cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DEGRADATION OF ASCORBIC ACID IN A DEHYDRATED FOOD SYSTEM

The stability of reduced and total ascorbic acid in a dehydrated model food system was determined as a function of water activity, moisture content, oxygen and storage temperature. Sorption isotherm data obtained at 10, 20, 30 and 37°C for the model system were used to calculate the BET monomolecular moisture content at these respective temperatures. The model system containing 11.25 mg of ascorbic acid per 100g (25% RDA) was equilibrated at water activities below, at and above the water activity corresponding to the calculated monomolecular moisture content for the adsorption isotherms The samples were then sealed in tin cans and stored under isothermal conditions to prevent any shift in water activity during storage. Reduced, dehydro- and total ascorbic acid levels were measured using an automated o-phenyl-enediamine fluorometric assay procedure and their rates of degradation determined for each storage temperature and water activity. Under all storage conditions total and reduced ascorbic acid losses could be described by first-order kinetic functions. Rate of ascorbic acid destruction was dependent upon water activity, moisture content and storage temperature when stored in containers with no headspace. The rate of ascorbic acid destruction was shown to dramatically increase with the presence of oxygen.
Stroke Knowledge and Barriers to Stroke Prevention Among African Americans: Implications for Health Communication

Stroke is a major cause of death and disability, especially among African Americans. Yet research on stroke knowledge and barriers to stroke prevention among African Americans is limited. This study used a 50-item questionnaire to conduct structured telephone interviews with 379 African American adults, 50 years or older. The questionnaire included questions on stroke knowledge, stroke risk behaviors, and barriers to stroke prevention. A stroke knowledge score was computed by assigning points for correct responses on knowledge items. The average stroke knowledge score of participants was 10.9, out of a maximum possible score of 27. Stroke knowledge was significantly related to the presence of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and family history of stroke. College education was significantly associated with older respondents' stroke knowledge. Younger college-educated respondents had more knowledge about the risky behaviors that lead to stroke than those with less education. Respondents preferred hospitals to churches or senior centers for receiving stroke information and for learning about stroke from their physicians. Stress and poor financial status were most frequently reported as barriers to stroke prevention. These findings have implications for developing more effective strategies for educating African Americans about stroke prevention.
Troposphere-stratosphere interactions in a one-dimensional model of Jovian photochemistry.

A simple one-dimensional model of the Jovian atmosphere including the coupling between a rapidly mixed troposphere and a stagnant stratosphere is presented. We treat analytically the case of a chemically unreactive species flowing downward through the stratosphere and troposphere with a constant flux. The calculated concentration profile has a maximum value approximately one atmospheric scale height above the tropopause. The corresponding mixing ratio rapidly decreases in the lower stratosphere. The contrast between the peak stratosphere and tropopause concentrations reflects the variation between the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere eddy diffusion coefficients. Numerical simulations of unreactive CO and C_2H_6, considering high-altitude photochemical sources (yielding downward fluxes to the troposphere) and deep troposphere thermochemical sources, demonstrate that upper troposphere abundances may have a large photochemical contribution Recent observations of CO near 5 bar can be reproduced by a model using any one of three different tropospheric eddy diffusion profiles: a constant value of ∼ 10^8 cm^2 sec^(−1), a constant value of ≾10^4 cm^2 sec^(-1), or a two-layer model with a rapidly mixed (10^8 cm^2 sec^(−1)) layer below 20 bar and a slower mixing layer (10^4 cm^2 sec^(−1)) between 100 mbar and 20 bar. In the latter two scenarios, the photochemical source is an important and/or dominant source of upper tropospheric CO. However, the upper tropospheric C_2H_6 abundances are distinctly different among the three cases. These calculations suggest objectives for higher spectral resolution observations, critical vertical scales for planning experiments on future missions to Jupiter, and predictions that can be tested with the Galileo probe mass spectrometer.
Differential Wavelength Sensitivity in the Receptive Fields of Sustaining Fibers in the Optic Tract of the Crayfish Procambarus

Spike discharges were measured at 473 nm and at 573 nm in 40–50 individual sustaining fibers (slowly-adapting units signaling intensity levels over large receptive fields). The units belonged to five of the 14 classes of sustaining fibers recognized by Wiersma and Yamaguchi (1966) on the basis of the positions of their receptive fields. The test wavelengths were selected because they lie near the peaks of sensitivity of the two spectral types of receptor known to be present in the ommatida. Relative sensitivity was measured at 5 ° intervals as the test lights were moved around the eye on various arcs, and the receptive fields were described in terms of contours of equal sensitivity for each wavelength. No large differences in relative spectral sensitivity were observed as a function of position in the receptive field, but there was a consistent tendency for sensitivity to blue light to be relatively greater in the dorsal region of the eye. The difference was modest, generally being 0.5 log units or less. This effect could be caused either by regional variation in the population density of the blue and yellow-green receptors, or by weighting of inputs in the optic neuropile.
Characterization of the Staphylococcal enterotoxin A: Vβ receptor interaction using human receptor fragments engineered for high affinity

Staphylococcal food poisoning is a gastrointestinal disorder caused by the consumption of food containing Staphylococcal enterotoxins. Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) is the most common enterotoxin recovered from food poisoning outbreaks in the USA. In addition to its enteric activity, SEA also acts as a potent superantigen through stimulation of T cells, although less is known about its interactions than the superantigens SEB, SEC and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1. To understand more about SEA:receptor interactions, and to develop toxin-detection systems for use in food testing, we engineered various SEA-binding receptor mutants. The extracellular domain of the receptor, a variable region of the beta chain (Vβ22) of the T-cell receptor, was engineered for stability as a soluble protein and for high affinity, using yeast-display technology. The highest affinity mutant was shown to bind SEA with a Kd value of 4 nM. This was a 25 000-fold improvement in affinity compared with the wild-type receptor, which bound to SEA with low affinity (Kd value of 100 µM), similar to other superantigen:Vβ interactions. The SEA:Vβ interface was centered around residues within the complementarity determining region 2 loop. The engineered receptor was specific for SEA, in that it did not bind to two other closely related enterotoxins SEE or SED, providing information on the SEA residues possibly involved in the interaction. The specificity and affinity of these high-affinity Vβ proteins also provide useful agents for the design of more sensitive and specific systems for SEA detection.
Performance of a JTIDS-type waveform with errors-and-erasures decoding in pulsed-noise interference

The Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) is the Link-16 communication terminal. JTIDS is a hybrid direct sequence/frequency-hopping spread spectrum system and features Reed-Solomon (RS) codes for channel coding. In this paper, the performance with an errors-and-erasures decoder (EED) in the JTIDS receiver is evaluated by a combination of analysis and simulation assuming perfect frequency dehopping, chip sequence synchronization, chip synchronization, and chip descrambling. Furthermore, maximum-likelihood chip detection is assumed rather than maximum-likelihood chip-sequence detection since the former represents a more practical assumption for a JTIDS-type signal. The probability of symbol error of a JTIDS-type waveform is evaluated for both the single- and the double-pulse structure in both additive white Gaussian noise and pulsed-noise interference. The results obtained with EED are compared to those obtained with errors-only RS decoding. In all cases considered, EED outperforms errors-only RS decoding in terms of probability of symbol error.
Evaluation of a Particle Swarm Algorithm For Biomechanical Optimization

Abstract : Optimization is frequently employed in biomechanics research to solve system identification problems, predict human movement, or estimate muscle or other internal forces that cannot be measured directly. Unfortunately, biomechanical optimization problems often possess multiple local minima, making it difficult to find the best solution. Furthermore, convergence in gradient based algorithms can be affected by scaling to account for design variables with different length scales or units. This study evaluates a recently developed version of the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to address these problems. The algorithm's global search capabilities were investigated using a suite of difficult analytical test problems, while its scale independent nature was proven mathematically and verified using a biomechanical test problem. For comparison, all test problems were also solved with three off-the-shelf optimization algorithms a global genetic algorithm (GA) and multi-start gradient-based sequential quadratic programming (SQP) and quasi-Newton (BFGS) algorithms. For the analytical test problems, only the PSO algorithm was successful on the majority of the problems. When compared to previously published results for the same problems, PSO was more robust than a global simulated annealing algorithm but less robust than a different, more complex genetic algorithm. For the biomechanical test problem, only the PSO algorithm was insensitive to design variable scaling, with the GA algorithm being mildly sensitive and the SQP and BFGS algorithms being highly sensitive. The proposed PSO algorithm (freely available with this article) provides a new off-the-shelf global optimization option for difficult biomechanical problems, especially those utilizing design variables with different length scales or units.
Two-Component Dynamical Model of the Solar Cycle

The solar magnetic cycle shows a complicated multi-mode behaviour. At least, two components are found in the distribution of the magnetic field on the solar photosphere. The existence of these two components can be explained by a non-linear model based on the Parker’s dynamo theory with two sources. The properties of this dynamical system are investigated numerically, and it shown that this model can qualitatively reproduce the observed behaviour of the two dynamo components.
Application of Wireless Technology in K-12 STEM Outreach Programs in Middle Schools

Science and technology are critical to America's future and prosperity. During the next decade, U.S. demand for scientists and engineering will increase at four times the rate of all other occupations. Recent and emergent advances in biotechnology, nanotechnology, wireless and communications technologies, photonics, material sciences, and other totally unanticipated technologies are among the changes that engineering education has to deal with today. High school students are the workforce in the near future and their proficiency in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields will play a key role in how our society will benefit from those technologies [1–3]. However, if students wait until high school to become interested in technology related fields then they will already be behind the curve in preparing for their college education. This paper presents the efforts of the RET-Hawaii teacher outreach program in developing educational material for the Middle School classroom to stimulate interest in science and engineering fields for students in Hawaii at an earlier age.
The Impact of Social Resources on the Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Experience

Research that has examined the linkages between social resources and health out-comes has been hindered by a lack of clarity in the conceptualizations of key social resources such as social ties an...
Lymphocyte glucocorticoid receptors in asthmatic and control subjects

Summary Glucocorticoid hormones, which are widely used in the treatment of asthma, have been shown to potentiate physiological and biochemical beta-adrenergic responsiveness in asthmatics. These effects are presumably mediated through glucocorticoid receptors. In order to better understand glucocorticoid pharmacology in asthmatics, we assayed glucocorticoid receptors by directly binding a radioactively labelled glucocorticoid hormone, dexamethasone, to intact lymphocytes prepared from the peripheral blood of asthmatics and control subjects. Binding studies were performed with dexamethasone at 100 nm and 5 nm concentrations. At 100 nm dexamethasone, the mean number of lymphocyte glucocorticoid receptors (per cell) in control subjects (7191 ± 385. n= 9) was not significantly different from that in asthmatic subjects (7772 ± 437, n = 9). At 5 nm dexamethasone, the mean number of glucocorticoid receptors in control subjects (1177 ± 194, n= 5) was not significantly different from that in asthmatic subjects (1215 ± 108. n= 8). At 100 nm dexamethasone, males had significantly more receptors (7939 ± 360. n= 11) than females (6764 ± 72, n= 7). Our results suggest that the number of lymphocyte glucocorticoid receptors and the apparent affinity of dexamethasone for receptors are not related to the presence or severity of asthma; however, a significant sex effect exists which should be corrected for in future studies of lymphocyte glucocorticoid receptors.
Small for gestational age at term: How small is too small?

YVONNE CHENG, JUDITH CHUNG, ALLISON BRYANT, AARON CAUGHEY, University of California, San Francisco, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, San Francisco, California, University of California, Irvine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Orange, California OBJECTIVE: To examine perinatal outcomes of term neonates with birthweight less than tenth percentile by gestational age. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study of singleton, cephalic term neonates. Birthweight was stratified into !3rd, 3-4th, 5-9th, and 10-90th percentile subgroups by gestational age at delivery. Rates of cesarean delivery for fetal intolerance of labor (CD-FIOL) and neonatal outcomes were examined using chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analyses controlling for potential confounders. RESULTS: There were 14,974 births meeting study criteria. In univariate analyses, there were differences between the four groups (Table). Compared to the 10-90th percentile subgroup, neonates with birthweight !3rd percentile were more likely have cesarean delivery for FIOL (OR=2.49; 95% CI[1.454.26]), 5-minute Apgar !7 (OR=2.21; [1.39-3.53]), umbilical artery cord pH!7.0 (OR=3.63; [1.51-8.71]), jaundice (OR=2.04; [1.50-2.79]), and be admitted to the intensive care nursery (ICN, OR=4.30; [3.15-5.87]. These outcomes were not statistically significant for neonates with birthweight in the 3-4th and 5-9th percentiles when controlling for confounders. CONCLUSION: Although small, neonates with birthweight greater than the 3rd percentile did not experience higher risk of neonatal morbidity compared to their average for gestational age counterparts. However, neonates with birthweight less than the third percentile by gestational age had higher risk of neonatal morbidity. This information may be useful in counseling and managing women with pregnancies suspicious for small for gestational age.
Human Performance Technology: An Examination of Definitions through Dependent and Independent Variables

This definitional paper provides a chronological perspective of human performance technology (HPT) definitions and an evaluation of them in terms of independent and dependent variables. The intent is to compare the definitions with the goals that have been articulated for HPT over the years and to provide one source for past definitions as researchers move forward to continue their study of HPT. The search for definitions extended back to Gilbert in the late 1970s, who provided a foundation; the search revealed an evolution of definitions from the late 1970s to the present day, with the definition currently on the Website of the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI). The analysis depicts a brief chronology of the field, the breadth of HPT through the definitions, and how the definitions changed as the field matured (with the increased knowledge and applications of several theory disciplines).
Medical Evacuation for Unrecognized Abdominal Wall Pain: A Case Series

ABSTRACT Background: Chronic abdominal pain is a frequently encountered complaint in the primary care setting. The abdominal wall is the etiology of this pain in 10 to 30% of all cases of chronic abdominal pain. Abdominal cutaneous nerve entrapment at the lateral border of the rectus abdominis muscle has been attributed as a cause of this pain. In the military health care system, patients with unexplained abdominal pain are often transferred to military treatment facilities via the Military Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) system. Case series: We present two cases of patients who transferred via MEDEVAC to our facility for evaluation and treatment of chronic abdominal pain. Both patients had previously undergone extensive laboratory evaluation, imaging, and invasive procedures, such as esophagogastroduodenoscopy before transfer. Upon arrival, history and physical examinations suggested an abdominal wall source to their pain, and both patients experienced alleviation of their abdominal wall pain with lidocaine...
Identification of isotopically primitive interplanetary dust particles: A NanoSIMS isotopic imaging study

We have carried out a comprehensive survey of the isotopic compositions (H, B, C, N, O, and S) of a suite of interplanetary dust particles (IDPs), including both cluster and individual particles. Isotopic imaging with the NanoSIMS shows the presence of numerous discrete hotspots that are strongly enriched in 15 N, up to 1300&. A number of the IDPs also contain larger regions with more modest enrichments in 15 N, leading to average bulk N isotopic compositions that are 15 N-enriched in these IDPs. Although C isotopic compositions are normal in most of the IDPs, two 15 N-rich hotspots have correlated 13 C anomalies. CN/C ratios suggest that most of the 15 N-rich hotspots are associated with relatively N-poor carbonaceous matter, although specific carriers have not been determined. H isotopic distributions are similar to those of N: D anomalies are present both as distinct D-rich hotspots and as larger regions with more modest enrichments. Nevertheless, H and N isotopic anomalies are not directly correlated, consistent with results from previous studies. Oxygen isotopic imaging shows the presence of abundant presolar silicate grains in some of the IDPs. The O isotopic compositions of the grains are similar to those of presolar oxide and silicate grains from primitive meteorites. Most of the silicate grains in the IDPs have isotopic ratios consistent with meteoritic Group 1 oxide grains, indicating origins in oxygen-rich red giant and asymptotic giant branch stars, but several presolar silicates exhibit the 17 O and 18 O enrichments of Group 4 oxide grains, whose origin is less well understood. Based on their N isotopic compositions, the IDPs studied here can be divided into two groups. One group is characterized as being ‘‘isotopically primitive’’ and consists of those IDPs that have anomalous bulk N isotopic compositions. These particles typically also contain numerous 15 N-rich hotspots, occasional C isotopic anomalies, and abundant presolar silicate grains. In contrast, the other ‘‘isotopically normal’’ IDPs have normal bulk N isotopic compositions and, although some contain 15 N-rich hotspots, none exhibit C isotopic anomalies and none contain presolar silicate or oxide grains. Thus, isotopically interesting IDPs can be identified and selected on the basis of their bulk N isotopic compositions for further study. However, this distinction does not appear to extend to H isotopic compositions. Although both H and N anomalies are frequently attributed to the survival of molecular cloud material in IDPs and, thus, should be more common in IDPs with anomalous bulk N compositions, D anomalies are as common in normal IDPs as they are in those characterized as isotopically primitive, based on their N isotopes.
N,N‐Dimethylformamide

[68-12-2] C3H7NO (MW 73.11) InChI = 1S/C3H7NO/c1-4(2)3-5/h3H,1-2H3 InChIKey = ZMXDDKWLCZADIW-UHFFFAOYSA-N (formylating agent for certain organometallics2-5; used in combination with POCl3 or acid halides to form the reactive Vilsmeier reagent8, 9) Alternate Name: DMF. Physical Data: mp −61 °C; bp 153 °C; d 0.944 g cm−3; fp 57 °C. Solubility: miscible with water and most organic solvents. Form Supplied in: clear liquid; both d7 and 13C forms are available commercially; widely available. Purification: decomposes slightly at its normal boiling point to give small quantities of of dimethylamine and carbon monoxide. The decomposition is catalyzed by acidic or basic materials so that even at rt DMF is appreciably decomposed if allowed to stand for several hours with solid KOH, NaOH, or CaH2. Drying agents suitable for DMF are CaSO4, MgSO4, silica gel, and 4A molecular sieves. After drying, distillation under reduced pressure will give reasonably dry DMF adequate for most laboratory purposes. Anhydrous DMF can be prepared by using certain desiccants.1b Handling, Storage, and Precautions: anhydrous DMF should be stored under a nitrogen atmosphere in sure seal bottles or metallic cylinders; vapors are harmful, irritating to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes; it is suspected to be a carcinogen; use in a fume hood.
Natural history of ALS Symptoms, strength, pulmonary function, and disability

ALS is a disease that may have a preclinical and a clinical phase (see Appendix 1 Table 1). The low frequency of ALS suggests an inherent susceptibility in patients who are destined to develop the disease at a particular point in life subsequent to a possible initiating event. [1] View this table: Table 1. Appendix 1: Pathogenetic aspects of ALS. Neuropathological, neurophysiological, and clinical aspects of ALS in the preclinical and clinical stages. There is currently no clear-cut evidence of neuropathologic, neurophysiologic, or clinical abnormalities that would mark a patient as potentially susceptible to ALS during the susceptibility period. Initiating events may include severe electric shock exposure, which is a physical injury that is epidemiologically linked to the development of ALS, or dietary intake of particular substances that have, in isolated instances, been associated by case-control studies with the development of ALS. During the latent period of the development of the disease, there may be changes in motoneuron soma and dendritic size as the only neuropathologic features long before there is evidence of motoneuron loss or corticospinal tract degeneration. No clear-cut neurophysiologic signs have yet been described. [2] During the clinical period of the disease, there may be a presymptomatic period during which there are pathologic changes involving motoneuron size and loss as well as possible corticospinal tract degeneration. This hypothetical construct is based on pathologic studies. [3] Neurophysiologic changes during this time may include changes in single-fiber density, with variable changes in motor unit count. [4] The clinical examination at this point is characterized by patient reports of possible functional changes and by possible abnormalities in isokinetic muscle testing at a time when normal isometric strength is present. [5] During the stage of disease spread from focal onset to more symmetric generalization, there will be changes in motoneuron size and loss as …
Replisome architecture and dynamics in Escherichia coli.

The field of DNA replication was launched upon discovery of the first DNA polymerase by Kornberg and Lehman (1, 2). DNA polymerase I displayed the novel and highly exciting property of template-directed enzymatic action, and like a split personality, DNApolymerase I could also degradeDNA, from either direction. Escherichia coli is now known to contain five different DNA polymerases. The chromosomal replicase is DNA polymerase III, while the damage-inducible DNA polymerases II, IV, and V play roles in DNA repair. DNA polymerase I is involved in both replication and repair and remains the most advanced model for the structure and function of DNA polymerase action. DNA polymerase III (pol III)2 functions in the context of a multiprotein apparatus called DNA pol III holoenzyme (reviewed in (3–5)). pol III holoenzyme contains 10 different proteins, which assort into three major functional units: 1) pol III core, 2) the sliding clamp, and 3) the / complex clamp loader. The holoenzyme contains two copies of the pol III core, which are connected by the attachment to one clamp loader. The holoenzyme functions within the context of a dynamic replisome containing pol III holoenzyme, a hexameric DnaB helicase, DnaGprimase, and SSB. During replisome function, contacts between these proteins are in a constant state of change. This review briefly summarizes the architecture and dynamic behavior of the E. coli replisome.
The Effect of Hormonal Oral Contraception on Acquisition of Peak Bone Mineral Density of Adolescents and Young Women

Maximizing bone mass in youth is touted as the best strategy to offset the natural losses of aging and the menopausal transition. Not achieving maximum peak bone mineral density (BMD) is an indepen...
Technetium-99m-red blood cell scintigraphy in the localization of nonenteric hemorrhage.

Rapid detection and localization of the bleeding site(s) are important factors in successful management of actively bleeding patients. Technetium-99m-red blood cell imaging is a sensitive, noninvasive modality commonly used for localization of gastrointestinal bleeding. Outside the gastrointestinal tract, experience with this technique has been limited. In this report, we present three cases of nonenteric bleeding successfully located using 99m Tc red blood cells. The current literature regarding the scintigraphic localization of nonenteric bleeding is reviewed and discussed
Food access and pro-poor value chains: a community case study in the central highlands of Peru

Pro-poor value chains intend to integrate smallholding farmers into high value markets to contribute to poverty alleviation and food security. Although income benefits of pro-poor value chains have been found, scant evidence exists regarding the potential for these markets to enhance food security. This study focuses on components of food access—dietary diversity, physical and financial access, and social acceptability—among households that participate in pro-poor value chains and non-participating households in the central highlands of Peru where development interventions have created high value market niches for the native potato varieties that smallholding farmers have conserved for thousands of years. Using a mixed methods approach, this study assessed dietary diversity among households that participate and do not participate in pro-poor value chains, as well as their perceptions of their food access. Findings indicated that households that participate in value chains have higher dietary diversity than non-participating households but that these differences are likely due to pre-existing differences in socioeconomic status rather than any causal effect provided by value chains. The study also concluded that while participation in pro-poor value chains sometimes enhance the purchasing power of participating households, they may also weaken financial access, important for both purchasing food and travel to make those purchases. Community perspectives also indicated concerns with the acceptability of diets, which cannot likely be comprehensively addressed by pro-poor value chains. Collectively, the findings from this study cast doubt on the assumption that a linear flow exists between pro-poor value chains and enhanced food access.
Stem Cell Research Oversight: Personal Reflections and Public Reasoning

In his target article, Henry T. Greely (2013) offers a suite of personal impressions and opinions about the work of embryonic stem cell research oversight committees (ESCROs) over the past eight ye...
Comparative Evaluation of Spin-Transfer-Torque and Magnetoelectric Random Access Memory

Spin-transfer torque random access memory (STT-RAM), as a promising nonvolatile memory technology, faces challenges of high write energy and low density. The recently developed magnetoelectric random access memory (MeRAM) enables the possibility of overcoming these challenges by the use of voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) effect and achieves high density, fast speed, and low energy simultaneously. As both STT-RAM and MeRAM suffer from the reliability problem of write errors, we implement a fast Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation-based simulator to capture their write error rate (WER) under process and temperature variation. We utilize a multi-write peripheral circuit to minimize WER and design reliable STT-RAM and MeRAM. With the same acceptable WER, MeRAM shows advantages of 83% faster write speed, 67.4% less write energy, 138% faster read speed, and 28.2% less read energy compared with STT-RAM. Benefiting from the VCMA effect, MeRAM also achieves twice the density of STT-RAM with a 32 nm technology node, and this density difference is expected to increase with technology scaling down.
Invited Review: Combustion instability in spray-guided stratified-charge engines: A review:

This article reviews systematic research on combustion instabilities (principally rare, random misfires and partial burns) in spray-guided stratified-charge (SGSC) engines operated at part load with highly stratified fuel -air -residual mixtures. Results from high-speed optical imaging diagnostics and numerical simulation provide a conceptual framework and quantify the sensitivity of ignition and flame propagation to strong, cyclically varying temporal and spatial gradients in the flow field and in the fuel -air -residual distribution. For SGSC engines using multi-hole injectors, spark stretching and locally rich ignition are beneficial. Combustion instability is dominated by convective flow fluctuations that impede motion of the spark or flame kernel toward the bulk of the fuel, coupled with low flame speeds due to locally lean mixtures surrounding the kernel. In SGSC engines using outwardly opening piezo-electric injectors, ignition and early flame growth are strongly influenced by the spray's character...
Laboratory analysis of concurrent infection with adult worm and sparganum of Spirometra mansoni

Objective:To detect and analyze concurrent infection with adult worm and sparganum of Spirometra mansoni.Methods: Eggs from feces were detected by nylon silk bags concentration method.IgG and IgG4 of Sparganum mansoni were detected by the dot immune gold filtration assay(DIGFA) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),respectively.Results: Spirometra mansoni eggs were found out from patient′s fecal.The Sparganum mansoni IgG and IgG4 were detected as positive by DIGFA and ELISA.Conclusion: The patient was concurrent infected with adult worm and sparganum of Spirometra mansoni.
The bacteria endotoxin test for monitoring pyrogen in netilmicin sulfate of glucose and sodium chloride injection

Objective: To establish bacteria endotoxin test for monitoring pyrogen in netilmicin sulfate of glucose and sodium chloride injection(NGS). Methods: According to bacteria endotoxin test and eliminated interfer factors test approved by Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2000 edition. Results: The test showed that agglutination with TAL (λ = 0.25 EU/ml) was not disturbed by NGS. Coclusion: The bacteria endotoxin test can be used to monitor pyrogen in NGS.
Surgical therapy for atypical symptoms of GERD: patient selection and preoperative evaluation.

Patients are selected for surgery for extraesophageal manifestations of gastroesophageal rellux disease (GERD) after medical therapy failure, medical noncompliance, or because of a desire to change from medical therapy. Preoperative assessment of patients with extraesophageal manifestations of GERD is tailored to the four types of symptoms: noncardiac chest pain, pulmonary, laryngeal, and oropharyngeal. Prior to surgery, all patients should undergo 24-hour pH testing and manometry. Indicators of a good response to surgery are an initial response to medication and positive 24-hour pH test results.
Correlation of job-shop scheduling problem features with scheduling efficiency

A set of 380 features are developed for a Job-Shop Scheduling Problem.Supervised machine learning and statistical methods used for feature evaluation.Features are evaluated for their correlation with optimal makespan.Features are used for classification of instances based on optimal makespan.Potential application to a real-world manufacturing example is demonstrated. In this paper, we conduct a statistical study of the relationship between Job-Shop Scheduling Problem (JSSP) features and optimal makespan. To this end, a set of 380 mostly novel features, each representing a certain problem characteristic, are manually developed for the JSSP. We then establish the correlation of these features with optimal makespan through statistical analysis measures commonly used in machine learning, such as the Pearson Correlation Coefficient, and as a way to verify that the features capture most of the existing correlation, we further use them to develop machine learning models that attempt to predict the optimal makespan without actually solving a given instance. The prediction is done as classification of instances into coarse lower or higher-than-average classes. The results, which constitute cross-validation and test accuracy measures of around 80% on a set of 15,000 randomly generated problem instances, are reported and discussed. We argue that given the obtained correlation information, a human expert can earn insight into the JSSP structure, and consequently design better instances, design better heuristic or hyper-heuristics, design better benchmark instances, and in general make better decisions and perform better-informed trade-offs in various stages of the scheduling process. To support this idea, we also demonstrate how useful the obtained insight can be through a real-world application.
SU-F-T-283: A Novel Device to Enable Portal Dosimetry for Flattening Filter Free Beams

Purpose: Varian's electronic portal imaging device (EPID) based portal dosimetry tool is a popular and effective means of performing IMRT QA. EPIDs for older models of the TrueBeam accelerator utilize a 40cmx30cm Image Detection Unit (IDU) that saturates at the center for standard source to imager distances with high dose rate flattening filter free (FFF) beams. This makes portal dosimetry not possible and an alternative means of IMRT QA necessary. We developed a filter that would attenuate the beam to a dose rate measureable by the IDU for portal dosimetry IMRT QA. Methods: Multipurpose 304 stainless steel plates were placed on an accessory tray to attenuate the beam. Profiles of an open field measured on the IDU were acquired with varying number of plates to assess the thickness needed to reduce the maximum dose rates of 6XFFF and 10XFFF beams to measurable levels. A new portal dose image prediction (PDIP) model was commissioned based on open field measurements with plates in position, and a modified beam profile was input to portal dosimetry calibration at the console to empirically correct for attenuation and scatter. The portal dosimetry tool was used to assess agreement between predicted and measured doses for open 25×25cm2 fields and intensity modulated fields using 6XFFF and 10XFFF beams. Results: Thicknesses of 2.5cm and 3.8cm of steel were required to reduce the highest dose rates to a measureable level for 6XFFF and 10XFFF, respectively. Gamma analysis using a 3%/3mm relative criterion with the filter in place and using the new PDIP model resulted in 98.2% and 93.6% of pixels passing while intensity modulated fields showed passing rates of 98.2% and 99.0%. Conclusion: Use of the filter allows for portal dosimetry to be used for IMRT QA of FFF plans in place of purchasing a second option for IMRT QA.
Viral Separations Using a Microfabricated Electrical Splitt System

This paper reports the use of a microfabricated electrical split-flow lateral-transport thin separation cell for the separation of tobacco mosaic virus from contaminants. Basic theory and function of the system is presented.
The Southern Plains Craft Lithic Cache

Une cachette decouverte dans la region du fleuve Pease, dans le nord du Texas, illustre le potentiel et les limites des analyses de cachettes destinees a l'etude de l'individu dans la Prehistoire. Les assemblages lithiques montrent une echelle de variabillite simple pour la taille du silex. L'examen de leurs attributs metriques et de leur usage distingue les differents comportements refletes dans les outillages caches. L'acquisition de la matiere premiere et les comportements de cache sont egalement commentes dans cet article
Classical and instrumental conditioning

This chapter discusses classical and instrumental conditioning. The chapter presents several examples in an attempt to underline the fact that classical conditioning is a widespread phenomenon. The temporal spacing of the conditional stimulus (CS) and the unconditional stimulus (UCS) is an important variable in the study of classical conditioning. Typical CS-UCS patterns include delayed, simultaneous, trace, and backward procedures. A CR may be observed by leaving out the UCS occasionally or, in the case of delayed and trace procedures, by observing the development of the CR before the onset of the UCS. Instrumental reward training refers to the situation in which the animal is rewarded when it makes a particular response. In avoidance training, the animal is punished when it fails to make a particular response. Relative to reward-trained responses, avoidance-trained responses are extremely durable under conditions of extinction, but flooding can eliminate them.
Comparative Perspectives on Parliamentary Discourse and Polarization

The previous chapter traced links between the two spheres of justification and polarization of parliamentary debate, and asked how identifiable links between these spheres can be generalized across cases. From this point of departure, the task of this chapter is to set our observations about these links in a comparative perspective. More specifically, the question addressed here is to what degree the political and institutional context conditions of parliamentary debate create a moderating or a reinforcing environment for the emergence of discursive contention and political polarization. In this sense, this chapter investigates how the institutional and party political environment of a debate contributes to the intensity of a given type of discourse, and to the strength of the related patterns of political polarization. As outlined in the presentation of the theoretical chapter, the subsequent analysis looks at three such context factors: the institutional setting (as established by the four national legislatures), the thematic type of debate, and the party political factors. Considering these three factors, the subsequent chapter investigates three hypotheses about explanatory factors for comparative variation between cases, as discussed in the theoretical chapter:
The Effects of Diversity and Transformational Leadership Climate on Organizational Citizenship Behavior in the U.S. Federal Government: An Organizational-Level Longitudinal Study

Although interpersonal conflicts caused by social categorization processes in diversified workforces impede organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), little empirical research has been conducted o...
Classification and speed estimation of vehicles via tire detection using single-element piezoelectric sensor

Summary This paper presents novel vehicle classification technology by utilizing a single-element piezoelectric sensor placed diagonally on a traffic lane to accurately identify vehicles. Novelty of this technique originates from using diagonally placed piezoelectric strip sensor and machine learning technology to provide a highly accurate and cost-effective alternative to current vehicle classification systems. Diagonal placements of the piezoelectric strip sensor ensure detection of passing vehicle tires by facilitating vehicle classification process. Presented technology is capable of accurately classifying vehicles into a relatively large number of classifications, including motorcycle, which has proven to be a challenging category in present-day commercial vehicle classifiers. Vehicle classification is a vital intelligent transportation systems application. Accurate data reporting aids suitable roadway design for safety and capacity and can also support other purposes, such as reporting highway congestion to the general public or providing area denseness data to interested businesses. To make a classification decision, a vehicle's signal is acquired from diagonal piezoelectric strip sensor, processed, and then applied to a machine learning algorithm. A speed estimation technique using the same single-element piezoelectric sensor was also developed, tested, and compared with an embedded vehicle classifier currently used by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Testing on several highway sites indicated up to 97% classification accuracy. This paper presents a complete description of the developed system, including sensor installation, data acquisition and processing, and classification algorithm. Overall, the system offers a high-performance cost-effective solution for vehicle classification that minimizes roadwork typically required for loop and sensor installations of current systems. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults Aged 19 Years or Older: United States, 2015*

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) presents the 2015 recommended immunization schedule for adults. This schedule has been approved by the ACIP, American College of Physicians, ...
Earth-abundant trigonal BaCu2Sn(SexS1−x)4 (x = 0–0.55) thin films with tunable band gaps for solar water splitting

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar devices can convert abundant solar energy directly into storable, clean hydrogen fuel. Here, earth-abundant thin-film solid solutions, BaCu2Sn(SexS1−x)4 (x = 0–0.55), demonstrated promise as low-cost absorber materials in efficient PEC solar devices. These p-type compounds crystallize in a trigonal structure and exhibit tunable band gaps of 1.67–2.05 eV for the composition x = Se/(Se + S). The photocathode based on the pure sulfide (x = 0) shows a photocurrent of ∼5 mA cm−2 saturated at −0.35 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) from a neutral electrolyte. Adding selenium decreases alloy band gaps and extends the absorption range of the solar spectrum, which increases the saturated photocurrent to ∼11 mA cm−2 at −0.55 V vs. RHE.
Surgical Treatment of Malignant Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma: Retrospective Case Series.

Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) are rare neoplasms; about 10% are malignant. Literature regarding possible benefit from resection is extremely limited. A 20 year review of all patients undergoing surgery for malignant PPGL at the Mayo Clinic Rochester Campus between 1994 and June 2014 was performed. We identified 34 patients undergoing surgery for malignant PPGL. Median follow up was 6 and 5 years survival was 90% (median 11 years). Complete resection (R0) was achieved in 14 patients (41%). Median disease-free survival was 4.6 years for patients with R0 resection (up to 12 years). Only eight patients (23%) were disease-free on last follow up. Elevated preoperative fractionated metanephrines or catecholamines were documented in 23 patients (68%); these normalized in 13 of 23 patients (56%) postoperatively—with symptom relief in 15 of 18 preoperatively symptomatic patients (79%). Among 23 patients with hormone-producing tumors, significant reduction in number of antihypertensive medications was also noted postoperatively; 11 patients have remained off all antihypertensives, 6 required 1 medication, 1 required 2, while 5 required full blockade with phenoxybenzamine and a beta-adrenergic blocker. Surgery plays a significant role in the management of selected malignant PPGL. Resection can be effective in normalizing or significantly reducing levels of catecholamines and metanephrines, and can improve hormone-related symptoms and hypertension. Surgical resection, either complete or incomplete, is associated with durable survival despite a high rate of tumor recurrence.
Emerging Techniques in Image-Guided Radiation Therapy and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy

Locoregional recurrence is the primary failure pattern for biliary tract and gallbladder cancers. However, the use of external beam radiation therapy in the treatment for these cancers, particularly cholangiocarcinoma, has had limited efficacy historically due to the high risk of toxicity with curative doses. While a range of anatomic locations and thus dose-limiting structures exist, proximity to the duodenum, risk of biliary stricture, and radiation-induced liver disease (RILD) have posed special challenges to achieving a dose capable of preventing local recurrence or achieving cure. Over the last decade, the rapid development and integration of technologies such as advanced onboard imaging (OBI) integrated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) have created renewed interest in the use of external beam radiation in both the adjuvant and palliative setting for these cancers. In this chapter, we review the relevant advances, particularly the growing experience with SBRT in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC).
Physical Layout after Half a Century: From Back-Board Ordering to Multi-Dimensional Placement and Beyond

Innovations and advancements on physical design (PD) in the past half century significantly contribute to the progresses of modern VLSI designs. While ``Moore's Law'' and ``Dennard Scaling'' have become slowing down recently, physical design society encountered a set of challenges and opportunities. This article is presented at the event of the Life Time Achievement Award for Dr. Satoshi Goto by ISPD 2017. Dr. Goto's career in VLSI designs sets an exemplar role model for young engineers. Thus, we use his contributions as a thread to describe our personal view of physical layout from early back-board ordering to recent multi-dimensional placement and the future.