cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DSP-Based Switched Reluctance Motor Incremental Inductance Measurement through Current Loop

Switched reluctance motor (SRM) has double saliency structure and operates under the saturated condition to achieve high energy conversion ratio. Therefore, the magnetic characteristics of switched reluctance motor is highly non-linear that the actual inductance profile can not be simply obtained by the inductance measurement instrument. As the control performance of SRM drive is highly dependent on a priori knowledge of magnetic characteristics, the accurate measurement is important. This paper presents the incremental inductance measurement method through closed loop current control. The rate of change of the phase current is captured by additional sampling instant. The effects of phase resistance variation, core loss, and power device voltage drop are considered to minimize the measurement error. The measurement results are verified with LCR meter and torque transducer measurement.
Current concepts review: peripheral neuropathies of the shoulder in the young athlete.

Peripheral neuropathies of the shoulder and upper extremity are uncommon injuries that may affect the young athletic population. When present, they can result in significant pain and functional imp...
Mix and match—a versatile equilibrium approach for hybrid colloidal synthesis

Colloidal synthesis is a powerful bottom-up approach for programmed self-assembly which holds promise for both research and industry. While diverse, each synthetic process is typically restricted to a specific chemistry. Many applications however require composite materials, whereas a chemical equilibrium can typically only match one material but not the other. Here, a scalable general approach is presented, alleviating the dependency on a specific chemical reaction, by resorting to a mechanical equilibrium; an isopycnic density-gradient-step is tailored to form clusters with prescribed composition. Valence control is demonstrated, making dimers, trimers, and tetramers with purity as high as 96%. The measured kinetics shows a scaleable throughput. The density gradient step plays a dual role of both filtering out undesired products and concentrating the target structures. The "Mix-and-Match" approach is general, and applies to a broad range of colloidal matter: diverse material compositions (plastics, glasses, and emulsions); a range of colloidal interactions (van der Waals, Coulomb, and DNA hybridization); and a spectrum of sizes (nanoscale to multiple micrometers). Finally, the strength of the method is displayed by producing a monodisperse suspension from a highly polydisperse emulsion. The ability to combine colloids into architectures of hybrid materials has applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and photonics.
Real-world outcomes after second-line treatment in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with immunotherapy.

e21620Background: In patients (pts) with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), national guidelines recommend against retrial of immunotherapy (IO) if there is disease progression on IO in th...
Preceptor tips for navigating generational differences with introductory and advanced pharmacy practice experience students.

Ideally, precepting during introductory and advanced pharmacy practice experiences should be tailored to meet the individualized needs of learners. Understanding generational similarities and differences that exist between both learners and educators will facilitate meaningful interaction and improve learning outcomes. A common pitfall among preceptors is to judge the values of their pharmacy learners based on the stereotypes of the generations. This tends to be more evident when the preceptor’s generation differs from the generation of the learner. The following article describes generational attributes that influence experiential learning with general tips for how preceptors can use this information to enhance their interactions with learners. By comparing and contrasting the predominant generations in the current pharmacy education landscape (Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials), the article will demonstrate how multi-generational interactions impact pharmacy education. As Millennials are the majority of experiential learners, the focus will be on their learning preferences and how preceptors can help engage these learners. Practical advice and tools on engaging Millennial learners will be reviewed. Case vignettes will demonstrate how to identify ways to tailor precepting to meet the needs of the learner, avoid common pitfalls, facilitate meaningful interaction, and, ultimately, improve learning outcomes.
A cellular automata model for expanding turbulent flames

Cellular automata models based on population dynamics, introduced by Von Neumann in the 1950s, has been successfully used to describe pattern development and front propagation in many applications, such as crystal growth, forest fires, fractal growth in biological media, etc. We, herein, explore the possibility of using a cellular automaton, based on the population dynamics of flamelets, as a low-order model to describe the dynamics of an expanding flame propagating in a turbulent environment. A turbulent flame is constituted by numerous flamelets, each of which interacts with their neighborhood composed of other flamelets, as well as unburned and burnt fluid particles. This local interaction leads to global flame dynamics. The effect of turbulence is simulated by introducing stochasticity in the local interaction and hence in the temporal evolution of the flamefront. Our results show that the model preserves various multifractal characteristics of the expanding turbulent flame and captures several characteristics of expanding turbulent flames observed in experiments. For example, at low turbulence levels, an increase in global burning rate leads to an increase in the turbulence level, while beyond a critical turbulence level, the expanding flame becomes increasingly fragmented, and consequently, the total burning rate decreases with increasing turbulence. Furthermore, at an extremely high turbulence level, the ignition kernel quenches at its nascent state and consequently loses its ability to propagate as an expanding flame.
Regional, Racial, and Mortality Disparities Associated With Neurosurgeon Staffing at Level I Trauma Centers.

BACKGROUND Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs in approximately 30% of trauma patients. Because neurosurgeons hold expertise in treating TBI, increased neurosurgical staffing may improve patient outcomes. We hypothesized that TBI patients treated at level I trauma centers (L1TCs) with ≥3 neurosurgeons have a decreased risk of mortality vs. those treated at L1TCs with <3 neurosurgeons. METHODS The Trauma Quality Improvement Program database (2010-2016) was queried for patients ≥18 years with TBI. Patient characteristics and mortality were compared between ≥3 and <3 neurosurgeon-staffed L1TCs. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors associated with mortality. RESULTS Traumatic brain injury occurred in 243 438 patients with 5188 (2%) presenting to L1TCs with <3 neurosurgeons and 238 250 (98%) to L1TCs with ≥3 neurosurgeons. Median injury severity score (ISS) was similar between both groups (17, P = .09). There were more Black (37% vs. 12%, P < .001) and Hispanic (18% vs. 12%, P < .001) patients in the <3 neurosurgeon group. Nearly 60% of L1TCs with <3 neurosurgeons are found in the South. Mortality was higher in the <3 vs. the ≥3 group (12% vs. 10%, P < .001). Patients treated in the <3 neurosurgeon group had a higher risk for mortality than those treated in the ≥3 neurosurgeon group (odds ratio (OR) 1.13, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.01-1.26, P = .028). DISCUSSION There exists a significant racial disparity in access to neurosurgeon staffing with additional disparities in outcomes based on staffing. Future efforts are needed to improve this chasm of care that exists for trauma patients of color.
Selecting XFEL single-particle snapshots by geometric machine learning

A promising new route for structural biology is single-particle imaging with an X-ray Free-Electron Laser (XFEL). This method has the advantage that the samples do not require crystallization and can be examined at room temperature. However, high-resolution structures can only be obtained from a sufficiently large number of diffraction patterns of individual molecules, so-called single particles. Here, we present a method that allows for efficient identification of single particles in very large XFEL datasets, operates at low signal levels, and is tolerant to background. This method uses supervised Geometric Machine Learning (GML) to extract low-dimensional feature vectors from a training dataset, fuse test datasets into the feature space of training datasets, and separate the data into binary distributions of “single particles” and “non-single particles.” As a proof of principle, we tested simulated and experimental datasets of the Coliphage PR772 virus. We created a training dataset and classified three types of test datasets: First, a noise-free simulated test dataset, which gave near perfect separation. Second, simulated test datasets that were modified to reflect different levels of photon counts and background noise. These modified datasets were used to quantify the predictive limits of our approach. Third, an experimental dataset collected at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. The single-particle identification for this experimental dataset was compared with previously published results and it was found that GML covers a wide photon-count range, outperforming other single-particle identification methods. Moreover, a major advantage of GML is its ability to retrieve single particles in the presence of structural variability.
Marketing Content on E-Cigarette Brand-Sponsored Facebook Profile Pages

E-cigarettes are marketed on brand-sponsored Facebook profile pages despite Facebook’s policy to prohibit e-cigarette marketing on their platform. We aimed to identify e-cigarette marketing strateg...
Adams Operations in Commutative Algebra

The classical Adams operations are defined on the Grothendieck group of algebraic vector bundles on a scheme, and are related to Grothendieck’s Riemann-Roch Theorem. In these notes, I review the theory of Adams operations for Grothendieck groups with supports, following the work of Gillet and Soule, and give two applications in local algebra: A proof of the Serre Vanishing Conjecture for arbitrary regular local rings (due to Gillet and Soule) and a proof of the Total Rank Conjecture for many local rings.
PSL2(C)-character varieties and Seifert fibered cosmetic surgeries

Abstract We study small Seifert possibly chiral cosmetic surgeries on not necessarily null-homologous knot in rational homology spheres. We define an absolute semi-norm derived from the Culler–Shalen semi-norm of P S L 2 ( C ) -character variety theory. We prove that two cosmetic slopes must have the same absolute semi-norm and use this result to give a sharp bound on the number of slopes producing the same small Seifert manifold if the ambient manifold satisfies some representation theoretic conditions.
Racial segregation and cognitive function among older adults in the United States: Findings from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study.

OBJECTIVES Residential segregation is one of the fundamental features of health disparities in the United States. Yet little research has examined how living in segregated metropolitan areas is related to cognitive function and cognitive decline with age. We examined the association between segregation at the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) level and trajectories of age-related cognitive function. METHOD Using data from Black and White older adults in the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study (n=18,913), we employed linear growth curve models to examine how living in racially segregated MSAs at baseline, measured by the degree of Non-Hispanic Black [NHB] isolation and NHB dissimilarity, was associated with trajectories of age-related cognitive function and how the associations varied by race and education. RESULTS Living in MSAs with greater levels of isolation was associated with lower cognitive function (b=-0.093, p<0.05) but was not associated with rates of change in cognitive decline with age. No effects of living in isolated MSAs were found for those with at least a high school education, but older adults with less than a high school education had lower cognitive function in MSAs with greater isolation (b=-0.274, p<0.05). The degree of dissimilarity was not associated with cognitive function. The association between segregation and cognitive function did not vary by race. DISCUSSION Metropolitan segregation was associated with lower cognitive function among older adults, especially for those with lower education living in racially isolated MSAs. This suggests complex associations between individual socioeconomic status, place, and cognitive health.
Digital Twin Channel: A Data-Driven Continuous Trajectory Modeling

Digital twin channel modeling is the core and the most challenging part of the digital twin communication systems, due to the complex and susceptible nature of the wireless channel. However, existing channel models are inadequate in capturing the characteristics of real-world channels where the user equipments (UEs) are moving. In this paper, we solve this problem by developing a data-driven continuous trajectory modeling, which requires only a limited number of channel measurements to generate continuous channel coefficients for arbitrary UE tracks. The proposed approach consists of two steps: (1) building a data-driven model which captures the spatial correlation of the wireless channel based on scenario-specific channel measurements, and (2) constructing a trajectory model which models the temporal correlation of channel parameters when the UE is moving. Simulation results show that the proposed modeling process generates channel models whose spatial and temporal characteristics well match the real-world wireless channels.
TAXING CARRIED INTEREST AS ORDINARY INCOME AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON NEW VENTURE FUND FORMATION

We explore the potential impact of taxation of carried interest at ordinary income rates on the economic attractiveness of new VC fund formation and its potential impact across US states. Our analysis suggests that changing the taxation regime for carried interest from taxation at (long-term) capital gains rates to ordinary income rates would significantly reduce the attractiveness of forming a new fund for the vast majority of funds in U.S. states other than CA, MA and NY. These funds are predominantly smaller, earlier stage funds, and represent a significant proportion of available VC funding sources outside of the traditional Big 3 VC states. Given the importance of VC funding for U.S. innovation, our findings may serve to inform and aid policymakers in their current deliberations as they consider, design, and implement potential new tax laws that will affect the VC industry.
EVALUACIÓN DE PRÁCTICAS EN LA PSICOLOGÍA CLÍNICA DOMINICANA

La psicologia clinica, como aplicacion de la ciencia psicologica, debe estar en constante revision y desarrollo de sus fundaciones empiricas. En la presente investigacion exploramos el estatus cientifico de la psicologia clinica en la Republica Dominicana, con un enfoque en tres elementos: el uso de practicas basadas en evidencia, la preferencia por el juicio clinico sobre juicios estadisticos, y el conocimiento de metodologia de la investigacion y estadistica. Ademas, estudiamos las practicas de actualizacion cientifica, y otros elementos importantes para una aplicacion cientifica responsable. Nuestros resultados resaltan multiples debilidades en la practica clinica, incluyendo un uso abundante de tecnicas no validadas, fuerte confianza en el juicio clinico, apatia general ante un rol activo en investigacion cientifica, y falta de conocimiento de conceptos metodologicos y estadisticos basicos. Finalmente, discutimos factores potencialmente relacionados a estas debilidades, y proponemos posibles pasos a tomar para fortalecer la psicologia clinica dominicana y latinoamericana.Palabras clave: Practicas basadas en evidencia, Psicologia clinica, Juicio clinico
Hypertension: Focus on Olmesartan Medoxomil

Hypertension is the leading cause of stroke, heart failure, and ischemic heart disease. One of the key regulators of blood pressure is the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS). Olmesartan me...
Review of ARPA TOPS technology

Summary form only given. This paper will review technology in development under the Advanced Project Agency Transition of Optical Processors into Systems (TOPS) Program. Relevant technology insertion demonstration programs will be discussed showing system performance impact made possible by the utilization of optical processing technology. Results obtained in various field demonstrations will also be discussed.
An Architecture for SCADA Network Forensics

Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems are widely used in industrial control and automation. Modern SCADA protocols often employ TCP/IP to transport sensor data and control signals. Meanwhile, corporate IT infrastructures are interconnecting with previously isolated SCADA networks. The use of TCP/IP as a carrier protocol and the interconnection of IT and SCADA networks raise serious security issues. This paper describes an architecture for SCADA network forensics. In addition to supporting forensic investigations of SCADA network incidents, the architecture incorporates mechanisms for monitoring process behavior, analyzing trends and optimizing plant performance.
Elevated CO2 effects during leaf ontogeny : A new perspective on acclimation

For many plants growth in elevated CO2 leads to reduced rates of photosynthesis. To examine the role that leaf ontogeny plays in the acclimation response, we monitored photosynthesis and some related parameters at short intervals throughout the ontogenetic development of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) leaves under ambient (350 [mu]L L-1)- and high (950 [mu]L L-1)-CO2 conditions. The pattern of photosynthetic rate over time was similar between the two treatments and consistent with the expected pattern for a typical dicot leaf. However, the photosynthesis pattern in high-CO2-grown tobacco was shifted temporally to an earlier maximum and subsequent senescent decline. Ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activity appeared to be the main factor regulating photosynthetic rates in both treatments. Therefore, we propose a new model for interpreting the acclimation response. Lowered photosynthetic rates observed during acclimation appear to be the result of a shift in the timing of the normal photosynthetic stages of leaf ontogeny to an earlier onset of the natural decline in photosynthetic rates associated with senescence.
Novel control method for multiphase low-voltage high-current fast-transient VRMs

High-current high-density multiphase DC-DC converters controllers require high performance current sharing functionality in order to keep almost equal division of the load current between the phases at all load conditions while retaining voltage regulation. Usually, this functionality adds complexity to the closed loop controller design and it is only accurate at full load condition. Moreover, the available current sharing methods regulate the current in each phase by controlling the ON time of the switches, which forces the current sharing functionality to be dependent on the control method being used. In this paper, a simple and effective current sharing method that is independent of the regulation control method being used is presented. The presented method is applied to a voltage-mode hysteretic-controlled multiphase DC-DC converter for the next generation of microprocessors and communication devices that requires high-density high-current fast transient and low output voltage deviation converters. Simulation and experimental results verified the proposes current sharing method.
Acceleration of Cosmic Rays At Young Supernova Remnants

The majority of cosmic rays are believed to be accelerated at the blast shocks of supernova remnants. This process is theoretically well studied and can account for all galactic cosmic rays with energies below ∼100 TeV. In this talk the acceleration during the first years after the supernova explosion is discussed which may achieve higher maximum energy and maintain for a short period of time high cosmic ray luminosities. Accelerated cosmic rays will interact on the material of the supernova shell and give rise to high energy neutrino and γ-ray signals.
The Determinants of Funds Raised by Corporate Political Action Committees: An Empirical Examination

Organizational theorists and other management scholars have long recognized that business corporations operate in complex environments that significantly affect their performance. In recent years, ...
Room for variation? The experience of Colombian gay asylum seekers and asylees in Miami

This article provides a narrative of Colombian lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender asylum seekers arriving to Miami, Florida fleeing from Colombia due to persecution based on sexual orientation. How these migrants negotiate national, ethnic, and sexual identity in Miami is explored. While these gay migrants form part of the larger Colombian Exodus into Miami/United States which started during the late 90s, what evidences suggest that these particular migrants are marginalized in this greater migration phenomenon? What kinds of resources and organizational support exist for these migrants and what barriers exist?
Ectopic and Eutopic Secretion of Chorionic Gonadotropin and its Subunits in Vitro: Comparison of Clonal Strains from Carcinomas of Lung and Placenta

We compared rates of secretion in vitro of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and its subunits alpha and beta by established clonal cell lines of a bronchogenic carcinoma (ChaGo) and a choriocarcinoma (JEG). Clones showing the highest secretion rates of either HCG or its subunits were studied: ChaGo-K1, a new clonal strain, and ChaGo-C5 and JEG-3, two previously reported clonal lines. Cells were grown under identical conditions in the same laboratory. Hormone and subunit concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassays. ChaGo-K1 and ChaGo-C5 secreted only alpha-subunit whereas JEG-3 secreted only HCG. Average peak secretion rates in picomoles/day/mg protein were: for ChaGo-K1, HCG less than 0.3, alpha=290, and beta less than 0.5; for ChaGo-C5, HCG less than 0.3, alpha=21, and beta less than 0.5; and for JEG-3, HCG=18, alpha less than 0.7, and beta less than 0.5. The ChaGo-K1 secretion rate of alpha was greater than that of any of out previously reported ChaGo clones. Significant quantities of estradiol and progesterone accumulated in the media of all three cell lines; however, only JEG-3 secreted detectable quantities of placental lactogen. Thus under identical culture conditions, a bronchogenic carcinoma clonal line secreted only alpha-subunit, whereas a choriocarcinoma line secreted only HCG; these findings implied major differences in cellular control mechanisms. Moreover, the ectopic secretions of alpha exceeded the eutopic trophoblastic secretion of HCG, which suggested that in certain cases ectopic protein production may be even more efficient than nonectopic production.
A Review of the Literature on Mathematics and Science Teacher Quality

A large body of literature exists that examines teacher quality characteristics and the relationship of indicators of those characteristics to teacher effectiveness. This existing research literature broadly views teacher quality research without illuminating specific areas of teacher quality, such as mathematics and science. In an effort to focus the literature base for researchers and policymakers more narrowly, this review specifically examines teacher quality as it relates to mathematics and science teaching and learning. The review highlights key policy and practitioner perspectives, provides a focused synthesis on current research findings on mathematics and science teacher quality, and suggests areas of research that are limited in the literature.
An analytical solution to main channel heat transport with surface heat flux

Abstract Given the importance of water temperature on the physical, chemical, and biological processes, there is a consistent desire to improve our ability to predict instream temperature responses and understand significant heat fluxes and contributions. While there have been advances in understanding the contributions from various heat sources and sinks (e.g., atmospheric and transient storage exchanges), methods to determine the influences of boundary and initial conditions on downstream predictions have been absent. This paper provides two analytical solutions to the advection–dispersion equation (ADE) that includes terms accounting for atmospheric exchanges. In order to solve the ADE using integral transforms, two of the atmospheric flux terms had to be linearized. The influence of this step on predictions was tested and an initial analytical solution was developed. However, an additional simplifying assumption of constant windspeed was tested and resulted in a second, simpler analytical solution. The linearization step resulted in minimal differences in the total atmospheric exchange fluxes and consequently was found to be acceptable in developing the analytical solutions. The assumption of constant windspeed was also found acceptable and provided nearly identical predictions to the original analytical solution during low variability or no wind conditions. Both analytical solutions developed provide insight into the individual contributions from the boundary and initial conditions on spatial and temporal predictions. While the contribution from initial conditions quickly decays in time, the influence of the boundary condition persists a considerable distance downstream and illustrates the importance of gathering calibration data at locations far enough downstream to ensure the influence of the boundary conditions is sufficiently small.
The C/D Model and Prosodic Control of Articulatory Behavior

The Converter and Distributor (C/D) model is a generative description of articulatory gesture organization for utterances. Its input comprises specifications for syllables by features, a paraphonologically augmented metrical structure, and system parameters for utterance conditions. A syllable-boundary pulse train is computed as a time function representing the skeletal rhythmic structure of the utterance. Control functions for articulators are computed by superimposing consonantal elemental gestures onto the base function, which includes voicing, vocalic, mandibular, and tonal functions associated with the pulse train. A preliminary analysis of microbeam data for experimental dialogues, using jaw opening as an approximate measure of the syllable magnitude, inferred syllable and boundary durations consistently with durational characteristics observed in the acoustic waveform.
High heat flow anomalies over salt structures on the Texas Continental Slope, Gulf of Mexico

We made 74 closely spaced (< 2 km apart) heat flow measurements around and over two salt structures on the Texas continental slope, Gulf of Mexico. The values outlined the shape of the heat flow anomalies over both structures. Based on a preceding high resolution seismic survey, we interpreted these structures to be a cylindrical plug and a salt tongue extending from the crest of a wall-shaped feeder. The heat flow observations clearly reflect differences between the two features and are consistent with the prior structural interpretation. The values over the salt plug are nearly all greater than 70 mW/m². The measurements over the salt tongue have a sharp heat flow peak of 90 mW/m² associated with the presumed feeder and rather uniform values around 60 mW/m² over the remainder. The variation of heat flow over both structures is smooth and shows no apparent scatter. Heat flow values off these features are uniformly low, around 30 mW/m². Thermal effects from bottom water temperature fluctuation, slope sedimentation, diapiric movement of the salt body, and pore fluid migration appear unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the observations. However, thickness variations of a highly conductive salt body can easily account for the heat flow anomalies. We suggest that modeling of the conductive anomaly should provide substantial constraints on the bottom geometry of the salt.
La chaîne secrète : a Decade of Interpretations

Differentes interpretations de la " chaine secrete " dont parle Montesquieu dans sa postface aux " Lettres persanes " dans les etudes critiques publiees entre 1960 et 1973, portant sur la structure, les cles du roman, la forme epistolaire (Verniere, Shackleton, Loy, Laufer, Carr...)
Understanding Place Through Use of Mixed-Method Approach

With the increased application of the activity-based approach comes the inherent need to incorporate more details regarding behavior. This need for detail has, in turn, created the need for a deeper understanding of, and theoretical basis for, behavior; data collection and analysis methods that handle more behavioral detail are also needed. Therefore, the use of qualitative and mixed-method approaches in travel behavior has received increased attention over the past few decades. In this paper, quantitative and qualitative methodologies are discussed and applied to data collected in Santa Barbara, California, to measure peoples' attitudes about their sense of place. Quantitative and qualitative methods are applied, first through a factor analysis and, second, through a qualitative analysis of text from an open-ended question; the results of the two methods are compared. Four factors are derived: the aesthetics and atmosphere, the family- and community-oriented nature of the place, the negative aspects of t...
The Adaptation of a Commercial Double-Beam Infrared Spectrophotometer for use with a Grating

A 60 line/mm Bausch and Lomb grating has been installed in a Baird Infrared Spectrophotometer in place of all prisms to cover the 2 to 26 micron range of the instrument. No changes were made in the optical system for the 2 to 10 micron region. To avoid overlapping of higher orders on the longer wave length first order spectrum, one small mirror was replaced by a crystal of MgO An alternate method, referred to as negative filtering, is presented for the elimination of overlapping orders and may be used with the double-beam instruments. The existing scanning equipment was used with the following modifications. (1), a mechanical linkage was tied to the existing Littrow mirror drive to rotate the grating and (2), new cams were substituted for the prism cams to provide linear wave length scans with the grating. One cam covers 6 microns of any region of the spectrum before resetting the grating, while the second cam can be used to obtain four times the dispersion of the first cam. The method described is simple to install and has the flexibility to obtain spectra with up to ten times the dispersion of the NaCl or KBr prisms.
Recessive tolerance to preproinsulin 2 reduces but does not abolish type 1 diabetes

Although autoimmune diseases can be initiated by immunization with a single antigen, it is not clear whether a single self antigen is essential for the initiation and, perhaps, the perpetuation of spontaneous autoimmunity. Some studies have suggested that insulin may represent an essential autoantigen in type 1 diabetes. Here we show that unlike tolerance to glutamic acid decarboxylase, tolerance to transgenically overexpressed preproinsulin 2 substantially reduced the onset and severity of type 1 diabetes in nonobese diabetic mice. However, some mice still developed type 1 diabetes, suggesting that insulin is a key, but not absolutely essential, autoantigen. The results are consistent with the idea that the human IDDM2 locus controls susceptibility to type 1 diabetes by regulating intrathymic preproinsulin expression.
Hole-blocking crystalline-silicon/titanium-oxide heterojunction with very low interface recombination velocity

We demonstrate a hole-blocking crystalline-silicon/titanium-oxide heterojunction that can be fabricated by a modified MOCVD process at only 100 oC substrate temperature. Ultra thin layers of only 1-4 nm TiO2 can be reliably deposited on silicon with no pinholes. Band alignment at the Si/TiO2, experimentally determined using surface spectroscopy, confirms that Si/TiO2 interface has a large barrier at the valence band, which blocks holes. The hole-blocking characteristics allow the Si/TiO2 heterojunction solar cells to achieve power conversion efficiencies > 7%. Finally, the electrical quality of the Si/TiO2 interface was characterized in terms of interface recombination velocity. We show that annealed Si/TiO2 interfaces can achieve recombination velocities of ~ 200 cm/s.
Climbing the protein ladder.

A simple hydrolysis-based approach to peptide analysis may facilitate high-throughput identification of post-translational modifications.
Heterotrophic N2-fixation in arid soil crusts

The cryptogamic soil crusts of the Great Basin Artemisia, Ceratoides, and Atriplex plant communities contain a significant heterotrophic N2-fixing microbial population in addition to the predominating filamentous cyanobacteria. The bacterial association with the cyanobacteria exhibits a phycosphere-like effect. Heterotrophically fixed N gains reached 17.5 μg N· g−1 of soil (23.1% increase above the initial soil N content) and 45.9 μg N·g−1 of soil (57.4% increase) after 3 and 5 weeks, respectively. (NH4)2SO4 and native plant material amendments to soil resulted in a 41–100% reduction in N2-fixation. The potential input of N to soil crusts may be reduced in the presence of shrub-produced allelochemic agents and by concurrent denitrification.
Papers Presented at the 2008 Meeting of the Musculoskeletal Infection Society: John Albert Key, 1890–1955

This biographical sketch on John Albert Key corresponds to the historic text, The Classic: Sulfonamides in the Treatment of Chronic Osteomyelitis, available at DOI 10.1007/s11999-009-0797-7.
Composite Fluorescent Nanoparticles for Biomedical Imaging

In the rapidly expanding field of biomedical imaging, there is a need for nontoxic, photostable, and nonquenching fluorophores for fluorescent imaging. We have successfully encapsulated a new, extremely hydrophobic, pentacene-based fluorescent dye within polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) or nanocarriers (NCs) via the Flash NanoPrecipitation (FNP) process. Nanoparticles and dye-loaded micelles were formulated by FNP and characterized by dynamic light scattering, fluorescence spectroscopy, UV–VIS absorbance spectroscopy, and confocal microscopy. These fluorescent particles were loaded from less than 1 % to 78 % by weight core loading and the fluorescence maximum was found to be at 2.3 wt.%. The particles were also stably formed at 2.3 % core loading from 20 up to 250 nm in diameter with per-particle fluorescence scaling linearly with the NC core volume. The major absorption peaks are at 458, 575, and 625 nm, and the major emission peaks at 635 and 695 nm. In solution, the Et-TP5 dye displays a strong concentration-dependent ratio of the emission intensities of the first two emission peaks, whereas in the nanoparticle core the spectrum is independent of concentration over the entire concentration range. A model of the fluorescence quenching was consistent with Forster resonant energy transfer as the cause of the quenching observed for Et-TP5. The Forster radius calculated from the absorption and emission spectra of Et-TP5 is 4.1 nm, whereas the average dye spacing in the particles at the maximum fluorescence is 3.9 nm. We have successfully encapsulated Et-TP5, a pentacene derivative dye previously only used in light-emitting diode applications, within NCs via the FNP process. The extreme hydrophobicity of the dye keeps it encapsulated in the NC core, its extended pentacene structure gives it relatively long wavelength emission at 695 nm, and the pentacene structure, without oxygen or nitrogen atoms in its core, makes it highly resistant to photobleaching. Its bulky side groups minimize self-quenching and localization within the nanoparticle core prevents interaction of the dye with biological surfaces, or molecules in diagnostic assays. Loading of dye in the NP core allows 25 times more dye to be delivered than if it were conjugated onto the nanocarrier surface. The utility of the dye for quantifying nanoparticle binding is demonstrated. Studies to extend the wavelength range of these pentacene dyes into the near infra-red are underway.
A comprehensive study of main-memory partitioning and its application to large-scale comparison- and radix-sort

Analytical database systems can achieve high throughput main-memory query execution by being aware of the dynamics of highly-parallel modern hardware. Such systems rely on partitioning to cluster or divide data into smaller pieces and thus achieve better parallelism and memory locality. This paper considers a comprehensive collection of variants of main-memory partitioning tuned for various layers of the memory hierarchy. We revisit the pitfalls of in-cache partitioning, and utilizing the crucial performance factors, we introduce new variants for partitioning out-of-cache. Besides non-in-place variants where linear extra space is used, we introduce large-scale in-place variants, and propose NUMA-aware partitioning that guarantees locality on multiple processors. Also, we make range partitioning comparably fast with hash or radix, by designing a novel cache-resident index to compute ranges. All variants are combined to build three NUMA-aware sorting algorithms: a stable LSB radix-sort; an in-place MSB radix-sort using different variants across memory layers; and a comparison-sort utilizing wide-fanout range partitioning and SIMD-optimal in-cache sorting. To the best of our knowledge, all three are the fastest to date on billion-scale inputs for both dense and sparse key domains. As shown for sorting, our work can serve as a tool for building other operations (e.g., join, aggregation) by combining the most suitable variants that best meet the design goals.
Context and communication: A defense of intentionalism

Abstract Context, I argue, plays an evidential role, rather than a constitutive one, regarding content. According to intentionalism, the view I defend, the content of an utterance is fixed by the speaker's intention. I explain why intentionalism offers a more plausible picture of communication than anti-intentionalism. I then examine a number of specific indexicals, and show why we should take their referents to be determined by the speakers’ intentions. I also explain briefly how my defense of intentionalism can be extended to direct and indirect illocutionary acts.
Consumer Welfare and Inefficiency Among Regulated Industries

While the issue of efficiency on the side of production is still not a settled question, it is generally agreed that competition is more conductive to efficiency—both allocative and X—than monopoly. When the monopoly is regulated, i.e., receiving a rate of return less than it would if left unregulated but greater than the market rate of return, both allocative and X-inefficiency result. Since the degree of inefficiency amounts to a tax on consumers, the question of inefficiency in production has a twin companion in the form of consumer welfare losses. This is particularly true for many public utilities upon which low income families spend a large proportion of their income. The quasi tax that the regulated monopolist exacts neither generates a flow of public goods nor increases returns to shareholders. It is a particularly burdensome levy because the rate structure is highly regressive.
A 7-year review of deaths on the general paediatric wards at John Hunter Children's Hospital, 1991-97

Objective: To study the palliative management of children dying on the wards of a tertiary referral centre. In particular to identify areas of difficulty and discuss ways in which these can be improved. Methodology: All children between the ages 1 and 19 years dying on the general paediatric wards of the John Hunter Children's Hospital (JHCH) (a tertiary referral centre in New South Wales Hunter Valley) between 1991 and 1998 were included in the study. The main outcome measures were the duration of terminal care only treatment; time spent in hospital in the previous year; analgesia used. dose and route of administration; adjuvant medications; quality of life in the final 24 h. Results: Eighteen children (aged between I and 19 years) died on the general paediatric wards at JHCH between 1991 and 1998. The most common diagnosis was malignancy (five patients), with cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy and a degenerative neurological disorder each accounting for four patients, and one child had herpes simplex encephalitis. In all children the terminal nature of their condition was recognized and in all but three patients there was documentation of 'not for resuscitation' (NFR) orders following discussion with the child's parents. The mainstay of analgesia was an intravenous narcotic infusion with 11 (61%) children needing a morphine infusion. Fifteen patients (83%) required other medications including antiemetics, anticonvulsants and corticosteroids. Twelve (66%) children were semiconscious or unconscious on the day of death. Three children were uncomfortable and distressed, one alert and symptom free and in two cases the level of consciousness was not recorded. Three children continued to have seizures until their death. Conclusion: The majority of terminally ill children were managed well with intravenous narcotics and adjuvant medications. There may be scope for such children to be managed successfully at home with appropriate support for the general practitioner by paediatric and palliative care specialists. Some cases in which palliation is difficult do remain in hospital and additional measures need to be employed to ensure a symptom free death for these children.
"Pseudomosaicism" for 4p- in amniotic fluid cell culture proven to be true mosaicism after birth.

Pseudomosaicism is noted in approximately 1% of amniotic fluid cell studies. Some represent numerical abnormalities, but pseudomosaicism for structural chromosomal abnormalities is also seen. Pseudomosaicism is not usually considered clinically significant. Recently, we evaluated a 13-month-old girl with developmental delay and minor anomalies suggestive of 4p – syndrome. In 5 of 100 peripheral lymphocytes, she had a deletion 46,XX,del(4)(p15). Review of a prenatal amniocentesis study performed on the mother of our patient disclosed that one colony of 18 examined from 2 in situ cultures had the same abnormality, whereas none of the 27 cells from a flask culture showed the abnormality. Results of this study had originally been reported as showing pseudomosaicism. To our knowledge, amniotic fluid pseudomosaicism of a structural abnormality has not previously been shown to reflect true mosaicism in fetal tissue or liveborn children. The actual incidence of this phenomenon is unknown, but it may be present in unexamined children with minimal clinical findings. Apparently only one previous case of mosaic 4p – in a liveborn individual has been reported.
Gas dispersion: applications and new approaches

Abstract Improvements to gas dispersion modelling have recently been made possible by the quantity and quality of experimental data now available on dense gas dispersion. This has resulted in widely accepted and well validated models for use in ideal situations. Although some progress has been made towards incorporated the effects of topography and obstructions, there are few appropriate models which could be used routinely in Safety Case studies. This paper briefly reviews the effects of buildings and obstructions on both gas dispersion, and related elements of consequence analysis such as toxic effects. Examples are then given from real safety case studies of ways in which such effects can be treated simply but realistically.
Temperature profiles and bathymetry of some high mountain lakes

The ice cover in high mountain lakes breaks up and disappears in about an hour, in part because it has been divided into fragile vertical spindles, which are individual crystals. Contributing to this process are vertical holes in the ice remaining after particles of dust melt downward as they are warmed by the sun. Temperature profiles of lakes in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming include those of five lakes in the high wilderness. All are isothermal at or near 5°C below a depth of 20 to 30 m, regardless of elevation or lake depth. Large lakes have a deeper mixed layer than do small ones because of longer fetch and thus more effective wind shear.
Anderson Localization for Schrödinger Operators on ℤ with Potentials Given by the Skew–Shift

In this paper we study one-dimensional Schrodinger operators on the lattice with a potential given by the skew shift. We show that Anderson localization takes place for most phases and frequencies and sufficiently large disorders.
SYNTHESIS AND CHEMISTRY OF PERFLUORO MACROCYCLES

The perfluoro macrocycles perfluoro-18-crown-6, perfluoro-12-crown-4, perfluoro-15-crown-5, perfluoro-cyclohexano-15-crown-5, perfluorodicyclohexano-18-crown-6, perfluorodicyclohexano-24-crown-8, and perfluoro-4,7,13,16,21,24-hexaoxa-1, 10-diazabicyclo[8,8,8] hexacosane(perfluorocryptand [222]) have been prepared by carefully controlled elemental fluorination. Although they are much weaker bases than their hydrocarbon analogues, these perfluoromacrocycles are very stable materials which should have a number of applications. The crystal structures of perfluoro-18-crown-6 and of a perfluorodicyclohexano-18-crown-6 isomer are reported. Gas-phase studies with several perfluoro crown ethers and with the perfluorocryptand [222] have shown that such macrocycles tenaciously bind O[sub 2][sup [minus]] and F[sup [minus]]. Perfluoro crown ethers and cryptands coordinate anions preferentially over cations. The collisionally activated mass spectra of several perfluoro macrocylic ions are described. 38 refs., 8 figs., 4 tabs.
Deletion of chromosome arm 17p DNA sequences in pediatric high-grade and juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas.

In adults, loss of heterozygosity for DNA on 17p has been shown in high-grade anaplastic astrocytomas (AAs) and glioblastomas multiforme (GMs), and mutation of the TP53 tumor suppressor gene has been reported in all grades of astrocytomas. Little is known, however, about 17p deletion and TP53 mutation in juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas (JPAs), the most common low-grade tumors seen in children. To elucidate the genetic characteristics of pediatric high-grade astrocytomas and JPAs, we performed restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis with probes derived from 17p and TP53 mutational studies in 28 tumor specimens. Telomeric chromosome arm 17p markers 144-D6 and ABR were lost in 6 (75%) of 8 informative tumors classified as high-grade (7 AAs, 1 GM) and in 2 (10%) of 20 informative JPAs. Loss of 17p probes centromeric to the TP53 gene were also detected in 3 AAs and 5 JPAs. Four of the 6 (66%) JPAs with losses of 17p DNA sequences recurred rapidly despite aggressive therapy, whereas only 5 of the other 14 (36%) recurred. Mutation of the TP53 gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis in only 1 JPA and 1 AA. These tumors were also examined for MDM2 gene amplification as an alternate inactivation mechanism for TP53 gene function: no instances of alteration were identified. These results suggest that a gene or genes in addition to TP53 on 17p may be involved in the etiology or progression of high-grade astrocytomas and aggressive JPAs in children. Further, molecular genetic studies may be an important supplement to current clinical and radiologic data in predicting the outcome and guiding the therapy of children with aggressive and malignant astrocytomas.