cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The relation of illness patterns in children toordinal position in the family

Summary A comparison was made of the illness records, during the first five years, of twenty-two singletons, thirty-four first children, and thirty-three second children. A similar comparison was made of twenty-nine pairs of matched siblings, consisting of first and second children. Fourteen illness categories are described, and the records for each group, both in incidence and severity of illness, are shown. Singletons show the highest means incidence in gastrointestinal upsets, skin disorders, feeding disorders, constipation, asthma, and allergies. Second children lead in respiratory and ear infections, tonsillitis, whooping cough, diarrhea, accidents, and enuresis. First children do not show the highest mean incidence in any of the illness categories examined. Those comparisons showing statistically significant differences are indicated. There is a discussion of the possible significance of the findings, in terms of parental attitudes and interaction of children within the family, and certain hypotheses are suggested to account for the differential distribution of illness categories.
Heart rate and somatomotor activity in rats during signalled escape and yoked classical conditioning

Abstract In the first of three studies, heart rate, movement, and EMG activity during signalled escape and regular classical conditioning were examined in unrestrained and restrained groups of rats. The direction of the HR CR was accelerative in the unrestrained groups and decelerative in the restrained groups, regardless of the presence or absence of the escape contingency. Both CRs were enhanced by the presence of directionally similar changes in movement to the CS. The decelerations of the restrained groups were correlated with decreases in movement and increases in EMG activity. Increasing the somatomotor activity associated with the US failed to modify the decelerative direction of the HR CRs of restrained rats in the second and third studies. It was suggested that HR CRs in rats may be accompaniments of naturally occurring defense behaviors such as freezing in restrained rats and aggression in unrestrained rats.
Extending Page Segmentation Algorithms for Mixed-Layout Document Processing

The goal of this work is to add the capability to segment documents containing text, graphics, and pictures in the open source OCR engine OCRopus. To achieve this goal, OCRopus' RAST algorithm was improved to recognize non-text regions so that mixed content documents could be analyzed in addition to text-only documents. Also, a method for classifying text and non-text regions was developed and implemented for the Voronoi algorithm enabling users to perform OCR on documents processed by this method. Finally, both algorithms were modified to perform at a range of resolutions. Our testing showed an improvement of 15-40% for the RAST algorithm, giving it an average segmentation accuracy of about 80%. The Voronoi algorithm averaged around 70% accuracy on our test data. Depending on the particular layout and idiosyncracies of the documents to be digitized, however, either algorithm could be sufficiently accurate to be utilized.
On the tests of separate families of hypotheses with small sample size

It is often necessary in statistical methodology to test whether given observations follow one or the other of two possible probability distributions. If the statistical methods used are fairly robust, the theoretical distribution need not fit the data particularly well. In such cases, approximate methods may be adequate, and usually the X 2-goodness-of-tit test might be employed. However, it may sometimes be necessary to know which of two similardistributions fits a set of data better. More powerful tests are then required. Tests of separate families of hypotheses have been developed by Cox (1961, 1962) which employ the test statistic , which is assumed to follow a standard normal distribution when the hypothesis Hf is true. In this paper, one deals with this problem by using computer simulation when the sample size is small and calculates percentage points of the test statistic for 0.01, 0.05, 0.10, 0.90,0.95, 0.99.
Towards integration of quantum interference in alkali atoms on a chip

We discuss a new integrated approach to realizing optical quantum interference effects such as electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), slow light, and highly efficient nonlinear processes on a semiconductor chip. An ensemble of alkali atoms represents one of the canonical systems that exhibit slow light and related phenomena. At the same time, it would be desirable to build slow-light and related devices on a semiconductor platform in order to move to practical applications. We review progress towards combining the large magnitude of quantum interference effects in alkali vapors with the convenience of integrated optics in the form of hollow-core antiresonant reflecting optical waveguides (ARROWs). We discuss the benefits and challenges of this integrated approach with special emphasis on nonlinear optics. We present strategies to optimize the optical waveguides and discuss the current status of building rubidium-filled optical waveguides on a chip. Recent results on optimization of waveguide loss and transfer of rubidium atoms through hollow microchannels on a chip are presented.
New methods of researching healthcare facility users: the nursing workspace

This study is entitled Embodied Professionalism: The relationship between the physicalnature of nursing work and nursing space. The analysis is based in a critical examination of existing approaches, assumptions, and attitudes in the research literature about who, what, and how to study the person-environment relationship in healthcare facilities. New methods of studying how nurses experience their work, their workplace and the objects in their workspace are needed in order to address important issues of this person-environment relationship. Nursing work is re-conceptualized asembodied professionalism which acknowledges the interconnections between the physical labor ofprofessional nursing work, time, and space. This is a qualitative case study of nursing activities on a surgical unit that are invisible, marginalized, and unaccounted for in the research literature. Instead of studying how nurses’ efficiency and productivity could be increased through design interventions, this study examines the physical nature of nursing work and the physical setting from the nurses’ perspective. Instead of viewing the healthcare facility as solely a place for healing, this approach views the healthcare facility as a place for working. A nurse’s goal can simply be the desire to ‘get the workdone.’ A qualitative research methodology and a mixed method approach is used in this study. The methods include structured interviews, location mapping, photo-documentation, architectural inventories, place-centered behavioral mapping, and focused observations. In order to get a better understanding of how nurses experience their workspace, an image-based visual research method, theexperiential collage, was designed. The findings from using these methods reveal the significant rolethat the physical activities of moving, searching, and recovering play in gaining insights into nurses’ socio-spatial experience of the nursing workspace.
Acute continuous argon-laser induced tissue effects in the isolated canine heart

Fresh isolated myocardial, elastic-arterial, and valvular tissues from seven canine hearts were irradiated by argon laser. Irradiation was transmitted through 300 and 400 micron flexible quartz fiberoptic elements. Minimal power densities for vaporization of the myocardial, arterial, and valvular tissues were 80, 90, and 110 W/cm2, respectively, with maximal vaporization distances (fiberoptic tip to tissue) of 4 mm, 1 mm, and 1 mm, respectively. Irradiation of the valves at power densities approaching perforation caused contraction of the tissue. When tissue vaporization occurred, histologic examination of irradiated tissues showed a central crater surrounded by sequential layers of char, vaporization, and coagulation necrosis. These findings were common to all cardiac tissues. Additional findings unique to myocardium were a normal-appearing myocardial layer (skip-area), circumferential halo, and tissue clefts. Elastic arteries showed concentration of necrosis around the collagen and elastic fibers. Valvular damage was the most extensive and also included contraction of adjacent valvular tissue and endocardial sloughing.
Ethnic disparities in health: the public's role in working for equality.

As Assistant Secretary for Health (1998–2001) and Surgeon General (1998–2002) of the United States, I had the opportunity to lead in the development of Healthy People 2010. Healthy People 2010 is the current phase of the Healthy People Initiative, which began in 1979 with the vision of making America's communities healthier and happier places (http://www.healthypeople.gov). Healthy People 2010 is a comprehensive set of health objectives to be achieved over the first decade of the century. The overarching goals are to increase the quality of life and years of healthy life for all Americans and to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities [1]. This has been an ambitious undertaking, but we are making progress. Americans have gained 30 years in life expectancy in the last century overall, from 47 years in 1900 to 77.6 years in 2003. But African American men, with a life expectancy of 69.2 years compared to 76.1 years for African American women and 75.4 years for white men, continue to lag behind. Nevertheless, all groups have made significant progress in years of life lived. However, 50 percent of persons over 80 are incapacitated physically, mentally, or both—illustrating the importance of both quality of life and years of healthy life. The significant gender and racial gaps for African American men are likely to persist because of death rates associated with the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and homicide among this group. African American men are more likely to die from these diseases, or their associated problems, and from homicide than their white counterparts. The significant gender and racial gaps for African American men are likely to persist. However, we have made significant progress in addressing racial and ethnic disparities in the number of children immunized and in screenings for breast cancer. But ethnic and racial disparities persist in areas such as diabetes, HIV/ AIDS, cardiovascular disease, and others for both African American men and women.
Aerosol testing techniques for size-selective samplers

Abstract Methods are presented for the use of liquid particles to measure sampling efficiencies and wall losses in size-selective samplers and for the use of solid particles to assess bounce and reentrainment. By testing a dichotomous sampler, it is demonstrated that the liquid particle methods are accurate; solid particle methods are less accurate and are still under development. Two methods are presented; in the first, particles are produced by spray-drying droplets from the vibrating orifice generator. Aerodynamic diameters are determined directly with a new Laser Settling Velocimeter or, indirectly, based on optical microscopy and the properties of the vibrating orifice generator. Alternatively, solid particles, such as pre-sized glass beads, are produced from bulk materials by a novel Sonic Fluidized Bed. The solid particle techniques are illustrated by testing the Size-Selective Inlet.
Light-induced reduction of pyridine nucleotide and its relation to light-induced electron transport in whole cells of Rhodospirillum rubrum.

Abstract Fluorometric measurements of the light induced reduction of pyridine nucleotide (presumably NAD + ) were carried out in living cells of Rhodospirillum rubrum . The rate vs . light intensity curves were different in cells from older cultures as compared with cells from young cultures. In young cells pyridine nucleotide was reduced only by higher intensities of the actinic light. The cytochrome oxidized at these intensities was cytochrome c 2 and the light-induced absorbance changes in the near-infrared spectral region showed only the photooxidation of P870. The uncoupler of photophosphorylation carbonyl cyanide p -trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) inhibited the pyridine nucleotide photoreduction which could be restored partially by cysteine but not by O 2 . In older cells pyridine nucleotide was reduced also at low intensities of the actinic light. If such cells were kept in the dark for a couple of days in a substrate-free medium, pyridine nucleotide was reduced efficiently in the light and the cytochrome predominantly oxidized, even at higher intensities, was C428. The light- minus -dark spectrum in the near-infrared spectral region showed few signs of the photooxidation of P870. Instead, a red shift of an absorption band at 880 nm was observed. FCCP inhibited the pyridine nucleotide photoreduction also under these conditions but the photoreduction could be restored by O 2 . The results were interpreted as indicating that this organism uses an energy-linked reversal of electron flow mediated by a high-energy intermediate produced during a light-induced cyclic electron transport when in an early stage of their development. Older cells can use an alternative mechanism for the reduction of pyridine nucleotide. This mechanism probably is a direct light-induced electron transport from exogenous as well as from endogenous substrates to the pyridine nucleotide. The switching over from one mechanism to another is related to the internal redox potential. The present results support a different type of reaction center for each mechanism, although an interpretation based on one reaction center operating both electron transport systems cannot be ruled out.
Influences of academic training and nonacademic experience on susceptibility to the horizontal-vertical illusion

Subjects with varying levels of academic training and nonacademic experience adjusted the vertical lines of L-shaped and inverted-T figures and produced estimates of 1-in. lines in the vertical and horizontal planes. The adjustments and productions of the subjects who were experienced in working with lines of varying sizes and orientations, independent of education, were more accurate than those of subjects lacking such experience. Specialized academic training and hands- on experience were found to compensate for the robust tendency to overestimate the length of vertical lines.
Probabilistic judgment on a coarser scale

We hypothesize that when assessing the likelihood of uncertain events, statistically unsophisticated people utilize a coarse internal scale that only has a limited number of categories. The present paper reports two experiments on probabilistic judgment to test this hypothesis. In Experiment 1, participants estimated event probabilities freely and we found that their responses were highly clustered despite the even and nearly continuous distribution of the target probabilities. In Experiment 2, participants made forced comparisons using two different external response scales (coarser versus finer). We found that their performance did not measure up to the requirement of the finer scale. These findings indicate that besides the systematic biases, a certain portion of human errors in probabilistic judgment may be due to the low resolution of the internal representations.
Biexcitonic effects in the nonperturbative regime of semiconductor microcavities

Polarization-dependent transient pump-probe spectroscopy reveals important effects of biexcitonic interactions on coupled optical excitations in semiconductor microcavities. We show that exciton-to-biexciton transitions can result in a significant increase in normal mode splitting of cavity-polaritons, in sharp contrast to effects of nonlinear optical interactions such as band filling that reduce the splitting. A phenomenological model based on Maxwell-Bloch equations is developed to elucidate how biexcitonic effects contribute to cavity-polaritons. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
Growth factors polymerized within fibrin hydrogel promote amylase production in parotid cells.

Salivary gland cell differentiation has been a recurring challenge for researchers as primary salivary cells show a loss of phenotype in culture. Particularly, parotid cells show a marked decrease in amylase expression, the loss of tight junction organization and proper cell function. Previously, Matrigel has been used successfully as an extracellular matrix; however, it is not practical for in vivo applications as it is tumorigenic. An alternative method could rely on the use of fibrin hydrogel (FH), which has been used extensively in biomedical engineering applications ranging from cardiovascular tissue engineering to wound-healing experiments. Although several groups have examined the effects of a three-dimensional (3D) environment on salivary cell cultures, little is known about the effects of FH on salivary cell cultures. The current study developed a 3D cell culture model to support parotid gland cell differentiation using a combination of FH and growth factor-reduced Matrigel (GFR-MG). Furthermore, FH polymerized with a combination of EGF and IGF-1 induced formation of 3D spheroids capable of amylase expression and an agonist-induced increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in salivary cells. These studies represent an initial step toward the construction of an artificial salivary gland to restore salivary gland dysfunction. This is necessary to reduce xerostomia in patients with compromised salivary function.
The Measurement of Local Variation in Shape

Geometric morphometrics comprises tools for measuring and analyzing shape as captured by an entire set of landmark configurations. Many interesting questions in evolutionary, genetic, and developmental research, however, are only meaningful at a local level, where a focus on “parts” or “traits” takes priority over properties of wholes. To study variational properties of such traits, current approaches partition configurations into subsets of landmarks which are then studied separately. This approach is unable to fully capture both variational and spatial characteristics of these subsets because interpretability of shape differences is context-dependent. Landmarks omitted from a partition usually contain information about that partition’s shape. We present an interpolation-based approach that can be used to model shape differences at a local, infinitesimal level as a function of information available globally. This approach belongs in a large family of methods that see shape differences as continuous “fields” spanning an entire structure, for which landmarks serve as reference parameters rather than as data. We show, via analyses of simulated and real data, how interpolation models provide a more accurate representation of regional shapes than partitioned data. A key difference of this interpolation approach from current morphometric practice is that one must assume an explicit interpolation model, which in turn implies a particular kind of behavior of the regions between landmarks. This choice presents novel methodological challenges, but also an opportunity to incorporate and test biomechanical models that have sought to explain tissue-level processes underlying the generation of morphological shape.
Association of systolic blood pressure with mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: A complex relationship

Background In ambulatory patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), high systolic blood pressure (SBP) is associated with better outcomes. However, it is not known whether there is a ceiling beyond which high SBP has a detrimental effect. Thus, our aim was to assess the linearity of association between SBP and mortality. Methods We used the External Peer Review Program (EPRP) and Digitalis Investigation Group (DIG) trial databases of HFrEF patients. Linearity of association of SBP with mortality was assessed by plotting Martingale residuals against SBP. To assess the patterns of relationship of SBP with mortality, we used restricted cubic spline analysis with Cox proportional hazards model. Results In patients with mild-to-moderate left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) (30% ≤ LVEF Conclusions Systolic blood pressure has a complex nonlinear association with mortality in patients with heart failure. Whereas it has a U-shaped association in patients with mild-to-moderate LVSD, it has a linear association with mortality in patients with severe LVSD. Recognition of this pattern of association of blood pressure profile may help clinicians in providing better care for their patients and help improve existing prediction models.
Soybean oil based greases: influence of composition on thermo-oxidative and tribochemical behavior.

The biodegradable properties and lubricating ability of greases depend on both the base oil and the thickener. Mineral oils are the most widely used lubricant base fluids due to their inherent lubricity and low cost, but recent environmental awareness has forced consideration of the use of biodegradable fluids such as vegetable oils and certain synthetic fluids in grease formulations. This study presents data on the thermo-oxidation behavior and tribology of biodegradable greases formulated with soybean oil and different compositions of metal soap thickener. The composition of thickener has been varied by using fatty acids with different degrees of unsaturation and fatty acids of different chain lengths. The improvement of thermo-oxidation and tribological properties as a result of changing thickener/base oil ratio and the antioxidative effect of some suitable additives have also been evaluated. Keywords: Grease; soybean oil; vegetable oils; oxidative stability; friction
Measurement and Modeling of Ozone and Nitrogen Oxides Produced by Laser Breakdown in Oxygen-Nitrogen Atmospheres

The production of ozone and nitrogen oxides was studied during multiple laser breakdown in oxygen-nitrogen mixtures at atmospheric pressure. About 2000 laser shots at 1010 W cm-2 were delivered into a sealed reaction chamber. The chamber with a long capillary was designed to measure absorption of O3, NO, and NO2 as a function of the number of laser shots. The light source for absorption measurements was the continuum radiation emitted by the plasma during the first 0.2 μs of its evolution. A kinetic model was developed that encompassed the principal chemical reactions between the major atmospheric components and the products of laser breakdown. In the model, the laser plasma was treated as a source of nitric oxide and atomic oxygen, whose rates of production were calculated using measured absorption by NO, NO2, and O3. The calculated concentration profiles for NO, NO2, and O3 were in good agreement with measured profiles over a time scale of 0-200 s. The steady-state concentration of ozone was measured in a flow cell in air. For a single breakdown in air, the estimated steady-state yield of ozone was 2 × 1012 molecules, which agreed with the model prediction. This study can be of importance for general understanding of laser plasma chemistry and for elucidating the nature of spectral interferences and matrix effects that may take place in applied spectrochemical analysis.
Effect of polydispersivity and porosity on the elastic properties of hollow particle filled composites

Hollow particle filled composites are characterized by a variety of properties of interest to marine structural applications, including low density, high specific modulus, and low moisture absorption. Usually, dispersed microspheres exhibit widely different geometric characteristics, such as wall thickness and outer radius. In this paper, we develop a homogenization technique based on the differential scheme that accounts for polydispersivity in geometry of inclusion phases in hollow particle reinforced composites. We find manageable differential expressions to predict the composite effective moduli in terms of a variety of concurrent factors, including matrix and particle elastic constants, geometrical properties of hollow particles, volume fractions, and void content in the matrix. Theoretical findings are validated by experimental data and are compared with results of several published models. We find that accounting for polydispersion in the model allows for a closer agreement with experimental results than monodisperse schemes. In particular, qualitatively different predictions are observed in syntactic foams containing thin walled particles when accounting for polydispersivity.
Computer simulation-based evaluation of rock fall roll-out distances for catchment ditch design in Ohio, USA

Catchment ditches along highways are designed to contain hazardous rock falls from cut slopes. RocFall, a rock fall simulation software, was used to evaluate the maximum roll-out distances of rock falls in order to determine rock fall catchment ditch dimensions for Ohio's cut slopes. Based on stratigraphy, cut slopes in Ohio were classified into five types. The parameters required for simulation process included friction angle between rock fall and slope face, coefficient of normal and tangential restitution, slope roughness and average weight of rock falls. A total of 400 simulations were performed for various slope heights, slope angles and catchment ditch slopes. The results are useful in designing catchment ditch for Ohio and neighbouring states where the stratigraphy consists of sub-horizontal, inter-layered hard and soft rock units. The widely used guidelines developed by the Oregon Department of Transportation do not work well for Ohio's stratigraphy.
Measurement of micronucleated erythrocytes and DNA damage during chronic ingestion of phenolphthalein in transgenic female mice heterozygous for the p53 gene

Phenolphthalein, a common ingredient in nonprescription laxatives and a multisex, multispecies rodent carcinogen, was evaluated under chronic exposure conditions for genotoxicity in transgenic female mice heterozygous for the p53 gene (heterozygous TSG-p53 mice). Phenolphthalein was administered in the diet at 200, 375, 750, 3,000, and 12,000 ppm (corresponding to a time-weighted average of 37, 71, 146, 569, and 2,074 mg/kg/day, respectively) for 6 months (183 days). On days 39, 92, 137, and 183 of treatment, peripheral blood samples were collected and evaluated for the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic and normochromatic erythrocytes (MN-PCE and MN-NCE, respectively), the percentage of PCE (%PCE) among total erythrocytes, and the extent of DNA damage (single strand breaks, alkali labile sites, DNA crosslinking) in leukocytes. In addition, the extent of DNA damage was evaluated in liver parenchymal cells sampled from mice at the end of the 6-month treatment period. DNA damage was evaluated using the alkaline (pH > 13) Single Cell Gel (SCG) assay. In addition, using a modified SCG technique, the frequencies of leukocytes and liver parenchymal cells with extremely low molecular weight DNA (indicative of apoptosis and/or necrosis) were determined. At each sample time, phenolphthalein induced a highly significant, dose-dependent increase in the frequency of MN-PCE and MN-NCE and in %PCE. Maximal induction of MN-PCE and %PCE decreased with increasing treatment duration, most likely due to a treatment duration-dependent decrease in the relative amount of ingested phenolphthalein. A comparative analysis of the kinetochore status of MN in erythrocytes sampled from control mice and mice ingesting phenolphthalein at 12,000 ppm for 183 days indicates that the induced MN resulted predominantly but not exclusively from numerical chromosomal damage. The analysis for increased levels of DNA damage in blood leukocytes was inconclusive, with a small but statistically significant increase in DNA migration on days 39 and 137 but not on days 92 and 183. The extent of DNA migration in liver parenchymal cells sampled from mice at the end of treatment was not altered significantly. The frequencies of apoptotic and/or necrotic leukocytes and liver parenchymal cells were not increased among mice ingesting phenolphthalein. The lowest effective dose at which a significant genotoxic response (i.e., the induction of MN-NCE) was detected was 200 ppm, the lowest dose tested in this study. This dose in mice is comparable to doses (on a mg/m2 basis) experienced by humans.
Incomplete vitreomacular traction release using intravitreal ocriplasmin.

Purpose: To report the clinical course of our first 7 consecutive patients treated with intravitreal ocriplasmin (Jetrea®). Methods: Retrospective case series of the first 7 patients treated with ocriplasmin between January and December 2013 at an academic tertiary care center. Results: The average age was 78.4 years (range: 63-92). Five patients were pseudophakic and 2 patients were phakic in the injected eye. The median baseline visual acuity (VA) was 20/60 (range: 20/25 to 20/200). The median 1-month postinjection VA was 20/70, with a mean loss of 2 lines of VA among all patients. None of the patients had complete resolution of their vitreomacular traction or macular hole at 1 month of follow-up. Three patients had subsequent pars plana vitrectomy and membrane peeling surgery. The mean follow-up period for those who did not undergo vitrectomy was 9 months (range: 1-13). One patient with known ocular hypertension had an increase in intraocular pressure requiring topical pressure-lowering eyedrops. There were no cases of postinjection uveitis, endophthalmitis, retinal tears, or retinal detachment. Conclusions: While ocriplasmin may be a viable pharmacological agent for vitreolysis, we present a series of patients that all had incomplete resolution of vitreomacular traction with and without full-thickness macular hole. There was an associated reduction in VA after ocriplasmin treatment at 1 month of follow-up. Careful analysis of the vitreoretinal interface and comorbid eye conditions is required to optimize outcome success with ocriplasmin.
Developing a broad spectrum atmospheric aerosol characterization for remote sensing platforms over desert regions

Remotely sensed imagery of targets embedded in Earth’s atmosphere requires characterization of aerosols between the space-borne sensor and ground to accurately analyze observed target signatures. The impact of aerosol microphysical properties on retrieved atmospheric radiances has been shown to negatively affect the accuracy of remotely sensed data collects. Temporally and regionally specific meteorological conditions require exact site atmospheric characterization, involving extensive and timely observations. We present a novel methodology which fuses White Sands New Mexico regional aerosol micro pulse lidar (MPL) observations with sun photometer direct and diffuse products for broad-wavelength (visible – longwave infrared) input into the radiative transfer model MODTRAN5. Resulting radiances are compared with those retreived from the NASA Aqua MODIS instrument.
Design and reflectivity analysis of high temperature wave-absorbing coatings with circular periodic structure

Abstract The electromagnetic (EM) parameters of a type of radar-absorbing materials (RAM) with periodic structure of thin aluminum circulars were simulated by HFSS software. The RAM is constructed of two layers: upper layer, a periodic array of aluminum circular and lower layer, C/Al 2 O 3 ceramic coating thermal sprayed on metal substrates, were designed and prepared according to the simulated results. Both the simulated and measured results show that combination of the aluminum periodic structure to ceramic coatings improve the wave absorbing properties both in absorbing intensity and absorbing bandwidth. EM wave absorption performance enhancement is ascribed to the resonance peak of frequency selective surface (FSS). The range of absorption frequency can be easily tuned by adjusting the size of aluminum circular and the thickness of the ceramic coating. The measured reflection coefficient was −40 dB at 11 GHz and the −5 dB bandwidth was about 9 GHz. The RAM׳s thickness is 2.0 mm.
Silicon integrated nanophotonic high-radix switch arrays for next generation computer systems

We review results on design and development of 4×4 silicon nanophotonic non-blocking switch arrays integrated with driving analog CMOS circuits for circuit-switched optical networks. Such high-radix optical routers are envisioned for future Exascale computer systems.
The False Dawn of Poor-Law Reform: Nixon, Carter, and the Quest for a Guaranteed Income

In August 1969, President Richard M. Nixon approached the American people with a radical proposal to do what the federal government had never done before: guarantee a minimum level of income for every American family unable to provide one for itself. Eight years later, in August 1977, President Jimmy Carter announced a similar proposal for a federal guarantee of income, this time along with an expansion of public works jobs. Like Nixon before him, Carter soon abandoned his bill, and with it the quest for a federal income guarantee. Thus, inconclusively, ended a decade-long struggle to replace the nation's uncoordinated, incomplete collection of welfare programs with a single, comprehensive system of federal relief. This struggle took place against a backdrop of economic stagnation and demographic change that sent social spending soaring and made existing poor-relief arrangements seem increasingly obsolete. It also tapped into growing taxpayer resentment and a rising tide of popular animosity toward welfare. In part for these reasons, the quest for a guaranteed income marked the end of an era of liberal government activism against poverty, and ushered in a new era of poor-law reform. Welfare, not poverty, was the social problem of the 1970s. And the idea of a guaranteed income was the solution embraced by a new, more chastened and conservative, ideological center.
Life histories of large and small murexes (Prosobranchia: Muricidae)

One can predict the major features of a muricid's life history from its adult size. Most adults do not grow, and juveniles of all species grow 1 to 2 mm/month, so that larger adults have had fonger juvenile periods. Larger females deposit larger egg capsules and, since each of these contains more eggs, their clutches are larger. Small females deposit several clutches each year, and thus have relatively large annual fecundities. However, large females live longer, so each spawns many more eggs in her life-time than would a smaller female. From 90 to 99% of the juveniles die within their first year. However hatchings of small species are much more likely to complete their first year; a newly hatched Urosalpinx cinerea is 25 times more likely to survive long enough to breed once than a newly hatched Ceratostoma foliatum (Gmelin, 1791).
Isotope effect on hydrogen site energies for two metal dihydrides

Abstract The change in hydrogen site energy with isotope for dihydrides and dideuterides of scandium and yttrium was indirectly determined using electron spin resonance (ESR) of erbium ions in dilute concentration in the f.c.c. hosts. The ESR spectra measure the distribution of hydrogen adjacent to the erbium; the variations in this distribution with isotope and with hydrogen-to-metal ratio were studied for several samples of both host metals. The data are accurately described by a lattice-gas model which yields the energy difference for protons or deuterons on octahedral and tetrahedral sites, both adjacent to the erbium impurities and in the bulk host lattice. This energy difference is 10% greater for deuterons, and the change with isotope can be attributed primarily to the mass dependence of the vibrational part of the total energy associated with each site.
Non-existence of renormalizable self-interaction in N = 2 supersymmetry for scalar hypermultiplets

Abstract We prove that the assumption of invariance under “isospin rotations”, i.e. automorphisms of N = 2 supersymmetric charges, implies that there is no local renormalizable interaction among scalar hypermultiplets.
State Governments as Entrepreneurs in Securing Federal Benefits for Their Citizens

Cooperative federalism provides state governments the ability to shape federal policy in line with subgovernment interests. Although a large literature explores how states promote their goals using federal grants-in-aid, little attention has been paid to how states use their self-assigned application assistance role for federal programs to advance their own agendas. Using data from the Veterans’ Disability Compensation program, we find evidence that state governments’ efforts to provide application assistance affect state veterans’ access to federal benefits in ways that generate state tax revenue. Our findings highlight the importance of state governments as actors in federal programs that are, at first glance, completely federalized, and have implications for scholarship on federalism, state politics, and social welfare policy.
A Memory for Extracellular Ca2+ by Speeding Recovery of P2X Receptors from Desensitization

Nerve endings of nociceptors (pain-sensing neurons) express an unusual subtype of ATP-gated ion channel, the P2X3 receptor, that rapidly desensitizes ( 20 min). Here we show that Ca 2+ , or certain other polyvalent cations, binds to an extracellular site on rat sensory neurons and can increase current through P2X3 channels more than 10-fold. Importantly, Ca 2+ facilitates P2X3 current to precisely the same level whether a transient Ca 2+ change occurred just before or several minutes before activating the channels with ATP. This memory for past changes in Ca 2+ is integrative in that a 90 sec Ca 2+ stimulus delivered just before an ATP application has the same effect as an earlier series of three, separated 30 sec Ca 2+ stimuli. These diverse phenomena are explained by a single mechanism: Ca 2+ speeds recovery of P2X channels from desensitization. Recovery follows an exponential growth curve that depends on the duration, but not the timing, of changes in recovery rate. Modulation of desensitization underlies a well described short-term memory in bacteria, and it might be similarly used in the nervous system.
Terahertz pioneers: A series of interviews with significant contributors to terahertz science and technology

As a tribute to individuals who have contributed significantly, and over many years, to the terahertz community, and as a guide and inspiration for those who are just beginning their professional association with this field of study, these transactions have included, on a regular basis, a series of biographical interviews with technical researchers who have appreciably impacted the THz community in a positive manner. In order to go beyond a strict technical review and to take better advantage of the information and commentary only available through a direct discussion, these articles take on a less formal style than the research articles that can be found within the remaining pages of the transactions. The Editor-in-Chief (EiC) has taken some leeway in this regard, for the benefit of communicating more fully the character, experiences, and historic circumstances that have shaped our community and set the directions for our collective research. As a further means of assuring that the true flavor and circumstances of the contributions are expressed in the text, all of the articles are compiled after a face-to-face interview. The final text is shared with, and often helped considerably, by comments from the subject of the article. The EiC, with the support of the IEEE MTT Publications Committee, has chosen to incorporate these biographical articles within the more formal technical journal because of the diversity of disciplines that make up the THz community and the prior absence of a single unifying publication with sufficient outreach to extend across the whole of the RF and optical THz disciplines. The EiC hopes you will enjoy the short diversion of reading these articles as much as he himself enjoys the process of composing them. This month we cross the Pacific to hear the story of a young electrical engineer from Japan who was so self-motivated, he used his mother's inheritance to cover the cost of attending the very first international THz symposium, held in Brooklyn, NY, USA, back in March 1970. Ever since that career forming decision to participate in something new and exciting, Professor Koji Mizuno has been an active contributor to THz science and applications. Back in 1970, the appropriate terminology was submillimeter waves. Nevertheless, the discipline spanned a very wide application base and attracted a diverse group of scientists, which included chemists, physicists, engineers and even one or two biologists. Professor Mizuno worked in all of these areas, and as we shall find, has been one of the staunchest supporters of our discipline, as well as a tireless ambassador that has helped to bring the science of THz to Asia and beyond.
Conserved determinants of lentiviral genome dimerization

Retroviruses selectively package two copies of their unspliced genomes by what appears to be a dimerization-dependent RNA packaging mechanism. Dimerization of human immunodeficiency virus Type-1 (HIV-1) genomes is initiated by “kissing” interactions between GC-rich palindromic loop residues of a conserved hairpin (DIS), and is indirectly promoted by long-range base pairing between residues overlapping the gag start codon (AUG) and an upstream Unique 5′ element (U5). The DIS and U5:AUG structures are phylogenetically conserved among divergent retroviruses, suggesting conserved functions. However, some studies suggest that the DIS of HIV-2 does not participate in dimerization, and that U5:AUG pairing inhibits, rather than promotes, genome dimerization. We prepared RNAs corresponding to native and mutant forms of the 5′ leaders of HIV-1 (NL4-3 strain), HIV-2 (ROD strain), and two divergent strains of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV; cpz-TAN1 and -US strains), and probed for potential roles of the DIS and U5:AUG base pairing on intrinsic and NC-dependent dimerization by mutagenesis, gel electrophoresis, and NMR spectroscopy. Dimeric forms of the native HIV-2 and SIV leaders were only detectable using running buffers that contained Mg2+, indicating that these dimers are more labile than that of the HIV-1 leader. Mutations designed to promote U5:AUG base pairing promoted dimerization of the HIV-2 and SIV RNAs, whereas mutations that prevented U5:AUG pairing inhibited dimerization. Chimeric HIV-2 and SIV leader RNAs containing the dimer-promoting loop of HIV-1 (DIS) exhibited HIV-1 leader-like dimerization properties, whereas an HIV-1NL4-3 mutant containing the SIVcpzTAN1 DIS loop behaved like the SIVcpzTAN1 leader. The cognate NC proteins exhibited varying abilities to promote dimerization of the retroviral leader RNAs, but none were able to convert labile dimers to non-labile dimers. The finding that U5:AUG formation promotes dimerization of the full-length HIV-1, HIV-2, SIVcpzUS, and SIVcpzTAN1 5′ leaders suggests that these retroviruses utilize a common RNA structural switch mechanism to modulate function. Differences in native and NC-dependent dimerization propensity and lability are due to variations in the compositions of the DIS loop residues rather than other sequences within the leader RNAs. Although NC is a well-known RNA chaperone, its role in dimerization has the hallmarks of a classical riboswitch.
Using a lookahead window in a compaction-based parallelizing compiler

Lookahead is a common technique for high performance uniprocessor design. In general, however, hardware lookahead window is too small to exploit instruction-level parallelism at run time, while compaction-based parallelizing compilers must suffer from worst-case exponential code explosion at compile time. In this paper, we propose a software lookahead method, which allows inter-basic block code motions within the prespecified number of operations, called software lookahead window, on any path emanating from the currently processed instruction at compile time. By software lookahead, instruction-level parallelism can be exploited in a much greater code area than the hardware approach, but the lookahead region is still limited to a constant depth with a user-specifiable window, and thus code explosion is restricted. The proposed scheme has been implemented in our prototype parallelizing compiler, which can generate code for uniprocessors with multiple functional units and multiway conditional branches, such as VLIW machines, and potentially for superscalars as well. To study code explosion problem and instruction-level parallelism for branch intensive code, we compiled five AIX utilities: sort, fgrep, sed, yacc, and compress. It is demonstrated that, with software lookahead, code explosion problem is effectively alleviated, yet a substantial amount of inter-basic block parallelism is successfully extracted.
mPGES-1 deletion impairs aldosterone escape and enhances sodium appetite

Aldosterone (Aldo) is a major sodium-retaining hormone that reduces renal sodium excretion and also stimulates sodium appetite. In the face of excess Aldo, the sodium-retaining action of this stero...
Internal waves in a contained rotating stratified fluid

Small-amplitude time-dependent motions of a uniformly rotating, density-stratified, Boussinesq non-dissipative fluid in a rigid container are examined for the case of the rotation axis parallel to gravity. We consider a variety of container shapes, along with arbitrary values for the (constant) Brunt-Vaisala and rotation frequencies. We demonstrate a number of properties of the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of square-integrable oscillatory motions. Some of these properties hold generally, while others are shown for specific classes of containers (such as with symmetry about the container axis). A full solution is presented for the response of fluid in a cylindrical container to an arbitrary initial disturbance. Features of this solution which are different from the cases of no stratification or no rotation are emphasized. For the situation when Brunt-Vaisala and rotation frequencies are equal, characteristics of the oscillation frequencies and modal structures are found for containers of quite general shape. This situation illustrates, in particular, effects which are possible when rotation and stratification act together and which have been overlooked in previous investigations that assume that the vertical length scale is much smaller than the horizontal scales.
Silent Myocardial Ischemia: Pathophysiology and Clinical Recognition

Silent myocardial ischemia is reported to account for approximately one-fifth of all myocardial infarctions and to be very common in patients with a history of angina pectoris. It may also play an important role in sudden cardiac death. Detection of silent ischemia is best accomplished by treadmill testing, electrocardiogram, or Holter monitoring. When detected, it should be treated vigorously in high-risk patients and all postinfarction patients. Recommendations regarding to the ideal therapy still await the results of controlled clinical testing, although preliminary reports indicate that topical nitrates are effective.