cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Consumption of dietary supplements containing Citrus aurantium (bitter orange)--2004 California Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS).

Background:Following the marketing ban of ephedra-containing supplements in April 2004, many manufacturers substituted the herb Citrus aurantium for ephedra and marketed the products as “ephedra-free” supplements. Extracts of C. aurantium contain synephrine, a sympathomimetic alkaloid.Objective:To determine the prevalence of consumption of dietary supplements containing C. aurantium in California during 2004.Methods:We used the 2004 California Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey to determine the prevalence of consumption of dietary supplements containing C. aurantium in California during 2004.Results:Two percent (n = 70) of the 4140 survey respondents reported taking a dietary supplement containing C. aurantium in the previous year. Reasons stated included energy enhancement, weight loss, and appetite suppression. Compared with nonusers, users were more likely to report being single, aged 18–34 years, and Hispanic; consuming 3 or more alcoholic drinks on days that they imbibed; and having a heavier...
Space robot tracking control via pulse-width modulation of thrusters

This paper examines the pulse-width modulation of thruster force for translational trajectory tracking control of a space robot. Using the maximum frequency in the desired trajectory, and knowledge of the space robot's differential equations of motion, an estimate on the upper bound of the frequency of the trajectory tracking control law while the space robot is tracking is determined. This frequency is used as an initial guess for empirically selecting an appropriate pulse-width modulation frequency along with appropriate thruster forces levels.
Trends and Cycles of Top Income Shares in Greece: 1957–2010

Abstract This paper analyses the evolution of top income shares in Greece for the period 1957 to 2010 following Piketty (2001) methodology. We present trends and cycles of 10%, 5%, 1%, 0,5% and 0,1% income shares estimates which are based on tax statistics. The empirical results indicate that the behavior of the alternative estimated top income shares is quite similar. A ‘flat’ U-shaped pattern for most cases seems to exist. This common pattern is more apparent for the 1%, 0,5% and 0,1% top income shares. The top 10% and 5% income shares seem to be more volatile, accompanied with an increasing trend by the end of the period. Also, most of the upper income shares yield similar business cycles for the periods 1970-1976, 1976-1984, 1984-1994 and 1998-2007. This paper is an attempt to extend the existing research in southern Europe by presenting the relevant Greek experience. For the whole period, country comparisons show that the 1% top income share in Greece is in lower levels than that of USA and the other European countries (Italy, Portugal, Spain, France, Germany).
Design of cooling system for large-area and high-rate deposition of hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon

We have developed a high frequency (40 MHz) plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) system for large-area and high-rate deposition of hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon (μc-Si:H). The large-area and high-rate deposition is known to be the key for mass production of silicon thin film solar cells, and the high-power operation made it possible to obtain deposition rates up to 1.8 nm/s. However, it was reported that there were several drawbacks, and temperature was typically concerned by many researchers. The temperature is one of the most important factors in μc-Si:H deposition processes using PECVD for the reason that temperature is in charge of the surface reaction and the growth kinetics. Without cooling, the temperature was observed to increase considerably during deposition of a thick intrinsic layer with thickness of 2 μm. In order to operate PECVD processes with constant temperature, it is required to design an efficient temperature control system. We have developed a cooling system which is designed for a susceptor and a showerhead. Susceptor cooling is performed in a direct cooling mode where a coolant is circulated through a tube inside a susceptor, and appropriate flow rates and temperatures of the coolant were calculated. Showerhead cooling system is designed to make use of an indirect cooling mode where there is efficient thermal radiation heat exchange between a showerhead and chamber wall. The efficiency was substantially improved by anodizing surface of a showerhead. This cooling system allows stable processes of large-area μc-Si:H deposition at high power.
An analytical method of predicting Lee-Kesler-Plöcker equation-of-state binary interaction coefficients

An analytical method is proposed for finding numerical values of binary interaction coefficients for the Lee-Kesler-Plocker (LKP) equation of state. The method is based on solving simultaneous equations from Plocker's mixing rules for pseudocritical parameters of a mixture and the Lee-Kesler equation for the saturation line. For mixtures of hydrocarbons containing from two to nine carbon atoms, the divergence between calculated and experimentally based interaction coefficients (ICs) is no more than ±0.4%. The method is extended to mixtures of polar substances. For polar mixtures, aneffective molar composition concept is introduced which takes into account the impact of dipole moments on the process of molecular associations. Formulas for finding the effective molar composition of mixtures containing polar and/or nonpolar constituents and the binary interaction coefficient (κij) based on this effective composition and pure component properties are shown. Calculatedκij values for 12 binary mixtures of polar substances differ by 0.4 % or less from correspondingκij values obtained by processing experimental data on saturated pressure (Ps) and saturated temperature (Ts) lines for these same mixtures. A simplified alternativeκij approximation method with an error (2–5 %) is also given for mixtures of polar substances.
Fatal interstitial pulmonary fibrosis in anti-Jo-1–negative amyopathic dermatomyositis

Amyopathic dermatomyositis (DM) describes a subpopulation with the cutaneous eruption of DM, but without muscle involvement. Interstitial pulmonary fibrosis is a recognized complication of DM, often correlated with antisynthetase enzymes, such as anti-Jo-1. We describe a case of fatal IPF in a patient with anti-Jo-1 antibody-negative amyopathic DM.
Effects of Pyridoxine Deficiency on Audiogenic Seizure Susceptibility in Inbred Mice.

SummaryMice of inbred strains DBA/2J, P/J, BDP/J, C57BL/6J, and F1 hybrid B6D2F1 (C57BL/6J × DBA/2J) mice were maintained on diets containing either 0, 10, or 30 mg of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) per kg of diet. Animals were placed on these diets when 3 to 4 weeks old and maintained on the diets for 7 weeks. Susceptibility to audiogenic seizures was determined 3, 5, and 7 weeks after the mice had been put on these respective dietary regimens. Mice of the dilute strain (homozygous d/d), i.e., strains DBA/2J, BDP/J, and P/J were found to be more susceptible to audiogenic seizures in the pyridoxine deficient state. Body weights were also recorded every 3 to 4 days. Dilute strains (DBA/2J, BDP/J and P/J) and the hybrid B6D2F1 showed smaller increments in body weights on the pyridoxine deficient diets than did C57BL/6J mice.
The effect of furosemide and bumetanide on cerebrospinal fluid formation

Complete inhibition of carbonic anhydrase maximally reduces CSF flow 40-60%. We have confirmed that CSF flow in rabbits may be maximally decreased in this way by acetazolamide 30 mg/kg i.v., but have found only about 20% reduction from control after furosemide at 50 mg/kg i.v. This effect of furosemide is consistent with specific but partial inhibition of carbonic anhydrase of choroid plexus (and perhaps other sites of CSF secretion) based on the affinity of furosemide for carbonic anhydrase. Bumetanide, with 7 times lower affinity for carbonic anhydrase and 14-40 times higher inhibition of renal electrolyte transport processes than furosemide, did not decrease CSF flow.
Effects of distributed generation on voltage levels in a radial distribution network without communication

The challenges associated with incorporating a large amount of distributed generation (DG), including fuel cells, into a radial distribution feeder are examined using a dynamic MATLAB/SIMULINK™ model. Two generic distribution feeder models are used to investigate possible scenarios where voltage problems may occur. Modern inverter topologies make ancillary services, such as on-demand reactive power generation/consumption economical to include, which expands the design space across which DG can function in the distribution system. The simulation platform enables testing of the following local control goals: DG connected with unity power factor, DG and load connected with unity power factor, DG connected with local voltage regulation (LVR), and DG connected with real power curtailment. Both the LVR and curtailment strategies can regulate the voltage of the simple circuit case, but the circuit utilizing a substation with load drop compensation has no universal solution. Even DG with a penetration level around 10% of rated circuit power can cause overvoltage problems with load drop compensation. The real power curtailment control strategy creates the best overall circuit efficiency, while all other control strategies result in low light load efficiency at high DG penetrations. The lack of a universal solution implies that some degree of communication will be needed to reliably install a large amount of DG on a distribution circuit. © 2010 American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Integrating an academic radiation safety program into an environmental management system.

The Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) Program at the University of South Carolina recently developed an environmental management system (EMS) based on the ISO 14001 International Standard. Since our radiation safety program must already meet strict state licensing requirements, the process of conforming to this standard was relatively easy to accomplish. The EH&S program achieved certification to the ISO 14001 standard in August of 2002. The benefits of the EMS include: better interaction between radiation safety and other EH&S program entities, holds all employees accountable by closely tracking program activities, presents a clear picture of program accomplishments to the university administration, allows for better use of limited resources and provides for continuous program improvement. Health Phys.
Inhibition of Mineralocorticoid-Mediated Transcription by NF-κB

Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) is a ubiquitous transcription factor that regulates the expression of multiple inflammatory and immune response genes and plays a critical role in host defense and in chronic inflammatory diseases. The mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) belongs to the steroid/thyroid hormone receptor super-family of ligand-induced transcription factors. We demonstrate a dose-dependent, mutual transcriptional antagonism between NF-kappaB and MR in transient transfection experiments. We also show that the antagonism is limited to the p65 subunit of NF-kappaB heterodimer but not p50. Transient cotransfection experiments with MR deletion constructs reveal the necessity of various N-terminal MR domains for this phenomenon. Inhibition of NF-kappaB by IkappaB relieves the repression of NF-kappaB function by MR. These data suggest that the p65 subunit of NF-kappaB interacts with MR indirectly and transrepresses MR activation.
La enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica no es un marcador independiente de pronóstico adverso en la reparación endovascular de los aneurismas de aorta abdominal

Una proporcion significativa de pacientes que se someten a reparacion endovascular de los aneurismas aorticos abdominales (AAA) presentan enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva cronica (EPOC). Describimos nuestra experiencia y analisis de 342 reparaciones endovasculares consecutivas de AAA en pacientes con y sin EPOC (137 [39%] pacientes con EPOC y 55 (16%) con EPOC moderada o grave). Se analizaron los resultados de los pacientes, como la mortalidad perioperatoria, duracion de la estancia hospitalaria, ingreso en la unidad de cuidados intensivos, insuficiencia cardiaca congestiva, infarto de miocardio, conversion a cirugia abierta, duracion de la intervencion quirurgica, endofugas postoperatorias y complicaciones respiratorias combinadas; comparado con pacientes sin EPOC, las diferencias no fueron estadisticamente significativas (p > 0,05). La correccion de un AAA con endoprotesis deparo resultados equivalentes en pacientes con y sin EPOC.
Inhibition of reverse transcriptases of primate type C viruses by 7S immunoglobulin from patients with leukaemia.

WE have characterised1 type C virions which are released spontaneously from a diploid strain of human embryonic fibroblasts. These ‘HEL-12 virions’ have structural and biochemical properties of known RNA tumour viruses and are antigenically related to subhuman primate type C viruses. Immunological analyses have so far excluded cross reactivity between HEL-12 virions and avian (ASV), murine MuSV, or feline RNA sarcoma or leukaemia viruses.
Named species and hosts of Sarcocystis (Protozoa : Apicomplexa : Sarcocystidae)

A list is given of the present 93 species of the apicomplexan protozoan genus Sarcocystis together with their definitive and intermediate hosts (if known), synonyms, homonyms, lapsi calami, etc. The names of many species of this genus are poorly known, in doubt or controversial due to lack of access to some of the literature and to failure to accept the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.
Geochemistry and origin of late archean volcanic rocks from the rhenosterhoek formation, dominion group, South Africa

Abstract The Rhenosterhoek Formation, composed chiefly of subaerial volcanic rocks, is part of the Dominion Group (∼ 2.8 Ga) which rests unconformably on older continental crust in South Africa. Chemical compositions of volcanic rocks from three drillcores of this formation do not show systematic differences either between or within cores. Major and immobile trace-element contents indicate that the volcanics are basaltic andesites and andesites with calc-alkaline affinities. Incompatible trace-element distributions are similar to those of modern andesites from evolved island arcs or continental-margin arcs. Geochemical modeling indicates that the basaltic andesites and andesites can be produced by open-system fractional crystallization with olivine, clinopyroxene and plagioclase as principal liquidus phases. Up to 10% contamination with continental crust is also allowed by the data. This succession does not appear to have formed in an oceanic or in a continental-margin arc, but may have formed adjacent to a continental-margin arc system in an incipient foreland basin on the Kaapvaal Craton.
Calculation of the electronic and optical properties of indium tin oxide by density functional theory

Abstract Density functional theory (DFT) was used to calculate the bulk electronic and optical properties of indium tin oxide (ITO). The ITO model was constructed replacing indium atoms with tin atoms in the cubic unit cell of indium oxide. To allow more possibilities for tin atom substitution than afforded by the forty-atom primitive cell of indium oxide all eighty atoms of the unit cell were included in the stoichiometry (In32−xSnxO48) using periodic boundary conditions. A number of properties of ITO were calculated including the optical band gap, charge carrier density and plasma frequency. The dependence of the electronic and optical properties of ITO on a variety of parameters such as the tin content, cubic lattice parameter and the distance between adjacent tin atoms was investigated. The electronic and optical properties agreed well with experimental data and allowed insight into the origin of the electronic and optical properties of ITO.
Doses of Ultraviolet Radiation that Modulate Accessory Cell Activity and ICAM-1 Expression Are Ultimately Cytotoxic for Murine Epidermal Langerhans Cells

Abstract Mechanisms that underlie immunomodulatory properties of ultraviolet (UV) radiation remain incompletely characterized. Recently, we have studied effects of UV on the functional activity of epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) and have attempted to relate inhibitory effects of UV on LC function to modulatory effects of UV on adhesion molecule expression by LC. Exposure of LC in vitro to amounts of UVB, UVC, or psoralen + UVA (PUVA) radiation that inhibited LC function also prevented increased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 by LC in vitro. Subsequent studies revealed that amounts of UV radiation that inhibited LC function and modulated ICAM-1 expression also decreased LC survival in vitro, although UV-induced LC cytotoxicity did not become apparent until 48–72 h after UV exposure. Our results are consistent with those of previous studies that suggested that low doses of UV radiation were cytotoxic for LC in situ. The potential cytotoxicity of UV radiation for LC should be considered when studies of effects of UV radiation on immune responses in skin are interpreted.
Intrinsic kinetics of low-temperature oxidation of oil shale kerogen

The kinetics of oxidation of kerogen in the Colorado oil shale were measured using a thermogravimetric analysis technique in a continuously increasing temperature mode. The rate data were analysed based on the assumption that, at the relatively low temperatures at which the kinetics were measured, the oxidation reaction takes place on the surface of solid kerogen and that the decomposition of kerogen is not significant. The oxidation rate was determined to be of first order with respect to oxygen partial pressure. The activation energy of reaction was 11.0 ± 2.3 kJ mol−1, and the pre-exponential factor was (6.8 ± 2.5) × 10−6 m(kPa · s)−1.
Heterozygote deficiency, population substructure and their implications in DNA fingerprinting.

Substructured populations exhibit an overall deficiency of heterozygosity whose proportional magnitude depends on the nature of substructuring, i.e., the number of subpopulations (s), their time of divergence (t) from the ancestral population, and the rate of gene flow amongst them (m). Since apparent heterozygote deficiency could be caused by many factors other than population substructuring, one must examine the nature of substructuring that could produce the observed extent of heterozygote deficiency, in order to infer the substructuring from an observed heterozygote deficiency. Using the equivalence of proportional heterozygote deficiency and the coefficient of gene differentiation (GST), we can generate isolines of GST as functions of s, t (in units of 2Ne generations, Ne being the effective population size) and m. Analytical results suggest that large GST values cannot be reached by substructuring alone, unless the number of subpopulations are large and they remain isolated over a long period of time. Application of the theory to population data on six variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) loci in US Caucasians and US Blacks demonstrates that the observed heterozygote deficiencies at these loci cannot be explained by substructuring within these populations alone. This is so because such large values of GST (3%-10%) would require an absence of gene exchange between the subpopulations and a divergence time from each other of at least 25,000 years ago, neither of which is compatible with the demography and ethnohistory of US Caucasians and Blacks. In contrast, the inability to detect extreme-sized alleles and/or incomplete resolution of nearly similar-sized alleles following Southern gel electrophoresis could easily explain the observed heterozygote deficiencies. The implications of these results are discussed in the context of the forensic use of DNA-typing data, and justify the employment of population genetic principles in forensic genetics.
Pair-field susceptibility of proximity-effect sandwiches

Measurements of the pair-field susceptibility of Pb-Ag proximity sandwiches in the normal state are quantitatively consistent with a generalized time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau model in which the finite penetration of the barrier between the normal and superconducting films reduces the relaxation frequency of the superconducting fluctuations in a manner similar to the reduction caused by magnetic impurities.
Experimental Measurements Of Turbulence Induced Beam Spread And Wander At 1.06, 3.8, And 10.6 μm

AbstractLasers can be used for a number of applications involving atmospheric propagation. In these applications it is of interest to know the maximum range at which the laser beam canpropagate without significant degradation due to atmospheric turbulence. The purpose ofthe measurements was to determine laser beam spread and wander as a function of the infraredwavelength, the optical turbulence level, and the propagation distance. Experiments wereperformed at White Sands Missile Range under conditions of low over -land turbulence levels,using 1.06pm, 3.8007pm, and 10.591pm lasers at ranges of 2, 6.4, and 10.5 km. The testswere conducted under a range of turbulence conditions, with CN2 most frequently of the order of 10 -15 -2/3. The NRL Infrared Mobile Optical Radiation Laboratory (IMORL) wasused to generate the nearly diffraction limited beams produced by the lasers, to magnifythe beam to a 90 cm diameter and to focus the beams onto a 120 cm collector. The intensitydistribution at the collector mirror was recorded by a scanning infrared camera whichdissects the image into 810 elements. The intensity distributions were recorded at a scanrate of up to 500 frames per second. Two dimensional scanning at the high scan ratesprovided excellent spatial and temporal resolution of the turbulence- degraded focal spotdistributions. The data has been partially reduced and shows that 1.06pm is severly spreadand broken up, that 3.8pm is slightly spread, and that 10.6pm shows little spread relativeto its diffraction limited spot size.IntroductionThe performance degrading effects of scintillation and fading on optical communicationsand designator systems, the reduction in image clarity and stability experienced with FLIRsystems, and the reduced effectiveness of other electrooptical systems all result from thepresence of refractive -index turbulence along the atmospheric paths utilized by thesedevices.The limitations imposed by atmospheric turbulence on the performance of electroopticalsystems are usually assessed by invoking a mathematical model of some form or another. Formany cases the mathematical models used in such assessments are generalizations which havebeen "validated" or compared with experimental measurements for only a limited range ofparameter space.Knowledge of these effects is primarily based on a limited experimental data basereported in 1973 by Dowling and Livingston.l Measurements were made with laser beams at0.63pm and 10.6}im, focussed from 40 cm diameter to a spot up to 1.75 km distant.
Vagal preganglionic projections to the enteric nervous system characterized with Phaseolus vulgaris‐leucoagglutinin

The patterns and extent of vagal preganglionic divergence and convergence within the gastrointestinal tract of the rat were characterized with the anterograde tracer Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin (PHA-L). Three weeks after tracer was iontophoretically injected into two to four sites within the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, wholemounts of perfused gut organs (stomach, duodenum, cecum) were prepared, counterstained with Cuprolinic blue, and processed for PHA-L using the avidin biotin complex with diaminobenzidine. Controls included animals injected with PHA-L after intracranial deafferentations. Well-positioned injections labeled an extremely dense and intricate network of varicose efferent axons throughout the gastric myenteric plexus (including that of the fundus). Individual fibers collateralized extensively, forming a variety of pericellular arborizations and terminal complexes made up of both en passant and end swellings. Single axons frequently innervated subsets of neurons within ganglia. Most enteric neurons were contacted by varicosities of more than one vagal fiber. The patterns of vagal preganglionic fibers in the duodenal and cecal myenteric plexuses resembled the organization in the stomach in many aspects, but the projections in each organ had distinctive characteristics, and label was less dense in the intestines than in the stomach. Vagal preganglionic fibers directly innervated submucosal ganglia, although sparsely. Brainstem injections of PHA-L retrogradely labeled a few myenteric neurons in the corpus, fundus, and duodenum: These "gastrobulbar" and "duodenobulbar" neurons received reciprocal vagal preganglionic innervation. Finally, the PHA-L that spread to the nucleus of the solitary tract occasionally produced transganglionic labeling of afferent intramuscular arrays (gastric fundus). The results of this paper provide strong evidence that the traditional "command neuron" or "mother cell" hypotheses of vagal-enteric organization should be abandoned for an integrative neural network model.
Internet and distance channel use and European consumer complaint behavior

This exploratory study analyzes the effect of distance-shopping channel choice (i.e. the format first used by consumers in a retail transaction) on consumer complaint behavior, with a special focus on the Internet channel. It analyzes 2011 Eurobarometer data using a logistic regression model controlling for sociodemographic and country-specific variables to measure the impact of using the Internet, post/catalog, and telephone channels on complaint behavior. The results indicate that consumers using the Internet channel exhibit the greatest likelihood of complaint behavior when compared to consumers using traditional distance-shopping channels. Implications and suggestions for retailers are discussed, as are the contributions to the consumer complaint behavior literature.
Segmented k-Space and Real-Time Cardiac Cine MR Imaging with Radial Trajectories

The authors developed and evaluated two cine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequences with a radial rather than a rectilinear k-space coordinate frame: segmented k space and real-time true fast imaging with steady-state precession, or FISP. The two radial k-space segmentation (or view sharing) techniques, which were interleaved or continuous, were compared, and the feasibility of their application in cardiac cine MR imaging was explored in phantom and volunteer studies. Images obtained with the radial sequences were compared with those obtained with two-dimensional Fourier transform, or 2DFT, sequences currently used in cine MR imaging. Temporal resolution of 55 msec was achieved with the real-time radial sequences, which allowed acquisition of almost 19 high-quality images per second.
On rate-distortion with mixed types of side information

In this correspondence, we consider rate-distortion examples in the presence of side information. For a system with some side information known at both the encoder and decoder, and some known only at the decoder, we evaluate the rate distortion function for both Gaussian and binary sources. While the Gaussian example is a straightforward generalization of the corresponding result by Wyner, the binary example proves more difficult and is solved using a multidimensional optimization approach. Leveraging the insights gained from the binary example, we then solve the more complicated binary Heegard and Berger problem of decoding when side information may be present. The results demonstrate the existence of a new type of successive refinement in which the refinement information is decoded together with side information that is not available for the initial description.
On the need for monitor unit calculations as part of a beam commissioning methodology for a radiation treatment planning system.

This paper illustrates the need for validating the calculation of monitor units as part of the process of commissioning a photon beam model in a radiation treatment planning system. Examples are provided in which this validation identified subtle errors, either in the dose model or in the implementation of the dose algorithm. These errors would not have been detected if the commissioning process only compared relative dose distributions. A set of beam configurations, with varying field sizes, source-to-skin distances, wedges, and blocking, were established to validate monitor unit calculations for two different beam models in two different radiation treatment planning systems. Monitor units calculated using the treatment planning systems were compared with monitor units calculated from point dose calculations from tissue-maximum ratio (TMR) tables. When discrepancies occurred, the dose models and the code were analyzed to identify the causes of the discrepancies. Discrepancies in monitor unit calculations were both significant (up to 5) and systematic. Analysis of the dose computation software found: (1) a coordinate system transformation error, (2) mishandling of dose-spread arrays, (3) differences between dose calculations in the commissioning software and the planning software, and (4) shortcomings in modeling of head scatter. Corrections were made in the beam calculation software or in the data sets to overcome these discrepancies. Consequently, we recommend incorporating validation of monitor unit calculations as part of a photon beam commissioning process. 2000 American College of Medical Physics.
Si microwire-array solar cells

Si microwire-array solar cells with Air Mass 1.5 Global conversion efficiencies of up to 7.9% have been fabricated using an active volume of Si equivalent to a 4 μm thick Si wafer. These solar cells exhibited open-circuit voltages of 500 mV, short-circuit current densities (Jsc) of up to 24 mA cm-2, and fill factors >65% and employed Al2O3 dielectric particles that scattered light incident in the space between the wires, a Ag back reflector that prevented the escape of incident illumination from the back surface of the solar cell, and an a-SiNx:H passivation/anti-reflection layer. Wire-array solar cells without some or all of these design features were also fabricated to demonstrate the importance of the light-trapping elements in achieving a high Jsc. Scanning photocurrent microscopy images of the microwire-array solar cells revealed that the higher Jsc of the most advanced cell design resulted from an increased absorption of light incident in the space between the wires. Spectral response measurements further revealed that solar cells with light-trapping elements exhibited improved red and infrared response, as compared to solar cells without light-trapping elements.
Characterization of the Vibrio cholerae vceCAB Multiple-Drug Resistance Efflux Operon in Escherichia coli

Herein, we identify vceC as a component of a vceCAB operon, which codes for the Vibrio cholerae VceAB multiple-drug resistance (MDR) efflux pump, and vceR, which codes for a transcriptional autoregulatory protein that negatively regulates the expression of the vceCAB operon and is modulated by some of the substrates of this MDR efflux pump.
The Application Accuracy of the NeuroMate Robot—A Quantitative Comparison with Frameless and Frame-Based Surgical Localization Systems

The NeuroMate™ robot System ISS (Integrated Surgical Systems, Davis, CA) is an image-guided, robotic-assisted system for brain surgery, which is a commercially available system used today for stereotactic procedures in neurosurgery. In this paper we describe an accuracy studies for the NeuroMate system. We present a quantitative comparison of the application accuracy of the NeuroMate to standard frame based and frameless stereotactic techniques. The study discusses a five-way application accuracy comparison study. The variables of our comparison and their mean errors are: 1) In the robot in a frame-based configuration, the RMS was 0.86 ± 0.32mm; 2) In the robot in the frame-less configuration, the RMS was 1.95 ± 0.44mm; 3) In a Standard Stereotactic (ZD) frame-based approach, the RMS was 1.17 ± 0.25mm; 4) In an infrared tracking system (IR) using the frame for the fiducial registration, the RMS was 1.47 ± 0.45mm; 5) In an infrared tracking system using screw markers as the registration, the RMS was 0.68 ± 0.26mm. The study was done with 2mm sections of CT scans. These results showed that the application accuracy of the frame-based NeuroMate robot is comparable to standard localizing systems whether they are frame-base or infrared tracked.
$f_{T}$ and $f_{\rm MAX}$ of 47 and 81 GHz , Respectively, on N-Polar GaN/AlN MIS-HEMT

In this letter, we demonstrate the record small-signal performance from N-polar GaN-based metal-insulator-semiconductor high-electron-mobility transistors (MIS-HEMTs) by using a GaN spacer structure with an AlN barrier to reduce alloy scattering. High Si doping in GaN without excessive surface roughening has been achieved using a digital doping scheme. A low ohmic contact resistance of 0.16 ? · mm was measured. Submicrometer gates were fabricated by electron-beam lithography using a triple-layer resist process. f T and f MAX of 47 and 81 GHz, respectively, were obtained for the 150-nm-gate-length device. Further analysis has been done to understand the effect of access resistance on the high-frequency performance, defining a pathway for getting a higher gain and thus achieving a better high-frequency performance from N-polar GaN-based HEMTs.
Electronic Transport Properties of Graphite Acceptor Compounds

Calculations of the magnetoresistance of graphite acceptor compounds are made using a tight binding model for the carrier dispersion proposed by Blinowski et al, and measured values of the zero-field resistivity. It is shown that, if a reasonable physical model is used for the mobilities, the magnetoresistance cannot be fitted with two- or three-carrier models. Suggestions for the origin of the magnetoresistance are made.
Roughness perception of textures on a haptic matrix display

Physical tactile diagrams have traditionally been available to make visual 2-D graphics accessible to individuals who are blind and visually impaired. However, the methods used have drawbacks for which dynamic haptic matrix display devices have been developed to overcome. As texture is a key component of many tactile diagrams, this study examined the psychophysical response of perceived roughness when square wave gratings were explored with a haptic matrix display by blind and sighted participants. Ridge width, groove width, and contact area were all found to be significant factors contributing to the sensation of roughness. When ridge width was held constant, perceived roughness was a decreasing and approximately linear function of groove width. With groove width held constant, however, perceived roughness was found to be an inverted U-shaped quadratic function of ridge width. The magnitude of the sensation of roughness was found to increase when contact area was increased. Finally, no difference was found between the performance of blind and sighted participants. The resulting information has implications for the effective creation of distinct textures using haptic matrix displays for virtual environments and tactile diagrams.
Mandatory admission after isolated mild closed head injury in children: is it necessary?

Background/Purpose: Children with closed head injuries diagnosed as concussion alone or concussion with brief loss of consciousness are admitted routinely for observation despite a normal central nervous system finding, negative computed tomography (CT) scan, and a Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of 15. Recent studies have questioned the necessity of such an admission. The purpose of this study was to review a large pediatric database and study the length of stay as well as any required procedures or complications in these children. The hypothesis was that routine admission is unnecessary in this population. Methods: The National Pediatric Trauma Registry-Phase II was reviewed for the period from October 1988 to January 1996. Entry criteria included age less than 18 and an isolated closed head injury after blunt trauma with an admission GCS of 15. Variables studied included age, gender, mechanism of injury, length of stay, procedures, and outcome. Results: A total of 1,033 children met criteria for this study. The average age was 8.3 years. Males predominated at 61.9%. Falls, sports, and motor vehicle crashes were the most common mechanisms of injury. The average length of stay was 1.19 days, and 60 children were not admitted. A total of 583 children had no procedures performed, whereas 386 received a CT scan, and 148 had x-rays. None required neurosurgical intervention, and all were discharged alive. Conclusion: These findings indicate that routine admission may not be necessary for children with isolated mild closed head injuries with a negative CT scan and a normal neurologic finding and allows for a prospective randomized trial to confirm this. J Pediatr Surg 36:119-121. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Myo1c binds phosphoinositides through a putative pleckstrin homology domain.

Myo1c is a member of the myosin superfamily that binds phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), links the actin cytoskeleton to cellular membranes and plays roles in mechano-signal transduction and membrane trafficking. We located and characterized two distinct membrane binding sites within the regulatory and tail domains of this myosin. By sequence, secondary structure, and ab initio computational analyses, we identified a phosphoinositide binding site in the tail to be a putative pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. Point mutations of residues known to be essential for polyphosphoinositide binding in previously characterized PH domains inhibit myo1c binding to PIP2 in vitro, disrupt in vivo membrane binding, and disrupt cellular localization. The extended sequence of this binding site is conserved within other myosin-I isoforms, suggesting they contain this putative PH domain. We also characterized a previously identified membrane binding site within the IQ motifs in the regulatory domain. This region is not phosphoinositide specific, but it binds anionic phospholipids in a calcium-dependent manner. However, this site is not essential for in vivo membrane binding.
Macroscale intraspecific variation and environmental heterogeneity: analysis of cold and warm zone abundance, mortality, and regeneration distributions of four eastern US tree species

I test for macroscale intraspecific variation of abundance, mortality, and regeneration of four eastern US tree species (Tsuga canadensis, Betula lenta, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Quercus prinus) by splitting them into three climatic zones based on plant hardiness zones (PHZs). The primary goals of the analysis are to assess the differences in environmental heterogeneity and demographic responses among climatic zones, map regional species groups based on decision tree rules, and evaluate univariate and multivariate patterns of species demography with respect to environmental variables. I use the Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA) data to derive abundance, mortality, and regeneration indices and split the range into three climatic zones based on USDA PHZs: (1) cold adapted, leading region; (2) middle, well-adapted region; and (3) warm adapted, trailing region. I employ decision tree ensemble methods to assess the importance of environmental predictors on the abundance of the species between the cold and warm zones and map zonal variations in species groups. Multivariate regression trees are used to simultaneously explore abundance, mortality, and regeneration in tandem to assess species vulnerability. Analyses point to the relative importance of climate in the warm adapted, trailing zone (especially moisture) compared to the cold adapted, leading zone. Higher mortality and lower regeneration patterns in the warm trailing zone point to its vulnerability to growing season temperature and precipitation changes that could figure more prominently in the future. This study highlights the need to account for intraspecific variation of demography in order to understand environmental heterogeneity and differential adaptation. It provides a methodology for assessing the vulnerability of tree species by delineating climatic zones based on easily available PHZ data, and FIA derived abundance, mortality, and regeneration indices as a proxy for overall growth and fitness. Based on decision tree rules, ecologically meaningful variations in species abundance among the climatic zones can be related to environmental variability and mapped.
QoS-Driven Power and Rate Adaptation for Multicarrier Communications Over Mobile Wireless Networks

We propose a quality-of-service (QoS) driven power and rate adaptation scheme for multicarrier communications systems over mobile wireless networks. By integrating information theory with the concept of effective capacity, our proposed scheme aims at maximizing the system throughput subject to a given delay-QoS constraint. Under the framework of convex optimization, we develop the optimal adaptation algorithms. Our analytical analyses identify an important fact that when the QoS constraint becomes loose, the optimal power-control policy converges to the well-known water-filling scheme, where the Shannon capacity can be achieved. On the other hand, when the QoS constraint gets stringent, the optimal policy converges to the scheme which operates at a constant-rate, where, by using only a limited number of subchannels, the above constant-rate is close to the Shannon capacity. This observation implies that in contrast to single-channel transmission, which trades off the throughput for the QoS provisioning, the multicarrier communications can realize both the high throughput and the stringent QoS at the same time. For instance, our simulation results indicate that by using 64 independent subchannels, our proposed algorithms can achieve more than 99% of the Shannon capacity, while guaranteeing a constant-rate transmission.
Beneficial action of new angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (SQ 14,225) in hemorrhagic shock in cats.

SUMMARY A new angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (CEI), SQ 14,225, was infused at 0.5 mg/kg per hr, iv, into cats to determine its effect in hemorrhagic shock. Cats were bled to a mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) of 40 nun Hg for 150 minutes; this was followed by reinfusion and a 120-minute postoligemic observation period. Hemorrhagic shock and sham shock controls were given an infusion of the CEI or its vehicle (0.9% NaCl). The degree of converting enzyme inhibition was assessed by measuring pressor responses to angiotensin I and II and by radioimmunoassay determination of plasma angiotensin II concentrations. In vitro studies on cat papillary muscles and vascular smooth muscle strips revealed no direct inotropic or vasoactive effect of SQ 14,225. Nevertheless, hemorrhaged cats given the CEI demonstrated a significantly higher final arterial pressure than hemorrhaged cats given 0.9% NaCl (96 vs. 51 mm Hg) (P < 0.01), indicating a significant prolongation of circulatory stability which is closely related to survival. Circulating lysosomal hydrolase (i.e., cathepsin D) activity (3.5 vs. 11-fold increases) and total plasma proteolysis (25% vs. 100% increases) were significantly reduced in the shocked cats given the CEI compared to the untreated shocked animals. Formation of a myocardial depressant factor (MDF) also was significantly diminished by CEI treatment (26 vs. 62 U). These results indicate that CEI improved the hemodynamic and biochemical status of cats in hemorrhagic shock and suggest that blockade of angiotensin II formation may be beneficial in hemorrhagic shock. Abolition of other actions of converting enzymes (e.g., potentiation of bradykinin action or inhibition of proteolysis) may also be involved in the protective mechanisms.
Capacity region and dynamic control of wireless networks under per-link queueing

The capacity region of wireless networks with per-destination PD queueing model has been studied extensively in the literature. However, the PD queueing structure is not scalable because the number of queues in a node can be as large as the number of all possible source-destination pairs. In this work, we study the capacity region of wireless networks with per-link PL queueing model. The advantage of the PL queueing structure is that the number of queues in a node can be reduced significantly to the number of its neighboring nodes. In this paper, the capacity region of a wireless network with PL queueing structure is characterized, and a dynamic routing and power control policy, namely, DRPC-PL, is proposed to stabilize the network whenever the input rate is within the capacity region. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pseudo-deterministic Algorithms

In this talk we describe a new type of probabilistic algorithm which we call Bellagio Algorithms: a randomized algorithm which is guaranteed to run in expected polynomial time, and to produce a correct and unique solution with high probability. These algorithms are pseudo-deterministic: they can not be distinguished from deterministic algorithms in polynomial time by a probabilistic polynomial time observer with black box access to the algorithm. We show a necessary and sucient condition for the existence of a Bellagio Algorithm for an NP relation R: R has a Bellagio algorithm if and only if it is deterministically reducible to some decision problem in BPP. Several examples of Bellagio algorithms, for well known problems in algebra and graph theory which improve on deterministic solutions, follow. The notion of pseudo-deterministic algorithms (or more generally computations) is interesting beyond just sequential algorithms. In particular, it has long been known that it is impossible to solve deterministically tasks such as consensus in a faulty distributed systems, whereas randomized protocols can achieve consensus in expected constant time. We thus explore the notion of pseudo-deterministic fault tolerant distributed protocols: randomized protocols which are polynomial time indistinguishable from deterministic protocols in presence of faults. 1998 ACM Subject Classification F.2. Analysis of Algorithms and Problem Complexity
Using community-wide recruitment and succession patterns to assess sediment stress on Jamaican coral reefs

Abstract Sedimentation resulting from the direct and indirect effects of coastal development is an increasing threat to Caribbean coral reefs. This study investigated taxonomic diversity, percent cover and successional patterns of recruited organisms over a period of 30 months to understand the community-wide consequences of increased coastal development and sediment supply along the northern coast of Jamaica. Terra cotta tiles were secured to the reef and the communities inhabiting both the cryptic and exposed sides of the tiles were monitored. The location with the highest sediment supply had the lowest Shannon diversity (H′; 1.37–1.41) and percent cover of organisms inhabiting the cryptic tile sides after 30 months (bare space was between 37 and 40%). The cryptic communities at each of the locations were similar in composition of organisms after 30 months; however, the cryptic community trajectories (analyzed using the second-stage nMDS ordination) varied and two distinct clusters were found, with the most impacted location differing from the other locations in the deep depth strata. The exposed communities at all locations were primarily composed of macroalgae, turf and encrusting algae; the location with the highest sediment supply had higher diversity of algae and lower amounts of turf than the other locations. This study provides evidence that differences in sediment supply between these locations may play a subtle role in structuring communities.