cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Macro- and micro-compression testing of shales

Abstract In this study, macro- and micro-geomechanical properties of shales were investigated at millimeter- and micrometer-scale using an example of the Woodford Shale. Geomechanical properties, such as uniaxial (unconfined) compressive strength and Young's modulus, were quantified at the millimeter-scale and compared with results from micro-compression testing experiments of FIB-SEM-nanofabricated micro-pillars. Size-scale and compositional/structural heterogeneity effect on elasto-plastic deformation and failure behavior of shales were investigated. Also, relationship between elemental/mineral composition and unconfined compressive strength and Young's modulus, at a micrometer-scale, was discussed. It was shown that geomechanical properties of shales are scale-dependent and are strongly affected by compositional/structural anisotropy. In particular, micro-compression testing experiments showed non-uniformly distributed compressive strength and Young's modulus within the investigated Woodford Shale rock samples. It was demonstrated, that geomechanical properties of shales, investigated at the micrometer-scale, tend to be affected by different minerals and/or pores, while the same properties, investigated at the millimeter-scale, are governed by different micro-facies (and/or micro-fractures) present within the rock. This shows that geomechanical properties of shales can be dramatically different depending on the scale of investigation and compositional/structural heterogeneity of these rocks, and therefore are not easily transferable across the scales.
Echocardiogram Guided Endomyocardial Biopsy: An Analysis beyond Safety Outcomes

Purpose Fluoroscopy-guided endomyocardial biopsy (FGEB) of the right ventricle is the common method for myocardial sampling for rejection among heart transplant patients. Echocardiographic-guided endomyocardial biopsy (EGEB) is safe, but few studies have compared the procedures outside of safety outcomes. Our hypothesis is that EGEB lowers radiation time without prolonging the total procedure. Methods We retrospectively collected data from adult heart transplant endomyocardial biopsies via the right internal jugular access from 2/1/15-2/28/19. Differences of target variables between EGEB and FGEB groups were assessed by t test or Kruskal-Wallis test as appropriate. For binary target variables, chi-square-test was used; p Results There were 100 patients, 544 biopsies, 99 (18%) performed via EGEB by 2 of 5 transplant cardiologists. The mean biopsy time of the EGEB was 29.9 ± 10.3 min (95% CI: 27.9 - 32.0 min) compared to FGEB time of 29.7 ± 10.0 min (95% CI: 28.7 - 30.7 min), p = 0.75. Mean fluoroscopy time for EGEB was 1.83 ± 1.80 min (95% CI: 1.4-2.2 min) vs 5.58 ± 1.98 min (95% CI: 5.27-5.89 min) for FGEB, p Conclusion EGEB is safe, decreases radiation exposure to patients and staff without extending procedural time. While the reduction in radiation time may be minimal, the cumulative dose can add up with a minimum of 11 biopsies performed 1 year after heart transplant alone.
Treating Insomnia during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Observations and Perspectives from a Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic.

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most significant global events of our era, affecting numerous life domains including sleep. In this commentary, we focus on patients undergoing treatment for ins...
Trends in the prevalence of cardiometabolic disease and cardiovascular events by body mass index category in adults from 1999 to 2016

Objectives An increasing percentage of the US population is obese. Cardiometabolic risk in the population increases with body mass index (BMI), but whether this correlation changes over time is unknown. We analysed the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 1999 to 2016 to determine if the prevalence of cardiometabolic disease and cardiovascular events within each BMI category is changing over time as the BMI of the population is increasing. Study design For each of the nine survey cycles covering this period, we divided the population by BMI category (normal, overweight, class 1 obesity, class ≥2 obesity) and subsequently by the presence of cardiovascular events or cardiometabolic disease. NHANES participants are a group of 5000 individuals/cycle selected to be representative of the US population. We used the weighted data sets to perform trend analyses for each risk/BMI group adjusted for relevant confounders. Results The distribution of the highest risk category (cardiovascular event) has not changed over time within any BMI category. The distribution of the lowest risk category (cardiometabolically healthy) increased significantly over time in all BMI categories. This was noted in the 18- to 45-year subgroup but not in the group aged >45 years. Conclusions The increase in the prevalence of overweight and obese individuals might be associated with a ‘healthy obesity’ phenotype in those 45 years showed a proportional increase in associated cardiometabolic risk.
Galen and the Arabic Reception of Plato's Timaeus

This first full-length study of the Arabic reception of Plato's Timaeus considers the role of Galen of Pergamum (129–c. 216 CE) in shaping medieval perceptions of the text as transgressing disciplinary norms. It argues that Galen appealed to the entangled cosmological scheme of the dialogue, where different relations connect the body, soul, and cosmos, to expand the boundaries of medicine in his pursuit for epistemic authority – the right to define and explain natural reality. Aileen Das situates Galen's work on disciplinary boundaries in the context of medicine's ancient rivalry with philosophy, whose professionals were long seen as superior knowers of the cosmos vis-a-vis doctors. Her case studies show how Galen and four of the most important Christian, Muslim, and Jewish thinkers in the Arabic Middle Ages creatively interpreted key doctrines from the Timaeus to reimagine medicine and philosophy as well as their own intellectual identities.
SARS-CoV-2 and Anti-Cardiolipin Antibodies

The current COVID-19 pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to distinct diagnostic and management challenges for front-line healthcare workers. The risk of excessive coagulation activation leading to a cascade of thrombotic events in critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 is now well reported. We discuss a recent case of COVID-19 with concurrent acute pulmonary embolism and a positive cardiolipin antibody (IgM). The presence of antiphospholipid antibodies is key to diagnosing antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). However, their presence can be transient or persistent after viral infections. Serial inflammatory markers in conjunction with anti-phospholipid antibody testing is critical for the diagnosis of APS in this emerging patient population. Our case report reviews details suggestive of APS in the setting of SARS-CoV-2 and aims to provide clinical diagnostic clues that could help warrant further workup and assist with management strategies.
Centrifuge testing of soil–structure interaction effects on cyclic failure potential of fine-grained soil:

We describe two experiments performed on a 9-m-radius geotechnical centrifuge to evaluate dynamic soil–structure interaction effects on the cyclic failure potential of fine-grained soil. Each exper...
Joint Cleaning Model of Energy and Auxiliary Service Market Considering Wind Power Cost

The corresponding cost caused by the uncertainty and volatility of wind speed is negligible in most existing researches on the clearing model of spot market. This paper proposes an output cost of wind turbine considering the fluctuation and volatility of wind power, and introduce it into the joint energy and auxiliary service markets. First, considering the Weibull wind speed distribution and the characteristics of wind turbine output power, the wind speed-power probability distribution of the wind turbine is obtained by the external characteristic modeling method. On this basis, the penalty cost factor is introduced to derive the cost function of wind power, and it is introduced as the objective function into the joint clearing model of energy and auxiliary service markets. Then, this joint model is transformed into an equivalent mixed integer linear programming model. Finally, numerical simulations are carried out to validate the effectiveness of the proposed model base on the IEEE 39 system.
The Association between Well-being Behaviors and Resilience in Health Care Workers:

Engaging in well-being behaviors may promote resilience, which can protect against burnout. This descriptive, correlational analysis utilized baseline data from health care workers enrolled in the ...
Effects of mass and interaction mismatches on in-plane and cross-plane thermal transport of Si-doped graphene

Abstract The effects of silicon (Si) doping on the in-plane and cross-plane thermal transport of suspended and silicon dioxide (SiO2) supported graphene were investigated via molecular dynamics simulations. Due to the large mismatch in atomic mass and interaction with neighboring carbon atoms, Si can act as an effective phonon scatterer, thus suppressing the thermal transport. In this study, we evaluated the contributions of mass and interaction mismatches of Si dopants to the reduction in the in-plane thermal conductivity and the cross-plane thermal resistance through systematic control of the dopant's properties. 2% Si doping reduces the in-plane transport of suspended graphene by ~94% due to the increased scattering, while the SiO2-supported graphene is less affected. The phonon scattering by Si linearly increases with the Si content, and the interaction mismatch has a greater influence on the phonon kinetics during in-plane transport than the mass mismatch. In contrast, the cross-plane transport is enhanced by Si doping, decreasing the interfacial thermal resistance by ~30%, because of the stronger interfacial interactions by weaker in-plane bonding and the smaller atomic mass mismatch with the substrate material. The enhanced understanding of doping effects on thermal transport from this research is expected to provide insights for effective thermal transport control in various graphene structures.
Number of spikes in single particle ICP-MS time scans: from the very dilute to the highly concentrated range

The particle number concentration (PNC) of dilute nanoparticle dispersions can be determined by single particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (sp-ICP-MS). Virtually equal to zero for very dilute dispersions, the difference between the number of nanoparticles having entered the plasma of the instrument and the number of detectable spikes in the time scan increases in a strongly nonlinear fashion with the PNC. This counting bias, which was unquantified yet, is due to particle event coincidences in the time scan and precludes at first sight the possibility to get meaningful information about the PNC of even moderately concentrated dispersions. In this article, we show that the counting bias is related to a stochastic process that models the spike occurrences in the time scan. This stochastic theory turns out to be amenable to analytical methods and yields universal predictions. We confirm their validity through Monte Carlo simulations and experiments with gold nanoparticle dispersions, for the full spectrum of PNC values we tested.
Microelectronic Sensors for Simultaneous Measurement of PO2 and pH

Sensors capable of simultaneous measurement of pH and Po2 in an aqueous solution have been fabricated in planar form using microelectronic technology. Separate potentiometric metal-metal oxide pH and three electrode amperemetric Po2 sensors have been fabricated together on a silicon chip with active surface of 2 x 3 mm. Rhodium-rhodium oxide electrodes operating in a cyclic voltammetry mode have also been studied and show sensitivity to both pH and Po2 in different regions of the voltage swept curve.
Stochastic Approximation with Averaging and Feedback: Faster Convergence

Consider the stochastic approximation algorithm (*) % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaagaart1ev2aaatCvAUfKttLearuqr1ngBPrgarmWu51MyVXgatC % vAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaeHbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharyavP1wz % ZbItLDhis9wBH5garqqtubsr4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbb % L8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpe % pae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-xfr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaam % aaeaqbaaGcbiGacWefca0fcqWGybawdaWgaaWcbaGaemOBa4Maey4k % aSIaeGymaedabeaakiabg2da9iabdIfaynaaBaaaleaacqWGUbGBae % qaaOGaey4kaSIaemyyae2aaSbaaSqaaiabd6gaUbqabaGccqWGNbWz % cqGGOaakcqWGybawdaWgaaWcbaGaemOBa4gabeaakiabcYcaSiabe6 % 7a4jabcMcaPiabc6caUaaa!5136! \[ X_{n + 1} = X_n + a_n g(X_n ,\xi ). \]
Advances in the use of thermographic imaging for the condition assessment of bridges

Thermal imaging can be used to image subsurface damage resulting from the corrosion of embedded reinforcing steel, which typically manifests as delaminations at or near the level of the reinforcing steel. Delaminations interrupt the heat transfer through the concrete, resulting in surface temperature variations that can be assessed using thermal cameras. This type of damage occurs in bridge decks, soffits, parapets, abutments and other concrete bridge components. This paper will discuss advances in the application of thermal imaging for the condition assessment of concrete bridge components, focusing on applications to the areas of the bridge not exposed to the radiant heating of the sun. Research results describing ambient temperature variations and inspection timing requirements for conducting thermal inspections are presented. Research exploring the effects of environmental parameters on the ability to image subsurface defects (delaminations) at different depths in concrete is also discussed.
weHelp: A Reference Architecture for Social Recommender Systems.

Recommender systems have become increasingly popular. Most of the research on recommender systems has focused on recommendation algorithms. There has been relatively little research, however, in the area of generalized system architectures for recommendation systems. In this paper, we introduce weHelp: a reference architecture for social recommender systems - systems where recommendations are derived automatically from the aggregate of logged activities conducted by the system’s users. Our architecture is designed to be application and domain agnostic. We feel that a good reference architecture will make designing a recommendation system easier; in particular, weHelp aims to provide a practical design template to help developers design their own well-modularized systems.
Effect of alcohol on fetal cerebral function and metabolism.

Abstract The effect of maternal alcohol infusion on fetal cerebral function in terms of the electroencephalogram (EEG) and fetal brain metabolism was studied in 10 fetal sheep experiments. A 9.75 per cent alcohol-dextrose solution was infused at the rate of 15 c.c. per kilogram of maternal weight for 1 or 2 hours. Fetal cerebral uptake of oxygen was unaffected. Blood flow was significantly increased as a result of a greater decrease in resistance than decrease in blood pressure. The cerebral uptake of glucose and the glucose-oxygen utilization ratio were significantly increased. The EEG showed a decrease in amplitute and slowing of the dominant rhythm as the blood alcohol concentration increased and became isoelectric on occasion during the postinfusion period associated with a severe fetal acidosis.
The Human-Information Workspace (HI-Space): Ambient Table Top Entertainment

This paper introduces the Human Information Workspace (HI-Space) as a test-bed for evaluating new information exploration mechanisms. In moving from dated interaction devices and small computer monitors, we aim to utilize more natural surfaces such as tables and walls as our interaction space. In testing our theories, we have produced a number of gaming applications as test cases. Here, we report on our most popular application, Virtual Hockey.
Long-term follow-up of allogeneic marrow transplants in patients with aplastic anemia conditioned by cyclophosphamide combined with antithymocyte globulin.

To the Editor: In 1994 we reported on a novel regimen consisting of cyclophosphamide (CY) combined with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) to condition 39 patients with aplastic anemia for marrow transplants from HLA-identical family members.[1][1] The regimen was patterned after a successful second
The immunomodulatory effects of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in Kawasaki disease

The introduction of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for modulation of inflammation in acute Kawasaki disease was a great therapeutic triumph. However, three decades later, the mechanisms underlying immune regulation by IVIG are only beginning to be revealed. Stimulation of an immature myeloid population of dendritic cells that secretes IL-10 and the elucidation of Fc-specific natural regulatory T cells provide insights into the mechanisms of IVIG. Other potential mechanisms include provision of agent-specific neutralizing antibody, anti-idiotype and anti-cytokine antibodies, blockade of activating Fcγ receptors and stimulation of the inhibitory FcγRIIb receptor. New initiatives must seek to understand the mechanisms of IVIG in order to replace it one day with more affordable and more targeted therapies.
Towards realizing optical injection of electrons in resonantly excited plasma wakefields

The concept of optical injection of plasma background electrons into resonantly driven laser wakefields has been extensively studied theoretically [D. Umstadter et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 2073 (1996)]. It was shown that when a strong 1-D wakefield is ponderomotively excited by an ultra-short laser pulse comparable in duration to the plasma wave and a similar transverse laser pulse, but otherwise tightly focused onto the wakefield, is introduced, a relativistic electron bunch with a very narrow (a few %) energy distribution, and very short duration (10's fs) is produced. This concept is actively being investigated experimentally using the University of Michigan's Hercules laser system. We report our progress toward experimentally realizing this concept.
Measuring Realistic Transit Network Connectivity: A View with Travel Time Reliability

Ridership growth is one of the major goals of public transit agencies across North America. In this paper, we examine a key contributor in potential transit riders' mode choice -- the connectivity of a transit system in time and space. We propose a comprehensive transit connectivity measure from a rider's perspective, synthesizing spatial route design, service schedules and travel time reliability. We demonstrate that travel time reliability, typically overlooked in existing connectivity measures, is highly important in evaluating transit service and understanding ridership. We explore both stop level and system level connectivity measures, and demonstrate the compelling insights from these measures using detailed transit data from a mid-sized city.
Oxyhalogen–sulfur chemistry: kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of formamidine disulfide by acidic bromate

The kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of formamidine disulfide, FDS, a dimer and major metabolite of thiourea, by bromate have been studied in acidic media. In excess bromate conditions the reaction displays an induction period before formation of bromine. The stoichiometry of the reaction is: 7BrO3− + 3[(H2N(HN)CS–]2 + 9H2O → 6NH2CONH2 + 6SO42− + 7Br− + 12H+ (A). In excess oxidant conditions, however, the bromide formed in reaction A reacts with bromate to give bromine and a final stoichiometry of: 14BrO3− + 5[(H2N(HN)CS–]2 + 8H2O → 10NH2CONH2 + 10SO42− + 7Br2 + 6H+ (B). The direct reaction of bromine and FDS was also studied and its stoichiometry is: 7Br2 + [(H2N(HN)CS–]2 + 10H2O → 2NH2CONH2 + 2SO42− + 14Br− + 18H+ (C). The overall rate of reaction A, as measured by the rate of consumption of FDS, is second order in acid concentrations, indicating the dominance of oxyhalogen kinetics which control the formation of the reactive species HBrO2 and HOBr. The reaction proceeds through an initial cleavage of the S–S bond to give the unstable sulfenic acids which are then rapidly oxidized through the sulfinic and sulfonic acids to give sulfate. The formation of bromine coincides with formation of sulfate because the cleavage of the C–S bond to give sulfate occurs at the sulfonic acid stage only. The mechanism derived is the same as that derived for the bromate–thiourea reaction, suggesting that FDS is an intermediate in the oxidation of thiourea to its oxo-acids as well as to sulfate.
Experimental assessment of human-body-like tissue as a communication channel for galvanic coupling

The recent surge of implantable and wearable medical devices have paved the way for realizing intra-body networks (IBNs). Traditional RF-based techniques fall short in wirelessly connecting such devices owing to absorption within body tissues. A different approach is known as galvanic coupling, which employs weak electrical current within naturally conducting tissues to enable intra-body communication. This work is focused on channel characterization of the human body tissues considering the propagation of such electrical signals through it that carry data. Experiments were conducted using porcine tissue (in lieu of actual human tissue) with skin, fat and muscle layers in the frequency range of 100 kHz to 1 MHz. By utilizing single-carrier BPSK modulated Pseudorandom Noise Sequences, a correlative channel sounding system was implemented, leading to the following contributions: (1) measurements of the channel impulse and frequency response, (2) a noise analysis and capacity estimation, and (3) the comparison of results with existing models.
Categorizing cognitive responses: An empirical investigation of the cognitive intent congruency between independent raters and original subject raters

Cognitive response coding is relevant for researchers who collect cognitive responses from individuals in the form of answers to open-ended questions or as thoughts produced while exposed to advertising messages. Coding of these cognitive responses is normally completed by a panel of two to four independent judges. This article is the first to empirically investigate cognitive intent congruence aspects underlining the data generated through cognitive response coding. The results show that there are definite gaps in the congruence of cognitive intent between the cognitive coding results that respondents, serving as cognitive response coders of their own thoughts, can provide and those cognitive response patterns provided by independent raters. The current study’s results raise a “yellow” caution flag regarding external independent raters’ ability to produce valid cognitive intent coding patterns that cannot be ignored by future researchers. The authors offer interpretation, implications, limitations, and directions for future research.
Estradiol production by preimplantation blastocysts and increased serum progesterone following estradiol treatment in llamas

Abstract Estradiol is a potential candidate for the blastocyst signal responsible for maternal recognition of pregnancy in the llama ( Lama glama ). Two experiments were conducted to determine if the llama blastocyst produces estradiol during the presumed period of maternal recognition of pregnancy and if exogenous estradiol can extend the luteal phase. In Experiment 1, llamas were superovulated with eCG and mated 7 days later (Day 0 = day of mating). Blastocysts were collected nonsurgically on Days 7, 9, or 11 or at necropsy on Days 13 and 15 post-mating and cultured for 48 h. Conditioned medium was recovered, replaced with fresh medium at 24-h intervals, and assayed for estradiol-17β. Estradiol production (pg/blastocyst) over the 48-h culture increased ( P P P n = 11), 5 ( n = 7), or 10 mg ( n = 12) estradiol benzoate (EB) dissolved in isopropylmyristate. Sera were collected immediately prior to each injection and on Days 16, 17, 18, 20, and 22 and analyzed for progesterone. Progesterone concentrations were greater ( P
An Analytical Comparison Between Ball and Crossed Roller Bearings for Utilization in Actuator Modules for Precision Modular Robots

A modular robot system is a collection of actuators, links, and connections that can be arbitrarily assembled into a number of different robot configurations and sequences. High performance modular robots require more than just sophisticated controls. They also need top-quality mechanical components. Bearings in particular must operate well at low speed, have high rotational accuracy, be compact for low weight, and especially be stiff for high positional accuracy. To ensure the successful use of bearings in precision modular robots, knowledge of the bearing properties and requirements are investigated. Background information on various topics such as modular robots, precision modular actuators, and their error sources are described with respect to precision engineering. Extensive literature on thin section bearings is reviewed to examine their use in precision robotic applications. Theoretical studies are performed to calculate bearing stiffness adopting a methodology based on Hertzian theory. This approach is applied to analyze two proposed designs of equivalent-sized crossed roller and four-point bearings, principal bearings used for transmitting all the payload and mass of the robot structure. The maximum deflections and contact stresses for the proposed actuator assembly and loading conditions are estimated and compared including a range of general bearing properties such as friction, cost, and shock resistance.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Ethics: The Joy of Practice

Dr John J. Conley was an integral part of the house of surgery in the latter part of the 20th century. Conley placed the ethical values of practice at the forefront of his teachings and transcribed many valuable lessons in his writings. In 1993, he wrote his version of the Hippocratic Oath outlining 12 important principles. Those principles are revisited here as a way to celebrate the joy of the calling that is medical practice. In addition, 7 new elements are added as a way to enhance that joy in the light of 21st-century medicine. The uplifting experience found in a career filled with ethical conduct is the legacy we should all strive to achieve.
Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity in human tissues and blood cells

Human tissues, blood cells, and plasma have enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of PAF (1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine). The activities are not due to phospholipases A2 that hydrolyze long chain acyl groups at thesn-2 position of glycerophospholipids, since they are calcium-independent and are specific for hydrolysis of short chain acyl groups. We examined the biochemical properties of these PAF acetylhydrolase activities (EC 3.1.1.47) in homogenates of human liver and spleen, in white blood cells (neutrophils and monocytes), and in erythrocytes. The data suggest that the plasma and intracellular PAF acetylhydrolase activities are likely due to different proteins. Second, the intracellular PAF acetylhydrolase activities in liver and spleen share several biochemical features that differentiate them from the activities in blood cells. Third, the activities in monocytes and neutrophils have properties that differentiate them from the activity present in human erythrocytes. Finally, the erythrocyte activity has unique properties that place it in a separate category of short chain acylhydrolases. In conclusion, there is a family of distinct enzymes that can be identified as PAF acetylhydrolases based on their calcium-independence and specificity for a short residue at thesn02 position of phospholipids.
Low temperature a.c. conductivity of oxide glasses

The electrical conductivity (σ) of various alkali silicate, borate and germanate glasses has been measured from 3 K to 300 K in the frequency range 10–100 kHz. Mostly the frequency (ω) and temperature (T) dependence of conductivity below 150 K can be described as σ ~ Tαωβ where 0 < α < 0.25 and 1.0 < β < 1.15. An abnormal decrease of conductivity with increasing temperature is observed at about 100–150 K in glasses with low alkali oxide concentration (< 1 mol%). A theoretical model based on thermally activated excitations of asymmetric double well potential (ADWP) configurations has been used to explain the low temperature conductivity data. From the alkali concentration and size dependence of the parameters in ADWP model, a physical description of the species responsible for low temperature a.c. conductivity is obtained.
Design structuring and allocation optimization (DeStinAtiOn), a front-end methodology for prototyping large, complex, real-time systems

The paper presents a methodology for optimizing the design of large, complex, real-time systems in distributed and parallel processing environments. It can be used as a front-end component in a prototyping process providing increased capabilities for system engineers. The method incorporates various optimization approaches including: heuristic, probabilistic, deterministic, and hybrids. These approaches are applied to the system design structuring techniques and resource allocation techniques to perform optimization and trade-off based on the classes of rules, classes of objective functions, classes of algorithms, sets of analytical equations, and sets of probabilistic reasoning, This method optimizes the system design structure and generates a near-optimal allocation of the logical systems functions onto the implementation resources to meet the overall system requirements. >
Using correlation-based measures to select classifiers for decision fusion

This paper explores classifier fusion problems where the task is selecting a subset of classifiers from a larger set with the goal to achieve optimal performance. To aid in the selection process we propose the use of several correlationbased diversity measures. We define measures that capture the correlation for n classifiers as opposed to pairs of classifiers only. We then suggest a sequence of steps in selecting classifiers. This method avoids the exhaustive evaluation of all classifier combinations which can become very large for larger sets of classifiers. We then report on observations made after applying that method to a data set from a real-world application. The classifier set chosen achieves close to optimal performance with a drastically reduced set of evaluation steps.
The Effects of Magnesium, Calcium, EDTA, and pH on the In Vitro Adhesion of Staphylococcus epidermidis to Plastic

The effects of increasing concentrations of magnesium (Mg2+), calcium (Ca2+) or EDTA, and pH on the adhesion of five slime-positive strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis (Se+) to plastic were examined using an in vitro microwell assay. The addition of Mg2+ (as either MgSO4 or MgCl2) to the bacterial suspension in concentrations as low as 16 microM significantly enhanced the adhesion of all test strains to plastic (P < 0.001). Similarly, the addition of Ca2+ (as CaCl2) in concentrations exceeding 128 microM produced a significant increase in the adhesion of all test strains, but not to the extent observed with Mg2+. In contrast, the adhesion of all test strains to plastic was significantly reduced in the presence of EDTA at concentrations greater than 8 mM. However, EDTA in concentrations as low as 0.25 mM caused a significant decrease in the adhesion of two strains of Se+. The effect of pH was variable, but at a pH of 5.0 and 6.0, the adhesion of all test strains was significantly reduced compared to control values at a pH of 7.0. Two strains showed a significant increase in adhesion at a pH of 8.0. We also compared the effects of these variables on the adherence of a slime-negative phase variant derived from a slime-positive parent strain. With the exception of pH, the adhesion of both strains in response to increasing divalent cations or EDTA was similar. These data indicate that, in addition to hydrophobic interactions, ligand-specific binding, and slime production, pH and divalent cations, especially Mg2+, are important determinants of the adhesion of S. epidermidis to plastic surfaces in vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Non-causal encoding of predictively coded samples

We study the INTRA-prediction operation employed in hybrid video coders where sample values to be compressed are predicted using previously-decoded context values and the prediction errors are transform coded. Given the context values this procedure can be argued to be rate-distortion optimal for Gaussian signals. Yet natural images and video contain many structures that do not readily fit into Gaussian signal assumptions. Targeting such structures we propose a technique that predicts each sample using the context values and samples that are jointly transform coded with the predicted sample. We show that this joint, non-causal encoding can be represented with a nonorthogonal transform whose form and parameters we derive. We augment the HEVC standard with our work and show significant compression improvements on images/video that contain directional structures.
Surface patterns of supramolecular materials

We report here on the two-dimensional patterns formed by supramolecular materials deposited from solution on oxidized silicon substrates. The supramolecular materials studied are composed of mushroom-shaped nanostructures measuring 2−5 nm in cross-section and approximately 7−8 nm in height. Two different materials were studied, one containing nanostructures with a hydrophilic phenolic base surface and the other containing a hydrophobic one with trifluoromethyl groups. The substrates were exposed to solutions of these materials for a set induction time at a series of concentrations using a motorized dipping apparatus. Samples were characterized by contact-angle measurements and tapping-mode atomic force microscopy. We observed distinct patterns as a function of concentration in phenolic supramolecular materials that interact favorably with the oxidized silicon surface. At low concentrations (0.01 wt %), the nanostructures form islands with uniform size of approximately 0.02 μm, which have the height of a s...
Isolation, culture and regeneration of leaf mesophyll protoplasts of selected clones of Solanum

Protoplast production and regeneration of nine cultivars ofSolanum tuberosum spp.tuberosum and a hybridSolanum phureja × S. chacoense (JV-2) were compared by using methods based on Grun & Chu (1978) and Shepard (1980). The yield of protoplasts differed significantly among clones. Small leaf samples produced more protoplast per gram than large ones. Significant environmental effects on protoplast production when only the light that the plants received was controlled became non-significant when both light and temperature were controlled by use of a growth chamber. JV-2 was successfully cultured by the method based on Grun & Chu (1978), but the cultivars were not. Protoplasts of six clones developed calli, when the method based on Shepard (1980) was used, but cvs. Atlantic and Kennebec usually failed to form cell walls. Success in growth and development during each stage of protoplast and callus culture was clone specific. Calli of JV-2, Russet Burbank, and Lemhi developed shoots while those of Butte, Superior, and Green Mountain did not.
Optimizing focal plane electric field estimation for detecting exoplanets

Detecting extrasolar planets with angular separations and contrast levels similar to Earth requires a large space-based observatory and advanced starlight suppression techniques. This paper focuses on techniques employing an internal coronagraph, which is highly sensitive to optical errors and must rely on focal plane wavefront control techniques to achieve the necessary contrast levels. To maximize the available science time for a coronagraphic mission we demonstrate an estimation scheme using a discrete time Kalman filter. The state estimate feedback inherent to the filter allows us to minimize the number of exposures required to estimate the electric field. We also show progress including a bias estimate into the Kalman filter to eliminate incoherent light from the estimate. Since the exoplanets themselves are incoherent to the star, this has the added benefit of using the control history to gain certainty in the location of exoplanet candidates as the signal-to-noise between the planets and speckles improves. Having established a purely focal plane based wavefront estimation technique, we discuss a sensor fusion concept where alternate wavefront sensors feedforward a time update to the focal plane estimate to improve robustness to time varying speckle. The overall goal of this work is to reduce the time required for wavefront control on a target, thereby improving the observatory's planet detection performance by increasing the number of targets reachable during the lifespan of the mission.
A Reconstructed Discontinuous Galerkin Method for the Compressible Navier-Stokes Equations on Hybrid Grids

A reconstructed discontinuous Galerkin (rDG(P1P2)) method, originally introduced for the compressible Euler equations, is developed for the solution of the compressible Navier- Stokes equations on 3D hybrid grids. In this method, a piecewise quadratic polynomial solution is obtained from the underlying piecewise linear DG solution using a hierarchical Weighted Essentially Non-Oscillatory (WENO) reconstruction. The reconstructed quadratic polynomial solution is then used for the computation of the inviscid fluxes and the viscous fluxes using the second formulation of Bassi and Reay (Bassi-Rebay II). The developed rDG(P1P2) method is used to compute a variety of flow problems to assess its accuracy, efficiency, and robustness. The numerical results demonstrate that the rDG(P1P2) method is able to achieve the designed third-order of accuracy at a cost slightly higher than its underlying second-order DG method, outperform the third order DG method in terms of both computing costs and storage requirements, and obtain reliable and accurate solutions to the large eddy simulation (LES) and direct numerical simulation (DNS) of compressible turbulent flows.
Urinary Tract Infections

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) remains one of the most prevalent, yet preventable, health care-associated infections and predominantly occurs in patients with indwelling urinary catheters. Targeted strategies for prevention of CAUTI include limiting urinary catheter use; physician reminder systems, nurse-initiated discontinuation protocols, and automatic stop orders have successfully decreased catheter duration. Alternatives to indwelling catheters should be considered in appropriate patients. If indwelling catheterization is necessary, proper aseptic practices for catheter insertion and maintenance and closed catheter collection system is essential for preventing CAUTI. The use of "bladder bundles" and collaboratives aids in the effective implementation of CAUTI prevention measures.
Subsyndromal orthostatic blood pressure regulation correlates with motor skills in head start children.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the functional relationship between subsyndromal orthostatic blood pressure regulation and motor skills in 3–5 year old children. It is known that the efficiency of orthostatic blood pressure regulation is affected by a variety of processes, most especially neurohumoral as well as sympathetic nervous system function. Using the DIAL-3 to evaluate gross motor (jump, hop, skip), fine motor (building) and copying abilities, we found a significant curvilinear association between the difference in systolic blood pressure following an orthostatic challenge and the DIAL-3 composite motor skills score. This relationship indicated that up to a point an increase in systolic blood pressure upon standing was associated with the highest composite motor score; further, the association was stronger in females (R2 = 0.12). This study illustrates that in response to an orthostatic challenge, a moderate increase in orthostatic systolic blood pressure serves as a marker for those processes such as dopamine and sympathetic nervous system function that provide the resources for orthostatic blood pressure regulation and cognition in young children. Thus, by identifying individuals with orthostatic systolic dysregulation early, one may attenuate problematic physiological and psychological effects associated with subsyndromal orthostatic blood pressure regulation.
High temperature compressive flow behavior of a Mo–Si–B solid solution alloy

Abstract A Mo–Si–B solid solution alloy was evaluated in compression at 1000 °C and 1200 °C and its response is compared to those of pure Mo and a two-phase Mo–Si–B alloy. The solid solution strengthening capacity of Si is confirmed and the role of the matrix in strengthening the two-phase alloy is elucidated.
Preparation and characterization of homogeneous coupling factor 6 from bovine heart mitochondria

Abstract Coupling factor 6 (F6) and mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor were isolated from the rutamycin-sensitive ATPase complex of bovine heart mitochondria by heating and fractionation with ethanol. F6 appeared in acrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate and urea as a single band corresponding to a molecular weight of 8,000. This protein which is required for the 32Pi-ATP exchange in submitochondrial particles treated with silicotungstate was very sensitive to trypsin.
Towards the cloning of genes underlying murine QTLs.

Many quantitative trait loci (QTLs), including those for ethanol-related traits, have been mapped in the mouse. In light of rapidly developing tools and resources, we briefly review the strategy for identifying the genes underlying these QTLs. We note that positional cloning will soon be a matter of testing candidate genes rather than discovering genes; therefore, we describe a ``congenic test'' to support that a candidate gene is indeed a QTL. Considering the rapid development of congenics and mutants, we also identify four areas of investigation—phenotypes, ethanol specificity, environment, and gene interactions—that might be exploited during the course of positional cloning to gain insights into QTL pathways. In particular, we note that multiple mutants of nearly every major neurotransmitter pathway have now been made. These mutants are not only useful for phenotypic tests, but also could be used to conduct ``gene dependence'' tests of QTLs. We also consider potential applications for the very recently developed ability to clone mice.
The Effects of Small Sample Size on Identifying Polytomous DIF Using the Liu-Agresti Estimator of the Cumulative Common Odds Ratio

This study is an evaluation of the behavior of the Liu—Agresti estimator of the cumulative common odds ratio when identifying differential item functioning (DIF) with polytomously scored test items...
Novel plant triterpenoid drug amooranin overcomes multidrug resistance in human leukemia and colon carcinoma cell lines

Amooranin (AMR), a plant terpenoid, isolated from Amoora rohituka, was investigated for its ability to overcome multidrug resistance in human leukemia and colon carcinoma cell lines. AMR IC(50) values of multidrug-resistant leukemia (CEM/VLB) and colon carcinoma (SW620/Ad-300) cell lines were higher (1.9- and 6-fold) than parental sensitive cell lines (CEM and SW620). AMR induced G(2)+M phase-arrest during cell cycle traverse in leukemia and colon carcinoma cell lines and the percentage of cells in G(2)+M phase increased in a dose-dependent manner. Coincubation of tumor cells with both DOX and AMR reversed DOX resistance in 104-fold DOX-resistant CEM/VLB and 111-fold DOX-resistant SW620/Ad-300 cell lines with a dose modification factor of 50.9 and 99.6, respectively. Flow cytometric assay showed that AMR causes enhanced cellular DOX accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. AMR inhibits photolabeling of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) with [(3)H]-azidopine and the blocking effect enhanced with increasing concentrations of AMR. Our results show that AMR competitively inhibits P-gp-mediated DOX efflux, suggestive of a mechanism underlying the enhanced DOX accumulation and reversal of multidrug resistance by AMR.
Ecosystem N Distribution and δ15N during a Century of Forest Regrowth after Agricultural Abandonment

Stable isotope ratios of terrestrial ecosystem nitrogen (N) pools reflect internal processes and input–output balances. Disturbance generally increases N cycling and loss, yet few studies have examined ecosystem δ15N over a disturbance-recovery sequence. We used a chronosequence approach to examine N distribution and δ15N during forest regrowth after agricultural abandonment. Site ages ranged from 10 to 115 years, with similar soils, climate, land-use history, and overstory vegetation (white pine Pinus strobus). Foliar N and δ15N decreased as stands aged, consistent with a progressive tightening of the N cycle during forest regrowth on agricultural lands. Over time, foliar δ15N became more negative, indicating increased fractionation along the mineralization–mycorrhizal–plant uptake pathway. Total ecosystem N was constant across the chronosequence, but substantial internal N redistribution occurred from the mineral soil to plants and litter over 115 years (>25% of ecosystem N or 1,610 kg ha−1). Temporal trends in soil δ15N generally reflected a redistribution of depleted N from the mineral soil to the developing O horizon. Although plants and soil δ15N are coupled over millennial time scales of ecosystem development, our observed divergence between plants and soil suggests that they can be uncoupled during the disturbance-regrowth sequence. The approximate 2‰ decrease in ecosystem δ15N over the century scale suggests significant incorporation of atmospheric N, which was not detected by traditional ecosystem N accounting. Consideration of temporal trends and disturbance legacies can improve our understanding of the influence of broader factors such as climate or N deposition on ecosystem N balances and δ15N.
Architectural trends in GHz speed DACs

Recent interests from the research community in building digitized transmitters has led to numerous architectural and circuit-level developments in the design of digital-to-analog converters (DACs) in the GHz space. Several challenges exist in terms of interface overhead and process capabilities that fundamentally influence the achievable speed and performance numbers. This paper aims to provide the reader with some of the emerging architectural innovations that address these challenges and aid in the transition of DACs into the GHz regime.
Semiclassical many-mode floquet theory

Abstract It is shown that the single-mode Floquet formalism of Shirley can be extended to a generalized many-mode Floquet theory, yielding a practical non-perturbative technique for the semiclassical treatment of the interaction of a quantum system several monochromatic oscillating fields. The theory is illustrated by a detailed study of the population dynamics of a three-level system driven by two monochromatic radiation fields.
Electronic Factor in Theories of Electron Transfer. 1. Introduction

For a given Hamiltonian the exact time evolution of electron-transfer in a donor−bridge−acceptor system, DBA, can be calculated from its eigenvalues and eigenvectors for any choice of the initial and the final states. For complex systems the eigenvectors and eigenvalues are not calculable and approximation methods must used, e.g., perturbation theories often employing the Green's function. The use of these approximations places rather stringent restrictions on the Hamiltonian parameters. We demonstrate this by computing the time-dependence of the probability of survival and electron transfer in the system D−a−b−A (the two-site Huckel bridge) for which analytical solutions exist and comparing them with those computed by approximation methods. Larger Huckel systems are also treated. The exact orbitals are related to the electron configurations which are often used to describe the electron transfer. We assume the existence of prepared states corresponding to electrons on the donor or holes on the acceptor wi...