cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Free rings of bouncing droplets: stability and dynamics

We present the results of a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of the stability of rings of millimetric droplets bouncing on the surface of a vibrating liquid bath. As the bath's vibrational acceleration is increased progressively, droplet rings are found to destabilize into a rich variety of dynamical states including steady rotational motion, periodic radial or azimuthal oscillations and azimuthal travelling waves. The instability observed is dependent on the ring's initial radius and drop number, and whether the drops are bouncing in- or out-of-phase relative to their neighbours. As the vibrational acceleration is further increased, more exotic dynamics emerges, including quasi-periodic motion and rearrangement into regular polygonal structures. Linear stability analysis and simulation of the rings based on the theoretical model of Couchman et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 871, 2019, pp. 212–243) largely reproduce the observed behaviour. We demonstrate that the wave amplitude beneath each drop has a significant influence on the stability of the multi-droplet structures: the system seeks to minimize the mean wave amplitude beneath the drops at impact. Our work provides insight into the complex interactions and collective motions that arise in bouncing-droplet aggregates.
DP-MAP: towards resistive dot-product engines with improved precision

The natural multiply and accumulate feature of memristor crossbar arrays promises unprecedented processing capabilities to resistive dot-product engines (DPEs), which can accelerate approximate matrix-vector multiplication. To overcome the challenges of low-precision devices and voltage drop over non-zero array parasitics, each matrix element can be represented using two memristors. In this paper, we propose differential pair map (DP-MAP) - the first matrix to memristor conductance mapping algorithm specifically designed for crossbars with a differential pair configuration. In contrast, previous works consider the differential pair configuration as an afterthought, which limits the achievable precision. The specified conductance values are next programmed to the memristor hardware using accurate closed-loop tuning. Analog computation with high precision is attained by judiciously selecting the conductance range and avoiding to explicitly decompose each matrix into a positive and negative component. Short run-time is achieved using a hierarchical optimization algorithm and two speed-up techniques. Compared with earlier studies, the computational accuracy is improved with 3.36X. This translates into signal and image compression with 61 % and 94% higher quality, respectively. The simulation time of complex physical systems modeled using partial differential equations (PDEs) is reduced with 5.87X.
Explainable Deep Learning for Biomarker Classification of OCT Images

Advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major health burden that can lead to irreversible vision loss in the elderly population. The early signs of AMD are drusen, which appear as yellowish deposits under the retina. The end-stages of AMD include two forms: wet AMD (neovascular) and geographic atrophy (GA, non-neovascular). We propose a deep learning approach using a pre-trained VGG-19 neural network to classify the optical coherence tomography (OCT) images into wet AMD, GA, drusen, and healthy images. To explain the results, we quantify and present the prediction confidence and reliability as well as the regions of interest deemed to be important by the deep learning model when classifying OCT images. The sensitivity of classification for wet AMD, GA, drusen, and healthy images was 91.67%, 88.00%, 96.30% and 100% respectively, with the most confident predictions being for the drusen and healthy images. Visual inspection of the misclassified images using heatmaps using the Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) algorithm revealed that, for most of the misclassified images that had high prediction confidence, the algorithm identified correctly more than one region of interest, each belonging to a different AMD category. We concluded that, rather than assigning just one label to an AMD image, algorithms for AMD classification should allow multi-labels as images generally show evidence of more than one stage of AMD simultaneously (e.g., drusen as the predominant region and GA as a small region of interest).
The relationship of syphilis to small vessel stroke in the absence of neurosyphilis: real or imaginary?

In a prospective study from Universidade Federal do Parana published in this issue of Revista Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, Ferreira and colleagues demonstrated an association between small vessel stroke and positive syphilis serology after excluding patients with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings consistent with neurosyphilis. The authors argue that this association is likely a consequence of endothelial dysfunction resulting from Treponema pallidum infection. Abnormalities of the CSF in early syphilis had been commonly recognized in multiple studies dating from the early 20th [...]
Abstract P828: Reducing and Sustaining "Door-To-Monitored Bed" Times in Patients Receiving Alteplase for Acute Stroke Symptoms

Background and Issues: Acute strokes are medical emergencies that require rapid assessment and treatment. Following treatments, focused and frequent monitoring is essential to quickly identify and ...
A Broadly Conserved Deoxycytidine Deaminase Protects Bacteria from Phage Infection

SUMMARY The El Tor biotype of Vibrio cholerae is responsible for perpetuating the longest cholera pandemic in recorded history (1961-current). The genomic islands VSP-1 and -2 are two understudied genetic features that distinguish El Tor from previous pandemics. To understand their utility, we calculated the co-occurrence of VSP genes across bacterial genomes. This analysis predicted the previously uncharacterized vc0175, herein renamed deoxycytidylate deaminase Vibrio (dcdV), is in a gene network with dncV, a cyclic GMP-AMP synthase involved in phage defense. DcdV consists of two domains, a P-loop kinase and a deoxycytidylate deaminase, that are required for the deamination of dCTP and dCMP, inhibiting phage predation by corrupting cellular nucleotide concentrations. Additionally, DcdV is post-translationally inhibited by a unique noncoding RNA encoded 5’ of the dcdV locus. DcdV homologs are conserved in bacteria and eukaryotes and our results identify V. cholerae DcdV as the founding member of a previously undescribed bacterial phage defense system.
Patients Undergoing Bilateral Mastectomy and Breast-Conserving Surgery Have the Lowest Levels of Regret: The WhySurg Study

The recent data on decision regret of patients undergoing breast cancer surgery are sparse. An electronic cross-sectional survey was distributed to Love Research Army volunteers ages 18–70 years who underwent breast cancer surgery from 2009 to 2020. Decision regret scores were compared among patients who underwent bilateral mastectomy (BM), unilateral mastectomy (UM), breast-conserving surgery (BCS), and BCS first (BCS followed by re-excision or mastectomy) and between procedures during different time periods. Multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for patient and tumor factors, was used to determine whether surgery type was associated with a regret score in the highest quartile range. The survey was completed by 2148 women, 1525 (71.0%) of whom reported their surgery choice and answered all questions on the regret scale. The mean age of the participants was 50 years, and the median year of surgery was 2014. The median decision regret score for all the patients was 5 (interquartile range [IQR], 0–20) on a 100-point scale. The regret score of 342 participants (22.4%) was 25 or higher (BCS, 20.2%; BCS first, 31.9%; UM, 30.8%; BM, 15.4%; p < 0.001). In the multivariable analysis, BM was associated with less regret than UM (odds ratio [OR], 0.40 (range, 0.27–0.58); p < 0.001), BCS (OR, 0.56 (range, 0.38–0.83; p = 0.003), or BCS first (OR, 0.32; range, 0.21–0.49; p < 0.001). During the three periods analyzed (2009–2012, 2013–2016, and 2017–2020), the BM and BCS patients had the lowest regret scores of all the surgical types. Decision regret was low among the patients undergoing breast cancer surgery but lowest among the BM patients after adjustment for clinical and tumor factors including complications.
The Implicit Sexual Risk Assessment: A Pilot Study of a Novel Behavioral Task.

Risky sexual behaviors are a significant public health concern. Laboratory experiments are necessary to identify causal determinants of risky sexual behavior. However, experiments often rely on analogue sexual risk behavior, assessed by self-reported intentions in response to a sexual scenario. Using behavioral tasks to assess risk taking may be a valuable addition to self-reported intention outcome measures. The Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) is a commonly used measure of general risk-taking. However, BART’s associations with sexual risk-taking have been mixed. In this pilot study, we developed a task akin to the BART, the Implicit Sexual Risk Assessment (ISRA), which incorporates sexual stimuli. We hypothesized sexual arousal would increase risk taking on ISRA relative to BART. Using a within-persons experimental design, 79 participants (52% women, mean age = 19.5 (SD = 1.42)) were randomized to condition (i.e., arousal versus neutral) and completed the BART and ISRA tasks. As expected, sexual arousal was associated with increased risk-taking (i.e., adjusted pumps) on ISRA relative to BART. However, this was unexpectedly the result of decreased pumps on BART instead of increased pumps on ISRA. Neither BART nor ISRA were significantly associated with sexual risk behavior or intentions. Null findings are qualified by the fact that sexual arousal was not significantly associated with sexual risk intentions.
Characterization of Plenoptic Imaging Systems and Efficient Volumetric Estimation From Plenoptic Data

Light-field cameras in conjunction with computational refocusing can be used to produce volumetric estimates of an imaged scene. However, these estimates are often dominated by image blur in the depth direction from objects not in each synthesized focal plane. Tomographic algorithms have been shown to be effective in creating volumetric estimates from plenoptic data but are often prohibitively slow. Deconvolution would be an attractive solution due to processing speed, but existing image synthesis equations are shift-variant. This research proposes an alternate refocusing transformation that makes the core problem described in continuous coordinates shift-invariant so that deconvolution is a viable solution. Shift-invariance of the new refocusing transform is demonstrated mathematically. Furthermore, the discretization involved in the imaging system and refocusing algorithm are characterized with respect to shift-variance in order to identify potential sources of artifacts and to propose potential mitigating steps where possible. While the sampled light field is not directly invertible, experimental data are used to demonstrate that regularized deconvolution using the derived synthesis equations produces improved results compared to the base focal stack in both synthetic examples and actual camera data.
CCAAT/Enhancer-binding Protein α Activation of the Rat Growth Hormone Promoter in Pituitary Progenitor GHFT1-5 Cells

High level, anterior pituitary-specific expression of the rat growth hormone (rGH) promoter requires cooperative actions of several different transcription factors. Previously, we described a series of multisubunit, tissue-general, transcription factor complexes that bound to the GHF3 activation site and strongly regulated rGH promoter activity. A 43-kDa DNA-binding subunit common to each of the different GHF3 complexes is identified here as the transcription factor, CCAAT/Enhancer-binding Protein alpha (C/EBPalpha). In human monocyte U937 cells, which do not express the endogenous or transfected GH genes, co-expression of C/EBPalpha and Pit-1 synergistically activated the transfected rGH promoter. Full-length C/EBPalpha was present in the GH-secreting GC, and prolactin-secreting 235-1, pituitary cell lines, but not in GHFT1-5 cells, which are transformed at a stage in development immediately prior to GH expression. Transient expression of C/EBPalpha in GHFT1-5 cells strongly activated the co-transfected rGH promoter through the GHF3 binding site; a second activation site mapped to evolutionary conserved GH promoter sequences between -106 and -33. C/EBPalpha activation was synergistic with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and forskolin, activators of protein kinases C and A, respectively. Thus, C/EBPalpha is an important regulator of rGH promoter activity that appears to function in synergy with Pit-1, activators of A and C protein kinases and possibly other factors.
Severe Personality Disorders: Psychotherapeutic Strategies

Contents: Preface Acknowledgements Part One: Diagnostic Considerations Part Two: Treatment of Borderline Personalities Part Three: Narcissistic Personalities: Clinical Theory and Treatment Part Four: Severe Regressions: Diagnosis and Treatment Part Five: Hospital Treatment References Index.
Integrins and angiogenesis.

New blood vessel formation in previously avascular tissue occurs by one of two similar but distinct mechanisms: vasculogenesis or angiogenesis. In vasculogenesis, blood vessels develop by organizing angioblast precursor cells into columns that then differentiate into vessels with lumens. Angiogenesis involves the outgrowth or sprouting of new vasculature from larger, pre-existing blood vessels (Risau 1995). The formation of new blood vessels is involved in the normal physiological processes of embryonic development, female reproduction, and wound healing (Folkman 1995). However, unregulated angiogenesis plays a critical role in various pathological mechanisms such as solid tumor formation, metastasis, childhood hemangiomas, and psoriasis, as well as inflammation-related diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and ulcerative colitis (Folkman 1995). Solid cancerous tumors will not expand beyond a minimal size unless new blood vessels supply oxygen, nutrients, and growth factors to the tumor cells (Folkman 1995). In addition, inappropriate vascularization of ocular tissues can lead to blindness; blood vessel growth into the normally avascular cornea can induce scarring, and proliferative vessels in the retina, as in diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, can induce retinal detachment and hemorrhage.
Comparing objective service failures and subjective complaints: An investigation of domino and halo effects

Abstract Customer retention and service recovery require accurate information to diagnose and prevent service failures, address customer complaints, and continuously improve service performance. The present research investigates the performance relationships between two sources of marketing information: actual objective service failures and consumer complaints. Data were obtained from two U.S. governmental agencies, the Department of Transportation for airlines and the Interstate Commerce Commission for the household goods moving industry. Several correlational analyses support the existence of consumer “halo effects” for additional complaining and, to a lesser degree, a “domino effect” across objective service failure attributes. The results also demonstrate that both sources of information need to be obtained to successfully diagnose and proactively prevent future service problems. The nature of the information obtained should vary by type, however. Objective service failure measures should be gathered on an attribute-specific basis, whereas global or overall measures may be sufficient for capturing complaints, especially under time or budgetary constraints, and when detailed information is not needed.
Intranuclear Actin Regulates Osteogenesis

Depolymerization of the actin cytoskeleton induces nuclear trafficking of regulatory proteins and global effects on gene transcription. We here show that in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), cytochalasin D treatment causes rapid cofilin-/importin-9-dependent transfer of G-actin into the nucleus. The continued presence of intranuclear actin, which forms rod-like structures that stain with phalloidin, is associated with induction of robust expression of the osteogenic genes osterix and osteocalcin in a Runx2-dependent manner, and leads to acquisition of osteogenic phenotype. Adipogenic differentiation also occurs, but to a lesser degree. Intranuclear actin leads to nuclear export of Yes-associated protein (YAP); maintenance of nuclear YAP inhibits Runx2 initiation of osteogenesis. Injection of cytochalasin into the tibial marrow space of live mice results in abundant bone formation within the space of 1 week. In sum, increased intranuclear actin forces MSC into osteogenic lineage through controlling Runx2 activity; this process may be useful for clinical objectives of forming bone.
Clinical, radiological and ultrasonographic features, treatment and outcome in 22 horses with caudal distal radial osteochondromata

Summary Reasons for performing study: Although a well recognised clinical entity, only small numbers of osteochondromata on the caudal distal radius have previously been published and its occurrence in young racing Thoroughbreds has not previously been reported. Identification and management of associated lesions in the deep digital flexor tendon have received scant attention in the literature. Hypothesis: Osteochondromata of the caudal distal radius occur commonly in young racing Thoroughbreds. They vary in size and location, sagittally and proximodistally, but the majority cause impingement damage to the deep digital flexor tendon. Methods: Case records and diagnostic images of horses with osteochondromata of the caudal distal radius were reviewed retrospectively and follow-up information obtained. Results: Twenty-five osteochondromata were identified in 22 horses, 19 of which were Thoroughbreds. All osteochondromata were metaphyseal. Twenty-two were in the middle one-third of the bone and laceration of the adjacent deep digital flexor tendon was identified in 21 limbs. Treatment in all cases consisted of removal of the osteochondroma with debridement of the deep digital flexor tendon when this was affected. All horses returned to work and none exhibited any evidence of recurrence. Conclusion: Osteochondromata of the caudal distal radius occur in young racing Thoroughbreds but are also identified in other horses. They have a consistent metaphyseal location and most are found in the middle one-third of the radius. Size varies, but most cause laceration of the adjacent deep digital flexor tendon. Treatment by removal of the mass and debridement of the tendon is associated with a good prognosis. Potential relevance: Osteochondromata of the caudal distal radius are an important cause of tenosynovitis of the carpal sheath of the digital flexor tendons in young racing Thoroughbreds. When present in the most common location of the middle one-third of the bone, they are likely to cause impingement damage to the deep digital flexor tendon. Tenoscopic surgery offers a good prognosis.
Unilateral pulmonary edema in rabbits after reexpansion of collapsed lung

The effects of the mode of reinflation and of the duration of prior collapse on the development of unilateral pulmonary edema following reexpansion of collapsed lung were studied in a rabbit model simulating the human syndrome of "reexpansion pulmonary edema." The right lungs of rabbits were maintained in an atelectatic state for 0.5 h to 8 days, by injection of air into the pleural space. Reexpansion was achieved in 2 h by application of positive pressure to the airway while a chest tube was connected to underwater seal, or by application of negative pressure (-20 to -100 Torr) to a screened window in the partietal pleura. The lung surface pressures we actually applied by the two methods are not known. Animals were then killed and pulmonary edema was determined by wet-to-dry weight ratios. The incidence of unilateral pulmonary edema increased as the duration of prior collapse was increased (85% after 7--8 days; 17% after 3 days; and 0% after 0,5 h) when reinflated with -100 Torr applied to the pleural window. Although the incidence was less, it also occurred following the use of pleural window pressure less negative than -100 Torr, and after reinflation by positive airway pressure.
A new stereo topographic map of Io: Implications for geology from global to local scales

We use Voyager and Galileo stereo pairs to construct the most complete stereo digital elevation model (DEM) of Io assembled to date, controlled using Galileo limb profiles. Given the difficulty of applying these two techniques to Io due to its anomalous surface albedo properties, we have experimented extensively with the relevant procedures in order to generate what we consider to be the most reliable DEMs. Our final stereo DEM covers ~75% of the globe, and we have identified a partial system of longitudinally arranged alternating basins and swells that correlates well to the distribution of mountain and volcano concentrations. We consider the correlation of swells to volcano concentrations and basins to mountain concentrations, to imply a heat flow distribution across Io that is consistent with the asthenospheric tidal heating model of Tackley et al. (2001). The stereo DEM reveals topographic signatures of regional-scale features including Loki Patera, Ra Patera, and the Tvashtar Paterae complex, in addition to previously unrecognized features including an ~1000 km diameter depression and a >2000 km long topographic arc comprising mountainous and layered plains material.
Primary reticulum cell sarcoma of bone. Significance of clinical features upon the prognosis.

Primary reticulum cell sarcoma of bone was found to have a relatively good prognosis in a review of 47 cases. It was also found that age, sex, or duration of symptoms had nothing to do with the prognosis. Although any statistical validity was not obtained, a large amount of radiation therapy during short periods on the whole bone seems the treatment of choice, and Coley's toxin may be combined with it for better results, at least for symptomatic improvement. Radiation therapy on the local area should be abandoned. The most important factor influencing the prognosis is the extent of the disease, an aspect of which may be reflected in the roentgenographic appearance in the long tubular bone involvement. Pelvic girdle involvement has a poor prognosis regardless of roentgenographic appearance. Surgery is indicated for the failure of control of local recurrence or complications due to radiation therapy.
Dependence of achievable plan quality on treatment technique and planning goal refinement: a head-and-neck intensity modulated radiation therapy application.

Purpose To develop a practical workflow for retrospectively analyzing target and normal tissue dose–volume endpoints for various intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) delivery techniques; to develop technique-specific planning goals to improve plan consistency and quality when feasible. Methods and Materials A total of 165 consecutive head-and-neck patients from our patient registry were selected and retrospectively analyzed. All IMRT plans were generated using the same dose–volume guidelines for TomoTherapy (Tomo, Accuray), TrueBeam (TB, Varian) using fixed-field IMRT (TB_IMRT) or RAPIDARC (TB_RAPIDARC), or Siemens Oncor (Siemens_IMRT, Siemens). A MATLAB-based dose–volume extraction and analysis tool was developed to export dosimetric endpoints for each patient. With a fair stratification of patient cohort, the variation of achieved dosimetric endpoints was analyzed among different treatment techniques. Upon identification of statistically significant variations, technique-specific planning goals were derived from dynamically accumulated institutional data. Results Retrospective analysis showed that although all techniques yielded comparable target coverage, the doses to the critical structures differed. The maximum cord doses were 34.1 ± 2.6, 42.7 ± 2.1, 43.3 ± 2.0, and 45.1 ± 1.6 Gy for Tomo, TB_IMRT, TB_RAPIDARC, and Siemens_IMRT plans, respectively. Analyses of variance showed significant differences for the maximum cord doses but no significant differences for other selected structures among the investigated IMRT delivery techniques. Subsequently, a refined technique-specific dose–volume guideline for maximum cord dose was derived at a confidence level of 95%. The dosimetric plans that failed the refined technique-specific planning goals were reoptimized according to the refined constraints. We observed better cord sparing with minimal variations for the target coverage and other organ at risk sparing for the Tomo cases, and higher parotid doses for C-arm linear accelerator–based IMRT and RAPIDARC plans. Conclusion Patient registry–based processes allowed easy and systematic dosimetric assessment of treatment plan quality and consistency. Our analysis revealed the dependence of certain dosimetric endpoints on the treatment techniques. Technique-specific refinement of planning goals may lead to improvement in plan consistency and plan quality.
Rational use of refractories in regenerator checkers

The thermal efficiency of regenerators in glass furnaces depends on the rational choice of the checker system and the refractory materials used in their construction. In order to develop practical recommendations for the rational use of refractories in checkers for sheet glass, container, and medical-glass furnaces, the authors carried out an all-around investigation of the resistance of aluminosilicate and magnesia refractories in laboratory conditions, modelling the actual service conditions of the material in the checkers. Magnesite, ordinary MO-89, compressed magnesite MU-91, magnesitechromite ordinary, MKhSO, periclase-spinel ordinary, PShSO, forsterite F, unfired magnesite-chromite BMKh, chamotte ShN-38, and highalumina DV-12 were selected as refractories. The use in checkers of magnesia refractories, bearing in mind their corrosion resistance, and with the elimination of the factors in the damaging action, will enable one to ensure prolonged service for the checkers without carrying out hot repairs during the campaign of furnaces producing sheet, container, and medical glasses.
Fluorescent Excitation in the Measurement of Clearance of Heavy Metals from the Lungs

Measurement of the clearance of insufflated tantalum and barium sulfate powder from the lung is important in evaluating tantalum as a roentgenographic contrast agent, as well as in the investigation of lung clearance mechanisms. This report evaluates the technique of fluorescent excitation for measuring clearance of particulate tantalum and barium sulfate from the lungs, using a 2-Ci gadolinium-153 (153Gd) source and an 80 mm2 lithium-doped silicon (Si(Li)) detector.
The Effect of Environment on Nursing and Health Promotion for Women

Marilyn Stringer, PhD, WHNP, FAAN Associate Editor stringer@nursing.upenn.edu Social reformer, author, and statistician, Florence Nightingale, the founder ofmodern nursing, championed the prevention and control of infection. Her seminal work on combatting unhealthy hospital environments with the use of fresh air, clean water, cleanliness, and light (McDonald, 2012) laid the foundation for contemporary nursing practice. Based on Nightingale’s vision and a holistic approach to care, the nursing paradigm promotes a framework to support health and prevent disease. The four concepts of the nursing paradigm, the individual, the environment, health, and nursing, provide the context in which to implement evidenced-based interventions to reduce health risks for the individual. Within the nursing paradigm, the individual refers to the person in receipt of care, and this person may represent an individual, a family, or a community. Health refers to the degree of wellness or illness experienced by the person. Nursing refers to the actions, characteristics, and attributes of the individual providing care. Environment refers to the internal and external conditions, circumstances, and influences that affect the person (Parker & Smith, 2010).
The autothermal behavior of platinum catalyzed hydrogen oxidation: experiments and modeling

Abstract The autothermal behavior of H 2 /O 2 mixtures over a platinum foil catalyst is investigated experimentally and theoretically. Experiments were conducted at atmospheric conditions, at levels of nitrogen dilution ranging between 80% and 92% by volume. The stagnation flow geometry was modeled using simplified multicomponent transport and detailed reaction mechanisms, both in the gas phase and on the catalyst surface. A maximum autothermal temperature was found at the unexpected, nonstoichiometric, H 2 /O 2 volume ratio of approximately unity. Experimental and model results for the effect of dilution on autothermal temperatures and the flammability limits are presented and discussed. Sensitivity analyses indicate that the upper flammability limit depends on the relative adsorption rates of H 2 and O 2 onto the platinum surface, and the desorption of adsorbed H∗, while the location of the maximum in autothermal temperature depends on the transport of H 2 and O 2 . It is shown that repulsive H∗-H∗ interactions on the surface may be essential for accurate prediction of the upper flammability limit.
Sustaining financial support through workforce development grants and contracts

Workforce development grants and contracts are important methods for sustaining financial support for community colleges. This chapter details decision factors, college issues, possible pitfalls, and methods for procuring and handling government contracts and grants for workforce training.
Welfare Reform from the Inside Out: Implementing the Missouri Families-Mutual Responsibility Demonstration Plan

Using a multiperspective framework, this study seeks to identify the types of problems that occur when massive policy changes are implemented in a state agency. Results of focus group and survey da...
Reactive microglia after taste nerve injury: comparison to nerve injury models of chronic pain

The chorda tympani (CT), which innervates taste buds on the anterior portion of the tongue, is susceptible to damage during inner ear surgeries. Injury to the CT causes a disappearance of taste buds, which is concurrent with significant microglial responses at central nerve terminals in the nucleus of the solitary tract (nTS). The resulting taste disturbances that can occur may persist for months or years, long after the nerve and taste buds have regenerated. These persistent changes in taste sensation suggest alterations in central functioning and may be related to the microglial responses. This is reminiscent of nerve injuries that result in chronic pain, where microglial reactivity is essential in maintaining the altered sensation (i.e., pain). In these models, methods that diminish microglial responses also diminish the corresponding pain behavior. Although the CT nerve does not contain nociceptive pain fibers, the microglial reactivity after CT damage is similar to that described in pain models. Therefore, methods that decrease microglial responses in pain models were used here to test if they could also affect microglial reactivity after CT injury. Treatment with minocycline, an antibiotic that dampens pain responsive microglia, was largely ineffective in diminishing microglial responses after CT injury. In addition, signaling through the toll-like 4 receptor (TLR4) does not seem to be required after CT injury as blocking or deleting TLR4 had no effect on microglial reactivity. These results suggest that microglial responses following CT injury rely on different signaling mechanisms than those described in nerve injuries resulting in chronic pain.
On the capacity of Bernoulli-Gaussian impulsive noise channels in Rayleigh fading

In this paper, we investigate the channel capacity of an additive Bernoulli-Gaussian (BG) impulsive noise channel in Rayleigh fading via lower and upper bounds. To this end, we first show that the differential entropy of the BG impulse noise can be established in closed-form using Gaussian hypergeometric function 2F1 (1, 1; .; .). This closed-form expression allows us to derive a lower bound on the capacity limit obtained by a Gaussian input using the Gauss-Hermite quadrature formula. We also derive in closed-form two upper bounds on the channel capacity. The first upper bound is obtained under the assumption of full knowledge of noise state, while the second upper bound is developed using a Gaussian distributed output. At high power regions, the lower bound achieved by Gaussian inputs and the upper bound generated by Gaussian inputs are indistinguishable. These two bounds can therefore be used as an accurate estimation for the channel capacity. When the channel input power is small compared to the power of the impulsive noise component, the lower bound obtained by using a Gaussian input and the upper bound under the perfect knowledge of impulse noise state are almost identical, which are useful to predict the capacity. The establishment of the lower bound and the two upper bounds in closed-form helps us to confirm the near-optimality of the Gaussian input in a wide range of input power levels over BG impulsive noise channels in Rayleigh fading.
Long cable deployments during Martian touchdown: Lessons learned

The launch of NASA/JPL's next generation Mars rover is planned for the fall of 2011. The landing scheme chosen for this rover represents a step forward in unmanned payload delivery. The rover will be lowered from a rocket powered descent stage and then placed onto the surface while hanging from three bridles. During this touchdown event, the communication between the rover and descent stage is maintained by an electrical umbilical cable which is deployed in parallel with the structural bridles. During the development of the deployment device for the electrical umbilical, many obstacles were identified and overcome. Many of these challenges were due in large part to the helical nature of the packing geometry of the umbilical cable. And although none of these issues resulted in the failure of the design, they increased both development and assembly time. Many of the issues and some of the benefits of a helical deployment were not immediately apparent during the trade studies carried out during the deployment selection process. Tests were conducted upon completion of the device in order to characterize both the deployment and separation characteristics of the cable. Extraction loads were needed for inputs to touchdown models and separation dynamics were required to assess cable-rover recontact risk. Understanding the pros and cons surrounding the deployment of a helically packed cable would most certainly influence the outcome of future trade studies surrounding the selection of cable deployment options.
Application of regionalized multiplet stripping to retrieval of aspherical structure constraints

SUMMARY A new technique for the analysis of low-frequency seismic recordings is introduced with which constraints on the Earth's large-scale aspherical structure can be obtained. The technique, which we call ‘regionalized multiplet stripping’, applies multiplet stripping (Gilbert & Dziewonski, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond., A, 278, 187–296, 1975) to sets of seismograms for which sources and receivers share a common great circle. Multiplet stripping applied to such subsets reveals not only the well-known frequency shifts of fundamental modes but also similar frequency shifts for a large number of overtones. Geographical patterns of overtone frequency shifts can subsequently be related to aspherical structure in an identical manner to the fundamental modes. The newly estimated structure coefficients of overtones provide improved depth resolution for the lowest-order aspherical structure. So far we have retrieved degree s= 2 aspherical structure coefficients for 271 spheroidal overtones with harmonic degree l > 10. In addition, structure coefficients for s= 4 could be retrieved for a few well-excited low-n branches. For the fundamental modes, we find very good agreement with single-record peak frequency analyses. Predictions from recent 3-D mantle models generally agree well with our new structure coefficients.
Highly parallel consistent labeling algorithm suitable for optoelectronic implementation

Constraint satisfaction problems require a search through a large set of possibilities. Consistent labeling is a method by which search spaces can be drastically reduced. We present a highly parallel consistent labeling algorithm, which achieves strong k-consistency for any value k and which can include higher-order constraints. The algorithm uses vector outer product, matrix summation, and matrix intersection operations. These operations require local computation with global communication and, therefore, are well suited to a optoelectronic implementation.
Sequential Treatment for Nicotine Dependence and Postcessation Weight Concern in a Female Diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia

Despite declines in smoking prevalence, some populations represent significant challenges to tobacco cessation programs, including smokers with psychiatric comorbidity and/or weight concerns. Few studies have found effective interventions for tobacco cessation or addressed the prevalence of smoking-related concerns in psychiatric populations. The side effects of many psychotropic medications, decreased participation in physical activity, and weight gain following cessation suggest that postcessation weight concerns and actual weight gain may be significant barriers to cessation as well. Therefore, serial interventions, rather than simultaneous ones, seem well suited to address these issues. This case study represents the piloting of serial cessation and postcessation weight gain prevention interventions in a female diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Results suggested that the serial implementation of cognitive-behavioral interventions can be effective in promoting tobacco cessation in individuals with...
Photon‐migration measurement of latex size distribution in concentrated suspensions

Frequency-domain measurements of photon migration were conducted in concentrated polystyrene suspensions to assess their use for on-line particle sizing in undiluted process streams. Using a numerical inverse algorithm, particle-size distributions (PSD) and volume fractions of three latex suspensions with differing distributions were recovered from phase-shift measurements at 15 or less visible wavelengths. Comparison to dynamic light-scattering measurements show excellent agreement. Since it is the propagation characteristics of multiply scattered light instead of the amount of light detected that is employed to solve the inverse problem, the measurement technique provides a self-calibrating (and therefore especially suitable) method for on-line process monitoring of PSD in the chemical-based industries.
The Results of Self-Annealing Process for a Copper Interconnection on the 4xnm DRAM Products

In DRAM products, the copper interconnections with larger grain size are preferred for lower electrical resistance and better circuit performance. We studied the copper properties which are the evolution of the grain size, distribution of the grain, and the metal line texture formation during self-annealing. And we were able to evaluate the thermal budget in the DRAM process by performing thermal excursion stress test. We found out that the condition with self-annealing time affects copper grain size and stress migration. It has been measured by the EBSD analysis system and TOF-TEM. Compared with the conventional copper anneal process which has no time delay, the self-annealing process with time delay showed the more bamboo microstructure at dram damascene process. In addition, we observed that the self-annealing process helped enhanced thermal stress stability, which is caused by lower hillock deformation to copper top surface after a batch furnace at 400°C, N2 ambient for three times.
Adult siblings of individuals with Down syndrome versus with autism: findings from a large-scale US survey

Background As adults with Down syndrome live increasingly longer lives, their adult siblings will most likely assume caregiving responsibilities. Yet little is known about either the sibling relationship or the general functioning of these adult siblings. Using a national, web-based survey, this study compared adult siblings of individuals with Down syndrome to siblings of individuals with autism in terms of a potential ‘Down syndrome advantage’ and changes across age of the brother/sister with disabilities. Methods Two groups were examined, siblings of persons with Down syndrome (n = 284) and with autism (n = 176). The Adult Sibling Questionnaire measured the number and length of contacts between siblings and their brothers/sisters with disabilities; the warmth, closeness and positiveness of the sibling relationship; and the sibling's overall levels of perceived health, depression and rewards of being a sibling. Results Compared with siblings of brothers/sisters with autism, siblings of brothers/sisters with Down syndrome showed closer, warmer sibling relationships, along with slightly better health, lower levels of depressive symptoms and more contacts. Across age groups of the brother/sister with disabilities, both groups showed lessened contacts, with less close sibling relationships occurring when brothers/sisters with disabilities were aged 30–44 years and 45 years and older (in Down syndrome) and 45 years and older (in autism). Within both groups, closer sibling relationships were associated with more frequent and lengthy contacts, brothers/sisters with disabilities who were better at maintaining friendships and had lower levels of behavioural/emotional problems, and siblings who felt themselves more rewarded by being a sibling to a brother/sister with disabilities. Conclusions In line with earlier work on families of children with disabilities, this study shows an advantage for siblings of adults with Down syndrome, in terms of both sibling relationships and of slightly better health and lessened depressive symptoms. Both joint contacts and close sibling relationships do, however, differ when the brother/sister with disabilities is older. As the first generation of probable caregivers, siblings of persons with Down syndrome who are in their forties, fifties and sixties require increased research attention.
Photon burst mass spectrometry--ultrasensitive detection of rare isotopes

Photon burst mass spectrometrY-UltraSefl5itiVe detection of rare isotopesC. S. Hansen, X.-J. Pan and W. M. Fairbank, Jr.Colorado State University, Physics Department, Fort Collins, CO 80523H. Oona, E. P. Chamberlin, N. S. Nogar and B. L. FeareyLos Alamos National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM 87545ABSTRACTProgress is reported on the development of a new technique for measurement of trace levels of radioisotopes which isbased on fluorescence detection of output from a mass spectrometer. Significant achievements include the observation offluorescence and burst signals from Kr isotopes, including enriched samples of 85Kr with a 4-collector system. An isotopicabundance sensitivity of about icr8 is demonstrated with 83Kr and 85Kr.Keywords: krypton, mass spectrometry, photon burst, rare isotope detection
Splicing and proteolytic processing in VEGF signaling: now it is the coreceptor's turn.

Alternative splicing and proteolytic processing of VEGFs generate proteins with distinct physiological roles. In this issue of Structure, Parker et al. show that proteolysis of an isoform of the VEGF-C coreceptor Nrp2 produces a soluble receptor that inhibits VEGF-C/Nrp2 interactions.
Equilibria in the systems C−O−S and C−O−S−H as related to sulfur recovery from sulfur dioxide

Equilibrium phase diagrams for the titled systems, showing gas composition as a function of temperature for the carbon and sulfur-saturation surfaces, were calculated from thermochemical data on the numerous gas species present. The recent experimental work of Drowart,et al1. was used to obtain consistent thermodynamic behavior for the seven vapor polymers of sulfur (Sn,n=2 to 8). For the system C−O−S−H, only the pseudo-ternary at the constant atom ratio H/C=4.0 is presented. An iterative procedure, adapted for the digital computer, was used to solve the complex equilibria involved. The influence of the equilibrium chemistry on the design of processes to reduce SO2 with C, CO, and CH4 is discussed. In all cases, production of sulfur vapor reaches a sharp maximum at the gas composition having the atom ratio (H+C)/O =(1+X)/(2+X/2), whereX is the atom ratio H/C in the reducing agent. Reducing agents with lower values ofX yield better sulfur recovery because of the smaller residual amount of H2S and SO2 in the reacted gas.
OVERDRIVEN SHOCKS IN SOLIDS AND LIQUIDS

The structure of overdriven shocks in solids and liquids is analyzed in terms of the underlying physical concepts, without resorting to formal mathematics. Two dissipative processes are required for the existence of a steady-wave shock, namely plastic flow in a solid, or viscous flow in a liquid, and heat transport in either a solid or liquid. The first requirement is the analog of Rayleigh's theorem for gases, and the second requirement extends Rayleigh's findings. For metals, the shock analysis yields approximate plastic flow data at strainrates approaching 1012s−1. The shock risetime in solid or liquid metals is predicted to decrease to around a picosecond, as the shock strength increases through the overdriven threshold.
THU-ICRC at rush summarization of TRECVID 2007

In this paper, we describe the THU-ICRC system for the rush summarization task of TRECVID07. Our main objective is to abstract a minimal length rush video by removing useless (or low-quality) and redundant frames and reserving important objects and events by video parsing, cast indexing and important factor analysis. In detail, by video parsing and cast indexing, our approach first constructs story boards to let user know about the main scenes and main actors in the video. Then it detects and removes useless frames, e.g. color bar, near-monochrome/ abrupt/shaking frames, and clap boards etc. Finally, we construct the video skimming by key frame clustering, important factor analysis and repetitive segment detection. Particularly, by the two-stage redundancy removing in both key frame level and video sequence level, we achieve a better performance to shorten the video length. Extensive experiments were carried out on 42 testing videos. Good results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Metabotropic glutamate receptors increase amyloid precursor protein processing in astrocytes: inhibition by cyclic AMP.

Abstract: Neurotransmitter receptors that increase phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis generate second messengers that activate protein kinase C. Here, we used metabotropic glutamate receptor agonists to increase both phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis and secretion of the soluble extracellular fragment of amyloid precursor protein (APPs) from cortical astrocyte cultures. The increase in APPs secretion was mimicked by direct activation of protein kinase C with phorbol ester and was suppressed by the metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist l-(+)-2-amino-3-phosphonopropionic acid or by the protein kinase C inhibitor GF109203X. Ionotropic glutamate agonists did not increase APPs secretion. Forskolin or dibutyryl cyclic AMP inhibited the increase in APPs secretion caused by metabotropic glutamate receptor agonists or by phorbol ester treatment but did not affect basal APPs levels. Therefore, glutamatergic agonists that increase protein kinase C activation or decrease cyclic AMP formation may enhance the conversion of full-length APP to nonamyloidogenic APPs in Alzheimer's disease.