cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In situ pneumatic testing at Yucca Mountain

The Yucca Mountain site in Nevada is a potential site for a geologic high-level nuclear waste repository. The proposed repository location is in the unsaturated zone in the mountain. Fluid flow through the fractured tuff repository rock is the potential transport mechanism for radionuclides from nuclear waste to the environment. This flow is believed to be predominantly confined to the fractures, which means that an understanding of how fracture systems transport fluids is essential to determining how fast and in what quantities fluids will travel through the rock. As part of an ambient testing program for the site characterization project at Yucca Mountain, the unsaturated zone is under investigation to examine the fluid flow and transport characteristics of the fractured tuff. The size and number of connections between fractures are characteristics that affect flow and how flow can travel in networks of fractures. To determine these potential flow paths in the fracture system, site investigators use automatically controlled packer assemblies to seal clusters of boreholes drilled into the rock, enabling injection of air into specific locations while monitoring pressure responses at other locations. Tests have been performed both before and after major excavations near the test locations, enabling study of the mechanical effects of construction on local permeability. To date, an estimated 3500 separate air injections have been undertaken and nearly a quarter of a million pressure-response curves have been logged in the study. The number of tests lends itself to visualization and statistical examination of the flow connections and the distributions of permeability in the rock mass.
The Gibbs conference on biothermodynamics: origins and evolution.

Abstract The Gibbs conference on biothermodynamics arose in the late 1980's as a ‘self-organized’ endeavor by researchers at eleven institutions of the US. Over a period of 10 years these annual conferences have grown steadily in size. They have fostered the development of new thermodynamic approaches and their applications in biochemistry. By emphasizing participation by students and postdoctoral fellows they have contributed significantly to the career development of young scientists in this field.
How HIF-1α Handles Stress

Metazoans cope with hypoxia—oxygen deficiency in the tissues—by eliciting elaborate cellular responses to balance oxygen supply and demand. At the molecular level, adaptation relies primarily on the hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), a transcription factor, and its binding partner ARNT (also called HIF-1β). This complex activates numerous target genes to limit oxygen consumption and push the cell into survival mode ( 1 ). The scope of HIF-1α action is expanding, though, as it seems to have nontranscriptional activities that reduce DNA replication and slow down cell proliferation when oxygen becomes scarce (see the figure).
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS FOR A GENERIC AEROCAPTURE SYSTEM

The technology requirements for the design of a generic aerocapture vehicle system are summarized. These spacecraft have the capability of completely eliminating fuel-costly retropropulsion for planetary orbit capture through a single aerodynamically controlled atmospheric braking pass from a hyperbolic trajectory into a near circular orbit. This generic system has application at both the inner and outer planets. Spacecraft design integration, navigation, communications, and aerothermal protection system design problems were assessed in the technology requirements study and are discussed in this paper.
Ultrasound-Guided Scraping for Chronic Patellar Tendinopathy: A Case Presentation

Chronic patellar tendinopathy is a common complaint among athletes who repetitively stress the extensor mechanism of the knee. Multiple treatment options have been described, but evidence is lacking, specifically when eccentric loading has failed. Debate continues regarding the patho-etiology of chronic patellar tendon pain. There has been recent interest regarding the neurogenic influences involved in chronic tendinopathy, and interventions targeting neovessels and accompanying neonerves have shown promise. This is the first description of an ultrasound-guided technique in which the neovessels and accompanying neonerves in patellar tendinopathy were targeted using a needle scraping technique of the posterior surface of the patellar tendon.
Indexing Voice: A Morality Tale

Jane Hill’s work demonstrates a rare ability to bring precise linguistic analysis to bear on broad questions of social existence, with a special sensitivity to subtle traces of power and structures of inequality. In this article I will draw on her well known essay, “The Voices of Don Gabriel” (Hill 1995) to explore some of the implications of her analysis for social thought in fields beyond the discipline of linguistic anthropology. Hill’s essay is notable for its innovative synthesis of the work of Erving Goffman and M. M. Bakhtin. This synthesis gives substance to a point of convergence that might otherwise remain virtual, which she identifies with the concept of voice. Before turning to Don Gabriel, however, I will discuss the theoretical problem to which, among other things, Hill offers a response. The implications and problems I discuss here should not be taken as self-evident. Although they derive from background assumptions shared by many linguistic anthropologists, since they are not always as evident to colleagues beyond the subfield, this article will begin by sketching them out. Just what is the pertinence of the close analysis of speech for our understanding of other scales of social life? What bearing does the study of conversation, for instance, have on empirical observations and forms of explanation that are not wholly identi
An analysis of age and informational load in Type II tasks

A cyclical combined manual and decision task was examined at an elemental level to determine the effects of task difficulty and informational load upon task performance. The index of difficulty as a measure of task difficulty and the uncertainty in task information as a measure of informational load were varied. Ten young and ten older industrial workers participated in the study. Performance, decision and movement times were measured. It appears that a high information load affects to delay the decision processes of the older worker.
A comparison of two commercial quantitative electromyographic algorithms with manual analysis.

Quantitative EMG (QEMG) is a useful technique in the evaluation of neuromuscular disease. Manual waveform measurements have been replaced by automated computer-based measurements, but there is no uniformity in computer algorithms used to make waveform measurements. We compared QEMG measurements made by algorithms in two commercially available EMG machines with manual measurements. Motor unit action potentials (MUAPs) were simultaneously fed into the two machines and analyzed using QEMG default settings and automatic waveform marking. The averaged MUAPs were also manually marked. The two algorithms and manual marking did not differ significantly for MUAP amplitude. There were significant differences between algorithms for duration and number of phases. Our study indicates that, although automated algorithms make QEMG more practical, visual inspection, and remarking of each MUAP if needed, is necessary before making clinical judgments from the data.
Resiliency in young children whose mothers are living with HIV/AIDS

Resiliency was investigated among well children 6-11 years of age (N = 111) whose mothers are living with AIDS or are HIV symptomatic to determine if mother's HIV status was a risk factor that could effect child resiliency, as well as investigate other factors associated with resiliency. Assessments were conducted with mother and child dyads over four time points (baseline, 6-, 12-, and 18-month follow-ups). Maternal illness was a risk factor for resiliency: as maternal viral load increased, resiliency was found to decrease. Longitudinally, resilient children had lower levels of depressive symptoms (by both mother and child report). Resilient children also reported higher levels of satisfaction with coping self-efficacy. A majority of the children were classified as non-resilient; implications for improving resiliency among children of HIV-positive mothers are discussed.
On the delay in a multiple-access system with large propagation delay

Transmission algorithms are introduced for use in a single-hop packet switching system with nonuniform traffic and with propagation delay that is large relative to the packet length. The traffic model allows arbitrary traffic streams subject only to a constraint on the number of data packets which can arrive at any individual source in the system or for any individual destination in the system over time periods of specified length. The algorithms are based primarily on sending transmission schedules to the receivers immediately before transmitting each data packet multiple times so that the receiver can maximize the number of packets it captures. An algorithm based on matchings in a random graph is shown to provide mean total delay divided by propagation delay arbitrarily close to one, as the propagation delay tends to infinity. >
Regulation of the NFAT pathway discriminates CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells from CD4+CD25− helper T cells

CD4CD25 regulatory T cells (Tregs) are potent modulators of immune responses. The transcriptional program distinguishing Tregs from the CD4CD25 - Th cells is unclear. NFAT, a key transcription factor, is reported to interact with forkhead box p3, allowing inhibitory and activating signals in T cells. In the current study, we hypoth- esize that distinctive NFAT regulation in Tregs as compared with Ths, may contribute to specific functions of these cells. Tregs express basal levels of cytoplasmic NFATc1 and NFATc2. In contrast to Ths, anti-CD3-mediated T cell activation did not induce nuclear translocation of NFATc1 or NFATc2 in Tregs. This effect was associated with altered regulation for NFAT in Tregs that included reduced calcium flux, diminished calcineurin acti- vation, and increased activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3, a negative regulatory kinase for NFAT in Tregs relative to Th cells. These data suggested that NFAT inhibition in Th may induce cells with regulatory function. Indeed, pharmacologically mediated NFAT inhibition induced Th to function as Tregs, an effect that was mediated by induction of membrane-bound TGF- on Th cells. Collec- tively, these data suggest that maintaining NFAT at basal levels is a part of the transcriptional program required for Tregs. J. Leukoc. Biol. 83: 000-000; 2008.
Estimating the costs of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Psychiatrists and other mental health professionals bear daily witness to the debilitating and costly effects of psychiatric symptoms on patients and their families and the challenges in identifying adequate resources for treatment, but evidence regarding the costs of psychiatric disorders has been slow to accumulate, particularly with regard to those that affect children and adolescents. The methodologic complexities in capturing such evidence are formidable and include problems in ascertainment of direct costs (health care for affected individuals and their family members) and indirect costs (those accrued in other sectors such as education and employment), 1 separation of costs related to an index disorder from those related to comorbid disorders, reliance on estimates of prevalence and disability, and changes in costs over time owing to such factors as inflation and the development of new treatments. Despite such limitations, there is a pressing need for comprehensive estimates of the economic burden associated with psychiatric disorders as the national health care debate over the allocation of funding for treatment and research continues, the conceptualization and assessment of psychiatric illness increasingly encompasses associated disabilities, impairment, and symptoms, and expectations for treatment effectiveness expand to include not only amelioration of symptoms and course but also cost savings. 2
Enhancement of radiation effects by pXLG-mEndo in a lung carcinoma model

Purpose: Endostatin is a potent antiangiogenesis protein with little or no toxicity that has potential to enhance radiotherapy. The major goal of this study was to evaluate the combination of radiation and endostatin gene therapy in a preclinical lung cancer model. Methods: Plasmid pXLG-mEndo, constructed in our laboratory, includes the mouse endostatin gene cloned into the pWS4 vector. The kinetics of endostatin expression and efficacy of the pXLG-mEndo and radiation ({sup 60}Co {gamma}-rays) combination was evaluated in the C57BL/6 mouse-Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) model. The LLC cells were implanted s.c. and pXLG-mEndo was injected intratumorally 12-14 days later without any transfection agent; a dose of 10 Gy radiation was applied approximately 16 h thereafter. Some groups received each modality twice. Endostatin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor-{beta}1 (TGF-{beta}1) were quantified in plasma and tumors, and tumor vasculature was examined. Results: Endostatin expression within LLC tumors peaked on Day 7 after pXLG-mEndo injection. Addition of radiation to pXLG-mEndo significantly enhanced the level of tumor endostatin compared with plasmid alone (p < 0.05). Tumor growth was significantly delayed in mice receiving pXLG-mEndo plus radiation compared with no treatment (p < 0.005), radiation (p < 0.05), and control plasmid (pmore » < 0.05). The number of LLC tumor vessels was reduced after combined treatment (p < 0.05), and significant treatment-related changes were observed in both VEGF and TGF-{beta}1. Conclusions: The data demonstrate that delivery of endostatin by pXLG-mEndo as an adjuvant to radiation can significantly enhance the antitumor efficacy of radiotherapy in the LLC mouse tumor model and support further investigation of this unique combination therapy.« less
The influence of evening activity on the onset of sleep.

Sleep onset following three kinds of evening activities was investigated. These activities were six hours of strenuous physical work, six hours of intensive studying and mental work, and six hours of relaxation, i.e., watching TV, listening to records and reading magazines. Ss were 15 young men, each of whom participated in one activity per night for three non-consecutive nights. Results showed that studying delayed sleep onset by an average of about six minutes, but Ss took similar times to fall asleep after exercise and after relaxation. At the moment of sleep onset, heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature and peripheral pulse volume all were significantly elevated after exercise, when compared to studying and relaxation. Both of these results combined were interpreted as indicating that the level of physiological, systemic activity is relatively unimportant for sleep onset, while the level of mental stimulation seems to play a more important role.
Sizing up information and communication technologies as agents of political development in sub-Saharan Africa

It is widely speculated that the emergence of modern information and communication technologies (ICTs) will boost political development in the developing world. This expectation anchors on solid foundation since, presumably, the ICT revolution would radically alter access to information, dislodge entrenched social cleavages, and unleash new patterns of citizen consciousness and civic engagement by hitherto marginalized mass publics, and orchestrate new and decisive political equilibriums. This research provides an empirical assessment of the impact of ICTs on political development in sub-Saharan Africa. The analysis suggests that speculation about the potential for ICTS to enhance political development in the sub-Sahara is not unrealistic. The levels of phone, computer, and Internet diffusion are associated with political development, although only the effect of the phone remains once other variables are specified. The phone is the most robust of all individual factors explaining variations in political development. However, the effect of ICTs on political development can neither be certified as revolutionary, nor can they be codified as panacea.
The Cerebellum and Basal Ganglia are Interconnected

The cerebellum and the basal ganglia are major subcortical nuclei that control multiple aspects of behavior largely through their interactions with the cerebral cortex. Discrete multisynaptic loops connect both the cerebellum and the basal ganglia with multiple areas of the cerebral cortex. Interactions between these loops have traditionally been thought to occur mainly at the level of the cerebral cortex. Here, we review a series of recent anatomical studies in nonhuman primates that challenge this perspective. We show that the anatomical substrate exists for substantial interactions between the cerebellum and the basal ganglia. Furthermore, we discuss how these pathways may provide a useful framework for understanding cerebellar contributions to the manifestation of two prototypical basal ganglia disorders, Parkinson’s disease and dystonia.
GPS Orbit Determination for the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer

A single-frequency GPS receiver was launched with the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) mission in the summer of 1992. The low altitude of the EUVE and the placement of dual antennas directly on the spacecraft body provide an opportunity to investigate error sources and the level of accuracy obtainable for future satellite missions. GPS data from several periods have been processed with GIPSY-OASIS II software. Data from EUVE and from a global network of GPS receivers were combined to eliminate the effects of selective availability. Methods for removing ionosphere delay error from the single-frequency data and orbit solutions using the reduced dynamic technique were investigated. Solutions were assessed with internal consistency tests and through comparison with the GTDS orbit solutions produced at the Goddard Space Flight Center. Orbit precision and accuracy with GPS are at the 1 m level.
High-K (Ba 0.8 Bi 0.2 )(Zn 0.1 Ti 0.9 )O 3 ceramics for high-temperature capacitor applications

Solid solutions of BaTiO3-Bi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3 were investigated for high-temperature capacitor applications. Compositions close to 0.8BaTiO3-0.2Bi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3 revealed pseudo-cubic symmetry and showed a linear dielectric response. The existence of a nearly flat temperature dependence of the relative permittivity over the temperature range of 100 to 350°C was also obtained. In this study, the effects of cation non-stoichiometry and doping were investigated in an attempt to optimize the insulation resistance for high-temperature applications. The dielectric response of (Ba0.8-xBi0.2)(Zn0.1Ti0.9)O3 ceramics where 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.08, as well as ZrO2- and Mn2O3- doped ceramics were studied. The optimum compositions exhibited a relative permittivity in excess of 1150 with a low loss tangent (tan δ <; 0.05) that persisted up to a temperature of 460°C. The temperature dependence of resistivity also revealed the improved insulation resistance of Ba-deficient compositions. Additionally, we suggest that an ionic conduction mechanism is responsible for the degradation of resistivity at high temperatures. The temperature coefficient of permittivity (τK) and the RC time constant were also investigated.
Countering Convergence: Agency and Diversity Among Guatemalan NGOs

The proliferation of nongovernmental organizations across the developing world has sparked discussions of the “NGOization” of civil society and concern that NGOs have become increasingly uniform and internally homogenous. This article explores the evolution of NGOs in Guatemala since the 1960s and finds that NGOs historically and currently respond in diverse ways to external pressures—adjusting their strategies and actively attempting to shape their environment. Comparing two microcredit NGOs, it finds in addition that old and new models combine in unique organizational contexts in distinct ways. These two findings suggest that diversity is likely to persist among NGOs.
PRICE HETEROGENEITY AND “REAL” INEQUALITY: A CASE STUDY OF PRICES AND POVERTY IN RURAL SOUTH INDIA

This paper, based upon a case-study of three Indian villages, studies whether households within the same market pay different prices for identical goods. It is found that not only are unit prices for food heterogeneous, but that the poor pay more for the same goods than the rich. This is because liquidity constraints force poorer households to purchase goods in small quantities and consequently subject them to quantity premiums. Household specific index numbers are used to adjust nominal incomes to real values and it is found that Gini coefficients of real incomes are between 12% to 23% greater than the Gini for nominal incomes. An econometric analysis of the determinants of prices shows that incomes are negatively correlated with prices, as is family size, but that the amount of land owned shows a positive relationship.
Palliative medicine consultation for preparedness planning in patients receiving left ventricular assist devices as destination therapy.

OBJECTIVE To assess the benefit of proactive palliative medicine consultation for delineation of goals of care and quality-of-life preferences before implantation of left ventricular assist devices as destination therapy (DT). PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the cases of patients who received DT between January 15, 2009, and January 1, 2010. RESULTS Of 19 patients identified, 13 (68%) received proactive palliative medicine consultation. Median time of palliative medicine consultation was 1 day before DT implantation (range, 5 days before to 16 days after). Thirteen patients (68%) completed advance directives. The DT implantation team and families reported that preimplantation discussions and goals of care planning made postoperative care more clear and that adverse events were handled more effectively. Currently, palliative medicine involvement in patients receiving DT is viewed as routine by cardiac care specialists. CONCLUSION Proactive palliative medicine consultation for patients being considered for or being treated with DT improves advance care planning and thus contributes to better overall care of these patients. Our experience highlights focused advance care planning, thorough exploration of goals of care, and expert symptom management and end-of-life care when appropriate.
Environmentally-benign manufacturing as a systems science

Environmentally-benign manufacturing does not operate as an isolated subsystem, but within higher levels of corporation and society. From an environmental standpoint, the ideal focus is to achieve optimum performance across the system, not at a single systems level. The paper proposes a four-level system for environmentally-benign manufacturing and provides examples of performance at each level that can legitimately be termed sustainable.
Routing with many additive QoS constraints

A fundamental problem in QoS routing is to find a path between a specified source-destination node pair that satisfies a set of end-to-end quality of service constraints. We study this problem in a communication system where there are multiple additive quality of service parameters associated with each link. It is well-known that the multi-constrained path selection problem (MCPS) is NP-complete. In this paper, we present a fully polynomial time approximation scheme for an optimization version of the MCPS problem. This means that for any given /spl epsi/ > 0, we can compute, in time bounded by a polynomial of the input size of the problem and in 1//spl epsi/, a solution whose cost is at most (1 + /spl epsi/) of that of the optimal solution.
Distribution of Arteriosclerosis in Various Populations

DR. KEYS: Properly used, the epidemiological approach can reveal the dimensions of the problem of the proportion of the population who are prevalence cases at a given time, the incidence rate over time, and the prognosis of the patients who show specified characteristics. And proper use of the method includes the stipulation that prevalence and incidence rates, and rates of recurrence and death, be age- and sex-specific.
Changes in the endoplasmic reticulum following exposure to hypoxia.

The effects of severe hypoxia on mammals are well documented. If hypoxia occurs abruptly death may follow. However, if the arterial oxygen tension falls gradually the organism may survive. It has become clear that many changes in the tissue occur during such hypoxia. Tissue changes which take place under these conditions may perform an acclimatizing role to assist in the organism’s survival. The purpose of this paper is to report a study of changes in hypoxic tissue at the subcellular level that may constitute the mechanism of acclimation.
The sigma-2 receptor as a therapeutic target for drug delivery in triple negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with high relapse rates and increased mortality when compared with other breast cancer subtypes. In contrast to receptor positive breast cancers, there are no approved targeted therapies for TNBC. Identifying biomarkers for TNBC is of high importance for the advancement of patient care. The sigma-2 receptor has been shown to be overexpressed in triple negative breast cancer in vivo and has been characterized as a marker of proliferation. The aim of the present study was to define the sigma-2 receptor as a target for therapeutic drug delivery and biomarker in TNBC.Three TNBC cell lines were evaluated: MDA-MB-231, HCC1937 and HCC1806. Sigma-2 compounds were tested for pharmacological properties specific to the sigma-2 receptor through competitive inhibition assays. Sigma-2 receptor expression was measured through radioligand receptor saturation studies. Drug sensitivity for taxol was compared to a sigma-2 targeting compound conjugated to a cytotoxic payload, SW IV-134. Cell viability was assessed after treatments for 2 or 48 h. Sigma-2 blockade was assessed to define sigma-2 mediated cytotoxicity of SW IV-134. Caspase 3/7 activation induced by SW IV-134 was measured at corresponding treatment time points.SW IV-134 was the most potent compound tested in two of the three cell lines and was similarly effective in all three. MDA-MB-231 displayed a statistically significant higher sigma-2 receptor expression and also was the most sensitive cell line evaluated to SW IV-134.Targeting the sigma-2 receptor with a cytotoxic payload was effective in all the three cell lines evaluated and provides the proof of concept for future development of a therapeutic platform for the treatment of TNBC.
Automated Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry

Diluting continuous-flow circuits that incorporate a jet mixer with conventional AutoAnalyzer equipment provide a convenient technique for supplying diluted samples to an atomic absorption spectrophotometer at rates up to 90 per hour.
A Computerized Radiochromatographic System For Radiopharmaceutical Quality Control

An automated system for the determination of radiochemical composition of microcurie samples of medical radionuclides and/or radiopharmaceutical preparations is described. The system incorporates a multichannel analyzer, a NaI (Tl) detector, a lead collimator, a motor-driven rack, and associated electronic components to provide a fast, accurate, and reproducible method for the identification of radiochemical species. When analyzing a radiochromatogram, the system provides both graphic and hard-copy qualitative and quantitative information. The system is applicable to the needs of most nuclear medicine and radiochemistry laboratories, is easy to operate, reduces radiation exposure to personnel, enhances versatility, and decreases the time required to perform radiochemical quality control tests. Results indicate this system provides better analytical data than the strip-counting technique and comparable quality information of more expensive systems.
Histone H2AX phosphorylation as a measure of DNA double-strand breaks and a marker of environmental stress and disease activity in lupus.

Objective Defective or inefficient DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair results in failure to preserve genomic integrity leading to apoptotic cell death, a hallmark of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Compelling evidence linked environmental factors that increase oxidative stress with SLE risk and the formation of DSBs. In this study, we sought to further explore genotoxic stress sensitivity in SLE by investigating DSB accumulation as a marker linking the effect of environmental stressors and the chromatin microenvironment. Methods DSBs were quantified in peripheral blood mononuclear cell subsets from patients with SLE, healthy controls, and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by measuring phosphorylated H2AX (phospho-H2AX) levels with flow cytometry. Phospho-H2AX levels were assessed in G0/G1, S and G2 cell-cycle phases using propidium iodide staining, and after oxidative stress using 0.5 µM hydrogen peroxide exposure for 0, 2, 5, 10, 30 and 60 min. Results DSB levels were significantly increased in CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and monocytes in SLE compared with healthy controls (p=2.16×10−4, 1.68×10−3 and 4.74×10−3, respectively) and RA (p=1.05×10−3, 1.78×10−3 and 2.43×10−2, respectively). This increase in DSBs in SLE was independent of the cell-cycle phase, and correlated with disease activity. In CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and monocytes, oxidative stress exposure induced significantly higher DSB accumulation in SLE compared with healthy controls (60 min; p=1.64×10−6, 8.11×10−7 and 2.04×10−3, respectively). Conclusions Our data indicate that SLE T cells and monocytes have increased baseline DSB levels and an increased sensitivity to acquiring DSBs in response to oxidative stress. Although the mechanism underlying DSB sensitivity in SLE requires further investigation, accumulation of DSB may serve a biomarker for disease activity in SLE and help explain increased apoptotic cell accumulation in this disease.
Quantitative redox proteomic analysis of reversible cysteine oxidation in hearts from mice fed a Western diet: implications for metabolic cardiovascular disease

Global changes in reversible cysteine oxidation of cardiac proteins from mice fed a high fat, high sucrose (HFHS) diet for 8 months were quantified using novel 6-plex Iodo-based isobaric labels in ...
Gone in a Picosecond: Techniques for the Generation and Detection of Picosecond Pulses and Their Applications

The technology for generating and detecting electromagnetic waves has evolved significantly over the last 120 years. In the early 1890s, Guglielmo Marconi used a spark-gap transmitter to build a wireless telegraphy system. In his design, he charged a capacitor to a high dc voltage and connected it to a parallel combination of an inductor, a second capacitor, and an antenna through an air gap. In this configuration, when the dc voltage of the first capacitor reaches the breakdown voltage of the gap, the air in the gap ionizes and reduces the resistance across the gap. This results in a large step voltage applied to the parallel combination of the inductor, second capacitor, and the antenna and converts the dc energy stored in the first capacitor to a damped oscillation at a low megahertz range that is radiated from the antenna. Marconi?s design used the spark gap as a fast high-voltage switch. The technology for generating electromagnetic waves then evolved further with the invention of vacuum tubes in the mid-1920s. Vacuum tubes enabled oscillatory signals to be amplified in the megahertz range and provided enough bandwidth for transferring audio signals.
A Comparison of Immersion Gold and Tin Surface Finishes on Sensing Electrodes for PCB Environmental Saltwater Concentration Sensors

Abstract Printed circuit board (PCB) sensors using low-cost commercial printed circuit board fabrication processes have been demonstrated for environmental sensing applications. One configuration of these sensors uses exposed electrodes to measure saltwater concentration in freshwater/seawater mixtures, through monitoring the resistance between the electrodes when they are immersed in the saltwater/freshwater solution. The lowest cost commercial PCB processes use an immersion Sn HASL surface finish on exposed copper cladding, including the sensing electrodes. This commercial PCB process has been demonstrated to make an effective, low-cost, short-lifetime sensor for saltwater concentration testing. The Sn finish, however, may not be optimal for this application. Sn oxidizes, which can interfere with sensor performance. Additionally, Sn and Sn oxides are potentially reactive with chemical constituents in seawater and seawater/freshwater solutions. An immersion Au (ENIG) surface finish is certainly less reac...
Ultrafast Recombination Dynamics in Dye-Sensitized SnO2/TiO2 Core/Shell Films

Interfacial dynamics are investigated in SnO2/TiO2 core/shell films derivatized with a Ru(II)-polypyridyl chromophore ([RuII(bpy)2(4,4′-(PO3H2)2bpy)]2+, RuP) using transient absorption methods. Electron injection from the chromophore into the TiO2 shell occurs within a few picoseconds after photoexcitation. Loss of the oxidized dye through recombination occurs across time scales spanning 10 orders of magnitude. The majority (60%) of charge recombination events occur shortly after injection (τ = 220 ps), while a small fraction (≤20%) of the oxidized chromophores persists for milliseconds. The lifetime of long-lived charge-separated states (CSS) depends exponentially on shell thickness, suggesting that the injected electrons reside in the SnO2 core and must tunnel through the TiO2 shell to recombine with oxidized dyes. While the core/shell architecture extends the lifetime in a small fraction of the CSS, making water oxidation possible, the subnanosecond recombination process has profound implications for t...
The Effects of Catalyst Properties on the Conversion of Biomass via Catalytic Fast Hydropyrolysis

Catalytic fast hydropyrolysis (CFHP) is an attractive and alternative method for thermochemical conversion of biomass to fuels. The objective of the present work is to determine the effects of support porosity, acidity, and impregnated metal species on the CFHP product distribution. CFHP of Miscanthus x giganteus in the presence of SiO2 and Al2O3 results in high solid and low volatile product yields, due to the lack of Bronsted acidity, whereas CFHP with the acidic and shape-selective ZSM-5 returns high volatile products yield and aromatic selectivity. Increasing ZSM-5 acidity reduces monoaromatic hydrocarbon (MAH) and solid yield, but increases yields to naphthalenes, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and carbon oxides. Ni supported on mesoporous ZSM-5 slightly increases aromatic yields and decreases solid yield. Impregnation of Ni on all supports significantly shifts CFHP selectivity from solids to CH4. Ni, Ru, and Pd impregnated on ZSM-5 all have different effects on the CFHP product distribution. Improved MA...
Fractalkine Signaling Attenuates Perivascular Clustering of Microglia and Fibrinogen Leakage during Systemic Inflammation in Mouse Models of Diabetic Retinopathy

Fractalkine (FKN) is a chemokine expressed constitutively by healthy neurons and signals to microglia upon interaction with the FKN receptor, CX3CR1. Signaling between FKN and CX3CR1 transduces inhibitory signals that ameliorate microglial activation and proinflammatory cytokine release in neuroinflammatory conditions. The aim of this study is to determine the mechanisms associated with microglial activation and vascular leakage during diabetic retinopathy and under conditions of low-level endotoxemia, common in diabetic patients. Utilizing the Ins2Akita strain (Akita), a mouse model of type 1 diabetes, our results show that leakage of the blood-protein fibrin(ogen) into the retina occurs as a result of chronic (4 months) but not acute (1.5 months) hyperglycemia. Conversely, inducing endotoxin-mediated systemic inflammation during acute diabetes resulted in fibrinogen deposition in the retina, a phenotype that was exacerbated in mice lacking CX3CR1 signaling. Systemic inflammation in Cx3cr1–/– mice led to robust perivascular clustering of proliferating microglia in areas of fibrinogen extravasation, and induced IL-1b expression in microglia and astrocytes. Lastly, we determined a protective effect of modulating FKN/CX3CR1 signaling in the diabetic retina. We show that intravitreal administration of recombinant FKN into diabetic FKN-KO mice, reduced fibrinogen deposition and perivascular clustering of microglia in the retina during systemic inflammation. These data suggest that dysregulated microglial activation via loss of FKN/CX3CR1 signaling disrupts the vascular integrity in retina during systemic inflammation.
mRNA Trafficking to Synapses and Memory Formation

This chapter reviews evidence for the theory that local translation of mRNAs at synapses plays a critical role in synaptic modifications underlying memory consolidation. We consider mechanisms of neuronal cell biology that underlie mRNA transport into dendrites, localization at synapses, and control of local mRNA translation during synaptic plasticity. The final section reviews studies of the immediate early gene Arc, which provide insights into mechanisms linking local translation and memory consolidation.
OXALATE POISONING IN LIVESTOCK

I. ABSTRACT Oxalate poisoning is of great importance throughout the world. Oxalate poisoning in livestock occurs primarily from the ingestion of oxalate containing plants. The oxalate in these plants occurs in association with a number of different cations. It now appears that the toxic effects these various oxalate compounds have on animals may be modified by the cation with which they are associated. Some of these effects are discussed in this paper.
Abstract 047: Clinical Outcomes by Race and Ethnicity in the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trials (SPRINT): A Randomized Control Trial

Background: Lowering systolic blood pressure (SBP) reduces cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality; however, appropriate SBP targets, especially by race/ethnicity remain uncertain. Methods and Results: We examined the effects of an intensive SBP goal ( Conclusion: Regardless of racial/ethnic origin, there are cardiovascular benefits from treating to a SBP target of
Treatment outcomes and HPV characteristics for an institutional cohort of patients with anal cancer receiving concurrent chemotherapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

Background Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has been used to limit treatment-related toxicity for patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The treatment outcomes and HPV characteristics for a cohort of patients receiving definitive concurrent chemotherapy and IMRT are reported. Materials and methods 52 patients with anal SCC were treated with IMRT and concurrent chemotherapy. Radiation was delivered sequentially to the pelvis and inguinal lymph nodes (45 Gy) and anal tumor (median dose, 54 Gy). Multiplex real-time PCR for 7 high-risk HPV subtypes (n = 22) and p16 immunohistochemistry (n = 21, rated on a 0, 1, and 2+ scale) were performed on available specimens. Survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis, and toxicities were recorded. Results Median follow-up was 33 months. Three-year freedom from locoregional failure (FFLRF), freedom from distant metastasis (FFDM), freedom from colostomy (FFC), and overall survival (OS) were 94%, 85%, 91%, and 90%, respectively. Acute grade 2+ skin, GI, and GU toxicities occurred in 83%, 71%, and 19% of evaluable patients, respectively. The rates of late grade 2+ GI and GU toxicities for evaluable patients (n = 32) were 28% and 9%, respectively. Of patients with available pathology, 91% and 71% were positive for HPV and p16 (2+), respectively. HPV genotypes included 16 (n = 17), 33 (n = 2), 18 (n = 1), and 45 (n = 1). HPV and p16 status were associated on Chi-square analysis (p = 0.07). Neither HPV nor p16 status was significantly associated with any clinical outcome. For HPV+ patients, 3-year FFLRF, FFDM, FFC, and OS were 100%, 69%, 100%, and 88%, respectively. Conclusions In this patient cohort, disease control was excellent for anal SCC treated with definitive concurrent chemotherapy and IMRT, and treatment was well tolerated. HPV and p16 status were not prognostic for treatment outcomes which may be related to our small sample size.
Endoscopic resolution and recurrence of gastric antral vascular ectasia after serial treatment with argon plasma coagulation

Endoscopic resolution and recurrence of gastric antral vascular ectasia after serial treatment with argon plasma coagulation
A novel multi-objective security-constrained power management for isolated microgrids in all-electric ships

Since isolated microgrids, such as all-electric ships (AES), have limited generation and finite inertia, frequency and voltage violations are prone to happen in these microgrids. Therefore, it is necessary to have a power management framework for optimal scheduling of microgrids while achieving stable real-time operation. This paper introduces a novel multi-objective security constrained power management (MO-SCPM) framework for AES, based on a computationally-efficient optimization technique, Pareto Concavity Elimination Transformation (PaCcET). PaCcET transforms a multi-objective space to a transformed objective space and then utilizes a single-objective optimizer to find all the non-dominated solutions of the original multi-objective space. The new framework efficiently integrates steady-state and dynamic security limits, such as power balance, active power generation, reactive power generation, voltage magnitude, line flows, frequency, and voltage transient in a unified framework. The new power management method is applied to a notional AES model to find the best compromise solution that not only minimizes the individual active power set-point adjustments but also minimizes voltage set-point adjustments while keeping the operating and security constraints satisfied. The results are then compared to the computationally-expensive multi-objective technique based on Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) as a well-known multi-objective optimization benchmark.
One dark night with the sole: examining spiritual sport experiences amongst recreational endurance runners

Examinations of spiritual experiences and holistic approaches towards athletes and sport experiences often identify catharsis and flow as important theoretical constructs. However, empirical data s...
Anatomicosurgical segments of the human pancreas

Two anatomicosurgical segments of the human pancreas were recognized in 30 corrosion casts after injection of the pancreatic arteries thus confirming prior anatomico-surgical studies. The right (cephalocervical) and the left (corporocaudate) segments of the pancreas are separated by a paucivascular area. They are linked by the pancreatic duct and often by a single, small artery, which may be a branch of the gastroduodenal, gastroepiploic (gastromental), or dorsal pancreatic artery. Both segments are suitable for segmental pancreas transplantation.
The role of student tasks in accessing cognitive media types

We believe that identifying media by their cognitive roles (e.g., definition, explanation, pseudo-code, visualization) can improve comprehension and usability in hypermedia systems designed for learning. We refer to media links organized around their cognitive role as cognitive media types [Recker, Ram, Shikano, Li, & Stasko, 1995]. Our hypothesis is that the goals that students bring to the learning task will affect how they will use the hypermedia support system [Ram & Leake, 1995]. We explored student use of a hypermedia system based on cognitive media types where students performed different orienting tasks: undirected, browsing in order to answer specific questions, problem-solving, and problem-solving with prompted self-explanations. We found significant differences in use behavior between problem-solving and browsing students, though no learning differences.
Identifying and Characterizing Goals of Dating Partners Engaging in Serial Argumentation

Interpersonal argument that is ongoing and unresolved has not received extensive research attention. To learn more about the nature of these serial arguments, the current study sought to identify and establish the goals of dating partners when engaging in serial argument episodes. Qualitative and quantitative cluster analysis techniques were utilized to categorize the serial arguing goals provided by 324 undergraduates in two stages of data collection. Results reveal that 10 goal clusters characterize serial argument episodes within dating relationships. These goals are defined and discussed in light of existing argument research.
Analytics and Spatial Information Technology: Retrospect and Prospects

Decision makers increasingly rely upon extracting relevant information from large repositories of data in order to make strategic decisions. The information is often used to test hypotheses or discover insights or intelligence (Chan et al. 2009). The support for strategic decisions is usually based upon data collected from internal operations, supplemented by relevant external information, and insights gained from a model of the real world. We logically associate all the tools, techniques, and processes associated with deriving intelligence from the core data as “Analytics.” We include many diverse techniques within the broad term analytics, including statistics, predictive models, visualization systems, etc. The important point is that all these techniques may play a role in knowledge discovery and decision-making (Davenport and Harris 2007). Simply put, analytics is “the science of analysis.” A more practical definition would be how an individual or enterprise arrives at sound decisions based on existing data. For the purpose of this book, the field of analytics includes the use of mathematical models, building upon statistics, probability, simulation, optimization, decision analysis, and most notably, spatial analysis. Analytics closely resembles data mining, but tends to be based on modeling, sometime involving extensive computation.
Data Flow Implementation in Software and Hardware

The data flow model of computation is fully concurrent, and it is not committed to either a sequential or parallel implementation. Therefore, a single specification can be used to target software as well as hardware. This chapter describes the implementation of data flow systems in hardware and software on three different design targets. The first target is a software implementation of the data flow graph. Appropriate software scheduling techniques are needed to implement the data flow schedule. The second target is a fully parallel hardware implementation of the data flow graph. In this implementation, each actor maps into a separate hardware module, and individual modules synchronize through their token communications. The third target is hybrid: a combination of software and a hardware coprocessor. In this case, a data flow graph is partitioned over hardware and software. This chapter demonstrates the flexibility and convenience of a data flow specification under multiple targets.