cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Creating a Welcoming and Engaging Environment in an Entirely Online Biomedical Engineering Course

In the spring of 2020, brick and mortar colleges had to abruptly adapt to the reality of COVID-19 and transition to entirely online environments in a manner of weeks. This required a rapid (< 2 weeks) acquisition of knowledge and flexibility in using technology, most commonly Zoom. Upon completion of the semester, and after debriefing with numerous faculty teaching required courses across the biomedical engineering department at ____ University, the most common comments were that the online engagement and the online environment were nothing close to the traditional classroom environment: students were less likely to show up; less likely to enable their cameras so you could see their faces; and less likely to ask or answer questions in class. To address these issues, in this paper we make easily implementable recommendations that will increase engagement and improve the inclusivity of online courses that can be applied to any biomedical engineering course offered in an online environment. Student engagement is especially important for promoting student learning as has been well documented in education research (Taylor and Parsons in Curr. Issues Educ, 2011. Retrieved from http://cie.asu.edu/ ; Armstrong in The Best Schools: how human development research should inform educational practice. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), Alexandria; 2006). The four recommendations for improving the engagement in the online classroom are: (1) make it a priority to stress the importance of having their cameras on during lecture and explain why it’s important; (2) have a “Daily Question” at the start of lecture where all students respond in chat followed by a brief discussion; (3) make use of the polling feature in Zoom to frequently assess student understanding and upon discovering student confusion on any given question, send them to breakout rooms to discuss, incorporating a quick active learning exercise that can help reduce the monotony of online lecture; and (4) create handouts that are circulated prior to class for students to take different pieces of a particular problem, solve them in their teams in individual breakout rooms, and then discuss the content and results back in class with all teams together. These techniques were shown to increase engagement and attendance and fostered a welcoming environment in the online classroom, contributing positively to student experience and in turn allowing students to achieve student learning outcomes despite the difficult circumstances.
The Role of TGF-β in Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis

Traumatic injury to the joint predisposes the development of osteoarthritis (OA). Post-traumatic OA (PTOA) shares the common clinical symptom and pathological alterations with nontraumatic OA, except for the etiology. Surgical reconstruction of the joint components fails to successfully prevent the development of PTOA, and there is no effective therapy for this disease currently available. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), a multifunctional cytokine, has been found to play an essential role in the pathological process of PTOA. Injury destroys the normal kinematics relationship among the joint components. Excessive TGF-βs are activated in the subchondral bone during osteoclast bone resorption in response to the altered mechanical environment. Excessive activation of TGF-β leads to uncoupled bone remodeling and increased angiogenesis and fibrosis, which eventually results in alterations of micro-architecture and mechanical property in the subchondral bone. The impaired capability of the subchondral bone to dissipate the loading from the joint surface aggravates the degeneration of articular cartilage. The maintenance of TGF-β levels within the normal range is also critical for the homeostasis of articular cartilage. TGF-β is an important anabolic factor that induces chondrocytes proliferation and promotes the synthesis of matrix protein. However, high levels of TGF-β are detrimental to the functional and structural integrity of articular cartilage. Elevated levels of TGF-β have been identified in the synovial system of PTOA joints. TGF-β may primarily serve as a pro-inflammatory factor in the synovium by augmenting the secretion of inflammatory factors by the immune cells. Because the effects of TGF-β may differ according to tissue type within the joint and may vary at different time points, differential and tissue-specific treatments targeting TGF-β signaling may produce optimal therapeutic effects.
W-ZrC composites prepared by reactive melt infiltration of Zr2Cu alloy into binder jet 3D printed WC preforms

Abstract W-ZrC composites were successfully prepared by reactive melt infiltration (RMI) of stoichiometric and excess amounts of Zr2Cu into sintered and un-sintered WC preforms made from binder jet 3D printing. The focus of this work was to study the conversion of reactant powders and liquid infiltrant with varying preform density and infiltrant amount by controlling the processing time to reach high conversion yield while understanding the phase composition, microstructure, and hardness. To investigate the effect of time, the reactive melt infiltration was conducted at 1400 °C for 2, 4 and 8 h in a furnace with 96% Ar - 4% H2 gas atmosphere. The increase in reaction time from 2 to 8 h increased the W and W2C phase contents and decreased the ZrC phase content when using sintered WC preforms. Samples prepared from un-sintered WC preforms exhibited improved reactive melt infiltration compared to sintered samples, and there was no detectable W2C phase and nearly full consumption of WC. Similar to sintered WC samples, the content of W and ZrC phases increased with the increase in time from 2 to 8 h. The interfaces and phases at reaction interfaces were investigated using electron diffraction analysis and S/TEM-EDS to understand material stability; the phases were identified and consistent with XRD analysis. Additionally, there was no Cu present at the interfaces. Increasing the amount of infiltrant led to better reactive melt infiltration. In general, the hardness increased with reaction time and the highest Vickers hardness was found in the W-ZrC sample formed from sintered WC reacted with excess Zr2Cu. This research addresses the critical comparison of sintering and RMI time and shows that by using un-sintered samples for 8 h we are able to achieve W-ZrC composites with fewer undesired phases.
The Mass of the Central Black Hole in the Nearby Seyfert Galaxy NGC 5273

We present the results of a reverberation-mapping program targeting NGC 5273, a nearby early-type galaxy with a broad-lined active galactic nucleus (AGN). Over the course of the monitoring program, NGC 5273 showed strong variability that allowed us to measure time delays in the responses of the broad optical recombination lines to changes in the continuum flux. A weighted average of these measurements results in a black hole mass determination of M {sub BH} = (4.7 ± 1.6) × 10{sup 6} M {sub ☉}. An estimate of the size of the black hole sphere of influence in NGC 5273 puts it just at the limit of the resolution achievable with current ground-based large aperture telescopes. NGC 5273 is therefore an important future target for a black hole mass determination from stellar dynamical modeling, especially because it is the only nearby early-type galaxy hosting an AGN with a reverberation-based mass, allowing the best comparison for the masses determined from these two techniques.
Comparative Study of Electric-thermal-mechanical of ±800kV U-type and Horizontal wall bushing

The U-type bushing adopts a modular structure, which consists of the indoor bushing, outdoor bushing and the gas-insulated metal-enclosed switchgear (GIS) bus. Its electrical, thermal and mechanical characteristics, as well as structural requirements are different from the conventional horizontal wall bushing. Taking the commonly used ±800kV/5000A bushing as an example, a design case is presented, which is compared with a horizontal bushing applied in real HVDC project. The distribution of electric-thermal-mechanical stress in key positions of the two types of bushing under various testing conditions is obtained by 3d finite element simulation. Based on the simulation results, the electric-thermal-mechanical properties of the two kinds of bushing are compared, which illustrated the distinctive characteristics of the U-type busing. Comparison shows that the U-type busing is slightly better in the electrical and thermal performance, and significantly better in mechanical stability than the horizontal one.
High Prevalence of Abnormal General Movements in Hospitalized Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Objective Abnormal general movements (GMs) are predictive of later risk of motor impairments in preterm infants. The goals of this study are to (1) describe the implementation of the GM assessment (GMA) in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and (2) investigate the prevalence and evolution of abnormal GMs in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Study Design Observational study of GMs in VLBW infants (gestational age [GA] Results The GMA was performed in 121 VLBW infants with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) GA of 28.3 (2.6) and BW of 1,113 (400 g). Only 28% of infants had normal GMs on initial assessment (32.9 ± 2.7 weeks' GA), while 61 and 11% had poor repertoire and cramped-synchronized GMs, respectively. At NICU discharge (37.6 ± 3.4 weeks corrected GA), 45 and 21% of infants were classified as having poor repertoire and cramped-synchronized GMs, respectively. Most infants with cramped-synchronized GMs on initial assessment had persistent abnormal GMs at discharge. In contrast, only one infant with normal GMs on first assessment developed cramped-synchronized GMs. Conclusion Abnormal GMs are common in VLBW infants, including a high prevalence of the more concerning cramped-synchronized movement pattern. The GMA can be successfully performed in VLBW infants. The GMA may be helpful in identifying infants at increased risk of later motor impairments, as well as assisting clinicians, in the stratification of infants who may benefit from additional brain imaging and/or an intensive hospital-based interventions. Key Points
Behavioral and exercise interventions for sleep dysfunction in the elderly: a brief review and future directions.

The impact of sleep-related changes and disorders in the geriatric populations are of utmost concern due to health consequences and increased risk of injury as well as injuring others as a result of poor sleep. The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief review of the current state of the literature with regard to sleep, aging, common non-pharmacological interventions, and the potential use of exercise in combination with behavioral interventions. Initially, this manuscript focuses on a brief (nonsystematic) review of sleep parameters and physiology that are associated with the aging process. Subsequently, information regarding sleep disorders in the elderly in general, and insomnia in particular are discussed. Last, a brief review of current recommended interventions is provided. The current major nonpharmacological interventions are described including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). The potential use of exercise as a safe intervention for poor sleep is discussed. Finally, a call is made for increased research that examines the combination of traditional behavioral interventions with exercise.
Aging in Context: Incorporating Everyday Experiences Into the Study of Subjective Age.

The age that a person feels is a strong predictor of their well-being and long-term health, beyond chronological age, showing that people have a self-awareness that provides insight into their aging process. It appears this insight has broad implications for a person’s everyday life and functioning. One’s subjective age is shaped by metacognitive beliefs about aging, including both expectations about typical changes but most notably the awareness and interpretation of personal experiences. Subjective age has been described as multidimensional, aligning with life domains such as cognitive, social, and physical functioning. This perspective, coupled with laboratory studies that manipulate subjective age, suggests that situational context has an important role in determining the age a person feels. Here we review literature on subjective age with a focus on how research and theoretical perspectives should be adapted to integrate momentary experiences. We propose a contextual model that will help discriminate the links between situational influences and subjective age, as well as resulting behaviors that impact health and well-being. While most research has considered subjective age to be a relatively stable variable, we provide a novel account of how daily life offers a variety of situational contexts and experiences that directly impact the age a person feels at a given moment. We propose that studying moment-to-moment context is a critical next step in understanding the associations between subjective age, lifestyle choices, and health outcomes.
Thyroid surgery - Does the scar matter?

Boog and cols. from Sao Paulo, Brazil, have reported the impact of scar on thyroidectomy patients (). They have reviewed the aesthetic impact of scars on the lives of the patients. This is a retrospective analysis of 98 patients determining the scar impact through a qualitative questionnaire and categorizing three levels of dissatisfaction. Of 98 patients, 96 (98%) reported experiencing no functional or visual discomfort with their scars. There were 2 women who were unsatisfied to a moderate category. It [...]
Why All the Swastikas?: UK Rock Stars’ Nazi/Holocaust Encounters, 1960s–1980s

Demsky scrutinizes rock ‘n’ roll stars in the UK misappropriating Nazi and Holocaust icons. He identifies various motivating reasons for this behavior. Sometimes the impetus was generational, as performers flaunted swastikas to signal autonomy from their elders’ experiences and attitudes. Other times, the motivation was stylistic, in line with the Nazi chic trend. Racial considerations also played a role, as Third Reich ideas and imagery helped bigoted rockers and their fans decry rising levels of non-white immigration. Perhaps, musical celebrities are unusual pedagogues. Ultimately, however, just as with American rock stars—who Demsky also concisely analyzes in this chapter—their behaviors embody Holocaust post-memorializing as inheritor generations received this history on their own terms, and represented it for their own needs.
Delivery of healthcare provider's lifestyle advice and lifestyle behavioural change in adults who were overweight or obese in pre-diabetes management in the USA: NHANES (2013-2018).

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to examine the association between delivery of healthcare provider's advice about lifestyle management and lifestyle behavioural change in pre-diabetes management in adults who were overweight or obese. DESIGN This cross-sectional study included adults with body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 and reporting pre-diabetes in USA. Outcomes included the prevalence of receiving provider's advice on lifestyle management and patterns of practicing lifestyle change. The association between delivery of provider's advice and lifestyle-related behavioural change in pre-diabetes management was examined. SETTING US Continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2018). PARTICIPANTS A total of 1039 adults with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 reported pre-diabetes. RESULTS Of eligible adults with pre-diabetes, 76.8% received provider's advice about lifestyle change. The advice group showed higher proportions of ongoing lifestyle change than no advice group, including weight reduction/control (80.1% vs 70.9%, p=0.018), exercise (70.9% vs 60.9%, p=0.013) and diet modifications (83.8% vs 61.8%, p<0.001). After adjustment, those receiving provider's advice were more likely to increase exercise (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.12 to 2.38) and modify diet (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.82 to 4.96). CONCLUSION Over 75% of US adults who were overweight or obese and reported pre-diabetes received healthcare provider's advice about reducing the risk of diabetes through lifestyle change. Provider's advice increased the likelihood of lifestyle-related behavioural change to exercise and diet.
Farnesol suppresses lipid accumulation in a HepaRG-based model of hepatic steatosis (1142.8)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is one the most common metabolic syndromes characterized by accumulation of triglycerides (TG) in liver. Treatment with the endogenous isoprenoid farnesol lowers hepatic TG levels in rodents, and this effect appears to involve at least two nuclear receptors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and farnesoid X receptor (FXR). Activation of constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) has also been shown to ameliorate hepatic steatosis in rodents. However, farnesol’s effects on human hepatic lipid metabolism are currently unknown. In this study, we evaluated the effect of farnesol treatment on human hepatic lipid accumulation in a cellular model of hepatic steatosis that was created by incubating the hepatocyte-like HepaRG cell line with oleic acid. Incubation of differentiated HepaRG cells with oleic acid produced concentration- and time-dependent increases in intracellular lipid droplets labeled with Oil Red O as well as in TG levels. This TG accumulation was suppresse...
Climate Change Impacts on the Potential Productivity of Corn and Winter Wheat in Their Primary United States Growing Regions

We calculate the impacts of climate effects inferred from three atmospheric general circulation models (GCMs) at three levels of climate change severity associated with change in global mean temperature (GMT) of 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 °C and three levels of atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) – 365 (no CO2 fertilization effect), 560 and 750 ppm – on the potential production of dryland winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and corn (Zea mays L.) for the primary (current) U.S. growing regions of each crop. This analysis is a subset of the Global Change Assessment Model (GCAM) which has the goal of integrating the linkages and feedbacks among human activities and resulting greenhouse gas emissions, changes in atmospheric composition and resulting climate change, and impacts on terrestrial systems. A set of representative farms was designed for each of the primary production regions studied and the Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator (EPIC) was used to simulate crop response to climate change. The GCMs applied were the Goddard Institute of Space Studies (GISS), the United Kingdom Meteorological Transient (UKTR) and the Australian Bureau of Meteorological Research Center (BMRC), each regionalized by means of a scenario generator (SCENGEN). The GISS scenarios have the least impact on corn and wheat production, reducing national potential production for corn by 6% and wheat by 7% at a GMT of 2.5 °C and no CO2 fertilization effect; the UKTR scenario had the most severe impact on wheat, reducing production by 18% under the same conditions; BMRC had the greatest negative impact on corn, reducing production by 20%. A GMT increase of 1.0°C marginally decreased corn and wheat production. Increasing GMT had a detrimental impact on both corn and wheat production, with wheat production suffering the greatest losses. Decreases for wheat production at GMT 5.0 and [CO2] = 365 ppm range from 36% for the GISS to 76% for the UKTR scenario. Increases in atmospheric [CO2] had a positive impact on both corn and wheat production. AT GMT 1.0, an increase in [CO2] to 560 ppm resulted in a net increase in corn and wheat production above baseline levels (from 18 to 29% for wheat and 2 to 5% for corn). Increases in [CO2] help to offset yield reductions at higher GMT levels; in most cases, however, these increases are not sufficient to return crop production to baseline levels.
Host color preferences and short‐range searching behavior of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma ostriniae

The color of lepidopteran eggs often varies by species or egg condition, and parasitoids that attack lepidopteran eggs could therefore potentially use color to obtain information about host identity or quality. The objective of our study was to determine whether females of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma ostriniae Pang & Chen (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) showed differential responses to egg color when searching for hosts over short distances and when evaluating the suitability of encountered eggs. We examined the wasps' host-selection behavior in a Petri dish arena using white, yellow, green, and black clay beads as egg models presented against a green background (to mimic leaf color). In no-choice tests, bead color had a significant effect on the proportion of tested wasps that accepted a bead for further examination, on the time it took wasps to find and begin examining a bead, and on the time that wasps spent examining the beads. However, bead color had only a marginally significant effect on the proportion of wasps attempting to drill into a bead with their ovipositors, and no significant effect on the amount of time they spent drilling. The wasps also showed significant color preferences when given a choice between two adjacent beads of different colors. The results of the no-choice and choice trials taken together indicated a color preference ranking of yellow > white > green > black. The wasps' higher preference for the yellow and white egg models generally corresponds to the white or yellowish-white egg color of T. ostriniae's target host, the European corn borer moth, Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). The wasps' strong rejection of black egg models is likely to be an adaptive response that reflects the fact that eggs that are wholly or partially black are often unsuitable for parasitization due to advanced caterpillar development, damage to the egg, or previous parasitization.
Dominant Grass Effects on Diversity and Functioning of Restored Grassland

Introduction Native grasslands provide a multitude of benefits to society including forage production, wildlife habitat, and nutrient and CO2 uptake and storage. There has been continuing interest within the conservation community in restoring grasslands to maximize these multiple benefits. In addition to achieving the most common objectives of reducing soil erosion and increasing organic carbon and nutrient availabilities, restored grasslands also produce important wildlife habitat, and they have the potential to uptake and store greenhouse gases like CO2. Grassland plantings have been found to increase game and non-game bird abundance and diversity and to improve deer habitat.
Abstract 13963: Hyperamylinemia, a Potential Therapeutic Target in Diabetic Cardiorenal Syndrome

Background: Recent studies show that hyperamylinemia, which is common in humans with prediabetic insulin resistance, promotes accumulation of oligomeric amylin not only in pancreatic islets, but also in kidneys and heart. The oligomerized amylin is a potent source of oxidative stress and inflammation. Hypothesis: Controlling hyperamylinemia may improve cardiac and renal function in type-2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: To test this hypothesis, we used a rat model of T2D overexpressing human amylin in the pancreas (HIP rat). Cardiac function (M-mode echocardiography), intra-arterial blood pressure and kidney function (metabolic cage) were assessed in diabetic HIP vs. age-matched control rats. To reduce amylin deposition, we pharmacologically elevated the endogenous blood levels of eicosanoids, molecules with anti-aggregation properties, by blocking the soluble epoxide hydrolase. Results: We found that amylin begins to accumulate in the cardiovascular system in the pre-diabetic state (i.e. non-fasted blood glucose level in the 150-200 mg/dl domain). Oligomerized amylin was identified in the blood vessel wall, glomeruli and cardiac myocytes suggesting that hyperamylinemia may directly affect cardiac and renal function. Compared to wild-type littermates, HIP rats develop cardiac hypertrophy (~75% increase in heart to body weight ratio; P<0.01), systolic dysfunction (fractional shortening of 36.9±2.0% vs. 44.7±1.6% in wild-type; P<0.05), hypertension (mean arterial blood pressure was increased by ~20%; P<0.05) and typical signs nephropathy, including increased diuresis (by ~500/%; P<0.001), natriuresis (by ~120%; P<0.001), creatinine clearance (by~70%; P<0.01) and microalbuminuria (by 300%; P<0.001). Treatment doubled the blood level of eicosanoids, which drastically reduced incorporation of aggregated amylin in heart and kidneys. Animals in the treated group showed reduced cardiac hypertrophy and hypertension. The protective mechanisms included the mitigation of amylin-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. Conclusions: Accumulation of oligomerized amylin affects cardiac and renal function in T2D. This pathological process is reduced by elevating the blood levels of anti-aggregation eicosanoids.
Federal information policy: putting it all together

This lecture is being given on the occasion of NFAIS' 40th Anniversary. The sixties, shortly after NFAIS was formed, blossomed into a decade of unprecedented development of Scientific & Technical Information (STI) programs and initiatives in both the public and private sectors. The Weinberg report, the formation of the Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP) and the Committee on Scientific and Technical Information (COSATI) in the Office of the President, as well as the birth of MEDLARS from the National Library of Medicine marked this decade. The 70's saw some dismantling of government-wide STI efforts, but the Rockefeller Report reaffirmed the need for cooperative public/private development of national information policy. The eighties saw National Academy of Sciences (NAS) studies in information technology, the emergence of NSFNET, Federal STI was seen by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) as important to the U.S. competitive edge, and the formation of CENDI took up the mantel of the former COSATI. By the close of the decade the High Performance Computing & Communication Agencies (HPCC), the National Information Infrastructure (NII), the Internet, and the World Wide Web reinvented the Government and improved information access for citizens. Throughout all these years the relationship between the Feds and the private sector with regard to information dissemination roles has generated controversy. OSTP failed to assume its legislative role in formulating information management policy, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) attempted to fill the gap. A new framework is proposed here to deal with information policy, including such arenas as database protection, copyright, fair use, privacy, information access etc. and, hopefully an atmosphere of renewed cooperation across all sectors in the information chain that will result in the delivery of STI for the common good.
Development of Chewing in Children From 12 to 48 Months: Longitudinal Study of EMG Patterns

Green, Jordan R., Christopher A. Moore, Jacki L. Ruark, Paula R. Rodda, Wendy T. Morvee, and Marcus J. VanWitzenburg. Development of chewing in children from 12 to 48 months: longitudinal study of ...
Lack of antinociceptive cross-tolerance between [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin and [D-Ala2]deltorphin II in mice: evidence for delta receptor subtypes.

This study has investigated the development of antinociceptive tolerance to, and cross-tolerance between, two highly selective delta agonists, [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE) and [D-Ala2] deltorphin II as well as to [D-Ala2,NMePhe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin (DAMGO), a highly selective mu agonist, in mice. Intracerebroventricular administration of DPDPE, [D-Ala2]deltorphin II and DAMGO each produced an antinociceptive effect. Pretreatment with i.c.v. DPDPE twice daily for 3 days resulted in tolerance to DPDPE as shown by a 4.8-fold rightward shift in the dose-response curve. In contrast, in DPDPE pretreated mice, the dose-response lines for [D-Ala2]deltorphin II and DAMGO were not altered when compared to those obtained in naive animals. The development of tolerance was also shown by pretreating mice with i.c.v. [D-Ala2]deltorphin II; following this pretreatment, the [D-Ala2]deltorphin II dose-response line was displaced to the right by more than 37-fold. In contrast, in [D-Ala2]deltorphin II-pretreated mice, the dose-response lines for DPDPE and DAMGO were not altered compared to those obtained in naive animals. Finally, pretreatment with i.c.v. DAMGO produced a rightward displacement of the DAMGO dose-response line of 47-fold, indicating the development of antinociceptive tolerance. In DAMGO-pretreated mice, however, the dose-response lines for DPDPE and [D-Ala2]deltorphin II were not altered compared to those obtained in naive mice. Thus, the data indicate that antinociceptive tolerance develops to DPDPE, [D-Ala2]deltorphin II and DAMGO but that there is no cross-tolerance between these compounds.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A decision-feedback equalizer with tentative chip feedback for the downlink of wideband CDMA

We investigate a chip-level minimum mean-square-error (MMSE) decision-feedback equalizer (DFE) for the downlink receiver of wideband code-division multiple-access (CDMA) systems using long scrambling code over frequency-selective channels. The DFE uses the tentative decision of the current symbol as feedback. The proposed DFE performs better than the chip-level linear equalizers (LE) and the DFE that feeds back only the symbols already decided. The performance gain increases with signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), but decreases with the number of active users. The performance of these different equalizers is compared through simulation of symbol-level MSE over a fixed channel.
Charge carrier transport properties in layer structured hexagonal boron nitride

Due to its large in-plane thermal conductivity, high temperature and chemical stability, large energy band gap (˜ 6.4 eV), hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has emerged as an important material for applications in deep ultraviolet photonic devices. Among the members of the III-nitride material system, hBN is the least studied and understood. The study of the electrical transport properties of hBN is of utmost importance with a view to realizing practical device applications. Wafer-scale hBN epilayers have been successfully synthesized by metal organic chemical deposition and their electrical transport properties have been probed by variable temperature Hall effect measurements. The results demonstrate that undoped hBN is a semiconductor exhibiting weak p-type at high temperatures (> 700 °K). The measured acceptor energy level is about 0.68 eV above the valence band. In contrast to the electrical transport properties of traditional III-nitride wide bandgap semiconductors, the temperature dependence of the hole...
Repeatability Analysis on the Tool Point Dynamics for Investigation on Uncertainty in Milling Stability

Stability analysis is needed to maximize milling performance while avoiding chatter. However, such an analysis is time-consuming, requiring the use of sophisticated instrumentation, and has significant level of uncertainty, which impedes the widespread use by industry. A main source of uncertainty is believed to be the changes in dynamics of the tool-holder-spindle system during the milling operation. This study investigates the variation in the tool point dynamics reflecting the dynamics of the tool-holder-spindle system and associated machining stability. The investigation focuses on the effects of the conditions generated by typical milling operations, such as tool changes and spindle warm up. The results of analyses demonstrate the necessity of continuous updates of the tool point dynamics during milling process by in-situ measurements to minimize uncertainty in evaluation of machining stability.© 2007 ASME
Airborne Emissions from 1961 to 2004 of Benzo(a)pyrene from U.S. Vehicles per km of Travel Based on Tunnel Studies

We identified 13 historical measurements of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in U.S. vehicular traffic tunnels that were either directly presented as tailpipe emission factors in μg per vehicle-kilometer or convertible to such a form. Tunnel measurements capture fleet cruise emissions. Emission factors for benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) for a tunnel fleet operating under cruise conditions were highest prior to the 1980s and fell from more than 30-μg per vehicle-km to approximately 2-μg/km in the 1990s, an approximately 15-fold decline. Total annual U.S. (cruise) emissions of BaP dropped by a lesser factor, because total annual km driven increased by a factor of 2.7 during the period. Other PAH compounds measured in tunnels over the 40-year period (e.g., benzo[ghi]perylene, coronene) showed comparable reduction factors in emissions. PAH declines were comparable to those measured in tunnels for carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and particulate organic carbon. The historical PAH “source terms” determined from the data are relevant to quantifying the benefits of emissions control technology and can be used in epidemiological studies evaluating the health effects of exposure, such as those undertaken with breast cancer in New York State.
Optimizing Suicide Gene Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer

An effective "suicide gene" therapy strategy in experimental studies has been the use of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene (HSV-tk) to sensitize tumors to the cytotoxic effects of ganciclovir administration. Previous studies using this model have focused on utilizing maximal viral titers and high levels of ganciclovir that are not compatible with human dosing. Because of the high ganciclovir doses and the maximal viral titers, this strategy has limited application to actual clinical scenarios. In the following studies the authors investigate tumor regression in an oral squamous cell carcinoma animal model as a function of variable adenoviral titers and more physiologic ganciclovir dosing. Using adenoviral titers ranging from 1 x 10(8) to 2 x 10(9) plaque forming units (pfu) to treat oral tumors, they found no statistical difference in tumor regression among the different viral doses, despite differences in mitotic activity. Each treatment group, however, demonstrated a significant effect on tumor regression when compared with controls. Furthermore, the authors were able to reduce the level of ganciclovir administration to 10 mg/kg twice daily from established levels of 100 to 150 mg/kg twice daily while maintaining significant tumor responses to the HSV-tk therapy. Mean survival of animals treated with this lower ganciclovir dose was significantly higher than in controls and was equal to established means based on previous studies using higher ganciclovir doses. The optimization of this suicide gene therapy strategy is imperative in order to minimize theoretical and known viral and ganciclovir toxicities while establishing a foundation upon which to design appropriate and effective clinical trials.
The Intergranular Phase in Hot‐Pressed Silicon Nitride: III, A Refinement of the Elemental Composition

An improved sensitivity analysis of the oxygen and nitrogen content of the phase-separated intergranular glass phase in hot-pressed silicon nitride is reported. The compositional ranges derived from the analyses are illustrated in the Si3N4-SiO2-MgO-Mg3N2 behavior diagram.
Strip method for steady heat-conduction problems

An approximate solution of heat-conduction problems can be obtained by the strip method. The method consists of an application of the finite-difference approximation in one physical coordinate and an analytic solution in other coordinates. A simple illustrative example is given and the result is compared with that obtained by the exact solution. By application of this method, an approximate solution is given for the steady heat conduction through a rectangular parallel composite wall with different rates of heat generation.
Outcome of clinical congestive heart failure induced by anthracycline chemotherapy.

Background. Anthracycline-induced congestive heart failure (A-CHF) is associated with a high reported incidence of morbidity and mortality. The long-term clinical outcome of patients with clinical A-CHF is less well defined. Methods. A retrospective chart review was done of 19 patients with a clinical diagnosis of A-CHF. Results. In 19 patients, the mean anthracycline dose was 379 k 141 mg/m2 (range, 120-570 mg/m2). The median time from the last dose of the drug to the onset of A-CHF was 4 weeks (range, 1-17 weeks). Seven patients (Group 1) died of A-CHF within a median of 6 weeks (range, 1-15 weeks) from onset of disease to death. Twelve patients (Group 11) had clinical recovery, three with a complete response, eight had partial improvement, and one had stable disease. Most importantly, four patients who had an intercurrent illness (two patients with infections and two with progression of their malignant lesions] had a relapse of clinical congestive heart failure that was fatal. Conclusions. Many (63%) patients recover from clinical A-CHF. However, the cardiac reserve of these patients is limited, and they may require careful medical management during other illnesses or surgical procedures. Cancer 1992; 702637-41.
Erratum to: Potential long-term storage of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis

Acknowledgments Juan A. Morales-Ramos and M. Guadalupe Rojas supplied Lima bean leaves infested with two-spotted spider mites. George Broufas, Thomas A. Coudron, and George D. Yocum provided helpful comments on an earlier version of this manuscript. The remarks of three anonymous reviewers were helpful. The United States Government has the right to retain a nonexclusive, royalty-free license in and to any copyright of this article. This article reports the results of research only. Mention of a commercial or proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement of the product by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Protein synthesis patterns following stage-specific heat shock in early Drosophila embryos.

Very short heat shocks are administered to carefully staged early embryos of Drosophila melanogaster, and the effects on protein synthesis pattern investigated. A shock as short as 2 min will induce the heat shock response (reduction of normal protein synthesis, increased synthesis of the heat shock proteins) in syncytial blastoderm or later stages. Thus the initial events of the heat shock response must occur within 2 min, and not reverse upon rapid return to 22° C. A low level of synthesis of the 70 kDa heat shock protein is sometimes visible in unshocked animals, but may be induced by the labeling procedure. Survival following a short shock is not strictly correlated with a high level of heat shock response. Pre-blastoderm embryos do not produce significant heat shock protein, but survive a 2 min 43°C heat shock better than do heat shock response competent blastoderm embryos. The protein synthesis pattern prior to the blastoderm stage is very stable, possibly enhancing survival following a short shock. Shocks of 3 min or longer are more detrimental to pre-blastoderm embryos than to later stages, confirming the role of the heat shock response in survival following a longer shock. Stage-specific developmental defects (phenocopies) may be induced by heat shock at the blastoderm or later stages. Induction of these defects may require disruption of the normal protein synthesis pattern. Use of very short heat shocks to induce the heat shock response will be valuable in identifying the precise time at which a specific defect can be induced.
An Efficient Calculation of the Load and Coefficient of Restitution of Impact Between Two Elastic Bodies With a Liquid Lubricant

This paper complements several previous papers on modeling of the impact between two elastic bodies with a liquid lubricant. The main feature of the work is the efficient incorporation of various engineering aspects of the impact process making use of approximations consistent with the physical insights of the problem. The model can very efficiently calculate the impact load and the coefficient of restitution with reasonable accuracy for a wide range of the problem domain. The modeling concepts and methodology may be useful in future research on interdisciplinary analyses of the dynamics of mechanical systems in which the interactions are strong between vibrations of the components and impacts in the lubricated kinematic pairs.
Field control of the surface electroclinic effect in chiral smectic-A liquid crystals.

The surface electroclinic effect, which causes an azimuthal deviation of the layer normal from the surface rubbing direction in cells of chiral smectic-$A$ liquid crystals, can be eliminated (and even reversed) by applying an electric field during cooling from the isotropic phase. The observed dependence of layer orientation on field strength leads to a model in which the surface electroclinic tilt results from an effective surface electric field. The experiements suggest a general method for controlling the azimuthal layer alignment of chiral smectic cells.
The Golden Age of Human Population Genetics

![Figure][1] CREDIT: N. KEVITIYAGALA/ SCIENCE The first draft of the genome provided the road map for the past decade of research in human genetics, allowing for the design of platforms that have been used to query variation in populations worldwide and helping to drive down the cost of sequencing by several orders of magnitude. Within years, tens of thousands of complete genome sequences will be available from humans and from extinct hominids, as well as from thousands of other species. Given the human mutation rate, we will soon know of variation among individuals at almost all sites in the genome. For population genetics, this ushers in a previously unimaginable opportunity to reconstruct the entire genealogical and mutational history of humans and pushes us against the limits of what we will be able to infer about the evolutionary and genetic forces that affected every region of the genome. Why are disease mutations present in human populations? What is the genetic basis of our cognitive and physiological adaptations? What was the sequence of demographic events that led to the colonization of the globe by modern humans? Stay tuned, and before long, we should know as much as genetic data alone can tell us. [1]: pending:yes
Effect of hyaluronidase upon the water content of ischemic myocardium

Abstract In a series of dogs submitted to ligation of the circumflex branch of the left coronary artery, changes in the water content of the ischemic myocardium were determined. A progressive increase in the amount of water in the tissue was observed after ligation. Hyaluronidase injected intravenously proved to significantly reduce the water content of the damaged areas. Five hours after ligation in the untreated series, the mean water content of the ischemic area was found to be higher than that of the intact region by 3.71 per cent. In the group receiving hyaluronidase, the mean water content of the ischemic area was higher than that of the normal area by only 1.09 per cent. The importance of further investigation is stressed in order that any possible advantages in reducing edema in an ischemic myocardium may be demonstrated.
Elevated interleukin-6 levels in patients with asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Abstract Background Elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels are present in patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III and IV congestive heart failure (CHF) and are associated with a poor prognosis. We sought to determine whether elevated IL-6 levels are also present in patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction but without clinical symptoms. Methods Blood samples were obtained from the femoral artery of 58 patients who underwent cardiac catheterization for recognized clinical indications. In a subgroup of 44 patients, samples were also obtained from the femoral vein, the left main coronary artery, and the coronary sinus. Patients with prior coronary artery bypass surgery, recent acute coronary syndrome, or steroid therapy were excluded. All samples were obtained before heparin or contrast administration. IL-6 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and values are expressed in picograms per milliliter. Results Three groups of patients were identified: controls, no CHF, LV ejection fraction ≥0.55 (n = 32); asymptomatic LV systolic dysfunction, no CHF, LV ejection fraction Conclusions Elevated IL-6 levels are present in patients with LV dysfunction even in the absence of the clinical syndrome of CHF. These data suggest that IL-6 may be involved in the progression of subclinical LV dysfunction to clinical CHF. IL-6 may be a marker of patients at risk for progression to clinical CHF or a novel target for therapeutic intervention. (Am Heart J 2001;141:435-8.)
The ghost of Sigmund Freud haunts mark solms's dream theory

Recent neuropsychological data indicating that an absence of dreaming follows lesions of frontal subcortical white matter have been interpreted by Solms as supportive of Freud's wish-fulfillment, disguise-censorship dream theory. The purpose of this commentary is to call attention to Solms's commitment to Freud and to challenge and contrast his specific arguments with the simpler and more complete tenets of the activation-synthesis hypothesis.[Hobson et al.; Nielsen; Solms]
The most deadly force: Police pursuits

(1986). The most deadly force: Police pursuits. Justice Quarterly: Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 1-14.
Characterization of synthetic macroporous packing materials in low-pressure cartridges and columns

Abstract Three ion-exchange packing materials, Macro-Prep 50 S, Macro-Prep 50 CM and Macro-Prep 50 Q (strong cation, weak cation and strong anion, respectively) were characterized with respect to dynamic protein-binding capacities and chemical stability and resolution following exposure to 0.1 and 1.0 M NaOH. The pore-size distribution in the hydrated state was determined by size-exclusion chromatography on a Macro-Prep t-Butyl hydrophobic interaction (HIC) sorbent. Isolation of anti-Klenow antibodies from goat serum was performed on a 1-1 Macro-Prep 50 S column. Specific anti-Klenow antibodies were affinity purified on a semi-preparative scale using Klenow coupled to an Affi-Prep 10 (NHS activated) sorbent. Recombinant Klenow polymerase from Escherichia coli was purified in one chromatographic step on an Econo-Pac heparin 5-ml cartridge.
"Cool" or "monster"?: company takeovers and their effect on open source community participation

In this study, we investigate the effect of takeover announcements made by open-source software (OSS) steward firms, on participation in an OSS newcomers' online community. We examine a MySQL newcomer forum before and after two takeover announcements -- the January 2008 announcement of MySQL's takeover by Sun Microsystems, and the April 2009 announcement of Sun's takeover by Oracle. We find that the impact on participation depends on how the acquiring company is perceived. The announcement of an acquisition by a company perceived as hostile had a negative effect on participation, whereas announcement of acquisition by a more friendly company was found to have no effect on participation. These changes in participation occurred without any accompanying change in the product itself, or its licensing. This work provides the evidence of the effect of external events on online participation.