cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A pilot investigation of audiovisual processing and multisensory integration in patients with inherited retinal dystrophies.

In this study, we examined audiovisual (AV) processing in normal and visually impaired individuals who exhibit partial loss of vision due to inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs). Two groups were analyzed for this pilot study: Group 1 was composed of IRD participants: two with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (RP), two with autosomal recessive cone-rod dystrophy (CORD), and two with the related complex disorder, Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS); Group 2 was composed of 15 non-IRD participants (controls). Audiovisual looming and receding stimuli (conveying perceptual motion) were used to assess the cortical processing and integration of unimodal (A or V) and multimodal (AV) sensory cues. Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to simultaneously resolve the temporal and spatial characteristics of AV processing and assess differences in neural responses between groups. Measurement of AV integration was accomplished via quantification of the EEG’s spectral power and event-related brain potentials (ERPs). Results show that IRD individuals exhibit reduced AV integration for concurrent audio and visual (AV) stimuli but increased brain activity during the unimodal A (but not V) presentation. This was corroborated in behavioral responses, where IRD patients showed slower and less accurate judgments of AV and V stimuli but more accurate responses in the A-alone condition. Collectively, our findings imply a neural compensation from auditory sensory brain areas due to visual deprivation.
Mechanotransducing Ion Channels

Mechanical transduction is the most widespread sensory modality in animals. Specialized organs of the cochlea (Hudspeth, 1983) and vestibular system provide our sense of hearing and local gravity. Our sense of touch and vibration, particularly in the skin, is mediated by a variety of specialized mechanosensors and possibly free nerve endings (Iggo and Andres, 1982). Muscle tension is transduced by Ia afferent nerves in muscle spindles, while tendon tension is transduced by Golgi tendon organs. Joint position is transduced by poorly understood receptors in the joint capsule. The inflation of hollow organs is reported by sensory nerves of the autonomic nervous system, although the location of the actual transducers is not known and may reside in nerve cells, muscle cells, or other types of supporting cells. Inflation of blood vessels is used to measure blood pressure. Inflation of the lung, gut, bladder, mammary glands, and probably cerebrospinal fluid all provides essential feedback for autonomic regulation. Osmoregulation at the systemic level and cell volume itself (Kregenow, 1981) are likely to be controlled by feedback from membrane tension.
Applications of trace estimation techniques

We discuss various applications of trace estimation techniques for evaluating functions of the form \(\mathtt {tr}(f(A))\) where f is certain function. The first problem we consider that can be cast in this form is that of approximating the Spectral density or Density of States (DOS) of a matrix. The DOS is a probability density distribution that measures the likelihood of finding eigenvalues of the matrix at a given point on the real line, and it is an important function in solid state physics. We also present a few non-standard applications of spectral densities. Other trace estimation problems we discuss include estimating the trace of a matrix inverse \(\mathtt {tr}(A^{-1})\), the problem of counting eigenvalues and estimating the rank, and approximating the log-determinant (trace of log function). We also discuss a few similar computations that arise in machine learning applications. We review two computationally inexpensive methods to compute traces of matrix functions, namely, the Chebyshev expansion and the Lanczos Quadrature methods. A few numerical examples are presented to illustrate the performances of these methods in different applications.
Comparative assessment of the influence of Nd3+ and Er3+ ions on the thermal quenching of Cu+ photoluminescence in phosphate glass

Abstract A comparative analysis was carried out on the influence of temperature on the photoluminescence (PL) of Cu+ ions in phosphate glass co-doped with either Nd3+ or Er3+. The data revealed a lower activation energy for the thermal quenching of Cu+ PL in the Nd3+-containing glass for Cu+ sites emitting in resonance with 4I9/2 → 4G5/2 + 2G7/2 absorption in Nd3+ ions. In contrast, a similar evaluation for the Cu+/Er3+ co-doped glass for Cu+ PL in resonance with relevant 4I15/2 → 4F9/2 Er3+ absorption produces results comparable to the reference glass without rare earth ions. The current results suggest that the efficient Cu+ → Nd3+ non-radiative transfer reported supports a deactivation of the resonant Cu+ emitting states with increasing temperature.
Application of a validated predictive model for venous thrombo-embolism in cancer to patients with glioblastoma.

2073 Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with Glioblastoma (GBM). Despite a 7-28% incidence of VTE in GBM, there is no data to initiate ...
Strength size effect and post-peak softening in textile composites analyzed by cohesive zone and crack band models

Abstract In contrast to metals, the failure behavior of textile composites is quasibrittle, which entails salient structural behaviors such as the strength size effect and post peak softening. This paper presents a detailed account of numerical analysis of these aspects in woven textile composites undergoing translaminar tensile fracturing. Two of the most established fracture modeling techniques viz. the cohesive zone model (CZM) and the crack band model (CBM) are evaluated in this regard. The predictions from both techniques are compared to each other as well as to available test data on various woven composites. With a linear softening law CZM and CBM are seen to yield virtually identical results. A linear softening law is seen to be adequate to predict the strength size effect but it is not always able to accurately capture the full post-peak softening. Adapting a bilinear softening law, formulated via the R-curve approach, is seen to improve the post-peak softening predictions. Subsequently, it is shown that various numerical and physical parameters, such as the finite element type, manner of time integration (implicit vs explicit), mesh size, fracture energy, the crack band width, mass scaling, and stress state assumption could have a significant effect on the accuracy of the results, if set sub-optimally. Accordingly, recommendations for optimal settings are made.
Transcriptomic analysis of brain tissues identifies a role for CCAAT enhancer binding protein β in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) persist in the era of combined antiretroviral therapy (ART) despite reductions in viral load (VL) and overall disease severity. The mechanisms underlying HAND in the ART era are not well understood but are likely multifactorial, involving alterations in common pathways such as inflammation, autophagy, neurogenesis, and mitochondrial function. Newly developed omics approaches hold potential to identify mechanisms driving neuropathogenesis of HIV in the ART era. In this study, using 33 postmortem frontal cortex (FC) tissues, neuropathological, molecular, and biochemical analyses were used to determine cellular localization and validate expression levels of the prolific transcription factor (TF), CCAAT enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) β, in brain tissues from HIV+ cognitively normal and HAND cases. RNA sequencing (seq) and transcriptomic analyses were performed on FC tissues including 24 specimens from well-characterized people with HIV that had undergone neurocognitive assessments. In vitro models for brain cells were used to investigate the role of C/EBPβ in mediating gene expression. The most robust signal for TF dysregulation was observed in cases diagnosed with minor neurocognitive disorder (MND) compared to cognitive normal (CN) cases. Of particular interest, due to its role in inflammation, autophagy and neurogenesis, C/EBPβ was significantly upregulated in MND compared to CN brains. C/EBPβ was increased at the protein level in HAND brains. C/EBPβ levels were significantly reduced in neurons and increased in astroglia in HAND brains compared to CN. Transfection of human astroglial cells with a plasmid expressing C/EBPβ induced expression of multiple targets identified in the transcriptomic analysis of HAND brains, including dynamin-1-like protein (DNM1L) and interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1. Recombinant HIV-Tat reduced and increased C/EBPβ levels in neuronal and astroglial cells, respectively. These findings are the first to present RNAseq-based transcriptomic analyses of HIV+ brain tissues, providing further evidence of altered neuroinflammation, neurogenesis, mitochondrial function, and autophagy in HAND. Interestingly, these studies confirm a role for CEBPβ in regulating inflammation, metabolism, and autophagy in astroglia. Therapeutic strategies aimed at transcriptional regulation of astroglia or downstream pathways may provide relief to HIV+ patients at risk for HAND and other neurological disorders.
Retrospective Analysis of the Test of Memory Malingering in a Low Intellectual Quotient Intractable Epilepsy Sample.

Objective The Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) is commonly used by neuropsychologists (Sharland, M. J., & Gfeller, J. D. (2007). A survey of neuropsychologists' beliefs and practices with respect to the assessment of effort. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 22 (2), 213-223); however there is variable research regarding its use in low intelligence and epileptic populations (Hill, S. K., Ryan, L. M., Kennedy, C. H., & Malamut, B. L. (2003). The relationship between measures of declarative memory and the Test of Memory Malingering in patients with and without temporal lobe dysfunction. Journal of Forensic Neuropsychology, 3 (3), 1-18; Hurley, K. E., & Deal, W. P. (2006). Assessment instruments measuring malingering used with individuals who have mental retardation: Potential problems and issues. Mental Retardation, 44 (2), 112-119; Simon, M. J. (2007). Performance of mentally retarded forensic patients on the Test of Memory Malingering. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 63 (4), 339-344). The present study evaluates whether the standard TOMM cutoffs are resistant to low estimated IQ (≤80) in a clinical sample of patients with intractable epilepsy. A second aim is to decipher possible relationships between the TOMM and memory performance. Methods Retrospective data analysis was conducted between 2010 and 2019 on 42 adults with intractable epilepsy who completed a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation as part of screening procedures for epilepsy surgery. IQ estimates and TOMM were administered to all participants. Some were also administered memory- and mood-related measures. Results Traditional TOMM cutoffs demonstrated excellent specificity with only one participant scoring below the cutoff score on the Retention Trial, but not on Trial 2. The TOMM significantly correlated with several scores on various memory tests. Conclusions The TOMM may be appropriate for use in low intellectually functioning populations with intractable epilepsy given the excellent specificity seen in this study. Future studies may seek to better understand the relationship between TOMM and memory performance in other low-functioning populations.
Masses of doubly heavy tetraquarks with error bars

In the heavy-quark limit, the two heavy quarks in a doubly heavy baryon or a doubly heavy tetraquark are bound by their color-Coulomb potential into a compact diquark. The doubly heavy hadrons are related by the approximate heavy-quark--diquark symmetry of QCD to the heavy hadrons obtained by replacing the heavy diquark by a heavy antiquark. Effective field theories can be used to expand the masses of singly heavy hadrons and doubly heavy hadrons in inverse powers of the heavy-quark masses. The coefficients in the expansions for doubly heavy tetraquarks can be determined from those for heavy mesons, heavy baryons, and doubly heavy baryons using heavy-quark--diquark symmetry. We predict the masses of the ground-state doubly heavy tetraquarks with error bars using as inputs the masses of heavy mesons and heavy baryons measured in experiments and the masses of doubly heavy baryons calculated using lattice QCD. The only doubly heavy tetraquarks predicted to be stable with respect to strong decays are $bb$ tetraquarks with light flavor $\overline{u}\overline{d}$, $\overline{s}\overline{u}$, and $\overline{s}\overline{d}$.
Cancer in the Time of Coronavirus: A Call for Crisis Oncology Standards of Care

Since the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) was identified as a global pandemic, health systems have been severely strained, particularly affecting vulnerable populations such as patients with cancer. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a variety of oncology specialty societies are making recommendations for standards of care. These diverse standards and gaps in standards can lead to inconsistent and heterogeneous care among governments, cancer centers, and even among oncologists within the same practice. These challenges highlight the need for a common nomenclature and crisis guidelines. For times of increased scarcity of resources, the National Academy of Medicine developed Crisis Standards of Care, defined as fairness, duty to care, duty to steward resources, transparency, consistency, proportionality, and accountability. However, we believe there is an urgent need to develop cancer-specific guidelines by convening a panel of experts from multiple specialties. These would be Crisis Oncology Standards of Care (COSCs) that are sensitive to both the individual cancer patient and to the broader health system in times of scarce resources, such as pandemic, natural disaster, or supply chain disruptions.
Electrical Stimulation Evokes Rotational Behavior In Tandem with Exocytotic-like Increases in Dopamine Measured by In Vivo Intracerebral Microdialysis

Abstract Background Electrical Stimulation is a traditional tool in neuroscience and is commonly used in vivo to evoke behavior and in vitro to study neural mechanisms. In vivo intracerebral microdialysis, also a traditional technique, is used to assay neurotransmitter release. However, the combination of these techniques is highly limited to studies using anesthetized animals; therefore, evoking and measuring exocytotic neurotransmitter release in awake models is lacking. Combining these techniques in an awake animal preparation is presented here with evidence to support the mechanistic action of electrical stimulation in vivo. New Methods This report presents converging evidence to validate the combination of intracerebral electrical stimulation with microdialysis as a novel procedure to study exocytotic-like dopamine release in behaving animals. Results It is shown that electrical stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle can be used to evoke frequency- and intensity-dependent exocytotic-like dopamine overflow and rotational behavior that are sensitive to Na+ channel blockade and Ca++ availability. Comparison with Existing Methods Studies using modern techniques to evoke neurotransmitter release, combined with in vivo intracerebral microdialysis, and measured behavioral output are scarce. In contrast, commonly used pharmacological methods often are less precise and inefficient to evoke exocytotic dopamine release and behavior. Here we demonstrate, the combination of in vivo intracerebral microdialysis with electrical stimulation as a simple approach to simultaneously assess physiologically relevant neurotransmitter ‘release’ and behavior. Conclusions Research that aims to understand how dopamine neurotransmission is altered in behavioral disorders can utilize this innovative combination of electrical stimulation with in vivo intracerebral microdialysis.
Solution of the first-order conditional moment closure for multiphase reacting flows using quadrature-based moment methods

Abstract The quadrature-based semi-analytical solution for the conditional moment closure (SA-CMC) given in (A. D. Ilgun, A. Passalacqua, and R. O. Fox, “A quadrature-based conditional moment closure for mixing-sensitive reactions,” Chem. Eng. Sci., 226, 2020) eliminates the additional conditioning-space discretization in CMC applications by assuming that the mixture-fraction PDF is well represented by a β-PDF. A Gaussian quadrature provides the mixture-fraction abscissae, and the conditional scalar mean is expressed in terms of Jacobi polynomials. Here, by preserving the computational efficiency of SA-CMC, a novel quadrature-based moment method (QBMM-CMC) is developed for CMC applications, which does not assume the form of the mixture-fraction PDF. Remarkably, by solving the closed forms for the micromixing terms from CMC, exact expressions result for the mixture-fraction moments of any order. Thus, QBMM-CMC covers cases where the mixture-fraction PDF cannot be well represented by a β-PDF and can be applied to disperse multiphase flows with mass transfer (e.g., droplet evaporation). For single-phase and multiphase pure-mixing problems, the QBMM-CMC mixture-fraction moments are observed to deviate from the β-PDF. For single-phase mixing with and without dispersed-phase mass transfer, QBMM-CMC predictions for mixing-sensitive competitive-consecutive and parallel reactions are investigated parametrically.
Iconography of domesticated sunflower.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is indigenous to the New World with domesticated types characterized by a single stem with a large seed head. Archeological evidence has indicted that domestication occurred in the Eastern United States. However, images of domesticated sunflower are found in a pre-Hispanic Aztec stone sculpture, various 16th century images from New Spain (present day Mexico), and 16th century European herbals based on imported seed. Iconographic, linguistic, and archaeological evidence confirm that the domesticated types were known by the Aztec previous to the conquest of Cortes in 1522. This evidence suggests either an independent domestication of sunflower in Mexico or a pre-Hispanic migration from North America.
Brain and Behavior Correlates of Risk Taking in Pediatric Anxiety Disorders

Avoidant behavior is a defining feature of pediatric anxiety disorders. Although prior research has examined it from the perspective of early information processing events, there has been relatively less consideration of the processes by which anxious youth make avoidant decisions and how these choices are reinforced over time. Studies of risk taking are valuable in this regard because they consider how individuals identify the pros and cons of their choices, how they weigh potential gains and losses and estimate their respective probabilities, and how they tolerate the uncertainty intrinsic to any decision. In this review, we place risk taking within existing models of information processing in pediatric anxiety disorders and highlight the particular value of this construct for informing models of developmental psychopathology and individual differences in outcome over time. We review existing behavioral and neurobiological studies of risk taking in anxious youth and conclude by identifying directions for future research.
A Technological Trifecta: Using Videos, Playlists, and Facebook in Law School Classes to Reach Today’s Students

This essay examines how law school education can be modernized through the use of technology. First, the essay acknowledges that the current use of technology in most law school classrooms lacks appeal to today’s students. It briefly explores the use of PowerPoints, podcasts, and clickers and suggests that students have grown bored with this technological trio because of overuse and familiarity. Second, the essay proposes that today’s students will be better served in class if professors would use the technology that students more typically use. It advocates for the addition of internet videos, music playlists, and Facebook groups to the law school classroom. Finally, the essay proposes a methodology for incorporating the technological trifecta into law school classrooms and the advantages of doing so.
Wide Bandwidth Millimeter-wave System-on-Chip Development and Applications

Wide bandwidth transmitter and receiver chips have been successfully developed by the Davis Millimeter-Wave Research Center, including V-band (55–75 GHz) and W-band (75–110 GHz), with F-band (110–140 GHz) receiver chips awaiting test following tape-out. They are expected to satisfy many commercial and scientific applications with substantial cost reduction. They provide 30x signal gain compared with previous Schottky mixer planar antenna front-end approaches by employing a pre-LNA on the receiver chip. The typical noise temperature is suppressed below 4,000 Kelvin. An internal local oscillator chain provides a compact, portable detection solution.
Asian-Origin Families in Canada and the United States: Challenges and Resilience

One out of five Canadians and one out of eight Americans are foreign-born (World Bank, 2020). The United States is home to the largest proportion of the global immigrant population from Asia, and Canada is home to approximately 3.3% of this global immigration flow (United Nations, 2017). This chapter examines key challenges and issues that impact Asian-origin families in these two predominant countries. It provides an overview of demographic characteristics, acculturation, intergenerational relationship, and aging of individuals and families originating from Asia, along with challenges such as racism, discrimination, stereotypes, domestic and interpersonal violence. Our review highlights the needs for future research on Asian subgroups and on Asian Pacific Islanders’ families, emphasizing the strengths and resilience of Asian-origin families in Canada and the United States.
Reimagining Sustainable Community Sports Fields of the Future: a Framework for Convergent Science-Stakeholder Decision-Making

Community-level sports fields are public spaces that provide numerous physical, mental, and societal benefits. These fields are often governed, constructed, managed, and used by various interacting groups who have different value systems and preferences that impact their decisions. While sports fields offer an opportunity for community engagement and physical activity to residents of communities, poor field quality or lack of access from misinformed decisions can increase health issues and decrease physical activity participation, especially among youth. That is in addition to decisions made regarding water and energy resources required to maintain these fields. Those who have decision-making authority should consider input from the entire community and other relevant stakeholders; however, there is a lack of convergence and breakdown in communication among stakeholders’ needs and priorities. Additionally, decision-makers often lack effective tools and proper knowledge to select and manage fields to meet demand in a sustainable and just manner. The objective of this white paper is to propose an innovative framework for research that could lead to the development of a common platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue about issues related to improving the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of community-level sports fields. The framework can be implemented by innovatively bringing together physical and social scientists to (1) map and assemble pertinent stakeholders and visualize the stakeholder network, (2) measure leverage points within the stakeholder network that optimize sustainable and inclusive communication and decision-making, (3) identify perspectives surrounding decisions at the community level (through prioritizing different social, economic, and environmental indicators, with particular focus on health outcomes), and (4) develop a decision support tool to evaluate the trade-offs associated with different options. Subsequently, findings should promote and catalyze dialogue between diverse stakeholders to assist with making the complex decisions for these important public spaces.
1 Year Old Male with Blistering on Mouth and Palms

A 1-year-old male presented with non-localized and severe erythematous rash throughout his body. The patient was currently prescribed Mupirocin 2 % topical ointment. The patient has a history of eczema eruptions and asthma.
A theorem of fehlmann-type for extensions with bounded -derivative

For given complex-valued boundary values one may consider the minimal non-analyticity with which a function having these boundary values can be found. We study the effect of local versus global properties of the boundary values on the minimal non-analyticity.
Presentation Skills: How to Present Research Results

This book is about designing, implementing and interpreting clinical research. This chapter is aimed at a discussion of how to present the research that has been performed. Although almost no one currently disagrees that a formal curriculum in research methodology is critical for a new investigator, the manner in which the results of a study are presented is presumed to be obvious, and training in the art of presentations is much less common. The belief is that good speakers are born, not made, and this is no more true than good researchers are born and not made. And so, the methodology of presentations should be an important part of a young investigators training. This chapter provides an introduction to delivering an effective presentation.
MOS gate oxide quality control and reliability assessment by voltage ramping

Voltage ramping has been developed as an effective quantitative method for quality and reliability assessment of metal oxide semiconductors (MOS) gate oxides. Time-to-fail distributions from voltage ramping, in conjunction with controlled chart techniques and reliability model, provide rapid feedback for gate oxide quality and reliability assessment.
Fast Array Algorithm

This chapter contains sections titled: Time-Update of the Gain Vector Time-Update of the Conversion Factor Initial Conditions Array Algorithm Appendix: Chandrasekhar Filter
The Role of Cardiolipin in Cardiovascular Health

Cardiolipin (CL), the signature phospholipid of mitochondrial membranes, is crucial for both mitochondrial function and cellular processes outside of the mitochondria. The importance of CL in cardiovascular health is underscored by the life-threatening genetic disorder Barth syndrome (BTHS), which manifests clinically as cardiomyopathy, skeletal myopathy, neutropenia, and growth retardation. BTHS is caused by mutations in the gene encoding tafazzin, the transacylase that carries out the second CL remodeling step. In addition to BTHS, CL is linked to other cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including cardiomyopathy, atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, heart failure, and Tangier disease. The link between CL and CVD may possibly be explained by the physiological roles of CL in pathways that are cardioprotective, including mitochondrial bioenergetics, autophagy/mitophagy, and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. In this review, we focus on the role of CL in the pathogenesis of CVD as well as the molecular mechanisms that may link CL functions to cardiovascular health.
Cardiac CT in Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Cross-sectional cardiac imaging is increasingly being used to characterize congenital heart defects (CHD) and their associated extracardiac abnormalities. Both cardiac CT (CCT) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) are helpful in the diagnosis and monitoring of medically managed or surgically corrected CHD in adults. Additionally, clinically silent defects in young or middle-aged adults are often incidentally found with cross-sectional imaging done for unrelated purposes. Unlike CMR, CCT provides only morphological data. However, due to the relative availability, heightened spatial resolution, and short acquisition time of CCT, it is an important tool in the evaluation of CHD [1–5].
An Experimental Study on Energy Consumption of Video Encryption for Mobile Handheld Devices

Secure video communication on mobile handheld devices is challenging mainly due to (a) the significant computational needs of both video coding and encryption algorithms and (b) the limited battery capacity of handheld devices. In this paper, we evaluate several video encryption schemes from the perspective of energy consumption both analytically and experimentally. Specifically, we implement video encryption schemes on mobile handhelds to support a H.263 based secure video application, and extensively measure the energy consumption due to encoding and encryption for several classes of video clips. Contrary to popular belief, our experiments show that energy overhead of full video encryption is insignificant compared to the energy consumed for video encoding (between 2% and 4% of total energy cost) in most cases
Modeling an ordered nanostructured cathode catalyst layer for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

A 3D mathematical model of an ordered nanostructured cathode catalyst layer (CCL) has been developed for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. In an ordered nanostructured CCL, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are used as support material for Pt catalyst, upon which a thin layer of proton-conducting polymer (Nafion) is deposited, which are then aligned along the main transport direction (perpendicular to the membrane) of various species. The model considers all the relevant processes in different phases of an ordered nanostructured CCL. In addition, the effect of Knudsen diffusion is accounted in the model. The model can predict not only the performance of an ordered nanostructured CCL at various operating and design conditions but also can predict the distributions of various fields in different phases of an ordered nanostructured CCL. The predicted nanostructured CCL performance with estimated membrane overpotential is validated with measured data found in the literature, and a good agreement is obtained between the model prediction and measured result. Moreover, a parametric study is conducted to investigate the effect of key design parameters on the performance of an ordered nanostructured CCL. In the absence of liquid water, it is found that oxygen diffusion in the pore phase is not the limiting factor for the performance of an ordered nanostructured CCL, owing to its parallel gas pores and high porosity. However, the transport of dissolved oxygen through the Nafion phase has a significant effect on the performance of an ordered nanostructured CCL. Further, it is found that increasing the spacing between CNTs results in a considerable drop in the performance of an ordered nanostructured CCL at the base case conditions considered in the simulation.
Modeling of polarization switching in piezoceramics

In this paper a finite element model of polarization switching in piezoelectric ceramics is presented. A plane strain four-node element with nodal displacements and voltage degrees of freedom is used. The element incorporates two types of polarization switching: 90 degree(s) and 180 degree(s) switching with electric flux as a switching criterion and with piezoelectric coefficients dependent upon electric field values. The model is used to compute strains for a partially electroded rectangular plate and a hole in a square plate simulating a void in a material. In both of these simulations sufficiently large electric fields are applied to cause domains to rotate 180 degree(s) with calculation of strains along the boundary between dissimilarly poled regions being investigated. In addition to this study, 90 degree(s) domain wall motion is studied on a fully electroded rectangular plate with domains along the diagonal rotated 90 degree(s) and domains in the corners retaining their original polarization. For each of these three cases: partially electroded specimen, void in plate, and full 90 degree(s) switching, the analytical results are compared with experimental data obtained from a Moire interferometer. Comparison between experimental data and theoretical results indicates reasonable agreement between the two suggesting the correct physics is incorporated in the analytical model. In a separate analytical study, stress concentrations near both holes and cracks in the presence of an electric field are calculated. For the linear problem or low electric field values the crack geometry generates significantly larger stresses than a circular hole. For the nonlinear problem, where domain wall motion occurs, the hole and the crack have stress intensity factors of similar magnitude. Finally, reducing the peak stress with implication to extending fatigue life of the piezoceramics is suggested.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Free Will as Advanced Action Control for Human Social Life and Culture

Free will can be understood as a novel form of action control that evolved to meet the escalating demands of human social life, including moral action and pursuit of enlightened self-interest in a cultural context. That understanding is conducive to scientific research, which is reviewed here in support of four hypotheses. First, laypersons tend to believe in free will. Second, that belief has behavioral consequences, including increases in socially and culturally desirable acts. Third, laypersons can reliably distinguish free actions from less free ones. Fourth, actions judged as free emerge from a distinctive set of inner processes, all of which share a common psychological and physiological signature. These inner processes include self-control, rational choice, planning, and initiative.
Portal and peripheral vein concentrations of insulin after glucose and arginine infusions in morbidly obese subjects.

Abstract Portal vein and peripheral vein concentrations of insulin were compared in morbidly obese subjects during surgery. Portal venous insulin levels were consistently higher than peripheral with gradients similar to those previously described in normal subjects and non-obese diabetics. These findings are consistent with an increased insulin secretion rate as the basis for the peripheral hyperinsulinemia of obesity.
Principals and quality performance: getting in the back door

Reforming and restructuring education through Deming’s 14 points have proved successful in yielding quality outcomes. However, many newly proposed programmes take the traditional, unimaginative approach to implementation – orientation sessions and workshops. These approaches often promote failure before programmes are implemented. This successful, practical approach to quality implementation lacks fanfare but creates wide interest in TQM. In a grass‐roots approach, principals begin slowly to create interest in quality by providing readings, chairing discussion groups, and identifying interested teachers to solve classroom problems using the TQM process. Capitalizing on self‐interest and success, quality teams form, support networks develop and successful outcomes spread as more and more teachers gradually embrace the quality principles.
Architectures of planetary systems and implications for their formation

Doppler planet searches revealed that many giant planets orbit close to their host star or in highly eccentric orbits. These and subsequent observations inspired new theories of planet formation that invoke gravitation interactions in multiple planet systems to explain the excitation of orbital eccentricities and even short-period giant planets. Recently, NASA’s Kepler mission has identified over 300 systems with multiple transiting planet candidates, including many potentially rocky planets. Most of these systems include multiple planets with closely spaced orbits and sizes between that of Earth and Neptune. These systems represent yet another new and unexpected class of planetary systems and provide an opportunity to test the theories developed to explain the properties of giant exoplanets. Presently, we have limited knowledge about such planetary systems, mostly about their sizes and orbital periods. With the advent of long-term, nearly continuous monitoring by Kepler, the method of transit timing variations (TTVs) has blossomed as a new technique for characterizing the gravitational effects of mutual planetary perturbations for hundreds of planets. TTVs can provide precise, but complex, constraints on planetary masses, densities, and orbits, even for planetary systems with faint host stars. In the coming years, astronomers will translate TTV observations into increasingly powerful constraints on the formation and orbital evolution of planetary systems with low-mass planets. Between TTVs, improved Doppler surveys, high-contrast imaging campaigns, and microlensing surveys, astronomers can look forward to a much better understanding of planet formation in the coming decade.
Seeding as a means of controlling particle size in dispersion polymerization

Two distinctively different seeded dispersion polymerization processes employing micron and submicron size seed particles, respectively, have been used to gain a better mechanistic understanding of the dispersion polymerization process. Using monodisperse micron-size PMMA particles as seed, it was found that when low monomer/polymer ratios (M/P 2.50) were applied, bimodal or trimodal particle size distributions were produced, which is considered to result from the competition between particle growth and secondary nucleation. When small amounts of submicron seeds were used with the initial intention of gaining a better understanding of the nucleation process, it was surprisingly found that the final number of micron size particles was nearly the same as the initial number of submicron seed particles over a relatively wide range of reaction conditions, including seed, initiator, stabilizer, and monomer concentrations, and the medium composition. These results indicate that within certain limits seeded dispersion polymerization can be a more robust means of controlling particle size than ab initio dispersion polymerization in terms of reproducibly producing a target particle size. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008
A parametrically driven PLL lock detector

Abstract A novel parametrically driven phase locked loop (PLL) lock detector is presented. The lock detector is described by a time-varying linear differential equation derived from the PLL's nonlinear dynamics. The time-varying nature of this detector equation results from the fact that it is parametrically driven by the output of the PLL's quadrature detector. A lock decision is made by comparing a detector equation state to a user-specified threshold. Also, the detector produces a D.C. voltage which may be capable of driving a phase locked receiver's coherent AGC system. Finally a laboratory experiment is described which demonstrates feasibility of the detector concept. Use of the new lock detector eliminates a class of problems associated with the simple phase quadrature lock detector. The problems result from the fact that the quadrature detector can produce a D.C. component under false lock conditions. This D.C. component may actually operate a phase locked receiver's coherent AGC system. It is possible that the AGC system could be fooled into adjusting receiver gain to produce a nominal (above lock detector threshold) value for the unwanted D.C. component. A positive lock indication would result, and the receiver would appear to be operating properly when, in fact, this was not the case.
Reliability mechanisms of the FDDI high bandwidth token ring protocol

Abstract The Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) is an ANSI draft proposed standard for a 100 megabit per second token ring using fiber optics as the transmission medium. The FDDI design represents an extensive effort to incorporate reliability mechanisms as an integral part of the design. These mechanisms provide fault detection and isolation functions, monitoring functions, and configuration functions. The purpose of this paper is to discuss these reliability mechanisms, and to compare and contrast them with reliability mechanisms which have been incorporated in other local area network architectures.
Synthesis of novel tellurium containing analogues of choline and acetylcholine and their quantitation by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Methods for the synthesis and quantitation of the novel choline analogues, telluronium choline and acetyltelluronium choline, are described. An assay procedure utilizing pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) with cold trapping was developed with [2H4]telluronium choline and [2H4]acetyltelluronium choline as internal standards. The telluronium compounds were ion-pair extracted from tissue with dipicrylamine, washed with 2-butanone, and pyrolyzed prior to GC-MS analysis. The compounds were monitored using selected ion monitoring at m/z 232 and m/z 190 for acetyltelluronium and telluronium choline, respectively, and at m/z 236 and m/z 194 for the analogous deuterated internal standards. The assay was linear over a range of 20 pmol-20 nmol of compound taken through the assay.
A multi-spectral three-dimensional diffuse optical mammography system

We have developed a compact, multi-spectral, three-dimensional photodiode-based diffuse optical tomography system for breast imaging. 2D & 3D phantom experiments are used to evaluate the system. Initial clinical results from this third-generation system are reported.
Prospective randomized comparison of 2 ureteral access sheaths during flexible retrograde ureteroscopy.

ABSTRACT Purpose: While the use of ureteral access sheaths facilitates flexible ureteroscopy, buckling or kinking of the device may preclude its successful application. We evaluate the ability of 2 hydrophilic coated ureteral access sheaths to obtain and maintain access to the upper collecting system. Materials and Methods: A total of 54 flexible ureteroscopy procedures were randomized to use of the 12/15Fr Applied Access Forte XE (Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita, California) or the 12/14Fr Cook Flexor (Cook Urological, Spencer, Indiana) access sheaths. Device failure was defined as buckling of the sheath that prevented adequate placement, kinking of the sheath after removal of the obturator or difficulty in passing instruments through the sheath. The ease of placement, instrument passage and stone extraction was scored from poor (1) to excellent (4). Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney tests were used for statistical comparisons. Results: No patient required ureteral balloon dilation. There was no significant difference between the groups in regard to preoperative stenting (34% and 31%, p=1.00) or rigid ureteroscopy before sheath placement (32% and 25%, p=0.751). The device failure rate was 44% for the Applied sheath and 0% for the Cook sheath (p Conclusions: The performance of the Cook Flexor sheath was superior with regard to overall failure and ease of use.
Combustion kinetic modeling using multispecies time histories in shock-tube oxidation of heptane

Abstract Recently, species time histories have been measured during n -heptane oxidation behind reflected shock waves [D.F. Davidson, Z. Hong, G.L. Pilla, A. Farooq, R.D. Cook, R.K. Hanson, Combust. Flame 157 (2010) 1899–1905]. The highly precise nature of these measurements is expected to impose critical constraints on chemical kinetic models of hydrocarbon combustion. In this paper, we apply the Method of Uncertainty Analysis using Polynomial Chaos Expansions (MUM-PCE) [D.A. Sheen, X. You, H. Wang, T. Lovas, Proc. Combust. Inst. 32 (2009) 535–542] to demonstrate how the multispecies measurement may be utilized beyond simple model validation. The results show that while an as-compiled, prior reaction model of n -alkane combustion can be accurate in its prediction of the detailed species profiles, the kinetic parameter uncertainty in the model remains to be too large to obtain a precise prediction of the data. Constraining the prior model against the species time histories within the measurement uncertainties led to notable improvements in the precision of model predictions against the species data as well as the global combustion properties considered. Lastly, we show that while the capability of the multispecies measurement presents a step-change in our precise knowledge of the chemical processes in hydrocarbon combustion, accurate data of global combustion properties are still necessary to predict fuel combustion.
Random sampling of random processes - Optimum linear interpolation.

Optimum mean square linear interpolation for random sampling, discussing periodic and Poisson sampling
Stent fracture following stenting of a myocardial bridge: report of two cases.

Myocardial bridge is the most common congenital coronary anomaly. Patients with this anomaly are usually asymptomatic, but it may cause myocardial ischemia that may lead to myocardial infarction. Treatment for myocardial bridge remains controversial. Current recommendations include medical therapy, surgical treatment (unroofing myotomy), coronary artery bypass, and percutaneous coronary stenting. We report two cases of stent fracture following stenting of a myocardial bridge. The risk of stent fracture leading to restenosis and/or stent thrombosis should be considered when assessing the risks and benefits of coronary revascularization of a myocardial bridge. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Photoelectron energy losses to thermal electrons

Abstract The photoelectron energy loss rate to the ambient electrons is discussed. It is shown that the conventional Butler and Buckingham expression has been incorrectly applied in photoelectron calculations. The appropriate energy loss rates are indicated. It is also shown that the geomagnetic field has little influence on the photoelectron energy loss rate.
Effect of earthworm casts on protein synthesis in radish (Raphanus sativum) and lettuce (Lactuga sativa) seedlings

The protein-synthesizing capacity of 3-day-old seedlings of radish and lettuce grown in the presence of earthworm casts was investigated using L-14-C-leucine incorporation. The results showed that earthworm casts increased protein synthesis by 24% for lettuce and 32% for radish, althought no significant differences in protein content were evident.
Muscle fibers are injured at the time of acute and chronic rotator cuff repair.

Background Rotator cuff tears are a common source of shoulder pain and disability. Even after surgical repair, some patients continue to have reduced function and progression of fatty degeneration. Because patients with chronic cuff tears often experience muscle shortening, it is possible that repairing the tendon to its anatomic footprint induces a stretch-induced muscle injury that could contribute to failures of the repair and perhaps ongoing pain.
Quantitative microarray profiling of DNA-binding molecules.

A high-throughput Cognate Site Identity (CSI) microarray platform interrogating all 524 800 10-base pair variable sites is correlated to quantitative DNase I footprinting data of DNA binding pyrrole-imidazole polyamides. An eight-ring hairpin polyamide programmed to target the 5 bp sequence 5'-TACGT-3' within the hypoxia response element (HRE) yielded a CSI microarray-derived sequence motif of 5'-WWACGT-3' (W = A,T). A linear beta-linked polyamide programmed to target a (GAA)_3 repeat yielded a CSI microarray-derived sequence motif of 5'-AARAARWWG-3' (R = G,A). Quantitative DNase I footprinting of selected sequences from each microarray experiment enabled quantitative prediction of K_a values across the microarray intensity spectrum.