cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of Jet Noise Power Spectral Laws Using SHJAR Data

High quality jet noise spectral data measured at the Aeroacoustic Propulsion Laboratory at the NASA Glenn Research Center is used to examine a number of jet noise scaling laws. Configurations considered in the present study consist of convergent and convergent-divergent axisymmetric nozzles. Following the work of Viswanathan, velocity power factors are estimated using a least squares fit on spectral power density as a function of jet temperature and observer angle. The regression parameters are scrutinized for their uncertainty within the desired confidence margins. As an immediate application of the velocity power laws, spectral density in supersonic jets are decomposed into their respective components attributed to the jet mixing noise and broadband shock associated noise. Subsequent application of the least squares method on the shock power intensity shows that the latter also scales with some power of the shock parameter. A modified shock parameter is defined in order to reduce the dependency of the regression factors on the nozzle design point within the uncertainty margins of the least squares method.
Transfer operators and Hankel transforms between relative trace formulas, I: character theory

Abstract The Langlands functoriality conjecture, as reformulated in the “beyond endoscopy” program, predicts comparisons between the (stable) trace formulas of different groups G 1 , G 2 for every morphism G 1 L → L G 2 between their L-groups. This conjecture can be seen as a special case of a more general conjecture, which replaces reductive groups by spherical varieties and the trace formula by its generalization, the relative trace formula. The goal of this article and its continuation [21] is to demonstrate, by example, the existence of “transfer operators” between relative trace formulas, which generalize the scalar transfer factors of endoscopy. These transfer operators have all properties that one could expect from a trace formula comparison: matching, fundamental lemma for the Hecke algebra, transfer of (relative) characters. Most importantly, and quite surprisingly, they appear to be of abelian nature (at least, in the low-rank examples considered in this paper), even though they encompass functoriality relations of non-abelian harmonic analysis. Thus, they are amenable to application of the Poisson summation formula in order to perform the global comparison. Moreover, we show that these abelian transforms have some structure — which presently escapes our understanding in its entirety — as deformations of well-understood operators when the spaces under consideration are replaced by their “asymptotic cones”. In this first paper we study (relative) characters for the Kuznetsov formula and the stable trace formula for SL 2 and their degenerations (as well as for the relative trace formula for torus periods in PGL 2 ), and we show how they correspond to each other under explicit transfer operators.
Modifying PyUltraLight to model scalar dark matter with self-interactions

We introduce a modification of the pysiultralight code that models the dynamical evolution of ultralight axionlike scalar dark matter fields. Our modified code, pysiultralight, adds a quartic, self-interaction term to reflect the one which arises naturally in axionlike particle models. Using a particle mass of ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}22}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{eV}/{\mathrm{c}}^{2}$, we show that pysiultralight produces spatially oscillating solitons, exploding solitons, and collapsing solitons which prior analytic work shows will occur with attractive self-interactions. Using our code we calculate the oscillation frequency as a function of soliton mass and equilibrium radius in the presence of attractive self-interactions. We show that when the soliton mass is below the critical mass (${M}_{c}=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}{M}_{\mathrm{max}}$) described by Chavanis [Phys. Rev. D 94, 083007 (2016)] and the initial radius is within a specific range, solitons are unstable and explode. We test the maximum mass criteria described by Chavanis [Phys. Rev. D 94, 083007 (2016)] and Chavanis and Delfini [Phys. Rev. D 84, 043532 (2011)] for a soliton to collapse when attractive self-interactions are included. We also analyze both binary soliton collisions and a soliton rotating around a central mass with attractive and repulsive self-interactions. We find that when attractive self-interactions are included, the density profiles get distorted after a binary collision. We also find that a soliton is less susceptible to tidal stripping when attractive self-interactions are included. We find that the opposite is true for repulsive self-interactions in that solitons would be more easily tidally stripped. Including self-interactions might therefore influence the survival timescales of infalling solitons.
Efficient scaling of dynamic graph neural networks

We present distributed algorithms for training dynamic Graph Neural Networks (GNN) on large scale graphs spanning multi-node, multi-GPU systems. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first scaling study on dynamic GNN. We devise mechanisms for reducing the GPU memory usage and identify two execution time bottlenecks: CPU-GPU data transfer; and communication volume. Exploiting properties of dynamic graphs, we design a graph difference-based strategy to significantly reduce the transfer time. We develop a simple, but effective data distribution technique under which the communication volume remains fixed and linear in the input size, for any number of GPUs. Our experiments using billion-size graphs on a system of 128 GPUs shows that: (i) the distribution scheme achieves up to 30x speedup on 128 GPUs; (ii) the graph-difference technique reduces the transfer time by a factor of up to 4.1x and the overall execution time by up to 40%.
Vision-Based Shape Reconstruction of Soft Continuum Arms Using a Geometric Strain Parametrization

Interest in soft continuum arms has increased as their inherent material elasticity enables safe and adaptive interactions with the environment. However to achieve full autonomy in these arms, accurate three-dimensional shape sensing is needed. Vision-based solutions have been found to be effective in estimating the shape of soft continuum arms. In this paper, a vision-based shape estimator that utilizes a geometric strain based representation for the soft continuum arm’s shape, is proposed. This representation reduces the dimension of the curved shape to a finite set of strain basis functions, thereby allowing for efficient optimization for the shape that best fits the observed image. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in estimating the end effector with accuracy less than the soft arm’s radius. Multiple basis functions are also analyzed and compared for the specific soft continuum arm in use.
A Sharp Bound for the Growth of Minimal Graphs

We consider minimal graphs $$u = u(x,y) > 0$$ over unbounded domains $$D \subset R^2$$ bounded by a Jordan arc $$\gamma $$ on which $$u = 0$$ . We prove a sort of reverse Phragmen-Lindelof theorem by showing that if D contains a sector $$\begin{aligned} S_{\lambda }=\{(r,\theta )=\{-\lambda /2<\theta<\lambda /2\},\quad \pi <\lambda \le 2\pi , \end{aligned}$$ then the rate of growth is at most $$r^{\pi /\lambda }$$ .
Controlling risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in essential workers of enclosed food manufacturing facilities

The SARS-CoV-2 global pandemic poses significant health risks to workers who are essential to maintaining the food supply chain. Using a quantitative risk assessment model, this study characterized the impact of risk reduction strategies for controlling SARS-CoV-2 transmission (droplet, aerosol, fomite-mediated) among front-line workers in a representative indoor fresh fruit and vegetable manufacturing facility. We simulated: 1) individual and cumulative SARS-CoV-2 infection risks from close contact (droplet and aerosols at 1-3 m), aerosol, and fomite-mediated exposures to a susceptible worker following exposure to an infected worker during an 8 h-shift; and 2) the relative reduction in SARS-CoV-2 infection risk attributed to infection control interventions (physical distancing, mask use, ventilation, surface disinfection, hand hygiene, vaccination). Without mitigation measures, the SARS-CoV-2 infection risk was largest for close contact (droplet and aerosol) at 1 m (0.96, 5th - 95th percentile: 0.67-1.0). In comparison, risk associated with fomite (0.26, 5th - 95th percentile: 0.10-0.56) or aerosol exposure alone (0.05, 5th - 95th percentile: 0.01-0.13) at 1 m distance was substantially lower (73-95%). At 1 m, droplet transmission predominated over aerosol and fomite-mediated transmission, however, this changed by 3 m, with aerosols comprising the majority of the exposure dose. Increasing physical distancing reduced risk by 84% (1-2 m) and 91% (1-3 m). Universal mask use reduced infection risk by 52-88%, depending on mask type. Increasing ventilation (from 0.1 to 2-8 air changes/hour) resulted in risk reductions of 14-54% (1 m) and 55-85% (2 m). Combining these strategies, together with handwashing and surface disinfection, resulted in <1% infection risk. Partial or full vaccination of the susceptible worker resulted in risk reductions of 73-92% (1 m risk range: 0.08-0.26). However, vaccination paired with other interventions (ACH 2, mask use, or distancing) was necessary to achieve infection risks <1%. Current industry SARS-CoV-2 risk reduction strategies, particularly when bundled, provide significant protection to essential food workers.
Bias and variance of the Bayesian-mean decoder

Perception, in theoretical neuroscience, has been modeled as the encoding of external stimuli into internal signals, which are then decoded. The Bayesian mean is an important decoder, as it is optimal for purposes of both estimation and discrimination. We present widely-applicable approximations to the bias and to the variance of the Bayesian mean, obtained under the minimal and biologically-relevant assumption that the encoding results from a series of independent, though not necessarily identically-distributed, signals. Simulations substantiate the accuracy of our approximations in the small-noise regime. The bias of the Bayesian mean comprises two components: one driven by the prior, and one driven by the precision of the encoding. If the encoding is 'efficient', the two components have opposite effects; their relative strengths are determined by the objective that the encoding optimizes. The experimental literature on perception reports both 'Bayesian' biases directed towards prior expectations, and opposite, 'anti-Bayesian' biases. We show that different tasks are indeed predicted to yield such contradictory biases, under a consistently-optimal encoding-decoding model. Moreover, we recover Wei and Stocker's "law of human perception", a relation between the bias of the Bayesian mean and the derivative of its variance, and show how the coefficient of proportionality in this law depends on the task at hand. Our results provide a parsimonious theory of optimal perception under constraints, in which encoding and decoding are adapted both to the prior and to the task faced by the observer.
An analysis of international use of robots for COVID-19

Abstract This article analyses data collected from press resports, social media, and the scientific literature on 338 instances of robots used explicitly in response to COVID-19 from 24 Jan, 2020, to 23 Jan, 2021, in 48 countries. The analysis was guided by four overarching questions: 1) What were robots used for in the COVID-19 response? 2) When were they used? 3) How did different countries innovate? and 4) Did having a national policy on robotics influence a country’s innovation and insertion of robotics for COVID-19? The findings indicate that robots were used for six different sociotechnical work domains and 29 discrete use cases. When robots were used varied greatly on the country; although many countries did report an increase at the beginning of their first surge. To understand the findings of how innovation occurred, the data was examined through the lens of the technology’s maturity according to NASA’s Technical Readiness Assessment metrics. Through this lens, findings note that existing robots were used for more than 78% of the instances; slightly modified robots made up 10%; and truly novel robots or novel use cases constituted 12% of the instances. The findings clearly indicate that countries with a national robotics initiative were more likely to use robotics more often and for broader purposes. Finally, the dataset and analysis produces a broad set of implications that warrant further study and investigation. The results from this analysis are expected to be of value to the robotics and robotics policy community in preparing robots for rapid insertion into future disasters.
GeoMol: Torsional Geometric Generation of Molecular 3D Conformer Ensembles

Prediction of a molecule's 3D conformer ensemble from the molecular graph holds a key role in areas of cheminformatics and drug discovery. Existing generative models have several drawbacks including lack of modeling important molecular geometry elements (e.g. torsion angles), separate optimization stages prone to error accumulation, and the need for structure fine-tuning based on approximate classical force-fields or computationally expensive methods such as metadynamics with approximate quantum mechanics calculations at each geometry. We propose GeoMol--an end-to-end, non-autoregressive and SE(3)-invariant machine learning approach to generate distributions of low-energy molecular 3D conformers. Leveraging the power of message passing neural networks (MPNNs) to capture local and global graph information, we predict local atomic 3D structures and torsion angles, avoiding unnecessary over-parameterization of the geometric degrees of freedom (e.g. one angle per non-terminal bond). Such local predictions suffice both for the training loss computation, as well as for the full deterministic conformer assembly (at test time). We devise a non-adversarial optimal transport based loss function to promote diverse conformer generation. GeoMol predominantly outperforms popular open-source, commercial, or state-of-the-art machine learning (ML) models, while achieving significant speed-ups. We expect such differentiable 3D structure generators to significantly impact molecular modeling and related applications.
Tunnel number and bridge number of composite genus 2 spatial graphs

Connected sum and trivalent vertex sum are natural operations on genus 2 spatial graphs and, as with knots, tunnel number behaves in interesting ways under these operations. We prove sharp Scharlemann-Schultens type bounds for the tunnel number of a composite genus 2 spatial graph. For the tunnel number of a composite Brunnian $\theta$-curve, our result implies that the tunnel number is at least the number of summands, as in the knot case. We also prove a version of a theorem of Morimoto for knots: the tunnel number of a composite m-small genus 2 spatial graph is at least the sum of the tunnel numbers of the factors. We also study lower bounds for the bridge number of composite genus 2 graphs. In particular, our results imply that for a Brunnian composite $\theta$-curve having $m$ factors in its prime factorization, the bridge number is at least $m+3/2$.
HySec-Flow: Privacy-Preserving Genomic Computing with SGX-based Big-Data Analytics Framework

Trusted execution environments (TEE) such as In-tel's Software Guard Extension (SGX) have been widely studied to boost security and privacy protection for the computation of sensitive data such as human genomics. However, a performance hurdle is often generated by SGX, especially from the small enclave memory. In this paper, we propose a new Hybrid Secured Flow framework (called “HySec-Flow”) for large-scale genomic data analysis using SGX platforms. Here, the data-intensive computing tasks can be partitioned into independent subtasks to be deployed into distinct secured and non-secured containers, therefore allowing for parallel execution while alleviating the limited size of Page Cache (EPC) memory in each enclave. We illustrate our contributions using a workflow supporting indexing, alignment, dispatching, and merging the execution of SGX-enabled containers. We provide details regarding the architecture of the trusted and untrusted components and the underlying Scorn and Graphene support as generic shielding execution frameworks to port legacy code. We thoroughly evaluate the performance of our privacy-preserving reads mapping algorithm using real human genome sequencing data. The results demonstrate that the performance is enhanced by partitioning the time-consuming genomic computation into subtasks compared to the conventional execution of the data-intensive reads mapping algorithm in an enclave. The proposed HySec-Flow framework is made available as an open-source and adapted to the data-parallel computation of other large-scale genomic tasks requiring security and scalable computational resources.
ALGORITHMIC AND ARCHITECTURAL ISSUES RELATED TO VECTOR PROCESSORS

This paper considers the increasing impact of computer architecture on algorithm development. After describing the mathematical modeling of parallel/pipeline (vector) processors, the models are used to develop complexity expressions for vectorized solution of certain well known algorithms. These expressions in turn reveal the overhead cost of the vectorization of sequential algorithms. Software and functional characteristics of current vector processors are also discussed.
Powder Reclamation Methods

Dust collection is necessary due to the fact that the deposition efficiency of any spraying process is rarely 100 % and therefore, depending on the application, any fugitive particulate or overspray must be collected to comply with the workplace environmental and safety requirements. The primary way for a powder to be reclaimed is through the use of a dust collector system designed to meet the environmental challenges of the particulate running through it. The most important part of the collector is the filter, which is designed with a filtration media to get the longest filter life possible while providing efficiency to meet environmental expectations. Dust collector’s themselves can also have technologies that enhance product performance and serviceability. To collect particulate properly, best practices guidelines are described for ventilating hoods and booths. Lastly, once powder is reclaimed, considerations for disposal and regulatory compliance must also be addressed.
Capillary nano-immunoassays: advancing quantitative proteomics analysis, biomarker assessment, and molecular diagnostics

There is an emerging demand for the use of molecular profiling to facilitate biomarker identification and development, and to stratify patients for more efficient treatment decisions with reduced adverse effects. In the past decade, great strides have been made to advance genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic approaches to address these demands. While there has been much progress with these large scale approaches, profiling at the protein level still faces challenges due to limitations in clinical sample size, poor reproducibility, unreliable quantitation, and lack of assay robustness. A novel automated capillary nano-immunoassay (CNIA) technology has been developed. This technology offers precise and accurate measurement of proteins and their post-translational modifications using either charge-based or size-based separation formats. The system not only uses ultralow nanogram levels of protein but also allows multi-analyte analysis using a parallel single-analyte format for increased sensitivity and specificity. The high sensitivity and excellent reproducibility of this technology make it particularly powerful for analysis of clinical samples. Furthermore, the system can distinguish and detect specific protein post-translational modifications that conventional Western blot and other immunoassays cannot easily capture. This review will summarize and evaluate the latest progress to optimize the CNIA system for comprehensive, quantitative protein and signaling event characterization. It will also discuss how the technology has been successfully applied in both discovery research and clinical studies, for signaling pathway dissection, proteomic biomarker assessment, targeted treatment evaluation and quantitative proteomic analysis. Lastly, a comparison of this novel system with other conventional immuno-assay platforms is performed.
Predictive Validity of Flight Simulators as a Function of Simulator Motion

Ninety multi-engine instrument rated pilots were assigned to no motion, sustained linear scaled down analog motion, and washout motion in a GAT II simulator for determining the effects of degree of...
Early precursor of mixed endocrine-exocrine tumors of the gastrointestinal tract: histologic and molecular correlations.

Background: Mixed endocrine-exocrine tumors display histologic features of endocrine and glandular differentiation. Unlike in collision tumors, the two components are thought to arise from a monoclonal precursor. Evidence from molecular testing supports the monoclonal theory and suggests that the exocrine component may give rise to the endocrine component but not vice versa. Case Report: We report a case of an adenomatous polyp in the large intestine that had groups of endocrine cells arising from the crypt bases of the adenomatous (exocrine) epithelium. To our knowledge, ours is only the second report of an adenomatous polyp in which groups of microcarcinoid endocrine cells were recognized. The histologic findings in our case correlate with the molecular findings described in mixed endocrine-exocrine tumors. Conclusion: Our description may represent the primordial stage of a mixed endocrine-exocrine neoplasm.
Flow-mediated endothelial mechanotransduction

Mechanical forces associated with blood flow play important roles in the acute control of vascular tone, the regulation of arterial structure and remodeling, and the localization of atherosclerotic lesions. Major regulation of the blood vessel responses occurs by the action of hemodynamic shear stresses on the endothelium. The transmission of hemodynamic forces throughout the endothelium and the mechanotransduction mechanisms that lead to biophysical, biochemical, and gene regulatory responses of endothelial cells to hemodynamic shear stresses are reviewed.
Parallel algorithms for gray-scale digitized picture component labeling on a mesh-connected computer

Abstract We consider the problem of labeling connected components in a gray-scale image so that every component is connected, the maximum difference in the gray-scale values of the pixels within any component does not exceed a given value, and no component can be merged with a neighboring component. We develop two asymptotically optimal θ(n) time algorithms for generating such labelings on a mesh-connected computer when the image is mapped onto the mesh with one pixel per processor. The first algorithm operates directly on the image and is based on a divide-and-conquer approach. Although it is simple, it has the potential drawback of possibly assigning two adjacent pixels with the same gray-scale value to different components. The second algorithm avoids this potential drawback. It works with a graph representation of the image and it allows larger components to be formed from smaller ones by taking into account properties and characteristics of the smaller components.
Lifetime measurements of excited states in 115In

Abstract The half-lives of excited states 829/864 keV in 115 In have been measured using delayed coincidence techniques and found to be 5.99 ± 0.03 ns and 1.15 ± 0.04 ns. A lower limit of 0.25 ns has been set for the 597 keV state.
Outcome of Nissen fundoplication using intraoperative manometry in children

Abstract Background: Intraoperative manometry is useful in performing Nissen fundoplication (NF) in children. Long-term clinical outcome information after use of this method is lacking. Methods: A retrospective review of the outcomes of 62 consecutive NFs using intraoperative manometry was performed. The follow-up period was 3.4 years. Approximately half of the patients were neurologically normal (NN) and half were neurologically impaired (NI). All patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) did not respond to an adequate trial of medical treatment. Results: The NF was tailored to result in a twofold increase in the lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) and a 75% increase in the LES length (LESL). An accelerated growth rate in 40% of "failure to thrive" (FTT) patients was demonstrated. Eighty-four percent of caregivers reported improved quality of life after NF. There was a twofold reduction in the number of hospital admissions and a sixfold reduction in total inpatient days for both NI and NN children. The early and late mortality rate was 13%, and the complication rate was similar to other series reported in the literature, with more complications occurring in NI patients. There was a 2% incidence of wrap herniation. An improvement in long-term outcomes after NF was seen in 89% of NN children and over half of NI patients. Conclusions: Intraoperative manometry is useful in standardizing the tightness of the wrap in NF. There was a low incidence of complications, dysphagia, recurrent emesis, and GERD in this series. Long-term outcomes using this technique were deemed very good based on caregivers' responses.
Theoretical considerations for the application of aromatic and heterocyclic fluorine compounds as pesticides

A fluorine atom attached to an aromatic or heterocyclic system is quite stable in many chemical and biochemical reactions. Its size, in contrast to other halogen atoms, is comparable to that of a hydrogen atom and therefore, fluorine substitution does not distort the steric configuration of most compounds involved in biological processes. This can result in the incorporation of fluorinated compounds at some stage into the life cycle of various organisms. The high electronegativity of the fluorine, however, may alter considerably the reaction kinetics and mechanism of such intermediates at a later stage of the cycle causing biological disruption and possible pesticidal effect.
Dose-response effects of dietary marine oil on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in normal subjects and patients with hypertriglyceridemia

Recent studies indicate that marine (omega-3) fatty acids decrease hypertriglyceridemia but worsen hyperglycemia in diabetes. We studied dose-response relationships between omega-3 intake and indices of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in 21 hypertriglyceridemic patients with (n = 6) or without (n = 15) diabetes, and 6 normal volunteers. All subjects consumed isocaloric diets of 65% carbohydrate, 20% fat, and 15% protein. The basal diet contained 15% of total calories as vegetable oil (omega-6), and the test diets included 15%, 7.5%, or 3.75% calories as fish oil (MaxEPA). After three months of the basal diet, patients were randomized to receive two 3-month omega-3 diets in the following sequences: 15%/7.5%, 7.5%/15%, 7.5%/3.75%, or 3.75%/7.5%. Both 15% and 7.5% diets, regardless of sequence, significantly decreased serum triglycerides but increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels as much as 98% and LDL/high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol ratio as much as 1.6-fold. Daily insulin requirements of three diabetic patients increased progressively while they received an omega-3-enriched diet for up to 2 years. In healthy controls, favourable changes induced by an omega-3 fatty acid diet in serum lipids and lipoproteins were associated with a tendency toward an inhibition of C-peptide secretion following a meal challenge. We conclude that substitution of commercially available omega-3 for omega-6 fatty acids improves hypertriglyceridemia but may worsen other lipoproteins indices and may increase insulin requirements in diabetic hypertriglyceridemic subjects.
Primary skin closure after damage control laparotomy.

Background Damage control laparotomy (DCL) is used widely in the management of patients with traumatic injuries but carries significant morbidity. Surgical-site infection (SSI) also carries potential morbidity, increased costs and prolonged hospital stay. The aim of this study was to determine whether primary skin closure after DCL increases the risk of SSI. Methods This was a retrospective institutional review of injured patients undergoing DCL between 2004 and 2012. Outcomes of patients who had primary skin closure at the time of fascial closure were compared with those of patients whose skin wound was left open to heal by secondary intention. The association between skin closure and SSI was evaluated using propensity score-adjusted multivariable logistic regression. Results Of 510 patients who underwent DCL, primary fascial closure was achieved in 301. Among these, 111 (36·9 per cent) underwent primary skin closure and in 190 (63·1 per cent) the skin wound was left open. Fascial closure at the initial take-back surgery was associated with having skin closure (P < 0·001), and colonic injury was associated with leaving the skin open (P = 0·002). On multivariable analysis, primary skin closure was associated with an increased risk of abdominal SSI (P = 0·020), but not fascial dehiscence (P = 0·446). Of patients receiving skin closure, 85·6 per cent did not develop abdominal SSI and were spared the morbidity of managing an open wound at discharge. Conclusion Primary skin closure after DCL is appropriate but may be associated with an increased risk of SSI.
Characterization of passivated iron nanoparticles by x-ray absorption spectroscopy

Core/shell nanoparticles with both metallic iron and iron boron cores were synthesized via the reverse micellar method and characterized by x-ray absorption spectroscopy, employing x-ray absorption near edge structure and extended x-ray absorption fine structure in an integrated fashion. The particles were found to comprise an amorphous iron boron phase, a disordered iron oxide phase, and, in some cases, a crystalline bcc metallic iron phase.
Increasing yields with entropy-based analysis of test data

Manufacturing test data is often analyzed with the direct goal of increasing production yields and reduction of variance within the product. Six Sigma and statistical process control methodologies are the standard tool sets for analysis of test data. The normal course of events results in the analyst seeking to reduce failures by taking steps to correct the tests that fail most often. Unfortunately, the complex nature of modern electronics is such that the systems often exhibit chaotic dynamics with self-organized criticality. In these particular cases standard analysis, such as Six Sigma, and correcting the tests which fail most often, are insufficient due to the chaotic nature of the data. This paper presents an entropy-based analysis of these particular types of systems. The algorithms for detection of self-organized criticality and chaotic dynamics within the test data are given. Corrective action solutions are also offered to assist in dealing with the chaotic dynamics in these systems. Finally, a case study is presented in which the given analysis techniques were utilized to effect a 52% yield increase on a product at Rockwell Collins.
Village School in Sri Lanka

L'auteur presente succinctement les resultats de sa recherche en education dans une des regions les plus reculees et les moins developpees du Sri Lanka. Il propose un panorama anthropologique de son experience en tant qu'enseignant en anglais, observateur privilegie de la vie et du systeme educatif sri lankais.
901-24 Safe Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Pacemaker Patients

Most authorities feel MRI of pacemaker (PM) patients is absolutely contraindicated. Methods We collected data on institutional practices regarding MRI of PM patients and identified previously unreported PM patients who have undergone MRI through a survey of cardiologists (n = 106) and radiologists (n = 86) at predominantly tertiary care (92%) institutions. Forty-one % (n = 78) of the 192 surveys were returned over a 2 month period. Results Practice policies varied, with 33% of cardiologists responding they would perform MRI if needed and 93% of radiologists completely prohibiting MRI in PM patients. We identified 19 patients who were scanned a total of 20 times. A variety of strategies were suggested or used to help scan PM patients safely, including avoiding MRI of PM dependent patients, reprogramming the PM to asynchronous or non-capture mode, having PM specialists present and use of enhanced non-invasive monitoring. A variety of unipolar, bipolar, single and dual chamber PM underwent MRI inclUding models from CPI, Intermedics, Medtronic, Siemens Pacesetter, and Telectronics. Sixteen of the scans occurred without the knowledge that the patient had a pacemaker. Seventeen scanning events occurred “without apparent consequence” to the patient or PM. One unmonitored PM patient died who was inadvertently scanned. One patient felt discomfort at the PM pocket, and one patient developed a rapid heart rate during MRI. These latter two patients were unharmed after the MRI was aborted. All of the PM interrogated afterward were found unaffected. Conclusions The results highlight attitudinal differences regarding the perceived safety of scanning PM patients. PM patients may safely undergo MRI if appropriate strategies are employed that account for potential ill effects on the PM by MRI.
Isolation and partial characterization of an extracellular glucansucrase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1355 that synthesizes an alternating (1→6), (1→3)-α-d-glucan

Abstract Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1355 grows on sucrose to produce two extracellular α- d -glucans. Although both are termed dextrans, they are chemically and physically distinct, and can be separated by fractional ethanol precipitation into fractions designated L and S. Fraction L is similar to B-512F dextran, having 95% α-(1→6) linkages and 5% α-(1→3) branch linkages, but fraction S has an alternating sequence of α-(1→6) and α-(1→3) linkages. Because of its structural differences from dextran, its different physical characteristics, and its resistance to hydrolysis by endodextranase, we have named glucan S, alternan, and the enzyme that synthesizes it from sucrose, alternansucrase. Alternansucrase has been isolated by two different methods. The first involves removal of the fraction L glucan from the culture fluid via hydrolysis by an endodextranase, followed by chromatography on Bio-Gel A5m. The void-volume fraction synthesizes only alternan, whereas the slower-migrating, second fraction synthesizes mainly dextran, together with some alternan. The second method utilized hydrophobic chromatography on O -(phenoxyacetyl)cellulose; a portion of the alternansucrase did not bind, whereas the bound portion, removed by eluting with detergent, contained both alternansucrase and dextransucrase. The glucans were identified by physical appearance, the concentration of ethanol required for precipitation, periodate-oxidation behavior, and susceptibility to hydrolysis by endodextranase. Also studied was the inhibition of the enzymes by 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-α- d -glucopyranosyl fluoride, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, 2-aminoethanol, and octyl β- d -glucopyranoside.
The constant neutral linked magnetic field electric sector scan

A linked magnetic field-electric sector scan for which (B/E) is constant selectively records first field free region metastable peaks representing loss of the same neutral fragment. The constant neutral metastable ion spectra produced by this scan should provide information about the presence and location of particular functional groups beyond that which is available from focused mass spectra. Constant neutral linked scans can be obtained consecutively with focused spectra and with B/E and B2/E linked scans by simple extension of a computerized B-E scanning method developed previously.
Capsaicin causes cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in ER -positive and -negative breast cancer cells by modulating the EGFR/HER-2 pathway

Capsaicin (trans-8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) is an ingredient of chili peppers with inhibitory effects against cancer cells of different origin. We examined the activity of capsaicin on breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The drug potently inhibited growth of ER-positive (MCF-7, T47D, BT-474) and ER-negative (SKBR-3, MDA-MB231) breast cancer cell lines, which was associated with G(0)/G(1) cell-cycle arrest, increased levels of apoptosis and reduced protein expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), HER-2, activated extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) and cyclin D1. In contrast, cell-cycle regulator p27(KIP1), caspase activity as well as poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage were increased. Notably, capsaicin blocked breast cancer cell migration in vitro and decreased by 50% the size of MDA-MB231 breast cancer tumors growing orthotopically in immunodeficient mice without noticeable drug side effects. in vivo activation of ERK was clearly decreased, as well as expression of HER-2 and cyclin D1, whereas caspase activity and PARP cleavage products were increased in tumors of drug-treated mice. Besides, capsaicin potently inhibited the development of pre-neoplastic breast lesions by up to 80% without evidence of toxicity. Our data indicate that capsaicin is a novel modulator of the EGFR/HER-2 pathway in both ER-positive and -negative breast cancer cells with a potential role in the treatment and prevention of human breast cancer.
The wheatstone stereoscopic random line pair generator with fitness function for non-objective art

The Wheatstone Stereoscopic Random Line Pair Generator with Fitness Function for Non-objective Art is a proposal for an interactive installation. Viewers in the gallery wear stereoscopic glasses. The motion of each viewer will trigger the projection of randomly positioned stereoscopic pairs of lines projected on each wall of the gallery forming a dynamic, evolving, emergent, stochastic, "non-objective [1] composition".
Proton Aurora Dynamics in Response to the IMF and Solar Wind Variations

On May 23, 2000, proton auroras observed by IMAGE (Imager for Magnetopause to Aurora Global Exploration) FUV (Far Ultraviolet) on the dayside were very dynamic. Auroral pattern in the cusp is well correlated with Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) and solar wind parameters. When IMF were northward, cusp proton aurora appeared at high latitude poleward from the auroral oval. A high-latitude proton aurora brightened after solar wind ion temperature increased and it disappeared after IMF turned southward. Under the southward IMF condition, auroral activity occurred only in the dayside auroral oval. As IMF $B_z$ reverted to northward, cusp proton aurora reappeared at high latitude. The magnetic local time of the cusp proton aurora changes with the IMF $B_y$ polarity, consistent with previous reports. These results suggest an upstream source of the high-latitude cusp proton aurora for this event. One possible explanation is that bow shock energetic ions are transported into the cusp via the high-latitude magnetic merging process to induce optical emissions in the ionosphere.
On Skolem’s exponential functions below 2^{2^{}}

Un resultat d'Ehrenfeucht implique que la charge la plus petite des fonctions de theorie des nombres f:N→N contenant les constantes 0,1,2,..., la fonction identite X, et fermee sous l'addition, la multiplication et f→f x est bien ordonnee par la relation de dominance eventuelle. On montre que son type d'ordre est ωωω
Earnings and price-based compensation contracts in the presence of discretionary trading and incomplete contracting

Abstract The paper analyzes the use of reported accounting earnings and price as a basis for compensating a manager when he trades on private information, and share price is set rationally based on privately held information, publicly available and contractible information, and publicly available but noncontractible information. In addition, we analyze the comparative statics of the compensation on reported earnings and price with respect to changes in the economy.
Nebraska Biocontainment Unit perspective on disposal of Ebola medical waste.

Clinical practices surrounding the current Ebola epidemic have been center stage in discourse concerning research and practice of care. As the medical community becomes more sophisticated in understanding the many facets of treating and containing this virus, the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit Q6 has identified Ebola medical waste disposal as a key area of concern for U.S. hospitals. The requirements for processing Ebola medical waste stand to impact most U.S. hospitals currently preparing readiness plans to receive and treat patients with suspected or confirmed Ebola virus disease (EVD). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued recommendations to guide health care facilities in preparing to isolate potential or confirmed EVD patients, and hospitals have established plans to isolate and care for these patients.1,2 The CDC’s guidance includes facility and provider EVD preparedness checklists to aid the U.S. health system in preparing to prevent the spread of the virus within the United States.3 Hospitals are undertaking multiple measures to minimize the risk of EVD, including establishing EVD staffing, appropriate levels of personal protective equipment (PPE), infection prevention and control measures, environmental cleaning, laboratory procedures, public health reporting, and clinical protocols to minimize the exposure risks of health care workers (HCWs). Health care facilities and providers routinely use PPE precautions and are able to refine and implement existing protocols to effectively protect HCWs treating a suspected or confirmed patient, but waste associated with caring for an EVD patient cannot be processed as standard medical waste. Two high-level isolation facilities located at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Emory University have treated EVD patients in the U.S. These units are ideally equipped for treating patients in high-level isolation because each unit is staffed with HCWs rigorously trained in donning and doffing PPE, and the facilities have been specifically engineered for high-level isolation with in-unit waste processing capability.4 The Nebraska Biocontainment Unit’s strategy for waste management uses a pass-through autoclave to process all medical waste exiting the high-level isolation unit. Through discussions with health care entities planning for EVD patients, first-hand knowledge gained by treating EVD patients transported to the United States, and review of current guidance, we provide insight into key logistical and regulatory considerations for management of EVD medical waste in facilities without in-unit waste sterilization capabilities.
Modulation of GABA(A) receptor function by G protein-coupled 5-HT(2C) receptors

Two classical neurotransmitters, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and GABA, coexist in neurons of the medulla oblongata, and activation of 5-HT receptors modulates GABAA receptor function in neurons of the ventral tegmental area, substantia nigra and cerebellum. We now report that activation of 5-HT2C receptors produces a long-lasting (20-90 min) inhibition of GABAA receptors in Xenopus oocytes coexpressing both types of receptors 5-HT2C receptors caused a approximately 60% decrease in the GABAA receptor Emax without affecting the EC50 or Hill coefficient. Intracellular microinjection of 500 microM BAPTA blocked, whereas microinjection of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate mimicked the inhibitory action of 5-HT2C receptors. The inhibition was independent of the GABAA receptors subunit composition; receptors containing alpha 2 beta 1, alpha 1 beta 1 gamma 2L, and alpha 2 beta 1 gamma 2S were inhibited to the same extent by 5-HT2C receptor activation. Moreover, GABAA receptors composed of wild-type alpha 2 plus mutant beta 1(S409A) subunits were inhibited to the same extent as wild-type receptors. The nonspecific protein kinase inhibitor, staurosporine, and the inhibitor of serine/threonine protein phosphatases, calyculin A, did not block the inhibitory effects of 5-HT2C receptors. The results with these inhibitors, taken together with those obtained with GABAA receptors with different subunit compositions, suggest that protein kinases or serine/threonine phosphatases are not involved in this GABAA receptor modulatory process. Thus, we propose that 5-HT2C receptors inhibit GABAA receptors by a Ca(2+)-dependent, but phosphorylation independent, mechanism and that 5-HT and GABA may act as cotransmitters to regulate neuronal activity. Furthermore, disruption of the cross-talk between these receptors may play a role in the anti-anxiety actions of 5-HT2 receptor antagonists.
Dislocation reactions at grain boundaries in Li2 ordered alloys

The characteristics of perfect grain boundary dislocations in ordered alloys are discussed, and consideration is given to the possible formation of perfect and imperfect grain boundary dislocations by the impingement of crystal lattice dislocations. It is shown that many dislocation reactions at grain boundaries in ordered alloys are made unfavorable if chemical co-ordination must be maintained in the structure of the grain boundary. This leads to a suggestion that the effect of boron in the grain boundaries of Ni/sub 3/Al is to reduce the importance of chemical ordering, and thus to promote deformation by allowing greater freedom for dislocation reactions to occur.
Phase evolution and magnetic properties of Al substituted yttrium iron garnet nanopowders and plasma-sprayed coatings

Abstract Aluminum-substituted yttrium iron garnet (Al-YIG) nanostructured powders were synthesized using a citrate–nitrate gel combustion process. Atmospheric plasma-spray (APS) technique was employed to spray deposit the combustion derived feedstock powders. Nevertheless incongruently melting YIG resulted into a two-phase microstructure, Al-YIG powder resulted into a nanostructured garnet single phase when sprayed through thermal plasma. Room temperature saturation magnetization ( M S ) and Curie temperature ( T C ) of the Al-YIG powders decreased as a function of increasing Al content. As-sprayed YFe 3.8 Al 1.2 O 12 coating has a room temperature M S of 6.2 emu/cc and is increased to 7.3 emu/cc after post-deposition heat treatment at 1000 °C/1 h. Microstructural characteristics of single splats were analyzed in order to understand the feedstock effect on deposit.
Netrins and neogenin promote myotube formation

Differentiation of skeletal myoblasts into multinucleated myotubes is a multistep process orchestrated by several families of transcription factors, including myogenic bHLH and NFAT proteins. The activities of these factors and formation of myotubes are regulated by signal transduction pathways, but few extracellular factors that might initiate such signals have been identified. One exception is a cell surface complex containing promyogenic Ig superfamily members (CDO and BOC) and cadherins. Netrins and their receptors are established regulators of axon guidance, but little is known of their function outside the nervous system. We report here that myoblasts express the secreted factor netrin-3 and its receptor, neogenin. These proteins stimulate myotube formation and enhance myogenic bHLH- and NFAT-dependent transcription. Furthermore, neogenin binds to CDO in a cis fashion, and myoblasts lacking CDO are defective in responding to recombinant netrin. It is proposed that netrin-3 and neogenin may promote myogenic differentiation by an autocrine mechanism as components of a higher order complex of several promyogenic cell surface proteins.