cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patient and counselor satisfaction with structured contraceptive counseling by health center staff in federally qualified health centers.

Abstract Objectives To characterize patient and counselor satisfaction with structured, tier-based contraceptive counseling provided by a nonclinician. Study Design We conducted a planned secondary analysis of patient and counselor surveys from a study that enrolled women in 2 contraceptive care programs. All participants received structured contraceptive counseling from trained staff members. Women and counselors completed a confidential post-visit survey regarding satisfaction with counseling and medical mistrust. We used univariate and multivariable regressions to examine differences in high satisfaction with counseling (top score), perceived counselor influence, and perceived counselor judgment by participant characteristics. Results Nine hundred forty-two participants completed surveys; most reported they felt respected (100.0%), trusted the counseling information (99.5%), and that counseling helped them choose a contraceptive method (83.8%). Black race, high school education, public insurance, an income below the federal poverty level, and enrollment site were associated with high medical mistrust. Participants with high medical mistrust were less likely to be highly satisfied with counseling (adjusted relative risk (RR) 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63–0.82), more likely to perceive influence (RR 1.77; 95% CI 1.37–2.28), and more likely to perceive judgment (adjusted odds ratio 8.91; 95% CI 3.61–22.01). Mostly, counselors felt they were able to answer participant questions (98.8%), establish good rapport (95.9%), and that participants understood the information presented (98.0%). Conclusions Overall, participants were satisfied with tier-based contraceptive counseling delivered by nonclinician staff members. Those with high levels of medical mistrust were less likely to be satisfied. The majority of women found the information beneficial in contraceptive decision making. Implications Overall, women reported high satisfaction with tier-based contraceptive counseling delivered by a nonclinician in 3 federally qualified health centers. However, women with high medical mistrust were less likely to report high levels of satisfaction and more likely to report perceived influence or judgment from the counselor.
Robust Controller Synthesis and Analysis in Inverter-Dominant Droop-Controlled Islanded Microgrids

This work investigates the problem of controller design for the inverters in an islanded microgrid. Robust $\mu$ -synthesis controllers and local droop controllers are designed to regulate the output voltages of inverters and share power among them, respectively. The designed controllers alleviate the need for additional sensors to measure the states of the system by relying only on output feedback. It is shown that the designed $\mu$ -synthesis controller properly damps resonant oscillations, and its performance is robust to the control-loop time delay and parameter uncertainties. The stability of a droop-controlled islanded microgrid including multiple distributed generation (DG) units is analyzed by linearizing the nonlinear power flow model around the nominal operating point and applying theorems from linear algebra. It is indicated that the droop controller stabilizes the microgrid system with dominantly inductive tie-line impedances for all values of resistive-inductive loads, while for the case of resistive-capacitive loads the stability is conditioned on an upper bound on the load susceptances. The robust performance of the designed $\mu$ -synthesis controller is studied analytically, compared with the similar analysis in an $H_{\infty}$ control (benchmark) framework, and verified by simulations for a four DG benchmark microgrid. Furthermore, the robustness of the droop controllers is analyzed by Monte Carlo simulations in the presence of local voltage fluctuations and phase differences among neighboring DGs.
Expanding Universal Dependencies for Polysynthetic Languages: A Case of St. Lawrence Island Yupik

This paper describes the development of the first Universal Dependencies (UD) treebank for St. Lawrence Island Yupik, an endangered language spoken in the Bering Strait region. While the UD guidelines provided a general framework for our annotations, language-specific decisions were made necessary by the rich morphology of the polysynthetic language. Most notably, we annotated a corpus at the morpheme level as well as the word level. The morpheme level annotation was conducted using an existing morphological analyzer and manual disambiguation. By comparing the two resulting annotation schemes, we argue that morpheme-level annotation is essential for polysynthetic languages like St. Lawrence Island Yupik. Word-level annotation results in degenerate trees for some Yupik sentences and often fails to capture syntactic relations that can be manifested at the morpheme level. Dependency parsing experiments provide further support for morpheme-level annotation. Implications for UD annotation of other polysynthetic languages are discussed.
IT AGE AND FUTURE TRENDS

The Internet and Educational Technologies have evolved dramatically during the last decade. These technologies promote development of the future generation of the Ubiquitous Internet access to educational resources, omnipresent Web2-3 technologies and ultimate automated information cyberspace. The current Information Technologies bring close academic and research communities from all over the world and help to create the centre of academic excellence worldwide. The current research and development in the areas of Next Generation of Internet and Telecommunications Technologies combined with educational technologies such as CMAP Tools, WebCT, etc., promotes formation of inter-disciplinary international teams of experts, scientists, researchers and engineers to create a new generation of applications and technologies that will facilitate the fully-automated educational environment and information cyberspace systems. Author will present his vision on trends in Education with Future-Net, as well as Fully-Automated-Home in tomorrow’s world. The author discusses a brief historical account, the current state of the art in the world of Engineering Education, Telecommunications and Internet Technologies, new technological trends directions in the Internet and Automation Industries, Ubiquity, Convergence, as well as the concept of the Fully-automated Home, 2006 Web Report with the Microsoft project on Easy Living, while promoting research and development in the interdisciplinary projects conducting by multinational team world-wide. Author believes that engineering educators and technology maker should work together and prepare foundation for the future level of engineering education that would reflect the Future-Net.
Using German Vocabulary

This textbook provides a comprehensive and thematically structured vocabulary for students of German. Designed for all but the very beginning levels of undergraduate study, it offers a broad range of vocabulary, and is divided into 20 manageable units dealing with the physical, social, cultural, economic, and political world. The word lists are graded into three levels that reflect difficulty and likely usefulness, and are accompanied by extensive exercises and activities, designed to reinforce work done with the lists, and to increase students' competence in using the vocabulary. Suitable for both classroom teaching and private study, the exercises also make use of authentic German texts, enabling students to work with the vocabulary in context. Clearly organized and accessible, Using German Vocabulary is designed to meet the needs of a variety of courses at multiple stages of any undergraduate programme.
Playing doctor with teacher preparation: An examination of rounds as a socializing practice for preservice teachers

Abstract In this article, we consider how rounds, as organizational routines, work to socialize new teachers into the profession and how rounds function to conserve or transform the practice of teaching. To do so, we analyze data on three cohorts of preservice teachers’ participation in rounds as part of their student teaching experience in a university-based preparation program. We highlight aspects of the rounds routine that make room for the possibility of transformation of practice. We conclude by considering how teacher educators can enact rounds in ways that contribute to new teachers’ growth and development as reflective, inquiry-minded practitioners while being aware of the hidden curriculum and socializing capacity of rounds.
Fractographic analysis of delayed failure in ceramics

Fracture surfaces of bars of glass and ceramics that failed after time under constant load were compared with those generated in rapid failure experiments. For each material, the relationship between the fracture stress, a, and the fracture mirror radii, r i (σr 1 / 2 1 = a constant), was the same for rapid and delayed failure. The ratio of the mirror radius to the critical flaw size for delayed failure is a constant equal to that found previously for rapid failure. However, the ratio of the fractured mirror radius to the initial flaw size increased with increasing time under load due to the growth of the fracture-initiating flaw from the original size to the "critical" size before catastrophic failure. Slow crack growth in several polycrystalline ceramics occurred primarily by intergranular fracture, whereas primarily transgranular fracture occurred during rapid crack propagation. Thus, the boundary between subcritical and catastrophic flaw growth can be quite distinct. The fracture mechanics analysis presented in this paper relates the time under load to the ratio of the mirrorand the initial flaw dimensions. Thisanalysis gives good agreement with most experimental observations.
Decline and homogenization of Pacific faunas: the land snails of American Samoa☆

Native Pacific island biotas are disappearing rapidly. Among these native biotas the land snails are especially recognized not only for their high diversity and high levels of endemism but also for being under severe threat, with many species already extinct. Many non-indigenous snail species are being introduced, leading to a homogenization of land snail faunas across the Pacific. Field survey work in American Samoa in 1998 recorded 19 of the 42 previously known native land snail species, 11 of the 12 alien species, and three of the six cryptogenic (unknown origin) species previously known from American Samoa. Eight species were recorded from American Samoa for the first time: three described species that are presumed to be native, four non-indigenous species; and one cryptogenic species. Two undescribed and presumed endemic species were discovered, as was one unidentified and perhaps undescribed species. One species, previously thought to be extinct was rediscovered, although in very small numbers. The known island by island distributions of 11 species (five native, five alien, one cryptogenic) were extended. Comparisons with surveys undertaken predominantly in the 1920s and 1930s, 1975, and 1992 showed that: the majority of native species are declining; some native species may be stable or even increasing, with one species abundant; only seven of the non-indigenous and cryptogenic species are declining or probably declining, while six are increasing, and for others no trend was assessed; some non-indigenous species are extremely abundant. Threats to the fauna include: alien predators, predominantly rats and predatory snails introduced in attempts to control the giant African snail; possible competitors, including non-indigenous snail species; invasive plants and habitat modification; development, including recreational, agricultural, and domestic/urban development. A review should be undertaken of the IUCN and US Fish and Wildlife Service listings of endangered land snail species in American Samoa.
Automated element-wise reasoning with sets

Operational reasoning with sets is important for software engineering methods like B or Z and a longstanding challenge in automated deduction. A proof-search procedure for atomic distributive lattices is presented that captures an interesting fragment of set theory. In contrast to a previous procedure [21], atomicity is extensively used. This yields short and confined expressions and inference rules. It makes the approach particularly suited for small problems and strongly element-wise specifications.
Cooperative and collaborative learning in university aviation education

Aviation has evolved rapidly in complexity over the past few decades, yet the aviation education process itself has changed little. University aviation training programs, because of their comprehensive academic environment, offer excellent opportunities to develop and maintain technologically current curriculum. This paper suggests an integrated aviation learning model to improve long-term retention and enhance application across a broad spectrum of new aviation situations.
Work and Integrity: The Crisis and Promise of Professionalism in America

Work and Integrity; The Crisis and Promise of Professionalism in America, by William M. Sullivan, in association with the Carnegie Foundation, offers insight into the social and civic history of pr...
Abstract W MP51: Insulin-like Growth Factor (igf-1) Enhances The Angiogenic Response Of Aging Endothelial Cells

Background and Purpose: IGF-1 is recognized as a neuroprotective agent in ischemic stroke models. Our microRNA profiling and KEGG analysis studies identified brain endothelial cells as principal target of IGF-1 action in post-stroke middle-aged females (Bake et al., PLOS One, 2014). Although IGF-1 is known to promote cell survival, the mode of action on injured brain endothelial survival is poorly understood. The present study specifically tested the hypothesis that IGF-1 prevents cell death and enhances angiogenic response of endothelial cells ex vivo. Additionally, since clinical evidence show that older women are at increased risk for stroke occurrence and greater severity, the present study used middle-aged female rats. Methods: Brain microvascular endothelial cells were harvested from acyclic Sprague-Dawley female rats (9-10 mo old). Confluent cultures grown on 24 well plates were exposed to hypoxia (1%O2) in glucose free media for 6h with and without IGF-1 (10ng/ml), followed by re-oxygenation in growth media. Cell death was analyzed by LDH assay in media. For invasion analysis, cells were suspended in media supplemented with VEGF, FGF and reduced serum and were plated onto 96 well plates containing collagen matrix with 1um sphingosine-1-phosphate. Cells were treated as before for hypoxia/aglycemia with and without IGF-1. Gels were fixed (3% glutaraldehyde), stained (toluidine blue in 30% methanol) and sectioned (1mm slices). Invasion density was quantified using Olympus CK2 inverted microscope. Results: Hypoxia resulted in 2-fold increase in media LDH, however, IGF-1 did not alter LDH levels after hypoxia or hypoxia/re-oxygenation, indicating that the peptide does not regulate ischemic cell death in the short-term. However, IGF-1 treatment resulted in a 50% increase in the number of sprouting endothelial cells after hypoxia/re-oxygenation (p Conclusions: These findings support the hypothesis that endothelial cells are target for IGF-1-induced stroke neuroprotection and that IGF-1 promotes angiogenic capacity in aging endothelial cells.
ProvErr: system level statistical fault diagnosis using dependency model

Large-scale distributed systems are difficult to debug in the event of failure. Yet rapid fault diagnosis that pinpoints failures to the component level is critical to fast recovery. We introduce a statistical approach to fault diagnosis that utilizes a dependency graph of execution to automatically discover the most probable fault cause(s) at a component level (either software or hardware resource). This approach leverages engineers' high level understanding of the system and requires a very small amount of information compared to existing methods. It also utilizes dependency information to eliminate redundant causes while retaining co-causes. Experiments using Apache Pig show that our approach has good, robust performance for diagnosing software bugs and resource shortages, and scales nearly linearly as system size increases.
Partial Resolution of the Enzymes Catalyzing Photophosphorylation XIII. PROPERTIES OF ISOLATED SUBUNITS OF COUPLING FACTOR 1 FROM SPINACH CHLOROPLASTS

Abstract 1. The subunits of coupling factor 1 from spinach chloroplasts have been isolated and their amino acid composition determined. 2. Antibodies to each subunit have been prepared and their effects on reactions involving coupling factor 1 have been studied. Antibodies against the 59,000 and 37,000 molecular weight subunits (α and γ components) inhibited cyclic photophosphorylation, phosphorylation coupled to the Hill reaction, and light-triggered Mg++-adenosine triphosphatase. Anti-α also inhibited the stimulation of H+ uptake in chloroplasts by ATP. 3. Antibodies against the two larger subunits (α and β) agglutinated chloroplast particles; the antibodies against the smaller subunits did not. 4. None of the antibodies against the subunits inhibited the ATPase activity of activated chloroplast coupling factor 1 (CF1) significantly when added singly. However, a combination of anti-α and anti-γ inhibited to the same extent as antibody against native CF1. 5. It is concluded that the α and γ subunits of CF1 are intimately involved in the function of the coupling factor. The e subunit is a regulatory subunit of the enzyme and the question is raised whether δ is also a regulatory subunit or a tightly bound contaminant of the enzyme.
A Novel Approach for Security and Robustness in Wireless Embedded Systems

Security and robustness are paramount in wireless embedded systems due to the vulnerability of the underlying communication medium. To institute security and reliability, most of the existing schemes perform periodic re-establishment of authentication credentials and share secrets among various participating nodes. However, such measures result in overheads in an energy-constrained wireless environment. To alleviate this problem, we propose a software approach that exploits the features of the underlying communication protocol and uses the concept of steganography and covert channels. The highlight of our approach is that it does not require any changes to the protocol and relies only on the modification of frame contents without degrading the protocol performance. We argue that our covert-channel based communication scheme provides security and robustness at low cost and it neither requires centralized authority nor does it disrupt the overall network operation. We evaluate the security benefits of our proposed method in terms of the difficulty of detecting the covert channel by the adversary and compare our technique with other existing schemes. Performance evaluation is done by determining the bandwidth efficiency of the channel, backward compatibility with the standard MAC as well as the ease of implementation.
Human sinus arrhythmia as an index of vagal cardiac outflow

Since changes of heart period follow changes of cardiac vagal efferent activity quantitatively with nearly fixed latencies, measurements of respiratory sinus arrhythmia may provide insights into human central vagal mechanisms. Accordingly, I measured intervals between heartbeats during controlled breathing (at breathing intervals of 2.5-10 s and nominal tidal volumes of 1,000 and 1,500 ml) in six healthy young men and women. As breathing interval increased, the longest heart periods became longer, the shortest heart periods became shorter, and the peak-valley P-P intervals increased asymptotically. Peak-valley P-P intervals also increased in proportion to tidal volume. However, this influence was small: a 50% increase of tidal volume increased the average peak-valley P-P interval by only about 15%. The phase angles between heart period changes and respiration varied as linear functions of breathing interval. Heart period shortening (cardioacceleration) began in inspiration at short breathing intervals and in expiration at long breathing intervals. Heart period lengthening, however, began in early expiration at all breathing intervals studied. These results point toward a close relationship between variations of respiratory depth and interval and the quantity, periodicity, and timing of vagal cardiac outflow in conscious humans. They suggest that, at usual breathing rates, phasic respiration-related changes of vagal motoneuron activity began in expiration, progress slowly, and are incompletely expressed at fast breathing rates.
Curcuminoids and ω-3 fatty acids with anti-oxidants potentiate cytotoxicity of natural killer cells against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells and inhibit interferon γ production

Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis attributed in part to immune suppression and deactivation of natural killer (NK) cells. Curcuminoids have a potential for improving the therapy of pancreatic cancer given promising results in cancer models and a clinical trial, but their oral absorption is limited. Our objective in this study is to show curcuminoid anti-oncogenic effects alone and together with human NK cells. We tested curcuminoids in an emulsion of ω-3 fatty acids and anti-oxidants (“Smartfish”) regarding their direct cytocidal effect and enhancement of the cytocidal activity of NK cells in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells (Mia Paca 2 and L3.6). Curcuminoids (at > 10 microM) with ω-3 fatty acids and anti-oxidants or with the lipidic mediator resolvin D1 (RvD1) (26 nM) induced high caspase-3 activity in PDAC cells. Importantly, curcuminoids with ω-3 fatty acids and anti-oxidants or with RvD1 significantly potentiated NK cell cytocidal function and protected them against degradation. In a co-culture of cancer cells with NK cells, interferon-γ ( IFN-γ) production by NK cells was not altered by ω-3 fatty acids with anti-oxidants or by RvD1 but was inhibited by curcuminoids. The inhibition was not eliminated by ω-3 fatty acids or RvD1 but was relieved by removing curcuminoids after adding NK cells. In conclusion, curcuminoids with ω-3 fatty acids and anti-oxidants or with RvD1 have increased cytotoxic activity on PDAC cells alone and with NK cells. The effects of curcuminoids with ω-3 fatty acids and anti-oxidants on pancreatic cancer will be investigated in a mouse model with humanized immune system.
The Representation of Hypergeometric Random Variables using Independent Bernoulli Random Variables

In this paper, we show that a hypergeometric random variable can be represented as a sum of independent Bernoulli random variables that are, except in degenerate cases, not identically distributed. In the proof, we use the factorial moment generating function. An asymptotic result on the probabilities of the Bernoulli random variables in the sum is also presented. Numerical examples are used to illustrate the results.
Targeting lead in the multimedia environment in the continental United States.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) lead attainment strategy for air is being expanded to address geographic areas with the potential for multimedia, multipathway exposures to lead. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology is used to coordinate information from various databases to identify areas of potential concern. The data retrieval and decision processes used in identifying priority sources from each medium and in evaluating identified areas of concern are described in this paper. Only EPA databases with reliable locational information were used to facilitate accurate mapping and allow correlation with other data sources. The sources of lead loadings to air, water, and soils were mapped using either latitude and longitude or zip code, or county centroids for data lacking longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates (such as the drinking water data). A multimedia cluster of lead sources was identified at the county level, since all the facility data in the five databases could be mapped to this level. An impact factor and weighting system was devised to combine the information on the number of facilities and their relative size in developing a ranking of the multimedia lead clusters of concern in each region. The counties with the highest number of points were considered clusters of highest concern for multimedia lead sources. Two separate lists of the clusters were developed according to a point system. One identified 10 multimedia lead clusters in each of the 10 EPA regions, and the other identified the 100 clusters of highest concern in the country as a whole. The project is designed to be a first step in targeting future efforts to identify potential environmental problems associated with lead. The analyses presented in this paper provide a first look at the areas in the country where there is a potential for multimedia exposure to lead. A more refined analysis at the zip code level was subsequently developed to provide a good understanding of the issues pertaining to potential exposure at the neighborhood level. The results of this analysis will ultimately help the EPA and the states to target implementation and enforcement in areas of high potential lead exposures.
Automatic tip selection for microtubule dynamics quantification

Microtubule (MT) dynamics quantification includes modeling of elongation, rapid shortening, and pauses. It indicates the effect of the cancer treatment drug paclitaxel because the drug causes MTs to bundle, which will in turn inhibit successful mitosis of cancerous cells. Thus, automatic MT dynamics analysis has been researched intensely because it allows for faster evaluation of potential cancer treatments and better understanding of drug effects on a cell. However, most current literatures still use manual initialization. In this work, we propose an automatic initialization algorithm that selects isolated and active tips for tracking. We use a Gaussian match filter to enhance the MT structures, and a novel technique called Pixel Nucleus Analysis (PNA) for isolated MT tip detection. To find dynamic tips, we applied a masked FFT in the temporal domain followed by K-means clustering. To evaluate the selected tips, we used a low level tip linking algorithm, and show the results of applying the algorithm to a model image and five MCF-7 breast cancer cell line images captured using fluorescent confocal microscopy. Finally, we compare tip selection criteria with existing automatic selection algorithms. We conclude that the proposed analysis is an effective technique based on three criteria which include outer region selection, separation, and MT dynamics.
Peptide Accumulation and Bitterness in Cheddar Cheese Made Using Single-Strain Lactococcus lactis Starters with Distinct Proteinase Specificities

This study investigated peptide accumulation and bitterness in reduced- and full-fat Cheddar cheeses that were manufactured with single-strain Lactococcus lactis starters that had distinct cell envelope proteinase specificities. Micellar electrokinetic capillary electrophoresis of aqueous cheese extracts detected three large peaks, designated O, P, and Q, that eluted with peptide standards and increased in area during cheese maturation in a pattern that was distinct for each starter. Regression analysis of bitter flavor scores from trained sensory panels and individual OQ peak areas suggested that peaks P and Q had a negative and positive correlation, respectively, to this defect. Then, HPLC, capillary electrophoresis, peptide sequencing, and mass spectrometry were used to identify five peptides from aS1-casein (CN), one from b-CN, and one from aS2-CN that accumulated in 6-mo-old cheeses. Most of the peptides derived from aS1-CN (f 1‐23) accumulated in a manner that corresponded with starter proteinase specificity. All of the peptides identified in the study except aS2-CN (f 1‐21) eluted in the O-P-Q region of micellar electrokinetic capillary electropherograms. The aS1-CN (f 1‐16), aS1-CN (f 1‐17) and b-CN (f 193‐209) eluted in peak O, aS1-CN (f 1‐13) and aS1-CN (f 1‐14) eluted in peak P, and aS1-CN (f 1‐9) eluted in peak Q.
Employment dynamics in Indian industry: adjustment lags and the impact of job security regulations

Abstract The mismatch in output and employment growth phases witnessed by Indian industry in the 1960s and 1970s and the puzzle of jobless growth during the 1980s drew attention to the possible adverse impact of the Industrial Disputes (Amendment) Acts of 1976 and 1982. The Government of India recently mooted a proposal to relax the provisions of the Acts to enhance the flexibility of the labour market. We investigate the extent of impact of job security legislation through an analysis of dynamic inter-related factor demand functions. Our findings provide evidence of significant lags in employment adjustment. We find evidence, however, that these existed even in the period preceding the formal introduction of job security legislation, and that the impact of job security regulations, contrary to popular perception, was minimal.
Controlling the Morphologies of Organometallic Block Copolymers in the 3-Dimensional Spatial Confinement of Colloidal and Inverse Colloidal Crystals

A detailed study of the three-dimensional (3-D) confinement of polystyrene-block-poly(ferrocenylethylmethylsilane) (PS-b-PFS) diblock copolymers in silica colloidal crystals and inverse silica colloidal crystals is reported. Inversion of the silica colloidal crystal lattice with PS-b-PFS is confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and optical spectroscopy. Additionally, the modification of the silica surfaces in the inverse colloidal crystals using hydroxy-terminated PS and PFS is established. The 3-D confined morphologies of a lamella-forming and a cylinder-forming PS-b-PFS diblock copolymer are subsequently investigated. The manipulation of the 3-D confined morphology of cylinder-forming PS-b-PFS is demonstrated by deliberate alteration of its wetting interaction with the surface-modified colloidal crystal templates. Unprecedented 3-dimensional block copolymer morphology transitions are elucidated.
The low-temperature, high-field Nernst-Ettingshausen coefficient of Al

The high field Nernst-Ettingshausen coefficient of a pure polycrystalline foil of Al from 1.8K to 5K has been measured. The experimental value of the diffusion component of this coefficient yields a transport heat capacity gamma t which is the same as the experimental electronic heat capacity gamma c with a probable uncertainty of less than 3%. This result demonstrates that the electron-phonon renormalisation is identical for both the specific heat and Nernst-Ettingshausen coefficients to within an uncertainty of 10%. The experimental phonon-drag component of the Nernst-Ettingshausen coefficient is positive and varies approximately as T3 in the temperature range studied. Both the sign and temperature variation are taken as evidence of the presence of substantial electron-phonon Umklapp scattering.
Expression patterns of connexin43 protein during facial development in the chick embryo: Associations with outgrowth, attachment, and closure of the midfacial primordia

BACKGROUND In a prior report, evidence was presented for the presence of gap junction proteins [connexin32 and connexin43 (Cx43)] in embryonic facial primordia. The purpose of the present study was, first, to examine in detail the patterns of distribution of Cx43 protein in embryonic chick facial primordia and, second, to consider the possible roles played by this protein during midfacial development. METHODS Chick embryo heads were serially sectioned and processed for immunofluorescent localization of Cx43. The developmental stages examined encompassed the period of formation, enlargement, and union of the facial primordia. Western blot analysis of the facial primordia was also performed. RESULTS Analysis of serial sections revealed the presence of signal in both epithelium and mesenchyme at sites of attachment in each of the midfacial primordia (i.e., the medial nasal, lateral nasal, and maxillary processes). Furthermore, although signal was concentrated in mesenchyme in the distal tips of the primordia at sites of attachment, immunoreactivity was absent, sparse, or less intense outside the areas of attachment. In some cases (i.e., the maxillary process), immunoreactive signal in mesenchyme did not appear in the distal tip until the primordia approximated each other or contact of the primordia was initiated. Most significantly, signal was also found between the facial primordia in nonprimordial epithelium and mesenchyme at sites where the primordia were joined. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that the expression of Cx43 protein is spatially and temporally regulated in the facial primordia and that the patterns of expression that were observed are significant to the cascade of events that ultimately lead to the attachment and union of the primordia that form the midface.
Low-cost, single-step hybrid bond/barrier films for Cu bondlines in advanced packaging

The presence of weak Cu-oxides has detrimental implications for the adhesion, moisture sensitivity, stress-and electro-migration of Cu bondlines in advanced packaging, often leading to premature device failure. We report on a novel, low-cost, single-step sol-gel synthetic route capable of reducing the weak Cu-oxide while simultaneously depositing a high-performance hybrid film, which acts both as an adhesion layer at the Cu/epoxy interface, as well as potentially a barrier film that prevents moisture degradation and Cu stress- and electro-migration.
Cycling of the Sm-like Protein Hfq on the DsrA Small Regulatory RNA

Small RNAs (sRNAs) regulate bacterial genes involved in environmental adaptation. This RNA regulation requires Hfq, a bacterial Sm-like protein that stabilizes sRNAs and enhances RNA-RNA interactions. To understand the mechanism of target recognition by sRNAs, we investigated the interactions between Hfq, the sRNA DsrA, and its regulatory target rpoS mRNA, which encodes the stress response sigma factor. Nuclease footprinting revealed that Hfq recognized multiple sites in rpoS mRNA without significantly perturbing secondary structure in the 5' leader that inhibits translation initiation. Base-pairing with DsrA, however, made the rpoS ribosome binding site fully accessible, as predicted by genetic data. Hfq bound DsrA four times more tightly than the DsrA.rpoS RNA complex in gel mobility-shift assays. Consequently, Hfq is displaced rapidly from its high-affinity binding site on DsrA by conformational changes in DsrA, when DsrA base-pairs with rpoS mRNA. Hfq accelerated DsrA.rpoS RNA association and stabilized the RNA complex up to twofold. Hybridization of DsrA and rpoS mRNA was optimal when Hfq occupied its primary binding site on free DsrA, but was inhibited when Hfq associated with the DsrA.rpoS RNA complex. We conclude that recognition of rpoS mRNA is stimulated by binding of Hfq to free DsrA sRNA, followed by release of Hfq from the sRNA.mRNA complex.
NUCLEAR DATA SHEETS FOR A=110

Abstract Evaluated nuclear structure and decay data for all nuclei within the A = 110 mass chain are presented. The experimental data are evaluated and best values for level and gamma-ray energies, quantum numbers, lifetimes, gamma-ray intensities, and other nuclear properties are recommended. Inconsistencies and discrepancies that exist in the literature are noted. This work supersedes the earlier evaluation by D. De Frenne and E. Jacobs (2000De11), published in Nuclear Data Sheets 89, 481 (2000).
Matching actions in presence of camera motion

When the camera viewing an action is moving, the motion observed in the video not only contains the motion of the actor but also the motion of the camera. At each time instant, in addition to the camera motion, a different view of the action is observed. In this paper, we propose a novel method to perform action recognition in presence of camera motion. Proposed method is based on the epipolar geometry between any two views. However, instead of relating two static views using the standard fundamental matrix, we model the motions of independently moving cameras in the equations governing the epipolar geometry and derive a new relation which is referred to as the "temporal fundamental matrix." Using the temporal fundamental matrix, a matching score between two actions is computed by evaluating the quality of the recovered geometry. We demonstrate the versatility of the proposed approach for action recognition in a number of challenging sequences.
Liquid Ammonia Solutions VIII. Spectra of Alkali Metal Amide Solutions

Abstract Recently, the spectral characteristics of liquid ammonia solutions containing potassium amide were reported.1 position and intensity of the band associated with these solu- tions is temperature dependent, and it was suggested that the absorption arises from a charge-transfer-to-solvent (ctts) process. Since the amide ion is the strongest base (lyate ion) that can exist in liquid ammonia, its spectral characteristics are especially important in the study of acid-base equilibria involving very weak acids in that solvent; the point of equilibrium in such a system can be moved to a convenient position by the addition of NH2 − (Equation 1). This technique has been used in an analogous situation with cyclohexylamide anion in cyclohexylamine as solvent.2
Carbohydrate composition and complement fixation of human monoclonal IgG

Abstract No correlations were found between the complement fixing capacity of aggregated IgG immunoglobulins and their carbohydrate content. The techniques of periodate oxidation for removal of carbohydrates proved not to be useful for evaluating the role of carbohydrates in complement fixation because of alterations in the protein portion of the molecule. Further studies that employ milder methods for the removal of carbohydrates are needed to elucidate the possible role of carbohydrates in immunoglobulins.
Support Vector Machine Based Detection of Drowsiness Using Minimum EEG Features

Drowsiness presents major safety concerns for tasks that require long periods of focus and alertness. While there is a body of work on drowsiness detection using EEG signals in neuroscience and engineering, there exist unanswered questions pertaining to the best mechanisms to use for detecting drowsiness. Targeting a range of practical safety-awareness applications, this study adopts a machine learning based approach to build support vector machine (SVM) classifiers to distinguish between awake and drowsy states. While broadband alpha, beta, delta, and theta waves are often used as features in the existing work, lack of widely agreed precise definitions of such broadband signals and difficulty in accounting for interpersonal variability has led to poor classification performance as demonstrated in this study. Furthermore, the transition from wakefulness to drowsiness and deeper sleep stages is a complex multifaceted process. The richness of this process calls for inclusion of sub-band features for more accurate drowsiness detection. To shed light on the effectiveness of sub-banding, we quantitatively compare the performances of a large set of SVM classifiers trained upon a varying number of 1Hz sub band features. More importantly, we identify a compact set of neuroscientifcally motivated EEG features and demonstrate that the resulting classifier not only outperforms traditional broadband based classifiers but also is on a par with or superior than the best sub-band classifiers found by thorough search in a large space of 1Hz sub band features.
Atrial Fibrillation Management in Elderly

Atrial fibrillation (AF) in older adults is inherently more clinically challenging than sinus rhythm because it is associated with diminished functional capacity and quality of life, as well as higher incidence of mortality, stroke, and coronary events. AF with a rapid ventricular rate is particularly likely to cause demand ischemia, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF), as well as tachycardia-related cardiomyopathy. Indications for direct-current cardioversion, pharmacological cardioversion, rate control, and nondrug therapies are discussed. Differences in clinical outcome based on ventricular rate control versus drug treatment to maintain sinus rhythm are also reviewed. Indications for anticoagulation for chronic or paroxysmal AF are included, including long-term warfarin and direct thrombin inhibitors (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or apixaban) and/or aspirin.
A bayesian approach to some outlier problems.

The problem of outlying observations is considered from a Bayesian viewpoint. We suppose that each of the observations in an experiment may come from either a 'good' run or a 'bad' run. By specifying the models corresponding to good and bad runs and the prior probabilities of which runs being bad, we then employ standard Bayesian inference procedures to derive the appropriate analysis. In particular, we consider the linear model and assume that a good observation is normally distributed about its mean with variance o.2, and a bad one is normal with the same mean but a larger variance k2o-2. An example is given.
The shaping of personality: genes, environments, and chance encounters.

I started my career as a clinical psychologist with an interest in personality assessment. But a loss of faith in psychoanalytic theory, projective tests, and clinical case studies in general led to a shift in my interests to personality research. Subsequent jobs at research institutes and universities allowed me to indulge in science. I developed the trait-state concept and its application in tests for affect measurement. For 10 years I did experimental research in the field of sensory deprivation. The sensation seeking idea and tests evolved from this work but soon expanded to many other areas. Research in the biological basis of sensation seeking started with genetic and psychophysiological research, but research conducted in other laboratories also pointed to a psychopharmacological basis for the trait. Over the last several decades, I have formulated a psychobiological model for personality. I have used factor analysis and the biosocial model to develop an "alternative-five" factorial trait structure...
Acceptor spectra of AlxGa1-xAs-GaAs quantum wells in external fields: Electric, magnetic, and uniaxial stress.

We have used the variational method to calculate the acceptor binding energies in GaAs-${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathrm{x}}$${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{x}}$As quantum wells with and without the application of electric, magnetic, and uniaxial stress fields. The calculation includes the coupling of the top four valence bands of both materials in the multiband effective-mass approximation. To ensure the convergence of the calculation, a large number of basis functions which are made up of the s-like, p-like, or d-like spatial states multiplied by j=(3/2) spinors are used for the expansion of the acceptor wave function. Because the quantum well and external field potentials reduce the point-group symmetry from ${T}_{d}$ to ${D}_{2d}$, the bulk ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{8}$ acceptor ground state splits into ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{6}$ and ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{7}$ states. The ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{6}$ state is predominantly derived from the heavy-hole subband and the ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{7}$ state is predominantly derived from the light-hole subband. The magnetic field further splits the ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{6}$ and ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{7}$ states. We have calculated the energies of the ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{6}$ state and the ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{7}$ state for both center doped and edge doped quantum wells as well as the ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{6}$ and ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{7}$ valence-subband edges for various barrier heights as functions of well width. In recent studies the photoluminescence resulting from the acceptor levels to conduction-band transition in molecular-beam-epitaxy-grown GaAs-${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathrm{x}}$${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{x}}$As superlattices have been measured. Our theoretical results are in excellent agreement with these experimental data.
Ultra-low power electronics with Si/Ge tunnel FET

Si/Ge Tunnel FET (TFET) with its subthermal subthreshold swing is attractive for low power analog and digital designs. Greater Ion/Ioff ratio of TFET can reduce the dynamic power in digital designs, while higher gm/IDS can lower the bias power of analog amplifier. However, the above benefits of TFET are eclipsed by MOSFET at a higher power/performance point. Ultra low power scalability of the key analog and digital circuits, SRAM and operational transconductance amplifier (OTA), with TFET is demonstrated. Analyzing a TFET based cellular neural network, this work shows the feasibility of ultra-low-power neuromorphic computing with TFET.
The mixing parameter for the mixing of gamma-vibrational and ground-state bands in 160 Dy

The energies and relative intensities of the gamma rays depopulating the first gamma-vibrational level in160Dy were determined using Ge(Li) detectors. Special care was given to the determination of the intensities of the 682-, 765-, 872-, 962-, and 1069-keV gamma rays. From the measured intensities the reducedE2 transition probability ratios were calculated for the transitions between the gamma band and ground-state band. The deduced Z2×103 values are: 51.9±3.5, 38.7±3.6, 31.6±5.3, 34.5±5.9, and 42.0±7.2, with an average value of 39.7±3.5. The internal conversion coefficients of the 682- and 765-keV transitions are also shown to be consistent with the theoreticalE2 values.
PHONON-INDUCED ANISOTROPIC DISPERSION FORCES ON A METALLIC SUBSTRATE

Surfactant micelles (cetyltrimethylammonium chloride) adsorbed on Au(111) exhibit orientational order dictated by the gold crystal axes. To explain this phenomenon, we take into account the ionic contribution to the dielectric response of the metal. Since the motion of an ion inside the metallic lattice is restricted by its neighbors in an anisotropic way, the total dielectric response of the metal acquires directional dependence. A crystalline substrate is thus able to generate both torque and attraction on geometrically asymmetric objects. Numerical calculations show that the resulting anisotropic van der Waals force is indeed capable of orienting rod-like dielectric micelles on a Au(111) surface.
Three-dimensional numerical predictions of the flow behind a rearward-facing-step in a supersonic combustor

A CFD code was developed to compute the mixing and combustion of hydrogen fuel in the turbulent flow fields of scramjets. The code is based on the complete Reynold's time-averaged three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations, and chemical species equations. The code includes a global finite rate hydrogen-air chemical reaction model and the Baldwin-Lomax (1978) turbulence model. The validity of this CFD code was demonstrated by comparing computed results from the code with existing data for three configurations, each containing an important feature of the scramjet combustor flow. The code was then applied to the reacting flow field in a complex combustor model in which hydrogen fuel was injected transversely into a supersonic hot airstream through several fuel injectors.
Molecular Sieving Using Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes

By using molecular dynamics and grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations, we find that a nanotube with a constriction results in high transport resistance to nitrogen while allowing oxygen to pass at a much higher rate even though these gases have very similar sizes and energetics. This provides an understanding of the reported high permeation rates of oxygen relative to nitrogen in nanoporous carbon membranes and a basis for designing nanotubes with constrictions using available technologies for membrane-based separations.
Trimuons in SU(3) gauge models

Abstract We discuss models of weak interactions which can account for the recently observed μ−μ−μ+ events in vμ reactions by allowing for the production of a new heavy neutral lepton and a new quark. One model is based on an SU(3) × U(1) gauge theory in shich the left-handed leptons are classified in anti-triplets. The second model catagorizes the leptons in an octet in accord with the more restrictive SU(3) weak gauge theory.