cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MM-wave beam scanning focal plane arrays using microfluidic reconfiguration techniques

Microfluidic based reconfiguration techniques have been recently shown to provide superior advantages in terms of high power handling capability and wideband tuning range. More recently, our group has introduced the concept of microfluidic based focal plane arrays (FPAs) as a low cost implementation of high gain beam scanning mm-wave arrays (A. Gheethan, R. Guldiken, and G. Mumcu, “Microfluidic Enabled Beam Scanning Focal Plane Arrays,” Presented at the IEEE APS/URSI International Conference, Orlando, FL, 2013). Specifically, our recent work has demonstrated this concept through the design and experimental verification of a 30GHz 1D FPA. The FPA was constructed as a microfluidic channel and placed at the focal surface of an 8cm diameter extended hemispherical microwave lens. A small volume (2.5µL) of liquid metal inside the microfluidic channel acted as a patch antenna and provided the beam scanning functionality when physically moved through the use of a bi-directional micropump unit. Most importantly, the feed network of the FPA was strategically designed to be all-passive by making use of half-wavelength microstrip line resonance mechanisms. Consequently, this all-passive feed network alleviated the need for RF switches and resulted significant reduction in implementation complexity and associated cost as compared to a conventional switched FPA. The microfluidic channel of the FPA was molded inside Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). To reduce the substrate loss, the PDMS mold was sealed by a 4mil thick liquid crystal polymer (LCP) layer. The microchannel assembly was placed over a 5mil thick RT5880 substrate that was utilized for implementing the microstrip line based feed network. The experimental verifications demonstrated that the FPA exhibited 3.33% |S 11 | < −10dB bandwidth and scanned the beam over ±300 field of view (FoV) with a maximum realized gain of 24.8dB. The microfluidic based FPA's radiation efficiency was also shown to be better than that of its RF switched implementations.
New 3-level submodules for a modular multilevel converter based HVDC system with advanced features

Modular multilevel converters have emerged as a viable solution over conventional voltage source converters (VSC) for applications in high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission. Due to modular structure, the converter can reach high number of voltage levels resulting in low switching frequency and near sinusoidal voltage waveforms. This paper proposes new submodule topologies which can result in even higher voltage levels with reduced voltage stress across some switches and lower semiconductor losses. A modified modulation scheme and voltage balancing algorithm is proposed for the new topology and is validated by MATLAB/Simulink simulations. A comprehensive comparative analysis with other available submodule topologies is presented to show the added benefits.
PROPAGATION OF EDGE FLAMES IN COUNTERFLOW MIXING LAYERS: EXPERIMENTS AND THEORY

Edge flames were investigated in a methane/O 2 /N 2 counterflow diffusion flame burner. In a typical experiment, a stable counterflow diffusion flame in an axysymmetric configuration was perturbed by lowering the relevant Damkohler number slightly below the extinction value, Da ext . As a result, the flame extinguished in the vicinity of the burner axis where conditions were uniform. An edge flame extinction front quickly propagated in the radial direction, turned into an ignition edge flame, and eventually stabilized as a standing triple flame at a radial position larger than the burner radius. This sequence of events resulted from an increase of Da as a function of the radial direction, consequent to a decrease in the strain rate in the radial direction. The edge flame propagation velocity in the ignition mode was measured for propagating edge flames at moderate Da and for standing triple flames at large Da , using a combination of laser Doppler velocimetry of seeded particles, formaldehyde planar laser-induced fluorescence, and natural chemiluminescence imaging. The propagation velocity, nondimensionalized with the premixed laminar flame speed of the unburned stoichiometric mixture, was correlated with Da . The latter was calculated using a thermal diffusive model and velocity measurements. The nondimensional velocity reached a value of 2.6 at large Da , in good agreement with the estimated square root of the ratio of the unburned gas density to the burned gas density, as suggested by scaling considerations.
Clip-on wireless wearable microwave sensor for ambulatory cardiac monitoring

We present a new type of non-contact sensor for use in ambulatory cardiac monitoring. The sensor operation is based on a microwave Doppler technique; however, instead of detecting the heart activity from a distance, the sensor is placed on the patient's chest over the clothing. The microwave sensor directly measures heart movement rather than electrical activity, and is thus complementary to ECG. The primary advantages of the microwave sensor includes small size, light weight, low power, low-cost, and the ability to operate through clothing. We present a sample sensor design that incorporates a 2.4 GHz Doppler circuit, integrated microstrip patch antenna, and microntroller with 12-bit ADC data sampling. The prototype sensor also includes a wireless data link for sending data to a remote PC or mobile phone. Sample data is shown for several subjects and compared to data from a commercial portable ECG device. Data collected from the microwave sensor exhibits a significant amount of features, indicating possible use as a tool for monitoring heart mechanics and detection of abnormalities such as fibrillation and akinesia.
Towards 1mm PET resolution using DOI modules based on dual-sided SiPM readout

Parallax error in PET modules can be reduced by measuring the annihilation photon depth of interaction (DOI) in the scintillation crystal on an event-by-event basis. Following implementations described in prior literature, we selected a dual-sided readout PET module design in which SiPMs are placed at both ends of a scintillation array and the ratio of the signal from one photodetector (A) divided by the signal sum of both detectors (A+B), as well as the plot of Signal A vs. Signal B are used to measure DOI. Our experimental apparatus consisted of a 12×12 scintillation array with 1×1×10mm3 pixels [from Proteus] with 50μ Toray Lumirror septa for DOI optimization. Both polished ends of the scintillation array were optically coupled to a 12×12×2mm3 anti-reflection coated UV fused silica light spreader window [from Edmund Optics]. The reverse side of each window was optically coupled to a low profile (∼1mm thick) 4×4 element SiPM with 3 × 3mm2 active area pixels [SPMArray2 from sensL]. Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) cables were used to interface the DOI PET module to custom 16 channel differential pre-amplifiers connected to evaluation/power supply boards [SPMArray2-A0 and SPMArray2-A1, respectively, from sensL]. Average DOI resolution of 1.5±0.1mm FWHM and energy resolution of 20% FWHM was obtained. We conclude that for the limited instances of parallax error expected in realistic PET systems combined with ∼1mm spatial resolution in the scintillation plane, the obtained result for DOI spatial resolution indicates that ∼1mm spatial reconstruction resolution PET imaging is possible with the selected technical approach. Applications for such a compact high DOI resolution PET module include a prostate PET probe working in conjunction with a standard clinical PET imager or a dedicated prostate PET imager aiding in prostate cancer diagnosis and biopsy guidance, as well as a carotid artery PET probe imaging vulnerable plaque or a surgical breast imaging probe.
Responses of root-crown bearing shrubs to differences in fire regimes in Pinus palustris (longleaf pine) savannas: Exploring old-growth questions in second-growth systems

Question What are the effects of fire season and intensity on resprouting of different root-crown bearing shrub species in second-growth Pinus palustris (longleaf pine) savannas?Location: northern Florida and eastern Louisiana, USA.Methods: In Florida, quadrats were burned biennially either during the dormant season or the growing season. In Louisiana, we applied intensity treatments to quadrats by manipulating ground-cover fuels, just prior to biennial growing season fires. Maximum fire temperatures were measured, and stem densities were censused before and after fires in both regions.Results: After dormant season fires in Florida, stem densities were seven times greater than initial levels for Hypericum spp. In contrast, growing season fires reduced densities of H. brachyphyllum by 65%, but did not change densities of H. microsepalum. Only resprouting of H. microsepalum decreased with increased fire intensity. In Louisiana, fire intensity influenced Ilex vomitoria, but not Quercus spp. Following fires, stem densities of I. vomitoria were five times greater in fuel removal than fuel addition areas.Conclusions: Past use of dormant season fires likely contributed to increased abundances of some species of root-crown bearing shrubs observed today in old-growth savannas. Reintroduction of growing season fires will be effective in maintaining or decreasing stem densities, depending on species and fuel type. Genet mortality and stem density reductions appear most likely in areas at localized scales where tree falls and needle coverage create hotspots in Pinus palustris savannas.Nomenclature: Godfrey (1988).
A lower bound to the AWGN remote rate-distortion function

In the remote source coding problem, an underlying source is observed in noise. The noisy observations must be encoded into a bit stream in such a way as to enable the decoder to produce a good approximation to the original source sequence. The trade-off between the rate of the bit stream and the fidelity of the reconstructed source sequence is sometimes referred to as the remote rate-distortion function. This paper focuses on a special case of the remote source coding problem: The encoder obtains M noisy versions of each underlying source sample. The probability density function of the underlying source is arbitrary, but the observation noise is assumed to be Gaussian (hence the name "AWGN remote rate-distortion function"). The goal is to reconstruct the underlying source sequence to within mean-squared error. For this scenario, a new lower bound to the rate-distortion function is presented. The investigations are motivated by a study of the fundamental performance trade-offs in certain sensor network scenarios. The presented lower bound on the remote rate-distortion function is one of the building blocks for a cut-set argument that leads to an upper bound to the performance achievable in these sensor networks
Motion Compensated Interframe Image Prediction

Interframe motion estimation of subblocks based on improved search techniques is developed. These techniques are based on minimizing the mean difference between the subblock in question in the present frame and the displaced subblock in the previous frame. The performance of the motion compensated prediction developed here is investigated for various block sizes and is compared to other techniques.
Reactive Surface Area of Skeletal Carbonates During Dissolution: Effect of Grain Size

ABSTRACT Major advances have recently been made in quantifying the chemical parameters which control carbonate mineral reaction kinetics in natural waters. One of the primary factors influencing rates of reaction is the amount of surface area per unit mass available for reaction. For relatively smooth, nonporous carbonates, the relationship between reactive and total surface area measured by gas adsorption has proven simple. However, the dominant carbonates in the marine environment are biogenic and exhibit complex microstructures. We have performed experiments to determine dinghy what proportion of the total surface area of these biogenic carbonates is actually available for reaction during dissolution. Three biogenic carbonates having widely differing microstructures (Halimeda, coral, and echinoid) were chosen for study and comparison with rhombic calcite. The influence of grain size on the relation between total surface area, determined from gas adsorption, and reactive surface area, determined relative to rhombic calcite during dissolution in constant composition solutions, was of primary concern. Unlike rhombic calcites, total surface area for texturally complex biogenic grains varied slightly or not at all with increasing grain size. However, both rhombic calcite and biogenic carbonate dissolution rates were inversely related to grain radius. This implies that much of the total surface area of biogenic carbonates is unavailable for reaction with the aqueous solution. Dissolution rates were a function of both grain size and microstructure. We have defined an empirical roughness factor which quantifies the difference in reactive surface area between rhombic calcite and a given biogenic grain of equivalent size. The roughness factor increased with grain microstructural complexity but was independent of grain size over the grain-size range (51-513 microns) studied. The maximum roughness factor value observed was 7 for Halimeda relative to a value of 1 for rhombic calcite. Our findings indicate that both microstructure and grain size can play important roles in controlling reactivity of biogenic carbonates during diagenesis. The relative significance of grain size versus microstructure for carbonate dissolution rates in natural systems is discus ed.
Screening of special starches for use in temperature-tolerant fish protein gels.

Five newly developed starches (tapioca acetylated, phosphated distarch; waxy maize acetylated distarch; waxy maize hydroxypropylated, phosphated starch; and two tapioca hydroxypropylated, phosphated starches) were compared, respectively, with native cornstarch. Starches were added to surimi at 2, 4, 6 and 8%. Textural properties of surimi were evaluated at various test temperatures (5, 25, 40, 55C), during frozen storage (0, 3, 6 freeze/thaw cycles) and refrigerated storage (0, 3, 6 days). The interaction between starch type and percent addition contributed to significant (P 0.05) effect. Lower concentration of starch addition (2–4%) generally contributed to improved gel textural properties compared with higher (8%) starch concentrations. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Tapioca acetylated, phosphated distarch (TAPDS) and waxy maize acetylated distarch (WADS) maintained higher (P < 0.05) fracture shear stress and shear strain values than native cornstarch (CS) at each test temperature (5, 25, 40, 55C). TAPDS and WADS also improved (P < 0.05) water retention ability (WRA) of starch-fish protein gels during 6 freeze/thaw cycles (FT) compared with CS. Puncture force values of TAPDS starch-fish protein gels were consistently maintained during 6 FT. Addition of TAPDS did not significantly (P < 0.05) increase gel stickiness values compared with native CS during 6 days refrigerated storage. Best performance (P < 0.05) of starch addition occurred at concentrations of 6% or less. Therefore, addition of modified starches, TAPDS and WADS, could be added to surimi seafood products at 2–6% concentration levels in order to minimize textural changes at either hot or cold serving temperatures and also to maintain gel properties (WRA and texture) during long-term frozen storage.
Gaming as an educational tool: internet scavenger hunt

Can games be educational as well as fun?Educators and children's media developers have long been trying to answer this question. Much of the software produced for kids and marketed as educational is comprised of the type of games that Seymour Papert has so adeptly defined as "edutainment".1 Many of these games are drill-type memorization exercises where the game activity has little or no relation to the "educational" component. Mainstream educational software might be fun, even engaging, but very little of it challenges the user intellectually or encourages open-ended discovery.
Revisiting neural stem cell identity

The discovery of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS) has dramatically changed our view on the regenerative capacity of this organ (1, 2). We now realize that the adult brain, including humans, retains the ability to replenish its cellular constituents, neurons and glia, although the extent is very limited compared with lower vertebrates (2). Cell turnover driven by NSCs has been implicated in higher brain functions such as learning and memory (3). Adult NSCs have also been shown to participate in neuronal cell replacement after injury, raising the possibility of stem cell-based therapy for neurological disorders (4). Despite extensive studies in the past decade, one fundamental question remains unanswered: What is the identity of NSCs? In 1999, two groups reported apparently contradictory results: Johansson et al. (5) provided evidence that ependymal cells, which constitute a ciliated single-cell-thick epithelial layer lining the lateral ventricle (LV), retain the characteristics of NSCs (Fig. 1 A). In contrast, Doetsch et al. (6) identified glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive astrocyte-like cells, which reside in a region beneath the ependymal layer called the subependymal layer or subventricular zone (SVZ), as NSCs. Although these two results were not necessarily mutually exclusive, they sparked a debate that has been ongoing ever since. For better understanding of the basic biology of NSCs and their future successful use for therapy, reconciliation of this long-debated issue is awaited. The work of Coskun et al. (7) in this issue of PNAS addressed this question by using new tools and approaches.
Eating Problems, Body Image Disturbances, and Academic Achievement : Preliminary Evaluation of the Eating and Body Image Disturbances Academic Interference Scale

Objective: To examine the relationships between a new scale, the Eating and Body Image Disturbances Academic Interference Scale (EBIDAIS), and measures of eating disturbance, body image, and academic achievement. Method: One thousand five hundred eighty-four college undergraduates completed the measures in an online survey and were awarded class credit for their participation. Measures included the Eating Disorder Inventory Bulimia, Drive for Thinness, Body Dissatisfaction, and Perfectionism subscales. Grade point average (GPA) was also reported. Results: Academic interference and GPA were significantly correlated, indicating that higher interference scores were related to lower GPA. EBIDAIS was also significantly correlated with drive for thinness, bulimia, and body dissatisfaction, but was not significantly associated with perfectionism. The correlation between interference and GPA was substantially higher for a subsample of individuals who scored in the elevated range on eating and body dissatisfaction. Conclusion: Academic interference may be a relatively unexamined, but potentially important, outcome for individuals who experience eating problems and body image disturbance. © 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2008
Enhance Capstone Projects with a New Online Collaboration System

This paper presents a new online collaboration system for capstone projects and other project-oriented courses. Unique features such as project grading, social media integration, and document review are proposed. This project is developed based on the open sourced project management system, Redmine. The Ruby on Rails in Redmine provides a fast and effortless development tool for added features. Our modified Redmine will be replicated freely elsewhere.
A Modified Moving Horizon Estimator for In Situ Sensing of a Chemical Vapor Deposition Process

A modified moving horizon estimator (mMHE) was developed to estimate thin film thickness, growth rate, and refractive indices in situ from a dual-wavelength reflectance measurement during chemical vapor deposition. In this application, mMHE combines the advantage of high speed of the recursive least squares estimator (RLS) and the accuracy of the moving horizon estimator (MHE). A simulated deposition process with drifting growth rate was used as a benchmark to compare the performance of RLS, MHE, mMHE, and the extended Kalman filter (EKF). The results indicate that mMHE yields more accurate estimates than RLS by incorporating a priori estimates in the optimization function. Improved accuracy of mMHE over EKF was obtained due to the horizon of data used at each time step. In addition, mMHE provided similar accuracy to MHE for short horizons, and it was much faster than MHE. RLS, MHE, mMHE, and EKF were also compared on an experimental chemical vapor deposition system where a yttrium oxide thin film was deposited on a silicon substrate. The ex situ ellipsometry characterization indicated that a more accurate and robust estimate was obtained by MHE and mMHE, compared to the RLS and EKF estimates.
MEK inhibitors impair insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, insulin activates three major signaling cascades, the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway, the Cbl pathway, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Altho...
Photoelectron‐mediated spacecraft potential fluctuations

Electric field fluctuations such as those due to plasma waves in Earth's magnetosphere may modulate photoelectrons emitted from spacecraft surface, causing fluctuations in spacecraft potential. We experimentally investigate such photoelectron-mediated spacecraft potential fluctuations. The photoelectric charge of a spacecraft model is found to increase with increasing applied electric field as more photoelectrons escape the spacecraft model surface and dissipates with a decrease in the electric field through collection of ambient plasma electrons. When the applied electric field is driven to oscillate at a frequency lower than the response frequency of the spacecraft model, the surface potential follows the electric field oscillations. The spacecraft model maintains an approximately constant potential if the electric field oscillations are driven at a much higher frequency. When a high-frequency electric field modulated by a low-frequency envelope is applied, rectified oscillations in the potential of the spacecraft model are observed. Our experimental results indicate that photoelectron-mediated wave rectifications must be taken into account when spacecraft potential fluctuations are used to infer plasma density structures.
Nescio Quid Febriculosi Scorti A Note on Catullus 6

Catullus 6 is a short poem addressed to a certain Flavius, otherwise unknown. Flavius, so we are told, refuses to say anything about his girlfriend, and the poet can explain this only by assuming that he has taken up with a mistress who is singularly unrefined (lines 1–5). It is certainly clear that Flavius is not spending his nights alone; the state of his bedroom proves that much (lines 6–11). But, says Catullus, there is no reason for Flavius to remain silent, no matter what folly he is engaging in. He should confide in the poet, whose only wish is to praise him and his mistress in witty verse (lines 12—17).
Power6 Decimal Divide

The IEEE 754-R floating-point standard has defined the arithmetic and encodings of the new decimal floating-point format. The C and C++ standards as well as other language standards have proposed a new data type to help programmers exploit the performance of this new hardware format. The IBM Power6 microprocessor will soon release the first hardware implementation of this decimal floating-point format. A discussion of how the decimal division operation is implemented in high frequency BCD hardware and a comparison to other division methods is provided. This implementation reuses some popular binary division algorithms such as prescaling and non-restoring division to reduce the amount of additional hardware. Novel twists are applied to these algorithms to adapt them for BCD formatted numbers.
Determination of the characteristic polarization states of the radar target scattering matrix [S(AB)] for the coherent monostatic and reciprocal propagation space by using the complex polarization ratio ρ transformation formulation

We consider a problem originating in radar polarimetry for which the radar target is to be characterized by the properties of its coherent polarization state, given complete coherent backscattering matrix data sets at one frequency and for one target aspect angle. First, the Jones vector formalism for the coherent monostatic case and Sinclair’s backscattering matrix [S(AB)] for the general polarization basis (AB) are introduced. Using the unitary change of polarization state transformation, we present the concept of the characteristic polarization states of a scatterer, which was introduced by Kennaugh and Huynen. The generalized unitary transformation matrix formulation under the change-of-basis transformation, expressed in terms of the generalized polarization ratio ρ(AB), is developed for emphasizing the unique properties of the interrelation among the existing characteristic polarization states. For the monostatic reciprocal case (SAB = SBA) treated here, it is shown that there exist in total five pairs of characteristic polarization states: the orthogonal cross-polarization null and the copolarization maximum-state pairs, which are identical and share one main circle with the copolarization null and the orthogonal cross-polarization maximum-state pairs, the latter being at right angles to the cross-polarization null pairs; and a newly identified pair, the orthogonal cross-polarization saddle-point extrema that are normal to the plane (main circle) spanned by the other four pairs. With this complete and unique mathematical description of Huynen’s polarization fork concept, it is possible to study the problem of polarimetric radar target optimization more rigorously. Various examples are provided and interpreted by comparing the unique result with the results of previous incomplete analyses. In conclusion, the relevance of these canonical results to optical polarimetry are highlighted and interpreted.
An integrated diagnostics approach to embedded and flight-line support systems

The current technology of expert systems affords opportunities for improved onboard and offboard diagnostic systems that are a necessity for future avionics and support systems. A proposed architecture and methodology are discussed that address the requirements for such systems. The concepts discussed include real-time expert system issues; diagnostic-system compatibility issues; and considerations for the development, testing, and fielding of such systems. The authors focus on fault detection and isolation and discuss the concepts and implementation of such a system. It is stressed that in order to achieve the goals of the USAF integrated diagnostics program, emphasis must be placed on providing consistency and compatibility and the support system that complements it. >
What was natural in the coastal oceans

Humans transformed Western Atlantic coastal marine ecosystems before modern ecological investigations began. Paleoecological, archeological, and historical reconstructions demonstrate incredible losses of large vertebrates and oysters from the entire Atlantic coast. Untold millions of large fishes, sharks, sea turtles, and manatees were removed from the Caribbean in the 17th to 19th centuries. Recent collapses of reef corals and seagrasses are due ultimately to losses of these large consumers as much as to more recent changes in climate, eutrophication, or outbreaks of disease. Overfishing in the 19th century reduced vast beds of oysters in Chesapeake Bay and other estuaries to a few percent of pristine abundances and promoted eutrophication. Mechanized harvesting of bottom fishes like cod set off a series of trophic cascades that eliminated kelp forests and then brought them back again as fishers fished their way down food webs to small invertebrates. Lastly, but most pervasively, mechanized harvesting of the entire continental shelf decimated large, long-lived fishes and destroyed three-dimensional habitats built up by sessile corals, bryozoans, and sponges. The universal pattern of losses demonstrates that no coastal ecosystem is pristine and few wild fisheries are sustainable along the entire Western Atlantic coast. Reconstructions of ecosystems lost only a century or two ago demonstrate attainable goals of establishing large and effective marine reserves if society is willing to pay the costs. Historical reconstructions provide a new scientific framework for manipulative experiments at the ecosystem scale to explore the feasibility and benefits of protection of our living coastal resources.
Monounsaturated fatty acid, carbohydrate intake, and diabetes status are associated with arterial pulse pressure

Background Diabetes is a global epidemic. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most prevalent consequences of diabetes. Nutrition is considered a modifiable risk factor for CVD, particularly for individuals with diabetes; albeit, there is little consensus on the role of carbohydrates, proteins and fats for arterial health for persons with or without diabetes. In this study, we examined the association of macronutrients with arterial pulse pressure (APP), a surrogate measure of arterial health by diabetes status and race.
Patients with small left ventricular size undergoing balloon aortic valvuloplasty have worse intraprocedural outcomes.

Objectives To evaluate the impact of left ventricular (LV) chamber size on procedural and hospital outcomes of patients undergoing aortic valvuloplasty. Background Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) is used as an integral step during transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Patients with small, thickened ventricles are thought to have more complications during and following BAV. Methods Retrospective study of consecutive patients with severe, symptomatic calcific aortic stenosis who underwent retrograde BAV at Massachusetts General Hospital. We compared patients with left ventricular end-diastolic diameters (LVEDD) <4.0 cm (n = 31) to those with LVEDD ≥4.0 cm (n = 78). Baseline and procedural characteristics as well as clinical outcomes were compared. Multivariate logistic regression was used for the adjusted analysis. Results Patients with smaller LV chamber size were mostly women (80.7% vs. 19.4%, P < 0.01) and had a smaller body surface area (BSA), (1.61 ± 0.20 m2 vs. 1.79 ± 0.25 m2, P < 0.01). Patients with smaller LV chamber size had higher ejection fractions and thicker ventricles. Otherwise, baseline characteristics were similar. The intraprocedural composite of death, cardiopulmonary arrest, intubation, hemodynamic collapse, and tamponade was higher for patients with LVEDD < 4.0 cm (32.3% v. 11.5%, P = 0.01). Adjusting for age, gender, BSA, LV pressure, and New York Heart Association class, LVEDD < 4.0 cm remained an independent predictor of procedural (OR 5.1, 95% CI 1.4–18.2) and in-hospital complications (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.2–11.6). Conclusions Compared to patients undergoing BAV with LVEDD ≥4.0 cm, those with smaller LV chambers had worse procedural and in-hospital outcomes. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Use of Blood Products

Patients in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) frequently receive transfusions of blood products. While these therapies are often beneficial, they can be associated with significant, yet often overlooked, risks. Clinical guidelines for blood product transfusions must be well defined in order to prevent misuse of this limited resource. It is important for the intensivist to have a thorough understanding of the indications for specific blood products, and the transfusion needs of particular patient populations.
Did Enron Pay Taxes?: Using Accounting Information to Decipher Tax Status

Using Enron's Annual Report information, the authors demonstrate how currently available financial statement data can be used to guesstimate a publicly traded corporation's tax status. They summarize the existing financial accounting literature on income tax disclosure and point out the gaps in such disclosure that make it difficult (impossible) to precisely discern the corporation's federal income tax status.
Livestock Waste Management

The production of livestock with much larger herds confined and concentrated in smaller areas has created problems in handling and utilizing livestock wastes not encountered before. Protecting ground water from contamination and controlling noxious odors are also important considerations.
The Role of Democracy Funding and Civil Society Pressure in Influencing Political Reform in the MENA Region

This paper addresses the question, ﾓWhy has civil society been successful at pushing regimes in the MENA region to enact political reforms in some cases, while civil society efforts have largely failed in other instances?ﾔ Specifically, it will examine the relationship between the regime and civil society in Morocco and Egypt to determine the primary reason that the Moroccan regime has remained tolerant (and at times even encouraging) of civil society, while the Egyptian regime has enacted harsher and harsher limits on civil society. My hypothesis is that the driving explanatory variable is geostrategic factors (i.e. each stateﾒs relationship with the United States and role in the Arab-Israeli conflict). As this paper will show, civil society efforts are most likely to succeed in states of lesser geostrategic importance to the United States, states with a minimal role in the Arab-Israeli conflict and in areas where the goals of civil society and international democracy promoters work in concert with one another (that is, where the rhetoric and reality of international democracy promotion efforts are one in the same).
A Comparative Approach to Teaching Criminal Procedure and its Application to the Post-Investigative Stage

This article addresses why a comparative perspective should be brought into a basic bar course like criminal procedure. American courts and students should be aware of how other countries process their criminal cases to determine whether we can learn from them. It discusses archetypes of criminal procedure as teaching tools, applications of comparative models in the post-investigative stage of criminal procedure, the right to an oral immediate trial and the right to confront witnesses, and the division of labor between lay and professional judges in deciding facts, guilt, and sentencing. By immersing oneself in comparative law and the history of criminal procedure, one gains innumerable insights that help in understanding the advantages and the shortcomings of the American system of law, which is the focus of most American teaching.
Improving the quality of the operating room to intensive care unit handover at an urban teaching hospital through a bundled intervention

Abstract Study objective To evaluate the efficacy of a bundled intervention to improve the quality of the operating room to intensive care unit (ICU) clinical handover. Design Prospective, interventional study. Setting An urban, public teaching hospital with more than 1500 direct postoperative ICU admissions each year. Interventions A bundled intervention to include the addition of a direct anesthesia provider to ICU nurse telephone report, a mnemonic to standardize the handover process, and improved template for postoperative documentation by the anesthesia team. Measurements Preintervention (baseline) and postintervention survey data were solicited from key stakeholders, which included anesthesia providers and ICU nursing staff. Main results Anesthesia provider and ICU nursing staff satisfaction levels rose significantly following implementation of the bundled intervention. In addition, perceived effectiveness of the handover process and note increased significantly. The satisfaction level of the ICU nurses with respect to the phone report received before patient arrival in the ICU nearly doubled. Conclusions The implementation of a bundled handover intervention was associated with increased stakeholder satisfaction as well as a perception of increased efficacy and quality of the overall handover process and postoperative anesthesia documentation.
Some Correlations between Famous Sayings Test and Eysenck Personality Inventory Variables

Scores of 11 male and 21 female college students on the Hostility and Social Acquiescence subscales of the Famous Sayings Test correlated significantly and positively with Eysenck's Neuroticism factor.
Effects of protein depletion and repletion on serum electrophoretic patterns of adult rats.

SummaryDistribution of serum proteins has been determined by filter paper electrophoresis in groups of adult rats sacrificed at intervals during protein depletion and repletion. In the early stages of protein depletion and repletion, body weight changes were paralleled to a considerable extent by similar alterations in serum protein levels. Such correlation was not apparent during later stages. The albumin and α1-globulin fractions were most sensitive to nutritional influences. The γ-globulin fraction deviated from the general pattern of response.
Sagittal plane deformity in bicondylar tibial plateau fractures.

Objective:To evaluate the prevalence and magnitude of sagittal plane deformity in bicondylar tibial plateau fractures.Design:Retrospective radiographic review.Setting:Two Level I trauma centers.Main Outcome Measurement:Sagittal inclination of the medial and lateral plateau measured in relation to th
Diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia

Optimal management of infectious diseases depends on establishing a specific microbiological diagnosis. In some cases this can be accomplished directly by the demonstration of the organism, its genomic fragments, antigens, or metabolic products in the tissues or body fluids of the host. Over the past decade there has been considerable interest in applying the techniques of molecular biology, immunology, and biochemistry to develop clinically useful diagnostic tests. In other cases, diagnosis depends on the development of a specific host-immune response (usually a rise in serum antibody titer). The goal here has been to identify antigen(s) that can be used to distinguish colonization or past infection from active disease. Pneumocystis carinii typifies organisms that have remained outside the mainstream of modern biotechnology. Although the clinical importance of P. carinii as an opportunistic pulmonary pathogen has long been appreciated, knowledge of the organism's basic immunobiology has remained at a rudimentary level because of difficulties in obtaining sufficient quantitites of purified organisms for laboratory work. However, with the emergence of AIDS, this situation is beginning to change. The pressing clinical problems posed by the dramatic increase in the number of cases of pneumocystosis in patients with AIDS have stimulated interest in the organism. The recent study by Tanabe et al. [1] using DNA hybridization analysis to diagnose P. carinii is an example of this interest. It seems appropriate to review the present status of methods of diagnosing pneumocystosis and suggest directions for possible future research.
Crystals and Aggregates of a Molecular Tetrarotor with Multiple Trityl Embraces Derived from Tetraphenyladamantane

Samples of tetrakis-1,3,5,7-(4′-(3″,3″,3″-triphenylpropynyl)-phenylene)adamantane and its trityl-deuterated isotopologue were synthesized and their crystallization and packing properties were analyzed within the context of formation of 4- or 6-fold phenyl embraces. The tetrahedral shape of these molecules with four propeller-like triphenylmethyl moieties generates several edge-to-face intermolecular interactions in the solid state that result in the formation of infinite chains of molecules that are tightly interlocked. The formation of analogous edge-to-face intermolecular interactions leading to aggregation in solution was also suggested by NMR experiments carried out in different solvents as a function of concentration. The formation of interdigitated chains was also manifested in fibrils and thin needles, which were documented by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed the presence of multiple 4-fold phenyl embraces and edge-to-face interactions as the lea...
PD-L1 expression in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma correlates with risk of metastasis.

Background Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma has not been described. Methods We reviewed immunohistochemical stained sections of 40 primary and five metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas using antibody to PD-L1 and classified the staining pattern according to the DAKO tumor proportion score method. We compared the staining results with microscopic staging parameters associated with risk of metastasis including tumor diameter, histologic grade, tumor thickness and perineural invasion. Results PD-L1 expression was present in 4 of 20 low risk tumors (20%), all of which showed low expression. PD-L1 expression was present in 14 of 20 high risk tumors (70%), 12 of which showed low expression and 2 of which showed high expression, 5 of 5 metastases (100%), with three showing low expression and two showing high expression. Conclusions This survey documents PD-L1 expression in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and shows a positive correlation between the degree PD-L1 expression and pathologic findings related to risk of metastasis including large diameter, higher histological grade and tumor thickness.
Epidemiological Analysis of Measles in Nanjing in 2009

[Objective] To analyze epidemiological characteristics of measles in Nanjing in 2009,as so to explore the strategies and measures for measles control.[Methods]With cross-sectional study of descriptive epidemiology,the epidemiological characteristics of measles in 2009 were analyzed.[Results]478 measles cases were reported in Nanjing in 2009,and the incidence rate was 6.34/lakh. Among them,460 cases were confirmed by laboratory test,and 18 cases were clinically diagnosed as measles. Most of cases were sporadic,there was no death case and outbreak,and the peak season was from March to May. The majority of cases were scattered children,followed by employee of service industry,students and workers. The sex ratio of males to females was 1 ∶0.74. Most of measles cases were without immunization history or with dubious immunization history,which accounted for 90.38% of total cases.[Conclusion]The important strategies and measures for control and elimination of measles include improving the routine immunization coverage rate,removing blank immunization,carrying out the supplementary immunization among the high risk population and strengthening the management of floating population.
Effect of length history on contractile behavior of canine tracheal smooth muscle

The effects of shortening on force redevelopment were studied in canine tracheal smooth muscles that were tonically contracted with electrical stimulation or acetylcholine. Muscle strips were suspended in vitro so that muscle length, force, and rate of change of force could be continuously monitored. The strips were rapidly shortened from different initial lengths to the same final length, at which the effects of shortening distance on force redevelopment were evaluated. Both the rate and magnitude of force redevelopment declined as the shortening distance was increased. Decreasing the activation of the muscle or increasing the prerelease contraction time enhanced the depressive effect of shortening. The time course of the latter corresponded to a decline in the velocity of unloaded shortening. However, force redevelopment was also substantially decreased by releases performed before the onset of force development. The shortening process per se had a depressive effect on both the rate and magnitude of force redevelopment in contracted canine tracheal smooth muscle, and this effect was reduced as the activation of the muscle was increased.
Women’s Hormonal Health Issues

Women’s health issues have often been treated by gynecologist specialists as opposed to internal medicine specialists or subspecialists. Concerns of osteoporosis, menopause, and estrogen replacement therapy, as well as complications of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), including chronic graft-versus-host disease of the female genital tract, are routine for gynecologists. This chapter provides a women’s health specialist’s perspective on issues of hormonal health in the female HSCT recipient, drawing from observations made in the healthy female population.
Sleep Disorders in Neurological Practice

Pediatric sleep disorders are reviewed from the Infant and Family Development Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Graduate Program in Human Development, University of California, Davis.
The effects of dialect awareness instruction on nonmainstream American English speakers

The achievement gaps between poor and more affluent students are persistent and chronic, as many students living in poverty are also members of more isolated communities where dialects such as African American English and Southern Vernacular English are often spoken. Non-mainstream dialect use is associated with weaker literacy achievement. The principal aims of the two experiments described in this paper were to examine whether second through fourth graders, who use home English in contexts where more formal school English is expected, can be taught to dialect shift between home and school English depending on context; and whether this leads to stronger writing and literacy outcomes. The results of two randomized controlled trials with students within classrooms randomly assigned to DAWS (Dialect Awareness, a program to explicitly teach dialect shifting), editing instruction, or a business as usual group revealed (1) that DAWS was more effective in promoting dialect shifting than instruction that did not explicitly contrast home and school English; and (2) that students in both studies who participated in DAWS were significantly more likely to use school English in contexts where it was expected on proximal and distal outcomes including narrative writing, morphosyntactic awareness, and reading comprehension. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Seasonal Association of Pediatric Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders and Anxiety.

Objectives Abdominal pain-related pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders (AP-FGIDs) are defined by abdominal discomfort or pain that may provide obstacles to everyday activities, such as school attendance. It has been reported that AP-FGID symptoms may be reduced in summer, but it is unclear what drives this seasonal variation. This pilot study aimed to explore whether the seasonal variation in AP-FGID symptoms could be explained by various psychological and behavioral factors. Methods Parents of children with AP-FGID symptoms completed online questionnaires on symptoms, anxiety, parental responses to pain, sleep, diet, and physical activity once during spring months and again in the summer months. Results In a sample of 34 participants who completed both questionnaires, 22 reported improvements during the summer months. These participants reported a significantly higher seasonal decrease in anxiety than participants whose children's symptoms did not improve from spring to summer (mean decrease 2.21 vs 0.08, P = 0.017). Both groups reported equal improvements in sleep and decreased stress from spring to summer. Neither group experienced statistically significant seasonal change in physical activity or fruit, vegetables, dairy, or caffeine consumption. Conclusions This study suggests that amelioration of gastrointestinal symptoms in pediatric patients with AP-FGID during summer months is associated with amelioration of anxiety in the same time period. It is not yet clear whether decreased anxiety is the cause or effect of decreased AP-FGID symptoms.
Self-expression through sport participation: exploring participant desired self-image.

Research questions: The current study is aimed at providing preliminary answers to two research questions: (1) What salient self-images do people pursue for self-expression in the context of sport ...