cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reentrance in an active glass mixture

Active matter, whose motion is driven, and glasses, whose dynamics are arrested, seem to lie at opposite ends of the spectrum in nonequilibrium systems. In spite of this, both classes of systems exhibit a multitude of stable states that are dynamically isolated from one another. While this defining characteristic is held in common, its origin is different in each case: for active systems, the irreversible driving forces can produce dynamically frozen states, while glassy systems vitrify when they get kinetically trapped on a rugged free energy landscape. In a mixture of active and glassy particles, the interplay between these two tendencies leads to novel phenomenology. We demonstrate this with a spin glass model that we generalize to include an active component. In the absence of a ferromagnetic bias, we find that the spin glass transition temperature depresses with the active fraction, consistent with what has been observed for fully active glassy systems. When a bias does exist, however, a new type of transition becomes possible: the system can be cooled out of the glassy phase. This unusual phenomenon, known as reentrance, has been observed before in a limited number of colloidal and micellar systems, but it has not yet been observed in active glass mixtures. Using low order perturbation theory, we study the origin of this reentrance and, based on the physical picture that results, suggest how our predictions might be measured experimentally.
Development of grafted supernumerary legs in the house cricket, Acheta domesticus

Abstract Supernumerary leg stumps were grafted on two sites on the mesothorax of fifth instar Acheta domesticus . The grafts that survived moulting regenerated to form normal-looking legs in the adults. All the regenerates developed muscles and nerves. Only one graft produced active movements. These movements were not co-ordinated with the locomotor movements of normal legs. Thus the nerves and muscles of the graft fail to form specific connexions which are necessary for integrated locomotor movements.
DNA replication patterns and chromosomal protein synthesis in opossum lymphocytes in vitro.

DNA replication patterns were determined in the autosomes and sex chromosomes of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes from the opossum (Didelphis virginiana) by employing thymidine-3H labeling and high-resolution radioautography. Opossum chromosomes are desirable experimental material due to their large size, low number (2n = 22), and morphologically distinct sex chromosomes. The autosomes in both sexes began DNA synthesis synchronously and terminated replication asynchronously. One female X chromosome synthesized DNA throughout most of the S phase. Its homologue, however, began replication approximately 3.5 hr later. The two X's terminated DNA synthesis synchronously, slightly later than the autosomes. This form of late replication, in which one X chromosome begins DNA synthesis later than its homologue but completes replication at the same time as its homologue, is apparently unique in the opossum. The male X synthesized DNA throughout S while the Y chromosome exhibited late-replicating characteristics. The two sex chromosomes completed synthesis synchronously, slightly later than the autosomes. Grain counts were performed on all chromosomes to analyze trends in labeling intensity at hourly intervals of S. By analyzing the percent of labeled mitotic figures on radioautographs at various intervals after introduction of arginine-3H, chromosomal protein synthesis was found not to be restricted to any portion of interphase but to increase throughout S and into G2.
Microwave theory of Josephson oscillators

In this paper, we deal with a model of a specific Josephson microwave circuit, that of a Josephson oscillator, and show that the RF behavior of a real Josephson oscillator may be predicted from a knowledge of the experimentally measured microwave circuit parameters, the junction critical current, and junction shunt resistance. Based on observations made with an electronic analog, we present an approximate analytical method for calculating the junction impedance or, rigorously speaking, the appropriate single sinusoidal-input describing function. Emphasis is placed on the proper use of the impedance, for example, in calculating the operating point and the expected output power of the oscillator. The circuit model used is that of a junction, described by the resistively shunted junction model, coupled to a series LCR resonance. Further confirmation of the validity of the circuit-theory approach is obtained by using the injection-locked oscillator theory of Kurokawa to predict the in-lock amplitude variation of a Josephson oscillator exposed to a weak synchronizing signal. Experimental data describing the amplitude variation and output power of an oscillator consisting of a point-contact junction placed in a 9.72-GHz coaxial resonator are presented. The data demonstrate the reasonable agreement obtained when the measured critical current and shunt resistance are used with the analytical expression for the junction impedance and the circuit theory to predict the RF behavior of a Josephson oscillator. Circuits more complex than our specific example may be handled by means of describing function techniques recently developed in the area of nonlinear solid-state microwave devices.
Can research on science learning and instruction inform standards for science education

We contrast the current science education reform effort with the reforms of the 1960s and suggest how the current effort could be enhanced. We identify insights from recent research that we believe can inform the reform process, in particular, to reach all science students and also impart a cohesive view of science. We propose an “alternative models” view of scientific explanation and show how this view would contribute to reforms of (1) course goals, (2) social aspects of science learning, (3) instructional practices, and (4) roles for technology.
Is obesity still increasing among pregnant women? Prepregnancy obesity trends in 20 states, 2003-2009.

Objective To estimate trends in prepregnancy obesity prevalence among women who delivered live births in the US during 2003–2009, by state, age, and race–ethnicity.
Lower fertility: A wise investment.

This article looks at the benefits of lower fertility rates in poor countries. The United Nations forecasts a rise in the world population to nine billion as of 2050. Those 2.5 billion additional people will arrive in the poor regions and aspire to the income and consumption levels of the rest of the world, which would lead to mindboggling environmental pressures. The author sees four steps to decreasing fertility, including the promotion of child survival, the promotion of girls' education and gender equality, the promotion of contraception and family planning, and an increase in farm productivity.
The inverted schneiderian papilloma: A 25-year study

Inverted papillomas arising from the lateral nasal wall are controversial lesions which have been reported in the medical literature under a variety of titles. The designation “inverted Schneiderian papilloma” is recommended as an appropriate title to best convey the tumor's qualities of inversion, location, and distinctiveness of character. The etiology is uncertain. In the absence of a better explanation of its origin, the tumor should be considered a true epithelial neoplasm. Clinical features in 101 cases seen at the Geisinger Medical Center during the past 25 years are presented. The most frequent presenting complaint was nasal obstruction. The site of origin was the lateral nasal wall in the region of the middle meatus. The most characteristic attributes of the tumor were its tendency to recur, its destructive capacity, and its propensity to be associated with malignancy. To illustrate the pernicious nature of the lesion, a detailed description is given of the extent of bone erosion, the extraordinary sites of tumor extension, and the perioperative complications encountered. A philosophy of management has evolved based on the experiences gained from these 101 patients combined with a review of the experiences of others and study of the regional anatomy. A bold surgical approach is detailed using a lateral rhinotomy incision or a modified Weber-Ferguson incision to expose the tumor adequately and remove it completely. The recurrence rate using this approach was 2%. An associated malignancy was present in 8 patients. Four died of widespread metastases within a year of the diagnosis. The remaining 4 patients are long-term survivors free of disease.
Optimization of the forming conditions of the solid-state interface in the Li-ion batteries

Abstract We optimized the forming conditions of Li-ion batteries from the standpoint of the stability of the solid-state interface (SEI) on the surface of graphite. The optimization processes were focused on the initial two cycles of the Li/graphite half-cell in terms of the current density and the temperature. We evaluated the stability of the SEI from two aspects: (1) self-delithiation at 60 °C of the lithium intercalation compound, which reflects storage stability of the SEI and (2) cycling performance of the Li/graphite cell, which reflects cycling stability of the SEI. It was observed that the low current density and the low temperature favored increasing effectiveness of the SEI formation, and resulted in formation of a stable SEI. However, the SEI formed under such conditions had relatively high impedance. That is, there was a contradictory relationship between the ionic conductivity and the stability of the SEI. Based on the graphite and electrolyte used in this work, we found that the optimum conditions for the formation of the SEI were at the current densities of 10–20 mA/g and at the temperatures of 20–35 °C.
The Computation of a Locally Conservative Stress for the Continuous Galerkin Method for Compressible Linearly Elastic Materials

We show how to postprocess the approximate displacement given by the continuous Galerkin method for compressible linearly elastic materials to obtain an optimally convergent approximate stress that renders the method locally conservative. The postprocessing is extremely efficient as it requires the inversion of a symmetric, positive definite matrix whose condition number is independent of the mesh size. Although the new stress is not symmetric, its asymmetry can be controlled by a small term which is of the same order as that of the error of the approximate stress itself. The continuous Galerkin method is thus competitive with mixed methods providing stresses with similar convergence properties.
La antesala de las sombras

The plot of the short novel La mano en la trampa (Beatriz Guido, 1961) is about a young woman who becomes a heroine while trying to find out the truth about a family secret known as “El Opa.” Her work as a spy needs to be done in complete secrecy. Her family is behind her and she needs to escape from censorship. Her family story is similar to Argentina's context at that time when many people had to avoid the control and excessive power of Peron's government. Everything seems to be double in this novel: spaces, characters, life stories, ghosts, vampires, haunting and repressive atmospheres. All of these elements contribute to the gothic spirit in La mano en la trampa that I explore in this article.
Africanized honeybees are slower learners than their European counterparts

Does cognitive ability always correlate with a positive fitness consequence? Previous research in both vertebrates and invertebrates provides mixed results. Here, we compare the learning and memory abilities of Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera scutellata hybrid) and European honeybees (Apis mellifera ligustica). The range of the Africanized honeybee continues to expand, superseding the European honeybee, which led us to hypothesize that they might possess greater cognitive capabilities as revealed by a classical conditioning assay. Surprisingly, we found that fewer Africanized honeybees learn to associate an odor with a reward. Additionally, fewer Africanized honeybees remembered the association a day later. While Africanized honeybees are replacing European honeybees, our results show that they do so despite displaying a relatively poorer performance on an associative learning paradigm.
Numerical simulation of the single-band Hubbard model

Monte Carlo simulations based on the Trotter-Suzuki transformation were carried out using 6×6 and 12×12 lattices and the single-band Hubbard model with intermediaterange repulsive interaction. The absence of the “minus-sign problem” for sufficiently low temperatures and appropriate doping indicates bosonic behavior reminiscent of superconductivity. It was found that holes prefer to pair on next-nearest-neighbor sites while nearest neighbors are suppressed.
Low‐barrier hydrogen bonds: Abinitio and DFT investigation

High-level ab initio and DFT molecular orbital calculations have been used to investigate the physical properties of a model low-barrier hydrogen bond (LBHB) system: formic acid–formate anion. In the gas phase, it is found that the hydrogen bond formed is extraordinarily short and strong [ca. 27 kcal/mol at B3LYP/6-31++G(d, p)], with a calculated enthalpy of activation for proton transfer from donor to acceptor that is less than the zero-point vibrational energy available to the system. Several perturbations to this system were studied. Forcing a mismatch of pKas between donor and acceptor, via the use of substituents, causes the strength of the hydrogen bond to decrease. Microsolvation of the hydrogen-bonded complex does not affect the strength of the low-barrier hydrogen bond very much. Small variations in the structure of the LBHB results in a decrease in hydrogen-bond strength. Increasing the effective polarity of the cavity surrounding the LBHB was found to have a significant impact on the strength of the hydrogen bond. Implications for enzyme catalysis are discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 19: 1345–1352, 1998
On Vibrations of Pretwisted Rectangular Plates

This paper contains an analysis of the free vibrations of uniformly pretwisted rectangular plates, utilizing the exact equations of classical shallow-shell theory. Specifically, solutions are given (a) for two opposite edges simply supported and the other two free, and (b) for all four edges simply supported. Numerical results obtained for case (b) are compared with previous results for the torsional vibrations of pretwisted beams. A simple frequency equation is obtained for case (b), permitting a detailed study of the effects of both pretwist and longitudinal inertia.
Management of locally advanced cervical cancer.

Purpose of reviewCervical cancer is a significant global public health problem. In underdeveloped countries where screening programs are not widely available and in underserved populations in developed countries, women commonly present with locally advanced disease that is not curable by any extent
A Surface Distortion Measure For Motion Compensated Image Coding

A surface distortion measure for a motion compensated image coding algorithm is described. This distortion measure provides a new approach to determining the rate of the residual quantizer in such an algorithm. The surface distortion measure (SDM) is a function of both the signal variance and the error variance. This functional relationship circumvents a major problem that is associated with using the ratio of these quantities as a quantizer design parameter. When the surface distortion measure is used as the fidelity criterion for the residual quantizer of the motion compensated image coding algorithm, superior data compression capabilities with little added distortion are achieved. A comparisqn of the results of using both SNR and the SDM as a fidelity criterion in a motion compensated image coding procedure is presented.
Potential for Imaging Engineered Tissues with X-Ray Phase Contrast

As the field of tissue engineering advances, it is crucial to develop imaging methods capable of providing detailed three-dimensional information on tissue structure. X-ray imaging techniques based on phase-contrast (PC) have great potential for a number of biomedical applications due to their ability to provide information about soft tissue structure without exogenous contrast agents. X-ray PC techniques retain the excellent spatial resolution, tissue penetration, and calcified tissue contrast of conventional X-ray techniques while providing drastically improved imaging of soft tissue and biomaterials. This suggests that X-ray PC techniques are very promising for evaluation of engineered tissues. In this review, four different implementations of X-ray PC imaging are described and applications to tissues of relevance to tissue engineering reviewed. In addition, recent applications of X-ray PC to the evaluation of biomaterial scaffolds and engineered tissues are presented and areas for further development and application of these techniques are discussed. Imaging techniques based on X-ray PC have significant potential for improving our ability to image and characterize engineered tissues, and their continued development and optimization could have significant impact on the field of tissue engineering.
Recovery of resources for advanced life support space applications: effect of retention time on biodegradation of two crop residues in a fed-batch, continuous stirred tank reactor

Bioreactor retention time is a key process variable that will influence costs that are relevant to long distance space travel or long duration space habitation. However. little is known about the effects of this parameter on the microbiological treatment options that are being proposed for Advanced Life Support (ALS) systems. Two bioreactor studies were designed to examine this variable. In the first one, six retention times ranging from 1.3 to 21.3 days--were run in duplicate, 81 working-volume continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTR) that were fed ALS wheat residues. Ash-free dry weight loss, carbon mineralization, soluble TOC reduction, changes in fiber content (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin), bacterial numbers, and mineral recoveries were monitored. At short retention times--1.33 days--biodegradation was poor (total: 16-20%, cellulose - 12%, hemicellulose - 28%) but soluble TOC was decreased by 75-80% and recovery of major crop inorganic nutrients was adequate, except for phosphorus. A high proportion of the total bacteria (ca. 83%) was actively respiring. At the longest retention time tested, 21.3 days, biodegradation was good (total: 55-60%, cellulose ca. 70%, hemicellulose - ca. 55%) and soluble TOC was decreased by 80%. Recovery of major nutrients, except phosphorus, remained adequate. A very low proportion of total bacteria was actively respiring (ca. 16%). The second bioreactor study used potato residue to determine if even shorter retention times could be used (range 0.25-2.0 days). Although overall biodegradation deteriorated, the degradation of soluble TOC continued to be ca. 75%. We conclude that if the goal of ALS bioprocessing is maximal degradation of crop residues, including cellulose, then retention times of 10 days or longer will be needed. If the goal is to provide inorganic nutrients with the smallest volume/weight bioreactor possible, then a retention time of 1 day (or less) is sufficient.
Translocation events in a single-walled carbon nanotube

Translocation of DNA oligomers through a single-walled carbon nanotube was demonstrated recently. Translocation events are accompanied by giant current pulses, the origin of which remains obscure. Here, we show that the introduction of a nucleotide, guanosine triphosphate, alone into the input reservoir of a carbon nanotube nanofluidic device also gives giant current pulses. Taken together with data on oligomer translocation, these new results suggest that the pulse width has a nonlinear, power-law dependence on the number of nucleotides in a DNA molecule. We have also measured the time for the onset of DNA translocation pulses after bias reversal, finding that the time for the onset of translocation is directly proportional to the period of the bias reversal.
Comparison of eggshell porosity and estimated gas flux between the brown-headed cowbird and two common hosts

Th e brown-headed cowbird Molothrus ater is a brood-parasite that lays eggs in nests of a wide range of host species, including the closely-related red-winged blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus and the dickcissel Spiza americana . Although cowbird eggs have accelerated development and hatch sooner than similar-sized host eggs, this development takes place within a thickened eggshell that could impede gas fl ux to the developing embryo. We tested the hypothesis that the accelerated development of the cowbird embryo relative to hosts is enabled by an increase in eggshell porosity that allows increased fl uxes of respiratory gases to and from the developing embryo. We found cowbird eggshell thickness was signifi cantly greater than the eggshells of these two common hosts. Although the number of pores per egg was similar among all three species, the total pore area per egg in cowbirds was signifi cantly greater than that of either host, despite having a smaller eggshell surface area than the red-winged blackbird. Cowbird egg pore area was 1.9 � larger than that of the redwinged blackbird. Cowbird eggshells had a signifi cantly greater gas fl ux than those of the red-winged blackbird and the dickcissel. When conductance was normalized to published values of egg mass, cowbird eggs had a higher mass-specifi c conductance than red-winged blackbird or dickcissel eggs. Th ese results are consistent with the hypothesis that the rapid development of brown-headed cowbird embryos is facilitated by increased eggshell porosity, and that changes in eggshell porosity represent an adaptation that enables cowbird eggs to hatch earlier than equivalently-sized host eggs.
Study of Alkane Thiols as a Blocking Mechanism for Specific Adsorption for Application of Charge Selective Membrane Transport

Electrodialysis (ED) is an electrochemical process used for separation of ions across perm-selective membranes. ED uses a DC bias to selectively transport ions across membranes for applications ranging from desalination of water to demineralization of fruit juice. The energy cost of ED is due to accumulation of hydroxide and hydronium ions from the electrochemical process of water; additionally there is the cost of using platinum electrodes. This paper addresses the idea of using polycarbonate track etched membrane (PCTE) coated with gold between the membranes to reduce the energy cost and to explore a wider selection of electrode materials. This paper aims to show how thiol monolayers on gold can be used as ideal polarizable electrodes (electrode behaves like a capacitor with only charging current and no faradaic current) for application of potential to the membrane surface double layer. We report the characterization of such monolayers on gold-coated microscope slides. The goal is to control the diffuse layer potential at each membrane-solution interface while at the same time prevent adsorption on the electrode surface and minimize Faradaic activity due to electrolyte and redox species in solution. This lays the groundwork for the application of thiol-modified polycarbonate track-etched membranes for ion-selective transport. The paper proposes the use of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to measure characteristics of gold (Au)-coated membranes and their inherent limitations. In this work, the fabrication of a membrane permeate flow cell is described with the aim of subsequently studying the transport of ions through conductive polycarbonate track etched membrane (PCTE) by interrogating the system using EIS and CV measurements. In particular, we would like to ascertain the voltage range that can be applied to the Au-coated membrane without getting a considerable faradaic activity; the difference between platinum and Au electrode; the effects of different electrolyte concentrations and various applied DC potentials.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Stability and solubility enhancement of ellagic acid in cellulose ester solid dispersions

Structurally varied, carboxyl-containing cellulose derivatives were evaluated for their ability to form amorphous solid dispersions (ASD) with ellagic acid (EA), in order to improve the solubility of this high-melting, poorly bioavailable, but highly bioactive natural flavonoid compound. ASDs of EA with carboxymethylcellulose acetate butyrate (CMCAB), cellulose acetate adipate propionate (CAAdP), and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) were prepared, and EA dissolution from these ASDs was compared with that from pure crystalline EA and from EA/poly(vinylpyrrolidinone) (PVP) solid dispersions (SD). Polymer/drug mixtures were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRPD), modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The XRPD and FT-IR results indicated that EA was amorphous in solid dispersions with EA concentration up to 25 wt%. The stability against crystallization and solution concentrations of EA from these solid dispersions were significantly higher than those observed for physical mixtures and pure crystalline EA. HPMCAS stabilized EA most effectively, among the polymers tested, against both chemical degradation and recrystallization. The relative ability to solubilize EA from ASDs at pH 6.8 was PVP>>HPMCAS>>CMCAB. EA dissolves from ASD in PVP quickly and completely (maximum 92%) at pH 6.8, but EA is also released from PVP at pH 1.2, and then crystallizes rapidly. Therefore PVP is not a practical candidate for EA ASD. In contrast, the cellulose derivative ASDs show very slow EA release at pH 1.2 (<4%) and faster but still incomplete drug release at pH 6.8 (maximum 35% for HPMCAS SD). The pH-triggered drug release from HPMCAS ASD makes HPMCAS a practical choice for EA solubility enhancement.
A randomized, crossover comparison of injected buffered lidocaine, lidocaine cream, and no analgesia for peripheral intravenous cannula insertion.

Study objective We compare pain and anxiety associated with peripheral intravenous (IV) cannula insertion after pretreatment with no local anesthesia, 4% lidocaine cream, or subcutaneously injected, buffered 1% lidocaine. Methods In a randomized, crossover design, 3 peripheral IVs were inserted in each of 70 medical students or nurses. In random order, insertion sites were pretreated with nothing, lidocaine cream, or injected, buffered lidocaine. After each IV insertion, subjects recorded pain, anxiety, and preference (as patient and provider) for each technique on a 10-point numeric rating scale. Higher scores indicated greater pain, anxiety, and preference. Results Median pain scores (interquartile range [IQR]) were 7 (4 to 8) without local anesthesia, 3 (2 to 5) with lidocaine cream, and 1 (1 to 2) with injected, buffered lidocaine. Median anxiety scores (IQR) were 4 (2 to 7) without local anesthesia, 2 (1 to 4) with lidocaine cream, and 2 (1 to 3) with injected, buffered lidocaine. There was no detectable difference in anxiety scores between lidocaine cream and injected, buffered lidocaine. Most IV placement attempts were successful, regardless of technique. Seventy percent of subjects indicated they would "always" request buffered lidocaine for peripheral IV insertion. Conclusion In adult health care providers, pain and anxiety associated with peripheral IV insertion is significantly reduced by using topical lidocaine cream or injected, buffered lidocaine. Injected, buffered lidocaine reduces IV insertion pain more than lidocaine cream, without affecting success. Adults desire the use of local anesthetic techniques for IV insertion for themselves and for their patients.
Organizing for Synergies

Large companies are usually organized into business units, yet some activities are almost always centralized in a company-wide functional unit. We first show that organizations endogenously create an incentive conflict between functional managers (who desire excessive standardization) and business-unit managers (who desire excessive local adaptation). We then study how the allocation of authority and tasks to functional and business-unit managers interacts with this endogenous incentive conflict. Our analysis generates testable implications for the likely success of mergers and for the organizational structure and incentives inside multidivisional firms.
Excimer laser-induced heating, melting, and mass diffusion in crystal silicon in nanosecond and nanometer scale

Heat and mass transfer at the nanosecond time scale and the nanometer length scale in pulsed laser fabrication of ultra-shallow p+-junction is studied in this work. A technique is developed to fabricate the ultra-shallow p+-junctions with pulsed laser doping of crystalline silicon with a solid spin-on-glass (SOG) dopant, through the nanosecond pulsed laser heating, melting, and boron mass diffusion in the 100 nm thin silicon layer close to the surface. High boron concentration of 1020 atoms/cc and the `box-like' junction profile are achieved. The key mechanism determining the `box-like' junction shape is found to be the melt-solid interface limited diffusion. The ultra-shallow p+-junctions with the depth from 30 nm to 400 nm are successfully made by the excimer laser. The optimal laser fluence condition for SOG doping is found about 0.6 - 0.8 J/cm2 by studying the ultra-shallow p+-junction boron profiles measured by the secondary ion mass spectroscopy versus the laser fluence and the pulse number. The 1D numerical analysis agrees reasonably with the experiment, within the available physical picture. Possible mechanisms such as boron diffusivity dependence on the dopant concentration in the molten silicon are proposed.
AN INVESTIGATION OF INDUSTRY AND FIRM STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS IN CORPORATE TURNAROUNDS

This article uses the structure/conduct/performance framework as an underpinning to investigate the attributes of turnaround firms. Turnaround is defined as a substantial improvement of the firms's return on assets relative to the average return of its industry. Industry and firm structural characteristics including concentration, industry growth, R&D, advertising, market share, size, diversification, capital intensity and margins are identified. The results of a series of univariate and multivariate tests run on a sample of turnaround and non-turnaround firms indicate that size, R&D, and an interaction between operating margin and advertising can be helpful in explaining some turnaround situations.
Recent developments in the study of hypnotic pain reduction: a new golden era of research?

This article presents a selective review of recent developments in research on hypnotic pain reduction. A profusion of well-controlled studies of hypnotic analgesia in children suggests that hypnosis ranks among the more effective psychological tools for managing the distress experienced by youngsters undergoing invasive medical procedures. This literature also draws attention to the importance of matching interventions to natural pain coping strategies. Virtual reality hypnosis shows much promise as a treatment and may offer hope to people who might otherwise be unable to experience hypnotic analgesia. Response expectancies appear to be a key psychological mechanism of hypnotic pain reduction. Neuroimaging studies point to activity in the midcingulate cortex as a possible biological mechanism of hypnotic analgesia. More generally, based upon the findings of a sound empirical literature, important meta-analytic and qualitative reviews have concluded that hypnosis is effective for reducing both experimental and clinical pain. Indeed, the study of hypnotic pain reduction is vigorous, innovative, and may well have entered a golden era of research. Copyright © 2008 British Society of Experimental & Clinical Hypnosis. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Molecular dynamics study of size, temperature and rate dependent thermomechanical properties of copper nanofilms

Abstract Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to study the thermomechanical properties of copper nanofilms at different temperatures and extremely-high loading rates. The results show a drastic temperature softening effect on the film strength and modulus. The increase of strain rate could result in a much higher strength while the modulus is relatively less affected. It is shown, based on the stress results, that the observed “smaller is softer” and “smaller is stronger” behaviors of nanofilms might be due to the surface plasticity and the volumetric dislocations, respectively. It is also found that the thinner a nanofilm, the smaller the thermal expansion coefficient. The present work reveals that the quasistatic thermomechanical properties of bulk copper at room temperature might be inadequate for the continuum-based study of thermomechanical response of copper nanofilms due to ultrafast laser heating.
Industry-University Cooperation at Japan's Protein Engineering Research Institute: A Study Based on Long-Term Fieldwork

Japanese R&D consortia have scored successes in applied research with specific targets. More recent consortium approaches to basic research, however, must compensate for differences in the reward structures and career trajectories of researchers from industry and academia, while accommodating the goals of the supporting institutions. Japan's Protein Engineering Research Institute (PERI), a flagship effort to organize industry, government, and academic resources for protein-related basic research, has assembled an impressive array of material and human resources to join international competition in protein engineering. Long-term fieldwork at PERI supported an analysis of the organizational features that hampered that institution's effectiveness. The combination of research approaches used suggests productive avenues for anthropologists in science, technology, and society studies (STS).
A “feminine style”; in women's political discourse: An exploratory essay

This essay asks, “Is there a ‘feminine style’ in women's political discourse?”; If so, “What are its features?”; We argue that it does exist and is gaining legitimacy through its use by both women and men in positions of power. Further, we identify five characteristics of the “feminine style.”; These include: basing political judgments on concrete, lived experience; valuing inclusivity and the relational nature of being; conceptualizing the power of public office as a capacity to “get things done”; and to empower others; approaching policy formation holistically; and, moving women's issues to the forefront of the public arena.
A comparison study of web-based and traditional instruction on pre-service teachers’ knowledge of fractions

This study investigated the comparative efficiency of Web-based instruction (WBI) and traditional teaching methods on preservice teachers’ fraction knowledge. Students’ knowledge of fractions was measured using a Fraction Knowledge Test. The test consisted of 32 items and was administered as preand posttests to a total of 42 preservice teachers in two intact classes at the same university. One of the classes was randomly assigned as the experimental group (n = 21) and was given WBI. The other class was assigned as a control group (n = 21) and was given traditional instruction. Analysis of covariance was used to determine treatment effects on students’ knowledge of fractions when the pretest result was used as a covariate. The analysis of results showed a statistically significant difference between the experimental and the control groups’ posttest mean scores in favor of the experimental group.
Modular documentation: a software development tool

This paper presents a scheme for documenting the design and implementation of a large software system. The scheme is presented in terms of a family of documents based on the decomposition of any system into specific levels of abstraction for the purpose of software development. It facilitates the use of structured design techniques, provides tangible objects for organizing manpower resources on the basis of the system's structure, gives management meaningful milestones with which to measure development progress, and results in a fully documented system when the implementation phase is complete.
Results at Age 8 Years of Early Intervention for Low-Birth-Weight Premature Infants: The Infant Health and Development Program

Objective. —To reevaluate at age 8 years children who had participated during the first 3 years of life in a randomized clinical trial of special services for low-birthweight (LBW) premature infants. Design. —Follow-up of a randomized controlled trial of premature infants ( Setting. —Eight sites serving diverse populations. Participants. —At age 8 years, 874 children were assessed: 336 in the intervention group and 538 in the follow-up only group. Intervention. —The 3-year intervention consisted of home visits (birth to 3 years), child development center services (ages 1 to 3 years), and parent group meetings (ages 1 to 3 years). Primary Outcome Measures. —Cognitive functioning (Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children-Ill; Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised); academic achievement (Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement-Revised); and parental reports of school performance, behavior (Child Behavior Checklist), and health (Child General Health Survey). Results. —At age 8 years, in the entire cohort and in the lighter LBW stratum, the intervention and follow-up only groups were similar on all primary outcome measures. Differences favoring the intervention group were found within the heavier LBW group: full-scale IQ score (4.4 points higher, P =.007), verbal IQ score (4.2 points higher, P =.01 ), performance IQ score (3.9 points higher, P =.02), mathematics achievement score (4.8 points higher, P =.04), and receptive vocabulary score (6.7 points higher, P =.001 ). On a physical functioning subscale, the whole intervention group received less favorable ratings, while the lighter LBW intervention group had lower maternal ratings assessing social limitations caused by behavior. Conclusion. —Although at age 8 years there were modest intervention-related differences in the cognitive and academic skills of heavier LBW premature children, attenuation of the large favorable effects seen at 3 years was observed in both the heavier and lighter LBW groups. This indicates a need to develop additional intervention strategies for LBW premature children that can provide sustained benefits.
Initializing on-line simulations from the state of a distributed system

The paper addresses the complex task of initializing an on-line simulation to a current system state collected from an operating physical system. The paper begins by discussing the complications that arise when the system model employed by the controller and the planner are not the same. The benefits of using the same model for control and planning are then outlined. The paper then discusses a new simulation paradigm that models controller interactions and provides a single model that is capable of supporting planning and control functions. Next, issues arising from performing a distributed simulation of the distributed control architecture that is being employed to manage the system are addressed. The definition of the state for the distributed system is then discussed and the collection of the real-time state information from the elements of this distributed system is outlined. Finally, the procedure for initializing the distributed on-line simulation from the collected real-time state information is given.
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Outcome of Preoperative Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

In recent years, increasing numbers of patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) have been offered extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) preoperatively if they can not physiologically tolerate early surgical repair. These infants are sicker are more unstable than those repaired pre-ECMO and, in most cases, have not had a "honeymoon" period (i.e., PaO2>100 mm Hg at some point). ECMO before surgical repair was offered to 27 CDH patients in our institution; of the 16 (59%) survivors, 11 are now 2 years of age to older. To determine the outcome risk for this critical population, we compared 11 infants placed on ECMO pre-CDH repair (Group A) with our previous series of 22 survivors who had their surgery prior to ECMO (Group B). Both groups were similar in birth weight, gestational age, and Apgar scores. In Group A, a greater number were females (73% vs 23%), had right-sided hernia (64% vs 23%), and required patch repairs (82% vs 23%). The mean time on ECMO, time to extubation, and mean length of hospitalization were longer in group A. In both groups combined, the frequency of reherniation was higher in the patch-repair infants compared with those with a primary closure. Incidence of reflux was high in both groups, with increasing frequency of Nissen fundoplication in Group A patients (45% vs 6%). Both groups demonstrated similar delayed growth at 1 year of age. Although infants placed on ECMO presurgery are sicker, with more post-ECMO morbidity, their growth failure is similar to the less sick infants repaired pre-ECMO.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Signature analysis with modified linear feedback shift registers (M-LFSRs)

A signature analysis technique that uses modified linear feedback shift registers (LFSRs) is presented. It is demonstrated that the modified-LFSR-based analyzers can be designed with significantly lower aliasing probability compared to conventional LFSRs of the same size. The methodology for their design is described. Analytic expressions for their aliasing probability, hardware requirements, and the average tet-time overhead are obtained and experimentally verified. Studies using several circuit-under-test responses corroborate the improvement in the aliasing probability for the same hardware (or reduction in hardware for the same aliasing probability) when the modified LFSRs are used. The extra test-time required by the modified LFSRs is found to be nominal ( >
Diagnostic and therapeutic spinal interventions: Facet joint interventions

Axial spine pain is a common condition that is due to facet joint disease in some patients. Local anesthetic blocks of the medial branches of the dorsal rami of the spinal nerves that innervate facet joints are used to identify painful facet joints. Subsequent radiofrequency neurotomy of the medial branches serving symptomatic facet joints may provide prolonged albeit impermanent pain relief. The diagnostic blocks and radiofrequency treatments are best validated in the cervical spine. Neurologists should be aware that patients with axial spine pain who are referred to a pain clinic or pain management facility are likely to be considered for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions directed at facet joints and their sensory nerve supply.
Interpolation and sparse reconstrunctions of Doppler and microDoppler signatures under missing samples

The paper considers Doppler and microDoppler radar signature estimations in the presence of missing samples using time-frequency distributions. Incomplete or random sampled data can be due to ranging and localization enhancements, discarding noisy measurements, hardware simplification, sampling rate limitations, or logistical restrictions on data collections and acquisition. We demonstrate that the use of interpolators to estimate the missing samples in the instantaneous autocorrelation function outperforms time-domain data interpolations. We compare time-frequency distributions with and without data interpolations and contrast their performance with sparse signal reconstruction which exploits the sparsity of the Doppler signature in the time-frequency domain.
A cooperative game theoretic approach for data replication in mobile ad-hoc networks

The mobile computing environment provides many benefits such as ubiquitous access to computing but include constraints on resources such as: available bandwidth and battery life. Replication is a widely recognized method for balancing the demands of storage space with bandwidth and battery life. We propose a novel scheme that seeks to strategically balance these constrained resources through a cooperative game-theoretic approach for replication in a mobile environment. Our replication strategy relies on the cooperation of the nodes within the network to make replica caching decisions which are spatiotemporally local-optimal for the network from an energy and bandwidth conservation standpoint. In cooperative altruistic data replication, CADR, each node calculates the net global benefit, NGB, for caching a replica of the requested data, as the result data is returned from the responding node to the requesting node, where it is then determines the spatiotemporally local-optimal node for replicating the data item. Performance results from our research indicate that our scheme, CADR, improves the query response time by 25% and 45%, mean hop count is improved by 26% and 46%, query error is reduced by 30% and 48%, while energy utilization is reduced 30% and 57% when compared with both another game theoretic replication approach and standard cooperative caching respectively.
Cloud computing in Aircraft Data Network

The introduction of data networks within an aircraft has created several service opportunities for the air carriers. Using the available Internet connectivity, the carriers could offer services like Video-on-Demand (VoD), Voice-over-IP (VoIP), and gaming-on-demand within the aircraft. One of the major road blocks in implementing any of these services is the additional hardware and software requirements. Each service requires dedicated hardware resources to run appropriate software components. It is not possible to accommodate every hardware component within the aircraft due to space, power, and ventilation restrictions. Also, it is economically not viable to install and maintain hardware components for every aircraft. One solution is to use cloud computing. Cloud computing is a recent innovation that is helping the computing industry in distributed computing. Cloud computing allows the organizations to consolidate several hardware resources into one physical device. The Cloud computing concept helps organizations in reducing the overall power consumption and maintenance costs. The cloud computing concept could be extended to the Aircraft Data Network environment with every aircraft subscribing to the cloud resources to run their non mission-critical applications. In this paper, the authors explore the possibility of using cloud services for Aircraft Data Networks. The authors evaluate the performance issues involved with the aircraft mobility and dynamic resource transfer between servers when the aircraft's point-of-attachment changes. The authors predict that using cloud computing concepts would encourage many carriers to offer new services within the aircraft.
Multivariate public key cryptosystems from diophantine equations

Wang et al. introduced in (A medium-field multivariate public-key encryption scheme. Topics in Cryptology--CTRSA 2006: The Cryptographers' Track at the RSA Conference, 2006) a multivariate public key cryptosystem, called MFE cryptosystem, and it is appealing as it is based on a simple polynomial identity. Their system, however, was subsequently broken by Ding et al. in (High order linearization equation (hole) attack on multivariate public key cryptosystems. Public key cryptography--PKC 2007: 10th international conference on practice and theory in public-key cryptography, 2007a, ?-Invertible cycles for multivariate quadratic public key cryptography. Public key cryptography--PKC 2007: 10th international conference on practice and theory in public-key cryptography, 2007b). Inspired by their work, we present a more general framework for multivariate public key cryptosystems, which combines ideas from both triangular and oil-vinegar schemes. Within this framework, we propose a new public key cryptosystem based on a solution of a Diophantine equation over polynomial rings.