cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Frequency of daily insolation in Anglo North America during June and December

Abstract Statistics of daily insolation frequency distribution based on 1950–1964 data have been prepared for June and December for 57 United States and 27 Canadian stations. Various percentiles, cumulative percentage frequencies, and the mean, median, and interquartile range for each station are given in tables. Maps of monthly median daily insolation are presented and discussed. The maps are based on the medians of 84 stations with actual insolation data, supplemented with estimated medians for stations at which insolation is not measured. These estimated values were calculated from equations derived from the regression relationship between insolation, percent of possible sunshine and station elevation above sea level. The June map is characterized by high values and a flat gradient of insolation throughout almost all of North America. In December, the outstanding feature of the distribution is a steady south-to-north gradient along most longitude lines. Information on the skewness of insolation statistics is presented and the effect of skewness on the arithmetic mean and standard deviation is shown. The advisability, for some purposes, of replacing these parameters of the normal curve with non-parametric measures such as the median and interquartile range is demonstrated. Two maps containing histograms for selected stations show the variation geographically of skewness in insolation frequencies.
Reliability properties of low-voltage ferroelectric capacitors and memory arrays

We report on the reliability properties of ferroelectric capacitors and memory arrays embedded in a 130-nm CMOS logic process with 5LM Cu/FSG. Low voltage (<1.5 V) operation is enabled by the 70-nm thick MOCVD PZT ferroelectric films. Data loss resulting from high temperature bakes is primarily caused by the imprint effect, which shows /spl sim/1.5 eV time-to-fail activation energy. Excellent bit endurance properties are observed on fully packaged memory arrays, with no degradation up to 10/sup 13/ write/read polarization switching cycles. Retention measured after 10/sup 12/ switching cycles demonstrates no degradation relative to arrays with minimal cycling.
Automatic detection and repair of errors in data structures

We present a system that accepts a specification of key data structure consistency constraints, then dynamically detects and repairs violations of these constraints, enabling the program to continue to execute productively even in the face of otherwise crippling errors. Our experience using our system indicates that the specifications are relatively easy to develop once one understands the data structures. Furthermore, for our set of benchmark applications, our system can effectively repair inconsistent data structures and enable the program to continue to operate successfully.
Fuzzy terrain-based path planning for planetary rovers

Presents a fuzzy terrain-based path planning method for planetary rovers operating on rough natural terrain. The focus of this approach is on planning an optimally safe path of minimum traversal cost, which is calculated from linguistic descriptors of terrain traversability. The method incorporates the traversability map, a fuzzy map representation of traversal difficulty of the terrain, into the path planning logic. The search methodology uses a traversal cost function that is derived directly from this traversability map. The path planning method is developed in detail and experimental results are presented.
Diagnostic analysis for mechanical systems

An analysis and modeling method of the diagnostic characteristics of a mechanical or electromechanical system is presented. Diagnosability analysis is especially relevant given the complexities and functional interdependencies of modernday systems, since improvements in diagnosability can lead to a reduction of a system’s life-cycle costs. Failure and diagnostic analysis leads to system diagnosability modeling with the Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and component-indication relationship analysis. Methods are then developed for translating the diagnosability model into mathematical methods for computing metrics such as distinguishability and susceptibility. These methods involve the use of matrices to represent the failure and replacement characteristics of the system. Diagnosability metrics are extracted by matrix multiplication. These metrics are useful when comparing the diagnosability of proposed designs or predicting the life-cycle costs of fault isolation.
Facial asymmetry quantification for expression invariant human identification

We investigate the effect of quantified statistical facial asymmetry as a biometric under expression variations. Our findings show that the facial asymmetry measures (AsymFaces) are computationally feasible, containing discriminative information and providing synergy when combined with Fisherface and Eigen-face methods on image data of two publically available face databases (Cohn-Kanade (T. Kanade et al., 1999) and Feret (P.J. Phillips et al., 1998)).
Boundary-scan test structures and test-bench compilation in a multichip module synthesis system

The authors present a testing methodology for multichip module (MCM) designs, which were automatically generated by a behavioral synthesis system. The testability of the design was enhanced by automatic insertion of boundary scan architecture in every chip of the MCM design. The test vectors for the synthesized design were automatically derived from the behavioral test vectors, which were used to validate the behavioral model of the design. The test vectors were transformed into a serial format as required by the test structures and finally represented in WAVES. >
Enhancing performance of network-on-chip architectures with millimeter-wave wireless interconnects

In a traditional Network-on-Chip (NoC), latency and power dissipation increase with system size due to its inherent multi-hop communications. The performance of NoC communication fabrics can be significantly enhanced by introducing long-range, low power, high bandwidth direct links between far apart cores. In this paper a design methodology for a scalable hierarchical NoC with on-chip millimeter (mm)-wave wireless links is proposed. The proposed wireless NoC offers significantly higher throughput and lower energy dissipation compared to its conventional multi-hop wired counterpart. It is also demonstrated that the proposed hierarchical NoC with long range wireless links shows significant performance gains in presence of various application-specific traffic and multicast scenarios.
Mother–Child Conversations of Emotionally Salient Events: Exploring the Functions of Emotional Reminiscing in European-American and Chinese Families

This study explores the functional variations in mother–child conversations of emotionally salient events in European-American and Chinese families. Thirty Chinese and 31 European-American 3-year-old children and their mothers participated. Mothers were asked to discuss with their children at home two specific one-point-in-time events in which they both participated. One event was extremely positive to the child, one extremely stressful. American mothers initiated more interactive and elaborative conversations that focused on the child's roles and predilections in the story, and they employed a ‘cognitive approach’ to emotional regulation by providing explanations for the cause of children's feeling states. Chinese mothers took a directive role in posing and repeating memory questions and focusing on social interaction, and they used a ‘behavioral approach’ to emotional regulation by emphasizing discipline and proper conduct to their children. Findings are discussed in light of cultural influences on the functions of emotional reminiscing for self and relationship construction and emotional regulation.
Electrochemically Induced Conversion of Urea to Ammonia

A novel electrochemically induced method for ammonia synthesis (eU2A) on demand from urea in alkaline media was demonstrated. A Nickel based electrode was employed as the active catalyst. The effective rate of ammonia generation of the eU2A process at 70°C is ~28 times higher than the thermal hydrolysis (THU) of urea. The eU2A operates at lower temperature (55% lower) and pressure (6 times lower) than the THU; this could lead to significant energy savings. The process finds applications on selective catalytic reduction (SCR) for the removal of nitride oxide from combustion systems (e.g., diesel vehicles, power plants, etc.).
The Functional Ecology and Diversity of Tropical Tree Assemblages through Space and Time: From Local to Regional and from Traits to Transcriptomes

Tropical tree biodiversity motivates an extremely large amount of research and some of the most passionate debates in ecology and evolution. Research into tropical tree biodiversity generally has been very biased towards one axis of biodiversity-species diversity. Less work has focused on the functional diversity of tropical trees and I argue that this has greatly limited our ability to not only understand the species diversity in tropical tree assemblages, but their distributions through space and time. Increasingly plant ecologists have turned to measuring plant functional traits to estimate functional diversity and to uncover the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms underlying the distribution and dynamics of tropical trees. Here I review much of the recent work on functional traits in tropical tree community ecology. I will highlight what I believe are the most important findings and which research directions are not likely to progress in the future. I also argue that functionally based investigations of tropical trees are likely to be revolutionized in the coming years through the incorporation of functional genomic approaches. The paper ends with a discussion of three major research areas or areas in need of focus that could lead to rapid advances in functionally based investigations of tropical trees.
Low-temperature characterization of a 1.55-μm multiple-quantum-well laser down to 10 K

A ridge-waveguide 1.55-μm semiconductor laser with a multiple-quantum-well carrier confinement structure was characterized from room temperature down to 10 K. The temperature dependence of important laser parameters, such as threshold current, series resistance, differential efficiency, and emission wavelength, extracted from standard L-I/I-V measurements, is reported. The applicability of the standard ideal-diode model of semiconductor laser at cryogenic temperatures is analyzed.
Envisioning Disaster in the 1910 Paris Flood

This article uncovers the visual narratives embedded within the photography of the 1910 Paris flood. Images offered Parisians multiple ways to understand and construe the significance of the flood and provided interpretive frameworks to decide the meaning of this event. Investigating three interlocking narratives of ruin, beauty, and fraternite, the article shows how photographs of Paris under water allowed residents to make sense of the destruction but also to imagine the city’s reconstruction. The article concludes with a discussion of the role of visual culture in recovering from urban disasters.
Second-Generation Objects in the Universe: Radiative Cooling and Collapse of Halos with Virial Temperatures above 104 K

The first generation of stars is thought to have formed in low-mass halos with Tvir 104 K, i.e., those that can cool in the absence of H2 via neutral atomic lines. The evolution of these halos differs from their less massive counterparts. Efficient atomic line radiation allows rapid cooling to ~8000 K; subsequently the gas can contract nearly isothermally at this temperature. In the absence of H2 molecules, the gas would likely settle into a locally stable disk, and only disks with unusually low spin would be unstable. However, we find that the initial atomic line cooling leaves a large, out-of-equilibrium residual free electron fraction. This allows the molecular fraction to build up to a universal value of x ≈ 10-3, almost independently of initial density and temperature. We show that this is a nonequilibrium freeze-out value that can be understood in terms of timescale arguments. Unlike in less massive halos, H2 formation and cooling is largely impervious to feedback from external UV fields, due to the high initial densities achieved by atomic cooling. The newly formed molecules cool the gas further to ~100 K and allow the gas to fragment on scales of a few times 100 M☉. We investigate the importance of various feedback effects such as H2 photodissociation from internal UV fields and radiation pressure due to Lyα photon trapping, which are likely to regulate the efficiency of star formation.
Performance of a scaled FRP deck-on-steel girder bridge model with partial degree of composite action

Abstract The applications of FRP decks have been increasingly implemented in the United States since the mid-1990s. Although extensive research has been conducted on stiffness and strength evaluations of various types of FRP decks, studies on FRP deck-on-steel girder systems are limited. The performance of the FRP deck-on-steel girder system depends substantially on the connectors used. Recently, a prototype shear connector was developed and its advantages were illustrated through both laboratory study and field applications, where partial degree of composite action could be achieved between the deck and stringers. This paper aims to study the effectiveness of the shear connector at bridge-system level, including the static and fatigue performance of the shear connector and the bridge system, the degree of composite action of the system; and more importantly, the influence of the partial degree of composite action on load distribution factor and effective flange width since no provision is provided in AASHTO Specifications. For this purpose, a 1:3 scaled FRP deck bridge model was tested, with an FRP sandwich honeycomb deck connected to steel girders using the prototype shear connector. The test program consisted of three phases: Phase I and Phase II included static and fatigue load tests on the scaled bridge model. In Phase III, a T-section was cut-out from the bridge model and then loaded under three-point bending until failure. A Finite Element model was constructed to simulate the tests. It was shown that the shear connection was able to provide partial composite action of about 25%, and sustain a cyclic fatigue loading equivalent to 75 year bridge service life span. It is shown that AASHTO Specifications can still be applicable for load distribution factor, while the effective flange width needs to be re-defined for bridge-system with partial degree of composite action. The findings from this paper can be used for design purposes.
Persistence of Typhlodromus pyri and Metaseiulus occidentalis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on apple after inoculative release and competition with Zetzellia mali (Acari: Stigmaeidae).

Biological control of European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch), and apple rust mite, Aculus schlechtendali (Nalepa), varied in 1991 in 20 prey-predator treatment plots after Single and mixed releases of Metaseiulus occidentalis (Nesbitt) and Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten were made in 1990. Control of spider mites in 1991 was better in mixed-species than in single-species release plots. M. occidentalis was the dominant phytoseiid in mixed-species release plots in 1990, but T. pyri was more common in 1991. In fall, eggs of M. occidentalis disappeared before eggs of T. pyri did. In spring, eggs of T. pyri appeared first. Oviposition by M. occidentalis may have been slowed by cool weather and limited use of pollen as food. With few prey present, competition favored T. pyri , and M. occidentalis eventually disappeared from mixed-, but not from single-species plots. M. occidentalis was more affected by Zetzellia mali (Ewing) than was T. pyri , but T. pyri had more impact on populations of this stigmaeid mite. Competition by Z. mali with the phytoseiids may cause negative and pOSitiveeffects on biological control. The two phytoseiids have complementary traits that allow them to control pest mites together, but their management may be complicated by interspecific competition.
Oxygen and Renal Hemodynamics in the Conscious Rat

Previous studies have suggested a link between renal metabolism and local kidney hemodynamics to prevent potential hypoxic injury of particularly vulnerable nephron segments, such as the outer medullary region. The present study used three different inspiratory oxygen concentrations to modify renal metabolic state in the conscious rat (hypoxia 10% O2, normoxia 20% 02, and hyperoxia 100% 02). Renal blood flow (RBF) was assessed by ultrasound transit time; renal perfusion pressure (RPP) was controlled by a hydroelectric servo-control device. Local RBF was estimated by laser-Doppler flux for the cortical and outer medullary region (2 and 4 mm below renal surface, respectively). Hypoxia led to a generalized significant increase in RBF, whereas hyperoxia-induced changes did not (hypoxia 6.6 +/- 0.6 ml/min versus normoxia 5.7 +/- 0.7 ml/min, P < 0.05). Moreover, regional and total RBF autoregulation was markedly attenuated by hypoxia. Conversely, hyperoxia enhanced RBF autoregulation. Under normoxic and hyperoxic conditions, medullary RBF was very well maintained, even at low RPP (medullary RBF: approximately 70% of control at 50 mmHg). The hypoxic challenge, however, significantly diminished the capacity to maintain medullary blood flow at low RPP (medullary RBF: approximately 30% of control at 50 mmHg, P < 0.05). These data suggest that renal metabolism and renal hemodynamics are closely intertwined. In response to acute hypoperfusion, the kidney succeeds in maintaining remarkably high medullary blood flow. This is not accomplished, however, when a concomitant hypoxic challenge is superimposed on RPP reduction.
Escape response of the rotifer Keratella: Description, stimulation, fluid dynamics, and ecological significance

Keratel)a spp. sometimes exhibited escape responses when being contacted or closely approached by the predatory rotifer Asplanchna brightwefli, when enccmntering the inhalant currents of the cladoceran competitor Daphnia, and when encountering a simple, calibrated, siphonal flow field mimicking that entering Daphnia. Escape responses in Keratella cochlearis and Keratella testudo were brief (-2 s), orthokinc tic increases in swimming speed. Velocities rapidly (O.3-O. 5s) increased ---3.6-fold to a maximum (- 1.8 mm s-’) and then gradually declined to preresponse levels (-0.5 mm s–’ ); displacements were -2 mm or 12-18 body lengths. Velocity increases probably are mediated by increased beat frequencies of coronal locomotor cilia. The stimulus for response initiation in K. test udo probabl y is deformati on (shear) of the rotifer itself or its surrounding medium and may be detected by internal or external mechanoreccptors. Threshold stimuli were associated with siphonal flow-field currents of 0.35 mm s-1 and Asplanchna flow-field currents of about 0.65 mm s--’. Escape-response initiation in K. testudo was more sensitive to siphonal flow stimuli than that in Polyarthra, suggesting a direct correlation between escape-response velocity and stimulus threshold. Escape responses in K. cochfearis and K. tes~udo to encounters with Asp/anchna and L)aphnia were always successful but were not always initiated. They reduced the probability of the roti fers being captured, and hence eaten or damaged, by these organisms ‘25–50Y0. Kerate/la’s behavioral response complements its other, morphological defenses (size, integumentary skeleton, spination) and increases its ability to coexist with various invertebrate predators and interference competitors in natural zooplankton communities.
Suppression of Inflammatory Responses during Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein–Induced Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Is Regulated by AKT3 Signaling

AKT3, a member of the serine/threonine kinase AKT family, is involved in a variety of biologic processes. AKT3 is expressed in immune cells and is the major AKT isoform in the CNS representing 30% of the total AKT expressed in spinal cord, and 50% in the brain. Myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein–induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a mouse model in which lymphocytes and monocytes enter the CNS, resulting in inflammation, demyelination, and axonal injury. We hypothesized that during EAE, deletion of AKT3 would negatively affect the CNS of AKT3 −/− mice, making them more susceptible to CNS damage. During acute EAE, AKT3 −/− mice were more severely affected than wild type (WT) mice. Evaluation of spinal cords showed that during acute and chronic disease, AKT3 −/− spinal cords had more demyelination compared with WT spinal cords. Quantitative RT-PCR determined higher levels of IL-2, IL-17, and IFN-γ mRNA in spinal cords from AKT3 −/− mice than WT. Experiments using bone marrow chimeras demonstrated that AKT3 −/− mice receiving AKT3-deficient bone marrow cells had elevated clinical scores relative to control WT mice reconstituted with WT cells, indicating that altered function of both CNS cells and bone marrow–derived immune cells contributed to the phenotype. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed decreased numbers of Foxp3 + regulatory T cells in the spinal cord of AKT3 −/− mice compared with WT mice, whereas in vitro suppression assays showed that AKT3-deficient Th cells were less susceptible to regulatory T cell–mediated suppression than their WT counterparts. These results indicate that AKT3 signaling contributes to the protection of mice against EAE.
Techniques for Reducing Radiation Heat Transfer between 77 and 4.2 K

The present-day applied superconductivity is a liquid-helium-based technology. The efficiency of a cryogenic or superconducting device is determined by its rate of consumption of the cryogen. Liquid helium has an extremely small heat of vaporization; thus, its storage almost always requires a state-of-the-art insulating method. Radiation heat leak becomes significantly more important as larger superconducting devices are built, such as huge high-energy physics analysis magnets, fusion reactor systems, and energy storage facilities. For large superconducting magnets,[1–3] it is common practice to surround the liquid helium vessel with a nitrogen shield (at 77 K) and wrap multilayer insulation around both the liquid helium vessel and the nitrogen shield in an attempt to further reduce the heat leaks (Fig. 1a). Multilayer insulation is inexpensive and generally effective; yet, it is a rather difficult material to apply because its performance depends on a few hard-to-control parameters such as the layer density, the compressive loading, and the lateral heat transfer effect. The effective insulation capability obtained in practice is at least a factor of 2 worse than carefully measured laboratory values (or those claimed by manufacturers). Careless and/or inexperienced application can easily generate heat leak values a few times higher than the predicted value, especially when dealing with peculiarly shaped cryostats.
Broadening of the I 2 P1/2∆ 2 P3/2 Transition Lineshape by Unsteady Vortex Motion

* Senior Member, AIAA. Introduction. The lineshape of the I P1/2 P3/2 transition provides a means to ascertain a variety of useful information regarding the performance of the chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL). The value at the center of the lineshape, commonly referred to as the ‘line center,’ is proportional to the laser amplification on the I P1/2 P3/2 transition. The infinite integral of the lineshape is proportional to the number density of the ground and excited states of atomic iodine in the gas, indicating the degree of I2 dissociation. And the width of the lineshape indicates the amount of broadening of the transition, both due to collisional and Doppler shift effects. As the Doppler shift is proportional to velocity, the width of the transition can be used to estimate the degree of random molecular motion in the gas, expressed in macroscopic terms as temperature. A Doppler shift to the frequencies in the transition can also occur through the straight-line, bulk motion of the gas, and this can be used to examine the velocity field of the gas. However, the flow may experience rotation through the presence of eddies carried within the gas, and these too may contribute to the Doppler shift of the lineshape frequencies. Given that eddies by virtue of their positive and negative velocity components can induce positive and negative Doppler shift, the widening of the lineshape is similar to thermal motion which also includes positive and negative velocities. Thus, when interpreting transition lineshapes, if some account is not made for both thermal and rotational motion, the effect of either physical process will be over-estimated. The work discussed here is oriented toward examining the interplay between the gas dynamics and the lineshape of the I P1/2 P3/2 transition, and in turn determine the ramifications for the use of spectroscopic lineshape based diagnostics and interpretation of their data. These efforts in turn are directly linked to efforts improve the understanding of the physical processes underlying chemical lasers, as excursions outside the traditional operational parameter space become increasingly necessary.
Simple Incorporation of Interactions into Additive Models

Summary. Often, the functional form of covariate effects in an additive model varies across groups defined by levels of a categorical variable. This structure represents a factor-by-curve interaction. This article presents penalized spline models that incorporate factor-by-curve interactions into additive models. A mixed model formulation for penalized splines allows for straightforward model fitting and smoothing parameter selection. We illustrate the proposed model by applying it to pollen ragweed data in which seasonal trends vary by year.
Is AMOC More Predictable than North Atlantic Heat Content

AbstractPredictability properties of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) are measured and compared to those of the upper-500-m heat content in the North Atlantic based on control simulations from nine comprehensive coupled climate models. By estimating the rate at which perfect predictions from initially similar states diverge, the authors find the prediction range at which initialization loses its potential to have a positive impact on predictions. For the annual-mean AMOC, this range varies substantially from one model to another, but on average, it is about a decade. For eight of the models, this range is less than the corresponding range for heat content. For 5- and 10-yr averages, predictability is substantially greater than for annual means for both fields, but the enhancement is more for AMOC; indeed, for the averaged fields, AMOC is more predictable than heat content. Also, there are spatial patterns of AMOC that have especially high predictability. For the most predictable of t...
A comprehensive system for intraoperative 3D brain deformation recovery

During neurosurgery, brain deformation renders preoperative images unreliable for localizing pathologic structures. In order to visualize the current brain anatomy, it is necessary to nonrigidly warp these preoperative images to reflect the intraoperative brain. This can be accomplished using a biomechanical model driven by sparse intraoperative information. In this paper, a linear elastic model of the brain is developed which can infer volumetric brain deformation given the cortical surface displacement. This model was tested on both a realistic brain phantom and in vivo, proving its ability to account for large brain deformations. Also, an efficient semiautomatic strategy for preoperative cortical feature detection is outlined, since accurate segmentation of cortical features can aid intraoperative cortical surface tracking.
In vitro fermentation of dietary fiber by human fecal organisms

Abstract Microbial in vitro methods were used to evaluate 20 different sources of dietary fiber. Bacteria collected from human fecal matter were grown in continuous culture, bath culture and agar plates. Bacteria grown on pectin or Solka floc® (SW40) in continuous culture flasks were incubated in batch cultures. Experiments using human fecal bacteria, batch culture flasks and 16 sources of dietary fiber were conducted in order to study: (1) the water-holding capacity of the dietary fiber and the residues from fermentation; (2) the rates of gas release (measured 12 times over 24 h). The wide range in the water-holding capacity of the original substrates was greatly reduced after fermentation and was normalized to about 3.5 g water g−1 of residual organic matter (OM). Estimated gas release per 24 h g−1 of OM fermented ranged from 543 ml for pectin to 370 ml for psyllium. Composition of the gas released in continuous culture flasks fed pectin was manipulated by the presence or lack of wheat straw. This wheat straw was used as an inert, insoluble dietary fiber source. Long-term depression in the capacity of the inocula to ferment pectin was induced by feeding Solka floc® to a person or to bacteria grown in continuous culture flasks.
Paternal effect on genomic activation, clinical pregnancy and live birth rate after ICSI with cryopreserved epididymal versus testicular spermatozoa

Background This study takes an in depth look at embryonic development, implantation, pregnancy and live birth rates with frozen epididymal and testicular sperm from obstructed (OA) and non-obstructed (NOA) patients.
Stories of Black women in engineering industry — Why they leave

The U.S. government has called for more STEM professionals in order to remain competitive as a nation. Increased participation of women and minorities in these fields will capture the rich diversity of their lived experiences and contributions. Many studies examine these issues for women or minorities, but less frequently consider the intersection of gender and race. There have been quantitative studies conducted in recent years that attempt to capture why women leave engineering. However, they lack the rich description at the intersection of race and gender necessary to understand the impetus to leave engineering industry. Identity theory is the theoretical framework utilized for understanding how engineering industry culture fits with how these women see themselves and feel like they belong or do not belong in engineering. Identity theory can illustrate the meanings that Black women attribute to themselves as engineers and how they negotiate their perceived membership in engineering based on interpretations of status differences, legitimacy and stability of those status differences. This paper presents insight in to methods of data collection, analysis process, and preliminary research results.
Units and Dimensions

The units used to designate magnitude of a dimension have evolved based on common usage and the instruments available for measurement. Two major systems for measurement have been used: the English system, used primarily in industry, and the metric system, used in the sciences. The confusion that resulted from the use of various terms to represent the same dimension led to the development of a common system of units that is proposed for use in both science and industry. The international system of units and the official international designation SI were adopted in 1960 by the General Conference on Weights and Measures. This body consists of delegates from member countries of the Meter Convention and meets at least once every six years. At least 44 countries are represented in this convention, one of which is the United States.
A Chapter in the Life History of Mordwilkoja Vagabundus (Aphididæ)

In 1862 Walsh described an aphis under the name of Brysocrypta vagabunda , which had occurred very abundantly on various forest trees in September. Walsh gave this aphid the name vagabunda, meaning vagabond or wanderer because he knew nothing of its life habits having taken only the winged form and this on various hosts. Two years later or in 1864, Walsh associated the aphid causing a large irregular gall on the cotton wood with the aphid he had described as Brysocrypta vagabunda . Aphidologists since that time have generally followed Walsh in believeing that the form which he collected and described was the same as that causing the gall and the name vagabundus has therefore come to be associated with the gall form.
Safety and Efficacy of Preoperative Embolization of Intracranial Hemangioblastomas.

Background Intracranial hemangioblastomas are highly vascular tumors that account for 1% to 2% of all central nervous system tumors. Preoperative embolization has been proposed to limit the often significant intraoperative blood loss associated with resection and potentially make the tumor more soft/necrotic and thus more amenable to gross total resection. The safety and efficacy of preoperative embolization of intracranial hemangioblastomas, however, are not well characterized. Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of preoperative endovascular embolization of intracranial hemangioblastomas using a variety of embolic agents. Methods A retrospective review of all surgically resected intracranial hemangioblastomas treated with preoperative embolization between 1999 and 2014 at 2 high-volume centers was performed. Clinical and radiographic criteria, including von Hippel-Lindau status, magnetic resonance imaging tumor characteristics, embolization-related complications, degree of angiographic devascularization, intraoperative blood loss, ability to obtain gross total resection, transfusion requirements, and operative time, were analyzed. Results A total of 54 patients underwent surgery, with 24 undergoing preoperative embolization followed by surgical resection, and 30 patients undergoing surgical resection alone. Embolization-related neurological complications were seen in 6 patients (25%), including 3 hemorrhages when polyvinyl alcohol particles (P = .04) were used and 3 infarctions when liquid embolic agents were used (P = .27). Permanent neurological deficits were seen in 15%. Conclusion Preoperative embolization of intracranial hemangioblastomas should be performed with caution, given the potential for neurological morbidity. Further studies are needed to help guide patient and embolic agent selection.
Fluid/motion coupling in conceptual supermaneuvers

The unique problems introduced by the coupling existing between control demands and vehicle dynamics for advanced aircraft performing a so called supermaneuver are analyzed. The analysis shows how the coupling depends critically on the aircraft geometry, altitude, and maneuver/time history. The goal of the exploratory analysis is to provide the vehicle designer with some insight into the basic flow physics generating potentially troublesome coupling effects between control input and vehicle dynamics.
Experimental study on interference characteristics of CCD at different laser wavelengths

To study the laser jamming of CCD comparatively,three lasers at wavelengths of 532 nm,808nm and1064 nm were adopted in the jamming experiments. The experiments results reveal that the jamming of three lasers to CCD is effective. However,the jamming effect is different because of the difference of the jamming wavelength,the power and the working mode. For pulsed lasers,532 nm laser has the lower light saturation threshold than 1064 nm laser. When the output laser power reaches a certain value,the saturation crosstalk phenomenon occurs in a CCD. It provides an experimental basis for better jamming against CCD imaging systems.
Application of epidemiologic principles and methods to investigating and controlling equine infectious diseases.

Epidemiology is much like any other diagnostic tool that the practitioner uses as an aid in the complete examination of a group of animals. It can be used to generate a specific differential diagnosis list. Epidemiology is especially useful to design a disease control and prevention program by helping to elucidate the key determinants of disease occurrence.
A Comment and Epilogue

The Appellate Body report in EC-Seal Products is a landmark decision in several respects: for its recognition that animal welfare is a matter of public morality that may justify a trade ban in response to cruelty; for the AB's new–found clarity with respect to the irrelevance of regulatory purpose in the determination of “treatment no less favourable” under the National Treatment and MFN provisions of the GATT; for its suggestion that trade measures not defined by product–related distinctions but other criteria are not covered by the TBT Agreement; and for its partial acknowledgement that a Member may maintain a measure consistent with Article XX even if the measure represents a complex trade–off between a main purpose and other purposes that may limit the extent the main purpose can be furthered. But the decision arguably raises as many questions as it answers, and some have already complained about the rather sphinx–like quality of the judgment.
Access, Quality, and Cost Control in Emergency Medicine: Can We Have All Three?: A Resident's Perspective on the Future of Emergency Medicine

Abstract The triad of access, quality, and cost provides a useful framework for the discussion of health care reform. A quote from a recent review of the Oregon Health Plan illustrates the conflict between these three factors very well. "The administrators of the plan are realistic people; they once placed a sign on the wall: ‘Cost, access, quality—pick any two.'" [Asplin BR: Access, quality, and cost control in emergency medicine: Can we have all three? A resident's perspective on the future of emergency medicine. Ann Emerg Med December 1997;30:779-781.]
MicroRNAs Make a Difference in Cardiovascular Robustness.

Invertebrate microRNAs (miRNAs) can suppress developmental variability that is caused by environmental and genetic variation. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Kasper et al. (2017) show that zebrafish miRNAs suppress variability in cardiovascular development during embryogenesis, providing insight into the conserved link between miRNAs and robustness.
Dividing and conquering the variation among variants in EML4-ALK lung cancer

Activating gene rearrangements in the anaplastic lymphoma kinase are present in approximately 2–7% of lung adenocarcinomas (ALK + cancers) (1,2). Patients with ALK + lung adenocarcinoma often benefit from treatment with an ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), such as crizotinib, ceritinib, and alectinib (2). However, acquired ALK TKI resistance remains an obstacle to long-term patient survival in patients who do respond to initial therapy and a distinct subset of ALK + patients fails to experience an initial tumor regression, exhibiting intrinsic resistance (2). Identifying the basis of both innate and acquired resistance is essential to improve clinical outcomes.
Enhancement of thermal imagery using a low-cost high-resolution visual spectrum camera for scene understanding

Thermal-infrared cameras are used for signal/image processing and computer vision in numerous military and civilian applications. However, the cost of high quality (e.g., low noise, accurate temperature measurement, etc.) and high resolution thermal sensors is often a limiting factor. On the other hand, high resolution visual spectrum cameras are readily available and typically inexpensive. Herein, we outline a way to upsample thermal imagery with respect to a high resolution visual spectrum camera using Markov random field theory. This paper also explores the tradeoffs and impact of upsampling, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Our preliminary results demonstrate the successful use of this approach for human detection and accurate propagation of thermal measurements in an image for more general tasks like scene understanding. A tradeoff analysis of the cost-to-performance as the resolution of the thermal camera decreases is provided.
An “Observational Large Ensemble” to Compare Observed and Modeled Temperature Trend Uncertainty due to Internal Variability

AbstractEstimates of the climate response to anthropogenic forcing contain irreducible uncertainty due to the presence of internal variability. Accurate quantification of this uncertainty is critical for both contextualizing historical trends and determining the spread of climate projections. The contribution of internal variability to uncertainty in trends can be estimated in models as the spread across an initial condition ensemble. However, internal variability simulated by a model may be inconsistent with observations due to model biases. Here, statistical resampling methods are applied to observations in order to quantify uncertainty in historical 50-yr (1966–2015) winter near-surface air temperature trends over North America related to incomplete sampling of internal variability. This estimate is compared with the simulated trend uncertainty in the NCAR CESM1 Large Ensemble (LENS). The comparison suggests that uncertainty in trends due to internal variability is largely overestimated in LENS, which ...
Influence of focal length of lens on multi-photon lonization yield

The question being asked is how the multiphoton ionization (MPI) signal (from a gaseous target) varies as a function of the focal length of the laser beam focusing lens. By decreasing the focal length (hence more tightly focusing), the light intensity is increased and thus the ionization probability. However, the effective focal volume for the nth-order process Vn is decreased. At intensities below saturation, a relationship between signal strength and the focal length of the lens can be deduced qualitatively as follows.
31P magnetic resonance fingerprinting for rapid quantification of creatine kinase reaction rate in vivo

The purpose of this work was to develop a 31P spectroscopic magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) method for fast quantification of the chemical exchange rate between phosphocreatine (PCr) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) via creatine kinase (CK). A 31P MRF sequence (CK-MRF) was developed to quantify the forward rate constant of ATP synthesis via CK ( kfCK), the T1 relaxation time of PCr ( T1PCr), and the PCr-to-ATP concentration ratio ( MRPCr). The CK-MRF sequence used a balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP)-type excitation with ramped flip angles and a unique saturation scheme sensitive to the exchange between PCr and γATP. Parameter estimation was accomplished by matching the acquired signals to a dictionary generated using the Bloch-McConnell equation. Simulation studies were performed to examine the susceptibility of the CK-MRF method to several potential error sources. The accuracy of nonlocalized CK-MRF measurements before and after an ischemia–reperfusion (IR) protocol was compared with the magnetization transfer (MT-MRS) method in rat hindlimb at 9.4 T (n = 14). The reproducibility of CK-MRF was also assessed by comparing CK-MRF measurements with both MT-MRS (n = 17) and four angle saturation transfer (FAST) (n = 7). Simulation results showed that CK-MRF quantification of kfCK was robust, with less than 5% error in the presence of model inaccuracies including dictionary resolution, metabolite T2 values, inorganic phosphate metabolism, and B1 miscalibration. Estimation of kfCK by CK-MRF (0.38 ± 0.02 s−1 at baseline and 0.42 ± 0.03 s−1 post-IR) showed strong agreement with MT-MRS (0.39 ± 0.03 s−1 at baseline and 0.44 ± 0.04 s−1 post-IR). kfCK estimation was also similar between CK-MRF and FAST (0.38 ± 0.02 s−1 for CK-MRF and 0.38 ± 0.11 s−1 for FAST). The coefficient of variation from 20 s CK-MRF quantification of kfCK was 42% of that by 150 s MT-MRS acquisition and was 12% of that by 20 s FAST acquisition. This study demonstrates the potential of a 31P spectroscopic MRF framework for rapid, accurate and reproducible quantification of chemical exchange rate of CK in vivo.
The Patient Repository for EEG Data + Computational Tools (PRED+CT)

Electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings are thought to reflect the network-wide operations of canonical neural computations, making them a uniquely insightful measure of brain function. As evidence of these virtues, numerous candidate biomarkers of different psychiatric and neurological diseases have been advanced. Presumably, we would only need to apply powerful machine-learning methods to validate these ideas and provide novel clinical tools. Yet, the reality of this advancement is more complex: the scale of data required for robust and reliable identification of a clinical biomarker transcends the ability of any single laboratory. To surmount this logistical hurdle, collective action and transparent methods are required. Here we introduce the Patient Repository of EEG Data + Computational Tools (PRED+CT: predictsite.com). The ultimate goal of this project is to host a multitude of available tasks, patient datasets, and analytic tools, facilitating large-scale data mining. We hope that successful completion of this aim will lead to the development of novel EEG biomarkers for differentiating populations of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Rebound Feeding in the Wake of Short-Term Suspension of Food Intake Differs in the Presence of Estrous Cycle Peak versus Nadir Levels of Estradiol

BACKGROUND Short-term interruption of feeding is ordinary in modern life but negatively impacts appetite control and body weight. Estradiol (E) imposes long-term inhibitory tonus on food consumption; however, E influence on energy repletion secondary to food deprivation (FD) is unclear. This study investigated the hypothesis that E signal strength regulates hyperphagic responses to FD of varying duration. METHODS Ovariectomized female rats were implanted with E-containing silastic capsules (30 [E-30] or 300 μg [E-300]/mL) to replicate plasma concentrations at cycle nadir versus peak levels. RESULTS Data show that food intake was increased equally in E-30 and E-300 rats after 12 hours of food deprivation (FD-12); yet, FD of 18 hours (FD-18) amplified refeeding by E-300 versus E-30. Caudal fourth ventricular administration of the 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor compound C (Cc) did not modify FD-induced hyperphagia in E-30 (regardless of FD interval) or E-300 animals exposed to FD-12, but diminished refeeding after FD-18 in E-300 rats. Cc-reversible hyperglycemia occurred in refed FD-18 groups. Serum insulin was resistant to FD-12 plus refeeding, but was elevated by AMPK-dependent mechanisms in refed E-300 FD-18 rats; equivalent Cc-insensitive decrements in circulating leptin occurred in all FD groups. CONCLUSION Current results show that estrous cycle peak, but not baseline, E levels engage hindbrain AMPK signaling to intensify hyperphagia in response to prolongation of FD. Observations of hindbrain AMPK-dependent hyperglycemia, alongside elevated insulin secretion, in refed rats exposed to FD-18 implicate this sensor in insulin resistance mechanisms of glucose partitioning in response to this metabolic imbalance.
Why Are Prime-Age Men Vanishing from the Labor Force?

The labor force participation rate for prime-age men (age 25 to 54) has declined dramatically in the United States since the 1960s, but the decline accelerated more recently. In 1996, 4.6 million prime-age men did not participate in the labor force. By 2016, this number had risen to 7.1 million. Better understanding these men and the personal situations preventing them from working may be crucial in evaluating whether they are likely to return to the labor force. {{p}} Didem Tuzemen documents changes in the nonparticipation rates of prime-age men with different demographic characteristics as well as changes in their personal situations during nonparticipation. She finds nonparticipation rates increased most among younger men and men with only a high school degree, some college, or an associate’s degree. In addition, she finds that job polarization has been a key contributor to the rise in nonparticipation. Overall, her results suggest prime-age men are unlikely to return to the labor force if current conditions hold.
Research Associates and the Production of Knowledge in the Field

This article introduces an important, but overlooked, actor—the research associate—into methodological discussions about the production of knowledge. We use the term research associate (rather than...