cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Skewed symmetry groups

We introduce the term skewed symmetry groups and provide a complete theoretical treatment for 2D wallpaper groups under affine transformations. For the first time, a given periodic pattern can be classified not simply by its Euclidean symmetry group but,by its highest "potential" symmetry group under affine deformation. A concise wallpaper group migration map is constructed that separates the 17 affinely deformed wallpaper groups into small, distinct orbits. The practical value of this result includes a novel indexing and retrieval scheme for regular patterns, and a maximal-symmetry-based method for estimating shape and orientation from texture under unknown views.
Whole-genome sequencing identifies recurrent somatic NOTCH2 mutations in splenic marginal zone lymphoma

Splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL), the most common primary lymphoma of spleen, is poorly understood at the genetic level. In this study, using whole-genome DNA sequencing (WGS) and confirmation by Sanger sequencing, we observed mutations identified in several genes not previously known to be recurrently altered in SMZL. In particular, we identified recurrent somatic gain-of-function mutations in NOTCH2, a gene encoding a protein required for marginal zone B cell development, in 25 of 99 (∼25%) cases of SMZL and in 1 of 19 (∼5%) cases of nonsplenic MZLs. These mutations clustered near the C-terminal proline/glutamate/serine/threonine (PEST)-rich domain, resulting in protein truncation or, rarely, were nonsynonymous substitutions affecting the extracellular heterodimerization domain (HD). NOTCH2 mutations were not present in other B cell lymphomas and leukemias, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL; n = 15), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL; n = 15), low-grade follicular lymphoma (FL; n = 44), hairy cell leukemia (HCL; n = 15), and reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (n = 14). NOTCH2 mutations were associated with adverse clinical outcomes (relapse, histological transformation, and/or death) among SMZL patients (P = 0.002). These results suggest that NOTCH2 mutations play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of SMZL and are associated with a poor prognosis.
Some recent results in tomography

Presents an overview of two developments in tomography: design of optimum scan patterns for time-varying objects; and an efficient iterative edge-preserving algorithm for limited-angle data. The first development involves the introduction of a new problem definition and changing the "rules of the game" by unconventional acquisition formats. It also employ the mathematical tools of lattice theory, which have seen relatively little use in this area. The second development, on the other hand, addresses a classical and long standing problem, by a combination of more rigorous analysis and modeling with some heuristic twists.
Dynamics of thin polymer films: Recent insights from incoherent neutron scattering

Incoherent neutron scattering is presented as a powerful tool for interpreting changes in molecular dynamics as a function of film thickness for a range of polymers. Motions on approximately nanosecond and faster timescales are quantified in terms of a mean-square atomic displacement ( ) from the Debye-Waller factor. Thin-film confinement generally leads to a reduction of in comparison with the bulk material, and this effect becomes especially pronounced when the film thickness approaches the unperturbed dimensions of the macromolecule. Generally, there is a suppression (never an enhancement) of at temperatures T above the bulk calorimetric glass-transition temperature (T g ). Below T g , the reduction in the magnitude of depends on the polymer and the length scales being probed. Polymers with extensive segmental or local mobility in the glass are particularly susceptible to reductions of with confinement, especially at the Q vectors probing these longer length scales, whereas materials lacking these sub-T g motions are relatively insensitive. Moreover, a reduced value correlates with reduced mobility at long time and spatial scales, as measured by diffusion in these thin polymer films. Finally, this reduced thin-film mobility is not reliably predicted by thermodynamic assessments of an apparent T g , as measured by discontinuities or kinks in the T dependence of the thermal expansion, specific volume, index of refraction, specific heat, and so forth. These measurements illustrate that is a powerful and predictive tool for understanding dynamic changes in thin polymer films.
Manageability of Java-based digital TV receivers

The hardest problems of network management are frequently not modeling, abstracting, filtering, or propagation of management information; they are the extraction of management information from the resources being managed. This process is commonly referred to as the management instrumentation of resources. Although a variety of new systems are being designed and deployed on a continuous basis, it is still a rare occasion that these systems are designed and instrumented to be managed. We show how management instrumentation can be simply and powerfully accomplished if management provisions are made in the design of the managed resource. We look at digital television receivers and their Java applications as standardized by the Advanced Television Standards Committee (ATSC). We model the applications lifecycle of these applications using the ITU-T X.731 State Management function, and outline the corresponding applications and management Java APIs.
Development of a 55 kW 3X dc-dc converter for HEV systems

The design of a 55 kW 3X dc-dc converter is presented for hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) traction drives. It can interface the battery with the inverter dc bus with three output/input voltage ratios and have smooth transition in voltage ratio changes. By making use of the parasitic inductance, the size and weight of the converter are significantly reduced. Its magnetic-less feature and high efficiency provide the great potential for the very high temperature operation. The circuit parameter design and the circuit modeling are provided. Experimental results are given to verify the analysis and design concepts.
After Empire: National Identity and Post-colonial Families of Nations

The `special relationships' formed by Spain, France and Britain with their former colonies demonstrate that even ties initially based on political and economic domination transform the identities of both parties. In this study, we show how European post-colonial behavior in Africa, Asia and Latin America has been inspired by historically rooted subjective conceptions of national identity and norms of interstate community. We employ a constructivist approach to provide a generalizable, middle-range explanation of foreign policies that do not fit typical realist or economistic notions of rationality. Instead, we find that Spanish, French and British policies toward their former empires follow patterns suggested by colonialist and feminist theories of International Relations. By applying this approach to post-colonial relations, we show the importance of ideas and norms in the construction of unequal power relations and expand the constructivist research program.
Effect of electrode separation and material properties on plasma uniformity in dual frequency capacitively coupled plasma tools

Dual frequency, capacitively coupled plasma (DF-CCP) tools are being developed for etching in microelectronics fabrication with the goal of separately controlling the production of etch precursors and ion energy delivered to the wafer. These tools typically use a high frequency (10s to 100s tens of MHz) to sustain the plasma and a low frequency (a few to 10 MHz) for ion acceleration. Due to finite wavelength effects, the radial distribution of power deposition and sheath potentials are functions of frequency, and so adjusting frequency is not a free parameter with respect to uniformity. In particular, there is evidence that varying reactor geometry coincident with changes in frequency can improve uniformity.1
On motions with a rest point and the existence of normal mode vibrations of non-linear systems

A non-linear, conservative system having two degrees of freedom is reduced to that of a unit mass moving in a plane, conservative force field. The topological portrait of the entire force-direction field is discussed for systems that are weakly or strongly non-linear, or non-linearizable. A class of trajectories, called the class of T-curves, is defined as that for which the motion of the physical system has a rest point. A large number of properties of T-curves is deduced. In particular, it is shown that there exist at least two T-curves such that the corresponding motions of the physical system consist of normal mode vibrations, one in-phase, the other out-of-phase.
Pushing the boundary: state restructuring, state theory, and the case of U.S.–Mexico border enforcement in the 1990s

Abstract This paper is a sympathetic critique of the current view of the state and state restructuring in the literature on geographical political economy. We contend that although this literature has developed a view of the state that is far more complex than a crudely determinist or economistic reading, it nevertheless remains limited. The literature analyzes the imperatives that shape state restructuring in a way that ultimately always refers back to the need to preserve capitalist accumulation and maintain the legitimacy of capitalist social relations. We suggest that an effective strategy for moving beyond these limits is a more explicit methodological focus on imperatives beyond capitalist accumulation. To illustrate this strategy, we focus on one such imperative: the need to reproduce a relationship of political legitimacy between state and citizens. We present a case study that examines the significant build-up of U.S.–Mexico boundary enforcement in the 1990s. The case highlights the importance of the political–geographical relation between state and citizen for shaping state policy choices. We find that a critical impetus for the boundary build-up in the 1990s was a complex set of concerns about security that grew dialectically out of interactions between particular state actors and particular groups of citizens. While the build-up could be analyzed insofar as it helped reproduce the relations of capital, such an approach cannot capture the whole story. We conclude the paper by calling for an analysis of the state and state restructuring that extends the current focus on accumulation and capitalist social relations to include a much wider range of imperatives.
Ellipsometric Imaging of Drying Sol-Gel Films

Although controlled dip-coating is an established way to apply high quality uniform coatings, the details of the coating and drying process have not been deeply studied. Depending on the physical and chemical state of the sol and the parameters of dipping (dipping angle and speed), a variety of thicknesses and porosities can be achieved [1]. For optical coatings, the refractive index and optical thickness can thereby be controlled. We have developed a method to view the drying front of a dip-coated film using broad beam ellipsometry [2], or “ellipsometric imaging.” In dip-coated films we take full advantage of the fact that a steady state is quickly reached where the drying line velocity matches the withdrawal velocity; however, the technique might also be used in unsteady situations such as spin coating. Imaging ellipsometry makes it possible to measure the refractive index and thickness profiles of both wet and dry films point-by-point in an entire image at once. These profiles provide important clues as to the relative importance of gravity, evaporation and other phenomena.
An Observational and Numerical Study of an Orographically Trapped Wind Reversal along the West Coast of the United States

Abstract Observational analyses and a high-resolution simulation using The Pennsylvania State University–NCAR Mesoscale Model Version 5 (MM5) were used to describe the coastally trapped wind reversal of 19–21 July 1994. Major findings include the following. The event was initiated and controlled by changes in the synoptic-scale flow, and particularly by the development of offshore flow over the coastal terrain of Oregon. Although synoptic control was dominant, blocking of the inversion-capped marine layer and mesoscale coastal pressure ridging were important components of the event. The synoptic evolution associated with the trapped reversal was characterized by a shift from climatological near-zonal 500-mb flow to high-amplitude upper-level ridging over the eastern Pacific. As this upper ridge moved northeastward, the 850-mb flow over Oregon became northeasterly and then southeasterly, and 850-mb heights fell over western Oregon. The combination of falling heights aloft and increasing low-level offshore ...
Determining stocking, forest type and stand-size class from forest inventory data

This paper describes the procedures used by North Central Forest Experiment Station's Forest Inventory and Analysis Work Unit (NCFIA) in determining stocking, forest type, and stand-size class. The stocking procedure assigns a portion of the stocking to individual trees measured on NCFIA 10-point field plots. Stand size and forest type are determined as functions of the stocking, size, and species of these trees and the physiographic classification of the site. One stand-size classification algorithm used in all states inventoried by NCFIA is described. Three separate forest type classification algorithms used in the Lake States (MI, MN, and WI), Plains States (KS, NE, ND, and SD) and Central States (IA, IL, IN, and MO) are presented.
Free Tissue Transfer in Conjunction with Limb-Sparing Prosthetic Replacement for Sarcomas Around the Knee

Prosthetic replacement following excision of sarcomas around the knee is a limbsparing procedure that can maintain function while allowing the achievement of a wide surgical margin. The success of this procedure often depends upon management of the soft tissue defect that can occur with tumor excision or of the defect that can occur secondary to postoperative wound necrosis in patients on chemotherapy. The purpose of this study is to determine if free tissue transfer is effective in providing initial coverage and in managing postoperative wound complications that might otherwise prohibit a limb-sparing procedure.
A Markov chain model to maximize revenue by varying refurbished product upgrade levels

Refurbishing companies receive used products with varying levels of quality. One challenge facing the remanufacturer is the extent to which upgrading should be conducted. An analytical approach is proposed to evaluate the product recovery system with stochastic variability of the quality of the components/parts returned to the remanufacturing environment. The decision process is formulated via a discrete time Markov chain model. Then, a linear program approach is applied to solve the model to determine up to which level a returned product should be upgraded. The effects of different policies (the level of upgrade) on the total expected value are studied and the optimal decision which maximizes expected average revenue is determined. An example of a copy machine is used to illustrate an application of the model. Finally, the results of the model are further investigated applying a systems dynamics approach to determine the effects of the suggested upgrade strategy on the amount of reusable inventory.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Usefulness of the Myocardial Infarction and Cardiac Arrest Calculator as a Discriminator of Adverse Cardiac Events After Elective Hip and Knee Surgery.

The 2014 American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines on perioperative evaluation recommend differentiating patients at low risk (<1%) versus elevated risk (≥1%) for cardiac complications to guide appropriate preoperative testing. Among the tools recommended for estimating perioperative risk is the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) Myocardial Infarction and Cardiac Arrest (MICA) risk calculator. We investigated whether the NSQIP MICA risk calculator would accurately discriminate adverse cardiac events in a cohort of adult patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery. We retrospectively reviewed 1,098 consecutive, elective orthopedic surgeries performed at Hershey Medical Center from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2014. Adverse cardiac events were defined as myocardial infarction or cardiac arrest within 30 days of surgery. The mean estimated risk for adverse cardiac events using the NSQIP MICA risk calculator was 0.54%, which was not significantly different (p = 1) compared with the observed incidence of 0.64% (7 of 1,098 procedures). The c-statistic for discriminating adverse cardiac events was 0.85 (95% CI 0.67 to 1) for the NSQIP MICA risk calculator and 0.9 (95% CI 0.75 to 1) for the Revised Cardiac Risk Index. In conclusion, the NSQIP MICA risk calculator is a good discriminator of adverse cardiac events in patients undergoing elective hip and knee surgery, performing comparably to the Revised Cardiac Risk Index.
Molecular determinants of shear rate-dependent leukocyte adhesion in postcapillary venules

Recent studies have demonstrated that reductions in shear rate are associated with the recruitment of rolling and adherent leukocytes in postcapillary venules. The objective of this study was to define the molecular determinants of the leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesive interactions elicited by low venular shear rates. Three different monoclonal antibodies (MAb) were used to assess the relative contributions of CD18 (MAb R15.7), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1; MAb RR1/1), and P-selectin (MAb PB1.3) to shear rate-dependent leukocyte rolling and adherence. Erythrocyte velocity, vessel diameter, leukocyte adherence, and leukocyte rolling velocity were monitored in cat mesenteric venules (25-40 microns diam). Venular shear rate was varied in a stepwise fashion by graded occlusion of an arterial circuit between the femoral and superior mesenteric arteries. Shear rates were maintained at each level for a period of 2 min. The MAbs directed against either CD18 or ICAM-1, but not P-selectin, significantly attenuated the recruitment of adherent leukocytes normally observed at low shear rates. However, the MAb against P-selectin, but not CD18 or ICAM-1, was effective in reducing the recruitment of rolling leukocytes elicited by low shear rates. These observations indicate that shear rate-dependent recruitment of adherent leukocytes involves an interaction between CD11/CD18 on leukocytes and ICAM-1 on vascular endothelium, while P-selectin on endothelial cells mediates, at least part of, the recruitment of rolling leukocytes.
The Correlation Between Hypertension and Target Organic Lesion

Hypertension is a kind of polygene hereditary diseases which combined action by hereditary factor and environmental factor,and it's the most hackneyed cardiovascular disease,it's a soundless killer,and the final result injures target organs,to harm our health seriously.This article reviews hypertension's pernicious from vascular to heart,brain,kidney,eyes and audition as well as cognitive function,and it's incidence,development and interrelated mechanism processed about target organs injuries.
Survey of Galileo plasma observations in Jupiter's plasma sheet

The plasma science (PLS) Instrument on the Galileo spacecraft (orbiting Jupiter from December 1995 to September 2003) measured properties of the ions that were trapped in the magnetic field. The PLS data provide a survey of the plasma properties between approx. 5 and 30 Jupiter radii [R(sub J)] in the equatorial region. We present plasma properties derived via two analysis methods: numerical moments and forward modeling. We find that the density decreases with radial distance by nearly 5 orders of magnitude from approx. 2 to 3000 cm(exp.-3) at 6R(sub j) to approx. 0.05cm(sub -3) at 30 R(sub j). The density profile did not show major changes from orbit to orbit, suggesting that the plasma production and transport remained constant within about a factor of 2. The radial profile of ion temperature increased with distance which implied that contrary to the concept of adiabatic cooling on expansion, the plasma heats up as it expands out from Io's orbit (where TI is approx.60-80 eV) at approx. 6R(sub j) to a few keV at 30R(sub j).There does not seem to be a long-term, systematic variation in ion temperature with either local time or longitude. This latter finding differs from earlier analysis of Galileo PLS data from a selection of orbits. Further examination of all data from all Galileo orbits suggests that System Ill variations are transitory on timescales of weeks, consistent with the modeling of Cassini Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph observations. The plasma flow is dominated by azimuthal flow that is between 80% and 100% of corotation out to 25 R(sub j).
Assessment of Dietary Chromium Level of Residents in Hubei Province

Objective To understand the actual dietary chromium intake of residents in Hubei province,the dietary chromium level of people were assessed by the amount of daily food intake and chromium content of all kinds of foods consumed.Method The project was investigated and samples were collected according to the program of dietary nutrition and health of Chinese people.The chromium intake of people was the average amount of each foods consumed per person per day multiplied by the actually determined chromium content of the food.The chromium nutritional status of residents was assessed and graded by living in rural or urban area,gender,income,education level,region,age and glucose tolerance test.Results The average chromium intake of residents in Hubei province was 53.17 μg,and that of urban and rural residents was 48.70 μg and 55.47 μg,respectively.Conclusion The chromium intake in 40.20% of residents living in Hubei province was under the minimum level suggested by the Chinese Nutrition Society.Chromium intake may be low or insufficient in residents in Hubei province.
Are We Training “Professionals” in International Affairs?

Dean Cordier's title for his luncheon address to the International Studies Association on September 8, 1966 suggested the title for the following remarks. I liked the tone and ring of his title although I do not know quite what "professionals" means in our field and his speech did not help very much to define it. But it sounds impressive and persuasive. It suggests a well organized curriculum of study in academic programs properly accredited, the way other professional degree programs are accredited; with probably a working internship of substantial duration; and sooner or later rigid examinations before some state or national board that subsequently issues (for the successful candidates) the authorization that permits one to ply his profession legally. That picture of professionalization is quite appealing but also quite different from current practices in the preparation of personnel for the international affairs field. Dean Cordier did not even hint at
Zoning Barriers to Manufactured Housing

Manufactured housing is a major affordable housing resource for millions of people. Restrictive zoning barriers limit its availability, even though studies have discredited myths, such as objections to its safety and quality. A national statute, the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act, authorizes building code standards that address all aspects of safety, durability and quality, and that preempt state and local codes that deal with this problem. The Act does not preempt restrictive zoning, and Congress should amend the law to cover zoning restrictions. Judicial control of zoning barriers to manufactured housing is unsatisfactory and requires statutory change. Courts accept unequal treatment that applies restrictive zoning only to manufactured housing, though some statutes prohibit discrimination. The cases uphold exclusions from residential districts if manufactured housing is allowed elsewhere. Some statutes prohibit exclusion by requiring manufactured housing as a permitted use in all residential districts, or allow a community to decide what residential districts must accept manufactured housing. Courts uphold aesthetic standards, such as roofing and siding requirements, and some statutes authorize them, though limitations are needed to protect manufactured housing from exclusionary treatment. Communities often require approval of manufactured housing as a conditional use, and approval as a conditional use is often denied. Courts have upheld conditional use denials, and statutory protective standards are needed that will prevent abuse of the conditional use requirement.
4.21 – Endocrinological Effects of Drugs of Abuse

This diverse combination of endocrine effects by opiates, cocaine, and cannabis may be of utmost importance in terms of our understanding of both differences and similarities in the progression from misuse to addiction, as well as our understanding of overlap in the abuse of these different classes of drugs, with distinct patterns of abuse in polydrug abusers. Further, the normalization of endocrine disruption has been observed to be an important factor in the successful development of pharmacotherapeutics for opiate addiction and is an important consideration in the investigation of potential therapeutics for cocaine and cannabis addiction.
Educação e direitos humanos: uma reflexão a partir da escola

This article aims to reflect on the topic of the right to education from the perspective of the human rights. It is a qualitative study, based on bibliographic review, with the hermeneutical analysis of the data. The study evidenced that the right to education needs to be understood and actualized in the light of other the human rights. In addition, the school can assist in the education of the new generations on the bias of respect and of the exercise of the human rights by education for dialogue, solidarity and democracy.
The Evolution and Impact of Anonymous Preference in Online Communities

Open innovation platforms are swiftly developing the capability to capture and display collective preference from the diverse opinions of online participants. Corporate "open innovation" communities, like Dell Idea Storm, have encouraged thousands of participants to submit and vote on ideas, but anonymous voting can lead to erratic and unproductive conflict between the community and the corporation. As the identity of participants in these systems becomes less salient, identifying individual preferences within the collective becomes increasingly difficult for other participants, and the ability to lead the collective preference, or to learn from and follow identifiable others, becomes systematically impossible. Thus, there is a practical need to understand how anonymous collective preference evolves, and a theoretical need to explore the effect that potentially unique evolution patterns have on the final collective preference. Utilizing 19.8 million preferences by 43,136 participants of reddit.com over 2 ...
Multitarget geolocation via an agricultural octorotor based on orthographic projection and data association

In recent years, unmanned aerial vehicles with onboard spectral sensors have been used in detecting diseases in the agricultural fields. Geolocation, i.e. calculating the global coordinate of ident...
The Ethics of Treatment for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS).

In this case, a baby is born with a devastating cardiac defect, hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). Until a few decades ago, this was uniformly fatal, usually within the first year. There is no...
Reference, reading, and nonreading: Learning from Bayard (with a grain of salt)

T his spring I had the opportunity to teach an undergraduate course on the history of philosophy from Rene Descartes to William James. On most of our twice-weekly class sessions, I would bring a half-dozen or so books with me beyond the anthology we were working from. My duty as a librarian impelled me—there are riches untold (to freshman, at least) in our stacks, waiting to be unveiled. Usually these books were pulled haphazardly from my office shelves just before class. Sometimes they were checked out from our library, less often requested from elsewhere a week or two ahead of time because I actually knew what I wanted to talk about that far in advance. I would bring secondary literature to recommend for further research, other unassigned works by authors we were reading in the event that a first exposure might have sparked philosophical discipleship, along with living thinkers like Seyla Benhabib or Giorgio Agamben who have fruitfully picked up the threads of the Enlightenment problems we were considering.
"Social Networkout": Connecting Social Features of Wearable Fitness Trackers with Physical Exercise

Despite widespread understanding of the benefits of physical activity, many adults in the United States do not meet recommended exercise guidelines. Burgeoning technologies, including wearable fitness trackers (e.g., Fitbit, Apple watch), bring new opportunities to influence physical activity by encouraging users to track and share physical activity data and compete against their peers. However, research has not explored the social processes that mediate the relationship between the use of wearable fitness trackers and intention to exercise. In this study, we applied the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991) to explore the effects of two communicative features of wearable fitness devices-social sharing and social competing-on individuals' intention to exercise. Drawing upon surveys from 238 wearable fitness tracker users, we found that the relationship between the two communication features (social sharing and competing) and exercise intention was mediated by attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. The results suggest that the ways in which exercise data are shared significantly influence the exercise intentions, and these intentions are mediated by individuals' evaluation of exercise, belief about important others' approval of exercise, and perceived control upon exercise.
Trends in Computer Applications in Structural Geology: 1969–1979

A brief review of the journal literature since 1969 (supplementing an earlier review covering 1959–1969) indicates the manner in which computer-based techniques have permeated most fields of structural geology. The biggest new thrust has been in the application of finiteelement methods, which seem destined to play an increasingly important role in structural-geology research.
Energy landscapes for ellipsoids in non-uniform AC electric fields.

We report a closed-form analytical model for energy landscapes of ellipsoidal particles in non-uniform high-frequency AC electric fields to identify all possible particle positions and orientations. Three-dimensional equilibrium positions and orientations of prolate (rx = ry ry), and scalene (rx ≠ ry ≠ rz) ellipsoids are reported vs. field frequency and amplitude, which are determined from energy landscape minima. For ellipsoids within non-uniform electric fields between co-planar parallel electrodes, the number of configurations of position and orientation is 6 for prolate, 5 for oblate, and 9 for scalene ellipsoids. In addition, for coplanar electrodes, conditions are identified when particles can be treated using a quasi-2D analysis in the plane of their most probable elevation near an underlying surface. The reported expressions are valid for time-averaged interactions of ellipsoid particles in arbitrary AC electric field configurations, such that our results are applicable to electromagnetic tweezers interacting with particles having an appropriate material property contrast with the medium in the frequency range of interest.
Biomimetic models to examine microenvironmental regulation of glioblastoma stem cells

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a malignant brain tumor, is the deadliest form of human cancer with low survival rates because of its highly invasive nature. In recent years, there has been a growing appreciation for the role that glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) play during tumorigenesis and tumor recurrence of GBM. GSCs are a specialized subset of GBM cells with stem cell-like features that contribute to tumor initiation and therapeutic resistance. Thus, to enhance therapeutic efficiency and improve survival, targeting GSCs and their microenvironmental niche appears to be a promising approach. To develop this approach, understanding GSC-microenvironment interactions is crucial. This review discusses various biomimetic model systems to understand the impact of biophysical, biochemical, and cellular microenvironmental cues on GSC behaviors. These models include two-dimensional or matrix-free environment models, engineered biomaterial-based three-dimensional models, co-culture models, and mouse and rat in vivo models. These systems have been used to study the effects of biophysical factors, modulation of signaling pathways, extracellular matrix components, and culture conditions on the GSC phenotype. The advantages and disadvantages of these model systems and their impact in the field of GSC research are discussed.
The effect of posture on the induction of epidural anesthesia for peripheral vascular surgery.

Background and Objectives. A study was done to determine whether a difference existed in the quality and time to maximum anesthesia between the induction of lumbar epidural anesthesia in the sitting and supine position in patients undergoing infrainguinal arterial reconstruction. Methods. An epidural catheter was inserted at L3-L4 in 40 patients who were randomly assigned to two groups. In group 1, with the patient sitting, 3 mL lidocaine 1.5% with 5 μg/mL epinephrine was given as a test dose, followed 3 minutes later by 12 mL bupivacaine 0.75% injected over 2 minutes through the catheter. After remaining in the sitting position for 5 minutes, the patient was placed supine and the quality of anesthesia assessed at 3-minute intervals for 30 minutes. Anesthesia was assessed by loss of sensation to pinprick and the Bromage scale for loss of motor function. In group 2, after placement of the catheter, the patient was immediately placed supine, the same doses of local anesthesia were given at the same time intervals as in group 1, and the onset of anesthesia was similarly assessed. In addition to a comparison between groups in the quality and time to maximum anesthesia, a correlation was sought between these variables and the age, weight, height, and body surface area (BSA) of the patients in each group. Results. The demographically similar groups showed no difference in maximum cephalad spread of anesthesia (median, interquartile range; group 1: T4, T2.5-T6; group 2: T4, T2.5-T7), motor block (group 1: 3, 2-4; group 2: 4, 4-6), or time to maximum motor block (mean ± SD; group 1, 17.4 ± 8.7 minutes; group 2, 17.9 ± 6.8 minutes). The time to maximum cephalad spread of anesthesia was shorter in group 1 (13.8 ± 6.9 minutes; group 2, 18.6 ± 6.6 minutes; P = .03). Neither the age nor weight of the patients in either group had any influence on the quality and time to maximum anesthesia. There was, however, a significant correlation between the height (r = 0.48, P = .0303) and BSA (r = 0.48, P = .0318) of the patients in group 1 and the time to maximum cephalad spread of anesthesia. Conclusions. When lumbar epidural anesthesia was induced in the sitting rather than supine position, the time to maximum cephalad spread was shorter and correlated directly with the height and BSA of the patient. The position of the patient during induction had no effect on the final level of cephalad spread and degree of motor block.
Optimal operator space pursuit: a framework for video sequence data analysis

High dimensional data sequences, such as video clips, can be modeled as trajectories in a high dimensional space and, and usually exhibit a low dimensional structure intrinsic to each distinct class of data sequence [1]. In this paper, we exploit a fibre bundle formalism to model various realizations of each trajectory, and characterize these high dimensional data sequences by an optimal operator subspace. Each operator is calculated as a matched filter corresponding to a standard Gaussian output with the data as input. The low dimensional structure intrinsic to the data is further explored, by minimizing the dimension of the operator space under data driven constraints. The dimension minimization problem is reformulated as a convex nuclear norm minimization problem, and an associated algorithm is proposed. Moreover, a fast method with superior performance for video based human activity classification is implemented by searching for an optimal operator space and adapted to the data. Illustrating examples demonstrating the performance of this approach are presented.
Biases and Errors Associated with Different Root Production Methods and Their Effects on Field Estimates of Belowground Net Primary Production

Many estimates of root production in the literature were based on sequential coring of biomass methods now considered unreliable. New methods such as minirhizotron and isotope labeling were developed to overcome known biases of old methods, but also have different assumptions and biases that can have large effects on estimates. Variations on the old root ingrowth method are now widely used because it is easy, straightforward, and does not require expensive specialized materials. Only recently have there been sufficient studies of new methods to better define the importance of various potential biases and to compare among ingrowth, minirhizotron, and isotope labeling studies. How these three methods are executed in the field and/or in how data are used to calculate root production can have large effects on mitigating some of the potential biases of each of these methods. There are three main objectives of this chapter. First, known biases of each method are described and suggestions of procedures that reduce problems leading to over- and underestimation of absolute values of root production are made. Second, a comparative approach of methods is taken to assess the importance of biases, because the correct absolute answer is never known. Third, how method biases may manifest differently in annual, short-lived perennial, and long-lived perennial plant root systems are assessed. Comments on root biomass separation from soil and how this affects estimates of root production are also made, because all three methods rely either directly or indirectly on this procedure to derive an estimate of root production.
Constructing Knowledge with Learning Tool

How can computers support and extend cognition? This chapter describes the cognitive requirements and limitations of the learning process and discusses how computers can help learners construct new knowledge. It looks a specific software program, Learning Tool, and reviews research on how it can be used to help learners in two domains: English composition and teacher training.
A new technique for counting aqueous solutions in the liquid scintillation spectrometer.

An efficient aqueous system for liquid scintillation counting has yet to be found. At present all of the effective fluors are highly nonpolar and can be used only in an organic solvent system, toluene and dioxane being commonly used examples. If the materials to be assayed are themselves nonpolar, as in the case of lipids, there are no compatibility problems. However, a great many, if not most, of the compounds of biochemical interest are polar, water-soluble materials with very limited solubility in solvents like toluene and dioxane. To take advantage of the simplicity and efficiency of liquid scintillation counting in studies involving such compounds, it becomes necessary to arrange a marriage of convenience between the polar biological material and the nonpolar fluor. This marriage has been effected in a variety of ways for a variety of specific applications. Some of these are briefly reviewed below. Still, no entirely satisfactory general “solution” has been found and the biochemist frequently has to improvise in order to solve each individual scintillation counting problem. The present paper describes a new approach to the assay of water-soluble samples [1, 2,13].
Knowledge Limits In Cosmology

In cosmology one faces the observational challenge that knowledge about distant regions of the universe is dependent on assumptions one makes about these regions which are themselves coupled to the observations. Within the framework of the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker big bang models the universe becomes opaque to its own radiation at z ≈ 1,000 and the earlier, and more distant, regions of the universe are not directly accessible through observations. Other challenges exist such as possible merging of extended distant sources and confusion of spectra from distant galaxies. One, therefore, encounters horizons in our understanding of the universe. Such horizons exist in any mode of description. To use the quantum analogy, the observer is always part of the system under study, the universe, and a description of the universe entails including the observer and observing apparatus. Since the early universe should be described in quantum terms, it follows that non-locality in the universe is not an a-priori requirement but the outcome of the observing process itself. As such, the flatness and horizon problems may not be preconditions on theoretical models.
Damaging Effects of Constant Light and Darkness on the Retina of the Frog

Since the discovery of Noell (1) that continuous light of moderate intensity causes severe damage to the albino rat retina, the effects of constant light on retinal structure and function has been the subject of numerous investigations in a variety of animals including man (recently reviewed by Lanum, 2). Most of these studies have dealt with the temporal aspects of light damage to the photoreceptor layer, the cell type most severely affected by this treatment. Though light damage to the retina in pigmented animals has also been reported, in general higher intensity and/or longer duration of exposure are required and the severity of the damage is not as pronounced as in albino strains. Studies in several laboratories indicate that monochromatic light causes specific destruction of selected cone types in pigmented animals and suggests that light damage may be mediated by photopigments (3, 4).
6 – KINETICS OF MASS TRANSPORT AND PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS

Atom movements and reactions occur in solids to drive them toward thermodynamic equilibrium. The resulting time-dependent mass transport processes produce changes in chemical composition, in physical amounts, and in the geometry and size of phases present. Kinetic change in solids invariably occurs by diffusional mass transport. Atomic diffusion can occur in response to externally imposed concentration gradients or to internal composition variations due to inhomogeneous processing. The former is readily modeled by the diffusion equation together with appropriate initial and boundary conditions. Simple solutions in terms of complementary error and gaussian functions enable the concentration of the diffusing species to be determined as a function of position and time. Phase transformations may be divided into several categories. The least complex involves a change in physical state, for example, solidification, with no alteration of phase chemical composition. Decomposition from a single phase to a mixture of two phases, each with different composition and structural morphology, is at the other extreme of complexity. Concurrent heterogeneous nucleation and diffusional growth processes make phase transformations complex events. In the conversion of glass to glass-ceramics these effects are decoupled, enabling finer tuning of the transformation. The generic similarity of nucleation-growth phenomena in the crystallization of amorphous films and the transformation of steel should not go unnoticed. Similar transformations occur in the precipitation hardening treatment for nonferrous metals and in recrystallization effects that occur in previously deformed metals. The Avrami equation provides a fruitful way to analyze the kinetics for all such nucleation-growth transformations. Mass transport effects are also of interest because they play a central role in phase transformations of all kinds, high-temperature annealing of metals, electrical transport in ceramics, mechanical behavior at elevated temperatures, and assorted heat treatments to strengthen or toughen materials.
The Newest African-Americans?: Somali Struggles for Belonging

The chapter historicizes Somali migration and the context and content of the 1990s Somali influx to the United States (US). It locates Somali migration experiences within the wider debates of integration and citizenship in the highly racialized US context. The chapter highlights some of the key challenges Somalis are experiencing in urban America and their implications for settlement and belonging. Somali refugees’ limited human capital and their ongoing financial obligations to families left behind are two key factors that are shaping their settlement in the US. These entail significant implications for citizenship and the future of Somali-American as this new community reaps some of the benefits associated with migration while becoming further entrenched in inner city segregated urban America.
Updated MISR over-water research aerosol retrieval algorithm – Part 2: A multi-angle aerosol retrieval algorithm for shallow, turbid, oligotrophic, and eutrophic waters

Abstract. Coastal waters serve as transport pathways to the ocean for all agricultural and other runoff from terrestrial sources, and many are the sites for upwelling of nutrient-rich, deep water; they are also some of the most biologically productive on Earth. Estimating the impact coastal waters have on the global carbon budget requires relating satellite-based remote-sensing retrievals of biological productivity (e.g., chlorophyll a concentration) to in situ measurements taken in near-surface waters. The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) can uniquely constrain the “atmospheric correction” needed to derive ocean color from remote-sensing imagers. Here, we retrieve aerosol amount and type from MISR over all types of water. The primary limitation is an upper bound on aerosol optical depth (AOD), as the algorithm must be able to distinguish the surface. This updated MISR research aerosol retrieval algorithm (RA) also assumes that light reflection by the underlying ocean surface is Lambertian. The RA computes the ocean surface reflectance ( Rrs ) analytically for a given AOD, aerosol optical model, and wind speed. We provide retrieval examples over shallow, turbid, and eutrophic waters and introduce a productivity and turbidity index (PTI), calculated from retrieved spectral Rrs , that distinguished water types (similar to the the normalized difference vegetation index, NDVI, over land). We also validate the new algorithm by comparing spectral AOD and Angstrom exponent (ANG) results with 2419 collocated AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) observations. For AERONET 558 nm interpolated AOD 1.0, the root-mean-square error (RMSE) is 0.04 and linear correlation coefficient is 0.95. For the 502 cloud-free MISR and AERONET collocations with an AERONET AOD > 0.20, the ANG RMSE is 0.25 and r is 0.89. Although MISR RA AOD retrieval quality does not appear to be substantially impacted by the presence of turbid water, the MISR-RA-retrieved Angstrom exponent seems to suffer from increased uncertainty under such conditions. MISR supplements current ocean color sources in regions where sunglint precludes retrievals from single-view-angle instruments. MISR atmospheric correction should also be more robust than that derived from single-view instruments such as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). This is especially true in regions of shallow, turbid, and eutrophic waters, locations where biological productivity can be high, and single-view-angle retrieval algorithms struggle to separate atmospheric from oceanic features.