cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predicting larval tick burden on white-footed mice with an artificial neural network.

Abstract White-footed mice are important hosts for immature blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) and the most competent reservoir hosts for several tick-borne pathogens, including the agent of Lyme disease, in eastern North America. The distribution of larval ticks on individual mice tends to be highly heterogeneous, potentially resulting in few individual hosts causing the majority of host-to-tick transmission events. In this study, we created an artificial neural network (ANN) model using a 20 year data set from Millbrook, NY, to understand which attributes of mice or the environment predict high larval burden. Furthermore, we performed a sensitivity analysis to explore the importance of, and interactions between, the most influential attributes. Our analysis indicated that highest larval burden is predicted in warmer and drier than average years when host abundance is low, and that climatic conditions and host density are far more important in predicting larval burden than traits of individual mice, a finding that could have human health implications within the context of a warming climate. Practically, our results suggest that instead of basing tick-control treatments on particular attributes of hosts, treatments should be targeted based on climate factors. Additionally, our results highlight the importance of including variable interactions in models aiming to predict vector (tick) aggregation, and, most broadly, demonstrate the utility of ANNs in understanding aggregation of ticks and other vectors.
Things that matter: Adolescent and young adult patients' priorities during cancer care.

Background Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) experience cancer while balancing emerging identity and life goals. We investigated AYAs' priorities during cancer, including psychosocial concerns, cure-directed therapy, and potential late effects. Methods We surveyed 203 cancer patients aged 15-29 treated at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, and their oncologists. Patients were approached and rated the importance of aspects of treatment, outcomes, and life during therapy. Response options were "extremely," "very," "somewhat," "a little important," or "not at all important." Ratings of "extremely" or "very important" were used as indicators of strong priorities. Results Patients' three most frequent priorities were cure (97%), being good to the people they care about (95%), and having supportive people around them (94%). Most prioritized being with family (90%), returning to school/work (89%), maintaining relationships with friends (88%), and feeling normal (85%). Fewer prioritized minimizing long-term (78%) and acute side effects (68%) and fertility (59%). Many participants (88%) said that cure influenced their decisions "a great deal," while fewer were influenced by side effects (32%), fertility (36%), or relationships (16%). Most patients (85%) thought their oncologist understood what was most important to them when treatment started. Conclusion Nearly all AYA cancer patients prioritize cure, while maintaining social relationships and a sense of normalcy. These priorities influence decisions they make about treatment to differing degrees, with cure influencing decision-making for most patients. Although the priority of cure is well established, recognizing other AYA priorities allows providers to optimally support these patients from the time of diagnosis.
Exploring Nontraditional Community College Students’ Motivational Experiences for Goal Achievement in a Blended Technology Course

In this case study, we explored how nontraditional community college students regulate their motivational efforts to achieve their goals in a blended technology course. Specifically, we investigate...
A Floorplanning-Synthesis Methodology For Multiple Chip Module Design

The VLSI design automation is one of the most computational expensive and complicated processes with significant impact into computer chips manufacturing, especially at the physical layout design cycle. The recent VLSI evolution in multiple chip modules design has introduced new challenges at the physical layout steps (partitioning, floorplanning, placement, routing, compaction,etc). In this paper an efficient synthesis and floorplanning methodology for Multiple Chip Modules (MCM) design is discussed. The floorplanning-synthesis methodology is based on the efficient hierarchical cooperation of two formal languages (Scan, Geometria). Scan determines an acceptable planning by partitioning the floor area and defining a set of planning patterns on it. Geometria performs the synthesis placement part of the methodology by efficiently placing the chips modules and determining their routing.
Deep magma drainage

Cesca and colleagues investigate the magmatic processes causing seismic activity offshore of the island of Mayotte since May 2018, including peculiar seismic waves detected globally. By analyzing seismic and deformation data, they track magma ascent from a reservoir beneath the crust all the way to eruption on the seafloor. Earthquake swarms and seafloor sagging occur as the reservoir drains.
Technology Intervention: Rethinking the Role of Education and Faculty in the Transformative Digital Environment:

The ProblemTechnology has affected almost every aspect of our lives, including education. Higher education is shifting the dynamics of delivery methods from traditional face-to-face to online to bl...
Aligning Public Health Infrastructure and Medicaid to Fight COVID-19

[ ]of the Medicaid expansion, more than 500 000 Louisianians have access to health insurance [ ]of health care coverage because of Medicaid expansion, we have screened more than 85 000 women for breast cancer, screened 49 000 people for colon cancer, and completed more than 200 000 behavioral health visits Other governors, if not for moral reasons, should recognize the economic imperative of connecting their states fragmented medical, social, and public health systems
Cultural complications: Why, how, and lessons learned.

• Lessons learned in curriculum deployment provide a blueprint for leaders seeking to increase Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. • Successful deployment hinges on selecting a forum, identify champions, understanding the audience, and including dissenters. • Making scenarios available ahead of time and creating safe spaces for debriefing help ensure robust discussion. • Enduring success requires a willingness to adapt and respond to criticism.
Association of Peer Comparison Emails With Electronic Health Record Documentation of Cancer Stage by Oncologists.

Importance Systematically capturing cancer stage is essential for any serious effort by health systems to monitor outcomes and quality of care in oncology. However, oncologists do not routinely record cancer stage in machine-readable structured fields in electronic health records (EHRs). Objective To evaluate whether a peer comparison email intervention that communicates an oncologist's performance on documenting cancer stage relative to that of peer physicians was associated with increased likelihood that stage was documented in the EHR. Design, setting, and participants This 12-month, randomized quality improvement pilot study aimed to increase oncologist staging documentation in the EHR. The pilot study was performed at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center from October 1, 2018, to September 30, 2019. Participants included 56 oncologists across 3 practice sites who treated patients in the ambulatory setting and focused on diseases that use standardized staging systems. Data were analyzed from July 2, 2019, to March 5, 2020. Interventions Peer comparison intervention with as many as 3 emails to oncologists during 6 months that displayed the oncologist's staging documentation rate relative to all oncologists in the study sample. Main outcomes and measures The primary outcome was patient-level documentation of cancer stage, defined as the likelihood that a patient's stage of disease was documented in the EHR after the patient's first (eg, index) ambulatory visit during the pilot period. Results Among the 56 oncologists participating (32 men [57%]), receipt of emails with peer comparison data was associated with increased likelihood of documentation of cancer stage using the structured field in the EHR (23.2% vs 13.0% of patient index visits). In adjusted analyses, this difference represented an increase of 9.0 (95% CI, 4.4-13.5) percentage points (P = .002) in the probability that a patient's cancer stage was documented, a relative increase of 69% compared with oncologists who did not receive peer comparison emails. The association increased with each email that was sent, ranging from a nonsignificant 4.0 (95% CI, -0.8 to 8.8) percentage points (P = .09) after the first email to a statistically significant 11.2 (95% CI, 4.9-17.4) percentage points (P = .003) after the third email . The association was concentrated among an oncologist's new patients (increase of 11.8 [95% CI, 6.2-17.4] percentage points; P = .001) compared with established patients (increase of 1.6 [95% CI, -2.9 to 6.1] percentage points; P = .44) and persisted for 7 months after the email communications stopped. Conclusions and relevance In a quality improvement pilot trial, peer comparison emails were associated with a substantial increase in oncologist use of the structured field in the EHR to document stage of disease.
Ensemble dimensionality reduction and feature gene extraction for single-cell RNA-seq data.

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies allow researchers to uncover the biological states of a single cell at high resolution. For computational efficiency and easy visualization, dimensionality reduction is necessary to capture gene expression patterns in low-dimensional space. Here we propose an ensemble method for simultaneous dimensionality reduction and feature gene extraction (EDGE) of scRNA-seq data. Different from existing dimensionality reduction techniques, the proposed method implements an ensemble learning scheme that utilizes massive weak learners for an accurate similarity search. Based on the similarity matrix constructed by those weak learners, the low-dimensional embedding of the data is estimated and optimized through spectral embedding and stochastic gradient descent. Comprehensive simulation and empirical studies show that EDGE is well suited for searching for meaningful organization of cells, detecting rare cell types, and identifying essential feature genes associated with certain cell types. Dimensionality reduction is used to make the analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data more efficient. Here the authors propose a method, EDGE, which simultaneously carries out dimensionality reduction and feature gene extraction.
SHADE: Automated Refinement of PCB Component Estimates Using Detected Shadows

Automated Visual Inspection (AVI) is an established approach for Printed Circuit Board (PCB) analysis. Several existing AVI methods have been well-developed for quality assurance, but not for hardware security and trust assessment. The main distinction between these two cases is that a golden sample (reference PCB) is available in the former application but is not guaranteed in the latter. Hence, conventional AVI approaches falsely detect many non-components (e.g. traces, vias, board text) as legitimate ones (e.g. resistors, capacitors, transistors). Such false detections cripple the scalability of hardware assurance approaches. In this paper, we propose an algorithm which exploits shadows cast by surface-mount components to accurately distinguish them from their invalid counterparts. It refines an initial component detection estimate by ruling out false positives. Moreover, the algorithm yields a per-component confidence metric which adds flexibility to the process' sensitivity threshold. Tests on a sample PCB indicate as many as half of the initial false positives from a component estimate can be removed while retaining 96% of the true positives.
Power System Resiliency Enhancement with Ternary Pumped – Storage Hydropower

Abstract This paper investigates, how Ternary Pumped Storage Hydropower (T-PSH) can help enhance power system resiliency by contributing primary frequency regulation in both pumping and generating modes. As renewable penetration increases, power system inertia decreases. Simultaneously, the frequency of storms and earthquakes have increased. As such power system resiliency is a key issue in low inertia power systems. To cater to this issue, the authors investigate the ability of T-PSH to provide primary frequency support in pumping and generating mode. The governor dynamics of the IEEE 9-bus system and T-PSH have been modeled and integrated. When the system is subjected to a step increase or decrease in load, results display that not only can the T-PSH provide pump mode regulation using the hydraulic short-circuit, but it can also transit smoothly between pumping and generating mode within a few seconds using the clutch. By changing its mode, the T-PSH unit can provide a regulation capability equal to twice that of the unit rating.
Simulated patients' experience of adopting telesimulation for history taking during a pandemic

The article discusses Simulated patients' experience of adopting telesimulation for history taking during a pandemic, which includes the Duke-NUS Medical School Simulated Patient programme is instrumental in development of clinical and behavioural skills in the future medical workforce of Singapore.
Chronic VEGFR-3 signaling preserves dendritic arborization and sensitization under stress.

Abstract Dendritic arborization is critical for the establishment and maintenance of precise neural circuits. Vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF-D), well-characterized as a “lymphangiogenic” growth factor, reportedly maintains dendritic arborization and synaptic strength in the hippocampus of adult mice through VEGF receptor (VEGFR-3) signaling. Here, we investigated the effect of chronic VEGFR-3-specific activation on adipose arbor morphometry using the Adipo-VD mouse, a model of inducible, adipose-specific VEGF-D overexpression. We examined whether adipose tissue innervation was preserved or functionally different in Adipo-VD mice during stress in vivo and if VEGFR-3 signaling afforded neuroprotection to challenged neurons in vitro. Chronic VEGFR-3 signaling in Adipo-VD subcutaneous adipose tissue resulted in a reduction in the dendrite length, dendritic terminal branches (filament length), and dendritic terminal branch volume (filament volume), but increased dendrite branching. We also identified reduced stimulus-evoked excitatory sympathetic nerve activity in Adipo-VD mice. Following 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) denervation, Adipo-VD dendritic arbors were preserved, including improved dendritic branch volume, length, and dendritic branches than in wildtype tissues. In vitro, we found that chronic elevation of VEGFR-3 signaling in developing mVC neurons changes the dendritic arbor complexity and improves stress-induced structure remodeling. Developing neurons are conferred neuroprotection against stress, potentially by upregulation of proteolytic conversion of pro-BDNF to mature BDNF. Mature neurons, however, display improved dendritic arbor complexity, and unaltered dendritic structural remodeling and improved resistance to stress with VEGFR-3 signaling. Overall, chronically increasing VEGFR-3 signaling in neurons has a synergistic impact on neurosensitization and neuroprotection during stress.
Tumor cell intrinsic and extrinsic features predicts prognosis in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer

Although estrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer is generally associated with favorable prognosis, clinical outcome varies substantially among patients. Genomic assays have been developed and applied to predict patient prognosis for personalized treatment. We hypothesize that the recurrence risk of ER+ breast cancer patients is determined by both genomic mutations intrinsic to tumor cells and extrinsic immunological features in the tumor microenvironment. Based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) breast cancer data, we identified the 72 most common genomic aberrations (including gene mutations and indels) in ER+ breast cancer and defined sample-specific scores that systematically characterized the deregulated pathways intrinsic to tumor cells. To further consider tumor cell extrinsic features, we calculated immune infiltration scores for six major immune cell types. Many individual intrinsic features are predictive of patient prognosis in ER+ breast cancer, and some of them achieved comparable accuracy with the Oncotype DX assay. In addition, statistical learning models that integrated these features predicts the recurrence risk of patients with significantly better performance than the Oncotype DX assay. As a proof-of-concept, our study indicates the great potential of genomic and immunological features in prognostic prediction for improving breast cancer precision medicine. The framework introduced in this work can be readily applied to other cancers. Author SummaryMany genomic biomarker tests such as Oncotype DX have been developed for breast cancer and have helped guide clinical decisions. We have developed gene signatures to integrate cancer genomic and transcriptomic data to characterize the downstream effect of driver genomic events. These signatures recapitulate the de-regulated pathways underlying the corresponding driver genomic events and are more correlated with clinical phenotypes such as recurrence free survival than mutation status alone. We apply this framework to ER+ breast cancer and define gene signatures for a total of 72 most commonly observed genomic events including gene mutations, amplifications and deletions. We find that many of these gene signatures are predictive of patient prognosis in ER+ breast cancer, and some of them achieved comparable accuracy with the Oncotype DX assay. We combine these tumor-intrinsic signatures with infiltration signatures for major immune cell types (tumor-extrinsic features) to construct integrative models for prognosis prediction. The models predicts the recurrence risk of patients with significantly better performance than the Oncotype DX assay.
Evaluation of compatibility and stability of filtered 99mTc-sulfur colloid when combined with indocyanine green dye

2414 Objectives It is a common practice to administer dyes and radiopharmaceuticals separately for the localization of sentinel nodes in patients with biliary tract malignancies. The objective of the study is to evaluate the chemical properties and particle size of filtered 99mTc-sulfur colloid (FSC) before and after it is combined with indocyanine green for injection, USP (IG). This study also evaluates the compatibility and stability when combining the two for the possibility of a single injection. Methods 99mTc-SC (Pharmalucence, Bedford, MA) was prepared according to the package insert and the final preparation was filtered through a sterile 0.2-µm filter. IG dye (Akorn, Incorporated, Lake Forest, IL) was also prepared as per package insert. In a sterile syringe, 0.25 mL of 14.8 MBq (400 μCi) FSC was mixed with 0.25 mL of 1.25 mg IG dye in a 1:1 for a total solution volume of 0.50 mL. The radiochemical purity (RCP) and pH values of FSC were obtained immediately, and at 1 and 2 hours post-preparation. Particle size was analyzed using an electron microscope (FEI Tecnai 12 TEM, FEI Company, Hillsboro, OR) immediately and at 2 hours. In addition, bacterial endotoxins and sterility were tested at two hours post-preparation with the Endosafe PTS 100 (Charles River Laboratories, Charleston, SC). Results The average RCP value was 97.6 ± 2.2% (n = 24). The average pH value was 5.47 ± 0.29 (n = 24). Evaluation of the particle size of FSC with the IG dye was determined by electron microscopy to be an average of 62 ± 30nm (n = 271) at zero hour and 71 ± 34nm (n = 215) at two hours. This was compared to the filtered 99mTc-SC without the IG dye to be an average of 71 ± 41nm (n = 41). Measurements of unfiltered 99mTc-SC were recorded at 253 ± 192nm (n = 21) for additional comparisons. All two hour samples passed bacterial endotoxins and sterility tests. Conclusions The chemical properties and particle size of FSC were not impacted by the addition of IG, and thus it is suitable to combine FSC and IG in the same syringe for administration
Untargeted LC-MS based identification of Rebaudioside A degradation products impacting flavor perception during storage.

Abstract Untargeted LC-MS flavoromics chemical profiling was used to identify compounds predictive of Rebaudioside A (Reb A) flavor instability in an acidified beverage after 6 weeks at 35 °C. High-quality orthogonal partial least squares analysis models were developed from the chemical data and d’ values from tetrad sensory panel testing with good predictive ability. The top four highly predictive compounds were selected and identified as Reb A (negatively correlated) and three Reb A degradation compounds (positively correlated), which included a rearrangement, hydration, and an epoxidation/rearrangement of Reb A, termed compounds 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The concentrations of compounds 1–3 in the aged beverages were determined to be below the sensory recognition threshold values. However, sensory recombination testing of compounds 1–3 as a tertiary mixture revealed a perceivably significant flavor change that was aligned with the aged beverage.
CDF Mapper Codef

In conjunction with the new contamination model and in accordance with the simulation requirements (both described in Chapter 3), a contamination-defect-fault mapping tool CODEF (Contamination-Defect-Fault) [1], [2], [3] has been developed. A block diagram of the simulator is shown in Figure 1. CODEF accepts as inputs (a) layout description of the IC cell under analysis in CIF format [4], (b) description of the fabrication process (process recipe) in the PREDITOR format [5], [6], and (c) statistics of contamination parameters for each processing step of interest.
Toroidal Compactification of A g

We first outline in general terms the various steps of our construction of the toroidal compactification of A g , denoted by Ā g . Precise definitions will be given in due course. These steps are: (a) Let X = ℤ g . Choose a GL(X)-invariant rational polyhedral cone decomposition {σ α } of the cone C(X) of positive semi-definite quadratic forms on X ⊗ ℝ with rational radicals such that there are only finitely many cones modulo the GL(X)-action. (Such cone decompositions are called “admissible”.) (b) Use the machinery of Mumford’s construction to produce a collection of semi-abelian degenerate families of principally polarized abelian varieties over complete rings, which is adapted to the combinatorial data chosen and fixed in (a). (c) By M. Artin’s method, approximate (instead of directly algebraizing) the complete base rings by algebraic ones to produce semi-abelian schemes over algebraic base rings. Then the theory of degeneration of polarized abelian varieties tells us that the resulting approximations can be regarded as algebraizations of those constructed in (b). The new semi-abelian schemes are still adapted to the combinatorial data chosen in (a); we will refer to them as “local models”. (d) The theory of degeneration allows us to glue together the local models constructed in (c) in the etale topology, because they are adapted to data (a). The result is an algebraic stack Ā g and a semi-abelian scheme G → Ā g which extends the universal abelian scheme over A g .
Computer Graphics Techniques for Job Analysis and Reach Assessment

Job analysts and designers require efficient techniques to quickly and accurately evaluate the reach requirements of a job with respect to individual and population reach capabilities. Interactive computer graphics may be used to provide job analysis capabilities in a manner which minimizes the time for an analyst to collect and analyze data, and recommend job modifications. These computer aided job design facilities require analytical models to support the job analysis function. This paper focuses on analytical models for estimating maximum reach capabilities. A three dimensional spherical harmonic model is used to describe reach capabilities for several different populations and job configurations. The results indicate that the model provides very accurate estimates of maximum reach capability. The model supports computer aided job analysis procedures efficiently with respect to the analyst's time.
Electrodeposition of Bi1-xSbx thin films

Bismuth and antimony are semimetals with a rhombohedral crystal structure and similar lattice parameters. alloys exhibit unusual electronic properties and are of interest for thermoelectric and magnetoelectronic devices. In this paper, we show that alloys can be electrodeposited from acidic chloride-based solutions and that a homogenous solid solution is obtained across the entire composition range. We show that bulk deposition is preceded by monolayer deposition at potentials negative to the equilibrium potential. The deposition/stripping reaction for bismuth is more reversible than for antimony leading to a small increase in the bismuth concentration in films compared to the concentration in solution at low Sb(III) concentrations. Thin films have a preferred (012) texture and the interplanar spacing is proportional to the film composition according to Vegard's rule. The grain size for thin films increases from about 1 μm for pure Bi to several micrometers for pure Sb. © 2003 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.
Mental Models of Metal Models: A Comparison of Mental Model Measurement Techniques

Although use of the mental model construct has proliferated in recent research, the construct lacks a clear definition and an agreed upon method of measurement. Furthermore, the reliability and validity of the different measurement techniques in use have not been established, thereby making generalizations across studies of mental models difficult. The purpose of the current project was to assess several methods of measuring mental models in terms of their reliability/stability over time. Subjects” mental models of the automobile engine system were elicited on two occasions separated by one week, using seven different knowledge elicitation techniques. Subjects” level of experience was also measured to allow comparisons between experts and novices. The results indicate that each of the measurement techniques tended to be reliable for both experts and novices. However, reliability tended to be greater for experts than novices. Additionally, experts tended to agree with each other more than did the novices. ...
Carr's Randomization for Finite-Lived Barrier Options: Proof of Convergence

A maturity randomization technique was introduced by Carr (under the name "Canadization") as an efficient method of pricing finite-lived American options (it is equivalent to the "analytic method of lines" used earlier by Carr and Faguet). Since then, Carr's randomization was successfully applied to the valuation of (single and double) barrier options in a number of works. In this article we provide formal justification for the latter methods, by showing that Carr's approximation to the value of a finite-lived barrier option with bounded continuous terminal payoff function always converges to the actual value for a wide class of Levy processes (those of type B or C), including all those that are used in financial modeling.
Observations of Solar Ionizing Radiations and Their Significance for the Eclipse-Ionosphere

In recent years space research has provided an ever increasing body of data on the solar spectral intensity distribution and on the spatial emission pattern of ionizing radiation. From these data we can calculate in detail the time variations of the fluxes of ionizing wavelengths arriving at the ionosphere during the course of an eclipse. When such complete flux data are available simultaneously with ionospheric soundings it should be possible to make discriminating tests of ionic reaction rates and electron production and loss processes. In the following paragraphs examples are given of the kinds of spectral flux data that have been obtained and of some specific eclipse observations.
RAMAN-SCATTERING STUDY OF HIGH-TC FILMS OF THE ORDERED DEFECT STRUCTURE YBA2CU4O8-DELTA

We report Raman-scattering measurements on superconducting ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{4}$${\mathrm{O}}_{8\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ (1:2:4) films (${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$=80 K) grown on (110) and (001) surfaces of ${\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}$. In contrast to ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$, phonons associated with CuO chain atoms are Raman active in ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{4}$${\mathrm{O}}_{8\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$. Four Raman-active phonons are identified with the CuO chains in addition to five phonons corresponding to the five well-studied ${\mathit{A}}_{\mathit{g}}$ modes in ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$. The 337-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ mode associated with out-of-phase vibrations of the ${\mathrm{CuO}}_{2}$ planar oxygens softens by about 2 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ below ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ just as is observed in ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ films. A new result is that the phonon associated with in-phase vibrations of the ${\mathrm{CuO}}_{2}$ planar oxygens at 435 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ hardens about 2 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ below ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$. This nonthermal hardening has also been reported very recently in ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$. Interpreted with a recent theory for phonon energies that includes coupling to superconducting electrons, the hardening and softening of phonons with relatively close frequencies (337 and 435 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$) indicates that the energy gap is 2\ensuremath{\Delta}=280 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10% so 2\ensuremath{\Delta}/${\mathit{kT}}_{\mathit{c}}$=5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5. The 150-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ mode associated with ${\mathrm{CuO}}_{2}$ planar Cu motion and the four new chain modes behave normally with temperature. We attempt to deplete oxygen from some of the ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{4}$${\mathrm{O}}_{8\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ films by annealing in Ar up to 700 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. The films change crystal structure to ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ before significant amounts of oxygen are removed.
Handling Misalignment and Drift in 3D EBSD Data Sets

GE Global Research is exploring the 3D reconstruction of high temperature materials to understand material behavior in lifing applications. Large volumes of material are required to generate the appropriate statistical understanding of grain morphologies, grain boundary types and distributions, and residual plastic strain. Consequently, GE has adopted mechanical sectioning coupled with EBSD analysis as the methodology for investigating regions of interest. Among the major factors that affect the accuracy of such a reconstruction are thermal or mechanical drift during EBSD measurements and the precision and accuracy of sample alignment. To correct for these unavoidable issues when reconstructing the final volume, an algorithm based on grain center-of-mass and various shape factors has been developed and applied to a data set. Results show a significant improvement in slice-to-slice registration.
Interpolative sigma delta modulators for high frequency power electronic applications

Design techniques for interpolative /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ modulators from communications are applied and adapted to improve the spectral characteristics of high frequency power electronic applications. Interpolative /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ modulators with hexagonal quantization are proposed for three-phase resonant DC link power converters. Experimental and simulation results for a resonant DC link show significant improvements in spectral performance. >
Association of leptin levels with radiographic knee osteoarthritis among a cohort of midlife women.

Objective To relate serum leptin levels to prevalent and incident radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) and to determine if patterns of change in longitudinal serum leptin measures differ by knee OA status over a 10-year period. Methods Participants in the Michigan Study of Women's Health Across the Nation underwent bilateral knee radiographs at baseline and followup visits 2, 4, and 11 for ascertainment of knee OA status (Kellgren/Lawrence score ≥2). Serum leptin measures were available from baseline and followup visits 1 and 3–7. Results The baseline prevalence of knee OA (mean age 46 years) was 18%; the 2-year incidence of knee OA at followup visits 2 and 4 was 18% and 14%, respectively. Serum leptin levels were associated with prevalent and incident knee OA. A 5 ng/ml increase in serum leptin level was associated with 38% higher odds of prevalent knee OA (odds ratio [OR] 1.38, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.26–1.52) and 31% greater odds of incident knee OA (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.21–1.41) after adjustment for covariates, including body mass index residuals. Leptin levels increased with time; on average, serum leptin levels increased by 0.38 ng/ml per year (P = 0.0004). Women with incident knee OA during the 10-year followup period had consistently higher serum leptin levels as compared to women with no knee OA during followup. Conclusion Our findings support a metabolic role of obesity in knee OA. A better understanding of the mechanisms by which increased fat mass is associated with joint damage is needed. Management of cardiometabolic dysfunction, including elevated serum leptin levels, may be beneficial in forestalling the onset or progression of knee OA.
Angiotensin Inhibition Is Associated with Preservation of T-Cell and Monocyte Function and Decreases Multiple Organ Failure in Obese Trauma Patients.

Background Obese patients are more prone to post-injury multiple organ failure (MOF). Obesity pathophysiology includes an adipose-tissue−derived, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system affecting inflammatory responses via leukocyte angiotensin receptors. We hypothesized that obese patients receiving pre-injury angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) therapy would have decreased MOF and differences in immune cell frequencies. Study Design We analyzed the Inflammation and the Host Response to Injury trauma-related database. Patients receiving pre-injury ACE or ARB were stratified as obese (BMI >30 kg/m 2 ) or nonobese (BMI 2 ). Groups were age, sex, and Injury Severity Score matched against patients not receiving this therapy. Primary end points were Marshall Multiple Organ Dysfunction Score, Denver-2 Postinjury MOF Score, leukocyte markers on T cells, and monocytes measured by flow cytometry. Results We evaluated 1,932 patients. One hundred and ten were receiving pre-injury ACE/ARB; 94 patients had data available to calculate BMI. Obese patients receiving ACE/ARB showed maximum Marshall (5.83 ± 2.87) and Denver-2 (2.45 ± 2.32) scores similar to nonobese patients receiving or not receiving ACE/ARB, and obese patients not receiving ACE/ARB had significantly higher Marshall (6.49 ± 2.57; p = 0.009) and Denver-2 (3.33 ± 2.21; p = 0.006) scores. Leukocyte analysis suggested improved T-cell function and monocyte maturation in obese patients on ACE/ARB. Conclusions Obese patients receiving preinjury ACE/ARB therapy demonstrate post-injury MOF scores similar to nonobese patients; obese patients not receiving these medications have greater post-injury MOF. Leukocyte analysis demonstrates improved immune regulation. Modulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system pathway might represent a novel therapeutic target in severely injured obese patients.
THE PROTON AFFINITY AND ABSOLUTE HEAT OF FORMATION OF TRIFLUOROMETHANOL

The proton affinity and absolute heat of formation of trifluoromethanol have been derived from translational energy threshold measurements for reactions involving oxygen-protonated trifluoromethanol. The reaction of ionized iodotrifluoromethane with water was used to prepare CF{sub 3}OH{sub 2}{sup +} in the flow tube of a flowing afterglow triple-quadrupole instrument. The isomeric cluster ion, (HF)CF{sub 2}OH{sup +}, was shown to be more stable than CF{sub 3}OH{sub 2}{sup +} by the base-catalyzed conversion of CF{sub 3} OH{sub 2}{sup +} to (HF)CF{sub 2}OH{sup +} using either SO{sub 2} or OCS as the catalyst. The proton affinity of CF{sub 3}OH at oxygen was determined from the enthalpy change for the endothermic proton transfer reaction CF{sub 3}OH{sub 2}{sup +} + CO {yields} CF{sub 3}OH + HCO{sup +}. The measured enthalpy change was combined with the known value for the proton affinity of CO (141.9 kcal mol{sup -1}) to yield a value for the oxygen proton affinity of CF{sub 3}OH. The dissociation energy for the loss of water from CF{sub 3}OH{sub 2}{sup +} was measured by energy-resolved collision-induced dissociation. This value was used in a thermochemical cycle along with the measured proton affinity of CF{sub 3}OH to derive the gas-phase heat of formation of CF{sub 3}OH. Thismore » experimental value is slightly lower than, but in good agreement with, the 298 K heat of formation of CF{sub 3}OH that is predicted by high-level molecular orbital calculations. 37 refs., 7 figs., 3 tabs.« less
Using the Berlekamp-Massey algorithm to obtain LFSR characteristic polynomials for TPG

In built-in test pattern generation, a test cube is usually encoded or compressed by a seed vector that is used as the initial state of a Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR). The seed vector is found by solving a linear system of equations using a fixed (but arbitrarily chosen) characteristic polynomial for the LFSR In contrast, finding the LFSR characteristic polynomial to generate a given test cube provides more design freedom but results in a non-linear system of equations. In this paper, we address the latter problem using the Berlekamp-Massey (BM) algorithm. The BM algorithm is very efficient and obviates the need of solving a non-linear system, but it cannot work with don't care values. We present therefore a procedure that assigns the don't cares in a given test cube in such a way so as to minimize the resulting polynomial found by BM. Experimental results demonstrate the substantial improvement over a previous technique that assigns the don't cares greedily.
Climbing through medicine's glass ceiling.

Only 14 of 124 U.S. medical school deans are women. Dr. Nancy Andrews writes that if institutions are to accelerate the emergence of more female deans, they will need to consider women who have not stepped on every rung of the traditional academic career ladder.
Low-noise PPLN-based single-photon detector

ABSTRACT This paper describes the detection of single photons, which have been transmitted through standard fiber at the telecom wavelength of 1310 nm. Following transmission, the 1310-nm photon is up-converted to 710 nm in a periodical-poled LiNbO 3 (PPLN) waveguide and then detected by a silicon-base d avalanche photodiode (Si-APD). The overall detection efficiency of the detector is 20%. We have also characteriz ed the sensitivity of the PPLNs efficiency to temperature and wavelength changes. We focused on the noise property of the up-conversion detector. Without classical channel co-propagation, the dark count rate is 2.2 kHz, which is lower than current up-conversion detectors by more than one order of magnitude. The up-conversion detector is then applied to a QKD system, which is characterized and is shown to have a very strong performance. Keywords: single-photon detector, photon counting, quantum detectors, up-conversion, quantum key distribution, quantum communication, optical communication
Comparison of experimentally induced and naturally occurring sensitivity to leucine hypoglycemia.

We have previously reported that administration of L-leucine to healthy subjects pretreated with sulfonylurea compounds consistently induces significant hypoglycemia comparable to that induced in infants and children with leucine-sensitive “idiopathic hypoglycemia.” Release of additional insulin is the primary mechanism by which leucine causes a decrease in blood glucose both in experimentally induced and in naturally occurring leucine hypoglycemia. To explore further possible relationships between the 2 types of leucine hypoglycemia, a series of amino acids as well as the first 2 metabolites of leucine, alpha-ketoisocaproate and isovalerate, were administered to sulfonylurea-pretreated healthy subjects. The results indicate that (a) of the amino acids other than leucine, only isoleucine produces hypoglycemia; (b) alpha-ketoisocaproate induces a sharp but lesser hypoglycemic effect than leucine; (c) some of the administered alpha-ketoisocaproate is transaminated to leucine in vivo; and (d) isovalerate has...
After Pruitt-Igoe: An Urban Forest as an Evolving Temporal Landscape

Just after the fortieth anniversary of Pruitt-Igoe’s demolition, this essay positions the now-obscure site of the former housing project in St Louis, Missouri — which has seemingly fallen out of ti...
Tracking King Kong: a Hollywood icon in world cinema

In this update to her 1997 examination of King Kong as an icon of world cinema and culture, Erb includes an in-depth analysis of filmmaker Peter Jackson’s King Kong (1998) which takes her study bey...
Telephone Support Groups for Caregivers of Persons with AIDS

Caregivers of persons with AIDS experience numerous stressors in their caregiver role and could benefit from support groups. However, caregiving responsibilities make it difficult for many to attend face-to-face groups. This article describes experience with a telephone support group pilot project for this population. The time-limited, semi-structured groups used conference call technology; the eight session group protocol war designed to meet caregiver needs for information about resources and coping skills. Pilot data from interviews with group members from the first two completed groups on this project indicated that participants valued the group experience highly.
Linear-array apertures for in-flight dynamic solar calibration of radiometric channels for Earth radiation-budget applications.

The zero-frequency gain of nonimaging radiometers used in Earth radiation-budget applications is usually verified by a procedure that allows the instrument to view the Sun through an appropriate attenuating aperture and then equates its response to the known attenuated solar constant. However, channel intercomparison often requires that data from a low-resolution, relatively slow instrument such as an active-cavity radiometer be compared with data from a high-resolution, fast instrument such as a scanning thermistor–bolometer radiometer. In such a case, consideration of the difference in the dynamic responses of the two channels may be important. A novel technique for in-flight measurement of the radiometric transfer function of such instruments is described and then demonstrated through the use of a high-order dynamic model of the total, wide-field-of-view, nonscanning channel of NASA’s Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE).
Psychological disturbance differentially alters CD4 + and CD8 + leukocytes in the blood and intrathecal compartments

Abstract To evaluate cellular changes in the intrathecal compartment in response to psychological stress, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood (PB) samples were obtained from rhesus monkeys under baseline and challenge conditions. Juvenile monkeys separated from their social companions overnight had elevated cortisol, increased polymorphonuclear (PMN), and fewer CD4 + and CD8 + leukocytes in PB. In contrast, in CSF there were more CD4 + and fewer CD8 + leukocytes, raising the CD4/CD8 ratio. Dexamethasone given intramuscularly caused similar hematological changes: i.e. neutrophilia and lymphocytopenia with fewer CD4 + and CD8 + leukocytes in PB. However, it did not induce similar changes in CSF, indicating that the stress-related shift of CD4 + leukocytes in the intrathecal compartment involves physiological processes beyond adrenocortical steroids.
An NMR spectroscopy and molecular mechanics study of the molecular basis for the supramolecular structure of lipopolysaccharides.

Lipopolysaccharides from Gram-negative bacteria interact with the mammalian immune system to trigger a cascade of physiological events leading to a shock syndrome which results in death in over 70% of cases of severe shock. It is known that the supramolecular structures of lipopolysaccharide aggregates are critical contributors to their biological activities. Despite this, the molecular basis for the formation of the regular hexagonal plates and arrays observed in lipopolysaccharide films and suspensions is unknown. Since these structures are two dimensional, it is unlikely that X-ray crystallographic methods will shed much light on their detailed structure. Knowing this structure is important since it is becoming increasingly likely that insertion of the lipopolysaccharide hydrocarbon chains into the target host cell membrane may be involved in triggering host responses. This work describes the three-dimensional structure of the lipopolysaccharide lipid A moiety. The structure was obtained by a combinati...
Single mode 9.1mJ and 10ns pulses from 55μm core Yb-doped CCC fiber MOPA

10ns pulses with 9.1mJ energy at 5 kHz repetition rate and in a diffraction-limited output beam are generated by a nanosecond-pulsed fiber amplifier system based on 35μm and 55μm core Yb-doped Chrially-Coupled-Core (CCC) fibers.
Evolution of skull shape in carnivores: 2. Additional modern carnivores

Fifteen functionally significant aspects of skull morphology were measured on skulls of 36 additional species of carnivores to complete a survey of skull shape in modern fissiped (land) carnivores that includes most of the living genera. The measurements were transformed to dimensionless variables based on the residuals from allometric equations, and were analysed singly and in a 10 variable principal components analysis. An initial study of 62 species of viverrids, canids, mustelids and felids had shown those families to be distinguished from each other by the functionally significant measurements. However, among the additional 36 species, some procyonids, ursids and mustelids display a range of diversity of skull morphology that overlaps that of the other families and diminishes the potential value of the measurements as taxonomic characters. Intraspecific variation is presented for 12 species, and is low enough to allow use of some features as species level diagnostic characters. The lack of correlation between diet and functionally significant aspects of skull morphology among omnivorous carnivores, and the absence of certain skull shapes among carnivores are discussed.