cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ocular pyoderma gangrenosum: A systematic review

Background Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare, ulcerative cutaneous disorder. Ophthalmic involvement in PG is atypical, but can have devastating consequences. Objective We sought to characterize ocular PG to allow for earlier diagnosis and therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review summarizing this clinical variant. Methods A systematic review was conducted using PubMed and Web of Science. Data were extracted and studies were qualitatively assessed and analyzed. Results We identified all 34 cases of PG involving the eye and periorbital area, and categorized them into 4 different subtypes. Common presenting signs include ulceration, peripheral ulcerative keratitis, and decreased visual acuity. Although it is often difficult to biopsy ocular PG, histologic features are nonspecific. Combined therapy using corticosteroids and further surgical reconstruction as needed is the mainstay of treatment. Cases of the eye/orbit in particular should be treated aggressively, as these are more likely to relapse compared with cases of the periorbital area. Limitations Use of case reports, paucity of ocular PG cases, and heterogeneity of studies are limitations. Conclusion PG should be considered in the differential diagnosis of ulceration of ocular/periocular tissues. An aggressive, early, multimodal treatment strategy should be used to prevent relapse, especially in cases of the eye/orbit.
Decoding human intent using a wearable system and multi-modal sensor data

Despite the phenomenal advances in the computational power of electronic systems, human-machine interaction has been largely limited to simple control panels, such as keyboards and mice, which only use physical senses. Consequently, these systems either rely critically on close human guidance or operate almost independently. A richer experience can be achieved if cognitive inputs are used in addition to the physical senses. Towards this end, this paper introduces a simple wearable system that consists of a motion processing unit and brain-machine interface. We show that our system can successfully employ cognitive indicators to predict human activity.
Clinician Attitudes Regarding ICD Deactivation in DNR/DNI Patients.

Background Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) offer lifesaving therapies but can become burdensome at the end of life. Many ICD patients choose to implement a do-not-resuscitate/do-not-intubate (DNR/DNI) order. When hospitalized, patients are seen by a range of clinicians whose beliefs about ICD management in DNR/DNI patients may vary. Objective To assess clinician opinions on managing ICDs in DNR/DNI patients and stratify it by specialty and training level. Methods An online survey was sent to attending physicians, fellows, advanced practice providers (physician assistants and nurse practitioners), and residents in general internal medicine, cardiology, electrophysiology, and geriatrics at an academic medical center. Residents were compared to attending physicians, and attending physicians were additionally stratified by specialty. Results The response rate was 32%, yielding 161 complete responses. Among residents (n = 73), 49.3% were comfortable with discussing ICD deactivation and 16.4% asked about it routinely. By contrast, among attending physicians (n = 66), 78.8% were comfortable with discussing deactivation and 34.8% routinely asked. Fewer general internists (19.2% of inpatient internists, 10.5% of outpatient internists) routinely asked about ICD deactivation as compared with 83.3% of geriatricians and 73.3% of cardiologists/electrophysiologists. Twenty-one percent of all respondents felt a DNR/DNI order equated to requesting ICD deactivation; Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) guidelines favor a more nuanced approach. Conclusions Residents are less comfortable discussing ICD deactivation than attending physicians and do so less frequently. General internists discuss deactivation less routinely than cardiologists and geriatricians. Many providers hold opinions about ICD deactivation that differ from HRS guidelines. Additional didactic education could help close these gaps in clinician practice.
III-Nitride Digital Alloy: Electronics and Optoelectronics Properties of the InN/GaN Ultra-Short Period Superlattice Nanostructures

The III-Nitride digital alloy (DA) is comprehensively studied as a short-period superlattice nanostructure consisting of ultra-thin III-Nitride epitaxial layers. By stacking the ultra-thin III-Nitride epitaxial layers periodically, these nanostructures are expected to have comparable optoelectronic properties as the conventional III-Nitride alloys. Here we carried out numerical studies on the InGaN DA showing the tunable optoelectronic properties of the III-Nitride DA. Our study shows that the energy gap of the InGaN DA can be tuned from ~0.63 eV up to ~2.4 eV, where the thicknesses and the thickness ratio of each GaN and InN ultra-thin binary layers within the DA structure are the key factors for tuning bandgap. Correspondingly, the absorption spectra of the InGaN DA yield broad wavelength tunability which is comparable to that of bulk InGaN ternary alloy. In addition, our investigation also reveals that the electron-hole wavefunction overlaps are remarkably large in the InGaN DA structure despite the existence of strain effect and build-in polarization field. Our findings point out the potential of III-Nitride DA as an artificially engineered nanostructure for optoelectronic device applications.
Uptake of HPV testing and extended cervical cancer screening intervals following cytology alone and Pap/HPV cotesting in women aged 30–65 years

Objective To evaluate the adoption of HPV testing and recommended extended cervical cancer screening intervals in clinical practice, we described yearly uptake of Pap/HPV cotesting and estimated length of time between normal screens by patient characteristics.
Gut Brain Axis and Its Microbiota Regulation in Mammals and Birds

This article provides a brief overview of the advances made in microbiota research in parrots and pet birds. It describes this complex ecosystem and the contribution of the intestinal microbiota to host health and disease, including the nervous system.
Effects of geometric nonlinearity in an adhered microbeam for measuring the work of adhesion

Design against adhesion in microelectromechanical devices is predicated on the ability to quantify this phenomenon in microsystems. Previous research related the work of adhesion for an adhered mic...
Application of linear multifrequency-grey acceleration to preconditioned Krylov iterations for thermal radiation transport

Abstract The thermal radiative transfer (TRT) equations comprise a radiation equation coupled to the material internal energy equation. Linearization of these equations produces effective, thermally-redistributed scattering through absorption-reemission. We investigate the effectiveness and efficiency of Linear-Multi-Frequency-Grey (LMFG) acceleration that has been reformulated for use as a preconditioner to Krylov iterative solution methods. We introduce two general frameworks, the scalar flux formulation (SFF) and the absorption rate formulation (ARF), and investigate their iterative properties in the absence and presence of true scattering. SFF has a group-dependent state size but may be formulated without inner iterations in the presence of scattering, while ARF has a group-independent state size but requires inner iterations when scattering is present. We compare and evaluate the computational cost and efficiency of LMFG applied to these two formulations using a direct solver for the preconditioners. This work is novel because the use of LMFG for the radiation transport equation, in conjunction with Krylov methods, involves special considerations not required for radiation diffusion.
Carotid endarterectomy without angiography: is color-flow duplex scanning sufficient?

BACKGROUND This study was designed to determine whether clinical evaluation and color-flow duplex scanning (CFS) alone provide enough information for patients to undergo carotid endarterectomy (CEA) safely without preoperative cerebral angiography and to assess the appropriate role of CFS in the evaluation of extracranial carotid artery disease. METHODS During a 31-month period 167 patients (114 symptomatic and 53 asymptomatic) underwent CFS and angiography during evaluation for CEA. One hundred fifty-three patients were studied retrospectively, and 14 were studied prospectively. Data were reviewed to determine whether cerebral angiography added information not provided by duplex findings and, if so, did the results alter clinical management. RESULTS Of the 167 patients studied, 149 underwent CEA and 18 were treated medically. Results of the two diagnostic modalities agreed perfectly in 82% of the patients, with 99% of the stenoses estimated by CFS being classified within one category of those measured with angiography. The sensitivity of CFS for detecting greater than 50% diameter-reducing stenoses of the internal carotid artery was 98%, and the positive predictive value was 99%. For detecting greater than 80% stenoses, CFS had a sensitivity of 84% and a positive predictive value of 95%. Clinical management was altered by angiographic findings in only seven patients (4%). False-positive results (n = 5) were due to poor scanning technique or interpreter error (n = 2), anatomic variations (n = 2), and unknown cause (n = 1). All false-negative results (n = 2) were due to poor scanning technique. CONCLUSIONS Ninety-six percent of the patients in this study would have received appropriate clinical management based on neurologic history and the results of CFS alone. Our results indicate that CFS is sufficient for determining the need for surgery in patients being considered for CEA and can supplant cerebral angiography in nearly all clinical circumstances.
Crystal growth, microstructure, and physical properties of SrMnSb 2

We report on the crystal and magnetic structures and magnetic and transport properties of ${\mathrm{SrMnSb}}_{2}$ single crystals grown by the self-flux method. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal an antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition at ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}=295(3)$ K. Above ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}$, the susceptibility slightly increases and forms a broad peak at $T\ensuremath{\sim}420$ K, which is a typical feature of two-dimensional magnetic systems. Neutron diffraction measurements on single crystals confirm the previously reported C-type AFM structure below ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}$. Both de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) and Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) effects are observed in ${\mathrm{SrMnSb}}_{2}$ single crystals. Analysis of the oscillatory component by a Fourier transform shows that the prominent frequencies obtained by the two different techniques are practically the same within error regardless of sample size or saturated magnetic moment. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals the existence of stacking faults in the crystals, which result from a horizontal shift of Sb atomic layers suggesting possible ordering of Sb vacancies in the crystals. Increase of temperature in susceptibility measurements leads to the formation of a strong peak at $T\ensuremath{\sim}570$ K that upon cooling under magnetic field the susceptibility shows a ferromagnetic transition at ${T}_{\mathrm{C}}\ensuremath{\sim}580$ K. Neutron powder diffraction on crushed single crystals does not support a ferromagnetic phase above ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}$. Furthermore, x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) measurements of a single crystal at the ${L}_{2,3}$ edge of Mn shows a signal due to induced canting of AFM moments by the applied magnetic field. All evidence strongly suggests that a chemical transformation at the surface of single crystals occurs above 500 K concurrently producing a minute amount of ferromagnetic impurity phase.
PHILLIPS CURVES, INFLATION EXPECTATIONS, AND OPTIMAL EMPLOYMENT OVER TIME

This chapter discusses the optimal fiscal control of aggregate demand. It presents a dynamic macroeconomic model from which is derived the optimal time-path of aggregate employment. Given this employment path and the initially expected rate of inflation, the time-path of the actual rate of inflation can also be derived. If one is right about the dynamic elements, the problem of optimal demand is sufficiently difficult to justify some drastic simplifications in this first analysis: A closed, nonstochastic economy is postulated in which exogenous monetary policy immunizes investment against variations in capacity utilization in such a way as to keep potential capital intensity constant over time. But despite these limitations, it is believed that the analysis introduces some important desiderata for national and international policy towards aggregate demand. The principal ingredients of the model are the following: first, a sort of Phillips Curve in terms of the rate of price change, rather than wage change, that shifts one-for-one with variations in the expected rate of inflation; second, a dynamic mechanism by which the expected inflation rate adjusts gradually over time to the actual inflation rate; third, a social utility function that is the integral of the instantaneous rate of utility at each point in time now and in the future; fourth, a derived dependence of the rate of utility at any time upon current utilization or employment—the decision variable under fiscal control—and upon the money rate of interest.
Data-Driven Implications for Translating Evidence-Based Psychotherapies into Technology-Delivered Interventions

Mobile mental health interventions have the potential to reduce barriers and increase engagement in psychotherapy. However, most current tools fail to meet evidence-based principles. In this paper, we describe data-driven design implications for translating evidence-based interventions into mobile apps. To develop these design implications, we analyzed data from a month-long field study of an app designed to support dialectical behavioral therapy, a psychotherapy that aims to teach concrete coping skills to help people better manage their mental health. We investigated whether particular skills are more or less effective in reducing distress or emotional intensity. We also characterized how an individual's disorders, characteristics, and preferences may correlate with skill effectiveness, as well as how skill-level improvements correlate with study-wide changes in depressive symptoms. We then developed a model to predict skill effectiveness. Based on our findings, we present design implications that emphasize the importance of considering different environmental, emotional, and personal contexts. Finally, we discuss promising future opportunities for mobile apps to better support evidence-based psychotherapies, including using machine learning algorithms to develop personalized and context-aware skill recommendations.
Medication exposure and predictors of first mood episode in offspring of parents with bipolar disorder: a prospective study.

Objectives To prospectively investigate whether baseline clinical characteristics and medication exposure predict development of major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder in offspring of parents with bipolar disorder. Methods Youth aged 9-20 years with at least one biological parent with bipolar disorder and no prior history of mood or psychotic episodes (n=93) were prospectively evaluated and treated naturalistically during the study. Participants were divided into two groups: converters, defined as those who met DSM-IV criteria for a mood episode during follow-up (n=19); or non-converters (n=74). Logistic regression models were used to investigate associations between baseline clinical variables and medication exposure during follow-up and risk of developing a first mood episode (conversion). Results Multivariate regression analyses showed that baseline anxiety disorders and subsyndromal mood disorders were associated with increased risk of conversion during follow-up. Adding medication exposure to the multivariate model showed that exposure to antidepressants during follow-up was associated with increased risk of conversion. Conclusions Caution should be used when treating bipolar offspring with anxiety and/or emerging depressive symptoms using antidepressant agents, given the increased risk of developing a major mood disorder.
Recognition: A Chapter in the History of European Ideas

The idea that we are mutually dependent on the recognition of our peers is at least as old as modernity. Across Europe, this idea has been understood in different ways from the very beginning, according to each country's different cultural and political conditions. This stimulating study explores the complex history and multiple associations of the idea of 'Recognition' in Britain, France and Germany. Demonstrating the role of 'recognition' in the production of important political ideas, Axel Honneth explores how our dependence on the recognition of others is sometimes viewed as the source of all modern, egalitarian morality, sometimes as a means for fostering socially beneficial behavior, and sometimes as a threat to 'true' individuality. By exploring this fundamental concept in our modern political and social self-understanding, Honneth thus offers an alternative view of the philosophical discourse of modernity.
High-temperature behaviour of the helium-like KαG ratio: the effect of improved recombination rate coefficients for calcium, iron and nickel

It is shown that above the temperature of maximum abundance, recombination rates into the excited states of He-like ions that are calculated using earlier, more approximate methods differ markedly from rates obtained from recent distorted-wave and R-matrix calculations (unified recombination rate coefficients) for Ca, Fe and Ni. The present rates lead to G ratios that are greatly lower than those resulting from the more approximate rates in previous works, by up to a factor of 6 at high electron temperatures. Excellent agreement between the distorted-wave and the R-matrix rates, as well as excellent agreement in the G ratios calculated from them, provides support for the accuracy of these new values which have a broad applicability to the modelling and interpreting of X-ray spectra from a variety of astrophysical and laboratory sources.
Legislative Solutions to Address Racial Disproportionality and Disparities

This chapter explores whether legislative acts addressing disproportionality in the child welfare system have been effective in reducing the number of minority children removed and permanently separated from their families. It examines three legislative acts designed to reduce the disparate numbers of Native American and African American children in the foster care system. While the Indian Child Welfare Act is grounded in the concept of sovereignty rather than race, the structural and procedural tenets of this federal act serve as a template for a federal African American Child Welfare Act and the proposed Minnesota African American Family Preservation Act. This chapter recognizes that while the race-neutral Fostering Connections Act of 2008 and some state legislative bills focusing on policy changes have reduced the overall number of African American children in foster care, a race-specific act would do more to address the historical and systemic racism that has been the basis for controlling, and in many instances, destroying the black family. Current constitutional jurisprudence is problematic for a race-based law; however, this chapter argues that a reparations-type bill could be legally permissible using a disproportionality theory that connects the inhumane and discriminatory treatment of African American families throughout U.S. history to the unequal treatment and outcomes experienced by their descendants today.
Childhood maltreatment, revictimization, and stay-leave decision-making

Survivors of childhood maltreatment (CM) are at increased risk of revictimization, including intimate partner violence (IPV). While research has established some mediators of this link, less is kno...
Coupled electro-chemo-elasticity: Application to modeling the actuation response of ionic polymer–metal composites

Abstract We have formulated a large deformation thermodynamically-consistent electro-chemo-elasticity theory for modeling the actuation response of ionic polymer–metal composites. Our theory accounts for the simultaneous evolution of the electric potential, the concentration of the mobile hydrated cations, and the deformation of the host ionic polymer matrix. We have numerically implemented our theory in an implicit finite element program. We use this simulation capability to first calibrate the material parameters in the theory for a Nafion-based ionic polymer–metal composite, and then validate our theory by comparing predictions from the theory against other experimental data available in the literature. We also demonstrate the utility of our simulation capability by conducting full three-dimensional simulations of two soft-robotics applications with some geometric complexity: (i) a biomimetic fin, and (ii) a micro-gripper.
Patient Demographics and Clinic Type Are Associated With Patient Engagement Within a Remote Monitoring Program.

Background: Remote physiological monitoring (RPM) is accessible, convenient, relatively inexpensive, and can improve clinical outcomes. Yet, it is unclear in which clinical setting or target popula...
GLI transcriptional repression is inert prior to Hedgehog pathway activation

In the absence of Hedgehog (HH) signaling, GLI proteins are post-translationally modified within cilia into transcriptional repressors that subsequently prevent sub-threshold activation of HH target genes. GLI repression is presumably important for preventing precocious expression of target genes before the onset of HH pathway activation, a presumption that underlies the pre-patterning model of anterior-posterior limb polarity. Here, we report that GLI3 repressor is abundant and binds to target genes in early limb development. However, contrary to expectations, GLI3 repression neither regulates the activity of GLI enhancers nor expression of HH target genes as it does after HH signaling has been established. Within the cilia, the transition to active GLI repression is accompanied by increases in axonemal GLI3 localization, possibly signifying altered GLI3 processing. Together, our results demonstrate that GLI3 repression does not prevent precocious activation of HH target genes, or have a pre-patterning role in regulating anterior-posterior limb polarity.
Chinese American Immigrant Parents' Socialization of Emotions in Bilingual Bicultural Preschool Children

The purpose of this study was to examine Cantonese-speaking Chinese American immigrant parents' socialization of emotions in bilingual bicultural preschool children, using a combination of a parent questionnaire and parent language samples from emotion-elicited storytelling tasks. Sixteen Cantonese-speaking parents and their children participated in this study. Children were sequential bilinguals who were exposed to Cantonese (L1) at home since birth, and then learned English (L2) at school. The Chinese parent questionnaire examined parents' emotion talk in the home, as well as the child's dual language background and language distribution. Parents' language samples in Cantonese were collected from three parent-child storytelling tasks that each elicited a different type of negative emotion (sad, angry, scared). Results from the parent questionnaire and the parent language samples were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods. In the parent questionnaire, correlation analysis revealed that parents' use of guilt emotions was not associated with any of the other emotion words, suggesting that parents may not talk about guilt as frequently as the other emotions. Results from the parents' language samples showed no significant differences between parents' number of emotion words and emotion explanations across the storytelling tasks, suggesting that parents used negative emotion words similarly across all three books. Further qualitative analysis between the parent questionnaire and the language samples revealed patterns in the way parents use Chinese emotion words with their children. Findings illustrate how the combined use of a parent questionnaire and parent language samples offer complementary information to provide a more comprehensive understanding about Chinese American immigrant parents' socialization of emotions.
The effectiveness of Sex Offender Registration and Notification: A meta-analysis of 25 years of findings

Examine 25 years of Sex Offender Registration and Notification (SORN) evaluations and their effects on recidivism. We rely on methodology guidelines established by the Campbell Collaboration for meta-analyses to systematically synthesize results from 18 research articles including 474,640 formerly incarcerated individuals. We estimate the effect of SORN policies on recidivism from 42 effect sizes and determine if the effect of SORN varies by sexual or non-sexual recidivism when examining arrest or conviction as outcomes. The random-effects meta-analysis model demonstrated that SORN does not have a statistically significant impact on recidivism. This null effect exists when examining a combined model and when disaggregating studies by sexual or non-sexual offenses, or conceptualizing recidivism by arrest or conviction. SORN policies demonstrate no effect on recidivism. This finding holds important policy implications given the extensive adoption and net-widening of penalties related to SORN.
EM-WaveHoltz: How to find Time-Harmonic Solutions by Time-Domain Solvers and Positive Definite Systems

We present EM-WaveHoltz, a new method for computing frequency domain solutions to Maxwell's equations in linear complex media. EM-WaveHoltz is based on a fixed point iteration which is applied to the initial data of a time domain solution. The fixed point iteration converges to a single time-harmonic component and can be formulated as a symmetric positive definite linear system of equations. The method is agnostic to the material model and to the time-domain solver used.
Burnout: A Mindful Framework for the Radiologist

Abstract Burnout, the outcome of prolonged stress or frustration, manifests as both mental and physical fatigue affecting over half of healthcare workers. This article will discuss the etiologies, problems, and potential solutions to burnout related issues that are impacting radiologists. Factors placing radiologists at risk for burnout as well the impact of burnout upon the radiologist, the department, staff, and patients they serve will also be discussed. An emphasis will also be placed upon recognition, solutions, and a collective response to burnout. Readers should be able to perform a self-assessment of their own risk for burnout and understand what can be done to dissolve and prevent burnout amongst their colleagues. In doing so, our hope is that radiologists will develop greater insight, awareness, and ultimately empathy for the unique challenges that others in the radiology community may face.
TABot – A Distributed Deep Learning Framework for Classifying Price Chart Images

In this work, we propose a framework called TABot, a distributed deep learning (DL) framework for classifying price chart images. The deep learning engine we outline consists of an ensemble of convolutional neural networks employed for classifying price chart images. We present three workflows that compose our framework. The first is the data sourcing workflow: a distributed asynchronous pipeline to collect price data and programmatically generate candlestick charts. We measure the processing times of our distributed solution relative to a synchronous analog to identify a nominal processing time differential between the two solutions. The second is the model training workflow. We again leverage a distributed asynchronous pipeline to train each convolutional neural network in a parallel fashion. We measure the processing time of our parallel solution and compare to a synchronous analog. The third is the prediction workflow. We introduce a simple scheme for collecting the prediction output of each component model in an ensemble network model. Our results support the viability of convolutional neural networks to classify price chart images. The TAbot architecture additionally highlights the benefit of utilizing elastic computing environments to manage computational and data persistence costs incurred by deep learning frameworks.
After Strange Gods: Radical Jews in Modern America

After the Yom Kippur War of 1973, the foreign-born Jewish intellectual then directing American foreign policy paid his first visit to Saudi Arabia, where Henry Kissinger was obliged to listen to what was widely known as King “Faisal’s standard speech. Its basic proposition was that Jews and Communists were working in parallel, now together, to under-mine the civilized world as we knew it.” The Secretary of State wondered whether Faisal was “oblivious to my ancestry — or [was] delicately putting me into a special category”. But in any event, “Faisal insisted than an end had to be put once and for all to the dual conspiracy of Jews and Communists”. A later meeting allowed the king to repeat his warning to Kissinger, who concluded that Faisal’s absorption in “the epic conflict between good and evil” made issues like an armistice on Israel’s northern front seem trivial by comparison.1
Producing Inoculum in a Steel Fermentor

The mass culture of rhizobia in large volumes is a major process in commercial inoculant production. Mass culture requires large capacity fermentors for commercial production. Fermentors must be simple enough to easily sterilize the growth medium, and provide access for inoculating, sampling, aerating, and cleaning. The fermentor should be made of stainless steel for strength and corrosion resistance. This chapter describes the procedure for mass culturing rhizobia in a 141-liter stainless steel fermentor, designed by the NifTAL Project.
DISTRIBUTION OF MAGNETIC MOMENTS IN Pd-3d AND Ni-3d ALLOYS

Neutron-scattering and magnetization measurements were made on a series of face-centered cubic $\mathrm{P}\mathrm{d}\ensuremath{-}3d$ and $\mathrm{N}\mathrm{i}\ensuremath{-}3d$ alloys to determine the distribution of magnetic moments in these ferromagnetic binary alloys. The specific alloys studied were: ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{3}$Co, NiCo, ${\mathrm{Pd}}_{3}$Co, PdCo, ${\mathrm{Pd}}_{3}$Fe (ordered and disordered), PdFe, ${\mathrm{Pd}}_{0.93}$${\mathrm{Fe}}_{0.07}$, and ${\mathrm{Pd}}_{0.97}$${\mathrm{Fe}}_{0.03}$. Magnetic moments of about 3.0, 1.8, and 0.6 Bohr magnetons per atom were found for Fe, Co, and Ni, respectively, and these were essentially independent of concentration. The average Pd moment varies with concentration and approaches a maximum of about 0.4 Bohr magnetons per atom in the concentrated alloys.
Higher-order spectrum factorization with applications

The authors address the problem of modeling a given higher order spectrum as that of the output of a linear time-invariant system driven by a higher order white random signal. This can be posed as a higher order spectrum factorization problem. The authors provide a theorem concerning the existence of such a factorization. A fast algorithm for efficient implementation of the factorization, if it exists, is then proposed. As applications, the authors present the problems of identification of non-minimum-phase linear time-invariant systems and phase reconstruction. >
Polar graphs of initial motions at an earthquake source

A modified technique for fault-plane solutions is developed, using polar diagrams with the earthquake focus at the origin and with station azimuth and angle of incidence at the focus as coordinates. A figure is given illustrating the distribution of initial longitudinal motion in a perfectly general case for a plane fault source with rectilinear slip, together with all the special cases which can be derived from it. Formulas are given which combine all the quantities entering into the solution.
Representation of a curved boundary

A method of representing a boundary curve is presented. The proposed method first partitions a boundary into segments by curvature zero-crossings. Inflection points on the boundary are extracted as curvature zero-crossings using the convexity/concavity of points with respect to their neighbor points. Each segment is then approximated by a parametric cubic polynomial, and the boundary curve is represented by semantic and relational characteristics of these segments. The method generates a unique description for a boundary under rotation, translation, scale change, and even under slight deformation. >
Variability of high-resolution crop reflectance spectra

Abstract High-spectral-resolution reflectance spectra from ground and helicopter measurements of agricultural crops and soils were analyzed to determine spectral variability in the visible and near-infrared (0 4-2 38 μm), using a procedure previously applied to thermal infrared emittance spectra of the atmosphere and to reflectance spectra of soil samples. Five spectral basis functions were sufficient to describe separately the ground and helicopter data, six or, at most, seven are sufficient to describe the pooled data. Thus, five to seven relatively broad band measurements, together with basis functions developed in this analysis, are sufficient to describe the variability of both data sets, to within differences that are probably associated with the measurement process and instrument noise.
Simultaneous measurement of the transient photoconductivity and photoluminescence in Alq3

Abstract We present a unique and simple technique which allows one to measure the transient photoluminescence (PL) and transient photoconductivity (PC) of thin film materials simultaneously. This technique will be useful in characterizing thin film materials that have a relatively high PL quantum yield, such as those used in EL devices (i.e. metal chelates, polymers, dyepolymer composite, etc.). The photogeneration of charge carriers and radiative excited states in pristine tris-(8-hyaroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq 3 ) were studied by measuring both its photoconductive and photoluminescence response simultaneously, with subnanosecond resolution. 25 psec laser pulses at 355nm were used for excitation of an Auston switch with a 2–4 μm thick film of Alq 3 vacuum-evaporated across the active region. Quantitative measurements of the dependence on laser intensity, and applied electric field were performed. A scheme for the photoprocess in Alq3 is presented.
Geochemistry and isotope chemistry of Michigan Basin brines: Devonian formations

Detailed chemical and isotope analysis of 87 formation waters collected from six Devonian-aged units in the Michigan Basin are presented and discussed in terms of the origin of the dissolved components and the water. Total dissolved solids in these waters range from 200,000 to >400,000mg/1. Upper Devonian formations produce dominantly NaCaCl brine, while deeper formations produce CaNaCl water. Ratios of Cl/Br and Na/Br along with divalent cation content (MCl2), indicate that these brines are derived from evapo-concentrated seawater. Other ion concentrations appear to be extensively modified from seawater values by water-rock reactions. The most important reactions are dolomitization, which explains the Ca content of the brines, and reactions involving aluminosilicate minerals. Stable isotope (δ18O and δD) compositions indicate that water molecules in the deeper formations are derived from primary concentrated seawater. Isotope enrichment by exchange with carbonates and perhaps gypsum cannot be discounted. Isotope values indicate water in the Upper Devonian formations is a mixture of seawater brine diluted with meteoric-derived water. Dilution has predominantly occurred in basin margins. Two scenarios are presented for the origin of the brines in the Devonian formations: (1) they originated when the Devonian sediments and evaporites were first deposited; or (2) they are residual brine liberated from the deeper Devonian and possibly Silurian salt deposits.
Precision Manufacture of Phase-Change Perfluorocarbon Droplets using Microfluidics

Liquid perfluorocarbon droplets have been of interest in the medical acoustics community for use as acoustically activated particles for tissue occlusion, imaging and therapeutics. To date, methods to produce liquid perfluorocarbon droplets typically result in a polydisperse size distribution. Because the threshold of acoustic activation is a function of diameter, there would be benefit from a monodisperse population to preserve uniformity in acoustic activation parameters. Through use of a microfluidic device with flow-focusing technology, the production of droplets of perfluoropentane with a uniform size distribution is demonstrated. Stability studies indicate that these droplets are stable in storage for at least two weeks. Acoustic studies illustrate the thresholds of vaporization as a function of droplet diameter, and a logarithmic relationship is observed between acoustic pressure and vaporization threshold within the size ranges studied. Droplets of uniform size have very little variability in acoustic vaporization threshold. Results indicate that microfluidic technology can enable greater manufacturing control of phase-change perfluorocarbons for acoustic droplet vaporization applications.
Optimal design of clinical outcome studies in nutrition and cancer: future directions.

Many studies have assessed the benefits of nutrition support in cancer patients. Except for studies directed at the treatment of severe malnutrition, most clinical trials have failed. Although prospective randomized controlled clinical trials (Phase III) remain the most reliable means of evaluating the efficacy of therapy, the available literature reports only results from small trials (Phase II to III), most of which appear to be contradictory and none of which conclusively answer the question being considered. To address this gap in knowledge, tools such as meta-analysis have been adapted from the field of statistics. Meta-analysis involves pooling results across several studies and provides a more precise estimate of treatment effect than can each individual study. However, clinical trials selected for meta-analysis, although broadly similar, can differ significantly in terms of therapies used and clinical populations studied. Major cancer types with differing effects on food intake and malnutrition (e...
Aligned chitosan-based nanofibers for enhanced myogenesis

Tissue-engineered nanofibrous matrices can potentially serve as an implantable scaffold for the reconstruction of damaged or lost tissue by regulating cell proliferation, organization, and function. In this study, we developed a polyblend chitosan-polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibrous scaffold with unidirectional fiber orientation by electrospinning for skeletal muscle tissue reconstruction and investigated the effect of the fiber alignment on cell organization and differentiation in comparison with randomly oriented nanofibers and 2D films of the same material. The chitosan-PCL material was shown to support skeletal muscle cell attachment and proliferation, and the fiber alignment promoted skeletal muscle cell morphogenesis and aligned myotube formation in the nanofiber orientation. Reverse-transcription PCR analyses revealed an up-regulation of differentiation-specific genes, troponin T and myosin heavy chain, in muscle cells on the aligned nanofiber scaffolds, confirming the ability of aligned chitosan-PCL nanofibers to enhance muscle cell differentiation. These results suggest that chitosan-PCL nanofibrous scaffolds with unidirectional fiber orientation can significantly enhanced muscle cell development making it a potential scaffold for enhanced skeletal myogenesis.
Dual-slice spiral versus single-slice spiral scanning: comparison of the physical performance of two computed tomography scanners

In this paper we deal with two types of spiral scanners; one is a single-slice spiral scanner, while the other employs dual-slice technology into spiral scanning. Physical performance parameters, including image noise, contrast resolution, spatial resolution (transversal and longitudinal), and radiation exposure are measured. Computer simulations based on two interpolation methods (180 degrees and 360 degrees linear interpolation) are also used in evaluating the slice-sensitivity profile (SSP) and noise. The results show that the noise behaves in the same way for both types of scanners. The noise change, relative to that of the standard scan with the same scanning parameters, depends solely on the interpolation algorithm. Table speed and scanner geometry (either single slice or dual slice) have no effect on the noise value. For the given table speed, as well as individual detector collimation (slice width) the dual-slice scan results in better longitudinal resolution (SSP) compared to a single-slice scan if the scan is obtained with nonoverlapping slices (pitch greater than 2). This is because the dual-slice scan obtains twice the number of nonoverlapped projections for the same length, which reduces the degradation of the slice profile by using more densely arranged projections (in the longitudinal direction) for the interpolation. In the dual-slice scanner the workable scan rate is extended up to pitch 4 compared to a pitch of 2 for the single-slice scanner. Therefore, the dual-slice spiral scanner is preferred in applications requiring an increased scan rate with comparative image quality.
Leakage reduction through optimization of regular layout parameters

Regular layouts that follow restrictive design rules are essential to robust CMOS design in order to alleviate many manufacturing induced effects, such as the effect of non-rectangular gate (NRG) due to sub-wavelength lithograph. NRG dramatically increases the leakage current by more than 15X compared to that of ideal physical layout. To mitigate such a penalty, we developed a technique to optimize regular layout through restrictive design rule parameters and to benchmark post-lithography circuit performance. We propose a procedure to systematically optimize key layout parameters in regular layout to minimize the leakage energy with minimal over head to active energy, circuit speed and area. The proposed layout optimization technique is demonstrated with a 65nm technology and projected for 45nm and 32nm technology nodes. Experimental results show that more than 70% reduction in leakage can be achieved with area penalty of ~10% and 9-12% overhead on circuit speed and active energy.
Flow and feeding by swimming scyphomedusae

The mechanical basis of prey capture by scyphomedusae has been largely ignored, despite the importance of these predators in a variety of planktonic ecosystems. Interactions between swimming, fluid motions, and prey capture were examined during 1991–1992 for a species from the three scyphozoan orders having planktonic medusae: Rhizostomeae, Stomolophus meleagris Agassiz, 1862; Coronatae, Linuche unguiculata (Schwartz, 1788); and Semaeostomeae, Cyanea capillata (Linnaeus, 1758). All three species used flow created during bell pulsation to capture prey, but the type of flow used for prey capture and the capture surface morphology were different for each species. The mechanics of capture by these species of diverse morphology and taxonomic affinity suggests that the use of bell pulsation-induced flow for prey entrainment and capture is widespread among the scyphomedusae.
Using a 0.035-in. straight-tip wire and a small infant laryngoscope for safe and easy endotracheal intubations in rats for cardiovascular research.

Abstract Objectives Endotracheal intubation in rats is a challenging problem. This is a difficult procedure due to the narrow oral cavity and the difficulty in visualizing the vocal cord. It is associated with high complication rate. We have developed a very safe and simple method using a 0.035-in. straight tip wire as a guide and the small infantile laryngoscope for intubation in rats. Method Seventy Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 100 and 450 g were used for endotracheal intubation, utilizing a 0.035-in. straight-tip wire, infantile laryngoscope blade Miller size 0 and conventional cutdown 18-gauge catheter. Rats were anesthetized using a mixture of ketamine (50 mg/kg), xylazine (4 mg/kg) and acepromazine (1 mg/kg). The upper incisors were fixed with a rubber band. With the laryngoscope, the trachea and vocal cords were visualized with the tongue pulled back. Under direct visualization of the vocal cords, a 0.035-in. straight-tip wire was advanced into the trachea and an 18-gauge cutdown catheter was advanced over the wire into the trachea. The wire was removed and the catheter was attached to the respirator. With this method, the use of atropine was not necessary. Results We successfully intubated all 70 rats without any complications. The successful rate was 100% with no mortality related to the intubation. This was performed within 1 to 2 min after induction of anesthesia without using atropin. There was no intra-esophageal or soft tissue intubation. Conclusion With a 0.035-in. straight-tip wire as a guide and a small infant laryngoscope blade Miller size 0, endotracheal intubations in rats can be safely performed with high success rate without the use of atropine, which makes it better suitable for cardiovascular research.
Stimulus specific adaptation in excited but not in inhibited cells in inferotemporal cortex of Macaque

Many cells in inferotemporal cortex respond more actively to a novel presentation than to a subsequent re-presentation of the same image, exhibiting stimulus specific adaptation (SSA). Previously, analysis of this adaptation was limited to visually excited cells, excluding visually inhibited cells. In the present experiment we studied 654 cells in four macaques performing visual tasks. Strong SSA (P 0.1) was observed in the group of cells inhibited by visual stimuli. Furthermore, most inhibited cells failed to show visual specificity. This lack of visual specificity and SSA suggests that the visually inhibited cells have a limited role in the detailed information processing of visual perception and memory activated by the tasks used in the present experiments.
A prognostic model for survival in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia based on p53 expression.

Summary. As the abnormal expression of p53 protein is prognostically significant in some human cancers, its significance in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) was assessed. Two investigators evaluated the percentage of bone marrow mononuclear cells that stained for p53, using biopsies stained with anti-p53 monoclonal antibody (DO-7), and graded the degree of staining (0, +, ++, +++). Samples from a cohort of 90 patients with CLL were studied (median age 60 years, range 30–89 years; 57 patients were (63%) previously untreated, 22 patients (24%) had received one or two prior regimens, 11 patients had received (12%) three to seven regimens. The overall percentage of cells positive for p53 staining was a median of 43 (range 1–88). No investigator effect was detected either in overall percentage cells rated p53 positive or on the degree of staining (Pearson's correlation coefficient 0·980, P-value < 0·001). A Cox proportional hazards model showed that the percentage of ++ and +++ p53-positive cells correlated with various prognostic factors in CLL (P < 0·0001). A multivariate model incorporating prior therapy, Rai stage, beta2 microglobulin (β2M) and p53 expression showed that only the percentage of p53-positive cells and β2M were predictive of survival, and enabled the development of a highly predictive model of survival based on these two parameters.