cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The case for judicious resource management

Consider the following scenario taken from the mobile and wireless computing domain. Energy has been receiving increasing attention, resulting in a number of different energy management techniques, including Dynamic Voltage Scaling (DVS) [1]. DVS is based on the concept of reducing the speed/voltage of a CPU when it is under-utilized, thereby reducing its power consumption while increasing the task execution times. In real-time systems, DVS algorithms have to compute energy-saving speed/voltage levels while ensuring that task deadlines are met. The figure below visualizes this problem for two devices A and B, where shaded areas indicate times of power consumption caused by the CPU and arrows indicate communication between two devices. The vertical line indicates the end-to-end deadline Td, i.e., the processing and communication steps of both devices A and B have to be concluded before Td. Typical examples for such scenarios are sensor networks with in-network data aggregation or mobile multimedia. For example, device A captures an image, compresses it, and sends it to B, which decompresses and displays it. The figure shows the same scenario twice, once without DVS and once with DVS. In the latter case, both devices reduce their energy overheads, but device B also misses its deadline. As a consequence, either one or both devices have to increase their clock frequencies to ensure that the deadline is met, increasing their energy costs. However, if both devices operate in isolation, A -- unaware of the missed end-to-end deadline -- would continue to operate at its low speed, while B has to increase its speed. Now assume that B is essential to the operation of the distributed system, but at the same time it is also the more energy-constrained device (e.g., the remaining battery lifetime is lower than A's). In this case, it is desirable that A reduces its use of DVS, such that B can continue to fully exploit its DVS capability to prolong its battery life. To achieve that, it is necessary for A and B to negotiate limits to the use of DVS, e.g., by introducing a deadline on A, called virtual deadline Tv (rightmost graph in above figure). This deadline forces A to run faster (limiting the extent to which A can exploit DVS), but allowing B to fully utilize DVS.
Document Retrieval, Automatic

Document retrieval is the computerized process of producing a relevance-ranked list of documents in response to an inquirer's request by comparing their request to an automatically produced index of the documents in the system. Everyone uses such systems today in the form of Web-based search engines. While evolving from a fairly small discipline in the 1940s, to a large, profitable industry today, the field has maintained a healthy research focus, supported by test collections and large-scale annual comparative tests of systems. A document retrieval system is composed of three core modules: document processor, query analyzer, and matching function. There are several theoretical models on which document retrieval systems are based: Boolean, vector-space, probabilistic, and language models.
Accumulations of inositol phosphates and cyclic AMP in brain slices: synergistic interactions of histamine and 2-chloroadenosine.

Abstract 2-Chloroadenosine, 5′-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine, N 6 -cyclohexyladenosine and other adenosine analogs enhance histamine-elicited, but not norepinephrine- or carbamylcholine-elicited accumulations of inositol phosphates in [ 3 H]inositol-labeled guinea-pig cerebral cortical slices. The adenosine analogs alone have no effect on accumulations of inositol phosphates. The effect of 2-chloroadenosine is blocked by the adenosine receptor antagonists theophylline and 1,3-dialkyl-8-p-sulfophenylxanthines. The rank order of activity of the six adenosine analogs with respect to augmentation of histamine-elicited accumulation of inositol phosphates in guinea-pig cerebral cortical slices is different from the rank order at an A 2 -adenosine receptor that mediates synergistic accumulations of cyclic AMP by adenosine analogs and histamine in guinea-pig cerebral cortical slices.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves early posttransplant islet function

Sakata N, Chan NK, Ostrowski RP, Chrisler J, Hayes P, Kim S, Obenaus A, Zhang JH, Hathout E. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves early posttransplant islet function. Objective: This study investigates the therapeutic potential of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) in reducing hypoxia and improving engraftment of intraportal islet transplants by promoting angiogenesis. Methods: Diabetic BALB/c mice were transplanted with 500 syngeneic islets intraportally and received six consecutive twice-daily HBO treatments (n = 9; 100% oxygen for 1 h at 2.5 atmospheres absolute) after transplantation. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE MRI) was used to assess new vessel formation at postoperative days (POD) 3, 7, and 14. Liver tissue was recovered at the same time points for correlative histology, including: hematoxylin and eosin, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF1α), Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and von Willebrand Factor immunohistochemistry. Results: HBO therapy significantly reduced HIF-1α, TUNEL and VEGF expression in islets at POD 7. In the non-HBO transplants, liver enhancement on DCE MRI peaked at POD 7 consistent with less mature vasculature but this enhancement was suppressed at POD 7 in the HBO-treated group. The number of new peri-islet vessels at POD 7 was not significantly different between HBO and control groups. Conclusion: These results are consistent with a hyperbaric oxygen-mediated decrease in hypoxia that appeared to enhance vessel maturation in the critical days following intraportal islet transplantation.
Detection of known mutation by proof-reading PCR

Proof-reading PCR (PR-PCR) is designed to detect known mutations within genomic DNA. It differs from standard PCR approaches in that one of the two primers has its 3' end aligned with a putative mutation site, and has its 3'-OH replaced by a blocking group. Distinguishing a mutant gene from wild-type depends upon preferential removal of the blocked 3' terminal nucleotide by the polymerase proof-reading activity when it is mismatched with the template. Preferential removal of the blocked nucleotide allows subsequent extension and selective amplification, and provides the basis for distinguishing mutant from normal genes. This method has been used here to detect a transition mutation within the P53 gene of HaCaT cells with verification by direct sequencing of the selectively amplified DNA.
Activation of apical chloride channels in the gastric oxyntic cell

Oxyntic cells that retain distinct morphological polarity between apical and basolateral membranes were isolated from the gastric mucosa of the amphibian Necturus. Patch-clamp techniques were applied to these cells to identify apical membrane ion channels associated with hydrochloric acid secretion. A single class of voltage-dependent, inwardly rectifying chloride channels was observed in the apical membranes of both resting and stimulated (acid-secreting) oxyntic cells. Stimulation of the cells with dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-monophosphate and isobutylmethylxanthine increased channel open probability and simultaneously increased apical membrane surface area. This chloride channel is probably responsible for electrogenic chloride secretion by the gastric mucosa and may also participate in the fluid- and enzyme-secretory functions of the oxyntic cell, analogous to the chloride channels found in the apical membranes of other exocrine cells.
Refinement and Analysis of the Structure of the First Two Domains of Human CD4

The structure of a fragment of human CD4 containing two immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domains has been determined by X-ray crystallography and refined at 2.2 A resolution. The structure determination involved iterative building and simulated-annealing refinement, beginning with a partial model. Comparison of domain 1 with an Ig variable domain shows that CD4 has a long and prominent CDR2-like loop (the C"C" corner) and shortened CC' and FG loops (which mediate dimerization in IgV modules). Comparison of domain 2 with Ig modules and domain 1 shows that it can be described as a truncated Ig V domain, in which strands C" and D are deleted. The intersheet disulfide in domain 2 is absent, and there is an altered packing of the two beta-sheets together with a remodeling of the hydrophobic core. The interface between domains 1 and 2 is a lap joint with an extensive hydrophobic surface. The key features of domain 1 that contribute to the interface are found at corresponding positions in domain 2, leading us to propose that the contact between domains 2 and 3 will resemble the one between domains 1 and 2.
Optimization of an x-ray mask design for use with horizontal and vertical kinematic mounts

Kinematically mounted x-ray lithography masks are investigated to optimize various design parameters. Given the limited error budget for x-ray mask mounting, it is essential to minimize the mechanical distortions in the exposure area. Three-dimensional finite element models of the support ring with a membrane are used to analyze the gravitational effects for both the horizontal (e-beam patterning) and vertical mounting (synchrotron exposure). In-plane and out-of-plane distortions of the membrane are computed and the nodes in the patterned area are uniquely mapped. Results of the finite element calculations show that the mask distortions can be minimized by optimizing the design of the support ring in conjunction with the holding mechanism. The actual cross section of the ring is designed in correlation with the specifications on the position of the mount. Several design rules are developed from the analyses, relating the axis or rotation of the cross section with the radial position of the mount. Results of this study offer guidelines in choosing the optimum mask parameters considering the parametric designs presented.
Inspection results for 32nm logic and sub-50nm half-pitch memory reticles using the TeraScanHR

Results from the recently available TeraScanHR reticle inspection system were published in early 2007. These results showed excellent inspection capability for 45nm logic and 5xnm half-pitch memory advanced production reticles, thus meeting the industry need for the mid-2007 start of production. The system has been in production use since that time. In early 2007, some evidence was shown of capability to inspect reticles for the next nodes, 32nm logic and sub-50nm half-pitch memory, but the results were incomplete due to the limited availability of such reticles. However, more of these advanced reticles have become available since that time. Inspection results of these advanced reticles from various leading edge reticle manufacturers using the TeraScanHR are shown. These results indicate that the system has the capability to provide the needed inspection sensitivity for continued development work to support the industry roadmap.
Methane hydrate film growth kinetics

Abstract Kinetic parameters for methane hydrate formation were obtained from film growth measurements at the methane–water interface. Experimental data were collected for methane hydrate formation over the pressure and temperature ranges of 3.55–9.06 MPa and 1.0–4.0°C, respectively. The growth rate was found to be proportional to the supercooling, which indicates that crystallization proceeds by a continuous growth mechanism. A model for hydrate formation was proposed which accounts for both heat transfer and kinetics. Molecular attachment kinetics were assumed to follow Arrhenius behavior, and the heat transfer coefficient was assumed constant. The heat transfer assumption was verified using a thin wire approximation which was considered a geometric analog. The resulting parameters were regressed and an activation energy of 171 kJ/mol, a pre-exponential factor of 1.605×1036 W/m2 K, and a heat transfer coefficient of 42,325 W/m2 K were found.
Modeling the influence of bubble pressure on grain boundary separation and fission gas release

Abstract Grain boundary (GB) separation as a mechanism for fission gas release (FGR), complementary to gas bubble interlinkage, has been experimentally observed in irradiated light water reactor fuel. However there has been limited effort to develop physics-based models incorporating this mechanism for the analysis of FGR. In this work, a computational study is carried out to investigate GB separation in UO2 fuel under the effect of gas bubble pressure and hydrostatic stress. A non-dimensional stress intensity factor formula is obtained through 2D axisymmetric analyses considering lenticular bubbles and Mode-I crack growth. The obtained functional form can be used in higher length-scale models to estimate the contribution of GB separation to FGR.
State strategies to support community based long term care for the elderly.

Abstract States play a principal role in designing and implementing publicly funded long term care programs. They are in a key position to determine what setting, from whom, and under what philosophy of care individuals can access long term care. State long term care systems have evolved over the past 25 years to support increased availability of community based care for older individuals. States have pursued three broad strategies to increase availability. One set of strategies aims to increase capacity through expanding the supply, public funding and eligibility for a wide array of home and community based services (HCBS). A second set of strategies seeks to constrain institutional growth in order to increase the dollars available for HCBS. Managed/capitated long term care is a third strategy that is a hybrid of the other two approaches. Empirically, increased capacity through use of Medicaid and Medicare resources and growth in the supply of community based care providers, combined with moderation of i...
Glomerular epithelial cell, polyanion neutralization is associated with enhanced prostanoid production

Glomerular epithelial cell, polyanion neutralization is associated with enhanced prostanoid production. We have studied the effect of neutralizing the surface charge of rat glomerular epithelial cells (GEC) in culture on prostanoid production. Incubation of rat GEC with polycations poly-L-lysine (PL) resulted in a dose dependent increase of 6-keto-PGF 1α (up to 8 to 10-fold) and PGE 2 (up to 7 to 8-fold) production. Other polycations such as protamine sulfate (PS) and lysozyme (LY) produced a similar effect. The stimulation of prostaglandin (PG) production by PL treated GEC was prevented by the addition of poly anions such as bovine serum albumin (BSA) and heparin (HP). The effect of PL on prostaglandin (PG) synthesis by GEC was suppressed by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor sulindac sulfide. Addition of exogenous arachidonic acid (C20:4) increased the basal production of PG and under these conditions the effect of PL was masked. We conclude that neutralization of the surface charge of rat GEC by polycations results in profound increase of prostanoid synthesis. The polycation caused increase in PG synthesis appears to be the result of increased availability of intracellular C20: 4.
Supernaturalism, Occasionalism, and Preformation in Malebranche

Malebranche is both an occasionalist and an advocate of the preformationist theory of generation. One might expect this given that he is a mechanist: passive matter cannot be the source of its own motion and so requires God to move it (occasionalism); and such matter, moving according to a few simple laws of motion, could never fashion something as complex as a living being, and so organisms must be fashioned by God at Creation (preformationism). This expectation finds a challenge in Kant's depiction of the relation between causation and generation. According to Kant, preformation is the generation theory one would expect the advocate of the pre-established harmony to endorse, while the occasionalist would endorse a theory whereby God directly forms the organism upon every insemination. I make sense of Malebranche's position in light of Kant's suggestion by examining the relation Malebranche sees between science and metaphysics, the roles that he believes empirical investigations and final causes have in ...
Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in tumor necrosis factor receptor genes: Definition of novel haplotypes and racial/ethnic differences

Objective To characterize allele frequencies of known single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) genes in African Americans with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), healthy African Americans, and healthy Caucasians. Methods One TNFRSF1B SNP (196 G/T) that influences susceptibility to familial RA in Caucasians and 3 SNPs in the 5′ flanking region of the TNFRSF1A gene (-609G/T, -580A/G, and -383A/C) were genotyped in 108 African Americans with RA, 62 healthy African Americans, and 59 healthy Caucasians. Results There were no differences in TNFRSF1A allele frequencies between African Americans with RA and healthy African Americans. Allele frequencies were strikingly different, however, between healthy African Americans and healthy Caucasians: 0.13 versus 0.42 for -609T, 0.49 versus 0 for -580G, and 0.14 versus 0 for -383C. We identified 4 novel haplotypes defined by the 3 TNFRSF1A SNPs, the distribution of which was markedly different in healthy Caucasians and healthy African Americans (P = 0.000001 by chi-square test-. The frequencies of the TNFRSF1B 196 genotypes were similar in African Americans with RA and healthy African Americans but differed between healthy African Americans and healthy Caucasians (P = 0.05). Conclusion Although we observed no associations between known TNFR SNPs or haplotypes and RA, significant racial differences were observed at both loci. Comparison of these data with other published frequencies of TNFRSF1A and TNFRSF1B genotypes according to race suggests that the distribution in African American, Caucasian, and Asian populations differs significantly. These striking racial/ethnic differences in TNFR SNP frequencies may influence the likelihood of familial RA, severe disease, or response to TNF inhibitors and may have important evolutionary implications.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder in patients with chronic pruritic conditions: Case studies and discussion

Background: Relatively few persons with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) come to psychiatric clinics for treatment. Our hypothesis was that patients with a form of OCD that involves compulsive hand and body washing might initially seek treatment from a dermatologist. Objective: Our purpose was to screen patients attending a dermatology clinic to determine the frequency of OCD cases and to help dermatologists recognize this disorder. Methods: Randomly selected patients who presented with one of several chronic pruritic conditions were interviewed to determine the presence of anxiety disorders. Results: A significantly high percentage of the patients (14%) were found to have previously undiagnosed OCD. Case studies of five of these patients are presented. Conclusion: A significant number of patients with undiagnosed OCD appear to present to dermatology clinics. Identification and referral for psychiatric consultation may aid in the treatment of both OCD and concomitant dermatologic conditions.
Differentiation and the cytomorphology of salivary gland tumors with specific reference to oncocytic metaplasia

Abstract Objective. The different cell types and many growth patterns found in salivary gland tumors provide ample reason for the diagnostic problems caused by these tumors. To improve criteria for differential diagnosis, the potential range of cytologic features possible in salivary gland tumor cells must be better appreciated. Study Design. From our respective pathology archives, normal salivary tissue and salivary gland tumors—other than Warthin’s tumor and oncocytoma—with oncocytic differentiation were identified and studied by means of light and electron microscopy. Results. In this article, we cite a number of different salivary gland tumors, including basal cell adenoma, pleomorphic adenoma, myoepithelioma, polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma, and mucoepidermoid carcinoma, showing varying degrees of oncocytic differentiation. Conclusions. Variable cellular differentiation is probably the basis for foci of tumor cells unexpected for a particular salivary gland neoplasm, further compounding differential diagnosis. Illustration of oncocytic differentiation serves 2 purposes. First, it can alert pathologists to this potential in otherwise typical salivary gland tumors; an awareness of this and other possible variations in cellular differential patterns can help prevent misdiagnosis. Second, these particular tumors illustrate the role of the cellular differentiation that is responsible for the range of histologic features within any one subtype of salivary gland tumors. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 1999;88:691-701)
Multidimensional visual analysis using cross-filtered views

Analysis of multidimensional data often requires careful examination of relationships across dimensions. Coordinated multiple view approaches have become commonplace in visual analysis tools because they directly support expression of complex multidimensional queries using simple interactions. However, generating such tools remains difficult because of the need to map domain-specific data structures and semantics into the idiosyncratic combinations of interdependent data and visual abstractions needed to reveal particular patterns and distributions in cross-dimensional relationships. This paper describes: (1) a method for interactively expressing sequences of multidimensional set queries by cross-filtering data values across pairs of views, and (2) design strategies for constructing coordinated multiple view interfaces for cross-filtered visual analysis of multidimensional data sets. Using examples of cross-filtered visualizations of data from several different domains, we describe how cross-filtering can be modularized and reused across designs, flexibly customized with respect to data types across multiple dimensions, and incorporated into more wide-ranging multiple view designs. The demonstrated analytic utility of these examples suggest that cross-filtering is a suitable design pattern for instantiation in a wide variety of visual analysis tools.
Martensitic transformations and shape-memory materials ☆

The authors review theoretical research on martensitic phase transformations in shape-memory materials, with emphasis on recently derived theory and predictions of interest for alloy development. Research on special lattice parameters corresponding to certain microstructures, complex crystal structures and 6M martensite, the relation of micro-scale to macro-scale deformations, ferromagnetic and ferroelectric martensites, and martensite at small scales is covered.
Can essential hypertension be subclassified with respect to mechanism

Hypertension may result from a variety of abnormalities. The rise in blood pressure may trigger other secondary events that further influence cardiovascular homeostasis. The ability to measure some markers associated with hypertension or the responsiveness of blood pressure to nutritional interventions or to specific therapeutic agents may also have pathogenetic implications. The ultimate goal of further knowledge in this area should be to understand the fundamental abnormalities responsible for hypertension. Such insight would permit more effective treatment and, perhaps, primary prevention of this ubiquitous and multifaceted disorder.
Association of low-energy femoral fractures with prolonged bisphosphonate use: a case control study.

Summary Recent evidence has linked long-term bisphosphonate use with insufficiency fractures of the femur in postmenopausal women. In this case–control study, we have identified a significant association between a unique fracture of the femoral shaft, a transverse fracture in an area of thickened cortices, and long-term bisphosphonate use. Further studies are warranted.
Kidney structure and function of obligate and facultative hibernators: the white-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys leucurus) and the black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)

The white-tailed prairie dog is an obligate hibernator that enters a heterothermic phase when maintained in the cold with low intensity light and ad libitum food and water. The black-tailed prairie dog (a facultative hibernator) will not hibernate under similar conditions. It has been suggested that the black tailed prairie dog remains active during the winter because it can conserve water more effectively due to a more efficient kidney. The present study revealed no significant differences between the species in renal morphology: relative medullary thickness, nephron heterogeneity, renal vasculature, or fornix dimensions, all of which are structures associated with the urinary concentrating mechanism. In addition, there was no difference in number of nephrons between the two species. The black-tailed prairie dog does produce a more concentrated urine when food and water deprived. However, this difference was not observed when the animals were salt loaded. The water-deprivation and salt-loading experiments suggest that the higher urine osmolality produced by the back-tailed prairie dog during fasting is a result of a higher urea load due to a greater protein catabolism and not because of a differential capacity to concentrate urine.
Correlation algorithms for radar map matching

This paper presents results of a theoretical study of a simple radar edge detection correlation approach. Several candidate edge correlation algorithms are described. The paper presents results of a theoretical evaluation of one particular candidate correlation algorithm and verification of the edge correlation concept is provided through a presentation of correlation performance obtained using real radar imagery.
Multimodal Solution for a Waveguide Radiating Into Multilayered Structures—Dielectric Property and Thickness Evaluation

Open-ended rectangular waveguides are widely used for microwave and millimeter-wave nondestructive testing (NDT) applications, such as detecting disbond and delamination in multilayered composite structures, thickness evaluation of dielectric sheets and coatings on metal substrates, etc. When inspecting a complex multilayered composite structure that is made of generally lossy dielectric layers with arbitrary thicknesses and backing, the dielectric properties of a particular layer may be of particular interest (e.g., radome inspection). The same is also true when one is interested in the thickness, or, more importantly, thickness variation, of a particular layer within such complex structures. An essential tool for closely estimating the complex permittivity and/or thickness is an accurate forward electromagnetic model for simulating the reflection coefficient at the aperture of the probing open-ended waveguide. To this end, this paper provides a full-wave accurate forward model for calculating the reflection coefficient from a generally lossy multilayered composite structure possessing an arbitrary number of layers and respective thicknesses while accounting for the influence of higher order modes. This model is subsequently validated through comparisons with a commercial numerical tool and actual measurements. Furthermore, a measurement model is provided, which results in an iterative inverse technique for estimating the complex permittivity and thickness of a dielectric layer. Subsequently, this technique is applied to the measured reflection coefficients of several structures. To evaluate the accuracy of this technique, an analysis on its sensitivity to various sources of errors, and, most importantly, the effect of a finite flange size, is also demonstrated by using the simulated data. Finally, the potential of this model to accurately estimate the thickness of an individual layer, which represents a thin disbond, in a multilayered composite structure is presented.
"Children are Different": Constitutional Values and Justice Policy

This essay explores the importance of Miller and two earlier Supreme Court opinions rejecting harsh sentences for juveniles for Eighth Amendment jurisprudence and for juvenile crime regulation. It argues that the Court has broken new ground with these opinions in defining juveniles as a category of offenders who are subject to special Eighth Amendment protections. In Miller and in Graham v. Florida (2010) particularly, the Court has applied to juveniles’ non-capital sentences the rigorous proportionality review that, for adults, has been reserved for death sentences. The essay then turns to the implications of the opinions for juvenile crime policy, arguing that the Court has embraced a developmental model of youth crime regulation and elevated this approach to one that is grounded in constitutional values and principles. This approach represents a forceful repudiation of the punitive law reforms of the late 20th century, when the relevance of adolescents’ developmental immaturity to justice policy was either ignored or rejected. The opinions offer four key lessons for lawmakers. The first is that juvenile offenders are different from and less culpable than adults and should usually be subject to more lenient criminal sanctions. The second lesson is that decisions to subject juveniles to adult prosecution and punishment should be “unusual” and individualized — made by a judge in a transfer hearing and not by categorical legislative waiver. The third lesson is that sanctions should focus on maximizing young offenders’ potential for reform and the fourth is that developmental science can guide and inform juvenile crime regulation in useful ways. These four lessons, formulated by our preeminent legal institution and embodying constitutional values, are likely to have a profound influence on the future direction of youth crime regulation.
Fractionated, single-port radiotherapy delays paresis in a metastatic spinal tumor model in rats.

Object Spinal column metastatic disease affects thousands of cancer patients every year. Radiation therapy frequently represents the primary treatment for this condition. Despite the enormous clinical impact of spinal column metastatic disease, the literature currently lacks an accurate animal model for testing the efficacy of irradiation on spinal column metastases. Methods After anesthesia was induced, female Fischer 344 rats underwent a transabdominal approach to the ventral vertebral body (VB) of L-6. A 2- to 3-mm-diameter bur hole was drilled for the implantation of a section of CRL-1666 breast adenocarcinoma. After the animals had recovered from the surgery, they underwent fractionated, single-port radiotherapy beginning on postoperative Day 7. Each group of animals underwent five daily fractions of radiation treatment. Group I animals received a total dose of 10 Gy in 200-cGy daily fractions, Group II animals received a total dose of 20 Gy in 400-cGy daily fractions, and Group III animals received ...
Optoelectronic approach to on-chip device and circuit characterization at microwave and millimeter-wave frequencies

A practical technique for characterizing high-frequency semiconductor devices and monolithic integrated circuits has been developed, with specific emphasis on eliminating one of the primary concerns affiliated with conventional approaches, namely the often insufficient predictability of conditions at interfaces between measurement system and device under test. Arrays of high-speed photoconductive circuit elements, in conjunction with special compensation networks, are thereby utilized to implement, on chip, all signal generation and sampling functions needed to efficiently perform time-domain reflectometry. The acquired time-domain information is then converted into equivalent device-under-test scattering parameter responses. The practicability of the approach is experimentally demonstrated with the help of five individual test structures that are realized in monolithic-integrated-circuit format on a GaAs substrate and operate over a full, uninterrupted 100-GHz frequency interval. >
Endoscopic Retrieval Devices

Endoscopy is useful in the clearance of food bolus impactions, retrieval of foreign bodies, and removal of bile duct stones and resected mucosal lesions, which is accomplished by different endoscopic accessories that are passed through the endoscope. This chapter describes these endoscopic retrieval devices, their operation, and clinical applications.
Composition Operators on a Class of Analytic Function Spaces Related to Brennan's Conjecture

Brennan's conjecture in univalent function theory states that if τ is any analytic univalent transform of the open unit disk D onto a simply connected domain G and −1/3 < p < 1, then 1/(τ � ) p belongs to the Hilbert Bergman space of all analytic square integrable functions with respect to the area measure. We introduce a class of analytic function spaces L 2(μ p) on G and prove that Brennan's conjecture is equivalent to the existence of compact composition operators on these spaces for every simply connected domain G and all p ∈ (−1/3, 1). Motivated by this result, we study the boundedness and compactness of composition operators in this setting. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000) Primary 47B33 · Secondary 30C55
Effective field equations for expectation values.

We discuss functional methods which allow calculation of expectation values, rather than the usual in-out amplitudes, from a path integral. The technique, based on Schwinger's idea of summing over paths which go from the past to the future and then back to the past, provides effective field equations satisfied by the expectation value of the field. These equations are shown to be real and causal for a general theory up to two-loop order, and unitarity is checked to this order. These methods are applied to a simple quantum-mechanical example to illustrate the differences between the new formalism and the standard theory. When applied to the gravitational field, the new effective field equations should be useful for studies of quantum cosmology.
Estimation in covariate-adjusted regression

The method of covariate-adjusted regression was recently proposed for situations where both predictors and response in a regression model are not directly observed, but are observed after being contaminated by unknown functions of a common observable confounder in a multiplicative fashion. One example is data collected for a study on diabetes, where the variables of interest, systolic and diastolic blood pressures and glycosolated hemoglobin levels are known to be influenced by an observable confounder, body mass index. An estimation procedure based on equidistant binning (EB), currently available, gives consistent estimators for the regression coefficients adjusted for the confounder. In this paper, we propose two new estimation procedures based on nearest-neighbor binning (NB) and local polynomial modeling (LP). Even though, the three methods perform similarly in terms of their bias, it is shown through simulation studies that NB has smaller variance compared to EB, and LP yields substantially lower variance relative to the two binning methods for small to moderate sample sizes. The consistency and convergence rates of the proposed estimators of LP, with the smallest MSE, are also established. We illustrate the proposed method of LP with the above-mentioned diabetes data, where the goal is to uncover the regression relation between the response, glycosolated hemoglobin levels, and the predictors, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, adjusted for body mass index.
Full Ionisation in Binary-Binary Scattering

Encounters between binary stars and single stars and between binary stars and other binary stars play a key role in the dynamics of dense stellar systems. In the simple model, in which stars are approximated by point masses, a number of theoretical and numerical results are known. In particular there exist relationships to help to describe the destruction process of binary stars (ionisation) through three-body encounters between binary and single stars. Here we extend these results to the four-body case involving encounters between pairs of binary stars that lead to a disruption of the binaries into single stars.
Idiopathic (Bell's) facial palsy: natural history defies steroid or surgical treatment.

Idiopathic (Bell's) facial palsy is a self-limiting, non-life threatening, and spontaneously remitting disorder. The natural history of Bell's palsy is favorable: 84% of 1011 patients with Bell's palsy studied by one investigator recovered satisfactorily without treatment, and no valid clinical trials conducted to date have provided definitive evidence that treatment with steroids or surgery improves upon this figure. The authors studied 273 patients with Bell's palsy to evaluate the prognostic significance of evoked eleetromyography in predicting the possible benefit of transmastoid facial nerve surgical decompression. The results indicated that even when evoked electromyography was used to select those patients who might benefit most from transmastoid surgery, outcome in patients treated surgically was no better than can be expected to occur without treatment. Based upon these observations, transmastoid facial nerve surgery is not recommended to treat Bell's palsy because no benefits have been identified which outweigh the risks of surgery.
WISSARD at Subglacial Lake Whillans, West Antarctica: scientific operations and initial observations

A clean hot-water drill was used to gain access to Subglacial Lake Whillans (SLW) in late January 2013 as part of the Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling (WISSARD) project. Over 3 days, we deployed an array of scientific tools through the SLW borehole: a downhole camera, a conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) probe, a Niskin water sampler, an in situ filtration unit, three different sediment corers, a geothermal probe and a geophysical sensor string. Our observations confirm the existence of a subglacial water reservoir whose presence was previously inferred from satellite altimetry and surface geophysics. Subglacial water is about two orders of magnitude less saline than sea water (0.37-0.41 psu vs 35 psu) and two orders of magnitude more saline than pure drill meltwater (<0.002 psu). It reaches a minimum temperature of -0.558C, consistent with depression of the freezing point by 7.019 MPa of water pressure. Subglacial water was turbid and remained turbid following filtration through 0.45 mm filters. The recovered sediment cores, which sampled down to 0.8 m below the lake bottom, contained a macroscopically structureless diamicton with shear strength between 2 and 6 kPa. Our main operational recommendation for future subglacial access through water-filled boreholes is to supply enough heat to the top of the borehole to keep it from freezing.
Alinsky in the 1980s: Two Contemporary Chicago Community Organizations

During his life, the work of Saul D. Alinsky may have been distorted by his confrontational style and outspoken manner. His lasting contribution lies in his understanding of community, organization, and power. Alinsky's intuitive grasp of the complex and multifaceted character of urban social structure, his masterful mobilization of community resources and strategies for building organizations, and his commitment to democratic pluralism and instrumental community action provide the framework for interpreting his actions. The United Neighborhood Organization (UNO) and the Organization of the North East (ONE) provide two case studies of contemporary community organizations that demonstrate the ongoing practical utility of Alinsky's orientation for community organization, as well as suggest the theoretical implications of his work for contemporary sociology.
Aetiology of childhood vision impairment, metropolitan Atlanta, 1991–93

Data from the population-based Metropolitan Atlanta Developmental Disabilities Surveillance Program (MADDSP) were used to describe the underlying causes of vision impairment (VI; corrected visual acuity in the better eye of 20/70 or worse) in young children (n = 228) in metropolitan Atlanta in 1991-93. Children with VI were identified through record review at multiple educational and medical sources. Children were categorised as having isolated VI or multiple disabilities (i.e. VI plus one or more of four additional developmental disabilities) and as having low vision (visual acuity 20/70-20/400) or blindness (visual acuity worse than 20/400). Medical conditions abstracted from MADDSP sources were reviewed to determine the probable aetiology of a child's VI. Aetiologies were assigned to one of three developmental time periods: prenatal, perinatal, or postnatal. Prenatal aetiologies were identified in 43% of the children; 38% of the prenatal aetiologies were genetic. Perinatal aetiologies were found in 27% of the children. Postnatal aetiologies were rare. Prenatal aetiologies were more common in children with isolated VI; perinatal and postnatal aetiologies were more common in children with multiple disabilities. Children with prenatal aetiologies tended to have less severe vision loss than did children with perinatal or postnatal aetiologies. The distribution varied by birthweight, but did not differ significantly by sex or race.
Patient-Specific Seizure Detection from Intra-cranial EEG Using High Dimensional Clustering

Automatic seizure detection is becoming popular in modern epilepsy monitoring units since it assists diagnostic monitoring and reduces manual review of large volumes of EEG recordings. In this paper, we describe the application of machine learning algorithms for building patient-specific seizure detectors on multiple frequency bands of intra-cranial electroencephalogram (iEEG) recorded by a dense Micro-Electrode Array (MEA). The MEA is capable of recording at a very high sampling rate (30 KHz) producing an avalanche of time series data. We explore subsets of this data to build seizure detectors – we discuss several methods for extracting univariate and bivariate features from the channels and study the effectiveness of using high dimensional clustering algorithms such as K-means and Subspace clustering for constructing the model. Future work involves design of more robust seizure detectors using other features and non-parametric clustering techniques, detection of artifacts and understanding the generalization properties of the models.
Long Term Performance of the Surface Detectors of the Pierre Auger Observatory.

The Surface Array Detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory consists of about 1600 water Cherenkov detectors. The operation of each station is continuosly monitored with respect to its individual components like batteries and sol ar panels, aiming at the diagnosis and the anticipation of fail ures. In addition, the evolution with time of the response and of the trigger rate of each station is recorded. The behavior of the earliest deployed stations is used to predict the futu re performance of the full array.
Fundamental Studies of Continuous Bending under Tension (CBT) and Potential Automotive Forming Applications

Abstract A new sheet metal testing procedure has been developed that is simple to perform and that can serve as an adjunct to tensile testing for evaluating the formability of a wide range of sheet metals. The method is called Continuous Bending under Tension (CBT) and results in percentage elongations that significantly exceed those obtained in tensile testing and correlate better with the type and amount of deformation found in certain sheet metal forming operations. The mechanism by which CBT enhances formability can be exploited in innovative processes that are especially useful in automotive manufacturing. A novel CBT testing machine has been developed and preliminary experiments have been performed on an automotive aluminium alloy (AA6022-T4). These experiments demonstrated doubling of the potential strain that can be induced before failure.
Sexual dimorphism in skeletal muscle protein turnover

Skeletal muscle is the major constituent of lean body mass and essential for the body's locomotor function. Women have less muscle mass (and more body fat) than men and are therefore not able to exert the same absolute maximal force as men. The difference in body composition between the sexes is evident from infancy but becomes most marked after puberty (when boys experience an accelerated growth spurt) and persists into old age. During early adulthood until approximately the fourth decade of life, muscle mass is relatively stable, both in men and women, but then begins to decline, and the rate of loss is slower in women than in men. In this review we discuss the underlying mechanisms responsible for the age-associated sexual dimorphism in muscle mass (as far as they have been elucidated to date) and highlight areas that require more research to advance our understanding of the control of muscle mass throughout life.
Making sense of the troubles at NEON.

IN HIS 25 September News Feature “Ecology's tough climb” (p. [1436][1]), J. Mervis detailed the problems that have plagued the National Science Foundation's (NSF's) National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). The severity of NEON's troubles recently led to a congressional hearing in which James Olds, head of NSF's Biological Sciences Directorate, said that NEON Inc. would be replaced as NEON's contractor if it didn't get its act together. I served as NEON's lead scientist and observatory director in 2013–2014, and Mervis summarized my own frustrations at NEON as an example of how poorly the project has been managed. I agree with Mervis's assessment of what has gone wrong at NEON, but some additional clarification might help understand why. Thus far, the spotlight has primarily been on mismanagement by NEON Inc., which prompted the recent removal of its CEO as well as the congressional hearing. But NEON program directors at NSF also bear considerable responsibility for how the project has been run. The authority they hold extends to nearly all levels of the organization, as well as how it can and cannot interact with the external community. To date, their philosophy has been that the Observatory can be most efficiently built by project managers with minimal interference from scientists or members of the community. Applying this approach to a distributed ecological observatory that lacked a detailed blueprint was a mistake that has put NEON under a chronic strain. This underlies a number of NEON Inc.'s present difficulties, its own management failures notwithstanding. At the 18 September congressional hearing on NEON, Olds told panel members that “NSF is going to be sitting on NEON Inc. over the next three months…and we will know very quickly whether this organization is going to be successful under new leadership” ([ 1 ][2]). Sound management by whatever organization builds NEON is clearly needed to get the project back on track. But NEON's success will equally depend on improvements within NSF and a shift in perspective that puts stewardship of NEON science back in the hands of scientists. 1. [↵][3]Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, “Subcommittee on Research and Technology and Subcommittee on Oversight Hearing: NEON Warning Signs: Examining the Management of the National Ecological Observatory Network” ([https://science.house.gov/legislation/hearings/subcommittee-research-andtechnology-and-subcommittee-oversight-hearing-neon][4]). [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.349.6255.1436 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [4]: http://science.house.gov/legislation/hearings/subcommittee-research-andtechnology-and-subcommittee-oversight-hearing-neon
Maxi-KCa, a Unique Member of the Voltage-Gated K Channel Superfamily

Large-conductance, voltage-, and Ca2+-sensitive K+ (maxi-KCa) channels regulate neuronal and smooth muscle excitability. Their pore-forming α-subunit shows similarities with voltage-gated channels and indeed can open in the practical absence of Ca2+. The NH2 terminus is unique, with a seventh transmembrane segment involved in β-subunit modulation. The long COOH terminus is implied in Ca2+ modulation.