cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Consuming for production: Japanese national security, nuclear fuel procurement, and the domestic economy

One of the most intriguing aspects of postwar Japan is a reversal of economic roles in which consumers serve producers rather than vice versa. By acquiescing to “consumer unfriendly” price and distribution systems, Japanese consumers have subsidized Japanese industry and Western consumers as well. Although much of the recent theorizing about Japanese production and consumption has focused on Japanese consumers as end users, it has seldom addressed the question of how Japanese producers that pay more than others for factor inputs remain competitive in world markets. This article uses the case of nuclear fuel price insensitivity, derived from security concerns, to explore how this behavior is institutionalized through regulatory policy in the larger Japanese economic culture.
Study modality and false recall: The influence of resource availability

False memories occur when individuals mistakenly report an event as having taken place when that event did not in fact occur. The DRM (Deese, 1959; Roediger & McDermott, 1995) paradigm provides an effective technique for creating and investigating false memories. In this paradigm participants study a list of words (e.g., SOUR, CANDY,…) that are highly associated to a non-presented critical item (e.g., SWEET). The study phase is followed by a test of memory for the study list words. Researchers typically find very high levels of false recall of the critical non-presented item. However, the likelihood of falsely remembering the non-presented critical items can be reduced by presenting studied associates visually rather than auditorally (e.g., Smith & Hunt, 1998). This is referred to as the modality effect in false memory. The current study investigated the role of resource availability in the expression of this modality effect in false recall. In Experiment 1 false recall was reduced in the visual study presentation condition relative to the auditory condition for participants with higher working memory capacity, but not for participants with lower working memory capacity. In Experiment 2 the effect of study modality on false recall was eliminated by the addition of a divided attention task at encoding. Both studies support the proposal that resource availability plays a role in the expression of the modality effect in the DRM paradigm (Smith, Lozito, & Bayen, 2005).
Determination of operability limits using simplicial approximation

Determining the boundaries of any process/design where feasible and safe operation is guaranteed has long been recognized as a major concern in process industries. Of additional value is identifying the range of operating conditions where the design is most profitable. Although there is a lot of discussion in the open literature regarding design feasibility in terms of uncertainty of process variables, these techniques are rather limited due to the underestimation of the feasible space. A new approach is presented based on the ideas of inner and outer approximation of the feasible region to identify the operating envelopes where process operation is feasible, safe, and profitable. A number of example problems are presented including two case studies to illustrate the applicability of this approach.
Existence of nonlinear resonances in polyethylene

In this paper, we demonstrate that the internal dynamics and vibrational spectra of polyethylene are influenced by Fermi and other nonlinear resonances. In previous work, the first semiclassical theory and quantum numbers (in parabolic coordinates) appropriate for this type of resonance were developed. We find from detailed molecular dynamics simulations that the same types of quantum numbers are applicable for polyethylene stretch-bend mode interactions. In addition, a one-to-one resonance is found to exist from one local CH stretch to another CH stretch along the polymer chain.
Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma, T-/Null-Cell Type

Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, T-/null-cell type (ALCL), is a rare disease that has only been well characterized for two decades. Despite this, the biology of ALCL is better understood than that of many other more common variants of lymphoma. This review focuses on the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and therapy of ALCL, including stem cell transplantation. In particular, the text emphasizes how novel prognostic features and the evolving understanding of the biology of this disease will influence treatment selection and drug development.
Discrimination of the order of linear systems

The problem considered in this paper is the order discrimination of a linear system with noisy observations. The order discrimination problem is viewed as a sequence of hypothesis tests ; at the nth step, a choice is made between models of order n and (n+1(. The sequence is terminated the first time that the lower-order hypothesis is preferable. A series of detailed digital computer studies were performed to determine the effectiveness of the proposed order discrimination scheme.
Trafficking Nature and Labor Across Borders: The Transnational Return of US Environmental History

Nogales is the shared name of two towns in North America that have grown up in the Sonoran desert; they are separated and united by the international border between the United States and Mexico. Until the early twentieth century, people who frequented Brickwood's Saloon in Nogales, Arizona would literally be standing on the border if they moved close to its south wall (it had to be knocked out to make room for a border marker put up in 1894). A lot of alcohol flowed north over the borderline at Nogales during prohibition. Much illicit traffic in people and goods continues to flow through Ambos Nogales (as the two towns are collectively known). Yet there is also a tremendous amount of licit traffic that goes through America's Port of Entry at Nogales—$2.5 billion worth of fresh produce—tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, peppers, eggplant, mangoes and more, much of it organically grown. These goods came over the border in Mexican trucks in 2011, supplying a healthy dose of fruits and vegetables to American consumers in the winter months. Meanwhile, Mexican workers from places like Oaxaca make a perilous passage through the desert to enter the United States, heading to fields and groves in California or Georgia or Washington or countless other places to harvest fruits and vegetables for Americans or perform other work vital to the so-called American way of life. Over 6,000 migrants, lost or left behind by coyotes, have perished of dehydration in the crossing in the last decade trying to make it to America's fields and other opportunities for work, as other less environmentally punishing border zones in California and Texas have been hardened with walls and intensive surveillance regimes.
HDVC converter station tests in the 0.1 to 5 MHz frequency

Radiofrequency (RF) quantities in and around an HVDC converter station were measured in the 0.1 to 5 MHz frequency range to provide baseline data for the formulation of a means to predict the RF performance of such stations. Special records were taken at selected points and traverses in the station. The RF voltages of buses were measured and ground-level electric field strength and magnetic flux density measurements were conducted. To obtain the maximum amount of information about a converter pole when it is considered as an RF source, swept frequency (broadband) measurements were selected as the prime records for the analysis of pole performance. The principal source of the RF noise is the firing valve. Additional impedance versus frequency measurements of station components were also performed for undertaking RF modeling of the converter station. >
A Three-Dimensional Radially-Anisotropic Model of Shear Velocity in the Whole Mantle

SUMMARY We present a 3-D radially anisotropic S velocity model of the whole mantle (SAW642AN), obtained using a large three component surface and body waveform data set and an iterative inversion for structure and source parameters based on Non-linear Asymptotic Coupling Theory (NACT). The model is parametrized in level 4 spherical splines, which have a spacing of ! 8 " . The model shows a link between mantle flow and anisotropy in a variety of depth ranges. In the uppermost mantle, we confirm observations of regions with VSH > VSV starting at ! 80 km under oceanic regions and ! 200 km under stable continental lithosphere, suggesting horizontal flow beneath the lithosphere. We also observe a VSV > VSH signature at ! 150‐300 km depth beneath major ridge systems with amplitude correlated with spreading rate for fast-spreading segments. In the transition zone (400‐700 km depth), regions of subducted slab material are associated with VSV > VSH, while the ridge signal decreases. Whilethemid-mantlehasloweramplitudeanisotropy( VSV in the lowermost 300 km, which appears to be a robust conclusion, despite an error in our previous paper which has been corrected here. The 3-D deviations from this signature are associated with the large-scale low-velocity superplumes underthecentralPacificandAfrica,suggestingthatVSH >VSV isgeneratedinthepredominant horizontal flow of a mechanical boundary layer, with a change in signature related to transition to upwelling at the superplumes.
Atopy and Asthma

Atopy is the genetic propensity to develop an immunoglobulin E antibody response to common allergens. The most common clinical manifestations of atopy are allergic rhinitis, asthma and atopic dermatitis. Asthma is a complex disorder of the airways, involving airway hyperresponsiveness, airflow obstruction that is at least partially reversible, and inflammation of the airways. Although atopy has been identified as the strongest predisposing factor for the development of asthma, not all asthma is allergic in nature. The overall prevalence of asthma has been increasing worldwide for the last few decades, and continues to increase globally. Guidelines for the evaluation and treatment of asthma were developed in the early 1990s, and are revised periodically as research into effectiveness of available medications emerges, and development of new therapies arise. Key Concepts Immunoglobulin E (IgE), produced by atopic individuals, plays a key role in allergic disorders, with atopic asthma being a prime example of IgE-mediated inflammation. Asthma is a common but complex disorder of the airways, involving variable and recurrent symptoms, airway obstruction, inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Symptoms of asthma include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and feelings of chest tightness or pain with breathing. Numerous comorbidities may complicate and exacerbate asthma. Onset of asthma usually begins early in life, although adult-onset of asthma may occur. Genetic predisposition and environmental factors play a role in the development of asthma. The diagnosis of asthma depends on the appropriate historical symptoms, physical examination, objective measurement of lung function and response to bronchodilator. Treatment of asthma centres around control of chronic inflammation, avoidance of triggering factors and treatment of acute bronchospasm when needed. Asthma severity is stratified based on factors regarding symptom frequency and severity, occurrence of nocturnal symptoms, frequency of short-acting beta-agonist use, interference with normal activity and objective measurement of pulmonary function. Risk assessment includes frequency of systemic corticosteroid use, and frequency and severity of asthma exacerbations. Individuals over 65 may have a decreased perception of breathlessness and air hunger. Therefore, the use of clinical symptoms to diagnose and treat seniors may underestimate the severity of airways obstruction. Keywords: atopy; allergy; asthma; airway hyperresponsiveness; inflammation; bronchospasm; immunoglobulin E; interleukins; leucotrienes; T-helper lymphocytes
γ-Tocotrienol-induced autophagy in malignant mammary cancer cells.

g-Tocotrienol, a member of the vitamin E family of compounds, displays potent antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects in a variety of cancer cell types at treatment doses that have little or no effect on normal cell viability or growth. Autophagy is a tightly regulated lysosomal self-digested process that can either promote cell survival or programmed cell death, but the role of autophagy in mediating g-tocotrienol-induced cytotoxicity in breast cancer is not presently completely understood. Mouse (þSA) and human (MCF-7 and MDA-MD-231) mammary tumor cells lines were exposed to 0–40mmol/L g-tocotrienol for a 24 h treatment period. g-Tocotrienol treatment caused a relatively large increase in the accumulation of monodansylcadaverine (MDC)-labeled vacuoles, a marker of autophagosome formation, in all tumor cell lines. Results also showed that g-tocotrienol treatment induced an increased conversion of microtubule-associated protein, 1A/1B-light chain 3, from its cytosolic form (LC3B-I) to its lipidated form (LC3B-II), increased Beclin-1 levels, and increased acridine orange staining as determined by flow cytometry analysis, providing further evidence of g-tocotrienol-induced autophagy in these mammary cancer cell lines. In contrast, similar treatment with g-tocotrienol was not found to increase autophagy marker expression in immortalized mouse (CL-S1) and human (MCF-10 A) normal mammary epithelial cell lines. Treatment with g-tocotrienol also caused a reduction in PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling and a corresponding increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) levels in these cancer cell lines, suggesting that g-tocotrienol-induced autophagy may be involved in the initiation of apoptosis. In summary, these findings demonstrate that the cytotoxic effects of g-tocotrienol are associated with the induction of autophagy in a mouse and human mammary cancer cells.
Chemical Transport Metasomatic Process, NATO ASI Series C: Mathematical and Physical Sciences, vol. 218

This book is an outgrowth of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Chemical Transport in Metasomatic Processes which was held in Greece, June 3–16, 1985. Seventeen invited lectures (papers), a field excursion guide, and poster session papers (10) and abstracts (6) are included in the volume. The lecture papers, field guide, and poster session papers/abstracts constitute approximately 60, 6, and 34% of the volume, respectively.
Polymer blends based on sulfonated poly(ether ketone ketone) and poly(ether sulfone) as proton exchange membranes for fuel cells

The importance of the blend microstructure and its effect on conductivity and structural integrity of proton exchange membranes (PEM) were investigated. Sulfonated poly(ether ketone ketone) (SPEKK) was selected as the proton-conducting component in a blend with either poly(ether sulfone) (PES) or SPEKK with a different sulfonation level. The second component was added to improve the mechanical stability in the fuel cell environment. Membranes were cast from solution using N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and dimethylacetamide (DMAc). Special attention was paid to the ternary solution behavior. Solution cast SPEKK/PES membranes are homogeneous for all studied compositions, 8/2 through 5/5 (w/w), and sulfonation levels, 1.7–3.5mequiv./g. Although this polymer pair does not show evidence for intrinsic compatibility, the excellent solvent quality results in a frozen-instructureduringsolutioncasting.ThemorphologyofSPEKK/SPEKKblendscanbetailor-madebyfindingtherightbalancebetween composition, casting solvent and temperature. Co-continuous morphologies can be devised for an SPEKK blend with sulfonation levels of 1.2 and 2mequiv./g. Both blends show lower swelling than the parent SPEKK. This results in better stability of PEMs during fuel cell testing. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Differential delay-Doppler estimation using second- and higher-order ambiguity functions

Estimation of differential delay-Doppler parameters in passive sonar and radar applications is addressed. Without assuming Gaussianity it is shown that the conventional ambiguity function is asymptotically chi-squared and yields consistent delay-Doppler estimates for narrowband signals observed in uncorrelated sensor noises. Related asymptotic covariance expressions and their computable forms are also derived. It is further shown that the performance of the ambiguity function degrades severely when the sensor noises are correlated. To deal with such noises a novel third-order ambiguity function is proposed and is shown to be consistent and theoretically immune to Gaussian and symmetrically distributed disturbances. Further, to take into account the errors due to variances of sample statistics, alternative delay-Doppler estimators are defined to minimise a cumulant matching criterion and related issues are discussed. The case of wideband signals is also addressed and, finally, extensions to kth-order ambiguity functions are proposed. Computer simulations are performed to confirm the theory. Throughout the paper the analysis treats both deterministic and stochastic signals on a common framework. Connections with active sonar and radar problems are also shown as a special case.
ScalaBLAST 2.0

Motivation: BLAST remains one of the most widely used tools in computational biology. The rate at which new sequence data is available continues to grow exponentially, driving the emergence of new fields of biological research. At the same time, multicore systems and conventional clusters are more accessible. ScalaBLAST has been designed to run on conventional multiprocessor systems with an eye to extreme parallelism, enabling parallel BLAST calculations using >16 000 processing cores with a portable, robust, fault-resilient design that introduces little to no overhead with respect to serial BLAST. Availability: ScalaBLAST 2.0 source code can be freely downloaded from http://omics.pnl.gov/software/ScalaBLAST.php. Contact: christopher.oehmen@pnl.gov
Extended Family and Mental Health

People maintain ties to a wide variety of family members throughout adulthood. Relationships with siblings, grown children, aging parents, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and other relatives may affect mental health. Functionalist theories of social ties suggest that intimate ties and less close ties may serve distinct functions; extended family members may provide opportunities for nurturance, mentoring, or information not available from close family ties. Family systems theory suggests that families may retain established patterns of behavior, even when those behaviors are dysfunctional or maladaptive for mental health. Extended family in the twenty-first century presents unique challenges as people must define ties to a wide array of family members and some ties may be difficult to maintain when romantic partnerships disband (e.g., a grandparent who loses a connection to a grandchild). As such, people may benefit from ties to extended kin or suffer deleterious mental health consequences depending on the relationship.
Romantic Love in the United States: Applying Cultural Models Theory and Methods

We seek to advance cultural models theory by contributing to issues related to theory, methods, and testing the external validity of a cultural model. We propose that cultural models are learned as...
Erratum to: Prediction Mechanisms That Do Not Incentivize Undesirable Actions

Definition 10 of the paper entitled “Prediction Mechanisms That Do Not Incentivize Undesirable Actions” contains an error. Here is the correction:
RESEARCH: Environmental Racism in the Sunbelt? A Cross-Cultural Analysis.

/ Sociologist Robert Bullard challenged the prevailing paradigm of environmentalism as a consensual issue in the United States by developing the concept of environmental racism. As he claims, ethnic minorities have been put "at greater environmental risk" than has the Caucasian majority in most areas of the country. This study of the Tucson metropolitan area examines this proposition by utilizing data from several sources: interviews with elected officials and other opinion leaders, GIS-generated socioeconomic data, articles in the press, and a literature review. We conclude that Bullard's concept has validity for this metropolitan area but that there also exist widely divergent differences of opinion on the subject. We explain why this is so. We further conclude that the allegation of "environmental racism" made by the Hispanic community in the 1980s and 1990s has had a transformative effect on local politics.KEY WORDS: Environment; Racism; Tucson; Garbage dumps; County government; Pollution; Equity; Justice
Practical considerations in the diagnosis of myxovirus infections.

The laboratory confirmation of myxovirus infections can be accomplished with a variety of technics at several levels of sophistication and expense. The methods selected for diagnosis of myxovirus infections are conditioned by the interests, responsibilities, and capabilities of the laboratory, by the needs of the attending physician, and by the purposes of the responsible investigator. Knowledge of the clinical, pathologic, and epidemiologic phenomena involved in myxovirus infections also plays a role in the choice of the procedures employed. There is no one “best” method for establishing a laboratory diagnosis; there are alternative methods appropriate for each circumstance. In this appraisal, practical considerations appropriate to the needs and objectives of the clinical laboratory are emphasized.
Research and Application of Acidizing Fluid Formulae with Original Production String Acidizing for Bohai SZ36-1 Oil Field

SZ36-1 oil field of Bohai is weakly consolidated sand formation which is characteristic of high porosity, permeability and viscosity. In order to realize an acidizing treatment with original production string which will lead to an effective removal of the near wellbore zone plug and a deep penetration of the acid without significant erosion of downhole string, ESP and its wireline, an acidizing fluid foumula fluorboric acid is selected on the base of analyzing the feature of SZ32-1 oil field and running a large number of laboratory experiments. This formular can remove the plugging of near wellbore zone effectively and do little damage to gravel pack, downhole string, ESP and its wireline, and also maintain its good quality after a 2-day lay aside, which meets the needs of interval injecting acid when platform area is limited.
Supercontinuum generation in dispersion-varying microstructured optical fibers

We numerically study the broadband mid-infrared supercontinuum generation in a non-uniform SF57 microstructured fiber. The dispersion of the fiber is tailored by linearly varying the air hole diameters along the propagation distance. The fiber has zero dispersion at two wavelengths. This allows a continuous shift of the higher zero dispersion wavelength to a longer wavelength. Results show this scheme can significantly broaden the generated spectrum.
Elitism and Exclusion in Mass Protest: Privatization, Resistance, and State Domination in China:

One of the biggest puzzles of China’s reform era is how the government was able to implement a stunning enterprise restructuring program amid widespread worker protests. While most existing explana...
Influence of the Abrasive Grain on the Surface Integrity of High Speed Steel

The surface integrity of high-speed steels ground with aluminium oxide and cubic boron nitride abrasive is examined. Experimental tests demonstrate that the particular type of abrasive used in grinding is one of the most important factors influencing the surface integrity of high-speed steels. Even under moderate feedrate conditions, aluminium oxide wheels create disturbed material zones which differ in microstructure and hardness from the parent metal. There is significantly less tendency to disrupt the work-piece when using cubic boron nitride abrasive under similar grinding conditions. The results of these metallurgical studies are substantiated by drill-life studies where drills pointed with CBN abrasive exhibited better tool-life than drills similarly ground with aluminium oxide.
Pathways to Student Learning within HFOSS

Preparing students for the complex mix of knowledge and skills needed for professional practice is an essential part of computing education. Students need both technical skills as well as professional skills such as communication, teamwork, and more. Helping students master fundamental technical topics as well as become problem solvers, communicators and team members is a challenge. This poster presents an approach that will hopefully improve undergraduate computing education by developing pathways through IT, CS, and SE curricula that can help address key challenges of computing education.
Troponin Basics for Clinicians

Cardiac troponin (cTn) is the preferred biomarker for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), including each specific MI subtype (i.e., type 1–5 acute myocardial infarction), due to cTn’s high myocardial tissue specificity and high clinical sensitivity [1]. cTn are regulatory proteins with both cytosolic (predominant) and structural pools (minor) [2]. Clinical implementation of cTnT and cTnI assays in the late 1980s revolutionized the diagnostic approach of patients with symptoms suspicious for AMI [3, 4]. Global utilization of high-sensitivity (hs) cTnI and cTnT assays has brought upon clinicians another transformational stage in the diagnostic approach of patients presenting with symptoms suspicious for AMI. It is essential for clinicians, in particular emergency physicians and cardiologists, to understand the nuances of cTn testing, as proper understanding of the analytical characteristics of assays will lead to sound clinical implementation and improved research observations.
Modeling of modal dispersion in multimode and multicore optical fibers

Modal dispersion in strongly-coupled multimode and multicore optical fibers can be viewed as a generalization of polarization-mode dispersion in single-mode fibers. Due to the similarities between these two transmission effects, the conventional Jones and Stokes calculus for polarization-mode dispersion can be extended to the case of modal dispersion. In this paper, we review and expand the theoretical framework used for the representation of modal dispersion in Stokes space by the modal dispersion vector. We show, for the first time, that the modal dispersion vector can be written as a weighted sum of the Stokes vectors representing the principal modes with the corresponding mode group delays as coefficients. This constitutes a fundamental relationship that leads to a reinterpretation of the modal dispersion vector and can be used to derive its properties.
Soft, Rotating Pneumatic Actuator

Abstract This article describes a soft pneumatic actuator that generates cyclical motion. The actuator consists of several (three, four, or five) chambers (arranged around the circumference of a circle surrounding a central rod) that can be actuated independently using negative pressure (or partial vacuum). Sequential actuation of the four-chamber device using reduced pressure moves the central rod cyclically in an approximately square path. We characterize the trajectory of the actuator and the force exerted by it, as we vary the material used for fabrication, the number of chambers, and the size of the actuator. We demonstrate two applications of this actuator: to deliver fluid while stirring (by replacing the central rod with a needle) and for locomotion that mimics a reptilian gait (by combining four actuators together).
Low-intensity ultrasound activates vestibular otolith organs through acoustic radiation force.

The present study examined the efficacy of 5 MHz low-intensity focused ultrasound (LiFU) as a stimulus to remotely activate inner ear vestibular otolith organs. The otolith organs are the primary sensory apparati responsible for detecting orientation of the head relative to gravity and linear acceleration in three-dimensional space. These organs also respond to loud sounds and vibration of the temporal bone. The oyster toadfish, Opsanus tau, was used to facilitate unobstructed acoustic access to the otolith organs in vivo. Single-unit responses to amplitude-modulated LiFU were recorded in afferent neurons identified as innervating the utricle or the saccule. Neural responses were equivalent to direct mechanical stimulation, and arose from the nonlinear acoustic radiation force acting on the otolithic mass. The magnitude of the acoustic radiation force acting on the otolith was measured ex vivo. Results demonstrate that LiFU stimuli can be tuned to mimic directional forces occurring naturally during physio...
Adaptive nonlinear observer/controller design for uncertain nonlinear systems 1

Abstract We present a procedure for global adaptive output-feedback stabilization and tracking of a class of nonlinear systems that can be transformed via a global diffeomorphism into systems thai are linear up to output injection and linear with respect to the unknown parameters. Compared to the well-known class of parametric output-feedback systems, our extended class allows output-dependent nonlinearities to appear not only additively, but also multiplicatively. The procedure consists in the construction of a nonlinear coordinate transformation that allows us to design a nonlinear observer, which is then integrated with a backstepping controller and a parameter estimator to yield a globally stable closed-loop system.
A calibration-free low-power supply-pushing reduction circuit (SPRC) for LC VCOs

A calibration-free low-power circuit is proposed to reduce the sensitivity of LC VCOs to power supply variations, i.e. supply-pushing. Detailed analysis and design procedure of the proposed circuit are presented and verified by simulations. To illustrate the strength of the proposed technique, the VCO is simulated with and without the proposed circuit. At the highest Kv value of 26 MHz/V, simulation results show 14.5-kHz and 1.01-MHz peak-to-peak deviation from a 1.9-GHz center frequency for a 50-mV supply variation with and without the proposed circuit, respectively. This is equivalent to a supply pushing of 290 kHz/V and 20 MHz/V with and without the proposed circuit, respectively. This represents about 70-times improvement in supply pushing over conventional VCO implementations. In addition, the proposed technique achieves a worst case frequency error of 126 kHz across all process and temperature variations with no calibration. Moreover, the proposed circuit shows negligible effect on the VCO phase noise. At 1.9 GHz, the phase noise of the VCO with the proposed circuit is only degraded by 2.9 dB and 0.1 dB at frequency offsets of 100 kHz and 1 MHz, respectively. The proposed circuit consumes less than 20 μΑ and occupies less than 1.5 % of the total area of the VCO in 90-nm RF CMOS technology.
Electrification of Subsea Systems Requirements and Challenges in Power Distribution and Conversion

The subsea industry has become more predominant in recent years because of the discovery of a significant number of new oil and gas fields located in deep water, a term often used to describe offshore projects located in water depths greater than 600 feet. In order to extract oil and gas, a large number of electrical systems need to be deployed at the seabed. Many of these electrical systems need high-reliability power grid and power control units located on the seabed to minimize downtime. Power system and power electronics play a major role in providing the required and reliable power to various electrical systems. But there are many challenges for deploying power components under the seabed. This paper presents the challenges and the requirements of power system components operating in subsea environment, use of power electronics for efficient transmission of power from the offshore platform or from the shore to the subsea electrical loads; variable speed drive systems; and research areas related to power electronics for subsea electrical systems.
Response Changes During Insertion of a Cochlear Implant Using Extracochlear Electrocochleography.

OBJECTIVES Electrocochleography is increasingly being utilized as an intraoperative monitor of cochlear function during cochlear implantation (CI). Intracochlear recordings from the advancing electrode can be obtained through the device by on-board capabilities. However, such recordings may not be ideal as a monitor because the recording electrode moves in relation to the neural and hair cell generators producing the responses. The purposes of this study were to compare two extracochlear recording locations in terms of signal strength and feasibility as intraoperative monitoring sites and to characterize changes in cochlear physiology during CI insertion. DESIGN In 83 human subjects, responses to 90 dB nHL tone bursts were recorded both at the round window (RW) and then at an extracochlear position-either adjacent to the stapes or on the promontory just superior to the RW. Recording from the fixed, extracochlear position continued during insertion of the CI in 63 cases. RESULTS Before CI insertion, responses to low-frequency tones at the RW were roughly 6 dB larger than when recording at either extracochlear site, but the two extracochlear sites did not differ from one another. During CI insertion, response losses from the promontory or adjacent to the stapes stayed within 5 dB in ≈61% (38/63) of cases, presumably indicating atraumatic insertions. Among responses which dropped more than 5 dB at any time during CI insertion, 12 subjects showed no response recovery, while in 13, the drop was followed by partial or complete response recovery by the end of CI insertion. In cases with recovery, the drop in response occurred relatively early (<15 mm insertion) compared to those where there was no recovery. Changes in response phase during the insertion occurred in some cases; these may indicate a change in the distributions of generators contributing to the response. CONCLUSIONS Monitoring the electrocochleography during CI insertion from an extracochlear site reveals insertions that are potentially atraumatic, show interaction with cochlear structures followed by response recovery, or show interactions such that response losses persist to the end of recording.
Histamine, mast cells, and heart failure: is there a connection?

We have known about histamine receptors in the heart for many years ([1][1]). The human H1- and H2-histamine receptors were cloned and characterized in the early 1990s ([2,3][2]), followed closely by the human H3- and H4-histamine receptors several years later ([4,5][3]). Histamine is a natural body
Genetic Partial Least Squares in QSAR

Publisher Summary Partial least squares (PLS) regression is a newly developed regression method that has found considerable use in many areas of chemistry. PLS is like ordinary least squares regression (OLSR) in that it provides a least-squares estimate of the dependent variable, Y, as a function of the independent variable, X. It differs from OLSR by extracting latent variables from X and Y that are approximately along the axes of greatest variation in X and Y and are optimally correlated. In doing this, PLS takes advantage of the collinearity that may exist in the X-data and provides more robust estimates of the Y-data. Unlike OLSR, it can be applied in cases where there are many more variables than samples or compounds. Genetic algorithms (GAs) are another also newly proposed method of problem-solving using aspects of the process of evolution to search for solutions. They are recently applied to problems in quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR), with OLSR as the modeling medium. The advantages of PLS can be combined with the model generating ability of GAs to create genetic partial least squares (GPLS). This approach and its application to QSAR data are discussed in this chapter.
From Astronomy to Cartography

Martin Waldseemuller ({ca. 1475 -–1522) was born in Wolfenweiler, Germany and matriculated from the University of Freiburg. He studied theology, was a cleric at the Diocese of Constance, and was canonized at Saint Die. He was a highly influential geographer and cartographer whose famous twelve-panel map of the world, shown in Fig. 9.1, gave the name America to the new world after the journeys of the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci. The map, which measures 4 feet by 8 feet4 ft×8 ft when fully assembled, was the first to depict the entire Western Hemisphere as a separate continent between two vast bodies of water, the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Interestingly, Waldseemuller’s later maps omitted the name “America”, simply referring to the new continent as “Terra Incognita.” Nonetheless, other famous mapmakers had already adopted and popularized Waldseemuller’s original terminology. The text that follows is from Waldseemuller’s Cosmographiae Introductio, which was published alongside his famous 1507 map. This Introduction to Cosmography makes extensive use of the meticulous geometrical and astronomical works of Ptolemy.
Future Problem Solving in Gifted Education

This chapter traces the growth of the Future Problem Solving Program from its beginning at one high school in Athens, Georgia in 1974 to its 30th Anniversary as an International Program with over 250,000 students around the world participating from grades 1 to 12, and to the present. The various components and rationale of the Program are described with examples of problems and students’ innovative solutions. The chapter will end with a discussion of the benefits of this program for the students who participate as well as for the larger society, and an argument for widening its scope beyond gifted education will be made.
Grain and Grain Boundary Geometrical Shape Considerations on Sodium and Potassium Diffusion Through Molybdenum Films

Molybdenum (Mo) thin films were deposited on soda lime glass (SLG) using direct-current (DC) magnetron sputtering at different substrate temperatures to study the diffusion process of Sodium (Na) and Potassium (K). To quantify the concentration of both species, secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) was used. In this paper, a grain diffusion model was developed that incorporates the effect of grain and grain boundary geometrical shape and size in the overall species concentration that SIMS data report. It was concluded that the ratio of grain boundary size and grain size is not constant along the Mo thin film and should be considered a key component when analyzing diffusion processes in thin films.
Low Value of Thyroid Testing in the Pediatric Inpatient Setting.

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to assess the frequency of pediatric inpatient thyroid testing, frequency of detection of abnormal results, and apparent impact on patient management. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of admissions from July 2015 to June 2016 at a large urban children’s hospital. Chart review was conducted on all hospitalized pediatric patients who underwent thyroid testing. We used a normal range of 0.5 to 5.0 μIU/mL for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and 1.0 to 2.0 ng/dL for free thyroxine (FT4), except for neonates for whom we used the higher reference ranges specified by the hospital laboratory. RESULTS: Thyroid testing occurred in 1202 (5.7%) of 20 907 hospitalizations; 79.3% had combined thyroid function tests (TFTs) with TSH + FT4 being most common, and 20.6% had TSH only. Combined TFTs were ordered routinely by psychiatry and frequently by endocrine, gastrointestinal, cardiology, and neurology services, but many cases had no identified reason for testing. Of the 205 abnormal tests (17.1%), the most common abnormalities in the combined TFTs group were normal FT4 and increased TSH (35.4%) (76% of which were between 5 and 10 μIU/mL), normal FT4 and TSH 0.1 to 0.5 μIU/mL (33.1%), and high FT4 but normal TSH (14.3%). Patients with new-onset type 1 diabetes had borderline low or high TSH in about 20% of cases, but all abnormalities resolved at outpatient follow-up. Overall, 8 patients (0.66%) were started on levothyroxine. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric inpatient thyroid testing is relatively common at our institution, and although results are often abnormal, they do not point to thyroid disease that has contributed to the reason for hospitalization and do not identify patients in urgent need of starting therapy.
Judicial Expenditures and Access to Justice: Evidence from Auto Injuries

Abstract: Despite claims of a judicial funding crisis, there exists little direct evidence linking judicial budgets to court access. Drawing from a database of thousands of auto injuries covering a 15-year period, we measure the relationship between state court expenditures and the propensity of injured parties to pursue litigation. Controlling for a wide variety of state and plaintiff characteristics and accounting for the potential endogeneity of expenditures, we demonstrate that a 10% increase in court budgets yields a 3% increase in litigation rates. Attorney representation also increases with court expenditures. Consistent with litigation models in which high litigation costs undermine the threat posture of plaintiffs, reductions in court resources also appear to lower payments to injury victims.
FULL MONOGRAPH: Belated Inquiries on Pornography and Ecology: How Being Conservative Works for Environmentalism.

This monograph sets out from the idea of an obscure and perverted relationship between environmentalism, understood as a 21 st century green and popular movement, and pornography, understood as a traditionalist and conservative art form. Both sides seem to come together in the interest of what has been called the Anthropocene. Somehow the same groups that rely on a fierce defense of the planet and demand a collective awareness of the risk the entire humanity faces do not do it any longer on behalf of an unknown future or revolutionary goal, but for the conservation of a still image of Earth: a positive conviction on how the future is going to look like. This aporia is dissolved into an oxymoron when environmentalist practices are put at work.
Ligand Design Approaches for Controlling Exchange Coupling and Fabricating Molecular Magnetic Materials

A proposal is reviewed for using ligand design to control the sign and magnitude of the exchange-coupling constant, J, in multinuclear ions. The approach promises utility for obtaining a J of ferromagnetic sign. Its origin lies in the use of a planar array of four strongly sigma-donating ligands at a first metal ion that is bridged via two of these to a second ion [1]. Strategies are discussed for extending the local concept to complete crystals. The relationships between local site and global structural parameters are summarized for chains and helices obtained by linking D3 ions. The properties of a magnetically interesting crystalline substance consisting of stacked chains are described.
Can altered muscle synergies control unimpaired gait

Recent studies have postulated that the human motor control system recruits groups of muscles through low-dimensional motor commands, or muscle synergies. This scheme simplifies the neural control problem associated with the high-dimensional structure of the neuromuscular system. Several lines of evidence have suggested that neurological injuries, such as stroke or cerebral palsy, may reduce the dimensions that are available to the motor control system, and these altered dimensions or synergies are thought to contribute to impaired walking patterns. However, no study has investigated whether impaired low-dimensional control spaces necessarily lead to impaired walking patterns. In this study, using a two-dimensional model of walking, we developed a synergy-based control framework that can simulate the dynamics of walking. The simulation analysis showed that a synergy-based control scheme can produce well-coordinated movements of walking matching unimpaired gait. However, when the dimensions available to the controller were reduced, the simplified emergent pattern deviated from unimpaired gait. A system with two synergies, similar to those seen after neurological injury, could not produce an unimpaired walking pattern. These findings provide further evidence that altered muscle synergies can contribute to impaired gait patterns and may need to be directly addressed to improve gait after neurological injury.
The Influence of Grain Boundary Roughness on Tricrystal Symmetry Tests

Phase sensitive experiments in tricrystal grain boundary samples[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] have demonstrated that a number of the high-Tc cuprate superconductors have predominantly d-wave symmetry. The reproducibility of these experiments is remarkable, when one considers the roughness of the grain boundary interfaces. Here we briefly describe how this roughness affects the magnetic properties of grain boundaries in high-Tc superconductors. We then describe experiments designed and performed to make conclusive symmetry tests despite this roughness.
An Investigation of Health Status Indicators: An Analytics Approach to Community Health in the United States

It is vital to improve individual outcomes for overall community health; therefore, this study reviewed some of the major components of community health status indicators—heart disease, lung cancer, and breast cancer—from 1994 to 2003 in the United States. Using Tableau analytics software, we analyzed an open data set made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to extract insights and represent the findings visually. Our analysis revealed that the most deaths in the United States were due to heart diseases. From 1994–2003, Kentucky had the highest number of deaths due to lung cancer and Ohio had the highest number of deaths due to breast cancer. The current findings can be used to advance community health policy strategies to deliver better healthcare models and improve public health.