cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Urinary tract calculous disease after renal transplantation

We report 3 cases of a series of 372 (0.8 per cent) renal transplant recipients in whom urinary tract calculi developed as a complication of the procedure. In each patient symptoms were minimal and not classic of calculous disease. We disagree with the contention that all such patients have either hypercalcemia, infection, or tubular acidosis, although thorough evaluation is indicated. We believe this entity should be considered in problematic renal transplantation patients. Conservative therapy is advocated when the situation permits.
Interfacial studies of crosslinked urethanes: Part III. Structure-property relationships in polyester waterborne polyurethanes

These studies examine crosslinking reactions of polyurethanes (PURs) using attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform (ATR FTIR) spectroscopy and show that higher relative humidity (RH) accelerates the crosslinking reactions leading to the formation of polyurethane and polyurea. Concentration levels of unreacted isocyanate (NCO) are greater at the film-air (F-A) interface than the film-substrate (F-S) interface. In contrast to the previous studies on polyacrylate emulsion urethanes, no stratification was detected between 0.65 to 1.14 µm near the F-A and F-S interfaces. This behavior is attributed to equivalent weight differences, 3100 g/eq for polyacrylate and 1140 g/eq for polyester. Solvent evaporation experiments show that approximately 10% of the initial water concentration remains in the film for extended periods of time, resulting in reactions leading to the formation of urea near the F-S interface. PUR film formation occurs in two stages, a solvent vapor pressure controlled stage, followed by a diffusion controlled stage. The duration of each stage depends on several factors, including the amount of shear induced on the shear thinning waterborne urethanes, which subsequently affects the exposure of isocyanate aggregates to water. Increased RH significantly affects structure-property relationships of waterborne PURs due to urea formation, which alters the glass transition temperature, storage modulus, crosslink density, and film hardness.
Thin oxide damage by plasma etching and ashing processes

In the study reported, the plasma Al etching and resist ashing processes caused Fowler-Nordheim current to flow through the oxide. The stress current was collected only through the aluminum surfaces not covered by the photoresist during the plasma processes. The plasma stress current was proportional to the Al pad peripheral length during Al etching and the Al pad area during photoresist stripping. Using the measured stress current, the breakdown voltage distribution of oxides after plasma processes can be predicted accurately. A model of oxide damage due to plasma etching is proposed. >
Assessing and Promoting Spiritual Wellness as a Protective Factor in Secondary Schools

Spiritual wellness, much like resilience, is a multidimensional protective factor for students. This article reviews the relevant literature linking spiritual wellness and thriving in the adolescent population. Assessment and intervention methods that can be used in secondary school settings to promote spiritual wellness are provided.
Self‐Assembly Approaches to Three‐Dimensional Photonic Crystals

A brief review of the historical development of photonic bandgap (PBG) materials is provided and the fabrication methods employed are discussed with emphasis on self-assembly processes. The factors influencing the generation of a complete bandgap, from both an experimental and a calculational standpoint are then presented and discussed. The Figure shows a diamond-like 3D periodic structure.
Ethnic Entrepreneurship: The Distinct Role of Ties

Abstract Ethnic entrepreneurship is being recognized as an important vehicle of economic growth. Research demonstrates that in-group ties within ethnic groups are useful vehicles that help ethnic groups surpass their unique challenges to establish and sustain entrepreneurial initiatives. While considerable research demonstrates the facilitating role of these ties, little is discussed about the constraining role of these ties. I draw on social capital theory to discuss the facilitating as also the constraining role of in-group ties for these entrepreneurs. I further discuss how structural hole theory may compensate for the constraints of in-group ties. I then examine certain types of organizations/institutions that have competencies to serve as structural holes. Such a discussion starts a conversation about the contingencies of different types of ties and the role that each of them may play for sourcing resources for ethnic entrepreneurs.
Suppression of Immunity by Phenobarbital

PHENOBARBITAL, one of the more commonly used sedatives, behaves as an immunosuppressant in vivo and in vitro when prescribed in conventional, clinically acceptable doses. This observation closely followed experiments in this laboratory which showed that lymphocytes from all patients receiving general- anaesthesia during surgery developed impaired reactivity to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) immediately after operation1. The use of thiopental sodium as an induction anaesthetic in all instances, coupled with the rapidity with which the diminished lymphocyte responses became detectable, led to the hypothesis that this drug, or one of its relatives, could be the mediator of this untoward effect.
Lunar apatite with terrestrial volatile abundances

The Moon is thought to be depleted relative to the Earth in volatile elements such as H, Cl and the alkalis. Nevertheless, evidence for lunar explosive volcanism has been used to infer that some lunar magmas exsolved a CO-rich and CO_2-rich vapour phase before or during eruption. Although there is also evidence for other volatile species on glass spherules, until recently there had been no unambiguous reports of indigenous H in lunar rocks. Here we report quantitative ion microprobe measurements of late-stage apatite from lunar basalt 14053 that document concentrations of H, Cl and S that are indistinguishable from apatites in common terrestrial igneous rocks. These volatile contents could reflect post-magmatic metamorphic volatile addition or growth from a late-stage, interstitial, sulphide-saturated melt that contained ~1,600 parts per million H_2O and ~3,500 parts per million Cl. Both metamorphic and igneous models of apatite formation suggest a volatile inventory for at least some lunar materials that is similar to comparable terrestrial materials. One possible implication is that portions of the lunar mantle or crust are more volatile-rich than previously thought.
DYNAMICAL MODELING OF THE MERGER OF THE SAGITTARIUS DWARF-MILKY WAY SYSTEM

In hierarchical models of large-scale structure formation, most galaxies grow in clusters, where merging is an essential, if not dominant process. Understanding the merger process is greatly aided by examples in the vicinity of the Milky Way due to the availability of high quality positional and kinematic data. The Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy at a distance of 25 kpc is a prime example. Detailed observations of stars in this dwarf galaxy and its associated tidal streams also provide a unique probe of the gravitational field of the Milky Way. To fully utilize this probe requires not only excellent observations but also accurate models of the merging event. We investigate the recent history of the Sagittarius Dwarf with the smoothed particle hydrodynamics/N-body GADGET-2 code, treating both the Milky Way and the dwarf galaxy as a particle system. In addition to considerations of particle number, gravitational softening, stability criteria such as Toomre Q parameter, and angular momentum transport, we add the distinction between static and dynamic potential differences as another aspect that deserves consideration. We find that the commonly employed approximation of a static Milky Way potential induces changes in the orbit corresponding to position changes on the sky of order 0.5°-1°. The weak dependence of the results on the live versus static Milky Way model justify the use of static potentials in situations which do not require very high positional accuracy.
Why are the Actions of Anesthetics on GABA-A Universal?

There is a long-standing debate on whether general anesthetics act through a non-specific perturbation of bilayer physical properties or through binding to specific sites within ion channels, particularly the GABA-A receptor. In this study, we demonstrate that a series of liquid n-alcohol general anesthetics lower phase transition temperatures in giant plasma membrane vesicles, which have previously been shown to sit close to a miscibility critical point. All n-alcohols depress critical temperatures (Tc) by 4±1°C when added to vesicles at their anesthetic dose. Current work is investigating if transition temperatures are also depressed when n-alcohols are added to synthetic vesicles with critical lipid compositions. We also performed simulations of simplified receptors embedded in a nearly-critical membrane. In this model, receptor channels can be in two distinct internal states (conducting or non-conducting), and the occupancy of these states is allosterically regulated by their local lipid environment as well as the availability of ligand. We show that model channels with dimensions comparable to that of GABA-A could have their conductance increased by 50% when Tc is lowered by 4°C in the limit of low ligand concentration. This is in good agreement with experimental observations of GABA-A channels in the presence of general anesthetics (compare to Figure 2b in [1]). Taken together, these findings suggest that general anesthetics can have dramatic effects on the internal states of membrane bound proteins without requiring that they directly bind to specific sites. Instead, we propose that anesthetics may act by lowering the critical temperature of the membrane which in turn allosterically regulates ion channel function.1. N. Franks and W. Lieb, Molecular and cellular mechanisms of general anesthesia. Nature, 367, 607 (1994).
Inhibition of estrogen- and growth factor-induced proliferation of human breast cancer cell lines by TCDD: characterization and mechanistic studies

Abstract 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exhibits a broad spectrum of antiestrogenic effects in estrogen receptor (ER) positive MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The proliferation of MCF-7 cells in minimal media can also be stimulated by other mitogens, including insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), transforming growth factor α (TGF-α) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). The interactions of TCDD and these mitogens showed that TCDD inhibited growth factor-induced cell proliferation and the [3H]-thymidine uptake in the MCF-7 cells. A more detailed analysis of the interaction of TCDD and IGF-1 showed that treatment of the cells with IGF-1 (or 17s-estradiol) caused a 100% increase in the number of membrane-bound IGF-1 receptor binding sites whereas cotreatment with TCDD completely blocked these induced effects. In contrast, the K d values for the binding of [125I]-IGF-1 with its receptor were not significantly different in cells from all the treatment groups. Parallel studies in T47-D cells showed that there was differential-responsiveness to the proliferative effects of these mitogens; however, TCDD also exhibited comparable antimitogenic activities in these cell lines.
Generalizing motion edits with Gaussian processes

One way that artists create compelling character animations is by manipulating details of a character's motion. This process is expensive and repetitive. We show that we can make such motion editing more efficient by generalizing the edits an animator makes on short sequences of motion to other sequences. Our method predicts frames for the motion using Gaussian process models of kinematics and dynamics. These estimates are combined with probabilistic inference. Our method can be used to propagate edits from examples to an entire sequence for an existing character, and it can also be used to map a motion from a control character to a very different target character. The technique shows good generalization. For example, we show that an estimator, learned from a few seconds of edited example animation using our methods, generalizes well enough to edit minutes of character animation in a high-quality fashion. Learning is interactive: An animator who wants to improve the output can provide small, correcting examples and the system will produce improved estimates of motion. We make this interactive learning process efficient and natural with a fast, full-body IK system with novel features. Finally, we present data from interviews with professional character animators that indicate that generalizing and propagating animator edits can save artists significant time and work.
A New Approach for Robust and Reduced Order H/spl infin/ Filtering

The objective of this paper is to develop a practical methodology for designing full and reduced order Hinfin filter for plants with polytopic model uncertainty. Polytopic models provide a very general framework for describing uncertainties in engineering applications. Because the polytopic model description is convex, it is amenable for a linear matrix inequality (LMI) formulation. Reduced order filters are desirable in applications where fast data processing is necessary. To improve robustness to model uncertainties, this paper reformulates an H2 filter design technique as a reduced order Hinfin filter design methodology. Lyapunov functions are replaced with parameter-dependent Lyapunov functions to provide less conservative results. As the problem is formulated as an LMI, an admissible filter with suitable dynamic behavior can be obtained from the solution of a convex optimization problem. The advantages of this approach over earlier approaches are highlighted in a simple computational example
Modeling dependence of moraine deposition on climate history: the effect of seasonality

Abstract A simple shallow-ice flowline glacier model coupled to a model of sediment transport and deposition is used to simulate formation and preservation of moraines. The number, positions, and volume of moraines formed all are sensitive to the climate history assumed. We drive the model with the GISP2 central-Greenland temperature record, and with reduced-millennial-amplitude versions of that record, to test the hypothesis that the Younger Dryas and other millennial oscillations were primarily wintertime events and thus had less influence on glacier behavior than did the Last Glacial Maximum with its strong summertime as well as wintertime signal. We find that forcing the model by GISP2, with dampened strength of the millennial-scale signal, provides modeled moraine configurations that reflect observed moraine records in the Northern Hemisphere.
Theory of Scattering Processes

The formal infinite series for the probability amplitudes are transformed by (i) a regrouping procedure which separates out "repetitive" terms from all orders beyond the second and combines them to produce a common factor multiplying all orders, (ii) a procedure of summation to a closed form (essentially an analytical continuation) replacing the above common factor by a generalized energy denominator, and (iii) unlimited repetition of (i) and (ii). Procedure (ii) is based on the generalized energy quantity ${\mathcal{E}}_{\mathrm{gh}\ensuremath{\cdots}\mathrm{np}}={E}_{p}+\ensuremath{\Sigma}\stackrel{}{q\ensuremath{\ne}\mathrm{gh}\ensuremath{\cdots}\mathrm{np}}\frac{{V}_{\mathrm{pq}}{V}_{\mathrm{qp}}}{(q)}+\ensuremath{\Sigma}\stackrel{}{\mathrm{qr}\ensuremath{\ne}\mathrm{gh}\ensuremath{\cdots}\mathrm{np}}\frac{{V}_{\mathrm{pq}}{V}_{\mathrm{qr}}{V}_{\mathrm{rp}}}{(q)(r)}+\ensuremath{\cdots}$and the formal identity ${[E\ensuremath{-}{\mathcal{E}}_{\mathrm{gh}\ensuremath{\cdots}\mathrm{np}}]}^{\ensuremath{-}1}=\frac{1}{(p)}\left[1+\ensuremath{\Sigma}\stackrel{}{q\ensuremath{\ne}\mathrm{gh}\ensuremath{\cdots}n}\frac{{V}_{\mathrm{pq}}{V}_{\mathrm{qp}}}{(p)(q)}+\ensuremath{\Sigma}\stackrel{}{\mathrm{qr}\ensuremath{\ne}\mathrm{gh}\ensuremath{\cdots}n}\frac{{V}_{\mathrm{pq}}{V}_{\mathrm{qr}}{V}_{\mathrm{rp}}}{(p)(q)(r)}+\ensuremath{\cdots}\right]$employing the notation $(x)=E\ensuremath{-}{E}_{x}$.
NEAR UV LIGHT AND CATARACTS

. Sunlight and many types of artificial lighting contain near-UV light (300–400 nm). These wavelengths can enter the eye and are maximally absorbed in the lens due to its chemical composition. The lenses of certain animals develop cataracts from exposure to this light, and changes similar to those that occur in human lenses with certain types of cataracts and with aging are inducible in isolated human lenses. These changes seem to be associated with chemical alterations in the essential amino acid tryptophan either as a part of proteins or in free form. Such changes in tryptophan would result in lens cell toxicity, in increased pigmentation of the lens, and in large aggregates of proteins. The latter two changes would result in losses in the ability of the lens to transmit visible light needed for vision, and the abnormal state called cataract would result. Much more work is needed to prove that near-UV light can accelerate cataractous changes in the lenses of living humans. Studies at the basic chemical level are needed, but population studies would be most essential for the final proof. Many preventive measures could become available, including the use of special types of spectacles and dietary additives.
Potato glycoalkaloids: effect on survival and feeding behavior of the potato leafhopper.

Total glycoalkaloid (TGA) fractions, extracted from foliage of 10 differentially-resistant Solanum species, were fed to nymphs of Empoasca fabae (Harris) at concentrations equivalent to those of fresh foliage. The effects of TGA extracts on nymphal survival and on feeding behavior were assessed. Specific components of the feeding process were identified by use of an electronic recording system. Mean nymphal survival hours and salivation-ingestion periods ranged from a low of 2.7 h and 5.3 min, respectively, on extracts of S. hougasii Corr. foliage to a high of 47.7 h and 18.1 min, respectively, on extracts from S. bulbocastanum Dun., corresponding to a 38-fold difference in TGA concentration. Nymphal survival and duration of settling, salivation-ingestion, and nonfeeding were significantly correlated with TGA concentration (r = −0.86, −0.79, −0.93, and 0.82). Although these findings provide further evidence of a causal role for potato glycoalkaloids in leafhopper resistance, TGA extracts from 2 species, S. berthaultii (PI 218215) and S. chacoense (WRF 888), were considerably less limiting to survival than expected on the basis of concentration alone. These discrepancies may be due to differences in levels of individual glycoalkaloids. The specific glycoalkaloid, tomatine, e.g., significantly limited the duration of salivation-ingestion at concentrations as low as 0.05%. Levels, types, and biological activity of individual glycoalkaloids in Solanum species need to be characterized before the full significance of these steroidal glycosides in leafhopper resistance can be understood.
Optimal Polynomial Filters

In this paper, we present a family of circular or square optimal polynomial filters for prefiltering two-dimensional polygons and images. The criterion of designing polynomial filters is to maximiz...
Transient alteration of the blood-brain barrier: Effect of hypertonic solutions administered via carotid artery injection

Abstract Transient increases in the permeability of the blood-brain barrier were observed after the intracarotid administration of hypertonic solutions in rats. The alterations were similar to those described by other investigators, but occurred after less-severe cerebral vascular insults. More subtle changes in permeability were identified using sodium-22, than with conventional techniques employing labeled proteins.
Architectural-level error-tolerant techniques for low supply voltage cache operation

Supply voltage (V CC ) scaling is the most effective technique for reducing the energy consumption of microprocessors. Since V CC scaling increases the impact of parameter variations on circuit performance and functionality, circuits eventually fall out of specification, thus limiting the minimum operating supply voltage (V CCMIN ) for the microprocessor. The last-level cache (LLC) often determines V CCMIN . To maximize cache capacity, the LLC memory cell consists of near minimum-sized transistors, which are highly sensitive to process variations. For a tradition LLC, a small fraction of memory cells with large variations limit the V CCMIN for the entire microprocessor. In this paper, error-tolerant techniques dynamically reconfigure the cache to either disable or correct these failing memory cells to enable a lower V CCMIN at the cost of lower cache capacity, thus enhancing the microprocessor energy efficiency. At the high-V CC operating mode, the cache operates at full capacity to satisfy the high-performance target. At the low-V CC operating mode, energy consumption is the primary concern, and the cache is dynamically reconfigured with lower capacity to mitigate the impact of the failing memory cells on reliability. Since the clock frequency significantly reduces for the low-V CC mode as compared to the high-V CC mode, the reduction in cache capacity has a smaller effect on performance. In comparison to a traditional LLC design, simulation results indicate that the error-tolerant cache techniques decrease V CCMIN by 13–28%, corresponding to a 20–42% reduction in energy per instruction. Adding these techniques only incurs a 5–10% performance penalty at the low-V CC operating mode in comparison with a hypothetical idea cache.
Simulated chronic nitrogen deposition increases carbon storage in Northern Temperate forests

High levels of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition in Europe and North America were maintained throughout the 1990s, and global N deposition is expected to increase by a factor of 2.5 over the next century. Available soil N limits primary production in many terrestrial ecosystems, and some computer simulation models have predicted that increasing atmospheric N deposition may result in greater terrestrial carbon (C) storage in woody biomass. However, empirical evidence demonstrating widespread increases in woody biomass C storage due to atmospheric N deposition is uncommon. Increased C storage in soil organic matter due to chronic N inputs has rarely been reported and is often not considered in computer simulation models of N deposition effects. Since 1994, we have experimentally simulated chronic N deposition by adding 3 g N m−2 yr−1 to four different northern hardwood forests, which span a 500 km geographic gradient in Michigan. Each year we measured tree growth. In 2004, we also examined soil C content to a depth of 70 cm. When we compared the control treatment with the NO3− deposition treatment after a decade of experimentation, ecosystem C storage had significantly increased in both woody biomass (500 g C m−2) and surface soil (0–10 cm) organic matter (690 g C m−2). The increase in surface soil C storage was apparently driven by altered rates of organic matter decomposition, rather than an increase in detrital inputs to soil. Our results, for study locations stretching across hundreds of kilometers, support the hypothesis that chronic N deposition may increase C storage in northern forests, potentially contributing to a sink for anthropogenic CO2 in the northern Hemisphere.
Parenting in two generations of Mexican American families

Parenting in Mexican American families is a complex activity, given the heterogeneity of adaptation among the generations of Mexicans. Through ethnographic research methodology and a case study approach, I show that childrearing is affected by generational status and participation in a grass roots community group, organised around educational issues. Collectivism characterises the childrearing of the immigrant generation. It is maintained as a conscious value by the first generation parents, although socialisation practices and child behaviour actually shift in an individualistic direction, particularly in the area of critical thinking. Nonetheless, in both cohorts, the observable practices in the home between the parent and child indicate a strong orientation toward respect and family ties. At the same time, the Spanish language is lost rapidly in the first generation families, due largely to English-only laws that affected that generation. For the immigrant group, on the other hand, bilingualism is more...
Separability between overall and internal motion: a protein folding problem.

The separability between overall and internal motions is evaluated over multiple folding trajectories of the villin headpiece subdomain. The analysis, which relies on the Prompers-Bruschweiler separability index, offers a potentially useful perspective on protein folding. The protein is considered folded in this study, not when it reaches some static target, but rather when it tumbles as a dynamically constrained object. The analysis also demonstrates how the separability index, when applied to protein folding simulations, can facilitate the analysis of NMR relaxation data. Proteins 2012;. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Computer vision for automatic inspection of complex metal patterns on multichip modules (MCM-D)

Computer vision techniques have been developed and implemented in a high volume manufacturing environment for automatic optical inspection (AOI) of multichip modules with thin films (MCM-D). Inspection-of complex thin film metal patterns for critical defects despite high topological and cosmetic variation is discussed in this paper. An Orbot TF501 inspection platform was used to implement the procedures and algorithms. The techniques presented are capable of detecting both electrical and non-electrical defects. Electrical defects include near shorts, resistive opens, and near opens such as dishdowns where there may be a local height reduction in a signal line. Non-electrical defects include wrong metallurgy, defects with height and contamination. AOI may be used to shorten cycle time, improve yields and better control latent defects. >
Intracortical lesions by 3T magnetic resonance imaging and correlation with cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Accurate classification of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions in the brain cortex may be important in understanding their impact on cognitive impairment (CI). Improved accuracy in identification/classification of cortical lesions was demonstrated in a study combining two magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences: double inversion recovery (DIR) and T1-weighted phase-sensitive inversion recovery (PSIR).Objective: To evaluate the role of intracortical lesions (IC) in MS-related CI and compare it with the role of mixed (MX), juxtacortical (JX), the sum of IC + MX and with total lesions as detected on DIR/PSIR images. Correlations between CI and brain atrophy, disease severity and disease duration were also sought.Methods: A total of 39 patients underwent extensive neuropsychological testing and were classified into normal and impaired groups. Images were obtained on a 3T scanner and cortical lesions were assessed blind to the cognitive status of the subjects.Results: Some 238 cortical lesions were ...
At the Edge of US Immigration's "Halt of Folly:" Data, Information, and Research Needs in the Event of Legalization.

Virtually all accounts of the state of the US immigration system point to its patently broken condition, with the presence of almost 12 million people without legal status paramount to this characterization. Because of several recent developments including continued and renewed interest in regularizing the status of most unauthorized migrants in executive and legislative branch agendas, the Center for Migration Studies of New York, with support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, convened a group of immigration specialists, researchers, scholars, and advocates in Washington, DC in September 2013 to discuss potential data, information, and research needs in the event of the enactment of largescale legalization programs for the unauthorized population. This paper describes the results of this one-and-a-half day discussion. It begins with a description of the contours of a legalization program if it were to follow a similar form as S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act passed by the Senate in June 2013. In addition to being the most recent effort in this area, S. 744 includes a relatively complex set of conditions for “earning” legalization. A number of data, information, and research needs would need to be met to ensure the proper implementation of such a program. First, planning for effective local outreach and service delivery efforts requires estimating the eligible population at finer-scale geographies; understanding financial and time disincentives to apply and adhere to the program and skill levels required; assessing capacity in service delivery relative to the size and service needs of the local eligible population; tracking the progress of applicants through the legalization process; and understanding effective forms of outreach and service delivery. Second, assessing the effects of legalization on immigrant integration, future immigration, and fiscal and
A 500/spl mu/W 2.4GHz CMOS Subthreshold Mixer for Ultra Low Power Applications

This paper presents an integrated 2.4 GHz ultra low power CMOS frequency down-converting active mixer based on a single balanced Gilbert-cell resistor-loaded topology where all MOS transistors of mixer core are optimally biased in subthreshold region. At only 500 muW DC power consumption under 1.0 V power supply and small LO power of -9 dBm, this mixer has a measured power conversion gain of 15.7 dB and DSB noise figure of 18.3 dB. At same DC power dissipation and LO power, -9 dBm IIP3 and -28 dBm input PldB are obtained while the input return losses at RF and IF ports are better than -20 dB and -8 dB, respectively. Measured LO to IF and LO to RF isolations are more than 22 dB and 33 dB, respectively. With a help of a newly defined figure of merit that contains the effects of conversion gain, noise figure, linearity, LO power, DC power consumption and operating frequency, it is shown that the subthreshold mixer presented here is superior to conventional CMOS mixer designs reported in the literature.
Changing Human Visual Field Organization from Early Visual to Extra-Occipital Cortex

Background The early visual areas have a clear topographic organization, such that adjacent parts of the cortical surface represent distinct yet adjacent parts of the contralateral visual field. We examined whether cortical regions outside occipital cortex show a similar organization. Methodology/Principal Findings The BOLD responses to discrete visual field locations that varied in both polar angle and eccentricity were measured using two different tasks. As described previously, numerous occipital regions are both selective for the contralateral visual field and show topographic organization within that field. Extra-occipital regions are also selective for the contralateral visual field, but possess little (or no) topographic organization. A regional analysis demonstrates that this weak topography is not due to increased receptive field size in extra-occipital areas. Conclusions/Significance A number of extra-occipital areas are identified that are sensitive to visual field location. Neurons in these areas corresponding to different locations in the contralateral visual field do not demonstrate any regular or robust topographic organization, but appear instead to be intermixed on the cortical surface. This suggests a shift from processing that is predominately local in visual space, in occipital areas, to global, in extra-occipital areas. Global processing fits with a role for these extra-occipital areas in selecting a spatial locus for attention and/or eye-movements.
On solving 2D and 3D puzzles using curve matching

We approach the problem of 2D and 3D puzzle solving by matching the geometric features of puzzle pieces three at a time. First, we define an affinity measure for a pair of pieces in two stages, one based on a coarse-scale representation of curves and one based on a fine-scale elastic curve matching method. This re-examination of the top coarse-scale matches at the fine scale results in an optimal relative pose as well as a matching cost which is used as the affinity measure for a pair of pieces. Pairings with overlapping boundaries are impossible and are removed from further consideration, resulting in a set of top valid candidate pairs. Second, triples arising from generic junctions are formed from this rank-ordered list of pairs. The puzzle is solved by a recursive grouping of triples using a best-first search strategy, with backtracking in the case of overlapping pieces. We also generalize aspects of this approach to matching of 3D pieces. Specifically, ridges of 3D fragments scanned using a laser range finder are detected using a dynamic programming method. A pair of ridges are matched using a generalization of the 2D curve matching approach to space curves by using an energy solution involving curvature and torsion, which are computed using a novel robust numerical method. The reconstruction of map fragments and broken tiles using this method is illustrated.
Comparison of the Creep Properties of Cast and Powder Metallurgy-Extruded Binary NiAl

The current emphasis in developing NiAl-based alloys for use in gas-turbine aircraft engines requires a fundamental understanding of the creep mechanisms dominant in these materials. Here, a comparison of published creep data on binary NiAl showed that there is a discrepancy in the reported magnitudes of the stress exponents, n, which usually vary between about 4.5 and 6.5. In general, a close examination of the data suggested that n {approx} 4.5 for cast materials and 6.5 for powder-metallurgy extruded NiAl. Constant load compression creep tests were conducted on a cast and extruded binary NiAl between 800 and 1,200 K over a wide range of initial applied stresses varying between 4.0 and 200 MPa. The microstructures were characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The observed variations in the creep behavior of the extruded cast and powder-metallurgy NiAl appeared to be due to a grain size effect. Despite similarities in the values of n, no significant substructure was observed in most of the grains in the cast and extruded specimens at 1,100 and 1,200 K in contrast to the PM-extruded alloy, which revealed a wide range of substructural features in the power-law creep region. However, extensive subgrain formation and dislocations were widely observedmore » at lower temperatures and higher stresses in the cast and extruded material.« less
Population Densities of the Coquí, Eleutherodactylus coqui (Anura: Leptodactylidae) in Newly Invaded Hawaii and in Native Puerto Rico

Abstract Eleutherodactylus coqui was accidentally introduced to east Hawaii Island in the late 1980s and has since become established as scattered populations across the island. Mark-recapture study plots indicate that population size remains small for the first year after initial colonization. Plots in heavily forested areas where the Coqui has become well-established yield population estimates of frog density three times the estimates reported from native populations in Puerto Rico. Surveys of the Hilo area using sound pressure level meters found many loud chorusing populations producing sound pressure levels up to 73 dB suggesting that this frog will achieve high densities through broad areas of Hawaiian forest and towns. We suggest that the apparent lack of native or exotic predators in Hawaii and abundance of suitable retreat sites contribute to achievement of unusually high population densities of E. coqui in Hawaii compared with Puerto Rico.
The Future of Hot Dry Rock Geothermal Energy

As detailed in preceding chapters, the technical feasibility of HDR geothermal energy was clearly demonstrated at Fenton Hill, with the testing of two separate confined reservoirs. The major task now in view is moving this revolutionary new technology to its appropriate place in the world’s energy supply mix. Obviously, technical feasibility is not enough: HDR must also be capable of supplying useful amounts of energy economically. For that requirement to be met, several issues—which have yet to be adequately addressed—will need to be resolved.
Proteins Specified by Herpes Simplex Virus V. Purification and Structural Proteins of the Herpesvirion

We are reporting a procedure for the purification of herpes simplex enveloped nucleocapsids (virions), an evaluation of the purification procedure and the results of analyses of the virion proteins by high-resolution acrylamide gel electrophoresis. The data may be summarized as follows. (i) The procedure for the purification of virions consists of careful extraction of cytoplasm to prevent nuclear breakage, separation of enveloped nucleocapsids from soluble proteins and membrane vesicles by rate zonal centrifugation of cytoplasmic extracts through dextran 10 gradients, treatment with urea to dissociate virus-debris aggregates, and, lastly, separation of virions from naked nucleocapsids and free membranes by isopycnic flotation in discontinuous sucrose gradients. (ii) Purity was evaluated in three ways, i.e., electron microscopic examination, analysis of purified virions produced in cells labeled with amino acids before infection, and analysis of purified virions from artificial mixtures of infected and labeled, uninfected cells. The extent of purification was 120-to 200-fold with respect to host proteins. Residual contaminants were identified as host and viral constituents of membrane vesicles. Residual host proteins are very likely contaminants and not structural components of the virion. (iii) Analyses by staining and autoradiography of structural proteins of purified virions in 6, 7, 8.5, 9, and 14% acrylamide gels revealed 24 bands of proteins and glycoproteins made and labeled after infection. Co-electrophoresis of viral proteins with six known standards ranging from 25,700 to 220,000 daltons in molecular weight in 6, 7, 8.5, and 9% acrylamide gels indicate that viral proteins range from 25,000 to 275,000 daltons. The sum of the molecular weights of viral proteins is 2,580,000 daltons. Assuming that messenger transcription is asymmetric and noncomplementary, this corresponds to 47% of the genetic information of the virus. (iv) The nonionic detergent NP-40 removes from purified virions some nonglycosylated proteins and a large fraction of the glycosylated proteins. It leaves behind traces of the envelope visible in the electron microscope as well as some glycoproteins thought to be in the envelope.
Evaluation of Soybean Seedcoat Cracking During Drying:PART II. Using MRI

ABSTRACT MRI techniques were developed and employed for non-destructive and noninvasive study of seedcoat cracking in low moisture soybean kernels during heated air drying. Proton density image and transient moisture distribution profile of a single soybean kernel can be obtained using MRI. These MRI techniques proved to be particularly useful for the continuous observation of initiation and propagation of seedcoat cracking during the entire period of drying process without interruption. The proton density images of soybean kernels showed that seedcoat cracking was initiated perpendicular to the long axis of the kernel near the hilum. The transient moisture distribution profiles in soybean kernels during drying indicate that moisture gradient developed during drying was higher in the seedcoat than in the cotyledon. Drying temperature and initial average moisture content were positively correlated with the soyhean seedcoat crackig. The location of the
Portable electronic devices for self blood pressure measurement during pregnancy

Automatically deflating, battery-operated sphygmomanometers have become commercially available and may enhance the ease and reliability of blood pressure (BP) measurement during pregnancy. In the present study, the reliability of four such devices was compared with a highly accurate Dinamap monitor on 31 healthy pregnant women. Variations between the units were evident. Simultaneous measurements with the Dinamap monitor revealed averaged differences between the systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures to usually be less than 5 mm Hg. These portable electronic devices were also comparable in reliability to a standard, wall-mounted mercury sphygmomanometer (Baumanometer). The readings were not influenced by the person performing the measurement. The most compact electronic unit which was least expensive and most comfortable at peak insufflation was most acceptable to our patients. Portable electronic BP monitoring devices provide a reasonable means for self BP measurement during pregnancy.
On the diversity order of transmit antenna selection for spatial multiplexing systems

In the context of antenna selection for MIMO diversity systems, the problem of optimal diversity order is well addressed. On the other hand, the diversity order achieved by antenna selection in spatial multiplexing systems, especially those exploiting practical coding and decoding schemes, has not been rigorously analyzed thus far. In Zhang, H, et al. (2005), we propose a new geometrical framework for theoretically analyzing the achievable diversity order when L = 2 transmit antennas are selected for an N/sub R/ /spl times/ N/sub T/ SM system with linear receivers. In this paper, we extend it to the general scenarios with 2 /spl les/ L /spl les/ N/sub T/, and both linear and decision feedback receivers are considered. A diversity order of (N/sub T/-L+1)(N/sub R/-L+1) are rigorously shown to be achievable by the optimal selection, which was previously partly conjectured by other researchers through simulation results.
Long-term efficacy and safety of bronchial thermoplasty in patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma: reproducing the same mistake

I read with interest the systemic review and meta-analysis conducted by Zhou and his colleagues on the long-term efficacy and safety of bronchial thermoplasty in patients with moderate to severe pe...
World Bank support for early childhood development: case studies from Kenya, India, and the Philippines.

The World Bank's portfolio of early childhood development projects is large (more than US$600 million) and is rapidly growing as a result of a recognition that early childhood is a crucial phase of human development, and that integrated health, nutrition, and stimulation of young children can have substantial economic benefit. The current conceptual framework underlying the World Bank's support for early childhood development is loosely defined as including all interventions directed at children or their caregivers to promote child development, preferably integrated as a package of health, nutrition, and early education services and targeted (but not exclusively) to the poorest households and including partnerships with other providers of such services. This paper analyses three World Bank-financed early childhood development projects in Kenya, India, and the Philippines and the issues arising from the design and approach to early childhood development in the projects. The key challenges for World Bank su...
Multiple Determinants of Business Cycle Synchronization

This study looks at the major economic linkages explaining real GDP correlations for 51 countries including 27 emerging markets for the 1970-2008 period. The GMM-IV and 3SLS simultaneous equation models show that trade integration, especially in the form of intra-industry trade, and similarity in economic structures are the most important determinants of output correlations. On average, global financial integration has no significant effect on output synchronization. However, for developed country pairs and developed and emerging market pairs, financial integration lowers business cycle synchronization, whereas for emerging markets, financial integration increases synchronization. There are strong indirect effects from financial openness to trade integration and structural convergence. In addition, FTA membership, trade partner diversification, differences in fiscal spending, and stability of bilateral exchange rates increase output correlations. Similar oil import dependencies increase synchronization primarily among developed country pairs.
Smokers' Early E-cigarette Experiences, Reasons for Use, and Use Intentions.

Objectives This study examined the context of smokers' first e-cigarette experiences, reasons for trying e-cigarettes, not continuing their use, and future use intentions. Methods We surveyed a nationally representative sample of 519 current cigarette smokers in the United States (classified as never, current, or former e-cigarette users/triers) in April 2014 about their e-cigarette experiences and use intentions. Results Among ever e-cigarette users/triers, 43% purchased an e-cigarette on their own as their first method of trial. These respondents were more likely to have used e-cigarettes more times than those who first tried e-cigarettes from a friend. Positive perceptions about first experiences were significantly higher among current (34.5%) compared to former e-cigarette users/triers (17.9%). Few (8.7%) current e-cigarette users/triers had a negative first experience. Susceptibility to future e-cigarette use was significantly associated with e-cigarette use status, intention to quit smoking and satisfaction with first e-cigarette experience. Among those interested in e-cigarettes, 26.3% were more interested in trying an e-cigarette made by a major tobacco company and 31.8% in trying an e-cigarette that looked "similar" versus different (13.8%) than a real cigarette. Conclusions The context and perceptions of e-cigarette trial experiences, product quality, style and manufacturer may influence e-cigarette trial and use.
Adjuvant and Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Urothelial Carcinoma

Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is associated with a high relapse rate, locally and systemically, particularly in patients with nodal or soft-tissue involvement, despite radical cystectomy. The responsiveness of the disease to chemotherapy in the metastatic setting has stimulated the use of systemic therapy in earlier stage disease, either before (neoadjuvant) or after (adjuvant) definitive local therapy. Interpretation of the data is hampered by low patient accrual to randomized trials, lack of standardization of local treatment modalities, and the use of a variety of chemotherapy agents and regimens pointing to the difficulty in reaching a consensus as to what constitutes standard therapy. In this article, we review the use of adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches, and the recommendations that can be made based on available data. New approaches to improving survival, potentially with organ preservation, include the development of more effective chemotherapy, and the identification of prognostic features-clinical or biologic-that might be a better guide to patient selection.
An overview of mammalian pluripotency

Mammalian pluripotency is the ability to give rise to all somatic cells as well as the germ cells of an adult mammal. It is a unique feature of embryonic epiblast cells, existing only transiently, as cells pass through early developmental stages. By contrast, pluripotency can be captured and stabilized indefinitely in cell culture and can also be reactivated in differentiated cells via nuclear reprogramming. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are the in vitro carriers of pluripotency and they can inhabit discrete pluripotent states depending on the stage at which they were derived and their culture conditions. Here, and in the accompanying poster, we provide a summary of mammalian pluripotency both in vivo and in vitro, and highlight recent and future applications of PSCs for basic and translational research.