cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Subpicosecond Electro-optic Imaging Using Interferometric And Polarimetric Apparatus

This communication describes an interferometric and a polarimetric ultrafast electro-optic imager, each capable of imaging the voltage distribution over a rectangular region of an (opto)electronic device. The detector is a commercial 2-dimensional (2-D) charge-coupled-device (CCD) array having a limited dynamic range. Our analysis focuses on techniques that take advantage of the speed and convenience of a CCD measurement system and overcome the dynamic-range limitations of CCD’s. Experimental results obtained with a non-optimized polarimeter having a voltage sensitivity of −1.8 V are presented. Theoretical voltage sensitivity for an interferometric system is 270 mV.
Pediatric emergency department visits and ambient Air pollution in the U.S. State of Georgia: a case-crossover study

Background Estimating the health effects of ambient air pollutant mixtures is necessary to understand the risk of real-life air pollution exposures.
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue”: A Critical Examination

President Clinton, in announcing his policy concerning the service of gays, lesbians, and bisexuals, referred to the policy as an “honorable compromise.” Dubbed, “don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t pursue,” the policy states that applicants for service will no longer be asked their sexual orientation. At the same time, the policy formally prohibits members from uttering statements or engaging in actions that identify them as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Finally, the policy offers new guidelines for investigating homosexuality in the military intended to allow gays, lesbians, and bisexuals to continue serving but only in secret. This paper examines closely the text of the new policy in terms of the “don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t pursue” provisions and concludes that, with few exceptions, there is little substantive difference between the Clinton policy and the former policy.
Deep Gray Matter Segmentation from 1.5T vs. 3T MRI in Normal Controls and Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (P4.171)

Objective: Evaluate the sensitivity and reliability of cerebral subcortical deep gray matter nuclei (DGM) volumes obtained from 1.5T vs. 3T MRI in normal controls (NCs) and patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Background: DGM are a common and clinically-relevant site of atrophy in the early stages of MS. Efficient and reliable segmentation of these structures has proved difficult with existing MRI acquisitions and processing pipelines. The availability of such a tool could prove useful in the evaluation of putative neuroprotective MS therapies. Methods: Fourteen patients with MS [age (mean, range) 50.2 (32.0-60.8) years, 3 men, 10 (71[percnt]) relapsing-remitting, Expanded Disability Status Scale score 3.1 (0-6), timed 25 foot walk 6.16 (3.5-13 seconds)] and 15 NC [age 37.7 (24.8-51.6), six men] underwent 1.5T (GE Signa, voxel size: 0.94x0.94x1.2 mm) and 3T (Siemens Skyra, 1x1x1 mm) scans and rescans on the same day using 3D T1-weighted gradient-echo sequences. DGM (caudate, thalamus, globus pallidus, and putamen) volumes were obtained by the fully automated FIRST pipeline (http://fsl.fmrib.ox.ac.uk). Results: 3T showed slightly better differentiation (caudate: p=0.04; thalamus: p=0.03; globus pallidus: p=0.0002; putamen: p=0.003) than 1.5T (caudate: p=0.04; thalamus: p=0.30; globus pallidus: p=0.003; putamen: p=0.007) for detecting DGM atrophy in MS vs. NC. Across all subjects, scan-rescan reliability was generally very high for both methods. However, 3T showed somewhat higher reliabilities [ICC (95[percnt] CI): caudate: 0.96 (0.88, 0.98); thalamus: 0.99 (0.97, 1.00); globus pallidus: 0.98 (0.93, 0.99); putamen: 0.97 (0.93, 0.99)] than 1.5T [caudate: 0.97 (0.93, 0.99); thalamus: 0.95 (0.87, 0.98); globus pallidus: 0.95 (0.87, 0.98); putamen: 0.95 (0.87, 0.98)]. Conclusions: These results suggest a higher sensitivity and reliability of DGM volumes obtained from 3T vs. 1.5T MRI. Further studies are warranted to assess the role of this 3T pipeline in tracking potential neurotherapeutic effects in MS. Disclosure: Dr. Chu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hurwitz has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tauhid has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bakshi has received research support from Biogen, EMD Serono, Novartis, Questcor, Sanofi/Genzyme, and Teva Neuroscience.
Sedimentation rate and lateral migration of tidal channels in the Lagoon of Venice (Northern Italy)

Abstract Tidal channels are crucial for the functioning of highly valuable coastal environments, such as estuaries and lagoons. Their properties, however, are currently less understood than those of river systems. To elucidate their past behaviour, an extensive geophysical investigation was performed to reconstruct the evolution of channels and tidal surfaces in the central part of the Lagoon of Venice (Italy) over the past 5000 years. Comparing high-spatial-resolution acoustic data and sedimentary facies analyses of 41 cores, 29 of which were radiocarbon dated, revealed the sedimentation rates in different lagoonal environments and allowed the migration of two large meanders to be reconstructed. The average sedimentation rate of the study succession in the different sedimentary environments was 1.27 mm yr−1. The lateral migration rates were 13–23 m/century. This estimate is consistent with the lateral migration rates determined by comparing aerial photographs of recent channels. Comparing the buried channels with historical and current maps showed that, in general, the number of active channels is now reduced. Their morphology was sometimes simplified by artificial interventions. An understanding of the impact of the artificial interventions over time is useful for the management and conservation of tidal environments, particularly for the Lagoon of Venice, where management authorities are currently debating the possible deepening and rectification of large navigation channels.
Formate Dehydrogenase: Microbiology, Biochemistry and Genetics

Formate is produced or consumed in various reactions essential for metabolic pathways of diverse organisms. It is commonly formed as a byproduct of anabolism where it is further oxidized by formate dehydrogenase to carbon dioxide or activated to formyltetrahydrofolate as a one-carbon substrate for biosynthetic reactions (Thauer et al. 1977a). A diversity of microorganisms produce or consume formate in energy yielding pathways. This chapter focuses on the reversible two-electron oxidation of formate (HCOO− = CO2 + H+ + 2e−) catalyzed by formate dehydrogenases from eubacteria, archaeobacteria and eucaryotic yeasts.
Emerging Paradigms, Platforms, and Unifying Themes in Biomarker Science

Since the object of pure scientific knowledge cannot be other than it is, the truth obtained by demonstrative knowledge will be necessary. Aristotle, Analytica Posteriora ([1][1]) The relationship between platelets, leukocytes, and the endothelium highlights a complex balance between normal
Genetic and Environmental Influences on Delinquency: DF Analysis of NLSY Kinship Data

This paper follows earlier research (Rowe et al., 1992) in evaluating the basis of family influences on adolescent delinquent behavior. Delinquency is measured in a number of different ways to account for important theoretical distinctions that exist in the delinquency literature. We use recently identified kinship structure in a large national data set—the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth—to estimate genetic and shared environmental influences on self-reported delinquency scores. Our analytic model is based on DF analysis, a regression procedure used to estimate parameters reflecting genetic and environmental influence. Results suggest a consistent and moderate genetic basis to sibling similarity in delinquency and little evidence of a shared environmental basis. A large amount of variance is attributable to nonshared influences and/or measurement error. Our findings suggest that the search for environmental influences on adolescent delinquency should focus on those that are not shared by siblings.
Sexual Health Education for Adolescent Males Who Are Interested in Sex With Males: An Investigation of Experiences, Preferences, and Needs.

ABSTRACT Purpose There is a dearth of research to inform sexual education programs to address sexual health disparities experienced by adolescent males who are interested in sex with males (AMSM). The current study sought to determine where AMSM receive sexual health information, clarify their preferences, and explore relations with sexual behavior. Methods AMSM (N = 207; ages 14–17) in the United States completed an online sexual health survey. Bivariate associations between sexual education exposure/preferences by sexual behavior were assessed using Fisher's exact tests and one-way analyses of variance. Results Eighty-nine (43%) participants reported no sexual contact with male partners, 77 (37%) reported sexual contact without condomless anal sex, and 41 (20%) reported condomless anal sex. Participants received sexual health information from their parents/guardians (n = 122, 59%), formal sources (n = 160, 78%), and the Internet (n = 135, 65%). The most commonly covered topics by parents/guardians and formal sources were how to say no to sex, how to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, and methods of birth control. The most common online-researched topics were how to safely have anal sex, the types of sex you can have with a male partner, how to use a condom, and how to use lubrication. Participants noted preferring a sexually-explicit online sexual health program that addresses male–male sex. Conclusions Online sexual education programs that explicitly address male–male sex are needed. Tailored programs can help AMSM develop healthy sexual behaviors and decrease their HIV/STI risk.
Gesture height reflects common ground status even in patients with amnesia

Abstract When we communicate, we alter our language and gesture based on the mutually shared knowledge – common ground – that we have with our listener. How memory supports these alterations remain unclear. We asked healthy adults and patients with hippocampal amnesia to engage in a referential communication task. Previous work suggests that common ground can be encoded by distinct memory systems; Amnesic patients show normal learning and referential label use as common ground increases, but inconsistently mark these labels with definite determiners (e.g., the vs. a windmill). Which memory systems support the ability to mark common ground via hand gesture? We found that gestures of both healthy participants and amnesic patients reflected common ground status. Both groups produced high gestures when common ground was lacking, and were less likely to do so as common ground increased. These findings suggest that gesture can reflect common ground status during conversation, potentially via non-declarative memory.
Bias in Small-Sample Inference With Count-Data Models

Both Poisson and negative binomial regression can provide quasi-likelihood estimates for coefficients in exponential-mean models that are consistent in the presence of distributional misspecificati...
Hemocompatibility of super-repellent surfaces: current and future

Virtually all blood-contacting medical implants and devices initiate immunological events in the form of thrombosis and inflammation. Typically, patients receiving such implants are also given large doses of anticoagulants, which pose a high risk and a high cost to the patient. Thus, the design and development of surfaces with improved hemocompatibility and reduced dependence on anticoagulation treatments is paramount for the success of blood-contacting medical implants and devices. In the past decade, the hemocompatibility of super-repellent surfaces (i.e., surfaces that are extremely repellent to liquids) has been extensively investigated because such surfaces greatly reduce the blood-material contact area, which in turn reduces the area available for protein adsorption and blood cell or platelet adhesion, thereby offering the potential for improved hemocompatibility. In this review, we critically examine the progress made in characterizing the hemocompatibility of super-repellent surfaces, identify the unresolved challenges and highlight the opportunities for future research on developing medical implants and devices with super-repellent surfaces.
Synthesis of N2 2'-deoxyguanosine adducts formed by 1-nitropyrene.

Synthesis of N2 2‘-deoxyguanosine adducts formed by the ubiquitous carcinogen, 1-nitropyrene, is reported. Various conditions of Buchwald−Hartwig palladium-catalyzed amination are examined. The most convenient synthetic approach involved a straightforward coupling between protected 2‘-deoxyguanosine and bromonitropyrenes, which, upon reductive deprotection, provided excellent yield of the two 1-nitropyrene adducts.
Blood Flow Restriction Training Does Not Improve Quadriceps Strength After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Objectives:Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) involves obstruction of venous outflow of working muscles during exercise and may lead to more substantial recovery of quadriceps strength after an...
Enabled Process To Synthesize Monobactam 1 for Early Development

An efficient process to synthesize Monobactam 1 from intermediates 2, 3, and 4 was developed. The process was initially enabled to deliver 500 g of 1 for exploratory toxicity studies and further im...
Change – social and personal: Thomas and Znaniecki’s The Polish Peasant for the study of present-day change in global higher education

The present work represents an extrapolation of W.I. Thomas and Florian Znaniecki’s study, The Polish Peasant in Europe and America, on behalf of the development of sociological theory. The article focuses on careers and institutions in higher education. The curriculum vitae serves as the novel human document by which to investigate both social and personal change. Academic careers are studied by virtue of their objective and subjective dimensions. Objectively, the institution of education is revealed through the shifting expectations that govern work in academia in specific historical times (indicated by the cohort in which academics earned their Ph.D.s) and in specific socially bound places (indicated by the type of university in which academics work). Major social change in education is likely to spell personal change for the way in which people subjectively experience the contemporary academic career. The data come from U.S.-based academics; parallel transformational changes are observable globally. The global change discussed in the work centres on the diffusion and institutionalization of the research role. The sources and consequences of this change are problematic. Akin to Thomas and Znaniecki’s larger analytic aims, patterns of change are used inductively to formulate theory: the paper culminates by postulating a theory of increasing tendencies in the way knowledge is produced in higher education institutions throughout the world.
Emotions extracted from text vs. true emotions: an empirical evaluation in SE context

Emotion awareness research in SE context has been growing in recent years. Currently, researchers often rely on textual communication records to extract emotion states using natural language processing techniques. However, how well these extracted emotion states reflect people's real emotions has not been thoroughly investigated. In this paper, we report a multi-level, longitudinal empirical study with 82 individual members in 27 project teams. We collected their self-reported retrospective emotion states on a weekly basis during their year-long projects and also extracted corresponding emotions from the textual communication records. We then model and compare the dynamics of these two types of emotions using multiple statistical and time series analysis methods. Our analyses yield a rich set of findings. The most important one is that the dynamics of emotions extracted using text-based algorithms often do not well reflect the dynamics of self-reported retrospective emotions. Besides, the extracted emotions match self-reported retrospective emotions better at the team-level. Our results also suggest that individual personalities and the team's emotion display norms significantly impact the match/mismatch. Our results should warn the research community about the limitations and challenges of applying text-based emotion recognition tools in SE research.
The Professionalization of Sex Therapy: Issues and Problems

Attitudes towards sexuality have been gradually changing in America over the last thirty-five years. Increasing emphasis on the positive role of sexuality throughout the life cycle has focused professional and public attention on the practice of sex therapy.
Teleneuropsychology practice survey during COVID-19 within the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Identify factors influencing service delivery changes during COVID-19 and examine barriers and provider satisfaction with teleneuropsychology (teleNP). METHOD: Licensed clinical neuropsychologists within the United States recruited via neuropsychology-specific listservs (July-August 2020) to complete an online survey. RESULTS: A total of 261 individuals completed the survey. Most (76%) reported delivering in-person testing in some capacity at the time of our survey. Relatively more private practitioners identified concerns with privacy/confidentiality (45.2% vs. 17.9%; χ 2(2) = 6.99, p < 0.05), legal issues (47.6% vs. 17.9%; χ 2(2) = 8.06, p < 0.05), and an undesirable precedent for legal/forensic cases (59.5% vs. 15.4%; χ 2(2) = 17.54, p < 0.001) compared to hospital or other medical (non-VA) practitioners. Multiple resources informed teleNP protocols, such as organization guidelines (87.6%), literature review (75.9%), webinars (72.4%), and consultation (68%). Several factors influenced test selection, including availability of normative data (70.1%), test familiarity (66.4%), administration time (63.5%), and evidence base (60.6%). Reported barriers to continuing teleNP after COVID-19 included need for improved teleNP norms (85.9%), domain coverage (84.7%), improved patient access to technology (74.1%) and further validation studies (84.1%). CONCLUSION: TeleNP may not be feasible in all settings and/or referrals. Respondents employed multiple resources in aggregating teleNP protocols and considered several factors when selecting tests. Results highlight the complex and varied decision-making processes utilized by respondents to adapt to service delivery changes. Considering the many benefits of teleNP, future research addressing some of the potentially modifiable factors (e.g., technology access, attitudes regarding teleNP) and significant development needs for teleNP itself (i.e., improved teleNP norms, further validation studies, etc.) is warranted.
From Plate to Waste: A Hands-On Activity to Dramatize the Function of the Digestive System to First Graders via Zoom

The purpose of this STEM Teaching Fellowship was to teach K-6 students about the human body and to encourage and inspire curiosity about STEM. The one-hour session took place via Zoom with 12 first grade students at the Boys and Girls Club STEM Lab. The students were presented with an interactive PowerPoint presentation explaining the anatomy and physiology of the human digestive system. Following the presentation, the students were given the opportunity to ask questions before moving on to the hands-on activity. The purpose of the activity was to actively engage the students in learning about the role and importance of the digestive system. The students remained together in one room and they were put in groups of 2-3 around a large rectangular table. The STEM director was on-site to assist. The activity consisted of different stations where each station represented one component of the digestive system. To measure the students? comprehension, they were asked several questions before moving on to each new station and this continued throughout the duration of the activity. The students were taught about the important of keeping their digestive system healthy and ways to achieve this goal. As a homework assignment they were asked to tell one person about something the learned during the session. Outreach for K-6 students, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, is important because the students need to be exposed to STEM related subjects frequently for them to learn. It is important to continuously intellectually engage and interact with students via virtual learning and not wait until Face-to-Face opportunities are available.
Abstract 2640: Characterization and targeted therapy using patient tumor-derived 3-D spheroids in a metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer model

Targeted therapy in prostate cancer is in its early stages and has a promising future since many genomic alterations in metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) do not have FDA approved agents for this indication. Three-dimensional culture has been shown to recapitulate patient response to therapy. We characterized a unique patient tumor-derived, GUR017M, 3D culture spheroid model and tested novel therapies based on its genomic profile. This tumor was obtained from a patient with mCRPC who progressed on enzalutamide, abiraterone, cabazitaxel, and had exposure to docetaxel, however discontinued due to toxicity. In order to characterize and test novel therapies for mCRPC, a 3-D spheroid drug assay was utilized and was able to recapitulate the GUR017M response to previous therapies (resistance to docetaxel and enzalutamide). Using a 3-D spheroid drug assay, single agents were investigated based on the GUR017M genomic profile which included cyclin D1, LYN, and FGF3/4/19 amplifications along with HRAS Q61R mutation, and TP53 splice site 672+2T>G. Single agents (abemaciclib, bafetinib, erdafitinib, tipifarnib, MK2206, APR-246) all caused dose dependent inhibition up to 100% inhibition. This rare prostate cancer model, GUR017M allows us to test novel single agents and combination strategies in 3-D culture. This patient tumor has also proven to be a successful PDTX model which allows for confirmatory testing in animal models in order to move forward with clinical trial proposals. Citation Format: Adam M. Kase, Winston Tan, John A. Copland. Characterization and targeted therapy using patient tumor-derived 3-D spheroids in a metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer model [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 2640.
Sociodemographic and work-related predictors of chronic lower back pain in the United States: the 2018 National Health Interview Survey data.

Abstract Objective The aim of this study is to explore the current characteristics of people with chronic lower back (CLB) pain, and the sociodemographic and work-related predictors of this pain. Study design The study design used in the study is a cross-sectional study. Method The 2018 National Health Interview Survey data were used. Chi-squared analysis was used to assess the sociodemographic characteristics, and logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors after multiple imputation. Results Of the 72,831 respondents, 25,397 had provided data on CLB pain and were eligible for this study. People with CLB pain were more likely to be obese, white, female, older than 40 years, and did not have a college degree. They were more likely to carry out less than 150 min of moderate aerobic exercise per week. Age was the sociodemographic predictor of CLB pain (P-value Conclusion Low socio-economic status, poor physical fitness, work-life imbalance, and the type of occupation contribute to the development of CLB pain. An improvement in preventive measures is needed to address this morbidity. More studies should be carried out to analyze the type of workplace movements that increase the risk of developing CLB.
Characterization of VU0468554, a New Selective Inhibitor of Cardiac G Protein-Gated Inwardly Rectifying K+ Channels.

G protein–gated inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK) channels are critical mediators of excitability in the heart and brain. Enhanced GIRK-channel activity has been implicated in the pathogenesis of supraventricular arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation. The lack of selective pharmacological tools has impeded efforts to investigate the therapeutic potential of cardiac GIRK–channel interventions in arrhythmias. Here, we characterize a recently identified GIRK-channel inhibitor, VU0468554. Using whole-cell electrophysiological approaches and primary cultures of sinoatrial nodal cells and hippocampal neurons, we show that VU0468554 more effectively inhibits the cardiac GIRK channel than the neuronal GIRK channel. Concentration-response experiments suggest that VU0468554 inhibits Gβγ-activated GIRK channels in noncompetitive and potentially uncompetitive fashion. In contrast, VU0468554 competitively inhibits GIRK-channel activation by ML297, a GIRK-channel activator containing the same chemical scaffold as VU0468554. In the isolated heart model, VU0468554 partially reversed carbachol-induced bradycardia in hearts from wild-type mice but not Girk4–/– mice. Collectively, these data suggest that VU0468554 represents a promising new pharmacological tool for targeting cardiac GIRK channels with therapeutic implications for relevant cardiac arrhythmias. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Although cardiac GIRK–channel inhibition shows promise for the treatment of supraventricular arrhythmias, the absence of subtype-selective channel inhibitors has hindered exploration into this therapeutic strategy. This study utilizes whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology to characterize the new GIRK-channel inhibitor VU0468554 in human embryonic kidney 293T cells and primary cultures. We report that VU0468554 exhibits a favorable pharmacodynamic profile for cardiac over neuronal GIRK channels and partially reverses GIRK-mediated bradycardia in the isolated mouse heart model.
Spectral Bias in Practice: The Role of Function Frequency in Generalization

Despite their ability to represent highly expressive functions, deep learning models trained with SGD seem to find simple, constrained solutions that generalize surprisingly well. Spectral bias - the tendency of neural networks to prioritize learning low frequency functions - is one possible explanation for this phenomenon, but so far spectral bias has only been observed in theoretical models and simplified experiments. In this work, we propose methodologies for measuring spectral bias in modern image classification networks. We find that these networks indeed exhibit spectral bias, and that networks that generalize well strike a balance between having enough complexity (i.e. high frequencies) to fit the data while being simple enough to avoid overfitting. For example, we experimentally show that larger models learn high frequencies faster than smaller ones, but many forms of regularization, both explicit and implicit, amplify spectral bias and delay the learning of high frequencies. We also explore the connections between function frequency and image frequency and find that spectral bias is sensitive to the low frequencies prevalent in natural images. Our work enables measuring and ultimately controlling the spectral behavior of neural networks used for image classification, and is a step towards understanding why deep models generalize well.
Searching for Structure: The problem of complementation in colloquial Indonesian conversation

This book argues against the existence of complementation in colloquial Indonesian, and discusses the ramifications of these findings for a discourse-functional understanding of grammatical categories and linguistic structure. Based on a close analysis of a corpus of spontaneous conversational Indonesian data, the author examines four construction types which express what is often encoded by complements in other languages: juxtaposed clauses, material introduced by the discourse marker bahwa , serial verbs, and epistemic expressions with the suffix -nya . These four construction types offer no evidence to support complementation as a viable grammatical category in colloquial spoken Indonesian. Rather, they are best understood as emergent, discourse-level phenomena, arising from the interactive and communicative goals of language users. The lack of evidence for complementation in colloquial Indonesian reaffirms the need to understand linguistic structure as language-particular and diverse, and emphasizes the centrality of studying linguistic categories based on their actual occurrence in natural discourse.
Broadcast Authentication and Broadcast Encryption

Broadcast authentication schemes that employ only symmetric PRFs include certificates-based schemes like one-time-signatures (OTS), and timed efficient stream loss tolerant authentication (TESLA), and identity-based schemes based on probabilistic subset allocation. Identity-based subset allocation schemes can take advantage of the decrypt only when necessary (DOWN) assurance and plentiful untrusted storage resources to realize compact signatures. Well known broadcast encryption (BE) schemes are tree based. Only some of them can be extended to facilitate broadcast by multiple sources, but only by employing asymmetric primitives. BE schemes based on probabilistic key distribution, however, readily extends themselves to multiple source scenarios. They can be as efficient as the most efficient of tree-based schemes in terms of bandwidth overhead for the encrypted broadcast. Furthermore, they have the ability to offer privacy of group memberships as broadcasts do not have to explicitly specify the identities of revoked nodes. This chapter also outlines the utility of BE schemes based on subset allocation for generic publish–subscribe systems, where group keys and predistributed keys are protected by a tamper-responsive module like a smart-card associated with each participant.
A note on a question of Abe

Assuming large cardinals, we show that every κ-complete filter can be generically extended to a V -ultrafilter with well-founded ultrapower. We then apply this to answer a question of Abe. 1. Weakly precipitous filters. A set F is a filter if it is closed under intersections, ∅ 6∈ F , and whenever A ⊆ B ⊆ ⋃F with A ∈ F , then B ∈ F . In what follows κ is always a regular cardinal > ω. A filter F is κ-complete iff it is closed under intersections of size |⋃F|. Then F is weakly precipitous. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: Primary 03E40, 03E55.
Hierarchical structures and scalings in turbulence

Turbulence is a mixture of hierarchical structures (eddies) of different sizes, different amplitudes and different degree of coherence. The size distributes continuously from the integral scale l0 to dissipation scale η. At each scale l (l0<l<η), the most intermittent structures have the highest amplitude with the highest degree of coherence. Structures of lower amplitudes are related to the most intermittent structures according to a symmetry relation which defines the hierarchy. This is the Hierarchical Structure model (She & Leveque, 1994) which links fluctuation structures of various sizes and amplitude all together.
Performance comparison of frequency domain processing and time domain processing in ultra wideband links

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) systems are considered excellent candidates for future-generation short-range, high-throughput wireless communications. Today, UWB transmit strategies include equally-spaced pulse positioning, time-hopping, and direct-sequence spreading. In this work, we begin by comparing the BER performance of all three UWB architectures in multi-path fading channels. We then propose a multi-carrier pulse waveform (named the Carrier Interferometry (CI) waveform) for UWB systems: When employing the Cl waveform at the transmitter, UWB receivers utilize a frequency-domain processing to exploit available frequency diversity gains (improving both performances and throughput). We compare the BER performance of equally-spaced pulse positioning, time-hopping, and direct sequence spreading UWB systems using traditional time-domain and the proposed frequency-domain processing. Simulation results suggest that frequency-domain processing in UWB systems leads to very significant gains in performance and/or throughput relative to time-domain processing.
Comment: Comment on production of electronically excited NF radicals in the NH3FO:2(a 1 Δ) system

Abstract Emissions from both the NF(a 1Δ) and the NF(b 1Σ+) states have been observed in the reaction of F atoms with NH3 in the presence O2(a 1Δ). The yield of the NF(b) relative to the initial NH3 was found to be less than 0.1%.
Rheumatoid vasculitis: going, going, but not yet gone.

The fellow and I then went to see the patient. The man looked about 60 years old but had the frail appearance of someone who had suffered rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for many years. For whatever reason, he had missed out on modern aggressive therapy, the target never hit or perhaps even aimed at. His fingers were angulated and there were nodules on top of his knuckles. At the juncture of a few of his nails, there were black spots that were slightly textured but not tender. These were definitely the nail fold infarcts of RA. With the diagnosis confirmed, I chatted briefly with the patient, performed a joint examination (calculating a low Disease Activity Score despite the deformities) and asked the fellow to come back to my room so that we could review rheumatoid vasculitis. I wanted to explain to her the various forms of vessel involvement in RA: leukocytoclastic; polyarteritis-like with mononeuritis multiplex, digital gangrene and skin ulcers; and nail fold infracts. To show her the findings, I Googled rheumatoid vasculitis and pulled up images whose appearance startled me. There were black fingers that looked mummified, large gaping wounds covered with blood and pus, and a lower extremity with purpuric lesions that looked like the aftermath of a shotgun blast. Compared with those menacing lesions, the pictures of the nail fold infarcts looked benign. My fellow, like many others today, has cared for tens if not hundreds of patients with RA. Would any believe that this disease once regularly produced the devastation of vasculitis or, for that matter, the dreaded complications of Felty’s syndrome, amyloidosis or scleritis? Scleritis could seriously jeopardize the eye, thinning the sclera so that the vitreous appeared an ominous blue–black and about to burst out. As scholars of disease have noted, RA today appears to be a less severe disease than it was when I started my career in the 1970s. Then, patients routinely ‘went up in
Modeling Income in the Near Term: Revised Projections of Retirement Income Through 2020 for the 1931-1960 Birth Cohorts: Final Report

This report details the development of a third version of MINT (Modeling Income in the Near Term), a tool for simulating the retirement incomes of members of the Baby Boom and neighboring cohorts. MINT3 can produce projections of economic and demographic characteristics in the year 2020, at the time of retirement, and for other years and ages. It can be used both to construct a baseline using alternative economic and demographic assumptions and to analyze the distributional consequences of a variety of Social Security policy changes.
The Undescended Testicle: How Long to Wait?

I am somewhat reluctant to comment upon Dr. Bongiovanni9s article (Pediatrics, 36:786, 1965) on the undescended testicle since it is certainly the most reasoned and unemotional statement I have seen about the problem in a long time. However, I think the next to last sentence undoes much of the good of his presentation. Dr. Bongiovanni dispassionately reviews the subject and rightly points out that there is insufficient evidence to decide how long testes may remain in the abdomen without suffering irreversible damage.
Tutorial: digital neurocomputing for signal/image processing

The requirements on both the computations and storage for neural networks are extremely demanding. Neural information processing would be practical only when efficient and high-speed computing hardware can be made available. The author reviews several approaches to architecture and implementation of neural networks for signal and image processing. The author discusses direct design of dedicated neural networks implemented by a variety of hardware technologies (e.g. CMOS, CCD), and introduces an indirect design approach based on matrix-based mapping methodology for systolic/wavefront array processor. The array processors mapping technique presented should be applicable to both programmable neurocomputer and dedicated digital or analog neural processing circuits. Several key general-purpose and system-oriented designs are surveyed. Key design examples of existing parallel processing neurocomputers are also discussed. >
Mechanism of microwave sterilization in the dry state

With an automated computerized temperature control and a specialized temperature measurement system, dry spores of Bacillus subtilis subsp. niger were treated with heat simultaneously in a convection dry-heat oven and a microwave oven. The temperature of the microwave oven was monitored such that the temperature profiles of the spore samples in both heat sources were nearly identical. Under these experimental conditions, we unequivocally demonstrated that the mechanism of sporicidal action of the microwaves was caused solely by thermal effects. Nonthermal effects were not significant in a dry microwave sterilization process. Both heating systems showed that a dwelling time of more than 45 min was required to sterilize 10(5) inoculated spores in dry glass vials at 137 degrees C. The D values of both heating systems were 88, 14, and 7 min at 117, 130, and 137 degrees C, respectively. The Z value was estimated to be 18 degrees C.
Expression of the mitotic motor protein CHO1/MKLP1 in postmitotic neurons.

The kinesin-related motor protein CHO1/MKLP1 was initially thought to be expressed only in mitotic cells, where it presumably transports oppositely oriented microtubules relative to one another in the spindle mid-zone. We have recently shown that CHO1/MKLP1 is also expressed in cultured neuronal cells, where it is enriched in developing dendrites ( Sharp et al. 1997a ) J. Cell Biol., 138, 833–843]. The putative function of CHO1/MKLP1 in these postmitotic cells is to intercalate minus-end-distal microtubules among oppositely oriented microtubules within developing dendrites, thereby establishing their non-uniform microtubule polarity pattern. Here we used in situ hybridization to determine whether CHO1/MKLP1 is expressed in a variety of rodent neurons both in vivo and in vitro. These analyses revealed that CHO1/MKLP1 is expressed within various neuronal populations of the brain including those in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, olfactory bulb and cerebellum. The messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels are high within these neurons well after the completion of their terminal mitotic division and throughout the development of their dendrites. After this, the levels decrease and are relatively low within the adult brain. Parallel analyses on developing hippocampal neurons in culture indicate that the levels of expression increase dramatically just prior to dendritic development, and then decrease somewhat after the dendrites have differentiated. Dorsal root ganglion neurons, which generate axons but not dendrites, express significantly lower levels of mRNA for CHO1/MKLP1 than hippocampal or sympathetic neurons. These results are consistent with the proposed role of CHO1/MKLP1 in establishing the dendritic microtubule array.
The differential transformation method and Miller's recurrence

AbstractThe diﬀerential transformation method (DTM) enables the easy construction of a power-seriessolution to a nonlinear diﬀerential equation. The exponentiation operation has not been specif-ically addressed in the DTM literature, and constructing it iteratively is suboptimal. The recur-rence for exponentiating a power series by J.C.P. Miller provides a concise implementation ofexponentiation by a positive integer for DTM. An equally-concise implementation of the expo-nential function is also provided.Keywords: diﬀerential transformation method, DTM, power series, exponentiation, exponentialfunction, diﬀerential equations1. IntroductionConstructing power-series solutions to diﬀerential equations, especially those which do notadmit a closed-form solution, has long been an important, and widely-used, solution technique.Traditionally,computingpower-seriessolutionsrequireda fair amountof“boiler-plate”symbolicmanipulation, especially in the setup of the power-matching phase. The diﬀerential transforma-tion method (DTM) enables the easy construction of a power-series solution by specifying aconversion between the diﬀerential equation and a recurrence relation for the power-series coef-ﬁcients [1].The table in the current literature which speciﬁes the trans lation between the terms of thediﬀerential equation and the recurrence relation has a striking omission: it contains no expo-nentiation operation. Exponentiation by a positive integer can be constructed iteratively usingthe table entry for multiplication (i.e. multiplying the function with itself n times), but such aconstruction is suboptimal because it leads to n − 1 nested sums. Using a recurrence for expo-nentiating a power series by J.C.P. Miller, a table entry for positive-integer exponentiation canbe provided which introduces only a single sum. A single-sumrecurrence for the exponentialfunction of a power series can be similarly constructed.
Krypton Adsorption on Zeolite-Templated Carbon and Anomalous Surface Thermodynamics

Krypton adsorption was measured at eight temperatures between 253 and 433 K on a zeolite-templated carbon and two commercial carbons. The data were fitted using a generalized Langmuir isotherm model and thermodynamic properties were extracted. Differing from that on commercial carbons, krypton adsorption on the zeolite-templated carbon is accompanied by an increasing isosteric enthalpy of adsorption, rising by up to 1.4 kJ mol^(–1) as a function of coverage. This increase is a result of enhanced adsorbate–adsorbate interactions promoted by the ordered, nanostructured surface of the adsorbent. An assessment of the strength and nature of these adsorbate–adsorbate interactions is made by comparing the measured isosteric enthalpies of adsorption (and other thermodynamic quantities) to fundamental metrics of intermolecular interactions of krypton and other common gases.
Less invasive intracardiac surgery performed without aortic clamping.

Background Aortic clamping and cardioplegia delivery add complexity to performing intracardiac procedures through a right minithoracotomy. Recent publications have shown excellent patient outcomes after mitral valve (MV) procedures undertaken through thoracotomy on the fibrillating heart. We reviewed our experience with this approach. Methods From March 2000 to September 2006, 100 patients underwent MV repair (n = 42), MV annuloplasty (n = 28), MV replacement (n = 18), atrial septal defect closure (n = 10), tricuspid valve repair (n = 1), and left atrial myxoma excision (n = 1). A modified maze procedure (n = 4) or left minimally invasive direct coronary bypass grafting (MIDCABG) (n = 2) was combined in six cases. The mean age was 57 ± 11 years (range, 22 to 89); 27 patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV; 24 cases were first or second time reoperations; 20 patients had a left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 0.3. All the operations were carried out on the fibrillating heart without cross-clamping the aorta through a right minithoracotomy using peripheral cannulation. Results Mean fibrillation time was 73 ± 31 minutes (range, 10 to 198 minutes). There was no conversion to sternotomy. Postoperative inotropic support was needed in 20 cases. One patient who underwent a third time reoperation died within 30 days of mesenteric ischemia (hospital mortality=1%). Complications were the following: four reoperations for bleeding (4%); two strokes (2%). Postoperative median hospital length of stay was five days (range, 2 to 58 days). None of the patients has required MV reoperation after hospital discharge. Follow-up was complete. All survivors were in NYHA class I or II. Conclusions Ventricular fibrillation simplifies less invasive intracardiac procedures and carries lower complication rates and perioperative mortality compared with conventional surgery.
Toward conceptual clarity: PLFA in warmed soils

Abstract Studies assessing shifts in soil nutrient cycling with warming benefit from microbial data collection with clear ecological hypotheses. However, the fact that many organisms alter their lipids to adjust to temperature complicates interpretation of the widely-used method of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. Changes in PLFA profiles may reflect shifts in community composition (i.e. relative abundance of microbial groups) or physiological change (i.e. the same groups after membrane optimization) or both. The various approaches presently used to interpret results from warming studies expose a need for greater conceptual clarity. We compile the various data metrics commonly used for PLFA and discuss their interpretations in the context of temperature-based studies. We propose that certain lipid ratios are likely to at least partially reflect decreased unsaturation and other warming-induced physiological shifts. A change in community composition may underlie warming results for both whole-community ordination and certain indicator lipids, provided that the effect of lipids commonly re-synthesized to maintain membrane fluidity are considered. Overall, conclusions in warming studies would be strengthened by explicit consideration of temperature-dependent lipid effects in data analysis. Further research is needed toward substantiating the interpretation of PLFA-based temperature response data as indicating community compositional or physiological change.
Structural comparisons of fast ion conductors consisting of Li[(CF3SO2)2N] complexes with cryptands or crown ether

Abstract The [(CF 3 SO 2 ) 2 N] − anion has low basicity and it does not form strong ion pairs with the lithium cation as shown by the absence of lithium coordination to [(CF 3 SO 2 ) 2 N] − in the crystal structures of [Li⊂2.2.2][(CF 3 SO 2 ) 2 N] and [Li⊂(12-C-4) 2 [(CF 3 SO 2 ) 2 N]. The structure of [Li⊂2.2.2][(CF 3 SO 2 ) 2 N] consists of a lithium cation encapsulated by the large 2.2.2-cryptand macrocycle. In the complex [Li⊂(12-C-4) 2 ][(CF 3 SO 2 ) 2 N], the lithium cation is sandwiched between two 12-C-4 macrocycles. Correlations between these structures and the previously reported [Li⊂12-C-4][CF 3 SO 2 N(CH 2 ) 3 OCH 3 ] structures are described.
Rate unity trellis codes with quadrature-quadrature phase shift keying (Q/sup 2/PSK) signals

Trellis coding with a spectrally efficient 4D signal set due to newly developed Q/sup 2/PSK (quadrature-quadrature phase-shift keying) is addressed. Some simple hand designed trellis codes at rate unity are presented. A sixteen state code provides a coding gain of 6.02 dB. With the same number of states in Ungerboeck's 8-PSK, trellis (1982), the gain is 4.1 dB. In low intersymbol interference situations, the bandwidth efficiency of this coded Q/sup 2/PSK is twice that of coded 8-PSK; if both operate at 2 bits/s/Hz and an error event probability of 10/sup -5/, the coded Q/sup 2/PSK provides a savings of about 4 dB over the coded 8-PSK. >