cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Three-Terminal Dual-Pillar STT-MRAM for High-Performance Robust Memory Applications

The design of a three-terminal self-aligned dual-pillar (DP) magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) utilizing both current-induced spin-transfer torque (STT) and magnetic domain-wall motion effects is proposed for high-speed nonvolatile robust memory applications. The choice of a thin tunneling oxide (~0.9 nm) in a write-in port, spatially and electrically separated from a read-out port incorporating a thicker (~1.8 nm) oxide on an extended thin-film multilayer stack, significantly improves the overall cell stability and parametric process yield of a memory array. A dual-bit-line memory architecture incorporating a single-ended voltage-sensing scheme for fast data readout with just one access transistor per cell is also proposed for the first time. The technology-circuit cooptimization of the proposed single-transistor (1T) DP STT magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cell is carried out using effective mass-based transport simulations in nonequilibrium Green's function formalism and accurate micromagnetic simulations involving the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert-Slonczewski equation. The proposed DP STT-MRAM bit cell outperforms a state-of-the-art 1T-1MTJ STT-MRAM cell in terms of higher cell tunneling magnetoresistance, simplified memory array architecture with a single supply for read/write, and significantly lower probability of disturb and access failures under parametric process variations with a marginal increase in critical switching current.
Interacting With a Large Virtual Environment by Combining a Ground-Based Haptic Device and a Mobile Robot Base

Ground-based haptic devices provide the capability of adding force feedback to virtual environments; however, the physical workspace of such devices is very limited due to the fixed base. By mounting a haptic device on a mobile robot, rather than a fixed stand, the reachable volume can be extended to function in full-scale virtual environments. This work presents the hardware, software, and integration developed to use such a mobile base with a Haption Virtuose™ 6D35-45. A mobile robot with a Mecanum-style omni-directional drive base and an Arduino-compatible microcontroller development board communicates with software on a host computer to provide a VRPNbased control and data acquisition interface. The position of the mobile robot in the physical space is tracked using an optical tracking system. The SPARTA virtual assembly software was extended to 1) apply transformations to the haptic device data based on the tracked base position, and 2) capture the error between the haptic device’s end effector and the center of its workspace and command the robot over VRPN to minimize this error. The completed system allows use of the haptic device in a wide area projection screen or head-mounted display virtual environment, providing smooth free-space motion and stiff display of forces to the user throughout the entire space. The availability of haptics in large immersive environments can contribute to future advances in virtual assembly planning, factory simulation,
Purification and Properties of a Leucine-binding Protein from Escherichia coli

Abstract A leucine-binding protein isolated from Escherichia coli K12 has been purified by DEAE-cellulose and hydroxylapatite cellulose chromatography and its chemical and physical properties were determined. The purified protein was crystallized by adding 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol. The crystalline protein was homogeneous as judged by polyacrylamide electrophoresis, ultracentrifugation, and immunodiffusion. A molecular weight of 24,000 (ultracentrifugation), 36,000 (gel filtration), and 34,000 (amino acid analysis) was obtained. Amino acid analyses showed a low content of sulfur-containing amino acids. This protein proved to be heat-stable and could be reversibly denatured by urea. A large number of analogues were tested and showed that the binding was highly specific for the l isomers of the branched chain amino acids. The constants for the dissociation of the amino acid-protein complexes were less than 1.0 µm. The binding activity was not greatly affected either by changes in pH or ionic strength. Antiserum inhibited binding activity of the protein but had no effect on transport in whole cells. The synthesis of leucine-binding protein and the transport of branched chain amino acids were repressed in cells grown on leucine.
Influence of textural and wettability variations on predictions of DNAPL persistence and plume development in saturated porous media

Numerical simulations examine the migration, entrapment, and mass recovery behavior of DNAPLs in aquifer systems with coupled textural and wettability variations. Permeability fields of varying degrees of heterogeneity (i.e., differing r 2ðkÞ ) were generated with sequential Gaussian simulation, using geostatistical parameters derived from core grain size measurements in a sandy glacial outwash aquifer. Organic-wet mass fraction, a representative metric for wettability, was correlated to porous media permeability. A multiphase flow simulator incorporating wettability-dependent constitutive relationships for capillary behavior is used to generate residual saturation distributions for tetrachloroethene (PCE) spill events in these synthetic aquifers. Simulated saturation distributions then serve as initial conditions for compositional simulations of PCE dissolution, to examine the effect of coupled wettability and permeability variations on DNAPL mass recovery. Simulations reveal considerable differences in predicted depth of organic liquid penetration, extent of vertical spreading, and magnitude of maximum entrapped saturation for the various modeled scenarios. These differences are directly linked to observable variations in effluent concentration and mass recovery predictions in the aqueous phase flushing simulations. Results suggest that mass recovery behavior may be highly realization dependent and not closely correlated with geostatistical parameters. � 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
3D rendering of SAR distributions from Thermotron RF-8 using a ray casting technique.

A comprehensive 3D visualization package developed for CT-based 3D radiation treatment planning has been modified to volume-render SAR data. The program accepts data from sequential thermographic thermometry measurements as well as calculated data from thermal models. In this presentation sample data obtained from a capacitive heating system ‘Thermotron-RFS’ is presented. This capability allows the generation of accurate standardized volumetric images of SAR and provides a valuable tool to better preplan hyperthermia treatments.
Solubility and Diffusivity of Polyethyl Acrylate in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

An alternative plastic-bonded molding powder production process would use a polymeric binder dissolved in supercritical carbon dioxide rather than the liquid organic solvents currently used. This research investigated the solubility and diffusion coefficients of polyethyl acrylate, a potential binder, in supercritical carbon dioxide. Over the range of solvent conditions investigated, the dissolved polymer concentration was 0.036 wt% or less. A practical molding powder production process is not likely with such a dilute binder solution.
Predictive characteristic of simple bone cyst treated with curettage and bone grafting.

The efficiency of treating simple bone cyst (SBC) is low. Depending on the choice of treatment, a positive response occurs in 20 to 80 % of cases. These rates are unacceptable, particularly considering they concern the treatment of benign lesions affecting children. Although cyst curettage is one of the first known ways of treating SBC, no precise qualification criteria exists for this procedure. The aim of our study is to identify which type of cyst may be most effectively treated using curettage with grafting. A retrospective analysis was performed on 24 patients referred to our clinic for SBC treatment. To identify predictive factors, the group of patients who positively responded to treatment (Neer stages I and II, n = 14) were compared with the group in which recurrences occurred (Neer stages III and IV, n = 10). Significantly fewer patients with lesions located in the humerus (chi2 = 9.351; p 0.05) were found. Recurrences were experienced by 10 patients (41.7 %) during the 3-year period after surgery In the group treated with curettage, associations were identified between worse treatment results and the location in the humerus, pathological fractures at the time of diagnosis, large cyst area, large cyst index and large cyst diameter.
Precambrian Iron-Formations

Sedimentary rocks, including chemical precipitates formed by exhalative processes, often contain high enough iron to be considered ferruginous, or even iron deposits. Two major groups of iron-rich sedimentary rocks are recognized (James 1966): (a) ironstones, which are non-cherty, oolitic, poorly banded, and largely of Phanerozoic age; and (b) iron-formations, which are typically laminated with chert, generally non-oolitic, and largely (but not exclusively) of Precambrian age. Other groups of iron-rich rocks of lesser economic importance not considered here (but discussed, for example, by Borchiert 1960, Stanton 1972) include: (a) the blackband and clayband ores, most of which are diagenetic and post-diagenetic deposits of siderite found in coal measures and in some clays; (b) the bog iron ores found in many bogs and small lakes in higher latitudes; and (c) latentes derived by weathering of Fe-rich rocks (see Ch. 2). In this chapter we restrict our attention to the so called iron-formations, which constitute by far the most abundant and economically the most important iron-rich sediments.
Bone morphogenetic protein 8A plays a role in the maintenance of spermatogenesis and the integrity of the epididymis

The murine Bmp8a and Bmp8b genes are tightly linked on mouse chromosome 4 and have similar expression during reproduction. Previous studies have shown that targeted mutagenesis of Bmp8b causes male infertility due to germ cell degeneration. To investigate the function of Bmp8a, we have inactivated the gene by homologous recombination. Heterozygous and homozygous Bmp8a mutants reveal normal embryonic and postnatal development. Despite high levels of Bmp8a expression in the deciduum, homozygous mutant females have normal fertility, suggesting that the gene is not essential for female reproduction. Bmp8a and Bmp8b are expressed in similar patterns in male germ cells. Unlike homozygous Bmp8btm1 mutants, homozygous Bmp8atm1 males do not show obvious germ cell defects during the initiation of spermatogenesis. However, germ cell degeneration is observed in 47% of adult homozygous Bmp8atm1 males, establishing a role of Bmp8a in the maintenance of spermatogenesis. A small proportion of the mating homozygous Bmp8atm1 males also show degeneration of the epididymal epithelium, indicating a novel role for BMPs in the control of epididymal function.
Double soft theorems and shift symmetry in nonlinear sigma models

We show both the leading and subleading double soft theorems of the nonlinear sigma model follow from a shift symmetry enforcing Adler's zero condition in the presence of an unbroken global symmetry. They do not depend on the underlying coset G/H and are universal infrared behaviors of Nambu-Goldstone bosons. Although nonlinear sigma models contain an infinite number of interaction vertices, the double soft limit is determined entirely by a single four-point interaction, together with the existence of Adler's zeros.
Differential diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

Before reviewing the differential diagnosis of bipolar disorder, it is important to understand the epidemiology, incident, and prevalence of the disorder as well as to divide it by type: type I, type II, or the phenomenon of not otherwise specified, which is defined as subthreshold mania or hypomania. Subthreshold mania or hypomania entails fewer than the requisite number of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition symptoms of mania or hypomania, or an insufficient duration of time with which to make a diagnosis of a syndrome of mania or hypomania. Currently, the most reliable epidemiology of prevalence rates were reported in a replication study of 9,282 respondents to the National Comorbidity Survey conducted by Merikangas and colleagues.Those data show there is a lifetime prevalence rate of bipolar I disorder of 1 % and bipolar II disorder of 1.1%. In this study, not otherwise specified was labeled subthreshold bipolar disorder as the illness duration was not long enough or the number of symptoms was not extensive enough to constitute syndromal mania or hypomania. This type had a prevalence rate of 2.4%, for a total lifetime prevalence of ~4.4%. This rate is somewhat higher than has been described in the past, but included the subdivision that researchers believe comprises the bipolar spectrum.There has been much underdiagnosis or lack of diagnostic accuracy of bipolar disorder, with relative overdiagnosis of major depressive disorder, which historically has been well documented. However, in the last 10 years, there has been a substantial increase in the making of diagnoses of bipolar disorder in various clinical settings. One dataset examined ambulatory medical care survey data and found that among adults over an ~10-year period, there was approximately a doubling in the incidence of diagnosing bipolar disorder of any type (Slide 1).
Constraining black hole masses in low-accreting active galactic nuclei using X-ray spectra

In a recent work we demonstrated that a novel X-ray scaling method, originally introduced for Galactic black holes (GBHs), can be reliably extended to estimate the mass of supermassive black holes accreting at a moderate to high level. Here we investigate the limits of applicability of this method to low-accreting active galactic nuclei, using a control sample with goodquality X-ray data and dynamically measured mass. For low-accreting AGNs (LX/LEdd 6 10 4 ), because the basic assumption that the photon index positively correlates with the accretion rate no longer holds the X-ray scaling method cannot be used. Nevertheless, the inverse correlation in the LX/LEdd diagram, found in several low-accreting BHs and confirmed by this sample, can be used to constrain MBH within a factor of � 10 from the dynamically determined values. We provide a simple recipe to determine MBH using solely X-ray spectral data, which can be used as a sanity check for MBH determination based on indirect optical methods.
Electrical Characterization of Magnesium-Doped Gallium Nitride Grown by Metalorganic Vapor Phase Epitaxy

We have applied frequency-dependent capacitance measurements and admittance spectroscopy on metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy GaN:Mg to study the electronic states associated with Mg doping. Samples with different Mg doping levels were grown and annealed in nitrogen. Lateral dot-and-ring Schottky diodes using Au/Ti were fabricated. After a 800 °C anneal, frequency-dependent measurements show that the capacitance is reduced at a higher frequency, most likely due to the inability of a deep center to maintain an equilibrium ionization state under a high frequency modulation. The net ionized acceptor concentrations was found to be greater at a higher Mg doping level. Admittance spectroscopy, in which the conductance is monitored as a function of temperature, verifies the existence of at least one impurity-related acceptor level with an activation energy of ~ 140 meV. A reduction in the annealing temperature was found to lead to a lower net ionized acceptor concentration, as well as a higher activation energy.
Books and Wealth on the Frontier: Athens County and Washington County, Ohio, 1790-1859

One of the perplexing questions that one faces when addressing the problem of literacy and the diffusion of knowledge and culture in early nineteenth-century America relates to the factors that determined whether or not an individual participated in the cultural uplift described by so many early nineteenth-century commentators. When reformers spoke of reading as a moral imperative in consonance with a more general social and spiritual moral order, when educators described Americans as “unquestionably a reading people” or labeled the late 1820s as “emphatically the age of reading,” the questions of who were the subjects of such remarks and what socioeconomic factors determined whether or not an individual was a “participant in culture” must be raised (Welter, 1975: 254; Ohio Journal of Education, 1856: 97; Story, 1876: 419-420). These questions are part of a more basic and more complex question: What were the factors that determined the diffusion of knowledge and culture in the America of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries? Such a question is, of course, exceedingly complex and lends itself readily to an interdisciplinary as well as a multidisciplinary approach.
"She'll just grab any device that's closer": A Study of Everyday Device & Account Sharing in Households

Many technologies assume a single user will use an account or device. But account and device sharing situations (when 2+ people use a single device or account) may arise during everyday life. We present results from a multiple-methods study of device and account sharing practices among household members and their relations. Among our findings are that device and account sharing was common, and mobile phones were often shared despite being considered "personal" devices. Based on our study results, we organize sharing practices into a taxonomy of six sharing types--distinct patterns of what, why, and how people shared. We also present two themes that cut across sharing types: that (1) trust in sharees and (2) convenience highly influenced sharing practices. Based on these findings, we discuss implications for study and technology design.
Reactions of Brominated Naphthalene Diimide with Bis(tributylstannyl)acetylene: A Simple Approach for Conjugated Polymers and Versatile Coupling Intermediates

A new synthetic approach to 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic diimide (NDI) containing materials and conjugates is described. A simple one-step Stille coupling procedure is used to create either novel alkyne-linked NDI polymers or a new stannylated diyne synthetic building block that provides a flexible approach to new NDI conjugates and polymers.
Double Resolution Model for Studying TMAO/Water Effective Interactions

The structural properties of water molecules surrounding TMAO molecules are studied using a newly developed atomistic force field for TMAO, combined with a multiscale coarse-graining (MS-CG) force field derived from the atomistic simulations. The all-atom force field is parametrized to work with the OPLS force field and with SPC, TIP3P, and TIP4P water models. The dual-resolution modeling enables a complete study of the dynamical and structural properties of the system, with the CG model providing important new physical insights into which interactions are critical in determining the structure of water around TMAO. TMAO is an osmolyte that stabilizes protein structures under conditions of chemical, thermal, and pressure denaturation. This molecule is excluded from the surface of proteins, and its effect on protein stability is mediated through TMAO–water interactions. We find that TMAO strongly binds two to three water molecules and, surprisingly, that methyl groups repel both the other methyl groups of T...
Effects of Aporrectodea Caliginosa on Soil Hydraulic Properties and Solute Dispersivity

Earthworms have historically been absent from dryland agricultural fields in eastern Colorado, but their invasion or purposeful introduction may affect water retention and plant nutrient availability in soil. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Aporrectodea caliginosa on hydraulic properties and solute dispersivity in soil from eastern Colorado (Adena [Ustic Paleargid]–Colby [Aridic Ustorthents] complex) that was amended with biosolids. Columns of repacked soil (50 cm in depth) were incubated with or without A. caliginosa for a period of 16 wk, after which columns were divided into 15-cm depth increments to determine soil–water retention curves and solute breakthrough curves (BTCs) under unsaturated and saturated conditions. Aporrectodea caliginosa and their burrows and casts altered soil water retention curves in the top 30 cm of the soil, where A. caliginosa were most active. Earthworms also affected BTCs within the top 30 cm of soil resulting in an approximately 35-fold increase in solute dispersivity under saturated flow conditions and a 4- to 10-fold increase with unsaturated flow conditions. Overall, A. caliginosa increased soil residual water content by 33 to 41% and altered soil physical properties so that water flow became more tortuous, solute dispersion increased under saturated and unsaturated conditions, and soil drained over a larger range of tensions. In conclusion, A. caliginosa has the potential to reduce upward losses of water, increase water retention, and increase dispersion of agricultural chemicals applied to the soil surface.
Viral and Cellular Growth and Sequential Increase of Protein and DNA during Fowlpox Infection in Vivo

SummaryViral and cellular growth and sequential content of total protein and DNA were studied in chick epithelium infected in vivo with fowlpox virus. The first evidence of epithelial hyperplasia associated so prominently with fowlpox was noted after 48 hours of infection and was manifest as a 2.5-fold increase in cell number at 72 hours postinoculation. The initiation of viral replication preceded hyperplasia by at least 12 hours, and the titer increased exponentiallly through 96 hours of infection. Development of the mature lesion was accompanied by 7-fold increases in protein and DNA content of infected epithelium. Although viral replication was initiated prior to induction of the proliferative response and was subsequently concomitant with hyperplasia, production of infectious virus was limited during this period to only 1% of the maximum titer. Thus, while all discernible evidence of cellular proliferation was confined to the period of infection between 48 and 72 hours postinoculation, 99% of the tot...
Evaluation of a Childhood Obesity Prevention Online Training Certificate Program for Community Family Educators.

Community family educators have the opportunity to incorporate childhood obesity prevention concepts in their programming with families of young children, but often lack formal health and nutrition education. The purpose of this feasibility study was to create an online training certificate program for community family educators and assess the program's effectiveness at improving participant's knowledge, attitudes, and intended and actual behaviors related to healthy lifestyles. Community family educators (n = 68) completed an online pretest, viewed 13 brief videos (8-15 min) focused on childhood obesity related topics and took mini-knowledge self-checks after each video followed by an online posttest. At posttest, paired t tests showed participants' childhood obesity prevention related knowledge (i.e., nutrition, physical activity, screen time and sleep) improved significantly (p < 0.001). Participants' attitudes toward parenting behaviors related to feeding practices, family meals, physical activity, screen time control and parent modeling significantly (p < 0.05) improved. Improvements also were seen in participants' intentions to promote obesity prevention behaviors (i.e., age appropriate portions sizes, adequate physically active, and parental role modeling). Furthermore, changes in personal health behaviors at posttest revealed participants had significantly (p < 0.05) greater dietary restraint, improvements in sleep quality, and reductions of use of electronic devices during meals and snacks. Overall, participants were very satisfied with the training program, felt comfortable with skills acquired, and enjoyed the program. Findings suggest this online training program is a feasible and effective method for improving community family educators' knowledge, attitudes, and intentions for obesity-prevention related parenting practices.
Software Everywhere [Guest editors' introduction]

IEEE Security & Privacy's readers are concerned with not only security and privacy but also safety and dependability. In this issue, we focus on all four aspects of the technology we use daily.The articles in this issue stress the importance of securing our increasingly interconnected world.
Hydrothermal Syntheses and Structural Characterization of Layered Vanadium Oxides Incorporating Organic Cations: alpha-, beta-(H(3)N(CH(2))(2)NH(3))[V(4)O(10)] and alpha-, beta-(H(2)N(C(2)H(4))(2)NH(2))[V(4)O(10)].

Four new layered mixed-valence vanadium oxides, which contain interlamellar organic cations, alpha-(H(3)N(CH(2))(2)NH(3))[V(4)O(10)] (1a), beta-(H(3)N(CH(2))(2)NH(3))[V(4)O(10)] (1b), alpha-(H(2)N(C(2)H(4))(2)NH(2))[V(4)O(10)] (2a), and beta-(H(2)N(C(2)H(4))(2)NH(2))[V(4)O(10)] (2b), have been prepared under hydrothermal conditions and their single-crystal structures determined: 1a, triclinic, space group Po, a = 6.602(2) A, b = 7.638(2) A, c = 5.984(2) A, alpha = 109.55(3) degrees, beta = 104.749(2) degrees, gamma = 82.31(3) degrees, Z = 1; 1b, triclinic, Po, a = 6.387(1) A, b = 7.456(2) A, c = 6.244(2) A, alpha = 99.89(2) degrees, beta = 102.91(2) degrees, gamma = 78.74(2) degrees, Z = 1; 2a, triclinic, Po, a = 6.3958(5) A, b = 8.182(1) A, c = 6.3715(7) A, alpha = 105.913(9) degrees, beta = 104.030(8) degrees, gamma = 94.495(8) degrees, Z = 1; 2b, monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, a = 9.360(2) A, b = 6.425(3) A, c = 10.391(2) A, beta = 105.83(1) degrees, Z = 2. All four of the compounds contain mixed-valence V(5+)/V(4+) vanadium oxide layers constructed from V(5+)O(4) tetrahedra and pairs of edge-sharing V(4+)O(5) square pyramids with protonated organic amines occupying the interlayer space.
Total plasmalogens and O-(acylalkylglycerophosphoryl) ethanolamine from labelled hexadecanol and palmitate during hypoxia and anoxia in rat heart.

Abstract By the use of the Langendorff technique, surviving isolated rat hearts were perfused with [1-14 C] palmitate, [1-14C] hexadecanol or [1-14C,1-3H] hexadecanol under normal or anoxic conditions. After perfusion for 30min with either precursor, when oxygenated or in an hypoxic condition, or when 1mM-KCN was included in the system, the heart tissues showed no significant chemical changes in their content of total lipids, total phospholipids or total ethanolamine-containing phospholipids. Changes were observed in the ratio of alkyl-to alk-1-enyl-glycerophosphorylethanolamine in the tissue perfused with N2+CO1 plus CN-. A slight increase from 4.0+/-0.3 to 4.9+/-0.2% in alkyl derivatives and a decrease from 11.2+/-0.4 to 9.4+/-0.3% in alk-1-enyl derivatives was observed. The incorporation of the [14C] palmitate and the [14C] hexadecanol into the recovered phospholipids and plasmalogens was severely decreased in the tissues perfused with CN-: in the hypoxic state only a mild inhibition was observed compared with the oxygenated systems. Considerable 3H from [1-14C, 1-3H] hexadecanol was retained (25-35%) in the alk-1-enylether chains of plasmalogens under both the oxygenated conditions and with CN-, suggesting that the same mechanism of incorporation is operational at high or low O2 concentrations. The results are consistent with an O2-dependent, CN-sensitive step in the biosynthesis of plasmalogens in the rat heart.
What's new in pediatric emergency medicine.

1. Jane F. Knapp, MD* 1. 2. *Director, Division of Emergency Medical Services, Professor of Pediatrics, Children’s Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, Mo In the not-so-distant past, a pediatric resident’s emergency medicine experience consisted of emergency room (ER) shifts with little or no faculty supervision, where education was provided largely by a dog-eared copy of a favorite general pediatrics textbook. How times have changed! The ER of old is today’s emergency department (ED), staffed 24 hours a day by a subspecialist in pediatric emergency medicine (PEM). Nearly everything in PEM is new. There are more than 50 PEM fellowships in North America, and more than 500 physicians are board certified in the subspecialty. Three comprehensive textbooks and many shorter manuals are devoted solely to the care of pediatric emergencies. Courses such as Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Advanced Pediatric Life Support (APLS) have filled a sizable gap in medical education by focusing solely on the recognition and resuscitation of the sick or injured child. The development of emergency medical services for children has become a national, federally funded issue that extends well beyond the walls of the ED and into physicians’ offices, in large and small communities. Most importantly, ED practice has changed with the times, applying new technologies and research-guided therapies where only unproved traditional dogmas once existed. The fundamentals of resuscitation stress airway assessment and management as the initial priority. Because children are much more likely to suffer respiratory rather than cardiac compromise, airway skills are critical. The pediatric airway differs from that of the adult in several important ways that can make the procedure of intubation more difficult. These anatomic differences, coupled with the difficulties of dealing with a child who is critically ill or injured, have made safe and effective airway management an emergency medicine priority. The process of rapid sequence induction used by anesthesiologists for children undergoing general anesthesia for operative procedures has evolved into rapid sequence …
“Nothing Proven”: The Practical Difficulties of Witchcraft Prosecution

Although the authors of the Roman Congregation’s instructions and other prescriptive texts may have hoped to establish clarity and consistency in inquisitorial procedures, the officials on the receiving end, working in the messy reality of specific cases, found it quite difficult to live up to the new standards. In 1646 in the town of Rovigo, not far from Venice, the inquisitor was facing a case of witchcraft and was worried about procedure. He wrote to his Venetian counterpart for advice, remarking that witchcraft cases are “most difficult, especially since it is necessary in this instance to prove [the] corpus delicti ” and to follow the “many warnings given in writing by the Holy Congregation, and also in the Arsenale ,” that is, in the influential inquisitorial handbook Sacro arsenale, overo Prattica dell’Officio della s. inquisitione by Eliseo Masini. The inquisitor in Rovigo was confident that he knew how to start the trial: he should first question the denouncer about the victim’s symptoms, as the Arsenale recommends, in order to verify that the child was indeed sickened by maleficio . But the next step was less clear. “Your Most Reverend Paternity,” he wrote, “would do me a great favor to tell me what other questions will be necessary to put to him. Also, advise me whether I need now to have the child visited by a physician in order to see whether the illness is natural or comes from maleficio .” He also wondered whether he should examine other members of the household regarding the course of the illness.
Global burden of mortalities due to chronic exposure to ambient PM2.5 from open combustion of domestic waste

Uncontrolled combustion of domestic waste has been observed in many countries, creating concerns for air quality; however, the health implications have not yet been quantified. We incorporate the Wiedinmyer et al (2014 Environ. Sci. Technol. 48 9523–30) emissions inventory into the global chemical-transport model, GEOS-Chem, and provide a first estimate of premature adult mortalities from chronic exposure to ambient PM2.5 from uncontrolled combustion of domestic waste. Using the concentration-response functions (CRFs) of Burnett et al (2014 Environ. Health Perspect. 122 397–403), we estimate that waste-combustion emissions result in 270 000 (5th–95th: 213 000–328 000) premature adult mortalities per year. The confidence interval results only from uncertainty in the CRFs and assumes equal toxicity of waste-combustion PM2.5 to all other PM2.5 sources. We acknowledge that this result is likely sensitive to choice of chemical-transport model, CRFs, and emission inventories. Our central estimate equates to 9% of adult mortalities from exposure to ambient PM2.5 reported in the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Exposure to PM2.5 from waste combustion increases the risk of premature mortality by more than 0.5% for greater than 50% of the population. We consider sensitivity simulations to uncertainty in waste-combustion emission mass, the removal of waste-combustion emissions, and model resolution. A factor-of-2 uncertainty in waste-combustion PM2.5 leads to central estimates ranging from 138 000 to 518 000 mortalities per year for factors-of-2 reductions and increases, respectively. Complete removal of waste combustion would only avoid 191 000 (5th–95th: 151 000–224 000) mortalities per year (smaller than the total contributed premature mortalities due to nonlinear CRFs). Decreasing model resolution from 2° × 2.5° to 4° × 5° results in 16% fewer mortalities attributed to waste-combustion PM2.5, and over Asia, decreasing resolution from 0.5° × 0.666° to 2° × 2.5° results in 21% fewer mortalities attributed to waste-combustion PM2.5. Owing to coarse model resolution, our global estimates of premature mortality from waste-combustion PM2.5 are likely a lower bound.
Can endothelial hemoglobin-α regulate nitric oxide vasodilatory signaling?

Mathematical modeling shows that although regulation of nitric oxide signaling by hemoglobin-α (Hbα) is plausible, it is conditional to its presence in significant concentrations colocalized with e...
Discovery of a New Signaling Complex Based on Spinophilin That Regulates Platelet Activation In Vitro and In Vivo

Abstract 161 Platelets play an essential role in hemostasis, but excessive platelet responses to vascular injury or disease can be catastrophic. We have recently reported that members of the RGS protein family can modulate platelet responses to injury by limiting the duration of G protein-dependent signaling initiated by platelet agonists. Here we show that platelets contain a previously-unrecognized regulatory complex comprised of the 130 kDa scaffold protein, spinophilin (SPL) with at least two RGS proteins (RGS10 and RGS18) and the protein tyrosine phosphatase, SHP-1. In resting platelets, this complex is phosphorylated on spinophilin residues Y398 and Y483. Mutating both tyrosines to phenylalanine inhibits the binding of SHP-1 to spinophilin. Platelet activation by thrombin or thromboxane A2, but not ADP or collagen, stimulates a transient increase in spinophilin-associated SHP-1 tyrosine phosphatase activity and causes dephosphorylation and decay of the SPL/RGS/SHP-1 complex. Conversely, blocking SHP-1 phosphatase activity in platelets or omitting SHP-1 in transfected CHO cells inhibits dephosphorylation of spinophilin and prevents dissociation of the SPL/RGS/SHP-1 complex. While we have shown previously that inhibiting interactions between G proteins and RGS proteins produces a gain of function in platelets, knocking out spinophilin in mice inhibits platelet aggregation. This aggregation defect does not occur with all agonists, but is selective for those that are able to trigger decay and dephosphorylation of the SPL/RGS/SHP-1 complex. In addition to inhibiting platelet aggregation in vitro, the spinophilin knockout delays carotid artery occlusion in vivo following application of FeCl3 and reduces platelet accumulation following laser injury in cremaster muscle arterioles. Underlying these effects of the knockout is a decrease in Rap1 activation, an event that supports integrin activation, and attenuation of the cAMP increase otherwise caused by endothelial PGI2. Collectively, these observations show for the first time that a regulatory complex based on spinophilin helps to regulate platelet responses to injury and suggest that it does this by sequestering RGS proteins in resting platelets and releasing them after activation begins. Dissociation of the SPL/RGS complex is regulated by an agonist-induced increase in the activity of SHP-1 associated with spinophilin. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Topological interaction of electromagnetism and torsion

A fully gauge-invariant topological coupling of torsion to the electromagnetic field is examined. It is shown, while the gravitational fields are unaltered, torsion may serve as a source for electromagnetism and electromagnetism may serve as a source for torsion. Unlike most couplings, this gives rise to conservation of charge, no magnetic monopoles, and is in agreement with the principle of equivalence.
GaN in Switched-Mode Power Amplifiers

Radio-frequency (rf) power is important to a wide range of applications, including radio transmitters, plasma generation, medical imagers (e.g., MRI), power converters, and wireless power transfer (WPT) among myriad other applications. Advances in power semiconductor devices, magnetics, and circuit design are opening the door to much more efficient generation and delivery of power at radio frequencies. This chapter presents an overview of switched-mode power amplifiers – or radio-frequency inverters – encompassing their design, control, and construction. We focus on the high-frequency (HF, 3–30 MHz) and very-high-frequency (VHF, 30–300 MHz) ranges. We explore key aspects of rf power conversion, including power circuit architecture and design, selection and efficient drive of power devices at rf, and control methods for modulating power and managing load variations. We also address circuit construction, including the design and application of passive components at radio frequencies. Magnetics for power applications at HF and VHF pose a special challenge when compactness and high efficiency are desired. We explore the design of air-core and magnetic-core magnetics for this frequency range, including winding design, core material evaluation and selection, and application of magnetic cores.
Pneumonia in the Cancer Patient

Lower respiratory tract infections result in ­unacceptably high mortality among cancer patients. Pneu­monias cause death in this population both directly through impairment of gas exchange and progression to system infection/sepsis, as well as indirectly by precluding delivery of necessary, antineoplastic therapies. Malignancy and treatment-related impairments of host immune responses and the emergence of ­multidrug-resistant organisms associated with recurrent exposures to hospital environments may not only enhance the risks of mortality, but also exacerbate the difficulty of diagnosing pneumonia in the cancer setting. As a consequence of disordered inflammatory responses, the typical clinical observations of pneumonia, including purulent respiratory secretions and early radiographic findings, may be inapparent or absent. A comprehensive review of etiology, clinical ­presentation, diagnosis, and management of pulmonary infections is presented in this chapter.
Minimax Optimal Control and Its Application to the Reentry of a Space Glider

A transformation technique is employed in order to convert minimax problems of optimal control (also called Chebyshev problems) into Mayer-Bolza problems of the calculus of variations. The transformation requires the proper augmentation of the state vector x(t), the control vector u(t), and the parameter vector π, as well as the proper augmentation of the constraining relations. As a result of the transformation, the unknown minimax value of the performance index becomes a component of the vector parameter π being optimized.
Portable Ultrasound Through Compressive Beamforming with Improved Contrast

This paper describes the newly developed method for compressing the data in the analog domain to as low as one channel, thus radically reducing the hardware requirements. The compressed data is then recovered to full aperture RF data by using non-linear estimation techniques before applying traditional beamforming and image formation. This method consistently achieves comparable or superior resolution as compared to the traditional delay-and-sum methods. A Verasonics V1 ultrasonic scanner is used to demonstrate the method on both cysts phantoms and in vivo, and to measure contrast ratio (CR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). Depending on the choice of estimation parameters, CR and CNR are on par with traditional methods or better, making the described method competitive with traditional methods.
The Effect of the Louisiana Scholarship Program on College Entrance

The Louisiana Scholarship Program (LSP) is a private school voucher program available to families who have incomes no greater than 250 percent of the federal poverty line and whose children attend a low performing public school. It began as a pilot program in New Orleans in 2008 and was expanded statewide in 2012. Previous evaluations of the LSP generally found negative impacts of the program on math and English language arts test scores. In this study, we evaluate the effects of the program on college enrollment for the first cohort of students eligible to enter college by 2017-18. Using lottery assignment for a student’s first choice private school, we are able to identify the causal effect of being awarded a scholarship on student attainment for just over 1,000 randomized students who were in the seventh through twelfth grades during the first year of the program. We find that 60% of treatment students who won a lottery and enrolled in their first choice private schools enter college, compared to 59.5% of control students. This difference in not statistically significant. We find no differential treatment effects when considering student enrollment in two- or four-year post-secondary institutions.
Application of Enelike Reactions of Aldehydes with Vinyl Ethers: A Stereoconvergent Synthesis of (±)-Phyllanthocin

(±)-Phyllanthocin has been synthesized through a key step involving the enelike reaction of an aldehyde with 2-methoxypropene recently developed in these laboratories. This work demonstrates that our chemistry is suitable for multistep synthetic applications, and it shows that stereocontrol in the creation of the phyllanthocin structure may be achieved by thermodynamic equilibration of both peripheral stereogenic carbons.
Directional Surface Wave Spectra from Point Measurements of Height and Slope

AbstractWe describe here a method for recovering directional ocean surface wave spectra obtained from height and slope measurements made over a small area, the iterative deconvolution method (IDM)....
Influence of sex on the prognosis of acute ST elevated myocardial infarction after primary percutaneous coronary intervention

Objective To study the influence of sex on the prognosis in acute ST elevated myocardial in- farction(STEMI)patients after primary percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Methods :The risk factors, coronary angiography and prognosis in 478 males and 101 females with STEMl were compared.Results:Mortality of STEMI was significantly different in different age groups(P<0.01).The attack of the STEMI in women was 10 vears later than that of men(P<0.01),especially in those women whose age was over 71 years oId.The complica- tion ratio of hypertension and type 2 mellitus diabetes was higher in female patients than that in male(P<0.01). More multi-vessel lesions were found in female patients than those in male(P<0.01).The incidence of in-hospital mortality,pseudoaneurysm,haematoma Was significantly higher in females than in males(P<0.05.P<0.01).Con- clusions The in-hospital mortalitv and puncture complications in STEMI female patients treated with primary PCI are higher than male patients. Key words: Acute myocardial infarction; Primary percutaneous coronary intervention; Sex
Ultrasound Elastography for Lung Disease Assessment

Ultrasound elastography (US-E) is a noninvasive, safe, cost-effective and reliable technique to assess the mechanical properties of soft tissue and provide imaging biomarkers for pathological processes. Many lung diseases such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and interstitial lung disease are associated with dramatic changes in mechanical properties of lung tissues. Nevertheless, US-E is rarely used to image the lung because it is filled with air. The large difference in acoustic impedance between air and lung tissue results in the reflection of the ultrasound wave at the lung surface and, consequently, the loss of most ultrasound energy. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in US-E applications in evaluating lung diseases. This article provides a comprehensive review of the technological advances of US-E research on lung disease diagnosis. We introduce the basic principles and major techniques of US-E and provide information on various applications in lung disease assessment. Finally, the potential applications of US-E to the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia is discussed.
Triggering of cardiovascular disease by infection type: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study (ARIC)

Abstract Introduction Acute infections are known triggers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) but how this association varies across infection types is unknown. We hypothesized while acute infections increase CVD risk, the strength of this association varies across infection types. Method Acute coronary heart disease (CHD) and ischemic stroke cases were identified in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC). ICD-9 codes from Medicare claims were used to identify cellulitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTI), and bloodstream infections. A case-crossover design and conditional logistic regression were used to compare infection types among acute CHD and stroke cases 14, 30, 42, and 90 days before the event with two corresponding control periods (1 and 2 years prior). Results Of the 1312 acute CHD cases, 116 had a UTI, 102 had pneumonia, 43 had cellulitis, and 28 had a bloodstream infection 90 days before the CHD event. Pneumonia (OR = 25.53 (9.21,70.78)), UTI (OR = 3.32 (1.93, 5.71)), bloodstream infections (OR = 5.93 (2.07, 17.00)), and cellulitis (OR = 2.58 (1.09, 6.13)) were associated with higher acute CHD risk within 14 days of infection. Of the 727 ischemic stroke cases, 12 had cellulitis, 27 had pneumonia, 56 had a UTI, and 5 had a bloodstream infection within 90 days of the stroke. Pneumonia (OR = 5.59 (1.77, 17.67)) and UTI (OR = 3.16 (1.68, 5.94)) were associated with higher stroke risk within 14 days of infection. Conclusions Patients with pneumonia, UTI, or bloodstream infection appear to be at a 2.5 to 25.5 fold elevated CVD risk following infection. Preventive therapies during this high-risk period should be considered.