cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Negative Regulators of STAT Function in Drosophila

In the decade after the discovery of the STAT proteins as cytokine and growth factor activated transcription factors (1), it was natural to concentrate on the primary problem of activation. The more intricate roles of intracellular physiology were then attacked through targeted deletions in mice. Most recently it has become clear that many different intracellular mechanisms exist for restraining or potentiating STAT function. Potentiation is achieved through interaction with other transcription factors while restraint is carried out by a variety of negative actors on STAT activity. In this chapter we will concentrate on what is known about negative regulation of STATs. This area of research has benefited greatly, especially in exploring in vivo effects, by studies in Drosophila melanogaster.
Il chirurgo del trauma “in 3D”

La prima cosa che noti appena entrato in cavita addominale e il sanguinamento proveniente da un’ampia lacerazione del lobo destro del fegato. E strana la vita, proprio la settimana scorsa ti sei trovato nella stessa identica situazione. Non hai bisogno del monitor per capire che la pressione sistolica non va oltre i 60 mmHg. Memore del caso della scorsa settimana fai velocemente un tamponamento (packing) del fegato per cercare di arrestare l’emorragia, ma questa volta il fegato continua a sanguinare inzuppando le garze appena messe; eppure si doveva fermare, la scorsa settimana aveva funzionato. Che cosa c’e ora che non va? Che cosa c’e di diverso? Esegui allora una manovra di Pringle, ma la situazione non cambia. Nel frattempo la voce metallica dell’anestesista ti avverte che la pressione sistolica non e valutabile. Ti rendi conto che il paziente sta morendo. Che sta succedendo? Che cosa fai ora?
Trusting them with the truth-disclosure and the good death for children with terminal illness.

It is not only less harmful to tell a terminally ill child of his or her impending death than to shield him or her from the truth, but it may allow the child opportunities to make death more meaningful. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
South Asian Immigration to United States: A Brief History Within the Context of Race, Politics, and Identity

In this chapter we focus on key themes that impact South Asian diasporic communities in general. First, we briefly chart the South Asian immigrant journeys to the U.S. from the late 1800s through the watershed mid-century immigration policies to contemporary times. Second, we examine the contradictions between the model minority discourses that are sustained within the South Asian diaspora and the racism and discrimination experienced by South Asian immigrants particularly in the context of post 9/11 America. Finally, we conclude by looking at some of the ways in which first, second, and subsequent generations in the South Asian diaspora have creatively and politically engaged with their identity.
A Clustering Algorithm That Maximizes Throughput in 5G Heterogeneous F-RAN Networks

In this paper, a clustering algorithm is proposed that dynamically determines the locations of fog nodes in 5G wireless networks, which are upgraded from small cells, in order to maximize throughput assuming the number of fog nodes and small cells are given as a priori information. The proposed algorithm dynamically clusters the small cells around the fog nodes. The approach is based on a soft clustering model where one small cell can be connected to many fog nodes. The numerical results demonstrate that the proposed clustering algorithm significantly enhances the throughput and lowers the latency with respect to the distance-based K- means hard clustering algorithm or Voronoi tessellation model.
Stimulated Brillouin Review: Invented 50 Years Ago and Applied Today

Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) is embedded today in a variety of optical systems, such as advanced high-power lasers, sensors, microwave signal processors, scientific instrumentation, and optomechanical systems. Reduction in SBS power requirements involves use of optical fibers, integrated optics, micro-optic devices, and now nano-optics, often in high Q cavities. It has taken fifty years from its earliest invention by conceptual discovery until today for SBS to become a practical and useful technology in a variety of applications. Some of these applications are explained and it is shown how they are tied to particular attributes of SBS: phase conjugation, frequency shifts, low noise, narrow linewidth, frequency combs, optical and microwave signal processing, etc.
Enamide Prodrugs of Acetyl Phosphonate Deoxy-d-xylulose-5-phosphate Synthase Inhibitors as Potent Antibacterial Agents.

To fight the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, new antibiotics are required that target essential bacterial processes other than protein, DNA/RNA, and cell wall synthesis, which constitute the majority of currently used antibiotics. 1-Deoxy-d-xylulose-5-phosphate (DXP) synthase is a vital enzyme in bacterial central metabolism, feeding into the de novo synthesis of thiamine diphosphate, pyridoxal phosphate, and essential isoprenoid precursors isopentenyl diphosphate and dimethylallyl diphosphate. While potent and selective inhibitors of DXP synthase in vitro activity have been discovered, their antibacterial activity is modest. To improve the antibacterial activity of selective alkyl acetylphosphonate (alkylAP) inhibitors of DXP synthase, we synthesized peptidic enamide prodrugs of alkylAPs inspired by the natural product dehydrophos, a prodrug of methyl acetylphosphonate. This prodrug strategy achieves dramatic increases in activity against Gram-negative pathogens for two alkylAPs, butyl acetylpho...
A Concurrent 2.2/3.9-GHz Dual-Band GaN Power Amplifier

This paper presents an efficient concurrent dual-band 2.2/3.9GHz hybrid power amplifier, designed with a $0.25- \mu m$ Qorvo 15W GaN HEMT. In non-concurrent CW mode, peak PAEs of 74.4% and 57.7% are measured at the two frequencies, respectively, with 41.7 and 41.2dBm output power and 13.9 and 9.37dB gain at 3 and 1dB compression. When two concurrent 10-MHz 6-dB PAPR multitone signals are amplified, the average PAE reaches 55%, with ACLRs of -42.5 and -43.3dBc in the two bands obtained after digital pre-distortion.
Crop yield simulation optimization using precision irrigation and subsurface water retention technology.

Abstract Maximizing crop production with minimal resources such as water and energy is the primary focus of sustainable agriculture. Subsurface water retention technology (SWRT) is a stable approach that preserves water in sandy soils using water saving membranes. An optimal use of SWRT depends on its shape, location and other factors. In order to predict crop yield for different irrigation schedule, we require at least two computational processes: (i) a crop growth modeling process and (ii) a water and nutrient permeation process through soil to the root system. Validation of software parameters to suit properties of specific field becomes increasingly hard since they involve a coordination with field data and coordination between two software. In this paper, we propose a computationally fast approach that utilizes HYDRUS-2D software for water and nutrient flow simulation and DSSAT crop simulation software with an evolutionary multi-objective optimization (EMO) procedure in a coordinated manner to minimize water utilization and maximize crop yield prediction. Our proposed method consists of training one-dimensional crop model (DSSAT) on data generated by two dimensional model calibrates and validates (HYDRUS-2D), that accounts for water accumulation in the SWRT membranes. Then we used DSSAT model to find the best irrigation schedules for maximizing crop yield with the highest plant water use efficiency (Tambussi et al., 2007; Blum, 2009) using for the EMO methodology. The optimization procedure minimizes water usage with the help of rainfall water and increases corn yield prediction as much as six times compare to a non-optimized and random irrigation schedule without any SWRT membrane. Our framework also demonstrates an integration of latest computing software and hardware technologies synergistically to facilitate better crop production with minimal water requirement.
Diet predictions of Lake Ontario salmonines based on fatty acids and correlations between their fat content and thiamine concentrations

Abstract Thiamine Deficiency Complex (TDC) limits early life stage survival of salmonines. Consuming fatty prey has been hypothesized as a cause of thiamine deficiency; however, this relationship has not been evaluated in the Laurentian Great Lakes where TDC occurs. We found that alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) have higher lipid content than other common Lake Ontario prey fish. In addition, alewife were predicted as the most consumed prey for brown trout (Salmo trutta), Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), coho salmon (O. kisutch), lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), and steelhead trout (O. mykiss); however, the relative importance of alewife in diet composition varied within and among species. Overall, species with greater predicted consumption of alewife had lower egg and muscle thiamine concentrations. Negative correlations between thiamine concentrations and both lipid content and fatty acid concentrations (mg/mg of wet tissue) were limited to brown trout. Similarly, negative correlations between fatty acid proportions (i.e., cumulative proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFA] and monounsaturated fatty acids [MUFA]) and thiamine concentrations were only observed for brown and lake trout. Combining data from all species produced curvilinear correlations between thiamine concentrations (egg and muscle) and fatty acid composition (eggs and belly flap). Proportions of PUFAs had negative correlations with thiamine concentrations while proportions of MUFAs had positive correlations. These results provide evidence that, in some cases, salmonine fatty acid composition negatively correlates with thiamine concentrations in Lake Ontario; however, additional research is needed to confirm that this mechanism causes TDC in salmonines, and to understand additional factors potentially associated with TDC.
Narrative Engagement, Enjoyment, Learning and Theme Comprehension: Using an Authentic Music Video in an Introductory College Language Classroom:

Using authentic audio-visual material in early language classes has become commonplace, but little prior empirical research has been published regarding why this pedagogical technique is effective ...
Autogenerating Fast Packet-Processing Code Using Program Synthesis

Packet-processing code should be fast. But, it is hard to write fast code for programmable substrates such as high-speed switches, multicore SoC SmarfNICs, FP-GAs, middleboxes, and the end-host stack. Today, expert developers with deep familiarity with the underlying hardware handcraft such code. Making things worse, building optimizing compilers for these substrates requires significant development effort, which may not be available for these new, niche, and evolving substrates.We propose an alternative: to automatically generate fast packet-processing code using program synthesis. For the domain of packet processing, using synthesis can generate faster code than an optimizing compiler at the cost of increased compile time. As a case study, we apply program synthesis to build a code generator, Chipmunk, for a simulator of the protocol-independent switch architecture (PISA). Chipmunk generates code for many programs that a previous code generator based on classical compiler optimizations rejects, and code generated by Chipmunk uses much fewer hardware resources. We also outline future directions in applying program synthesis to code generation for packet processing.
ICSBP Haplo-Insufficiency Synergizes with SHP2-Activation for Apoptosis Resistance and Cytokine Hypersensitivity in Myeloid Progenitors.

Abstract The interferon consensus sequence binding protein (ICSBP or IRF8) is an interferon regulatory transcription factor which functions as a myeloid leukemia tumor-suppressor. In mice, ICSBP-deficiency was found to induce a myeloproliferative disorder (MPD) which progressed to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) over time. This result suggested that ICSBP-deficiency was sufficient for myeloproliferation, but additional genetic lesions were required for differentiation block and therefore AML. ICSBP-deficiency has been described in human myeloid malignancies including myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), AML and uncontrolled chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Other previous studies determined that cytokine-induced ICSBP-tyrosine-phosphorylation was required for differentiation-stage-specific target-gene transcription during myelopoiesis. Based on these results, we hypothesized that impaired ICSBP-tyrosine-phosphorylation might exacerbate the impact of ICSBP-deficiency and induce differentiation block and progression from MPD to AML. However, leukemia-associated mutations which impaired tyrosine-phosphorylation had not been described in the gene encoding ICSBP. Therefore, we hypothesized that mutations influencing the molecular pathways involved in ICSBP-post-translational-modification might synergize with ICSBP-deficiency to accelerate progression to AML. SHP2 protein tyrosine phosphatase was previously found to dephosphorylate ICSBP in immature myeloid cells. Additional studies determined that a leukemia-associated, constitutively-active form of SHP2 de-phosphorylated ICSBP through out myelopoiesis. In the current studies, we investigated the ability of constitutive SHP2-activation to synergize with ICSBP haplo-insufficiency to induce cytokine-hypersensitivity and apoptosis-resistance. We also investigated the impact of constitutive SHP2-activation on the tumor suppressor effect of ICSBP. Both ICSBP-deficiency and constitutively active mutants of SHP2 have been described in subjects with therapy related MDS/AML. Also, activity of the bcr/abl kinase induces both SHP2 activation and ICSBP-deficiency. Therefore, our studies identified a molecular mechanism which might be involved in disease progression in these human myeloid diseases.
Concordance of Vancomycin Population-Predicted Pharmacokinetics with Patient-Specific Pharmacokinetics in Adult Hospitalized Patients: A Case Series

Vancomycin empiric therapy is commonly dosed using clinical algorithms adapted from population-predicted pharmacokinetic parameters. However, precise dosing of vancomycin can be designed using patient-specific pharmacokinetic calculations. The objective of this study is to assess the correlational fit between vancomycin population-predicted and patient-specific pharmacokinetic parameters [elimination rate constant (Ke) and half-life (t1/2)] in a case series of adult hospitalized patients. This is a single-center case series of hospitalized adult patients who received vancomycin, had creatinine clearance calculation for derivation of population-predicted pharmacokinetic parameters, and had two vancomycin concentrations for calculation of patient-specific pharmacokinetic parameters. The primary objective of this case series is to evaluate the correlation between population-predicted and patient-specific pharmacokinetic parameters. The secondary objectives of this study are to evaluate the mean bias and precision between the population-predicted and patient-specific pharmacokinetic parameters and to assess the correlation between population-predicted and patient-specific pharmacokinetic parameters in special population subgroups (obese patients with body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2 and patients with renal dysfunction). All correlation analyses were performed on the population-predicted pharmacokinetics using diverse methods of estimating renal function (Salazar–Corcoran and Cockcroft–Gault methods using either ideal, actual, or adjusted body weights). All significance testing was set at an α of + 0.7, p < 0.001). The population-predicted Ke and t1/2 calculated using Cockcroft–Gault creatinine clearance using adjusted body weight showed the strongest association with patient-specific Ke and t1/2. In the subgroup analyses, all the population-predicted Ke and t1/2 using four creatinine clearance estimation methods were each significantly correlated with patient-specific Ke and t1/2. The exception was the population-predicted t1/2 derived from Cockcroft–Gault creatinine clearance using actual body weight that did not show a significant correlation with patient-specific t1/2 in obese patients. In this case series, population-predicted pharmacokinetic parameters were strongly correlated with patient-specific pharmacokinetic parameters. The vancomycin population-predicted pharmacokinetic formula can be used safely to predict a patient’s vancomycin pharmacokinetic disposition and can be maintained as an empiric dosing strategy in various hospitalized adult patients.
Safety and effectiveness of medication and aspiration abortion before or during the sixth week of pregnancy: A retrospective multicenter study.

Abstract Objective To compare adverse outcomes of medication and aspiration abortion among those with intrauterine pregnancy Study design We conducted a multicenter retrospective chart review study to review all medication and aspiration abortion of visualized pregnancy Results The 3930 abortions during the study period at the two sites included 2914 medication abortions and 1016 aspiration abortions, with 1470 medication abortions and 469 aspiration abortions at Conclusion Medication and aspiration abortion performed either before or during the sixth week of ultrasound-confirmed intrauterine pregnancy have low rates of composite adverse outcomes, including complications or incomplete abortion. However, unplanned interventions are more common after medication compared to aspiration abortions. Implications Very early medication and aspiration abortion are similarly safe and effective before or during the sixth week of ultrasound-confirmed pregnancy, though subsequent interventions are more likely after medication abortion. Patients with early pregnancy can safely initiate abortion with follow-up to ensure complete abortion.
CHAPTER 3 – Compartmental Analysis of Drug Distribution

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the compartmental analysis of drug distribution. Drug distribution can be defined as the postabsorptive transfer of a drug from one location in the body to another. Drug transfer between compartments is characterized by “intercompartmental clearance,” a term to describe the volume-independent parameter that quantifies the rate of analyte transfer between the compartments of a kinetic model. The central compartment of a pharmacokinetic (PK) model usually is the only one that is directly accessible to sampling. When attempting to identify this compartment as intravascular space, the erythrocyte/plasma partition ratio must be incorporated in comparisons of central compartment volume with expected blood volume if plasma levels, rather than whole blood levels are used for PK analysis. The physiological basis for the transfer of drugs and other compounds among compartments can only be inferred for mammillary systems in which the central compartment represents intravascular space and intercompartmental clearance can be equated with transcapillary exchange. The mechanism of transcapillary exchange is elaborated in the chapter.
Accounting for Zambia's Ethnic Cleavage Structure II

Chapter 2 showed how the institutions of colonial rule – that is, the policies, rules, and regulations put in place by the Northern Rhodesian colonial administration and its mining company partners – created incentives for Africans to invest in their identities as tribesmen and tribeswomen. In this chapter, I show how a different set of colonial-era actions and policies caused Africans also to think about themselves and the territory's ethnic divisions in language group terms. In addition, just as Chapter 2 showed how colonial-era institutions were responsible for shaping the locations and relative sizes of tribal communities, this chapter accounts for the number, distribution, and dimensions of the groups that make up Zambia's contemporary linguistic landscape. The chapter is divided into four parts. The first part shows how colonial-era institutions led to the consolidation of language use patterns from a situation where dozens of different vernaculars were in use to one where four major languages predominated. The second part explains how these institutions led Zambia's four broad linguistic communities to have the relative sizes that they do and to be physically located in the parts of the country that they are. Having accounted for the contours of the landscape of linguistic divisions, the third part of the chapter explains why Africans in Northern Rhodesia had incentives to embrace and define themselves in terms of their language communities, and thus why language matters for self-identification and group classification in Zambia today.
An Ultra-Compact X-Band Dual-Polarized Slotted Waveguide Array Unit Cell for Large E-Scanning Radar Systems

A design of an X-band dual-polarization slotted waveguide antenna (SWGA) array for high polarization performance over 200 MHz bandwidth and wide scan in the azimuth plane, ideal for high-power dual-polarized radar system, is presented. The proposed design uses a compact array unit cell where the overall dimensions are reduced to 50% in comparison with that of the dual-polarization slotted waveguide array antenna using the conventional rectangular waveguides. The new design overcomes the fundamental limitation of zero electronically scanning, due to the large element spacing ( $1.2\lambda _{\circ }$ ), when conventional waveguides are used. Reducing the element spacing to $0.6\lambda _{\circ }$ (in the azimuth plane), based on a partial H-plane waveguide, enables a 1D e-scanning range up to 84°(±42°) in the azimuth plane perpendicular to the waveguide axis. An active sub-array panel of $8\times 8$ elements, excited with 8 high-power transmit and receive modules, is proposed. This active sub-array can be scaled to obtain a large array without any constraints in size and power. The proposed design uses longitudinal shunt slots on the partial H-plane waveguide for V-polarization antenna and non-inclined edge wall slots on the conventional waveguide for H-polarization antenna. The proposed design offers stable impedance, gain, cross-polarization isolation and excellent co-polar pattern mismatch over the whole frequency band of interest. Having a cross-polarization isolation better than −60 dB and co-polar pattern mismatch around ± 0.12 dB across the scanning range, make this array unit cell ( $8\times 8$ elements) a perfect candidate for high power e-scanned dual-polarized phased array radar for weather observations.
Cryoelectron microscopy structure and mechanism of the membrane-associated electron-bifurcating flavoprotein Fix/EtfABCX

The electron-transferring flavoprotein-menaquinone oxidoreductase ABCX (EtfABCX), also known as FixABCX for its role in nitrogen-fixing organisms, is a member of a family of electron-transferring flavoproteins that catalyze electron bifurcation. EtfABCX enables endergonic reduction of ferredoxin (E°' ∼-450 mV) using NADH (E°' -320 mV) as the electron donor by coupling this reaction to the exergonic reduction of menaquinone (E°' -80 mV). Here we report the 2.9 A structure of EtfABCX, a membrane-associated flavin-based electron bifurcation (FBEB) complex, from a thermophilic bacterium. EtfABCX forms a superdimer with two membrane-associated EtfCs at the dimer interface that contain two bound menaquinones. The structure reveals that, in contrast to previous predictions, the low-potential electrons bifurcated from EtfAB are most likely directly transferred to ferredoxin, while high-potential electrons reduce the quinone via two [4Fe-4S] clusters in EtfX. Surprisingly, EtfX shares remarkable structural similarity with mammalian [4Fe-4S] cluster-containing ETF ubiquinone oxidoreductase (ETF-QO), suggesting an unexpected evolutionary link between bifurcating and nonbifurcating systems. Based on this structure and spectroscopic studies of a closely related EtfABCX, we propose a detailed mechanism of the catalytic cycle and the accompanying structural changes in this membrane-associated FBEB system.
Testicular STAC3 regulates Leydig cell steroidogenesis through potentiating mitochondrial membrane potential and StAR processing.

SH3 and cysteine-rich protein 3 (STAC3), a small adapter protein originally identified as a core component of excitation–contraction coupling machinery, regulates the voltage-induced Ca2+ release in skeletal muscle. However, the possibility of additional, as yet unknown, non-muscle effects of STAC3 cannot be ruled out. Herein, we provide the evidence for the expression and functional involvement of STAC3 in spermatogenesis. STAC3 expression was localized in the testicular interstitium of rodent and human testes. By using the cytotoxic drug ethylene dimethane sulfonate (EDS), STAC3 expression was observed to be decreased sharply in rat testis after selective withdrawal of Leydig cells (LCs), and reappeared immediately after LCs repopulation, indicating that testicular expression of STAC3 mainly stems from LCs. From a functional standpoint, in vivo lentiviral vector–mediated suppression of STAC3 resulted in a significant decrease in testosterone production, and thereafter caused impairment of male fertility by inducing oligozoospermia and asthenospermia. The indispensible involvement of STAC3 in testicular steroidogenesis was validated using the in vivo knockdown model with isolated primary LCs as well as in vitro experiments with primary LCs. By generating the TM3Stac3−/− cells, we further revealed that STAC3 depletion attenuated mitochondrial membrane potential and StAR processing in db-cAMP-stimulated LCs. Thus, the inhibitory effect of STAC3 deficiency on testicular steroidogenesis may be ascribed to a disturbed mitochondrial homeostasis. Collectively, the present results strongly suggest that STAC3 may function as a novel regulator linking mitochondrial homeostasis and testicular steroidogenesis in LCs. Our data underscore an unexpected reproductive facet of this muscle-derived factor.
The melodrama of Ozu: Tokyo Story and its time

The Japanese filmmaker Ozu Yasujirō openly expressed his disgust for melodrama in a December 1952 interview. And yet, curiously, he said Tokyo Story (Tokyo monogatari), which was released only a ye...
Simultaneous Multi-angle Observations of Strong Langmuir Turbulence at HAARP

We report results from a recent series of experiments employing the HF transmitter of the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) to generate and study strong Langmuir turbulence (SLT) in the interaction region of overdense ionospheric plasma. The Modular UHF Ionospheric Radar (MUIR) located at the HAARP facility is used as the primary diagnostic. Short pulse, low duty cycle experiments are used to avoid generation of artificial field-aligned irregularities and isolate ponderomotive plasma turbulence effects. The HF pump frequency is close to the 3rd gyro-harmonic frequency and the HF pointing angle and MUIR look angle are between the HF Spitze angle and Magnetic Zenith angle. Plasma line spectra measured simultaneously in different spots of the interaction region display differences dependent on the aspect angle of the HF pump beam in the boresight direction and the pointing angle of the MUIR diagnostic radar. Outshifted Plasma Lines, cascade, collapse, coexistence, spectra are observed in agreement with existing theory and simulation results of Strong Langmuir Turbulence in ionospheric interaction experiments. It is found that SLT at HAARP is most readily observed at a HF pointing angle of 11° and UHF observation angle of 15°, which is consistent with the magnetic zenith effect as documented in previous works and optimal orientation of the refracted HF electric field vector.
Mobility assisted data gathering with solar irradiance awareness in heterogeneous energy replenishable wireless sensor networks

Consider a joint design of mobile data gathering and energy replenishment.Propose a novel two layer heterogeneous architecture for wireless sensor networks.Present a mobility assisted data gathering scheme with solar irradiance awareness.Simulation results show that MADG-SIA provides significant improvement in terms of balancing energy consumption and the amount data gathered compared to previous work. Wireless sensor networks adopting static data gathering may suffer from unbalanced energy consumption due to non-uniform packet relay. Although mobile data gathering provides a reasonable approach to solving this problem, it inevitably introduces longer data collection latency due to the use of mobile data collectors. In the meanwhile, energy harvesting has been considered as a promising solution to relieve energy limitation in wireless sensor networks. In this paper, we consider a joint design of these two schemes and propose a novel two layer heterogeneous architecture for wireless sensor networks, which consists of two types of nodes: sensor nodes which are static and powered by solar panels, and cluster heads that have limited mobility and can be wirelessly recharged by power transporters. Based on this network architecture, we present a data gathering scheme, called mobility assisted data gathering with solar irradiance awareness (MADG-SIA), where sensor nodes are clustered around cluster heads that adaptively change their positions according to solar irradiance, and the sensing data are forwarded to the data sink by these cluster heads working as data aggregation points. We evaluate the performance of the proposed scheme by extensive simulations and the results show that MADG-SIA provides significant improvement in terms of balancing energy consumption and the amount data gathered compared to previous work.
A Constitutive Equation Relating Composition and Microstructure to Properties in Ti-6Al-4V: As Derived Using a Novel Integrated Computational Approach

While it is useful to predict properties in metallic materials based upon the composition and microstructure, the complexity of real, multi-component, and multi-phase engineering alloys presents difficulties when attempting to determine constituent-based phenomenological equations. This paper applies an approach based upon the integration of three separate modeling approaches, specifically artificial neural networks, genetic algorithms, and Monte Carlo simulations to determine a mechanism-based equation for the yield strength of α+β processed Ti-6Al-4V (all compositions in weight percent) which consists of a complex multi-phase microstructure with varying spatial and morphological distributions of the key microstructural features. Notably, this is an industrially important alloy yet an alloy for which such an equation does not exist in the published literature. The equation ultimately derived in this work not only can accurately describe the properties of the current dataset but also is consistent with the limited and dissociated information available in the literature regarding certain parameters such as intrinsic yield strength of pure hexagonal close-packed alpha titanium. In addition, this equation suggests new interesting opportunities for controlling yield strength by controlling the relative intrinsic strengths of the two phases through solid solution strengthening.
Peak sidelobe level gumbel distribution for arrays of randomly placed antennas

Extreme Value Theory (EVT) is used to analyze the peak sidelobe level distribution for array element positions with arbitrary probability distributions. Computations are discussed in the context of linear antenna arrays using electromagnetic energy. The results also apply to planar arrays of random elements that can be transformed into linear arrays. For sparse arrays with small number of elements, Gaussian approximations to the beampattern distribution at a particular angle introduce inaccuracies to the probability calculations. EVT is applied without making these Gaussian approximations. It is shown that the peak sidelobe level distribution converges weakly to a Gumbel distribution in the limit of a large number of beampattern samples. This result is for both sparse and dense arrays of randomly placed antennas over a large aperture. The definition of a large aperture in this context is ambiguous, but a possible rule-of-thumb is that it is at least a wavelength.
The glaciation of pennsylvania, USA

Publisher Summary There is evidence for at least four Pleistocene glacial advances into Pennsylvania. Each time the Laurentide ice sheet advanced, it entered Pennsylvania from the North-West and the North-East. The triangular shaped unglaciated area between the two lobes is called the Salamanca Re-entrant. In Northwestern Pennsylvania, the relatively low relief, shaly bedrock, and abundant debris from the Great Lake basins produced a dominance of deposition over erosion in each glacial advance. This produced multiple till-sheet sequences whose layers sometimes are separated by partly-preserved weathering profiles. These till sequences are well exposed in open pit coal mines. The chapter discusses that the pre-glacial stream drainage in north-western Pennsylvania was to the north-west. During glaciation this drainage was blocked and diverted to the south-west to form an ice marginal drainage system, the present Allegheny-Ohio River system. In north-eastern Pennsylvania the moderate relief on sandstone bedrock produced a dominance of erosion over deposition during each glacial advance. Each successive advance almost entirely removed the deposits of the previous advance and some bedrock. Other proglacial lakes were imponded along that limit, along younger limits, and North of the Late Pleistocene limit as ice receded from Pennsylvania.
Combining subband decomposition and sigma delta modulation for wideband A/D conversion

This paper describes a method of digitizing a wide-band signal by performing subband decomposition via a bank of tuned bandpass sigma-delta modulators. Each modulator only converts a portion of the signal spectrum, increasing the effective oversampling ratio for the wide-band signal by the number of parallel modulators. A prototype bandpass /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ modulator with a programmable noise null was fabricated in a 2 /spl mu/m CMOS process and used to construct a four channel parallel A/D conversion system. >
Conjoint Couple's Therapy in Preventing Violence in Low Income, African American Couples: A Case Report April Jackson-Gilfort

The standard practice in domestic violence interventions is to treat each member of the couple separately in individual or group modalities. Using a family-ecological intervention, Structural Ecosystems Therapy (SET), in a clinical trial for African American HIV+ women, the authors have treated violent couples in a couples therapy modality. The focus of treatment is developing conflict management skills and strengthening support networks to decrease isolation. This article presents a case report and guidelines for determining which domestic violence cases can be treated conjointly. Further research is needed to refine the intervention and empirically determine its effectiveness.
Working-Capital: Verbesserung durch Prozessmanagement

Das Ideal eines Unternehmers ist, dass sein Leistungserstellungsprozess von Produkten oder Dienstleistungen wenig Zeit in Anspruch nimmt, er diese sofort verkaufen kann und er unmittelbar Cash erhalt. Notwendige Ressourcen sind bei diesem Ideal jederzeit zu fest fixiertem Preis am Markt erhaltlich.
Research on dental amalgam: 1982-1986.

This paper is a five-year review of selected research papers on dental amalgam which were published during the years 1982 through 1986. Papers presented at scientific dental meetings are also included. During the past five years, clarification of amalgam metallurgy has been made, and a few innovative modifications have been recommended. The addition of palladium, indium, and selenium to dental amalgam has been suggested, but commercial applications have yet to be made. The mechanical property of creep has been studied more extensively, while the applicability of fracture toughness tests has been examined. More work has been done on the microleakage of amalgam restorations, with certain alloy factors showing an influence on this problem. Most in vitro investigations on the use of cavity varnish or resin films beneath amalgam restorations show reduced microleakage. Additionally, many electrochemical investigations were conducted. A most significant finding was that amalgam does not appear to break down in v...
Network Neutrality or Internet Innovation

Over the past two decades, the Internet has undergone an extensive re-ordering of its topology that has resulted in increased variation in the price and quality of its services. Innovations such as private peering, multihoming, secondary peering, server farms, and content delivery networks have caused the Internet’s traditionally hierarchical architecture to be replaced by one that is more heterogeneous. Relatedly, network providers have begun to employ an increasingly varied array of business arrangements and pricing. This variation has been interpreted by some as network providers attempting to promote their self interest at the expense of the public. In fact, these changes reflect network providers’ attempts to reduce cost, manage congestion, and maintain quality of service. Current policy proposals to constrain this variation risk harming these beneficial developments.
Comparison of the responses of the chorda tympani and glossopharyngeal nerves to taste stimuli in C57BL/6J mice

Background Recent progress in discernment of molecular pathways of taste transduction underscores the need for comprehensive phenotypic information for the understanding of the influence of genetic factors in taste. To obtain information that can be used as a base line for assessment of effects of genetic manipulations in mice taste, we have recorded the whole-nerve integrated responses to a wide array of taste stimuli in the chorda tympani (CT) and glossopharyngeal (NG) nerves, the two major taste nerves from the tongue.
Some New Audiovisual Catalogues

Book reviewed in this article: Films, The Visualization of Anthropology. Lori A. Baldwin, M. Kathleen Duttro, and Geza Teleki, eds. The World of Islam, Images and Echoes: A Critical Guide to Films and Recordings. Ellen-Fairbanks Bodman, gen ed. Media Log. A Guide to Television, Film and Radio Programs Supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Lilian Jimenez, Mara Mayor, and Virginia Schofield, eds. Encyclopaedia Cinematographica: Cultural Anthropology Catalog. Richard Lytle and John K. Mallory, compilers. Films from D.E.R. Toby Alice Volkman Native Americans on Film and Video. Elizabeth Weatherford, ed.
Osteoimmunology: interactions of the bone and immune system.

Bone and the immune system are both complex tissues that respectively regulate the skeleton and the body’s response to invading pathogens. It has now become clear that these organ systems often interact in their function. This is particularly true for the development of immune cells in the bone marrow and for the function of bone cells in health and disease. Because these two disciplines developed independently, investigators in each don’t always fully appreciate the significance that the other system has on the function of the tissue they are studying. This review is meant to provide a broad overview of the many ways that bone and immune cells interact so that a better understanding of the role that each plays in the development and function of the other can develop. It is hoped that an appreciation of the interactions of these two organ systems will lead to better therapeutics for diseases that affect either or both.
The response of blood glucose, ketones, and plasma nonesterified fatty acids to fasting and epinephrine injection in infants and children.

Summary 1. Blood ketone, blood glucose, and plasma NEFA concentrations after a 24 hour fast were studied in 181 infants and children from birth to 12 years of age. 2. The same measurements following epinephrine injections were made in 89 infants and children from birth to 14 years. 3. It was found that infants under 36 hours were more resistant to ketosis on fasting than infants 2 to 6 days of age whose ketosis became almost as severe as that of subjects aged 1 week to 4 years. The difference in response between these two newborn groups was found to be associated with large stores of liver glycogen in the younger group. Infants under 36 hours did not appear to have any impairment of fat catabolism as indicated by a progressive rise in blood ketone levels on more extended fasts and by their normal NEFA elevation after epinephrine. 4. Subjects 1 week to 4 years of age developed more ketosis on fasting than did older children. It was shown that this was not related to differences in excretion or utilization of ketone bodies, indicating that variation in ketone production was the factor responsible. 5. Blood sugar levels below 40 mg. per cent occurred in 45 of 123 subjects under 6 months of age who were fasted for 24 hours. With one exception, blood sugar below this level was not found in subjects over 7 months of age.
Automatic validation and failure diagnosis of human-device interfaces using task analytic models and model checking

When evaluating designs of human-device interfaces for safety critical systems, it is very important that they support the goal-directed tasks they were designed to facilitate. This paper describes a novel method that generates task-related temporal logic properties from task analytic models created early in the system design process. This allows analysts to use model checking (a means of performing exhaustive mathematical proofs) to automatically validate that formal models of human-device interfaces will let human operators successfully perform the necessary tasks with the system. This paper also presents an algorithm that uses the method to diagnose why a particular task is not valid for a given design. The application of both the method and algorithm are illustrated with a patient-controlled analgesia pump programming example. The method and algorithm are discussed and avenues for future work are described.
Modeling the Distribution of Sentence Length Decisions Under a Guidelines System: An Application of Quantile Regression Models

How should sentencing disparity be assessed when decisions are constrained under a sentencing guidelines system? Much of the debate over the measurement of sentence disparity under a guidelines system has focused primarily on using specific values from within the sentencing grid (e.g., minimum recommended sentence) or on using interaction terms in regression models to capture the non-additive effects of offense severity and prior record on length of sentence. In this paper, I propose an alternative method for assessing sentencing disparity that uses quantile regression models. These models offer several advantages over traditional OLS analyses (and related linear models) of sentence length, by allowing for an examination of the effects of case and offender characteristics across the full distribution of sentence lengths for a given sample of offenders. The analysis of the distribution of sentence lengths with quantile regression models allows for an examination of questions such as: Do offender characteristics, such as race or offense severity, have the same effect on sentence length for the 10% of offenders who receive the shortest sentences as they do for the 10% of offenders who receive the longest sentences? I illustrate the application and interpretation of these models using 1998 sentencing data from Pennsylvania. Key findings show that the effects of case and offender characteristics are variable across the distribution of sentence lengths, meaning that traditional linear models assuming a constant effect fail to capture important differences in how case and offender characteristics affect punishment decisions. I discuss the implications of these findings for understanding sentencing disparitites, as well as other possible applications of quantile regression models in the study of crime and the criminal justice system.
538 THE EFFECTS OF FREQUENCY AND DURATION OF BREAST FEEDING ON SERUM BILIRUBIN, WEIGHT GAIN AND MILK OUTPUT

Recent anthropological and biochemical studies question present feeding practices. To determine the effect of frequency and length of feedings we studied 46 healthy primiparous mothers and infants in the first month of life. Mothers were encouraged to nurse frequently. They recorded frequency and length of each feeding, and nipple pain for the first 14 days. We recorded infant weight and serum bilirubin. At 1 month, milk output was assessed for 24-48 hours by weighing at each feeding. Significantly lower bilirubin levels were noted with higher feeding frequencies (p .1). At one month 89% of the infants were fully breast fed and the mean weight gain (39%) was greater than previously reported (30%) for breast fed infants (p<.01). Mothers nursing less than 8 times/24h in the first 14 days had a significantly lower milk output at 1 month (p<.05). In summary, encouraging unlimited feedings decreases serum bilirubin, increases the success of breast feeding and weight gain and is not associated with breast complications.
Endoscopic approach to the ramus/condyle unit: Clinical applications * **

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this report is to describe use of an endoscopic technique for exposure of the mandibular ramus/condyle unit (RCU) to facilitate reconstructive jaw procedures. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective evaluation of 10 patients with diagnoses of idiopathic condylar resorption (n = 2), subcondylar fracture (n = 5), mandibular prognathism (n = 1), condylar hyperplasia (n = 1), and mandibular asymmetry (n = 1), who underwent endoscopic exposure of the RCU. Results: All 10 patients had successful reconstruction of the RCU using the endoscopic approach. The procedures performed included the following: condylectomy (n = 5 sides), costochondral graft reconstruction (n = 4 sides), reduction of subcondylar fracture (n = 5 sides), and mandibular ramus osteotomy (n = 4 sides). Mean operating time was 84 minutes. No patients had marginal mandibular nerve weakness or other complications. Conclusion: This case series demonstrates the feasibility of endoscopic access to the RCU. The procedures can be performed with no increase in operative time and with minimal morbidity. © 2001 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
An incompressible Navier-Stokes flow solver in three-dimensional curvilinear coordinate systems using primitive variables

An implicit, finite-difference computer code has been developed to solve the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations in a three-dimensional, curvilinear coordinate system. The pressure-field solution is based on the pseudo compressibility approach in which the time derivative pressure term is introduced into the mass conservation equation to form a set of hyperbolic equations. The solution procedure employs an implicit, approximate factorization scheme. The Reynolds stresses, that are uncoupled from the implicit scheme, are lagged by one time-step to facilitate implementing various levels of the turbulence model. Test problems for external and internal flows are computed, and the results are compared with existing experimental data. The application of this technique for general three-dimensional problems is then demonstrated.