cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Control of bidirectional DC/DC converters in reconfigurable, modular battery systems

Bidirectional power systems such as renewable energy systems and DC micro grids employ battery cells for energy storage and a DC bus for loads and power sources. This paper presents a control approach to interconnect reconfigurable modules that serve as an interface between battery cells and the DC bus. The modules are composed of series or parallel output sub-module converters that have single or multiple battery cells connected at their input port. The proposed control approach achieves DC bus voltage regulation and output voltage sharing among sub-module power converters under bidirectional power flow, and can be used for an arbitrary number of converters in either series or parallel configuration. The control strategy performs continuous cell balancing by actively distributing power differentially among sub-module converters according to the relative state-of-charge and capacities of the battery cells. A reconfigurable module composed of two series or parallel output 480 W, 27–37 V dual-active bridge sub-module converters, and twelve 25 Ah Li-ion NMC battery cells is used to demonstrate DC bus voltage regulation and cell balancing in hardware experiments.
Translabyrinthine vestibular schwannoma resection with simultaneous cochlear implantation

Objectives: (1) Report a rare case of translabyrinthine resection of a sporadic vestibular schwannoma (VS) and concurrent cochlear implantation (CI). (2) Discuss pre-, intra-, and post-operative co...
MnNiO3 revisited with modern theoretical and experimental methods.

MnNiO3 is a strongly correlated transition metal oxide that has recently been investigated theoretically for its potential application as an oxygen-evolution photocatalyst. However, there is no experimental report on critical quantities such as the band gap or bulk modulus. Recent theoretical predictions with standard functionals such as LDA+U and HSE show large discrepancies in the band gaps (about 1.23 eV), depending on the nature of the functional used. Hence there is clearly a need for an accurate quantitative prediction of the band gap to gauge its utility as a photocatalyst. In this work, we present a diffusion quantum Monte Carlo study of the bulk properties of MnNiO3 and revisit the synthesis and experimental properties of the compound. We predict quasiparticle band gaps of 2.0(5) eV and 3.8(6) eV for the majority and minority spin channels, respectively, and an equilibrium volume of 92.8 A3, which compares well to the experimental value of 94.4 A3. A bulk modulus of 217 GPa is predicted for MnNiO3. We rationalize the difficulty for the formation of ordered ilmenite-type structure with specific sites for Ni and Mn to be potentially due to the formation of antisite defects that form during synthesis, which ultimately affects the physical properties of MnNiO3.
Identifying Spatial Variability in Greenland's Outlet Glacier Response to Ocean Heat

Although the Greenland ice sheet is losing mass as a whole, patterns of change on both local and regional scales are complex. Spatial statistics reveal large spatial variability of dynamic thinning rates of Greenland's marine-terminating glaciers between 2003 and 2009; only 18% of glacier thinning rates co-vary with neighboring glaciers. Most spatially-correlated thinning rates are clusters of stable glaciers in the Thule, Scoresby Sund, and Southwest regions. Conversely, where spatial-autocorrelation is low, individual glaciers are more strongly controlled by local, glacier-scale features than by regional influences. We investigate possible sources of local control of oceanic forcing by combining grounding line depths and ocean model output to estimate mean ocean heat content adjacent to 74 glaciers. Linear regression models indicate stronger correlation of dynamic thinning rates with ocean heat content compared to those with grounding line depths alone. The correlation between ocean heat and dynamic thinning is robust for all of Greenland except glaciers in the West, and strongest in the Southeast (coefficient of determination of 0.81), implying that glaciers with deeper grounded termini here are most sensitive to changes in ocean forcing. In the Northwest, accounting for shallow sills in the regressions improves the correlation of water depth with glacial thinning, highlighting the need for comprehensive knowledge of fjord geometry.
Clinical skills as demonstrated by a comprehensive clinical performance examination: who performs better - men or women?

Purpose: Determine whether gender predicted student performance on a clinical performance examination (CPX) when controlling for pre-matriculation and medical school performance. Method: A sixteen-station CPX, utilizing standardized patients (SPs), was administered to the fourth-year students three successive years at one United States medical school. Scores for each student by discipline and skills across stations were generated. Bivariate correlation and multiple regression analyses were performed to determine relationships between students' scores and pre-matriculation information (age, gender, MCAT, and undergraduate GPA) and medical school performance (first-, second- and third-year GPA, and USMLE Step 1). Results: The CPX mean score for all students was 65.1% (SD 6.2). The mean total score for men (n = 182) and women (n = 93) was 64.0% and 67.0%, respectively. Being a woman, positively affected a student's score in two models controlling for pre-matriculation and medical school performance by 2.8% or 0.47 standard deviations (SD) and 2.3% or 0.39 SD, respectively. Women scored numerically higher than men in all seven disciplines (internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics and psychiatry, p < 0.05) and for nine skills across all stations (introduction, history, physical examination, counseling and interpersonal, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Women performed better than men on the University of Kentucky CPX. Being a woman was a positive and independent predictor of performance.
Massively Threaded Digital Forensics Tools

Digital forensics comprises the set of techniques to recover, preserve, and examine digital evidence and has applications in a number of important areas, including investigation of child exploitation, identity theft, counter-terrorism, and intellectual property disputes. Digital forensics tools must exhaustively examine and interpret data at a low level, because data of evidentiary value may have been deleted, partially overwritten, obfuscated, or corrupted. While forensics investigation is typically seen as an off-line activity, improving case turnaround time is crucial, because in many cases lives or livelihoods may hang in the balance. Furthermore, if more computational resources can be brought to bear, we believe that preventative network security (which must be performed on-line) and digital forensics can be merged into a common research focus. In this chapter we consider recent hardware trends and argue that multicore CPUs and Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) offer one solution to the problem of maximizing available compute resources.
Water Pollution Studies Using Raman Spectroscopy

Methods for adapting laser Raman spectroscopy for monitoring water pollution have been developed and tested. Both conventional and resonance Raman spectra have been measured; the latter effect lowers the detection limits by ~103. In general, Raman spectroscopy has the following advantages in pollution studies: (i) water is a very weak Raman scatterer, (ii) each chemical has a characteristic Raman fingerprint, (iii) quantitative measurements can be made easily, (iv) remote and flow-through detection systems are feasible. These advantages and the difficulties with the method are discussed herein.
Rational unified process and unified modeling language - a GOMS analysis

GOMS is a model that analyzes knowledge of how to do a task in terms of Goals, Operators, Methods and Selection rules. GOMS is one of the most popular theoretical models in the field of human-computer interaction. Since its introduction, the GOMS model has been extended, enhanced and applied to areas outside human-computer interaction. The goal of this chapter is to discuss the use of the GOMS model for the design and evaluation of modeling techniques. In this chapter, we introduce the GOMS concepts, discuss the applicability of GOMS for modeling and describe how GOMS can be used to analyze Rational Unified Process and Unified Modeling Language.
Ultrastructural Changes in the Aqueous Outflow Apparatus of Beagles with Inherited Glaucoma

Spontaneous glaucoma in the beagle was exhibited after 6 months of age by elevated intraocular pressures and open iridocorneal angles followed by secondary changes. In order to appreciate alterations of the aqueous outflow apparatus in dogs with this autosomal recessive disorder, the eyes of beagles with inherited glaucoma at ages 1 day through 34 months were examined by light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Developmentally, no notable differences were observed between normal and preglaucomatous outflow channels through 7 months of age. In 12-month-old glaucomatous chamber angles clustered basement membrane-like material was found scattered throughout the outer corneoscleral trabecular meshwork. In this region elastin-like fibers appeared to be more numerous and arranged less regularly than age-matched normal eyes. Occasional trabecular cells within the corneoscleral trabecular meshwork possessed small clusters of serrated, opaque rods within their cytoplasm. In the older glaucomatous dogs these changes were more generalized and extensive throughout the entire corneoscleral trabecular meshwork. In some individual eyes the anterior chamber angles were observed to be narrow both clinically and histologically. These outflow apparatuses were additionally characterized by compressed, less organized trabeculae with a concomitant build-up of extracellular materials. No correlation was found between the shallowness of the iridocorneal angle and increase in intraocular pressure. Primary glaucoma in the beagle during its earlier phases compared more positively to open-angle glaucoma in man than any of the other spontaneous types in animals. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 30:550-561,1989
Model Polymers for Probing Surface and Interfacial Phenomena

This chapter will review the use of model polymer systems for studying surface and interfacial properties. It is not intended to be all inclusive in regard to the overall chemistry of the systems, or even to review each and every polymer which has been investigated. This chapter is meant to provide a condensed overview of the bulk and surface characteristics of selected systems. Generally these model polymers are systematically prepared in order to change the bulk composition of polymeric material. The bulk composition is then extrapolated to the interface. It must be emphasized that this extrapolation is often not direct. The tendency is for the polymer to minimize its interfacial energies; thus, a polymer cast against a clean (high energy) glass surface may exhibit different surface properties than the same polymer’s air-exposed surface. These effects are more pronounced in block copolymers which may have large domains of different surface properties. A polymer with high glass transition temperature may retain its surface energies for extended periods of time or until annealing. Polymers with their glass transition below room temperature may reorient quite rapidly upon exposure to different environments and may have different groups exposed in an air environment as compared to an aqueous environment. (See Chapter 2.)
Nonstationary Processes: Transients, Limit Cycles, and Chaotic Trajectories

In the preceding chapters we have focused attention on the statistical thermodynamics of systems which are near equilibrium or near stable, nonequilibrium steady states. There are, however, many important examples of nonequilibrium systems that are nonstationary and exhibit nonlinear transients, periodic orbits, and bounded, aperiodic motion. The time course of variables in nonstationary systems is usually studied with the aid of differential equations. For macroscopic systems these equations correspond to the conditional average, and the three types of nonstationary behavior just mentioned represent the nonstationary average trajectories in physical ensembles. In Section 5.4 we have already studied an example of this sort, namely, the nonlinear isomerization reaction with the mechanism A+B⇆2B.
Improved T1 fitting with the MOLLI sequence

Background T1 mapping has great potential for diagnosing diffuse cardiomyopathies. Modified Look Locker Inversion Recovery (MOLLI) is a promising 2D SSFP technique to measure T1 differences between healthy and diseased states in cardiac tissue. However, this method has been found to provide variable T1 values at different flip angles. Here we develop an improved fitting algorithm which accounts for the imperfect RF flip angle profile and SSFP signal evolution in MOLLI. We show that significantly improved T1 accuracy can be achieved across a larger range of flip angle in human calf muscle. This algorithm is then applied to MOLLI data obtained in the heart using an optimized flip angle.
Investigating Sources of Heterogeneity with Three-Step Multilevel Factor Mixture Modeling: Beyond Testing Measurement Invariance in Cross-National Studies

We propose the three-step multilevel factor mixture modeling (ML FMM) to test measurement invariance (MI) across many groups and furthermore to model predictors of latent class membership that poss...
Carbon nanotube thin-film-transistors for gas identification

Abstract Single-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) based gas sensors have enormous potential in pollution monitoring in low concentration level because of its high sensitivity, fast response, and physical/chemical stability. However, the lack of selectivity has been a major drawback for its wide range employment. In this work, we fabricate thin film transistors (TFTs) using randomly distributed CNTs and investigate them for ammonia and nitrogen dioxide detection in air at low ppm concentrations. A sensing mechanism is proposed based on the interaction between gas molecules and different types of dwelling spots inside the channel area of a TFT. We present double exponential-convolution model to decipher sensor response as well as to explore its application in gas identification. In this context, the consistency in time constants is recognized, which is independent of gas concentration. More importantly, the time constants vary with respect to different gas types and TFTs. The uniqueness of time constants can work as identity verification for different sensing gases, which demonstrates that the sensor response is a distinctive behavior determined by the unique channel structure of each TFT. This work provides us a general strategy for gas identification in ppm level and a practical path to realize the advantages of CNT gas sensors in air quality detection as well as the industrial emission control.
Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluation of ABA Content on IQ Gains in Children with Autism

The present study examined the content of applied behavior analytic therapy (ABA therapy) on skill acquisition and intelligence test scores of twenty-eight children with autism and related disabilities. Using a randomized controlled trial, we compared (a) traditional ABA consisting of verbal behavior techniques developed by Skinner (Verbal behavior, Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York, 1957), (b) comprehensive ABA which added techniques post-Skinner’s theory of language, and (c) waitlist control. Results obtained indicated that even though skill acquisition improved equally across both intervention groups compared to the control, highest intelligence score changes were shown for participants in the comprehensive ABA group (F: 2, 24 = 9.198, p = 0.001). With increasing emphasis on client outcomes, the present data suggest that when hours of intervention are kept constant, ABA service providers may be at an advantage by incorporating techniques that are typically considered beyond the traditional ABA ideas of Skinner’s account of language development.
Impact of gestational diabetes diagnosis on concurrent depression in pregnancy.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects nearly 5% of US pregnancies and is associated with poor outcomes. Perinatal depression is also associated with substantial risks to both the ...
Implications of Anti-Inflammatory Nature of Exosomes in Knee Arthritis

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from cells that are a part of many biological and pathological processes, especially in intercellular communication. These vesicles are involved cell signaling, influence tissue and immune response, and serve as biomarkers for diseases. Most interesting are the exosomes that are released from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for inflammation in joint diseases. Preliminary studies have demonstrated the advantages of using EVs rather than MSCs for cell free therapy. Research on exosomes have shown promising results as biomarkers for tracking the pathogenesis and prognosis of inflammatory arthritis. Therapeutically, animal studies have demonstrated immunosuppression, reversing inflammation, increasing chondrocyte proliferation, and drug delivery properties. The field of exosomes continues to develop and more basic science and clinical studies with safety and efficacy studies are needed.
Análisis del comportamiento de las acciones de crecimiento y de valor en el mercado financiero

This article tries to analyze the behavior experimented by the indicators of value and growth stocks in the financial market during a period of three years (2009-2011). It explains the creation of these indicators, the growth obtained by the companies of these stocks, and makes a comparison between the value stocks and the growth stocks based on the companies’ results. Thus it concludes, that the advice given by the experts regarding the moment of economic contingence to invest in value stocks and not in growth stocks is a way of having less risk to the volatility which stocks present. All this is due to the fact that value stocks have a more stable behavior than those companies which represent the growth stocks. The explanation for it is that these have already reached their growth and recognition, and additionally form part of the IPSA. In the period under study, it is more profitable to invest in stocks which are indexed to this indicator.
Despite Modi, India Has Not become a Hindu Authoritarian State

India’s constitution guarantees democracy, civil liberties, and secularism. But fears of India becoming a Hindu authoritarian state have been voiced after Narendra Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in New Delhi in 2014. The party’s Hindutva philosophy—the creation of a great Hindu state—envisages a Hindu state where citizens with other religious beliefs are tolerated but have second‐​class status. It lauds military toughness. Earlier governments were reluctant to retaliate militarily against Pakistan for fomenting terrorism in Kashmir, but Modi has responded twice with military strikes, gaining popularity as a strongman. In Muslim‐​majority Kashmir, which is claimed by Pakistan, Modi has abolished the state’s constitutionally guaranteed autonomy, arrested top local politicians and activists, and locked down the state. Meanwhile, a Pew Research Poll in 2017 suggested that most Indians would support military or authoritarian rule. However, fears of India becoming a Hindu autocracy are overblown. Despite the rising misuse of laws on sedition and unlawful activities to arrest peaceful dissenters, India is still a lively democracy, where a multitude of political parties, courts, media, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) provide checks and balances. India’s constitution gives state governments considerable jurisdiction, including over the police, courts, and general administration. Non‐​BJP states have revolted and refuse to implement BJP proposals that could render millions of Muslims stateless. Without the cooperation of all states, laws adopted by the central government cannot be implemented. So, Modi has been forced to back down. India is not currently a Hindu state, but it is becoming less secular; while it is far from becoming authoritarian, it is becoming a more illiberal democracy.
Direct Caregiving in Older Adults: How Systems of Care Perpetuate the Grand Challenges and What Social Workers Can Do about It

Direct care workers (DCWs) provide personal care, emotional support, and companionship, helping older adults maintain quality lives. DCWs earn low wages, have little training, and experience high turnover rates. While the demand for DCWs grows, real wages continue to fall. Undervaluing DCWs threatens the continuity and quality of care that older adults receive. Through the social work grand challenges lens, this article discusses two qualitative studies, in home care (n = 24) and nursing homes (n = 23), that demonstrate that while DCWs help advance long and productive lives, they experience extreme economic inequality and lack equal opportunity and justice. The article concludes with a discussion of social work's role in advancing opportunity and justice.
Low-Thrust Solid Rocket Motors for Small, Fast Aircraft Propulsion: Design and Development

Small, low-thrust, long-burn-time solid propellant rocket motors could provide propulsion for a new class of kilogram-scale, transonic, uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). This paper investigates tech...
Potential of the Global Precipitation Measurement Constellation for Characterizing the Polar Firn

This paper discusses the utilization of the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) constellation as a single multi-frequency radiometer to profile subsurface properties of the polar firn. Initial analyses focusing on the Concordia station in Antarctica have demonstrated that GPM brightness temperature measurements can be successfully simulated across a wide frequency spectrum below 100 GHz and are sensitive to important physical properties of the firn from its surface down to deep isothermal ice. Therefore, the GPM constellation provides an excellent opportunity for characterizing the polar firn with broad spatiotemporal coverage.
Penile Lengthening After Previous Repair of Epispadias

Unsatisfactory appearance and function of the penis are common after repair of complete epispadias. Reoperation can benefit the majority of these patients. The principles of repair in secondary cases as well as primary cases include wide mobilization of the corpora to gain length, resection of dorsal chordee to straighten the shaft, augmentation of urethral length with a graft, secure closure of the corpora over the urethra to avoid a fistula, wide mobilization of the mons to place hair-bearing skin in proper location and Z-plasty closure.
BEIRA: a geo-semantic clustering method for area summary

This paper introduces a new map browser of location based contents (LBC) that summarizes area characteristics. Recently various web map services have been widely used to search web contents. As LBC increase, browsing a number of LBC which are viewed as POI (point of interest) on a geographical map becomes inefficient. We tackle this issue by using AOI (area of interest) instead of POI. With the AOI a user can instantly find area characteristics without viewing each content of POI. We assume that semantically homogeneous and geographically distinguishable areas are suitable for the AOI. The AOI is formed by geo-semantic clustering which is a co-clustering that takes into account both geographical and semantic aspects of POI information. By the experiment using real LBC on the web, we confirmed our method has potential to extract good AOI.
Position and Force Control of Flexible Robotic Manipulators using the LQG/LTR Design Methodology

Control of a two link planar manipulator with one flexible link executing constrained and unconstrained maneuvers is considered in this study. The dynamic model includes the impact force generated during the transition from unconstrained to constrained segment of the robotic task. The linear quadratic Gaussian/loop transfer recovery (LQG/LTR) design methodology is exploited to design a robust feedback control system that can handle modelling errors and sensor noise, and operate on Cartesian space trajectory errors. The LQG/LTR compensator together with a feedforward loop is used to control the flexible manipulator. Simulated results are presented for a numerical example.
Linear operators preserving correlation matrices

The linear operators that map the set of real or complex (rank one) correlation matrices onto itself are characterized.
Cumulative Damage Models Based on Gamma Processes

A statistical model for cumulative damage based on gamma processes, incorporating an accelerating variable, is derived. A simpler approximation to the resulting failure distribution is also given which is a Birnbaum–Saunders-type model. The proposed model is illustrated with a real-data example which shows that it is a strong competitor to the widely used Weibull accelerated test model. Keywords: accelerated testing; Birnbaum–Saunders distribution; cumulative damage; degradation process; gamma process; inverse-Gaussian distribution; stochastic process
Transportable VLF Transmitter

Very-low-frequency magnetospheric transmission experiments have been conducted by The Aerospace Corporation between Port Heiden, Alaska (L = 2.9) and Dunedin, New Zealand in August 1972 and between Anchorage, Alaska (L = 4.1) and Dunedin, New Zealand and Campbell Island in August and September 1973. A transportable very-low-frequency (TVLF) transmitter system was used for the transmissions from Port Heiden and Anchorage. The unique feature of this transmitter is the antenna which is a conducting cable suspended by a helium-filled balloon.
Amorphous and Porous Ices in Cometary Nuclei

The two main questions concerning the nature of cometary nuclei are crystallinity of the ices and their porosity. Various arguments lead to the conclusion that the water-ice constituent of new comets is amorphous and its subsequent crystallization would produce gaseous tails and flare-ups at heliocentric distances about 70% larger than those expected for crystalline ice nuclei. The effect should be weaker for older comets, but it may be related to the behavior of the comet P/SW-1 if the layers of the crystallized ice peel off. An important factor controlling the behavior of comets is the heat flux in and out of the nuclei before and after perihelion. It turns out that the surface temperature and the associated rate of evaporation are lower than usually calculated and the effect is strongly dependent on the porosity of the nucleus. The surface temperature of the nucleus reaches a maximum after perihelion, in agreement with the statistical studies of comae and tails. Delayed heating of the C02-rich inclusions deep in the nucleus leads to outbursts and splittings as far as 9 A.U. after perihelion also in agreement with observation. At sufficiently high temperatures heat transport in porous cometary nuclei is controlled by vapor diffusion. In particular the presence of CO2 vapor in the pores significantly increases the heat flow in mixed nuclei at temperatures above 140°–150°K. Thus for heliocentric distances between 3 and 5 AU, the above mentioned phenomena should be considerably enhanced in proportion to the admixture of C02-ices. Closed pores move up the radial thermal gradient so that the outside layer of a cometary nucleus should become denser. The pore size distribution is altered by the alternating thermal gradient but these effects are, however, exceedingly slow, especially in water-ice.
Compositional Control in Electrodeposited Ni x Pt1 − x Films

Electrochemical codeposition of a series of face-centered cubic Ni x Pt 1-x alloys is demonstrated (0.1 < x < 0.95). The alloy composition is a monotonic function of potential. The Pt-rich Ni x Pt 1-x alloys are formed at potentials positive to that required to deposit elemental Ni. Codeposition is ascribed to the negative enthalpy of Ni x Pt 1-x alloy formation that proceeds via a Ni underpotential deposition reaction in concert with Pt deposition. Interestingly, this process occurs at higher Ni underpotentials than anticipated based on extrapolated literature data from thermochemical measurements and ab initio calculations of alloy formation. In contrast, Ni-rich Ni x Pt 1-x alloys are produced at Ni overpotentials although the films are formed under conditions where pure Ni deposition is otherwise kinetically hindered. The alloy composition corresponding to the transition from underpotential to overpotential deposition is a function of the PtCl 4 /NiCl 2 electrolyte composition. The films were found to be bright and specular over the full range of compositions studied (grain size < 10 nm). Atomic force microscopy yielded root-mean-square roughness values on the order of 5 nm for Ni-rich deposits up to 2.5 μm thick.
Mannitol-induced hyperosmolality and cerebrospinal fluid vasopressin in anesthetized cats.

Abstract Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) has been found to influence brain water. Since AVP is released by hyperosmolality into plasma we determined the role of AVP in controlling cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure. Adult cats were anesthetized with pentobarbital and samples of plasma and cisternal CSF were collected 1 or 2 h before i.v. infusion of 2 g/kg of mannitol and for 2 h afterwards. We found a significant increase in plasma osmolality from 320.0±1.6 to 331.6±−3.4 mOsm/l (mean±S.E.M.), while CSF osmolality was unchanged. Prior to mannitol infusion, AVP was elevated to 105±19 pg/ml in plasma and to 136±19 pg/ml (mean±S.E.M.) in CSF. After infusion of mannitol AVP levels were unchanged in either plasma or CSF. The reduction of CSF pressure by mannitol is independent of AVP in the anesthetized cat.
Microwave response of dx2−y2 superconductors

Abstract Motivated by recent measurements supporting dx2−y2-like pair states in copper oxide superconductors, we calculate the microwave response of such a state in the presence of strong potential scatterers. Measurements of the conductivity at low temperatures can only be explained if a very low density of scatterers is assumed.
Factors affecting response to bacillus Calmette-Guérin plus interferon for urothelial carcinoma in situ.

Purpose: The unpredictable behavior of carcinoma in situ and its high potential for recurrence and progression make identifying patient characteristics predicting a poor prognosis a priority. We assessed which factors affect the response to bacillus Calmette-Guerin plus interferon-α therapy in patients with urothelial carcinoma in situ.Materials and Methods: We analyzed data on a subset of 231 patients with carcinoma in situ enrolled in a multicenter, phase II trial of bacillus Calmette-Guerin plus interferon-α therapy for nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer. Analysis included patients who were bacillus Calmette-Guerin naive and those with previous exposure to failed bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy. We evaluated factors potentially affecting the bacillus Calmette-Guerin plus interferon-α response, including patient age, gender, tumor stage, multifocality, prior tumor stage, the previous bacillus Calmette-Guerin failure pattern, courses and maintenance, and prior chemotherapy.Results: The complete response ...
Aggregation enhances catecholamine secretion in cultured cells.

Transplanted cells and tissues have potential uses in the treatment of genetic, geriatric, and metabolic disorders, but optimal conditions for transplantation are not yet known. In this report, PC12 cells were aggregated in rotary and microgravity culture, using serum-free or serum-supplemented medium, and using a multifunctional polymer-peptide aggregation factor. Aggregates and single cells were then encapsulated and cultured within agarose gels, and the dopamine secretion in response to a depolarization buffer was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). On a per-cell basis, aggregated cells secreted higher levels of dopamine than did single cells. The size of the aggregates was also a factor in catecholamine secretion; dopamine release from the larger aggregates formed in rotary culture was observed to increase at a faster rate, then achieve a plateau level at an earlier time than did the smaller aggregates. Cells aggregated in micrograv...
Pyrosequencing of IDH1 and IDH2 mutations in brain tumors and non-neoplastic conditions

The molecular profiling of brain tumors, including testing for MGMT promoter methylation and chromosome 1p/19q deletion, can provide both diagnostic and prognostic information that may guide treatment. Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation testing is a recent addition to this armamentarium of molecular pathology tools that similarly provides both diagnostic (eg, glioma vs. gliosis) and prognostic information. Herein, we describe a pyrosequencing-based approach to IDH1 and IDH2 mutation testing and its application to 139 neoplastic and non-neoplastic central nervous system specimens. Several technical issues encountered in the development of the assay, particularly with regard to the optimization of the sequencing reaction, are described. Mutations in IDH1 codon 132 or IDH2 codon 172 were identified in 31.2% of all screened cases and 46.2% of screened World Health Organization grade I to IV gliomas (n=93), with mutations arising exclusively in grade II to IV oligodendroglial, astrocytic, or mixed oligoastrocytic neoplasms. Examination of the relationship between the mutation status and other pertinent variables demonstrated a significant male predominance among IDH1-mutated gliomas, most notably in grade III to IV astrocytic neoplasms. A significant association between IDH1/IDH2 mutation and 1p/19q deletion was also seen (Kendall τ coefficient=0.26, P=0.018), although several cases with 1p/19q deletion were IDH1/IDH2 wild type.
Beyond Omega: next-generation miniature infrared camera

Three years ago, Indigo Systems launched its Omega camera line, which to this day remains one of the world's smallest, lightest, lowest powered infrared cameras. The concept of a miniature thermal imager has proven very successful, and thousands of cores have been employed in a number of portable applications, including firefighting, unmanned vehicles, and handheld imagers. A common thread to these high-volume markets is their elasticity-lowering cost substantially enhances demand. Hence the motivation behind Indigo"s newest miniature camera, Photon. Photon is a product family of small and mid-format sensor engines (160x128, 320x128, 320x256) specifically optimized for low cost and high volume. While it shares many of Omega's positive benefits, including remarkably small size, weight, and power, several aspects of the design contribute to it being more affordable than its fore-runner even with four times as many pixels. This paper compares the Photon design to the Omega with particular focus on those aspects affecting manufacturability and cost.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Dynamics of heterogeneous reaction at a stagnation point.

The transient state of a nonisothermal system in which a heterogeneous chemical reaction occurs near a stagnation point is investigated theoretically for two-dimensional and axisymmetric viscous flow. The analysis is based on a number of simplifying assumptions, invoked for mathematical tractability, and on linearized transient equations. Conditions for stability of a steady-state solution to small disturbances are established. Data for a hypothetical reaction system are employed in numerical calculations to illustrate the possible significance of unstable situations, particularly their effect on the prediction of extinction conditions in the burning of a solid. 1589
Hybrid composite filters for general distortion-invariant optical pattern recognition

In the past, several different approaches to Synthetic Discriminant Function (SDF) filter design have been proposed. These include: conventional SDFs which control the correlation values at the origin, Minimum Variance SDFs (MVSDFs) which minimize the noise sensitivity of the filters, Minimum Average Correlation Energy (MACE) filters which maximize the peak sharpness, and Linear Phase Coefficient Composite (LPCC) filters which use phasor addition and subtraction for inherent class discrimination. In this paper, we introduce a new family of SDF filters of which all the above are special cases. Each filter in this family is characterized by two parameters (alpha) 1 and (alpha) 2. Various choices of ((alpha) 1,(alpha) 2) lead to above special filters. For example, (alpha) 1 equals 1 and (alpha) 2 equals 0 leads to MACE LPCC filters which are hybrid versions of MACE and LPCC filters. This family of filters is evaluated using the Minimum Probability of Error (MPE) criterion and a data base of aircraft images. These simulation experiments confirm the superior performance of this filter family. Also, we observe the interesting result that the MPE is at its lowest not for one of the four special filters listed above, but for a combination of them.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Motion of a spherical solid particle in thermal counterflow turbulence

With numerical methods, we formulate and solve a mathematical model of solid-particle motion in thermal counterflow turbulence. We find a direct link between the intensity of vortex-particle collision induced Kelvin waves (vortex-gas ``temperature'') and the intensity of the particle-velocity fluctuations around its mean value. The latter mean value is determined by three factors: (a) the frequency of head-on particle-vortex collisions, (b) the formation of a vortex-tail behind the particle, and (c) the viscous drag. The frequency of head-on particle-vortex collisions depends on (a) the vortex line density, (b) the average tangle drift relative to the particle, and (c) the degree of tangle stratification normal to the counterflow direction. A higher stratification degree reduces the frequency of head-on collisions and allows the vortex-tail effect to dominate. At $T=1.3\text{K}$, vortex voids in the tangle act like barriers to particle motion; the particle-velocity fluctuations are comparable to its mean value and, thus, the particle's direction of motion is sporadically reversed.
In Search of Mechanisms of Change in Identity Development: Integrating the Constructivist and Discovery Perspectives on Identity

This article represents an attempt to specify the mechanisms of identity development by integrating the self-construction and self-discovery viewpoints on identity with social-psychological elements of Erik Erikson's theory of identity development. Individualization theory, derived from the sociological literature, is utilized as the template for this integration. Self-construction is conceptualized as the path, and self-discovery as the optimal destination, of the identity development process. Four levels of identity coherence are derived from this integration of the constructivist-discovery issue with Eriksonian theory. Preliminary data are presented to support this continuum. Implications for identity theory and intervention are discussed.
Transvenous Pacemaker Insertion with a Zero Dislodgement Rate

A non-retractable transvenous screw-in lead which gives both stability of placement and low acute and chronic stimulation thresholds was used in 64 patients during the period April, 1979 to June, 1981. The average threshold at implant was 0.7 volts; the current threshold average was .86 milliamps with the pulse width at the standard setting for the pacemaker employed. Chronic thresholds were usually below the lower programmable limit of the pacer as tested at 3 months. In one patient, the fact that the screw was fixed in the exposed position caused trouble. The lead became knotted in the superior vena cava and was removed by thoracotomy. Although this experience with the Osypka lead was not entirely satisfactory, newer developments with retractable leads may make the principle more acceptable.
Modeling of spherulitic crystallization in thermoplastic tow-placement process: heat transfer analysis

Abstract An impingement heat transfer analysis is presented for hot gas torch heating in a tow-placement process of thermoplastic matrix composites. It is shown that experimentally available convective heat transfer correlations for normal and oblique impingement can be adapted to the geometry specific to the process by following first principles. Parametric studies are conducted using a coupled heat transfer and crystallization kinetics model for fabrication of a fiber-reinforced poly-ether–ether–ketone composite. Effects of processing parameters, in terms of torch incidence angle, θ , torch exit diameter, D , torch distance to target, L , hot gas temperature, T noz , gas velocity, U noz , line speed, V , and number of layers in tow substrate, N layer , on the crystallinity development in product are elucidated. Based on an optimal level of crystallinity, a processing window is identified by determining minimum and sonic gas velocities at various gas temperatures and line speeds.
Three-Dimensional Solutions of Smart Functionally Graded Plates

A smart functionally graded plate consists of a plate made of a functionally gradient material and actuators made of an active material. The active material, a layer or set of patches, is bonded on the metal-rich surface of the functionally graded plate. When the ceramic-rich surface of the substrate is subjected to thermomechanical loadings, displacements, and stresses may be controlled, and vibration amplitudes may be suppressed by the actuators with supplied electric power. In the attempt towards a basic understanding of the new type of smart structural system, this study considers a benchmark problem, namely, the bending of a functionally graded rectangular plate with an attached piezoelectric actuator. The transfer matrix and asymptotic expansion techniques are employed to obtain a three-dimensional asymptotic solution. In numerical computations, the locally effective material properties of the functionally gradient material are estimated by the Mori-Tanaka scheme, The three-dimensional distributions of displacements and stresses for different volume fractions of the ceramic and metallic constituents could serve as benchmark results to assess approximate theories and numerical methods.
What Do Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Plaque Add to the Prediction of Stroke and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Older Adults? The Cardiovascular Health Study

Background The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the addition of ultrasound carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurements and risk categories of plaque help predict incident stroke and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in older adults. Methods Carotid ultrasound studies were recorded in the multicenter Cardiovascular Health Study. CVD was defined as coronary heart disease plus heart failure plus stroke. Ten-year risk prediction Cox proportional-hazards models for stroke and CVD were calculated using Cardiovascular Health Study–specific coefficients for Framingham risk score factors. Categories of CIMT and CIMT plus plaque were added to Framingham risk score prediction models, and categorical net reclassification improvement (NRI) and Harrell's c-statistic were calculated. Results In 4,384 Cardiovascular Health Study participants (61% women, 14% black; mean baseline age, 72 ± 5 years) without CVD at baseline, higher CIMT category and the presence of plaque were both associated with higher incidence rates for stroke and CVD. The addition of CIMT improved the ability of Framingham risk score–type risk models to discriminate cases from noncases of incident stroke and CVD (NRI = 0.062, P = .015, and NRI = 0.027, P Conclusions In older adults, the addition of CIMT modestly improves 10-year risk prediction for stroke and CVD beyond a traditional risk factor model, mainly by down-classifying risk in those without stroke or CVD; the addition of plaque to CIMT adds no statistical benefit in the overall cohort, although there is evidence of down-classification in those without events.
Decortication after 35 Years

A 66-year-old white woman had a paraffin plombage performed in 1940 for tuberculosis. In 1975, she had decortication for terminal respiratory insufficiency, with return to an active life. Thirty-five years of pulmonary compression does not produce irreversible changes in the pulmonary parenchyma.
Wide-dynamic-range and channel-count-free thulium doped fiber amplifiers employing variable slope attenuation compensators designed for photonic networks

This paper presents the unique behavior of thulium doped fiber amplifiers (TDFAs) under circumstantial changes in the multi-wavelength photonic networking systems, namely in the span loss, the channel count, and the environmental temperature. Unlike EDFAs, TDFAs exhibit the dynamic gain-profile variation even when the gain-magnitude is fixed under the automatic gain control (AGC). In addition, it has been shown that the dynamic gain variation is less serious in the up-conversion pumping scheme. As a means to maintain the gain-profile of the up-conversion pumped TDFA, three techniques have been introduced and compared, namely: (i) the auxiliary pump around 1.56 μm, (ii) the mid-stage variable optical attenuator (VOA), and (iii) the mid-stage variable slope attenuation compensator (VASC). Employing the VASC, the output signal level has been successfully maintained within the error of 0.2 dB for the dynamic range of 8 dBp-p and the channel count from 4 to 32. Moreover, it has been shown that the temperature change also induces the gain tilt, which has been successfully compensated by the VASC with the level variation of less than 0.3 dB. In summary, the adjustable slope-compensating device will be useful to control the TDFAs under the various circumstantial changes.
Continuous arterial oxygen tension monitoring in the newborn infant.

By means of an indwelling polarographic oxygen electrode inserted as a modified umbilical artery catheter, 48 acutely ill neonates were monitored continuously for arterial oxygen tension (Pa o 2 ) for a total of 3,538 hours or 147 days. A total of 999 comparative laboratory blood gas measurements were made to assess the in vivo accuracy of 50 consecutive oxygen electrodes. Over the full range of oxygen tension between 10 and 252 mm. Hg, the standard error from the predicted value (the laboratory value assumed to be absolute) was ±18.8 mm. Hg, with greatest error noted in the higher Pa o 2 ranges. The results of in vitro studies on the effects of flow, temperature, pH, viscosity, pressure, osmolality, and certain blood constituents upon the electrode could not fully account for the wide standard error. This degree of error makes it inadvisable to rely on the indwelling oxygen monitoring system alone for quantitative Pa o 2 measurements. Although the information this system provides in terms of relative or real-time Pa o 2 changes makes it a useful clinical tool in the management of the acutely ill neonate, the technique requires checking by serial standard in vitro blood gas analyses, and its use should be limited to newborn intensive care units.
Rapid finite-difference computation of subsonic and transonic aerodynamic flows

Rapid iterative (or semidirect) computation methods are developed for the finite-difference solution of the nonlinear equations of subsonic and transonic aerodynamics. At each iteration, a fast, direct elliptic algorithm solves the entire computation field. In an application to subsonic flow over a lifting airfoil, the full nonlinear stream-function equation is solved. Finally, a direct Cauchy-Riemann solver is used for the nonlinear transonic small-disturbance equations for a biconvex airfoil. At M = 0.7, t/c = 0.1 (subcritical), three iterations on a 39 x 32 mesh (totaling 2.45 sec on an IBM 360/67 computer) obtain convergence within 0.1%. A slightly supercritical case requires seven iterations (6.75 sec) for convergence within 1%.