cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Energy transmission into the human hand from vibrating tools

A method for calculating power transmitted to the hands of operators who use vibrating hand tools is presented. Results that relate to a comprehensive multidisciplined NIOSH field study of several hundred chipper and grinder workers who used pneumatic hand tools are discussed. These results indicated that the total power in the frequency range of 6.3 to 1000 Hz transmitted to the hand ranged from 1080 to 7230 J/s for the chisel and from 0.852 to 157 J/s for the handle of chipping hammers. For pneumatic grinders the power transmitted to the hands of the tool operators was in the range of 0.00658 to 0.235 J/s over the same frequency range.
CrossTalk opposing view: The dominant mechanism causing disuse muscle atrophy is proteolysis

Skeletal muscle adapts to a prolonged reduction in physical activity by decreasing muscle fibre size and protein content. This physiological response is commonly termed disuse atrophy. It is most clearly stimulated by conditions that reduce mechanical loading of postural or respiratory muscles in the absence of disease and neural deficits. Examples of such conditions include bed rest, joint immobilization, limb suspension, microgravity and mechanical ventilation. In muscle disuse, as in all atrophic processes, the rate of proteolysis exceeds the rate of protein synthesis causing net loss of protein. A dispassionate review of the literature shows that both aspects of muscle protein homeostasis are disrupted by prolonged disuse. Proteolysis increases and synthesis declines. These changes have additive effects, contributing jointly to protein loss and muscle atrophy. The relative magnitudes of these contributions have not been measured directly and are not known. Therefore, like most scientists, we are resolutely ecumenical on the issue of proteolysis vs. synthesis. In contrast, a few individuals fervently argue that disuse atrophy is caused by decreased protein synthesis and that proteolysis is unimportant. This viewpoint has created unnecessary controversy in the literature and heated discussion at scientific conferences. This controversy is the focus of our CrossTalk debate. To be clear, the ‘dominant mechanism’ of disuse atrophy is not known. Rates of proteolysis vs. protein synthesis cannot be quantified using existing methods nor can differences in these rates be measured directly. Attempts to estimate these values must be based on first principles, must involve untested assumptions, and cannot be validated experimentally. This makes it impossible to assign ‘dominance’ with scientific rigor. Instead of speculating on this issue, we will present evidence for the biological importance of proteolysis in disuse atrophy. The extent of peer-reviewed research, the diversity of experimental approaches, and the level of mechanistic detail make a compelling case for our position that proteolysis is essential for disuse atrophy.
Damping of Confined Modes in a Ferromagnetic Thin Insulating Film: Angular Momentum Transfer across a Nanoscale Field-Defined Interface

We observe a dependence of the damping of a confined mode of precessing ferromagnetic magnetization on the size of the mode. The micron-scale mode is created within an extended, unpatterned yttrium iron garnet film by means of the intense local dipolar field of a micromagnetic tip. We find that the damping of the confined mode scales like the surface-to-volume ratio of the mode, indicating an interfacial damping effect (similar to spin pumping) due to the transfer of angular momentum from the confined mode to the spin sink of ferromagnetic material in the surrounding film. Though unexpected for insulating systems, the measured intralayer spin-mixing conductance ${g}_{\ensuremath{\uparrow}\ensuremath{\downarrow}}=5.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{19}\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{m}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ demonstrates efficient intralayer angular momentum transfer.
Concept analysis of “cross-cultural marketing”: an exploration

Advances in international communication, travel and delivery systems have improved manufacturers' ability to market products and services to other cultures and nations. In today's competitive retail industry, cross-cultural marketing (CCM) is increasingly important as more firms enter the international marketplace. Our purpose was to analyze the concept of CCM, exploring how it is used and determining its attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents in order to clarify its meaning for use in international marketing scholarship and practice and to aid in understanding and promoting international trade and business relations.
Synthesis of Oxytocin by the Nitrophenyl Ester Method

AFTER the completion of work on the degration of oxytocin1, this compound was synthesized in this laboratory2. Since that time several other synthetic methods leading to biologically active solutions of the crude hormone have been reported3. Recently, an improved synthesis of oxytocin was elaborated4 by us. All these syntheses of oxytocin have the common feature of linking peptides together. It is well known, however, that formation of the peptide bond with a protected peptide as the acid component can lead to racemization5, the extent of which depends on the components, the conditions and the method. No racemization was observed with the use of the azide method6. Nevertheless, the latter procedure can involve the formation of by-products other than diastereoisomers. To avoid racemization it is possible to take advantage of the protecting groups, for example, the carbobenzoxy group, which protects the amino-acid acylated by it not only against unwanted acylation but also against racemization. This protection is effective only if the carbobenzoxy group is joined to the amino-acid, the carboxyl group of which takes part in the peptide bond-forming reaction. Therefore it becomes necessary to start the synthesis with the C-terminal amino-acid, to link to it the next (protected) amino-acid, to remove the protecting group from the resulting dipeptide derivative, to couple to the free amino component thus formed the third (protected) amino-acid, etc. This manner of peptide-chain synthesis is practicable only if the method used for the formation of the peptide bond is unambiguous, leads to only one peptide, and gives high yields. All the mixed anhydride methods were eliminated as they usually lead to two acylation products, the separation of which, for example by crystallization, can be difficult, especially in cases of peptides with several amino-acids. After the elimination of many other unsuitable possibilities the nitrophenyl esters of acylamino-acids were found to be suitable for this purpose.
13C-nuclear magnetic resonance study of glycophorins AM and AN modified with various pyrylium salts.

The environment of the N-terminal amino groups of glycophorins AM and AN has been studied using13C-NMR spectroscopy and pyrylium salts as amino-blocking agents. The extent of amino blocking was monitored by13C-reductive methylation of the residual free amino groups. The pyrylium ions reacted with the N-terminal amino groups of the two glycophorins at almost identical rates, which is thought to indicate that the overriding steric bulk of the pyrylium salt may determine the rate of the reaction. The difference in the rates of modification of lysine residues of glycophorins AM and AN by the pyrylium ions did indicate that there may exist an environmental difference around the lysine residues between the two glycophorins. This environmental difference may result from solution aggregation of the glycophorin A molecules or from some differences in the pKa values of the five lysine residues found in glycophorins AM and AN.
Management of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are a lethal disease. Ultrasound is the modality of choice for screening patients for AAAs. It is reasonable to screen patients over age 60, particularly men, women with cardiovascular risk factors, smokers, and patients with a family history of AAAs. Patients with small (< 5.5 cm) AAAs should be followed with serial ultrasound. Medical management should focus on treating comorbidities, particularly those that put patients at risk for other cardiovascular diseases. Smoking cessation is mandatory in these patients. Patients with large or symptomatic AAAs should be evaluated for surgery; this includes careful imaging of the abdomen, aggressive treatment of comorbidities, and perioperative β blockade. Endovascular repair has lower short-term morbidity compared with conventional open repair. Trials assessing long-term results are in progress. Basic science and translational research focusing on the underlying pathogenesis of AAAs will likely pave the way for medical therapies in the future.
Trace Elements in Samples of Fish, Sediment and Taconite from Lake Superior

Abstract The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Mn, Na, As, Hg, Co, Sc, Cd, Se and the rare-earth elements were determined in samples of flesh and liver from two species of sculpin, sediment, and taconite tailings by neutron activation analysis. The samples were from areas of Lake Superior with high and low concentrations of taconite tailings. Except for Mn and As, the concentrations of trace elements measured in taconite tailings are lower than the concentrations of the same elements in the sediment. The low concentrations of most trace elements in taconite and the similarity of their concentration ratios shows that no elements measured in taconite are suitable for use as tracers to determine the movement and distribution of taconite tailings in Lake Superior. No significant statistical differences were found in the concentrations of trace elements in sculpin from the site affected by taconite tailings compared to those from a site not affected.
NEGATIVE PLEURAL PRESSURES AND PULMONARY EDEMA IN ACUTE CHILDHOOD ASTHMA

Edema of the lung is a prominent finding in children dying of asthma. Because large negative pleural pressures favor the development of pulmonary edema (Mellins, Circ Res 24:197, 1969), we simultaneously measured air flow, lung volume and pleural pressure throughout the respiratory cycle in 10 children with acute asthma. Esophageal pressure was obtained with a balloon catheter and used as a measure of pleural pressure. Mean pleural pressure remained negative during inspiration and expiration and was minus 19 cm H2O over the entire tidal respiratory cycle for all 10 patients. Pleural pressure became progressively more negative as the severity of asthma increased (2 cm H2O decrease for each 10% decrease in vital capacity from predicted normal, r=0.9, p<0.01). These negative pleural pressures would be expected to 1) raise vascular pressures relative to pleural pressure by direct effect on ventricular function and 2) decrease perimicrovascular interstitial fluid pressures throughout the lung as the result of amplification by mechanical interdependence. Thus a gradient favoring fluid filtration into the pulmonary interstitium would be expected in acute asthma. These studies question the advisability of routinely administering large amounts of fluid to patients with acute asthma, since once deficits are replaced amounts in excess of maintenance requirements will further increase the gradient for filtration by raising vascular pressures and lowering colloid osmotic pressures.
Inelastic diffraction and factorization properties in the direct and crossed channels

We introduce a simple phenomenological framework based on approximate factorization properties in the direct and crossed channels of diffractive processes. Observed gross features of diffraction then become related to gross features of diffractive states. From the observed slope-mass correlation it emerges through this framework that crossed-channel factorization is broken; increasingly massive diffractive states become increasingly transparent, and strong absorption for these states progressively weakens.
A device for the continuous recording of solid food ingestion

Abstract An accurate inexpensive device for the measurement of dry food consumption is described. This device allows direct monitoring of individual bites of a diet of powdered food. It is thus possible to measure intra-meal parameters such as rate and to measure food consumption of diets of differing composition. This device accurately and reliably records food intake in obese and lean rats.
Observations of Power-in-Fiber Statistics in Two Recent Free-Space Communication Link Experiments

Lincoln Laboratory-conducted two free-space optical-ommunication experiments designed to test the ability of beam-diversity, symbol-encoding, and interleaving to reduce the effects of turbulence-induced-scintillation. This article presents a small sample of the power-in-fiber-data obtained from those experiments.
Laser flash photolytic determination of triplet yields via singlet oxygen generation

Abstract The efficiency φΔ of the generation of singlet oxygen 1O2* via oxygen quenching of triplets of a number of substrates of photochemical and photobiological interest was studied by 337.1 nm laser flash photolysis using 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran as the monitor for 1O2*. For all-trans retinal and two polyenals related to retinal as lower and higher homologues the φΔ data agree well with the triplet yields reported in the literature, suggesting that mechanisms involving charge transfer or spin exchange (at twisted configurations) leading to non-production of 1O2* are unimportant in the oxygen quenching of the triplets of these polyenes. Similar conclusions are also drawn for pyrene-1-aldehyde and tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) triplets where observation of quantitative production of 1O2* suggests energy transfer to be the dominant pathway. In support of some previous reports, the singlet oxygen yield in benzophenone triplet quenching by oxygen in benzene is found to be much less than unity (0.4).
EVENNESS OF SEASONING MEASURED BY IMAGE ANALYSIS, COLORIMETRY AND SENSORY EVALUATION

Potato chips were coated with 5 seasonings: cocoa, barbecue (BBQ), nacho cheese (NC), sour cream and onion (SCO) and salt and vinegar (SV). The evenness of the seasoning on each chip was measured by colorimetry, image analysis and sensory evaluation. Regression analysis was used to determine which parameters measured by colorimetry and image analysis best correlated to sensory evaluation for each seasoning. For colorimetry, the parameters with the strongest correlation to sensory ratings were the SD of L for cocoa and BBQ, a for NC and b for SCO seasonings. No single parameter correlated significantly for SV. The best correlation for the image analysis method was the percentage of chip covered for BBQ and NC, and the RSD of the percentage of chip covered for cocoa, SCO and SV. Both colorimetry and image analysis are fast, accurate analytical alternatives to sensory evaluation for determining coating evenness.
Shifting paradigms for fashion: from total to global to smart consumer experience

Emergence of a global techno-economic system is challenging academia and the fashion industry. Consumers, the retail industry and business strategies are strategically contributing to the changing fashion paradigm, which is shifting from the Total (TCE), to Global (GCE) and to Smart Consumer Experience (SCE) concepts. The consumer experience is a pervasive value orientation that is transforming how consumers think, gain information, and make decisions about consumption activities to maximize their total experience value. Moreover, the experiences, products and services that consumers seek are being defined with a global and smart perspective that is made possible by boundary-free access to information and sourcing of products and services. Specifically, the smart consumer experience advocates consumer participation by leveraging the power of communities and networks and enabling consumers to influence retail businesses and co-create future marketspace values. This phenomenon has implications for fashion consumers and fashion retail industry business strategies since fashion is an emulated behavior.
Automatic liquid nitrogen pumping system for particle accelerators

Abstract A description is given of an automatic liquid nitrogen pumping system. Pumping of liquid nitrogen into cooling traps up to a predetermined level is achieved by an automatically controlled compressed air system. An important feature of the equipment is the ability to switch automatically from an empty liquid nitrogen reservoir to a full one. This allows for a much more flexible operation than in conventional systems where the reservoir has to be replaced manually when empty.
ITP: Tolerance Lost

Despite a seemingly unifying phenotype comprising a reduced platelet count and mucocutaneous bleeding in many newly identified cases, immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a disorder of diverse pathogenesis. In this issue of Blood , Cuker and colleagues describe a little-recognized form of secondary ITP
Electronic Graphs of Musical Performance: A Pilot Study in Perception and Learning.

1 HE DEVELOPMENT OF musical performance skills is an extremely complex phenomenon. The successful musical performer must have developed his ability to adjust pitches, rhythms, dynamics, and tone quality during performance to a very high degree of accuracy. The professional musician receives auditory feedback when he produces a sound, and he makes adjustments in this sound based on his experience and knowledge of acceptable performance practices. Auditory concepts such as intonation and phrasing, among others, are continuously evaluated by the successful performer during performance. In training the auditory concepts necessary for successful performance, teachers usually are not able to provide meaningful reinforcement to students in terms of acceptable levels of tone adjustment during the students' practice sessions. The neophyte ordinarily does not know whether the tones he produces are acceptable. Students of a variable pitched instrument, for instance, are expected to develop the ability to adjust pitches to the satisfaction of their teachers. A problem exists, however, in developing an efficient means by which these students can refine their concepts of pitch adjustment during practice sessions and utilize cultural idiosyncracies of intonation while actively performing. This pilot study proposed to determine whether continuous visual reinforcement might affect students' tasks of pitch adjustment. The experimental question was designed to determine the feasibility of utilizing accurate and continuous visual cues to develop more accuracy in auditory perceptual tasks such as intonation matching. The research dealt with the reinforcement of intermodal sensory processes (vision and audition) which might affect auditory skill development in music. The basic assumption for the study was as follows: If accurate visual reinforcement seems to aid auditory tasks (simply by providing an added perceptual dimension), this approach may lead to the future visual programing of musical performance concepts. Each teacher could design a series of drill exercises that would provide immediate, accurate, and individualized reinforcement to aid the development of auditory skills. A student could use his visual acuity to reinforce auditory responses. The neo-
Systematic Analysis Underlying the Quality of the Scientific Evidence and Conflicts of Interest in Interventional Medicine Subspecialty Guidelines

Abstract Objective To determine the validity of guidelines published by interventional medical societies. Methods We reviewed the interventional medicine subspecialty society websites of the American Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (AABIP), American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology (ASDIN), American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), and Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) as of November 15, 2012, for published interventional guidelines. The study was performed between November 15, 2012, and January 1, 2013. The AABIP did not publish guidelines, so American Thoracic Society and American College of Chest Physicians guidelines were reviewed. All the guidelines were reviewed for graded levels of evidence, methods used to grade the evidence, and disclosures of conflicts of interest (COIs). Results Of 153 interventional guidelines evaluated, 4 were duplicates. Forty-six percent of guidelines (69 of 149) graded the quality of evidence using 7 different methods. The ASGE graded 71% of guidelines (46 of 65) compared with 29% (23 of 78) by the SCAI and 0 by the ASDIN (n=4) and the pulmonary societies (n=2). Of the 3425 recommendations reviewed, 11% (n=364) were supported by level A, 42% (n=1432) by level B, and 48% (n=1629) by level C. The mean age of the guidelines was 5.2 years. Additionally, 62% of the guidelines (92 of 149) failed to comment on COIs; when disclosed, 91% of guidelines (52 of 57) reported COIs. In total, 1827 COIs were reported by 45% of the authors (317 of 697), averaging 5.8 COIs per author. Conclusion Most of the interventional guidelines failed to grade the evidence. When present, most guidelines used lower-quality evidence. Furthermore, most guidelines failed to disclose COIs. When commented on, numerous COIs were present. Future guidelines should clearly state the quality of evidence, use a standard grading system, be transparent regarding potential biases, and provide frequent updates.
The Electronic Role of DNA-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes: Efficacy for in Situ Polymerization of Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites

We have found that the polymerization process was 4,500 times faster when a self-doped polyaniline nanocomposite was fabricated using in situ polymerization in the presence of single-stranded DNA-dispersed and -functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (ssDNA−SWNTs). More importantly, the quality of the composite was significantly improved: fewer short oligomers were produced, and the self-doped polyaniline backbone had a longer conjugation length and existed in the more stable and conductive emeraldine state. The functionality of the boronic acid group in the composite and the highly improved electronic performance may lead to broad applications of the composite in flexible electronic devices. Blending of preformed polymer with carbon nanotubes is straightforward and widely used to fabricate nanocomposites. We demonstrate that this simple mixing approach might not fully and synergistically combine the merits of each individual component. Surprisingly, these advantages also cannot be obtained using in...
The native–invasive balance: implications for nutrient cycling in ecosystems

We conducted single- and mixed-litter experiments in a hardwood forest in Long Island, New York, using leaf litter from phylogenetically paired native and invasive species. We selected long-established, abundant invasive species with wide-ranging distributions in the eastern United States that likely make substantial contributions to the litter pool of invaded areas. Overall, leaf litter from invasive species differed from native litter, though differences varied by phylogenetic grouping. Invasive litter had lower carbon:nitrogen ratios (30.9 ± 1.96 SE vs. 32.8 ± 1.36, P = 0.034) and invasive species lost 0.03 ± 0.007 g of nitrogen and had 23.4 ± 4.9 % of their starting mass remaining at the end of 1 year compared with a loss of 0.02 ± 0.003 g nitrogen and 31.1 ± 2.6 % mass remaining for native species. Mixing litter from two species did not alter decomposition rates when native species were mixed with other native species, or when invasive species were mixed with other invasive species. However, mixing litter of native and invasive species resulted in significantly less mass and nitrogen loss than was seen in unmixed invasive litter. Mixtures of native and invasive litter lost all but 47 ± 2.2 % of initial mass, compared to 37 ± 5.8 % for invasive litter and 50 ± 5.1 % for native litter. This non-additive effect of mixing native and invasive litter suggests that an additive model of metabolic characteristics may not suffice for predicting invasion impacts in a community context, particularly as invasion proceeds over time. Because the more rapid decomposition of invasive litter tends to slow to rates typical of native species when native and invasive litters are mixed together, there may be little impact of invasive species on nutrient cycling early in an invasion, when native leaf litter is abundant (providing litter deposition is the dominant control on nutrient cycling).
Order Statistics for First Passage Times in Diffusion Processes

We consider the problem of the first passage times for absorption (trapping) of the firstj (j = 1,2, ....) ofk, j 1. Our results are a special case of the theory of order statistics. We show that in one dimension the mean time to absorption at a boundary for the first ofk diffusing particles, μ1,k, goes as (lnk)−1 for the set of initial conditions in which none of thek particles is located at a boundary and goes ask−2 for the set of initial conditions in which some of thek particles may be located at the boundary. We demonstrate that in one dimension our asymptotic results (k21) are independent of the potential field in which the diffusion takes place for a wide class of potentials. We conjecture that our results are independent of dimension and produce some evidence supporting this conjecture. We conclude with a discussion of the possible import of these results on diffusion-controlled rate processes.
The catalytic chemistry of HCN + NO2 over Na- and Ba-Y,FAU: an in situ FTIR and TPD/TPR study.

The adsorption of HCN and the reaction of HCN with NO2 over Na-, and Ba-Y,FAU zeolite catalysts were investigated using in situ FTIR and TPD/TPR spectroscopies. Both catalysts adsorb HCN molecularly at room temperature, and the strength of adsorption is higher over Ba-Y than Na-Y. Over Na-Y, the reaction between HCN and NO2 is slow at 473 K. On Ba-Y, HCN reacts readily with NO2 at 473K, forming N2, CO, CO2, HNCO, NO, N2O, and C2N2. The results of this investigation suggest that initial step in the HCN + NO2 reaction over these catalysts is the hydrogen abstraction from HCN, and the formation of ionic CN- and NC- species. The formation of N2 can proceed directly from these ionic species upon their interaction with NO+. Finally, alternatively, these cyanide species can be oxidized to isocyanates which then can be further transformed to N2, N2O and COx in their subsequent reaction with NOx.
The conserved DNA binding domain mediates similar regulatory interactions for A-Myb, B-Myb, and c-Myb transcription factors.

The vertebrate A-Myb, B-Myb, and c-Myb proteins comprise a family of related transcription factors that share a highly conserved DNA binding domain. Although all three proteins are capable of binding the same sites in DNA, they have distinct, but overlapping patterns of expression and are presumed to be regulated independently. Here we show that the transcriptional activity of all three vertebrate Myb proteins can be severely inhibited by coexpression of a dominant-negative allele of p100, a coactivator protein that interacts with Myb DNA binding domains. Thus, the conserved Myb domains mediate interactions with common sites in DNA, as well as common regulators, suggesting that the proteins provide alternative or complementary responses to common upstream signaling pathways.
Information, behaviour and population dynamics

Animals must make decisions such as where and when to forage based on imperfect information about their variable world. A growing number of authors have addressed the information problem and its relation to behaviour, learning, cognition and evolution. Few studies, however, have analyzed how the quality of information available for decision making affects population growth and dynamics. Here I utilize stochastic dynamic models, statistical decision theory, and projection matrices to show how information affects patch choice and how these choices in turn affect fitness and population growth. The value of information, in terms of its impact on ﬁtness, depends on an organism's state and changes during the organism's life span. The relationship between a population's rate of increase and uncertainty about optimal patch choice amongst its members is concave with the positive effects of reduced uncertainty diminishing rapidly as individuals become more knowledgeable about their environment. The implications of these results for understanding populations and communities of interacting species are discussed.
An image‐carrying fiber optic probe to investigate solids distribution around an immersed surface in a gas‐fluidized bed

Description du dispositif experimental; l'image optique est directement enregistree sur le film photographique
Voids in the Two-Degree Field Galaxy Redshift Survey

We present an analysis of voids in the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey (2dFGRS). This analysis includes identification of void regions and measurement of void statistics. The 2dFGRS is the largest completed redshift survey to date, including a total of 245,591 galaxies covering 1500 deg2 to a median depth of zmed ~ 0.11. We use the voidfinder algorithm to identify a total of 289 voids in the 2dFGRS with radius larger than 10 h-1 Mpc. These voids have an average effective radius, the radius of a sphere with the same volume as the void, of h-1 Mpc in the North Galactic Pole region (NGP) and h-1 Mpc in the South Galactic Pole region (SGP). These voids are extremely underdense, with average density contrast of δρ/ρ = -0.94 ± 0.02. The centers of voids are even emptier, because the few galaxies within the voids typically lie close to the edges. The total volume of the universe filled by these void regions is approximately 40%. These results are very similar to results found from our analysis of the PSCz survey and the Updated Zwicky Catalog; here we detect almost a factor of 10 more voids. We measure the void probability function (VPF) of the 2dFGRS for volume-limited samples with limiting absolute magnitudes, Mlim - 5 log h, from -16 to -21 in bJ. We measure the underdensity probability function (with density contrast threshold δρ/ρ = -0.8) for samples with limiting absolute magnitudes, Mlim - 5 log h, from -18 to -21. We find that the SGP is more underdense than the NGP for all but the brightest sample under consideration. There is good agreement between the VPFs of the Center for Astrophysics survey and the 2dFGRS. Comparison of VPFs measured for the 2dFGRS with the distribution of simulated dark matter halos of similar number density indicates that voids in the matter distribution in ΛCDM simulations are not empty enough. However, semianalytic models of galaxy formation that include feedback effects yield VPFs that show excellent agreement with the data.
The impact of technology on physician cognition and performance.

Anesthesiologists and intensive care specialists are struggling with the question of how to evaluate the impact of new information technology, especially when devices promise to benefit patient safety [1]. The value of many innovations in technology for anesthesia and critical care medicine, like automated record keeping, pulse oximetry, or integrated patient monitors, lies in their impact on the cognition of medical personnel processes such as attention, workload, and reasoning. In evaluating the impact o f new technology, the unit of analysis cannot be the new box or capability in isolation; rather, it must be the larger information processing system that includes the physician's cognitive processes, the set o f interacting physicians and medical personnel for that setting, and the set o f tools that influence the information processing of these people [2]. It is the person-machine system that needs to be evaluated, not simply an electronic box. The work by Loeb investigating the impact o f record-keeping technology on anesthesiologist workload and attention is one example of the direction in which technology assessment needs to move. He has taken one approach for investigating human performance, the dual task class of methods, and tried to adapt it to investigate anesthesiologis; performance during actual cases. In this class of methods, the investigators introduce an additional, or secondary, task that can be related or unrelated to the pr imary task. Variations in performance on the secondary task provide one indication of the workload or mental resources devoted to the pr imary task.
Study of defect evolution by TEM with in situ ion irradiation and coordinated modeling

The paper describes a novel transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiment with in situ ion irradiation designed to improve and validate a computer model. TEM thin foils of molybdenum were irradiated in situ by 1 MeV Kr ions up to ∼0.045 displacements per atom (dpa) at 80°C at three dose rates −5 × 10−6, 5 × 10−5, and 5 × 10−4 dpa/s – at the Argonne IVEM-Tandem Facility. The low-dose experiments produced visible defect structure in dislocation loops, allowing accurate, quantitative measurements of defect number density and size distribution. Weak beam dark-field plane-view images were used to obtain defect density and size distribution as functions of foil thickness, dose, and dose rate. Diffraction contrast electron tomography was performed to image defect clusters through the foil thickness and measure their depth distribution. A spatially dependent cluster dynamic model was developed explicitly to model the damage by 1 MeV Kr ion irradiation in an Mo thin foil with temporal and spatial dependence of...
Reactor Equivalence of an Arbitrary Neutron Spectrum by Multisource Synthesis

An arbitrary neutron spectrum is changed to a multiplicity of simulation spectra and thereby converted to a reactor equivalent neutron fluence. The method is experimental giving both the magnitude and error of the equivalence. It is applicable to circuits and systems as well as to devices.
On the relationship between Twistors and Clifford algebras

Basis p-forms of a complexified Minkowski spacetime can be used to realize a Clifford algebra isomorphic to the Dirac algebra of γ matrices. Twistor space is then constructed as a spin space of this abstract algebra through a Witt decomposition of the Minkowski space. We derive explicit formulas relating the basis p-forms to index one twistors. Using an isomorphism between the Clifford algebra and a space of index two twistors, we expand a suitably defined antisymmetric index two twistor basis on p-forms of ranks zero, one, and four. Together with the inverse formulas they provide a complete passage between twistors and p-forms.
Thermal Hazard from LNG Fireballs

Abstract Accidents with many hydrocarbon materials such as propane, butane and gasoline frequently result in the formation of fireballs. The shipment of liquified natural gas (LNG) involves large quantities of fuel which, in the event of an accident, could ignite to form a fireball. Depending on atmospheric conditions, the thermal effects from such a fireball could produce third degree skin burns and start fires out to distances of several kilometers. A simple fireball model is presented here which describes the potential thermal hazard. Some experimental results for small quantities of fuel which form optically thin fireballs are also presented. The question of scaling is considered and it is concluded that for the investigation of optically thick fireballs involving extremely large quantities of LNG, meaningful tests can be run with 100 to 10,000 kg of fuel.
Maximizing the donor pool: marginal donors, splits, and living donor liver transplants

The shortage of donor organs is probably the biggest problem facing the field of liver transplantation today. Waiting lists have grown dramatically in the last 10 years. The consequences of this have been multiple, including higher waiting list mortality rates, longer waiting times, and more advanced liver disease in those patients coming to transplant. To address this issue, transplant centers are utilizing several techniques in an effort to expand the donor pool. These include the use of marginal donors (donors that would not have been considered suitable for donation previously), the use of living donors, and performing split liver transplants from deceased donors. The obvious advantage of these procedures is to expand the donor pool, hence increasing the number of transplants, and thus hopefully decreasing waiting list mortality rates. The disadvantage is that in many instances, such transplants may yield inferior results compared to standard transplants, or be associated with a higher incidence of complications. Further experience with such types of transplants will hopefully help to improve results and define the ideal manner in which to use these techniques to maximize the number of transplants.
Abstract 461: Inhibition of HMGB1 delays tumor progression, reduces MDSC-mediated immune suppression, and diminishes MDSC-macrophage cross-talk interaction.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Cancer immunotherapy aims to harness the power of the immune system to fight advanced stages of cancer. A main hindrance to cancer immunotherapy is tumor-induced immune suppression. Within the tumor microenvironment are a plethora of immune suppressive cells including Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSC). MDSC are present in nearly all types of cancer blocking T cell activation and shifting immunity towards a type 2 tumor-promoting phenotype through cross-talk with macrophages that enhances the secretion of pro-tumor molecules such as IL-10, and simultaneously drops IL-12 production by macrophages. MDSC accumulation is induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, IL-6 and VEGF as well as alarmins such as S100A8/9. Because the alarmin HMGB1 is increased in many cancers, we are determining if HMGB1 drives MDSC. Inhibition of HMGB1 in vitro by chemical inhibitors Glycyrrhizin and Ethyl Pyruvate decreased cross-talk-induced IL-10 production by MDSC and IL-6 production by macrophages. Ethyl Pyruvate also reduced MDSC suppressive capacity in transgenic T cell suppression assays, suggesting that HMGB1 regulates multiple aspects of MDSC function. Treatment of BALB/c mice with 4T1 mammary carcinoma with HMGB1 inhibitors Glycyrrhizin and Ethyl Pyruvate reduced lung metastases and did not impact primary tumor progression. Treatment of C57BL/6 mice with MC38 colon carcinoma with an HMGB1 neutralizing antibody (2G7) reduced MDSC levels in the blood, spleen, and tumor. HMGB1 consists of two domains, the pro-inflammatory B box domain and an anti-inflammatory A box domain. Treatment of C57BL/6 mice with MC38 tumor with A box significantly reduced primary tumor growth and decreased MDSC levels in the blood. These findings indicate that full-length HMGB1 drives inflammation and tumor progression, while the anti-inflammatory A box domain counteracts full-length HMGB1 and reduces tumor growth and MDSC. These results suggest that HMGB1 drives MDSC accumulation and tumor progression and that A box can be used to target MDSC-mediated tumor-induced immune suppression. (Research supported by NIH RO1CA115880 and RO1CA84232) Citation Format: Katherine Parker, Suzanne Rosenberg, Pratima Sinha, Huan Yang, Kevin Tracey, Jianhua Li. Inhibition of HMGB1 delays tumor progression, reduces MDSC-mediated immune suppression, and diminishes MDSC-macrophage cross-talk interaction. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 461. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-461
Survey of web-based health care information for prospective cruise line passengers.

Background: To determine the availability of information concerning medical care available onboard the ships of the major cruise lines operating in the North American market. Methods: The Web pages of the 16 members of the International Council of Cruise Lines were explored for the following types of information: ease of access of medical information, qualifications of medical personnel, description of medical facilities on board, maximum distance from nearest port, telemedicine capabilities, maximum gestational age and minimum infant age allowed, medical insurance information, and links to recognized guidelines for medical care on cruise ships. Results: Seven cruise lines had minimal or no medical information at all. No cruise line presented information about medical evacuation or telemedicine services. Ten cruise lines had no information on maximal gestational age and 11 did not specify minimum infant age. No site offered a link to guidelines concerning medical facilities on board. Conclusion: The advanced age of the average cruise ship passenger and the isolation of the cruise environment create a need for high quality medical facilities and staff onboard cruise ships. The lack of detailed information concerning medical care available onboard makes it difficult for the average prospective passenger, who has health concerns, to make an informed decision as to choice of cruise line and itinerary. Cruise lines should correct this by including more information regarding medical services as well as links to other cruise health Web sites.
A universal approach to the study of nonlinear systems

Abstract A large variety of nonlinear systems have been treated by a common approach that emphasizes the fluctuation of spatial patterns. By using the same method of analysis it is possible to discuss the chaotic behaviors of quark jets and logistic map in the same language. Critical behaviors of quark-hadron phase transition in heavy-ion collisions and of photon production at the threshold of lasing can also be described by a common scaling behavior. The universal approach also makes possible an insight into the recently discovered phenomenon of wind reversal in cryogenic turbulence as a manifestation of self-organized criticality.
Substrate coupling in mixed signal integrated circuits

Integrating digital with sensitive analog circuitry has created concerns. The fast switching digital signal creates noise that injects through the doped silicon substrate and travels through it due to its low resistivity and causes damages and bandwidth reduction. In this research work, COMSOL multiphysics was used to extract the substrate coupling parameters subsequently determining the amount of coupling in the substrate and controlling it. Several model configurations were created; such as dual and multiple contacts, which varied the separation between aggressor and victims. Also, the size of the aggressor was increased and a guard ring was added. The results show that spacing can reduce coupling between the aggressor and victim while increasing the area of the aggressor would increase coupling. Also, guard ring can be more efficient than spacing in minimizing coupling.
Mechanical and thermal response of compliant Thermal Interface Materials under cyclic loading

Compliant Thermal Interface Materials (TIMs) or Gap pads are an important material set in many applications including automotive electronics. Commercially available Compliant TIMs exhibit significant time-dependent deformation under compression limiting their utility. While these materials are expected to enhance thermal transport by filling gaps, their (often viscoelastic) mechanical behavior is not well understood. Present work is aimed at the development of test procedures to identify time-dependent viscoelastic behavior of compliant TIMs and to correlate the mechanical response of the materials to experimentally measured effective thermal conductivity. Towards this end, a commercially available compliant TIM using dynamic mechanical tests on a specially constructed low-load mechanical tester at 25°C and 75°C. Sinusoidal displacement profiles are applied at frequencies ranging from 0.1/hr to 10/hr. The change in response as a result of cyclic loading, or softening due to cycling, is quantified over a period of 500 cycles. The eventual goal is to study the stresses transmitted to the solder joints through the TIMs as a result of applied pressures during heatsink assembly.
OH 1720 Megahertz Masers in Supernova Remnants: C-Shock Indicators

Recent observations show that the OH 1720 MHz maser is a powerful probe of the shocked region where a supernova remnant strikes a molecular cloud. We perform a thorough study of the pumping of this maser and find tight constraints on the physical conditions needed for its production. The presence of the maser implies moderate temperatures (50-125 K) and densities (~105 cm-3) and OH column densities of order 1016 cm-2. We show that these conditions can exist only if the shocks are of C-type. J-shocks fail by such a wide margin that the presence of this maser could become the most powerful indicator of C-shocks. These conditions also mean that the 1720 MHz maser will be inherently weak compared with the other ground-state OH masers. All the model predictions are in good agreement with the observations.
Implementation of a Gabor Transform Data Quality-Control Algorithm for UHF Wind Profiling Radars

AbstractIn this paper a Gabor transform–based algorithm is applied to identify and eliminate intermittent signal contamination in UHF wind profiling radars, such as that produced by migrating birds. The algorithm is applied in the time domain, and so it can be used to improve the accuracy of UHF radar wind profiler data in real time—an essential requirement if these wind profiler data are to be assimilated into operational weather forecast models. The added value of using a moment-level Weber–Wuertz pattern recognition scheme that follows the Gabor transform processing is demonstrated.
On refocusing a radio telescope to image sources in the near field of the antenna array

A theoretical model is developed for describing the operation of a radio telescope using techniques from optical coherence theory. This model is then used to develop a more systematic approach to the problem of refocusing a radio telescope to image sources which are within the near-field of the antenna array when the antenna array is in the far field of the source distribution. This is done by refocusing the telescope onto the sources in analogy to a photographic camera. Two methods for refocusing the telescope are described which would require no modification to most existing telescopes. In the first method, refocusing is accomplished either electronically by curving the antenna array into a portion of a hemisphere with a center at the source, or, alternatively by processing the correlation function data obtained from the antennas in a somewhat modified manner. >
Observation System Intercomparison-Examples from Bomex

The basic and readily observable meteorological variables are related to each other through partial differential equations in a fourdimensional space-time domain. With these one can compute unmeasured quantities, such as the vertical velocity and sea surface evaporation. Several estimates of the same derived quantity can be made by using several observation systems, such as a rawinsonde network, a fleet of aircraft, and instrumented ships. Intercomparison of the final results provide one measure of the error in the derived quantity. However, more extensive intercomparisons and cross-calibrations are required to understand the error content of each result in order to weight them before reaching a final conclusion, to avoid systematic errors or biases among the many observations taken by the component parts of any single observation system, and to substitute observations from one system in place of those deficient or missing from another system. In a future project, such as the GARP Atlantic Tropical Experiment, the international character of the effort and the desire to work on smaller space scales and shorter time intervals than in the Barbados Oceanographic and Meteorological Experiment (BOMEX) places especially stringent demands on the designed system accuracy and the intercomparisons necessary to ensure that, in fact, these demands have been met and preserved throughout the experiment.