cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Redefining Hormonal Therapy for Advanced Prostate Cancer: Results from the LATITUDE and STAMPEDE Studies

Two papers published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine describe the utility of abiraterone acetate, an androgen biosynthesis inhibitor, in the early treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. In addition to establishing a new standard of care, these two articles pose a number of important questions for future investigation.
Supporting strengths-based child welfare practice through a dual professional family assessment program

ABSTRACTDespite the strong need for family-centered, strengths-based practice approaches in child welfare, full-scale implementation remains limited. This qualitative study depicts a specialized Integrated Assessment (IA) program that—though designed primarily to enhance the quality of clinical family assessments—was found to support frontline child welfare caseworkers in their implementation of family-centered, strengths-based practices. Caseworkers differentiated the support of the IA screener from that of their supervisor and reported that the additional support was particularly valuable on complex cases. Key factors for replication and implications for training and professional development are discussed.
Fah Knockout Animals as Models for Therapeutic Liver Repopulation.

Several animal models of Fah deficiency have been developed, including mice, pigs and most recently rats. Initially, the murine models were developed with the intent to mirror the human disease for pathophysiologic and therapeutic studies. However, it soon became apparent that Fah-positive hepatocytes have a potent selective growth advantage in mutant liver and can extensively repopulate the diseased organ. For this reason, Fah mutant mice have become a workhorse for liver biology and are widely used in liver stem cell and hepatic gene therapy research. Immune deficient Fah-knockout mice can be repopulated with human hepatocytes, creating “mice with human livers”. These chimeric animals have become an important preclinical model for infectious diseases, metabolism and gene therapy. The potent expansion of human hepatocytes in Fah knockout mice has given rise to the concept of using Fah mutants as living bioreactors to produce large quantities of fully mature hepatocytes. As a consequence, larger animal models of Fah deficiency have recently been developed.
Distributed Measurement with Private Set-Union Cardinality

This paper introduces a cryptographic protocol for efficiently aggregating a count of unique items across a set of data parties privately - that is, without exposing any information other than the count. Our protocol allows for more secure and useful statistics gathering in privacy-preserving distributed systems such as anonymity networks; for example, it allows operators of anonymity networks such as Tor to securely answer the questions: how many unique users are using the distributed service? and how many hidden services are being accessed?. We formally prove the correctness and security of our protocol in the Universal Composability framework against an active adversary that compromises all but one of the aggregation parties. We also show that the protocol provides security against adaptive corruption of the data parties, which prevents them from being victims of targeted compromise. To ensure safe measurements, we also show how the output can satisfy differential privacy. We present a proof-of-concept implementation of the private set-union cardinality protocol (PSC) and use it to demonstrate that PSC operates with low computational overhead and reasonable bandwidth. In particular, for reasonable deployment sizes, the protocol run at timescales smaller than the typical measurement period would be and thus is suitable for distributed measurement.
Fractionated Grid Therapy in Treating Cervical Cancer

Purpose: To evaluate the potential therapeutic advantage of external beam grid therapy in treating cervical cancers in comparison of conventional open field radiotherapy.
Atmospheric Environment Associated with Animal Flight

The atmospheric environment can assist or restrict flight of animals (insects, birds, and bats), influencing their ability to extend their population range and find new habitats for food, mating, and shelter (Pedgley, Windborne pests and diseases: meteorology of airborne organisms. Ellis Horwood, 1982; Drake and Gatehouse, Insect migration: tracking resources through space and time. Cambridge University Press, 1995; Isard and Gage, Flow of life in the atmosphere: an airscape approach to understanding invasive organisms. Michigan State University Press, 2001; Drake and Reynolds, Radar entomology: observing insect flight and migration. CABI, 2012). Flight initiation may be influenced by air temperature, wind speed, wind direction, barometric pressure change, or other atmospheric variables and may require substantial convective lift for small invertebrates such as wingless insects and spiders. Flight displacement distance and direction largely depends on prevailing wind speed and wind direction at respective flight altitudes, although flying animals can add to their displacement speed and can alter their displacement direction by heading at an angle relative to the wind direction (Wolf et al., Southwestern Entomol Suppl 18:45–61, 1995), including upwind flight. While flying, animals may engage in predatory behaviors and conversely may be preyed upon. Long-distance flight of flying animals may be abruptly terminated by mid-latitude fronts, gust fronts, and precipitation. Ultimately, movement of animal populations in the atmosphere ranges across spatial and temporal scales spanning the microscale to macroscale and is vulnerable to changes in short-term weather and long-term climate patterns.
Corrigendum: Characterization of Novel Plant Symbiosis Mutants Using a New Multiple Gene-Expression Reporter Sinorhizobium meliloti Strain

The formation of nitrogen fixing root nodules by Medicago truncatula and Sinorhizobium meliloti requires communication between both organisms and coordinated differentiation of plant and bacterial cells. After an initial signal exchange, the bacteria invade the tissue of the growing nodule via plant-derived tubular structures, called infection threads. The bacteria are released from the infection threads into invasion-competent plant cells, where they differentiate into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. Both organisms undergo dramatic transcriptional, metabolic and morphological changes during nodule development. To identify plant processes that are essential for the formation of nitrogen fixing nodules after nodule development has been initiated, large scale mutageneses have been conducted to discover underlying plant symbiosis genes. Such screens yield numerous uncharacterized plant lines with nitrogen fixation deficient nodules. In this study, we report construction of a S. meliloti strain carrying four distinct reporter constructs to reveal stages of root nodule development. The strain contains a constitutively expressed lacZ reporter construct; a PexoY-mTFP fusion that is expressed in infection threads but not in differentiated bacteroids; a PbacA-mcherry construct that is expressed in infection threads and during bacteroid differentiation; and a PnifH-uidA construct that is expressed during nitrogen fixation. We used this strain together with fluorescence microscopy to study nodule development over time in wild type nodules and to characterize eight plant mutants from a fast neutron bombardment screen. Based on the signal intensity and the localization patterns of the reporter genes, we grouped mutants with similar phenotypes and placed them in a developmental context.
Patterns in adolescent cannabis use predict the onset and symptom structure of schizophrenia-spectrum disorder.

Abstract This study investigated adolescent cannabis use as a risk factor for schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD). Motives for early cannabis use and resulting usage patterns were examined alongside clinical measures of SSD onset and symptomatology. Participants (N = 178) were recruited for two samples, 1: healthy controls (HC) with cannabis use, 2: schizophrenia patients (SSD) with cannabis use. Structured interviews of participants and family informants were used to obtain diagnostic and biographical information. Factor-analysis of reported motives for initiating cannabis use produced four groups; sedation, stimulation, social pressure, and recreation. Regression analyses revealed significant relationships between these groups and SSD. Most notably, reason group factor scores predict SSD risk as well as schizotypal symptom severity. Findings also indicate that these factors follow a hierarchical structure, which explains their relative involvement in increased SSD risk. We suggest that adolescent cannabis use both hastens the onset and amplifies the severity of SSD. In response we propose a model for identifying at risk individuals, predicting the onset and severity of SSD, and potentially mitigating the associated psychiatric impairments.
Vitamin D replacement therapy in persons with spinal cord injury.

AbstractBackground/Objective:An increased prevalence of vitamin D deficiency has been reported in persons with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), but treatment guidelines for replacement are not available. The purpose of this study was to evaluate two types ofvitamin D therapy on calcium metabolism and vitamin D status in persons with SCI.Methods: Ten subjects with chronic SCI who were vitamin D deficient received 25 hydroxyvitamin D3[25(0H)D], 50 ¼g twice a week, for 14 days (Study 1 ). Regardless of vitamin D status, 40 subjects received vitamin D3 800 IU (20 μg) daily for 12 months (Study 2). Supplemental calcium was administered. Theresponse to therapy was determined by the effect upon serum 25(0H)D levels. Results are expressed asmean ± standarddeviation.Results:In Study 1, serum 25(0H)D levels increased by day 14 (8.7 ± 2.1 vs 14.7 ± 3.6 ng∕ml; P <0.0005). However, in 8 of 10 subjects, 25(0H)D levels werestill below the absolute lower limit of normal.Serum calcium levels were notsignificantly differe...
Light Cone Field Theory

In Part I, we saw that the development of the first quantized theory often appeared disjoint and seemingly random, appealing to rules of thumb and folklore that often seemed quite arbitrary. The choice of vertex functions, the measure of integration, the counting of diagrams, etc., all were inserted by hand. In summary, the first quantized theory suffers from several important defects: (1) The interactions must be introduced ad hoc, without any rigorous, overall motivation. (2) Unitarity cannot easily be shown in the first quantized approach. There is no Hermitian Hamiltonian from which we can derive the interacting theory. (3) The theory is necessarily perturbative and on-shell, which makes difficult the calculation of nonperturbative effects.
A general nogood-learning framework for pseudo-boolean multi-valued SAT

We formulate a general framework for pseudo-Boolean multi-valued nogood-learning, generalizing conflict analysis performed by modern SAT solvers and its recent extension for disjunctions of multi-valued variables. This framework can handle more general constraints as well as different domain representations, such as interval domains which are commonly used for bounds consistency in constraint programming (CP), and even set variables. Our empirical evaluation shows that our solver, built upon this framework, works robustly across a number of challenging domains.
Proofs for the Law of Innervation

The validity of the law of innervation expressed in the above paragraphs can be derived with great likelihood simply from the arrangement of the eye muscles, but for closely related reasons it cannot be rigorously proved. To do this a mathematically exact knowledge of the modes of operation of the single muscles and the resistances which oppose each single movement would be necessary. The great simplicity of this law, the easy overview which it gives us over the apparently so complex coordination of the various muscles, and the clear harmony which it establishes between the sensory and motor functions of the organ of sight cannot be compelling grounds for its validity. The necessity for recognizing it as correct lies for me much more in the following considerations.
MAINTENANCE ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATION

Publisher Summary An important issue in the maintenance treatment of schizophrenia is the rate of relapse upon discontinuation of therapy. This chapter discusses the time course of schizophrenic patients relapsing while on placebo and illustrates the data taken from several large collaborative studies and the related mathematical analyses in that matter. If a patient does not relapse after a long period of time, one might assume that the patient will never relapse. In an attempt to clarify this point, Hogarty and co-workers (1976) followed their placebo group for 2 or more years after the initial study. They found that almost all patients had relapsed or were lost to follow-up. Indeed, after 18 months, the empirical data hinted that the relapse rate was decreasing, but so few patients remained that the placebo group did not yield a sufficient number of unrelapsed patients for accurate study. The role of maintenance medication for a single episode of reactive psychosis has not been studied. It is reasonable to use short-term treatment for 6 months or so to ensure a solid recovery without necessarily resorting to long-term maintenance. The length of the therapy should be determined based on the knowledge of the illness as well as the patient's life situation. Reactive schizophrenic patients can have one episode and never relapse, and in these cases, a long-term maintenance medication may not be necessary. Whether maintenance therapy is needed for a patient after a first episode remains a clinical judgment.
Cannabidiol in Refractory Epilepsy

Abstract Cannabidiol (CBD), a nonpsychotropic constituent present in Cannabis sativa (hemp or marijuana), is being extensively studied for treating epilepsy. Although cannabis is known as an “alternative medicine” to treat epilepsy, especially in refractory cases, however, there had been limited scientific literature to prove its use in clinics. In preclinical studies, cannabidiol has shown effectiveness in both focal and generalized acute seizure models, including 6 Hz (32 mA) model of therapy-resistant limbic seizures and pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus. The molecule has shown to reduce the frequency of interictal epileptiform discharges and improve seizure control in both children and adult population. Cannabidiol alleviates depressed mood in patients suffering from epilepsy. Cannabidiol, unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; psychoactive constitute of cannabis), does not activate CB1 or CB2 cannabinoid receptors. The antiseizure mechanism of cannabidiol is not clear; it might be due to its effect on vanilloid, serotonin, G-protein coupled GPR55 receptors, and antiinflammatory properties. Cannabidiol use is associated with fewer adverse events but overall has been found safe and well tolerable. This chapter reviews both the biochemistry and pharmacological activity (preclinical and clinical evidence) in establishing its role for treating epilepsy. It is quite possible that cannabidiol will be the next-generation antiseizure medication for treatment-resistant epilepsies, including childhood epilepsies such as infantile spasms and Lennox–Gastaut syndrome.
Interpersonal Trauma Exposure and Depression in Young Adults: Considering the Role of World Assumptions.

The transition to young adulthood confers heightened risk for depression, and exposure to interpersonal trauma (IPT) can magnify this risk. However, not all IPT-exposed young adults develop depress...
Deletion of leptin receptors in vagal afferent neurons disrupts estrogen signaling, body weight, food intake and hormonal controls of feeding in female mice

Deletion of the leptin receptor from vagal afferent neurons (VAN) using a conditional deletion (Nav1.8/LepRfl/fl) results in an obese phenotype with increased food intake and lack of exogenous chol...
Postoperative End-to-End Anastomotic Bleeding

Routine endoscopic inspection of the anastomosis and interventions when indicated can prevent postoperative hemorrhage. Endoscopic interventions are effective in treating postoperative anastomotic bleeding.
Performance comparison of depth-encoding detectors based on dual-ended readout and different SiPMs for high-resolution PET applications.

Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) are widely used in positron emission tomography (PET), however, SiPMs from different vendors vary in their performance characteristics. In addition, the specifications provided by the manufacturers are measured under different operating conditions and using different test setups, making it difficult to choose the optimal device for a specific application using the published specifications. In this work, we evaluated four state-of-the-art 8 × 8 arrays of ~3 × 3 mm2 SiPMs from SensL, KETEK, and Hamamatsu for high-resolution dual-ended readout detectors using the same experimental setup and procedures. The results showed that all four SiPM arrays are excellent candidates for high-resolution PET applications, although some interesting differences in performance were noted.
Technical Alterations in the Problem of Error: From the True and the False to the Normal and the Pathological

Drawing on Canguilhem’s early writings, manuscript notes, famous medical thesis, and his co-authored Treatise on Logic and Morals, this chapter considers his classic formulations of the problem of error and argues that he partially transforms these through his encounter with human suffering and sickness. In both his genealogy of a thesis in positivist medicine and his own account of sickness and health, error as mistake is replaced by an interest in the role confusion and suffering play in sustaining creative endeavors in medical technique and sciences. While Canguilhem might thus appear to turn away from error, I argue that he remains committed to its elemental form: the trial and errors of life, be these exemplified by organisms or the history of science.
Characterization of solid fission products in 13.7% FIMA MOX fuel using electron microscopy techniques

Abstract This work utilizes electron microscopy-based techniques to examine the radial behavior of solid fission products in plutonium (Pu) bearing mixed oxide (MOX) fuel irradiated to a burnup of 13.7% fissions per initial metal atom (FIMA). Metallic precipitates primarily consist of five fission products: ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), technetium (Tc), molybdenum (Mo), and palladium (Pd). The five metal precipitates (FMPs) examined in this work have low concentrations of Pd and Mo, with no major compositional differences along the fuel radius. A secondary Pd–Te metallic phase forms in cooler regions of the pellet, likely due to the diffusion of gaseous species away from the central void. X-ray chemical maps indicate that the Pd–Te phase can nucleate on the surface of FMPs before precipitating into separate particles. These particles were also found to alloy with iron (Fe) near the surface of the fuel pellet due to interdiffusion with the stainless-steel cladding. The insoluble perovskite oxide phase was found to form near the central void and at intermediate radial positions, but not at the fuel edge. These findings suggest that solid fission product phases form at varying counts and compositions along the fuel pellet radius, and thus should be considered when describing the thermal behavior of the fuel.
Mesenchymal stromal cell-derived exosomes ameliorate peripheral neuropathy in a mouse model of diabetes

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is one of the major complications of diabetes, which contributes greatly to morbidity and mortality. There is currently no effective treatment for this disease. Exosomes are cell-derived nanovesicles and play an important role in intercellular communications. The present study investigated whether mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-derived exosomes improve neurological outcomes of DPN. Exosomes were isolated from the medium of cultured mouse MSCs by ultracentrifugation. Diabetic mice (BKS.Cg-m+/+Leprdb/J, db/db) at the age of 20 weeks were used as DPN models. Heterozygous mice (db/m) of the same age were used as the control. MSC-exosomes were administered weekly via the tail vein for 8 weeks. Neurological function was evaluated by testing motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities, and thermal and mechanical sensitivity. Morphometric analysis was performed by myelin sheath staining and immunohistochemistry. Macrophage markers and circulating cytokines were measured by western blot and ELISA. MicroRNA (miRNA) array and bioinformatics analyses were performed to examine the exosomal miRNA profile and miRNA putative target genes involved in DPN. Treatment of DPN with MSC-exosomes markedly decreased the threshold for thermal and mechanical stimuli and increased nerve conduction velocity in diabetic mice. Histopathological analysis showed that MSC-exosomes markedly augmented the density of FITC-dextran perfused blood vessels and increased the number of intraepidermal nerve fibres (IENFs), myelin thickness and axonal diameters of sciatic nerves. Western blot analysis revealed that MSC-exosome treatment decreased and increased M1 and M2 macrophage phenotype markers, respectively. Moreover, MSC-exosomes substantially suppressed proinflammatory cytokines. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that MSC-exosomes contained abundant miRNAs that target the Toll-like receptor (TLR)4/NF-κB signalling pathway. MSC-derived exosomes alleviate neurovascular dysfunction and improve functional recovery in mice with DPN by suppression of proinflammatory genes.
Measuring the Phase of EUV Photomasks

We demonstrate complementary reflectometry and scatterometry methods to measure the phase and amplitude of a patterned EUV photomask at its operating wavelength (13.5nm) and angle range (2 − 10°). We carried out experimental measurements at ALS Reflectometry and Scattering Beamline 6.3.2 on an EUV photomask with a 40-bilayer MoSi multilayer mirror and 60nm TaN absorber. We took three types of measurements: reflectometry for blank multilayer, reflectometry for blank absorber-coated multilayer, and scatterometry for line- space gratings. We used the reflectometry data to fit the Fresnel reflectance amplitude by adjusting the thickness, atomic density, and interface roughness of multilayer and absorber layers. We then fit the scatterometry data using a thin-mask approximation. The advantage of reflectometry is the higher level of model fidelity (2 − 4% vs 6% − 15% error), whereas the advantage of scatterometry is its direct sensitivity to relative phase through spatial interference. Despite differences between the two approaches, both gave similar phase values, mutually-consistent to within π/51 RMS. We observe the phase to vary from 0.78μ at 2° to 0.88μ at 10°, suggesting that engineering phase effects to improve image contrast will need to consider phase values across a range of illumination angles rather than simply the chief ray.
Exploiting Multi-Dimensional Task Diversity in Distributed Auctions for Mobile Crowdsensing

To promote development of Mobile Crowdsensing Systems (MCSs), numerous auction schemes have been proposed to motivate mobile users’ participation. But, task diversity of MCSs has not been fully explored by most existing works. To further exploit task diversity and improve performance of MCSs, in this paper, we investigate the joint problem of sensing task assignment and schedule with considering multi-dimensional task diversity, including partial fulfillment, bilaterally-multi-schedule, attribute diversity, and price diversity. First, task owner-centric auction model is formulated and two distributed auction schemes (CPAS and TPAS) are proposed such that each task owner can locally process auction procedure. Then, mobile user-centric auction model is established and two distributed auction schemes (VPAS and DPAS) are developed to facilitate local auction implementation. These four auction schemes differ in their approaches to determine winners and compute payments. We further rigorously prove that all the four auction schemes (CPAS, TPAS, VPAS, and DPAS) are computationally-efficient, individually-rational, and incentive-compatible and that both CPAS and TPAS are budget-feasible. Finally, we comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of CPAS, TPAS, VPAS, and DPAS via comparing with the state-of-the-art in real-data experiments.
Resistance and Renewal: How Native Food Sovereignty Movements Should Guide Human Rights and Social Work

The historical use of food as a means of social control has led to stark health inequities in Native communities throughout the USA, and many federal structures and policies meant to support Native well-being and self-determination serve rather as tools of ongoing colonization and marginalization. Addressing these inequities and supporting Indigenous communities in the fulfillment of their right to adequate, culturally acceptable food calls for our critical consideration of how and when a rights-based approach to social work might be effective and ethically sound. Given Indigenous peoples’ disproportionate vulnerability at the intersection of environmental justice and food justice, Native leadership regarding these issues must be elevated in local, national, and global conversations about climate change and human rights fulfillment.
China’s challenge to world development paradigms

The past forty years of world development have seen multiple operational frameworks, most notably, the neoliberal Washington Consensus or structural adjustment policies (1981–2001), the internation...
Estimator and controller design for LaneTrak, a vision-based automatic vehicle steering system

This work focuses on the underlying theory used in the design of a lane estimator and a lane controller to achieve automatic roadway tracking by a vehicle. In concert with a lane sensing algorithm, a comprehensive simulation assesses the roadway tracking performance of a Pontiac 6000 STE. The roadway curvature and the relative positioning of the vehicle within its lane are estimated using Kalman filtering. Inputs to the estimator are vehicle kinematical variables provided by a vehicle directional control (DIRCON) model, and lane boundary information provided by a video camera model. The design of the steering autopilot is formulated as a preview, path tracking and regulation problem. The steering autopilot uses the estimator outputs and the vehicle DIRCON model. The estimator and controller designs were tested, improved, and validated using a comprehensive simulation program which included models for the lane sensing system and the steering actuator. The credibility of the simulation has been further established through successful lane control of a Pontiac 6000 STE car on an unopened section of a limited-access freeway at highway speeds. >
After the Iran deal: Multinational enrichment

In April 2015, Iran and the E3+3 nations (France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, plus China, Russia, and the United States) negotiated a framework for a “comprehensive solution that will ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program” ( 1 , 2 ). The final settlement, expected by July 2015 or soon after, would constrain Iran's activities for various extended periods in return for the lifting of sanctions and affirm Iran's right to pursue its nuclear program free of the limits on its uranium enrichment capacity a decade or more from now. What happens when these restrictions begin to phase out? We outline one approach to limit the long-term risk by using the next 10 years to convert Iran's national enrichment plant into a multinational one, possibly including as partners some of Iran's neighbors and one or more of the E3+3 countries.
A Unified Model of Corporate Acquisitions and Divestitures: An Incentive Perspective

The purpose of this paper is to unify corporate acquisitions and divestitures (e.g., spin-offs, equity carve-outs and sell-offs) into a simple but comprehensive agency model where risk and managerial incentives interact to determine an optimal corporate governance and an incentive compensation scheme. Emphasizing human and nonhuman aspect of corporate assets, the model not only explains existing empirical evidence regarding contractual and organizational changes, but also suggests new perspective regarding firms' behavior around corporate acquisitions and divestitures. Thus, it attempts to reconcile between synergistic and agency viewpoints in the takeover literature and provides determining factors in choosing between spinoffs and equity carve-outs.
Nishida and the Historical World

AbstractThis article will examine the phase of Nishida’s thought in which he turns to the historical world and present the benefits of this turn to his overall philosophical project. In “The Philosophy of History in the ‘Later’ Nishida,” Woo-Sung Huh claims that Nishida Kitaro’s attempt to integrate history into his earlier writings on self-consciousness is a “wrong turn.” I will demonstrate how Huh’s criticism of Nishida’s writings on history stems from Huh’s own ontological assumption that consciousness and the historical world occupy distinct realms. Leveling this criticism against Nishida causes the reader to miss Nishida’s greatest insight, namely that there is no such distinction; there is only one reality of consciousness and materiality. Nishida’s emphasis on the historical world makes his earlier claim that consciousness is inseparable from things more robust. I will argue that by expanding his earlier focus on consciousness to include the formative power of created physical objects and human bod...
"Methodological notes on empathy": further considerations

This article updates and extends Jeannette Gagan's "Methodological notes on empathy," published in the January 1983 issue of ANS. The evolving conceptualization of empathy as a complex, intrapsychic, and interpersonal process suggests that the inconclusiveness and apparent contradictions of research to date might be substantially clarified by considering data from a multidimensional perspective. Attention to the conceptual bases underlying diverse measurement approaches is key to understanding the data produced. Notwithstanding the limitations of their paradigms and models for nursing, the debates and knowledge accumulated in other disciplines can inform a broad range of inquiry relevant to nursing.
A 1.8Gpulses/s UWB Transmitter in 90nm CMOS

This paper describes a UWB transmitter that uses an FIR pulse generator for accurate pulse shaping and spectrum control in order to achieve a high data rate while complying with the FCC spectral limits.
Differences in tsunami generation between the December 26, 2004 and March 28, 2005 Sumatra earthquakes

Source parameters affecting tsunami generation and propagation for the M w > 9.0 December 26, 2004 and the M w = 8.6 March 28, 2005 earthquakes are examined to explain the dramatic difference in tsunami observations. We evaluate both scalar measures (seismic moment, maximum slip, potential energy) and finite-source representations (distributed slip and far-field beaming from finite source dimensions) of tsunami generation potential. There exists significant variability in local tsunami runup with respect to the most readily available measure, seismic moment. The local tsunami intensity for the December 2004 earthquake is similar to other tsunamigenic earthquakes of comparable magnitude. In contrast, the March 2005 local tsunami was deficient relative to its earthquake magnitude. Tsunami potential energy calculations more accurately reflect the difference in tsunami severity, although these calculations are dependent on knowledge of the slip distribution and therefore difficult to implement in a real-time system. A significant factor affecting tsunami generation unaccounted for in these scalar measures is the location of regions of seafloor displacement relative to the overlying water depth. The deficiency of the March 2005 tsunami seems to be related to concentration of slip in the down-dip part of the rupture zone and the fact that a substantial portion of the vertical displacement field occurred in shallow water or on land. The comparison of the December 2004 and March 2005 Sumatra earthquakes presented in this study is analogous to previous studies comparing the 1952 and 2003 Tokachi-Oki earthquakes and tsunamis, in terms of the effect slip distribution has on local tsunamis. Results from these studies indicate the difficulty in rapidly assessing local tsunami runup from magnitude and epicentral location information alone.
Optimization of composite polymer gas sensor arrays for single-analyte multiple-interferent applications

Results for optimizing an array of composite polymer gas sensors for sensing one of five analytes in the presence of up to four interferents are presented. The optimized array consists of a heterogeneous array of up to ten points (unlike sensors) in multi-dimensional sensor space. The optimization techniques presented here are linear, since the composite polymer sensors in their useful (low concentration) operating range exhibit linear and additive response characteristics. The optimization of these arrays produces maximum separability between analytes, demonstrating the trade-off between the addition of both information and variability induced by increasing the size of the heterogeneous array. Optimization results for sensing acetone, hexane, thf, toluene, and ethanol in the presence of interferents result in array sizes that are significantly less than the maximum available number of sensors (10). This result adds fuel to the argument that fewer sensors are better; the argument for more sensors is also made in the context of the electronic nose systems where significant chemical diversity is required.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Consistent maximum likelihood estimation of a unimodal density using shape restrictions

It is well known that the unimodal maximum likelihood estimator of a density is consistent everywhere but at the mode. The authors review various ways to solve this problem and propose a new estimator that is concave over an interval containing the mode; this interval may be chosen by the user or through an algorithm. The authors show how to implement their solution and compare it to other approaches through simulations. They show that the new estimator is consistent everywhere and determine its rate of convergence in the Hellinger metric. Il est bien connu que l'estimateur a vraisemblance maximale unimodal d'une densite est convergent partout sauf au mode. Les auteurs rappellent diverses facons de resoudre ce probleme et proposent un nouvel estimateur qui s'avere concave dans un intervalle autour du mode; cet intervalle peut etre choisi par l'utilisateur ou au moyen d'un algorithme. Les auteurs montrent comment implanter leur solution et la compare a d'autres approches par voie de simulation. Ils demontrent que leur nouvel estimateur converge en tout point et en determinent la vitesse de convergence dans la metrique de Hellinger.
The distribution of acetylcholine and choline in guinea pig heart.

Abstract The regional distributions of acetylcholine (ACh) and choline (Ch) in the guinea pig heart were investigated with a pyrolysis-mass fragmentography technique. Using ACh as a marker for cholinergic neuros, we have described a pattern of parasympathetic innrvation in the guinea pig heart. This distribution is very similar to that suggested by studies using several different cholinergic indicators in various species. Atrial areas receive richer parasympathetic innervation than ventricular areas, with the right portions receiving more than the left. The nodal areas were the most abundantly innervated regions examined. Ch content is not a good indicator for cholinergic innervation as the regional distributions of ACh throught the guinea pig heart are not strongly associated.
Net dissolved inorganic nitrogen production in hyporheic mesocosms with contrasting sediment size distributions

The interstitial spaces within streambeds are recognized as an important location of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) transformations in streams. However, it remains uncertain how physical characteristics of streambeds affect the magnitude and net outcome of subsurface nitrogen transformations. We tested whether the size distribution of streambed sediments, in isolation from the influence of streambed topography and groundwater upwelling, could affect net DIN uptake or production along interstitial flow paths. Mesocosms constructed from PVC pipe (15 cm diameter × 1 m long) were filled with either coarse gravel/cobble or gravel/cobble mixed with finer sediments (5 mesocosms per sediment treatment). Mesocosms were submerged in a stream and oriented, so that surface water flowed through the sediments. After 2 months incubation, we measured DIN in interstitial water at 20 cm intervals and dissolved oxygen at 10 cm intervals along mesocosm flow paths. In both sediment types, DIN concentrations increased longitudinally along mesocosm flow paths in the direction of interstitial flow, indicating net DIN production. Although DIN increased to higher concentrations in mesocosms with fine sediments, greater exchange flow through coarse sediments resulted in similar rates of net DIN production and delivery to surface water. Production of DIN in both sediment types was concentrated within the first 10 cm of interstitial flow paths, with no significant production further along the flow paths. Coarse sediments had higher rates of oxygen consumption per unit sediment volume than the coarse–fine sediment mix, suggesting interstitial water velocity may be an important factor affecting hyporheic microbial metabolism.
Towards a quantitative model of immunogenicity: counting pathways in sequence space.

One of the fundamental aims of structural biology is the identification of high-affinity ligands for arbitrary receptors. The maturation of the antibody repertoire elegantly and robustly solves this problem through an evolutionary mechanism comprising repeated cycles of mutation and preferential replication. To understand better the limitations and biases of this process, we developed an interpretation of antibody maturation within the framework of sequence space and fitness landscapes. Several well-described phenomena can be directly derived from this framework, and new predictions can be made. Ultimately, this reconceptualization of the clonal selection process suggests a quantitative, testable model of immunogenicity.
DIRECT DETERMINATION OF TRANS-OCTADECENOIC ACID IN DIET COMPOSITES USING A COMBINATION OF SILVER ION-HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY AND CAPILLARY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY

Silver ion-high performance liquid chromatography (Ag-HPLC) and capillary gas chromatography (GC) were combined to quantify total trans-octadecenoic acid (18:1t) in diet composites and oils. The 18:1 cis and trans fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) of saponified and methylated (BF3/methanol) oils and food composite total lipid extracts were separated by Ag-HPLC (ChromSpher5 Lipids column); total 18:1t in the trans fraction was quantified by GC (105m × 0.25mm SP-2560 capillary column). Positional isomers 18:1c and 18:1t which coeluted in direct GC were clearly separated by preparatory Ag-HPLC. Quantitative recovery of 18:1t from a standard mixture of FAME, an oil, and a diet composite was obtained for additions of 4–57 mg. The analytical range for total 18:1t was 1.6–260 mg/mL per aliquot of total lipid extract or oil. Relative standard deviations were < 6% for food composites and < 3% for oils and pure standards.
Traceable calibration of a critical dimension atomic force microscope

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a multifaceted program in atomic force microscope (AFM) dimensional metrology. One component of this effort is a custom in-house metrology AFM, called the calibrated AFM (C-AFM). The NIST C-AFM has displacement metrology for all three axes traceable to the 633 nm wavelength of the iodine-stabilized He-Ne laser. A second major component of this program, and the focus of this paper, is the use of critical dimension atomic force microscopy (CD-AFM). CD-AFM is a commercially available AFM technology that uses flared tips and twodimensional surface sensing to scan the sidewalls of near-vertical or even reentrant features. Features of this sort are commonly encountered in semiconductor manufacturing and other nanotechnology industries. NIST has experience in the calibration and characterization of CD-AFM instruments and in the development of uncertainty budgets for typical measurands in semiconductor manufacturing metrology. A third generation CD-AFM was recently installed at NIST. The current performance of this instrument for pitch and height measurements appears to support our relative expanded uncertainty (k = 2) goals in the range of 1.0 × 10-3 down to 1.0 × 10-4.
The assessment of dental fear

Multiple channel fear assessment of 128 patients was obtained in the offices of five general practitioners to evaluate a fear assessment battery consisting of self-reports, physiological measures, and overt behavior indices. Results indicated that, in general, self-reports of dental fear were most strongly related to other subjective anxiety and pain measures. The overt behavior of high and low fear patients in the waiting room and the operatory differed on only one of the many dimensions examined. The strongest “attitude-behavior” relationship was between reported fear level and appointment-keeping. The possibility that gross in-chair behaviors may be inappropriate observation targets in the assessment of adult dental fear was discussed, and an alternative strategy was previewed.
Physiologic changes during normal pregnancy.

Investigators in the past year have turned their efforts to several age-old obstetric questions. Using modern experimental tools, questions were raised about the validity of Nagele's rule of 280 days as a mean gestational length. One large study agreed with the 280-day mean length, while two other studies disputed it. Current guidelines for appropriate weight gain in pregnancy range from 9 to 14 kg. Several studies found that mean weight gain in healthy pregnant women was greater than these guidelines, with a mean of 15 kg and a normal range from 8 to 25 kg. Women who exercise strenuously throughout gestation were found to have smaller babies than control subjects, with a very mild asymmetric growth retardation. Their labors came on earlier, were shorter in duration, and involved less obstetric and surgical intervention. In an interesting study of maternal hemodynamics, standing was found to be associated with a decrease of more than 15% in cardiac output compared with output in the lateral supine position in the third trimester. Investigators studied exercise in the water and found it to have less effect on fetal cardiovascular parameters than exercise of similar intensity on land.
Action of an Estrogen Antagonist on the Electrical and Mechanical Properties of the Rat Uterus in Vitro

Membrane potentials and isometric contractions were recorded simultaneously from myometrial strips isolated from rats either parturient or on the final day of gestation. The nonsteroidal estrogen antagonist, CN-55, 945-27, inhibited spontaneous contractions as well as those elicited by oxytocin, acetylcholine and electrical field stimulation. Accompanying these changes in contractile force were a reduction in the height and rising velocity of the action potentials and a decrease in the frequency of action potentials discharged during each contraction. CN did not alter the level of the resting membrane potential. These membrane electrical effects suggested that CN interfered with the initiation and propagation of action potentials over the muscle, thereby reducing the number of muscle fibers activated during each contraction and thus the force of contraction. In addition to the effects on the excitable membrane which would indirectly alter the magnitude of contraction, CN also acted directly on the contrac...
Thermal convection over flat plates possessing an irregular leading edge

Abstract Boundary layer similarity reductions for thermal convection adjacent to inclined heated plates with an irregular leading edge are presented. The theory is outlined using three examples: Newtonian convection over an isothermal plate, Darcian convection over a nonuniformly heated plate, and mixed convection of Newtonian shear flow over a nonuniformly heated plate. These reductions represent a natural extension of results obtained by the author for Blasius flow over a flat plate with an irregular leading edge.
Overcoming Curricular Bifurcation: A Departmental Approach to Curriculum Reform1

The collegiate foreign language profession has become increasingly aware of the unnecessarily detrimental effects of bifurcated curricula on student learning and departmental governance, yet there have been few instances to date of departments that have been able to achieve unified, articulated programs of study. This article presents one foreign language department's initiatives and activities to do just that. We describe the collaborative process that the German Studies Department at Emory University underwent in its full-scale revision of the undergraduate curriculum. The chairperson begins the description by explaining his role in the reform process. Other faculty members continue the description by outlining the institutional and department context, the impetus for reform, the curriculum's theoretical framework, and the different curricular levels. An ongoing, multi-year project, the revised curriculum has placed demands on students and faculty but also indicated promise for enhanced departmental identity and student learning.
Community perceptions of rural hospital closure

Hospital closure, a devastating event in the life of small communities, can have long-lasting medical, economic, and psychological consequences. This study focuses on a 1991 closure that occurred in the rural North Dakota town of Beach that left local residents 40 and 61 miles away from the nearest hospitals. Two hundred residents of the hospital's former service area were selected via systematic random sampling to share their perceptions on the causes and effects of closing their local hospital. According to respondents, this hospital closure was caused by a number of influences, with the most commonly cited being under-utilization of services by local residents, exacting government rules and regulations, doleful economic climate, dwindling population, poor and unstable local physician care, and poor management of hospital matters. Findings further indicated that Beach area residents were most concerned with poor access to emergency medical care as a result of the closing. Area dwellers perceived that the hospital closure's aftermath would include the loss of local jobs, further declines in the local economy, the suffering of elderly and children, transportation problems, and out-migration of some area residents. These concerns, coupled with the notable decrease in hospital care access, motivated many area residents to think of solutions to these problems rather than to place blame on others for the closure.