cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimentally-elevated testosterone, female parental care, and reproductive success in a songbird, the Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis).

article i nfo In male dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis), experimentally elevated testosterone (T) decreases male parental care and offspring survival, but results in higher overall fitness through greater mating success. To help address the ensuing question of what prevents selection from favoring higher levels of T in male juncos, we manipulated T in female juncos. A previous study demonstrated no effect of experimentally elevated T on female incubation behavior, suggesting that female parental behavior might be insensitive to T. In this study we asked whether experimentally elevated T mediates other female parental behaviors and whether variation in T-mediated parental behavior might influence reproductive success. We videotaped free-living control- and T-females during nesting to quantify brooding behavior when young were 3 days old and provisioning behavior when young were 6 days old. Nest defense was measured by quantifying responses to a mounted predator placed near the nest. Reproductive success was assessed via fecundity, nestling quality, and nest survival. T-females spent less time than control females brooding but did not differ in provisioning rate. T-females performed fewer dives at the predator mount and, unlike controls, failed to increase defense as nesting progressed. T-females also had lower daily nest survival and lower nest success (odds of producing at least one fledgling). We conclude that some aspects of female parental behavior are sensitive to experimentally elevated T while others are not and consider the implications for the evolution of T-mediated characters in both sexes.
Regenerative Systems for Vibration Control

The potential for energy regeneration in vibration control systems is investigated. Such control systems hold the possibility of self-sustainability by alternately extracting and releasing energy originating from the vibrating system in a controlled non-passive manner. To be self-sustaining, more energy must on average flow into the control system than flows out. Generally speaking, the performance of such a system will approach that of an active system while theoretically requiring no externally supplied power. As research progresses in this area, an increasing number of viable applications for regenerative vibration control systems are being uncovered. This paper examines two broad applications: base-excited suspensions and periodically excited compound mounts. Some experimental results of the former are presented to support our claims.
A model for the exposure of individual lung cells to the foreign elements contained in fly ash.

The exposure of the individual cells of lung tissue to the chemical elements associated with fly ash particles is a very sensitive function of the elemental distribution among individual particles. There is evidence that the individual particle chemistry is not homogeneous with respect to major element composition among particles and that many of the elements are found in high concentration in a few particles rather than existing in relatively uniform concentration among all of the particles. This segregation of elements in specific particles results in the possibility for significantly higher exposure levels within individual cells than those projected from the model of the elemental concentrations distributed uniformly among the particles.
Relationship of common pain conditions in mothers and children.

Objectives The scientific evidence is conflicting as to whether there is an association between parental and child pain. The goal of this study was to assess whether there is an association between: (1) site-specific pain conditions in mothers and children and (2) the presence of multiple pain conditions in mothers and children. Methods A population-based sample of 2466 children aged 11 to 17 years who were members of a prepaid health were interviewed about the occurrence of common pain conditions—back pain, headache, facial pain, and stomach pain. Their mothers were also interviewed about the presence of pain. Results Children were at significantly increased risk of having back pain, headache, and stomach pain if their mothers also reported pain at the same site (index pain). The association between maternal and child back pain and headache remained significant after adjusting for mother and child demographic variables. A dose-response relationship was observed between maternal multiple pain sites (1, 2, 3, or more) and the presence of back pain, headache, and stomach pain in the child after adjusting for the mother having the index pain and other potential confounders. In multivariate analyses, children were at increased risk of having multiple (2 or more) pain conditions if their mothers had pain at multiple sites, with a dose-response relationship evident with increasing number of maternal pain sites. Discussion There was an association between maternal and child pain in this population-based sample. The presence of multiple pain sites in the mother consistently predicted the presence of site-specific pains and multiple pains in the child. Future research on the association of child and parental pain should include multiple pain sites as both outcome and predictor variables.
Diverse origin of modern dolomite in the Levant

The Dead-Sea transform in the Levant is a plate boundary that separates the Arabian from the Sinai plates. Along this transform modern dolomite occurs insabkhas, sea-marginal ponds, deep-sea settings, and non-marine saline springs. The non-marine dolomite from saline springs is of hydrothermal origin. Thesabkha and deep-sea dolomite are detrital and recycled from Cretaceous bedrock. The dolomite in sea-marginal ponds owes its origin to salinity-elevated seawaters and is an evaporite mineral. On the Sinai plate dolomite formed through the methane pathway, and west of the transform dolomite formed in caves from fresh-water effluent. Hence in one single geologic province modern dolomite is of multiple origins
A novel IL-10 signalling mechanism regulates TIMP-1 expression in human prostate tumour cells.

A novel IL-10 signalling mechanism regulates TIMP-1 expression in human prostate tumour cells
A single-transverse-mode GaAs laser device

A high radiance GaAs laser operating at room temperature, has been developed under contract to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for use in an optical space navigation system. To achieve high radiance a single, 300 microns wide, GaAs diode is confined to the lowest-order transverse mode. This is accomplished by operating the laser diode with its mirror faces anti-reflection coated in an optical cavity in which the transverse mode is controlled by an aperture limiting slit. The asymmetry and small size of the active region and the very low impedance of the GaAs laser diode presented serious problems in designing a rugged and efficient device.
Toward Real-Time Animation Of Holographic Video Images

This paper describes a proposed system for the generation, display, and animation of 3-D holographic images.
Bifurcation Analysis of a Model of Mitotic Control in Frog Eggs

Abstract Novak and Tyson have proposed a realistic mathematical model of the biochemical mechanism that regulates M-phase promoting factor (MPF), the major enzymatic activity controlling mitotic cycles in frog eggs, early embryos, and cell-free egg extracts. We use bifurcation theory and numerical methods (AUTO) to characterize the codimension-one and -two bifurcation sets in this model. Our primary bifurcation parameter is the rate constant for cyclin synthesis, which can be manipulated experimentally by adding exogenously synthesized cyclin mRNA to extracts depleted of all endogenous mRNA molecules. For the secondary bifurcation parameter we use the total amount of one of the principle regulatory enzymes in the extract (ACP, the enzyme complex that labels cyclin for degradation: Wee1, the kinase that inhibits MPF; or Cdc25. the phosphatase that activates MPF). We find a rich array of physiologically distinct behaviors exhibited by the model as these parameters are varied around values that seem plausible for frog eggs and extracts. In addition to unique, stable steady states (cell cycle arrest) and limit cycle oscillations (autonomous, periodic cell division), we find parameter combinations where the control system is bistable. For instance, an interphase-arrested state may coexist with a metaphase arrested state, or two stable limit cycles of different amplitude and period may coexist. We suggest that such strange behavior is nearly unavoidable in a complex regulatory system like the cell cycle. Perhaps cells exploit some of these exotic bifurcations for control purposes that are as yet unrecognized by physiologists.
Microsatellite instability induced by hydrogen peroxide in Escherichia coli

Damage to DNA by reactive oxygen species may be a significant source of endogenous mutagenesis in aerobic organisms. Using a selective assay for microsatellite instability in E. coli, we have asked whether endogenous oxidative mutagenesis can contribute to genetic instability. Instability of repetitive sequences, both in intronic sequences and within coding regions, is a hallmark of genetic instability in human cancers. We demonstrate that exposure of E. coli to low levels of hydrogen peroxide increases the frequency of expansions and deletions within dinucleotide repetitive sequences. Sequencing of the repetitive sequences and flanking non-repetitive regions in mutant clones demonstrated the high specificity for alterations with the repeats. All of the 183 mutants sequenced displayed frameshift alterations within the microsatellite repeats, and no base substitutions or frameshift mutations occurred within the flanking non-repetitive sequences. We hypothesize that endogenous oxidative damage to DNA can increase the frequency of strand slippage intermediates occurring during DNA replication or repair synthesis, and contribute to genomic instability.
A Model of Patient Choice with Mid-Therapy Information

For many treatments, a patient’s prognosis may be refined by conducting a mid-therapy assessment (MTA). When therapy lasts some time, an MTA predicts a patient’s ultimate outcome based on early signs of response. The availability and timing of such assessments also serve as a mechanism by which policy makers can influence patients’ treatment-initiation decisions. In this article, we examine how patients evaluate treatment options using MTAs of treatment effectiveness and discuss the policy implications of patient decision making in such contexts. To this end, we use indifference-curve analysis to characterize trade-offs between potential treatment success versus potential adverse effects in therapeutic situations where patients are encouraged to consider their own motivations for initiating treatment. Treatment initiation for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is used for illustration, but the analysis can be easily adapted to a variety of clinical scenarios. Analysis shows that the existence of MTAs influences patients’ initial treatment decisions by affecting the expectations of treatment success and adverse effects. Earlier MTAs have lower sensitivity and higher specificity, and the prior expectation of adverse effects is accordingly lower for two reasons. First, the lower chance for a false signal of treatment response and the higher chance for a false signal of no response make it more likely that the patient receives a signal leading to discontinuation. Second, if a signal to discontinue is received, fewer weeks of adverse effects have been endured before discontinuation occurs. Both factors make the expected burden of adverse effects lower when the MTA occurs earlier. Later MTAs have higher sensitivity and lower specificity, both of which serve to increase the probability of treatment completion, causing a higher prior likelihood of treatment success. These findings indicate that treatment demand may be increased by changing the timing of MTAs, depending on the information content of the alternative mid-therapy signals and the nature of patient preferences. In HCV infection and other diseases, clinical practice guidelines for conducting MTAs might be modified to better achieve public health or other policy objectives by studying the economics of patient choice.
Total synthesis and structural elucidation of azaspiracid-1. Construction of key building blocks for originally proposed structure.

Syntheses of the three key building blocks (65, 98, and 100) required for the total synthesis of the proposed structure of azaspiracid-1 (1a) are described. Key steps include a TMSOTf-induced ring-closing cascade to form the ABC rings of tetracycle 65, a neodymium-catalyzed internal aminal formation for the construction of intermediate 98, and a Nozaki−Hiyama−Kishi coupling to assemble the required carbon chain of fragment 100. The synthesized fragments, obtained stereoselectively in both their enantiomeric forms, were expected to allow for the construction of all four stereoisomers proposed as possible structures of azaspiracid-1 (1a−d), thus allowing the determination of both the relative and absolute stereochemistry of the natural product.
Nonlinear Optimal Control Techniques for Vibration Attenuation Using Magnetostrictive Actuators

This article addresses the development of a nonlinear control design for attenuating structural vibrations using magnetostrictive transducers operating in nonlinear and highly hysteretic operating regimes. We consider as a prototype a thin plate subjected to exogenous pressure waves and controlled via Terfenol-D transducers at the plate edges; however, the methodology is sufficiently general to encompass a wide range of structures and magnetic transducer designs. Hysteresis inherent to the transducer materials is quantified using a homogenized energy framework and the resulting nonlinear constitutive relations are used to construct a PDE representation and corresponding finite dimensional model of the structural system. We employ optimal control theory to construct nonlinear open loop control inputs which accommodate the hysteresis inherent to the transducers but are not robust with regard to unmodeled dynamics or disturbances. Robustness is incorporated by employing perturbation techniques to provide lin...
Evaluation of vinylidene fluoride polymers for use in space environments: Comparison of radiation sensitivities

Abstract Poly(vinylidene fluoride) and copolymers of vinylidene fluoride with hexafluoropropylene, trifluoroethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene have been exposed to gamma irradiation in vacuum, up to doses of 1 MGy under identical conditions, to obtain a ranking of radiation sensitivities. Changes in the tensile properties, crystalline melting points, heats of fusion, gel contents and solvent uptake factors were used as the defining parameters. The initial degree of crystallinity and film processing had the greatest influence on relative radiation damage, although the cross-linked network features were almost identical in their solvent swelling characteristics, regardless of the comonomer composition or content.
Crosstalk and interference penalty in all-optical networks using static wavelength routers

The crosstalk and interference penalty in an all-optical network using static wavelength routers is analyzed in this paper. A worst case methodology is used to derive the upper bound of the penalty. We show that the penalty strongly depends on the linewidth of the laser source. Up to -20 dB in crosstalk can be tolerated in a moderate-size network (/spl ap/10/sup 5/ nodes), with the ratio of the laser linewidth to the electrical bandwidth less than or equal to unity. Larger linewidth has the advantage of reducing the power penalty incurred by phase-to-amplitude noise conversion. However, the number of wavelength channels will he reduced as well. The maximum tolerable component crosstalk for a network with arbitrary size is reduced to -30 dB.
Grazing incidence angle based sensing approach integrated with fiber-optic Fourier transform infrared (FO-FTIR) spectroscopy for remote and label-free detection of medical device contaminations

Contamination of medical devices has become a critical and prevalent public health safety concern since medical devices are being increasingly used in clinical practices for diagnostics, therapeutics and medical implants. The development of effective sensing methods for real-time detection of pathogenic contamination is needed to prevent and reduce the spread of infections to patients and the healthcare community. In this study, a hollow-core fiber-optic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy methodology employing a grazing incidence angle based sensing approach (FO-FTIR-GIA) was developed for detection of various biochemical contaminants on medical device surfaces. We demonstrated the sensitivity of FO-FTIR-GIA sensing approach for non-contact and label-free detection of contaminants such as lipopolysaccharide from various surface materials relevant to medical device. The proposed sensing system can detect at a minimum loading concentration of approximately 0.7 μg/cm2. The FO-FTIR-GIA has the potential for the detection of unwanted pathogen in real time.
Frequency of Occurrence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Bacterial Isolates from the Intestinal and Female Genital Tracts

In the selection of empiric therapy for infections of the female genital tract and intraabdominal infections in humans, the requisite information includes (1) the frequency of isolation of bacterial species dominant in the normal gastrointestinal and female genital tracts and in intraabdominal and female genital tract infections and (2) the in vitro susceptibilities of the dominant species to drugs that may be used against them (e.g., penicillin G, cefoperazone, cefoxitin, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, and metronidazole). The predominant bacteria in fecal contents are not necessarily those most frequently found in infections. Intraabdominal and perirectal infections are usually polymicrobial, resulting from mixtures of facultative species (coliforms and streptococci) and anaerobes. The predominant bacteria of the normal vagina and cervix are lactobacilli, facultative streptococci, Peptococcus species, and Peptostreptococcus species. Most infections of the female genital tract are due to mixtures of facultative enteric bacilli, streptococci, and anaerobes (Peptococcus and Peptostreptococcus species, Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides disiens, Bacteroides melaninogenicus, Bacteroides bivius, and Bacteroides asaccharolyticus). Of the antibiotics tested, clindamycin appears the most active against many of the groups of bacteria isolated.
Nuclear Membrane Proteins with Potential Disease Links Found by Subtractive Proteomics

To comprehensively identify integral membrane proteins of the nuclear envelope (NE), we prepared separately NEs and organelles known to cofractionate with them from liver. Proteins detected by multidimensional protein identification technology in the cofractionating organelles were subtracted from the NE data set. In addition to all 13 known NE integral proteins, 67 uncharacterized open reading frames with predicted membrane-spanning regions were identified. All of the eight proteins tested targeted to the NE, indicating that there are substantially more integral proteins of the NE than previously thought. Furthermore, 23 of these mapped within chromosome regions linked to a variety of dystrophies.
Effects of pentobarbital and d-amphetamine on the repeated acquisition of response sequences by pigeons

Pigeons were trained to acquire a new 4-response sequence in each session by pecking three keys in a predetermined order. The key color varied for each step under the chained schedule, but there was only one key color under the tandem schedule. Under the reset contingency, incorrect responses produced a reset of the 4-response sequence to its beginning and a short timeout. In the non-resent contingency, only the timeout was produced by incorrect responses. Under both contingencies of both schedules, low doses (3–10 mg/kg) of pentobarbital increased the response rate and the total number of errors, although the rate increases usually occurred at lower doses than did the increases in errors. A dose of 17.5 mg/kg pentobarbital eliminated almost all responding. Injection of low doses (0.1–0.3 mg/kg) of d-amphetamine decreased the total number of errors under both contingencies of both the chained and the tandem schedules. Higher doses of d-amphetamine sometimes increased the total number of errors and decreased the response rate.
Resolution IV fractional factorial designs for the general asymmetric factorial

Resolution IV fractional factorial designs permit estimation of all main effects in the presence of two factor interactions which may not be estimable, For the factorial experiment, where , a lower bound on the number of runs required for a resolution IV design is Excepting designs for the 2n and 22 × 2s experiments, and two-factor designs that are actually resolution V, no series of designs attaining this bound are known. The construction method given in this paper yields resolution IV designs near the theoretical (and perhaps often unattainable) lower bound. For the 2m × 3n factorial the designs exceed the lower bound by 6 if n ≥ 3 by 4 if n = 2, and by 3 if n = 1. More generally, for the experiment, s1 < s2the designs exceed the lower bound by s2(s2-1) if n ≥ 3, by if n = 2, and by s2(s2-1) if n=1. In general the designs never exceed the lower bound by more than sk (sk-l).
Terahertz-capability nanoscale InGaAs HEMT design guidelines by means of full-band Monte Carlo device simulations

We provide design guidelines for InGaAs HEMT nanoscale scaling from the analysis of results obtained through our full band Cellular Monte Carlo simulator. In particular, improved RF performance can be obtained preserving a minimum aspect ratio of 5, limiting in such way short channel effects and reducing the electron transit time through the reduction of the effective gate length. Further improvement can be obtained reducing the source-gate access region length. Thus, the effective gate length relative increase and the parasitic intrinsic access region resistance are found to be the main factors limiting nanoscale scaling in THz InGaAs HEMTs.
Generalization effects of training on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test for schizophrenia patients

Several studies have demonstrated that schizophrenia patients can improve their performance on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test if given appropriate training. However, it is not clear if they are learning a generalizable problem-solving strategy rather than a circumscribed rule. We examined this question by training patients on one of two related problem-solving tests and assessing transfer of training effects across the two instruments; a third group received practice on both tests, but no training. Subjects were 27 schizophrenia patients in the latter stages of an acute hospital admission. While subjects in both training conditions exhibited marked improvement on the trained test, the results failed to reveal any evidence of generalization. Subjects trained on one test performed no better on the other instrument than subjects who received practice only. These results suggest that gains in WCST performance reported in the literature after brief training or instructions may not reflect any meaningful changes in problem solving capacity or in any underlying neurological function. Implications of the findings for rehabilitation programs are discussed, along with limitations of the data and recommendations for future research.
Obstacles, Controversies, and Prospects Surrounding Child Abuse Management in Addis Ababa

Corporal punishment by parents or guardians, family members, and relatives is an accepted cultural practice in Ethiopia. Aside from parents and other family members, many children are also abused (physically and sexually) by other persons who by chance meet them. At the same time, concerned institutions in Ethiopia are making efforts to reduce child abuse. This paper examines the situation of child abuse and its management in Addis Ababa, focusing on the challenges and controversies surrounding this social problem. It assesses pertinent issues involved in child abuse management based on information obtained from case studies of abused children and abusers, agents of the criminal justice system (the police, lawyers, and judges), health professionals, social workers, sociologists, psychologists, etc. Child abuse in Addis Ababa appears mainly related to general conditions of poverty. Further, the main problems in child abuse management seem to be the absence of coordination among various agents, and inadequate resources and institutional facilities.
Current status of focal primary therapy for prostate cancer.

The focal therapy session was moderated by Dr. Samir Taneja and addressed the central question: Why focal therapy for prostate cancer? The primary reasoning for most practitioners of focal therapy centers on the acceptance that there is established overtreatment of clinically localized prostate cancer. The important issues surrounding focal therapy include, (1) patient selection (e.g., unifocal vs. multifocal disease and low-risk disease, (2) method of focal therapy (e.g., imagevs. biopsy-guided therapy, (3) outcomes (e.g., how do we determine cure vs. recurrence The goals of focal therapy are variable and should be considered before embarking on a focal therapy program. These goals include (1) curative intent, (2) prolongation of natural history, and (3) tumor debulking. It has been shown by Mark Emberton and others that among men who undergo radical prostatectomy, only approximately 20% have unifocal disease. Therefore, relatively few men would gain completely curative benefit from focal therapy. Additionally, the dominant Gleason score is found in index lesion. Similarly, secondary and tertiary lesions are rarely the site of extracapsular extension (ECE) or recurrence. Lastly, there is data to support that metastatic disease is derived from 1 clonal phenotype. Dr. John Trachtenberg from Toronto then described image-guided, robot-assisted focal laser therapy. The goals of this therapy are to balance cancer control and maintenance of quality of life. This technology utilizes MR guidance with real-time thermal imaging of the target lesion, which allows for visualization of target destruction, while also monitoring for preservation of normal structures. This visualization allows for detection of prostate motion due to various external factors. Additionally, the energy delivery can be tightly controlled, delivered to within 1 mm of the target, and is FDA approved. In a pilot trial of five subjects, the MR-guided laser therapy was performed followed by radical prostatectomy. The histology of the treated pros-
Author Characteristics for Major Accounting Journals: Differences among Similarities 1989–2009

ABSTRACT: Many academic accountants have explicit or implicit motivations to publish their research in the best journals in the discipline. However, whether the chances of success are better at some of these journals is unknown. This paper examines the archival record to find differences within the authorship of three such publications (The Accounting Review, Journal of Accounting Research, Journal of Accounting and Economics) over a recently completed 20-year period. The journals do not differentiate according to the authors' doctoral training, but are differently sensitive to place of faculty employment. The journals are equally receptive to non-U.S. authors, but different in their receptivity to recently graduated and frequently appearing authors. Although areas of change over time are noted, both among journals and within each journal itself, the record also shows a good deal of consistency in other relationships over the 20-year period.
Second language reading research: Problems and possibilities

A major purpose of this article is to examine first language (L1) reading theories from second language (L2) perspectives and, in so doing, to uncover significant research voids related to L2 problems. The article first considers the unique aspects of L2 reading in order to identify dimensions in which its theory must differ from accepted L1 constructs. It then discusses three fundamental distinctions that separate L1 and L2 reading: (a) the consequences of prior reading experience; (b) the effects of crosslinguistic processing; and (c) the compensatory devices stemming from the efforts of learners with limited linguistic knowledge to solve comprehension problems. Finally, several pedagogically oriented research themes which may be helpful in evaluating the instructional utility of current L2 reading theories are delineated.
Collapsed regime operation of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers based on wafer-bonding technique

We report experimental results from collapsed regime operation of the capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (cMUTs) fabricated by a wafer bonding technique. The results show that a cMUT operating in the collapsed regime produces a maximal output pressure higher than a cMUT operating in the precollapse regime at 90% of its collapse voltage, 1.79kPa/V vs. 9.72 kPa/V at 2.3 MHz. in collapsed regime operation the fractional bandwidth (pulse-echo) is increased compared to that obtained in precollapsed regime operation 140% vs 83% with a bias 90% of the collapse voltage. Characterization of 1-D cMUT arrays operating in oil was done by ultrasonic pulse echo and pitch catch measurements.
Characterizing the APEC pathotype

The purpose of this study was to compare avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) isolates to fecal isolates of apparently healthy poultry (avian fecal E. coli or AFEC) by their possession of various traits in order to ascertain whether APEC and AFEC are distinct and if the APEC strains constitute a distinct pathotype. Four hundred and fifty-one APEC and one hundred and four AFEC isolates were examined for possession of traits associated with the virulence of human extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) as well as APEC. Several of the genes occurred in the majority of APEC and only infrequently in AFEC, including cvaC, iroN, iss, iutA, sitA, tsh, fyuA, irp2, and ompT. Of these genes, several have been found on large plasmids in APEC. Other genes occurred in significantly more APEC than AFEC but did not occur in the majority of APEC. Isolates were also evaluated by serogroup, lactose utilization, and hemolytic reaction. Twenty-nine and a half percent of the APEC and forty-two and three tenths percent of the AFEC were not serogrouped because they were not typeable with standard antisera, typed to multiple serogroups, were rough, autoagglutinated, or were not done. Around 65% of the typeable APEC (205 isolates) and AFEC (41 isolates) were classified into shared serogroups, and about a third of both fell into APEC- (113 isolates) or AFEC- (19 isolates) unique serogroups. Most were able to use lactose. No isolate was hemolytic. Overall, the majority of the APEC isolates surveyed shared a common set of putative virulence genes, many of which have been localized to an APEC plasmid known as pTJ100. This common set of genes may prove useful in defining an APEC pathotype.
Evaluation of command sources for a high tetraplegia neural prosthesis

One of the issues involved in the development of a neural prosthesis for high tetraplegia is that of an appropriate command interface between the user and prosthetic. With high levels of impairment come low levels of available voluntary actions suitable for issuing commands. Three potential command interfaces were investigated for their applicability to commanding endpoint position of a robot arm, as a proxy to a stimulated paralyzed arm. Head orientation as a command source was explored using both direct servo drive and gated ramp algorithms. EMG signals with a gated ramp algorithm from muscles in the face were also investigated as a potential command source. The information transfer rate (ITR) of all three command interfaces were evaluated using a 3D Fitts Law task. The resulting information transfer rate of the EMG interface was 0.55 Bits/sec, while both head orientation interfaces resulted in ITRs of 0.49 Bits/sec each.
Dealing with stress, burnout, and grief in the practice of oncology

Summary There is a substantial amount of published work describing how to help patients and families deal with stress, grief, and loss, but there is much less advice available for clinicians dealing with similar issues. Working as an oncologist is inherently difficult, and racked by emotional and psychological traumas. However, it can also be tremendously rewarding. In this review, I discuss the extent of stress and burnout in the practice of oncology, its causes and manifestations, and strategies for overcoming it.
A Synoptic Climatology and Composite Analysis of the Alberta Clipper

Surface and upper-air analyses from the ECMWF Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere (TOGA) dataset are used to construct a climatology of 177 Alberta clippers over 15 boreal cold seasons (October–March) from 1986/87 to 2000/01. The Alberta clipper (hereafter simply clipper) occurs most frequently during December and January and substantially less frequently during October and March. These cyclones generally move southeastward from the lee of the Canadian Rockies toward or just north of Lake Superior before progressing eastward into southeastern Canada or the northeastern United States, with less than 10% of the cases in the climatology tracking south of the Great Lakes. Characteristics of the structure and evolution of clippers during a 36-h period leading up to departure of the cyclone from the lee of the Canadian Rockies and a 60-h period after departure as the cyclone traverses central and eastern North America are examined through composite analyses. Over the course of the predeparture period, a cyclone over the Gulf of Alaska approaches the west coast of North America, and through its interaction with the mountainous terrain of western North America spawns a surface lee trough, characterized by a thermal ridge at 850 hPa, to the east of the Canadian Rockies. This thermal ridge dampens considerably as the composite clipper moves into central North America away from the immediate lee of the Canadian Rockies. The composite clipper system evolves from a lee cyclone with its nonclassical thermal structure to a more classically structured midlatitude cyclone as it moves through central and eastern North America largely as a result of rotation of the low-level thermal gradient and the increasing westward tilt with height of the composite clipper over the last 36 h of the postdeparture period. The thermal gradient rotation is dynamically linked to convergence of the along-isentrope component of the Q vector and thus to the ascent that sustains the clipper and creates some of its characteristic sensible weather elements. Such dynamical forcing is a direct consequence of the persistent westward displacement of the 500-hPa vorticity maximum with respect to the composite clipper sea level pressure minimum that characterizes the postdeparture period.
Unrequited Moderation: Credible Commitments and State Repression in Egypt

In strategic accounts of democratization, credible commitments by the opposition shape whether incumbents will relinquish power. Revisiting Kalyvas’s study of Algeria and Belgium, this article introduces evidence from Egypt that shows the structural readiness of incumbents remains as consequential as commitment credibility. During the period 1990–2008 the credibility of democratic commitments by the Egyptian opposition improved along the lines identified by Kalyvas. Unlike its Algerian counterpart, the Islamic movement in Egypt was able to “silence the radicals” and, after 1998, emit a non-dissonant message of electoral participation without militia violence. This improvement in commitment credibility was not reciprocated by Egyptian elites, who enjoyed western support and a sturdy repressive apparatus. Similar factors obstructed the Algerian opposition and they indicate a more disciplined, less dissonant Islamic party would have been unlikely to effect a democratic transition. Transitions are most likely when a credibly committed opposition faces an elite ready to rotate power. The second factor helps explain the success of the Catholic party in Belgium and the failure of comparable Islamic movements in North Africa.
Ultra low-energy transceivers for wireless sensor networks

Summary form only given. An untapped opportunity in the realm of wireless data lies in low data-rate (<10 kbit/sec) low-cost wireless transceivers, assembled into distributed networks of sensor and actuator nodes. This enables applications such as smart buildings and highways, environment monitoring, user interfaces, entertainment, factory automation, and robotics. While the aggregate system processes large amounts of data, individual nodes participate in a small fraction only (typical data rates <1 kbit/sec). These ubiquitous networks require that the individual nodes are tiny, easily integratable into the environment, and have negligible cost. Most importantly, the nodes must be self-contained in terms of energy via a one-time battery charge or a replenishable supply of energy scavenged from the environment. With the proposed size limitations, battery power alone does not suffice to ensure self-containment. Energy scavenging approaches can deliver up to 100 /spl mu/W. Achieving such ultra-low power-dissipation level requires reductions from the system architecture down to the circuit technology. The presentation presents a number of techniques to accomplish this, and outlines avenues for further research.
A Computational Algebraic Geometry Based Global Optimization Technique to Address Economic Dispatch

In algebraic geometry, the concept of Grobner basis allows a systematic study of the solution of a system of polynomial equations. This concept can be applied to find the global (and all local optima) optimum of a nonlinear, not necessarily convex function, the only restriction being that the objective function be polynomial. The method is based on computing a lexicographic (lex) ordered Grobner basis for the ideal generated by the first order necessary conditions defined by the Lagrangian. Computing the optimal solution is then equivalent to computing the variety corresponding to this ideal. By virtue of the (lex) ordering, the system is transformed in to set of polynomials which can be solved successively to obtain the solutions. Here, we illustrate the application of the method on a non-convex function and identify the global optimum from the set of fifteen stationary points (6 local minima, 2 local maxima and 7 saddles). Then we apply the method to solve the classical economic dispatch problem including a combined cycle heat plant (CCHP) whose piecewise linear cost function is approximated by a smooth tenth order polynomial. Interestingly, the the method yields two possible solutions from which the least cost solution can be picked. While the work reported here is only preliminary, we find the results encouraging and hope that the method will find applicability in identifying the global optimum of non-convex power systems optimization problems.
Modeling minority-carrier lifetime techniques that use transient excess-carrier decay

Details of the operation of a photoconductive decay technique called resonant-coupled photoconductive decay are revealed using modeling and circuit simulation. The technique is shown to have a good linear response over its measurement range. Experimentally measured sensitivity and linear response compare well to microwave reflection at low injection levels. We also measure the excess-carrier decay rate by an infrared free-carrier transient absorption technique and show comparable high injection level lifetimes.
Loop-Based Instruction Prefetching to Reduce the Worst-Case Execution Time

Estimating and optimizing worst-case execution time (WCET) is critical for hard real-time systems to ensure that different tasks can meet their respective deadlines. Recent work has shown that simple prefetching techniques such as the Next-N-Line prefetching can enhance both the average-case and worst-case performance; however, the improvement on the worst-case execution time is rather limited and inefficient. This paper studies a loop-based instruction prefetching approach, which can exploit the program control-flow information to intelligently prefetch instructions that are most likely needed. Our evaluation indicates that the loop-based instruction prefetching outperforms the Next-N-Line prefetching in both the worst-case and the average-case performance for real-time applications.
Laryngotracheal Injury After Percutaneous Dilational Tracheostomy in Cadaver Specimens

Objective: To evaluate the stoma and surrounding insertion site for common laryngotracheal injury patterns after percutaneous dilational tracheostomy that may contribute to clinically significant tracheal stenosis. Study Design: Preliminary prospective cadaver study. Methods: A preliminary prospective cadaver study was performed in which percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (Ciaglia Blue Rhino kit) was placed in six fixed cadaveric specimens. Laryngotracheal segments were harvested. Two independent evaluators graded cadaver features and characteristic injuries in laryngotracheal specimens the tracheal site of stoma placement was identified. Cadaver features evaluated included gender, obesity, and ease of landmark identification. Mucosal and cartilage injuries were evaluated on a scale of 0 to 4, with 4 representing severe comminuted injuries beyond the intended stoma site. Results: Accurate prediction of tracheal placement was achieved in only three (50%) of the specimens. In the remaining cadavers, one stoma site was placed higher than intended (16%) and two sites were lower than intended (33%). Mucosal injury was most severe at the anterior internal surface of the trachea with all specimens sustaining tears beyond one tracheal ring (mean mucosal injury score, 3.5). Cartilaginous injury was severe in five of six specimens (83%) that sustained multiple comminuted injuries to two or more adjacent rings (mean cartilage injury score, 3.34). Cricoid comminutions and a posterior membranous tracheal wall injury were each found in one specimen. Conclusions: Laryngotracheal injuries found after percutaneous dilational tracheostomy in the study indicated that severe damage to mucosa and cartilage surrounding the intended stoma site occurs at the time of placement. These injuries may contribute to clinically significant tracheal stenosis preventing decannulation in patients undergoing percutaneous dilational tracheostomy. Two case studies that support this hypothesis are also presented.
TOXICITY OF ORGANOPHOSPHORUS SYSTEMIC PESTICIDES TO PREDATOR MITES AND PREY

Three systemic OP insecticides, Di-Syston®, Meta-Systox-R® and Systox® were added at six concentrations (0.002–0.032% active ingredient) to nutrient solutions in which bean plants were cultured. On all concentrations the materials were less toxic to the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch feeding on the plant than to Neoseiulus fallacis (Garman) preying on the T. urticae. Of the three, Di-Syston was the least toxic to both mite species. When T. urticae were cultured on detached bean leaves, placed on cellucotton in nutrient solutions containing the same pesticide concentrations, their eggs were also toxic to N. fallacis. Longevity studies in conjunction with 32P labelled foliage showed that N. fallacis are incapable of feeding directly on bean leaves. Zusammenfassung TOXIZITAT VON SYSTEMISCHEN PHOSPHORINSEKTIZIDEN GEGENUBER DER RAUBMILBE NEOSEIULUS FALLACIS UND IHRER BEUTE TETRANYCHUS URTICAE Drei systemisohe Phosphorinsektizide, Di-Syston®, Meta-Systox® und Systox®, wurden in sechs Konzentrationen (0,002 — 0,032% Wirkstoff) zu Nahrstofflosungen hinzugefugt, in denen Bohnenpflanzen kultiviert wurden. Fur die Spinnmilbe Tetranychus urticae, die an den Bohnenblattern saugte, waren die drei Insektizide in samtlichen Konzentrationen weniger toxisch als fur die Raubmilbe Neoseiulus fallacis, die sich von T. urticae ernahrte. Es ergab sich demnach keine okologische Selektivitat. Von den drei gepruften Mitteln war Di-Syston fur die beiden Milben am wenigsten toxisch. Wenn man T. urticae auf abgetrennten Bohnenblattern, die sich auf Cellucotton in Nahrstofflosungen mit den genannten Insektizidkonzentrationen befanden, zuchtete, wurden ihre Eier fur N. fallacis ebenfalls toxisch. Lebensdauer-Versuche mit Blattern, die 32P enthielten, zeigten, das N. fallacis nicht fahig ist, sich direkt von Bohnenblattern zu ernahren.
Alcoholic liver disease: proposed recommendations for the American College of Gastroenterology.

Alcoholic liver disease: proposed recommendations for the American College of Gastroenterology
Bronchiolitis obliterans following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a clinical update

Pandya CM, Soubani AO. Bronchiolitis obliterans following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a clinical update. Clin Transplant 2010: 24: 291–306. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an established treatment for a variety of malignant and non-malignant conditions. Pulmonary complications, infectious and non-infectious, are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. The recent advances in prophylaxis and treatment of infectious complications increased the significance of late non-infectious pulmonary conditions. Currently, bronchiolitis obliterans is one of the most challenging pulmonary complications facing clinicians who are taking care of HSCT recipients. This report provides a clinical update of the incidence, risk factors, pathogenesis, clinical characteristics, and management of bronchiolitis obliterans following HSCT.
Accurate and efficient simulation of synchronous digital switching noise in systems on a chip

A new method is presented to compress switching information in large synchronous digital circuits. This is combined with an efficient generation of digital cell library noise signatures and results in an accurate estimation of the switching noise in digital circuits. It provides a practical approach to generating the digital switching noise for simulating substrate coupling noise in mixed-signal ICs. Nearly two orders of magnitude reduction in the memory and simulation time are achieved using this approach without significant loss of accuracy.
Constant contribution in meson correlators at finite temperature

We discuss a constant contribution to meson correlators at finite temperature. In the deconfinement phase of QCD, a colored single quark state is allowed as a finite energy state, which yields to a contribution of wraparound quark propagation to temporal meson correlators. We investigate the effects in the free quark case and quenched QCD at finite temperature. The ``scattering'' contribution causes a constant mode in meson correlators with zero spatial momentum and degenerate quark masses, which can dominate the correlators in the region of large imaginary times. In the free spectral function, the contribution yields a term proportional to $\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\delta}(\ensuremath{\omega})$. Therefore this contribution is related to transport phenomena in the quark gluon plasma. It is possible to distinguish the constant contribution from the other part using several analysis methods proposed in this paper. As a result of the analyses, we find that drastic changes in charmonium correlators for ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{c}$ states just above the deconfinement transition are due to the constant contribution. The other differences in the ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{c}$ states are small. It may indicate the survival of ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{c}$ states after the deconfinement transition until, at least, $1.4{T}_{c}$.