cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal time-sequential sampling of tone reproduction function

This paper proposes a procedure to design an optimal time-sequential sampling (OTSS) for sampling the time-varying tone/color reproduction functions (TRC/CRC) of a printing process. OTSS can achieve high fidelity sensing using the least amount of sensing hardware and other resources. In particular it maximizes the time between each successive sample without resulting in aliasing. Therefore the time-varying TRC/CRC can be reconstructed with minimal reconstruction error. The reconstructed TRC/CRC are needed as feedback for color/tone consistency control. In this paper, the problem of finding OTSS is posed and solved in the context of lattice based multi-dimensional signal sampling. A computational procedure for implementation is given. Simulation studies validate the advantages of OTSS over other time-sequential samplings methods.
A unified view of polymer, dumbbell, and oligonucleotide DNA nearest-neighbor thermodynamics

A unified view of polymer, dumbbell, and oligonucleotide nearest-neighbor (NN) thermodynamics is presented. DNA NN DG° 37 parameters from seven laboratories are presented in the same format so that careful comparisons can be made. The seven studies used data from natural polymers, synthetic polymers, oligonucleotide dumbbells, and oligonucleotide duplexes to derive NN parameters; used dif- ferent methods of data analysis; used different salt concen- trations; and presented the NN thermodynamics in different formats. As a result of these differences, there has been much confusion regarding the NN thermodynamics of DNA poly- mers and oligomers. Herein I show that six of the studies are actually in remarkable agreement with one another and explanations are provided in cases where discrepancies re- main. Further, a single set of parameters, derived from 108 oligonucleotide duplexes, adequately describes polymer and oligomer thermodynamics. Empirical salt dependencies are also derived for oligonucleotides and polymers.
Hafted spears and the archaeology of mind

By as early as 200,000 years ago hunters in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe had begun hafting stone points onto the ends of their spears (1⇓–3). This marked a significant step in the history of technology, for it was the first time that hominins had united separate elements into a single tool. Indeed, these compound tools actually consisted of three distinct elements: the point, the shaft, and the haft itself. It was the haft that was the challenge because it had to withstand significant impact forces when the spear was used. Many archaeologists consider the development of hafting to mark a major watershed not just for technology, but for the human mind itself (4). But just what is required, in a cognitive sense, to be able to haft a point to a shaft? In this issue of PNAS, Wadley et al. (5) set out to answer this question by duplicating one such hafting technology, identifying the procedures and knowledge required, and arguing that abstract reasoning was an essential prerequisite. In doing so they provide a good example of a relatively new perspective in paleoanthropology—that of cognitive archaeology.
The DEC Recommended Practices in Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education: Social Validation

Results are reported from the field survey of the DEC Recommended Practices as one part of a national effort by the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) ...
Mode conversion in planar-dielectric separating waveguides

The mode-conversion behavior of branching or separating planar-dielectric waveguides is studied theoretically as a function of branch asymmetry and taper slope. When the taper slope is large in a near-symmetric structure, considerable mode conversion will occur and the structure will act as a power divider. In an asymmetric structure with small taper slope, mode conversion is negligible and the structure will act as a mode splitter. A quantitative formula is presented which can be used to determine the behavior of a given separating structure.
A theoretical and experimental study of the noise behavior of subharmonically injection locked local oscillators

A method for the phase-noise characterization of optically controlled subharmonically injection-locked oscillators that is based on a nonlinear model of synchronized oscillators is presented. It allows FM noise degradation at large-signal levels to be predicted easily and accurately. The theoretical analysis shows that (1) the nth-order subharmonic injection locking oscillator is primarily locked by the nth harmonic output of an injected signal, which is generated by the nonlinearity of the active device; (2) the minimum FM noise degradation factor of the nth-order subharmonically locked oscillator is n/sup 2/ when the injection power is sufficiently strong; and (3) a subharmonic injection locking LO with low injection power, good FM noise degradation, and large locking range can be designed by determining the optimum injection power level, by selecting the optimal nonlinear multiplication factor, and by decreasing the intrinsic noise level of the active device. The experimental results confirm the accuracy of the analysis. >
THE EFFECT OF TIME, TEMPERATURE AND PARTICLE SIZE ON SUBMICRON PARTICLE REMOVAL USING ULTRASONIC CLEANING

Ultrasonic cleaning is an established method for removing micron-size particles or larger from hard substrates. This paper presents the effect of the ultrasonic frequency and time functions on submicron particle removal effectiveness. The effect of the particle size, concentration and the cleaning liquid temperature is also investigated. The removal efficiency is shown to be dependent on the ultrasonic time and frequency functions. The liquid temperature is shown to have a major effect on the ultrasonic cleaning process. The removal efficiency is shown to decrease with decreasing particle diameter. The results show that the ultrasonic cleaning technique can effectively remove particles of sizes 0.3 μm and larger.
Pediatric Rehabilitation: 2. Environmental Factors Affecting Participation

Objective This self-directed learning module highlights the environmental factors that influence the participation of children and youth with disabilities in life situations, including activities of self-care, mobility, socialization, education, recreation, and community life. It is part of the study guide on pediatric rehabilitation in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation and pediatric medicine. This module emphasizes the participation of children with disabilities in adapted sports and reviews mobility devices to promote function, in the context of the International Classification of Functioning and in reference to the Americans with Disabilities Act. It provides the physiatrist with strategies to promote community participation, functional independence and healthcare transitions for children with disabilities as they approach adulthood. The goal of this article is to improve the learner's treatment strategies to maximize the participation of children and youth with disabilities in all settings, particularly schools and communities.
The Impact of Exchange Context on the Activation of Equity in Ultimatum Games

In this paper we report the results of additional exchange ultimatum game experiments conducted at the same time as the exchange ultimatum game experiments reported in Hoffman et al. (Games and Economic Behavior, 7(3), pp. 346–380, 1994). In these additional experiments, we use instructions to change an impersonal exchange situation to a personal exchange situation. To do this, we prompt sellers to consider what choices their buyers will make. Game theory would predict that thinking about the situation would lead sellers to make smaller offers to buyers. In contrast, we find a significant increase in seller offers to buyers. This result suggests that encouraging sellers to thinking about buyer choices focuses their attention on the strategic interaction with humans who think they way they do in personal exchange situations, and who may punish them for unacceptable behavior, and not on the logic of the game theoretic structure of the problem.
Comparison of the reliability and validity of scores from two concept-mapping techniques*

This paper reports the results of a study that compared two concept-mapping techniques, one high-directed, ''fill-in-the-map,'' and one low-directed, ''construct-a-map-from-scratch.'' We examined whether: (1) skeleton map scores were sensitive to the sample of nodes or linking lines to be filled in; (2) the two types of skeleton maps were equivalent; and (3) the two mapping techniques provided similar infor- mation about students' connected understanding. Results indicated that fill-in-the-map scores were not sensitive to the sample of concepts or linking lines to be filled in. Nevertheless, the fill-in-the-nodes and fill- in-the-lines techniques were not equivalent forms of fill-in-the-map. Finally, high-directed and low-directed maps led to different interpretations about students' knowledge structure. Whereas scores obtained under the high-directed technique indicated that students' performance was close to the maximum possible, the scores obtained with the low-directed technique revealed that students' knowledge was incomplete com- pared to a criterion map. We concluded that the construct-a-map technique better reflected differences among students' knowledge structure. fl 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 38: 260 - 278, 2001 Concept maps have been used to assess students' knowledge structure, especially in science education (Novak, 1990). The justification for assessing students' knowledge structures is based on the idea that relating concepts that belong to the same domain is an important characteristic of scientific literacy (e.g., Bybee, 1996; Moore, 1995). Theory and research have shown that understanding a subject domain such as science is associated with a rich set of relations among important concepts in the domain (Novak, 1998; Novak & Gowin, 1984; Novak, Gowin, & Johansen, 1983; Novak & Ridley, 1988). We know, for example, that successful learners develop elaborate and highly integrated frameworks of related concepts (Mintzes, Wandersee, & Novak, 1997), just as experts do (Chi, Glaser, & Farr, 1988; Glaser, 1991). Research has shown that highly organized structures facilitate problem solving and other cognitive activities (e.g., generating explanations or rapidly recognizing meaningful patterns; Baxter, Elder, & Glaser,
Evidence of Electromagnetic Quantum 1/f Noise Found in Gold Thin Films

Photonic quantum 1/ƒ noise is identified in Au metal films below the Debye temperature. The low values of the Hooge parameter predicted by Handel's theory (i.e., αtrue ≈ 10−6 to 10−8) are arrived at by realizing that only the fraction ≈ 3kT/2ΔϵF of the total number of carriers is available for scattering at a given temperature. 1/ƒ-Photonen-Quantenrauschen wird in Au-Metallschichten unterhalb der Debye-Temperatur nachgewiesen. Die aus Handels Theorie vorhergesagten niedrigen Werte der Hooge-Parameter (d. h. αtrue ≈ 10−6 to 10−8) werden dadurch erreicht, das nur der Bruchteil ≈ 3kT/2ΔϵF der Gesamttragerzahl fur die Streuung bei einer gegebenen Temperatur verfugbar ist.
Factors influencing ten-year survival in resected stages I to IIIa non-small cell lung cancer.

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine (in survivors of 5 years after resection of their lung cancer) whether age, sex, histologic condition, and age have any influence on furthering survival beyond 5 years. Methods: From 1973 to 1989, 686 patients were alive and well 5 years after complete resection of their lung cancers. Survival analysis was carried out with only deaths from lung cancer treated as deaths. Deaths from other causes were treated as withdrawals. Multivariate Cox regression was used to test the relationship of survival to age, sex, histologic condition, and stage. Results: The population in this study had the following characteristics at the time of operation: The male/female ratio was 1.38:1, and the median age was 61 years. The histologic condition of their lung cancer was adenocarcinoma in 412 patients, squamous cell in 244 patients, large cell carcinoma in 29 patients, and small cell carcinoma in 1 patient. The stage of the disease was stage IA in 263 patients, IB in 261 patients, IIA in 12 patients, IIB in 68 patients, and IIIA in 82 patients. The extent of resection was a lobectomy or bilobectomy in 579 patients, pneumonectomy in 55 patients, and wedge resection or segmentectomy in 52 patients. A recurrence or a new lung primary occurrence was considered as failure to remain free of lung cancer. The median follow-up on all patients was 122 months from initial treatment. Of the 686 patients, 26 patients experienced the development of late recurrence and 36 new cancers, beyond 5 years. Overall survival for 5 additional years after a 5-year check point was 92.4%. Likewise, survival by nodal status was 93% for N0 tumors, 95% for N1 tumors, and 90% for N2 tumors. Survival by stage was 93% for stage I tumors and 91% for stage II or IIIA tumors. Conclusions: In patients with surgically treated lung cancer, neither age, sex, histologic condition, nor stage is a predictor of the risk of late recurrence or new lung cancer. The only prognostic factor appears to be the survival of the patient free of lung cancer for 5 years from the initial treatment, with a resultant favorable outlook to remain well for 10 or more years. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;117:32-8)
Decline in physical functioning in first 2 years after breast cancer diagnosis predicts 10-year survival in older women

Purpose Breast cancer patients often experience a decline in physical functioning following cancer diagnosis. Although most patients recover after treatment, some patients do not. These changes may be magnified in older women with comorbid conditions and could impact survival outcomes.
Measurements of Steady Axial Streaming at a Rotating Disc with Torsional Oscillations

Electrochemical measurements of steady axial streaming induced by a rotating disc with angular velocity waveform $\Omega =\Omega \_{0}$[1 + $\alpha $ cos($\sigma $t)] and $\alpha $ < 1 are compared to asymptotic and numerical theory. A simple theory is developed to describe the contribution of steady axial streaming to the mean component of mass flux at the reactive disc surface when the mass transfer oscillation frequency ($\sigma /\Omega \_{0}$) Sc$^{\frac{1}{3}}$ is large. The experiments use a high Schmidt number (Sc $\approx $ 3 $\times $ 10$^{6}$) glycerine-based (80:20 glycerine: water, w/o) electrolyte designed to satisfy the theoretical constraint ($\sigma /\Omega \_{0}$)/Sc$^{\frac{1}{3}}\gg $ 1 while simultaneously allowing a wide range of flow oscillation frequencies $\sigma /\Omega \_{0}$ to be probed. Our measurements verify that the magnitude of steady axial streaming at a rotating disc with torsional osillations is O($\alpha ^{2}$) when $\alpha $ < 1 and we show that the frequency dispersion of the phenomenon is a complicated function that reaches a maximum intensity at $\sigma \approx $ 2$\Omega _{0}$, confirming asymptotic and numerical predictions.
Planetary-Scale Characteristics of the Atmospheric Circulation During January and February 1979.

The global scale mass and wind fields observed during FGGE special observing period (SOP) are studied, with attention given to the time variation and vertical structure of the ultralong waves. A spherical harmonic representation is developed for the global fields. The tropical circulation is found to imprint more amplitude on the lower-order components than the midlatitude circulation does. High amplitude oscillations are determined to be present in the divergent fields on all time scales, i.e., diurnal to monthly. The global scale wind was found to change on scales approaching a week. Good agreement with teleconnection predictions was demonstrated for the cross-equatorial divergent and zonal rotational flow changes. The global scale was concluded to resemble force modes of linear tidal theory, with important contributions from longitudinal heating gradients.
Electoral Decision Making

Everyone remembers the 2000 U.S. presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore. Bush won more Electoral College votes than Gore, and with it the presidency. Nevertheless, Gore won more popular votes than Bush. Many argued that Gore should have been elected the president because he won the plurality of the popular vote. Making such an argument implies that one voting rule (plurality rule) is more desirable than another voting rule (the Electoral College) and opens up a discussion about the desirable properties of voting rules and which voting rule is best. Although one voting rule may be particularly adept at fulfilling one criterion, other voting rules may be particularly adept at fulfilling other criteria. Since no voting rule satisfies a small subset of reasonable criteria (Arrow, 1951), the natural question is which rules are most likely to satisfy common norms?
CP violation in D0-D-bar0 mixing.

The existence of {ital D}{sup 0}-{ital D}{sup {ovr 0}}{sup 0} mixing at a detectable level requires new physics, which effectively yields a {Delta}{ital c}=2 superweak interaction. In general this interaction may involve significant {ital CP} violation. For small values of the mixing it may be much easier to detect the {ital CP}-violating part of the mixing than the {ital CP}-conserving part.
Abstract 9528: Excellent Mid-Term Outcomes in Asymptomatic patients with Mitral Regurgitation: A Case for Early Intervention

Objective: To assess outcomes of mitral valve repair surgery stratified by a patient9s ACC/AHA guideline indication for surgery. Methods: Between May 2003 and December 2010 data was collected on 645 consecutive elective patients with degenerative severe mitral valve regurgitation who underwent mitral valve repair surgery (MVRr). Study patients were stratified into and subsequently analyzed as three cohorts based on the ACC/AHA guidelines: Group 1: Asymptomatic patients without ACC/AHA echocardiographic or clinical triggers for surgery (133 patients), Group 2: Asymptomatic patients with at least one ACC/AHA echocardiographic or clinical trigger for surgery (135 patients), and Group 3: Symptomatic patients with or without ACC/AHA echocardiographic triggers for surgery (377 patients). Echocardiographic parameters and survival were measured during the follow up period. Results: Patient follow up was 100%. Mean age was 54.4 +/- 12.2 years, 56.2 +/- 10.7, and 58.2 +/- 14.2 in groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively (p=0.013). Preoperative comorbidities were similar in the three groups. A 100% repair rate was achieved in the series. 30-day operative mortality was 0% (0/133) in group 1, 0% (0/135) in group 2 and 1.1% (4/377) in group 3 (p=0.24). Mean preoperative ejection fraction was expectantly different between the cohorts: Group 1; 64% +/- 5%, group 2; 58% +/- 7%, and group 3; 60% +/- 8% (p=0.001). Echocardiographic follow-up ranged from 0.07 -100 months with mean follow up of 2.2 years. The overall survival at 8 years was: Group 1; 100%, group 2; 100%, and group 3; 91% +/- 3%. Freedom from moderate MR at 8 years was: Group 1; 93% +/- 4%, group 2; 86% +/- 3%, and group 3; 88% +/- 3%. Conclusions: Early mitral valve repair can be offered to patients with near 100% likelihood of repair and low morbidity. Early repair had a trend to a better freedom from moderate MR at 8 years. At expert centers, early mitral valve repair surgery should be offered to asymptomatic patients without echocardiographic or clinical triggers.
Statistical Analysis of Single Relational Networks

We now turn our attention to stochastic models for social network data. The methodology described here continues the development of statistical methods for network data begun in Chapter 13. We begin in Chapter 15 by considering a (very special) class of statistical distributions for random directed graphs, which, as we will show, is a special case of the uniform random directed graph distributions presented in Chapter 13. This class is more interesting than the distributions of Chapter 13, and contains substantively meaningful parameters which reflect a wide variety of graph properties. Further, the parameters can actually be estimated from data. The basic model has many generalizations and extensions, some of which are described in Chapter 16.
Reinventing the Enterprise Wheel: Court Review of Punitive Awards in Labor and Employment Arbitrations

In our previously published research on 1,787 court decisions that reviewed arbitration awards in labor-management and individual employment disputes, we found that judges enforced, respectively, 70% and 80% of these private rulings. In this study, we present original empirical research on district and appellate court review of 49 punitive awards in these arbitrations: - These damages are rare, but ordered more often. For employers, they are growing more costly. The median for 1974-1995, $52,446, rose to $750,000 for cases from 1996-2004. - In 65 decisions for labor arbitration, judges enforced only 37% of awards. This is the first statistical departure from the well-established trend of judicial deference to labor arbitration. The outcome is not surprising, however, because so few labor agreements contemplate punishment as a remedy. - Our research paints a different picture for court review of employment awards. Judges confirmed 86% of these awards in 23 cases. This is because arbitrators exercised legal authority to award punitive damages. The extremely high enforcement rate for employment awards differs from the civil trial system. There, punitive damages are frequently overturned or reduced. Our findings mean that once a punitive award is ordered, employers will have much less hope of lowering it on appeal. This suggests that more arbitration cases will settle before a ruling and for greater value compared to identical claims in the court system because of arbitrator reasonableness combined with judicial deference to these contractual rulings. As for the divergent paths that courts take in reviewing punitive labor and employment awards, we explain why this is a healthy step in the evolution of arbitration. Like critics of mandatory arbitration, we believe that some of these tribunals do not function as a true substitute for courts. But the main criticism of employment arbitration - this employer-influenced process is biased against individual claimants - is blunted by our new findings. Arbitrators are able to punish reprehensible employer misconduct by awarding millions of dollars in punitive damages. Most of the time, courts do not interfere to relieve these employers of their punishment. In Enterprise Wheel, the Supreme Court admonished judges that when it comes to formulating remedies, labor arbitrators need . . . flexibility in meeting a wide variety of situations. Our research shows that by confirming such a high percentage of punitive employment awards, judges are reinventing the Enterprise Wheel for a much wider variety of work disputes.
Trans Fatty Acids vs Saturated Fats and Cholesterol in Three Fast-Food Products Deep-Fried in Three Oils

Abstract Three popular fast-foods, french-fried potatoes, chicken nuggets, and beef fingers, were deep-fat fried in three oils: partially hydrogenated soybean oil (SBO), tallow (TAL), and a blend of 50% partially hydrogenated SBO/50% TAL (BLEND), to determine the changes in trans fatty acids, saturated fatty acids, and cholesterol content resulting from deep-fat frying. Trans fatty acids were increased by frying french fries, chicken nuggets, and beef fingers in SBO, while saturated fatty acids and cholesterol were increased in these products after frying in TAL. The magnitude of the ratios of trans fatty acid content after frying the french fries in SBO vs TAL was more than double similar ratios comparing saturated fatty acids and cholesterol. Trans fatty acid intake through french-fried potatoes would be decreased by 70% compared with published estimates, if french fries were fried in TAL rather than SBO.
Effect of triparanol pretreatment of rats on in vitro adrenal steroid production.

SummaryAdrenal slices from rats pre-treated with Triparanol produce less total blue tetrazolium positive steroids in vitro than do control slices. At the same time, however, adrenals from Triparano...
A Note on Selected Brand Names of E-Cigarettes

This brief note has a fourfold purpose: (1) to define the concept of “e-cigarette”; (2) to discuss succinctly collateral aspects of e-cigarettes (product development, health and legal features, linguistic dimensions); (3) to explain the notion of brand name; and (4) to review selectively brand names for e-cigarettes in order to determine the marketing strategies employed. Finally, there is an appendix with a corpus of the selected e-cigarette brand names.
Admixture mapping identifies introgressed genomic regions in North American canids

Hybrid zones typically contain novel gene combinations that can be tested by natural selection in a unique genetic context. Parental haplotypes that increase fitness can introgress beyond the hybrid zone, into the range of parental species. We used the Affymetrix canine SNP genotyping array to identify genomic regions tagged by multiple ancestry informative markers that are more frequent in an admixed population than expected. We surveyed a hybrid zone formed in the last 100 years as coyotes expanded their range into eastern North America. Concomitant with expansion, coyotes hybridized with wolves and some populations became more wolflike, such that coyotes in the northeast have the largest body size of any coyote population. Using a set of 3102 ancestry informative markers, we identified 60 differentially introgressed regions in 44 canines across this admixture zone. These regions are characterized by an excess of exogenous ancestry and, in northeastern coyotes, are enriched for genes affecting body size and skeletal proportions. Further, introgressed wolf-derived alleles have penetrated into Southern US coyote populations. Because no wolves currently exist in this area, these alleles are unlikely to have originated from recent hybridization. Instead, they probably originated from intraspecific gene flow or ancient admixture. We show that grey wolf and coyote admixture has far-reaching effects and, in addition to phenotypically transforming admixed populations, allows for the differential movement of alleles from different parental species to be tested in new genomic backgrounds.
Variable Structure Control of Servo Loop of Gyro Stabilized Platform

Aiming at the model of servo loop of gyro stabilized platform,the variable structure controller (VSC) based on feedback of angle acceleration was designed. Theoretical research and simulation results show the adaptability of variable structure control system to parameter variance and disturbance torque on platform and effectiveness of overcoming infection of VSC shudder on system. The servo loop design of gyro stabilized platform with VSC is based on model of actual object with simple and realized control algorithm. So it is expected to be used for engineering application.
Characteristics and Development Trend of PLC

In recent 40 years,as the widely used industry-controlling computer,the PLC has occurred with its function become stronger and stronger as well as its application field broader and broader nowadays,the PLC is becoming the key controlling equipment in the filed of industry-controlling.It has played a more and more important role in almost each part of the world.Firstly,the paper looks back on the developing process of the PLC,then it mainly presents the PLC′s characteristics and application field,At last,it gives a prospect on the PLC′s future development.
Sublating the free will problematic: powers, agency and causal determination

I argue that realism about causal powers (which, loosely following Brian Ellis, I refer to as ‘anti-passivism’) sublates the passivist, Humean-inflected free will problematic. In the first part of the paper I show that adopting what I call ‘powers-non-determinism’ reconfigures the conceptual terrain with respect to the causation component of the contemporary problematic. In part two I show how adopting ‘powers-non-determinism’ significantly alters the nature of the discussion with respect to the agency component of the problematic. In part three I compare ‘powers-non-determinism’ to an otherwise- Humean agent causal position.
Diarrhea in AIDS.

The spectrum of illness associated with AIDS has been enlarging since its initial description in 1981, and the gastrointaestinal tract continues to be one of the major targets of this devastating disease. The many causative agents are discussed in this article, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, helminths, and various noninfectious diseases.
Forecasting from Time Series Models

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses few simple but important models, that is, methods by which a series can be generated. The simplest possible model gives a purely random series, otherwise known as white noise. A series is white noise if it has no discernable structure or pattern to it. The chapter discusses Wold's theorem states that any stationary series can be considered to be the sum of two parts, a self-deterministic component and a moving average of possibly infinite order. A self-deterministic series is one that can be forecast perfectly, without error, from its own past. There are three stages used in model building—(1) identification, which is the choice of one or of just a few models that seem appropriate for further consideration; (2) estimation, in which the parameters of the models are estimated from the data; and (3) diagnostic checking, which involves applying various tests to see if the models selected and estimated do really fit the data adequately, or if further models should be considered.
High-k and low-loss thermoplastic composites for Fused Deposition Modeling and their application to 3D-printed Ku-band antennas

Four types of high-permittivity and low-loss electromagnetic composites for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) based on Cyclo-Olefin Polymer (COP) and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), reinforced by Ba0.55Sr0.45TiO3, MgCaTiO2, or TiO2 co-fired micro-fillers, have been prepared and characterized up to 17 GHz using cavity resonators. Thin-sheet specimens made of 25% v/v COP-MgCaTiO2, prepared by FDM, exhibit a relative permittivity er of ∼ 4.74 and loss tangent tanδd lower than 0.0018, while 25% v/v COP-Ba0.55Sr0.45TiO3 specimens exhibit relative permittivity er of ∼ 4.92 and loss tangent tanδd lower than 0.0115. Meanwhile, 30% v/v COP-TiO2 specimens exhibit a relative permittivity er of ∼ 4.56 and a record low loss tangent tanδd lower than 0.0014, while the 6% v/v ABS-Ba0.55Sr0.45TiO3 specimens demonstrate relative permittivity er of ∼ 3.98 and loss tangent tanδd below 0.0088. Rectangular edge-fed patch antennas operating at ∼ 17 GHz are fabricated using 3D printing to compare the size and performance against designs that used commercial microwave laminates.
Nonlinear Problems in the Dynamics of Thin Shells

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the application of finite-deflection analysis, together with a consideration of initial imperfections, to the problem of dynamic buckling of a cylindrical shell subject to either hydrostatic pressure or axial compression. The analytic approach is identical to that employed by Vol’mir. The chapter presents the simplification of the mathematics of the analysis by taking the values of certain parameters to be the same as formed for static analysis. This, of course, introduces an error of unknown magnitude.
Design of Coupled Harmonic Oscillators for Synchronization and Coordination

Synchronization and coordination of coupled oscillators are fundamental behaviors in complex dynamical systems. This paper considers the design of coupled harmonic oscillators to generate an orbitally stable limit cycle of prescribed oscillation profile. Based on the Floquet theory and averaging techniques, necessary and sufficient conditions are obtained for nonlinear coupling functions to achieve local exponential convergence to a desired orbit. Unlike globally convergent methods based on contraction analysis, the result applies to oscillators without flow invariance properties. Insights into coordination mechanisms are gained through interpretation of the coupling structure as a directed graph. The theory is illustrated by simple tutorial examples.
Chemical-Induced Vitiligo

Chemical-induced depigmentation of the skin has been recognized for more than 75 years, first as an occupational hazard but then extending to those using household commercial products as common as hair dyes. Since their discovery, these chemicals have been used therapeutically in patients with severe vitiligo to depigment their remaining skin and improve their appearance. Because chemical-induced depigmentation is clinically and histologically indistinguishable from nonchemically induced vitiligo, and because these chemicals appear to induce melanocyte autoimmunity, this phenomenon should be known as “chemical-induced vitiligo,” rather than less accurate terms that have been previously used.
Standardized assessment of infrared thermographic fever screening system performance

Thermal modalities represent the only currently viable mass fever screening approach for outbreaks of infectious disease pandemics such as Ebola and SARS. Non-contact infrared thermometers (NCITs) and infrared thermographs (IRTs) have been previously used for mass fever screening in transportation hubs such as airports to reduce the spread of disease. While NCITs remain a more popular choice for fever screening in the field and at fixed locations, there has been increasing evidence in the literature that IRTs can provide greater accuracy in estimating core body temperature if appropriate measurement practices are applied – including the use of technically suitable thermographs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a battery of evaluation test methods for standardized, objective and quantitative assessment of thermograph performance characteristics critical to assessing suitability for clinical use. These factors include stability, drift, uniformity, minimum resolvable temperature difference, and accuracy. Two commercial IRT models were characterized. An external temperature reference source with high temperature accuracy was utilized as part of the screening thermograph. Results showed that both IRTs are relatively accurate and stable (<1% error of reading with stability of ±0.05°C). Overall, results of this study may facilitate development of standardized consensus test methods to enable consistent and accurate use of IRTs for fever screening.
Assaying Glycogen and Trehalose in Yeast

Organisms store carbohydrates in several forms. In yeast, carbohydrates are stored in glycogen (a multi-branched polysaccharide) and in trehalose (a disaccharide). As in other organisms, the amount of stored carbohydrate varies dramatically with physiological state, and accordingly, an assay of stored carbohydrate can help reveal physiological state. Here, we describe relatively easy and streamlined assays for glycogen and trehalose in yeast that can be applied either to a few samples, or in a moderately high-throughput fashion (dozens to hundreds of samples).
Adjunctive Methods of Examination of the Urogenital Tract

Included in this article are descriptions of adjunctive methods of examination of the urogenital tract, including ultrasonography of the kidneys, urinary bladder, ovaries and uterus; endoscopy of the urethra, urinary bladder, and uterus; contrast radiography of the urinary tract; kidney biopsy; and laparoscopy of the abdomen, emphasizing examination of the mare’s reproductive tract.
Longitudinal Changes in Peripapillary Atrophy in the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study: A Case-Control Assessment

Purpose To explore the association between peripapillary atrophy (PPA) area and conversion from ocular hypertension (OHT) to glaucoma. Design Prospective, longitudinal cohort study of cases and controls. Participants We included 279 age-matched and follow-up time–matched eyes with OHT that converted to glaucoma and 279 eyes with OHT that did not convert to glaucoma. Methods Initial and last acceptable optic disc photos were analyzed. Disc, α-zone, and β-zone PPA were traced independently by 2 trained readers and their areas were measured with Photoshop. The α-zone and β-zone areas were expressed as a percentage of optic disc area. Main Outcome Measures α-Zone and β-zone PPA size over time. Results Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) demonstrated that readers had good agreement on disc area (ICC = 0.97) and β-zone (ICC = 0.82), but not α-zone (ICC = 0.48). The s-zone, as a percentage of disc area, increased in size ( P P = 0.82). Enlargement of the β-zone was not correlated with follow-up time ( P = 0.39). Conclusions The results did not show a difference in size of the β-zone at baseline between eyes that proceed to develop glaucoma and those that do not. Moreover, the β-zone enlarges equally in case and control eyes during follow-up.
Time-Resolved Resonance Raman Techniques for Intermediates of Photolabile Systems

This paper summarizes the work of my group over the past four years. Different resonance Raman techniques are described which are useful in studying intermediates of photolabile systems in the millisecond, microsecond, nanosecond, and picosecond time domains. These techniques are used to study two important photobiological systems: bacteriorhodopsin (bR) and carbonmonoxy-hemoglobin (HbCO). The summary of the results of applying these techniques to study the retinal system in bR is given and discussed in terms of what is known about its photochemical proton pump cycle. The main results are 1) the largest retinal configurational changes occur in the first step (the absorption step) and 2) the Schiff base proton in (math) ionizes in 40 μs (in the bL550 → bM412 step).
Thermal effects on the surface plasmon resonance of Cu nanoparticles in phosphate glass: impact on Cu+ luminescence

An evaluation of the effects of temperature on the optical properties of phosphate glass containing Cu nanoparticles (NPs) and Cu+ ions was carried out by means of optical absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy measurements performed jointly in situ in the 298 to 573 K range. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Cu NPs displayed a strong dampening effect with temperature, consistent with the thermal expansion of Cu NPs and an increase in the electron–phonon scattering rate. The PL of Cu+ ions in the glass with Cu NPs showed the thermal quenching effect connected with an increase in non-radiative relaxation processes. Moreover, a comparison with the precursor glass without NPs revealed that a lower activation energy for the thermal quenching of Cu+ PL results in the presence of Cu NPs for Cu+ sites emitting in resonance with the SPR. It is suggested that the increase in electron–phonon interaction in Cu NPs with temperature impacts the PL quenching of Cu+ ions the most. The current results suggest that a Cu+ → Cu NP resonant energy transfer supports a deactivation of the Cu+ emitting states with increasing temperature.
Species-Specific Host–Virus Interactions: Implications for Viral Host Range and Virulence

A growing number of studies indicate that host species-specific and virus strain-specific interactions of viral molecules with the host innate immune system play a pivotal role in determining virus host range and virulence. Because interacting proteins are likely constrained in their evolution, mutations that are selected to improve virus replication in one species may, by chance, alter the ability of a viral antagonist to inhibit immune responses in hosts the virus has not yet encountered. Based on recent findings of host-species interactions of poxvirus, herpesvirus, and influenza virus proteins, we propose a model for viral fitness and host range which considers the full interactome between a specific host species and a virus, resulting from the combination of all interactions, positive and negative, that influence whether a virus can productively infect a cell and cause disease in different hosts.
Fast Deconvolution with Color Constraints on Gradients

Abstract : In this report, we describe a fast deconvolution approach for color images that combines a sparse regularization cost on the magnitudes of gradients with constraints on their direction in color space. We form these color constraints in a way that allows retaining the computationally-efficient optimization strategy introduced in recent deconvolution methods based on half-quadratic splitting. The proposed algorithm is capable of handling a different blur kernel in each color channel, and is used for per-layer deconvolution in our paper: Depth and Deblurring from a Spectrally-varying Depth-of-Field [1]. A MATLAB implementation of this method is available at http://vision.seas.harvard. edu/ccap, and takes roughly 20 seconds to deconvolve a three-channel 1544 1028 color image, on a Linux-based Intel I-3 2.1GHz machine.
Measurements of air broadened width and air induced shift coefficients and line mixing in the ν5 band of 12CH3D

Abstract Air-broadening and shift coefficients for more than 680 transitions in the 1040– 1410 cm −1 spectral region of the ν6 perpendicular band of 12CH3D have been measured. Values have been obtained from analysis of 11 room temperature absorption spectra recorded at 0.005 cm−1 resolution with the McMath–Pierce Fourier transform spectrometer located on Kitt Peak National Solar Observatory and retrieved using a multispectrum nonlinear least-squares fitting technique. The measured broadening coefficients range from 0.016 to 0.077 cm −1 atm −1 at 296 K for transitions up to J″=17 and K″=15, including 34 forbidden lines with 2≤ΔK≤4. The corresponding pressure-induced shift coefficients vary from −0.012 to +0.008 cm −1 atm −1 , and the majority of these are negative. Within each J series in the PP and RR sub-bands, the J″=K″ (and J′=K′) transition exhibited the smallest broadening coefficient. In the PQ sub-band, the J″=K″ transition in each J series of lines had the largest positive pressure-shift coefficient while the largest negative pressure-shift coefficients were associated with the J′=K′ lines in the RQ sub-band. Subsets of the air-broadened width coefficients vary somewhat smoothly as a function of the rotational quanta, and this behavior has been modeled to ±8% using empirical expressions. Finally, Line mixing effects were observed for the first time in several of the K″=3 ( A + A − ) split components in the P P, P Q, P R, R P, R Q and RR sub-band transitions, and values for off-diagonal relaxation matrix coefficients were determined.
Understanding of plasticity size-effect governed mechanical response and incomplete die filling in a microscale double-punch molding configuration.

Abstract Direct replication of microscale patterns onto metal surfaces by compression molding with patterned dies is used to fabricate metal-based structures for microsystem applications. Micron scale plasticity governs both the mechanical molding response and the geometric fidelity of replicated patterns. Microscale molding replication offers a technologically relevant example in which various plasticity size effects manifest themselves and control the effectiveness of the fabrication process. Microscale compression molding of a single-crystal Al specimen was studied by combining experimentation with conventional and strain gradient plasticity finite element simulations. In the single-punch molding configuration, single rectangular punches with different widths and lengths were used. In the double-punch configuration, two identically-dimensioned rectangular punches with a spacing in between were used. Under single-punch molding at the micron scale, both the absolute punch width as well as the length-to-width ratio affected the characteristic molding pressure. Under double-punch molding, both the measured characteristic molding pressure and the material flow to fill the gap between the two rectangular punches exhibited a significant dependence on the spacing to punch-width ratio and—when this ratio was fixed—on the absolute spacing between punches. The present study elucidates the impact of plasticity size effects on the efficacy of pattern replication by molding at the micron scale.
Atrial fibrillation: a leading cause of heart failure-related hospitalizations; a dual epidemic.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF), and heart failure (HF) are a major cardiovascular epidemic over the last decade. The prevalence and rehospitalization of heart failure are on rising edge, and many factors are responsible for these re-exacerbations of heart failure. In this study, we sought to determine an association of a risk factor for frequent rehospitalization of heart failure at our institute. We aimed to find the re-admission rate, heart rate, and rhythm of heart failure exacerbation. Methods We performed a single-center retrospective study at the Abington Hospital - Jefferson health and 418 patients having a history of heart failure, and AF were selected. The heart failure readmission rate (days), heart rate, and rhythm were analyzed. Results The mean age of the included population was 82.8 years SD ± 9.2. About 53% had AF with a mean heart rate 90 SD ± 21 bpm, and 47% had normal sinus rhythm (NSR) with a mean heart rate of 78 ± 16 bpm on re-admission. This difference was statistically significant (p=0.02). The mean re-admission rate for atrial fibrillation was 27.49 days SD ± 18.97, compared to 32.68 SD ± 20.26 days for NSR, statistically significant (p=0.007) and the Pearson Chi-square was also significant P = 0.006. Conclusion There is a significantly increased rate of re-admission in heart failure patients with atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular rate. Efforts should be taken to keep the patient in NSR or controlled AF to minimize the rehospitalization rate, and this, in turn, reduces the financial burden on patients and institutes.
Effects of Ankle Angular Position and Standing Surface on Postural Control of Upright Stance

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of ankle angular position and standing surface type on static upright balance. Ten young adults stood on a force platform or on a firm wedge that induced 15° of either dorsiflexion or plantarflexion. In addition, a piece of foam was placed on top of the force platform and on the wedge. The center of pressure distance and velocity in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions were calculated. Significantly larger magnitudes in most of the investigated variables were seen while standing with ankles in the dorsiflexion when compared with standing with the ankle joints in a natural position (p < .05). Plantarflexion increased the center of pressure anteroposterior velocity by 87% when compared with a natural stance (p < .05). Standing on the foam surfaces resulted in increases in all of the center of pressure measures by an average of 38% in all of the ankle conditions.
The return on a college degree: the US experience

ABSTRACTI consider the evidence about the return to the cost of a college degree based on research from the US. Many countries, including the UK, are increasing the share of college costs paid for ...