cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Survival trends and outcomes among preterm infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

The objective of this study was to use current national data to evaluate the characteristics and survival trends of preterm infants born with CDH from 2004 to 2014. Data was queried from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) and KID database from 2004 to 2014. Infants were included if diagnosed with CDH by ICD-9 coding and gestational age <37 weeks. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, and trend analysis were completed. We identified 2356 infants born prematurely with CDH. The overall survival rate was 49%. The survival range is 21.2–62.3% for gestational age <26 weeks to 35–36 weeks, respectively. Total mortality was 1183; of them, 1052 (89%) were not repaired and 363 (30.7%) did not receive mechanical ventilation. Surgical repair occurred in 55.1% of infants. Preterm infants have lower survival compared with term infants. Survival rates decrease with lower gestational age and have improved over time.
Analogy Between Elastodynamic Displacement and Electromagnetic Vector Potentials

This summary demonstrates a modeling analogy, for linear homogenous isotropic media, between the displacement vector u in elastodynamics e.g.(seismic) (ES) and the vector potential, either A or F, in electromagnetics (EM). This analogy will allow for EM modeling techniques to be used in the analysis of ES problems, and will also offer insight into the commonality of wave propagation in both domains. After developing the analogy, we present a simple example of its application to the classic example of an ES Love wave.
Dietary Protein Intake and Bone Across Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease

This review aims to summarize the current evidence on the effect of very-low-, low-, and high-protein diets on outcomes related to chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) and bone health in patients with CKD. Dietary protein restriction in the form of low- and very-low-protein diets have been used to slow down the progression of CKD. These diets can be supplemented with alpha-keto acid (KA) analogues of amino acids. Observational and randomized controlled trials have shown improvements in biochemical markers of CKD-MBD, including reductions in phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, and fibroblast growth factor-23. However, few studies have assessed changes in bone quantity and quality. Furthermore, studies assessing the effects of high-protein diets on CKD-MBD are scarce. Importantly, very-low- and low-protein diets supplemented with KA provide supplemental calcium in amounts that surpass current dietary recommendations, but to date there are no studies on calcium balance with KA. Current evidence suggests that dietary protein restriction in CKD may slow disease progression, which may subsequently benefit CKD-MBD and bone health outcomes. However, prospective randomized controlled trials assessing the effects of modulating dietary protein and supplementing with KA on all aspects of CKD-MBD and particularly bone health are needed.
Pathogenesis of Uveitis in Ebola Virus Disease Survivors: Evolving Understanding from Outbreaks to Animal Models

Ebola virus disease (EVD) and emerging infectious disease threats continue to threaten life, prosperity and global health security. To properly counteract EVD, an improved understanding of the long-term impact of recent EVD outbreaks in West Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo are needed. In the wake of recent outbreaks, numerous health sequelae were identified in EVD survivors. These findings include joint pains, headaches, myalgias, and uveitis, a vision-threatening inflammatory condition of the eye. Retrospective and more recent prospective studies of EVD survivors from West Africa have demonstrated that uveitis may occur in 13-34% of patients with an increase in prevalence from baseline to 12-month follow-up. The clinical spectrum of disease ranges from mild, anterior uveitis to severe, sight-threatening panuveitis. Untreated inflammation may ultimately lead to secondary complications of cataract and posterior synechiae, with resultant vision impairment. The identification of Ebola virus persistence in immune privileged organs, such as the eye, with subsequent tissue inflammation and edema may lead to vision loss. Non-human primate models of EVD have demonstrated tissue localization to the eye including macrophage reservoirs within the vitreous matter. Moreover, in vitro models of Ebola virus have shown permissiveness in retinal pigment epithelial cells, potentially contributing to viral persistence. Broad perspectives from epidemiologic studies of the outbreak, animal modeling, and immunologic studies of EVD survivors have demonstrated the spectrum of the eye disease, tissue specificity of Ebola virus infection, and antigen-specific immunologic response. Further studies in these areas will elucidate the mechanisms of this highly prevalent disease with the potential for improved therapeutics for Ebola virus in immune-privileged sites.
Cardinal Gaming: Conceptions of Religion in Dragon Age: Inquisition, Diablo III, and Dante’s Inferno

This article analyzes three major video game titles and their representations of religion, attempting to uncover what exactly is being taught about religion by video games and situating these findi...
Irradiation of Nanostrained Monolayer WSe2 for Site-Controlled Single-Photon Emission up to 150K

Utilizing strain and defect engineering techniques, a novel method of designing site-specific single-photon emitters in 2D-WSe2 is developed that achieves emitters with high-yield, purities above 95%, and extended working temperatures up to 150 K.
Countering the “Harmless E-Cigarette” Myth: The Interplay of Message Format, Message Sidedness, and Prior Experience With E-Cigarette Use in Misinformation Correction:

A 2 (message format: story vs. nonstory) × 2 (message sidedness: one sided vs. two sided) between-subjects experiment tested the effectiveness of narrative communication as a potential tool for cor...
The quiet agora: Undergraduate perceptions of the academic library

This research paper reports the findings of a grounded theory analysis of undergraduate perceptions of academic libraries serving their university community. The qualitative researchers employed lo...
How to Conduct a Deductive Content Analysis in Counseling Research

Content analysis is a flexible methodology that allows researchers to examine trends in communication, such as journal articles, written narratives, personal journals, and videos, to name a few. In...
A Simple Algorithmic Approach Allows the Safe Use of Cephalosporin in "Penicillin-Allergic" Patients without the Need for Allergy Testing.

BACKGROUND Patients who report a penicillin allergy are often given second-line antibiotic prophylaxis during total joint arthroplasty (TJA), with only a minority of patients undergoing additional consultations and allergy testing. In an effort to increase the use of cephalosporin prophylaxis in TJA, the present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a simple, protocol-driven penicillin allergy screening program without the need for additional work-up. METHODS Following implementation of a questionnaire-based screening protocol in May 2019, all patients scheduled for primary TJA were risk-stratified into low or high-risk categories. The low-risk cohort received cefazolin, and the high-risk cohort received non-cefazolin antibiotics. Patients were monitored prospectively, and data on antibiotic usage and adverse outcomes were documented. The protocol group (n = 2,078) was propensity score matched 1:1 with a control group that included patients who underwent TJA in the same institution prior to implementation of the protocol. The primary end point was the efficacy of the protocol in reducing unnecessary use of non-cephalosporin antibiotics for prophylaxis. Secondary outcomes included the rate of surgical site infections and allergic reactions to the administered antibiotic. RESULTS A total of 357 patients (17.2%) reported a penicillin allergy in the protocol group compared with 310 patients (14.9%) with a recorded allergy in the control group (p = 0.052). The number of patients who received non-cephalosporin antibiotics was significantly lower in the protocol group (5.7% compared with 15.2% in the control group; p < 0.001), whereas there was no difference in the rate of total allergic reactions (0.8% compared with 0.7%, respectively; p = 0.857). Of the 239 low-risk patients (66.9%) in the protocol group, only 3 (1.3%) experienced a mild cutaneous reaction following cefazolin administration. There were no differences in the rates of superficial wound, deep periprosthetic, or Clostridioides difficile infections between the protocol and control groups. CONCLUSIONS A simple screening protocol allowed two-thirds of patients with a self-reported allergy to receive cefazolin without the need for additional consultations or testing. We believe this protocol can be safely implemented to increase the rate of cefazolin usage without a corresponding increase in the number of allergic reactions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Reduced HfO₂ Resistive Memory Variability by Inserting a Thin SnO₂ as Oxygen Stopping Layer

One of the major roadblocks for filamentary type resistive random access memory is variations in both the write voltage and the read resistance. The variation is inevitable because of the stochastic nature of oxygen ion movement inside the metal oxide. In this letter, we show that by inserting a thin SnO 2 layer within the HfO 2 switching layer, these variations can be significantly reduced. The TiN/HfO 2 /SnO 2 /HfO 2 /Pt material stack achieves ~ 10 times smaller standard deviation for the high resistance state( $>100\text{k}\Omega $ ) cycle to cycle distribution compared with the control group without the SnO 2 layer. The tight high resistance state distribution retained after 10 7 pulse cycling. Incremental RESET pulse measurement indicates that the thin SnO 2 acts as an oxygen stopping layer and thus explains the origin of reduced variability. The concept of an oxygen stopping layer is promising for reducing variability for resistive memory.
A Multiscale Method - Equation Free Projective Integration Applied to Global Gyrokinetic Particle Simulations of Plasma Turbulence

A multiscale method called Equation Free Proj ective Integration (EFPI) is being applied to global gyrokinetic particle simulation of plasma turbulence, which provides a framework for studying a variety of multiscale problems in plasma physics. In our EFPI simulations, Ion-Temperature Gradient (ITG) driven transport is modeled on two scales: a microscale related to the ITG turbulence and a macroscale related to the slow-varying source term. The long timescale turbulence behavior of the system is determined by extrapolating forward in time using estimates of the macroscales obtained from short duration simulations of the microscale dynamics. In our EFPI simulations, the heat flux of the turbulence will slowly vary by way of a time varying source. We will compare directly to turbulence simulations without EFPI. The demonstration of EFPI for turbulence simulation may have impact on other multiscale problems. For example, the nonlinear interaction of different modes at different space-time scales, which is topical problem in plasma physics.
Chapter 2 Na+,K+, and Rb+ Movements in a Single Turnover of the Na/K Pump

Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes the studies that are the beginnings of an attempt to ascertain the temporal relationships of ion binding, translocation, and release and to place these events in the cycle of nucleotide binding–enzyme phosphorylation–dephosphorylation. The present results on the movements of sodium (Na) and potassium (K) in a single turnover of the Na/K pump strongly support the conventional model of ion transport in which Na movement is an early event in the turnover of the pump following binding of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and K movement is later in the cycle and involves the major rate-limiting step. An important feature of the recent models of the Na/K pump is the existence of occluded states in which Na+ or K+ ions, in the process of being translocated, are tightly bound and are accessible from neither side of the membrane. The measurements of the time course of dissociation of tightly bound rubidium (86Rb) from the Na+, K+ -ATPase have demonstrated that the proposed occluded state is kinetically competent to be included in the cycle of Na/K pumping driven by ATP, as well as in the partial reaction of Rb–Rb exchange promoted by intracellular phosphorus (Pi) and nucleotide; in agreement with the earlier studies of others, the properties of the occluded state are found to be those expected of such an intermediate. Observation of the time course of 86Rb dissociation in the presence of KMgP has revealed two distinct binding sites for K+ in the occluded state, giving an excellent indication of the potential value of examination of rapid ion movements.
On Model Order Determination of Complex Exponential Signals

Abstract We present an algorithm for model order determination and corresponding maximum likelihood parameter estimation for complex exponential signal modeling. The algorithm exploits initial nonparametric frequency location estimates to significantly reduce the search space for the correct model order and parameter estimates. An FFT is used to obtain initial frequency region estimates. An initial overdetermined model order and initial frequency estimates are obtained using the CRB resolution limit and the FFT peaks. After iterative minimization, a post-processing step eliminates the extraneous sinusoidal modes using CRB resolution limits arii statistical detection tests. Because the algorithm searches on only a limited set of model orders and parameter regions, it is computationally tractable even for large data lengths and model orders. Simulations are provided to illustrate the performance of the proposed algorithm.
Naturalistic Cognition: A Research Paradigm for Human-Centered Design

Naturalistic thinking and knowing, the tacit, experiential, and intuitive reasoning of everyday interaction, have long been regarded as inferior to formal reason and labeled primitive, fallible, subjective, superstitious, and in some cases ineffable. But, naturalistic thinking is more rational and definable than it appears. It is also relevant to design. Inquiry into the mechanisms of naturalistic thinking and knowledge can bring its resources into focus and enable designers to create better, human-centered designs for use in real-world settings. This article makes a case for the explicit, formal study of implicit, naturalistic thinking within the fields of design. It develops a framework for defining and studying naturalistic thinking and knowledge, for integrating them into design research and practice, and for developing a more integrated, consistent theory of knowledge in design. It will (a) outline historical definitions of knowledge, attitudes toward formal and naturalistic thinking, and the difficulties presented by the co-presence of formal and naturalistic thinking in design, (b) define and contrast formal and naturalistic thinking as two distinct human cognitive systems, (c) demonstrate the importance of naturalistic cognition in formal thinking and real-world judgment, (d) demonstrate methods for researching naturalistic thinking that can be of use in design, and (e) briefly discuss the impact on design theory of admitting naturalistic thinking as valid, systematic, and knowable.
Verification of Real-Time Systems Using PVS

We present an approach to the verification of the real-time behavior of concurrent programs and describe its mechanization using the PVS proof checker. Our approach to real-time behavior extends previous verification techniques for concurrent programs by proposing a simple model for real-time computation and introducing a new operator for reasoning about absolute time. This model is formalized and mechanized within the higher-order logic of PVS. The interactive proof checker of PVS is used to develop the proofs of two illustrative examples: Fischer's real-time mutual exclusion protocol and a railroad crossing controller.
Methodological Considerations in Studying Individual and Family Resilience

This article considers four methodological issues in the study of family resilience. The first focus is on measurement, in which the psychometric properties of reliability, validity, and measurement equivalence are described. The second methodological consideration is on efforts to establish causality in the absence of experimental manipulation. Here, the authors present longitudinal panel models as a prototypical approach, describing the possibilities and challenges of this and other techniques toward inferences of causality, especially in the context of family resiliency. Third, the authors consider modeling resilience as continuous versus categorical, specifically contrasting variable-centered versus person-centered conceptualizations and analytic approaches. Fourth, the authors consider the complexities of studying family resilience due to the multilevel nature of the phenomena. The article concludes with recommendations for a diversity of methodological foci as the study of family resilience advances.
The utility of SKYLAB photo-interpreted earth resources data in studies of marine geology and coastal processes in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

The author has identified the following significant results. Three Skylab earth resources passes over Puerto Rico and St. Croix on 6 June and 30 November 1973 and 18 January 1974 resulted in color photography and multispectral photography and scanner imagery. Bathymetric and turbid water features are differentiable by use of the multispectral data. Photography allows mapping of coral reefs, offshore sand deposits, areas of coastal erosion, and patterns of sediment transport. Bottom sediment types could not be differentiated. Patterns of bottom dwelling biologic communities are well portrayed but are difficult to differentiate from bathymetric detail. Effluent discharges and oil slicks are readily detected and are differentiated from other phenomena by the persistence of their images into the longer wavelength multispectral bands.
Nonlinear calculations for bump Cepheids

Using the von Sengbusch-Stellingwerf relaxation method, hydrodynamic calculations have been made to find strictly periodic solutions for the fundamental mode pulsations of 7 M⊙ models. These models have a helium enrichment in the surface convection zones up to Y = 0.78. From the linear theory period ratio π2/π0 and the Simon and Schmidt resonance hypothesis, the observed Hertzsprung progression of light and velocity curve bump phase with period should result. These surface helium enhanced models show the proper nonlinear bump phase behavior without resort to any mass loss before or during the blue loop phases of yellow giant evolution. At 6000 K and the luminosity of 4744 L⊙ given by evolution theory for 7 M⊙ (that is, at a fundamental mode period of 8.5 day), the velocity curve bump is well after the maximum expansion velocity. At 5400 K and the same luminosity (period of 12.5 day), the bump on the velocity curve occurs well before maximum expansion velocity time. The Christyechoes appear to be exhibited in the latter case but not in the former. The echo interpretation may not be appropriate for these masses which are larger than the anomalous masses used by Christy (1975); Stobie (1969a, 1969b); and Adams (1978). Resonance of the fundamental and second overtone modes should not necessarily show echoes of surface disturbances from the center. The conclusion is that helium enrichment in the surface convection zones can adequately explain observations of bump Cepheids at evolution theory masses.
A single-channel ROM-based complex digital filter implementation in the quadratic residue number systems

The implementation of complex digital filters using the quadratic residue number system (QRNs) and modified quadratic residue number system (MQRNS) is considered. These QRNS/MQRNS-based filter architectures are memory-intensive because the lookup-table approach has been used in the filter implementation. If the required number of lookup tables is reduced to a reasonable extent, single-chip VLSI implementation of such architectures may become practically feasible. A dual-clock computational module has been proposed to reduce the number of memory requirements in the QRNS/MQRNS-based complex digital filters. A direct FIR (finite-impulse response) filter architecture has been implemented using the proposed computational module in the QRNS and MQRNS schemes. >
Variation in hippocampal glial cell numbers in food‐caching birds from different climates

Enhancements to memory are associated with enhanced neural structures that support those capabilities. A great deal of work has examined this relationship in the context of natural variation in spatial memory capability and hippocampal (Hp) structure. Most studies have focused on volumetric and neuron measures, but have seldom examined the role of glial cells. Once considered involved only in supportive functions associated with neurons, the importance of glial cells in cognitive processes, including memory, is gaining more attention. Building upon our previous study on the relationship between the brain, memory, and environmental severity in food-caching birds, we compared the total number of Hp glial cells in wild-sampled and in lab-reared (common garden) black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) originating from two different environmental extremes. We found that birds from more harsh climate tended to have significantly more Hp glial cells than those from more mild climate and that lab-reared chickadees had significantly fewer Hp glial cells compared to the wild-sampled birds. These results suggest that population differences in glial numbers may be controlled, at least in part, by heritable mechanisms, but glial numbers appear to be additionally regulated by an individual's environment. The pattern of Hp glial cell abundance among our treatment groups closely followed that of the Hp volume, suggesting that Hp glial cell number may be associated with the Hp volume. Unlike Hp neurons, however, the number of Hp glial cells may be, at least in part, affected by an individual's experiences and environment. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 73: 480–485, 2013
Differential flatness and absolute equivalence

In this paper we give a formulation of differential flatness-a concept originally introduced by Fliess, Levine, Martin, and Rouchon (1992)-in terms of absolute equivalence between exterior differential systems. Systems which are differentially flat have several useful properties which can be exploited to generate effective control strategies for nonlinear systems. The original definition of flatness was given in the context of differential algebra, and required that all mappings be meromorphic functions. Our formulation of flatness does not require any algebraic structure and allows one to use tools from exterior differential systems to help characterize differentially flat systems. In particular, we show that in the case of single input control systems (i.e., codimension 2 Pfaffian systems), a system is differentially flat if and only if it is feedback linearizable via static state feedback. However, in higher codimensions feedback linearizability and flatness are not equivalent: one must be careful with the role of time as well the use of prolongations which may not be realizable as dynamic feedbacks in a control setting. Applications of differential flatness to nonlinear control systems and open questions are also discussed. >
Sites of Normalcy: Understanding Online Education as Prosthetic Technology

Research on online education in relation to disability has, importantly, focused on issues of access and usability. This article seeks to complicate this research by examining the ways in which online education participates in an ideology of normalcy. Toward this end, we first describe online education as a site that promotes normalcy through its material practices of marginalization. We then extend this reading by analyzing how cultural narratives about online education function as discursive sites of normalcy by marking both online education and its users as less-than substitutes for the "real" versions. By constructing online education as a prosthetic technology, these narratives persuade marginalized bodies to recognize themselves as problems in need of solution, yet this reading itself becomes open to revision when we consider how the complexities of embodiment challenge an understanding of normalcy as a determinate discursive force.
Risiken der Industrie 4.0 – Eine Strukturierung von Bedrohungsszenarien der Smart Factory

Die zunehmende Automatisierung und Digitalisierung von Produktionsablaufen durch Vernetzung eingebetteter Systeme und deren Anbindung an webbasierte Dienste verspricht flexible, individualisierbare und gleichzeitig wirtschaftlich effiziente Fertigungsmoglichkeiten. Sogenannte cyber-physische Produktionssysteme schaffen hierbei die Verbindung von physischer und virtueller Welt, wodurch zugleich komplexe Abhangigkeiten zwischen Produktion, Informationsnetzen und Menschen uber die gesamte Wertschopfung hinweg entstehen. Demnach konnen lokal auftretende Risiken eine Bedrohung fur unternehmensubergreifende Produktionsprozesse darstellen. Die technischen Moglichkeiten der Industrie 4.0 erfordern daher eine Anpassung des Sicherheitsmanagements an die vernetzte und hochautomatisierte Fertigung unter Berucksichtigung des Schutzes der Informations- und Betriebssicherheit. Vor diesem Hintergrund wird im vorliegenden Beitrag ein Strukturierungsansatz vorgestellt, mit dem Bedrohungsszenarien der Smart Factory systematisch analysiert werden konnen. Hierbei erfolgt eine Strukturierung von sicherheitsrelevanten Bedrohungen, beeintrachtigten Schutzzielen, Ausbreitungseffekten und Sicherheitsmasnahmen. Des Weiteren wird die Anwendbarkeit des Strukturierungsansatzes anhand von zwei realen Beispielen von Unternehmen der Fertigungsautomatisierung aufgezeigt. Abschliesend werden allgemeine Handlungsempfehlungen fur das Sicherheitsmanagement abgeleitet.
SIPPOS (single poly pure CMOS) EEPROM embedded FPGA by news ring interconnection and highway path

A FPGA architecture of two key features is developed. The one is non-volatility with thousands cycles of reprogramming by SIPPOS (single poly pure CMOS) EEPROM which is by standard CMOS process and does not require any additional processing, the other high efficiency of routing/wiring and high speed/low power consumption by a unique hierarchical structure of NEWS (north, east, west, south) ring interconnection and highway path which minimizes number of transfer gates in a path. They are applied to prototype chip design. By this architecture, low cost, non-volatile, high speed and low power FPGA is realized. >
A Subregion of Reelin Suppresses Lipoprotein-Induced Cholesterol Accumulation in Macrophages

Activation of apolipoprotein E receptor-2 (apoER2) and very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) inhibits foam cell formation. Reelin is a ligand of these receptors. Here we generated two reelin subregions containing the receptor binding domain with or without its C-terminal region (R5-6C and R5-6, respectively) and studied the impact of these peptides on macrophage cholesterol metabolism. We found that both R5-6C and R5-6 can be secreted by cells. Purified R5-6 protein can bind apoER2 and VLDLR. Overexpression of apoER2 in macrophages increased the amount of R5-6 bound to the cell surface. Treatment of macrophages with 0.2 μg/ml R5-6 elevated ATP binding cassette A1 (ABCA1) protein level by ~72% and apoAI-mediated cholesterol efflux by ~39%. In addition, the medium harvested from cells overexpressing R5-6 or R5-6C (R5-6- and R5-6C-conditioned media, respectively) also up-regulated ABCA1 protein expression, which was associated with accelerated cholesterol efflux and enhanced phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) and specificity protein-1 (Sp1) in macrophages. The increased ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux by R5-6- and R5-6C-conditioned media were diminished by Sp1 or PI3K inhibitors mithramycin A and LY294002. Further, the cholesterol accumulation induced by apoB-containing, apoE-free lipoproteins was significantly less in macrophages incubated with R5-6- or R5-6C-conditioned medium than in those incubated with control conditioned medium. Knockdown of apoER2 or VLDLR attenuated the inhibitory role of R5-6-conditioned medium against lipoprotein-induced cholesterol accumulation. These results suggest that the reelin subregion R5-6 can serve as a tool for studying the role of apoER2 and VLDLR in atherogenesis.
TURN-BY-TURN BEAM EXTRACTION DURING ACCELERATION IN A SYNCHROTRON

A synchrotron to accelerate protons or carbon ions for medical applications is being designed at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). Single beam bunches with maximum beam energy of 1.18 GeV and 400 MeV/u for protons and carbon ions respectively will be extracted from the synchrotron at 15 Hz. For protons, the maximum required energy for irradiating a tumor is ∼206 MeV. A pencil-like proton beam containing ∼5.4×107 p/bunch delivers a therapeutic dose of 2.5 Gy in ∼1.5 minutes to treat a tumor of 1 liter volume. It will take ∼80 minutes with bunches containing 4.5×104 ions/bunch to deliver the same dose of 2.5 Gy with a 400 MeV/u pencil-like carbon beam. This extended treatment time when using carbon ions is not acceptable. In addition, the synchrotron cannot be controlled with a beam bunch containing such a low number of carbon ions. To overcome these two problems of the extended treatment time and the low bunch intensity required for the treatment when carbon ions are used, we have devised a method to “peel” the required 4.5×104 carbon-ions/bunch from the accelerating carbon beam bunch containing ∼108 ions/bunch and deliver them to the tumor on a “turn-by-turn” basis. Unlike other methods of beam extraction from a synchrotron, such as resonance extraction, this method does not allow for any beam losses during the extraction and the carbon beam can be peeled off in less than 15 ms during the acceleration or deceleration cycle of the synchrotron. Thus, this turn-by-turn beam extraction method provides beam with variable energy and precisely controlled beam current during the 30 ms acceleration or deceleration time.
Optimization Procedure for the Analysis of Coherent Structures

The determination of the reliability level at which to manufacture the components of a coherent structure so that the system reliability h(p) is at a certain level and the overall system cost is minimized is considered. The cost of utilizing component ci at reliability level pi, Ci(pi), is assumed to be a convex increasing function of pi with a continuous first derivative and Ci'(qi)>0 where qi is the lower bound on the reliability level for component ci. Since for most coherent structures the constraint set defines a nonconvex set, any mathematical programming procedure blindly applied to the program converges to a local optimum rather than a global optimum. However, in certain cases, the global optimum can be found for the series and parallel (SP) type of systems. The key to the solution is to optimize each module separately and then to substitute a component for each module where the cost function for the component is the value of the objective function for the module. As long as the cost function for each module maintains the convexity property with In R or In(1 - R) as the argument (R being the reliability of the module), the optimization procedure can continue and a global optimum found.
The evolution of human nutrition.

This issue of Current Biology addresses the biology of food. Scientific and public interest in food covers many different perspectives, but since there is no discipline of food, food research tends to be carried out separately in such areas as ecology, physiology, and the neurosciences. The integration promised by Current Biology’s multiple reviews is therefore particularly valuable.
Decomposing trimmed surfaces using the Voronoï diagram and a scan line algorithm

Many applications deal with the rendering of trimmed surfaces and the generation of grids for trimmed surfaces. Usually, a structured or unstructured grid must be constructed in the parameter space of the trimmed surface. Trimmed surfaces not only cause problems in the context of grid generation but also when exchanging data between different CAD systems. This paper describes a new approach for decomposing the valid part of the parameter space of a trimmed surface into a set of four-sided surfaces. The boundaries of these four-sided surfaces are line segments, segments of the trimming curves themselves, and segments of bisecting curves that are defined by a generalized Voronoi diagram implied by the trimming curves in parameter space. We use a triangular background mesh for the computation of the bisecting curves of the generalized Voronoi diagram.
On relationships between fixation identification algorithms and fractal box counting methods

Fixation identification algorithms facilitate data comprehension and provide analytical convenience in eye-tracking analysis. However, current fixation algorithms for eye-tracking analysis are heavily dependent on parameter choices, leading to instabilities in results and incompleteness in reporting.This work examines the nature of human scanning patterns during complex scene viewing. We show that standard implementations of the commonly used distance-dispersion algorithm for fixation identification are functionally equivalent to greedy spatiotemporal tiling. We show that modeling the number of fixations as a function of tiling size leads to a measure of fractal dimensionality through box counting. We apply this technique to examine scale-free gaze behaviors in toddlers and adults looking at images of faces and blocks, as well as large number of adults looking at movies or static images.The distributional aspects of the number of fixations may suggest a fractal structure to gaze patterns in free scanning and imply that the incompleteness of standard algorithms may be due to the scale-free behaviors of the underlying scanning distributions. We discuss the nature of this hypothesis, its limitations, and offer directions for future work.
Rheology of mineral oil-SiO2 nanofluids at high pressure and high temperatures

Abstract Nanofluids, engineered colloidal suspensions of nano-sized particles (less than 100 nm) dispersed in a basefluid, have shown potential for use as industrial cooling fluids due to their enhanced heat transfer capabilities. Many industrial applications often involve heat transfer fluids at pressures and temperatures above average atmospheric condition. Understanding the rheological characteristics of nanofluids is necessary for implementing them in these extreme conditions. Even though the effect of temperature on the viscosity of nanofluids at atmospheric pressure has been well studied, viscosity measurements of nanofluids at elevated pressures and temperatures have not yet been investigated. This work investigates the rheological characteristics of mineral oil based nanofluids at high pressure and high temperature (HPHT). The nanofluids used in this work were prepared by mechanically dispersing commercially available SiO2 nanoparticles (∼20 nm) in a highly refined paraffinic mineral oil (Therm Z-32, QALCO QATAR), which has wide applications in industrial heat exchangers. Mineral oil and nanofluids, with two volume concentrations of 1% and 2%, are studied in this work. The rheological characteristics of the basefluid and nanofluids are measured using an HPHT viscometer. During experimentation, viscosity values of the nanofluids are measured at pressures of 100 kPa and 42 MPa, with temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 140 °C, and at varying shear rates. The results show that the viscosity values of both nanofluids, as well as the basefluid, increased as the pressure increased. In addition, nanofluids exhibit non-Newtonian characteristics at elevated temperatures and pressures.
Tröger’s Base Twisted Amides: Endo Functionalization and Synthesis of an Inverted Crown Ether

Taking advantage of the unconventional reactivity of twisted mono- and bis-amides of Troger's base (TB), rac-6 and rac-7, respectively, the first synthesis of a 6-endo-monosubstituted TB analogue, rac-9, and the first rational synthesis of a 6,12-endo,endo-disubstituted TB analogue, rac-11, have been achieved. The bis-TB crown ether, meso-13, was prepared starting from rac-7. Meso-13 constitutes a rare example of a crown ether with an inverted methylene bridge-to-bridge bis-TB conformation both in solution and in the solid state, resulting in a reluctance to act as a receptor for cations.
Order parameter of holmium in a magnetic field

Abstract The order parameter of the second order magnetic phase transition in Ho at 131 K has been measured in a magnetic field by neutron diffraction. It was expected that the applied field would change the number of components (n) of the order parameter from four to two. Such a change would be visible in the order parameter exponent β. However, in a field of 40 kOe, β is found to be 0.38 ± 0.02, in agreement with the zero field measurement and with an n = 4 model and in contradiction to an n = 2 model.
The Exclusion Controversy, Pamphleteering, and Locke's Two Treatises

It is now more than twenty years since Peter Laslett argued that the Exclusion controversy and not the Revolution of 1688 was the occasion of the composition of Locke's Two treatises. Nevertheless, scholarly interpretations still resist treating Two treatises as mainly an activist tract and persist in characterizing it always as something loftier, viz. ‘political philosophy’, ‘systematic moral apologia’, and the like. Resistance to the implications of a rigorous historical mode of interpretation is surely part of the problem. The perennial or transcendent purposes with which the classics are haloed often get diminished in too specific an historical location of the motives and situation of the author. Oddly, however, even critics friendly to a strictly historical approach have hesitated before the implications of Laslett's dicta that Locke wrote as a whig pamphleteer and for Shaftesbury's purposes. This, in turn, parallels the widespread contempt felt by many contemporary English historians (Locke's interpreters among them) for the early whigs. Righteous indignation against the whigs is even detectable in those modern writings from which we take our view of the whig Exclusion pamphleteers.
Polystyrene End-Labeled with 2,7-Dibromofluorene Synthesized Using an Adaptation of Reverse Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Polystyrene with high amounts of end-labeling was synthesized using initiating systems comprised of conventional radical initiators and 2,7-dibromofluorene or other fluorene derivatives in an adaptation of reverse atom transfer radical polymerization (RATRP). Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) or 2,2'-azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN) were decomposed and allowed to react with 2,7-dibromofluorene, 2-bromofluorene, or fluorene in the presence of ligand-bound CuX 2 allowing for abstraction of the 9-H from the fluorenyl species and the establishment of an equilibrium between the subsequent active radical and the dormant alkyl halide. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) traces indicated CuCl 2 -catalyzed reactions produced polymers possessing narrow polydispersity index (PDI) values 1.7). Analysis of the polymers using UV-vis spectroscopy and UV-GPC demonstrated competition between initiation from both the conventional radical initiator and fluorenyl species generating polymers end-labeled with both the 2,7-dibromofluorene and isobutyronitrile groups. Fluorene or 2-bromofluorene as co-initiators led to lowered amounts of end-labeling, but the polymers generally possessed lower PDI values compared to 2,7-dibromofluorene systems.
Identification of Suicidal Ideation and Prevention of Suicidal Behaviour in the Elderly

In almost all industrialised countries, men aged 75 years and older have the highest suicide rate among all age groups. Although in younger age groups suicide attempts are often impulsive and communicative acts, suicide attempts in older people (defined as aged 65 years and older) are often long planned and involve high-lethality methods. These characteristics, in addition to the fact that elderly are more fragile and frequently live alone, more often lead to fatal outcome. In later life, in both sexes, the most common diagnosis in those who attempt or complete suicide is major depression. In contrast to other age groups, comorbidity with substance abuse and personality disorders is less frequent. Physical illness plays an important role in the suicidal behaviour of the elderly: most frequently, depression and illness co-occur; less often, the physical illness or the treating medications are causally related to the depressive symptoms. However, only 2 to 4% of terminally ill elderly commit suicide. In addition to physical illness, complicated or traumatic grief, anxiety, unremitting hopelessness after recovery from a depressive episode and history of previous suicide attempts are risk factors for suicide attempts and completed suicide. During a depressive episode, elderly patients with suicidal ideation have higher levels of anxiety and, during treatment, anxiety decreases the probability of remission and recovery. As well as overt suicide attempts, indirect self-destructive behaviours, which often lead to premature death, are common, especially in residents of nursing homes, where more immediate means to commit suicide are restricted. Although we do not have randomised trials of treatment, studies suggest that antidepressant treatment may decrease suicide risk. Prevention and treatment trials are underway to detect the effectiveness of improved treatment of depression by primary care physicians as a means of reducing the prevalence of depressive symptoms, hopelessness and suicidal ideation.
Current generation by unidirectional lower hybrid waves in the ACT-1 toroidal device

An unambiguious experimental observation of current generation by unidirectional lower hybrid waves in a toroidal plasma is reported. Up to 10 amperes of current was driven by 500 watts of rf power at 160 MHz.
Managerial Rationale for Entry and the Relation to Performance and Small-Business Lending

In a survey of banks founded from 1994–2002, we find over 85% of respondents think their small-business market was underserved, 72% felt the market needed more competition, almost half indicated they were likely to start a bank because takeover activity displaced them, and 75% entered due to a market merger. Markets of banks started by displaced managers or following a merger have performance and lending characteristics similar to comparable banks, but larger changes in asset growth rates. Managers who responded that small-businesses were underserved have higher numbers and amounts of small-business loans 3 years after entry. Managers responding that entry was due to mergers eliminating community banks have lower ROA, but larger changes in market ROA. Markets had smaller changes in ROA when entry was to provide competition or when managers thought the small business market was underserved.
Intramolecular transfer of high energy in cellulose

The intramolecular transfer of high energy in purified cotton cellulose has been demonstrated to occur over distances several times greater than the length of the b axis of a cellobiose unit. The electron spin resonance spectra of fibrous benzoylated cotton cellulose have shown that the concentrations of free radicals initiated in the cellulosic molecule by γ-radiation from Co60 are decreased by the presence of substituted benzoyl groups spaced at least as far apart as 70–80 A. The retention of the breaking strength of fibrous cotton cellulose on exposure to γ-radiation is increased by substitution of benzoyl groups on the cellulose molecule. The substitution of benzoyl groups, spaced at least as far apart as 10–20 A., results in about 80% retention of the initial strength of the fibrous cellulose at dosages as high as 1.3 × 1021 e.v./g. cellulose, as compared with about 20% retention of the initial strength of unsubstituted cellulose at the same dosage. Based on the breaking strengths of the irradiated fibrous celluloses, at a dosage of 1.3 × 1021 e.v./g. cellulose, the average calculated distances between molecular cleavages are increased from about 500 A. for unsubstituted cellulose to about 3000 A. for benzoylated cellulose (degree of substitution 2.0). These energy transfer effects in cellulose of high molecular weight indicate that polymeric carbohydrates can be radioprotected.
Adenylate cyclase in human cytotrophoblasts: characterization and its role in modulating human chorionic gonadotropin secretion.

Our previous work demonstrated that 8-bromocAMP promotes the secretion of both hCG and progesterone by cultured cytotrophoblasts. This study was conducted to characterize the adenylate cyclase of cytotrophoblasts and to examine the effects of agents that stimulate adenylate cyclase on hCG secretion. Adenylate cyclase activity was detected in purified cytotrophoblasts, as were membrane-bound stimulatory and inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins, G8 and Gi. Adenylate cyclase was stimulated by MnCl2 and MgCl2, and the effects of MgCl2 were amplified by the GTP analog guanylylimidodiphosphate. Cholera toxin stimulated both cAMP and hCG production by cultured cytotrophoblasts, confirming the coupling of G8 to the adenylate cyclase. Forskolin also stimulated adenylate cyclase, cAMP synthesis, and hCG secretion. Pertussis toxin did not affect hCG secretion in either the absence or presence of forskolin. 8-Bromo-cAMP stimulated cytotrophoblast protein kinase activity, resulting in the increased phosph...
AAC&U's Integrative Liberal Learning and the CAS Standards: Advising for a 21st Century Liberal Education

The Association of American Colleges and Universities presented and promoted integrative liberal learning as a collaborative goal that all institutions of higher education must strive to achieve. The similarities between the goals of integrative liberal learning and the Standards for Academic Advising by the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education are discussed with emphasis placed on the critical role that academic advising plays in support of an integrative liberal learning education, and in turn, future success for all students.
Graph-Theoretic Approach to Stochastic Integrals with Clifford Algebras

Given a fixed probability space (Ω,ℱ,ℙ) and m≥1, let X(t) be an L2(Ω) process satisfying necessary regularity conditions for existence of the mth iterated stochastic integral. For real-valued processes, these existence conditions are known from the work of D. Engel. Engel’s work is extended here to L2(Ω) processes defined on Clifford algebras of arbitrary signature (p,q), which reduce to the real case when p=q=0. These include as special cases processes on the complex numbers, quaternion algebra, finite fermion algebras, fermion Fock spaces, space-time algebra, the algebra of physical space, and the hypercube. Next, a graph-theoretic approach to stochastic integrals is developed in which the mth iterated stochastic integral corresponds to the limit in mean of a collection of weighted closed m-step walks on a growing sequence of graphs. Combinatorial properties of the Clifford geometric product are then used to create adjacency matrices for these graphs in which the appropriate weighted walks are recovered naturally from traces of matrix powers. Given real-valued L2(Ω) processes, Hermite and Poisson-Charlier polynomials are recovered in this manner.
Fuzzy matroid sums and a greedy algorithm

Abstract In this paper we establish a necessary and sufficient condition for a greedy algorithm to find a maximal basis for a fuzzy matroid.