cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigating the role of firing-rate normalization and dimensionality reduction in brain-machine interface robustness

The intraday robustness of brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) is important to their clinical viability. In particular, BMIs must be robust to intraday perturbations in neuron firing rates, which may arise from several factors including recording loss and external noise. Using a state-of-the-art decode algorithm, the Recalibrated Feedback Intention Trained Kalman filter (ReFIT-KF) [1] we introduce two novel modifications: (1) a normalization of the firing rates, and (2) a reduction of the dimensionality of the data via principal component analysis (PCA). We demonstrate in online studies that a ReFIT-KF equipped with normalization and PCA (NPC-ReFIT-KF) (1) achieves comparable performance to a standard ReFIT-KF when at least 60% of the neural variance is captured, and (2) is more robust to the undetected loss of channels. We present intuition as to how both modifications may increase the robustness of BMIs, and investigate the contribution of each modification to robustness. These advances, which lead to a decoder achieving state-of-the-art performance with improved robustness, are important for the clinical viability of BMI systems.
Hemostatic effect of local intramural injection of dehydrated ethanol in the canine gastrointestinal tract.

The relative value of a subserosal injection of 98% ethanol (0.2 ml × 4) in controlling acute and chronic bleeding from serosal vessels was assessed in 17 dogs. Blood flow was measured from gastric serosal vessels (average diameter, 1.6 mm) severed immediately after, 24 hours after, and 48 hours after ethanol injection. Blood flow from severed colonic serosal vessels (averaging diameter, 1.0 mm) was measured before and immediately after ethanol injection. The safety of ethanol injection was tested by endoscopically guided submucosal injections which were sequentially observed by endoscopy at 1 hour, 24 hours, and weekly for 4 weeks after injection. Ethanol injection had no effect on bleeding from larger gastric vessels unless the injection was made 24 or 48 hours prior to vessel severence. Ethanol injection was effective in reducing bleeding from the smaller colonic vessels when done immediately prior to vessel severence. Gastric submucosal injections led to ulcers which extended into the muscle layer at 1 week and were completely healed by 3 weeks; none perforated or bled. These data support the potential efficacy of therapeutic ethanol injection for the control of small vessel (1.0 mm in diameter) bleeding and the potential prophylactic value against rebleeding from larger vessels. Further studies are needed to determine whether these findings are organ related as opposed to being diameter specific. (Gastrointest Endosc 1989;35:28–32)
Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activities in rat testis after chronic cocaine administration.

Objectives. Our recent study has shown that cocaine has adverse action on spermatogenesis and fertility in male rats. Adverse effects of cocaine on the testes may be mediated by oxidative damage and subsequent lipid peroxidation. Glutathione is a cellular antioxidant and is found in high concentrations in the rat testes. In this study, the effects of chronic cocaine administration on the activities of glutathione peroxidase, the level of testicular reduced glutathione, and lipid peroxidation were investigated. Methods. Thirty-day-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were given cocaine hydrochloride (15 mg/kg body weight) subcutaneously daily for 90 days. Control animals received equal volumes of normal saline daily for 90 days. Testes were removed at 15, 30, 60, and 90 days after cocaine injection. Tissues were washed and homogenized in ice-cold metaphosphoric acid solution or Tris-HCl buffer. Reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and malonaldehyde levels were determined by colorimetric assay. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance. Results. Testicular reduced glutathione and glutathione peroxidase were significantly decreased in the treatment testes 15, 30, 60, and 90 days after chronic cocaine injection compared with controls (P <0.05). The testicular malonaldehyde level was 20.8% (P <0.05), 22.1% (P <0.05), 31.2% (P <0.05), and 24.7% (P <0.05) above the control value on days 15, 30, 60, and 90, respectively. Conclusions. Our findings demonstrate that chronic administration of cocaine to male rats induces a depletion of reduced glutathione and glutathione peroxidase. Adverse effects of cocaine on the testes are at least in part due to impairment of the function of the antioxidant defense and further enhancement of lipid peroxidation.
24-channel optical transceiver module for waveguide-on-card interconnects

24-channel 850nm optical transceiver modules based on silicon carriers with through-silicon electrical and optical vias have been assembled and tested at 12.5Gb/s/channel. Packaged on an organic carrier, the modules enable waveguide-connected multichip modules.
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Cells Alter Environment to Efficiently Colonize Surfaces Using Fluid Dynamics

Many bacteria use motility described as swarming to colonize surfaces and form biofilm. Swarming motility has been shown important to biofilm formation [1], where cells act not as individuals but as coordinated groups to move across surfaces, often within a thin-liquid film [2]. Production of a surfactant during swarm improves bacterial motility by lowering surface tension of the liquid film [2]. The mechanism of cell motion during swarming are currently best described for Escherichia coli and Paenibacillus spp., which spread as monolayers of motile cells [3,4]. For Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), which does not swarm as a monolayer, the cell and fluid patterns are difficult to discern using current experimental methods. It is not yet known if swarming P. aeruginosa cells behave solely as swimming cells [5] or if twitching, sliding, or walking motility [6] are also important to swarming.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Blunted oral body temperature response to MK-212 in cocaine addicts

Abstract Previous studies have suggested that chronic cocaine administration may affect serotonergic function and that serotonin (5-HT) may be of importance in cocaine craving. Ten male cocaine addicts and 28 male normal controls were challenged with MK-212 (6-chlor-2-[l-piperazinyl]-pyrazine) (20 mg), a direct acting 5-HT receptor agonist which has affinity for a variety of 5-HT receptor subtypes, and placebo, on separate days. The plasma cortisol and prolactin (PRL) concentrations and oral body temperature responses to MK-212 and placebo were compared between groups. The temperature response to MK-212 was significantly blunted in cocaine addicts compared to normal controls. However, the plasma cortisol and PRL responses to MK-212 did not differ between the two groups. These results suggest selective alteration of presynaptic 5-HT 1A or postsynaptic 5-HT 2A/2C function in cocaine addicts.
Development of a porcine excisional wound model.

Objectives: To develop a porcine model for cutaneous tangential excisional wounds. Methods: This was a prospective, longitudinal, blinded experiment on four isoflurane-anesthetized swine. Forty standardized excisional wounds (1 square inch each) were created with an electric dermatome set at a depth of 300, 600, 750, or 900 mm. Fullthickness wounds were created with a surgical blade (n ¼ 8 for each depth). Wounds were treated with polyurethane film. Full-thickness punch biopsies were taken after one, two, three, four, five, and 14 days for blinded histopathological evaluation. The main outcome was the percent wound reepithelialization (REP) calculated by dividing the length of neoepidermis in cross-section by the specimen’s diameter (interobserver correlation ¼ 0.99). Analysis of variance was used to compare percent REP among wound depths. This study had 80% power to detect a 33% difference in REP across groups (two-tailed a ¼ 0.05). Results: There were significant differences in percent REP across wound depths for days 2‐5 (p \ 0.001 for all days). The more superficial wounds (300 to 600 mm) were mostly reepithelialized by day 4, whereas wounds ranging in depth from 750 to 900 mm were mostly healed by day 5. Full-thickness wounds had no evidence of REP even after 14 days. Conclusions: The authors describe an excisional wound model in swine. Rapid reepithelialization occurs within three to five days in wounds \900 mm deep. Key words: excision; reepithelialization; animal model; wound healing. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2003; 10:1029‐1033.
Bending Deflection of a Circular Shaft Terminating in a Semi-Infinite Body

Consider a semi-infinite, elastic body with its boundary a plane except for a solid circular cylinder which has its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the boundary plane. This paper contains an approximate solution for the effective rotation of the semi-infinite body when a bending moment is applied to the cylinder. The applied stress is assumed to vary linearly with the distance from the bending axis. In addition, the rotation was determined experimentally and is compared with the analytical solution. The maximum difference between the rotation obtained analytically and experimentally is 18 per cent. Since some of the experimental values were greater and some were less than the analytical values and since the experimental techniques employed may have produced results which are in error by the amount of the variation between the specimens, the analytical equation should be regarded as correct within the accuracy of available test data.
Inhibition of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction by antagonists of store-operated Ca2+ and nonselective cation channels.

Previous studies indicated that acute hypoxia increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), Ca2+ influx, and capacitative Ca2+ entry (CCE) through store-operated Ca2+ channels (SOCC) in smo...
Depth-Resolved Measurement of Transient Structural Changes during Action Potential Propagation

We report noncontact optical measurement of fast transient structural changes in the crustacean nerve during action potential propagation without the need for exogenous chemicals or reflection coatings. The technique, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, provides real-time cross-sectional images of the nerve with micron-scale resolution to select a specific region for functional assessment and interferometric phase sensitivity for subnanometer-scale motion detection. Noncontact optical measurements demonstrate nanometer-scale transient movement on a 1-ms timescale associated with action potential propagation in crayfish and lobster nerves.
Consumption impacts by marine mammals, fish, and seabirds on the Gulf of Maine–Georges Bank Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) complex during the years 1977–2002

Overholtz, W. J. and Link, J. S. 2007. Consumption impacts by marine mammals, fish, and seabirds on the Gulf of Maine-Georges Bank Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) complex during the years 1977-2002. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64: 83-96.A comprehensive study of the impact of predation during the years 1977-2002 on the Gulf of Maine-Georges Bank herring complex is presented. An uncertainty approach was used to model input variables such as predator stock size, daily ration, and diet composition. Statistical distributions were constructed on the basis of available data, producing informative and uninformative inputs for estimating herring consumption within an uncertainty framework. Consumption of herring by predators tracked herring abundance closely during the study period, as this important prey species recovered following an almost complete collapse during the late 1960s and 1970s. Annual consumption of Atlantic herring by four groups of predators, demersal fish, marine mammals, large pelagic fish, and seabirds, averaged just 58 000 t in the late 1970s, increased to 123 000 t between 1986 and 1989, 290 000 t between 1990 and 1994, and 310 000 t during the years 1998-2002. Demersal fish consumed the largest proportion of this total, followed by marine mammals, large pelagic fish, and seabirds. Sensitivity analyses suggest that future emphasis should be placed on collecting time-series of diet composition data for marine mammals, large pelagic fish, and seabirds, with additional monitoring focused on the abundance of seabirds and daily rations of all groups.
Newer Drug Therapy for Congestive Heart Failure

Background The management of congestive heart failure has undergone a number of modifications over the past 5 to 10 years. Methods These include assaying the role of inotropic drugs, evaluating the role of phosphodiesterase inhibitors, considering the role of intermittent inotropic infusion in ambulatory patients, and recognizing the importance of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Very recently, the important role of angiotensin II receptor blocking agents and the use of beta blockade have provided additional modalities for the control of congestive heart failure. The relative usefulness of such therapy has been reviewed in this article. Conclusion The management of congestive heart failure has undergone considerable change with the use of newer and more effective drugs.
The A1Π-X1Σ+ (2,0) transition in 11BH and 10BH observed by (1 + 2)-photon resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization spectroscopy

Abstract We report the mass-selected resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) spectrum of photolytically produced diatomic boron hydride over the spectral range from 368 to 372 nm. Features recorded for time-of-flight-resolved cation masses 12, 11 and 10 amu are assigned to the one-photon transition, A 1 Π (v′=2)– X 1 Σ + (v″=0) , in 11BH and 10BH. Cation production at these wavelengths requires three photons. This signal must therefore reflect resonant one-photon absorption followed by two-photon ionization in a (1+2)-photon process. This work represents the first observation of the well-characterized A 1 Π – X 1 Σ + system in ionization spectroscopy and the first measurement of line positions in the A 1 Π v=2 state for 10BH.
Microjet Impingement Boiling on a Structured-Porous Surface

Using single/multiple layers of highly conductive metallic wire mesh screen bonded to a plain heat transfer base surface, the two-phase heat transfer performance of a microjet impinging onto a porous coated copper surface was studied. Experiments were conducted at three different flow rates of water under atmospheric pressure. For comparison, experiments of jet impinging on a plain copper surface were also conducted. The results show that a base surface heat flux of 289W/cm2 is reached at a superheat of 7.9K and a jet Reynolds number of 5000 with a four-layer 200-mesh test article. Compared to jet impinging on a plain copper surface under similar working conditions, a 248% performance enhancement is obtained with the porous surface.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
THE EVOLUTION OF AN INVASIVE PLANT: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY WITH SILENE LATIFOLIA

The damage caused by biological invasions has traditionally been thought to result from alien species taking advantage of ecological differences between the native and introduced ranges. In contrast, the role of evolutionary forces has received relatively little attention. Our results show that evolutionary change in Silene latifolia, a North Amer- ican weed that was introduced from Europe about 200 years ago, can help explain the plant's successful North American invasion. By growing plants from seed collected in 40 populations from Europe and North America under common garden greenhouse and field conditions, we found significant genetic differences in life history, reproductive, and de- fensive characters. In general, morphological traits and competitive ability remained un- changed, while North American plants germinated earlier, grew faster, produced more flow- ers, had greater survival, and invested less into defensive traits (trichomes, fruit capsule) than their European conspecifics. We suggest that as S. latifolia escaped a suite of specialist enemies, natural selection favored individuals that invest more in growth and reproduction and less in defense.
Communicating science and technology visually

Data visuals are everywhere, from the most trite like bar charts to the most complex like network graphs, and computer animations and simulations. While the diversity and abundance of data visuals is clearly a result of our technological revolution, data visuals are, above all, the products of people working for other people. This is nowhere more evident than in science and technology, where the safety and well-being of entire populations is at stake. However, once we shift our focus from data visuals to the human element, human and cultural factors take precedence over the visuals and even the science and engineering that warrant the visuals. What factors are those? How do they affect the conceptualization, production, and communication of data visuals? What does this mean for those involved in the practice, research, teaching and learning of science and technology? To answer these questions, I will report on the results of a pilot study the Visualizing STEM Research Synergy Cluster at NMT did with science and technology students. I will relate the results to research in data visualization, science and technology studies (STS), and cultural and human factors. And I will discuss implications of the pilot study for the visual communication of science and technology.
Long-Lived Growth Hormone Receptor Knockout Mice: Interaction of Reduced Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/Insulin Signaling and Caloric Restriction

Reduced IGF-I/insulin signaling and caloric restriction (CR) are known to extend the life span and delay age-related diseases. To address the interaction of these two interventions, we subjected normal (N) and long-lived GH receptor knockout (GHRKO) mice to CR for 20 months starting at weaning. We also used bovine GH transgenic (bGH Tg) mice, which overexpress GH and are short-lived and insulin resistant, for comparison. Circulating insulin and IGF-I levels were reduced by CR in N animals, whereas GHRKO animals exhibited very low insulin and undetectable IGF-I. Consistently, hepatic Akt phosphorylation was reduced by CR and was very low in GHRKO mice. bGH Tg mice exhibited increased active Akt. The forkhead box O1 (Foxo1) transcription factor was additively increased by CR and GHRKO at the mRNA level. However, Foxo1 protein levels were only elevated in GHRKO mice. The coactivator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1alpha was increased at both gene and protein levels in GHRKO mice. N-CR and GHRKO mice also exhibited increased phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein and active p38 compared with the N ad libitum-fed mice, and the levels of these proteins were greatly diminished in bGH Tg mice. The protein levels of the deacetylase sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) were elevated in the two CR groups and, unexpectedly, also in bGH Tg mice. These results suggest a major role for the Akt/Foxo1 pathway in the regulation of longevity in rodents. An activated gluconeogenic pathway and increased fat metabolism may be involved in mediating the effects of reduced somatotropic and insulin signaling on longevity. These results also add to the evidence that targeted disruption of the GH receptor/GH-binding protein gene and CR act via overlapping, but distinct, mechanisms.
A Comparison of Utility-Based Information Management Policies in Sensor Networks

We develop and compare the performance of two information management policies for wireless sensor networks. The first, sensor-centric utility-based (SCUB), is a distributed approach that instructs individual sensors to make their own decisions about what sensor information should be reported, based on a utility model for data. The second, resource manager (RM), is a consolidated approach that takes into account knowledge from all sensors before making decisions. We evaluate these policies through simulation in the context of dynamically deployed sensor networks in military scenarios. Our results show that both SCUB and RM yield longer lifetimes than cases where no policy is used. However, SCUB produces comparable lifetimes to RM while reporting significantly more data.
Scalar field in the early Universe: Coherent-state representation and thermal density matrix

A coherent-state representation valid even near the singularity is constructed for each mode of a quantized scalar field in a classical spatially homogeneous anisotropic background cosmology. The stress-energy tensor expectation values are computed in a coherent state and shown to be classical except for zero-point-energy terms. The self-consistent problem of a quantized scalar field in a changing background metric is discussed. The scalar field can also be described by a density matrix rather than a pure state. The density matrix is then used to determine expectation values. The density matrix need not be a thermal distribution although such a choice is reasonable in a realistic model. Temperature estimates are made using dimensional analysis.
Modeling the effects of salinity and pH on the cadmium bioabsorptive properties of the microalgae Isochrysis galbana (T-Iso) in coastal waters.

Abstract The changes in cadmium ion bioabsorptive properties were investigated for the brown microalgae Isochrysis galbana (T-Iso) in various saline solutions (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 parts per thousand, or ppt) and pH environments (pH 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8) modeling those of coastal and intertidal waters. Optimal saline growth conditions for T-Iso were observed at 30 ppt. Under these optimal saline conditions, the effective concentration at 50% lethality for cadmium ion for T-Iso is 2.3 parts per million (ppm), with a maximum intracellular absorption of 8.6 fg/cell. T-Iso maximal surfacial cadmium binding was determined from Langmuir isotherm plots; Qmax = 98 mg/g (pH 6.00, 0 ppt), falling to 19 mg/g in higher salinities (pH 6.00, 50 ppt). The Freundlich constants n and Kf followed a similar cadmium binding trend: at 0 ppt, Kf = 16.6 and n = 2.83, while at higher salinities (50 ppt), the values dramatically decreased to Kf = 3.64 and n = 1.34. Direct relationships between ln Qmax (98, 70, 45, 28, 23, an...
The effect of person‐centered counseling on the psychological status of persons with systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis. A randomized, controlled trial

Objective. We tested the effectiveness of a 6-month person-centered (PC), nondirective, telephone-based counseling intervention for improving the psychological status of persons with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. The design was a parallel-group, randomized, controlled study comparing a PC counseling intervention (8 SLE, 28 RA patients) with usual care (7 SLE, 30 RA patients). The Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales was used to measure psychological dysfunction, physical dysfunction, and pain at baseline and at followup. Results. The main finding was that the PC counseling intervention significantly improved the psychological status of the SLE patients (P < 0.05, effect size = 1.13, responsiveness = 0.77) in comparison to usual care. There was no evidence of a benefit for persons with RA or of improvements in physical function or pain for persons with either disease. Conclusions. PC counseling may be an effective intervention for improving the psychological status of persons with SLE, but may not be for those with RA.
Dual tuning A minimum condition for understanding affect in organizations

While research on affect in organizations has flourished, affect has tended to be approached in a piecemeal or asymmetrical fashion. Traditionally, researchers have focused on potential benefits of...
Natural history of asthma: a 23-year followup of college students

Objective A 23-year followup study of 1,601 college students who were initially evaluated for evidence of asthma and allergic rhinitis by direct interviews, physical examination, laboratory tests, and repeated questionnaires was conducted. Methods and Results The individuals were located through addresses from the alumnae office. Of these, 1,021 (64%) returned their completed questionnaires and these included 738 (72%) who had allergy skin tests as freshmen. A similar proportion of our total population of 1,021 were skin tested as freshmen compared with the original study population of 1,836 in the freshmen year (72% versus 68%). This difference was not statistically significant. Among these 738 alumnae, with a mean age of 40 years, there were a total of 84 with a history of asthma. At the time of the 23-year followup, 44 (52%) were considered to have active asthma and 40 (48%) were symptom free. A majority (85%) of those with inactive asthma were symptom free for 5 years or longer. Of those with active asthma, 50% felt they were improved, 39% unchanged, 9% felt worse, and 2% were unknown. Atopy was a non-prognostic indicator of asthma outcome as determined by scratch skin testing as college freshmen. New asthma occurred in 36 (5.2%) of those at risk to develop new asthma in this 23-year period for a rate of 0.23% per year. Conclusion This 23-year followup study demonstrates that the cumulative prevalence of asthma continues to increase as the individuals become older. The asthma symptoms were no longer present or were improved in about three-fourths of the asthma subjects in this 40-year-old age group. Of the remainder, most symptoms were unchanged and a small number felt worse.
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae Endocarditis: Microbiologic, Epidemiologic, and Clinical Features of an Occupational Disease

Ninety percent of the 49 reported cases of serious Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae infection have been episodes of presumed or proved endocarditis. E. rhusiopathiae endocarditis correlates highly with occupation (farming, animal exposure), affects more males than females, exhibits a peculiar aortic valve tropism, displays a characteristic erysipeloid cutaneous lesion (in 40% of cases), and is associated with significant mortality (overall rate, 38%). Comparison with other unusual gram-positive rods causing endocarditis shows that E. rhusiopathiae resembles Listeria monocytogenes and Lactobacillus species in its propensity to involve structurally damaged but native left-sided valves. Unlike diphtheroid endocarditis, E. rhusiopathiae endocarditis has not involved prosthetic valves and is not associated with intravenous drug abuse, as is Bacillus species endocarditis. E. rhusiopathiae is exquisitely susceptible to penicillin but resistant to vancomycin. Since vancomycin is often employed in empiric therapy for presumed endocarditis, prompt microbiologic differentiation of E. rhusiopathiae from other gram-positive organisms is necessary to avoid delays in the initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy.
Plasmodium knowlesi Malaria in the Rhesus Monkey

Twelve Rhesus monkeys were inoculated intravenously with about 500 000 malaria parasites, Plasmodium knowlesi. Acute hemolysis occurred 5 days later, and all animals died on the 6th or 7th day after inoculation. All organs were gray-green to gray-brown because of deposition of hemoglobin and malaria pigments. This deposition was particularly striking in the lung, brain, abdominal fat and serous surfaces. Microscopic changes indicative of acute hypoxia were found in the liver (centrilobular necrosis) and kidneys (acute tubular necrosis). Terminal intravascular coagulopathy was evidenced by widely distributed, recently formed, fibrin thrombi.
Transport and Mixing Between the Coastal and Offshore Waters in the Great Lakes: a Review

The Laurentian Great Lakes of North America have horizontal scales of hundreds of kilometers and depth scales of hundreds of meters. In terms of coastal dynamics, they behave much like inland seas and exhibit physical processes characteristic of the coastal oceans. The lakes are dynamically similar to the coastal ocean in that their horizontal dimensions are larger than the vertical dimensions, and the principal source of mechanical energy is the wind. The major difference in dynamical processes is that the lakes are enclosed basins and are not connected to the deep ocean. This paper presents an overview of some of the significant aspects of physical processes in the coastal zones of the Great Lakes. The review is based on examples ranging from lake-wide experiments like the International Field Year on the Great Lakes (IFYGL) to several process-oriented coastal boundary layer experiments. The basic circulations in the nearshore zone and coastal boundary layer are summarized. The review concludes with suggestions for future work on the understanding of the physical processes that would have a bearing on lake management in the coastal zones of the Great Lakes.
Experiments on the Effect of Ground Reflections on Supersonic Jet Noise

*† ‡ The influence of ground reflections on the measurement of aircraft engine exhaust noise is examined in this paper. A series of experiments were performed in the UCI aeroacoustic facility of supersonic jet noise with and without a ground plane in close proximity to the jet. Thus the effect of the ground plane on the radiated noise was isolated. Additionally, a computational model for the phenomenon was developed, which included the determination of a distribution of noise sources within the jet column. This distribution was developed from phased microphone array measurements incorporating an advanced beamforming algorithm. The developed model did a reasonably good job of predicting the effect of the reflecting ground surface. The most important exception is in the additional noise source caused by aerodynamic “scrubbing” of the turbulent jet on the surface far downstream of the jet exit. Guidance on how to alter the proposed model to account for porosity of the ground in field experiments over grassy or sandy terrain, is also given.
The Applicability of Lean and Six Sigma Techniques to Clinical and Translational Research

Background: Lean and Six Sigma are business management strategies commonly used in production industries to improve process efficiency and quality. During the past decade, these process improvement techniques increasingly have been applied outside the manufacturing sector, for example, in health care and in software development. This article concerns the potential use of Lean and Six Sigma in improving the processes involved in clinical and translational research. Improving quality, avoiding delays and errors, and speeding up the time to implementation of biomedical discoveries are prime objectives of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Roadmap for Medical Research and the NIH’s Clinical and Translational Science Award program. Methods: This article presents a description of the main principles, practices, and methods used in Lean and Six Sigma. Available literature involving applications of Lean and Six Sigma to health care, laboratory science, and clinical and translational research is reviewed. Specific issues concerning the use of these techniques in different phases of translational research are identified. Results: Examples of Lean and Six Sigma applications that are being planned at a current Clinical and Translational Science Award site are provided, which could potentially be replicated elsewhere. We describe how different process improvement approaches are best adapted for particular translational research phases. Conclusions: Lean and Six Sigma process improvement methods are well suited to help achieve NIH’s goal of making clinical and translational research more efficient and cost-effective, enhancing the quality of the research, and facilitating the successful adoption of biomedical research findings into practice.
Architectural adaptation for power and performance

Architectural adaptation provides an attractive means to ensure high performance and low power. Adaptable architectural components support multiple mechanisms that can be tailored to application needs. In this paper, we show the benefits of architectural adaptation for power and performance using the cache memory as an example. Dynamic L0 cache management selects either L0 cache or L1 cache for instruction fetch. It reduces average power consumption in the instruction cache by 29.5% with only 0.7% performance degradation. Dynamic fetch size profiling changes cache fetch size at run-time to improve locality utilization. It improves average benchmark performance by 15%.
Regulation of a Putative Neurotransmitter Effect of Corticotropin-Releasing Factor: Effects of Adrenalectomy

This study tested the hypothesis that endogenous glucocorticoids regulate a putative neurotransmitter function of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the locus coeruleus (LC). LC spontaneous discharge and activation by intracerebroventricularly administered CRF, hypotensive challenge, sciatic nerve stimulation, and carbachol were compared in adrenalectomized and sham-operated halothane-anesthetized rats. LC spontaneous discharge was higher in adrenalectomized versus sham-operated rats. Intracoerulear microinfusion of a CRF antagonist decreased LC discharge rates of adrenalectomized rats to rates comparable with those observed in sham-operated rats but had no effect in sham-operated rats. The CRF dose–response curve was shifted in a complex manner in adrenalectomized rats, suggesting that a proportion of CRF receptors were occupied before CRF administration, and low doses of CRF were additive. Higher doses of CRF produced effects that were greater than predicted by simple additivity. Hypotensive challenge increased LC discharge rates of adrenalectomized rats by a magnitude greater than that predicted on the basis of additivity. In contrast, LC responses to carbachol and sciatic nerve stimulation were similar in both groups. The results suggest that adrenalectomy enhances tonic and stress-induced CRF release within the LC and also alters postsynaptic sensitivity of LC neurons to CRF. Because adrenalectomy also alters release of neurohormone CRF, the present study suggests that CRF actions as a neurohormone and as a neurotransmitter in the LC may be co-regulated. Such parallel regulation may underlie the coexistence of neuroendocrine and noradrenergic dysfunctions in stress-related psychiatric disorders.
Write field measurements of a perpendicular head on a soft underlayer film

We demonstrate a technique to measure the field of a perpendicular head on a soft underlayer. We built a current-perpendicular-to-the-plane giant magnetoresistive sensor deposited on a soft underlayer and placed it on the write-read contact tester. Scanning a perpendicular head over the device with sub-nm resolution allowed us to map the field spatially and by changing the writer current, obtain saturation curves of both the main pole and the return pole.
Nest selection, usurpation, and a function for the nest entrance plug of Centris bicornuta (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

Centris bicornuta Mocsary nests in preexisting holes in wood. We present data to suggest that females prefer previously used nest holes of the same species. Further, females appear to be intensely competitive and sometimes usurp nests of other females, using the resources of the last provisioned cell by opening and replacing the extant egg. Completed nests have a series of provisioned cells followed by a solid plug near the entrance to the nest. Immediately outside the solid plug is a 3-5 mm thick plug of a custardlike oily material. We provide evidence that this oily material may play an important role in reducing nest usurpation.
Characterization of 83-kilodalton Nonmuscle Caldesmon from Cultured Rat Cells: Stimulation of Actin Binding of Nonmuscle Tropomyosin and Periodic Localization along Microfilaments Like Tropomyosin

Nonmuscle caldesmon purified from cultured rat cells shows a molecular weight of 83,000 on SDS gels, Stokes radius of 60.5 A, and sedimentation coefficient (S20,w) of 3.5 in the presence of reducing agents. These values give a native molecular weight of 87,000 and a frictional ratio of 2.04, suggesting that the molecule is a monomeric, asymmetric protein. In the absence of reducing agents, the protein is self-associated, through disulfide bonds, into oligomers with a molecular weight of 230,000 on SDS gels. These S-S oligomers appear to be responsible for the actin-bundling activity of nonmuscle caldesmon in the absence of reducing agents. Actin binding is saturated at a molar ratio of one 83-kD protein to six actins with an apparent binding constant of 5 X 10(6) M-1. Because of 83-kD nonmuscle caldesmon and tropomyosin are colocalized in stress fibers of cultured cells, we have examined effects of 83-kD protein on the actin binding of cultured cell tropomyosin. Of five isoforms of cultured rat cell tropomyosin, tropomyosin isoforms with high molecular weight values (40,000 and 36,500) show higher affinity to actin than do tropomyosin isoforms with low molecular weight values (32,400 and 32,000) (Matsumura, F., and S. Yamashiro-Matsumura. 1986. J. Biol. Chem. 260:13851-13859). At physiological concentration of KCl (100 mM), 83-kD nonmuscle caldesmon stimulates binding of low molecular weight tropomyosins to actin and increases the apparent binding constant (Ka from 4.4 X 10(5) to 1.5 X 10(6) M-1. In contrast, 83-kD protein has slight stimulation of actin binding of high molecular weight tropomyosins because high molecular weight tropomyosins bind to actin strongly in this condition. As the binding of 83-kD protein to actin is regulated by calcium/calmodulin, 83-kD protein regulates the binding of low molecular weight tropomyosins to actin in a calcium/calmodulin-dependent way. Using monoclonal antibodies to visualize nonmuscle caldesmon along microfilaments or actin filaments reconstituted with purified 83-kD protein, we demonstrate that 83-kD nonmuscle caldesmon is localized periodically along microfilaments or actin filaments with similar periodicity (36 +/- 4 nm) as tropomyosin. These results suggest that 83-kD protein plays an important role in the organization of microfilaments, as well as the control of the motility, through the regulation of the binding of tropomyosin to actin.
The Wedding Bells Heard Around the World: Years from Now, Will We Wonder Why We Worried About Same-Sex Marriage?

This article argues that fears about recognizing same-sex couples destroying marriage are irrational, and that same-sex couples deserve the same recognition and protection as that afforded to opposite-sex couples. The article surveys same-sex marriage and registered partnership laws in Europe, Canada, and various states of the United States including Hawaii, Alaska, Vermont, and Massachusetts. The article was published just as Massachusetts was about to begin performing its first same-sex marriages in 2004. As such, the article provides a useful historical overview and reference for those writing about same-sex marriage in the United States and other countries.
Application of used electric vehicle batteries to buffer photovoltaic output transients

Methods to mitigate the effects of power transients associated with grid-tied concentrated photovoltaic systems due to fast-moving cloud coverage were assessed. The approach was to buffer intermittency of concentrated photovoltaic output power with used electric vehicle batteries. The main goals of using grid-tied photovoltaic in conjunction with the proper energy storage (340kWh) were 1) to smooth out the intermittent solar power and 2) to defer part of the peak load to a convenient time with a proper control strategy. Real data from the summer of 2011 were utilized to conduct this study. Hence, simulation results showed that not only the unit was capable of putting a constant amount of power (20 kW) onto the grid, but also was able to shift the less valuable off-peak electricity to the on-peak time, when the price of electricity cheaper.
A good, short measure of religious dogmatism.

A 21-item religious dogmatism scale is presented, with data indicating response characteristics.
Negotiating the Meaning of Team Expertise: A Firefighter Team’s Epistemic Denial

In this case study, we report how a team of firefighters critiqued one of its member’s decisions to facilitate learning and process improvement. The study is supported by 500+ hr of ethnographic ob...
Time-Multiplexed 3D Optical Imaging of Electrical Wave in Pig Myocardium

We report a fast laser-scanning system for imaging rapidly propagating electrical waves inside the ventricular wall with 1 ms time resolution. The system uses a novel biaxial scanning algorithm and near-infrared voltage-sensitive dyes.
ASYMMETRIC INJECTOR DISTRIBUTION FOR PASSIVE CONTROL OF LIQUID ROCKET ENGINE COMBUSTION INSTABILITIES

This study demonstrates a new approach to liquid rocket engine (LRE) design, which permits the suppression of the severe 1-T spinning tangential combustion instability. Presently, control of the spinning tangential wave with a frequency of f ≈ 5000 Hz has been demonstrated in this laboratory reproduced liquid rocket engine combustor using an asymmetric fuel injector distribution. This combustor burns liquid fuel (Jet-A) with preheated air, and is equipped with six “smart” injectors, which have the ability to modify characteristics of their sprays without changing the fuel and oxidizer flow rates. To control the symmetry of the reaction zone, the combustor is equipped with capabilities to operate the spray characteristics of five of the injectors simultaneously, while varying the spray of the sixth injector separately. A high speed camera operating at 30,000 fps was used to take images of the tangential wave, while focusing on the reaction zone from the exhaust. Aside from the high speed camera, three pressure sensors (P’1, P’2 & P’3) and three fiber optic probes (FOP1,2,3) were strategically placed around the combustor. These diagnostic tools provided insight into the characterization associated with controlling the tangential mode instability. During testing, it was found that the high amplitude spinning tangential wave was able to be transformed into a low amplitude standing wave by altering the spray characteristics of the single injector. Across the tests, it was found that this transition in mode was characterized by an approximate 6X decrease in oscillatory pressure amplitude, while remaining at a constant frequency of f ≈ 5000 Hz. From this investigation, it has been suggested that breaking the symmetry of the reaction zone by controlling the spray pattern of a single injector in the group represents a viable LRE design approach to control the detrimental 1-T spinning tangential instability.
Complications after Fusion for Thoracolumbar Fractures in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Study Design Retrospective analysis of a Medicare database (2005 to 2012). Objective To study postoperative complication rates following thoracolumbar fusion for traumatic thoracolumbar fracture in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) compared with patients without AS. Methods The PearlDiver database (2005 to 2012) was queried to examine postoperative complication rates in patients with AS undergoing posterior thoracolumbar fusion for thoracolumbar fracture ( n = 968). Complication rates were compared with proportion-matched controls without AS undergoing the same procedure ( n = 1,979). We examined and compared the incidence of death, postoperative infection, transfusion, venous thromboembolism, respiratory failure, pneumonia, myocardial infarction, urinary tract infection, and acute renal failure in each cohort within 90 days postoperatively. Results Patients with AS had significantly higher rates of surgical site infection (odds ratio [OR] 1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2 to 2.2, p = 0.002), day-of-surgery transfusion rates (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3 to 1.8, p p = 0.0006), pneumonia (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.5, p = 0.0002), acute renal failure (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.3, p = 0.005), and total medical complications (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2 to 1.9, p p = 0.18). Conclusions Thoracolumbar fusion for thoracolumbar fracture in patients with AS is associated with increased rates of surgical site infection, transfusion, respiratory failure, pneumonia, and acute renal failure postoperatively compared with patients without AS. The level of evidence in this study was III.
The impact of insurance coverage and the family on pediatric diabetes management.

Background/Objective The impact of family composition on glycemic control in children with type 1 diabetes remains unclear. We sought to evaluate the relationship between health insurance coverage, family composition, and insulin management, and assess their impact on glycemic control in a pediatric type 1 diabetes population. Methods A retrospective chart review was completed for patients seen in the Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic at the University of Louisville in 2012. Results The analysis included 729 patients with type 1 diabetes; 268 (37%) had public insurance while 461(63%) had private insurance. Compared with publicly insured patients, privately insured patients had higher rates of intensive insulin management with multiple daily injections (MDI) plans or pump devices (88 vs. 83.2%, p = 0.066) and lower HbA1c levels [8.57 vs. 9.39% (70 vs. 79 mmol/mol), p < 0.001]. Of the 729 patients, 243 were in single-adult homes (33%). Single-adult homes had higher HbA1c levels than two-adult homes, [9.3 vs. 8.6% (78 vs. 70 mmol/mol), p < 0.001]. Among publicly insured, there was no difference in HbA1c levels for single-adult vs. two-adult homes [9.4 (79 mmol/mol), p = 0.868]. For privately insured, patients in single-adult homes had higher HbA1c levels than peers in two-adult homes [9.2 vs. 8.4% (77 vs. 68), p < 0.001]. Conclusion Insurance type and family composition have significant associative effects on glycemic control and insulin management that may be mitigated by insulin pump therapy. Identifying and addressing factors such as availability of resources, family education, and adult support and supervision, may help improve glycemic control in high-risk pediatric diabetes patients.
Related factors of nosocomial infections in endometrioid carcinoma patients during chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE To observe the risk factors of nosocomial infections in the endometrioid carcinoma patients during chemotherapy and analyze the infection rate and the drug susceptibility of the patients with different clinical characteristics so as to guide the clinical treatment.METHODS A total of 502cases of endometrioid carcinoma patients who underwent postoperative chemotherapy were observed,then the risk factors for nosocomial infections,distribution of pathogens,drug susceptibility rate were analyzed,the bacterial identification was performed with the use of VITEK-32microorgnism analyzer,and all the data were statistically analyzed by using SAS6.12.RESULTS The nosocomial infections occurred in totally 113patients with the infection rate of 22.51%; the incidence of nosocomial infections was closely related to the body weight,age,duration of hospitalization, leukocytes count,invasive operation,as well as use of antibiotics(P0.05).There were totally 150strains of pathogens isolated,including 79(52.67%)strains of gram-negative bacilli,67(44.66%)strains of gram-positive cocci,and 4(2.67%)strains of fungi.Among the gram-positive cocci,the Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium were highly sensitive to vancomycin,the drug resistance rates were 4.76%and 5.00%,respectively; among the gram-negative bacilli,the Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae were highly susceptible to imipenem,the drug resistance rates were 2.50%and 0,respectively.CONCLUSIONIt is necessary to focus on the monitoring of the endometrioid carcinoma patients undergoing chemotherapy,strengthen the risk surveillance, conduct the etiological testing and drug susceptibility testing at the same time,and take effective intervention measures,which has great significance in reducing the incidence of postoperative nosocomial infections in the endometrioid carcinoma patients.