cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Technical Review of Electrochemical Techniques Applied to Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion

Abstract A critical review of the literature concerned with the application of electrochemical techniques in the study of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is presented. The electrochemical techniques covered in this review include measurements of the corrosion potential, the redox potential, the polarization resistance, the electrochemical impedance, electrochemical noise, and polarization curves including pitting scans. For each experimental technique some discussion concerning experimental procedures, advantages and disadvantages of the technique for the study of MIC is presented. Applications range from studies of the corrosion of steel pipes in the presence of sulfate reducing bacteria to investigations of the formation of biofilms and calcareous deposits on stainless steels in seawater and the destruction of concrete pipes in sewers by microorganisms producing very low pH solutions. For each experimental technique at least one example for typical experimental data is presented.
On Carnitine Content of the Human Breast Milk

The concentration of total carnitine in human breast milk remained at a constant mean level near 62.9 range: 56.0-69.8/nmoles/ml during the first 21 days postpartum. The carnitine level fell significantly to 35.2 +/- 1.26 nmoles/ml until the 40-50th day. The carnitine concentrations did not depend on the secreted volume of milk. In comparison, fresh and commercial pasteurized cow's milk contained 206.2 (range: 192-269) nmoles/ml and 160.0 (range: 158-200) nmoles/ml carnitine, respectively. In the sera of nursing mothers, the concentration of total carnitine was lower on the first day after delivery (27.2 +/- 1.19 nmoles/ml) but returned to normal by the 21st day postpartum (38.8 +/- 2.97 nmoles/ml).
Object detection using 2D spatial ordering constraints

Object detection is challenging partly due to the limited discriminative power of local feature descriptors. We amend this limitation by incorporating spatial constraints among neighboring features. We propose a two-step algorithm. First, a feature together with its spatial neighbors forms a flexible feature template. Two feature templates can be compared more informatively than two individual features without knowing the 3D object model. A large portion of false matches can be excluded after the first step. In a second global matching step, object detection is formulated as a graph-matching problem. A model graph is constructed by applying Delaunay triangulation on the surviving features. The best matching graph in an input image is computed by finding the maximum a posterior (MAP) estimate of a binary Markov random field with triangular maximal clique. The optimization is solved by the max-product algorithm (a.k.a. belief propagation). Experiments on both rigid and non-rigid objects demonstrate the generality and efficacy of the proposed methods.
Head-disk spacing control for an advanced rotary tester

This paper discusses head-disk spacing (HDS) control for an advanced rotary tester (ART). With active control of HDS, the ART enables testing of individual recording head sliders and evaluation of novel magnetic recording processes with great flexibility. In this paper, system characterization and servo control design for the ART are presented. Various hardware and design issues are addressed and the corresponding solutions are provided. Simulation and experimental results show that the nominal HDS can be controlled to be within 10 nm with a standard variation of 1.5 nm.
Amazing race: Finding and correctly citing credible sources

Courses: Public Speaking and courses familiarizing students with finding/citing sources.Objective(s): After completing the activity, students will understand how to find and cite information in print, online, and personal communication formats.
Preparing Couples for an Enriched Marriage: A Model in Individual Psychology

Alfred Adler’s wisdom regarding the major life task of love and intimacy is extremely relevant in today’s world of fragile marital relationships. The need to promote a feeling of significance and a...
Lifted Dilute Partially Premixed Flames in Microgravity with Applications to Fire Safety

Partial premixing of fuel and oxidizer often occurs prior to the ignition of incipient fires. These fuel/air mixtures can also become additionally mixed with fully or partially oxidized products as well as with pyrolyzed species and then burn in the form of partially premixed flames. Often the flames are lifted since the pyrolysis products can issue in the form of jets from a substrate, or because of dilution with products. Therefore, we investigate the influence of dilution on the liftoff and blowout characteristics of axisymmetric partially premixed flames in this context. Dilution is accomplished by mixing the fuel lean and fuel rich streams with carbon dioxide (due to its use in fire suppression). The addition of this chemically inert diluent into a flame decreases its temperature and thus reduces the effective flame speed of a lifted flamefront. Increasing dilution leads to large liftoff heights and eventually to blowoff, which is important to characterize in the context of fire safety. We find that when carbon dioxide is injected directly into the fuel rich central jet of a partially premixed flame, it is more effective at suppressing the flame than when it is introduced into the air coflow.
Treatment of renal abnormalities accompanying shock.

Shock brings a reduction of renal blood flow proportionally greater than the systemic reduction of blood pressure, a fall in glomerular filtration rate, and rapid loss of renal concentrating ability. Protracted shock can lead to renal tubular necrosis. Treatment must take into account both the cause of shock and its hemodynamic consequences.
An Investigation of AIDS-related Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior Among Medical Personnel of Jinzhong City in 2004

[Objective]To understand the status of AIDS-related knowledge, attitude and behavior among clinician in Jinzhong[Methods]109 clinicians of various divisions were questionaired on the AIDS knowledge in the Second Hospital of Jinzhong.[Results]There were 74 who knew the 3 route of transmissions, the understanding rate was 6789% There were 13 (11.92%) who knew the treatment after hurt by mistake by contaminant medical apparatus. There were 44 (40.37%) who knew the definition of window phase. All the 109 clinicians had rather not to contact with patient of HIV Some clinicians (34.86%) were afraid to be infected by HIV, but some ones (25.68%) demonstrated that they could treat the HIV patients with correct attitude[Conclusion]The knowledge about the route of transmission, clinical diagnosis, etiopathogenesis, prevention and control of HIV should be largely enforced
Evaluation of immune effect of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine with different doses

Objective To compare the immunoreactions between hepatitis B vaccine made by recombinant yeast-derived hepatitis B and CHO hepatitis B,and study serological reaction in different vaccines and different dose in order to provide the best hepatitis B vaccine dose in adults. Methods 238 college students were randomly divided into 4 groups to receive yeast 10 μg,CHO 10 μg,CHO 20 μg and yeast 20 μg at 0,1,6 months,the immune effects including the positive inversion rate of serum anti-HBs and the GMT of anti-HBs and adverse events were observed. Results The positive inversion rate of serum anti-HBs was 98.3% in yeast 10 μg group,96.7% in CHO 10 μg group,95.0% in CHO 20 μg group and 96.5% in yeast 20 μg group and there was no significant difference between each group (χ2=1.034,P0.05).There were significant differences of the GMT of anti-HBs between four groups(Kruskal-Wallis χ2 =18.301,P0.05).The GMT of anti-HBs in yeast 10 μg group was higher than that in CHO 10 μg group (P0.05).There was no significant difference of the GMT of anti-HBs between yeast 20 μg and CHO 20 μg groups(P0.05).The GMT of anti-HBs in CHO 20 μg group was higher than that in CHO 10 μg group (P0.05),there was no significant difference between 10 μg yeast group and 20 μg yeast group(P0.05),there was no significant difference between the positive inversion rate of serum anti-HBs and sex(Mann-Whitney U=6 512.000,P0.05).Conclusion Good immunity could be obtained when 10 μg recombinant hepatitis B vaccine is vaccinated in adults.
Self-Passivated Copper Gates For Thin Film Silicon Transistors

A solution to the thin film silicon transistor gate metallization problem in active matrix liquid crystal displays is demonstrated in the form of a self-passivation process for copper. Bottom-level copper (Cu) lines are passivated by a self-aligned CrOx encapsulation formed by surface segregation of chromium (Cr) from dilute Cu1-xCrx alloys (x=0.1–2.3) at 400°C. The encapsulation is an efficient barrier for Cu diffusion into the SiNx gate insulator during the plasma deposition and transistor processing, and solves the problems of oxidation and adhesion to the glass substrate. Gate line resistivities are 4.5 to 7.5μΩcm depending on the initial Cr concentration. The performance of self-passivated Cu-gate thin film transistors is comparable to that of transistors with refractory metal gates.
Disorders of Antidiuretic Hormone

Disorders of thirst and vasopressin secretion present clinically in one of three ways: as hypotonic polyuria (DI), as hypodipsic hyponatremia, and as hyponatremia. In evaluating a patient with DI, the major challenge is to differentiate between primary polydipsia and neurogenic and nephrogenic DI. This is best accomplished through a series of steps that start with simple clinical observation, and progress, as necessary, to more complicated diagnostic procedures (Fig. 1). If the diagnosis is not clear from the clinical setting and the patient's history, the first step is to measure plasma osmolality and sodium under conditions of ad libitum fluid intake. If the results are clearly above the upper limit of normal range, primary polydipsia is excluded and the work-up can proceed directly to administration of vasopressin or DDAVP and/or a measurement of plasma vasopressin levels to differentiate between neurogenic and nephrogenic DI. If basal plasma osmolality and sodium fall within normal range, the standard dehydration test should be performed. If urine osmolality does not increase above that of plasma despite evident dehydration, primary polydipsia is excluded and the effect of vasopressin or DDAVP on urine osmolality should be examined to differentiate between neurogenic and nephrogenic DI. If administration of antidiuretic hormone increases urine osmolality by more than 50 per cent, the patient has severe neurogenic DI. If the increase in urine osmolality is less than 50 per cent, the patient has nephrogenic DI. In patients who do not concentrate urine above that of plasma in response to dehydration, the best approach is to measure plasma vasopressin, osmolality, and sodium after the latter have been increased above normal range by dehydration and/or infusion of hypertonic saline. When these results are plotted on a suitable nomogram (Fig. 2), neurogenic DI can be clearly diagnosed from the relative deficiency of vasopressin. In patients with normal vasopressin levels, primary polydipsia can be differentiated from nephrogenic DI by examining the relationship of urine osmolality to plasma vasopressin (Fig. 3), obtained during dehydration and/or graded vasopressin infusion. In evaluating a patient with sustained hypernatremia, it is only necessary to assess thirst, which can be done by a simple bedside observation. In a patient without obvious neurologic or cognitive impairment, absence of thirst in the face of plasma osmolality above 305 mosm/kg (plasma sodium above 150 mEq/L) is diagnostic for hypodipsic hypernatremia. In a patient who presents with hyponatremia, the main objective is to differentiate between hyper-, hypo-, and euvolemic (SIADH) types
Intrapartum bacteriuria and postpartum endometritis.

Ten gravidas with bacteriuria in the immediate antepartum period subsequently delivered vaginally and did not receive antibiotic therapy. Four of these women developed postpartum endometritis and in three of them, the same Enterobacteriaceae recovered from the urine was present in the endometrial cultures. Of the 1233 study subjects whose screening urine cultures were negative and who delivered vaginally, 27 (2.2%) developed endometritis. Intrapartum bacteriuria was significantly associated with postpartum endometritis in women delivering vaginally (P less than .001). Monitoring for asymptomatic bacteriuria and eradicating it in pregnancy should diminish the occurrence of endometritis and possible endomyometritis in the postpartum period.
A noncatalytic function of the topoisomerase II CTD in Aurora B recruitment to inner centromeres during mitosis

Faithful chromosome segregation depends on the precise timing of chromatid separation, which is enforced by checkpoint signals generated at kinetochores. Here, we provide evidence that the C-terminal domain (CTD) of DNA topoisomerase IIα (Topo II) provides a novel function at inner centromeres of kinetochores in mitosis. We find that the yeast CTD is required for recruitment of the tension checkpoint kinase Ipl1/Aurora B to inner centromeres in metaphase but is not required in interphase. Conserved CTD SUMOylation sites are required for Ipl1 recruitment. This inner-centromere CTD function is distinct from the catalytic activity of Topo II. Genetic and biochemical evidence suggests that Topo II recruits Ipl1 via the Haspin-histone H3 threonine 3 phosphorylation pathway. Finally, Topo II and Sgo1 are equally important for Ipl1 recruitment to inner centromeres. This indicates H3 T3-Phos/H2A T120-Phos is a universal epigenetic signature that defines the eukaryotic inner centromere and provides the binding site for Ipl1/Aurora B.
Labov in anthropology

Early sociolinguistics was determinedly multidisciplinary and Labov's work was eagerly read by anthropologists. Nevertheless, the ethnographic and interpretivist commitments of anthropology contrasted with Labov's correlational method and positivist philosophical assumptions. This paper discusses three debates between those two broad methodological/philosophical traditions and traces their outcomes: on the nature of linguistic heterogeneity; the (re)production of social inequality; and the significance of linguistic style. I argue that the debates were productive. Although anthropologists often forcefully critiqued Labov's methods and conceptual proposals, dialogue with Labov's research has had positive effects: current work bears the marks of these engagements.
Scaling of detonation velocity in cylinder and slab geometries for ideal, insensitive and non-ideal explosives

Experiments were conducted to characterize the detonation phase-velocity dependence on charge thickness for two-dimensional detonation in condensed-phase explosive slabs of PBX 9501, PBX 9502 and ANFO. In combination with previous diameter-effect measurements from a cylindrical rate-stick geometry, these data permit examination of the relative scaling of detonation phase velocity between axisymmetric and two-dimensional detonation. We find that the ratio of cylinder radius ( ) to slab thickness ( ) at each detonation phase velocity ( ) is such that . The variation in the scaling is investigated with two detonation shock dynamics (DSD) models: a lower-order model relates the normal detonation velocity to local shock curvature, while a higher-order model includes the effect of front acceleration and transverse flow. The experimentally observed ( ) scaling behaviour for PBX 9501 and PBX 9502 is captured by the lower-order DSD theory, revealing that the variation in the scale factor is due to a difference in the slab and axisymmetric components of the curvature along the shock in the cylindrical geometry. The higher-order DSD theory is required to capture the observed ( ) scaling behaviour for ANFO. An asymptotic analysis of the lower-order DSD formulation describes the geometric scaling of the detonation phase velocity between the cylinder and slab geometries as the detonation phase velocity approaches the Chapman–Jouguet value.
Technological advances in pediatric epilepsy surgery: implications for tuberous sclerosis complex

In selected children with tuberous sclerosis complex, epilepsy surgery leads to seizure freedom or seizure reduction. The current standard involves a multimodal pre-surgical workup followed by invasive electrocorticographic monitoring and resective surgery. Recent insights in the disorder and novel technologies are changing the approach to pediatric epilepsy surgery in tuberous sclerosis complex. New evidence suggests tubers are poorly delineated, and epileptogenic activity may originate in the perituber tissue. Novel imaging modalities relevant to surgical planning include high-resolution MRI, α-methyl-l-tryptophan or fluorodeoxyglucose PET with diffusion tensor imaging. Advanced neurophysiological techniques have improved identification of the surgical target, including magnetoencephalography, electrical source imaging of high-density electroencephalograph data, and high-frequency oscillations in electrocorticography data. Simultaneously, novel surgical tools including stereo-electroencephalography and ...
The Broken Ladder: The Paradox and Potential of India's One-Billion

Despite becoming a global economic force, why does India win so few Olympic medals and have so many people living in poverty? Why have opportunities not become available more broadly? How can growing individuals assist with the task of building a growing economy? Krishna presents a refreshingly unusual perspective of emergent realities, drawing on the stories of everyday lives, of people like you and me and those less privileged. Through decades-long investigations, living in villages and slum communities, the author presents eye-opening details of missed opportunities and immense untapped talent that can be harnessed, with tremendous consequences for equity and growth. Offering possible solutions for inequality and those in need, The Broken Ladder is a comprehensive and fascinating account of development strategies in a fast-growing, yet largely agrarian, developing economy.
Optically-secured bidirectional adaptive software-defined optical sensor network architecture

In this paper, we propose an adaptive software-defined optical sensor network (SDOSN) architecture that is capable to host programmable sensors ranging from several thousands to several millions. Sensing process is of low cost, but highly accurate and capable of closely approaching the optical channel capacity. The proposed SDOSN architecture is interoperable with existing optical networks infrastructure. Both the existing dark fibers can be used together with the fiber infrastructure being in use. Additionally, the proposed SDOSN is programmable at runtime to change sensor network topology, active sensors, and their functions to accommodate current sensor network objectives and applications. The proposed sensor network is cost-effective and leverages the emerging virtual network technologies and software defined network paradigms. Additionally the orbital angular momentum (OAM) is used as an additional degree of freedom (DOF) with the purpose to: (i) secure sensor data and (ii) provide a new DOF, OAM multiplexing, to support a larger number of sensor nodes.
“We Won’t Go Back into the Closet Now Without One Hell of a Fight”: Effects of the 2016 Presidential Election on Sexual Minority Women’s and Gender Minorities’ Stigma-Related Concerns

Much progress has been made in terms of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) rights. The 2016 United States presidential election, however, raised concerns that this progress could be slowed, if not reversed. We conducted an internet-based study and gathered both qualitative and quantitative data from a national convenience sample to examine how sexual minority women and gender minorities (n = 741) perceived the outcome of the election in relation to stigma-related concerns, perceptions, and expectations. Quantitative analyses of responses collected between December 2016 and the presidential inauguration (January 20, 2017) revealed that participants reported high levels of election outcome-related concerns, including psychological and emotional distress. Qualitative responses centered on the individual-level impacts of the perceived threat of potential increases in structural stigma. Participants raised specific concerns about the possible rollback of rights and the rise in hate speech and discrimination, and the stigmatizing effects of these on LGBTQ and other marginalized populations.
Hydrogen Energy Technology, Renewable Source of Energy

Hydrogen also can be found in many organic compounds, as well as water. It is the most abundant element on the Earth. But it does not occur naturally as a gas. It is always combined with other elements, such as with oxygen, to make water. Once separated from another element, hydrogen can be burned as a fuel or converted into electricity. A fuel cell uses the chemical energy of hydrogen or another fuel to cleanly and efficiently produce electricity. If hydrogen is the fuel, electricity, water, and heat are the only products. Fuel cells are unique in terms of the variety of their potential applications; they can provide power for systems as large as a utility power station and as small as a laptop computer.
Laminin signals initiate the reciprocal loop that informs breast-specific gene expression and homeostasis by activating NO, p53 and microRNAs

How mammalian tissues maintain their architecture and tissue-specificity is poorly understood. Previously, we documented both the indispensable role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein, laminin-111 (LN1), in the formation of normal breast acini, and the phenotypic reversion of cancer cells to acini-like structures in 3-dimensional (3D) gels with inhibitors of oncogenic pathways. Here, we asked how laminin (LN) proteins integrate the signaling pathways necessary for morphogenesis. We report a surprising reciprocal circuitry comprising positive players: laminin-5 (LN5), nitric oxide (NO), p53, HOXD10 and three microRNAs (miRNAs) - that are involved in the formation of mammary acini in 3D. Significantly, cancer cells on either 2-dimensional (2D) or 3D and non-malignant cells on 2D plastic do not produce NO and upregulate negative players: NFκB, EIF5A2, SCA1 and MMP-9 - that disrupt the network. Introducing exogenous NO, LN5 or individual miRNAs to cancer cells reintegrates these pathways and induces phenotypic reversion in 3D. These findings uncover the essential elements of breast epithelial architecture, where the balance between positive- and negative-players leads to homeostasis.
The Effect of Deep Brain Stimulation Therapy on Fear-Related Capture of Attention in Parkinson's Disease and Essential Tremor: A Comparison to Healthy Individuals.

In addition to motor symptoms, Parkinson’s disease (PD) involves significant non-motor sequelae, including disruptions in cognitive and emotional processing. Fear recognition appears to be affected both by the course of the disease and by a common interventional therapy, deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS). Here, we examined if these effects extend to other aspects of emotional processing, such as attentional capture by negative emotional stimuli. Performance on an emotional attentional blink (EAB) paradigm, a common paradigm used to study emotional capture of attention, was examined in a cohort of individuals with PD, both on and off STN-DBS therapy (n=20). To contrast effects of healthy aging and other movement disorder and DBS targets, we also examined performance in a healthy elderly (n=20) and young (n=18) sample on the same task, and a sample diagnosed with Essential Tremor (ET) undergoing therapeutic deep brain stimulation of the ventral-intermediate nucleus (VIM-DBS, n=18). All four groups showed a robust attentional capture of emotional stimuli, irrespective of aging processes, movement disorder diagnosis, or stimulation. PD patients on average had overall worse performance, but this decrement in performance was not related to the emotional capture of attention. PD patients exhibited a robust EAB, indicating that the ability of emotion to direct attention remains intact in PD. Congruent with other recent data, these findings suggest that fear recognition deficits in PD may instead reflect a highly specific problem in recognition, rather than a general deficit in emotional processing of fearful stimuli.
TH1/17 hybrid CD4+ cells in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid from leukemia patients with checkpoint inhibitor-induced pneumonitis.

204Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based therapies are showing encouraging results for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). 20% of AML or MDS patients receiving an ICI develop lung inflammation (herein, pneumonitis), one of fatal immune related adverse events (irAEs). The mechanisms of pneumonitis, the most important step for risk stratification and early detection, remain elusive. Methods: We analyzed bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from 8 AML or MDS patients, who received an ICI, developed respiratory symptoms, and underwent a standard-of-care bronchoscopy. As a control, we analyzed BAL fluid from 5 AML or MDS patients who had never received an ICI or had received last ICI more than 16 weeks prior to the bronchoscopy. We also analyzed matched blood within 72 hours after the bronchoscopy. We stained CD4+ cells with lineage specific markers, including CXCR3, CXCR5, CD25, CD127, CCR4, and CCR6. Proportion of the CD4+ cell subsets within total CD4+ lymphocytes...
Rice nucleosome patterns undergo remodeling coincident with stress-induced gene expression

Formation of nucleosomes along eukaryotic DNA has an impact on transcription. Major transcriptional changes occur in response to low external phosphate (Pi) in plants, but the involvement of chromatin-level mechanisms in Pi starvation responses have not been investigated. We mapped nucleosomes along with transcriptional changes after 24-h of Pi starvation in rice (Oryza sativa) by deep sequencing of micrococcal nuclease digested chromatin and ribosome-depleted RNA. We demonstrated that nucleosome patterns at rice genes were affected by both cis- and trans-determinants, including GC content and transcription. Also, categorizing rice genes by nucleosome patterns across the transcription start site (TSS) revealed nucleosome patterns that correlated with distinct functional categories of genes. We further demonstrated that Pi starvation resulted in numerous dynamic nucleosomes, which were enhanced at genes differentially expressed in response to Pi starvation. We demonstrate that rice nucleosome patterns are suggestive of gene functions, and reveal a link between chromatin remodeling and transcriptional changes in response to deficiency of a major macronutrient. Our findings help to enhance the understanding towards eukaryotic gene regulation at the chromatin level.
Inference on the endpoint of human lifespan and its inherent statistical difficulty

We offer an inference methodology for the upper endpoint of a regularly varying distribution with finite endpoint. We apply it to the IDL and GRG data sets of lifespans of super-centenarians. As in the comprehensive analysis of Rootzen and Zholud, our results underscore the effect of the data sampling scheme and censoring on the conclusions. We also quantify the statistical difficulty of distinguishing between the hypotheses of finite and infinite lifespan by providing estimates of the required sample size.
The Hopf Bifurcation Theorem for Diffeomorphisms

Let X be a vector field and let γ be a closed orbit of the flow ⌽t of X. Let P be a Poincare map associated with γ. (See §2B). Suppose there is a circle σ that is invariant under P. Then it is clear that Ut⌽t(σ) is an invariant torus for the flow of X (see Figure 6.1).If we have a one parameter family of vector fields and closed orbits Xµ and γµ , it is quite conceivable that for small µ, γµ might be stable, but for large µ it might become unstable and a stable invariant torus take its place. Recall that γµ is stable (unstable) if the eigenvalues of the derivative of the Poincare map Pµ have absolute value 1). (See §2B). The Hopf Bifurcation Theorem for diffeomorphisms gives conditions under which we may expect bifurcation to stable invariant tori after loss of stability of γµ. The theorem we present is due to Ruelle-Takens [1]; we follow the exposition of Lanford [1] for the proof.
THE LEBESGUE INTEGRAL AND RELATED TOPICS

For a continuous function on a closed bounded interval and for a function with no worse discontinuities than a few finite jumps, the Lebesgue integral is equal to the Riemann integral. For a positive unbounded function on a bounded interval and for a positive function on an unbounded interval, the Lebesgue integral has the same value as the improper Riemann integral whenever the latter exists. When it comes to ease of manipulation, the Lebesgue integral has great advantages over that of Riemann. The class of Lebesgue integrable functions is larger than the class of Riemann integrable functions, and is sufficiently large to make the rules of operation much more permissive. In the Lebesgue theory there are simple general conditions that allow passage to the limit under the integral sign, term by term integration of infinite series, inversion of the order of integration in repeated integrals, and recovery of a function from its derivative by integration.
Noninvasive Ultrasound Imaging of Carotid Intima Thickness

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in the West and is a rapidly growing problem worldwide. Long subclinical incubation period of atherosclerosis and earliest involvement of the vessel wall provide an opportunity to evaluate the presence of atherosclerosis by imaging arterial wall and initiate treatment measures. Assessment of thickness of intima-media layer of the vessel wall as well as early plaques by ultrasound is the most sensitive, reliable, noninvasive, and safe method to detect those at risk. Carotid artery vessel wall assessment in the form of intima-media thickness (IMT) has been identified since the late 1970s as a sensitive tool to detect atherosclerosis, predict its sequelae, and detect its progression and regression. Recent studies have shown that the presence of carotid plaques is also a strong predictor of disease, independent of carotid IMT. The technique has been recommended by writing groups such as American Heart Association as a useful tool for risk stratification in those with unclear or intermediate risk of cardiovascular disease. Validated reference databases exist for reporting purposes. Several automated robust softwares are now available that allow automated measurement of IMT by edge detection algorithms.
Current International Harmonization Efforts

Efforts towards international cooperation or harmonization can occur at varying levels – at the level of technical and scientific requirements, of dossier format and content, or of assessment and review practices. Three contrasting models for regional cooperation in drug regulation harmonization, the corporate, populist, and cooperative, are described and compared. Utilizing a specific case, drug stability testing requirements in Climatic Zone IV, the author explores each organizational model in action, reviews recent history of a key stability debate among harmonization initiatives from different climatic zones, discusses benefits and disadvantages seen in organizational models, and proposes the best practices approach to global harmonization efforts for the future.
Government Budgeting And Expenditure Management: Principles And International Practice

The government budget should be the financial mirror of society's choices. Yet most people view budgeting as the epitome of eye-glazing subjects, rarely explained in a way that is understandable to the non-specialist and too often presented without adequate consideration of a country’s governance and institutional capacity. Government Budgeting and Expenditure Management fills a gap in the literature to redress these failings and does so in comparative international perspective. This book provides a comprehensive but pithy and easy-to-understand treatment of public financial management, taking into account a variety of special issues including budgeting in post-conflict situations, at subnational government levels, for military/security expenditures, and in countries with large extractive revenues. Distilling the lessons of budgeting reform in countries at different levels of income and administrative capacity, each chapter gradually progresses from the basic principles to the more technical aspects and then on to implementation issues, using concrete examples and illustrations from around the globe. Government Budgeting and Expenditure Management is ideally suited as the primary text for advanced undergraduate or graduate courses in government budgeting or public financial management, or as a supplementary text for courses in public finance, public economics, economic development, public administration or comparative politics. With its attention to practical implementation aspects, the book will also be of direct interest to practitioners, policy-makers, and government employee training organizations.
SAADI: a scalable accuracy approximate divider for dynamic energy-quality scaling

Approximate computing can significantly improve the energy efficiency of arithmetic operations in error-resilient applications. In this paper, we propose an approximate divider design that facilitates dynamic energy-quality scaling. Conventional approximate dividers lack runtime energy-quality scalability, which is the key to maximizing the energy efficiency while meeting dynamically varying accuracy requirements. Our divider design, named SAADI, makes an approximation to the reciprocal of the divisor in an incremental manner, thus the division speed and energy efficiency can be dynamically traded for accuracy by controlling the number of iterations. For the approximate 8-bit division of 32-bit/16-bit division, the average accuracy of SAADI can be adjusted in between 92.5% and 99.0% by varying latency up to 7x. We evaluate the accuracy and energy consumption of SAADI for various design parameters and demonstrate its efficacy for low-power signal processing applications.
The Role of Periarticular Soft Tissues in Persistent Motion Loss in a Rat Model of Posttraumatic Elbow Contracture.

Background:Elbow injuries disrupt the surrounding periarticular soft tissues, which include the muscles, tendons, capsule, ligaments, and cartilage. Damage to these tissues as a result of elbow trauma causes clinically significant contracture in 50% of patients. However, it is unclear which of these
A hardening-based damage model for fast-evolving microstructures: Application to Ni-based single crystal superalloys

Abstract A phenomenological hardening-based damage density function built on a Rabotnov-Kachanov's formulation and coupled to a microstructure-sensitive viscoplastic crystal plasticity model is developed for ductile materials experiencing fast-evolving microstructures. The model seats on the fact that classical continuum damage models, that only consider discontinuities of matter; viz. voids and cracks; as damage, are not able to predict the non-isothermal creep and isothermal dwell/fatigue lifetimes of materials exposed to temperature/stress conditions that trigger microstructure evolutions faster than the nucleation and growth of voids. The hereby-proposed damage model depends on microstructure-sensitive hardening variables that were previously tailored to model changes in the mechanical behavior of a Ni-based single crystal superalloy during non-isothermal loading. Furthermore, the model also proposes to predict lifetime scattering during creep by considering the initial volume fraction of pores obtained by X-ray tomography. Isothermal and non-isothermal uniaxial creep and dwell/fatigue experiments on a Ni-based single crystal superalloy are used to calibrate and validate the model. Finite element simulations are also carried out to confirm the lifetime predictive capabilities of the model on an in-plane multiaxial creep test and on multiaxial torsion and tension/torsion dwell/fatigue tests. The numerical results show that the damage model well predicts the lifetime of isothermal and non-isothermal creep as well as dwell/fatigue experiments in uniaxial and multiaxial states of stresses.
Intra-lingual pragmatic variation in Mandarin Chinese apologies: Influence of region and gender

This study investigates regional and gender variations of apologies in Putonghua ‘Standard Mandarin' and Guoyu ‘Taiwanese Mandarin'. Production data were elicited from 40 participants from northern Mainland China and 34 from Taipei using an oral discourse completion task. Results showed that speakers in both regions employed a similar sequence of strategies and demonstrated similar preferences for context-dependent strategies in their apologies, but Mainland speakers used a significantly greater number of strategies than Taiwan speakers. Gender differences were observed in the apologies produced by Taiwan speakers regarding their use of illocutionary force indicating devices. The study found an interaction effect of power relation and region, with Mainland speakers sounding more apologetic than Taiwan speakers, but no interaction effect of power relation and gender; the effect of severity of offence was not clear, which could be attributed to the gap between the predetermined level of severity and speakers' actual perception of it in each scenario.
QFN Multi-Level Pin Routing:Innovative Design Approach Enabling Complex Wire Bonding Layout

One of the most complicated process in semiconductor packaging is wire bonding. Not only is wire bonding process dynamic due to varying conditions and parameters, complex wire layout with use of multiple and thin wires laid out on a single layered lead frame makes it more difficult. Challenges posed by this process and material combinations hinder the opportunity to grow and gain more of the market, especially in high pin-count QFN package.This paper will discuss QFN multi-level pin routing, an innovation in QFN lead frame design which will enable complex wire bonding layout for high pin-count QFN packages. This design provides elevated bonding sites positioned to avoid wire sweeps, sags, risks of short circuits and other damages which are attributed to complex wire layouts. Signals from the bond sites can be routed to the package leads by the multilevel leadframe, providing a cost effective and highly manufacturable package.
DEVELOPMENT AND RELIABILITY OF A RADIOIMMUNOASSAY FOR 2,3,7,8-TETRACHLORODIBENZO-p-DIOXIN

ABSTRACT The developmental problems and a general procedure for a radioimmunoassay for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (TCDD) are briefly described. The principle is typical of competitive binding assays. The reliability of the method for determining TCDD in human fat was studied statistically. A reliable sensitivity in human fat at 95% confidence of accurate detection was 100 picograms.
Printculture of Surgical Pathology and Autopsy Specimens.

Objectives Printculture is a method of microbiologic assessment previously described for use in the autopsy setting. We sought to compare printculture of surgical and autopsy pathology specimens to standard microbiology culture using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF)-based colony identification. Methods Printculture was performed on 18 frozen samples with corresponding standard culture results. The results of MALDI-TOF identification of colonies recovered by printculture were compared with standard cultures, and percent concordance was calculated. Results There was 95.8% concordance to standard culture methods for cases with infections and 100% concordance for cases without infection. The pattern of growth was found to aid in the distinction between contamination and true infection. Conclusions Printculture allows the identification of microorganisms from routinely frozen tissues and provides a bridge between microbiology and histomorphology through the identification of associated histologic features of infection. This technique can be successfully integrated into autopsy and surgical pathology workup of potentially infected tissues.
Gain of CD20 Target Cell Surface Receptor Expression During Serum-Free Ex Vivo Culture of CD19+CD5+ B-Cells In a Sub-Population of Early Stage (Rai 0/1) Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients

Abstract 2000 Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by the gradual accumulation of CD19 + CD5 + monoclonal B-cells. Rutuximab is a monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody that specifically targets B cells expressing the CD20 cell surface glycoprotein, and it is commonly used to treat B-cell malignancies. Because CLL patients express low levels of CD20, the effectiveness of Rutuximab is limited. Therefore, methods to increase CD20 expression on B-cells would benefit CLL patients. We therefore investigated the CD20 expression on untreated cells or cells treated with normal donor serum, autologous CLL serum, or Human Serum Albumin (HSA, flexbumin) during ex-vivo culture. Peripheral blood (PB) was obtained from six Early Stage (Rai 0/1) CLL patients and five normal healthy donors with IRB approval. CLL samples had low CD38 expression, an average WBC count of 55.4±25.7 Th/μL, and Beta-2 Microglobulin (B2M) of 2.3±0.2 mg/L. Mononuclear cells were isolated by density centrifugation and CD19 + cells were isolated by positive magnetic selection. Cells were cultured at 37°C, 5% CO 2 , 100% humidity for 0, 24, 48, and 96 hours. CD19 + B-cells from six CLL patients were either untreated (AIM-V serum free media) or treated with 5%, 20%, 40% serum. CD20 expression was measured by multivariate flow cytometry. Data was analyzed using the two-tailed Student9s t-Test. Initially, CD19 + CD5 + CLL cells had an average CD20 expression of 5.1±1.4% (N=6). Flow cytometric analysis of CLL cells cultured for 96 hours without serum treatment revealed that patient samples subdivide into two distinct groups based on changes in CD20 expression: a variable group (N=3) and a stable group (N=3). Untreated CLL cells within the variable group exhibited a significant increase in CD20 expression over the 96 hour culture period. The average CD20 expression of CLL cells from the variable group was initially upregulated from 6.5±1.7% at 0 hours to 55.0±3.2% (p Disclosures: Gregory: Amgen Inc.: Consultancy; Astellas: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Cephalon: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech (Roche): Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; GlaxoSmithKline: Research Funding; Immunomedics: Research Funding; NCIC CTG: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Onyx: Research Funding; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy.
Switched Motorized and Functional Electrical Stimulation Cycling Controllers for Power Tracking

Motorized functional electrical stimulation (FES) induced cycling is a rehabilitation technique, where lower-limb muscles are artificially activated and an electric motor provides assistance to achieve cadence (speed) and torque tracking objectives. In this paper, cadence and torque controllers are designed based on a cycle-rider model with switched muscle and motor inputs computed based on state-dependent switching. Cadence tracking is accomplished by switching across lower-limb muscles (within the rider’s kinematic efficient regions of the crank cycle) and an electric motor (within the rider’s inefficient regions of the crank cycle). The position and cadence reference trajectories are generated by a target impedance model yielding bounded trajectories. A robust sliding-mode torque controller is designed for the electric motor to track a desired interaction torque, when the muscles are stimulated within the kinematic efficient muscle regions. A passivity-based analysis is developed to ensure stability of the closed-loop torque subsystem and a Lyapunov-based stability analysis ensures exponential cadence tracking.
Variability in the laboratory measurement of cytokines: A longitudinal summary of a college of American pathologists proficiency testing survey

Context.— The measurement of cytokines in clinical laboratories is becoming an increasingly routine part of immune monitoring when administering biologic and cell-based immunotherapies and also for...
Effect of Surface Roughness on Adhesive Instabilities for the Elastic Layer

If an incompressible elastic layer bonded to a rigid plane is placed close to a second rigid plane, adhesive interactions between the surfaces can cause elastic instabilities. These lead to spatially non-uniform traction and gap distributions which exhibit a regular pattern with a characteristic wavenumber. However, real surfaces are never completely plane. In this paper, we consider the influence of surface roughness on the instability, with particular reference to the force-displacement relation. With random roughness profiles, the traction distributions are always spatially irregular, so the onset of instability is more difficult to define. One approach is to monitor the amplitude of the power spectrum of the distribution near the characteristic wavenumber. Since surface roughness generally reduces the mean adhesive traction, we might expect it to exert a stabilizing effect. Numerical results confirm this for moderate to large RMS amplitudes, but show that low RMS roughness can actually trigger the instability in ranges where the uniform layer would be stable. The resulting traction-displacement relation is then found to be approximately linear with a slope close to that at the point where the uniform solution loses stability.
The Baker Hypothesis

In 1985, James A. Baker III's “Program for Sustained Growth” proposed a set of economic policy reforms including, inflation stabilization, trade liberalization, greater openness to foreign investment, and privatization, that he believed would lead to faster growth in countries then known as the Third World, but now categorized as emerging and developing economies (EMDEs). A country-specific, time-series assessment of the reform process reveals three clear facts. First, in the 10-year-period after stabilizing high inflation, the average growth rate of real GDP in EMDEs is 2.2 percentage points higher than in the prior ten-year period. Second, the corresponding growth increase for trade liberalization episodes is 2.66 percentage points. Third, in the decade after opening their capital markets to foreign equity investment, the spread between EMDEs average cost of equity capital and that of the US declines by 240 basis points. The impact of privatization is less straightforward to assess, but taken together, the three central facts of reform provide empirical support for the Baker Hypothesis and suggest a simple neoclassical interpretation of the unprecedented increase in growth that has taken place in EMDEs since 1995. Institutional subscribers to the NBER working paper series, and residents of developing countries may download this paper without additional charge at www.nber.org.