cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Semiautomatic Image Analysis for Ceramic Powder and Microstructure Characterization

Research on the science of ceramic powder processing and microstructure development requires procedures for particle size analysis and microstructure evaluation. Since the goal is to produce and utilize submicron, nonagglomerated powder, it becomes clear after surveying available particle size analysis techniques, that they all have deficiencies, particularly for small particles. Regardless of the technique, micrographs of powders are necessary to evaluate the state of agglomeration and shape anisotropy. Thus, image analysis is an appropriate technique. Completely automatic image analyzers are expensive and require a perhaps better than average quality micrograph, particularly with regard to gray scale, than might always be available. Therefore, semiautomatic image analysis is indicated. The technique can be used for microstructure analysis equally as well.
Blunt Trauma Abdominal and Pelvic Computed Tomography Has Low Yield for Injuries in More Than One Anatomic Region.

Author(s): Rodriguez, Robert M.; Hawthorne, Noah; Haase, David; Murphy, Shelby P.; Chuku, Chika; Wen, Jason | Abstract: Introduction: Most trauma centers order abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (CT) as an automatically paired CT for adult blunt trauma evaluation. However, excessive CT utilization adds risks of excessive exposure to ionizing radiation, the need to work up incidental findings (leading to unnecessary and invasive tests), and greater costs. Examining a cohort of adult blunt trauma patients that received paired abdominal and pelvic (A/P) CT, we sought to determine the diagnostic yield of clinically significant injuries (CSI) in the following: 1) the abdomen alone; 2) the pelvis alone; 3) the lumbosacral spine alone; and 4) more than one of these anatomic regions concomitantly. Methods: In this retrospective study, we reviewed the imaging and hospital course of a consecutive sample of blunt trauma activation patients older than 14 years of age who received paired A/PCT during their blunt trauma assessments at an urban Level I trauma center from April through October 2014. Categorization of CSI was determined according to an a priori, expert panel-derivedclassification scheme.Results: The median age of the 689 patients who had A/P CT was 48 years old; 68.1% were male; 64.0% were admitted, and hospital mortality was 3.6%. CSI yields were as follows: abdomen 2.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] [1.3-3.6%]); pelvis 2.9% (95% CI [1.9-4.4%]); lumbosacral spine 0.6% (95% CI [0.2-1.5%]); both abdomen and pelvis 0.3% (95% CI [0.1-1.1%]); both the abdomen andlumbosacral spine 0.6% (0.2-1.5%); both the pelvis and lumbosacral spine 0.1% (0.0-0.8%); all three regions – abdomen, pelvis and lumbosacral spine – 0.1% (0.0-0.8%).Conclusion: Automatic pairing of A/P CT has very low diagnostic yield for CSI in both the abdomenand pelvis. These data suggest a role for selective CT imaging protocols that image these regions individually instead of automatically as a pair.
Basic Computational Facts: A Problem and a Procedure

Many teachers of arithmetic have expressed the lament, "If only they knew their facts, then the learning of the processes would be so much easier!" As all educators know, however, the learning of the basic computational facts has long been a problem for many students. Hundreds of ideas have been tried, yet many students find that the learning of the facts of addition , subtraction , multiplication and division is an exceptionally difficult, if not impossible, task. This difficulty in learning often translates to difficulty in teaching; that is, all students but one are ready to move on to the next step. Compounding this problem is the fact that under the mandate of Public Law 94-142, many students who had previously been placed in special education classrooms are being reassigned into the regular classroom, often with skills at a level lower than the rest of the class.
Developments in X-ray tomography characterization for electrochemical devices

Abstract Over the last century, X-ray imaging instruments and their accompanying tomographic reconstruction algorithms have developed considerably. With improved tomogram quality and resolution, voxel sizes down to tens of nanometers can now be achieved. Moreover, recent advancements in readily accessible lab-based X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) instruments have produced spatial resolutions comparable to specialist synchrotron facilities. Electrochemical energy conversion devices, such as fuel cells and batteries, have inherently complex electrode microstructures to achieve competitive power delivery for consideration as replacements for conventional sources. With resolution capabilities spanning tens of microns to tens of nanometers, X-ray CT has become widely employed in the three-dimensional (3D) characterization of electrochemical materials. The ability to perform multiscale imaging has enabled characterization from system-down to particle-level, with the ability to resolve critical features within device microstructures. X-ray characterization presents a favorable alternative to other 3D methods, such as focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy, due to its non-destructive nature, which allows four-dimensional (4D) studies, three spatial dimensions plus time, linking structural dynamics to device performance and lifetime. X-ray CT has accelerated research from fundamental understanding of the links between cell structure and performance, to the improvement in manufacturing and scale-up of full electrochemical cells. Furthermore, this has aided in the mitigation of degradation and cell-level failures, such as thermal runaway. This review presents recent developments in the use of X-ray CT as a characterization method and its role in the advancement of electrochemical materials engineering.
Healthy Lifestyle Is Associated With Reduced Mortality in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Background & Aims It is not clear whether a healthy lifestyle affects mortality of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods We collected data form the Nurses’ Health Study (1986–2014), Nurses’ Health Study II (1991–2015), and Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1986–2014), which assess lifestyles with serial questionnaires. We estimated joint and individual associations between 5 healthy lifestyle factors after IBD diagnosis (never smoking, body mass index 18.5–24.9 kg/m2, vigorous physical activity in the highest 50% with non-zero value, alternate Mediterranean diet score ≥4, and light drinking [0.1–5.0 g/d]) and mortality using Cox proportional hazards models. Results We documented 83 deaths in 363 patients with CD during 4741 person-years and 80 deaths in 465 patients with UC during 6061 person-years. The median age of IBD diagnosis was 55 y. Compared to patients with IBD with no healthy lifestyle factors, patients with IBD with 3–5 healthy lifestyle factors had a significant reduction in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.29; 95% CI, 0.16–0.52; Ptrend 15 g/d 1.84; 95% CI, 1.02–3.32). The findings did not change when we adjusted for family history of IBD, immunomodulator use, and IBD-related surgery. Conclusions In an analysis of data from 3 large cohort studies, we associated adherence to a healthy lifestyle with reduced mortality in patients with CD or UC.
Modeling Piece-Wise Stationary Time Series

We consider the problem of modeling piece-wise stationary time series. We propose a new, data-driven technique to automatically identify change-points and learn piece-wise stationary models. We do not assume prior knowledge of the stationary models or the number of change points. Our method can automatically identify repeated stationary models. Our method employs sliding windows and clustering in a novel way. We use the minimum description length principle and integer linear programming to identify the lowest overall complexity system model. Our method does not require parameter tuning and leads to good segmentation and compression. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method against traditional techniques using both simulated and real-world data.
Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare and aggressive extranodal variant of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that arises within the central nervous system. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive this entity is limited. Although PCNSL shares many common histopathological and genetic features with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, clinical outcomes are worse in PCNSL. In this entry, the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and current treatment of both immunocompetent and immunodeficient patients with PCNSL are reviewed.
Institutions, Norms, and Networks

Structures, normative systems, and institutions are things with sufficient fixity over time and sufficient firmness to permit them to be regarded as social entities. This chapter considers the ontological status of higher-level social entities. Institutions and normative systems are social configurations that have enduring properties that are largely independent of the individuals whom they encompass. They affect the behavior of individuals within them, and they affect the outcomes that individuals achieve through their efforts. Further, they are causally influential in large processes of social change and social stability. Institutions work through the creation of roles, incentives, motivations, and cultural frameworks to coordinate the behavior of participants within their scope. We might define a norm as a socially embodied and individually perceived imperative that such-and-so an action in a given context must be performed in such-and-so a fashion. The chapter considers some of the aggregative processes that serve as microfoundations for entities like institutions, cultures, and normative systems.
Animals in Children’s Development

Recognition of how non-human animals shape children’s development is fairly recent in the field of psychology. Historically, psychologists assumed that formative social ties involved only other humans, reflecting an anthropocentric bias. However, by the closing decades of the twentieth century, studies calling attention to “the human-animal bond” coalesced into a nascent field (c. 1987) and the study of non-human animals in the lives of children has proliferated as part of what is termed “human-animal interaction” (HAI). Practical applications in therapy, enrichment, and education have spawned programs in animal-assisted therapies (AAT), animal-assisted interventions (AAI), and animal-assisted education (AAE). Research has focused on pets and companion animals, encounters with wild and farm animals (in zoos, aquariums, agricultural settings, and backyard activities), and mediated animal contact through visual technologies and games. Yet, while the importance of non-human animals for children’s development is more widely accepted, theoretical frameworks to explain findings and guide inquiry remain lacking.
Benchmarking an Embedded Adaptive Sampling Configuration Interaction Method for Surface Reactions: H2 Desorption from and CH4 Dissociation on Cu(111).

Embedded (emb-) correlated wavefunction (CW) theory enables accurate assessments of both ground- and excited-state reaction mechanisms involved in heterogeneous catalysis. Embedded multireference s...
Noise Sensitivity-Based Energy Efficient and Robust Adversary Detection in Neural Networks

Neural networks have achieved remarkable performance in computer vision, however they are vulnerable to adversarial examples. Adversarial examples are inputs that have been carefully perturbed to fool classifier networks, while appearing unchanged to humans. Based on prior works on detecting adversaries, we propose a structured methodology of augmenting a deep neural network (DNN) with a detector subnetwork. We use $\textit{Adversarial Noise Sensitivity}$ (ANS), a novel metric for measuring the adversarial gradient contribution of different intermediate layers of a network. Based on the ANS value, we append a detector to the most sensitive layer. In prior works, more complex detectors were added to a DNN, increasing the inference computational cost of the model. In contrast, our structured and strategic addition of a detector to a DNN reduces the complexity of the model while making the overall network adversarially resilient. Through comprehensive white-box and black-box experiments on MNIST, CIFAR-10, and CIFAR-100, we show that our method improves state-of-the-art detector robustness against adversarial examples. Furthermore, we validate the energy efficiency of our proposed adversarial detection methodology through an extensive energy analysis on various hardware scalable CMOS accelerator platforms. We also demonstrate the effects of quantization on our detector-appended networks.
Molecular basis of tail-anchored integral membrane protein recognition by the cochaperone Sgt2.

The targeting and insertion of tail-anchored (TA) integral membrane proteins (IMPs) into the correct membrane is critical for cellular homeostasis. The fungal protein Sgt2, and its human homolog SGTA, is the entry point for clients to the guided entry of tail-anchored protein (GET) pathway, which targets endoplasmic reticulum-bound TA IMPs. Consisting of three structurally independent domains, the C terminus of Sgt2 binds to the hydrophobic transmembrane domain (TMD) of clients. However, the exact binding interface within Sgt2 and molecular details that underlie its binding mechanism and client preference are not known. Here, we reveal the mechanism of Sgt2 binding to hydrophobic clients, including TA IMPs. Through sequence analysis, biophysical characterization, and a series of capture assays, we establish that the Sgt2 C-terminal domain is flexible but conserved and sufficient for client binding. A molecular model for this domain reveals a helical hand forming a hydrophobic groove approximately 15 A long that is consistent with our observed higher affinity for client TMDs with a hydrophobic face and a minimal length of 11 residues. This work places Sgt2 into a broader family of TPR-containing cochaperone proteins, demonstrating structural and sequence-based similarities to the DP domains in the yeast Hsp90 and Hsp70 coordinating protein, Sti1.
A transdisciplinary research agenda for understanding insect responses to ecological light pollution informed by evolutionary trap theory.

Evolutionary traps are phenomena in which rapid environmental change causes environmental cues that historically guided adaptive behavioral or life-history decisions to become poor predictors of the consequences of such decisions for an organism’s fitness. Evolutionary trap theory offers an ideal framework for understanding and mitigating the effects of ecological light pollution (ELP) on insects. We emphasize the utility of an evolutionary trap perspective in demonstrating the importance of an integrated understanding of the sensory, behavioral, evolutionary, and demographic mechanisms underlying insect responses to ELP. We also highlight neglected areas of research where greater focus can help enhance understanding of how ELP affects the persistence, evolutionary trajectory, and population dynamics of insects across space and time.
The Essential Role of Trust in Family Business Entrepreneurship

Trust is one of the most essential elements that bind family members and business together in a family business. Entrepreneurial activity within a family business is virtually impossible without trust. Families lacking trust will not take the risks associated with venturing and that negatively affects entrepreneurial innovation and value creation within the company. It has been said that trust takes time to build, seconds to lose and forever to restore. This chapter discusses how to build, maintain and repair trust between family members. It describes how perceptions of ability, benevolence and integrity are essential to trust and how those perceptions affect the degree of risk one is willing to take in a new venture in a family business. After examining how to build trust the chapter explains that repairing broken trust depends upon whether the perception of ability, benevolence or integrity has been affected.
Light Verbs and the Syntactic Configurations of se

This paper offers a novel analysis of the Spanish light verbs poner(se) ‘to become’ and quedar(se) ‘to become/stay’ in combination with adjectives. These verbs have the peculiarity that they may appear with or without se in these constructions, with clear effects on argument structure and thematic and aspectual interpretation. I propose a unified formal analysis that takes event complexity and argument coindexing as the common denominator of se in these complex predicates. I further observe that these effects with se are not exclusive to these light verbs, but can also be observed in certain types of lexical verbs, strongly suggesting that both lexical and light verbs lexicalize the same eventive spine.
Life course pathways from parental education to age-related decrements in kidney function among Black and white American adults.

Abstract Objective Using cross-sectional data on Black and white adults, this analysis examined whether age-related decrements in kidney function across adulthood were associated with parental education, and whether the association was differentially influenced by race. Further, this study assessed racial differences in life course pathways from parental education to age-related decrements in kidney function, through current SES and health-related risk factors. Method Data from the main survey and the Biomarker Project of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Wave 2 and Refresher samples were combined, resulting in 1861 adults (54.5% female; age 25–84, Mage = 53.37) who self-identified as non-Hispanic Black (n = 326) and non-Hispanic white (n = 1535). Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was based on serum creatinine, calculated using the CKD-EPI formula. Adults SES was based on education, income, and financial strains. Health-related risk factors included obesity, elevated blood pressure (BP), and insulin resistance. Hypotheses were tested by utilizing multiple linear regression and regression-based moderated mediation analysis. Results Lower parental education was associated with steeper age-related decrements in eGFR (B = 0.38, SE = 0.15, p = .013, 95%CI = 0.08, 0.68), due to higher eGFR among younger participants and lower eGFR among older participants. In addition, age-related decrements in kidney function were steeper among Black relative to white adults (B = 0.41, SE = 0.13, p Discussion Early life SES can have a long-lasting influence on the preclinical renal senescence that is associated with the normal biology of aging for both Black and white adults.
Clinical bone health among adults with cerebral palsy: moving beyond assessing bone mineral density alone

Aim To understand associations among bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone area, and their association with fractures in adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Method This retrospective cohort study included 78 adults with CP with a hip dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) from 1st December 2012 to 3rd May 2021 performed at the University of Michigan. Data-driven logistic regression techniques identified which, if any, DXA-derived bone traits (e.g. age/sex/ethnicity-based z-scores) were associated with fracture risk by sex and severity of CP. BMC-area associations were examined to study the structural mechanisms of fragility. Results Femoral neck area was associated with lower age-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of fracture history (OR 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49-1.06; p=0.098), while higher BMD was associated with higher odds of incident fracture (OR 3.08; 95% CI 1.14-8.33; p=0.027). Females with fracture had lower area than females without fracture but similar BMC, whereas males with fracture had larger area and higher BMC than males without fracture. The paradoxical BMD-fracture association may be due to artificially elevated BMD from BMC-area associations that differed between females and males (sex interaction, p˂0.05): males had higher BMC at lower area values and lower BMC at higher area values compared to females. Interpretation BMD alone may not be adequate to evaluate bone strength for adults with CP. Further research into associations (or integration) between BMC and area is needed.
Investigation of tapered multiple microstrip lines for VLSI circuits

The analysis of tapered, coupled microstrip transmission lines is presented. These lines, used as interconnects between integrated circuit devices, are modeled using an iteration-perturbation approach applied in the spatial domain. From this model, a frequency-dependent scattering parameter characterization is determined. A time-domain simulation of pulse propagation through the tapered, coupled microstrip lines is performed. The frequency-domain scattering parameters are inverse Fourier transformed to obtain the time-domain Green's function. The input pulse is convolved with the Green's function, and a Newton-Raphson algorithm is applied to account for nonlinear loads. Some experimental results are shown, and a simulation approximation is proposed. >
Behavior-grounded multi-sensory object perception and exploration by a humanoid robot

Infants use exploratory behaviors to learn about the objects around them. Psychologists have theorized that behaviors such as touching, pressing, lifting, and dropping enable infants to form grounded object representations. For example, scratching an object can provide information about its roughness, while lifting it can provide information about its weight. In a sense, the exploratory behavior acts as a "question'' to the object, which is subsequently "answered" by the sensory stimuli produced during the execution of the behavior. In contrast, most object representations used by robots today rely solely on computer vision or laser scan data, gathered through passive observation. Such disembodied approaches to robotic perception may be useful for recognizing an object using a 3D model database, but nevertheless, will fail to infer object properties that cannot be detected using vision alone. To bridge this gap, this dissertation introduces a framework for object perception and exploration in which the robot's representation of objects is grounded in its own sensorimotor experience with them. In this framework, an object is represented by sensorimotor contingencies that span a diverse set of exploratory behaviors and sensory modalities. The results from several large-scale experimental studies show that the behavior-grounded object representation enables a robot to solve a wide variety of tasks including recognition of objects based on the stimuli that they produce, object grouping and sorting, and learning category labels that describe objects and their properties.
Characterization and Analysis of Near-Earth Objects via Lunar Impact Observations

Abstract Asteroid events such as the air blast above Chelyabinsk, Russia, in the spring of 2013 have highlighted the importance of understanding Earth's local asteroid population and the potential threat they pose. While much observational data exists for larger asteroids (those greater than 50 meters in diameter), comparatively little is known of the very small meteoroid population. This study utilized the non-illuminated part of the near side of the Moon as a detection screen upon which the faint flashes of small meteoroids hitting the lunar surface could be detected. Over 80 hours of observations were conducted between the fall of 2010 and the spring of 2013. The observed lunar area was determined nightly and used alongside the impact count to determine a meteoroid flux rate. Impact flashes were calibrated to extinction and color corrected reference stars to estimate the kinetic energies involved. Analysis indicated an average flux rate of 1.09 × 10 − 7 km − 2 h − 1 , corresponding to 1 impactor larger than 3 centimeters in diameter observed every 30 minutes. Further, the size distribution dependence of small impactors was found to be consistent with the power law governing the larger-size meteoroid distribution. This data helps fix the low-end of the asteroid size distribution for solar system evolution models.
Effects of endotoxin on neonatal pig Kupffer cells

Kupffer cells (KC) were isolated by sequential perfusion of neonatal pig livers with buffers and collagenase and purified by density gradient separation using arabinogalactan. Pulmonary Alveolar Macrophages (PAM) were recovered by broncho-alveolar lavage from the same pigs for comparison and to serve as control macrophages for the assays performed. Activity of the two cell types was determined on an equal number of cells using in-vitro methods to evaluate phagocytosis, bactericidal activity, production of superoxide anion (O2"), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) and nitric oxide (NO). Both KC and PAM demonstrated similar phagocytic activity of 125-iodoxyuridine-labeled S. aureus. PAM produced more O2* as measxired by their ability to reduce cytochrome-C and killed more S. aureus as measured by reduction of MTT. Both PAM and KC produced TNF-a when incubated for a period of four hours with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or opsonized zymosan. Neither KC nor PAM produced nitric oxide when incubated in vitro with LPS or zymosan. These results suggest that KC from neonatal pigs are immunologically active, and that there are inherent differences in the two macrophage populations, probably enhancing their roles in the different organs. In an additional study, the effects of endotoxin prefreatment on the activity of KC and PAM, and hepatic microsomal enzyme activity was investigated. Neonatal pigs were injected with LPS intraperitoneally at a dose of 50 ng/kg body weight. Rectal temperature taken 5 hours post-administration of LPS was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of the control animals. KC from LPS treated pigs had higher bactericidal and phagocytic activity (p<0.05, p< 0.01 respectively) and a higher production of O2* (p< 0.05) than KC from control animals. PAM from both groups had similar bactericidal and phagocytic activity, and O2' production. Hepatic microsomal enzyme activity of aniline hydroxylase was not affected by pretreatment of neonatal pigs with LPS. Tetracyclines (TC) have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects in addition to the antimicrobial action. The effects of in-vivo administration of chlortetracycline (CTC) on ex-vivo perfused pig livers was investigated. The retention and clearance of Salmonella choleraesuis (SCS), and production of C-reactive protein (CRP), and haptoglobin (HPG) by whole livers were studied. In addition, CTC modulation of production of TNF-a by pig Kupffer cells was studied. Pigs were dosed orally with CTC for three days, and given LPS 24 hours before removal of the liver. Salmonella retention and clearance by the livers of pigs fed CTC was lower (p< 0.01 and p<0.05 respectively) than the control livers. An increase in CRP and HPG by the liver after a three-hour perfusion was observed. Further, CTC decreased the production TNF-a by cultured Kupffer cells incubated in-vitro with LPS. CTC may thus assxmie more subtle roles than just killing bacteria. It's modulation of production of TNF-a suggests a potential for attenuating the acute phase response.
Human Correlates of GLI3 Function

The human phenotypes caused by mutations in GLI3 are a prototype for the utility of clinical analysis to unravel gene function. When the human studies were coupled with basic research, the pathway to understanding gene function was easier to discern and more rapidly accomplished. Outlining the series of discoveries that led to our current understanding of GLI 3 and genotype-phenotype correlation is useful to demonstrate how these discoveries can be facilitated in the future.
Strategies for the Design and Assessment of Y-Short Tandem Repeat Multiplexes for Forensic Use.

In order to improve the discriminatory potential, and hence the probative value, of Y-STR-based testing, the set of Y-chromosome STR loci available for forensic use needs to be expanded. We have designed and tested two novel Y-STR multiplexes for potential forensic casework use. In accord with the requirements of Y-chromosome multiplex analytical systems developed specifically for forensic casework use, we have tried to maximize the number of loci able to be co-amplified and minimize confounding female DNA artifacts while ensuring appropriate assay sensitivity (1-2 ng of input genomic DNA) and interlocus signal balance. This review will describe the strategies that we have developed that may provide guidance for the design and assessment of novel Y-STR multiplex systems. Novel Y-STR multiplexes developed for forensic use need to undergo a series of validation exercises that go beyond simply optimizing the PCR reaction conditions. Specifically, stringent performance checks on their efficacy need to be carried out using casework type specimens in order to determine potential confounding effects from female DNA.
Concepts of Network Reliability

Network reliability concerns the probability that a network can support a desired network operation in an environment of random component failures. This introductory article introduces the basic concepts in network reliability models, and the computation, bounding, and approximation of standard network reliability measures. Keywords: network reliability; all-terminal reliability; two-terminal reliability; pathset; cutset; Monte Carlo algorithm; most probable state algorithm; matroid
Topographically driven fluid flow within orogenic wedges: Effects of taper angle and depth-dependent permeability

The fluid system within a critically tapering orogenic wedge is governed by complex interactions between topographic drive, thermal gradients, prograde dehydration reactions, internal structure, and regional tectonic compaction. Despite this complexity, topography is widely known to be the primary driving potential responsible for basin-scale fluid migration within the upper 7–10 km of an orogenic wedge. In recent years, investigators have revisited the problem of basin-scale fluid flow with an emphasis on depth-decaying permeability, which is a geologic phenomenon that is seldom accounted for in regional flow models. These recent investigations have shown that depth-dependent permeability at the basin scale strongly influences the relationship between local- and regional-scale flow paths. Here we investigate topography driven fluid flow within an orogenic wedge using a numerical modeling experiment designed to assess first-order fluid system behavior when permeability decreases systematically with depth. Critical taper theory is invoked to define two-dimensional basin geometry, and three subaerially exposed orogenic wedge models are presented with critical taper angles of 2°, 4°, and 10°. To assess the combined influence of topographic slope and depth-dependent permeability, a constant rate infiltration is applied at the wedge surface and a transient simulation is performed within each model for 20 m.y. Our results suggest that (1) depth-dependent permeability severely limits the penetration depth of infiltrating water within broadly tapering orogenic wedge systems, (2) fluid system evolution within a narrowly tapering orogenic wedge (i.e., ≤2°) is governed by local-scale topography superimposed on the regional gradient, (3) the influence of subbasin topography on local-scale fluid circulation is suppressed as the regional topographic gradient increases, and (4) the spatial distribution of groundwater residence time is fundamentally different when topographic slope exceeds 3°.
Walks, Paths and Cycles

A walk in a graph G is a finite sequence of vertices x 0, x 1, ..., x n and edges a 1, a 2, ..., a n of G: $${x_0},{a_1},{x_1},{a_2}, \ldots ,{a_n},{x_n},$$ where the endpoints of a i are x i−1 and x i for each i. A simple walk is a walk in which no edge is repeated. A path is a walk in which no vertex is repeated; the length of a path is its number of edges. A walk is closed when the first and last vertices, x 0 and x n, are equal. A cycle of length n is a closed simple walk of length n, n ≥ 3, in which the vertices x 0, x 1, ..., x n−1 are all different.
Degenerate nonlinear absorption and optical power limiting properties of asymmetrically substituted stilbenoid chromophores

Two-photon absorption (2PA) spectra (650–1000 nm) of a series of model chromophores were measured via a newly developed nonlinear absorption spectral technique based on a single and powerful femtosecond white-light continuum beam. The experimental results suggested that when either an electron-donor or an electron-acceptor was attached to a trans-stilbene at a para-position, an enhancement in molecular two-photon absorptivity was observed in both cases, particularly in the 650–800 nm region. However, the push–pull chromophores with both the donor and acceptor groups showed larger overall two-photon absorption cross-sections within the studied spectral region as compared to their mono-substituted analogues. The combined results of the solvent effect and the 1H-NMR studies indicated that stronger acceptors produce a more efficient intramolecular charge transfer character upon excitation, leading to increased molecular two-photon responses in this model-compound set. A fairly good 2PA based optical power limiting behavior from one of the model chromophores is also demonstrated.
Bayesian Inference for Two-Phase Studies with Categorical Covariates

In this paper, we consider two-phase sampling in the situation in which all covariates are categorical. Two-phase designs are appealing from an efficiency perspective since, if carefully implemented, they allow sampling to be concentrated in informative cells. A number of likelihood-based methods have been developed for the analysis of two-phase data, but we describe a Bayesian approach which has previously been unavailable. The methods are first compared with existing approaches via a simulation study, and are then applied to data collected on Wilms tumour. The benefits of a Bayesian approach include relaxation of the reliance on asymptotic inference, particularly in sparse data situations, and the potential to model data with complex dependencies, for example, via the introduction of random effects. The sparse data situation is illustrated via a simulated example.
Self-consistent pseudopotential calculations of the equilibrium properties of bulk and surface Si

Abstract A momentum-space formalism is used study the equilibrium properties of bulk and surface Si based on the self-consistent pseudopotential method. The calculated equilibrium lattice constant and the crystal energy are in agreement with experiment. By minimizing the total energy of the system, the equilibrium relaxation for the Si (111) surface was found to be 0.15 A, in excellent agreement with measurements on the impurity-stabilized relaxed surface.
Differentiation of respiratory and abortigenic isolates of equine herpesvirus 1 by restriction endonucleases

Viruses classified by immunologic criteria as equine herpesvirus 1 cause respiratory disease and abortion in horses. Restriction endonuclease analyses of the DNA's of viruses from animals with respiratory disease and from aborted fetuses show that the patterns for respiratory viruses, while similar to each other, are entirely different from the patterns for fetal viruses. It is therefore proposed that the DNA restriction endonuclease patterns of fetal and respiratory viruses analyzed in this study be designated as prototypic of equine herpesvirus 1 and 4, respectively.
Hadronic decay modes of the tau lepton: A TAU94 review

We review results from this Workshop on hadronic decays of the tau lepton. New and more precise branching fraction measurements dominate the discussion, particularly for modes involving strange particles.
Energy Harvesting From PZT Nanofibers

In this paper, we demonstrated that Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) nanofibers can be used to harvest energy from dynamic loading and mechanical vibration. PZT nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning process. SEM image of PZT nanofibers has shown that the average diameter of these fibers is about 150nm, which can be tuned from 50nm to 200 nm by varying the composition and viscosity of the precursor for electrospining. Titanium substrate with ZrO2 layer was used to collect the PZT nanofibers for the demonstration of energy harvesting from dynamic loading. The largest output voltage is 170mV under 0.5% strain; the frequency of the output voltage is the same as that of the input loading. Silicon substrate with trenches was used to collect the nanofibers for energy harvesting from vibration. The output voltage generated from 150Hz sinusoid vibration source has peak voltages of 64.9mV and -95.9mV. These experimental results suggest that PZT nanofibers have great potentials for energy harvesting from environments and being used as nanogenerators. Further study is under the way to optimize the design and improve the efficiency.
Pentadentate thioether-oxime macrocyclic and quasi-macrocyclic complexes of copper(II) and nickel(II)

Abstract A series of new pentadentate thioether-oximes (TtoxH2, MeTtoxH2, OdtoxH2) were synthesized along with their Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes. BF2 +-bridging is accomplished by reaction of the H-bonded oxime complex with BF3·OEt2, though when Cu(BF4)2 is used as the Cu(II) salt, direct macrocyclization occurs during the metal complexation reaction. Crystallographic studies reveal: [Cu(TtoxH)]ClO4 has a N2S3 square-pyramidal geometry, with an H-bond forming a quasi-macrocycle. In [Cu(OdtoxH)](ClO4)·[Cu(OdtoxH2)](ClO4)2, while retaining the same overall geometry as [Cu(TtoxH)]ClO4, half of the cations are singly deprotonated and the remaining half retain both their protons. In addition, there is an unexpected interaction involving a perchlorate oxygen and the dimethylene bridges between the ligand’s ether oxygen and thioether sulfurs. [Ni(OdtoxBF2)]ClO4·H2O has an N2S2O2 octahedral geometry. The ligand occupies the equatorial plane and one of the apical positions; the coordination sphere is completed by a water oxygen. Cyclic voltammetry and rotating disk electrode (RDE) polarography reveal that N2S3 donor sets stabilize both Ni(III) and Ni(I), whereas the Cu(II) complexes stabilize only Cu(I). The copper complexes show axial ESR spectra typical of tetragonal Cu(II). Nitrogen superhyperfine structure is observed in both the room temperature fluid and 77 K cryogenic glass spectra. Macrocyclization by BF2 + enforces the in-plane geometry around the metal ion.
Geographic disparities in colorectal cancer survival

Examining geographic variation in cancer patient survival can help identify important prognostic factors that are linked by geography and generate hypotheses about the underlying causes of survival disparities. In this study, we apply a recently developed spatial scan statistic method, designed for time-to-event data, to determine whether colorectal cancer (CRC) patient survival varies by place of residence after adjusting survival times for several prognostic factors. Using data from a population-based, statewide cancer registry, we examined a cohort of 25,040 men and women from New Jersey who were newly diagnosed with local or regional stage colorectal cancer from 1996 through 2003 and followed to the end of 2006. Survival times were adjusted for significant prognostic factors (sex, age, stage at diagnosis, race/ethnicity and census tract socioeconomic deprivation) and evaluated using a spatial scan statistic to identify places where CRC survival was significantly longer or shorter than the statewide experience. Age, sex and stage adjusted survival times revealed several areas in the northern part of the state where CRC survival was significantly different than expected. The shortest and longest survival areas had an adjusted 5-year survival rate of 73.1% (95% CI 71.5, 74.9) and 88.3% (95% CI 85.4, 91.3) respectively, compared with the state average of 80.0% (95% CI 79.4, 80.5). Analysis of survival times adjusted for age, sex and stage as well as race/ethnicity and area socioeconomic deprivation attenuated the risk of death from CRC in several areas, but survival disparities persisted. The results suggest that in areas where additional adjustments for race/ethnicity and area socioeconomic deprivation changed the geographic survival patterns and reduced the risk of death from CRC, the adjustment factors may be contributing causes of the disparities. Further studies should focus on specific and modifiable individual and neighborhood factors in the high risk areas that may affect a person's chance of surviving cancer.
The conformational flexibility of aromatic retinoids

AM1 and PM3 complete geometry optimizations were performed on 19 arotinoids congeneric with (E)-4-[2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2- naphthalenyl)-1-propenyl] benzoic acid (TTNPB), a very potent agent in carcinoprevention and carcinotherapy. Sixteen TTNPB conformations with close energy were obtained and characterized; four representative conformations were then studied for 14 derivative compounds, for which we found a substantial non-planarity of the two aromatic moieties. Large rotational flexibility of the arotinoid ring fragments was predicted by both methods. Very low barriers (0.4-3.9 kcal/mol) were found for the tetralenyl ring rotation. The two methods also agreed in predicting benzoic acid moiety rotation in a wide range of torsion angle values except those close to 0 or 180 degrees for which the PM3 rotational barriers were found to be considerably lower than the AM1 ones. This high conformational flexibility of arotinoid molecules may facilitate their favorable orientation in the process of fitting to the receptor sites.
Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of saphenous vein grafts for medically refractory unstable angina

Abstract Objectives. We attempted to answer the question, Is balloon angioplasty a reasonable alternative to repeat coronary artery bypass graft surgery in patients with previous coronary bypass graft surgery, medically refractory unstable angina and vein graft lesions? Background. Patients with medically refractory unstable angina need revascularization. Patients with previous coronary artery bypass graft surgery and medically refractory angina are at “high risk” for adverse outcomes with repeat coronary bypass graft surgery. Conversely, patients with angioplasty of old vein grafts are also at “high risk” for adverse outcomes. Methods. Balloon angioplasty of 89 lesions in saphenous vein grafts was performed in 75 consecutive patients with medically refractory unstable angina. Of these 75 patients, 24 (32%) had myocardial infarct within 30 days, 23 (31%) had left ventricular ejection fraction Results. Angiographic success (reduction of stenosis ≤50% without major complication) was seen in 84 of 89 lesions. Clinical success (angiographic success plus hospital discharge without major complication) was seen in 70 of 75 patients. During index hospitalization, two patients (3%) died, two (3%) had nonfatal infarcts, and one (1%) had emergency reoperation (coronary bypass graft surgery). In late follow up (3 to 66 months), 14 (20%) patients were lost to follow-up, 17 (23%) had repeat percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, 2 (3%) had late bypass graft reoperation, 18 (25%) had late death, and 1 ( Conclusions. Balloon angioplasty of saphenous vein grafts with aggressive adjunctive pharmacotherapy is a reasonable alternative to repeat coronary bypass graft surgery in patients with medically refractory unstable angina, previous coronary bypass graft surgery and saphenous vein narrowing.
Protein translocation in the endoplasmic reticulum: the search for a unified molecular mechanism.

Abstract The development of procedures for the reconstitution of protein translocation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) has allowed substantial new insights into the molecular mechanism of translocation. With these techniques, investigators are beginning to address the functional role of individual membrane and lumenal protein components in translocation. Efforts are now focused on the functional analysis of the translocation channel, the regulation of ribosome binding and the role of molecular chaperones in vectorial transport across the lipid bilayer. Current models of translocation suggest a system of remarkable simplicity; the molecular mechanism of translocation, however, remains elusive.
Can Illegal Corporate Behavior be Predicted? An Event History Analysis

A model of illegal corporate behavior was developed and tested for a 19-year period using event history analysis and data on clearly illegal acts. Results indicated that large firms operating in dy...
Open Access: A Review of an Emerging Phenomenon

Discussion about Open Access (OA) has dominated industry news for the past two years. Librarians and publishers alike are attempting to fully grasp the implications of different business models on various issues, including costs, peer review, funding mechanisms, value, and archives. While there is general agreement about the importance of broadening access to scientific literature, there is disagreement on how this is best achieved in a financially responsible fashion. This article looks at some of the questions surrounding Open Access journals as well as the role publishing plays in the continuum of science in general, particularly with regard to membership organizations.
Light-induced metastable defects in hydrogenated amorphous silicon: A systematic study.

We study the magnitude of metastable light-induced changes in undoped hydrogenated amorphous silicon (the Staebler-Wronski effect) with electron-spin-resonance and photoconductivity measurements. The influence of the following parameters is investigated in a systematic way: sample thickness, impurity content, illumination time, light intensity, photon energy, and illumination and annealing temperatures. The experimental results can be explained quantitatively by a model based on the nonradiative recombination of photoexcited carriers as the defect-creating step. In the framework of this model, the Staebler-Wronski effect is an intrinsic, self-limiting bulk process, characterized by a strongly sublinear dependence on the total light exposure of a sample. The experimental results suggest that the metastable changes are caused by recombination-induced breaking of weak Si--Si bonds, rather than by trapping of excess carriers in already existing defects. Hydrogen could be involved in the microscopic mechanism as a stabilizing element. The main metastable defect created by prolonged illumination is the silicon dangling bond. An analysis of the annealing behavior shows that a broad distribution of metastable dangling bonds exists, characterized by a variation of the energy barrier separating the metastable state from the stable ground state between 0.9 and 1.3 eV.
Image characterization of bubbles in water for 193-nm immersion lithography-far-field approach

The scattering of bubbles in water by 193-nm light is characterized analytically with Mie scattering theory. The angular-resolved spectra with bubble sizes 100 nm, 1 μm, and 10 μm are calculated. For large bubbles, the forward scattering becomes very strong and therefore introduces a pattern-dependent flare. The normalized cross section with variant bubble size is also calculated. For bubble sizes smaller than the incident wavelength, the cross section decreases steeply and is explained by Rayleigh scattering. A contour plot of the normalized cross section versus the bubble size and the variance of refractive index is also calculated. This plot is explained with the Born approximation and is used to characterize the temperature control of the water during exposure. Finally, a statistical model is suggested to predict the image degradation caused by the phase information loss after the scattering. A bubble density 0.03/μm3 with 1-μm bubble size causes a loss of exposure latitude from 28 to 22%.