cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design considerations and experimental analysis for silicon carbide power rectifiers

Abstract In this paper we present the investigation of properties of silicon carbide power rectifiers, in particular Schottky, PiN and advanced hybrid power rectifiers such as the trench MOS barrier Schottky rectifier. Analysis of the forward, reverse and switching experimental characteristics are presented and these silicon carbide rectifiers are compared to silicon devices. Silicon carbide Schottky rectifiers are attractive for applications requiring blocking voltage in excess of 100 V as the use of Si is precluded by its large specific on-resistance. Analysis of power dissipation indicates that silicon carbide Schottky rectifiers offer significant improvement over silicon counterparts. Silicon carbide junction rectifiers, on the other hand, are superior to silicon counterparts only for blocking voltage greater than 2000 V. Performance of acceptor (boron) and donor (phosphorus) implanted experimental silicon carbide junction rectifiers are presented and compared. Some of the recent developments in silicon carbide rectifiers have been described and compared with theory and our experimental results. The well established silicon rectifiers theory are often inadequate to describe the characteristics of the experimental silicon carbide junction rectifiers and appropriate generalization of these theories are presented. Experimental trench MOS barrier Schottky rectifiers (TMBS) have demonstrated significant improvement in leakage current compared to planar Schottky devices. Performance of current state-of-the-art silicon carbide rectifiers are far from theoretical predictions. Availability of high-quality silicon carbide crystals is crucial to successful realization of these performance projections.
Survival of Teliospores of Tilletia indica in Soil.

Babadoost, M., Mathre, D. E., Johnston, R. H., and Bonde, M. R. 2004. Survival of teliospores of Tilletia indica in soil. Plant Dis. 88:56-62. This study was conducted to assess survival of Tilletia indica teliospores in a location in the northern United States. Soils differing in texture and other characteristics were collected from four locations, equilibrated to –0.3 MPa, and infested with teliospores of T. indica to give a density of 10 3 teliospores per gram of dry soil. Samples (22 g) of the infested soil were placed in 20-µm mesh polyester bags, which were sealed and placed at 2-, 10-, and 25-cm depths in polyvinyl chloride tubes containing the same field soil as the infested bags. Tubes were buried vertically in the ground at Bozeman, MT, in October 1997. Soil samples were assayed for recovery and germination of T. indica teliospores 1 day and 8, 20, and 32 months after incorporation of teliospores into soil. The rates of teliospores recovered from soil samples were 90.2, 18.7, 16.1, and 13.3% after 1 day and 8, 20, and 32 months after incorporation of teliospores into soil, respectively, and was significantly (P < 0.01) affected by soil source. The percentage of teliospore recovery from soil was the greatest in loam soil and lowest from a silt loam soil. The rate of teliospores recovered from soil was not significantly affected by depth of burial and the soil source–depth interaction during the 32-month period. The percentage of germination of teliospores was significantly (P < 0.01) affected by soil source and depth of burial over the 32month period. The mean percentage of teliospore germination at 1 day, and 8, 20, and 32 months after incorporation into soils was 51.3, 15.1, 16.4, and 16.5%, respectively. In another experiment, samples of silty clay loam soil with 5 × 10 3 teliospores of T. indica per gram of soil were stored at different temperatures in the laboratory. After 37 months of incubation at 22, 4, –5, and –18°C, the rates of teliospore recovered from soil were 1.6, 2.0, 5.7, and 11.3%, respectively. The percentage of spore germination from soil samples was highest at –5°C. Microscopy studies revealed that disintegration of teliospores begin after breakdown of the sheath-covering teliospore. The results of this study showed that teliospores of T. indica can survive in Montana for more than 32 months and remain viable. Additional keywords: Neovossia indica, Triticum aestivum
A novel anterior technique for simultaneous single-stage anterior and posterior cervical release for fixed kyphosis: Technical note

The incidence rate of kyphosis of the cervical spine after a laminectomy can be as high as 20% after a multilevel laminectomy. The loss of the posterior tension band leads to increased load on the vertebral body and discs, leading to further degenerative changes and kyphotic deformities. The initial decompression of the spinal cord disappears as the cord is stretched over the anterior lesions. Muscle damage and facet degeneration from prior surgery contribute to additional pain, muscle spasm, and motion. Occasionally prior surgical fusion that fails to address the kyphosis or spontaneous fusion in a kyphotic position (observed more in laminectomies performed in the growing spine) can result in a challenging rigid deformity with anterior vertebral body and lateral mass facet fusion. For this fixed deformity, anterior and posterior release are often necessary for restoration of lordosis, which can result in the need for a 540 degrees procedure. In this report the authors describe an anterior technique for simultaneous anterior and posterior lateral mass release. The vertebral artery is mobilized using this technique, allowing for its lateral retraction. The nerve roots are visualized and retracted superiorly and inferiorly. The lateral mass and facets can then be accessed anteriorly using an osteotome or drill for the release. The authors illustrate this technique in a patient who developed fixed scoliosis and kyphosis of the cervical spine after surgery for degenerative disc disease. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of this technique.
Subliminal Mere Exposure: Specific, General, and Diffuse Effects

The present research examined the possibility that repeated exposure may simultaneously produce specific and diffuse effects. In Study 1, participants were presented with 5-ms exposures of 25 stimuli each shown once (single-exposure condition) or with five repetitions of 5 stimuli (repeated-exposure condition). Participants in the repeated-exposure condition subsequently rated their own mood more positively than those in the single-exposure condition. Study 2 examined whether affect generated by subliminal repeated exposures transfers to unrelated stimuli. After a subliminal exposure phase, affective reactions to previously exposed stimuli, to new but similar stimuli, and to stimuli from a different category were obtained. Previously exposed stimuli were rated most positively and novel different stimuli least positively. All stimuli were rated more positively in the repeated-exposure condition than in the single-exposure condition. These findings suggest that affect generated by subliminal repeated exposure is sufficiently diffuse to influence ratings of unrelated stimuli and mood.
Variable transformation of calibration equations for radiation dosimetry.

For radiation dosimetry, dosimetric equipment must be calibrated by using known doses. The calibration is done to determine an equation that relates the absorbed dose to a physically measurable quantity. Since the calibration equation is accompanied by unavoidable uncertainties, the doses estimated with such equations suffer from inherent uncertainties. We presented mathematical formulation of the calibration when the calibration relation is either linear or nonlinear. We also derived equations for the uncertainty of the estimated dose as a function of the uncertainties of the parameters in the equations and the measured physical quantity. We showed that a dosimeter with a linear calibration equation with zero dose-offset enables us to perform relative dosimetry without calibration data. Furthermore, a linear equation justifies useful data manipulations such as rescaling the dose and changing the dose-offset for comparing dose distributions. Considering that some dosimeters exhibit linear response with a large dose-offset or often nonlinear response, we proposed variable transformations of the measured physical quantity, namely, linear- and log-transformation methods. The proposed methods were tested with Kodak X-Omat V radiographic film and BANG® polymer gel dosimeter. We demonstrated that the variable transformation methods could lead to linear equations with zero dose-offset and could reduce the uncertainty of the estimated dose.
Differential Apaf-1 levels allow cytochrome c to induce apoptosis in brain tumors but not in normal neural tissues

Brain tumors are typically resistant to conventional chemotherapeutics, most of which initiate apoptosis upstream of mitochondrial cytochrome c release. In this study, we demonstrate that directly activating apoptosis downstream of the mitochondria, with cytosolic cytochrome c, kills brain tumor cells but not normal brain tissue. Specifically, cytosolic cytochrome c is sufficient to induce apoptosis in glioblastoma and medulloblastoma cell lines. In contrast, primary neurons from the cerebellum and cortex are remarkably resistant to cytosolic cytochrome c. Importantly, tumor tissue from mouse models of both high-grade astrocytoma and medulloblastoma display hypersensitivity to cytochrome c when compared with surrounding brain tissue. This differential sensitivity to cytochrome c is attributed to high Apaf-1 levels in the tumor tissue compared with low Apaf-1 levels in the adjacent brain tissue. These differences in Apaf-1 abundance correlate with differences in the levels of E2F1, a previously identified activator of Apaf-1 transcription. ChIP assays reveal that E2F1 binds the Apaf-1 promoter specifically in tumor tissue, suggesting that E2F1 contributes to the expression of Apaf-1 in brain tumors. Together, these results demonstrate an unexpected sensitivity of brain tumors to postmitochondrial induction of apoptosis. Moreover, they raise the possibility that this phenomenon could be exploited therapeutically to selectively kill brain cancer cells while sparing the surrounding brain parenchyma.
Recurrent Mitral Regurgitation and Risk Factors for Early and Late Mortality After Mitral Valve Repair for Functional Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation

Background Mortality for patients with coronary artery disease and functional ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) remains high regardless of the treatment strategy. Data regarding risk factors, progression of MR, and cause of death in this subgroup are limited. Methods A retrospective study was performed on 257 consecutive patients undergoing mitral valve repair exclusively for IMR from 1996 to 2005. Potential preoperative and perioperative risk factors for death and postoperative echocardiographic data were recorded. Results Preoperative echocardiography demonstrated 3+ to 4+ MR in 98.4% (252 of 257). Concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 80.9% (208 of 257). Operative mortality was 10.1% (26 of 257). Overall survival by Kaplan-Meier analysis was 68.3% at 3 years and 52.0% at 5 years. Factors associated with late mortality by multivariate analysis include advanced age (relative risk [RR], 1.037; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.016 to 1.059; p ≤ 0.001), preoperative dialysis (RR, 3.504; 95% CI, 1.590 to 7.720; p = 0.008), and diabetes (RR, 2.047; 95% CI, 1.319 to 3.177; p = 0.001). Echocardiographic data at 20 ± 25 months were available in 57% (147 of 257). Their survival by Kaplan-Meier analysis was 76.4% at 3 years and 65.1% at 5 years with 0 to 2+ MR postoperatively (n = 106) vs 61.3% and 35.8% with 3+ to 4+ MR (n = 41; p = 0.003). Cause of death was available in 72.3% (60 of 83) of late deaths, with 42.2% (35 of 83) attributed to cardiac causes and 30.1% (25 of 83) noncardiac. Conclusions Mortality for IMR remains high despite surgical management and may be related to risk factors for progression of coronary artery disease. Despite repair, MR progresses in many patients and is associated with poor survival, although more detailed prospective data are needed to characterize this relationship.
Characteristics of the tomato nuclear genome as determined by sequencing undermethylated EcoRI digested fragments.

A collection of 9,990 single-pass nuclear genomic sequences, corresponding to 5 Mb of tomato DNA, were obtained using methylation filtration (MF) strategy and reduced to 7,053 unique undermethylated genomic islands (UGIs) distributed as follows: (1) 59% non-coding sequences, (2) 28% coding sequences, (3) 12% transposons—96% of which are class I retroelements, and (4) 1% organellar sequences integrated into the nuclear genome over the past approximately 100 million years. A more detailed analysis of coding UGIs indicates that the unmethylated portion of tomato genes extends as far as 676 bp upstream and 766 bp downstream of coding regions with an average of 174 and 171 bp, respectively. Based on the analysis of the UGI copy distribution, the undermethylated portion of the tomato genome is determined to account for the majority of the unmethylated genes in the genome and is estimated to constitute 61±15 Mb of DNA (~5% of the entire genome)—which is significantly less than the 220 Mb estimated for gene-rich euchromatic arms of the tomato genome. This result indicates that, while most genes reside in the euchromatin, a significant portion of euchromatin is methylated in the intergenic spacer regions. Implications of the results for sequencing the genome of tomato and other solanaceous species are discussed.
Top five data challenges for the next decade

Summary form only given. For the past three decades, those of us in the database field have principally focused attention and significant effort on technology for storing, querying, accessing, and securing data with well-known structure in high-performance data management systems. Our focus has been riveted on performance, performance, and performance. The world has changed dramatically since the early days of database management systems, however. The dynamics of DBMS have changed, moving from supporting back office systems, to front offices, to Web-based systems. Computer architecture has changed, as we have moved from systems where 256 K was a large size memory, disk drives were very expensive, most processors were water-cooled, and screens glowed with green characters. Not only has more data been produced in the last several years than in all previous history, but also more and more of it is in digital form. Accelerated pace and higher expectations driven by competitive necessity have changed the nature of database solutions from well-understood batch-oriented processing to real-time, ad hoc query on continuously streaming data. All these changes are coming together to create a new set of challenges for the decade ahead. The author discusses the top five of these challenges in the database area.
Coming to terms through Cinema: The Lives of Others in Germany's Cultural Landscape of Memory

This article analyzes the popular, award-winning German film The Lives of Others as an intervention in memory politics focused on the socialist German Democratic Republic (GDR). Confronting the crimes of the East German regime has been framed as coming to terms with Germany's “second dictatorship,” suggesting an equivalence not only between the Nazi and socialist states and their abuses, but also the moral and historical stakes of facing up to the two legacies. The Lives of Others reinforces the “second dictatorship” discourse and fails to provide a nuanced portrayal of the GDR, opting instead for a moral drama that elides the political world it claims to represent. Drawing on ethnographic research on identity in Eastern Germany and critical readings of recent public discourse, I analyze claims about the film's authentic portrayal of GDR repression and its importance as a corrective to Ostalgie by situating The Lives of Others as a text and cultural phenomenon within the cultural landscape of post-socialist memory in Germany. This landscape, in turn, must be placed within the still broader context of national unification, identity, and memory in unified Germany.
Registration of multiple range scans as a location recognition problem: hypothesis generation, refinement and verification

This paper addresses the following version of the multiple range scan registration problem. A scanner with an associated intensity camera is placed at a series of locations throughout a large environment; scans are acquired at each location. The problem is to decide automatically which scans overlap and to estimate the parameters of the transformations aligning these scans. Our technique is based on (1) detecting and matching keypoints - distinctive locations in range and intensity images, (2) generating and refining a transformation estimate from each keypoint match, and (3) deciding if a given refined estimate is correct. While these steps are familiar, we present novel approaches to each. A new range keypoint technique is presented that uses spin images to describe holes in smooth surfaces. Intensity keypoints are detected using multiscale filters, described using intensity gradient histograms, and backprojected to form 3D keypoints. A hypothesized transformation is generated by matching a single keypoint from one scan to a single keypoint from another, and is refined using a robust form of the ICP algorithm in combination with controlled region growing. Deciding whether a refined transformation is correct is based on three criteria: alignment accuracy, visibility, and a novel randomness measure. Together these three steps produce good results in test scans of the Rensselaer campus.
Distribution of bacterial biomass and activity in the marginal ice zone of the central Barents Sea during summer

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine bacterioplankton abundance and activity in the Barents Sea using the novel modified vital stain and probe (mVSP) method. The mVSP is a protocol that combines DAPI and propidium iodide staining with 16S rRNA eubacterial-specific oligonucleotide probes to determine the physiological status of individual microbial cells. Bacterial abundance and metabolic activity were measured in near-surface waters and with depth at stations in the central Barents Sea during a cruise in June/July 1999. Viral abundance was also determined for 19 transect stations and at depth (2–200 m) for five intensive 24-h stations. In general, bacterial and viral abundances varied across the transect, but showed peaks of abundance (6×10 9 cells l −1 , 9×10 9 viruses l −1 ) in Polar Front water masses. Viruses were abundant in seawater and exceeded bacterial abundance. Metabolic activity was determined for individual cells using 16S rRNA eubacterial-specific oligonucleotide probes, and for the total community with 3 H-leucine incorporation. Activity measured by oligonucleotide probes increased from south to north. The fraction of cells that were active was lowest in the southern Barents Sea (20%) and highest in the Polar Front (53%). The proportion of cells at the 24-h stations that were determined to be active decreased with depth, but not with distance from ice cover. Leucine incorporation rates varied significantly and did not always correlate with probe measurements. The proportion of total cells that had compromised membranes and were therefore considered dead remained relatively constant ( −3 day −1 . Growth rates ranged from −1 , implying turnover rates of 2.5 to >200 days. Our results demonstrate that bacterioplankton and viruses are dynamic but ubiquitous features of Arctic microbial communities. The contribution of bacteria and viruses to Arctic food webs is discussed.
Characteristics of transition flow between parallel plates

Measurements of pressure drop and mean local fluid velocities have been made in a smooth rectangular duct of large aspect ratio. Data have been taken on the steady, isothermal flow of water at room temperature in the viscous, transition, and lower turbulent ranges of flow. Impact probes were installed in the center of the stream, where flow between infinitely broad parallel plates was closely approximated. The limits of the transition range are discussed, and mean local fluid velocities are correlated. Comparison is made with transitional behavior in smooth tubes.
Optimization methods for evaluating competitive bids from private producers

Competitive bidding for private power contracts is becoming an important element in utility planning. The use of optimization methods for incorporating nonprice factors into the evaluation process is examined. Using data based on the 1988 Virginia Power solicitation and synthetic estimates of bids, the selection problem is simulated. The utility's announced preference for coal-fired projects is modeled using modifications to assumes fuel and capacity prices. Methodological issued for incorporating nonprice factors in bid evaluation are discussed. >
Optimal phase changing frequency determination for multiphase voltage regulator modules

Modern processers have the capability of indicating the power state of the processor to the Voltage Regulator (VR) PWM controller so that it can change its operating state to maximize efficiency at light loads and to flatten out its efficiency curve for idle power reduction. The CPU worst case assert and de-assert frequency can be very high for the PWM controller and for the VR to follow. Thus for the VR to take advantage of the low power state signal from the CPU, the signal has to be passed through an analog/digital low-pass filter. The optimum frequency for this filter design is determined in this paper. This filtered frequency with which the VR drops its phases optimizes the overall efficiency of the system. The experimental results are given for a four-phase VRM. It is also shown in this paper that the transient efficiency is as vital as the steady state efficiency considering the load profile of modern CPUs.
In the Wake of Schooner Peggy: Deconstructing Legislative Retroactivity Analysis

Relatively few recent commentators have focused on retroactive civil legislation; commentators have instead tended to discuss retroactivity doctrine in the context of its applicability to criminal statutes, administrative regulations, or judicial decisions. Retroactivity is widely acknowledged as a difficult legal doctrine, and apparent inconsistencies in United States Supreme Court decisions have contributed to this perception. Although the Court's 1994 Landgraf decision has been portrayed as reconciling the Court's prior decisions and as providing a framework for retroactivity analysis, neither of these characterizations is entirely accurate; Landgraf did not persuasively reconcile the Court's retroactivity jurisprudence and its purported framework is incomplete. The United States Supreme Court's recent decision in Martin v. Hadix exposes Landgraf's shortcomings, and thus provides the opportunity to review the doctrine pertaining to the retroactivity of civil legislation. A careful analysis of the Court's decisions reveals a consistent approach to retroactive legislation - an approach ultimately based in fundamental principles of fairness, but which has been masked by the Court's terminology.
A Population-Based Care Improvement Initiative for Patients at Risk for Delirium, Alcohol Withdrawal, and Suicide Harm

Article-at-a-Glance Background In a population-based approach, a hospitalwide interprofessional care redesign at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH; Boston), was conducted to provide optimal evidence-informed care for patients at risk for delirium, alcohol abuse, and suicide harm (DASH). The initiative involved enhanced screening and the introduction of new care management guidelines and order sets pertaining to the DASH diagnoses. Methods An interprofessional group from medicine, nursing, and psychiatry jointly led a hospitalwide effort for the improvement of care and outcomes of patients presenting with a DASH diagnosis (delirium, alcohol withdrawal, and suicide harm). The care improvement process consisted of four phases: (1) development of guidelines, (2) implementation/rollout, (3) integration into practice, and (4) sustainability, including ongoing practice development and evaluation. Results Implementation outcomes were evaluated using eight parameters—acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, feasibility, fidelity, implementation cost, penetration, and sustainability. Internal billing data and ICD-9-CM [International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification] diagnostic codes were used to identify the DASH population. Patients were compared pre- and postprogram implementation for fiscal years 2010 through 2013. The average length of stay, reported as the number of midnights in the hospital, remained consistent for DASH patients—9.3–10.0 days (versus 5.3–6.0 days for BWH overall). The DASH readmission rate decreased by 9%—from 15.1% to 13.7%, approaching the overall BWH rate of 13.3%. Conclusion Close nurse-physician collaboration, including joint leadership and simultaneous rollout for nurses and physicians, contributed to the initiative's effective implementation.
A Study of the Social Values of a Team Game and of Two Individual Sports as Judged by the Attitudes of Freshman College Women

(1940). A Study of the Social Values of a Team Game and of Two Individual Sports as Judged by the Attitudes of Freshman College Women. Research Quarterly. American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 54-59.
Why the Differences in Published Spore-Sizes?

2. Changes in the spore due to drying or to reagents. 3. Faults due to the technique used in measuring. 4. Innate variations of the spores themselves. The detailed discussion of these categories is so well done and covers so many common and important cases that I am anxious that all American workers with fungi, mycologists and phytopathologists alike, should have their attention called to this valuable paper. There is scarcely one of us who has not been guilty, either unconsciously or from ignorance or in moments of haste, of neglecting one or more of the precautions which Maire here sets down.
Diagnostic role of gadolinium-DTPA in pediatric neuroradiology. A retrospective review of 655 cases.

We retrospectively reviewed the findings in 655 consecutive young patients who underwent contrastenhanced MR examinations (1.5T) of the head or spine. Their ages ranged from 4 months to 20 years (mean 10 years). There was a 1.7% incidence of minor adverse reactions to gadolinium (Gd)-DTPA, none of which required treatment; no serious adverse reactions were encountered. Based on the radiologic diagnosis the patients were divided into three groups: (1) normal, (2) CNS neoplasm, (3) abnormal but not neoplasm. There were 178 patients thought to have CNS neoplasms and of these 156 (88%) enhanced. Of 124 histologically confirmed neoplasms 115 (93%) showed enhancement after Gd-DTPA. Eight children had histologically confirmed spinal neoplasms; 5 of 6 neurofibromas and 2 ependymomas enhanced. In the 216 patients with abnormalities thought not to be neoplastic, the enhancement rate was 11%; most of the enhancing lesions were vascular malformations. There were very few examples of inflammatory disease, acute trauma or stroke among our patients.
Resting Body Formation by Rhizoidal Fusion in Chytriomyces Hyalinus

Resting bodies of isolates of the aquatic phycomycete, Chytriomyces hyalinus Karling, form sexually as outgrowths from the fused rhizoidal systems of developing thalli. A method to facilitate observation of the sexual state by synchronization of cultures is described. Publications depicting what we believe represent similar processes in other members of the Chytridiales are disscussed. Brief consideration of the possible taxonomic significance of such processes is given.
Preoperative Intestinal Preparation by Fanxieye Chongji and Enema Glycerine in Children

Objective:To evaluate the advantage of preoperative intestinal preparation by fanxieye chongji and enema glycerine in children. Methods:We randomised 149 suitable patients into treatment group (n=80) and control group (n=69) from January 2000 to May 2003. The treatment group took fanxieye chongji orally and enema glycerine by recta, the control group were clystered with sodium chloride injection. The intestinal cleaning effect, tolerance, and adverse reaction were checked. Results:The treatment group had a better intestinal cleaning effect, better tolerance and less adverse reactions than the control group. Conclusion:Better intestinal cleaning effect was achieved by fanxieye chongji and enema glycerine in children for preoperative intestinal preparation.
Scattering of plane sh waves by a semi‐cylindrical canyon

The two-dimensional scattering and diffraction of plane SH waves by a semi-cylindrical canyon is analysed for a general angle of wave incidence. The closed-form solution of the problem shows that the surface topography can have prominent effects on incident waves only when the wavelengths of incident motion are short compared to the radius of a canyon. The surface amplification of displacement amplitudes around and in the canyon changes rapidly from one point to another, but the amplification is always less than 2. The over-all trends of amplification pattern are determined by two principal parameters: (1) γ, the angle of incidence of plane SH waves, and (2) η, the ratio of radius of the canyon to one-half wave length of incident waves. The higher η leads to greater complexity of the pattern of surface displacement amplitudes characterized by more abrupt changes of amplification from one point to another, while γ mainly determines the over-all trends of displacement amplitudes. For grazing and nearly grazing incidences, for example, a strong shadow zone is developed behind the canyon. The qualitative analysis of the topographic effects on the Pacoima Dam accelerogram,1 based on the semi-cylindrical canyon, suggests that this strong-motion record was not seriously affected by surface topography of the recording site.
Governance for global and national health: A role for framework conventions?

This editorial was published in the Health and Human Rights [© 2013 Health and Human Rights] and The Journal's website is at: https://goo.gl/0ds3PW
Systematic qualitative analysis of biologic materials for common steam-volatile organic poisons.

Abstract An analytic scheme for the detection of the more common steam-volatile organic poisons is described.
Phosphorus, Arsenic, Antimony, and Bismuth

Elemental phosphorus exists as P 4 molecules, and when the oxides P 4 O 6 and P 4 O 10 are formed, the phosphorus atoms retain their tetrahedral arrangement. The elements P, As, Sb, and Bi form very toxic hydrides that are weaker bases than ammonia. The elements form trihalides but pentahalides are restricted to phosphorus, and none forms a pentaiodide. All of the halides of the Group VA elements are Lewis acids and some will add a halide ion to produce species such as EF n − EF n − . Many compounds containing rings having alternating P and N atoms (the most common ring size is six or eight atoms) have been studied. These are the phosphazines or phosphonitrilic compounds. Of the acids of the elements in Group VA, phosphoric acid is by far the most important. “Phosphoric acid” exists as a complex mixture of HPO 3 , H 3 PO 4 , H 4 P 2 O 7 , and others species that depends on the ratio of water to P 2 O 5 . Phosphoric acid has many uses that include production of food and fertilizers.
John Dewey’s Philosophy of War and Peace

Among the books on war and peace written by philosophers and social scientists, especially noteworthy are Kant, Perpetual Peace, Clausewitz, On War, Marx and Engels, The Communist Manifesto, Tolstoy, War and Peace,1 Quincy Wright, The Study of War,2 and Raymond Aron (1966), Peace and War. John Dewey never wrote a book on the subject of war and peace comparable to his Experience and Nature or his Logic: The Theory of Inquiry. Yet his views on this subject, as expressed in essays from the First to the Second World War attracted much attention and aroused both high praise and stringent criticism from different social groups at different times and in varying circumstances. These essays involve complex questions of historical data and judgment, and sharply contrasting theories of the relationship of means to ends. These questions deserve to be analyzed in a more systematic and searching way than most writers on this aspect of Dewey’s work have done, such as John Patrick Diggins.3
Contesting Popular Culture

Susanna Haswell Rowson (c. 1762–1824), the daughter of a British naval officer and royal customs official, was born in England, raised in Massachusetts, and returned to England as part of a prisoner exchange in 1778. After joining a theater company in Philadelphia in 1793, she finally settled in Boston in 1796. A successful actress, playwright, novelist, and founder of a respected girls’ academy in Boston, Rowson published her work under her own name. Her fourth novel, Charlotte. A Tale of Truth, was written and published in London in 1791 and republished in Philadelphia in 1794. The most popular novel in America until the publication of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin in 1852, Charlotte went through more than two hundred editions and sold about forty thousand copies in its first decade.
Occupation and the First Intifada, 1967–1993

The eruption of a popular uprising in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1987 surprised Israel, the PLO, and the world. No less astounding was the cohesion that the revolt made manifest. From Ramallah, Joost Hiltermann exclaimed that it was “remarkable … that the entire population could be mobilized simultaneously, and that a support structure needed to sustain the uprising’s momentum came into being and functioned efficiently, with a leadership that was promptly accepted as legitimate by the population.” Don Peretz similarly marveled that the unrest “within days … developed into an organized movement; within weeks a coherent set of objectives was articulated.” These and other scholars note the unity behind what became known as the Intifada , a grassroots effort to “shake off” the Israeli occupation. Yet none have systematically analyzed how this unity affected the processes or forms of protest. Most studies document the Intifada’s causes and consequences and do not craft theory about why it had the character it did. This chapter demonstrates how leadership and institutional networks, bolstered by society’s sense of collective purpose, gave Palestinians an organizational structure that sustained an uprising based largely on nonviolent protest. The chapter proceeds in four sections. The first traces the organizational development of the Palestinian national movement in the West Bank and Gaza during the first two decades under occupation. The second section examines movement cohesion during the Intifada and the mechanisms through which it facilitated nonviolent protest. The third section considers how the toll of extended rebellion and repression increased both fragmentation and violent protest during the uprising’s waning years. The fourth section concludes the discussion.
Optical diagnostic system for observation of laser-produced shock waves

Several standard plasma and gas dynamic diagnostic techniques have been integrated into a system for observing the formation and propagation of high-power Nd:glass-laser generated one- and two-dimensional shockwaves in air from 0.1 torr to atmospheric pres-sures. Diagnostics include either single-frame, two-wavelength holographic ruby-laser interferometry or single-frame, single-wavelength interferometry with ten frames of shadow-graphy. Streaks or ten frames of the early luminous shocked region also are taken on all shots, as well as time-resolved luminosity measurements using high-speed biplanar vacuum photodiodes with various wavelength interference filters. Shadowgraphy frames are 200-ns long at 1-μs intervals, while emission frames are variable with a maximum 10-ns exposure and 50-ns interval. Both the streak mode and emission measurements with the vacuum diode allow subnanosecond time resolution. The interferometry provides 20-ns exposures from 500 ns to late times. Methods for reducing and interpreting the data have been, or are currently being, developed. Interactive computer programs for digitizing the fringe patterns provide fringe-shift profiles for Abel inversion. This has provided neutral gas and electron density information in the spherical, one-dimensional cases. Diagrams and photographs of the experiment will be shown as well as examples of the data that have been taken. Methods for data reduction will be outlined and some of the results shown.© (1980) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Distributed estimation and control of mobile sensor networks based only on position measurements

Most existing distributed estimation and control algorithms for mobile sensor networks rely on the information of both position and velocity of neighbour sensors. The authors' investigate the distributed estimation and control of mobile sensor network with only position measurements. Based on the Kalman-consensus filter and the flocking algorithm, all mobile sensors move to a target, and achieve consensus on the estimations of the target. Under the assumption that the initial interactive network is connected, the stability of the cascading system is proved via Lyapunov stability theory and matrix principle. Moreover, a sufficient stability condition in the form of the boundary conditions of the feedback gain is proposed for the mobile sensor network. Some numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of theoretical results.
Comparison of in vitro toxicological effects of biomass smoke from different sources of animal dung

Worldwide, over 4 million premature deaths each year are attributed to the burning of biomass fuels for cooking and heating. Epidemiological studies associate household air pollution with lung diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and respiratory infections. Animal dung, a biomass fuel used by economically vulnerable populations, generates more toxic compounds per mass burned than other biomass fuels. The type of animal dung used varies widely depending on local agro-geography. There are currently neither standardized experimental systems for dung biomass smoke research nor studies assessing the health impacts of different types of dung smoke. Here, we used a novel reproducible exposure system to assess outcomes related to inflammation and respiratory infections in human airway cells exposed to six different types of dung biomass smoke. We report that dung biomass smoke, regardless of species, is pro-inflammatory and activates the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and JNK transcription factors; however, dung smoke also suppresses interferon responses after a challenge with a viral mimetic. These effects are consistent with epidemiological data, and suggest a mechanism by which the combustion of animal dung can directly cause lung diseases, promote increased susceptibility to infection, and contribute to the global health problem of household air pollution.
Automated Diabetes Case Identification Using Electronic Health Record Data at a Tertiary Care Facility.

Abstract Objective To develop and validate a phenotyping algorithm for the identification of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) preoperatively using routinely available clinical data from electronic health records. Patients and Methods We used first-order logic rules (if-then-else rules) to imply the presence or absence of DM types 1 and 2. The "if" clause of each rule is a conjunction of logical and, or predicates that provides evidence toward or against the presence of DM. The rule includes International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnostic codes, outpatient prescription information, laboratory values, and positive annotation of DM in patients' clinical notes. This study was conducted from March 2, 2015, through February 10, 2016. The performance of our rule-based approach and similar approaches proposed by other institutions was evaluated with a reference standard created by an expert reviewer and implemented for routine clinical care at an academic medical center. Results A total of 4208 surgical patients (mean age, 52 years; males, 48%) were analyzed to develop the phenotyping algorithm. Expert review identified 685 patients (16.28% of the full cohort) as having DM. Our proposed method identified 684 patients (16.25%) as having DM. The algorithm performed well—99.70% sensitivity, 99.97% specificity—and compared favorably with previous approaches. Conclusion Among patients undergoing surgery, determination of DM can be made with high accuracy using simple, computationally efficient rules. Knowledge of patients' DM status before surgery may alter physicians' care plan and reduce postsurgical complications. Nevertheless, future efforts are necessary to determine the effect of first-order logic rules on clinical processes and patient outcomes.
Light-independent redox reactions of graphene oxide in water: Electron transfer from NADH through graphene oxide to molecular oxygen, producing reactive oxygen species

Abstract There is growing interest in finding industrial and commercial uses for graphene oxide (GO) because of its unique properties. As with other nanomaterials, increased production and use generally leads to increased environmental exposure. However, very limited information exists on how GO is further functionalized or mineralized in natural aquatic environments, or whether GO can participate in reactions involving other natural chemicals. In this research study, we hypothesized that reactive oxygen species (ROS) can be generated by electron transfer from a common biological electron donor (NADH) to GO, which then acts as an electron shuttle forming ROS from dissolved molecular oxygen in water. Indeed, aqueous suspensions of 5 mg/L GO were found to oxidize 0.2 mM β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). Production of was shown to occur over a period of about 30 h, and by using another colorimetric assay, H2O2 was shown to accumulate. Hence, in the absence of light, GO can act as an electron shuttle, catalyzing the oxidation of NADH (i.e., transfer of electrons to GO) and then pass these electrons to molecular oxygen, forming ROS in water. Although hydroxyl radicals ( OH) were not detected, pBR322 DNA plasmid was cleaved in GO suspension containing NADH and O2.
Key-Based Dynamic Functional Obfuscation of Integrated Circuits Using Sequentially Triggered Mode-Based Design

This paper proposes a novel technique for hardware obfuscation termed dynamic functional obfuscation . Hardware obfuscation refers to a set of countermeasures used against IC counterfeiting and illegal overproduction. Traditionally, obfuscation encrypts semiconductor circuits using key inputs which must be set to a correct value to operate the circuit correctly. By keeping the key values secret during the manufacturing process, any attempt by unauthorized parties to overproduce chips or pirate designs is thwarted. The proposed dynamic technique differs from existing fixed obfuscation schemes as the obfuscating signals change over time. This results in inconsistent circuit behavior upon input of incorrect key, where the chip operates correctly sometimes and fails sometimes. The advantage of dynamic obfuscation is that it results in stronger obfuscation by increasing the time complexity of deciphering the correct key using brute-force attack, even with shorter keys. Moreover, the dynamic nature of these circuits also makes them resistant to reverse engineering and SAT solver-based attacks. To achieve dynamic obfuscation, ideas from hardware Trojan literature and sequentially triggered counters are utilized. A demonstration of obfuscation on sequential circuits implementing fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm and Ethernet IP shows low overall area and power overheads of less than 1%. Security in terms of time to attack for the FFT circuit (for a key size of 30 bits and a system operating at 100 MHz) is increased to 1 021,055 years using dynamic obfuscation compared with only 5.36 s using fixed obfuscation schemes. For the Ethernet IP core, time to attack of dynamic obfuscation with a key size of 32 bits is 1 046,423, 135 years compared with 21.47s with fixed obfuscation. It is also shown that for a key size of $K$ bits, the lower bound for time to attack using brute-force is proportional to $K 2^{K}$ and $K 2^{2K}$ for the proposed design using one and two random number generators, respectively.
“Safe in My Own Mind:” Supporting Healthy Adolescent Development Through Meditation Retreats

Abstract The current field study used a quasi-experimental, between-groups design to test the effectiveness of a weeklong intensive, residential meditation retreat for adolescents. Before and after the retreat, teens (N = 79, Mage = 17.02 years) completed a battery of self-report measures assessing emotional functioning and self-regulation, and a performance measure of working memory. In parallel, parents completed questionnaires about their child's emotional functioning and self-regulation. Compared to a control condition, adolescents who participated in the retreat showed changes in emotional functioning (depressive symptoms, gratitude, positive affect), self-regulation (self-control), and working memory. The average effect size estimate across all outcomes was small-to-moderate, Cohen's d = 0.38 (range = 0.00 to 0.88). Improvements in self-compassion mediated the associations between meditation training and enhanced emotional functioning. The current field study suggests that residential meditation retreats can support psychological and cognitive functioning during adolescence, a critical period of social-emotional development.
Treponema denticola : FhbB, Dentilisin, Complement Evasion and the Paradox of Factor H Cleavage

Treponema denticola transitions from being relatively low in number in the sub-gingival crevice of healthy individuals to being abundant in periodontal pockets. The abundance of T. denticola correlates with periodontal disease severity. To thrive in periodontal pockets, the ability to evade complement mediated destruction is essential. Consistent with this, T. denticola can survive exposure to serum concentrations as high as 25 %. The binding of Factor H (FH; a negative regulator of the complement system) by the T. denticola surface protein, FhbB, serves as the primary mechanism of serum resistance. While numerous other pathogens exploit the negative regulatory activity of FH in immune evasion, the FH–T. denticola interaction is unique. Bound FH is cleaved by the T. denticola protease, dentilisin (a chymotrypsin like-protease complex). In this chapter, we summarize our current understanding of the complement evasion strategies of T. denticola and discuss the hypothesis that FH cleavage by T. denticola locally dysregulates the complement system resulting in conditions that favor microbial growth and the progression of periodontal disease.