cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tight-binding methods

Abstract The history of tight-binding theory is traced, from the corresponding band models of Bloch, to the development of universal parameters, derivable from a combination of tight-binding theory and free-electron theory. In the end, tight-binding theory becomes an independent, and in that sense ab initio, method for studying virtually all of the properties of surfaces. It is this conceptual aspect, rather than semiempirical tight-binding theory as an approximate computational method, which is emphasized here. We outline the application first to surface energy, and its dependence upon structure, for semiconductors, ionic insulators, and simple metals, finding wide differences from the rudimentary view of one bond energy per broken bond. We turn to photothresholds. work functions and electron affinities, finding direct tight-binding predictions but necessary corrections for image potentials, which also are derivable in terms of tight-binding theory. For the particular case of electron affinities there are additional corrections to the band gap, usually associated with correlation energy, but readily and generally estimated as the intra-atomic Coulomb U divided by the dielectric constant. We turn to history of the understanding of heterojunction band line-ups, which in the end can be obtained by matching “neutrality levels” in each band structure, those levels being the average sp 3 -hybrid energy in tight-binding theory and in the case of metals, the Fermi energy. Alternate views are also discussed as is the bonding of individual atoms to the surface. Finally, the successes and failures of tight-binding theory in understanding semiconductor surface reconstructions are reviewed.
Communication and computing in health facilities of southwest Uganda

Mobile phones are often pitched as the solution for Africa's development. This study examines the social changes entailed by the introduction of new technologies into a health subsidy program, and compares mobile phones and netbooks side by side in Southwest Uganda as potential health information management devices for private health facilities.
Electronic simulation of the temporal characteristics of photon memory echoes and some related applications

The characteristics of nonlinear photon memory echoes are investigated by means of SPICE simulations using equivalent resonator ensembles. By developing implicit nonlinear circuit models in the memory echo domain, the triple product formalism of electronic holography, involving correlation and convolution, is tested for the storage and recall of arbitrary signals and/or data bit streams in both time-inverted and nontime-inverted modes. Furthermore, a few specific optical data processing applications are also simulated in which the mixed binary multiplication of two or more binary bit streams is achieved. Higher order products, optical pattern recognition, and other possible applications are also discussed. It is shown that much insight into the nature and scope of optical photon echoes as memory storage phenomena may be derived using the electronic simulation technique.
Electronic Structure and Electrical Conductivity of Undoped LiFePO4

The electronic structure of LiFePO 4 underpins transport properties important to its use as a lithium storage electrode. Here we have calculated the electronic structure of LiFePO 4 in the ordered olivine structure by a first-principles method to determine (i) the effective mass of carriers and (ii) the nature of the band structure. The electrical conductivity in high purity undoped LiFePO 4 has also been measured experimentally. Spin-polarized calculations show a large electron effective mass and a much smaller but highly anisotropic hole effective mass, suggesting that hole-doped compositions should have the greater electronic conductivity. More surprisingly, the calculations show that this polyanion compound is a half-metal with spin-sensitive band structure, like some other oxides being studied for spintronics applications. This previously unappreciated aspect of the LiFePO 4 electronic structure may play a role in determining transport properties including those relevant to electrochemical applications.
The central black hole and relationships with the host galaxy

Abstract More than 40 years ago, astronomers speculated that active galactic nuclei are fundamentally powered by accretion onto supermassive black holes. In this contribution, the basic observations and theoretical considerations that led to this conclusion are reviewed, as is emission-line reverberation mapping, which is now used to measure the masses of black holes in AGNs. Key correlations – the broad-line region radius–luminosity relationship and the relationships between black hole mass and host galaxy properties – are also discussed.
Effect of hypotonic mannitol and saline load on diluting capacity in man.

The effect of hypotonic mannitol and saline loading on the urinary diluting capacity in man has been examined. The further interpretation of the data was built on the assumption that the free water formation is determined by distal tubular Na+ reabsorption. Thus it could be demonstrated that the distal tubular Na+ reabsorption was at first enhanced and later suppressed by progressive increases in the total distal tubular Na+ delivery. No relationship could be demonstrated between distal tubular Na+ reabsorption and urinary Na+ concentration. This was interpreted to mean that the distal tubular Na+ reabsorption was independent of the transtubular Na+ gradient.
Biomechanics Curriculum: Its Content and Relevance to Movement Sciences

While the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) has outlined a number of learning outcomes for undergraduate biomechanics, there are a number of factors that can influence the curriculum in such courses. These factors create a situation that indeed can influence students and their attitude towards these classes. Undergraduate students generally avoid the required biomechanics course for a number of reasons, some of which deal with the methods used to teach those classes. In most situations, we teach “applied physics” rather than biomechanics and this emphasis on the physics of movement may have little interest to our students. The emphasis on the mechanics of movement is a concern that must be addressed to create interest in undergraduate biomechanics.
Microstructure of pores in n+ silicon

Abstract The structure of pores in n−1/n+/n− silicon structures has been studied by cross-section transmission electron microscopy. Under the experimental conditions examined, the pore directions in the n+ layer follow the current path and do not show crystallographic preference. Stray pores were observed in the n− layer and they appear to grow along 〈100〉 directions. By using cross sections transverse to the pore length, we have obtained end-on views that show that the pore walls tend to facet along {111} planes. We have also observed wafer surface faceting on {113} planes as a result of the anodization process.
The size and dendritic structure of HRP-labeled gamma motoneurons in the cat spinal cord

We report quantitative data obtained from 60 fully reconstructed dendritic trees belonging to eight gamma-motoneurons (gamma-MNs) and six additional gamma-MNs that were not completely reconstructed. The cells were labeled intracellularly with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). These data are compared to measurements from 79 reconstructed dendrites belonging to seven documented alpha-motoneurons (alpha-MNs), supplemented by a larger sample of alpha-MNs labeled intracellularly or by retrograde transport with HRP. As expected from earlier studies, the soma dimensions and total membrane area of gamma-MNs were smaller than those of alpha-MNs. Although gamma-MN dendrites were, on average, slightly but significantly longer than those of alpha-MNs, the former had, on average, smaller diameter stem dendrites, less membrane area, and less profuse branching, and they tended to branch closer to the soma and to terminate farther from the soma. These differences were evident even when subsets of dendrites with similar stem diameters were compared. Some of the anatomical distinctions suggest that gamma-MNs are qualitatively as well as quantitatively different from alpha-MNs, even though the distributions of many of the morphological variables examined showed no abrupt discontinuities between the two motoneuron groups.
Safety and efficacy of carbomethylcellulose foam in guinea pig middle ear surgery

Abstract Objective Carbomethylcellulose (CMC) foam has been widely adopted to promote hemostasis and healing in sinus surgery. There has been interest in the use of CMC in middle ear surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CMC foam for use in middle ear surgery. Study Design Prospective, controlled. Setting Academic research laboratory. Subjects and Methods Adult guinea pigs underwent experimental tympanoplasty followed by packing of the middle ear (n = 19 per group) with CMC, hyaluronic acid (HA), or gelatin sponge (GS). Auditory evoked brainstem response testing and otomicroscopy were performed before and serially for eight weeks after surgery. Tympanic membrane healing, hemostasis, and retention of packing material were assessed. Results All tympanic membranes treated with CMC healed by week eight. Less postoperative bleeding was observed with CMC than with HA or GS. Surgery elevated auditory thresholds, at least temporarily, in all groups. However, CMC was associated with greater auditory threshold elevation (15-25 dB) at eight weeks across all test frequencies relative to HA or GS ( P Conclusion CMC was associated with hearing loss and may be ototoxic. Therefore, CMC should not be used in human middle ears given the presence of several nontoxic alternative materials.
Milk Yield Variation Concurrent with Conception

Abstract Milk yield data from herds at the University of Illinois and the University of Wisconsin-Madison were used to characterize milk yield fluctuations concurrent with conception. Analyses were performed on 118 Illinois and 244 Wisconsin cows; milk yields were recorded for 15 d preceding confirmed conception. Conception was confirmed by calving within 11 d of 281 d postbreeding. Each cow's difference between 7-d rolling means for a.m. and p.m. milking yield was subtracted from a.m. yields as a diurnal adjustment. A pattern matching formula that was applied to adjusted yields ([b – a]/a, where a and b were sequential milkings) produced a mean calculated value for the milking nearest conception that was different from all milkings for 15 d preceding conception in Wisconsin data only. Discriminant analysis failed to differentiate between preceding and conception inclusive sequences of adjusted milk yields. Pattern matching formulas applied to individual cow data failed to isolate more than 2% of conceptions when the threshold value was set to eliminate false positives. Results demonstrated low predictive ability for conception using concurrent milk yield fluctuations despite implications of significant mean differences for values that were enhanced by pattern matching formulas.
Cardiomyocyte Protection by GATA-4 Gene Engineered Mesenchymal Stem Cells Is Partially Mediated by Translocation of miR-221 in Microvesicles

Introduction microRNAs (miRs), a novel class of small non-coding RNAs, are involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, development, and death. In this study, we found that miR-221 translocation by microvesicles (MVs) plays an important role in cardioprotection mediated by GATA-4 overexpressed mesenchymal stem cells (MSC).
Privacy Rights Management for Privacy Compliance Systems

The worldwide growth of e-services has brought to the forefront the importance of citizen privacy management. Korba and Kenny proposed a privacy rights management system in order to support the privacy principles derived from EU Data Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 24 October 1995. In this paper, we extend their system by proposing a privacy rights management framework for entity modeling and expression. The proposed framework manages and monitors the use of personal information. In addition, it provides interoperable mechanisms to support privacy compliance systems.
Sources and information: Postsecondary vocational education

This annotated bibliography presents recent ERIC documents that provide information related to evolving vocational education programs, policies, and practices in community colleges.
Immobilization can improve the stability of hybridoma antibody productivity in serum-free media

Hybridoma cells (S3H5/gamma2bA2) were cultivated in spinner flasks with 1% serum media and serum-free media. Monoclonal antibody productivity was maintained in 1% serum media. However, cells in serum-free media showed a decrease in antibody productivity, and it completely disappeared in IMDM-based low protein medium. This loss of antibody productivity was not observed when the cells were immobilized in alginate beads. In fact, immobilization enhanced the specific MAb productivity.
Researching the older IT professional: methodological challenges and opportunities

Many developed nations' populations are aging. For workplaces, this has two important implications: organizations face an increasingly older workforce, at the same time that they experience a higher level of retirements. Both of these factors suggest some dramatic implications for those studying the workplace that must be considered. Regrettably, findings show that age-based research on older adults' experiences with technology is severely lacking (Birkland & Kaarst-Brown, 2007). To help address this gap, this paper reviews the sampling, ethical, and methodological implications for those who seek to study IT professionals and IT use in the aging workplace.
Report on solar-radiation research at the Institute of Optics, University of Rochester

The development of equipment for the study of fluctuations in the ultra-violet output from the Sun by measurements from high-altitude sounding-balloons has been continued. As before we have been aided in this by the Smithsonian Institution. The current through a photocell, receiving sunlight through a specially designed optical system and filters, actuates, after suitable amplification, a small radio transmitter carried by the balloon. The transmitter is caused to emit a series of short dashes, the number per unit-time, suitably recorded on a chronograph at a ground receiving-station, being the measure of the light-intensity. The first successful flight with this equipment was made on March 30, 1937, and a number of flights have been made in the year following.
Octahedral tilting and cation ordering in perovskite-like Ca4Nb2O9 = 3.Ca(Ca1/3Nb2/3)O3 polymorphs

Abstract Four Ca4Nb2O9 polymorphs with perovskite-related A(B′1/3B′2/3)O3 structures and different arrangements of B-site cations were identified and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The B-cation ordering in three of these phases is combined with b−b−c+ octahedral tilting. Two high-temperature forms of Ca4Nb2O9 are separated by a displacive phase transition which involves octahedral tilting and occurs between 1500 and 1600°C. Above this transition, the structure is either disordered or exhibits chemical 1:1 ordering (ordering vector 1/2[1 1 1]*c) of Ca and Nb cations on the B-sites; the correct structural model has yet to be determined. Below the transition, the structure exhibits 1:1 ordering combined with octahedral tilting. Upon cooling, the 1:1 ordered structure transforms to a metastable P1 triclinic structure with lattice parameters √6ac×√2ac×2√2ac, α≈δ≈90°, β≈125° (ac refers to cubic perovskite) and ordering vector 1/4[1 1 1]*c. This transformation occurs by reordering of cations on (1 1 1) planes. The metastable P1 structure transforms upon annealing to a stable 2:1 ordered P21/c structure with lattice parameters √6ac×√2ac×3√2ac, β=125° (ordering vector 1/3[1 1 1]*c). This first-order transition occurs by precipitation and growth of the 2:1 ordered phase, which is stable below 1400°C.
A field evaluation of the Hasl wet-dry deposition collector

Samples of precipitation, dry deposition and total deposition have been obtained from Tutuila Island, American Samoa, since April 1976. These collections are part of a study of global levels of pollutants. The volume of rain water collected by a HASL wet/dry collector has averaged within 4% of the volume expected based on data obtained using a standard rain gauge. The deposition of Cl−, SO 4 −2 , NA+. Mg−2 and K+ in the total collector, which is exposed continuously to the atmosphere, is about 10% greater than the deposition in the wet plus dry sides of the HASL collector.
Individual and spousal unemployment as predictors of smoking and drinking behavior

The effects of unemployment on health behaviors, and substance use in particular, is still unclear despite substantial existing research. This study aimed to assess the effects of individual and spousal unemployment on smoking and alcohol consumption. The study was based on eight waves of geocoded Framingham Heart Study Offspring Cohort data (US) from 1971 to 2008 that contained social network information. We fit three series of models to assess whether lagged 1) unemployment, and 2) spousal unemployment predicted odds of being a current smoker or drinks consumed per week, adjusting for a range of socioeconomic and demographic covariates. Compared with employment, unemployment was associated with nearly twice the subsequent odds of smoking, and with increased cigarette consumption among male, but not female, smokers. In contrast, unemployment predicted a one drink reduction in weekly alcohol consumption, though effects varied according to intensity of consumption, and appeared stronger among women. While spousal unemployment had no effect on substance use behaviors among men, wives responded to husbands' unemployment by reducing their alcohol consumption. We conclude that individual, and among women, spousal unemployment predicted changes in substance use behaviors, and that the direction of the change was substance-dependent. Complex interactions among employment status, sex, and intensity and type of consumption appear to be at play and should be investigated further.
Complexity of some problems in Petri nets

Abstract We consider the complexity of several standard problems for various classes of Petri nets. In particular, the reachability problem, the liveness problem and the k -boundedness problems are analyzed. Some polynomial time and polynomial space complete problems for Petri nets are given. We then show that the problem of deciding whether a Petri net is persistent is reducible to reachability, partially answering a question of Keller. Reachability and boundedness are proved to be undecidable for the Time Petri net introduced by Merlin. Also presented is the concept of controllability, i.e., the capability of a set of transitions to disable a given transition. We show that the controllability problem requires exponential space, even for 1-bounded nets.
Host structure dependence of light yield and proportionality in scintillators in terms of hot and thermalized carrier transport

Several outstanding questions, including why complex halide scintillator host structures allow higher light yield and flatter electron energy response than simple monovalent metal halides, have remained unanswered by current models of luminescence in dense ionization tracks. Our measurements of nonlinear quenching kinetic order, recent literature on hot-electron transport in scintillators, and calculations presented here of hot-electron velocity from band structure of SrI2 and NaI, lead us to expand our previously described diffusion and nonlinear quenching model to include hot-electron transport. Trends in multivalent versus monovalent metal halides, heavier versus lighter halides, and halides versus oxides versus semiconductors can be predicted based on optical phonon frequency, thermalized band edge mobilities, velocity in the upper conduction bands, and hole self-trapping. (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A Brief History of Downside Risk Measures

Downside risk measures in portfolio analysis purport to be a major improvement over traditional portfolio theory. This article traces the development of the concept from the initial portfolio theory articles in 1952 to articles in the Journal of Investing in 1994. An understanding of the issues facing the researchers provides better knowledge of the concept.
Grief and Mourning from the Perspective of the Person with a Dementing Illness: Beginning the Dialogue:

While working with individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other dementing disorders presents many challenges for clinicians, none is more difficult than watching an individual who is cognitively impaired mourn the losses of life and those imposed by the dementing illness. There now is a body of literature on grief in caregivers, but little has been written to help clinicians understand or better support affected individuals who are experiencing multiple losses and yet whose insight, autobiographical memory, and connectedness to others is beginning to blur and fade. This article addresses current models of grief, examines the ability or inability of affected individuals to experience and resolve grief, and attempts to formulate questions that may ultimately allow clinicians and caregivers to better recognize and address the difficult issues of the grief response and mourning process in the person with dementing illness.
State and Local Fiscal Sustainability: The Challenges

At the state and local level, fiscal sustainability is the long-run capability of a government to consistently meet its financial responsibilities. It reflects the adequacy of available revenues to ensure the continued provision of the service and capital levels that the public demands. After examining separate revenue and expenditure trends for state and local governments, this article identifies three specific sets of pressures that affect subnational fiscal sustainability—cyclical, structural, and intergovernmental. It then presents three specific examples of these pressures: Medicaid, pensions and retiree health benefits, and infrastructure. The author asserts that without changes in the fiscal system—in both revenues and expenditures—state and local fiscal sustainability will disappear. It concludes with some potential solutions but argues that the most difficult reform is to ensure that the public understands that there is no such thing as a free lunch.
Genetic Considerations in the Restoration of Small Forest Populations: Perspectives From Fish and Wildlife Genetics

The evolutionary forces that drive recent population genetic changes include migration, mating strategy, genetic drift, and selection. However, the strength of these forces varies depending on population size. The purpose of this article is to review genetic issues associated with small forest populations and to provide perspectives from fish and wildlife genetics through case studies. Small populations are often fragmented, potentially preventing migration. In forest trees, long-distance pollen dispersal and highly mobile, generalist pollinators can help maintain connectivity. A landscape and community approach to understanding connectivity is critical (case study: mussels). Outbreeding depression can also be a concern in forest restoration. This becomes a greater risk when mixing populations that are highly diverged and when the species is polyploid. Management units should be designated that mimic natural gene flow (case study: lake sturgeon). At the other extreme, inbreeding depression can result in r...
Reflection From the Department of Community Pediatrics

This year, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the development of its community-based initiatives to improve access to health care for children. Throughout the decade, the Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) Program and the Department of Community Pediatrics (DOCP) has expanded its vision of what pediatrics should be for America's children. This supplement and the accompanying policy statement “The Pediatrician's Role in Community Pediatrics” a is a fitting acknowledgment of our progress to date, yet also a reminder of how far we have yet to go. In December 1989, the AAP Board of Directors convened a group of pediatricians to discuss the growing crisis of access to health care for an increasing number of children in our country. The debate centered on whether access issues were limited to financial resources and whether pediatricians really made a difference in their respective communities. At the end of the day, the group reached consensus: the AAP needed to adopt a three-pronged approach to improve access to children's health care. The first requirement was a comprehensive legislative package such as “Children First.” Second, it was imperative to raise public awareness of this issue. And finally, the group agreed that individual pediatricians did make a difference and that their activities should be facilitated and supported. This last step was a bold one. No other national professional medical association had focused its attention on the role of medical professionals within the context of the community. Early on, this tripartite approach culminated in the Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program and the CATCH Program of the AAP. Soon thereafter, the Medical Home Program for Children with Special Health Care Needs joined the other community-based initiatives. As a result, thousands of children have accessed health care through the hundreds of pediatrician-led community-based … Address correspondence to Vince L. Hutchins, MD, MPH, National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health, 2000 15th St N, Suite 701, Arlington, VA 22201.
Equivalence and Dominance Relations Between Fault Pairs and Their Use in Fault Pair Collapsing for Fault Diagnosis

Equivalence and dominance relations used earlier in fault diagnosis procedures are defined as relations between faults, similar to the relations used for fault collapsing. Since the basic entity of diagnostic fault simulation and test generation is a fault pair, and not a single fault, we introduce a framework where equivalence and dominance relations are defined for fault pairs. Using equivalence and dominance relations between fault pairs, we describe a fault pair collapsing process, where fault pairs are removed from consideration under diagnostic fault simulation and test generation since they are guaranteed to be distinguished when other fault pairs are distinguished. We demonstrate the full extent of fault pair collapsing by considering circuits with small numbers of inputs. We also describe an efficient fault pair collapsing procedure for larger circuits based on structural analysis
Vapor phase anti-stiction coatings for MEMS

Due to their large surface-area-to-volume ratio, most micromechanical devices are susceptible to adhesion, friction, and wear. Conventional approaches to abate the deleterious effects of adhesion and friction rely on the deposition of organically based anti-stiction monolayers produced from liquid phase processes. It has become widely accepted that liquid phase monolayer processes are less desirable than vapor phase processes, especially for manufacturing purposes. Thus, current research is aimed at the development of vapor phase anti-stiction processes that yield comparable or better films than their corresponding liquid phase processes. To date, a variety of monolayer systems that have been well established via liquid phase deposition processes have been adapted to vapor processes. In this paper, current trends in anti-stiction technology and a discussion of available vapor phase anti-stiction methods are presented.
Genetic Analysis of Inherited Hypertension in the Rat

Blood pressure is a quantitative trait that has a strong genetic component in humans and rats. Several selectively bred strains of rats with divergent blood pressures serve as an animal model for genetic dissection of the causes of inherited hypertension. The goal is to identify the genetic loci controlling blood pressure, i.e., the so-called quantitative trait loci (QTL). The theoretical basis for such genetic dissection and recent progress in understanding genetic hypertension are reviewed. The usual paradigm is to produce segregating populations derived from a hypertensive and normotensive strain and to seek linkage of blood pressure to genetic markers using recently developed statistical techniques for QTL analysis. This has yielded candidate QTL regions on almost every rat chromosome, and also some interactions between QTL have been defined. These statistically defined QTL regions are much too large to practice positional cloning to identify the genes involved. Most investigators are, therefore, fine mapping the QTL using congenic strains to substitute small segments of chromosome from one strain into another. Although impressive progress has been made, this process is slow due to the extensive breeding that is required. At this point, no blood pressure QTL have met stringent criteria for identification, but this should be an attainable goal given the recently developed genomic resources for the rat. Similar experiments are ongoing to look for genes that influence cardiac hypertrophy, stroke, and renal failure and that are independent of the genes for hypertension.
The egocentric bias: Seeing oneself as cause and target of others' behavior

The egocentric bias—the tendency to see oneself as both cause and target of another person's behavior—was examined in the context of a small group interaction. Pairs of subjects plus a confederate conducted a short discussion, their goal being to achieve consensus on a specific topic. The discussion was interrupted by the experimenter when the confederate summarized his/her opinion. It was found that subjects were more likely to see themselves as a cause as well as a target of the confederate's last statement compared to the way they were seen by other group members. Subjects were also more likely to exaggerate the amount of attention they received from the confederate. The overall egocentric bias scores were correlated with subjects' level of self-esteem. Cognitive and motivational processes that may account for this bias were discussed.
A Comparison of Cholesterol Uptake and Storage in Inflammatory and Noninflammatory Breast Cancer Cells

Although there are many subtypes of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is arguably the deadliest. Research over the past decade has demonstrated that IBC is a distinct entity from other forms of breast cancer. Important risk factors that have been associated with the development of aggressive breast cancers, such as IBC, include obesity and diet, which are evident in the United States, where the overconsumption of high-fat foods continues to contribute to obesity in the nation. Here we investigate differences in cholesterol uptake and storage between IBC, non-IBC, and mammary epithelial cell lines. Our results demonstrate that compared with human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs), both IBC and non-IBC cells have increased cholesterol content. IBC cells retain intracellular cholesterol esters, free cholesterol, and triglycerides in lipid-deficient environments. In contrast, we observe in cell-type-of-origin-matched non-IBC a significant decrease in lipid content under the same lipid-deficient conditions. These data suggest that cholesterol storage may be affected by the cholesterol content of the environment where the tumor cell was isolated. Here, we suggest that breast cancer cells may migrate when they are unable to obtain cholesterol from their extracellular environments.
Virtual electrode effects in transvenous defibrillation-modulation by structure and interface: evidence from bidomain simulations and optical mapping.

Virtual Electrodes, Bidomain Model, and Defibrillation. Introduction: Our goal in this combined modeling and experimental study was to gain insight into the transmembrane potential changes in defibrillation conditions, namely, when shocks are delivered by an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Two hypotheses concerning the presence and characteristics of virtual electrode effects (VEE) during an ICD shock were tested numerically and experimentally: (HI) anisotropy-dependent VEE are induced over a considerable portion of the "bulk" myocardium; and (H2) surface (epicardial and endocardial) VEE are generated under special tissue bath conditions and are not fully anisotropy determined. Methods and Results: Optical mapping was performed on Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts (n = 4) stained with di-4-ANEPPS. Monophasic shocks were applied during the plateau phase of an action potential through a 9-mm long distal electrode in the right or left ventricle and a 6-cm proximal electrode positioned 3 cm posteriorly to the heart. We modeled the experiment using an ellipsoidal bidomain heart with transmural fiber rotation, placed in a perfusing bath, and subjected to defibrillation shocks delivered by an electrode configuration as described. Our numerical simulations demonstrated VEE occupying a significant portion of the myocardium in the conditions of unequal anisotropy ratios for the intra- and extracellular domains. Statistically significant differences in epicardial polarization patterns were predicted numerically and confirmed experimentally when the interface conditions varied. Conclusion: The present study concludes that VEE are present in transvenous defibrillation. They are shaped by the combined effect of cardiac tissue characteristics and interface conditions. Because of their size, VEE might contribute significantly to defibrillation outcome. (J
The Sino-Japanese War and the Formation of the State Enterprise System in China: A Case Study of the Dadukou Iron and Steel Works, 1938–1945

This article examines the formation of China's state enterprise system, using the case of the Dadukou Iron and Steel Works (DISW). I argue that the basic institutional arrangement of the DISW, and by extension other state-owned enterprises, consisted of a bureaucratic governance structure, distinctive management and incentive mechanisms, and the provision of social services and welfare. This arrangement took shape during the Sino-Japanese War, with the sustained systemic crisis and the nature and character of the institutional endowments leading to the formation of China's state enterprise system. In considering implications for understanding institutional change, I suggest that crisis shapes radical institutional change and that both path dependence and path independence characterize such change.
The Proteus Effect: The Effect of Transformed Self-Representation on Behavior

Virtual environments, such as online games and web-based chat rooms, increasingly allow us to alter our digital self-representations dramatically and easily. But as we change our self-representations, do our self-representations change our behavior in turn? In 2 experimental studies, we explore the hypothesis that an individual’s behavior conforms to their digital self-representation independent of how others perceive them—a process we term the Proteus Effect. In the first study, participants assigned to more attractive avatars in immersive virtual environments were more intimate with confederates in a self-disclosure and interpersonal distance task than participants assigned to less attractive avatars. In our second study, participants assigned taller avatars behaved more confidently in a negotiation task than participants assigned shorter avatars. We discuss the implications of the Proteus Effect with regards to social interactions in online environments.
Immunological effects of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and autologous tumor vaccine in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Biological therapy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) uses agents that mobilize immune effector cells which are able to recognize and destroy cancer. We evaluated the effects of weekly then monthly autologous tumor vaccine combined with daily granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in patients with RCC as a method of stimulating antigen presenting cells.Materials and Methods: Eligible patients with pathological stage II to IV RCC were entered into this pilot study. Autologous tumor vaccine (0.5 to 1 × 107 irradiated tumor cells) admixed with 250 μg GM-CSF per vaccine was given subcutaneously weekly for 4 weeks and then monthly for 4 months. GM-CSF (125 μg/m2) was given subcutaneously for 13 days after vaccine injection 1 and injections 4 to 8. Treatment related tumor specific CD4 and CD8 positive T cell precursors were assessed.Results: A total of 22 patients were entered into this study. Patients were stratified by bulk of disease (group 1, 9 patients with micrometastatic d...
Optimal design of thermoelectric generator

Thermoelectric generators have been the topic of research among the NASA scientists in order to develop high efficiency thermoelectric generators. This article suggests an innovative method of preparing semiconductor material to obtain high thermoelectric power. It is shown that material with lower Fermi energy yields a higher thermoelectric coefficient. An analytical expression is derived, discussed, and compared with the work of other researchers.
THE LINEAR ELASTIC BEHAVIOR OF A BIDISPERSE WEAIRE-PHELAN SOAP FOAM*

The linear elastic constants for a dry Weaire-Phelan foam with bidisperse cell-size distribution are computed. This highly ordered structure has eight polyhedral bubbles in the unit cell: two pentagonal dodecahedra and six tetrakaidecahedra with twelve pentagonal faces and two hexagonal faces. Both dodecahedra have equal volume and all of the tetrakaidecahedra have equal volume, but these volumes are different for the bidisperse structures considered here. These volume constraints preserve the cubic symmetry of the Weaire-Phelan structure so that the elastic response is completely characterized by a bulk modulus k for volume compression and two shear moduli μ1 and μ 2. The shear moduli can be combined to obtain an effective isotropic shear modulus μ¯, which represents the shear response averaged over all orientations of the foam. For the monodisperse case, μ¯ = 0.8684 TV¯,-1/3 where TT is surface tension and V is the average bubble volume. For bidisperse structures, p. never differs from the monodisperse ...
Highly sensitive multistage mass spectrometry enables small-scale analysis of protein glycosylation from two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels

Structural characterization of glycoproteins remains among the most challenging areas of glycomics due to the requirement of large quantities of samples and laborious biochemical steps involved in the analytical procedure. Here we report the structural characterization of glycoproteins separated on a 2-D gel by using a MALDI-QIT-TOF MS where QIT is quadrupole IT. The combination of MALDI-ion source and QIT appears to generate a unique tendency to cause fragmentation of glycopeptides without collision-induced dissociation. The majority of such fragmentations observed in our study result from the cleavage of sugar linkages, but not of peptide-peptide or peptide-sugar linkages. This unique feature allows us to perform pseudo-MS3 analysis of a fragmented glycopeptide. A small gel spot of a glycoprotein in the abundance range of low picomoles was enough for the mass spectrometer to analyze fragmentation pathway of the sugar linkage and peptide backbone. In this study, we demonstrate direct determination of glycosylation sites and N-linked glycan-sequences of the tryptic glycopeptides of Drosophila glycoproteins. Glycopeptides with various MWs up to approximately 4000 Da were suitable for structural analysis, including its attachment site and the amino acid sequence, of the glycopeptide through multistage mass spectrometric analysis.
Intergenerational Altruism, Dynastic Equilibria and Social Welfare

are three central findings. First, under relatively weak conditions, welfare optima cannot be implemented as dynastic equilibria with positive levels of transfers. Second, intergenerational altruism ordinarily renders the objectives of social planners dynamically inconsistent, thereby making implementation of welfare optima problematic. Third, if a planner successfully resolves dynamic inconsistency by committing himself to respect the preferences of deceased generations, and if there are a sufficient number of prior generations, then in a specific set of cases dynastic equilibria are approximately welfare optimal.
Evaluation of children with Down syndrome who participated in an early intervention program. Second follow-up study.

The long-term effects of an early intervention program (EIP) on the motor, cognitive, and adaptive functioning of children with Down syndrome were examined. The cognitive and adaptive functioning was compared with a group of children with Down syndrome who had not participated in an EIP. The motor functioning was compared with the normative sample used in the development of the Bruininks Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency. The children were assessed using the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, the Vineland Social Maturity Scale, and either the Bruininks Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency or the Gesell Schedules of Motor Development. Results revealed that the children in the EIP earned significantly higher scores (p less than .0005, p less than .05) on the measures of intellectual and adaptive functioning than did the children of comparable age who did not participate in an EIP. The children in the EIP did not show the decline typically seen with age in intellectual and adaptive functioning in children with Down syndrome. The children in the EIP were below expected age levels in gross (77.7%) and fine motor skills (58.3%) but had mean fine motor skill levels that exceeded their mean gross motor skill levels (50%). Based on the results, EIPs for children with Down syndrome appear to provide a foundation for subsequent learning and development.
Nasal angiosarcoma metastatic to the larynx: Case report and systematic review of the literature.

Background Laryngeal angiosarcoma is rare and the prognosis is poor. The purpose of this study was to describe the first case of cutaneous angiosarcoma metastatic to the larynx and systematically review all cases of laryngeal angiosarcoma. Methods A 61-year-old man presented with an alar lesion diagnosed as angiosarcoma and was treated with wide local resection and radiation. Six years later, he presented with a laryngeal mass histologically similar to the initial tumor. A systematic review of reported cases of angiosarcoma of the larynx was performed. Results Eighteen cases were identified. Mean age of presentation was 64.3 years. Men represented 66.7%. Mean follow-up was 34.1 months. Forty-seven percent died with disseminated disease at a mean of 18.4 months. Our patient did well with serial resection. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this case represents the first documented case of cutaneous angiosarcoma metastatic to the larynx and suggests that serial resection with long-term surveillance may be of benefit in some cases. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2015
Implicit and Explicit Measurement Approaches to Research on Policy Implementation: The Case of Race-Based Disparities in Criminal Justice

In 2011, more than 3% of all black men in the United States were imprisoned, compared to only 0.5% of all white men. Among prisoners ages 18 to 24, black men were imprisoned at a rate more than seven times that of white men (Carson and Sabol 2012). It is becoming increasingly urgent for researchers to understand what accounts for these race-based disparities. While a broad constellation of social problems exist that likely contribute to these disparities in concert, different fields of social science tend to focus on different types of explanations. Political scientists and sociologists have tended to emphasize the role of institutional factors, including criminal justice policies and practices, in maintaining race-based disparities. Social psychologists, in contrast, have tended to emphasize individual factors, including punitive responses to crime by jurors, judges, and criminal justice professionals.
The Ghost Is the Machine: Protection of Process Patents Under 35 U.S.C. S. 271(F)

Component export, under 35 U.S.C. § 271(f), is a powerful new mode of patent infringement that may significantly affect international trade. In four recent cases (Eolas, AT&T, NTP, and Union Carbide), the Federal Circuit has overturned the general belief that § 271(f) does not apply to processes, replacing it with a confused mass of contradictory statements. The four cases are mutually inconsistent, and the author explores the reasons for that inconsistency. The Note argues that the different opinions express fundamentally opposed ideals of patent law as neutral or specific with respect to technologies and categories of invention. Using the Union Carbide case as an example, I show that technology-neutral law must also be category-neutral. Since the United States has ratified TRIPS, with its preference for technology-neutral law, it follows that patent statutes should be read in a category-neutral fashion. Flowing from an international agreement, this argument is particularly relevant for § 271(f). Therefore, the statute should cover processes just as well as other inventions.
Dodging the Bullet: Election Mechanics and the Problem of the Twenty-third Amendment

political science at Trinity University. His research interests inclucle the American presidency, elections, and American political development. His research has appeared in Presiclential Studies Quarterly, and his clissertation won the Best Dissertation on the Presidenc y for 1 999 from the Center for Presiclential Stuclies. He is the author of The Opposition Presidency: Leadership and the Constraints of History {Texas AM Keefe and Ogul 1993, 76-77; Congressional Quarterly 2000, 58-60, 892-899). Once reapportionment took effect, that number would have dropped back to 535. Thus, for 50 years the odd number of electoral votes made it virtually impossible for a twoperson presidential race to be thrown into the House of Representatives. The current "problem" in election mechanics began in 1961, with the ratification of the Twenty-third Amendment. The Twenty-third Amendment gave the Federal District what has turned out to be three electoral votes, but no voting representation in Congress. For most of American history the electoral votes mirrored representation in Congress, and an odd number of federal legislators should have given us an odd number of electoral votes. However, because the Federal District has no voting representation in Congress, the Twenty-third Amendment disrupts this elegant constitutional dynamic. Despite the fact that House membership has been a constant 435, the addition of three electors that do not have counterparts in Congress has given us an even number of electoral votes in all 10 presidential elections since 1964. Although the elections of 1968 and 1976 were very close, the 2000 contest was the closest this nation has come to a House contingency election since the last one in 1824.
Hepatic Encephalopathy: Pharmacological Therapies Targeting Ammonia

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a major complication in patients with decompensated cirrhosis, leading to higher readmission rates causing a profound burden of disease and considerable health care costs. Because ammonia is thought to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of HE, therapies directed at reducing ammonia levels are now being aggressively developed. Ammonia scavengers such as AST-120 (spherical carbon adsorbent), glycerol phenylbutyrate, sodium phenylacetate or sodium benzoate, and ornithine phenylacetate have been used to improve HE symptoms. A new approach, bowel cleansing with polyethylene glycol 3350, appears to be a promising therapy, with a recent study demonstrating a more rapid improvement in overt HE (at 24 hours after treatment) than lactulose. Extracorporeal devices, although now used primarily in research settings, have also been utilized in patients with refractory HE, but are not approved for clinical management.