cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of carbon surface diffusion on the growth of epitaxial graphene on SiC

We have observed the formation of graphene on SiC by Si sublimation in an Ar atmosphere using low-energy electron microscopy, scanning tunneling microcopy, and atomic force microscopy. This work reveals unanticipated growth mechanisms, which depend strongly on the initial surface morphology. Carbon diffusion governs the spatial relationship between SiC decomposition and graphene growth. Isolated bilayer SiC steps generate narrow ribbons of graphene by a distinctive cooperative process, whereas triple bilayer steps allow large graphene sheets to grow by step flow. We demonstrate how graphene quality can be improved by controlling the initial surface morphology to avoid the instabilities inherent in diffusion-limited growth.
Performing complex cancer surgery in the ambulatory setting.

106Background: The drive to move complex surgeries into the ambulatory setting will impact the cancer population. In anticipation, we developed an “ambulatory extended recovery” (AXR) program for pathway-based management of patients undergoing procedures with traditional 1-4 day hospital stays. Then in 2016 we opened the Josie Robertson Surgery Center (JR), a freestanding ambulatory surgical facility designed for complex cancer surgeries with one overnight stay. Methods: Using hospital databases we identified AXR cases eligible to be performed at JR and examined pathway completion (discharge home on POD 1), and 30-day institutional urgent care center (UCC) visits and readmissions. We compared AXR program results before and after opening JR in January 2016. Results: The most frequent AXR procedures were mastectomy ± immediate reconstruction, thyroidectomy, and minimally invasive prostatectomy, nephrectomy, and hysterectomy. 3307 and 2359 AXR procedures were done in 2015 and Jan-Sep 2016. In 2016 74% of AXR...
Emerging targeted therapies for plaque psoriasis – impact of ixekizumab

Author(s): Kazemi, Tiana; Farahnik, Benjamin; Koo, John; Beroukhim, Kourosh | Abstract: BackgroundRecent studies into the pathogenesis of psoriasis have identified the importance of interleukin 17 (IL-17) in disease activity and have thus provided a new target for biologic therapy. Ixekizumab, the most recent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved anti-IL-17 biologic agent, appears to be a promising medication for patients suffering from moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.MethodsWe reviewed the results of phase III trials for ixekizumab in order to assess the efficacy, safety, and impact on quality of life of this agent in the treatment of plaque psoriasis. Additionally, we compared these results to phase II and phase III trials for other biologic psoriasis medications including the anti-IL-23 agents tildrakizumab and guselkumab, the combined anti-IL-12 and anti-IL-23 agent ustekinumab, and the anti-IL-17 agents brodalumab and secukinumab.ResultsPooled results from individual studies demonstrate that among the most efficacious dosing regimens of these anti-interleukin therapies, ixekizumab achieves higher Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 75 rates and similar or higher static Physician Global Assessment 0-1 rates than the other anti-IL-17 and anti-IL-23 agents. The safety profile of ixekizumab is similar to these agents, with nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory infection, headache, arthralgia, and injection-site erythema as the most commonly reported adverse events.ConclusionIxekizumab is a highly efficacious, newly FDA-approved treatment for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis that demonstrates a robust clinical response, significant improvement in patient quality of life, and a favorable safety profile.
Emvironmental Effects on the Mechanical Behavior of AS/3501-6 Material

Both a coated strain gage concept and an extensometer technique were evaluated in order to obtain reliable creep-recovery displacement/strain readings from moisture saturated specimens that were tested at various temperature/humidity environments. Current results indicate that the extensometer is a more reliable technique for recording creeprecovery test data and low frequency fatigue test results. Application of linear viscoelasticity to characterize the mechanical response of the composite, subject to various time, temperature and moisture effects, was quite successful. We were able to formulate the master curves of material property and their dependence on time, temperature and humidity through test and analysis correlation. A specific thermal environment is not directly replaceable for a specific humidity environment in the sense that composite mechanical response is unique at each temperature humidity environment. A test analysis procedure was developed to generate the principal compliances Sij so that test effort could be minimized to primarily ± 45° specimen testing.
Development of Renal Function in the Fetus and Newborn

Fetal renal function is inherently related to fetal development, and management of preterm infants requires knowledge of renal developmental stage in conjunction with gestational age and/or post-menstrual age. A variety of factors, including maternal health and gestational medication use, may result in renal dysfunction even in term infants. Optimal prenatal and postnatal care in cases of suspected renal dysfunction is required to decrease the likelihood of long-term renal disease into adulthood.
In vitro production of erythropoietin by kidneys perfused with a serum-free solution

Normal rabbits exposed to 0.4 atmospheric pressure for 3 hr will generate about 40-60 U of erythropoietin during a subsequent 3-hr period. If the kidneys were removed from 3-hr hypoxic animals, washed carefully, and perfused for 3 hr by recirculation with a serum-tissue culture mixture, each kidney generated about 14 U of erythropoietin in vitro. Perfusion of normal kidneys did not result in the production of erythropoietin, and only small amounts were generated if the perfusate contained Puromycin. Three-hour hypoxic kidneys perfused for 3 hr with a serum-free tissue culture medium were found to generate about 8 U of erythropoietin per kidney and similar kidneys perfused with saline about 1 U. These results indicate that erythropoietin is synthesized by kidney tissue and not produced by enzymatic activation of a plasma substrate.
Gaming: A Teaching Strategy to Enhance Adult Learning

Background As a nurse educator, I encountered many complaints from staff nurses about mandatory inservice education programs, stating that they are repetitious, time-consuming, often too basic, and at times, downright boring. One exception was an Infection Control Week education session that was done in the form of a game. This session set attendance records and had very positive feedback from staff nurses. As a result of this feedback, the use of gaming as a teaching strategy in nursing education was explored. Method A review of the literature on gaming as a teaching strategy was conducted with special attention to its history, current use, and successes in nursing education. Results Introduced as a formal teaching strategy more than 75 years ago, gaming offers many advantages over more traditional teaching methods. Games connect theory more closely to real life situation and add innovation, diversity, and the opportunity for immediate feedback. Although gaining in popularity, gaming is not extensively used in nursing education as it is not considered a serious educational tool. However, recent literature suggests much success with its use. Conclusion Gaming as a teaching strategy has proven to be an effective way of conveying information in a stimulating, appealing manner. Games facilitate both beginning and experienced nurses' learning by providing an opportunity for experience without the danger or fear of jeopardizing patient safety.
Preclinical Prevention Trial of Calcitriol: Impact of Stage of Intervention and Duration of Treatment on Oral Carcinogenesis.

Abstract The anticancer activity of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3 or calcitriol) has been widely reported in preclinical models. However, systematic investigation into the chemopreventive potential of calcitriol against the spectrum of oral carcinogenesis has not been performed. To address this gap in knowledge, we conducted a preclinical prevention trial of calcitriol in the 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) oral carcinogenesis model. C57BL/6 mice were exposed to the carcinogen 4NQO in drinking water for 16 weeks and randomized to control (4NQO only) or calcitriol arms. Calcitriol (0.1 μg i.p, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) was administered for (i) 16 weeks concurrently with 4NQO exposure, (ii) 10 weeks post completion of 4NQO exposure, and, (iii) a period of 26 weeks concurrent with and following 4NQO exposure. Longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to monitor disease progression until end point (week 26). Correlative histopathology of tongue sections was performed to determine incidence and multiplicity of oral dysplastic lesions and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Vitamin D metabolites and calcium were measured in the serum using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) and colorimetric assay, respectively. Renal CYP24A1 (24-hydroxylase) and CYP27B1 (1α-hydroxylase) expression was measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Immunostaining of tongue sections for vitamin D receptor (VDR), CYP24A1, and Ki67 was also performed. Non-invasive MRI enabled longitudinal assessment of lesions in the oral cavity. Calcitriol administered concurrently with 4NQO for 16 weeks significantly (P
Donor Influence on Long-Term Innovation Within Nonprofit Organizations:

We examine how donors influence nonprofit long-term product innovation by estimating a fixed-effects model using longitudinal data on a sample of nonprofit organizations. Innovation requires multiy...
Vertical Interconnect Technology for Enlarging Capacity on Micro Solid Thin Film Rechargeable Battery

A vertical interconnect technology for stacking micro solid thin film batteries (STFB) in IoT devices is proposed. This technology consists of stacking glass substrates with a layer of solid thin film battery, drilling by laser machining, filling the holes with solder to connect the stacked batteries, and dicing the stacked wafer to 1×1 mm micro stacked batteries. In this work, various metals are evaluated to identify the appropriate electrode drilled with glass and resin. The effects of the laser wavelength are also investigated.
Properties of the Background Global Aerosol and Their Effects on Climate

Properties of the aerosols above Hawaii, Alaska, and the South Pole are derived from sun photometry at several wavelengths. The mass loading of aerosol material is several milligrams per square met...
Electronic structure, magnetic properties, and exchange splitting of gadolinium intermetallics

Abstract We report here the electronic structure calculations of the magnetic moment, magneto-crystalline anisotropy energy (MAE), and density of states (DOS) of Gd-metal, GdAl2, GdAl3, GdCo2, GdCo3, and GdCo5. From the DOS, the exchange splitting energy is derived to map ferrimagnetic to paramagnetic phase transition (Curie temperature, TC). The employed theoretical method here is based on advanced density functional theory, specifically the linearized augmented plane wave method (LAPW) within the local spin density approximation (LSDA), including spin–orbit coupling (SOC) and Hubbard model parameter (U). DOS analysis of both Gd-Al and Gd-Co systems reveals a strong correlation between exchange splitting energy and TC. The Gd-Co system exhibits an enormous exchange splitting energy among Co-3d electrons, vastly overwhelming the vanishing Gd 5d exchange splitting. These findings suggest that exchange splitting of Co-3d electrons plays a key role in the ground state magnetism and magnetic transition temperatures in these materials.
Diagnosis and treatment of primary lactase deficiency in infants

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment strategies of primary lactase deficiency in infants.Methods The clinical data of 26 infants with primary lactase deficiency in Shenzhen Chidlren's hospital from October 2009 to February 2011 were analyzed retrospectively and the diagnoses were confirmed by dietary therapy.Results The patients were consisted of 19 males and 7 females,whose ages of onset ranged from 1 to 2 months,persisting 1 to 4 months.Breast feeding,mixed feeding and formula feeding were given in 10 cases,8 cases and 8 cases,respectively.The main clinical manifestations were persistent or chronic diarrhea,with watery and or foamy stools,4 to 8 times per day.Nineteen patients had received antibiotics but without improvement.Lactose free formula and oral probiotics improved the symptoms within 1 week in all 26 cases,but recurrence of symptoms followed reintroduction of dairy foods.Conclusion The clinical manifestations of primary lactase deficiency in infants are persistent or chronic diarrhea.Lactose free formula can be used to confirm the diagnosis and to improve the symptoms. Key words: Primary lactase deficiency; Lactose-free formulas; Dietary therapy; Diagnosis; Infants
Salient Montages from Unconstrained Videos

We present a novel method to generate salient montages from unconstrained videos, by finding “montageable moments” and identifying the salient people and actions to depict in each montage. Our method addresses the need for generating concise visualizations from the increasingly large number of videos being captured from portable devices. Our main contributions are (1) the process of finding salient people and moments to form a montage, and (2) the application of this method to videos taken “in the wild” where the camera moves freely. As such, we demonstrate results on head-mounted cameras, where the camera moves constantly, as well as on videos downloaded from YouTube. Our approach can operate on videos of any length; some will contain many montageable moments, while others may have none. We demonstrate that a novel “montageability” score can be used to retrieve results with relatively high precision which allows us to present high quality montages to users.
The Corset as Civilization: The Debate on Clothing and Women’s Social Wellbeing

The discussion surrounding women’s place in the home vs. their public personas is one that must be approached with nuance. In this chapter, Gibson draws from multiple sources to tease out the various strands of that discussion as it intersects with corsets, tight clothing, and the dress reform movement of the 1890s and 1900s. As seen in the previous chapter, women’s relationship with their corsets and other clothing as arbiters of social standing and defense against penetrations (both real and symbolic) was deeply ingrained, yet also contested from both men and women from this time. Health and morality were deeply linked with ill-health and/or the poverty that occasionally caused such ill-health being seen as moral failings rather than failings of the flesh. Through this time, we see a change and a conflict in this narrative, one from the men railing against the tight stays of earlier times, to the women creating their own dress reform movement to remove tight/hot clothing and release the burden on women’s waists. This is a narrative that incorporates various ideas from earlier chapters—that women were more than their participation in the home; that they were responsible for corseting patents much of the time; that they were more than how they were viewed by society and more than their salacious contributions to magazines. The practice of corseting lasted 400 years, and although it is often seen as a patriarchal imposition of men onto women, women were instrumental in ultimately ending that practice through dress reform.
Weak Incentives for Audit Quality: Evidence from Broker-Dealers

Much of the literature develops theory using audits of publicly owned companies with agency costs that create demand for audit quality. In contrast, I study auditor size and industry specialization in the broker-dealer (BD) industry, where entities have weak incentives to demand and supply high audit quality. Using proprietary data, I test whether larger firms and industry specialists provide better audit quality, as proxied by audit adjustments. Consistent with theory, I find that larger firms provide higher audit quality. In contrast, industry specialists perform worse than non-specialists; industry specialist partners in small firms drive this result. These findings suggest that clients with weak demand for auditing hire low quality auditors, who in turn gain market share in the industry. Overall, my findings illustrate the importance of considering clients’ demand for auditing when evaluating audit quality and industry specialization.
Toward the Impact of Non-pharmaceutical Interventions and Vaccination on the COVID-19 Pandemic With Time-Dependent SEIR Model

The outbreak of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March, 2020 and rapidly spread to over 210 countries and territories around the world By December 24, there are over 77M cumulative confirmed cases with more than 1 72M deaths worldwide To mathematically describe the dynamic of the COVID-19 pandemic, we propose a time-dependent SEIR model considering the incubation period Furthermore, we take immunity, reinfection, and vaccination into account and propose the SEVIS model Unlike the classic SIR based models with constant parameters, our dynamic models not only predicts the number of cases, but also monitors the trajectories of changing parameters, such as transmission rate, recovery rate, and the basic reproduction number Tracking these parameters, we observe the significant decrease in the transmission rate in the U S after the authority announced a series of orders aiming to prevent the spread of the virus, such as closing non-essential businesses and lockdown restrictions Months later, as restrictions being gradually lifted, we notice a new surge of infection emerges as the transmission rates show increasing trends in some states Using our epidemiology models, people can track, timely monitor, and predict the COVID-19 pandemic with precision To illustrate and validate our model, we use the national level data (the U S ) and the state level data (New York and North Dakota), and the resulting relative prediction errors for the infected group and recovered group are mostly lower than 0 5% We also simulate the long-term development of the pandemic based on our proposed models to explore when the crisis will end under certain conditions
Current update on the molecular genetics and management of hereditary ovarian cancers: a primer for radiologists

More than one-fifth of ovarian cancers are hereditary, with most of them caused by BRCA genes. Malignant ovarian neoplasms are primarily epithelial tumors, a heterogeneous group of tumors with variable genetic backgrounds that translate into different biologic behaviors and morphologic features. Radiologists play an increasingly important role in the diagnosis and management of oncology patients. Familiarity with hereditary ovarian cancers will have a positive impact on patient management and radiologists' involvement in the multidisciplinary approach needed for this delicate patient population. In this paper, we review the basic histologic and genetic backgrounds of ovarian tumors with an emphasis on hereditary ovarian cancers, as well as the effects that these factors have on patient workup, primarily with regard to imaging studies.
Professional development for classroom management: a review of the literature

The ability of teachers to manage their classrooms is critical to achieving positive educational outcomes for students. Many teachers receive limited pre-service training in classroom management, c...
Who survives? A cross-country comparison

Abstract How capital structure, dividend policy, and corporate governance vary across countries has been the focus of recent studies, but how resources are reallocated in response to poor performance has not received as much attention. This paper argues that the market for corporate control and the formal bankruptcy/liquidation processes of a country are two key mechanisms through which corporate assets are reallocated. Ideally, an economy would only allow the best users of economic resources to retain the right to use those assets and any sub-optimal use would result in either a take-over by a more proficient owner or an asset sale. We present evidence that equity market delistings occur more frequently in countries with strong shareholder rights. Furthermore, both strong creditor and shareholder rights increase the use of bankruptcy, relative to acquisitions, as a mechanism to resolve financial distress. We also present some evidence that these mechanisms are not as effective in Japan.
Characterization of the Binding of Serum Amyloid P to Type IV Collagen

Abstract Serum amyloid P (SAP), a member of the evolutionarily conserved pentraxin family, is a normal component of a number of basement membranes, including glomerular and alveolar. In vitro SAP binds to a variety of proteins including fibronectin, proteoglycans, and the collagen-like region of the complement component C1q. In these studies, binding of SAP to type IV collagen, a major component of basement membrane, was examined. Purified SAP binds to human and mouse type IV collagen but not type I, II, or III collagens. Binding of SAP to type IV collagen is dependent on the presence of Ca2+. This binding is saturable with a Kd ≈ 1.2 × 10−7 M based on solid phase binding and 4 × 10−8 M based on the IC50 value from fluid phase binding data. Binding of SAP to type IV collagen was inhibited by both SAP and C-reactive protein (CRP). However, a 5-fold molar excess of CRP as compared with SAP was required to inhibit the SAP binding by 50%. Binding of SAP to type IV collagen was inhibited by both collagen IV and C1q but not by phosphatidylethanolamine or bovine serum albumin. The inhibition data indicate that SAP may bind to the triple helical region of type IV collagen via a site distinct from its galactan binding site. The most likely site of SAP involved in its interaction with type IV collagen may be the region spanning amino acid residues 108–120, which shows a great deal of sequence homology (60% strict identity) with the CRP region implicated in its binding to the collagen-like region of the C1q molecule.
Neville Chamberlain – By Nick Smart

Neville Chamberlain is well known to posterity as the man who got colossally on the wrong side of history and, to use his own ill‐fated words about Hitler against him, “missed the bus.” Succumbing ...
Teaching HCI in software engineering

The creation of graphical user interfaces (GUI) can be an invigorating but a complex challenge. Gone are the days when a programmer could build an interface with little or no thought of the user. As the complexity of interfaces increases, and interfaces become user centric, programmers now consider interface design well before the first programming keystrokes are entered. The problem is teaching students during their college years about human computer interaction (HCI). Here at Mary Washington College, HCI is an elective that has only been offered twice. With this in mind, many students do not get the opportunity to take an HCI course. The purpose of this paper is to describe one methodology of teaching HCI in a software engineering course.
Canalicular adenoma of the buccal mucosa: An ultrastructural and histochemical study☆

A canalicular adenoma that occurred in the minor salivary glands of the buccal mucosa in a 62-year-old black man was examined by electron microscopy and histochemistry. The ulcerated bowl-shaped tumor consisted mostly of ductlike tubules of columnar and cuboidal epithelial tumor cells which resembled intercalated duct cells ultrastructurally. Tumor cells resembling myoepithelial cells were not associated with these tubules. Less frequently, there were narrow tubules and cords adjacent to the capsule. Occasional cells in these cords contained variable amounts of microfilaments, often associated with focal densities, and thus resembled myoepithelial cells in varying stages of differentiation. Other noteworthy ultrastructural findings in this neoplasm included marked replication of the basal lamina of capillaries and the presence of a single, luminally oriented cilium in a tumor cell lining a tubule.
Supporting shared information systems: boundary objects, communities, and brokering

Organizations increasingly rely upon integrated and shared information systems and databases such as ERP systems and data warehouses. Such shared systems pose new and unique support challenges for systems professionals. A review of the literature reveals that comprehensive models to study the support of shared information systems do not yet exist. Based on the theory of communities of practice, and on the concepts of convergence and divergence of systems and practice, the boundary object brokering model of shared information systems is developed. This model is applied to an interpretive case study of a large company, illustrating how shared systems can be seen as boundary objects that connect disparate communities of practice. The model and case study show how the traditional role of systems professionals has been augmented to include brokering tasks, providing new issues and implications for theory and practice.
Profiling of neuropeptides released at the stomatogastric ganglion of the crab, Cancer borealis with mass spectrometry

Studies of release under physiological conditions provide more direct data about the identity of neuromodulatory signaling molecules than studies of tissue localization that cannot distinguish between processing precursors and biologically active neuropeptides. We have identified neuropeptides released by electrical stimulation of nerves that contain the axons of the modulatory projection neurons to the stomatogastric ganglion of the crab, Cancer borealis. Preparations were bathed in saline containing a cocktail of peptidase inhibitors to minimize peptide degradation. Both electrical stimulation of projection nerves and depolarization with high K+ saline were used to evoke release. Releasates were desalted and then identified by mass using MALDI-TOF (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight) mass spectrometry. Both previously known and novel peptides were detected. Subsequent to electrical stimulation proctolin, Cancer borealis tachykinin-related peptide (CabTRP), FVNSRYa, carcinustatin-8, allatostatin-3 (AST-3), red pigment concentrating hormone, NRNFLRFa, AST-5, SGFYANRYa, TNRNFLRFa, AST-9, orcomyotropin-related peptide, corazonin, Ala13-orcokinin, and Ser9-Val13-orcokinin were detected. Some of these were also detected after high K+ depolarization. Release was calcium dependent. In summary, we have shown release of the neuropeptides thought to play an important neuromodulatory role in the stomatogastric ganglion, as well as numerous other candidate neuromodulators that remain to be identified.
Simian varicella virus

After primary infection (chickenpox) in children, varicella zoster virus (VZV) becomes latent in cranial, dorsal root and autonomic ganglia along the entire neuraxis and may reactivate decades later to produce zoster. The incidence of zoster and its attendant neurological complications is related to a natural decline in cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to VZV that occurs with aging, and which also develops in immunocompromised organ transplant recipients, and patients with cancer or AIDS. Yet the mechanism of reactivation and the cascade of events that are precipitated by impaired CMI to VZV are still unknown. To study such events require an animal model of varicella. While experimental animal models of latency and pathogenesis exist for closely related viruses such as herpes simplex types 1 and 2, VZV causes disease exclusively in humans. Thus, lack of a good animal model has hampered the studies of varicella latency and pathogenesis. Several attempts to produce disease by experimental inoculation of animals have led to seroconversion without clinical symptoms (Takahashi et al., ; Myers et al., , ; Matsunaga et al., ; Wroblewska et al., ; Walz-Cicconi et al., 1986). Subcutaneous inoculation of the Oka VZV (vaccine strain) into the breast of a chimpanzee has been shown to produce viremia and mild rash restricted to the site of inoculation (Cohen et al., 1996). VZV DNA was detected in blood mononuclear cells (MNCs) of the chimpanzee during the 10-day incubation period. Mild varicella was observed resembling the low-level infection seen in some children vaccinated with VZV, but latency was not studied.
Correlation analysis of ductus venosus velocity indices and fetal cardiac function

Objective To examine the relationships between the ductus venosus (DV) pulsatility index for veins (PIV), individual DV velocity ratios and diastolic and global myocardial cardiac function. Methods Doppler measurements of the DV, atrioventricular (AV) valves and ventricular in- and outflow were analyzed. The DV-PIV and velocity ratios for individual phases (systole (S), end-systolic relaxation (v), early diastole (D), atrial systole (a), and S/v, S/D, S/a, v/D, v/a and D/a ratios) were calculated. The ratio of early and late diastolic peak velocities across AV valves was calculated (E/A ratio). Left modified myocardial performance index (MPI) was calculated from time intervals between valve clicks defining isovolumetric contraction/relaxation and ejection times. All values were transformed to Z-scores. The distributions of DV velocity ratios and DV-PIV were correlated with cardiac Doppler parameters. Results A total of 1163 examinations from 213 fetuses, most of which were at risk for cardiac dysfunction, were included in the study. In 742 the PIV was normal and in 421 PIV was elevated > 2 SD above the normal mean. The DV-PIV correlated with velocity ratios (P < 0.0001) but not with E/A ratios and the MPI. S/v and v/D ratios were related to tricuspid and mitral E/A ratios and left ventricular MPI. The S/D ratio was only related to both E/A ratios. There was no relationship between a-wave-related velocity ratios and cardiac function. Conclusions Velocity ratios of the DV show relationships with cardiac function that are not reflected by the PIV alone. In cases of suspected fetal cardiac dysfunction based on elevated DV-PIV, analysis of velocity ratios or direct cardiac evaluation is suggested to determine the underlying pathophysiology. Copyright © 2013 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Validation through exclusion: techniques for ensuring software safety

An approach to software safety is presented that emphasizes the construction of a test set for checking that conditions leading to software safety failures do not occur. The approach combines some mutation analysis along with some recent work on the fundamentals of testing. This approach tests over a very constrained space of functions where the test sets are determined by a type of software fault tree analysis. It is shown that test sets can be derived with the guarantee that if the system passes its tests, then it is correct (i.e., safe) or suffers from some safety flaw not reflected in the model. >
Comment on "Reconciling coulomb dissociation and radiative capture measurements".

A Comment on the Letter by H. Esbensen, G. F. Bertsch, and K. A. Snover, Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 042502 (2005). The authors of the Letter offer a Reply.
A low-cost closed-form transient thermal mode for area-efficient power MOS sizing and reliable inductive load switching

Using an on-chip low-side power MOS with the clamping function to control currents through inductive loads offers low system cost in automotive applications. The chip area and the reliability of the integrated power MOS depend on its junction temperature. This paper presents a closed-form transient thermal model that can be evaluated by a simple numerical method to provide the junction temperature estimations based on its power profile as well as power MOS' areas and aspect ratios during the inductive clamping. This aids circuit designers in designing an area-efficient integrated power MOS to meet a given reliability requirement while being lower cost than commercially available thermal simulation tools. The proposed theoretical transient thermal model of the integrated power MOS is verified to achieve reasonable accuracy compared with the experimental results.
On Mechanical Modeling of Cantilevered Piezoelectric Vibration Energy Harvesters

Cantilevered beams with piezoceramic (PZT) layers are the most commonly investigated type of vibration energy harvesters. A frequently used modeling approach is the single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) modeling of the harvester beam as it allows simple expressions for the electrical outputs. In the literature, since the base excitation on the harvester beam is assumed to be harmonic, the well known SDOF relation is employed for mathematical modeling. In this study, it is shown that the commonly accepted SDOF harmonic base excitation relation may yield highly inaccurate results for predicting the motion of cantilevered beams and bars. First, the response of a cantilevered Euler-Bernoulli beam to general base excitation given in terms of translation and small rotation is reviewed where more sophisticated damping models are considered. Then, the error in the SDOF model is shown and correction factors are derived for improving the SDOF harmonic base excitation model both for transverse and longitudinal vibrations. The formal way of treating the components of mechanical damping is also discussed. After deriving simple expressions for the electrical outputs of the PZT in open-circuit conditions, relevance of the electrical outputs to vibration mode shapes and the electrode locations is investigated and the issue of strain nodes is addressed.
Ridge Tillage for Managing Irrigation Water on the U.S. Southern Great Plains

Ridge tillage (furrowing) is widely used on irrigated land on the Southern Great Plains, especially on soils adapted to gravity flow, furrow irrigation. Ridge tillage is also used in conjunction with surge irrigation, limited irrigation, and precision water application techniques. This report reviews the effects of ridge tillage on irrigation water management and crop establishment. Furrow irrigation, made possible by ridge tillage, results in relatively uniform distribution of water in the field with length of run. Exceptions are on slowly permeable soils where infiltration at the lower end of the field may be low, and on moderately permeable soils where infiltration and losses to deep percolation may be high. Practices that result in more uniform water application on slowly permeable soils include allowing tailwater runoff, surge irrigation, deep loosening of the soil (especially at the lower end of the field), and precision water application. On moderately permeable soils, furrow compaction, surge irrigation, and precision water application practices help to reduce water losses resulting from high infiltration rates and deep percolation. The effects of these practices on water infiltration and irrigation efficiency are discussed. Also discussed are the advantages and disadvantages of ridge tillage for crop establishment.
Anion sensitivity of motility and step-down photophobic responses of Euglena gracilis

The motility and step-down photophobic responses of Euglena are influenced by inorganic and organic anions. Persistent motility (with Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+ present) is supported with chloride or sulfate but not with acetate, nitrate or propionate as the only added anions. Cells in media containing acetate displayed a cell aggregation (clumping) behavior that was both red light sensitive and, under some conditions, was accompanied by suppression of the step-down photophobic response. Addition of sodium salts (Cl-, SO 4 2- , acetate or propionate) to cells in Cl- or SO 4 2- based media had differential effects on the duration of the step-down photophobic responses induced by blue light removal: anions alter the response. In addition, cells in all Cl- containing media showed constant photophobic response duration following repeated stimulation. Cells in some SO4 2- containing media, however, showed response summation to repeated stimulation. This latter effect was reversible and was overcome by the addition of chloride anions.
Comparison of the antigenic properties of the glycinin polypeptides

Abstract The antigenic properties of purified glycinin subunits were studied using antibodies prepared against them. Antisera against native glycinin did not react with the isolated subunits, and antibodies prepared against the purified subunits were not active against native glycinin. When native glycinin -was denatured, the antiglycinin immunoglobulins lost their ability to react with it, although the denatured complex was then recognized by antibodies against the purified subunits. Substantial structural rearrangement apparently occurred when the native complex was denatured and disaggregated. Acidic polypeptides A 1a , A 1b , and A 2 had similar determinants as judged by their reactions against A 1a and A 1a antisera. The reaction of the A 3 polypeptides with these antibodies was of lower intensity and in each case clear spurs of cross-reactivity were visible. No cross-reaction was detected between polypeptide A 4 and either anti-A 1a or A 2 . Anti-A 3 antibodies reacted with each of the acidic polypeptides of glycinin, and distinct spurs of cross-reactivity were observed between A 3 vs A 1a , A 3 vs A 2 , and A 3 vs A 4 . B 1 Antisera developed a reaction of identity between basic polypeptides B 1 and B 2 , but reacted very weakly with B 3 and B 4 . The acidic and basic polypeptides of glycinin were immunologically unrelated. The results demonstrated that immunological tests would successfully differentiate some members of the family of acidic subunits, and other immunoglobulins would discriminate between members of the family of basic subunits.
Broadband 2 × 2 free-space optical switch using electronically controlled liquid lenses

Abstract To the best of our knowledge, proposed is the first liquid lens technology-based 2 × 2 free-space optical switch using a pair of Electronically Controlled Variable Focus Lenses (ECVFLs). By independently controlling the focal lengths of two cascaded liquid ECVFLs, the two input optical beams are spatially adjusted to couple to their respective output beam ports. At 633-nm, the experimental switch demonstrates 26.3 dB crosstalk, 23.0 dB within-channel isolation, 1.1 dB optical loss, and 0.2 dB Polarization Dependent Loss (PDL). A 0.2 dB Wavelength Dependent Loss (WDL) is measured over 633-nm and 514-nm wavelengths. A 1 × 2 optical-fiber coupled switch version is also tested. The proposed switch can be useful in free-space laser systems as well as fiber-based modules.
Frame synchronization with large carrier frequency offsets: Point estimation versus hypothesis testing

In communication systems which transmit a continuous stream of data, the coded data symbols are typically transmitted in frames. Frames contain one or multiple blocks of coded data. The Start Of a Frame (SOF) is especially required to synchronize the decoder, especially in systems which use modern codes such as Turbo codes. This process is known as frame synchronization. We examine the general problem of frame synchronization in the presence of a large residual carrier frequency offset, and study the theoretical and implementation trade-offs between using point estimation and sequential detection in deriving frame synchronizers. We also derive a new sequential detector which is resilient to Automatic Gain Control (AGC) errors. We describe simple state machines which control the one-shot point estimator and the sequential detector to ensure low probability of false detects. We compare the two techniques via simulation results and also a simple Markov chain analysis of the point-estimation scheme.
Intractability in Environmental Disputes: Exploring a Complex Construct

Planners are finding it increasingly helpful to use conflict resolution techniques to manage conditions of uncertainty and conflict endemic to environmental and land use planning, and public policy making. Some disputes in these areas, however, are by their very nature unusually resistant to resolution, rendering them especially difficult for planners to manage without significant mediation training and skill. By exploring the literature on dispute intractability, this article maps for planners characteristics of intractable environmental, land use, and public policy disputes and discusses the usefulness of the transformative mediation approach for managing intractable disputes. Empirical research on dispute intractability, now in its nascent stages, could be productively applied by planners in making conflict assessments and applying dispute resolution techniques in planning practice.
Optimization of Blanching for Crispness of Banana Chips Using Response Surface Methodology

Whole green bananas were blanched in water at 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100°C for 2, 15, and 30 min using a factorial design then peeled, sliced and fried in oil to make chips. Crispness was measured using a bending-snapping test in the TA.XT2 Texture Analyzer. Significant interactions were found between blanch time and temperature and crispness of chips. A second experiment was then performed using a central composite design and blanch temperatures from 41.7 to 98.3°C. Response surface analysis predicted that crispiest chips should be produced at blanching conditions of 69°C and 22 min.
Effect of dynamic stiffness of the substrates on neurite outgrowth by using a DNA-crosslinked hydrogel.

Central nervous system tissues, like other tissue types, undergo constant remodeling, which potentially leads to changes in their mechanical stiffness. Moreover, mechanical compliance of central nervous system tissues can also be modified under external load such as that experienced in traumatic brain or spinal cord injury, and during pathological processes. Thus, the neuronal responses to the dynamic stiffness of the microenvironment are of significance. In this study, we induced decrease in stiffness by using a DNA-crosslinked hydrogel, and subjected rat spinal cord neurons to such dynamic stiffness. The neurons respond to the dynamic cues as evidenced by the primary neurite structure, and the response from each neurite property (e.g., axonal length and primary dendrite number) is consistent with the behavior on static gels of same substrate rigidity, with one exception of mean primary dendrite length. The results on cell population distribution confirm the neuronal responses to the dynamic stiffness. Q...
NO/NH3 coadsorption on Pt(111): Kinetic and dynamical effects in rotational accommodation

Abstract The strongly interacting coadsorbate system of ammonia/nitric oxide on Pt(111) has been examined using both quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detected temperature programmed desorption (TPD) methods. The QMS/TPD experiments show simultaneous desorption of NO and NH3 as reaction-limited products from the dissociation of an adsorbed NONH3 complex. Although NO TPD kinetics are altered by the formation of this complex, LIF/TPD results show that the rotational accommodation, spin-orbit temperature, lambda doublet populations, and molecular alignment of desorbed NO are insensitive to this attractive interaction. This suggests that, following decomposition of the NONH3 species, NO resides on the surface sufficiently long that it has no memory of being complexed.
Sketch-based educational games: "drawing" kids away from traditional interfaces

Computer-based games and technologies can be significant aids for helping children learn. However, most computer-based games simply address the learning styles of visual and auditory learners. Sketch-based interfaces, however, can also address the needs of those children who learn better through tactile and kinesthetic approaches. Furthermore, sketch recognition can allow for automatic feedback to aid children without the explicit need for teacher to be present. In this paper, we present various sketch-based tools and games that promote tactile learning and entertainment for children.
Identification and investigation of impurities in undoped Hg1−xCdxTe

Abstract The effect of impurities on electrical properties has been the most sought information for the well-known infrared sensing material mercury-cadmium telluride. The relationship between the excess holes ( p -type) or excess electrons ( n -type) of undoped mercury-cadmium tellurideHg 1− x Cd x Te(0.23 ⋍ x ⋍ 0.4)and the residual impurities in the crystals were investigated. The impurities in the undoped material were determined using emission spectrometry, atomic absorption, and spark sources mass spectrometry. Trace analysis indicates that impurities such as Cu and Ag consistently appear in p -type samples. Although these elements are not frequently observed in n -type substance, occasionally they are found in the material in a minute amount. Impurities such as Si, Cr, Pb, Li, Rb, Co, and Sn have been detected in both p -type and n -type materials. The possible correlation of these impurities with the p -type or n -type behavior of the undoped material is discussed.
Comparison of Proview phosphene tonometry with Goldmann applanation tonometry.

Abstract Background: To compare intraocular pressures obtained using a handheld pressure phosphene tonometer (PPT) (Proview, Bausch & Lomb Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tampa, Fla.) with Goldmann applanation tonometry. Methods: Comparative case series of 30 randomly selected patients. Results: The readings obtained with the pressure phosphene tonometer display a higher mean and a larger standard deviation than those obtained with the Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT). Differences between PPT and GAT readings tended to decrease as a function of increased Goldmann levels. The relation of Proview and Goldmann readings ( r = 0.32) and the scatterplot were not consistent with the hypothesis that the 2 methods are equivalent. Interpretation: Our results indicate that the pressure phosphene-type handheld tonometry method, which does not appear to provide an accurate and consistent measure of intraocular pressure, is substantially less reliable than the Goldmann method.
A Comparative Study of Sulfadiazine, Penicillin, and Penicillin Combined with Sulfadiazine in the Treatment of Lobar Pneumonia

1) This statistical comparison readily demonstrates that penicillin is a much more superior drug than sulfadiazine in the treatment of pneumococcic pneumonia. 2) Sulfadiazine is an inferior therapeutic agent for the treatment of pneumonia as compared to the antibiotic, penicillin. 3) The evidence adduced in these series of investigations, demonstrate that in the group in which there was addition of sulfadiazine to the antibiotic therapy, there was a delayed clinical response, a greater incidence of complications, and a higher mortality. 4) The clinical use of sulfadiazine with penicillin indicates a possible antagonistic action in vivo rather than a synergistic effect. 5) There is little justification for the combined administration of the sulfonamides and penicillin in the treatment of pneumonia. Penicillin alone will accomplish the therapeutically desired goal if this is attainable. 6) There are very, very few pneumonia patients who cannot be treated with penicillin. They may require sulfonamide therapy.