cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Friction Torque Dynamics Associated with Intraseasonal Length-of-Day Variability

Abstract This investigation examines the dynamical processes that drive the anomalous friction torque associated with intraseasonal length-of-day fluctuations. Diagnostic analyses with National Centers for Environmental Protection–National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration outgoing longwave radiation data are performed. The approach adopted is to use the mean meridional circulation (MMC) as a proxy for the friction torque, and then to examine the MMC that is driven both by eddy fluxes and zonal mean diabatic heating. The following simple picture emerges from this analyses. For the austral winter (May through September), the anomalous friction torque in both hemispheres is driven by anomalous zonal mean convection. For the boreal winter (November through March), the anomalous friction torque in the Northern Hemisphere is driven primarily by eddy fluxes, whereas in the Southern Hemisphere the anomalous friction torque is also driven by anomalous z...
The Concept of Universal Jurisdiction: A Reality in the Making

Traditional thinking shows that jurisdiction of prosecution will depend on the laws of State of which such perpetrator (active personality) or victim (passive personality) is citizen, or the place where the crime was committed (ideally where the perpetrator would be tried by the territorial state); or where the suspect physically located (the custodial state). In the 1980’s, a new concept however emerged. It has been known as the principle of universal jurisdiction which allows states to examine and prosecute persons who committed a serious crime under international law, regardless of the perpetrator’s nationality, either of the victims; or where the crime was committed. For example, in the case of the genocide, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the highest judicial body of the United Nations, since 1951 has recognised that the 1948 Convention against Genocide codified relevant customary law. The principles of the Convention “were principles recognised by all nations which obligate all states outside of any conventional relationships, possessing a universal character”. It is specifically recognised that the crime of genocide can be pursued through the courts of any nation, without regard to the fact that such State has not signed up to the 1948 Convention against Genocide. Furthermore, the ICJ Judge Lauterpacht clearly says that “the Convention against genocide creates two separate obligations: one of prevention and the other of sanction or punishment. If either is not met, the obligation is contravened”. Therefore, it is easy to conclude that for a certain of crimes the ICJ has recognised the universal jurisdiction of any national court. Universal jurisdiction will apply in any case of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture, extrajudicial execution and forced disappearances, which are considered the most serious crimes under international law. This universal jurisdiction may be even refered in cases of ordinary crimes under domestic laws such as murder, kidnapping, assault and abuse. The recognised non-governmental organisation - Amnesty International, an integral part of civil society, formed to defend human rights, has carried out a world investigation into domestic laws which showed that no fewer than 125 nations have adopted and incorporated the principle of universal jurisdiction in their national laws, regarding at least one of the aforementioned crimes.
Polarization-stabilized 1.15- and 3.39-μm He–Ne lasers

Two methods for polarization stabilization of an internal-mirror 3.39-micron He-Ne laser are reported. The first relies on a concurrently lasing 1.15-micron transition by fixing the relative amplitude of two orthogonally polarized longitudinal modes that are split by a Rochon prism and detected with separate Si photodiodes. In the second method, two spatially separated orthogonally polarized adjacent 3.39-micron modes are optically balanced, differentially chopped, and recombined on a single InSb photodiode for phase-sensitive detection. The dual-wavelength scheme has been tested by beating against a methane-stabilized 3.39-micron He-Ne laser, which yields maximum excursions of less than 0.5 MHz over several hours and comparable reproducibility. The polarization-stabilized He-Ne laser has been used as a reference for a tunable color-center laser molecular-beam optothermal spectrometer and provides a precision of better than 2 MHz.
Competition in American Commercial Banking, 1888-1925

Using structural price markup models and Rosse-Panzar tests, this paper demonstrates little deviation from competitive behavior, taken as a weighted average of all U.S. commercial banking markets. The results suggest Bertrand competition or contestability in banking and indicate that banking industry concentration does not in itself produce anti-competitive behavior. ROE shows no trend over the period, but returns on assets fell by more than half between 1888 and 1925. Banks earned modest ROE premia and negative ROA premia over government bond rates. Profitability was lower than in the remainder of the 20th century.
Quantitative Relations between Antigen and Antibody in The Precipitin Reaction

The practical applications of the precipitin reaction have been. for the most part, the qualitative or quantitative determination of unknown blood and other proteins. The work of Ramon 1 on the standardization of diphtheria toxin and antitoxin by this method has shown the desirability of a more thorough knowledge of the quantitative relations of the reaction. Such a knowledge would be valuable, not only because of its practical possibilities, but also because of the light it might throw on the subject of antigen-antibody reactions in general. The researches of Opie 2 have cleared up obscure points concerning the reaction and emphasized the importance of optimal proportions of antigen and antiserum, and the different results obtained with simple and complex antigens. He has shown beyond doubt that the alleged coexistence of uncombined antigen and antibody in the blood and in the test-tube can be explained by the complexity of the antigen, and that when purified proteins are used one constituent of the reaction may be in excess, but never both in more than negligible quantities. The purpose of the experiments here reported was to study the quantitative relations in the precipitin reaction with complex and simple antigens. So far as the work has been carried, it confirms the findings of Opie, and presents a few additional points of interest.
Special values of L-functions for Saito-Kurokawa lifts

In this paper we obtain special value results for L-functions associated to classical and paramodular Saito–Kurokawa lifts. In particular, we consider standard L-functions associated to Saito–Kurokawa lifts as well as degree eight L-functions obtained by twisting with an automorphic form defined on GL(2). The results are obtained by combining classical and representation theoretic arguments.
Effect of trans-cinnamaldehyde on inhibition and inactivation of Cronobacter sakazakii biofilm on abiotic surfaces.

The efficacy of trans-cinnamaldehyde (TC), an ingredient in cinnamon oil, for inhibiting biofilm synthesis (560 and 750 μM TC) and inactivating mature biofilms (23 and 38 mM TC) of Cronobacter sakazakii was investigated at 24 and 12°C in the presence and absence of reconstituted infant formula on polystyrene plates, stainless steel coupons, feeding bottle coupons, and enteral feeding tube coupons. Additionally, TC's effect on the expression of genes critical for biofilm formation in C. sakazakii was determined by reverse transcription quantitative PCR. TC inhibited and inactivated C. sakazakii biofilms on all matrices tested at both temperatures. C. sakazakii was reduced by >4.0 and 3.0 log CFU/ml after 96 h of exposure to 38 mM and 750 μM TC, respectively. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR results revealed that TC significantly (P ≤ 0.05) down-regulated biofilm-associated genes in C. sakazakii. TC could potentially be used to control C. sakazakii biofilms on infant formula feeding equipment and preparatory areas.
Investigation on risk factors of chronic diseases among residents in Zhangjiagang City in 2012

[Objective]To understand the risk factors of major chronic diseases among residents in Zhangjiagang City.[Methods] The respondents were collected by multi-stage stratified cluster sampling. The questionnaire survey was conducted,while the physical examination of height,weight and waist was performed.[Results]40% of residents were overweight or obese. The rate of smoking and drinking was 23. 04% and 24. 32% respectively. The rates of smoking and passive smoking in male residents were higher than those in female residents( P 0. 01).[Conclusion]It is necessary to carry out the health education,to improve the healthy lifestyle among residents,and reduce the incidence of chronic diseases.
Results of Continuous Monitoring on Food Chemical Pollutants in Minyun County of Beijing

[Objective]To learn the pollution condition of food chemical pollutants in Minyun county of Beijing from 2007 to 2010.[Methods]The samples of vegetable,edible fungi,aquatic products,dairy products,meats,grain,algae,eggs,dry red wine,glace fruit,steamed bread and bulk cooked meat were collected from Minyun county.The contents of lead,cadmium,mercury,aluminum,sweetener,preservative,synthetic pigments and colorant were tested according to national standard methods of GB/5009-2003.[Results]A total of 475 samples are collected,and 1712 items of valid data were obtained.The over standard rate of food pollutants which included lead,mercury,Benzoic acid,sorbic acid,nitrite,synthetic pigments,sodium saccharin and benzoyl peroxide was 0.The over standard rate of sulfur dioxide,sodium cyclamate and cadmium was 1.37%(1/79),2.17%(1/46) and 7.60%(26/342) respectively.[Conclusion]The chemical pollution in food is relatively low in Minyun county,and the routine monitoring of food safety should be strengthened continuously.
The Effects of Anonymity on Respondent Effort in Mailed Questionnaire Surveys

In marketing research mailed survey research is extensively used both by academicians and practitioners. As the method's use became more widespread, considerable research attention was devoted to identifying various ways of improving the mailed questionnaire survey research methodology. However, some of the more recent review articles on the subject generally concluded that very few definitive conclusions can be drawn as to what elements constitute an effective mailed questionnaire method of data collection.
Estimability and Admissibility in Sample Survey Models

The primary purpose of this paper is to characterize in sample survey randomization models those parametric functions which are estimable, those which have an admissible estimator, and those which have a uniform minimum variance unbiased estimator (UMVUE). These characterizations are effected via an explicit canonical decomposition of the relevant parametric functions. This decomposition leads to a natural generalization of the classical Horvitz-Thompson estimator, and seems to be of some combinatorial interest.
New Semicrystalline Polyimide High Temperature Adhesive

(1988). New Semicrystalline Polyimide High Temperature Adhesive. Materials and Processing Report: Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 7-7.
Fear of Falling after Hip Fracture: Prevalence, Course, and Relationship with One-Year Functional Recovery

Objectives The effect of fear of falling (FoF) on recovery 1 year after hip fracture is not well known. Furthermore, the potential influence of premorbid function has not been explored. We aimed to describe rates of FoF after hip fracture, to assess the association of FoF with functional recovery 1 year post-fracture, and to evaluate the potential moderating effect of premorbid function on the relationship between FoF and functional recovery. Design Secondary analysis of data from a prospective, longitudinal observational study to assess genetic factors influencing functional and psychological outcomes after hip fracture over 52 weeks. Setting Eight area hospitals in St. Louis, MO. Participants 241 cognitively intact individuals 60 years of age or older requiring surgical repair for hip fracture. Measurements Fear of falling was measured by the short Falls Efficacy Scale-International 4 and 12 weeks post-fracture. The primary outcome was probability of full recovery 52 weeks post-fracture assessed with the Functional Recovery Score. Results High rates of FoF were seen at 4 (60.5%) and 12 weeks (47.0%) post-fracture. Week 12 FoF was associated with lower odds of recovery for those with high function pre-fracture (odds ratio [OR]: 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72, 0.93), but not for those with impaired activities of daily living performance (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.91, 1.19). Conclusions Fear of falling is common after hip fracture and is associated with poorer functional recovery 1 year after fracture, particularly in patients with high premorbid function. Fear of falling is a modifiable problem that represents a potential target for interventions to improve functional outcomes after hip fracture.
Comparative Methods for Premodern Cities: Coding for Governance and Class Mobility

We describe methods of coding and analyzing historical and archaeological data for comparative analysis of premodern cities. As part of a larger study of spatial access to urban services, we identify eight relevant contextual domains and define variables for each domain. Information from publications on each city is assembled, and the data are coded independently by three scholars and checked for agreement. To date, we have completed contextual coding for 15 cities. Here, we focus on methods to analyze relationships among variables within contextual domains using two example domains—Class Mobility and Governance. Key methodological points involve the problem of missing data, multiple tests with an appropriate correction, and the importance of variation among cases for effective analysis of a domain. Our interpretation of preliminary findings highlights a degree of independence between two different arenas of social life that may relate to collective action. Documentation of our procedures contributes to a...
Pulmonary Endothelial Cell Irradiation Damage Signaling Initiates Late Fibrosis

Abstract Abstract 4682 Thoracic irradiation of C57BL/6NHsd mice produces an acute lung inflammatory period (0 to 30 days after irradiation), followed by a stable latent period (30 to 100 days), followed by a delayed fibrosis reaction (100 –150 days). Fibrosis involves migration of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (fibroblast progenitors) into the lung. The molecular mechanisms which initiate migration and homing of fibroblast progenitors are unknown. Increased pulmonary TGF-β expression has been correlated with the onset of fibrosis. To identify the cells and genetic pathways involved, C57BL/6NHsd female mice were irradiated with 20 Gy to the thoracic cavity and sacrificed at serial time points including days 0, 2, 14, 28, 50, 75, 100, 110, 125, 150, and 200, lungs were removed and RNA extracted from either whole lung or purified cell populations. Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was used to quantitate gene expression. In whole lung tissue, when compared to un-irradiated lungs, a significant elevation in expression of multiple inflammation and chemotaxis associated genes (including TGF-β, TNF-α,and MnSOD) and stress response genes (including NFkB, AP-1, SP-1,and Nrf2) was detected both during the acute inflammatory phase (p= 0.0112, 0.0037, 0.0245 and p= 0.0001, Further analysis of lung endothelial cells may elucidate the mechanisms involved in the late effects of thoracic irradiation, and identify new targets for drug development to prevent irradiation pulmonary fibrosis. Acknowledgments: This project was supported by NIH-2R01CA119927-08A1. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Bridging the gap between memory performance and massive parallelism: the critical role of programming systems innovations (keynote)

This talk examines some trends in the modern developments of memory systems and their relations with the massive parallelism in processors and applications. It then draws on some recent work on GPU to explain the important role of programming systems in bridging the gap; it particularly emphasizes the importance of innovations for enabling better software controllability, more software elasticity, and inter-thread data locality enhancements. The talk further discusses the implications brought to programming systems by the increasingly blurred boundaries among memory, storage, and processing.
Recellularization of decellularized heart valves: Progress toward the tissue-engineered heart valve:

The tissue-engineered heart valve portends a new era in the field of valve replacement. Decellularized heart valves are of great interest as a scaffold for the tissue-engineered heart valve due to their naturally bioactive composition, clinical relevance as a stand-alone implant, and partial recellularization in vivo. However, a significant challenge remains in realizing the tissue-engineered heart valve: assuring consistent recellularization of the entire valve leaflets by phenotypically appropriate cells. Many creative strategies have pursued complete biological valve recellularization; however, identifying the optimal recellularization method, including in situ or in vitro recellularization and chemical and/or mechanical conditioning, has proven difficult. Furthermore, while many studies have focused on individual parameters for increasing valve interstitial recellularization, a general understanding of the interacting dynamics is likely necessary to achieve success. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to explore and compare the various processing strategies used for the decellularization and subsequent recellularization of tissue-engineered heart valves.
Using Fundamental Spectroscopy to Elucidate Kinetic and Energetic Mechanisms Within Environmentally Relevant Inductively Coupled Plasma Systems

Understanding energy distributions and kinetic processes in NxOy plasma systems is vital to realizing their potential in a range of applications, including pollution abatement. Energy partitioning between degrees of freedom and multiple molecules formed within NxOy plasma systems (N2, N2O, N2/O2) was investigated using both optical emission and broadband absorption spectroscopies. Specifically, we determined electron temperatures (Te) as well as rotational (TR) and vibrational (TV) temperatures for various N2 (B3Πg and C3Πu) and NO (X2Π and A2Σ+) states. TR and TV for both molecules (regardless of state) show a strong positive correlation with applied plasma power, as well as a negative correlation with system pressure. In all cases, TV values are significantly higher than TR for both species, suggesting vibrational modes are preferentially excited over rotational degrees of freedom. Time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy was utilized to determine rate constants, providing mechanistic insight and establishing the relationships between system parameters and plasma chemistry. Ultimately, the combination of these data allows us to glean information regarding both the kinetics and energetics of N2 and NO molecules formed within nitrogen- and oxygen-containing plasma systems for potential applications in gas remediation of pollutants.
Ultrasound-guided placement of a permanent percutaneous femoral nerve stimulator leads for the treatment of intractable femoral neuropathy

Background Femoral nerve injury is a rare complication of cardiac catheterization and is usually caused by direct trauma during femoral artery access, compression from a hematoma, or prolonged digital pressure for post-procedural hemostasis. Peripheral nerve stimulation has been used to treat different pain syndromes in the upper and lower extremities with variable success and it typically requires direct vision with open surgical approach. Since the femoral nerve can be readily seen with ultrasonography, an ultrasound-guided lead placement seemed practical. Case report A 61-year-old morbidly obese male who sustained femoral nerve injury during cardiac catheterization continued to complain of intractable femoral neuropathy 18 months afterwords. He failed multiple treatment modalities and continued to complain of severe neuropathic pains that markedly interfere with his daily activities. Two percutaneous leads were placed under real-time ultrasonography and the placement was confirmed with fluoroscopy. One lead was placed along the longitudinal axis of the nerve and the patient had good coverage over the anterior thigh but not below the knee. So another lead was placed horizontally across the femoral nerve in order to stimulate all the branches and the patient reported good coverage along the saphenous nerve distribution down to the foot. Results The patient continues to be pain free 20 months after the implant. Conclusion Here we described a novel non-invasive percutaneous approach for femoral nerve stimulation with ultrasound guidance which allowed precise placement of the stimulating lead very close to the femoral nerve without the need for surgical exploration.
PF-00337210, a potent, selective and orally bioavailable small molecule inhibitor of VEGFR-2

3992 PF-00337210 is a potent, selective, and orally bioavailable small molecule inhibitor of VEGFRs. It is an ATP-competitive compound that is selective for VEGFR-2 when biochemically profiled against >100 diverse tyrosine and serine-threonine kinases. PF-00337210 preferentially binds to the unactivated kinase (Ki=0.7 nM) relative to the fully phosphorylated form (Ki= 8.8 nM). Crystallographic evidence suggests that its selectivity is likely a result of its ability to bind to a DFG-out conformation of VEGFR-2. In the cell, PF-00337210 inhibits the autophosphorylation of human and murine VEGFR-2 with IC50s of 0.87 ± 0.11 nM and 0.83 ± 0.29 nM, respectively. In cell-based assays, the compound is less potent against other split kinase family members: KIT (9.6 ± 3.4 nM), CSF1-R (13 ± 3 nM), PDGFR-α (11 ± 1 nM) and PDGFR-β (29 ± 8 nM), and does not inhibit Flt-3 (IC50 >10 μM). It also demonstrates greater than 60 fold selectivity for VEGFR-2 versus FGFR-1 in a growth factor stimulated HUVEC survival assay. PF-00337210 shows low to moderate in vivo clearance in several preclinical species (13, 22 and 25 mL/min/kg in rats, dogs and monkeys, respectively). It has high oral bioavailability in rats (>80%) and moderate oral bioavailability in dogs (>30%). In preclinical tumor models, the compound shows dose-dependent anti-tumor efficacy that is associated with significant reduction of microvessel density and vascular permeability in the tumor. The pharmacologically efficacious concentration of PF-00337210 is estimated to be
Spectroscopic OCT: towards an effective tool for distinguishing authentic and artificial Chinese freshwater pearls

Distinguishing authentic and artificial Chinese freshwater pearls involves various tools and techniques, based primarily on visual inspection and spectroscopy. These methods are highly variable and thus not statistically reliable. This study investigates the capacity of spectroscopic optical coherence tomography (S-OCT) to classify authentic and artificial pearls in the NIR spectral range. The major advantage of S-OCT is that it allows spectroscopic measurements from within pearls, unlike traditional methods such as diffuse reflectance spectroscopy that primarily probe the surface. S-OCT spectral data was analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) to classify pearls. The implemented models successfully predicted pearl type and met performance metrics. The results show that S-OCT models could be used for more objective discrimination of authentic versus artificial pearls.
NORMS FOR FAMILY SIZE IN UNDERDEVELOPED AREAS.

It is a commonplace observation that fertility is high in the so-called underdeveloped societies. Sometimes this leads to the erroneous view that their fertility is limited only by what is biologically possible so that birth rates reach a mythologically high natural level. In this idealized view free and unrestrained sexual unions beginning at an early age produce very high fertility as an incidental result without deliberate intent and without much individual or social concern about family size. A more plausible general proposition is that reproduction, whether at high or low levels, is so important to the family and to society everywhere that its level is more or less controlled by cultural norms about family size and such related matters as marriage, timing of intercourse, and abortion. In each society the cultural norms about these vital matters are consistent with social institutions in which they are deeply embedded. Changes in fertility are unlikely without prior or, at least, simultaneous changes in these institutions.
Effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen on relapse-free survival among patients with breast cancer achieving a pathologic complete response: an early step in the de-escalation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Patients with breast cancer who have a pathologic complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) have improved survival. We hypothesize that once pCR has been achieved, there is no difference in subsequent postsurgical recurrence-free survival (RFS), whichever NACT regimen is used. Data from patients with breast cancer who achieved pCR after NACT between 1996 and 2011 were reviewed. RFS was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences between groups were assessed using log-rank testing. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis adjusted for age, menopausal status, stage, grade, tumor subtype, and adjuvant endocrine HER2-targeted radiation treatment. Among 721 patients who achieved pCR after NACT, 157 (21.8%) were hormone receptor-positive (HR), 310 (43.3%) were HER2-amplified, and 236 (32.7%) were triple-negative; 292 (40.5%) were stage IIA, 153 (21.2%) were stage IIB, 78 (10.8%) were stage IIIA, 66 (9.2%) were stage IIIB, and 132 (18.3%) were stage IIIC. Most patients (367 [50.9%]) had been treated with adriamycin-based chemotherapy plus taxane (A + T), 56 (7.8%) without taxane (A no T), 227 (31.5%) with HER2-targeted therapy, and 71 (9.8%) provider choice. Median follow-up was 7.1 years. Adjuvant chemotherapy was employed in 196 (27%) patients, adjuvant endocrine in 261 (36%), and adjuvant radiation in the majority (559 [77.5%]). There was no statistically significant difference in RFS by NACT group. Adjusted RFS hazard ratios, comparing each treatment with the reference group A + T, were 1.25 (95% CI 0.47–3.35) for A no T, 0.90 (95% CI 0.37–2.20) for HER2-targeted therapy, and 1.28 (95% CI 0.55–2.98) for provider choice. These data suggest that postsurgical RFS is not significantly influenced by the choice of NACT or cancer subtype among patients achieving pCR.
Trade Union Development and Collective Wage Consultations in China

Can trade unions in authoritarian settings — such as in China — act on behalf of the workers? And what is the impact of trade union work on actual labor conditions? This paper examines China’s development of collective wage consultation and negotiation system since the 2000s and shows that the official All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) and its union branches at the local level have not only helped expand the coverage of collective wage consultation and negotiation system but also helped improve labor protection without gaining autonomy from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Rising labor unrest in recent years has induced the CCP to empower the ACFTU and its union branches to carry out pro-labor measures such as collective wage consultations and negotiations. Using an inter-provincial data I compiled from official statistical sources as well as interviews I conducted during 12 months of dissertation field research in China, I found the following: the more empowered the unions are over labor protection, the wider the coverage of collective wage consultation system is. The wider the coverage of the system, the higher the real wages are.
System and Architecture Level Characterization of Big Data Applications on Big and Little Core Server Architectures

The rapid growth in data yields challenges to process data efficiently using current high-performance server architectures such as big Xeon cores. Furthermore, physical design constraints, such as power and density, have become the dominant limiting factor for scaling out servers. Low-power embedded cores in servers such as little Atom have emerged as a promising solution to enhance energy-efficiency to address these challenges. Therefore, the question of whether to process the big data applications on big Xeon- or Little Atom-based servers becomes important. In this work, through methodical investigation of power and performance measurements, and comprehensive application-level, system-level, and micro-architectural level analysis, we characterize dominant big data applications on big Xeon- and little Atom-based server architectures. The characterization results across a wide range of real-world big data applications, and various software stacks demonstrate how the choice of big- versus little-core-based server for energy-efficiency is significantly influenced by the size of data, performance constraints, and presence of accelerator. In addition, we analyze processor resource utilization of this important class of applications, such as memory footprints, CPU utilization, and disk bandwidth, to understand their run-time behavior. Furthermore, we perform micro-architecture-level analysis to highlight where improvement is needed in big- and little-core microarchitectures to address their performance bottlenecks.
Millimeter-Wave Faraday Rotation From Ferromagnetic Nanowires

Nickel nanowires embedded in track-etched polycarbonate membrane filters have been used to impart Faraday rotation on millimeter wave signals with frequencies of 61.25 GHz. A customized apparatus for measuring Faraday rotation was designed and built using quasi-optical components. Initial experiments were performed to ensure that the non-reciprocal polarization rotation, attributed to the Faraday effect, had direct proportionality to the strength of a static magnetic field applied in the direction of the millimeter wave propagation. Experiments were also performed to rule out the possibility of measuring reciprocal polarization rotation due to birefringence and to calculate the Faraday rotation angle in these artificial ferrites. A Verdet constant was extracted from experimental data and found to have a relatively high value of approximately $\text{25.5}\times \text{10}^{3}$ rad $\cdot$ T $^{-1}\cdot$ m $^{-1}$ .
A novel elastin-like polypeptide drug carrier for cyclosporine A improves tear flow in a mouse model of Sjögren's syndrome.

Abstract As a potent macrolide immunosuppressant, cyclosporine A (CsA) is used to treat multiple autoimmune diseases, including non-autoimmune and autoimmune-mediated dry eye disease, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Despite its potency, CsA has poor solubility, poor bioavailability, and can cause serious adverse reactions such as nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity. To overcome these limitations, we invented a new strategy to carry CsA by fusing its cognate human receptor, cyclophilin A (CypA), to a 73 kDa elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) termed A192 using recombinant protein expression. Derived from human tropoelastin, ELPs are characterized by the ability to phase separate above a temperature that is a function of variables including concentration, molecular weight, and hydrophobicity. The resultant fusion protein, termed CA192, which assembles into a dimeric species in solution, effectively binds and solubilizes CsA with a Kd of 189 nM, comparable to that of endogenous CypA with a Kd of 35.5 nM. The release profile of CsA from CA192 follows a one phase decay model with a half-life of 957.3 h without a burst release stage. Moreover, CA192-CsA inhibited IL-2 expression induced in Jurkat cells through the calcineurin-NFAT signaling pathway with an IC50 of 1.2 nM, comparable to that of free CsA with an IC50 of 0.5 nM. The intravenous pharmacokinetics of CA192 followed a two-compartment model with a mean residence time of 7.3 h. Subcutaneous administration revealed a bioavailability of 30% and a mean residence time of 15.9 h. When given subcutaneously for 2 weeks starting at 14 weeks in male non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, a model of autoimmune dacryoadenitis used to study Sjogren's syndrome (SS), CA192-CsA (2.5 mg/kg, every other day) significantly (p = 0.014) increased tear production relative to CA192 alone. Moreover, CA192 delivery reduced indications of CsA nephrotoxicity relative to free CsA. CA192 represents a viable new approach to deliver this effective but nephrotoxic agent in a modality that preserves therapeutic efficacy but suppresses drug toxicity.
Negative-Capacitance FinFETs: Numerical Simulation, Compact Modeling and Circuit Evaluation

A complete simulation framework is presented for Negative Capacitance FinFETs including Numerical Simulation, Compact Modeling, and Circuit Evaluation. A 2D Numerical Simulation for FinFETs coupled with the Landau’s Ferroelectric Model captures device characteristics. A new version of the distributed Negative-Capacitance FinFET Compact Model is also presented in this work, where influence of short-channel effects in Ferroelectric voltage amplification are newly incorporated. Finally, a detailed analysis, from an energy perspective, is presented for the gate voltage amplification of Negative Capacitance FinFETs in ring-oscillator circuits.
Investigating the ways in which Student Agency develops through Engagement with Knowledge

This Work in Progress paper reports on preliminary work in a new longitudinal project which tracks engineering students as they progress through four years of their undergraduate degree. It focuses specifically on students’ engagement with disciplinary and professional knowledge, in domains of basic science, engineering science, and engineering design. The project centers on annual in-depth interviews that will be conducted with students recruited from the first year in a selected engineering program (Chemical Engineering) at two selected US bachelors’ institutions: one a rural-based public land grant research university, and the other an urban public research university with a more diverse student intake. To highlight the distinctive features of the ways in which engineering graduates are formed, the project tracks in parallel a sample of students from a closely related science program (Chemistry/Biochemistry). The first year of data collection in this project is completed, and this paper will provide early reflections on the research design, specifically the ways in which student interview data can be used to show development of agency through engagement with knowledge.
On Relatively Tempered Representations for p-adic Symmetric Spaces

We generalize a well known subrepresentation theorem for tempered representations to the context of relatively tempered representations for p-adic symmetric spaces, assuming \(p\ne 2\).
Are single plane intraoperative and biplanar postoperative radiographic measurements of acetabular cup position the same

Purpose:Supine positioning and the use of fluoroscopy during direct anterior approach total hip arthroplasty (DAA THA) have been reported to improve acetabular component positioning. This study aim...
Interlinking the Shariah Compliant Stocks in India: An Analysis Using Granger Causality

With the growth of the Shariah-compliant stocks in India, the opportunities are also increasing. The investors need to know how they can predict the future of the stocks by studying a smaller number of stocks. This paper deals with the link between different Shariah-compliant stocks available in India. A research was done on S&P BSE 500 Shariah, Nifty Shariah 25, Nifty 50 Shariah and NIFTY 500 Shariah. The study revealed the interdependence of the shares. It helped locate the function as well as the driver of the stock.
Dyskalemia, its patterns, and prognosis among patients with incident heart failure: A nationwide study of US veterans

Background Although hypokalemia has been viewed as a significant concern among patients with heart failure (HF), recent advances in HF management tend to increase the risk of hyperkalemia. Objective To characterize contemporary data regarding correlates and prognostic values of dyskalemia in patients with HF. Design, setting, and participants In cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, we studied 142,087 patients with newly diagnosed HF in US nationwide Veterans Administration database from 2005 through 2013. Exposures Demographic characteristics, laboratory variables, comorbidities, and medication use for the analysis of correlates of dyskalemia as well as potassium level in the analysis of mortality. Main outcomes and measures Dyskalemia and mortality. Results Hypokalemia ( 50% of measurements), intermittent (>1 occurrence but ≤50%), and transient (1 occurrence) hypo- and hyperkalemia were also related to increased mortality in a graded fashion regardless of the aforementioned thresholds for dyskalemia. These dyskalemic patterns were also related to other clinical actions and demands such as emergency room visit. Conclusions Potassium levels below 4 mmol/L and above 5 mmol/L at and after HF diagnosis were associated with poor prognosis and the clinical actions. HF patients (particularly with risk factors for dyskalemia like black race and kidney dysfunction) may require special attention for both hypo- and hyperkalemia.
Achieving the Bank of Japan's Inflation Target

The Bank of Japan has introduced various unconventional monetary policy tools since the launch of Abenomics in 2013, to achieve the price stability target of 2 percent inflation. In this paper, a forward-looking open-economy general equilibrium model with endogenously determined policy credibility and an effective lower bound is developed for forecasting and policy analysis (FPAS) for Japan. In the model's baseline scenario, the likelihood of the Bank of Japan reaching its 2 percent inflation target over the medium term is below 40 percent, assuming the absence of other policy reactions aside from monetary policy. The likelihood of achieving the inflation target is even lower under alternative risk scenarios. A positive shock to central bank credibility increases this likelihood, and would require less accommodative macroeconomic policies.
A Unique Five-Level Converter Topology Comprising High-Frequency, Low-Frequency, and Line-Frequency Switching Semiconductor Power Devices Without Flying-Capacitors and Clamping-Diodes

This paper introduces a unique and innovative 5-level circuit topology for multilevel converters. The proposed inverter comprises high-frequency pulse-width-modulation (HF-PWM) and low-frequency (LF) PWM, and line-frequency (fundamental component of the synthesized output voltage) switching semiconductor power devices such as the IGBTs. As an outstanding advantage, the proposed 5-level topology does employ neither the flying-capacitors nor the clamping-diodes. This crucial and unique feature makes the introduced configuration a promising multilevel converter topology well-suited for the medium-voltage (MV) applications demanding high-power-density requirements. Further, two distinct 5-level configurations are derived on basis of the proposed topology. The converter's phase-leg in the first configuration is realized using eight 1 p.u. HF-IGBTs, four 1 p.u. LF-IGBTs, and two line-frequency semiconductor switches with 2 p.u. voltage rating. The second 5-level converter's per-phase structure consists of eight 1 p.u. rated LF-IGBTs, four 1 p.u. HF-IGBTs, and two line-frequency IGBTs with blocking voltage of 2 p.u.. Consequently, the introduced topologies possess almost modular structures due to the utilization of the semiconductor power devices having the same voltage ratings. Furthermore, two different modulation methods are developed to control the proposed 5-level converters. Simulation results are provided to validate both proposed topologies as well as control techniques.
Binary Building Attribute Imputation, Evaluation, and Comparison Approaches for Hurricane Damage Data Sets

AbstractMissing building attributes are problematic for development of data-based fragility models. Relative to other disciplines, the application of imputation techniques is limited in the field o...
Assessing the Breadth of Laryngology Training in Otolaryngology Residency Programs

Summary Introduction Laryngology is an expanding field with incorporation in resident training nationwide. However, the breadth of training in laryngology reported by residents has not been previously evaluated. This project assesses the variability in laryngology training among otolaryngology residents. Methods A cross sectional, multi-institutional study was performed with an anonymous survey sent to residents and laryngology fellows nationally to assess different laryngology training practices. Results There were 151 responses to the survey with 9.6% response rate. 49 (32.9%) did not have a designated laryngology rotation. 134 (89.3%) had a fellowship-trained laryngologist as part of their institution. The greatest percentage of respondents intended to pursue general ENT (31; 20.7%). PGY5 responses were analyzed for total residency exposure showing, 66.7% of PGY5s received training to identify different types of dysphonic voices through auditory findings alone. 61.9% could interpret a videoflouroscopic swallow study. Regarding surgical cases, 52.4% had been involved in open cricopharyngeal myotomies, 76.2% in endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomies, and 100% in subglottic stenosis cases. Residents pursuing a career in laryngology and those with a designated laryngology rotation had more exposure to laryngeal surgeries and office-based procedures than their peers. Conclusion Laryngology training and exposure varies across the country. Residents are more familiar with airway than voice and swallowing related pathology. Residents with a designated laryngology rotation and those pursing laryngology fellowships were more likely to have exposure to laryngeal surgery and office-based procedures. Programs with a laryngologist likely had higher response rates so the true laryngology exposure may be more limited than our data suggests.
Physical Salience and Value-Driven Salience Operate through Different Neural Mechanisms to Enhance Attentional Selection.

Previous studies have indicated that both increased physical salience and increased reward-value salience of a target improve behavioral measures of attentional selection. It is unclear, however, whether these two forms of salience interact with attentional networks through similar or different neural mechanisms, and what such differences might be. We examined this question by separately manipulating both the value-driven and physical salience of targets in a visual search task while recording response times (RTs) and event-related potentials, focusing on the attentional-orienting-sensitive N2pc event-related potential component. Human participants of both sexes searched arrays for targets of either a high-physical-salience color or one of two low-physical-salience colors across three experimental phases. The first phase (“baseline”) offered no rewards. RT and N2pc latencies were shorter for high-physical-salience targets, indicating faster attentional orienting. In the second phase (“equal-reward”), a low monetary reward was given for fast correct responses for all target types. This reward context improved overall performance, similarly shortening RTs and enhancing N2pc amplitudes for all target types, but with no change in N2pc latencies. In the third phase (“selective-reward”), the reward rate was made selectively higher for one of the two low-physical-salience colors, resulting in their RTs becoming as fast as the high-physical-salience targets. Despite the equally fast RTs, the N2pc9s for these low-physical-salience, high-value targets remained later than for high-physical-salience targets, instead eliciting significantly larger N2pc9s. These results suggest that enhanced physical salience leads to faster attentional orienting, but value-driven salience to stronger attentional orienting, underscoring the utilization of different underlying mechanisms. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Associating relevant target stimuli with reward value can enhance their salience, facilitating their attentional selection. This value-driven salience improves behavioral performance, similar to the effects of physical salience. Recent theories, however, suggest that these forms of salience are intrinsically different, although the neural mechanisms underlying any such differences remain unclear. This study addressed this issue by manipulating the physical and value-related salience of targets in a visual search task, comparing their effects on several attention-sensitive neural-activity measures. Our findings show that, whereas physical salience accelerates the speed of attentional selection, value-driven salience selectively enhances its strength. These findings shed new insights into the theoretical and neural underpinnings of value-driven salience and its effects on attention and behavior.
A Music-Based Digital Therapeutic: Proof-of-Concept Automation of a Progressive and Individualized Rhythm-Based Walking Training Program After Stroke.

BackgroundThe rhythm of music can entrain neurons in motor cortex by way of direct connections between auditory and motor brain regions.ObjectiveWe sought to automate an individualized and progress...
Observation of ordered organic capping ligands on semiconducting quantum dots via powder X-ray diffraction

Powder X-ray diffraction is one of the key techniques used to characterize the inorganic structure of colloidal nanocrystals. The comparatively low scattering factor of nuclei of the organic capping ligands and their propensity to be disordered has led investigators to typically consider them effectively invisible to this technique. In this report, we demonstrate that a commonly observed powder X-ray diffraction peak around [Formula: see text] observed in many small, colloidal quantum dots can be assigned to well-ordered aliphatic ligands bound to and capping the nanocrystals. This conclusion differs from a variety of explanations ascribed by previous sources, the majority of which propose an excess of organic material. Additionally, we demonstrate that the observed ligand peak is a sensitive probe of ligand shell ordering. Changes as a function of ligand length, geometry, and temperature can all be readily observed by X-ray diffraction and manipulated to achieve desired outcomes for the final colloidal system.