cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Numerical simulation of the lubrication of the head-disk interface using a non-Newtonian fluid

The prospect of contact and near-contact recording in magnetic hard disk files naturally leads to reduced flying heights of the read-write head over the rigid disk. To avoid dry contact at these low head-to-disk spacings, a lubricant should be used to minimize wear and maximize reliability. Since fluids generally have a much greater viscosity than air and very large shear rates develop under the slider, it iss believed that a fully flooded interface can only be practically possible if the fluid possesses a non-Newtonian character with a significant amount of shear-thinning. In this paper, we present results from extensive numerical simulations of the fully flooded head-disk interface using the finite element technique
The effect of surface chemistry on the development ofthe [OH] in a combustion boundary layer*

The development of a combustion boundary layer formed by flowing a lean hydrogen-air mixture (=0.1) over a high temperature (1170K) flat plate has been investigated. Two different plate surface materials were studied: platinum and quartz. The OH concentration and temperature were measured respectively by laser induced fluorescence and Rayleigh scattering. The highly non-equilibrium OH concentration profiles were compared with the results of a numerical boundary layer model. The effect of surface chemistry was evaluated with three general surface chemistry boundary conditions: noncatalytic, surface oxidation, and surface oxidation with radical recombination. Near the leading edge of the flat plate the [OH] gradient obtained from the measured profiles for the platinum and quartz surfaces indicated a net OH production. Farther downstream the [OH] profiles were substantially different, with the quartz surface behaving similar to the noncatalytic boundary condition and the platinum surface behaving similar to the boundary condition for surface oxidation with radical recombination.
Light scattering from independent particles-nonGaussian correction to the clipped intensity correlation function

The authors consider Rayleigh scattering of laser light from an assembly of independent particles. They allow the particle number M within the scattering volume to fluctuate around a certain mean value (M). They derive a general formula for the intensity moments and find the nonGaussian correction to the single-clipped-at-zero photocount correlation function to order 1/(M)2.
EXCHANGE SYMMETRY OF MANY-PARTICLE STATE FUNCTIONS.

A formal operator definition of indistinguishability of identical particles alternative to permutation invariance of configuration probabilities is presented. The exchange-symmetry properties of many-particle wave functions are shown to follow simply and directly from the new definition.
An electrophoretic study of calcium oxalate monohydrate

Abstract The electrophoretic behavior of calcium oxalate monohydrate was analyzed in terms of a simple double-layer model. The experimental results with a variety of electrolytes could be described nearly quantitatively with the Nernst-Gouy-Stern double-layer model if reasonable values were chosen for the adjustable parameters. Specific adsorption of ions was analyzed in relation to their location in the double layer and to the strength of the adsorption bonds.
Bacteriophage lambda cro mutations: effects on activity and intracellular degradation

Abstract Following random mutagenesis of the bacteriophage lambda cro gene, we have isolated missense mutations that affect approximately half of the 66 residue positions of Cro. About two-thirds of the mutations change residues involved in the maintenance of Cro structure and stability. The corresponding mutant proteins are severely degraded in the cell but often have specific activities near that of wild-type Cro. The remaining mutations affect residues involved in DNA binding. These mutant proteins are present at moderately reduced intracellular levels, but their specific activities are much lower than that of wild type.
Continuous intraventricular infusion of neuropeptide Y evokes episodic food intake in satiated female rats: effects of adrenalectomy and cholecystokinin.

Abstract In these studies the pattern of feeding behavior during continuous intraventricular (IVT) infusion of NPY for 4 hr in the satiated female rat was monitored. Whereas saline infusion was ineffective, each of the three doses of NPY (117, 470 or 1175 pmol/hr) increased feeding during the entire 4 hr infusion and 2 hr postinfusion period. The cumulative food intake at the end of 4 hr of NPY infusion was enhanced in a dose-related fashion between 0, 117 and 470 pmol/hr; at 1175 pmol/hr food intake plateaued. In addition, the latency to initiate feeding response decreased in a dose-related fashion and feeding occurred in discrete (35–45) episodes during the 4 hr infusion period. Further, the total time feeding and local eating rate (g/min) increased significantly in response to the higher rates of NPY infusion. Concurrent infusion of cholecystokinin (CCK) at either equimolar or 2.5 × NPY dose, affected neither the NPY-induced cumulative food intake nor any other parameter of feeding behavior. On the other hand, cumulative food intake was significantly decreased in adrenalectomized rats in response to NPY infusion (470 pmol/hr); a response due primarily to a marked suppression in some, and almost complete cessation of food consumption in other rats during the second 2 hr period of NPY infusion. These studies show that continuous central infusion of NPY can produce sustained, intermittent feeding behavior and adrenalectomy significantly curtailed the duration of NPY effectiveness. These observations are in line with the view that an increase in NPY secretion in relevant brain site(s) may be responsible for the intermittent high rate of food consumption during the dark phase of the daily light-dark cycle in the rat.
Iterative source-channel decoding design using distortion based index assignment and joint redundant information

This work presents a convolutional coded iterative source-channel decoding (ISCD) to improve the fidelity of joint source-channel coded systems through designing index assignment (IA). A proposed end-to-end distortion based IA generates the joint redundant bits to provide more useful information for source and channel decoders. Specifically, such joint redundant bit not only enhances the error-correcting capacity of source codes but also provides the self-concatenated convolutional codes instead of convolutional codes for ISCD. In contrast to the conventional ISCD, our proposed ISCD employs the self-iterative channel decoding algorithm, and the extrinsic information exchange can be further enhanced through joint redundant bits. With considering joint redundant bits, we propose a modified source decoder with the goal to extract the extrinsic information for the self-iterative channel decoder. Simulation results show the proposed ISCD with our designed IA can further improve the Parameter Signal-to-Noise ratio performance.
Don’t Listen With Your Mouth Full: The Role of Facial Motor Action in Visual Speech Perception

Theories of speech perception agree that visual input enhances the understanding of speech but disagree on whether physically mimicking the speaker improves understanding. This study investigated whether facial motor mimicry facilitates visual speech perception by testing whether blocking facial motor action impairs speechreading performance. Thirty-five typically developing children (19 boys; 16 girls; M age = 7 years) completed the Revised Craig Lipreading Inventory under two conditions. While observing silent videos of 15 words being spoken, participants either held a tongue depressor horizontally with their teeth (blocking facial motor action) or squeezed a ball with one hand (allowing facial motor action). As hypothesized, blocking motor action resulted in fewer correctly understood words than that of the control task. The results suggest that facial mimicry or other methods of facial action support visual speech perception in children. Future studies on the impact of motor action on the typical and atypical development of speech perception are warranted.
Confetti: A Multiprotease Map of the HeLa Proteome for Comprehensive Proteomics

Bottom-up proteomics largely relies on tryptic peptides for protein identification and quantification. Tryptic digestion often provides limited coverage of protein sequence because of issues such as peptide length, ionization efficiency, and post-translational modification colocalization. Unfortunately, a region of interest in a protein, for example, because of proximity to an active site or the presence of important post-translational modifications, may not be covered by tryptic peptides. Detection limits, quantification accuracy, and isoform differentiation can also be improved with greater sequence coverage. Selected reaction monitoring (SRM) would also greatly benefit from being able to identify additional targetable sequences. In an attempt to improve protein sequence coverage and to target regions of proteins that do not generate useful tryptic peptides, we deployed a multiprotease strategy on the HeLa proteome. First, we used seven commercially available enzymes in single, double, and triple enzyme combinations. A total of 48 digests were performed. 5223 proteins were detected by analyzing the unfractionated cell lysate digest directly; with 42% mean sequence coverage. Additional strong-anion exchange fractionation of the most complementary digests permitted identification of over 3000 more proteins, with improved mean sequence coverage. We then constructed a web application (https://proteomics.swmed.edu/confetti) that allows the community to examine a target protein or protein isoform in order to discover the enzyme or combination of enzymes that would yield peptides spanning a certain region of interest in the sequence. Finally, we examined the use of nontryptic digests for SRM. From our strong-anion exchange fractionation data, we were able to identify three or more proteotypic SRM candidates within a single digest for 6056 genes. Surprisingly, in 25% of these cases the digest producing the most observable proteotypic peptides was neither trypsin nor Lys-C. SRM analysis of Asp-N versus tryptic peptides for eight proteins determined that Asp-N yielded higher signal in five of eight cases.
Spatial and Temporal Variability of Coarse (PM10−2.5) Particulate Matter Concentrations in the Los Angeles Area

Recent epidemiological and toxicological studies suggest that coarse particulate matter (CPM, particles smaller than 10 and larger than 2.5 μm in diameter, PM 10−2.5 ) concentrations may be associated with adverse health outcomes at levels similar to or larger than those associated with PM 2.5 concentrations. CPM may consist of several, mechanically generated, potentially toxic components, including re-suspended road dust, industrial materials, trace metals, and bio-aerosols. In an effort to better understand and quantify the linkage between sources, composition and the toxicity of coarse PM, 10 sampling sites were set-up in the Los Angeles area. Sites within this diverse monitoring network were selected to encompass urban, rural, coastal, inland, near-freeway, community-based, upwind pollutant “source” and downwind pollutant “receptor” sites to fully characterize the range of likely conditions. At each location, a 24 h time-integrated coarse PM sample was collected once per week for one year in order to ...
Comparison of probabilistic production cost simulation methods

The authors present the results of an investigation of the relative computational speeds and solution qualities of six different probabilistic production cost simulation methods for power systems. The six methods are: the piecewise linear approximation (PLA), segmentation, equivalent energy function (EEF), cumulant, mixture of normal approximation (MONA), and fast Fourier transform (FFT) methods. For energy calculations, considering both speed and accuracy, it is concluded that if accuracy is paramount then the EEF method with the MW interval chosen to be the maximum common divisor of the block capacities is preferred. If speed is paramount, then either MONA or cumulants is preferred. >
Visualising chemical composition and reaction kinetics by the near infrared multispectral imaging technique

A new multispectral imaging spectrometer which is capable of simultaneously recording spectral images in the visible and near infrared has been developed. In this instrument, an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) is used to diffract an unpolarised incident light into two diffracted beams with orthogonal polarisation. One of the beams is detected by a silicon camera for the visible region while the other is detected in the near infrared (NIR) region (from 1000 to 1700nm) with an NIR camera. The imaging spectrometer is sensitive, inexpensive and field deployable because it is based on a camera using the recently available InGaAs focal plane arrays which are low-cost and can be sensitively operated at room temperature. The imaging spectrometer was used for measurements which previously were not possible. These include the kinetic determination of curing of an epoxy resin by amine, and the detection of reaction products from solid-phase peptide synthesis. Rates of reactions between epoxy and amine were found to be very inhomogeneous. Because of this kinetic inhomogeneity, differences in the degrees of cure at different positions within the sample can be as high as 37% when data from only a single pixel were used for calculation. The inhomogeneity was not observed if the average of a large number of pixels was used. The NIR imaging spectrometer was also used for the kinetic determination and identification of products formed during the solid phase peptide synthesis of glycine, alanine and valine mediated by aminomethylstyrene resin beads. Because this NIR imaging spectrometer can measure spectra at different positions within a sample, it was used for the first demonstration in which reactions of three different solid-phase peptide syntheses (in a three-compartment cell) were simultaneously monitored. Since relatively good spectra can be obtained by using data recorded by a single pixel and because the NIR camera has 240× 320 pixels, this NIR multispectral imaging technique is not limited to three-compartment cell used in this study but rather can be used as the detection method for solidphase peptide synthesis in combinatorial chemistry.
Factors Associated With Acute Kidney Injury in Children Receiving Vancomycin

Background: As higher vancomycin doses have been used in children, concern for acute kidney injury (AKI) has increased. Data describing factors associated with AKI, particularly dose-related factors, are limited. Objective: To determine the incidence of AKI in children receiving intravenous vancomycin and to identify factors associated with increased odds of AKI. Methods: A retrospective review of patients admitted to a tertiary academic pediatric hospital from February 2009 to September 2010 was performed. Patients 3 months to <19 years old with normal kidney function, receiving vancomycin for at least 48 hours were included. Incidence of AKI was assessed as defined by the Pediatric-Modified RIFLE criteria. Patients with and without AKI were compared to determine factors associated with increased odds of AKI, focusing on vancomycin dose. Results: Of 175 patients included, 24 (13.7%) met AKI criteria. In a multivariate regression, likelihood of AKI increased with each 5 mg/kg increase in vancomycin dose (...
Measuring cycle time through the use of the queuing theory formula (G/G/M)

Semiconductor manufacturers are required to reduce their product cycle times since many product embedded semiconductor devices often have a very short life cycle. One way to reduce cycle time is to purchase extra manufacturing tools. However, these tools cost several millions of dollars and facility space is limited. Another way to reduce cycle time is to improve performance of the critical tools. The second option is less costly and provides a significant cost savings for manufactures, which leads them to maximize efficiency. In order to determine which tools are critical and require analytical resources to optimize their performance, a system is needed to prioritize which are the critical tools. This paper will focus on Kendall's Classification of Queues, and it will focus on the G/G/m Queue (general distribution arrival process / general distribution service process / m servers) (Kendall 1953).
Multimodal electrochemical sensing of transcription factor–operator complexes

Interactions of proteins with nucleic acids arise at all levels of cellular function, from chromosomal packing to biological regulation. These interactions can be analyzed in a high-throughput fashion by immobilizing the DNA sequences of interest, possibly numbering in the thousands, at discrete locations on a solid support and identifying those sequences that a protein analyte binds. Ideally, such surface assays would use unlabeled analyte to simplify protocols and avoid the possibility of perturbing the protein/DNA interaction. The present study compares three electrochemical modalities for simultaneously detecting binding of unlabeled transcription factor proteins to immobilized DNA duplexes based on (i) changes in the duplex diffusive motions, (ii) variations in the surface potential, and (iii) variations in the interfacial charging impedance, all of which can be conveniently derived from AC voltammetry traces. Cro protein from bacteriophage lambda is used as a model transcription factor. Specific binding of protein was successfully detected through modalities (i) and (ii), but not (iii). The effectiveness of these techniques is compared as a function of sampling frequency and protein concentration. Binding of 15 kDa Cro slowed down rotational diffusion of immobilized duplexes approximately 3-fold, and induced up to 5 mV changes in the surface potential. Moreover, by assessing Cro binding to bacteriophage operators of variable affinity, the study illustrates how contrast between specific and nonspecific interactions impacts detection.
Toward An Understanding of Traumatized Organizations and How to Intervene in Them

The thesis of this paper is that organizations, just as individuals, can suffer from trauma. The nature of an organization’s work directly impacts the culture of the organization: organizations tha...
Neutron Depolarization by Flux Latrices in High-T C Materials

We have recently reported[l] neutron depolarization measurements on an YBa2Cu3O7−δ composition exhibiting a transition from a low temperature state which caused depolarization (P=0.76+−.02) to one at high temperatures (T=55K) where depolarization was absent. Since this temperature is well below the measured superconducting transition at 86K, we speculated that the transition was a dynamic one corresponding to flux lattice melting[2] or to formation of a glassy state[3]. We have now extended these depolarization measurements to two specimens of Bi2.2Sr1.7CaCu2O8+δ’ prepared and characterized[4] at IBM, which showed superconducting transitions at 80K with weak tails extending to 110K. The two samples have critical current densities, as determined by the Bean expression[5], that differ by 50%.
Myocardial protective effect of amiodarone in hypertrophied hearts during global ischemia.

Abstract The effect of amiodarone on the ischemic-reperfusion injury was tested in an isolated working preparation, using hypertrophied rat heart at 37°C. Constant filling and afterload pressures and similar heart rates were used. Hearts from spontaneously hypertensive rats (N = 78) had thirty minutes of ischemia. Each received a 12-ml injection, by aortic root infusion, of amiodarone in normal saline or of normal saline alone at 37°C at the onset of ischemia. Heart rate, aortic output, coronary sinus output, atrial pressure, and aortic pressure were recorded before and after global ischemia under steady-state conditions. Dose-response studies were performed at concentrations of 0.01 to 1.0 mg/ml. At every dose administered, amiodarone was found to significantly ameliorate the deleterious effects of global ischemia. The maximal benefit of amiodarone (70 ± 4.6% recovery of function [mean ± standard error of the mean], p p
Managing disagreements in the management of short bowel and hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Background and Objectives. When innovative, not yet fully proven therapies are introduced, physicians may have neither experience nor sufficient data in the medical literature to assist in their decision to discuss them with and/or recommend them to patients. Little is known about how physicians deal with this uncertainty. Moreover, when multiple physicians caring for a single patient have reached different conclusions regarding this new therapy, the potential for disagreement exists that could give rise to ethical issues as well as cause confusion to the patient. To explore these topics, we investigated the attitudes of specialists to therapies for two life-threatening diseases: hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and short bowel syndrome. Methods. A forced choice questionnaire was distributed to the heads of neonatology, pediatric cardiology, and pediatric gastroenterology training programs asking about their outcome impressions and treatment recommendations and about the local availability of treatments. In addition, responses from specialists from the same institution were linked in a confidential manner to evaluate the frequency of disagreement within the same institution. Responses were analyzed using χ2 and Wilcoxon matched pair analysis as appropriate. Results. The overall rate of response was 79%. In institutions that had both neonatology and pediatric gastroenterology training programs, there was a 59% response rate compared with a 73% response rate from institutions that had both neonatology and cardiology programs. Significant differences were noted among specialists as to who would be involved in discussions of therapeutic options with patients in both HLHS and short bowel syndrome. Differences also were noted in the willingness of specialists to discuss and recommend therapies, in the perceived survival and quality of life by various specialists after transplant and palliative surgery, and in the local availability of various options. The neonatologists and gastroenterologists at the same institution disagreed on responses in 34% of the questions with only 1 of the 25 pairs in full agreement. In contrast, the neonatologists and pediatric cardiologists at the same institution disagreed in only 14% of the questions with 7 of the 28 pairs in full agreement. Conclusions. Substantial disagreement among specialists about new interventions was found. There seem to be fewer differences among specialists when dealing with the more mature therapy, HLHS. Two major ethical issues arise. First, there seems to be no accepted professional standard to which individuals can appeal when determining whether to discuss or recommend new, not-yet-fully-proven technologies. Second, there is the potential for much patient confusion when counseling physicians recommend different options. Colleagues as individuals and specialists as groups should talk to each other before individual discussions with families to ensure that there is a clear understanding of differing beliefs.
AWE: A robotic wall and reconfigurable desk supporting working life in a digital society

“AWE” is a programmable “Animated Work Environment” supporting everyday human activities, at home, work and school, in an increasingly digital society. AWE features a novel robotic “wall,” three horizontal, reconfigurable work surfaces, and embedded information technologies. The video shows AWE as a digital simulation moving through six standard wall-desk configurations, interspersed with still photos and video clips of people interacting with the physical, full-scale, working prototype. The video also shows AWE beginning to behave intelligently as well as users fine-tuning AWE's configurations by gesturing proximity sensors mounted at the hinges between wall panels. Usability testing suggests that AWE clearly adapts to variations in complex activities involving users working or playing in a single physical space with both physical and digital tools and artifacts.
Ischemia-induced stimulation of Na-K-Cl cotransport in cerebral microvascular endothelial cells involves AMP kinase.

Increased blood-brain barrier (BBB) Na-K-Cl cotransporter activity appears to contribute to cerebral edema formation during ischemic stroke. We have shown previously that inhibition of BBB Na-K-Cl ...
Hierarchical constraint conscious RT-level test generation

The increasing complexity of ICs necessitates the use of test generation methodologies at higher levels of abstraction. We propose a computationally efficient RT-level test generation methodology that utilizes a divide and conquer approach. The hierarchical constraints for the module under test are identified through the proposed justification and propagation analysis. These constraints are then taken into account during the local test vector generation for the module under test, enabling the identification of the local test vectors that are guaranteed to be effective not only at the module-level but also at the system-level as well. High quality test sets are thus generated by the proposed methodology in a computationally efficient manner. Experimental results verify the performance boosts attained by the proposed methodology as well.
The political and legal culture of European integration: An exploratory essay

Typically and importantly, in exploring the systemic aspects of the Union in our attempts both to reach conceptual understanding as well as, instrumentally, to explain its success and failures, we reach out to the political and the legal. As regards the former, our systemic approach is to focus on institutional structure and decisional process. As regards the latter, our systemic approach focuses not on the substantive, material, primary rules of Union law but on what we commonly call the “legal order” and its own operating system—the systemic secondary rules and principles that hold together the substantive content. The interaction between the political and legal for long has been a mainstay of the field, a rich and productive seam, the mining of which has enabled us to give a broader and deeper understanding of both the conceptual and the operational. In this exploratory essay, I reach out to prior questions as regards both the political and the legal, questions concerning the culture that undergirds political structure and process as well as legal order. Political and legal culture are “prior” in an ontological sense, they inform specific institutional arrangements and, at times give them meaning. Culture, including political and legal culture, is never static. It may inform the specific institutional arrangements, but, in turn, it is itself informed, shaped, and modified by the arrangements in a continuous cycle of interaction. This poses a formidable methodological Gordian knot, which may explain why, despite our longheld understanding of the importance of culture in any systematic analysis of polity, it has received somewhat less attention in European Union studies. My way of cutting through the knot, rather than unraveling it, has been to examine the temporally “prior,” the prior-in-time, through what, I hope, is a fresh look at some of the most noted foundational instruments (texts) of European integration. This is an inevitably limiting methodology since it cuts out the dynamic, that continuous
Receptor Theories and Quantitative Effect Versus Dose-Concentration Relationship

Abstract1. Both in vivo and in vitro, the dissociation constant K & D50. This was shown for morphine in vivo and for several vasoconstrictors in isolated vascular smooth muscle.3. Values of K obtained from pharmacologic methods can discriminate among receptor subtypes.4. A proper determination of K permits knowledge of the stimulus-response relation, a drug-independent property of the effector system.5. A perturbation of the drug-receptor equilibrium is a way of determining both k1 and k2; so far, however, we have been successful only with α-adrenergic vasoconstrictors in which UV light is a suitable stimulus.6. Radiolabeled binding appears to be a precise way of determining K's for agonists and antagonists. However, it does not measure an effect; hence we do not know that such binding sites are true receptors unless we can find a correlation between the values obtained for a series of drugs with this method and those obtained with appropriate pharmacologic methods.
A Cut-Based Algorithm for the Nonlinear Dual of the Minimum Cost Network Flow Problem

We consider a convex, or nonlinear, separable minimization problem with constraints that are dual to the minimum cost network flow problem. We show how to reduce this problem to a polynomial number of minimum s,t-cut problems. The solution of the reduced problem utilizes the technique for solving integer programs on monotone inequalities in three variables, and a so-called proximity-scaling technique that reduces a convex problem to its linear objective counterpart. The problem is solved in this case in a logarithmic number of calls, O(log U), to a minimum cut procedure, where U is the range of the variables. For a convex problem on n variables the minimum cut is solved on a graph with O(n2) nodes. Among the consequences of this result is a new cut-based scaling algorithm for the minimum cost network flow problem. When the objective function is an arbitrary nonlinear function we demonstrate that this constrained problem is solved in pseudopolynomial time by applying a minimum cut procedure to a graph on O(nU) nodes.
Outcomes with multimodal therapy for elderly patients with rectal cancer.

Background Treatment guidelines for stage II and III rectal cancer include neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, surgery and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Although data support this recommendation in younger patients, it is unclear whether this benefit can be extrapolated to elderly patients (aged 75 years or older). Methods This was a retrospective review of patients aged at least 75 years with stage II or III rectal cancer who underwent surgery with curative intent from 1996 to 2013 at the Mayo Clinic. Kaplan–Meier analysis and log rank test were used to compare overall survival between therapy groups. Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the independent effect of treatment group on survival. Results A total of 160 elderly patients (median age 80 years) with stage II (66) and stage III (94) rectal cancer underwent surgical resection. Only 30·0 and 33·8 per cent received neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy respectively. Among patients with stage II disease, there was no significant difference in 60-month survival between patients who received any additional therapy and those who had surgery alone (55 versus 38 per cent respectively; P = 0·184), whereas additional therapy improved survival in patients with stage III tumours (58 versus 30 per cent respectively; P = 0·007). Multivariable analysis found a survival benefit for additional therapy in elderly patients with stage III disease (hazard ratio 0·58, 95 per cent c.i. 0·34 to 0·98). Conclusion A multimodal approach in elderly patients with stage III rectal cancer improved oncological outcomes.
Waiting for learning: designing interactive educational materials for patient waiting areas

We describe the research and design of educational media for children in doctor's office waiting areas. Even though technology use for medical purposes has become increasingly prominent for doctors, administration, and patients, research on the use of interactive technology for health education is limited. In this project, we focus on clinics for Sickle Cell Disease treatment. These clinics treat patients of various ages and disease severity, but all patients make frequent, recurring visits for treatments and checkups. We describe our current research to better understand the behaviors and activities of patients as they wait in the clinic, their expectations and understandings of Sickle Cell Disease and its treatment, the educational material currently available, and our preliminary methods for developing interactive technologies for these environments. This reseach includes observations in pediatric clinic waiting areas, interviews with clinic staff, and preliminary user testing with our interactive designs. This paper details our observations of waiting areas in two sickle cell clinics. We discuss our findings and their implications for design. We also describe the design of an augmented reality tablet application that we placed in the waiting area for user testing. We use this study to discuss further design iterations and directions for future work.
Diagnostic magmatic features in carbonatites: implications for the origins of dolomite- and ankerite-rich carbonatites

Carbonatites are especially susceptible to subsolidus modifications, because of the low strength and high ductility of calcite and the solubility of many carbonatite minerals in aqueous fluids. As a result, magmatic textures and mineral assemblages of carbonatites are commonly altered and even obliterated, and then secondary features may be misinterpreted as magmatic. Furthermore, non-magmatic carbonate-rich rocks may be misidentified as carbonatites. Isotope ratios and trace-element concentrations can provide evidence of magmatic origin that may endure through recrystallization and alteration, but such proof by no means implies that all textural and mineralogical features now visible were formed in the presence of a carbonate-rich magmatic liquid
Analytical Modeling of Cantilevered Piezoelectric Energy Harvesters for Transverse and Longitudinal Base Motions

Recent developments in electronics have reduced the power requirement of small electronic components and motivated the research for operating such devices by using the vibration energy available in their ambient. Among the alternatives for vibration-to-electric energy conversion, piezoelectric materials have received the highest attention in the last five years. Several authors have considered a cantilevered beam with one or two piezoceramic layers connected to a resistive electrical load as a piezoelectric energy harvester model. The early mathematical modeling attempts appeared in the literature so far range from elementary single-degree-of-freedom models to approximate distributed parameter models in the sense of Rayleigh-Ritz discretization. In addition, there have been some distributed parameter modeling approaches which ignore modal summation or oversimplify backward coupling in the mechanical domain and some misleading modeling attempts due to weak mathematical assumptions. In this paper, we present analytical solutions for coupled electrical and mechanical response of cantilevered piezoelectric energy harvesters under transverse and longitudinal vibrations due to harmonic base excitation. First, closed-form expressions of voltage response and mechanical response are derived for unimorph and bimorph harvester beam configurations under transverse vibrations (due to translation of the base with superimposed small rotation). The derivation is then extended to cantilevered harvester bars in longitudinal vibrations. After deriving closed-form voltage and mechanical response expressions for harmonic base excitations at arbitrary frequencies, the relations are reduced to single-mode expressions for excitations around the modal (natural) frequencies. The analytical derivation is also used for handling of non-harmonic base acceleration inputs by combining the analytical voltage – to – base acceleration frequency response functions with the Fourier series representation of non-harmonic base acceleration histories. Theoretical demonstrations and experimental verifications are also presented.
345 BLOOD PRESSURE KNOWLEDGE IN URBAN HYPERTENSIVE MINORITIES.

Purpose Knowledge of hypertension risks and consequences can equip patients with the motivation and skills necessary to reduce their blood pressure. However, this knowledge is thought to be limited in indigent, minority populations. Methods Between January and August 2005, a trained interviewer administered a telephone questionnaire to 296 patients identified from an urban public hospital primary care clinic. Blood pressure knowledge was assessed through a validated 10-item/10-point questionnaire and included items measuring patient understanding of the prognosis, treatment, and adverse outcomes of hypertension. Results Overall, 12% (n = 34) of patients answered all 10 questions correctly. Only 8% (n = 23) answered less than half of the questions correctly. Among participants, 98% (n = 290) and 95% (n = 281) of patients knew that high blood pressure was associated with heart attacks and stroke, but only 76% (n = 226) knew it caused kidney disease. Only 42% (n = 124) of respondents knew that high blood pressure did not cause cancer; 8% (n = 24) responded they thought hypertension did cause cancer and 50% (n = 148) were uncertain. A logistic regression model was performed adjusting for age, race, gender, and including time since hypertension diagnosis, comfort asking their doctor questions, having dependents, income level, cigarette smoking, cohabitation status, and education. The odds ratios (95% confidence interval (CI)) of having limited blood pressure knowledge (score # 7 versus $ 9) were 2.4 (1.1-5.0) for patients > 60 compared to # 50 years, 5.2 (1.7-15.7) and 3.0 (1.4-6.3) for patients who were first diagnosed with hypertension 10 years ago, and 2.3 (1.2-4.3) for patients with less than a high school education compared to completion of high school. Conclusions Knowledge of high blood pressure in these patients receiving care in an urban public health system is good, except in specific areas, such as its relationship to chronic kidney disease. Older patients and those with less formal education are most at risk for insufficient hypertension knowledge. Targeting hypertension education content to select areas and audiences may improve efficiency and effectiveness of hypertension education in urban, minority populations.
Direct optical band gap measurement in polycrystalline semiconductors: A critical look at the Tauc method

Abstract The direct optical band gap of semiconductors is traditionally measured by extrapolating the linear region of the square of the absorption curve to the x -axis, and a variation of this method, developed by Tauc, has also been widely used. The application of the Tauc method to crystalline materials is rooted in misconception–and traditional linear extrapolation methods are inappropriate for use on degenerate semiconductors, where the occupation of conduction band energy states cannot be ignored. A new method is proposed for extracting a direct optical band gap from absorption spectra of degenerately-doped bulk semiconductors. This method was applied to pseudo-absorption spectra of Sn-doped In 2 O 3 (ITO)—converted from diffuse-reflectance measurements on bulk specimens. The results of this analysis were corroborated by room-temperature photoluminescence excitation measurements, which yielded values of optical band gap and Burstein–Moss shift that are consistent with previous studies on In 2 O 3 single crystals and thin films.
Localization of luteinizing hormone-releasing factor in the human placenta.

Luteinizing hormone-releasing factor (LRF) has been found to be produced by the placenta. In the present study, the localization of this releasing factor was delineated by the use of an immunofluorescence technique. Intense fluorescence was localized in the cytotrophoblast, along the outer surface layer of the syncytiotrophoblast, and in the villous stroma. The cytoplasm of the syncytiotrophoblast did not exhibit any fluorescence. It may be speculated that placental LRF plays a role in regulating the production of human chorionic gonadotropin.
Robust blind spikes deconvolution

Blind spikes deconvolution, or blind super-resolution, deals with the problem of estimating the delays and amplitudes of spikes from its convolution with an unknown low-pass point spread function. By constraining the point spread function in a known low-dimensional subspace, a convex optimization algorithm called AtomicLift has been proposed to exactly recover the spikes up to an unavoidable scaling ambiguity in the noiseless setting. This paper analyzes the performance of AtomicLift in the presence of bounded noise, and shows that the spikes are localized in a stable manner where the localization inaccuracy is proportional to the noise level. Moreover, we show AtomicLift is also capable to handle sparse outliers in the frequency domain.
Pharmacokinetics of high clearance drugs and their metabolites

The overall objective in describing mathematically the time course of drug and metabolite concentrations in the body is twofold: (1) to give a reasonable summary and explanation of the characteristics of the data, and (2) to make predictions and design future studies. Forecasting the results from multiple dosing, effects of disease states, and pharmacologic/toxicologic activity from limited drug concentration data are major goals of predictive pharmacokinetics.
Stress Spillover and Crossover in Same-Sex Couples: Concurrent and Lagged Daily Effects

ABSTRACTA growing body of literature on romantic relationships demonstrates associations between daily stress and relationship quality; however, this research has largely focused on heterosexual couples. Whereas all couples may experience common external stressors originating outside the relationship (e.g., work and finances), sexual-minority couples may also experience unique stressors due to their sexual orientation (e.g., discrimination or harassment). To address the dearth of literature on the daily experience of stress in same-sex relationships, we examine concurrent (same-day) and lagged (next-day) effects of common external and sexual-minority stressors on relationship quality using 14-day daily diaries from 81 same-sex couples. In doing so, we identify the types of external stress most likely to spill over into the relationship, as well as those vulnerable to crossing over from one partner to the other. We further examine whether the effects are proximal (concurrent) or carry over from one day to ...
SMALL CALCIUM-BINDING PROTEINS AND 1,25-DIHYDROXYVITAMIN D RECEPTOR DISTRIBUTION

Publisher Summary This chapter analyzes small calcium-binding proteins (CaBP) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D receptor distribution. The presence of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)203] receptors in a number of new target tissues and the hormone's physiological role are studied. Small CaBPs were visualized by 45 Ca-incubation and autoradiography. In addition to the intestinal mucosa and the kidney, tissues classically known to contain both 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 receptors and vitamin D-related CaBPs, CaBPs were examined in tissues recently shown to contain receptors and tissues without receptors. The CaBP detected with these procedures included unidentified bands at 13 kDa, 23.5 kDa, 29 kDa and 30.5 kDa. All tissues contained calmodulin that appeared as a doublet at 18.5 and 19.5 kDa. A band at 14.5 kDa that co-migrated with parvalbumin was very prominent in prostrate. Immunoblotting demonstrated the cross reactivity of this protein in testis and heart with antibodies to authentic rat renal 28 kDa CaBP D . Prostrate, lung and bladder also contained CaBP band comigrating with the vitamin D-related 10 kDa mucosal CaBP. It is found that there is no apparent correlation between the CaBP patterns and the 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 receptors.
Sexual offenders, violent offenders, and community reentry: Challenges and treatment considerations

Abstract Sexual offenders and violent offenders compose two diverse subgroups of the United States' offender population, and individuals in these groups face unique challenges with respect to reentry and reintegration into the community upon release from controlled settings. Successful reintegration is typically defined by a lack of recidivism; however, an offender's quality of life may also be considered a critical consideration when defining success. Of the major challenges faced by sexual offenders and violent offenders, social stigma and barriers to housing and employment are among the most notable. These factors are often interrelated, such that difficulty in one domain may contribute to difficulties in other domains. As public perception of such offenders is largely driven by the media, stereotypes, and public policy, and less by research, offenders also face distinctive social barriers to successful community reentry and reintegration. Moreover, there is limited support for established policies and programs intended to maximize a violent/sexual offender's reentry success, in part due to the low base rate of reoffense. The present study reviews the literature examining factors associated with successful and unsuccessful community reintegration for sexual offenders and violent offenders released from controlled settings. Treatment of sexual offenders and violent offenders, and community-based support programs designed to facilitate reentry and reintegration, are also discussed.
Detecting Fully Irreducible Automorphisms: A Polynomial Time Algorithm

ABSTRACTIn [Kapovich 14] we produced an algorithm for deciding whether or not an element is an iwip (“fully irreducible”) automorphism. At several points that algorithm was rather inefficient as it involved some general enumeration procedures as well as running several abstract processes in parallel. In this article we refine the algorithm from [Kapovich 14] by eliminating these inefficient features, and also by eliminating any use of mapping class groups algorithms. Our main result is to produce, for any fixed N ⩾ 3, an algorithm which, given a topological representative f of an element ϕ of , decides in polynomial time in terms of the “size” of f, whether or not ϕ is fully irreducible. In addition, we provide a train-track criterion of being fully irreducible which covers all fully irreducible elements of , including both atoroidal and non-atoroidal ones. We also give an algorithm, alternative to that of Turner, for finding all the indivisible Nielsen paths in an expanding train-track map, and estimate ...
On the probability distribution of daily streamflow in the United States

Abstract. Daily streamflows are often represented by flow duration curves (FDCs), which illustrate the frequency with which flows are equaled or exceeded. FDCs have had broad applications across both operational and research hydrology for decades; however, modeling FDCs has proven elusive. Daily streamflow is a complex time series with flow values ranging over many orders of magnitude. The identification of a probability distribution that can approximate daily streamflow would improve understanding of the behavior of daily flows and the ability to estimate FDCs at ungaged river locations. Comparisons of modeled and empirical FDCs at nearly 400 unregulated, perennial streams illustrate that the four-parameter kappa distribution provides a very good representation of daily streamflow across the majority of physiographic regions in the conterminous United States (US). Further, for some regions of the US, the three-parameter generalized Pareto and lognormal distributions also provide a good approximation to FDCs. Similar results are found for the period of record FDCs, representing the long-term hydrologic regime at a site, and median annual FDCs, representing the behavior of flows in a typical year.
Student Protests in Twentieth-Century China: The View from Shanghai

Introduction Part I. The Warlord Era, 1911-1927: 1. Shanghai and its students, 1911-1927 2. The May 4th movement 3. Student tactics 4. The May 30th movement 5. Organization and mobilization Part II. The Nationalist Period, 1927-1949: 6. Shanghai and its students, 1927-1949 7. The student movement of 1931 8. The language of student protest 9. Student struggles of the mid-1940s 10. The power of student protest Epilogue: the May 4th tradition in the 1980s Notes Bibliorgaphic essay Bibliography Chinese character list Index.