cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theoretical study of the structure, lattice dynamics, and equations of state of perovskite-type MgSiO3 and CaSiO3

The structural distortions, lattice dynamics, and equations of state of the high-pressure perovskite phases of MgSiO3 and CaSiO3 are examined with a parameter-free theoretical model. A theoretical ionic description of the crystal charge density is constructed from shell-stabilized ions, whose wavefunctions are calculated from Hartree-Fock theory. The short-range forces are then calculated in the pairwise-additive approximation from modified electron gas theory. The resulting many-body-corrected pair potentials are used to study the lattice dynamics in the quasiharmonic approximation. The cubic structure of MgSiO3 perovskite (Pm3m) is found to be dynamically unstable at all pressures, with imaginary quasiharmonic phonons occurring at the edge of the Brillouin zone. In contrast, the cubic phase of CaSiO3 perovskite is found to be stable at low pressures but becomes dynamically unstable at ∼ 109 GPa (1.09 Mbar). Energy minimization of MgSiO3 in an orthorhombic cell (Pbnm) is performed to obtain a distorted perovskite structure that is dynamically stable. The calculated unit cell parameters at zero pressure and room temperature are within 2 percent of those determined by x-ray diffraction. The theoretical equation-of-state calculations predict a lower compressibility and thermal expansivity for the two silicate perovskites than does the available experimental data on these compounds. Extensions of the present ionic model for more accurate predictions will require the inclusion of polarization of charge density and vibrational anharmonicity.
The effects of gender interaction patterns on student participation in computer-supported collaborative argumentation

In this study we examined response patterns in exchanges between males and females and their effects on gender participation in five online debates. Students classified messages into arguments, evidence, critiques, and elaborations while posting messages to the debates to facilitate argumentation and the sequential analysis of message-response sequences. The findings revealed no differences in number of critiques posted in response to arguments because females were just as likely as males to critique messages from both males and females, and because females responded to males with critiques at a higher than expected frequency. Posthoc analysis revealed strong indications that females posted fewer rebuttals to the critiques of females than males, and males posted more rebuttals to the critiques of females than females. The methods used in this study illustrate a process-oriented approach to explain and predict gender differences in participation and serve as a framework for future research on gender participation, group interaction, and strategies for facilitating collaborative argumentation and problem solving.
GABAergic input to the synaptic terminals of mb1 bipolar cells in the goldfish retina

An EM-autoradiographical/immunocytochemical technique was used to study amacrine cell synapses onto mb1 bipolar cell terminals in goldfish retina. Tissue was double labeled for [3H]GABA uptake and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) immunolocalization. Nearly 90% of the amacrine cell synaptic processes onto both proximal and distal halves of mb1 terminals were labeled with either [3H]GABA or GAD-immunoreactivity (IR). Proximal half: 73% of the amacrine synapses were labeled with [3H]GABA uptake and 82% with GAD-IR; 88% of [3H]GABA labeled contacts were double labeled. Distal half: 17% of the amacrine synapses were labeled with [3H]GABA uptake and 67% with GAD-IR; 63% of [3H]GABA labeled contacts were double labeled. After consideration of the possible sources of [3H]GABA labeled synapses onto mb1 terminals, we concluded that the synaptic terminals of pyriform Ab amacrine cells double label for [3H]GABA and GAD-IR despite our previous report that Ab cell bodies do not stain for anti-catfish brain GAD antiserum. We suggest that Ab cells contain isoenzymes of GAD which differ in subcellular distribution, thereby accounting for the differential staining of the cell bodies and dendrites obtained with the GAD antiserum we used.
A theoretical solution to MAP-EM partial volume segmentation of medical images

Voxels near tissue borders in medical images contain useful clinical information, but are subject to severe partial volume (PV) effect, which is a major cause of imprecision in quantitative volumetric and texture analysis. When modeling each tissue type as a conditionally independent Gaussian distribution, the tissue mixture fractions in each voxel via the modeled unobservable random processes of the underlying tissue types can be estimated by maximum a posteriori expectation-maximization (MAP-EM) algorithm in an iterative manner. This article presents, based on the assumption that PV effect could be fully described by a tissue mixture model, a theoretical solution to the MAP-EM segmentation algorithm, as opposed to our previous approximation which simplified the posteriori cost function as a quadratic term. It was found out that the theoretically-derived solution existed in a set of high-order nonlinear equations. Despite of the induced computational complexity when seeking for optimum numerical solutions to nonlinear equations, potential gains in robustness, consistency and quantitative precision were noticed. Results from both synthetic digital phantoms and real patient bladder MR images were presented, demonstrating the accuracy and efficiency of the presented theoretical MAP-EM solution. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 19, 111–119, 2009.
Cost-effectiveness of training rural providers to identify and treat patients at risk for fragility fractures

This is a cost-effectiveness analysis of training rural providers to identify and treat osteoporosis. Results showed a slight cost savings, increase in life years, increase in treatment rates, and decrease in fracture incidence. However, the results were sensitive to small differences in effectiveness, being cost-effective in 70 % of simulations during probabilistic sensitivity analysis. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of training rural providers to identify and treat veterans at risk for fragility fractures relative to referring these patients to an urban medical center for specialist care. The model evaluated the impact of training on patient life years, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), treatment rates, fracture incidence, and costs from the perspective of the Department of Veterans Affairs. We constructed a Markov microsimulation model to compare costs and outcomes of a hypothetical cohort of veterans seen by rural providers. Parameter estimates were derived from previously published studies, and we conducted one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses on the parameter inputs. Base-case analysis showed that training resulted in no additional costs and an extra 0.083 life years (0.054 QALYs). Our model projected that as a result of training, more patients with osteoporosis would receive treatment (81.3 vs. 12.2 %), and all patients would have a lower incidence of fractures per 1,000 patient years (hip, 1.628 vs. 1.913; clinical vertebral, 0.566 vs. 1.037) when seen by a trained provider compared to an untrained provider. Results remained consistent in one-way sensitivity analysis and in probabilistic sensitivity analyses, training rural providers was cost-effective (less than $50,000/QALY) in 70 % of the simulations. Training rural providers to identify and treat veterans at risk for fragility fractures has a potential to be cost-effective, but the results are sensitive to small differences in effectiveness. It appears that provider education alone is not enough to make a significant difference in fragility fracture rates among veterans.
The effect of motion on tactile and visual temporal order judgments.

Four experiments were conducted, three with tactile stimuli and one with visual stimuli, in which subjects made temporal order judgments (TOJs). The tactile stimuli were patterns that moved laterally across the fingerpads. The subject’s task was to judge which finger received the pattern first. Even though the movement was irrelevant to the task, the subjects’ TOJs were greatly affected by the direction of movement of the patterns. Accuracy in judging temporal order was enhanced when the patterns moved in a direction that was consistent with the temporal order of presentation—for example, when the movement on each fingerpad was from right to left and the temporally leading site of stimulation was to the right of the temporally trailing site of stimulation. When movement was inconsistent with the temporal order of presentation, accuracy was considerably reduced, often well below chance. The bias in TOJs was unaffected by training or by presenting the stimuli to fingers on opposite hands. In a fourth experiment, subjects judged the temporal order of visual stimuli that, like the tactile stimuli, moved in a direction that was either consistent or inconsistent with the TOJ. The results were similar to those obtained with tactile stimuli. It is suggested that the bias may be affected by attentional mechanisms and by apparent motion generated between the two sites on the skin.
Approximate methods for exit distribution problems in inhomogeneous slabs

Abstract A generalization of the Chandrasekhar H-equation is solved by a class of approximate methods. The exit distribution problem for radiative transfer, either multigroup or one group, may be solved in terms of the solution to this equation.
Near-thermal reactions of Au(+)(1S,3D) with CH3X (X = F,Cl).

Reactions of Au+(1S) and Au+(3D) with CH3F and CH3Cl have been carried out in a drift cell in He at a pressure of 3.5 Torr at both room temperature and reduced temperatures in order to explore the influence of the electronic state of the metal on reaction outcomes. State-specific product channels and overall two-body rate constants were identified using electronic state chromatography. These results indicate that Au+(1S) reacts to yield an association product in addition to AuCH2+ in parallel steps with both neutrals. Product distributions for association vs HX elimination were determined to be 79% association/21% HX elimination for X = F and 50% association/50% HX elimination when X = Cl. Reaction of Au+(3D) with CH3F also results in HF elimination, which in this case is thought to produce 3AuCH2+. With CH3Cl, Au+(3D) reacts to form AuCH3+ and CH3Cl+ in parallel steps. An additional product channel initiated by Au+(3D) is also observed with both methyl halides, which yields CH2X+ as a higher-order produc...
Biosynthesis of ambiguine indole alkaloids in cyanobacterium Fischerella ambigua.

Ambiguines belong to a family of hapalindole-type indole alkaloid natural products, with many of the members possessing up to eight consecutive carbon stereocenters in a fused pentacyclic 6-6-6-5-7 ring scaffold. Here, we report the identification of a 42 kbp ambiguine (amb) biosynthetic gene cluster that harbors 32 protein-coding genes in its native producer Fischerella ambigua UTEX1903. Association of the amb cluster with ambiguine biosynthesis was confirmed by both bioinformatic analysis and in vitro characterizations of enzymes responsible for 3-((Z)-2′-isocyanoethenyl) indole and geranyl pyrophosphate biosynthesis and a C-2 indole dimethylallyltransferase that regiospecifically tailors hapalindole G to ambiguine A. The presence of five nonheme iron-dependent oxygenase coding genes (including four Rieske-type oxygenases) within the amb cluster suggests late-stage C–H activations are likely responsible for the structural diversities of ambiguines by regio- and stereospecific chlorination, hydroxylation...
Perceived Stress and Stress Projected into the Spontaneous Storytelling of Two Groups of Fourth Grade Children

The purpose of this descriptive correlation study was to describe stress levels in fourth grade children from two geographic locations: an inner city recreation club and a suburban parochial school. The use of spontaneous storytelling and a life events questionnaire provided information about the stress being experienced by the children. This article presents story themes and stressful life events of interest to adult caregivers helping children cope with stressful experiences.
Promoting Convergence in Biomedical Science

The next challenge for biomedical research will be to solve problems of highly complex and integrated biological systems within the human body. Predictive models of these systems in either normal or disease states are beyond the capability of current knowledge and technology.
CLASSIFYING POLYGONAL CHAINS OF SIX SEGMENTS

A polygonal chain is the union of a finite number of straight line segments in ℝ3 that are connected end-to-end. Two chains are considered to be equivalent if there is an isotopy of ℝ3 that moves one chain to the other while keeping the segments rigid. Each segment must remain straight during the isotopy and the lengths of the segments may not change, but bending and twisting are allowed at the joints between the segments. Chains may be knotted and stuck in this category even though all chains are topologically trivial. Cantarella and Johnston have classified polygonal chains with five or fewer segments. In this paper we classify polygonal chains of six segments.
A METHOD FOR CORRECTING ASPECT SOLUTION ERRORS IN ROSAT HRI OBSERVATIONS OF COMPACT SOURCES

X-ray point sources observed with the ROSAT High Resolution Imager (HRI) often appear elongated over scales of approximately 5 sec-10 sec from the image core. This elongation has been attributed to errors in the attitude correction as the satellite is wobbled during the observations, and affects sources with both soft and hard X-ray spectra. In this paper, I report the results of an attempt to rid a high signal-to-noise observation of the soft X-ray point source HZ 43 of its characteristic elongation. I divided the observation into 181 separate images, each containing photons from only a small region on the detector through which the source passed during the satellite's wobble. By measuring the positions of the individual image centroids, I found clear evidence for systematic offsets from a common mean by up to approximately +/- 3 sec in both right ascension and declination as a function of phase in the satellite wobble. Shifting the subimages to a common center and then restacking them into a single image measurably improved the symmetry of the point-spread function. HRI observations are wobbled primarily to smooth out variations in the pixel-to-pixel sensitivity of the detector and also to extend the lifetime of the microchannel plates in the detector since these decay at a given location as a function of the number of photons detected. However, the elongations introduced by the aspect errors inhibit the identification of possible extended X-ray emission associated with sources such as pulsars and active galactic nuclei. In light of these results, I suggest that until the aspect errors are understood, observations of compact sources, where this effect may be important, should not be wobbled.
Precision high-power solid-state laser diagnostics for target-irradiation studies and target-plane irradiation modeling

A 0.74-m aperture laser diagnostic system has been designed and built and is an operational part of target irradiation experiments being conducted at the Nova Two Beam facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. These experiments examine the effects of laser beam conditioning on laser-plasma interaction, and include the use of full-aperture (0.74-m diameter) distributed phase element optics for fundamentally altering the irradiance distribution at either the second or third harmonic wavelengths of the Nova Nd:Glass laser system. The two beam laser diagnostic system (TBLDS) provides the suite of laser diagnostics essential to interpreting the results of these studies: (1) full-aperture energy measurement, (2) near-field imaging of planes up to 15 m ahead of the target chamber focusing lens, (3) far-field imaging of equivalent target planes within 5 mm on either side of `best focus', (4) time-resolved power measurement using 10 to 20-ps resolution streak camera systems, and (5) spectral measurement using a 1-m grating spectrometer with option for temporal streaking. The diagnostic is also equipped with a self-referencing interferometer for measuring the wavefront at various near-field planes; however, this feature is still under activation. The diagnostic system can flexibly handle either the fundamental, second or third harmonic wavelengths on alternate laser pulses, and an energy range of 50 Joules/pulse to 12.5 kJ/pulse. In this paper the design of the TBLDS, and present results from ongoing measurements of the Nova irradiance without wavefront modifications are discussed. The authors' numerical simulation techniques for modeling the laser irradiance at the target plane are also reviewed.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effect of Ca Doping on the Thermoelectric Performance of Yb14MnSb11

Complex Zintl phases possess low thermal conductivity and can be easily doped to modify the transport properties. Therefore, these phases have the potential to be good thermoelectric materials by simply controlling carrier concentration. Yb_(14)MnSb_(11) is a Zintl phase that has shown promise as a p-type thermoelectric material for high-temperature power generation. A Sn-flux synthetic route was used to make the new phase, Yb_(13)CaMnSb_(11). The high-temperature thermoelectric properties were measured on polycrystalline hot-pressed pellets and compared with Yb_(14)MnSb_(11). Substitution of the lighter isovalent Ca for Yb should reduce the lattice thermal conductivity by mass disorder scattering, and a noticeable reduction is seen in thermal diffusivity measurements at high temperature. There may also be a carrier concentration effect by employing the more electropositive Ca.
An Analysis of Skylab II S193 Scatterometer Data

SKYLAB II S193 Scatterometer data for the passes of June 5, 1973, over the Gulf of Mexico and June 6, 1973, over Pacific Hurricane AVA were analyzed. These two passes were chosen since it was possible to correlate the scattering data with simultaneous measurements of the local ocean wind conditions. The S193 scatterometer measured the radar cross section of the ocean at 13.9 GHz (Ku-band) as a function of incidence angle. The S193 data of June 5, 1973, when a practically uniform wind field was present, show reasonable agreement with the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) empirical and theoretical models. The data of June 6, 1973, are more complex, due to rapid variations in wind speeds and directions around Hurricane AVA. The NRL empirical model was interpolated to account for variation in wind heading relative to the S193 antenna pointing direction; a reasonable comparison could then be made with the corresponding S193 data of June 6, 1973.
Human performance assessment using fNIR

We explore the utility of functional Near Infra Red (fNIR) technology in providing both empirical support and a basis for assessing and predicting dynamic changes in cognitive workload within the theoretical context of computational cognitive modeling (CCM). CCM has had many successes and in recent years has expanded from a tool for basic research to one that can tackle more complex real-world tasks. As a tool for basic research it seeks to provide a model of cognitive functionality; as a tool for cognitive engineering it seeks applications in monitoring and predicting real-time performance. With this powerful theoretical tool we combine the empirical power of fNIR technology. The fNIR technology is used to non-invasively monitor regional hemodynamic activities, namely blood volume changes and oxygenation dynamics. We examined a simple auditory classification task in four different workload conditions. We monitored the blood activity in the prefrontal cortex region of the frontal lobe during the performance of the task to assess the patterns of activity as workload changes. We associated patterns of model activity with patterns of the hemodynamic data. We used ACT-R for creating the computational cognitive model. For the fNIR analysis, we used a generalized linear regression model along with time series clustering. We found that in the highest workload condition the model predicts a cognitive 'overload', which correlated well with the fNIR cluster and classification analysis, as this condition differs significantly from the other three conditions. Linear regression on a subset of the data where workload increases monotonically shows that apart from the overload condition, there was a positive relationship between increase in workload and increase in blood volume activation. In addition, individual variations in hemodynamic response suggest that individuals differ in how they process different workload levels.
Pediatric sedation with analgesia

Sedation with analgesia is frequently required to perform painful or invasive procedures in children. The best medication combination for pediatric sedation with analgesia is yet to be identified. Sixty-four of 243 total sedation with analgesia procedures from January 1994 through August 1995 were randomly chosen for descriptive retrospective review and analysis. Four minor complications from the procedures were identified, and recovery was complete in all cases. One medication combination (fentanyl 1 μg/kg with propofol 1.5 to 2 mg/kg, followed by an infusion of 150 μg/kg/min) provided the shortest mean time to dismissal (17.8 minutes v 38 minutes) when compared with other combinations used. No episodes of respiratory depression, hypotension, or nausea and vomiting occurred in the fentanyl/propofol group. These results show that fentanyl/propofol was superior to other medications used during this study period for pediatric sedation with analgesia. Prospective comparison of this medication combination with other short-acting agents in patients undergoing both elective and emergency procedures is necessary.
Oxygen in wound healing: more than a nutrient.

This article provides an overview of the role of oxygen in wound healing. The understanding of this role has undergone a major evolution from its long-recognized importance as an essential factor for oxidative metabolism, to its recognition as an important cell signal interacting with growth factors and other signals to regulate signal transduction pathways. Our laboratory has been engaged in thestudy of animal models of skin ische- mia to explore in vivo the impact of hypoxia as well as the use of oxygen as a therapeutic agent either alone or in combination with other agents such as growth factors. We have demonstrated a synergistic effect of systemic hyperbaric oxygen and growth factors that has been substantiated by Hunt's group. Within the past 10 years research in the field of wound heal- ing has given new insight into the mechanism of action of hypoxia and hyperoxia as modifiers of the normal time-course of wound healing. The article concludes with a discussion of why hypoxia and hyperoxia intercur- rently play an important role in wound healing. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 is crucial in that interplay. Oxygen is an essential nutrient for cell metabolism, especially en- ergy production. During wound healing the presence of oxygen takes on additional importance because of the increased demand of reparative processes like cell proliferation and synthesis of collagen (1). In addition, superoxide generation by polymorphonuclear leu- kocytes, which is essential for bacterial killing, is critically depen- dent on oxygen levels. Many clinical observations, strongly sup- ported by experimental evidence in animals, have led to the conclusion that wound healing is delayed under hypoxia. Tissue oxygen tensions from 5 to 20 mmHg were measured transcuta- nously in nonhealing chronic wounds compared to control tissue values of 30-50 mmHg (2). Under controlled experimental condi- tions in vivo, we were able to show in young and aged ischemic rabbit ear ulcers that wound healing is delayed under hypoxia as a result of reduced granulation tissue production and delayed epithe- lialization (3, 4). Ischemic ears in this rabbit ear model have tissue oxygen tensions of approximately 24 mmHg versus the level of 53 mmHg measured in non-ischemic ears (5).
Gravitational waves from a compact star in a circular, inspiral orbit, in the equatorial plane of a massive, spinning black hole, as observed by LISA

Results are presented from high-precision computations of the orbital evolution and emitted gravitational waves for a stellar-mass object spiraling into a massive black hole in a slowly shrinking, circular, equatorial orbit. The focus of these computations is inspiral near the innermost stable circular orbit (isco)—more particularly, on orbits for which the angular velocity Ω is 0.03≲Ω/Ωisco 10 at r0=1 Gpc during the last year of inspiral. The hole’s spin a has a factor of ∼10 influence on the range of M (at fixed μ) for which S/N>10, and the presence or absence of a white-dwarf–binary background has a factor of ∼3 influence. A comparison with predicted event rates shows strong promise for detecting these waves, but not beyond about 1 Gpc if the inspiraling object is a white dwarf or neutron star. This argues for a modest lowering of LISA’s noise floor. A brief discussion is given of the prospects for extracting information from the observed waves.
Photogeologic study of a segment of the East Pacific Rise axis near 21°N latitude

Geologic and structural interpretations based primarily on photographic data collected by the Marine Physical Laboratory deep-tow instrument, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ANGUS, and the French manned submersible CYANA show that extensional tectonic activity modifies and locally replaces extrusive volcanic processes along a 6-km segment of the East Pacific Rise axial zone near lat. 21°N. Relatively young pillow flows dominate the spreading axis; however, fissures are present throughout the axial zone, and there is a light dusting of pelagic sediment on even the youngest flows. In contrast, the axial zone immediately southwest in the RISE Project study area is free of fissures and sediment. Photographic evidence for the existence of undiscovered active hydrothermal vents or narrow zones of diffuse hydrothermal emissions includes anomalously high concentrations of common deep-sea organisms (not the exotic hydrothermal vent communities). Some of these are coincident with high 3 He values and positive temperature anomalies discovered in deep-tow water samples (Lupton and others, 1980). Estimation of the absolute age of pillow flows based on the sedimentation rate and the volume of interpillow sediment ponds suggests that the average pillow flow with a sediment cover of 70% is approximately 1,000 yr old, and that a pillow flow will be completely covered with sediment in about 40,000 yr. This relation indicates that the extrusive terrane of the inner axial zone in the study area, although undergoing extensional modification, is considerably less than 1,000 yr old. Visual geologic data collected by the several deep-sea photographic systems are complementary in nature, and the best geologic interpretations are made through use of more than one system to provide various photographic perspectives and scales of observation.
Proposed specifications for a lumbar spinal cord electrode array for control of lower extremities in paraplegia

The goal of the study was to provide specifications for a stimulating electrode array to be implanted in the lumbosacral spinal cord as part of a functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS) system for control of lower extremity muscles in paralyzed individuals. Dual channel stimulation of the quadriceps activation pool in the feline ventral lumbo-sacral spinal cord was performed to measure electrode interactions and to explore the effect of various stimulation paradigms on muscle fatigue. There was no measurable overlap in the populations of motor neurons activated from 2 different electrodes for spacings /spl ges/1 mm with currents below 100 /spl mu/A. However, a statistically significant increase in the population of activated fibers due to current summation was observed when stimuli /spl ges/70 /spl mu/A. were simultaneously presented through pairs of electrodes within 3 mm of each other. Fatigue effects were studied with 3 paradigms: (1) stimuli were delivered through a single electrode, (2) stimuli were delivered through 2 electrodes with the stimulus to the second electrode presented during the refractory period of fibers stimulated by the first electrode, and (3) stimuli were interleaved between the 2 electrodes such that the stimulus to 1 electrode was presented midway between stimuli to the other electrode, and the rate of stimulation through a single electrode was half that used in the first 2 paradigms. During channel refractory and single channel stimulation did not differ from each other in the rate at which the muscle fatigued, in both cases the force decayed to 30% of its initial level within 2 min of the initiation of the stimulation regime, whereas the force with interleaved stimulation was still above the initial force at this time due to strong potentiation. Based on these results and on and activation pool dimensions obtained in an earlier study, preliminary specifications are presented for an electrode array to be implanted in the human spinal cord for functional neuromuscular stimulation.
Intraoperative adjuncts for parathyroid surgery

In recent years, parathyroid surgery has evolved from traditional bilateral neck exploration to minimal invasive parathyroidectomy. This trend became possible due to preoperative localization imaging that guides the surgeon in the search for a parathyroid adenoma. Intraoperative adjuncts are complementary to preoperative localization and assist in localizing parathyroid glands, confirming parathyroid tissue and establishing a cure. Institutions and surgeons utilize different intraoperative adjuncts in different protocols with varying results. The purpose of this article is to review the available intraoperative adjuncts to parathyroid surgery and critically evaluate their utility, accuracy and their added value to the surgeon.
Nice Dig! An Analysis of the Verbal and Visual Coverage of Men's and Women's Beach Volleyball During the 2008 Olympic Games

This study represents a content analysis of 10 beach volleyball games for the men’s and women’s team USA during the 2008 Summer Games. Play-by-play commentary and between-play commentary were analy...
Exchange of Tears under a Contact Lens Is Driven by Distortions of the Contact Lens

We studied the flow of the post-lens tear film under a soft contact lens to understand how the design parameters of contact lenses can affect ocular health. When a soft contact lens is inserted, the blinking eyelid causes the lens to stretch in order to conform to the shape of the eye. The deformed contact lens acts to assume its un-deformed shape and thus generates a suction pressure in the post-lens tear film. In consequence, the post-lens tear fluid moves; it responds to the suction pressure. The suction pressure may draw in fresh fluid from the edge of the lens, or it may eject fluid there, as the lens reassumes its un-deformed shape. In this article, we develop a mathematical model of the flow of the post-lens tear fluid in response to the mechanical suction pressure of a deformed contact lens. We predict the amount of exchange of fluid exchange under a contact lens and we explore the influence of the eye's shape on the rate of exchange of fluid.
Delocalization of electronic excitations in disordered molecular systems

Abstract Picosecond photon echo experiments are used to examine the nature of the electronic states of interacting molecules in the mixed molecular crystal system, pentacene in p-terphenyl at 1.5 K. The onset of delocalization of the pentacene first singlet electronic excited state with increasing pentacene concentration is manifest in very fast photon echo decays. The concentration dependence of the echo decay rates accords with theoretical estimates.
Solubility and ionization characteristics of doxepin and desmethyldoxepin

Abstract The thermodynamic pKa values for doxepin and its metabolite desmethyldoxepin were determined by the solubility method to be 8.96 and 9.75, respectively at 25°. The intrinsic solubilities for doxepin and desmethyldoxepin were linearly dependent upon ionic strength. The intrinsic solubilities at zero ionic strength and 25° were determined to be 1.13 X 10 –4 M for doxepin and 3.95 × 10 –4 M for desmethyldoxepin. The solubility experiment was repeated at different temperatures and a constant ionic strength of 0.167 M. The change in enthalpy (6.71 kcal/mole) and entropy (–4.16 cal/mole °K) of solution for doxepin was determined from a van't Hoff plot for this nonideal system. The apparent partition coefficient between hexane and water for the doxepin free base was determined to be 13,615 at an ionic strength of 0.067 M.
Oxidative decomposition of Au25(SR)18 clusters in a catalytic context

Gold nanoparticle catalysis of chemical transformations has emerged as a subject of intense interest over the past decade. In particular, Au25(SR)18 has emerged as a model catalyst. In an effort to investigate their potential as intact, homogeneous, unsupported catalysts, we have discovered that Au25(SR)18 clusters are not stable in oxidizing conditions reported for catalytic styrene oxidation. Further investigation suggests that the active catalytic species is an Au(I) species resulting from oxidative decomposition of the starting gold cluster. This conclusion appears independent of R-group on thiolate-ligated Au25(SR)18 clusters.
Neglected Infections of Poverty in the United States and Their Effects on the Brain

A group of neglected infections are emerging as important causes of psychiatric and mental illness among vulnerable populations living in extreme poverty in the United States. These chronic infections may partially account for the achievement gap noted among socioeconomically disadvantaged students. The neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of chronic parasitic and related infections that can last decades or even the lifetime of an individual. During this time, they produce long-lasting and debilitating effects that impair productive capacity and child development. Indeed, the NTDs have actually been shown to trap people in poverty through these adverse effects. The NTDs are not rare diseases. Quite the opposite— the NTDs are now recognized as the most common afflictions of impoverished people living in low- and middle-income countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The NTDs are also considered a major reason why the “bottom billion” (ie, the 1.3 billion) people living below the poverty level cannot escape poverty. In 2008, I identified a group of neglected parasitic
Advanced SOI CMOS transistor technologies for high-performance microprocessor applications

We present an overview of partially-depleted silicon-on-insulator (PD-SOI) CMOS transistor technologies for high-performance microprocessors. To achieve a “high performance per watt” figure of merit, transistor technology elements like PD-SOI, strained Si, aggressive junction scaling, and asymmetric devices need hand-in-hand development with multiple-core and power-efficient designs. These techniques have been developed, applied, and optimized for 45nm SOI volume manufacturing at GLOBALFOUNDRIES in Dresden. To enable further transistor scaling to 32nm design rules, high-K metal-gate (HKMG) technology is key. Gate-first and replacement-gate HKMG integration as well as future strained Si technologies like strained silicon directly bonded on SOI and embedded Si:C are discussed.
Toxicity and Repellency of Borate-Sucrose Water Baits to Argentine Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The oral toxicity of boron compounds to the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr), was evaluated in laboratory tests. The ants were provided 25% sucrose water containing 0.5 and 1% boric acid, disodium octaborate tetrahydrate, and borax. Lethal times of these solutions were a function of the concentration of boron. In field tests, the ants showed no discrimination between disodium octaborate tetrahydrate and boric acid. There was a significant reduction in consumption of sucrose water with >1% boric acid.
Appendix to The Last Temptation of Congress: Legislator Insider Trading and the Fiduciary Norm Against Corruption

This Appendix answers two objections to the author's arguments in The Last Temptation of Congress: Legislator Insider Trading and the Fiduciary Norm Against Corruption, 98 Cornell L. Rev. 845 (2013). The objections relate to separation of powers principles and the First Amendment. Readers should first access: Kim, Sung Hui, The Last Temptation of Congress: Legislator Insider Trading and the Fiduciary Norm Against Corruption, Cornell Law Review, Vol. 98, p. 845 (2013); UCLA School of Law Research Paper No. 12-08. The Article to which this Appendix relates, "The Last Temptation of Congress: Legislator Insider Trading and the Fiduciary Norm Against Corruption," is available at the following URL: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2029322.
A proposed systems model for socializing the graduate writer

Although researchers chorus the need to support graduate students toward higher levels of writing proficiency, their findings lack a holistic model for doing so. A model emerges upon scrutiny of the factors that have been implicated in supporting writing proficiency. In the proposed model, a socialization theory fits as a proximal process into the bioecological model and clarifies how graduate writers do or do not achieve and sustain proficiency target levels of writing aptitude. The proximal processes that support graduate writers include interactions among peer support and faculty members. Other factors that contribute to academic socialization include failure or achievement in micro-events, the reception of new information, and consequences of bidirectional influence. The text denotes further evaluation needs for testing the model. The model suggests a flexible pathway for supporting higher writing proficiency among graduate writers and that investment must recur in order to facilitate achievement and ...
Ensemble Kalman Filtering without a Model

Drawing inferences from data is at the heart of many fields of science. A new kind of data analysis, free of assumptions from underlying models, is proposed and its use demonstrated on weather data.
Fabricating Superhydrophobic Polymer Surfaces with Excellent Abrasion Resistance by a Simple Lamination Templating Method

Fabricating robust superhydrophobic surfaces for commercial applications is challenging as the fine-scale surface features, necessary to achieve superhydrophobicity, are susceptible to mechanical damage. Herein, we report a simple and inexpensive lamination templating method to create superhydrophobic polymer surfaces with excellent abrasion resistance and water pressure stability. To fabricate the surfaces, polyethylene films were laminated against woven wire mesh templates. After cooling, the mesh was peeled from the polymer creating a 3D array of ordered polymer microposts on the polymer surface. The resulting texture is monolithic with the polymer film and requires no chemical modification to exhibit superhydrophobicity. By controlling lamination parameters and mesh dimensions, polyethylene surfaces were fabricated that exhibit static contact angles of 160° and slip angles of 5°. Chemical and mechanical stability was evaluated using an array of manual tests as well as a standard reciprocating abraser ...
Education in Information Systems: What does Industry Expect from the University?

The article discusses the demand for systems analysts in the United States caused by accelerated growth in computer installations. The duties of systems analysts are looked at. A shortage of system...
Impact of lunar volatiles produced during He-3 mining activities

It has been known for some time that the rare isotope He-3, found on the surface of the moon, will be a valuable fusion fuel in the 21st century. However, the by-products from the lunar mining process, H2, H2O, He-4, N2, CO, CO2, and CH4, have only received cursory study to the present time. It is found in this study that the volatile by-products may even be more valuable to space travelers than the He-3 used in safe, clean, and economical reactors on the Earth. The fact that over 18,000 tons of volatiles will be evolved for every tonne of He-3 extracted on the moon, and that these volatiles can be used for everything from producing power in fuel cells to life support and rocket fuel, suggests that the development of a He-3 economy may be the key to establishing a permanent human presence in space as well as a stable economy on the Earth. (Author)
Addressing Air Quality and Health as a Strategy to Combat Climate Change

In its position paper, the ACP calls for government and the health care sector to address climate change. The editorialists describe the approach their health system has taken to act locally to und...
APPLICATION OF THE AUTOMATIC DISTURBANCE CONTROLLER IN THE SHUNT ACTIVE POWER FILTER

This paper presents the theory and structure of ADC and its application in APF. According to the theory of ADC, the uncertainties in the model and from the circumstance outside are both considered as the unknown disturbance to the system. The expending state observer can evaluate the unknown disturbance. With the nonlinear state error feedback control law, the disturbance can be compensated. The control law has only relationship with the reference and the output. So the control is simplified with fewer variables to be detected. A good result with simulations is got through choosing and changing the parameters and the feasibility, adaptability and robustness of the control is testified by this result.
Study on Microgrid Load Control Design Method

To maintain the quality and power balance of microgrid,a microgrid load control device is proposed.The device can measure the micro-grid bus voltage,frequency,and their rate of change.When the frequency voltage accident occurs,the appropriate frequency and voltage are judged.The low frequency,low-voltage,over frequency,overvoltage control can be achieved, micro-grid power quality can be improved.
Time, frequency & complexity analysis for recognizing panic states from physiologic time-series

This paper presents results of analysis performed on a physiologic time-series dataset that was collected from a wearable ECG monitoring system worn by individuals who suffer from panic disorder. Models are constructed and evaluated for distinguishing between pathologic and non-pathologic states, including panic (during panic attack), pre-panic (preceding panic attack) and non-panic (outside panic attack window). The models presented use data fusion to combine both traditional time and frequency domain heart rate variability analysis together with nonlinear/complexity analysis. The best performing model is shown to be a random forest classifier that achieves an accuracy of 97.2% and 90.7% for recognizing states of panic and pre-panic, respectively. The models presented have application in pervasive and ubiquitous mobile and wearable health management systems.
Quality Control and Re-Use of Water in California

The main outline of California's Water Problem is familiar to everyone attending this conference. Water in our state is maldistributed not only geographically and seasonally as compared to need, but also from year to year. As a consequence, for a long ti e we have been aware of the necessity of conserving our rainfall and snow-melt during the seasons and years when nature provides them and of transporting the water so accumulated from the areas where it is in surplus to the areas where it is needed and can be put to use. That is, we have long been quantity-conscious. In recent years, however, we have begun to recognize that to make the most efficient use of our water resources, it is not enough merely to increase the quantity available. In our expanding, complex economy, the same water must be used many times and for many different purposes before it flows to the sea or evaporates. Drinking and domestic use, irrigation, maintenance of fish and wildlife, industrial use, recreational use, navigation, generation of hydroelectric power, disposal of sewage and industrial waste-these are some of the purposes for which the same water may have to be used, and more than once, as it flows from the mountains to the sea. Most water uses need water of a certain minimum quality. On the other hand, most water uses tend to degrade quality of the water and thus affect its suitability for subsequent use. Hence, if multiple and successive uses of the same water are to be protected, the maintenance of water quality and prevention of water pollution become as vital as the development of sufficient water quantities. And the right to re-use water which has been used before becomes as important as the right to make the first use. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the law of California governing these two related subjects-first, the control of water quality and water pollution and second, the acquisition of rights to re-use water which has been put to previous use. I
Use of the thoracic aorta for renal revascularization.

AbstractWe describe the performance of renal revascularization by placement of an interposition saphenous vein graft from the thoracic aorta to the renal artery. This technique is applicable to selected patients with renal artery stenosis and severe atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta.
‘Epidemics of Enough’: Beckettian Sufficiencies

For a discussion of nihilism, Beckett’s work offers no shortage of entry points. In a philosophical key, one can evoke his two favourite tags: Democritus’ ‘Nothing is more real than nothing’, and the Belgian Arnold Geulincx’s ‘Ubi nihil vales, ibi nihil velis’ (‘There where you are worth nothing, there you should want nothing’) both used in Murphy and the trilogy, and recommended by Beckett himself as the best starting places for a critic faced with the task of interpreting his work.1 Recent biographies only confirm Beckett’s deep and ongoing exchanges with the continental philosophical tradition, and his interest in Schopenhauer has long been known.2 Moreover, Beckett’s concern to place his work under a philosophical aegis stressing ‘nothing’ rhymes with his progressive technical elimination of so many of the traditional props of both prose and theatre, producing texts and dramatic works which if not ‘nothing’, certainly seem to be striving after less, as a title like ‘Lessness’ makes clear, along with the claim in the very late Wortstward Ho to be travelling ‘leastward’ (Beckett 1983, 33). However, the very care with which Beckett emphasises the remainder, or the ‘least’, should prevent us from seeing him as seeking some sort of literary presentation of an ideal nothing, of forging in words or on stage the ‘reality’ of this ‘nothing’ which Democritus’ sentence seems to promise. ‘Naught not best worse’ (ibid., 32) Worstward Ho acknowledges, ‘Least best worse.
Modeler’s View

This section describes what the individuals developing new simulation models will see when working with the Integrated Spatio-Temporal Ecological Modeling System (I-STEMS). The development of landscape simulation models requires the coordination of an interdisciplinary group of individuals. It is presumed that these individuals will not, for the most part, have the skills necessary to design and develop new simulation modules using low-level software languages. They will, however, be assembling simulation modules into complete watershed simulation models. Through a story, the next section, Imagine, describes the development of a simulation model by an interdisciplinary team. This is followed by sections on the system design philosophy as viewed by a modeler, subsystem examples, and generic viewers and controllers.