cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hospitalization and Critical Care

Most persons take their good health, like life and liberty, for granted — assuming that it will always be there. They expect that a pain-free and physically unrestricted way of life will be theirs and that serious illness happens only to someone else. Consequently when a major illness comes, few persons are adequately prepared to deal with it. Serious physical illness is perceived as a threat to one’s very existence and always evokes feelings of fear, uncertainty and helplessness. While such feelings are expected, excessively intense emotions can delay recovery and worsen a patient’s physical status. By understanding the particular fears which an illness evokes and counteracting them by using modern principles of therapeutic intervention, you can promote healing and alleviate suffering. This chapter describes the fears commonly associated with serious illness, typical patient responses to these fears, and principles for therapeutic intervention.
Goals – Assumption – Interaction Steps (GAIS): A Practical Method to Determine a Quantitative Efficiency Benchmark for UX Interaction Design Concepts

One reason for the digitalization megatrend is to further increase the efficiency of digital value chains. The human-machine interaction is typically one of the slowest elements in this chain, and therefore on the critical efficiency path. An efficiency increase of the human-machine interaction can lead to an efficiency increase of the entire digital value chain. To determine the efficiency of a UX design concept, an efficiency benchmark is needed before a UX design concept is created. The paper introduces GAIS (Goal – Assumption – Interaction Steps), a cognitive task analysis method. The author developed the GAIS method for use in industrial projects and validated it in industrial projects. GAIS allows to determine an interaction efficiency benchmark for a given use case. The benchmark is measured in number of interaction steps per use case. An important step in the GAIS method is a systematic reduction of interaction steps by considering manual, semi-automated and automated interaction. An interaction designer can use the determined efficiency benchmark to make an interaction design concept more efficient. The paper describes how GAIS is applied, with several examples (GUI and VUI), and how it guides the interaction design process.
Whole-Genome Sequences of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius Isolates from Canine and Human Bacteremia Infections.

ABSTRACT Here, we report the complete and draft genome sequences of 8 Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolates, 4 from human bacteremia infections and 4 from canine bacteremia infections. This species is recognized primarily as an important canine pathogen, but it is increasingly being identified in human infections.
Measuring the Exposure of Parents and Children to Incarceration

Estimates suggest that millions of children in the USA have a parent incarcerated in prison or jail each year. Data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ periodic surveys of imprisoned individuals; cohort studies including the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) and the National Survey of Adolescent Health (AddHealth); and large cross-sectional surveys like the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) have all been used to estimate parents’ and children’s risk of exposure to various dimensions of the criminal justice system. This chapter summarizes key studies that have sought to quantify parental incarceration and children’s exposure to having a parent incarcerated. We discuss how different methods of data collection and analytical strategies influence the measurement of parents’ and children’s contact with the criminal justice system as well as estimates of the relationship between parental incarceration and child outcomes, and we offer recommendations for future research and practice.
Complementary and Integrative Therapies for Childhood Atopic Dermatitis.

Background: Childhood atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes significant psychological and financial costs to the individual and society. Treatment regimens may require long-term medication adherence and can be associated with poor patient satisfaction. There is considerable interest in complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) approaches for childhood atopic dermatitis. Objective: To assess the effects of CIM approaches on childhood atopic dermatitis outcomes as defined by randomized, controlled clinical trials. Methods: A PubMed review of CIM-related treatments for pediatric atopic dermatitis was performed, and data related to age, study population, efficacy, treatment regimen, length of treatment, and sample size were included. Results: The search yielded 20 trials related to probiotic/prebiotic treatments for atopic dermatitis, three on the effects of vitamins on children with atopic dermatitis, and two on the effects of Chinese herbal treatments for atopic dermatitis in children and adolescents. The strongest evidence was for supplementation with the probiotics L. fermentum and L. plantarum. Conclusions: Certain strains of probiotics, specifically L. plantarum and L. fermentum, may improve clinical severity scores in children with atopic dermatitis. However, additional trials are needed to more thoroughly delineate the effects of additional integrative therapies on childhood atopic dermatitis.
Improved Mortality in Necrotizing Pancreatitis with a Multidisciplinary Minimally Invasive Step-Up Approach: Comparison with a Modern Open Necrosectomy Cohort.

Background A minimally invasive step-up (MIS) approach has been associated with reduced morbidity compared with open surgical necrosectomy (OSN) for treatment of necrotizing pancreatitis. We sought to determine whether transitioning from an OSN to an MIS-based approach would result in reduced mortality. MIS interventions included percutaneous drainage, endoscopic transgastric necrosectomy, video-assisted retroperitoneal debridement, sinus tract endoscopic necrosectomy, or a combination of techniques, with selective use of OSN. Study Design We conducted an observational cohort study with retrospective comparison at a single tertiary referral center (2006 through 2019). Eighty-eight patients were treated with OSN and 91 were treated with an MIS-based approach. Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared between groups. The primary end point was 90-day mortality. Results There was no difference in baseline characteristics. Ninety-day mortality was 2% with MIS compared with 10% with OSN (p = 0.03). One-year mortality was 3% with MIS compared with 15% with OSN (p = 0.012). The rate of organ failure was lower with MIS (30% vs 45%; p = 0.029), but there was a higher bleeding rate (19% vs 9%; p = 0.064). In the MIS group, 9% were treated with percutaneous drainage, 32% with endoscopic transgastric necrosectomy, 8% with video-assisted retroperitoneal debridement, 15% with sinus tract endoscopic necrosectomy, and 27% with a combination of techniques. Conclusions Adoption of a multidisciplinary MIS-based approach to necrotizing pancreatitis resulted in a 5-fold decrease in mortality compared with OSN.
The Contribution of Stressful Marital Interactions to Loneliness and Health across Mid-life and Later Adulthood:

Although past research has noted longitudinal, and sometimes bi-directional, associations between marital interactions, loneliness, and physical health, previous work has not identified long-term associations and differential associations over life-course stages (i.e., mid-life and later adulthood). Utilizing a life-course stress process perspective and a sample of 250 couples in enduring marriages over 17 years (2001-2017), a structural equation model within a dyadic framework assessed the unique influences of stressful marital interactions on loneliness and physical health and the variation in bi-directional influences of loneliness and physical health over time. Marital interactions were relatively stable across life stages, yet marital interactions appear to influence loneliness and physical health. Notable distinctions were evident across life stages (from mid-life to later adulthood and then within later adulthood). Findings are discussed with an emphasis on the implications for health promotion and prevention programs targeting couples' quality of life in later years.
Varying responses to combined water-stress and herbivory in maize for spider mite species that differ in host specialization

Abstract Water-stress commonly affects crops grown in arid and semi-arid regions. Apart from the direct impact of this abiotic stress on yield, a diverse community of herbivores can outbreak under these conditions, and plant responses to abiotic stress may alter plant defense responses that deter herbivores. Outbreaks of both generalist and specialist spider mites are strongly associated with hot and dry conditions in the field settings. To understand how water-stress impacts maize responses to spider mites, we conducted parallel greenhouse and field experiments with maize plants (B73 inbred line) subjected to optimal irrigation and water-stress conditions (50-60% and 5-10% volumetric water content (VWC), and 25-32% and 10-15% VWC, in the greenhouse and field, respectively). In addition to recording B73 responses to water-stress alone, we measured the population growth of the generalist twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae, TSM) and the specialist Banks grass mite (Oligonychus pratensis, BGM) on optimally watered and water-stressed plants. We also measured plant defense protein activities (peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), chitinase (CHI) and trypsin inhibitor (TI)) at 1, 3, and 7 days post mite introduction for each irrigation treatment. For B73 plants exposed to water-stress, we observed increases in leaf temperature, leaf water potential, POD activity, as well as decreases in stomatal conductance and stem height. Populations of both mite species increased more rapidly on water-stressed B73 plants. While optimally irrigated B73 plants responded with similar plant defense activity to both mite species, combinations of plant water-stress and TSM herbivory resulted in increases in CHI and TI activity that were not observed for the respective treatments with BGM. Collectively, our results highlight a role for species-specific factors, possibly associated with herbivore host plant breadth, in impacting plant responses to herbivory in combination with an abiotic stress.
Comments on “Effect of the finite width of the temperature transition in diffusive condensation particle counters” by J. Fernandez de la Mora

In the above referenced article found in this same issue, the author makes use of Mathematica, a Wolfram computing package, to determine the coefficients Ak (x) and Bk (x) of the eigenfunctions as ...
Minoritising Gaza Refugees in Jordan

This chapter takes the situation of stateless Palestinians in Jordan as an occasion for rethinking the status of long-term refugees as minorities. My essay will challenge the tendency to treat refugees as an exceptional community within nation states. Instead, I suggest that non-national status among refugee communities in a protracted refugee situation can result in particular forms of minoritisation. Although I argue that the broader Palestinian population in Jordan constitutes a minority community, I show how the specific situation of the Gaza refugees as a stateless community reflects a dual minority status, that is, as Palestinians vis-a-vis Jordanians and as Gazans vis-a-vis Palestinians.
State-level differences in public vocational rehabilitation closures among transition-aged youth with traumatic brain injury

This study aimed to understand state-level variation in participation in the State/Federal Vocational Rehabilitation (State VR) System in the United States among transition-aged youth (persons under the age of 22 years at application for State VR services) with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Federal Fiscal Year 2016. A weighted least squares regression analysis was conducted to determine the relationship of state-level population size, unemployment rate, and per-capita income to the number of State VR closures in each state for transition-aged youth with TBI. Population size and per-capita income significantly predicted closures, while there was no relationship between closures and unemployment rate. Research is needed that further explores and explains state-level disparities in participation among transition-aged youth with TBI.
Does Consumption Respond More to Housing Wealth Than to Financial Market Wealth? If So, Why?

This paper uses long-run equilibrium relationship between consumption and different components of wealth to estimate the effect of changes in housing wealth and financial wealth on consumption. By exploiting this long-run property, it has been shown that a dollar increase in housing wealth increases consumption by seven cents, whereas, a corresponding dollar increase in financial wealth increases consumption by only three cents. This difference in the wealth effect arises because transitory shocks dominate variation in financial wealth, whereas permanent shocks account for most of the variation in housing wealth. This paper also shows that the relative importance of permanent component for housing wealth has witnessed an increase over the last thirty years. Therefore, housing wealth effect has also increased over time.
The Structure of General Lineons

In this chapter, it is assumed again that all linear spaces under consideration are finite-dimensional except when a statement to the contrary is made. However, they may be spaces over an arbitrary field F. If F is to be the field ℝ of real numbers or the field ℂ of complex numbers, it will be explicitly stated. We will make frequent use of the definitions and results of Sects.81 and 82, which remain valid for finite-dimensional spaces over F even if F is not ℝ.
McDermott multidimensional assessment of children: Paul A. McDermott and Marley W. Watkins. San Antonio: Psychological Corporation, 1985. Manual and Diskettes 1 through 9, complete package (100 classifications and 100 IEPs), $1,000.00. Apple IIe, IBM-PC.

Abstract The M-MAC system provides many notable services for those individuals who conduct psychoeducational evaluations. The somewhat critical tone of this review does not do total justice to McDermott and Watkins, who together have addressed many of the rhorny problems associated with effectively combining measurement concerns with assessment realities. The negative aspects of the program outlined in the above review will need to be weighed against the contributions the program may make toward intelligent assessment practices. Unfortunately, the M-MAC program may stimulate in many a feeling of technological pseudosophistication that exceeds the already lofty point upon which psychometrics have rested for decades. Although I personally want to commend the authors of M-MAC for their attention to details and careful program development, I also question whether our current assessment procedures and devices are sufficiently developed to warrant this much attention. Granted, if a system such as M-MAC will improve our classification and placement accuracy and lead to improved instruction and remediation, then the program truly will be a blessing. However, throughout the evaluation of the many components of this program I continually found myself asking, “Are McDermott and Watkins making a silk purse from a sow's ear?”
Enhanced modulation bandwidth in photon-lifetime-modulated strongly injection-locked semiconductor ring lasers

A novel method for modulation bandwidth enhancement is presented, involving strongly injection-locked whistle-geometry semiconductor ring laser modulated through photon lifetime. Advantages of photon-lifetime modulation over conventional injection-current modulation are confirmed through numerical modeling.
Hormonal induction and regulation of lactose synthetase in mouse mammary gland.

Abstract The augmentation of lactose synthetase activity during late pregnancy and lactation was measured by using both a tissue-culture assay and a cell-free assay. The results indicated at least a 100-fold augmentation in specific activity between late pregnancy and lactation. The cell-free assay indicated that the activities of both subunits of this enzyme had increased to 20–30% of the value during lactation by the last day of pregnancy. The tissue-culture assay, however, showed activities only 3–4% of the maximum at the time of parturition. This suggests that not all the enzyme present in the tissue before lactation commenced was active. Since at all stages of pregnancy and lactation the B subunit, α-lactalbumin (which is also a milk protein), was rate-limiting, it is suggested that the rate of lactose synthesis may be linked to the rate of milk-protein synthesis. Both subunits of lactose synthetase could be induced in tissue culture by the hormones insulin+hydrocortisone+prolactin. Of the three hormones, prolactin appeared to be the `trigger' that induced the synthesis of these proteins if the tissue had been stimulated previously by insulin+hydrocortisone.
Measured Amplitude Variations of the 19.8 kHz Field of NPM Near Its Antipode

Measurements of the field intensity of VLF transmissions from NPM at 19.8 kHz were made at four fixed ground sites located in Bechuanaland, Mrica, during July and August 1963. The sites were in the vicinity of the antipode of the transmitter in Hawaii. Each site employed both a vertical whip and a vertical, rotating loop antenna. The data indicate that a standing-wave interference pattern is present in the antipodal region most of the time. During local sunrise and sunset, such a pattern appears to be absent and the signal appears to be received primarily from one general direction. Oscillations of 1- to 2-hr periods in the diurnal amplitude data are explained as being due to interference of signals arriving from various directions, with phase changes associated with changes of the terminator position along the paths. The difference between east-to-west (E-W) and west-to-east (W-E) attenuation rates for the first waveguide mode is examined. A value of about 0.6 dBfMm is consistent with the observations.
All-purpose neutrino mass matrix

A four-parameter Majorana neutrino mass matrix is proposed, which is exactly diagonalizable with two mixing angles, one of which is $\ensuremath{\pi}/4$ and the other large but less than $\ensuremath{\pi}/4.$ The form of this mass matrix allows seven realizations of the present data on atmospheric and solar neutrino oscillations: three have the normal hierarchy, two have the inverse hierarchy, and two have three nearly degenerate masses. The possible inclusion of $\mathrm{CP}$ violation is also discussed.
Understanding the Need to Exist Here

There are unwritten rules for Black males in the American society in regards to expected behaviors that are contradictory to how other males in the majority of American society are expected to interact with others. These unwritten rules are a carry over from the days of slavery, Jim Crow, and the Civil Rights movement. Today, many are quick to point to the state of black progress in many areas of business, government, and education but the vast majority of black males are still not accepted in many of these privileged areas. The existence of a black male is perceived to be still too black and too strong for white America and threatens what white males perceive as benefits entitled to them. Even in today’s American society, black males must remember not to live as if color does not exist and should remember that white society expects them to be appreciative for whatever concessions are granted to them even though their work must equal or surpass the work of their white male counterparts. Black males who de...
Probiotic fortified diet reduces bacterial colonization and translocation in a long-term neonatal rabbit model.

Background: Probiotic fortified diet reduces bacterial colonization and translocation in a short-term neonatal rabbit model when continuously challenged with pathogen. The purpose of this study was to determine if live probiotic diet could remain effective at decreasing colonization/translocation of pathogens in a long-term neonatal rabbit model without ill effects of the probiotic outside the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Methods: Rabbit pups were born via cesarean delivery 1 day preterm and assigned to 2 diets: a newly formulated diet (controls) vs the same diet fortified with the live probiotic Lactoccocus lactis. Enterobacter cloacae was added to both preparations before each feed. Pups were gavage fed twice daily, and weights were recorded. Rabbits were sacrificed on day 7, and organs were harvested and cultured for target organism growth. Results: The probiotic fortified diet resulted in a significant decrease in Enterobacter translocation to the liver and decreased colonization in the stomach and lungs. There was no evidence of Lactococccus translocation or colonization outside of the GI tract. Conclusion: This probiotic fortified diet was effective at decreasing pathogenic bacteria colonization and translocation in a long-term neonatal model. The addition of L lactis to the diet resulted in appropriate growth without any colonization or translocation of the probiotic outside of the GI tract.
Pathological aspects of transcutaneous cardiac pacing

Although electrical energy has the potential to produce myocardial injury, the risk of tissue damage from transcutaneous cardiac pacing is largely unknown. This study reports the anatomical findings of a canine transcutaneous stimulation study. Ten dogs had 100-mA, 20-msec (pulse duration), transcutaneous impulses delivered across the thorax for 30 minutes at a rate of 80 stimuli per minute. Seventy-two hours later the animals were sacrificed, and the heart, lungs, and tissues of the chest wall were examined for pathological changes. Gross and microscopic lesions consistent with electrically induced myocardial damage were found in all hearts examined. These lesions included myocardial pallor and focal myofibril coagulation necrosis in the right ventricular outflow tract and perivascular microinfarcts in the posterior left ventricular myocardium. These lesions were not extensive; less than 5% of the right ventricular free wall and less than 1% of the left ventricular posterior wall were involved. Lesions of this extent would not be expected to cause clinically detectable changes in cardiovascular status. Short-term use of transcutaneous pacing appears to be safe. Determination of the potential for clinically significant injury with long-term use requires further study.
On the prediction of structural layout for maximum stiffness

A variational formulation is presented for the problem of predicting the optimal structural system from among a discrete set of possible designs. The development is written for maximum stiffness design of single-purpose structures. The distribution among admissible structural configurations of the prescribed loads is determined as part of the solution. An extremum problem interpretation also provides the basis for evaluating relative efficiencies among locally optimal structural systems.
Phonological/Traditional Approaches to Articulation Therapy

A retrospective design was used to compare the relative efficacy of traditional and phonological approaches in the treatment of children with multiple articulation disorders. Nineteen children rece...
Pathways of Technological Change: An Epidemiological Approach to Structural Unemployment in the U.S. Service Sector

While technological change benefits the U.S. service sector and the economy as a whole, the creation, design and production of innovations may favor highly-skilled over less-skilled workers. If skill-biased technical change creates more job vacancies for skilled, relative to less-skilled workers, less-skilled workers are at greater risk of becoming structurally unemployed. An epidemiological model is developed that describes the pathways to, and prevention of, structural unemployment (SU) of less-skilled workers. Less-skilled workers must protect themselves from being “infected” by the diffusion of skill-biased technical change in the service sector. They must choose to become “vaccinated” with “injections” of human capital to reduce the probability of contracting the “disease” of (SU) and to avoid permanently working in de-skilled jobs. By making lessskilled workers more productive, one can simultaneously improve the distribution of education and training, health and income inequality while providing the government more tax revenue.
Application of a Digital Multi-Input/Multi-Output Control Law with Command Path Blended Gains for the Pitch Axis Task-Tailored Air Combat Mode of the AFTI/F-16

Recent advances in flight control technology means that future multirole fighters will attain a much higher level of performance and weapon delivery effectiveness than is currently available in today's fighters. Specifically, digital flight control, as recently demonstrated by the AFTI/F-16 can now provide multiple task-tailored control modes, each of which, can out perform any single, multipurpose mode. Further, a digital implementation permits a greater degree of design flexibility, even within a single control law. This paper presents the AFTI/F-16 digital implementation. This design utilizes multiple pitch axis control surfaces and a task dependent self adjusting gain technique to provide both an excellent gross acquisition capability and an excellent fine tracking compatibility, simultaneously, within the same control law.
Overview of applications of optical measurements in microwave circuit and antenna array design

An overview of both photoconductive sampling and optoelectronic mapping measurements (developed at the University of Michigan by the Whitaker and Katehi group) and their benefit in expediting microwave circuit and array design is presented. In particular, photoconductively sampled time-domain waveforms of switched-mode nonlinear power amplifiers and X-band and high-efficiency multipliers at C-band will be discussed. The high-impedance optical sampling probe enables measurements of waveforms within a microwave circuit. This in turn enables us to validate designs of nontraditional nonlinear circuits, as well as to diagnose problems associated with improperly terminated harmonics, leading to new improved circuit designs. We also present near-field measurements using an electro-optic crystal probe. As an example, a 30 GHz (Ka-band) active amplifier antenna array power combiner is examined in detail. The effects of mutual coupling between array elements, and bias line influence on RF mutual coupling between elements are presented. An extensive list of references that contain more details of the overviewed material is also given.
Terrorism and Public Health: A Balanced Approach to Strengthening Systems and Protecting People

By Barry S. Levy and Victor W. Sidel, 2nd Edition, 2011, New York, Oxford University Press, 390 pp., including chapter notes, references and index, £40.00 (hardcover), ISBN 978-0-19-976554-6 The ti...
Detecting Insider Threats: Solutions and Trends

Insider threats pose significant challenges to any organization. Many solutions have been proposed in the past to detect insider threats. Unfortunately, given the complexity of the problem and the human factors involved, many solutions which have been proposed face strict constraints and limitations when it comes to the working environment. As a result, many past insider threat solutions have in practice failed in their implementations. In this work, we review some of the recent insider threat detection solutions and explore their benefits and limitations. We also discuss insider threat issues for emerging areas such as cloud computing, virtualization, and social networking.
Evaluation of Turbulence Models for Airflow and Heat Transfer Prediction in BIPV/T Systems Optimization

Abstract Airflow patterns and convective heat transfer mechanisms in unglazed transpired solar collectors (UTCs) integrated with Photovoltaic-Thermal systems are crucial to their performance. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations can be a valuable tool for the design and analysis of these hybrid building-integrated solar energy systems while recent advances in CFD approaches and turbulence models provide a great potential for improving prediction accuracy. This study performs 3-dimensional steady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) CFD simulations and evaluates the performance of five turbulence closure models, potentially suitable for modeling UTCs in terms of accuracy and computing cost. These models include four two-equation models (Standard k-ɛ, Renormalization Group Methods k-ɛ, Realizable k-ɛ and Shear Stress Transport k-ω) and one Reynolds Stress Model. A flat UTC under free stream approaching flow conditions and a corrugated UTC subjected to a plane wall jet flow were considered. The predicted air velocity, air temperature, and turbulent kinetic energy were compared against experimental data from the literature and those obtained using a specially designed full-scale experimental set-up in a solar simulator. The results show that although the Reynolds Stress Model can provide more detailed flow features at an increased computational cost compared to other models, it does not necessarily result in better performance. Among the two- equation models, the Renormalization Group Methods k-ɛ has the best overall performance for both cases studied while the Standard k- ɛ and Shear Stress Transport k-ω models can also provide acceptable prediction accuracy. A BIPV/T system with two PV panel arrangements across a UTC under the same coverage was investigated using the CFD models developed in the present study. It was found that BIPV/T systems integrated with UTCs can result in electrical efficiency up to 1.2% higher, for the cases considered.
Cross-Linked Organic Sacrificial Material for Air Gap Formation by Initiated Chemical Vapor Deposition

This work presents a detailed study of poly(neopentyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol diacrylate) [P(npMA-co-EGDA)] copolymer, which was selected for study from possible combination of 20 vinyl monomers and 4 divinyl crosslinkers as a candidate for sacrificial layer materials for the fabrication of air-gap structures. P(npMA-co-EGDA) was deposited onto substrates using an initiated chemical vapor deposition technique. Spectroscopic data showed the effective incorporation of both components in the copolymer and the retention of integrity of the repeating units. The onset temperature of decomposition of P(npMA-co-EGDA) and the removal percentage can be tuned between 290 and 350°C and 93 and 98%, respectively, by varying the composition of the copolymer. The removal rate of copolymer was calculated based on interferometry signal-time curve. For all copolymers, the activation energy was determined to be 162.7 ± 8 kJ mol -1 . The products of thermal decomposition were monomers, rearranged small molecules, and low oligomers. The modulus and the hardness were in the range of 3.9-5.5 and 0.38-0.75 GPa, respectively. Air-gap structures were constructed by patterning P(npMA-co-EGDA) with e-beam lithography, followed by capping with silica via plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition and thermal annealing at 360°C. The feature size of a 70 nm air-gap structure was fabricated.
Use of active and passive microwave remote sensing for soil moisture estimation through corn

Abstract Over the past several years NASA, USDA, and Princeton University have collaborated to conduct hydrology field experiments in instrumented research watersheds in Pennsylvania and Oklahoma with a goal of characterizing the spatial and temporal variability of soil moisture using microwave sensors. As part of these experiments, L-band radar data from both truck and aircraft sensors were used to validate the performance of a vegetation scattering model in which discrete scatter random media techniques were employed to calculate vegetation transmissivity and scattering. These parameters were then used in a soil moisture prediction algorithm based on a radiative transfer approach utilizing aircraft passive microwave data from the L-band PBMR and ESTAR radiometers. Soil moisture was predicted in both experiments for several large corn fields which represented the densest vegetation canopies of all the test fields. Over the 20 per cent change in soil moisture encountered in the experiments, the match of p...
Reforming Welfare Reform

The United States is currently engaged in a wide-scale social experiment: the dismantling of entitlement programs in the name of welfare reform. While behavior and cultural analysts have been only minimally involved in these efforts, there are many contributions that they might make that could potentially improve aggregate outcomes for everyone involved, including poor children, their parents, and the larger society. Both technical and social justice issues, all embedded in interlocking cultural contingencies, need to be included in an effective analysis. Many current experiments are grounded in rationales inconsistent with the science of behavior, and many are not being adequately evaluated. This paper outlines steps that behavior and cultural analysts could take that could contribute meaningfully to improved sociocultural outcomes.
Battery state of charge estimation in automotive applications using LPV techniques

One of the most difficult problems in battery pack management aboard a P/H/EV is the estimation of the state of charge (SoC). Many proposed solutions to this problem have appeared in the literature; in particular, model-based extended Kalman filter approaches have shown great promise. However, the computational burden of implementing an extended Kalman filter is significant. Moreover, some parameters needed to make the extended Kalman filter function correctly are difficult to estimate from measured data. This paper proposes an SoC estimator design using linear parameter varying (LPV) system techniques that provides a low computational alternative to the extended Kalman filter. The stability of this estimator can be verified analytically. The performance of the estimator in terms of convergence and tracking is verified experimentally on an isothermal dataset taken from a lithium ion battery cell.
Effect of air exposure on surface properties, electronic structure, and carrier relaxation in PbSe nanocrystals

Effects of air exposure on surface properties, electronic structure, and carrier relaxation dynamics in colloidal PbSe nanocrystals (NCs) were studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies. We show that exposure of NC hexane solutions to air under ambient conditions leads to rapid oxidation of NCs such that up to 50% of their volume is transformed into PbO, SeO2, or PbSeO3 within 24 h. The oxidation is a thermally activated process, spontaneous at room temperature. The oxidation-induced reduction in the size of the PbSe “core” increases quantum confinement, causing shifts of the PL band and the absorption onset to higher energies. The exposure of NC solutions to air also causes rapid (within minutes) quenching of PL intensity followed by slow (within hours) recovery during which the PL quantum yield can reach values exceeding those observed prior to the air exposure. The short-term PL quenching is ...
Predictive Method of Initial Shapes for Doubly Curved Ship Hull Plates by the Minimum Potential Energy Method

The purpose of this study is to design the initial shape of doubly curved hull surfaces. In this paper, the development method of the hull surfaces was suggested by minimizing potential energy between initial and final shapes. In order to do this, the values of strains and stresses were defined through finite element analysis and genetic algorithm was used to estimate the initial shape which is the state of minimum potential energy. Validity of the prediction method was verified by comparing the estimated contour lengths with those obtained by the commercial software for sheet metal forming. It was founded that the established prediction method using genetic algorithms would enable to determine the initial contour of the doubly curved surfaces with maximum deviation of 0.7%.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Pathogenetic role for calcium in stunning

Cellular calcium homeostasis is disturbed during brief periods of ischemia, with free cytosolic Ca ([Ca2+]i) rising severalfold within 10–15 minutes (or even sooner). Nevertheless, the myocardial cells’ ability to regulate Ca recovers quickly after reperfusion, unlike the lingering depression of contractile function known as stunning. This brief commentary considers the hypothesis that the rise in cell calcium during ischemia and during early reperfusion leaves behind stunning as an unwelcome legacy. This idea by no means excludes the involvement of other factors, such as free radicals; instead, it suggests a possible common pathway for cell injury by a variety of specific agents. A provocative feature of the formulation is the idea that the crucial lesion in stunning occurs at the level of the contractile proteins, rather than more proximally.
Factors effecting lightness partitioning

Three simultaneous equisection or partitioning experiments were conducted to further investigate the perception of lightness. Previous results derived a series of curves and a function relating the lightness of a uniform background with the perceived lightness of a stimulus. These results were specific to a CRT in a dark surround. This paper extends the previous results by testing three other factors. The first experiment varied the stimuli spacing, the second experiment varied the background uniformity and the third experiment tested the ambient illumination. The results show that the crispening effect and simultaneous contrast are reduced by either changing the stimuli spacing and the background uniformity. The result of changing the ambient illumination is consistent with the surround effect incorporated into various color appearance models.
Efficient evaluation of skyline queries in wireless data broadcast environments

Skyline is a popular query type which retrieves data objects that are not dominated by any other object with respect to multiple attributes. Skyline queries have broad applications; however, limited studies have been done on skyline in the broadcast data model. No study has been done on flexible skyline query evaluations in this model that can handle a combination of minimum and maximum attributes. In this paper, we propose the Tree-based Distributed Index (TDI) and the skyline algorithms that incorporate TDI to efficiently evaluate skyline in broadcast environments. Our extensive simulations show that the proposed algorithms can answer skyline queries in broadcast environments effectively and efficiently.
Nonlinear coupling in the NOx-SOx reactive organic system

Abstract A major scientific issue in debates about alternative proposals for reducing acid deposition over North America is whether there is a linear relationship between SO 2 emissions and sulfate deposition. The atmospheric SO 2 oxidation rate is one factor which determines deposition patterns. A key finding of this work is that future increases in ambient concentrations of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds resulting from increased emissions can be expected to have a significant impact on gas-phase sulfate production rates. In particular, control strategies designed to lower regional O 3 concentrations could increase sulfate production rates. The gas-phase chemistry model predicts that for fixed initial concentrations of NO x and VOC, lowering the initial SO 2 concentration always reduced by a nearly proportional amount the gas-phase SO 2− 4 produced during daylight hours. If aqueous-phase chemistry is considered, the potential acid production rate becomes a strong function of the anthropogenic organic emission rate. Thus, acid production and oxidant formation are closely coupled.
Effect of cimetidine on exogenous histamine inhibition of histamine release in vivo.

We previously reported that exogenous histamine inhibits in vivo histamine release and eosinophil accmulation in ragweed-challenged skin sites of sensitive human subjectes. The mechanism(s) involved were unclear. In this study, we repeated similar approaches in of the same subjects pretreated for 3 days with cimetidine, an H2 receptor antagonist. The pattern of exogenous histamine effects was now different in that local exogenous histamine (50 ug/ml) did not significantly alter ragweed-induced mast cell alteration, histamine release, or the degree of eosinophil accumulation in skin challenge sites. These findings suggest that the observed exogenous histamine inhibitory effects may be mediated through the H2 receptor.
Calculation of the ϱϱP triple-Regge vertex from two-body scattering data assuming duality and an f-coupled pomeron

Abstract The ϱϱ f triple-Regge vertex is calculated in terms of the ππ → ππ amplitude through inclusive finite-energy sum rules for ππ → π X. It is then related to the ϱϱ P vertex by assuming a generalized version of the f-coupled Pomeron hypothesis.
Central patterning of inspiratory activity in the neonatal period

Abstract We hypothesized that synchronization of neonatal inspiratory motoneurons is achieved by common inputs from one or more central pattern generators. Such inputs are manifested in neural discharges as medium-frequency (
Anhydrous Dithiocarbamates. Potential Precursors to Alkaline Earth Sulfide Materials

A series of anhydrous calcium dithiocarbamates, Ca(S2CNR2)2 (NR2 = NEt2, N(CHMe2)2, NBu2, N(CH2)4, N(H)CMe3, N(H)(CH2)3NMe2), and one strontium dithiocarbamate (Sr(S2CNBu2)2) were synthesized. All compounds were characterized by NMR, IR, and elemental analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis shows the dialkyldithiocarbamates to decompose around 350–400°C and the monoalkyl derivatives to decompose at a lower temperature, 100–150°C. Only the diisopropyl and the two monoalkyl derivatives decompose cleanly to CaS; all the other dialkyldithiocarbamates decompose to a highly carbonized product. The crystal structures of two dithiocarbamates, Ca(S2CN(CH2)4)2 ((CH2)4NH)2(3a) and Ca(S2CN(H)(CH2)3 NMe2)2 · H2O (7a), and a calcium thiocyanate byproduct Ca(NCS)2 (THF)4 (8a) were determined. Crystal data: 3a; Pccn, a = 15.O74(5), b = 11.924(4), c = 13.662(5), d(calc) = 1.284, Z = 4, 2845 unique data, R = 0.107; 7a, P2,2,2, a = 10.471(4), b = 15.065(6), c = 18.736(11), d(calc) = 1.252, Z = 4, 2291 unique data, R = 0.062; 8...
Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy and First-Principle Investigations on the Oxidation Mechanism of Hypophosphite Anion in the Electroless Deposition System of Nickel

In this work, the oxidation mechanism of hypophosphite anion ( H2PO2- ) in acidic and alkaline media in the presence of Ni(II) specie was investigated by using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and density functional theory (DFT). In EIS, three major electrochemical processes in the electroless deposition process were found, when the solution pH ranged from 5.5 to 9.5. To understand the microscopic mechanisms involved, all participate species in the reaction pathways were calculated by the DFT method along with a natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. Two emulating reactions were demonstrated: Path (I) passes through a primary dehydrogenation (D-RP), and Path (II) includes a primary addition of OH- (A-RP) on the hypophosphite anion. By comparison of the energy levels of all species, it can be concluded that Path (II) is energetically favorable under both acidic and alkaline conditions. The DFT and NBO analysis can provide strong evidence for the loops detected in the EIS, especially especially f...
Complementary recessive 25-hydroxycholesterol-resistant somatic cell mutants – assay of 25-hydroxycholesterol binding activity

Complementation analysis of recessive 25-hydroxycholesterol-resistant mutants of the CHO-KI cell shows the existence of at least two complementation groups, one of which is missing a binding activity for 25-hydroxycholesterol. Both complementation groups are shown to be refractory to inhibition of cellular HMG-CoA reductase activity and in the inhibition of biosynthesis of this enzyme by 25-hydroxycholesterol.
Calcineurin inhibitors and immunosuppression - a tale of two isoforms.

Organ transplantation is the state of the art for treating end-stage organ failure. Over 25 000 organ transplants are performed in the USA each year. Survival rates following transplantation are now approaching 90% for 1 year and 75% for 5 years. Central to this success was the introduction of drugs that suppress the immune system and prevent rejection. The most commonly used class of immunosuppressing drugs are calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs). Calcineurin is a ubiquitous enzyme that is important for T-cell function. With more people taking CNIs for longer and longer periods of time the consequences of calcineurin inhibition on other organ systems – particularly the kidney – have become a growing concern. Virtually all people who take a CNI will develop some degree of kidney toxicity and up to 10% will progress to kidney failure. In the past 15 years, research into calcineurin action has identified distinct actions of the two main isoforms of the catalytic subunit of the enzyme. The α-isoform is required for kidney function whereas the β-isoform has a predominant role in the immune system. This review will discuss the current state of knowledge about calcineurin isoforms and how these new insights may reshape post-transplant immunosuppression.
Unilateral retinoblastoma in an eye with Peters anomaly.

Retinoblastoma and Peters anomaly are presumably unrelated ocular conditions, although other congenital ocular anomalies have been described in association with retinoblastoma. We report the case of a neonate who presented with unilateral retinoblastoma and Peters anomaly. Retinoblastoma arises from a deregulation of cellular events secondary to inactivation of both RB1 gene alleles, whereas Peters anomaly has been linked to eye-development genes and chromosomal anomalies. A second locus for retinoblastoma, RBL2 , which encodes the p130 protein, has been shown to contribute to retinoblastoma oncogenesis. Coincidentally, p130 also plays a role in corneal cell differentiation. Although the association of retinoblastoma and Peters anomaly in this patient may be coincidental, it raises the question of whether the RBL2 mutation contributed to both conditions.
Sweeping, alignment and the analysis of unbalanced data

The terms sweeping and alignment refer to the same process. Sweeping/alignment is used by data analysts as a technique for describing the effects of a model factor (e.g., treatments in a randomized block design) after the effects of nuisance parameters (e.g., blocks) have been removed from the data. In this paper sweeping/alignment is used as the basis for developing tests of factors in unbalanced experimental design models. Formulas are presented for treatment effects in randomized block designs with missing observations, and for interaction and main effects in unbalanced two-way factorial designs with empty cells.