cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relating mechanical testing and microstructural features of polysilicon thin films

Polycrystalline silicon thin films (polysilicon) have been deposited on single crystalline silicon substrates, and square and rectangular windows have been etched into these substrates using standard micromachining techniques. Pressure-displacement curves of the resulting polysilicon membranes have been obtained for these geometries, and this data has been used to determine the elastic constants E and v. The microstructural features of the films have been investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and x-ray diffraction. The grains were observed to be columnar and were found to have a out-of-plane texture and a random in-plane grain orientation. A probabilistic model of the texture has been used to calculate the bounds of the elastic constants in the thin films. The results obtained from bulge testing (E = 162 ± 4 GPa and v = 0.20 ± 0.03) fall in the wide range of values previously reported for polysilicon and are in good agreement with the microsample tensile measurements conducted on films deposited in the same run as the present study (168 ± 2 GPa and 0.22 ± 0.01) and the calculated values of the in-plane moduli for textured films (E = 163.0–165.5 GPa and v = 0.221–0.239).
DTN-based free-space optical and directional RF networks

With the growth in demand for capacity from users in wireless networks and the scarcity of available RF spectrum, directional networks are expected to provide effective solutions. Directional RF antennas offer increased capacity over omni-directional antenna networks and some emerging highly-directional networks like free-space optical communication (FSOC) systems will be an important part of future networking infrastructures. The ability to construct and manage an optical network has challenges such as topology control involving the scheduling of pointing, acquisition and tracking events. In many of these directional systems, especially in FSOC where links may be fragile, this will result in an intermittently-connected network, though of tremendous capacity on a per-link basis. This paper establishes delay (or disruption) tolerant networking (DTN) algorithms for such networks and evaluates these new algorithms with mobility, communications constraints, network traffic loads and quality of service (QoS) provisions.
Magnetoresistance of a planar spin valve with single-domain ferromagnetic probes

We are developing hybrid ferromagnetic(F)/nonmagnetic(N) structures to be used for spatially resolved measurements of the nonequilibrium spin distribution in a nonmagnetic metal. As a first step toward this goal, we have fabricated F/N/F samples with a planar geometry consisting of two single-domain ferromagnetic fingers crossed by a sub-micron wide nonmagnetic wire. When we apply the current from ferromagnet to ferromagnet via the nonmagnetic wire, the device is somewhat analogous to a traditional F/N/F perpendicular current (CPP) spin valve sandwich. Magneto-transport measurements on our sample made at liquid helium temperature show the typical spin valve effect with an amplitude consistent with estimates based on the two-current series-resistor model. We anticipate that further measurements of this kind will allow us to probe regimes of spin polarized transport not previously accessible.
Injection-Locked Clocking: A New GHz Clock Distribution Scheme

We propose a new GHz clock distribution scheme, injection-locked clocking (ILC). This new scheme uses injection-locked oscillators as the local clock regenerators. It can achieve better power efficiency and jitter performance than conventional buffered trees with the additional benefit of built-in deskewing. A test chip is implemented in a standard 0.18?m digital CMOS technology. It has four divide-by-2 ILOs at the leaves of a 3-section H-tree, generating 5GHz local clocks from the 10GHz input clock with 17% locking range and no phase noise degradation. Measured jitter of generated clocks is lower than that of the input signal. Two local clocks can be differentially deskewed up to 80ps relative to each other. The test chip consumes only 7.3mW excluding test-port buffers.
Preliminary observations of arthropods associated with buried carrion on Oahu.

Several studies in Hawaii have focused on arthropod succession and decomposition patterns of surface remains, but the current research presents the first study to focus on shallow burials in this context. Three domestic pig carcasses (Sus scrofa L.) were buried at the depths of 20–40 cm in silty clay loam soil on an exposed ridge on the leeward side of the volcanically formed Koolau Mountain Range. One carcass was exhumed after 3 weeks, another after 6 weeks, and the last carcass was exhumed after 9 weeks. An inventory of arthropod taxa present on the carrion and in the surrounding soil and observations pertaining to decomposition were recorded at each exhumation. The longer the carrion was buried, the greater the diversity of arthropod species that were recovered from the remains. Biomass loss was calculated to be 49% at the 3-week interval, 56% at the 6-week interval, and 59% at the 9-week interval.
The neurochip: a new multielectrode device for stimulating and recording from cultured neurons.

Abstract The neurochip is a silicon micromachined device upon which cultured mammalian neurons can be continuously and individually monitored and stimulated. The neurochip is based upon a 4×4 array of metal electrodes, each of which has a caged well structure designed to hold a single mature cell body while permitting normal outgrowth of neural processes. We demonstrate that this device is capable of maintaining cell survival, and that the electrodes can both record and stimulate electrical activity in individual cells with no crosstalk between channels.
A scaling approach for FFT processing

In signal processing, multidimensional FFTs and circular convolution filters implemented via multiplication in the frequency domain are used frequently. To avoid amplitude modulation of the signal, a scaling based upon criteria involving multiple FFTs must be employed; a direct application of block floating point is inadequate. A scaling approach is described that is based upon the cumulative distribution function of the quantized signal. The characteristics of the cumulative distribution function are used in estimating the position of the standard deviation of the signal plus noise in the quantization aperture.
RXTE Spectral Observations of the 1996-1997 Outburst of the Microquasar GRO J1655–40

Excellent coverage of the entire 16 month 1996-1997 outburst cycle of GRO J1655-40 was provided by the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). We present a full spectral analysis of these data, which includes 52 Proportional Counter Array spectra from 2.5 to 20 keV and High Energy X-Ray Timing Experiment spectra above 20 keV. We also include a nearly continuous All-Sky Monitor light curve with several intensity measurements per day. The data are interpreted in the context of the multicolor blackbody disk/power-law model. The source exhibits two principal outburst states which we associate with the very high and the high/soft states. During the very high state, the spectrum is often dominated by a power-law component with photon index (Γ) ~ 2.3-2.7. The source exhibits intense hard flares on timescales of hours to days which are correlated with changes in both the fitted temperature and radius of the inner accretion disk. During the high/soft state, the spectrum is dominated by the soft thermal emission from the accretion disk with spectral parameters that suggest approximately constant inner disk radius and temperature. The power-law component is relatively weak with Γ ~ 2-3. During the last few observations, the source undergoes a transition to the low/hard state. We find that a tight relationship exists between the observed inner radius of the disk and the flux in the power-law component. During intense hard flares, the inner disk radius is observed to decrease by as much as a factor of 3 on a timescale of days. The apparent decrease of the inner disk radius observed during the flares may be due to the failure of the multicolor disk model caused by a steepening of the radial temperature profile in the disk coupled with increased spectral hardening and not physical changes of the inner disk radius. The distortion of the inner disk spectrum by the power-law flares indicates that the physical mechanism responsible for producing the power-law emission is linked to the inner disk region. Assuming that our spectral model is valid during periods of weak power-law emission, our most likely value for the inner disk radius implies a* < 0.7. Such a low value for the black hole angular momentum is inconsistent with the relativistic frame dragging and the diskoseismic models as interpretations for the 300 Hz X-ray QPO seen during some of these RXTE observations.
An Interactive Spreadsheet for Teaching the Forward-Backward Algorithm

This paper offers a detailed lesson plan on the forward-backward algorithm. The lesson is taught from a live, commented spreadsheet that implements the algorithm and graphs its behavior on a whimsical toy example. By experimenting with different inputs, one can help students develop intuitions about HMMs in particular and Expectation Maximization in general. The spreadsheet and a coordinated follow-up assignment are available.
Low-Loss Coplanar Waveguide Transmission Lines and Vertical Interconnects on Multi-Layer Parylene-N

Coplanar waveguide transmission lines and vertical interconnects are implemented on a thick (15µm) Parylene-N dielectric layer over a lossy CMOS-grade Si substrate. Devices are measured up to 40GHz and show very low loss behavior. Low loss tangent and low dielectric constant characteristics of Parylene-N result in significant improvement of transmission lines and interconnects compared to those implemented in a standard Si integrated circuit technology.
Regulatory Variation Within and Between Species

Understanding how individuals differ from one another and from closely related species is a fundamental problem in biology. Recent evidence suggests that much of the variation both within and between species is due to differential gene regulation. Here we review differential gene regulation focusing on evolutionary-developmental (evo-devo) biology, global comparison of genomic sequences, whole-genome gene expression, and transcription factor (TF) binding profiles. We also explore the relationship between divergence rate of regulatory sequences, coding sequences, and TF binding events using several different measures and discuss their implications in the context of evolution of regulatory networks. Finally, we discuss the current status and future challenges in relating regulatory variation to the divergence across and within species.
The Distinctive Domain of Entrepreneurship Research

In this chapter an argument is made for a clear articulation for the exclusive domain of entrepreneurship research. To date, the entrepreneurship academic community has neglected to define clear boundaries as to what distinguishes entrepreneurship scholarship from other closely related fields. It is argued here that the well-worn constructs of firm performance or success and failure of the individual entrepreneur do not provide the field the clarity of purpose and unique domain it desires. Similarly, the context of small business is not what will bring singular clarity for the field. Instead, this chapter argues that entrepreneurship research should be focused upon understanding how opportunities to bring future goods and services into existence occur.
MORPHOLOGY IN ELECTROCHEMICAL ATOMIC LAYER EPITAXY

Compound semiconductors are an important group of materials, used in a wide variety of optoelectronic devices, including detectors, displays and photovoltaics. They are generally used in the form of thin films, deposited by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), or one of a variety of low-tech methods, such as chemical bath deposition (CBD) or electrodeposition. Compound electrodeposition has been well reviewed by a number of workers1–5.
Vitamin K2 as a protector of bone health and beyond

Several lives of evidence indicate a protective effect of vitamin K against osteoporosis. Epidemiological studies showed that low vitamin K intake is associated with the increased risk of osteoporosis. Vitamin K2 (menatetrenone, MK-4) has been clinically used in the treatment of patients with osteoporosis in Japan, Korea and Thailand. Previous studies demonstrated the efficacy of vitamin K2 (45 mg/day) to prevent bone loss and reduce the rate of vertebral fractures, although a large, randomized intervention study is anticipated to provide more detailed evidence. Recently, vitamin K2 has been shown to reduce the progression of hepatocarcinoma. Moreover, it has been proposed that vitamin K may also have beneficial effects to prevent atherogenesis. The clarification of molecular mechanisms by which vitamin K2 exerts these salutary effects deserve further investigations.
285 A Panel of Lung Injury Biomarkers Enhances the Definition of Primary Graft Dysfunction (PGD) after Lung Transplantation for Early Clinical Studies

TAC BD then oral TAC, n 90,Aug 08-Jul 10; C) oral TAC BD, n 18 D) IV TAC BD 4hr bolus then oral TAC, n 62 (both Jul 10-Jul 11). SL TAC was specifically prepared by pharmacy to optimize buccal absorption. CSA/TAC trough levels at days 1-7, 14 and 28, acute rejection (AR ISHLT grade 2, day 90) and neurotoxicity/ nephrotoxicity events were analyzed. Target trough CSA/TAC levels were 250ng/ml & 8mcg/ml (HPLC) respectively. Results: Along with CSA/TAC all patients received immunosuppression as per institution protocol. Induction with ATG or Simulect was also similar per group (p-ns). There were no differences in recipient/donor demographics, ICU & total LOS between groups. Neurotoxicity nor significant nephrotoxicity were not apparent in any group. Despite extensive education, administration of SL TAC proved impractical with unacceptable trough level variability & poor efficacy.
Chemistry differences in two streams entering an acidic lake in the Adirondack Mountains, New York (U.S.A.)

Solution chemistry was measured in two major inlets, lake water column, lake outlet, and soils of the South Lake watershed in the Adirondack Mountains, New York. The east inlet had greater concentrations of H+, sulfate-S, and Al and smaller concentrations of base cations and silica than the west inlet (70, 116, 25, 90, 64 and 4, 99, 8, 228, 148 μeq L−1 of H+ and sulfate-S, μmol L−1 Al, μeq L−1 total base cations and μmol L−1 silica in east and west inlets, respectively). Concentrations of base cations in C horizon soil solutions (157 μeq L−1 total base cations) were smaller and greater than west and east inlets, respectively. This suggests that water flowing into the west inlet contacted deeper mineral layers, whereas water reaching the east inlet did not. Lake and lake outlet concentrations were also intermediate between the two inlets, and the lake was acidic (pH 4.9 to 5.1) with relatively high total monomeric Al concentrations (8 to 9 μmol Al L−1). The east inlet also had greater DOC concentrations than the west (0.38 and 0.24 μmol C L−1, respectively), again indicating that soil solutions entering the east inlet passed through the forest floor but had more limited contact with deeper mineral layers in comparison with the west inlet. Differences between the streams are hypothesized to be related to contact of percolating solutions with mineral soil horizons and underlying glacial till, which provides neutralization of acidic solutions and releases base cations. This work indicates that processes controlling surface water acidification can be spatially quite variable over a small watershed.
Application of algorithm for acoustic passive location with three arrays

The multiple arrays location is an important aspect of the passive acoustic location.In view of the characters of the intelligent mine system,the paper derives the algorithm and the presentation based on the location of the individual array.The simulation shows that the precision of location from tri-array is superior to single array,and can also delete the blind band of the two arrays' location.This result can be directly used in intelligent mine system to improve its precision.
INVERSE PROBLEMS AND PREDICTION OF WATER INFLOW IN TUNNELS OF JINPING II HYDROPOWER STATION

Jinping II hydropower station is situated in a karst area with mountains and valleys.The excavation of large size tunnels will significantly change the conditions for groundwater flow,causing inflow in the tunnels and impacts on surrounding environment.As indicated by the discharge patterns of groundwater in the auxiliary tunnel during its construction,12 fractured zones with high vertical conductivity are existing in the Jinping mountain.Five three-dimensional stead state flow numerical models are built with MODFLOW.In the models,these fractured zones are typically considered.UCODE is employed to calibrate the models according to observations of groundwater inflow,and key parameters are identified and optimized for better modeling.Based on the waterproofing technique in the auxiliary tunnel,the models predict water inflows in all tunnels before and after waterproof protections,and the results are 40.35 and 31.19 m3/s,respectively.Excavation of the tunnels will causes drying of two major springs in the area,and the springs could not be recovered unless more effective waterproof protection is applied.
Relation of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism of MIF-173G/C and Endometriosis

Objective:To investigate the single nucleotide polymorphisms of macrophage migration inhibitory factors(MIF)-173 in the endometriosis(EMs) and non-endometriosis(non-Ems) patients,also explore the association of MIF-173(G/C) and the susceptibility of EMs.Methods:Single nucleotide polymorphisms of MIF gene-173(G/C) in 70 EMs and 88 non-EMs patients were checked in Han people of Hunan province by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism.Results:①The genotype frequencies of MIF-173GG,MIF-173GC,MIF-173CC in EMs patients and non-EMs were 57.14%,25.72%,17.14% and 72.73%,22.73%,4.54%,respectively.There was a significant difference in the frequency of genotype between the two groups(P0.05).②The alleles frequencies of MIF-173G,MIF-173C in EMs patients and non-EMs were 70.00%,30.00%and 84.09%,15.91% respectively.There was a significant difference in the frequency of alleles between the two groups(P=0.003).③The genotype frequency of MIF-CC was significantly overrepresented in EMs patients than that in non-EMs(17.14% vs 4.54%)(OR=4.345,95%CI 1.335～14.140,P=0.009).Conclusions:Single nucleotide polymorphism of MIF-173G/C was associated with the susceptibility of endometriosis in Han people of Hunan province.MIF-CC genotype may be the susceptable genotype to EMs.
Discussion: Anatomical and Round Implants: How to Select and Indications for Use.

The authors of this article are prominent international and American experts in breast augmentation with perhaps the world’s largest collective experience using anatomical implants (>20,000 cases). This article is intended to dispel misconceptions regarding these devices and present experience-based concepts that ensure their successful use in breast augmentation. In the spirit of full disclosure regarding the following commentary, this discussant has 14 years’ experience using anatomical implants in breast reconstruction but has been using round implants in breast augmentation for approximately 30 years, not yet experiencing an epiphany with anatomical devices for the latter application. The topic of round versus anatomical implants
Alternate Rubric for Performance Assessment of Infantry Soldier Skills Training

Gauging the impact of simulation-based training SBT technology has been straightforward in the past when applied to domains such as pilot training and ground vehicle operator training. In the dismounted infantry soldier skills domain, the low hanging fruit for effective use of SBT are weapons and equipment operations training. However, the complexities of the operational environment are often too difficult to replicate in current virtual environments to represent an accurate or effective training for the skills requiring identification of enemy activity or reacting to enemy contact. This paper discusses the need for an alternate method of performance assessment when comparing traditional training means to SBT.
Software analytics under the lamp post (or what star trek teaches us about the importance of asking the right questions)

Abstract In “Remember Me,” an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Dr. Beverly Crusher does not realize that, due to a science experiment gone awry, she has ended up inside a space-time disturbance. After a series of unexpected and, to her, unexplainable events, she tries to calm herself and assess her situation so that she can find a way out of it. Thinking back over what has transpired, Dr. Crusher states: “If there’s nothing wrong with me, maybe there’s something wrong with the universe!”
Tracking tidal inundation in a coastal salt marsh with Helikite airphotos: Influence of hydrology on ecological zonation at Crab Haul Creek, South Carolina

Abstract Ecological zones in a salt marsh are influenced by many factors, including hydroperiod, soil salinity, groundwater flow, and nutrient/oxygen availability. In this project, high-resolution aerial images taken by a Helikite helium balloon-kite at 100 m altitude were used to develop a detailed flooding model and derive a spatially comprehensive map of ecological zones at the headwaters of a small tidal marsh creek at a forest-marsh boundary in North Inlet estuary, South Carolina. We constructed photomosaics from Helikite imagery over a 150 × 100 m area to identify ecological zones using an automated, maximum likelihood classification. In the same area, we developed a digital terrain model with ± 2 cm overall vertical accuracy, primarily from waterlines at known tide height tracked by Helikite imagery and GPS. These are low-cost, easily implemented methods for studying marsh processes where access is often challenging. Quantifying frequency of inundation, an approximation of hydroperiod, using our terrain model and comparing it to ecological zones revealed that there is not a linear relationship between elevation and inundation above mean high tide. Ecological zones exhibit complex spatial patterns that neither elevation nor hydroperiod alone can explain. In the northwestern basin, adjacent to a forest-marsh boundary, inflow of low salinity groundwater from a large freshwater lens beneath the forest prevents the development of Salicornia virginica zones and allows the high-marsh plant Juncus roemarianus to be present at middle-to-low marsh elevations. Conversely, in the southwestern portion of the basin adjacent to a relict beach ridge underlain by a smaller freshwater lens, saltwater infiltration during spring tides and evapotranspiration during neap tides allows Salicornia virginica zones to develop in hypersaline soils. Many of the current numerical models for predicting salt marsh ecological zonation consider hydroperiod as the main factor; however, the asymmetry of the basin in both ecological zones and freshened groundwater discharge imply groundwater and surface-water inundation should both be considered in the distribution of ecological zones in a coastal salt marsh.
Risk of selection bias in randomized trials: further insight

The quality of randomization is an under-appreciated facet of trial design. The present piece represents an advance in our collective understanding of how allocation concealment and randomization relate to risk of selection bias in randomized trials, and other measures are also considered. Though the overwhelming majority of the advice given is timely and correct, it is more instructive to focus on the relatively narrow sliver of advice that is incorrect (namely, that trials should not stratify by site, and that unrestricted randomization is a solution to the problem of selection bias), so it is in this context that the comments here must be understood. In no way is this intended to be a rebuttal of the excellent work we have before us. Rather, it is a refinement.
Is Punishment Morally Justified? Developing Nietzsche's Critique of Compatibilism in The Wanderer and His Shadow, Section 23

Nietzsche is mostly known for denying moral responsibility on account of lack of libertarian free will, thus betraying an incompatibilist approach to moral responsibility. In this paper, however, I focus on a different, less familiar argument by Nietzsche, one that I interpret as a critique of a compatibilist conception of moral responsibility. The critique shows why punishment and our moral sanctions in general are morally unjustified by the compatibilist's own lights. In addition, I articulate what I call Nietzsche's explanatory challenge, which challenges the compatibilist to explain the performance of an immoral action without appealing to conditions that would exempt or excuse the wrongdoer or otherwise relieve the wrongdoer from responsibility and would thus make punishing the wrongdoer morally unjustified. By drawing on the work of R. Jay Wallace, I reconstruct Nietzsche's anticompatibilist argument and defend it against four possible objections.
LCR 5′HS3 Displays Specificity for ε-Globin Gene Activation during Primitive Erythropoiesis and γ-Globin Gene Activation during Fetal Definitive Erythropoiesis.

Abstract A 2.9 Kb deletion of 5′HS3 (Δ5′HS3) or a 234 bp deletion of the 5′HS3 core (Δ5′HS3c) in a 213 Kb human β-globin locus yeast artificial chromosome (β-YAC) abrogate e-globin gene expression during primitive erythropoiesis in β-YAC transgenic mice, suggesting that HS sequences of the LCR are involved directly in e-globin gene activation. The reduction of e-globin gene transcription in Δ5′HS3 or Δ5′HS3c β-YAC transgenics can be explained by two hypotheses. The first is site-specificity. The interaction between the LCR and the e-globin gene promoter involves specific sequences of 5′HS3 and specific sequences of the e-globin gene promoter. When 5′HS3 or its core is deleted, these interactions do not take place and e-globin gene transcription is diminished. The second hypothesis is change in conformation of the LCR. Normally, in the embryonic stage, the LCR achieves a three-dimensional conformation that favors interaction with the first gene in the complex, i.e., the e-globin gene. When 5′HS3 is deleted, an alternate conformation is assumed that decreases the chance that there will be an interaction between the LCR and the e-globin gene. However, the LCR interacts with the next gene in order, the γ-globin gene. In Δ5′HS3c β-YAC mice, γ-globin gene expression is normal during primitive erythropoiesis, but is extinguished in the fetal stage of definitive erythropoiesis. These data suggest that a conformational change occurs in the Δ5′HS3c LCR during the switch from embryonic to definitive erythropoiesis, from one that supports γ-globin gene expression to one that does not. Alternately, the embryonic trans-acting environment may allow the mutant LCR to interact with and activate the γ-globin genes, but the fetal trans-acting environment may not support this interaction in the absence of the 5′HS3 core. To distinguish between these possibilities, β-YAC lines were produced in which the e-globin gene was replaced with a second marked β-globin gene (βm), coupled to either an intact LCR, a 2.9 Kb 5′HS3 deletion or a 234 bp 5′HS3 core deletion. Δ5′HS3c Δe::βm β-YAC mice expressed βm-globin throughout development beginning at day 10 in the yolk sac. γ-globin was expressed in the embryonic yolk sac, but not in the fetal liver. Some wild-type β-globin was expressed in addition to βm-globin in adult mice. The γ-globin phenotype is consistent with published data on Δ5′HS3c β-YAC mice. Although e-globin was not expressed in Δ5′HS3c β-YAC mice, βm-globin was expressed in Δ5′HS3c Δe::βm β-YAC embryos, demonstrating that the 5′HS3 core was necessary for e-globin expression during embryonic erythropoiesis, but not for βm-globin expression. These data support a site specificity model of LCR HS-globin gene interaction. In addition, nuclear ligation experiments provided evidence for a specific physical interaction between 5′HS3 and the γ-globin promoter during fetal definitive erythropoiesis, further supporting a site specificity model.
EPR Imaging Spin Probe Trityl Radical OX063: A Method for Its Isolation from Animal Effluent, Redox Chemistry of Its Quinone Methide Oxidation Product, and in Vivo Application in a Mouse.

We report herein a method for the recovery, purification, and application of OX063, a costly, commercially available nontoxic spin probe widely used for electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) imaging, as well as its corresponding quinone methide (QM) form. This precious probe can be successfully recovered after use in animal model experiments (25–47% recovery from crude lyophilizate with 98.5% purity), even from samples that are >2 years old. Significantly, the recovered trityl can be reused in further animal model EPR imaging experiments. The work also describes support for the observed formation of an air-sensitive radical derived from the QM under reducing conditions.
Presynaptic inhibition of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) receptors by noradrenaline in nociceptive neurons.

Key points The transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) receptor is a polymodal molecular integrator in the pain pathway expressed in Aδ- and C-fibre nociceptors and is responsible for the thermal hyperalgesia associated with inflammatory pain. Noradrenaline strongly inhibited the activity of TRPV1 channels in dorsal root ganglia neurons. The effect of noradrenaline was reproduced by clonidine and antagonized by yohimbine, consistent with contribution of α2 adrenergic receptors. The inhibitory effect of noradrenaline on TRPV1 channels was dependent on calcium influx and linked to calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. In spinal cord slices, clonidine reduced the frequency of capsaicin-induced miniature EPSCs in the presence of tetrodotoxin and ω-conotoxin-MVIIC, consistent with inhibition of presynaptic TRPV1 channels by α2 adrenergic receptors. We suggest that modulation of presynaptic TRPV1 channels in nociceptive neurons by descending noradrenergic inputs may constitute a mechanism for noradrenaline to modulate incoming noxious stimuli in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Abstract The transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) receptor is a well-known contributor to nociceptor excitability. To address whether noradrenaline can down-regulate TRPV1 channel activity in nociceptors and reduce their synaptic transmission, the effects of noradrenaline and clonidine were tested on the capsaicin-activated current recorded from acutely dissociated small diameter (<27 μm) dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons and on miniature (m)EPSCs recorded from large lamina I neurons in horizontal spinal cord slices. Noradrenaline or clonidine inhibited the capsaicin-activated current by ∼60%, and the effect was reversed by yohimbine, confirming that it was mediated by activation of α2 adrenergic receptors. Similarly, clonidine reduced the frequency of capsaicin-induced mEPSCs by ∼60%. Inhibition of capsaicin-activated current by noradrenaline was mediated by GTP binding proteins, and was highly dependent on calcium influx. The inhibitory effect of noradrenaline on the capsaicin-activated current was not affected either by blocking the activity of protein kinase A with H89, or by blocking the activity of protein kinase C with bisindolylmaleimide II. In contrast, when the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) was blocked with KN-93, the inhibitory effect of noradrenaline on the capsaicin-activated current was greatly reduced, suggesting that activation of adrenergic receptors in DRG neurons is preferentially linked to CaMKII activity. We suggest that modulation of TRPV1 channels by noradrenaline in nociceptive neurons is a mechanism whereby noradrenaline may suppress incoming noxious stimuli at the primary synaptic afferents in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.
Engaging in Collaborative Research: Focus on the Pharmacy Practitioner.

Research offers an opportunity for investigators to explore unanswered questions, highlight best practices, and engage in collaboration. Clinical research can engage health care professionals to id...
Measurement of the Absolute Crab Flux with NuSTAR

We present results from a Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) observation of the Crab made at a large off-axis angle of 1 5. At these angles, X-rays do not pass through the optics and instead illuminate the detectors directly, due to incomplete baffling. Due to the simplicity of the instrument response in this configuration and the good absolute calibration of the detectors, we are able to measure the absolute intrinsic flux of the Crab to better than 4%. We find the spectral parameters of the power law to be Γ = 2.106 ± 0.006, N = 9.71 ± 0.16, in agreement with the values measured 42 years ago by Toor & Seward. This suggests that the observed variability of the Crab is not part of a long-term trend, but instead results from fluctuations around a steady mean. The NuSTAR observation also enabled improved measurement of the detector absorption parameters without the added complications of the mirror response.
Psychometric properties of the Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery (FES) skills examination.

Background The Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery (FES) manual skills examination is a simulation-based assessment of five foundational skills in endoscopic surgery. With the FES skills exam becoming part of the board certification process in general surgery, continual investigation is needed to determine the validity with which the exam is supporting inferences and decision-making about examinees, as well as how it might be improved.
Adverse Childhood Experiences from Ages 0–2 and Young Adult Health: Implications for Preventive Screening and Early Intervention

Children ages 0–2 are exposed to disproportionate rates of trauma and neglect and yet little is known about the longitudinal impact of adverse childhood experiences in early childhood. Objectives of this study were to utilize longitudinal data to examine the independent and cumulative contribution of various childhood adversities from age 0–2 on adult health. Data derived from the age 0–2 and age 18 waves of the Midwest cohort of the Longitudinal Studies on Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN) dataset. Logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between early childhood ACE scores and adult health outcomes. Independent regression models with ACE score and specific ACE categories predicted health outcomes in young adults. Exposure to caregiver mental illness and physical neglect had independent influences on health outcomes in young adults. This study highlights the impact of experiences of adversity from age 0–2 on adult health outcomes and underscores the need for comprehensive interdisciplinary preventive screening and early intervention efforts for trauma-exposed children.
Identification and characterization of the antiplasmodial activity of Hsp90 inhibitors

The recent reduction in mortality due to malaria is being threatened by the appearance of Plasmodium falciparum parasites that are resistant to artemisinin in Southeast Asia. To limit the impact of resistant parasites and their spread across the world, there is a need to validate anti-malarial drug targets and identify new leads that will serve as foundations for future drug development programmes targeting malaria. Towards that end, the antiplasmodial potential of several Hsp90 inhibitors was characterized. Because, the Hsp90 chaperone has been suggested as a good drug target against multiple parasitic infections including malaria. Chemically diverse sets of Hsp90 inhibitors, evaluated in clinical trials as anti-cancer agents, were tested against the malaria parasite. Most of the compounds showed strong antiplasmodial activity in growth inhibition assays against chloroquine sensitive and resistant strains. There was a good agreement between the compound in vitro anti-parasitic activity and their affinity against the Plasmodium chaperone. The two most potent Hsp90 inhibitors also showed cytocidal activity against two P. falciparum strains. Their antiplasmodial activity affected all parasite forms during the malaria blood cycle. However, the compounds activity against the parasite showed no synergy when combined with anti-malarial drugs, like chloroquine or DHA. The Hsp90 inhibitors anti-parasitic activity correlates with their affinity to their predicted target the P. falciparum chaperone Hsp90. However, the most effective compounds also showed high affinity for a close homologue, Grp94. This association points to a mode of action for Hsp90 inhibitors that correlate compound efficacy with multi-target engagement. Besides their ability to limit parasite replication, two compounds also significantly impacted P. falciparum viability in vitro. Finally, a structural analysis suggests that the best hit represents a promising scaffold to develop parasite specific leads according. The results shown that Hsp90 inhibitors are lethal against the malaria parasite. The correlation between biochemical and in vitro data strongly supports Hsp90 as a drug target against the malaria parasite. Furthermore, at least one Hsp90 inhibitor developed as anticancer therapeutics could serve as starting point to generate P. falciparum-specific lead compounds.
Picking Winners: How Political Organizations Influence Local Elections:

Endorsements have become a part of most election cycles. They come from a variety of sources (civic organizations, elected officials, newspapers, etc.) and are intended to signal voters that one ca...
CEO Talent: A dime a dozen, or worth its weight in gold?

Very little sophisticated research exists on the size, quality, and efficiency of the labor market for CEO talent. Our paper attempts to shed light on the CEO labor market by considering the perspectives of the directors who are directly responsible for hiring and firing the CEOs of the largest publicly traded corporations in the U.S. We find that directors overwhelmingly believe that the CEO job is exceptionally challenging and only a handful of executives are qualified to run their company and others in their industry. This suggests that the labor market for outstanding CEO talent is significantly tighter and more competitive than governance experts might realize, with important implications for compensation, succession planning, and other governance issues.
Lieutenant William B. Walsh: First U.S. Doctor in Hiroshima after the Bomb, with Previously Unpublished Photographs

ABSTRACT Lt William B. Walsh, then serving on a U.S. destroyer-minesweeper in the Pacific Theater as a ship's doctor, was the first U.S. physician on the ground in Hiroshima, Japan, after the atomic bomb was dropped. This is his story, gleaned from interviews and his own letters to his wife written while he was serving on the USS Ellyson. His thoughts on the war, the enemy, and the bomb and the fears of the probable invasion of the Japanese mainland are a reflection of the thoughts of many in his position in the Pacific Theater at that time. The article is accompanied by previously unpublished photographs Dr. Walsh took when he was able to go to Hiroshima after the surrender ceremony.
Psychology and the Fourth Amendment

The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides that people are to be “secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.” It further requires that warrants to perform such searches and seizures are based on probable cause with specific descriptions of what will be searched or seized. Supreme Court case law has contextualized this standard and applied a number of exceptions. As is often the case in the law, those standards and exceptions have psychological foundations and implications. The current chapter first examines the historical background of the Fourth Amendment. That history is replete with examples of the judiciary making psychological assumptions about people’s behavior. Next, we examine modern Fourth Amendment jurisprudence focusing on when a search or seizure triggers Fourth Amendment protections. In particular, we address the use of surveillance and technology (including trained canines) that seem to push the boundaries of the Fourth Amendment’s original intent. Finally, we address the issue of consenting to a search request because a search will not violate the Fourth Amendment if there is a valid consent. We detail empirical research addressing the psychological mechanisms underlying the validity and voluntariness of such consents.
Challenging a Paradigm: Toward Integrating Indigenous Species into Tropical Plantation Forestry

The rapid rate of global deforestation, estimated at an average of 6.4 million ha per annum between 2000 and 2010, draws attention to the need to minimize future loss of forest cover. This chapter outlines potential afforestation and reforestation strategies that could improve the state of tropical forest management by conserving biological diversity and increasing potential economic benefits to local communities. Forest plantations provide many of the benefits associated with natural forests, including timber and non-timber forest products, erosion control, stabilization of hydrologic processes, carbon sequestration, and wildlife habitats. Native species plantations will more closely mimic natural forests and provide many of the non-timber forest products that could be marketed beyond their current range. Continuing research on establishment of forest plantations using native species has provided a strong argument for their use based on stand productivity. Use of native species in place of exotics for plantation establishment could result in less negative impacts, both ecologically and economically, over time. Based on experiences of countries with extended histories of plantation forestry, the following recommendations should be considered as targeted guidelines for tropical forest plantation establishment: (1) use native species, within their native range and on suitable sites, (2) use multiple species to allow access to diverse markets, (3) select species that facilitate, or at least do not restrict, native understory development, and (4) consider the ability of species to sequester carbon. Implementation of these practices, whenever and wherever possible, should lead to more sustainable land use in tropical regions.
Ureteral Reimplantation in Infants

AbstractBetween 1984 and 1990, 30 infants (46 ureters) 8 weeks to 6 months old (mean age 4 months) underwent ureteral reimplantation. Weight at operation ranged from 4.9 to 9.5kg. (mean 6.9). Underlying abnormalities were primary vesicoureteral reflux (28 ureters), primary ureterovesical junction obstruction (11), ectopic ureterocele (4) and ectopic ureter (3). Patients with reflux underwent surgery because of high grade reflux (grade IV or V) or breakthrough infection. Infants with primary ureterovesical junction obstruction underwent obstructive diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid diuretic renograms. Reimplantations performed included 44 Glenn-Anderson advancements, 1 Cohen cross-trigonal advancement and 1 Politano-Leadbetter procedure. Of the ureters 30 (65%) were tapered intravesically. Ureteral stents were used in all instances. Transient ureteral obstruction developed in 2 children following stent removal and 1 required temporary percutaneous nephrostomy drainage. No permanent ureterovesical obstruct...
High Resolution Imaging of the Fusiform Face Area (FFA) Using Nonlinear Classifiers Shows Diagnosticity for Nonface Categories

How are objects represented in the human visual pathway? This question continues to elude the neuroimaging field due to at least two kinds of problems: first, the relatively low spatial resolution of fMRI and second, the bias inherent in prevailing statistical methods for analyzing the actual diagnosticity of cortical tissue. We collected high-resolution (1mm x 1mm) imaging data of the fusiform face area (FFA) from 4 subjects while they categorized images as 'animal', 'car', 'face', or 'sculpture.' We performed exploratory analysis to determine the nature of the distributions over classes and the similarity structure between classes. The FFA was visualized using nonmetric multidimensional scaling revealing "string-like" sequences of voxels, which appeared in small non-contiguous clusters of categories, intertwined with other categories. Since the feature space appeared highly nonlinear, we trained various statistical classifiers on the class conditional distributions (labelled) and separated the four categories with 100% reliability (over replications) and generalized to out of sample cases with high significance (45% to 51%; p<. 000001, chance=25%). The increased noise inherent in high-resolution neuroimaging data relative to standard resolution resisted any further gains in category performance above 60% (with "FACE" category often having the highest bias per category) even coupled with various feature extraction/selection methods. A sensitivity/diagnosticity analysis for each classifier per voxel showed: (1) reliable (with S.E.<3%) sensitivity present throughout the FFA for all 4 categories, and (2) showed multi-selectivity, that is, many voxels were selective for one category but responded to all 4 categories with some high diagnosticity but at lower intensity. This work further verifies the hypothesis that the FFA is a distributed, object-heterogeneous similarity structure and bolsters the view that the FFA response to "FACE" stimuli in standard resolution may be primarily due to a linear bias, which has resulted from an averaging artifact.
Eddy Current Detection of Fatigue Microcrack Distributions in Al-SiC Composites

The modern philosopy of materials reliability hinges upon the ability to detect flaws before they reach a critical size that might lead to the failure of a component before the next inspection opportunity. It is the role of nondestructive evaluation (NDE) to provide this capability. In advanced materials such as Al-SiC composites, however, fatigue failure under high stress is governed by the nucleation and growth of a large number of distributed microcracks 1, often much smaller than the detection threshold of conventional NDE techniques (i.e. 200 03BCm). The “fatal” crack forms through the linking of several microcracks. A given fatal crack can spend as little as 5 percent of the fatigue life as a crack detectable by NDE in these materials since some ductility is often sacrificed to achieve their higher strength (i.e. crack instability occurs for crack sizes much smaller than would be expected in conventional alloys). The difficulties that arise for the NDE of advanced materials are that at one end of the fatigue spectrum the microcracks are too small to detect for most of the component’s life. At the other end of the spectrum, by the time a crack long enough to detect appears, failure is imminent.
Spatial Analysis and Modeling for the School District Planning Problem

Declining funding for school construction and maintenance, rising student enrollment, locally mandated school facilities requirements, state mandated reductions in class sizes, and natural disasters have combined to create a classroom space deficit nationwide in the United States. Other nations around the world are having similar, if not worse problems in school facilities planning and provision. The National Education Association estimated the cost of retrofitting and modernizing existing schools in the United States at $322 billion (NEA 2001). School district facility planning is a complex spatial problem that geographers are especially well equipped to contribute to understanding and to develop solutions. Geographers have been assisting school district planners in areas such as spatial allocation, multi-modal transportation planning, and enrollment forecasting on different spatial (classroom, site, attendance area, and district) and temporal (term, year, and multiyear) scales.