cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrodeposited Epitaxial Cu(100) on Si(100) and Lift-Off of Single Crystal-like Cu(100) Foils

A two-step potential electrodeposition technique is described which gives epitaxial films of Cu(100) on n-Si(100). Nucleation of epitaxial seeds occurs at -1.5 VAg/AgCl, whereas the film is grown at -0.5 VAg/AgCl. Cu deposition occurs with a Faradaic efficiency of 82.0% as determined spectrophotometrically. Epitaxy is achieved through a 45° in-plane rotation of Cu with respect to Si, which is shown by X-ray analysis. The 45° rotation reduces the lattice mismatch from -33.43% for an unrotated film to -5.86% for a 45° rotated film. Mosaicity, as determined via X-ray rocking curves, decreases with increasing thickness, going from a full width at half maximum of 3.99° for a 30 nm thick film to 1.67° for a 160 nm thick film. This translates to an increasing quality of epitaxy with increasing thickness. High resolution transmission electron microscopy imaging shows an amorphous SiO x interlayer between Cu and Si. Etching of SiO x with 5% HF allows epitaxial lift-off of the copper film, giving single crystal-like Cu(100) foils. Cu(100) films and single crystal-like foils have potential to be used as catalysts for CO2 reduction, substrates for technologically important materials like spintronic multilayer magnetic stacks and high temperature superconductors, and as active surfaces toward galvanic replacement by platinum group elements. Additionally, the foils could be used as single crystal-like substrates for flexible electronics.
A review of the processes, parameters, and optimization of anaerobic digestion

Anaerobic digestion is a technology that has been used by humans for centuries. Anaerobic digestion is considered to be a useful tool that can generate renewable energy and significant research interest has arisen recently. The underlying theory of anaerobic digestion has been established for decades; however, a great deal of current research is directed towards the optimization of anaerobic digestion under diverse digestion conditions. This review provides a summary of the processes underlying anaerobic digestion, commonly-utilized measurements of anaerobic sludge, operating parameters of anaerobic digesters, and methods of acceleration and optimization used to improve process efficiency. Recent developments in addition to older research are considered to provide a general but comprehensive summary of accumulated knowledge in the theory of anaerobic digestion, as well as considerations in the efficient operation of digesters. We have determined that the numerous factors pertinent to the design and operation of batch-based anaerobic digesters must each be considered to ensure the maximum efficiency and cost-effectiveness of a digester provided its respective operating conditions.
GaAsBi Devices for Thermal Energy Conversion

Small band gap thermophotovoltaics can be engineered to match the thermal spectrum of many heat sources. III-V-Bismides offer new band gap combinations at the InP lattice constant. Through simulation, we explore homojunction and heterojunction GaAs0.76Bi0.24devices, with a band gap of 0.25eV, tuned for a 1350K source. Homojunction devices, simulated with the Silvaco-Atlas software package, demonstrate high short-circuit current but also high dark current density. Heterojunction structures using In0.53Ga0.47As do not demonstrate as significant gains in short-circuit current, but greatly reduce dark current. This leads to increases in open-circuit voltage, fill factor, and efficiency.
Statement of Commissioner Gail Heriot in the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights’ Report on Targeted Fines and Fees Against Communities of Color: Civil Rights and Constitutional Implications

In September of 2017, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights issued a report entitled, Targeted Fines and Fees. This Statement was part of that report. It supports some aspects of the report and critiques others. In particular, it agrees with the report that some cities and towns derive a substantial portion of their revenues from fines and fees rather than taxes and that this can be a formula for mischief, especially when those paying the fines and fees tend to be non-voters. The rural town with a speed trap designed to ensnare out-of-state drivers is the classic example of this, but there are other examples of cities and towns that have developed a “culture of revenue maximization” rather than a culture of just and fair law enforcement. Heriot also states that evidence that the cities and towns that engage in these practices are motivated by race is lacking.
Progressive Headaches and Right Eye Proptosis

Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis is a distinct subtype of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis The diagnosis of allergic fungal rhinosinusitis has five major criteria: (1) type I hypersensitivity to fungus, (2) eosinophilic mucin in one or more sinus cavities without invasion, (3) characteristic CT scan findings, (4) nasal polyposis, and (5) positive fungal stain Epidemiologically, the majority of patients with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis reside in the southeastern United States Treatment options include a combination of endoscopic sinus surgery, systemic and topical glucocorticoids, and immunotherapy to fungal and non-fungal allergens. Preliminary studies support the use of omalizumab
Region-based image registration for remote sensing imagery

Abstract We propose an automatic region-based registration method for remote sensing imagery. In this method, we aim to register two images by matching region properties to address possible errors caused by local feature estimators. We apply automated image segmentation to identify the regions and calculate regional Fourier descriptors and standardized regional intensity descriptors for each region. We define a joint matching cost, as a linear combination of Euclidean distances, to establish and extract correspondences between regions. The segmentation technique utilizes kernel density estimators for edge localization, followed by morphological reconstruction and the watershed transform. We evaluated the registration performance of our method on synthetic and real datasets. We measured the registration accuracy by calculating the root-mean-squared error (RMSE) between the estimated transformation and the ground truth transformation. The results obtained using the joint intensity-Fourier descriptor were compared to the results obtained using Harris, Minimum eigenvalue, Features accelerated segment test (FAST), speeded-up robust features (SURF), binary robust invariant scalable keypoints (BRISK) and KAZE keypoint descriptors. The joint intensity-Fourier descriptor yielded average RMSE of 0 . 446 ± 0 . 359 pixels and 1 . 152 ± 0 . 488 pixels on two satellite imagery datasets consisting of 35 image pairs in total. These results indicate the capacity of the proposed technique for high accuracy. Our method also produces a lower registration error than the compared feature-based methods.
Underrepresented Groups Threats to Belonging in Computing

Increasing the number of students exposed to computer science (CS) may not increase throughput in the pipeline if barriers to retention are not addressed. One major barrier is student’s perception of belonging. To begin creating theoretical grounds for a common discourse to successfully matriculating underrepresented students, and retaining them in the field, threats to their belonging (barriers to retention) and how a survey of literature suggest they impact CS are presented.
Capacity to consent to research participation in adults with metastatic cancer: comparisons of brain metastasis, non-CNS metastasis, and healthy controls

Background To evaluate the ability of individuals with metastatic cancer to provide informed consent to research participation, we used a structured vignette-based interview to measure 4 consenting standards across 3 participant groups. Methods Participants included 61 individuals diagnosed with brain metastasis, 41 individuals diagnosed with non-CNS metastasis, and 17 cognitively intact healthy controls. All groups were evaluated using the Capacity to Consent to Research Instrument (CCRI), a performance-based measure of research consent capacity. The ability to provide informed consent to participate in research was evaluated across 4 consent standards: expressing choice, appreciation, reasoning, and understanding. Capacity performance ratings (intact, mild/moderate impairment, severe impairment) were identified based on control group performance. Results Results revealed that the brain metastasis group performed significantly lower than healthy controls on the consent standard of understanding, while both metastatic cancer groups performed below controls on the consent standard of reasoning. Both metastatic cancer groups performed similar to controls on the standards of appreciation and expressing choice. Approximately 60% of the brain metastasis group, 54% of the non-CNS metastasis group, and 18% of healthy controls showed impaired research consent capacity. Conclusions Our findings, using a performance-based assessment, are consistent with other research indicating that the research consent process may be overly cumbersome and confusing. This, in turn, may lead to research consent impairment not only in patient groups but also in some healthy adults with intact cognitive ability.
Would patients benefit from a decision aid for surgical decision making for rectal cancer? A qualitative analysis.

e19139Background: Rectal cancer surgery drastically changes the lives of patients. Decision aids available to guide patients on this decision are limited and of poor quality. We aimed to identify t...
Redistribution of inhibitory force feedback between a long toe flexor and the major ankle extensor muscles following spinal cord injury.

Inhibitory pathways from Golgi tendon organs project widely between muscles crossing different joints and axes of rotation. Evidence suggests that the strength and distribution of this intermuscular inhibition is dependent on motor task and corresponding signals from the brainstem. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether this sensory network is altered after spinal cord hemisection as a potential explanation for motor deficits observed after spinal cord injury (SCI). Force feedback was assessed between the long toe flexor and ankle plantarflexor (flexor hallucis longus), and the three major ankle extensors, (combined gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris muscles) in the hind limbs of unanesthetized, decerebrate, female cats. Data were collected from animals with intact spinal cords (control) and lateral spinal hemisections (LSHs) including chronic LSH (4-20 weeks), subchronic LSH (2 weeks), and acute LSH. Muscles were stretched individually and in pairwise combinations to measure intermuscular feedback between the toe flexor and each of the ankle extensors. In control animals, three patterns were observed (balanced inhibition between toe flexor and ankle extensors, stronger inhibition from toe flexor to ankle extensor, and vice versa). Following spinal hemisection, only strong inhibition from toe flexors onto ankle extensors was observed independent of survival time. The results suggest immediate and permanent reorganization of force feedback in the injured spinal cord. The altered strength and distribution of force feedback after SCI may be an important future target for rehabilitation.
Electrode impedance: an indicator of electrode-tissue contact and lesion dimensions during linear ablation.

Pre-ablation impedance was evaluated for its ability to detect electrode-tissue contact and allow creation of long uniform linear lesions with a multi-electrode ablation catheter. The study consisted of 2 parts, both of which used the in vivo pig thigh muscle model. In part 1, a 7 Fr. multi-electrode catheter was held in 3 electrode-tissue contact conditions: (1) non-contact; (2) light contact with a 30[emsp4 ]g downward force; and (3) tight contact with a 90[emsp4 ]g downward force. Impedances were measured in unipolar, modified unipolar and bipolar configurations using a source with frequencies from 100[emsp4 ]Hz to 500[emsp4 ]kHz. Compared with non-contact, the impedance increased 35±22±% with 30[emsp4 ]g contact pressure and 68±40±% when the contact pressure was increased to 90[emsp4 ]g across the range of frequencies studied. In part 2, the same catheter was held against the tissue with different forces. Pre-ablation impedance was measured using a 10[emsp4 ]kHz current. Phased radiofrequency energy was applied to the 5 electrodes simultaneously using 10[emsp4 ]W power at each electrode for 120[emsp4 ]s. A total of 32 linear lesions were created. The lesion dimensions correlated with pre-ablation impedance. A unipolar impedance ≥190[emsp4 ]Ω indicates 95±% possibility to create a uniform linear lesion of at least 3[emsp4 ]mm depth with our ablation system. We conclude that pre-ablation impedance may be a useful indicator for predicting electrode-tissue contact and the ability to create a continuous and transmural linear lesion with a multi-electrode catheter.
Pore-Scale Study of Oil Recovery by Gas and Foam in a Fractured Carbonate Rock at Different Gas–Oil Interfacial Tension

This work studies oil displacement by gas and foam in a fractured low-permeability oil-wet carbonate rock. In the three experiments conducted, gas is a methane–ethane mixture whose ethane mole frac...
Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs) and The Immunoinflammatory Response To Injury (Mini Review)

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogenous population of immature myeloid cells hallmarked by their potent immunosuppressive function in a vast array of pathologic conditions. MDSCs have recently been shown to exhibit marked expansion in acute inflammatory states including traumatic injury, burn, and sepsis. Although MDSCs have been well characterized in cancer, there are significant gaps in our knowledge of their functionality in trauma and sepsis, and their clinical significance remains unclear. It is suggested that MDSCs serve an important role in quelling profound inflammatory responses in the acute setting; however, MDSC accumulation may also predispose patients to developing persistent immune dysregulation with increased risk for nosocomial infections, sepsis and multiorgan failure (MOF). Whether MDSCs may serve as the target for novel therapeutics or an important biomarker in trauma and sepsis is yet to be determined. In this review, we will discuss the current understanding of MDSCs within the context of specific traumatic injury types and sepsis. In order to improve delineation of their functional role, we propose a systemic approach to MDSC analysis including phenotypic standardization, longitudinal analysis and expansion of clinical research.
Changes in Pediatric Sports Injury Presentation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter Analysis

Background:The current coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has prompted a multitude of public health response measures including social distancing, school cancellations, and cessation of organized...
A genetically encoded, pH-sensitive mTFP1 biosensor for probing lysosomal pH

ABSTRACT Lysosomes are important sites for macromolecular degradation, defined by an acidic lumenal pH of ∼4.5. To better understand lysosomal pH, we designed a novel, genetically encoded, fluorescent protein (FP) based pH biosensor called FIRE-pHLy (Fluorescence Indicator REporting pH in Lysosomes). This biosensor was targeted to lysosomes with lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) and reported lumenal pH between 3.5 and 6.0 with monomeric teal fluorescent protein 1 (mTFP1), a bright cyan pH sensitive FP variant with a pKa of 4.3. Ratiometric quantification was enabled with cytosolically oriented mCherry using high-content quantitative imaging. We expressed FIRE-pHLy in several cellular models and quantified the alkalinizing response to bafilomycin A1, a specific V-ATPase inhibitor. In summary, we have engineered FIRE-pHLy, a specific, robust and versatile lysosomal pH biosensor that has broad applications for investigating pH dynamics in aging and lysosome-related diseases, as well as in lysosome-based drug discovery.
Zooming into the Lab: Perspectives on Maintaining Undergraduate Biological Research through Computationally Adapted Remote Learning in Times of Crisis

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many academic institutions attempted to limit viral spread throughout their communities by suspending face-to-face student instruction. The rapid transition from in-person to remote learning dramatically altered student-instructor interactions and ushered in a new set of educational challenges. Despite recent publications by experienced researchers that address the impacts of remote instruction on undergraduate research at a holistic level, we currently lack evidence for successful implementation of best practices in a remote research environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, to enhance remote scientific experiences and improve the skills of young biologists facing uncertain challenges in their future academic careers, we make nine recommendations for best practices in maintaining quality undergraduate research experiences, especially for computationally adapted projects, during online learning periods in times of crisis. Based on our experience participating in an undergraduate Stanford Summer Research Program that was conducted entirely remotely during the summer of 2020, we describe nine recommendations for best practices that institutions, faculty mentors, and undergraduate mentees can execute to maintain a high quality of biological research. Further elucidating the ways in which distance learning can be improved at the undergraduate research level will offer insights into making the most out of remote biological research in the months and years ahead.
A framework for data-driven solution and parameter estimation of PDEs using conditional generative adversarial networks.

This work is the first to employ and adapt the image-to-image translation concept based on conditional generative adversarial networks (cGAN) towards learning a forward and an inverse solution operator of partial differential equations (PDEs). Even though the proposed framework could be applied as a surrogate model for the solution of any PDEs, here we focus on steady-state solutions of coupled hydro-mechanical processes in heterogeneous porous media. Strongly heterogeneous material properties, which translate to the heterogeneity of coefficients of the PDEs and discontinuous features in the solutions, require specialized techniques for the forward and inverse solution of these problems. Additionally, parametrization of the spatially heterogeneous coefficients is excessively difficult by using standard reduced order modeling techniques. In this work, we overcome these challenges by employing the image-to-image translation concept to learn the forward and inverse solution operators and utilize a U-Net generator and a patch-based discriminator. Our results show that the proposed data-driven reduced order model has competitive predictive performance capabilities in accuracy and computational efficiency as well as training time requirements compared to state-of-the-art data-driven methods for both forward and inverse problems.
Effect of aprepitant on kynurenine to tryptophan ratio in cART treated and cART naïve adults living with HIV.

ABSTRACT Changes in tryptophan metabolism affect human physiology including the immune system, mood, and sleep and are associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pathogenesis. This study investigates whether the treatment of HIV-infected individuals with the neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist, aprepitant, alters tryptophan metabolism.This study utilized archival samples from 3 phase 1B clinical trials "Anti-HIV Neuroimmunomodulatory Therapy with Neurokinin-1 Antagonist Aprepitant"-2 double-blinded, placebo-controlled, and 1 open-label study. We tested samples from a total of 57 individuals: 26 combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) naive individuals receiving aprepitant, 19 cART naive individuals receiving placebo, and 12 individuals on a ritonavir-containing cART regimen receiving aprepitant. We evaluated the effect of aprepitant on tryptophan metabolism by measuring levels of kynurenine and tryptophan in archival plasma samples and calculating the kynurenine to tryptophan ratio.Aprepitant treatment affected tryptophan metabolism in both cART treated and cART naive individuals with more profound effects in patients receiving cART. While aprepitant treatment affected tryptophan metabolism in all HIV-infected patients, it only significantly decreased kynurenine to tryptophan ratio in cART treated individuals. Aprepitant treatment offers an opportunity to target inflammation and mood disorders frequently co-existing in chronic HIV infection.
Securities Regulation in State Courts - Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed ....

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA)(1995) creates a gauntlet that plaintiff investors must run in order to prosecute a securities law class action. The Securities Litgation Uniform Standards Act of 1998 makes securities class actions filed in state courts removable to federal court where the restrictive provisions of the PSLRA will apply. My article explores what is left in state court, with particular emphasis on three legal theories: (1) common law and constructive fraud (2) aiding and abetting breaches of fiduciary duty; and (3) the fiduciary duty of disclosure (candor). The article is the third in a series. The earlier pieces are Douglas M. Branson, Running the Gauntlet: A description of the Arduous, and Now Often fatal, Journey for Plaintiffs in Federal Securities Law Actions, 65 U. Cinn. L. Rev. 3 (1996), and Douglas M. Branson, Chasing the Rogue Profession After the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, 50 SMU L. Rev. 91 (1996).
Formation of nitrite and nitrate by actinomycetes and fungi.

Hirsch, P. (Cornell University, Ithaca, New York), L. Overrein, and M. Alexander. Formation of nitrite and nitrate by actinomycetes and fungi. J. Bacteriol. 82:442–448. 1961.—Nitrite was produced by strains of Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Streptomyces, Micromonospora, and Streptosporangium in media containing ammonium phosphate as the sole nitrogen source. The quantity of nitrite formed was small, and the concentration was affected by pH and by the relative levels of carbon and nitrogen. Aspergillus flavus produced little nitrite from ammonium but formed in excess of 100 parts per million of nitrate-nitrogen. Peroxidase activity and heterotrophic nitrification were reduced in acid conditions, but mycelial development of the fungus was not markedly affected. The inability of A. flavus to form nitrate and nitrite at low pH appears to result from a selective effect of pH upon nitrification rather than being a consequence of the decomposition of nitrogenous intermediates.
Rewarding growth or profit

Abstract Japanese multinational enterprises (MNEs) have been popularly characterized as pursuing competitive strategies emphasizing long-term performance, especially growth in sales and market share, rather than shorter term profit performance. Though prior research has emphasized the importance of linking compensation to organizational goals and performance, the relationship between performance and compensation of Japanese executives has received limited empirical attention. This paper provides a preliminary examination of how Japanese top management teams in the 106 largest industrial MNEs were compensated, particularly for performance on sales growth and profitability criteria, over the 1976–1993 time period. The relationships revealed between organizational performance and the bonus compensation of top management teams suggest that the emphasis of Japanese industrial MNEs regarding sales growth versus profitability may not be as simple as suggested by prior studies and popular characterizations.
War, peace, & principled action: A study of veterans and the peace movement

i Acknowledgements iii List Of Figures viii Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Purpose 1 Study’s Significance 3 Research Questions 4 Historical Background 5 Chapter 2: Literature Review And Theoretical Framework 13 Definitions 13 Symbolic Interactionism 14 Role Theory 15 Identity Theory 17 Identity Organization 19 Salience / Prominence 19 Role Mastery: Learning A New Role 23 Meadian Concept Of Role 24 Role As Resource 25 v Differentiated Model & Role Mastery 28 Social Identity Theory 30 Salience 33 Social Movement Theory 34 Theoretical Approaches 34 Identity Construction 36 Activist Narratives 37 Military Socialization 38 Integrating The Literature 42 Chapter 3: Methods 47 Project Design 47 Interviews 48 Interview Tool 49 Confidentiality 49 Potential For Bias 50 Data Collection 50 Data Analysis 52 Chapter 4: Findings 54 General Findings 55
Rehabilitation of Patients with Rheumatic Diseases

Rehabilitation of patients with rheumatic diseases addresses activity limitation and mobility as primary factors. It utilizes all healing disciplines and technologies with an emphasis on preservation and restoration of function. Medical, surgical, psychological, and physical treatments are utilized, with the rheumatologist as leader and coordinator of the interdisciplinary team. This program can provide functional success even if control of the disease process is suboptimal.
Methods of determining rate constants in single-substrate–single-product enzyme reactions. Use of induced transport: limitations of product inhibition

1. The calculation of the rate constants from steady-state kinetics of a single-substrate–single-product enzyme reaction in which there is an isomerization of the enzyme is described. 2. It is shown that even with the use of isotopically labelled substrates a set of solutions for the constants is obtained rather than a unique solution. However, limits are derived within which they must lie. 3. The most appropriate observations to determine the rate constants are measurements of Vmax. and Km for both substrate and product, and measurement of the degree of countertransport in an induced-transport test. 4. Experimental procedures for induced-transport tests and the quantitative interpretation of the results obtained are discussed. 5. Product inhibition is shown to be an ambiguous and imprecise means of determining the rate constants. Further, the absence of a [substrate]×[product] term in the denominator of the steady-state rate equation does not necessarily mean that the isomerization of the enzyme is rapid, since the term also disappears when the isomerization is very slow. 6. Similar considerations apply to carrier mechanisms.
Thermal saturation of band transport in a superlattice.

Thermal saturation of band transport in a GaAs/AlGaAs superlattice miniband is observed for the first time. The Drude conductivity of the miniband is measured as a function of temperature. As the temperature is raised so that ${\mathit{k}}_{\mathit{B}}$T is significantly larger than the miniband width the conductivity is strongly quenched. Excellent quantitative agreement is obtained when these results are compared with a semiclassical Boltzmann theory of transport in a narrow band.
The genus Physopella (Uredinales) replaces Angiopsora.

(1958). The Genus Physopella (Uredinales) Replaces Angiopsora. Mycologia: Vol. 50, No. 5, pp. 741-744.
A Proof of the Cayley-Hamilton Theorem

(2009). A Proof of the Cayley-Hamilton Theorem. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 116, No. 5, pp. 456-457.
Neonatal tracheostomy over a rigid bronchoscope

The placement of a tracheostomy tube in the neonatal patient poses special technical challenges to the surgeon. A direct laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy are often part of the airway evaluation and frequently precede a tracheostomy. Leaving a rigid bronchoscope in place in the tracheal lumen for the tracheostomy is a variation on the standard technique in which reintubating the patient generally follows endoscopy. This report discusses the technique of performing a tracheostomy over a rigid bronchoscope, as well as the advantages conferred by this technique.
Abnormalities of the Corpus Callosum in autism subtype

Brain imaging studies of the Corpus Callosum (CC) in autism have yielded inconsistent results. This paper explores the CC abnormalities in autism. The CC is segmented from 2D MRIs using our newly developed semiautomatic method, and a subsequent contour stitching is performed to create the 3D surface of the CC. After alignment, differences between autistic patients and the control group are computed using Hotelling T2 two-sample metric, which results in a raw significance map. Permutation test is performed to generate a corrected significance map. The statistical results reveal significant difference between patients and controls in the body of the CC.
Polymorphisms in immune mediators associate with risk of cervical cancer

Objective The immune system is critical for controlling the progression of HPV cervical disease and the development of cancer. This study aimed to identify cervical cancer susceptibility alleles in candidate immune-modulating genes.
Near-surface circulation in the Tropical Atlantic Ocean

A recent data set of surface drifter observations in the tropical Atlantic Ocean is analyzed with a methodology that groups the observations into bins and, within each bin, simultaneously decomposed them into a time-mean, annual and semiannual harmonics, and an eddy residual with non-zero integral time scale. Features of the time-mean circulation and its seasonal variations are resolved at unprecedented scales, for both total and Ekman-removed velocities. The drifter observations reveal the branches of the South Equatorial Current (SEC) which merge with the North Brazil Current (NBC), correlated annual fluctuations in the strengths of the NBC retroflection, western North Equatorial Countercurrent (NECC) and SEC, and flow along the Guyana Coast, and strong semiannual variations in the equatorial band of the central basin. Conduits are traced which link seasonal variations of the equatorial current system's strength with the northern and southern hemisphere subtropical gyres. These findings update key results of the two decade old SEQUAL/FOCAL programs, and allow generation of a new monthly climatology of near-surface currents in the tropical Atlantic Ocean.
A Compact Pressure-Insulated Electrostatic X-Ray Generator

A compact, pressure-insulated, electrostatic x-ray generator has been developed for scientific and medical purposes. A major object of the work was the investigation, with a small and thus flexible machine, of the principles and design factors involved in pressure-insulated electrostatic generators with a view to the subsequent development of higher voltages in compact apparatus. The generator is housed in a steel tank 34 in. in diameter and 100 in. high. At air pressures of 11 atmospheres absolute, 1250-kv x-rays are obtained with target currents of over one milliampere supplied by the single 14-in. belt. With Freon gas the same voltages and currents can be obtained at one-third the pressure required with air. The problem of belt charge is analyzed and a method is described for controlling the electrostatic fields within the column in order to realize the high charge densities possible at high pressure. The construction of a supporting column of high breakdown strength, and other features of the design are described. At 1250 kv the x-ray intensity per milliampere of target current is about 340 roentgens per minute at 50 cm from the target in the direction of the electron beam with five mm of lead equivalent filtration.
Pursued by Happiness and Beaten Senseless: Prozac and the American Dream

Since the publication of Listening to Prozac there have been many debates about how and why Prozac and other similar drugs are prescribed. The articles that follow take up debates about what conditions such drugs can and should address, questions about authenticity in using drugs for psychic well-being, and concerns about what means we morally endorse in projects of self-creation. The contributions from Carl Elliott, Peter Kramer, James Edwards, and David Healy derive from a project supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, “Enhancement Technologies and Human Identity.” Psychiatry, like the Prozac it prescribes, aims to enhance the patient's internal psychic well-being. Yet what ails many may be not an internal state like depression or anxiety, but alienation. And the experts of the self to whom we turn cannot “cure” our collective form of life in which alienation takes root.
Singularity Analysis of Spatial Mechanisms Using Dual Polynomials and Complex Dual Numbers

Complex dual numbers w = x + iy + ∈u + i∈v which form a commutative ring are introduced in this paper to solve dual polynomial equations numerically. It is shown that the singularities of a dual input-output displacement polynomial equation of a mechanism correspond to its singularity positions. This new method of identifying singularities provides clear physical insight into the geometry of the singular configurations of a mechanism, which is illustrated through analysis of special configurations of the RCCC spatial mechanism. Numerical solutions for dual polynomial equations and complex dual numbers are conveniently implemented in the C H language environment for analysis of the RCCC spatial mechanism.
Computer-aided characterization of malignant and benign microcalcification clusters based on the analysis of temporal change of mammographic features

We have previously demonstrated that interval change analysis can improve differentiation of malignant and benign masses. In this study, a new classification scheme using interval change information was developed to classify mammographic microcalcification clusters as malignant and benign. From each cluster, 20 run length statistic texture features (RLSF) and 21 morphological features were extracted. Twenty difference RLSF were obtained by subtracting a prior RLSF from the corresponding current RLSF. The feature space consisted of the current and the difference RLSF, as well as the current and the difference morphological features. A leave-one-case-out resampling was used to train and test the classifier using 65 temporal image pairs (19 malignant, 46 benign) containing biopsy-proven microcalcification clusters. Stepwise feature selection and a linear discriminant classifier, designed with the training subsets alone, were used to select and merge the most useful features. An average of 12 features were selected from the training subsets, of which 3 difference RLSF and 7 morphological features were consistently selected from most of the training subsets. The classifier achieved an average training Az of 0.98 and a test Az of 0.87. For comparison, a classifier based on the current single image features achieved an average training Az of 0.88 and test Az of 0.81. These results indicate that the use of temporal information improved the accuracy of microcalcification characterization.
Kinetics of microbial degradation of vascular plant material in two wetland ecosystems.

Vascular plant decomposition was followed during two different years in one freshwater and one marine wetland in southeastern Georgia, USA, using a modified litterbag technique. Chemical analysis of plant material revealed different rates of decomposition for different components of the plant material (soluble components, α-cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) and, further, that rates of decomposition of each component changed over time, such that the specific rate of decay for each fraction decreased as decomposition proceeded. Three mathematical models which differen in their treatment of the biochemical heterogeneity of vascular plant detritus were investigated with regard to their relative abilities to describe decomposition kinetics from the field incubations as well as from laboratory microcosm studies with radiolabeled plant material. A decaying coefficient model, which treats plant detritus as a single component but allows for a decreasing specific decomposition rate as material ages, was most successful in describing kinetics of decomposition. This model accomodates the changes in quality of vascular plant detritus resulting from preferential decomposition of more labile components (e.g., non-lignocellulosic material and holocellulose) and the relative accumulation of more refractory components (e.g., lignin) observed with time. The model also accomodates the potential transformation of various plant components into more refractory compounds (humification) during the decomposition process.
Ultrasound imaging of the serratus anterior muscle at rest and during contraction

Summary The purpose of this study is to describe a clinically feasible method for measuring the thickness of the serratus anterior (SA) muscle using rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) and to determine the reliability of repeated measures of that method. An exploratory clinical measurement study using a test–retest methodology was utilized to determine the reliability of the measurements in a sample of 20 healthy subjects. While sitting with the arm flexed 120°, the SA of each subject was imaged at rest, during an active hold and while holding a three pound weight. On Day 1, images were repeated three times for each condition by the same examiner. On Day 2, Examiner 1 and Examiner 2 repeated the scans. Images were examined offline by Examiner 1 with SA thickness measured superior to the most distal rib in the image. Reliability was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland–Altman plots. The intra-examiner reliability (same day) during rest, active hold and active hold with resistance was ICC3,3 = 0·892; ICC3,3 = 0·951; and ICC3,3 = 0·869–0·971, respectively. Intra-examiner reliability between days ranged from ICC3,2 = 0·613 at rest to ICC3,2 = 0·736 during active hold with resistance. Interexaminer reliability was moderate during active hold (ICC2,2 = 0·526) and active hold with resistance (ICC2,2 = 0·535) and poor during rest (ICC2,2 = 0·425). This study demonstrates that SA thickness can be measured reliably using RUSI by the same examiner and suggests that active movements may increase that reliability.
Location-Based Security Framework for Cloud Perimeters

The authors present an approach to compose firewall policies to protect mobile and static cloud perimeters. The approach introduces location in the firewall to filter out attacks from unsafe locations, which requires identification of unsafe locations. The authors present two ways to discover attack locations for mobile and static clouds.
Fleet health monitoring of large populations: aged concrete T-beam bridges in Pennsylvania

The importance of rational decision-making for optimum resource distribution of civil infrastructure systems management is well recognized. Bridges, serving as node points of the highway transportation system, are critical components of the nation's infrastructure. As the nation's bridge population is aging, management decisions must be based on an objective, complete, accurate and compatible information for maximum reliable bridge lifecycle. For bridges sharing common materials, similar geometric design attributes and behavior mechanisms, fleet-strategies for health monitoring would offer significant advantages. Improvements from fleet health monitoring would lead to objective engineering knowledge for optimal decision making. This paper provides an overview of fleet health monitoring concept, then summarizes an on-going research on re- qualification of reinforced concrete T-beam bridge population in Pennsylvania.
Intermodal learning in infancy: Learning on the basis of two kinds of invariant relations in audible and visible events.

In this research, the development of intermodal perception in infancy was examined by using a new method, the intermodal learning method. 3-month-old infants were given the opportunity to learn a relation between 2 single film and soundtrack pairs through a 2-min familiarization period under 1 of 4 conditions. Films of naturalistic events were accompanied by a soundtrack that was (1) appropriate to the composition of the object and synchronous with its motions, (2) appropriate and nonsynchronous, (3) inappropriate and synchronous, or (4) inappropriate and nonsynchronous. A group of control subjects was familiarized with irrelevant films and soundtracks. Then all subjects were tested in a 2-choice intermodal preference test to determine under which familiarization conditions intermodal learning had occurred. Results indicated that only subjects who had been familiarized with appropriate and synchronous film and soundtrack pairs showed evidence of intermodal learning as compared with the performance of control subjects. Intermodal learning occurred on the basis of 2 kinds of invariant audio-visual relations, temporal synchrony, and temporal microstructure specifying the composition of the object. Intermodal learning did not occur through association on the basis of co-occurrence, nor did it occur when any incongruent audio-visual structure was present. These findings support an invariant-detection view of the development of intermodal perception.
Lab-on-a-chip sensor for measuring Zn by stripping voltammetry

This work reports on continuing development of a lab-on-a-chip sensor for electrochemical detection of heavy metal zinc in blood serum. The sensor consists of a three electrode system, including an environmentally-friendly bismuth working electrode, a Ag/AgCl reference electrode, and a gold auxiliary electrode. By optimizing the electrodeposition of bismuth film, better control of fabrication steps and improving interface between the sensor and potentiostat, repeatability and sensitivity of the lab-on-a-chip sensor has been improved. Through optimization of electrolyte and stripping voltammetry parameters, limits of detection were greatly improved. The optimized sensor was able to measure zinc in in the physiological range of 65-95 μg/dL. Ultimately, with further development and integrated sample preparation sensor system will permit rapid (min) measurements of zinc from a sub-mL sample (a few drops of blood) for bedside monitoring.
The stability of time-dependent laminar flow: Parallel flows

In dieser Arbeit wird das allgemeine Problem der Stabilitat inkompressibler, instationarer, paralleler und laminarer Stromungen zwischen zwei unendlichen Ebenen untersucht. Dabei werden sowohl die klassische linearisierte Theorie fur Storungen mit kleiner Amplitude als auch eine Variationsmethode fur Storungen endlicher Grosse angewandt. Die grundlegenden Lehrsatze der linearen Theorie werden, soweit dies fur das allgemeine Problem moglich ist, erweitert und ihre Konsequenzen aufgezeigt. Unter Anwendung der Variationsmethode werden fur mehrere besondere instationare Stromungen quantitative Ergebnisse gezeigt, aber die hier entwickelten Gleichungen konnen ebenso auf jedwede parallele Stromung angewendet werden. Das stationare Problem ist als ein besonderer Grenzfall behandelt.
Identifying the gaps between education and training

This paper discusses some of the issues concerning education in the academic environment and training in the industrial work environment. Recent college graduates, “new-hires”, must realize as they enter the workforce, that even though they have completed four year degree programs, they are beginning at an entry-level position. They will need job specific training to make them productive software engineers from their employer's perspective.The aspects of distinguishing between education and training are discussed along with an understanding of how college prepares graduates for employment in the computer industry; specifically, the field of military software development as developed at Texas Instruments.
Single molecule fluorescence burst detection of DNA separated by capillary electrophoresis

A method has been developed for detecting DNA separated by capillary gel electrophoresis using single molecule photon burst counting. A confocal fluorescence microscope was used to observe the fluorescence bursts from single molecules of DNA multiply labeled with a thiazole orange derivative as they passed through the approximately 2 micrometer diameter focused laser beam. Amplified photoelectron pulses from the photomultiplier are grouped into bins of from 360 - 450 microseconds in duration, and the resulting histogram stored in a computer for analysis. Solutions of M13 DNA were first flowed through the capillary at various concentrations, and the resulting data were used to optimize the parameters for digital filtering using a low-pass Fourier filter, selecting a discriminator level for peak detection, and applying a peak-calling algorithm. The optimized single molecule counting method was then used to detect a separation of pBR 322 DNA from pRL 277 DNA. Clusters of discrete fluorescence bursts were observed at the expected appearance time of each DNA band. These separations were easily detected when only 50 to 100 molecules of DNA per band traveled through the detection region. This new detection technology should lead to the routine analysis of DNA in capillary columns with an on-column sensitivity of approximately 100 DNA molecules per band or better.
SU‐E‐T‐278: Volume Based Comparison of Deformable Image Registration Algorithms Using Spatial Discrepancy Volume Histograms

Purpose: Accurate Deformable Image Registration (DIR) algorithms are essential to clinical implementation of adaptive planning strategies hence finding validation strategies for DIR algorithms remains a pressing concern. Most validation efforts are based on contour or landmark tracking, thus sampling the Deformable Vector Field (DVF) relatively sparsely. The primary purpose of this work is to assess interchangeability of DIR algorithms in dose accumulation, and assess if contour based methods are sufficient to validate the equivalence of DIR algorithms. Methods: We registered peak inhale and peak exhale phases of thirteen lung patients using three DIR algorithms. The DVF maps were pairwise compared through voxel‐by‐voxel subtraction of vector fields. The vector difference maps were analyzed by building volume histograms on regions of interest. This method of analysis is directly relevant to the Dose Volume Histogram accumulation, as vector difference between the maps will be translated into a distance between dose interpolation points. We further compared Jacobian distributions for the three maps, as local derivatives of DVF maps would be important to any algorithm that attempts local density corrections. We performed contour based comparison of the three algorithms, to connect this validation method to prior work. Results: The volume histogram analysis shows that differences between DVFs in 2% tails of volume histogram are in the 1cm – 4cm range, although the contour‐based analysis using Dice's Similarity Coefficient (DSC) would suggest that the three algorithms are nearly equivalent. For most structures, spatial differences between maps are below 0.5cm over approximately 70% of structure volume, and exceed 0.5cm over the remainder. Jacobian distributions differ significantly, implying that local density corrections are strongly algorithm dependent. Conclusions: Differences between algorithms are potentially significant for dose accumulation, and such differences are not revealed by contour based comparisons. Acknowledgments: Supported by NIH Grant P01 CA11602