cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulations of boundary layers and defective sites in coupled VCSEL arrays

This work addresses the effects of finite boundaries in coupled arrays as well as those from "defects" from individual bias failures, of interest for practical applications. Analysis and numerical simulations based on the tight-binding approximation show that phase-locking persists in finite arrays. Self-regulation of the edge cavity density and power generate boundary layers of differentiated cavity operation values. The inter-cavity phase shift remains nearly uniform, with a small superimposed linear slope caused by cross-cavity reflection interference from DBRs. Phase locking is robust against partial or complete failure to lase for individual cavity sites, or even entire rows, due to biasing errors. The inherent gain dependence on carrier depletion and on the lateral cavity interactions is shown to be important.
Attitudes of the aged toward nontraditional sexual behavior

Age as a correlate of attitudes toward nontraditional sexual behavior is explored. The data were drawn from a United States national probability sample. Subgroup comparisons were made between two age cohorts — respondents over and under 65. Sexual attitudes were measured toward premarital sexual relations, extramarital sexual relations, and homosexuality. Older respondents held the most conservative sexual attitudes. However, the background variables of sex, social status, church attendance, marital status, and parenthood were predictors of sexual attitudes for both age strata. The findings indicate individual variations among the aged with the likelihood of a greater range of differences in the future.
Will embryonic stem cells change health policy

Embryonic stem cells are actively debated in political and public policy arenas. However, the connections between stem cell innovation and overall health care policy are seldom elucidated. As with many controversial aspects of medical care, the stem cell debate bridges to a variety of social conversations beyond abortion. Some issues, such as translational medicine, commercialization, patient and public safety, health care spending, physician practice, and access to insurance and health care services, are core health policy concerns. Other issues, such as economic development, technologic progress, fiscal politics, and tort reform, are only indirectly related to the health care system but are frequently seen through a health care lens. These connections will help determine whether the stem cell debate reaches a resolution, and what that resolution might be.
Mössbauer study of the Ising antiferromagnet DyP O 4 : Hyperfine parameters, g -factor anisotropy, and spin-lattice relaxation

M\"ossbauer spectroscopy of the 26-keV $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray transition in $^{161}\mathrm{Dy}$ was employed to study nuclear hyperfine interactions in Ising-like DyP${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$. Single-crystal and polycrystalline samples were studied over the temperature range $1.8\ensuremath{\le}T\ensuremath{\lesssim}300$ K, which included the N\'eel temperature ${T}_{N}=3.39$ K. For $0\ensuremath{\le}T\ensuremath{\lesssim}10$ K the spectra could be analyzed in terms of a "static" $S=\frac{1}{2}$ spin Hamiltonian $\mathcal{H}={A}_{z}{I}_{z}{S}_{z}+(\frac{{A}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}}{2})({I}^{+}{S}^{\ensuremath{-}}+{I}^{\ensuremath{-}}{S}^{+})+P[3{I}_{z}^{2}\ensuremath{-}I(I+1)]$. The measured components of the magnetic hyperfine tensor parallel and perpendicular to the tetragonal $c$ axis are, respectively, $\frac{{A}_{z}}{2}=\ensuremath{-}831\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}4$ MHz and ${A}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}=\ensuremath{-}14\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5$ MHz. This is the first reported measurement of an ${A}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ term in M\"ossbauer studies of dysprosium compounds. Using the known ionic $g$-factor component, ${g}_{z}=19.32\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.01$, we calculate $k=\frac{{A}_{z}}{2h{g}_{z}}=43.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2$ and hence ${g}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}=0.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1$. The ratio of quadrupole parameters for the excited and ground nuclear states of $^{161}\mathrm{Dy}$ is $\frac{{P}_{e}}{{P}_{g}}=0.986\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.003$ with $\frac{{P}_{g}}{h}=60.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.6$ MHz. For $T\ensuremath{\gtrsim}10$ K the spectra are relaxation broadened and can be described well using the time-dependent Hamiltonian $\mathcal{H}(t)=f(t){A}_{z}{I}_{z}{S}_{z}+P[3{I}_{z}^{2}\ensuremath{-}I(I+1)]$, where $f(t)=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1$. These spectra were analyzed using a random-fluctuation stochastic model for $f(t)$ and incorporating the exchange splittings obtained from previous optical work on the ground Kramers doublet. The analysis then depends on a single relaxation parameter $\ensuremath{\Omega}(T)$. Between $T=16\mathrm{and}36$ K the relaxation is dominated by an Orbach spin-lattice process of the form $\ensuremath{\Omega}={\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{0}{e}^{\frac{\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{G}}{T}}$, where ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{G}\ensuremath{\simeq}70$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$.
Antigen Presentation by Vaginal Cells: Role of TGFβ as a Mediator of Estradiol Inhibition of Antigen Presentation

Estradiol is known to inhibit antigen presentation in the vagina. We report here that TGFβ mediates the action of estradiol on vaginal antigen presenting cells (APC). When vaginal APC from ovariectomized rats were incubated with increasing concentrations of TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 in the presence of ovalbumin-specific T cells and ovalbumin, both TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 inhibited vaginal cell antigen presentation, whereas IL-6, IL-10, and TNFα had no consistent effect. In other experiments, estradiol-induced inhibition of antigen presentation by vaginal cells was partially reversed when vaginal APC were incubated with anti-TGFβ antibody. In contrast, anti-TNFα, anti-IL-6, and anti-IL-10 had no effect on antigen presentation. The effect of anti-TGFβ was seen with vaginal APC from ovariectomized rats treated with estradiol for 1 d as well as 3 d. Finally, analysis of TGFβ in the culture media of vaginal cells from saline- and estradiol-treated rats indicated that the TGFβ produced is biologically active. In response to estr...
Parameter estimation and screening of solar cells

The aggregation (sorting) of the individual solar cells into an array is commonly based on a single operating point on the current-voltage (I-V) characteristic curve. an alternative approach for cell performance prediction and cell screening is provided by modelling the cell using an equivalent electrical circuit, in which the parameters involved are related to the physical phenomena in the device. These analytical models may be represented by a double exponential I-V characteristic with seven parameters, by a double exponential model with five parameters or by a single exponential equation with four or five parameters. In this article we address issues concerning methodologies for the determination of solar cell parameters based on measured data points of the I-V characteristic, and introduce a procedure for screening solar cells for arrays. We show that common curve-fitting techniques, e.g. least-squares, may produce many combinations of parameter values while maintaining a good fit between the fitted and measured I-V characteristics of the cell. Therefore, techniques relying on curve-fitting criteria alone cannot be used directly for cell parameterization. We propose a consistent procedure that takes into account the entire set of parameter values for a batch of cells. This procedure is based on a definition of a mean cell representing the batch, and takes into account the relative contribution of each parameter to the overall goodness of fit. the procedure is demonstrated on a batch of 50 silicon cells for Space Station Freedom.
An Application of Upper-Extremity Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy in a Patient With Subacute Stroke

Background and Purpose. The purpose of this case report is to demonstrate the application of constraint-induced movement therapy with an individual with upper-extremity hemiparesis within 4 months after sustaining a cerebrovascular accident (stroke). Such patients often fail to develop full potential use of their affected upper extremity, perhaps due to a “learned nonuse phenomenon.” Case Description. The patient was a 61-year-old woman with right-sided hemiparesis resulting from an ischemic lacunar infarct in the posterior limb of the left internal capsule. The patient's less-involved hand was constrained in a mitten so that she could not use the hand during waking hours, except for bathing and toileting. On each weekday of the 14-day intervention period, the patient spent 6 hours being supervised while performing tasks using the paretic upper extremity. Pretreatment, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up outcome measures included the Wolf Motor Function Test and the Motor Activity Log (MAL). Outcomes. For the Wolf Motor FunctionTest, both the mean and median times to complete 16 tasks improved from pretreatment to posttreatment and from posttreatment to follow-up. Results of the MAL indicated an improved self-report of both “how well” and “how much” the patient used her affected limb in 30 specified daily tasks. These improvements persisted to the follow-up. Discussion. Two weeks of constraining the unaffected limb, coupled with practice of functional movements of the impaired limb, may be an effective method for restoring motor function within a few months after cerebral insult. Encouraging improvements such as these strongly suggest the need for a group design that would explore this type of intervention in more detail.
Flaccid quadriplegia due to necrotizing myopathy following lung transplantation

Critical illness myopathy (CIM) which is common after sepsis and multiorgan failure also has been described after organ transplantation. Prior reports of CIM after lung transplantation have not recorded a necrotizing myopathy. We present a 42-year-old man who developed a necrotizing critical illness myopathy following bilateral orthotopic lung transplantation. In addition we provide pathological confirmation that the ventral roots, spinal cord and the rest of the neuraxis are preserved in this condition. Extensive muscle necrosis is documented.
Population dynamics of an invasive forest insect and associated natural enemies in the aftermath of invasion: implications for biological control.

Summary 1. Understanding the population dynamics of exotic pests and associated natural enemies is important in developing sound management strategies in invaded forest ecosystems. The emerald ash borer (EAB) Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire is an invasive phloem-feeding beetle that has killed tens of millions of ash Fraxinus trees in North America since first detected in 2002. 2. We evaluated populations of immature EAB life stages and associated natural enemies over a 7-year period (2008–2014) in six stands of eastern deciduous forest in southern Michigan, where Tetrastichus planipennisi Yang and two other Asian-origin EAB parasitoids were released for biological control between 2007 and 2010. 3. We observed 90% decline in densities of live EAB larvae in infested ash trees at both parasitoid-release and control plots from 2009 to 2014 and found no significant differences in EAB density or mortality rates by parasitoids, avian predators or other undetermined factors between parasitoid-release and control plots. The decline in EAB larval density in our study sites was correlated with significant increases in EAB larval parasitism, first by native parasitoids, then by T. planipennisi. 4. Life table analyses further indicated that parasitism by the introduced biocontrol agent and the North American native parasitoids contributed significantly to the reduction of net EAB population growth rates in our study sites from 2010 to 2014. 5. Synthesis and applications. Our findings indicate that successful biocontrol of emerald ash borer (EAB) may involve suppression of EAB abundance both by local, generalist natural enemies (such as Atanycolus spp.) and by introduced specialist parasitoids (such as T. planipennisi). Biological control programmes against EAB in the aftermath of invasion should focus on establishing stable populations of T. planipennisi and other introduced specialist parasitoids for sustained suppression of low-density EAB populations. Moreover, we recommend releasing the introduced specialist biocontrol agents as soon as possible to prevent the outbreak of EAB populations in both newly infested and aftermath forests when EAB densities are still low.
REM rebound and CPAP compliance.

Abstract Objective/Background The objective of this study was establish if rapid-eye-movement (REM) rebound on first exposure to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is associated with CPAP compliance. A rebound or drastic increase in REM sleep in response to initial CPAP exposure is associated with improvement in the subjective quality of sleep. We wished to determine if REM rebound was also associated with increased CPAP compliance. Methods Split night polysomnographic studies carried out in a one-and-a-half year period were examined for REM rebound and slow wave sleep (SWS) rebound. Compliance with CPAP according to percentage of days used and percentage of days used for more than 4 h was determined at 30, 60, and 120 days and compared between groups with and without REM rebound and then between groups with and without SWS rebound. Multivariate regression models were constructed to determine factors that were associated with increasing CPAP compliance. Results CPAP compliance was greater for those with REM rebound than those without REM rebound at all time periods, but significantly so only for total percentage of days used at 30 days (86.7 ± 46.7, 96.7 vs. 56.7 [median ± 1st quartile, 3rd quartile] ± 32.5, 90.0; p = 0.04) and 60 days (78.3 ± 37.5, 93.4 vs. 50.0 ± 25.0, 80.9; p = 0.03). There was no difference in CPAP compliance for SWS rebound and there were no SWS rebound groups. Only the presence of REM rebound was associated with increased compliance with CPAP with neither SWS rebound nor diagnostic AHI being significantly associated with CPAP compliance. Conclusions The presence of REM rebound, but not SWS rebound, on initial CPAP exposure is associated with early CPAP compliance. This increased compliance is not explained by severity of sleep apnea as measured by AHI.
A Genome-wide Screen for Site-specific DNA-binding Proteins

We used a biochemical genomics method of assaying Saccharomyces cerevisiae proteins, derived from a nearly complete set of glutathione S-transferase fusions, to develop an approach that is able to identify proteins that bind to a DNA element. Using the upstream activation sequence (UAS) of the promoter for the invertase gene, SUC2, we identified both specific and nonspecific binding activities, which could be classified based on whether they bound with equivalent affinity to a nonspecific DNA competitor. Three transcription factors, Mig1, Yer028c, and Rgt1, were found to be binding activities specific to the SUC2 UAS. Mig1 and Yer028c had been reported previously to bind to elements within the SUC2 UAS, validating the ability of the method to identify sequence-specific factors. The third activity, Rgt1, had not been reported previously to bind to SUC2. Additional gel shift assays narrowed the Rgt1 binding site to the SUC2-B element within the SUC2 UAS, which is similar to previously identified Rgt1 binding sites present in other genes. In vivo levels of invertase activity in an rgt1Δ strain were reduced relative to an isogenic RGT+ strain when these strains were grown under inducing (low glucose) conditions, suggesting that Rgt1 may have a role in the activated transcription of SUC2. This report demonstrates the feasibility of identifying DNA binding activities by rapidly assaying a large fraction of the predicted open reading frames of an organism for binding to a regulatory DNA motif.
Analysis of circular-polarization electrooptic amplitude modulators

An analysis of electrooptic (EO) amplitude/IM modulators of light having the form of circular polarizer-sample-circular analyzer (CPSA) systems is presented. On the assumption of nonideal components, with the sample being a linear EO crystal, principal characteristics and performance parameters of the above modulators are derived and investigated as to the effect of azimuthal misalignments /spl theta/ in the crystal birefringence axes. The so obtained results are compared with those drawn from the study of linear-polarization EO amplitude modulators structured as linear polarizer-sample-linear analyzer (LPSA) systems in their optimized variety (45/spl deg/-CLPSA modulators). From this comparison, it is found that a CPSA modulator in its optimized configuration (ACPSA modulator) is superior in EO-modulation sensitivity and considerably more stable against misalignments /spl theta/ than its 45/spl deg/-CLPSA counterpart. On the other hand, both kinds of modulator exhibit identical behavior as regards harmonic distortion and maximum-nonlinearity parameters. >
Video content annotation using visual analysis and a large semantic knowledgebase

We present a novel approach to automatically annotating broadcast video. To manage the enormous variety of objects, events and scenes in video problem domains such as news video, we couple generic image analysis with a semantic database, WordNet, containing huge amounts of real-world information. Object and event recognition are performed by searching WordNet for concepts jointly supported by image evidence and topic context derived from the video transcript. No object- specific or event-specific training is required, and only a few object models and detection algorithms are required to label much of the significant content of news video. The hierarchical structure of WordNet yields hierarchical recognition, dynamically tailored to the level of supporting image evidence. The potential of the approach is demonstrated by analyzing a wide variety of scenes in news video.
Examining Concept Maps as an Assessment Tool

In this paper, I describe concept maps as assessment tools for measuring one aspect of achievement, the organization of declarative knowledge in a domain. A concept map-based assessment consists of a task that elicits connected understanding, a response format, and a scoring system. Variation in tasks, response formats, and scoring systems produce different mapping techniques that may elicit different knowledge representations, posing construct-interpretation challenges. The paper provides a framework to guide the research on the technical quality of this tool. It will briefly describe some of the studies conducted and it will focus on some of the dimensions that can be used to define the assessment task.
World's Leading Cymbal Maker: Avedis Zildjian Company

In New England, as nowhere else in the country, petty capitalism is showing its great abiding strength. The region's large industrial establishments may close their doors and move to other parts of the country, but its small firms stand ready to take over where the larger ones have given way. Today, New England is dotted with manufacturing plants that were once the property of great industrial enterprises but that are now the honeycombed homes of countless small shops and foundries.
Ecdysozoan Clade Rejected by Genome-Wide Analysis of Rare Amino Acid Replacements

As the number of sequenced genomes from diverse walks of life rapidly increases, phylogenetic analysis is entering a new era: reconstruction of the evolutionary history of organisms on the basis of full-scale comparison of their genomes. In addition to brute force, genome-wide analysis of alignments, rare genomic changes (RGCs) that are thought to comprise derived shared characters of individual clades are increasingly used in genome-wide phylogenetic studies. We propose a new type of RGCs designated RGC_CAMs (after Conserved Amino acids-Multiple substitutions), which are inferred using a genome-scale analysis of protein and underlying nucleotide sequence alignments. The RGC_CAM approach utilizes amino acid residues conserved in major eukaryotic lineages, with the exception of a few species comprising a putative clade, and selects for phylogenetic inference only those amino acid replacements that require 2 or 3 nucleotide substitutions, in order to reduce homoplasy. The RGC_CAM analysis was combined with a procedure for rigorous statistical testing of competing phylogenetic hypotheses. The RGC_CAM method is shown to be robust to branch length differences and taxon sampling. When applied to animal phylogeny, the RGC_CAM approach strongly supports the coelomate clade that unites chordates with arthropods as opposed to the ecdysozoan (molting animals) clade. This conclusion runs against the view of animal evolution that is currently prevailing in the evo-devo community. The final solution to the coelomate-ecdysozoa controversy will require a much larger set of complete genome sequences representing diverse animal taxa. It is expected that RGC_CAM and other RGC-based methods will be crucial for these future, definitive phylogenetic studies.
Carbohydrate content during development of the slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum.

Water soluble carbohydrates were studied at various developmental stages in the cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum. The only water soluble sugars found were, the non-reducing disaccharide, trehalose and glucose. The level of trehalose varied very dramatically during the life cycle. Throughout the vegetative and migration stages the level of trehalose was less than 0.5% of the dry weight, but it quickly rose during culmination. During the later part of culmination trehalose reached a 1.5% level. In mature spores trehalose makes up more than 5% of the dry weight. The glucose level fluctuated very little during development. It reaches its highest level during the later part of culmination. In addition water insoluble sugars were extracted with 2.2% HCl. Their level remained constant throughout development and only increased in the complete fruiting body. The anthrone method was used for both water soluble and water insoluble carbohydrates. Trehalose was identified by IR spectroscopy.
Genital Ulcers Facilitate Rapid Viral Entry and Dissemination following Intravaginal Inoculation with Cell-Associated Simian Immunodeficiency Virus SIVmac239

Here we report the results of studies in the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-rhesus macaque model of intravaginal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in the setting of genital ulcerative diseases. We document preferential association of vRNA with induced ulcers during the first days of infection and show that allogeneic cells of the inoculum traffic from the vaginal lumen to lymphatic tissues. This surprisingly rapid systemic dissemination in this cell-associated SIV challenge model thus reveals the challenges of preventing transmission in the setting of genital ulcerative diseases and illustrates the utility of this animal model in tests of strategies aimed at reducing transmission under these conditions.
Thin-film waveguides of zirconium oxyfluoride with variable refractive index produced by ion-beam-assisted deposition.

We describe the formation of ZrOxFy optical waveguides by oxygen ion-beam-assisted deposition of ZrF4 films. Waveguide losses less than 1 dB/cm for the TE0 mode at 514 nm resulted from bombardment with 600-eV O2+ ions, and the waveguide index was a function of bombarding current at this energy, with a maximum change of Δn = 0.28. Local bombardment of a waveguide resulted in generation of an integrated planar lens compatible with holographic fabrication. The process is also suitable for the formation of graded-index waveguides.
Sex, Feminism, and Advertising: The Politics of Advertising Feminism in a Competitive Marketplace

Feminist media organizations must balance ideology with financial viability via advertising revenue. Yet advertising rests on the assumption that sex sells. Research considering sex appeals in women’s magazines has shown that women are often portrayed in a demeaning manner. However, research has not considered that alternative media, such as Bust magazine, may construct sex appeals differently. This textual analysis applies third wave and feminist political economy theories to analyze how sex appeals are constructed in the discourse and images of advertisements in Bust. This analysis offers three strategies that indicate how sex functions in Bust advertising: (a) sex appeals that equate sexual commodities with a tenet of feminism; (b) sex appeals that foster feminist political protest; and (c) sex appeals that promote a feminist commitment to alternative identities. Findings suggest that sex appeals not only provide opportunities for revenue streams but also opportunities to reinforce feminist ideology.
Large-Scale User Facility Imaging and Scattering Techniques to Facilitate Basic Medical Research

Conceptually, modern medical imaging can be traced back to the late 1960’s and into the early 1970’s with the advent of computed tomography1. This pioneering work was done by 1979 Nobel Prize winners Godfrey Hounsfield and Allan McLeod Cormack which evolved into the first prototype Computed Tomography (CT) scanner in 1971 and became commercially available in 1972. Unique to the CT scanner was the ability to utilize X-ray projections taken at regular angular increments from which reconstructed three-dimensional (3D) images could be produced. It is interesting to note that the mathematics to realize tomographic images were developed in 1917 by the Austrian mathematician Johann Radon who produced the mathematical relationships to derive 3D images from projections – known today as the Radon Transform2. The confluence of newly advancing technologies, particularly in the areas of detectors, X-ray tubes, and computers combined with the earlier derived mathematical concepts ushered in a new era in diagnostic medicine via medical imaging (Beckmann, 2006).
Automatic Non-Interference Lemmas for Parameterized Model Checking

Parameterized model checking refers to any method that extends traditional, finite-state model checking to handle systems with an arbitrary number of processes. One popular approach to this problem uses abstraction and so-called guard strengthening. Here a small number of processes remain intact, while the rest are abstracted away. This initially causes counter-examples, but the user can write non-interference lemmas, which eliminate spurious behavior by the abstracted processes. The technique is sound in that if the user writes a lemma that is not invariant, the proof will never succeed. Though the non-interference lemmas are typically much simpler than writing a full inductive invariant, there is still a non-trivial amount of human insight needed to analysis counter-examples and concoct the lemmas. In our work, we show how the process of inferring appropriate non-interference lemmas can be automated. Our approach is based on a very general theory that simply assumes a Galois connection between the concrete and abstract systems. Effectively, we start with the non-interference conjecture false, and iteratively weaken it until it is provable using the Galois connection. This produces the strongest non-interference lemma provable in the Galois connection. Hence, if the approach fails to prove the property, then no human lemma would help, since it is the strongest possible lemma. We instantiate this theory to a class of symmetric parameterized systems, and show how BDDs can be used to perform all involved computations. We also show how BDD-blow up that can arise when concretizing can be mitigated by using a sound over-approximation. We successfully applied the resulting tool to three parameterized verification benchmarks: the GERMAN protocol with data path, the GERMAN2004 protocol, and the FLASH protocol. To our knowledge, this is the first time automatic parameterized model checking has been done on GERMAN2004.
Unified duality between channel capacity and rate distortion with state information

We show that the duality between channel capacity and data compression is retained when state information is available to the sender, to the receiver, to both, or to neither. We also present a unified theory for different cases of channel capacity with state information, which extends existing results to arbitrary pairs of i.i.d. state information (S/sub 1/, S/sub 2/) available at the sender and at the receiver, respectively. The general formula C=max(p(u, |s/sub 1/))[I(U; S/sub 2/, Y)-I(U; S/sub 1/)] assumes the same form as the Wyner-Ziv rate distortion function with state information. The Wyner-Ziv formula also unifies four special cases of the rate distortion problem with the state information.
Level set topology optimization of cooling and heating devices using a simplified convection model

This paper studies topology optimization of convective heat transfer problems in two and three dimensions. The convective fluxes are approximated by Newton's Law of Cooling (NLC). The geometry is described by a Level Set Method (LSM) and the temperature field is predicted by the eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM). A constraint on the spatial gradient of the level set field is introduced to penalize small, sub-element-size geometric features. Numerical studies show that the LSM-XFEM provides improved accuracy over previously studied density methods and LSMs using Ersatz material models. It is shown that the NLC model with an iso-thermal fluid phase may over predict the convective heat flux and thus promote the formation of very thin fluid channels, depending on the Biot number characterizing the heat transfer problem. Approximating the temperature field in the fluid phase by a diffusive model mitigates this issue but an explicit feature size control is still necessary to prevent the formation of small solid members, in particular at low Biot numbers. The proposed constraint on the gradient of the level set field is shown to suppress sub-element-size features but necessitates a continuation strategy to prevent the optimization process from stagnating as geometric features merge.
Abstract 150: Disparities in Blood Pressure Screening in Adults: An Analysis of NAMCS-NHAMCS Data

BACKGROUND: Blood pressure (BP) screening in adults has been identified by the US Preventive Services Task Force as a Grade A recommendation. OBJECTIVE: To compare BP screening rates in adult patients among payer sources and provider types in two national probability samples of outpatient office visits. DESIGN/METHODS: An analysis of visit data for all patients 18 years and older in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey-Outpatient Department (OPD) during the years 2005-2009 was performed. Data on 279,510 patient visits were analyzed, including adults seen in ambulatory or office-based settings (NAMCS, N=147,675) and hospital outpatient departments (OPD, N=131,835). BP screening rates were compared based on provider type (Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics-Gynecology, and Cardiovascular Specialist) and payer source (Private Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and Self Pay). Results: Overall, BP screening rates were higher in the OPD sample (65.70% vs, 55.83%, p Conclusions: Analysis of two national probability samples reflected marked disparity in BP screening in adult patients based on payer source and provider type.
Double Distal Intraneural Fascicular Nerve Transfers for Lower Brachial Plexus Injuries

Purpose To evaluate outcomes following transfer of the supinator motor branch of the radial nerve (SMB) to the posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) and the pronator teres motor branch of median (PTMB) to the anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) in patients with lower brachial plexus injuries. Methods Since December 2010, 4 patients have undergone combined transfer of the SMB to PIN and PTMB to AIN for lower brachial plexus palsies. The study was prospectively designed, and the patients were followed for 4 years to monitor their functional improvement. Results One patient failed to return after his 4-month postoperative visit. The other 3 patients all regained M4 thumb and finger extension, and 2 recovered M4 thumb and finger flexion at the final evaluation, a mean 30 months after the nerve transfer surgeries. Conclusions Combined transfer of the SMB to PIN and PTMB to AIN may lead to successful recovery of digital extrinsic flexion and extension in lower brachial plexus injuries. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic IV.
Identifying Raman and Infrared Vibrational Motions of Erythritol Tetranitrate

The vibrational bands of erythritol tetranitrate (ETN) were measured experimentally with both Raman spectroscopy and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy. Seventy-two (3N-6) vibrational modes were predicted for ETN using density functional theory calculations performed using the B3LYP/6-31G* density functional basis set and geometry optimization. Raman spectroscopy and ATR FT-IR were used to measure observable Raman and IR signatures between 140 and 3100 wavenumbers (cm(-1)). Within this spectral range, 32 Raman bands and 21 IR bands were measured and identified by their predicted vibrational motion. The spectroscopic and theoretical analysis of ETN performed will advance the detection and identification capabilities of field measuring instruments for this explosive.
Myoepithelial carcinoma of the posterior mediastinum: An uncommon site for a rare tumor

Abstract Myoepithelial carcinoma (MC) is a rare tumor that arises from myoepithelial cells; most commonly in the salivary glands, but other infrequent body sites such as the breast, lung, lower limb, upper limb, head and neck, vulva, and vagina can be involved. We report the first case of myoepithelial carcinoma arising in the posterior mediastinum of a 51 year-old male who presented with a mediastinal mass and subsequently underwent tumor debulking surgery. Grossly, the specimen consisted of multiple tan–gray firm fragments of tissue with an overall measurement of 7.0 cm in greatest dimension. Histologic examination revealed an ill-defined, infiltrative lesion with a biphasic cell population. The tumor cells were diffusely positive for epithelial and myoepithelial markers, confirming the above diagnosis. Recognition of this entity at an uncommon site may present a diagnostic challenge due to its morphologic heterogeneity and the differential diagnosis includes benign and malignant tumors, which could lead to over or under-treatment, respectively.
Exploiting Hidden Symmetry in Natural Products: Total Syntheses of Amphidinolides C and F

The total synthesis of amphidinolide C and a second-generation synthesis of amphidinolide F have been accomplished through the use of a common intermediate to access both the C1-C8 and the C18-C25 sections. The development of a Ag-catalyzed cyclization of a propargyl benzoate diol is described to access both trans-tetrahydrofuran rings. The evolution of a Felkin-controlled, 2-lithio-1,3-dienyl addition strategy to incorporate C9-C11 diene as well as C8 stereocenter is detailed. Key controlling aspects in the sulfone alkylation/oxidative desulfurization to join the major subunits, including the exploration of the optimum masking group for the C18 carbonyl motif, are discussed. A Trost asymmetric alkynylation and a stereoselective cuprate addition to an alkynoate have been developed for the rapid construction of the C26-C34 subunit. A Tamura/Vedejs olefination to introduce the C26 side arm of amphidnolides C and F is employed. The late-stage incorporation of the C15, C18 diketone motif proved critical to the successful competition of the total syntheses.
Can Playing an End-of-Life Conversation Game Motivate People to Engage in Advance Care Planning?

Background:Advance care planning (ACP) involves several behaviors that individuals undertake to prepare for future medical care should they lose decision-making capacity. The goal of this study was...
Progressive breakdown in high-voltage GaN MIS-HEMTs

We have investigated the time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) characteristics of high-voltage AlGaN/GaN Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor High Electron Mobility Transistors (MIS-HEMTs). We focus in particular on the phenomenon known as progressive breakdown (PBD), marked by an onset of noise in the gate current Ig during forward gate bias stress. We observe classic PBD behavior characterized by a rapid increase of IG noise during stress that takes place soon before hard breakdown (HBD). The onset of PBD also marks a change in the subthreshold characteristics of the transistor: the gate leakage increases above the measurement noise floor in a step-like fashion, with this additional leakage flowing out the source and/or drain terminals. After PBD, the subthreshold IG also shows a power law temperature dependence. The capacitance-voltage characteristics measured both before and after PBD confirm that device degradation does not occur at the AlGaN/GaN interface. All results are consistent with observations in silicon MOSFETs that support the percolation model of defects behind PBD and HBD. This gives hope that proper physical models suitable for lifetime estimation can be developed for TDDB in GaN MIS-HEMTs.
Nucleotide dependence of the dimerization of ATP binding cassette nucleotide binding domains

ATP-binding cassette proteins are ubiquitously present throughout all known genomes. Their basic functional unit possesses two transmembrane domains and two nucleotide-binding domains. The nucleotide-binding domains are responsible for ATP binding and hydrolysis, and their 3-dimensional structure is conserved across ATP-binding cassette proteins. Binding of ATP produces nucleotide-binding domain dimerization, a step necessary for hydrolysis. However, the possibility that nucleotide-binding domains bind and/or hydrolyze nucleotide triphosphates different from ATP has not been explored in detail. Here, we studied that possibility using M. jannaschii MJ0796, a prototypical ATP-binding cassette nucleotide-binding domain. We found that nucleotide-binding domain dimerization occurs as a result of binding to the natural nucleotide triphosphates ATP, GTP, CTP and UTP, and also to the analog ATP-γ-S. All the natural nucleotide triphosphates are hydrolyzed at similar rates, whereas ATP-γ-S is not hydrolyzed. We also found that the non-hydrolyzable ATP analog AMP-PNP, frequently assumed to produce the nucleotide-bound conformation, failed to elicit nucleotide-binding domain dimerization. Our results raise the possibility that not all the nucleotide binding sites of nucleotide-binding domains are occupied by ATP under physiological conditions, and that ATP is not always the nucleotide hydrolyzed to dissociate the nucleotide-binding domain dimers.
Evaluating the Frequency and Time Uncertainty of GPS Disciplined Oscillators and Clocks

Global Positioning System (GPS) disciplined oscillators and clocks serve as standards of frequency and time in numerous calibration and metrology laboratories. They also serve as frequency and time...
On the kinetic and equilibrium shapes of icosahedral Al71Pd19Mn10 quasicrystals

Abstract The dynamics of growth and relaxation of icosahedral single quasicrystals in a liquid phase were investigated using in situ synchrotron-based X-ray tomography. Our 4D studies (i.e., space- and time-resolved) provide direct evidence that indicates the growth process of an Al71Pd19Mn10 quasicrystal is governed predominantly by bulk transport rather than attachment kinetics. This work is in agreement with theoretical predictions, which show that the pentagonal dodecahedron is not the minimum energy structure in Al-Pd-Mn icosahedral quasicrystals, but merely a growth shape characterized by non-zero anisotropic velocity. This transient shape transforms into a truncated dodecahedral Archimedian polyhedron once equilibrium has been attained.
CHAPTER 2 – Equations and Inequalities

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on linear equations and inequalities. A linear equation in one unknown is a statement of equality containing one variable that has the exponent one. The solution to an equation is a numeric value of the variable that makes the statement true. Linear equations can be solved by adding a number or expression or subtracting the same number or expression from both sides of the equation, and/or by multiplying or dividing both sides of the equation by a number or expression. A linear equation is often called a first degree equation. “Applied” mathematics problems generally involve word, sentences, and numbers. Therefore, such problems need to be translated into mathematics. A linear inequality is an inequality containing a variable to the first power. The solution of a linear inequality is the set of all values of the variable that make the statement true. Procedures for solving an inequality are the same as those for solving equations, with an exception that multiplying or dividing by a negative number reverses the sense of the inequality.
A Flag Whitney Number Formula for Matroid Kazhdan-Lusztig Polynomials

For a representation of a matroid the combinatorially defined Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomial computes the intersection cohomology of the associated reciprocal plane. However, these polynomials are difficult to compute and there are numerous open conjectures about their structure. For example, it is unknown whether or not the coefficients are non-negative for non-representable matroids. The main result in this note is a combinatorial formula for the coefficients of these matroid Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials in terms of flag Whitney numbers. This formula gives insight into some vanishing behavior of the matroid Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials.
UN peacekeeping as a public good: analyses of the UN member states' peacekeeping financial contribution behavior

This dissertation analyzes UN peacekeeping as a public good. The first chapter discusses the basics of UN peacekeeping: the UN organs involved in peacekeeping, the main characteristics of various types of peace operations, the 50-year history of UN peacekeeping, the financing methods used by the United Nations for its peacekeeping operations. As an attempt to survey the change in suboptimality of UN peacekeeping efforts, the second chapter of this dissertation examines the financial burden-sharing patterns of selected UN member states for the period of 1975-96. Using non-parametric statistical tests, this chapter studies the rank correlation between GDP and share of GDP devoted to UN peacekeeping for four different subsets of UN member states. The test results show evidence of increased disproportionate burden sharing by wealthy countries in the first half of 1990s for a sample which includes only NATO member states. In the third chapter, a reduced-form UN peacekeeping contribution function is derived using a joint-product model, in which peacekeeping efforts are assumed to produce contributor-specific benefits as well as purely public benefits.;The contribution functions are estimated for a sample of 25 UN member states for the period of 1975-96. The two-stage least square method is used to get rid of the simultaneity problem associated with public good allocation problem. The estimation results indicate that countries' peacekeeping contributions react positively to spillins, and react very little to income fluctuations. The fourth chapter analyzes the effects of special assessment system on UN member states' peace-keeping contributions. Countries' actual contribution patterns under the assessment system are examined, and a theoretical model which explains the patterns is developed. The author argues that even without effective sanctions against undercontribution, the existence of assessments increase a country's contribution by increasing its contributor-specific benefits. This chapter also explores a theoretical possibility of increasing the total contribution of each country by redistributing its assessments across peacekeeping operations according to the value placed on each operation by the country.
Measurement and Collaborative Testing for Implementation of Air Quality

Instruments have been available for over 20 years in the U. S. to measure the concentrations of air pollutants. Much of the equipment was fabricated in the 1940’s to meet the need for measurement of pollutants such as oxidants and nitrogen oxides in Los Angeles. Conductivity analyzers have been available for about as many years for air quality measurements of sulfur oxides. Carbon monoxide was measured in the ambient atmosphere and vehicular exhaust by means of non-dispersive infrared analyzers. Within the last ten years flame ionization hydrocarbon analyzers have become available. Several instruments for sulfur oxides, oxidants and a few other pollutants have been developed based on electrometric principles. However, the number of instruments based on new principles has been small up to recent years. The use of such instruments also was limited to a small number of federal, state or local monitoring networks.
Rice bran oil.

Publisher Summary Rice bran oil may be the largest underutilized agricultural commodity in the world. The production and processing of rice bran oil are similar to many other vegetable oils. This chapter provides a brief overview of the extraction and refining process of the rice bran oil and focuses on aspects of rice bran oil production and processing that are considered unique or peculiar. Despite the potential abundance of rice bran oil in world commerce, it is considered only a minor player in edible oil applications. The majority of rice bran oil produced in much of the world is only suitable for non-edible applications. The oil derived from the bran is often used primarily as soap stock because of the high free fatty acid levels of rice bran that is not stabilized immediately after milling. Rice bran oil is also added to food systems as a means to increase oxidative stability and at the same time to improve the nutritional/health promotion value of the food.
Program Evaluation in Special Education: A Framework for the ASD Program Evaluation Protocol

Increase knowledge of program evaluation models and activities Increase knowledge of the role program evaluation plays in developing an ASD program
Characterization of the Suppressor Effect of B-95–8 Virus on EA Inducing Capability of P3HR-1 Virus

Two substrains of EBV have been defined by biological and biochemical studies. Virus derived from the B-95–8 cell line can immortalize normal B cells. The virus from P3HR-1 cell line induces neither EBNA nor immortalizes normal B cells. In contrast, P3HR-1 virus induces early antigen synthesis in superinfected Raji and NC37 cell lines. Cell lines infected with these different EBV strains also differ in the expression of EBNA antigens. The B 95–8 cell line and cells infected with virus derived from this cell line express a 78 Kd EBNA 1 protein and also EBNA 2. The P3HR-1 cell line express a 74 Kd EBNA 1 protein and does not express EBNA 2 since the gene coding for this protein is deleted in the viral genome. The transformation capability of EBV has been assigned to this gene. It has been reported that coinfection of B cells with B-95–8 and P3HR-1 virus can suppress EBNA 1 expression and immortalization (Steinitz et al., 1978). However, no studies have been made on the effect of coinfection of Raji or NC 37 cell lines.
Scaffolding Progressive Online Discourse for Literary Knowledge Building

Drawing on research from online, knowledge-building, and discussion-based learning, this design-based experiment captures the instructional moves theorized to develop student capacity in progressive, literary discourse. The experiment employed Knowledge Forum and its unique capacity to scaffold student learning of progressive discourse that results in an explanatory model, theory, or literary interpretation. Analysis of student discussion posts within and between two iterative phases suggest that explicit instruction in progressive discourse, combined with regular classroom debriefings of online discussion, contributed to student mastery. Additionally, the use of sentence starters aligned with each Knowledge Forum scaffold for progressive discourse provided positive outcomes. Implications for using online, progressive, literary discourse scaffolds to inculcate disciplinary thinking and discussion appropriate to the secondary English/Language Arts class are discussed.