cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Window Flashover Initiation under Pulsed Microwave Excitation

Surface flashover development at the output window of high power microwave (HPM) systems presents a major limitation to the power densities and pulse lengths transmitted through these interfaces. As a result, developing a physical model accurate in predicting surface flashover initiation is of prime interest. A Monte-Carlo type electron motion simulation has been developed to estimate the delay time from initial electron to flashover. Although this approach has shown reasonable agreement with experimental results, the process yielding the initial seed electron(s) was neglected in the model, primarily due to the lack of quantitative and qualitative information on seed electron production. For instance, computational efforts investigating seed electron production via collisional detachment from negative oxygen ions have shown that while effective at DC, the collisional detachment model cannot remain a likely contributor of electrons at high frequencies (Gt ~5 GHz). The key parameters impacting high power microwave surface flashover will be discussed and presented along with continued investigation into the statistics of possible seed electron sources, including trace contaminates present in the gas or on the dielectric surface.
The Myth of Global Fit Indices and Alternatives for Assessing Latent Variable Relations

A common myth among organizational researchers who use structural equations is that adequate fit values from the composite (overall) model speak directly to the adequacy of the proposed theory. However, this is a fallacious assumption, as significant misspecification among the theoretical paths between constructs can occur and be missed when there is an overreliance on global fit indices. To debunk this myth and provide a more valid alternative, the authors begin with an overview of latent variable model estimation procedures, emphasizing how they affect values obtained with fit measures for composite models. The authors next demonstrate problems with these measures, using an algebraic analysis of two popular composite fit indices (CFI, RMSEA) and results from simulation analysis with these indices. They then highlight two alternative indices that focus more on path model relations (NSCI-P, RMSEA-P) and that outperform the composite fit indices in the detection of model misspecification among the latent v...
ACTH activation of glycolysis in the rat adrenal gland.

Abstract A number of substrates of glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, the Krebs cycle and the pyridine and adenine nucleotides (including cyclic AMP) have been measured before and after ACTH stimulation in hypophysectomized rats. Crossovers in substrate concentrations at the level of phosphofructokinase and glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase were found, indicating an activation of these enzymes in the stimulated adrenals. Elevations in cyclic AMP and a decrease in the ATP ADP · AMP ratio were also found, either of which could explain phosphofructokinase activation.
Adhesion mechanisms in the solid‐state bonding technique using submicrometer aromatic thermosetting copolyester adhesive

The adhesion mechanism between polyim- ides and aromatic thermosetting copolyester (ATSP) in- volved in the solid-state bonding technique using submi- crometer ATSP coatings was evaluated. The adhesion strength at the interface between ATSP and polyimide is strongly related to the diffusion of ATSP into the polyimide base layer. We used dynamic secondary ion mass spectrom- etry to study the interface width between deuterated ATSP and polyimides and found that the interface between ATSP and poly(4,4-diphenylether pyromellitimide) (PMDA- ODA) is wider than the interface between ATSP and poly(p- phenylene biphenyltetracarboximide) (BPDA-PPD) because of the less rigid chain in the PMDA-ODA. By partially curing both polyimides, the interface width was greatly increased, which could lead to an improved adhesion at the interface between polyimide BPDA-PPD and ATSP. © 2004
Genomic Biomarkers Correlate with HLA-Identical Renal Transplant Tolerance

The ability to achieve immunologic tolerance after transplantation is a therapeutic goal. Here, we report interim results from an ongoing trial of tolerance in HLA-identical sibling renal transplantation. The immunosuppressive regimen included alemtuzumab induction, donor hematopoietic stem cells, tacrolimus/mycophenolate immunosuppression converted to sirolimus, and complete drug withdrawal by 24 months post-transplantation. Recipients were considered tolerant if they had normal biopsies and renal function after an additional 12 months without immunosuppression. Of the 20 recipients enrolled, 10 had at least 36 months of follow-up after transplantation. Five of these 10 recipients had immunosuppression successfully withdrawn for 16-36 months (tolerant), 2 had disease recurrence, and 3 had subclinical rejection in protocol biopsies (nontolerant). Microchimerism disappeared after 1 year, and CD4(+)CD25(high)CD127(-)FOXP3(+) regulatory T cells and CD19(+)IgD/M(+)CD27(-) B cells were increased through 5 years post-transplantation in both tolerant and nontolerant recipients. Immune/inflammatory gene expression pathways in the peripheral blood and urine, however, were differentially downregulated between tolerant and nontolerant recipients. In summary, interim results from this trial of tolerance in HLA-identical renal transplantation suggest that predictive genomic biomarkers, but not immunoregulatory phenotyping, may be able to discriminate tolerant from nontolerant patients.
Impact of current transplantation practices on the changing epidemiology of infections in transplant recipients.

Summary The spectrum of infections in transplant recipients has been substantially affected by novel immunosuppressive regimens and the use of antimicrobial agents. Epidemiology and presentation of traditional opportunistic pathogens has changed. Invasive aspergillosis and cytomegalovirus occur later in the post-transplant period. The incidence of infections that were previously encountered rarely—eg, BK virus nephropathy—has increased, the clinical course of hepatitis C virus recurrence has become more aggressive, the risk factors for invasive aspergillosis have changed, and non-aspergillus moulds are occurring more commonly in transplant recipients. Recognition of these trends as they unfold has significant implications for the clinical care of the transplant recipients, for providing insights into the pathogenesis, and for continually improving the approaches to the management of infections.
Genome measures used for quality control are dependent on gene function and ancestry

Motivation: The transition/transversion (Ti/Tv) ratio and heterozygous/nonreference-homozygous (het/nonref-hom) ratio have been commonly computed in genetic studies as a quality control (QC) measurement. Additionally, these two ratios are helpful in our understanding of the patterns of DNA sequence evolution. Results: To thoroughly understand these two genomic measures, we performed a study using 1000 Genomes Project (1000G) released genotype data (N = 1092). An additional two datasets (N = 581 and N = 6) were used to validate our findings from the 1000G dataset. We compared the two ratios among continental ancestry, genome regions and gene functionality. We found that the Ti/Tv ratio can be used as a quality indicator for single nucleotide polymorphisms inferred from high-throughput sequencing data. The Ti/Tv ratio varies greatly by genome region and functionality, but not by ancestry. The het/nonref-hom ratio varies greatly by ancestry, but not by genome regions and functionality. Furthermore, extreme guanine + cytosine content (either high or low) is negatively associated with the Ti/Tv ratio magnitude. Thus, when performing QC assessment using these two measures, care must be taken to apply the correct thresholds based on ancestry and genome region. Failure to take these considerations into account at the QC stage will bias any following analysis. Contact: ude.tlibrednav@oug.nay Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Flight Investigation of Prescribed Simultaneous Independent Surface Excitations for Real-Time Parameter Identification

Near real-time stability and control derivative extraction is required to support flight demonstration of Intelligent Flight Control System (IFCS) concepts being developed by NASA, academia, and industry. Traditionally, flight maneuvers would be designed and flown to obtain stability and control derivative estimates using a postflight analysis technique. The goal of the IFCS concept is to be able to modify the control laws in real time for an aircraft that has been damaged in flight. In some IFCS implementations, real-time parameter identification (PID) of the stability and control derivatives of the damaged aircraft is necessary for successfully reconfiguring the control system. This report investigates the usefulness of Prescribed Simultaneous Independent Surface Excitations (PreSISE) to provide data for rapidly obtaining estimates of the stability and control derivatives. Flight test data were analyzed using both equation-error and output-error PID techniques. The equation-error PID technique is known as Fourier Transform Regression (FTR) and is a frequency-domain real-time implementation. Selected results were compared with a time-domain output-error technique. The real-time equation-error technique combined with the PreSISE maneuvers provided excellent derivative estimation in the longitudinal axis. However, the PreSISE maneuvers as presently defined were not adequate for accurate estimation of the lateral-directional derivatives.
A coding framework for DNA self-assembly

This paper proposes a novel framework in which DNA self-assembly can be analyzed for error detection/location. The proposed framework relies on coding and mapping functions that allow to establish the presence of erroneous bonded tiles based on the pattern to be assembled (as defined by the tile set) and its current aggregate. As a widely used pattern and instantiation of this process, the Sierpinski Triangle self-assembly is analyzed in detail. Different properties are proposed and shown to be applicable for tile error detection/correction. Simulation results are presented to show the application of the proposed coding framework to the Sierpinski Triangle self-assembly for nano-manufacturing.
A cellular automata reconfigurable microstrip antenna design

This paper presents a new approach for the design of a multi-band reconfigurable antenna. Different rotating slot configurations of the antenna are considered during the design in order to achieve a reconfigurable antenna without the use of active switches. The designed structures are based on cellular automata rules. Prototype antennas were fabricated and tested to prove the proposed method.
Sturge–Weber syndrome and epilepsy: an argument for aggressive seizure management in these patients

Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) involves vascular malformations of the skin (facial port-wine stain), eye (glaucoma) and the brain (leptomeningeal angioma). Children born with a port-wine stain on the upper part of the face are also at risk for brain involvement. These infants and young children often develop seizures and other neurologic impairments. Progression in neurologic deficits does occur in some patients, but this is quite variable. A diagnosis of brain involvement is made with head computed tomography and contrast-enhanced MRI, but the sensitivity of standard imaging in young asymptomatic infants is low. Seizures occur in more than 75% of affected individuals. Clinical course and functional imaging suggest a role for both cerebral perfusion impairments and seizures in the development of neurologic deficits. Several controversies exist in the management of seizures and other neurologic impairments in SWS. Continued efforts are needed to develop a multicentered network for SWS clinical trials. Future research should be focused on this goal and on studies to improve our understanding of the cause(s) and molecular neuropathology of SWS.
On actuator reversal motions of machine tools

When joints in a machine tool reverse the direction of their motion, non-linearities that are ignored in machine design and control are reflected noticeably in the accuracy of machined surfaces. For example, friction characteristics of a machine tool become highly non-linear at low operating speeds, demanding sophisticated compensation. We present a theoretical treatment of the kinematics of reversals and reversal free paths of machine tools. We visualize and compare reversal characteristics of active joints in serial, parallel, and hybrid mechanisms for various trajectories and sweeping patterns. Reversal characteristics have implications both in the design of machine tools and in path planning.
Altered Mitochondrial Dynamics Contributes to Propofol-induced Cell Death in Human Stem Cell-derived Neurons.

Background:Studies in developing animals have shown that anesthetic agents can lead to neuronal cell death and learning disabilities when administered early in life. Development of human embryonic stem cell–derived neurons has provided a valuable tool for understanding the effects of anesthetics on
PSYCHOLOGY OF COMPUTER USE: XII. VIDEOGAME PLAY HUMAN REACTION TIME TO VISUAL STIMULI

Past research shows that videogame play appears to be effective in improving performance on visual, spatial, and motor tasks. In this experiment 20 subjects, 5 male and 15 female, were pre- and posttested for reaction time speed over 20 trials. The experimental group received a 15-min. practice treatment interval on an Atari 2600 videogame system between the two test sessions. Analysis using the reaction time differences confirmed the hypothesis that videogame play decreases reaction time.
Staking Territory in the “World White Web” An Exploration of the Roles of Overt and Color-Blind Racism in Maintaining Racial Boundaries on a Popular Web Site

Early scholarship on the Web suggested that, in an online world, physical markers of marginalization would be invisible and race would become obsolete. Instead, recent research indicates that the W...
Effect of a zinc-deficient diet on lipid peroxidation in liver and tumor subcellular membranes.

Abstract The effect of a zinc-deficient diet on lipid peroxidation in liver and tumor mitochondrial and microsomal membrane preparations from BALB/c mice was investigated. Mitochondrial and microsomal membranes from both tissues displayed increased rates of in vitro peroxidation, both enzymatic and nonenzymatic. Measurement of in vivo peroxidation, using diene conjugation as an index of measurement revealed slight increases in tissues from zinc-deficient animals that were not statistically significant. Serum lipoperoxides analyzed from all three groups revealed no significant differences. The results point to an alteration in the peroxidation potential of mitochondrial and microsomal membranes due to zinc deficiency which may be related to an alteration in fatty acid composition.
Computational and Experimental Identification of C. elegans microRNAs.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute an extensive class of noncoding RNAs that are thought to regulate the expression of target genes via complementary base-pair interactions. To date, cloning has identified over 200 miRNAs from diverse eukaryotic organisms. Despite their success, such biochemical approaches are skewed toward identifying abundant miRNAs, unlike genome-wide, sequence-based computational predictions. We developed informatic methods to predict miRNAs in the C. elegans genome using sequence conservation and structural similarity to known miRNAs and generated 214 candidates. We confirmed the expression of four new miRNAs by Northern blotting and used a more sensitive PCR approach to verify the expression of ten additional candidates. Based on hypotheses underlying our computational methods, we estimate that the C. elegans genome may encode between 140 and 300 miRNAs and potentially many more.
Buffering of the salinity intrusion in estuaries by channel convergence

Abstract. A one-dimensional advective-diffusive model is used to investigate the influence of channel convergence on the runoff-dependence of the distance salt intrudes from the ocean into estuaries. We express the runoff dependence of the dispersion coefficient as K~ρβ, and that of the intrusion extent as xs~ρ
Stress Distributions in Al2O3 Bicrystal Tensile Specimens

Stress distributions in Al2O3 bicrystals were analyzed for certain misorientations across the grain boundary in straight-sided tensile specimens with the grain boundary normal to the tensile axis. Stresses were found using the numerical analysis technique of direct stiffness calculations or by finite element analysis. When the anisotropy in elastic constants of the bicrystals was considered, misorientation of principal axes yielded stress concentrations at the boundary as high as 1.50. The assumption of uniform stress states in bicrystal mechanical response studies, therefore, is not generally accurate.
BIT: a tool for instrumenting java bytecodes

BIT (Bytecode Instrumenting Tool) is a collection of Java classes that allow one to build customized tools to instrument Java Virtual Machine (JVM) bytecodes. Because understanding program behavior is an essential part of developing effective optimization algorithms, researchers and software developers have built numerous tools that carry out program analysis. Although there are existing tools that analyze and modify executables on a variety of operating systems and machine architectures, there currently is no framework for carrying out the same task for JVM bytecodes. In this paper, we describe BIT, which allows the user to insert calls to analysis methods anywhere in the bytecode, so that information can be extracted from the user program while it is being executed. In this paper, we describe several simple tools built using BIT and also report on BIT's performance. We found that the overhead for the execution speed and size were between 23% to 150%.
Constitutional Law in 1954–1955

On October 9, a week after the 1954 Term began, Justice Robert H. Jackson died, and for his place the President nominated Judge John Marshall Harlan, on November 8, 1954. Judge Harlan had been appointed in March, 1953, to the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The Senate did not act on the Harlan nomination until March 16, 1955, when it was confirmed by a vote of 71–11, and the new Justice took the oath of office on March 28. Accordingly, the Court was handicapped during much of the Term by not having a full bench, and apparently the argument of important cases was delayed until the vacancy was filled. Former Justice Owen J. Roberts, who had taken his seat on appointment by President Hoover on June 2, 1930, and resigned July 31, 1945, died on May 17, 1955.At the end of the Term, Chief Justice Warren announced that henceforth the Court will not hear oral arguments or hold open sessions on Friday, which will be reserved for the conferences of the Justices. Thus the ancient practice of holding the “recitation periods” on Saturday has, at least for the present, come to an end.
Joint design-time and post-silicon optimization for digitally tuned analog circuits

Joint design time and post-silicon optimization for analog circuits has been an open problem in literature because of the complex nature of analog circuit modeling and optimization. In this paper we formulate the co-optimization problem for digitally tuned analog circuits to optimize the parametric yield, subject to power and area constraints. A general optimization framework combing the branch-and-bound algorithm and gradient ascent method is proposed. We demonstrate our framework with two examples in high-speed serial link, the transmitter design and the phase-locked-loop (PLL) design. Simulation results show that compared with the design heuristic from analog designers' perspective, joint design-time and post-silicon optimization can improve the yield by up to 47% for transmitter design and up to 56% for PLL design under the same area and power constraints. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first in-depth study on yield-driven analog circuit design technique that optimizes post-silicon tuning together with the design-time optimization.
The Convoy Model: Explaining Social Relations From a Multidisciplinary Perspective

Purpose of the Study: Social relations are a key aspect of aging and the life course. In this paper, we trace the scientific origins of the study of social relations, focusing in particular on research grounded in the convoy model. Design and Methods: We first briefly review and critique influential historical studies to illustrate how the scientific study of social relations developed. Next, we highlight early and current findings grounded in the convoy model that have provided key insights into theory, method, policy, and practice in the study of aging. Results: Early social relations research, while influential, lacked the combined approach of theoretical grounding and methodological rigor. Nevertheless, previous research findings, especially from anthropology, suggested the importance of social relations in the achievement of positive outcomes. Considering both life span and life course perspectives and grounded in a multidisciplinary perspective, the convoy model was developed to unify and consolidate scattered evidence while at the same time directing future empirical and applied research. Early findings are summarized, current evidence presented, and future directions projected. Implications: The convoy model has provided a useful framework in the study of aging, especially for understanding predictors and consequences of social relations across the life course.
Data-feedthrough faults in circuits using unclocked storage elements

Some faults in storage elements (SEs) do not manifest as stuck-at-0/1 faults. These include data-feedthrough faults that cause the SE cell to exhibit combinational behaviour. The authors investigate the implications of such faults on the behaviour of circuits using unclocked SEs. It is shown that effects of data-feedthrough faults at the behavioural level are different from those due to stuck-at faults, and therefore tests generated for the latter may be inadequate.
NEW RECORDS AND SPECIES OF MOLLUSCS FROM TERTIARY COLD-SEEP CARBONATES IN WASHINGTON STATE, USA

Eighteen gastropod and seven bivalve species are reported from Eocene to Oligocene cold-seep carbonates in Washington State, USA. Four species are new (Niso littlei, Turrinosyrinx hickmanae, Xanthodaphne? campbellae, and Lurifax goederti), and 16 are described in open nomenclature. Previously unknown features of protoconch or prodissoconch morphology and/or shell microstructure are provided for Retiskenea statura (Goedert and Benham), Provanna antiqua Squires, Nuculana? aff. N. grasslei Allen, and Bathy- modiolus willapaensis (Squires and Goedert). Modiolus (M.) willapaensis is placed within Bathymodiolus based on the elliptical- triangular shape of its juvenile shell, indicating that the divergence between vent/seep and whale/wood-fall inhabiting bathymodiolines took place at least 40 Ma. The first fossil species of the vent/seep genera Pyropelta (Pyropeltidae), Lurifax (family uncertain), and Catillopecten? (Propeamussidae) are reported. Niso (Eulimidae), Xanthodaphne, Turrinosyrinx, Benthomangelia (Turridae), Ledella (Nuculanidae), Tindaria? (Tindariidae), and Delectopecten (Pectinidae) are reported for the first time from fossil cold-seep assemblages. Larval developmental strategies are inferred from protoconch and prodissoconch morphologies in 14 species, which largely reflect the species' phylogenetic groups, as in modern vent and seep molluscs. The data presented here indicate that the radiation of toxoglossate turrids (Gastropoda) into deep water took place already in the Oligocene, and not in the Miocene as previously thought. Healed shell injuries and presumed naticid drill holes represent the oldest known fossil evidence of predation at cold-seeps.
A Note from the Guest Editor.

In this issue of the Annals of Global Health, we address one of the greatest challenges of our time: climate change. As the journal cover imagesd2 photos of the Alaskan Pedersen Glacier melt in summer 1917 and again in 2005dstarkly reminds us, global warming is a reality. It will have farreaching consequences on the physical environment, global ecosystems, and of course, human civilization. We can examine the consequences and devise solutions from a number of perspectives: medical science gives us evidence-based knowledge to diagnose and treat disease and to promote and protect health; human rights give us shared principals and the rule of law to promote equity and social justice; and the environmental movement galvanizes us to engage in climate action, to protect our fragile earth. In this issue, we bring you a range of experts from different disciplines who approach climate change from these diverse and overlapping perspectives. Levy and Patz, in their review, highlight the unfavorable effects that climate change will have on human rights and social justice. Environmental and health consequences will disproportionately affect low-income countries, along with poor people in high-income countries, forcing many to become “environmental refugees.” Co-author Bruce and I argue that because the poorest adolescent girls in the poorest communities are at very high risk for suffering the consequences of climate change, they should be a specifically targeted group by humanitarian aid organizations in relief and recovery efforts, as well as in national adaption plans aimed at enhancing resilience. Our viewpoint is followed by an expert consensus statement on adolescent girls from the Girls in Emergency Collaborative. Several of the authors explore the health effects of changes in the physical environment. Goldie et al.
Ribozyme-Mediated Gene Therapy for Autosomal Dominant Retinal Degeneration

Ribozymes targeted to a point mutation (histidine for proline substitution at position 23) in rhodopsin were evaluated as therapeutic agents for photoreceptor degeneration in an animal model of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP). Recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors incorporating a proximal bovine rod opsin promoter were used to transfer either hairpin or hammerhead ribozyme genes to photoreceptors. AAV was administered by subretinal injection at postnatal day (P) 15 to rats expressing a rod opsin transgene with a proline-to-histidine substitution in exon 1 at codon 23 of the rhodopsin gene (P23H). In vivo levels of normal and mutant RNAs were measured by allele-specific RT-PCR at P60. Eyes were examined by histopathology and morphometric analysis, as well as by ERG at approximately P60, P75 or P90. Expression of either a hammerhead or hairpin ribozyme markedly slowed the rate of photoreceptor degeneration for at least 3 months as determined by outer nuclear layer thickness as well as by inner and outer segment length. Catalytically inactive control ribozymes had a significantly smaller effect on the retinal degeneration. Minimal rescue effects were seen in retinas injected with either AAV containing a gene for green fluorescent protein rather than the ribozyme gene or buffer only. The level of mutant opsin RNA relative to wild-type RNA was also reproducibly lower in ribozyme-treated retina. Finally, ERG comparisons of ribozyme-treated versus control eyes demonstrated functional rescue. We conclude that ribozyme-directed cleavage of mutant mRNAs appears to be a potentially effective therapy for autosomal dominant retinal degeneration.
Investigation of uncertainty in CO2 reservoir models: A sensitivity analysis of relative permeability parameter values

Numerical reservoir models of CO2 injection in saline formations rely on parameterization of laboratory-measured pore-scale processes. We performed a parameter sensitivity study and Monte Carlo simulations to determine the normalized change in total CO2 injected using the finite element heat and mass-transfer code (FEHM) numerical reservoir simulator. Experimentally measured relative permeability parameter values were used to generate distribution functions for parameter sampling. The parameter sensitivity study analyzed five different levels for each of the relative permeability model parameters. All but one of the parameters changed the CO2 injectivity by <10%, less than the geostatistical uncertainty that applies to all large subsurface systems due to natural geophysical variability and inherently small sample sizes. The exception was the end-point CO2 relative permeability, kr,CO20, the maximum attainable effective CO2 permeability during CO2 invasion, which changed CO2 injectivity by as much as 80%. Similarly, Monte Carlo simulation using 1000 realizations of relative permeability parameters showed no relationship between CO2 injectivity and any of the parameters but kr,CO20, which had a very strong (R2 = 0.9685) power law relationship with total CO2 injected. Model sensitivity to kr,CO20 points to the importance of accurate core flood and wettability measurements.
Diaza-anthracene Antibiotics from a Freshwater-Derived Actinomycete with Selective Antibacterial Activity toward Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are resistant to first- and second-line drug regimens and resulted in 210,000 fatalities in 2013. In the current study, we screened a library of aquatic bacterial natural product fractions for their ability to inhibit this pathogen. A fraction from a Lake Michigan bacterium exhibited significant inhibitory activity, from which we characterized novel diazaquinomycins H and J. This antibiotic class displayed an in vitro activity profile similar or superior to clinically used anti-tuberculosis agents and maintained this potency against a panel of drug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains. Importantly, these are among the only freshwater-derived actinomycete bacterial metabolites described to date. Further in vitro profiling against a broad panel of bacteria indicated that this antibiotic class selectively targets M. tuberculosis. Additionally, in the case of this pathogen we present evidence counter to previous reports that claim th...
Rhinoplasty of the Aging Nose

The process of aging leads to countless bodily changes on both a macro- and microscopic scale. No organ system is unaffected; however, the nose is especially susceptible. Sun damage, hormone levels, regenerative capability, tissue elasticity, bone resorption, and the effects of gravity contribute to produce classic signs and symptoms. Rhinoplasty of the aging nose requires a comprehensive understanding of aging facial anatomy combined with surgical techniques designed to resist these ubiquitous remodeling forces over time.
pSIN: A scalable, Parallel algorithm for Seismic INterferometry of large-N ambient-noise data

Abstract Seismic interferometry is a technique for extracting deterministic signals (i.e., ambient-noise Green's functions) from recordings of ambient-noise wavefields through cross-correlation and other related signal processing techniques. The extracted ambient-noise Green's functions can be used in ambient-noise tomography for constructing seismic structure models of the Earth's interior. The amount of calculations involved in the seismic interferometry procedure can be significant, especially for ambient-noise datasets collected by large seismic sensor arrays (i.e., “large-N” data). We present an efficient parallel algorithm, named pSIN ( P arallel S eismic IN terferometry), for solving seismic interferometry problems on conventional distributed-memory computer clusters. The design of the algorithm is based on a two-dimensional partition of the ambient-noise data recorded by a seismic sensor array. We pay special attention to the balance of the computational load, inter-process communication overhead and memory usage across all MPI processes and we minimize the total number of I/O operations. We have tested the algorithm using a real ambient-noise dataset and obtained a significant amount of savings in processing time. Scaling tests have shown excellent strong scalability from 80 cores to over 2000 cores.
Pondering upon the Problems of Governing Colleges and Universities according to the Law

This paper discusses the importance of governing school according to the law from fourth aspects,analyzes the fourth problems,and puts forward five solutions accordingly.
Maximal .OH production is seen upon reoxygenation of viable anoxic cultured cardiomyocytes but not of compromised cells.

Hydroxyl radicals ( . OH) in isolated cultured cardiomyocytes upon reoxygenation (reoxy) were measured after graded anoxia (A) using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Isolated myocytes were subjected to A for 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes and reoxy for 120 seconds. Supernatant was collected after reoxy, extracted with ether and injected into HPLC for measuring hydroxylation products of salicylic acid (2,5-DHBA) as an indicator of . OH formation. 2,5-DHBA was detected maximally after 15 minutes of A and 120 seconds of reoxygenation (34.2 ± 3 pmol/mg protein), at which tune 80% of cells had maintained their rod shape and 99% of cells excluded both trypan blue (TB) and horseradish peroxidase (HP)
Optimal design of JPEG hardware under the approximate computing paradigm

JPEG compression based on the discrete cosine transform (DCT) is a key building block in low-power multimedia applications. We use approximate computing to exploit the error tolerance of JPEG and formulate a novel optimization problem that maximizes power savings under an error budget. We analyze the error propagation sensitivity in the DCT network and use this information to model the impact of introduced errors on the output quality. Simulations show up to 15% reduction in area and delay which corresponds to 40% power savings at iso-delay.
Models Systems for Flavoenzyme Activity. Redox-Induced Modulation of Flavin-Receptor Hydrogen Bonding

Redox-active organic molecules are important species in both biological and man-made systems. In biological processes they serve as cofactors, performing redox transformations and serving as electron shuttles. In materials applications, they provide such diverse devices as light-harvesting devices, chemical sensors, and catalysts. While the properties and processes of these systems have been studied, one area that has been generally neglected is the interplay between intermolecular forces (such as hydrogen bonds and π-stacking) and redox behavior. To provide insight into these interactions, and direction for future materials research, we are currently investigating the properties of complexes of synthetic receptors with redox cofactors.
Next generation ECM-based vascular biomaterials

Over the last seven decades, extracellular matrix (ECM)-derived medical implants have been widely used in cardiovascular surgery to replace cardiac valves, provide hemodialysis access, and reconstruct diseased vessels. Whether the substrate is autologous vein, umbilical vein, artery, or pericardium, these ECM-based vascular biomaterials share several important properties: low risk of calcification and restenosis, antithrombogenicity, low rate of infection, stability, durability, convenience, and compliance similar to that of the host vessel, providing superior clinical outcomes compared to synthetic scaffold materials such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Dacron, and metal. The pericardial patch closure for carotid endarterectomy (CEA) arteriotomies is the most commonly employed manufactured ECM-based implant in vascular surgery today. Surgical closure of an artery with a pericardial patch reduces arterial occlusion, short and long-term stroke and death risk, and need for reoperation when compared to primary arteriotomy closure. The pericardial patch undergoes remodeling and endothelialization, via influx of arterial progenitor cells, which protects this ECM-derived implant from complications such as restenosis, thrombosis, calcification, fibrosis, infection, and pseudoaneurysm formation. The future of EMC-based vascular biomaterials is bright with new ECM-derived implants on the horizon that are individually customized and engineered to further improve patient outcomes.
Ground-response maps for Tonopah, Nevada

Abstract Ground-response maps for Tonopah, Nevada, were prepared using ground-motion data from a Nevada Test Site explosion recorded on a 12-station seismic array in Tonopah. These data were used to define 10 frequency-dependent ground-response maps for the period range 0.05 to 2.5 sec. These data were combined with the probabilistic calculation of earthquake ground accelerations on rock sites in the Tonopah area, made in a 1976 study by S. T. Algermissen and D. M. Perkins, in order to give estimates of the ground shaking expected throughout the city in a 50-yr period of time, at the 90 per cent probability level. Although these relative ground-response estimates are based on low-strain data, they provide a preliminary basis for delineating geographic areas with different susceptibilities to earthquake ground shaking until the time that high-strain earthquake ground-motion measurements become available in Tonopah.
Electrically detected magnetic resonance study of NBTI in 4H-SiC MOSFETs

SiC MOSFETs show promise for high power and high temperature applications, but bias temperature instabilities may potentially limit the performance of these devices. Utilizing electrically detected magnetic resonance (EDMR), we show that three different defect centers are generated during NBTS. Although a complete understanding of the EDMR is not yet available, the results provide strong evidence for E' centers, hydrogen, and hydrogen complexes involvement in the NBTI phenomena.
Contrasting Features of Peroxide Metabolism in Heart and Liver

Peroxides arise in the course of normal aerobic metabolism as products and by-products of various oxidases and in association with electron transfer reactions of hemoproteins, flavoproteins and other redox active molecules. Because peroxides are mediators of oxidative injury, cellular systems capable of detoxifying and eliminating these compounds are an essential feature of aerobic life. By the catalatic and peroxidatic activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and other proteins present in mammalian cells, peroxides are effectively maintained at nontoxic levels under conditions of normal metabolism. However, in instances of enhanced peroxide production, such as occurs in association with the inflammatory response (1), the metabolism of redox cycling agents (2), and reoxygenation and reperfusion following periods of hypoxia and ischemia (3), cellular peroxide levels may exceed the capacity of these detoxication systems and result in oxidative injury and cell death. Under some conditions, such as hypoxia, the detoxication mechanisms are compromised so that even normal peroxide production can be toxic (4).
American Indian and Euro-Western negotiations: Creating mutual benefit with upsurging antenarrative spirals

Antenarrative (before-the-narrative) analysis reveals features of historical Native American and Euro-Western negotiations which contributed to undesired and unintended outcomes, while sometimes ov...
Identifying the Characteristics of Engineering Innovativeness

ABSTRACTThe use of science and engineering skills to address the novel challenges of modern society through innovative solutions is regarded as an essential strategy around the world. Many of the studies on innovators, however, are not specific to engineers. To address this gap, this study explored engineers’ views of innovation and the attributes of engineers who create, develop, and implement innovations through in-depth interviews with expert engineering innovators. The study was set in an interpretivist framework and developed a socially constructed description of engineering innovativeness. Forty-five US-based expert engineering innovators were interviewed; these interviews were coded using a grounded-theory approach until categorical saturation was achieved. The results include the identification of 20 characteristics of engineering innovativeness, as well as an ‘engineer’s definition’ of an innovation and several general descriptors of ‘non-innovative’ engineers. The significance of this study come...
An Integrin-Targeted, Highly Diffusive Construct for Photodynamic Therapy

Targeted antineoplastic agents show great promise in the treatment of cancer, having the ability to impart cytotoxicity only to specific tumor types. However, these therapies do not experience uniform uptake throughout tumors, leading to sub-lethal cell killing that can impart treatment resistance, and cause problematic off-target effects. Here we demonstrate a photodynamic therapy construct that integrates both a cyclic RGD moiety for integrin-targeting, as well as a 5 kDa PEG chain that passivates the construct and enables its rapid diffusion throughout tumors. PEGylation of the photosensitizer construct was found to prevent photosensitizer aggregation, boost the generation of cytotoxic reactive radical species, and enable the rapid uptake of the construct into cells throughout large (>500 µm diameter) 3D tumor spheroids. Replacing the cyclic RGD with the generic RAD peptide led to the loss of cellular uptake in 3D culture, demonstrating the specificity of the construct. Photodynamic therapy with the construct was successful in inducing cytotoxicity, which could be competitively blocked by a tenfold concentration of free cyclic RGD. This construct is a first-of-its kind theranostic that may serve as a new approach in our growing therapeutic toolbox.
Designing High-Efficiency Nanostructured Two-Phase Heusler Thermoelectrics

Nanostructured systems formed by two distinct phases are particularly promising for high efficiency thermoelectrics due to the reduction in thermal conductivity afforded by the nanostructured phase. However, the choice of the matrix and nanostructured phases represents a challenging materials discovery problem due to the large compositional space involved. Heusler phase thermoelectrics are particularly promising candidates for nanostructuring since these compounds often possess favorable electronic thermoelectric properties but relatively high thermal conductivity. Here, we have developed a high-throughput screening strategy to predict promising candidates for nanostructuring systems based on two Heusler phases. Our search includes all two-phase systems involving full, half, and inverse Heusler in the Open Quantum Materials Database, in total a search space of ∼1011 possible combinations of two Heusler compounds. To reduce this space, our screening approach starts with a set of known thermoelectrics as ma...
Differing Perceptions of Small Business Problems

Three differing perceptions of what constitute the real problems of small business are examined: (1) the management deficiency diagnosis, (2) the unfair competition hypothesis, and (3) the governme...
Implementation of a rapid influenza A/B and RSV direct molecular assay improves emergency department oseltamivir use in paediatric patients.

Purpose. Influenza A virus (FluA), influenza B virus (FluB) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) illnesses increase hospitalizations during seasonal epidemics. Methodology. To determine the utility of the Simplexa FluA/B & RSV Direct Assay (Direct Flu/RSV) and its impact on oseltamivir use, we offered this assay to emergency department (ED) patients with influenza-like illness. Results. Utilization of the Direct Flu/RSV provided a turnaround time (TAT) of 2 hours. Compared to the flu season prior to implementation of the Direct Flu/RSV, clinicians were more likely to prescribe 5 days of oseltamivir therapy for Direct Flu/RSV-positive patients in comparison to those with a negative test. Conclusions. Use of Direct Flu/RSV provides results rapidly, which leads to more appropriate use of oseltamivir. The ease of use of this assay and quick TAT allows for prompt decision-making, which is essential for patient care and effective disease control during the influenza season.
Thermodynamic description of the Ti-Mo-Nb-Ta-Zr system and its implications for phase stability of Ti bio-implant materials

Abstract Titanium alloys are great candidates for applications such as biomedical implants that require biocompatibility, a low Young's modulus and a high strength. However, the properties of Ti alloys are highly dependent on phase stability. In the present work, a database for the Ti-Mo-Nb-Ta-Zr system has been evaluated using the CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagram) approach. The database was completed by evaluating the accuracy of previously modeled systems from literature and modeling systems that, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, had no modeling available in literature. All of the binary systems that make up the Ti-Mo-Nb-Ta-Zr system had previously modeled thermodynamic descriptions available in the literature and in most cases had multiple different descriptions available, which meant determining which previous thermodynamic description most accurately modeled the binary system with a direct focus on the bcc phase. In order to determine the accuracy of the multiple available thermodynamic descriptions from literature a combination of experimental data (also obtained from the literature) and computed thermochemical properties of the bcc phase from DFT (Density Functional Theory)-based first-principles calculations (present work) were used. Once the thermodynamic descriptions for the binary systems were chosen, focus shifted to the Ti-containing ternary systems. The Ti-Mo-Zr, Ti-Nb-Zr and Ti-Ta-Zr systems had previous thermodynamic description available in literature, which were incorporated without changes into the working database. The Ti-Mo-Ta, Ti-Nb-Ta and Ti-Mo-Nb systems had, to the authors’ knowledge, no descriptions available in the literature. Interaction parameters were determined for the Ti-Mo-Ta and Ti-Nb-Ta systems, and no interaction parameters were introduced for the Ti-Mo-Nb system. The database introduced by this work satisfactorily predicts the thermodynamics of the Ti-Mo-Nb-Ta-Zr system.
Psychology and the Church: Toward a Model for Relating:

This essay discusses the need to define the relations between psychology and the church as more than the consultation over pastoral counseling cases. A paradigm for understanding these relationship...
Electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopic airway recanalization in patients with vanishing bronchus

Abstract Background Stenosis is the most frequent airway complication after lung transplantation. When complete obstruction is diagnosed without possibility of recanalization, options are generally limited to either resection or retransplantation, both associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We describe our experience with a novel technique using electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy (ENB) to recanalize the occluded airway after lung transplantation. Methods Patients who underwent lung transplantation between 2010 and 2016 with subsequent development of complete airway obstruction and failed conventional recanalization attempts were included in this study. All patients underwent attempted recanalization using ENB. Primary outcomes included success of the technique and long-term patency. Secondary outcomes included procedure-related complications. Results Four patients met inclusion criteria and underwent attempted recanalization using the ENB platform. Location of the obstruction was the bronchus intermedius in two patients, the lingular bronchus in one patient, and the left basilar bronchus in one patient. Mean length of stenosis was 8.8 mm. Three patients (75%) were successfully recanalized and all airways remain patent at 1, 48, and 66 mo. There were no procedure-related complications. The one patient who was unable to be recanalized successfully underwent bilobectomy and died 7 mo later. Conclusions ENB is a feasible method of airway recanalization in select patients with bronchial occlusion after lung transplantation. ENB recanalization spares lung parenchyma and avoids risks associated with surgical resection and retransplantation. This novel technique can be added to the armamentarium for thoracic surgeons who diagnose and treat this complicated problem.