transform is used to determine the parameters of the network. Simple one-dimensional examples are used to demonstrate how the network constructed using the transform is superior to that constructed using standard ad hoc optimization techniques. The paper concludes with the automatic generation of GRBF networks for a multi-dimensional problem, namely, real-time 3D object recognition and pose estimation. The results of this application are favorable.
Organism-hardware interface via molecular-scale gates

Interfacing organisms and hardware is a promising and challenging research frontier. The threat of biological weapons and the rising cost of health care have pushed detection of pathogens and their toxins to the forefront of that frontier. Both the military and the civilian sectors require that this detection be fast, accurate, sensitive, and inexpensive. We describe an electrochemical detection method that relies upon "molecular-scale gates" capable of being activated by a biological agent. We discuss our most recent experimental and modeling results, which take into account DNA folding and introduce the concept of tethering to boost the detection signal. Preliminary results show dramatic and specific recognition of target molecules.
Prospects for prevention of and early intervention against HIV.

THE IMMUNE response that develops subsequent to infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) consists of both humoral and cellular elements that, when assessed in vitro, can inhibit virus infection and lyse virus-infected target cells. If such activities were operative in vivo, one would expect that they would suppress virus replication and virus-induced cytopathic effects. The antiviral immune response may thus represent one of the primary host defense mechanisms responsible for the protracted asymptomatic phase of the disease, which, in most patients, can last several years. An important question to be answered for development of vaccine strategies against HIV is whether this response might be an effective barrier to HIV infection de novo. If the immune response can indeed control the virus even for a limited period, then the issue would not be whether it is possible to mount a protective immune response against HIV, but whether it may be necessary
Differential effects of glucocorticoids on colony stimulating factors produced by neonatal mononuclear cells.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of dexamethasone (DEX) on the production of granulocyte and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factors (G-CSF and GM-CSF) by neonatal mononuclear cells. Mononuclear cells were isolated from umbilical cord blood and cultured with either phorbol myristate acetate/phytohemagglutinin (PMA/PHA) or Candida albicans with or without DEX (10-8-10-6 M) for 48 h. Cell supernatants were assayed for G-CSF and GM-CSF by ELISA. Mononuclear cells from term and preterm infants responded to PMA/PHA stimulation with a significant increase in G-CSF production over baseline levels. The PMA/PHA-induced increase in G-CSF production was markedly augmented by the addition of DEX to cell cultures. DEX augmented production of G-CSF was significantly less in mononuclear cells from preterm infants. Similarly, production of G-CSF was significantly less by mononuclear cells from infants with acute physiology scores of ≥10, as judged by the Score for Acute Neonatal Physiology. In contrast, DEX significantly inhibited PMA/PHA-induced GM-CSF production. Although C. albicans induced mononuclear cells to produce G-CSF, DEX did not significantly augment this production. No significant effect of DEX on C. albicans induced GM-CSF production was observed. The data show DEX induced differential regulation of infant peripheral blood mononuclear cell production of G-CSF and GM-CSF. These results suggest that glucocorticoids may enhance certain aspects of host immune function in addition to their well-documented immunosuppressive effects. Further, the neutrophilia observed in DEX-treated infants may be due to enhanced G-CSF production.
Harmonious colors: from alchemy to science

There is a very long tradition in designing color palettes for various applications, going back to at least the Upanishad. Although color palettes have been influenced by the available colorants, starting with the advent of aniline dyes in the late 1850s there have been few physical limits on the choice of individual colors. This abundance of choices exacerbates the problem of limiting the number of colors in a palette, i.e., in keeping them into a manageable quantity. For example, it is not practical for a car company to offer each model in hundreds of colors. Instead, for each model year a small number of color palettes is offered, each containing the colors for the body, trim, interior, etc. Another example is the fashion industry, where in addition to solid colors there are also patterns, leading to a huge variety of combinations that would be impossible to stock. The traditional solution is that of “color forecasting.” Color consultants assess the sentiment or affective state of a target customer class and compare it with new colorants offered by the industry. They assemble a limited color palette, name the colors according to the sentiment, and publish their result. Textile manufacturers will produce fabrics in these colors and fashion designers will design clothes, accessories, and furniture based on these fabrics. Eventually, the media will communicate these forecasts to the consumers, who will be admired by their cohorts when they choose colors from the forecast palette, which by then is widely diffused.