cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy logic system for students' evaluation

A fuzzy evaluation system to decide critical students' final marks is presented. The marks of the assessment tests made by students along the academic year are transformed into linguistic terms and used for assigning values to linguistic variables. Subjective criteria as i.e. student's interest or student's progression are used in order to decide whether every analyzed student passes or fails the considered subject. This paper presents the features of the subject where the fuzzy system has been applied in, the proposed fuzzy decision system, and results when it is applied using real students' marks.
Optimal Tridiagonal Solvers on Mesh Interconnection Networks

We consider the problem of designing optimal and efficient algorithms for solving tridiagonal linear systems on a mesh interconnection network. We derive precise upper and lower bounds for these solvers using odd-even cyclic reduction. We present various important lower bounds on execution time for solving these systems including general lower bounds which are independent of initial data assignment, lower bounds based on classifications of initial data assignments which classify assignments via the proportion of initial data assigned amongst processors, and lower bounds for commonly-used data layouts for tridiagonal solvers. Finally, algorithms are provided which have running times not only within a small constant factor of the lower bounds provided but which are within a small constant additive term of the lower bounds.
Déficits d'information dans l'élaboration, la mise en oeuvre et le suivi des politiques agricoles.

L'elaboration, la mise en oeuvre, le suivi et l'evaluation des politiques agricoles doivent etre guides par des informations precises et completes. Il est essentiel de disposer d'informations qualitatives et quantitatives pour pouvoir bien cibler les mesures gouvernementales et en assurer l'efficience et le bien fonde economique. L'analyse couts-avantages et l'evaluation quantitative de l'impact des politiques supposent de disposer d?informations de qualite en quantite suffisante. Or cette tâche est de plus en plus difficile en raison de l'accroissement de l?eventail et de la complexite des questions associees a l'agriculture. Le manque de connaissances sur les relations techniques qui sous-tendent certains processus cles, les incertitudes quant aux effets produits ou la difficulte de les suivre, de meme que l'asymetrie de l'information (lorsque l'information necessaire aux responsables des politiques existe mais qu'il est difficile ou couteux de se la procurer) sont autant de problemes a surmonter. La presente etude passe en revue les besoins d'informations necessaires pour guider l'elaboration, la mise en oeuvre, le suivi et l'evaluation des politiques agricoles, met en evidence les deficits, preconise differentes mesures destinees a ameliorer la disponibilite, la qualite et la pertinence des donnees pour repondre aux priorites de l'action publique et propose des options pour y parvenir. Elle propose egalement des methodes pour combler les lacunes persistantes lors de l'elaboration et de la mise en oeuvre des politiques.
Inbred mouse strains C57BL/6J and DBA/2J vary in sensitivity to a subset of bitter stimuli

Common inbred mouse strains are genotypically diverse, but it is still poorly understood how this diversity relates to specific differences in behavior. To identify quantitative trait genes that influence taste behavior differences, it is critical to utilize assays that exclusively measure the contribution of orosensory cues. With a few exceptions, previous characterizations of behavioral taste sensitivity in inbred mouse strains have generally measured consumption, which can be confounded by post-ingestive effects. Here, we used a taste-salient brief-access procedure to measure taste sensitivity to eight stimuli characterized as bitter or aversive in C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2) mice. B6 mice were more sensitive than D2 mice to a subset of bitter stimuli, including quinine hydrochloride (QHCl), 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP), and MgCl2. D2 mice were more sensitive than B6 mice to the bitter stimulus raffinose undecaacetate (RUA). These strains did not differ in sensitivity to cycloheximide (CYX), denatonium benzoate (DB), KCl or HCl. B6-D2 taste sensitivity differences indicate that differences in consumption of QHCl, PROP, MgCl2 and RUA are based on immediate orosensory cues, not post-ingestive effects. The absence of a strain difference for CYX suggests that polymorphisms in a T2R-type taste receptor shown to be differentially sensitive to CYX in vitro are unlikely to differentially contribute to the CYX behavioral response in vivo. The results of these studies point to the utility of these common mouse strains and their associated resources for investigation into the genetic mechanisms of taste.
Accounting Boot Camp For College Juniors

We describe a day-long introduction to new accounting majors, which we call a boot camp. Boot camp it is an effort to make juniors more aware of their identity, career purposes and learning resources that are now parts of their world, much of which is not covered explicitly in the accounting curriculum. This paper provides an overview of the activities included in our initial boot camp. In addition, we provide information useful in organizing boot camp type activities at other universities.
Target Parameter Estimation with Passive Sensors in the Presence of False Detections

A method for target parameter estimation in the presence of false detections with two passive sensors is presented. The technique is based on the Maximum Likelihood Estimation. The measurement model is non-linear and includes false measurements. The algorithm is first developed for a single target and then extended to two targets. For multiple targets unresolved measurements are also considered to provide a realistic analysis of targets crossing in the measurement space. A modified Cramer-Rao Lower Bound (CRLB) is derived for the case of target parameter estimation in the presence of false measurements. The performance degradation due to the false measurements is illustrated in the examples.
Analysis of subgroup effects in randomized trials when subgroup membership is missing: application to the second Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Intervention Trial

Summary. We develop and implement a methodology for drawing inference about subgroup effects in a two-arm randomized trial when subgroup status is known only for a non-random sample in each of the trial arms. Since the subgroup effects are not point identified from the distribution of the observed data, we show how to compute bounds on these effects by using scientifically plausible assumptions. We characterize the uncertainty of our procedure by using the Bayesian paradigm. The methodology is developed in the context of the second Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Intervention Trial, which was a randomized trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of implantable defibrillators on survival.
Rates of zinc and trace metal release from dissolving sphalerite at pH 2.0–4.0

Abstract High-Fe and low-Fe sphalerite samples were reacted under controlled pH conditions to determine nonoxidative rates of release of Zn and trace metals from the solid-phase. The release (solubilization) of trace metals from dissolving sphalerite to the aqueous phase can be characterized by a kinetic distribution coefficient, ( D tr ), which is defined as [( R tr / X (tr) Sph )/( R Zn / X (Zn) Sph )], where R is the trace metal or Zn release rate, and X is the mole fraction of the trace metal or Zn in sphalerite. This coefficient describes the relationship of the sphalerite dissolution rate to the trace metal mole fraction in the solid and its aqueous concentration. The distribution was used to determine some controls on metal release during the dissolution of sphalerite. Departures from the ideal D tr of 1.0 suggest that some trace metals may be released via different pathways or that other processes (e.g., adsorption, solubility of trace minerals such as galena) affect the observed concentration of metals. Nonoxidative sphalerite dissolution (mediated by H + ) is characterized by a “fast” stage in the first 24–30 h, followed by a “slow” stage for the remainder of the reaction. Over the pH range 2.0–4.0, and for similar extent of reaction (reaction time), sphalerite composition, and surface area, the rates of release of Zn, Fe, Cd, Cu, Mn and Pb from sphalerite generally increase with lower pH. Zinc and Fe exhibit the fastest rates of release, Mn and Pb have intermediate rates of release, and Cd and Cu show the slowest rates of release. The largest variations in metal release rates occur at pH 2.0. At pH 3.0 and 4.0, release rates show less variation and appear less dependent on the metal abundance in the solid. For the same extent of reaction (100 h), rates of Zn release range from 1.53 × 10 −11 to 5.72 × 10 −10 mol/m 2 /s; for Fe, the range is from 4.59 × 10 −13 to 1.99 × 10 −10 mol/m 2 /s. Trace metal release rates are generally 1–5 orders of magnitude slower than the Zn or Fe rates. Results indicate that the distributions of Fe and Cd are directly related to the rate of sphalerite dissolution throughout the reaction at pH 3.0 and 4.0 because these two elements substitute readily into sphalerite. These two metals are likely to be more amenable to usage in predictive acid dissolution models because of this behavior. The Pb distribution shows no strong relation to sphalerite dissolution and appears to be controlled by pH-dependent solubility, most likely related to trace amounts of galena. The distribution of Cu is similar to that of Fe but is the most-dependent of all metals on its mole fraction ratio (Zn:Cu) in sphalerite. The Mn distributions suggest an increase in the rate of Mn release relative to sphalerite dissolution occurs in low Mn samples as pH increases. The Mn distribution in high Mn samples is nearly independent of pH and sphalerite dissolution at pH 2.0 but shows a dependence on these two parameters at higher pH (3.0–4.0).
Data Mining DICOM RT objects for quality control in radiation oncology

Our goal in this paper is to data mine the wealth of information contained in the dose-volume objects used in external beam radiotherapy treatment planning. In addition, by performing computational pattern recognition on these mined objects, the results may help identify predictors for unsafe dose delivery. This will ultimately enhance current clinical registries by the inclusion of detailed dose-volume data employed in treatments. The most efficient way of including dose-volume information in a registry is through DICOM RT objects. With this in mind, we have built a DICOM RT specific infrastructure, capable of integrating with larger, more general clinical registries, and we will present the results of data mining these sets.
Stochastic simulations of particle-laden isotropic turbulent flow

Abstract Numerical simulations are performed of dispersion and polydispersity of particles in isotropic incompressible turbulence. The mass loading of the particles is assumed to be small; thus the effects of particles on turbulence is neglected (one-way coupling). A stochastic model is employed to simulate the carrier phase. The results of the simulations are compared with direct numerical simulation (DNS) data and theoretical results. The stochastic model predicts most of the trends as portrayed by DNS and theory. However, the continuity effect associated with the crossing trajectories effect is not captured. Also, the peaking in the variation of the particle asymptotic diffusivity coefficient with the particle time constant is not observed. For evaporating particles, the stochastic model predicts thinner probability density functions (pdfs) for the particle diameter as compared with DNS generated pdfs. The model is implemented to investigate the effects of gravity on evaporation. It is shown that the depletion rate increases with increase of the drift velocity at short and intermediate times, but an opposite trend is observed at long times. The standard deviation and skewness of the particle diameter indicate peak values in their variations with the drift velocity. Dispersion of evaporating particles decreases with respect to that of non-evaporating particles at small drift velocities; an opposite trend is observed at large drift velocities. The effects of the initial evaporation rate and the particle Schmidt number on the evaporation in the gravity environment are also studied.
Reactive compatibilization of biodegradable blends of poly(lactic acid) and poly(ε-caprolactone)

Poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) was reactively blended with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) using three catalysts/coupling agents in a Haake twin screw mixing chamber. Triphenyl phosphite showed the most promising results as a coupling or branching agent. PLA and PCL were also melt blended without any catalyst/coupling agents in order to make a comparison of the properties. The transesterification reaction was monitored by measuring torque values as a function of time.1H NMR was used to characterize the structure of the reactive and physical blend products. The blend samples were characterized for physical properties and biodegradation. Mechanical property measurements indicated that the elongation of the PLA/PCL blends improved significantly when compared to pure PLA especially for the reactively compatabilized blends, and that a synergism was observed for certain compositions (PLA/PCL = 80/20 or 20/80). Degradation studies showed that the enzymatic degradation rate (or normalized weight loss) of the reactively compatabilized blends were much higher than that of pure PLA and PCL, while the degradation rate of physical blends are between those of pure PLA and PCL.
Missing link: PCP pincer ligands containing P–N bonds and their Pd complexes

Abstract New PCP ligands in which the phosphine donor arms are connected to the central aromatic ring via NH moieties and their (PCP)PdCl complexes have been prepared. One such (PCP)PdCl complex was characterized by X-ray diffractometry in the solid state. The (PCP)PdCl complexes are exceptionally robust towards oxygen and water despite the presence of P–N bonds.
Anti-CD3 × Anti-HER2 Bispecific Antibody Effectively Redirects Armed T Cells to Inhibit Tumor Development and Growth in Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer-Bearing Severe Combined Immunodeficient Beige Mice

The bispecific antibody (BiAb) anti-CD3 x anti-Her2/neu (Her2Bi), combines Her2/neu targeting with nonmajor histocompatibility complex-restricted cytotoxicity mediated by activated T cells (ATCs). To evaluate this adaptive immunotherapeutic strategy for augmenting antitumor immune response toward hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC), normal donor or patient T cells were activated with anti-CD3, expanded ex vivo in interleukin-2, and then armed with Her2Bi (5-500 ng per million ATCs). In vitro, arming ATCs with Her2Bi increased the percent specific cytotoxicity toward PC-3 prostate adenocarcinoma cells 2-3 fold and increased the secretion of Th1 cytokines granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma when compared with unarmed ATCs or ATCs armed with an irrelevant BiAb. Her2Bi-armed ATCs administered with PC-3 (Winn Assay) or injected intratumorally prevented development or induced remissions, respectively, of PC-3 tumors in severe combined immunodeficient beige mice. Intravenously administered Her2Bi-armed ATCs localized to PC-3 xenografts mediated cytotoxicity toward tumor cells and produced significant tumor growth delay of PC-3 tumors, but not Her2/neu-negative LS174T colon adenocarcinoma xenografts. By flow cytometry analyses, Her2Bi-armed ATCs had a proliferative advantage over unarmed ATCs and persisted in the circulation and tumor tissues longer than unarmed ATCs. These findings suggest that Her2Bi-armed ATC therapy may be an effective, nontoxic, tumor-specific treatment for Her2-positive HRPC.
Inhalation toxicology of sodium sulfite aerosols in rats.

Abstract Rats were exposed to well-characterized aerosols of sodium sulfite, at levels ranging from 0.1 to about 15 mg/m3 and particle sizes of about 1 μm (mass median aerodynamic diameter). The responses of rats to breathing these aerosols for 3 days were evaluated by measurements of glycoprotein secretion rates by cultured tracheal explants from these rats, by measurement of protein, DNA, and RNA levels of lung homogenates prepared from these rats, and by quantitation of wet to dry weight ratios of right apical lung lobes from these rats. Increased rates of glycoprotein secretion were observed for tracheae from rats exposed to 5 or to 15 mg/m3 of Na2SO3 aerosol, and increased wet to dry weight ratios of right apical lobes were also observed after exposure to these levels, as well as after exposure to 1 mg/m3 of Na2SO3 aerosol. Control experiments involving exposure to a sulfate (Na2SO4) aerosol at 15 mg/m3 indicated that the observed effects were indeed due to exposure to the sulfite moiety. Exposure to aerosols of sodium hydroxymethane sulfonate (the product of addition of formaldehyde to sodium sulfite) aerosols (5 mg/m3) elicited less response in these assays than did exposure to sodium sulfite aerosol at the same concentration. We conclude that exposure of rats to well-characterized 1-μm aerosols of sodium sulfite at concentrations equivalent to amounts of SO2 of about 0.2 – 2.7 ppm results in responses of the rats that may be conveniently evaluated when sensitive enough toxicological indexes are quantitated.
Hydrology of the coastal sabkhas of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Water fluxes were estimated and a water budget developed for the land surface and a surficial 10-m-deep section of the coastal sabkhas that extend from the city of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, west to the border with Saudi Arabia. The fluxes were estimated on the basis of water levels and hydraulic conductivities measured in wells and evaporation rates measured with a humidity chamber. In contrast with conceptual models proposed in earlier studies, groundwater inflow is estimated to be small, whereas the largest components of the water budget are recharge from rainfall and evaporation from the water table. Estimates within a rectilinear volume of sabkha, defined as 1 m wide by 10 km long by 10 m deep, indicate that about 1 m3/year of water enters and exits by lateral groundwater flow; 40–50 m3/year enters by upward leakage; and 640 m3/year enters by recharge from rainfall. Based on the water and solute fluxes estimated for the upward leakage into the sabkha, 7–8 pore volumes of brine have entered the sabkha from below since the time the sabkha became saturated (7,000 years ago) as a result of the last global sea-level rise.
Elimination of Interferences in Spectral Data

A general-purpose method for eliminating one or more interferences from spectra in a completely objective way is described. The method, called least-squares subtraction, depends only on the linearity of the spectra and the linear independence of the analyte's spectrum from those of the interferences. The spectrum that results after correction is modified from the spectrum of the pure analyte, but it can still be used for quantitation and identification. Because of this modification, the method is best applied to problems where the presence of the analyte is obscured by the interferences, or when fast, automatic removal of one or more time-varying interferences from a series of spectra is required. The method is illustrated by the removal of a strong interference from the ATR measurement of the infrared spectrum of an enzyme-substrate complex and the removal of a changing chromatographic baseline from the output of a liquid chromatograph's diode array detector.
Toward optimal sketch-level transit service plans

Abstract A model and methodology are presented for preparing optimal sketch-level service plans for passenger systems that operate vehicles, singly or in multiple units, over a fixed network on a fixed schedule. The model uses transshipment equations to develop optimal vehicle flows, by link and time period, in response to passenger flows, service frequency requirements, line segment capacities, system fleet size, and storage node capacities. Frequency variables are used to represent the flows which reduces the need for integer variables and reduces solution times. It also makes possible the use of the model when many service alternatives are to be evaluated in a short period of time. In addition, the model's explicit treatment of equipment balancing results in an easy-to-understand solution with cost and resource estimates that can be traced clearly to the underlying vehicle movements.
A method of lyophilizing vaccines containing aluminum salts into a dry powder without causing particle aggregation or decreasing the immunogenicity following reconstitution

Many currently licensed and commercially available human vaccines contain aluminum salts as vaccine adjuvants. A major limitation with these vaccines is that they must not be exposed to freezing temperatures during transport or storage such that the liquid vaccine freezes, because freezing causes irreversible coagulation that damages the vaccines (e.g., loss of efficacy). Therefore, vaccines that contain aluminum salts as adjuvants are formulated as liquid suspensions and are required to be kept in cold chain (2-8°C) during transport and storage. Formulating vaccines adjuvanted with aluminum salts into dry powder that can be readily reconstituted before injection may address this limitation. Spray freeze-drying of vaccines with low concentrations of aluminum salts and high concentrations of trehalose alone, or a mixture of sugars and amino acids, as excipients can convert vaccines containing aluminum salts into dry powder, but fails to preserve the particle size and/or immunogenicity of the vaccines. In the present study, using ovalbumin as a model antigen adsorbed onto aluminum hydroxide or aluminum phosphate, a commercially available tetanus toxoid vaccine adjuvanted with potassium alum, a human hepatitis B vaccine adjuvanted with aluminum hydroxide, and a human papillomavirus vaccine adjuvanted with aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate, it was shown that vaccines containing a relatively high concentration of aluminum salts (i.e., up to ~1%, w/v, of aluminum hydroxide) can be converted into a dry powder by thin-film freezing followed by removal of the frozen solvent by lyophilization while using low levels of trehalose (i.e., as low as 2% w/v) as an excipient. Importantly, the thin-film freeze-drying process did not cause particle aggregation, nor decreased the immunogenicity of the vaccines. Moreover, repeated freezing-and-thawing of the dry vaccine powder did not cause aggregation. Thin-film freeze-drying is a viable platform technology to produce dry powders of vaccines that contain aluminum salts.
Developing nursing curriculum to facilitate the delivery of holistic care to the military veteran

Daily media coverage tells the story of challenges facing returning members of the United States Military. High rates of suicide, more than twenty per day, horrific traumatic injuries necessitating challenging physical and emotional healing, and lingering post-traumatic stress disorders warranting the most advanced methods of treatment are reported daily. As America recoils from two prolonged oversea wars, the need for prepared healthcare providers is essential not only for the Veterans Administration (VA), but also for civilian based healthcare systems. The bulk of nursing education literature seems to evidence a void regarding this segment of the population. What seems like a prime education focus remains yet to be enacted in most nursing programs. The authors have responded to this challenge, by creating curricula developed to increase nursing student awareness of veterans’ unique needs, and to prepare undergraduate nursing students to provide quality care to veterans. Through the creation of a laboratory simulation scenario, students learned how to holistically view and respond to the needs of a veteran client. Debriefing allowed for reviewing the experience and discussing concerns. Outcomes measured via pre- and post- testing survey reflected the complexity of patient care needs. Students were asked to rate their ability to identify and prioritize appropriate nursing interventions. Anecdotal feedback was positive in that students consistently expressed a need to have additional simulation experiences.
Parent choice and school involvement: Perspectives and dilemmas in the United States and Great Britain

Abstract The role of parents in their children's education in western nations is at best problematic. Large school bureaucracies — often hostile to the demands of individual consumers — struggle to understand the appropriate function of parents in controlling, participating in, and benefitting from their children's education. Hence, a major part of the reform movements in the United States and Great Britain has been to ‘privatize’ education — to introduce greater choice, competition, and autonomy into the provision of elementary and secondary schooling. Choice and involvement programs are described and analyzed in this chapter.
Meeting seasonal demand for products with limited shelf lives

This article addresses a common misconception concerning production lead time and the use of inventory to meet seasonal demand for products with limited shelf lives. Two fundamental questions are answered: 1) Under what conditions will an increase in product life lead to increased ability to meet demand? 2) Under what conditions will increased levels of starting inventory be beneficial? The results of this analysis assisted a plastics manufacturing firm in making product pricing and inventory decisions. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 44: 473–483, 1997
Pretense: The form and function of make-believe play☆

Abstract This paper proposes that make-believe play expresses the young child's emerging capacity to engage in counterfactual or would-be thinking. Three important developments enable preschoolers to create joint make-believe worlds with others: the ability to (1) manage multiple roles as playwrights and actors, (2) invent novel plots, and (3) deliberately blur the boundary between reality and pretense. Given that joint make-believe play turns out to be such a complex representational activity, the question about its function raises itself more insistently than ever. Of the many social and cognitive functions that have been proposed, emotional mastery is the only one that could not equally be exercised in nonpretend contexts. There is evidence, however, that in nonclinical settings the well-adjusted, secure children are most able to benefit from the opportunity for emotional mastery offered by sociodramatic play, whereas less-well-adjusted, insecure children are not. This has important implications for the design of play interventions.
Who Pays for Poor Surgical Quality? Building a Business Case for Quality Improvement

Background Both providers and payors bear the financial risk associated with complications of poor quality care. But the stakeholder who bears the largest burden of this risk has a strong incentive to support quality improvement activities. The goal of the present study was to determine whether hospitals or payors incur a larger burden of increased hospital costs associated with complications. Study design We merged clinical data for 1,008 surgical patients from the private sector National Surgical Quality Improvement Program to the internal cost-accounting database of a large university hospital. We then determined the marginal costs of surgical complications from the perspective of both hospitals (changes in profit and profit margin) and payors (increase in reimbursement paid to the hospital). In our analyses of cost and reimbursement, we adjusted for procedure complexity and patient characteristics using multivariate linear regression. Results Reimbursement for patients without complications ($14,266) exceeded hospital costs ($10,978), generating an average hospital profit of $3,288 and a profit margin of 23%. When complications occurred, hospitals still received reimbursement in excess of their costs, but the profit margin declined: reimbursement ($21,911) exceeded hospital costs ($21,156), yielding an average profit of $755 and a profit margin of 3.4%. Complications were always associated with an increase in costs to health-care payors: complications were associated with an average increase in reimbursement of $7,645 (54%) per patient. Conclusions Hospitals and payors both suffer financial consequences from poor-quality health care, but the greater burden falls on health-care payors. Strong incentives exist for health-care payors to become more involved in supporting quality improvement activities.
InGaAsP/InP double-heterostructure lasers: Simple expressions for wave confinement, beamwidth, and threshold current over wide ranges in wavelength (1.1-1.65 &#181;m)

For InGaAsP/InP devices emitting in the wavelength range of 1.1-1.65 \mu m, we present novel and accurate analytical approximations of the crucial parameters in laser design: the radiation confinement factor \Gamma ; the effective refractive index N eff ; and the transverse beamwidth \theta_{\perp} . It is found that \Gamma is independent of wavelength or step-index difference and \theta_{\perp} becomes independent of wavelength as the active layer thicknesses d decreases below 0.15 μm. An explicit analytical expression is derived for the threshold current density J th . The new linear gain-current relationship g (cm-1) = 28.5 (J/d) - 50 is deduced from a critical assessment of recent experimental data. A theoretical framework is provided to explain experimental observations such as: the J th versus d curve is independent of wavelength, the threshold has a negligible variation over the 0.1-0.3 \mu m active-layer thickness range, and the normalized threshold current density ( J_{th}/d , for d \geq 0.5 \mu m) varies strongly (3-5 kA/cm2/μm) with cavity length.
Optical interconnection of optical modules

ABSTRACT' The purpose of this paper is to explore the use and misuse of nonlinear optics as a way of connecting complex optical modules. For applications, such as neural networks, that need large numbers of interconnections and have numerous stages, the optical to optical interconnect is attractive. This approachallows the system to be comprised of many modules and incorporate optical nonlinearities to performswitching and amplification functions.INTRODUCTIONOne function of the optical nonlinearity is to amplify the signal level enough to allow multiple stagesand to transform the signal magnitudes in some prespecified way. An example for this is a sigmoidal curveof the form 0 = 1/2 [1 + tanh(2cxI-1)], [1] with I and 0 the input and output signals respectively. I and 0 are both in the range from 0 to 1 in arbitraryunits. The parameter a adjusts the curve, as shown in Figure 1.Figure 1) A sigmoidal curve and the two extreme cases for a.The capacity and speed determine the throughput of the system. The capacity is limited by constraints
Exposing synonymous mutations

Synonymous codon changes, which do not alter protein sequence, were previously thought to have no functional consequence. Although this concept has been overturned in recent years, there is no unique mechanism by which these changes exert biological effects. A large repertoire of both experimental and bioinformatic methods has been developed to understand the effects of synonymous variants. Results from this body of work have provided global insights into how biological systems exploit the degeneracy of the genetic code to control gene expression, protein folding efficiency, and the coordinated expression of functionally related gene families. Although it is now clear that synonymous variants are important in a variety of contexts, from human disease to the safety and efficacy of therapeutic proteins, there is no clear consensus on the approaches to identify and validate these changes. Here, we review the diverse methods to understand the effects of synonymous mutations.
Top-down, bottom-up, and structured programming

The process of designing and evolving a programming system cannot be characterized as either top-down or bottom-up or any other well-structured process. The results, however, is a well-structured program. Since both approaches have the same goal either approach or a combination of the two is compatible with a structured programming philosophy.
Evasion Behaviors of Exporters and Importers: Evidence from the U.S.–China Trade Data Discrepancy

Abstract Since the late 1990s, reported U.S. imports from China and Hong Kong have regularly and increasingly exceeded reported exports of China and Hong Kong to the United States. This discrepancy, which is not caused by re-exporting through Hong Kong, varies by product categories, and in some cases takes the opposite sign. In this paper, we focus on China's direct exports to the United States. Using a model that allows for simultaneous misreporting to two authorities, we find strong statistical evidence of under-reporting exports at the Chinese border to avoid paying value-added tax (VAT). The value of VAT avoided is estimated at $6.5 billion during 2002–2008, and the associated understatements account for approximately two-thirds of the discrepancy. We also provide evidence of tariff evasion at the U.S. border, in particular for related-party transactions, and indirect evidence of transfer pricing and evasion of Chinese capital controls. An estimated $2 billion of U.S. tariff revenue is lost due to such evasion during 2002–2008, which reduces the apparent size of the statistical discrepancy.
Impact of medical travel on imports and exports of medical services.

Abstract Objectives Medical travel is travel outside of an individual's home region or country in pursuit of medical care that is more accessible, of higher quality and/or of lower cost. This paper estimates the inflows of foreign residents seeking medical care in the U.S. and outflows of U.S. residents seeking care abroad. Methods Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. International Trade Administration and a survey of domestic health care providers, we estimate the lower and upper bounds for the number of medical travelers into and out of the U.S. and the value of these services. Results We estimate that between 43,000 and 103,000 foreigners came into the U.S. for medical care, and between 50,000 and 121,000 U.S. residents traveled abroad for care in 2007. Despite a net loss in the number of medical travelers flowing out of the U.S. for care, the trade surplus for medical travel could be as high as $1 billion. Conclusions While a slight net outflow of patients leaving the U.S. for medical care may exist, the resulting impact on exports is still positive for the U.S., due to a higher average spending per patient coming to the U.S. New mechanisms are needed to track the balance of mobility and trade for medical care on a regular basis.
Foreign capital in Central Asia and the Caucasus: curse or blessing?

Abstract In developing countries, the magnitude as well as the composition of foreign capital greatly influences the political fortunes of domestic actors, and thus regime trajectory. This paper demonstrates that the states of Central Asia and the Caucasus depend heavily on external capital flows for the financing of their fiscal deficits and that the bulk of the flows go directly to authoritarian governments. This situation has empowered authoritarian rulers, provided very little financial strength to local businesses, and offered half-hearted incentives for market reforms. Moreover, the small differences among these states in terms of the composition of capital flows also explain why some of these states have moved towards a milder version of authoritarian rule while others have been stuck in hard authoritarianism.
Nonlinear analysis of functionally graded microstructure-dependent beams

Abstract Nonlinear finite element models of functionally graded beams considering the von Karman geometric nonlinearity, power-law variation of material through the beam height, and microstructure length scale parameter are developed for the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory and the Timoshenko beam theory. To capture the size effect, a modified couple stress theory with one length scale parameter is used. Such theories play crucial role in predicting accurate deflections of micro- and nano-beam structures. Numerical results are presented to show the effect of nonlinearity, shear deformation, power-law index, microstructural length scale, and boundary conditions on the bending response of beams under mechanical loads. In general, the effect of microstructural parameter is to stiffen the beam, while shear deformation has the effect of modeling realistically as flexible beams.
Predicting coiled coils from protein sequences

The probability that a residue in a protein is part of a coiled-coil structure was assessed by comparison of its flanking sequences with sequences of known coiled-coil proteins. This method was used to delineate coiled-coil domains in otherwise globular proteins, such as the leucine zipper domains in transcriptional regulators, and to predict regions of discontinuity within coiled-coil structures, such as the hinge region in myosin. More than 200 proteins that probably have coiled-coil domains were identified in GenBank, including alpha- and beta-tubulins, flagellins, G protein beta subunits, some bacterial transfer RNA synthetases, and members of the heat shock protein (Hsp70) family.
Spin-two symmetric spinors and elastic scattering of massive spin-two particles

Some properties of the Hamiltonian description of free spin-two massive and massless particles are given emphasizing the connection with symmetric spinors having four free indices. In addition, the most general scattering amplitude is constructed for the elastic scattering of massive spin-two particles and scalar particles including the massless limit.
Heat transfer during the shock-induced ignition of an explosive gas

Abstract An experimental and theoretical study has been made of the unsteady heat transfer during the shock-induced ignition of an explosive gas. The heat flux at the end wall is obtained from measurements that were made with a thin film resistance thermometer. A separate analysis is based on the solution of the boundary layer equations in the gas near the end wall. Comparison of these results yields the instantaneous position of the reaction zone and the temperature distribution in the gas.
GEOCHEMISTRY OF K-RICH ALKALINE LAKES, WESTERN SANDHILLS, NEBRASKA, USA

Abstract The Alkali Lakes region of the western Sandhills, Nebraska, has lakes that range in composition from freshwater to brine with TDS exceeding 250,000 mg/1. An unusual geochemical feature of these lakes is the conservative behavior of K with concentrations exceeding 1,900 mmoles/kg (86,000 mg/1). The lakes are dominantly Na-K-CO3-(SO4)-(Cl) and Na-K-SO4-CO3-(Cl) waters. Lakes occupy interdunal areas where there is little or no surface runoff. Groundwater primarily from locally derived precipitation is the principle source of water and solutes. This origin for the source water contrasts with closed-basin saline lake complexes, where surface water from the adjacent areas flows directly into the lakes or recharges the groundwater system. The principle geochemical process controlling lake chemistry is evaporative concentration. Other processes are operating, but to a lesser extent; these include mineral precipitation and dissolution and organically mediated sulfate reduction. Geochemical mass-balance modeling indicates distinct differences in the amount of water that is required to be evaporated to produce the observed lake compositions. These differences are related to the groundwater inflow to outflow ratio for individual lakes. This emphasizes that, although evaporation and related processes control the geochemical evolution, the local hydrology of individual lakes regulates the extent to which these processes will proceed.
Thermal Design Methodology for an Embedded Power Electronic Module Using Double-Sided Microchannel Cooling

This paper presents a thermal design methodology for an integrated power electronic module (IPEM) using embedded, single-phase, and laminar-flow rectangular microchannels. Three-dimensional packaging of electronic components in a small and compact volume makes thermal management more challenging, but IPEMs also offer the opportunity to extract heat from both the top and the bottom side of the module, enabling double-sided cooling. Although double-sided cooling of IPEMs can be implemented using traditional aluminum heat sinks, microchannels offer much higher heat transfer coefficients and a compact cooling approach that is compatible with the shrinking footprint of electronic packages. The overall goal of this work was to find the optimal microchannel configuration for the IPEM using double-sided cooling by evaluating the effect of channel placement, channel dimensions, and coolant flow rate. It was found that the high thermal conductivity copper of the direct bonded copper (DBC) layer is the most feasible location for the channels. Based on a new analytical heat transfer model developed for microchannels in IPEM structures, several design configurations were proposed in this study that employ the microchannels in the copper layers of the top and bottom DBCs. The designs included multiple parallel channels in copper as well as a single wide microchannel. The analytical model was verified using a finite element model, and the competing design configurations were compared against a commercial cooler. For a typical IPEM structure dissipating on the order of 100 W of heat, it was concluded that a single microchannel DBC heat sink is preferable to multiple parallel channels under a double-sided cooling configuration, considering thermal performance, pressure drop and fabrication trade-offs.
Crystal structure of dicamba monooxygenase: A Rieske nonheme oxygenase that catalyzes oxidative demethylation

Dicamba (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid) is a widely used herbicide that is efficiently degraded by soil microbes. These microbes use a novel Rieske nonheme oxygenase, dicamba monooxygenase (DMO), to catalyze the oxidative demethylation of dicamba to 3,6-dichlorosalicylic acid (DCSA) and formaldehyde. We have determined the crystal structures of DMO in the free state, bound to its substrate dicamba, and bound to the product DCSA at 2.10-1.75 A resolution. The structures show that the DMO active site uses a combination of extensive hydrogen bonding and steric interactions to correctly orient chlorinated, ortho-substituted benzoic-acid-like substrates for catalysis. Unlike other Rieske aromatic oxygenases, DMO oxygenates the exocyclic methyl group, rather than the aromatic ring, of its substrate. This first crystal structure of a Rieske demethylase shows that the Rieske oxygenase structural scaffold can be co-opted to perform varied types of reactions on xenobiotic substrates.
Parallel structured networks for solving a wide variety of matrix algebra problems

Abstract In this paper, structured networks, which are multilayer feed-forward neural networks with linear neurons and with additional constraints on the weights of neurons, are developed for solving a wide variety of matrix algebra problems, including LU decomposition, matrix inversion, QR factorization, singular value decomposition, symmetric eigenproblem, and Schur decomposition. The basic idea of the structured network approaches is: first, represent a given matrix algebra problem by a structured network so that if the network matches a set of desired patterns, the weights of the linear neurons give the solution to the problem; then, train the structured network to match the desired patterns, and obtain the solution to the problem from the converged weights of neurons. Modified error back-propagation algorithms are developed for training the structured networks. Time complexities of these structured network approaches are analyzed. These approaches are tested for random matrices through Monte Carlo simulations. Finally, a general-purpose structured network is developed which can be programmed to solve all the matrix algebra problems considered in this paper.
The fabrication and creep properties of superalloy-zirconia composites

Many high-temperature structural materials applications require mismatch strain compatibility that can be provided by graded composites. Applications such as ceramic thermal-barrier coatings on superalloy substrates require compatibility to minimize interfacial stresses and degradation effects. The interfaces in such cases could be metal-matrix composites containing a graded distribution of the ceramic phase within the superalloy matrix whose creep properties during elevated temperature service are unknown. This article reviews creep properties of a typical superalloy, Rene95, containing partially stabilized zirconia. These composites were prepared via powder metallurgy, during which zirconia was found to react with γ′ (Ni3Al) to form Al2O3, resulting in the depletion of γ′ from the superalloy matrix. Due to the combined effects of chemical changes and grain refinement, considerable creep strengthening was achieved at low creep rates, but weakening was observed at higher creep rates. A composite load transfer model is used to isolate the effect of particles on strengthening.
Abstract 4212: p53 null spindloid murine mammary tumors show features associated with human claudin-low tumors and enrichment for cancer stem cells

The claudin-low subtype is a recently identified new and rare molecular subtype of human breast cancer which we hypothesize may be enriched for cancer stem cells or tumor-initiating cells (TIC). These tumors express low levels of tight and adherens junction genes including claudin 3 and E-cadherin. Claudin-low tumors also often highly express markers associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) including EMT inducers Snail, Twist, Zeb1, and Zeb2. These tumors are also enriched in recently published signatures derived from human TICs and a sorted population enriched for human mammary stem cells. Using comparative genomics, we discovered that there are mouse mammary tumors that have similar gene expression characteristics as claudin-low human tumors and are also enriched in the human TIC signature. Tumors in this group were rare tumors which came from a number of distinct mouse models including the p53 null transplant model. We have now collected over forty more tumors from the p53 null model, a phenotypically heterogeneous tumor model, in order to identify tumors of different molecular subtypes including claudin-low/spindloid tumors that can be transplanted and expanded in vivo. Here we present a molecular characterization of the p53 null mammary tumor bank as compared to other mouse models and human breast tumor subtypes. Similar to human tumors, the p53 null tumors fall into multiple molecular groups, a basal-like subtype, a luminal subtype, and a claudin-low subtype. Like human breast tumors, the p53 null claudin-low tumors show high expression of EMT inducers. They also show low to absent expression of both claudin 3 and E-cadherin by microarray as well as immunostaining. These groups also contain distinct genomic copy number changes as assessed by array comparative genomic hybridization. Finally, we show by limiting dilution transplantation, that p53 null claudin-low tumors are significantly enriched for TICs as compared to the more common adenocarcinomas arising in the same model. In conclusion, p53 null claudin-low/spindloid tumors show features of human claudin-low tumors and they are enriched for TICs, which has yet to be demonstrated experimentally for human claudin-low tumors. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4212.