cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Flux regulation of cardiac ryanodine receptor channels.

The cardiac type 2 ryanodine receptor (RYR2) is activated by Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR). The inherent positive feedback of CICR is well controlled in cells, but the nature of this control is debated. Here, we explore how the Ca2+ flux (lumen-to-cytosol) carried by an open RYR2 channel influences its own cytosolic Ca2+ regulatory sites as well as those on a neighboring channel. Both flux-dependent activation and inhibition of single channels were detected when there were super-physiological Ca2+ fluxes (>3 pA). Single-channel results indicate a pore inhibition site distance of 1.2 ± 0.16 nm and that the activation site on an open channel is shielded/protected from its own flux. Our results indicate that the Ca2+ flux mediated by an open RYR2 channel in cells (∼0.5 pA) is too small to substantially regulate (activate or inhibit) the channel carrying it, even though it is sufficient to activate a neighboring RYR2 channel.
Validated contemporary risk model of acute kidney injury in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions: insights from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry Cath-PCI Registry.

Background We developed risk models for predicting acute kidney injury (AKI) and AKI requiring dialysis (AKI‐D) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to support quality assessment and the use of preventative strategies. Methods and Results AKI was defined as an absolute increase of ≥0.3 mg/dL or a relative increase of 50% in serum creatinine (AKIN Stage 1 or greater) and AKI‐D was a new requirement for dialysis following PCI. Data from 947 012 consecutive PCI patients and 1253 sites participating in the NCDR Cath/PCI registry between 6/09 and 7/11 were used to develop the model, with 70% randomly assigned to a derivation cohort and 30% for validation. AKI occurred in 7.33% of the derivation and validation cohorts. Eleven variables were associated with AKI: older age, baseline renal impairment (categorized as mild, moderate, and severe), prior cerebrovascular disease, prior heart failure, prior PCI, presentation (non‐ACS versus NSTEMI versus STEMI), diabetes, chronic lung disease, hypertension, cardiac arrest, anemia, heart failure on presentation, balloon pump use, and cardiogenic shock. STEMI presentation, cardiogenic shock, and severe baseline CKD were the strongest predictors for AKI. The full model showed good discrimination in the derivation and validation cohorts (c‐statistic of 0.72 and 0.71, respectively) and identical calibration (slope of calibration line=1.01). The AKI‐D model had even better discrimination (c‐statistic=0.89) and good calibration (slope of calibration line=0.99). Conclusion The NCDR AKI prediction models can successfully risk‐stratify patients undergoing PCI. The potential for this tool to aid clinicians in counseling patients regarding the risk of PCI, identify patients for preventative strategies, and support local quality improvement efforts should be prospectively tested.
PERFORMANCE OF COUNTERFLOW COOLING TOWERS WITH STRUCTURED PACKINGS AND MALDISTRIBUTED WATER FLOW

A method is presented for estimating the performance of a counter/low cooling tower packed with a regular fill. The model utilized takes into account initial nonuniformity of irrigation and the redistribution of water flow during interaction with the structured fill, In this analysis a local, cellular model for the heat and mass transfer has been formulated, and a compulation scheme has been developed. Solutions for the nonuniform model have been compared to established models that employ the assumption of uniform flow across the plan area of the lower. Results show that regions of nonuniform flow persist for some depth into the flow and that performance of the tower can be degraded.
Distinguishing Between Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has provided diagnostic reliability across observers while neglecting biological validity. The current theme issue explores the boundaries between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, using neuro-cognition, systems neuroscience, and genetics as points of departure to begin consideration of a biologically based reclassification of these illnesses.
Supersonic Jet Noise Reduction via Pulsed Microjet Injection

This paper compares the noise suppression abilities of steady and pulsed microjet injection for a Mach 1.8 jet operating at 900, 1300, and 1700°F. Pulsing was performed at 1, 5, and 10 Hz at duty cycles of 50 and 75%, and was compared with steady microjet injection. For pulsing at 50% duty cycle, 33 to 57% of the noise reduction of steady injection was achieved. For pulsing at 75% duty cycle, 60 to 75% of the noise reduction of steady injection was achieved. For injection at a given pressure, the noise reduction increases with duty cycle, where steady injection corresponds to a duty cycle of 100%. This paper shows that equivalent noise reduction can be achieved with pulsing using less water as compared to steady injection. At a given mass flow rate, noise reductions are comparable, if not better, when using pulsing as opposed to steady injection.
Induction and Postranslational Expression of G‐CSF and RANTES in a First Trimester Trophoblast Cell Line by Lipopolysaccharide

PROBLEM : Comparatively little is known about the capacity of first trimester trophoblasts to respond to an infection and coordinate an immune response. This study characterizes the LPS induction of G-CSF and RANTES in a first trimester trophoblast cell line. METHODS : HTR-8/SVneo cells were exposed to LPS (1 μg/ml) for 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 24 hours in DMEM-Ham's F-12 media supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. Cytokine levels in culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. Northern analysis of total RNA was conducted using antisense cytokine probes. RESULTS : Levels of immunoreactive G-CSF and RANTES from LPS induced cultures at 24 hours were 10-fold and 8.5-fold greater than cytokine levels from non-induced cells at 24 hours, respectively (P<0.01). Under LPS induction, maximal rates of G-CSF and RANTES transcription occurred at 24 hours and 8 hours, respectively. CONCLUSION : The LPS induction of proinflammatory cytokines in a first trimester trophoblast cell line supports the contention that first trimester trophoblasts participate in cytokine based immune signaling in response to infection.
NASty effects on fibrillin pre-mRNA splicing: another case of ESE does it, but proposals for translation-dependent splice site choice live on

It is clear that steps in the pathway from gene transcription to protein synthesis are connected mechanistically even when they occur in distinct cellular compartments (Maniatis and Reed 2002). Mechanistic connections were initially evident when factors governing pre-mRNA capping, splicing and 3-end formation were found to associate with the carboxyl-terminal domain of transcriptionally active RNA polymerase II. More recently, splicing factors have been shown to associate with the transcription elongation factor TAT-SF1, forming a complex that can stimulate both transcription and splicing (Fong and Zhou 2001). Furthermore, a conserved transcription/export (TREX) complex has been shown to couple transcription and mRNA export (Strasser et al. 2002), and pre-mRNA splicing is now known to influence both mRNA export and nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (Reed and Hurt 2002).
A template-based methodology for disaster management information systems

Timely and accurate processing of crisis information and effective communication have been documented as critical elements of disaster relief operations. Despite the lessons learned from previous crises, preparing information for humanitarian assistance and ineffective information sharing remain a recurring and almost impossible task for relief agencies. The purpose of the paper is to propose a template based methodology to archive past disaster relief operations, create "descriptive" templates for advanced preparedness, and design "normative" templates for fast execution of assistance operations, while reducing miscommunications among aid agencies.
Door-to-balloon time with primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction impacts late cardiac mortality in high-risk patients and patients presenting early after the onset of symptoms

the low-probability category, 29% (95% CI 24%–33%) in the intermediate-probability category, and 74% (95% CI 61%– 83%) in the high-probability category. The authors concluded that although this standardized clinical scoring system held up under both internal and external testing, it still needs to be tested prospectively in a formal outcome study. [Ryan Windish, MD, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO]
A rapid test method for evaluating the tracking and erosion resistance of polymeric outdoor insulating materials

A laboratory test to evaluate and compare the tracking and erosion resistance of High Voltage (HV) outdoor polymeric insulating materials is described. The test is based on combining some features of the ASTM D-2132 Dust and Fog test, and ASTM D-2303 Inclined Plane test. The experimental conditions employed can be related to actual field conditions, hence the results obtained provide a more realistic evaluation of materials' tracking and erosion performance. Measurements of leakage current via a computerised data acquisition system, and discharge activity with a high speed camera were performed to develop a better understanding of the onset of material degradation. The materials evaluated include various formulations of High Temperature Vulcanising (HTV) silicone rubber and polyolefin polymers.
Regulation of brood size in a burying beetle,Nicrophorus tomentosus (Silphidae)

Regulation of brood size in a biparental burying beetle, Nicrophorus tomentosusWeber, was studied by providing pairs with one of two sizes of mouse carcasses in the laboratory. For a given carcass size, there was an inverse relationship between number and mass offspring in a brood. The requirement for regulation was that brood size was adjusted such that mean mass of individual larvae was constant for carcasses of different size. Brood size was regulated if parents were present but regulation did not occur if parents were removed prior to hatching of larvae. Pairs bred in quick succession on two carcasses raised fewer than the regulated number of young in the second reproductive attempt. Reasons for regulation of brood size in this genus are discussed.
The Christian Theodicist's Appeal to Love

Many Christian theodicists believe that God's creating us with the capacity to love Him and each other justifies, in large part, God's permitting evil. For example, after reminding us that, according to Christian doctrine, the supreme good for human beings is to enter into a reciprocal love relationship with God, Vincent Brummer recently wrote: In creating human persons in order to love them, God necessarily assumes vulnerability in relation to them. In fact, in this relation, he becomes even more vulnerable than we do, since he cannot count on the steadfastness of our love the way we can count on his steadfastness… If God did not grant us the ability to sin and cause affliction to him and to one another, we would not have the kind of free and autonomous existence necessary to enter into a relation of love with God and with one another… Far from contradicting the value which the free will defence places upon the freedom and responsibility of human persons, the idea of a loving God necessarily entails it. In this way we can see that the free will defence is based on the love of God rather than on the supposed intrinsic value of human freedom and responsibility.
A hands-on laboratory based approach to undergraduate robotics education

The paper describes the teaching experience gathered along four years, including the choices of robotics platform, simulator, typical experiments and projects we have conducted for students. We also discuss our efforts and plans to develop a hands-on laboratory course for the education in Robotics and Automation. The course is designed to the multidisciplinary and can be offered for engineering and non-engineering students. In order to offer hands-on experience in operating the robots and design of manufacturing works cells, a fully-equipped robotics laboratory has been established to provide basic as well as advanced experiments, to address the needs of students at different education levels.
Off-licence prescribing and regulation in psychiatry: current challenges require a new model of governance.

The growing worldwide use of pharmaceuticals is managed in some countries by a regulatory system which sharply divides legal use into licensed and unlicensed categories. We examine how for the range of psychotropics this simultaneously restricts the possible benefits to patients, prescribers and producers in some domains, while failing to manage the risks in others. A more flexible system, which shares at an earlier stage experience and evidence on benefits and risks in patients, previously marginalized on the grounds of age, diagnosis or comorbidity, would aid the development of safer, more effective ‘real-world prescribing’. Practical recommendations are made for a new model of research and prescribing governance, to enable more effective repurposing of these treatments.
Infectious complications in 127 patients with hairy cell leukemia

Information regarding infectious complications was obtained on 127 patients with hairy cell leukemia who were diagnosed between March 1974 and April 1982. Forty-seven patients (37%) had 111 documented infections (cultures positive), and 40 patients (31.5%) had 113 nondocumented infections (no culture results available, or cultures negative). The remaining 40 patients (31.5%) had no significant infections during the course of their disease. Patients without infection lived significantly longer than did patients who developed an infection (92% v 49% were alive at 4 years; P = .0012). Thirty-three of the 47 patients with documented infection have died; 29 of an infectious problem and four of a noninfectious problem. There was also a statistically significant difference in actuarial survivals between the documented-infection and nondocumented infection groups (P = .007). The two most common types of infection were bacteremia (30 episodes) and pneumonia (27 episodes). In the culture-documented group with bacteremia, E coli and P aeruginosa caused ten and eight infections, respectively, and three infections were due to S aureus. There were eight systemic infections of nonbacterial origin; in five, the organism cultured was M kansasii, and three were fungal infections. Blood counts at the time of diagnosis were not correlated with subsequent development of infection. Patients with hairy cell leukemia have a significant susceptibility to infections that can affect morbidity and mortality. Many of the infectious complications encountered are those common in patients whose immune system is compromised; however, the occurrence of disseminated atypical mycobacterial disease requires a heightened awareness.
Atomically-based Field Formulations for Coupled Problems of Composition and Mechanics

Preliminary ideas are presented on developing coupled, continuum field formulations for composition and mechanics with applications to microelectronic materials. A thermodynamic basis is constructed, reflecting atomic-level transport mechanisms and the associated mechanics. Formal arguments lead to constitutive field relations, and specification of balance laws completes the coupled field description. Early numerical results are also presented.
A Novel Correlation Networks Approach for the Identification of Gene Targets

Correlation networks are emerging as a powerful tool for modeling temporal mechanisms within the cell. Particularly useful in examining co-expression within microarray data, studies have determined that correlation networks follow a power law degree distribution and thus manifest properties such as the existence of "hub" nodes and semi-cliques that potentially correspond to critical cellular structures. Difficulty lies in filtering coincidental relationships from causative structures in these large, noise-heavy networks. As such, computational expenses and algorithm availability limit accurate comparison, making it difficult to identify changes between networks. In this vein, we present our work identifying temporal relationships from microarray data obtained from mice in three stages of life. We examine the characteristics of mouse networks, including correlation and node degree distributions. Further, we identify high degree nodes ("hubs") within networks and define their essentiality. Finally, we associate Gene Ontology annotations to network structures to deduce relationships between structure and cellular functions.
Note on the Vertical Velocity and Diffusive Salt Flux Induced by Evaporation and Precipitation

Abstract Some (not all) of the oceanographic literature slightly miscalculates the vertical velocity (w) and diffusive salt flux induced by evaporation (E) and precipitation (P) at the sea surface. Short, simple, physical derivations are presented to show that, for a sea surface h = h(x, y, t) varying in space and time, 1) w = VH · ∇h + ∂h/∂t + ρF(E − P)/ρ, where VH is the horizontal component of the aggregate parcel velocity, and ρF and ρ are the densities of freshwater and surface seawater, respectively; and 2) the vertical diffusive salt flux at the sea surface (whether molecular or turbulent) is −ρFS(E − P), where S is the surface salinity.
Structural Characterization of Supported Metal Nanoparticles

This project involves the characterization of metal nanoparticles with the goal of achieving a fundamental understanding of their structural habits and the corresponding energetic landscapes. To achieve this goal, we are pursuing a combined experimental effort, utilizing advanced electron microscopy methods and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, with theoretical simulations. The systems studied include ligand-protected metal nanoparticles. Specifically, small, monodisperse Au nanoclusters, e.g. Au13, have been prepared via a ligand exchange reaction of alkanethiols onto phosphine-halide gold clusters. In one synthetic protocol, two fractions separated with column chromatography exhibit very different UV-visible spectroscopy (Figure 1).
On Privacy Preserving Encrypted Data Stores

Bucketization techniques allow for effective organization of encrypted data at untrusted servers and for querying by clients. This paper presents a new metric for estimating the risk of data exposure over a set of bucketized data. The metric accounts for the importance of bucket distinctness relative to bucket access. Additionally, we review a method of controlled diffusion which improves bucket security by maximizing entropy and variance. In conjunction with our metric we use this method to show that the advantages of bucketization may be offset due to a loss of bucket security.
AKT1 Activation Promotes Development of Melanoma Metastases

Metastases are the major cause of melanoma-related mortality. Previous studies implicating aberrant AKT signaling in human melanoma metastases led us to evaluate the effect of activated AKT1 expression in non-metastatic BRAF(V600E)/Cdkn2a(Null) mouse melanomas in vivo. Expression of activated AKT1 resulted in highly metastatic melanomas with lung and brain metastases in 67% and 17% of our mice, respectively. Silencing of PTEN in BRAF(V600E)/Cdkn2a(Null) melanomas cooperated with activated AKT1, resulting in decreased tumor latency and the development of lung and brain metastases in nearly 80% of tumor-bearing mice. These data demonstrate that AKT1 activation is sufficient to elicit lung and brain metastases in this context and reveal that activation of AKT1 is distinct from PTEN silencing in metastatic melanoma progression. These findings advance our knowledge of the mechanisms driving melanoma metastasis and may provide valuable insights for clinical management of this disease.
HYBRID III THORACIC IMPACT ON SELF-ALIGNING STEERING WHEEL BY FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS AND MINI-SLED EXPERIMENT

Current mathematical simulation of occupant impact and interactions with the vehicle interior, in the event of crash, is based on lumped mass- spring formulations. These models lack the fidelity to simulate structural deformations and to capture the detailed contact and interactions between the occupant and the impact targets. As a first step in improving the technology, the authors have developed a detailed three-dimensional finite element (FE) model which simulated thoracic impact on the steering wheel. The model consisted of Hybrid III thorax, lumbar spine and self-aligning steering wheel. The model was developed using DYNA3D and represented the dynamic large deformation response of the system by a combination of solid, beam and shell elements. Both elastic and viscoelastic material properties of various system components were experimentally identified and implemented in the model. For the covering abstract see IRRD 864472.
Immunological Features of Infiltrative Pulmonary Disease

Until recently, purely clinical criteria have been used to define infiltrative pulmonary disease. The criteria include the identification of an inhaled etiological antigen, a prior sensitizing exposure to this antigen, the subsidence of symptoms following antigen avoidance, and the development of disease in only a small number of exposed individuals. Gell and Coombs (1969) have defined four major immunological mechanisms of tissue injury, all of which may play a role in a variety of hypersensitivity pulmonary disorders, that do not strictly conform to these classical clinical criteria. Consequently, it is now known that certain forms of allergic pneumonitis may persist for some time after cessation of an etiological exposure and may involve auto antigens (intrinsic) rather than extrinsic antigens, as in the case of the autoimmune diseases.
For Ethnic Group or Country? Evaluating Post-conflict Elections in Africa

The utility of post-conflict elections in sub-Saharan Africa has been the subject of lively academic and policy debates. While some scholars associate several electoral outcomes with votes for peace, others argue that post-conflict elections exacerbate existing cleavages and could reproduce the conditions that led to civil war if the right electoral system is not employed. This paper examines these contesting claims using electoral data in a comparative study of the first truly post-conflict elections in Sierra Leone and Liberia. The analysis shows that political leaders in both countries received votes across numerous cleavage lines in contradiction with an ethnic census.
FastCap: A Multipole Accelerated 3D Capacitance Extraction Program

In this paper a fast algorithm for computing the capacitance of a complicated 3-D geometry of ideal conductors in a uniform dielectric is described and its performance in the capacitance extractor FastCap is examined. The algorithm is an acceleration of the boundary-element technique for solving the integral equation associated with the multiconductor capacitance extraction problem. Boundary-element methods become slow when a large number of elements are used because they lead to dense matrix problems, which are typically solved with some form of Gaussian elimination. This implies that the computation grows as n 3, where n is the number of panels or tiles needed to accurately discretize the conductor surface charges. In this paper we present a generalized conjugate residual iterative algorithm with a multipole approximation to compute the iterates. This combination reduces the complexity so that accurate multiconductor capacitance calculations grow nearly as nm, where m is the number of conductors. Performance comparisons on integrated circuit bus crossing problems show that for problems with as few as 12 conductors the multipole accelerated boundary element method can be nearly 500 times faster than Gaussian elimination based algorithms, and five to ten times faster than the iterative method alone, depending on required accuracy.
Successful ageing in lesbian, gay and bisexual older people: a concept analysis.

Aims and objectives The aim of this study was to report on an analysis of the concept of successful ageing in lesbian, gay and bisexual older people. Background Research indicates that lesbian, gay and bisexual older people experience significant health disparities. Yet there is a lack of understanding on what factors contribute to successful ageing in this population. Nursing has lagged behind other disciplines in investigating the health of lesbian, gay and bisexual older people. Design A concept analysis using Rodgers' evolutionary method. Data sources Twenty studies were retrieved by searching PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Scopus for English-language peer-reviewed studies published from January 2004 to March 2014. Methods The antecedents, attributes and consequences of the concept were identified through the Rodgers' method of concept analysis. Results Attributes included support from families of origin and/or families of choice, access to lesbian, gay, and bisexual-friendly services and crisis competence. Self-realisation of lesbian, gay and bisexual identity (coming out to oneself) and age >50 were identified as antecedents. Three consequences of successful ageing in lesbian, gay and bisexual older people were social engagement, optimism and resilience. Conclusion Successful ageing in lesbian, gay and bisexual older people is defined as a subjective and multifactorial concept that is characterised by support from families of origin/families of choice, access to lesbian, gay, and bisexual-friendly services and the development of crisis competence skills which impact the ageing experience of LGB individuals. Implications for practice Successful ageing models can provide a roadmap for developing culturally competent interventions to address key healthcare issues present in this population. The nursing profession's multidisciplinary knowledge and competence in providing health promotion makes nurses well positioned to take a leading role in reducing disparities of lesbian, gay and bisexual older people.
William James on an unseen order.

In one of his earliest articles, William James says that the radical question of life is whether this be at bottom a moral or an unmoral universe: moral or unmoral, not moral or immoral. James is not asking whether the universe is good or bad, but whether i t is coordinate with the inner lives of persons, their desires, and their purposes. The sense of “moral” here is not restricted to ethics, but is the sense in which the moral sciences (comprising what we now call the humanities and the social sciences) were contrasted in the nineteenth century with the natural sciences.
Abstract 27: Sleep Apnea and Ischemic Stroke Subtype: The BASIC Sleep Project

Background: Little is known about the prevalence of sleep apnea (SA) across ischemic stroke subtypes. Given the important implications for SA screening, we tested the association between SA and ischemic stroke subtype in a population-based study. Methods: Within the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi Project, ischemic stroke patients were offered SA screening with the ApneaLink PlusTM device (n=355). A board-certified neurologist assigned TOAST subtype (with an additional category for nonlacunar infarctions of unknown etiology) using hospital records (diagnostic tests, imaging reports, discharge summaries). Unadjusted and adjusted (demographics, BMI, NIHSS, diabetes, history of stroke/TIA) logistic and linear regression models were used to test the association between subtype and SA or apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Results: Median age was 65 and 55% were male; 59% were Mexican American. Median time from stroke onset to SA screen was 13 days (IQR: 6, 21). Overall, 215 (61%) had SA (AHI ≥10). Median ...
Correlation Force Spectroscopy for Single Molecule Measurements

Understanding the correlated motions of two cantilevers in solvent is a necessary precursor to understanding the motion of an added molecule that spans between the tips of the two cantilevers. In this chapter correlations in thermal motions of two cantilevers are studied in vertically offset correlation force spectroscopy.
Studies with cells from marine fish in tissue culture.

SummaryCells of tissues obtained from marine fish were shown to grow by the explant method at 20 °C in a medium designed for mammalian cells. Preparation of monolayers from cells dispersed by primary trypsinization was accomplished when additional sodium chloride was added to mammalian cell media. Cells in continuous culture were found to multiply more efficiently (as regards time required for sheet formation and number of cells required for satisfactory growth) than did cells in primary culture.
Application of Synthetic Test Method in Short-Circuit Current Tests for Voltage Source Converter Based High Voltage Direct Current Valves

Synthetic test method is such a test approach, which provides required stresses for test sample under different operational conditions during the operation test respectively by multi-sets of power suppliers. To examine the design validity of converter valve in voltage source converter-based high voltage direct current (VSC-HVDC) based on modular multi-level converter (MMC) and its stress tolerance under transient operation condition, an approach to perform transient state operation test for valves in MMC is researched. The stresses related to overcurrent turn-off test and short-circuit current test are analyzed, then two equivalent test methods are proposed and synthetic test method is applied in the design of testing circuit and then the stress waveforms of testing circuit and that under practical operation conditions are given. Combining with the analysis on equivalence of key stresses, the correctness and effectiveness of above-mentioned test method and testing circuit are verified.
John McLean Morris: a career in surgery, gynecology and reproductive physiology.

-This biographical sketch of the professional life of Dr. John McLean Morris is presented as part of the history of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Yale University School of Medicine.
Opportunities of Si ULSI Technology for GHz Applications

The fast growing mixed-signal microcontroller and low power wireless communication markets provide tremendous opportunities for Si ULSI. Si CMOS ULSI offers low stand-by power and high integration level, which translates into improved performance, functionality, cost, reliability, and battery life. This paper will provide an overview of the potential to expand the core digital CMOS ULSI logic technology into Ghz mixed-signal applications. The opportunities and challenges of SOI, bipolar, and SiGe HBT's will be discussed.
Voting for peace, mobilizing for war: post-conflict voter turnout and civil war recurrence

ABSTRACTIn democratic elections around the world, high levels of voter turnout are frequently praised as a sign of democratic legitimacy and consolidation. However, while popular participation should be lauded in many circumstances, under certain conditions it can also have nefarious side effects. In post-conflict countries, high levels of voter turnout may make it easier for militants to return to arms because everyday people are invested in the political process and the electoral outcome. Through the use of survival modelling, this study finds that voter turnout is positively correlated with civil war recidivism in post-conflict first elections. Even when elections are not particularly contentious or when structural factors (such as level of development) are auspicious, voter turnout continues to have a positive and statistically significant relationship with recidivism.
Professionalism: A Comparative Case Study of Teachers, Nurses, and Social Workers.

AbstractWhile there are numerous calls to enhance the professionalism of teachers, there is little empirical research in the United States that examines educators’ understanding of the concept. This comparative case study compared the conceptualisation of professionalism by faculty and students in a college of education vis-a-vis the conceptualisation of the construct by faculty and students in a college of nursing and a school of social work. Findings revealed that notions of professionalism expressed by educators can be characterised as restricted, by nurses as status professionalism, and by social workers as activist professionalism. The findings suggest that in order to empower teachers to be full professionals, a deliberate attention to the development of their professionalism is needed.
The effect of depressive symptoms on social support one year following traumatic injury.

Abstract Background Depression is a common mental health outcome after traumatic injury, negatively impacting physical outcomes and increasing the cost of care. Research shows that the presence and quality of support is a leading protective factor against depression post-injury; however, research is vague on the directional effects of both factors over the course of recovery. Methods 130 patients admitted to a Level I Trauma Center were recruited to a prospective study examining overall outcomes one-year after injury. Effects of social support and depression at baseline and 12-months post-injury were examined using correlational and cross-lagged path model analyses. Additional follow-up analyses were conducted for depression on specific types of social support. Results Findings replicated previous research suggesting depression and social support were inversely related. Initial depression at time of traumatic injury was predictive of social support 12-months after their injury, but initial social support levels did not significantly predict depression at 12-months. Additionally, initial depression significantly predicted attachment, social integration, reassurance of worth, and guidance 12-months later. Limitations Findings of the analyses are limited by lack of experimentation and inability to control for other related variables. Conclusions Findings of the present study support the notion that initial depression predicts poorer social support in recovery, in lieu of prevailing theory (i.e., initial support buffers against later depression) in a sample of trauma patients. These findings highlight the need for medical staff to target specific factors during inpatient stay, such as addressing depressive symptoms and preparing family members and caregivers prior to discharge.
Inhibition and promotion of trace pollutant adsorption within electrostatic precipitators

ABSTRACTAmong the technologies available for reducing mercury emissions from coal-fired electric utilities is the injection of a powdered sorbent, often some form of activated carbon, into the flue gas upstream of the particulate control device, most commonly an electrostatic precipitator (ESP). Detailed measurements of mercury removal within ESPs are lacking due to the hazardous environment they pose, increasing the importance of analysis and numerical simulation in understanding the mechanisms involved. Our previous analyses revealed that mercury adsorption by particles suspended in the gas and mercury adsorption by particles collected on internal ESP surfaces are not additive removal mechanisms but rather are competitive. The present study expands on this counterintuitive finding. Presented are results from numerical simulations reflecting the complete range of possible mass transfer boundary conditions representing mercury adsorption by the accumulated dust cake covering internal ESP collection electr...
Solutions to Address Diabetes-Related Financial Burden and Cost-Related Nonadherence: Results From a Pilot Study.

Background. Cost-related nonadherence (CRN) to recommended self-management behaviors among adults with chronic conditions such as diabetes is prevalent. Few behavioral interventions to mitigate CRN...
Robotic Partial and Total Gastrectomy

Robotic gastrectomy was first described in 2003 for gastric cancer. Since then, robotic-assisted resection has demonstrated advantages for early gastric cancer with respect to decreased blood loss and potentially greater number of retrieved lymph nodes. Technical benefits of robotics include enhanced visualization and greater range of instrument movement; due to this, the robotic technology has been used for gastric resection for benign disease such as peptic ulcer disease as well. This chapter will aim to discuss the indications for the application of robotic-assisted gastrectomy in both malignant and benign disease; the technical aspects in the use of robotics in these surgeries; the potential advantages of the use of the robot in these cases; and future directions.
Clinical Ethics in the Context of Deep Brain Stimulation for Movement Disorders.

Objective Discuss common clinical ethical challenges encountered in working with patients who are candidates for deep brain stimulation (DBS) for the treatment of motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). Method The relevant literature is reviewed and supplemented by descriptive, ethically challenging cases stemming from decades of combined experience working on DBS teams. We outline ethical arguments and provide pragmatic recommendations to assist neuropsychologists working in movement disorder teams. Results The goals of the pre-operative neuropsychological DBS assessment include: (1) identification of potential cognitive risk factors; (2) identification of relevant neuropsychiatric or neurobehavioral factors; (3) assessment of level of family support; and (4) systematic assessment of patient's and family member's goals or expectations for DBS. The information gleaned from the pre-operative neuropsychological assessment is highly relevant to the most commonly studied clinical ethics challenges encountered in DBS: (1) assessment of risk/benefit; (2) determinations regarding inclusion/exclusion; (3) autonomy; and (4) patient's perception of benefit and quality of life. Conclusions Neuropsychologists are particularly well poised to provide unique and important insights to assist with developing the most ethically sound practices that take into account patient's values as well as fiduciary responsibilities to the patient, the team, the profession, and the broader community.
Comprehensive device and product level reliability studies on advanced CMOS technologies featuring 7nm high-k metal gate FinFET transistors

In this study, a reliability study from device, circuit aging, and product reliability characterization is systematically presented for the state-of-the-art 7nm FinFETs. The Bias-Temperature Instability (BTI) and Hot Carrier Injection (HCI) for 7nm FinFET are compared with past 10nm FinFET devices, as well as the novel aging framework to estimate BTI recovery and self-heat effect in 7nm early circuit design. Moreover, the correlation between SRAM static noise margin (SNM) and BTI induced Vt drift consolidates the domination of initial Vt spread for SNM shift. A new At-Speed High-Temperature Operating Life (HTOL) test could be able to trigger the potential Vmin tailing in 7nm Logic products which indicates the weakness and offers a promising process improvement direction.
Analysis of pedigree data in populations with multiple ancestries: Strategies for dealing with admixture in Caribbean Hispanic families from the ADSP

Multipoint linkage analysis is an important approach for localizing disease-associated loci in pedigrees. Linkage analysis, however, is sensitive to misspecification of marker allele frequencies. Pedigrees from recently admixed populations are particularly susceptible to this problem because of the challenge of accurately accounting for population structure. Therefore, increasing emphasis on use of multiethnic samples in genetic studies requires reevaluation of best practices, given data currently available. Typical strategies have been to compute allele frequencies from the sample, or to use marker allele frequencies determined by admixture proportions averaged over the entire sample. However, admixture proportions vary among pedigrees and throughout the genome in a family-specific manner. Here, we evaluate several approaches to model admixture in linkage analysis, providing different levels of detail about ancestral origin. To perform our evaluations, for specification of marker allele frequencies, we used data on 67 Caribbean Hispanic admixed families from the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project. Our results show that choice of admixture model has an effect on the linkage analysis results. Variant-specific admixture proportions, computed for individual families, provide the most detailed regional admixture estimates, and, as such, are the most appropriate allele frequencies for linkage analysis. This likely decreases the number of false-positive results, and is straightforward to implement.
Host-Specific Activation of Entomopathogenic Nematode Infective Juveniles

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are potent insect parasites and have been used for pest control in agriculture. Despite the complexity of the EPN infection process, hosts are typically killed within 5 days of initial infection. When free-living infective juveniles (IJs) infect a host, they release their bacterial symbiont, secrete toxic products, and undergo notable morphological changes. Collectively, this process is referred to as "activation" and represents the point in a nematode's life cycle when it becomes actively parasitic. The effect of different host tissues and IJ age on activation, and how activation itself is related to virulence, are not well understood. Here, we employed a recently developed bioassay, which quantifies IJ activation, as a tool to address these matters. Appreciating that activation is a key part of the EPN infection process, we hypothesized that activation would positively correlate to virulence. Using the EPNs Steinernema carpocapsae and S. feltiae we found that EPN activation is host-specific and influenced by infective juvenile age. Additionally, our data suggest that activation has a context-dependent influence on virulence and could be predictive of virulence in some cases such as when IJ activation is especially low.
STRATEGIES FOR COMPATIBILIZATION OF POLYMER BLENDS

ABSTRACT Blending of polymers offer attractive opportunities for achieving unique property combinations and for improving mechanical toughness but requires knowing how to control interactions to achieve miscibility or phase separated blends with proper interfacial coupling. Without controlled interactions, blends do not perform as desired and some strategy for compatibilization is necessary. Preformed block or graft copolymers may be added to act as interfacial agents or these may be formed in situ by reaction of suitably chosen functionalized polymeric components for control of phase morphology and the interface between these phases to obtain useful mechanical properties.
Sull’unione di classi filtrali

In questo lavoro si cercano condizioni perche una classe di algebre simili filtrali sia essa stessa filtrale. Si trova che se Open image in new window e una famiglia finita di algebre simili e filtrali, che siano indipendenti (cfr.A. L. Foster [2]), allora anche Open image in new window e filtrale. Introdotto poi il concetto disemi-indipendenza, si arriva a un risultato analogo per le algebre semifiltrali e a una condizione sufficiente per la semifiltralita di un'algebra finita. Infine si osserva che i risultati trovati possono essere estesi alle classi ideali.
Use of immobilized lactase in milk systems

Immobilization of lactase for continuous hydrolysis of lactose in milk systems offers considerable potential for the improvement of fluid dairy products. The hydrolyzed product, which contains glucose and galactose, may possess improved functional and nutritional properties. In particular, the usage of cheese whey, a by-product of cheese manufacturing, may be expanded greatly with the development of immobilized lactase technology. Although lactases occur rather widely in nature, only microbial enzymes are of commercial value. The various approaches to lactase insolubilization have been reviewed. Additionally, pertinent factors in operating an immobilized lactase reactor system have been discussed. Commercial lactose reactors are being used currently for industrial production of low-lactose skimmed milk and appear to have economic potential for processing of cheese whey.
Galois Theory II

In this chapter, we pass from the highly theoretical material of the previous chapter to the somewhat more concrete, where we consider the Galois groups of the splitting fields of specific types of polynomials.
Policy Frameworks for International Agricultural and Rural Development

Agriculture is one of the principal drivers of economic development. Macro policies affect it through influence on relative prices. The many challenges within the sector include linking small farmers to value chains, putting land tenure regimes and water management policies on a sound footing, making the agricultural research agenda and agricultural extension respond to farmers’ priorities, promoting a stronger role for the private sector, encouraging sustainable development of rural finance, and giving more opportunities to women farmers. Policies are not as effective when aimed at supporting particular crops but more useful when they provide incentives for effective use of basic resources, including land, water, financial capital, and technology.
Surfzone State Estimation, with Applications to Quadcopter-Based Remote Sensing Data

AbstractA one-dimensional variational data assimilation (1DVar) method is presented based on the depth- and time-averaged alongshore-uniform surfzone wave and current equations, for simultaneous es...
Paint, Glitter, and Chatbots: Programming Activities for Novices Designed with Intellectual Need and Replay Value

This presentation shares three extensible programming activities that motivate novices to learn foundational concepts through intellectual needs, rather than purely economic or social needs. The activities offer high replay value so that instructors can offer greater volume and diversity of practice without developing entirely new exercises. All three activities map to CS1 curriculum and are freely available as open educational resources (OER).
Objective probabilities

The common distinction between probabilities that can be based on frequencies known to hold in a sequence of repeatable events, and probabilities that concern unique events, and that therefore must be based on subjective opinion, is argued to be misguided. All events are in some relevant sense "unique", and, more importantly, all events can in a relevant sense be placed in classes of similar events. A formal calculus is described for accomplishing this in relatively simple but useful cases.
Kinetic studies on the reactions involved in the hot gas desulfurization using a regenerable iron oxide sorbent—II: Reactions of iron sulfide with oxygen and sulfur dioxide

Abstract In the hot gas desulfurization process using iron oxide sorbent, the regeneration of the sulfided iron oxide sorbent consists of two reactions: the oxidation of iron sulfide with air, and its reaction with the sulfur dioxide formed during the air oxidation. This part describes the kinetic studies on the reactions of iron sulfide (formed by the reactions of Fe2O3 with H2CO mixture and subsequendy with H2S) with oxygen and sulfur dioxide. The experimental and analysis procedures used are similar to those outlined in Part I of this paper. The activation energies for the oxygen and the sulfur dioxide reactions are found to be 15.63 and 17.5 kcal/mol, respectively. Notably, the product oxides formed in the two cases are different. With air, the reaction is fast and the final product is Fe2O3, whereas with SO2, the major product is Fe3O4, which slowly oxidizes to Fe2O3 in a secondary step. Also, in the latter reaction elemental sulfur is formed.