cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Light propagation through large laser systems

The evolution of solid-state laser systems over the past decade, both through technological advances and through increased understanding of the interplay between nonlinear effects and linear diffraction, is reviewed. The role of numerical methods to simulate the several physical processes (diffraction, self-focusing, gain saturation) involved in coherent beam propagation through large laser systems is discussed. A comprehensive simulation code for modeling all of the pertinent physical phenomena observed in laser operations (growth of small-scale modulation, spatial filtering, imaging, gain saturation, and beam-induced damage) is described in detail. The realism and accuracy of results obtained with this numerical code stem from an unambiguous identification of the sources of spatial noise, and from the use of spatial filters in modern lasers to limit the transverse beam modulation scale within the practical computational range of a two-dimensional numerical analysis. Several comparisons between code results and solid-state laser output performance data are presented. Finally, the design and performance estimation of the large Nova laser system presently under construction at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) are given.
Regional Impact of an Elevated Heat Source: The Zagros Plateau of Iran

Abstract The authors propose that a heat-driven circulation from the Zagros Plateau has a significant impact on the climate of the Middle East Plain (MEP), especially summertime winds, air temperature, and aridity. This proposal is examined in numerical experiments with a regional climate model. Simulations in which the Zagros Plateau was assigned a highly reflective, “snowlike” albedo neutralized the heat-driven circulation and produced an extra summertime warming of 1°–2°C in the MEP, measured relative to a control simulation and to the records of the NCEP–NCAR reanalysis project. This effect was largest in midsummer, when heating on the plateau was greatest. Additionally, simulations with high albedo on the Zagros showed reduced subsidence and enhanced precipitation in the MEP. These sensitivities are interesting because the Zagros Plateau lies downwind of the MEP. Analysis of model results indicates that the sensitivity of the upwind subsidence region to Zagros albedo can be understood as a linear atm...
Electrochemical hydrogen adsorption/storage in pure and functionalized single wall carbon nanotubes

Self-assembled sheets of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were used as the working electrode for electrochemical hydrogen adsorption/storage in a three-electrode cell in 6M aqueous KOH or HNO3 solution. Hydrogen adsorption studies on pristine SWNTs, as well as SWNTs functionalized with electrodeposited nanoparticles of magnesium (Mg) and cobalt (Co), have been performed. The adsorbed hydrogen (uncorrected for possible water uptake via nanocapillarity) was measured to be 2.5 weight percent by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) on a Mg-functionalized sample and 3.2 weight percent by Prompt-Gamma Activation Analysis (PGAA) for a pristine sample charged for 20 hrs. Weight loss occurs in the 105o to 125oC temperature range for both sample types. Hydrogen in Co-functionalized SWNTs and 6M HNO3 electrolyte appears to be strongly chemisorbed as indicated by the appearance of a C-H stretching line in the Fourier-transform infrared spectrum (FTIR) and absence of a desorption peak in the TGA data in the 25o to 600oC temperature range. Thermopower measurements scale with the TGA data and suggest that hydrogen uptake is associated with partial charge transfer. Exsitu Raman spectroscopy shows a reproducible downshift of the SWNT tangential stretching mode consistent with charge transfer or chemisorption on electrochemical charging, and a substantial decrease under some conditions in resonance-enhanced intensity with increasing charging time. A SWNT sheet electrochemically coated with the conducting polymer polyaniline and then charged in 6M KOH shows possible hydrogen uptake of 1.5 weight % that desorbs at 70oC.
Three-dimensional wave distortion and disintegration of thin planar liquid sheets

Three-dimensional dilational and sinuous wave propagation on infinite or semi-infinite thin planar sheets flowing into a gas of negligible density is investigated. The assumption of thin sheets allows the reduction of the problem dimensionality by integration across the sheet thickness. For finite-amplitude disturbances, the strongest nonlinear effects occur when the cross-sectional wavenumber (l) is close to the streamwise wavenumber (k). First, dilational wave propagation is considered. When l is close to k for infinite sheets, higher harmonics are generated in the streamwise direction, and the standing wave with finite amplitude in the cross-sectional plane becomes flat. As time passes, the waves return to the initial wave shape. This process is repeated in a cycle
A Novel Radiator for a 2.4 GHz Wireless Unit to Monitor Rail Stress and Strain

A novel mobile antenna structure is presented to relay stress and strain data on railroad tracks. The antenna structure is a unique design employing dual probe-fed radiating cavities integrated with a Zigbee IEEE 802.15.4 wireless transceiver. This structure is mounted against the rail web and has a compact design to ensure survivability. A dielectric filler is employed inside each radiating cavity to minimize cavity width and protect the integrity of the mobile antenna structure. Measurements are given for a fabricated prototype to verify simulated performance characteristics.
Protestant Work Ethic, Confucian Values, and Work-Related Attitudes in Singapore

The current article examined the extent to which Western Protestant Work Ethic (PWE) and Eastern Confucian values would influence employee job satisfaction and organizational commitment in an East ...
Salt Additions to Chick Rations

Abstract EXPERIMENTAL evidence on the amount of salt required by chicks varies considerably. Salt functions in various ways and this may have some bearing upon the levels recommended. Mitchell and Carman (1926) reported that chicks fed a cereal diet, deficient in salt, showed retarded growth. Prentice (1933) also showed that rations containing no salt produced poor growth. In both cases the results were attributed to a deficiency of sodium. Sjollema (1935) reported poor growth on rations low in sodium and estimated the sodium requirements at 0.4 percent to 0.5 percent for the first month and 0.3 percent to 0.35 percent for the second month. Burns, Cravens, Phillips and Halpin (1950) showed an interrelationship between sodium and potassium. On semi-purified diets about 0.08 percent sodium was sufficient with 0.74 percent potassium to produce optimum growth, but if potassium intake dropped to 0.30 percent about 0.15 percent sodium was required to produce the . . .
Asymptotic results for maximum likelihood estimation with an array of sensors

In many cases, the maximum likelihood (ML) estimator is consistent and asymptotically normal with covariance equal to the inverse of the Fisher's information matrix. It does not follow, though, that the covariance of the ML estimator approaches the Cramer-Rao lower bound as the sample size increases. However, it is possible to draw such a conclusion for the adaptive array problem in which direction of arrival and signal magnitude are being estimated. Proofs of w-asymptotic efficiency, which comes with a convergence-of-moments condition, and strong consistency (almost-sure convergence) of the ML estimator are given. Strong consistency is also proved for a popular quasi-ML estimator. >
Neurocognitive Predictors of Objective and Subjective Quality of Life in Individuals With Schizophrenia: A Meta-Analytic Investigation

Quality of life (QOL) has been recognized as a crucial domain of outcome in schizophrenia treatment, and yet its determinants are not well understood. Recent meta-analyses suggest that symptoms have only a modest relationship to QOL (Eack SM, Newhill CE. Psychiatric symptoms and quality of life in schizophrenia: a meta-analysis. Schizophr Bull. 2007;33:1225–1237). Individuals with schizophrenia show 1–2 SD deficits on measures of elementary neurocognition, and links between these deficits and objective measures of community functioning (eg, employment and independent living) are well established. While objective measures of community functioning and measures of QOL would appear to be closely related, studies investigating the ability of neurocognitive variables to predict QOL in individuals with schizophrenia have yielded conflicting results. One potential explanation for opposing findings in the schizophrenia literature is the interchangeable use of objective and subjective indices of QOL. This study used quantitative methods of meta-analysis to clarify the relationship between neurocognitive determinants of objective QOL (ie, observable, clinician-rated) and subjective QOL (ie, patient satisfaction) separately in individuals with schizophrenia. A total of 20 studies (10 objective and 10 subjective) consisting of 1615 clients were aggregated from relevant databases. Weighted effect size analysis revealed that there were small–moderate relationships (d ≤ 0.55) between crystallized verbal ability, working memory verbal list learning, processing speed, and executive function and objective indices of QOL. In contrast, results revealed either nonsignificant or inverse relationships for the vast majority of neurocognitive measures and measures of subjective QOL. Moderating variables and implications for future research and treatment development are discussed.
Sub-optimal feedback control using a successive wavelet-Galerkin algorithm

We present a numerical algorithm for solving the Hamilton-Jacobi Bellman equation using a successive Galerkin-wavelet projection scheme. According to this scheme, the so-called generalized Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (GHJB) equation is solved iteratively starting from a stabilizing solution. As a basis function for the Galerkin projections we consider the anti-derivatives of the well-known Daubechies' wavelets. Wavelets offer several advantages over traditional bases functions such as time-frequency localization and compact support. A numerical example illustrates the approach proposed.
High performance MTCMOS technique for leakage reduction in hybrid SOI-epitaxial technologies with enhanced-mobility PFET header

Power management has become a key constraint in the design of modern digital VLSI chips. Moreover, with minimum transistor dimensions reaching 100-nm and below, traditional scaling has slowed down. The ITRS roadmap has indicated that device mobility enhancement would be necessary to maintain the generational performance improvement in the sub-100nm VLSI era. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the popular low-leakage power MTCMOS circuit technique in various emerging technologies with enhanced-mobility PFETs.
Quantum Dots-in-a-Well Focal Plane Arrays

In this paper, the basics and some of the recent developments in quantum dots-in-a-well (DWELL) focal plane arrays (FPAs) are reviewed. Fundamentally, these detectors represent a hybrid between a conventional quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) and a quantum dot infrared photodetector (QDIP), in which the active region consists of quantum dots (QDs) embedded in a quantum well (QW). This hybridization grants DWELLs many of the advantages of its components. These advantages include normally incident photon sensitivity without gratings or optocoupers, like QDIPs, and reproducible control over operating wavelength through ldquodial-in recipesrdquo as seen in QWIPs. Recently reported high-temperature operation results for DWELL FPAs now back up the conclusions drawn by the long carrier lifetimes observed in DWELL heterostructures using femtosecond spectroscopy. This paper will conclude with a preview of some upcoming advances in the field of DWELL FPAs.
Wavelet-based analysis and power law classification of C/NOFS high-resolution electron density data

This paper applies new wavelet-based analysis procedures to low Earth-orbiting satellite measurements of equatorial ionospheric structure. The analysis was applied to high-resolution data from 285 Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite orbits sampling the postsunset period at geomagnetic equatorial latitudes. The data were acquired during a period of progressively intensifying equatorial structure. The sampled altitude range varied from 400 to 800 km. The varying scan velocity remained within 20° of the cross-field direction. Time-to-space interpolation generated uniform samples at approximately 8 m. A maximum segmentation length that supports stochastic structure characterization was identified. A two-component inverse power law model was fit to scale spectra derived from each segment together with a goodness-of-fit measure. Inverse power law parameters derived from the scale spectra were used to classify the scale spectra by type. The largest category was characterized by a single inverse power law with a mean spectral index somewhat larger than 2. No systematic departure from the inverse power law was observed to scales greater than 100 km. A small subset of the most highly disturbed passes at the lowest sampled altitudes could be categorized by two-component power law spectra with a range of break scales from less than 100 m to several kilometers. The results are discussed within the context of other analyses of in situ data and spectral characteristics used for scintillation analyses.
An intelligent image database system

A prototype intelligent image database system (IIDS) that is based on a novel pictorial data structure is presented. This prototype system supports spatial reasoning, flexible image information retrieval, visualization, and traditional image database operations. A pictorial data structure, based on 2-D strings, provides an efficient means for iconic indexing in image database systems and spatial reasoning. The modular design of IIDS facilitates its implementation. Further extensions of the prototype system are discussed. >
Morphologic and topographic analyses of debris aprons in the eastern Hellas region, Mars

This paper presents new, detailed analyses of small-scale morphologic and topographic characteristics of martian debris aprons that support Viking-based interpretations of debris aprons as ice-rich flow features derived from local uplands. Fifty-four debris apron complexes in the eastern Hellas region of Mars were examined using Mars Global Surveyor data sets, including Mars Orbiter Camera images and Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter topographic profiles. Consistent patterns in a suite of small-scale surface textures and geomorphic features observed throughout the population reflect a history of viscous flow and surface degradation through wind ablation and loss of contained ice. A wide variety of shapes seen in topographic profile reveal variations in distribution of contained ice and different stages of apron development and degradation. The results of this study provide new evidence consistent with multiple models of apron formation, including rock glacier, debris-covered glacier, and ice-rich landslide models. Typical eastern Hellas debris aprons formed from a series of large-scale events, emplacing debris that was enriched initially or later by ground ice, complemented by small-scale mass wasting of multiple styles and postemplacement flow of apron masses.
What Is the Optimal Technique of Irradiation in Breast-Conserving Treatment?

Over the last two decades irradiation, in conjunction with breast-conserving surgery, has been found to offer breast cancer patients equivalent disease- free and overall survival rates in the vast majority of cases (Bader et al. 1987; Bartelink and Van Dongen 1989; Bleichert-Toft et al. 1988; Fisher et al. 1989; Sarrazin et al. 1989; Veronesi 1987). As these data have accumulated and as breast cancer has been diagnosed at earlier stages, more and more women are opting for conservative treatment of their disease (NIH Consensus Conference 1990). The use of this breast-conserving therapy is growing and currently more than 35% of patients with breast cancer are treated in this manner (Levitt 1990).
Effect of Adsorbed Water on the Spreading of Organic Liquids on Soda-Lime Glass

The spreading behavior and equilibrium contact angle, θ, of organic liquids on soda-lime glass surfaces were observed at relative humidities (rh) varying from 1 to 95%. Increasing rh increased θ for many nonhydrophilic liquids on glass; no comparable effects occurred with nonadsorptive solid surfaces. The decrease in wettability of the glass with increasing rh resulted from the physical adsorption of a surface layer of water molecules sufficient to convert the normally high-energy glass surface into one that behaves as a low-energy surface, i.e. a surface with a low critical surface tension for spreading, γc, toward nonhydrophilic liquids. As the thickness of the adsorbed water layer increased, glass behaved like a surface with progressively decreasing γc, approaching that of bulk water. These results are discussed in relation to the effect of moisture on the spreading or adhesion of resins to glass and other hydrophilic solids.
Gene Therapy: Promises and Problems

Gene therapy can be broadly defined as the transfer of genetic material to cure a disease or at least to improve the clinical status of a patient. One of the basic concepts of gene therapy is to transform viruses into genetic shuttles, which will deliver the gene of interest into the target cells. Based on the nature of the viral genome, these gene therapy vectors can be divided into RNA and DNA viral vectors. The majority of RNA virus-based vectors have been derived from simple retroviruses like murine leukemia virus. A major shortcoming of these vectors is that they are not able to transduce nondividing cells. This problem may be overcome by the use of novel retroviral vectors derived from lentiviruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The most commonly used DNA virus vectors are based on adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses. Although the available vector systems are able to deliver genes in vivo into cells, the ideal delivery vehicle has not been found. Thus, the present viral vectors should be used only with great caution in human beings and further progress in vector development is necessary.
ROMP-Derived Pyridylborate Block Copolymers: Self-Assembly, pH-Responsive Properties, and Metal-Containing Nanostructures

The functionalization of organic polymers with polydentate ligands offers opportunities in areas ranging from supported catalysts to materials with desirable magnetic, redox-active, stimuli-responsive, and self-healing properties. Herein, we present the synthesis and self-assembly of tris(2-pyridyl)borate (Tpyb)-functionalized homo and block copolymers, prepared via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of (bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl)-4-phenyl) (pyridin-1-ium-2-yl)di(pyridin-2-yl)borate (M1) and dimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-exo,exo-2,3-dicarboxylate (M2) using Grubbs third-generation catalyst. Controlled polymerization was confirmed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC; also referred to as size exclusion chromatography, SEC) and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. The solution self-assembly in block-selective solvents (MeOH, THF) was investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning tunneling electron microscopy (STEM), and transmission electron m...
Caring practices: the connection between logics of state and domestic violence in Cairo, Egypt

AbstractThis article analyzes the multiscalar relationship between state violence and domestic violence among low-income residents of Cairo, Egypt. To do so, I look at the concept of care and how notions of care are intimately linked with interpretations of violence within daily life. In the accounts of research participants, acts of violence are instances that are understood as lacking regard for the other’s well-being. Violence is juxtaposed against ‘discipline’ and is generally understood as an act of care meant to correct inappropriate behavior. Here, discipline can encompass acts of physical force. Finally, findings show that for low-income Egyptians, the violence of the state not only shapes but also happens simultaneously to violence in the home.
Time Resolved In-Situ Diffuse X-ray Scattering Measurements of the Surface Morphology of Homoepitaxial SrTiO3 Films During Pulsed Laser Deposition

Homoepitaxial SrTiO3 thin films were grown on SrTiO3 (001) using Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD). The deposition process was monitored in-situ, via both x-ray reflectivity and surface diffuse x-ray scattering measurements in the G3 experimental station at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS). Using a CCD detector in 1D, or streak-camera, mode with approximately 0.3-second time resolution, data were collected during growths performed at two substrate temperatures: 695°C and 1000°C. While the specular reflectivity oscillations for the two growths are very similar, the diffuse scattering clearly shows a distinct change in the peak position. Using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), we illustrate how the peak position for the diffuse lobes of scattered intensity is directly related to the distribution of single unit cell high islands on the growing surface. Thus, the peak shift of the diffuse scattering indicates an order of magnitude change in the island density.
Distribution of Family Income in Urban Communities

T HE COST of living index and cost of living information in general, have come to be associated in the public mind with the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as a division of the Department of Labor. That association may have contributed to conceal, for a time, the more general business uses to which the data on family budgets might be put. On the unexploited possibilities of family income and expenditure data for the business analyst, the following comment by the chief economist of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company is in point:
General Motors China's Logistics Management of Aftermarket Parts

This dissertation will analyze General Motors China Aftermarket Parts Operation,and mainly describe General Motors China's logistics management to aftermarket parts.The theory-link-fact method of logistics management will be used in analyzing 3PL and the modes of logistics operation improvement.The analytic result is to understand character and methods that General Motors China uses in logistics management to aftermarket parts,and as guideline for current work and solutions to problems.
Emerging investigators series: silica-crosslinked graphene oxide membrane and its unique capability in removing neutral organic molecules from water

This study reports the synthesis and physicochemical properties of a silica-crosslinked graphene oxide (GO) membrane, and highlights its unique capability to remove neutral organic molecules from water. The silica-crosslinked GO membrane was formed by soaking a layer-stacked GO film in saturated silica solution and remained stable under various test conditions. Comparison of the chemical compositions of the GO membrane before and after silica crosslinking indicates that silica mainly reacted with the carboxyl groups in GO. The GO membrane was negatively charged and found to remove the tested neutral organic molecules (glucose and sucrose) (∼84% to 90%) much more efficiently than the tested negatively charged ionic species (trisodium citrate/TSC) (∼22%). This unique separation behavior is quite interesting, as it is generally known that a charged nanofiltration or reverse osmosis membrane would remove charged species much better than neutral molecules of comparable sizes. Our experimental evidence suggests that neither size exclusion nor ionic strength is responsible for such unique behavior. Characterization of the interactions between the GO membrane and the tested neutral organic species indicates that the low partitioning and irreversible adsorption of neutral organic molecules into the GO membrane (much less than that of charged ionic species) is most likely responsible for their better removal by the GO membrane.
Localization of transferrin and its receptor in ovarian follicular cells: morphologic studies in relation to follicular development

Granulosa cells perform an essential role in ovarian follicle and ovum development. Proliferating cells have an absolute requirement for iron, which is delivered by transferrin with subsequent intracellular transport via the transferrin receptor. Because iron and transferrin concentration increase in follicular fluid with advancing follicular maturation, the authors studied the distribution of transferrin and its receptor in rat and human granulosa cells with light and electron microscopic immunohistochemistry. Intense cytoplasmic staining was found in granulosa cells, with immunostaining enhancement occurring with advanced follicle maturation, including the periovulatory period. Immunoelectron microscopy showed transferrin throughout the cytoplasm, often in proximity to polyribosomes and vesicular structures. When transferrin was absent in the culture medium used to maintain granulosa cells, diminished transferrin immunostaining was seen. Based on these findings, the authors conclude that follicular maturation is closely related to high levels of cellular transferrin and transferrin receptor. Acquisition of transferrin occurs primarily by either ultrafiltration or facilitated diffusion, whereas de novo local synthesis does not have a major role.
Hypertension: Dietary Factors

Worldwide, elevated blood pressure is an extraordinarily common and important risk factor for cardiovascular and kidney diseases. As blood pressure (BP) rises, so does the risk of these diseases. The relationship is strong, consistent, continuous, independent, and etiologically relevant. Accordingly, the adverse consequences of elevated BP are not just restricted to individuals with hypertension. Those with prehypertension, have a high probability of developing hypertension and carry an excess risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those with a normal BP. In fact, almost one-third of BP-related deaths from coronary heart disease occur in individuals with BP in the nonhypertensive range. It has been estimated that 54% of strokes and 47% of coronary heart disease events can be attributed to elevated BP.
The Financial Policy Dimension

In most developing countries, relatively little mortgage credit is voluntarily supplied. The main reason for this is the lack of credible contracts of the sort dicussed by Oliver Williamson (1985). The cost of postcontract governance rather than the cost of producing contracts explains this restrained supply of mortgage credit. This is an important distinction because the costs of production are dictated by technological conditions — that is, the nature of the production function — and consequently little can be done to change them. The costs of governance, however, are more amenable to change. Hence, if there are significant gains from reducing these costs, institutional reforms may help realize them.
Navigating Failure: Bankruptcy and Commercial Society in Antebellum America

The culture of American capitalism and one of its most enduring features - bankruptcy The "self-made" man is a familiar figure in nineteenth-century American history. But the relentless expansion of market relations that facilitated such stories of commercial success also ensured that individual bankruptcy would become a prominent feature in the nation's economic landscape. In this ambitious foray into the shifting character of American capitalism, Edward Balleisen explores the economic roots and social meanings of bankruptcy, assessing the impact of widespread insolvency on the evolution of American law, business culture, and commercial society. Balleisen makes innovative use of the rich and previously overlooked court records generated by the 1841 Federal Bankruptcy Act, building his arguments on the commercial biographies of hundreds of failed business owners. He crafts a nuanced account of how responses to bankruptcy shaped two opposing elements of capitalist society in mid-nineteenth century America.
Integrated management decision-making: A futuristic model for police organizations

This study examines the theoretical issues concerning decision-making and advances a new and innovative model emphasizing the integration of the organization and environment. Political, economic, social, cultural, and other community factors are highlighted as major influences affecting the police arena. Finally, the model is discussed as a catalyst for change in current police management thinking. Futuristic concepts of organization-environmental learning, long-range planning, and strategic modeling are suggested as necessary improvements in police decision-making.
Home visits are needed to address asthma health disparities in adults

Research on asthma frequently recruits patients from clinics because the ready pool of patients leads to easy access to patients in office waiting areas, emergency departments, or hospital wards. Patients with other chronic conditions, and with mobility problems, face exposures at home that are not easily identified at the clinic. In this article, we describe the perspective of the community health workers and the challenges they encountered when making home visits while implementing a research intervention in a cohort of low-income, minority patients. From their observations, poor housing, often the result of poverty and lack of social resources, is the real elephant in the chronic asthma room. To achieve a goal of reduced asthma morbidity and mortality will require a first-hand understanding of the real-world social and economic barriers to optimal asthma management and the solutions to those barriers.
Embracing the Memory and I/O Walls for Energy-Efficient Scientific Computing

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Background and Related Work -Adaptation: A New DVFS Algorithm Algorithm Effectiveness Conclusions and Future Work References
Decision feedback equalization of data with spectral nulls

An adaptive decision-feedback equalizer (DFE) update algorithm called the row-action projection (RAP) algorithm is presented. It does not suffer from the numerical stability and noise amplification problems of conventional adaptive equalization algorithms, and it offers linear computational complexity and fast tracking capability. Simulation results are presented that compare the algorithm to the conventional least-mean-squares (LMS) and recursive least squares (RLS) algorithms for decision-feedback equalization of a time-varying, bandlimited channel. The RAP algorithm is based on multiple use of the filter state vectors, viewed as rows of the system data matrix. The multiple updates have a geometric interpretation as projections toward the hyperplanes described by the rows of the system data matrix. The algorithm provides improved performance over the conventional LMS and RLS algorithms for DFE equalization of data whose frequency spectrum contains nulls as well improved mean square error (MSE) at the output of the DFE compared to the RLS algorithm for spectrally nulled data corrupted by noise. >
Recycling of subducted crustal components into carbonatite melts revealed by boron isotopes

The global boron geochemical cycle is closely linked to recycling of geologic material via subduction processes that have occurred over billions of years of Earth’s history. The origin of carbonatites, unique melts derived from carbon-rich and carbonate-rich regions of the upper mantle, has been linked to a variety of mantle-related processes, including subduction and plume–lithosphere interaction. Here we present boron isotope (δ11B) compositions for carbonatites from locations worldwide that span a wide range of emplacement ages (between ∼40 and ∼2,600 Ma). Hence, they provide insight into the temporal evolution of their mantle sources for ∼2.6 billion years of Earth’s history. Boron isotope values are highly variable and range between −8.6‰ and +5.5‰, with all of the young ( −4.0‰), whereas most of the older carbonatite samples record lower B isotope values. Given the δ11B value for asthenospheric mantle of −7 ± 1‰, the B isotope compositions for young carbonatites require the involvement of an enriched (crustal) component. Recycled crustal components may be sampled by carbonatite melts associated with mantle plume activity coincident with major tectonic events, and linked to past episodes of significant subduction associated with supercontinent formation. The origin of carbon-rich magmas is unclear. Boron isotopic analysis of carbonatite magmas that formed over the past 2.6 billion years reveals a link to carbon recycled during tectonic plate subduction.
Bacillus cereus Contamination of Seeds and Vegetable Sprouts Grown in a Home Sprouting Kit

Sprouting seeds (alfalfa, mung bean and wheat) were purchased at local health food stores and examined for Bacillus cereus by the official AOAC method. Of 98 units collected, 56 (57%) were positive for B. cereus at levels ranging from 3 to >500 per g. Population levels of B. cereus on sprouts grown from naturally contaminated seeds in a home sprouting kit ranged from a mean of log10 3.72 for alfalfa to 5.39 for wheat; the log10 mean for mung bean sprouts was 4.52. Washing contaminated sprouts for 10 min with warm tap water as recommended by the manufacturer of the sprouting kits reduced the B. cereus count for mung bean sprouts by approximately one log unit but was less effective for wheat sprouts. B. cereus populations large enough to cause food poisoning (>105/g) frequently remained on wheat sprouts even after three wash cycles, and significant numbers of viable B. cereus remained on wheat sprouts even after cooking for 20 min.
Painful purpura associated with exposure to levamisole-adulterated cocaine

A 56-year-old man presented with a 2-day history of a painful rash. Examination revealed necrotic retiform purpura over the trunk and extremities (figure 1). Laboratory testing was notable for leucopenia (3.2 cells/µL) and positive peripheral antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (p-ANCA) with antimyeloperoxidase specificity (3.5 U, normal <0.4 U). Skin biopsy showed microvascular thrombosis and fibrinoid necrosis. On questioning, the patient endorsed regular cocaine use. Figure 1 Necrotic retiform purpura over the trunk and extremities. The patient was diagnosed …
Spread of Clostridium botulinum in the soils of Georgia

Objective The main focus of this study was to study the spread of botulism in Georgia and the biological characteristics of the strains of Clostridium botulinum isolated from territories in the country. Introduction Accumulation of C. botulinum in soil occurs through excretion of bacterial spores from the intestines of humans, animals, birds and fish. In Georgia, during the winter season, the population consumes homemade vegetable preserves, which are made of locally produced (as well as imported) vegetables. Historical surveys confirmed that the presence of C. botulinum in the soil is widespread. Some researchers consider C. botulinum a characteristic component of soil flora. Methods Soil samples were collected from areas, where from 2001-2002 cases of botulism caused by homemade vegetable preserves (produced from vegetables cultivated in those areas) were registered. Soil samples were collected from Kakheti, Shida Kartli, Kvemo Kartli, Samtkhe-Javakheti, and Samegrelo regions. Standard bacteriology and PCR were used to confirm the presence of C. botulinum from soil samples. Separation of strains and their examination was conducted in accordance with the scheme provided by the CDC Atlanta Reference Laboratory (USA), which was later tested by NCDC. Toxigenicity and toxin production of strains were tested using a biotest on white mice. Results In total, 258 soil samples were tested, from which, 40 (15.5%) cultures of C. botulinum type B were obtained. Toxigenicity and toxin production were confirmed through biotests. These results confirm the presence of C. botulinum in agricultural lands, which causes contamination of vegetables cultivated on those lands, which are used for the preparation of homemade preserves, causing botulism in humans. Conclusions For the purpose of finding solutions to botulism, it is essential to verify the ecology of the pathogen through establishing the prevalence of bacteria in different soil types. It was shown that some areas of Georgia, where vegetable growing is greatly developed, and which, are the main sources of crops, are highly contaminated with C. botulinum . In Georgia, land used for agriculture is contaminated with C. botulinum . C. botulinum type B was isolated from 40 cultures obtained from 258 soil samples, which represents contamination in 15.5% of sampled areas. These results suggest that vegetables and melons may be highly contaminated as well. All cases of C. botulinum in humans that were researched were connected to homemade canned vegetables.
Principles and Lessons in a Transition from Open to Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy

Debates about a preferred surgical approach are not new for radical prostatectomy nor limited to this surgical procedure. The relative merits of retropubic versus perineal radical prostatectomy have been considered and discussed for over 50 years and each approach still has its proponents. Pure laparoscopic and robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) are now not only feasible but widely practiced, further expanding the options and debate.
Spectral Efficiency under Energy Constraint for Mixed-ADC MRC Massive MIMO

We consider uplink transmission for a massive multiuser multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) system in which the base station (BS) is equipped with a mixed analog-to-digital converter (ADC) architecture. In this architecture, a portion of the antennas at the BS is connected to low-power one-bit ADCs while the other is fed to power-hungry high-resolution ADCs. By taking into account the mixed-ADC architecture, we derive a closed-form expression for the sum spectral efficiency (SE) when maximum ratio combining (MRC) detection is employed at the BS. Then, we formulate an optimization problem to determine, for a given power budget at the BS, what is the optimal distribution of one-bit and high-resolution ADCs that maximizes the sum SE. Interestingly, it is shown that in most realistic scenarios, using only one-bit ADCs provides the best spectral efficiency for a given power budget constraint.
GoAmazon2014/5 campaign points to deep-inflow approach to deep convection across scales.

A substantial fraction of precipitation is associated with mesoscale convective systems (MCSs), which are currently poorly represented in climate models. Convective parameterizations are highly sensitive to the assumptions of an entraining plume model, in which high equivalent potential temperature air from the boundary layer is modified via turbulent entrainment. Here we show, using multiinstrument evidence from the Green Ocean Amazon field campaign (2014–2015; GoAmazon2014/5), that an empirically constrained weighting for inflow of environmental air based on radar wind profiler estimates of vertical velocity and mass flux yields a strong relationship between resulting buoyancy measures and precipitation statistics. This deep-inflow weighting has no free parameter for entrainment in the conventional sense, but to a leading approximation is simply a statement of the geometry of the inflow. The structure further suggests the weighting could consistently apply even for coherent inflow structures noted in field campaign studies for MCSs over tropical oceans. For radar precipitation retrievals averaged over climate model grid scales at the GoAmazon2014/5 site, the use of deep-inflow mixing yields a sharp increase in the probability and magnitude of precipitation with increasing buoyancy. Furthermore, this applies for both mesoscale and smaller-scale convection. Results from reanalysis and satellite data show that this holds more generally: Deep-inflow mixing yields a strong precipitation–buoyancy relation across the tropics. Deep-inflow mixing may thus circumvent inadequacies of current parameterizations while helping to bridge the gap toward representing mesoscale convection in climate models.
Deep learning model-based algorithm for SAR ATR

Many computer-vision-related problems have successfully applied deep learning to improve the error rates with respect to classifying images. As opposed to optically based images, we have applied deep learning via a Siamese Neural Network (SNN) to classify synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. This application of Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) utilizes an SNN made up of twin AlexNet-based Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). Using the processing power of GPUs, we trained the SNN with combinations of synthetic images on one twin and Moving and Stationary Target Automatic Recognition (MSTAR) measured images on a second twin. We trained the SNN with three target types (T-72, BMP2, and BTR-70) and have used a representative, synthetic model from each target to classify new SAR images. Even with a relatively small quantity of data (with respect to machine learning), we found that the SNN performed comparably to a CNN and had faster convergence. The results of processing showed the T-72s to be the easiest to identify, whereas the network sometimes mixed up the BMP2s and the BTR-70s. In addition we also incorporated two additional targets (M1 and M35) into the validation set. Without as much training (for example, one additional epoch) the SNN did not produce the same results as if all five targets had been trained over all the epochs. Nevertheless, an SNN represents a novel and beneficial approach to SAR ATR.
A new approach to supplementary instruction narrows achievement and affect gaps for underrepresented minorities, first-generation students, and women

To help students who traditionally underperform in general chemistry, we created a supplementary instruction (SI) course and called it the STEM-Dawgs Workshops. These workshops are an extension of the Peer-led Team Learning (PLTL) SI. In addition to peer-facilitated problem-solving, we incorporated two components inspired by learning sciences: (1) training in research-based study skills, and (2) evidence-based interventions targeting psychological and emotional support. Here we use an explanatory mixed methods approach to measure the impact of the STEM-Dawgs Workshops, with a focus on four sub-populations that are historically underrepresented in Chemistry: underrepresented minorities, females, low-income students, and first-generation students. Specifically, we compared three groups of students in the same General Chemistry course: students in general chemistry and not the workshops (“Gen Chem students”), students in the workshops (“STEM-Dawgs”), and students who volunteered for the workshops but did not get in (“Volunteers”). We tested hypotheses with regression models and conducted a series of focus group interviews with STEM-Dawgs. Compared to the Gen Chem population, the STEM-Dawg and Volunteer populations were enriched with students in all four under-represented sub-populations. Compared to Volunteers, STEM-Dawgs had increased exam scores, sense of belonging, perception of relevance, self-efficacy, and emotional satisfaction about chemistry. URM STEM-Dawgs had lower failure rates, and exam score achievement gaps that impacted first-generation and female Gen Chem students were eliminated in the STEM-Dawg population. Finally, female STEM-Dawgs had an increased sense of belonging and higher emotional satisfaction about chemistry than women Volunteers. Focus groups suggested that successes came in part from the supportive peer-learning environment and the relationships with peer facilitators. Together, our results indicate that this supplementary instruction model can raise achievement and improve affect for students who are underrepresented in chemistry.
FUTURE LINES OF DEVELOPMENT FOR EVALUATION UNDER LIFELONG EDUCATION

This chapter discusses the future lines of development for evaluation under lifelong education. Evaluation needs a concrete subject matter. In itself, it does not create curricula, models of teaching, or systems for delivering educational content to potential consumers. Lifelong education's central concern with the enhancement of educability and especially the cluster of open goals relating to self-direction in learning introduces a mainly new subject matter for evaluation. This subject matter can be assessed at present only in a rudimentary fashion. The general acceptance of evaluation systems that assess what individuals do in terms of specified learning goals and objectives implies a dramatic shift from the contemporary situation in which it is really educational institutions that are certified (accredited) rather than learners. It is also recommended that the alternative to crediting and certifying on the basis of institutional legitimacy has never been attempted on any large scale. Its implementation demands a careful specification of content and performance domains in education and work.
Suicide in schizophrenia: risk factors and clozapine treatment

Suicide is the major cause of premature death in patients with schizophrenia. Among these patients, 40% report suicidal thoughts, 20% to 40% make unsuccessful suicide attempts, and 9% to 13% end their lives by suicide. Traditional antipsychotic drugs undertreat many schizophrenic patients and can produce serious side effects, such as tardive dyskinesia. Clozapine is the only antipsychotic drug that has been shown in controlled clinical trials to be effective in reducing both positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenic patients who fail to respond to typical neuroleptic drugs. The potential decrease in suicide among schizophrenic patients treated with clozapine is estimated to be as high as 85%. Treatment with clozapine is cost-effective, and the significant decrease in the risk of suicide far outweighs the very low risk of mortality from agranulocytosis. Clozapine should be considered for treatment of both neuroleptic-resistant and neuroleptic-responsive schizophrenic patients who have persistent suicidal thoughts or behavior.
The Impact of Living–Learning Program Scholarships on Scholarship Recipients

Financial aid is often linked to evidence of learning inside the classroom (students’ GPA) and financial need. This mixed-methods study describes an assessment of a scholarship designed to encourage learning outside the classroom that required incoming students to live in a living–learning community (LLC). Results showed that though receipt of the scholarship did not predict retention, it encouraged some students to live in an LLC where otherwise they might have chosen a different option.