cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bessel beam illumination reduces resolution degradation due to micro-architectural heterogeneities for dual-axis confocal microscopy of tissues

We utilize both Gaussian and Bessel illumination in a point-scanned dual-axis confocal (DAC) microscope and quantify the resultant degradation of resolution when imaging in phantoms and tissues. Results indicate that Bessel illumination exhibits reduced resolution degradation from micro-scale refractive heterogeneities compared to conventional Gaussian illumination.
Seizures in a 1-day-old Newborn

A newborn has seizures on the first day after birth. ### Prenatal and Birth Histories: According to the mother, the baby has had occasional repetitive jerking of the left arm and shoulder starting on the first postnatal day. The mother did not initially mention these movements to pediatrician, who first notices an event about 48 hours after birth. The movement involves rhythmic jerking of the left arm that initially lasts less than 5 seconds. There is no nystagmus, gaze fixation, or head deviation. Subsequent events last as long as 90 seconds and involve focal tonic-clonic, rhythmic jerking of the left arm. The baby cries and is responsive to stimuli during the event, and some left leg involvement is noted. Jerking cannot be stopped with holding. The infant is feeding well, active, and afebrile after birth. ### Vital Signs: ### Physical Examination:
Self-organized dynamic provisioning for big data

Recent rapid expansion of datasets in big data problems has resulted in data sizes that exceed processing capabilities of available distributed computing power. In other words, we are producing more data than we can process. In addition, further analysis of a dataset collective state may require duplicating, transferring, and distributing to increase the scale of the problem. Orchestrating these steps in large-scale complex systems is non-trivial. One basic technique to help minimize effects of data re-distribution is to use dynamic resource provisioning environments. When the node organization and structure is dynamic and eclectic, provisioning environments require up-to-date information about resource availability. Maintaining freshness of available resource state in centralized or hierarchical scheduling systems imposes a network communication overhead. Centralization also introduces administrative barriers, limiting interoperability. One effective method to improve the extent of self-organization is taking feedback. Based on this feedback, nodes can then alter their behavior to better respond to changing characteristics in dynamic resource provisioning environments. In this article, we present a decentralized scheduling framework that takes feedback from the system, and adjusts its behavior accordingly. Our framework presents an enabling mechanism for self-organization, where each cloud node adapts its behavior based on the feedback. This approach, compared to centralized resource provisioning solutions that exist in current cloud systems, achieves comparable scheduling decisions, with half the packet overhead. We show that by taking advantage of spatial locality with dynamic provisioning, and due to better scheduling decisions with our framework, data processing overhead of big data problems can be reduced by at least 30% in general, and up to 55% in particular resource distributions. This in turn, results in efficient scheduling decisions to provision better resources for big data tasks.
Junction to case thermal resistance variability due to temperature induced package warpage

In-situ junction-to-case thermal resistance (Theta JC) measurements are sensitive to a number of test condition factors. In this paper, the effect of electronic package die temperature on junction-to-case thermal measurements is reported over a nominal use condition temperature range of 40 to 105°C. Multiple parts were tested under a variety of boundary conditions to assess the impact of die temperature, total power dissipation, ambient cooling, and thermal parasitic heat loss through the test motherboard. The spatially resolved Thermal Interface Material I (TIM I) bond line thickness (BLT) was also quantified over a typical reflow temperature profile. These results combined with analytical and numerical modeling demonstrate that temperature induced package warpage can dramatically impact measured Theta JC values (up to 20%) due primarily to the impact on the spatially resolved TIM I bond line thickness. Such considerations should be considered by practitioners reporting Theta JC measurements. The results confirm the value of in-situ testing where package warpage is process and form factor dependent and cannot be predicted with bulk material testing data alone.
CRISPR/Cas9 Editing of the Bacillus subtilis Genome

A fundamental procedure for most modern biologists is the genetic manipulation of the organism under study. Although many different methods for editing bacterial genomes have been used in laboratories for decades, the adaptation of CRISPR/Cas9 technology to bacterial genetics has allowed researchers to manipulate bacterial genomes with unparalleled facility. CRISPR/Cas9 has allowed for genome edits to be more precise, while also increasing the efficiency of transferring mutations into a variety of genetic backgrounds. As a result, the advantages are realized in tractable organisms and organisms that have been refractory to genetic manipulation. Here, we describe our method for editing the genome of the bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Our method is highly efficient, resulting in precise, markerless mutations. Further, after generating the editing plasmid, the mutation can be quickly introduced into several genetic backgrounds, greatly increasing the speed with which genetic analyses may be performed.
Feeding Responses of Trichopoda pennipes (F.) (Diptera: Tachinidae) to Selected Insecticides

Feeding responses of the parasitoid Trichopoda pennipes (F.) to acetamiprid, cyfluthrin, dicrotophos, indoxacarb, oxamyl, and thiamethoxam were determined in laboratory tests. Trichopoda pennipes adults exhibited repellency to a sugar water food source treated with oxamyl, cyfluthrin, indoxacarb, and acetamiprid and diminution of feeding when they actually fed on sugar water containing any of the insecticides. Although four of the insecticides in this study exhibited antifeedant activity, ingestion of food treated with any of these compounds always resulted in the death of the flies. Therefore, repellency to the insecticides was the only response by the flies that insured their survival.
Signal and Nutrient Exchange in the Interactions Between Soil Algae and Bacteria

Microbial consortia of soil algae and prokaryotes have important functions in terrestrial ecosystems. Recent studies helped delineate phylogenetic diversity of microbiota associated with soil algae. Some signals and nutrients exchanged between algae and the associated bacteria were also identified. Both algae and bacteria appear to benefit from the interactions: algae derive fixed nitrogen, vitamins, and hormones from their bacterial associates. Soil algae also produce vitamin signals (lumichrome and riboflavin) that act as agonists of bacterial cell-to-cell communication known as “quorum sensing.” Further studies are needed to establish the ecological consequences of algal–bacterial nutrient and signal exchange.
Fluted hafted bifaces in the Northeast and Clovis: A North America wide perspective using image analysis

Abstract The degree of variability present in fluted hafted biface morphology across North America is often debated. In this work I use a series of ratio scale linear measurements to examine variability in Early Paleoindian period fluted hafted bifaces from seven different Culture Areas across North America. Instead of analysing the actual artifacts, measurements are taken on high resolution images of the hafted bifaces. I find that the Early Paleoindian period fluted hafted bifaces from the Northeast are significantly different from those found elsewhere in terms of base depth and flute length. These differences have wide reaching implications for large scale studies of Early Paleoindian hafted bifaces.
Review of Deliberative Pedagogy: Teaching and Learning for Democratic Engagement. Edited by Timothy J. Shaffer, Nicholas V. Longo, Idit Manosevitch, and Maxine S. Thomas. (Lansing: Michigan State University Press, 2017)

Review of Deliberative Pedagogy: Teaching and Learning for Democratic Engagement. Edited by Timothy J. Shaffer, Nicholas V. Longo, Idit Manosevitch, and Maxine S. Thomas. (Lansing: Michigan State University Press, 2017)
Floristics, primary productivity and primate diversity in Amazonia : contrasting a eutrophic várzea forest and an oligotrophic caatinga forest in Brazil

Several factors such as rainfall, primary productivity, and plant species richness have been hypothesized to affect consumer species richness, possibly explaining differences in species richness among communities and on different continents. Primary productivity in particular has been suggested as important in determining species richness of consumer taxa, such as the primates, in the Neotropics. Here I contrast the floristics and phenological patterns of two Amazonian rainforest sites that differ markedly in primary productivity and yet have the same number of primate species: 1) an oligotrophic site—caatinga forests of Pico da Neblina National Park; and 2) a eutrophic site—varzea forests of Mamiraua. The objective of this comparison is to see how primary productivity interacts with floristics and phenology and ultimately, with primate species richness. With only 4 species each, the compared sites are characterized by low primate species richness. At both sites, low numbers of primate species are associated with an unusually low abundance of important primate food plants such as trees from the Burseraceae, Moraceae, Myristicaceae, Palmae and Sapotaceae. Moreover, in Neblina there is a long period of fruit scarcity and an overall low availability of fleshy fruits, which probably also contributes to the observed low primate species richness. In contrast, productivity in Mamiraua is high and fleshy fruits are abundant. These fruits, however, are mostly small in size and their seeds are most likely dispersed by birds, bats, fish, or water, not by primates. In this case then, primary productivity is not being largely transferred to primates as may be the case in other productive sites where preferred primate plant families are more abundant. Thus, when intertrophic interactions have a mutualistic nature such as the interaction between a fruit and a frugivore, a direct effect of primary productivity on all consumer taxa should not be expected. I suggest that in order to understand the effects of intertrophic interactions on consumer species richness in tropical rainforests it is important to first determine how the primary productivity is funnelled to the second trophic level.
Possible origin and function of the parasporal crystals in Bacillusthuringiensis

Abstract Acrystalliferous strains of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki were isolated at a high frequency following heat treatment of spores. Spores of these strains lacked a 130,000 dalton glycoprotein, the major component common to both parasporal crystals and coats and were nontoxic to tobacco hornworm larvae. Moreover, the deficiency of this glycoprotein resulted in lysozyme sensitivity of the spores of some mutants and the presence of new spore coat proteins in others. All nontoxic acrystalliferous mutants lacked the complete array of at least six plasmids present in the wild type, implying a relationship between presence of plasmid(s) and toxicity. The unique capacity of this species to alter the surface coating of spores which appears to be related to crystal formation may provide flexibility for germination and growth in diverse soil environments.
Glucocorticoid Negative Feedback

Negative feedback inhibition by adrenal glucocorticoids is the means by which the brain is informed that the pituitary ACTH-secreting cells and adrenocortical fasciculata cells have done its bidding. However, a great deal of flexibility is required for an effective feedback system to serve its appropriate function. Thus, there are various time domains and mechanisms by which the glucocorticoids act to inhibit further brain-induced stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, the different sites at which the steroids act, and the state-dependent modifications of the brain response to the feedback action of the steroids. The net result of this seeming complexity is a spectacularly functional feedback system that maintains glucocorticoid levels at values appropriate for the physiology of the organism at most times.
A 160 GHz Frequency Quadrupler based on Heterogeneous Integration of GaAs Schottky Diodes onto Silicon using SU-8 for Epitaxy Transfer

An integrated frequency quadrupler operating at 160 GHz, producing 100 mW of output power, and achieving peak efficiency of 25.5% is described. The quadrupler design is based on prior art and consists of GaAs Schottky diodes with epitaxy transferred to a micromachined silicon carrier forming a heterogene-ously-integrated chip. A newly-developed fabrication process that eliminates high temperature annealing and utilizes SU-8 for adhesive bonding was employed to realize the circuit. The new process improves device yield and reliability compared to previous implementations.
Cardiac Arrest Outcomes in Children With Preexisting Neurobehavioral Impairment.

OBJECTIVES To describe survival and 3-month and 12-month neurobehavioral outcomes in children with preexisting neurobehavioral impairment enrolled in one of two parallel randomized clinical trials of targeted temperature management. DESIGN Secondary analysis of Therapeutic Hypothermia after Pediatric Cardiac Arrest In-Hospital and Out-of-Hospital trials data. SETTING Forty-one PICUs in the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom. PATIENTS Eighty-four participants (59 in-hospital cardiac arrest and 25 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest), 49 males, 35 females, mean age 4.6 years (SD, 5.36 yr), with precardiac arrest neurobehavioral impairment (Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition composite score < 70). All required chest compressions for greater than or equal to 2 minutes, were comatose and required mechanical ventilation after return of circulation. INTERVENTIONS Neurobehavioral function was assessed using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition at baseline (reflecting precardiac arrest status), and at 3 and 12 months postcardiac arrest, followed by on-site cognitive evaluation. Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition norms are 100 (mean) ± 15 (SD); higher scores indicate better function. Analyses evaluated survival, changes in Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition, and cognitive functioning. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Twenty-eight of 84 (33%) survived to 12 months (in-hospital cardiac arrest, 19/59 (32%); out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, 9/25 [36%]). In-hospital cardiac arrest (but not out-of-hospital cardiac arrest) survival rate was significantly lower compared with the Therapeutic Hypothermia after Pediatric Cardiac Arrest group without precardiac arrest neurobehavioral impairment. Twenty-five survived with decrease in Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition less than or equal to 15 (in-hospital cardiac arrest, 18/59 (31%); out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, 7/25 [28%]). At 3-months postcardiac arrest, mean Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition scores declined significantly (-5; SD, 14; p < 0.05). At 12 months, Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition declined after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (-10; SD, 12; p < 0.05), but not in-hospital cardiac arrest (0; SD, 15); 43% (12/28) had unchanged or improved scores. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the feasibility, utility, and challenge of including this population in clinical neuroprotection trials. In children with preexisting neurobehavioral impairment, one-third survived to 12 months and their neurobehavioral outcomes varied broadly.
Associations between medical students’ beliefs about obesity and clinical counseling proficiency

Despite evidence that biological and genetic factors contribute strongly to obesity, many healthcare providers still attribute obesity more to controllable behavioral issues rather than factors outside a person’s control. We evaluated whether medical school students’ beliefs about obesity correlate with ability to effectively counsel patients with obesity. Clerkship-year medical students at NYU School of Medicine completed an Objective Structured Clinical Experience (OSCE) that tests ability to effectively counsel standardized actor-patients with obesity. We surveyed these students to evaluate their beliefs about the causes of obesity and their attitudes towards people with obesity. We analyzed correlations between student beliefs, negative obesity attitudes, and OSCE performance. The response rate was 60.7% (n = 71). When asked to rate the importance of individual factors, students rated controllable factors such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and overeating as more important than genetics or biological factors (p < 0.01). Believing obesity is caused by uncontrollable factors was negatively correlated with obesity bias (r = − 0.447; p < 0.0001). Believing that obesity is caused by factors within a person’s control was negatively correlated with counseling skills (r = − 0.235; p < 0.05). Attribution of obesity to external factors correlated with greater ability to counsel patients with obesity, suggesting that educating providers on the biological causes of obesity could help reduce bias and improve provider care.
Blood Loss and Visibility with Esmolol vs Labetalol in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives:Improved intraoperative visibility during functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) decreases the risk of serious orbital or skull base injuries. Esmolol and labetalol have been used to...
Is a Minimum Age Necessary? An Examination of the Association Between Justice System Contact in Childhood and Negative Outcomes in Adolescence

Though policy makers in several states have recently proposed establishing a minimum age of juvenile court jurisdiction to reduce justice system involvement for younger children, research examining the effects of justice system contact in childhood on subsequent outcomes is limited. The current study aimed to examine the association between justice system contact in childhood and negative outcomes in adolescence, including self-reported arrest, self-reported delinquency, and self-reported high school dropout. This study used data from the LONGSCAN consortium and genetic matching to match a sample of 47 youth reporting justice system contact by age 12 with 47 control youth matched on 17 theoretically informed covariates. Matching results indicated justice system contact by age 12 was associated with a proportional increase in arrest between the ages of 15 and 16 of .43, a proportional increase in arrest between the ages of 17 and 18 of .47, and a proportional increase in experiencing three or more arrests by age 18 of .28. Further, justice system contact in childhood was associated with a proportional increase in dropout of .30. Significant differences in self-reported delinquency were not found. Sensitivity analyses indicated these findings were robust to omitted covariate bias. According to results, justice system contact in childhood contributes to negative outcomes for child delinquents. Findings suggest policies establishing a minimum age for juvenile court jurisdiction and restricting justice system contact for children may reduce negative outcomes for youth with an early-onset of delinquent behavior.
Evaluation of the dosimetric impact of manufacturing variations for the INTRABEAM x‐ray source

INTRODUCTION INTRABEAM x-ray sources (XRSs) have distinct output characteristics due to subtle variations between the ideal and manufactured products. The objective of this study is to intercompare 15 XRSs and to dosimetrically quantify the impact of manufacturing variations on the delivered dose. METHODS AND MATERIALS The normality of the XRS datasets was evaluated with the Shapiro-Wilk test, the accuracy of the calibrated depth-dose curves (DDCs) was validated with ionization chamber measurements, and the shape of each DDC was evaluated using depth-dose ratios (DDRs). For 20 Gy prescribed to the spherical applicator surface, the dose was computed at 5-mm and 10-mm depths from the spherical applicator surface for all XRSs. RESULTS At 5-, 10-, 20-, and 30-mm depths from the source, the coefficient of variation (CV) of the XRS output for 40 kVp was 4.4%, 2.8%, 2.0%, and 3.1% and for 50 kVp was 4.2%, 3.8%, 3.8%, and 3.4%, respectively. At a 20-mm depth from the source, the 40-kVp energy had a mean output in Gy/Minute = 0.36, standard deviation (SD) = 0.0072, minimum output = 0.34, and maximum output = 0.37 and a 50-kVp energy had a mean output = 0.56, SD = 0.021, minimum output = 0.52, and maximum output = 0.60. We noted the maximum DRR values of 2.8% and 2.5% for 40 kVp and 50 kVp, respectively. For all XRSs, the maximum dosimetric effect of these variations within a 10-mm depth of the applicator surface is ≤ 2.5%. The CV increased as depth increased and as applicator size decreased. CONCLUSION The American Association of Physicist in Medicine Task Group-167 requires that the impurities in radionuclides used for brachytherapy produce ≤ 5.0% dosimetric variations. Because of differences in an XRS output and DDC, we have demonstrated the dosimetric variations within a 10-mm depth of the applicator surface to be ≤ 2.5%.
Oxygen-18 study of the aqueous-phase oxidation of sulfur dioxide

Abstract An isotopic study of the aqueous-phase oxidation mechanisms of formation of sulfates from SO2 was made in laboratory experiments by varying the oxygen-18 content (δ18O) of the SO2 and the water, and by varying the catalyst, the oxidant, and the order of combination of the SO2 with air and water. In all of the experiments, the δ18O of the sulfate product was linearly dependent upon the δ18O of the water. The results indicate very rapid oxygen-isotope exchange between S(IV) ions and water prior to oxidation to S(VI). Charcoal catalysis of aqueous-phase air oxidation of SO2 yielded sulfates of significantly lower δ18O than did Fe3+ catalysis. By a different mechanism, aqueous H2O2 oxidation of SO2 yielded sulfates of much lower δ18O than air oxidation. A comparison of these results with the δ18O of sulfates found in precipitation water (rain and snow), collected over a three-year period at Argonne, Illinois, indicate that some other mechanism, in addition to aqueous air oxidation, is operative in the atmosphere.
How, when, and why individuals with stage IV cancer seen in an outpatient setting are referred to palliative care: a mixed methods study

Early palliative care (PC) for individuals with advanced cancer improves patient and family outcomes and experience. However, it is unknown when, why, and how in an outpatient setting individuals with stage IV cancer are referred to PC. At a large multi-specialty group in the USA with outpatient PC implemented beginning in 2011, clinical records were used to identify adults diagnosed with stage IV cancer after January 1, 2012 and deceased by December 31, 2017 and their PC referrals and hospice use. In-depth interviews were also conducted with 25 members of medical oncology, gynecological oncology, and PC teams and thematically analyzed. A total of 705 individuals were diagnosed and died between 2012 and 2017: of these, 332 (47%) were referred to PC, with 48.5% referred early (within 60 days of diagnosis). Among referred patients, 79% received hospice care, versus 55% among patients not referred. Oncologists varied dramatically in their rates of referral to PC. Interviews revealed four referral pathways: early referrals, referrals without active anti-cancer treatment, problem-based referrals, and late referrals (when stopping treatment). Participants described PC’s benefits as enhancing pain/symptom management, advance care planning, transitions to hospice, end-of-life experiences, a larger team, and more flexible patient care. Challenges reported included variation in oncologist practices, patient fears and misconceptions, and access to PC teams. We found high rates of use and appreciation of PC. However, interviews revealed that exclusively focusing on rates of referrals may obscure how referrals vary in timing, reason for referral, and usefulness to patients, families, and clinical teams.
Enhanced high permittivity BaTiO3-polymer nanocomposites from the cold sintering process

The dielectric property relations of a series of BaTiO3–polymer composites with a uniquely high-volume fraction of ceramic [(1 − x)BaTiO3–x polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), with volume fractions x = 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2] are studied. Such high-volume fraction of the BaTiO3 phase is achieved by using the cold sintering process, as it enables a single-step densification of oxides at an extremely low temperature; typically, the volume fractions from other processing methods are limited to ceramic filler volume fractions of ∼0.6. Microstructural and resistivity analyses suggest that the optimal range of the polymer content to effectively enhance the functions is x = 0.05, as higher volume fractions of the polymer hinder the densification of the ceramic. The composite exhibits improved properties such as lower loss tangent, higher resistivity, and high permittivity that vary systematically with x following an empirical mixing law. Here, we consider the composite mixing law trends and the changes to properties, which indicate that size effects are also being induced in the dielectric response, including shift of Tc, broadening of transition, and reduction of permittivity with respect to volume fraction of the PTFE. Our findings provide a new and simple strategy for the fabrication of ceramic–polymer composites with extremely high relative permittivities and resistivities, and these observations all point to a route that can allow us to engineer new types of advanced dielectric materials.
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Delivery of an Evidence-Based Child Maltreatment Prevention Program: Understanding the Perspectives of SafeCare® Providers.

Child maltreatment (CM) is a global public health problem. Evidence-based home visiting programs, such as SafeCare®, reduce CM risk, and enhance parent-child relationships and other protective factors. As the result of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting restrictions, SafeCare Providers transitioned from home to virtual delivery for the SafeCare curriculum. The purpose of this study is to 1) examine active SafeCare Providers’ opinions on the feasibility and effectiveness of SafeCare via remote delivery, and 2) better understand workforce concerns for human service professionals within the context of COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Data are from a cross-sectional survey of SafeCare Providers (N = 303) in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The majority of Providers reported they were actively delivering SafeCare virtually and were comfortable with the delivery format. Providers indicated that the majority of SafeCare families are making progress on target skills, and that engagement is high among many families. Some service delivery challenges were reported, ranging from family data plan limitations to difficulty with delivery of specific components of the SafeCare curriculum related to modeling and assessment. The impact of COVID-19 on Providers’ daily routines, stress level, and work-life balance has been significant. Remote, virtual delivery of CM prevention programming offers the opportunity to continue serving vulnerable families in the midst of a pandemic. Barriers related to family technology and data access must be addressed to ensure reach and the effective delivery of prevention programming during the pandemic and beyond.
Social Networks in an Assisted Living Community: Correlates of Acquaintance and Companionship Ties Among Residents.

OBJECTIVES Social relationships are important for older adults' well-being, including those who live in assisted living (AL) communities. This study explores coresident networks within an AL community and identifies factors associated with residents' social ties. METHODS Acquaintance and companionship networks within the community are described using cross-sectional survey data (N = 38). We use inferential network statistical methods to estimate parameters for factors associated with residents' acquaintance and companionship ties. RESULTS Residents reported an average of 10 acquaintances and almost 4 companionships with other residents in the sample. The likelihood a resident had an acquaintance was associated with higher levels of cognitive functioning (p < .05), higher levels of physical limitations (p < .01), living in the AL community for a longer time (p < .01), and less frequent contact with outside family and friends (p < .05). Acquaintances were more likely between residents who moved in around the same time as each other (p < .01), lived on the same floor (p < .001), or had similar levels of physical limitations (p < .05). Companionships were more likely to be reported by male residents (p < .05) and residents with higher levels of cognitive functioning (p < .05) or depressive symptoms (p < .05). Longtime residents were more popular as companions (p < .01). Companionships were more likely between residents who lived on the same floor (p < .001) or were similar in age (p < .01). DISCUSSION This research contributes to the literature of older adults' nonkin social relationships by providing detailed descriptions of the acquaintance and companionship networks within an AL community, quantifying correlates of residents' social ties, and distinguishing between acquaintances and companions.
Dynamical Mean-Field Theory

In this chapter, we begin with analyzing general statistical properties of systems in infinite dimensions. Then, we move to the case of noninteracting Hubbard model on hypercubic lattice in infinite dimensions and derive its density of states. We continue with the interacting case and show that in the Hubbard model in infinite dimensions, the nonzero diagrams, including the diagrams for the electron self-energy, are local in space. Using this fact, we derive the DMFT equations by mapping the lattice problem on the problem described by the Anderson impurity model. Then, we present the formulation of DMFT from the general principles of many-body theory and details of calculation of the thermodynamic potential. We conclude the chapter with a discussion of the relationship between DMFT and equivalent coherent potential approximation approaches used to study disordered systems.
Effects of High Velocity Nasal Insufflation on Respiratory Efficiency

Background: High velocity nasal insufflation (HVNI) is a form of respiratory support that provides flows that are believed to be in excess of a patient’s inspiratory and expiratory flows. In the last decade, a proliferation of high-flow nasal cannula devices and dosing recommendations (L/min) has been introduced into the clinical setting without consideration of mechanism of action. The high velocity nasal flow facilitates a well-described mechanism of improving ventilatory efficiency by way of eliminating carbon dioxide traditionally stacked in anatomical deadspace of the upper airway. Methods: Following IRB approval, a prospective, randomized trial of three different flows (low 0.2, medium 0.3, and high 0.4 L/kg/min PBW) HVNI at 0.21 FIO2 were used to evaluate ventilation efficiency of normal subjects by measuring minute ventilation (MV) (ExSpiron) at rest and during light exercise (increase the heart rate of subjects by 25%) on a stationary bike to mimic tachypneic patients in respiratory distress. Transcutaneous CO2 (Sentec) was used to standardize the specific minute ventilation (mL/kg) to a CO2 of 40 mm Hg. Results: In 12 normal subjects the application of low to high HVNI resulted in a 17%, 25% and 27% reduction in minute ventilation respectively from baseline. Figure 1. During light exercise the application of HVNI resulted in an increase in MV from baseline of 9% (high), 11% (med) and 19% (low). Figure 2. Conclusions: At rest the application of 0.2-0.4 L/min PBW of HVNI appears to eliminate upper airway deadspace improving respiratory efficiency enough to reduce MV. However, during light exercise, the application of HVNI does not appear to improve respiratory efficiency enough to result in a decrease MV from baseline.
Development of a Probabilistic Dynamic Synthesis Method for the Analysis of Nondeterministic Structures

Accounting for the statistical geometric and material variability of structures in analysis has been a topic of considerable research for the last 30 years. The determination of quantifiable measures of statistical probability of a desired response variable, such as natural frequency, maximum displacement, or stress, to replace experience-based "safety factors" has been a primary goal of these studies. There are, however, several problems associated with their satisfactory application to realistic structures, such as bladed disks in turbomachinery. These include the accurate definition of the input random variables (rv's), the large size of the finite element models frequently used to simulate these structures, which makes even a single deterministic analysis expensive, and accurate generation of the cumulative distribution function (CDF) necessary to obtain the probability of the desired response variables. The research presented here applies a methodology called probabilistic dynamic synthesis (PDS) to solve these problems. The PDS method uses dynamic characteristics of substructures measured from modal test as the input rv's, rather than "primitive" rv's such as material or geometric uncertainties. These dynamic characteristics, which are the free-free eigenvalues, eigenvectors, and residual flexibility (RF), are readily measured and for many substructures, a reasonable sample set of these measurements can be obtained. The statistics for these rv's accurately account for the entire random character of the substructure. Using the RF method of component mode synthesis, these dynamic characteristics are used to generate reduced-size sample models of the substructures, which are then coupled to form system models. These sample models are used to obtain the CDF of the response variable by either applying Monte Carlo simulation or by generating data points for use in the response surface reliability method, which can perform the probabilistic analysis with an order of magnitude less computational effort. Both free- and forced-response analyses have been performed, and the results indicate that, while there is considerable room for improvement, the method produces usable and more representative solutions for the design of realistic structures with a substantial savings in computer time.
Entero-hepatic circulation of bromsulphalein. I. Studies on man with special reference to the clinical BSP test.

Summary 1.The intra-duodenal instillation of either a 2 mg./kg. or a 5 mg./kg. dose of BSP resulted in significant serum dye concentrations in 6 subjects. 2.The effect of duodenal aspiration of bile containing dye on serum BSP levels, during the 2 mg./kg. and 5 mg./kg. intravenous tests could not be adequately determined because, in most instances, an insufficient quantity of dye was recovered during the test period. In one patient, following a 5 mg./kg. dose of BSP, recovery of a high percentage of the intravenously administered dye resulted in a significant reduction in the serum dye concentrations at 30 and 45 minutes. 3.Changes in serum BSP concentrations produced by common duct aspiration of bile-containing dye during the 2 mg./kg. and 5 mg./kg. intravenous tests varied relative to the amounts of BSP recovered. Although percentagewise dye recoveries and reductions in serum concentrations were not too different for 2 mg./kg. and 5 mg./kg. tests, only after the 5 mg./kg. dose were the quantitative reductions in serum BSP levels sufficiently great to alter the interpretation of the test. 4.It is recommended that in the clinical application of the BSP test, dye retention be estimated at 30 minute after a 2 mg./kg. dose. As demonstrated in this study, this would minimize the influence on the time and dose factors of the entero-hepatic circulation of BSP.
Genesis and evolution of lubricant moguls [HDDs]

Summary form only given. With today's head-disk spacing approaching the range where Van der Waals interactions become increasingly important, molecular interactions between the lubricant film and the slider surface need to be fully understood. In a previous paper, we reported the formation of "moguls" on waviness peaks and in a recent publication, lubricant ripples at the air bearing frequency have been observed. In this paper, more studies are presented on the genesis and evolution of lubricant "moguls", and emphasis on contributing factors such as lube thickness, lube type and substrate topography will be discussed.
Multilingual open-content signal processing laboratories in Connexions

Due to inherent factors like a small and fragmented market and rapid hardware obsolescence, the conventional textbook is inadequate for DSP laboratory education. Freely available open-content materials that enable and promote both local customization and further development by a community of educators offer a fresh approach to lab text development that can surmount these barriers. In this paper, we overview a joint effort under the aegis of the Connexions project to develop a large pool of DSP lab modules sufficient to serve as a complete, stand-alone text for several types of DSP lab courses. In addition, we introduce a pilot project whose aim is to demonstrate the suitability of using Connexions for languages other than English, such as the Japanese, Chinese and Thai languages.
Critical Accounting: After The Financial Crisis

The article describes the methods used in critical accounting. We investigates the relevant of critical research and the authors who write in the field and show how they responds to the current issues in the profession, in business in general and in capitalism. We show the differences with positive accounting where there are no solutions or explanations of crises that occur due to the contractions of capitalism. Keywords: critical accounting; research; theory; qualitative Methods; positive accounting; briloff
The Absolute Configuration of Methylmalonyl Coenzyme A and Stereochemistry of the Methylmalonyl Coenzyme A Mutase Reaction

Abstract Propionyl coenzyme A was carboxylated with epimerase-free carboxylase, and the resulting methylmalonyl coenzyme A (a) was reduced with Raney nickel. Isolation of (-)-(R)-β-hydroxyisobutyric acid N-phenylcarbamate (11) from the reaction mixture showed that methylmalonyl coenzyme A (a) has the (S) configuration. Propionyl coenzyme A was also converted to deuteriosuccinate with a D2O extract of a beef liver mitochondrial acetone powder. The deuteriosuccinate had a plain positive optical rotatory dispersion curve corresponding to the (S) configuration. It was concluded that (S)-methylmalonyl coenzyme A, formed by carboxylation of propionyl coenzyme A, was epimerized in D2O to (RS)-methylmalonyl(coenzyme A)-2-D, and that (R)-methylmalonyl(coenzyme A)-2-D was isomerized to succinyl coenzyme A with net retention of configuration of C-2. Since, in contrast, the glutamate mutase reaction proceeds with inversion, the lack of stereochemical uniformity in these two otherwise closely related rearrangements suggests that they may involve at least two steps, one or more of which are analogous, but at least one taking place with different stereochemistry. It is suggested that the cobamide coenzyme releases an electrophilic 5'-deoxyadenosyl group (perhaps reversibly to a methionyl residue on the enzyme), and that the resulting Co:i complex participates in the rearrangement by removal and transfer of a proton or other cationic fragment.
Investigation of isoprenoid benzoates and naphthoates by reversed-phase liquid chromatography : Isocratic elution characteristics of benzoates and naphthoates of C5C20 terpenoid alcohols

Conditions for derivatization of C5-C20 isoprenoid alcohols and the reversed-phase liquid chromatographic properties of the corresponding benzoate and naphthoate esters are described. A non-linear response of log k' to changes in the composition of the mobile phase was observed on a Radial-Pak C18 column. In general, the capacity factors (k') increased with increases in carbon content and degree of saturation in the hydrocarbon chain, and decreased with increases in branching and Z double bond content. Replacement of a single hydrogen in the methyl group at C-3 of geranyl benzoate with fluorine had little effect on k', while the difluoro- and trifuoromethyl derivatives showed regular increases in k'. The large extinction coefficients of the aromatic ester moieties, especially the 2-naphthoates, provide high sensitivity for UV detection.
Copyright Instruction in LIS Programs: Report of a Survey of Standards in the U.S.A.

Abstract This article will detail the results of a survey distributed within the United States of America to professionals working in academic, public, school/media, and special libraries that asked respondents to rate their daily copyright and intellectual property knowledge needs vs. their actual knowledge and education in this area. The results were then compared with an analysis of course content in current ALA accredited LIS programs in the U.S. gathered from online course descriptions to determine whether there is evidence pointing to a need to alter the curriculum of LIS programs to better prepare graduates for the copyright and intellectual property demands they will face on the job. The combined data will inform Library Science colleges and educators as to whether an instruction deficit exists in their current curricula and will give these colleges and educators data to support the development of new programs.
Establishing Identity: Documents, Performance, and Biometric Information in Immigration Proceedings

This article explores the politics of identification in immigration proceedings by examining the struggles over family-based immigration in South Korea in the context of ethnic Korean “return” migration from China. It focuses on micropolitical struggles in bureaucratic settings, analyzing how migrants and immigration bureaucrats struggle to establish kinship and marital status in order to secure or limit migrants' access to the labor market and citizenship. Drawing on fieldwork in both the sending and receiving communities, it shows how migrants and bureaucrats use various types of “identity tags” (official documents, performance, and biometric information) to establish the authenticity of family relations and to accept or reject particular understandings of personhood, belonging, and entitlement. It also highlights the multiple normative orderings that inform migrants' strategies (including their use of “fraudulent” identity) and their implicit or explicit challenge to the criminalizing and stigmatizing view of the immigration state.
Insulin-like growth factor I treatment reduces clinical deficits and lesion severity in acute demyelinating experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Our goal was to test the effects of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) treatment on clinical deficits, lesion number and lesion size in acute demyelinating experimental autoimmune encephalomyelit...
Mutant Taq polymerase recognition of 2’ modified nucleotides (967.1)

Mutant Taq DNA Polymerases with the ability to recognize modified nucleotides at the 2’ sugar position have been isolated through directed evolution; these nucleotide modifications increase DNA’s utility by preventing degradation in biological systems. However, these previously identified mutants are only capable of extending DNA templates by two to six base pairs with modified nucleotides. This project focuses on characterizing the increased promiscuity of these enzymes and their ability to recognize a greater substrate range beyond the nucleotides used for their selection. Three previously evolved mutants are able to recognize a surprisingly wide range of 2’ modified nucleotides (dNTP, O-Me, F, NH3, N3, OH) with varying efficiencies, providing insight into possible new enzyme-substrate pairings. We describe initial kinetic characterization and further engineering efforts, which may lead to valuable new mutant enzyme-modified substrate pairs capable of full length synthesis.
The Finite-Length Line-Spread Function: An Extension To Asymmetric Point Spread Functions

The point spread function (PSF) is used to characterize imaging systems. The PSF is usually not measured directly but rather the line spread function (LSF) is measured by scanning across the image of an input slit. One of the well known LSF-PSF conversion formulas is then applied.1 These formulas make the assumption that the length of the input-slit image is great compared to the PSF extent. This assumption is unfortunately unwarranted for one of the most important medical imaging devices: the x-ray image intensifier. The large extent image intensifier's PSF and the limited size of the intensifier's isoplanatic patches combine to make consideration of the finite length of the input slit important. For-mulas for calculating the PSF from a measurement of the finite-length line spread function (FLSF) have been developed for the case of a rotationally symmetric PSF.3 In this presentation we generalize the conversion formulas to cover non-symmetric PSF's.© (1988) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
VIRLab: a web-based virtual lab for learning and studying information retrieval models

In this paper, we describe VIRLab, a novel web-based virtual laboratory for Information Retrieval (IR). Unlike existing command line based IR toolkits, the VIRLab system provides a more interactive tool that enables easy implementation of retrieval functions with only a few lines of codes, simplified evaluation process over multiple data sets and parameter settings and straightforward result analysis interface through operational search engines and pair-wise comparisons. These features make VIRLab a unique and novel tool that can help teaching IR models, improving the productivity for doing IR model research, as well as promoting controlled experimental study of IR models.
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for stable isotope metabolic tracer studies of living systems

This dissertation focuses on the development of methods for stable isotope metabolic tracer studies in living systems using inductively coupled plasma single and dual quadrupole mass spectrometers. Sub-nanogram per gram levels of molybdenum (Mo) from human blood plasma are isolated by the use of anion exchange alumina microcolumns. Million-fold more concentrated spectral and matrix interferences such as sodium, chloride, sulfate, phosphate, etc. in the blood constituents are removed from the analyte. The recovery of Mo from the alumina column is 82 {+-} 5% (n = 5). Isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ID-ICP-MS) is utilized for the quantitative ultra-trace concentration determination of Mo in bovine and human blood samples. The average Mo concentration in reference bovine serum determined by this method is 10.2 {+-} 0.4 ng/g, while the certified value is 11.5 {+-} 1.1 ng/g (95% confidence interval). The Mo concentration of one pool of human blood plasma from two healthy male donors is 0.5 {+-} 0.1 ng/g. The inductively coupled plasma twin quadrupole mass spectrometer (ICP-TQMS) is used to measure the carbon isotope ratio from non-volatile organic compounds and bio-organic molecules to assess the ability as an alternative analytical method to gas chromatography combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-combustion-IRMS). Trytophan, myoglobin, and {beta}-cyclodextrin are chosen for the study, initial observation of spectral interference of {sup 13}C{sup +} with {sup 12}C{sup 1}H{sup +} comes from the incomplete dissociation of myoglobin and/or {beta}-cyclodextrin.