cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Three-dimensional (3D) Memristive Spiking Neural Network (M-SNN) System

The information communicating among neurons in Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) is represented as spiking signals. The outstanding energy efficiency of SNNs stems from the minimal computational cost on the nonlinear calculations of the neurons and the communicating power between them. In this paper, we present a three-dimensional (3D) Memristive Spiking Neural Network (M-SNN) system which employs memristors not only as of the electronic synapse but also as the threshold function of SNNs. The simulation results demonstrate our fabricated two-layer memristors outperform the one-layer configuration on design area, power consumption, and latency with the factors of 2, 1.48, and 2.58. To alleviate the switching variation, the heat dissipation layers are added to our memristor resulting in a $\sim$30% reduction in cycle-to-cycle variation. The performance of the 3DM-SNN system is evaluated through the benchmark dataset (CIFAR-10). Our memristive threshold function improves the power consumption by 36%, compared with other state-of-the-art memristor-based threshold functions. The low variation memristor-based synapse shows significant improvement (10% to 66%) on design area, power consumption, and latency, compared with the SRAM and other state-of-the-art memristive synapses.
Conserved Mechanisms in the Formation of the Airways and Alveoli of the Lung

Branching is an intrinsic property of respiratory epithelium that can be induced and modified by signals emerging from the mesenchyme. However, during stereotypic branching morphogenesis of the airway, the relatively thick upper respiratory epithelium extrudes through a mesenchymal orifice to form a new branch, whereas during alveologenesis the relatively thin lower respiratory epithelium extrudes to form sacs or bubbles. Thus, both branching morphogenesis of the upper airway and alveolarization in the lower airway seem to rely on the same fundamental physical process: epithelial extrusion through an orifice. Here I propose that it is the orientation and relative stiffness of the orifice boundary that determines the stereotypy of upper airway branching as well as the orientation of individual alveolar components of the gas exchange surface. The previously accepted dogma of the process of alveologenesis, largely based on 2D microscopy, is that alveoli arise by erection of finger-like interalveolar septae to form septal clefts that subdivide pre-existing saccules, a process for which the contractile properties of specialized alveolar myofibroblasts are necessary. Here I suggest that airway tip splitting and stereotypical side domain branching are actually conserved processes, but modified somewhat by evolution to achieve both airway tip splitting and side branching of the upper airway epithelium, as well as alveologenesis. Viewed in 3D it is clear that alveolar "septal tips" are in fact ring or purse string structures containing elastin and collagen that only appear as finger like projections in cross section. Therefore, I propose that airway branch orifices as well as alveolar mouth rings serve to delineate and stabilize the budding of both airway and alveolar epithelium, from the tips and sides of upper airways as well as from the sides and tips of alveolar ducts. Certainly, in the case of alveoli arising laterally and with radial symmetry from the sides of alveolar ducts, the mouth of each alveolus remains within the plane of the side of the ductal lumen. This suggests that the thin epithelium lining these lateral alveolar duct buds may extrude or "pop out" from the duct lumen through rings rather like soap or gum bubbles, whereas the thicker upper airway epithelium extrudes through a ring like toothpaste from a tube to form a new branch.
Bacidia depriestiana (Ramalinaceae), a new species from the southern Appalachian Mountains of eastern North America

Bacidia depriestiana is described as new to science based on material from the southern Appalachian Mountains of eastern North America. The species has a granular to minutely areolate thallus, with minute, erumpent soralia, produces atranorin and zeorin, and is not known to produce apothecia. The combination of chemistry and thallus type appears to be unique within the genus. Originally identified as Lecanora nothocaesiella, the species was recognized as distinct in conjunction with study of a large metagenomic dataset for lichens from the region. In connection with obtaining molecular loci use for phylogenetic placement of the material, the mitochondrial genome was assembled, found to be 38,546 bp in length, and encoded for the full suite of protein coding genes previously found in lichen fungi, with the exception of atp9.
Social Determinants of Health in Maternity Care: A Quality Improvement Project for Food Insecurity Screening and Health Care Provider Referral

Purpose: This quality improvement project evaluated implementation of social determinants of health screening and referral for food insecurity. Methods: Four obstetric providers used study-develope...
Abstract 128: Pittsburgh Outcomes After Stroke Thrombectomy Vertebrobasilar (POST VB) Score Predicts Outcomes After Endovascular Therapy for Basilar Artery Occlusions

Background: Basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Endovascular therapy offers improved outcomes, but the road to recovery is often protracted necessitating aggressive supportive care. We sought to develop a prognostic score incorporating these factors to predict outcomes after endovascular therapy for BAO. Methods: The derivation cohort was obtained from a previously utilized prospectively maintained database of patients with BAO treated endovascularly at our institution prior to June 2012 (N=59). Logistic regression was performed to identify any independent predictors of good outcome (90-day mRS, 0-2). Factors were weighted based on β-coefficients to derive the Pittsburgh Outcomes After Stroke Thrombectomy Vertebrobasilar (POST VB) score. The POST VB score was then validated in a similar cohort of patients with BAO treated endovascularly at our institution after June 2012 (N=30). Results: In the derivation cohort, independent predictors (P Conclusions: The POST VB score appears to accurately predict of outcome following endovascular therapy for acute stroke due to BAO and thus may aid in guiding post-interventional care. Our results await validation from larger prospectively acquired datasets.
Pointer-Range Analysis

Array-Range Analysis computes at compile time the range of possible index values for each array-index expression in a program. This information can be used to detect potential out-of-bounds array accesses and to identify non-aliasing array accesses. In a language like C, where arrays can be accessed indirectly via pointers, and where pointer arithmetic is allowed, range analysis must be extended to compute the range of possible values for each pointer dereference.
Cu wire bonding process induced fail mechanism — Inter Layer Dielectric Crack

Converting gold wire to copper wire for IC packaging is a common strategy to achieve challenging cost reduction goal in semiconductor industry. This trend has both advantage and disadvantage. This cost effective solution also creates all kinds of quality, reliability issue. Inter Layer Dielectric crack, known as ILD crack, is one of the most common fail mode inducing at wire bonding stage. In this paper, several experiments are shown to proof that ultrasonic (USG) is the most critical factor to induce IC inter layer dielectric (ILD) crack out of wire bonding parameters by physical analysis. Furthermore, a novel concept about the ILD crack root cause investigation is delivered and supported by several real cases. In short, wire bonding process is not always the only cause of an ILD crack event. Metal line layout design and wafer fabrication process variation should also be checked to identify the real root cause.
Modular multilevel DAB (M 2 DAB) converter for shipboard MVDC system with fault protection and ride-through capability

Shipboard Medium Voltage Direct Current (MVDC) system has gained increasing popularity. However, fault management of MVDC system is one critical challenge. In this paper, a modular multilevel dual active bridge (M2DAB) converter is proposed to be applied in shipboard MVDC system. Under the presented unified control strategy, the bi-directional isolated dc/dc converter with fault protection and ride-through capability can limit the fault current and maintain operation with very wide input voltage range. Detailed system analysis and control strategy are given. The simulation results are presented to verify the operation and functionality of the proposed method.
Medical and toxicological aspects of the Watkins Glen rock concert.

The outdoor rock concert has been well established as an important feature in the life of young people both in this country and abroad. The frequent use of psychoactive chemicals at these large gatherings is to be anticipated, as shown by evaluations of such events in the past [1–3]. This phenomenon is concurrent with prevailing permissive attitudes of youth toward drug usage in our society. The evolution of the use of psychoactive drugs, especially the psychedelics, has been associated with the popularity of rock music.
Protein Synthesis Is Impaired in Low Compared to Normal Birth Weight Neonatal Pigs

Postnatal growth is reduced in low (LBWT) compared with normal birth weight (NBWT) pigs. The objective of this study was to determine body growth and muscle protein deposition in LBWT and NBWT neonatal pigs. Newborn female pigs (n = 6) were considered NBWT or LBWT when birth weight was within ± 0.5 and -2 SD of litter average. NBWT pigs were fed a control diet, while LBWT pigs were fed an equal amount per kg body weight of either the control diet or the same diet supplemented with 0.68% branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) for 21 d. On day 21, pigs were infused with [2H5]phenylalanine for 8 h, and plasma taken during the last 4 h of tracer infusion. Weight gain was lower for LBWT compared with NBWT pigs throughout the study (P < 0.05). Fat and lean deposition measured by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were lower (P < 0.05) in LBWT compared with their NBWT siblings. Feed conversion and protein efficiency were not different among all groups; however, the efficiency of energy deposition in LBWT pigs was about...
Effect of pH on the Immunogenicity of Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Mycoplasma pneumoniae harvested from media which had become acid lost the ability both to induce formation of tetrazolium reduction inhibition antibody and to act as antigens in immunodiffusion against human convalescent-phase sera. Incorporation of N -tris(hydroxymethyl)-2-aminoethane sulfonic acid and N -2-hydroxyethylpiperazine- N ′-2-ethane sulfonic acid buffers into a new medium containing PPLO Serum Fraction instead of horse serum delayed the p H decline. Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, triethanolamine, and 3,6-endomethylene-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalic acid buffers inhibited growth. Mycoplasmas obtained from buffered cultures retained antigenicity as measured by immunodiffusion and could stimulate tetrazolium reduction inhibition antibody formation in animals. Images
Protein–Ligand Interactions: General Description

Protein–ligand interactions are fundamental to almost all processes occuring in living organisms. Ligand-mediated signal transmission via molecular complementarity is essential to all life processes; these chemical interactions comprise biological recognition at the molecular level. The evolution of protein function is dependent in part on the development of highly specific sites designed to bind small-molecule ligands with affinities tuned to the needs of the cell. Cooperativity in ligand binding is critically important to the regulation of competing biological functions. Regulation of cellular processes via cooperative protein–ligand interactions occurs through molecular mechanisms involving protein conformational transitions among low- and high-affinity states. Consequently, ligand-binding interactions are used to switch proteins among states of different function. Examples ranging from dioxygen transport to gene expression are presented. The structures of protein–ligand complexes at atomic resolution make possible the design of small-molecule drugs for the treatment of disease. Key Concepts: Molecular recognition via protein–ligand interactions is of fundamental importance to most processes occurring within living organisms. Transmission of signals via molecular complementarity is essential to all life processes. The evolution of protein function includes the development of highly specific sites for the binding of ligands with affinities tailored to meet the needs of biological function. Cooperativity in ligand binding plays an important role in the regulation of biological function. Cooperativity in ligand binding is linked to conformational change in the protein. Well-defined mathematical expressions based on the stoichiometry of the binding equilibrium provide a means for quantifying ligand-binding interactions. The equilibrium constants of ligand–macromolecule interactions provide a thermodynamic measure of the strength of the interaction. The atomic resolution structures of ligand complexes provide a chemical basis for understanding protein–ligand interactions and these structures are often used as the basis for the design of small-molecule drugs for the treatment of disease. Keywords: cooperativity; ligand; dissociation constant; biological recognition; specificity; drugs; signal transmission; binding; bonding forces
Effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on marine microalgal-invertebrate symbioses. I. Response of the algal symbionts in culture an in hospite

Abstract As ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been implicated in recent reports of “environmental stress” in shallow water marine ecosystems, we have studied the effect of UV on two symbiotic associations; the temperate dinoflagellate Symbiodinium californium and its host Anthopleura elegantissima, and the tropical dinoflagellate S. microadriaticum and its host Cassiopeia xamachana. The algae were exposed to UV in the presence of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) in culture and in hospite, and their responses compared to cells exposed to PAR only. Exposure to UV affected the size of neither S. californium nor S. microadriaticum, but growth rates in culture were significantly reduced under the influence of UV in the former, but not the latter. Synthesis of chlorophylls a and c2 was depressed by UV in S. microadriaticum, but not in S. californium. UV depressed cell motility in culture in both species. While S. microadriaticum showed no obvious morphological responses to UV in culture or in hospite, S. californium in culture developed multiple-layered cell walls after 4-wk exposure to UV, and this phenomenon disappeared after the cells were returned to culture conditions in the absence of UV. The production of multiple cell walls was not observed in hospite.
Muscle Synergies: Implications for Clinical Evaluation and Rehabilitation of Movement

We present a method called muscle synergy analysis, which can offer clinicians insight into both underlying neural strategies for movement and functional outcomes of muscle activity. Although neural dysfunction is central to many motor deficits, neural activity during movements is not directly measurable. Consequently, the majority of clinical tests focus on evaluating motor outputs at the behavioral and kinematic levels. However, altered behavioral or kinematic outcomes could be the result of multiple distinct neural abnormalities with very different muscle coordination patterns. Because muscle activity reflects motoneuron activity and generates the forces that produce behavioral outcomes, an analysis of muscle activity may provide a better understanding of the functional neural deficits in the impaired nervous system. Unfortunately, electromyographic datasets can be large, highly variable, and difficult to interpret, precluding their clinical utility. Computational analyses can be used to extract muscle...
Latino Parents' Perceptions of the Role of Schools in College Readiness

This study examines data from focus groups conducted with Spanish-speaking Latino parents to gauge their perceptions of the role of schools in Latino students' college readiness. Findings indicate that parents perceive schools to be equal partners in this effort, identifying schools as sources of college information and opportunities. However, parents also described how schools stifle Latino students' college readiness by (a) not providing sufficient up-to-date college information; and (b) inequitably and inconsistently disseminating college information, opportunities, and support. Such findings are vital to consider given the rapidly growing Latino student population nationwide (Winning the Future, 2011).
Prior Experience of Form and Illusory Figures: New Demonstrations

Three patterns are presented that demonstrate a positive influence of prior experience of form on the production of illusory lines and edges which either complete that form or ‘explain’ its present incompleteness.
Probing the Protein Folding Code through the Polymer Properties of Low-Complexity Sequences

Converting primary structure into the tertiary structure of a protein remains an unsolved problem. Many proteins with highly divergent amino acid sequences have similar structures. Given the redundancy of the folding code, distinguishing signal from noise is an inherent problem. Rather than using the sequences of structurally characterized proteins to discern the code, we have adopted a strategy of first understanding the behavior of low complexity sequences using thermodynamic, kinetic and computational methods. We have inserted homopolymers of alanine, glycine and glutamine ranging from 6 to 30 residues into the N-terminus of yeast iso-1-cytochrome c. To maintain solubility, every sixth residue is lysine. Homopolymers of these amino acids are important because long repeats of these amino acids are often associated with Human disease. The homopolymers are inserted between a unique histidine and the heme allowing measurement of the thermodynamics and kinetics of His-heme loop formation under denaturing conditions ranging from 1.5 to 6 M guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl). Kinetic and thermodynamic loop formation data show that these homopolymers adhere closely to the expected linear dependence of loop formation probability on the logarithm of loop size predicted by the Jacobson-Stockmayer equation. Thus, the scaling exponent, ν3, and Flory's Characteristic ratio, Cn, are readily evaluated. In 6 M GdnHCl, all three hompolymers have similar ν3, but at lower GdnHCl concentrations, ν3 decreases for the Glycine-rich sequences relative to the Alanine-rich and Glutamine-rich sequences. Evaluation of Cn shows that chain stiffness follows the order: Glutamine-rich > Alanine-rich > Glycine-rich. We have also shown that insertion of aromatic amino acids into the Alanine-rich sequences significantly stabilizes His-heme loops, providing direct evidence that aromatic residues are structure-forming amino acids critical for biasing the conformational landscape of a polypeptide.
Hippocampal Mechanisms Linking Chronic Pain and Depression

ABSTRACTThe emotional or affective component of pain regulates mood; it occurs primarily in the brain's limbic system; and a negative impact on affect is required in order for stimulus to be accurately portrayed as “painful.” The integration of sensory and affective components of pain and the ensuing activation of higher brain centers involved in the perception of noxious stimuli is an emerging topic within the field of pain neurobiology. A relationship between pain and mood has been supported by numerous clinical studies indicating significant comorbidity of chronic pain and various types of depressive illnesses. Besides the assumption that pain is simply a form of stress, the physiological basis for the coexistence of pain and depression is still being investigated. Studies described in this review address some of the cellular and molecular events occurring within the hippocampus that may be common to both pain and stress, possibly reflecting underlying mechanisms of chronic pain-related depression.
Performance of Dacryodes edulis (Don. G. Lam H.J.) seeds and seedlings in a crude oil contaminated soil

Abstract Environmental pollution from oil activities in a major oil producing country like Nigeria is inevitable. Studies on the effects of crude oil contamination on forest tree species is vital because of the great deal of crude oil spillage in the coastal regions of Nigeria. This paper evaluates the performance of Dacryodes edulis seeds and seedlings in a crude oil contaminated soil in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. Four crude oil concentrations (% by weight) in soil constituted treatments. These were 0.00%, 2.07%, 4.15% and 6.23% by weight per 1.3 kg weight of the soil samples. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was adopted with three replicates. The results showed that oil concentrations of 4.15% and 6.23% adversely affected percent (%) germination (62.33% and 37.67%) and performance of D. edulis seedlings in terms of plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, collar girth and dry mass at the 5% probability level. The study shows that crude oil pollution has a highly significant effect on the ge...
An approach to modeling present‐day deformation in southern California

This paper presents an approach to modeling the complete, time-dependent deformation in southern California. A variety of techniques are used to include the far-field plate motion, stress relaxation in the asthenosphere, aseismic fault slip within the elastic lithosphere, and the complex, three-dimensional nature of the faults within the southern California region. Among the conclusions of the work here are the following: (1) the data exibit a marginal preference for a relatively thin lithosphere in southern California: (2) the most sensitive determinant for lithospheric thickness and viscosity of the asthenosphere is the rotation rate of the motion vectors toward or away from major faults; (3) the major faults in southern California are slipping at depth, at or near their average Holocene rates; (4) a shallow, active decollement beneath the Transverse Ranges is apparently needed to realistically model the strain changes observed there; and (5) this modeling technique offers the best approach for understanding the complex deformation field in southern California.
Alpha-gamma reaction test of parity nonconservation in nuclear physics

Abstract A parity-forbidden 12 C(α, γ) 16 O reaction through the 11.08 MeV 3 + state is proposed to obtain new information on irregular α-widths. New calculations of the irregular α-width of the 11.08 MeV 3 + state are presented which include both the two pion and rho exchange contributions. The irregular α-width of the 4.97 MeV 2 − state of 20 Ne is estimated, and it is confirmed that this state makes a negligible contribution to the astrophysical helium-burning reaction, 16 O(α, γ) 20 Ne.
Feline Bronchopulmonary Disease

This article discusses the current state of knowledge on naturally occurring feline bronchopulmonary disease. Included is the use of in-depth diagnostic evaluation and pulmonary function testing to emphasize the diversity of the clinical manifestations and pathophysiologic abnormalities seen in affected cats.
Silicon Nanowires: Preparation, Device Fabrication, and Transport Properties

The preparation of 20 ± 5 nm diameter Si nanowires and the electrical characterization of Si nanowire devices are presented. The nanowires were grown at 450−500 °C on solid substrates via the vapor...
Framework for a Unified Model for Nucleate and Transition Pool Boiling

An area and time-averaged model for saturated pool boiling heat fluxes has been developed. In the model, which is valid in the upper end of nucleate boiling and in transition boiling, the existence of stationary vapor stems at the wall is assumed. The energy from the wall is conducted into the liquid macro/micro thermal layer surrounding the stems and is utilized in evaporation at the stationary liquid-vapor interface. The heat transfer rate into the thermal layer and the temperature distribution in it are determined by solving a two-dimensional steady-state conduction equation. The evaporation rate is given by the kinetic theory. The heater surface area over which the vapor stems exist is taken to be dry. Employing experimentally observed void fractions, not only the nucleate and transition boiling heat fluxes but also the maximum and minimum heat fluxes are predicted from the model. The maximum heat fluxes obtained from the model are valid only for surfaces that are not well wetted and includes the contact angle as one of the parameters.
In defense of adiabatic ϕ/ψ mapping for cellobiose and other disaccharides

Thorough conformational study of cellobiose requires consideration of numerous arrangements of the exocyclic groups. Therefore, it is customary to prepare a number of structures with different arrangements of hydroxyl and hydroxymethyl groups. These “starting geometries” are then given different values of the glycosidic linkage torsion angles ϕ and ψ. At each increment of ϕ and ψ, the energy is calculated. Usually, the final product is an “adiabatic” contour plot of the lowest energy at each ϕ/ψ point after considering all of the starting geometries. The present paper advocates for adiabatic maps despite the statement by Schnupf and Momany (preceding paper) that adiabatic maps are not of interest because they contain sparse details about the structures at each minimum. Similar information is computed by their method and adiabatic mapping, and comparable details can be provided from adiabatic studies. Although Schnupf and Momany presented maps from calculations in vacuum and in water that considered all of their calculated energies, they favored the presentation of two to four maps for each of 36 individual minima, each with its own zero of relative energy. However, previous work showed that more structures are needed to provide the lowest energies at each point in ϕ/ψ space. Following their preferred strategy would result in even more maps when the added structures are considered. The need to map individual minima can be avoided by starting calculations with the same exocyclic orientations at each ϕ/ψ point instead of using the preceding optimized structure to start the next energy minimization. Using the same orientations at each point allows periodic maps that depict barriers between minima.
Determination of Aqueous FeIII/II Electron Self-Exchange Rates Using Enriched Stable Isotope Labels, Ion Chromatography, and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

A strategy is described for rapid on-line measurement of electron self-exchange rates between aqueous FeIII and FeII in aqueous solution using stable 57Fe-labeled reactants, cation chromatography, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The self-exchange is monitored by mixing the reactants and performing timewise separations of FeII and FeIII ions. Separations are completed in 30−60 s using a weak phosphonic/carboxylic acid cation exchange guard column and 0.1−0.5 M aqueous HClO4 eluent. The resulting time series of 56Fe and 57Fe chromatograms display systematic changes in isotopic abundances from which the self-exchange rate constant, k11, is obtained. Two different schemes are used for mixing and sampling the reaction mixture; using a peristaltically pumped flow reactor, reaction half-lives on the order of 30 s can be monitored. A series of k11 results are obtained under a variety of temperature (2.0, 21.6, and 25.0 °C) and ionic strength conditions (0.10, 0.50, and 0.55 M aqueous HClO4) whic...
Potential oscillations and S-shaped polarization curve in the continuous electro-oxidation of CO on platinum single-crystal electrodes

The occurrence of an S-shaped polarization curve in a simple model for the continuous electrochemical oxidation of CO on a platinum electrode is discussed. In the model, the S-shaped polarization curve is caused by the competitive Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism between surface-bonded CO and OH. The reaction is studied experimentally on single-crystal platinum rotating disk electrodes in perchloric and sulfuric acid solution, and it is shown that the voltammetry is in good agreement with the model predictions. When studied under current-controlled conditions, a fast galvanodynamic scan indeed suggests the existence of the S-shaped polarization curve. At lower scan rates, however, irregularities and small-amplitude irregular fluctuations or oscillations in potential are observed. Very regular potential oscillations under current-controlled conditions are observed only on Pt(111) in sulfuric acid. The possible origin of these irregularities and oscillations is discussed in relation to the existing theories of electrochemical instabilities.
ENDOR of perylene radicals adsorbed on alumina and silica-alumina powders. I. The ring protons

Abstract Complex electron-nuclear double-resonance (ENDOR) spectra were obtained from the radicals formed on activated alumina and silica-alumina powders exposed to solutions of perylene in benzene. Use of deuterated solvent to suppress spectral contributions from proton matrix effects enabled more detailed analysis of resonances associated with hyperfine interactions of ring protons of the perylene radical ion. A model of isotropic Zeeman interactions (g) and very anisotropic hyperfine splittings (A) is supported by multifrequency EPR measurements and ENDOR simulations devised for this work. All three proton hyperfine interactions of the perylene radical ion were resolved and the absolute values of the principal elements of the hyperfine coupling matrices were obtained. The fact that these values for radicals formed on alumina and silica-alumina were nearly identical implies that the same radical species forms on both surfaces. These findings are discussed and the radical is assigned as the cation.
A Method to Discriminate Pulmonary Contusion Severity Through Analysis of Hounsfield Unit Frequency

This study presents a novel approach for the quantification and classification of pulmonary contusion (PC). PC is a common thoracic injury, affecting up to 25% of patients sustaining blunt chest trauma. [1] Contusion volume at the time of hospitalization has been shown to be an independent predictor for the development of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), with the risk of ARDS increasing sharply with PC in excess of 20% by volume. [1] Despite the frequency of the injury and strong positive correlation between contusion volume and outcome, there are relatively few contusion quantification methods in the current literature. One such study utilized chest x-ray film to score PC according the amount of lung appearing to be damaged. [2] The study concluded that despite the limitations in using chest x-rays, a PC scoring system may be of value in determining the need for ventilator assistance and predicting outcome. A potentially more accurate approach to quantifying the severity of PC is through the use of computed tomography (CT) chest scans. CT is the preferred modality for obtaining volumetric pulmonary contusion data since the complete three-dimensional lung anatomy is captured. In this work a semi-automated approach is used to analyze PC in an isolated model of lung contusion in the rat. [3, 4] The CT-based approach enables the PC to be precisely quantified as the lesion progresses in time. The technique distinguishes the severity of the contusion by analyzing the composition of bands in the Hounsfield Unit (HU) range of lung image masks.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
The Value of Arterial Spin-Labeled Perfusion Imaging in Acute Ischemic Stroke Comparison With Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast-Enhanced MRI

Background and Purpose—The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential clinical value of arterial spin-labeled (ASL) perfusion MRI in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) through comparison with dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) enhanced perfusion MRI. Methods—Pseudocontinuous ASL with 3-dimensional background-suppressed gradient and spin echo readout was applied with DSC perfusion MRI on 26 patients with AIS. ASL cerebral blood flow and multiparametric DSC perfusion maps were rated for image quality and lesion severity/conspicuity. Mean ASL cerebral blood flow and DSC perfusion values were obtained in main vascular territories. Kendall coefficient of concordance was calculated to evaluate the reliability of ratings. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated to compare ratings and quantitative perfusion values between ASL and DSC perfusion maps. Results—ASL cerebral blood flow and DSC perfusion maps provided largely consistent results in delineating hypoperfused brain regions in AIS. Hyperemic ...
Use of a hybrid code to model the Earth's magnetosphere

This paper presents a demonstration of the use of a hybrid code to model the Earth's magnetosphere on a global scale. A hybrid code calculates the interaction of particle ions and a massless electron fluid with the magnetic field. The demonstration is a simulation of the noon meridian plane of the magnetosphere. Innovative features of the code include a numerically generated curvilinear coordinate system, approximation of the cold ionospheric plasma as an MHD fluid that coexists with the kinetic plasma and subcycling of the magnetic field update to the particle push. These innovations allow the code to accommodate disparate time and distance scales. New results include particle acceleration in the cusp and nearly field aligned currents linking the cusp and polar ionosphere. It is pointed out that such a code is needed help resolve many of the outstanding questions regarding substorm dynamics and perhaps form the basis of a numerical space weather prediction scheme.
Inverse Radiation Problem for Simultaneous Estimation of Temperature Profile and Surface Reflectivity

A method is presented for simultaneous estimation of the unknown temperature distribution and the diffuse surface reflectivity in an absorbing, emitting, and isotropically scattering medium from the knowledge of the exit radiation intensities. The inverse radiation problem is recast as an optimization problem in finite-dimensional space and the conjugate gradient method of minimization is then used for its solution. The scheme is stable, insensitive to the initial guess, and in the absence of measurement errors the estimated solution converges to the exact result. 25 refs.
Potassium bis(carbonato-O,O')(ethylenediamine-N,N')cobaltate(III) monohydrate at 173 K.

The title salt, K[Co(C2H8N2)(CO3)2]·H2O, consists of a distorted octahedral cobalt complex anion and a seven-coordinate potassium cation. Both metal atoms have crystallographic twofold symmetry, one C2 axis passing through the Co atom and C—C bond, and another along a short K—O (water) bond of 2.600 A (corrected for libration). The carbonate is bidentate to both cobalt and potassium and the water forms a hydrogen bond to a carbonate O atom.
A study of one-dimensional laminar premixed flame annihilation

Abstract A simplified model for the mutual annihilation of two identical, oppositely propagating premixed laminar flames is examined both numerically and analytically. The conservation equations are derived and their limitations discussed. The various burning regimes are discussed with strong emphasis on the final and most dramatic regime, the “strong interaction” or “homogeneous explosion” stage. The influence of the Lewis number not equal to 1 on the flame behavior is discussed, specifically, the influence on the excess enthalpy, the flame speed, and annihilation time. Conclusions are drawn that there is a great asymmetry between annihilation for Lewis number greater than 1 and Lewis number less than 1.
Notes on horizontal‐pendulum observations in relation to certain phenomena

The writer has been interested in the above subject for a number of years, and recently has published some of his results up to 1936 in the January Bulletin of the Seismological Society, and further notes were read at the Annual Meeting of the above Society which was held early in April, 1938, in California. It is hoped the following information in connection with this subject may prove of some value to those attending the meeting of the American Geophysical Union.
Impaired dendritic cell maturation in patients with chronic, but not resolved, hepatitis C virus infection.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are important for the initiation of immune responses to foreign antigens. Their antigen uptake and presentation capacities enable them to prime and activate T cells. Immature DCs capture antigens; however, they must be activated to mature before serving as efficient antigen-presenting cells. The antigen-presenting capacity of DCs can be diminished during viral infection and as a consequence of tumor formation. Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been shown to affect the allostimulatory function of DCs. In this study, it is demonstrated that monocyte-derived DCs from patients with chronic HCV infection do not respond to maturation stimuli. Instead, they maintain their immature phenotype, reflected by the pattern of cell surface markers and by their continued capacity to uptake antigen. Moreover, their allostimulatory abilities are impaired compared with those of mature DCs derived from healthy donors. To investigate a possible correlation between viral clearance and this DC maturation defect, patients with resolved HCV infection after a course of antiviral therapy were studied. Results demonstrate that DCs from patients who cleared HCV behaved like DCs from healthy donors: in response to maturation stimuli, they decrease antigen uptake, up-regulate expression of appropriate surface markers, and are potent stimulators of allogeneic T cells.
Simulation model design

Presents a structure for defining and categorizing simulation model designs. In the past, simulation researchers have created categories for discrete event simulation: event, process and activity; however, there are problems with this breakdown. First, the major problem is that the taxonomy based on these three sub-types deals with only discrete event methods. Discrete time methods including a spatial decomposition of a physical system (cellular automata, L-Systems) or a continuous model are not included. Second, the terms "event", "process" and "activity" create a division among classes of simulation languages, rather than a division based on model design. The term "process", for example, is really a level of abstraction higher than "event" and is not orthogonal to "event." The structure that we present in this talk is more comprehensive and provides simulationists with a unified framework that is independent of the terms discrete and continuous.
Effective magnetic field for photons based on the magneto-optical effect

We propose to create an effective magnetic field for photons in photonic crystal resonator lattices using the magneto-optical effect. The inter-resonator coupling is mediated by magneto-optical waveguides or magneto-optical resonators, and thus the coupling between the nearest-neighbor photonic crystal resonators acquire a direction-dependent phase. The effective magnetic field can be realized with a proper choice of the spatial distribution of such a direction-dependent phase.
Formation of histamine-releasing activity from albumin by medium conditioned by endotoxin-stimulated rat peritoneal macrophages.

Incubation of bovine serum albumin (BSA), rat serum albumin or rat plasma with medium conditioned by endotoxin stimulated rat peritoneal macrophages produced an activity that released histamine from isolated rat serosal mast cells. The amount of histamine-releasing activity (HRA) produced increased with the length of the incubation period, with the concentration of albumin, with the number of macrophages stimulated, and with the duration of exposure of the macrophages to endotoxin. Moreover, the formation of the HRA showed a dependency on the pH of the incubation medium with an optimum at pH 4.5. Boiling the medium conditioned by stimulated macrophages before its incubation with albumin or including the acid protease inhibitor, pepstatin with the conditioned medium prevented the formation of HRA. The generation of HRA was not inhibited by pretreatment of the macrophages with the inhibitor of protein synthesis, cycloheximide. Media from macrophages not stimulated with endotoxin failed to generate HRA. Histamine release from mast cells in response to the HRA was inhibited by pretreatment of the cells with antimycin A and deoxyglucose or by reincubation in Ca-free Locke's solution containing a calcium chelating agent. When injected intradermally into anesthetized Evan's Blue treated rats, the generated HRA produced a change in vascular permeability that was prevented by the H1 antagonist, diphenhydramine. Treatment of the HRA with carboxypeptidase A reduced its ability to stimulate histamine release from mast cells. Histamine-Releasing Peptide (HRP), a neurotensin-related octapeptide, shown previously by us to be formed by the action of cathepsin D or pepsin on albumin, was identified by radioimmunoassay in acid: acetone extracts of the histamine-releasing activity. It is concluded that the formation of HRA is due to the actions of enzymes released from macrophages acting on albumin. It is suggested that such histamine-releasing activity could be formed during the later stages of the inflammatory response and that HRP is one of the peptides present.
Work in progress — Asleep in class are the schedules of college students hampering their ability to learn?

Irregular sleep schedules, circadian desynchronization and sleep loss are all known to affect human cognitive performance and emotional stability. In addition, a number of environmental factors, including temperature and ambient light levels, can also contribute to alertness and neurobehavioral performance. In these studies, data were collected on the sleep patterns of university students and the ambient conditions in classrooms, dormitories and other academic environments to which these students were habitually exposed. Thirty-eight engineering undergraduates were monitored using wrist actigraphy to measure sleep, waking and light exposure. Data were collected in 14-day increments and repeated three times during a college term. Preliminary analyses have been performed to characterize the habitual sleep and circadian conditions experienced by these subjects. Results suggest that college students are following sleep/wake schedules detrimental to the acquisition and retention of learned material. In effect, students may be subjected to schedules and lighting that physiologically impaired their ability to perform to high academic standards.
Embedded System Security in Smart Consumer Electronics

Advances in manufacturing and emerging technologies in miniaturization and reduction of power consumption have proven to be a pivotal point in mankind's progress. The once advanced machines that occupied entire buildings and needed hundreds of engineers to be operated are now shadowed by the smart cellular phones we carry in our pockets. With the advent of the Internet and proliferation of wireless technologies, these devices are now extremely interconnected. Enter the nascent era of Internet of Things (IoT) and wearable devices, where small embedded devices loaded with sensors collect information from its surroundings, process it and relay it to remote locations for further analysis. Albeit looking harmless, this nascent technologies raise security and privacy concerns. In this talk, we pose the question of the possibility and effects of compromising one of such devices. Concentrating on the design flow of IoT devices, we discuss some common design practices and their implications on security and privacy. We present the Google Nest Learning Thermostat as an example on how these practices affect the resulting device and the potential consequences to user security and privacy. We will then introduce design flow security enhancement methods through which security will be built into the device, a major difference from traditional practices which treat security as an add-on property implemented at post-fabrication stage.
Persulfate activation by naturally occurring trace minerals.

Abstract The potential for 13 naturally occurring minerals to mediate the decomposition of persulfate and generate a range of reactive oxygen species was investigated to provide fundamental information on activation mechanisms when persulfate is used for in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO). Only four of the minerals (cobaltite, ilmenite, pyrite, and siderite) promoted the decomposition of persulfate more rapidly than persulfate–deionized water control systems. The other nine minerals decomposed persulfate at the same rate or more slowly than the control systems. Mineral-mediated persulfate activation was conducted with the addition of one of three probe compounds to detect the generation of reactive oxygen species: anisole (sulfate + hydroxyl radical), nitrobenzene (hydroxyl radical), and hexachloroethane (reductants and nucleophiles). The reduced mineral pyrite promoted rapid generation of sulfate + hydroxyl radical. However, the remainder of the minerals provided minimal potential for the generation of reactive oxygen species. The results of this research demonstrate that the majority of naturally occurring trace minerals do not activate persulfate to generate reactive oxygen species, and other mechanisms of activation are necessary to promote contaminant destruction in the subsurface during persulfate ISCO.
Ultrasound tissue characterization: can the state of the myocardium be assessed directly yet noninvasively?

Comprehensive diagnosis of the patient with ischemic heart disease has become a complex process. The clinician can now confirm and extend bedside observations through a variety of laboratory examinations, chief among which are the several techniques of cardiac imaging (1,2). Standard imaging approaches (roentgenography, echocardiography, radionuclide imaging and angiography) permit delineation of cardiac chamber morphology and function, coronary artery anatomy, valvular function and some estimation of regional deficits in myocardial perfusion. The newest methodspositron emission tomography, rapid computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging-promise to add hitherto unavailable data on myocardial perfusion, metabolism and tissue characteristics (3). The goal of assessing tissue composition and physiologic state in a noninvasive fashion (“tissue characterization”) has been sought by investigators using ultrasound (4) and, more recently, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. In this issue of the Journal, Vered and coworkers (5) present clinical evidence that one particular ultrasound method identifies regions of scar related to previous myocardial infarction. In the current era of aggressive intervention in acute ischemia, the ability to identify collagenous (hence, nonviable) myocardium would be of obvious importance. In this brief editorial, I will highlight the investigative field of ultrasound tissue characterization and attempt to put the current study into a clinical perspective. Noninvasive cardiac tissue characterization. Although current diagnostic methods permit assessment of coronary