cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diagrammatic perturbation theory for a two-level system in an intense light pulse

We have used diagrammatic many-body perturbation theory (DMBPT) to derive results, valid at high intensities, for a one-electron two-level atom in an exponentially-turned-on laser field. For such a system, the solution is known if the laser is close to resonance (rotating wave approximation (RWA)) and the turn-on rate is slow enough. The system passes through a succession of Floquet state as the field is turned on. We show how this can be derived within DMBPT using both the linked and the unlinked expansions. We also derive some results outside RWA including the Bloch-Siegert shift and harmonic generation. The purpose of the work is not to learn anything new about the two-level system, which is better treated by other methods, but to learn how to sum infinite sets of diagrams to get results valid at all intensities. The focus of future work will be to generalize the treatment to include many-body effects in more realistic systems (see also Ref. 3).
A GPU accelerated architecture for real-time GPR image reconstruction

The Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Synchronous Impulse Reconstruction (SIRE) Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a vehicle-mounted radar system developed by the US Army Research Laboratory to enable better imaging of landmines and improvised explosive devices. At the Howard University Electromagnetic Imaging Lab, we have proposed novel and parallelizable imaging algorithms that are well-suited to the UWB-SIRE-GPR system. In this paper, we present our work on a GPU accelerated architecture that provides true, real-time GPR image reconstruction from real data collected by the UWB-SIRE-GPR system. Preliminary results show that our solution is economical, powerful, and applicable to a wide variety of other GPR systems.
Hard Rock History

Mind over Magma The Story of Igneous Petrology. Davis A. Young. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 2003. 698 pp. $69.95, £46.95. ISBN 0-691-10279-1. Young offers a comprehensive history of the study of igneous rocks from early descriptions of volcanic eruptions to recent applications of physical chemistry, isotopes, and fluid dynamics.
How the Fallacy of Accident Got Its Name (and Lost It)

I offer an explanation of why the fallacy of “accident” is so called. By ‘accident’ here, Aristotle does not mean accidental predication but being per accidens . Understood in this way, the fallacy of accident can be analyzed in terms of the rules that Aristotle gives for being per accidens . The fallacy of accident lost the original justification for its name in the late Greek period. It became associated with accidental predication and not with being per accidens . The fallacy was then solved by construing it syllogistically so that the paralogisms became invalid through not having a universal major premise. This medieval analysis became the dominant approach in the medieval period but has led to confusion over the fallacy of accident in millennia of logic books. I end by considering how to formulate the fallacy of accident more fruitfully in modern terms via Aristotle’s original approach.
Performance of CDMA multistage interference cancellation with phase and timing errors

The use of CDMA for cellular telephone has sparked research interest in techniques for improved capacity. We consider a a DS/SS system employing adaptive multistage interference cancellation at the base station of a code division multiple access (CDMA) wireless system. Previous work has demonstrated the potential for significant improvements in capacity and near-far resistance. However, most previous work has assumed perfect synchronization with the signals of interest. Practical systems will experience phase jitter and timing errors. We undertake an analysis of the effects of phase and timing errors, obtaining a closed form result for bit error rate performance after an arbitrary number of stages of cancellation. This result agrees well with simulations. Analysis and simulation results demonstrate that interference cancellation is fairly robust to phase and timing errors.
Modeling capillary barriers in unsaturated fractured rock

[1] This work presents a series of numerical modeling studies that investigate the hydrogeologic conditions required to form capillary barriers and the effect that capillary barriers have on fluid flow and tracer transport processes in the unsaturated fractured rock of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, a potential site for storing high-level radioactive waste. The modeling approach is based on a dual-continuum formulation of coupled multiphase fluid and tracer transport through fractured porous rock. The numerical modeling results showed that effective capillary barriers can develop where both matrix and fracture capillary gradients tend to move water upward. Under the current hydrogeologic conceptualization of Yucca Mountain, strong capillary barrier effects exist for diverting a significant amount of moisture flow through the relatively shallow Paintbrush nonwelded unit, with major faults observed at the site serving as major downward pathways for laterally diverted percolation fluxes. In addition, we used observed field liquid saturation and goechemical isotopic data to check model results and found consistent agreement.
Changes in growth and maturation parameters of Pacific sardine Sardinops sagax collected off California during a period of stock recovery from 1994 to 2010

Whether fluctuation in density influenced the growth and maturation variables of three aggregated cohorts (fish born during the 1986-1993, 1996-2003 and 2004-2008 periods) of Pacific sardine Sardinops sagax caeruleus collected off the Californian coast from 2004 to 2010 was investigated. Using a von Bertalanffy mixed-effects model with aggregated cohorts as covariates, estimated growth rate significantly covaried with aggregated cohorts. Growth rate (K) was modelled as a fixed effect and estimated to be 0.264 ± 0.015 (±s.e). Statistical contrasts among aggregated cohorts showed that the 1996-2003 cohorts had a significantly lower growth rate than the other two aggregated cohorts. The theoretical age at length zero (t0) and the standard length at infinity (L(S∞)) were modelled as random effects, and were estimated to be -2.885 ± 0.259 (±s.e) and 273.13 ± 6.533 mm (±s.e). The relation of ovary-free mass at length was significantly different among the three aggregated cohorts, with the allometric coefficient estimated to be 2.850 ± 0.013 (±s.e) for the S. sagax population. The age-at-length trajectory of S. sagax born between 1986 and 2008 showed strong density dependence effects on somatic growth rates. In contrast to the density-dependent nature of growth, the probability to be mature at-size or at-age was not significantly affected by aggregated cohort density. The size and the age-at-50% maturity were estimated to be 150.92 mm and 0.56 years, respectively. Stock migration, natural fluctuations in biomass and removal of older and larger S. sagax by fishing might have been interplaying factors controlling growth parameters during 1986-2010.
4-Aminobiphenyl induces liver DNA adducts in both neonatal and adult mice but induces liver mutations only in neonatal mice.

The mechanisms underlying the susceptibility of neonatal mice to genotoxic carcinogens were investigated by analyzing the DNA adducts and mutations induced in the livers of neonatal and adult Big Blue transgenic mice by 4-aminobiphenyl (4-ABP), a potent human and rodent carcinogen. Neonatal and adult mice were treated with a regimen of 4-ABP known to induce tumors in neonatal mice. Animals were sacrificed 1 day after the last treatment for DNA adduct analysis and 8 weeks after the last treatment for analysis of lacI and cII mutant frequency (MF). N-(Deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-4-ABP was the major DNA adduct identified in the livers of the 4-ABP-treated mice and levels of this adduct were significantly higher in treated animals than in the controls for both the neonates and adults. Adduct levels for adult females (44.0 ± 4.8 adducts/106 nucleotides) were higher than in neonatal females (25.9 ± 2.2 adducts/106 nucleotides), while adduct levels in adult males (13.5 ± 2.0 adducts/106 nucleotides) were lower than in neonatal males (33.8 ± 4.1 adducts/106 nucleotides). 4-ABP treatment significantly increased the liver cII MFs in both sexes of neonatal mice but not in adult mice. Sequence analysis of cII mutant DNA revealed that 4-ABP induced a unique spectrum of mutations in neonatal mice, characterized by a high frequency of G:CT:A transversion, while the mutation spectrum in 4-ABP-treated adults was similar to that of control mice. Our results indicate that DNA adduct formation by 4-ABP depends as much on sex as it does on age, whereas the conversion of DNA adducts into mutations differed with animal age. These observations suggest that neonates are more sensitive than adults to genotoxic carcinogens because the relatively high levels of cell division in the developing animal facilitate the conversion of DNA damage into mutation. Supplementary material for this article can be found on the International Journal of Cancer website at http://www.interscience.wiley.com/jpages/0020-7136/suppmat/index.html © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Application of Adjoint-Derived Forecast Sensitivities to the 24–25 January 2000 U.S. East Coast Snowstorm

Abstract The 24–25 January 2000 eastern United States snowstorm was noteworthy as operational numerical weather prediction (NWP) guidance was poor for lead times as short as 36 h. Despite improvements in the forecast of the surface cyclone position and intensity at 1200 UTC 25 January 2000 with decreasing lead time, NWP guidance placed the westward extent of the midtropospheric, frontogenetically forced precipitation shield too far to the east. To assess the influence of initial condition uncertainties on the forecast of this event, an adjoint model is used to evaluate forecast sensitivities for 36- and 48-h forecasts valid at 1200 UTC 25 January 2000 using as response functions the energy-weighted forecast error, lower-tropospheric circulation about a box surrounding the surface cyclone, 750-hPa frontogenesis, and vertical motion. The sensitivities with respect to the initial conditions for these response functions are in general very similar: geographically isolated, maximized in the middle and lower tr...
Role of therapeutic plasmapheresis in the acute Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Abstract Plasmapheresis modifies the course of the acute Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) in terms of time-related parameters such as time on a respirator or time to achieve a specific area of improvement at specific times after onset of the illness such as at 1 month and at 6 months. Certain factors are associated with poorer outcomes in acute GBS. These include amplitude of compound muscle axon potentials on stimulating distally, time of onset of disease of 7 days or less, need for ventilatory support, and older age. Plasmapheresis, the only variable that the physician can influence, has a beneficial effect over and above all these factors.
Increased calcium bioavailability in mice fed genetically engineered plants lacking calcium oxalate

Bioavailable calcium affects bone formation and calcification. Here we investigate how a single gene mutation altering calcium partitioning in the model forage crop Medicago truncatula affects calcium bioavailability. Previously, the cod5 M. truncatula mutant was identified which contains identical calcium concentrations to wild-type, but contains no oxalate crystals. In this study, equal number of male and female mice were randomly grouped and then fed one of four 45Ca-containing diets: M. truncatula extrinsically or intrinsically labeled, and cod5 extrinsically or intrinsically labeled. Absorption of the tracer was determined in the legs one day after consumption. The absorption was similar in the M. truncatula and cod5 extrinsically labeled diets; however, in the intrinsically labeled diets, calcium absorption was 22.87% (P < 0.001) higher in mice fed cod5. Our study presents the first genetic evidence demonstrating the nutritional impact of removing oxalate crystals from foods.
Metabolism of epoxidized phosphatidylcholine by phospholipase A2 and epoxide hydrolase.

The isolation and measurement of phospholipid epoxides as major peroxidation products in biomembrane preparations prompted an investigation of enzymatic mechanisms which may be responsible for their elimination. Analysis of microsomal epoxide hydrolase and phospholipase A2 activity against a phospholipid epoxide commonly encountered in tissues indicated it to be a poor substrate for epoxide hydrolase, but rapidly hydrolyzed by phospholipase A2. Microsomal and purified phospholipase A2 preparations hydrolyzed the phospholipid epoxide at rates 2-fold greater than were observed with a monoenoic phospholipid from which the epoxide would be derived. The product fatty acid epoxide,cis-9,10-epoxystearic acid, was rapidly hydrated by microsomal and cytosolic epoxide hydrolase. On the basis of earlier reports demonstrating increased phospholipase activity against oxidized phospholipids, and on the results of the present study, a model for the metabolism of oxidized membrane phospholipids is proposed.
Analysis Of Influenza Hemagglutinin Ligand-binding From Mutational Data And Molecular Motion

Influenza hemagglutinin binds to sialic-acid-terminated glycans on the surface of target cells. This ligand-binding specificity of hemagglutinin is believed an important determinant of which host species it infects. Site-directed mutagenesis of hemagglutinin, expression, and determination of ligand-binding affinity are feasible but technically involved, so only a few hemagglutinin mutations have been tested in this manner. To understand the mechanism of binding specificity and guide further experiments, we have analyzed H5N1 avian influenza isolates to predict residues important to ligand binding and ultimately to ligand specificity. We employed sequence data from all available isolates in combination with analysis of protein residues that correlate with ligand conformation in molecular dynamics simulations to generate candidate sites for mutation. Using this combined analysis, we have predicted five residues both in the sialic-acid-binding site of hemagglutinin and more distant from it. In an initial evaluation, we have performed extensive molecular dynamics simulation of twelve point mutations at these sites. We simulated each of the 12 mutants in 3x100 ns and 200x10 ns simulations to obtain more robust statistical estimates of ligand dissociation. These simulations indicate a greatly increased dissociation rate from the mutants compared to simulations of wild-type H5N1 hemagglutinin VN1194, indicating that the mutations may disrupt ligand binding as expected. This analytic technique may thus provide an important means of screening potential binding-specificity mutants of influenza hemagglutinin as well as a more general tool to assess residues involved in ligand binding.
Terahertz characterization of dilute solutions of DNA

Only few studies have attempted to characterize biological materials by THz spectroscopy. Most of these used either solid samples or biological tissues. In this work, we present results of THz spectroscopic characterization of dilute solutions of DNA samples. Water and heavy water (D2O) have strong absorbance that overlap significantly with important absorption bands of biomolecules in conventional FTIR spectroscopy. Cumbersome spectral subtractions and highly concentrated samples are therefore required to partially overcome problems of water interference in FTIR spectra of biomolecules. Although liquid water absorbs and contributes to background in the THz spectral range of interest, the level of water absorption in the low THz range is at least 2.5 orders of magnitude less than in the far IR. Here, we demonstrate that reproducible spectra of dilute solutions of DNA in the frequency range 10-24 cm-1 can be obtained. We show that dilute aqueous samples of DNA produce THz spectra with signals that do not overlap with those of water. This is a significant achievement towards the goal of developing THz resonance spectroscopy as a useful tool for the biological sciences because all biological functions of DNA and proteins take place in aqueous environments. A simple technique for sample preparation and characterization is described. Samples containing as little as 100 ng of DNA in 10 μl of water (0.01 mg/ml or 0.001%) have been prepared and measured. The signal/noise ratios of THz spectra of these samples are sufficient to detect reproducible resonances at several characteristic frequencies. The effect of orientation on different substrates and the mechanism of sensitivity enhancement in these samples is discussed. It should be possible to extend these methods to also study proteins in dilute solutions. Advantages of using dilute samples include small quantities of biological material required, the absence of interference from interactions between neighboring molecules, and the absence of problems with light-scattering that are often encountered with short wave-length optical techniques.
How to Create a “Team” Out of Dysfunction

Only one person thought Kathryn was the right choice to become CEO of DecisionTech, Inc. Luckily for her, that person was the Chairman of the board. And so, less than a month after the previous chi...
Validation method using fuzzy simulation in an object-oriented physical modeling framework

Object oriented physical modeling (OOPM) is an object- oriented methodology for constructing physical models by emphasizing a clear framework to organize the geometry and dynamics of the models. An environment called MOOSE is under development to explore this OOPM concept. MOOSE provides a solid connection between blackboard models and software models in an unambiguous way, capturing both static and dynamic semantics of objects. Even though this facility reinforces the relation of 'model' to 'program', an adequate validation technique for modeling processes has not yet been developed. In this paper, we propose a validation method for the modeling process in MOOSE. This method utilizes a fuzzy simulation approach to encode uncertainty arisen from human reasoning process into computer simulation components.
P-wave travel-time anomalies: Aleutian-Alaska region

Abstract The P-wave travel-time residuals in the Aleutian-Alaska region have been obtained by combining data from three underground nuclear tests so far carried out by the Atomic Energy Commission of the United States in Amchitka Island. The travel-time residuals show close correlation with the tectonism of the area. Attempts have been made to interpret qualitatively the pattern of the residuals in regard to the plate tectonics of the area. Areas of negative residuals appear interpretable as due to the underthrusted high-velocity lithospheric plate while areas with positive residuals seem to be associated with normal crust and upper mantle.
Examining the interaction between timing and modality in forward collision warnings

Rear-end collisions account for a high percentage of crashes and are largely attributable to driver inattention. Advanced crash warning systems offer the potential to mitigate such crashes by alerting the driver, reorienting attention, and speeding response time. Developing an understanding whether warning timing influences the effectiveness of different interface modalities is important, both for test protocol development and to understanding system limitations. To that end, the goal of this study was to examine the interaction between two warning timings (early and late) and six interface modalities in a forward collision event. Overall, earlier alerts led to faster and safer responses and several warning modalities were effective at orienting drivers' attention. Critically, interface modality did not interact with warning timing for any performance measure, indicating that the effects of different warning interfaces were consistent across warning timing. These results suggest that it may be appropriate to use the warning timing associated with the driver-vehicle interface during protocol testing for forward collision warnings.
Distribution of a 3.5-mL (1.0%) C31G vaginal gel using magnetic resonance imaging

C31G (Savvy) has been developed as a topical vaginal microbicide with broad-spectrum antibacterial and antiviral properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution of a 1.0% concentration of (3.5 mL) C31G vaginal gel in the human pelvis using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Gel delivery with a standard applicator was primarily to the upper vagina and was well tolerated. Vaginal mucosal coverage at 18 min was excellent with 92% linear coverage and 75% surface contact coverage of the vagina. The upper vagina was almost completely covered and gel was also noted in the lower vagina. Coverage 6 h after application was substantially decreased, with 60% of maximal linear coverage and 41% surface contact. There was a very minimal coverage of the vaginal mucosa noted 24 h following insertion. Simulated intercourse resulted in relatively little change in overall distribution at all three time points. Repeat application of the gel may be necessary if intercourse has not occurred within the first few hours after initial insertion.
Management of the severely atherosclerotic aorta during cardiac operations.

Embolization of atheroma from the ascending aorta is a major cause of stroke following cardiac surgery. We evaluated a protocol for intraoperative detection and treatment of the severely atherosclerotic ascending aorta which Included eplaortlc ultrasonographic scanning and resection and graft replacement of the involved segment using hypothermlc Ischemic arrest. During an 81-month interval, 47 patients 50 years of age and older (mean age 71 years) who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting had resection and graft replacement of the ascending aorta. This represented approximately 2% of the patients in this age group who had cardiac operations during this interval. Nineteen patients (40%) required additional procedures. The 30-day mortality rate was 4.3% (2 patients). Both patients died of myocardial failure. None of the 45 surviving patients sustained a perioperative stroke. There have been no strokes or transient Ischemic events in the follow-up period, which extends to 72 months (mean 21 months). While this technique for management of the severely atherosclerotic aorta could be considered radical, it was associated with lower mortality and stroke rates than those that were observed in patients with moderate or severe atherosclerosis In whom only minor modifications in technique were made to avoid embolization of atheroma. Resection and graft replacement during a period of hypothermic circulatory arrest is currently our preferred method of treatment for the severely atherosclerotic aorta durlng cardiac surgery. (J Card Surg 1994;9:490–494)
Sharing, finding and reusing end-user code for reformatting and validating data

To help users with automatically reformatting and validating spreadsheets and other datasets, prior work introduced a user-extensible data model called ''topes'' and a supporting visual programming language. However, no support has existed to date for users to exchange and reuse topes. This functional gap results in wasteful duplication of work as users implement topes that other people have already created. In this paper, a design for a new repository system is presented that supports sharing and finding of topes for reuse. This repository tightly integrates traditional keyword-based search with two additional search methods whose usefulness in repositories of end-user code has gone unexplored to date. The first method is ''search-by-match'', where a user specifies examples of data, and the repository retrieves topes that can reformat and validate that data. The second method is collaborative filtering, which has played a vital role in repositories of non-code artifacts. The repository's search functionality was empirically tested on a prototype repository implementation by simulating queries generated from real user spreadsheets. This experiment reveals that search-by-match and collaborative filtering greatly improve the accuracy of search over the traditional keyword-based approach, to a recall as high as 95%. These results show that search-by-match and collaborative filtering are useful approaches for helping users to publish, find, and reuse visual programs similar to topes.
Effects of water and fluorine on the viscosity of albite melt at high pressure: a preliminary investigation

Abstract The viscosities of fluorine- and water-bearing melts based on albite composition have been determined at 7.5, 15 and 22.5 kbar by the falling-sphere method. All melt viscosities decrease isothermally with increasing pressure. At 1200°C the viscosity of the fluorine-bearing melt (albite + 5.8 wt.% fluorine substituted for oxygen, denoted AbF2O−1) decreases from5000 ± 750P at7.5kbar to1600 ± 240P at22.5kbar. At 1400°C the viscosity of this melt decreases from1300 ± 200P at7.5kbar to430 ± 65P at22.5kbar. At 1400°C the viscosity of albite + 2.79 wt.% water (denoted AbH2O) decreases from650 ± 100P at7.5kbar to400 ± 60P at22.5kbar. Fluorine (as F2O−1) and water strongly decrease the viscosity of albite melt over the entire range of investigated pressures. The ratio of the effects of 5.8 wt.% fluorine [F/(F + O)molar = 0.10] and 2.79 wt.% water [OH/(OH + O)molar = 0.10] on the log of melt viscosity [Δ log η(AbF2O−1)/Δ log η(AbH2O)] equals0.90 ± 0.05, 0.84 ± 0.05and0.97 ± 0.05at7.5, 15and22.5kbar, respectively. Comparison with available data on the high-pressure viscosity of albite melt indicates that both F2O−1 and H2O maintain their viscosity-reducing roles to lower crustal pressures. The difference between the viscosities of melts of albite, AbF2O−1 and AbH2O, may be explained in terms of the relatively depolymerized structures of AbF2O−1 and AbH2O melts. The depolymerization of albite melt by the addition of water results from the formation of Si OH bonds. The depolymerization of albite melt by F2O−1 substitution results from the formation of non-bridging oxygens associated with network-modifying aluminum cations that are formed upon fluorine solution. The strong viscosity-reducing effects of water and fluorine in albite melt at pressures corresponding to the mid- to lower continental crust indicate that these two components will strongly influence the dynamic behavior of anatectic melts during initial magma coalescence and restite-melt segregation.
DOSE DEPENDENCE AND THERAPEUTIC WINDOW FOR THE NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF 17β-ESTRADIOL WHEN ADMINISTERED AFTER CEREBRAL ISCHEMIA

Abstract The present study was undertaken to determine if the neuroprotective effect of 17β-estradiol (E 2 ) when administrated after ischemia is dose-dependent and if the therapeutic window for estrogen can be prolonged. Ischemic injury was induced by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (p-MCAO). Administration of E 2 at 30 min after ischemia resulted in a reduction in lesion volume. A higher dose of E 2 extended the therapeutic window to 6 h after cerebral ischemia in 33% of the rats. These findings suggest that postischemic treatment with estrogen affords protection against ischemic damage and that it acts within a clinically useful therapeutic window.
Effect of removal and change of surfactant upon the photoluminescence of carbon nanotubes

We measure the concentration of single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) present in aqueous suspensions by a technique that involves surfactant removal followed by high-temperature oxidation and mass spectroscopy of the resulting products. We also analyze the shift in SWNT emission energy evident from photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy as the surfactant molecule is changed. Next we study spectroscopic changes as surfactant is gently removed by dialysis.
Synthesis of a family of 45 ku heat shock proteins in a drought and heat resistant line of maize under controlled and field conditions

Summary Previous studies have shown that the leaf tissue of a drought and heat resistant line of maize ( Zea mays L.) ZPBL 1304 synthesizes unique heat shock proteins (HSPs) of 45 ku (kDa) (Ristic et al., 1991). The synthesis of 45 ku HSPs, however, has been studied only at 45 °C and in young (3-week-old) plants. In this study, we have further characterized the synthesis of 45 ku HSPs in the ZPBL 1304 line by investigating: 1) the temperature range of their synthesis, 2) the possible impact of exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) on their synthesis, 3) the possible synthesis of 45 ku HSPs in root tissue, and 4) the possible synthesis of 45 ku HSPs in mature plants (plants at the flowering stage) under field conditions. The 45 ku HSPs of the ZPBL 1304 maize line were synthesized over a broad temperature range starting from 35 °C upwards, and the synthesis of these HSPs increased with increasing temperature. Treatment with ABA did not seem to have an effect on the induction and synthesis of the 45 ku HSPs. Root tissue did not accumulate HSPs of 45 ku during heat shock. Instead, roots accumulated HSPs of 39 ku, 47ku, and 52 ku. Field-grown mature plants of the ZPBL 1304 line were found to synthesize the 45 ku HSPs. It is possible that maize HSPs of 45 ku may be important in the development of heat resistance under field conditions.
Journal Editors' Views on the Criteria a Paper Must Meet to Be Publishable

Editors of archival psychological and educational journals were asked to rate the importance of 38 potential standards that can be used to judge publishability of a paper. The standards included classic internal and external validity standards as well as writing standards and criteria pertaining to the visibility of issues in the paper and the author of the paper. The editors rated most of the standards as at least somewhat important, although some were rated as very important to absolutely essential. There was a significant correlation between editor's ratings of criterial importance and the likelihood of standards being met in published studies. Some potential publication standards are more critical than others in determining publishability, with the ratings generated here providing some guidance about which standards are especially important to meet in preparing a paper for publication consideration.
Laparoscopic fundoplication in infants and children.

Background: Laparoscopic fundoplication is a new method for treating gastroesophageal reflux in children. We present 160 children with gastroesophageal reflux treated by laparoscopic fundoplication.
Analytical and Experimental Study of Phase Effects on the Elastic Modulus of Air Plasma Sprayed Alumina Coatings Using Nanoindentation

Phase effects on the hardness and elastic modulus of atmospheric plasma sprayed (APS) alumina coatings were studied experimentally and analytically in this paper. For experimental work, the hardness and elastic modulus of APS alumina coatings were investigated by nanoindentation. Large scattering was observed in the results. For analytical work, the laminated APS alumina coating was taken to be consisted as alternating layers of α and γ alumina phases. This model was used to derive an approximate closed-form solution for nanoindentation on APS alumina coatings. The analytical solutions revealed that the phase combination played an important role in the material’s behavior under nanoindentation. The model verified the experimentally observed scattering in modulus distribution of APS alumina coating was mainly due to the phase composition. In addition, it is possible to determine the ratio of α and γ phases in APS alumina coatings by comparing the experimental nano-indentation results with the analytical solutions.© 2010 ASME
A Holographic Instrument to Replace the Test Glass in Lens Testing

This paper describes the development of a holographic instrument designed to take the place of the test glass in testing lens surfaces. The objective was to produce an instrument giving similar results as the test glass, while preserving its simplicity. The research performed in this project resulted in a very simple system wherein a single hologram contains a complete interferometer supplying both the illumination source and the reference. The instrument is designed to be used on lens surfaces without the need to remove them from the mandrel of the polishing machine. It is simply placed on the optical surface, contacting it at three points. Fringes similar to those obtained with a test glass are seen on a screen on the instrument. Each lens design requires a hologram specifically made to test its particular curvature. Since the holograms can be made cheaply and rapidly, considerable cost savings should result, since no precision test glasses need be made.
Controls for the Masses [Focus on Education]

During the spring of 2013, I taught a massive open online course (MOOC), Control of Mobile Robots, to over 40,000 students worldwide. Online resources for higher education have received significant attention during the last year, but upper-level engineering classes have been virtually absent from all the major MOOC content providers(Udacity, Coursera, edX).
Age differences in the role of cognitive versus somatic arousal in sleep outcomes

The purpose of this study is twofold: (a) to determine whether daily or overall cognitive and somatic arousal better predict sleep and (b) to investigate age differences in the arousal-sleep relation. Fifty younger and 50 older adults completed the Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale and sleep diaries for 14 consecutive days. Analyses revealed mean arousal may better predict sleep regardless of age. However, daily arousal represents an important avenue of research as it may uncover lagged or coupling effects in the arousal-sleep relation. Significant age differences in the arousal-sleep relation suggest age-dependent associations between the type of arousal and sleep. Implications for assessment of sleep in older and younger adults are discussed.
A scientific journey through the 2-5A/RNase L system

The antiviral and antitumor actions of interferons are caused, in part, by a remarkable regulated RNA cleavage pathway known as the 2-5A/RNase L system. 2′-5′ linked oligoadenylates (2-5A) are produced from ATP by interferon-inducible synthetases. 2-5A activates pre-existing RNase L, resulting in the cleavage of RNAs within single-stranded regions. Activation of RNase L by 2-5A leads to an antiviral response, although precisely how this happens is a subject of ongoing investigations. Recently, RNase L was identified as the hereditary prostate cancer 1 gene. That finding has led to the discovery of a novel human retrovirus, XMRV. My scientific journey through the 2-5A system recounts some of the highlights of these efforts. Knowledge gained from studies on the 2-5A system could have an impact on development of therapies for important viral pathogens and cancer.
Photophysics of the acetone 3p Rydberg states utilizing two-photon resonant ionization spectroscopy

Abstract The 3p ← n Rydberg transitions of acetone(CH 3 COCH 3 ) and deuterium acetone(CD 3 COCD 3 ) have been carefully investigated using mass resolved two-photon resonant ionization spectroscopy with a jet-cooled molecular beam utilizing linear and circular polarized light. The symmetry of 3p acetone vibronic states have been reanalyzed. The experimental results suggest that the symmetries of the acetone 3p Rydberg state deviates from C 2v due to the Rydberg-Valence interaction. The correlations between the symmetry change and dissociation of the acetone ions are discussed.
Wavelet denoising by MSFI and NSFI

Image denoising in wavelet transform domain using thresholding is one of the most effective techniques of image enhancement. Even though the thresholding on the wavelet transform domain generally works well, one can still visually note the remaining noise in the resulting image, especially in the non-edge areas. In this paper, we use multi-scaling function interpolation and nonseparable scaling function interpolation to smooth the noise image. Several simulation results will be presented and comparisons between MSFI and NSFI methods will be shown.
Optimum clearance for rapid flame propagation

The flame/wall interaction in narrow channels of various geometries is investigated as ittakes place in constant-volume premixed combustion. It is found that for some channels having both ends open, the flame propagated faster through the trapped mixture than through the same mixture outside the channel, and that there is an optimum channel clearance that produces the most rapid flame propagation. The main system variables determining the optimum clearances are considered to be the reaction rate and the viscous drag in the clearance. For channels with one end open it is observed that, although the flame propagates slowly through all the trapped mixtures, the flame speed sequentially attains, as the clearance increases, a quenching, a maximum, a minimum and the same speed outside the channel. An interpretation of the observed phenomena is offered by using the low temperature reaction kinetics.
Comparison of Surface to Indwelling Extrinsic Finger Muscle EMG during use of Computer Pointing Devices

Differences between indwelling and surface electromyography (EMG) were quantified by simultaneously recording extrinsic muscle activity of the index finger (flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS), flexor digitorum profundus (FDP), extensor indicis proprius (EIP), and extensor digitorum communis (EDC)) in a laboratory-based study. Eleven subjects performed computer-related pointing and dragging tasks using a mouse, pen and tablet, touchpad, and trackball. Surface electrodes poorly estimated FDP activity as demonstrated by low and variable cross-correlation values (0.47–0.64) and variable, high estimated error (RMS difference=11–46%MVC). Surface electrodes estimated FDS activity well (cross-correlation=0.79; RMS difference=11%MVC) when hand and forearm posture changes were minimized. Differences in forearm supination and pronation reduced the quality of FDS muscle activity estimation. Surface electrodes estimated EIP and EDC activity well with high cross-correlation values (0.77–0.84) and low RMS differences ...
Vulnerable societies: why antidrug policies fail, why there is a need for reforms and why they are unlikely to be implemented.

Illegal drugs develop in vulnerable societies. Antidrug policies fail because they do not attack those vulnerabilities; most only attack some of the contributing or risk factors that help the illegal drug industry development. Political systems, particularly those of nonauthoritarian regimes in pluralistic societies, are ill suited to prohibit individual behaviors. The only solution for the “drug problem” requires the elimination of the countries’ vulnerabilities, that is, to harmonize the formal laws with the socially accepted norms of the various groups of the society. This requires substantial social reforms, and it is unlikely to occur in the near future.
AN UNSTEADY INCOMPRESSIBLE NAVIER-STOKES SOLVER FOR LARGE EDDY SIMULATION OF TURBULENT FLOWS

SUMMARY An unsteady incompressible Navier‐Stokes solver that uses a dual time stepping method combined with spatially high-order-accurate finite differences, is developed for large eddy simulation (LES) of turbulent flows. The present solver uses a primitive variable formulation that is based on the artificial compressibility method and various convergence‐acceleration techniques are incorporated to efficiently simulate unsteady flows. A localized dynamic subgrid model, which is formulated using the subgrid kinetic energy, is employed for subgrid turbulence modeling. To evaluate the accuracy and the efficiency of the new solver, a posteriori tests for various turbulent flows are carried out and the resulting turbulence statistics are compared with existing experimental and direct numerical simulation (DNS) data. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TH‐D‐ValA‐05: Effect of Measured Cone‐Beam CT‐Density Calibration On Dose Calculations

Purpose: To characterize the CT‐density conversion for a cone‐beam CT(CBCT) system, and to evaluate the accuracy of dose calculation using CBCTimages in head & neck (H&N) and abdominal sites. Method and Materials: A small (16 cm) and a large (32 cm) acrylic phantom with inserts of known electron densities were scanned on conventional CT and CBCT scanners. CBCTimages were acquired using full and half fan (small phantom only), with and without bow‐tie filter. CT‐density conversion tables were measured for each combination. Head and pelvis phantoms, and H&N and prostate patients were imaged.IMRT treatment plans were designed based on conventional CT and transferred to CBCT after image registration (deformable registration for H&N patient). The CBCT dose distributions were then recalculated using the measured CT‐density curves. Results: For the small phantom, minimal differences were found between CT and CBCT numbers. Different conditions (half/full fan, with/without bow‐tie) resulted in maximum differences of approximately 100 HU. For the large phantom, differences between the CT numbers and CBCT numbers were greater than 350 HU at both low and high densities. For the H&N patient and the head phantom, dose distributions calculated on CT and CBCT differed by less than 2%. For the pelvis phantom and prostate patient, there were substantial differences in the dose distributions. In the worst case, using CBCTimages and the measured CBCT‐density conversion curve, the mean prostate dose was 14% higher than that calculated using the conventional CT. Due to artifacts in the CBCT, the differences in dose were larger using the CBCT‐density curves than using the default CT‐density curves. Using unit density for CBCT is a good approximation for pelvis dose calculation. Conclusion: Artifacts in CBCTimages and CT‐density conversion may lead to considerable errors in dose calculation using the large pelvis CBCTimages.
Biomechanical Analysis of Knotless Flexor Tendon Repair Using Large-Diameter Unidirection Barbed Suture

Purpose In traditional flexor tendon repairs, suture knots can be sites of weakness, impair tendon healing, stimulate an inflammatory response, and increase the bulk of the tendon repair. Because of this, there has been an increased interest in knotless flexor tendon repair using barbed suture. Since knots are not required, it may be possible to increase the strength of the tendon repair by using a large-diameter barbed suture. The purpose of this study was to biomechanically compare a traditional four-strand tendon repair using 3-0 braided polyester with a similar knotless four-strand tendon repair using 0 unidirectional barbed suture.
Catalytically Deposited Carbon Solar Selective Absorber

This selective absorber consists of a number of thin layers on a supporting substrate, including a carbonaceous absorbing layer, a catalyst layer, and a metallic infrared reflecting layer. The catalyst layer serves to catalyze the pyrolysis of a carbon containing gaseous compound to form the carbonaceous layer. Under proper conditions, the layer is black, strongly bonded to the surface, and very thin.
Effect of reserpine on prolactin-inhibiting activity of rat hypothalamus.

Previous studies have shown that the hypothalamus contains a factor(s) which inhibits prolactin synthesis and release in vitro. The present experiments were undertaken to determine whether reserpine acted by depressing hypothalamic production of “prolactin- inhibiting factor“ (PIF) in vivo, and whether it could reduce the inhibitory effect of hypothalamic tissue on pituitary prolactin release in vitro. Hypothalamic extract from reserpine-treated rats had no significant effect on prolactin release by rat anterior pituitary when incubated in a Dubnoff shaker at 37 C for 2 hr, whereas hypothalamic extract from control cycling rats inhibited prolactin release by 54%. When reserpine was added to a medium containing anterior pituitary halves and hypothalamic pieces, 83–92% more prolactin was released than in medium containing the corresponding anterior pituitary halves and hypothalamic pieces incubated without reserpine. Reserpine had no effect on prolactin release when incubated with anterior pituitary alone. ...
Developing a Method for Reporting Patient Harm Due to Antimicrobial Shortages

Introduction The number of drug shortages in the United States has increased in recent years. While some literature exists on factors that contribute to antimicrobial shortages, the need remains to accurately gage the level of patient harm incurred as a result of realized antimicrobial shortages. Furthermore, current methods of reporting adverse drug events are known to under-report instances of patient harm. We sought to develop an ongoing and accurate method of reporting patient harm due to antimicrobial shortages, which was convenient, anonymous, and allowed clinicians to estimate the causality due to a shortage.
On nonparametric profile analysis of several multivariate samples

Abstract A unified development is offered for asymptotically distribution-free profile analysis of several multivariate samples. This includes as special cases procedures based on generalized U-statistics and also those based on linear rank statistics. Furthermore, it includes as special cases analysis of location profiles and also scalar profiles. Finally, asymptotic power and consistency properties are discussed for tests of hypotheses and subhypotheses of interest.
Tectonics of the central Andes

Acquisition of nearly complete coverage of Thematic Mapper data for the central Andes between about 15 to 34 degrees S has stimulated a comprehensive and unprecedented study of the interaction of tectonics and climate in a young and actively developing major continental mountain belt. The current state of the synoptic mapping of key physiographic, tectonic, and climatic indicators of the dynamics of the mountain/climate system are briefly reviewed.
Calorie Restriction Enhances T-Cell–Mediated Immune Response in Adult Overweight Men and Women

Calorie restriction (CR) enhances immune response and prolongs life span in animals. However, information on the applicability of these results to humans is limited. T-cell function declines with age. We examined effects of CR on T-cell function in humans. Forty-six overweight, nonobese participants aged 20-42 years were randomly assigned to 30% or 10% CR group for 6 months. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), T-cell proliferation (TP), and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) productions were determined before and after CR. DTH and TP to T-cell mitogens were increased in both groups over baseline (p < or = .019). However, number of positive responses to DTH antigens (p = .016) and TP to anti-CD3 reached statistical significance only after 30% CR (p = .001). Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated PGE(2) was reduced in both groups but reached statistical significance after 30% CR (p < or = .029). These results, for the first time, show that 6-month CR in humans improves T-cell function.
Quasi-elastic scattering due to fast oxygen diffuson in yttria stabilized zirconia

Abstract Evidence for fast oxygen diffusion at high temperatures in single crystal ZrO 2 containing 12 mol % Y 2 O 3 is presented from quasi-elastic light scattering data. Lattice vacancies are responsible for the enhanced ionic diffusion and the structural disorder. In the temperature range investigated we estimate the barrier activation energy for the jumping of oxygen vacancies to be 0.25 eV. At 1500°K the jump time is ∼ 4 × 10 −12 sec., the diffusion constant is ∼ 3.26 × 10 −5 cm 2 /sec. and the conductivity is ∼ 0.24 (Ωcm) −1 .
Propulsion-induced interference effects on jet-lift VTOL aircraft

Recent investigations of propulsion-induced aerodynamics are reviewed. Experimental and analytical studies of the fundamental properties of lifting jet wakes and wind-tunnel investigations of VTOL configuration variables are discussed. The jet-wake flow studies will provide the data base for evaluating theoretical performance prediction methods; while the configuration studies will provide guidance for optimizing airframe/propulsion system integration. The influence of results to date on high-performance VTOL designs emphasizing minimum jet-induced losses and improved thrust vectoring in forward flight (VIFF) capability is illustrated.