cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low frequency TENS is less effective than high frequency TENS at reducing inflammation-induced hyperalgesia in morphine-tolerant rats.

Both transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and morphine are commonly used for relief of pain. Extensive research has been done on the effectiveness of each of these two methods for pain relief when given independently. However, very little literature exists examining the effectiveness of their combined use. Systemically administered morphine activates μ opioid receptors and when administered for prolonged periods results in analgesic tolerance. Low (4 Hz) and high (100 Hz) frequency TENS activate μ - and δ -opioid receptors, respectively, It is thus possible that TENS would be less effective in morphine-tolerant subjects. The current study investigated the effectiveness of high- and low-frequency TENS in the reversal of hyperalgesia in inflamed rats that were morphine-tolerant. Morphine tolerance was induced by subcutaneous implantation of morphine pellets over 10 days. Knee joint inflammation was induced by injection of kaolin and carrageenan into the knee joint cavity. Secondary heat hyperalgesia was tested by measuring the paw withdrawal latency to radiant heat (1) before pellet implantation (either morphine or placebo), (2) after pellet implantation and before inflammation, (3) after inflammation and (4) after TENS. Both high (100 Hz) and low (4 Hz) frequency TENS caused nearly 100% inhibition of secondary hyperalgesia in animals receiving placebo pellets. In contrast, the hyperalgesia in morphine-tolerant animals with knee joint inflammation was unaffected by low frequency TENS but fully reversed by high frequency TENS. These results suggest that patients who are tolerant to morphine may respond better to high frequency TENS than to low frequency TENS.
Glycosaminoglycan and Collagen Remodeling During In Vitro Dynamic Compression of Articular Cartilage: Experiments and Finite Element Modeling

The biomechanical properties of articular cartilage (AC) can be altered by chemical and mechanical stimuli. Dynamic unconfined compression (UCC) has been shown to increase biosynthesis at moderate strain amplitudes (1–4%) and frequencies from 0.01Hz. to 0.1Hz [1]. Furthermore, interstitial fluid velocity and maximum principle strain have been proposed as candidates for controlling glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and collagen (COL) remodeling, respectively [2,3]. The goal of this study was to integrate in vitro growth data, including biochemical and microstructural properties, into a computational continuum mixture model to elucidate potential mechanical triggers for AC tissue remodeling.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
CP violation in hadronic τ decays

We consider CP-violating effects in τ→3πντ and 4πντ(ΔS=0), and τ→Kππντ(ΔS=1), assuming that the usual Standard Model amplitudes for these processes interfere with analogous amplitudes mediated by a charged Higgs boson. In the ΔS=0 case we focus specifically on the intermediate resonant processes τ→Vπντ (with V=ω,ρ, and a1), and consider three CP-odd observables – the partial rate asymmetry, a polarization-dependent asymmetry and a triple-product asymmetry. In the ΔS=1 case we examine the partial rate asymmetry, two “modified” rate asymmetries, and a triple-product asymmetry. The partial rate asymmetry is expected to be small for both the ΔS=0 and ΔS=1 cases. Evaluation of the other asymmetries indicates that they could potentially be measurable.
Attraction to tropical mixed-species heron flocks: Proximate mechanism and consequences

1. A series of experiments using flocks of model birds on natural foraging grounds in Panama was designed to test whether each species participating in mixed heron flocks was drawn to the flock by resources alone, by the presence of members of its own species, by the presence of other species, or by the white color of flock participants. 2. The presence of Snowy Egrets was determined to be the attractive force. Field observations revealed that herons of all participating species increased their foraging success by proximity to Snowy Egrets (Fig. 1). Stomach-content analysis and direct observations revealed complete dietary overlap among all participating species. There was no significant difference in mean foraging rates of any species, except for adult Little Blue Herons, which caught fewer fish than even immature members of their own species. Adult but not immature Little Blue Herons were selectively attacked by other species, and foraged farther from Snowy Egrets in the flocks. 3. Benefits of mixed flocking accrue to Great Egrets, Little Blue and Tricolored Herons by increased foraging success when foraging close to Snowy Egrets; Snowy Egrets benefit by using subordinate species as easily supplanted indices of temporally varying food.
Cephalic vein cut-down verses percutaneous access: a retrospective study of complications of implantable venous access devices

Abstract Background Central venous access devices play an integral role in providing long-term venous access. Percutaneous and cut-down techniques have been used with varying complications. Methods Between January 1998 and July of 2001, 358 venous access devices were placed at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A retrospective study was performed to compare complications and operative times for 2 methods of catheter insertion. Results Overall complication rate was 14%. In lines successfully placed percutaneously, the complication rate was 15% (25 of 163) compared with 11% (16 of 148) in the successful cephalic cut-down group, P = .11. Complications including—pneumothorax, late catheter transection, and bradycardia—only occurred in percutaneously placed lines. Mean operative times were similar for both groups. Comments Use of the cut-down approach for long-term venous access may result in improved patient safety. The cut-down technique should be considered a safe initial approach for placement of venous access devices.
Expression flow for 3D-aware face component transfer

We address the problem of correcting an undesirable expression on a face photo by transferring local facial components, such as a smiling mouth, from another face photo of the same person which has the desired expression. Direct copying and blending using existing compositing tools results in semantically unnatural composites, since expression is a global effect and the local component in one expression is often incompatible with the shape and other components of the face in another expression. To solve this problem we present Expression Flow, a 2D flow field which can warp the target face globally in a natural way, so that the warped face is compatible with the new facial component to be copied over. To do this, starting with the two input face photos, we jointly construct a pair of 3D face shapes with the same identity but different expressions. The expression flow is computed by projecting the difference between the two 3D shapes back to 2D. It describes how to warp the target face photo to match the expression of the reference photo. User studies suggest that our system is able to generate face composites with much higher fidelity than existing methods.
Identification of Brucella suis from feral swine in selected states in the USA.

Serologic tests currently available for brucellosis diagnosis detect antibodies to Brucella but do not distinguish between species of Brucella. Although Brucella suis is known to circulate within various feral swine (Sus scrofa) populations, our objective was to determine the primary species of Brucella circulating in feral swine populations in areas of the US with high brucellosis prevalence. We cultured lymph nodes from 183 feral swine. We identified 22 isolates from 21 animals, and all isolates were genotyped asB. suis. Most isolates wereB. suis biovar 1, with the exception of two genetically distinct isolates from one feral swine in Hawaii, which were identified as B. suis biovar 3. Serum from each feral swine was also tested by the fluorescence polarization assay when possible, but only 52% (95% CL529.8-74.3) of culture-positive animals were antibody positive. Our results indicate that brucellosis infections in feral swine within the US are typically caused by B. suis. However, improved serologic tests are needed to more accurately determine exposure to Brucella spp. and to monitor disease trends in feral swine populations.
Noise figures (linear transducers)

A short tutorial description of noise figures for two-port linear transducers and entire receiver systems is presented. Due to the long history and of the use of noise figures to specify noise performance, numerous definitions have evolved. The relationship between the various noise-figure definitions found in the literature are specified and tables are provided as cross reference to the notation and naming conventions used in the references. >
A Runback Criterion for Water Drops in a Turbulent Accelerated Boundary Layer

Predicting the runback threshold for liquid drops in aerodynamic boundary layers is a challenging problem with numerous applications including aircraft icing simulations. The critical parameters that govern drop runback are investigated in this experiment by using a wind tunnel that provides a turbulent accelerated flow similar to flows near an unswept wing's leading edge. The experiments feature water drops on aluminum with a contact angle of 70 ±5 deg. Results show that significant water/air interface unsteadiness precedes drop runback. This is likely due to air-flow separation in the drop wakes. For displacement-thickness-scaled Reynolds numbers ranging from 348 to 429, a constant-Weber-number runback threshold We =3.45 ± 0.09 is found to adequately correlate the runback results.
Metaphorical World Politics – Edited by Francis A. Beer and Christ'l De Landtsheer Truth, Reconciliation, and Evil – Edited by Margaret Sönser Breen

Books reviewed: Metaphorical World Politics. Edited by Francis A. Beer and Christ'l De Landtsheer. East Lansing, Michigan: Michigan State University Press. 2004. 342 pp. Truth, Reconciliation, and Evil. Edited by Margaret Sonser Breen. Amsterdam: Rodopi B.V. 2004. 259 pp.
A Multivariate Associative Finite Growth Mixture Modeling Approach Examining Adolescent Alcohol and Marijuana Use

Theoretical and empirical substance use development research suggests that adolescent populations are not homogenous and can often be separated into subpopulations characterized by qualitatively different patterns of substance use development. This paper demonstrates the application of a multivariate associative finite latent growth mixture modelling approach to examine heterogeneity in patterns of adolescent alcohol and marijuana use and the influence of age, gender, parent, and peer substance use. Substance use problem outcomes were also examined. Participants were male and female adolescents (N = 1,044) ranging in age from 11 to 17 years at the first assessment (Mean age = 14.47; SD = 1.95). Individuals were 45% female and 82% Caucasian. Using growth mixture methodology, a 7-class model captured distinct simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use patterns over a 3-year period. Findings highlight the importance of examining subgroups of adolescent substance use, rather than focusing only on single samples.
Immunological quantitation of chloroplast ferredoxin.

Abstract An immunoassay for the quantitative determination of ferredoxins in cell-free extracts from plant tissues is described. The method is accurate for the assay of 0.3–1.5 nmol ferredoxin directly from the extracts. The following average values (nmol ferredoxin/mg extractable protein) were obtained: 3.9, 1.8, 5.90, 14.8 and 10.9 for Euglena gracilis, spinach, parsley, lettuce and broccoli, respectively. Specific factors affecting the method are discussed in detail.
Shuttle avoidance: Rapid acquisition by rats to a pressurized air unconditioned stimulus

Thirty-three adult rats were trained in a shuttlebox using a pressurized air US and a 65 decibel buzzer CS. All rats avoided the air blast, and 29 achieved the learning criterion (five avoidance responses in any six trials). Twenty-six of these required 20 or fewer trials to reach criterion. Learning was non-incremental: Ss shifted abruptly from escape responding to avoidance responding. Procedural advantages of air-blast shuttle-avoidance training are noted and applications suggested.
Comments on computing the similarity of binary trees

Abstract Unordered binary trees, or dendrograms, have applications in numerical taxonomy in classifying relations among various species. The “crossover” or “nearest neighbor interchange” metric has been proposed to measure the similarity of alternative classification schemes. This paper resolves a conjecture concerning a proposed algorithm for computing this metric and presents new results on distance statistics for dendrograms having a small number of leaves.
Assessing Adherence to Accepted National Guidelines for Immigrant and Refugee Screening and Vaccines in an Urban Primary Care Practice: A Retrospective Chart Review

In the United States, 38.5 million people are foreign-born, one in three arriving since 2000. Health issues include high rates of hepatitis B, humanimmunodeficiency virus infection, parasitic infections, and M. tuberculosis. We sought to determine rates of provider adherence to accepted national guidelines for immigrant and refugee health screening and vaccines done at the primary care clinics at Boston Medical Center. Randomized, retrospective chart review of foreign born patients in the primary care clinics. We found low screening and immunization rates that do not conform to CDC/ACIP guidelines. Only 43 % of immigrant patients had tuberculosis screening, 36 % were screened for HIV and hepatitis B, and 33 % received tetanus vaccinations. Organizational changes incorporating multi-disciplinary approaches such as creative use of nursing staff, protocols, standing orders, EMR reminders, and web based educational tools can contribute to better outcomes by identifying patients and improving utilization of guidelines.
Organization of specific-nonspecific thalamic internuclear synaptic pathways.

Summary Intracellular recordings were obtained from neurons of medial and intralaminar nonspecific nuclei during low-frequency stimulation of n. ventralis anterior (VA) and n. ventralis lateralis (VL) of the thalamus. VA-VL stimuli yielding typical primary and augmenting responses of motor cortex also elicited prolonged PSPs in the vast majority of medial thalamic (MTh) neurons encountered. A large proportion of MTh neurons exhibited short-latency prolonged IPSPs in response to the first stimulus of a repetitive train. Subsequent stimuli resulted in a variety of PSP alterations including IPSP attenuation, IPSP alteration, latency increases of IPSPs, development of EPSPs and marked potentiation of EPSPs. PSP patterns observed in MTh neurons during VA-VL stimulation resemble those elicited in rostrolateral and ventrolateral regions of the thalamus during medial and intralaminar stimulation. Exceptions are noted only in respect to short-latency IPSPs which are characteristically observed in MTh neurons following VA-VL stimulation. The data establish the existence of the reciprocal internuclear interneuronal pathways linking speific and nonspecific nuclei of the thalamus. Inhibition of MTh neurons during activation of VA-VL elements may provide a mechanism for enhancing the effectiveness of a specific projection pathway to motor cortex by suppression of background nonspecific thalamocortical influences.
SU‐FF‐I‐12: Validation of Geant4's Predictions On X‐Ray Scatter and Glandular Dose in Pendant‐Geometry Cone‐Beam Breast CT

Purpose: The Geant4 toolkit is a freely available, widely supported base package for the simulation of particles through matter. This study aimed to test Geant4's accuracy by comparing its predictions for glandular dose and x‐ray scatter in pendant‐geometry cone‐beam breast CT against previously published experimental and simulated data. Method and Materials: We performed Monte Carlo simulations using the Geant4 package [Agostinelli et al, Nucl Instrum Meth A 506: 250–303, 2003] to recreate the conditions of three previously published papers on breast CT dose and scatter. Geant4's scatter simulations are compared against experimental data [Kwan et al, Med Phys 32(9): 2967–2975, 2005], while the dose results are compared against Monte Carlo simulations based on other codes [Boone et al, Med Phys 31(2): 226–235, 2004; Thacker et al, Phys Med Biol 49: 5433–5444, 2004]. The compared scatter results include scatter‐to‐primary ratio profiles for breasts of different sizes, glandularity and incident x‐ray spectra. For the dose comparisons, we compared Geant4's monochromatic results with the monochromatic results reported by the two previously published papers. Results: Geant4 matches the reported experimental SPR profiles to an accuracy of 1.6–16.7% (μ=9.2%, σ=5.4%). The sources for observed deviations include inexact re‐creation of the experimental setup and lack of specific information on the x‐ray spectra used in the experiments. The dose results agree with Boone's published results within 0.7–12.3% (μ=5.3%, σ=4.2%) and with Thacker's to within 1.2–22.3% (μ=10.8%, σ=8.8%). Conclusion: The data comparison suggests that Geant4 can be used to predict x‐ray scatter and dose deposition in low energy experiments such as dedicated breast CT. Given the availability, support and flexibility of the Geant4 toolkit, the use of this package for simulation of breast CT studies can be very useful to researchers in the field. Research supported in part by: NIH‐NIBIB Grant RO1‐EB002123 and the Georgia Cancer Coalition.
The power of precise numbers: A conversational logic analysis

Abstract The role of conversational processes in quantitative judgment is addressed. In three studies, precise numbers (e.g., $29.75) had a stronger influence on subsequent estimates than round numbers (e.g., $30), but only when they were presented by a human communicator whose contributions could be assumed to observe the Gricean maxims of cooperative conversational conduct. Numeric precision exerted no influence when the numbers were presented as the result of an automated procedure that lacks communicative intent (Study 1) or when the level of precision was pragmatically irrelevant for the estimation task (Study 2).
Measurement of correlation-enhanced collision rates.

We measure the perpendicular-to-parallel collision rate ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}\ensuremath{\parallel}}$ in laser-cooled magnetized ion plasmas, spanning the uncorrelated to correlated regimes. In correlated regimes, we measure collision rates consistent with the ``Salpeter correlation enhancement'' of roughly $\mathrm{exp}(\ensuremath{\Gamma})$, for correlation parameters $\ensuremath{\Gamma}\ensuremath{\lesssim}4$. This enhancement also applies to fusion in dense plasmas such as stars.
Solvent/Non-Solvent Sintering: A Novel Route to Create Porous Microsphere Scaffolds For Tissue Regeneration

Solvent/non-solvent sintering creates porous polymeric microsphere scaffolds suitable for tissue engineering purposes with control over the resulting porosity, average pore diameter, and mechanical properties. Five different biodegradable biocompatible polyphosphazenes exhibiting glass transition temperatures from −8 to 41°C and poly (lactide-co-glycolide), (PLAGA) a degradable polymer used in a number of biomedical settings, were examined to study the versatility of the process and benchmark the process to heat sintering. Parameters such as: solvent/non-solvent sintering solution composition and submersion time effect the sintering process. PLAGA microsphere scaffolds fabricated with solvent/non-solvent sintering exhibited an interconnected porosity and pore size of 31.9% and 179.1 μm, respectively which was analogous to that of conventional heat sintered PLAGA microsphere scaffolds. Biodegradable polyphosphazene microsphere scaffolds exhibited a maximum interconnected porosity of 37.6% and a maximum compressive modulus of 94.3 MPa. Solvent/non-solvent sintering is an effective strategy for sintering polymeric microspheres, with a broad spectrum of glass transition temperatures, under ambient conditions making it an excellent fabrication route for developing tissue engineering scaffolds and drug delivery vehicles. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2008
Object-graphs for context-aware category discovery

How can knowing about some categories help us to discover new ones in unlabeled images? Unsupervised visual category discovery is useful to mine for recurring objects without human supervision, but existing methods assume no prior information and thus tend to perform poorly for cluttered scenes with multiple objects. We propose to leverage knowledge about previously learned categories to enable more accurate discovery. We introduce a novel object-graph descriptor to encode the layout of object-level co-occurrence patterns relative to an unfamiliar region, and show that by using it to model the interaction between an image's known and unknown objects we can better detect new visual categories. Rather than mine for all categories from scratch, our method identifies new objects while drawing on useful cues from familiar ones. We evaluate our approach on benchmark datasets and demonstrate clear improvements in discovery over conventional purely appearance-based baselines.
Innovative approaches for implementing the aeronautical telecommunication network

The Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) concept was approved by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Future Air Navigation Systems (FANS) in 1991. This paper introduces the ATN as enabling an open architecture for air/ground and ground/ground data communications. Also described is the progress being made in turning the concept into reality. The achievements of the voluntary ATN Project (ATNP) are described, together with its plans. Next the ATN Consortium and Cooperative Agreement model are presented as a way to speed realization of ATN implementation. >
The Ecology of Human Performance: A Framework for Considering the Effect of Context

In theory and in practice, context (as an area of concern to occupational therapists) has not received the same attention as performance components and performance areas. The Ecology of Human Performance serves as a framework for considering the effect of context. Context is described as a lens from which persons view their world. The interrelationship of person and context determines which tasks fall within the person's performance range. The Ecology of Human Performance framework provides guidelines for encompassing context in occupational therapy theory, practice, and research.
An improved model for the slewing behavior of opamps

A new time-domain model for the slewing behavior of two-stage opamps is presented. This model includes the effects of the load capacitance, compensation capacitance, device sizes and the nonlinear behavior of the transistors during the slewing period. This model improves on the commonly used constant current models and allows for more predictable designs. The model shows good agreement with simulations. Circuit design results using the traditional and new improved models are presented. >
Automatic relationship–harm associations and interpersonal trauma involving close others

Women exposed to violence early in life are at risk of revictimization. The interpersonal schema hypothesis of revictimization proposes that revictimized women will be more likely to hold negative expectations about intimate relationships, including expectations that relationships involve harm, relative to singly or nonvictimized women. To test the interpersonal schema hypothesis, we used the implicit lexical decision task to examine automatic associations between relationship and harm concepts among college women who reported histories of no, single, or multiple types of interpersonal trauma involving close others (e.g., family member, partner). Women exposed to multiple types of interpersonal trauma involving close others showed stronger relationship–harm associations than singly or nonexposed women. Relationship–harm associations predicted the number of interpersonal trauma types (e.g., sexual, physical trauma) involving close others reported by participants, but were unrelated to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Findings suggest that relational schemata held by women exposed to multiple types of interpersonal trauma involving close others include concepts of harm, which may have implications for how multiply victimized women behave in and think about intimate relationships.
Three Waves of Variation Study: The Emergence of Meaning in the Study of Sociolinguistic Variation

The treatment of social meaning in sociolinguistic variation has come in three waves of analytic practice. The first wave of variation studies established broad correlations between linguistic variables and the macrosociological categories of socioeconomic class, gender, ethnicity, and age. The second wave employed ethnographic methods to explore the local categories and configurations that inhabit, or constitute, these broader categories. In both waves, variation was seen as marking social categories. This article sets out a theoretical foundation for the third wave, arguing that (a) variation constitutes a robust social semiotic system, potentially expressing the full range of social concerns in a given community; (b) the meanings of variables are underspecified, gaining more specific meanings in the context of styles, and (c) variation does not simply reflect, but also constructs, social meaning and hence is a force in social change.
Exploiting Channel Periodicity in Body Sensor Networks

This paper models the periodic characteristics of body sensor network (BSN) wireless channels measured using custom hardware in the 900-MHz and 2.4-GHz bands. The hardware logs received signal strength indication (RSSI) values of both bands simultaneously at a sample rate of 1.3 kS/s. Results from a measurement campaign of BSNs are shown and distilled to reveal characteristics of BSN channels that can be exploited for reducing the power of wireless communication. A new channel model is introduced to add periodicity to existing 802.15.6 WBAN path loss equations. New parameters, activity factor and location factor, are introduced to estimate the model parameters. Finally, a strategy for exploiting the periodic characteristics of the BSN channel is presented as an example, along with the power savings from using this strategy.
Oncomodulin Is Expressed Exclusively by Outer Hair Cells in the Organ of Corti

SUMMARY Oncomodulin (OM) is a small, acidic calcium-binding protein first discovered in a rat hepatoma and later found in placental cytotrophoblasts, the pre-implantation embryo, and in a wide variety of neoplastic tissues. OM was considered to be exclusively an oncofetal protein until its recent detection in extracts of the adult guinea pig’s organ of Corti. Here we report that light and electron microscopic immunostaining of gerbil, rat, and mouse inner ears with a monoclonal antibody against recombinant rat OM localizes the protein exclusively in cochlear outer hair cells (OHCs). At the ultrastructural level, high gold labeling density was seen overlying the nucleus, cytoplasm, and the cuticular plate of gerbil OHCs. Few, if any, gold particles were present over intracellular organelles and the stereocilia. Staining of a wide range of similarly processed gerbil organs failed to detect immunoreactive OM in any other adult tissues. The mammalian genome encodes one a - and one b -isoform of parvalbumin (PV). The widely distributed a PV exhibits a very high affinity for Ca 2 1 and is believed to serve as a Ca 2 1 buffer. By contrast, OM, the mammalian b PV, displays a highly attenuated affinity for Ca 2 1 , consistent with a Ca 2 1 -dependent regulatory function. The exclusive association of OM with cochlear OHCs in mature tissues is likely to have functional relevance. Teleological considerations favor its involvement in regulating some aspect of OHC electromotility. Although the fast electromotile response of OHCs does not require Ca 2 1 , its gain and magnitude are modulated by efferent innervation. Therefore, OM may be involved in mediation of intracellular responses to cholinergic stimulation, which are known to be Ca 2 1 regulated. (J Histochem Cytochem 46:29‐39, 1998)
Molecular architecture control in acrylic polymers by group transfer polymerization

Group transfer polymerization (GTP)a of acrylic monomers is mediated by a trialkylsilyl-capped growing chain end. It operates at room temperature and above and permits a high degree of molecular architecture control. Block, comb, graft, star, and loop polymers are readily synthesized. It appears that GTP is an associative process under mild nucleophilic catalysis and a dissociative process under strong nucleophilic catalysis.
A graph-based method for improving GSAT

GSAT is a randomized greedy local repair procedure that was introduced for solving propositional satisfiability and constraint satisfaction problems. We present an improvement to GSAT that is sensitive to the problem's structure. When the problem has a tree structure the algorithm is guaranteed to find a solution in linear time. For non-tree networks, the algorithm designates a subset of nodes, called cutset, and executes a regular GSAT algorithm on this set of variables. On all the rest of the variables it executes a specialized local search algorithm for trees. This algorithm finds an assignment that, like GSAT, locally minimizes the sum of unsatisfied constraints and also globally minimizes the number of conflicts in every tree-like subnetwork. We will present results of experiments showing that this new algorithm outperforms regular GSAT on sparse networks whose cycle-cutset size is bounded by 30% of the nodes.
Feed-forward pulse-width modulators for switching power converters

This paper describes pulse width modulators (PWMs) that employ feedforward compensation to improve the steady-state and dynamic responses of power converters. It is shown how ideal feedforward PWMs (FF-PWMs) can be constructed for all duty-ratio controlled switch-mode power converters operating in the continuous conduction mode. A power converter with FF-PWM behaves at low frequencies as a linear power amplifier with constant gain independent of operating conditions. The proposed FF-PWM can be easily implemented using the same building blocks found in conventional PWM controllers. Experimental and simulation examples are included to illustrate applications of the FF-PWM.
Global Civil Society and the International Human Rights Movement: Citizen Participation in Human Rights International Nongovernmental Organizations

We examine patterns of citizen participation in the global human rights movement through memberships in human rights international nongovernmental organizations (HRINGOs). After showing enormous growth in the number of HRINGOs in recent decades, we investigate country level characteristics leading to greater participation in the international human rights movement. Drawing on the social movement literature and world society theory, we employ multivariate regression analyses to explain HRINGO memberships in 1978, 1988 and 1998. To understand changes over time, we also use panel analyses for 1978 - 88 and 1988 - 98. The strongest predictors of memberships in HRINGOs are found to be embeddedness in global civil society and international flows of human resources. The effects of these international factors grew stronger over time while domestic factors became less important.
Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries in the Overhead Athletes

The diagnosis and treatment of medial ulnar collateral ligament (MUCL) injuries is becoming increasingly more common in overhead athletes such as baseball pitchers, particularly in younger athletes. The mechanism is most commonly repetitive valgus loading of the medial structures of the elbow during the throwing motion. Our understanding of the anatomy and biomechanics of the medial elbow structures has increased over the last several decades. An important distinction must be made from other disorders that may present on the medial elbow including valgus extension overload syndrome, flexor-pronator muscle ruptures, medial epicondylitis, and ulnar neuritis. A careful clinical exam can usually lead to an accurate diagnosis. Various imaging studies may be used to aid in the diagnosis including radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, and stress ultrasound. Accurate diagnosis is important to address all pathology at the time of the operation and avoid complications. Operative treatment is indicated in the overhead throwing athlete with inadequate resolution of symptoms after conservative treatment and rehabilitation. There are various surgical techniques for reconstruction. No one technique has demonstrated superiority, and athletes can experience a high rate of return to play after ligament reconstruction.
Information Demand and Procurement

Information, as a commodity that is tradeable as an economic good, is not a par­ticular signal or message, but rather a set of potential signals or messages: an information structure. The decision on the optimal structure to possess, which Marschak (1971) terms the meta-decision, depends critically upon the available sources’ statistical properties, pragmatic uses, and comparative costs. With the costs of information moving into the foreground, Chapter 8 studies the meta-decision by viewing information as a differentiated commodity available for pur­chase. The chapter concentrates on the normative theory of information demand and procurement, deferring to Chapter 9 the discussion of practical and descrip­tive issues such as how individuals actually choose sources and how the design of the organization’s information system can influence those choices.
Sprite streamer initiation from natural mesospheric structures

Sprites, electrical discharges in the upper atmosphere, are thought to be triggered by inhomogeneities. Here the authors present numerical models and propose that mesospheric structures created by atmospheric gravity waves can initiate sprite streamers, and also provide observations supporting this theory.
Distance and Rate of Spread of Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus Released into Soybean

The nuclear polyhedrosis virus of Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hubner) was released into soybean fields at two sites in Louisiana. The spread of the virus outside release plots was monitored by sampling A. gemmatalis larvae, predatory arthropods and parasitoids of A. gemmatalis , and soil. According to A. gemmatalis sampling, the virus spread at a rate of 0.8 and 1.2 m/d at the Crowley and Baton Rouge sites, respectively, within ≍6 wk after it was released. The virus spread distances of up to 44 and 58 m at Crowley and Baton Rouge, respectively, during that season. The rate of spread detected in A. gemmatalis was significantly ( P > 0.01) correlated with the rate detected by sampling and bioassay of predatory arthropods and parasitoids, primarily the former. There also was circumstantial evidence implicating birds and farm machinery in viral transport; 80% ( n = 15) of bird droppings sampled at the Baton Rouge site during viral spread contained viable A. gemmatalis nuclear polyhedrosis virus. The rate of spread did not differ by direction from release plots. The prevalence of viral disease decreased at increasing distances from release plots for 3 yr after release at the Crowley site and during the 1st yr at Baton Rouge. The amount of virus in soil after the first season at the Crowley site decreased from 3,598 polyhedral inclusion bodies per gram in the release plots to 131 and <1 polyhedral inclusion bodies per gram at distances of 46 and 114 m, respectively, but this decrease was not significant.
Pyruvate treatment attenuates cerebral metabolic depression and neuronal loss after experimental traumatic brain injury

Experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI) is known to produce an acute increase in cerebral glucose utilization, followed rapidly by a generalized cerebral metabolic depression. The current studies determined effects of single or multiple treatments with sodium pyruvate (SP; 1000 mg/kg, i.p.) or ethyl pyruvate (EP; 40 mg/kg, i.p.) on cerebral glucose metabolism and neuronal injury in rats with unilateral controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury. In Experiment 1 a single treatment was given immediately after CCI. SP significantly improved glucose metabolism in 3 of 13 brain regions while EP improved metabolism in 7 regions compared to saline-treated controls at 24 h post-injury. Both SP and EP produced equivalent and significant reductions in dead/dying neurons in cortex and hippocampus at 24 h post-CCI. In Experiment 2 SP or EP were administered immediately (time 0) and at 1, 3 and 6 h post-CCI. Multiple SP treatments also significantly attenuated TBI-induced reductions in cerebral glucose metabolism (in 4 brain regions) 24 h post-CCI, as did multiple injections of EP (in 4 regions). The four pyruvate treatments produced significant neuroprotection in cortex and hippocampus 1 day after CCI, similar to that found with a single SP or EP treatment. Thus, early administration of pyruvate compounds enhanced cerebral glucose metabolism and neuronal survival, with 40 mg/kg of EP being as effective as 1000 mg/kg of SP, and multiple treatments within 6 h of injury did not improve upon outcomes seen following a single treatment.
Status incongruence among boundary spanners: Structure, exchange, and conflict.

The exchange of resources and perceptions of conflict among professional planners is examined as a function of the relation between their structural positions. Analysis of dyadic relations at federal, regional, state, county, and municipal levels of government revealed that structural features interact to produce characteristic exchange flows, and the exchange of resources among these professionals affects perceptions of conflict. Professionals at higher levels of government were more likely than those at lower levels to do favors and provide information, particularly when they were more central in the professional network. However, these exchange patterns (favors and information) were associated with conflict in relationships. I interpret this as a result of status incongruence in dyads that match actors at higher levels of government but lower organizational positions with actors at higher organizational positions but lower levels of government.
The isolation and expension of γδT cells in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid

AIM: To explore the method of selective culture of γδT cells in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) for obtaining pure γδT cell subset. METHODS: A novel attack panning method for selectively culturing γδT cells was set up. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and BALF were isolated by Ficoll hypaque density gradient centrifugation ( n =10). αβT cells in PBMCs were deplated by complement dependent cytotoxicity(CDC) after the monocytes/macrophages were removed by adherence. The γδT cells in PBMCs were cultivated selectively using anti TCRγδ monoclonal antibody and IL 2. The proliferation of γδT cells were observed by plotting growth curve. The purity of γδT cells were detected by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Stimulated by anti TCRγδ mAb and IL 2, γδT cells of peripheral blood and BALF could proliferate for a few days. The purity of γδT cells obtained by Attack panning method was 81%-99%. CONCLUSION: The attack panning method can get pure γδT cells from peripheral blood and BALF.
Processing and mechanical properties of novel Al-W composites with ordered mesostructure

Novel high-density aluminum (Al)-tungsten (W) fiber composites in the tubular shape with highly ordered tungsten fibers in axial and hoop directions were processed in the solid state using the combination of cold isostatic pressing and hot isostatic pressing. Half of the specimens were additionally heat treated after hot isostatic pressing to regain the properties of aluminum 6061-T6. The strength of both types of samples was investigated under quasistatic compression. Samples after additional heat treatment had the higher microhardness of matrix and compressive strength. No significant reaction between tungsten fibers and aluminum matrix was detected. The micromechanism of samples failure under compression was revealed by removing the aluminum matrix after tests with acid-etching demonstrating that tungsten fibers oriented in the axial direction were deformed by microbuckling and kinking. The sample bulging due to plastic flow of aluminum matrix resulted in the cooperative fracture of tungsten fibers in ...
Combination Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy and Percutaneous Extraction of Calculi in a Renal Allograft

AbstractRenal calculi are a well documented although uncommon complication of kidney transplantation and may be associated with significant morbidity in this immunosuppressed population with a single functioning kidney. We describe a patient who presented with 2 episodes of staphylococcal bacteremia associated with a ureteral stricture and struvite calculi involving the calices, renal pelvis and proximal ureter of a cadaveric renal allograft. The patient was treated successfully with a combination of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, percutaneous extraction and balloon dilation of the ureteral stricture. Renal transplant function was not altered postoperatively. In selected cases shock wave lithotripsy can be used as effective adjunctive therapy in a renal allograft harboring stones.
Classical Models for Drug Receptor Interactions

The process of drugs binding to receptors has always been considered to follow the mathematical rules of biochemistry and physics. Since the early days of pharmacology, investigators have developed mathematical models to predict drug actions. In this chapter, we trace the history of the mathematical modelling of drug-receptor interactions.
Comments on Ducasse on Survival

This is an important and very interesting book.1 It is nothing less than a comprehensive discussion of the relation between mind and matter, and more particularly the relation between mind and body. This vast subject is treated in all its aspects, including the paranormal ones. Professor Ducasse is not only a distinguished philosopher; he is also one of the few philosophers who are interested in parapsychology and familiar with the literature of the subject. I think that the whole of Part IV of this book (‘The Mind-Body Relation and the Possibility of a Life after Death’) ought to be compulsory reading for all students of parapsychology; and the same applies to the discussion of precognition and freedom in Chapter 11. But to understand what Professor Ducasse has to say on those two subjects, one must have some idea of the philosophical context in which he says it and of the philosophical terminology he is using. His views about the philosophy of parapsychology are integral parts of his philosophy as a whole. To do justice to them, something must be said about his treatment of the traditional philosophical problems concerning the relation of mind and matter, problems which arise from reflection upon ‘normal’ experience and upon the concepts of common sense and of the orthodox sciences. I shall try to make that part of my discussion as untechnical as possible, but I am afraid that a certain amount of technicality is unavoidable.
Cause and Reason

Having found, in avowals and performatives, an irruption into the natural world by human agents that must be incompletely determined, if its author is to have incorrigible authority, the question arises: does this entail that human actions are causally undetermined as well, and, if so, are they therefore inexplicable?1 Our answer to the first question will be affirmative and our answer to the second negative. I suspect that the aversion most philosophers have to indeterminism is due to their mistaken fear that it entails an affirmative answer to the second question. I shall try to allay that fear.
Antibiotics May be Safely Discontinued Within One Week of Percutaneous Cholecystostomy

For patients with acute cholecystitis managed with percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC), the optimal duration of post-procedural antibiotic therapy is unknown. Our objective was to compare short versus long courses of antibiotics with the hypothesis that patients with persistent signs of systemic inflammation 72 h following PC would receive prolonged antibiotic therapy and that antibiotic duration would not affect outcomes. We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of 81 patients who underwent PC for acute cholecystitis at two hospitals during a 41-month period ending November 2014. Patients who received short (≤7 day) courses of post-procedural antibiotics were compared to patients who received long (>7 day) courses. Treatment response to PC was evaluated by systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria. Logistic and linear regressions were used to evaluate associations between antibiotic duration and outcomes. Patients who received short (n = 30) and long courses (n = 51) of antibiotics had similar age, comorbidities, severity of cholecystitis, pre-procedural vital signs, treatment response, and culture results. There were no differences in recurrent cholecystitis (13 vs. 12%), requirement for open/converted to open cholecystectomy (23 vs. 22%), or 1-year mortality (20 vs. 18%). On logistic and linear regressions, antibiotic duration as a continuous variable was not predictive of any salient outcomes. Patients who received short and long courses of post-PC antibiotics had similar baseline characteristics and outcomes. Antibiotic duration did not predict recurrent cholecystitis, interval open cholecystectomy, or mortality. These findings suggest that antibiotics may be safely discontinued within one week of uncomplicated PC.
Optimising packaged gas inventory placement at welding supply distributors

The supply chain of packaged cylinder gases at welding distributors is a closed loop, where both the inbound and outbound flow of materials must be controlled. The importance of the placement of cylinder inventory within the distribution network of a welding distributor is a key component of profitability for a firm, seen primarily through the distribution costs associated with moving cylinders throughout the network. This project creates an inventory stratification to prioritise the vital few SKU items within the case study firm. This project develops a web-based platform called a branch stock planner in which inventory managers throughout the supply chain are provided ample information for cylinder order purposes. The branch stock planner minimises the Bullwhip effect currently present at the case firm, reducing distribution costs. Further, the project develops a visual production schedule based on distribution branch order activity. The combination of ideas creates an innovation unique in the independent welding supply industry.
Connecting Consumer Behavior With Marketing Research Through Garbology

Because of the ever-increasing demand by faculty for realistic, experiential-learning exercises easily incorporated into the marketing curriculum, this article offers a new exercise that is based on Parlin’s early work in marketing research with Campbell’s soup: garbology. Garbology is an entertaining, experiential learning activity that serves as a bridge from consumer behavior to marketing research, primarily used in Principles of Marketing. Garbology incorporates teamwork, observation research, prediction, and forecasting, as well as elements of environmental study. Students consistently rank this simple activity as “enjoyable” and “applicable” while honing critical-thinking skills and enabling them to develop one-on-one communication competence. Students learn how marketing combines the diverse areas of archaeology, anthropology, psychology, and law in research. The authors include easy-to-follow instructions and sample handouts that have been revised and perfected over multiple uses.