cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electron Scattering and Hydronamic Effects in Ionized Gases

Intensive effort to understand the complex phenomenology of propagation and dispersion of shock wave in weakly ionized medium has been initiated recently, in view of the prospect for wide range of applications that could follow. Underlying mechanisms for the observed effects could be attributed to various electron collision processes. Although most applications involve molecular gases, the dispersion effects with a comparable intensity are observed in noble gases. Interaction of shock wave with ionized gas generates rapidly moving multiple electric layers, which form regions of increased electron density. Transient electric field in the electric layers enables new channels of communication between upstream and downstream regions. Time scale of collective interactions is comparable to the electron collision time and lifetime of excited states. In this environment electron scattering with excited atoms affects the macroscopic phenomenology as much as the transient field affects the collision itself. This results in an intricate ionization and recombination dynamics where the electron scattering with excited states is among the most important processes.
Flexible Wing Designs with Sensor Control Feedback for Demonstration on the X-56a (Mutt)

Presenting an overview of the research DFRC is planning within the Subsonic Fixed Wing (SFW) Light Weight Airframes and Propulsion. Describ ing our TRL maturation and new research going forward using the X-56A as a validation testbed.
Meta-analytic evidence that we-talk predicts relationship and personal functioning in romantic couples:

Interdependence is a hallmark of romantic relationships, and first-person plural pronoun use (“we-talk”) can indicate interdependence between self and other. We-talk often positively, but sometimes...
Fatty masses of the abdomen and pelvis and their complications

There are numerous common and rare macroscopic fat-containing masses found in the abdomen and pelvis. These include benign masses, such as lipoleiomyoma, ovarian teratoma, mesenteric teratoma, and lipoma, as well as malignant masses, including liposarcoma and malignant transformation of benign entities. Any mass may become symptomatic due to the development of a complication which may range from ovarian torsion to intussusception to hemorrhage. Imaging plays a vital role in diagnosis and treatment planning when confronted with a symptomatic fat-containing mass.
Gene flow, divergent selection and resistance to introgression in two species of morning glories (Ipomoea).

Gene flow is thought to impede genetic divergence and speciation by homogenizing genomes. Recent theory and research suggest that sufficiently strong divergent selection can overpower gene flow, leading to loci that are highly differentiated compared to others. However, there are also alternative explanations for this pattern. Independent evidence that loci in highly differentiated regions are under divergent selection would allow these explanations to be distinguished, but such evidence is scarce. Here, we present multiple lines of evidence that many of the highly divergent SNPs in a pair of sister morning glory species, Ipomoea cordatotriloba and I. lacunosa, are the result of divergent selection in the face of gene flow. We analysed a SNP data set across the genome to assess the amount of gene flow, resistance to introgression and patterns of selection on loci resistant to introgression. We show that differentiation between the two species is much lower in sympatry than in allopatry, consistent with interspecific gene flow in sympatry. Gene flow appears to be substantially greater from I. lacunosa to I. cordatotriloba than in the reverse direction, resulting in sympatric and allopatric I. cordatotriloba being substantially more different than sympatric and allopatric I. lacunosa. Many SNPs highly differentiated in allopatry have experienced divergent selection, and, despite gene flow in sympatry, resist homogenization in sympatry. Finally, five out of eight floral and inflorescence characteristics measured exhibit asymmetric convergence in sympatry. Consistent with the pattern of gene flow, I. cordatotriloba traits become much more like those of I. lacunosa than the reverse. Our investigation reveals the complex interplay between selection and gene flow that can occur during the early stages of speciation.
Glosas al «Diario de campaña» de José Martí sugeridas por María Zambrano y José Lezama Lima

Tomando como pauta las lecturas hechas por Maria Zambrano y Jose Lezama Lima del Diario de campana de Jose Marti, glosamos el ultimo texto escrito por el patriota y escritor cubano para sugerir que estamos no solo ante un testimonio sobre la guerra sino, esencialmente, ante una interpretacion mistica del amor a la Patria.
Functional polymers for growth and stabilization of CsPbBr3 perovskite nanoparticles

We introduce an approach to synthesize polymer-stabilized CsPbBr3 perovskite nanoparticles (NPs) using ammonium bromide-functionalized polymers as both bromide precursors and stabilizing ligands. The polymer-passivated NPs exhibit significant advantages over conventional perovskite NPs owing to their facile dispersion in polymer matrices and enhanced optoelectronic stability.
A Convolutional Neural Network for Transcoding Simultaneously Acquired EEG-fMRI Data

In this paper, we use convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to model/capture the relationship between simultaneously acquired EEG and fMRI. Specifically we use CNNs to implement "neural transcoding" - i.e. generating one neuroimaging modality from another - from EEG to fMRI and vice versa. The novelty of our approach lies in its ability to resolve the source space without prior hemodynamic and leadfield estimation. The two CNNs, one for EEG-to-fMRI and the other fMRI-to-EEG transcoding, are coupled in their source space representations, and given their architecture are able to capture both linear and non-linear transformations that map two imaging modalities into a common neural source space. We present results on simulated simultaneously acquired EEG-fMRI data and show the performance of mapping each modality to the other, the accuracy of recovering source space, and the effects of noise and variation in the simulated acquisition parameters, such as MRI slice timing, on the results.
The Lebesgue Integral

In this chapter we define and study the Lebesgue integral of functions on \(\mathbb {R}^d\) (or on subsets of \(\mathbb {R}^d\)). We first define the Lebesgue integral for nonnegative functions in Section 4.1, and in Section 4.2 prove two fundamental results on convergence of integrals: Fatou’s Lemma and the Monotone Convergence Theorem. We define the integral of extended real-valued and complex-valued functions in Section 4.3. Integrable functions (those functions for which the integral of |f| is finite) are introduced in Section 4.4, as is the Lebesgue space \(L^1(E),\) which is the set of all integrable functions on E. In Section 4.5 we prove the Dominated Convergence Theorem, or DCT, which is one of the most useful theorems in analysis. In particular, we use the DCT to show that integrable functions can be well-approximated by a wide variety of functions that have special properties, including simple functions, continuous functions, and step functions. Among other applications, this allows us to characterize Riemann integrable functions as the functions that are continuous at almost every point, and to establish the relationship between Lebesgue and Riemann integrals. Finally, Section 4.6 covers the important theorems of Fubini and Tonelli, which tell us when we can exchange the order of iterated integrals.
Business Trends in Chile and Peru

Globalization refers to the trend toward greater economic, cultural, political, and technological interdependence between and among countries, institutions, and economies.Globalization also refers to the convergence in buyer preferences in markets worldwide. Global products and global competition epitomize many markets and industries. Globalization has been integrated into all businesses such as technology, accounting, automobiles, and consumer goods and many more.
Landscape structure and complexity

Abstract In Chapter 1 , we laid a foundation on which we can now build the components found in urban landscapes. The new landscape we created in Chapter 1 essentially is a patch within a matrix. A matrix is the larger, more extensive landscape component in which a small-scale urban landscape occurs. If you are at the center of a large city, your matrix consists of man-made structures and roads. In rural areas, the matrix can be the native forest or perhaps agricultural production land. Within the matrix, there are patches and corridors. Large patches could be subdivisions, golf courses, parks, or retail developments. Small patches may be plantings of azaleas or roses in a residential landscape. Patches can be made by planting something new or by isolating an area through development. If the development of the new landscape from Chapter 1 left a grouping of native trees in the middle of that site it would be a remnant patch. That remnant patch was once connected but is now isolated and disconnected ecologically. Patches in the urban landscape are easy to visualize: think of the common subdivision used throughout the United States. The process, called fragmentation, creates patches. Some patches maintain connectivity through passages called corridors. Corridors are like roads through which wildlife can move. In highly urbanized areas, these corridors also serve as one of the few places in these landscapes where the seeds of wild plants can germinate and populations expand independent of human activity. Several neighborhoods in Auburn, Alabama, have remnant patches of endemic trees throughout that provide corridors for wildlife. Those corridors provide passage for deer, fox, and other vertebrate animals. As we will see later, the abundance and composition of plants within a patch are also significant influences on the accumulation of pests in urban landscapes.
2.6 – Mercury

Mercury has always held the distinction of being the terrestrial planet most unlike the others. On 18 March 2011, after three successful flybys of Mercury, the MESSENGER spacecraft entered orbit around Mercury. Essential to the payload of MESSENGER are three instruments designed to measure the geochemistry of the surface – an x-ray spectrometer, a gamma-ray spectrometer, and a neutron spectrometer. Together, the data returned by these three instruments – coupled with insights about planetary structure gained from tracking the spacecraft, spectral data measured in orbit, and a new and complete view of the geology of the surface – have begun to revolutionize the people's understanding of Mercury. In this chapter, the authors first review the pre-MESSENGER views of Mercury, followed by the first results from the MESSENGER mission. The authors then discuss the implications of these first results in constraining the origin of Mercury, followed by looking forward to future work.
Analysis of Chat Conversations between Two Semesters after the Implementation of New Electronic Services at an Academic Health Sciences Center

Library chat queries changed between the Spring 2018 and Spring 2019 semesters. During the Fall 2018 semester, the Library implemented two major services. Researchers saw trends associated with the...
Vertical nystagmus as isolated presentation in a patient with new diagnosis of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive demyelinating disease of the central nervous system with a wide array of symptoms. We present a healthy young woman who came to the Emergency Department with two days of isolated vertical nystagmus and was subsequently diagnosed with MS on imaging. Although bilateral vertical nystagmus is not a common presentation of MS, its presence should prompt inclusion of this disease process in the differential diagnosis.
Hybrid governance and performances of environmental accounting.

Abstract Multiple centers of authority in hybrid forms create conditions of radical openness where questions of value and fitness are in flux. Environmental accounting is suggested as a condition for steadying hybrid forms and opening up possibilities for institutional innovations. This paper advances a critical social science analysis of environmental accounting to help specify how, when, and in what ways strengthening accounting capacity advances hybrid governance. Social studies of accounting argue that accounting systems are contingent on institutions: rules and social conventions, not only data or science. Our practice-centered analysis of two cases of building environmental accounting tools to advance high profile institutional innovations in US agri-environmental governance finds that the systems of rules that structure and legitimize accounting protocols are not pre-given. The same radical openness that presents opportunities for hybridity also reinforces uncertainties in building accounting standards. We identify two major frictions: a) Conventions for determining technical consensus and b) Rules for determining levels of transaction costs. We conclude by identifying a need to think about hybrid forms critically. Although hybrid forms are an expression of creativity and collaboration, they are also performances of a certain contemporary political covenant that delegitimizes state-centered governance. The challenge ahead is to understand when and where hybrid arrangements add to socio-ecological regulation and where they undermine the possibility of more functional approaches through a performance of seriousness.
Implementation of the Enhanced Flight Termination System at National Aeronautics and Space Administration Dryden Flight Research Center

This paper discusses the methodology, requirements, tests, and results of the implementation of the current operating capability for the Enhanced Flight Termination System (EFTS) at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC). The implementation involves the development of the EFTS at NASA DFRC starting from the requirements to system safety review to full end to end system testing, and concluding with the acceptance of the system as an operational system. The paper discusses the first operational usage and subsequent flight utilizing EFTS successfully.
This Space Intentionally Left Blank: What To Do When Hearsay and Rule 106 Completeness Collide

Federal Rule of Evidence 106 provides that when one party in a trial or hearing offers into evidence a portion of a statement in a misleading way, the opposing party can offer the rest, or some other portion of, that document or recorded statement at the same time if it is necessary for the factfinder to understand and contextualize the first part. Sometimes, however, the other portion, or “remainder,” would be inadmissible if it were offered by itself, either because it is hearsay or for some other reason. This leaves the court in a difficult position: Should it allow the remainder to be entered into evidence in violation of some other rule that would exclude it? Or should the court exclude the remainder and allow the initial misleading portion to stand, uncorrected? Some circuits have held that Rule 106 must trump the other rules of evidence in order to do its job. These courts admit otherwise inadmissible hearsay evidence for its truth. Other circuits have held that if no independent hearsay exception exists for the remainder, it must be excluded despite Rule 106. Finally, some opinions have suggested that Rule 106 allows the remainder of a statement to be admitted for the narrow purpose of contextualizing the initial misleading portion. This Note argues the following: if one party offers a misleading portion of a statement into evidence, the opposing party should be able to offer the remainder, but the jury should only be allowed to use it for context. The evidentiary basis for doing so is not Rule 106, but rather the U.S. Supreme Court case Beech Aircraft Corp. v. Rainey, which holds that remainders necessary to correct misleading impressions are automatically relevant for a nonhearsay purpose. The end of this Note offers courts a step-by-step process for judges to follow when ruling on whether to admit remainders.
The interaction between load and coupling during dynamic manual materials handling tasks

The purpose of this research was to determine the impact of coupling and load magnitude on trunk dynamics during lifting activities. Subjects lifted a box that simulated three levels of coupling: good, fair and poor and seven levels of mass: ranging from 4.5-31.5 kg. The dependent variables were the peak dynamic moment generated about the lumbosacral joint and the peak vertical ground reaction forces produced during the lift. The results show that at low levels of box mass there are no significantdifferences in trunk dynamics and resulting peak dynamic moment across the different coupling conditions. However, when loads greater than 13.5 kg were lifted, a change in the normal dynamics of the lifting motion was noted, but only in the poor coupling condition, indicating an interaction between load and coupling. The results of this study indicate that the role of coupling under dynamic lifting conditions has both a perceptual and biomechanical basis that need to be considered when designing manual materials handling tasks.
A markov model based gene discrimination approach in trypanosomes

The trypanosomes are a class of eukaryotic parasites that diverged from Saccharomyces cerevisiae about 800 million years ago. Many possible gene structures are present within these genomes but most appear to be non-functional and do not code for proteins. Initial analyses of these genomes suggest that over 70% of the putative genes have no biological function.
Working with XML

XML (Extensible Mark up language) is fast becoming a standard method for data organization, structure, and exchange on the Internet. The extensibility of XML allows web authors to create their own markup for any type of information. This extensibility is mobilizing the science and industry to customize XML for different fields such as mathematics (MathML), and business (XBRL). In this tutorial we will create an on-line multiple choice test in XML while discussing the XML syntax and its validation techniques. We will also present different methods for formatting, displaying and manipulating XML documents inside a browser. The tutorial will end with a discussion of the current status of XML.
The European Human Rights System

This article presents the historical, organizational, and bibliographic information needed to research the Council of Europe�s regulation of human rights. It begins with an explanation of the reasons for the organization�s founding and then describes its statute, its structure, the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the history of the changes in the treaty�s procedures, and its enforcement mechanisms. The final section provides similar treatment for another, less well known, of the Council�s human rights treaties, the European Social Charter.
Monitoring Earth Rotation and Polar Motion Using Space VLBI: A Feasibility Study

Space Very Long Baseline Interferometry is an extension of the ground based VLBI to the space. With the launching of two Space VLBI satellites in the future, Space VLBI observations will be available for astrometric, geodetic and geodynamic applications. This new technique holds potential for various important applications including monitoring Earth rotation. The aim of this feasibility study has been to investigate the possibility of precise estimation of Earth rotation parameters from the Space VLBI observations. A simplified mathematical model is derived in terms of estimable parameters. Sensitivity analysis has been carried out to study the sensitivity of this system to the geodetic parameters of interest. Some of the dominant systematic effects have been investigated. Simulation studies have been carried out to study the influence of these systematic effects and a priori information on the estimation of the Earth rotation parameters. The results indicate that the Space VLBI technique may be used to complement other existing techniques for monitoring Earth rotation, only if the orbital systematic effects can be modeled to a high degree of accuracy (or the satellites can be tracked, with high accuracy, independently), and precise a priori information on station coordinates from other sources is used.
A framework for evaluating software development methods

A framework for gathering data from software projects was deviced to compare different development methods and tools and identify those that enhance developer productivity and product quality. Criteria for selecting metrics to characterize the software development process are defined. Both quality and productivity metric classes are reviewed. A prototype for gathering data and analysing productivity across projects is described, and future directions based on experience with the prototype are discussed. >
δ-Tocotrienol tend to attenuate plasma triglyceride levels (829.12)

Tocotrienols have been shown to reduce the risk factors of cardiovascular disease. α- and γ-tocotrienols are predominant forms of tocotrienols on the market. An animal study was conducted to examin...
MAPS: dynamic scaffolding for independence for persons with cognitive impairments

Individuals with cognitive disabilities are often unable to live independently due to their inability to perform daily tasks. Computationally enhanced dynamic prompting systems can mitigate this inability. Poor user interfaces, however, drive high levels of assistive technology abandonment by this population. To address this issue, MAPS (Memory Aiding Prompting System) provides an effective prompting system with an intuitive interface for configuration. User modeling techniques facilitate simple and effective prompting scripts for individual user needs.
Thermal system design and dislocation reduction for growth of wide band gap crystals: : application to SiC growth

In SiC vapor growth, micropipes and dislocations that originate at the seed/boule interface can continuously propagate into the newly grown crystal and adversely affect the quality of the crystals. The defect density can be reduced by the method of growing a large diameter crystal from a small seed through lateral growth under controlled thermal environment. In this paper, SiC growth processes with varying thermal conditions have been simulated; the shapes of the as-grown crystals are predicted and the thermo-elastic stress fields in the crystals are calculated to describe the dislocation density distributions. The simulation results show that if thermal conditions are properly controlled, it is possible to reduce the micropipe density through lateral growth without increasing basal plane dislocation density. The effects of operational parameters such as the axial and radial temperature gradients and seed mounting technique on the size and quality of the crystals are also investigated. The ceramic polycrystalline material that grows on the crystal periphery is illustrated to jeopardize the quality of the crystals. In addition, the influences of some geometrical parameters on thermal environments in the growth chamber are also analyzed. The current finding can also help in the design of AlN/GaN growth system.
A modified Delphi method to create a scoring system for assessing team performance during maternal cardiopulmonary arrest

Background: Maternal cardiopulmonary arrest is a rare but often fatal emergency. The authors used a modified Delphi method to create a checklist of tasks for practitioners. Methods: Within each round, experts ranked tasks on a scale from zero through five. Consensus was defined a priori as 80% exact agreement. Results: Three rounds were required to achieve consensus resulting in a checklist of 45 tasks. Round One results revealed five tasks, Round Two included 25 tasks, and Round Three resulted in 29 tasks with 80% exact agreement. Conclusions: The modified Delphi method resulted in a weighted scoring system that can be used to objectively assess team performance.
Follicular thyroid cancer presenting as a sellar mass: case report and review of the literature.

ABSTRACT Objective To describe an uncommon initial manifestation of well-differentiated follicular carcinoma of the thyroid in an unusual metastatic site. Methods We present clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings in our patient and review related data from the literature. Results A young healthy woman presented with headache and diplopia. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a complex mass in the sellar region. Endocrine evaluation was remarkable only for a modestly high serum prolactin level. Transsphenoidal biopsy of the sellar mass revealed metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma. On subsequent examination, a thyroid nodule was palpated. She underwent total thyroidectomy and ablative therapy with 131I, after which her symptoms gradually subsided and the sellar mass ultimately decreased in size. Although well-differentiated thyroid cancer generally manifests as a thyroid nodule, metastatic disease is present at the time of initial assessment in approximately 1% of cases, and the lungs and the skeleton are the most frequent sites of involvement. Only a few cases of thyroid cancer metastasizing to the sella have been reported. Described cases occurred mainly in elderly patients with previously diagnosed thyroid cancer. The most common malignant tumors that metastasize to the sella and pituitary are lung cancer in men and breast cancer in women. Metastatic tumors frequently manifest with cranial nerve palsies or diabetes insipidus and occur in elderly patients. Conclusion Follicular thyroid cancer can manifest initially as a distant metastatic tumor in young patients. Metastatic lesions should always be in the differential diagnosis of a sellar mass, even in young patients. (Endocr Pract. 2004;10:62-66)
A description of deformation twinning in dynamically deformed and shock-loaded polycrystalline Ni3Al

Abstract Deformation twinning has been documented by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in the γ′-phase in two nickel aluminide alloys, single-phase Ni3Al + B and two-phase Ni-20at.%Al-30at.%Fe. The first intermetallic was shock loaded to a stress of 14 GPa, and the second was dynamically deformed at a strain rate of 3000s−1 to a total accumulated strain of 16%. In both materials, twins were found to form solely in grains with the L12 superlattice structure and were observed to extend completely across the grains. In the two-phase alloy, no twins were found to occur in grains with the B2 superlattice structure. Analysis of the twins show that the twinning plane K1 is {111} with a twinning direction η1 of 〈112〉, such as is commonly found in disordered f.c.c. metals. It is proposed that the η2 direction in the second undistorted plane K2 is 〈110〉, which negates the need for atomic shuffling. The twinning mechanism necessary for this twin plane and the alternate η2 direction of 〈112〉 requiring s...
Decentralized Water Reuse: Regional Water Supply System Resilience Benefits

Abstract Resilience is related to the system functionality loss and the failure event duration (Bruneau et al., 2003). System redundancy and robustness affect the severity or functionality loss while the recovery time is largely related to the resource available and rapidity of the response. The purpose of this study is to investigate the resilience of a regional water supply system (RWSS) through a criticality analysis of five RWSS components. The relative importance was evaluated under two management/design conditions: (1) centralized versus decentralized wastewater treatment, and (2) decentralized wastewater plant location. For this study, the regional water supply system of a portion of the Tucson metropolitan area in Arizona was modeled. A Linear Programming (LP) flow allocation model determines the optimal flow allocation from multiple sources to users by minimizing the operational cost. The RWSS resilience was quantified by the failure, that is, the volume of water that was not delivered to users during the component failure of known duration.
Let me tell you! investigating the effects of robot communication strategies in advice-giving situations based on robot appearance, interaction modality and distance

Recent proposals for how robots should talk to people when they give advice suggest that the same strategies humans employ with other humans are effective for robots as well. However, the evidence is exclusively based on people’s observation of robot giving advice to other humans. Hence, it is not clear whether the results still apply when people actually participate in real interactions with robots. We address this shortcoming in a novel systematic mixed-methods study where we employ both survey-based subjective and brain-based objective measures (using functional near infrared spectroscopy). The results show that previous results from observation conditions do not transfer automatically to interaction conditions, and that robot appearance and interaction distance are important modulators of human perceptions of robot behavior in advice-giving contexts.
Knowledge management and the EBRD: designing a Knowledge Management Programme for the Office of the Chief Economist

It is early days in the life of Knowledge Management (KM) at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The Knowledge Management Audit, undertaken during six months of action research at the Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) in 1998, provided the springboard to a knowledge sharing culture. The findings of the audit prompted an urgent need to apply KM initiatives. Accordingly, two knowledge repositories: ‘OCE Central Knowledge Store’ and ‘The Knowledge Tree’ were proposed and developed for OCE consideration. Their implementation is a big step forward for leveraging corporate memory at the EBRD. These initiatives are already flourishing and providing valuable knowledge sharing guidance to other departments in the Bank.
On the scalability of rendezvous-based location services for geographic wireless ad hoc routing

Geographic routing protocols allow stateless routing by taking advantage of the location information of mobile nodes and thus are highly scalable. A central challenge in geographic routing protocols is the design of scalable distributed location services that track mobile node locations. A number of location services have been proposed, but little is known about the relative performance of these location services. In this paper, we perform a detailed performance comparison of three rendezvous-based location services that cover a range of design choices: a quorum-based protocol (XYLS) which disseminates each node's location to O(N) nodes, a hierarchical protocol (GLS) which disseminates each node's location to O(logN) nodes, and a geographic hashing-based protocol (GHLS) which disseminates each node's location to O(1) nodes. We present a quantitative model of protocol overheads for predicting the performance tradeoffs of the protocols for static networks. We then analyze the performance impact of mobility on these location services. Finally, we compare the performance of routing protocols equipped with the three location services with two topology-based routing protocols, AODV and DSR, for a wide range of network sizes. Our study demonstrates that when practical mobile ad hoc network (MANET) sizes are considered, the constants matter more than the asymptotic costs of location service protocols. In particular, while GLS scales better asymptotically, GHLS transmits fewer control packets and delivers more data packets than GLS in MANETs of sizes considered practical today and in the near future. Additionally, in contrast to the complex GLS design, the simplicity of GHLS provides significant resilience to performance degradation from mobility. Finally, although XYLS has a comparable packet delivery ratio to GHLS, it achieves this ratio with a higher overhead.
Relation of Atrial Fibrillation Burden and N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide

Previous studies have noted a correlation between the presence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and elevated brain natriuretic peptide hormone level, although the exact nature of this association is unclear. Understanding the relation between AF and brain natriuretic peptide may enhance care for this patient population. The aim of this study was to establish the relationship between AF burden and N-terminal pro–brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level. One hundred eighty-four patients who presented to the University of North Carolina electrophysiology clinic with AF underwent baseline questionnaires, laboratory testing (including NT-proBNP), echocardiography, and 1-week ambulatory rhythm monitoring. Multivariate linear regression was used to determine the association between AF burden and NT-proBNP level. Increased AF burden was associated with increased NT-proBNP level, and this association remained significant after adjusting for possible confounders. Compared with a 0% AF burden, those with an AF burden of 1% to 25% had a nearly 1.5-fold increase (p = 0.102), those with an AF burden of 26% to 99% had a nearly fourfold increase (p
Multiphoton imaging with sub-30 fs Yb fiber laser

An Yb fiber laser oscillator with sub-30 fs pulses compressed by MIIPS is tested for multiphoton microscopy. It leads to greatly improved third harmonic generation images. Multiphoton fluorescence, second and third harmonic generation modalities are compared on stained microspheres and unstained biological tissues.
Ferritic/martensitic steels for next-generation reactors

Concepts for the next generation of nuclear power reactors designed to meet increasing world-wide demand for energy include water-cooled, gas-cooled, and liquid-metal-cooled reactors. Reactor conditions for several designs offer challenges for engineers and designers concerning which structural and cladding materials to use. Depending on operating conditions, some of the designs favor the use of elevated-temperature ferritic/martensitic steels for in-core and out-of core applications. This class of commercial steels has been investigated in previous work on international fast reactor and fusion reactor research programs. More recently, international fusion reactor research programs have developed and tested elevated-temperature reduced-activation steels. Steels from these fission and fusion programs will provide reference materials for future fission applications. In addition, new elevated-temperature steels have been developed in recent years for conventional power systems that also need to be considered for the next generation of nuclear reactors.
Homomorphisms of 3-chromatic graphs

Abstract This paper examines the effect of a graph homomorphism upon the chromatic difference sequence of a graph. Our principal result (Theorem 2) provides necessary conditions for the existence of a homomorphism onto a prescribed target. As a consequence we note that iterated cartesian products of the Petersen graph form an infinite family of vertex transitive graphs no one of which is the homomorphic image of any other. We also prove that there is a unique minimal element in the homomorphism order of 3-chromatic graphs with non-monotonic chromatic difference sequences (Theorem 1). We include a brief guide to some recent papers on graph homomorphisms.
Serum thyroxin levels during hyperthermia evoked in the monkey by intrahypothalamic injection of PGE1, 5-HT or pyrogen.

Abstract Serotonin (5-HT), prostaglandin E 1 (PGE 1 ) or a bacterial pyrogen (E. coli or S. typhosa) was microinjected in a volume of 1.0–1.5 μl into the hypothalamus of the unanesthetized monkey to evoke a long-term hyperthermia. Samples of venous blood collected every 15 min, before, during and after each fever were analyzed by radioimmunoassay for plasma thyroxin levels, There was no statistically significant correlation between plasma thyroxin values and a given phase of the hyperthermic episode induced by the microinjections of 5-HT, PGE 1 or bacteria. The possibility that an enhanced release of the thyroid hormone serves to sustain a long-term elevation in temperature evoked by a centrally acting pyrogenic substance is not supported.
Idiotypic Regulation of Development of the B‐Cell Repertoire

The mouse B-cell repertoire develops from a restricted set to an extremely diverse set of specificities. Establishment of some of the B-cell clones that constitute the adult repertoire is facilitated and guided by idiotype-directed interactions among complementary sets of B cells early during ontogeny. Through in vivo experiments described here and reported elsewhere, we have shown that the program of B-cell development involving idiotypic interactions is obligatory in the development of certain B cells that provide immunity against bacterial infections. Furthermore, this program of B-cell development is facilitated in newborn mice and not in adult mice that have been transplanted with progenitor cells from adult bone marrow. Thus the idiotype-directed selection of the adult B-cell repertoire appears to be limited to fetal-neonatal stages of development.
Thermodynamically inspired classifier for molecular phenotypes of health and disease

High-throughput molecular phenotyping (e.g., transcriptomics, proteomics, DNA sequencing, epigenetics, etc.) has impacted cancer research, enabling the subtyping of disease states and the discovery of actionable molecular signatures and biomarkers (1, 2). While the use of these technologies has proved more challenging than initially anticipated (3), the important role for molecular phenotyping in the health sciences is broadly appreciated. The Cancer Genome Atlas (4), assembled to integrate multidimensional molecular omic data through systems approaches, is one indicator. The development of classifiers for molecular phenotypes that enable clinically useful stratification of patients into treatment groups remains a critical challenge to overcome. Technical and biological noise, patient heterogeneity, sample contamination, inconsistent sample processing, and changing data-collection platforms all make this a difficult task. Combining classifiers to increase sensitivity (5) has only proved incrementally useful. Thus, informatic approaches that can deal robustly with noisy and heterogeneous molecular phenotyping data remain crucial to develop. The report in PNAS by Zadran et al. (6) highlights a new twist in which an established analytical approach drawn from the physical sciences is applied to the analysis of molecular phenotypes.
The functions, focus, and productivity of the state agricultural experiment stations in the United States.

This article evaluates the functions, focus, and productivity of the State Agricultural Experiment Stations (SAES). Resources in the SAES are allocated to four functions. Maintenance research constitutes the major function followed by applied research, basic research, and services. Analysis of the research programs within each of the research functions shows that the primary focus is on farm production research. The results of the ex-ante model shows that return to total investment in research is 25.3%, to maintenance research is 57.6%, to applied research is 26.3%, and to basic research is 16.4%.
Improved Analytical Models for Mixed-Mode Bending Tests of Adhesively Bonded Joints

In this paper, improved analytical models have been developed for more accurate determination of mode I and mode II compliances and strain energy release rates of adhesively bonded Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) type specimens. In these models, the effects of adhesive layer, elastic foundation and shearing deformation ahead of the crack tip due to the Saint-Venant end effect were considered. The improved analytical models were verified using finite element analysis (FEA), and excellent agreements were found for a variety of crack lengths. The comparisons of the measured and predicted testing machine loading point compliances with crack length at three different mixed-mode loading conditions for the adhesive layer thickness of 0.254 mm were also performed for further validation. In addition, contributions to the total mode I strain energy release rate from each effect are summarized.
Role of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in the Treatment of Bronchoalveolar Carcinoma

Bronchoalveolar carcinoma (BAC) is a previously uncommon subset of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with unique epidemiology, pathology, clinical features, and natural history compared with other NSCLC subtypes. Recent data indicate that the incidence of BAC is increasing. Although many studies have reported that patients with BAC have prolonged survival, advanced BAC remains incurable, with most patients eventually dying of respiratory failure from progressive pulmonary involvement or intercurrent illness. Previous limited data suggest that chemotherapy for BAC provides modest benefit; however, anecdotal reports of swift and durable responses after treatment with tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in patients with BAC have prompted further investigation in this subset of patients. Two trials using the EGFR TK inhibitors gefitinib and/or erlotinib have demonstrated encouraging results, and have prompted further enthusiasm for this approach. Furthermore, recent insights into mechanisms of drug sensitivity should impact future clinical trial design.
Diffusion and pair interactions of CO molecules on Pd(111).

The diffusion and interactions of CO molecules on Pd(111) were studied by scanning tunneling microscopy. By following the random walk motion of individual molecules as a function of temperature, an activation energy barrier for diffusion of $118\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{m}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}$ was determined. The interaction between CO molecules was found to be repulsive for pairs separated by one or two Pd(111) lattice distances, and weakly attractive at a separation of $\sqrt{3}$.
Dependence of Na+Ca2+ exchange and Ca2+Ca2+ exchange on monovalent cations

Two mechanisms of passive Ca2+ transport, Na+-Ca2+ exchange and Ca2+-Ca2+ exchange, were studied using highly-purified dog heart sarcolemmal vesicles. About 80% of the Ca2+ accumulated by Na+-Ca2+ exchange or Ca2+-Ca2+ exchange could be released as free Ca2+, while up to 20% was probably bound. Na+-Ca2+ exchange was simultaneous, coupled countertransport of Na+ and Ca2+. The movement of anions during Na+-Ca2+ exchange did not limit the initial rate of Na+-Ca2+ exchange. Na+-Ca2+ exchange was electrogenic, with a reversal potential of about -105 mV. The apparent flux ratio of Na+-Ca2+ exchange was 4 Na+:1 Ca2+. Coupled cation countertransport by the Na+-Ca2+ exchange mechanism required a monovalent cation gradient with the following sequence of ion activation: Na+ much greater than Li+ greater than Cs+ greater than K+ greater than Rb+. In contrast to Na+-Ca2+ exchange, Ca2+-Ca2+ exchange did not require a monovalent cation gradient, but required the presence of Ca2+ plus a monovalent cation on both sides of the vesicle membrane. The sequence of ion activation of Ca2+-Ca2+ exchange was: K+ much greater than Rb+ greater than Na+ greater than Li+ greater than Cs+. Na+ inhibited Ca2+-Ca2+ exchange when Ca2+-Ca2+ exchange was supported by another monovalent cation. Both Na+-Ca2+ exchange and Ca2+-Ca2+ exchange were inhibited, but with different sensitivities, by external MgCl2, quinidine, or verapamil.
Applying Memories of Reinforcement Outcomes Mainly to Pavlovian Conditioning.

Abstract A theory devised initially on the basis of instrumental reward schedule data, such as the PREE, was extended to deal with various Pavlovian findings. These Pavlovian findings include blocking, unblocking, relative validity, positive and negative patterning, renewal, reinstatement, reacquisition, and inhibition. In addition, the sequential model was discussed in relation to the rule-learning view of Hulse and Dorsky (1977) employing data from a report by Bloom and Capaldi (1961) .
Overview of the Joint Open Architecture Spectrum Infrastructure (JOASI) Ontology for Spectrum Interoperability

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) initiated the Joint Open Architecture Spectrum Infrastructure (JOASI) Effort. Lead by APL, the team consisted of 11 organizations that are industry experts on communication and Electronic Warfare (EW) systems, and RF Spectrum Standards. This group developed an EW Ontology comprised of an integrated set of spectrum standards that will enable efficient, cooperative, and non-interfering use of the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) domain. JOASI's ontology will convey system commands, status, capabilities, observations, and policies that can be used during battle operations.
Interstadial climatic cycles: A link between western North America and Greenland?

During the interval 33.6 to 26.1 ka, Searles Lake in southeastern California went through six major cycles of expansion and contraction. A comparison of U/Th ages for these events with the chronologies for quasi-cyclic interstadial episodes in the ice core from Summit, Greenland, suggests that the episodes of low water at Searles Lake are synchronous with the interstadial episodes at Summit. The two phenomena may be linked by variations in the strength of the global hydrological cycle, driven by oscillations in the Atlantic Ocean thermohaline circulation.
BIOSYNTHESIS OF THYROTROPIN RELEASING FACTOR BY NEWT (TRITURUS VIRIDESCENS) BRAIN IN VITRO. ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THYROTROPIN RELEASING FACTOR

— The in vitro biosynthesis of thyrotropin releasing factor (TRF) by hypothalamic and forebrain fragments from adult newts (Triturus viridescens) was studied by incubating the fragments in the presence of the radioactive amino acid precursors of thyrotropin releasing factor (TRF). The synthesized product was identified by successive chromatography and electrophoresis. A purification scheme was developed which can be applied to the processing of multiple samples labelled with l-[3H]proline and yields a TRF peak which, when derivatized with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and applied to electrophoresis in acid buffer, yields a single radioactive peak corresponding to the migration of the Nim-Dnp derivative made from standard synthetic [3H]TRF. Both forebrain and hypothalamic fragments of the adult newt are capable of synthesizing a product which migrates with standard TRF after application of this purification scheme. Hypothalamic and forebrain fragments were also assayed for biological activity of TRF and it was determined that one newt hypothalamus contains approximately 200 pg TRF and that an equal amount of TRF is present in a forebrain piece of comparable size. It is concluded that newt TRF is identical to mammalian TRF (pGlu-His-Pro-NH2) and that the storage and synthesis of this substance is not confined to the hypothalamus in this species.
Modeling the cathode catalyst layer of a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

Abstract A two-dimensional, single phase, multi-component model is developed to study the effects of cathode catalyst layer thickness on DMFC's performance. The simulations consider the effects of mixed potentials as well as the distribution of methanol concentration in the cathode catalyst layer, normally neglected by most DMFC models. In other words, the assumption of zero methanol concentration at the interface between the membrane and cathode catalyst layer (CCL) is not used in this model. COMSOL Multiphysics V4.3, a finite element analysis solver and simulation software, is employed to solve the fully coupled set of equations for electrochemical kinetics, continuity, momentum and species. There is a good agreement between the modeling results and the experimental data. Further modeling results show that neglecting methanol contamination in the CCL, i.e. assuming that methanol concentration goes to zero at the membrane/cathode interface, significantly overpredicts the fuel cell performance.