cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Direct Semiconductor Diode Laser Mode Engineering and Waveguide Design

Starting from the desired modal field we solve for the supporting waveguide refractive index structure within a semiconductor diode laser. Specifically we analyze the problem of maximizing far-field on-axis intensity and discuss the practical aspects of waveguide design.
First 1.5 years of pegvaliase clinic: Experiences and outcomes

Abstract We present Boston Children's Hospital's clinic model for pegvaliase therapy in adults with phenylketonuria (PKU) and clinical outcomes in 46 patients over the first 1.5 years of commercial therapy. Approximately 70% (18/26) of patients starting pegvaliase achieved blood phenylalanine (Phe)
Identifying groomed jet splittings in heavy-ion collisions

Measurements of jet substructure in heavy-ion collisions may provide key insight into the nature of jet quenching in the quark-gluon plasma. Jet grooming techniques from high-energy physics have been applied to heavy-ion collisions in order to isolate theoretically controlled jet observables and explore possible modification to the hard substructure of jets. However, the grooming algorithms used have not been tailored to the unique considerations of heavy-ion collisions, in particular to the experimental challenge of reconstructing jets in the presence of a large underlying event. We report a set of simple studies illustrating the impact of the underlying event on identifying groomed jet splittings in heavy-ion collisions, and on associated groomed jet observables. We illustrate the importance of the selection of the grooming algorithm, as certain groomers are more robust against these effects, while others, including those commonly used in heavy-ion collisions, are susceptible to large background effects, which, when uncontrolled, can mimic a jet-quenching signal. These experimental considerations, along with appropriate theoretical motivation, provide input to the choice of grooming algorithms employed in heavy-ion collisions.
Dialectical coping and well-being among Chinese college students: the mediating role of resilience

Despite many studies focusing on coping strategies, there is a dearth of psychological research exploring indigenous coping from the East Asian culture. This study explored the relationship between...
An integrated model for non-isothermal multi-phase flow, geomechanics and fracture propagation

Abstract This paper presents a fully integrated poro-thermo-elastic hydraulic fracturing and three-phase black-oil reservoir simulator. Both implicit-pressure-explicit-saturation and fully implicit solution algorithms are presented. The energy balance equation is solved in a coupled manner to calculate the temperature change caused by fluid injection for multi-phase flow including the effects of both conduction and convection. Associated poro-thermo-elastic stresses are rigorously computed and their impact on subsurface stress changes and fracture propagation are discussed. This allows us, for the first time, to implicitly couple 3-D reservoir simulations with the transport and settling of multiple proppants as the fracture propagates, dilates and closes. Fracturing fluid leak-off is modeled explicitly. Thermal and poroelastic stresses are fully integrated based on the coupled solution of the energy balance and the flow and mechanics equations. The new simulator is fully parallelized through domain decomposition with message-passing between domains. The model is first validated with well-known problems with analytical solutions and verified with commercial software. This new simulator is then used to study two field-scale geomechanics and fracturing cases. The first case is the simulation of water-injection-induced fracture propagation by the combined poro-thermo-elasticity effect. The second case presents an integrated simulation of multi-stage, multiple fracture propagation with different types of proppant injected and shut-in with proppant settling. After the creation of the multiple fractures, multi-phase production from the well with fracture closure during long-term production with proppant embedment is simulated.
Stigmatize the use, not the user? Attitudes on opioid use, drug injection, treatment, and overdose prevention in rural communities.

Abstract Stigma is a known barrier to treating substance use disorders and dramatically diminishes the quality of life of people who use drugs (PWUD) nonmedically. Stigma against PWUD may be especially pronounced in rural areas due to their decreased anonymity and residents' limited access, or resistance, to “neutralizing” information on factors associated with drug use. Stigma often manifests in the attitudes of professionals whom stigmatized individuals regularly interact with and often materially impact. We analyzed interviews conducted between July 2018 and February 2019 with professional stakeholders in rural southern Illinois who interact with PWUD, specifically those who use opioids nonmedically or who inject drugs (n = 30). We further analyzed interview data from a complementary PWUD sample (n = 22). Interviews addressed perspectives around nonmedical drug use and treatment/harm reduction, with analysis centered around the Framework Integrating Normative Influences on Stigma and its focus on micro, meso and macro level stigmatization processes. Stakeholder participants included professionals from local law enforcement, courts, healthcare organizations, emergency management services, and faith-based and social services organizations. Most stakeholders, particularly law enforcement, negatively perceived PWUD and nonmedical drug use in general, questioned the character, agency and extrinsic value of PWUD, and used labels (e.g. “addict,” “abuser,” etc.) that may be regarded as stigmatizing. Further, most respondents, including PWUD, characterized their communities as largely unaware or dismissive of the bio-medical and sociocultural explanations for opioid use, drug injection and towards harm reduction services (e.g., syringe exchanges) and naloxone, which were frequently framed as undeserved usages of taxpayer funds. In conclusion, rural stigma against PWUD manifested and was framed as a substantial issue, notably activating at micro, meso and macro levels. Stigma prevention efforts in these communities should aim to improve public knowledge on the intricate factors contributing to opioid use and drug injection and harm reduction programming's moral and fiscal value.
On Database-Free Authentication of Microelectronic Components

Counterfeit integrated circuits (ICs) have become a significant security concern in the semiconductor industry as a result of the increasingly complex and distributed nature of the supply chain. These counterfeit chips may result in performance degradation, profit reduction, and reputation risk for the manufacturer. Therefore, developing effective countermeasures against such malpractices is becoming severely crucial. Physical unclonable function (PUF)-based authentication methods have the potential to mitigate these challenges. However, PUF-based solutions are restrained by several factors, such as additional design efforts and significant area/power overhead, struggle to maintain and update challenge–response pairs (CRPs) database, and the vulnerability to machine learning (ML) attacks. In this article, we address these challenges by developing a novel database-free and enrolment-free hardware authentication approaches, i.e., a digital watermark metric for ICs. To enable efficient database-free hardware integrity verification without enrolment, first, we transform the intrinsic variations in circuit parameters, e.g., boundary scan chain (BSC) path delays in the joint test action group (JTAG) chain into robust digital signatures. Then, we perform statistical analysis on a small pilot unit of authentic chips to create a robust watermark for a complete batch of chips, which jointly captures the characteristics of the physical layout, the manufacturing process, and the foundry. The increasing complexity in the current state-of-the-art designs makes it extremely hard for an adversary to perfectly clone such statistical characterization of circuit parameters using counterfeit or compromised hardware. Besides, the proposed approach requires no additional design or hardware overhead in IC design since it utilizes an embedded structure, which inherently exists within the chips. It also obviates the design house from characterizing each manufactured chip instance, reducing overall testing cost. A path-delay measurement method at a high resolution based on clock phase sweep is introduced to measure the delay values effectively. The proposed intrinsic identifier-based authentication approach is validated by performing emulation on FPGAs and also by conducting physical measurements on custom-made printed circuit boards (PCBs). The reliability of the generated watermarks is evaluated with environmental temperature fluctuations and the aging effect.
Elevated-Temperature Elastic Properties of Alloys 709 and 617 Measured by Laser Ultrasound

Non-contacting laser ultrasound is used to measure Young’s modulus, shear modulus, and Poisson’s ratio as functions of temperature for Alloys 617 and 709. These alloys are of interest for structural applications in advanced nuclear reactors. Design rules for the construction of elevated-temperature nuclear components are presented in Section III, Division 5 of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel (B&PV) Code. The ASME B&PV Code for each material provides Young’s modulus values tabulated as a function of temperature and a single, temperature-independent Poisson’s ratio value. Elastic properties characterized by laser ultrasonics for Alloy 617 are in good agreement with data collected using an American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard resonant frequency technique and values reported from literature, demonstrating its accuracy. The shear modulus and Poisson’s ratio as functions of temperature for Alloy 709 have not been reported previously. Laser ultrasonics is well suited for determining temperature-dependent elastic properties, and the method offers the ability to perform measurements on small irregularly shaped specimens.
How Alfvén waves energize the solar wind: heat versus work

A growing body of evidence suggests that the solar wind is powered to a large extent by an Alfven-wave (AW) energy flux. AWs energize the solar wind via two mechanisms: heating and work. We use high-resolution direct numerical simulations of reflection-driven AW turbulence (RDAWT) in a fast-solar-wind stream emanating from a coronal hole to investigate both mechanisms. In particular, we compute the fraction of the AW power at the coronal base (.
Caution with Mild COVID19 Pneumonia: A Case of Cavitary Lesions and Pneumothorax in a Young Male with No Past Medical History

Introduction: Cavitary lesions have a very broad differential diagnosis. Some case studies have shown COVID19 to cause cavitary lesions1,2 and others have shown COVID19 to cause pneumothorax3. We describe a case report of a young man with no significant past medical history who was hospitalized for COVID19 pneumonia and was subsequently developed a pneumothorax. Case Report: A 39-year-old male presented to the hospital for acute onset shortness of breath. On admission, he was found to have right-sided pneumothorax and a pigtail catheter was placed with a proper expansion of the right lung. Approximately one month previously, he had been admitted for mild COVID19 pneumonia and successfully treated with dexamethasone and was discharged home with stable condition.On further evaluation, chest CT revealed multiple cavitary lesions with one large cavitation in the inferior right upper lobe with prominent mediastinal and hilar nodes. Quantiferon gold, AFB x3, and mycobacterium complex PCR were all negative. Fungitell, 1-3 B-D gluten, and coccioides antibodies were also negative. The patient had no other suggestive features to warrant vasculitis or malignancy evaluation. Discussion:The importance of this case is recognizing the late sequela of COVID19 pneumonia such as cavitary lesions and pneumothorax as seen with our patient. Some studies showed the development of pneumothorax associated with COVID19 but no previous studies showed the development of these findings in a patient without any past pulmonary history3. We attributed the development of cavitary lesions to covid19 and subsequently, because of that, the patient developed pneumothorax. Conclusion: It is important to consider the long term sequela of COVID19 pneumonia especially in those we consider to have mild disease. It is important to minimize potential severe consequences such as pneumothorax which occurred due to intense coughing as seen with our patient.
Nicotinic receptors modulate the function of presynaptic AMPA receptors on glutamatergic nerve terminals in the trigeminal caudal nucleus.

In this study, we demonstrate the existence on trigeminal caudal nucleus (TCN) glutamatergic terminals of α4β2 nicotinic receptors (nAChRs) capable of enhancing the terminals' spontaneous release of [(3)H]d-aspartate ([(3)H]D-Asp). In rat TCN synaptosomes, spontaneous [(3)H]D-Asp release was increased by nicotine and the nicotinic receptor agonists (±)epibatidine and RJR2403. The increase was potentiated by the positive allosteric modulator of nAChRs LY2087101, inhibited by the nicotinic antagonists mecamylamine (MEC) and dihydro-β-erythroidine hydrobromide (DHβE), and unaffected by α-bungarotoxin (α-BgTx) and methyllycaconitine (MLA). Evidence of functional interaction was observed between the α4β2 nAChRs and cyclothiazide-sensitive, alfa-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolone propionate (AMPA) receptors co-localized on the TCN synaptosomes. Brief pre-exposure of synaptosomes to 30 μM nicotine or 10 μM RJR2403 abolished the AMPA (100 μM) -induced potentiation of [K(+)]e-evoked [(3)H]D-Asp release, an effect that seems to be caused by nicotine-induced increases in the internalization of AMPA receptors. Indeed, the effects of nicotine-pretreatment were not seen in synaptosomes containing pre-entrapped pep2-SVKI, a peptide known to compete for the binding of GluA2 subunit to scaffolding proteins involved in AMPA endocytosis, while entrapment of pep2-SVKE, an inactive peptide used as negative control, was inefficacious. These findings show that nicotine can negatively modulate the function of AMPA receptors present on glutamatergic nerve terminals in the rat TCN. Dynamic control of AMPA receptors by the nicotinic cholinergic system has been observed under other experimental conditions, and it can contribute to the control of synaptic plasticity such as long-term depression and potentiation. Nicotine's ability to reduce the functionality of presynaptic AMPA receptors could contribute to its analgesic effects by diminishing glutamatergic transmission from the primary afferent terminals that convey nociceptive input to TCN.
Supplementary orthogonal cepstral features

A new set of LP-derived features is introduced. The concept of these features is motivated by the power sum formulation of the LP cepstrum. Due to the fact that the LP model implies that the resulting poles are either real or occur in complex conjugate pairs, the power sum of the poles is equivalent to the power sum of their real components. Therefore, the LP cepstrum is associated to the power sum of the real component of the LP poles. This fact is utilized in deriving a new set of features that is associated to the imaginary components of the LP poles. The author refers to this new set of features as the sepstral coefficients. It is found that the sepstral coefficients and cepstral coefficients are relatively uncorrelated. Hence, they can be used jointly to improve the performance of pattern classification applications where cepstral features are usually used. The author presents some preliminary results on speaker identification experiments.
3D-Printable Biodegradable Polyester Tissue Scaffolds for Cell Adhesion

Additive manufacturing, or three-dimensional (3D) printing, has emerged as a viable technique for the production of vascularized tissue engineering scaffolds. In this report, a biocompatible and biodegradable poly(tri(ethylene glycol) adipate) dimethacrylate was synthesized and characterized for suitability in soft-tissue scaffolding applications. The polyester dimethacrylate exhibited highly efficient photocuring, hydrolyzability, and 3D printability in a custom microstereolithography system. The photocured polyester film demonstrated significantly improved cell attachment and viability as compared with controls. These results indicate promise of novel, printable polyesters for 3D patterned, vascularized soft-tissue engineering scaffolds.
Multiparameter medical image visualization with self-organizing maps

The effective display of multiparameter medical image data sets is assuming increasing importance as more distinct imaging modalities are becoming available. For medical purposes, one desirable goal is to fuse such data sets into a single most informative gray-scale image without making rigid classification decisions. A visualization technique based on a non-linear projection onto a 1-D self-organizing map is described and examples are shown. The SOM visualization technique is fast, theoretically attractive, a useful complement to projection-pursuit or other linear techniques, and may be of particular value in calling attention to specific regions in a multiparameter image where the component images should be examined in detail. >
Differential fMRI Activation Patterns to Noxious Heat and Tactile Stimuli in the Primate Spinal Cord

Mesoscale local functional organizations of the primate spinal cord are largely unknown. Using high-resolution fMRI at 9.4 T, we identified distinct interhorn and intersegment fMRI activation patterns to tactile versus nociceptive heat stimulation of digits in lightly anesthetized monkeys. Within a spinal segment, 8 Hz vibrotactile stimuli elicited predominantly fMRI activations in the middle part of ipsilateral dorsal horn (iDH), along with significantly weaker activations in ipsilateral (iVH) and contralateral (cVH) ventral horns. In contrast, nociceptive heat stimuli evoked widespread strong activations in the superficial part of iDH, as well as in iVH and contralateral dorsal (cDH) horns. As controls, only weak signal fluctuations were detected in the white matter. The iDH responded most strongly to both tactile and heat stimuli, whereas the cVH and cDH responded selectively to tactile versus nociceptive heat, respectively. Across spinal segments, iDH activations were detected in three consecutive segments in both tactile and heat conditions. Heat responses, however, were more extensive along the cord, with strong activations in iVH and cDH in two consecutive segments. Subsequent subunit B of cholera toxin tracer histology confirmed that the spinal segments showing fMRI activations indeed received afferent inputs from the stimulated digits. Comparisons of the fMRI signal time courses in early somatosensory area 3b and iDH revealed very similar hemodynamic stimulus–response functions. In summary, we identified with fMRI distinct segmental networks for the processing of tactile and nociceptive heat stimuli in the cervical spinal cord of nonhuman primates. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This is the first fMRI demonstration of distinct intrasegmental and intersegmental nociceptive heat and touch processing circuits in the spinal cord of nonhuman primates. This study provides novel insights into the local functional organizations of the primate spinal cord for pain and touch, information that will be valuable for designing and optimizing therapeutic interventions for chronic pain management.
Contextual Constructivism: The Impact of Culture on the Learning and Teaching of Science.

Though rooted in neo-Piagetian research , constructivism is an avenue of research that departed from the neo-Piagetian mainstream 20 years ago and has continued on a distinct path of development. The departure was evident by the late seventies, clearly outlined in two publications by Novak (1977) and Driver and Easley (1978). For constructivists, learning is not knowledge written on or transplanted to a person's mind as if the mind were a blank slate waiting to be written on or an empty gallery waiting to be filled. Constructivists use the metaphor of construction because it aptly summarizes the epistemological view that knowledge is built by individuals. Since Ausubel eta!. (1978), theorists have argued that the construction of new knowledge in science is strongly influenced by prior knowledge, that is, conceptions gained prior to the point of new learning. Learning by construction thus implies a change in prior knowledge, where change can mean replacement, addition, or modification of extant knowledge. Learning, by construction, involving change is the basis of the Posner et a!. (1982) conceptual change modeL In essence, constructivism is an epistemological model of learning, and constructivist teaching is mediation. A constructivist teacher works as the interface between curriculum and student to bring the two together in a way that is meaningful for the learner. Furthermore, if one carries the construction metaphor to its logical conclusion, construction implies a foundation, in addition to the studs and beams of prior knowledge. The construction of new knowledge takes place at a construction site consisting of existing structures standing on a foundation . In other words, construction takes place in a context. The purpose of this chapter is, first, to trace the developments in constructivist theory that lead to contextual constructivism, including the types of questions suggested by contextual constructivism. Second, it places those questions in the context of an anthropological world view theory .
Chapter 16 HPLC-ICP-MS screening for forensic applications

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses high performance liquid chromatography–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (HPLC–ICP–MS) screening for forensic applications. There is a wide range of substances, or toxins, that pose a threat to human safety. These toxins exist in the environment both naturally and man-made. Some man-made toxins are designed with destructive applications in mind (anthrax, chemical-warfare agents), others designed with good intentions are toxic to humans (pesticides), while more are byproducts from industry/manufacturing (lead from fossil fuels). Regardless of their route to the environment and consequently to humans, scientific methods for the detection of these compounds are of great importance. These methods need to be applicable in a variety of sample matrices, including environmental (water, soil, air, etc.), foods and beverages, and biological samples (hair, blood, urine, etc.). Because of the large variety of sample types, methods should be selective and able to resolve analytes from possible interferences. HPLC–ICP–MS can be applied to a large number of sample types while analyzing for numerous elements. There are several important factors to consider when choosing the speciation method. Sample preparation is crucial, as preserving the native form of the species must be balanced with extraction efficiency.
Automated Scoring for the TOEFL Junior® Comprehensive Writing and Speaking Test

This report describes the initial automated scoring results that were obtained using the constructed responses from the Writing and Speaking sections of the pilot forms of the TOEFL Junior® Comprehensive test administered in late 2011. For all of the items except one (the edit item in the Writing section), existing automated scoring capabilities were used with only minor modifications to obtain a baseline benchmark for automated scoring performance on the TOEFL Junior task types; for the edit item in the Writing section, a new automated scoring capability based on string matching was developed. A generic scoring model from the e-rater® automated essay scoring engine was used to score the email, opinion, and listen-write items in the Writing section, and the form-level results based on the five responses in the Writing section from each test taker showed a human–machine correlation of r = .83 (compared to a human–human correlation of r = .90). For scoring the Speaking section, new automated speech recognition models were first trained, and then item-specific scoring models were built for the read-aloud picture narration, and listen-speak items using preexisting features from the SpeechRaterSM automated speech scoring engine (with the addition of a new content feature for the listen-speak items). The form-level results based on the five items in the Speaking section from each test taker showed a human–machine correlation of r = .81 (compared to a human–human correlation of r = .89).
DNA strand breaks induced by sustained glutamate excitotoxicity in primary neuronal cultures

We developed a new approach to study single- and double-stranded DNA breaks during chronic, moderate excitotoxicity resulting from the inhibition of the glutamate transporter in cerebellar granule cell primary cultures. A 24 hr treatment of 2-week-old cultures with L-alpha-amino adipate (LAA), an inhibitor of the cerebellar glutamate uptake transporter, caused a gradual extracellular accumulation of endogenous glutamate that induced reversible morphological change of granule neurons but no neuronal cell death despite sustained, but moderate, elevations of the free intracellular calcium concentrations. Nick translation experiments on isolated nuclei or cells from cerebellar cultures chronically exposed to LAA revealed increased radioactive nucleotide incorporation indicative of DNA nicking. This LAA effect was dose-dependent and suppressed by NMDA receptor antagonists. Cultures treated for 24 hr with LAA and subjected to in situ nick translation showed an intense nuclear labeling of neurons but not glia, which could be abolished by MK801. A similar labeling was also observed in altered nuclei of granule neurons acutely exposed to high glutamate concentrations or undergoing an apoptotic cell death. Although the TUNEL labeling method detected no DNA double-strand breaks in LAA-treated cerebellar cultures, it displayed clear evidence of DNA damage during acute glutamate excitotoxicity or during apoptosis. However, Southern blot analysis of nuclear DNA revealed a DNA laddering only in apoptotic cell death. Our results demonstrate that DNA damage, characterized by DNA single-strand breaks, is an early event in chronic, moderate excitotoxicity. This type of DNA degradation, which appears before any nuclear morphological changes, is distinct from the massive DNA single- and/or double-strand damages observed during acute glutamate excitotoxicity or apoptosis.
Room Temperature Near-Infrared Photoresponse Based on Interband Transitions in $\hbox{In}_{0.35}\hbox{Ga}_{0.65}\hbox{As}$ Multiple Quantum Dot Photodetector

Near-infrared photoresponse is observed in the temperature range of 77-300 K for a photodetector fabricated from undoped In0.35Ga0.65As/GaAs multiple quantum dots grown in a molecular beam epitaxy system. The detectivity is estimated to be on the order of 3.70 times 109 and 2.70 X 107 cm .radicHz/W at 77 and 300 K, respectively. The reduction of the detectivity is attributed to the increase of the dark current as the temperature is increased. The photoresponse is explained in terms of several interband transitions. These transitions are found to be in good agreement with the self-consistent theoretical calculations.
Relation of education to brain size in normal aging: Implications for the reserve hypothesis

Objective: To examine the relations between education and age-related changes in brain structure in a nonclinical sample of elderly adults. Background: Education may protect against cognitive decline in late life—an observation that has led to the “reserve” hypothesis of brain aging. Little is known, however, about the effect of education on age-related changes in brain structure. Methods: Quantitative MRI of the brain was performed in 320 elderly volunteers (age range, 66 to 90 years) living independently in the community (Mini-Mental State Examination scores ≥ 24), all of whom were participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Blinded measurements of global and regional brain size were made from T1-weighted axial images using computer-assisted edge detection and trace methodology. High measurement reliabilities were obtained. Results: Regression analyses (adjusting for the effects of intracranial size, sex, age, age-by-sex interactions, and potential confounders) revealed significant main effects of education on peripheral (sulcal) CSF volume—a marker of cortical atrophy. Each year of education was associated with an increase in peripheral CSF volume of 1.77 mL ( p Conclusions: The authors’ findings demonstrate a relation between education and age-related cortical atrophy in a nonclinical sample of elderly persons, and are consistent with the reserve hypothesis as well as with a small number of brain imaging studies in patients with dementia. The neurobiological basis and functional correlates of this education effect require additional investigation.
ESR rigid-lattice lineshapes for a three-electronic-spin system. A triradical or "three-spin label"

Abstract The ESR rigid-lattice lineshape is calculated for a randomly oriented system of molecules each bearing three weakly interacting electronic spins. Each spin has a unique g tensor and associated Zeeman interaction and all three spins interact through an isotropic exchange interaction ( J 0 S 1 · S 2 ) and general magnetic point dipole-dipole interaction. The lineshape is calculated by the transition frequency method, and the resulting spectra are averaged over four octants of the unit sphere. The results show significant lineshape dependence on the value of the dihedral angle in the complexes, as well as the usual dependence on the dipolar distances. Based on these observations, we propose that a “three-spin label” would have a strong response to local conformational strain effects in membranes and macromolecules. Such a label, along with an appropriate lineshape theory, may have unique applications in paramagnetic resonance molecular structure-function studies.
Speech Codec Optimization Based on Cell Broadband Engine

Cell broadband engine (CBE) is a multi-core processor jointly developed by Sony, Toshiba and IBM. The multi-SPE architecture makes it powerful for streaming media processing, such as voice over IP application. In this paper, a CBE based IP media server (IMS) architecture is proposed and the workloads of ITU-T G.723.1 and GSM-AMR encoder on CBE are analyzed with some preliminary optimization result from both CBE simulator and real CBE hardware. Branch instruction reduction, data level parallelism (SIMD), instruction level parallelism and aligned SPU local store access techniques are applied in our single precision floating-point based reference software optimization on cell. The performance we have achieved demonstrates the cell competence for computation intensity applications in telecom industry.
Enantioselective synthesis of (S)-homocitric acid lactone and (R)-per-homocitric acid lactone involving organocatalysis

A concise enantioselective synthesis of (S)-homocitric acid lactone and its homolog, via an organocatalytic vinylogous Mukaiyama–Michael reaction of a silyloxy furan derivative and acrolein, is described.
Conformal proton radiation therapy for pediatric low-grade astrocytomas.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of proton radiation therapy (PRT) for intracranial low-grade astrocytomas, the authors analyzed the first 27 pediatric patients treated at Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC). Patients and Method: Between September 1991 and August 1997, 27 patients (13 female, 14 male) underwent fractionated proton radiation therapy for progressive or recurrent low-grade astrocytoma. Age at time of treatment ranged from 2 to 18 years (mean: 8,7 years). Tumors were located centrally (diencephalic) in 15 patients, in the cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres in seven patients, and in the brainstem in five patients. 25/27 patients (92%) were treated for progressive, unresectable, or residual disease following subtotal resection. Tissue diagnosis was available in 23/27 patients (85%). Four patients with optic pathway tumors were treated without histologic confirmation. Target doses between 50.4 and 63.0 CGE (Cobalt Gray Equivalent, mean: 55.2 CGE) were prescribed at 1.8 CGE per fraction, five treatments per week. Results: At a mean follow-up period of 3.3 years (0.6–6.8 years), 6/27 patients experienced local failure (all located within the irradiated field), and 4/27 patients had died. By anatomic site these data translated into rates of local control and survival of 87% (13/15 patients) and 93% (14/15 patients) for central tumors, 71% (5/7 patients) and 86% (6/7 patients) for hemispheric tumors, and 60% (3/5 patients) and 60% (3/5 patients) for tumors located in the brainstem. Proton radiation therapy was generally well tolerated. All children with local control maintained their performance status. One child with associated neurofibromatosis, Type 1, developed Moyamoya disease. All six patients with optic pathway tumors and useful vision maintained or improved their visual status. Conclusions: This report on pediatric low-grade astrocytomas confirms proton radiation therapy as a safe and efficacious 3-D conformal treatment modality. Results are encouraging for central tumors as well as large optic pathway tumors, where dose conformity is of particular importance; yet it is difficult to achieve. Longer follow-up time is needed to fully evaluate the benefits of normal tissue sparing.
Mass corrections to the fine structure of hydrogen - like atoms

A relativistic four-dimensional wave equation, derived previously, for bound states of a two-body system is discussed further. For any "instantaneous" interaction function an exact three-dimensional equation is derived from it, similar to, but not identical with, the Breit equation. A perturbation theory is developed for a small additional non-instantaneous interaction.Using this covariant method, corrections of relative order $\ensuremath{\alpha}(\frac{m}{M})$ to the fine structure of hydrogen, due to the finite mass of the nucleus, are calculated. No terms of this order were obtained in previous approximate treatments using the Breit equation. Some of the terms obtained contain $log\ensuremath{\alpha}$ as a factor. It is shown that these special terms can also be derived simply by means of orthodox quantum electrodynamics and perturbation theory.These corrections to the fine structure are +0.379 Mc/sec for the $2s$ state of hydrogen and -0.017 Mc/sec for the $2p$ state. For hydrogen-like atoms with heavier nuclei the corrections are roughly ($\frac{{Z}^{5}}{A}$) times those for hydrogen.
Cognitive Dysfunction in Eating Disorders

Recent theories have implicated disturbed cognitions in the etiology and perpetuation of eating disorders. However, the specific nature of these disturbances has received only limited empirical attention. Therefore the present study assessed subjects with a range of eating pathology on three types of cognitive dysfunction: logical errors, cognitive slippage, and conceptual complexity. Affective features were also assessed for purposes of contrast and discriminant validity. The Cognitive Error Questionnaire (Lefebvre, 1981), Thought Disorder Index (Blatt & Ritzier, 1974), Friedman's Developmental Level (Goldfried, Stricker, & Weiner, 1971), Sentence Completion Test (Loevinger & Wessler, 1970), Dysphoria Questionnaire (Johnson & Larson, 1982), and Beck Depression Inventory (Beck, 1978) were administered to 19 restrictive anorexics, 14 bulimic anorexics, 17 normal-weight bulimics, 15 subclinical eating disorders, and 17 normal control subjects. All groups were matched for age, sex, race, education, and marital status. The eating disordered groups were matched for duration of illness and treatment history, and the anorexic groups were matched on percent of ideal body weight. Both anorexic groups manifested more logical errors than the control group; the normal-weight bulimic and subclinical groups were indistinguishable from the controls on this index. There were no significant differences among groups on cognitive slippage or conceptual complexity. In contrast, dysphoria and depression were prominent features of all four eating disordered groups. The significance and conjoint influence of cognitive and affective factors in eating pathology is discussed.
Breakthroughs in photonics 2012: Nano-structuring and nano-fabrication enabled by extreme ultraviolet laser sources

Two- and three-dimensional structures with submicron dimensions, such as photonic crystals, patterned magnetic media, micro- and nano-electromechanical systems (MEMs/NEMs), microfluidics chips, etc., are becoming ubiquitous in multiple applications across many research fields. The necessity to engineer these devices has inspired the development of novel nanofabrication and nano-patterning methods. This review describes major accomplishments in laser-based nano-patterning and nano-fabrication methods. In particular, it focuses on newly developed nano-patterning techniques based on the use of extreme ultraviolet laser light that contributes to the rapid and efficient fabrication of periodic nano-structures.
Prolactin-mediated progesterone secretion by cultured rat granulosa cells: regulation by purified human glycoprotein hormones and their subunits.

The effects of purified α- and β-subunits of human glycoprotein hormones on initial luteinization and subsequent prolactin-mediated progesterone responses of cultured rat granulosa cells were studied. Granulosa cells, obtained from immature female rats 50 h after PMSG treatment, were incubated for 24 h in control medium lacking added hormones or in medium containing hCG or the α- or β-subunit of human (h) FSH, LH, CG, or TSH at 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 μg/ml. Cultures were maintained subsequently for 6 days in medium containing 1.0 μg/ml bovine PRL (bPRL), with medium changes every 48 h. Indices of luteotropic stimulation in response to bPRL were provided by 1) elevated progesterone concentrations determined by RIA of spent media samples, and 2) cytoplasmic lipid accumulation assessed by osmium tetroxide staining following fixation of monolayers after 7 days of culture. Progesterone concentrations in media from cultures incubated in 0.5 or 1.0 μg/ml hCG were 6-fold higher than in cultures incubated in control me...
Cholera toxin transcriptional activator ToxR is a transmembrane DNA binding protein

The toxR gene encodes a transcriptional activator controlling cholera toxin, pilus, and outer-membrane protein expression in V. cholerae. Nucleotide sequence and mutational analysis has identified the toxR gene product as a 32,527 dalton protein. Hydropathicity analysis of the derived amino acid sequence of ToxR predicts a transmembrane structure. The properties of hybrid proteins composed of N-terminal fragments of ToxR fused to the periplasmic enzyme alkaline phosphatase provide additional evidence for the transmembrane topology of the ToxR protein. These fusion proteins also allowed the localization of the transcriptional activation and DNA binding domains of the ToxR protein to its cytoplasmically located N-terminal portion. DNA binding assays and a deletion analysis of the cholera toxin promoter support a model for transcriptional activation that involves ToxR binding to a tandemly repeated 7 bp DNA sequence 56 bp upstream of the transcriptional start point.
An optical isolator for mid-infrared diode lasers

Abstract A simple, compact Faraday isolator has been constructed and demonstrated for use in conjunction with a lead-salt diode laser operating in the 5.4 μm spectral region. We obtained an isolation ratio of 25 dB with an n-doped InAs crystal 6 mm in diameter by 1.3 mm thick, housed in a Sm 2 Co 17 magnet assembly. The insertion loss was 1.5 dB.
Post-occupancy evaluation of 20 office buildings as basis for future IEQ standards and guidelines

Abstract The design of modern work environments must anticipate high levels of spatial and technological change by providing responsive thermal and air quality delivery systems. Building occupants will require indoor environmental conditions to support computer-intensive activities as well as paper-based tasks. However, the current standards and guidelines for indoor environments were predominantly developed without consideration for these modern office variables. This limitation may lead to an occupant's dissatisfaction with the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) as well as unnecessary energy use. With support from the U.S. General Services Administration, a research team at Carnegie Mellon University performed a wide range of post-occupancy evaluation studies in Federal office buildings across the U.S. over 7 years. IEQ conditions were determined with spot and continuous measurements, while the building occupants’ satisfaction with environmental attributes was surveyed simultaneously. Statistical analyses of over 400 workstations linked characteristics and environmental qualities to occupants’ satisfaction. The results challenged the validity of current IEQ standards and guidelines. Specific recommendations for improving current standards and guidelines are outlined here to help enhance environmental conditions in workplaces for future design projects. These include raising summer temperature set-points, separating task and ambient lighting requirements, and establishing minimum air flow rates at each workstation.
Characterization of DNA adducts in Chinese hamster ovary cells treated with mutagenic doses of 1- and 3-nitrosobenzo[a]pyrene and the trans-7,8-diol-anti-9,10-epoxides of 1- and 3-nitrobenzo[a]pyrene

Abstract The environmental contaminants 1- and 3-nitrobenzo[a]pyrene (1- and 3-nitro-BaP) are mutagens in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells with exogenous metabolic activation. Previous studies demonstrated the potent direct-acting mutagenicity of the oxidized metabolites, trans-7,8-dihydroxy-anti-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-1-nitrobenzo[a]pyrene (1-NBaPDE) and trans-7,8-dihydroxy-anti-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-3-nitrobenzo[a]pyrene (3-NBaPDE), and the partially nitroreduced metabolites, 1- and 3-nitrosobenzo[a]pyrene (1- and 3-NO-BaP). In this study, we have identified the major adduct formed by incubation of calf thymus DNA with 1-NBaPDE and used this standard in conjunction with other adduct standards to characterize the 32P-postlabeled DNA adducts produced by 1- and 3-nitro-BaP metabolites in CHO cultures. The major adduct from 1-NBaPDE exposure was 10-(deoxyguanosin-N2-yl)-7,8,9-trihydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-1-nitrobenzo[a]pyrene; from 3-NBaPDE, 10-(deoxyguanosin-N2-yl)-7,8,9-trihydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-3-nitrobenzo[a]pyrene; from 1-NO-BaP, 6-(deoxyguanosin-N2-yl)-1-aminobenzo[a]pyrene; and from 3-NO-BaP, 6-(deoxyguanosin-N2-yl)-3-aminobenzo[a]pyrene. For comparison, the adducts formed by trans-7,8-dihydroxy-anti-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene and the related nitroreduced derivative 6-nitrosobenzo[a]pyrene were also examined. The nitrobenzo[a]pyrene DNA adducts described in this study are proposed to be involved in the mutagenicity of 1- and 3-nitro-BaP upon either oxidative or reductive metabolism.
Deuterium kinetic isotope effects in gas phase SN2 reactions

Abstract Rate coefficients and secondary α-deuterium kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) for the nucleophilic substitution (S N 2) reactions of Cl − + CH 3 Br → CH 3 Cl + Br − , Cl − + CH 3 I → CH 3 Cl + I − , Br − + CH 3 I → CH 3 Br + I − , and their perdeuterated analogs are remeasured in the gas phase at 300 K. The measurements confirm our previous results [Gronert et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 113 (1991) 4009] and substantial inverse KIEs are measured with an improved accuracy: k H / k D = 0.77 (±0.03), 0.84 (±0.01), and 0.76 (±0.01), respectively, for the above systems. Thus, the experimentally observed effect of deuterium substitution in these reactions is considerably more dramatic than predicted previously by transition state theory where KIEs are calculated to be closer to unity. The experimental KIE values for the series of S N 2 reactions, F − , Cl − +CH 3 Br and F − , Cl − , Br − +CH 3 I are both found to decrease (i.e. become more inverse ) with an increase in the transition-state looseness parameter ( R TS ) for larger halide anions, in contrast to those for lighter methyl halides which show the expected positive correlations with R TS .
Hybridization, cryptic diversity, and invasiveness in introduced variable-leaf watermilfoil

Hybridization may be important in the evolution of invasiveness, but few empirical studies compare introduced hybrid and parental lineages. Invasive ‘variable-leaf watermilfoil’ (Myriophyllum heterophyllum) in the northeastern United States consists of at least three distinct lineages: an interspecific hybrid (M. heterophyllum × Myriophyllum laxum) and two historically allopatric lineages of pure M. heterophyllum. Previous observations suggested that hybrid populations of variable-leaf watermilfoil may be comparatively more ‘invasive’ than pure lineages. However, no quantitative data comparing hybrid and parental lineages have been collected, nor has invasiveness been compared between parental lineages. Here, we demonstrate that these distinct lineages are also ecologically distinct. We find some support for the hypothesis that hybridization has played a role in the evolution of invasiveness: hybrids exhibited higher biomass, individual plant size, and greater branching than at least one parental lineage of M. heterophyllum. However, parental lineages did not differ from the hybrid for some traits, demonstrating that pure parental lineages can also be invasive. In addition, we found no evidence for a role of intraspecific hybridization in the evolution of invasiveness in these lineages of variable-leaf watermilfoil, even where they co-occurred locally. Our study suggests that distinguishing among cryptic lineages will help prioritize rapid response control efforts.
Calculation of scattering with the light-cone two-body equation in phi3 theories.

The analysis of the light-cone two-body bound-state equation is extended to the scattering problem. The rotational invariance is violated in the light-cone quantization method when the Fock space is truncated for practical calculations. Using a simple scalar field model, we investigate the explicit rotation dependence of the two-body scattering phase shifts in the light-cone quantization approach. We find the regions of coupling constant and c.m. momentum where the rotation dependence in the phase shift is negligible. We also make a connection of our analysis with the light-cone scattering formalism recently presented by Fuda