cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computational Tests of Models for Kinetic Parameters of Unimolecular Reactions of Organophosphorus and Organosulfur Compounds

A computational study of the kinetics of isomerization and elimination reactions of organophosphorus and organosulfur reactions is presented with a view to characterizing the predictive capabilities of widely applied techniques for processes that pertain to the destruction of chemical warfare agents. A set of 22 reactions has been studied, and the results have been compared to experimentally derived data. The BMK functional and the MG3S basis set have been used to compute minimum energy paths. Corrections have been added from CBS-QB3, CASSCF, and CASMP2 calculations. Thermal rate constants at experimental temperatures have been calculated with canonical variational transition state theory and small-curvature tunneling theory. The quality of these results may depend on recrossing of the variational transition state, the amount of radical or diradical character found in the minimum energy paths, or the accuracy of barrier heights.
A Computational Fluid Dynamics Investigation of the 1303 UCAV Configuration with Deployable Rao Vortex Flaps

A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) study was conducted on an Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) configuration with deployable Rao Vortex Flaps (RVF). The UCAV configuration of interest to this study is a moderately swept, tail -less, flying wing. The numerical simulations were conducted on a UCAV model that was experimentally tested in two locations; in England using the QinetiQ 5 -meter wind tunnel and in the US at NAVAIR. In this analysis, the flaps were modeled as a 0.05 -inch thick plate with a d eflection angle of 28 degrees relative to the free -stream, and with a height of 5.44% relative to the mean average chord. All CFD computations were conducted using the NASA developed Reynolds -averaged Navier -Stokes flow solver USM3D. Complementary grid g eneration software, namely, Vgrid and Gridtool, were used to generate the unstructured girds used in the CFD analysis. The USM3D code has Euler and Navier -Stokes capabilities, as well as, laminar and turbulent capabilities; all of which were applied in thi s effort. A major objective of this CFD study was validation of the UCAV aerodynamic properties; C D, C L, C m, L/D and drag polar, obtained from the wind tunnel experiments reported in previous works. In an effort to complement the experimental analysis, CFD studies were conducted for angles of attack ranging from 0 to 14 degrees. Results indicated that good agreements were achieved between the CFD and experimental analyses. In addition, t his study confirmed that the RVF is very effective in reducing drag wh ile increasing the lift over drag performance at higher angles of attack. Results indicated that deploying the vortex flap at angles of attack above 8.5 degrees can potentially reduce C D and C m, and increase L/D, thus raising the upper limit of the UCAV’s flight envelope.
Application of Remotely Sensed Data in Wheat Growth Modelling

Non-contact measurements play a major role in agricultural production. For example, the observant farmer makes maximum use of his visual senses to schedule irrigation, fertilizer, insecticide and herbicide applications. In research, the scientist requires a quantitative interpretation of many of these same casual observations e.g. leaf colour, leaf area index, plant development, leaf orientation. Direct measurements of these plant and canopy attributes are laborious and require a sampling strategy to account for the high spatial variability within plots and fields. Remote sensing offers an opportunity to provide a rapid means of estimating these canopy attributes.
Design of optical-path simulator used in high power laser system

Optical-path simulator is used to simulate the laser energy density distribution in laboratory.It consists of spherical mirrors.By set the number of spherical mirrors and the distance between them,it can simulate the energy density distribution of the laser spot focused on a practical target a certain distance away.The expressions of the focal length and the back intercept are derived and the computing results are validated by the method of matrix.The results show that they match with each other very well.Some problems of the optical-path simulator in practical application are also discussed.It′s helpful to the using and adjusting of the optical-path simulator.
Phase Diagram and Decomposition of 1,1-Diamino-2,2-dinitroethene Single Crystals at High Pressures and Temperatures

The high-pressure–high-temperature (HP-HT) phase diagram and decomposition of 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene (FOX-7), central to understanding its stability and reactivity, were determined using optical spectroscopy and imaging measurements in hydrostatically compressed and heated single crystals. Boundaries between various FOX-7 phases (α, α′, β, γ, and e) and melting/decomposition curves were established up to 10 GPa and 750 K. The main findings are (i) a triple point is observed between α, β, and γ phases ∼0.6 GPa and ∼535 K; (ii) the previously suggested δ phase is not a new phase but is a partly decomposed γ phase. (iii) the α–α′ transition takes place along an isobar, whereas the α′−e transition pressure decreases with increasing temperature; and (iv) melting/decomposition temperatures increase rapidly with pressure, with an increase in the slope at the onset of the α′−e transition. Our results differ from the recently reported HP-HT phase diagram for nonhydrostatically compressed polycrystalline FOX...
A Carbon Dioxide Flowmeter

AbstractA simple and inexpensive uroflowmeter has been designed that uses a common carbon dioxide cystometer. The patient voids urine in a specially designed container connected at the bottom to the carbon dioxide source in the cystometer. After proper calibration (500cc fluid for a 20mm. deflection in the paper) the patient is asked to void while carbon dioxide flows through the container and the paper recording commences. Any change of volume in the container produces a change in the pressure recorded by the cystometer, which will allow us to know, following calibration, the 2 factors involved in flow: 1) volume voided and 2) time. A table of average flow is available for a quick reading of the findings only by superimposing the table on the uroflow study. The only attachment needed for the cystometer is the special container. Our results support the use of this economical new way to determine urinary flow.
Correspondence Management on Capitol Hill: Examining the Treatment of Constituency Opinion across Congressional Offices

Relying on data gathered from a survey of congressional staff, this project presents the first systematic assessment of the various correspondence management practices that are used on Capitol Hill. Congressional offices have different policies for which types of constituent correspondence they will record in their contact databases, and how they will summarize and communicate the content of district correspondence to others in the office. Some aspects of the correspondence practices that offices choose to adopt are related in expected ways to Representatives’ electoral conditions, to Representatives’ role orientation, and to redistricting-induced changes to district composition. Stronger electoral competition in primaries and changes in district partisanship after a redistricting both increase the likelihood that a congressional office will maintain a more inclusive correspondence database, recording all incoming contacts from constituents. Offices of Representatives who have demonstrated a delegate orientation in their past legislative behavior are also more likely to retain complete contact records and to circulate regular mail reports that share information about correspondence with other staff in the office. However, taken together, analyses reveal the difficulty in predicting how offices will structure their correspondence management systems. The differences in treatment of correspondence across offices, and the inability to forecast how offices will approach correspondence management, have implications for how responsive congressional offices can be to constituency attitudes.
High protein/fish oil diet prevents hepatic steatosis in NONcNZO10 mice; association with diet/genetics-regulated micro-RNAs.

Objective: NONcNZO10 (NZ10) mice are predisposed to obesity and develop type 2 diabetes (T2D) and hepatic steatosis even when maintained on a control diet (CD) of 6% fat. Studies were designed to determine whether this extreme susceptibility phenotype could be alleviated by diet and if so the molecular targets of diet. Methods: NZ10 and SWR/J (SWR) control mice were fed a CD or a test diet of high protein and fish oil (HPO) for 19 weeks and then analyzed for steatosis, blood chemistry, hepatic gene and micro-RNA expression. Results: HPO diet prevented steatosis, significantly increased serum adiponectin and reduced serum cholesterol and triglycerides only in NZ10 mice. The HPO diet repressed hepatic expression of fatty acid metabolic regulators including PPARγ, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-c1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator-1, fatty acid synthase, fatty acid binding protein-4, and apolipoprotein A4 genes only in NZ10 mice. Also repressed by a HPO diet were adiponectinR2 receptor, leptin-R, PPAR-α, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase isoforms 2 and 4, AKT2 and GSK3β. Micro-RNA (miR) arrays identified miRs that were diet and/or genetics regulated. QRTPCR confirmed increased expression of miR-205 and suppression of a series of miRs including miRs-411, 155, 335 and 21 in the NZ10-HPO group, each of which are implicated in the progression of diabetes and/or steatosis. Evidence is presented that miR-205 co-regulates with PPARγ and may regulate fibrosis and EMT during the progression of steatosis in the livers of NZ10-CD mice. The dietary responses of miR-205 are tissue-specific with opposite effects in adipose and liver. Conclusion: The results confirm that a HPO diet overrides the genetic susceptibility of NZ10 mice and this correlates with the suppression of key genes and perhaps micro-RNAs involved in hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and inflammation including master PPAR regulators, adiponectin and leptin receptors.
Temperature, Effects on Development and Growth

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the effect of temperature on insects' development and growth. The body temperature of most insects is linked to changes in ambient temperature. Insects are ectothermic and heterothermic, poikilothermic, organisms. Large dragonflies, hairy bees, and moths generate and maintain a high and stable thoracic temperature during flight. Temperature fluctuations are small in environments such as the tropical rainforest, caves, and large streams and water bodies. In most terrestrial habitats, the seasonal and diurnal temperature oscillations are considerable. The body temperature of insects can change rapidly by 10 °C or more when shade and direct sunlight alternate. Insects heat up by sunlight through basking behavior and thermal melanism. Preference for living at high temperatures, in warm regions or on a warm-blooded host, is called thermophily, whereas inclination to low temperatures is psychrophily usually soil and aquatic arthropods. Temperature within the species-specific physiological range determines the rates of metabolism, growth and development, and often exerts other physiological effects.
High-Resolution Endoscopy and Magnification Endoscopy

This chapter explores the digital and optical technology behind high-resolution magnification endoscopy. Indications for utilizing this type of imaging in the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, and colon are reviewed. Focus is then shifted to analyzing comparative studies of high-resolution magnification endoscopy and standard definition endoscopy with or without the use of concurrent contrast enhancement techniques. In particular, the identification of pathologic and specifically malignant mucosal patterns is assessed. HD magnification endoscopy is consistently found to allow for superior visualization of subtle mucosal changes, thus decreasing the rate of missed diagnoses and allowing for targeted biopsies.
Abdominal wall endometriosis: differentiation from other masses using CT features

To assess the utility of morphologic and quantitative CT features in differentiating abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE) from other masses of the abdominal wall. Retrospective IRB-approved study of 105 consecutive women from two institutions who underwent CT and biopsy/resection of abdominal wall masses. CTs were independently reviewed by two radiologists blinded to final histopathologic diagnoses. Associations between CT features and pathology were tested using Fisher’s Exact Test. Sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values were calculated. P values were adjusted for multiple variable testing. 24.8% (26/105) of patients had histologically proven abdominal wall endometriosis. The other most common diagnoses included adenocarcinoma NOS (21%; 22/105), desmoid (14.3%; 15/105), and leiomyosarcoma (8.6%; 9/105). CT features significantly associated with endometriosis for both readers were location below the umbilicus (P = 0.0188), homogeneous density (P = 0.0188), and presence of linear infiltration irradiating peripherally from a central soft tissue nodule (i.e., “gorgon” sign) (P < 0.0001). The highest combined sensitivity (0.69, 95% CI: 0.48–0.86) and specificity (0.97, 95% CI: 0.91–1.00) for both readers occurred for patients having all three of these features present. Border type (P = 0.0199) was only significant for R2, peritoneal extension (P = 0.0188) was only significantly for R1, and the remainder of features were insignificant (P = 0.06–60). There was overlap in Hounsfield units on non-contrast CT (N = 26) between AWE (median: 45HU, range: 39–54) and other abdominal wall masses (median: 38.5HU, range: 15–58). CT features are helpful in differentiating AWE from other abdominal wall soft tissue masses. Such differentiation may assist decisions regarding possible biopsy and treatment planning.
Abstract 378: Cytochrome b5 Reductase 3 Regulates Vascular Smooth Muscle Phenotypic Switching

Contractile vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) play a key role in the regulation of arterial blood vessel tone and cardiovascular health. However, in many vascular diseases, VSMCs undergo a phenotypic switch from a contractile state to a synthetic phenotype, where loss of the contractile markers myosin heavy chain 11 (Myh11), smooth muscle alpha actin (ACTA2) and transgelin (SM22) are observed and proliferation is increased. Recent evidence from our lab demonstrates that cytochrome b5 reductase 3 (Cyb5R3) regulates the redox state of soluble guanylate cyclase to control cGMP levels in VSMCs. Because cGMP modulates protein kinase G activity, a critical kinase that maintains VSMCs in a contractile state, we tested the hypothesis that Cyb5R3 is critical for maintenance of the contractile phenotype. To test this hypothesis, we transduced primary rat aortic smooth muscle cells with non-targeting (NT) or Cyb5R3 shRNA followed by serum starvation for 24, 48, and 72 hours to induce phenotypic switching. After each time point, mRNA measurements of Cyb5R3, Myh11, ACTA2, and SM22 were conducted using RT-PCR. In NT shRNA transduced VSMCs, we observed a significant increase in Cyb5R3, Myh11, ACTA2, and SM22 mRNA, but not in Cyb5R3 knockdown VSMCs. Next, we conducted proliferation studies by serum starving NT shRNA and Cyb5R3 shRNA treated VSMCs for 24 hours followed by stimulation of platelet growth factor BB (PDGF-BB, 40 ng/mL). After 24 hours of PDGF-BB treatment, Cyb5R3 deficient cells showed augmented proliferation compared to control cells measured by 3 H-thymidine incorporation. Together, our data suggest that Cyb5R3 is essential for VSMC phenotypic switching and proliferation, which may unravel a new therapeutic target for treating individuals with cardiovascular disease.
Resolution Analysis of Regularized Maximum Log-likelihood Reconstruction Method for CRISM Hyperspectral Data

The regularized maximum log-likelihood method improves resolution and de-noises Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) hyperspectral date-cubes. The method accounts for spatially nonuniform samples acquired in an along-track oversampled mode to avoid spatial artifacts.
Preclinical Efficacy Testing of New Drug Candidates

This is a review of the preclinical efficacy testing of new antituberculosis drug candidates. It describes existing dynamic in vitro and in vivo models of antituberculosis chemotherapy and their utility in preclinical evaluations of promising new drugs and combination regimens, with an effort to highlight recent developments. Emphasis is given to the integration of quantitative pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analyses and the impact of lesion pathology on drug efficacy. Discussion also includes in vivo models of chemotherapy of latent tuberculosis infection.
Exclusion of Non-English Speakers in Published Emergency Medicine Research - A Comparison of 2004 and 2014.

BACKGROUND Non-English speakers (NES) as a proportion of the United States population have steadily increased in recent years. There remains substantial risk of excluding NES from research. OBJECTIVE To assess whether the percentage of emergency medicine (EM) studies that exclude Non-English speakers from participation has changed with time. METHODS In a structured fashion, the lead investigator analyzed all original research articles in Academic Emergency Medicine and Annals of Emergency Medicine retrospectively for 2004 and prospectively for 2014. An independent investigator conducted a blind review of a sample of articles to assess for interobserver agreement. Demographic data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Chi-square, t-tests, and linear regression models were utilized; alpha set at 0.05. Cohen's kappa calculated to assess interrater reliability. RESULTS We included a total of 236 original research articles. Overall, 11% excluded NES from research (10% AEM, 12% Annals). Cohen's kappa (nonweighted) was 0.73. Comparing all articles in 2004 vs. 2014, research excluded NES 6% vs. 16% of the time respectively (P=0.02). This was not statistically significant when comparing year to year for AEM (7.3% vs. 14.5%; P=0.12) and Annals (6.7% vs. 19%; P=0.06) separately. Factors affecting NES exclusion included type of study design (P<0.001), geographic area (P=0.009) and hospital type (P=0.035). Interestingly, 42% of articles failed to mention language as an exclusion or inclusion criteria. CONCLUSION We found that the percentage of articles excluding NES from EM research increased between 2004 and 20014. Further, many investigators do not report whether NES are excluded/included in their studies.
Investigation of harmonic distortion in multi-pulse rectifiers for large capacitive charging applications

The United States Navy's future fleet of vessels will deploy an increasing number of high power electrical loads that will operate in a transient nature. As the electrical requirements increase, the efficiency of power conversion will become more important than ever before. Converting AC power to DC power can be very inefficient due to the generation of harmonics that are injected into the power system during conversion. Previous work has shown that the magnitude of the harmonics generated can be reduced significantly when multipulse rectifiers are implemented. These types of rectifiers work through splitting the three-phase input into additional phases so that the output ripple and distortion can be reduced. Higher numbers of phases result in improvement in power quality but come with added costs and complexity. Previous work in the literature has evaluated these types of converters into purely resistive or slightly inductive loads but not into highly capacitive loads, similar to those the Navy has plans to utilize. The work presented here investigates the harmonic content of multi-pulse rectifiers when used to charge large capacitive loads. Six, twelve, eighteen, and twenty-four pulse rectifiers have been simulated using Simulink® to predict how higher pulse numbers reduce the injection of harmonic distortion. Model validation will be carried out using a hardware implementation of each rectifier at the 1 kW level using a three-phase motor-generator source. Preliminary results from the simulations will be presented here.
Investigating FinFET Sidewall Passivation Using Epitaxial (100)Ge and (110)Ge Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor Devices on AlAs/GaAs

Device-quality crystallographically oriented epitaxial (100)Ge and (110)Ge were grown on GaAs substrates using a large bandgap AlAs buffer. Electrical characteristics of p-type metal–oxide–semiconductor (pMOS) capacitors, fabricated from the aforementioned material stacks, are presented for the first time. High-resolution cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy analysis demonstrated atomically abrupt heterointerfaces between Al2O3/Ge as well as Ge/AlAs for both (100) and (110) orientations. Various process conditions were implemented during MOS capacitor fabrication to study their impact on the Al2O3/Ge interface. The fabricated pMOS devices demonstrated excellent electrical characteristics with efficient modulation of the Fermi level from midgap to the conduction band edge, corresponding to a minimum ${D}_{\text {it}}$ value of ${1.2} \times {10}^{11}$ cm $^{-2}\cdot $ ev−1 on (100)Ge, indicative of a high-quality oxide/Ge heterointerface, and an effective electrical passivation of the Ge surface. Postdeposition annealing under O2 was found to be less effective at reducing oxide trap density ( ${N}_{{\text {OT}}})$ as compared to forming gas or O2 postmetallization anneals (PMA), indicating that metal-induced bandgap states at the gate metal/dielectric interface have a notable impact on Ge pMOS ${N}_{{\text {OT}}}$ . On the other hand, a tradeoff must be made between ${N}_{{\text {OT}}}$ and the equivalent oxide thickness when performing PMA under O2 or forming gas ambient.
Time intensity curve analysis of subharmonic transabdominal and harmonic endoscopic contrast-enhanced ultrasound of pancreatic masses

Pancreatic cancer is associated with poor clinical outcomes primarily due to the advanced stage at the time of diagnosis. Endoscopic harmonic ultrasound imaging (HI) is being used to characterize pancreatic masses. Alternatively, transabdominal subharmonic imaging (SHI) may limit invasiveness and better suppress nonlinear tissue echoes. In both approaches, time-intensity curve (TIC) analysis can be performed to quantify blood flow dynamics. The purpose of this study was to compare TICs from both HI and SHI ultrasound of pancreatic masses. Patients underwent both endoscopic HI and SHI prior to an endoscopic biopsy of a pancreatic mass. SHI (transmitting/receiving at 2.5/1.25 MHz) was performed on a modified Logiq 9 system with a 4C probe (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI), while endoscopic HI ultrasound (transmitting/receiving at 4.7/9.4 MHz) was performed with a radial endoscope (GF-UTC180; Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) and a ProSound SSD α-10 scanner (Hitachi-Aloka, Tokyo, Japan). TIC analysis was performed on a pixel by pixel basis to generate parametric images of peak intensity, time to peak, perfusion, and area under the curve and compared by modality to pathology. To date, TIC processing has been completed on 10 cases that were not compromised by excessive motion. No significant differences were observed between imaging modes for time to peak, perfusion, or area under the curve (p>0.11), while peak intensity was different (p=0.01) most likely due to scanner-specific properties such as transmit power, etc. When grouped by pathology (adenocarcinoma vs. other masses), neither modality showed significant differences in any TIC parameter, with peak intensity being the closest to demonstrating differences (p= 0.06). While the feasibility of parametric imaging of pancreatic masses has been demonstrated, future efforts with increased sample size and motion correction are likely needed to better elucidate any differences in blood flow TIC parameters between benign and malignant pancreatic lesions.
Participative Management in the Small Firm: A Longitudinal Study of an M.B.O. Program:

This paper reports the results of a participative management Program on members of a small firm in the areas of behavior (commitment) of employees and attitude of these employees toward management ...
Sea spray aerosol chemical composition: elemental and molecular mimics for laboratory studies of heterogeneous and multiphase reactions

Sea spray aerosol particles (SSA), formed through wave breaking at the ocean surface, contribute to natural aerosol particle concentrations in remote regions of Earth's atmosphere, and alter the direct and indirect effects of aerosol particles on Earth's radiation budget. In addition, sea spray aerosol serves as suspended surface area that can catalyze trace gas reactions. It has been shown repeatedly that sea spray aerosol is heavily enriched in organic material compared to the surface ocean. The selective enrichment of organic material complicates the selection of representative molecular mimics of SSA for laboratory or computational studies. In this review, we first provide a short introduction to SSA formation processes and discuss chemical transformations of SSA that occur in polluted coastal regions and remote pristine air. We then focus on existing literature of the chemical composition of nascent SSA generated in controlled laboratory experiments and field investigations. We combine the evidence on the chemical properties of nascent SSA with literature measurements of SSA water uptake to assess SSA molecular composition and liquid water content. Efforts to speciate SSA organic material into molecular classes and specific molecules have led to the identification of saccharides, alkanes, free fatty acids, anionic surfactants, dicarboxylic acids, amino acids, proteinaceous matter, and other large macromolecules. However to date, less than 25% of the organic mass of nascent SSA has been quantified at a molecular level. As discussed here, quantitative measurements of size resolved elemental ratios, combined with determinations of water uptake properties, provides unique insight on the concentration of ions within SSA as a function of particle size, pointing to a controlling role for relative humidity and the hygroscopicity of SSA organic material at small particle diameters.
Multi-Class Classification with Maximum Margin Multiple Kernel

We present a new algorithm for multi-class classification with multiple kernels. Our algorithm is based on a natural notion of the multi-class margin of a kernel. We show that larger values of this quantity guarantee the existence of an accurate multi-class predictor and also define a family of multiple kernel algorithms based on the maximization of the multi-class margin of a kernel (M3K). We present an extensive theoretical analysis in support of our algorithm, including novel multi-class Rademacher complexity margin bounds. Finally, we also report the results of a series of experiments with several data sets, including comparisons where we improve upon the performance of state-of-the-art algorithms both in binary and multiclass classification with multiple kernels.
A Parametric Finite Element Study of a Generic Crack Sizing Problem

This paper discusses the application of a numerical analysis technique to study eddy-current transducers. Probe design and operating parameters are determined by the constraints of excitation current and the material being tested Because the depth of penetration of the induced eddy-current is related to the excitation frequency as well as the permeability and conductivity of the specimen, the operating frequency may be selected for a certain depth of resolution. However, subsurface field depth is also a function of relative probe size and lift-off. Although there are no known closed form solutions relating probe size and lift-off to penetration, approximate analytical relationships have been developed by Mottl[3].
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Fishery Closures for Deep Oil Spills Using a Four-Dimensional Model

During the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, extensive areas of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) were closed for fishing due to the risk of seafood contamination and fishers’ health. The closures were determined daily according to the estimated extent of the spill relying mainly on satellite imaging. These closures were largely limited to the northern GoM. Yet, evidence from the field indicates a presence of oil beyond the closures, in some cases at toxic concentrations. With the advancement of oil transport modeling, together with the availability of new in situ data, we examine the 4D extent of the DWH spill, along with the effectiveness of the fishery closures in capturing the oil spill extent. We use the oil application of the Connectivity Modeling System (oil-CMS), cross-checked against in situ BP Gulf Science Data (GSD) and other published studies. The oil-CMS indicates that DWH extended well beyond the satellite footprint and fishery closures, with the closures capturing only ~55% of the total extent of the spill. With an increasing global shift toward deep-sea drilling, our findings are important for the safety of coastal communities and marine ecosystems around deep-sea drilling areas.
5G, A MultiPhysics Simulation Vision From Antenna Element Design to Systems Link Analysis

5G will only enhance the further growth of IoT. Advanced simulation with a coupled multiphysics workflow will help speed design and time to market. 5G and IoT applications are composed of systems assembled from relatively simple components but the complexity of these components utilized at high frequencies and high power require ANSYS Multiphysics solution to optimize their performance. Reduced size of devices utilized at mm waves require innovative applications of hardware and with the ANSYS HFSS, Mechanical and Fluid Tools an optimized coupled physics solution related to electromagnetic performance and mechanical and thermal reliability is necessary. Various specific environment scenario ssimulations of these specific devices in a realistic user environment are enabled by ANSYS HFSS SBR+ and EMIT Tools.
Plasma: a Brief History, the Evidence, and Current Recommendations

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a brief history of the use of plasma, as well as to provide a review of currently available products, indications for usage, and benefits of transfusion. The Prospective Observational Multicenter Major Trauma Transfusion (PROMMTT) trial, an observational study from ten level-one trauma centers, aimed to define the principles of Damage Control Resuscitation (DCR) and a balanced transfusion strategy. The Pragmatic Randomized Optimal Platelet and Plasma Ratios (PROPPR) trial was the first randomized controlled trial to address the question of transfusion ratios. Together these studies, along with the remainder of body of plasma literature, have led to current transfusion recommendations. The current cornerstones of therapy for the management of a trauma patient in hemorrhagic shock include early hemorrhage control, permissive hypotension, and damage control resuscitation. The American College of Surgeons’ Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) recommends a target balance between 1:1 and 1:2 for plasma to red blood cell ratio and one single donor apheresis or random donor platelet pool for each six units of RBC.
Emotional Experiences and Communal Coping among Mothers of Children with Eczema

This qualitative analysis focuses on the emotional experience and coping strategies of mothers of children with moderate and severe eczema. Interviews with 22 mothers addressed the following questi...
Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Hydrogen Sulfide Production Critically Impacts the Release of Other Paracrine Mediators After Injury.

Abstract Background The use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for treatment during ischemia is novel. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an important paracrine mediator that is released from MSCs to facilitate angiogenesis and vasodilation. Three enzymes, cystathionine-beta-synthase (CBS), cystathionine-gamma-lyase (CSE), and 3-mercaptopyruvate-sulfurtransferase (MPST), are mainly responsible for H2S production. However, it is unclear how these enzymes impact the production of other critical growth factors and chemokines. We hypothesized that the enzymes responsible for H2S production in human MSCs would also critically regulate other growth factors and chemokines. Materials and methods Human MSCs were transfected with CBS, MPST, CSE, or negative control small interfering RNA. Knockdown of enzymes was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Cells were plated in 12-well plates at 100,000 cells per well and stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α; 50 ng/mL), lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 200 ng/mL), or 5% hypoxia for 24 h. Supernatants were collected, and cytokines measured by multiplex beaded assay. Data were compared with the Mann–Whitney U-test, and P Results TNF-α, LPS, and hypoxia effectively stimulated MSCs. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF), epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, granulocyte/monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF), vascular endothelial growth factor, and interferon gamma-inducible protein 10 were all significantly elevated when CSE was knocked down during TNF-α stimulation (P Conclusions The enzymes that produce H2S in MSCs are also responsible for the production of other stem cell paracrine mediators under stressful stimuli. Therefore, reprogramming MSCs to endogenously produce more H2S as a therapeutic intervention could also critically impact other paracrine mediators, which may alter the desired beneficial effects.
Insider’s Guide to Quality, Affordable Healthcare: Practical Strategies to Navigate Our Complex System and Save Money

The Insider’s Guide to Quality, Affordable Healthcare : Practical Strategies to Navigate Our Complex System and Save Money takes the reader on a thoughtfully planned and systematic journey through the US healthcare system.
Monotonic and Cyclic Frictional Resistance Directionality in Snakeskin-Inspired Surfaces and Piles

AbstractInterface friction is a governing parameter in the performance of piled foundations and other applications. Piles and other foundation elements typically mobilize a similar interface fricti...
Generating Discrete Random Variates

This chapter shows how to transform continuous uniform random variates, u∼U(0,1), to random discrete variates for a variable that comes from one of the more common discrete probability distributions. The probability distributions described here are the following: discrete arbitrary, discrete uniform, Bernoulli, binomial, hyper-geometric, geometric, Pascal and Poisson.
Evaluating Proposed Deductions for the COVID-19 Pandemic

This article examines two tax proposals recently made by U.S. government leaders in response to the coronavirus pandemic: that state and local tax deduction caps should be lifted and that entertainment expenses should again be deductible.
Micra™ Leadless Intracardiac Pacemaker Implantation: A Safer Option During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

The Micra™ Transcatheter Pacing System (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) is a fairly novel leadless intracardiac pacemaker implanted in the right ventricle via a femoral-vein transcatheter approach. Due to the less-invasive nature of the implantation procedure and its smaller size, patients receiving the Micra™ device tend to experience fewer complications, hospitalizations, and revisions when compared with those with transvenous pacemakers. Certain arrhythmias and conduction abnormalities, such as high-degree atrioventricular blocks, require urgent and timely pacemaker insertion-a necessity that has persisted even during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Here, we present a case series of 10 patients with various conduction disease abnormalities who required right ventricle pacemaker implantation during the months of March to May 2020, which was the initial peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey, including the enhanced precautions taken to avoid viral spread.
An 86-year-old man with unexplained right-sided headache and vision loss.

Steroid treatment for suspected giant cell arteritis brought no improvement in vision or headache severity.
International Tax as International Law: An Analysis of the International Tax Regime

This book examines the coherent international tax regime that is embodied in both the tax treaty network and in domestic laws, and the way it forms a significant part of international law, both treaty based and customary. The practical implication is that countries are not free to adopt any international tax rules they please, but rather operate in the context of the regime, which changes in the same ways international law changes over time. Thus, unilateral action is possible, but is also restricted, and countries are generally reluctant to take unilateral actions that violate the basic norms that underlie the regime. The book explains the structure of the international tax regime and analyzes in detail how US tax law embodies the underlying norms of the regime.
On the formation of somites.

How do animals wiggle and bend? Throughout the animal kingdom may be found a persistent body organization of repeated metameric segments. In practically all metazoans, this meristic body pattern provides an efficient arrangement for body movement and locomotion. This is particularly striking in the annelids, in which this meristic pattern is seen in body segments and organs within the segments. Naturalists as far back as Aristotle (1910, translated by Thompson) have noted the common feature of segmentation in animals as diverse as worms, maggots, and snakes and in chicken embryos. Because of the ready availability of chicken eggs and the accessibility of the developing embryo, the segmentation of the vertebrate embryo was noted as early as the sixteenth century. This segmentation was alluded to as the “division of the embryo,” which could seldom be seen in the early stages of development without aids for magnification. Although lenses for magnification were noted as early as Aristophanes (fifth century BC), Roger Bacon (thirteenth century) is thought to have been the first scientist—naturalist to use lenses for investigative purposes (Needham, 1959). Embryologists were slow to use microscopes in their observations, although occasional use of the “perspicilli” was reported, and undoubtedly this instrument helped Harvey in his pioneer observations (1651) on early chick development (Meyer, 1936). Others in the seventeenth century also represented somites in their drawings of chicken embryos, although they did not remark upon them.
The Langlands classification for graded Hecke algebras

We establish the Langlands classification for graded Hecke algebras. The proof is analogous to the proof of the classification of highest weight modules for semisimple Lie algebras.
Getting the best out of existing hash functions; or what if we are stuck with SHA?

Cascade chaining is a very efficient and popular mode of operation for building various kinds of cryptographic hash functions. In particular, it is the basis of the most heavily utilized SHA function family. Recently, many researchers pointed out various practical and theoretical deficiencies of this mode, which resulted in a renewed interest in building specialized modes of operations and new hash functions with better security. Unfortunately, it appears unlikely that a new hash function (say, based on a new mode of operation) would be widely adopted before being standardized, which is not expected to happen in the foreseeable future. Instead, it seems likely that practitioners would continue to use the cascade chaining, and the SHA family in particular, and try to work around the deficiencies mentioned above. In this paper we provide a thorough treatment of how to soundly design a secure hash function H′ from a given cascade-based hash function H for various cryptographic applications, such as collision-resistance, one-wayness, pseudorandomness, etc. We require each proposed construction of HH′ to satisfy the following "axioms". 1. The construction consists of one or two "black-box" calls to H. 2. In particular, one is not allowed to know/use anything about the internals of H, such as modifying the initialization vector or affecting the value of the chaining variable. 3. The construction should support variable-length inputs. 4. Compared to a single evaluation of H(M), the evaluation of H(M) should make at most a fixed (small constant) number of extra calls to the underlying compression function of H. In other words, the efficiency of H′ is negligibly close to that of H. We discuss several popular modes of operation satisfying the above axioms. For each such mode and for each given desired security requirement, we discuss the weakest requirement on the compression function of H which would make this mode secure. We also give the implications of these results for using existing hash functions SHA-x, where x ∈ {1, 224, 256, 384, 512}.
Civic Cooperation, Pro-Environment Attitudes, and Individual Behavior

Using data from approximately 30,000 individuals in over 30 countries, we find evidence that an individual's level of civic cooperation is positively associated with pro-environment attitudes. The relationship between civic cooperation and actual behavior is more complex. Civic cooperation increases the probability of belonging to or volunteering for an environmental group, but only among those individuals who have a high level of trust in these groups. Furthermore, the influence of civic cooperation on environmental attitudes and behaviors varies with the level of development and the environmental quality of the country in which an individual lives. Finally, we document a positive relationship between pro-environment attitudes and behavior, although pro-environment attitudes are much more prevalent world-wide than pro-environment behavior.
Scatchard Analysis by Flow Cytometry

The goal of the protocols described here is to measure the affinity of a ligand for cell surface receptor(s) and to determine the number of receptors per cell, following the classic method of Scatchard [1]. The preferred method for analysis of ligand binding is to measure ligand bound to cells at equilibrium without removing unbound ligand, since removing unbound ligand allows ligand dissociation to begin and may result in underestimation of the equilibrium value. As first described by Bohn [2] and Steinkamp and Kraemer [3], the small diameters of the sample stream and excitation beam used in most flow cytometers provide excellent discrimination between cell-associated and free ligand. Further discussion of the basis of this discrimination and analysis of the effects of ligand affinity, number of receptor per cell, and sample stream diameter on expected signal (fluorescence from bound ligand) to noise (fluorescence from free ligand) may be found elsewhere [4]. When the equilibrium method is not suitable, the rapid dilution method is frequently an acceptable substitute (see second Procedure).
An Anthropology for the Next Century

Michael Jackson. Minima Ethnographica: Intersubjectivity and the Anthropological Project. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1998. 242 pp.
CIITA-regulated plexin-A1 affects T-cell-dendritic cell interactions.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II transactivator (CIITA) is the 'master coactivator' of MHC class II genes. To identify new targets of CIITA, we analyzed cDNA microarrays of dendritic cells (DCs) from CIITA-deficient, MHC class II–deficient and control mice. We found the semaphorin receptor plexin-A1 was expressed in DCs, but not in other immune cells, and was strongly induced by CIITA. RNA interference by short hairpin RNA specific for plexin-A1, but not a single-nucleotide mutant, greatly reduced plexin-A1 expression and T cell stimulation by protein- or peptide-antigen–pulsed DCs.Plexin-A1 is not required for peptide binding to MHC. These data indicate involvement of plexin-A1 in T cell–DC interactions but not antigen processing or binding.
Changes in somatic sensitivity during transcutaneous electrical analgesia

Patients with chronic pain in one limb, who experienced pain reduction with transcutaneous neurostimulation, were examined for sensory perception in that limb before and during electrical analgesia. Contralateral limbs and normal subjects served as controls. Sensory stimuli were quantified, a range of stimuli were presented and data were analyzed according to sensory decision theory. Results showed that, compared to controls, painful limbs show considerable impairment in sensory sensitivity. With transcutaneous neurostimulation, however, sensitivity is improved towards normal, whereas electrical stimulation slightly impairs perception in normal limbs. These results suggest that electrical analgesia involves both peripheral small-fiber blockade and large-fiber stimulation; the latter is more noticeable in the normal limb, but the former effect is predominant when pain reduction occurs in a painful limb.
A Meta-Analysis of Performance Response Under Thermal Stressors

Objective: Quantify the effect of thermal stressors on human performance. Background: Most reviews of the effect of environmental stressors on human performance are qualitative. A quantitative review provides a stronger aid in advancing theory and practice. Method: Meta-analytic methods were applied to the available literature on thermal stressors and performance. A total of 291 references were collected. Forty-nine publications met the selection criteria, providing 528 effect sizes for analysis. Results: Analyses confirmed a substantial negative effect on performance associated with thermal stressors. The overall effect size for heat was comparable to that for cold. Cognitive performance was least affected by thermal stressors, whereas both psychomotor and perceptual task performance were degraded to a greater degree. Other variables were identified that moderated thermal effects. Conclusion: Results confirmed the importance of task type, exposure duration, and stressor intensity as key variables impacti...
Cytomegalovirus pneumonia in patients with lymphoma

BACKGROUND Even when treated with antiviral therapy, cytomegalovirus pneumonia (CMVp) is associated with high morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. CMVp has been rarely reported in patients with lymphoma. METHODS The authors reviewed the records of patients treated at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX) between 1997 and 2003. Collected information included demographics, use of chemotherapy, or corticosteroids, concomitant infections, and outcome. RESULTS Thirty-one patients with lymphoma with 36 episodes of CMVp were identified. The incidence of CMVp increased between 1997 and 2003 (0 of 1000 treated patients vs. 9 of 1000 treated patients; P = 0.07). Most episodes occurred in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (89%). Most of the patients (92%) had received chemotherapy and corticosteroids (89%) before the onset of CMVp. Concomitant CMV antigenemia was detected in 11 (41%) of the 27 episodes in which testing was performed. In 19 episodes (53%), patients had coinfections within 90 days of the episode of CMVp. Coinfections were present at the onset of CMVp in 11 episodes (31%). The yield for CMV in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens was higher with culture methods than with cytologic evaluation or immunohistochemical staining (P 16) at onset of CMVp (P = 0.02, hazards ratio [HR] = 15.5, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5–163.7), and development of toxicity to antivirals (P = 0.04, HR = 14.03, 95% CI, 1.2–169.1). CONCLUSIONS The incidence of CMVp in patients with lymphoma is increasing. CMV detection in BAL specimens was better with culture methods than with cytologic or immunohistochemical methods. High APACHE II score and development of antiviral toxicity were associated with a fatal outcome. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.