cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization and evaluation of ionic liquids for use in rapidly-actuated hydraulic microvalves

Abstract Elastomeric membrane-based microvalves, especially pneumatically-actuated valves, are a core technology responsible for the proliferation of micro total analysis systems (μTAS) due to enabling the precise metering and mixing required by lab-on-a-chip applications. Hydraulic actuation is a promising actuation strategy, analogous to pneumatic actuation, useful in environments where the portability and power requirements of pneumatic actuation systems is non-ideal. Central to the function of hydraulic valves for active applications that require rapid and repeatable actuation, such as microfluidic pumping, are the viscosity, evaporation profile and the hygroscopic nature of the hydraulic fluid. Here the properties of a series of 1-methyl-3-butylimidizaolium (BMIM)-based ionic liquids (ILs) and water are investigated for application in self-contained hydraulically-actuated microfluidic (SCHAM) devices. Evaporation and water uptake of SCHAM devices was monitored daily over a one-month period, with IL-based SCHAMs providing superior performance compared to water-based SCHAMs. Evaporation and water uptake profiles of IL-filled devices were recorded over a six-week time period, subjected to thermocycling of one-week periods between −20 °C and 60 °C, with IL-based SCHAMs exhibiting superior stability in comparison to water-based SCHAMs. As a proof of concept, a SCHAM pump using [BMIM][BF4] was fabricated utilizing a simple and inexpensive rapid prototyping method, and tested over a range of actuation times (150 ms–350 ms, with pumping rates of 5.0 ± 0.1 μL min–1 to 2.6 ± 0.1 μL min–1, respectively). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of an IL-filled SCHAM device utilizing active valve elements to attain fluidic transfer.
Photoperiod modulates the gut microbiome and aggressive behavior in Siberian hamsters.

ABSTRACT Seasonally breeding animals undergo shifts in physiology and behavior in response to changes in photoperiod (day length). Interestingly, some species, such as Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus), are more aggressive during the short-day photoperiods of the non-breeding season, despite gonadal regression. While our previous data suggest that Siberian hamsters employ a ‘seasonal switch’ from gonadal to adrenal regulation of aggression during short-day photoperiods, there is emerging evidence that the gut microbiome, an environment of symbiotic bacteria within the gastrointestinal tract, may also change seasonally and modulate social behaviors. The goal of this study was to compare seasonal shifts in the gut microbiome, circulating levels of adrenal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and aggression in male and female Siberian hamsters. Hamsters were housed in either long-day (LD) or short-day (SD) photoperiods for 9 weeks. Fecal samples were collected and behaviors were recorded following 3, 6 and 9 weeks of housing, and circulating DHEA was measured at week 9. SD females that were responsive to changes in photoperiod (SD-R), but not SD-R males, displayed increased aggression following 9 weeks of treatment. SD-R males and females also exhibited distinct changes in the relative abundance of gut bacterial phyla and families, yet showed no change in circulating DHEA. The relative abundance of some bacterial families (e.g. Anaeroplasmataceae in females) was associated with aggression in SD-R but not LD or SD non-responder (SD-NR) hamsters after 9 weeks of treatment. Collectively, this study provides insight into the complex role of the microbiome in regulating social behavior in seasonally breeding species.
Personalized Connectome Mapping to Guide Targeted Therapy and Promote Recovery of Consciousness in the Intensive Care Unit

Abstract There are currently no therapies proven to promote early recovery of consciousness in patients with severe brain injuries in the intensive care unit (ICU). Early recovery of consciousness would benefit patients and families by reducing the likelihood of premature withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy and may decrease ICU complications related to immobility, facilitate self-expression, enable autonomous decision-making, and increase access to rehabilitative care. Here, we present the connectome-based clinical trial platform (CCTP), a new mechanistic paradigm for developing and testing targeted therapies that promote early recovery of consciousness in the ICU. The scientific premise of the CCTP is that personalized brain connectome maps can be used to select patients for targeted therapies that promote recovery of consciousness. Structural and functional MRI connectome maps will identify circuits that may be amenable to neuromodulation. Patients will be selected for clinical trials in the CCTP paradigm based on connectomes that are likely to respond to targeted therapies. To demonstrate the utility of this precision approach, we describe STIMPACT (Stimulant Therapy Targeted to Individualized Connectivity Maps to Promote ReACTivation of Consciousness), a CCTP-based clinical trial in which intravenous methylphenidate will be used to promote early recovery of consciousness in the ICU (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03814356). We propose that the CCTP has the potential to transform the therapeutic landscape in the ICU and improve outcomes for patients with severe brain injuries.
Continuous-time Flexible Ramp Scheduling in Forward Power Systems Operation

This paper proposes a novel continuous-time optimization model for co-optimizing the energy, regulation and flexible ramp services in forward markets. The proposed model accurately models the power and ramping requirements of each market product and ensures that they are carefully allocated to generating units based on their available power and ramping capacity. Therefore, the proposed model ensures the coordination of services provided by generating units based on both power and ramping requirement of the services. A function space method is then proposed that converts the proposed continuous-time model into a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) problem. The numerical results, conducted on the IEEE Reliability Test System, demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed model in ensuring simultaneous delivery of different services in the system.
Physics of failure based reliability model of high-power InGaAs-AlGaAs strained QW lasers prone to COBD failure

Both broad-area and single-mode strained InGaAs-AlGaAs single quantum well (QW) lasers are indispensable components for both terrestrial and space satellite communications systems due to their excellent power and efficiency characteristics. However, their degradation mode (catastrophic and sudden degradation) due to catastrophic optical damage (COD) is a major concern especially for space applications, since COD-prone lasers typically show no obvious precursor signature of failure. Furthermore, as our group first reported in 2009, these lasers predominantly degrade by a new failure mode (bulk failure) due to catastrophic optical bulk damage (COBD) unlike AlGaAs QW lasers that degrade by a well-known failure mode (facet failure) due to catastrophic optical mirror damage (COMD). Unlike COMD, there have been limited reports on root causes of COBD. In addition, none of decades-long studies of reliability and degradation processes in (Al)GaAs or InGaAs QW lasers by many groups have yielded a reliability model based on the physics of failure. As part of our efforts to develop a physics of failure-based reliability model of InGaAs-AlGaAs strained QW lasers, we continued our investigation by performing short-term and long-term lifetests, failure mode analyses, and root causes investigations using various destructive and non-destructive techniques. All of broad-area and single-mode lasers that we tested degraded by COBD. We employed electron beam induced current (EBIC) techniques to study formation of dark line defects (DLDs) of lasers stressed under different test conditions and time-resolved electroluminescence (TR-EL) techniques to study the dependence of DLD propagation on electrical-thermal stresses via recombination enhanced defect reaction. Also, we employed high-resolution TEM and deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) techniques to study extended defects and point defects (and electron traps), respectively. Finally, we report on reliability model parameters obtained from our physics of failure investigation and compare them with those extracted using an empirical model.
CultureBot: A Culturally Relevant Humanoid Robotic Dialogue Agent

The use of robots as technologically-based educational tools have been shown to be an effective means of attracting students to science and technology-related academic fields. By developing relatable robotic programs, an increase in interest in the field of technology will occur. For this work, researchers focus on the social interaction capabilities of a humanoid social robot, Pepper. The research leverages the Pepper robot platform using the Softbank NAOqi framework along with the Google Cloud Speech platform to further develop speech and gesture patterns that will afford for a culturally rich engagement interactive experience. By training culturally relevant vocabulary and gestures into the system, the robot will be able to identify verbal cues that will afford decisions on which language will best serve a particular engagement activity (i.e. Social vs. formal, AAVE vs. Standard English). Lab studies will be utilized to test the functionality of the robot's skills and styles, with the expectation of a fully functioning, culturally aware Pepper robot.
Control of nitrogen and phosphorus transport by reservoirs in agricultural landscapes

Reservoirs often receive excess nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) lost from agricultural land, and may subsequently influence N and P delivery to inland and coastal waters through internal processes such as nutrient burial, denitrification, and nutrient turnover. Currently there is a need to better understand how reservoirs affect nutrient transport in agricultural landscapes, where few prior studies have provided joint views on the variation in net retention/loss among reservoirs, the role of reservoirs apart from natural lakes, and differences in effects on N versus P, especially over time frames >1 year. To address these needs, we compiled water quality data from many rivers in intermediate-to-large drainages of the Midwestern US, including tributaries to the Upper Mississippi River, Great Lakes, and Ohio River Basins, where cropland often covers >50 % of the contributing area. Incorporating 18 years of data (1990–2007), effects of reservoirs on river nutrient transport were examined using comparisons between reservoir outflow sites and unimpeded river sites (N = 869, including 100 reservoir outflow sites) supported by mass balance analysis of individual reservoirs (n = 17). Reservoir outflows sites commonly had 20 % lower annual yields (mass per catchment area per year) of total N and total P (TP) than unimpeded rivers after accounting for cropland coverage. Reservoir outflow sites also had lower interannual variability in TP yields. The mass balance approach confirmed net N losses in reservoirs, suggesting denitrification of agricultural N, or N burial in sediments. Net retention of P ranged more widely, and multiple systems showed net P export, providing new evidence that legacy P within reservoir systems may mobilize over the long-term. Our results indicate that reservoirs broadly influence the downstream transport of N and P through agricultural river networks, including networks where natural lakes and wetlands are relatively scarce. This calls for a more complete understanding of agricultural reservoirs as open, connected features of river networks where biogeochemical processes are often influential to downstream water quality, but potentially sensitive to changes associated with sedimentation, eutrophication, infrastructure aging, and reservoir management.
The utility of silent myocardial infarction on electrocardiogram as an ASCVD risk enhancer for primary prevention: The multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis.

Abstract Background The 2018 AHA/ACC cholesterol guidelines introduced a new list of markers called “risk enhancers” that, if present, confer an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Silent myocardial infarction (SMI) on electrocardiogram (ECG) is notably absent, even though it associated with future ASCVD. Methods We assessed the utility of SMI on ECG as a risk-enhancer in intermediate-risk participants in MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) – those with 10-year ASCVD risk of 5–20% by the pooled cohort equation (PCE). SMI was defined as major Q-wave abnormality or minor Q/QS waves in the setting of major ST-T abnormalities without prevalent clinical cardiovascular disease. Results Among 2946 participants (mean age 63.1 ± 7.6, 53.9% women, 36% white, 11% Chinese-American, 33% African-American, 19% Hispanic), 66 (2.2%) had SMI at baseline. After a median 15.8 years of follow-up, incident ASCVD events occurred in 431/2876 (15.0%) of those without SMI and 16/66 (24.2%) of those with SMI. In a multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model, baseline SMI was associated with an increased risk of incident ASCVD events (HR 1.68, 95% CI 1.02–2.77, p = 0.04). However, adding SMI to the PCE did not improve discrimination and reclassification was modest—net reclassification improvement was 0.0161 (95% CI 0.002–0.034, p = 0.08). Conclusion Our findings suggest that the prevalence of SMI is 2.2% among those without known clinical cardiovascular disease considered intermediate-risk by the PCE. In our analysis, SMI only modestly improved classification of risk, suggesting that it may not be very useful as an ASCVD risk enhancer.
Does Witnessing Racism Online Promote Individual and Institutional Anti-Racism Advocacy Among White Individuals? The Role of White Empathy, White Guilt, and White Fear of Other Races.

The current study examined the role of White emotional responses (White empathy, guilt, and fear of other races) to (a) witnessing racism online (seeing racial/ethnic minorities discriminated in on...
RoboCup 2015 Humanoid AdultSize League Winner

Major rule changes for the RoboCup Humanoid League in 2015 pose significant vision and locomotion challenges for disambiguating similarly colored objects and navigating soft terrain. These significant changes highlight the need for applying general purpose humanoid robotics approaches that can handle abrupt environment modifications, and we utilize the general purpose THOR Tactical Hazardous Operations Robot series of robot from the recent DARPA Robotics Challenge DRC. Specific techniques for vision, kicking and autonomy complement software developed for robust deployments in the DRC. In this paper, we present these soccer playing techniques, which were validated in the Humanoid AdultSize league in Hefei.
INFLUENCE OF BACTERIAL RIBONUCLEIC ACID ON ANIMAL CELLS IN CULTURE. II. PROTAMINE ENHANCEMENT OF RNA UPTAKE.

Abstract The uptake of 32 P-labeled RNA by chick embryo fibroblasts is very slow in part because of the rapid depolymerization of RNA by ribonucleases of the medium and of the cells. The RNA can be protected from destruction by any of several polybasic materials—streptomycin, spermine, spermidine, protamines, histones. Protamines and histones only of the polybasic substances tested stimulate markedly the uptake of RNA. Pretreatment of the cells with protamine effects a transient state of preparedness for RNA uptake. The protective and uptake-enhancing properties of protamine are destroyed at different rates by trypsin hydrolysis.
Thriving across the Life Span

This chapter reviews and synthesizes various models of positive human development and thriving from multiple domains in the psychological and medical literatures, across all stages of the life span from infancy through later life. Particular attention is paid to conceptualizations of thriving from the positive youth development tradition, and their relations to notions of positive functioning in the cognitive and developmental literatures in childhood, positive psychology research in adulthood, and models of successful development in later life. The authors propose an integrative definition and a set of core principles of thriving, and elucidate the distinction between a thriving orientation and thriving as a developmental process. The chapter concludes by offering a set of guiding methodological principles for the scientific study of thriving across the life span. Keywords: thriving; development; life span; flourishing; character strengths; positive; strengths-based
Población, enfermedad y cambio demogràfico, 1537-1636. La demografìa histórica de Tunja: Una mirada critica.

This article analyzes the demographic development of the Province of Tunja during the first century of Spanish domination. An effort is made towards estimating the size of the indigenous population at the time of Conquest, while at the same time evaluating the decrease in population for the following hundred years. The author carefully examines the studies on historical demography for the Colombian Eastern Highlands, adding new sources and methodological considerations to the debate. It is argued that while native populations from other parts of Latin America were able to recover from this initial crisis during the first decades of the 17th century, this never happened in the province of Tunja and the population continued to diminish during this century due to the impact of contagious diseases, harsh treatment, excessive work and migration.
Inertness of Sulfanilamide in Relation to Tumors in Mice

These experiments were undertaken at the suggestion of Dr. E. K. Marshall,2 who furnished the para-amino-benzene-sulfonamide used. Dr. Marshall was primarily interested in determining whether there might be danger of producing tumors in patients by the use of a drug whose chemical form resembles that of certain known carcinogenic substances. The treatment of tumor-bearing animals with sulfanilamide seemed indicated because, as has been shown by Lewis (1937), the growth of certain tumors is accompanied by the development of a marked neutrophilia and, as has been shown by Shwartzman and Michailovsky (1932), Shear and Andervont (1936), and Jacobi (1936), growing tumor tissue is sensitive to certain bacterial products introduced into the host. Both of these phenomena suggest a possible resemblance between the activity of tumor tissue and that of certain bacteria. In this laboratory 247 tumors have been induced in mice by injecting into the subcutaneous tissue 0.8 mg. of dibenzanthracene dissolved in oil. The same method was used to determine the effect of sulfanilamide, except that an effort was made to introduce into the oil the total amount of the drug which a mouse would receive during a course of treatment for a bacterial infection. As sulfanilamide is not soluble in oil, the crystals had to be ground into a fine suspension in the sterile olive oil. One half to one cubic centimeter of the suspension was injected into the right axilla of two- to three-months-old mice of the C57 and C3H strains. Many of the mice died, as the amount of sulfanilamide introduced in oil proved to be considerably more toxic than was anticipated. Twenty-five animals, however, which received 12.5 to 25 mg. survived and were given a second injection of 12 mg. one month later. Four months after this second injection many of these mice had large cysts in the right axilla, resembling those which arise in dibenzanthracene-injected mice prior to the appearance of a tumor. When examined more closely, however, these cysts proved to be transparent, thin-walled sacs containing clear oil, quite unlike the thick-walled, well vascularized cysts containing emulsified oil and leucocytes that occur after injection of dibenzanthracene. Later on the cysts diminished in size and in some mice disappeared entirely. In most instances spontaneous mammary-gland tumors make their appearance in mice when the animal is 200 to 300 days old, and in many instances tumors develop within three to five months after an injection of dibenzanthracene in oil. Therefore, 219 days after the injection of sulfanilamide in oil, when the mice were 281 to 312 days old, 10 of them were sacrificed and examined. Every one of them proved to be in excellent condition. The blood picture, bone marrow and spleen were normal and no infiltrations of leucocytes were found in the liver. The mice were free from tumors or metaplasia of tissue. The remnants of the thin-walled cysts still contained a small amount of clear oil.
Evidence of graphitization of diamond-like carbon films during sliding wear

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) exhibits excellent wear and friction characteristics. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been used to investigate the substructures of as-deposited DLC and DLC debris after wear testing. The as-deposited DLC was found to consist of a dense, three-dimensional network structure with a medium range order (<3 nm) present. Diffraction pattern analysis showed that DLC was mainly amorphous. Two diffuse diffraction rings with d111=0.21 nm and d220=0.12 nm were observed, suggesting the presence of a short-range cubic diamond structure (sp3). Morphologically, the wear debris was found to be a discontinuous segregation of carbon particles ranging from nano- to micro-size. Diffraction pattern analysis showed that the debris consisted of graphite (sp2) and distorted DLC (sp3). A wear mechanism has been proposed based on the transformation of DLC to graphite. The transformation is related to the frictional energy and includes two stages: hydrogen release from the structure causing lattice relaxation and shear deformation of the DLC structure producing graphite.
Tyrosine kinase signalling in breast cancer: Insulin-like growth factors and their receptors in breast cancer

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system exerts pleiotropic effects on mammalian cells. This review focuses on type I IGF receptor (IGF1R)-mediated signal transduction and its relevance in breast cancer. Upon activation by the IGFs, IGF1R, a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor, undergoes autophosphorylation, and then binds and phosphorylates additional signaling molecules. These intermediates initiate a series of downstream signaling events that are involved in multiple physiologic processes for cells. Recent data demonstrate that the IGF receptor system actively interacts with the estrogen receptor and integrin receptor systems. Cross-talk among these pathways regulates breast cancer proliferation, protection from cell death, and metastasis. Better understanding of IGF biochemical signaling pathways is of utmost importance for developing therapies for breast cancer.
The Case for Teaching Culture through Neglected Authors: Carmen de Burgos and the Generation of '98

Teoricos del campo de la linguistica aplicada sostienen que para estudiantes de segunda lengua, la adquisicion de la competencia cultural mejora por el uso de obras literarias. Aqui se propone que al integrar en la clase autores olvidados o marginados se ponen de relieve las ambiguedades, diferencias y contrastes presentes en la cultura predominante. Se ilustra como, en dos cuentos cortos de Carmen de Burgos, se plantea el problema de la mujer con todo lo complejo del tema, asunto casi pasado por alto por los autores incluidos en la Generacion del '98. Applied linguistics theorists maintain that the acquisition of cultural competence by second-Ianguage students is enhanced through the use of literary works. The proposition of the present article is that by incorporating neglected or marginal authors i n the classroom, the ambiguities, differences and contrasts present in the predominant culture are highlighted. Through the study of two short stories by Carmen de Burgos, the woman question, a subject largely ignored by the Generation of 1898 writers, is set out in all of its complexity.
Marcinkiewicz--Zygmund inequalities and the numerical approximation of singular integrals for exponential weights: methods, results and open problems, some new, some old

In this short article, we explore some methods, results and open problems dealing with weighted Marcinkiewicz-Zygmund inequalities as well as the numerical approximation of integrals for exponential weights on the real line and on finite intervals of the line. The problems posed are based primarily on ongoing work of the author and his collaborators and were presented at the November 2001 Oberwolfach workshop: 'Numerical integration and Complexity'.
The Relative Efficiency of Voluntary vs. Mandatory Environmental Regulations

Abstract Increased use of voluntary programs for environmental protection as an alternative to mandatory approaches raises the issue of the relative efficiency of the two approaches. This paper analyzes the efficiency of voluntary programs relative to mandatory programs in agriculture. Under the voluntary program producers adopt a land conservation practice and, in turn, the government provides technical and financial assistance. The voluntary program is more efficient than a program that mandates adoption if and only if the deadweight losses of government expenditures under the voluntary program are less than the difference between private and public costs of government services plus the additional implementation costs of the mandatory program. This necessary and sufficient condition is more likely to be satisfied when (a) the deadweight loss from raising government revenue is zero or small, (b) government services are less rival, (c) the costs of government services are lower than what farmers would have to pay for equivalent private services, (d) the number of farms in the program is large, and (e) the saving in implementation costs under the voluntary program is large and increases rapidly with program acreage.
RED CELL SORBITOL AN INDICATOR OF GLYCEMIC CONTROL

Blood glucose concentrations may change from physiologic to pathologic levels and vice versa within a few minutes. This is particularly true of insulin deficient diabetes and therefore the evaluation of glycemic control in children with diabetes is difficult. A less volatile indicator of hyperglycemia is the fraction of hemoglobin A (HbA) that is glycosylated (HbA1). HbA1 was determined chromatographically in 30 children with diabetes (13.9 ± 2.1%) and 10 non-diabetics (6.8 ± 1.4%). Incubation of washed red cells from diabetic patients in Krebs bicarbonate buffer with 5mM glucose for 3 hrs. results in no change in the % of HbA1. Sorbitol, a polyol of glucose, accumulates in red blood cells (RBC) in concentrations that correlate directly with the blood glucose concentration (r=.84). RBC sorbitol concentration in 30 ambulatory diabetics was 33nM/ccPRBC ± 13.7 while 10 non-diabetics had sorbitol levels of 5.3 ± 2.1. Incubation of non-diabetic RBC's in 50mM glucose produced an hourly linear increase in sorbitol concentration throughout the 3 hr. incubation reaching diabetic levels in one hour. Reduction of the glucose concentration to 5mM resulted in decreasing but still elevated sorbitol concentrations at one hour with a return to non-diabetic levels by 3 hours. Thus RBC sorbitol concentration may be a more useful indicator of glycemic control in diabetes than either the blood glucose or HbA1.
Preparation and structural characterization of [(η5-C5H5)2Zr(SC6H5)]2O. A qualitative description of the bonding in oxo-bridged dicyclopentadienyl-transition metal dimers

The hydrolysis of (η 5 -C 5 H 5 ) 2 Zr(SC 6 H 5 ) 2 was shown previously by IR spectroscopy to produce an oxo-bridged complex. The molecular structure of this material has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods and consists of two (η 2 -C 5 H 5 ) 2 Zr(SC 6 H 5 ) units linked by an oxo bridge. The ZrOZr bond is nonlinear at 165.8(2)° with a Zr⋯Zr interatomic separation of 3.902(1)A. The two independent SZrO bond angles of 98.7(1) and 103.3(1)° are consistent with a d ° electronic structure for each zirconium atom. The relatively short ZrO distances of 1.968(3) and 1.964(3) A support the presence of partial double-bond character arising from the donation of electron density from filled p π -orbitals on the oxygen atom to unfilled d -orbitals on the electron deficient d 0 metal atoms. This bonding feature requires based upon orbital symmetry arguments that the (ML) 2 O molecular core in [(η 5 -C 5 H 5 ) 2 ML] 2 O complexes must be nonplanar with a dihedral angle between the two LMO planes less than 90°. For [(η 5 -C 5 H 5 ) 2 Zr(SC 6 H 5 )] 2 O, dihedral angle of 61.7° was observed. The compound crystallizes in an orthorhombic space group, Pbca , with refined lattices parameters a 16.458(4), b 20.281(5), and c 17.016(4) A. Full-matrix least-squares refinement of 2613 diffractometry data I > σ( I ) led to a final discrepancy index R ( F 0 2 ) = 0.044.
Comment on "Dynamic Shifts of Limited Working Memory Resources in Human Vision"

Bays and Husain (Reports, 8 August 2008, p. 851) reported that human working memory, the limited information currently in mind, reflects resources distributed across all items in an array. In an alternative interpretation, memory is limited to several well-represented items. We argue that this item-limit model fits the extant data better than the distributed-resources model and is more interpretable theoretically.
Misregistration Effects On Classification Performance

An analytical investigation is described which relates errors in spatial registration of multispectral and multitemporal data sets to error in classification. Of particular interest is the classification of large areas of crops. Misregis-tration effects on the statistics of field-center and boundary pixels are studied. The possible results when more than two classes are involved is also considered. An analytical model allowing numerical calculation of the probability of error in a number of specific cases is developed and requirements for a general model is discussed.
An Investigation of Attitude Toward the Brand, Commitment, and True Brand Loyalty in a Cross-Cultural Context

Abstract This study utilized data from two geographically separated cultures to investigate relationships involving antecedents to true brand loyalty. A relationship between the consumer's attitude toward the brand and a measure of expressed commitment was found to explain a significant percentage of the variance in commitment. A relationship between commitment and true brand loyalty also was found significant. Both relationships vary somewhat by product and culture. No evidence was found, however, suggesting that they could not be considered generalizable. The underlying components of brand attitude were found to vary by product and country. The culturally related differences-espe-cially those pertaining to the composition and meaning of the underlying components-have interesting managerial implications.
The impact of parallel GaN HEMTs on efficiency of a 12-to-1 V buck converter

The impact of parallel GaN HEMTs on efficiency of a non-isolated point of load (POL) converter is investigated. The test results indicate how many parallel GaN HEMTs should be used to achieve maximum efficiency based on load current. Loss calculations and simulations provided initial direction, and ten POL converters were tested-only varying the number of paralleled GaN HEMTs. Each design was tested between 2.5 and 30 A output. Depending on application load and frequency, the optimal combination of GaN HEMTs can be derived from this data. Results indicate that above 19.5 A load, two EPC2015 switches and four EPC2015 synchronous rectifiers (referred to as 2×2015/4×2015) minimizes loss. Below 19.5 A load, a 1×2015/2×2015 HEMT combination minimizes loss. Results presented here should expedite the design process for future engineers seeking greater power supply efficiency with GaN transistors, and it provides novel test data over a large load spectrum, variety of frequencies, and ten combinations of GaN HEMTs in a non-isolated POL converter.
Cooperative digital imaging projects: the Greater Cincinnati Memory Project

In June 2000, the Greater Cincinnati Memory Project became available on the World Wide Web (http://memory.gclc‐lib.org). The Greater Cincinnati Library Consortium (GCLC) sponsored the pilot phase of this project, which included members from all types of libraries in Greater Cincinnati, including northern Kentucky. The project’s intent was to make special collections of local history materials in the Greater Cincinnati area accessible through the World Wide Web. Initial discussions focused the project on pre‐1940 photographs and postcards relating to landmarks and events of local interest. The purpose of this article is to provide some guidance for structuring a project among several institutions to provide efficient use of resources as well as to provide an outline of issues that must be addressed when embarking on a first time digital imaging project.
Factors associated with attributions about child health conditions and social distance preference.

In order to better understand factors that account for the emergence and persistence of negative attitudes towards mental health problems, attributions about and stigma towards children’s mental and physical illnesses were examined using National Stigma Study—Children data. Parent blame attributions were most strongly associated with attention deficit disorder, environmental causes with depression, and biology with asthma. Parent blame was more frequent for mental than physical health conditions. Child blame was associated with higher preferred social distance from the child, but no clear links were observed between social distance and attributions about genetic/biology, environment, or parent blame. Rurality was not significantly associated with attributions or social distance preference. Higher educational achievement was associated with increased endorsement of environmental stress factors and reduced odds of child blaming. The general public holds complex explanatory models of and nuanced responses to children’s mental disorders that need further investigation, including effects on parents’ and children’s help-seeking.
Shallow Meridional Circulations in the Tropical Atmosphere

Abstract A shallow meridional circulation (SMC) in the tropical atmosphere features a low-level (e.g., 700 hPa) flow that is in the opposite direction to the boundary layer monsoon or trade wind flow and is distinct from the meridional flow above. Representations of the SMC in three global reanalyses show both similarities and astonishing discrepancies. While the SMC over West Africa appears to be the strongest, it also exists over the eastern Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans, and over the Indian subcontinent, with different strength and structure. All SMCs undergo marked seasonal cycles. The SMCs are summarized into two types: one associated with the marine ITCZ and the other with the summer monsoon. The large-scale conditions for these two types of SMCs are similar: a strong meridional gradient in surface pressure linked to surface temperature distributions and an absence of deep moist convection. The processes responsible for these conditions are different for the two types of SMCs, as are their str...
HER-2 Status May Change in Recurrent Breast Cancer.

Introduction:The human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER-2) is a cell membrane surface-bound receptor tyrosine kinase which has been associated with increased breast cancer recurrence and a worse prognosis. Its presence also determines which patients are candidates for targeted therapy with trastuzumab. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the percentage of HER-2 status change in recurrent breast cancer.Methods:In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the charts of 2,652 patients diagnosed with breast cancer in our institutution between 2003 and 2009. Forty-four patients with recurrent breast cancer and available HER-2 status at the time of diagnosis and at recurrence were identified. HER-2 status was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). When both methods were available, we used FISH as our reference.Results:A change in HER-2 status at recurrence was observed in six patients (13.6%). One patient (2.3%) changed from negative to positive. Five patients (11.3%) had a change from positive to negative. These five patients represented 50% of the patients with positive HER-2 at the time of initial diagnosis. HER-2 status remained unchanged in thirty-eight patients (86.4%).Conclusion:A change in HER-2 status can be noted at the time of recurrence. The exact mechanism is not yet well understood, and further studies are needed to identify it. Our data support the fact that patients with recurrent breast cancer should have their HER-2 status re-evaluated, since this affects therapeutic options. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 5109.
Oxaliplatin plus Oral Fluoropyrimidines in Colorectal Cancer

The medical treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) has rapidly evolved in recent years with the introduction of novel cytotoxic drugs into clinical practice such as irinotecan, oxaliplatin, and capecitabine. Combination regimens using infusional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/leucovorin (LV) plus either oxaliplatin or irinotecan have demonstrated clinically meaningful, high efficacy in advanced CRC. Based on the results of the Intergroup trial N9741, FOLFOX4, a combination of infusional plus bolus 5-FU/LV and oxaliplatin, has emerged as the standard first-line therapy in the palliative setting. However, infusional 5-FU-based regimens carry the need for use of central venous lines and implantable ports to allow treatment on an outpatient basis and are thus inconvenient and expensive. The use of oral fluoropyrimidines (capecitabine or uracil/tegafur [UFT] plus LV) as substitutes for infusional 5-FU in combination protocols with oxaliplatin offers greater convenience, at the same time conceivably maintaining the high efficacy and tolerability observed with intravenous protocols. Various phase I/II trials have recently been reported that investigated oxaliplatin in combination with either capecitabine or UFT/LV in patients with advanced CRC. This review will detail the results of these trials focused on capecitabine-based combinations.
The effect of a constant efflux on solute movement to a root

This paper presents two analytical solutions to solute uptake and release by a root (the root exhibits efflux) when both mass and diffusive flows are considered and the water content of the soil is maintained constant. The first solution is for a constant solute concentration at some finite distance from the root, while the second is when there is no solute recharge from the soil outside a cylinder coaxle with the root. Several examples are presented to show the effect of the effluxive term. It is shown that the point where the ratio of efflux to initial ion concentration in solution is equal to the difference between root absorbing power and water flux at the root, is critical to nutrient depletion or buildup at the root surface. It is also shown for the case of no recharge that the concentration profiles when efflux is considered are markedly different than where efflux is not considered.
Minimizing error sources in gauge block mechanical comparison measurements

Error sources in gage block mechanical comparisons can range from classical textbook examples to a completely counter- intuitive example of diamond probe tip wear at low applied force. Fortunately, there are methods available to metrologists that can successfully be applied to minimize these and other effects. Techniques such as statistical process control, use of check standards, thermal drift eliminating measurement algorithms, improved sensor calibration, and well-tested deformation modeling are used at the National Institute of Standards and Technology to minimize errors. These same methods can be applied by anyone making mechanical comparison gage block measurements.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Novel device structures based on colloidal photonic crystals

We describe two different ideas for novel architectures based on photonic crystals of sub-micron colloids. The first involves the formation of photonic superlattices from colloidal photonic crystals. The superlattice periodicity induces the formation of minibands due to folding of the photonic band structure. This represents the first instance in which mid-gap states have been incorporated into a colloidal photonic crystal via a specifically engineered structural modification. The second idea involves applying the superprism concept to three-dimensionally periodic structures. Near a photonic band edge, the diffraction angle is extremely sensitive to the wavelength and propagation direction of the incident light. We analyze this effect in the context of macroporous polymer thin films formed from colloidal crystal templates.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Crosslinking kinetics of methyl and ethyl (α-hydroxymethyl)acrylates: effect of crosslinker type and functionality

Abstract Photopolymerizations were carried out using monofunctional monomers methyl or ethyl-(α-hydroxymethyl)acrylate (MHMA and EHMA, respectively) with multifunctional crosslinkers. The effect of crosslinker type (acrylate versus methacrylate) and functionality (di-, tri-, tetra- and penta/hexaacrylates) on polymerization rates and conversions were investigated. RHMA systems (monomer plus crosslinker) reached very high conversions (70–83%) for all systems with the exception of dipentaerythritol penta/hexaacrylate systems. Network Tg played an important role in final conversions with dipentaerythritol penta/hexaacrylate and pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, while EHMA (with a lower Tg) went to higher conversions than MHMA.
MORPHOLOGY OF CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITED TITANIUM DIBORIDE

Titanium diboride has been chemical vapor deposited from TiCl4, BCl3, and H3 gases on a heated graphite substrate. The morphologies of the deposits were correlated with the deposition parameters of substrate temperature, total pressure, B: Ti atomic ratio, Cl: H atomic ratio, and total flow rate. The diboride deposits exhibited a variety of morphologies which include coherent coatings with nodular or faceted surfaces, plate-like crystallites, dendritic crystallites, and irregularly shaped, faceted crystallites. The deposit morphology was found to be most sensitive to deposition temperature, B: Ti atomic ratio, and Cl: H atomic ratio. Variations in both the total pressure and total flow rate did not significantly affect the diboride morphology. All the TiB2 deposits except those produced under a large excess of H2 had a preferred orientation such that the hexagonal c-direction was parallel to the substrate surface.
Factors Modulating the Response of a Porcine Renal Tubular Cell Line to Calcitonin and Antidiuretic Hormone

A cell line (LLC-PK1) isolated from porcine kidney increases 3'5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) content when incubated with salmon calcitonin (SCT) or antidiuretic hormone (ADH). We have examined several factors which modulate the hormone-induced changes in cAMP levels in these cells. Preincubation with increasing concentrations of SCT results in a dose-dependent decrease in cAMP levels in cells retested with this hormone. Addition of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) to cells preincubated with SCT results in 15–30-fold increases in cAMP levels compared to cells preincubated without this hormone. These observations suggest that the decrease in SCT-induced cAMP response in cells pretreated with this hormone is related at least in part to stimulation of phosphodiesterase activity. Preincubation with ADH does not affect subsequent cAMP response to either ADH or SCT, suggesting that these hormones interact with different cell surface receptors. Cell cycle and plating density also affect cAMP levels. cAMP content per cell increases with increasing cell density, which is associated with an increase in the SCT-induced cAMP response. These studies illustrate that factors other than receptor occupancy modulate cAMP responses of these cells to specific hormones.
The effectiveness of semantic feature analysis: an evidence-based systematic review.

Abstract Objectives This review examines the effectiveness of semantic feature analysis as an intervention to improve naming abilities for persons with aphasia. Method A systematic search of the literature identified 11 studies that met the pre-determined inclusion criteria. Two independent raters evaluated each study for methodological quality and assigned appropriate levels of evidence using the Single Case Experimental Design scale. To determine clinical effectiveness, effect sizes using Cohen's d were calculated if sufficient data were available. Alternatively, percent of non-overlapping data was calculated. Results Results indicated that methodologically sound research has been conducted to determine the effectiveness of semantic feature analysis for persons with aphasia using single subject research designs. When using Cohen's d , the majority of participants showed a small effect size. However, when percent of non-overlapping data was calculated, a large treatment effect was present for the majority of participants. Conclusions Semantic feature analysis was an effective intervention for improving confrontational naming for the majority of participants included in the current review. Further research is warranted to examine generalization effects.
Open versus traditional classrooms

In a more exhaustive revieh,,, Homitz (1979) located nearly 200 such studies. Hor\/itz defined open classroom teaching as "a style of teaching involving, flexibility of space, student choice of activity, richness of learning materials, integration of curriculum materials and more individual or small-group rather than large-group instruction" (pp. 72-73). Horwitz used a 'vote counting' method to integrate findings across research studies. But, as Glass (1977) has pointed out, "to know that televised instruction beats traditional classroom instruction in 25 out of 30 studies if, in fact, it does is not to know whether TV wins by a nose or in a walkaway" (pp. 359).
Phylogenetic relationships among laboratory and wild-origin Mus musculus strains on the basis of genomic DNA RFLPs.

Genetic distance measures between the laboratory mouse strains C57BL/6J and RF/J and the wild-origin Mus musculus mouse strains CAST/Ei, MOLF/Ei, POSCH I, and CZECH II were estimated by allelic patterns revealed by RFLP analysis. These results suggest phylogenetic relationships indicating that the mouse strains related to the subspecies M.m. domesticus (RF/J, POSCH I and C57BL/6J) are more closely related to the CAST/Ei strain (derived from M.m. castaneus) than to the strains CZECH II (M.m. musculus) and MOLF/Ei (M.m. molossinus). Furthermore, the hybrid strain C57BL/6J is more closely related to POSCH I (M.m. poschiavinus) than to RF/J as calculated by the method distance measures of Cavalli-Sforza and Edwards (Evolution 21,550, 1967), Nei's minimum (Am. Natural. 106,283, 1972) and unbiased minimum (Genetics 89,583, 1978), Edwards (Biometrics 27,873, 1971; Genetic Distance, p. 41, 1974) and Rogers modified (1986).
Low fractional calcium absorption increases the risk for hip fracture in women with low calcium intake

In the elderly women in this study, low fractional calcium absorption in the setting of low calcium intake increased the risk for hip fracture. These findings support the hypothesis of type II oste...