cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The future development of bacteria fighting medical devices: the role of graphene oxide.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The clinical challenge that research on antibacterial coatings faces nowadays is the need of reduction of resistant bacterial infections, major source of implant rejection and repeated surgery. In order to avoid microorganisms attachment and biofilm formation, coating materials on medical devices have been developed with shortcomings represented by short-term durability and induction of new mechanisms of bacterial resistance. Graphene-based films and hydrogel could represent the next generation protective coatings due to their excellent mechanical, chemical and thermal properties, high nanoparticle adsorption and antibacterial action.Areas covered: In this short commentary, we will report the recent developments of graphene oxide based coatings. Graphene oxide is a water-soluble derivative of graphene that allows high drug loading and miscibility with polymers, making it mouldable in any desired shape. Recent applications in wound healing and tissue engineering will be discussed as w...
Management of Systemic Right Ventricular Failure in Patients With Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries

In recent decades, significant progress has been made in the diagnosis and management of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA). Nevertheless, gradual dysfunction and failure of the right ventricle (RV) in the systemic circulation remain the main contributors to mortality and disability for patients with ccTGA, especially after adolescence. Anatomic repair of ccTGA effectively resolves the problem of failure of the systemic RV and has good early and midterm results. However, this strategy is applicable primarily in infants and children up to their teens and has associated risks and limitations, and new challenges can arise in the late postoperative period. Patients with ccTGA manifesting progressive systemic RV dysfunction beyond adolescence represent the major challenge. Several palliative options such as cardiac resynchronization therapy, tricuspid valve repair or replacement, pulmonary artery banding, and implantation of an assist device into the systemic RV can be used to improve functional status and to delay the progression of ventricular dysfunction in patients who are not suitable for anatomic correction of ccTGA. For adult patients with severe systemic RV failure, heart transplantation currently remains the only long-term lifesaving procedure, although donor organ availability remains one of the most limiting factors in this type of therapy. This review focuses on current surgical and medical strategies and interventional options for the prevention and management of systemic RV failure in adults and children with ccTGA.
MixL1 Expression Identifies Putative Hematopoietic Stem Cells In the Murine Allantois.

Abstract Abstract 1591 MixL1, a paired-type homeodomain transcription factor, is implicated in pre-hematopoietic commitment of stem cell populations. In poorly-differentiated human lymphoma and leukemia lines, MixL1 is inappropriately over-expressed (Drakos et al., Human Pathol 2007:38:500). When constitutively expressed in mice, MixL1 is sufficient to induce Acute Myeloid Leukemia (Glaser et al., PNAS 2006:103:16460). On the basis of these observations, we hypothesize that MixL1 plays an important role in gating the cellular decision to remain in a poorly differentiated and proliferative phase rather than proceeding to definitive hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) identity. Several years ago, the placenta was shown to be a major site of hematopoiesis (Gekas et al., Dev Cell 2005:8:365; Ottersbach and Dzierzak, Dev Cell 2005:8:377). The placenta is composed of the chorionic disc and the allantois, the latter of which matures into the umbilical component of the placenta. The allantois exhibits definitive hematopoietic potential (Ziegler et al., Development 2006:133:4183; Corbel et al., Dev Biol 2007:301:478), and has recently been demonstrated to contain a core of stem cells referred to as the Allantoic Core Domain, or ACD, where potential placental hematopoietic activity may originate (Downs et al., Dev Dyn 2009:238:532). Our immediate goal is to evaluate whether MixL1 is expressed in the allantois, and to establish its precise spatiotemporal whereabouts with respect to early markers of hematopoietic cells, such as Runx1 (Chen et al., Nature 2009:457:887). Using immunohistochemistry in conjunction with the LacZ/Runx1 reporter mouse (North et al., Development 1999:126:2563), we have demonstrated that MixL1 is strongly expressed in the blood islands of the yolk sac, as well as in a broad, contiguous posterior domain of the embryo that extends to include the ACD stem cell core of the allantois. This domain does not include Runx1, and MixL1 expression temporally precedes that of Runx1 in the allantois. As development proceeds, the MixL1 signal becomes most prominent in putative nascent blood cells budding off from the poorly-described blood vessel common to the allantois, yolk sac and dorsal aortae, which we have called the “Vessel of Confluence” (VOC). Here, fetal blood is shuttled into the umbilical cord to the chorion for exchange with the mother. Shortly thereafter, Runx1 begins to appear within VOC, and is co-expressed with MixL1. These findings provide preliminary evidence that MixL1 is expressed within the allantois, and within nascent blood cells derived from a specific arterial site common to the allantois, yolk sac, and fetus. Moreover, MixL1 expression appears to precede that of Runx1. Thus, MixL1 may identify one of the earliest hematopoietic precursor cell populations thus far known in mammals. Further, these data provide additional evidence that the allantois is a promising model system for the study of definitive hematopoiesis. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Viewing addiction as a brain disease promotes social injustice

The view of drug use and drug addiction as a brain disease serves to perpetuate unrealistic, costly, and discriminatory drug policies, argues Carl L. Hart.
Effect of mental health on post-operative infection rates following cervical spine fusion procedures.

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to determine whether having an existing psychiatric disorder is a risk factor for developing post-operative infection following anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF) and posterior cervical fusion (PCF). Results A total of 34,007 patients within Humana database was included in this study. Patients with mental disorders had post-operative infection rates of 3.2% and 4.4% within 1 and 3months, compared to 2.5% and 3.5% in patients without a psychiatric disorder (p Conclusions Patients with mental disorders had significantly higher rates of post-operative infection compared to patients who were never diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder.
Applying Knowledge Discovery in Databases in public health data set: challenges and concerns.

In attempting to apply Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD) to generate a predictive model from a health care dataset that is currently available to the public, the first step is to pre-process the data to overcome the challenges of missing data, redundant observations, and records containing inaccurate data. This study will demonstrate how to use simple pre-processing methods to improve the quality of input data.
Using Selectional Restrictions to Query an OWL Ontology

This paper discusses the linguistic module of an Ontology Natural Language Interaction System that is based on semantic restrictions. The system, called ONLI, takes as input questions in unrestricted natural language, translates them into nRQL, an extension to the RACER ontology query language, then generates answers as returned by the RACER ontology reasoning server. Translation into nRQL is done through a syntactic analysis (with Minipar), followed by the use of semantic restrictions imposed by the roles stored in the ontology to map terms in the question to concepts and roles in the ontology. The system was evaluated on the FungalWeb ontology using the mean reciprocal rank (MRR) measure used in question-answering. With a test set of 36 questions, the systems achieved an MRR of 0.72.
Analysis of “Use of Blood Glucose Meters Featuring Color Range Indicators Improves Glycemic Control and Patients With Diabetes in Comparison to Blood Glucose Meters Without Color (ACCENTS Study)”

Self-monitoring of blood glucose is a part of integral care of patients with diabetes mellitus. Understanding and appropriately responding to glucose levels is a fundamental part of self-management. Grady et al's work, published in the current issue of Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, investigated whether switching people with diabetes from their usual meter to a meter featuring color range indicator (CRI) could improve glycemic control, by facilitating improved understanding of blood glucose targets. In this small but well-designed study, the authors have shown that meters with CRI features offer a potential advantage and may improve glucose control in patients with diabetes, both with T1D and T2D, across the therapy spectrum from oral agents to insulin therapy.
Continuous Intragastric Dextrose: A Therapeutic Option for Refractory Hypoglycemia in Congenital Hyperinsulinism

Feeding problems are frequent in infants with congenital hyperinsulinism (HI) and may be exacerbated by continuous enteral nutrition (EN) used to maintain euglycemia. Our center's HI team uses dextrose solution given continuously via gastric tube (intrasgastric dextrose, IGD) for infants not fully responsive to conventional medical therapy or pancreatectomy. Here, we describe our practice as well as growth, feeding, and adverse events in infants with HI exposed to IGD. Methods This was a retrospective cohort of infants with HI treated with IGD from 2009-2017. Primary outcomes were weight-for-length and body mass index Z-scores (WFL-Z and BMI-Z) in the year following IGD initiation. Secondary outcomes included EN use and adverse events. We used multivariable regression to assess covariates of interest. Results We studied 32 subjects (13 female) with a median age at IGD initiation of 73 days (range 17-367); median follow-up was 11.2 months (range 5.0-14.2). WFL-Z did not change significantly over time (p > 0.05). EN use decreased significantly over time, i.e., at 0 months: 72% (95% CI 53-85) vs. at 12 months 39% (95% CI 22-59). No potential adverse events led to discontinuation of IGD. Conclusions Over a median follow-up of nearly 1 year, IGD was well-tolerated, with no change in WFL-Z or BMI-Z from baseline.
The Effects of Color Vision Deficiencies on Medical Professionals and Proposed Countermeasures

Diagnosing various medical conditions and interpreting the results of colorimetric tests requires medical professionals to utilize color-based cues. However, those with a color vision deficiency (CVD) are at an increased risk of misdiagnosing patients and incorrectly interpreting the results of colorimetric tests. The most common CVDs afflicting medical professionals are deuteranomaly, deuteranopia, protanomaly, and protanopia, all of which reduce the ability to perceive a difference between green, yellow, orange, and red hues. For example, it has been found that medical professionals and students with a CVD have a decreased ability to detect blood in stool samples and are more likely to misread the results of colorimetric tests. In an effort to reduce these types of errors, potential countermeasures are explored, including screening for CVDs early on in medical school, implementing redundant coding principles for colorimetric medical tests, and designing efficient support systems for medical professional...
Climate Change, Tropospheric Warming, and Stratospheric Cooling

Climate models predict that rising atmospheric CO2 will simultaneously warm the troposphere and cool the stratosphere. This combination of tropospheric warming and stratospheric cooling is found in the observational data over a period of rising atmospheric CO2. Although strong correlations between these time series are found in the source data, the correlations do not survive into the detrended series at annual or five-year time scales. The absence of detrended correlation implies that the correlations seen in the source data derive from shared trends and not from responsiveness at annual or five-year time scales. The results are inconsistent with the theory that rising atmospheric CO2 simultaneously warms the troposphere and cools the lower stratosphere.
Evaluation of Virex® II 256 and Virex® Tb as Disinfectants of the Dimorphic Fungi Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii

Introduction:To date, limited published data exists regarding the efficacy of commonly used disinfectants in inactivating the Risk Group 3 dimorphic fungal pathogens, Coccidioides immitis and Cocci...
Evaluation of peak side resistance for rock socketed shafts in weak sedimentary rock from an extensive database of published field load tests: a limit state approach

This paper presents analyses of the measured peak side resistance of rock sockets constructed in weak claystone, shale, limestone, siltstone, and sandstone. The peak side resistance is obtained fro...
The VW Diesel Scandal: A Case of Corporate Commissioned Greenwashing

Few corporate scandals involving greenwashing are more blatant and laden with disregard for the environment and a firm’s own consumer base than Volkswagen’s (VW) recent Dieselgate. Employing both decoupling and attention deflection greenwashing tactics, VW attempted to mislead millions of unsuspecting auto owners in an attempt to position itself as one of the world’s “greenest” auto manufacturers. The following case outlines many of the managerial tactics employed by VW, the impact these actions had on corporate performance, the financial penalties incurred, and the corporate culture that made it all possible
Proof of the ergodic theorem and the H-theorem in quantum mechanics Translation of: Beweis des Ergodensatzes und des H-Theorems in der neuen Mechanik

It is shown how to resolve the apparent contradiction between the macroscopic approach of phase space and the validity of the uncertainty relations. The main notions of statistical mechanics are re-interpreted in a quantum-mechanical way, the ergodic theorem and the H-theorem are formulated and proven (without “assumptions of disorder”), followed by a discussion of the physical meaning of the mathematical conditions characterizing their domain of validity.
Mammary Resistance Mechanisms: Endogenous

The incidence and severity of mastitis is directly related to changes in the composition, magnitude, and efficiency of the mammary gland defense system. Mammary gland defense involves a complex system of tissues, cells, and molecules that work together to protect against mastitis-causing organisms. Individual components of the mammary immune system can be classified by two functional categories that include the innate and adaptive immunity. The innate and adaptive immune systems are highly interactive and function to not only prevent bacterial invasion of the mammary gland, but also eliminate existing infections and restore mammary tissues to normal function. The development of innovative strategies that can enhance otherwise impaired mammary gland defense mechanisms during periods of increased disease susceptibility could have a major impact on the incidence of mastitis.
Multi-autonomous robot enhanced mobile ad-hoc network under uncertain and vulnerable environment (Conference Presentation)

This paper studies the problem of real-time routing in a multi-autonomous robot enhanced network at the uncertain and vulnerable tactical edge. In practical harsh environment such as a battlefield, the uncertainty of social mobility and complexity of vulnerable environment due to unpredictable physical and cyber-attacks from the enemy would seriously affect the effectiveness and practicality of these emerging network protocols. This paper presents a GT-SaRE-MANET (Game-Theoretic Situation-aware Robot Enhanced Mobile Ad-hoc Network) routing protocol that adopts the online reinforcement learning technique to supervise the mobility of multi-robots as well as handle the uncertainty and potential physical and cyber-attack at the tactical edge. The proposed design can better support the virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technology in the future battlefield.
Medication Safety in Chronic Lung Disease with Cardiac Comorbidity

Drug therapies play an integral role in the treatment of both chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Optimizing medication efficacy and safety in these patients is complicated by interrelationships among aging, frequent healthcare encounters, polypharmacy, alterations in drug disposition related to heart disease, aerosol drug delivery, drug interactions, and heightened risks of adverse-effects. In addition to side-effects associated with oral and parenteral therapies, risks of systemic effects associated with inhaled medications must also be considered. Medications commonly used in the treatment of COPD with increased risks of cardiac events include inhaled bronchodilators, anti-infectives, and systemic corticosteroids. On the other hand, respiratory-related adverse effects of cardiac drugs such as non-selective β-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), and anti-arrhythmics are also important considerations. Most prospective clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of inhaled bronchodilators have not found a greater risk of cardiac events, however, patients with CVD are usually excluded. Conversely, retrospective studies of healthcare databases and meta-analysis tend to show an association with inhaled bronchodilators with cardiac events. There are now several prospective studies of COPD patients with significant heart disease that found either minimal, no increased or decreased adverse cardiac effects. Studies show that inhaled bronchodilators can improve cardiac performance in hyper-inflated COPD patients. Partially related to concerns of adverse respiratory effects, the under-prescribing of β-blockers in COPD is an important issue as cardio-selective agents have been shown to reduce mortality in COPD patients with heart disease. Continued basic, translational, and clinical research will provide greater insight into optimizing medication efficacy and safety in this population.
A Compact Wireless Passive Breath Analyzer for Health Monitoring

In this paper, a passive wireless breath analyzer is presented that utilizes capillary condensation in nano porous substrate for volatile profiling. The sensing element is an interdigitated sensor coupled to an inductor coil forming an inductor-capacitor (LC) resonant tank fabricated on a flexible porous substrate. The volatiles condense into the pores of the substrate and changes the effective dielectric constant of the substrate which in turn impedance loads the sensor and shifts the resonance frequency. The change in resonance is co-related to the concentration of volatiles condensed into the substrate. For demonstrating the capability of a practical sensing approach, a digital circuitry along with an energy harvesting module is coupled to the LC tank which converts the impedance data into digital bits. The bits are modulated and transmitted back to the receiver making it compatible with existing long- range RFID infrastructure. For proof of concept, methanol is chosen as the volatile under test. The proposed sensor is capable of detecting 5 ppm of methanol at room temperature and at atmospheric pressure. The sensor is passive and does not require a battery for operation. The rapid field-operable nature of the sensor allows it to be used as breath analyzers for identifying different health markers as well as determining blood alcohol content.
The Association Between Endotracheal Tube Size and Aspiration (During Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing) in Acute Respiratory Failure Survivors.

Objectives To determine whether a modifiable risk factor, endotracheal tube size, is associated with the diagnosis of postextubation aspiration in survivors of acute respiratory failure. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting ICUs at four academic tertiary care medical centers. Patients Two hundred ten patients who were at least 18 years old, admitted to an ICU, and mechanically ventilated with an endotracheal tube for longer than 48 hours were enrolled. Interventions Within 72 hours of extubation, all patients received a flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing examination that entailed administration of ice, thin liquid, thick liquid, puree, and cracker boluses. Patient demographics, treatment variables, and hospital outcomes were abstracted from the patient's medical records. Endotracheal tube size was independently selected by the patient's treating physicians. Measurements and main results For each flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing examination, laryngeal pathology was evaluated, and for each bolus, a Penetration Aspiration Scale score was assigned. Aspiration (Penetration Aspiration Scale score ≥ 6) was further categorized into nonsilent aspiration (Penetration Aspiration Scale score = 6 or 7) and silent aspiration (Penetration Aspiration Scale score = 8). One third of patients (n = 68) aspirated (Penetration Aspiration Scale score ≥ 6) on at least one bolus, 13.6% (n = 29) exhibited silent aspiration, and 23.8% (n = 50) exhibited nonsilent aspiration. In a multivariable analysis, endotracheal tube size (≤ 7.5 vs ≥ 8.0) was significantly associated with patients exhibiting any aspiration (Penetration Aspiration Scale score ≥ 6) (p = 0.016; odds ratio = 2.17; 95% CI 1.14-4.13) and with risk of developing laryngeal granulation tissue (p = 0.02). Conclusions Larger endotracheal tube size was associated with increased risk of aspiration and laryngeal granulation tissue. Using smaller endotracheal tubes may reduce the risk of postextubation aspiration.
Mechanisms behind irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking

Abstract Irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) is a degradation mode for core structural alloys of light water reactors for which the mechanism has remained elusive. Numerous mechanisms have been proposed; however, any single feature either does not correlate well with cracking or it does not provide a physical basis for the process. Rather, the mechanism is more complex, involving a combination of deformation mode, local stress on the grain boundary, protectiveness of the oxide film, and rate of repassivation upon rupture. It is now becoming realized that the supply of chromium to the surface by grain boundary diffusion is critical to the establishment of a protective, chromium-rich film on top of the grain boundary and good resistance to crack initiation. Formation of a chromium-poor film as well as film rupture result in penetration of oxygen down the grain boundary to form brittle grain boundary oxides. Localized deformation in the form of dislocation channels results in the generation of extremely high stresses normal to the grain boundary at locations where the channels impinge. These normal stresses are sufficient to rupture the grain boundary oxide, allowing for deeper penetration of oxygen, which then leads to further grain boundary embrittlement. The critical processes that lead to stress corrosion crack initiation may be somewhat different from those that sustain crack advance.
Automating the Investigation of Sophisticated Cyber Threats with Cognitive Agents

This chapter presents an approach to orchestrating security incident response investigations using cognitive agents trained to detect sophisticated cyber threats and integrated into cybersecurity operations centers. After briefly introducing advanced persistent threats (APTs), it overviews the APT detection model and how agents are trained. It then describes how hypotheses that may explain security alerts are generated using collected data and threat intelligence, how the analyses of these hypotheses guide the collection of additional evidence, the design of the Collection Manager software, used to integrate cognitive agents with selected collection agents, how results of searches are added to the knowledge base as evidence, and how the generated hypotheses are tested using this evidence. These concepts are illustrated with an example of detecting an APT attack. We finally overview our experimental method and results.
The Nonprofit Sector and the New State Activism/ Book Review of A Corporate Form of Freedom: The Emergence of the Nonprofit Sector

The burgeoning field of nonprofit and philanthropic law has a new and superb history in Norman Silber’s pathbreaking A Corporate Form of Freedom: The Emergence o f the Nonprofit Sector. In confronting “the history of efforts to control the creation and permissible purposes for nonprofit corporations by states, and . . . the relocation of these efforts to the Internal Revenue Service” (p. 5), Professor Silber effectively delineates the rich history of our ambiguous, often conflicted attempts to regulate the American nonprofit sector, and points clearly to the ways in which history influences the current complexities of state regulation. From a discredited era of state intrusion into the purposes and goals of nonprofit formation, a history admirably analyzed by Silber’s volume, we have now turned to an inconsistent pattern of several decades of post-registration state monitoring of the nonprofit sector — in some jurisdictions a virtual ceding of nonprofit monitoring to the Internal Revenue Service, and in others a new state activism well worth exploring.
Evaluation of Neoplastic Processes

Cerebral tumors are common causes of severe neuropsychologic deficit in humans. In many cases, these individuals are not seen by neuropsychologists because they may initially present with strong signs of increases in intracranial pressure, strong focal neurologic signs, or seizure activity which can rapidly lead to medical care and treatment. Other neoplasms, however, may present very subtle signs which can be missed or ignored when the patient is evaluated. The symptoms may, in fact, superficially suggest an apparently clear-cut psychiatric disorder. Although this occurs rarely in behaviorally disturbed populations, the presence of psychiatric or cognitive symptoms with such tumors is frequent; the exact symptoms depend upon such factors as the location of the tumor, the rate of growth, the stage of development, and the effects of brain organization and metabolism as a whole (Lishman, 1978).
Inhibition of autophagy in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by vaginal fluid from women with a malignant adnexal mass

Inhibition of autophagy is a characteristic of ovarian cancer. We determined whether inhibition of autophagy by vaginal fluid could provide a non-invasive test for cancer risk stratification in women presenting with an adnexal mass. Vaginal fluid supernatants from 90 women undergoing evaluation for a suspicious adnexal mass were incubated with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from healthy women under conditions that induce autophagy. Rapamycin, an autophagy inducer, was added to some cultures. After 48 hr the cells were collected, lysed and assayed by ELISA for intracellular p62 concentration. p62 is a cytoplasmic protein that is consumed during autophagy induction. Its concentration is inversely proportional to the extent of autophagy induction. Clinical information including pathological diagnoses was obtained after completion of laboratory studies. Mean p62 levels were 9.4 ng/ml in the 21 women with a subsequent malignant diagnosis, 4.5 ng/ml in the eight women with a borderline tumor diagnosis and 3.6 ng/ml in the 61 women with benign disease (p < 0.0001, malignant vs. others). When rapamycin was added to the vaginal fluid-PBMC co-incubation, p62 levels in samples from women with a malignant diagnosis decreased to 3.3 ng/ml, a level comparable to what was observed with the nonmalignant samples. Vaginal fluid inhibition of autophagy can differentiate between women with malignant and benign adnexal masses.
Impact of the 1992 Changes in the SEC Proxy Rules and Executive Compensation Reporting Requirements

In 1992, the SEC abandoned its historical stance that executive pay issues relate to the ordinary business of a corporation when it revised its proxy rules and executive compensation reporting requirements. This change in policy allows executive pay issues to be subject to shareholder votes, while the new rules require greater pay disclosure and justification. The SEC argued this was needed to allow more effective monitoring of management by shareholders, which, they asserted, would help to reduce agency costs associated with the separation of firm ownership from control. However, the empirical results indicate shareholders experienced significant wealth losses to announcements concerning the new executive compensation reporting requirements. This suggests that the new rules have subjected boards to pressure about compensation issues from interests whose primary motivation may not be to increase the pay-for-performance sensitivity of executive pay, such as the media, labor unions and political activists.
Experimental onset threshold and magnetic pressure pileup for 3D Sweet-Parker reconnection

In space, astrophysical and laboratory plasmas, magnetic reconnect ion converts magnetic into particle energy during unsteady, explosive events. The abrupt onset and cessation has been a long standing puzzle. We show the first three-dimensional (3D) laboratory example of onset and stagnation of Sweet-Parker type magnetic reconnection between magnetized and parallel current (flux) ropes driven by magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) attraction and 3D instability. Mutually attracting flux ropes advect and merge oppositely directed magnetic fields. Magnetic flux is annihilated, but reaches soon a threshold where magnetic flux and pressure pile up, and reconnection magnetic topology appears. This occurs when inflow speeds exceed the SweetParker speed v{sub SP} = v{sub A} / S{sup 1/2}, where v{sub A} is the Alfven speed and S is the Lundquist number for the reconnection layer, as magnetic flux arrives faster than flux annihilation can process it. Finally piled up fields generate MHD reaction forces that stall the inflow and the reconnection process.
DIESEL ENGINE INJECTION AND COMBUSTION OF SLURRIES OF COAL, CHARCOAL, AND COKE IN DIESEL FUEL

Slurry fuels of various forms of solids in diesel fuel were develoted and evaluated for their relative potential as fuel for diesel engines. Thirteen test fuels with different solids concentrations were formulated using eight different materials. The injection and atomization characteristics (transient diesel sprays) of the test fuels were examined in a spray bomb in which a nitrogen atmosphere was maintained at high pressure and temperature, 4.2 MPa and 480/sup 0/C, respectively. The diagnostics of the sprays included high-speed movies and high-resolution still photographs. The slurries were also tested in a single-cylinder CLR engine in both direct-injection and prechamber configurations. The data included the normal performance parameters as well as heat release rates and emissions. In most cases, the slurries performed very much like the baseline fuel. The combustion data indicated that a large fraction (90 percent or more) of the solids were burning in the engine. It appears that the prechamber engine configuration is more tolerant of the slurries than the direct-injection configuration.
Transformation of Knights with Magic

This paper explores the idea of how fairies were able to shape the identities of knights within the medieval time period. It will discuss two main fairies, Morgan le Fay and the fairy from Marie de France's Lanval. A history of magic is reviewed to have a better understanding of what witches and an enchantresses were like in this time period followed by a disucssion of a fairy's true role in society at that time.
Identification and verification of BEOL metal fails due to ESD stress using current density analysis tool

In this work, scaled BEOL structures with variable finger pitch and metal grids with variable spacing are tested under ESD stress. A current density analysis tool is used to simulate the hardware results. The tool is successfully verified for the metal fails for variable finger pitch and gridded structures.
Design Feasibility of a Free Piston Internal Combustion Engine/Hydraulic Pump

A direct acting free piston internal combustion engine/hydrostatic pump is analyzed. This device would take the place of a conventional engine-driven hydrostatic pump, and would be expected to offer significant advantages in cost, weight, and efficiency. The free piston configuration eliminates the need for a crankshaft-connecting rod system, and the comparable mechanism of the pump that converts rotary to reciprocating motion. Analysis of the design was done by computer simulation using a thermodynamic model of the combustion cylinder in combination with the system dynamics
Anomaly detection using manifold embedding and its applications in transportation corridors

The formation of secure transportation corridors, where cargoes and shipments from points of entry can be dispatched safely to highly sensitive and secure locations, is a high national priority. One of the key tasks of the program is the detection of anomalous cargo based on sensor readings in truck weigh stations. Due to the high variability, dimensionality, and/or noise content of sensor data in transportation corridors, appropriate feature representation is crucial to the success of anomaly detection methods in this domain. In this paper, we empirically investigate the usefulness of manifold embedding methods for feature representation in anomaly detection problems in the domain of transportation corridors. We focus on both linear methods, such as multi-dimensional scaling (MDS), as well as nonlinear methods, such as locally linear embedding (LLE) and isometric feature mapping (ISOMAP). Our study indicates that such embedding methods provide a natural mechanism for keeping anomalous points away from the dense/normal regions in the embedding of the data. We illustrate the efficacy of manifold embedding methods for anomaly detection through experiments on simulated data as well as real truck data from weigh stations.
Beamspace MIMO transceivers for low-complexity and near-optimal communication at mm-wave frequencies

Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems that exploit multi-antenna arrays and millimeter-wave systems operating in the 30-300GHz band offer synergistic opportunities for meeting the exploding data requirements of wireless networks. While combining these technologies offers the advantages of high-dimensional MIMO, it increases transceiver complexity dramatically in conventional MIMO approaches due to the large number of antennas required for optimal performance. On the other hand, the dimension of the communication subspace is typically much smaller than the system dimension in practice. By multiplexing data onto highly directional orthogonal beams, beamspace MIMO (B-MIMO) provides direct and near-optimum access to the low-dimensional communication subspace and dramatically lowers transceiver complexity when realized with analog beamforming. In this paper we present and analyze the capacity of several low-complexity B-MIMO transceivers for realizing multi-Gigabits/s speeds.
The moderately interacting Algol binary RS Cephei

In agreement with previous observers, it is found that the eclipsing binary RS Cep is an Algol-type semidetached system. From IUE spectra and Lick Observatory optical scans, the spectral types of the components are determined as B9.7e V + G8 III-IV. The effective temperature of the primary star is found to be 9670 K (with an uncertainty of about 150 K). From the photometric elements, the spectral types, and the semidetached nature of the system, a satisfactory model of the system is developed, giving masses 2.4 and 0.4 solar mass, radii 2.3 and 7.6 solar radii, and separation of the components 32 solar radii. This model leads to a distance of 910 pc; the color excess is E(B - V) = 0.03 mag. Balmer emission lines are observed in the optical scans, so that the system is a Be star. An IUE spectrum obtained during the total primary eclipse reveals a number of UV emission lines, typical for interacting Algols and W Ser stars. Power emitted in these lines is about twice as high as that in TT Hya or U Cep, therefore, RS Cep is a relatively active Algol system. A broad 'bulge' of excess relative flux is observed roughly between wavelengths 210 and 270 nm in the totality spectrum, and interpreted as broad blends of emission lines of Fe II; the same Fe II lines, formed in a circumstellar shell or disk, cause additional absorption in the out-of-eclipse spectra.
Spectrophotometric study of bromide interference in a cholesterol reaction

Abstract A spectrophotometric study of the interference of bromide in the ferric chloride reaction for cholesterol has been described. The interference has been shown to be primarily an enhancement of the color reaction and secondarily an additive color owing to a change in the spectrum of the reagent blank. Tested methods of eliminating the interference included removal of bromide by ion exchange, metathetical exchange using AgIO3, addition of bromide to a reaction plateau and a change in the solvent character of the reaction medium. It was determined that the use of an ion-exchange resin and the substitution of ethanol for acetic acid along with a modified iron reagent were the simplest choices for eliminating bromide interference in this determination. Iodate was shown to depress color formation and it appears to be a detrimental solution to the problem. Further work on the mechanism of the iodate interference is presently in progress.
Reduced setup time static D flip-flop

The design of a reduced setup time static D type flip-flop is described. The setup time of the proposed static D flip-flop is equivalent to that of dynamic D flip-flops.
Long-term recordings of local field potentials from implanted deep brain stimulation electrodes.

Background Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus is an effective treatment for Parkinson disease. However, DBS is not responsive to an individual's disease state, and programming parameters, once established, do not change to reflect disease state. Local field potentials (LFPs) recorded from DBS electrodes are being investigated as potential biomarkers for the Parkinson disease state. However, no patient data exist about what happens to LFPs over the lifetime of the implant. Objective We investigated whether LFP amplitude and response to limb movement differed between patients implanted acutely with subthalamic nucleus DBS electrodes and patients implanted 2 to 7 years previously. Methods We recorded LFPs at DBS surgery time (9 subjects), 3 weeks after initial placement (9 subjects), and 2 to 7 years (median: 3.5) later during implanted programmable generator replacement (11 sides). LFP power-frequency spectra for each of 3 bipolar electrode derivations of adjacent contacts were calculated over 5-minute resting and 30-second movement epochs. Monopolar impedance data were used to evaluate trends over time. Results There was no significant difference in β-band LFP amplitude between initial electrode implantation (OR) and 3-week post-OR times (P=.94). However, β-band amplitude was lower at implanted programmable generator replacement times than in OR (P=.008) and post-OR recordings (P=.039). Impedance measurements declined over time (P Conclusion Postoperative LFP activity can be recorded years after DBS implantation and demonstrates a similar profile in response to movement as during acute recordings, although amplitude may decrease. These results support the feasibility of constructing a closed-loop, patient-responsive DBS device based on LFP activity.
Microstructure of Feta Cheese Made Using Different Cultures as Determined by Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy

ABSTRACT: The objective of this work was to observe the microstructure of feta cheese using confocal scanning laser microscopy. Low fat cheese and cheese containing capsule-producing cultures were made. The protein network was observed using the reflectance mode of the confocal microscope. Fat was stained by Nile red dye diluted with whey. More even distribution of fat with a larger number of smaller globules was observed in cheese made with noncapsule-forming culture compared to that made with the capsule-forming culture. Nonfat cheese had compact structure when made with noncapsule-forming culture which contrasted with the open structure observed in cheese made with the capsule-forming culture
Nucleus basalis of Meynert neuronal activity during a delayed response task in monkey

A total of 183 nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) neurons were recorded in a monkey performing a delayed response task. Significant changes in discharge rate were detected in 74% of the NBM cells sampled with most responses occurring in the choice (64%) or the reward (67%) epochs of the task. Neuronal responses in the cueing epoch were less common (31%) and less robust than in the choice epoch, although the animal made essentially the same arm movement in both cases. Only 14% of the task-related NBM cells had significant changes in discharge rate in the delay period, and none of these responded differentially for the two positions indicated in the preceding cueing epoch. These findings do not support a role of the NBM in the differential responses of cortical neurons in delayed response tasks, but they provide further evidence for NBM involvement in aspects of reward acquisition.
Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation after Cardiac Surgery in Young Children: Incidence, Etiology, and Risk Factors

Children undergoing congenital heart surgery require postoperative mechanical ventilation. Despite recent advances, prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) is necessary in some patients and may increase the risk of post-operative complications. The purpose of this study was to identify incidence and risk factors for PMV. The authors performed a retrospective chart review. They defined PMV as ventilation longer than 48 hours. Mixed-effects linear regression models were used to assess the relationship between each factor and duration of mechanical ventilation. Separate models were developed for preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods. To determine the extent to which a combination of risk factors would predict PMV, the most significant variables were adopted to fit a model using number of risk factors to predict PMV. Two hundred twelve children ≤ 36 months were included. Eleven (5.2%) children died perioperatively. Of the patients, 72.6% (143/197) were extubated by 48 hours. Age < 6 months, p...
Evidence of spinocerebellar mossy fiber segregation in the juvenile staggerer cerebellum

Developmental and experimental studies of climbing fiber and mossy fiber connectivity in the cerebellum have suggested that Purkinje cells are the critical organizing elements for connectivity patterns. This hypothesis is supported by evidence that spinocerebellar mossy fiber projections are abnormally diffuse in P25 sg/sg mutant mice in which the differentiation of a reduced number of sg/sg Purkinje cells is blocked due to a cell autonomous defect. However, mossy fiber distribution may be disrupted in sg/sg mutants not because of the Purkinje cell deficits, but because of the death of virtually all granule cells following the 4th postnatal week. To test this hypothesis, we have analyzed the distribution of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP)-labeled spinocerebellar mossy fiber terminals in sg/sg mutants at the end of the period of granule cell genesis (postnatal day [P] 12-P13) and before massive granule cell death (P16). Two percent WGA-HRP was injected into the lower thoracic/upper lumbar region of the spinal cord of eight homozygous sg/sg mutants (P12-P16) and five controls (+/sg and +/+). We have found that spinocerebellar mossy fibers segregate into distinct terminal fields in the anterior cerebellar lobules of P12 to P16 sg/sg mutants, although the medial-lateral distribution of spinocerebellar mossy fiber projections is different from controls. The results from this study and previous analysis of sg/sg mutants support the hypothesis that topographic cues are expressed in the early postnatal staggerer mutant, but mossy fiber terminals become disorganized or retract as granule cells die in the older staggerer mutant. J. Comp. Neurol. 378:354-362, 1997.
Polarization switching mechanisms and electromechanical properties of La-modified lead zirconate titanate ceramics

The electromechanical properties of (Pb1−xLax)(ZryTi1−y)O3 [PLZT x/y/(1 - y)] have been investigated in the compositional range 0 < x < 0.10 for y = 0.65 (rhombohedral PLZT) and 0 < x < 0.18 for y = 0.40 (tetragonal PLZT). Both field-induced strains (∊-E) associated with polarization switching and piezoelectric responses (d33) were studied. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dielectric investigations were also performed. Room temperature TEM investigations revealed common trends in the domain structure with increasing La content for both PLZT x/65/35 and x/40/60, including a micron-sized domain structure, a subdomain tweed-like structure, and a nanopolar domain state. Changes in the field-induced strains and piezoelectric properties were then related to these microstructural trends. The dominant electromechanical coupling mechanism in the micron-sized domain state was found to be piezoelectricity. However, an electrostrictive coupling became apparent with the appearance of the subdomain tweed-like structures, and became stronger in the nanopolar domain state. It is believed that polarization switching can-occur through 70°or 110°domains, the subdomain tweed-like structure, or nanopolar domains depending on La content.
Microbiological assay for chemical species of selenium in foods utilizing Escherichia coli formate dehydrogenase

The problems inherent in chemical speciation of selenium in food are being overcome by developing a bioassay which takes advantage of the presence in Escherichia coli of formate dehydrogenase enzymes that require selenium for synthesis. Formate dehydrogenase catalyzes the formation of CO2 from formic acid, a metabolite of sugar fermentation. Various selenium compounds utilized in formate dehydrogenase production can be quantitated by measuring CO2 with an Infrared Analyzer. This assay is sensitive at the picomoles/mg level of selenium in food. Linear dose response curves have been generated over several orders of magnitude, extending down to the picomoles/ml range for selenomethionine, selenocystine and sodium selenite. A dose response relationship has been demonstrated to acid hydrolyzates of a wheat gluten reference material (NIST RM 8418) obtained from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.