cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Resource Allocation for Semi-Elastic Applications in Wireless Networks

Resource allocation for elastic applications is often accomplished using concave utility functions. We consider the more challenging case of resource allocation for semi-elastic applications modeled using sigmoid utility functions. Whereas elastic applications only require rate scheduling, we find that semi-elastic applications require both rate scheduling and connection access control (CAC). We pose a joint rate scheduling and CAC optimization problem, and find that direct solution is computationally intractable. We formulate the dual problem, and use this to propose a near-optimal algorithm that iteratively finds optimal shadow prices for power and rates. We then further reduce computational complexity by proposing a heuristic search algorithm that decomposes the subcarrier allocation and rate scheduling problems. The heuristic has a computational complexity linear in the number of users, and is shown by simulation to produce near-optimal results.
Dexamethasone suppression of cushingoid degenerative changes in obese spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Abstract Male and female, young (2 months old) and mature (10 months old), obese and nonobese, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were treated with dexamethasone, 5 μg/rat and 10 μg/rat, respectively, subcutaneously (SC) 2 times daily for 5 months. Steroid treatment stilled the voracious appetite of the obese SHR, and the massively obese, mature animals were reduced to almost normal size. The young, steroid-treated, obese SHR did not develop their genetically programmed corpulency. The untreated, young and mature, obese SHR ate voraciously, became massively obese, and developed their characteristic Cushing's disease-like spectrum of degenerative changes, eg, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, muscle wasting, kidney stones, thin skin, and accelerated aging. The blood pressure of the steroid-treated animals was lowered concomitant with reduced levels of circulating ACTH, β endorphin, insulin, triglycerides, and cholesterol. Dexamethasone caused hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and increased BUN levels in young obese and nonobese SHR only. The mature obese SHR had giant-sized thymus glands that were further enlarged with steroid treatment; dexamethasone was thymolytic in young, obese and nonobese SHR. Desamethasone caused severe reduction of pituitary and adrenal gland size, simulating the condition of hypophysectomy. These findings demonstrate that dexamethasone suppression of the pitutary-adrenal axis palliates and prevents the spontaneous development of Cushingoid degenerative changes in these genetically obese and hypertensive rats.
Commentary. Hardness of three resin-modified glass-ionomer restorative materials as a function of depth and time.

Statement of the Problem: The polymerization of bulk-placed resin-modified glass-ionomer (RMGI) restoratives is compromised when penetration of the curing light is limited because of the materials' thickness. It is unknown if additional post light-curing resin polymerization and/or glass-ionomer setting occurs over time to ensure adequate polymerization. Purpose: The primary objective was to evaluate the depth of cure of various thicknesses of RMGI restorative products over 1 year using Knoop hardness (KH) testing. Materials and Methods: The materials were placed in Delrin molds having an internal diameter of 5.0 mm and heights of 2, 3, 4, and 5 mm and were photopolymerized with a halogen light-curing unit. Five specimens of each depth were prepared for each time period evaluated. Specimens were stored in darkness at 37 ± 2°C and 98 ± 2% humidity until being tested at 24 hours, 1 week, and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after fabrication. Mean KH values were calculated for the bottom and top surfaces of each thickness group and used to determine bottom/top hardness ratios. Data were compared using two-way analysis of variance (factors of time, thickness) at a 0.05 significance level with Scheffe's post hoc analysis, where required. Results: The materials had relatively stable top surface KH, which permitted valid assessment of changes in bottom surface KH over time. The bottom surface KH of some RMGIs changed significantly over time (p < 0.001), but degrees of change were material dependent. Certain RMGIs demonstrated a potential for statistically significant post light-activation hardening; however, that too was material dependent. As compared with top surface KH, deeper layers of the thicker RMGI specimens consistently failed to achieve an adequate degree of polymerization. Conclusion: Although certain RMGI materials demonstrate a potential for post light-activation chemically initiated resin polymerization and/or polyalkenoate acid/base reaction, these reactions may not be sufficient to ensure that the material is adequately polymerized for long-term success. This is particularly true when RMGI materials are placed in thicker layers where curing light penetration may be compromised. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE RMGI materials should not be placed in bulk but photopolymerized in layers to ensure adequate light activation. The results of this study suggest that Photac-Fil Quick be placed in layers no thicker than 2 mm while Fuji II LC and Vitremer may be placed in layers up to 3 mm in thickness.
Adaptive optics on Petawatt lasers; current performance of the Texas Petawatt Laser

In this paper, we report on current developments aimed at improving the focusability of the Texas Petawatt Laser. Two major campaigns have been commissioned that address the issue of focusability. First, we implemented a closed loop, 32 actuator bi-moprh deformable mirror (DFM) to compensate for aberrations in the optical train and second, a color corrector lens assembly was installed that compensates for chromatic errors accumulated in broadband (>15 nm), large aperture (>20 cm) laser systems. We will present in detail, pre and post correction results with the DFM and describe challenges faced when one activates a single shot, high energy closed loop system. Secondly, we will provide modeling and experimental results of our color correction system. This is a novel approach to a problem only seen in high energy, broadband, large aperture laser pulses. By using color correction optics we have demonstrated a 6X increase in focal intensity. With the installation of the DFM, the rms wavefront error in the system was reduced from 2.4 waves to .131 waves, further increasing intensities seen at focus by 1 order of magnitude.
Feature extraction for classification of signals propagating in channels with dispersion and dissipation

In active sonar or radar, if the channel is spatially- and/or temporally-varying, then the target echo can change with propagation, such that echoes from identical targets may not be identified as such at the receiver. Two common propagation effects that induce changes in the signal are dispersion and dissipation (or damping), which give rise to frequency-dependent velocity of propagation and frequency-dependent attenuation, respectively. We have previously developed a feature extraction process for target echoes in dispersive channels, to obtain moment-like features that are invariant to dispersion, per mode. Accordingly, even though the target echo can change with propagation in a dispersive channel, the "dispersion-invariant moment" features do not. However, these moment features are affected by damping. In this paper, we consider the case of a channel with dispersion and damping, and derive features that are invariant to both phenomena, for any dispersion relation and exponential or power-law damping. Results are presented from classification simulations to demonstrate the utility of these features.
On the concept of relative and plastic spins and its implications to large deformation theories. Part I: Hypoelasticity and vertex-type plasticity

The concept of relative spinW D/S is introduced to facilitate the formulation of large deformation stress-rate models of inelasticity. Roughly speaking, it is a measure of non-coaxiality between stress and deformation rate of the formW D/S =W−W S withW S andW signifying the angular velocities or spins of the two material frames corresponding to the stress and strain rate respectively. It is suggested that an objective stress rate be defined with respect toW S for use in the constitutive equations and this requires explicit representations forW D/S reflecting the aforementioned non-coaxiality. It is shown that this practice leads conveniently to an elegant generalization of previous proposals resorting to either use of a variety of different spins or considerably complex constitutive equations, in order to dispense with undesirable oscillatory solutions of simple shear problems.
Indium profiles in InGaAs with heavy ion RBS

The indium profile of MBE-grown In_xGa_(1−x)As/GaAs single quantum well structures and In_xGa_(1−x)As layers on InAlAs buffer layers have been measured with heavy ion Rutherford backscattering using a time-of-flight detector. The depth resolution of the method is better than 30 A at the sample surface using 15 MeV ^(35)Cl ions. The results for the average indium molar fraction are compared with photo reflectance measurements. The aluminum molar fraction in the InAlAs buffer layer has been profiled by nuclear reaction analysis.
Starvation Induces Genomic Rearrangements and Starvation-Resilient Phenotypes in Yeast

Evolution has shaped a wide variety of genomes across eukaryotic taxa. However, the forces that shape the genomes are generally unknown. Because organisms in nature commonly experience prolonged periods of nutrient depletion, we posit that diverse demographic, physiological, and genomic responses to starvation can occur. To test for these possibilities, we subjected replicate yeast populations to prolonged starvation. We observed that clones repeatedly gave rise to descendants that were karyotypically diverse. After a 1-month starvation period, approximately 70% of randomly isolated members of starved populations harbored one or more genomic rearrangements. Further, we found that 5 of 16 karyotypically differentiated groups of isolates from starved populations were more resilient to starvation than nonstarved clones and their common ancestor. Phylogenetic analysis of these isolates suggests that genomic rearrangements that arose during starvation can be adaptive in the context of a nutrient-depleted environment. Altogether our data illustrate the profound influence of environmental conditions on adaptive genome evolution in eukaryotes.
Photographic Individuality, Breadth of Perspective, and Creativity

Individuality is valued in most conceptions of personality, but is seldom operationalized. The present research used photo essays about the self as the medium for operationalizing self-construals that are unlike others (i.e., are uniquely creative, abstract, self-reflective, and multidimensional). Ratings of these photo essays from two samples (N = 183 university students) served as the measure of individuality. This measure was predicted and found to correlate in both samples with Breadth of Interest from the Jackson Personality Inventory (JPI; Jackson, 1994). In Study 1, individuality also correlated with the JPI Complexity scale and with two measures of divergent thinking (unique word associations, and fluency on Wallach & Kogan’s [1965] creativity tasks). In Study 2, individuality correlated with having more permeable boundaries, a nonprejudicial universal orientation, and imagining greater cultural diversity in one’s future. Results suggest that individualistic persons take a broader, more complex and more creative perspective to their lives.
Optical properties of K smoke particles from 480–620 nm

Relative light-scattering cross sections from K smoke particles were measured. Comparisons were made with cross sections calculated from Mie theory, using optical constants measured by Palmer and Schnatterly, Smith, and Monin and Boutry. Results are not consistent with the constants measured by Palmer and Schnatterly. However, the use of Smith’s data does produce agreement providing it is assumed that the K smoke was composed of monodisperse spheres with an impurity level of less than 0.1%. This composition would be consistent with previous work on Na smoke.
Twisted gastrulation is required for forebrain specification and cooperates with Chordin to inhibit BMP signaling during X. tropicalis gastrulation

In the developing vertebrate embryo, proper dorsal-ventral patterning relies on BMP antagonists secreted by the organizer during gastrulation. The BMP antagonist chordin has a complex interaction with BMPs that is governed in part by its interaction with the secreted protein twisted gastrulation (tsg). In different contexts, tsg has activity as either a BMP agonist or as a BMP antagonist. Using morpholino oligonucleotides in Xenopus tropicalis, we show that reducing tsg gene product results in a ventralized embryo, and that tsg morphants specifically lack a forebrain. We provide new evidence that tsg acts as a BMP antagonist during X. tropicalis gastrulation since the tsg depletion phenotype can be rescued in two ways: by chordin overexpression and by BMP depletion. We conclude that tsg acts as a BMP antagonist in the context of the frog gastrula, and that it acts cooperatively with chordin to establish dorsal structures and particularly forebrain tissue during development.
Design and evaluation of a selective assembly station for high precision scroll compressor shells

Certain automotive parts call for assemblies to be produced to tolerances that cannot be economically reached using standard high volume machining practices. Shims are used instead. We show that the required precision may be reached by using selective assembly. An efficient selective assembly system is proposed. Simulation is used to evaluate the performance of this system, and configurations capable of tolerance improvements of up to 1/20 are suggested.
Liquid Hybridization Analysis of TSH Receptor mRNA in Normal and Abnormal Human Thyroid Tissues

Radiolabeled human TSH receptor (hTSHR) cRNA probes encoding nucleotides 37-2298 and 37-209, with unlabeled sense RNA control segments, were used in a liquid hybridization assay and found to be hig...
The inventory and distribution of water on Mars

Abstract Terrain softening, fretted channels, debris flows, and closed depressions indicate that at least the upper 2 km of the cratered uplands at high latitudes (>30°) contain ice in amounts that exceed the porosity, estimated to be 10–20 percent. Theoretical studies, and lack of these features in the cratered uplands at low latitudes, suggest that the upper 1 km of the uplands at low latitudes is ice poor. However, valley networks indicate that water was present near the surface early in the planet's history, although in amounts smaller than at high latitudes. On the basis of these observations, the entire upper 1 km, planet-wide is estimated to have contained 75–125 meters of water at the end of heavy bombardment. From the volume of water needed to cut the circum-Chryse channels, and assuming uniform planet-wide distribution of water, the deep megaregolith is estimated to have contained at least 350 meters of water at the end of heavy bombardment, thereby giving a total minimum inventory of 425–475 meters planet-wide. Most of the water lost from the low latitude uplands by diffusion and in cutting the valley networks is now believed to be in the polar layered terrains. Most of the water involved in cutting the outflow channels is in the low-lying northern plains where a variety of features that have been attributed to ground ice is present. Since the end of heavy bombardment, a large fraction of the planet's surface has been overplated with water-poor volcanics, of which we have samples in the SNC meteorites. The younger volcanics have reacted extensively with the old volatile-rich basement. Part of the 10–20 bars of CO 2 and 0.1 to 0.3 bars of N 2 outgassed with the water was lost during heavy bombardment by impact erosion of the atmosphere and other processes. The remaining was fixed carbonates and nitrates and folded deep into the megaregolith during heavy bombardment.
Prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis in the United States.

Background & Aims Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) has become a major cause of upper gastrointestinal morbidity in children and adults. However, there are few data on the nationwide prevalence of EoE. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of EoE in the United States. Methods We collected health insurance claims from a large database that represented the U.S. commercially insured population. We analyzed data from 2008 to 2011, identifying cases of EoE by using a previously validated definition, and calculated a period prevalence by using data from 2009 to 2011. EoE was defined as any instance of the International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision code 530.13. We calculated the prevalence of the code in the database and standardized the estimate to the U.S. population. Results Of 35,575,388 individuals in this database, 16,405 had at least 1 code for EoE. The mean age was 33.5 years, 65% were male, 55.8% had dysphagia, and 52.8% had a diagnostic code for at least 1 allergic condition. Among 11,569,217 individuals with continuous insurance coverage between mid-2009 and mid-2011, 6513 had at least 1 code for EoE. When standardized to the U.S. population, the estimated period prevalence of EoE was 56.7/100,000 persons, translating to approximately 152,152 cases in the U.S. Prevalence peaked in men 35-39 years old, with a rate of 114.6/100,000 persons. Conclusions Despite its relatively recent description, EoE is frequently diagnosed in the United States, with an estimated prevalence of 56.7/100,000 persons. This estimate depends on the accuracy of the International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision code, but it could be an underestimate, because knowledge of the code and recognition of EoE are increasing.
Wilde heuristics and Rum Tum Tuggers: preference indeterminacy and instability

Models in decision theory and game theory assume that preferences are determinate: for any pair of possible outcomes, a and b, an agent either prefers a to b, prefers b to a, or is indifferent as between a and b. Preferences are also assumed to be stable: provided the agent is fully informed, trivial situational influences will not shift the order of her preferences. Research by behavioral economists suggests, however, that economic and hedonic preferences are to some degree indeterminate and unstable, which in turn suggests that other sorts of preferences may suffer the same problem. Even fully informed agents do not always determinately prefer a to b, prefer b to a, or feel indifferent as between a and b. Seemingly trivial situational influences rearrange the order of their preferences. One could respond that decision theory and game theory are not meant to describe actual behavior, and that they instead adumbrate an ideal of rationality from which human action diverges in various ways. When the divergences are small and systematic, they help us identify the heuristics that conspire to help people approximate rationality. One such heuristic, dubbed the Wilde heuristic, is explored. However, the divergences documented by behavioral economists threaten to be too large to handle through idealization. The Rum Tum Tugger Model, in which indifference is intransitive, is spelled out as one promising way for decision and game theory to retrench. Preferences may be locally unstable and indeterminate, but when the differences between options are sufficiently large, they approximate stability and determinacy.
Bioorthogonal Chemistry—A Covalent Strategy for the Study of Biological Systems

The development of genetically encoded, wavelength-tunable fluorescent proteins has provided a powerful imaging tool to the study of protein dynamics and functions in cellular and organismal biology. However, many biological functions are not directly encoded in the protein primary sequence, e.g., dynamic regulation afforded by protein posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation. To meet this challenge, an emerging field of bioorthogonal chemistry has promised to offer a versatile strategy to selectively label a biomolecule of interest and track their dynamic regulations in its native habitat. This strategy has been successfully applied to the studies of all classes of biomolecules in living systems, including proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids. Whereas the incorporation of a bioorthogonal reporter site-selectively into a biomolecule through either genetic or metabolic approaches has been well established, the development of bioorthogonal reactions that allow fast ligation of exogenous chemical probes with the bioorthogonal reporter in living systems remains in its early stage. Here, we review the recent development of bioorthogonal reactions and their applications in various biological systems, with a detailed discussion about our own work—the development of the tetrazole based, photoinducible 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction.
Terahertz quantum cascade laser sources for high temperature operation

Terahertz quantum cascade lasers are currently the most advanced electrically-pumped semiconductor lasers in the spectral range 1-5 THz. However, their operation at room-temperature is still an unresolved challenge. I will discuss factors that currently limit the operation of these devices to cryogenic temperatures and describe the recent results of our work to improve the operating temperatures of terahertz quantum cascade lasers through innovative active region and waveguide designs, and through using nonlinear optical effects to produce coherent terahertz radiation without population inversion across the terahertz transition. In particular, I will describe terahertz quantum cascade lasers that achieved record operating temperatures in the frequency range from 2.3 to 3.8 THz and report on our progress in developing terahertz quantum cascade laser sources based on intra-cavity nonlinear frequency mixing.
Relationship of myelin internode elongation and growth in the rat sural nerve.

The lengthening of myelin internodes along peripheral nerve fibers was studied in rat sural nerve during the period of myelination and subsequent growth. Sural nerves were examined from 34 animals ranging in age from 2 to 140 days. Analyses of osmicated, epon-embedded and transversely sectioned nerves indicated that myclination of rat sural nerve commenced in the two to five day period and continued until day 20. Direct measurements of consecutive myelin internodes along representative teased fibers disclosed a progressive increase of internode length and fiber diameter. A direct relationship was shown between the rate of increment of the largest internodes and the longitudinal growth rate of the rat hind limb as determined by the combined lengths of the disarticulated femur and tibia. Increases of internode lengths among the entire population of myelinated fibers also appeared to correlate with the longitudinal growth pattern of the hind limb. This was assessed by comparing the size distribution of myelinated fibers in adult sural nerve with a theoretical distributional profile based upon the assumption that internode length is solely determined by amount of longitudinal growth after myelination. Assuming that internode elongation is determined by growth, it was shown that the quantity of longitudinal growth after myelination could account for the size and distribution of all myelin internodes in the adult sural nerve. In addition, the relationships between myelin internodes and fiber size at different ages was expressed by slopes of the regression lines. A significant change in this value for sural nerve fibers in the 30–40 day age period indicated that there was an increase of composite fiber diameter relative to internode length during the interval. During the remaining periods of growth, the diameters of myelinated fibers increased at a rate comparable to the increase of internode length.
Hypertension, Obesity, and Inflammation: The Complex Designs of a Deadly Trio

Abstract Hypertension is a powerful risk factor for cardiovascular disease and frequently occurs in conjunction with obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Recent research into the underlying pathophysiologic processes common to these entities has uncovered the role of a heightened inflammatory state signified by a host of circulating bio-cytokines. Systemic and local hormonal effectors, such as angiotensin II and aldosterone, interact with inflammatory and oxidative stress to augment endothelial damage in a complex manner. The kidneys play a prominent role in the renin–angiotensin cascade and the abnormal pressor response that ensues. Insulin resistance underlies the pathogenesis of obesity and the metabolic syndrome. The interplay of hypertension, insulin resistance, and obesity vastly enhances the noxious influence of inflammation on the vasculature, promoting deleterious immune adaptations and ultimately increasing atherosclerotic risk. Although certain classes of available pharmacologic agents already a...
Abstract 2119: Regulation of T-type calcium channel expression during IL-6 induced neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer cells

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men. At early stages, the growth of prostate cancers is androgen dependent and therefore therapies designed to reduce the androgen concentration/receptor activation are effective in promoting tumor regression. At later stages, however, the growth of prostate cancers becomes androgen independent, leading to increased mortality. The switch to an androgen-refractory state is associated with neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer cells. Several factors including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and increased cAMP production promote neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer cells. How these factors promote neuroendocrine differentiation is not completely understood. In this work we investigated whether IL-6 evoked neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer cells results in the stimulation of T-type calcium channel expression in the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP. Treatment of LNCaP cells with IL-6 for four days evokes considerable morphological and molecular changes consistent with neuroendocrine differentiation, including the presence of rounded cell bodies, the appearance of long dendritic-like processes and the expression of chromogranin-A. IL-6 evoked neuroendocrine differentiation of LNCaP cells results in a 3-fold increase in the protein expression of the T-type calcium channel subunit Cav3.2. Transcripts for the Cav3.2 but not Cav3.1 or Cav3.3 subunits can be detected in IL-6-treated LNCaP cells. Real time PCR analysis indicates no change in Cav3.2 mRNA expression between control (non-stimulated) and IL-6 stimulated LNCaP cells, suggesting that T-type calcium channel expression is regulated by a post-transcriptional mechanism. Electrophysiological recordings reveal that increased Cav3.2 protein expression following IL-6 stimulation of LNCaP cells does not result in increased expression of functional channels in the membrane. Functional expression of Cav3.2 channels is facilitated by stimulation of LNCaP cells with forskolin an agent that increases intracellular cAMP. These results indicate that changes in T-type calcium channel expression and intracellular calcium during neuroendocrine differentiation of LNCaP cells are regulated by the interplay of multiple factors. Thus, it appears that T-type calcium channels could be a target for future therapeutic strategies against prostate cancers refractory to anti-androgen therapies. Citation Format: Erika Weaver, Jennifer L. Hearne, Miguel Martin-Caraballo. Regulation of T-type calcium channel expression during IL-6 induced neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2119. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2119
Diagnosis and management of local recurrence after low-dose-rate brachytherapy

Abstract Objectives To describe the diagnosis of local failure after prostate brachytherapy (BT) and treatment options when recurrence is present. Methods and Materials Review of literature for local recurrence after prostate BT and salvage therapy was performed. A total of 6 patients with prostate-specific antigen increase were identified as local failures by transperineal mapping biopsy (TPMB) and treated with targeted focused therapy using cryoablation. Results Local recurrence after prostate BT occurs in 2–20% and is dose dependent. The biologic effective dose greater than 200 Gy 2 is associated with a less than 2% recurrence rate. Confirmatory biopsy should include both the prostate and seminal vesicles, as prostate cancer can be found in 20% of the latter. The pathologist should be experienced in evaluating post-irradiation tissue because of the difficulty in distinguishing benign irradiated prostate from residual or recurrent tumor. Whole gland salvage, whether by prostatectomy or cryoablation, is associated with high complication rates. Focal therapy has fewer complications but accurate targeting remains a concern. Newer diagnostic and targeting modalities such as multiparametric MRI and TPMB offer improved opportunity to increase lesion identification and ablation. A TPMB approach, which incorporates new biopsy needle design and interactive targeting software, may offer the best avenue to true focused therapy. Conclusion Local recurrences after prostate BT are uncommon because of high delivered radiation dose. When present, improved lesion identification and targeting may be associated with better cancer control and lower morbidity.
Singular value decomposition in additive, multiplicative, and logistic forms

Singular value decomposition (SVD) is widely used in data processing, reduction, and visualization. Applied to a positive matrix, the regular additive SVD by the first several dual vectors can yield irrelevant negative elements of the approximated matrix. We consider a multiplicative SVD modification that corresponds to minimizing the relative errors and produces always positive matrices at any approximation step. Another logistic SVD modification can be used for decomposition of the matrices of proportions, when a regular SVD can yield the elements beyond the zero-one range, while the modified SVD decomposition produces all the elements within the correct range at any step of approximation. Several additional modifications of matrix approximation are also considered.
Analysis of planar optical waveguides using scattering data

Gradient-index planar optical waveguides with exponential and sech2x refractive-index profiles are analyzed. By using a scattering framework, reflection and transmission coefficients for the infinite exponential profile are derived, and these scattering data are analyzed to obtain mode propagation constants and describe the effects of varying the height of the refractive-index profile. The theory is then developed to account for truncations of refractive-index profiles, the effects of a finite core width on the propagation constants for sech2x potentials are illustrated, the behavior of the bound modes in response to variations in the width of the waveguide core is described, and the appearance of leaky modes for the truncated structure is discussed.
The influences of vapor environment and temperature on the contact angle-drop size relationship

Abstract Advancing contact angles have been measured for the systems water-PTFE, water-copper, water-stainless steel, n -decane-PTFE, n -undecane-PTFE, and cyclohexane-PTFE using drop sizes varying in base diameter from 1–15 mm. For the water-PTFE/copper/stainless steel systems, a decrease in contact angle with decreasing drop size is observed in saturated argon or nitrogen at 25°C. An increase in contact angle, however, occurs with decreasing drop size at the boiling point for water drops residing on Teflon PTFE and copper in its vapor. For n -decane and n -undecane drops on a Teflon PTFE surface in argon saturated with their respective vapors at 25°C no change of contact angle with drop size is observed. However, for cyclohexane there is a change which is attributed to surface absorption. In further experiments where the water drops residing on a PTFE surface were surrounded by n -decane, n -undecane, or cyclohexane saturated argon vapors at 25°C no change of contact angle with different environments is detected, demonstrating that the equilibrium film pressure is negligible.
Acetyltransferase activity in human platelet microsomes and washed platelets

It has been demonstrated that human platelets form platelet-activating factor (PAF) when stimulated by thrombin, collagen and ionophore A-23187, but the mechanism of its formation has not been elucidated. In this study we demonstrated increased acetyltransferase activity (i.e., transfer of the acetyl moiety of [3H]acetyl-CoA to lyso-PAF (1-alkyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) to form PAF) occurring in human platelet microsomes made from platelets stimulated by thrombin or ionophore A-23187. This stimulation resulted in a 2-4-fold increase in acetyltransferase activity over unstimulated platelets. Acetyltransferase activity was also demonstrated by incubating [3H]acetate with whole platelets and stimulating with thrombin or ionophore A-23187. Radioactive PAF was detected when the platelets were stimulated. None was formed without stimulation. These findings indicate that acetyltransferase may play a role in the biosynthesis of PAF by human platelets.
Usability and software architecture

The role of software architecture with respect to usability has evolved over the past 20 years. The architectures of the 1980s and early 1990s assumed that usability was primarily a property of the presentation of information. Therefore, simply separating the presentation from the dialogue and application made it easy to modify that presentation after user testing. A more popular belief in the 1990s was that usability concerns greatly affected system functionality as well as the presentation. This emphasis took attention away from architectural support (beyond separation). Achieving the correct functionality for a given system became paramount. It is our observation that even if presentation and functionality of a system are well designed, the usability of a system can be greatly compromised if the underlying architecture does not support human concerns beyond modifiability. This paper will present a new role for software architecture in usability, preliminary research and practice stemming from this role...
Molecular Scale Drug Entrapment as a Precise Method of Controlled Drug Release II: Facilitated Drug Entrapment to Polymeric Colloidal Dispersions

Further studies have been carried out to investigate drug-polymer flocculation as a means of molecular scale drug entrapment. It has been shown that a suitable organic acid greatly increases the degree of interaction between the drug and the polymer and provides a mechanism controlling both interaction and subsequent drug-release properties. Results of tests indicate that the products prepared by the facilitated entrapment method possess excellent sustained-action characteristics. In addition, the drug entrapped as the carboxylate salt or in conjunction with the appropriate dicarboxylic acid, while demonstrating substantially complete drug-dissolution release in intestinal fluid, could be maintained in the entrapped form in aqueous suspensions during storage periods in excess of 1 month. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the molecular scale level of entrapment of the drug in the polymer flocculated systems.
Management of Paralytic Equinovalgus Deformity

Equinovalgus deformity of the paralytic foot is not commonly seen, but does present occasionally. It is as a result of specific muscle imbalances, consisting of an unopposed activity of the everters (...
Analysis of a laser induced plasma in high pressure SF6 gas

Summary form only given. The Laser Triggered Switch Program at Sandia National Laboratories is an intensive development study to optimize and improve the laser triggered gas switch (LTGS) for the Z-Refurbishment (ZR) project. The laser triggered gas switch is the final command-triggered switch in the machine, and reliability and performance of the switch is crucial. A modified LTGS trigger section with optical viewing windows perpendicular to laser propagation is used to analyze a laser induced plasma spark in SF6 gas in order to quantity parameters such as spark length and plasma temperature. The laser spark is created through a focusing lens by the fourth-harmonic (266nm) of a 5ns FWHM pulsed Nd: YAG laser with 30mJ maximum energy output. Several diagnostic methods are used to analyze the laser spark. Visible spark length measurements are made using a lens system mounted to a CCD camera at gas pressures ranging from sub-atmosphere to 4 atmospheres. Differing f-number lenses are compared to determine optimal visible spark length for a given gas pressure. Spark length is used as an indicator of the ability of a switch to trigger at a given gas pressure and charge voltage. Typically, the visible spark length must be at least 30% of the electrode gap spacing to produce acceptable switch run-time and jitter. Experiments have shown that for switch operating pressures near 4 atmospheres, a dramatic increase in spark length (~12mm to 24mm) is noted between f/9.8 and f/14.8 lenses (500mm and 750mm respectively) while the increase in spark length slows markedly (~24mm to 30.5mm) with an increase in lens focal length to f/19.7 (lm).
Data streaming algorithms for estimating entropy of network traffic

Using entropy of traffic distributions has been shown to aid a wide variety of network monitoring applications such as anomaly detection, clustering to reveal interesting patterns, and traffic classification. However, realizing this potential benefit in practice requires accurate algorithms that can operate on high-speed links, with low CPU and memory requirements. In this paper, we investigate the problem of estimating the entropy in a streaming computation model. We give lower bounds for this problem, showing that neither approximation nor randomization alone will let us compute the entropy efficiently. We present two algorithms for randomly approximating the entropy in a time and space efficient manner, applicable for use on very high speed (greater than OC-48) links. The first algorithm for entropy estimation is inspired by the structural similarity with the seminal work of Alon et al. for estimating frequency moments, and we provide strong theoretical guarantees on the error and resource usage. Our second algorithm utilizes the observation that the performance of the streaming algorithm can be enhanced by separating the high-frequency items (or elephants) from the low-frequency items (or mice). We evaluate our algorithms on traffic traces from different deployment scenarios.
Continental-scale salt tectonics on Mars and the origin of Valles Marineris and associated outflow channels

A synthesis of deformation patterns within and around the Thaumasia Plateau, Mars, points to a new interpretation for regional deformation and the origin of Valles Marineris and associated outflow channels. The morphology of the Thaumasia Plateau is typical of thin-skinned deformation, akin to a “mega-slide,” in which extensional deformation in Syria Planum and Noctis Labyrinthus connects via lateral zones of transtension and strike-slip—Claritas Fossae and Valles Marineris—to a broad zone of compressional uplift and shortening defined by truncated craters and thrust faults along the Coprates Rise and Thaumasia Highlands. However, the low regional slope (~1°) results in gravitational body forces that are too small to deform the basaltic lava flows conventionally thought to compose the flanks of the Tharsis volcanic province. Instead, we conclude that geothermal heating and topographic loading of extensive buried deposits of salts and/or mixtures of salts, ice, and basaltic debris would allow for weak detachments and large-scale gravity spreading. We propose that the generally linear chasmata of Valles Marineris reflect extension, collapse, and excavation along fractures radial to Tharsis, either forming or reactivated as part of one lateral margin of the Thaumasia gravity-spreading system. The other, dextral, lateral margin is a massive splay of extensional faults forming the Claritas Fossae, which resembles a trailing extensional imbricate fan. The compressional mountain belt defined by the Coprates Rise and Thaumasia Highlands forms the toe of the “mega-slide.” Topographic observations and previous structural analyses reveal evidence for a failed volcanic plume below Syria Planum that could have provided further thermal energy and topographic potential for initiating regional deformation, either intrusively through inflation or extrusively through lava flow and/or ash fall emplacement. Higher heat flow during Noachian time, or geothermal heating due to burial by Tharsis-derived volcanic rocks, would have contributed to flow of salt deposits, as well as formation of groundwater from melting ice and dewatering of hydrous salts. We further propose that connection of overpressured groundwater from aquifers near the base of the detachment through the cryosphere to the martian surface created the outflow channels of Echus, Coprates, and Juventae chasmata at relatively uniform source elevations along the northern margin of the “mega-slide,” where regional groundwater flow would have been directed toward the surface. Our hypothesis provides a unifying framework to explain perplexing relationships between the rise of the Tharsis volcanic province, deformation of the Thaumasia Plateau, and the formation of Valles Marineris and associated outflow channels.
Synchronous primary colorectal and liver metastasis: impact of operative approach on clinical outcomes and hospital charges.

Objectives The management of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and synchronous colorectal liver metastasis (CLM) remains controversial. The present study was conducted in order to assess the clinical and economic impacts of managing synchronous CLM with a staged versus a simultaneous surgery approach.
Dimensions Characterizing Programming Feature Usage by Information Workers

Information workers such as administrative staff, consultants, and their managers constitute one of the largest groups of end users, yet little research about their usage of programming features is available to guide development of end user programming tools. In this paper, we describe our survey of over 800 information workers and our analysis of their feature usage in applications such as spreadsheets, browsers, and databases. Our factor analysis reveals three clusters of features - macro features, linked structure features, and imperative features - such that information workers with an inclination to use a feature in each cluster also were inclined to use other features in that cluster, even though each cluster spans several tools. We discuss the implications for research aimed at providing end user programming tools for information workers
Symbolic computer graphics and biological models

In the first part of my talk I will describe the operation of a symbolic graphics computer system; next, I will show how some models can be implemented by using this system, and finally I want to discuss techniques for establishing the validity of models.
A Multicenter Cohort Study of Inferior Vena Cava Filter Use in Children

Background To describe inferior vena cava (IVC) filter use in pediatric patients admitted to U.S. children's hospitals and to determine factors associated with prophylactic placement. Procedure This retrospective multicenter cohort study utilized data from the Pediatric Health Information Systems (PHIS) administrative database, with 44 participating children's hospitals. Subjects included for analysis were less than 21 years of age, admitted to a PHIS hospital between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2012 and had a procedure code for IVC filter placement. ICD-9-CM discharge codes were used to identify subjects with a venous thromboembolism (VTE). Pharmaceutical billing codes were used to identify anticoagulation use. Results During this 9-year-study period, 276 subjects met the inclusion criteria. The median age of subjects was 15 years (range 1 month–20 years). Subjects had an ICD-9-CM code for VTE 76% of the time and were started on anticoagulation after IVC filter placement 77% of the time. The mean number of IVC filters placed per year was 6 per 100,000 admissions (SD-1.4), which was constant throughout the study period (P = 0.12). The median number of filters placed by center was 4.5 (range 0–32). In multivariate analysis, subjects undergoing orthopedic surgery were more likely to have prophylactic placement of an IVC filter (OR 4.5; 95%CI 1.8-11). Conclusions IVC filter placement in pediatric patients remains a rare event and is most common in adolescents. Unlike in adults, pediatric IVC filter placement does not appear to be increasing over time and is predominantly used in the setting of a venous thrombotic event. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
E-mail address harvesting on PubMed--a call for responsible handling of e-mail addresses.

To the Editor: PubMed “comprises over 20 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books,” a database that can be queried using the Entrez search engine.1 Since January 1996, e-mail addresses for first authors, when available, have been added to the MEDLINE record as they appear in the journals.2 Search and retrieval of PubMed results may occur through the PubMed Web page and also with use of several Entrez Programming Utilities that “provide access to Entrez data outside of the regular web query interface.”3 With regard to these latter tools, corresponding documentation and an educational course with examples are available to the public online.4 Electronic spam can be defined as unsolicited e-mail sent to a large number of addresses.5 Individuals sending spam harvest e-mail addresses from the Internet using a variety of techniques, including automated use of software to search Web pages for strings of text recognized as e-mail addresses, as well as manual efforts to gain access to large collections of addresses (eg, by subscribing to mailing lists to collect the addresses of other users). Techniques for avoiding spam are many and include avoiding the online publication of e-mail addresses in text form (as opposed to providing an image of the address) and preventing those with malicious intent from accessing large sources of addresses. PubMed is extremely vulnerable to e-mail address harvesting. When available, e-mail addresses for first authors are included within citations in text form, making them easily retrieved by software in an automated fashion. However, more concerning is the ability to quickly generate listings containing thousands of e-mail addresses using the Entrez Programming Utilities. With regard to this latter vulnerability, having only basic computer programming knowledge, within 30 minutes of discovering the aforementioned utilities, I was able to generate a listing of more than 7000 addresses. Therefore, clearly more responsible handling of e-mail addresses in PubMed is needed, which may be accomplished by eliminating publication of e-mail addresses in text form and restricting the return of e-mail addresses when results are fetched outside of the regular Web query interface.