cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generalized pseudo-polar Fourier grids and applications in registering ophthalmic optical coherence tomography images

Fast and accurate estimation of the Fourier transform in polar coordinates has long been a major challenge for many image processing applications including phase-correlation based motion estimation. To address this problem, it has been proposed to calculate the Fourier transform coefficients on the pseudo-polar coordinates. To acquire better image registration accuracy, we introduce the generalized pseudo-polar motion estimation framework that encompasses the classic pseudo-polar and related techniques. Experimental results on controlled data as well as real world spectral domain ophthalmic optical coherence tomography images of adults and neonatal patients attest to the effectiveness of the presented method.
Relations Between Interval Computing and Soft Computing

This volume is about knowledge processing with interval and soft computing, i.e., about techniques that use both interval and soft computing to process knowledge and about the results of applying these techniques. To better understand these techniques, in Chapter 1, we described fundamentals of interval computing, and in Chapter 2, we described the fundamentals of soft computing. Now it is time to explain how these techniques are related – and how they can be combined. Some examples of such a relation were already given in Chapter 2 – e.g., interval-valued fuzzy sets. Now it is time to provide a systematic description of this relation. After this chapter, we will be ready to describe how to combine interval and fuzzy techniques, and how the resulting combined techniques can be applied to real-life problems. This chapter starts with a brief reminder of why data processing and knowledge processing are needed in the first place, why interval and fuzzy methods are needed for data and knowledge processing, and which of the possible data and knowledge processing techniques we should use. Then, we explain how these reasonable soft computing techniques are naturally related with interval computing. Finally, we explain the need for interval-valued fuzzy techniques – techniques which will be used a lot in our future applications – and how the transition to such techniques is also related to interval computing.
Role of weather and water quality in population dynamics of submersed macrophytes in the tidal Potomac River

Weather and water-quality data from 1980 to 1989 were correlated with fluctuations in submersed macrophyte populations in the tidal Potomac River near Washington, D.C., to elucidate causal relationships and explain population dynamics. Both reaches were unvegetated in 1980 when mean growing-season Secchi depths were 0.65 were associated with increases in plant coverage. Changes in mean seasonal Secchi depth were related to changes in mean seasonal TSS and chlorophyll a concentration; mean Secchi depths >0.65 generally occur when seasonal mean TSS is <19 mg l−1 and seasonal mean chlorophyll a concentration is ≤15 μg l−1. Secchi depth is highly correlated with plant growth in the upper tidal river and chlorophyll a and TSS with plant growth in the lower tidal river. Wind speed is an important influence on plant growth in both reaches.
Using a user-level memory thread for correlation prefetching

This paper introduces the idea of using a User-Level Memory Thread (ULMT) for correlation prefetching. In this approach, a user thread runs on a general-purpose processor in main memory, either in the memory controller chip or in a DRAM chip. The thread performs correlation prefetching in software, sending the prefetched data into the L2 cache of the main processor. This approach requires minimal hardware beyond the memory processor: the correlation table is a software data structure that resides in main memory, while the main processor only needs a few modifications to its L2 cache so that it can accept incoming prefetches. In addition, the approach has wide usability, as it can effectively prefetch even for irregular applications. Finally, it is very flexible, as the prefetching algorithm can be customized by the user on an application basis. Our simulation results show that, through a new design of the correlation table and prefetching algorithm, our scheme delivers good results. Specifically, nine mostly-irregular applications show an average speedup of 1.32. Furthermore, our scheme works well in combination with a conventional processor-side sequential prefetcher, in which case the average speedup increases to 1.46. Finally, by exploiting the customization of the prefetching algorithm, we increase the average speedup to 1.53.
Chronic hypoxia alters nitric oxide-dependent pulmonary vascular responses in lungs of newborn pigs

Fike, Candice D., and Mark R. Kaplowitz. Chronic hypoxia alters nitric oxide-dependent pulmonary vascular responses in lungs of newborn pigs. J. Appl. Physiol. 81(5): 2078–2087, 1996.—Almost all of...
Missed in PET

PET/CT for the purpose of cancer screening may give false positive findings which may cause undue worry and false negative findings which may give a false sense of security.
Irrelevance, polymorphism, and erasure in type theory

Dependent type theory is a proven technology for verified functional programming in which programs and their correctness proofs may be developed using the same rules in a single formal system. In practice, large portions of programs developed in this way have no computational relevance to the ultimate result of the program and should therefore be removed prior to program execution. In previous work on identifying and removing irrelevant portions of programs, computational irrelevance is usually treated as an intrinsic property of program expressions. We find that such an approach forces programmers to maintain two copies of commonly used datatypes: a computationally relevant one and a computationally irrelevant one. We instead develop an extrinsic notion of computational irrelevance and find that it yields several benefits including (1) avoidance of the above mentioned code duplication problem; (2) an identification of computational irrelevance with a highly general form of parametric polymorphism; and (3) an elective (i.e., user-directed) notion of proof irrelevance. We also develop a program analysis for identifying irrelevant expressions and show how previously studied types embodying computational irrelevance (including subset types and squash types) are expressible in the extension of type theory developed herein.
Optically induced crystals of submicron particles

Using an optical lattice formed by four laser beams, we obtain three-dimensional, light-induced, periodic arrays of polystyrene spheres (diameter ≥190nm) in aqueous solution. Several thousands of particles can be arranged into nearly defect-free crystals with high packing density. We observe Bragg scattering and study its dependence on lattice geometry and laser polarization. The trapping force is measured, and good agreement with a theoretical model is found.
Cyclic 1D Matching of Time-lapse Seismic Data Sets: A Case Study of the Norne Field

Seismic cross-equalization attenuates unwanted or nonproduction-related artifacts in time-lapse seismic data sets. Two robust post-imaging cross-equalization methods are considered. First, an efficient cyclic 1D warping method estimates apparent displacement vectors between baseline and monitor images. To obtain accurate production-related time-lapse images, all displacement components must be considered. Next, a cyclic 1D match-filtering method attenuates residual artifacts using optimal filtering parameters. Application to the Norne time-lapse seismic data set shows that these methods together form a powerful time-lapse cross-equalization scheme.
Growth of Mammary Glands of Hypophysectomized Rats Following Estrogen and Lactogen Administration.

SummaryIn castrated-hypophysectomized rats estrogen did not stimulate mammary duct growth. The injection of lactogenic hormone caused a thickening of the duct system and in combination with estrogen it induced mammary duct growth similar to that seen in intact rats following estrogen injections.
Hygienic quality analysis of the central water supply of rural residents in Suizhou

Objective:To understand the central water supply quality of rural residents in Suizhou,to provide scientific basis for the development and administration of the projects of rural drinking water safety and safeguard the people′s health.Methods: Treated water sample and peripheral water sample from 66 rural central water supply plants in Suizhou were investigated,detected and appraised in accordance with "Standard examination methods for drinking water"(GB5750-2006) and "Health standard for drinking water quality"(GB5749-2006).Results: The qualified rate of the central water supply for rural residents in Suizhou was only 15.5%,the unqualified items were total coliforms,total bacterial count,fecal coliforms,sensory index,oxygen consumption,Fe and Mn.Conclusion: The qualified rate of the central water supply for rural residents in Suizhou was lower.We should strengthen the sanitation supervision and perfect the disinfection and purification process to ensure the drinking water safety of rural residents.
Rise and fall of the Martian moons

The two small satellites of Mars are thought to have accreted from a debris disk formed in a giant impact. Simulations suggest the moons were shepherded into formation by the dynamical influence of one or more short-lived massive inner moons.
Games in Technical Communication

Recently, research into the intersection of computer games and technical writing has been increasing, with more conference presentations and publications interrogating communication within the comp...
Jugend ohne Sozialkapital — die soziale Klimakatastrophe

Das OECD-Programm „Messung von Sozialkapital“ ergab einen im Verlauf der Jahre negativen Trend bezuglich des sozialen Zusammenhaltes. Eine osterreichische Studie (BOAS 2007) schatzt, dass im Generationentrend jahrlich ein bis zwei Prozent an „Sozialkapital“ verloren gehen. Die Studie basiert auf einer kommunalen Gesundheitsbefragung bei mehr als 6000 Probanden und kommt zu dem Schluss, dass als Folge der Zunahme an sozialer Isolation und sozialer Belastung innerhalb von 40 Jahren die Zahl an depressiven Erkrankungen um das Zwei- bis Dreifache zunehmen wird. Strategien zur Umkehr dieses Trends mussen auf die Verbesserung der sozialen Kompetenz in der fruhen Kindheit abzielen, aber auch auf die Phase der Familiengrundung und die Umstande im Arbeitsleben.
Crafting Colorful Objects: a DIY Method for Adding Surface Detail to 3D Prints

Low-cost 3D printing methods have revolutionized DIY fabrication, and it is only a matter of time before high-fidelity color 3D printing technologies reach the average consumer market. In parallel to this trajectory, our paper describes an ultra low-cost, DIY method for augmenting 3D objects with surface detail. We developed a software tool that maps 2D images onto 3D surfaces and an easy workflow for layering the resulting, warped images onto 3D printed artifacts. We assessed our approach in a workshop where local makers created 3D-printed nested dolls overlaid with personally designed images. Our workshop demonstrates the feasibility of our ultra low-cost method for adding rich surface detail to 3D objects, and our ongoing work will streamline this process and support more complex shapes.
The Role of Socio-technical Systems Engineering in Implementing Office Automation and Information Technologies

Abstract Advances in computer processing capability and speed has led to increasing reliance on office automation and infonnation technologies ( OAT and IT in the nonindustrial workplace. This paper focuses on the organizational and managerial demands required to ensure effective technology system implementation. Examples of OAT/IT implementation efforts are discussed in the context of sociotechnical systems engineering. This context emphasizes joint optimization of social/organizational and technological components of the work system to augment overall organizational success and productivity. Lessons from past (including failed) OAT/IT implementation efforts explore participatory design, organizational change, and appropriate technology issues in ongoing and planned. This paper also applies engineering principles of feedback and control for optimal performance to quantify organizational and technological constraints in communications media use. Specific linear differential equation models address the impact of feedback delay and medium type on medium acceptability. Recognition of both social and technical factors in OAT/IT implementation can help to maximize human knowledge and skill in the resulting and successful organization.
Re-powering Senior Citizens with Interactive Art Making: Case Study with Independent Older Adults

The paper presents a case study on how older adults' interactive art making activities improve their quality of life. Research has shown that art-making is an effective way of working with older adults to combat social and health-related issues. We conducted a case study of the interactive art workshop for eight weeks at a local art council. The art workshop consisted of three major activities that integrated with simple interactive techniques: interactive sound painting, light-up card, and interactive soft object. Overall, participants were very engaged throughout all activities. We found that interactive technology in art/crafts activities held great potential for positively engaging older adults and significantly improving their daily lives by inspiring creativity and self-expression, fostering collaborations and intergenerational relationships.
Methylene and Nonfunctionalized Alkylidene Transfer to Form Cyclopropanes

Cyclopropanes occur among several classes of natural products, they have a number of commercial applications, and they serve as useful synthetic intermediates leading to other classes of cyclic and acyclic compounds. Methods for the synthesis of cyclopropanes have been the subject of several earlier reviews.1 The principal methods may be divided into two broad categories: (i) addition of a one-carbon unit (e.g. a carbene) to a two-carbon unit, most commonly an alkene; and (ii) 1,3-coupling of difunctional compounds. Much rarer are examples of direct joining of three one-carbon units.
The Effects of Nicotine on Learning and Memory: A Neuropsychological Assessment inYoung and Senescent Fischer 344 Rats

The effects of chronic nicotine on the behavioral performance of young (4 month) and old (24 month) Fischer-344 rats were assessed on four behavioral tasks: activity chamber, rotating rod, serial pattern learning, and Morris water maze paradigm. Old and young nicotine-treated rats received an intraperitoneal injection of nicotine (0.20 mg/kg) 15 min prior to all behavioral testing, and old and young saline-treated rats received saline injections 15 min prior to all behavioral testing. Nicotine improved motor coordination and increased the general activity levels of the old rats compared to old saline-treated rats. There were no significant differences in the behaviors of the young rats in these behavioral evaluations. In young rats, nicotine improved the acquisition of a serial pattern, suggesting an improvement in working memory or related processes. Nicotine was found to increase swim speed in a Morris water maze paradigm with a hidden platform; however, no beneficial effects of nicotine in reference memory were obtained for either age group. These results suggests that nicotine may not be as beneficial in attenuating age-related learning and memory deficits as once proposed.
New records of Microlepidoptera (Insecta: Lepidoptera) from Plummers Island, Maryland, U.S.A., with comments on Lepidoptera inventories

The results of over 100 years of inventory work on the Lepidoptera of Plummers Island, Montgomery County, Maryland, U.S.A., were summarized recently in a volume dedicated to the invertebrate fauna of that site. That work documented a cumulative total of 836 species of Lepidoptera. To that list I add 20 species: Niditinea sabroskyi Metz, Davis & Davis, 2018 (Tineidae), Tinea carnariella Clemens, 1859 (Tineidae), Tinea apicimaculella Chambers, 1875 (Tineidae), Elachista illectella (Clemens, 1860) (Elachistidae), Pseudocherlaria walsinghami Dietz, 1900 (Gelechiidae), Coleotechnites thujaella (Kearfott, 1903) (Gelechiidae), Coleotechnites quercivorella (Chambers, 1872) (Gelechiidae), Trypanisma prudens Clemens, 1860 (Gelechiidae), Abrenthia cuprea Busck, 1915 (Glyphipterigidae), Argyresthia oreasella Clemens, 1860 (Argyresthiidae), Aethes terriae Sabourin & Miller, 2002 (Tortricidae), Aethes razowskii Sabourin & Miller, 2002 (Tortricidae), Aethes sexdentata Sabourin & Miller, 2002 (Tortricidae), Aethes mymara Razowski, 1997 (Tortricidae), Aethes promptana (Robinson, 1869), (Tortricidae), Spinipogon resthavenensis Metzler & Sabourin, 2002 (Tortricidae), Clepsis listerana (Kearfott, 1907) (Tortricidae), Gretchena amatana Heinrich, 1923 (Tortricidae), Rhopobota finitimana (Heinrich, 1923) (Tortricidae), and Exelastis pumilio (Zeller, 1873) (Pterophoridae). Ten of the species are represented by historical records that previously were overlooked, the other 10 species have been collected since 1998.
Efficacy and Safety of Transnasal CoolStat Cooling Device to Induce and Maintain Hypothermia.

Targeted temperature management (TTM) is recommended as a standard of care for postcardiac arrest patients. Current TTM methods have significant limitations to be used in an ambulatory setting. We ...
Unique Complications Associated with Patient Ambulation in the Setting of Percutaneous Axillary Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump

Introduction We had previously published a percutaneous technique of axillary intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) placement in patients being bridged to transplant for facilitation of ambulation and physical recovery. However, this enhanced mobility of the patient may predispose to a higher risk of IABP malposition with unique complications compared to the non-ambulatory state of femoral IABP therapy. We present our experience to illustrate this. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients that received percutaneous axillary IABP at our hospital from October 2015 to February 2018. Results A total of 75 patients had percutaneous axillary IABP insertion during the study period. Of these, 2 had gross IABP malposition into the arch of aorta and 5 patients had superior mesenteric artery (SMA) occlusion by IABP. Table 1 describes the specifics of these patients. Conclusion There has been a wealth of experience with femoral IABP use wherein the malpositions described above have not been reported. As utilization of IABP in the axillary position to promote ambulation is increasing, it is imperative to understand and expect such unique complications for prompt diagnosis and management.
Skeletal Metastasis Evaluation: Value and Impact of PET/Computed Tomography on Diagnosis, Management and Prognosis

A number of PET agents are useful for evaluation of skeletal metastatic disease, and have significant advantages over 99mTc-MDP scintigraphy, including superior diagnostic accuracy, higher spatial resolution, and shorter imaging times- often with the ability to depict soft tissue local recurrence and metastasis in the same examination. While these agents have excellent diagnostic utility, they are not 100% specific for skeletal metastasis, and so normal patterns of biodistribution, benign osseous lesions that may demonstrate radiotracer uptake, and the significance of morphologic changes on CT such as osteolysis or osteosclerosis must be kept in mind to ensure accurate interpretation.
The Transtextual Road Trip: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, and Televisual Forebears

In this chapter, Graves considers the lasting cultural influence of Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer through the lens of textual genealogy, tracing contemporary intertextual and metatextual references to the show that situate BtVS as an enduring parent text. In particular, the chapter focuses on the close genealogical ties between BtVS and the long-running Supernatural, which strongly features not only a generic debt and a narrative structure that is directly influenced by BtVS, but also contains both a deep intertext with and myriad references to the Buffyverse. Additionally, an exploration of Supernatural’s extra- and paradiegetic expansions clearly situates Supernatural as a direct paratextual and transmedial analogue to Whedon’s show, further illustrating BtVS’s lasting significance.
“Good-Parent Beliefs”: Research, Concept, and Clinical Practice

Parents of ill children have willingly identified their personal beliefs about what they should do or focus on to fulfill their own internal definition of being a good parent for their child. This observation has led to the development of the good-parent beliefs concept over the past decade. A growing qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research base has explored the ways that good-parent beliefs guide family decision-making and influence family relationships. Parents have expressed comfort in speaking about their good-parent beliefs. Whether parents achieve their unique good-parent beliefs definition affects their sense of whether they did a good job in their role of parenting their ill child. In this state-of-the-art article, we offer an overview of the good-parent beliefs concept over the past decade, addressing what is currently known and gaps in what we know, and explore how clinicians may incorporate discussions about the good-parent beliefs into clinical practice.
Corrosion-resistant organic-inorganic hybrid pretreatments obtained by UV-initiated process suitable for primer-less coating systems

Abstract A photo-initiated sol-gel process has been developed to deposit organic-inorganic hybrid (OIH) thin films on metal substrates for corrosion protection. Wet films of non-aqueous compositions containing specially designed organo-silane precursors and photo-latent catalysts –photo-acid generator (PAG) or photo-base generators (PBG)-, were exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation under ambient moisture environment leading to OIH films by sol-gel reactions. Synthesis and curing of organo-silanes were characterized using instrumental and gravimetrical techniques. Moreover, the corrosion resistance performance of OIH films based on two families of organo-silane precursors cured by PAG and PBG were compared with those obtained by the conventional aqueous sol-gel process. The effects of precursor and photocatalyst type, UV light intensity, cure conditions, and film thickness on anti-corrosion performance of OIH coatings were studied using various qualitative and quantitative techniques such as DC polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and accelerated salt spray test. Results revealed that selected OIH pretreated samples showed corrosion current density as low as 1.2 nA/cm2, which is superior compared to conventional hexavalent chromium-based Cr (VI) pretreatments. The study demonstrates the feasibility of this sustainable photo-initiated sol-gel process for many applications, such as primer-less coating systems.
Perioperative Blocks for Decreasing Postoperative Narcotics in Breast Reconstruction.

Context High rates of mortality and chemical dependence occur following the overuse of narcotic medications, and the prescription of these medications has become a central discussion in health care. Efforts to curtail opioid prescribing include Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) guidelines, which describe local anesthesia techniques to decrease or eliminate the need for opioids when used in a comprehensive protocol. Here, we review effective perioperative blocks for the decreased use of opioid medications post-breast reconstruction surgery. Evidence acquisition A comprehensive review was conducted using keywords narcotics, opioid, surgery, breast reconstruction, pain pump, nerve block, regional anesthesia, and analgesia. Papers that described a local anesthetic option for breast reconstruction for decreasing postoperative narcotic consumption, written in English, were included. Results A total of 52 papers were included in this review. Local anesthetic options included single-shot nerve blocks, nerve block catheters, and local and regional anesthesia. Most papers reported equal or even superior pain control with decreased nausea and vomiting, length of hospital stay, and other outcomes. Conclusions Though opioid medications are currently the gold standard medication for pain management following surgery, strategies to decrease the dose or number of opioids prescribed may lead to better patient outcomes. The use of a local anesthetic technique has been shown to reduce narcotic use and improve patients' pain scores after breast reconstruction surgery.
Parties courting Muslim voters in Belgium’s local elections: electoral incentives and ideological tensions

This study examines how political parties in urban Europe are responding to the changing demographic landscape, by focusing on a growing population of immigrant origin voters from Muslim majority c...
Theorizing the Behavioral Effects of Control Complementarity in Security Control Portfolios

Employees are a major cause of information security vulnerabilities and breaches. Organizations implement controls, such as information security policies, fear appeals, and computer monitoring, to manage the security threats that employees pose. Behavioral information security research seeks to understand how these security controls influence employees’ behaviors. In practice, organizations adopt many coexisting security controls in security control portfolios (SCPs). Unfortunately, the complexities of SCPs are not well understood in the information security literature. To assist in studying SCPs, we present a typology and a theoretical model of security control grounded in an extension of control theory. We identify twelve types of security controls that can exist in practice based on three important control dimensions. We develop a number of propositions to explain how the complementarity of security controls in SCPs affect motivation to protect information. Our efforts produce a behaviorally grounded extension of control theory that is well suited for studying individual-level security behavior governed by complex SCPs.
hSOM: Visualizing Self-Organizing Maps to Accomodate Categorical Data

Kohonen’s self-organizing map is an unsupervised machine learning method designed to preserve the topology of its input space. Although this method has been used to efficiently summarize multidimensional data, the visualization of its constituent data has received less attention. We propose a method of addressing the visualization problem by augmenting a classical self-organizing map visualization to include an embedded histogram and evaluate its utility in depicting the self-organizing maps’s constituents categorized by a discrete variable.
Safeness Index-Based MPC and EMPC

In Chap. 2, we have introduced the formulation of MPC and demonstrated its capability of optimizing process performance accounting for system constraints [167]. Among different MPC formulations, LMPC and LEMPC systems have been developed based on an explicitly defined estimate of the closed-loop stability region via a Lyapunov-based control law, for which stabilizability and feasibility have been extensively studied, e.g., [51, 62, 76, 129, 130, 135]. However, in addition to stability, which is an important property of control systems, the problem of incorporating safety considerations in LMPC and LEMPC remains an important research topic as well since safety is another important issue in many chemical process industries.
A revised circumscription and clarification of the taxonomic position of Miconia tetrazygioides (Melastomataceae: miconieae): an endemic to the Massif de la Hotte, Haiti

An investigation of the type material of Miconia tetrazygioides indicates that this species, only known from the type gathering (Ekman H10684), is conspecific with the recently described M. cineana. The two differ vegetatively in no significant characters, showing only a slight difference in the range in variation of leaf width, shape, apex, and margin. The species has been poorly collected, with only a total of five gatherings known, and flowers have yet to be collected; it is endemic to the Massif de la Hotte, of Haiti, occurring in rak bwa from 930 to 1300 m. DNA nucleotide sequences indicate that the species is related to those of the M. decorticans clade, which have moderate-sized to large flowers with more or less constricted hypanthia/calyces. Traditionally, most species of the M. decorticans clade were included within Tetrazygia or Pachyanthus. In contrast the reproductive parts, e.g., calyx, hypanthium, ovary, and fruit, of M. tetrazygioides (incl. M. cineana) are quite small, and its hypanthia/calyces are not constricted, which is why it was originally circumscribed under Miconia rather than the other two mentioned genera.
The energy saving potential of thermo-responsive desiccants for air dehumidification

Abstract The desiccant wheel is a promising technology for energy-efficient humidity control. However, its overall efficiency—hindered by the desiccant materials’ properties—remains low because traditional desiccants (e.g., silica gels) have a single isotherm regardless of their adsorption temperature. Thermo-responsive materials have been proposed to break this fixed affinity to water vapor, with drastically different adsorption isotherms depending on temperature. Its potential for improving dehumidification efficiency, however, has not been addressed. In this paper, we model the potential of a thermo-responsive interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) desiccant with temperature-dependent adsorption isotherms for energy-efficient dehumidification via a validated transient desiccant wheel model for humidity control of buildings. Thermo-responsive desiccants can improve the dehumidification performance due to their thermo-responsive switchable hydrophilicity below/above the lower critical solution temperature. Our analysis shows that thermo-responsive IPN desiccants can potentially reduce energy consumption by up to 30% compared to silica gels. The savings depend strongly on the critical temperature of the thermo-responsive desiccant and should be higher when the inlet temperatures are expected to be higher.
Dynamically Programmable Terahertz Holographic Metasurface using CMOS IC Tiling

In this article, we design and demonstrate a multi-functional, digitally programmable metasurface at 0.3 THz fabricated using industry standard 65 nm CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) process. Each metasurface tile consists of 12×12 periodic array of unit cells and is later tiled to create a 2×2 array. This scalable approach helps to create larger programmable apertures without any overhead on cost and performance. Each unit cell in the metasurface is a programmable multi-split-ring resonator consisting of eight MOSFETs at the capacitive gaps. These transistors act as dynamically programmable digital switches which alter both amplitude and phase transmission properties of the metasurface independently. We experimentally demonstrate multi-functional applications namely, high-speed beam modulation with a switching ON/OFF ratio of ~25 dB at a maximum clock speed of 5 GHz and beamforming capability of ± 30°. In addition, we also simulate and experimentally verify spatial wavefront manipulation using binary-amplitude-only holography technique at 0.3 THz.
Creative absorber design and optimization for CO2 capture with aqueous piperazine

Abstract The Texas Carbon Management Program is preparing a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) of the PZASTM (Piperazine with the Advanced StripperTM) for CO2 capture at a natural gas combined cycle power plant in West Texas. This paper develops the absorber design for the capture system and studies the operational strategies of the absorber in response to ambient temperature swing. The design uses 2 absorber trains, and each train integrates absorption and a water-wash section in one column. Each column has a cross-section area of 174 m2 and consists of 3 sections of MellapakPlus® 252Y structured packing. Packing heights for each section are 3, 4.9, and 2.7 m from top to bottom. A pump-around intercooler applied at the bottom bed circulates solvent and eliminates the direct contact cooler. The baseline CO2 removal rate is 90% and will vary between 78% and 90% with ambient temperature. The system uses air cooling to eliminate cooling water usage. The water balance in the system will be managed by operating the water wash at a high circulation rate (1300 kg/h) to condense water during the night and make up for water loss during the day. The proposed design reduces the capital cost of the absorber column by minimizing the packing height and eliminating the direct contact cooler (DCC), and improves the energy cost by lowering the pump-around intercooling temperature and increasing the pump-around rate.
G-CSF Is a Cancer Stem Cell-Specific Growth Factor-Response.

We appreciate the thoughtful commentary of Maris and colleagues ([1][1]) regarding our recent publication demonstrating that G-CSF acts as a growth factor for neuroblastoma cancer stem cells (CSC) in vivo ([2][2]). In the study, both gain-of-function and loss-of-function studies confirm a
Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents: Evidence-Based Treatments and Case Examples

Part I. General Introduction: 1. Youth psychotherapies: the lay of the land Part II. Treatments for Fears and Anxiety: Section introduction and the case of Sean: 2. Four classic treatments for fears: modeling, systemic desensitization, reinforced exposure, and self-talk 3. Therapies for anxiety disorders: coping cat, coping koala, and family anxiety management Part III. Treatments for Depression: Section introduction and the case of Mega: 4. Cognitive-behavioral therapies for child depression 5. Cognitive-behavioral therapies for adolescent depression Part IV. Treatments for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Section introduction and the case of Sal: 8. Treating conduct problems by teaching anger control 9. Behavioral parent training and family treatment for conduct problems 10. Parent-child interaction treatments for child noncompliance 11. Parent training through video modeling and structured group discussion 12. Using problem solving skills training and parent management training to help children with conduct disorder 13. Multisystemic therapy for antisocial and delinquent youth Part V. Conclusion: 14. Evidence-based youth psychotherapies: strengths, limitations, future directions References.
SPIN-TEST: automatic test pattern generation for speed-independent circuits

SPIN-TEST is a simulation-based gate-level ATPG system for speed-independent circuits. Its core engine is an A* search algorithm which employs an accurate fault simulator and an efficient cost function to guide a deterministic test pattern generation phase. A random test pattern generation phase is also available in order to improve run time. The key ATPG challenge in speed-independent circuits is the generation of patterns that are valid independently of the relative timing and the order of arrival of signals. SPIN-TEST addresses this challenge by guaranteeing fault sensitization with hazard/race-free patterns and response observation that is not affected by oscillations or non-deterministic circuit states. Experimental results on benchmark circuits demonstrate the efficiency of SPIN-TEST in terms of both high fault coverage and low test generation time.
Trusted Computing Platforms: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

This is a summary of a panel on Trusted Computing Platform Architectures that was held in Financial Cryptography 2003.
Structural elements that underlie Doc2β function during asynchronous synaptic transmission

Double C2-like domain-containing proteins alpha and beta (Doc2α and Doc2β) are tandem C2-domain proteins proposed to function as Ca2+ sensors for asynchronous neurotransmitter release. Here, we systematically analyze each of the negatively charged residues that mediate binding of Ca2+ to the β isoform. The Ca2+ ligands in the C2A domain were dispensable for Ca2+-dependent translocation to the plasma membrane, with one exception: neutralization of D220 resulted in constitutive translocation. In contrast, three of the five Ca2+ ligands in the C2B domain are required for translocation. Importantly, translocation was correlated with the ability of the mutants to enhance asynchronous release when overexpressed in neurons. Finally, replacement of specific Ca2+/lipid-binding loops of synaptotagmin 1, a Ca2+ sensor for synchronous release, with corresponding loops from Doc2β, resulted in chimeras that yielded slower kinetics in vitro and slower excitatory postsynaptic current decays in neurons. Together, these data reveal the key determinants of Doc2β that underlie its function during the slow phase of synaptic transmission.
Muscle regeneration during hindlimb unloading results in a reduction in muscle size after reloading

The hindlimb-unloading model was used to study the ability of muscle injured in a weightless environment to recover after reloading. Satellite cell mitotic activity and DNA unit size were determined in injured and intact soleus muscles from hindlimb-unloaded and age-matched weight-bearing rats at the conclusion of 28 days of hindlimb unloading, 2 wk after reloading, and 9 wk after reloading. The body weights of hindlimb-unloaded rats were significantly (P 0.05) as those of weight-bearing rats 2 and 9 wk after reloading. The soleus muscle weight, soleus muscle weight-to-body weight ratio, myofiber diameter, number of nuclei per millimeter, and DNA unit size were significantly (P 0.05) as in the injured soleus muscles from weight-bearing rats 9 wk after reloading. The injured soleus muscles from hindlimb-unloaded rats failed to achieve weight-bearing muscle size 9 wk after reloading, because incomplete compensation for the decrease in myonuclear accretion and DNA unit size expansion occurred during the unloading period.
Biological markers in alcoholism.

Abstract 1. 1. The search for biological markers of a predisposition towards alcoholism is the result of data indicating that this disorder is genetically influenced. 2. 2. The present paper reviews some methodological considerations important for trait marker research in alcoholism. 3. 3. To date, the most promising results have come from studies comparing populations at elevated risk (i.e., sons of alcoholics) to controls. 4. 4. Such investigations point towards a decreased intensity of reaction to ethanol in sons of alcoholics, a decreased amplitude of the P300 wave of event-related potentials, and the possibility of a unique pattern of waves on the background cortical EEGs. 5. 5. The potential implication of these findings is discussed.
A new model for occluding the left coronary artery in the rabbit without thoracotomy

A small, nonmagnetic coil was fluoroscopically guided into the left circumflex coronary artery (LCXA) at the midventricular level via the left femoral artery in seven rabbits. Coronary artery occlusion was confirmed by intracoronary contrast injection, electrocardiographic changes, akinesis of the posterolateral wall distal to the occluded area, and histopathological staining of the myocardium. This new model of a closed-chest coronary artery occlusion in the rabbit may be suitable for acute ischemic myocardium studies that do not require reperfusion.
The politico-economic behavior of authoritarian governments

The study of the interaction between the economic and political behavior of governments in democratic, Western capitalist countries has yielded many insights in the three decades since Anthony Downs' An Economic Theory of Democracy was published in 1957. Similarly, the study of the overt political component of the economic decision-making process in authoritarian, Eastern centrally-planned economies has attained a great degree of refinement in the post-Stalin era. For most countries in the world, however, neither model (democratic curn capitalist nor authoritarian curn centrally-planned) applies very well. Rather there is a third type - more or less authoritarian curn more or less capitalist - which reasonably describes a large number of developing countries. It is likely that the behavior of these countries' governments will not be well explained by models which fit the other two types. The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework in which the economic decisions of authoritarian governments can be analyzed without assuming that the government is the only economic agent, thus in basically capitalist countries where elections are not the means by which power is Validated and transferred. 1. The political-economic behavior of government An individual's first formal exposure to economics is usually a principles text. In early chapters of most of them, the economic system is described as being determined by the interaction among three groups of economic agents: households, firms, and governments. The latter, which only began to be considered an economic agent of important status with the advent of Keynesian analysis, is in such texts initially accorded a place of equality with the other two, but soon is presumed to behave entirely differently: while households and firms exhibit maximizing behavior in their own self-interest, the government's economic actions are motivated by a desire to stabilize and
A non-hydrostatic modeling study of surface moisture effects on mesoscale convection induced by sea breeze circulation

Convection and subsequent precipitation induced by the sea breeze circulations are often observed in the Florida peninsula during summer. In this study, the mechanisms of initiation and maintenance of the convective clouds and precipitation are investigated. A fully-compressible fine resolution non-hydrostatic mesoscale numerical model is used in this study. Surface energy and moisture budget were included in this model to simulate the diurnal cycle of ground surface temperature and wetness. The model also has a sophisticated boundary layer and explicit cloud physics. A sounding obtained from Orlando, Florida at 1110 UTC 17 July 1991 as part of the Convection and Precipitation Electrification (CaPE) experiment is used for initialization. The initial data for the model is kept in geostrophic and thermal wind balance. Several sensitivity tests were conducted to investigate the effects of different treatments of ground surface moisture and temperature on the model forecast of the convection and precipitation induced by the sea breeze circulations. The simulations agree reasonably well with the observations when both surface energy and moisture budget were included in the model to predict ground surface temperature and wetness. The surface moisture has a significant impact on the formation, strength, sustenance, and the location of convection and precipitation induced by the sea breezes.
Can near-infrared spectroscopy identify the severity of shock in trauma patients?

Background: Our recent experimental study showed that peripheral muscle tissue oxygen saturation (StO 2 ), determined noninvasively by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), was more reliable than systemic hemodynamics or invasive oxygenation variables as an index of traumatic shock. The purpose of this study was to establish the normal range of thenar muscle StO 2 in humans and the relationship between shock state and StO 2 in trauma patients. Methods: This was a prospective, nonrandomized, observational, descriptive study in normal human volunteers (n = 707) and patients admitted to the resuscitation area of our Level I trauma center (n = 150). To establish a normal StO 2 range, an NIRS probe was applied to the thenar eminence of volunteers (normals). Subsequently, in a group of trauma patients, an NIRS probe was applied to the thenar eminence and data were collected and stored for offline analysis. StO 2 monitoring was performed continuously and noninvasively, and values were recorded at 2-minute intervals. Five moribund trauma patients were excluded. Members of our trauma faculty, blinded to StO 2 values, classified each patient into one of four groups (no shock, mild shock, moderate shock, and severe shock) using conventional physiologic parameters. Results: Mean ± SD thenar StO 2 values for each group were as follows: normals, 87 ± 6% (n = 707); no shock, 83 ± 10% (n = 85); mild shock, 83 ± 10% (n = 19); moderate shock, 80 ± 12% (n = 14); and severe shock, 45 ± 26% (n = 14). The thenar StO 2 values clearly discriminated the normals or no shock patients and the patients with severe shock (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Decreased thenar muscle tissue oxygen saturation reflects the presence of severe hypoperfusion and near-infrared spectroscopy may be a novel method for rapidly and noninvasively assessing chances in tissue dysoxia.
Symptom distress and quality-of-life assessment at the end of life: the role of proxy response.

Abstract This study sought to advance understanding of the relationships among proxy and patient reports of symptom distress and quality of life (QOL). English-speaking adults (n=86), their nurses (n=86), and family caregivers (n=49) from 11 hospice/palliative care organizations completed the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) and McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire (MQOL) at hospice/palliative care enrollment, at 1 week, 2 weeks, then monthly until death or discharge. Patients and proxies provided similar average reports of symptom distress, both physical and psychological, but MSAS correlations were generally poor. MQOL correlations were higher for nurse–patient than for patient–caregiver dyads. Based on small differences between ratings but only moderate levels of correlation, proxy response appears to be a fair substitute for patient response, suggesting that symptom and QOL reports should be obtained from all available respondents throughout the course of clinical care or research in the hospice/palliative care setting.
Pathophysiology, staging and therapy of severe sepsis in baboon models

We review our baboon models of Escherichia coli sepsis that mimic, respectively, the shock/disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and organ failure variants of severe sepsis, and analyse the pathophysiologic processes that are unique to each. The multi-stage, multi-factorial characteristics of severe sepsis develop as a result of the initial insult, which - depending on its intensity - activates components of the intravascular compartment leading to overwhelming shock/DIC; or initiates a sequence of events involving both the intra- and extravascular (tissues) compartments that lead to organ failure. In the latter case, the disorder passes through two stages: an initial inflammatory/coagulopathic intravascular first stage triggered by E. coli, followed by an extravascular second stage, involving components unique to each organ and triggered by ischemia/reperfusion (oxidative stress and histone release). Although a myriad of overlapping cellular and molecular components are involved, it is the context in which these components are brought into play that determine whether shock/DIC or organ failure predominate. For example, inflammatory and thrombotic responses amplified by thrombin in the first case whereas similar responses are amplified by complement activation products in the second. Rather than blocking specific mediators, we found that attenuation of the thrombin and complement amplification pathways can effectively reverse the shock/DIC and organ failure exhibited by the LD(100) and LD(50) E. coli models of severe sepsis, respectively. Translation of these concepts to successful intervention in the respective baboon models of E. coli sepsis and the application to their clinical counterparts is described.