cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optical Gain and Loss Measurements of Semipolar III-nitride Laser Diodes with ITO/thin-p-GaN Cladding Layers

Laser diodes (LDs) based on the group III-nitride material system are forecasted to be the key components of next generation high-intensity white lighting systems [1]. For such systems, LDs offer more power per chip area, much higher spatial brightness, and no efficiency droop above threshold compared to light emitting diodes (LEDs). To meet these expectations, high-power and high-efficiency continuous-wave (CW) operation of a LD is essential. However, to date, InGaN LDs performance is still hampered by a high operating voltage and a poor differential efficiency, which result in lower wall-plug efficiencies (WPE) than InGaN LEDs or other III-V LDs [2], [3]. We have recently demonstrated an enhanced CW performance of blue LDs grown on a semipolar $(20\bar{2}\bar{1})$ n-GaN substrate by replacing part of the resistive p-GaN cladding layer with a tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) layer [4]. With this transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer, which has a lower modal optical loss than standard metallic p-contacts, and thinned p-GaN layer a very low operating voltage was obtained. Here, we present detailed gain and absorption measurements of these devices. We show a very low optical loss by redesigning the AlGaN electron blocking layer and the p-waveguide doping profile.
Emergency Surgery Score Accurately Predicts the Risk of Post-Operative Infection in Emergency General Surgery.

Abstract Background: The Emergency Surgery Score (ESS) was validated recently as an accurate and user-friendly post-operative mortality risk calculator specific for Emergency General Surgery (EGS)....
Molecular Imaging for Evaluation of Viable Testicular Cancer Nodal Metastases.

Determining the metastatic viability of suspicious retroperitoneal nodes in testicular cancer with conventional imaging is challenging. The aim of this report is to review recent evidence in the utilization of novel imaging modalities to assess viable testicular cancer nodal metastases. Testicular germ cell tumors (TCGTs) follow a predictable lymphatic metastatic spread to the retroperitoneum. Accordingly, retroperitoneal imaging is critical in staging, assessing treatment response, and evaluating for recurrence. Conventional computed tomography (CT) imaging is effective in diagnosing pathologically enlarged lymph nodes but lacks the molecular information to determine if suspicious nodes harbor viable tumor. Positron emission tomography (PET) with the metabolic radiotracer 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose (18F-FDG or FDG) has been shown to be useful in determining the presence of or absence of viable tumor after chemotherapy for seminoma, but its role with non-seminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCTs) and other clinical scenarios is limited. Patients with residual masses after chemotherapy for NSGCT present a difficult challenge because surgical resection carries a high degree of morbidity despite many patients only harboring fibrosis on final pathology. Current imaging modalities are unable to effectively differentiate fibrosis from viable tumor on preoperative imaging. Novel molecular imaging techniques present promising opportunities to improve diagnosis in these patients. Novel imaging platforms have potential to improve the ability to determine viable nodal metastases regardless of size and structure but confirmatory studies are currently lacking.
Regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 by the activated p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Cyclooxygenase (Cox) is a ubiquitous enzyme involved in various inflammatory processes. Two isoforms of Cox have been identified, Cox-1 and Cox-2. Cox-1 is constitutively expressed in most tissues and mediates physiologic responses such as regulation of renal sodium and water reabsorption, vascular homeostasis, and cytoprotection of the stomach. By comparison Cox-2 is primarily considered an inducible immediate-early gene whose synthesis can be upregulated by mitogenic or inflammatory stimuli including: tumor promoters 1, IL-1β 2, endotoxins 3, growth factors 4, and serum5. The pathophysiological role of Cox has been the topic of much interest. Cox is the main therapeutic target for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which exhibit their antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects in humans via inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis 6. NSAIDS have been effective in the reduction of inflammatory symptoms in carrageenan-induced rat paw inflammation models 7 and in the reduced incidence of colon cancer 8,9.
Peripheral rods: a specialized developmental cell type in Myxococcus xanthus.

Abstract In response to nutrient deprivation, the ubiquitous Gram-negative soil bacterium Myxococcus xanthus undergoes a well-characterized developmental response, resulting in the formation of a multicellular fruiting body. The center of the fruiting body consists of myxospores; surrounding this structure are rod-shaped peripheral cells. Unlike spores, the peripheral rods are a metabolically active cell type that inhabits nutrient-deprived environments. The survival characteristics exhibited by peripheral rods, protection from oxidative stress and heat shock, are common survival characteristics exhibited by cells in stationary phase including modifications to morphology and metabolism. Vegetative M. xanthus cells undergo a number of physiological changes during the transition into stationary phase similar to other proteobacteria. In M. xanthus, stationary-phase cells are not considered a component of the developmental response and occur when cells are grown on nutrient-rich plates or in dispersed aqueous media. However, this cell type is not routinely studied and little of its physiology is known. Similarities between these two stress-induced cell types led to the question of whether peripheral rods are actually a distinct developmental cell type or simply cells in stationary phase. In this study, we examine the transcriptome of peripheral rods and its relationship to development. This work demonstrates that peripheral rods are in fact a distinct developmentally differentiated cell type. Although peripheral rods and stationary phase cells display similar characteristics, each transcriptomic pattern is unique and quite different from that of any other M. xanthus cell type.
Electronic Control Unit Discrimination Using Wired Signal Distinct Native Attributes

A controller area network bus is a communications system used in modern automobiles to connect the electronic control units that implement normal vehicular operations as well as advanced autonomous safety and driver comfort features. However, these advancements come at the expense of vehicle security – researchers have shown that automobiles can be hacked by compromising electronic control units or by connecting unauthorized devices to the controller area network bus.
The pulseless radial artery in transradial catheterization: challenges and solutions

Introduction: An absent radial pulse prior to cardiac catheterization is an ominous finding as it portends the need for higher-risk arterial access. Solutions exist that can avoid the use of more hazardous access. Given the benefits of the radial artery access, it is essential to prevent radial artery occlusion, to diagnose acute occlusion at the time of hemostasis so it can be treated, and understand alternatives for access that exists in the lower forearms if the radial occlusion is recalcitrant. Ultrasound plays a significant role in safe access and procedural planning. It should be a skill embraced by all operators. Future devices will be improved for shallow vessel access. Better knowledge of access techniques and adjunctive therapies will work synergistically to improve outcomes in the years ahead.Areas covered: Literature review on forearm access is composed of small case series and underpowered trials but does provide a framework for evaluating the problem.Expert opinion: The objective of this paper is to give an approach to tackle forearm access when there appears to be no palpable radial pulse. Preservation of radial flow is paramount while alternative forearm means to vascular access may help avoid the need to access the femoral artery.
Improvement in Inclusion Contrast-to-Noise Ratio for Low-Displacement Acoustic Radiation Force (ARF) Elasticity Imaging Using a 3D Kernel Blind-Source Separation (BSS) Based Displacement Estimator

Mechanical property assessment by elastographic ultrasound methods, including those that exploit acoustic radiation force (ARF), relies on accurate estimation of tissue displacement. Several displacement estimators have been developed, but their relevance to tracking ARF-induced displacements smaller than one micrometer is limited by estimation variance. To minimize displacement estimation variance, a new blind source separation (BSS)-based approach that exploits the spatial distribution of displacements is presented. This new approach applies principal component analysis (PCA) in three-dimensional (3D) kernels to derive dominant eigenvectors, from which displacements are estimated. We call this new approach the ‘3DK-BSS’ estimator. The 3DK-BSS estimator is evaluated in terms of contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) achieved in ARFI peak displacement (PD) images of a stiff (80 kPa) and a soft (8 kPa) spherical inclusion in a commercial phantom with a 25 kPA background. The CNR values achieved by 3DK-BSS were compared to those produced by normalized cross-correlation (NCC), Bayesian regularization, and BSS implemented using a two-dimensional (2D) kernel at ARF power levels of 5 to 45% of the full system power. For all power levels, and for both stiff and soft inclusions, 3DK-BSS inclusion CNR was higher than any other examined displacement estimator. For example, 3DK-BSS stiff inclusion CNR was 16.3, 11.8, and 4.2 times higher than the CNRs achieved by NCC, Bayesian regularization, and 2D BSS, respectively at 5% power level. CNR improvement by 3DK-BSS was largest at the lowest (5%) ARF power level, where displacement in the stiff phantom was measured by 3DK-BSS as 250 nm. These results suggest that, by accurately measuring sub-micrometer displacements, the 3DK-BSS displacement estimator could enable deeper ARF-based mechanical property assessments, finer mechanical resolution in stiff tissues, and/or lower ARF power requirements to expand the diagnostic relevance of ARF-based mechanical property assessments.
Functionally Graded Biomaterials for Use as Model Systems and Replacement Tissues

The heterogeneity of native tissues requires complex materials to provide suitable substitutes for model systems and replacement tissues. Functionally graded materials have the potential to address this challenge by mimicking the gradients in heterogeneous tissues such as porosity, mineralization, and fiber alignment to influence strength, ductility, and cell signaling. Advancements in microfluidics, electrospinning, and 3D printing enable the creation of increasingly complex gradient materials that further our understanding of physiological gradients. The combination of these methods enables rapid prototyping of constructs with high spatial resolution. However, successful translation of these gradients requires both spatial and temporal presentation of cues to model the complexity of native tissues that few materials have demonstrated. This review highlights recent strategies to engineer functionally graded materials for the modeling and repair of heterogeneous tissues, together with a description of how cells interact with various gradients.
Behavioral Finance and COVID-19: Cognitive Errors that Determine the Financial Future

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in dramatic economic effects, characterized by excessive stock price volatility and a market crash. Some of the phenomena in effect during the crisis, such as the excessive volatility and the unshaken confidence of financial institutions, are insufficiently explained by the traditional finance paradigm. In this paper, we explore such phenomena from a behavioral finance lens and discuss some cognitive errors and biases relevant during and after the crisis - overconfidence (miscalibration, better-than-average effect, illusion of control, optimism bias), representation bias, risk aversion, herding behavior, and availability bias. We explore each of these phenomena from the perspective of psychology and evaluate their relevance to financial institutions and markets and the COVID-19 induced global crisis.
Synthesis and Design of Enhanced N -Path Filters With 60-dB/decade RF Selectivity

A “third-order” passive mixer-first receiver is presented to improve channel selectivity and resilience to close-in blockers, by building an $N$ -path filter which drives an impedance with 60-dB/decade roll-off. A step-by-step derivation is provided for the synthesis of the first ever driving point impedance with 60-dB/decade roll-off. An integrated circuit prototype was fabricated in 28-nm bulk CMOS as proof-of-concept and characterized. The receiver front-end is capable of broadband operation from 0.2 to 4.5 GHz, demonstrates third-order filtering of close-in blockers, and achieves an out-of-band IIP3 of +21 dBm and B1dB of greater than 6 dBm for blockers at the alternate channel. Additionally, it achieves a noise figure of 6.8 dB in the presence of a 0-dBm blocker.
Isolation of Trichophyton spores from lesions typically classified as resolving in cattle

Dermatophytosis is an important zoonotic superficial mycosis of cattle, primarily caused by the dermatophyte Trichophyton verrucosum. T. verrucosum presents a signifi-cant public health risk in the United States. The presence of dermatophyte lesions does not necessarily preclude issuance of certificates of veterinary inspection, and are permitted in some livestock shows and exhibition cattle if the inspecting veterinarian observes hair regrowth within the lesion. The objective of this study was to evaluate dermatophyte lesions, both without hair (alopecic or active) and with hair regrowth (resolving), for presence of T. verrucosum spores in calves. Our hypothesis was that the regrowth of hair would not correlate with the absence of infective material. Of the 34 calves sampled, 23 of 34 of the haired/resolving lesions had spores present, while 14/34 of the alopecic/active lesions had spores present. The odds of a haired/resolving sample having spores present was found to be 4 times that of the odds of an alopecic/active sample having spores present (p-value = 0.03516, 95% CI: 1.07, 22.09). Resolving lesions, as evidenced by regrowth of hair, did not correlate with mycologic cure in this study as spores were still recovered in many lesions designated as haired/resolving.
Anesthesia-Related Factors Associated with Preterm Labor and Delivery after Open Fetal Surgery.

Background Fetal surgery, such as for meningomyelocele repair, has a clear clinical fetal benefit. In patients who undergo in utero repair of meningomyelocele, for example, there is reduced long-term disease morbidity. However, despite the beneficial effects of early intervention, women who undergo fetal interventions have an increased risk of preterm labor and delivery. Several surgery-related factors have been described but no specific anesthesia-related factors. Objective The aim of this study was to determine if any aspects of the perioperative anesthetic management influenced maternal complications following in utero surgery. Methods This was a retrospective chart review of the anesthetic management of mothers and fetuses who presented for open and fetoscopic myelomeningocele repair, between 2011 and 2015, at Texas Children's Fetal Center®. Results Forty-six women underwent open or fetoscopic repair of neural tube defects at our institution. We found the maternal heart rate in the postoperative period to be associated with a higher likelihood of preterm labor, but not delivery. The odds of having preterm delivery was higher for nulliparous patients and those with lower intraoperative diastolic pressure. Conclusions Our findings confirm what has been previously reported regarding the association of nulliparity with preterm delivery. Additionally, this study highlights the importance of maintaining stable perioperative hemodynamics during the intraoperative and postoperative phases of care for patients undergoing in utero surgery.
Individual resilience and sensemaking: Traumatic life experiences and employee creativity at work

Traumatic life experiences occur when individuals experience life-threatening or other similarly dis-stressful events in life. The extant literature focuses on the negative implications of traumati...
Coping With the Pandemic: Implementing Social and Emotional Learning in the California K-12 School System

In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Among the massive shutdowns that occurred across the United States in response, all K-12 schools in California close...
Case 43: A Straightforward Case or What?

Today you are in a rural hospital near the town of Kimberley in the Orange Free State, South Africa. A 54-year-old man, Jost Bernard, is scheduled for an elective/emergency cholecystectomy. He has no clinical symptoms. His past history is unremarkable, except that he was admitted to hospital a year ago with severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and weakness of limbs. He recovered with routine supportive treatment. He is not sure what the problem was.
DNA-binding by Ig-fold proteins

Recent structures of the Runx1–CBFβ heterodimer bound to DNA brings to six the number of characterized eukaryotic transcription factor families that use an immunoglobulin (Ig) fold to bind to DNA. Variation in the loop regions accounts for the diversity of DNA sequences recognized by Ig-fold proteins, but there are recurring themes in the interactions made by specific loop regions and how these interactions are regulated.
Internalizing Externalities: An Economic and Legal Analysis of an International Carbon Tax Regime

The nations of this world face the intersection of two global dilemmas: enhancing economic welfare and mitigating climate change. With a “point of no return,” for the latter of these predicaments rapidly approaching and evidence that unilateral action on either of these problems haven proved minimally, if it all, effectual, the world faces a pervasive and imminent threat. However, recent international jurisprudence and global sentiment has allowed for a single solution to each of these quandaries in the form of a carbon tax regime. Previous scholarship has focused on structural deficiencies within the World Trade Organization that prevent certainty and encourage inaction or organizational modification, few have looked to the possibilities present within the current regime and how using said structures may enable the efficacy of unilateral action vis-a-vis each of these dilemmas. A carbon tax regime consisting of both domestic carbon taxes and border tax adjustments for those who fail to comply with the international efforts potentially meets both the strictures under the Kyoto Protocol and the World Trade Organization and creates an more efficient market from one that has formerly been woefully inefficient. As commentators note the imminence for a time of action, few if any solutions match the efficacy of a carbon tax regime in complying with the regulatory parameters currently permitted with a small mass of nations serving to effect substantial change regarding climate change mitigation while complying with international trade laws.
Cooperative observers and regulators for discrete‐time multiagent systems

SUMMARY This paper investigates the design of distributed observers for agents with identical linear discrete-time state-space dynamics networked on a directed graph interaction topology. The digraph is assumed to have fixed topology and contain a spanning tree. Cooperative observer design guaranteeing convergence of the estimates of all agents to their actual states is proposed. The notion of convergence region for distributed observers on graphs is introduced. It is shown that the proposed cooperative observer design has a robustness property. Application of cooperative observers is made to the synchronization problem. A command trajectory generator and pinning control are employed for synchronizing all the agents to a desired trajectory. Complete knowledge about the agent's state is not assumed. A duality principle is shown for observers and state feedback for distributed discrete-time systems on graph topologies. Three different observer/controller architectures are proposed for dynamic output feedback regulator design, and they are shown to guarantee convergence of the estimate to the true state and synchronization of all the agents' states to the command state trajectory. This provides design methods for cooperative regulators based on a separation principle. It is shown that the observer convergence region and feedback control synchronizing region for discrete-time systems are inherently bounded, so that the conditions for observer convergence and state synchronization are stricter than the results for the continuous-time counterparts. This is in part remedied by using weighting of different feedback coupling gains for every agent. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Studies on modeling and control of spouted bed reactors—II: Control

Abstract Control and operability characteristics of an adiabatic spouted bed reactor with a first order reaction are investigated. The reactor transient response to changing operating conditions is analyzed and the generic control problems are formulated. Reduced-order state space models suitable for process control studies are constructed by utilizing the methods of orthogonal collocation and singular perturbation. Based on modern control and estimation techniques a hierarchy of different control systems is systematically generated. The assessment of alternative d
Doubly-responsive hyperbranched polymers and core-crosslinked star polymers with tunable reversibility

Thermo- and redox-responsive hyperbranched copolymers were prepared by statistical copolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and N,N′-bis(acryloyl)cystamine (BAC) by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Kinetic studies revealed that the molecular weight of the resulting poly(NIPAM-co-BAC) gradually increased during the polymerization, and control over molecular weight and degree of branching was demonstrated. The hyperbranched copolymers showed thermoresponsive self-assembly, as determined by dynamic light scattering and turbidity measurements. Hyperbranched poly(NIPAM-co-BAC) copolymers were further used for the synthesis of star copolymers by chain extension with N,N-dimethylacrylamide. The resulting star copolymers with hyperbranched cores and linear arms were readily degraded under reducing conditions due to the divinyl crosslinker containing a redox-sensitive disulfide linkage. Not only did the disulfide bonds result in macromolecules with redox-responsive behavior, but the ability to cleave and characterize the individual branches of the hyperbranch polymer after synthesis allowed us to confirm the controlled nature of RAFT polymerization in the presence of divinyl compounds.
Fast computation of optimal paths in two- and higher dimension maps

Highly interconnected networks of relatively simple processing elements are shown to be very effective in solving difficult optimization problems. Problems that fall into the broad category of finding a least-cost path between two points, given a distributed and sometimes complex cost map, are studied. A neurallike architecture and associated computational rules are proposed for the solution of this class of optimal path-finding problems in two- and higher-dimensional spaces. >
Comparing glycemic indicators of prediabetes: a prospective study of obese Latino Youth.

Objective One hour (1-hr) glucose during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is an emerging biomarker for type 2 diabetes. We compared the predictive power of 1-hr glucose to traditional glycemic markers for prospectively identifying prediabetes in youth. Research design and methods Obese normoglycemic Latino youth (N = 116) were assessed at baseline for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting, 1-hr, and 2-hr glucose during an OGTT and were followed for up to 8 yr for the development of prediabetes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used and a multivariable prediction model was developed. Results The area under the 1-hr glucose ROC curve was the most powerful predictor of prediabetes over time [0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.64–0.83]. However, combining all indicators into a single model was superior to individual marker models (0.77, 95% CI = 0.690.86). Conclusions These results further support the utility of 1-hr glucose during an OGTT as a prospective marker of diabetes risk in youth.
Micron diamond composites with nanocrystalline silicon carbide bonding

Diamond composites with nanocrystalline cubic silicon carbide bonding were sintered from diamond/amorphous silicon mixtures under high pressure and high temperature (p = 5 GPa and temperatures up to 1673 K). Differential scanning calorimetry, ex situ x-ray, and Raman spectroscopy investigations showed that amorphous silicon partially transformed into nanocrystalline silicon at 873 K under 5 GPa. This was followed by the formation of nanocrystalline silicon carbide from the reaction between the silicon and diamond after silicon melting. Refinement of the x-ray diffraction patterns of composites with the Rietveld method revealed that considerable microstrain (0.3–0.5%) remained within the nanocrystalline silicon carbide grains. Small strain (0.1–0.2%) was observed in the compacted diamonds, but after the reaction they became almost strain free (<0.1%). Enhanced fracture toughness was obtained for hybrid composites compared to liquid-infiltrated composites.
Percolation and pore structure in mortars and concrete

Abstract The cement paste in concrete and mortar has been shown to have a pore size distribution different than that of plain paste hydrated without aggregate. For mortar and concrete, additional porosity occurs in pore sizes larger than the plain paste's threshold diameter as measured by mercury intrusion. Based on the assumption that these larger pores are essentially present only in the interfacial zones surrounding each aggregate, an experimental program was designed in which the volume fraction of sand in a mortar was varied in a systematic fashion and the resultant pore system probed using mercury intrusion porosimetry. The intrusion characteristics were observed to change drastically at a critical sand content. Similar results are observed for a series of mortar specimens in which the cement paste contains 10% silica fume. To better interpret the experimental results, a hard core/soft shell computer model has been developed to examine the percolation characteristics of these interfacial zone pores. Using the model, interfacial zone percolation in concretes is also examined. Finally, the implications of interfacial zone percolation for transport properties and durability of mortar and concrete are discussed.
NAD-linked mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase in the rat testis.

Abstract The rat testis possesses mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase. The specific activity of the enzyme increases as a function of age and is induced by short-term intake of diluted ethanol solution.
The regulation of calciferol-25-hydroxylase in the chick.

The administration of 1.3 (20 IU) and 3.25 (50 IU) nmoles but not 0.65 nmoles of 3 H-vitamin D 3 intravenously results in a marked diminution of hepatic vitamin D 3 -25-hydroxylase activity in vitamin D-deficient chicks within 24 hours. A similar reduction in in vivo production of 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 was observed following the 1.3 and 3.25 nmole but not the 0.65 nmole dose of vitamin D 3 . These changes in in vivo and in vitro vitamin D 3 hydroxylation could not be due to dilution of the 3 H-vitamin D 3 substrate and thus represents regulation of the hepatic vitamin D 3 -25-hydroxylase of the chick as has been observed in the rat. Regulation in the chick requires a somewhat higher dose of vitamin D 3 than is the case in the rat, however.
Levels of Pheromone in Female Plodia interpunctella Mating with Males Reared in Different Light Regimens

Levels of sex pheromone and their relationships to “calling behavior” and mating were compared between female Indian meal moths, Plodia intcrpunctella (Hubner), mated with males that were reared in continuous light (LL males) or in 12-hour light and dark cycles (LD males) and virgin females. Bioassays against unmated males showed different levels of sex pheromone in the extracts of abdominal tips from virgin females or females mated with LD or LL males. The level of pheromone in extracts of virgin females was about 100 times greater than the level in females mated with LD males, but only about 3 times greater than the level in females mated with LL males. When the calling activity of females was observed during a 48-hour period, more virgin females and females mated with LL males called than females mated with LD males. Copulation or the transfer of a spermatophore therefore did not affect the levels of sex pheromone in the abdominal tips of the females. The results indicate that stored sperm may provide the stimulus necessary to stop calling in females.
Identification of Volterra systems with a polynomial neural network

The Volterra series finds wide application in the general representation of nonlinear systems. A method of identifying linear and second-order time-invariant nonlinear systems is proposed using a variation of the group method of data handling (GMDH) algorithm, a polynomial network, employing a combination of quadratic polynomial and linear layers. The principal advantage of this method is that the degree of nonlinearity and the memory of the system do not have to be known a priori and are determined recursively. The GMDH method allows a Volterra series to be modeled solely from a set of input-output data. System identification using GMDH consists of applying a set of input-output data to train the network by computing the necessary coefficient sets and to select the optimum combination of these coefficient sets to obtain the model parameters. >
Technology development: Determining what to forecast

Abstract This article discusses a proven conceptual technique for identifying, classifying, and relating the very large number of complex factors, known and unknown, that enter into venture analysis decisions. Frameworks for reducing complexities to manageable options are proposed. These frameworks highlight areas where additional knowledge— or even invention—is necessary. Planning managers may thus determine their present technological position (where they are in the scheme of the present state of the art), map out possible future developments, reduce the risk of future shock, and determine which alternative should be the subject of in-depth technological forecasts.
Evaluation of risperidone in the neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine model of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome.

Abstract Rats were treated as neonates with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) 100 mg free base in 10 μl intracisternally. Upon maturation, animals were injected with l-dopa and placed in photocell cages for monitoring of locomotion, stereotypies, and self-mutilation. Pretreatment with either risperidone or SCH-23390 significantly reduced locomotion and stereotypies. SCH-23390 eliminated l-dopa induced self-mutilation in all subjects, while risperidone eliminated self-mutilation in all but one subject.
Folic Acid Supplementation Among Diabetic, Overweight, or Obese Women of Childbearing Age

Objective To examine whether obese, overweight, or diabetic women were equally likely to supplement with folic acid as normal-weight or nondiabetic women. Design Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System was used to compare folic acid supplementation rates among obese, overweight, or diabetic women to those of normal-weight or nondiabetic women. Participants Responses from nonpregnant Texas women of ages 18 to 44 were analyzed. Main Outcome Measures Odds ratios were calculated for association between diabetes, body mass index, and folic acid supplementation. Results Of 6,835 participants, 35% reported daily folic acid supplementation. Obese women were less likely to supplement, even after adjustment for other factors. Conclusions All women of childbearing age, but especially those who are obese or diabetic, should be encouraged to take folic acid daily to reduce the risk of neural tube defects.
THE VEGETATION OF A LAVA-FORMED LAKE IN THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS

In the Cascade Mountains, lakes have occasionally been formed at relatively high elevations by the damming up of the head-waters of streams by lava flows sometime during past geologic ages (I, 2, 8). Such a lake is Goose Lake, located about twenty miles southwest of Mt. Adams on the Columbia National Forest in southwestern Washington at an elevation of about 3,000 feet. During the recent geologic past a flow of lava issued, probably from a nearby cone now known as the Crater (4,200 feet elevation), filling to a varying depth the head of a mountain valley, and forming a bed about ten by five miles in extent. The lava dammed up many of the short creeks which drain the sides of the valley. The lava has numerous passages through it and most of these creeks disappear with hardly more than a temporary pond formed at the edge of the lava flow. A stream of considerable size drains out of the lower (south) end of the lava bed. At the head (north) of the valley, several of these creeks concentrate their waters to form Goose Lake (text figs. i and 2). The lava extends part
Evaluating water quality using power priors to incorporate historical information

To assess water quality standards, measurements of water quality under the Clean Water Act are collected on a regular basis over a period of time. The data are analyzed to evaluate the percentage of samples exceeding the standard. One problem is that current data are limited by the time range and consequently the sample size is inadequate to provide necessary precision in parameter estimation. To address this issue, we present a Bayesian approach using a power prior to incorporate historical data and/or the data collected at adjacent stations. We develop a modified power prior approach and discuss its properties under the normal mean model. Several sets of water quality data are studied to illustrate the implementation of the power prior approach and its differences from alternative methods. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of a slip-resistance test for shoes

A laboratory test has been developed to measure Static and dynamic friction between shoe sole and floor surface. Good overall agreement was found between this test and a ramp test. The latter involves wearers ascending and descending a slope, the angle of which is increased until slipping occurs. Results indicate that the laboratory lest is relevant to wear conditions. In some cases static friction correlated better with the ramp test; in others the dynamic friction was best. This suggests both static and dynamic friction arc important in describing slip resistance. Depending on the surface used, the ranking of slip resistance for shoe solings can be reversed, making it important to specify the test surface.
Forcing linearity numbers of semicyclic modules over commutative Noetherian rings

In this paper we determine the forcing linearity numbers for semicyclic modules over commutative Noetherian rings.
The multifactorial character of the protective immunity induced by immunization with sporozoites.

modium faiciparum erythrocyte rosetting and frequency of anti-rosetting antibodies in human sera. Amer. J. trop. Med. Hyg. (in press). WHO Memorandum (1988), Role of non-human primates in malaria vaccines development. Bull. Org. mond. Sant~, 66, 719-728. Young, M.D. & Rossan, R.N. (1969), Plasmodiumfalciparum induced in the squirrel monkey, Saimiri sciureus. Trans. roy. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg., 63,686-687. Young, M.D., Baerg, D.C. & Rossan, R.N. (1971), Sporozoite transmission and serial blood passage of Plasmodium vivax in the squirrel monkey, Saimiri sciureus. Trans. roy. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg., 65, 835-836.
Implementation of a compressive sampling scheme for wireless sensors to achieve energy efficiency in a structural health monitoring system

Wireless sensors have emerged to offer low-cost sensors with impressive functionality ( e.g., data acquisition, computing, and communication) and modular installations. Such advantages enable higher nodal densities than tethered systems resulting in increased spatial resolution of the monitoring system. However, high nodal density comes at a cost as huge amounts of data are generated, weighing heavy on power sources, transmission bandwidth, and data management requirements, often making data compression necessary. The traditional compression paradigm consists of high rate (>Nyquist) uniform sampling and storage of the entire target signal followed by some desired compression scheme prior to transmission. The recently proposed compressed sensing (CS) framework combines the acquisition and compression stage together, thus removing the need for storage and operation of the full target signal prior to transmission. The effectiveness of the CS approach hinges on the presence of a sparse representation of the target signal in a known basis, similarly exploited by several traditional compressive sensing applications today ( e.g., imaging, MRI). Field implementations of CS schemes in wireless SHM systems have been challenging due to the lack of commercially available sensing units capable of sampling methods ( e.g., random) consistent with the compressed sensing framework, often moving evaluation of CS techniques to simulation and post-processing. The research presented here describes implementation of a CS sampling scheme to the Narada wireless sensing node and the energy efficiencies observed in the deployed sensors. Of interest in this study is the compressibility of acceleration response signals collected from a multi-girder steel-concrete composite bridge. The study shows the benefit of CS in reducing data requirements while ensuring data analysis on compressed data remain accurate.
Dispersion Patterns and Sampling of Spider Mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) Infesting Corn in the Texas High Plains

Spider mite population growth and dispersion patterns in field corn were analyzed over three growing seasons in the Texas High Plains. Infestation loci were distributed randomly during the early season, suggesting that fields were initially infested by windborne spider mites. Taylor's power law and Iwao's regression models indicated that spider mites were aggregated throughout the corn-growing season; Green's coefficient showed that the level of spider mite aggregation decreased during this same time. The potential for binomial sampling of spider mites was investigated.
Glucose Metabolism and Pyridine Nucleotide Levels in Potato Tubers Treated with Ethylene

Summary Ethylene's ability to enhance potato tuber respiration is well established. In this study the respiratory burst induced by ethylene was associated with changes in the metabolism of glucose and altered pyridine nucleotide levels. The data suggest that the pentose phosphate pathway was proportionally stimulated to a greater degree than the Embden-Meyerhoff-Parnas Tricarboxylic Acid pathway. The oxidized forms of the pyridine nucleotides were increased relative to the reduced forms, suggesting that these changes may playa role in directing glucose catabolism.
Biological Systems Theory

Mathematical models are fashionable in systems biology, but there is a world of difference between a model and a theorem. When researchers build models, they make assumptions about a specific experimental setting and have to choose values for rate constants and other parameters. A theorem, by contrast, can apply to a setting of arbitrary molecular complexity, such as a biochemical network with many components. In a recent study, Shinar and Feinberg ( 1 ) formulate a theorem that shows when such biochemical networks exhibit “absolute concentration robustness.”
Embedding hypercubes and related networks into mesh-connected processor arrays

Abstract In this paper we study the problem of how computations programmed for hypercubes, and their bounded-degree relatives, the shuffle-exchange and cube-connected-cycles, can be efficiently emulated by mesh-connected arrays of processing elements. The emulations we present are implemented via graph embeddings. The graph embeddings we present are all optimal with respect to congestion, and are also noteworthy for they yield efficient emulation programs that are written in a SIMD style without the use of indirect addressing. The paper includes the three following emulation results, where each emulation algorithm requires no indirection. For any n ≥ 1 and fixed r ≥ 1, an n -sided r -dimensional mesh can emulate an n 2 n -node cube-connected-cycles network with slowdown Θ(2 n / n r −1 ), a 2 n -node shuffle-exchange network with slowdown Θ(2 n / n r ), and a 2 n -node hypercube network operating in a weak model, with slowdown Θ(2 n log n / n r ).
Interictal and postictal circadian and ultradian luteinizing hormone secretion in men with temporal lobe epilepsy.

Summary: Purpose: Hypothalamic regulation of the reproductive axis in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), represented by the ultradian pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH), has been shown to be altered interictally and postictally. Our objective is to determine if epilepsy or seizures disrupt normal circadian fluctuations of LH as well as circadian organization of ultradian bursts of LH. Methods: We characterized LH secretion in 10 men with TLE during two 24-h blocks: an interictal epoch and a postictal epoch initiated by a seizure. Serum LH was measured every 10 min and characterized by circadian and ultradian patterns with cosinor and deconvolution analysis. Results: Mean peak serum concentrations of LH occurred at ∼0400 in controls, were significantly delayed ∼5 h interictally, and were randomly distributed postictally. Burst amplitudes differed significantly by phase among controls, with the largest amplitudes between 0101 and 0700 and the smallest between 1301 and 1900. No phase differences were present in interictal or postictal epochs. Burst frequency weakly but significantly was slowest between 0101 and 0700 in controls, but did not differ significantly by phase in either interictal or postictal epochs. Postictal LH burst frequencies, but not amplitudes, were significantly decreased immediately postictally. Conclusion: The pulsatile secretion of LH in TLE is abnormal both in the circadian as well as the ultradian domain. Interictal effects consist mainly in loss of circadian fluctuations in LH burst amplitude, whereas postictal effects consist of altered burst timing. Altered daily patterns of neuroendocrine signals may underlie other disorders of homeostasis in TLE.
Transesophageal Echocardiographic Findings of a Dehisced Duran Mitral Annuloplasty Ring

We describe multiplane transesophageal echocardiographic findings in a patient with severe mitral regurgitation secondary to dehiscence of a Duran ring.
Ebola Goes Pop: The Filovirus from Literature into Film

Semmler examines Virus and Outbreak, two contemporary films about the Ebola virus. The essay carefully establishes the connections between the films and Robin Cook's novel Outbreak and Richard Preston's nonfictional book The Hot Zone. Semmler's essay looks at food, war, and jungle imagery in the two movies as a way to begin questioning the scientific accuracy of the films and to help establish her argument that the virus has taken the place of the nuclear bomb as a threat of destruction. The readings of the movies allow Semmler to suggest some of the ethical ramifications of the role of Western capitalism and Western medicine in these outbreaks of viral fever.
County characteristics and elderly net migration rates: a three-decade regional analysis.

A model comprising county characteristics measuring amenities urbanization service characteristics and sociodemographic characteristics explains substantial proportions of the variation in new migration rates for the young and old elderly for 3 different decades in New England (1940-1950 1950-1960 and 1970-1980). Over time (1940-1980) both the net migration rate patterns of the 2 age groups and the county characteristics that made significant contributions to explanation of the 2 groups rates become more similar. The model is least successful for the 1950-1960 decade suggesting support for the turnaround thesis. However at the regional scale of analysis both amenity and urbanization characteristics associated with high rates of net migration do not substantiate a turnaround in migration behavior. (authors)
Phase imaging digital holography for biological microscopy

The digital holographic microscopy is being developed, to offer a number of significant advantages and capabilities in phase imaging. The direct availability of both the amplitude and phase information offers a range of versatile processing techniques that can be applied to the complex field data, including the phase imaging which is particularly straightforward in digital holography. One of the techniques we are developing addresses the problem of 2-pi phase discontinuity in the phase image, where most of the conventional phase unwrapping algorithms require subjective intervention for multi-lambda discontinuity. In the present system, we generate two phase maps by digital holography using two different wavelengths. Numerical superposition of the two phase maps results in a new phase map whose effective wavelength is inversely proportional to the difference of the two wavelengths. The axial range can in principle be arbitrarily large compared to the wavelength, while maintaining axial resolution to a fraction of wavelength. We apply the phase imaging digital holography to a number of systems, including the imaging of thin films and biological cells. Preliminary results from these experiments are presented and future development and applications are discussed.
Effect of pre-exposure on crack initiation life of a directionally solidified Ni-base superalloy

Blades and vanes are just two of several industrial gas turbine (IGT) components often subjected to long periods of elevated temperature before, during, and after high stress operating conditions. In these systems, cyclic loading is induced by repeated start-ups, firings, and shut-down ramps. Combinations of complex thermal and mechanical service conditions in the presence of aggressive reactants facilitate crack initiation via oxide spike formation. In the current study, the effect of pre-exposure on the oxide spiking damage mechanism and crack initiation life is characterized for a representative directionally solidified (DS) Ni-base superalloy, e.g. DS GTD-111. Comparisons of unexposed and pre-exposed samples reveal that 100 h of either creep pre-strain and/or thermal pre-exposure strongly influences the dominant damage mechanism that leads to crack initiation under subsequent fatigue cycling. A mechanistic model for crack initiation is modified to capture the influence of pre-exposure on life.
A numerical analysis of a class of problems in elastodynamics with friction

On utilise les methodes d'elements finis pour analyser le comportement dynamique de corps lineairement elastiques ayant une partie de leurs frontieres soumise au frottement et a des tractions normales prescrites. On etablit des estimations d'erreur, on presente un algorithme de resolution des problemes a deux dimensions et on decrit plusieurs essais numeriques