cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ammonium tetrathiomolybdate treatment of copper-associated hepatopathy in dogs.

BACKGROUND: Copper‐associated hepatopathy (CAH) is a common cause of liver disease in dogs. Although d‐penicillamine can be an effective treatment, some dogs fail treatment or develop adverse effects. Ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (TTM) has been used to treat pathologic copper accumulation in other species, but its therapeutic potential for CAH is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To investigate short‐term safety and efficacy of TTM for treatment of CAH. ANIMALS: Ten dogs with CAH. METHODS: Prospective study. All dogs were treated with TTM PO for 6 weeks, and hepatic biopsies were performed after the treatment course. Dog experiencing initial decreases in hepatic copper concentrations ([Cu]H) received 6 additional weeks of TTM treatment and underwent 1 additional biopsy. Physical and laboratory examinations were performed every 2 weeks for study duration. RESULTS: Eight of 10 dogs had decreases in [Cu]H. Compared to baseline (median, 1606 μg/g; range, 572‐5158 μg/g), [Cu]H were decreased at 6 weeks (1033 μg/g, 450‐2975 μg/g; P = .04) and 12 weeks (931 μg/g, 218‐1677 μg/g; P = .02). Hepatic molybdenum concentrations increased >50‐fold (P < 0.001). Changes in histologic scores and hematologic and biochemical test results were variable and not significantly different from baseline. One dog developed presumed immune‐mediated anemia and thrombocytopenia, but it was unclear if this was related to TTM administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Results suggest that TTM can effectively decrease [Cu]H in some dogs with CAH. Larger studies are needed to determine the overall safety and efficacy of TTM for treating CAH and how it compares with current treatments.
3D Printing and Patterning Vasculature in Engineered Tissues

Regenerative medicine offers the potential to develop patient-specific three-dimensional (3D) tissue constructs for treatment of human pathologies. However, our field generally lacks the ability to recreate, in vitro , the heterogeneous patterns of cells and matrix which are hallmarks of native tissue. 3D printing and patterning techniques now offer the ability to control the shape and architecture of constructs with high precision, and have transitioned to include vasculature to boost mass transport. The controlled exploration of the wide parameter space available with biocompatible manufacturing technologies will allow us to engineer 3D matrices for future studies assessing cell behavior in heterogeneous and physiologically relevant settings.
The autism-associated gene chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 8 (CHD8) regulates noncoding RNAs and autism-related genes

Chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 8 (CHD8) was identified as a leading autism spectrum disorder (ASD) candidate gene by whole-exome sequencing and subsequent targeted-sequencing studies. De novo loss-of-function mutations were identified in 12 individuals with ASD and zero controls, accounting for a highly significant association. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of CHD8 in human neural progenitor cells followed by RNA sequencing revealed that CHD8 insufficiency results in altered expression of 1715 genes, including both protein-coding and noncoding RNAs. Among the 10 most changed transcripts, 4 (40%) were noncoding RNAs. The transcriptional changes among protein-coding genes involved a highly interconnected network of genes that are enriched in neuronal development and in previously identified ASD candidate genes. These results suggest that CHD8 insufficiency may be a central hub in neuronal development and ASD risk.
Patient Attitudes Toward Resident and Fellow Participation in Orthopedic Surgery.

Abstract Background Residents' and fellows’ participation in orthopedic surgery is a potential source of anxiety and concern for patients. The purpose of this study was to determine patients’ attitudes toward trainee involvement in orthopedic surgery, surgeons as educators, and disclosure of trainee involvement. Methods Three hundred two consecutive patients with preoperative and postoperative appointments at three arthroplasty practices in academic medical centers were surveyed with an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed in consultation with an expert in survey design. Results Two hundred thirty-four patients completed the questionnaire (response rate 77.5%). Respondents were 60.5% female, 79.6% white, 66.5% privately insured, and 82.8% had at least some college education. About 65.9% of the respondents felt that surgeons who teach are better surgeons. Nearly all felt residents and fellows should perform surgeries as part of their education (94.1% and 95.3%, respectively). However, 39.7% of the respondents were not satisfactory with a second-year resident assisting in their own surgery. Patients dissatisfied with their most recent orthopedic surgery were more likely to respond that they did not want residents helping with their surgery. Respondents agreed that resident or fellow involvement in surgery should be disclosed (92.2% and 90.1%, respectively). Conclusions Insured and educated patients in the United States overwhelmingly desire disclosure of trainee involvement in their surgery. To address the need for orthopedic training in the context of a patient population that is not fully comfortable with trainee involvement in their own surgery, an open discussion between patients and surgeons regarding trainees’ roles may be the best course of action.
Sex Differences in Military Sexual Trauma and Severe Self-Directed Violence.

Introduction Previous research has demonstrated an association between military sexual trauma and risk for suicide; however, risk for self-directed violence such as suicide attempt or nonsuicidal self-injury following military sexual trauma is understudied. This study examines the relationship between military sexual trauma and serious self-directed violence resulting in hospitalization, as well as whether this relationship differs by sex. Methods Participants were 750,176 Operations Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn veterans who were enrolled in Veterans Health Administration care during the period of October 1, 2001–September 30, 2014 and who were screened for military sexual trauma. Data were analyzed in 2019. Bivariate analyses and Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed. Results Women veterans were more likely to screen positive for military sexual trauma (21.33% vs 1.63%), and women and men were equally likely to experience serious self-directed violence (1.19% women vs 1.18% men). Controlling for demographic variables and psychiatric morbidity, military sexual trauma predicted serious self-directed violence for both men and women. Further, men with military sexual trauma were 15% less likely to experience self-directed violence compared with women with military sexual trauma (hazard ratio=0.85, 95% CI=0.74, 0.98). Conclusions Military sexual trauma is associated with risk for serious self-directed violence for both men and women veterans, and the relationship may be pronounced among women. Results underscore the importance of incorporating military sexual trauma into treatment and preventative efforts for self-directed violence.
iModel: Automatic Derivation of Analytic Performance Models

Deriving analytic performance models requires detailed knowledge of the architecture and behavior of the computer system being modeled as well as modeling skills. This detailed knowledge may not be readily available (or it may be impractical to gather) given the dynamic nature of production computing environments. This article presents a framework, called iModel, for automatically deriving and parameterizing analytic performance models for multi-tiered computer systems. Analytic performance models consist of a workload model and a system model. iModel uses system logs and configuration files to generate a high-level characterization of the system; e.g., open queuing network (QN) model versus closed QN model. By harvesting more information from the system logs and configuration files, iModel generates a workload model by inferring user-system interaction patterns in the form of a Customer Behavior Model Graph (CBMG) and generates a system model by discovering system components and their interaction patterns in the form of a Client-Server Interaction Diagram (CSID). iModel includes a library of well-known single-queue and QN models and their solutions stored in an XML-based repository. The generated workload model and system model are compared to the model repository to determine which model in the repository best matches the system’s observable behavior and architecture. This article also presents a black-box optimization approach that is used to derive analytic model parameters by observing the input-output relationships of a real system. This optimization approach can be used in any computer system (multi-tier or not) that can be modeled by single queues or QNs. The important question is whether the automatically generated and parameterized performance model has predictive power, i.e., can the derived model predict the output values that would be observed in the real system for different values of the input? The results presented in this article demonstrate that the analytic performance models derived by iModel are relatively robust and have predictive power over a wide range of input values.
NINR funding dedicated to sexual and gender minority health: 1987-2018.

Abstract Background Despite multiple federal initiatives and calls to action, nursing literature on the health of sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations remains sparse. Low levels of funding for SGM-focused research may be a factor. Purpose To examine the proportion and focus of National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)-funded projects that address SGM health, the number and type of publications arising from that funding, and the reach of those publications over time. Methods NINR-funded grants focused on SGM research and bibliometrics of resultant publications were identified using multiple search strategies in NIH RePORTER and PubMed and Scopus, respectively. Findings Since 1987, NINR has funded 25 projects addressing the health of SGM populations. Pre-doctoral fellowship funding resulted in more publications in nursing journals than research grant funding. Discussion There are clear differences in patterns of funding for fellowships and research grants with corresponding differences in publications and impact on the nursing literature.
The Composition and Function of Microbiomes Within Microcystis Colonies Are Significantly Different Than Native Bacterial Assemblages in Two North American Lakes

The toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis is one of the most pervasive harmful algal bloom (HAB) genera and naturally occurs in large colonies known to harbor diverse heterotrophic bacterial assemblages. While colony-associated microbiomes may influence Microcystis blooms, there remains a limited understanding of the structure and functional potential of these communities and how they may be shaped by changing environmental conditions. To address this gap, we compared the dynamics of Microcystis-attached (MCA), free-living (FL), and whole water (W) microbiomes during Microcystis blooms using next-generation amplicon sequencing (16S rRNA), a predictive metagenome software, and other bioinformatic approaches. Microbiomes were monitored through high resolution spatial-temporal surveys across two North American lakes, Lake Erie (LE) and Lake Agawam (LA; Long Island, NY, United States) in 2017, providing the largest dataset of these fractions to date. Sequencing of 126 samples generated 7,922,628 sequences that clustered into 7,447 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) with 100% sequence identity. Across lakes, the MCA microbiomes were significantly different than the FL and W fractions being significantly enriched in Gemmatimonadetes, Burkholderiaceae, Rhizobiales, and Cytophagales and depleted of Actinobacteria. Further, although MCA communities harbored > 900 unique ASVs, they were significantly less diverse than the other fractions with diversity inversely related to bloom intensity, suggesting increased selection pressure on microbial communities as blooms intensified. Despite taxonomic differences between lakes, predicted metagenomes revealed conserved functional potential among MCA microbiomes. MCA communities were significantly enriched in pathways involved in N and P cycling and microcystin-degradation. Taxa potentially capable of N2-fixation were significantly enriched (p < 0.05) and up to four-fold more abundant within the MCA faction relative to other fractions, potentially aiding in the proliferation of Microcystis blooms during low N conditions. The MCA predicted metagenomes were conserved over 8 months of seasonal changes in temperature and N availability despite strong temporal succession in microbiome composition. Collectively, these findings indicate that Microcystis colonies harbor a statistically distinct microbiome with a conserved functional potential that may help facilitate bloom persistence under environmentally unfavorable conditions.
Time for Impact: Temporal Mechanisms for Investing in Women and Minority Entrepreneurs

The field of impact investing is growing at a fast pace, and yet women and minority entrepreneurs have been left out of this growth. Prior research has described the challenges that these entrepren...
Methods to Synchronize and Control the Secondary Side Active Rectifier in Wireless Power Transfer Systems

This paper presents practical analog circuit-based methods to synchronize the secondary side active bridge of different wireless power transfer (WPT) systems with their primary side. The synchronization is necessary for proper operation of any WPT system with an active bridge on the secondary. The proposed schemes use only secondary side signals without the need of any information from the primary side. Simulation results presented validate the proposed schemes.
Programmable Remote Laboratory for Mobile Robots

As mobile robots become more popular, more remote laboratories (RL) using mobile robots are being developed for online education. However, in most current RL for mobile robots, the control which users have over the robot is limited by the pre-programmed controlled algorithms. This limitation creates a gap in the learning experience of the students. This paper proposes an implementation of a fully programmable remote laboratory for mobile robots into a web application. In the RL user-interface, students are able to implement and execute their C++ source code and see the results in real-time through a live feed webcam. The AJAX technology is used to transfer data between the web application and web server, making it possible to execute the code. This application is designed to provide students with interactive tools and a contextual learning scene, making this research of significant relevance to online engineering education by providing students with direct programming experience on remote laboratory website.
This War Ain't Over: Fighting the Civil War in New Deal America

Review of: This War Ain’t Over: Fighting the Civil War in New Deal America, by Nina Silber.
Windowed Transportation Planning Model

A transportation planning model that integrates regional and local-area forecasting approaches is developed and applied. Although regional models have the scope to model the interaction of demand and congestion, they lack spatial detail. Local-area analysis typically does not consider the feedback between new project loadings and existing levels of traffic. A windowed model, which retains regional trip distribution information and the consistency between travel demand and congestion, permits the use of a complete transportation network and block-level traffic zones while retaining computational feasibility. By combining the two methods a number of important policy issues can be addressed, including the implications of traffic calming, changes in flow due to alternative traffic operation schemes, the influence of microscale zoning changes on nearby intersections, and the impact of travel demand management on traffic congestion.
Monkey Business: A Neo-Darwinist Approach to Ethics Codes

Contrary to the dictates of homo economicus, to be guided by a code of ethics does not entail sacrificing one's self-interest; rather, it entails correctly defining one's self-interest as a professional. A genuine concern for others, which is the theme of any sound code of ethics, is a natural human drive. An organizational culture that recognizes and nurtures this drive through the active implementation of an ethics code - from top management on down - is a successful one. If the code is grounded in the correct definition of professionalism as commitment to the profession and to the community, those guided by the code will be successful professionals. In the business jungle, as in the primeval jungle, the keys to success are honesty, fair dealing, and cooperation. Man is a social animal.
A phase 2, two-stage study of mirvetuximab soravtansine (IMGN853) in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with microsatellite stable (MSS) endometrial cancer (EC).

TPS5611Background: Folate receptor-alpha (FRα) is expressed on endometrial cancer (EC) cells and is associated with poor prognosis. Mirvetuximab soravtansine (ImmunoGen), an antibody drug conjugate...
I got this! resource bundles and adversity: A situated entrepreneurial optimism perspective

Abstract Remaining optimistic in the face of adversity is critical during the entrepreneurial process. Entrepreneurship research has overwhelmingly focused on the consequences of optimism. Here, we shift this attention to the “whence” of optimism. Integrating micro- and macro-level resource theories, we build a situated entrepreneurial optimism framework to contend that resource combinations are associated with entrepreneurial optimism. To explore resource configurations, we use fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) and examine five resource components tapping into human, social, and financial capital. We find that entrepreneurial optimism does not rest on one resource component but on the combination of at least two. Human and social capital components form a part of most configurations consistently associated with entrepreneurial optimism. This study extends entrepreneurship research by shifting the theoretical and empirical focus to the antecedents of optimism and contributes to macro-level resource theories by linking resources to more proximal venture outcomes.
Safety and efficacy of a home nasogastric monitoring program for premature infants.

BACKGROUND A novel home monitoring program, in which premature infants are cared for at home with a nasogastric tube in place prior to achievement of full oral feeding, was evaluated. The program combines a digital, fully EMR-integrated, virtual daily rounding platform with direct provider video and telephone contact. METHODS A case-control study was performed evaluating infants < 34 weeks' gestation who were followed in our program. A historical control group, was created by matching 2 : 1 based on gestational age±6 days, retroactively. RESULT 15 patients discharged in the program were compared with 30 controls. The home cohort gained an average of 30 g/day compared with the in-hospital group at 27g/day (p = 0.325). The home group required a mean of 5.9±2.9 days to full oral feeding once discharged, not different from the control group at 5.4±3.7 days (p = 0.606). The percentage of oral feeds for the home cohort, however, increased at a rate of 12.2%before discharge compared to rising 57%at home (p < 0.001). The control group spent an additional 8.1±3.9 days in the hospital after reaching criteria. There were no reported adverse events or readmissions. CONCLUSION Premature infants can safely advance oral feeds using a home monitoring program. While at home, infants gained weight similarly to their inpatient controls inpatient, yet gained full oral skills at a significantly faster rate compared to when they were in the hospital.
Arousal and Consciousness in Focal Seizures

Impaired consciousness during seizures severely affects quality of life for people with epilepsy but the mechanisms are just beginning to be understood. Consciousness is thought to involve large-sc...
Human Tumor ECTO-ATPases

When normal cells are transformed into tumor cells, numerous alterations occur on the cell membrane. These include increased transport of nutrients, changes of protein and lipid composition, greater agglutinability by lectins, decreased intercellular cell adhesion, and altered activities of receptors and cell surface enzymes1, 2. Studies of a plasma membrane ATPase in normal and tumor tissues began nearly forty years ago, first by cytochemical staining3 and later by biochemical determination4. While the ATPase activity was compromised by the necessary use of glutaraldehyde and lead in the cytochemical staining procedure, the method was widely used in localizing and quantifying the cell-surface ATPase, i.e. ecto-ATPase.
Chapter 4 Photoreceptor Coupling: Its Mechanism and Consequences

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the mechanism and consequences of photoreceptor coupling. Rod and cone photoreceptors occur in very high density in the vertebrate retina and, therefore, can sample the retinal image with very high resolution. The existence of photoreceptor coupling has modified the classical notion that vertebrate photoreceptors are independent light transducers. Much of this evidence comes from the studies on coupling among rods in the toad Bufo marinus . A comparison of data from several species suggests that the presence of coupling may be correlated with the membrane properties of individual receptors. The role of photoreceptor coupling might best be investigated if retinal physiology could be studied both in the presence and in the absence of this interaction. Photoreceptor coupling may not occur in all vertebrate retinas; its presence in the human retina is not yet certain.
Dr. Kempe Replies

I welcome the opportunity to respond to Dr. Klein9s thoughtful comments. My suggestion for the widespread utilization of a health visitor to see every child and to establish a means whereby the child will be able to obtain comprehensive health care is not meant to interfere with the outstanding performance of private physicians in providing health care to their patients. If the health visitor ascertains that provision has been made for adequate health care, she then functions mainly as a resource for the physician in seeing that his services are utilized.
Loss-Oriented Support for Students (LOSS): Companioning the Journey from Yesterday's Sorrow to Tomorrow's Hope.

Abstract Many students experience a personally significant loss of some nature during the school year. While some losses may appear trivial to adults, other losses are life-changing, such as the death of a loved one, and, compounded by normative developmental changes and transitions, may negatively impact students’ emotional well-being, behavior, and academic progress. In this article, the author discusses the issue of loss for children and adolescents and reviews possible approaches educators may use to provide support to loss-affected students.
Colombian Birds Collected by Brother Niceforo

Some time ago Brother Niceforo, a well known naturalist of the Instituto de La Salle, Bogota, Colombia, very kindly presented a small collection of birds from his country to the United States National Museum. Although small in number of both specimens and species, it appears to have been a "picked" lot containing a surprising number of records of interest, some of which were undoubtedly puzzling to the collector. It is this material that is here reported on. As may be noted in the body of this paper, not only is a form of tinamou, hitherto undescribed, made known to science, but the recorded geographic ranges of some thirteen other birds are hereby extended, including two additions to the recorded avifauna of Colombia.
Transscleral microwave cyclodestruction

A 4.6-gigahertz (GHz) microwave applicator was used to ablate the ciliary body in rabbit eyes. High-frequency electromagnetic radiation provides a favorable dose distribution to induce local heating of the ciliary body. For treatment, a 3-mm diameter disc-shaped applicator was placed on the conjunctiva and over the ciliary body. Conjunctival temperatures were monitored during treatment with a built-in thermocouple thermometer located at the center of the disc-shaped antenna. This allowed direct measurement (dosimetry) of the conjunctival temperature during treatment. Using this microwave-based heat-delivery system, doses in a range of 60 degrees for 30 or 60 seconds appeared to cause ciliary body damage with relative sparing of the conjunctiva and sclera.
The mouse adenovirus type 1 contains an unusual E3 region.

Abstract Since the E3 region of human adenoviruses codes for a series of proteins that are probably involved in viral pathogenesis, the nucleotide sequence for a 3.6-kilobase DNA fragment in the corresponding region (map units 77 through 89) of the mouse adenovirus type 1 genome has been determined. Analysis of the sequence revealed that the genes for the fiber and for the precursor to the hexon-associated protein, pVIII, that usually flank the E3 region, are well conserved. However, many of the open reading frames contained in the E3 region of human adenoviruses between the pVIII and the fiber genes were absent from the mouse adenovirus type 1 genome.
Sustainability, Economics, and the Environment

This chapter describes sustainability, economics, and the environment. Sustainability of the world depends on the interaction between economic activity and the natural environment. Economic activity affects the natural environment, and the state of the natural environment, in turn, affects economic activity. The concept of a sustainable economy provides a framework for discussing problems and solutions. The concept is rooted in the hypothesis that economic viability, environmental quality, and social justice are interrelated in complex ways. The economy is a subsystem of the environment and depends on the environment both as a source of raw material inputs and a “sink” for waste outputs. Economic growth and environmental protection are mutually reinforcing goals. Economics can be defined as the study of how society manages its scarce resources.
The lactate dehydrogenase isozymes of Coregonus hoyi gill (Pices: Salmonidae): tissue distribution, immunochemistry and molecular weight.

Abstract 1. 1. Starch gel electrophoresis at pH 8·6 resolved five anodally migrating groups of isozymes, denoted a, i, b, d and e. The groups exhibited differential tissue expression. 2. 2. At least twenty-one isozymes were observed: five a- and d-, four i- and b- and three e-group isozymes. 3. 3. In duodenum/pyloric caeca extracts, a- and b-group isozymes were expressed exclusively in females. A unique group, the mobility of which overlapped that of the b- and d-groups, was found in males. 4. 4. The most anodal i-group isozyme of skeletal muscle exhibited variable expression. 5. 5. All isozyme groups appeared to be immunologically distinct. 6. 6. The molecular weight of the tetramer was estimated to be ~ 140, 000; that of the monomer, ~ 35,000.
Investigation of the Z-axis resolution of breast tomosynthesis mammography systems

Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography (DTM) is a promising modality that can improve breast cancer detection. DTM acquires low-dose mammograms at a number of projection angles over a limited angular range and reconstructs the 3D breast volume. DTM can provide depth information to separate overlapping breast tissues occurred in conventional mammograms, thereby facilitating detection of subtle lesions. In this work, we investigated the impact of the imaging parameters and reconstruction methods on the Z-axis resolution in DTM systems. The Z-axis resolution represents the ability of the DTM system to distinguish adjacent objects along the depth direction. A DTM system with variable image acquisition parameters was modeled. In this preliminary study, a computer phantom containing a high-density point object embedded in an air volume was used. We simulated a range of DTM conditions by generating an appropriate number of PV images in 3° increments covering a total tomosynthesis angle from ±15° to ±30°. The Simultaneous Algebraic Reconstruction Technique (SART) was used for reconstruction of the imaged volume from the noise-free projection data and the results were compared to those of back-projection method. Vertical line profiles along the Z-axis and through the object center were extracted from the reconstructed volume and the full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM) of the normalized intensity profile was used to evaluate the Z-axis resolution. Preliminary results demonstrated that while the Z-axis resolution remains almost constant as a function of depth within a 5-cm-thick volume, it is strongly affected by the PV angular range such that the depth resolution improves with increasing total tomosynthesis angle. The depth resolution also depends on the reconstruction algorithm employed; the SART method is superior to the simple back-projection method in terms of depth resolution.
Root Morphology and Its Relationship with Nitrate Uptake in Kentucky Bluegrass

Intraspecific variation in nitrate absorption by turfgrasses has been studied but differences in turfgrass root morphology which may contribute to this variation have not been ascertained. Such information may benefit breeding programs aimed at improving the ability of turfgrasses to absorb nitrate from low fertility soils. The present study quantifies belowground morphological traits of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and establishes their relationships with nitrate uptake rate (NUR). Tiller-generated plants were grown in silica sand, mowed weekly, and watered daily with nutrient solution containing 1 mM nitrate for 5 mo. Following transfer to solution culture, nitrate depletion of the nutrient solution was monitored for eight consecutive days, after which the belowground portion of each plant was separated into adventitious roots, fibrous roots, and rhizomes. Estimates of total length, total area, average diameter, and length distribution among root thickness classes, were made by scanning and image analysis systems. NUR expressed as micromoles nitrate absorbed per plant per hour was significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) and positively correlated with the total biomass, length and area of the belowground organs. Fibrous roots contributed to > 80% of the total belowground length. Approximately 80% of the total fibrous root length had diameters < 0.2 mm. The fibrous root length, surface, and volume of every diameter class were significantly and positively correlated with NUR. Larger numbers of thick roots (diameter greater than or equal to 0.5 mm) appeared to have no effects on NUR, while increased rhizome number appeared to have a negative effect on NUR.
Electrodeposition of the alkali metals from propylene carbonate

The alkali metals were electrodeposited from various solutions in propylene carbonate (PC). Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs were electrodeposited from solutions of their chlorides and AlCl3 in propylene carbonate (PC) at ambient temperature. In addition, lithium was deposited from LiCl, LiBr, LiClO4, LiPF6, and LiBF4 solutions in PC. Sodium was reduced from NaClO4, NaPF6, and NaBF4 solutions. Potassium was obtained from KPF6 solution. A new process is proposed for the production and electrorefining of the alkali metals at ambient temperature. Alkali metal amalgam from the commercial mercury-chlorine cell is transferred into an AlCl3-PC electrorefining cell, where the alkali metal is dissolved anodically from the amalgam, and deposited in a pure form at the cathode.
An FE-BI-MLFMA with GPU acceleration for electromagnetic scattering analysis

A GPU-incorporated finite element-boundary integral algorithm with the acceleration of the multilevel fast multipole algorithm is presented for computing electromagnetic scattering from objects with complex structures and materials. The radar cross sections (RCS) are calculated to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed algorithm. Compared with the 8-threaded CPU-FE-BI-MLFMA (Intel Xeon W3520 @2.67GHz), this algorithm can achieve 27.3 times speedup in matrix assembly and 12.1 times speedup in matrix-vector product on a GeForce GTX 660 with 2GB memory.
Detection of tripwires using diffusion

Autonomous detection of tripwires using optical systems is of great interest. This paper describes methods for detection of tripwires using an image processing algorithm based on the diffusion equation. A video camera with sensitivity in the near infrared (IR) band records the target scene and the digital images are then transported to a computer to apply an image processing algorithm to determine if a tripwire is present. In this paper, we show that coherence enhancing diffusion filtering can recover broken edges and smooth background without smoothing coherent structures. A comparison of detection results is given with and without diffusion filtering.
Extreme value analysis of tail departure from log-normality in experimental and simulated grain size distributions

Abstract Grain size data were taken from four three- and two-dimensional microstructures, including simulated grain growth, thin film and superalloy data sets. Probability plots revealed approximately log-normal distributions for experimental grain size data sets, but with systematic differences in the upper tails. A simulated grain size data set obtained from Potts model growth exhibited strong deviation from log-normality. A peaks-over-threshold analysis was applied to quantify the differences in the upper tails. Potts model simulation of normal grain growth shows the shortest tail, whereas the thin film data showed the longest tail (i.e. closest to log-normal), with an intermediate tail shape in the superalloy.
Late Wisconsinan ice recession in east-central New York

Previous uncertainty in the continuity of mapped moraines of central New York east of the Utica meridian resulted from the rugged topography and the complex interaction of the Mohawk and Ontario ice lobes. Till composition, fabric, stratigraphy, and drumlin morphology demonstrate that Valley Heads drift was deposited by a major readvance of the Ontario lobe after recession of the Mohawk lobe. This study names and describes a previously unrecognized moraine between Cassville and Cooperstown, New York. The moraine crosses several divides, permitting calculation of ice-front gradients, which are comparable to those of active, steady-state, temperate glaciers. Ice-slope considerations and topography suggest correlation of the Cassville-Cooperstown ice border with the Wagon Wheel Gap Substage in the Catskill Mountains. Mapping the Cassville-Cooperstown moraine makes possible the tracing of older recessional positions of the ice sheet. Recession is inferred as uniform, with little local-valley control, suggesting an active retreating ice front rather than widespread stagnation. Although previous writers have suggested otherwise, ice recession was subparallel to the Terminal moraine in Pennsylvania and perpendicular to striations and to through valleys. Regional correlations imply that deposition of the Cassville-Cooperstown moraine was simultaneous with the Rosendale readvance in the Wallkill Valley inferred at 14,800 radiocarbon yr B.P. Recession of the Mohawk lobe and readvance of the Ontario lobe to the Valley Heads moraine is suggested to be concurrent, resulting from initial isostatic rebound subsequent to deglaciation of the Adirondack dome.
Transthoracic defibrillation potential gradients in a closed chest porcine model of prolonged spontaneous and electrically induced ventricular fibrillation.

Objective The purpose of this study was to measure the local electrical field or potential gradient, measured with a catheter-based system, required to terminate long duration electrically or ischaemically induced ventricular fibrillation (VF). We hypothesized that prolonged ischaemic VF would be more difficult to terminate when compared to electrically induced VF of similar duration.
Ground fault protection for DC bus using controlled power sequencing

We present a new approach to protect a multi-branch medium-voltage DC bus from ground faults. Behavior analysis of a DC distribution scheme shows that it is possible to quickly de-energize the DC bus by controlling the main converter, open a contactor to remove the faulted line, then re-energize the system. This strategy reduces the out-of-service time and avoids the use of mechanical circuit breakers and their arc-eliminating equipments. The fast response time allows unfaulted loads to ride through the process with minimal local energy storage. Our research shows that it is possible to de-energize, reconfigure, and re-energize a typical industrial DC bus 10–20 times faster than methods traditionally applied in AC circuits, and that only 470 µFarad of bus capacitance is needed for unfaulted circuits to ride-through the process uninterrupted.
Organizational Crisis Management and Human Resource Development: A Review of the Literature and Implications to HRD Research and Practice

The problem and the solution. From the post-9/11 effect on financial and transportation industries to the corporate fraud scandals involving Enron and Tyco, organizational crises are a pervasive threat to organizational performance and sustainability.The authors' review of the literature suggests that although the impact of crises on organization effectiveness has been increasingly recognized, it has not attracted much attention from human resource development (HRD) scholars and practitioners. As a result, HRD has not considered how learning, change, and performance interventions might be used to support crisis management processes. The purpose of this article is to explore the role of HRD in organizational crisis management. Specifically, the authors review the theoretical underpinnings of organizational crisis management research, identify opportunities for HRD to be involved in crisis management processes, and explore how HRD research and practice may contribute to supporting organizations' crisis mana...
Twin closeness and co-twin risk for substance use disorders: assessing the impact of the equal environment assumption

Various environmental variables are hypothesized to operate differentially within identical and fraternal twin pairs. To the extent that these factors are correlated with behavioral outcomes, such as alcohol or drug abuse, traditional twin studies of concordance may be biased. Self-ratings of within-pair emotional closeness, assessed in 169 same-sex twin pairs ascertained through alcohol and drug treatment centers, were used to determine the impact of the twin relationship on concordance for alcohol dependence (N = 130 twin pairs) and other drug abuse and/or dependence (N = 85 twin pairs). In general, identical twin pairs reported significantly closer relationships than fraternal twin pairs, and female twin pairs reported significantly closer relationships than male twin pairs. The data did not indicate an overall effect of closeness on co-twin risk for alcohol dependence. In contrast, closeness was significantly related to co-twin risk for other drug abuse and/or dependence. However, the MZ/DZ concordance difference for other drug abuse and/or dependence remained significant when the effects of within-pair closeness were controlled. Thus, the initial zygosity and sex differences in concordance for substance use disorders cannot be explained solely by differences in twin relationship due to closeness as assessed in this study.
The Need for a SiP Design and Test Infrastructure

Although successful and profitable applications have proven themselves in several market segments, significant challenges in system-in-package design and test remain for broader adoption.
Comment on James R. Barth and R. Dan Brumbaugh, Jr.’s “Turmoil among depository institutions: Implications for the U.S. real estate market”

In their article, James R. Barth and R. Dan Brumbaugh, Jr., “examine selected data from the past decade and assess the implications of the recent turmoil within the federally insured depository industry for the financing of U.S. real estate.” The article is similar to one written in 1991 by Andrew S. Carron and R. Dan Brumbaugh, Jr., “The Viability of the Thrift Industry,” in that both examine the lending patterns of depository institutions, with the latter focusing more on the savings and loan industry.
Effects of video game play on snacking behavior.

Past research investigating the link between childhood obesity and activity participation, television viewing and video game use found children with higher BMIs played moderate amounts of electronic games, while children with lower BMIs played low amounts of electronic games. To investigate the possibility of video games being a distraction to food consumption in a controlled environment, 90 participants entered a testing room in which 10 ounces of Hershey's MM however, there was no difference in the males between the control and puzzle conditions. Females ate the most in the control condition, with no difference between the fighting and puzzle conditions. Playing either video game decreased both male and female participants’ ability to adequately estimate how much was consumed. Thus, video games of any type may lead to underestimating food consumption, and may contribute to decreased healthiness and increased weight gain.
Far-Field Diffraction Properties of a Plane-Parallel Plate When Placed Partially in Front of a Rectangular Diffracting Aperture*†

It has been possible, using Kirchhoff-type integrals, to develop some optical equations for evaluating the form of the Fraunhofer diffraction patterns characteristic of a plane-parallel plate and rectangular diffracting aperture, when the plane-parallel plate has arbitrary positions and orientations in front of the rectangular diffracting aperture. The solution is an optical one, because the rectangular diffracting aperture is assumed to be large compared to the wavelength, diffraction effects in the plane of the rectangular diffracting aperture due to the edges of the plane-parallel plate are negligible, and multiple reflections between the edges of the rectangular diffracting aperture and plane-parallel plate have been neglected. Within these initial assumptions it is rigorous, for the directly transmitted and all the higher-order internally reflected wavefronts which make contributions to the amplitude and phase in the plane of the diffracting aperture have been considered. A UNIVAC 1103A-type computer has been used to calculate the forms of many of these diffraction patterns for particular choices of the nine possible variables. Attempts were also made with a 21-ft Jarrell-Ash Spectrograph to observe the corresponding experimental forms of these diffraction patterns. When an interferometer plate was moved across, and in front of, the rectangular diffracting aperture, the changes in form of the diffraction pattern were slow and could be followed in detail by corresponding theoretically calculated diffraction patterns. When, however, the interferometer plate was rotated in front of the rectangular diffracting aperture about an axis passing through its center, the changes became very rapid and required a very large number of calculated diffraction patterns to follow all the detailed changes. The theory in general seems to be quite useful in predicting the possible forms of the corresponding experimentally observed diffraction patterns.
Misdiagnosis of acute appendicitis: Common features discovered in cases after litigation☆

To identify differences between correctly diagnosed appendicitis and misdiagnosed cases that resulted in litigation between 1982 and 1989 retrospective review of malpractice claims was conducted. A total of emergency department (ED) charts at the time of the initial ED visit were reviewed and compared with 66 concurrent controls. Missed cases appeared less acutely ill, had fewer complaints of right lower quadrant pain, received fewer rectal examinations, received intramuscular (IM) narcotic pain medication for undiagnosed abdominal pain or symptoms, and more often received an ED discharge diagnosis of gastroenteritis. Misdiagnosed patients had a 91% incidence of ruptured appendix, more extensive surgical procedures, and more postoperative complications. Data were analyzed using the Pearson's chi 2 Test, Mann-Whitney U Test, and stepwise discriminant analysis. Significance was defined as P < or = .05. Misdiagnosis of acute appendicitis is more likely to occur with patients who present atypically, are not thoroughly examined (as indexed by documentation of a rectal examination), are given IM narcotic pain medication and then discharged from the ED, are diagnosed as having gastroenteritis (despite the absence of the typical diagnostic criteria), and with patients who do not receive appropriate discharge or follow-up instructions.
Optics of wide-angle panoramic viewing system-assisted vitreous surgery.

The purpose of the article is to describe the optics of the contact wide-angle lens system with stereo-reinverter for vitreous surgery. A panoramic viewing system is made up of two components; an indirect ophthalmoscopy lens system for fundus image viewing, which is placed on the patient's cornea as a contact lens, and a separate removable prism system for reinversion of the image mounted on the microscope above the zooming system. The system provides a 104° field of view in a phakic emmetropic eye with minification, which can be magnified by the operating microscope. It permits a binocular stereoptic view even through a small pupil (3 mm) or larger. In an air-filled phakic eye, field of view increases to approximately 130°. The obtained image of the patient's fundus is reinverted to form true, erect, stereoscopic image by the reinversion system. In conclusion, this system permits wide-angle panoramic view of the surgical field. The contact lens neutralizes the optical irregularities of the corneal surface and allows improved visualization in eyes with irregular astigmatism induced by corneal scars. Excellent visualization is achieved in complex clinical situations such as miotic pupils, lenticular opacities, and in air-filled phakic eyes.
How a single sindbis virus mRNA directs the synthesis of one soluble protein and two integral membrane glycoproteins

Previous work has shown that the 26S RNA found in Sindbis-infected chicken embryo fibroblasts encodes the three viral structural proteins, one internal protein, core, and two membrane glycoproteins, E1 and E2. This mRNA has one initiation site; core, E1, and E2 are derived by proteolytic cleavage. Here we show that during infection, the 26S RNA is found mainly in membrane-bound polysomes which synthesize all three virion structural proteins. These polysomes are released from the membrane upon treatment with puromycin and high salt. Newly synthesized core protein is localized on the cytoplasmic side of endoplasmic reticulum membranes, while newly synthesized envelope proteins are sequestered by the lipid bilayer. These results suggest that the nascent glycoproteins, presumably their amino termini, are of major importance in directing the binding of polysomes containing 26S mRNA to endoplasmic reticulum membranes and the subsequent transfer of glycoproteins into the bilayer.
A comparative analysis of schemes for correlated branch prediction

Modern high-performance architectures require extremely accurate branch prediction to overcome the performance limitations of conditional branches. We present a framework that categorizes branch prediction schemes by the way in which they partition dynamic branches and by the kind of predictor that they use. The framework allows us to compare and contrast branch prediction schemes, and to analyze why they work. We use the framework to show how a static correlated branch prediction scheme increases branch bias and thus improves overall branch prediction accuracy. We also use the framework to identify the fundamental differences between static and dynamic correlated branch prediction schemes. This study shows that there is room to improve the prediction accuracy of existing branch prediction schemes.