cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The CASA quantitative precipitation estimation system: a five year validation study

Abstract. Flooding is one of the most common natural hazards that produce substantial loss of life and property. The QPE products that are derived at high spatiotemporal resolution, which is enabled by the deployment of a dense radar network, have the potential to improve the prediction of flash-flooding threats when coupled with hydrological models. The US National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA) is dedicated to revolutionizing our ability to observe, understand, predict, and respond to hazardous weather events, especially in the lower atmosphere. CASA's technology enables precipitation observation close to the ground and QPE is one of the important products generated by the system. This paper describes the CASA QPE system built on the various underlying technologies of networked X-band radar systems providing high-resolution (in space and time) measurements, using the rainfall products from the radar. Evaluation of the networked rainfall product using 5 yr of data from the CASA IP-1 test bed is presented. Cross validation of the product using 5 yr of data with a gauge network is also provided. The validation shows the excellent performance of the CASA QPE system with a standard error of 25% and a low bias of 3.7%. Examples of various CASA rainfall products including instantaneous and hourly rainfall accumulations are shown.
Field expansion for homonymous hemianopia by optically induced peripheral exotropia

Purpose: To describe a novel method for prism correction of hemianopia that provides field-of-view expansion in a convenient and functional format and to evaluate initial clinical application. Method: To expand the upper quadrant of the field, a high power prism segment (30 - 40D) is placed base-out across the upper part of the spectacle lens, on the side of the loss, at about the level of the limbus. A similar prism segment at the lower part of the lens is used to treat the lower field. The peripheral location of the prisms causes peripheral exotropia. As a result a scene segment as high as the vertical span of the prism is shifted laterally by 15 to 20° relative to the view of the other eye. At the edge of the hemianopic field loss, objects that would fall in the scotoma of one eye are seen through the prism in the other eye, providing a simultaneous awareness of details within the otherwise absent field-of-view. An approach for fitting the system to patients with abnormal binocular vision (strabismus and amblyopia, with or without diplopia) is discussed as well. The effect of the prisms was evaluated in a noncomparative case series (12 patients). Results: The field expansion is provided at any position of lateral gaze, including gaze away from the side of the scotoma. The effect of this technique on field expansion was demonstrated using standard binocular perimetry. Most patients reported substantial improvement in function and in obstacle avoidance. Conclusion: A novel method for the optical treatment of hemianopia was developed and tested. It was found to be effective in expanding the field and helping patients' mobility. (Optom Vis Sci 2000;77:453-464)
DISLOCATION DENSITIES AND CHARACTER EVOLUTION IN COPPER DEFORMED BY ROLLING UNDER LIQUID NITROGEN FROM X-RAY PEAK PROFILE ANALYSIS

The microstructure evolution in pure copper deformed by rolling at liquid nitrogen temperature was determined by using X-ray diffraction peak profile analysis. The crystallite size distribution and defects evolution were determined as a function of different reduction levels (e.g. 67%, 74%, 87%, and 97%). By using the Multiple Whole-Profile (MWP) fitting procedure the Fourier transforms of the experimental X-ray peak profiles were fitted all at once by theoretical calculated functions. Here it is assumed that the crystallites are spherical shape and have a lognormal size distribution. It is also supposed that the strain broadening of the profiles is caused by {111}-type dislocations. The results show that the median and the variance of the crystallite size distribution decreases as the deformation reduction increases. The dislocation density has a minim value at 74% reduction. The increase of the dislocation density at higher deformation levels is due to the nucleation of new generation of dislocations from the crystallite grain boundaries. It was found that the edge dislocation type is predominating the dislocation network formed during the deformation process.
Changes in the expression pattern of mesenchymal and pluripotent markers in human adipose‐derived stem cells

Pluripotent marker genes encode transcription factors that suppress differentiation and allow stem cells to continue proliferation while remaining poised to develop into cells from multiple lineages. Mesenchymal marker proteins are widely used to identify and characterize multipotent stem cells that are capable of differentiation into cells of the mesenchymal lineage. We examine here the expression pattern of mesenchymal and pluripotent markers in ADSCs (human adipose-derived stem cells) during culture. Flow cytometry indicates that a large fraction of ADSCs were positive for multiple mesenchymal markers, such as CD29, CD44 and CD90. The expression levels of these markers increase and become more uniform in cells that are cultured for long periods. Alternatively, mRNAs for several pluripotent genes, such as Nanog, Oct-4 and Rex-1, are detected only in cells from early passages. In addition, ADSCs cultured over long periods express several cardiac genes in response to serum deprivation and treatment with phorbol ester. Thus, these data demonstrate that ADSCs expanded in culture over multiple passages consistently express mesenchymal markers with the ability to differentiate towards the cardiac lineage.
Simple Analytic Proof of the Prime Number Theorem

(1980). Simple Analytic Proof of the Prime Number Theorem. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 87, No. 9, pp. 693-696.
Host Soluble Factors With Blocking And Stimulating Activity On The Expression Of The Bovine Leukemia Virus

The bovine leukemia virus (BLV), like the human T cell leukemia viruses (HTLV-I and -II), is usually present in its host in a transcriptionally repressed state. However, the viral genome becomes derepressed a few hours after the infected lymphocytes are cultured in vitro. Depending upon the concentrations tested, plasma and lymphatic fluid of BLV-infected cattle have either stimulatory (BSF) or inhibitory (PBB) activity on viral expression in these cultures. These activities can be separated by chromatographic procedures. BSF is either an antiviral antibody or a BLV-induced molecule that binds to IgG. After complete removal of BSF, the PBB activity can be more consistently detected in bovine plasma and lymphatic fluid. PBB activity can also be demonstrated in human plasma. It seems likely that this activity is responsible for the latent state in which BLV, HTLV-I and -II, and human immunodeficiency virus are usually present in their hosts.
Complete Heart Block After Cardiac Catheterization: A Rare Complication

A case report of a 4-year-old girl with tetralogy of Fallot who developed A-V dissociation during cardiac catheterization is presented. His bundle electrograms performed six days later localized the block proximal to the recorded His potential. The child has been followed for six months and is well with alternating Wenckebach and first degree heart block.
Laterally Transferred Gene Recruited as a Venom in Parasitoid Wasps

Parasitoid wasps use venom to manipulate the immunity and metabolism of their host insects in a variety of ways to provide resources for their offspring. Yet, how genes are recruited and evolve to perform venom functions remain open questions. A recently recognized source of eukaryotic genome innovation is lateral gene transfer (LGT). Glycoside hydrolase family 19 (GH19) chitinases are widespread in bacteria, microsporidia, and plants where they are used in nutrient acquisition or defense, but have previously not been known in metazoans. In this study, a GH19 chitinase LGT is described from the unicellular microsporidia/Rozella clade into parasitoid wasps of the superfamily Chalcidoidea, where it has become recruited as a venom protein. The GH19 chitinase is present in 15 species of chalcidoid wasps representing four families, and phylogenetic analysis indicates that it was laterally transferred near or before the origin of Chalcidoidea (∼95 Ma). The GH19 chitinase gene is highly expressed in the venom gland of at least seven species, indicating a role in the complex host manipulations performed by parasitoid wasp venom. RNAi knockdown in the model parasitoid Nasonia vitripennis reveals that-following envenomation-the GH19 chitinase induces fly hosts to upregulate genes involved in an immune response to fungi. A second, independent LGT of GH19 chitinase from microsporidia into mosquitoes was also found, also supported by phylogenetic reconstructions. Besides these two LGT events, GH19 chitinase is not found in any other sequenced animal genome, or in any fungi outside the microsporidia/Rozella clade.
Mobile service aware opportunistic embedded architecture of mobile crowd sensing networks for power network measurement

In order to improve the intelligent degree and robustness optimization of power grid management system, the opportunistic embedded architecture was proposed for power network measurement with mobile service aware scheme. First, the mobile crowd sensing network for power grid management was proposed to realize the intelligent power grid management. Then, we designed the mobile service aware opportunistic embedded system based on the requirements of intelligent power grid management and deployment of mobile crowd sensing network. Thirdly, the grid of embedded systems was demonstrated for intelligent management. The experimental results show that the proposed scheme has obvious advantages in system complexity, execution efficiency, intelligent power grid management level, etc.
Promiscuous plasmid replication in thermophiles: Use of a novel hyperthermophilic replicon for genetic manipulation of Clostridium thermocellum at its optimum growth temperature

Clostridium thermocellum is a leading candidate for the consolidated bioprocessing of lignocellulosic biomass for the production of fuels and chemicals. A limitation to the engineering of this strain is the availability of stable replicating plasmid vectors for homologous and heterologous expression of genes that provide improved and/or novel pathways for fuel production. Current vectors relay on replicons from mesophilic bacteria and are not stable at the optimum growth temperature of C. thermocellum. To develop more thermostable genetic tools for C. thermocellum, we constructed vectors based on the hyperthermophilic Caldicellulosiruptor bescii replicon pBAS2. Autonomously replicating shuttle vectors based on pBAS2 reproducibly transformed C. thermocellum at 60 °C and were maintained in multiple copy. Promoters, selectable markers and plasmid replication proteins from C. bescii were functional in C. thermocellum. Phylogenetic analyses of the proteins contained on pBAS2 revealed that the replication initiation protein RepL is unique among thermophiles. These results suggest that pBAS2 may be a broadly useful replicon for other thermophilic Firmicutes.
Electrogenic ATP-dependent Cl- transport by plasma membrane vesicles from Aplysia intestine

A Cl--stimulated adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activity and an ATP-dependent Cl- transport process were found in Aplysia enterocyte plasma membranes. In an attempt to further elucidate this transport process plasma membrane vesicles from Aplysia enterocytes were prepared utilizing differential centrifugation and sucrose density gradient techniques. Electrogenicity of the ATP-dependent Cl- transport was confirmed in three ways. First, an inwardly directed valinomycin-induced K+ diffusion potential, making the vesicle interior electrically positive, enhanced ATP-driven Cl- uptake compared with vesicles lacking the ionophore. Second, ATP plus Cl- increased intravesicular negativity measured by lipophilic triphenylmethylphosphonium distribution across the vesicular membrane. Third, both vanadate and thiocyanate inhibited the ATP plus Cl--dependent intravesicular negativity. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the active electrogenic Cl- transport mechanism in Aplysia intestine could be a Cl--stimulated ATPase found in the enterocyte plasma membrane.
Grafting PMMA Brushes from α-Alumina Nanoparticles via SI-ATRP.

Alumina nanoparticles are widely used as nanofillers for polymer nanocomposites. Among several different polymorphs of alumina, α-alumina has the most desirable combination of physical properties. Hence, the attachment of polymer chains to α-alumina to enhance compatibility in polymeric matrixes is an important goal. However, the chemical inertness and low concentration of surface hydroxyl groups have rendered polymer modification of α-alumina a long-standing challenge. Herein, we report that activation of α-alumina in concentrated or molten NaOH as well as in molten K2S2O7 increased polymer graft density up to 50%, thereby facilitating the synthesis of α-alumina brush particles with uniform grafting density of 0.05 nm–2 that are readily miscible or dispersible in organic solvents or in chemically compatible polymeric hosts.
Generalized quantum splines

Generalized quantum splines are piecewise polynomials whose generalized quantum derivatives agree up to some order at the joins. Just like classical and quantum splines, generalized quantum splines admit a canonical basis with compact support: the generalized quantum B-splines. Here we study generalized quantum B-spline bases and generalized quantum B-spline curves, using a very general variant of the blossom: the generalized quantum blossom. Applying the generalized quantum blossom, we develop algorithms and identities for generalized quantum B-spline bases and generalized quantum B-spline curves, including generalized quantum variants of the de Boor algorithms for recursive evaluation and generalized quantum differentiation, knot insertion procedures for converting from generalized quantum B-spline to piecewise generalized quantum Bzier form, and a generalized quantum variant of Marsden's identity. Quantum splines are extended to splines whose divided differences agree at the joins.Generalized quantum blossoms are used to derive properties of generalized quantum splines.Algorithms and formulas are extended from quantum splines to generalized quantum splines.Generalized quantum B-spline bases and generalized quantum B-spline curves are also studied.
Dual-Emitting Nanoscale Temperature Sensors

Soluble luminescent temperature probes are promising candidates for optical thermometry and thermography applications requiring precise, passive, and spatially resolved temperature data. Dual-emitting temperature sensors overcome many of the obstacles encountered with absolute intensity-based luminescence sensors, including optical occlusion, concentration variation, or nonspecificity, by providing internally referenced (ratiometric) signals. Here, we provide an overview of the key mechanisms underpinning the dual emission of various nanostructures from recent literature and discuss their relationship to optical thermometry.
Der Neue VW Passat

In sechs Generationen ist der Passat zum Benchmark seiner Klasse geworden. Getragen wird dieser Erfolg durch die Summe der Produkteigenschaften, durch Qualitat und Prazision. Die aktuelle siebte Baureihe B7 des Modelljahrs 2011 zeichnet sich durch sparsame und umweltfreundliche Antriebe — ein Dieselmotor erfullt sogar schon die Abgasstufe Euro 6, Kategorie N -, hohen funktionalen Komfort und zahlreiche Fahrerassistenzsysteme aus. Erstmals wird in diesem Fahrzeugsegment der Dynamic Light Assist fur blendfreies Fernlicht eingesetzt.
Mexican Bean Beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Injury Affects Photosynthesis of Glycine max and Phaseolus vulgaris

Based on previous photosynthesis studies, adult Mexican bean beetles, Epilachna varivestis Mulsant, produce a different physiological response to injury in soybean than other insect defoliators. In 1993 and 1994, we conducted experiments to determine the nature and extent of photosynthetic rate reductions in soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, and dry bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L. We used a randomized complete block design for all experiments. In most experiments, treatments were an uncaged, uninjured leaflet; a caged, uninjured leaflet; and a caged, injured leaflet. Treatments were replicated >5 times. Experimental units were individual trifoliolate leaflets. Four to 8 larvae or adults were placed in each leaflet cage and allowed to feed for 6–18 h. After feeding, the insects and leaf cages were removed and gas exchange properties were determined. Both adults and larvae reduced photosynthetic rates of the remaining tissue of the injured leaflet on both soybean and dry bean. A significant linear relationship between photosynthetic rate and percentage injury was observed for both adult and larval injury. Injury reduced photosynthetic rates in all 6 soybean and dry bean cultivars used in the experiments. There was no recovery of photosynthetic rates after injury of an individual leaflet. Stomatal conductance rates were not consistently different between injured and uninjured leaflets. Intercellular CO2 concentrations were similar or higher in injured leaflets. Consequently, reductions in photosynthesis do not seem to be attributable to stomatal limitations. Quantum efficiency was not affected by injury, indicating that light-harvesting structures were not perturbed. Therefore, our results suggest that the limitations to photosynthesis are attributable to the utilization of CO2 or the supply or utilization of phosphate. Our findings suggest that the limitation is associated with RuBPcase, RuBP regeneration, or phosphate utilization.
Persistence of Some Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Insecticides as Influenced by Soil Types, Rate of Application and Temperature

Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the influence of soil type, rate of application, and temperature on the persistence of some chlorinated hydrocarbons in soils. Three and a half years after treatment 1.43 times more DDT, 4.25 times more aldrin and 8.45 times more lindane were recovered from a muck soil than from comparably treated .Miami silt loam. A field plot (Miami silt loam) treated at a rate of 100 pounds per 6-inch acre contained—3 ½ years after treatment—2.03 times more DDT than the plot treated at a rate of 10 pounds per 6-inch acre. The comparable figure for lindane was found to be 3.50. Under laboratory conditions, figures comparable to field results were obtained when soils were incubated at 46° C. for a period of 56 days. Soil temperatures were found to be an important factor in the persistence of insecticides in soils. No insecticide loss was found in frozen soils. At a temperature of 6° C. aldrin and heptachlor (16% to 27%) were lost during a period of 56 days and only 2% to 14% of the initial insecticides were found after 56 days, when held at a temperature of 46° C.
Facilitative learning model for student engagement in a project management course: a case study

Ample research exists in the area of instructor-led facilitation, which is typically conducted by those trained in pedagogical approaches and as such their primary profession may be that of faculty, instructor, or professional trainer. Prior research on student-led pedagogy has focused on tutoring, problem-solving teams, and similar activities. This exploratory case study focused on student-led facilitation for active student engagement in an undergraduate project management course and its impact on student learning measured by engagement, average exam score, and overall course average. Data was gathered through observations, exam scores, student survey, and final grades. In the second year of application, a voluntary survey was completed by students to supplement existing data. It was uncovered that students are more engaged through increased class participation in discussion, have greater retention of material as demonstrated through higher exam scores, and improved performance in final course averages. Based on this case study, it can be inferred that student-led facilitation is an effective pedagogical approach for this course and may be applied in the context of other courses. This is believed to be the first contribution in the area of student-led facilitation not using tutoring, problem-solving, case discussions, or similar methods.
Cassiterite dissolution and Sn diffusion in silicate melts of variable water content

Abstract Experiments to constrain cassiterite dissolution kinetics in rhyolitic melts with 0.1–5.9 wt% H2O were conducted at 1023–1373 K and 0.5 GPa in a piston-cylinder apparatus. Care was taken to minimize convection in the experimental charge. Tin diffusivity was found to be concentration dependent. The diffusion profiles were fit well by assuming that tin diffusivity depends exponentially on tin concentration, which is roughly linearly related to SiO2 or SiO2 + Al2O3 concentration. Tin diffusivity was found to increase with temperature following the Arrhenius relation, with activation energy decreasing from 161 kJ/mol in dry rhyolite to 93 kJ/mol in hydrous rhyolite containing 5.9 wt% H2O. Tin diffusivity increases exponentially with H2O concentration, by about 3.2 orders of magnitude at 1123 K from 0 to 6 wt% H2O, and decreases exponentially with SiO2 concentration, by about 0.7 orders of magnitude when SiO2 concentration increases by 10 wt%. The equation to describe Sn2 + diffusivity in rhyolitic to dacitic melt (64–76 wt% SiO2) at about 0.5 GPa is: ln D Sn = − 18.194 + 0.17 76 – C SiO 2 − 19418 − 1389 w / T , where DSn is in m2/s, CSiO2 and w are SiO2 and H2O concentrations in wt%, and T is in Kelvin. The solubility of cassiterite (or tin concentration at cassiterite saturation) in rhyolitic melts increases strongly with increasing temperature.
Criminal Invasion of Privacy: A Survey of Computer Crimes

Computers, databases, and the Internet have made personal information readily available. All states have enacted criminal laws to protect against abuses of accessing or using such data. This article traces the history of privacy as it pertains to personal information and explores the criminal laws against invasion of privacy.
Exploring Wireless Technology for Off-Chip Memory Access

The trend of shifting from multi-core to many-core processors is exceeding the data-carrying capacity of the traditional on-chip communication fabric. While the importance of the on-chip communication paradigm cannot be denied, the off-chip memory access latency is fast becoming an important challenge. As more memory intensive applications are developed, off-chip memory access will limit the performance of chip multi-core processors (CMPs). However, with the shrinkage of transistor dimension, the energy consumption and the latency of the traditional metallic interconnects are increasing due to smaller wire widths, longer wire lengths, and complex multi-hop routing requirements. In contrast, emerging wireless technology requires lower energy with single-hop communication, albeit with limited bandwidth (at a 60 GHz center frequency). In this paper, we have proposed several hybrid-wireless architectures to access off-chip memory by exploiting frequency division multiplexing (FDM), time division multiplexing (TDM), and space division multiplexing (SDM) techniques. We explore the design-space of building hybrid-wireless interconnects by considering conservative and aggressive wireless bandwidths and directionality. Our hybrid-wireless architectures require a maximum of two hops and show 10.91% reduction in execution time compared to a baseline metallic architecture. In addition, the proposed hybrid-wireless architectures show on an average 62.07% and 32.52% energy per byte improvement over traditional metallic interconnects for conservative and aggressive off-chip metallic link energy-efficiency respectively. Nevertheless, the proposed hybrid-wireless architectures incur an area overhead due to the higher transceiver area requirement.
Three-Dimensional Anorectal Manometry Enhances Diagnostic Gain by Detecting Sphincter Defects and Puborectalis Pressure.

Constipation and fecal incontinence (FI) are common and are often evaluated with anorectal manometry. Three-dimensional high-resolution anorectal manometry (HRAM) is a promising technology; however, implementation has been limited by lack of metrics and unclear clinical utility. To investigate the diagnostic utility of 3D HRAM compared to 2D HRAM. Three-dimensional HRAM studies performed from April 2012 to October 2013 were identified and re-interpreted by two blinded investigators examining 3D function. Disagreements were resolved by a third investigator. Puborectalis (PR) visualization, focal defects, and dyssynergy were reported. Differences between groups were analyzed with Fisher’s exact test. Discordance was analyzed with McNemar Chi-square test. Two hundred and twenty-one 3D HRAM studies were identified. Mean age and BMI were 52.2 ± 17.4 and 27.1 ± 7.5 years (81% female, 74% white). Most common indications for 3D HRAM were constipation (65%) and FI (28%). PR function was visualized in 81% (rest), 97% (squeeze), and 73% (strain). PR was visualized less often at rest in FI than constipation (68 vs. 85%, p = 0.007). Defects were identified twice as often in FI than constipation (19 vs. 10%, p = 0.113). Twenty-nine defects (86% anterior) were visualized on 3D HRAM. Inter-reader agreement was moderate for PR function (κ = 0.471), but fair for focal defects (κ = 0.304). PR function and focal defects can be visualized on 3D-HRAM with added diagnostic benefit compared to 2D. Fair inter-reader agreement for focal defects highlights the need for quantitative metrics.
Finite element analysis of ion transport in solid state nuclear waste form materials

Abstract Release of nuclear species from spent fuel ceramic waste form storage depends on the individual constituent properties as well as their internal morphology, heterogeneity and boundary conditions. Predicting the release rate is essential for designing a ceramic waste form, which is capable of effectively storing the spent fuel without contaminating the surrounding environment for a longer period of time. To predict the release rate, in the present work a conformal finite element model is developed based on the Nernst Planck Equation. The equation describes charged species transport through different media by convection, diffusion, or migration. And the transport can be driven by chemical/electrical potentials or velocity fields. The model calculates species flux in the waste form with different diffusion coefficient for each species in each constituent phase. In the work reported, a 2D approach is taken to investigate the contributions of different basic parameters in a waste form design, i.e., volume fraction, phase dispersion, phase surface area variation, phase diffusion co-efficient, boundary concentration etc. The analytical approach with preliminary results is discussed. The method is postulated to be a foundation for conformal analysis based design of heterogeneous waste form materials.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: REMYELINATION

ABSTRACT Demyelinating diseases can arise in a variety of forms in the central and as well as in the peripheral nervous system, and loss of myelin results in conduction abnormalities and functional deficits. Remyelination can occur from activation of endogenous progenitor cells and by exogenously transplanted myelin-forming cells. Here we discuss conduction abnormalities associated with demyelination and myelin repair by transplanted myelin-forming cells. Axonal repair and proper impulse conduction following remyelination also requires appropriate ion channel organization on the remyelinated axon. Axonal sodium and potassium channel distribution on remyelinated axons is discussed. Axon damage and transection is another prominent pathological feature of demyelinated lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS). This chapter also discusses potential neuroprotective effects of transplantation of myelin-forming cells into sites of axonal transection.
ADHD is associated with migraine: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

An association between primary headaches and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has long been suggested. Moreover, headache is regarded as a common side effect of stimulants, the most effective treatment for ADHD. So far, no systematic review has evaluated the potential association between ADHD and headache. We performed a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis of all reported studies on ADHD and primary headaches. Our analysis showed a positive association between ADHD and migraine (OR 1.322, 95% CI 1.018–1717, p value 0.036), but not with tension-type headache. There is a significant association between migraine and ADHD. The mechanisms underlying this association remain to be elucidated, warranting further studies.
Analysis and output voltage control of a cascaded switched-capacitor converter under ZVS condition

Performance analysis and output voltage regulation of a cascaded step-up switched-capacitor converter (SCC) under zero voltage switching (ZVS) condition is analyzed in this paper. The ZVS condition (converter operation above its resonant frequency) provides 1) zero-voltage switching, which leads to a relatively higher efficiency compared to zero current switching (ZCS) under the resonant frequency in MOSFET-based converters and 2) operating in a higher frequency, which reduces the size and increases the power density of the converter. It also provides output voltage regulation compared with previously proposed SCCs in ZCS condition. This paper proposed a cascaded switched-capacitor converter (CSCC) that provides a high voltage gain. For this structure, it proposes a mathematical analysis to calculate the output voltage characteristics of the converter. This study is then employed to design a control loop for the output voltage of the converter. The simulation results for a 110–160 V and 500W SCC converter confirm the proposed analysis and the designed control loop.
The Effect of Group Dreamwork on Spiritual Well-Being:

This exploratory study investigated the effect of Jungian-oriented group dreamwork on spiritual well-being and the related constructs of purpose in life and social interest. Participants were stude...
A comparison of risk factors for various forms of trauma in the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and heterosexual homeless youth

ABSTRACTNumerous homeless youth experience trauma prior to leaving home and while on the street. Bullying and trading sex (i.e. exchanging sexual favors for survival items such as food) are additional forms of trauma experienced by many homeless youth. Although lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) homeless youth experience higher rates of child abuse compared to their heterosexual counterparts, there is a paucity of research comparing these two groups. As such, we compare whether difficulties finding items of necessity (e.g. food) and different forms of trauma including child sexual abuse, being bullied, trading sex, and street sexual victimization significantly differ for LGB and heterosexual homeless youth. Bivariate results reveal that LGB youth have more trouble finding shelter and are more likely to trade sex compared to heterosexual youth. Logistic regression results show that trading sex is correlated with street sexual victimization. In the second model, we find that being female, experiencing more ch...
A special class of infinite measure-preserving quadratic rational maps

ABSTRACTWe show the existence of a set of positive measure in parameter space, each element corresponding to a rational map of degree , for which there exists an invariant infinite σ-finite measure equivalent to a conformal measure. These maps are conservative and exact with respect to the invariant measure, and are perturbations of generalized Boole maps and inner functions. For quadratic Boole maps of with real coefficients we show that the Krengel entropy provides a complete invariant for c-isomorphism classes of quadratic maps of this type.
Pre-execution Data Prefetching with Inter-thread I/O Scheduling

With the rate of computing power growing much faster than that of storage I/O access, parallel applications suffer more from I/O latency. I/O prefetching is effective in hiding I/O latency. However, existing I/O prefetching techniques are conservative and their effectiveness is limited. Recently, a more aggressive prefetching approach named pre-execution prefetching [19] has been proposed. In this paper, we first identify the drawback of this pre-execution prefetching approach, and then propose a new method to overcome the drawback by scheduling the I/O operations between the main thread and the prefetching thread. By careful I/O scheduling, our approach further extends the computation and I/O concurrency and avoids the I/O competition within one process. The results of extensive experiments, including experiments on real-life applications such as big matrix manipulation and Hill encryption, demonstrate the benefits of the proposed approach.
The Phenomenon of Suffering and its Relationship to Pain

Pain and other symptoms such as dyspnea (shortness of breath) have a physical basis, but suffering is personal. The path, stretching from the physiological response evoked by a physical stimulus to the disintegration of the person experienced as suffering, is important to understand not only for itself but also as an exemplar of mind-body interactions. As is well known, the domains of body and mind have been kept separate in the intellectual life of Western culture from its earliest history to the present. This is despite the fact that, in stage after stage in the development of Western medicine from the Hippocratic tradition to the present, there has always been an understanding that the mental life — called the moral life at some periods —has an impact on the body and its afflictions (Entralgo, 1956). It is difficult to make a statement about the relationship of these two realms that does not sound dualistic. This essay, to the contrary, is based on the belief that we are of a piece — anything that happens to one part affects the whole, what affects the whole affects every part. All the parts are interdependent and not one functions completely separate from the rest. For example, although the functions of the lung are unique to that organ, their results influence the whole organism: respiration, in all its complexity, flows through the whole. Similarly, reason and the passions (classically considered functions of the mind) both require and act through the body, they flow through the whole. If you think this a strange idea, ask yourself how there could be complete separation of any part from the whole, so that what happened in the part had no effect on the whole?
Tissue Renin–Angiotensin–Aldosterone System

The circulating renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (cRAAS) is integral to maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis. Pharmacologic inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and antagonism of angiotensin (Ang) II and aldosterone (ALDO) receptors have proven to be effective strategies for the management of hypertension and heart failure. They have provided important insights into the pivotal contribution of cRAAS activation to the pathophysiologic expression of these cardiovascular disorders. In patients with heart failure in whom the cRAAS is not yet activated, ACE inhibition is accompanied by risk reduction for morbidity and mortality, including the progressive nature of heart failure. These results call into question the presence and function of a tissue renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (tRAAS). The generation of RAAS components within the cardiovasculature has been documented. The identification of the autocrine/paracrine properties of de novo Ang II and ALDO production represents an area of considerable interest. This is no more evident than in the role of tRAAS in regulating tissue repair, such as ongoing collagen turnover in normal heart valve leaflets and fibrous tissue formation that is needed at sites of injury, such as following myocardial infarction. This article focuses on the tRAAS and its role in tissue repair of the normal and diseased cardiovasculature.
Synthesis, processing, and microstructural tailoring of Pb-based and Pb-free halide perovskite thin films for large-area, efficient, and stable solar cells G211 (Conference Presentation)

Solution-processed thin-film perovskite solar cells (PSCs), where the record efficiency has rocketed from 3.8% to 22.7% - comparable to commercial silicon-based solar cells - in just eight years, offer unprecedented promise of low-cost, high-efficiency renewable electricity generation. Organic-inorganic halide perovskites (OIHPs) at the heart of PSCs have unique structures, which entail rotating organic cations inside inorganic cages, imparting them with desirable optical and electronic properties. To exploit these properties for PSCs application, the reliable deposition of high-quality OIHP thin films over large areas is critically important. The microstructures and grain-boundary networks in the resulting polycrystalline OIHP thin films are equally important as they control the PSC performance and stability. Fundamental phenomena pertaining to synthesis, crystallization, coarsening, and microstructural evolution involved in the processing of OIHP thin films for PSCs will be discussed with specific examples. Additionally, the discovery of Pb-free, Ti-based all-inorganic halide perovskites will be presented, together with the demonstration of viable PSCs based on these new halide perovskites. The overall goal of our research is to have deterministic control over scalable processing of tailored halide perovskite thin films with desired compositions, microstructures, and grain-boundary networks for large-area, high-efficiency, and stable PSCs.
Activation of GPR55 induces neuroprotection of hippocampal neurogenesis and immune responses of neural stem cells following chronic, systemic inflammation.

Abstract New neurons are continuously produced by neural stem cells (NSCs) within the adult hippocampus. Numerous diseases, including major depressive disorder and HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorder, are associated with decreased rates of adult neurogenesis. A hallmark of these conditions is a chronic release of neuroinflammatory mediators by activated resident glia. Recent studies have shown a neuroprotective role on NSCs of cannabinoid receptor activation. Yet, little is known about the effects of GPR55, a candidate cannabinoid receptor, activation on reductions of neurogenesis in response to inflammatory insult. In the present study, we examined NSCs exposed to IL-1β in vitro to assess inflammation-caused effects on NSC differentiation and the ability of GPR55 agonists to attenuate NSC injury. NSC differentiation and neurogenesis was determined via immunofluorescence and flow cytometric analysis of NSC markers (Nestin, Sox2, DCX, S100β, βIII Tubulin, GFAP). GPR55 agonist treatment protected against IL-1β induced reductions in neurogenesis rates. Moreover, inflammatory cytokine receptor mRNA expression was down regulated by GPR55 activation in a neuroprotective manner. To determine inflammatory responses in vivo, we treated C57BL/6 and GPR55−/− mice with LPS (0.2 mg/kg/day) continuously for 14 days via osmotic mini-pump. Reductions in NSC survival (as determined by BrdU incorporation), immature neurons, and neuroblast formation due to LPS were attenuated by concurrent direct intrahippocampal administration of the GPR55 agonist, O-1602 (4 µg/kg/day). Molecular analysis of the hippocampal region showed a suppressed ability to regulate immune responses by GPR55−/− animals manifesting in a prolonged inflammatory response (IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα) after chronic, systemic inflammation as compared to C57BL/6 animals. Taken together, these results suggest a neuroprotective role of GPR55 activation on NSCs in vitro and in vivo and that GPR55 provides a novel therapeutic target against negative regulation of hippocampal neurogenesis by inflammatory insult.
Short-range order structure motifs learned from an atomistic model of a Zr50Cu45Al5 metallic glass

Abstract The structural motifs of a Zr50Cu45Al5 metallic glass were learned from atomistic models using a new structure analysis method called motif extraction that employs point-pattern matching and machine learning clustering techniques. The motifs are the nearest-neighbor building blocks of the glass and reveal a well-defined hierarchy of structures as a function of coordination number. Some of the motifs are icosahedral or quasi-icosahedral in structure, while others take on the structure of the most close-packed geometries for each coordination number. These results set the stage for developing clearer structure-property connections in metallic glasses. Motif extraction can be applied to any disordered material to identify its structural motifs without the need for human input.
Counterfactuals in the Real World

Following Jacques Hadamard, applied mathematicians typically investigate their models in the form of well-set problems, which actually consist of a family of applicational circumstances that vary in specific ways with respect to their initial and boundary values (and other forms of “side condition”). The chief motive for investigating models in this wider manner is to avoid the improper behavioral conclusions one might reach from the consideration of a more restricted range of cases. Suitable specifications of the required initial and boundary variability typically appeal to previously established experimental conclusions as to how the target system will behave under a range of eternally applied manipulations of the form “If the conditions pertaining to S were altered in manner M, internal features X would/would not alter” (such claims are called manipulation counterfactuals in the essay and arise in a variety of distinct forms). In his investigations of causal reasoning within other parts of science, our first author (Woodward) has emphasized the conceptual importance of counterfactuals of this nature, for which he was been often criticized by authors of a self-styled “metaphysical” inclination. The purpose of this note is to argue, pace these objections, that closely analogous considerations have long been part of the practice of investigating differential equation models in a sensible way.
Severed or Sustained Attachments? Language, Identity, and Imagined Communities in the Post-Immigrant Generation

The question that this book raises is whether and to what extent “transnational” attachments are sustained by the children of immigrants, particularly those born in the U.S. who lack the memories of their immigrant parents and a birth connection to the parental homeland. Where is home--or perhaps homes--for the second generation? Do they imagine themselves in multiple sites of belonging? Are they able to lead dual lives or to maintain dual frames of reference? Are they even interested? Or will they become merely curious visitors to their ancestral lands, incidental genealogists or accidental ethnics, largely indifferent to the transnational possibilities of the present age? After all, no matter how cheap and fast the travel or how advanced the communications technologies, motivated and resourceful actors are still required to avail themselves of those means of attachment and to pursue a meaningful transnational project of "dual lives." As is the case with the maintenance of a second language in the United States, so too may be the fate of transnationality in the "post-immigrant" new second generation: If you don't use it, you lose it. That is an open empirical question, and it is the question addressed here. The chapter is intended chiefly as an empirical contribution to this volume. It aims to do so in two ways. First, it seeks to specify in detail the size and composition—and definition—of what is loosely called the "second generation" in the United States, nationally and in metropolitan areas of principal settlement. And second, it seeks to assess whether attachments (both subjective and objective) to the parental homeland are severed or sustained into early adulthood among children of immigrant parents. A typology and an index of transnational attitudinal and behavioral attachments is developed, measured by subjective and objective indicators (remittances, visits to the homeland, perceptions of "home"). The analysis focuses on factors that either promote or undermine the maintenance of transnational ties over time in that post-immigrant generation.
Steam-rolled wheat diets for finishing cattle: effects of dietary roughage and feed intake on finishing steer performance and ruminal metabolism.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the influence of dietary roughage concentration and feed intake on finishing steer performance and ruminal metabolism. In Exp. 1, 126 steers (334 kg) were used in a completely randomized design and fed (120 d) diets of steam-rolled wheat without roughage or containing 5, 10 or 15% roughage (50% alfalfa hay:50% corn silage). Steers fed 5 or 10% roughage gained faster (quadratic, P < .OS) and were more efficient (quadratic, P < .05) than steers fed 15% or no roughage. In Exp. 2, six xuminally cannulated steers (447 kg) were used in a 6 x 6 latin square design and fed (twice daily) diets of steam-rolled wheat without roughage or containing 5 or 15% alfalfa hay at twice or three times NE required for maintenance. Increasing dietary roughage increased (hear, P < .Ol) ruminal liquid passage 38%, indigestible ADF passage 63%, Yb-labeled wheat passage 75% and fiber fii 31%. The rate of in situ starch digestion tended to increase (linear, P = .16), and ruminal VFA concentration was 40 mM higher (P < .01) at 4 h after feeding with increased roughage. Increased feed intake increased (P < .OS) ruminal starch fill, fiber fill, liquid fi and liquid passage 23% Yb-labeled wheat passage 50% and Dy-labeled hay passage 20%. It reduced protozoa five- to sixfold (P e .01) but doubled total bacterial counts (P < .01). Ruminal NH3N was lower (P < .01) and total VFA concentration was 50 mM higher (P < .01) at 4 h after feeding. The acetate: propionate ratio was reduced from 2.3 to 1.3 (P < .01) with increased intake. Adding roughage to a steam-rolled wheat diet increased passage and tended to increase rate of starch digestion; increased feed intake with its associated effects on ruminal fill and passage dramatically shifted the microbial population and fermentation end products.