cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of ammonia oxidizing archaea and bacteria populations and contributions to soil nitrification potentials

It is well known that the ratio of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) ranges widely in soils, but no data exist on what might influence this ratio, its dynamism, or how changes in relative abundance influences the potential contributions of AOA and AOB to soil nitrification. By sampling intensively from cropped-to-fallowed and fallowed-to-cropped phases of a 2-year wheat/fallow cycle, and adjacent uncultivated long-term fallowed land over a 15-month period in 2010 and 2011, evidence was obtained for seasonal and cropping phase effects on the soil nitrification potential (NP), and on the relative contributions of AOA and AOB to the NP that recovers after acetylene inactivation in the presence and absence of bacterial protein synthesis inhibitors. AOB community composition changed significantly (P⩽0.0001) in response to cropping phase, and there were both seasonal and cropping phase effects on the amoA gene copy numbers of AOA and AOB. Our study showed that the AOA:AOB shifts were generated by a combination of different phenomena: an increase in AOA amoA abundance in unfertilized treatments, compared with their AOA counterparts in the N-fertilized treatment; a larger population of AOB under the N-fertilized treatment compared with the AOB community under unfertilized treatments; and better overall persistence of AOA than AOB in the unfertilized treatments. These data illustrate the complexity of the factors that likely influence the relative contributions of AOA and AOB to nitrification under the various combinations of soil conditions and NH4+-availability that exist in the field.
Thermodynamic Compressibility Measurements in the Context of 2D Metal–Insulator Transition

Presented in this work is a comparative study of the thermodynamic compressibility of two different two dimensional systems in GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures. In the two-dimensional hole system, electron–electron interactions are strong and possibly the reason for an anomalous temperature dependence in the resistivity that is reminiscent of metallic behavior which is known not to exist in a non-interacting two dimensional Fermi gas. The other system is a two-dimensional electron system where interactions are much weaker and whose transport properties have been understood in the context of scaling theory. The thermodynamic compressibility of both systems are measured. An unequivocal signature for a phase transition is found in the compressibility measurements for the hole system. In contrast, a very different, non-singular behavior is observed in the electron system. The experimental results are compared with a recent theoretical work.
GNSS Reflectometry and Remote Sensing: New Objectives and Results

Abstract The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) has been a very powerful and important contributor to all scientific questions related to precise positioning on Earth’s surface, particularly as a mature technique in geodesy and geosciences. With the development of GNSS as a satellite microwave (L-band) technique, more and wider applications and new potentials are explored and utilized. The versatile and available GNSS signals can image the Earth’s surface environments as a new, highly precise, continuous, all-weather and near-real-time remote sensing tool. The refracted signals from GNSS radio occultation satellites together with ground GNSS observations can provide the high-resolution tropospheric water vapor, temperature and pressure, tropopause parameters and ionospheric total electron content (TEC) and electron density profile as well. The GNSS reflected signals from the ocean and land surface could determine the ocean height, wind speed and wind direction of ocean surface, soil moisture, ice and snow thickness. In this paper, GNSS remote sensing applications in the atmosphere, oceans, land and hydrology are presented as well as new objectives and results discussed.
Self-starting condition for additive-pulse mode-locked lasers

We analyze self-starting in additive-pulse mode-locked lasers and find that dynamic gain saturation can play a determining role. A simple condition for self-starting is presented for comparison with experiments on different laser systems.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN AMERICA: MYTHS AND REALITIES

The Whiggish story of ever-evolving liberty issuing from the Revolutionary decades and progressing straightforwardly over the next two centuries is dead. But so too, it seems, on the evidence of these two good books, is the revisionist tale of either “republican virtue” (often trumpeted by progressives) or “evangelical piety” (often trumpeted by Christian conservatives) governing the American mind and its understanding of rights, obligations, and collective identity. Both Steven K. Green and David Sehat see the narrative arc of American history as a continual tension between the religious and secular understandings of the American Constitution. Sehat is more doubtful that the Jeffersonian–Madisonian doctrine of separation of church and state ever commanded broad assent. The “myth” that America was born religiously free, though peddled by liberals, he argues, actually disables secularists who are struggling to create a public realm truly free from religious coercion. Green more readily accepts the proposition that the germ of religious freedom grew from its eighteenth-century origins along a non-continuous but nonetheless clearly secularizing trajectory.
Practice guidelines and parental ADHD treatment evaluations: friends or foes?

In this exploratory descriptive study, we used focus groups to examine parental evaluations of treatment approaches to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the congruence of these evaluations with professional practice guidelines. We paid particular attention to home-care strategies and to parental experiences and attitudes regarding medications for ADHD. Some home-care techniques were consistent with evidence-based behavioral principles, whereas others seemed to be based on popular myths, with little indication that they could improve the child's behavior. Indeed, some might actually add unnecessary stress to the parent-child relationship by introducing ineffective limitations (e.g., dietary restrictions). Parental accounts uniformly depicted stimulant use, the cornerstone of ADHD treatment in the United States, as a difficult treatment modality to consider and accept for their children. Study findings indicate that professional guidelines and parent ADHD treatment evaluations are only par...
Comparison of the shear bond strength of a titanium composite resin material with dentinal bonding agents versus glass ionomer cements

Abstract This study compared the in vitro shear bond strength of an autopolymerizing composite resin system (CR) (Ti-Core) with two third-generation dentinal bonding agents (DBA) (Tenure and Scotchbond 2) to glass ionomer cements (GIC) (Ketac-Silver, GC Miracle Mix, and Ketac-Cem). The experiment was divided in five groups. The shear bond strengths were evaluated on a universal testing apparatus at three different intervals; 15 minutes, 24 hours, and 7 days. Statistically, (twoway analysis of variance), the shear bond strengths from the greatest to least were: Ti-Core CR with Tenure DBA > Ti-Core CR with Scotchbond 2 DBA > Ketac-Silver GIC, GC Miracle Mix GIC > Ketac-Cem GIC. There were no differences in shear bond strengths according to time, and no interactions between groups and time. The shear bond strengths for Tenure DBA with Ti-Core CR were two and a half to three times greater than the silver-filled glass ionomers, KetacSilver GIC and GC Miracle Mix GIC. Tenure DBA with Ti-Core CR also had consistently greater shear bond strengths than Scotchbond 2 DBA with Ti-Core CR, and this trend is in agreement with similar research.
An Overview of the “Triangle Method” for Estimating Surface Evapotranspiration and Soil Moisture from Satellite Imagery

Toby Carlson Professor of Meteorology, PennState University, 619 Walker Building, University Park, PA 16802 E-Mail: tnc@meteo.psu.edu; http://www.met.psu.edu/dept/faculty/carlson.htm Tel. +1 814 863 1582; Fax: +1 814 865 3663 Received: 7 August 2007 / Accepted: 21 August 2007 / Published: 24 August 2007 Abstract: An overview of the ‘triangle’ method for estimating soil surface wetness and evapotranspiration fraction from satellite imagery is presented here. The method is insensitive to initial atmospheric and surface conditions, net radiation and atmospheric correction, yet can yield accuracies comparable to other methods. We describe the method first from the standpoint of the how the triangle is observed as obtained from aircraft and satellite image data and then show how the triangle can be created from a land surface model. By superimposing the model triangle over the observed one, pixel values from the image are determined for all points within the triangle. We further show how the stretched (or ‘universal’) triangle can be used to interpret pixel configurations within the triangle, showing how the temporal trajectories of points uniquely describe patterns of land use change. Finally, we conclude the paper with a brief assessment of the method’s limitations. Keywords: Triangle Method, Evapotranspiration, Surface Wetness, Land Use Analysis 1. Background Remote sensing of surface turbulent energy fluxes and surface soil water content dates back to the 1970s. The basic technique was first attempted by geologists (Watson; 1971) to help locate mineral deposits, and later by meteorologists (Price, 1980; Soer, 1980; Carlson et al., 1981; Price, 1982; Wetzel et al., 1983; Carlson et al., 1984) to estimate surface turbulent energy fluxes and surface soil water content. Many other papers, following along on similar lines, emerged during the 1990s, of which only a few notable papers will be mentioned here: Nemani and Running, 1989; Kustas, 1990;
Evaluation of active storage strategies for the lustre parallel file system

Active Storage provides an opportunity for reducing the amount of data movement between storage and compute nodes of a parallel filesystem such as Lustre, and PVFS. It allows certain types of data processing operations to be performed directly on the storage nodes of modern parallel filesystems, near the data they manage. This is possible by exploiting the underutilized processor and memory resources of storage nodes that are implemented using general purpose servers and operating systems. In this paper, we present a novel user-space implementation of Active Storage for Lustre, and compare it to the traditional kernel-based implementation. Based on microbenchmark and application level evaluation, we show that both approaches can reduce the network traffic, and take advantage of the extra computing capacity offered by the storage nodes at the same time. However, our user-space approach has proved to be faster, more flexible, portable, and readily deployable than the kernel-space version.
Iconicity in English and Spanish and Its Relation to Lexical Category and Age of Acquisition.

Signed languages exhibit iconicity (resemblance between form and meaning) across their vocabulary, and many non-Indo-European spoken languages feature sizable classes of iconic words known as ideophones. In comparison, Indo-European languages like English and Spanish are believed to be arbitrary outside of a small number of onomatopoeic words. In three experiments with English and two with Spanish, we asked native speakers to rate the iconicity of ~600 words from the English and Spanish MacArthur-Bates Communicative Developmental Inventories. We found that iconicity in the words of both languages varied in a theoretically meaningful way with lexical category. In both languages, adjectives were rated as more iconic than nouns and function words, and corresponding to typological differences between English and Spanish in verb semantics, English verbs were rated as relatively iconic compared to Spanish verbs. We also found that both languages exhibited a negative relationship between iconicity ratings and age of acquisition. Words learned earlier tended to be more iconic, suggesting that iconicity in early vocabulary may aid word learning. Altogether these findings show that iconicity is a graded quality that pervades vocabularies of even the most “arbitrary” spoken languages. The findings provide compelling evidence that iconicity is an important property of all languages, signed and spoken, including Indo-European languages.
Postoperative clinical radiosensitivity in patients with fanconi anemia and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective To describe the complications and adverse effects of postoperative radiotherapy in patients with Fanconi anemia (FA). Design Cohort study. Setting Patients with FA treated at community and tertiary care hospitals throughout the United States. Patients The study included patients with FA who were enrolled in the International FA Registry (IFAR) and who developed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and received postoperative radiotherapy. Main Outcome Measures Demographics of patients with FA and adverse effects and dosages of radiotherapy. Results Twelve patients with FA (7 men and 5 women) were identified. They developed cancers at a mean age of 35.5 years (age range, 20-48 years). The sites of primary cancer were the oral cavity (n = 8), larynx (n = 2), pharynx (n = 1), and unknown (n = 1). The median radiation dose was 5590 cGy (range, 2500-7020 cGy). The most common adverse effects were mucositis (n = 9), dysphagia (n = 8), and pancytopenia (n = 6). Other complications included esophageal stenosis, laryngeal edema, and wound breakdown. Radiotherapy could not be completed in 5 cases. Overall, 8 patients died, 4 during the course of radiotherapy. The postoperative disease-free survival time ranged from 0 to 55 months. Conclusions Patients with FA have a high rate of complications from radiotherapy. Common adverse effects, particularly mucositis, are especially prevalent and difficult to manage in this population. Pancytopenia is common and may lead to further complications, particularly bleeding and infection. Overall survival is poor. Further study of the response to radiotherapy in patients with FA should be attempted to establish appropriate dosages to balance treating disease while limiting adverse effects.
Abstract 2279: Ethnic Comparisons in Pre-Stroke Awareness and Treatment of Hypertension in Stroke Subjects: Modification by SES and Acculturation

Background and Objectives: Mexican Americans (MAs) have higher stroke incidence rates than non-Hispanic whites (NHWs). Ethnic differences in the pre-stroke treatment of risk factors could potentially explain this disparity and may be exacerbated by low socio-economic status or less acculturation. We assessed pre-stroke awareness and treatment of hypertension by ethnicity, education and English proficiency in a population-based stroke surveillance project. Methods: Among 1,111 stroke subjects aged ≥45 years in the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi (BASIC) project from 01/2000-06/2006, we examined pre-stroke hypertension prevalence (medical record documentation of hypertension diagnosis) at the time of the index stroke by ethnicity (MA vs. NHW). Among those with prevalent hypertension, we measured awareness (self-report of hypertension) and treatment (self-report of anti-hypertensive medication use). We first compared awareness and treatment of hypertension by ethnicity overall. We then compared ethnic differences in awareness and treatment of hypertension using 2 approaches: 1) after stratification by education ( Results: MAs (mean age 68.3 ± 12.1 years; n=566) were more likely than NHWs (mean age 74.4 ± 11.7 years; n=545) to report Conclusion: We found little evidence that differences in pre-stroke awareness and treatment of hypertension may explain ethnic disparities in stroke.
Comments on Agricultural Policy

QUOTE from the last few paragraphs of Dr. Galbraith's paper, "With the pattern of agricultural policy now being followed there is plenty of room for wisdom and for error.... The problems connected with current policy are not ones of kind but of amount.... The record amply indicates we can survive the several lines of policy with which farmers have sought to counter differential market power and quite possibly with benefit to the community as a whole."' This last statement is particularly reassuring following the detailed historical analysis presented. Two economists never agreed more fully than Dr. Galbraith and I on these points. I should like to make a few interpretative comments on the current scene. I want to list the six major proposals for change in the administration's controversial proposals for modifying the 1948 Act. They are:
Human Biology of Afro-Caribbean Populations: The African slave trade and the Caribbean

The Caribbean The question of what geographical region is actually to be included in a book about the Caribbean is not as easy a question as it sounds. However, since this book deals with the biology of human populations of African ancestry, it will cover those regions in the Caribbean, broadly defined, occupied by people whose ancestors were brought from Africa by the European slave traders. A broadly defined Caribbean includes the Antilles – the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles – the Grenadines, the Windward Islands, the West Indies, the northern coast (the “shoulder”) of South America, the Atlantic coast of Central America (Belize had true plantation economies with slave populations, whereas most of Central America did not), and Bermuda (though the latter is situated well into the Atlantic Ocean; Figure 1.1). Excluded here are the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and Florida. The Internet provides excellent cartographic resources on the Caribbean. For example, see http://palmm.fcla.edu/map. The European invasion of the Caribbean and the early import of African slaves For an overview on the origin and evolution of Native American populations, the reader is referred to Crawford (1998). For recent work on ancient DNA of Caribbean native groups the reader is referred to Lalueza-Fox et al . (2001, 2003). Also recommended is Cook's Born to Die (1998), a book which details the earliest stages of the European–Amerindian contact in the Caribbean.
Child Care as a Work Support A Socialist Feminist Policy Analysis

Research has shown that welfare policy plays a significant role in the subordination of women, and with each new policy iteration, it is important to continue to expose the way in which policy intentionally or unintentionally places women at a disadvantage. Using a socialist feminist framework, this article explores child care as a work-support benefit and the realities of the lived experience of those who receive child care subsidies. This policy is examined for its role in subordinating women as they attempt to navigate both work and family responsibilities while trying to move toward financial independence.
Influence of Annual and Biennial Prescribed Burning During March on the Abundance of Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) in Central Georgia

A 5-yr study to evaluate the influence of annual and biennial prescribed burning in March on the abundance of Amblyomma americanum (L.) was conducted on Oconee Wildlife Management Area in the Piedmont physiographic region of Georgia. Tick abundance on plots embedded in larger burned and unburned areas were monitored with cloth drags and CO2-baited cloth panels monthly during March through September from 1987 through 1991. Annual and biennial prescribed burning from 1988 to 1991 significantly reduced the abundance of larvae, nymphs, and adults but did not alter their seasonal trends of abundance. Annual burning more consistently suppressed all life stages than biennial burning. The magnitude of tick suppression tended to increase with successive burns, especially with the annual burning regime. The order of vulnerability to direct incineration appeared to be overwintered larvae > adults > nymphs; however, only overwintered larvae were highly vulnerable. Consistent reductions in larvae during June-September following burning were associated with reduced litter depths and presumably lowered habitat suitability. During years of fire omission, the abundance of larvae on biennially burned plots increased to levels equal to or exceeding those on unburned plots. Based on cloth drag sampling, mean percentage control during 1988-1991 for larvae, nymphs, and adults, respectively, was 80, 75, and 70% on annually burned plots and 48, 73, and 65% on biennially burned plots. Frequent late-winter prescribed burning, which is commonly used to achieve wildlife habitat management objectives, could be an effective and economical component of an integrated A. americanum control program in habitats ecologically suited to regimes of frequent fire.
Award-winning papers published in Temperature in 2014

There are many awards for research. Figure 1 shows the Fields Medal, one of the highest honors a mathematician can receive, which comes with a C$15,000 prize. In 2006, it was awarded to Grigori Per...
On the Formation and Evolution of Cu–Ni-Rich Bridges of Alnico Alloys With Thermomagnetic Treatment

Despite decades of research and development of Alnico alloys, significant uncertainties in the underlying structure–property relationships remain. Here, we report on the effects of Ti on the Alnico microstructure and nanostructure, and the corresponding influence on magnetic properties. We show that Ti fosters the conditions resulting in the formation of Cu–Ni-rich bridges in the $\alpha _{1}$ phases between the $\alpha _{2}$ phases. For Alnico containing Ti, a typical chessboardlike morphology with Cu–Ni-rich bridges is observed, whereas in the absence of Ti, the $\alpha _{1}$ phases connect to each other readily, especially with a high Co concentration, and a mazelike morphology with Cu-rich white-plate precipitates rather than Cu-rich bridges is observed. Furthermore, in Alnico containing Ti, an inhomogeneous distribution of Ni is found in the $\alpha _{2}$ phases, including loops with high Ni concentration surrounding the $\alpha _{1}$ phase and high concentrations in the bridges as well. An increase in the Cu concentration is also observed in the loops around the $\alpha _{1}$ phases (Ni–Cu loops), and direct contact between the Cu–Ni-rich bridges and the Ni–Cu loops is observed in lieu of direct contact between the bridges and the $\alpha _{1}$ phases. We also observe that the bridges are not perfectly round but ellipsoidal, with the long axis along the connection of two adjacent $\alpha _{1}$ phases. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy line scans of the bridges shows that two types of Cu–Ni-rich bridges exist: those with more Cu than Ni and those with more Ni than Cu. A 3-D model is presented that explains the conditions and process of bridge formation, consistent with the observed composition distributions.
Improving Operating Room Efficiency, Part 2: Intraoperative and Postoperative Strategies.

Health-care expenditure in the United States is continually rising and is expected to reach $2.5 trillion by 20231. Not only are health-care costs rising, but their percentage of the gross domestic product is rising as well2. This progressive increase in cost and allocated funds has propelled the drive toward a more productive health-care system that continues to focus foremost on patient care3. There is a push for value within medicine, with an emphasis on decreasing …
The Value of Color Doppler Ultrasonographg for Diagnosing the Intussusception in Children

Objective To study the feature and value of color doppler ultrasonographg for diagnosing the intussusception in children.Methods To review and analyze medical history,79 children with intussusception confirmed by X-ray gasous enema reduction or operative reduction were underwent color doppler ultrasonographg.Results 79 cases of intussusception in children,75 cases of right abdomen intestinal sleeve,4 cases of right-sided abdominal intestinal sleeve,79 cases underwent color doppler ultrasonographg examination,74 cases of intussusception X-ray gasous enema reduction,5 cases of intussusception operation.The deferent cross section of color doppler ultrasonographg shows "kidney sign","target sign".Conclusion Color doppler ultrasound plays an important role in the diagnosis of intussusception in children and its clinical significance.
Is this a Meal or a Snack: How Hunger Influences One's Susceptibility to Environmental Cues

Background: Whether a person perceives an eating occasion – such as a reception or party – is a meal or a snack could determine what and how much they eat. The extent to which they are influenced, however, could be moderated by one’s motivational state and will be particularly strong among those who are hungry.Methods: Invitations to a series of buffet mixers were sent to 122 undergraduates (75 men; BMI = 22.8, SD = 3.38). Although the food was identical, the eating occasions were physically altered to appear as either a meal (ceramic plates, glasses, silverware, and cloth napkins at a table) or a snack (paper plates and napkins, plastic cups, and no utensils). After participants finished eating, they were asked to complete the questionnaire that assessed their hunger, satiety, and their perception of the foods and how much they ate. Results: The amount a person ate was partially mediated by whether they believed the situation to be a meal or a snack. Participants who were in the presence of meal-related cues ate 27.6% more calories compared to those surrounded with snack cues (415 versus 531 calories). These results were most pronounced among participants who were hungry.Conclusions: Environmental cues such as dinnerware and seating can cue whether an eating occasion is perceived as a meal or a snack, and perceiving a meal as a snack increased food intake at a reception by 27.6%. Importantly, the impact of these eating occasion cues is uniquely intertwined by cognition and motivation. First, regardless of the actual time of the day, people ate more food when they perceived the eating occasion as a meal rather than a snack. Second, this effect was strongest among those who were hungry. A key question for further study is whether perceiving an eating occasion as a meal rather than a snack decreases one’s intake of food later that day.
Gender Differences in Mathematics and Reading Trajectories among Children from Kindergarten to Eighth Grade

This study examined children's trajectories of mathematics and reading achievements from kindergarten to eighth grade along with the gender differences in these trajectories. A total of 8503 participants drawn from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Cohort (ECLS-K) formed the sample of the study. The results of the latent growth curve modeling indicate that (a) children's growth is curvilinear, specially, quadratic for both mathematics and reading achievement, and their growth in reading demonstrate a more complex pattern than that of mathematics; (b) there appear to be positive correlations between the intercept parameter (i.e. initial status) and the slope parameter (i.e. growth rate) in both reading and mathematics trajectories, indicating the ‘Matthew effects’ in education; (c) despite the statistically equivalent initial status in mathematics, boys outperform girls as early as first grade in both achievement score and positive growth rate; (d) for reading trajectories, girls outperfo...
Extensive citrullination promotes immunogenicity of hsp90 through protein unfolding and exposure of cryptic epitopes

Post-translational protein modifications such as citrullination have been linked to the breach of immune tolerance and clinical autoimmunity. Previous studies from our laboratory support this concept, demonstrating that autoantibodies targeting citrullinated isoforms of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) are associated with rheumatoid arthritis complicated by interstitial lung disease. To further explore the relationship between citrullination and structural determinants of HSP90 immunogenicity, we employed a combination of ELISA-based epitope profiling, computational modeling, and mass-spectrometric sequencing of peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD)-modified protein. Remarkably, ELISAs involving selected citrullinated HSP90β/α peptides identified a key epitope corresponding to an internal Arg residue (R502 [HSP90β]/R510 [HSP90α]) that is normally buried within the crystal structure of native/unmodified HSP90. In vitro time/dose-response experiments reveal an ordered pattern of PAD-mediated deimination events culminating in citrullination of R502/R510. Conventional as well as scaled molecular dynamics simulations further demonstrate that citrullination of selected Arg residues leads to progressive disruption of HSP90 tertiary structure, promoting exposure of R502/R510 to PAD modification and subsequent autoantibody binding. Consistent with this process, ELISAs incorporating variably deiminated HSP90 as substrate Ag indicate a direct relationship between the degree of citrullination and the level of ex vivo Ab recognition. Overall, these data support a novel structural paradigm whereby citrullination-induced shifts in protein structure generate cryptic epitopes capable of bypassing B cell tolerance in the appropriate genetic context.
Between Two Worlds: Fifteenth-Century Justice at the Threshold of the Early Modern

The late Middle Ages in Germany were the locus of a massive transformation in criminal justice. The revolutionary changes wrought during the period were long and slow, and they remained incomplete even after the codification of the new mode of criminal justice in the imperial penal code of 1532 (the Carolina). Assumptions that had characterized medieval justice enjoyed enduring currency throughout the early modern period, and traces of procedural forms usually identified with the early modern can be found well before the fifteenth century. Nevertheless, the differences between the usual modes of criminal justice in the two eras were profound. Fifteenth-century criminal justice existed between two worlds, and the long procedural transformation that took place across that century was characterized by borrowing and experimentation.
CURRENT OUTPUT FILTER FOR STATE ESTIMATION OF SCALAR NONLINEAR SYSTEMS WITH APPLICATION TO CHAOTIC COMMUNICATION

Abstract A novel nonlinear state estimation technique called Current Output Filter is proposed in this paper. By taking two successive measurements into account and optimizing the coefficients of the proposed filter structure, an unbiased minimum variance state estimation algorithm with guaranteed estimation error performance is derived for scalar nonlinear systems. The performance of this filter is shown to be superior to the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) in simulations. An application to a chaotic communication scheme is also presented in this work.
Opportunities and Challenges for Pancreatic Circulating Tumor Cells

Sensitive and reproducible platforms have been developed for detection, isolation, and enrichment of circulating tumor cells (CTCs)—rare cells that enter the blood from solid tumors, including those of the breast, prostate gland, lung, pancreas, and colon. These might be used as biomarkers in diagnosis or determination of prognosis. CTCs are no longer simply detected and quantified; they are now used in ex vivo studies of anticancer agents and early detection. We review what we have recently learned about CTCs from pancreatic tumors, describing advances in their isolation and analysis and challenges to their clinical utility. We summarize technologies used to isolate CTCs from blood samples of patients with pancreatic cancer, including immunoaffinity and label-free physical attribute–based capture. We explain methods of CTC analysis and how findings from these studies might be used to detect cancer at earlier stages, monitor disease progression, and determine prognosis. We review studies that have expanded CTCs for testing of anticancer agents and how these approaches might be used to personalize treatment. Advances in the detection, isolation, and analysis of CTCs have increased our understanding of the dissemination and progression of pancreatic cancer. However, standardization of methodologies and prospective studies are needed for this emerging technology to have a significant effect on clinical care.
Osteoporosis Secondary to Illnesses and Medications

Publisher Summary In this chapter, certain disorders and drugs that are frequently associated with secondary osteoporosis are considered. Secondary osteoporosis is caused by specific clinical disorders, including a variety of endocrinopathies and genetic diseases that cause low bone mineral density, either by interfering with attainment of peak bone mass or by increasing rates of involutional bone loss. Early observations were strongly suggestive of a link between heparin therapy and osteoporosis. Today, long-term heparin therapy is limited primarily to patients with end-stage congestive heart failure who are awaiting transplantation and pregnant women with recurrent thromboembolic disease or prosthetic valves. Warfarin is contraindicated during pregnancy because of the teratogenic effect on the fetus during the first trimester and the potential for increased fetal wastage due to hemorrhage when given close to term. In recent years, the use of lowmolecular- weight heparin has grown considerably. Data on the long-term effects of low-molecular-weight heparin on bone are limited.
Arsenic, vanadium, iron, and manganese biogeochemistry in a deltaic wetland, southern Louisiana, USA

Abstract Geochemical cycling of the redox-sensitive trace elements arsenic (As) and vanadium (V) was examined in shallow pore waters from a marsh in an interdistributary embayment of the lower Mississippi River Delta. In particular, we explore how redox changes with depth and distance from the Mississippi River affect As and V cycling in the marsh pore waters. Previous geophysical surveys and radon mass balance calculations suggested that Myrtle Grove Canal and the bordering marsh receive fresh groundwater, derived in large part from seepage of the Mississippi River, which subsequently mixes with brackish waters of Barataria Bay. Additionally, the redox geochemistry of pore waters in the wetlands is affected by Fe and S cycling in the shallow subsurface (0–20 cm). Sediments with high organic matter content undergo SO 4 2 − reduction, a process ubiquitous in the shallow subsurface but largely absent at greater depths (~ 3 m). Instead, at depth, in the absence of organic-rich sediments, Fe concentrations are elevated, suggesting that reduction of Fe(III) oxides/oxyhydroxides buffers redox conditions. Arsenic and V cycling in the shallow subsurface are decoupled from their behavior at depth, where both V and As appear to be removed from solution by either diffusion or adsorption onto, or co-precipitation with, authigenic minerals within the deeper aquifer sediments. Pore water As concentrations are greatest in the shallow subsurface (e.g., up to 315 nmol kg − 1 in the top ~ 20 cm of the sediment) but decrease with depth, reaching values − 1 at depths between 3 and 4 m. Vanadium concentrations appear to be tightly coupled to Fe cycling in the shallow subsurface, but at depth, V may be adsorbed to clay or sedimentary organic matter (SOM). Diffusive fluxes are calculated to examine the export of trace elements from the shallow marsh pore waters to the overlying canal water that floods the marsh. The computed fluxes suggest that the shallow sediment serves as a source of Fe, Mn, and As to the surface waters, whereas the sediments act as a sink for V. Iron and Mn fluxes are substantial, ranging from 50 to 30,000 and 770 to 4300 nmol cm − 2 yr − 1 , respectively, whereas As fluxes are much less, ranging from 2.1 to 17 nmol cm − 2 yr − 1 . Vanadium fluxes range from 3.0 nmol cm − 2 yr − 1 directed into the sediment to 1.7 nmol cm − 2 yr − 1 directed out of the sediment
Solid-phase nucleation free-energy barriers in truncated cubes: interplay of localized orientational order and facet alignment

The nucleation of ordered phases from the bulk isotropic phase of octahedron-like particles has been studied via Monte Carlo simulations and umbrella sampling. In particular, selected shapes that form ordered (plastic) phases with various symmetries (cubic and tetragonal) are chosen to unveil trends in the free-energy barrier heights (ΔG*'s) associated with disorder to order transitions. The shapes studied in this work have truncation parameter (s) values of 0.58, 0.75, 0.8 and 1. The case of octahedra (s = 1.0) is studied to provide a counter-example where the isotropic phase nucleates directly into a (Minkowski) crystal phase rather than a rotator phase. The simulated ΔG*'s for these systems are compared with those previously reported for hard spheres and truncated cubes with s = 0.5 (cuboctahedra, CO) and s = 2/3 (truncated octahedra, TO). The comparison shows that, for comparable degrees of supersaturation, all rotator phases nucleate with smaller ΔG*'s than that of the hard sphere crystal, whereas the octahedral crystal nucleates with a larger ΔG*. Our analysis of near-critical translationally ordered nuclei of octahedra shows a strong bias towards an orientational alignment which is incompatible with the tendency to form facet-to-facet contacts in the disordered phase, thus creating an additional entropic penalty for crystallization. For rotator phases of octahedra-like particles, we observe that the strength of the localized orientational order correlates inversely with ΔG*. We also observe that for s > 0.66 shapes and similar to octahedra, configurations with high facet alignment do not favor high orientational order, and thus ΔG*'s increase with truncation.
The Impact of Myasthenia Gravis on Mood, Cognitive Function, and Quality of Life

In the previous edition of this chapter we noted that for the most part clinical and basic science research in the field of myasthenia gravis (MG) had largely focused on understanding the etiology, clinical sequelae, and treatment of the disease with little attention directed toward the psychological aspects of the condition. Unfortunately, this situation has not improved. Despite evidence that the prevalence of MG has increased in the past decade (1), few studies have explored the psychological status of patients with the disease. As we noted previously, the significance of this oversight is underscored by the absence of a cure for MG and the reality that patients are therefore required to live with a chronic medical condition. We have limited data obtained from cohorts of MG patients, but there is a large literature from patients with other medical diseases that living with a chronic medical condition places patients and their caregivers and loved ones at risk for experiencing significant psychological distress and reductions in their self-reported quality of life. Since a patient’s functional response to a disease and overall quality of life represent an important aspect of clinical care, it is important to focus on the factors that both challenge and support the psychological well-being of patients. Broadly, the psychological aspects of MG can be categorized into two areas: (1) the effect of a patient’s psychological health on the expression of their disease and (2) the effect of disease on the psychological health of the patient. In this chapter we examine the research in each of these areas, beginning with the more controversial issue of whether psychological function directly influences disease onset and progression followed by a review of psychological outcome among patients with MG.We then discuss the controversial issue of cognitive abnormalities caused by the disease and the relationship between perceived fatigue and memory function. Finally, we review factors that support psychological health in chronic disease, with a particular emphasis on MG.
Fluorescence Observation of Single-Cell cAMP Signaling by G Protein-Coupled Receptors.

We present complementary flow cytometric and microscopic imaging methods, both utilizing a membrane-targeted cAMP sensor protein ICUE3, to examine hormone-dependent signaling by the luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor in individual cells. This receptor, a seven transmembrane domain protein belonging to the GPCR family, signals by activating adenylate cyclase to increase cAMP levels. The ICUE3 sensor protein exhibits fluorescence energy transfer between its CFP and YFP moieties and the ratio of CFP emission to YFP sensitized emission (YFPSE) increases with cAMP concentration. We used multichannel flow cytometry to compare CFP emission and YFPSE from each cell and hence measure that cell’s cAMP level. This technique measured changes in cAMP levels in CHO cells expressing LH receptors and stimulated by forskolin or the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and showed that significant cell-to-cell variations exist in such cAMP responses. Because LH receptor behavior may reflect receptor expression levels, we developed a procedure to measure numbers of particular fluorescent cell proteins from measurements of MESF bead standards for slightly different fluorophores. We find that basal cAMP levels increase substantially in cells expressing high numbers mCherry-LH receptors per cell. This suggests activation through increased inter-receptor interactions at high concentrations. We then explored a microscope-based method for single cell measurements so that responses could be correlated with specific cell morphology and with time after treatments. This showed that cell responses to hCG are fully-developed after ~100 s. Taken together, these results demonstrate the utility of fluorescence methods in exploring cAMP signaling in individual cells.
Retrospective review of insurance coverage for patch testing.

Abstract Background There is a paucity of data on the burden of insurance limitations for patients undergoing patch testing. Objective To characterize the burden of insurance limitations and its impact on differences in management and execution of patch testing. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed on patients with a diagnosis of contact dermatitis (International Classification of Disease [ICD], Ninth Edition, code ICD 692) who received patch testing (Current Procedural Terminology code 95044) at the George Washington Medical Faculty Associates Dermatology Clinic between January 1, 2015 and June 30, 2017. Variables including allergen limitations were compared between government-sponsored insurance and private insurance providers (eg, Insurers A, B, C, and D). Results A total of 371 records were identified. Government-sponsored insurance patients encountered allergen limitations more frequently than private insurance patients (86.8% vs 14.2%, P Conclusion Considering modification of insurance policies to allow patch testing with a larger number of allergens without restrictions is needed, with the goal of improving quality of life of these patients while saving costs from chronic use of topical corticosteroids.
Rowan Williams and Christian Language: Mystery, Disruption, and Rebirth

This essay explores the category of “mystery” in the theology of Rowan Williams. There is, or should be, an ongoing strangeness to Christian speech in that it never ceases questioning, probing, and...
Cadmium-113 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Bioinorganic Chemistry. A Representative Spin 1/2 Metal Nuclide

The main theme of this chapter involves the utilization of 113Cd NMR spectroscopy to probe interesting structural and dynamic problems in inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry. Within the first portion of the chapter we have summarized most of the known 113Cd chemical shifts and coupling constants. Further, we have also presented introductory comments with regard to relaxation mechanisms and the importance of chemical dynamics. Subsequently, we discuss in detail the consequences that chemical dynamics have upon the interpretation of relaxation parameters and chemical shifts. The discussion then shifts to solid state NMR methods. Our recent work on cadmium-substituted porphyrins and 113Cd NMR of single crystals serve as examples. Finally, we bring all of these points into focus when we examine the utilization of cadmium as a surrogate probe for Ca+2 and Zn+2 in bioinorganic systems. Here, we have limited our discussion to our work on Concanavalin A and skeletal Troponin C.
Fusion evaporation-residue cross sections for 28Si+40Ca at E(28Si)=309, 397, and 452 MeV.

Velocity distributions of mass-identified evaporation residues produced in the {sup 28}Si+{sup 40}Ca reaction have been measured at bombarding energies of 309, 397, and 452 MeV using time-of-flight techniques. These distributions were used to identify evaporation residues and to separate the complete-fusion and incomplete-fusion components. Angular distributions and upper limits for the total evaporation-residue and complete-fusion evaporation-residue cross sections were extracted at all three bombarding energies. The complete-fusion evaporation-residue cross sections and the deduced critical angular momenta are compared with earlier measurements and the predictions of existing models. The ratios of the complete-fusion evaporation-residue cross section to the total evaporation-residue cross section, along with those measured for the {sup 28}Si+{sup 12}C and {sup 28}Si+{sup 28}Si systems at the same energies, support the entrance-channel mass-asymmetry dependence of the incomplete-fusion evaporation-residue process reported earlier.
ReVibe: A Context-assisted Evening Recall Approach to Improve Self-report Adherence

Besides passive sensing, ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) are one of the primary methods to collect in-the-moment data in ubiquitous computing and mobile health. While EMAs have the advantage of low recall bias, a disadvantage is that they frequently interrupt the user and thus long-term adherence is generally poor. In this paper, we propose a less-disruptive self-reporting method, "assisted recall," in which in the evening individuals are asked to answer questions concerning a moment from earlier in the day assisted by contextual information such as location, physical activity, and ambient sounds collected around the moment to be recalled. Such contextual information is automatically collected from phone sensor data, so that self-reporting does not require devices other than a smartphone. We hypothesized that providing assistance based on such automatically collected contextual information would increase recall accuracy (i.e., if recall responses for a moment match the EMA responses at the same moment) as compared to no assistance, and we hypothesized that the overall completion rate of evening recalls (assisted or not) would be higher than for in-the-moment EMAs. We conducted a two-week study (N=54) where participants completed recalls and EMAs each day. We found that providing assistance via contextual information increased recall accuracy by 5.6% (p = 0.032) and the overall recall completion rate was on average 27.8% (p