cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analytic and variational Xα in the Slater-Roothaan method

An analytic and mathematically variational linear-combination-of-atomic-orbitals density-functional method that allows arbitrary scaling of the Slater-Gaspar-Kohn-Sham exchange-correlation potential about each atom isdescribed. The method can be made exact in the separated-atom limit. It is based on robust and variational fitting, which is reviewed and extended to fast-multipole methods. The Slater-Roothaan method requires four basis sets and delivers a total energy that is independent of all fitting errors through first order. A database of atomic Gaussian basis sets is used to construct inputs for a standard set of 56 molecules. That database contains our basis sets as well as the DGauss DZVP2 double-ζ and 6-311 G triple-ζ polarized Gaussian basis sets for fitting molecular orbitals. Another two subdatabases contain the s- and non-s-type basis sets for fitting the charge density and the exchange-correlation potentials, which are related to the cube root of a partitioned density and its square. A bond-centered basis function can be added to all fitting bases via software. Eight different fitting basis sets are studied. Using the Hartree-Fock values of a, these molecules are overbound on average, but using a uniform a = 0.7, these molecules are underbound on average, independent of fitting basis. Mixing exact exchange will not obviously improve the method.
CLUSTERING QUALITATIVE DATA BASED ON BINARY EQUIVALENCE RELATIONS: NEIGHBORHOOD SEARCH HEURISTICS FOR THE CLIQUE PARTITIONING PROBLEM

The clique partitioning problem (CPP) requires the establishment of an equivalence relation for the vertices of a graph such that the sum of the edge costs associated with the relation is minimized. The CPP has important applications for the social sciences because it provides a framework for clustering objects measured on a collection of nominal or ordinal attributes. In such instances, the CPP incorporates edge costs obtained from an aggregation of binary equivalence relations among the attributes. We review existing theory and methods for the CPP and propose two versions of a new neighborhood search algorithm for efficient solution. The first version (NS-R) uses a relocation algorithm in the search for improved solutions, whereas the second (NS-TS) uses an embedded tabu search routine. The new algorithms are compared to simulated annealing (SA) and tabu search (TS) algorithms from the CPP literature. Although the heuristics yielded comparable results for some test problems, the neighborhood search algorithms generally yielded the best performances for large and difficult instances of the CPP.
Effect of thyrotropin releasing hormone on the cAMP content in circumesophageal ganglia of Lymnaea emarginata.

Abstract The effect and metabolic fate of thyrotropin releasing hormone on the cAMP content of in vitro incubated ganglia from the pond snail Lymnaea emarginata was studied. It was found that TRH caused an increase in the cAMP content of parietal ganglia, a decrease in the cAMP content of cerebral ganglia and no change in the other circumesophageal ganglia. In vitro incubated ganglia did not accumulate or degrade significant amounts of 3 H-TRH.
Velocity Imaging Studies on Ion-Pair Dissociation of CH3Br + hνVUV → CH3+ + Br- as a Function of Wavelength†

The ion-pair dissociation dynamics of CH3Br + hνVUV → CH3+ + Br- as a function of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) wavelength have been studied by means of velocity imaging. Photofragment excitation (PHOFEX) spectra as well as images for both the cation and the anion products have been collected, which confirm the dissociation occurs through the ion-pair channel from the momentum matching of both products. The wavelength region for the PHOFEX covers a small portion (from 121.4 to 122.7 nm) of the absorption spectrum where transitions from the ground state to both ns and np Rydberg states as well as to the underlying continuum states are all present. Images were taken at selected wavelengths both on the peaks and in the valleys of the PHOFEX spectrum, as well as at 118.22 nm. The PHOFEX spectra closely resemble the absorption spectra of CH3Br, and the images taken at peaks and continuum wavelengths in PHOFEX show no marked differences with respect to the product energy and angular distributions. These observations...
Dosimetric accuracy of a staged radiosurgery treatment

For large cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), the efficacy of radiosurgery is limited since the large doses necessary to produce obliteration may increase the risk of radiation necrosis to unacceptable levels. An alternative is to stage the radiosurgery procedure over multiple stages (usually two), effectively irradiating a smaller volume of the AVM nidus with a therapeutic dose during each session. The difference between coordinate systems defined by sequential stereotactic frame placements can be represented by a translation and a rotation. A unique transformation can be determined based on the coordinates of several fiducial markers fixed to the skull and imaged in each stereotactic coordinate system. Using this transformation matrix, isocentre coordinates from the first stage can be displayed in the coordinate system of subsequent stages allowing computation of a combined dose distribution covering the entire AVM. The accuracy of this approach was tested on an anthropomorphic head phantom and was verified dosimetrically. Subtle defects in the phantom were used as control points, and 2 mm diameter steel balls attached to the surface were used as fiducial markers and reference points. CT images (2 mm thick) were acquired. Using a transformation matrix developed with two frame placements, the predicted locations of control and reference points had an average error of 0.6 mm near the fiducial markers and 1.0 mm near the control points. Dose distributions in a staged treatment approach were accurately calculated using the transformation matrix. This approach is simple, fast and accurate. Errors were small and clinically acceptable for Gamma Knife radiosurgery. Accuracy can be improved by reducing the CT slice thickness.
Re-setting the biologic rationale for thermal therapy

This review takes a retrospective look at how hyperthermia biology, as defined from studies emerging from the late 1970s and into the 1980s, mis-directed the clinical field of hyperthermia, by placing too much emphasis on the necessity of killing cells with hyperthermia in order to define success. The requirement that cell killing be achieved led to sub-optimal hyperthermia fractionation goals for combinations with radiotherapy, inappropriate sequencing between radiation and hyperthermia and goals for hyperthermia equipment performance that were neither achievable nor necessary. The review then considers the importance of the biologic effects of hyperthermia that occur in the temperature range that lies between that necessary to kill substantial proportions of cells and normothermia (e.g. 39-42 degrees C for 1 h). The effects that occur in this temperature range are compelling-including inhibition of radiation-induced damage repair, changes in perfusion, re-oxygenation, effects on macromolecular and nanoparticle delivery, induction of the heat shock response and immunological stimulation, all of which can be exploited to improve tumour response to radiation and chemotherapy. This new knowledge about the biology of hyperthermia compels one to continue to move the field forward, but with thermal goals that are eminently achievable and tolerable by patients. The fact that lower temperatures are incorporated into thermal goals does not lessen the need for non-invasive thermometry or more sophisticated hyperthermia delivery systems, however. If anything, it further compels one to move the field forward on an integrated biological, engineering and clinical level.
Elementary Teachers' Knowledge and Self-Efficacy for Measurement Concepts

Educational standardized testing impacts millions of children and educational professionals each year. In the current accountability climate, an effective educational system depends on professionals who are literate in assessment and can take the appropriate actions in response to test results. Measurement researchers should begin to focus more attention on how teachers use assessment results, what skills teachers possess, and what teachers believe they can do in working with test results. This study examined elementary teacher knowledge and self-efficacy in measurement concepts through a random sample of teachers in the state of Washington. Teachers had greater success with skills related to basic measurement concepts compared to using test scores for informed decisions. No relationship was found between years of teaching and measurement knowledge or self-efficacy. However, teachers showing interest in resources for communicating test results to parents had lower self-efficacy compared to teachers not in...
High field magnetotransport in Ce1-xLaxRhIn5 heavy electron alloys

Abstract We have preformed magnetotransport measurements between 1.4 and 300 K and in applied magnetic fields to 18 T on the Ce 1− x La x RhIn 5 series of compounds. The results are discussed in terms of a positive contribution in the magnetoresistance due to the coherent Kondo regime and a negative contribution due to a more localized single impurity regime.
Effect of sorbed water on the heat capacity of crystalline proteins

Abstract Heat capacity measurements by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), performed with anhydrous samples of ovalbumin, yielded a value for Cp of 0.267 ±0.033 cal/g/°C at 12°C; and the extrapolation of data from hydrated samples to zero water content yielded a similar value for Cp of 0.244±0.011 cal/g/°C. The heat capacity of anhydrous β-lactoglobulin is 0.273 ±0.027cal/g/°C, and the value obtained by extrapolation of data for hydrated samples is 0.284±0.019 cal/g/°C. A linear relation between specific heat and moisture content was observed with the hydrated samples which contained 0.03–0.21 g sorbed water per gram of protein. No temperature dependence of specific heat was observed in the interval scanned (0–25°C). The computed, apparent, partial specific heats of the proteins are 0.245 ±0.010 cal/g/°C for ovalbumin and 0.283±0.02 cal/g/°C for β-lactoglobulin; and the partial specific heat of the sorbate is 1209±0.103 cal/g/°C for water sorbed by ovalbumin, and 0.947±0.137 cal/g/°C for water sorbed by β-lactoglobulin.
Characterization of the effects of polyamines on the modulation of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor by glycine

Abstract We have investigated the effects of polyamine agonists and antagonists on the modulation of the N-Methyl- d -aspartate receptor by glycine using a [3H]dizocilpine ([3H]MK801) binding assay. We monitored the non-equilibrium binding of [3H]dizocilpine in the presence of 5,7-dichlorokynurenate to preclude occupation of the glycine site by endogenous glycine. Using this assay, spermine and spermidine increased both the affinity arid the maximum effect of glycine. Similar effects are produced by other polyamine agonists including 1,5-diethylaminopiperidine, neomycin and Ca2+. These actions are reversed by the polyamine antagonists arcaine and 1,10-diaminodecane in a competitive manner. The increase in the maximum effect of glycine produced by polyamine agonists appears to be due to an increase in the equilibrium affinity of [3H]dizocilpine, and cannot therefore be attributed solely to modulation of glycine binding. Interestingly, 1,5-diethylaminopiperidine increases the maximum effect of glycine to a greater extent than it alters glycine affinity, suggesting that the two effects may be mediated by different sites or mechanisms. These studies will help to define the role of the glycine site in the modulation of the N-Methyl- d -aspartate receptor by polyamines.
Interventional endovascular therapy: SPECT cerebral blood flow imaging compared with transcranial doppler monitoring of ballon angioplasty and intraarterial papaverine for cerebral vasospasm

The effects of interventional endovascular treatment of cerebral vasospasm with balloon angioplasty or papaverine infusion were evaluated by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and transcranial Doppler (TCD) in 44 patients whose cerebral vasospasm was refractory to medical management. SPECT revealed blood flow improvements in 42% of patients with papaverine treated vessels and 70% of patients with balloon angioplasty ( P =.037). TCD correlated with SPECT in 71% of patients in the papaverine group and 73% of patients in the balloon angioplasty group. TCD showed 93% of segments improved by angioplasty, whereas 43% of segments were improved with papaverine ( P
Effects of α-difluoromethylornithine, a specific irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, on nucleic acids and proteins in developing rat brain: Critical perinatal periods for regional selectivity

Ornithine decarboxylase and its metabolic products, the polyamines, are known to coordinate macromolecule synthesis in developing neural tissues; consequently, inhibition of this enzyme by α-difluoromethylornithine interferes with cellular replication and differentiation. We examined the regional selectivity of the effect of α-difluoromethylornithine administered either postnatally (days 1–19) or during gestation (days 15–17), in order to determine whether specific phases of maturation are particularly sensitive to polyamine depletion. In the cerebellum, which undergoes major phases of replication and differentiation after birth, postnatal α-difluoromethylornithine administration caused a profound and progressive deficit in tissue weight gain as well as in DNA, RNA and protein content. Although regions which develop earlier (cerebral cortex, midbrain + brain stem) also showed adverse effects of postnatal α-difluoromethylornithine, the deficits were of much smaller magnitude and were comparable to the effect of the drug on general body growth. Despite these regional differences, inhibition of DNA synthesis ([3H]thymidine incorporation) was similar in cerebellum and in midbrain + brain stem, indicating that the direct impact of α-difluoromethylornithine-induced polyamine depletion is exerted in both; DNA synthesis in cerebral cortex was spared relative to the other two regions. These data suggested that the impact of α-difluoromethylornithine on development depends, in part, upon the relative degree of maturation of each brain region at the time of drug exposure. In confirmation of this hypothesis, prenatal α-difluoromethylornithine given on gestational days 15–17 resulted in loss of the specificity toward cerebellar development and enhancement of effects on cerebral cortex, the region which had displayed the least sensitivity to postnatal α-difluoromethylornithine.
Magmatic inflation at a dormant stratovolcano: 1996–1998 activity at Mount Peulik volcano, Alaska, revealed by satellite radar interferometry

[1] A series of ERS radar interferograms that collectively span the time interval from July 1992 to August 2000 reveal that a presumed magma body located 6.6 ± 0.5 km beneath the southwest flank of the Mount Peulik volcano inflated 0.051 ± 0.005 km3 between October 1996 and September 1998. Peulik has been active only twice during historical time, in 1814 and 1852, and the volcano was otherwise quiescent during the 1990s. The inflation episode spanned at least several months because separate interferograms show that the associated ground deformation was progressive. The average inflation rate of the magma body was ∼0.003 km3/month from October 1996 to September 1997, peaked at 0.005 km3/month from 26 June to 9 October 1997, and dropped to ∼0.001 km3/month from October 1997 to September 1998. An intense earthquake swarm, including three ML 4.8–5.2 events, began on 8 May 1998 near Becharof Lake, ∼30 km northwest of Peulik. More than 400 earthquakes with a cumulative moment of 7.15 × 1017 N m were recorded in the area through 19 October 1998. Although the inflation and earthquake swarm occurred at about the same time, the static stress changes that we calculated in the epicentral area due to inflation beneath Peulik appear too small to provide a causal link. The 1996–1998 inflation episode at Peulik confirms that satellite radar interferometry can be used to detect magma accumulation beneath dormant volcanoes at least several months before other signs of unrest are apparent. This application represents a first step toward understanding the eruption cycle at Peulik and other stratovolcanoes with characteristically long repose periods.
An Asian Species of Strongylium Kirby (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Newly Established in South Florida, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT The Asian darkling beetle, Strongylium cultellatum Maklin, is reported for the first time from the Western Hemisphere based on a series of specimens collected in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Collection data for S. cultellatum are summarized, and a key to the species of Strongylium Kirby in Florida and habitus illustrations are provided.
Acute Complications of Argon Laser Photocoagulation: Epipapillary and Peripapillary Neovascularization

Initial clinical experience with argon laser photocoagulation is reported. Eighteen consecutive eyes (17 patients) were treated for epipapillary and peripapillary neovascularization with the argon laser. Nine eyes (50%) sustained complications, and six of these eyes had associated decrease in visual acuity. Complications generally occurred within 24 hours, and included vitreous hemorrhage, permanent nerve fiber bundle defect, optic neuritis, and branch arteriole occlusion. Vitreous hemorrhage was found to occur from disc neovascularization in spite of angiographically documented segmentation and closure that had been induced by the laser. If high milliwattage and many argon burns were required to segment and close neovascular tissue, there seemed to be increased risk of vitreous hemorrhage. At follow-up, ophthalmoscopy suggested regression of disc vessels in 61%, whereas fluorescein angiography showed actual decrease of perfusion in 46%.
Heterogeneity of endothelial cells from different organ sites in T-cell subset recruitment.

Chemokines and adhesion molecules play a critical role in the recruitment of leukocytes into specific organ sites. Little is known, however, regarding the repertoire of chemokines and adhesion molecules expressed within different vascular beds. In this study, we compare adhesion molecule expression, chemokine induction, and T-cell subset-endothelial interactions under defined flow conditions on resting and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-activated murine lung endothelial cells (MLECs) and heart endothelial cells (MHECs). Our study revealed that only MHECs exhibited high constitutive VCAM-1 expression. Exposure to TNF-α up-regulated adhesion molecule expression and chemokine production in both MLECs and MHECs. However, high levels of Regulated on Activation Normal T cell Expressed And Secreted (RANTES) expression were detected only in TNF-α-activated MHECs. TNF-α-stimulated MLECs and MHECs both supported T-helper cell interactions under defined flow conditions. Most T cells instantaneously arrested on MHECs but exhibited a rolling phenotype on MLECs. Blocking studies revealed that T-cell arrest on MHECs was mediated by constitutive VCAM-1 and TNF-α-induced RANTES. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that functional heterogeneity of endothelial cells from different sites exists and some of it is retained in vitro. Furthermore, these results provide an insight into the molecular mechanisms that may mediate T-helper cell recruitment to these organs.
Hairpin-bisulfite PCR: Assessing epigenetic methylation patterns on complementary strands of individual DNA molecules

Epigenetic inheritance, the transmission of gene expression states from parent to daughter cells, often involves methylation of DNA. In eukaryotes, cytosine methylation is a frequent component of epigenetic mechanisms. Failure to transmit faithfully a methylated or an unmethylated state of cytosine can lead to altered phenotypes in plants and animals. A central unresolved question in epigenetics concerns the mechanisms by which a locus maintains, or changes, its state of cytosine methylation. We developed “hairpin-bisulfite PCR” to analyze these mechanisms. This method reveals the extent of methylation symmetry between the complementary strands of individual DNA molecules. Using hairpin-bisulfite PCR, we determined the fidelity of methylation transmission in the CpG island of the FMR1 gene in human lymphocytes. For the hypermethylated CpG island of this gene, characteristic of inactive-X alleles, we estimate a maintenance methylation efficiency of ≈0.96 per site per cell division. For de novo methylation efficiency (Ed), remarkably different estimates were obtained for the hypermethylated CpG island (Ed = 0.17), compared with the hypomethylated island on the active-X chromosome (Ed < 0.01). These results clarify the mechanisms by which the alternative hypomethylated and hypermethylated states of CpG islands are stably maintained through many cell divisions. We also analyzed a region of human L1 transposable elements. These L1 data provide accurate methylation patterns for the complementary strand of each repeat sequence analyzed. Hairpin-bisulfite PCR will be a powerful tool in studying other processes for which genetic or epigenetic information differs on the two complementary strands of DNA.
DNA synthesis in the elongating nondividing cells of the lentil epicotyl and its promotion by gibberellin.

Two-day-old lentil seedlings, ( Lens culinaris Med.) were incubated for a 48-hour period with and without gibberellin (GA) in the presence and absence of 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (FUDR). The number of cells per epicotyl did not increase during this period. Growth of the epicotyl was thus due to cell elongation alone. The elongating cells of this tissue synthesized DNA. GA promoted and FUDR inhibited cell elongation, DNA synthesis, and RNA synthesis in the tissue. FUDR promoted uptake of thymidine and thymidine incorporation into cellular DNA, presumably by inhibiting synthesis of endogenous thymidine. Presence of GA promoted thymidine incorporation into cellular DNA and uridine incorporation into cellular RNA. In either case, there was no effect on the uptake of the precursor into the tissue. Fractionation of thymidine-labeled nucleic acids on a MAK column showed that thymidine was exclusively incorporated into the DNA fraction. Presence of GA promoted thymidine incorporation into this fraction and also increased the amount of ribosomal RNA. The data provide direct evidence for the conclusion that DNA synthesis is necessary for elongation of certain plant cells.
Ocular Complications After Open and Hand-assisted Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy

Objectives To compare the incidence of ocular complications (OC) and corneal abrasion (CA) after hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (HALDN) and open donor nephrectomy (ODN). Methods A retrospective review was conducted of 241 consecutive patients (141 HALDN and 100 ODN) over a 9-year period. OC were strictly defined as ocular complaints requiring any treatment or ophthalmologic consultation. Chi-square tests were used to compare the incidence of OC and CA by type of surgery. Results OC were observed in 9 HALDN patients (6.4%) and no ODN patients (0%; P = .01). All OC in HALDN patients involved the dependent eye ( P P = .23). HALDN patients had significantly higher net fluid intake than the ODN patients ( P Conclusions The increased OC and CA seen in HALDN patients may result from the increased fluid intake, flank positioning, and potential increased venous compression resulting from the effects of the pneumoperitoneum. The fact that the dependent eye was involved in all patients suggests conjunctival edema as a potential common pathway. The high frequency of OC suggests the importance of techniques to minimize OC after HALDN.
Cyclic secant shear modulus versus pore water pressure in sands at small cyclic strains

Abstract Cyclic strain-controlled behavior of fully saturated sands in undrained condition is analyzed at small cyclic shear strain amplitudes, γc, around the threshold shear strain for cyclic pore water pressure buildup, γtp≈0.01%. The cyclic triaxial and simple shear test results obtained in the past by different researchers and the results of new cyclic simple shear tests reveal that: (i) at very small γc below γtp where there is no buildup of cyclic pore water pressure, ΔuN, with the number of cycles, N, the cyclic secant shear modulus, GSN, initially increases with N for 10–20% of its initial value GS1 and then levels off or just slightly decreases, (ii) at small γc between γtp≈0.01% and 0.10–0.15%, ΔuN continuously increases with N while the modulus GSN first increases for up to 10% of GS1 and then gradually decreases, and (iii) at γc larger than approximately 0.15%, relatively large ΔuN develops with N while the modulus GSN constantly and significantly decreases. This means that at γc between γtp and 0.10–0.15% the sand stiffness initially increases with N in spite of the reduction of effective stresses caused by the cyclic pore water pressures buildup. In this range of γc, the pore water pressure ΔuN can reach up to 40% of the initial effective confining stress before GSN drops below GS1. The microstructural mechanisms believed to be responsible for such a complex behavior are discussed. It is suggested that during cyclic loading the changes at mineral-to-mineral junctions of grain contacts can cause soil stiffening while, at the same time, the buildup of cyclic pore water pressure causes the softening.
Children's religious affiliation in Eastern Germany

Abstract We explore determinants of children's religious affiliation in a county of eastern Germany to better understand the process of religious socialisation in a highly secular society. The typical determinants of religious affiliation fail to explain adolescent religious behaviour in eastern Germany. Mother's religious affiliation is the only factor that predicts religious affiliation among these young people. We conclude that in a highly secular society it is only the primary group affiliations, such as the family, which influence church affiliation.
Double-chain-cut sites are recombination hotspots in the red pathway of phage λ

Abstract The Red recombination pathway of phage λ is shown to target recombination to doublechain ends of DNA. A double-chain cut, delivered in vivo to only one of two parents participating in a λ lytic cross by a type II restriction endonuclease, increases the proportion of crossing over in the interval containing the cut compared with other intervals. The stimulating effect of a cut is evident whether replication is inhibited or permitted. Cut stimulation can move away from the initial cut-site, presumably by doublechain degradation. Movement of the stimulating effect of a cut is dependent on the Escherichia coli gene recA when the cross is carried out under conditions that inhibit phage replication. When replication is permitted, all aspects of cut-stimulated recombination are independent of recA . Evidence is presented to show that the reaction that is stimulated by cutting is often non-reciprocal at the molecular level.
2-Deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose-positron emission tomography and positron emission tomography/computed tomography diagnosis of patients with recurrent papillary thyroid cancer.

2-Deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-d-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) has an established role in restaging of various cancers, including papillary and undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma, but detection rates are variable in the published literature. We were therefore prompted to review our experience with FDG-PET in detection of recurrent papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). This is a retrospective study (April 1, 1995–March 31, 2005) of 21 patients with histologic diagnosis of PTC who had PET examinations. The group included seven men and 14 women, with age range of 26–75 years (average 50 ± 16). The PET scan request was triggered by rising levels of thyroglobulin (Tg) in the presence of a negative iodine-131 scan. Recurrent/metastatic disease was identified by PET in 16 (76%) of the 21 patients with PTC. The sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET for disease detection in this cohort were 88.2% [95% confidence interval (CI), 65.7–96.7] and 75% (95% CI, 30.1–95.4), respectively. The Tg levels were 1.0–10.4 ng/ml (average, 4.52 ng/ml) in the patients with negative PET scans and 1.0–38 ng/ml (average, 16.8 ng/ml) in patients with positive scans. The lesions were located in the cervical lymph nodes (8), thyroid bed (4), lungs (4), and mediastinal lymph nodes (2). Our study confirms the feasibility of PET in detection of residual/recurrence of PTC, with sensitivity of 88.2% (95% CI, 65.7–96.7) and specificity of 75% (95% CI, 30.1–95.4). Detectable levels of Tg, even in the presence of negative I-131 scan or anatomic imaging, should prompt restaging with FDG-PET.
Explanation of an observation in the size quantization effect

Abstract It is shown that the explanation of a peculiar observed fact concerning the temperature dependence of transport parameters for size quantized films lies in an analysis carried out by Chaplik in which it is proved that the two-dimensional character of the electron motion leads to the inapplicability of the Born approximation to the scattering problem.
WE-E-17A-07: Patient-Specific Mathematical Neuro-Oncology: Biologically-Informed Radiation Therapy and Imaging Physics

Purpose: To demonstrate a method of generating patient-specific, biologically-guided radiation therapy (RT) plans and to quantify and predict response to RT in glioblastoma. We investigate the biological correlates and imaging physics driving T2-MRI based response to radiation therapy using an MRI simulator. Methods: We have integrated a patient-specific biomathematical model of glioblastoma proliferation, invasion and radiotherapy with a multiobjective evolutionary algorithm for intensity-modulated RT optimization to construct individualized, biologically-guided plans. Patient-individualized simulations of the standard-of-care and optimized plans are compared in terms of several biological metrics quantified on MRI. An extension of the PI model is used to investigate the role of angiogenesis and its correlates in glioma response to therapy with the Proliferation-Invasion-Hypoxia- Necrosis-Angiogenesis model (PIHNA). The PIHNA model is used with a brain tissue phantom to predict tumor-induced vasogenic edema, tumor and tissue density that is used in a multi-compartmental MRI signal equation for generation of simulated T2- weighted MRIs. Results: Applying a novel metric of treatment response (Days Gained) to the patient-individualized simulation results predicted that the optimized RT plans would have a significant impact on delaying tumor progression, with Days Gained increases from 21% to 105%. For the T2- MRI simulations, initial validation tests compared average simulated T2 values for white matter, tumor, and peripheral edema to values cited in the literature. Simulated results closely match the characteristic T2 value for each tissue. Conclusion: Patient-individualized simulations using the combination of a biomathematical model with an optimization algorithm for RT generated biologically-guided doses that decreased normal tissue dose and increased therapeutic ratio with the potential to improve survival outcomes for treatment of glioblastoma. Simulated T2-MRI is shown to be consistent with known physics of MRI and can be used to further investigate biological drivers of imaging-based response to RT.
External validation of a novel transthoracic echocardiographic tool in predicting left atrial appendage thrombus formation in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation

Background A recent study demonstrated that in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF), a ratio of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) to the left atrial volume index (LAVI) of <1.5 has 100% sensitivity for detecting left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus. We sought to validate this prediction tool in an external cohort. Methods We conducted a cohort study of consecutive AF patients who underwent transoesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) to ‘rule-out’ LAA thrombus and had a prior transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). The LAVI and LVEF were measured to calculate LVEF/LAVI ratio. The sensitivity and specificity of LVEF/LAVI <1.5 were calculated. Results Among 215 subjects, 19 (8.8%) had LAA thrombus and also had a higher mean CHADS2 score (2.5 vs. 1.9, P = 0.04), lower mean LVEF (24 vs. 44%, P < 0.001), higher mean LAVI (44 mL/m2 vs. 30 mL/m2, P < 0.001), and higher prevalence of cardiac failure (79 vs. 52%, P = 0.02). The LVEF and LAVI were found to be independent predictors of LAA thrombus ( P < 0.05). The LVEF/LAVI ratio diagnosed LAA thrombus with an area under the curve = 0.83 by the receiver operator characteristics curve analysis ( P < 0.001). All 19 (100%) subjects with LAA thrombus had LVEF/LAVI <1.5 vs. 87 (44%) among those without LAA thrombus ( P < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of LVEF/LAVI <1.5 were 100 and 55.6%, respectively. Conclusion This investigation validates a simple TTE prediction rule to exclude the diagnosis of LAA thrombus, which may obviate the need for pre-cardioversion TEE in selected patients with nonvalvular AF.
Modeling Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Cancer in the United States for Analyses of Screening and Vaccination

Background To provide quantitative insight into current U.S. policy choices for cervical cancer prevention, we developed a model of human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer, explicitly incorporating uncertainty about the natural history of disease.
Christianity's Encounters with Non-Western Cultures

Le christianisme qui n'a au depart pas d'origine occidentale, a vite traverse les frontieres culturelles au cours de l'histoire. L'A. se demande comment le christianisme s'est comporte avec les autres cultures a travers quatre grandes phases missionnaires: celle de l'Empire Romain, celle de l'Europe, celle amorcee au XV e siecle par les portugais en Amerique, celle d'Afrique. Ce voyage rapide permet de constater des succes, des sacrifices inutiles, des echecs, des interactions culturelles
Facial recognition at Purdue University's airport - 2003-2008

Post September 11, 2001, there has been an increased focus by the airline industry and governments to evaluate various technologies associated with security and identification. Automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technologies have been used extensively in airports and the aviation industry for a number of years prior to September 11, in applications ranging from bar coded baggage tags to magnetic stripes on boarding cards. Although previously used in limited airport applications, there is now a renewed focus on another branch of automatic identification technology, namely biometrics. This paper presents a structured methodology for developing a testing protocol for face recognition at the Student Flight Operations Center at the Purdue University airport which will assess the performance of a commercially available off-the-shelf product over a five year period.
Democratic accountability and the exchange-rate policy of the euro area 1

ABSTRACT This article examines the consequences of the political ‘incompleteness’ of the monetary union for the democratic accountability of its external monetary policy, comparing the euro area to the United States. In most countries, exchange-rate policymaking is substantially delegated to the finance ministry and central bank; oversight by other domestic actors is relatively weak. While this is true of the United States, the role of the Congress provides the possibility for ‘democratic override’ when policy diverges substantially from the preferences of a broad set of private sector interests. Europe's monetary union, by contrast, lacks such a mechanism; no institution can provide an effective check on the policies pursued by the core actors, the ECB and Eurogroup. A comparison of the postures of the United States and euro area toward Chinese exchange rate policy suggests that these institutional differences affect policy outcomes.
The Agricultural Marketscape: A Framework for Sustaining Agriculture and Communities in the Northeast

ABSTRACT This paper examines ways in which rural landscapes and communities in the Northeast have been, and continue to be, impacted by global and local food marketing systems. We provide a historical overview of globalization in agriculture and the food system and the relationship of these changes to other economic, technological and social changes. We present two food system models–“global” and “local”–representing contrasting socioeconomic paradigms, or understandings of the true and proper relationship between economy and society. Finally we explore some of the theoretical and real-life impacts of global and local food systems on landscapes in the Northeast, and discuss implications for achieving long-term agricultural sustainability.
Time-dependent electrochemical behavior of carbon steel in MEA-based CO2 capture process

Abstract Time-dependent electrochemical behavior of carbon steel was evaluated in CO2-loaded monoethanolamine (MEA) solutions in simulated carbon capture environments. Tests were conducted in 30 wt.% MEA solution with different combinations of controlling factors (oxygen [O2], heat stable salts [HSS], flow and temperature) for 7 days. Corrosion behavior of carbon steel was evaluated by using electrochemical techniques (linear polarization resistance [LPR] and potentiodynamic polarization measurements), weight loss method and surface analytical techniques. Solution pH and ferrous/ferric ion concentration were also measured to monitor the change of water chemistry with time. The results showed that the corrosion rate of carbon steel decreased with time and then stabilized to very low values in the MEA/CO2 condition. XPS characterization revealed formation of a very thin protective FeCO3 layer on the surface, as well as adsorption of MEA. However, when O2 was present in the system, the corrosion rates remained at relatively high values, further increasing with flow. The presence of HSS resulted in a higher corrosion rate at the initial stage, but had a minimal effect on the corrosion rate for longer time exposure. Temperature had a slight effect on the corrosion rate because the solubility of CO2 and O2 decreases with increasing temperature.
Geographical Rhetoric: Modes and Tropes of Appeal

Abstract Geographers are frequently enjoined to identify and satisfy the interests of their audience, as performance of this service is the ultimate justification for the field's continued existence. There is, however, little agreement on how best to render this service, largely because there has been little thought about the nature of the audience, or about its role in shaping geographical discourse. Geographers must recognize the existence of multiple audiences, and understand that these audiences are not identical to existing institutional and epistemological categories. Audiences are constituted by rhetorical prejudices and perferences. To satisfy an audience, and earn its trust, the writer must confirm their prejudices and respect their preferences. I present two alternative maps of geographical audiences, using selected examples from twentieth-century Anglophone geography. First, I describe prejudices about the nature of action, which a writer must confirm if he or she is to be regarded as “good,” a...
Optimal strategies found using genetic algorithms for deflecting hazardous near-earth objects

Potentially hazardous asteroids can be deflected away from the Earth using a kinetic impactor spacecraft. An optimal control problem is solved to find the time history of thrust magnitude and direction to steer the low-thrust spacecraft from the Earth to the asteroid so that the impact maximizes the resulting miss distance. Because the solution space considered by the optimizer is large and the objective function is complicated, intuition is not sufficient to provide an adequate initial guess for the nonlinear programming problem solver used to optimize all aspects of the trajectory. A recently developed shape-based trajectory approximation method coupled with a genetic algorithm is used to provide this initial guess to the optimizer and make the problem tractable.
Receiver frequency resolution for range resolution in homodyne FMCW radar

The author presents an analysis and simulation results relating the range resolution to the receiver frequency resolution in a linear frequency modulated, continuous wave, (FMCW) homodyne radar. He considers the relationship between range resolution and receiver frequency resolution for systems that use the fast Fourier transform (FFT) to form multiple frequency and range bins. A millimeter wave (MMW) seeker application is used as an example. >
Non-equilibrium dynamics of an unstable quantum pendulum explored in a spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensate.

Theoretical models usually fail in describing the behaviour of a many-body quantum system at a hyperbolic fixed point—a point of unstable equilibrium analogous to a motionless inverted pendulum. Gerving et al. show that such behaviour can be explored in the non-equilibrium dynamics of a Bose condensate.
Particularism and Peace Augsburg — 1555

Four hundred years have passed since the bells rang out in Germany to announce the Peace of Augsburg. Each century since, historians have piously performed their antiquarian rites in its honor. It was, to be sure, the most important Diet between that of Worms in 1521, when Luther stood alone, and the outbreak of the Thirty Years War which involved many nations. The oratorical monuments erected faithfully on these centennials have generally emphasized the great gain of Protestantism in legal recognition, the assurance, by God's grace, of the freedom of the church, and the honest good of peaceful coexistence. But a sober analysis produces an effect rather more astringent than exhilarating and medicinal than intoxicating.
Implementation and Assessment of Undergraduate Experiences in SOAP: An Atmospheric Science Research and Education Program.

ABSTRACT The Student Operational Aggie Doppler Radar Project (SOAP) involved 95 undergraduates in a research and education program to better understand the climatology of storms in southeast Texas from 2006–2010. This paper describes the structure, components, and implementation of the 1-credit-hour research course, comparing first-year participants' experiences and career outcomes with students who were engaged in SOAP for multiple years. Groups of five or six students, led by a senior-level undergraduate and mentored by a graduate student and faculty advisor, performed several daily research tasks, including producing precipitation forecasts, archiving observations, and operating and analyzing data from an S-band Doppler radar for precipitation events on their assigned day. Anonymous surveys given to SOAP students at the end of each semester indicated that student confidence in performing most SOAP tasks exhibited statistically significant positive correlations with their interest and experience in doin...
Heart Rate Variability Monitoring and Assessment System on Chip

This paper describes a system on a chip for heart rate variability monitoring and assessment. The system design applies digital techniques to measure RR intervals from ECG signals, then categorizes and stores HRV measures in an internal memory. The system has been tested for functionality, synthesized and laid out in a 0.5 mum CMOS technology in a 3times3 mm2 chip with less than 1.5 muW power dissipation. The chip detects all R peaks with millisecond accuracy after the initial 2 seconds of data, and stores up to 2 minutes of continuous ECG data and up to 4 minutes of HRV histogram. Compact size, low cost, and low power consumption make this chip suitable for employment in modern implantable and portable devices
A pipelined LMS adaptive filter architecture

A fine-grain pipelined architecture for least mean-square (LMS) filtering is developed by employing a stochastic form of look-ahead. With the stochastic form of look-ahead one can look for acceptable convergence behavior rather than invariance with respect to the input-output mapping. This architecture offers a trade-off between a variable output latency and adaptation accuracy. Analytical expressions describing the convergence properties are provided. A comparison with previous work indicates that the novel architecture has the least increase in hardware requirements and at the same time has the highest convergence speed in seconds. Simulation results confirm the desired analytical expressions. >
Interactions among plant species and microorganisms in salt marsh sediments.

The interactions among Spartina patens and sediment microbial populations and the interactions among Phragmites australis and sediment microbial populations were studied at monotypic sites in Piermont Marsh, a salt marsh of the Hudson River north of New York, N.Y., at key times during the growing season. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) effectively colonized S. patens but not P. australis, and there were seasonal increases and decreases that coincided with plant growth and senescence (17 and 6% of the S. patens root length were colonized, respectively). In sediment samples from the Spartina site, the microbial community and specific bacterial populations were at least twice as large in terms of number and biomass as the microbial community and specific bacterial populations in sediment samples from the Phragmites site, and peak values occurred during reproduction. Members of the domain Bacteria, especially members of the α-, γ-, and δ-subdivisions of the Proteobacteria, were the most abundant organisms at both sites throughout the growing season. The populations were generally more dynamic in samples from the Spartina site than in samples from the Phragmites site. No differences between the two sites and no differences during the growing season were observed when restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses of nifH amplicons were performed in an attempt to detect shifts in the diversity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Differences were observed only in the patterns generated by PCR or reverse transcription-PCR for samples from the Spartina site, suggesting that there were differences in the overall and active populations of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Regression analyses indicated that there was a positive interaction between members of the δ-subdivision of the Proteobacteria and root biomass but not between members of the δ-subdivision of the Proteobacteria and macroorganic matter at both sites. In samples from the Spartina site, there were indications that there were bacterium-fungus interactions since populations of members of the α-subdivision of the Proteobacteria were negatively associated with AMF colonization and populations of members of the γ-subdivision of the Proteobacteria were positively associated with AMF colonization.
Pipelining Tradeoffs of Massively Parallel SuperCISC Hardware Functions

Parallel processing using multiple processors is a well-established technique to accelerate many different classes of applications. However, as the density of chips increases, another technique to accelerate these applications is the use of application specific hardware processing blocks in parallel within a chip. SuperCISC hardware blocks utilize this method to accelerate scientific, signal, and image processing applications. By applying pipelining methodologies to SuperCISC functions, the effective amount of parallelism already present can be further increased. Automated register placement within a combinational dataflow graph (DFG) is governed by the desired maximum operating frequency provided as a parameter to the tool flow, as well as the results of static timing analysis of the circuit. Results presented include the design tradeoffs between increased performance, area, and energy. Additionally, benefits of pipelining compared to hardware replication as a means of achieving further parallelism is studied.