cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Non-Magnetic CMOS Switched-Transmission-Line Circulators With High Power Handling and Antenna Balancing: Theory and Implementation

Recently, CMOS non-magnetic circulators have been demonstrated based on switch-based spatio-temporal conductivity modulation, but these initial demonstrations remain limited in transmitter power handling, linearity, and ability to combat antenna variations. This paper describes a non-magnetic circulator architecture that uses no external components, and employs a variety of linearity enhancement techniques, such as device stacking, optimal switch biasing, and localized electrostatic discharge (ESD) design to achieve watt-class power handling and high IIP3. A new antenna balancing approach is described that uses no inductors or lossy resistors and yet allows high isolation in the face of strong antenna reflections. The concepts are validated through a 1-GHz 180-nm SOI CMOS prototype that achieves >1-W TX–ANT $\text{P}_{1~{\mathrm{ dB}}}$ , >+50-dBm TX–ANT IIP3, and high isolation for as high as 1.85 ANT VSWR and beyond. The circulator also exhibits low insertion losses of 2.1/2.9 dB in the TX–ANT and ANT–RX paths, and ANT–RX noise figure (NF) of 3.1 dB. These results represent a 10–100 $\times $ enhancement in linearity/power handling over prior non-magnetic circulators and are shown to lower the power consumption of a communication link when compared with the state-of-the-art electrical balance duplexers in scenarios, where dynamic range is limited by $\text{P}_{1~{\mathrm{ dB}}}$ and NF.
Consumer Avoidance of Insect Containing Foods: Primary Emotions, Perceptions and Sensory Characteristics Driving Consumers Considerations.

Why do many human beings find bugs repulsive? Disgust, a psychological factor, is believed to be the main reason why consumers would not consider eating foods containing insect ingredients. This study aimed to understand specific consumers’ behaviors toward insect based products. A global survey was launched in 13 different countries. The participants (n = 630 from each country) completed the survey that included demographic questions and questions about why they would or would not eat insect-based products. The results show, particularly for some of the Asian countries, that it is necessary to start exposing and familiarizing the populations about insects in order to diminish the disgust factor associated with insects. It is strongly recommended that an insect-based product should not contain visible insect pieces, which trigger negative associations. The exceptions were consumers in countries such as Mexico and Thailand, evaluated in this study, which did not show significant negative beliefs associated with including insects in their diets. Additional research to promote insect-based product consumption with popular product types might be the first strategy to break the disgust barriers and build acquaintance about insect-based products. The need to educate consumers that not all insects are unhygienic is crucial to eliminating the potentially erroneous concepts from consumer mindsets.
Single-Cell Reconstruction of Emerging Population Activity in an Entire Developing Circuit

Animal survival requires a functioning nervous system to develop during embryogenesis. Newborn neurons must assemble into circuits producing activity patterns capable of instructing behaviors. Elucidating how this process is coordinated requires new methods that follow maturation and activity of all cells across a developing circuit. We present an imaging method for comprehensively tracking neuron lineages, movements, molecular identities, and activity in the entire developing zebrafish spinal cord, from neurogenesis until the emergence of patterned activity instructing the earliest spontaneous motor behavior. We found that motoneurons are active first and form local patterned ensembles with neighboring neurons. These ensembles merge, synchronize globally after reaching a threshold size, and finally recruit commissural interneurons to orchestrate the left-right alternating patterns important for locomotion in vertebrates. Individual neurons undergo functional maturation stereotypically based on their birth time and anatomical origin. Our study provides a general strategy for reconstructing how functioning circuits emerge during embryogenesis. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
A Phase II Trial of Melphalan Based Reduced Intensity Conditioning and Transplantation of Partially HLA-Mismatched Peripheral Blood Stem Cells for Patients with Hematologic Malignancies

HLA-haploidentical (haplo) stem cell transplantation is now widely used for patients lacking a suitably matched related or unrelated donor (MUD). Conventionally, T-replete Haplo transplantation has been performed using non-myeloablative conditioning and a bone marrow graft. Subsequently, our group has developed the use of myeloablative conditioning and PBSC grafts for Haplo (Solomon et al BBMT 2015, 2019). However, some patients with hematologic malignancies who are unable to tolerate a fully myeloablative regimen may benefit from intermediate intensity conditioning. We conducted a prospective phase II trial utilizing melphalan based preparative regimen ( fludarabine 30mg/m2 days -6 to -2, melphalan 140 mg/m2 day -1) followed by infusion of unmanipulated peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) ,capped at 5x10 6 CD34+/kg,from a haploidentical first degree family donor. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis consisted of Cy 50mg/kg on days 3 and 4, MMF through day 35, and tacrolimus through day 180. The primary endpoint was to estimate the incidence of graft rejection following Fludarabine/Melphalan conditioning. For the graft failure endpoint we tested the hypotheses H0: p=10% versus Ha: p Haplo transplant using fludarabine/melphalan with PBSCs is a valid option for some patients lacking a timely access to a matched donor. It is well tolerated and provides full and rapid donor myeloid and T-cell chimerism. Figure 1:Overall Survival and Disease Free Survival In Matched Cohorts of Flu/Mel versus Flu/Cy/TBI Download : Download high-res image (41KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure 1 . Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Numerical modeling of phase separation on dynamic surfaces

Abstract The paper presents a model of lateral phase separation in a two component material surface. The resulting fourth order nonlinear PDE can be seen as a Cahn–Hilliard equation posed on a time-dependent surface. Only elementary tangential calculus and the embedding of the surface in R 3 are used to formulate the model, thereby facilitating the development of a fully Eulerian discretization method to solve the problem numerically. A hybrid method, finite difference in time and trace finite element in space, is introduced and stability of its semi-discrete version is proved. The method avoids any triangulation of the surface and uses a surface-independent background mesh to discretize the equation. Thus, the method is capable of solving the Cahn–Hilliard equation numerically on implicitly defined surfaces and surfaces undergoing strong deformations and topological transitions. We assess the approach on a set of test problems and apply it to model spinodal decomposition and pattern formation on colliding surfaces. Finally, we consider the phase separation on a sphere splitting into two droplets.
Steric Enforcement of cis-Epoxide Formation in the Radical C-O-Coupling Reaction by Which (S)-2-Hydroxypropylphosphonate Epoxidase (HppE) Produces Fosfomycin.

(S)-2-Hydroxypropylphosphonate [(S)-2-HPP, 1] epoxidase (HppE) reduces H2O2 at its nonheme-iron cofactor to install the oxirane “warhead” of the antibiotic fosfomycin. The net replacement of the C1...
IEEE Human Factors Standards for Nuclear Facilities: The Development Process, Available Standards, Current Activities, and the Future:

Since 1980 the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has supported development of human factors (HF) standards. Within IEEE, Subcommittee 5 (SC5) of the Nuclear Power Engineering...
Spatial Classification with Limited Observations Based on Physics-Aware Structural Constraint

Spatial classification with limited feature observations has been a challenging problem in machine learning. The problem exists in applications where only a subset of sensors are deployed at certain regions or partial responses are collected in field surveys. Existing research mostly focuses on addressing incomplete or missing data, e.g., data cleaning and imputation, classification models that allow for missing feature values, or modeling missing features as hidden variables and applying the EM algorithm. These methods, however, assume that incomplete feature observations only happen on a small subset of samples, and thus cannot solve problems where the vast majority of samples have missing feature observations. To address this issue, we propose a new approach that incorporates physics-aware structural constraints into the model representation. Our approach assumes that a spatial contextual feature is observed for all sample locations and establishes spatial structural constraint from the spatial contextual feature map. We design efficient algorithms for model parameter learning and class inference. Evaluations on real-world hydrological applications show that our approach significantly outperforms several baseline methods in classification accuracy, and the proposed solution is computationally efficient on a large data volume.
WalkID: Towards Context Awareness of Smart Home by Identifying Walking Sounds

Smart Home provides great conveniences to people by connecting various IoT devices (e.g., smart TVs, thermostats and health care devices) in the network. The voice assistant is utilized as the pivotal hub, which takes the user’s commands and controls the IoT devices accordingly. However, the voice assistant can only passively receive the user’s clear voice commands and is lack of the capability to automatically fulfill the users individual needs such as the personal environment setting (e.g., light, temperature and volume) and health monitoring. In this work, we equip the voice assistant with the context-awareness ability to provide personalized services automatically by recognizing the user’s identity. In particular, we develop a system to identify the user based on the walking sounds. The proposed system first recognizes the walking sounds based on the cluster-based walking detection to detect the presence of a user and then identifies the user based on machine-learning algorithms. Moreover, the far-field microphone arrays available on voice assistants are leveraged to further improve the user identification performance to achieve over 90% accuracy.
An introduction to SLDL and Rosetta

The Rosetta Stone (permanently displayed at the British Museum of Art) has played a pivotal role in enabling scientists to translate across a number of widely varying languages used around the world throughout our history. Through this mapping process, linguists have been able to more fully understand the semantic meaning embodied in the written word of our culture. Similarly, the Rosetta language (as we will refer to it in this text) represents a modern-day effort to map across semantic domains within the electronics-centric systems engineering world, motivated by the trend towards System-Level Integration, or System-on-a-Chip (SoC). Rosetta plays a key role in the System Level Design Language (SLDL) industry standards initiative.
Noninertial Relativistic Symmetry

The definition of invariant time is fundamental to relativistic symmetry. Invariant time may be formulated as a degenerate orthogonal metric on a flat phase space with time, position, energy and momentum degrees of freedom that is also endowed with a symplectic metric $\omega =-d t\wedge d \varepsilon +\delta _{i,j}d q^i\wedge d p^j$. For Einstein proper time, the degenerate orthogonal metric is $d \tau^{o 2}=d t^2-\frac{1}{c^2}d q^2$ and, in the limit $c\to \infty$, becomes Newtonian absolute time, $d t^2$. We show that the the resulting symmetry group leaving $\omega$ and $d t^2$ invariant is the Jacobi group that gives the expected transformations between noninertial states defined by Hamilton's equations. The symmetry group for $\omega$ and $d \tau^{o 2}$ is the semidirect product of the Lorentz and an abelian group parameterized by the time derivative of the energy-momentum tensor that characterizes noninertial states in special relativity. This leads to the consideration of invariant time based on a nondegenerate Born metric, $d \tau^2=d t^2-\frac{1}{c^2}d q^2-\frac{1}{b^2}d p^2+\frac{1}{b^2c^2}d \varepsilon^2$. $b$ is a universal constant with dimensions of force that, with $c,\hbar$ define the dimensional scales of phase space. We determine that the symmetry group for transformations between noninertial states is essentially a noncompact unitary group. It reduces to the noninertial symmetry group for Einstein proper time in the $b\to \infty$ limit and to the noninertial symmetry group for Hamiltonian mechanics in the $b,c\to \infty$ limit. The causal cones in phase space defined by the null surfaces $d\tau^2=0$ bound the rate of change of momentum as well as position. Furthermore, spacetime is no longer an invariant subspace of phase space but depends on the noninertial state; there is neither an absolute rest state nor an absolute inertial state that all observers agree on.
On the reciprocal sum of lcm of k-tuples

We prove that the reciprocal sum $S_k(x)$ of the least common multiple of $k\geq 2$ positive integers in $\mathbb{N}\cap [1,x]$ satisfies $$ S_k(x)=c_k \log^{2^k-1} x +O(\log^{2^k-2} x) $$ where $c_k$ is a positive constant. This was conjectured in a stronger form in Hilberdink, Luca, and Toth~\cite[Remark 2.4]{HLT}.
A Transitional Year Residency Program Provides Innovative Solutions for Unmatched Medical Students.

Background The transition to residency is competitive with more medical students applying for residency positions than slots available, and some will face challenges securing a position in their desired specialty. Our institution created a transitional year (TY) residency program in 2016 to help meet the needs of our medical students who did not initially secure a position in the main residency Match. Objective This report provides a brief overview of the TY program and analysis of the program's value from the inaugural 3 years (2017-2020). Methods The TY program is based at a midsized, urban, academic health center and features a tailorable curriculum emphasizing preparation for residents' specialty career plans. We used participatory action research and appreciative inquiry strategies as part of the annual program evaluation to examine TY residents' perceptions of the program's value. Stakeholder perceptions were also elicited from a purposive selection of 4 program directors and 2 key medical school education leaders. Results Internal evaluations revealed a high rate of resident satisfaction with the TY program and self-reported benefits such as increased confidence, clinical proficiency, and professional enculturation. Stakeholders valued the program as a potential pipeline for increasing physicians in the state and providing valuable direction to students' career trajectories. Conclusions Creating a TY residency program to meet the needs of unmatched medical students was feasible to implement, acceptable to residents in meeting their academic and career needs, and provided a sustainable institutional solution with benefits to multiple stakeholders.
Daily Stressor Exposure and Daily Well-Being Among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Adults in the United States: Results from the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE).

BACKGROUND Daily stress plays a significant role in mental and physical health. Negative mood (e.g., hopelessness) and physical symptoms (e.g., headaches) are responses often associated with daily stressors. It is theorized that some people or populations are more vulnerable or reactive to daily stressors. We propose sexual orientation as one factor that is associated with daily stress exposure and reactivity. PURPOSE To understand whether sexual minorities (SMs) differ from heterosexuals in their exposure and reactivity to general, non-sexual minority-specific stressors (e.g., arguments/disagreements, job concerns). METHODS We used daily diary data (n = 3,323 heterosexuals [52% identified as female and 85% identified as White]; n = 98 SMs [50% identified as female and 93% identified as White]) from the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE). Participants completed eight consecutive evening daily diary interviews (n days = 24,773; mean days completed = 7.24) and reported daily stress exposure and daily well-being. We used multilevel modeling as an approach to examine whether sexual orientation interacted with daily stressors to predict daily negative affect and physical health. RESULTS SMs tended to experience more daily stressors compared to heterosexuals; specifically, SMs reported at least one stressor on nearly half (48%) of the study days they completed, and heterosexuals reported at least one stressor on about two-fifths (41%) of the study days they completed. SMs also tended to experience more negative mood when they experienced a daily stressor compared to heterosexuals when they experienced a daily stressor. CONCLUSION We emphasize the importance of SMs' exposure and reactivity to general daily stressors and the implications of our results for the day-to-day lives and health of SMs.
Local anesthetic systemic toxicity in the pediatric patient: A case report and review of the literature

Lidocaine and prilocaine are local anesthetics, a class of medications which are frequently used in clinical medicine to minimize pain in a variety of procedures. They are commonly found in over-the-counter products such as topical anesthetic creams advertised to relieve localized muscle and joint pain. While safe and well-tolerated when used appropriately, an overdose of these anesthetics increases the risk for local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST), which in severe cases can present with seizures, cardiac dysrhythmias, and ultimately cardiovascular collapse. The reduced muscle mass of pediatric patients puts them at an increased risk of LAST due to the depot effect of the systemically absorbed anesthetic. Methemoglobinemia may also be associated with local anesthetic toxicity. Our case involves a previously healthy 15-month-old female who presented to one of our networks' emergency departments in status epilepticus following an accidental ingestion of a tube of 2.5% lidocaine/2.5% prilocaine cream. Her seizure activity was initially resistant to intraosseous benzodiazepine administration, but ultimately resolved following administration of lipid emulsion and sodium bicarbonate. Additionally, the patient had refractory hypoxia on the monitor which resolved shortly after administration of methylene blue. After stabilization, the patient was transferred to the Pediatric ICU and ultimately made a complete recovery. LAST is a life-threatening presentation which requires early recognition by clinicians, as well as an understanding of the appropriate treatment modalities. We review the assessment and management of LAST, with special focus on the pediatric patient.
TOTAL HEALTH: Toward Continuous Personal Monitoring

Ubiquitous personal monitoring of health is being rapidly developed in recent years. However the concept of pervasive computing in healthcare focuses on individual systems. We propose that Total Health is the transformation of healthcare that aims for complete 24/7 coverage in which no one system can provide. We discuss what are the challenges that come with bringing technology into widespread use. Following this discussion, a selection of current applications in healthcare is presented. These applications use state-of-the-art systems that relate to personal health monitoring with the goal of providing a 24/7 picture of one’s health. The key requirements of these systems is that they provide continuous available monitoring, must be as unobtrusive as possible, require as little human intervention as possible, identify and alert health risks, and be cost effective.
Haus P., Mödling

Gesteuerte Blickachsen und Wegfuhrungen sowie besonders aufmerksam behandelte Ausenraume kennzeichnen das in leichter Hanglage situierte Haus in einem relativ frisch parzellierten Wohngebiet am Stadtrand von Modling. Der Zugang ist leicht verschwenkt und fuhrt nach einer kleinen Stufenanlage auf einer Art Galerie uber dem tiefer liegenden Vorhof des Untergeschoses zum Eingang. Lossfarbener hollandischer Backstein gibt dem Haus Bodenhaftung. Der Rest ist klassisch wei Hauses ist das an die Diele angrenzende Esszimmer. Zwei Stufen hoher gelegen schliest als Gegenpol zum eher geborgen gelegenen Speisezimmer das Wohnzimmer an. In der Art einer Sala Terrena offnet es sich zum Garten und stellt die optische Verbindung zum Grunen her. Eine als Erker mit Lichtband konstruierte Nische dehnt die Wohnflache uber die bebaubare Flache hinaus. Die von der Kuche aus zugangliche Ostterrasse ist mit dem durch das Abgraben des Hanges gewonnenen Vorhof uber eine Ausentreppe verbunden und bietet einen zweiten Zugang. Das Obergeschouckzugsgebiet den Schlaf- und Badezimmern vorbehalten, die sich um eine grose Diele gruppieren. Grose Fenster und ein Balkon stellen auch hier die Beziehung zum Garten her.
TU-CD-207-06: Effect of Reconstruction Methods On the Evaluation of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) Acquisition Parameters Using Human and Model Observers

Purpose: We previously showed that the choice of reconstruction methods did not affect the optimization for DBT acquisition parameters (angular span (ASP) and number of views (NOV)). We considered the task of detecting spherical lesions using a channelized Hoteling observer (CHO). The goal of this work is to validate our model observer results using human reader studies. Methods: Sets of DBT projections of multiple lesion-present and lesion-absent digital breast phantoms were generated using a virtual DBT system at various combinations of ASP and NOV. Each set of projections was reconstructed into DBT slices with several reconstruction methods. In this study, we investigated the performance trends for optimizing ASP at 9 views and optimizing NOV at 20o span with FBP and SART reconstructions. 140 sub-images for each geometry were extracted from the simulated DBT slices for human reading. Human observers scored each sub-image according to the confidence level for presence of a lesion at a known location. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was estimated as a function of ASP or NOV for both reconstruction methods. AUC curves for the CHOs using Laguerre-Gauss (LG) and Square channels were also plotted for comparison. Results: Our initial results based on one reader indicate that the performance trends as a function of acquisition parameters are similar between the outcomes from FBP and SART reconstructions. Both the LG and the Square CHOs predict the reader’s performance trends well. Results for a total of 4 readers will be presented at the time of conference. Conclusion: The preliminary results validate that the choice of reconstruction methods does not impact the optimization of DBT acquisition parameters. If confirmed, our results indicate that a CHO with LG or Square channels can predict human performance trends for detecting a spherical lesion in breast-mimicking tomosynthesis backgrounds.
Practitioner Inquiry, Knowledge, and University Culture*

This chapter explores the relationships among practitioner inquiry, knowledge, and the cultures of universities. The chapter uses the term, “practitioner inquiry,” as a kind of conceptual umbrella to overview a number of di3ering forms of practitioner-based study of teaching, teacher education, and related issues. The chapter has three major parts. The first examines the discourse and terminology of practitioner inquiry, suggesting that the language used to describe it has been widely appropriated for many different contexts. The chapter argues, however, that it is not language alone that differentiates particular kinds of inquiry, nor is it ideological, political, or historical traditions alone. Rather, in order to understand the range and variation of practitioner inquiry, particular practitioner inquiry initiatives and their operating assumptions about how inquiry is related to knowledge, practice, and change must be examined. The chapter offers three different inquiry-knowledge-practice relationships as a way to sort these out. The second section of the chapter discusses the features and assumptions that most variants of practitioner inquiry share and that divide practitioner inquiry from many traditional forms of educational research. The chapter identifies the most common critiques of practitioner inquiry, particularly in relation to issues of epistemology, methodology, and politics. The final section considers the role of practitioner inquiry in the university. This section of the chapter draws on the authors’ own experiences working with teacher research and other inquiry communities within the contexts of large research universities Offer a period of more than 15 years. It explores the ethical, political, and practical dilemmas and contradictions that are created when teacher research and its underlying premises are taken seriously Offer a long period of time and within the culture of the university.
The involvement of a LINE-1 element in a DNA rearrangement upstream of the mdr1a gene in a taxol multidrug-resistant murine cell line.

Two closely related but functionally distinct P-glycoprotein isoforms are encoded by the murine multidrug-resistance genes mdr1a and mdr1b. In a series of independently selected multidrug-resistant (MDR) J774.2 cell lines, mdr gene amplification and/or overexpression and overproduction of either the mdr1a or mdr1b products, or both gene products, correlates with the MDR phenotype. To investigate the possibility that mutations in the promoter regions of the mdr1a or mdr1b genes could influence their differential expression, mdr promoter-specific probes were used to detect and map potential structural alterations. An unusual structural rearrangement was found in the 5'-region of the amplified mdr1a allele in J7.T1, a cell line selected with taxol. To characterize this rearrangement, the regulatory regions of the mdr1a and mdr1b genes were analyzed. Whereas no gross structural alterations were detected by Southern blot hybridization using the mdr1b promoter probe, a novel amplified EcoRI fragment was detected by the mdr1a promoter probe. To determine the precise nature of this mutation, an mdr1a 5'-genomic clone was isolated from J7.T1 cells. Sequence analysis revealed an unusual DNA rearrangement consisting of the mdr1b gene, from its fourth intron toward its 3'-end, upstream of an intact mdr1a promoter on the amplified allele. We propose that this event occurred by an unequal sister chromatid exchange that was mediated by LINE-1 repetitive elements.
The High Costs of Shareholder Participation

A number of observers contend that the new literature on happiness, the product of the work of psychologists and economists, poses a significant challenge to traditional economics. Economics generally assumes that peoples' choices advance their well-being. By contrast, current happiness literature suggests that people often make poor choices that undermine their subjective well-being. Therefore, more wealth and income are not sufficient to make people better off. This view, if uniformly adopted, may lead to paternalistic intervention in the market for corporate governance.In view of the new happiness literature, corporate law scholar James McConvill argues that shareholder empowerment should be seen as an end in itself because it enhances the empowered shareholder's access to happiness-inducing participation. His recent article supplies a novel approach to analyzing corporate governance. Participatory experience is substituted for utility maximization as the relevant investor objective. McConvill disputes prevailing conceptions of rational choice analysis for shareholders and argues that the perceived logic which encapsulates rational choice theory fails to appreciate the non-financial benefits (shareholder happiness) that can be derived from increasing shareholder power. McConvill's fresh look requires an explanation and a critique. This brief article is the second of a series of articles that offer critical analysis vitiating McConvill's Panglossian conclusions.
Improving Story Choice in a Reading Tutor that Listens

This abstract summarizes how we improved task choice - picking a story to read - in successive versions of a Reading Tutor that listens to elementary students read aloud. We wanted to motivate children to spend time on the Reading Tutor by giving them some choice in what to read, without spending too much time picking stories. We also wanted them to read plenty of new text, so as to build vocabulary and decoding skills.
Effects of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol on excitable membranes and neuromuscular transmission.

The effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on excitable membranes and neuromuscular transmission were investigated utilizing the isolated sciatic nerve—sartorius muscle preparation of the frog. Neuromuscular transmission was depressed upon bath application of 30 x 10-6 M THC. Records taken at junctional regions showed that upon nerve stimulation only 50% of the muscle fibers tested elicited a propagated action potential. These action potentials showed a reduction in the overshoot, the maximum rate of rise, and the maximum rate of fall. For the remainder of the muscle fibers, 10% showed no end-plate potentials and 40% gave subliminal end-plate potentials with amplitudes ranging from 5 to 30 mV. At blocked junctions the miniature end-plate potential amplitude was increased and the frequency was reduced. The resting potential of THC-treated fibers did not differ from that of controls. Muscle fiber action potentials recorded at nonjunctional regions showed a decrease in the overshoot, in the maximum rate of rise, and in the maximum rate of fall. The above changes persisted after THC was removed from the bathing solution. THC caused a small but significant increase in postjunctional membrane sensitivity to carbamylcholine. At junctional regions, the membrane input resistance and membrane time constant were unchanged. THC caused a decrease in the quantal content, and if drug application was prolonged, a complete blockade of quantal release was produced. Thus, THC blocks neuromuscular transmission by depressing the release of acetylcholine from presynaptic nerve terminals. In addition, THC depresses the ionic conductance mechanisms which underlie the propagation of action potentials in excitable membranes. ACKNOWLEDGMENT We thank Dr. W. D. Niemi for helpful discussions during the course of the experiments.
Financial Integration and Corporate Cash Holdings

Using a detailed measure of financial integration and firm level panel data for 46 countries, we examine the relation between financial integration and corporate cash holdings. Our evidence suggests that financial integration reduces firms’ overall reliance on cash by mitigating the distortions in capital markets. Specifically, we find that both cash holdings and the marginal value of cash are lower in more financially integrated emerging markets. These effects are more pronounced for financially dependent firms. We also look at if financial integration increases corporations’ dependence on cash during high contagion risk periods due to elevated macroeconomic uncertainty. Our findings suggest that the benefits of financial integration in extenuating frictions in external markets and thus reducing corporations’ reliance on cash holdings overcomes its potential costs of increasing precautionary savings during high uncertainty periods.
Traumatic Incident Reduction I: Traumatized Women Inmates: Particulars of Practice and Research.

Abstract Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR) is a one-session intervention that proved effective in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttrau-matic stress disorder (PTSD) in an experimental outcome study of a randomly assigned sample of 123 women inmates. TIR also proved effective in increasing levels of self-efficacy (expectancy of success) in these women. This article discusses in detail both the treatment protocol offered the women inmates and the research design and results of the experimental outcome study. The article also makes suggestions for practice and research related to traumatized women inmates.
Effects of atomic layer deposited HfO2 compact layer on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract The performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is limited by the back-reaction of photogenerated electrons from the photoelectrode back into liquid electrolyte. An atomic layer deposited (ALD) hafnium oxide (HfO2) ultra thin compact layer was grown on the surface of the transparent conducting oxide (TCO) and its effects on the DSSC performance were studied with dark and illuminated current–voltage and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. It was found that this compact layer was effectively blocking the back-reaction of electrons from TCO to the liquid electrolyte, resulting in the overall photoconversion efficiency being enhanced by 66% compared to a DSSC with a conventional sol–gel processed TiO2 compact layer. Reasons for the improved photovoltaic performance were attributed to passivation of the TCO surface, better electronic quality of the compact layer material and the higher compactness, shown by atomic force microscopic images, obtained from gas-based deposition methods. Also, an increased short-circuit current density suggests that the interfacial resistance for the injection of electrons from the porous nanoparticle network to TCO was reduced. Further, the theory of electron recombination at the TCO/compact layer/electrolyte interface was developed and used to explain the improved DSSC performance with an ALD HfO2 compact layer.
Synthesis Techniques for a Class of SSB-AM-PM Signals

This paper develops synthesis techniques for a particular type of single-sideband sinusoidal carrier which is phase modulated by a subcarrier. Mathematical expressions for signal efficiency, sensitivity of design to parameter variation, and ratio of peak to average power are derived and incorporated in a computer program. Given the desired power ratios for modulated signal components, the program solves for the corresponding modulation parameters and evaluates signal efficiency, design sensitivity, and peak to average power ratio. A sample signal design is presented for clarity.
Tail inference: where does the tail begin?

This research was partially supported by the ARO grant W911NF-07-1-0078, NSF grant DMS-1005903 and NSA grant H98230-11-1-0154 at Cornell University.
Comparison of Analytical Model to Experimental and Numerical Simulations Results for Tailor Welded Blank Forming

Tailor welded blanks (TWBs) offer several notable benefits including decreased part weight, reduced manufacturing costs, and improved dimensional consistency. However the reduced formability and other characteristics of the forming process associated with TWBs has hindered the industrial utilization of this blank type for all possible applications. One concern with TWB forming is that weld line movement occurs, which alters the final location of the various materials in the TWB combination. In this technical brief, an analytical model to predict the initial weld line placement necessary to satisfy the desired, final weld line location and strain at the weld line is used. Results from this model are compared to an experimental, symmetric steel TWB case and a 3D numerical simulation, nonsymmetric aluminum TWB case. This analytical model is an extension of one previously presented, but eliminates a plane strain assumption that is unrealistic for most sheet metal forming applications. Good agreement between the analytical model, experimental, and numerical simulation results with respect to initial weld line location was obtained for both cases. Results for the model with a plane strain assumption are also provided, demonstrating the importance of eliminating this assumption.
Influence of marinades on survival during storage of acid-adapted and nonadapted Listeria monocytogenes inoculated post-drying on beef jerky.

Abstract The objective of the present study was to investigate the survival of acid-adapted and nonadapted Listeria monocytogenes inoculated post-drying on dried beef slices (beef jerky), which were treated (24 h, 4 °C) with the following marinades before drying at 60 °C for 10 h: (1) control (C), (2) traditional marinade (TM), (3) modified marinade; double the amount of TM with added 1.2% sodium lactate, 9% acetic acid, and 68% soy sauce with 5% ethanol (MM), (4) dipping into 5% acetic acid and then TM (AATM), and (5) dipping into 1% Tween 20 and then into 5% acetic acid followed by the TM (TWTM). Dried meat slices were inoculated with acid-adapted or nonadapted L. monocytogenes (ca. 5.7 log CFU/cm2) prior to aerobic storage at 25 °C for 60 days. Survivors were determined using tryptic soy agar with 0.1% pyruvate (TSAP) and PALCAM agar. Results showed that surviving bacterial populations on TWTM, AATM, and MM treatments were significantly (P
LOWER LIMB RESPONSE AND INJURY IN FRONTAL CRASHES

This article examines two observational and two experimental data sets that emphasize lower limb injuries in passenger car crashes. Statistics show that 60% of moderate-to-severe below-knee injuries sustained by front seat occupants in head-on crashes occur with > 3 cm of footwell intrusion. Moreover, crash tests and computer simulations of car-to-car frontal offset collisions show no causal relationship between the magnitude of footwell intrusion and the axial load measured in the dummy leg. This article correlates below-knee injuries with several factors that influence their frequency and severity, such as the vehicle change in velocity, the magnitude of footwell intrusion, the rate and timing of the intrusion and the size of the vehicle. The vehicle change in velocity and the intrusion rate and timing had the greatest influence on the risk of lower limb injury, while the other factors had much less of an effect.
The Effect of Globalization on Wages in the Advanced Economies

This paper examines the effect of globalization on labor markets in the advanced economies, focusing particularly on the claim that increased economic integration has widened the gap between the wages of more skilled and less skilled workers. The broad consensus of research is that globalization, both in terms of increased trade as well as increased capital mobility and foreign direct investment, has had only a modest effect on wages. Instead, changes in technology have led to a pervasive shift in demand for labor that has favored skilled workers to the detriment of less skilled workers.
Cancer- and Cancer Treatment–Associated Cognitive Change: An Update on the State of the Science

Cognitive changes associated with cancer and cancer treatments have become an increasing concern. Using breast cancer as the prototype, we reviewed the research from neuropsychological, imaging, genetic, and animal studies that have examined pre- and post-treatment cognitive change. An impressive body of research supports the contention that a subgroup of patients is vulnerable to post-treatment cognitive problems. We also propose that models of aging may be a useful conceptual framework for guiding research in this area and suggest that a useful perspective may be viewing cognitive change in patients with cancer within the context of factors that influence the trajectory of normal aging.
Roux-en-Y reconstruction is superior to redo fundoplication in a subset of patients with failed antireflux surgery

Background A subset of patients requires reoperative antireflux surgery (Re-ARS) after failed fundoplication. The aim of this study was to determine symptomatic outcomes beyond 1 year following Re-ARS and to assess the relative utility of two different surgical approaches.
Proteome Changes Driven by Phosphorus Deficiency and Recovery in the Brown Tide-Forming Alga Aureococcus anophagefferens

Shotgun mass spectrometry was used to detect proteins in the harmful alga, Aureococcus anophagefferens, and monitor their relative abundance across nutrient replete (control), phosphate-deficient (−P) and −P refed with phosphate (P-refed) conditions. Spectral counting techniques identified differentially abundant proteins and demonstrated that under phosphate deficiency, A. anophagefferens increases proteins involved in both inorganic and organic phosphorus (P) scavenging, including a phosphate transporter, 5′-nucleotidase, and alkaline phosphatase. Additionally, an increase in abundance of a sulfolipid biosynthesis protein was detected in −P and P-refed conditions. Analysis of the polar membrane lipids showed that cellular concentrations of the sulfolipid sulphoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG) were nearly two-fold greater in the −P condition versus the control condition, while cellular phospholipids were approximately 8-fold less. Transcript and protein abundances were more tightly coupled for gene products involved in P metabolism compared to those involved in a range of other metabolic functions. Comparison of protein abundances between the −P and P-refed conditions identified differences in the timing of protein degradation and turnover. This suggests that culture studies examining nutrient starvation responses will be valuable in interpreting protein abundance patterns for cellular nutritional status and history in metaproteomic datasets.
Accidental firearm fatalities and injuries among recreational hunters

Injuries and fatalities from recreational hunting accidents have been studied much less than firearm accidents occurring in urban populations. The available data indicate that hunting accidents may account for a significant number of unintentional firearm accidents in areas outside commonly studied urban settings. Legislative efforts to control handgun availability can be expected to have little impact on hunting accident statistics. The development of automatic firearm safety devices, promotion of hunter safety programs, and greater participation by the medical community in preventive measures may impact the problem. Similar efforts have already been influential in reducing other forms of accidental injury through promotion of seat-belt use, local motorcycle helmet laws, use of infant car seats, and, most recently, regulations regarding all-terrain vehicles.
Interdigital twisted-nematic displays

A new field-effect liquid crystal display is reported. Display patterns are derived from arrays of grating-like electrodes on one plate of the display package. Since the opposed plate is not electroded, construction of the display is somewhat simplified compared to conventional twisted-nematic displays.
The nature of the suppressive effect of interferon and interferon inducers on the in vitro immune response.

Viral-induced interferon inhibition of the primary in vitro plaque-formong cell (PFC) response in the mouse (C57B1/6) involves a dynamic relationship between the nature of the antigen, the concentration of interferon added to antigen-stimulated cultures, and the time of addition of interferon relative to antigen addition. The PFC response to a thymus-dependent antigen (sheep red blood cells) was more easily suppressed by viral-induced interferon than was that to a thymus-independent antigen (E. coli 0127 LPS), both in terms of inhibitory concentrations of interferon and the time at which the interferon could be added to cultures after antigen and still inhibit the PFC response. These differential effects of interferon could be related to the difference in cellular requirements (B and T lymphocytes) of the two antigens. Interferon was effective in inhibiting the in vitro PFC response of antigen-primed spleen cells, indicating that it can block the response of memory lymphocytes. By using interferon inducers as inhibitors of the in vitro PFC response, it was possible to show that at least two antigenically distinct interferons may be involved in suppressing the immune response. It is known that one type of interferon is induced by virus and synthetic double-stranded polyribonucleotides. The other type is stimulated by antigen and T cell mitogens. A model is proposed to explain the nature of these interferon inhibitory effects in terms of mediation of immune suppressor cell effects.
An attachment tip and pili-like structures in insect- and plant-pathogenic spiroplasmas of the class Mollicutes

Ultrastructural studies using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), negative-staining transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thin-sectioning TEM on four species of Spiroplasma, in vitro and/or in vivo, indicated that their helices commonly possess one tapered end (tip structure) and one blunt or round end. These tip structures appeared morphologically different from the rest of the helix, exhibiting an electron-dense conical or rod-shaped core. In thin sections of the midgut of the leafhopper Dalbulus elimatus, the tip structures of Spiroplasma kunkelii in the midgut lumen were mostly aligned between microvilli, perpendicular to the apical plasma membrane of epithelial cells. These tip structures appeared frequently attached or closely apposed to the plasma membrane, in which cup-shaped invaginations close to the tips were observed. Pleomorphic forms of spiroplasma, enclosed in membranous vesicles, were found in the cytoplasm of the midgut epithelial cells. These findings suggest that the tip structure may be involved in the orientation and attachment of spiroplasma helices in relation to their host cells, and thus may be functionally comparable to the “attachment organelle” of mycoplasmas. Additionally, pili-like structures were observed by negative-staining TEM on the surface of Spiroplasma melliferum, and in thin sections of S. kunkelii infecting the leafhopper vector Dalbulus gelbus.
catena-Poly[{μ3-3,3′-[(1,7-dioxa-4,10-di­aza­cyclo­dodecane-4,10-di­yl)bis­(methyl­ene)]dibenzoato}cobalt(II)]

The title compound, [Co(C24H28N2O6)]n, crystallizes as infinite chains related to one another by inversion centers, giving a centrosymmetric coordination polymer. The CoII ion, situated on a twofold rotation axis, forms a complex with the crown-4 moiety of the 3,3′-[(1,7-dioxa-4,10-di­aza­cyclo­do­decane-4,10-di­yl)bis­(meth­ylene)]dibenzoate anion. The dis­torted octahedral coordination sphere of the CoII ion is completed by two carboxyl­ate O atoms from two bridging intra-chain ligands. Metallomacrocyclic rings of 16 atoms are present, with each ring containing two CoII ions and 14 atoms from the bridging ligands. These units repeat as infinite zigzag chains along [101].
A programmable analog frequency-locked loop for VCO characterization and test with 8 ppm resolution

This article presents a digitally controlled analog frequency-locked loop used for VCO characterization and test. The proposed scheme allows a frequency tuning better than 8 parts per million (ppm). The AFLL is implemented in 32nm CMOS technology and standard CMOS library cells are used for all the digital blocks. The AFLL comprises a 17-bit frequency counter running at 5GHz, a 1st order sigma-delta modulator used for dithering the correction signal, a charge-pump and capacitance used as integrator and a VCO. The frequency counter generates a count difference between the VCO clock and a reference clock. This difference is then pulse-density modulated and applied to a charge-pump feeding a capacitor that acts as an integrator. The generated output voltage is applied to the VCO tuning port and adjusts its oscillating frequency accordingly. An offset value added to the frequency difference allows the VCO to settle to a proportional frequency offset. Using this architecture, the VCO frequency can accurately be tuned digitally without having to change the frequency of a reference clock or sweeping its tuning voltage. Hence, the proposed AFLL can serve as a design-for-test (DFT) solution allowing characterization and testing of the VCO in an all-digital environment such as for digital automated test equipment (ATE).