cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Noise analysis of a current-mode read circuit for sensing magnetic tunnel junction resistance

Magnetologic circuits are digital logic circuits constructed using magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) devices. These devices are non-volatile, robust, and scale favorably with process dimensions. Several approaches exist for building magnetologic circuits. We are investigating current-mode magnetologic circuits as a viable option. Current-mode circuits avoid charging/ discharging load capacitances and can be used to program a downstream device. Noise in a current-mode read circuit can affect the ability to correctly distinguish logic states in an MTJ. In this paper, we present a noise analysis of a current-mode read circuit or current conveyor. We derive analytical noise equations and verify them via simulation.
Studies on the Structure and Formation of Antibodies

When we began to work on antibodies in 1929, we found soon that the non-antigen portion of the antigen-antibody precipitate had a composition similar to that of the serum globulins and that it was free of any non-protein prosthetic group. We drew the following conclusions: (1) the globulin found in the antigen-antibody precipitates is indeed antibody and not a contaminant of antibody molecules of unknown composition as suspected by many scientists at that time; (2) the formation of the antigen-antibody complex is caused by a close complementary fit between the peptide chains of the antibody molecule and the determinant groups of the antigen; and finally, (3) the complementary fit of the antibody molecule might be accomplished by interference of the administered antigen with the biosynthesis of the antibody globulins and with changes in the amino acid composition of the antibody molecules. According to this view the antigen acted as a template which instructed the cell what antibody it has to form. While conclusions (1) and (2) have been confirmed and are now widely accepted, the template hypothesis is at present less attractive than other views on the role of the antigen, although some instructive action of the antigen cannot yet be excluded. The principal reason for this change in our views is the enormous heterogeneity of the immunoglobulin population. Each of us may indeed have many thousands if not millions of different immunoglobulin molecules. Their number may be so high, that almost any injected antigen may encounter a molecule complementarily adapted to the antigenic determinants. The great heterogeneity of the immunoglobulin population has prevented complete elucidation of their amino acid sequence and has also made difficult the elucidation of the mechanism of antibody formation.
Short-Horizon Prediction of Wind Power: A Data-Driven Approach

This paper discusses short-horizon prediction of wind speed and power using wind turbine data collected at 10 s intervals. A time-series model approach to examine wind behavior is studied. Both exponential smoothing and data-driven models are developed for wind prediction. Power prediction models are established, which are based on the most effective wind prediction model. Comparative analysis of the power predicting models is discussed. Computational results demonstrate performance advantages provided by the data-driven approach. All computations reported in the paper are based on the data collected at a large wind farm.
Domain Specific Tools and Methods for Application in Security Processor Design

Security processors are used to implement cryptographic algorithmswith high throughput and/or low energy consumption constraints. The designof these processors is a balancing act between flexibility and energy consumption.The target is to create a processor with just enough programmability to covera set of algorithms--an application domain. This paper proposes GEZEL,a design environment consisting of a design language and an implementationmethodology that can be used for such domain specific processors. We use thesecurity domain as driver, and discuss the impact of the domain on the targetarchitecture. We also present a methodology to create, refine and verify asecurity processor.
Feasibility of Transdermal Delivery of Prazosin Hydrochloride

AbstractPreformulation studies were conducted to determine the feasibility of a transdermal dosage form of prazosin hydrochloride (PZHC1). A target PZHC1 skin flux of 6.3 μg/cm2/h was set to attain a steady-state plasma concentration of 10 ng/ml (from a 20-cm2 skin area). The octanol/water partition coefficient of the drug and its solubility in water, phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4), and propylene glycol were measured. PZHC1 flux through human cadaver skin was determined with and without 3% (w/v) azone as a penetration enhancer. The epidermis was found to be the rate-limiting barrier for the permeation of PZHC1 through the human cadaver skin. Transdermal delivery of prazosin may be feasible with a suitable penetration enhancer.
A ‘unified’ and a (ΔK+·Kmax)1/2 crack growth models for aluminum 2024-T351

Abstract The ‘unified’ approach presented by Vasudevan and Sadananda is used to build an empirical crack growth model for aluminum 2024-T351, based on experimental results published in the literature. This model depicts the existence of two threshold parameters, Δ K th * and K max th * , and provides a method to describe crack growth without any reference to crack closure theories. The crack growth process (crack length as a function of load cycles) is solved numerically. A lower limit of initial crack length a* is found, below which cracks do not propagate. Results were compared to a model based on Walker–Kujawski (ΔK+·Kmax)0.5 parameter, and a very good agreement was found. Some contradiction was found in some of the published experimental results. The results used for curve fitting in the NASGRO program exhibit a slope (of the da/dn vs. ΔK curves) smaller than those described in Kujawski works, and therefore, the NASGRO data yields higher number of cycles to failure. The method described can be used to build empirical crack growth models for other materials, for which experimental data exists, thus providing a practical tool for structures' designers. The model described here will be used in the future to also describe the probabilistic behavior of the crack growth.
A two-stage ensemble Kalman filter for smooth data assimilation

The ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) applied to a simple fire propagation model by a nonlinear convection-diffusion-reaction partial differential equation breaks down because the EnKF creates nonphysical ensemble members with large gradients. A modification of the EnKF is proposed by adding a regularization term that penalizes large gradients. The method is implemented by applying the EnKF formulas twice, with the regularization term as another observation. The regularization step is also interpreted as a shrinkage of the prior distribution. Numerical results are given to illustrate success of the new method.
Determination of Polypeptide Backbone Dihedral Angles in Solid State NMR by Double Quantum 13C Chemical Shift Anisotropy Measurements

Abstract A solid state NMR technique for the determination of peptide backbone conformations at specific sites in unoriented samples under magic angle spinning (MAS) is described and demonstrated on a doubly labeled polycrystalline sample of the tripeptide AlaGlyGly and a sextuply labeled lyophilized sample of the 17-residue peptide MB( i +4)EK. The technique is applicable to peptides and proteins that are labeled with 13 C at two (or more) consecutive backbone carbonyl sites. Double quantum (DQ) coherences are excited with a radiofrequency-driven recoupling sequence and evolve during a constant-time t 1 period at the sum of the two anisotropic chemical shifts. The relative orientation of the two chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) tensors, which depends on the φ and ψ backbone dihedral angles, determines the t 1 -dependence of spinning sideband intensities in the DQ-filtered 13 C MAS spectrum. Experiments and simulations show that both dihedral angles can be extracted from a single data set. This technique, called DQCSA spectroscopy, may be especially useful when analyzing the backbone conformation of a polypeptide at a particular doubly labeled site in the presence of additional labeled carbons along the sequence.
Spheromak Formation by Steady Inductive Helicity Injection

A spheromak is formed for the first time using a new steady state inductive helicity injection method. Using two inductive injectors with odd symmetry and oscillating at 5.8 kHz, a steady state spheromak with even symmetry is formed and sustained through nonlinear relaxation. A spheromak with about 13 kA of toroidal current is formed and sustained using about 3 MW of power. This is a much lower power threshold for spheromak production than required for electrode-based helicity injection. Internal magnetic probe data, including oscillations driven by the injectors, agree with the plasma being in the Taylor state. The agreement is remarkable considering the only fitting parameter is the amplitude of the spheromak component of the state.
Noninvasive localization of the site of origin of paced cardiac activation in human by means of a 3-D heart model

A recently developed heart-model-based localization approach is experimentally evaluated in noninvasively localizing the site of origin of cardiac activation in a patient with a pacemaker. The heart-torso model of the patient was constructed from the contrast ultrafast computed tomography images. The site of initial paced activation in the patient was quantitatively localized and compared with the tip position of the pacemaker lead. The localization error of the inverse estimation was found to be 5.2 mm with respect to the true lead tip position. The promising result of this pilot experimental study suggests the feasibility of localizing the site of origin of cardiac activation in an experimental setting. The heart-model-based localization approach may become an alternative tool in localizing the site of origin of cardiac activation.
Meat quality and rigor mortis development in broiler chickens with gas-induced anoxia and postmortem electrical stimulation

This study was conducted to evaluate the combined rigor-accelerating effects of postmortem electrical stimulation (ES) and argon-induced anoxia (Ar) of broiler chickens. One hundred broilers were processed in the following treatments: untreated controls, ES, Ar, or Ar with ES (Ar + ES). Breast fillets were harvested at 1 h postmortem for all treatments or at 1 and 6 h postmortem for the control carcasses. Fillets were sampled for pH and ratio of inosine to adenosine (R-value) and were then individually quick frozen (IQF) or aged on ice (AOI) until 24 h postmortem. Color was measured in the AOI fillets at 24 h postmortem. All fillets were then cooked and evaluated for Allo-Kramer shear value. The Ar treatment accelerated the normal pH decline, whereas the ES and AR + ES treatments yielded even lower pH values at 1 h postmortem. The Ar + ES treatment had a greater R-value than the ES treatment, which was greater than either the Ar or 1-h controls, which, in turn, were not different from each other. The ES treatment had the lowest L* value, and ES, Ar, and Ar + ES produced significantly higher a* values than the 1-h controls. For the IQF fillets, the ES and Ar + ES treatments were not different in shear value but were lower than Ar, which was lower than the 1-h controls. The same was true for the AOI fillets except that the ES and the Ar treatments were not different. These results indicated that although ES and Ar had rigor-accelerating and tenderizing effects, ES seemed to be more effective than Ar; there was little enhancement when Ar was added to the ES treatment and fillets were deboned at 1 h postmortem.
Kontinuierliche Probleme, diskretisiert gelöst

Unter einem „kontinuierlichen Problem“ verstehen wir eins, das Werte aus einem ganzen Intervall, oder allgemeiner, aus einem ganzen Gebiet eines hoherdimensionalen Raums verwendet.
Salmonella Choleraesuis Bacteremia During Pregnancy

Summary and Conclusions A case of S. choleraesuis bacteremia during pregnancy is presented, apparently the first to be reported in detail in the American literature in recent years. The febrile illness began in the seventh month of pregnancy, 12 days prior to delivery of a macerated fetus. The patient excreted paratyphoid bacilli in feces and urine 11 days after the onset of the infection. On the twelfth day of the illness, specific agglutinins appeared in high titer. The placenta contained paratyphoid bacilli, but cultures of the blood and mouth of the fetus remained sterile. The patient recovered from the pmatyphoid bacillus infection. Various aspects of Salmonella infections are discussed.
An Investigation of (Diacetoxyiodo)arenes as Precursors for Preparing No-Carrier-Added [18F]Fluoroarenes from Cyclotron-Produced [18F]Fluoride Ion

Treatment of (diacetoxyiodo)arenes (1a–1u) with cyclotron-produced [18F]fluoride ion rapidly affords no-carrier-added [18F]fluoroarenes (2a–2u) in useful yields and constitutes a new method for converting substituted iodoarenes into substituted [18F]fluoroarenes in just two steps.
Fetal sex differences in human chorionic gonadotropin fluctuate by maternal race, age, weight and by gestational age

Circulating levels of the placental glycoprotein hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are higher in women carrying female v. male fetuses; yet, the significance of this difference with respect to maternal factors, environmental exposures and neonatal outcomes is unknown. As a first step in evaluating the biologic and clinical significance of sex differences in hCG, we conducted a population-level analysis to assess its stability across subgroups. Subjects were women carrying singleton pregnancies who participated in prenatal and newborn screening programs in CA from 2009 to 2012 (1.1 million serum samples). hCG was measured in the first and second trimesters and fetal sex was determined from the neonatal record. Multivariate linear models were used to estimate hCG means in women carrying female and male fetuses. We report fluctuations in the ratios of female to male hCG by maternal factors and by gestational age. hCG was higher in the case of a female fetus by 11 and 8% in the first and second trimesters, respectively (P<0.0001). There were small (1-5%) fluctuations in the sex difference by maternal race, weight and age. The female-to-male ratio in hCG decreased from 17 to 2% in the first trimester, and then increased from 2 to 19% in the second trimester (P<0.0001). We demonstrate within a well enumerated, diverse US population that the sex difference in hCG overall is stable. Small fluctuations within population subgroups may be relevant to environmental and physiologic effects on the placenta and can be probed further using these types of data.
The Global Network of Japanese Firms

To begin, we would like to present an overview of the direction being taken by "the Japanese firm's globalization" as we move toward the twenty-first century by noting the background of the past history of multinational firms. During the 1960s, the multinational corporation issue appeared on the scene as the issue of the conflicting tension between corporations and the national government. This issue was the central topic of debate at the time, and the multinational corporation was frequently discussed by Japanese journalists.
Biomechanics of Pelvic Organ Prolapse

In this chapter we discuss the use of biomechanical modeling to elucidate the mechanism of two commons forms of pelvic organ prolapse, cystocele, and rectocele. We start with a systems analysis of the factors affecting whether or not a prolapse will develop. Then we describe a simple 2D model designed to explore the factors that determine the size of a cystocele. The model prediction is verified by comparing cystocele shape to that seen on MRI. After enumerating the limitations of such a model, we go on to describe a 3D model that addresses them. Finally, we describe a 3D model that includes the anterior and posterior compartments in order to allow one to explore the mechanics of a cyctocele or a rectocele, as well as the interactions between them. We believe these models provide useful insights for treating this condition.
Distance teaching using self-marking multiple choice questions.

In Papua New Guinea health extension officers receive a 3-year course of training in college followed by a period of in-service training in hospital. They are then posted to a health center where they are in charge of all health services within their district. While the health extension officers received an excellent basic training and were provided with books and appropriate locally produced texts they often spent months or even years after graduation in remote rural health centers with little communication from colleagues. This paper describes an attempt to improve communication and to provide support inexpensively by post. Multiple choice questions with a system for self-marking were sent by post to rural health workers. Multiple choice questions are used in the education system in Papua New Guinea and all health extension officers are familiar with the technique. The most obvious and immediate result was the great enthusiasm shown by the majority of health staff involved. In this way a useful exchange of correspondence was established. With this exchange of information and recognition of each others problems the quality of patient care must improve.
Oxidation and Reduction under Cover: Chemistry at the Confined Space between Ultrathin Nanoporous Silicates and Ru(0001)

The oxidation and reduction of Ru(0001) surfaces at the confined space between two-dimensional nanoporous silica frameworks and Ru(0001) have been investigated using synchrotron-based ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS). The porous nature of the frameworks and the weak interaction between the silica and the ruthenium substrate allow oxygen and hydrogen molecules to go through the nanopores and react with the metal at the interface between the silica framework and the metal surface. In this work, three types of two-dimensional silica frameworks have been used to study their influence in the oxidation and reduction of the ruthenium surface at elevated pressures and temperatures. These frameworks are bilayer silica (0.5 nm thick), bilayer aluminosilicate (0.5 nm thick), and zeolite MFI nanosheets (3 nm thick). It is found that the silica frameworks stay essentially intact under these conditions, but they strongly affect the oxidation of ruthenium, with the 0.5 nm thick aluminosilicate ...
Inheritance of egg-color polymorphism in the village weaver (Ploceus cucullatus)

--Eggs collected from an aviary colony of Village Weavers (Ploceus cucullatus cucullatus) over a 14-year period varied in color among different females from white to emerald or turquoise, and from many spots to few or none. Color and amount of spotting of the eggs of a given female were constant throughout her life (based on 815 eggs from 37 females). Color was judged from the Villalobos Color Atlas. Mendelian analysis of five different hypotheses showed that inheritance of background color of eggs in 20 different crosses was consistent only with a hypothesis of two independent pairs of autosomal alleles for hue. Received 14 September 1992, accepted 25 November 1992. THE EDITORS of a recent book on avian genetics pointed out that, despite widespread interest among ornithologists in plumage polymorphism, evidence of the genetic basis for most of these polymorphisms is sadly lacking (Cooke and Buckley 1987:202). Even less is known about the genetic control of egg-shell-color polymorphisms. My objective is to present evidence on Mendelian inheritance of egg-shell-color polymorphism in a passerine bird. In the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) for which the first demonstration of Mendelian heredity in the animal kingdom was made by William Bateson (Punnett 1923), a Mendelian analysis of egg-shellcolor polymorphism was done long ago (Punnett and Bailey 1920, Punnett 1923, 1933a), and this classic work is still one of the few published records dealing with this problem (Washburn 1990). There is no reference in the literature giving comparable evidence for any passerine bird. In North America the color of eggs is generally consistent for a given species of bird, and this is particularly true of the passetines (Harrison 1978). This is in strong contrast to the genus Ploceus (Ploceidae, weaverbirds) in which variation in egg color within the species is higher than in any other group of birds (Moreau 1960:446). In the Village Weaver (Ploceus cucullatus) of sub-Saharan Africa, the eggs are among the most variable in color and pattern of any ploceid species (Meise 1983:521). The different races of the Village Weaver have similar variations in egg color and pattern, in which ground color varies from white through blues to greens, and from plain eggs to eggs spotted to varying degrees usually with brown or reddish brown. This pattern of variability is seen in eastern (Mackworth-Praed and Grant 1960), central (Chapin 1954), western (Bannerman 1949), and southern (Maclean 1985) Africa. Bannerman (1949:94) further noted for the Village Weaver: "Only one type of coloring ap-
Survival of Litters from Adrenalectomized Rats Treated with Cortico-Adrenal Substitutes

ConclusionsThese experiments indicate that NaCl drinking solutions, crystalline progesterone, crude progestin, testosterone propionate, and Antuitrin S, in the dosages used as cortico-adrenal substitutes, will not enhance lactation as determined by the survival of the litters from adrenalectomized females. As compared with the survival of untreated adrenalectomized controls, crude progestin reduced the survival time of the females, whereas the other substitutes prolonged the survival time of the females.
On the possibility of studying crystal field levels and excitations by μ+SR spectroscopy

We point out thatμ+SR relaxation timesT1 andT2 measured in metallic magnetic materials can sometimes be expressed in terms of the spin-spin correlation functions of the magnetic ions. We calculate these functions in a random phase approximation and notice they can strongly depend on the crystal field levels and excitations of the magnetic ions. The shortcomings of this approximation are discussed.
Colloidal nanocrystal superlattices as phononic crystals: plane wave expansion modeling of phonon band structure

Colloidal nanocrystals consist of an inorganic crystalline core with organic ligands bound to the surface and naturally self-assemble into periodic arrays known as superlattices. This periodic structure makes superlattices promising for phononic crystal applications. To explore this potential, we use plane wave expansion methods to model the phonon band structure. We find that the nanoscale periodicity of these superlattices yield phononic band gaps with very high center frequencies on the order of 102 GHz. We also find that the large acoustic contrast between the hard nanocrystal cores and the soft ligand matrix lead to very large phononic band gap widths on the order of 101 GHz. We systematically vary nanocrystal core diameter, d, nanocrystal core elastic modulus, ENC core, interparticle distance (i.e. ligand length), L, and ligand elastic modulus, Eligand, and report on the corresponding effects on the phonon band structure. Our modeling shows that the band gap center frequency increases as d and L are decreased, or as ENC core and Eligand are increased. The band gap width behaves non-monotonically with d, L, ENC core, and Eligand, and intercoupling of these variables can eliminate the band gap. Lastly, we observe multiple phononic band gaps in many superlattices and find a correlation between an increase in the number of band gaps and increases in d and ENC core. We find that increases in the property mismatch between phononic crystal components (i.e. d/L and ENC core/Eligand) flattens the phonon branches and are a key driver in increasing the number of phononic band gaps. Our predicted phononic band gap center frequencies and widths far exceed those in current experimental demonstrations of 3-dimensional phononic crystals. This suggests that colloidal nanocrystal superlattices are promising candidates for use in high frequency phononic crystal applications.
A Theology of Economic Reform

For the interdisciplinary field of theological economics to grow and flourish, four questions must be answered. First, whose theology and scholarship are relevant? Second, to what ends may theological economics be undertaken? Third, does theology support its own use and application in economics? Fourth, what code of conduct should theological economics scholars follow? These questions arise precisely because theology may place its own bounds on how it can be utilized in economics. However, each religion’s theology or theologies may answer these questions differently. Accordingly, this paper seeks to answer these questions from a Christian theological perspective.
To detection the infection of human cytomegalovirus in spermatogenic cells in the semen of infertile male

Objectives: To detect the infection of human cytomegalovirus(HCMV) of spermatogenic cells in the semen of infertile males.Methods: 99 semen samples of infertile males were collected and more spermatogenic cells were found through semen routine assaying.Then the cells were washed and concentrated to extract DNA.HCMV DNA were detected by polymerase chain reaction(PCR).Immunocytochemistry(ICC)technique was used to detect the expressions of HCMV antigen in positive infected semen cells.Results: PCR test revealed 10 HCMV positive cases in 99 semen samples.Among all 10 HCMV PCR positive cases,HCMV late antigen has positive expression in spermatogenic cells by ICC assaying whereas HCMV early antigen has negative expression.Among all HCMV positive cases,many immature spermatogenic cells were found in semen samples and have some pathologic variation.Sperm density of HCMV positive group was significantly lower than that of HCMV negative group(P0.05).Among all HCMV positive cases,HCMV-IgG was positive and HCMV-IgM was negative in blood.Conclusion: Spermatogenic cells with HCMV infection may cause pathologic lesions,and affect spermatogenesis.And these lesions may contribute to male infertility.
Microstructure features of steam oxidation layer on 15CrMo steel tubes

The 15CrMo steel tubes of a thermal power plant was burst only serviced for 3000 h.Macroscopic test shows that the inner wall of the tubes was serious rusted.Microstructure of the 15CrMo steel tube in different position and composition of the oxide layer were analyzed by SEM,EDS and XRD.The results show that the serious high-temperature oxidation has eroded the tube during the service.The oxidation scale can be displayed as inside and outside two layers,the oxidation starts in the grain boundary,then gradually expands to intragranular.
Environmental Regulation and Agricultural Growth:an Estimation Based on Panel Data Simultaneous Equations

Environmental regulation has directly effects on the cost and quality of agricultural production,and then on the agricultural growth.With environmental regulation theoretical analysis,the relationship between agricultural growth and environmental regulation was tested by simultaneous equations model based on provincial panel data of China from 1990 to 2003.The results showed that effects of environmental regulation on agricultural growth changed from "positive" to " negative",and there were still barriers existed in the promoting mechanism of environmental regulation to agricultural growth.Finally,policy suggestions for improving environmental regulation and promoting agricultural growth were proposed from aspects of agricultural industry understanding,agricultural developing policy,agricultural environmental management and ecological agriculture subsidies.
IX. Subfamily Danthonioideae N.P. Barker & H.P. Linder (2001)

Perennials or more rarely annuals. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Inflorescence branches branched (rarely unbranched). Spikelets laterally compressed, with 1 to many flowers. Lemma bilobed, awned from the sinus, the base of the awn flat. Style branches 2, widely separated. Embryo sac with haustorial synergids. Epiblast absent, scutellar cleft present, embryonic mesocotyl internode elongated, the embryonic leaf margins meeting. Stomata with dome-shaped or parallel-sided subsidiary cells. Photosynthetic pathway C3.
The smallest fullerene

Twenty carbon atoms can form many structures — say, a ring or chain. They might also form spherical or bowl-like geometries, but these have only existed in theory. These two structures have now been created for the first time in minute quantities.
Yoga practice improves executive function by attenuating stress levels

Abstract Background Prolonged activation of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal system is thought to have deleterious effects on brain function. Neuroendocrine studies suggest that brain exposure to higher cortisol concentrations contribute to cognitive deficits as we age. Mind-body techniques such as yoga have shown to improve stress levels by restoring the body’s sympathetic-parasympathetic balance. The objective of this study was to determine whether yoga practice moderated the stress response resulting in improved executive function. Methods Sedentary community dwelling older adults (N = 118, Mean age = 62.02) were randomized to an 8-week yoga intervention or a stretching control group. At baseline and following 8 weeks, all participants completed measures of executive function, self-reported stress and anxiety and provided saliva samples before and after cognitive testing to assess cortisol. Results Yoga participants showed improved accuracy on executive function measures and an attenuated cortisol response compared to their stretching counterparts who showed increased cortisol levels and poor cognitive performance at follow up. The change in cortisol levels as well as self-reported stress and anxiety levels predicted performance on the running span task, n-back working memory and task switching paradigm (β’s = 0.27–0.38, p’s ≤ 0.05 for yoga and β’s = −0.37–0.47, p’s ≤ 0.01 for stretching control). Conclusion Eight weeks of regular yoga practice resulted in improved working memory performance that was mediated by an attenuated response to stress as measured by self-report stress and objective salivary cortisol measurements. This trial offers evidence for non-traditional physical activity interventions such as yoga that may be helpful in restoring HPA balance in older adults, thereby preventing cognitive decline.
Pacific sea surface temperatures, midlatitude atmospheric circulation, and widespread interannual anomalies in western U.S. streamflow

Widespread droughts can have considerable impact on western United States (U.S.) streamflow but causes related to moisture delivery processes are not yet fully understood. Here we examine western U.S. streamflow records to identify robust leading modes of interannual variability and their links to patterns of ocean and atmospheric circulation. The leading mode of streamflow variability, a pattern of west-wide streamflow anomalies, accounts for approximately 50% of variability and is associated with persistent high-pressure anomalies related to ridges off the Pacific North American coast. The second mode of variability accounts for approximately 25% of variability and is associated with ocean and atmospheric conditions in the tropical Pacific. Our results suggest that the leading mode of streamflow variability in the western U.S. is more strongly associated with internally driven midlatitude atmospheric variability than equatorial Pacific sea surface temperatures.
Prenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal factors are associated with pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis

Background Multiple lines of evidence point to the potential importance of early-life environmental factors in the rapid increase in the incidence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), but potential exposures have not been extensively studied. Objective We sought to assess the association between prenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal factors and the development of pediatric EoE using a case-control study. Methods Patients with EoE were recruited from an existing registry at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC). Population-based community control subjects were identified from a separate CCHMC registry. Mothers of study subjects were contacted and completed a Web-based questionnaire. Crude and adjusted models were used to estimate associations. Results Mothers of 127 cases and 121 control subjects were included. We observed a positive association between several early-life factors and EoE, including prenatal (maternal fever: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.18; 95% CI, 1.27-7.98; preterm labor: aOR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.06-4.48), intrapartum (cesarean delivery: aOR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.01, 3.09), and infancy (antibiotic use: aOR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.21-4.38; use of an acid suppressant: aOR, 6.05; 95% CI, 2.55-14.40) factors. We observed an inverse association between having a furry pet in infancy and EoE (aOR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.34-0.97). No associations were observed for breast-feeding or maternal multivitamin or folic acid supplement use. Conclusion Early-life factors, including maternal fever, preterm labor, cesarean delivery, and antibiotic or acid suppressant use in infancy, were associated with risk of pediatric EoE; having a pet in the home was protective. These results add to growing evidence that implicate early-life exposures in EoE pathogenesis.
Entertaining Peace: Conclusions and Thoughts on Future Research

This chapter explores possibilities for future research. Militarism and processes of militarization shape the international political system and the lives of people around the world, and popular entertainment is a part of those processes. But complex notions of peace and resistance exist in children’s entertainment and are given new life in youth subcultures, including in fan activism, and fan fiction communities. Through a ‘profanation of apparatuses’ (Agamben) and with ‘a tolerance for ambiguity’ (Anzaldua), some forms of pop culture may operate as a third space of a ‘new consciousness’ of peace. The formations of peacebuilding located in pop culture stories and practices include sanctuary peacebuilding, ethico-political narrative peacebuilding, embodied peacebuilding, neoliberal peacebuilding, colonial/charitable peacebuilding, and thresholder/bridging/‘borderlands’ (Anzaldua) peacebuilding.
Disease-causing mutation in α-actinin-4 promotes podocyte detachment through maladaptation to periodic stretch

α-Actinin-4 (ACTN4) bundles and cross-links actin filaments to confer mechanical resilience to the reconstituted actin network. How this resilience is built and dynamically regulated in the podocyte, and the cause of its failure in ACTN4 mutation-associated focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), remains poorly defined. Using primary podocytes isolated from wild-type (WT) and FSGS-causing point mutant Actn4 knockin mice, we report responses to periodic stretch. While WT cells largely maintained their F-actin cytoskeleton and contraction, mutant cells developed extensive and irrecoverable reductions in these same properties. This difference was attributable to both actin material changes and a more spatially correlated intracellular stress in mutant cells. When stretched cells were further challenged using a cell adhesion assay, mutant cells were more likely to detach. Together, these data suggest a mechanism for mutant podocyte dysfunction and loss in FSGS—it is a direct consequence of mechanical responses of a cytoskeleton that is brittle.
Ribless Folded Plates

An analytical solution for the interior panel of a multiple span, multiple bay ribless prismatic shell is presented. The approach to the problem entails a two-step procedure. First, the load is assumed to be applied to a panel with continuous supports along the longitudinal edges. The vertical reaction along the assumed continuous supports is next transferred to the columns by the application of a corrective edge line load along the longitudinal edges of the panel. In view of the extensive computation entailed in the analysis, the solutions were programmed for a high speed electronic computer. Loads of arbitrary distribution in the transverse direction but uniform in the longitudinal direction are considered. Special cases of dead load and uniform live load are treated in detail. The effects of the different shell parameters on the stress resultants and the displacements were studied.
Convolutional Neural Network Ensemble Fine-Tuning for Extended Transfer Learning

Nowadays, image classification is a core task for many high impact applications such as object recognition, self-driving cars, national security (border monitoring, assault detection), safety (fire detection, distracted driving), geo-monitoring (cloud, rock and crop-disease detection). Convolutional Neural Networks(CNNs) are effective for those applications. However, they need to be trained with a huge number of examples and a consequently huge training time. Unfortunately, when the training set is not big enough and when re-train the model several times is needed, a common approach is to adopt a transfer learning procedure. Transfer learning procedures use networks already pretrained in other context and extract features from them or retrain them with a small dataset related to the specific application (fine-tuning). We propose to fine-tuning an ensemble of models combined together from multiple pretrained CNNs (AlexNet, VGG19 and GoogleNet). We test our approach on three different benchmark datasets: Yahoo! Shopping Shoe Image Content, UC Merced Land Use Dataset, and Caltech-UCSD Birds-200-2011 Dataset. Each one represents a different application. Our suggested approach always improves accuracy over the state of the art solutions and accuracy obtained by the returning of a single CNN. In the best case, we moved from accuracy of 70.5% to 93.14%.
Development of the human papillomavirus vaccine and guidelines for its use.

A physician explains the human papillomavirus vaccine and guidelines for its use. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
A contaminated binormal model for ROC data: Part II. A formal model*

Rationale and Objectives. A contaminated binormal receiver operating characteristic (ROC) model is proposed to account for ROC data that have very few false-positive reports even though many healthy subjects are sampled. The model assumes that no signal information is captured for a proportion of abnormalities, and that these abnormalities have the same distribution as noise along the latent decision axis. Materials and Methods. The authors developed a formal psychophysical model, presented here in detail. They have specified the psychophysical assumptions of the theory, and have provided proofs that include all essential details, from assumptions to implications. With the technical details that are provided, this theory can be implemented with computer programs to fit data. Results. The new model can fit ROC data in which some or all of the ROC points have false-positive fractions of 0 and true-positive fractions of less than 1, without implying that performance is perfect. The resulting ROC curves are always proper, never exhibiting inappropriate chance line crossings. The model predicts that, under certain conditions, a bimodal categorical rating histogram will be observed for the signal distribution. The model predicts a relationship between the mean and standard deviation of the signal distribution and holds that, for expert decision makers, there are situations in which the prevalence and utility matrix preclude operating points in some ROC regions. The model has a straightforward extension to the joint detection and localization ROC curve. Conclusion. The contaminated binormal model accounts for ROC data with few or no false-positive reports.
A review of ectoparasites and their effect on cattle production

Losses in livestock production due to ectoparasite infestations exceed $2.26 billion annually. Over 50 species of ectoparasites infest cattle throughout the United States. The horn fly, Haematobia irritans (L.), is the most important and widespread of the five to six major pest species of pastured cattle in the southern region. Results from the examination of production traits from cattle under ectoparasite burdens have been variable, ranging from no effect to significant reductions in weight gains. Because of this inconsistency, specific physiological and nutritional responses in cattle infested or not infested with horn flies have been examined. Data have shown significant differences in nitrogen retention, blood cortisol concentrations, vital signs, water consumption, and urine production. Implications are that total energy balance is altered when an animal is exposed to ectoparasite infestations, thereby resulting in decreased productivity.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Analysis by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms of Blood and Other Body Fluid Stains Subjected to Contamination and Environmental Insults

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) profile results were obtained from bloodstains and other body fluid stains subjected to mixture with other body fluids, environmental insults (sunlight and temperature), different substrates (cotton, nylon, blue denim, glass, aluminum, and wood), and contaminants (gasoline, bleach, sodium hydroxide, soil, motor oil, detergent, phosphate salt, glacial acetic acid, and micro-organisms). Of the samples that produced profile results, all had profiles that were consistent with those of untreated control samples.
Business information visualization

With the flood of data produced by today’s information systems, something must be done to allow business decision-makers to extract the information the data contains. The recent advances in visualization technologies provide the capability to begin to use human visual/spatial abilities to solve the abstract problems found in business. If business problems can be visualized with an appropriate representation, then it may be possible to use innate spatial/visual abilities to allow the business decision-maker to separate the “wheat from the chaff.” This tutorial surveys the issues related to applying visualization technologies to business problem solving.
Controlling Localized Photoemission of Triangular Gold Antennas Through Polarization

Photoemitters and plasmonic devices may become critical elements of photonics, which is being developed to augment or replace traditional electronic circuits. In recently studied devices, electrons are photo-emitted from a metallic material through exposure to femtosecond laser pulses in a non-linear, multi-photon process. Typically, the incident laser light will undergo diffraction at the edges of the metal layer, exciting surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) along the top and bottom surfaces. In thin, triangular gold platelet antennas the SPPs can be concentrated within specific regions of the material, resulting in localized photoemission in areas significantly smaller than the wavelength of the light. Experimentally, these effects can be imaged via photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) [1]. By using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) based modeling, these experimental results can be analyzed in detail, dependencies characterized, and new results predicted. We show here that by varying the polarization of the incident light, the intensity of the emission can be directly controlled; effectively turning it on or off. In the future, our results will allow us to identify the mechanisms behind the photoemission and to determine new ways to control the plasmonic and electronic properties of nanoscale devices.
Decrease in protein content and cell volume of cultured dog kidney epithelial cells during growth.

Protein content per cell and cell volume of the canine kidney epithelial cell line, MDCK, and one of its chemically induced tumorigenic transformants (T1) were examined during growth in serum-containing and serum-free, hormonally defined media. Both protein content per cell and cell volume (measured with 3-0-methyl-d-glucose) decreased when cell density increased. Significant inverse linear correlations were found between protein content (and cell volume) and the log of the cell number. Equations relating these variables were derived. No difference was detected between cells grown in serum-containing and in serum-free media. Results of22Na+ uptake experiments differed markedly when expressed as a function of cell number or as a function of protein content or cell volume. However, protein content and cell volume bore a constant relationship to one another, and expression of results as a function of protein content or cell volume yielded qualitatively similar results. These findings show that in MDCK cells, as in other cell lines, protein content and cell volume decrease markedly during growth and that these variation must be taken into account when expressing and interpreting the results of transport measurements.
On Excuses from Moral Obligation

The extent to which incapacity of performance and lack of control over outcome can provide excuses is complex. In particular, it demands the clarification afforded by distinguishing matters of action from matters of attitude—or reaction.
Nutmeg overdose: Spice not so nice

Abstract Background Nutmeg is a spice common to many kitchens around the world and is being used for many other reasons, such as an aphrodisiac, antimicrobial, antioxidant and analgesic, yet little is known about the toxic effects of nutmeg. Case report A case is presented of a young male who took an overdose of nutmeg and presented via ambulance to the Emergency Department with multiple psychiatric and neurological symptoms. The case is described in detail, especially in regard to the prehospital and Emergency Department presentation. Emergency personnel should be aware of nutmeg toxicity due to its ability to mimic many other neurological, cardiac and psychiatric conditions. Therefore, increased awareness of this issue can help minimize the risk of misdiagnosis. The importance of communication between the Emergency personnel and the pre-hospital team is stressed. A discussion is included concerning the pathophysiology of nutmeg toxicity, its history, symptomatology, differential diagnosis and treatment.
Mixed studies review of factors influencing receipt of pain treatment by injured black patients.

Aim To explore the factors that influence provider pain treatment decision-making and the receipt of pain management by injured Black patients in the United States. Design We completed a systematic mixed studies review using a results-based convergent synthesis design. Data sources PubMed, SCOPUS and CINAHL were searched for articles published between 2007-2017 using the search terms 'African American', 'Black American', 'race', 'pain treatment', 'pain management' and 'analgesia'. Twenty studies were included in this review. Review method A search of databases and hand-searching identified peer-reviewed published papers. The Mixed Method Appraisal Tool was used to appraise the studies. Results The results indicate that healthcare provider characteristics, racial myths about pain sensitization and assumed criminality all impact provider treatment decision-making and the receipt of pain treatment by injured Black patients. Impact This review addresses racial disparities in pain management by focusing on the factors that impact the receipt of pain treatment by injured Black patients. The findings will have an impact on providers who prescribe pain treatment and on the patients they treat. These findings suggest that assumed criminality of certain patients can negatively impact care, which is a type of bias not frequently explored or discussed in health disparities research. This review will help inform further research in healthcare disparities and prompt providers to examine their assumptions about the patients for whom they care. Conclusion These results provide important areas for further study, including how assumed criminality of certain patients can have a negative impact on care.