cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Austere Human Missions to Mars

The Design Reference Architecture 5 (DRA 5) is the most recent concept developed by NASA to send humans to Mars in the 2030 time frame using Constellation Program elements. DRA 5 is optimized to meet a specific set of requirements that would provide for a robust exploration program to deliver a new six-person crew at each biennial Mars opportunity and provide for power and infrastructure to maintain a highly capable continuing human presence on Mars. This paper examines an alternate architecture that is scaled back from DRA 5 and might offer lower development cost, lower flight cost, and lower development risk. It is recognized that a mission set using this approach would not meet all the current Constellation Mars mission requirements; however, this 'austere' architecture may represent a minimum mission set that would be acceptable from a science and exploration standpoint. The austere approach is driven by a philosophy of minimizing high risk or high cost technology development and maximizing development and production commonality in order to achieve a program that could be sustained in a flat-funded budget environment. Key features that would enable a lower technology implementation are as follows: using a blunt-body entry vehicle having no deployable decelerators, utilizing aerobraking rather than aerocapture for placing the crewed element into low Mars orbit, avoiding the use of liquid hydrogen with its low temperature and large volume issues, using standard bipropellant propulsion for the landers and ascent vehicle, and using radioisotope surface power systems rather than a nuclear reactor or large area deployable solar arrays. Flat funding within the expected NASA budget for a sustained program could be facilitated by alternating cargo and crew launches for the biennial Mars opportunities. This would result in two assembled vehicles leaving Earth orbit for Mars per Mars opportunity. The first opportunity would send two cargo landers to the Mars surface to preposition a habitat, supplies, and exploration equipment. The next opportunity, two years later, would send to Mars orbit 1) a lander with a Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) and 2) a crewed Mars Transit Habitat with an Orion CEV for Earth return. The following opportunity, two years after the first crew, would go back to cargo-only launches. This alternation of cargo and crew opportunities results in a sustainable launch rate of six Ares V launches every two years. It is notable that four of the six launches per Mars opportunity are identical, build-to-print, Tran-Mars Injection stages. This type of production rate could lend itself well to a COTStype service provider, and would make it feasible to have a live spare in place in the event of a single launch failure.
Energy transport in thick sequences of compacting sediment

This investigation synthesizes the theories of energy transport and gravitational compaction of sediment to develop a deterministic model capable of generating pore-fluid pressure, porosity, and temperature distributions throughout the accumulation of basin sediment. Abnormal pore-fluid pressures develop with increasing rates of sediment accumulation and decreasing hydraulic diffusivity. Sediment temperature distributions depart from typical linear profiles characteristic of steady-state conduction and have increasing rates of sediment accumulation and decreasing hydraulic diffusivity. A comparison of model output with data from the Gulf of Mexico geosyncline demonstrates that gross fluid pressure, porosity, and temperature distributions are explained by the model. Lateral movement of pore fluid to faults in combination with lithically induced hydraulic and thermal parameter variations explain cases of departure from the general patterns. Sediment in the Gulf of Mexico geosyncline may have been subjected to abnormal pressure since Cretaceous time; sediment presently in the near offshore may now be at its maximum pore-fluid pressure and minimum temperature at any given depth.
Surgical management of duodenal ulcer in community hospitals.

Abstract 1. 1. Three hundred thirty-two cases of duodenal ulcer treated surgically in four community hospitals are reviewed. 2. 2. Compared to statistics from medical centers, the findings in this series show the employment of subtotal gastric resection in an unusually high percentages of cases. 3. 3. The use of operations of lesser magnitude in the poor risk patient and in those patients in whom removal of the ulcer is fraught with considerable technical difficulty should result in a lowered mortality in the surgical management of this disease in a community hospital.
Precipitin Antisera for Malignant Tissue

Conclusions1. Specific antisera have been prepared for the proteins of malignant tissue. 2. There is a suggestion of a relative anatomic specificity of carcinomatous tissue, as a greater number of positive reactions occur with autolysates of the homologous tissue and with sera of cases having the same type of malignancy. 3. These precipitins for the proteins of malignant tissue show promise as diagnostic aids. A high percentage of sera from patients with malignant tumors react positively. The higher percentages of positive reactions were obtained in cases where the malignant growth had the same anatomic location as the tumor from which the anti-serum had been prepared. 4. Our preliminary results indicate that possibly these precipitins are species-specific, because antisera for rat-tumors do not react with autolysates of human carcinoma and vice-versa.
Compliance, treatment practices and blood pressure control: Community survey findings

Abstract The influence of drug compliance and treatment regimen on blood pressure control were examined among 385 treated hypertensives identified during a prevalence survey of a rural biracial community. Compliance with all anti-hypertensive drugs measured as rarely or never missing doses was reported by 74% of treated hypertensives. Reported compliance differed significantly by the number of drugs taken but not by demographic characteristics. Diastolic blood pressure control (DBP ⪡ 90 mm Hg) was better among compilers than noncompliers (72% vs 61%, p
Ets-1 regulates plasma cell differentiation by interfering with the activity of the transcription factor Blimp-1

Development of immunoglobulin-secreting plasma cells from B cells is a tightly regulated process controlled by the action of a number of transcription factors. In particular, the transcription factor Blimp-1 is a key positive regulator of plasmacytic differentiation via its ability to suppress expression of genes involved in the mature B cell program. The transcription factor Ets-1 is a negative regulator of plasmacytic differentiation, as indicated by the development of increased numbers of IgM-secreting plasma cells in Ets-1 knock-out mice. We have previously shown that Ets-1-deficient B cells undergo enhanced differentiation into IgM-secreting plasma cells in response to Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) signaling. We now explore the mechanism by which Ets-1 limits differentiation downstream of TLR9. Our results indicate that Ets-1 physically interacts with Blimp-1, which leads to a block in Blimp-1 DNA binding activity and a reduction in the ability of Blimp-1 to repress target genes without interfering with Blimp-1 protein levels. In addition, we show that Ets-1 induces the expression of several target genes that are repressed by Blimp-1, including Pax-5. These results reveal a previously unknown mechanism for the control of Blimp-1 activity by Ets-1 and suggest that expression of Ets-1 must be down-regulated before plasmacytic differentiation can occur.
Cloning of a gene from Thermus filiformis and characterization of the thermostable nuclease.

Abstract A gene coding for a thermostable nuclease was cloned from the thermophilic microorganism, Thermusfiliformis (Tf) , using an indicator strain containing a dinD∷lacZ fusion. The gene, designated nuc17 , has been mapped within a 2300-bp fragment. The 55-kDa Tf nuclease was purified to over 95% homogeneity. Single-stranded (ss) DNA is the preferred substrate for the Tf nuclease, although double-stranded (ds) DNA can also be digested. Nuclease activity increases with increasing temperature up to 80°C and requires the metal ions Ca +− or Mg ++ for catalysis. Tf nuclease is primarily an endonuclease that leaves 5′ phosphates in the digested products. The ssDNA extensions remaining after exonuclease III digestion of dsDNA can be removed by the Tf nuclease, making it a useful reagent to generate unidirectional deletions.
A Total Information Management System For All Medical Images

A PACS has been designed for the University of Connecticut Health Center to serve all departments acquiring images for diagnosis, surgery and therapy. It incorporates a multiple community communications architecture to provide complete information management for medical images, medical data and departmental administrative matter. The system is modular and expandable. It permits an initial installation for radiology and subsequent expansion to include other departments at the Health Center, beginning with internal medicine, surgery, ophthalmology and dentistry. The design permits sufficient expansion to offer the potential for accepting the additional burden of a hospital information system. Primary parameters that led to this system design were based on the anticipation that departments in time could achieve generating 60 to 90% of their images suited to insertion in a PACS, that a high network throughput for large block image transfers would be essen-tial and that total system reliability was fundamental to success.
Characterization of three HLA-DR beta genes isolated from an HLA-DR 3/4 insulin-dependent diabetic patient

Three HLA-DRβ genes were isolated from a Swedish HLA-DR3/4 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patient and characterized by restriction endonuclease mapping and nucleotide sequence analysis. Two out of the three DNA sequences differed from those of published DRβ-chain sequences. A DRβ-gene probe prepared from exon 4 and flanking sequences was used in a Southern blot analysis of blood donors' DNA and DNA from HLA-DR3/4 IDDM patients and HLA-DR-matched healthy control subjects. This probe differentiated HLA-DR3/4 IDDM patients and HLA-DR-matched controls in the Scandinavian population but not in the North American Caucasoid population.
Nanostructure and morphology modified porous silicon sensors

The ability to control and transform the morphology and optical properties of porous silicon (PS) interface arrays can have important implications for displays and sensors..The optoelectronic properties and interaction sensing capabilities of PS can be varied as a function of pore size and pore morphology as dictated by the manipulation of a surface structure which can be controlled with current density, the solution composition of the electrochemical etches used to prepare the pores, and careful post etch surface treatments. These treatments influence the time dependent photoluminescence (PL) emission from PS. The variation of surface structure as it effects the PL from these PS pore arrays is outlined and discussed within the framework of detailed molecular electronic structure calculations which model the excited state structure giving rise to the UV-visible PL emission from PS. Applications varying from displays to sensors to micro-reactors will be considered. Porous silicon interfaces have also been transformed within the framework of nanotechnology to create highly efficient sensors displaying a rapid, reversible, sensitive, and selective response to HCl, NH 3 , CO, and NO down to the ppb level. Photoluminescence induced metallization is used to obtain a highly efficient, <20Ω, electrical contact to the sensor, allowing operation at a bias voltage of 1-10mV. The introduction of gold and tin-based nanostructures to a micro/nanoporous PS array selectively modifies its impedance response to considerably improve the detection of the NH 3 , CO, and NO. Through FFT analysis, a gas response can be acquired and filtered on a drifting baseline, further improving sensitivity. New nanoscale exclusive techniques have been developed for the rapid formation of highly efficient TiO 2-x N x nanophotocatalysts, operative and tunable throughout the visible wavelength region, to be used in conjunction with porous silicon hybrid nanopore coated micropores to form novel and efficient solar pumped sensor arrays.
Evaluation of brook trout production in a coldwater recycle aquaculture system

Abstract Brook trout ( Salvelinus fontinalis ) are a commercially important coldwater species reared in Wisconsin and the Midwestern United States. Brook trout are raised by private, tribal, state, and federal fish hatchery facilities in Wisconsin. Approximately 10% of private coldwater aquaculture operations are presently raising brook trout of various strains for stocking uses and a limited amount for food markets. Growing brook trout to a larger size, if they can be reared in a shorter time span, may present a potential new sector for the aquaculture market in the Midwestern US. The present study reports hatchery production attributes, i.e., growth, survival, fin condition, feed efficiency, water chemistry requirements and general husbandry of Lake Superior strain (Nipigon) brook trout reared in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), operated at an average temperature of 13 °C. The recycle system at NADF reared 1379 kg of brook trout over a 10-month period from fingerling (9 g) to market size (340–454 g). The trout grew faster (0.84 g/day and 0.64 mm/day) in the RAS than fish cultured in traditional flow-through tank culture utilizing ground water at 7.6 °C (0.14 g/day and 0.35 mm/day). Final average weight of RAS fish was 260 g, while the flow-through fish averaged 65 g. Final tank densities for the RAS averaged 40.4 kg/m 3 while flow-through tanks averaged 31.2 kg/m 3 . Throughout the project, feed conversions in the RAS ranged from 0.9 to 1.3. Water quality variables such as TAN, nitrite, DO, temperature, TSS, CO 2 , ph, etc. were within safe limits for brook trout and will be discussed. It does appear from this initial research project that market size brook trout can be raised successfully in a recycle system within a similar time frame as a rainbow trout produced in a Wisconsin typical flow-through facility.
Fermentative biohydrogen production: Evaluation of net energy gain

Abstract Most dark fermentation (DF) studies had resorted to above-ambient temperatures to maximize hydrogen yield, without due consideration of the net energy gain. In this study, literature data on fermentative hydrogen production from glucose, sucrose, and organic wastes were compiled to evaluate the benefit of higher fermentation temperatures in terms of net energy gain. This evaluation showed that the improvement in hydrogen yield at higher temperatures is not justified as the net energy gain not only declined with increase of temperature, but also was mostly negative when the fermentation temperature exceeded 25 °C. To maximize the net energy gain of DF, the following two options for recovering additional energy from the end products and to determine the optimal fermentation temperature were evaluated: methane production via anaerobic digestion (AD); and direct electricity production via microbial fuel cells (MFC). Based on net energy gain, it is concluded that DF has to be operated at near-ambient temperatures for the net energy gain to be positive; and DF + MFC can result in higher net energy gain at any temperature than DF or DF + AD.
Disentangling over-representation of parents with disabilities in the child welfare system: Exploring child maltreatment risk factors of parents with disabilities

Abstract The study explores the risk factors for child maltreatment and self-reported child maltreatment among a population-based sample of parents with disabilities. Drawing on a nationally-representative, population-based data file that oversampled people of color, income-adjusted odds ratio tests were conducted to establish population differences among parents with and without limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs). Results suggest that parents with disabilities were more likely to report many of the risk factors associated with child maltreatment than parents without disabilities, including witnessing interpersonal violence as a child; experiencing violence, neglect or a foster care stay as a child; mood or substance use disorders; and engaging in or receiving interpersonal violence as an adult. Before controlling for income, parents with disabilities had only a negligibly higher rate of engaging in violence against their children. After controlling for income, parents with disabilities were 2.5 times more likely to engage in violence against their children. Parents with disabilities who did engage in violence against their children had greater amounts of some of the child maltreatment risk factors in comparison to parents with disabilities who did not engage in violence, particularly their own childhood experiences of maltreatment, witnessing of interpersonal violence as a child, childhood stays in foster care, and experiences with interpersonal violence as an adult. Findings add to the understanding of the risk factors for child maltreatment that are related to the collateral effects of having a disability, and through the use of income-adjusted data, help disentangle why parents with disabilities are over-represented in the child welfare system. The findings highlight the need for the child welfare system to increase its disability competence in working with both children and parents with disabilities.
Evasive random walks and the clairvoyant demon

A pair of random walks (R, S) on the vertices of a graph G is successful if two tokens moving one at a time can be scheduled (moving only one token at a time) to travel along R and S without colliding. We consider questions related to P. Winkler's clairvoyant demon problem, which asks whether for random walks R and S on G, Pr[(R, S) is successful] > 0. We introduce the notion of an evasive walk on G: a walk S so that for a random walk R on G, Pr[(R, S) is successful] > 0. We characterize graphs G having evasive walks, giving explicit constructions on such G. Also, we show that on a cycle, the tokens must collide quickly with high probability.
Pictorial organization in prose learning

Abstract Ninety undergraduates of high and low prior knowledge of geology read a difficult prose passage concerning the formation of a meander. Two groups of learners were forced to process a map-like organizer either before or after they read the passage, while a control group was provided no pictorial support. The results showed that subjects with little prior knowledge who were provided with the organizer prior to reading recalled at a level similar to that of subjects with a good deal of background knowledge. The findings were interpreted as support for the use of map-like organizers in the primary position to aid comprehension.
Neuroactive Steroids in Anxiety and Stress

Neuroactive steroids are endogenous and synthetic steroids which act on membrane receptors in the nervous system to excite or inhibit neuronal activity. Their effect on γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors and other ligand-gated ion channels has been established, although the nature of the neuroactive steroid binding sites, which allosterically alter receptor function, remains obscure. A subgroup of this class of steroids is termed neurosteroids; these have been demonstrated to be biosynthesized from cholesterol in the nervous system. Neuroactive steroids also are biosynthesized by the adrenals and gonads before being secreted into the circulation. The role of neuroactive steroids in altering the function of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is only now emerging. Ten animal models of anxiety and stress are described that are significantly altered by one or more groups of neuroactive steroids. Finally, neuroactive steroid interactions with stress-induced behaviors in experimental animals and humans are reviewed. Keywords: animal models; anxiety; alloTHDOC; allopregnanolone; ethanol; GABAA receptors; menstrual cycle; HPA axis; neurosteroids; pregnanolone; stress
An ejection chain algorithm for the quadratic assignment problem

In this study, we present a new tabu search algorithm for the quadratic assignment problem (QAP) that utilizes an embedded neighborhood construction called an ejection chain. Our ejection chain approach provides a combinatorial leverage effect, where the size of the neighborhood grows multiplicatively while the effort of finding a best move in the neighborhood grows only additively. Our results illustrate that significant improvement in solution quality is obtained in comparison to the traditional swap neighborhood. We also develop two multistart tabu search algorithms utilizing the ejection chain approach in order to demonstrate the power of embedding this neighborhood construction within a more sophisticated heuristic framework. Comparisons to the best large neighborhood approaches from the literature are presented. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2010
Know Thyself: The Impact of Portfolio Development on Adult Learning:

Thousands of years ago the Greeks carved above their temples the phrase “know thyself,” two simple words that imply a lifetime of investigation. Throughout the ages philosophers and scholars have emphasized the importance of self-knowledge as an outcome of learning. One teaching strategy that facilitates self-knowledge among adult students is the creation of an experiential learning portfolio. This study describes and explains how the development of such a portfolio affected a diverse group of adult undergraduates. Qualitative inquiry methods were employed within a case study design to obtain a detailed description of the portfolio experience from the participants’ perspectives. The findings suggest that portfolio development increased students’ understanding of what, why, and how they learned throughout their careers, enhanced their communication and organization skills, and reinforced the importance of reflection in learning.
Mechatronics. An overview

Mechatronics is a synergy of several engineering disciplines. It relates to the design and manufacture of intelligent electromechanical products and devices. Goods and services that are produced by using Mechatronics principles have become an intimate part of human lives in modern civilization. Mechatronics has become the backbone for sustaining high standard of living of people, as well as a nation's competitiveness in the global marketplace. Demands for engineers with adequate knowledge and experience in Mechatronics have drastically increased in the last decade. This paper attempts to offer readers an overview on this emerging engineering process.
FDTD-based time reversal for microwave breast cancer Detection-localization in three dimensions

In a previous study, a novel time-reversal (TR) algorithm based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method for ultra-wideband microwave breast cancer detection was presented. The system properties and performance were originally studied for two-dimensional (2-D) simplified models and geometries and, more recently, for a realistic breast model based on magnetic resonance imaging measured data. This paper extends this FDTD TR algorithm to a three-dimensional (3-D) case in order to study localization of the tumor target in 3-D. The FDTD TR algorithm solves the full 3-D wave equation and, thus, takes into account polarization effects. In order to compare the new images with previous results, we consider a 2-D planar receiver array, which is an extension of the line of receivers introduced in the 2-D model. A direct comparison from 3-D to 2-D reconstructions illustrates the advantages of using the fully 3-D algorithm, which counterbalances its additional computational cost.
The Use of TRMM Precipitation Radar Observations in Determining Ground Radar Calibration Biases

Since the successful launch of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite, measurements of a wide variety of precipitating systems have been obtained with unprecedented detail from the first space-based radar [precipitation radar (PR)]. In this research, a methodology is developed that matches coincident PR and ground-based volume scanning weather radar observations in a common earth parallel three-dimensional Cartesian grid. The data matching is performed in a way that minimizes uncertainties associated with the type of weather seen by the radars, grid resolution, and differences in radar sensitivities, sampling volumes, viewing angles, and radar frequencies. The authors present comparisons of reflectivity observations from the PR and several U.S. weather surveillance Doppler radars (WSR-88D) as well as research radars from the TRMM field campaigns in Kwajalein Atoll and the Large Biosphere Atmospheric (LBA) Experiment. Correlation values above 0.8 are determined between PR and ground radar matched data for levels above the zero isotherm. The reflectivity difference statistics derived from the matched data reveal radar systems with systematic differences ranging from 1 2t o27 dB. The authors argue that the main candidate for systematic differences exceeding 1 to 1.5 dB is the ground radar system calibration bias. To verify this argument, the authors used PR comparisons against well-calibrated ground-based systems, which showed systematic differences consistently less than 1.5 dB. Temporal analysis of the PR versus ground radar systematic differences reveals radar sites with up to 4.5dB bias changes within periods of two to six months. Similar evaluation of the PR systematic difference against stable ground radar systems shows bias fluctuations of less than 0.8 dB. It is also shown that bias adjustment derived from the methodology can have significant impact on the hydrologic applications of ground-based radar measurements. The proposed scheme can be a useful tool for the systematic monitoring of ground radar biases and the studying of its effect.
Acute detection of ST-elevation myocardial infarction missed on standard 12-Lead ECG with a novel 80-lead real-time digital body surface map: primary results from the multicenter OCCULT MI trial.

Study objective Although 80-lead ECG body surface mapping is more sensitive for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) than the 12-lead ECG, its clinical utility in chest pain in the emergency department (ED) has not been studied. We sought to determine the prevalence, clinical care patterns, and clinical outcomes of patients with STEMI identified on 80-lead but not on 12-lead (80-lead-only STEMI). Methods The Optimal Cardiovascular Diagnostic Evaluation Enabling Faster Treatment of Myocardial Infarction trial was a multicenter prospective observational study of moderate- to high-risk chest pain patients presenting to the ED. Patients received simultaneous 12-lead and 80-lead ECGs as part of their initial evaluation and were treated according to the standard of care, with clinicians blinded to the 80-lead results. The primary outcome of the trial was door-to-sheath time in patients with 80-lead-only STEMI versus patients with STEMI identified by 12-lead alone (12-lead STEMI). Secondary outcomes included angiographic and clinical outcomes at 30 days. Results One thousand eight hundred thirty patients were evaluated, 91 had a discharge diagnosis of 12-lead STEMI, and 25 patients met criteria for 80-lead-only STEMI. Eighty-four of the 91 12-lead STEMI patients underwent cardiac catheterization, with a median door-to-sheath time of 54 minutes, versus 14 of the 25 80-lead-only STEMI patients, with a door-to-sheath time of 1,002 minutes (estimated treatment difference in median=881; 95% confidence interval 181 to 1,079 minutes). Clinical outcomes and revascularization rates, however, were similar between 80-lead-only STEMI and 12-lead STEMI patients. Conclusion The 80-lead ECG provides an incremental 27.5% increase in STEMI detection versus the 12-lead. Patients with 80-lead-only STEMI have adverse outcomes similar to those of 12-lead STEMI patients but are treated with delayed or conservative invasive strategies.
The Effect of Mn Concentration on Curie Temperature and Magnetic Behavior of MOCVD Grown GaMnN Films

We report on the growth and characterization of dilute magnetic semiconductor GaMnN showing ferromagnetism behavior above room temperature. GaMnN films were grown by MOCVD using (EtCp 2 )Mn as the precursor for in-situ Mn doping. Structural characterization of the GaMnN films was achieved by XRD, SIMS and TEM measurements. XRD and TEM confirmed that the films were single crystal solid solutions without the presence of secondary phases. SIMS analysis verified that Mn was incorporated homogeneously throughout the GaMnN layer which was ∼0.7μm thick. Ferromagnetic behavior for these films was observed along the c-direction (out of plane orientation) in a Mn concentration range of 0.025–2%. The saturation magnetization ranged from 0.18–1.05 emu/cc for different growth conditions. Curie temperatures of the GaMnN films were determined to be from 270 to above 400K depending on the Mn concentration. This dependence of Curie temperature on concentration of Mn in GaMnN indicates that the grown films are random solid solutions . SQUID measurements ruled out the possibility of spin-glass and superparamagnetism in these MOCVD grown GaMnN films. The grown films were electrically semi-insulating; however PL measurements showed that the films were still optically active after Mn doping. This study showed that the growth of III-Nitride films doped with Mn requires a small window of growth conditions that depend on growth temperature and (EtCp) 2 Mn flux to achieve ferromagnetism above room temperature, and the magnetic response of the film depends on the Fermi level position. We suggest that ferromagnetism occurs when the Fermi level lies within the Mn energy level which is 1.4 eV above the GaN valence band.
Temperature Distributions Around Buried Cables

Methods for analysis of temperature distributions around buried power cables are reviewed. None accurately models the true geometric conditions or properties or enables prediction of the time- dependence of temperature change.
Sputtered Nb- and Ta-doped TiO2 transparent conducting oxide films on glass

Radio frequency (rf) magnetron sputtering is used to deposit Ti0.85Nb0.15O2 and Ti0.8Ta0.2O2 films on glass substrates at substrate temperatures (TS) ranging from ∼250 to 400 °C. The most conducting Nb-doped TiO2 films were deposited at TS = 370 °C, with conductivities of ∼60 S/cm, carrier concentrations of 1.5 × 1021 cm−3 and mobilities <1 cm2/V·s. The conductivity of the films was limited by the mobility, which was more than 10 times lower than the mobility for films deposited epitaxially on SrTiO3. The difference in properties is likely caused by the randomly oriented crystal structure of the films deposited on glass compared with biaxially textured films deposited on SrTiO3. The anatase phase could not be stabilized in the Ta-doped TiO2 films, likely because of the high dopant concentration.
The Vav Binding Site (Y315) in ZAP-70 Is Critical for Antigen Receptor–mediated Signal Transduction

Stimulation of antigen receptors in T and B cells leads to the activation of the Src and Syk families of protein tyrosine kinases (PTK). These PTKs subsequently phosphorylate numerous intracellular substrates, including the 95-kD protooncogene product Vav. Vav is essential for both T and B cell development and T and B cell antigen receptor–mediated signal transduction. After receptor ligation, Vav associates with phosphorylated Syk and ZAP-70 PTKs, an interaction that depends upon its SH2 domain. Here we demonstrate that a point mutation of tyrosine 315 (Y315F) in ZAP-70, a putative Vav SH2 domain binding site, eliminated the Vav– ZAP-70 interaction. Moreover, the Y315 mutation impaired the function of ZAP-70 in antigen receptor signaling. Surprisingly, this mutation also resulted in marked reduction in the tyrosine phosphorylation of ZAP-70, Vav, SLP-76, and Shc. These data demonstrate that the Vav binding site in ZAP-70 plays a critical role in antigen receptor–mediated signal transduction.
Fundamental Notations in Analysis of Algorithms

This chapter lays the foundation of the analysis of algorithms theory in terms of the big-oh, omega, and theta notations. It also covers the related topics of the little-oh and asymptotic functions. The chapter contains formal definitions of these notations, examples of how they are proved, and theorems connecting these notations to each other. Properties of the functions introduced in the previous chapter are used here to prove the relationships defined by the fundamental notations for a variety of expressions.
Endoscopic diagnosis of malignant melanoma metastatic to the duodenum

intravenous injection through a large-diameter vein or through the intravenous tubing will minimize the hazards from this complication. Analysis of the 5 fatal cases stresses the importance of prompt surgical drainage when ductal obstruction is demonstrated. Because of this and because ERCP is a stressful procedure, it should be performed on only those patients who are acceptable surgical candidates. ERCP has proven to be an exciting new diagnostic procedure in the evaluation of a variety of pancreatic and biliary tract diseases. In properly selected patients, it is capable of providing unique diagnostic information with reasonable risk to the patient. Serious complications following ERCP can be minimized by careful attention to detail, as well as by an appreciation of the hazards associated with ductal obstruction.
Line Reversibility of Multiserver Systems

The line reversibility property of a two-stage multiserver system with manufacturing blocking has previously been established using a duality argument between the blocked state and the idle state. In this paper, we provide counterexamples that show this argument does not apply to systems with more than two stages. A focus of this paper is to provide a new proof for the result. Our argument is based on the duality between the service initiation and the service completion events.
Justice, society, physicians and ethics committees: incorporating ideas of justice into patient care decisions.

Issues of social justice have traditionally been given short shrift by American healthcare professionals, feeling that justice at the bedside is inapplicable and possibly even misplaced. However, perhaps motivated by the realization that escalating costs and maldistribution of healthcare represent an intolerable situation, an ever-growing amount of medical literature and healthcare ethics literature is turning to considerations of justice.
Power Control in 802.11 Wireless LANs

This paper presents applications of power control techniques for performance enhancement of 802.11 wireless LANs. It is shown how the nature of the multiple-access scheme in use in these systems poses challenges for the implementation of an approach based on reduction of interference. It is also shown that the use of power control at the access point to manage its coverage area can lead to very significant performance gains. The analysis is supported by dynamic simulations providing end-to- end performance results for FTP application.
Electroconvulsive Therapy in Old-Old Patients

The authors compared falls, cardiovascular factors, confusion, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, and metabolic side effects for "old-old" (>75 years) patient groups treated with either electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or pharmacotherapy. A subset of a pharmacotherapy patient group was selected to match for age, sex, and diagnosis in a case-control design. Side effects were recorded from each selected patient's medical record and compared between groups. Patients receiving ECT showed fewer cardiovascular and gastrointestinal side effects. Patients receiving ECT had longer lengths of stay and more favorable outcomes. Overall, there was a tendency for ECT to result in fewer side effects and better treatment outcomes. ECT appears to be relatively safe and more effective than pharmacotherapy for major depressive disorders in old-old patients.
Symmetrically multi-connected optical WAN network architectures: Multi-dual ring connected and multi-shuffle connected shuffle networks

The authors propose two symmetrically multi-connected optical WAN (wide area network) network architectures which do not require a technology breakthrough but can achieve a high throughput with flexible routing schemes and demonstrate possibility for modular growth. The study has been done with respect to conventional ShuffleNet under the assumption of a uniform traffic pattern. These architectures require the same type of network interface unit as required by the Perfect Shuffle Networks while achieving a better performance for WAN in terms of average number of weighted hops, aggregate throughput, and alternative routing schemes because the local traffic can be distinguished from the remote traffic in these networks. >
Unique Reactivity of the Mukaiyama Glycosidation Catalyst (SnCl3ClO4) Toward β‐Mannopyranosides

Glycosidation of a mannosyl donor in the presence of the Mukaiyama catalyst was found to give exceptionally high alpha/beta selectivity. A systematic study was conducted to reveal that selective beta-to-alpha anomerization accounts for the observed high alpha/beta stereoselectivity. Furthermore, the Mukaiyama catalyst was shown to exhibit an unusual level of substrate and anomer selectivity for the anomerization. On the basis of the combined anomeric and delta2 effects, a mechanistic rationale was proposed, thereby suggesting the minimum structural moiety essential for the anomerization in question. With this analysis, beta-talo-, beta-altro-, and beta-idopyranosides are predicted to exhibit a reactivity profile similar to beta-mannopyranosides, but all other pyranosides should not. This prediction was verified by using beta- and alpha-talopyranosides as an example.
Adaptive adjustment of unit tuning to sound localization cues in response to monaural occlusion in developing owl optic tectum

Bimodal units in the barn owl's optic tectum are tuned to the location of auditory and visual stimuli, and are systematically organized according to their spatial tuning to form mutually aligned maps of auditory and visual space. Map alignment results from the fact that, normally, units are tuned to the values of interaural level difference (ILD) and interaural time difference (ITD) produced by a sound source at the location of their visual receptive fields (VRFs). Monaural occlusion alters the correspondence of ILD and ITD values with locations in space. We investigated the effect that raising owls with a chronic monaural occlusion has on the tuning of tectal units to ILD and ITD. Owls were monaurally occluded beginning at 1 month of age. The effects of monaural occlusion were assessed 2-4 months later by comparing the ILD and ITD tuning of units in monaurally occluded owls with the ILD and ITD tuning of units with equivalent VRFs in normal owls. ILD and ITD tuning was shifted substantially and in the direction of the unoccluded ear (the adaptive direction) in owls raised with a monaural occlusion. In most tecta, the mapped representations of ILD and ITD were shifted systematically. In addition, in some tecta, monaural occlusion induced a change in the topography of the ILD map such that ILD tuning remained essentially constant at values near 0 dB over abnormally large portions of the tectum. Across all recording sites, the average shift in ILD tuning was 9 dB (n = 396) and the average shift in ITD tuning was 40 microseconds (n = 414). In four of five animals, the magnitude of the effect was not equivalent on the two sides of the brain, the adjustments being significantly larger and more systematic on the side ipsilateral to the occlusion. Such differences in the altered ILD and ITD maps on the two sides of the brain in individual animals indicate that, although a component of the adaptive adjustment might be due to regulation of the gain and phase response of the monaural signals early in the auditory pathway, a major component of the adjustment must occur at or beyond the level where the encoding of ILDs and ITDs for left and right space separates.
Ethnomusicology, Ethnomathematics, and Integrating Curriculum:

Integrating curriculum provides rich opportunities for students to focus on relevant applications to the real world and make meaningful connections across different disciplines. This article attemp...
Computer-aided detection of human cone photoreceptor inner segments using multi-scale circular voting

Cone photoreceptors are highly specialized cells responsible for the origin of vision in the human eye. Their inner segments can be noninvasively visualized using adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopes (AOSLOs) with nonconfocal split detection capabilities. Monitoring the number of cones can lead to more precise metrics for real-time diagnosis and assessment of disease progression. Cell identification in split detection AOSLO images is hindered by cell regions with heterogeneous intensity arising from shadowing effects and low contrast boundaries due to overlying blood vessels. Here, we present a multi-scale circular voting approach to overcome these challenges through the novel combination of: 1) iterative circular voting to identify candidate cells based on their circular structures, 2) a multi-scale strategy to identify the optimal circular voting response, and 3) clustering to improve robustness while removing false positives. We acquired images from three healthy subjects at various locations on the retina and manually labeled cell locations to create ground-truth for evaluating the detection accuracy. The images span a large range of cell densities. The overall recall, precision, and F1 score were 91±4%, 84±10%, and 87±7% (Mean±SD). Results showed that our method for the identification of cone photoreceptor inner segments performs well even with low contrast cell boundaries and vessel obscuration. These encouraging results demonstrate that the proposed approach can robustly and accurately identify cells in split detection AOSLO images.
Limiting and Enhancement Effects in Laser Chemical Vapor Deposition

Laser chemical vapor deposition (LCVD) is a modification of conventional CVD using a laser heat source. The film growth characteristics differ considerably from conventional CVD in several ways, however. The use of an optical heat source means that the optical properties of the film/substrate system must be considered, e.g., for metals deposited on absorbing substrates, the film thickness and diameter may “self-limit” in some cases because the deposited film reflects most of the laser energy. On the other hand, the small area heated in LCVD results in a different diffusion geometry and access to higher surface temperatures than are achievable when large areas are heated. For favorable reactant systems, these enhancement effects can yield fast deposition rates and line deposition scan speeds greater than 10 cm/sec. This paper will review results of pulsed and cw LCVD of predominantly metal films using visible and infrared lasers.
Hemispatial neglect on visual search tasks in Alzheimer's disease.

Abnormal visual attention may underlie certain visuospatial difficulties in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). These patients have hypometabolism and neuropathology in parietal cortex. Given the role of parietal function for visuospatial attention, patients with AD may have relative hemispatial neglect masked by other cognitive disturbances. Fifteen patients with mild-to-moderate AD and 15 healthy elderly controls matched for age, sex, and education were compared on four measures of neglect: the visual search of a complex picture, a letter cancellation task, the Schenkenberg line bisection test, and a computerized line bisection task. Compared with controls, the group with AD was significantly impaired overall in attending to left hemispace on both picture search (F[1,56] = 11.27, p < 0.05) and cancellation tasks (F [1,112] = 12.68, p < 0.01); however, a subgroup of patients with AD had disproportionate difficulty in attending to right hemispace. The performance of the groups did not differ on either of the line bisection tasks regardless of the hand used. In AD, hemispatial neglect on visual search tasks may relate to difficulty in disengaging attention or in visual exploration, as well as to the severity of the disease. Future investigations may implicate neglect in visually related deficits in AD, for example, the prominent difficulty with left turns on driving a car.
Validation of the Fitbit One® for physical activity measurement at an upper torso attachment site

The upper torso is recommended as an attachment site for the Fitbit One®, one of the most common wireless physical activity trackers in the consumer market, and could represent a viable alternative to wrist- and hip-attachment sites. The objective of this study was to provide evidence concerning the validity of the Fitbit One® attached to the upper torso for measuring step counts and energy expenditure among female adults. Thirteen female adults completed a four-phase treadmill exercise protocol (1.9, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.2 mph). Participants were fitted with three Fitbit® trackers (two Fitbit One® trackers: one on the upper torso, one on the hip; and a wrist-based Fitbit Flex®). Steps were assessed by manual counting of a video recording. Energy expenditure was measured by gas exchange indirect calorimetry. Concordance correlation coefficients of Fitbit-estimated step counts to observed step counts for the upper torso-attached Fitbit One®, hip-attached Fitbit One® and wrist-attached Fitbit Flex® were 0.98 (95 % CI 0.97–0.99), 0.99 (95 % CI 0.99–0.99), and 0.75 (95 % CI 0.70–0.79), respectively. The percent error for step count estimates from the upper torso attachment site was ≤3 % for all walking and running speeds. Upper torso step count estimates showed similar accuracy relative to hip attachment of the Fitbit One® and were more accurate than the wrist-based Fitbit Flex®. Similar results were obtained for energy expenditure estimates. Energy expenditure estimates for the upper torso attachment site yielded relative percent errors that ranged from 9 to 19 % and were more accurate than the wrist-based Fitbit Flex®, but less accurate than hip attachment of the Fitbit One®. Our study shows that physical activity measures obtained from the upper torso attachment site of the Fitbit One® are accurate across different walking and running speeds in female adults. The upper torso attachment site of the Fitbit One® outperformed the wrist-based Fitbit Flex® and yielded similar step count estimates to hip-attachment. These data support the upper torso as an alternative attachment site for the Fitbit One®.
Epidemiologic features of tuberculosis infection in Xingtai city from 2008 to 2012

Objective To analyze the prevalence of tuberculosis in Xingtai City. Methods From 2008 to 2012, statistical data of TB cases were obtained from "China Disease Control and Prevention Information System" and analyzed by age, occupation and gender. Results Totally 72 202 suspected TB cases and TB cases were registered,and 18 503 active TB cases, the annual registration rate was 55.16/100 000, showed descending trend of registration rate(χ2= 38.65, P 0.001); The annual positive and negative registration rates of sputum smear were 34.74/100000 and 20.42/100 000, respectively. The positive rate of sputum smear decreased(χ2= 99.53, P0.001), therefore, the positive rate of sputum smear showed increasing trend(χ2= 11.13, P= 0.025). 15 979 TB patients were farmers, accounted for 86.36%, showed an increasing trend. Annual registration rate of male patients(70.84/100 000) with active TB was higher than female(37.12/100 000), showed a statistically significant difference(χ2= 1722, P 0.001) and 15 118(81,71%) cases were in the age group of 15~64 years, showed an increasing trend. Conclusion The incidence of TB showed descending trend in Xingtai city from 2008 to 2012, but further efforts be made to prevent and control the prevalence ofTB.