cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
3D Reconstruction by Shadow Carving: Theory and Practical Evaluation

Cast shadows are an informative cue to the shape of objects. They are particularly valuable for discovering object's concavities which are not available from other cues such as occluding boundaries. We propose a new method for recovering shape from shadows which we call shadow carving. Given a conservative estimate of the volume occupied by an object, it is possible to identify and carve away regions of this volume that are inconsistent with the observed pattern of shadows. We prove a theorem that guarantees that when these regions are carved away from the shape, the shape still remains conservative. Shadow carving overcomes limitations of previous studies on shape from shadows because it is robust with respect to errors in shadows detection and it allows the reconstruction of objects in the round, rather than just bas-reliefs. We propose a reconstruction system to recover shape from silhouettes and shadow carving. The silhouettes are used to reconstruct the initial conservative estimate of the object's shape and shadow carving is used to carve out the concavities. We have simulated our reconstruction system with a commercial rendering package to explore the design parameters and assess the accuracy of the reconstruction. We have also implemented our reconstruction scheme in a table-top system and present the results of scanning of several objects.
Dependence of oil stability index of fatty compounds on their structure and concentration and presence of metals

During storage and use, vegetable oil-derived industrial products such as biodiesel and biodegradable lubricants can be subjected to conditions that promote oxidation of their unsaturated components. The materials arising during oxidation and subsequent degradation can seriously impair the quality and performance of such products. Therefore, oxidative stability is a significant issue facing these vegetable oil-derived products, and enhanced understanding of the influence of various components of vegetable oils and storage parameters is necessary. In this work, the oil stability index (OSI) was used for assessing oxidation of monoalkyl esters of FA by varying several parameters. Neat fatty compounds and prepared mixtures thereof were studied for assessing the influence of compound structure and concentration. Small amounts of more highly unsaturated compounds had a disproportionately strong effect on oxidative stability. The recently developed concept of bis-allylic equivalents correlated more closely than the iodine value with the OSI times of mixtures of fatty esters. The OSI times of free acids were shorter than those of the corresponding alkyl esters. The presence of copper, iron, and nickel also reduced oxidative stability, but their effect was less than the presence of more highly unsaturated fatty compounds. Of these metals, copper had the strongest catalytic effect on OSI time. OSI may be an alternative to long-term storage tests for determining the influence of extraneous materials such as metals on oxidative stability.
Rapid enhancement and compression of image data

Recently, we have presented a recursive framework for noncausal Gauss Markov Random Fields (GMRF) defined on finite lattices. This framework readdresses the issue of recursiveness in 2-D signal processing, providing the means to attain the computational advantages of recursive processing without sacrificing the noncausality of the image model. We present here results on the application of this framework to two areas, image enhancement and image compression.
New light on allostery: dynamic resonance Raman spectroscopy of hemoglobin kempsey.

On the basis of static and time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopy of HbA and of a mutant, HbK (Dα99N), a specific reaction coordinate is proposed for the allosteric transition in human hemoglobin. The heme is held between proximal (F) and distal (E) helices, whose orientation is responsive to forces generated by ligation and deligation. The E and F helices are in turn tethered via H-bonds to the A and H helices. These outer helices follow the E−F motion, thereby repositioning the N- and C-termini, which form the intersubunit salt bridges in the T quaternary structure. When the T state interface is weakened by Asp → Asn substitution at a quaternary H-bond (HbK), the Fe−His bond is relaxed and becomes responsive to allosteric effectors. The same E−F motion is observed in HbK, but the A−H following motion is delayed, relative to HbA, as is the Asn H-bond formation.
Molecular Simulation Studies of Separation of CO2/N2, CO2/CH4, and CH4/N2 by ZIFs

In this work, molecular simulations were performed to evaluate the separation performance of two typical zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), ZIF-68 and ZIF-69, for CO2/N2, CO2/CH4, and CH4/N2 mixtures. To do this, we first identified a suitable force field for describing CO2, N2, and CH4 adsorption in ZIFs. On the basis of the validated force field, adsorption selectivities of the three mixtures in these ZIFs were simulated then. The results show that ZIF-69 is more beneficial for separating CO2 from CO2-related mixtures than ZIF-68, mainly due to the presence of chlorine atoms in cbIM linkers in the former for the pressures we have considered. The overall separation performances of these two ZIFs for separating the chosen mixtures are comparable to typical MOFs and zeolites. In addition, this work demonstrates that the electrostatic interactions produced by the frameworks are very important for achieving high adsorption separation selectivities in ZIFs, and ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) may b...
Magneto-optical semiconductor waveguides for integrated isolators

The Faraday effect of magnetically doped Fe:InP with Fe concentration of 3 x 10 16 cm -3 doping is characterized. It demonstrates a Verdet coefficient of 23.8 °/cm/T at 1550 nm. For 45°rotation, the insertion loss at this wavelength is 1.66 dB. A zero-birefringence waveguide is designed and fabricated. The loss and birefringence of the waveguide are characterized.
On the theory of roton attenuation in liquid 4He

Abstract The experiments of Forbes and Wyatt on roton-roton scattering are discussed. The explanation of the observed increase of the roton attenuation as due to the emission of a phonon at the roton-roton collision is suggested. We suggest that an effect of this type may be observed when the scattering is from 3 He impurities instead of rotons.
Does pulse stacking improve the results of treatment with variable-pulse pulsed-dye lasers?

Background. It has been suggested that multiple stacked pulses of lower fluence may have a similar effect on targets as a single pulse of higher fluence. When treating vascular lesions, increasing the fluence beyond a certain point will increase the risk of purpura given a constant pulse duration. Stacking pulses of lower fluence may have the advantage of heating vessels to a critical temperature without creating purpura. Objective. To determine whether stacking low-fluence pulses of a variable-pulse pulsed-dye laser would improve clinical results without significantly increasing side and adverse effects. Methods. Twenty-five patients between the ages of 18 and 65 years with facial telangiectasia and skin types I–IV were enrolled in the study. For each subject, the cheek or nasal ala areas on either side of the facial midline with similar telangiectasia density ratings were randomized to single pulse and multiple stacked pulse groups. One side of the cheek or nasal ala was treated with single nonoverlapping pulses with the Candela Vbeam 595-nm pulsed-dye laser. The opposite side of the cheek or nose was treated with the same parameters but with three or four pulses stacked on top of each other at a 1.5-Hz repetition rate. Patients were asked to rate the pain of the procedure on each side on a 0 to 3 scale. Investigators rated the erythema and edema after the procedure as well as vessel clearing and overall telangiectasia density scale at 1 and 6 weeks after the procedure. Results. Twenty-three patients completed the study. The mean pain rating was 1.58 for the pulse stacked side and 1.38 for the single-pass side. The mean erythema score after the procedure was 1.17 for the pulsed stacked side and 1.09 for the single pulsed side. The mean vessel clearing 1 week after the treatment was 74.3% for the pulse stacked side and 58.5% for the single pulsed side. The mean vessel clearing 6 weeks after the treatment was 87.6% for the pulse stacked side and 67.4% for the single pulsed side. The mean telangiectasia density scale score before treatment was 2.67 for the pulse stacked side and 2.59 for the single pulsed side. At 1 week after treatment, the mean telangiectasia density scale score was 1.06 for the pulsed stacked side and 1.5 for the single pulsed side. At 6 weeks after treatment, the mean telangiectasia density scale score was 0.72 for the pulsed stacked side and 1.30 for the single pulsed side. No patients experienced purpura in either group, and there were no cases of hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, or scar formation. One patient experienced significant edema on the side of the cheeks treated with pulse stacking. Conclusions. Treating superficial facial telangiectasia with a pulse stacking technique may improve clinical results without significantly increasing adverse effects.
Interactions between Polymer-Coated Surfaces in Poor Solvents. 2. Surfaces Coated with AB Diblock Copolymers

Using a two-dimensional self-consistent field theory, we investigate the interaction between two planar surfaces that are sparsely coated with AB diblock copolymers and immersed in solution. The B chains are assumed to be solvophobic. We vary X AS (the A-solvent interaction) and X AB (the interaction between the comonomers) and determine the morphology of the layers and the energy of interaction as the surfaces are brought closer together. If the chain is tethered by the end of the B block, the interactions are particularly sensitive to variations in X AS and X AS , and altering these parameters provides a means of tuning the repulsion or attraction between the surfaces. On the other hand, tethering chains by the A end increases the range of the attractive interaction between the layers. These guidelines are especially useful for controlling the behavior of colloidal particles in solution.
Gender differences in personality correlates of explanatory style

Abstract Few studies have reported gender differences in explanatory style. The present study investigated the links between explanatory style and established personality variables as measured by the California Psychological Inventory (CPI). Data collected from 49 male and 56 female college students revealed that the stable and global dimensions of explanatory style accounted for most of the correlations with a pessimistic explanatory style. Correlations with a pessimistic explanatory style were heavily concentrated among the Class I variables of the CPI for men, whereas women's pessimistic explanatory style was linked with well-being and good impression. Two major scales (sociability and socialization) showed significant sex differences with respect to their correlations with explanatory style for negative events. The differential pattern of correlations suggests that explanatory style may be relevant to different personality domains for males and females. The numerous CPI correlations with explanatory style for positive events suggest that it warrants further study.
Discrimination of sensory signals from noise in the escape system of the cockroach: The role of wind acceleration

1 Cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) that were restrained but were able to make normal walking movements were stimulated with wind puffs delivered to the cereal wind receptors. Some puffs were superimposed on a constant ‘headwind’ simulating the relative wind that the walking cockroach would experience if it were not fixed in place. Puffs were either of variable peak velocity, or of fixed peak velocity but variable acceleration. In some experiments the movement responses of one metathoracic leg were recorded; in other experiments the responses of giant interneurons were recorded. 2. The threshold wind velocity of 3 mm/s for evoking a behavioral response in slowly walking cockroaches (Camhi and Nolen 1981) was still effective even in the presence of an 80 mm/s headwind. Measurements of the background wind (‘noise’) near a cercus of a slowly walking cockroach in the headwind showed a mean velocity of about 80 mm/s plus periodic wind gusts of up to 30 mm/s produced by the stepping motions of the legs (Fig. 3). Although over 50% of these gusts have velocities greater than the threshold stimulus for evoking a behavior (Fig. 4A), the cockroach did not respond to these gusts. However, the maximal accelerations of these gusts were consistently less than that of the just-threshold wind puff (Fig. 4B). 3. Stimuli of high acceleration (greater than 600 mm/s2) usually evoked running. Those of intermediate acceleration (approximately 300 mm/s2) usually evoked a pause in walking. The lower the acceleration, the greater the incidence of no response (Fig. 7A). This discrimination of wind acceleration was generally the same even when the stimuli were superimposed on the headwind (Fig. 7B). The discrimination of acceleration was also independent of the direction of the wind stimuli (Fig. 7C, D). 4. The wind made by the strike of a natural predator, the toadBufo marinus (known to be the cue by which cockroaches detect and respond to the toad; Camhi et al. 1978) produces a sufficiently high wind acceleration, sufficiently early, to account for the cockroach's running response to the wind made by the strike. 5. In electrical recordings from a single connective of the ventral nerve cord, it was possible to identify the action potentials from the group of three largest giant interneurons, No.'s 1, 2, and 3, which may mediate the initiation of escape behavior (Camhi and Nolen 1981). The number and frequency of action potentials in these neurons were greater for wind stimuli of higher acceleration, even though the peak wind velocity of all stimuli was the same (Fig. 10). 6. The results indicate that wind acceleration is a crucial cue by which the cockroach escape system discriminates wind signals, including the wind from the strike of a predator, from background noise, including that produced by the animal's own walking.
Multidisciplinary Design and Prototype Development of a Micro Air Vehicle

This paper discusses the application of multidiscipli nary design optimization (MDO) methodology for the design of a very small remotely piloted airplane for a short-range reconnaissance mission. Low Reynolds number aerodynamics and size requirements are used as primary drivers in the conceptual design of the vehicle, and are combined with performance, stability, propulsion, and weight constraints in the design optimization problem. With vehicle size as the objective function, the constrained optimization problem is solved using a penalty function method. Following the analytical validation of the MDO-based design, a prototype of the design vehicle was developed and flight tested. The results of this investigation show that MDO methodology could be used as an enabling technology in creating nonconventional designs that aim at pushing the limits of flight in low Reynolds number regime. They also show that the level of technology incorporated in the propulsion, navigation and communication, and control systems plays a key role in determining the size and weight of micro air vehicles.
ISOLATION OF F-WAVE FROM ELECTROCARDIOGRAM USING NEW LMS ALGORITHM

The electrocardiogram F-wave arising from atrial electrical activity is an important global measure for assessment of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, successful F-wave extraction from the ventricular waveform can be problematic. Herein, a new F-wave isolation technique is introduced. For analysis, electrocardiogram lead I (termed unfiltered or UNF-signals) was retrospectively analyzed (39 AF patients, 8.4-s recordings, 8192 sample points, 96 recordings in total). To measure the efficacy of isolation techniques, a synthetic F-wave (7.29 Hz) and an interference were added to each electrocardiogram signal. In the resulting composite signals, the average electrocardiogram QRST complex template was subtracted from each actual QRST (AVG-isolation). The QRST template was also adjusted using a new adaptive least mean-squares (LMS) algorithm, and subtracted from each actual QRST (termed LMS-isolation). Four spectral parameters were measured to assess isolated F-wave quality: the dominant amplitude (DA), dominant frequency (DF) and mean/standard deviation in spectral profile (MP/SP). Significant parameter differences between UNF/LMS and between AVG/LMS were determined. The electrocardiogram F-wave spectral parameters were significantly improved by incorporating LMS-isolation as compared to no isolation (p < 0.001). The F-wave spectral parameters were also significantly improved using LMS-isolation as compared with AVG-isolation (DA/MP/SP: p < 0.001; DF: p < 0.05). The DF was correctly identified as 7.29 ± 0.10 Hz using ensemble spectral analysis with the following percentages (UNF: 24.0%, AVG: 69.8%, LMS: 80.2%), and Fourier spectral analysis with the following percentages (UNF: 15.6%, AVG: 60.4%, LMS: 75.0%). The LMS algorithm is helpful to isolate the electrocardiogram F-wave from the ventricular component as measured by spectral analysis, when compared to the use of an average QRST subtraction template.
Wavelet method for CT colonography computer-aided polyp detection.

Computed tomographic colonography (CTC) computer aided detection (CAD) is a new method to detect colon polyps. Colonic polyps are abnormal growths that may become cancerous. Detection and removal of colonic polyps, particularly larger ones, has been shown to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer. While high sensitivities and low false positive rates are consistently achieved for the detection of polyps sized 1 cm or larger, lower sensitivities and higher false positive rates occur when the goal of CAD is to identify “medium”-sized polyps, 6 – 9 mm in diameter. Such medium-sized polyps may be important for clinical patient management. We have developed a wavelet-based postprocessor to reduce false positives for this polyp size range. We applied the wavelet-based postprocessor to CTC CAD findings from 44 patients in whom 45 polyps with sizes of 6 – 9 mm were found at segmentally unblinded optical colonoscopy and visible on retrospective review of the CT colonography images. Prior to the application of the wavelet-based postprocessor, the CTC CAD system detected 33 of the polyps (sensitivity 73.33%) with 12.4 false positives per patient, a sensitivity comparable to that of expert radiologists. Fourfold cross validation with 5000 bootstraps showed that the wavelet-based postprocessor could reduce the false positives by 56.61% ( p 0.001 ) , to 5.38 per patient (95% confidence interval [4.41, 6.34]), without significant sensitivity degradation ( 32 ∕ 45 , 71.11%, 95% confidence interval [66.39%, 75.74%], p = 0.1713 ). We conclude that this wavelet-based postprocessor can substantially reduce the false positive rate of our CTC CAD for this important polyp size range.
Serving the Self From the Seat of Power Goals and Threats Predict Leaders’ Self-Interested Behavior

Why do some leaders use their position to amass personal prestige and resources, and others to benefit the team, the organization, or society? This article synthesizes new, cross-disciplinary research showing that self-serving leader behavior is predictable based on the function and nature of power—an essential component of leadership. First, because power increases goal-oriented behavior, it amplifies the tendency of self-focused goals to yield self-interested behavior. Self-focused goals may arise from a variety of sources; evidence is reviewed for the role of traits (e.g., low agreeableness), values (e.g., self-enhancement), self-construal (e.g., independence), and motivation (e.g., personalized power motivation). Second, because power is generally desirable, leaders whose power is threatened (e.g., self-doubts, positional instability) will turn their focus to maintaining that power—even at others’ expense. These ideas have important implications for research and for organizational efforts to develop l...
Satellite based analysis of northern ET trends and associated changes in the regional water balance from 1983 to 2005

Summary We developed an evapotranspiration (ET) algorithm driven by satellite remote sensing inputs, including AVHRR GIMMS NDVI, MODIS land cover and NASA/GEWEX solar radiation and albedo, and regionally corrected NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis daily surface meteorology. The algorithm was used to assess spatial patterns and temporal trends in ET over the pan-Arctic basin and Alaska from 1983 to 2005. We then analyzed associated changes in the regional water balance defined as precipitation (P) minus ET, where monthly P was defined from Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) and Global Precipitation Climatology Center (GPCC) sources. Monthly ET results derived from both in situ meteorological measurements and coarse resolution model reanalysis inputs agreed well (RMSE = 5.1–6.3 mm month −1 ; R 2 = 0.91–0.92) with measurements from eight independent flux towers representing regionally dominant land cover types. ET showed generally positive trends over most of the pan-Arctic domain, though negative ET trends occurred over 32% of the region, primarily in boreal forests of southern and central Canada. Generally positive trends in ET, P and available long-term river discharge measurements imply that the pan-Arctic terrestrial water cycle is intensifying despite uncertainty in regional P and associated water balance estimates. Increasing water deficits in eastern Alaska, Canadian Yukon and western Prairie Provinces, and Northern Mongolia agree with regional drought records and recent satellite observations of vegetation browning and productivity decreases. Our results indicate that the pan-Arctic water balance is responding to a warming climate in complex ways with direct links to terrestrial carbon and energy cycles.
Anatomical Changes associated with Juvenile-to-Mature Growth Phase Transition in Hedera

THE morphological change which accompanies a juvenile-to-mature transition in various plant species has received considerable attention in recent years1–7. Some workers have attempted to relate biochemical8,9 and anatomical10 factors to those changes which are so striking in certain plants as to give the impression that the mature phase is an entirely different species. These studies confirm the findings of Beakbane11 and extend her hypothesis concerning adventitious rooting.
Selective blockade of CaMKII-α inhibits NMDA-induced caspase-3-dependent cell death but does not arrest PARP-1 activation or loss of plasma membrane selectivity in rat retinal neurons

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II-alpha (CaMKII-alpha) has been implicated in a number of receptor mediated events in neurons. Pharmacological blockade of CaMKII-alpha has been shown to prevent phosphorylation of NMDA-R2A and R2B receptor subunits, suggesting that this enzyme may be linked to receptor trafficking of glutamate receptors and serve as a regulatory protein for neuronal cell death. In the retina, inhibition of CaMKII-alpha has been reported to be neuroprotective against NMDA-induced cell death by preventing the activation of the caspase-3 dependent pathway. However, the effects of CaMKII-alpha blockade on the caspase-3 independent, PARP-1 dependent and the non-programmed cell death pathways have not previously been investigated. In the present study, blockade of CaMKII-alpha with the highly specific antagonist myristoylated autocamtide-2-related inhibitory peptide (AIP) was used in a rat in vivo model of retinal toxicity to compare the effects of on NMDA-induced caspase-3-dependent, PARP-1 dependent and the non-programmed (necrosis) cell death pathways. Results confirmed that AIP fully attenuates caspase-3 activation for at least 8 h following NMDA insult and also significantly improves retinal ganglion cell survival. However, this blockade had little effect on reducing the loss of plasma membrane selectivity (LPMS, e.g. necrosis) in cells located in the ganglion cell and inner nuclear layers and did not alter NMDA-induced PARP-1 hyperactivation, or prevent TUNEL labeling following a moderate NMDA-insult. These findings support a specific role for CaMKII-alpha in mediating the caspase-3 dependent cell death pathway and provide evidence that it is not directly linked to the signaling of either the PARP-1 dependent or the non-programmed cell death pathways.
Achieving an Arbitrary Spatial Stiffness with Springs Connected in Parallel

In this paper, the synthesis of an arbitrary spatial stiffness matrix is addressed. We have previously shown that an arbitrary stiffness matrix cannot be achieved with conventional translational springs and rotational springs (simple springs) connected in parallel regardless of the number of springs used or the geometry of their connection. To achieve an arbitrary spatial stiffness matrix with springs connected in parallel, elastic devices that couple translational and rotational components are required. Devices having these characteristics are defined here as screw springs. The designs of two such devices are illustrated. We show that there exist some stiffness matrices that require 3 screw springs for their realization and that no more than 3 screw springs are required for the realization of full-rank spatial stiffness matrices. In addition, we present two procedures for the synthesis of an arbitrary spatial stiffness matrix. With one procedure, any rank-m positive semidefinite matrix is realized with m springs of which all may be screw springs. With the other procedure, any positive definite matrix is realized with 6 springs of which no more than 3 are screw springs.
Partial coherence and entanglement

The two-photon wave function that characterizes light in a two-photon entangled state obeys equations similar to the Wolf equations describing the mutual coherence function. A duality between coherence and entanglement has been established, and a van Cittert-Zernike theorem is applicable. Intensity correlation is described by a Siegert-type relation that is devoid of the deleterious background term.
Circulation and mixing at the New England shelfbreak front: Results of purposeful tracer experiments

Abstract We present the results of six dye tracer experiments that measured the mixing and circulation at the shelfbreak front on the New England Shelf. The last three were conducted during the New England Shelfbreak Productivity Experiment (NESPEX) with concurrent isopycnal float deployments. The results are consistent with the Chapman and Lentz [Chapman, D.C., and Lentz, S.J. (1994). Trapping of a coastal density front by the bottom boundary layer. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 24, 1465–1479.] model prediction of the separation and upwelling along the shelfbreak front of bottom boundary layer (BBL) water forced by an Ekman buoyancy flux, but show considerable variability. Cross-shelf velocities at the detachment point are 2–3 × 10−2 m/s. But seaward, over the slope region, dye tagged water was sheared from the main patch into small filaments that upwelled along the front with cross-shelf speeds up to 0.1 m/s. Cross-shelf diffusion was of order 10 m2/s in the mixed bottom layer and 1 m2/s in the interior along the front. Within the stratified front, the mean vertical diffusivity was Kz ∼ 4 × 10−6 m2/s. The dispersion of shelfwater in the slope region is effected by turbulent flow with advective speeds exceeding the small scale diffusive mixing. The mean flux of the detached BBL water is sufficient to account for the net loss of shelf water during its transit from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras.
Vulnerabilities to addiction must have their impact through the common currency of discounted reward

The ten vulnerabilities discussed in the target article vary in their likelihood of producing temporary preference for addictive activities – which is the phenomenon that puzzles conventional motivational theory. Direct dopaminergic stimulation, but probably not the other vulnerabilities, may contribute to the necessary concavity of addicts' delay discounting curves, as may factors that the senior author analyzes elsewhere. Whatever their origins, these curves can themselves account for temporary preference, sudden craving, and the “automatic” habits discussed here.
Method to distinguish possible chaos from colored noise and to determine embedding parameters

We present a computational method to determine if an observed time series possesses structure statistically distinguishable from high-dimensional linearly correlated noise, possibly with a nonwhite spectrum. This method should be useful in identifying deterministic chaos in natural signals with broadband power spectra, and is capable of distinguishing between chaos and a random process that has the same power spectrum. The method compares nonlinear predictability of the given data to an ensemble of random control data sets
Fabrication and characterization of optogenetic, multi-strip cardiac muscles

Cardiac tissue engineering aims to recreate functional tissue constructs similar to the structure and function of the native myocardium. To date, in vitro tissue constructs lack the architectural complexity of a vascular network and the precise motor unit control of muscle fibers. Here, we present a method to construct engineered multi-strip cardiac muscle that simulates the bundle-like architecture of the native myocardium. Densely packed primary myocytes and cardiac fibroblasts were co-cultured with optogenetic, non-excitable cells. The resulting 3D syncytium triggered contraction upon localized blue light illumination to selectively activate and pace the multi-strip cardiac muscles, similar to the activity of pacemaker cells. Acting on a single load, we demonstrated graded force production through light-modulated multi-strip recruitment. These results demonstrate an in vitro platform of optogenetic, multi-strip cardiac muscles that can be used in a wide variety of applications, such as drug discovery, tissue engineering, and bio-hybrid robotic systems.
Anomalies in nonlinear device models

Circuit models of many nonlinear devices and systems have given rise to anomalous and paradoxical phenomena which have defined any logical explanation using classical circuit and system theory. The difficulty is due largely to our tendency to apply linear circuit and system theory to explain grossly nonlinear phenomena. These anomalies can only be resolved by developing a new foundation for "nonlinear device modeling", where unconventional circuit elements and modern mathematical tools (e.g., singular perturbation, topological dynamics, etc.) play leading roles [1-3]. The purpose of this lecture is to sample some recent advances in this exciting area of research.
Mass spectrometry analysis of HIV‐1 Vif reveals an increase in ordered structure upon oligomerization in regions necessary for viral infectivity

HIV-1 Vif, an accessory protein in the viral genome, performs an important role in viral pathogenesis by facilitating the degradation of APOBEC3G, an endogenous cellular inhibitor of HIV-1 replication. In this study, intrinsically disordered regions are predicted in HIV-1 Vif using sequence-based algorithms. Intrinsic disorder may explain why traditional structure determination of HIV-1 Vif has been elusive, making structure-based drug design impossible. To characterize HIV-1 Vif's structural topology and to map the domains involved in oligomerization we used chemical cross-linking, proteolysis, and mass spectrometry. Cross-linking showed evidence of monomer, dimer, and trimer species via denaturing gel analysis and an additional tetramer via western blot analysis. We identified 47 unique linear peptides and 24 (13 intramolecular; 11 intermolecular) noncontiguous, cross-linked peptides, among the noncross-linked monomer, cross-linked monomer, cross-linked dimer, and cross-linked trimer samples. Almost complete peptide coverage of the N-terminus is observed in all samples analyzed, however reduced peptide coverage in the C-terminal region is observed in the dimer and trimer samples. These differences in peptide coverage or "protections" between dimer and trimer indicate specific differences in packing between the two oligomeric forms. Intramolecular cross-links within the monomer suggest that the N-terminus is likely folded into a compact domain, while the C-terminus remains intrinsically disordered. Upon oligomerization, as evidenced by the intermolecular cross-links, the C-terminus of one Vif protein becomes ordered by wrapping back on the N-terminal domain of another. In addition, the majority of the intramolecular cross-links map to regions that have been previously reported to be necessary for viral infectivity. Thus, this data suggests HIV-1 Vif is in a dynamic equilibrium between the various oligomers potentially allowing it to interact with other binding partners.
Temporal interface designs for modeling and simulation: reducing display clutter by temporal fusion

This research examines employing "Temporal Fusion" to reduce clutter confusion associated with dynamic information displays used in C2 operations. The intent here is to design timing formats to aid targeting attention and memory Eleven subjects performed an attentionally demanding short-term (ST) memory task. Two different timing formats are used to carry memory set items. Task irrelevant items are present and timed to occur either synchronously with memory set items or asynchronously. Results indicate that dynamic irrelevant information added to the display can affect recognition memory. Performance facilitation is best when task irrelevant item timing is the same as memory set timing. These data suggest application of certain timing formats may play an important role in reducing clutter confusion by guiding attention and aiding memory when processing multiple sources of dynamic information. These data also have implications when designing interfaces for modeling and simulation tools.
Transnationalism, the State, and the Extraterritorial Citizen

Offering a political optic on transnationalism, this article shows how the Partido Accion Nacional from Guanajuato, Mexico, seeks to reconstitute Guanajuatense transnational migrants as clients and funders of state policies, as political subjects with “dual loyalty” but limited political autonomy. To co-opt migrants into development projects designed bythe state but financed bythe migrants, partyelites reconfigure the meanings of “migrant,” “region,” and “citizen.” This is contested by migrant leaders whose views of extraterritorial citizenship, translocal community, and partyloy alty differ from views of the partyelites. The migrants see the state as diverting their energies from true civil societyand local development initiatives across borders.
Applying the Land Use Portfolio Model with Hazus to analyse risk from natural hazard events

This paper describes and demonstrates the integration of two geospatial decision-support systems for natural-hazard risk assessment and management. Hazus is a risk-assessment tool developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to identify risks and estimate the severity of risk from natural hazards. The Land Use Portfolio Model (LUPM) is a risk-management tool developed by the U.S. Geological Survey to evaluate plans or actions intended to reduce risk from natural hazards. We analysed three mitigation policies for one earthquake scenario in the San Francisco Bay area to demonstrate the added value of using Hazus and the LUPM together. The demonstration showed that Hazus loss estimates can be input to the LUPM to obtain estimates of losses avoided through mitigation, rates of return on mitigation investment, and measures of uncertainty. Together, they offer a more comprehensive approach to help with decisions for reducing risk from natural hazards.
Spectral performance of non-optimally matched two-cell tandem solar cells

CdTe and CuInSe/sub 2/ solar cells have nonoptimally matched bandgaps for efficient utilization of the solar spectrum in a two-cell tandem configuration. To provide current matching between the two cells, part of the bottom cell may be exposed to the incident radiation. Since changes in the solar spectrum tend to predominantly occur at long wavelengths, if some of the short-wavelength incident radiation is allowed to penetrate the bottom cell, the tandem cell should perform more consistently with changing insolation conditions than in a regular tandem structure. The author shows through theoretical modeling that while the efficiency of nonoptimally matched cells does improve under varying insolation conditions when the bottom cell is exposed to the incident radiation, the enhancement in the cell's output power is negligible. >
The Aberrant Anterior Tibial Artery Magnetic Resonance Appearance, Prevalence, and Surgical Implications

Background:Injury of a popliteal fossa artery during orthopaedic knee surgery is very rare but has serious consequences. The risk of vascular trauma during orthopaedic procedures may be increased when there is abnormal branching of the popliteal artery with an aberrant anterior tibial artery originating above the popliteus muscle and coursing between the posterior tibial cortex and ventral margin of the popliteus muscle. Preoperative identification of this anatomical variant may help avoid these injuries.Hypothesis:The aberrant anterior tibial artery is present in a substantial portion of the population and can be visualized by magnetic resonance imaging.Study Design:Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:Retrospective review of 1116 consecutive knee magnetic resonance imaging studies was performed to evaluate the prevalence of an aberrant anterior tibial artery. Images were reviewed by 3 musculoskeletal radiologists.Results:The aberrant anterior tibial artery was present in 23 of 1116 extrem...
Superhydrophobic Nanocomposite Coating for Reliability Improvement of Microelectronics

We developed superhydrophobic (SH) silica/epoxy nanocomposite coating as an encapsulant to improve device reliability. The SH surface was generated by spin-coating of a silica/epoxy nanocomposite, followed by an oxygen reactive ion etching that exposes silica nanostructures for high surface roughness, and a subsequent hydrophobic treatment for low surface energy. As a result, a water contact angle of 161.2° and a contact angle hysteresis of 1.7° were achieved under an optimized condition. Such SH coating showed good stability under humidity at elevated temperatures and was applied on the triple track resistor (TTR) test coupons. It is found that the self-cleaning encapsulant successfully improves the test device reliability, and the coated TTR showed less degradation of resistance and leakage current in the temperature humidity bias test. In addition, the effect of different types of epoxy resin on reliability improvement was studied.
250 Gb/s multi-wavelength operation of microring resonator-based broadband comb switch for silicon photonic networks-on-chip

A 250-Gb/s multi-wavelength signal dynamically routed through a high-speed 1times2 silicon switch advocates low-power networks-on-chip, with power penalties and extinction ratios investigated.
Too Busy to Mind the Business? Monitoring by Directors with Multiple Board Appointments

We examine the number of external appointments held by corporate directors. Directors who serve larger firms and sit on larger boards are more likely to attract additional directorships. Consistent with Fama and Jensen (1983), we find that firm performance has a positive effect on the number of appointments held by a director. We find no evidence that multiple directors shirk their responsibilities to serve on board committees. We also do not find that multiple directors are associated with a greater likelihood of securities fraud litigation. We conclude that the evidence does not support calls for limits on directorships held by an individual.
The Galactic Center Weather Forecast

In accretion-based models for Sgr A*, the X-ray, infrared, and millimeter emission arise in a hot, geometrically thick accretion flow close to the black hole. The spectrum and size of the source depend on the black hole mass accretion rate . Since Gillessen et al. have recently discovered a cloud moving toward Sgr A* that will arrive in summer 2013, may increase from its present value . We therefore reconsider the best-bet accretion model of Mościbrodzka et al., which is based on a general relativistic MHD flow model and fully relativistic radiative transfer, for a range of . We find that for modest increases in the characteristic ring of emission due to the photon orbit becomes brighter, more extended, and easier to detect by the planned Event Horizon Telescope submillimeter Very Long Baseline Interferometry experiment. If , this silhouette of the black hole will be hidden beneath the synchrotron photosphere at 230 GHz, and for the silhouette is hidden at 345 GHz. We also find that for 2 \,\dot{M}_0$ SRC=http://ej.iop.org/images/2041-8205/752/1/L1/apjl430402ieqn8.gif/> the near-horizon accretion flow becomes a persistent X-ray and mid-infrared source, and in the near-infrared Sgr A* will acquire a persistent component that is brighter than currently observed flares.
Culture–gene coevolution of individualism–collectivism and the serotonin transporter gene

Culture–gene coevolutionary theory posits that cultural values have evolved, are adaptive and influence the social and physical environments under which genetic selection operates. Here, we examined the association between cultural values of individualism–collectivism and allelic frequency of the serotonin transporter functional polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) as well as the role this culture–gene association may play in explaining global variability in prevalence of pathogens and affective disorders. We found evidence that collectivistic cultures were significantly more likely to comprise individuals carrying the short (S) allele of the 5-HTTLPR across 29 nations. Results further show that historical pathogen prevalence predicts cultural variability in individualism–collectivism owing to genetic selection of the S allele. Additionally, cultural values and frequency of S allele carriers negatively predict global prevalence of anxiety and mood disorder. Finally, mediation analyses further indicate that increased frequency of S allele carriers predicted decreased anxiety and mood disorder prevalence owing to increased collectivistic cultural values. Taken together, our findings suggest culture–gene coevolution between allelic frequency of 5-HTTLPR and cultural values of individualism–collectivism and support the notion that cultural values buffer genetically susceptible populations from increased prevalence of affective disorders. Implications of the current findings for understanding culture–gene coevolution of human brain and behaviour as well as how this coevolutionary process may contribute to global variation in pathogen prevalence and epidemiology of affective disorders, such as anxiety and depression, are discussed.
Association of NFKB1, which encodes a subunit of the transcription factor NF-κB, with alcohol dependence

A broad region on chromosome 4q has been linked to alcohol dependence (alcoholism). We hypothesized that such broad linkage regions represent the combined action of multiple genes. Seeking to identify genes within that region that are associated with alcoholism, we have tested the association of NFKB1, located at 4q24, with alcoholism. NFKB1 encodes a 105 kDa transcription inhibitor that is cleaved to the 50 kDa DNA-binding subunit of the ubiquitous transcription factor NF-kB. NF-kB regulates many genes relevant to brain function, and its actions can be potentiated by ethanol; thus, NFKB1 is an excellent candidate gene for alcoholism. Nineteen SNPs in and near NFKB1 were analyzed in a sample of 219 multiplex alcoholic families of European American descent. Family-based association analyses detected significant evidence of association with eight SNPs and marginal evidence for five more. The association was driven by the affected individuals with earlier onset of alcoholism (55% of the sample with onset � 21 years). Further analysis of the age of onset as a quantitative variable provided evidence for the association of 12 SNPs in this gene. Thus, variations in NFKB1 appear to affect the risk for alcoholism, particularly contributing to an earlier onset of the disease.
DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC APPROACH TO PITUITARY INCIDENTALOMAS

Abstract Objective To review data on epidemiology, differential diagnosis, clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings, natural history, and management of incidentally discovered pituitary lesions (pituitary incidentalomas). Methods A nonsystematic review was conducted, including articles indexed in Index Medicus that contained reference to incidentally discovered pituitary masses (pituitary incidentalomas). Results Both autopsy and sensitive neuroimaging studies (including magnetic resonance imaging) suggest that pituitary incidentalomas are common, affecting approximately 10% of the general population. Although typically small (less than 10 mm in greatest diameter) and clinically silent, some pituitary incidentalomas may be hormonally active or cause mass effects by compressing neighboring structures. In addition, a minority of these lesions may grow over time; hence, long-term follow-up is necessary. Therapeutic interventions, including dopamine agonist therapy (in the case of prolactin-secreting adenomas) or transsphenoidal resection, are indicated in the case of pituitary lesions that are hormonally active, cause mass effects, or increase in size. Conclusion Pituitary incidentalomas are common and constitute a heterogeneous group with regard to pathologic features, clinical, laboratory, and imaging characteristics, natural history, and growth potential. Currently available evidence suggests that many hormonally nonfunctioning pituitary incidentalomas causing no mass effects can be safely managed by follow-up surveillance. Nonetheless, more data are needed for further elucidation of the natural history of these lesions and for improvement in accurate and noninvasive diagnosis and in prediction of growth potential of pituitary incidentalomas. Improved understanding of the pathogenesis of this heterogeneous group of lesions may also lead to the development of novel, noninvasive therapeutic agents, rationally designed to interact with well-characterized molecular targets. (Endocr Pract. 2004;10:438-444)
Progress on the development of the CHAMP plasma accelerator

Summary form only given. The continuous high average-power microsecond pulser (CHAMP) plasma accelerator is being developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The CHAMP accelerator uses a ballistically focused, magnetically insulated extraction diode for the plasma source. Four primary systems work in sequence to produce an ion beam namely, the gas puff, the anode induction coil pulse, the magnetic insulation field coil pulse, and the accelerator pulse. Most of the assembly and testing of CHAMP has occurred in the past 12 months. This includes plasma characterization for a static backfill, puff gas fill modeling and experimental characterization, puff fill plasma characterization, and beam extraction. This report details the progress of the assembly and testing as well as describes planned experiments and future upgrades. Most significant of the upgrades is the transition to continuous beam pulse operation.