cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An adaptive quasicontinuum approach for modeling fracture in networked materials: Application to modeling of polymer networks

Abstract Materials with network-like microstructure, including polymers, are the backbone for many natural and human-made materials such as gels, biological tissues, metamaterials, and rubbers. Fracture processes in these networked materials are intrinsically multiscale, and it is computationally prohibitive to adopt a fully discrete approach for large scale systems. To overcome such a challenge, we introduce an adaptive numerical algorithm for modeling fracture in this class of materials, with a primary application to polymer networks, using an extended version of the Quasicontinuum method that accounts for both material and geometric nonlinearities. In regions of high interest, for example near crack tips, explicit representation of the local topology is retained where each polymer chain is idealized using the worm like chain model. Away from these imperfections, the degrees of freedom are limited to a fraction of the network nodes and the network structure is computationally homogenized, using the micro-macro energy consistency condition, to yield an anisotropic material tensor consistent with the underlying network structure. A nonlinear finite element framework including both material and geometric nonlinearities is used to solve the system where dynamic adaptivity allows transition between the continuum and discrete scales. The method enables accurate modelling of crack propagation without a priori constraint on the fracture energy while maintaining the influence of large-scale elastic loading in the bulk. We demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the method by applying it to study the fracture in different examples of network structures. We further use the method to investigate the effects of network topology and disorder on its fracture characteristics. We discuss the implications of our method for multiscale analysis of fracture in networked material as they arise in different applications in biology and engineering.
Enhancing Generalization of Wafer Defect Detection by Data Discrepancy-aware Preprocessing and Contrast-varied Augmentation

Wafer inspection locates defects at early fabrication stages and traditionally focuses on pixel-level defects. However, there are very few solutions that can effectively detect largescale defects. In this work, we leverage Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to automate the wafer inspection process and propose several techniques to preprocess and augment wafer images for enhancing our model’s generalization on unseen wafers (e.g., from other fabs). Cross-fab experimental results of both wafer-level and pixel-level detections show that the F1 score increases from 0.09 to 0.77 and the Precision-Recall area under curve (PR AUC) increases from 0.03 to 0.62 using our proposed method.
Determination of aluminum content in fried dough sticks by microwave digestion-chrome azurol S spectrophotometric method

Objective To study a method for determination of aluminum in food, and to ensure food safety and public health. Methods Microwave digestion-chrome azurol S spectrophotometric method was used to detect the aluminum content in fried dough sticks. Detection limit, linear range, precision, accuracy and maximum absorption wavelength were calculated. Results The method detection limit was 0.08 μg, precision was 0.60%-5.90%, and recovery rate was 96.0%-102.3%, maximum absorption wavelengnth was 620 mm. Aluminum content in 10 samples of fried dough sticks were all exceeded the standard, which were 709.5, 980.8, 1 010.3, 1 151.5, 1 214.0, 1 243.7, 1 318.1, 1 374.0, 1 435.0 and 1 479.4 mg/kg. Conclusion The method is simple, reliable, reproducible and easy to be used. Key words: Aluminum; Microwave digestion; Chrome azurol S
DMC controller design for an integrated Allam cycle and air separation plant

Abstract Advanced process control is developed for a novel oxy-fuel Allam cycle power plant integrated with an Air Separation Unit (ASU) with no greenhouse gas and NOx emissions. The Dynamic Matrix Control (DMC) controller was developed with AspenTech's DMC Technology Version 11 engineering software. The DMC controller improves nitrogen purity, carbon dioxide purity and flowrate, and power output by an average of 4%. Also, the DMC controller is able to handle disturbances in the range of 12.5% for feed flow changes and 10% for feed composition changes. Substantial enhancement was observed in upgrading carbon dioxide purity from 97% Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) grade to 99.9% food/medical grade. Therefore, this advanced control strategy is superior to regulatory PID controllers and the developed DMC controller can be used as a seed model in the actual plant control by combining with the actual plant test data in the calibrate mode.
Intersections of law & education: The right to be out, a book review

Despite the protection under several state and federal laws, students and teachers who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender (LGBT) still face legal and emotional struggles when it...
Wittgenstein's Apprenticeship with Russell

1. Rereading Russell and Wittgenstein 2. Logical atomism 3. My fundamental idea 4. Logic as if tautologous 5. Tractarian logicism 6. Principa's second edition 7. Logic as the essence of philosophy Appendix A. Exclusive quantifiers Appendix B. Modality in the Tractatus.
Tobacco 21 Policies in the U.S.: The Importance of Local Control With Federal Policy.

Introduction In December 2019, the U.S. raised the minimum legal sales age of tobacco to 21 years, a law commonly known as Tobacco 21. This study examines local Tobacco 21 policies for the inclusion of model policy components: comprehensive tobacco definition, age verification and tobacco access, enforcement measures, tobacco retail license, and violation penalties. Methods A document analysis of Tobacco 21 local policies passed in the U.S. before July 1, 2019 (N=477) was conducted in May 2020 using a Tobacco 21 policy assessment tool. Policies were coded by 2 independent coders for the inclusion of components. Results Many localities included model component: comprehensive tobacco definition (65%), appearance age (70.9%), local tobacco retail license (72%), a graduated monetary penalty structure (93%), and tobacco retail license suspensions or revocations (74%) for repeated violations. However, only 17.4% of policies included an appearance age in compliance with federal law (30 years). Furthermore, few policies included enforcement components, such as a mandatory number of inspections (5.9%) or compliance checks (6.7%) per year, or a minimum age for the underage purchasers used during compliance checks (8.4%). Conclusions Local policies can play an important role in tobacco control by providing an added layer to ensure adequate enforcement of age-restriction policies and allow an avenue to introduce strict measures that may diffuse into higher branches of government for policy adoption. Although many local Tobacco 21 policies fill regulatory gaps within the state and federal laws, often there is a lack of model components to ensure that policies are implemented as intended.
Understanding the structure, bonding and reactions of nanocrystalline semiconductors: a novel high-resolution instrumental method of solid-state synchronous luminescence spectroscopy

This Perspective Article describes the recent advancements in studies of nanocrystalline metal oxides using a novel ultra-high resolution method, solid-state synchronous luminescence spectroscopy (SS-SLS). Semiconductors notably include titanium dioxide and these studies shed light on the detailed electronic structure, composition, and their reactions. First, we critically discuss the limitations of the major existing non-spectroscopic and spectroscopic methods of characterization of electronic structure of nanocrystalline semiconductors and insulators. Second, we describe the foundations and the setup of SS-SLS as an enhanced-resolution, facile, non-contact, non-destructive, and highly capable method of studies of nanomaterials. Third, the following insights are featured which are obtained by SS-SLS, but are not available by other methods: (a) detection of traps of electric charge (specific mid-gap states); (b) discrimination between “surface” and “bulk” sites; (c) in situ studies of composite nanomaterials and mechanisms of reactions, (d) the derivative SS-SLS for accurate determination of energies of absorption and emission. The specific advantages of SS-SLS versus other methods and in direct comparison with “conventional” photoluminescence spectroscopy are highlighted. Finally, new opportunities and challenges of SS-SLS are presented. SS-SLS is an advanced spectroscopic method with significant potential to aid academia and industry in studies of chemo-sensing, photocatalysis, optoelectronic materials, applied surface science, development of instrumental analysis, and studies of mechanisms of surface and “bulk” chemical reactions.
InSight Mars Lander Instrument Deployment Arm Flight Software

The Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) lander landed on Mars on November 26, 2018 and continues to investigate the internal structure of the planet two years later. The Instrument Deployment Arm (IDA), a robotic arm on the lander, was used to deploy the science instrument payloads from the lander deck to the surface of Mars and to take images of the lander and the surrounding environment. This was the first precision deployment and release by a robotic arm on another planet. After deploying the instruments, the IDA has been used for instrument commissioning, scientific data gathering, and to assist with troubleshooting one of the science instruments. This paper provides a high-level summary of the flight software that controls the IDA. The paper provides an overview of the IDA software interfaces, task structure, command handling strategy, motion specification, motion planning, motor control, grapple control, fault protection, and telemetry.
Nascent RNA: Friend or foe of the chromatin bound?

In a tour de force, Skalska et al. (2021) discover transcription inhibition and RNA degradation elicit recruitment of chromatin modifiers and transcriptional regulators to chromatin, suggesting a broad role for nascent RNA as factor-chromatin antagonizer.
Posterior Circulation Large Vessel Occlusions are Associated with Longer Door-to-Groin Time (P1.3-023)

Objective: In this study, we aimed to evaluate door-to-groin (DTG) time for patients with posterior circulation large vessel occlusion (LVO) who underwent mechanical thrombectomy (MT), and to compare it with patients with LVO in the anterior circulation. Background: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) secondary to posterior circulation LVO tends to have atypical presentation which may delay the diagnosis and treatment. Design/Methods: We interrogated our prospectively collected database to identify patients who presented with AIS due to LVO and were treated with MT between 7/2014 and 5/2018. Collected data included demographics, DTG time, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), LVO location (anterior Vs. posterior), and 90-day modified Rankin scale (mRS). Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between LVO location and 90-day mRS, controlling for potential confounders. Results: During study period, 471 patients underwent MT, of which 62 (13.2%) had posterior circulation LVO. Patients with posterior circulation LVO were younger (mean age 62.7 +/−16.2 vs. 67.4 +/−14.7; P=0.016). No significant difference was noted in the mean NIHSS on arrival (14.8 Vs. 15.1, P=0.275), or in the rate of receiving intravenous thrombolysis (11.3% vs. 12.2; P=0.833). Median DTG was 97 minutes (IQR 65.25–129.5) for posterior circulation LVOs and 82 minutes (IQR 62.5–101.5) for anterior circulation (P=0.045). Logistic regression analysis showed that LVO location (anterior Vs. posterior) was not independently associated with poor long-term functional outcome (90-day mRS>2) (OR 3.367, 95% CI 0.351–32.298, P=0.293). Conclusions: In the studied cohort of stroke patients who underwent MT, posterior circulation LVOs were associated with longer DTG time than anterior LVOs despite having similar baseline NIHSS. Better tools are needed to identify posterior circulation strokes to improve DTG time. Disclosure: Dr. Almallouhi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Anadani has nothing to disclose. Dr. Alawieh has nothing to disclose. Dr. Holmstedt has nothing to disclose. Dr. Spiotta has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Penumbra, Pulsar Vascular, Microvention, Stryker.
Electrical Transient Sampling System with Two Picosecond Resolution

With the advent of picosecond photodetectors, photoconductive switches and other ultrafast devices, the need has arisen for a measurement system capable of characterizing small electrical signals with picosecond accuracy. Techniques for measuring ultrafast electrical signals to date have limitations in their use. Sampling oscilloscopes have temporal resolutions limited by their electronic sampling window. This is typically ~ 25 ps. Recently, Auston1 demonstrated a sampling technique in amorphous semiconductors that can resolve electrical transients as short as 5 to 10 ps. However, the ultimate resolution of that system is constrained by a material recovery time of approximately 10 ps.
Timing driven placement of pads and latches

A heuristic approach to the placement of I/O pads and sequential elements prior to the layout of a VLSI circuit is presented. The input information for the algorithm is the structure of the circuit and its path delay constraints. Experimental results suggest that the loss in performance can be substantial (on the order of 10%) when pads and/or latches are placed without consideration of performance. >
The Economic Consequences of Anti-Americanism

What, if any, are the consequences of anti-Americanism for the U.S. national interest? In this paper, I focus on the economic consequences of anti-Americanism. Although Martin (2007) and many members of the U.S. business community claim anti-Americanism carries serious consequences for U.S. business, Katzenstein and Keohane (2007) find null results. In this paper, I revisit these claims. I first replicate and extend Katzenstein and Keohane’s (2007) work, and find some evidence that anti-Americanism may be at work in European purchases of American brand name products. Next, I develop and test several statistical models in which anti-American sentiment is predictive of cross-national variation over time in: (1) sales of Coca-Cola; (2) openings of Starbucks coffee shops; and (3) tourist arrivals and spending in the U.S. The results support the central hypothesis that anti-Americanism is predictive of outcomes harmful to U.S. economic interests. In the case of Coca-Cola, controlling for exchange rates, gross domestic product, temporal effects, and regional variation, there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between favorable attitudes toward the U.S. and sales volume of Coke. Similarly, favorable attitudes toward the U.S. are predictive of store openings of Starbucks around the globe. In the matter of tourism to the U.S., anti-Americanism is a robust predictor of both tourist arrivals and spending in the U.S., controlling for likely competing explanations. The results of this paper shed new light on the extent to which anti-Americanism is significant for U.S. economic interests.
G-Protein Regulation of Channels

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses modulation of channels due to their direct interaction with G proteins and focuses on the G-protein-gated inward rectifying potassium channels Kir3 (GIRK), and the voltage-gated calcium channels. GIRK channels have low basal activity, and are activated by GPCR, due to their direct binding to the βγ subunit of the G protein. Stimulation of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) facilitates GTP exchange for GDP to Gα, leading to dissociation of Gα-GTP from the Gβγ dimer and regulation of their effectors. Measurements of ions that flow through the open channel pore by electrophysiological methods enable direct determination of the activity of a single channel protein at millisecond resolution in vivo . There are numerous examples for modulation of channel activity by indirect means involving phosphorylation, second messengers, and regulators of G-protein activity such as RGS proteins.
Mobilizing Coal for War: The Rise and Decline of English Socialism

Far from being the wave of the future, European socialism was primarily a defensive strategy for workers in the basic industries of the early 20th century. This is especially obvious in the history of the British Labour party. Workers in British coal mines benefited from free trade before WWI and were profoundly threatened by it after the war. Labour socialism was a strategy to prevent the collapse of the British mining industry that succeeded from 1918 until the hollowed out sector was finally destroyed by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. The miners were at the center of a coalition that included steel and rail workers. It's greatest threat to the British state was in 1926 and its greatest victory was in 1946 but by 1971 it was no longer politically viable.
The potential of high-yield plantation forestry for meeting timber needs

This study examines the performance and potential of intensively managed plantation forests as a source of industrial wood, and their environmental implications. The perspective of the study is global. Although it includes the United States and parts of Europe, much of the focus is on what are called the “emerging” plantation regions — countries largely in the semitropical areas of the southern hemisphere — which have not historically been important wood producers, but are growing in importance as a result of the productivity of their planted forests. The first section of this paper documents the growing importance of plantations as a source of industrial wood since the late 1970s. The study finds that plantations from nontraditional (new) regions have been growing rapidly in size and economic importance, and, thus, have been playing an increasing role as a source of the world industrial wood. Furthermore, experience seems to suggest that plantations are playing an environmentally beneficial role in (1) reducing pressure on greater areas of natural forests and (2) generating positive environmental effects as they replace degraded marginal agricultural lands. The second section of the paper examines the likely role of plantation forests in the future, and includes an assessment of financial, political and environmental considerations. This section pays particular attention to the concerns frequently expressed by environmentalists regarding plantations. Many of the objections directed at forest plantations on environmental grounds appear to ignore the substantial beneficial role of plantations on the environment. Plantations, which are financially very attractive in many locations, offer the potential of meeting large portions of the world industrial wood needs even while reducing substantially the disturbances on large areas of natural forests. This is possible because the very high productivity of plantation forests requires less area to produce industrial wood.
International cooperation in the Space Station programme - Assessing the experience to date

The origins and framework for cooperation in the Space Station program are outlined. Particular attention is paid to issues and commitments between the countries and to the political context of the Station partnership. A number of conclusions concerning international cooperation in space are drawn based on the Space Station experience. Among these conclusions is the assertion that an international partnership requires realistic assesments, mutual trust, and strong commitments in order to work.
CISPR 22: 1997 conducted emission on telecom ports products pass/fail depending on test method

This paper analyzes test result differences for emissions testing in accordance with CISPR22: 1997. Emphasis is laid on unshielded twisted pair cables. It shows potential errors due to imbalance in coupling of the capacitive clamp to the wires of a differential pair and the influence of the common mode source impedance on current clamp and ISN measurements.
Poetic Arrivals and Departures: Bodying the Ethnographic Field in Verse

Sozialforschung hat sich uber mehrere Jahrzehnte mit dem linguistic turn beschaftigt, der insoweit als revolutionar erachtet wurde, als sich Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler mit Fragen von Wirklichkeit, Wissen und Reprasentation beschaftigten. Innerhalb der Ethnografie wurde diese Wende insbesondere auch begrust mit Blick auf Fragen der Intersubjektivitat, Reflexivitat und Positionalitat. Erst seit Kurzem hat das performative Paradigma zusatzlich Einfluss gewonnen, in dem Ethnograf/innen und Feldteilnehmer/innen auch in ihrer Korperlichkeit und in dem Regionen in ihrer Raumlichkeit gefasst werden. Meine aktuelle ethnografische Studie uber die Erfahrungen indischer Frauen mit gemas des Hinduismus arrangierten Heiraten startete ich zunachst mit einigem theoretischen Vorwissen uber und einer gewissen Aufmerksamkeit fur positionelle und performative Besonderheiten, da ich wusste, dass ich mit Frauen zu tun haben wurde, deren Entscheidungen sich sehr von meinen eigenen unterschieden. Aber sehr bald erkannte ich, dass meine Krise der Reprasentation materieller, textueller, epistemologischer und theoretischer Art war. Meine Felderfahrungen liesen mich meine Vorstellungen von ethnografischer Reprasentation grundlegend neu uberdenken. In diesem Beitrag zeige ich meinen Weg in Theorie, Text und Performance bzw. weg von ihnen und ich zeige, wie ich meine eigene Feldforschung als korperliche und raumliche material performances – eigene und die meiner Forschungspartnerinnen – rekonzeptualisiert habe. Ich wende mich dabei im Besonderen der symbolischen Analyse eines Gedichtes zu, das im Verlauf meiner Feldarbeit als performativer Text entstanden ist. Ich verstehe dieses Gedicht als eine sideways mystory, die mir erlaubte, von der Interpretin von Erzahlungen zur Kulturkritikerin zu werden, die Verborgenes aufdecken und das Publikum anregen mochte, uber komplexe Wirklichkeiten nachzudenken und in ihnen zu handeln. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0802248
The how and why of identifying the hair cell mechano-electrical transduction channel

Identification of the auditory hair cell mechano-electrical transduction (hcMET) channel has been a major focus in the hearing research field since the 1980s when direct mechanical gating of a transduction channel was proposed (Corey and Hudspeth J Neurosci 3:962-976, 1983). To this day, the molecular identity of this channel remains controversial. However, many of the hcMET channel's properties have been characterized, including pore properties, calcium-dependent ion permeability, rectification, and single channel conductance. At this point, elucidating the molecular identity of the hcMET channel will provide new tools for understanding the mechanotransduction process. This review discusses the significance of identifying the hcMET channel, the difficulties associated with that task, as well as the establishment of clear criteria for this identification. Finally, we discuss potential candidate channels in light of these criteria.
The ubiquitin conjugating enzyme, UbcM2, engages in novel interactions with components of cullin-3 based E3 ligases.

The class III ubiquitin conjugating enzymes (E2s) are distinguished from other E2s by the presence of unique N-terminal domains, and the utilization of importin-11 for transport into the nucleus in an activation dependent fashion. To begin determining the physiological roles of these enzymes, we carried out a yeast two-hybrid screen with the class III E2, UbcM2. This screen retrieved RCBTB1, a putative substrate adaptor for a cullin3 (CUL3) E3 ligase. We initially established through biochemical studies that RCBTB1 has the properties of a CUL3 substrate adaptor. Further analysis of the UbcM2-RCBTB1 complex led to the discovery and characterization of the following novel interactions: (i) UbcM2 binds an N-terminal domain of CUL3 requiring the first 57 amino acids, the same domain that binds to RCBTB1 and other substrate adaptors; (ii) UbcM2 does not bind mutants of CUL3 that are deficient in substrate adaptor recruitment; (iii) UbcM2 interacts with CUL3 independent of a bridging RING-finger protein; and (i...
MO-D-T-6E-07: Radiosensitivity Parameters for Aerobic and Hypoxic Cells Are Related by a Simple Formula

Purpose: Cells irradiated in an aerobic environment are much more sensitive to radiation than hypoxic cells. Although some new imaging modalities have the potential to provide information about the spatial distribution of hypoxic cells within a tumor, the question of how much additional dose must be delivered to hypoxic tumor regions to improve local tumor control requires estimates of intrinsic radiosensitivity parameters. Mechanistic considerations suggest that linear quadratic (LQ) parameters for hypoxic and aerobic conditions are related by α H = α A /f and (α/β) H = f ⋅(α/β) A , where f is the ratio of DNA damage formed under aerobic to hypoxic conditions. In vitro cell survival data for five cells are used to examine the validity of the proposed expressions. Method and Materials: Estimates of α H and (α/β) H derived from a weighted least‐squares fit to the survival data for hypoxic conditions are compared to estimates obtained from a three parameter [f, α A and (α/β) A ] fit to data for aerobic and hypoxic conditions. The paired bootstrap technique for regression is used to compute 95% confidence intervals on parameter estimates. Results: For all five cell lines, good fits to the survival data are obtained with values of f between 2.3 and 3.3. The estimated range for f is strikingly similar to the oxygen enhancement ratios reported in the literature for many types of DNA damage. The value of f also decreases as particle LET increases, as expected. Conclusion:Analysis of the in vitro survival data provides strong support for the hypothesized relationship between LQ parameters under aerobic and hypoxic conditions. The studies also suggest the intriguing possibility that radiosensitivity parameters for hypoxic cells can be estimated from parameters for aerobic cells (or vice versa) by introducing a single parameter (f) that is nearly independent of cell type.
Regulation of the Na+-Cl− cotransporter by dietary NaCl: a role for WNKs, SPAK, OSR1, and aldosterone

This Commentary aims to integrate or interrelate the available data with the current study by Chiga and co-workers, which defines an important influence of aldosterone in the phosphorylation and thus activation of the Na + -Cl − cotransporter (NCC) in response to changes in NaCl intake and implicates the involvement of SPAK/OSR1 kinases and WNKs.
Rod and cone signaling transmission in the retina of zebrafish: an erg study.

It has been suggested that in lower vertebrates, visual signals are propagated in the retina using mixed bipolar cell pathways. In this article, we examined rod and cone signaling transmission in the retina of teleost zebrafish. Full-field electroretinograms (ERGs) were recorded from the cornea of control or 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (APB)-treated zebrafish. During dark adaptation following bright light adaptation, the intensity-response (V-log I) curve for both the ERG b- and d-waves shifted. In control animals, the b-wave response displayed a typical visual Purkinje shift and became more sensitive. By contrast, the d-wave- became less sensitive. In the early dark adaptation, cone-dominant signals were readily recorded in both b- and d-waves. In the late dark adaptation, rod signals became dominant. However, no obvious d-wave was recorded. Intraocular injections of APB selectively blocked the b-wave, but revealed the d-wave in both early and late dark adaptation
Analysis method for jet-like three-particle azimuthal correlations

Jet-like three-particle azimuthal correlations can discriminate various physical scenarios that have been proposed to explain the observed strong modification to two-particle azimuthal correlations. The three-particle correlation analysis is notoriously difficult in heavy-ion collisions due to the large combinatorial backgrounds. We describe the general idea behind the jet-like three-particle azimuthal correlation analysis, with emphasis on the subtraction of the combinatorial backgrounds. We discuss in detail various sources of systematic uncertainties in such an analysis.
Multielement FSO Transceivers Alignment for Inter-UAV Communications

Given the increased interest in aerial communications, free-space optics (FSO) has gained considerable attention for its ability to deliver wider bandwidth, license-free, and secure communication. FSO was initially developed for fixed platforms. As such, the current push to introduce mobility is one of the greatest challenges for FSO developers. This paper presents the first open-loop alignment/stability analysis of hovering multirotors proven to maintain an FSO link despite inherent instability. Communication distance, wavelength, and platform deviation are among the many parameters evaluated in our model. We characterize fiber-bundle transceivers, as an example of optical arrays and their applicability to aerial FSO communication. Our simulation is based on static lab measurements combined with theoretical analysis and optical geometrical intersection models. Analyses indicated that rotational deviation has a much higher impact on performance than translational deviation. Current commercial multirotor platforms proved adequate for future FSO communication, with 16% to 30% expected throughput when employing suitable optical arrays. We conducted a parametric sweep test to determine optimal and marginal receiver parameters based on platform characteristics and performance metrics. This analysis was conducted and reported as one example of the many applications that our developed mathematical models support.
Sublethal effects of the toxic alga Heterosigma akashiwo on the southeastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica)

Over the last three years, several blooms of Heterosigma akashiwo (Raphidophyceae) were documented in South Carolina (SC) brackish waters, including areas containing extensive oyster (Crassostrea virginica) beds. This study examined the sublethal effects of H. akashiwo on C. virginica, based on cellular biomarker responses after exposure to laboratory cultures of H. akashiwo isolated from SC waters, and to water collected from two SC H. akashiwo blooms. Exposure to laboratory cultures or blooms of H. akashiwo significantly increased oyster hepatopancreas lysosomal destabilization rates, but had little effect on gill p-glycoprotein (p-gp) expression. Lysosomal destabilization in oysters continued to increase even after a 7-day recovery period in clean seawater, suggesting that H. akashiwo toxin or other cellular byproducts continued to damage the hepatopancreas. These results suggest that even short-term exposures of oysters to high cell densities of H. akashiwo could have long-term adverse physiological effects, and imply that oyster health may be compromised in areas where repetitive H. akashiwo blooms occur.
Abstract 30: Intermittent treatment with the PARP inhibitor olaparib delays tumor development in BRCA1-deficient mice

Women with inherited BRCA gene mutations are at extremely high risk for developing breast cancer. Although these high risk patients are ideal candidates for an effective chemoprevention regimen, “watchful waiting” or bilateral prophylactic mastectomy are the only currently available options. BRCA proteins are required for repairing double strand DNA breaks through homologous recombination. In BRCA-deficient cells, DNA is repaired by base excision repair, which requires a PARP protein. PARP inhibitors can selectively induce apoptosis in BRCA-deficient cells, without affecting normal cells, by blocking the only DNA repair pathway available to these cells. Various PARP inhibitors are being tested in the clinic in women with BRCA mutations, and if effective, these drugs might also be useful for chemoprevention. When fed continuously in diet, the PARP inhibitor olaparib (200 mg/kg diet) significantly delayed tumor development by 6.5 weeks in the aggressive Brca1Co/Co;MMTV-Cre;p53+/- mouse model. An intermittent schedule was then tested; olaparib was given for 2 week cycles in order to induce apoptosis in premalignant cells followed by 4 week rest periods in an attempt to reduce drug toxicity. Intermittent therapy with olaparib was nearly as effective as the continuous feeding protocol and increased the age of initial tumor onset to 35.6 ± 1.0 wks compared to 29.9 ± 1.1 wks in the control group (P Supported by Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation Citation Format: Karen T. Liby, Ciric To. Intermittent treatment with the PARP inhibitor olaparib delays tumor development in BRCA1-deficient mice. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Cancer Susceptibility and Cancer Susceptibility Syndromes; Jan 29-Feb 1, 2014; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(23 Suppl):Abstract nr 30. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.CANSUSC14-30
An optical doppler intravital velocimeter.

Abstract A system has been implemented for measurement of red blood cell velocity in microvessels by using an optical Doppler technique. Ronchi rulings are used to simulate a differential grating to translate red blood cell movement to light intensity variations. These variations are sensed by two photodiodes coupled in a resistive subtraction mode. The nonelectronic subtraction allows high transimpedance gains (2 × 109V/I) while noise is held to a minimum (4.5 mv RMS in a 5-kHz bandwidth). To derive average velocity the average frequency determination of the amplified signal is performed with a thresholding frequency-to-voltage functional block. The velocimeter provides the typical performance features of an optical Doppler system, including high-frequency response, without the need for the complications of the laser Doppler technique or the requirement of custom micro-prism gratings. The device represents a cost-effective approach to intravital work, and offers significant improvements in performance over standard techniques.
Ammocoetes of Pacific Lamprey Are Not Susceptible to Common Fish Rhabdoviruses of the U.S. Pacific Northwest

Abstract Pacific Lampreys Entosphenus tridentatus have experienced severe population declines in recent years and efforts to develop captive rearing programs are under consideration. However, there is limited knowledge of their life history, ecology, and potential to harbor or transmit pathogens that may cause infectious disease. As a measure of the possible risks associated with introducing wild lampreys into existing fish culture facilities, larval lampreys (ammocoetes) were tested for susceptibility to infection and mortality caused by experimental exposures to the fish rhabdovirus pathogens: infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV). Two IHNV isolates, representing the U and M genogroups, and one VHSV isolate from the IVa genotype were each delivered to groups of ammocoetes by immersion at moderate and high viral doses, and by intraperitoneal injection. Ammocoetes were then held in triplicate tanks with no substrate or sediment. During 41 d of obser...
Reach and impact of a mass media event among vulnerable patients: the Terri Schiavo story.

Background It is unknown whether health-related media stories reach diverse older adults and influence advance care planning (ACP).
Semantic annotation of frequent patterns

Using frequent patterns to analyze data has been one of the fundamental approaches in many data mining applications. Research in frequent pattern mining has so far mostly focused on developing efficient algorithms to discover various kinds of frequent patterns, but little attention has been paid to the important next step—interpreting the discovered frequent patterns. Although the compression and summarization of frequent patterns has been studied in some recent work, the proposed techniques there can only annotate a frequent pattern with nonsemantical information (e.g., support), which provides only limited help for a user to understand the patterns.In this article, we study the novel problem of generating semantic annotations for frequent patterns. The goal is to discover the hidden meanings of a frequent pattern by annotating it with in-depth, concise, and structured information. We propose a general approach to generate such an annotation for a frequent pattern by constructing its context model, selecting informative context indicators, and extracting representative transactions and semantically similar patterns. This general approach can well incorporate the user's prior knowledge, and has potentially many applications, such as generating a dictionary-like description for a pattern, finding synonym patterns, discovering semantic relations, and summarizing semantic classes of a set of frequent patterns. Experiments on different datasets show that our approach is effective in generating semantic pattern annotations.
Weakest solar wind of the space age and the current "mini" solar maximum

The last solar minimum, which extended into 2009, was especially deep and prolonged. Since then, sunspot activity has gone through a very small peak while the heliospheric current sheet achieved large tilt angles similar to prior solar maxima. The solar wind fluid properties and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) have declined through the prolonged solar minimum and continued to be low through the current mini solar maximum. Compared to values typically observed from the mid-1970s through the mid-1990s, the following proton parameters are lower on average from 2009 through day 79 of 2013: solar wind speed and beta (~11%), temperature (~40%), thermal pressure (~55%), mass flux (~34%), momentum flux or dynamic pressure (~41%), energy flux (~48%), IMF magnitude (~31%), and radial component of the IMF (~38%). These results have important implications for the solar wind's interaction with planetary magnetospheres and the heliosphere's interaction with the local interstellar medium, with the proton dynamic pressure remaining near the lowest values observed in the space age: ~1.4 nPa, compared to ~2.4 nPa typically observed from the mid-1970s through the mid-1990s. The combination of lower magnetic flux emergence from the Sun (carried out in the solar wind as the IMF) and associated low power in the solar wind points to the causal relationship between them. Our results indicate that the low solar wind output is driven by an internal trend in the Sun that is longer than the ~11 yr solar cycle, and they suggest that this current weak solar maximum is driven by the same trend.
Vibrational frequencies and structural determinations of 1,4-thioxane.

Abstract We present a detailed analysis of the structure and infrared spectra of 1,4-thioxane. The vibrational frequencies of the 1,4-thioxane molecule were analyzed using standard quantum chemical techniques. Frequencies were calculated at the MP2 and DFT levels of theory using the standard 6–31G* basis set. The structural transformation of the chemical agent bis (2-chloroethyl) sulfide (HD, mustard gas) and the related symmetry to a previously study compound (4) makes the symmetry of the 1,4-thioxane molecule an interesting candidate for study. The molecule exists normally in a C s configuration similar to the chair form of cyclohexane. High-energy forms of 1,4-thioxane with C 1 and C 2 symmetry also exist.
Visible Spectrum, Bi-Modal Ocular Biometrics☆

Abstract Most current ocular biometric systems are based on recognition and classification of unique iridial patterns typically captured in near infrared spectrum (NIR). However, eye images in the visible spectrum (e.g. RGB images) also reveal some iridial patterns in addition to the vascularity of the white of the eyes (mostly due to conjunctival and episcleral layers). These vascular patterns have rich and uniquely identifiable information. The combination of the aforementioned modalities provides an opportunity for bi-modal ocular biometrics using only visible spectrum captures. Multimodality improves the performance of biometric systems compared to single mode biometrics. In this work, a bi-modal ocular biometric system is described, where match scores from vasculature of the white of the eye and iris modalities are fused. We report the performance of this enhanced complementary biometric identification using UBIRIS v1 database. The proposed method, for a quality-vetted subset of UBIRIS v1 RGB ocular images, produces an area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.9954 and an equal error rate (EER) of 0.0452. In comparison, individual modalities yield an AUC of 0.9822 and EER of 0.0759 for iris and an AUC of 0.9623 and an EER of 0.1022 for conjunctival vasculature. The proposed new algorithms may overcome constraints of using NIR imaging for iris and provide a better overall performance using only RGB eye images. We conclude that bi-modal iris–conjunctival fusion can improve the otherwise challenging RGB iris recognition.
Fast development of global motion processing in human infants.

Although global motion processing is thought to emerge early in infancy, there is debate regarding the age at which it matures to an adult-like level. In the current study, we address the possibility that the apparent age-related improvement in global motion processing might be secondary to age-related increases in the sensitivity of mechanisms (i.e., local motion detectors) that provide input to global motion mechanisms. To address this, we measured global motion processing by obtaining motion coherence thresholds using stimuli that were equally detectable in terms of contrast across all individuals and ages (3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-month-olds and adults). For infants, we employed a directional eye movement (DEM) technique. For adults, we employed both DEM and a self-report method. First, contrast sensitivity was obtained for a local task, using a stochastic motion display in which all the dots moved coherently. Contrast sensitivity increased significantly between 3 and 7 months, and between infancy and adulthood. Each subject was then tested on the global motion task with the contrast of the dots set to 2.5 × each individual's contrast threshold. Coherence thresholds were obtained by varying the percentage of coherently moving “signal” versus “noise” dots in the stochastic motion display. Results revealed remarkably stable global motion sensitivity between 3 and 7 months of age, as well as between infancy and adulthood. These results suggest that the mechanisms underlying global motion processing develop to an adult-like state very quickly.
Electron beam interaction with a metamaterial structure

Summary form only given. Analytic theory and simulations in the particle-in-cell code ICEPIC are used to describe the interaction of an electron beam in a parallel plate waveguide partially loaded with a metamaterial structure. The metamaterial being considered is an effective medium representation of a split ring resonator (SRR) and isotropic wire rod material. The functional forms of the effective medium for the material being considered are taken from [1] and are implemented in the ICEPIC code by the method described in [2]. The parallel plate geometry has a thin electron beam on axis and a central region of vacuum with the metamaterial located along the metal waveguide walls. An analytic dispersion relation describing the interaction is derived based upon [3]. ICEPIC simulations are used to determine the interaction mode and growth rate as a function of beam current.
When do extra majority gates help

Suppose that f is computed by a constant depth circuit with 2m AND-, OR-, and NOT-gates, and m majority-gates. We prove that f is computed by a constant depth circuit with 2mo(1) AND-, OR-, and NOT-gates, and a single majority-gate, which is at the root.One consequence is that if f is computed by and AC0 circuit plus polylog majority-gates, then f is computed by a probabilistic perceptron having polylog order. Another consequence is that if f agrees with the parity function of three-fourths of all inputs, then f cannot be computed by a constant depth circuit with 2no(1) AND-, OR-, and NOT-gates, and no(1) majority-gates.
Educational status of maxillofacial prosthetics: report of the educational survey committee of the American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics

Whereas the prosthodontic needs of patients in medical centers are becoming much greater, many hospitals still lack adequate physical facilities for clinical practice and research in prosthodontics, as well as qualified teaching staff. Changes in the curriculum are needed because improved knowledge must go hand in hand with clinical training to enable the deritist to treat, as well as to know, his patients.
Determinations of zidovudine/didanosine/nevirapine and zidovudine/didanosine/ritonavir in human serum by micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

Abstract Micellar electrokinetic chromatography methods were developed and validated to separate and quantitate anti-HIV drug mixtures containing zidovudine(AZT)/didanosine(ddI)/nevirapine (mixture A) and AZT/ddI/ritonavir (mixture B) in human serum. Serum samples were prepared using a solid-phase extraction procedure. The effects of various factors such as buffer type, buffer and surfactant concentrations, and pH on the separations were investigated. The optimized resolution was achieved with a run buffer containing 18 mM sodium dodecylsulfate in 15 mM phosphate and borate buffer (pH 9.0). An uncoated 52 cm (effective length 30 cm)×50 μm ID fused-silica capillary operated at 30 °C was used in the analysis with UV detection at 210 nm. Aprobarbital was chosen as the internal standard. All analytes were separated within 14 min with a voltage of +15 kV and a current around 30 μA. The methods were validated over the range of 0.5–25.0 μg/ml for AZT, 0.8–18.5 μg/ml for ddI, 0.5–22.8 μg/ml for nevirapine in mixture A and the range of 0.5–25.0 μg/ml for AZT, 0.8–18.5 μg/ml for ddI, 1.2–28.8 μg/ml for ritonavir in mixture B. Intra-day and inter-day accuracy was less than 12.4% and intra-day and inter-day precision was less than 13.9% for both mixtures. Extraction recoveries of all analytes from serum were higher than 75.9%. The assay should be applicable to pharmacokinetic studies and routine monitoring of these drugs in serum.
The Asian elephants-driver partnership: the drivers' perspective

Elephant drivers, sometimes termed mahouts, are known to share a relationship with their elephants rarely matched in other human-animal interactions with regard to time invested, extent of cooperative activity, and everpresent risk to the driver. An investigation of this relationship was pursued at two tourist lodges in Nepal where elephants are used to transport tourists into a nearby jungle to view wildlife. The study sought to investigate the drivers' perceptions regarding the individual and social behavior of the elephants, the perceptions of the elephants, and the elephants' interactions with drivers. Standardized open-ended questions were administered with translator assistance to 17 head drivers of elephants. Drivers attributed their management success to the time and care they invested in caring for and becoming familiar with the elephant. Drivers worked in partnership with elephants to gather and prepare the elephants' food. Elephants responded to vocal commands of drivers for saddling. Drivers also took responsibility for elephants in their varied interactions with tourists. Although drivers varied in specifying the most desirable elephant at their lodge, they highly agreed on the identity of the worst elephant because of its aggressivity. In general, drivers believed that their elephants loved and trusted them. Most drivers reported that their elephants did not get angry with them. Yet, they knew that elephants would most like to be free in the jungle. Drivers presented consistent information as to the elephants' social preferences for and dislikes of one another.