cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Search for Large k-Vector Phonons in GaAs

Photoexcitation of semiconductors has recently been explored as a source of high-frequency phonons. Ulbrich, Narayanamurti, and Chin [1] have shown that the heat-pulse propagation resulting from direct photoexcitation of GaAs is much different from that obtained with a metal film heater. The photo produced heat pulse is such broader than the laser pulse and arrives after the low-frequency time of flight. Because the width and delay of this pulse scaled linearly with path length they attributed it to ballistic propagation of a distribution of large wave-vector slow transverse (ST) phonons at dispersive velocities. We have also observed broad heat pulse signals in photoexcited GaAs, but by making use of additional information provided by phonon imaging [2], we conclude that the increased propagation times are due primarily to bulk scattering, not dispersion.
Abstract WP304: Real-World Experience with the RAPID Platform to Screen Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients at a U.S. Comprehensive Stroke Center

Introduction: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is an important part of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) treatment. Recent trials of MT beyond the 6-hour window have utilized RAPID perfusion imaging for pati...
Stress and parenting during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract Background Stress and compromised parenting often place children at risk of abuse and neglect. Child maltreatment has generally been viewed as a highly individualistic problem by focusing on stressors and parenting behaviors that impact individual families. However, because of the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), families across the world are experiencing a new range of stressors that threaten their health, safety, and economic well-being. Objective This study examined the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to parental perceived stress and child abuse potential. Participants and Setting Participants included parents (N = 183) with a child under the age of 18 years in the western United States. Method Tests of group differences and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were employed to assess the relationships among demographic characteristics, COVID-19 risk factors, mental health risk factors, protective factors, parental perceived stress, and child abuse potential. Results Greater COVID-19 related stressors and high anxiety and depressive symptoms are associated with higher parental perceived stress. Receipt of financial assistance and high anxiety and depressive symptoms are associated with higher child abuse potential. Conversely, greater parental support and perceived control during the pandemic are associated with lower perceived stress and child abuse potential. Results also indicate racial and ethnic differences in COVID-19 related stressors, but not in mental health risk, protective factors, perceived stress, or child abuse potential. Conclusion Findings suggest that although families experience elevated stressors from COVID-19, providing parental support and increasing perceived control may be promising intervention targets.
Impacts of gamma ray emissions of materials containing 232U on safety, security, and safeguards

Abstract The introduction of 232U to uranium materials is a possible technique to reduce the material attractive of the material for weapons purposes. In order to implement 232U in civilian nuclear fuel cycles, its impacts on safety, security, and safeguards must be considered. This study will utilize an initial mixture of 0.03 at.% 232U with natural uranium, enriched to approximately 3, 5, 20, and 90 at.% 235U. The mixture with natural uranium, 3, 5, and 20 at.% 235U represent uranium isotopic vectors that would be commonly found within civilian nuclear fuel cycles. The 90 at.% 235U isotopic vector represents weapons grade uranium. The security and safeguards results from each isotopic vector will be compared to results from a corresponding isotopic vector that does not contain 232U, but has the same 235U/238U ratio. Considering 232U’s daughter products contribute significantly to the gamma ray emissions over time, the isotopic vectors will be evaluated at three time intervals: fresh, 0.5 year, and 10 years. When compared to standards put in place by U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the dose rates produced by the uranium isotopic vectors containing 232U indicate the need for additional safety protocol to shield workers from this increased dose rate. These gamma ray emissions produce a significant increase in detectability in the weapons grade uranium isotopic vector with 232U even in the presence of lead shielding. A common safeguards technique used to verify 235U enrichment was shown to be useless in the presence of 232U and its daughter products. This would require the use of a different technique in order to verify the 235U enrichment.
Magnetic sludge byproducts for adsorptive phosphorus removal: Resource recovery from iron-based anaerobic sewage sludge.

Abstract This study evaluated feasibility of resource recovery from iron-based sewage sludge from a novel Fe(III)-dosed anaerobic bioreactor used for wastewater treatment. Sludge samples were calcined at five different temperatures (300, 350, 400, 450, and 500 °C) to investigate the transformation of the sludge into different magnetic phases of iron oxide particles. The material phase analysis revealed the presence of 14 to 39 wt% magnetite and 8 to 19 wt% maghemite for different temperature treatments, which indicate the successful conversion of sludge materials into magnetic particles. This magnetic conversion was further confirmed by magnetization measurements of the sludge byproducts that found a 6.3 to 10.9 emu/g saturation magnetization and a 0.7 to 2.0 emu/g remanent magnetization. Due to surface effects phenomenon of nanocrystals, the magnetization values were observed to increase with calcination temperature along with the crystallinity and crystallite size of the thermally-treated sludge materials. This indicates the crystallinity of the samples played a significant role in determining the magnetization properties of the sludge byproducts. Phosphate adsorption capacity and kinetics of the sludge byproducts were evaluated for the samples calcined at 350 and 500 °C. Both samples showed a high phosphate adsorption capacity, but the sample treated at 350 °C showed relatively higher capacity presumably due to smaller crystallite size and reduced crystallinity of the particles in the sample. This study demonstrated that a simple thermal treatment of the sludge can render dual benefits of recovering magnetic particles and further utilizing them for beneficial applications.
Cost-efficiency in the patient centered medical home model: New evidence from federally qualified health centers.

This research analyzes the cost-efficiency of the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model vis-a-vis the traditional care delivery model in the Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC). We apply the three-stage least squares modeling approach on 2014 UDS data on all FQHCs to estimate per-visit and per-patient cost functions. Log-quadratic and linear-quadratic functional forms of cost are used for the analysis. The estimated models reveal substantial scale economies and cost advantages associated with PCMH status. Aggregate cost-saving impact of PCMH across all FQHCs in 2014 is estimated to be $1.05 billion. Simulations reveal that the PCMH impact on cost savings grows with the size of the patient population. Reaching the full cost-saving potential in PCMH-recognized FQHCs hinges on expanding the health workforce at all levels of care to meet the need of the growing patient population due to aging and Medicaid expansion. For FQHCs that are not PCMH-recognized, capacity/infrastructural expansion appears to be the immediate policy choice.
A Method for Accurately Optimizing Pacemaker Atrio-Ventricular Delay Timing Utilizing Potentially Implantable Physiological Biomarkers

Background: Hemodynamically optimal atrioventricular (AV) delay can be derived by echocardiography or beat-by-beat blood pressure measurements, but analysis is labor intensive. Laser Doppler perfusion monitoring measures blood flow and can be incorporated into future implantable cardiac devices. Objective: To assess whether laser Doppler can be used instead of blood pressure to optimize AV delay. Methods: 58 patients underwent 94 AV delay optimizations using laser Doppler and simultaneous non-invasive beat-by-beat blood pressure. Optimal AV delay was defined using a curve of hemodynamic response to switching from AAI (reference state) to DDD (test state) at several AV delays (40, 80, 120, 160, 200, 240 ms), with automatic quality control checking precision of the optimum. Five subsequent patients underwent an extended protocol to test the ability of greater numbers of alternations to improve optimization quality. Results: 55/94 optimizations passed quality control: optimal AV delay on laser Doppler was similar to that derived by blood pressure (median absolute deviation 12ms).The extended protocol showed that increasing the number of replicates consistently increased quality and reduced disagreement between laser Doppler and blood pressure optima. With only 5 replicates, no optimization passed quality control, and median absolute deviation would be 29ms. These improved progressively until at 50 replicates, all optimizations passed quality control and median absolute deviation was only 13ms. Conclusions: Laser Doppler perfusion produces hemodynamic optima equivalent to blood pressure. Quality control can be automatic. Adding more replicates, consistently improves quality. Future implantable devices could use such methods to dynamically and reliably optimize AV delays.
A much needed metric: Defining reliable and statistically meaningful change of the oral version Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT)

ABSTRACT Background : The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) has been recommended for use in clinical trials and outcome studies to monitor cognitive change. However, defining what is a meaningful change has been elusive for several years. Objective : The present investigation aimed to develop methods for assessing individual-level statistically significant change on the SDMT - reliable change indices (RCIs) and standardized regression-based (SRB) equations. Methods : A total of 219 healthy individuals completed the oral version SDMT at baseline, 6-month and 1-year follow-up. Results : The SDMT demonstrated high reliability across all time points (r's = .83 to .86). Reliable change scores of 7, 8, and 10 points for the 6-month intervals represented statistically meaningful change at the .70, .80, and .90 confidence intervals, respectively. Over 1-year, a difference of 8, 10, and 12 was statistically meaningful at the .70, .80, and .90 confidence intervals, respectively. SRB equations are also provided taking into account additional factors found to be predictive of SDMT scores over time. Conclusion : Clinicians frequently denote a decline of 4 points on the SDMT as meaningful. Results in this large normative sample show that higher cut-points are needed to demonstrate statistically significant decline at the individual level. RCIs are provided for 6 month and one year assessment, which is typical in clinical practice and trials. SRB equations are also provided for use when applicable and may provide a more precise assessment of meaningful change.
Changing Your Mind: The Law of Regretted Decisions

When does the law permit you to change your mind and reverse a decision you have made? In this masterful book, one of the foremost authorities on American contract law considers the general principles and legal rules that bear on this question. Drawing on many fields-contracts, torts, property, trusts, wills, agency, and even family law and procedure-E. Allan Farnsworth identifies and discusses six such principles. Using real legal cases as well as an array of nonlegal sources ranging from Rousseau and Martin Luther to Shirley MacLaine and Willie Nelson, Farnsworth illustrates the importance of the principles that govern the irrevocability of a commitment (as by a promise) and the irreversibility of a relinquishment (as by a gift) or preclusion (as by prescription). He discusses deficiencies in the law-such as the preoccupation with the reliance principle, the neglect of other principles, the propensity to find promise, and the tendency toward legal paternalism-and offers suggestions to eliminate anomalies, correct shortcomings, and further the rationalization of the legal concepts that pertain to regretted decisions.
Cytoprotective effect of taurine against hypochlorous acid toxicity to PC12 cells.

Taurine has been shown to be an effective scavenger of hypochlorous acid (HOCl). The role of HOCl is well established in tissue damage associated with reperfusion injury mediated by neutrophils. The role of HOCl in CNS injury and inflammatory reactions has not been well established. Myeloperoxidase activity is present in the CNS and it has been associated with ischemic injury. The aim of the present study was to determine the cytotoxicity of HOCl in a neuronal cell line (PC12) and the ability of taurine to prevent or reverse neurotoxicity. PC 12 cells were grown in 96 well plates at a plating density of-100,000 cells per well. HOCl was made up flesh from NaOCl for each experiment and the concentration verified spectrophotometrically. PC12 cells were exposed to HOCl for 1 hour in phosphate-buffered saline. Taurine was added at the time of HOCl treatment and in some experiments a post-treatment with taurine was performed by adding 1 or 10 mM taurine to the culture media (RPMI 1640). The cells were allowed 24 hours to recover and viability was determined using a tetrazolium-based (MTT) assay. The first series of experiments evaluated the toxicity of HOCl and the efficacy of taurine to protect PC12 cells. HOCl at 50 μM reduced PC12 cell viability by 50% and 150 μM reduced viability to <25% of control levels. Taurine (0.5-20 mM) was tested for cytoprotection against 150 μM HOCl and PC12 cells treated with 0.5 mM taurine exhibited only a 20% reduction in viability compared to untreated controls. Taurine concentrations of 1 mM or higher provided nearly 100% protection against HOCl. A second study was performed comparing taurine to β-alanine, glutathione and isethionic acid. HOCl (100 μM) reduced viability to 25 ± 1% of controls and taurine, β-alanine and glutathione at 1 mM provided nearly complete protection. In contrast, isethionic acid, which lacks an amino group, failed to provide protection. Taurine (1 or 10 mM) added after 50 μM HOCl treatment did not provide any protection and PC12 cell viability was reduced to <39% of controls. In contrast, if taurine (50 μM) was present during the HOCl treatment and 1 mM taurine was added after the treatment, PC12 cell viability was 80 ± 5% of controls. A combination of 250 μM taurine during the HOCl treatment and 1 mM taurine post-treatment produced 100% protection. These results clearly show that taurine is an efficient scavenger of HOCl and can prevent neuronal damage caused by HOCl. Since myeloperoxidase expression in the CNS is increased by ischemia, one function of taurine released during an ischemic event may be to scavenge HOCl and provide neuroprotection.
β Chain Amino Termini of the Cat Hemoglobins and the Response to 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate and Adenosine Triphosphate

Abstract The amino acid compositions of the isolated α and β chains from purified adult cat hemoglobins A and B have been determined. The data indicate that the α chains are similar but the β chains differ by about four substitutions. Amino-terminal analysis has shown the presence of the typical Val-Leu sequence in the cat α chains. However, the two β chains differ at their amino terminals. NH2-terminal glycine is found in the A-β and a serine with a blocked α-NH2 group occurs in this position in the B-β chain. The amino-terminal tryptic peptides of both β chains have been isolated and their sequences partially characterized. The effects of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and ATP on the oxygen saturation curves of isolated cat hemoglobins A and B (HbA and HbB) have been investigated. Cat HbA, with free β chain NH2 termini, is sensitive to 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and ATP, whereas cat HbB, with blocked β chain NH2 termini, is insensitive to these effector molecules. The oxygen affinities of the hemolysates containing mixtures of HbA and HbB are changed by 2,3-diphosphoglycerate or ATP in proportion to the ratio of HbA to HbB in the hemolysate. The work provides support for a role of the NH2 terminus of the β chain in the control of oxygen binding in hemoglobin.
Carbon-13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Polysaccharides

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of polysaccharides. The C-1 resonances of the pyranoid forms of glucose, xylose, galactose, arabinose, methyl glucoside, and methyl xyloside are shown to be sensitive to the anomeric configuration. The C-1 chemical-shifts of furanosides are generally at lower field than those of their anomeric counterparts in the pyranose series. The values of a series of α- and β-shifts have been determined for mono- O -methylglucoses and mono- O -methylmannoses to aid in the assignments of 13 C signals of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides consisting of glucose and mannose respectively. The 13 C-NMR spectra of polysaccharides having mixed linkages can sometimes be interpreted by the reference to the spectra of homopolymers representing each type of linkage. The C-2 to C-6 signals of monorhamnomannan were rationalized by gauging substitution-shifts and by the use of D -glucose precursors labeled with 2 H or 13 C. Glucose gave a rhamnomannan whose spectrum lacked the signal at 66.7, characterizing it as from C-6. The polysaccharides containing 3-deoxy- D -manno-octulosylonic acid residues are also elaborated.
Exposure in difficult total knee arthroplasty using coronal tibial tubercle osteotomy

Exposure in a total knee arthroplasty can be challenging regardless of whether it is a difficult primary or a revision. Various techniques both proximal and distal to the patella have been described and implemented to gain exposure and improve knee flexion. 3,6,12 When patella eversion is not possible due to previous surgery or severe preoperative knee flexion contracture, a coronal tibial tubercle osteotomy may be utilized. 15,16 We present successful results utilizing the coronal tibial tubercle osteotomy procedure. The technique involved in this series is based on that described by Whiteside. 15,16 It involves the development of a long lateral musculoperiosteal flap incorporating the tibial tubercle and anterior tibia, and leaving the proximal tibial cortex intact. This is extended along the tibia distally for 10 cm. It finishes by gradually osteotomising the anterior surface of the tibial crest. The tubercle is reattached with wires at the end of the procedure. This technique minimizes complications that have been associated with the tibial tubercle
Effects of physical aging at elevated temperatures on the viscoelastic creep of IM7/K3B

Physical aging at elevated temperature of the advanced composite IM7/K3B was investigated through the use of creep compliance tests. Testing consisted of short term isothermal, creep/recovery with the creep segments performed at constant load. The matrix dominated transverse tensile and in-plane shear behavior were measured at temperatures ranging from 200 to 230 C. Through the use of time based shifting procedures, the aging shift factors, shift rates and momentary master curve parameters were found at each temperature. These material parameters were used as input to a predictive methodology, which was based upon effective time theory and linear viscoelasticity combined with classical lamination theory. Long term creep compliance test data was compared to predictions to verify the method. The model was then used to predict the long term creep behavior for several general laminates.
Cytokine-induced IL-1 beta gene expression in the human polymorphonuclear leukocyte: transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation by tumor necrosis factor and IL-1.

We have previously demonstrated that Il-1 and TNF could rapidly, but transiently, induce gene expression of Il-1 beta in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) at both the protein and mRNA level. Additionally, we demonstrated a cooperative effect of Il-1 and TNF on the kinetics of induction of Il-1 beta mRNA and protein. In order to better understand the molecular basis of Il-1 beta induction, we have further investigated the regulation of Il-1 and TNF-induced gene expression in the PMN. Using nuclear run-on transcription analysis, we found that within 1 h Il-1, TNF, and TNF plus Il-1 induced the transcription of the Il-1 beta gene by 33-, 61-, and 99-fold, respectively. By 2 h, the levels of transcription had been reduced to approximately 50% of peak levels for TNF- and TNF plus Il-1-treated PMN, and to near noninduced levels in Il-1-treated PMN. We also found that these cytokines induced stable mRNA, i.e., Il-1 beta mRNA t1/2 for Il-1-, TNF-, and TNF plus Il-1-induced PMN were 57, 94, and 86 min, respectively. By 2 h, when steady state levels of Il-1 beta mRNA were found to decrease, Il-1 beta mRNA t1/2 had fallen to approximately 18 min for all cytokine treatments. To determine if protein synthesis was required for induction of Il-1 beta gene expression, we treated PMN simultaneously with cytokines and cycloheximide, and found that cycloheximide enhanced the accumulation of Il-1-induced Il-1 beta mRNA, but abrogated the accumulation of Il-1 beta mRNA, by TNF- or TNF plus Il-1-treated PMN. This abrogation of Il-1 beta mRNA accumulation was not caused by inhibition of induction of Il-1 beta transcription because TNF induction of transcription of Il-1 beta was not affected by simultaneous treatment with cycloheximide. Thus, we report that Il-1 and TNF regulate IL-1 beta gene expression via both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms in vitro.
The Histidine-binding Protein J, a Histidine Transport Component, Has Two Different Functional Sites

Abstract Previous work from this laboratory has shown that the histidine-binding protein J is a component of the high affinity histidine transport system in Salmonella typhimurium and that it is the product of the hisJ gene. We now present evidence that the J protein has a second type of site, in addition to its histidine-binding site, and that the second site is essential for the J protein to function in transport. The existence of a second functional site had been inferred from the properties of a mutant strain, TA300. This strain has a single mutation in the hisJ gene and produces a J protein with altered electrophoretic mobility in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The J protein from this strain binds histidine with normal affinity but functions very poorly in histidine transport. We postulate that the J protein from TA300 has been altered at a site other than its histidinebinding site. Possible biochemical functions of this second site are discussed. Properties of TA300 are compared with those of other strains in which histidine-binding by the J protein has been altered.
Multiwavelength anomalous diffraction

Multiwavelength anomalous diffraction (MAD) is described, including experimental considerations, estimating the phasing signal, data handling and labels for biological macromolecules. Keywords: anomalous-scatterer labels for MAD; anomalous scattering; anomalous scattering factors; MAD; multiwavelength anomalous diffraction; phasing; scattering factors; structure solution
Level Structure in Cr 52 Populated in 5.7-Day Mn 52 Decay

The energy-level structure in ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{52}$ populated in the decay of 5.7-day ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{52}$ has been studied with a toroidalfield electron spectrometer and Ge(Li) detector. The decay is found to populate only the states at (MeV, ${J}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}$, $v=\mathrm{dominant}\mathrm{seniority}$) (3.6177, 5+, 4), (3.1146, 6+ 2), (2.7688, 4+, 2), (2.3703, 4+, 4), and (1.4345, 2+, 2). Low upper limits set on the intensity of gamma rays of 2.65, 1.73, 1.465, 1.214, 1.18, 1.07, and 0.61 MeV previously reported in ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{52}$ remove all evidence for the population by ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{52}$ of states at 3.832, 3.161, and 2.648 MeV (the latter two known from nuclear reactions). All 9 possible transitions of multipolarity $E2$ or lower between known levels have been seen, including new weak gammas of 0.504 and 0.398 MeV. Conversion coefficients indicate strong $M1$ mixing only in the transition of 1.2474 MeV from the 3.6177- to the 2.7686-Mev state, for which $\ensuremath{\Delta}v=0$, in agreement with seniority selection rule for half-filled shells; and $E2$ dominance in the 1.4345-, 1.3343-, 0.9358-, 0.8498-, 0.7443-, and 0.3460-MeV transitions. Seniority mixing coefficients in the two 4+ states deduced from gamma intensities agree with those derived from previously reported nuclear-reaction data. The ratio of electron capture to positron emission for decay to the 6+ state is 2.04, in good agreement with theory.
Application of the Borel transform to the study of the spectrum of integral equations whose kernels are entire functions of exponential type

Using the Borel transform, we study the spectrum of a class of non-compact integral operators whose kernels are of exponential type and square integrable on the real line. Our method also enables us to obtain an interesting characterization of a well-known integral equation involving the Bessel function J 0 .
The Smoking Effects Questionnaire for adult populations. Development and psychometric properties.

Outcome expectancies are central to a social learning model of smoking and of smoking cessation. The Smoking Effects Questionnaire (SEQ) was developed for use in general adult populations. Items were administered to 257 smokers and ex-smokers including worksite employees, hospital visitors, and clients entering smoking cessation treatment. Principal components analysis (PCA) found seven components with good reliability that were reduced into scales of four or five items each with internal consistencies above α=.80. The final measure has 33 items. The scales were divided by secondary factor analysis into three negative effect and four positive effect scales. The SEQ showed good construct and concurrent validity in comparison with measures of similar constructs and with other smoking variables. Women expected fewer negative physical effects and attributed more importance to positive stimulating effects from smoking but otherwise were comparable to men in expected effects of smoking. More dependent smokers ascribed more importance to negative physical effects and positive stimulating effects than did less dependent smokers but did not differ significantly on other expectancy domains. Both true/false scoring and importance ratings of effects produced mostly comparable results so that either scoring method could be used. Treatment implications were discussed. This brief scale is likely to be useful in a variety of research and clinical settings.
Colonic goblet cell intrinsic, Myd88 dependent, microbial sensing rapidly regulates antigen delivery to the lamina propria immune system (MUC4P.853)

The delivery of antigens across the intestinal epithelium is an early and critical event in homeostatic responses to innocuous antigens and inflammatory responses to potential pathogens. The factors and mechanisms regulating antigen delivery to the lamina propria (LP) immune system are largely unknown. We recently demonstrated when small intestinal goblet cells (GCs) secrete, they form goblet cell-associated antigen passages (GAPs) and deliver luminal antigens to LP dendritic cells (DCs). Here we report in the basal state, GAP formation is driven by acetylcholine (Ach) signaling via the muscarinic ACh receptor 4 (mAChR4) expressed by GCs. In contrast to conventionally housed mice, GAPs were present in the colon of mice with a reduced microbiota or altered microbial sensing. Formation of colonic GAPs in these mice was dependent upon mAChR4 signaling. Moreover, in mice with a reduced microbial load, luminal microbial stimuli inhibited GAP formation within minutes. In vitro studies revealed GC intrinsic sensing of the microbiota rapidly inhibited ACh induced GC secretion, and conditional deletion of Myd88 in GCs in conventionally housed mice resulted in the spontaneous formation of colonic GAPs, and the delivery of luminal antigen to colonic LP DCs. These findings identify a role for microbial sensing by colonic GCs to rapidly regulate antigen delivery to the LP immune system, and preventing delivery of luminal antigens when the luminal microbial load is abundant and complex.
Organic data memory using the DNA approach

For very long-term storage and retrieval, encode information as artificial DNA strands and insert into living hosts. As vectors, bacteria, even some bugs and weeds, might be good for hundreds of millions of years.
Design of wide-angle selective absorbers/emitters with dielectric filled metallic photonic crystals for energy applications

The design and simulation of a wide angle, spectrally selective absorber/emitter metallic photonic crystal (MPhC) is presented. By using dielectric filled cavities, the angular, spectrally selective absorption/emission of the MPhC is dramatically enhanced over an air filled design by minimizing diffraction losses. Theoretical analysis is performed and verified via rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA) based simulations. An efficiency comparison of the dielectric filled designs for solar thermophotovoltaic applications is performed for the absorber and emitter which yields a 7% and 15.7% efficiency improvement, respectively, compared to air filled designs. The converted power output density is also improved by 33.5%.
Advertising and pricing to deter or accommodate entry when demand is unknown

Abstract We consider the advertising and pricing strategies of an incumbent firm who is concerned with deterring or accommodating entry and privately informed as to the level of market demand. Our fundamental result is that a demand-exaggerating distortion occurs: if the incumbent seeks to signal a low (high) demand, then he behaves as if there were complete information but demand were lower (higher) than it is. Pre-entry pricing and demand-enhancing advertising are therefore distorted downward (upward), as a consequence of signaling. Purely dissipative advertising is thus not employed as a signal. Refinements of sequential equilibrium are featured.
A comparison of calcium-based phosphorus binders for patients with chronic kidney disease

Hyperphosphatemia in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism and renal osteodystrophy, and is independently associated with an increased risk of mortality. Therefore, tight control of serum phosphorus is considered essential in these patients. Ideally, the best phosphorus binder would be inexpensive, nontoxic, well tolerated, and potent. Currently, calcium-based binders are generally considered first-line agents for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in ESRD. However, excessive calcium absorption may produce hypercalcemia and possibly soft-tissue and vascular deposition. Calcium carbonate is a widely used effective, inexpensive, over-the-counter phosphate binder. Calcium acetate is an alternative phosphorus binder that is a more soluble and efficient phosphate binder. Equimolar doses of calcium acetate bind twice as much phosphorus as calcium carbonate. As a result, phosphorus binding can be achieved with a lower dose of calcium. The NKF/K-DOQI guidelines state that the total dose of elemental calcium provided by calcium-based phosphate binders should not exceed 1,500 mg/day. Calcium acetate more readily permits optimal phosphorus binding within these guidelines. This review focuses on calcium binders.
Microstructure Measurements from a Towed Undulating Platform

MicroSoar, an undulating profiler capable of measuring turbulence parameters such as Thorpe scales and thermal dissipation rate while being towed at speeds of up t o4ms 21, offers the possibility of obtaining a closeto-synoptic image of mixing over large spatial areas. In this paper, the method of calculating Thorpe scales from the high-frequency MicroSoar data is developed, and results from data taken off the coast of Oregon during the summer of 2001 are presented. Large Thorpe scales and elevated measurements of the thermal dissipation rate are shown to be associated with shear at the edge of the coastal jet. It is further shown that using MicroSoar data rather than Sea-Bird conductivity‐temperature‐depth data extends the range of measurable overturns to smaller scales, particularly in regions of low stratification.
Effect of unsaturated dietary fat on plasma lipoprotein lipase activity in normal and hyperlipidemic states.

To assess indirectly the effect of ingestion of unsaturated dietary fat on the tissue lipoprotein lipase enzyme system in man, postheparin lipolytic activity (PHLA) and plasma lipids were measured in normal subjects and in patients with different types (Fredrickson) of hyperlipoproteinemia following corn oil (unsaturated) and cocoa butter (saturated) feeding. Corn oil ingestion was associated with a significant increase in PHLA (p < .02), and a decrease (p < .01) in plasma triglyceride in those patients in whom caloric balance was maintained. This finding, coupled with recent reports of a triglyceride-lowering effect of corn oil, suggest that unsaturated dietary fat may facilitate removal of very-low-density triglyceriderich lipoprotein and thereby be useful in the treatment of hypertriglyceridemic states.
Changes of street use and on-road air quality before and after complete street retrofit: An exploratory case study in Santa Monica, California

Abstract The California Complete Streets Act of 2008 requires local governments to update general plans so that new construction or modification of roadways considers all transportation modes, which include but are not limited to walking, cycling, and driving. This work evaluates the effect of a complete street retrofit on Ocean Park Boulevard (hereafter referred to as “the retrofit”) in Santa Monica, California, in terms of the street use by different transportation modes and corresponding ultrafine particle (UFP) and fine particle (PM2.5) concentrations. After subtracting background concentrations, UFP decreased after the retrofit by 4200 particles cm−3 while PM2.5 had no statistically significant change. The emission-weighted traffic volume, an index used to account for flows of vehicles with different pollutant-emitting capacities, decreased 26%, which may explain why UFP reductions were observed while total traffic flow remained the same. The number of pedestrians increased by 37% compared to pre-retrofit conditions and the number of cyclists remained approximately the same. Although no causality could be reached, this study observed improved air quality on street after retrofit. Nonetheless, a full evaluation of the health impacts of the retrofit requires further information about how travel behavior, not just traffic, has changed.
A 108dB-DR 120dB-THD and 0.5V rms output audio DAC with inter-symbol-interference-shaping algorithm in 45nm CMOS

The current trend in high-performance audio DACs is to use fine-resolution quantization to reduce the out-of-band noise (OBN), reduce jitter sensitivity, and simplify analog filtering. Recent techniques achieve this goal by using a mix of DAC elements with different weights, e.g., segmenting [1] or cascading [2]. Unlike 1b modulation, the multi-level DACs need mismatch shaping algorithms to compensate for the typical 0.1 to 1% on-die mismatch. In addition to the element mismatch, dynamic error sources such as asymmetrical switching, clock skew, and parasitic memory are major hindrances to achieve distortion and dynamic range targets. The resulting dependence of present symbol error to the past symbol is referred to as inter-symbol-interference (ISI), and is a function of the switching activity of all the individual DAC elements. Unfortunately, the popular mismatch-shaping algorithms (e.g., rotation-DWA) are addressing only the static mismatch problem. They typically increase the switching activity thus amplify ISI errors. Furthermore, the error comes often in the form of spurious tones with signal-dependent frequency (FM modulation [3]) that ruins the low-amplitude performance (harmonics for a −60dB signal) which is critical for the perceived sound quality. A common remedy is to add a digital DC offset to shift the tones out of band. However, this merely moves the problematic amplitude region, and does not solve the problem. Moreover, ISI errors often limit the large signal THD as a result of a strong signal-dependent modulation of the element transition rate.
Contending For Tongues: W. W. Simpson's Pentecostal Experience in Northwest China

The Pentecostal Movement spread over China in the early twentieth century and with it came the usual controversies, as is evident in the life of W. W. Simpson. Simpson experienced Spirit baptism, with glossolalia, in 1907, after 15 years in China. His insistence thereafter that tongues-speaking was the initial physical evidence of Spirit baptism cost him dearly and caused a great deal of strife among missionaries and their sponsoring agencies. Nevertheless, even while it spawned conflicts, the Pentecostal Movement seems to have influenced the development of the Chinese Church.
Anatomic vs. Acquired Image Frame Discordance in Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Minimum Rim Measurements

Purpose To quantify the effects of using the fovea to Bruch's membrane opening (FoBMO) axis as the nasal-temporal midline for 30° sectoral (clock-hour) spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) optic nerve head (ONH) minimum rim width (MRW) and area (MRA) calculations.
Minimum Hellinger distance estimation of mixture proportions

Beran (1977) showed that, under certain restrictive conditions, the minimum distance estimator based on the Hellinger distance (MHDE) between a projection model density and a nonparametric sample density is an exception to the usual perception that a robust estimator cannot achieve full efficiency under the true model. We examine the MHDE in the case of estimation of the mixing proportion in the mixture of two normals. We discuss the practical feasibility of employing the MHDE in this setting and examine empirically its robustness properties. Our results indicate that the MHDE obtains full efficiency at the true model while performing comparably with the minimum distance estimator based on Cramer-von Mises distance under the symmetric departures from component normality considered.
Norms that are invariant under unitary similarities and the C-numerical radii

Let the set of all n× n complex matrices and let be the set of all n× n hermitian matrices. We study the norms on that are invariant under unitary similarities (abbreviate to u.s.i. norms), i.e., the norms N(⋅) that satisfy N (A) = N (UAU∗ )for all unitary U. An important subclass of the u.s.i. norms on is the collection of all unitarily invariant (abbreviate to u.i.) norms, i.e., the norms N(.) that satisfy N (A) = S (UA) = N (AV) for all unitary U.In this paper we extend a fundamental result of u.i. norms on to u.s.i. norms on . It turns out that the C-numerical radii play an important role in the theory. We also show that on the collection of all the C-numerical radii which are norms and the collection of all the u.i. norms are two disjoint subclasses ot u.s.i. norms. A characterization of u.s.i. norms on in terms of Schur-convex norm functions is given. Then we identify those u.s.i. norms on , which are induced by inner products. Finally, using the results obtained, we prove some inequalities related ...
Molecular-dynamics study of oxygenated (100) diamond surfaces.

Classical trajectory calculations were employed to study oxygenated (100) diamond surfaces. Atomic forces were computed from two types of potential energy functions, a quantum mechanical potential based on the semiempirical PM3 (parametric method number 3) Hamiltonian which was used to describe the central code core of the surface model and an empirically parametrized potential that was developed to extend the size of the model surface. The results indicate that the energetically most favorable structure of an oxygenated surface is a bridge oxygen monolayer. However, due to the effect of entropy, an on-top oxygen monolayer dominates at high temperatures. Surfaces saturated with oxygen molecules were found to be unstable even at room temperature and to convert to the on-top atomic oxygen structures. Reconstruction of the surface from a (1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1) to a (2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1) configuration was observed to take place when half of the CO was removed from the on-top oxygen monolayer.
Blood supply as a factor regulating pacemaker activity of the rat uterine horn

The effect of ischemia of the uterine artery supplying blood to the main rhythmogenic ovarian zone of the uterine horn in non-pregnant rats was investigated. Parameters of pacemaker activity of the given locus and all the subsequent pacemaker areas up to the cervix were studied under the influence of ischemia. The greatest changes of the amplitude, frequency and burst duration time of spike activities were recorded in the ovarian end of horn. The uterine corpus and cervical end of horn were less affected by ischemia. However, amplitude of the slow-wave oscillations increased by more than one and a half in these conditions. Data obtained allow us to state about presence of certain connection between the ovarian end of horn and uterine cervix. Morphological studies revealed strong vascularization of the upper part of uterine horn.
Contemporary Incidence of Postprostatectomy Incontinence and Impact on Health-related Quality of Life

The incidence of postprostatectomy incontinence (PPI) has been notoriously difficult to assess. We investigated the contemporary incidence of PPI and the impact of PPI on health-related quality of life. Large studies with patient self-reported outcomes and more than 12 months of follow-up demonstrated that 80% to 98.5% of men report using 0 or 1 pad per day, and that in the setting of cancer control, most men who use 0 or 1 pad per day consider themselves continent.
Substance Abuse Counselors and Moral Reasoning: Hypothetical and Authentic Dilemmas

This exploratory study examined the assumption that the level of moral reasoning (Defining Issues Test; J. R. Rest, 1986) used in solving hypothetical and authentic dilemmas is similar for substance abuse counselors (N = 188). The statistical analyses used were paired-sample t tests, Pearson product-moment correlation, and simultaneous multiple regression. This study found that when solving dilemmas of a personal nature (authentic dilemmas), substance abuse counselors' level of moral reasoning was lower. Implications for counselor education are presented.
Spermatogonial stem cell preservation and transplantation

Spermatogonia are the male germ line stem cells. Their life long expansion is needed for permanent production of male germ cells. Spermatogonia are the only cells of the germ line, which proliferate in adulthood and offer interesting applications as they are potentially totipotent and immortal cells. This review presents some of the recent breakthroughs, which have led to a better understanding of spermatogonial physiology and opened new fields of basic research and of clinical applications in veterinary and medical science.
Neutron scattering study of spin waves and phonons in MnPt3

Abstract Spin-wave dispersion along the three principal symmetry directions in ferromagnetic MnPt 3 has been measured by inelastic neutron scattering. Selected phonon measurements are also presented. A localized model with nearest and next-nearest neighbor exchange does not satisfactorily describe the results.
Improved One-Sided Control Charts for the Mean of a Positively Skewed Population Using Truncated Saddlepoint Approximations

This paper develops a truncated saddlepoint (TS) control chart for the mean of a population with a skewed density. This chart requires the estimation of only a few population cumulants from sample data and is relatively straightforward in construction. Performance is assessed at various levels of truncation in terms of type 1 and 2 error rates and compared with other heuristic control charts via the Monte Carlo simulation. The truncated saddlepoint (TS) chart is shown to generally outperform these charts, especially in cases with small sample sizes or high levels of population skewness. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Anisotropy of the conduction band in InSb

Abstract The anisotropy of the Fermi surface in n-InSb has been observed directly using a null deflection torque magnetometer.
Blended particle filters for large-dimensional chaotic dynamical systems

A major challenge in contemporary data science is the development of statistically accurate particle filters to capture non-Gaussian features in large-dimensional chaotic dynamical systems. Blended particle filters that capture non-Gaussian features in an adaptively evolving low-dimensional subspace through particles interacting with evolving Gaussian statistics on the remaining portion of phase space are introduced here. These blended particle filters are constructed in this paper through a mathematical formalism involving conditional Gaussian mixtures combined with statistically nonlinear forecast models compatible with this structure developed recently with high skill for uncertainty quantification. Stringent test cases for filtering involving the 40-dimensional Lorenz 96 model with a 5-dimensional adaptive subspace for nonlinear blended filtering in various turbulent regimes with at least nine positive Lyapunov exponents are used here. These cases demonstrate the high skill of the blended particle filter algorithms in capturing both highly non-Gaussian dynamical features as well as crucial nonlinear statistics for accurate filtering in extreme filtering regimes with sparse infrequent high-quality observations. The formalism developed here is also useful for multiscale filtering of turbulent systems and a simple application is sketched below.
Price-Fixing and Shareholder Returns: An Empirical Study

This paper examines the market reaction to three different events related to allegations of price-fixing: the initial charges, the firm's plea, and the resolution of the case. Negative, risk-adjusted shareholder returns are associated with the initial charge of price-fixing, while mixed results are observed during the two days immediately after the plea. The ultimate resolution of the case appears to be anticipated by the market. The overall decline in shareholder wealth from all three events combined is about 5 percent. These results suggest that shareholders are at least partial beneficiaries of price-fixing and that the presumption of an agency problem may be incorrect.