cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preemption and a counterfactual analysis of divine causation

This paper aims to outline a counterfactual theory of divine atemporal causation that avoids problems of preemption. As a result, the presentation of the analysis is structured such that my counterfactual analysis directly addresses preemption issues. If these problems can be avoided, the theist is well on her way to proposing a usable metaphysical concept of atemporal divine causation. In the first section, I outline Lewis’ original counterfactual analysis as well as how these cases of preemption cause problems for his analysis. In particular, two cases of preemption have proven problematic for counterfactual analyses: late preemption and trumping preemption. In the second section, I propose a counterfactual analysis of divine causation that is not subject to these problems of preemption. I present a counterfactual analysis of timeless divine causation, supplemented by a definition of what it means for God to allow an event to happen. In the third section, I argue this analysis is not prey to problems of preemption.
Athletic Trainers' Perceptions of Treating and Managing Patients With Ankle Sprains

Context Ankle sprains common occurrences in athletic and general populations. High volumes of ankle sprains elevate the clinical burden on Athletic Trainers (AT). While there is a position statement from the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) regarding the treatment and management of ankle sprains, there may be factors impacting an AT's ability to effectively implement the recommendations. Objective To evaluate current understanding, perceptions and difficulties ATs have regarding the treatment, management, and long-term effects of ankle sprains. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Online survey instrument. Patients or other participants Seven hundred and ninety-six ATs across all athletic training job settings (years certified=12.1±9.2 years). Interventions None. Main outcome measures Participants completed a thirty-eight-question survey that recorded demographics, perceptions and knowledge on epidemiology, treatment, and management of ankle sprains. The survey also documented participants' patient education practices, attitudes towards the NATA position statement regarding ankle sprains, along with challenges and pressures against implementation. Descriptive statistics, correlations, and analyses of variance were used to analyze the data and evaluate group differences and relationships. Results Eighty-three percent of participants demonstrated a moderate understanding of fundamental ankle sprain epidemiology. Group differences were seen between education levels, years certified, and job setting regarding patient education. Overall, 38.1% of ATs were either unsure or unaware of the NATA position statement, but those aware of it expressed it to be a 3.89 on a scale to five, regarding usefulness; with one being "Not Useful at All", three being "Neutral" and five "Very Useful". On average, 1.9±0.88 challenges were documented to implementing effective treatment practices, and an average of 2.0±0.95 pressures reported to returning athletes to play following an ankle sprain. Conclusion Nearly 40% of ATs were either unaware or unsure of current recommendations available to inform how ankle sprains are treated, which could impact how care is delivered.
Terahertz-based subfemtosecond metrology of relativistic electron beams

We demonstrate single-shot temporal characterization of relativistic electron bunches using single-cycle terahertz (THz) field streaking. A transverse deflecting structure consisting of a metal slit enables efficient coupling of the THz field and electron bunch. The intrinsically stable carrier envelope phase and strong gradient of the THz pulses allow simultaneous, self-calibrated determination of the time-of-arrival with subfemtosecond precision and bunch duration with single-femtosecond precision, respectively, opening up new opportunities for ultrafast electron diffraction as well as accelerator technologies in general.
Short- and long-term surgical outcomes of total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation: A comparative analysis of surgical technique and intraoperative heparin dosing to optimize outcomes.

Abstract Background Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TP-IAT) is an uncommon surgical procedure with unique perioperative management. We evaluated the short- and long-term morbidity and mortality of TP-IAT to optimize surgical technique and heparin dosing during islet autotransplantation. Methods Eighty patients with chronic pancreatitis undergoing TP-IAT were reviewed. Primary outcome was to evaluate morbidity and mortality based on operative technique: classic (resection of antrum) vs pylorus-preserving. Secondary outcome was to evaluate the effect of heparin dosing ( Results There was no 90-day mortality, and median length of stay was 9 days. All patients underwent an open operation with 53 (66%) pylorus-preserving resections. The 30-day morbidity rate was 39%, with no difference between operative technique (p = 0.82). The median dose was different for each heparin group ( 30 days after TP-IAT was 43% with a higher rate in the pylorus-preserving group (55% vs 15%, p Conclusions A classic TP-IAT technique should be universally adopted to achieve optimal outcomes, particularly to prevent the formation of marginal ulcers. When considering PVT versus postoperative hemorrhage risk, a lower heparin dose nearing 50 units/kg is optimal. These findings highlight potential areas for future improvement.
Determining the AC susceptibility of thin metal films using the anisotropic magnetoresistance

Abstract The differential ac magnetic susceptibility of thin magnetic films was determined using the anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) to measure the response of the magnetization to an applied AC magnetic field. The differential AMR was measured with a small AC magnetic field (1 Oe) at frequencies from 5 Hz to 5000 Hz as a function of the magnitude of an applied DC field that was varied from −60 Oe to +60 Oe. A model relating the magnitude of the differential AMR to the differential AC susceptibility was developed. The ferromagnetic films investigated were permalloy, cobalt, nickel, and nickel with an antiferromagnetic nickel oxide layer on one surface. For all the samples investigated, the differential susceptibility magnitude was a function of the DC field magnitude and was frequency dependent, decreasing with increasing frequency.
Systematic analysis of video-based pulse measurement from compressed videos

Camera-based physiological measurement enables vital signs to be captured unobtrusively without contact with the body. Remote, or imaging, photoplethysmography involves recovering peripheral blood flow from subtle variations in video pixel intensities. While the pulse signal might be easy to obtain from high quality uncompressed videos, the signal-to-noise ratio drops dramatically with video bitrate. Uncompressed videos incur large file storage and data transfer costs, making analysis, manipulation and sharing challenging. To help address these challenges, we use compression specific supervised models to mitigate the effect of temporal video compression on heart rate estimates. We perform a systematic evaluation of the performance of state-of-the-art algorithms across different levels, and formats, of compression. We demonstrate that networks trained on compressed videos consistently outperform other benchmark methods, both on stationary videos and videos with significant rigid head motions. By training on videos with the same, or higher compression factor than test videos, we achieve improvements in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of up to 3 dB and mean absolute error (MAE) of up to 6 beats per minute (BPM).
The Right to Food

This chapter examines international efforts to establish access to safe, sufficient, and nutritious food as a universally recognized human right, beginning with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the early days of the United Nations and ending with the recent Right to Food resolution of the Human Rights Council. The major institutional mechanisms that have been established to promote and defend the right to food are also identified. The latter part of this chapter describes the purpose, structure, and major programs of the World Food Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization, and International Fund for Agricultural Development.
Fusobacterium nucleatum Secretes Outer Membrane Vesicles and Promotes Intestinal Inflammation.

Multiple studies have implicated microbes in the development of inflammation, but the mechanisms remain unknown. Bacteria in the genus Fusobacterium have been identified in the intestinal mucosa of patients with digestive diseases; thus, we hypothesized that Fusobacterium nucleatum promotes intestinal inflammation. The addition of >50 kDa F. nucleatum conditioned media, which contain outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), to colonic epithelial cells stimulated secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). In addition, purified F. nucleatum OMVs, but not compounds 50-kDa compounds also stimulated TNF secretion, p-ERK, p-CREB, and NF-κB activation in human colonoid monolayers. In mice harboring a human microbiota, pretreatment with antibiotics and a single oral gavage of F. nucleatum resulted in inflammation. Compared to mice receiving vehicle control, mice treated with F. nucleatum showed disruption of the colonic architecture, with increased immune cell infiltration and depleted mucus layers. Analysis of mucosal gene expression revealed increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines (KC, TNF, IL-6, IFN-γ, and MCP-1) at day 3 and day 5 in F. nucleatum-treated mice compared to controls. These proinflammatory effects were absent in mice who received F. nucleatum without pretreatment with antibiotics, suggesting that an intact microbiome is protective against F. nucleatum-mediated immune responses. These data provide evidence that F. nucleatum promotes proinflammatory signaling cascades in the context of a depleted intestinal microbiome.IMPORTANCE Several studies have identified an increased abundance of Fusobacterium in the intestinal tracts of patients with colon cancer, liver cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, HIV infection, and alcoholism. However, the direct mechanism(s) of action of Fusobacterium on pathophysiological within the gastrointestinal tract is unclear. These studies have identified that F. nucleatum subsp. polymorphum releases outer membrane vesicles which activate TLR4 and NF-κB to stimulate proinflammatory signals in vitro Using mice harboring a human microbiome, we demonstrate that F. nucleatum can promote inflammation, an effect which required antibiotic-mediated alterations in the gut microbiome. Collectively, these results suggest a mechanism by which F. nucleatum may contribute to intestinal inflammation.
Redrawing the Dividing Lines Between Natural Law and Positivism(s)

This commentary contends that Dan Priel’s symposium paper "Toward Classical Legal Positivism" demonstrates the virtues and promise of a broader conception of jurisprudence. Priel’s championing of the legal philosophies of Hobbes and Bentham points to two important distinctions in legal thought: the metaphysical divide between classical positivists and natural lawyers as well as disagreement between classical and many modern positivists about the centrality of the internal point of view of participants in a legal system. Priel’s bid to widen the gauge of jurisprudential inquiry is welcome, even if classical positivism’s externalist approach to legal philosophy leaves it incomplete.
Evaluation of a second victim peer support program on perceptions of second victim experiences and supportive resources in pediatric clinical specialties using the second victim experience and support tool (SVEST).

Abstract Purpose Pediatric healthcare professionals (HCPs) may experience events that lead to psychological distress or second victim experiences (SVEs). This project evaluates the impact of a newly implemented peer support program on SVEs and perceptions of supportive resources among pediatric HCPs. Design and methods A second victim (SV) peer support program was implemented in the pediatric inpatient and intensive care units in September 2019. Multidisciplinary HCPs in these units were invited to participate in an anonymous survey that included the Second Victim Experience and Support Tool before and one-year after implementation. The survey assessed HCPs' SVEs, desired support, and perceptions of the peer support program. Results 52.0% (194/373) completed the pre-implementation survey, and 43.9% (177/403) completed the post-implementation survey. At both timepoints, participants reported SV-related psychosocial distress, physical distress, or low professional self-efficacy; the most desired support was ‘a respected peer to discuss the details of what happened’. Following implementation of the peer support program, HCPs were significantly more likely to have heard of the term ‘second victim’ (51.8 vs. 74.0%; p Conclusions Implementation of a peer support program significantly influenced awareness and perceptions of support available for SV-related distress. Practice implications Peer support programs should be implemented to help HCPs navigate SVEs and decrease SV-related turnover intentions.
Adaptive array invariant for source-range estimation in shallow water

The array invariant (χ) developed for source-range estimation in shallow water is based on the broadband dispersion characteristics in ideal waveguides, summarized by the waveguide invariant, β = cos2θ. This approach relies on the waveguide invariant being constant (e.g., β = 1), valid for small propagation angles, but introduces a significant range error as the propagation angle increases. In this talk, the standard array invariant is extended to fully incorporate the angle dependence of the waveguide invariant, referred to as the adaptive array invariant, denoted by χβ = χ/β. The remarkable performance enhancement is demonstrated (1) using a 56.25 m vertical array for a surface ship (200–900 Hz) in approximately 100-m shallow water and (2) using a 2.8 m vertical array for a broadband source (0.5–3.5 kHz) towed on a continental slope where the water depth varies from 87.5 to 55 m over a 5-km range.
Optimal Control of Global Warming

An optimal control model of global warming is presented and analyzed. The model has two state variables, representing the anthropogenic concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the temperature increase due to the greenhouse gas concentration. The state equation for greenhouse gas concentration includes absorption by the environment, but at a rate that is negatively related to temperature increase. Sufficient conditions are offered for a solution with two steady states to exist, and for at least one of the steady states to yield a positive absorption capacity rate. A numerical illustration is offered. Also, a special case of the model is analyzed, in which the environmental absorption capacity rate is assumed fixed.
Differential CARM1 Isoform Expression in Subcellular Compartments and among Malignant and Benign Breast Tumors

Purpose Coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1) is a coactivator for ERα and cancer-relevant transcription factors, and can methylate diverse cellular targets including histones. CARM1 is expressed in one of two alternative splice isoforms, full-length CARM1 (CARM1FL) and truncated CARM1 (CARM1ΔE15). CARM1FL and CARM1ΔE15 function differently in transcriptional regulation, protein methylation, and mediation of pre-mRNA splicing in cellular models. Methods To investigate the functional roles and the prognosis potential of CARM1 alternative spliced isoforms in breast cancer, we used recently developed antibodies to detect differential CARM1 isoform expression in subcellular compartments and among malignant and benign breast tumors. Results Immunofluorescence in MDA-MB-231 and BG-1 cell lines demonstrated that CARM1ΔE15 is the dominant isoform expressed in the cytoplasm, and CARM1FL is more nuclear localized. CARM1ΔE15 was found to be more sensitive to Hsp90 inhibition than CARM1FL, indicating that the truncated isoform may be the oncogenic form. Clinical cancer samples did not have significantly higher expression of CARM1FL or CARM1ΔE15 than benign breast samples at the level of mRNA or histology. Furthermore neither CARM1FL nor CARM1ΔE15 expression correlated with breast cancer molecular subtypes, tumor size, or lymph node involvement. Conclusions The analysis presented here lends new insights into the possible oncogenic role of CARM1ΔE15. This study also demonstrates no obvious association of CARM1 isoform expression and clinical correlates in breast cancer. Recent studies, however, have shown that CARM1 expression correlates with poor prognosis, indicating a need for further studies of both CARM1 isoforms in a large cohort of breast cancer specimens.
Shear Viscosity of a Unitary Fermi Gas Near the Superfluid Phase Transition.

Measurements of a Fermi gas below the superfluid transition temperature provide the first determination of the local shear viscosity, revealing features that were hidden in previous trap-averaged measurements.
Beyond Historical Blushing: A Plea for Constitutional Intelligence

In this Essay, Professor Blomquist responds to the remarks of Seth Tillman, which critiqued an article by Professor Geoffrey Stone on whether or not the Founders contemplated a "Christian Nation." We Americans - We the People - relish our national Constitution and delight in the game of constitutional interpretation. The game of American constitutional interpretation recalls the complexity and nuance of other great games like the Glass Bead Game and Chess. In never-ending iterations about the meaning of our Constitution we pontificate and debate about intellectual antecedents, historical background, provisions of the Constitution, ratification, contemporary exigencies, and much more. Seth Barrett Tillman has provided constitutional law "gamers" with two hard-hitting legal think pieces - one, a full-blown article in Penn State Law Review, the other, an abridged version of that article in Cardozo Law Review De Novo - evaluating and critiquing Professor Geoffrey R. Stone’s Melville B. Nimmer Memorial Lecture and Essay published in the UCLA Law Review. In this modest and concise Essay, I seek to praise Tillman's intellectual virtues (while empathizing, in part, with Professor Stone). My pivoting gambit and larger purpose, however, is to urge legal scholars, jurists and lawyers to strive for what I call contextual constitutional intelligence in playing the vital game of interpreting our American Constitution.
A Pill for Every Ill

To the Editor: Dr Lip1 and The HOPE investigators2 again sing the praises of ACE inhibitors (“the pill for every ill”)—this time in the regression and prevention of ECG-LVH. The numerous “non–blood pressure” properties of ACE inhibition are elegantly described in Dr Lip’s editorial, as the benefits noted were not simply explained by blood pressure reduction. However, the blood pressure story may not be quite dead yet. ACE inhibitors have a more favorable effect on central aortic pressure and pulsatile hemodynamics than other antihypertensive agents.3 End-organ damage is known to correlate with parameters of pulse wave morphology. …
Taking Exception to the Grenzfall’s Reception: Revisiting Karl Barth’s Ethics of Warmoth_1761

This article investigates Karl Barth's ethics of war and its reception by placing the discussion within the larger framework of the general ethics of Church Dogmatics II/2 and the special ethics of Church Dogmatics III/4. It gives careful attention to the infamously problematic “exceptional case” to illumine what sort of “exception,” if any, the provocative passages on war entail. The outlines of Barth's ethical framework and the Grenzfall, or borderline case, provide the background for the re-evaluation of three common interpretations of his views on war.
A norm-minimizing parametric algorithm for quadratic partial eigenvalue assignment via Sylvester equation

In this paper, we propose a Sylvester equation based parametric algorithm for generating a family of feedback matrices to solve the quadratic partial eigenvalue problem (QPEVAP) arising in controlling dangerous vibrations, such as resonance, in structures like bridges, highways, air and spacecrafts. It is then shown how the parametric matrix can be optimally chosen using a numerical optimization technique so that feedback matrices have minimum norms. Such minimum-norm feedback gains naturally lead to smaller control signals and are useful in reducing noises. The distinguished features of the algorithm making it applicable to even very large practical structures are: (i) the algorithm works directly in quadratic setting without any need to transformation to a standard state-space form, which might require ill-conditioned matrix inversion and destroys the exploitable structural properties, (ii) no model reduction is needed, no matter how large the problem is, (iii) knowledge of only a small amount of eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the associated quadratic eigenvalue problem that can be computed using the state-of-the-art matrix computational techniques, is sufficient for its implementation, and (iv) the algorithm is capable of exploiting the structural properties of the system, such as the sparsity, bandedness, symmetry and positive definiteness, etc., in a computational setting.
Amino-terminal flanking residues determine the conformation of a peptide-class II MHC complex.

The peptide spanning residues 48–62 of hen egg white lysozyme presented by I-Ak molecules gives rise to two T cell populations, types A and B, that recognize distinct conformers of the complex generated in late and recycling endosomes. The class II–like accessory molecule H2-DM functions as a conformational editor, eliminating the type B conformer in late endosomes. Here, we show that the conformation of the complex, and its susceptibility to editing by H2-DM, are determined by peptide amino-terminal flanking residues. Elimination of these residues abolished editing, permitting formation of the type B conformer in late endosomes. Substitutions at P(−2) affected the stability of the type B conformer, preventing its formation and/or editing, without hindering peptide binding or formation of the type A conformer of the complex. We conclude that interactions involving amino-terminal flanking residues stabilize peptide-MHC conformers and confer resistance to editing by H2-DM, influencing the nature of the T cell repertoire.
Strength and endurance adaptations to functional electrical stimulation leg cycle ergometry in spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVES: To describe adaptations in power output, quadriceps muscle strength, and fatigability that occur during a 13-week regimen of Functional Electrical Stimulation Leg Cycle Ergometry (FES-LCE) in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). To identify differences in outcomes between individuals with complete and incomplete motor impairment. DESIGN: Observational and longitudinal. SETTING: Rehabilitation and biomechanics research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Eleven (N = 11) individuals with SCI and no previous FES-LCE experience. INTERVENTION: 40 sessions of FES-LCE at a rate of three sessions per week. Continuous exercise was performed at a pedal cadence of 45 RPM against a constant resistance for up to 60 minutes. OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean power output was recorded for each session. Before and after the training regimen, each subject performed a fatigue test in which electrically stimulated knee extension torque and Fatigue Index were measured. RESULTS: Participants demonstrated significant increases in mean power output (9.0 to 20.3 W; p < 0.001), peak isometric knee extension torque (3.8 to 16.9 Nm; p = 0.006) and sustainable isometric knee extension torque (4.9 to 14.4 Nm; p = 0.001) after FES-LCE training (95% confidence intervals). Participants with incomplete motor impairment demonstrated a decrease in Fatigue Index (p = 0.021), and improved mean power output more than those with complete motor impairment (p = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: Significant improvements in muscle conditioning and exercise performance are possible following the 13-week regimen of FES-LCE described in this article. Individuals with incomplete motor impairment experience greater improvements in mean power output than individuals with complete motor impairment.
Acute response to cluster sets in trained and untrained men

In traditional sets (TRD) repetitions are performed continuously, whereas cluster sets (CLU) allow a brief rest between groups of repetitions. We investigated the acute mechanical, metabolic, and hormonal response to CLU in men. Twelve resistance-trained (RT) and 11 untrained (UT) men performed TRD (4 × 10 repetitions with 2 min rest) and CLU [4 × (2 × 5) with 1.5 min rest between sets 30 s rest between clusters] at 70 % 1RM back squat in random order. Seven days separated trials. Average power and time under tension (TUT) were calculated. Blood was sampled pre, sets 1, 2, and 3; immediate post-exercise, 5, 15, 30, 60 min post-exercise for blood lactate, total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), growth hormone (GH), and cortisol. CLU produced greater average power at an increasing number of repetitions over each set with greater total volume load. TUT was shorter for RT and lower for CLU in repetitions 1, 6, 7, 8. Blood lactate was higher Set 2 through 30 min in TRD. RT had higher TT; however, the time course was similar between RT and UT. TT and FT increased immediate post-exercise and remained elevated 30 min in both conditions. GH was significantly greater during TRD with a similar pattern observed in both conditions. Cortisol was significantly lower at 30 min in CLU. CLU allowed greater total volume load, shorter TUT, greater average power, similar anabolic hormonal response, and less metabolic stress. The acute response was similar despite training status.
Toward An Epistemology of Participatory Communication: A Feminist Perspective

A feminist epistemology of participatory communication is developed by using feminism as proposed by Donna Haraway, Chandra Mohanty, and Patricia Collins. There are four components of the epistemology: people's knowledge as situated knowledge, multiplicity, critical positioning, and the nature of being political. Important aspects of participatory communication, such as how to put people first, the building of connections and coalitions, the problem of cultural relativism, and the deconstruction and reconstruction of development discourse are examined in the context of feminism. The parallel and complementary aspects of participatory and feminist paradigms are addressed.
RHIC control system

The RHIC control system architecture is hierarchical and consists of two physical layers with a fiber-optic network connection. The Front-End Level systems consist of VME chassis with processors running a real-time operating system and both VME I/O modules and remote bus interfaces. Accelerator device software interfaces are implemented as objects in C++. The network implementation uses high speed, switched Ethernet technology. Specialized hardware modules were built for waveform control of power supplies, multiplexed signal acquisition, and timing services. The Console Level systems are Unix workstations. A strong emphasis has been given to developing highly reusable, standard software tools for use in building physics and diagnostic application software.
Metastatic small cell carcinoma of the lung presenting as pituitary apoplexy and Cushing's syndrome

We describe a woman with metastatic small cell carcinoma of the lung who presented with pituitary apoplexy and hyperprolactinemia. Within seventeen months she developed florid Cushing's syndrome with anasarca, hyperpigmentation, hypertension with marked hypercortisolemia (not suppressible with 8 mg dexamethasone), elevated serum ACTH, hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis, and multiple hepatic metastases. This picture suggested the presence of ectopic ACTH syndrome. She died 26 months after the episode of pituitary apoplexy. Primary small cell carcinoma of the lung was diagnosed post-mortem. Metastases were present in the left lung, regional lymph nodes, heart, liver, bone marrow, sphenoid bone, anterior pituitary and pituitary capsule. Posterior pituitary was normal. There was no evidence of pituitary hyperplasia, of adenoma or of primary pituitary carcinoma. The results suggest the presence of a primary ACTH-producing small cell carcinoma of the lung that metastasized to the parasellar sphenoid bone and then extended to the anterior pituitary and dura to mimic a primary intrasellar cause of pituitary apoplexy and Cushing's syndrome. The case demonstrates how difficult it may be to diagnose the etiology of Cushing's syndrome and it emphasizes a unique variation in the presentation of small cell carcinoma of the lung.
When will it break? A hybrid soft computing model to predict time-to-break margins in paper machines

Hybrid soft computing models, based by neural, fuzzy and evolutionary computation technologies, have been applied to a large number of classification, prediction, and control problems. This paper focuses on one of such applications and presents a systematic process for building a predictive model to estimate time-to-breakage and provide a web break tendency indicator in the wet-end part of paper making machines. Through successive information refinement of information gleaned from sensor readings via data analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), adaptive neural fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), and trending analysis, a break tendency indicator was built. Output of this indicator is the break margin. The break margin is then interpreted using a stoplight metaphor. This interpretation provides a more gradual web break sensitivity indicator, since it uses more classes compared to a binary indicator. By generating an accurate web break tendency indicator with enough lead-time, we help in the overall control of the paper making cycle by minimizing down time and improving productivity.
Theoretical enthalpies of formation of SiHn and SiHn+ (n = 1−4)

Abstract Enthalpies of formation for SiH n and SiH n + derived from ab initio molecular orbital theory are compared to recent experimental and theoretical results, to help resolve some conflicts. Theory supports an enthalpy of formation (Δ H f0 0 ) for singlet SiH 2 in the range 63.9 to 65.7 kcal/mol, in better agreement with the lower of two possible experimental values proposed by Berkowitz et al. (1987).
Clustering of the B cell receptor is not required for the apoptotic response.

We examined the role of BCR cell membrane redistribution in anti-IgM–induced apoptosis in three human B cell lines, RA#1, 2G6, and MC116, that differ in their relative levels of sIgM expression. The apoptotic response was found to be dependent on the nature of the anti-IgM and the cell line. In the cell lines, RA#1 and MC116, sIgM aggregated into patches that were insensitive to the disruption of cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains by nystatin or β-MCD. The B cell line 2G6 was able to reorganize sIgM into a tight coalescent cap upon anti-IgM treatment. However, in this case, the lipid raft inhibitors nystatin and β-MCD disrupted the patching. In 2G6 cells, BCR-mediated apoptosis was not affected by nystatin treatment, whereas it increased in β-MCD pretreated cells. Thus, no evident correlation was found between apoptosis and BCR cell membrane redistribution or lipid raft formation in either of the three cell lines. The data indicate that the apoptotic signal transduction pathway is independent of BCR t...
Roles of conserved residues in the arginase family

Arginases and related enzymes metabolize arginine or similar nitrogen-containing compounds to urea or formamide. In the present report a sequence alignment of 31 members of this family was generated. The alignment, together with the crystal structure of rat liver arginase, allowed the assignment of possible functional or structural roles to 32 conserved residues and conservative substitutions. Two of these residues were previously identified as functionally essential by analysis of inherited defects in the type I arginase gene. Nearly half of the conserved residues are either glycines or prolines located at critical bends in the protein structure. Most metal-coordinating residues, including one histidine and four aspartic acid residues, are strictly conserved. Two additional histidines involved in metal-binding and catalysis are conserved in all arginases and in almost all other family members. Two positions with invariant similarities may serve as indirect metal ligands. Evolutionary relationships within this family were also suggested. Vertebrate type I and II arginases appear to have developed independently from an early gene duplication event. A ureohydrolase sequence from Caenorhabditis elegans is more closely related to other arginases than previously appreciated, while unclassified enzymes from Methanococcus jannaschii and Methanothermus fervidus appear more similar to arginase-related enzymes. In addition, enzymes from Arabidopsis thaliana and Synechocystis, previously identified as arginases, more closely resemble arginase-related enzymes than currently known arginases.
Spectrum control problem for strongly irregular periodic vibrations of linear systems with zero mean of the coefficient matrix

We consider a linear periodic control system with zero mean of the coefficient matrix and with linear state feedback control periodic with the same period. We obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for the solvability of the frequency spectrum control problem with a given goal set for strongly irregular periodic vibrations. In this problem, one should find a feedback coefficient such that the closed system has a strongly irregular periodic solution with the desired frequencies.
Modified direct shear study of clay liner-geomembrane interfaces exposed to landfill leachate

Abstract Direct shear tests have been utilized to quantify interface friction existing within the multi-layer solid waste landfill system. In this study, modified direct shear tests were performed for interfaces between compacted clay and three types of geomembrane materials (smooth HDPE, textured HDPE, and smooth PVC). Tests included clay samples saturated with leachate to simulate possible in-situ conditions in the landfill. Also, some geomembranes were submerged in leachate for up to 30 days prior to testing to simulate aging effect. Prolonged exposure of the geomembranes to the landfill leachate reduced the interface friction angle. The clay liner-PVC geomembrane interface was more susceptible to the leachate effect.
Dissipative acoustic solitons under a weakly-nonlinear, Lagrangian-averaged Euler-α model of single-phase lossless fluids

Abstract A one-dimensional weakly-nonlinear model equation based on a Lagrangian-averaged Euler-α model of compressible flow in lossless fluids is presented. Traveling wave solutions (TWS)s, in the form of a topological soliton (or kink), admitted by this fourth-order partial differential equation are derived and analyzed. An implicit finite-difference scheme with internal iterations is constructed in order to study soliton collisions. It is shown that, for certain parameters, the TWSs interact as solitons, i.e., they retain their “identity” after a collision. Kink-like solutions with an oscillatory tail are found to emerge in a signaling-type initial-boundary-value problem for the linearized equation of motion. Additionally, connections are drawn to related weakly-nonlinear acoustic models and the Korteweg–de Vries equation from shallow-water wave theory.
Peak-seeking control using gradient and Hessian estimates

A peak-seeking control method is presented which utilizes a linear time-varying Kalman filter. Performance function coordinate and magnitude measurements are used by the Kalman filter to estimate the gradient and Hessian of the performance function. The gradient and Hessian are used to command the system toward a local extremum. The method is naturally applied to multiple-input multiple-output systems. Applications of this technique to a single-input single-output example and a two-input one-output example are presented.
Control of 3D weld pool surface

Abstract The 3D weld pool surface in gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) is characterized by its width, length, convexity and measured in real-time using an innovative machine vision system. The dynamic response of these characteristic parameters to welding current and speed as control variables is modeled. Based on the identified dynamic model, a predictive control algorithm is developed to control these characteristic parameters. The proposed algorithm is given in a closed form and no online optimization is required. Welding experiments confirm that the developed control system is effective in achieving the desired 3D weld pool surface geometry despite various disturbances.
Direct-write inkjet printing for fabrication of barium strontium titanate-based tunable circuits

Abstract Tunable capacitors with up to 30% tuning and a loss tangent (tanδ) less than 0.002 at 1 MHz were fabricated from Ba 0.6 Sr 0.4 TiO 3 (BST) films using inkjet-printed liquid metalorganic precursors. BST films of various thicknesses were produced by printing multiple stacks of the individual inkjet-printed layers. The dielectric constant of the printed films increased as a function of thickness. The largest dielectric constant, 1000, and the highest tunability, 30%, were measured on a 420 nm thick film, the thickest film studied in this work. Spray-printed silver contacts were employed and demonstrated good adhesion and good electrical contact to the inkjet-printed BST films. This also demonstrated proof of principle for direct-write printing of metal contacts onto BST films from metalorganic sources.
Rapidly wedged crack propagation data with a static compliance calibration

The dynamic critical stress intensity factor of a propagating crack was measured from the time-dependent shear force at the loading end of a rapidly wedged double cantilever beam specimen. The product of the shear force and the square root of the loading time for a specimen constrained to constant displacement-rate opening is uniquely related to the critical bending moment at the crack tip during crack propagation. Static compliance measurements on side-grooved DCB specimens were incorporated into a dynamic Bernoulli-Euler beam, crack propagation model by a crack length shift at a fixed compliance value. This shift does not affect the magnitude of the critical bending moment at the crack tip, predicted by the simple beam model, when the load and the load point displacement are the measured variables. Details of analysis of the time varying shear force are given including: the rigidity of the contact between the wedge and the specimen; the dynamic critical stress intensity values versus crack velocity for Ti-6Al-4V and AISI 1018 cold-rolled steel.
Fast and noniterative scheduling in input-queued switches: Supporting QoS

We report three fast and scalable scheduling algorithms that provide exact bandwidth guarantee, low delay bound, and reasonable jitter in input-queued switches. The three schedulers find a maximum input/output matching in a single iteration. They sustain 100% throughput under both uniform and bursty traffic. They work many times faster than existing scheduling schemes and their speed does not degrade with increased switch size. SRA and SRA+ algorithms are of O(1) time complexity and can be implemented in simple hardware. SRA tends to incur different delays to flows of different classes of service due to their different subscribed portions of the total bandwidth. SRA+, a weighted version of SRA, operates on cells that arrive uniformly and on cells of packets such that the cells of whole packets are switched contiguously. SRA+ improves over SRA in that all flows undergo the same delays regardless of their bandwidth shares. The schedulers operate on queue groups at the crossbar arbiters in a distributed manner.
High and Low Fat Food Selection with Reported Frequency Intolerance Following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

This research compared both food selection and food intolerance frequency of High-fat grouped foods versus Low-fat grouped foods in Roux-en-Y bariatric clients during their dietary adaptation phase (DAP). Thirty-eight bariatric surgery patients in their dietary transition phase (3 months–2.5 years) filled out a 236-food item questionnaire. From the larger set of primary data, 24 high-fat (30% or greater fat) and 22 low/lower-fat food items were itemized by selection frequency and food intolerance frequency for comparison. High-fat food selection was 38.3% against low fat at 50.4% (p = .0002). For comparison, the complete questionnaire’s 236-item food selection percentage was 41%. Frequency of “Never” experiencing food intolerance was similar between both groups with a combined mean of 1.92%. “Seldom to Sometimes” intolerance in low-fat foods was 13.3%, and 24.9% in high fat (p = .002). Finally, “Often to Always” experiencing food intolerance in the Low-fat food group was 85.5% versus 72.2% for the High-fat group (p = .002). Roux-en-Y bariatric patients in the DAP demonstrated typical “dieting behavior” by selecting low-fat foods at a greater frequency than high-fat foods. Although selected more, these low-fat foods also showed significantly worse intolerance frequencies. Thus, current dietary/nutrition professional recommendations to avoid high-fat foods during this postsurgery transition time are problematic. Future bariatric studies are needed to further explore this and other commonly practiced “dieting behaviors” in bariatric patients.
The N-terminus of GalE induces tmRNA activity in Escherichia coli.

Background The tmRNA quality control system recognizes stalled translation complexes and facilitates ribosome recycling in a process termed 'ribosome rescue'. During ribosome rescue, nascent chains are tagged with the tmRNA-encoded SsrA peptide, which targets tagged proteins for degradation. In Escherichia coli, tmRNA rescues ribosomes arrested on truncated messages, as well as ribosomes that are paused during elongation and termination. Methodology/principal findings Here, we describe a new translational pausing determinant that leads to SsrA peptide tagging of the E. coli GalE protein (UDP-galactose 4-epimerase). GalE chains are tagged at more than 150 sites, primarily within distinct clusters throughout the C-terminal domain. These tagging sites do not correspond to rare codon clusters and synonymous recoding of the galE gene had little effect on tagging. Moreover, tagging was largely unaffected by perturbations that either stabilize or destabilize the galE transcript. Examination of GalE-thioredoxin (TrxA) fusion proteins showed that the GalE C-terminal domain is no longer tagged when fused to an N-terminal TrxA domain. Conversely, the N-terminus of GalE induced tagging within the fused C-terminal TrxA domain. Conclusions/significance These findings suggest that translation of the GalE N-terminus induces subsequent tagging of the C-terminal domain. We propose that co-translational maturation of the GalE N-terminal domain influences ribosome pausing and subsequent tmRNA activity.
3D Real-Time Intracardiac Echocardiographic Visualization of Atrial Structures Relevant to Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

cardiac imaging is critical for the success of interventional electrophysiological procedures. Fluoroscopy is highly beneficial for real-time catheter visualization, but it uses ionizing radiation and fails to provide detailed cardiac anatomy. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography
Infrared multiphoton excitation of small molecules

Abstract The collisionless infrared excitation by short CO2 laser pulses of the molecules SO2, OCS, NO2, NH3 and DN3 is compared with that of larger molecules. The average number of photons absorbed per molecule and the fraction of molecules dissociated depends predominantly on the laser intensity, while for larger molecules with higher densities of vibrational states the excitation is primarily determined by the laser fluence.
Tensegrity deployment using infinitesimal mechanisms

Abstract Kinematic properties of tensegrity structures reveal that an ideal way of motion is by using their infinitesimal mechanisms. For example in motions along infinitesimal mechanisms there is no energy loss due to linearly kinetic tendon damping. Consequently, a deployment strategy which exploits these mechanisms and uses the structure’s nonlinear equations of motion is developed. Desired paths that are tangent to the directions determined by infinitesimal mechanisms are constructed and robust nonlinear feedback control is used for accurate tracking of these paths. Examples demonstrate the feasibility of this approach and further analysis reveals connections between the power and energy dissipated via damping, infinitesimal mechanisms, speed of the motion, and deployment time.
Laser direct growth of graphene on silicon substrate

We demonstrate laser direct growth of few layer graphene on a silicon substrate. In our study, a continuous wave laser beam was focused on a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-coated silicon wafer to evaporate PMMA and melt the silicon wafer. Carbon atoms, decomposed from PMMA, were absorbed by the molten silicon surface, and then separated from silicon in the cooling process to form few-layer graphene. This Si-catalyzed method will provide a new approach and platform for applications of graphene.
Cancer Stem Cells in Pediatric Sarcomas

Sarcomas represent a clinically and biologically diverse group of malignant connective tissue tumors. Despite aggressive conventional therapy, a large proportion of sarcoma patients experience disease recurrence which will ultimately result in mortality. The presence of a unique population of cells, referred to as cancer stem cells (CSC), have been proposed to be responsible for refractory responses to current chemotherapies as well underlying the basis for metastasis and relapse of disease - clinical corollaries to what has been termed the cancer stem cell hypothesis. The presence of CSCs have been suggested in a variety of hematologic and solid malignancies, and only more recently in sarcomas. Based on our current understanding of normal stem cell biology and evidence obtained from the study of malignant hematopoietic and solid tumors, researchers have identified candidate cell surface markers (CD133, CD117, Stro-1), biochemical markers (aldehyde dehydrogenase activity), and cytological characteristics (side population and spherical colony formation) that may identify putative sarcoma CSCs. In this review, we explore the current state of evidence that may suggest the existence of sarcoma CSCs. We present research in osteosarcoma, the Ewing’s sarcoma family of tumors, rhabdomyosarcoma, as well as other sarcoma subtypes to describe commonly used molecular and biochemical markers, as well as techniques, used in the identification, isolation and characterization of candidate sarcoma CSCs. We will also discuss the current controversies and challenges that face research in sarcoma CSC.