cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cost-Effectiveness of Various Risk Stratification Methods for Asymptomatic Ventricular Pre-Excitation

Accessory pathways with "high-risk" properties confer a small but potential risk of sudden cardiac death. Pediatric guidelines advocate for either risk stratification or ablation in patients with ventricular pre-excitation but do not advocate specific methodology. We sought to compare the cost of differing risk-stratification methodologies in pediatric patients with ventricular pre-excitation in this single institutional, retrospective cohort study of asymptomatic pediatric patients who underwent risk stratification for ventricular pre-excitation. Institutional methodology consisted of stratification using graded exercise testing (GXT) followed by esophageal testing in patients without loss of pre-excitation and ultimately ablation in high-risk patients or patients who became clinically symptomatic during follow-up. A decision analysis model was used to compare this methodology with hypothetical methodologies using different components of the stratification technique and an "ablate all" method. One hundred and two pediatric patients with asymptomatic ventricular pre-excitation underwent staged risk stratification; 73% of patients were deemed low risk and avoided ablation and the remaining 27% ultimately were successfully ablated. The use of esophageal testing was associated with a 23% (p ≤0.0001) reduction in cost compared with GXT stratification alone and a 48% (p ≤0.0001) reduction compared with the "ablate all" model. GXT as a lone stratification method was also associated with a 15% cost reduction (p ≤0.0001) compared with the "ablate all" method. In conclusion, risk stratification of pediatric patients with asymptomatic ventricular pre-excitation is associated with reduced cost. These outcomes of cost-effectiveness need to be combined with the risks and benefits associated with ablation and risk stratification.
A Model to Study Plastic Deformation in RRP ${\rm Nb}_{3}{\rm Sn}$ Wires

An important part of superconducting accelerator magnet work is the conductor. To produce magnetic fields larger than 10 T, brittle A15 conductors are typically used. The original round wire, in the form of a composite of Copper (Cu), Niobium (Nb) and Tin (Sn), is assembled into a so-called Rutherford-type cable, which is used to wind the magnet. The magnet is then subjected to a high temperature heat treatment to produce the chemical reactions that make the material superconducting. At this stage the superconductor is brittle and its superconducting properties sensitive to strain. This work is based on the development of a 2D finite element model, which simulates the mechanical behavior of Nb-Sn composite wires under deformation before heat treatment. First the composite was modeled in detail and its behavior analyzed under flat rolling using Finite Element Analysis (FEM). To identify a critical criterion, the strain results of the model were compared with those measured experimentally on cross sections of the deformed composite. Then the model was applied to a number of different wire architectures.
The Effect of the Experience Corps ® Program on Student Reading Outcomes

A randomized field trial involving 883 students at 23 schools in three urban cities assessed the effectiveness of Experience Corps ® (EC), a program that places older adult volunteers in elementary schools to tutor students who are poor readers. Students were assessed at the beginning and end of the academic year with standardized reading measures. Program effects were analyzed using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) to adjust for cluster- ing effects. Findings demonstrated that EC students made statistically greater gains over the academic year on passage comprehension and grade-specific reading skills. The gains were stronger for students who received at least 35 tutoring sessions. These findings indicate that older community volunteers can be effectively deployed to improve reading achievement in low income, ethnic minority children who are at risk of reading failure.
Impact of Zn 1−X Mn X O on Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 thin-film solar cells

In this work, we studied the impact of using Zn 1−x Mg x O to replace the intrinsic ZnO in CIGS solar cells. The effect of Mg content and layer thickness of the Zn 1−x Mg x O on device formation was investigated. We found that the amount of Mg in the Zn 1−x Mg x O layer and the layer thickness significantly alter the cell properties. Device characterization indicated that the impact of the Mg content is not limited to the front-window layer, but also extends to underneath the CIGS layer. The numerical simulation nicely explains the relationship between various front-window layers and device performance. Our observation indicates that properties of the front-window layer may be important to junction formation in CIGS devices. Any changes to this part of the device could seriously alter device performance.
Effects of nanoparticle feed location during nanocomposite compounding

Polymer nanocomposites can provide improved mechanical, barrier, flame retardancy, and other properties at low filler loading, but these properties depend on the dispersion of the nanoparticles. In this work, the impact of feeding configuration on dispersion, mechanical properties, and airborne particle concentration was examined in a model nanocomposite system. Dynamic mechanical analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were performed to determine glass transition temperature of the nanocomposite. Transmission electron microscopy was used to assess dispersion of the nanoparticles in the polymer matrix whereas mechanical properties were measured using ISO standards. A fast mobility particle analyzer was used to measure airborne particle levels at from the hopper and the feed ports. These levels were correlated to the particle size and material loss. An indirect relationship was established among material loss, measured dispersion levels, and mechanical properties. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers
Effect of detomidine on postural sway in horses

The objective of this study was to apply postural sway analysis to measure balance deficits after intravenous administration of detomidine. Six healthy horses were treated intravenously with detomidine (10 μg kg−1, 20 μgkg−1) and saline in random order, with three days between treatments. Postural sway was measured immediately after administration and at 15 min intervals until 120 min had elapsed. Horses stood squarely with all four hooves on a force platform, while the location of the centre of pressure (COP) was recorded continuously for 10 s at 1000 Hz. Five 10 s recordings were analysed and average values calculated for mediolateral COP range of motion, craniocaudal COP range of motion, mean COP radius, COP area and mean COP velocity. All COP variables increased immediately after sedation, but generally returned to normal limits within 15 and 30 min of detomidine administration at 10 and 20 μg kg−1, respectively. The head was lowered for at least 90 min after administration. Balance is affected by detomidine and normal balance is regained later after a higher dose. Procedures requiring balance should not be performed within 15–30 min of detomidine administration. COP variables are a good indicator of the effect of sedation on postural sway, but head position is not.
Ferroelectric negative capacitance MOSFET: Capacitance tuning & antiferroelectric operation

A design methodology of ferroelectric (FE) negative capacitance FETs (NCFETs) based on the concept of capacitance matching is presented. A new mode of NCFET operation, called the “antiferroelectric mode” is proposed, which, besides achieving sub-60mV/dec subthreshold swing, can significantly boost the on-current in exchange for a nominal hysteresis. Design considerations for different device parameters (FE thickness, EOT, source/drain overlap & gate length) are explored. It is suggested that relative improvement in device performance due to FE negative capacitance becomes more significant in very short channel length devices because of the increased drain-to-channel coupling.
Injection and loss of inner radiation belt protons during solar proton events and magnetic storms

[1] A survey of 27 to 45 MeV proton measurements from the HEO-3 satellite during the years 1998 through 2005 has been taken to describe variability in the outer part of the inner radiation belt and slot region (L = 2 to 3). Rapid (∼1-day) changes are described as injection or loss events, characterized respectively by Gaussian or exponential L dependencies. The radial extent of both event types is correlated to the minimum Dst of associated magnetic storms, while the injection magnitude is correlated to the flux of associated interplanetary solar proton events. Changes in the maximal L of observed trapped protons are consistent with trapping limits estimated from magnetic field line curvature. The inward extent and energy independence of the observed loss events are inconsistent with field line curvature induced scattering in a static magnetic field. However, time-dependent geomagnetic cutoff suppression, observed during magnetic storms, may be the cause of significant losses. Drift resonance with electric field impulses caused by rapid magnetospheric compression is the likely cause of both solar proton injections and radial shifts of preexisting trapped protons.
Verification of chip multiprocessor memory systems using a relaxed scoreboard

Verification of chip multiprocessor memory systems remains challenging. While formal methods have been used to validate protocols, simulation is still the dominant method used to validate memory system implementation. Having a memory scoreboard, a high-level model of the memory, greatly aids simulation based validation, but accurate score-boards are complex to create since often they depend not only on the memory and consistency model but also on its specific implementation. This paper describes a methodology of using a relaxed scoreboard, which greatly reduces the complexity of creating these memory models. The relaxed scoreboard tracks the operations of the system to maintain a set of values that could possibly be valid for each memory location. By allowing multiple possible values, the model used in the scoreboard is only loosely coupled with the specific design, which decouples the construction of the checker from the implementation, allowing the checker to be used early in the design and to be built up incrementally, and greatly reduces the scoreboard design effort. We demonstrate the use of the relaxed scoreboard in verifying RTL implementations of two different memory models, Transactional Coherency and Consistency (TCC) and Relaxed Consistency, for up to 32 processors. The resulting checker has a performance slowdown of 19% for checking Relaxed Consistency, and less than 30% for TCC, allowing it to be used in all simulation runs.
Genetic Testing and Type 2 Diabetes Risk Awareness.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine the motivational, attitudinal, and behavioral predictors of interest in genetic testing (GT) in those with and without awareness of their risk for type 2 diabetes (T2DM).MethodsA convenience sample of adults visiting emergency departments, libraries, or an online research registry was surveyed. Responses from adults without diabetes who reported 1 or more risk factors for T2DM (eg, family history, body mass index > 25) were included in the analyses (n = 265).ResultsParticipants were 37 ± 11 years old, white (54%), and female (69%), with some college education (53%) and an annual income below $25 000 (44%). Approximately half (52%) expressed interest in GT for T2DM. Individuals were stratified by perceived risk for T2DM (risk aware or risk unaware). Among the risk aware, younger age (P < .04) predicted greater interest in GT. Among the risk unaware, family history of T2DM (P < .008) and preference to know genetic risk (P < .0002) predicted interest in GT. Bot...
A discriminative model for polyphonic piano transcription

We present a discriminative model for polyphonic piano transcription. Support vector machines trained on spectral features are used to classify frame-level note instances. The classifier outputs are temporally constrained via hidden Markov models, and the proposed system is used to transcribe both synthesized and real piano recordings. A frame-level transcription accuracy of 68% was achieved on a newly generated test set, and direct comparisons to previous approaches are provided.
Nash and Perfect Equilibria of Discounted Repeated Games

Abstract The “perfect Folk Theorem” for discounted repeated games establishes that the sets of Nash and subgame-perfect equilibrium payoffs are equal in the limit as the discount factor δ tends to one. We provide conditions under which the two sets coincide before the limit is reached. That is, we show how to compute δ such that the Nash and perfect equilibrium payoffs of the δ-discounted game are identical for all δ> δ .
Designs for thin-film-coated semiconductor thermal neutron detectors

Thin film coated semiconductor detectors have been studied and used as neutron detectors for decades. Unfortunately, with front-irradiated devices, the basic design limits the thermal neutron detection efficiency to only 3.95% for /sup 10/B-coated devices and only 4.3% for /sup 6/LiF-coated devices. Presented in the following work are several straightforward methods to increase the thermal neutron detection efficiency for thin-film-coated semiconductor thermal neutron detectors.
One-pot synthesis of poly(norbornene)-block-poly(lactide) copolymers using a bifunctional initiator

Block copolymers of poly(norbornene) and poly(lactide) were synthesized in one-pot using a bifunctional initiator bearing a ruthenium complex for the Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP) of norbornenes and an alcohol to initiate the 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) catalyzed Ring-Opening Polymerization (ROP) of L-lactide.
CMUTs with dual electrode structure for improved transmit and receive performance

We report on the use of a dual electrode structure to improve the performance of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs.). In the dual electrode structure, separate transmit and receive electrodes are embedded either in the same CMUT membrane or in the dielectric substrate beneath the same membrane. This configuration has several advantages. First, the maximum pressure amplitude during transmit mode can be significantly increased by locating the transmit electrodes near the edges of the membrane. In this case, leveraged bending increases the maximum displacement without collapsing the membrane. Second, since the DC bias of the electrodes can be controlled independently, the device capacitance can be increased during the receive time by biasing both receive and transmit electrodes. Additionally, separate electronics can be used for transmit and receive without the need for a switch. We have fabricated a 0.3/spl times/0.65 mm/sup 2/ CMUT element consisting of 20 /spl mu/m wide, 100 /spl mu/m long and 0.9 /spl mu/m thick rectangular silicon nitride membranes. The transmit electrodes are 4 /spl mu/m wide and located at the edges of the membrane, whereas the 8 /spl mu/m wide receive electrode is at the center. With this non-optimized structure, we measured a 6.8 dB increase in maximum output pressure at 9 MHz with side electrode excitation. We also demonstrated the possibility of using dual electrodes for simultaneous excitation and detection of several CMUT membrane vibration modes.
Biological responses of Lumbriculus variegatus exposed to fluoranthene-spiked sediment.

Lumbriculus variegatus was used as a bioassay organism to examine the impact of the sediment-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) fluoranthene on be- havior, reproduction, and toxicokinetics. The number of worms increased between the beginning and end of the experiment at 59 gg 1 fluoranthene, but at the next higher treatment (108 gg 1 ) the number of worms found was lower and not different from the control. Worms exposed to 95 gg 1 also exhibited increased reproduction when fed a yeast-cerophyl- trout chow mixture. On a total biomass basis, only the 95 g g 1 exposure with food exhibited a statistically significant increase over the nonfed control. Evaluation of reproduction at the two highest treatments was compromised by a brief aera- tion failure 2 days before the end of the experiment. The behavioral responses were followed as changes in biological burial rate (sediment reworking rate) of a 137 Cs-labeled marker layer. The biological burial rate increased toward a plateau as the concentration increased from the control (3.9 gg 1 dry weight total PAH) to 355 gg 1 dry weight fluoranthene in sediment. The aeration failure had minimal impact on the determination of reworking rate because all the data for the rate determination were collected prior to the aeration failure. Up- take and elimination rates declined with increasing treatment concentration across the range of fluoranthene concentrations, 59 -355 gg 1 dry weight sediment. The disconnect between the increasing biological burial rates and the decreasing toxicokinetics rates with increasing exposure concentration demonstrates that the toxicokinetic processes are dominated by uptake and elimination to interstitial water. The bioaccumulation factor (concentration in the organisms on a wet weight basis divided by the concentration in sediment on a dry weight basis) ranged from 0.92 to 1.88 on day 10 and declined to a range of 0.52 to 0.99 on day 28 with the lowest value at the highest dose.
Staphylococcal Surgical Site Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of surgical site infections (SSI) in the United States. In particular, SSI caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has emerged as a devastating complication, leading to increased mortality rates, increased length of hospitalization, and increased costs. Proven strategies for prevention of SSI caused by S aureus include addressing modifiable risk factors and correct choice and timing of antimicrobial prophylaxis. Other strategies, including decolonization and the use of vancomycin, remain controversial.
Suicidality in Bipolar I Disorder.

People with bipolar disorder are at high suicide risk. The literature suggests that suicidality is predicted by higher symptom severity and less use of pharmacological agents, but few studies have examined the joint contributions of these variables. The present study examines the conjoint contribution of symptom severity and pharmacological treatment to suicidal ideation and behavior among participants with bipolar disorder. The model was able to account for 53% of the variance in suicidality scores. Depression, mixed state, and hopelessness were significantly associated with suicidality. All other variables were nonsignificant once symptom severity had been controlled. Implications for future research are described.
Subelliptic mollifiers and a basic pointwise estimate of Poincaré type

The aim of this paper is to prove a pointwise estimate which plays a fundamental role in the analysis of both linear and nonlinear partial differential equations arising from a system of non-commuting vector fields X = {X1, . . . ,Xm}. Although our result holds in a larger setting, for the unity of presentation we confine ourselves to the specific case of smooth vector fields X1, . . .Xm satisfying Hormander’s finite rank condition [H]: Rank (Lie[X1, . . . ,Xm ])(x ) = n for every x ∈ n . Let d : n × n → + be the Carnot-Caratheodory metric associated to X1, . . . ,Xm , and for x0 ∈ n and R > 0 set B = Bd (x0,R) = {y ∈ n |d (x0, y) 0 the symbol aB will denote the concentric ball Bd (x0, aR). For a given function u we let Xu = (X1u, . . . ,Xmu) and |Xu|2 = ∑m j =1(Xj u) 2. Throughout the paper we will use the standard notation uB = 1 |B | ∫ B u(y)dy . Our main result is Theorem 1.1. Let U ⊂⊂ n , and x0 ∈ U . There exist C , R0 > 0 and a > 1 depending only on U and the vector fields X1, . . . ,Xm such that for any u ∈ C 1(aB ), R ≤ R0, and x ∈ B one has |u(x ) − uB | ≤ C ∫
Contributions of Robert I. Watson (1909‐1980) to the literature on the history of psychology

The Watsonian „historian's kit” consists of a textbook; two large volumes of references to the lives and work of over five hundred „eminent contributors to psychology”; a partially annotated list of some eight hundred books considered most useful to scholars and students interested in the history of psychology and neighboring disciplines; and a set of excerpts from works commonly accepted as seminal and covering the span of time from the seventeenth to the twentieth century. The booklength publications are supplemented by a volume of selected papers. Watson's major contribution to the methodology and theory of historiography is his concept and technique of „prescriptions.” We shall never know how viable the prescriptive approach would have been in the hands of its originator when used in a systematic account of the history of psychology.
Dynamic techno-ecological modeling of highway systems: a case study of the Shin-Meishin Expressway in Japan

Abstract The Shin-Meishin Expressway is being constructed from Nagoya to Kobe in Japan, and the section from Takatsuki to Kobe is currently under construction as a viable alternative route as opposed to the Meishin Expressway. However, highway construction is usually considered destructive to the natural environment due to the deforestation required during construction, as well as subsequent increases in CO2 emissions upon completion of new highways as new traffic is brought to the area. By applying a system dynamics methodology with respect to the Meishin and Shin-Meishin Expressways, this study analyzes two major effects of new highway construction (CO2 absorption and CO2 emissions) as well as the potential influence of felling, replanting, and/or maintaining the surrounding forest area on the overall CO2 absorption capacity, net CO2 emissions, and total CO2 stock in the analyzed construction area. Regarding CO2 absorption, it was found that, if the portion of the forest felled during construction is very old, new highway construction can help to recover the lost CO2 absorption capacity by planting new trees along the highway, even if the area of planting is much smaller than the area of felling trees. As for CO2 emissions, it was found that mitigating traffic congestion and decreasing the required driving distance can reduce CO2 emissions from the highway(s) in question. Therefore, this study concludes that new highway construction does not always harm the environment regarding CO2 pollution, as the harmful impacts commonly associated with highway construction can be mitigated with other technological and/or ecological mitigation methods.
Emotional and physiological reactivity in Complicated Grief.

Abstract Background Grief is a psychobiological response to the loss of a loved one. Some grief theorists suggest that this predictable response may arise from withdrawal of psychobiological regulation previously provided by the deceased (e.g. assistance with emotion regulation). Accordingly, recovery from loss may require bereaved individuals to re-establish self-regulatory control to avoid developing Complicated Grief (CG). This model implies that adults with CG may exhibit aberrant emotional responding to environmental stimuli. The present study was designed to test this hypothesis. Methods We recruited a sample of 23 bereaved adults with CG and 26 healthy bereaved adults to complete an emotional reactivity paradigm. Participants watched a series of emotional film clips and provided measures of their self-reported emotional response. We also assessed their heart rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and skin conductance level in response to these clips. Results Though emotional and physiological differences between the groups were rare, the CG group exhibited attenuated RSA reactivity to some emotional film clips, suggesting blunted parasympathetic nervous system reactivity in those with the disorder. Limitations Limitations include the modest sample size and unequal group sizes. Conclusions Individuals with CG do not exhibit pervasive differences in emotional and physiological reactivity compared to healthy bereaved individuals. However, we did observe evidence of blunted parasympathetic nervous system reactivity in individuals with CG, which may mediate emotional inflexibility among those who develop the disorder.
Neurovesical dysfunction after abdominoperineal resection.

If a neural injury is responsible for difficulty with lower urinary tract function after abdominoperineal resection but is unrecognized, prostatectomy may be unsuccessful in relieving the condition or may lead to intractable incontinence.
Regulation of serotonin-induced DNA synthesis of bovine pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells

We have previously reported that serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] stimulates DNA synthesis of bovine pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (SMC) by its high-affinity uptake. Uptake inhibitors,...
Acute candida arthritis. Report of a case and use of amphotericin B.

A case of Candida infection of the knee and probably also of the hip is reported, emphasizing the predisposing factors in its genesis. A treatment program using a bioassay of amphotericin B concentrations in the serum and joint aspirate is discussed. This allows use of a dose lower than usually recommended and avoids the more toxic dose-related side effects. Amphotericin B administered systemically penetrated the joint in therapeutic levels. Systemic treatment and repeated aspirations produced a prompt response obviating the need for surgical drainage.
Bone loss after liver transplantation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Clinically important rapid bone loss occurs within 3 to 6 months after liver transplantation and may be associated with osteoporotic fractures. Objective: To determine whether bisphosphonate treatment with zoledronic acid reduces transplant-related bone loss more than placebo in adults having liver transplantation for chronic liver disease. Design: 12-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Setting: 2 large liver transplantation centers in Australia. Patients: 62 adults having liver transplantation for chronic liver disease. Interventions: Infusions of zoledronic acid, 4 mg (n = 32), or saline (n = 30) were given within 7 days of transplantation and again at months 1, 3, 6, and 9 after transplantation. All patients received supplementation with calcium carbonate, 600 mg/d, and ergocalciferol, 1000 U/d. Measurements: The primary outcome was bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry before transplantation and 3, 6, and 12 months later. Secondary outcomes included bone turnover markers that were measured before transplantation and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months later. Results: There were statistically significant interactions between treatment effects and time for BMD measurements at the lumbar spine (P = 0.002), femoral neck (P = 0.001), and total hip (P < 0.001). Differences in acute bone loss 3 months after transplantation favored zoledronic acid over placebo. Differences between groups in percentage change from baseline adjusted for baseline weight and serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) level were 4.0% (95% CI, 1.1% to 7.0%) for the lumbar spine, 4.7% (CI, 1.9% to 7.6%) for the femoral neck, and 3.8% (CI, 1.7% to 6.0%) for the total hip. At 12 months after transplantation, the difference in percentage change from baseline between the 2 groups adjusted for baseline weight and serum PTH level was 1.1% (CI, -2.1% to 4.4%) for the lumbar spine, 2.7% (CI, 0.0% to 5.4%) for the femoral neck, and 2.4% (CI, 0.1% to 4.7%) for the total hip. Treatment with zoledronic acid induced temporary secondary hyperparathyroidism and postinfusion hypocalcemia statistically significantly more often than did placebo. Limitations: The trial was not powered to assess fractures, and 10 of 62 (16%) patients were not included in adjusted analyses because of missing weight or serum PTH measurements. Conclusion: Treatment with zoledronic acid can prevent bone loss within the first year after liver transplantation.
Surgical Technique for Repair of Peripheral Pulmonary Artery Stenosis and Other Complex Peripheral Reconstructions

Surgical reconstruction of peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis is a technically challenging procedure due to the need to access all lobar and segmental branches. This paper describes our surgical approach that entails division of the main pulmonary and separation of the branch pulmonary arteries. This surgical approach can also be utilized for other complex peripheral pulmonary artery reconstructions.
RDX Compression, α→ γ Phase Transition, and Shock Hugoniot Calculations from Density-Functional-Theory-Based Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Prediction of the density and lattice compression properties of the α and γ phases of the hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-s-triazine (RDX) crystal and of the low-pressure α → γ phase transition upon pressure increase are general tests used to assess the accuracy of density-functional-theory- (DFT-) based computational methods and to identify the essential parameters that govern the behavior of this high-energy-density material under extreme conditions. The majority of previous DFT studies have analyzed such issues under static optimization conditions by neglecting the corresponding temperature effects. In this study, we extend previous investigations and analyze the performance of dispersion-corrected density functional theory to predict the compression of RDX in the pressure range of 0–9 GPa and the corresponding α → γ phase transition under realistic temperature and pressure conditions. We demonstrate that, by using static dispersion-corrected density functional theory calculations, direct interconversio...
Ultra-broadband photonic simulators for passive and active components and systems

Two methodologies in designing ultra-wide-band interactive simulation tools for photonic components, containing semiconductor active structures is described in the paper.
Development of a temperature compensated PVDF transducer for dynamic pressure measurements

The pressure sensing element of the transducer, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), has been the subject of many laboratory studies and has been used in many applications during the past decade [1–5]. Since the poled active material is both pyroelectric-and piezoelectric, measurements are usually carried out in an isobaric or isothermal environment so that only one effect is activated. For the measurement of dynamic pressures, an isothermal environment is not always present because pressure pulses will be accompanied by temperature pulses due to adiabatic compressional heating. This effect was discussed by DeReggi et al. who considered the relative time effects of pressure induced temperature changes in PVDF and temperature changes which occur in the surrounding medium [6]. Adiabatic heating of the PVDF will occur in coincidence with its pressure change. When adiabatic heating of the surrounding medium occurs, the thermal time constant, τ, for diffusion of heat into the transducer will determine its pyroelectric response as a function of time. If the temperature changes in PVDF and its surroundings are identical, then there will be no heat transfer and the pyroelectric response will be due to adiabatic heating of the PVDF only. Calculations for this special case show that the pyroelectric charge signal is approximately 8% of the piezoelectric charge [6]. In general, adiabatic heating in both PVDF and its surroundings along with the time scale of each effect must be considered. For pressure measurements at t ≪ τ temperature compensation can be achieved by applying the 8% correction to the transducer signals. For longer times the conduction of heat from the surroundings must be measured in order to apply the appropriate correction to the electrical signal from the PVDF gage.
Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney and Sonography: A Case Report

Multicystic dysplastic kidney is a congenital anomaly that can affect the kidneys. It is generally unilateral and is characterized by multiple noncommunicating cysts in the renal parenchyma. This d...
Abstract 826: DNA adducts induced by in vitro activation of diesel and biodiesel exhaust extracts

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Petroleum diesel exhaust is a complex mixture containing many probable and known carcinogens. The development of biodiesel and biodiesel blends offers a renewable alternative to petroleum diesel, but few data are available concerning the carcinogenic potential of biodiesel exhausts. We compared the formation of covalent DNA adducts by the in vitro metabolic activation of organic extracts of diesel exhaust particles (DEP)from petroleum diesel and biodiesel. Two different petroleum diesel DEPs were examined (C-DEP and B0), as well as one biodiesel DEP (B100), and DEP resulting from combustion of a blend of 20% B100 and 80% B0 (B20), which is representative of commercially available biodiesel. Oxidative activation was performed in the presence of calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) using rat liver microsomal fractions with required cofactors (S9), and nitroreductive activation was performed using xanthine oxidase (XO) and hypoxanthine in the presence of ctDNA. The modified DNA was hydrolyzed and analyzed by 32P-postlabeling using either butanol extraction or nuclease P1 pre-enrichment. Multiple DNA adducts were produced with chromatographic mobilities consistent with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and nitro-PAH adducts. The types and quantities of DNA adducts produced from two independent petroleum diesel DEPs were similar, with evidence of formation of both PAH- and nitroPAH- derived adducts. In contrast, the biodiesel DEP B100 induced higher total levels of DNA adducts in both activation systems. The lowest levels of DNA adduct formation were observed with B20 DEP. These results suggest that the DEP from available biodiesel blends (B20) pose lower risk for induction of DNA damage than petroleum diesel. This is an abstract or a proposed presentation and does not necessarily reflect EPA policy. Citation Format: Jeffrey A. Ross, Garret B. Nelson, Esrta Mutlu, Sarah H. Warren, Matthews P. Peggy, M. Ian Gilmour, David M. DeMarini. DNA adducts induced by in vitro activation of diesel and biodiesel exhaust extracts. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 826. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-826
Molecular probes of the vestibular nerve. I. Peripheral termination patterns of calretinin, calbindin and peripherin containing fibers.

Vestibular afferents have different physiological properties that can be at least partially correlated with the morphology that the peripheral ending makes with type I and type II hair cells. If the location of the ending in the sensory epithelium is included, the correlations are further improved. It is also known that vestibular afferents can be immunohistochemically stained for a variety of different substances. We have concentrated on three of these markers, calretinin, calbindin and peripherin, because the sources of afferents to the vestibular nuclear complex that contain these substances are restricted, in two cases to the primary afferents. We demonstrate that calretinin is found only in the calyx-only afferents that are located at the apex of the cristae ampullaris and along the striola of the maculae. The area containing stained calyces is equal to or slightly smaller than the central zone of the cristae as defined by the Goldberg group [J. Neurophysiol. 60 (1988) 167]. Calbindin is also found in calyces at the apex of the cristae and along the striola of the otoliths. Examination of adjacent sections of all endorgans indicates that calbindin staining overlaps with calretinin, but is always several hair cells wider on each side. Peripherin also stains fibers in the neuroepithelium. The greatest density of staining is in the peripheral zone of the cristae, i.e. at the base and toward the planum semilunatum. We suggest that these substances are useful markers for specific sets of vestibular afferents.
Further examination of the temporal stability of alcohol demand.

Abstract Demand, or the amount of a substance consumed as a function of price, is a central dependent measure in behavioral economic research and represents the relative valuation of a substance. Although demand is often utilized as an index of substance use severity and is assumed to be relatively stable, recent experimental and clinical research has identified conditions in which demand can be manipulated, such as through craving and stress inductions, and treatment. Our study examines the 1-month reliability of the alcohol purchase task in a sample of heavy drinking college students. We also analyzed reliability in subgroup of individuals whose consumption decreased, increased, or stayed the same over the 1-month period, and in individuals with moderate/severe Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) vs. those with no/mild AUD. Reliability was moderate in the full sample, high in the group with stable consumption, and did not differ appreciably between AUD groups. Observed indices and indices derived from an exponentiated equation (Koffarnus et al., 2015) were generally comparable, although P max observed had very low reliability. Area under the curve, O max derived, and essential value showed the greatest reliability in the full sample ( r s = 0.75–0.77). These results provide evidence for the relative stability over time of demand and across AUD groups, particularly in those whose consumption remains stable.
Impact of cross-field motion on ablation of high-Z dust in fusion edge plasmas

The impact of cross-field motion of high-Z dust grains on their shielding by ablation cloud in edge plasmas of tokamaks is analyzed. The modification of the existing high-Z dust shielding theory is developed, which takes the dust motion effects into account. It is shown that the cross-field motion can lead to a large factor increase of the dust ablation rate, as compared to the previous model. It is also shown that the motion effects take place when the dust cross-field velocity exceeds a threshold value. The dependencies of the dust ablation flux on the dust velocity and of the threshold velocity on the dust size and the ambient plasma temperature are obtained.
The Digestible Energy Requirements of Lactating Pony Mares

THE DIGESTIBLE ENERGY REQUIREMENTS OF LACTATING PONY MARES J. D. Pagan, H. F. Hintz and T. R. Rounsaville Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 Summary The energy requirements of lactating pony mares were studied. Twenty-two mares were divided into three groups and fed one of three diets consisting of different ratios of corn, alfalfa meal and soybean meal. All three diets were fed at a level of intake that supplied the National Research Council (NRC) recom- mended amount of crude protein for pony mares during the first 3 mo of lactation. Diets 1, 2 and 3 supplied 93.0, 74.8 and 57.2 kcal of digestible energy (DE). kg body weight -1 9 d -1 , respectively. The DE content of each diet was determined in a 3 “ 3 Latin square di- gestion trial using mature pony geldings fed at a rate of 1.5 % body weight/d. Mares and foals remained on trial for an 11-wk period. The mares and foals were weighed each week, and foal heart girths and heights at withers were measured. Least-squares regression of foal average daily gain with mare weight and energy intake of the mare as independent variables showed no significant effect of energy intake of the mare on foal growth. A regression equation that describes the influence of energy intake of the mare on mare weight change is Y = .0031-.0033
Predictors of Long-Term Exercise Capacity in Patients Who Have Had Lung Transplantation.

Introduction:Six-minute walk distance (6MWD) is a widely used surrogate for exercise capacity in patients both pre- and post-lung transplant. Multiple factors have been suggested to influence exerc...
Seagrass digestion by a notorious 'carnivore'.

What an animal consumes and what an animal digests and assimilates for energetic demands are not always synonymous. Sharks, uniformly accepted as carnivores, have guts that are presumed to be well suited for a high-protein diet. However, the bonnethead shark ( Sphyrna tiburo ), which is abundant in critical seagrass habitats, has been previously shown to consume copious amounts of seagrass (up to 62.1% of gut content mass), although it is unknown if they can digest and assimilate seagrass nutrients. To determine if bonnetheads digest seagrass nutrients, captive sharks were fed a 13 C-labelled seagrass diet. Digestibility analyses, digestive enzyme assays and stable isotope analyses were used to determine the bonnethead shark9s capacity for digesting and assimilating seagrass material. Compound-specific stable isotope analysis showed that sharks assimilated seagrass carbon (13.6 ± 6.77‰ δ 13 C mean ± s.d. for all sharks and all amino acid types analysed) with 50 ± 2% digestibility of seagrass organic matter. Additionally, cellulose-component-degrading enzyme activities were detected in shark hindguts. We show that a coastal shark is digesting seagrass with at least moderate efficiency, which has ecological implications due to the stabilizing role of omnivory and nutrient transport within fragile seagrass ecosystems.
Physical and chemical alterations in engineered cementitious composite under geologic CO2 storage conditions

Abstract Geological carbon sequestration is a promising option to slow global warming but leakage of stored CO2 through fractured wellbore cement can compromise storage security. Novel cementing materials that can withstand chemical attack, prevent fracturing, and potentially self-heal when damaged will improve long-term storage security of sequestered CO2. Here, a novel engineered cementitious composite (ECC) was exposed to water in equilibrium with CO2 at 10 MPa under static batch and flow-through conditions at 50 °C. The extent of alteration after 44 days of reaction under static conditions was determined using optical microscopy and backscatter electron spectroscopy. A single carbonated front was observed in the altered zone in contrast to previous studies on Portland cement in which multiple zones were identified. The rate of alteration was diffusion-controlled with a 50-year projected depth of alteration of 72 mm. A general increase in microhardness of the altered and unaltered zones suggests that the mechanical integrity of the composite will not be compromised following exposure to CO2-rich water. While microcracks developed at the rim of the core after greater durations of exposure, the crack widths were generally less than 60 μm and prior studies have demonstrated self-healing of ECC microcracks of this size. Permeability decrease was observed in saw-cut samples under flow-through conditions and was attributed to a combination of dissolution-driven fracture closure and calcite precipitation.
Fermi Bubbles with HAWC

The Fermi Bubbles, which comprise two large and homogeneous regions of spectrally hard gamma-ray emission extending up to 55◦ above and below the Galactic Center, were first noticed in GeV gamma-ray data from the Fermi Telescope in 2010. The mechanism or mechanisms which produce the observed hard spectrum are not understood. Although both hadronic and leptonic models can describe the spectrum of the bubbles, the leptonic model can also explain similar structures observed in microwave data from the WMAP and Planck satellites. Recent publications show that the spectrum of the Fermi Bubbles is well described by a power law with an exponential cutoff in the energy range of 100MeV to 500GeV. Observing the Fermi Bubbles at higher gamma-ray energies will help constrain the origin of the bubbles. A steeper cutoff will favor a leptonic model. The High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory, located 4100m above sea level in Mexico, is designed to measure high-energy gamma rays between 100GeV to 100TeV. With a large field of view and good sensitivity to spatially extended sources, HAWC is the best observatory suited to look for extended regions like the Fermi Bubbles at TeV energies. We will present results from a preliminary analysis of the Fermi Bubble visible to HAWC in the Galactic Northern Hemisphere during the ICRC conference.
Biodiversity loss, viewed through the lens of mismatched property rights

Property theory is undergoing a revolution. For decades, theorists have envisioned rights as bilateral, focusing on intersections between directly adjacent landowners, or landowners and government actors. This over-simplified, two-dimensional model of property rights has resulted in laws that facilitate epic socio-ecological imbalances. In this paper, we apply the emergent theory of mismatched property rights to the problem of biodiversity loss. We observe that wildlife habitat for a single species can consist of tens of thousands of acres. Land parceling systems artificially divide wildlife habitat, fragmenting ownership of landscape-level resources. Managing large-scale habitats requires coordinating the interests of many property owners, often with divergent views on habitat management. Public lands’ landscape scale avoids this feature, but, nevertheless, still have competing resource users seeking to maximize allocation of natural resources rights. Wildlife habitat provides a particularly challenging variation on the theme of mismatched property rights. In this context, a primary stakeholder—wildlife—does not own property. We suggest that stakeholder collaborations are one understudied tool that functionally reincorporates wildlife resource uses into the existing property regime. Collaborations serve to re-scale resources so that they can be efficiently managed at their natural scale. Stakeholder collaborations cross administrative and property boundaries to create landscape-level management plans, which accommodates overlapping rights within differing boundaries. In this way, stakeholder collaborations appear to be playing a crucial, under-appreciated role in stemming biodiversity loss.
Nanotwinned Copper Hybrid Bonding and Wafer-On-Wafer Integration

The bonding temperature for Cu to Cu direct/hybrid bonding is usually higher than 300 °C. In this study, three types of 12" wafer were fabricated: nanotwinned Cu (nt-Cu) blanket, hybrid nt-Cu/SiO 2 dish shape, and hybrid nt-Cu/SiO 2 pad shape respectively. The -preferred orientation ratio on ntCu surface was analyzed to 75.1% on dish-shaped and 99.0% on pad-shaped wafers. The resistivity of nt-Cu blanket on the wafer was 2 × 10-8 ȍ.m at room temperature which is close to pure Cu. We had constructed the equation to calculate the -oriented surface proportion on polished dish-shaped wafer. To get the maximum of -oriented nt-Ct surface, the bottom-up plating without tilted nt-Cu grains is the solution. The root mean squared roughness value (Rq) of nt-Cu blanket and hybrid nt-Cu/SiO 2 were 0.56 and 1.47 nm before bonding, respectively. The near 90 % of achieved ratio of a good bonding interface without voids had finished on wafer-to-wafer bonding. In summary, the hybrid bonding is an extraordinary interconnection technology as well as benefits future trends in advanced package. Currently, the near 90% of -oriented nt-Cu surface is achieved and nt-Cu-to-ntCu bonding is carried out at low temperature of 250 °C for 1 h.
Fabricating Transnational Capitalism: A Collaborative Ethnography of Italian-Chinese Global Fashion: by Lisa Rofel and Sylvia J. Yanagisako, Durham and London, Duke University Press, 2019, 377 pp., $29.95 (paperback), ISBN 978-1478000457

The increasing visibility of Chinese immigrants in Italy has encouraged for the past decades a great deal of scholarship concerning the tendencies by which Italy often reaches beyond its strict geo...