cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preparation of ion-irradiated foils for cross-section analysis

Abstract A simple, routine method has been developed that allows ion-irradiated foils to be examined in cross-section. The method has been successfully demonstrated on three alloy systems (stainless steel, a low-chromium steel, and some high-strength copper alloys), and is generally applicable to most metals. The high success rate that is obtainable using this procedure allows several specimens to be examined from a single irradiated sample. This implies that statistically significant void and precipitate distributions may be obtained from irradiated specimens as a function of depth (damage level). This technique also allows multiple testing techniques (such as microscopy, scratch hardness and microhardness) to be simultaneously performed on a single irradiated sample. The preparation technique is described in detail and some typical applications are illustrated.
Are ‘Green TIDES’ Harmful Algal Blooms? Allelopathic Properties of Extracts from Ulva Fenestrata and Ulvaria Obscura

Toxic properties are rarely associated with macroalgal blooms. A few studies have demonstrated inhibition of invertebrate larval development by extracts from Ulva spp. and we have observed substantial discoloration of the seawater in small bays following mass desiccation-induced mortality of Ulvaria obscura. We examined the effects of extracts from Ulva fenestrata and U. obscura on enzyme systems, larval oyster development, Fucus gardneri zygote development, epiphytic diatom growth, and growth of Ulva and Ulvaria. Extracts from Ulvaria inhibited trypsin activity, but not pepsin or amyloglucosidase activity when tested at pH optimized for each enzyme system (pH 8, 2, and 5.5, respectively). When tested at neutral to slightly alkaline pH (7 or 8), Ulvaria extracts also inhibited amyloglucosidase activity. ‘Aged’ extract caused greater enzyme inhibition than fresh extract. Maximum inhibition occurred in 6-h-old-extract. Oyster larval development was inhibited by extracts from both algae, although the visible effects were much greater when the larvae were exposed to extracts of Ulvaria. Fucus zygote development was inhibited by extracts of both species, although the effect was measurably greater in extracts from Ulvaria. Epiphytic diatom growth and growth of Ulva and Ulvaria were inhibited by extracts from both species. Thus, extracts from both Ulva fenestrata and U. obscura have allelopathic properties, although the impacts are more widespread for Ulvaria extracts. These properties could alter competitive interactions by inhibiting germination or development of algal and animal competitors. Multiple toxins are probably involved, since the two species tested cause visibly different responses.
Complexities in eolian and marine interactions: Processes and eustatic controls on erg development

Abstract The interplay between eolian and marine realms includes process interactions, cycles of transgression and regression, and possible inland effects of marine-coastal events. Process interactions are geologically common and most obvious where eolian and marine environments are adjacent. These interactions include sediment exchange between the two environments, the supply of marine ions to the erg for surface and near-surface cementation, and the control (directly or indirectly) of marine events on the sediment budget of an erg. Regression accompanied by erg progradation over marine deposits occurs with both onshore and offshore winds. Marine transgression of ergs varies from producing a planar, marine-scoured surface, to a planar deflation surface that precedes the transgression, to varying degrees of paleotopographic dune preservation, and a variety of transitional facies. The extent of paleotopographic dune preservation is largely a function of the energy level of the transgressing marine realm, the rate of the transgression, and potential for early dune cementation. General correlations between ergs and global eustatic sea level and coastal onlap curves occur for coastal and near-coastal cyclic erg sequences. Eustatic control of inland ergs exists to the extent that sea level controls, in large measure, the extent of the basin exposed to subaerial processes (i.e., regional base level), and, probably to a lesser extent, the sediment supply to the erg. Direct correlation of inland erg events to coastal onlap curves is dubious at present, but an indirect relationship may exist.
New directions in quasi-experimental control group methods for project evaluation

Abstract Quasi-experimental control group methods can become valuable tools for evaluating public policies and programs that have a spatial dimension. Control groups of places can be used to establish a baseline from which the effect of “treatment” can be inferred. This paper describes the basic approach by presenting an empirical example and then reports on an on-going, multi-year research project intended to make these methods readily usable. The research is focusing on methods for computerizing the selection of control groups and for conducting statistical tests of the significance of the inferred treatment effects.
Sensitivity of Isolates of Phytophthora capsici from the Eastern United States to Fluopicolide.

Abstract Fluopicolide, a pyridinylmethyl-benzamide fungicide, was registered in the United States in 2008 to control diseases caused by Oomycete pathogens, such as Phytophthora capsici, on cucurbit and solanaceous vegetables. The main objective of this study was to determine baseline sensitivity to fluopicolide in isolates of P. capsici from the southeastern and midwestern United States. A total of 69 isolates from Florida (14 isolates), Georgia (14 isolates), Michigan (24 isolates), North Carolina (3 isolates), and South Carolina (17 isolates) that had not been previously exposed to fluopicolide were grown on fungicide-amended medium to determine sensitivity of mycelia, sporangia, and zoospores to the fungicide. All isolates of P. capsici tested (range of 54 to 69 isolates per assay) were sensitive to fluopicolide in all four assays. The median EC50 fluopicolide concentration was 0.22, 2.08, 0.048, and 0.10 mg/liter in the mycelial growth, zoospore germination, sporangia production, and zoospore producti...
Localization of function in corpus callosum: Tactual information transmission inMacaca mulatta

Different portions of the corpus callosum were transected in 28 juvenile rhesus monkeys. These animals were then taught a tactual roughness discrimination task while using their right hands and tested for transfer of training while using their left. Animals with some part of the posterior body region of the corpus callosum preserved exhibited intermediate or high levels of transfer of training. Animals with other portions of the commissures preserved, including the splenium, the anterior body, the genu, and/or the anterior commissure but with the posterior body region transected generally failed to show such transfer. It is concluded that tactual information is transmitted between the hemispheres through the posterior body region of the corpus callosum.
An Evaluation of the Brandeis Model of Reference Service at a Small Academic Library

Abstract The Brandeis model of reference service features two tiers of staff, a first tier of non-professional workers and a second tier of professional librarians, and separate, yet interconnected, working environments. The non-professionals work the Information Desk, and the professionals work out of their offices. This study finds that while the model might be suited to a large graduate university library, it is not an efficient use of professional resources when the non-professionals are often unevenly-trained work-study students of varying skills or interest, or where the volume of reference questions, rather than “directional” questions, does not justify a two-tiered model.
Measuring two‐dimensional movements using a single InSAR pair

[1] We present a new method to extract along-track displacements from InSAR data, based on split-beam InSAR processing, to create forward- and backward-looking interferograms. The phase difference between the two modified interferograms provides the along-track displacement component. Thus, from each conventional InSAR pair we extract two components of the displacement vector: one along the line of sight, the other in the along-track direction. We analyze the precision of the new method by comparing our solution to GPS and offset-derived along-track displacements in interferograms of the 1999, Hector Mine earthquake. The RMS error between GPS displacements and our results ranges from 5 to 8.8cm. Our method is consistent with along-track displacements derived by pixel-offsets, which are limited to 12–15cm precision. The theoretical precision of the new method depends on SNR and coherence. For a signal to noise ratio of 30 the expected precisions are 3, 11cm for coherence of 0.8, 0.4, respectively.
Monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A but not MAO-B inhibitors potentiate tyramine-induced catecholamine release from PC12 cells

The previous report that PC12 (pheochromocytoma) cells have a K(+)-induced, as well as a tyramine-induced, catecholamine release mechanism has been confirmed. Selective monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A (clorgyline and moclobemide) and not MAO-B inhibitors (l-deprenyl, AGN 1135, and Ro 16-6491) potentiate the catecholamine-releasing action of tyramine significantly more than that of K+. The potentiation of tyramine-induced [3H]noradrenaline release from PC12 cells by MAO-A inhibitors has been linked to the presence of MAO-A in these cells, for which tyramine and noradrenaline are substrates. In the above respects, it is the PC12 cell that resembles more closely the peripheral adrenergic neuron, rather than the chromaffin cell, which is endowed with MAO-B and lacks the tyramine-releasable pool of catecholamines.
Formative evaluation strategies for major instructional development projects

The paper contains three major sections. First, an attempt will be made to identify some general maxims that seem to shape major instructional development efforts and thus affect efforts to do formative evaluation within those projects. In the second section, I will seek to describe four major issues that must be addressed in any attempt to plan for and implement formative evaluation as part of a large development effort. The third section focuses on some simple but practical procedures that might enhance the probability of formative evaluation being effectively used as a part of a major instructional development effort. These procedures, taken together, constitute a strategy.
Pericyclic and Pseudopericyclic Thermal Cheletropic Decarbonylations: When Can a Pericyclic Reaction Have a Planar, Pseudopericyclic Transition State?1

A series of eight thermal cheletropic decarbonylations show dramatic differences in reaction pathways and in activation energies depending on the molecular orbital topology, as calculated by using ab initio molecular orbital theory (MP2(FC)/6-31G* optimized geometries and MP4/D95** + ZPE single point energies). The decarbonylations of 3-cyclopentenone (1) and bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene-7-one (3) are pericyclic, orbital symmetry allowed reactions, but it is argued that the decarbonylation of cyclopropanone (9), although formally orbital symmetry allowed, lacks an energy of concert and thus is “effectively forbidden”. The carbon monoxide produced from 1 is predicted to be formed vibrationally cool and rotationally hot. Fragmentations of 2,3-furandione (5) and 2,3-pyrroledione (7) are pseudopericyclic reactions with two orbital disconnections, proceed via planar transition structures, and have activation energies that are much lower than expected for pericyclic reactions of comparable exothermicity. It wi...
DFT-driven multi-site microkinetic modeling of ethanol conversion to ethylene and diethyl ether on γ-Al2O3(1 1 1)

Abstract We investigate the γ-Al 2 O 3 -catalyzed production of ethylene and diethyl ether from ethanol in a combined density functional theory (DFT) and microkinetic modeling study. DFT calculations on the γ-Al 2 O 3 (1 1 1) surface facet demonstrate that the energetically favorable pathway for ethylene formation is an E2 mechanism ( E a = 28 kcal/mol), while ether formation takes place via a bimolecular (S N 2) mechanism ( E a = 32 kcal/mol). The DFT-parameterized two-site mean-field microkinetic model successfully captures trends in experimentally measured reaction orders. Microkinetic analysis indicates that the S N 2 and E2 elementary steps control the overall rate. Analytical rate expressions are derived from the full microkinetic model and fit to experimental data, capturing reaction order trends with similar success as the full model. The outcome of the fitting suggests that an additional active site may be responsible for some ethanol conversion. The success of the models demonstrates the applicability of the DFT-computed mechanisms to powdered γ-Al 2 O 3 catalysts.
NEW BRANCHINELLA (ANOSTRACA) FROM TEXAS, U.S.A., AND THE PROBLEM OF ANTENNALIKE PROCESSES

With this report, four species of the anostracan genus Branchinella are known from North America. Two occur in the state of Texas and one each in the states of Georgia and Florida. The two east coast species probably need to be brought under protection of endangered species laws, since they have been reported only from their type localities. For the first time outside the genus Dendrocephalus, we found antennalike processes between the first and second antennae on the heads of males in a new Branchinella from Texas and the two east coast species with which it seems closely related. Linder (1941) reported what he called fingerlike processes proceeding frontally from the bases of the eyes of males of an Australian species of Branchinella and wondered if they were comparable with the antennalike processes found in species of the New World genus Dendrocephalus. Our finding of antennalike processes in three New World species of Branchinella suggests that homology is a strong possibility. While species of Branchinella are the numerically dominant anostracans in Australia (Geddes, 1983), they are among the least common fairy shrimps in North America. Including a new species described herein, all four North American Branchinella have distributions confined to the United States. Of these, B. lithaca (Creaser, 1940) and B. alachua Dexter, 1953, have been reported only from their type localities in Georgia and Florida, respectively. The status of these merits investigation, since they are very likely in need of protection under threatened and endangered species legislation. A third previously described species, B. sublettei Sissom, 1976, has an apparently safe distribution in western Texas. Home (1974) found it in six saline playas in three counties on the Llano Estracado south of Lubbock.
The National Cancer Data Base report on longitudinal observations on prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND Data on 349,154 prostate cancer cases diagnosed since 1986 have been entered to the American College of Surgeons National Cancer Data Base (NCDB). Previous annual reports have examined subsets of these data. The present report highlights major trends in the presentation and treatment of prostate cancer in the United States evident from longitudinal analyses of the entire data. METHODS NCDB data are collected following a computerized, standard format. Hospital participation is voluntary. RESULTS Since the first year of data collection, the number of participating hospitals has increased from 496 to 996 and the number of prostate cancer patients reported to the NCDB increased from 19,531 to 84,408. The proportion of men diagnosed at ages younger than 70 years increased from 37.8% in 1986 to 46.9% in 1993. Completeness of reporting stage of disease and tumor grade has improved. The proportions of both the earliest (American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] Stage Groups 0 and I) and the most advanced (AJCC Stage Group IV) stages declined. The proportion of Grade 2 (moderately differentiated) tumors increased from 38.6% in 1986 to 57.5% in 1993. The proportion of AJCC Stage II prostate cancer increased from 19% in 1986 to 48.4% in 1993. The proportion of patients treated by prostatectomy increased from 9.9% in 1986 to 29.2% in 1993. The proportion of patients receiving no cancer directed treatment declined from 41.8% in 1986 to 21.6% in 1993. Less change was observed in the use of radiation and hormonal treatments. CONCLUSIONS These data show that the clinical patterns of prostate cancer have changed markedly in recent years. Cancer 1996;77:2162-6.
Processing of Fe3Al and FeAl alloys by reaction synthesis

Abstract The effects of powder particle size, alloy composition, and reaction atmosphere on reaction synthesis of binary FeAl alloys were studied. Reactions were observed in an open (air) furnace, under static vacuum (in an evacuated quartz tube) and in a dynamic vacuum furnace. Reactions occurring in the open furnace and in the evacuated quartz tube were recorded using high-speed video equipment. High-speed videotapes of reaction synthesis of compacts formed from 45 μm Fe and 10 μm Al particles reacted in air and under static vacuum revealed that an unusual ‘two-stage’ reaction exists in this system under these conditions. Compacts formed from 9 μm Fe and 3 μm Al powder particles do not exhibit a two-stage reaction under any of the conditions examined in this work. The first stage of the two-stage reaction lasts several seconds and starts at round 650 °C. The second stage begins at about 900 °C, reaching temperatures between 1250 and 1350 °C. The progress of the reaction to the second stage is sensitive to the alloy composition and reaction atmosphere. The reaction behavior is explained in terms of thermodynamics and heat transfer, which control the delicate balance between heat accumulation and heat loss during reaction synthesis.
Features of a Trust Model for a Complex System

This research focuses on trustworthiness assessment and trust judgment in a complex system such as a distributed sensing system. In our previous IMECE paper, we employed an interdisciplinary approach to highlight trustworthiness characteristics and trust measurements in social sciences and cyberspace. In this paper, we elaborate on these findings and present features of existing models we can leverage in different applications. Trust properties and rules reported in this study are extracted from three classes of trust models that met our design constraints. These models are gleaned from the literature pertaining to wireless sensor networks, social networks, e-commerce, mobile ad-hoc, peer-to-peer, and distributed network services. The trust model provides upfront quantitative assurance and trustworthiness metrics for architecting/engineering new systems as well as a situation awareness/management assessment metrics once the system is deployed.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Microwave ablation devices for interventional oncology

Microwave ablation is one of the several options in the ablation armamentarium for the treatment of malignancy, offering several potential benefits when compared with other ablation, radiation, surgical and medical treatment modalities. The basic microwave system consists of the generator, power distribution system and antennas. Often under image (computed tomography or ultrasound) guidance, a needle-like antenna is inserted percutaneously into the tumor, where local microwave electromagnetic radiation is emitted from the probe’s active tip, producing frictional tissue heating, capable of causing cell death by coagulation necrosis. Half of the microwave ablation systems use a 915 MHz generator and the other half use a 2450 MHz generator. To date, there are no completed clinical trials comparing microwave devices head-to-head. Prospective comparisons of microwave technology with other treatment alternatives, as well as head-to-head comparison with each microwave device, is needed if this promising field wi...
Secondary prophylaxis therapy: what are the benefits, limitations and unknowns?

Summary. Prophylaxis is widely recommended for the management of severe haemophilia A. Adoption of this approach has varied from country to country, and notably in the US prophylaxis is currently administered in fewer than one-half of severe cases. One implication is that a substantial segment of the severe haemophilia. A population will only be able to reap the potential benefits of prophylaxis if administered in the form of secondary prophylaxis. This therapeutic alternative has been less extensively investigated than primary prophylaxis, but nevertheless sufficient evidence has been reported to allow an assessment of the benefits and limitations of secondary prophylaxis. This evidence addresses the use of secondary prophylaxis in three contexts: (i) early secondary prophylaxis; (ii) delayed secondary prophylaxis and (iii) secondary prophylaxis in adults. In patients receiving early secondary prophylaxis studies in Sweden, the Netherlands, the UK and the US have demonstrated a reduction in the frequency of bleeding episodes and a subsequent low incidence of arthropathy. Additional reported benefits consist of reduced emergency room visits and hospitalizations. However, secondary prophylaxis is associated with an increased risk of the eventual development of arthropathy compared with primary prophylaxis. When delayed until school age or adolescence or until the development of frequent bleeding episodes under on-demand treatment, secondary prophylaxis generally appears to be unable to reverse all existing or developing joint damage. Nevertheless, multiple studies have shown that this therapy can retard further joint deterioration, reduce the frequency of haemorrhage, hospitalization and missed school days, improve physical function and capacity for self care, lessen restrictions on activities, reduce pain and enhance quality of life. Secondary prophylaxis in adults has been shown effective in reducing bleeding episodes. Adults under secondary prophylaxis can also experience improvements in joint condition, functional capacity and quality of life and a reduction in pain. Irrespective of age at initiation, long-term secondary prophylaxis appears to reduce the frequency of bleeding episodes even in patients with existing target joints whose bleeding diathesis persists during the early phases of secondary prophylactic therapy. In light of its potential benefits for substantial numbers of patients with severe haemophilia A, secondary prophylaxis should be considered to as a therapeutic option for patients not receiving primary prophylaxis.
Using DOS and dBASE III to Organize Your File Directories

There are a number of software utility packages and programs that help you organize the directory of files on your diskettes. However, if you already have dBASE III and have a working knowledge of it, you can combine it with PC‐DOS commands to have everything you need to create and keep current a dBASE III file based on your diskette directory information. You can index this file and, with self‐designed report form specifications, produce listings that will help you control your files.
An event-based approach to integrated parametric and discrete fault diagnosis in hybrid systems

Fault diagnosis is crucial for ensuring the safe operation of complex engineering systems. These systems often exhibit hybrid behaviours, therefore, model-based diagnosis methods have to be based on hybrid system models. Most previous work in hybrid systems diagnosis has focused either on parametric or discrete faults. In this paper, we develop an integrated approach for hybrid diagnosis of parametric and discrete faults by incorporating the effects of both types of faults into our event-based qualitative fault signature framework. The framework allows for systematic design of event-based diagnosers that facilitate diagnosability analysis. Experimental results from a case study performed on an electrical power distribution system demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.
Piezoelectric self-sensing technique for tweezer style end-effector

This paper presents the application of a piezoelectric self-sensing technique based on discharged current to robotic tweezers incorporating a rhombus strain amplification mechanism driven by serially connected piezoelectric stack actuators. Connecting a shunt resistor in series with a piezoelectric element allows it to be used simultaneously as an actuator and a sensor by measuring the current generated by the piezoelectric element. This allows the displacement and force to be measured without extra sensors or the loss of actuation capability. Applying an inverse model of the nested structure allows the force and displacement at the tip of the tweezers to be determined. The accuracy of this method is then examined by experiment for the case of free displacement.
Acute human stroke studied by whole brain echo planar diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging

Our purpose was to use whole brain echo planar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify and characterize diffusion abnormalities in acute cerebral ischemia. We studied 40 patients as early as 3 hours after onset of signs and symptoms of cerebral ischemia. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the entire brain could be completed in 3 seconds or, using seven different diffusion sensitivities (maximum b = 1,271 sec/mm2), in 48 seconds. Measurements and synthetic maps were made of apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC), a physiological parameter that characterizes the self-diffusion of water in tissue. Early ischemic lesions were identified with DWI as hyperintense regions of decreased ADC in all patients who subsequently developed infarction, before changes were evident on conventional MRI in cases studied earlier than 6 hours after onset of ischemic symptoms. Lesions as small as 4 mm in diameter were identified. The extent of lesions within white matter was best defined by controlling for the anisotropic effect of axonal orientation. The mean ADC (+/- SD) for control regions in the 36 patients was 9.15 (+/- 2.91) x 10(-4) mm2/sec. Mean ADC of ischemic regions was 56% of control values at 6 hours or less and stayed significantly reduced for 3 to 4 days after onset of ischemia. The relative ADC increased progressively over time to be pseudonormalized at 5 to 10 days and elevated in the chronic state, making the distinction of acute lesions adjacent to chronic infarcts readily apparent. DWI with echo planar imaging measures a unique physiological parameter that is sensitive to ischemic changes before conventional MRI. Its potential role in the quantitative study of human stroke pathophysiology and therapeutics is the subject of further investigation.
Small-scale spatial distribution of the Euphausiid Euphausia pacifica and overlap with planktivorous fishes

The spatial distribution of zooplankton and planktivorous fish in Saanich Inlet, British Columbia was characterized with a 445 kHz multibeam sonar capable of localizing individual animals in three dimensions. Numerical simulation of data processing procedures indicates that this instrument has sufficient resolution to characterize zooplankton spatial distributions using Lloyd's index of patchiness and nearest neighbour distance (NND) measures. Zooplankters at this site were dominated by the euphausiid Euphausia pacifica which underwent diel vertical migration (DVM). Fish (mainly herring and walleye pollock) were only abundant at this deep-water station at night. Analysis of 4 m 3 volumes over scales of ∼100 m indicates that both euphausiids and fish were strongly aggregated in the vertical dimension, but not in the horizontal dimension. In the horizontal dimension, fish distributions were independent of zooplankton abundance, indicating that the fish were not exploiting small-scale horizontal prey aggregations. Analysis of NND at the centimetre scale indicates that euphausiids were not aggregated, but rather, they were approximately randomly distributed. These observations indicate that in this environment euphausiids do not form subsurface social aggregations as has been documented in other locations. DVM and social aggregation are both predator avoidance behaviours that may be redundant, as populations that exhibit pronounced DVM may derive little additional benefit from routine social aggregation.
Acute and Chronic Rejection: Compartmentalization and Kinetics of Counterbalancing Signals in Cardiac Transplants

Acute and chronic rejection impact distinct compartments of cardiac allografts. Intramyocardial mononuclear cell infiltrates define acute rejection, whereas chronic rejection affects large arteries. Hearts transplanted from male to female C57BL/6 mice undergo acute rejection with interstitial infiltrates at 2 weeks that resolve by 6 weeks when large arteries develop arteriopathy. These processes are dependent on T cells because no infiltrates developed in T cell-deficient mice and transfer of CD4 T cells restored T cell as well as macrophage infiltrates and ultimately neointima formation. Markers of inflammatory macrophages were up-regulated in the interstitium acutely and decreased as markers of wound healing macrophages increased chronically. Programmed cell death protein, a negative costimulator, and its ligand PDL1 were up-regulated in the interstitium during resolution of acute rejection. Blocking PDL1:PD1 interactions in the acute phase increased interstitial T cell infiltrates. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and its endogenous ligand hyaluronan were increased in arteries with neointimal expansion. Injection of hyaluronan fragments increased intragraft production of chemokines. Our data indicate that negative costimulatory pathways are critical for the resolution of acute interstitial infiltrates. In the arterial compartment recognition of endogenous ligands including hyaluronan by the innate TLRs may support the progression of arteriopathy.
Real Time Destination Prediction Based On Efficient Routes

This paper presents a novel method for predicting the location of a driver’s destination during the drive. Such a prediction can be used to help decide which information to automatically present to the driver, depending on where the driver is going. The prediction is based on the common intuition that drivers tend to chose efficient routes. We quantify this preference for efficiency probabilistically based on a database of driving trips we gathered with GPS receivers. We show how to use this probability along with a map of driving times to compute the probability of any candidate destination. Our tests show that halfway through the drive, we can predict the destination to within about 10 km, and at three quarters of the way, the error drops to about 3 km.
Accurate analog modeling of short channel FETs based on table lookup

A table lookup model for MOSFETs has been implemented in SPICE 3, to overcome the inadequacies of analytical models that are unable to represent short-channel effects. The model comprises a 2-D main table, a coarse 3-D subtable to incorporate substrate effects, and a table to interpolate between channel lengths. There are 370 data points stored. The tables are constructed from the measurement of incremental parameters, and thus reproduce transconductance and output conductance accurately, making the model superior for analog circuit design. The approach demonstrates a 2-3* improvement in total simulation time of a ring oscillator over the BSIM model in SPICE. The model affords a global accuracy of 4% in the L/sub D/-V/sub DS/ characteristics of 1- mu m enhancement and depletion MOSFETs. >
Pairwise Intersession Network Coding on Directed Networks

When there exists only a single multicast session in a directed acyclic/cyclic network, the existence of a network coding solution is characterized by the classic min-cut/max-flow theorem. For the case of more than one coexisting sessions, network coding also demonstrates throughput improvement over noncoded solutions. This paper proposes pairwise intersession network coding, which allows for arbitrary directed networks but restricts the coding operations to being between two symbols (for acyclic networks) or between two strings of symbols (for cyclic networks). A graph-theoretic characterization of pairwise intersession network coding is proven based on paths with controlled edge-overlap. This new characterization generalizes the edge-disjoint path characterization of noncoded network communication and includes the well-studied butterfly graph as a special case. Based on this new characterization, various aspects of pairwise intersession network coding are studied, including the sufficiency of linear codes, the complexity of identifying coding opportunities, its topological analysis, and bandwidth- and coding-efficiency.
2D modeling of TWTs based on serpentine and folded waveguide structures

Summary form only given. Travelling Wave Tubes (TWTs) with slow-wave structures, based on a serpentine or folded waveguides, are promising devices for operation at sub-Terahertz and Terahertz frequency ranges. Development of such types of TWTs requires accurate and efficient computational tools suitable for their design, analysis and optimization. Recently we have developed the new model1, which allows us to extend an existed 2D large-signal code TESLA-CC2 on the modeling of amplifiers based on serpentine or folded waveguide structures.
Airway microbiome dynamics in exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Specific bacterial species are implicated in the pathogenesis of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, recent studies of clinically stable COPD patients have demonstrated a greater diversity of airway microbiota, whose role in acute exacerbations is unclear. In this study, temporal changes in the airway microbiome before, at the onset of, and after an acute exacerbation were examined in 60 sputum samples collected from subjects enrolled in a longitudinal study of bacterial infection in COPD. Microbiome composition and predicted functions were examined using 16S rRNA-based culture-independent profiling methods. Shifts in the abundance (≥ 2-fold, P < 0.05) of many taxa at exacerbation and after treatment were observed. Microbiota members that were increased at exacerbation were primarily of the Proteobacteria phylum, including nontypical COPD pathogens. Changes in the bacterial composition after treatment for an exacerbation differed significantly among the therapy regimens clinically prescribed (antibiotics only, oral corticosteroids only, or both). Treatment with antibiotics alone primarily decreased the abundance of Proteobacteria, with the prolonged suppression of some microbiota members being observed. In contrast, treatment with corticosteroids alone led to enrichment for Proteobacteria and members of other phyla. Predicted metagenomes of particular microbiota members involved in these compositional shifts indicated exacerbation-associated loss of functions involved in the synthesis of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory products, alongside enrichment in functions related to pathogen-elicited inflammation. These trends reversed upon clinical recovery. Further larger studies will be necessary to determine whether specific compositional or functional changes detected in the airway microbiome could be useful indicators of exacerbation development or outcome.
Amino acid sensing by enteroendocrine STC-1 cells: role of the Na+-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 2

The results presented here show that STC-1 cells, a model of intestinal endocrine cells, respond to a broad range of amino acids, including l-proline, l-serine, l-alanine, l-methionine, l-glycine, ...
Harnessing electrical forces for separation. Capillary zone electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, field-flow fractionation, split-flow thin-cell continuous-separation and other techniques.

Abstract A simple analysis, first presented twenty years ago, showed that the effectiveness of a field-driven separation like electrophoresis, as expressed by the maximum number of theoretical plates ( N ), is given by the dimensionless ratio of two energies in which −Δμ ext is the electrical potential energy drop of a charged species and RT is the thermal energy ( R is the gas constant and T is the absolute temperature). Quantity −Δμ ext is the product of the force F acting on the species and the path length X of separation. The exceptional power of electrophoresis, for which often N ≈ 10 6 , can be traced directly to the enormous magnitude of the electrical force F . This paper explores the fundamentals underlying several different means for utilizing these powerful forces for separation, including capillary zone electrophoresis, gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, electrical field-flow fractionation and split-flow thin continuous separation cells. Remarkably, the above equation and its relatives are found to describe the approximate performance of all these diverse electrically driven systems. Factors affecting both the resolving power and separation speed of the systems are addressed; from these considerations some broad optimization criteria emerge. The capabilities of the different methods are compared using numerical examples.
Evaluation of Standard- and High-Dose Daptomycin versus Linezolid against Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus Isolates in an In Vitro Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Model with Simulated Endocardial Vegetations

Daptomycin MICs for enterococci are typically 1- to 2-fold higher than those for Staphylococcus aureus, and there is an imminent need to establish the optimal dose for appropriate treatment of enterococcal infections. We investigated the bactericidal activity of daptomycin at various dose exposures compared to that of linezolid against vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) in an in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model utilizing simulated endocardial vegetations over 96 h. Daptomycin at doses of 6, 8, 10, and 12 mg/kg of body weight/day and linezolid at a dose of 600 mg every 12 h were evaluated against two clinical vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium strains (EFm11499 and 09-184D1051), one of which was linezolid resistant (09-184D1051), and one clinical vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis strain (EFs11496). Daptomycin MICs were 4, 2, and 0.5 μg/ml for EFm11499, 09-184D1051, and EFs11496, respectively. Bactericidal activity, defined as a ≥ 3 log(10) CFU/g reduction from the initial colony count, was demonstrated against all three isolates with all doses of daptomycin; however, bactericidal activity was not sustained with the daptomycin 6- and 8-mg/kg/day regimens. Linezolid was bacteriostatic against EFm11499 and displayed no appreciable activity against 09-184D1051 or EFs11496. Concentration-dependent killing was displayed with more sustained reduction in colony count (3.58 to 6.46 and 5.89 to 6.56 log(10) CFU/g) at 96 h for the simulated regimen of daptomycin at doses of 10 and 12 mg/kg/day, respectively (P ≤ 0.012). No E. faecium mutants with reduced susceptibility were recovered at any dosage regimen; however, the E. faecalis strain developed reduced daptomycin susceptibility with daptomycin at 6, 8, and 10 but not at 12 mg/kg/day. Daptomycin displayed a dose-dependent response against three VRE isolates, with high-dose daptomycin producing sustained bactericidal activity. Further research is warranted.
The Soiling Characteristics of Textile Fibers: Part II: The Influence of Fiber Geometry on Soil Retention1

The influence on soil retention of filament denier and cross-sectional contour of a series of man-made fibers has been studied. The fibers used included normal acetate (with the usual serrated cross section), circular cross-sectional acetate, nylon. Terylene, 2 and viscose rayon. Filament deniers varied from approximately 2 to 16. Soil content was determined by dissolving the soiled fiber in a suitable solvent and measuring the optical density of the resulting suspension.In general, soil retention increases with decreasing filament denier, and for any one type of fiber, e.g., acetate, circular cross-sectiunal fibers retain less soil than those of similar denier but having a serrated cross section. Soil retention by any one type of fiber is a linear function of the gross surface area of the filaments. There are differ ences in soil retention by various chemical types of fiber that apparently cannot be re lated to differences in physical size and shape of the filaments. The influence of static electricity o...
Intensive Care Unit Management of Patients with Liver Failure

Acute liver failure (ALF) and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) usually mandate management within an intensive care unit (ICU). Even though the conditions bear some similarities, precipitating causes, and systemic complications management practices differ. Although early identification of ALF and ACLF, improvements in ICU management, and the widespread availability of liver transplantation have improved mortality, optimal management practices have not been defined. This article summarizes current ICU management practices and identifies areas of management that require further study.
Chronic active liver disease reexamined: prognosis hopeful.

1CALD was considered to be in­ curable and usually to progress to cirrho­ sis, liver failure, or both. Concern was ex­ pressed (a) that uniform diagnostic criteria and specific therapeutic regimens were neither applied nor available; and (b) that an insouciant approach to clinical mani­ festations, coupled with unvalidated pre­ sumptions of etiology, had endowed dis­ orders, not always objectively distinguish­ able from each other, with a plethora of de­ scriptive or eponymous labels. An orderly approach was urged, beginning with stan­ dardized criteria which would allow the natural history of CALD to be defined and examined from the practical aspects of chronicity. activity. and responses to treat­ ment. Since then, numerous clinical. biochemi­ cal, and histological features have been defined which usefully typify the inter­ related conditions comprising CALD and exclude other conditions earlier considered indistinguishable; associations between hepatitis B antigen (HB Ag) and all the component disorders of CALD have pro­ vided the first integrating concept with re­ gard to possible etiologies; and valuable information concerning treatment has at last been garnered from properly designed trails. These and other areas of progress
Retention of Basic Trauma Life Support Skills

The Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS) course was developed to teach prehospital providers a rapid, prioritized approach to assess and manage the trauma victim. Little data currently are available relative to the retention of the cognitive and psychomotor skilk taught in the course. To examine this question, thirteen paramedics were retested on identically moulaged trauma scenarios and written examinations 14–16 months after initial training in BTLS. No advanced notification of the re-test was given. Written test scores decreased from an initial mean of 93.0±6.6 to a mean of 64.9±11.8 (p<0.001) 14–16 months later. Similarly, the trauma scenario test scores declined from 71.6±10.4 to 61.3±16.2 (p<0.05). The results suggest that there is significant loss of both didactic information and practical skills from the BTLS course 14–16 months after training. Frequent BTLS refresher training in the form of supplemental readings, lectures, and repeated exposures to trauma simulations is needed.
Intravenous infusion of CCKA-receptor antagonist increases food intake in rats.

To test the hypothesis that endogenous cholecystokinin (CCK) released from the small intestine by ingested food produces a satiating effect by acting at CCKA-receptors, we measured the effect of slow continuous intravenous infusions of three doses of MK-329, a potent and selective CCKA-antagonist, on food intake during 2.5-h tests in 13 Sprague-Dawley male rats after 1 h of food deprivation. MK-329 increased food intake significantly and the lowest dose tested (0.5 mg.kg-1.h-1) produced the most consistent effect on cumulative intake. Part of the increased food intake under these conditions was due to a decrease in the satiating effect of food ingested at the first meal on the postprandial intermeal interval. These results are consistent with, but do not prove, the hypothesis that the satiating effect of endogenous CCK released from the small intestine by ingested food is mediated by CCKA-receptors.
Infrared Spectrophotometric Differences Between Some Substituted Anilines and Their Hydrochlorides

The ortho- and paraphenylenediamines, aminophenols, and their hydrochlorides and para-anisidine and the hydrochlorides of ortho- and paraanisidine were studied primarily in the regions 2.7–4μ and 5.7–8μ. All the materials were prepared in KBr disks in concentrations of the order of 1–2 · 106 M. Ordinate expansion was used to give full-scale deflection. The order of the extent of hydrogen bonding, as determined by the shift in the N-H stretching frequencies as well as C-N absorption, is anisidine < phenylenediamine < aminophenol. The aromatic vibrations are modified in the same sequence.
Formalizing the First Day in an Organic Chemistry Laboratory Using a Studio-Based Approach

A novel studio-based lab module that incorporates student-centered activities was designed and implemented to introduce second-year undergraduate students to the first-semester organic chemistry laboratory. The “First Day” studio module incorporates learning objectives for the course, lab safety, and keeping a professional lab notebook.
Challenges in the estimation of extinction from molecular phylogenies: A response to Beaulieu and O'Meara

Time-calibrated phylogenies that contain only living species have been widely used to study the dynamics of speciation and extinction. Concerns about the reliability of phylogenetic extinction estimates were raised by Rabosky (2010), where I suggested that unaccommodated heterogeneity in speciation rate could lead to positively biased extinction estimates. In a recent article, Beaulieu and O'Meara (2015a) correctly point out several technical errors in the execution of my 2010 study and concluded that phylogenetic extinction estimates are robust to speciation rate heterogeneity under a range of model parameters. I demonstrate that Beaulieu and O'Meara underestimated the magnitude of speciation rate variation in real phylogenies and consequently did not incorporate biologically meaningful levels of rate heterogeneity into their simulations. Using parameter values drawn from the recent literature, I find that modest levels of heterogeneity in speciation rate result in a consistent, positive bias in extinction estimates that are exacerbated by phylogenetic tree size. This bias, combined with the inherent lack of information about extinction in molecular phylogenies, suggests that extinction rate estimates from phylogenies of extant taxa only should be treated with caution.
Experimental Gambling System

After emphasizing point (3), Duval instructs the audience to begin the experiment by writing the numbers 1 to 13 arbitrarily around the circle, one number in each of the thirteen positions. This is to be done privately and according to your own whim-the more random the better. Duval says that those who have "disobeyed" and written 1 to 13 in the natural order will be among those choosing to withdraw from the game once the rest of the rules are announced. The next step is to compute the largest sum given by three consecutive numbers in the circular arrangement. This sum is a player's secret number. It is confidential and unalterable. Accuracy is a must here, since the winner will evidently have to authenticate his or her secret number. The audience gets busy computing and double-checking their secret numbers. You have written