cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sequential Time-Frequency Signature Estimation of Multi-Component FM Signals

In this paper, we consider a challenging problem of accurate instantaneous frequency (IF) estimation of multi-component non-linear frequency modulated (FM) signals, which may have distinct amplitude levels, in the presence of burst missing data samples. We propose a technique, in which the signal components are sequentially estimated from the strongest component to the weaker ones. First, the time-frequency (TF) representation of the received signal is obtained after applying a signal-adaptive TF kernel. Then, the IF of the strongest signal component is estimated to reconstruct its waveform, and its contribution is removed from the signal through orthogonal projection. The procedure is successively implemented for weaker signal components until the residual becomes negligible. The refined estimation of the signal components is independent of the missing data positions. The proposed technique successfully resolves signal components with distinct amplitude levels and achieves concentrated TF representations by mitigating the undesired effects of cross-terms and artifacts due to the burst missing data samples. Simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Targeted Amino Acid Substitution Overcomes Scale-Up Challenges with the Human C5a-Derived Decapeptide Immunostimulant EP67

EP67 is a second-generation, human C5a-derived decapeptide agonist of C5a receptor 1 (C5aR1/CD88) that selectively activates mononuclear phagocytes over neutrophils to potentiate protective innate and adaptive immune responses while potentially minimizing neutrophil-mediated toxicity. Pro7 and N-methyl-Leu8 (Me-Leu8) amino acid residues within EP67 likely induce backbone structural changes that increase potency and selective activation of mononuclear phagocytes over neutrophils versus first-generation EP54. The low coupling efficiency between Pro7 and Me-Leu8 and challenging purification by HPLC, however, greatly increase scale-up costs of EP67 for clinical use. Thus, the goal of this study was to determine whether replacing Pro7 and/or Me-Leu8 with large-scale amenable amino acid residues predicted to induce similar structural changes (cyclohexylalanine7 and/or leucine8) sufficiently preserves EP67 activity in primary human mononuclear phagocytes and neutrophils. We found that EP67 analogues had similar potency, efficacy, and selective activation of mononuclear phagocytes over neutrophils. Thus, replacing Pro7 and/or Me-Leu8 with large-scale amenable amino acid residues predicted to induce similar structural changes is a suitable strategy to overcome scale-up challenges with EP67.
Making Global MBAs: The Culture of Business and the Business of Culture: by Andrew Orta, Oakland, CA, University of California Press, 2019, 542 pp., $85 (hardback), ISBN 978-0-520-32539-5/ $29.95 (paperback), ISBN 978-0-520-32540-1

For champions of ‘free markets,’ globalization promised the emergence of a transnational network of producers and consumers held together by highly mobile, networked communication and information p...
Exploiting Heterogeneous Mobile Architectures Through a Unified Runtime Framework

Modern mobile SoCs are typically integrated with multiple heterogeneous hardware accelerators such as GPU and DSP. Resource heavy applications such as object detection and image recognition based on convolutional neural networks are accelerated by offloading these computation-intensive algorithms to the accelerators to meet their stringent performance constraints. Conventionally there are device-specific runtime and programming languages supported for programming each accelerator, and these offloading tasks are typically pre-mapped to a specific compute unit at compile time, missing the opportunity to exploit other underutilized compute resources to gain better performance. To address this shortcoming, we present SURF: a Self-aware Unified Runtime Framework for Parallel Programs on Heterogeneous Mobile Architectures. SURF supports several heterogeneous parallel programming languages (including OpenMP and OpenCL), and enables dynamic task-mapping to heterogeneous resources based on runtime measurement and prediction. The measurement and monitoring loop enables self-aware adaptation of run-time mapping to exploit the best available resource dynamically. Our SURF framework has been implemented on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 development board and evaluated on a mix of image recognition (CNN), image filtering applications and synthetic benchmarks to demonstrate the versatility and efficacy of our unified runtime framework.
Implementation of Artificial Intelligence to Decrease Rates of Psychiatric Illness and Recidivism in Inmates Placed in Administrative Segregation: A Pilot Proposal

The rate of mental health illness in the U.S. Prison System is notoriously higher than that of the general U.S. population, and yet the resources available to inmates dealing with mental health iss...
Analyzing Traffic Impacts of Planned Major Events

Major events are a significant source of traffic congestion, especially in large metropolitan areas. This paper presents a case study of football games played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, ...
Sibling donor-derived myeloid sarcoma after hematopoietic stem cell transplant

Abstract Donor-derived myeloid sarcoma (DDMS) is a rare complication which occurs when donor stem cells undergo leukemic transformation. We report here two cases of DDMS following successful allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) from HLA-identical, sex-mismatched sibling donors. Both were males in their fourth decade of life and originally diagnosed in 2012 with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with t(6;11)(q27;q23) and AML with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC), respectively. They went onto allo-HSCT from their respective haploidentical sisters as donors and achieved complete engraftment in 2014. Both were in remission until 2019 when they were diagnosed with clinical relapse of AML in the setting of DDMS, one presenting in bilateral tibiae and the other in the testis. Verifying donor origin in AML relapse is critical as transformed donor cells may have different genetic alterations and behaviors from initial AML. We reviewed the literature of donor derived myeloid sarcoma and discussed the pathogenesis of this rare late complication of HSCT.
Improvement of constrictive bronchiolitis (bronchiolitis obliterans) after rituximab therapy in 2 patients with primary sjögren syndrome

Constrictive bronchiolitis is one of the manifestations of small-airway involvement in primary Sjogren syndrome (SS) and is associated with fixed airflow obstruction despite treatment with bronchodilators, macrolides, corticosteroids, and corticosteroid-sparing agents. Reports have shown a beneficial effect of rituximab on interstitial lung disease associated with SS, but the effect of rituximab on constrictive bronchiolitis is unknown. Herein, we present 2 cases of patients with constrictive bronchiolitis associated with SS who experienced symptomatic improvement and stabilization of pulmonary function testing (PFT) after rituximab therapy. Lung function declined in one of the patients when B cells reconstituted, with improved PFT results on re-administration of rituximab. Our case reports suggest that B cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of SS-associated constrictive bronchiolitis. Therapy targeting B cells may therefore be helpful in treating this debilitating and refractory condition. Further research is warranted.
Metabolomic profiles of being physically active and less sedentary: a critical review.

Being physically active has multiple salutary effects on human health, likely mediated by changes in energy metabolism. Recent reviews have summarized metabolomic responses to acute exercise. However, metabolomic profiles of individuals who exercise regularly are heterogeneous. We conducted a systematic review to identify metabolites associated with physical activity (PA), fitness, and sedentary time in community-dwelling adults and discussed involved pathways. Twenty-two studies were eligible because they (1) focused on community-dwelling adults from observational studies; (2) assessed PA, fitness, and/or sedentary time, (3) assessed metabolomics in biofluid, and (4) reported on relationships of metabolomics with PA, fitness, and/or sedentary time. Several metabolic pathways were associated with higher PA and fitness and less sedentary time, including tricarboxylic acid cycle, glycolysis, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, urea cycle, arginine biosynthesis, branch-chain amino acids, and estrogen metabolism. Lipids were strongly associated with PA. Cholesterol low-density lipoproteins and triglycerides were lower with higher PA, while cholesterol high-density lipoproteins were higher. Metabolomic profiles of being physically active and less sedentary indicate active skeletal muscle biosynthesis supported by enhanced oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis and associated with profound changes in lipid and estrogen metabolism. Future longitudinal studies are needed to understand whether these metabolomic changes account for health benefits associated with PA.
¿Seguridad alimentaria, soberanía alimentaria o derecho a la alimentación? Estado de la cuestión

En los debates de los ultimos anos acerca del problema global del hambre han interactuado tres enfoques conceptuales de gran relevancia, uno de caracter tecnico, otro reivindicativo y otro juridico: la seguridad alimentaria, la soberania alimentaria y el derecho a la alimentacion. Cada enfoque tiene unas implicaciones en cuanto a como abordar el problema del hambre. Por ello, resulta relevante establecer la delimitacion entre estos, sus diferencias, similitudes y relaciones. Los tres enfoques conceptuales se han influido mutuamente de una u otra forma y han hecho que las aproximaciones a la lucha contra el hambre se tornen cada vez mas ricas, completas y complejas.
Revitalizing Motive and Opportunity Pleading after Tellabs

Congress passed the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("PSLRA") to prevent frivolous lawsuits that had been drain ing resources from businesses. This legislation included provisions for heightening the pleading requirements for the scienter, or state of mind, requirement for securities law violations. Many circuit courts debated whether the motive and opportunity test for scienter, applied initially by the Second and Third Circuits, survived the pas sage of the PSLRA. This Note argues that while the motive and opportunity test has been discounted by numerous circuits, it not only remains viable for pleading scienter under the PSLRA, but it accomplishes the PSLRA's goals better than any other standard presently available. Despite the concerns voiced by many circuit courts, the PSLRA was not passed to eliminate the motive and op portunity test, nor is the motive and opportunity test, as it is now applied by the Second Circuit, inconsistent with the PSLRA. In ad dition, while the recent Supreme Court decision in Tellabs, Inc. v. Makor Issues & Rights, Ltd. convinced the Third Circuit to aban don the motive and opportunity test, the language of Tellabs demonstrates that the decision did not eliminate the test. Not only is the motive and opportunity test still viable, but it serves the policy reasons behind enacting the PSLRA better than the holistic ap proach utilized by other circuit courts.
Abstract 5885: Biomechanical Properties of the Glycoprotein Ib-von Willebrand Factor Interaction Under Flow

Binding of von Willebrand Factor (VWF) to platelet glycoprotein Ib (GPIb) is essential for arterial thrombus formation. Establishing whether the VWF-GPIb interaction is supported by a catch bond (increasing adhesive strength with increasing tensile stress) or a slip bond (decreasing adhesive strength with increasing tensile stress) is a key to understanding the biomechanical regulation of platelet adhesion. To address this question, we perfused plasma-free blood cell suspensions over immobilized VWF A1 domain (VWFA1) at shear rates between 100 and 15,000 s −1 . Platelet adhesion was monitored by epifluorescence microscopy, using mepacrine-labeled platelets, or reflection interference contrast microscopy, which resolves the contact area between platelet membrane and adhesive surface without requiring labeling. The velocity of platelets rolling on the surface was measured as a reflection of the lifetime (off-rate) of the bonds supporting adhesion. We found a non-significant decrease in velocity at shear rate between 100 and 500 s −1 (from 6.48±0.29 to 6.31±0.25 μ m/s; p=0.27) followed by a gradual increase to 11.25±0.69 μ m/s that leveled off between 2000 and 3000 s −1 . The same results were obtained with VWFA1-coated polystyrene beads perfused with erythrocytes over immobilized GPIb. The initial drop in velocity was replaced by a significant increase (from 3.54±1.39 μ m/s at 100 s −1 to 6.62±0.66 μ m/s at 500 s −1 ; p μ m/s (p −1 . This may help explain previous data indicating a catch-bond behavior at lower shear rates (Yago et al, J Clin Invest, 118: 3195–3207, 2008). Instead, we conclude that VWF binding to GPIb transition from a slip to a catch bond, with enhancing adhesive strength, at shear rate above 3000 s −1 (B. de Laat is a Visiting Investigator from Department of Plasma Proteins, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands).
Divine Discrimination: Gender Harassment and Christian Justification:

The present study investigated the relationship between gender harassment, or acts which convey demeaning attitudes about women, and college adjustment. Additionally, we explored whether Christian ...
Kinase‐Catalyzed Biotinylation of Peptides, Proteins, and Lysates

Kinase-catalyzed protein phosphorylation plays an essential role in a variety of biological processes. Methods to detect phosphoproteins and phosphopeptides in cellular mixtures will aid in cell biological and signaling research. Our laboratory recently discovered the utility of γ-modified ATP analogues as tools for studying phosphorylation. Specifically, ATP-biotin can be used for labeling and visualizing phosphoproteins from cell lysates. Because the biotin tag is suitable for protein detection, the biotinylation reaction can be applied to multiple phosphoproteomics applications. Herein we report a general protocol for labeling phosphopeptides and phosphoproteins in biological samples using kinase-catalyzed biotinylation.
Protecting Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Inter-american Human Rights System: A Manual on Presenting Claims

This book offers human rights practitioners and scholars a lens into strategies and arguments for the protection of economic, social and cultural rights before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, particularly through the regional system's individual petitions process. It systematically compiles the regional bodies' major statements on social rights from the 1960s through 1999, describes the system's procedures, and offers strategic pathways and arguments for finding social rights protections solidly grounded in each of the regional system's major human rights instruments. It also offers a model petition and provides strategic advice on framing claims, processing petitions, and enforcing decisions before the inter-American human rights bodies. Based on research completed in 1999, its review of the system's jurisprudence and procedure is today grossly outdated, although instructive from an historical perspective. The author's view of certain arguments has likewise changed with time and experience. For a more up-to-date review of the social rights jurisprudence of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (updated to 2011), see http://ssrn.com/abstract= 1810897. For a more up-to-date review of the social rights jurisprudence of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (updated to 2008), see http://ssrn.com/abstract= 1000275.
Sensor network gossiping or how to break the broadcast lower bound

Gossiping is an important problem in Radio Networks that has been well studied, leading to many important results. Due to strong resouce limitations of sensor nodes, previous solutions are frequently not feasible in Sensor Networks. In this paper, we study the gossiping problem in the restrictive context of Sensor Networks. By exploiting the geometry of sensor node distributions, we present reduced, optimal running time of O(D + Δ) for an algorithm that completes gossiping with high probability in a Sensor Network of unknown topology and adversarial wake-up, where D is the diameter and Δ the maximum degree of the network. Given that an algorithm for gossiping also solves the broadcast problem, our result proves that the classic lower bound of [16] can be broken if nodes are allowed to do preprocessing.
Evaluation of Bone Regeneration, Angiogenesis, and Hydroxyapatite Conversion in Critical-sized Rat Calvarial Defects Implanted with Bioactive Glass Scaffolds

Bioactive glasses are biocompatible materials that convert to hydroxyapatite in vivo, and potentially support bone formation, but have mainly been available in particulate and not scaffold form. In this study, borosilicate and borate bioactive glass scaffolds were evaluated in critical-sized rat calvarial defects. Twelve-week-old rats were implanted with 45S5 silicate glass particles and scaffolds of 1393 silicate, 1393B1 borosilicate, and 1393B3 borate glass. After 12 weeks, the defects were harvested, stained with hematoxylin and eosin to evaluate bone regeneration, Periodic Acid Schiff to quantitate blood vessel area, and von Kossa and backscatter SEM to estimate newly mineralized bone and hydroxyapatite conversion of bioactive glasses. The amount of new bone was 12.4% for 45S5, 8.5% for 1393, 9.7% for 1393B1, and 14.9% for 1393B3 (*p = 0.04; cf. 1393 and 1393B1). Blood vessel area was significantly higher (p = 0.009) with 45S5 (3.8%), with no differences among 1393 (2.0%), 1393B1 (2.4%), or 1393B3 (2.2%). Percent von Kossa-positive area was 18.7% for 45S5, 25.4% for 1393, 29.5% for 1393B1, and 30.1% for 1393B3, significantly higher (p = 0.014) in 1393B1 and 1393B3 glasses than in 45S5. 45S5 and 1393B3 converted completely to HA in vivo. The 1393B3 glass provided greater bone formation and may be more promising for bone defect repair due to its capacity to be molded into scaffolds. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A 100A:3267-3275, 2012.
Characterization of cold sensitivity and thermal preference using an operant orofacial assay.

Background: A hallmark of many orofacial pain disorders is cold sensitivity, but relative to heatrelated pain, mechanisms of cold perception and the development of cold allodynia are not clearly understood. Molecular mediators of cold sensation such as TRPM8 have been recently identified and characterized using in vitro studies. In this study we characterized operant behavior with respect to individually presented cold stimuli (24, 10, 2, and -4°C) and in a thermal preference task where rats chose between -4 and 48°C stimulation. We also evaluated the effects of menthol, a TRPM8 agonist, on operant responses to cold stimulation (24, 10, and -4°C). Male and female rats were trained to drink sweetened milk while pressing their shaved faces against a thermode. This presents a conflict paradigm between milk reward and thermal stimulation. Results: We demonstrated that the cold stimulus response function was modest compared to heat. There was a significant effect of temperature on facial (stimulus) contacts, the ratio of licking contacts to stimulus contacts, and the stimulus duration/contact ratio. Males and females differed only in their facial contacts at 10°C. In the preference task, males preferred 48°C to -4°C, despite the fact that 48°C and -4°C were equally painful as based on their reward/stimulus and duration/ contact ratios. We were able to induce hypersensitivity to cold using menthol at 10°C, but not at 24 or -4°C. Conclusion: Our results indicate a strong role for an affective component in processing of cold stimuli, more so than for heat, which is in concordance with human psychophysical findings. The induction of allodynia with menthol provides a model for cold allodynia. This study provides the basis for future studies involving orofacial pain and analgesics, and is translatable to the human experience.
The efficacy of two methods of ankle immobilization in reducing gastrocnemius, soleus, and peroneal muscle activity during stance phase of gait.

Background:Immobilization to limit muscle activity is a common therapeutic and posttreatment event. There are potential time and resource savings if a prefabricated boot can replace a custom applie...
AN INVESTIGATION OF OUTCOME EXPECTANCIES AS A PREDICTOR OF TREATMENT RESPONSE FOR COMBAT VETERANS WITH PTSD: COMPARISON OF CLINICIAN, SELF‐REPORT, AND BIOLOGICAL MEASURES

Background Outcome expectancy, or the degree to which a client believes that therapy will result in improvement, is related to improved treatment outcomes for multiple disorders. There is a paucity of research investigating this relation in regards to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Additionally, the bulk of the research on outcome expectancy and treatment outcomes has relied mostly on self-report outcome measures. Methods The relation between outcome expectancy on self-report measures, clinician-rated measures, and two biological indices (fear-potentiated startle and cortisol reactivity) of PTSD symptoms was explored. The sample included combat veterans (N = 116) treated with virtual reality exposure therapy for PTSD. Results Results supported a negative association between outcome expectancy and both self-report and clinician-rated symptoms at the conclusion of treatment, but outcome expectancy was related to the magnitude of change during treatment for self-report measures only. Outcome expectancy was unrelated to biological measures of treatment response. Conclusions These findings suggest that outcome expectancy may be related to patient and clinician perceptions of outcomes, but not biological indices of outcome for PTSD.
Synthetic Ion-Exchange Resins: Soil and Environmental Studies

The use of synthetic ion-exchangers (commonly referred to as resins) to study natural media has steadily increased. These materials allow new and different ways to solve problems that cannot be resolved through usual approaches. A lack of knowledge or limited experience, however, has led to apparent confusion concerning appropriate use of resins for soil and environmental studies. The objective of this paper was to provide basic information on ion-exchange resins, their physical and chemical properties, and to review how resins have been used to expand our understanding of soils and other environmental media. A review of the literature is presented as an aid to better understanding, and to provide additional sources for details concerning resin applications. A classification scheme for resin systems is presented, with the intent that it will assist in the development of more uniformity and comparability in the use of resins for soil and environmental studies. Applications of various systems and their limitations are discussed, including a system developed to provide universal adsorption of ions and bioavailability indexes from tests run either in the laboratory or in situ. 142 refs., 2 figs., 3 tabs.
The fluorometric determination of o-phthalic acid

Abstract A fluorometric procedure for the determination of o-phthalic acid by conversion to fluoresceln is described. The optimum amount of o-phthalic acid for application of the method is 50–5000 μg. The determination can be carried out with a relative error of less than 5% even when significant quantities of common o-phthalic acid contaminants are present.
Optimization of experiments designed to measure exponential decay constants

Abstract By extending the method developed by Peierls, the optimal values of activation and counting time have been calculated, so as to give the minimum error in the exponential decay constant. Both single- and multi-cycle experiments have been considered, for various ratios of background activity to saturation activity, and for a range of times available to perform the experiment. Graphs are shown which permit rapid determination of the optimal parameters as a result of a theory in which the number of cycles is allowed to vary continuously, rather than discretely. For situations where the number of cycles is predicted to be in the range from 1 to 3, the results have been re-calculated by requiring the number of cycles to be an integer. It may be concluded that whenever 3 cycles, or more, are predicted to be optimal, the best value for the activation time is about 2.1 lifetimes, independent of background. The optimal counting time varies from 4.9 lifetimes, for little or no background, to 2.0 lifetimes for high background. For an experiment of less than 2 cycles, the optimal activation time is a sensitive function of the ratio of background activity to saturation activity.
Nonoperative management of spasticity in children.

Central to the longitudinal management of childhood hypertonia are nonsurgical treatments. These include physical and occupational therapy, electrical stimulation, orthotics, botulium toxin, and drugs. This manuscripts reviews these treatment modalities as well as evaluation tools available to assess their impact on a child’s hypertonia.
Bioventing to treat fuel spills from underground storage tanks

Abstract Bioventilation is a procedure to cleanse soil gas of volatile fuel hydrocarbons originating from storage tank leaks. The rate of vapor degradation is a controlling parameter in the design of a bioventing system. A laboratory microcosm procedure using sandy soil from an aviation gasoline spill site was used to measure relative kinetics of some fuel vapors.
Longitudinally extensive optic neuritis in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Abstract Background Neuomyelitis optica, sarcoid, and multiple sclerosis can all cause optic neuritis. Further means of distinguishing the causes of optic neuritis among these etiologies would be valuable for the clinician. Methods This is a retrospective, cohort study from a single university based hospital and neuro-ophthalmology clinic. Blinded interpretation of orbit MRIs was performed on patients with acute optic neuritis from multiple sclerosis (n = 25), sarcoid (n = 5) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (n = 6). Results A length of > 40 mm anterior visual pathway enhancement distinguished neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder from multiple sclerosis ( p = 0.0376). No statistically significant differences were found for presence of pain or papillitis, however there was a trend for bilateral involvement and chiasmal involvement in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder compared to multiple sclerosis. Conclusions In acute optic neuritis, enhancing anterior visual pathway lesion length > 40 mm helps differentiate neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder from multiple sclerosis. This degree of involvement can be considered longitudinally extensive optic neuritis. Further characterization is necessary as this degree of enhancement occurs in other clinical syndromes besides neuromyelitis optica.
Equivalent lateral force procedure for the seismic story drift design of tall frames using a hand‐calculated approach

The basic theory of the cantilever moment distribution method and the application of this method to conduct the equivalent lateral force procedure for the seismic design of tall frames are discussed in detail. Deflection–rotation formulas are introduced in this paper to determine the relative lateral story deflections and the joint rotations of laterally loaded rigid frames. An example is presented to conduct the seismic story drift design of a multistory, multi-bay, moment-resisting reinforced concrete frame using the cantilever moment distribution method and the deflection–rotation formulas developed in this paper. The hand-calculated approach presented in the example can be used as a rapid and accurate method to determine the story drift for any laterally loaded multistory, multi-bay rigid frames that are composed of identical single-bay symmetrical bents. The following are the advantages of using this rapid approach: (1) this approach can be carried out by using hand calculations only (without the use of computer computations); (2) the results obtained from this approach are as accurate as those derived from the traditional moment distribution and the slope deflection methods; and (3) the results obtained from this approach can be used to verify the accuracy of the results obtained from computer computations. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surface based anti-aliasing

We present surface based anti-aliasing (SBAA), a new approach to real-time anti-aliasing for deferred renderers that improves the performance and lowers the memory requirements for anti-aliasing methods that sample sub-pixel visibility. We introduce a novel way of decoupling visibility determination from shading that, compared to previous multi-sampling based approaches, significantly reduces the number of samples stored and shaded per pixel. Unlike post-process anti-aliasing techniques used in conjunction with deferred renderers, SBAA correctly resolves visibility of sub-pixel features, minimizing spatial and temporal artifacts.
Pulse width variation along the x-ray direction in the segmented KCD system

The kinestatic charge detector (KCD) built and researched at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, is now being studied as a possible dual-energy x-ray imager. The present study aims at quantifying the change in the arrival time spectrum (ATS) as a function of the detector's depth, i.e., in the x-ray direction. We measured the change in the full width at half maximum (FWHM) along the x-ray direction in the chamber using a segmented signal- collector board. The FWHM of the ionic signal exhibit a dependence on the x-ray beam intensity, and electric field strength. Furthermore, the average arrival time is almost constant along the detector depth.
Internal solitary waves in the ocean: Analysis using the periodic, inverse scattering transform

The periodic, inverse scattering transform (PIST) is a powerful analytical tool in the theory of integrable, nonlinear evolution equations. Osborne pioneered the use of the PIST in the analysis of data form inherently nonlinear physical processes. In particular, Osborne's so-called nonlinear Fourier analysis has been successfully used in the study of waves whose dynamics are (to a good approximation) governed by the Korteweg-de Vries equation. In this paper, the mathematical details and a new application of the PIST are discussed. The numerical aspects of and difficulties in obtaining the nonlinear Fourier (i.e., PIST) spectrum of a physical data set are also addressed. In particular, an improved bracketing of the ''spectral eigenvalues'' (i.e., the +/-1 crossings of the Floquet discriminant) and a new root-finding algorithm for computing the latter are proposed. Finally, it is shown how the PIST can be used to gain insightful information about the phenomenon of soliton-induced acoustic resonances, by computing the nonlinear Fourier spectrum of a data set from a simulation of internal solitary wave generation and propagation in the Yellow Sea.
Convexity of the Energy Domain

Abstract A basic theorem describing the convexity of the energy domain for the general family of linear time-invariant (active or passive, reciprocal or non-reciprocal, lumped or distributed, single variable or multivariable) physical system {T} is proved. Theorem : Let F = P + jQ represent the complex energy associated with any linear physical system T (n-port). For any specified excitation of frequency s and the family of constant energy content input signals {i:∥i∥= constant}, the point F describes a convex domain in the {P;Q} plane. Part I contains a mathematical and a network theoretic proof of the foregoing theorem. In Part II the geometric nature of the energy loci for the two-ports is examined. It is shown that for all two-ports with double eigenvalves the energy domain is circular. For two-ports with distinct eigenvalves, the convex energy domain is an ellipse. The geometric characterization of this elliptic domain is examined and examples verified by computer. The concept of convexity is frequently exploited in optimization of energy in electric power system and quadratic cost functions in control theory. In this respect the central theorem of this paper, its proof and geometric ramifications should prove to be of basic interest for all linear systems.
Heideggerian existentialism and social work practice with death and survivor bereavement

Abstract Heideggerian existentialism has not been applied on a widespread basis to the Generalist Social Work Practice Model. This paper explores the relationship between social work practice with bereavement issues and Heideggerian existentialism. Applications of Heideggerian existentialism in the social work profession with clients and families experiencing bereavement are examined. Conceptual applications also address future utilization of Heideggerian existentialism.
Left ventricular mass and body size in normotensive children and adults: assessment of allometric relations and impact of overweight.

Objectives. This study was designed to determine the most appropriate method to normalize left ventricular mass for body size. Background. Left ventricular mass has been normalized for body weight, surface area or height in experimental and clinical studies, but it is uncertain which of these approaches is most appropriate. Methods. Three normotensive population samples—in New York City (127 adults), Naples, Italy (114 adults) and Cincinnati, Ohio (444 infants to young adults)—were studied by echocardiography. Relations of left ventricular mass to body size were similar in all normal weight groups, as assessed by linear and nonlinear regression analysis, and results were pooled (n = 611). Results. Left ventricular mass was related to body weight to the first power (r = 0.88), to body surface area to the 1.5 power (r = 0.88) and to height to the 2.7 power (r = 0.84), consistent with expected aliometric (growth) relations between variables with linear (height), second-power (body surface area) and volumetric (left ventricular mass and body weight) dimensions. Strong residual relations of left ventricular mass/body surface area to body surface area (r = 0.54) and of ventricular mass/height to height (r = 0.72) were markedly reduced by normalization of ventricular mass for height2.7and body surface area1.5. The variability among subjects of ventricular mass was also reduced (p < 0.01 to p < 0.002) by normalization for body weight, body surface area, body surface area1.5or height2.7but not for height, In 20% of adults who were overweight, ventricular mass was 14% higher (p < 0.001) than ideal mass predicted from observed height and ideal weight; this increase was identified as 14% by left ventricular mass/height2.7and 9% by ventricular mass/height, whereas indexation for body surface area, body surface area1.5and body weight erroneously identified left ventricular mass as reduced in overweight adults. Conclusions. Normalizations of left ventricular mass for height or body surface area introduce artifactual relations of indexed ventricular mass to body size and errors ia estimating the impact of overweight. These problems are avoided and variability among normal subjects is reduced by using left ventricular mass/height2.7. Simple nomograms of the normal relation between height and left ventricular mass allow detection of ventricular hypertrophy in children and adults.
Magnetic Delay-Line Storage

Recent developments established that binary information could be stored and read out in a magnetic medium statically by electrical pulses only. A number of these magnetic cores are connected together to form a static magnetic delay line in which a series of binary digits can be stored and read out. The operation of this form of delay line is briefly described and carefully analyzed. The optimum operating conditions are derived. The effect of eddy current loss and leakage inductance is considered. The criteria of stability of the system are discussed.
Scheduling the resident 80-hour work week: an operations research algorithm.

Objective The resident 80-hour work week requires that programs now schedule duty hours. Typically, scheduling is performed in an empirical “trial-and-error” fashion. However, this is a classic “scheduling” problem from the field of operations research (OR). It is similar to scheduling issues that airlines must face with pilots and planes routing through various airports at various times. The authors hypothesized that an OR approach using iterative computer algorithms could provide a rational scheduling solution. Methods Institution-specific constraints of the residency problem were formulated. A total of 56 residents are rotating through 4 hospitals. Additional constraints were dictated by the Residency Review Committee (RRC) rules or the specific surgical service. For example, at Hospital 1, during the weekday hours between 6 am and 6 pm , there will be a PGY4 or PGY5 and a PGY2 or PGY3 on-duty to cover Service “A.” A series of equations and logic statements was generated to satisfy all constraints and requirements. These were restated in the Optimization Programming Language used by the ILOG software suite for solving mixed integer programming problems. Results An integer programming solution was generated to this resource-constrained assignment problem. A total of 30,900 variables and 12,443 constraints were required. A total of man-hours of programming were used; computer run-time was 25.9 hours. A weekly schedule was generated for each resident that satisfied the RRC regulations while fulfilling all stated surgical service requirements. Each required between 64 and 80 weekly resident duty hours. Conclusions The authors conclude that OR is a viable approach to schedule resident work hours. This technique is sufficiently robust to accommodate changes in resident numbers, service requirements, and service and hospital rotations.
Reginald Scot and his Discoverie of witchcraft: religion and science in the opposition to European witch craze.

Recent discussions of the major literary works of the witch craze of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries have advanced significantly our understanding of this important episode in European history. Clearly, our efforts no longer are controlled by the anticlerical and even antireligious sentiments that corrupted so much late nineteenth-century scholarship on this subject. Yet a more subtle nineteenth-century prejudice still remains with us. We still wish to believe that those who opposed the craze did so because in some fundamental way they were more enlightened, or more rational, or more scientific than those who accepted and even supported witch hunting. Recent anthropological research, however, stressing both the ubiquity and the intellectual integrity of a belief in witches, suggests strongly that this modern viewpoint is probably not correct. Certainly, this prejudice has seriously distorted our understanding of one important contribution to the witch debate, Reginald Scot's The Discoverie of Witchcraft. Modern commentators have invested this book with an aura of scientific rationality that it ill deserves. A closer inspection, I believe, reveals an entirely different source for Scot's ideas and, more importantly, sheds some new light on what it really was that brought witch hunting in Europe to an end.
Separating hard and soft scales in hard processes in a QCD plasma

Abstract We present a picture of hard processes in a hot plasma in terms of the hard scale part of the process, where perturbative QCD should be applicable, and the soft scale part of the process, where we look to the N = 4 SYM theory for guidance to possible strong effective coupling phenomena. In particular we estimate q ˆ , the transport coefficient, supposing that at soft scales partons in the plasma all cascade to small- x -values as indicated by strong coupling SYM theory.
Hardware implementation of a neural network controller for a manipulator arm

In a previous paper, a neural network with a reward/punish learning scheme controller for a manipulator arm was described. The inputs to the torque-generating neuron are the position error and the velocity of the joints. The output of the neuron is the torque required to control the arm to its desired position. The reward/punish learning mechanism is implemented to adaptively modify the weights. The neural network controller does not need a dynamic model of the arm. The dynamics are learned through training. In this paper we describe the hardware/software implementation of the neural network to control the shoulder joint of a Mitsubishi RM501 arm. Once the system was checked for correct operation the following tests were performed: (1) training the arm to hold is position at different angles (10, 40, 70, 100 and 120 degrees). The angle was to hold with very small error, even in the presence of significant disturbances, after a training period that varied from 3 to 12 seconds. (2) Training the arm at 50 degrees and then commanding it to follow a cosine trajectory from 50 to 70 degrees. The maximum error in this test was less than 1% of the desired value. © (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Communication and coordination

Remarkable levels of coordination are observed among social agents; yet the exact mechanisms by which such agents coordinate are not well understood. Here we examine the role of communication in achieving coordination-in particular, does endowing agents with the ability to communicate lead to more favorable outcomes? To pursue this question we use an adaptive model of strategically communicating agents (Miller et al. J Econ Behav Organ 2002, 47, 179-195) playing the Stag Hunt game. We find that communication plays a key role in the ability of agents to reach and maintain superior coordination. In the absence of communication, agents tend to get trapped at the inferior coordination point. However, once agents reach a particular strategic threshold, sending even a priori meaningless messages serves to increase the likelihood that the population will coordinate on the superior outcome. Although the system spends the majority of its time with well-coordinated behavior, it is not static--such periods are often punctuated by brief transitions in which the system switches to the alternative coordination point. We analyze the various mechanisms that account for this dynamic behavior and find that there are a few critical pathways by which the system transitions from one coordination point to another. Communication plays a critical, yet short-lived, role in one key pathway. Our analysis suggests that giving agents the ability to communicate even a priori meaningless messages may promote the emergence of a rich, and often robust, "ecology" of behaviors that allows agents to achieve new, and in this case superior, outcomes.
Circulating Immune Complexes of IgA Type in Dermatitis Herpetiformis

There is some evidence that dermatitis herpetiformis may be mediated by circulating immune complexes. This study attempts to define the antibody class of these complexes. All patients studied demonstrated granular deposition of IgA in the papillary dermis on direct immunofluorescence. Serum immune complexes were detected using the qualitative Raji cell immunofluorescent assay, as well as the quantitative immunoradiometric assay. A group of 25 dermatitis herpetiformis patients was found to have higher levels of IgA containing complexes compared to a group of normals ( p P
Effect of women’s empowerment on their utilization of health services: A case of Nepal:

Over half a million women die annually due to maternity complications. Studies support that utilization of health services reduces maternal mortality. Using a nationally representative sample of 78...
Infants of Azotemic Mothers: A Report of Three Live Births

Women with severe renal failure rarely conceive, and when they do become pregnant these women often deliver prematurely. The clinical course of mothers with renal failure has been described, but little attention has been given to the offspring. In this report, we provide data on three infants born prematurely to mothers either on dialysis or with severe renal failure. The infants were the appropriate size for gestational age and demonstrated no obvious physical abnormalities. Laboratory data, including renal function, was also within normal limits. Renal size in the two infants studied by ultrasound was near or above the 95th percentile when corrected for gestational age. The premature birth appeared to be a function of maternal complications rather than a primary in utero growth disturbance.
Synthesis of (±)-lahadinine B and (±)-11-methoxykopsilongine

Abstract 6,7-Dimethoxytryptamine 11 was converted into the homoannular diene 19 which underwent a Diels–Alder reaction with acryloyl chloride to give 20. Subsequent radical decarboxylation in the presence of (PhSe)2 provided 22, which was converted into (±)-lahadinine B 1 and (±)-11-methoxykopsilongine 2, thus confirming their structures.
A Numerical Study of Spark Ignition

We present theoretical models to simulate spark discharge and ignition. Two models are presented. The first model considers simplified fluid mechanics with chemistry effects. The second model utilizes more sophisticated flow with no chemistry. The simplified model incorporates physical models of breakdown and chemical kinetics of combustion with species and energy equations solved using a control volume method. A three-step mechanism is used to simulate chemical kinetics for fuel combustion and nitrogen chemistry. Dissociation and ionization in the plasma are included by assuming local thermal equilibrium. The second model simulates a spark discharge in air with more complete physics of flow using a high order numerical method, which shows the evolution of the shock wave and a torus-like plasma kernel.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Timelines: An Opportunity for Meeting Standards through Textbook Reading.

In this article we identify opportunities for students to use timelines and textbooks to meet standards. Through the use of timelines, textbooks, and selected activities, upper elementary and middle school students are able to (1) be engaged in content area reading and writings; (2) understand large themes in social studies including time, continuity, and changes; and (3) participate in the inquiry process.
Membrane muscle function in the compliant wings of bats

Unlike flapping birds and insects, bats possess membrane wings that are more similar to many gliding mammals. The vast majority of the wing is composed of a thin compliant skin membrane stretched between the limbs, hand, and body. Membrane wings are of particular interest because they may offer many advantages to micro air vehicles. One critical feature of membrane wings is that they camber passively in response to aerodynamic load, potentially allowing for simplified wing control. However, for maximum membrane wing performance, tuning of the membrane structure to aerodynamic conditions is necessary. Bats possess an array of muscles, the plagiopatagiales proprii, embedded within the wing membrane that could serve to tune membrane stiffness, or may have alternative functions. We recorded the electromyogram from the plagiopatagiales proprii muscles of Artibeus jamaicensis, the Jamaican fruit bat, in flight at two different speeds and found that these muscles were active during downstroke. For both low- and high-speed flight, muscle activity increased between late upstroke and early downstroke and decreased at late downstroke. Thus, the array of plagiopatagiales may provide a mechanism for bats to increase wing stiffness and thereby reduce passive membrane deformation. These muscles also activate in synchrony, presumably as a means to maximize force generation, because each muscle is small and, by estimation, weak. Small differences in activation timing were observed when comparing low- and high-speed flight, which may indicate that bats modulate membrane stiffness differently depending on flight speed.