cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Statistical Classification 1

I present herewith four-cell coefficients calculated from data given in two recent midwestern archaeological reports by Webb and Griffin. The purpose is not controversial, since in a simple situation involving a small number of culturally related sites a competent archaeologist saturated in his material can draw all important classificatory inferences and it would be vain to hope that any statistical device would add anything fundamental. What calculations can do in such a case is this: (1) Check errors and oversights of “intuitive” or inspectional interpretation. This of course holds both ways: if there is serious disagreement, a coraputatory error may be at fault. (2) Present results with added clarity and incisiveness, especially after numerical coefficients have been translated into diagrams. (3) Indicate minor revisions of classification. (4) Sometimes suggest the factor at work if a classification comes out conflicting or dubious at certain points.
Catch a number

Try these ideas for number games and activities including counting, estimating, ordering, and number recognition using props such as magnetic numbers, buttons, sorting pots, number cards and more.
The large eddy simulation capability of Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations: Analytical results

A highly attractive idea to overcome shortcomings of both Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and large eddy simulation (LES) equations is the implementation of LES capability in RANS models. However, this approach faces questions regarding (i) the measurement of resolved motion and equivalence of various equations having the same resolution, (ii) the continuous variation of resolved and modeled motion under grid variations, and (iii) the explanation of how resolved motion and scaling variables in LES depend on the grid. Corresponding analytical results (addressing the resolution measurement, equivalence of equations, and resolution control) are reported, and grid effects (including the scaling of computational cost) are discussed.
Magnetoencephalography for localizing and characterizing the epileptic focus

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is the noninvasive measurement of the miniscule magnetic fields produced by electrical currents flowing in the brain-the same neuroelectric activity that produces the EEG. MEG is one of several diagnostic tests employed in the evaluation of patients with epilepsy, but without the need to expose the patient to any potentially harmful agents. MEG is especially important in those being considered for epilepsy surgery, in whom accurate localization of the epileptic focus is paramount. While other modalities infer brain function indirectly by measuring changes in blood flow, metabolism, oxygenation, etc., MEG, as well as EEG, measures neuronal and synaptic function directly and, like EEG, MEG enjoys submillisecond temporal resolution. The measurement of magnetic fields provides information not only about the amplitude of the current but also its orientation. MEG picks up the magnetic field from neuromagnetometers surrounding the head in a helmet-shaped array of sensors. Clinical whole-head systems currently have 200-300 magnetic sensors, thereby offering very high resolution. The magnetic signals are not distorted by anatomy, because magnetic susceptibility is the same for all tissues, including the skull. Hence, MEG allows for a more accurate measurement and localization of brain activities than does EEG. Because one of its primary strengths is the ability to precisely localize electromagnetic activity within brain areas, MEG results are always coregistered to the patient's MRI. When combined in this way with structural imaging, it has been called magnetic source imaging (MSI), but MEG is properly understood as a clinical neurophysiologic diagnostic test. Signal processing and clinical interpretation in magnetoencephalography require sophisticated noise reduction and computerized mathematical modeling. Technological advances in these areas have brought MEG to the point where it is now part of routine clinical practice. MEG has become an indispensable part of the armamentarium at epilepsy centers where MEG laboratories are located, especially when patients are MRI-negative or where results of other structural and functional tests are not entirely concordant.
Weakly Chained Spaces.

We introduce "weakly chained spaces", which need not be locally connected or path connected, but for which one has a reasonable notion of generalized fundamental group and associated generalized universal cover. We show that in the compact metric case, weakly chained is equivalent to the concept of "pointed 1-movable" from classical shape theory. We use this fact and a theorem of Geoghegan-Swenson to give criteria on the metric spheres in a CAT(0) space that imply that the boundary is has semistable fundamental group at infinity.
A Neuromorphic Architecture for Disruption Tolerant Networks

We introduce a neuromorphic architecture that is suitable for computing the next-hop for bundles in a disruption or delay-tolerant network. We define gateways that use spiking neural networks (SNN) that learn how to make autonomous routing decisions by observing single-hop bundle transmission performance and without requiring knowledge of the global network state. To formulate learning rewards, the gateways predict the end-to-end response time using local information. The rewards are then absorbed into the synapse strengths of the SNNs which estimate the relative Q-values of the next-hop alternatives for the next bundles. The use of the SNNs leads to improved routing performance with respect to performance goals of interest. Unlike comparable routing techniques, the proposed method achieves traffic balancing when multiple outbound links are available to send bundles to their next hop. An experimental evaluation of a proof-of-concept confirms that the proposed architecture is able to achieve high performance despite the presence of different kinds of communication impairments, such as frequent and lengthy link disruptions, long propagation delays and erratic transmission performance.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy

Stereotactic body radiation therapy constitutes an emerging therapeutic paradigm. These treatments are unique relative to the large body of experience with conventional fractionated radiotherapy. On the basis of the treatment principles of intracranial stereotactic radiation combined with enhancements associated with immobilization and imaging, the role of extracranial treatment continues to evolve. However, most clinical reports on extracranial treatments suffer from short or incomplete follow-up, making final assessments of benefit and toxicity, particularly late toxicity, problematic. These techniques are centered on a very basic understanding of the use of ionizing radiation for the treatment of cancer. Nonetheless, they do require a unique and special understanding of radiobiologic and physics principles. It is hoped that using high-dose, single-fraction treatment or a few fractions of treatment, the therapeutic ratio is improved, thus potentially changing the way some cancers are treated. Ideally, all patients receiving such treatments would be enrolled in formal protocols. As data accrue and understanding of these techniques improve, it will be possible to better define the indications for stereotactic body radiation therapy. At that time, appropriate applications can be submitted for permanent billing codes that will describe a process of care that embraces this technology without vendor favoritism. This review summarizes the state of stereotactic body radiation in 2005.
4D-MRI driven MR-guided online adaptive radiotherapy for abdominal stereotactic body radiation therapy on a high field MR-Linac: Implementation and initial clinical experience.

Abstract Background and purpose In this report, we describe our implementation and initial clinical experience using 4D-MRI driven MR-guided online adaptive radiotherapy (MRgOART) for abdominal stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) on the Elekta Unity MR-Linac. Materials and methods Eleven patients with abdominal malignancies were treated with free-breathing SBRT in three to five fractions on a 1.5 T MR-Linac. Online adaptive plans were generated using Adapt-To-Position (ATP) or Adapt-To-Shape (ATS) workflows based on motion averaged or mid-position images derived from a pre-beam 4D-MRI. A high performance server positioned on the local MR-Linac machine network was utilized for 4D-MR image reconstruction. A parallel contour editing approach was employed in the ATS workflow. Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and T2 mapping sequences were acquired during adaptive planning in both ATP and ATS workflows for treatment response monitoring. Adaptive plans were delivered under real-time cine image motion monitoring. Results The shortest 4D-MRI time-to-image was the motion averaged image, followed by mid position and respiratory binned images. In this cohert of patients, 50% of treatments utilized the ATS workflow; the remaining treatments utilized the ATP workflow. Mid-position images were utilized as daily planning images for two of the eleven patients. The mean daily adaptive plan secondary dose calculation and ArcCheck 3D Gamma passing rates were 97.5% (92.1–100.0%) and 99.3% (96.2–100.0%), respectively. The median overall treatment times for abdominal SBRT was 46 and 62 min for ATP and ATS workflows, respectively. Conclusion We have successfully implemented and utilized a 4D-MRI driven MRgOART process with ATP and ATS workflows for free-breathing abdominal SBRT on a 1.5 T Elekta Unity MR-Linac.
Differential spatial processing in ventral and lateral face-selective regions is scaffolded by structural connections

Face-processing occurs across ventral and lateral visual streams, which are involved in static and dynamic face perception, respectively. However, the nature of spatial computations across streams is unknown. Using functional MRI and novel population receptive field (pRF) mapping, we measured pRFs in face-selective regions. Results reveal that spatial computations by pRFs in ventral face-selective regions are concentrated around the center of gaze (fovea), but spatial computations in lateral face-selective regions extend peripherally. Diffusion MRI reveals that these differences are mirrored by a preponderance of white matter connections between ventral face-selective regions and foveal early visual cortex (EVC), while connections with lateral regions are distributed more uniformly across EVC eccentricities. These findings suggest a rethinking of spatial computations in face-selective regions showing that they vary across ventral and lateral streams, and further propose that spatial processing in high-level regions is scaffolded by the fine-grain pattern of white matter connections from EVC.
The precious fluorine on the ring: fluorine NMR for biological systems

The fluorine-19 nucleus was recognized early to harbor exceptional properties for NMR spectroscopy. With 100% natural abundance, a high gyromagnetic ratio (83% sensitivity compared to 1H), a chemical shift that is extremely sensitive to its surroundings and near total absence in biological systems, it was destined to become a favored NMR probe, decorating small and large molecules. However, after early excitement, where uptake of fluorinated aromatic amino acids was explored in a series of animal studies, 19F-NMR lost popularity, especially in large molecular weight systems, due to chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) induced line broadening at high magnetic fields. Recently, two orthogonal approaches, (i) CF3 labeling and (ii) aromatic 19F-13C labeling leveraging the TROSY (Transverse Relaxation Optimized Spectroscopy) effect have been successfully applied to study large biomolecular systems. In this perspective, we will discuss the fascinating early work with fluorinated aromatic amino acids, which reveals the enormous potential of these non-natural amino acids in biological NMR and the potential of 19F-NMR to characterize protein and nucleic acid structure, function and dynamics in the light of recent developments. Finally, we explore how fluorine NMR might be exploited to implement small molecule or fragment screens that resemble physiological conditions and discuss the opportunity to follow the fate of small molecules in living cells.
Observations on opening and closing the abdominal incision for cytoreductive surgery using a self-retaining retractor to reduce the incidence of incisional hernia.

Abstract Background Cytoreductive surgery for resection of peritoneal metastases requires an incision from the xyphoid process to the pubic rami. Laboratory and clinical data from randomized trials have shown that small (0.5–1.0 cm) bites of a running suture closely spaced (0.5 cm) through an isolated midline fascia results in the lowest incidence of incisional hernia. Methods Manuscripts were used to formulate criteria for optimal closure of a long midline abdominal incision. Using these conclusions as a starting point, surgical technology to achieve an optimal wound closure were formulated. Results A fixed retractor was placed prior to performing an abdominal incision. Skin traction sutures elevate the skin and subcutaneous tissue to facilitate fascial incision directly through the linea alba. Peritoneum and preperitoneal fat beneath the posterior rectus sheath are resected. Separations of the anterior and posterior rectus sheath are repaired prior to fascial closure. When closing the incision, a running suture of closely spaced small bites is used to bring the fascial edges together in the absence of excess tension. During closure of the fascia exposure of the linea alba with the skin traction sutures facilitates accurate placement of fascia only sutures. Conclusions Optimal exposure of abdominal wall structures while opening and closing a long midline abdominal incision will minimize the incidence of incisional hernia. A fixed retractor and skin traction sutures are required.
The Renewed Relevancy of High-Impact Practices (HIP): Doubling Down on our HIP Identity in Support of Responsible IB Education

While the utilization of High-Impact Practices (HIPs) in higher education is not a new phenomenon, their potential value to international business (IB) education should not be overlooked or underestimated, especially at a time when IB educators need to act strategically and demonstrate the relevancy and value-proposition of IB education in developing global leaders. This article examines the intrinsic value of IB’s interdisciplinary nature and its important relationship with globalization. It then explores two HIPs, e-portfolios and phenomenon-based capstone projects, which are uniquely positioned to enhance and showcase the inherent transformative nature of IB learning and highlight its distinct pedagogical approach.
Economic Value in Spinal Tumor Surgery

The field of spine surgery, including spine oncology, may be a unique target of future efforts to encourage appropriate patient selection, promote more efficient resource allocation, and decrease sizable end-of-life care costs. This chapter examines recent trends, defines the measurement of economic value, and elucidates economic value within the context of specific spinal tumor interventions. The economic value framework of assessing outcomes relative to costs over time is a useful tool for studying and interpreting the benefits of oncologic spine interventions. When comparing the cost-effectiveness of new interventions and technologies or analyzing current strategies being utilized to increase value, it is important to critically examine the methodology used to benchmark associated outcomes and costs.
Ready, Set, Launch: Time Interval between a Binary Neutron Star Merger and Short Gamma-Ray Burst Jet Formation

The joint detection of GW170817/GRB 170817 confirmed the long-standing theory that binary neutron star mergers produce short gamma-ray burst (sGRB) jets that can successfully break out of the surrounding ejecta. At the same time, the association with a kilonova provided unprecedented information regarding the physical properties (such as masses and velocities) of the different ejecta constituents. Combining this knowledge with the observed luminosities and durations of cosmological sGRBs detected by the Burst Alert Telescope onboard the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, we revisit the breakout conditions of sGRB jets. Assuming self-collimation of sGRB jets does not play a critical role, we find that the time interval between the binary merger and the launch of a typical sGRB jet is ≾0.1 s. We also show that for a fraction of at least ~30% of sGRBs, the usually adopted assumption of static ejecta is inconsistent with observations, even if the polar ejecta mass is an order of magnitude smaller than that in GRB 170817. Our results disfavor magnetar central engines for powering cosmological sGRBs, limit the amount of energy deposited in the cocoon prior to breakout, and suggest that the observed delay of ~1.7 s in GW170817/GRB 170817 between the gravitational wave and gamma-ray signals is likely dominated by the propagation time of the jet to the gamma-ray production site.
Picometer-Precision Atomic Position Tracking through Electron Microscopy

The modern aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopes (AC-STEM) have successfully achieved direct visualization of atomic columns with sub-angstrom resolution. With this significant progress, advanced image quantification and analysis are still at the early stages. In this work, we present the complete pathway for the metrology of atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) images. This includes (1) tips for acquiring high-quality STEM images; (2) denoising and drift-correction for enhancing measurement accuracy; (3) obtaining initial atomic positions; (4) indexing the atoms based on unit cell vectors; (5) quantifying the atom column positions with either 2D-Gaussian single peak fitting or (6) multi-peak fitting routines for slightly overlapping atomic columns; (7) quantification of lattice distortion/strain within the crystal structures or at the defects/interfaces where the lattice periodicity is disrupted; and (8) some common methods to visualize and present the analysis. Furthermore, a simple self-developed free MATLAB app (EASY-STEM) with a graphical user interface (GUI) will be presented. The GUI can assist in the analysis of STEM images without the need for writing dedicated analysis code or software. The advanced data analysis methods presented here can be applied for the local quantification of defect relaxations, local structural distortions, local phase transformations, and non-centrosymmetry in a wide range of materials.
Structure of Geobacter pili reveals secretory rather than nanowire behaviour

Extracellular electron transfer by Geobacter species through surface appendages known as microbial nanowires1 is important in a range of globally important environmental phenomena2, as well as for applications in bio-remediation, bioenergy, biofuels and bioelectronics. Since 2005, these nanowires have been thought to be type 4 pili composed solely of the PilA-N protein1. However, previous structural analyses have demonstrated that, during extracellular electron transfer, cells do not produce pili but rather nanowires made up of the cytochromes OmcS2,3 and OmcZ4. Here we show that Geobacter sulfurreducens binds PilA-N to PilA-C to assemble heterodimeric pili, which remain periplasmic under nanowire-producing conditions that require extracellular electron transfer5. Cryo-electron microscopy revealed that C-terminal residues of PilA-N stabilize its copolymerization with PilA-C (to form PilA-N–C) through electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions that position PilA-C along the outer surface of the filament. PilA-N–C filaments lack π-stacking of aromatic side chains and show a conductivity that is 20,000-fold lower than that of OmcZ nanowires. In contrast with surface-displayed type 4 pili, PilA-N–C filaments show structure, function and localization akin to those of type 2 secretion pseudopili6. The secretion of OmcS and OmcZ nanowires is lost when pilA-N is deleted and restored when PilA-N–C filaments are reconstituted. The substitution of pilA-N with the type 4 pili of other microorganisms also causes a loss of secretion of OmcZ nanowires. As all major phyla of prokaryotes use systems similar to type 4 pili, this nanowire translocation machinery may have a widespread effect in identifying the evolution and prevalence of diverse electron-transferring microorganisms and in determining nanowire assembly architecture for designing synthetic protein nanowires. Structural, functional and localization studies reveal that Geobacter sulfurreducens pili cannot behave as microbial nanowires, instead functioning in a similar way to secretion pseudopili to export cytochrome nanowires that are essential for extracellular electron transfer.
Association between Opioids Prescribed to Medical Inpatients with Pain and Long-Term Opioid Use.

OBJECTIVES Opioid receipt during medical hospitalizations may be associated with subsequent long-term use. Studies, however, have not accounted for pain, which may explain chronic use. The objective of this study was to identify the association between opioid exposure during a medical hospitalization and use 6 to 12 months later. METHODS This was an observational cohort study using electronic health record data from 10 hospitals in the Cleveland Clinic Health System in 2016. Eligible patients were opioid-naive adults with pain age 18 years and older, admitted to a medical service. Outcomes were opioid receipt during hospitalization and on discharge, and long-term opioid use, defined as ≥2 prescriptions for at least 30 pills 6 to 12 months posthospitalization. We estimated the odds of long-term opioid use by opioid exposure during the hospitalization. Models controlled for patient demographic and clinical characteristics, including patient-reported pain. RESULTS Among the 2971 patients in the sample, 64% received opioids during their hospitalization and 28% were discharged with opioids. Overall, 3% of patients had long-term use. Higher pain score was associated with greater odds of long-term use (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] per point increase 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.19). No patient factors were associated with long-term use. Receipt of an opioid during a hospitalization only was not associated with long-term use (aOR 1.44, 95% CI 0.81-2.57), but receipt at discharge was (aOR 1.96, 95% CI 1.08-3.56). CONCLUSIONS Although opioid receipt at discharge was associated with long-term use, the number of patients this applied to was small. Pain severity was an important predictor of long-term use and should be accounted for in future studies.
Implications of Water Rights for Engineers

Water and water rights laws may have implications for engineers in connection with any project that affects water or will be affected by it. Such laws reflect the diverse interests of the federal government, states, municipalities, and private parties. Conflicts among these interests must be resolved in the light of complex constitutional, statutory, and common law principles. Applicable legal rules may affect the economic feasibility of a project in several ways. The feasibility of a federal project may depend in part on whether adversely affected private water rights will have to be paid for. In the case of a private project, compensation for such rights will generally be required. In addition, various types of licenses, permits and other rights may have to be obtained, and this should be done promptly to avoid possible additional or useless planning and construction costs. Engineers can serve their clients or employers by recognizing the possibility of legal problems and advising that timely legal counsel be obtained to solve them.
Germplasm Repositories for Plants

From the simple “system” of pre-1898, the program for plant germplasm preservation in the United States evolved into the regional station network of the 1940s and added a higher level of security with the establishment of the National Seed Storage Laboratory in the 1950s, and the inclusion of clonally propagated material at ten repositories established in the 1980s.
Effects of wave steepness and relative water depth on wave attenuation by emergent vegetation

Abstract A physical model experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of wave nonlinearity on the attenuation of irregular waves propagating through a stand of uniform, emergent vegetation in constant water depth. The experimental conditions spanned relative water depths from near shallow to near deep water waves (0.45
RECOVERY OF VIABILITY AND RADIATION RESISTANCE BY HEAT-INJURED CONIDIA OF PENICILLIUM EXPANSUM LK. EX THOM.

Spores heated in water at 54 C for up to 1 hr were plated on nutrient agar immediately or held for 3 days in aerated water at 23 C and then plated. Under these conditions, holding was optimal for recovery, increasing survival percentage up to 20-fold over values for immediate plating. Recovery was prevented partially or completely, however, when spores were held in any of the following solutions: glucose, potassium phosphate, ammonium or sodium acetate, sodium azide, or 2,4-dinitrophenol, or in the sodium or potassium salts of pyruvate, and tricarboxylic acid cycle acids. Both anaerobiosis and incubation at 0 C prevented recovery. Survivors of a heat treatment were more sensitive to gamma radiation than were unheated spores. Conditions which affected the recovery of viability had the same effect on restoration of radiation resistance. Thus, many of the processes for restoration of radiation resistance seem involved also in recovery of viability after heating. After a 99% inactivating treatment (about 30 min at 54 C), heated spores respired as fast as unheated spores, or faster. Malate, citrate, succinate, and acetate stimulated respiration in unheated spores and inhibited it in heated spores.
Bacteriological Quality of Runoff Water from Pastureland

Runoff from a cow-calf pasture in eastern Nebraska was monitored for total coliforms (TC), fecal coliforms (FC), and fecal streptococci (FS) during 1976, 1977, and 1978. Bacteriological counts in runoff from both grazed and ungrazed areas generally exceeded recommended water quality standards. The FC group was the best indicator group of the impact of grazing. Rainfall runoff from the grazed area contained 5 to 10 times more FC than runoff from the fenced, ungrazed area. There was little difference in TC counts between the two areas, but FS counts were higher in runoff from the ungrazed area and reflected the contributions from wildlife. Recommended bacteriological water quality standards, developed for point source inputs, may be inappropriate for characterizing nonpoint source pollution from pasture runoff. The FC/FS ratio in pasture runoff was useful in identifying the relative contributions of cattle and wildlife. Ratios below 0.05 were indicative of wildlife sources and ratios above 0.1 were characteristic of grazing cattle. Occasions when the FC/FS ratio of diluted cattle waste exceeded one resulted from differential aftergrowth and die-off between FC and FS. The FC/FS ratio and percentage of Streptococcus bovis in pasture runoff are useful indicators for evaluating the effectiveness of livestock management practices for minimizing bacterial contamination of surface water. The importance of choice of medium for the enumeration of FS in runoff derived from cattle wastes is discussed.
Trail Patterns in Social Tagging Systems: Role of Tags as Digital Pheromones

The popularity of social information systems has been driven by their ability to help users manage, organize and share online resources. Though the research exploring the use of tags is relatively new, two things are widely acknowledged in the research community: (a) tags act as a medium for social collaboration, navigation and browsing and (b) an overall stable equilibrium exists among tag patterns due to the social nature of the tagging process. But there is very little agreement on what causes these stable patterns. In this paper, we take an evolutionary perspective to understand the process of tagging to investigate whether tags act as "way finders" or digital pheromones in social tagging systems. We investigate the existence of tag trails based on a semantic similarity measure among existing tags. We found that over 50% of the resources we evaluated exhibited strong trail patterns. The implications of these patterns for the design and management of social tagging systems is discussed.
Panel Econometrics of Labor Market Outcomes

We survey some of the key problems confronting empirical applications in labor economics and how panel data can be utilized to robustly estimate parameters of economic interest. Topics include whether and how to introduce heterogeneity in intercept and slope parameters; measurement errors in regressors; endogeneity bias and associated panel instrumental variables estimators; sample composition dynamics to control for selection on (un)observables; and model specification and selection issues such as a static or dynamic framework. The pedagogical framework for our discussion is the Mincer-type human-capital wage equation used in quantifying the value of statistical life (VSL) in labor market data. We show in our application that whether we control for latent intercept heterogeneity is more important than how, and conditional on latent heterogeneity, the robust range of VSL estimates is in the $6 million $10 million range when we additionally address measurement error, endogeneity, and dynamics.
The hierarchical fair competition (HFC) model for parallel evolutionary algorithms

The HFC model for evolutionary computation is inspired by the stratified competition often seen in society and biology. Subpopulations are stratified by fitness. Individuals move from low-fitness subpopulations to higher-fitness subpopulations if and only if they exceed the fitness-based admission threshold of the receiving subpopulation, but not of a higher one. HFC's balanced exploration and exploitation, while avoiding premature convergence, is shown on a genetic programming example.
A Nutritional Formulation for Cognitive Performance in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Placebo-Controlled Trial with an Open-Label Extension

Thirty-four individuals with mild cognitive impairment were randomized for 6 months to a nutraceutical formulation (NF: folate, alpha-tocopherol, B12, S-adenosyl methioinine, N-acetyl cysteine, acetyl-L-carnitine) or indistinguishable placebo, followed by a 6-month open-label extension in which all individuals received NF. The NF cohort improved in the Dementia Rating Scale (DRS; effect size >0.7) and maintained baseline performance in CLOX-1. The placebo cohort did not improve in DRS and declined in CLOX-1, but during the open-label extension improved in DRS and ceased declining in CLOX-1. These findings extend prior studies of NF efficacy for individuals without cognitive impairment and with Alzheimer's disease.
Differential electrocardiographic artifact from implanted thalamic stimulator

Electrocardiographic (ECG) artifacts may interfere in ECG interpretation. Body movement, tremors, poor skin-electrode contact, recorder malfunction, electromagnetic interference and implantable electronic devices are the main reasons for ECG artifacts. Transcutaneous nerve and implanted spinal cord stimulators have been reported to result in ECG artifacts. With availability of newer implantable electronic devices, different ECG artifact patterns are being seen. Tremor control device is a newer implanted device used for suppression of tremors in patients with essential tremors or Parkinsonian tremors not adequately controlled by medications and where the tremor causes a significant functional incapacity. A differential pattern of ECG artifacts due to use of an implanted tremor control device is reported.
COMPLETION AND RESPONSE RATES FOR DIFFERENT FORMS OF INCOME QUESTIONS IN A MAIL SURVEY

In a mail survey, this experiment tested the hypotheses that return and completion rates to income questions could be increased by: (1) using wide instead of narrow categories and (2) reducing reactance by offering the respondent freedom of choice in reporting income. Neither hypothesis was supported. The results suggest that narrow categories be used if more detail on income would better fit the research objectives. In contrast to earlier research, this study questions the applicability of reactance theory to explaining responses to sensitive questions in a mail survey.
Light scattering study of structures in a smectic liquid crystal

The effect of surface treatment, sample thickness, and cooling rate on the structural order in the smectic phase of p-n-octyl-p′-cyano-biphenyl has been investigated by light scattering, and the results have been interpreted in terms of theories developed for crystalline polymers. Fan-shaped superstructures are found when the long dimension of the liquid crystal molecules is aligned parallel to the wall of a cell. But banded two-dimensional spherulites exist when the long dimension of the molecules is aligned perpendicular at one wall and parallel at the opposite wall. Uniaxially oriented rodlike structures are observed when the wall surface is lapped. Because surfaces have a strong effect, the superstructures are less highly ordered in thick than in thin cells. With an increase in cell thickness, the size of the superstructures increases along with the degree of disorder. If a sample is cooled rapidly to the solid state and then heated to the smectic state, the orderin the smectic liquid crystal is reduced, as shown by a marked increase in the effect of density fluctuations on light scattering patterns. In a sample cooled slowly from the nematic to the smectic state, light scattering results primarily from orientation fluctuations.
Noninvasive monitoring and tracking of muscle stem cell transplants.

Background. Efficient techniques to noninvasively monitor stem cell transplants will accelerate the development of stem cell therapies. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of labeled stem cells is a noninvasive approach that can provide images with high spatial resolution. In this report, we have evaluated the ability of a commercially available, FDA-approved contrast agent to allow for the monitoring of therapeutic stem cell transplants in murine dystrophic muscle. Methods. Multipotent, muscle-derived stem cells were labeled by incubation with ferumoxide:polycation complexes. Labeled stem cells were evaluated for the ability to differentiate into mature myotubes and be detected by high resolution MR images in vitro and in vivo. Results. Endosomal accumulation of superparamagnetic iron-oxide resulted in changes in the MR contrast T2 and T2*, allowing for three dimensional, noninvasive detection of labeled cells. Relaxivity measurements on cell phantoms indicate that less than eight labeled cells could be detected by MR imaging. Furthermore, therapeutic cellular grafts transplanted into dystrophic muscle could be imaged sequentially and these noninvasive images correlated with histological images obtained by conventional microscopy. Additional studies revealed that MR imaging is applicable to tracking the migration of a small number of labeled cells following arterial delivery. Conclusions. MR monitoring is a highly sensitive technique that is applicable to muscle stem cell transplantation. We anticipate that it will enhance stem cell investigations by reducing the need for invasive tissue harvests and biopsies.
Feedback rate optimization in receiver-coordinated distributed transmit beamforming for wireless power transfer

This paper considers the combination of receiver-coordinated distributed transmit beamforming with wireless power transfer in a narrowband wireless communication system. A single receiver measures the channel states of two or more independent transmit nodes and provides feedback to the transmitters to facilitate beamforming and passband signal alignment at the receiver. The receive node is equipped with energy harvesting and storage devices which can harvest and store the beamforming energy for future utilization. Since feedback improves the beamforming gain but requires the receiver to expend energy, there is an inherent tradeoff between the feedback rate and the efficiency of the energy harvesting at the receiver. This paper analyzes the optimal feedback rate to maximize the amount of energy harvested by the receive node per unit of time. Analysis shows that there always exists a unique optimal feedback rate for the system. Numerical results are also provided to confirm the analysis and demonstrate the effect of the feedback rate on the mean energy harvesting rate.
A developmental view of the undernourished child: background and purpose of the study in Pangalengan, Indonesia.

Objectives: This is the first of a series of reports published in this supplement of an experimental study to test the validity of a conceptual model about the intellectual delay of undernourished children. This paper describes the model and outlines its empirical and theoretical basis. The model provides a conceptual framework for the multiple relationships among growth and developmental domains presumably affected by malnutrition. It allows for a statistical statement regarding the goodness of fit between data and theory. The model also identifies particular hypotheses regarding multiple distinct pathways of human development. The following questions were addressed: (1) what are the effects of early supplementary feeding on the physical growth, motor development and activity, mental development and behavior of infants and toddlers who are nutritionally at risk? (2) What are the effects of a micronutrient supplement in the presence and absence of a high-energy supplement? (3) What are the moderating effects of developmental level and timing of the intervention. Design: The study was a randomized clinical trial involving two cohorts (12 and 18 months old) of nutritionally-at-risk children living in Pangalengan, West Java, Indonesia and three types of supplements: condensed milk+micronutrients; skimmed milk+micronutrients; and skimmed milk. The children were tested every 2 months for a period of 12 months. Sponsorship: Nestle Foundation. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000) 54, Suppl 2, S2–S10
Modulation of growth hormone-releasing factor-induced release of growth hormone from bovine pituitary cells

Abstract Growth hormone (GH)-releasing factor (GRF) at concentrations of 10−12 through 10−7M for 6 hr linearly increased GH release (b1 = 10.4 ± .3) from bovine anterior pituitary cells in culture. Maximum release of GH (262% above controls) occurred at 10−7M GRF. In contrast, GH release-inhibiting factor (SRIF) at 10−12 through 10−5M had no effect on basal concentrations of GH. In a second experiment, as the proportion of SRIF relative to GRF increased. SRIF suppression of GRF-induced GH release from anterior pituitary cells increased. In a third experiment, anterior pituitary cells cultured in media containing fetal calf serum (FCS) were treated with cortisol (0 or 10 ng/ml media) for 24 hr before exposure to 10−13 through 10−7M GRF. GRF linearly increased GH secretion (b1 = 7.4 ± .3) and cortisol augmented this response (b1 = 10.5 ± .6). However, when cells were cultured in media containing dextran-charcoal treated FCS, cortisol did not alter GRF-induced GH release. Our results demonstrate that GH response of bovine anterior pituitary cells to GRF was modulated negatively by SRIF. However, augmentation of GRF-induced GH release by cortisol was evident only when cells were cultured in media supplemented with untreated FCS.
Device Modeling using Neural Network Techniques for Solid State Power Amplifier Applications

In this paper, the integration of an advanced device model for solid state power amplifiers is proposed. The model accounts for both the static and dynamic response of HEMT devices very accurately. This large signal model utilizes a feed-forward neural network using the back-propagation method with the Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) algorithm. The model presented was used on a 3 MI 0.15 mum power pHEMT process developed by Triquint. Excellent agreement is observed between the advance model and measured DC, AC and load pull data.
Linear eddy mixing based tabulation and artificial neural networks for large eddy simulations of turbulent flames

Abstract A large eddy simulation (LES) sub-grid model is developed based on the artificial neural network (ANN) approach to calculate the species instantaneous reaction rates for multi-step, multi-species chemical kinetics mechanisms. The proposed methodology depends on training the ANNs off-line on a thermo-chemical database representative of the actual composition and turbulence (but not the actual geometrical problem) of interest, and later using them to replace the stiff ODE solver (direct integration (DI)) to calculate the reaction rates in the sub-grid. The thermo-chemical database is tabulated with respect to the thermodynamic state vector without any reduction in the number of state variables. The thermo-chemistry is evolved by stand-alone linear eddy mixing (LEM) model simulations under both premixed and non-premixed conditions, where the unsteady interaction of turbulence with chemical kinetics is included as a part of the training database. The proposed methodology is tested in LES and in stand-alone LEM studies of three distinct test cases with different reduced mechanisms and conditions. LES of premixed flame–turbulence–vortex interaction provides direct comparison of the proposed ANN method against DI and ANNs trained on thermo-chemical database created using another type of tabulation method. It is shown that the ANN trained on the LEM database can capture the correct flame physics with accuracy comparable to DI, which cannot be achieved by ANN trained on a laminar premix flame database. A priori evaluation of the ANN generality within and outside its training domain is carried out using stand-alone LEM simulations as well. Results in general are satisfactory, and it is shown that the ANN provides considerable amount of memory saving and speed-up with reasonable and reliable accuracy. The speed-up is strongly affected by the stiffness of the reduced mechanism used for the computations, whereas the memory saving is considerable regardless.
P-HRTF: Efficient personalized HRTF computation for high-fidelity spatial sound

Accurate rendering of 3D spatial audio for interactive virtual auditory displays requires the use of personalized head-related transfer functions (HRTFs). We present a new approach to compute personalized HRTFs for any individual using a method that combines state-of-the-art image-based 3D modeling with an efficient numerical simulation pipeline. Our 3D modeling framework enables capture of the listener's head and torso using consumer-grade digital cameras to estimate a high-resolution non-parametric surface representation of the head, including the extended vicinity of the listener's ear. We leverage sparse structure from motion and dense surface reconstruction techniques to generate a 3D mesh. This mesh is used as input to a numeric sound propagation solver, which uses acoustic reciprocity and Kirchhoff surface integral representation to efficiently compute an individual's personalized HRTF. The overall computation takes tens of minutes on multi-core desktop machine. We have used our approach to compute the personalized HRTFs of few individuals, and we present our preliminary evaluation here. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first commodity technique that can be used to compute personalized HRTFs in a lab or home setting.
Theoretical simulations of protective thin film Fabry-Pérot filters for integrated optical elements of diode pumped alkali lasers (DPAL)

The lifetime of Diode-Pumped Alkali Lasers (DPALs) is limited by damage initiated by reaction of the glass envelope of its gain medium with rubidium vapor. Rubidium is absorbed into the glass and the rubidium cations diffuse through the glass structure, breaking bridging Si-O bonds. A damage-resistant thin film was developed enhancing high-optical transmission at natural rubidium resonance input and output laser beam wavelengths of 780 nm and 795 nm, while protecting the optical windows of the gain cell in a DPAL. The methodology developed here can be readily modified for simulation of expected transmission performance at input pump and output laser wavelengths using different combination of thin film materials in a DPAL. High coupling efficiency of the light through the gas cell was accomplished by matching the air-glass and glass-gas interfaces at the appropriate wavelengths using a dielectric stack of high and low index of refraction materials selected to work at the laser energies and protected from the alkali metal vapor in the gain cell. Thin films as oxides of aluminum, zirconium, tantalum, and silicon were selected allowing the creation of Fabry-Perot optical filters on the optical windows achieving close to 100% laser transmission in a solid optic combination of window and highly reflective mirror. This approach allows for the development of a new whole solid optic laser.
Further studies of prothrombin derivatives.

SummaryPurified bovine prothrombin preparations may lose the property of clotting fibrinogen but retain esterase activity. It is likely that a single molecule possesses the 2 activities. When biothrombin has lost clotting activity and only esterase activity remains, it is called esterase thrombin.
Phonon Scattering in Lightly-Neutron-Irradiated Diamond

The role of defects in limiting the thermal conductivity of synthetic diamond films has not been fully explored. In order to shed light on phonon-defect interactions in this material, we have studied the thermal conductivity of single crystal diamond irradiated with fast neutrons. For low fluences neutrons produce lattice vacancies and small regions of disordered carbon [1], two important types of defects which occur in diamond films.
Pharmacologic Preconditioning: Translating the Promise

A transient, ischemia-resistant phenotype known as “ischemic tolerance” can be established in brain in a rapid or delayed fashion by a preceding noninjurious “preconditioning” stimulus. Initial preclinical studies of this phenomenon relied primarily on brief periods of ischemia or hypoxia as preconditioning stimuli, but it was later realized that many other stressors, including pharmacologic ones, are also effective. This review highlights the surprisingly wide variety of drugs now known to promote ischemic tolerance, documented and to some extent mechanistically characterized in preclinical animal models of stroke. Although considerably more experimentation is needed to thoroughly validate the ability of any currently identified preconditioning agent to protect ischemic brain, the fact that some of these drugs are already clinically approved for other indications implies that the growing enthusiasm for translational success in the field of pharmacologic preconditioning may be well justified.