cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rewarming by hemodialysis for hypothermia: failure of heparin to prevent DIC.

Abstract Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an infrequent but known complication of hypothermic injury. Previous work with a dog model had inidicated that DIC could be prevented if the animals were treated with heparin prior to rewarming. We report here the case of a young man treated with core rewarming by hemodialysis who developed DIC despite the use of heparin during dialysis.
Loyalty and Disloyalty in the Mexican Party System

Why do politicians in Mexico switch parties? The party-switching literature suggests that politicians generally switch parties for office-seeking or policy-seeking motives, whereas literature on the Mexican party system suggests that switching may be related to party system realignment during the democratic transition. Using data on party switching across the political careers of politicians who served as federal deputies between 1997 and 2009, this study argues that party switching in Mexico can primarily be explained by the office-seeking behavior of ambitious politicians. Only in rare instances do politicians switch parties because of policy disagreements, and party system realignment fails to explain a large number of party switches. This article also suggests that the ban on consecutive re-election encourages party switching; after every term in office, Mexican politicians have the opportunity to re-evaluate their party affiliation to continue their careers.
Long term human reconstitution and immune aging in NOD-Rag (-)-γ chain (-) mice.

Aging of the human immune system is characterized by a gradual loss of immune function and a skewing of hematopoiesis toward the myeloid lineage, a reduction in the lymphocytic lineage, and progressive increases in senescent memory T cells at the expense of naive T cells. Both the innate and the adaptive branches of the immune system are affected, including neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells and lymphocytes. Mice, the most common research model, although inexpensive, do not necessarily reflect the human immune system in terms of its interaction with infectious agents of human origin or environmental factors. This study analyzed whether a human immune system contained within the NOD-Rag (−)-γ chain (−) mouse model could realistically be used to evaluate the development and therapy of aging-related diseases. To that end lightly irradiated NOD-Rag (−)-γ chain (−) mice were injected intra-hepatically on day 1 of life with purified cord blood-derived CD34+ stem and progenitor cells. Multiple mice were constructed from each cord blood donor. Mice were analyzed quarterly for age-related changes in the hematopoietic and immune systems, and followed for periods up to 18–24 months post-transplant. Flow cytometric analyses were performed for hematopoietic and immune reconstitution. It was observed that NOD-Rag (−)-γ chain (−) mice could be “humanized” long-term using cord blood stem cells, and that some evidence of immune aging occurred during the life of the mice.
Computer vision hardware system for automating rough mills of furniture plants

The rough mill of a hardwood furniture or fixture plant is the place where dried lumber is cut into the rough parts that will be used in the rest of the manufacturing process. Approximately a third of the cost of operating the rough mill is the cost of the raw material. Hence any increase in the number of rough parts produced from a given volume of raw material can markedly affect profit margins of a company. To automate this initial cutup requires a computer vision system that can locate and identify surface defects on boards. This paper describes continuing research aimed at developing such a vision system. An important part of this research activity is the design effort going into creating a prototype hardware system, a system that will be able to scan variable width, variable length hardwood boards at industrial speeds of two to three linear feet per second. This system is being designed to handle full length boards up to sixteen feet long. The components of the prototype are a materials handling system, an imaging system, a image processing hardware system, and a software system for performing the necessary recognition tasks and for performing all the necessary control functions. The design of each of these components will be described with the emphasis placed on hardware development.
Electron correlation in the nickel atom

Abstract The large differential correlation energies associated with 4s → 3d transitions in Ni are investigated within the framework of configuration interaction. Particular attention is paid to the importance of f orbitals and the role of higher-order excitations on the theoretical transition energies.
Growth deceleration and transaction costs: A note

Abstract The basic hypothesis of this essay is that the bureaucratic nature of the planned economies of East Europe meant that they were more vulnerable to the rising transaction costs associated with economic development than market economics. If true, this suggests that these nations revealed a greater deceleration of economic growth than in the market economies of the West. Empirical evidence is provided to demonstrated that such a phenomenon did, in fact, occur.
Maternal overcontrol and child anxiety: the mediating role of perceived competence.

Previous research has shown that maternal overcontrol is related to higher levels of child anxiety. It has been theorized, though not empirically tested, that maternal overcontrol decreases child perceived competence and mastery, which increases child anxiety. The present study investigated this theory using a sample of 89 mother–child dyads (children aged 6–13, 84.3% Caucasian, 6.7% African American, and 51.7% male). After statistically controlling for maternal anxiety level, child perceived competence was shown to partially mediate the relationship between maternal overcontrol and child anxiety. Though current findings are based on cross sectional data, they suggest multiple pathways through which maternal overcontrol impacts child anxiety. One pathway, described in theoretical models, posits that greater levels of parental control reduce children's opportunities to acquire appropriate developmental skills, lowering their perceived competence, and thus increasing their anxiety. Implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.
The police officer as survivor: Death confrontations and the police subculture

Encounters with death have profound and indelible psychic consequences. Each encounter with the death of another is, symbolically, an encounter with one's own mortality. These psychic transformations, which Robert Jay Lifton terms the "psychology of survival," result in the evolution and development of new modes of adaptation, thought, and feeling within the survivor and among groups of survivors. This article applies Lifton's concept of survival and death immersion to the subculture of urban policing. Few if any occupations outside the medical field entail such frequent and intense exposure to death, especially in its more unpleasant forms. The effect of such exposure on individual officers and upon the subculture as a whole can be both functional and deleterious. Themes, images and symbols of death pervade the folklore of the police subculture, and to a lesser extent, the anecdotal and descriptive academic literature of policing. Exposure to death serves a functional and integrative purpose in the socialization of young officers, constituting an important rite of passage. It also enables officers to achieve and maintain an essential and protective "professional distance" from assorted aspects of their work, including the debilitating fear of their own demise. Language: en
Electronic control devices

We are members of the TASER International Scientific and Medical Advisory Board, and we would like to comment on the recent CMAJ editorial on tasers.[1][1] Essentially every implication of the editorial was either erroneous or misleading. Only 4 of the 16 references were from the medical literature
Studies of GNSS-R ocean altimetry using full DDM-based retrieval

Global Navigation Satellite Signals Reflection (GNSS-R) observations can be used for measurements of sea surface height (SSH). Many previous studies have examined the method, and have focused on the use of delay waveforms (DW) in the retrieval of SSH information from GNSS-R measurements. The delay waveform is one “cut” from a complete Delay Doppler Map (DDM), which is defined as the amplitude/power distribution of the reflected signal in a 2-D array of delay offsets and Doppler shifts around the specular point.
Policy efforts to prevent ART-related preterm birth.

At 12.5%, the preterm birth rate is the highest it has ever been in the US. In tandem with the rise in preterm birth is a dramatic increase in multiple birth rates. The recent trend of delayed maternal age at first birth and the associated use of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) have led to the increase in multiple gestation and its attendant increased risk for preterm birth. While ARTs are not responsible for the majority of preterm births, the attributable fraction has increased, is iatrogenic- and preventable. Despite widespread recognition of this problem, the rate of associated twin gestation has not decreased. We offer options for policymakers on several levels—from medical to health systems to societal policy—to decrease ART-related preterm births.
Wavelets and their applications past and future

As this is a conference on mathematical tools for defense, I would like to dedicate this talk to the memory of Louis Auslander, who through his insights and visionary leadership, brought powerful new mathematics into DARPA, he has provided the main impetus to the development and insertion of wavelet based processing in defense. My goal here is to describe the evolution of a stream of ideas in Harmonic Analysis, ideas which in the past have been mostly applied for the analysis and extraction of information from physical data, and which now are increasingly applied to organize and extract information and knowledge from any set of digital documents, from text to music to questionnaires. This form of signal processing on digital data, is part of the future of wavelet analysis.
Gender, Generational Status, and Parent–Adolescent Sexual Communication: Implications for Latino/a Adolescent Sexual Behavior

There is little research on how specific parent-adolescent sexual communication topics influence Latino/a youth's sexual behaviors, and how gender and generational status may moderate effects. This study examined effects of three different messages on intercourse and condom use among 1944 Latino/as from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (T1 mean age=15.46; sd=1.50). Results indicated discussing health consequences predicted higher odds of intercourse one year later across gender and generation groups. Birth control recommendation effects on subsequent intercourse and condom use differed by generational status and gender. Results indicated that message content is important for understanding effects of parent-adolescent sex communication on adolescents' behavior, and underscored the need to consider gender and generational status in Latino/a parent-adolescent sexual communication studies.
Orogen-parallel transport and vertical partitioning of strain during oblique collision, Efjorden, north Norway

Abstract Thrust sheets in the Caledonian allochthon in northern Scandinavia were emplaced generally toward the ESE, an orientation nearly perpendicular to the trend of the Caledonian orogen. In the Efjord area of north Norway, however, orogenesis also produced top-to-the-SSW motion on N-dipping thrust faults in the cratonal basement beneath the allochthon. The leading edges of some SSW-directed thrust-sheets moved upward into the overlying metasedimentary cover and formed the cores of S-verging recumbent fold-nappes at the base of the Caledonian allochthon. As deformation continued, these fold nappes became entrained in the top-to-the-ESE transport of the overlying allochthon. Mutually cross-cutting relationships suggest contemporaneous SSWdirected thrusting in the cratonal basement and top-to-the-ESE movement of the allochthon. Thus, structures in the Efjord study area reflect vertical partitioning of strain into components with nearly orthogonal displacement directions at different structural levels. Collectively, the top-to-the-SSW (orogen-parallel) and top-to-the-ESE (orogen perpendicular) components of transport are consistent with overall sinistral-oblique, post-collisional convergence between Baltica and Laurentia. Implications include: (1) in some parts of the orogen, recumbent folds with hinges sub-parallel to the transport direction of the allochthon were produced by orogen-parallel transport rather than orogen perpendicular sheath-folding; and (2) orogen-parallel components of structural transport make two-dimensional palinspastic restoration in planes perpendicular to the orogen difficult or inappropriate in some locations.
Demyelinative Neuropathy and Myelin Antibodies

There are two major groups of acquired demyelinative neuropathies — acute and chronic. The acquired demyelinative neuropathies constitute about 40 per cent of all cases of polyneuropathy in adults1 and share a distinct pattern of clinical, electrophysiologic, and pathologic features. These features include elevated protein levels in the cerebrospinal fluid, marked slowing of conduction velocities, dispersion of evoked responses, frequent evidence of conduction block, low-grade inflammatory changes in nerve detected pathologically, and histopathological findings of demyelination-remyelination. The neuropathy may be chronic, with either a slowly progressive2 or a relapsing3 course, or it may evolve acutely and be monophasic, as in . . .
On universal metric locally finite dimensional spaces

Abstract In this paper we prove the existence of a universal element in the class of locally-finite dimensional metric spaces with weight τ. We also show that every locally finite dimensional metric space has uniformly zero-dimensional continuous mapping in a locally compact locally finite dimensional separable metric space.
Antigenic determinants on lymphocytes from young and old C57BL/6 mice

Abstract Antigenic differences between lymphocytes from young and old female C57BL/6 mice were studied using 3 techniques. In one-way mixed lymphocyte reactions significant responses were obtained in 7.7% of the young → young combinations, 13.5% of the young → old, 18.2% of the old → young and 23.7% of the old → old. Polyethylene glycol enhanced the weak syngeneic MLR responses in all groups. Young anti-old antiserum was raised in young animals by injecting with lymphoid cells from old mice. The serum was cytotoxic to spleen cells from 5 of 6 old mice aged in animal facilities at University of Alabama in Birmingham and from 2 of 12 mice aged at Charles River. Lymphocytes from young mice were sensitized to old lymphocytes in a mixed lymphocyte culture and their cytotoxicity toward old cells measured in a chromium-release assay. No cytotoxicity was observed with sensitized lymphocytes from 5 young mice under various conditions. These results do not support the hypothesis that altered antigenic determinants are always or even usually present on the lymphocytes of old mice.
Impact of high-order surface plasmon modes of metal nanoparticles on emission enhancement

We consider the impact of high-order surface plasmon modes supported by the metal nanoparticles on the efficiency enhancement of optical emission. We show that for a given emitter with certain original radiative efficiency, placing the emitter too close to the metal sphere does not always produce additional enhancement. Thus our model provides analytical treatment of the luminescence quenching and can be used to optimize both nanoparticle size and its separation from the emitter to yield maximum enhancement factor.
GRANULOMATOUS MASS IN A NONREFLUXING RENAL UNIT AFTER BACILLUS CALMETTE-GUERIN THERAPY FOR BLADDER CANCER

Renal granuloma formation after intravesical immunotherapy with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) for superficial bladder cancer is rare. We report the development of a granulomatous mass in a nonrefluxing renal unit after BCG therapy for bladder cancer. CASE REPORT A 54-year-old man with a history of smoking 40 packs yearly was evaluated after an episode of gross painless hematuria. An excretory urogram was normal. Cystoscopy revealed multiple papillary bladder tumors and transurethral resection demonstrated grade I1 transitional cell carcinoma with invasion into the lamina propria. One week after tumor resection BCG immunotherapy (Tice strain) was initiated at a dose of 120 mg. weekly for 6 weeks. The patient was asymptomatic until after treatment 6, when 104.9F fever, chills and abdominal discomfort developed. He was admitted to the hospital with a presumed diagnosis of BCG sepsis and antituberculous therapy was initiated using isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol and pyridoxine. Routine aerobic and anaerobic blood and urine cultures were negative. Renal ultrasound shortly after hospital admission revealed a solid left upper pole renal mass (fig. 1). A cystogram showed no evidence of vesicoureteral reflux. Symptoms gradually resolved and outpatient antituberculous therapy was continued. Followup renal ultrasound 6 weeks later demonstrated a persistent left renal mass. Computerized tomography guided biopsy of the mass showed chronic granulomatous pyelonephritis (fig. 2). Although no acid-fast bacilli were seen, Langhans’ multinucleated giant cells and caseating granulomas were prominent. Antituberculous therapy was continued for 6 months. Subsequent renal ultrasound obtained after completion of antituberculous therapy showed complete resolution of the renal mass.
Structural characterization of four prochlorosins: A novel class of lantipeptides produced by planktonic marine cyanobacteria

Prochlorosins make up a class of secondary metabolites produced by strains of Prochlorococcus, single-cell, planktonic marine cyanobacteria. These polycyclic peptides contain lanthionine and methyllanthionine residues that result in thioether cross-links. In Prochlorococcus MIT9313, a single enzyme, ProcM, catalyzes the posttranslational modification of 29 linear peptide substrates to generate a library of highly diverse cyclic peptides. To investigate the catalytic promiscuity of ProcM, we chose four prochlorosins previously demonstrated to be produced by the organism for detailed structural characterization. Nuclear magnetic resonance studies allowed unambiguous assignment of the ring topologies, demonstrating a high degree of topological diversity. The stereochemistry of the lanthionine and methyllanthionine residues was determined by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry for seven prochlorosins. All methyllanthionines had the (2S,3S,6R) configuration, and the lanthionines had the (2S,6R) configurat...
Practical care for the family of a child with cancer.

Support of the child with cancer and his family has two main components: emotional and practical. Since there are already many excellent reviews on emotional care, this discussion covers some of the practical ways to provide help. All the following suggestions are time consuming and some are costly: 1) Physical facilities should include an oncology ward and a special clinic able to provide day care. Adequate arrangements should be available for parents to stay overnight. 2) Financial resources should be discussed early during the course of the disease to insure adequate coverage and prevent accumulation of debts. Loan and social service funds are a valuable addition to the service. 3) Parent Groups can be organized with differing objectives such as group therapy or community action.
Origin of bulklike optical response in noble-metal Ag and Au nanoparticles

The origin of bulk-like optical response of noble (silver and gold) metal nanoparticles has been studied using classical (Mie) and time-dependent density functional theories. We find that the bulk-like optical response in the silver and gold nanoparticles is strongly correlated to the electronic d-character of the valence electrons, while the correlations with atomic coordination and particle size are weaker. The importance of Coulomb and exchange-correlation interactions to model optical responses is also discussed.
Treatment guidelines for thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections based on the underlying causative gene.

Thoracic aortic aneurysms leading to acute aortic dissections (TAAD) are a common cause of premature death in the United States.1,2 The natural history of ascending aortic aneurysms is to progressively enlarge over time and ultimately lead to life-threatening acute aortic dissection or aortic rupture. Although medical treatments can slow the enlargement of ascending aortic aneurysms, the mainstay of prevention of aortic dissection is surgical repair when the aortic diameter expands to 5.5 cm or more.2 However, aortic dissections occur in some patients who have little or no aortic enlargement. In fact, data from the International Registry of Aortic Dissections (IRAD) indicate that nearly 60% of aneurysms dissect at aortic diameters < 5.5 cm.3 Because approximately one-half of patients with acute ascending aortic dissection die suddenly without reaching a hospital, preventing premature deaths necessitates identifying individuals at risk for aortic dissection, carefully monitoring the diameter of the ascending aorta, and performing timely elective surgical repair. Therefore, improved clinical predictors are needed not only to identify who is at risk for TAAD, but also to determine the aortic diameter that justifies the risk of surgical repair of a thoracic aortic aneurysm to prevent an acute aortic dissection.
SPD-1 is required for the formation of the spindle midzone but is not essential for the completion of cytokinesis in C. elegans embryos.

Abstract The process of cytokinesis can be divided into two stages: the assembly and constriction of an actomyosin ring giving rise to a narrow intracellular canal and the final breaking and resealing of this canal [1]. Mutations in several genes of Caenorhabiditis elegans disrupt the spindle midzone (anti-parallel microtubules and associated proteins that form between the spindle poles) and give rise to failures in the completion of cytokinesis [2–9]. We show that loss of function of spd-1 causes midzone disruptions, although cytokinesis generally completes. SPD-1 is a conserved microtubule-bundling protein that localizes to the midzone and also to microtubule bundles in the cytoplasm. The midzone localization of SPD-1 is perturbed in embryos depleted of other midzone components, yet the cytoplasmic bundles are not affected. We found that two other midzone components also localize to the ingressing furrow in wild-type embryos; when SPD-1 is depleted, there is no visible midzone, and only this furrow localization remains. SPD-1 differs from other midzone components in that it is essential for the integrity of the midzone, yet not for cytokinesis. Also, it can localize to the midzone when other midzone components are depleted, suggesting that SPD-1 may play an early role in the pathway of midzone assembly.
Microscopic Colitis. An update

Microscopic colitis is an increasingly common cause of chronic diarrhea, and often causes abdominal pain and weight loss. The colonic mucosa appears normal or nearly normal endoscopically, and the diagnosis is made in the appropriate clinical setting when there is intraepithelial lymphocytosis and a mixed lamina propria inflammatory infiltrate. The 2 subtypes, collagenous and lymphocytic colitis, are similar clinically and histologically, and are distinguished by the presence or absence of a thickened subepithelial collagen band. Many potential pathophysiologic mechanisms have been proposed, but no convincing unifying mechanism has been identified. There are many anecdotal reports on treatment, but few controlled trials have been performed in these patients, although a systematic approach to therapy often leads to the satisfactory control of symptoms.
Inorganic nitrogen uptake by epilithic periphyton in a N-deficient lake

Seasonal patterns of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and inorganic carbon uptake by the sublittoral epilithic periphyton community in N-deficient, oligotrophic Lake Tahoe were examined. The biomass dominants of this community, N,-fixing blue-green algae (e.g. Calothrix, Tolypothrix, and Nostoc) were persistent and retained their nitrogenase activity throughout the year. Seasonal rates of N, fixation exhibited considerable variation, with a distinct summer maximum and winter minimum. Uptake of both N03- and NH4+ followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. K, values were typically extremely high (> 100 pg N liter-l) compared to the ambient concentrations of these forms of nitrogen (< 10 pg N liter-l). N, fixation was the most important source of inorganic N to the yearly N budget of this benthic community. Low ambient substrate concentrations coupled with a low physiological affinity for these substrates at ambient levels were responsible for the relative unimportance of N03- and NH,+ uptake. Dark uptake of N03-, NH4+, and N, fixation were all significant and could not be neglected in determining rates of daily inorganic nitrogen utilization. This blue-green algal community is not adapted for efficient use of N03- or NH,+ and can survive in the N-deficient environment because of its ability to use N,. In striking contrast, the phytoplankton in Lake Tahoe has no N,-fixing organisms and depends on NO,- and NH,+ for its production.
MicroRNA-34a Plays a Key Role in Cardiac Repair and Regeneration Following Myocardial Infarction

Rationale: In response to injury, the rodent heart is capable of virtually full regeneration via cardiomyocyte proliferation very early in life. This regenerative capacity, however, is diminished as early as one week post-natal and remains lost in adulthood. The mechanisms that dictate post injury cardiomyocyte proliferation early in life remain unclear. Objective: To delineate the role of miR-34a, a regulator of age-associated physiology, in regulating cardiac regeneration secondary to myocardial infarction (MI) in neonatal and adult mouse hearts. Methods and Results: Cardiac injury was induced in neonatal and adult hearts through experimental MI via coronary ligation. Adult hearts demonstrated overt cardiac structural and functional remodeling, whereas neonatal hearts maintained full regenerative capacity and cardiomyocyte proliferation, and recovered to normal levels within one week time. As early as one week post-natal, miR-34a expression was found to have increased and was maintained at high levels throughout the lifespan. Intriguingly, seven days following MI, miR-34a levels further increased in the adult but not neonatal hearts. Delivery of a miR-34a mimic to neonatal hearts prohibited both cardiomyocyte proliferation and subsequent cardiac recovery post-MI. Conversely, locked nucleic acid-based anti-miR-34a treatment diminished post-MI miR-34a upregulation in adult hearts and significantly improved post-MI remodeling. In isolated cardiomyocytes, we found that miR-34a directly regulated cell cycle activity and death via modulation of its target genes, including Bcl2, Cyclin D1, and Sirt1. Conclusions: miR-34a is a critical regulator of cardiac repair and regeneration post-MI in neonatal hearts. Modulation of miR-34a may be harnessed for cardiac repair in adult myocardium.
6F-3 A Regularized Real-Time Motion Tracking Algorithm Using Dynamic Programming for Ultrasonic Strain Imaging

This study developed a robust algorithm for realtime ultrasonic strain imaging that employs dynamic programming techniques. Since tissue motion under external mechanical stimuli should be highly continuous, the speckle tracking problem fits well within the general framework of the hidden Markov model and can be solved as an optimization problem. A cost function combining correlation and motion continuity was used to regularize motion tracking. We found that the new algorithm provides more accurate displacement estimates than our previous algorithm for in vivo clinical data. In particular, the new algorithm is capable of tracking larger frame-average tissue deformation (1-2%) and increasing strain image consistency in a sequence of images. The new algorithm can also tolerate larger local strain (approx. 10%). Preliminary results also suggest that a significantly longer sequence of high contrast strain images (e.g. 45 vs. 15 in one cancer dataset) could be obtained with the new algorithm compared to the previous algorithm. We also achieved more than 10 frames/second with a 3 cm by 3 cm region of interest, which is sufficient to provide real-time feedback during in vivo elasticity imaging
The Perceived Fairness of Managerial Promotion Practices

This research investigated whether the perceived fairness of promotion practices depends primarily upon the outcome of the decision-making process for employees, the perceived nature of promotion policies and their administration, or both. Data from 121 managers and assistant managers in a decentralized restaurant company indicated that managers' judgments regarding procedural components contributed a significant increment in predicting perceived promotion system fairness over and above the contribution of distributive variables.
Testing the reproductive hypothesis: or what made working-class women sick in early Victorian London

Abstract Using patient case records from University College Hospital in London in the 1830s and 1840s, this article re-evaluates the reproductive model of Victorian women's health. The women who were admitted to UCH were working-class women, and the evidence from the patient records suggests that their understandings of their bodies both conflicted with and supported the Victorian medical model of women as biologically fragile and delicate as a result of their reproductive functions. The female patients represented their bodies as essentially strong, but also recognized that this strength was very tenuous. Rather than concentrating solely on internally induced causes of ill health, the patients stressed socio-economic reasons for becoming sick.
Compact Thermal Failure Model for Devices Subject to Electrostatic Discharge Stresses

A leading cause of device failure under electrostatic discharge stress conditions is thermal failure. This failure occurs as a result of excessive energy dissipation which raises the temperature of the device to a critical breaking level. To predict such a physical failure at circuit level, a compact model compatible with circuit simulators is proposed. The model is derived from the fundamental heat transfer equations and is shown to accurately predict thermal failure for arbitrary electrical stress waveforms.
A CMOS Off-Chip Driver/Receiver with Reduced Signal Swing and Reduced Power-Supply Disturbance

A CMOS off-chip signal driver with 2.5-3x smaller di/dt noise than the conventional design without incurring additional signal delay is described. It minimizes L di/dt effects by reducing the output signal swing by about a factor of 2 and by providing a controlled ramp rate for the output current. The circuit has a nearly-constant output resistance for source termination of transmission lines. A receiver designed for the smaller signal swing is also described. Simulations show a driver-receiver delay of 3 ns for a 7.5 cm line on a multichip package with a peak di/dt of only 12 mA/ns. Driver-receiver delay and noise measurements are also presented.
The Effects of Methadone and Buprenorphine on Testis of Rats

Dear Editor, I am writing in response to the article, “A quantitative and qualitative study of rat testis following administration of methadone and buprenorphine” by Zahra Heidari, Hamidreza Mahmoudzadeh-Sagheb & Farhad Kohan in Volume 1(1): 14-17, 2012 (1). This article is addresses an important subject, that of hypogonadism and other changes in seminiferous tubules and testis after administration of methadone or buprenorphine in rats. The subject is important given that opiate use itself has been shown to cause low FT levels in men and therefore should be examined systematically to see how to prevent hormonal issues for drug-using men (2). The authors do not note any quantitative differences between groups on testis volume in this study however, indicating that possibly the dosage of methadone and buprenorphine given were not sufficient to produce those changes. Conversely, histopathology did show qualitative changes, which are reported but not qualified as significant or not. It is unclear what the measures of significance for these changes in rat’s testis are. The figures presented show that there are changes, it is not easily distinguishable as a significant clinical outcome. The authors say that “previous studies showed that both methadone- and buprenorphine-treated men had lower free testosterone, LH, and estradiol levels than those in the age-matched control groups”. However, there is no reference given to assess what type of study this was. It would be necessary to know if the levels of opiate use were controlled for and how this was performed, as this could also be a cause for differences in testis measures. Overall, this is a relevant topic and well-executed study indicating preliminary trends toward the benefit of using buprenorphine over methadone for young men. However, more precise measures and description of histopathologic changes would strengthen this argument. This study adds to the literature on this topic regarding the effects of methadone and buprenorphine on gonadal levels in men. Due to conflicting research outcomes that exist on this topic (as pointed out here by the authors), more studies such as this one are needed to determine clinical differences between opioid treatments.
Fas stimulation results in selective islet infiltrate apoptosis in situ and reversal of diabetes.

: Breakdown of peripheral T cell regulation due to defective antigen-activated apoptosis may lead to autoimmunity. In the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse model of type 1 diabetes mellitus, we have demonstrated defects in T cell activation and peripheral apoptosis. Stimulation of the Fas pathway by a Fas receptor agonist led to enhanced in vitro apoptosis and in vivo selective apoptosis of islet-infiltrating lymphocytes. Administration of the Fas agonist immediately after onset of diabetes led to reversal of diabetes in NOD mice. Inducing peripheral T cell apoptosis may be a potential method for reversal of autoimmune diabetes.
Anatomy of Maize Tissue Cultures

Tissue cultures of Zea mays L. derived from four different somatic sources all appeared to grow as callus. Microscopic examination, however, showed this growth to be merely an aberrant root-like form. A continium in the degree of aberrant root behavior, ranging from cultures appearing very root-like to those visibly indistinguishable from callus, was recognized. The continuum and ultimately the callus appearance resulted from increasing inhibition of root elongation coupled with strong enhancement of branch root initiation. This aberrant form of root growth was apparent in all cultures observed. Tissue source and growth regulator treatment interacted to shift the growth form within the extremes of the continuum but in no case was the root-like mechanism of proliferation disrupted, even during extended subculture. Removal of exogenous growth regulators from the culture medium simply allowed outgrowth of existing root primordia as normal roots and this accounts for the characteristic ease of rhizogenesis from what has been called maize callus.
Anatomy of an urban waterbody: A case study of Boston’s Muddy River

The objective of this study was to characterize and understand the water quality of Boston’s Muddy River prior to restoration, to help guide those activities and evaluate their success. We use a combination of monitoring, data analysis and mathematical modeling. The seasonal pattern of temperature, pollutant signatures (identified using a principal component analysis), correlations with precipitation and spatial patterns all point to a significant wastewater input at one of the outfalls and suggest significant receiving water impact. However, a quantitative analysis using a mathematical model (QUAL2K) suggests this source is not significant. Rather, internal loading from algae, sediment bed and waterfowl dominate the spatial pattern of water quality. These results suggest significant improvement can be expected from planned sediment dredging. The paper provides a case study of water quality assessment in the context of urban river restoration, and it illustrates the utility of combining monitoring and data analysis with modeling.
Angle diversity for nondirected wireless infrared communication

We outline the benefits and challenges of using angle diversity in nondirected wireless infrared communications systems. Multiple transmitter beams and multiple narrow-field-of-view receivers reduce the path loss, multipath distortion and background noise of the channel, which leads to improved range. The design and performance of a prototype angle-diversity infrared communication system are discussed. The prototype can maintain 70 Mb/s at a BER of 10/sup -9/ over a 4 m range.
Visually mining and monitoring massive time series

Moments before the launch of every space vehicle, engineering discipline specialists must make a critical go/no-go decision. The cost of a false positive, allowing a launch in spite of a fault, or a false negative, stopping a potentially successful launch, can be measured in the tens of millions of dollars, not including the cost in morale and other more intangible detriments. The Aerospace Corporation is responsible for providing engineering assessments critical to the go/no-go decision for every Department of Defense space vehicle. These assessments are made by constantly monitoring streaming telemetry data in the hours before launch. We will introduce VizTree, a novel time-series visualization tool to aid the Aerospace analysts who must make these engineering assessments. VizTree was developed at the University of California, Riverside and is unique in that the same tool is used for mining archival data and monitoring incoming live telemetry. The use of a single tool for both aspects of the task allows a natural and intuitive transfer of mined knowledge to the monitoring task. Our visualization approach works by transforming the time series into a symbolic representation, and encoding the data in a modified suffix tree in which the frequency and other properties of patterns are mapped onto colors and other visual properties. We demonstrate the utility of our system by comparing it with state-of-the-art batch algorithms on several real and synthetic datasets.
MOISTURE EXPANSION OF GLAZES AND OTHER CERAMIC FINISHES1

Research for ascertaining why some glazes are more resistant to “moisture crazing” than others revealed the fact that certain glazes expand, because of the action of water, similarly to some of the ceramic bodies t o which they are applied. Although a control of this type of expansion is very important in fitting glazes to bodies, it has not been previously considered. Its importance should be evident at once when it is considered that a large “moisture expansion” in a glaze or other finish is in many cases an indication that the glaze will not be so liable to craze when the ceramic ware or material on which it is used is exposed to moisture. This follows since the glaze and the body on which it goes and which is ordinarily very susceptible to this kind of expansion will then increase in size simultaneously and more nearly at the same rate. Such conditions lessen the tendency of the body expansion to cause tensile stresses in the glaze. In this investigation specimens of various finishes were subjected to steam at 150 pounds per square inch for an hour because it was known that this treatment of such materials produces effects similar to those caused by long exposure to weather. This artificial weathering treatment caused in lustrous glazes an average expansion of 0.004%, in mat glazes 0.011%, in vitreous slip finishes 0.005%, and in porous slip finishes 0.033%. The moisture expansion of one of the mat glazes was 30% of the average obtained for a ceramic body having an absorption of approximately 12%. This proclivity of ceramic finishes to expand by the absorption of moisture can be controlled in their manufacture.
ON-LINE LIFE PREDICTION OF A STRUCTURAL HOTSPOT

Current aerospace practice follows an engineering model based on damage-tolerant reliability whereby structural components are regularly inspected and replaced. Under this practice, engineering designs are generally based on a physics-based fracture mechanics approach, in which the life of structural component is estimated using an assumed initial damaged condition. However, in a real time environment, keeping track of the damage condition of a complex structural component manually is quite difficult and requires automatic damage state estimation. The real-time damage state information can be regularly fed to a prognosis model to update the residual useful life estimation in event of a new prevailing situation. The present paper discusses the use of an adaptive hybrid prognosis model, which estimates the residual useful life of a structural hotspot using information on the damage condition obtained in real time. The hybrid prognosis model has two modules: an off-line prognosis module that forecasts the future damage state, and an on-line state estimation module, which regularly predicts the current damage state and feeds into the off-line module in real time. Both the off-line and on-line modules are probabilistic models and use the concept of Bayesian inference based on input-output mapping through a Gaussian process.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
The Threshold Laws for Electron-Atom and Positron-Atom Impact Ionization

In view of the fact I have long been interested in the electron-atom impact ionization problem, and have published several papers on it over the years, I would like in this talk to review only the most salient aspects of my work, which has only recently culminated with what I believe is a derivation of the correct threshold law. By way of introduction let me emphasize that because the problem deals with three separating charged particles at the lowest energy at which they can escape from one another, this is the most basic three-body problem in the continuum involving Coulomb (i.e., long-range) forces. At the same time it also involves quantum mechanics in a very fundamental way, in my opinion. What I would like to do here is to emphasize, schematically through a series of figures, aspects of my approach -- the Coulomb-dipole theory -- which I did not dwell upon in my most recent articles including also the positron-atom impact ionization problem and two-electron photodetachment of H-. The latter has particular relevance for this conference in view of the fact that the newest experiment involves the accelerator (LAMPF) in a basic way.
Divine Restraint: An Experimental Analysis of Religious Preference and Intertemporal Discounting

The paper applies an online experimental approach to test the influence of religious salience on intertemporal discount rates. The propensity to delay gratification, measured by the discount rate, is associated with a variety of positive outcomes including: higher rates of education and savings, as well as lower rates of poverty or addiction. There is a significant literature which supports a linkage between religion and self-regulation. Using a large sample, we are able to test the impact of religious primes across a variety of religious traditions as well as the non-religious. Contrary to previous studies, we do not find any significant impact of religious salience on observed discount rates. Furthermore, we find no significant difference in the impact of religious salience across religious groups.
The changing role of the federal and state courts in safeguarding the rights of the mentally disabled.

From the mid-1960s until the early 1980s, federal courts have greatly expanded the rights of persons who have been institutionalized for treatment of mental illness. The rights have included due process in commitment proceedings, provision of services, and treatment in the least restrictive environment. Federal courts have based their decisions on federal statutes and constitutionalprinciples of due process, equal protection, and protection from harm. More recently, however, the U.S. Supreme Court has effectively closed the federal courts as a forum for advancing the rights of the mentally disabled. Federal courts must, in essence, defer to the states for decisions about treatment of the mentally disabled. State courts may decide what services are required under state law, while state mental health officials may decide specific treatment questions for individual patients. Consequently, advocates for the mentally disabled are turning to state courts to advance client rights. In 1984 two significant cases decided by the New York State Court of Appeals have the potential for significantly expanding the rights of the mentally disabled.
Magnetic Structures of Er 2 O 3 and Yb 2 O 3

The magnetic structure of ${\mathrm{Er}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ and ${\mathrm{Yb}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ have been determined by analysis of neutron diffraction data on powders and single crystals. Noncollinear antiferromagnetic structures were found, with the moment direction related to the local symmetry axis. For ${\mathrm{Er}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, the moment on the ${C}_{2}$ site is $(5.36\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.08){\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$ and at the ${C}_{3i}$ site the moment is $(6.06\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.23){\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$. For ${\mathrm{Yb}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, the corresponding moments are $(1.86\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06){\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$ and $(1.05\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06){\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$. The N\'eel points are 3.4\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K for ${\mathrm{Er}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ and 2.3\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K for ${\mathrm{Yb}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$. Calculations of the dipole-dipole energies for the observed structures indicate that the dipole forces are not sufficient to explain the structures. The dependence of the long-range magnetic order on the reduced temperature is the same in both systems. Good agreement with this temperature dependence was obtained by assuming a biquadratic exchange interaction and making a simple molecular-field approximation.
Spatial Aggregation and Refugia of the Mites Tetranychus urticae and Neoseiulus fallacis (Acari: Tetranychidae, Phytoseiidae) on Hop

Three quantitative methods (Taylor, Iwao, and binomial) were used to estimate spatial aggregation patterns and refugia of the spider mite prey, Tetranychus urticae Koch and the phytoseiid mite predator Neoseiulus fallacis (Garman) on hop relative to the time of year, plant height, and presence or absence of predators. Using the Taylor methods, there was little change in aggregation of T. urticae with plant height, whether predators were released or not, and only a small change with season. The Iwao parameters indicated that spider mite colonies became larger but less clumped through the season and that in the presence of predators, colony size decreased and patchiness increased. The seasonal change in predator distribution as measured by the Iwao parameters closely reflected prey distributions with clump size increasing and clumps becoming less aggregated. Binomial data showed there was a refugium of hop leaves in which T. urticae did not occur and a refugium of spider mites colonies without predators. These refugia probably result from the combined effects of rapid growth of the hop plant and a spatial incongruence of predator and prey. The refugia may add to stability and persistence of predators and prey on hops. Implications of spatial patterns and refugia to biological control and sampling are discussed.