cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrical and Optical Properties of Thermid Polyimide

THERMID, made of acetylene-terminated polyimide oligomers, was developed by National Starch & Chemical Co. It is capable of forming thicker deposits than conventional polyimides. It is a candidate for a broad array of electronic and optoelectronic applications, including passivation coating, alpha-particle barrier, interlayer dielectric, encapsulation of discrete devices and IC, optical waveguide, and multilayer dielectric for thin hybrids. The study and evaluation of electrical and optical properties of THERMID polyimide give more support to their application in the semiconductor industry.
Perinatal Methanol Exposure in the Rat II Behavioral Effects in Neonates and Adults

The use of methanol as a component of automobile fuel will increase perinatal exposures in the general population. Few studies have addressed questions concerning neurotoxicity stemming from such exposures. In the current study, four cohorts of pregnant Long-Evans rats, each cohort consisting of an exposure and a control group, were exposed to 4500 ppm methanol vapor in Rochester-type inhalation chambers for 6 hr daily beginning on Gestation Day 6. Exposure continued for both dams and pups through Postnatal Day 21 (PND 21) to model gestational and neonatal toxicity in humans. Several behavioral procedures were used to assess exposure effects in the offspring. Male-female littermates were studied whenever possible to examine sex differences, with one pair from a litter for each procedure. Exposure to methanol did not affect suckling latency and nipple attachment on PND 5 or performance on an aversive olfactory conditioning procedure on PND 10. Exposure to methanol did alter performances in a motor activity procedure. Methanol-exposed neonates were less active on PND 18, but more active on PND 25 than the equivalent control group pups. Two operant conditioning procedures, not used previously in this context, assayed other littermates as adults. A fixed ratio schedule required the rat to rotate a running wheel a specified number of revolutions to obtain food-pellet reinforcers. When the fixed ratio requirement changed, number of responses (revolutions) per 1-hr session displayed a complex interaction with treatment. Changes in performance over the course of training differed between males and females depending on exposure to methanol. Compared to initial baseline performances, methanol-exposed males showed decreases, and methanol-exposed females increases, in the rate of running. A stochastic spatial discrimination procedure permitted subjects to respond on any three levers, with the probabilities of food-pellet delivery determined by the location of the preceding response. A reinforcement matrix defined the response sequence required to maximize reinforcements. When the matrix was changed, the methanol-exposed subjects responded less efficiently at asymptotic levels of performance than controls. Across procedures, developmental exposure to 4500 ppm methanol vapor was associated with subtle behavioral changes in both neonates and adults.
Satisfiability-based Framework for Enabling Side-channel Attacks on Cryptographic Software

Many electronic systems contain implementations of cryptographic algorithms in order to provide security. It is well known that cryptographic algorithms, irrespective of their theoretical strength, can be broken through weaknesses in their implementation. In particular, side-channel attacks, which exploit unintended information leakage from the implementation, have been established as a powerful way of attacking cryptographic systems. All side-channel attacks can be viewed as consisting of two phases - an observation phase, wherein information is gathered from the target system, and an analysis or deduction phase in which the collected information is used to infer the cryptographic key. Thus far, most side-channel attacks have focused on extracting information that directly reveals the key, or variables from which the key can be easily deduced. We propose a new framework for performing side-channel attacks by formulating the analysis phase as a search problem that can be solved using modern Boolean analysis techniques such as satisfiability solvers. This approach can substantially enhance the scope of side-channel attacks by allowing a potentially wide range of internal variables to be exploited (not just those that are "simply" related to the key). For example, software implementations take great care in protecting secret keys through the use of on-chip key generation and storage. However, they may inadvertently expose the values of intermediate variables in their computations. We demonstrate how to perform side-channel attacks on software implementations of cryptographic algorithms based on the use of a satisfiability solver for reasoning about the secret keys from the values of the exposed variables. Our attack technique is automated, and does not require mathematical expertise on the part of the attacker. We demonstrate the merit of the proposed technique by successfully applying it to two popular cryptographic algorithms, DES and 3DES
A novel family of biodegradable hybrid hydrogels from arginine-based poly(ester amide) and hyaluronic acid precursors

A new family of biodegradable and charged hybrid hydrogels was designed and fabricated via photo-crosslinking in an aqueous medium from a hyaluronic acid (HA) precursor and a relatively new amino acid-based poly(ester amide) (AA-PEA) precursor. The HA precursor was synthesized by incorporating an unsaturated moiety (aminoethyl methacrylate, AEMA), while the AA-PEA precursor was synthesized from unsaturated arginine-based poly(ester amide)s (UArg-PEA). These two water soluble precursors were photo-crosslinked to formulate a new family of biodegradable hybrid hydrogels. The chemical structure of these hybrid hydrogels was characterized, and their swelling, mechanical, morphological, biodegradation and drug release properties were examined as a function of the feed ratio of these 2 precursors and the degree of substitution (DS) of AEMA groups in HA-AEMA. The resulting hybrid hydrogels showed a 400–600% swelling ratio, and pH dependent swelling was observed only in a pure HA-AEMA hydrogel. The hybrid hydrogels showed a distinctive sheet-like multi-layered 3D microporous structure confirmed by SEM. Upon trypsin catalyzed biodegradation, the hybrid hydrogels showed 50 to 70% weight loss within 6 days, while the same hybrid hydrogels showed less than 5% weight loss in a PBS medium. The hybrid hydrogels showed a sustained release of bovine serum albumin (BSA) over 25 h, while the pure HA-AEMA hydrogel exhibited a complete release of BSA within 5 h. When compared with a pure HA-AEMA hydrogel, the cationic Arg-PEA/HA-AEMA hybrid hydrogels significantly improved the attachment and proliferation of Hela cells on hydrogel surfaces.
A multi-sensor compressed sensing receiver: Performance bounds and simulated results

Multi-sensor receivers are commonly tasked with detecting, demodulating and geolocating target emitters over very wide frequency bands. Compressed sensing can be applied to persistently monitor a wide bandwidth, given that the received signal can be represented using a small number of coefficients in some basis. In this paper we present a multi-sensor compressive sensing receiver that is capable of reconstructing frequency-sparse signals using block reconstruction techniques in a sensor-frequency basis. We derive performance bounds for time-difference and angle of arrival (AoA) estimation of such a receiver, and present simulated results in which we compare AoA reconstruction performance to the bounds derived.
Experimental Transmission of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus by Strains of Aedes albopictus and A. taeniorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract : The vector competence of Aedes taeniorhynchus (Wiedemann) and four strains of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) was assessed for eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus isolated from Ae. albopictus collected in Polk County, Florida. Both species became infected with and transmitted EEE virus by bite after feeding on 1-d-old chicks that had been inoculated with EEE virus (viremia = 10(10.1) plaque-forming units (PFU) per ml of blood). However, when fed on an older chick with a lower viremia (viremia = 10(6.1) PFU per ml of blood), Ae. albopictus was significantly more susceptible to infection (90%, n = 61) than was Ae. taeniorhynchus (15%, n = 40). Transmission was also significantly more efficient by Ae. albopictus (36%, n = 44), than by Ae. taeniorhynchus (O%, n = 14). These data, combined with the recent isolation of EEE virus from Ae. albopictus and its opportunistic feeding behavior, indicate that Ae. albopictus could function as a bridge vector between the enzootic Culiseta melanura (Coq.)-avian cycle and susceptible mammalian hosts. Aedes albopictus, Vector competence, Eastern equine encephalitis virus.
Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control in Acute-Care Settings

SUMMARY Health care-associated infections (HAIs) have become more common as medical care has grown more complex and patients have become more complicated. HAIs are associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and cost. Growing rates of HAIs alongside evidence suggesting that active surveillance and infection control practices can prevent HAIs led to the development of hospital epidemiology and infection control programs. The role for infection control programs has grown and continues to grow as rates of antimicrobial resistance rise and HAIs lead to increasing risks to patients and expanding health care costs. In this review, we summarize the history of the development of hospital epidemiology and infection control, common HAIs and the pathogens causing them, and the structure and role of a hospital epidemiology and infection control program.
Shifting Trends in Semiconductor Prices and the Pace of Technological Progress

This paper examines three questions motivated by previous research on semiconductors and productivity growth: Why did semiconductor prices fall so rapidly in the second half of the 1990s, why has the rate of price decline slowed since 2001, and to what extent are these price swings associated with changes in the rate of advance in semiconductor technology? We show that the price swings are statistically significant and that they reflect changes in both price-cost markups and cost trends. Further analysis indicates that the shift to faster cost declines in the mid-1990s likely corresponded to a speed-up in the pace of advance in semiconductor technology; however, the slower cost declines since 2001 appear not to have been mirrored by a deceleration in technology. Consequently, researchers should be cautious about associating price or cost movements for semiconductors with changes in the pace of underlying technology even over moderately long periods.
AAPM/RSNA physics tutorial for residents: topics in US: Doppler US techniques: concepts of blood flow detection and flow dynamics.

Techniques of Doppler ultrasonography (US) have been available to clinicians for nearly 40 years. The Doppler effect as developed by sound propagation in human tissues and with the velocities observed for the human vasculature produces shifts in the frequencies of returning echo signals. These signals can be processed in a manner that allows the observer to determine the condition of the blood flow. The instrumentation for Doppler US has evolved to accommodate the expanding clinical use of US. Each development (eg, pulsed-wave Doppler US, color flow imaging) has been motivated by a desire to provide more clinical information about flow in the body. The algorithms used are complex, but increasingly powerful microelectronics have made these methods a reality at a reasonable cost. Users of Doppler US techniques must be aware of the complicated aspects of flow in the body, especially with regard to detection of disease in the human vasculature. The continuing development of US equipment aims to provide a greater understanding of hemodynamics and the relationship between blood flow and various disease processes.
Enhancing Video Capsule Endoscopy: Location and Bleeding Detection

Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is a method used to wirelessly scan the gastrointestinal (GI) tract lumen. Despite the effectiveness of VCE in GI endoscopic procedures, VCE is limited because it lacks the capability to exactly locate itself as well as accurately detect bleeding or clotting within the GI tract. The unreliability of localization combined with inaccurate blood detection in VCE ultimately leads to wired endoscopy for additional diagnosis. In this paper, a method to address localization of the VCE device, also known as a pill camera or capsule, in conjunction with an accurate detection of active bleeding and clotting inside the small intestine, is introduced. The Texas Instruments, ZigBee® kit, which uses a 3D trilateration method will be used for accurate location detection and image transmission throughout the VCE procedure. The system will be interfaced with software providing end users with the path and total distance traveled by the pill capsule within the small intestine. The blood detection system is enhanced by using a minilow energy wireless Raman spectrometry to scan for active bleeding or clots along the small intestinal wall. The employed spectrometry method scans for wavelengths based on blood’s optical characteristics and records any image fitting the exact spectrum. Blood detection and localization data are coupled together and then transferred to an external receiver. These two improvements together will enhance capsule endoscopy procedures and fill the gap created by the existing capsule endoscopy technologies, therefore, meeting the needs of physicians and patients.
Stochastic Network Optimization with Application to Communication and Queueing Systems

This text presents a modern theory of analysis, control, and optimization for dynamic networks. Mathematical techniques of Lyapunov drift and Lyapunov optimization are developed and shown to enable constrained optimization of time averages in general stochastic systems. The focus is on communication and queueing systems, including wireless networks with time-varying channels, mobility, and randomly arriving traffic. A simple drift-plus-penalty framework is used to optimize time averages such as throughput, throughput-utility, power, and distortion. Explicit performance-delay tradeoffs are provided to illustrate the cost of approaching optimality. This theory is also applicable to problems in operations research and economics, where energy-efficient and profit-maximizing decisions must be made without knowing the future. Topics in the text include the following: - Queue stability theory - Backpressure, max-weight, and virtual queue methods - Primal-dual methods for non-convex stochastic utility maximization - Universal scheduling theory for arbitrary sample paths - Approximate and randomized scheduling theory - Optimization of renewal systems and Markov decision systems Detailed examples and numerous problem set questions are provided to reinforce the main concepts. Table of Contents: Introduction / Introduction to Queues / Dynamic Scheduling Example / Optimizing Time Averages / Optimizing Functions of Time Averages / Approximate Scheduling / Optimization of Renewal Systems / Conclusions
Experiences of harassment, discrimination, and physical violence among young gay and bisexual men.

Objectives. We examined the 6-month cumulative incidence of anti-gay harassment, discrimination, and violence among young gay/bisexual men and documented their associations with mental health.Methods. Gay/bisexual men from 3 cities in the southwestern United States completed self-administered questionnaires.Results. Thirty-seven percent of men reported experiencing anti-gay verbal harassment in the previous 6 months; 11.2% reported discrimination, and 4.8% reported physical violence. Men were more likely to report these experiences if they were younger, were more open in disclosing their sexual orientation to others, and were HIV positive. Reports of mistreatment were associated with lower self-esteem and increased suicidal ideation.Conclusions. Absent policies preventing anti-gay mistreatment, empowerment and community-building programs are needed for young gay/bisexual men to both create safe social settings and help them cope with the psychological effects of these events.
On underground-water

A statement by Dr. O. E. Meinzer relating to the formation of the Section of Hydrology, presented at the first meeting of the Section in May, 1930, contained a list of 26 suggested fields of hydrology which might be covered by permanent committees. Half of the subjects mentioned in that list are more or less directly related to the hydrology of underground waters. Subsequently, the total number of committees actually organized was nine, and the number of those which in any way relate to underground water was reduced to four. The work of three of these committees, namely, the Committee on the Physics of Soil-Moisture, the Committee on the Chemistry of Natural Waters, and the Committee on Absorption and Transpiration, also cover subjects that are not directly related to underground water. A large part of the subject-matter of the other fields relating to water beneath the Earth's surface that were originally suggested has been assigned to the Committee on Underground Water. There is, however, some overlapping in the fields covered by the four committees mentioned and a more definite division of the work will need to be reached by mutual discussion during the coming year.
Methods for acoustic data synthesis

The paper deals with the problem of synthesizing a given class of sounds from recorded original data. An analysis/synthesis procedure is used, but variation is deliberately introduced in the synthesis step to broaden the set of sounds that are produced. Two methods are described: one that treats the sound as a deterministic signal and one that treats it as a realization of a nonstationary stochastic process. The two methods can be applied separately or used together in a deterministic/stochastic decomposition of the data. >
Quality of the pre-cooked potato strips processed by Radiant Wall Oven

Abstract Steam processing was paired with the Radiant Wall Oven (RWO) to produce reduced-fat baked potato strips. Par-fried frozen potato strips, having 5 × 1 × 1 cm3 dimensions, were pre-cooked in steam chamber for 75 or 90 s. Then, steam-processed potato strips were heated in RWO at different temperatures: 450 °C for 3 or 3.5 min, at 500 °C for 2.5 or 3 min, at 550 °C for 1.5 or 2 min. Instrumental and sensory quality characteristics of RWO processed pre-cooked potato strips were investigated and compared to deep-fat fried samples at 177 °C for 3 min. RWO baked pre-cooked potato strips at 500 °C for 3 min, regardless of steam processing time, were similar to control in terms of texture, chroma, shrinkage and yield, yet contained 86.8% less fat. A trained panel indicated that texture of the potato strips, baked in RWO at 500 °C for 3 min after steam processing for 90 s, was not significantly different than that of the control samples. Finally, consumer panel indicated 51.2% acceptability and 35% willingness to purchase the RWO-baked pre-cooked potato strips. However, acceptability of the RWO-baked pre-cooked potato strips rose to more than 75% when fat content and corresponding calories were revealed.
Developing models of disease transmission: insights from ecological studies of insects and their baculoviruses.

Mathematical models of disease outbreaks play a crucial role in guiding public health policy [1]–[3] and have provided critical insights into the ecological dynamics of pathogen-regulated populations [4], [5]. Remarkably, the models used to describe epidemics among human populations have been quite successful at describing epizootics in many animal populations, including forest- and crop-defoliating insect pests [6] whose population dynamics are often driven by baculoviruses [7]. Given the variety of insect species affected by baculoviruses and their ubiquity in nature, these viruses may help in the development of disease models that not only increase our understanding of disease transmission in general, but directly lead to better agricultural and forestry management through environmentally benign pest control.
Altered regulation of PDK4 expression promotes antiestrogen resistance in human breast cancer cells

Acquired or de novo resistance to the selective estrogen receptor modulators tamoxifen and fulvestrant (ICI) is a major barrier to successful treatment of breast cancer. Gene expression patterns in tamoxifen resistant (TamR-MCF-7) cells were compared to their parental cells (MCF-7L) to identify an aberrantly regulated metabolic pathway. TamR-MCF-7 cells are cross resistant to ICI and doxorubicin, and have increased mitochondrial DNA. A small subset of genes had altered expression in TamR-MCF-7 relative to MCF-7L cells. One of the genes, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase-4 (PDK4), phosphorylates pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH). PDK4 expression was elevated in TamR-MCF-7 cells; this result was also observed in a second model of acquired antiestrogen resistance. PDK4 expression is controlled in part by glucocorticoid response elements in the PDK4 gene promoter. In MCF-7L cells, PDK4 mRNA expression was insensitive to glucocorticoid receptor agonists, while dexamethasone dramatically increased PDK4 expression in TamR-MCF-7 cells. Using siRNA to knock down PDK4 expression increased TamR-MCF-7 sensitivity to ICI; in contrast adapting cells to growth in glucose depleted media did not affect ICI sensitivity. Despite TamR-MCF-7 cells high levels of PDK4 mRNA relative to MCF-7L, TamR-MCF-7 cells have increased PDH activity. Wild type MCF-7 cells are reported to be heterozygous for a G to A mutation that results in a substitution of threonine for alanine near PDK4′s catalytic site. We found loss of heterozygosity in TamR-MCF-7 cells; TamR-MCF-7 are homozygous for the wild type allele. These data support a role for altered regulation of PDH by PDK4 and altered substrate utilization in the development of drug resistance in human breast cancer cells.
IDENTIFICATION OF AN IMMUNOGENIC EWS-FLI1-DERIVED HLA-DR-RESTRICTED T HELPER CELL EPITOPE

Immunotherapy with tumor-specific peptide-loaded dendritic cells represents a promising therapeutic approach for patients with multifocal primary or early relapsed Ewing family tumors (EFT). The authors therefore screened a peptide library derived from the fusion region of the EFT-specific chimeric transcription factor EWS-FLI1 for immunogenic peptides. T-cell priming with 10 peptides was evaluated using IFNγ video-assisted automated enzyme-linked immunospot technique. The authors report the identification of the first EFT-specific immunogenic T-cell epitope so far. Its identification will lead to a better understanding of EFT immunology and may improve DC-based immunotherapy.
Characterization of retrograde collateral (type II) endoleak using a new canine model.

Objective The clinical significance of retrograde collateral arterial perfusion of abdominal aortic aneurysms after endovascular repair (type II endoleak) has not been completely characterized. In this study a canine model was used to analyze intra-aneurysmal pressure, thrombus histologic characteristics, endoleak patency, and radiographic appearance of type II endoleaks originating from single and multiple aneurysm side branches. Methods Prosthetic aneurysms with an intraluminal solid-state strain-gauge pressure transducer were created in the infrarenal aorta of 14 mongrel dogs. A single collateral side branch was reimplanted in 4 animals, multiple side branches were reimplanted in 6 animals, and no side branches were reimplanted in 4 control animals. Intra-aneurysmal and systemic pressure was measured for 60 to 90 days after creation of the type II endoleak. Endoleak patency and flow were assessed with duplex ultrasound scanning and cine–magnetic resonance angiography. Histologic analysis of the intra-aneurysmal thrombus was also performed. Results Stent-graft exclusion reduced intra-aneurysmal pressure significantly in all animals, as compared with systemic pressure ( P P P P P P Conclusion The canine model may be used to reliably measure intra-aneurysmal pressure in the presence of patent and thrombosed type II endoleaks. In this model 2 or more side branches are necessary to maintain persistent patency of type II endoleaks. These endoleaks are associated with significantly elevated intra-aneurysmal pressure, that is, 70% to 80% of systemic pressure. These results suggest that persistent type II endoleaks have clinical significance.
Spatially Detailed Quantification of Metal Loading for Decision Making: Metal Mass Loading to American Fork and Mary Ellen Gulch, Utah

Effective remediation requires an understanding of the relative contributions of metals from all sources in a catchment, and that understanding must be based on a spatially detailed quantification of metal loading. A traditional approach to quantifying metal loading has been to measure discharge and chemistry at a catchment outlet. This approach can quantify annual loading and the temporal changes in load, but does not provide the needed spatial detail to evaluate specific sources, which is needed to support remediation decisions. A catchment or mass-loading approach provides spatial detail by combining tracer-injection and synoptic-sampling methods to quantify loading. Examples of studies in American Fork, Utah, and its tributary Mary Ellen Gulch illustrate this different approach. The mass-loading study in American Fork treated Mary Ellen Gulch as a single inflow. From that point of view, Mary Ellen Gulch was one of the greatest sources of Fe, Mn, Zn, and colloidal Pb loads to American Fork. But when Mary Ellen Gulch was evaluated in a separate catchment study, the detailed locations of metal loading were identified, and the extent of metal attenuation upstream from the mouth of Mary Ellen Gulch was quantified. The net, instantaneous load measured at the mouth of Mary Ellen Gulch for remediation planning would greatly underestimate the contributions of principal sources within the catchment. Extending the detailed sampling downstream from Mary Ellen Gulch indicated the possibility of diffuse groundwater inflow from Mary Ellen Gulch to American Fork. Comparing loads for Mary Ellen Gulch in the two studies indicates that metal loads could be substantially underestimated for planning purposes without the detailed catchment approach for the low-flow conditions in these studies. A mass-loading approach provides both the needed quantification of metal loading and the spatial detail to guide remediation decisions that would be the most effective in the catchments.
Robust and consistent pilot designs for frequency offset estimation in MIMO OFDM systems

This paper presents pilot designs for consistent frequency offset estimation of MIMO OFDM systems in frequency selective fading channels. We derive the sufficient consistency condition for the pilots in MIMO OFDM systems to yield unambiguous estimation, and present corresponding consistent pilot designs. We discuss robustness of the frequency offset estimation against outliers at low to moderate SNR values and present an efficient criterion to choose robust and consistent pilots. Furthermore, we develop pilot designs which satisfy both consistency over a limited frequency offset estimation range and the optimal channel estimation condition in MIMO OFDM systems. Simulation results corroborate that both the consistent pilot design condition and the robustness criterion are efficient in choosing pilot patterns yielding better frequency offset estimation performance.
Interactions between Nosema pyrausta (Microsporidia: Nosematidae) and Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki in the European corn borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

Larval susceptibility to Bacillus thuringiensis was determined for Nosema pyrausta-infected and uninfected European corn borers, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), in bioassays using a commercial formulation of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, Dipel ES, incorporated into diet. LC50 values for N. pyrausta-infected larvae were significantly lower (P<0.0001) than for uninfected larvae and declined with increasing levels of infection. LC50 values for a 15-d bioassay using field-colony first instars were 0.006 and 0.027 mg of Dipel ES/kg of diet for larvae moderately infected by N. pyrausta and uninfected larvae, respectively. Nosema pyrausta-infected larvae reared on Dipel ES-amended diets produced 70-fold fewer spores (P<0.0001) than larvae reared on standard diet. For example, 15 d after placement as first instars on standard diet, infected field-colony larvae produced 7.6-8.7 million N. pyrausta spores per larva; similar larvae placed on diet containing 0.09 mg of Dipel ES/kg of diet produced 85-103 thousand spores per larva. Infected larvae also weighed less and failed to mature on Dipel ES-amended diets. Increased susceptibility of N. pyrausta-infected larvae to Dipel ES and reduced N. pyrausta spore production in larvae feeding on diet containing Dipel ES suggest that Bt corn will have a direct adverse effect on the survival and continual impact of N, pyrausta as a regulating factor on European corn borer populations.
Paradigmatic Design of Algorithms

The design of efficient algorithms is an art which is closely related to the art of proving theorems. In both disciplines, there are a few methods that work in relatively many cases and which are therefore worth becoming standard tools in the repertoire of every active designer. This chapter reviews and discusses some of the methods, called design paradigms, that have found repeated application in Chapters 7 through 14. We include the initial mathematical investigation of a given problem in this discussion, and we exclude the use of standard general purpose programs, like sorting, searching in graphs, etc. This does not imply, however, that we do not believe these general purpose programs to be among the most important tools that a designer of algorithms can have to his or her disposal.
Parametric Study of Dielectrophoretic Interactive Motion of Particles

Dielectrophoresis (DEP) has become one of the most popular mechanisms for label free particle manipulations and transport in microfluidics. The efficacy of this mechanism is greatly dependent on the understanding and control of DEP interactive motion among particles. In this study, we performed a systematic investigation to understand the effect of particles size and electrical properties on DC DEP interactions among particles using in-house hybrid immersed boundary – immersed interface numerical method. Immersed boundary method is employed to predict flow field and immersed interface method is used to simulate electric field. The numerical model utilizes Maxwell’s stress tensor to obtain DEP forces, while solving transient Navier-Stokes equation it determines the hydrodynamic interaction between each of the particles and the fluid containing them. By varying the number of particles as well as the particles’ size, electrical properties and initial orientations, a number of possibilities were considered. Results indicate that the particles with similar electrical conductivities attract each other and tend to align themselves parallel to the external electric field regardless of sizes. If electrical conductivity of particles is lower than that of the fluid medium then the particle-particle interactions is caused by the negative DEP. If electrical conductivity of particles is higher than that of the fluid medium then the interactive motions of particle is attributed to the positive DEP. On the other hand, electrically dissimilar particles still attract each other but tend to align perpendicular to the electric field. Both negative and positive DEP contributes in interactions between electrically dissimilar particles. Numerical simulation also shows that the identical sized particles move at the same speed during interaction. In contrast, smaller particles moves faster than the larger particle during the interactions. This study explains the effect of size and electrical properties on DEP interactive motions of particles and can be utilized to design microfluidic devices for DEP particle manipulations.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Indigenous School Education and specific teaching-learning processes: reflections based on particular cases of Jê tribes

A educacao escolar indigena disseminou-se entre os povos indigenas do Brasil, tornando-se mais ou menos acessivel, de acordo com os contextos politicos estaduais e municipais responsaveis pela educacao. Os preceitos e regulamentos da Constituicao Federal exigem que as escolas indigenas sejam especificas, diferenciadas e bilingues. Esses preceitos sao, em certo grau, confrontados com barreiras socio-culturais impostas pelos responsaveis pela educacao escolar indigena que nao sao indigenas e que, por isso, nao possuem o entendimento necessario para desenvolver processos de ensino-aprendizagem especificos para cada povo. Esta fala e uma reflexao sobre esse contexto, baseada em experiencias com pesquisas e estudos sobre a educacao escolar indigena envolvendo povos Xerente, Kraho, Pyhcopcatiji, Ramkokamekra-Canela e Apinaje. Demonstramos que um entendimento claro do ensino especifico do processo de aprendizagem de cada povo e essencial para implementar os preceitos constitucionais relativos a educacao escolar indigena.
Potential Errors Caused by Variable Radionuclidic Purity of Iodine-123

The commercial accelerator production of iodine-123 in the United States has changedfrom the Te-122 (d,n) I-123 reaction to the Te-124 (p,2n) I-123 reaction—and a greater amount of I-124 contamination results. This impurity causes only slight elevation in thyroid uptake value when counted 24 hr after calibration time of the capsule, but a significant elevation in uptake value 48 hr after calibration time (when I-123 is administered 24 hr after calibration time). There is no image degradation on 24- and 48-hr scintigraphs obtained with a pinhole collimator. A significant time-dependent change in potentiometer settings on dose calibrators is required to assay the capsules.
Review of Biopesticides: Pest Management and Regulation

Biopesticides is a collaborative work involving six authors from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, with affiliations not only representing its Horticulture Research International (HR...
Reevaluation of whether a soma–to–germ-line transformation extends lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans

The germ lineage is considered to be immortal. In the quest to extend lifespan, a possible strategy is to drive germ-line traits in somatic cells, to try to confer some of the germ lineage’s immortality on the somatic body. Notably, a study in Caenorhabditis elegans suggested that expression of germ-line genes in the somatic cells of long-lived daf-2 mutants confers some of daf-2’s long lifespan. Specifically, mRNAs encoding components of C. elegans germ granules (P granules) were up-regulated in daf-2 mutant worms, and knockdown of individual P-granule and other germ-line genes in daf-2 young adults modestly reduced their lifespan. We investigated the contribution of a germ-line program to daf-2’s long lifespan and also tested whether other mutants known to express germ-line genes in their somatic cells are long-lived. Our key findings are as follows. (i) We could not detect P-granule proteins in the somatic cells of daf-2 mutants by immunostaining or by expression of a P-granule transgene. (ii) Whole-genome transcript profiling of animals lacking a germ line revealed that germ-line transcripts are not up-regulated in the soma of daf-2 worms compared with the soma of control worms. (iii) Simultaneous removal of multiple P-granule proteins or the entire germ-line program from daf-2 worms did not reduce their lifespan. (iv) Several mutants that robustly express a broad spectrum of germ-line genes in their somatic cells are not long-lived. Together, our findings argue against the hypothesis that acquisition of a germ-cell program in somatic cells increases lifespan and contributes to daf-2’s long lifespan.
Growth far from equilibrium: Examples from III-V semiconductors

The development of new applications has driven the field of materials design and synthesis to investigate materials that are not thermodynamically stable phases. Materials which are not thermodynamically stable can be synthesized and used in many applications. These materials are kinetically stabilized during use. The formation of such metastable materials requires both an understanding of the associated thermochemistry and the key surface transport processes present during growth. Phase separation is most easily accomplished at the growth surface during synthesis where mass transport is most rapid. These surface transport processes are sensitive to the surface stoichiometry, reconstruction, and chemistry as well as the growth temperature. The formation of new metastable semiconducting alloys with compositions deep within a compositional miscibility gap serves as model systems for the understanding of the surface chemical and physical processes controlling their formation. The GaAs1−yBiy system is used he...
Scaling of caterpillar body properties and its biomechanical implications for the use of a hydrostatic skeleton

Caterpillars can increase their body mass 10,000-fold in 2 weeks. It is therefore remarkable that most caterpillars appear to maintain the same locomotion kinematics throughout their entire larval stage. This study examined how the body properties of a caterpillar might change to accommodate such dramatic changes in body load. Using Manduca sexta as a model system, we measured changes in body volume, tissue density and baseline body pressure, and the dimensions of load-bearing tissues (the cuticle and muscles) over a body mass range from milligrams to several grams. All Manduca biometrics relevant to the hydrostatic skeleton scaled allometrically but close to the isometric predictions. Body density and pressure were almost constant. We next investigated the effects of scaling on the bending stiffness of the caterpillar hydrostatic skeleton. The anisotropic non-linear mechanical response of Manduca muscles and soft cuticle has previously been quantified and modeled with constitutive equations. Using biometric data and these material laws, we constructed finite element models to simulate a hydrostatic skeleton under different conditions. The results show that increasing the internal pressure leads to a non-linear increase in bending stiffness. Increasing the body size results in a decrease in the normalized bending stiffness. Muscle activation can double this stiffness in the physiological pressure range, but thickening the cuticle or increasing the muscle area reduces the structural stiffness. These non-linear effects may dictate the effectiveness of a hydrostatic skeleton at different sizes. Given the shared anatomy and size variation in Lepidoptera larvae, these mechanical scaling constraints may implicate the diverse locomotion strategies in different species.
Vasculitis in older patients: Presentations and significance

Vasculitis is commonly considered in the differential diagnosis of systemic disease in the elderly. Because the spectrum of vasculitis is so variable, it is useful to utilize a classification system that limits the diagnostic options. Classification systems based on potential pathologic mechanisms or specific histologic findings are of limited usefulness in the initial assessment of an elderly patient. A classification system based on the clinical features exhibited will be discussed in the context of vasculitic syndromes which may present in the elderly. While this approach is by no means comprehensive, it should allow the correct diagnosis of vasculitis in the majority of cases. Common and unique presentations of vasculitis in the elderly will also be discussed.
Plant-mycorrhizal fungi associations along an urbanization gradient: implications for tree seedling survival

Mycorrhizal fungi symbioses can be critical determining if established seedlings survive or not. Currently, in remnant forests, plants and their fungal symbionts are exposed to varied anthropomorphic effects related to urbanization, however, little is known about their impact on this association. We investigated the relationship between mycorrhizal fungi and tree seedling survival along an urbanization gradient. We planted three species of temperate tree seedlings (Acer rubrum, Carya ovata, and Quercus rubra) in three landscapes: urban, suburban, and rural. We measured the percent of root length colonized by mycorrhizal fungi and monitored survival during their first growing season. We analyzed mycorrhizal colonization as a function of landscape type (urban-rural) and additional variables known to contribute to mycorrhizal colonization (phosphorus, nitrogen, initial plant height). We then analyzed seedling survival as a function of the degree of mycorrhizal fungi colonization associated with the landscape gradient and of additional environmental factors (light and soil moisture). Within a species we found no changes in the levels of mycorrhizal fungi colonization across the urbanization gradient. Each species, however, had markedly different levels of colonization. Survival of A. rubrum was independent of mycorrhizal colonization, while C. ovata and Q. rubra had a significant positive response to increased mycorrhizal fungi. These findings highlight the resilience of mycorrhizal communities across the rural-urban gradient typical of this region, but they also underscore the potential sensitivity of some tree species to lower levels of mycorrhizal fungi colonization.
Dynamic Defense Provision via Network Functions Virtualization

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) is a critical part of a new defense paradigm providing high flexibility at a lower cost through software-based virtual instances. Despite the promise of the NFV, the original Intrusion Detection System (IDS) designed for NFV still draws heavily on processing power and requires significant CPU resources. In this paper, we provide a framework for dynamic defense provision by building in light intrusion detection network functions (NFs) over NFV. Without using the existing IDSes, our system constructs a light intrusion detection system by using a chain of network functions in NFV. The entire IDS is broken down into separate light network functions according to different protocols. The intrusion detection NFs cover various protocol stacks from the link layer to the application layer protocols. They also include different deep packet inspection NFs for different application layer protocols. The experimental results show the proposed system reduces resource consumption while performing valid intrusion detection functions.
Decentralized joint sparsity pattern recovery using 1-bit compressive sensing

We address the problem of decentralized joint sparsity pattern recovery based on 1-bit compressive measurements in a distributed network. We assume that the distributed nodes observe sparse signals which share the same but unknown sparsity pattern. Each node obtains measurements via random projections and further quantizes its measurement vector element-wise to 1-bit. We develop two decentralized variants of the binary iterative hard thresholding (BIHT) algorithm where each node communicates only with its one hop neighbors and exchanges its measurement information. This stage is followed by index fusion stage. For first and second algorithms, index fusion is performed at the end of and during BIHT iterations, respectively. The global estimate of the support set in both the algorithms is obtained by fusing all the final local estimates. Experimental results show that the proposed collaborative algorithms have better (or at least similar) performance compared to the centralized version.
Physical Activity Patterns in Infants With and Without Down Syndrome.

Purpose:Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) are at greater risk for obesity than their peers who are developing typically. One factor contributing to an early onset of obesity is low levels of physical activity (PA). However, there is little known regarding PA patterns during infancy.Methods:The pur
Testing competing models of injunctive and descriptive norms for proximal and distal reference groups on alcohol attitudes and behavior.

Abstract Introduction Injunctive norms represent perceptions regarding the extent that others approve of a behavior, whereas descriptive norms represent perceptions of the extent that others engage in a behavior. This study evaluated competing path models, varying in the representation of injunctive and descriptive norm constructs, to forecast alcohol attitudes and use. Methods College students (N = 326) answered questions about their normative perceptions regarding three relevant reference groups (typical students, friends, and parents) in the form of alcohol injunctive and descriptive norms. Personal alcohol attitudes (approval) and usage were assessed one month later. Results The path analysis model arranged by injunctive versus descriptive found that injunctive norms explained attitudes, but descriptive norms contributed to behavior. In the path analysis model of constructs organized by reference groups, friend and parent norms uniquely contributed to attitudes, but typical student, friend, and parental norms contributed to use. Finally, the comprehensive model based on each reference group combination with injunctive and descriptive norms (e.g., typical student injunctive) determined that friend injunctive norms and parent injunctive norms uniquely forecasted alcohol attitudes, whereas typical student injunctive norms, typical student descriptive norms, and friend descriptive norms forecasted behavior. Conclusions A novel contribution of the study is the scrutiny of competing models of alcohol norms using the same multifaceted measures. Disparate implications emerge about the role of subjective norms as a function of the approach to compute the constructs. The most nuanced insights were obtained in the final comprehensive model involving the representation of norms at the finest level of specificity.
Cell Fragmentation and Permeabilization by a 1 ns Pulse Driven Triple-Point Electrode.

Ultrashort electric pulses (ns-ps) are useful in gaining understanding as to how pulsed electric fields act upon biological cells, but the electric field intensity to induce biological responses is typically higher than longer pulses and therefore a high voltage ultrashort pulse generator is required. To deliver 1 ns pulses with sufficient electric field but at a relatively low voltage, we used a glass-encapsulated tungsten wire triple-point electrode (TPE) at the interface among glass, tungsten wire, and water when it is immersed in water. A high electric field (2 MV/cm) can be created when pulses are applied. However, such a high electric field was found to cause bubble emission and temperature rise in the water near the electrode. They can be attributed to Joule heating near the electrode. Adherent cells on a cover slip treated by the combination of these stimuli showed two major effects: (1) cells in a crater (<100 μm from electrode) were fragmented and the debris was blown away. The principal mechanism for the damage is presumed to be shear forces due to bubble collapse; and (2) cells in the periphery of the crater were permeabilized, which was due to the combination of bubble movement and microstreaming as well as pulsed electric fields. These results show that ultrashort electric fields assisted by microbubbles can cause significant cell response and therefore a triple-point electrode is a useful ablation tool for applications that require submillimeter precision.