cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Channel Estimation for OFDM Systems in the Presence of Carrier Frequency Offset and Phase Noise

Channel estimation for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system at the presence of carrier frequency offset (CFO) and phase noise is discussed in this paper. A CFO estimation algorithm is developed by exploiting the time-frequency structure of training symbols, and it provides a very accurate estimation of CFO at the presence of both unknown frequency selective fading and phase noise. Based on the estimated CFO, the phase noise and frequency selective fading are jointly estimated by employing the maximum a posteriori (MAP) criterion. Specifically, the fading channel is estimated in the form of frequency domain channel transfer function (CTF). The estimation of CTF eliminates the requirement of the priori knowledge of channel length, and it is simpler compared to the time domain channel impulse response (CIR) estimation method in the literature. Theoretical analysis with Cramer-Rao lower bound demonstrates that the joint phase noise and CTF estimation can achieve near optimum performance.
The Challenge of Galactic Cartography: Lessons from the Milky Way

In the early nineteenth century, as maps of the coastline of Africa were becoming increasingly accurate, cartographers were faced with the quandary of how or whether to include “historical” knowledge, based on traveler accounts, in their maps. I describe how we are now facing a similar problem in Galactic cartography as we try to reconcile older views of the Galactic disk based on the photometric distances to stars and kinematic distance to neutral and molecular gas with the current and upcoming high resolution radio and infrared surveys, and multiple parallax surveys. I then provide updates on two current issues of Galactic cartography: the “stellar break” of the Milky Way and the rapid increase in the amount of data that may be used to assess models of Galactic spiral structure.
Experiments in Thought

What are thought experiments, and how do they generate knowledge? More specifically, what sorts of intentional acts must one perform in order to carry out a thought experiment, what sorts of objects are such acts directed toward, and how are those objects made present in such acts? I argue on phenomenological grounds that the proper objects of thought experiments are, in certain cases, uninstantiated universals and relations among them. I will also argue that, in the best of cases, we intuit or “see” these universals and their relations to one another, and respond to some objections to this view.
On the measurement of second moments of turbulent wind velocity with a single Doppler radar over non-homogeneous terrain

The measurement of turbulent wind quantities with a single Doppler radar requires a horizontal homogeneity assumption. When the terrain is not horizontally homogeneous, then the measurement of the various moments is contaminated by the gradients of these moments. However, by scanning the radar at three different elevation angles, the contamination from these gradients can be removed from the second-moment quantities of interest.
A policy-based access control mechanism for the corporate Web

Current Web technologies use access control lists (ACLs) for enforcing regulations and practices governing businesses today. Having the policy hard-coded into ACLs causes management and security problems which have sofar prevented intranets from achieving their full potential. This paper is about a concrete design of a mechanism that supports policies for regulating access to information via corporate intranet. This mechanism makes a strict separation between the formal statement of a policy, and its enforcement, the latter being carried out by generic policy engines. The proposed mechanism is easy to deploy, requiring no modifications of current Web servers. We provide some preliminary performance results that show that the mechanism is quite affordable, even in its present, experimental stage.
Biomechanical strain vehicles for fibroblast-directed skeletal myoblast differentiation and myotube functionality in a novel coculture

Skeletal muscle functionality is governed by multiple stimuli, including cytokines and biomechanical strain. Fibroblasts embedded within muscle connective tissue respond to biomechanical strain by secreting cytokines that induce myoblast differentiation and, we hypothesize, regulate myotube function. A coculture was established to allow cross talk between fibroblasts in Bioflex wells and myoblasts on nondeformable coverslips situated above Bioflex wells. Cyclic short-duration strain (CSDS) modeling repetitive stress/injury, acyclic long-duration strain (ALDS) modeling manipulative therapy, and combined strain paradigms (CSDS + ALDS) were applied to fibroblasts. Nonstrained myoblasts in uniculture and coculture served as controls. After fibroblasts had induced myoblast differentiation, myotube contraction was assessed by perfusion of ACh (10(-11)-10(-3) M). CSDS-treated fibroblasts increased myotube contractile sensitivity vs. uniculture (P < 0.05). As contraction is dependent on ACh binding, expression and clustering of nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs) were measured. CSDS-treated fibroblasts increased nAChR expression (P < 0.05), which correlated with myotube contraction. ALDS-treated fibroblasts did not significantly affect contraction or nAChR expression. Agrin-treated myotubes were then used to design a computer algorithm to identify α-bungarotoxin-stained nAChR clusters. ALDS-treated fibroblasts increased nAChR clustering (P < 0.05), while CSDS-treated fibroblasts disrupted cluster formation. CSDS-treated fibroblasts produced nAChRs preferentially located in nonclustered regions (P < 0.05). Strain-activated fibroblasts mediate myotube differentiation with multiple functional phenotypes. Similar to muscle injury, CSDS-treated fibroblasts disrupted nAChR clusters and hypersensitized myotube contraction, while ALDS-treated fibroblasts aggregated nAChRs in large clusters, which may have important clinical implications. Cellular strategies aimed at improving muscle functionality, such as through biomechanical strain vehicles that activate fibroblasts to stabilize postsynaptic nAChRs on nearby skeletal muscle, may serve as novel targets in neuromuscular disorders.
Corrections to diagonal VMD in the photoproduction of vector mesons II: ø−ω mixing☆

Abstract We present a simple model of o−ω mixing in photoproduction incorporating e + e - →o−ω couplings, a simple quark model, and VMD. Together with effects described in the preceding paper, these calculations significantly reduce the discrepancies between VMD and experiment for o, ω photoproduction.
Risk Assessment With Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: Investigating the Gap Between Research and Practice

In intimate partner violence (IPV) risk assessment, there is consensus that a large gap exists between research and practice. This exploratory study interviewed 13 practitioners working with IPV victims to generate ideas about the nature of this gap, and found that only two conducted standardized risk assessment. Others felt imposing structure might detract from the quality of their work. Results support the need for different techniques in different contexts; some adjust only speed of services according to their risk perception, whereas others use in-depth information to customize services. Perspectives appear particularly disparate regarding victim minimization of risk. Implications for future work are discussed.
The impact of dynamic balance measures on walking performance in multiple sclerosis

Background: Static posture imbalance and gait dysfunction are common in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Although the impact of strength and static balance on walking has been examined, th...
Sports and energy drink consumption are linked to health-risk behaviours among young adults.

OBJECTIVE: National data for the USA show increases in sports and energy drink consumption over the past decade with the largest increases among young adults aged 20-34 years. The present study aimed to identify sociodemographic factors and health-risk behaviours associated with sports and energy drink consumption among young adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of survey data from the third wave of a cohort study (Project EAT-III: Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults). Regression models stratified on gender and adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics were used to examine associations of sports and energy drink consumption with eating behaviours, physical activity, media use, weight-control behaviours, sleep patterns and substance use. SETTING: Participants completed baseline surveys in 1998-1999 as students at public secondary schools in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, USA and the EAT-III surveys online or by mail in 2008-2009. SUBJECTS: The sample consisted of 2287 participants (55 % female, mean age 25·3 years). RESULTS: Results showed 31·0 % of young adults consumed sports drinks and 18·8 % consumed energy drinks at least weekly. Among men and women, sports drink consumption was associated with higher sugar-sweetened soda and fruit juice intake, video game use and use of muscle-enhancing substances like creatine (P≤0·01). Energy drink consumption was associated with lower breakfast frequency and higher sugar-sweetened soda intake, video game use, use of unhealthy weight-control behaviours, trouble sleeping and substance use among men and women (PCONCLUSIONS: Health professionals should consider the clustering of sports and energy drink consumption with other unhealthy behaviours in the design of programmes and services for young adults. Language: en
Selenium speciation profiles in selenite-enriched soybean (Glycine Max) by HPLC-ICPMS and ESI-ITMS

Soybean (Glycine Max) plants were grown in soil supplemented with sodium selenite. A comprehensive selenium profile, including total selenium concentration, distribution of high molecular weight selenium and characterization of low molecular weight selenium compounds, is reported for each plant compartment: bean, pod, leaf and root of the Se-enriched soybean plants. Two chromatographic techniques, coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) for specific selenium detection, were employed in this work to analyze extract solutions from the plant compartments. Size-exclusion chromatography revealed that the bean compartment, well-known for its strong ability to make proteins, produced high amounts (82% of total Se) of high molecular weight selenospecies, which may offer additional nutritional value and suggest high potential for studying proteins containing selenium in plants. The pod, leaf and root compartments primarily accumulate low molecular weight selenium species. For each compartment, low molecular weight selenium species (lower than 5 kDa) were characterized by ion-pairing reversed phase HPLC-ICPMS and confirmed by electrospray ionizationion trap mass spectrometry (ESI-ITMS). Selenomethionine and selenocystine are the predominant low molecular weight selenium compounds found in the bean, while inorganic selenium was the major species detected in other plant compartments.
Temperature monitoring during CPB in infants: Does it predict efficient brain cooling?

We examined jugular venous oxygen saturation data in 17 pediatric patients less than 1 year of age undergoing hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Jugular venous oxygen saturations (JvO2SATS) were measured before bypass and during the active core cooling portion of CPB. The study intervals during CPB included 1 minute after initiation of CPB, at a tympanic membrane temperature of 15 degrees C, and at a rectal temperature of 15 degrees C. During these measurement intervals, there were no significant changes in mean arterial pressure, pump flow rate, arterial oxygen saturation, mixed venous oxygen saturation, carbon dioxide tension, or hematocrit. Six of the 17 patients (29%) demonstrated a significantly lower JvO2SAT (87.1% +/- 6.3% versus 98.1% +/- 0.9%) at a tympanic membrane temperature of 15 degrees C. Patients demonstrating jugular venous desaturation could not be predicted from continuous monitoring of tympanic membrane and rectal temperatures or through on-line measurements of mixed venous oxygen saturation. Low JvO2SAT suggests higher levels of cerebral metabolism and cerebral uptake of oxygen. In the presence of deep hypothermic CPB and stable anesthetic levels, the most likely cause of a low JvO2SAT is inadequate cerebral cooling. We believe JvO2SAT monitoring may be an important adjunct to conventional temperature monitoring in the patient undergoing deep hypothermic CPB or total circulatory arrest.
Basic results on pointwise asymptotic stability and set-valued Lyapunov functions

Pointwise asymptotic stability of a set, for a difference inclusion, requires that each point of the set be Lyapunov stable and that every solution to the inclusion, from a neighborhood of the set, be convergent and have the limit in the set. It is equivalent to asymptotic stability for a single equilibrium, but is different in general, especially for noncompact sets of equilibria. Set-valued Lyapunov functions are set-valued mappings which characterize pointwise asymptotic stability in a way similar to how Lyapunov functions characterize asymptotic stability. It is shown here, via an argument resembling an invariance principle, that weak set-valued Lyapunov functions imply pointwise asymptotic stability. Strict set-valued Lyapunov functions are shown, in the spirit of converse Lyapunov results, to always exist for pointwise asymptotically stable closed sets.
A microwave measurement technique for characterizing the I-V relationship for negative differential conductance devices

The practical procedures of a recently proposed technique to experimentally determine the I-V characteristics of negative differential conductance (NDC) devices are presented in this paper. The technique employs microwave reflection coefficients together with the measurable portions of the device's I-V characteristics to infer the I-V curve in the negative conductance region where oscillations tend to occur under normal DC bias conditions. The effects of higher harmonics at large signal levels are also taken into account in the calculation. The advantages of the method for high NDC devices have been pointed out in the stability analysis contained in a previously published work. The technique was demonstrated in the case of a low NDC tunnel diode where the agreement between the deduced I-V curve using the described method and the DC measured I-V curve is within 5%. The I-V curve in the negative conductance region for another tunnel diode with much higher negative conductance is also obtained and a self-consistent accuracy of 5% is found. >
EFFECT OF EXTRUSION OPERATING PARAMETERS ON AIR BUBBLE ENTRAPMENT

The effect of different extrusion operating parameters on air bubble entrapment during twin-screw extrusion of amylopectin half-products was studied. A ZSK-30 twin-screw corotating extruder with a slit die attached to the discharge end of the extruder to cool the extrudate to prwent water vapor puffins was used. me extrusion parameters investigated were screw speed (150, 300 and 500 rpm), mass flow rate (1.67 and 3.33 g s-I), native versus pregelatinized amylopectin, screw configuration (with or without kneading blocks), and moisture content (32 and 35%, w.6.). The parameters that exerted the greatest effect on air bubble entrapment during twin-screw extrusion are the type of amylopectin used, massflow rate and screw speed. On the other hand, in the ranges studied screw configuration and moisture content did not show any significant effect on air bubble entrapment. Explanations for these results are interpreted with the aid of the barrelfill length mechanism proposed by Cisneros and Kokini (2001).
Transnationalism and Citizenship

Discourses on the rights, entitlements, and obligations of citizenship have changed dramatically in the past two decades as a result of the increasingly transnational character of global migration flows, cultural networks, and socio-political practices. The once taken for granted correspondence between citizenship, nation, and state has been questioned as new forms of grassroots citizenship have taken on an increasingly trans-territorial character. Resident non-citizens now routinely live and work in transnational cities throughout the world while maintaining social and political networks linking them to people and places located in their countries of origin. At the same time, the rise of supranational institutional networks and the global spread of the discourse on human rights also challenge received notions of state sovereignty. Some scholars (e.g., Soysal, 1994; Held, 1991) now depict the activities of international human rights agencies and the development of supranational authority structures like the European Union as signs of a new international order premised on the creation of plural authority and “transnational citizenship”. What sense can we make of these developments? What do they mean for the future of the nation-state? What prospects do they hold for the future of localities that become interconnected across borders by political practices and networks that I have elsewhere called “transnational urbanism?” (Smith, 1999,2001)
Valuing Simple Multiple-Exercise Real Options in Infrastructure Projects

The revenue risk is considerable in infrastructure project financing arrangements such as build-operate-transfer BOT .A potential mitigation strategy for the revenue risk is a governmental revenue guarantee, where the government secures a minimum amount of revenue for a project. Such a guarantee is: 1 only redeemable at distinct points in time; and 2 more economical if the government limits the guarantee's availability to the early portions of a BOT's concession period. Hence, a guarantee characterized by this type of structure takes the form of either a Bermudan or a simple multiple-exercise real option, depending upon the number of exercise opportunities afforded. The multi-least-squares Monte Carlo technique is presented and illustrated as a promising approach to determine the fair value of this variety of real option. This method is far more flexible than prevailing approaches, so it represents an important step toward improving risk mitigation and facilitating contractual and financial negotiations in BOT projects.
Semiotic Systems, Computers, and the Mind: How Cognition Could Be Computing

In this reply to James H. Fetzer's "Minds and Machines: Limits to Simulations of Thought and Action", the author argues that computationalism should not be the view that human cognition is computation, but that it should be the view that cognition simpliciter is computable. It follows that computationalism can be true even if human cognition is not the result of computations in the brain. The author also argues that, if semiotic systems are systems that interpret signs, then both humans and computers are semiotic systems. Finally, the author suggests that minds can be considered as virtual machines implemented in certain semiotic systems, primarily the brain, but also AI computers. In doing so, the author takes issue with Fetzer's arguments to the contrary.
Leiomyosarcoma metastatic to the brain: CT features and review

Leiomyosarcoma is an uncommon tumor that rarely metas­ tasizes to the brain. It has been suggested that improved chemotherapy-resulting in improved survival rates-may have changed the metastatic pattern of this tumor, with an increasing frequency of cerebral metastasis. We present two histologically proven cases of leiomyosarcoma, one with a metastatic lesion in the cerebrum and the other in the cere­ bellum. In both cases, the metastatic lesion was of uniformly high attenuation on CT and demonstrated remarkable ho­ mogeneous enhancement. These findings are nonspecific, and are similar to those seen in meningioma. Cerebral angiog­ raphy was of considerable value in one of the cases by helping to define intraaxial location of the tumor.
Native Spanish Speaker Intuition in Noun Gender Assignment

When an English word is borrowed into Spanish it has no specific gender and in order for the word to be used in the language it must be assigned a gender, either masculine or feminine. There are many different factors that may play a role in the assignment of gender to new English-origin words. This paper concentrates on English word final phonemes that do not correspond with the phonemes usually found in word final position in Spanish. For this study, words that are phonotactically possible in English but do not, in fact, exist were given to native Spanish speakers. The native Spanish speakers were then asked to assign the new words a gender. The words used in the study were designed to appear to be one gender according to their terminal phoneme. (ie. words ending in /o/ are generally masculine and words ending in /a/ are feminine) The definitions given to the words were designed to contradict the predictable gender associated with the terminal phoneme. In 90% of the cases the participants overlooked the definition and assigned the word to the gender associated with the terminal phoneme. This indicates that the meaning of the word and its function does not directly influence gender assignment. This study does indicate that the single most important factor in assigning gender to words borrowed from English into Spanish is the terminal phoneme.
The Cosmology of Male-Male Love in Medieval Japan: Nyakudō no kanjinchō and the Way of Youths

Scholars have investigated the Japanese tradition of male-male love that arose in the context of the secular and commercial culture of the early modern era. Less often noted is the role of male-male sexuality within a religious framework. This article sheds light on the unexplored religious dimension of medieval Japanese male-male sexuality through an analysis of Ijiri Matakurō Tadasuke’s Nyakudō no kanjinchō (1482) and its Muromachi variant. Both works glorify male-male sexual acts and endorse their proper practice. I suggest that Kanjinchō attempts to perpetuate power relations that maintain the superiority of adult monks over young acolytes. Kanjinchō achieves this through constructing its own cosmology, built on a Buddhist cosmogony, soteriology, a pantheon of divinities and ethical norms, which, in effect, endows homoeroticism with sacrality. My analysis of Kanjinchō provides a nuanced understanding of male-male sexuality in Japanese Buddhism and the ideological context in which the text is embedded.
Behavior of the Sapporo-nZP-2012 basis set family

Abstract The behavior of Sapporo- n ZP-2012 ( n = D, T, Q) basis sets for 3 d atoms is investigated. It is shown that total atomic energies obtained using Sapporo sets of increasing quality converge to a limit. Several schemes are used to determine these limits and comparisons are made to numerical Hartree–Fock energies and to limits obtained with correlation consistent sets (cc-pV n Z, n = T, Q, 5). While differences in energy relative to numerical HF are larger for Sapporo- n ZP-2012 sets (16–40 mE h ) than for correlation consistent basis sets (∼0.005 mE h ), the systematic nature of the Sapporo- n ZP-2012 sets may provide a reasonable alternative when the correlation consistent basis sets are not available.
Immunology of Pneumocystis carinii

The relationship between Pneumocystis carinii and its mammaliam hosts is remarkably unique. In the severely immunosuppressed animal or human, infection from P. carinii, even when fatal, remains localized to the lung. With rare exception, the pneumonitis is encountered exclusively in the compromised host. Whereas the organism was recognized as a cause of interstitial plasma cell pneumonitis in premature and debilitated infants in Europe following World War II, the epidemics of this disease had ceased by 1960. However, for the past two decades the disease has emerged in the United States, affecting predominantly immunocompromised children and adults with cancer, congenital immunodeficiency disorders, and organ transplantation.
A Systematic Review of Function-Based Replacement Behavior Interventions for Students With and At Risk for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders:

Students with emotional and behavioral disorders and students considered at risk often have social deficits. Although social skills interventions are often provided to this student population, there are some concerns regarding how these interventions are conceived and provided. One possible way to improve the effectiveness of social skills interventions is to use functional behavior assessment data to tailor the interventions to a student's individual needs and the contexts in which social skills deficits and problem behaviors occur. This approach is commonly referred to as replacement behavior training. In this study, the literature on function-based replacement behavior interventions is systematically reviewed. In addition, studies are evaluated according to the What Works Clearinghouse design and evidence standards for single-case research. Although this research base does not meet the What Works Clearinghouse replication standards, function-based replacement behavior interventions appear to be a promising practice for addressing problem behaviors. Implications for practice, areas for future research, and study limitations are discussed.
Content and Aims of Women's Studies

Women's studies has been in existence for over thirty years in the world. Women's studies interdisciplinary teaching curricular have been established in the higher education of many countries. The central concept of women's studies is gender. Women's studies examines the change of gender systems and gender discourses in different historical times and different cultures; the intersections between gender, class, race and ethnicity; the relationship between gender, politics, economy, and culture; the construction of femininity and masculinity; sexuality; and women's experiences in all walks of life. Providing new epistemology, women's studies aims at participating in social change. This paper also discusses the significance of establishing women's studies in China.
Investigation into the Influencing Factors on Detection Accuracy of SF_6 Decomposition Products

Detecting SF6 decomposition products and their contents can help to find faults or latent faults in SF6 insulated equipment.In this paper,to ensure the detection accuracy,the influencing factors,such as sampling vessel material,sampling time,detection time,SF6 decomposition products' self-hydrolysis and adsorption by adsorbent,as well as equipment structure,on detection accuracy are investigated.This study may aid in improving supervision,prediction,and fault diagnosis of SF6 insulated equipment.
Passion for little people : personal paths for teaching elementary general music.

PASSION FOR LITTLE PEOPLE: PERSONAL PATHS FOR TEACHING ELEMENTARY GENERAL MUSIC Rebecca I. Dennis November 22,2010 This phenomenological study examines the experiences of current music teachers to determine what influences them to pursue a career teaching at the elementary level. Eight elementary music teachers from rural counties in Kentucky were interviewed during a two month period using open-response questions designed by the researcher. Participants recalled experiences from their childhood, collegiate career, and teaching career that influenced them prior to accepting positions in elementary general music. Results show that half of the participants decided to pursue elementary teaching during college and the other half decided they preferred elementary as a result of positive experiences while teaching in an elementary position., Nearly all the participants described negative experiences as a child in elementary music. All valued their field experience during college but wished they had more time in the classroom before entering the profession as elementary educators. Most participants enjoyed the creative freedom in teaching elementary and enjoyed working with younger children and often mention the teaching approaches of Orff and Kodaly. Many of the participants' most memorable experiences as teachers were
Studies on the metabolism of fibrinogen in two patients with congenital afibrinogenemia.

1. The rate of disappearance from the plasma of intravenously administered fibrinogen has been studied immunochemically in two children with congenital afibrinogenemia. 2. About half of the administered fibrinogen disappeared from the circulation in the first forty-eight hours, thus emphasizing the importance of the extravascular pool of plasma protein. 3. After the first two days, the fibrinogen followed a logarithmic decay curve, with a half life of four days; this is so close to the half life of 5.6 days estimated from radioisotope turnover studies that it indicates that the fundamental defect in these patients is a failure to synthesize adequate quantities of fibrinogen. 4. Traces of fibrinogen were detected immunochemically in the plasma of each patient; in one of them, the small amount found could not readily be attributed to prior infusion of blood or blood products. 5. The connective tissue in biopsy specimens of skin and muscle from one patient, when examined with fluorescein-labelled antisera, was found to be specifically deficient in fibrinogen. This deficit was quickly rectified by intravenous administration of fibrinogen.
The Public Health Nurse Workforce in U.S. State and Local Health Departments, 2012

Objective.Public health nurses (PHNs) represent the single largest group of public health practitioners working in U.S. state and local health departments. Despite the important role of PHNs in the...
A survey of some recent results on the CRLB for parameter estimation and its extension

This paper surveys some recent results regarding the Cramer-Rao Lower Bound (CRLB) — the requirements for its existence and its extension to the situation where the parameter's likelihood function (LF) support depends on the parameter to be estimated. In the latter case the conventional CRLB does not hold in general. First we revisit the derivation of the CRLB to elucidate the necessary and sufficient conditions needed for the estimation bound. Following this, the situation of parameter-dependent LF support is considered and the Cramer-Rao-Leibniz Lower Bound (CRLLB) is shown to have an additional term that follows from the Leibniz integral rule, hence the name of this recently obtained bound. This result is the key to provide the estimation bound for the case of uniformly distributed measurement noise over a finite interval. It is also shown that in this case the CRLLB is unattainable. Other examples are also discussed, like the truncated Gaussian measurement noise, in which case the CRLLB is shown to be attained. We also present two examples of apparent “super-efficient estimators” where the estimators' variances are smaller than the conventional CRLB and show that these examples have correct CRLLBs, thus setting straight the myth of “super-efficiency”.
Improved nanostructured diamond adhesion on cemented tungsten carbide with boride interlayers

Abstract The application of diamond coatings for strengthening cemented tungsten carbide has been previously attempted, but suffers from delamination. Plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition boriding improves the strength of cemented carbides by forming WCoB, W2CoB2, and/or CoB phases using controllable diborane stoichiometry; this research explores these borides as interlayers for nanostructured diamond coatings. Diamond deposition occurred between 600 °C and 1100 °C at 100 °C increments for 30 min to 4 h. Raman spectroscopy showed enhanced diamond growth compared to untreated WC-Co, however predominantly WCoB and CoB phase interlayers suffered from diamond film delamination. Examination by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed interfacial cobalt clusters on these interlayers. Predominantly W2CoB2 phase interlayers showed improvement with a reduction in reactive cobalt, and improved adhesion of nanostructured diamond coatings. Diamond on W2CoB2 was well adhered with deposition temperature dependent nanoindentation hardness ranging from 10 to 60 GPa and elastic modulus of 400 to 750 GPa. Scratch testing revealed cohesive and adhesive failure of the diamond coatings at 5 N ± 2 N and 8 N ± 2 N respectively and epoxy pull testing resulted in a surface adhesion tensile strength of 8.2 MPa ± 0.1 MPa. The W2CoB2 phase is shown to be desirable as an interlayer for improved nanostructured diamond adhesion on cemented tungsten carbide. Prime novelty statement The scope of diamond deposition parameters used and the comparison of interlayer effect for CVD diamond coatings on ternary borides (WCoB, W2CoB2) with a cemented tungsten carbide substrate has not been previously examined to this level.
Optimal Tilings for Image and Video Compression

We build on our prior work on best basis selection algorithms in large tree-structured dictionaries, previously used to construct effective image coders based on block and lapped transforms, as well as to improve the motion compensation step in video compression. In the present paper, we use such algorithms to select the optimal transform tiling for video compression. We illustrate the effectiveness of this approach by showing that our tiling selection method, combined with our optimal tiling selection for the motion compensation stage, results in up to 30.5% savings in bit rate as compared to the standard H.264/AVC tiling selection, for several standard video sequences.
Contact lens induced corneal acidosis.

Purpose : Changes in pH in the corneal epithelium, stroma, endothelium and aqueous humor following contact lens wear were evaluated. Methods : Intracellular pH, stromal pH, and aqueous humor pH were measured either in vivo or in vitro in humans and in rabbits using pHsensitive fluorescent dyes. Fluorescence was measured before and during lens wear using a slit lamp fluorimeter (in vivo experiments) or a microscope fluorimeter (in vitro experiments). Results : The pH of corneal epithelium, stoma epithelium and aqueous humor decreased significantly with lenses up to Dk/L=100. Hypoxia had large effects on the corneal epithelium and stroma, but had no effect on the endothelium or aqueous. Conversely, carbon dioxide accumulation caused significant acidosis in all compartments measured. Conclusions : Corneal acidosis during contact lens wear is significant under a variety of wearing conditions and, thus, must be considered when evaluating the morphological or functional changes that occur following long-term contact lens wear.
Prevalence and risk factors for vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency at birth and associated outcome.

Occurrence and consequence of cord blood (CB) vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency has not been adequately explored despite rising concern regarding this topic in pediatrics. This study was designed to determine the rate, maternal risk factors, and clinical outcomes in infants in association with vitamin D insufficient/deficient status at birth. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) defined levels (ng/mL) were utilized to categorize the vitamin D status in CB samples as deficient (5–15), insufficient (16–20), and sufficient (21–100). We used descriptive statistics and multiple regression models to identify the rate and factors associated with vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency and related outcomes in the enrolled mother-infant pairs. This prospective study was conducted at a single center on postpartum women and their infants. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was recorded in 38.9 and 29.8% respectively of the 265 CB samples. Deficient CB vitamin D levels in infants were associated with maternal Black, Hispanic, or Asian race/ethnicity, younger age, and increased number of pregnancies. The likelihood for infants to be born with an insufficient vitamin D level increases with younger maternal age and the number of pregnancies as well as Asian ethnicity. We did not find an association between the vitamin D status at birth and pre-discharge clinical characteristics of the neonates. The likelihood for an infant to be born with vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency is relatively high and is related mainly to younger maternal age, gravidity, and non-White race/ethnicity. Our findings raise a question regarding the adequacy of the AAP recommended vitamin D supplementation requirements without knowing the infant’s vitamin D status at birth.
Long-Cycling Aqueous Organic Redox Flow Battery (AORFB) toward Sustainable and Safe Energy Storage.

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are a viable technology to store renewable energy in the form of electricity that can be supplied to electricity grids. However, widespread implementation of traditional RFBs, such as vanadium and Zn–Br2 RFBs, is limited due to a number of challenges related to materials, including low abundance and high costs of redox-active metals, expensive separators, active material crossover, and corrosive and hazardous electrolytes. To address these challenges, we demonstrate a neutral aqueous organic redox flow battery (AORFB) technology utilizing a newly designed cathode electrolyte containing a highly water-soluble ferrocene molecule. Specifically, water-soluble (ferrocenylmethyl)trimethylammonium chloride (FcNCl, 4.0 M in H2O, 107.2 Ah/L, and 3.0 M in 2.0 NaCl, 80.4 Ah/L) and N1-ferrocenylmethyl-N1,N1,N2,N2,N2-pentamethylpropane-1,2-diaminium dibromide, (FcN2Br2, 3.1 M in H2O, 83.1 Ah/L, and 2.0 M in 2.0 M NaCl, 53.5 Ah/L) were synthesized through structural decoration of hydrophobic...
Particle coatings but not silver ions mediate genotoxicity of ingested silver nanoparticles in a mouse model

Incorporation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in toothpaste, food containers, dietary supplements and other consumer products can result in oral exposure to AgNPs and/or silver ions (Ag+) released from the surface of AgNPs. To examine whether ingestion of AgNPs or Ag+ results in genotoxic damage and whether AgNP coatings modulate the effect, we exposed mice orally to 20 nm citrate-coated AgNPs, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated AgNPs, silver acetate or respective vehicles at a 4 mg/kg dose (equivalent to 800x the EPA reference dose for Ag) for 7 days. Genotoxicity was examined in the systemic circulation and bone marrow at 1, 7, and 14 days post-exposure. We found that citrate-coated AgNPs induced chromosomal damage in bone marrow and oxidative DNA damage and double strand breaks in peripheral blood. These damages persisted for at least 14 days after exposure termination. Because oxidative DNA damage and strand breaks are repaired rapidly, their presence after exposure cessation indicates that citrate-coated AgNPs persist in the body. In contrast, PVP-coated AgNPs and silver acetate did not induce DNA or chromosomal damage at any time point measured. To determine whether coating-dependent genotoxicity is related to different AgNP changes in the gastrointestinal tract, we examined AgNP behavior and fate in an in vitro gastrointestinal digestion model using UV-visible spectroscopy and DLS. Citrate-coated AgNPs were more susceptible to agglomeration than PVP-coated AgNPs in digestive juices with or without proteins. In summary, AgNPs but not Ag+ are genotoxic following oral ingestion. Nanoparticle coatings modulate gastrointestinal transformation and genotoxicity of AgNPs, where higher agglomeration of AgNPs in gastrointestinal juices is associated with higher genotoxicity in tissues. Since genotoxicity is a strong indicator of cancer risk, further long-term studies focusing on cancer are warranted.
Transformative Self-Assembly of Hybrid Nanocomposite Rings

Active assembly processes facilitated by biological molecular motors (e.g., kinesin) are a promising candidates for producing complex, non-equilibrium nanostructures currently unattainable through conventional self-assembly methods. Such systems involve surface-adhered kinesin motors that propel biotinylated microtubules (MTs) across a surface, which in turn assemble into spools and ring nanocomposites upon introduction of streptavidin-coated quantum dots. In the present work, we describe the effects of structural and compositional heterogeneity of the MT building blocks on the behavior and morphology of the resulting ring nanocomposites. Heterostructured, segmented MTs with varying molar ratios of biotinylated and non-biotinylated segments were generated through the head-to-tail self-assembly of different MT populations, and subsequently used to assemble ring composites. Here, ring structures evolve from open loops to tightly packed rings upon increasing concentration of biotinylated segments. Moreover, preferential release of non-biotinylated segments from ring structures accompanied by reduction in length of the liberated MTs was observed for all ratios. Interestingly, the released MTs retained functionality and therefore were able to transiently or permanently incorporate into the composite structures. Overall, this work provides crucial insights for future development of dynamic and adaptive self-regulating multifunctional nanostructures. Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-mission laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.
Systematic Review of Safety and Cost-Effectiveness of Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis Strategies in Patients Undergoing Craniotomy for Brain Tumor

Background Studies have evaluated various strategies to prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in neuro-oncology patients, without consensus. Objective To perform a systematic review with cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of various prophylaxis strategies in tumor patients undergoing craniotomy to determine the safest and most cost-effective prophylaxis regimen. Methods A literature search was conducted for VTE prophylaxis in brain tumor patients. Articles reporting the type of surgery, choice of VTE prophylaxis, and outcomes were included. Safety of prophylaxis strategies was determined by measuring rates of VTE and intracranial hemorrhage. Cost estimates were collected based on institutional data and existing literature. CEA was performed at 30 d after craniotomy, comparing the following strategies: mechanical prophylaxis (MP), low molecular weight heparin with MP (MP+LMWH), and unfractionated heparin with MP (MP+UFH) to prevent symptomatic VTE. All costs were reported in 2016 US dollars. Results A total of 34 studies were reviewed (8 studies evaluated LMWH, 12 for MP, and 7 for UFH individually or in combination; 4 studies used LMWH and UFH preoperatively). Overall probability of VTE was 1.49% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.42-3.72) for MP+UFH, 2.72% [95% CI 1.23-5.15] for MP+LMWH, and 2.59% (95% CI 1.31-4.58) for MP, which were not statistically significant. Compared to a control of MP alone, the number needed to treat for MP+UFH is 91 and 769 for MP+LMWH. The risk of intracranial hemorrhage was 0.26% (95% CI 0.01-1.34) for MP, 0.74% (95% CI 0.09-2.61) for MP+UFH, and 2.72% (95% CI 1.23-5.15) for MP+LMWH, which were also not statistically significant. Compared to MP, the number needed to harm for MP+UFH was 208 and for MP+LMWH was 41. Fifteen studies were included in the final CEA. The estimated cost of treatment was $127.47 for MP, $142.20 for MP+UFH, and $169.40 for MP+LMWH. The average cost per quality-adjusted life-year for different strategies was $284.14 for MP+UFH, $338.39 for MP, and $722.87 for MP+LMWH. Conclusion Although MP+LMWH is frequently considered the optimal prophylaxis for VTE risk reduction, our model suggests that MP+UFH is the safest and most cost-effective measure to balance VTE and hemorrhage risks in brain tumor patients at lower risk of hemorrhage. MP+LMWH may be more effective for patients at higher risk of VTE.
Towards clinically translatable in vivo nanodiagnostics

Nanodiagnostics as a field makes use of fundamental advances in nanobiotechnology to diagnose, characterize and manage disease at the molecular scale. As these strategies move closer to routine clinical use, a proper understanding of different imaging modalities, relevant biological systems and physical properties governing nanoscale interactions is necessary to rationally engineer next-generation bionanomaterials. In this Review, we analyse the background physics of several clinically relevant imaging modalities and their associated sensitivity and specificity, provide an overview of the materials currently used for in vivo nanodiagnostics, and assess the progress made towards clinical translation. This work provides a framework for understanding both the impressive progress made thus far in the nanodiagnostics field as well as presenting challenges that must be overcome to obtain widespread clinical adoption.
Pregnancy and Melanoma: Recommendations for Clinical Scenarios.

Abstract Managing pregnant patients with a history of melanoma or with a melanoma diagnosis can be daunting and confusing for dermatologists. We present three clinical scenarios that raise questions about the safety of pregnancy in patients with a history of melanoma, skin biopsies during pregnancy, and excisions and sentinel lymph node biopsies during pregnancy. Our recommendations incorporate the most up-to-date clinical data to help guide clinicians when faced with pigmented lesions and melanoma in a pregnant patient.
Combination treatment for male lower urinary tract symptoms with anticholinergic and alpha-blockers.

Purpose of review Although alpha-adrenergic antagonists (α-blockers) are effective for relieving voiding lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men, storage symptoms often persist. The aim of this manuscript is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with α-blockers and muscarinic receptor antagonists (anticholinergics). Recent findings High-quality evidence confirms that the addition of an anticholinergic improves micturition diary parameters, such as daytime and nocturnal frequency and urgency incontinence episodes, as well as total and storage subset scores on the International Prostate Symptom Score. Most studies demonstrate a statistically significant improvement over α-blocker monotherapy. Both, incidence of urinary retention and study withdrawal because of treatment-related adverse events with combination therapy, are low. Urodynamic indices, such as maximum flow rate and postvoid residual volume, are also minimally impacted by combination therapy. Outcomes on validated questionnaires and quality-of-life (QoL) indices also indicate a significant improvement. Summary The addition of an anticholinergic to an α-blocker in men with storage and voiding LUTS is an effective practice in reducing both categories of symptoms. The addition of anticholinergic is associated with a low rate of urinary retention and the impact on efficient bladder emptying is minimal. Not unexpectedly, QoL is improved.
Microturning of landing gear components used in miniature unmanned aircraft vehicles

AbstractThe microturning of landing gear components used in miniature unmanned aircraft vehicles is described in this article. The finite element method (FEM) is used to predict variables such as microturning forces and temperatures at two different levels of roughing cut (1 and 3 mm depth of cut) with variable geometry cutting tool inserts. The predicted results are compared to experimentally determined magnitudes of forces and temperatures using a dynamometer and an infrared thermal camera. The results show that tool inserts with novel chip breaker functions reduce the magnitude of the machining forces and temperatures predicted using the FEM and validated by performing controlled experiments using Al-380 aluminum alloys machined with polycrystalline diamond-coated cutting tool inserts.
Virtual Math Teams: an online tool for collaborative learning in the mathematics disciplines

The Virtual Math Teams (VMT) service provides an integrated Internet-based environment for small teams of people to discuss math and to work collaboratively on math problems or explore interesting mathematical micro-worlds together. We are presenting an overview of VMT's traditional features and usage in K-12 teaching and group cognition research contexts, and the affordances of its new features, including the first collaborative Internet-based dynamic mathematics whiteboard.