cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SPIROMICS Protocol for Multicenter Quantitative Computed Tomography to Phenotype the Lungs

Multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) is increasingly taking a central role in identifying subphenotypes within chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and other lung-related disease populations, allowing for the quantification of the amount and distribution of altered parenchyma along with the characterization of airway and vascular anatomy. The embedding of quantitative CT (QCT) into a multicenter trial with a variety of scanner makes and models along with the variety of pressures within a clinical radiology setting has proven challenging, especially in the context of a longitudinal study. SPIROMICS (Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcome Measures in COPD Study), sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, has established a QCT lung assessment system (QCT-LAS), which includes scanner-specific imaging protocols for lung assessment at total lung capacity and residual volume. Also included are monthly scanning of a standardized test object and web-based tools for subject registrat...
Opportunities and Challenges of Tunnel FETs

Sustaining of Moore’s Law over the next decade will require not only continued scaling of the physical dimensions of transistors but also performance improvement and aggressive reduction in power consumption. Heterojunction Tunnel FET (TFET) has emerged as promising transistor candidate for supply voltage scaling down to sub-0.5V due to the possibility of sub- $kT$ /q switching without compromising on-current (ION). Recently, n-type III-V HTFET with reasonable on-current and sub-kT/q switching at supply voltage of 0.5V have been experimentally demonstrated. However, steep switching performance of III-V HTFET till date has been limited to range of drain current ( $\text {I}_{\mathrm {DS}}$ ) spanning over less than a decade. In this work, we will present progress on complimentary Tunnel FETs and analyze primary roadblocks in the path towards achieving steep switching performance in III-V HTFET.
Online MTPA control for salient-pole PMSMs using square-wave current injection

The maximum torque per ampere (MTPA) control has been widely employed to improve the efficiency of the permanent-magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) drive systems. To achieve accurate online MTPA tracking, in this work, a high-frequency current injection based method is proposed. Compared to the lookup-table based MTPA control, the proposed method can significantly reduce the pre-tuning effort. Since a high-frequency square-wave signal is injected, compared to the existing sinusoidal signal injection based MTPA control, the proposed method can eliminate the bandpass filter, which is usually used to extract the derivative of torque with respect to the current control angle, such that the bandwidth of the MTPA controller can be increased. In this work, the proposed MTPA tracking can be implemented by using either virtual or real signal injection. In addition, the effect brought by magnetic saturation is analyzed in this work and the corresponding solutions are presented to mitigate this effect. The feasibility and effectiveness of proposed methods are verified by both simulation and experimental studies.
Imagining tomorrow's university: open science and its impact

As part of a recent workshop entitled "Imagining Tomorrow's University”, we were asked to visualize the future of universities as research becomes increasingly data- and computation-driven, and identify a set of principles characterizing pertinent opportunities and obstacles presented by this shift. In order to establish a holistic view, we take a multilevel approach and examine the impact of open science on individual scholars as well as on the university as a whole. At the university level, open science presents a double-edged sword: when well executed, open science can accelerate the rate of scientific inquiry across the institution and beyond; however, haphazard or half-hearted efforts are likely to squander valuable resources, diminish university productivity and prestige, and potentially do more harm than good. We present our perspective on the role of open science at the university.
Sisterhood and Sexual Assault: Engaging Sorority Members in Dialogue, Critical Analysis, and Feminist Praxis

Taking a feminist pedagogy and praxis approach, I present a course model for engaging sorority members in critical analysis and feminist praxis around the issue of campus rape culture. This course model responds to two problems: (a) the prevailing disconnect between the efforts of departments of student affairs and academic affairs and (b) the untapped potential that faculty members with sorority or fraternity affiliations have as change agents by identifying themselves publically on campus. The resulting course provides a women-only space where issues such as sexual assault can be analyzed, critiqued, and challenged in ways that incorporate the nuances within Greek subcultures on university campuses. Such courses may provide students with the intellectual space to challenge campus issues such as campus rape culture as well as empower them to engage in feminist praxis as change agents.
Supplementing the Automatic Control Paradigm Applied to the War/Peace Problem

Abstract The need for different but supplementary paradigms, one applicable to “normal” conditions and one applicable to conditions yielding structural change, is emphasized. The two paradigms are briefly contrasted. Three principles, dealing with systems that have evolved or have been driven far from equilibrium, are presented. These principles concern themselves with the role of internal fluctuations, the role of external perturbations and fluctuations (noise), and the emergence of new structure at a more microscopic level even though the system appears to be “normal” at a macroscopic level. Examples and discussion about meaning are provided for each principle. Next, the two paradigms are discussed in terms of theory and modeling as applicable to societal management, and differential applicability of the paradigms at different evolutionary or historical times is stressed. Brief conclusions are offered.
Smoothed Boundary Method for Diffusion-Related Partial Differential Equations in Complex Geometries

The smoothed boundary method has emerged as an attractive method for solving partial differential equations in domains of complex morphology. In the current work, we present two schemes for incorporating Dirichlet boundary conditions on complex domains into partial differential equations through an energy penalty formulation of the smoothed boundary method, which may be straightforwardly combined with, e.g., variational phase-field methods. Convergence to the exact solution is guaranteed in a certain limit, and it is shown how parameters of the smoothed boundary method should be chosen to minimize error, and avoid additional error introduced by poor spatial resolution during numerical solution. An example demonstrating the simplicity of the implementation of the methods is presented, and the scheme believed to have most general merit is determined.
Trust and the ethical conduct of community-engaged research

Background: Community-engaged research (CEnR) emphasizes equal participation of academic and community partners in research and seeks to improve public trust in science. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of rigorous empirical research on trust as a core component of ethical conduct of CEnR. Drawing on data collected from a project on the ethics of CEnR, this paper discusses the benefits and risks of trust and uses the concept of embeddedness to explain how public trust in science may be increased. Argument: We argue that in developing and maintaining trust, partners must balance scientific rigor with community relevance and cultural appropriateness of research. They must strike a balance between working with the same limited pool of trusted partners, which can speed research but slow wider acceptance of science and extending their trust to new partners, which can broaden acceptance of science but slow research. Conclusion: Practitioners may facilitate the development of trust in science by gradually expanding the pool of partners they choose their collaborators from.
Collision course? Donald Trump, Paul Ryan, and the fate of Medicare

The election of Donald Trump as president of the United States raises questions about the future of Medicare. How will Medicare fare under Republican-led government? There are several compelling reasons that the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans might avoid Medicare reform, including the political risks of taking on a popular program, the difficulties the party has encountered in trying to dismantle the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), the importance of older Americans to the GOP coalition, and President Trump's views about Medicare. However, because of fiscal pressures and the commitment of Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and other Republicans to entitlement reform, the GOP nonetheless could end up attempting to make major changes in Medicare. Alternatively, Republican efforts to repeal and undermine the ACA could unintentionally enhance the political fortunes of proposals to expand Medicare. Consequently, the fate of Medicare during the Trump administration remains highly uncertain.
Managed Health Care at the End of Life

The vast majority of discussion regarding physician-assisted suicide has implicitly assumed the existence of a private and traditional physician- patient relationship. Jurisprudential, legislative and philosophical debates have, for the most part, been based on the culture of the dyadic doctor- patient relationship in which physician and patient together decide what course of treatments would be most appropriate. That paradigm can no longer be assumed. It is clear that the so-called managed care revolution is irrevocably transforming the delivery of health care in this country. Health care payors — insurance companies, managed care organizations (MCOs), and the government — are increasingly and dramatically playing a larger role in health care management to monitor care and to contain costs. They do so largely by influencing, channeling, and limiting the decision-making prerogatives of physicians. Moreover, the growth of managed care has been so dramatic and rapid that in a relatively short time the majority of U.S. citizens are likely to receive their care from some form of managed care plan. Thus, physician-assisted suicide, if it is practiced, is likely to be practiced in a managed care culture.
The Evolutionary Ecology of Food Acquisition

This chapter presents evolutionary models of food acquisition, and discusses examples of the associated empirical research among humans. The principal focus will be upon hunter-gatherers and forager-horticulturalists with little or no market involvement. The chapter examines subsistence decisions, given the technology and resource acquisition abilities of the people in question. It assesses progress toward the complementary goals of explaining observed variation in diet and food acquisition strategies among and within human groups and developing general models of behavioral decision making. The chapter reviews the application of optimization theory to dietary decisions and the most general foraging models: prey choice, patch choice, and combined prey and patch choice models. It discusses ways in which traditional human economies are likely to violate the assumptions of most existing foraging models, and some areas in which studies of humans are likely to contribute to a general understanding of subsistence behavior in all organisms.
Bayesian Nonparametrics and Semi-parametrics

One of the fastest growing research areas in Bayesian inference is the study of prior probability models for random distributions, also known as nonparametric Bayesian models. While the literature goes back to the 1970s, nonparametric Bayes remained a highly specialized field until the 1990s when new computational methods facilitated the use of such models for actual data analysis. This eventually led to a barrage of new nonparametric Bayesian literature over the last 10 years. In this chapter we highlight some of the current research challenges in nonparametric Bayes.
Energy-Optimal Human Walking With Feedback-Controlled Robotic Prostheses: A Computational Study

Lower-limb amputees typically experience reduced mobility and higher metabolic rates than non-amputees. It may be possible to improve their mobility and metabolic rate with an optimized robotic prosthesis. Here, we use large-scale trajectory optimization on a simulated transtibial amputee with a robotic prosthesis to obtain metabolic energy-minimizing walking gaits with multiple prosthesis feedback controllers. Using such optimizations, we obtained trends in the energetics and kinematics for various prosthesis work levels. We find that the net metabolic rate has a non-monotonic relationship with the net prosthesis work rate: too much or too little prosthesis work results in higher metabolic rates. We predict that metabolic rate could be reduced below that of a non-amputee, although such gaits are highly asymmetric and not seen in experiments with amputees wearing robotic prostheses. We predict higher metabolic rates with SACH foot, a passive prosthesis. Walking gaits with left-right symmetry in kinematics or ground reaction forces have higher metabolic rates than asymmetric gaits, suggesting a potential reason for asymmetries in amputee walking. Our findings suggest that a computational framework such as the one presented here could augment the experimental approaches to prosthesis design iterations, although quantitatively accurate simulation-based prediction of experiments remains an open problem.
Projection-Resolved OCT Angiography of Microvascular Changes in Paracentral Acute Middle Maculopathy and Acute Macular Neuroretinopathy.

Purpose To identify the microvascular changes associated with paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM) and acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN) and to improve our understanding of the relevant involvement of the three retinal capillary plexuses using projection-resolved optical coherence tomography angiography (PR-OCTA). Methods This was a retrospective study of 18 eyes with AMN or PAMM imaged with OCTA. We used cross-sectional PR-OCTA to localize reduced flow signal to the superficial (SCP), middle (MCP), or deep capillary plexus (DCP) or choriocapillaris that corresponded to inner retinal PAMM or outer retinal AMN lesions on OCT. Results Five eyes with AMN showed outer retinal disruption on OCT associated with reduced DCP flow signal. All three eyes with AMN and follow-up had recovery of DCP flow. Thirteen eyes with PAMM showed middle retinal disruption on OCT associated with reduced flow signal in both the MCP and DCP. Of these, five also had reduced flow signal in the SCP. All 10 eyes with PAMM and follow-up showed variable recovery of flow signal in one or more plexuses. PAMM reperfusion was primarily arterial in nature. Three eyes with PAMM and no evidence of MCP reperfusion experienced severe thinning of the inner nuclear layer (INL), while seven eyes with robust MCP flow signal recovery showed relative preservation of INL thickness. Conclusions Using PR-OCTA, we found that AMN was associated with reduced DCP flow signal, while PAMM was associated with reduced MCP and DCP flow signal and occasionally the SCP. The MCP appears to be important in sustaining INL thickness in these eyes.
Hepatic Dysfunction in Shock and Organ Failure

Liver dysfunction following trauma, infection and major surgical procedures is a relatively common occurrence. As a component of the organ failure process its presence is associated with an adverse outcome, particularly when the liver dysfunction becomes progressive and manifests as liver failure. With the exception of a limited number of trauma or hepatic surgical problems, the liver is not usually the site of primary tissue injury; rather, it becomes injured as part of the systemic response and the treatment provided. This indirect liver injury, its clinical manifestations, its pathogenesis, and current therapies are the subjects of this article.
Lattice distortions and domain structure in epitaxial manganite thin films

Lattice distortions, be they in the form of chemical and hydrostatic pressure in bulk or lattice mismatch between film and substrate, have significant effects on the transport as well as the magnetic properties of colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) materials. We summarize here our results on tensilely and compressively strained La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO) thin films that indicate the important role of lattice distortions due to the lattice mismatch between the film and substrate. The strain due to lattice distortions can be used to tune the magnetic domain structure, magnetization, magnetic anisotropy and magnetotransport of LSMO thin films.
Willingness of MSM Living with HIV to Take Part in Video-Groups: Application of the Technology Readiness and Acceptance Model

Group-based programs are important for the psychosocial care of people living with HIV; however, programs are often limited by geography and availability. Video-groups, conducted via group-based video-conferencing on video-phones or computer, offer the benefits of group-based programs while overcoming barriers to attendance. This study sought to explore if, and how, the Technology Readiness and Acceptance Model (TRAM) could be used to explain the willingness of men to take part in video-groups. The TRAM was used as the guiding framework for thematic qualitative analysis. Among 106 participants, there was a general willingness to participate in video-groups. TRAM constructs were present in the data—with perceived usefulness (extent that participating in a technology-based program would facilitate group intervention behaviors) and insecurity (distrust/skepticism of technology) emerging as the most salient themes. The TRAM alone did not account for concerns related to group settings or the level of privacy needed when talking about HIV.
Horseback riding-related injuries treated in emergency departments: Risk factors and prevention strategies.

Abstract Introduction Despite inherit dangers of horseback riding (HBR), research on HBR-related injuries is sparse. This study used both quantitative and qualitative methods to (1) examine HBR-related injuries treated in emergency departments (EDs) and associated risk factors and (2) explore HBR-related injury experiences and recommendations for prevention strategies from the perspective of riders. Method: We retrospectively analyzed data from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS), identifying HBR-related ED visits between 2010 and 2014. Additionally, we conducted 10 phone interviews with active horseback riders to understand their experiences and perspectives regarding HBR-related injuries and recommendations for prevention measures. Results: A total of 21,899 ED visits for HBR-related injuries were identified. When weighted, these represented 100,964 ED visits in the United States. Females had a consistently higher proportion of ED visits compared to males across the study period, with the proportion of ED visits being highest in females aged 15–19. Most injuries (85.9%) were treated and released from the ED. Three primary themes were identified as key to the prevention of HBR-related injuries: (1) rider safety (e.g., use of protective equipment), (2) external factors (e.g., awareness of environment), and (3) rider and horse interactions (e.g., matching skill level of the rider to the horse). Conclusions: Results indicate that HBR-related injuries treated in EDs are prevalent, with female riders aged 15–19 years having the highest proportion of injuries treated in EDs. Practical Applications: There is a critical need for injury prevention programs that not only promote the use of protective equipment, but that also educate horseback riders on horse behavior, the proper handling of horses, and safe riding practices.
Increased Inpatient Length of Stay After Early Unplanned Transfer to Higher Levels of Care.

Patients admitted to a medical-surgical unit infrequently require early transfer to higher level care, although how their inpatient length of stay compares to untransferred patients, or those directly admitted to intermediate care, is unknown. We sought to compare the inpatient length of stay of these groups. Design Single-site retrospective analysis. Setting An academic hospital specializing in complex care. Patients We evaluated 23,694 patients admitted to the Hospital Internal Medicine service over a 4-year period (January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2016). Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results Using 6- and 24-hour definitions of early transfer, we categorized patients as admitted to medical-surgical unit without early transfer (medical-surgical unit), transferred (TX) early to higher level care, or initially admitted to an intermediate care unit. We report patient characteristics and inpatient length of stay adjusted for patient demographics (age and sex) and initial acuity (measured by Emergency Severity Index). There were significant increases in both unadjusted inpatient length of stay (6 hr: medical-surgical unit = 73.4 hr, TX = 137.9 hr, intermediate care unit = 101.1 hr; 24 hr: medical-surgical unit = 72.4 hr, TX = 141.9 hr, intermediate care unit = 98.2 hr; p < 0.01 for all groups) and adjusted inpatient length of stay (6-hr definition: medical-surgical unit = 50.9 hr [95% CI, 50.3-51.6 hr], TX = 100.4 hr [90.4-112.0 hr], intermediate care unit = 72.3 hr [70.6-74.0 hr]; 24-hr definition: medical-surgical unit = 50.3 hr [49.7-50.9 hr], TX = 108.3 hr [101.5-116.0 hr], intermediate care unit = 70.7 hr [69.0-72.3 hr]; p < 0.0001 for comparison of TX to medical-surgical unit and intermediate care unit in both groups). The increases in inpatient length of stay for the TX groups were not explained by differences in demographics or acuity. Conclusions In a single facility study, patients admitted to a medical/surgical unit who require early transfer to intermediate care unit have a significant and unexplained increase in inpatient length of stay. This unexplained increased inpatient length of stay suggests that triage to the appropriate inpatient unit significantly affects inpatient length of stay.
Distraction of Connected Vehicle Human–Machine Interface for Truck Drivers:

Connected vehicle (CV) technology aims to improve drivers’ situational awareness through audible and visual warnings, commonly displayed on a human–machine interface (HMI), thus reducing the likeli...
Extreme Ideas Emerging from Social Conformity and Homophily: An Adaptive Social Network Model

Extreme ideas and opinions are commonly seen growing in many aspects of today's society, ranging from political ideology to healthcare choices and from dietary preferences to technological innovati...
Economic evaluation of point of care universal newborn screening for glucose-6-Phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in United States.

Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is frequent inherited enzymopathy that poses potentially preventable risk for extreme hyperbilirubinemia (EHB) which can, rarely, lead to acute b...
Microbial Diversity of Adult Aedes aegypti and Water Collected from Different Mosquito Aquatic Habitats in Puerto Rico

Mosquitoes, the major vectors of viruses like dengue, are naturally host to diverse microorganisms, which play an important role in their development, fecundity, immunity, and vector competence. The composition of their microbiota is strongly influenced by the environment, particularly their aquatic larval habitat. In this study, we used 2×300 bp 16s Illumina sequencing to compare the microbial profiles of emerging adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and the water collected from common types of aquatic habitat containers in Puerto Rico, which has endemic dengue transmission. We sequenced 141 mosquito and 46 water samples collected from plastic containers, septic tanks, discarded tires, underground trash cans, tree holes, or water meters. We identified 9 bacterial genera that were highly prevalent in the mosquito microbiome, and 77 for the microbiome of the aquatic habitat. The most abundant mosquito-associated bacterial OTUs were from the families Burkholderiaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Comamonadaceae, and Xanthomonadaceae. Microbial profiles varied greatly between mosquitoes, and there were few major differences explained by container type; however, the microbiome of mosquitoes from plastic containers was more diverse and contained more unique taxa than the other groups. Container water was significantly more diverse than mosquitoes, and our data suggest that mosquitoes filter out many bacteria, with Alphaproteobacteria in particular being far more abundant in water. These findings provide novel insight into the microbiome of mosquitoes in the region and provide a platform to improve our understanding of the fundamental mosquito-microbe interactions.
Cylinders and jets in crossflow: Wake formations as a result of varying geometric proximities

The combined flow physics of several canonical flow configurations is experimentally studied. Here, we analyze an array of jets issuing into a crossflow, then immediately navigating past an array of cylinders. This is achieved with a 2 × 3 triangular pattern of jets and symmetric cylinders at three jets to crossflow velocity ratios, enabling near-complete optical access of each jet, with velocities measured by time-resolved particle image velocimetry. Jet trajectories reveal that each configuration adheres to a power-law trend and that greater penetration is achieved by the downstream and confined jets compared to the more conventional upstream one. Recirculation regions of the upstream and downstream jets are nearly independent, with the confined jet encompassing regions of overlap with both. Turbulent statistics reveal the influence of geometric placement and velocity ratio on the time-averaged velocity, anisotropy, and Reynolds stresses incurred by each jet. Galilean decomposition utilizes a supplemental crossflow-only velocity field to delineate the influence of each jet's low- and high-pressure regions on the otherwise uniform stream. Proper orthogonal decomposition suggests that increased jet penetration decreases the number of modes required for truncation in the investigated spanwise plane. Vortex identification algorithms are applied to the reconstructed flow fields, reaffirming that with increasing velocity ratio, the jets generate vortices of their own in similar statistical formations as the cylinders. This investigation provides a foundation to aid future modeling efforts toward characterizing flow physics of importance in designing and passively controlling transverse jets with varying blockage proximities in a crossflow.
Managing Co-Occurring Conflicts in Teams

This study extends prior research on conflict in teams by showing that a team’s chances of appropriately managing one type of conflict depends on what other types of conflicts are co-occurring. We interviewed 44 managers from different industries who had recently participated in a negotiating team, asking about within-team conflicts and how those conflicts were managed. The data showed that task conflict increased the likelihood that teams managed co-occurring procedural conflicts appropriately, but that procedural conflicts decreased the likelihood that teams managed co-occurring task conflicts appropriately. These results explain why some teams fail to realize the theorized benefits of task conflict and why procedural conflict does not always have a deleterious impact on team performance: The co-occurrence of these different types of conflict can alter what strategy a team uses to manage conflicts.
Definitions of Critical Risk Factors in an Effluent Drainage Network Project Using AHP: A Case of Study

High population growth and water quality are directly related to some critical factors in treatment plants, and are often not perceived or ignored for prevalent economic reasons. The present study aims to present the risk factors that can influence the decision-making process in an effluent drainage network project. The available literature on risk analysis for this type of process is limited. Through questionnaires responses by specialists in the area in social networks. As a result, the most critical factor is (a) possibility of reusing treated effluents, odour generation, interaction with the neighbourhood and regional environmental legislation (b) know the local legislation as the first condition for an effluent treatment project, it is important to note that differences in legislation often make it impossible to implement a treatment project that is successful in one state to another. (c) study of interaction with the neighbourhood must take into account so that there are no problems with the existing Environmental Legislation in order to minimize the problems with people living near the effluent treatment plants. The conclusion is that the proposed method is an invaluable source for environment professionals and decision makers, in the sense that it augments their information on drainage network projects and help to identify critical risks factors and allow the implementation of actions to avoid project failure.
Asymmetric Case; Comparison Principles and Applications

We wish to estimate the behavior of capillary surfaces in tubes of general section. We approach the problem in the spirit of the preceding chapter, and attempt to gain information by comparison of a given solution with an explicitly known “near solution” of the equation. Since symmetry will no longer be assumed, we need a more sophisticated tool than Lemma 4.11, and we have recourse to a form of the maximum principle for elliptic equations. The statement we give is formally analogous to the familiar maximum principle for the Laplace operator; however there is an important new feature, which reflects itself in some striking distinctions, between the behavior of capillary surfaces and that of surfaces determined by the solutions of linear elliptic equations.
Treating objects like women: The impact of terror management and objectification on the perception of women's faces

There is a modern trend whereby women’s beauty and attractiveness tends towards the artificial, which appears to be an extreme manifestation of objectification culture. Research suggests that sexual objectification has the ability to alter the way we perceive women. Objectification occurs, in part, because women’s bodies pose a unique existential threat, and objectifying women is believed to mitigate concerns about mortality because it transforms women into something inanimate and thus less mortal. We therefore hypothesized that priming death concerns should impact object-person recognition of women. In the present study we recruited 177 undergraduate students from a U.S. Midwestern university to participate in exchange for course credit. We utilized face-morphing techniques to create a series of images representing a continuum of artificial-to-real faces, and after being exposed to a death reminder (as opposed to a pain reminder comparison condition), we asked participants to rate the extent to which the image appeared artificial. Results suggested that death awareness biases people towards reporting artificial female (but not male) faces as real. Existential concerns about death have an impact on perceptual assessments of women, specifically women who have been turned into literal objects. Future research directions, limitations of the current study, and implications for improving women’s health and well-being with this added knowledge about objectification are discussed.
Confinement engineering of s − d exchange interactions in Ga 1 − x Mn x As ∕ Al y Ga 1 − y As quantum wells

Recent measurements of coherent electron spin dynamics reveal an antiferromagnetic s-d exchange coupling between conduction band electrons and electrons localized on Mn{2+} impurities in GaMnAs quantum wells. Here we discuss systematic measurements of the s-d exchange interaction in GaMnAs/AlGaAs quantum wells with different confinement potentials using time-resolved Kerr rotation. Extending previous investigations of the dependence of the s-d exchange, N{0}alpha, on well width, we find that its magnitude also depends on well depth. Both phenomena reduce to a general dependence on confinement energy, described by a band-mixing model of confinement-induced kinetic exchange in the conduction band.
Relation of In Vitro Inhibition by Chelates of Clostridium perfringens α-Toxin to Their Ability to Protect Against Experimental Toxemia

Abstract The inhibition of Clostridium perfringens α-toxin by ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) and diethylenetriaminepentacetate (DTPA) was studied utilizing three different in vitro assay procedures: diffusion on egg yolk-agar, disintegration of muscle sections, and manometric assay with partially purified lecithin as substrate. DTPA was 10 to 20 times more efficient as an inhibitor than EDTA in systems containing relatively large amounts of calcium; these observations were similar to those observed in previous in vivo protection studies. A number of other chelating agents were tested for their ability to inhibit α-toxin in vitro and protect mice against it; the chelating agents which were the most efficient in vitro inhibitors had the greatest in vivo protective ability.
STUDIES OF ION SOLVATION USING PULSE RADIOLYSIS

In this paper we describe our measurements of ion solvation in a series of alcohols. Benzophenone is dissolved in an alcohol at a sufficiently high concentration so that the electrons formed by radiation will react with the benzophenone molecule to form the anion. The spectrum of the anion is then observed as a function of time. As the benzophenone anion solvates, the spectrum shifts to the blue. The results of our measurements clearly show that both the size of the solvent molecules and their shapes are important in the solvation process. Different spectral relaxation processes are observed for ions than are observed for electron solvation, the simple'' ion system that has been most heavily studied. In addition, these results suggest that the rate of solvation may be different for ions in solution than for dipoles in solution. 26 refs., 3 figs.
Implementation of a coastal decision making system using internet and wireless technologies

This paper presents results of a coastal decision making system that utilizes the following tools: Internet, wireless technology, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The developed system consists of an on-site mobile spatial subsystem, a coastal structure permitting subsystem, and a web-based shoreline erosion awareness subsystem. The system is being tested and developed for applications in the Lake Erie, Ohio and will be adapted to the Tampa Bay, Florida area.
Adaptive OFDM synchronization using quadratic search step sizes

Conventional blind joint symbol time offset (STO) and carrier frequency offset (CFO) estimators for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems are high in computational complexity, which increases power consumption and reduces the lifetime of the communications device. In this paper, a novel, real-time, low complexity, blind, and adaptive synchronization algorithm for OFDM systems is presented. It is shown through simulation that the proposed estimator performs better than previously proposed adaptive and conventional non-adaptive algorithms in terms of mean squared error (MSE) once the algorithm has converged, has quicker convergence times than previously proposed adaptive algorithms, and is robust to both small and large changes in STO.
Exponents of bulk heat transfer in convective turbulence

We discuss rigorous results regarding the dependence of the Nusselt number upon Rayleigh number. We find that the exponent 2/7 is obtained if a certain quantitative condition holds; this condition can be interpreted as one of relative horizontal smoothnes of time averaged temperature profiles or as a separation between the thermal and viscous boundary layers.
Maternal Reactions to Involuntary Fetal/Infant Death

(1980). Maternal Reactions to Involuntary Fetal/Infant Death. Psychiatry: Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 155-159.
Far-Ultraviolet and Hα Imaging of Nearby Spiral Galaxies: The OB Stellar Population in the Diffuse Ionized Gas

We have compared Hα and far-ultraviolet (FUV) images of 10 nearby spirals, with the goal of understanding the contribution of field OB stars to the ionization of the diffuse ionized gas (DIG) in spiral galaxies. The FUV images were obtained by the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UIT), and the Hα images were obtained using various ground-based telescopes. In all of the galaxies, the FHα/FUIT flux ratio is lower in the DIG than in the H II regions. This is likely an indication that the mean spectral type for OB stars in the field is later than that in H II regions. Comparison of the NLyc/LUIT ratio with models of evolving stellar populations shows that the stellar population in the DIG is consistent with either an older single-burst population or a steady state model with constant star formation and an initial mass function (IMF) slope steeper than α = 2.35. The steady state model is probably a more realistic representation of the stellar population outside of H II regions. The steep IMF slope simulates the steep present-day mass function slope expected for field OB stars and does not necessarily indicate that the IMF slope is actually steeper than α = 2.35. We compared the FHα/FUIT ratio in the DIG of these galaxies with that in M33, in which the field OB stellar population has previously been investigated using Hubble Space Telescope images. If the mean spectral types of stars in H II regions and in the DIG are the same as in M33 and the difference in extinction between DIG and H II regions is constant among galaxies, then the analysis suggests that field stars are important sources of ionization in most galaxies and may be the dominant source in some galaxies. The FHα/FUIT ratio is correlated with Hα surface brightness in both DIG and H II regions, although there is a large scatter in faint H II regions, which may be due to undersampling the IMF in regions with a low total mass of stars formed. The FHα/FUIT ratio is often highest in the centers of galaxies and in the spiral arms, which is also where the DIG is brightest. This can be explained if the extinction is greater in these regions or if the fraction of DIG ionized by leakage is lower in the interarm regions.
The amino acid sequence of the carboxyl-terminal CNBr-fragment of α1-acid glycoprotein

Abstract Specific fragmentation with cyanogen bromide and subsequent reduction and carboxymethylation of α 1 -acid glycoprotein (orosmucoid), a normal human plasma protein, permitted isolation of a large fragment which was free of carbohydrate and was shown to represent the carboxyl-terminus of this protein. The amino acid sequence of this fragment which consisted of 70 residues and contained a remarkably high number of acidic and basic amino acids, was established.
Determination of the Sampling Factor in a Phase-Diverse Phase Retrieval Algorithm

The sampling factor (Q) determines the scale relationship between the pupil and image plane. Knowledge of this quantity is essential for obtaining accurate retrieval results. We present a method for determining Q from image data.
The Stochastic Finite Element Simulation of Parallel Fiber Composites

A method is presented of simulating the randomly occurring damage in a parallel fiber composite subject to static loading. A three-dimensional finite element is used for the matrix material and a two-node truss element for the fibers. Individual fiber strengths vary randomly along their lengths and a series of problems are solved, successively accounting for the failure of the lowest strength remaining fiber. Stress concentration effects intro duced by fiber failure are considered. Force-deflection curves are obtained. Failure stress of the entire model can be estimated by observing the num ber of fiber failures per load increment.
Predicting kissing interactions in microRNA–target complex and assessment of microRNA activity

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short RNA molecules that play an important role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Computational prediction of the miRNA target sites in mRNA is crucial for understanding the mechanism of miRNA-mRNA interactions. We here develop a new computational model that allows us to treat a variety of miRNA-mRNA kissing interactions, which have been ignored in the currently existing miRNA target prediction algorithms. By including all the different inter- and intra-molecular base pairs, this new model can predict both the structural accessibility of the target sites and the binding affinity (free energy). Applications of the model to a test set of 105 miRNA-gene systems show a notably improved success rate of 83/105. We found that although the binding affinity alone predicts the miRNA repression efficiency with a high success rate of 73/105, the structure in the seed region can significantly influence the miRNA activity. The method also allows us to efficiently search for the potent miRNA from a pool of miRNA candidates for any given gene target. Furthermore, extension of the method may enable predictions of the three-dimensional (3D) structures of miRNA/mRNA complexes.
Explaining sudden losses of outer radiation belt electrons during geomagnetic storms

Geomagnetic storms driven by the solar wind can cause a dramatic drop in the flux of high-energy electrons in the Earth’s outer Van Allen belt. Analysis of data obtained during such an event by three different sets of spacecraft suggests that these electrons are directed into space rather than lost to the atmosphere.
Archaeal mysteries of the deep revealed.

Many new microbial lineages have recently been discovered in the course of ribosomal RNA-based environmental surveys (1). Although the recognition of such extensive diversity has been exhilarating, it also raises large questions about the nature, activities, and ecological significance of all this newly recognized microbial life. What are the specific biological properties of environmentally abundant but previously unrecognized microbial groups? Are these new microbes significantly different from commonly cultivated laboratory strains? Do ubiquitous, newly recognized microbial species significantly impact their surrounding environment, and if so, how? In this issue of PNAS, the work of Ingalls et al. (2) illustrates one powerful approach for addressing such questions. These authors, led by Ann Pearson of Harvard University, used compound-specific isotope analyses (3) to track the flow of organic and inorganic carbon into the lipids of naturally occurring Archaea in deep ocean waters. Their results extend and confirm the notion that one group of marine Archaea, the Crenarchaea, are autotrophic and derive their carbon from CO2. Ingalls et al. (2) convincingly demonstrate that CO2 is a main carbon source for deep-sea Crenarchaea, indicating one major biogeochemical role for Archaea in the sea. Archaea have a dramatically different lipid composition compared with other cellular life. Although Bacteria and Eucarya possess mainly ester-linked fatty acids in their lipids, archaeal cell membranes are composed predominantly of ether-linked isoprenoid core lipids (structure I, for example, in Fig. 1 B ). Some Archaea biosynthesize lipid bilayers composed of 20-carbon isoprenoid units, individually linked to a single glycerol backbone by an ether bond—these form conventional lipid bilayers. Other archaeal lipids include 40-carbon isoprenoids that are ether-linked at either end of their carbon chain to glycerol, thereby spanning the entire membrane in a tetraether monolayer (structure I in Fig. 1 B ). These unique lipids provide specific biomarkers that … *E-mail: delong{at}mit.edu
Empirical regularities of atomic ionization potentials

Abstract Regularities of the averaged ionization potentials for atoms and ions containing up to 18 electrons are studied in detail. It is shown that a two-variable function constructed from the averaged ionization potentials for each subshell is linear with respect to the degree of ionization q and the occupancy k of the sk or pk subshell. One linearity includes previous findings as a special case, and the other introduces a new regularity for atomic ionization potentials. Existing atomic ionization potentials and electron affinities are analyzed employing the regularities, and improved values of these quantities as well as term and fine structure separations in negative ions are derived.
Bis{4,4′,6,6′-tetra­chloro-2,2′-[trans-(R,R)-cyclo­hexane-1,2-diylbis(imino­methyl­ene)]diphenolato-κ4O,N,N′,O′}zirconium(IV)

The title mononuclear complex, [Zr(C20H20Cl4N2O2)2], was obtained by allowing hexane to diffuse into a diethyl ether solution of zirconium(IV) sec-butoxide and the enanti­o­meri­cally pure tetra­dentate ligand N,N′-bis­(3,5-dichloro-2-hy­droxy­benz­yl)-trans-(R,R)-1,2-diamino­cyclo­hexane. The metal centre is eight-coordinate and displays a distorted dodeca­hedral coordination environment with average Zr—O and Zr—N bond lengths of 2.082 (9) and 2.441 (8) A, respectively. In the crystal structure, complex mol­ecules are linked by inter­molecular C—H⋯Cl hydrogen-bond inter­actions into zigzag chains running parallel to the [101] direction. C—H⋯O and N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds are also present.
Longitudinal relations of television, electronic games, and digital versatile discs with changes in diet in adolescents

Background: Youth spend more time with screens than any activity except sleeping. Screen time is a risk factor for obesity, possibly because of the influence of food and beverage advertising on diet. Objective: We sought to assess longitudinal relations of screen time [ie, television, electronic games, digital versatile discs (DVDs)/videos, and total screen time] with the 2-y changes in consumption of foods of low nutritional quality (FLNQ) that are commonly advertised on screens [ie, sugar-sweetened beverages, fast food, sweets, salty snacks, and the sum of these foods (total FLNQ)] and fruit and vegetables. Design: With the use of 2004, 2006, and 2008 waves of the Growing Up Today Study II, which consisted of a cohort of 6002 female and 4917 male adolescents aged 9–16 y in 2004, we assessed screen time (change and baseline) in relation to the 2-y dietary changes. Regression models included 4604 girls and 3668 boys with complete screen time and diet data on ≥2 consecutive questionnaires. Results: Each hour-per-day increase in television, electronic games, and DVDs/videos was associated with increased intake of total FLNQ (range: 0.10–0.28 servings/d; P < 0.05). Each hour-per-day increase in total screen time predicted increased intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages, fast food, sweets, and salty snacks (range: 0.02–0.06 servings/d; P < 0.001) and decreased intakes of fruit and vegetables (range: −0.05 to −0.02 servings/d; P < 0.05). Greater screen time at baseline (except electronic games in boys) was associated with subsequent increased intake of total FLNQ, and greater screen time at baseline (except DVDs/videos) was associated with decreased intake of fruit and vegetables (P < 0.05). Across sex and food groups and in sensitivity analyses, television was most consistently associated with dietary changes. Conclusions: Increases in screen time were associated with increased consumption of foods and beverages of low nutritional quality and decreased consumption of fruit and vegetables. Our results caution against excessive use of screen media, especially television, in youth.