cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of Circular Periodic Structures

The frequency response matrix is determined for a periodically supported, periodically damped, closed circular beam structure which is an approximate model of a skin-stringer aircraft fuselage structure. The analytical technique which is developed depends on the periodic nature of the structure to simplify the analysis. The analysis is a complementary approach to the transfer matrix method for determining frequency response. One purpose of the analysis is to circumvent the numerical and/or computer storage difficulties commonly found in computing the frequency response for typical aircraft fuselage structure from a transfer matrix analysis. Numerical difficulty is avoided by using the properties of the transfer matrix for one periodic unit and a consequence of the Cayley-Hamilton theorem to obtain an analytical solution for the frequency response matrix. The second purpose of the analysis is to investigate the spatial decay of response from a point or region of the structure which is being excited. This spatial decay isolates the response to a region of structure near the excitation and reduces the over-all dynamic stress level of the structure for a general excitation. Three damping devices that utilize a viscoelastic link to produce spatial decay are evaluated. Several numerical examples are shown.
An Explicit Full-Range Settling Velocity Equation for Mud Flocs

Abstract A simple explicit model for calculating the settling velocity of mud flocs in both the viscous and inertial settling range is presented. The model is based on a nondimensional settling velocity and floc diameter, and the basic structure of the model follows that of Ferguson and Church (2004) with modifications for the fractal structure of flocculated sediment. The explicit form of the equation simplifies settling-velocity calculations and makes it easier to code into larger computational models of river plume sedimentation and morphodynamics. Input parameters needed for calculating settling velocity include: the floc size, the size of the primary particles, the fractal dimension of the floc, the specific gravity of the sediment, and values for two coefficients which incorporate effects due to floc shape, permeability, and flow separation on drag. The behavior of the model using a constant and variable fractal dimension over a range of parameter space is presented. The model is also compared to historic settling-velocity data from in situ measurements and laboratory settling-column data. For much of the field and laboratory data examined, floc settling remained viscous and is best described with a constant fractal dimension. Flocs with fractal dimensions equal to and greater than 2.5 are interpreted as impermeable aggregates, and calculated drag coefficients are larger than those of a smooth solid sphere of equivalent-volumetric diameter. It is suggested that the increased drag is due to the increased surface area of a floc in contact with the fluid relative to a smooth sphere of equivalent diameter. For flocs with fractal dimensions less than 2, calculated drag coefficients are on the order of those for a solid particle of equivalent diameter, even though it is likely that flocs have a larger relative surface area; this phenomenon is interpreted as being the outcome of flow passing through the more permeable flocs as they settle. Estimates of settling-velocity model coefficients are given for these two broad sets of floc settling behavior, and a recommended methodology for using measured settling velocity data to calibrate the model is presented.
"So, You Think You Have a History?": Taking a Q from Lesbian and Gay Studies in Writing Education History.

At first I thought he was a baseball fan from Cleveland. As he came closer I saw the cross on his blue and red cap, and I realized I had seen this guy before. I was staffing a GOHI exhibit at the Columbus gay pride parade. GOHI is the Gay Ohio History Initiative, a group of volunteers who formed a partnership with the Ohio Historical Society in 2006 to “preserve, archive, and curate Ohio's LGBT history and culture.” Interestingly, the “preeminent history preservation organization” in Ohio is serving as a model of collaboration for public educational institutions concerning lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) history. This may strike one as curious given that two out of three Ohio voters supported a constitutional ban on marriage equality in 2004 even though the state legislature had already adopted a similar measure. The state also does not prohibit employment or housing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Yet Columbus maintains a national reputation as a “gay-friendly” city, suggesting that the political terrain in Ohio is as mixed as ever. The old saw—“As goes Ohio so goes the nation”—still seems pertinent.
Rapid cyclic changes in density and accessibility of endometrial ligands for Escherichia coli Dr fimbriae

The mechanisms of developing infection in young, noncompromised individuals are well understood. Colonization is prerequisite for the development of infection. In human, ligands serving bacterial colonization belong to common antigens. Consequently, a majority of individuals should be sensitive to infection at all times. We hypothesize that the temporal patterns of some infections and sensitivity to them are associated with sudden changes in the density and accessibility of common receptors. Endometrial samples from women having normal menstrual cycles were examined for histological location, receptor density, and in situ hybridization of Dr (decaying-accelerating factor) ligands for Escherichia coli Dr fimbriae. Significant up-regulation and luminal expression of Dr ligands occurred during the secretory phase, whereas receptors were expressed in the basement membrane and in smaller quantities during the proliferative phase. This observation agrees with our hypotheses that some ligands recognized by bacterial adhesins change their compartmentalization and, most importantly, that they up-regulate expression at specific times.
Chronic administration during early adulthood does not alter the hormonally-dependent disruptive effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) on complex behavior in female rats

Abstract This study examined whether chronic Δ9-THC during early adulthood would produce the same hormonally-dependent deficits in learning that are produced by chronic Δ9-THC during adolescence. To do this, either sham-operated (intact) or ovariectomized (OVX) female rats received daily saline or 5.6 mg/kg of Δ9-THC i.p. for 40 days during early adulthood. Following chronic administration, and a drug-free period to train both a learning and performance task, acute dose-effect curves for Δ9-THC (0.56–10 mg/kg) were established in each of the four groups (intact/saline, intact/THC, OVX/saline and OVX/THC). The dependent measures of responding under the learning and performance tasks were the overall response rate and the percentage of errors. Although the history of OVX and chronic Δ9-THC in early adulthood did not significantly affect non-drug or baseline behavior under the tasks, acute administration of Δ9-THC produced both rate-decreasing and error-increasing effects on learning and performance behavior, and these effects were dependent on their hormone condition. More specifically, both intact groups were more sensitive to the rate-decreasing and error-increasing effects of Δ9-THC than the OVX groups irrespective of chronic Δ9-THC administration, as there was no significant main effect of chronic treatment and no significant interaction between chronic treatment (saline or Δ9-THC) and the dose of Δ9-THC administered as an adult. Post mortem examination of 10 brain regions also indicated there were significant differences in agonist-stimulated GTPγS binding across brain regions, but no significant effects of chronic treatment and no significant interaction between the chronic treatment and cannabinoid signaling. Thus, acute Δ9-THC produced hormonally-dependent effects on learning and performance behavior, but a period of chronic administration during early adulthood did not alter these effects significantly, which is contrary to what we and others have shown for chronic administration during adolescence.
NUMERICAL CALCULATION OF MAGNETOBREMSSTRAHLUNG EMISSION AND ABSORPTION COEFFICIENTS

Magnetobremsstrahlung (MBS) emission and absorption play a role in many astronomical systems. We describe a general numerical scheme for evaluating MBS emission and absorption coefficients for both polarized and unpolarized light in a plasma with a general distribution function. Along the way we provide an accurate scheme for evaluating Bessel functions of high order. We use our scheme to evaluate the accuracy of earlier fitting formulae and approximations. We also provide an accurate fitting formula for mildly relativistic (kT /(mec 2 ) 0.5) thermal electron emission (and therefore absorption). Our scheme is too slow, at present, for direct use in radiative transfer calculations but will be useful for anyone seeking to fit emission or absorption coefficients in a particular regime.
Mechanical Relaxations in Mixed Alkali Silicate Glasses: II, Discussion

The internal friction of mixed Li-Na, Li-K, Li-Rb, Li-Cs, Na-K, Na-Rb, Na-Cs, and K-Rb silicate glasses is interpreted on the basis of the various explanations proposed for the mixed alkali effect. A direct correlation was found between the mechanical loss peak due to the stress-induced movement of the alkali ions, i.e. the alkali peak, and the electrical loss properties. The large mechanical loss peak appearing when the alkalis are mixed was attributed to an interaction between dissimilar alkali ions such that an elastic dipole is formed. The absence of a comparable electrical loss peak was interpreted as indicating that the elastic dipole is electrically inactive. In glasses containing equimolar quantities of two alkalis, the activation energy and height of the new loss peak, i.e. the mixed peak, were more closely related to the size difference than to the mass difference of the alkali ions.
Mindful attention reduces neural and self-reported cue-induced craving in smokers

An emerging body of research suggests that mindfulness-based interventions may be beneficial for smoking cessation and the treatment of other addictive disorders. One way that mindfulness may facilitate smoking cessation is through the reduction of craving to smoking cues. The present work considers whether mindful attention can reduce self-reported and neural markers of cue-induced craving in treatment seeking smokers. Forty-seven (n ¼ 47) meditation-nal ¤ve treatment-seeking smokers (12-h abstinent from smoking) viewed and made ratings of smoking and neutral images while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Participants were trained and instructed to view these images passively or with mindful attention. Results indicated that mindful attention reduced self-reported craving to smoking images, and reduced neural activity in a craving-related region of subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC). Moreover, a psychophysiological interaction analysis revealed that mindful attention reduced functional connectivity between sgACC and other craving-related regions compared to passively viewing smoking images, suggesting that mindfulness may decouple craving neurocircuitry when viewing smoking
Field oriented control of synchronous reluctance machine

Control strategies, practical implementation and performance issues related to field-oriented control of synchronous reluctance motors are presented. In particular, a speed invariant current controller, variable d-q current limit and variable speed loop gain are proposed. Excellent control performance is shown to be possible, which indicates that synchronous reluctance motors can be suitably applied to high performance drive systems. >
Digital SQUIDs: new definitions and results

Recently we found that several simple SFQ circuits (normally used as ADC comparators) dramatically outperform conventional SQUIDs in time resolution and slew rate. For example, it is possible to reach a resolution of about a few percent of flux quantum by using a single-shot measurement that takes only a few picoseconds. All these SFQ circuits produce during each clock period only one bit of information that indicates whether the applied flux is larger or smaller the threshold. As a result it is natural to call them digital (or logic) SQUIDs. The new sensors can be used to detect a direction of the electrical current induced in a superconductor loop by the external field and digitally compensated by another SFQ devices. This composite device contains two kinds of digital components and also could be called a Digital SQUID. It has a limited practical value with a hundreds MHz clock rate. Fortunately, the clock frequency could be increased to tens of GHz. But in this case the third digital device (a decimation filter) should be added to filter out off-band noise and reduce the output clock frequency. The last device is rather similar to an ADC and also could be called a Digital SQUID. It is easy to show that the last Digital SQUID has a practically unlimited slew rate and dynamic range without suffering significant loss of energy sensitivity of the conventional two-junction SQUID.
Self-Selection Bias In On-Line Accounting Courses: Student Characteristics

Over the past several years one of my responsibilities as a faculty member of the State University of New York Institute of Technology has been to teach both graduate and undergraduate classes over the internet via the SUNY Learning Network (SLN). Although the work load for a faculty member teaching an on-line course can be substantial, there is evidence that there are unexpected rewards in terms of the caliber of the students who takes such courses. Although the characteristics of the students comprising the initial enrollment of the class mirror those of standard “in-person” classes, there seems to be substantial initial attrition among those students who are less motivated to devote the necessary time to the study of the material. Additionally, the additional responsibility for “active learning” on the part of students appears to motivate many students to a higher level of effort. This paper provides evidence via ex-post and a-priori surveys, as well as through an analysis of the students’ final grades, that there is a self-selection bias among students that can lead to an overall increase in the caliber of the on-line class relative to the conventional on-campus class.
Global bending response of composite sandwich plates with corrugated core. Part II: Effect of laminate construction

Abstract Global bending response of simply supported composite sandwich plates with corrugated core was studied using carbon fiber reinforced epoxy laminates in both face plates and inclined webs in the corrugated core. Two different laminate constructions were considered, namely [0/ α ] S and [± α ] S and the fiber orientation angle was varied from 0° to 90°. Sandwich plate geometric parameters, such as face thickness, pitch and face center distance were maintained constant, but the web inclination was varied from a triangular configuration to a square configuration. The web thickness was varied with web inclination angle so that the sandwich plates had the same cross-sectional area and, therefore the same mass. This allowed a direct comparison between different laminate constructions for each web inclination angle. It was shown that for the same mass, the maximum deflection under a distributed load depends on both the web inclination angle and the laminate construction. It is significantly higher with the [± α ] S construction than with the [0/ α ] S construction. For both laminate constructions, the largest maximum deflection occurs at a web inclination angle of 48°, which can be attributed to the combined effect of the transverse shear stiffness components.
Smarter than We Look: Review of 'The Confidence Trap' by David Runciman

Review of "The Democracy Trap" by David Runciman. Readers may be confused about the purpose of David Runciman's book, The Confidence Trap. The title suggests a critique of the world's established democracies. "I believe we are in trouble," Runciman says in the preface. The established democracies face several fundamental challenges, and "it is not clear that [they] are doing well in meeting any of them." On close inspection, though, Runciman's apprehensions prove to be overstated -- and what is left is a muted but still positive appraisal of democratic governance.
Abstract 75: Nrf2 Mediates the Antioxidant Effect of D2r Via Dj-1 in the Kidney

Renal dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) dysfunction is associated with increased oxidative stress and high blood pressure. We have reported that DJ-1 is regulated by D2R in the kidney. Nrf2 is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of several antioxidant genes. We hypothesize that Nrf2 is involved in the DJ-1-mediated regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the kidney. DJ-1 and Nrf2 co-inmunoprecipitate in mouse kidney. Selective renal silencing of D2R in mice by the renal subcapsular infusion of D2R siRNA (~50%) decreases Nrf2 expression (63.4%±3.4, n=7, P<0.05), and silencing of D2R expression in mouse proximal tubule cells (mRPTCs) decrease Nrf2 promoter activity (53±2%, n=5, P<0.05). Silencing DJ-1 expression in mRPTCs, via siRNA, decreases the expression of DJ-1 (75±4.5%, n=4, P<0.05), Nrf2 (63.2±6%, n=3, P<0.05), NQO1 (71±1%, n=3, P<0.05), and GST Yc-2 (42±1%, n=4, P<0.05) and Nrf2 promoter activity (58±1%, n=5, P<0.05). Selective renal silencing of DJ-1 in mice by renal subcapsular infusion of DJ-1 siRNA decreases expression of DJ-1 (31±2.6%, n=3, P<0.05), Nrf2 (57±7.9%,n=3, P<0.05), NQO1 (46±9.3%, n=3, P<0.05) and GST Yc2 (28±2.2%, n=3, P<0.05) and increases blood pressure (BP). DJ-1-/- mice also have increased systolic BP (30.7±1%, P<0.01, n=5 under anesthesia) and renal expression of nitro-tyrosine (76.8±13.5%, P<0.05, n=5), and decreases the expression of Nrf2 (46.8±6.8%, n=5, P<0.05) and NQO1 (19.4±2.7%, n=5, P<0.05). Silencing Nrf2 expression mRPTCs via siRNA decreases the expression of Nrf2 (34±1.8%, n=4, P<0.05), NQO1 (29.1±0.5%, n=4, P<0.05), and increases Nox2 (137±23.7%, n=4, P<0.05), but the expression of Nox4 and DJ-1 are not affected. Quinpirole a D2R agonist, does not modify the expression of Nrf2, NQO1, GST Yc-2, and Nrf2 promoter activity in MPCTS. However, in the presence of H2O2, quinpirole increases Nrf2 promoter activity (220±58.4%, n=5, P<0.05) and an effect that is blocked by pretreatment with D2R antagonist L741,626. Therefore, the inhibitory effect of DJ-1 on renal ROS production is, in part, mediated by positive regulation of Nrf2. Moreover, D2R and DJ-1 are necessary for normal Nrf2 activity to keep a normal redox balance in the kidney.
The brave new world of services-led growth

Two important trends will strongly influence growth in emerging economies: one is the increasing role of services as drivers displacing manufacturing that has hitherto been the principal engine of growth in advanced and developing economies alike; the second is the parallel rise of trade in services both directly and embodied in products. The paper shows how the competitiveness and profitability of firms is becoming closely linked to the quality and innovativeness of services, and how the bundling of services with manufactures is the key to earning high returns over the longer term. Between 25 and 40 percent of value added in manufacturing is now in the form of services with high-end manufacturing becoming increasingly services-intensive. The future therefore, seems to lie in the cultivation of product-services systems that harness the full potential of manufacturing and associated pre- and post-production services such as design, R&D, marketing, and post-sale maintenance, especially of sophisticated equi...
A Simple Bearing Capacity Equation

The bearing capacity of a shallow foundation is usually assessed by applying various correction factors to the classical three-term bearing capacity equation. Correction factors are typically included to account for foundation shape and embedment, load inclination and eccentricity, and the inclination of the foundation base. However, the bearing capacity depends on the evaluation of the bearing capacity factors N γ , N q and N c , which differ depending on the source consulted (e.g., Terzaghi, Meyerhof, Hansen or Vesic). Unfortunately, there have been very few full scale tests that have documented the accuracy of such equations causing considerable uncertainty in the mind of the practicing engineer. In addition, complicating factors lead to confusion regarding the meaning and application of the assessed bearing capacity. Such factors include the choice of total or effective stress strength parameters, the use of direct shear, triaxial or plane strain friction angle for cohesionless material, the effect of confining pressure variation in different zones of the failure mass on the friction angle, and the effect of apparent cohesion, particularly in the interpretation of plate load test results. The following paper provides discussion and illustration of these various matters, including the introduction of a simple bearing capacity equation that can also a yield load-settlement response.
High-Throughput Measurements of Thermochromic Behavior in V1–xNbxO2 Combinatorial Thin Film Libraries

We describe a high-throughput characterization of near-infrared thermochromism in V1–xNbxO2 combinatorial thin film libraries. The oxide thin film library was prepared with a VO2 crystal structure and a continuous gradient in composition with Nb concentrations in the range of less than 1% to 45%. The thermochromic phase transition from monoclinic to tetragonal was characterized by the accompanying change in near-infrared reflectance. With increasing Nb substitution, the transition temperature was depressed from 65 to 35 °C, as desirable for smart window applications. However, the magnitude of the reflectance change across the thermochromic transition was also reduced with increasing Nb film content. Data collection, handling, and analysis supporting thermochromic characterization were fully automated to achieve high throughput. Using this system, in 14 h, temperature-dependent infrared reflectances were measured at 165 arbitrary locations on a thin film combinatorial library; these measurements were analy...
Real-Time-Monitoring of the Synthesis of β-NaYF4:17% Yb,3% Er Nanocrystals Using NIR-to-Visible Upconversion Luminescence

In situ real-time monitoring of upconversion emission is applied to study the reaction mechanism for the synthesis of β-NaYF4:17% Yb,3% Er nanoparticles in oleic acid and octadecene via the heat-up method. Transmission electron microscopy is used to correlate the spectroscopic signature of the reaction mixture with its composition. The power of real-time spectroscopic monitoring to precisely time the duration of the various stages of the reaction, and to accurately identify the transitions between those stages, including the completion of the reaction, is demonstrated. During the heat-up stage, the initial precipitate present is transformed into small α-phase nanoparticles. In the second and longest stage of the reaction, a period of relative stasis is maintained, during which there is at most a slight change in the size distribution of the α-phase nanoparticles formed during heat-up. In the third stage, a relatively rapid conversion of small α-phase nanoparticles to the larger β-phase product nanoparticl...
Limited School Drinking Water Access for Youth.

Abstract Purpose Providing children and youth with safe, adequate drinking water access during school is essential for health. This study used objectively measured data to investigate the extent to which schools provide drinking water access that meets state and federal policies. Methods We visited 59 middle and high schools in Massachusetts during spring 2012. Trained research assistants documented the type, location, and working condition of all water access points throughout each school building using a standard protocol. School food service directors (FSDs) completed surveys reporting water access in cafeterias. We evaluated school compliance with state plumbing codes and federal regulations and compared FSD self-reports of water access with direct observation; data were analyzed in 2014. Results On average, each school had 1.5 (standard deviation: .6) water sources per 75 students; 82% (standard deviation: 20) were functioning and fewer (70%) were both clean and functioning. Less than half of the schools met the federal Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act requirement for free water access during lunch; 18 schools (31%) provided bottled water for purchase but no free water. Slightly over half (59%) met the Massachusetts state plumbing code. FSDs overestimated free drinking water access compared to direct observation (96% FSD reported vs. 48% observed, kappa = .07, p = .17). Conclusions School drinking water access may be limited. In this study, many schools did not meet state or federal policies for minimum student drinking water access. School administrative staff may not accurately report water access. Public health action is needed to increase school drinking water access.
Inhibition of sperm motility does not affect live-dead separation of bull sperm by glass beads.

AIM This study was designed to explore factors which influence binding of dead versus live sperm to glass filters. METHODS Multiple semen collections from bulls were used to explore selective filtration of bull sperm as influenced by nonlethal inhibition of sperm motility with fluoride, killing of sperm by quick-freezing, alteration of the glass surface with silicone, and different intervals of sexual rest between semen collections. RESULTS A comparison of glass spheres 100, 200 and 390 microm in diameter indicated that 200 microm spheres were optimal for selective filtration. Quantitative separation of live from dead sperm was demonstrated with a correlation between the percentage of motile sperm and retention of sperm by the filter of r = -0.87 (P < 0.05). Up to 0.02 mol/L NaFl did not alter the proportion of sperm retained by the filter despite inhibiting sperm motility during filtration, an inhibition which was reversible. Proportions of live-dead sperm, based upon eosin staining, were unaffected by fluoride. Coating the glass spheres with silicone greatly reduced selective filtration. Dead sperm adherence to glass was reduced and resistance to NaFl inhibition was increased by daily ejaculation versus one-week intervals of sexual rest. CONCLUSION These studies indicate that the adherence of sperm to glass is primarily due to some form of physico-chemical change accompanying death of the sperm cell independent of active sperm motility. This attraction between the sperm plasma membrane and glass is modified by the age of the ejaculated sperm. This information is useful in evaluating different clinical procedures used for sperm separation.
Polyphenols and Aging

Abstract Our understanding of aging is constantly evolving, but there is great interest in using polyphenol organic compounds to modify or retard the aging process. Several polyphenols augment the lifespan of multiple invertebrate and vertebrate species, in higher organisms in the presence of dietary modification. Polyphenols may influence aging by acting on genes in energy-regulatory intracellular pathways that are believed to play important roles in the aging process. In addition, or together with this process, polyphenols may alter concentrations of reactive oxygen species, the Klotho gene, transcription factors, and act via epigenetic mechanisms. Polyphenols may also modulate organ systems through their effect on intercellular signaling molecules including nitrous oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Many unanswered questions remain, including the optimal forms to use, endpoints to study, and how to tackle the problem of limited bioavailability. Newer forms of computer-based genetic and molecular analyses may assist in the selection of appropriate targets for study.
Fertility drugs and ovarian cancer: red alert or red herring?

Whittemore and colleagues from the Collaborative Ovarian Cancer Group (COCG) have published a combined analysis of three epidemiologic studies of the association between ovarian cancer and the use of fertility drugs.
Parasites and sexual selection: separating causes and effects

Hamilton and Zuk proposed a novel good genes mechanism of female choice based on heritable variation in resistance to parasites as indicated by male ornaments or showiness. This process predicts that (1) among different species, parasite levels should correlate with showiness, and (2) within any one species, males preferred by females should have low parasite burdens and exaggerated ornaments. A series of reports primarily assessing the second prediction provides evidence largely consistent with the Hamilton and Zuk mechanism. Unfortunately, this evidence does not exclude other possible processes of female choice. Future studies will need to address (1) the precise nature of the relationship between ornament development and parasite burdens independent of overall effects on host viability from parasites, (2) whether resistance to the parasites affecting ornament development is heritable, and (3) how host-parasite genotypes coevolve.
Conclusions and Current Research

This chapter describes our conclusions and directions of current research. We first discuss what we have learned in the course of this research. We then discuss how this research has contributed to the field of yield modeling and simulation. We then discuss how this work is being extended to improve simulator performance, use new analysis techniques, and how local and global defects can both be combined in one simulator.
Parent and Clinician Preferences for an Asthma App to Promote Adolescent Self-Management: A Formative Study

Background: Most youth asthma apps are not designed with parent and clinician use in mind, and rarely is the app development process informed by parent or clinician input. Objective: This study was conducted to generate formative data on the use, attitudes, and preferences for asthma mHealth app features among parents and clinicians, the important stakeholders who support adolescents with asthma and promote adolescent self-management skills. Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods study from 2013 to 2014 employing a user-centered design philosophy to acquire feedback from a convenience sample of 20 parents and 6 clinicians. Participants were given an iPod Touch and asked to evaluate 10 features on 2 existing asthma apps. Participant experiences using the apps were collected from questionnaires and a thematic analysis of audio-recorded and transcribed (verbatim) interviews using MAXQDA. Descriptive statistics were calculated to characterize the study sample and app feature feedback. Independent samples t tests were performed to compare parent and clinician ratings of app feature usefulness (ratings: 1=not at all useful to 5=very useful). Results: All parents were female (n=20), 45% were black, 20% had an income ≥US $50,000, and 45% had a bachelor’s degree or higher education. The clinician sample included 2 nurses and 4 physicians with a mean practice time of 13 years. Three main themes provided an understanding of how participants perceived their roles and use of asthma app features to support adolescent asthma self-management: monitoring and supervision, education, and communication/information sharing. Parents rated the doctor report feature highest, and clinicians rated the doctor appointment reminder highest of all evaluated app features on usefulness. The peak flow monitoring feature was the lowest ranked feature by both parents and clinicians. Parents reported higher usefulness for the doctor report (t(10)=2.7, P<.02), diary (t(10)=2.7, P<.03), and self-check quiz (t(14)=2.5, P<.02) features than clinicians. Specific participant suggestions for app enhancements (eg, a tutorial showing correct inhaler use, refill reminders, pop-up messages tied to a medication log, evidence-based management steps) were also provided. Conclusions: Parent and clinician evaluations and recommendations can play an important role in the development of an asthma app designed to help support youth asthma management. Two-way asthma care communication between families and clinicians and components involving families and clinicians that support adolescent self-management should be incorporated into adolescent asthma apps. [JMIR Res Protoc 2016;5(4):e229]
Are There Disparities in Transplant-Related Morbidity and Mortality after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant: An Institution-Based Analysis of Autologous and Allogeneic Transplant Recipients

Background: Previous national data demonstrate racial/ethnic survival disparities among hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. It is unclear, however, if these disparities persist in large academic settings. Therefore, we sought to investigate racial/ethnic transplant-related mortality and morbidity disparities after autologous and allogeneic transplant in our single-institution major transplant center, adjusting for the influence of patient factors, clinical factors, insurance type, and neighborhood socioeconomic status. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients who received a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (autologous and allogeneic) at Stanford University during the years of 1998-2012. Kaplan Meier method predicted survival by race/ethnicity stratified by transplant type. Cox proportional hazard models estimated mortality and transplant-related morbidity (graft-versus host disease for allogeneic transplant recipients) adjusted by demographic (age, gender, race/ethnicity), clinical (diagnosis, year of transplant, treatment regimen), and socioeconomic (insurance, neighborhood socioeconomic status) factors. Results: There were a total of 3,407 patients included in the analysis who received a hematopoietic stem cell transplant during the years of study. Unadjusted Kaplan Meier Curves showed a statistically significant improved survival for Hispanics and Asian/Pacific Islander (API) patients compared with NWH allogeneic transplant recipients (p = 0.01), however, there were no differences in survival for allogeneic transplant recipients by race/ethnicity (p=0.77). Cox proportional hazard models, among autologous transplant recipients, after adjustment for demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic status factors, demonstrated an increased mortality for API patients compared with non-Hispanic white (NHW) patients (HR 1.25 95% CI (1.01-1.57). Non-Hispanic black (NHB) had an equivalent mortality and Hispanics had a non-statistically significant mortality compared with NHW populations (HR 0.97 95% CI (0.69-1.35); HR 0.82 95% CI (0.61-1.10), respectively). Among allogeneic transplant recipients, we found no mortality disparities by race/ethnicity in fully adjusted models. However, we found transplant-related morbidity disparities with an increased odds of graft-versus-host disease among API recipients compared with NHW recipients. (OR 1.57; 95% CI (1.06-2.31)). Conclusions: After adjustment for individual, clinical, socioeconomic and insurance status factors, we found increased mortality after autologous transplant and a higher odds of treatment-related morbidity after allogeneic transplant among API patients compared with other racial/ethnic groups. The worse outcomes among these groups despite equal access to post-transplant related care in our institution requires further investigation. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Sex differences in the development of emotion circuitry in adolescents at risk for substance abuse: a longitudinal fMRI study.

There is substantial evidence for behavioral sex differences in risk trajectories for alcohol and substance use, with internalizing factors such as negative affectivity contributing more to female risk. Because the neural development of emotion circuitry varies between males and females across adolescence, it represents a potential mechanism by which underlying neurobiology contributes to risk for substance use. Longitudinal functional magnetic resonance imaging was conducted in males and females (n = 18 each) with a family history of alcohol use disorders starting at ages 8-13 years. Participants performed an affective word task during functional magnetic resonance imaging at 1- to 2-year intervals, covering the age range of 8.5-17.6 years (3-4 scans per participant). Significant age-related sex differences were found in the right amygdala and right precentral gyrus for the negative vs neutral word condition. Males showed a significant decrease in both amygdala and precentral gyrus activation with age, whereas the response in females persisted. The subjective experience of internalizing symptomatology significantly increased with age for females but not for males. Taken together, these results reveal sex differences in negative affect processing in at-risk adolescents, and offer longitudinal neural evidence for female substance use risk through internalizing pathways.
Motionless volumetric photoacoustic microscopy with spatially invariant resolution.

Photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) is uniquely positioned for biomedical applications because of its ability to visualize optical absorption contrast in vivo in three dimensions. Here we propose motionless volumetric spatially invariant resolution photoacoustic microscopy (SIR-PAM). To realize motionless volumetric imaging, SIR-PAM combines two-dimensional Fourier-spectrum optical excitation with single-element depth-resolved photoacoustic detection. To achieve spatially invariant lateral resolution, propagation-invariant sinusoidal fringes are generated by a digital micromirror device. Further, SIR-PAM achieves 1.5 times finer lateral resolution than conventional PAM. The superior performance was demonstrated in imaging both inanimate objects and animals in vivo with a resolution-invariant axial range of 1.8 mm, 33 times the depth of field of the conventional PAM counterpart. Our work opens new perspectives for PAM in biomedical sciences.
Methane-driven microbial fuel cells recover energy and mitigate dissolved methane emissions from anaerobic effluents

The effluents of mainstream anaerobic treatment processes such as anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) contain dissolved methane that represents a large fraction of the available energy (approximately 50% at 15 °C) and a significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emission if released to the atmosphere. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which rely on exoelectrogenic microorganisms to generate electricity from organic or inorganic matter, could be used to recover energy and prevent GHG emissions from dissolved methane. Two replicate air-cathode, single-chamber MFCs and one dual-chamber MFC were constructed and operated in continuous mode on a synthetic, methane-saturated medium at 20 °C and hydraulic retention times of 4, 8, and 16 h. Up to 85% dissolved methane removal was achieved, resulting in the generation of 0.55 ± 0.06 V. Geobacter, a common exoelectrogen, and methanotrophs were identified in anode biofilm samples by Illumina sequencing targeting the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and 16 rRNA gene. Activity quantification of key microbial populations via reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) indicated that methane removal and voltage production results from a consortium of aerobic methanotrophs enriched in a cathode biofilm that produce intermediate metabolites (e.g., formate and acetate) that serve as substrates for Geobacter in the anode biofilm.
Electropolishing of Thin Metal Foils

It has been almost a quarter of a century since Heidenreich (1) successfully thinned aluminum metal for transmission electron microscopy via electropolishing. His original apparatus is depicted in Figure 1 and some of his early advice on electro-thinning is also given as Figure 1. Since 1948, much has been done in this area using varied techniques with different polishing appliances. In recent years so much has been done that there now exists much confusion for the young researcher.
Hydroxymethylation of the benzene ring: IV. p-hydroxymethyl-l-phenylalanine, a naturally occurring amino acid in Escherichia coli: Identification and biochemical properties

Abstract It is proven that p- hydroxymethyl- l -phenylalanine is a naturally occurring amino acid in Escherichia coli 9723. Furthermore the following sequence of metabolic reactions occur in this organism: l -Tyr ← l -Phe ⇆ p- Hydroxymethyl- l -phenylalanine → l -Tyr
The probability density function of SINR loss of the dominant mode rejection beamformer

The dominant mode rejection (DMR) adaptive beamformer (ABF) is a reduced rank subspace algorithm, which replaces the covariance matrix in the Minimum Variance Distortionless Response (MVDR) beamformer with an eigenvalue reshaped covariance estimate out of the sample covariance matrix (SCM). Signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) loss quantifies the performance of an ABF designed with SCM with respect to its nominal version designed with the true ensemble covariance matrix (ECM). This paper conjectures that the SINR loss of the DMR beamformer is beta-distributed, derives and provides an approximated expression for the beta probability density function. For the simple case of single interferer present in white noise, the performance of the DMR beamformer only depends on the number of snapshots. Monte-Carlo simulations are carried out to verify our derived results.
Quantitative Brain Tissue Oximetry, Phase Spectroscopy and Imaging the Range of Homeostasis in Piglet Brain

The quantification of tissue oxygen by frequency or time domain methods has been discussed in a number of prior publications where the meaning of the tissue hemoglobin oxygen saturation was unclear and where the CW instruments were unsuitable for proper quantitative measurements [1, 2]. The development of the IQ Phase Meter has greatly simplified and made reliable the difficult determination of precise phase and amplitude signals from brain. This contribution reports on the calibration of the instrument in model systems and the use of the instrument to measure tissue saturation (StO2) in a small animal model. In addition, a global interpretation of the meaning of tissue oxygen has been formulated based on the idea that autoregulation will maintain tissue oxygen at a fixed value over a range of arterial and venous oxygen values over the range of autoregulation. Beyond that range, the tissue oxygen is still correctly measured but, as expected, approaches the arterial saturation at low metabolic rates and the venous saturation at high metabolic rates of mitochondria.
A framework for integrating optimization and constraint programming

This talk begins with a description of the modeling and computational advantages that can be obtained by combining optimization and constraint programming in a principled way. It then presents a framework for integration based on three elements: a search-infer-and-relax algorithmic paradigm, a unifying theory of duality, and the use of metaconstraints (a generalization of global constraints) for modeling. Inference techniques from constraint programming and relaxation techniques from mathematical programming are combined in both branch-and-relax search and constraint-based (nogood-based) search. The talk illustrates these ideas with examples in freight shipment, employee scheduling, continuous global optimization, airline crew scheduling, the propositional satisfiability problem, and multiple machine scheduling.
Fabrication of Sub-0.1 μm Fine Metal Lines Using High Resolution Electron Beam Techniques with Contamination Resist

Along with the interest in decreasing the size of the devices used in microelectronics, there is also a great deal of interest in determining the physical properties of these small devices and, in particular, the properties of the fine metal lines used in them. These fine metal lines are already known to exhibit many interesting physical properties in their own right such as Josephson effects and electron localization. Many new techniques and processes are necessary in order to fabricate and test fine metal lines with thicknesses of about 10 to 30 nm and with linewidths less than 0.1 μm. Experiments to develop such techniques are in themselves very useful in extending our knowledge of the limits of present day lithography and in discovering the physical processes that may limit the density and complexity of the structures used in future large scale integrated circuits. The main fabrication processes described in this paper utilize high resolution electron beam techniques, thin (window)substrates and contamination resist in addition to a variety of thin film fabrication processes. In addition to forming single fine lines, more complex patterns such as multi-voltage probe samples, bridge SQUIDS and circular loops can be fabricated using these techniques. Many other patterns are also possible, demonstrating the versatility of electron beam writing. It is worth emphasizing that, in addition to its use in the fabrication of the fine lines, electron microscopy, both transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM), is also used extensively in the examination and evaluation of the fine metal lines. Other techniques2 for fine line fabrication such edge shadowing are discussed in the references and elsewhere in these proceedings.
INSTRUMENTS AND TECHNIQUES FOR INVESTIGATING NASALIZATION AND VELOPHARYNGEAL FUNCTION IN THE LABORATORY: AN INTRODUCTION

Publisher Summary Speech research in the laboratory can take many forms depending, in part, on the level or levels of speech organization one wishes to study. One can study the activity of muscles controlling articulator movement, the movements themselves, the aerodynamic conditions set up by the various movements, their acoustic consequences, and the impact of the acoustic signal on the listener. This chapter describes a variety of instruments and techniques that can be used to study nasalization at various levels in the speech production process. It focuses on the research methods that can be used to study nasalization and velopharnygeal function, and methods for studying nasalization with physiological, aerodynamic, and acoustic data; that is, speech production research. Of the techniques described in the chapter, only X rays pose a known health risk, and this risk has been drastically reduced with the development of X-ray microbeam technology. Some techniques are more conducive to the combined study of different articulatory subsystems than are others, and this is often an important consideration in an experimenter's choice of instrumentation.