cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A direct brain interface to restore function in humans with spinal cord injury

Summary form only given. We describe the design of a compact, wireless sensor module designed to capture expressive gestures in real-time when worn at the hands and feet of a dancer. Each sensor includes a 6-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) that contains three orthogonal gyroscopes and accelerometers in order to capture local dynamics, as well as a capacitive sensor to measure node-to-node proximity. Signal conditioning to support a resistive sensor (e.g., bend or pressure measurement) is also included, and a compact expansion port is available with free digital inputs and an SPI interface. The onboard radio transceiver supports a power-efficient, high-speed RF network capable of real-time data acquisition from several devices simultaneously, thereby meeting the requirements of instrumenting a small dance ensemble for interactive applications. This paper describes the application goals, presents the prototype hardware design, introduces concepts for feature extraction, and shows early test results.
Liquid-metal targets for high-power applications: Pulsed heating and shock hydrodynamics

Significant interest has recently focused on the use of liquid-metal targets flowing with high velocities for various high-power nuclear and high-energy physics applications such as fusion reactor first-walls, the Spallation Neutron Source, Isotope Separation On Line, and Muon Collider projects. This is because the heat generated in solid targets due to beam or plasma bombardment cannot be removed easily and the resulting thermal shock damage could be a serious lifetime problem for long-term operation. More recently, the use of free or open flying-liquid jets has been proposed for higher-power-density applications. The behavior of a free-moving liquid mercury or gallium jet subjected to proton beam deposition in a strong magnetic field has been modeled and analyzed for the Muon Collider project. Free-liquid-metal jets can offer significant advantages over conventional solid targets, particularly for the more demanding and challenging high-power applications. However, the use of free-moving liquid-metal targets raises a number of new and challenging problems such as instabilities of the jet in a strong magnetic field, induced eddy-current effects on jet shape, thermal-shock formation, and possible jet fragmentation. Problems associated with shock heating of liquid jets in a strong magnetic field are analyzed in this study.
Propagation of horizontally polarized transverse waves in a solid with a periodic distribution of cracks

Abstract The propagation of time-harmonic waves in a solid containing a periodic distribution of cracks is investigated in a two-dimensional configuration. The cracks are parallel to the x-axis, and their centers are located at positions x = md, y = lh(m, l = 0, ±1, ±2,…). The wave motion is polarized in the z-direction and propagates in the y-direction (normal to the cracks). The theory of Floquet or Bloch waves, together with an appropriate Green's function and the condition of vanishing traction on the crack faces leads to a system of singular integral equations, which provides the basis for the derivation of an exact dispersion equation. Numerical results are presented for the wave number as a function of the frequency. The frequency spectrum shows a pattern of passing and stopping bands. The exact results are compared with the frequency spectrum according to a simplified theory which considers the arrays of collinear cracks in the planes y = lh (l= 0 ±1, ±2,…) as planes of homogeneous transmission and reflection. Good agreement is observed between exact and approximate results.
The effects of “dry” heat on the circulation of man. II. Splanchnic hemodynamics

Abstract Ten patients with normal hearts, 7 with enlarged left ventricles not in failure, and 7 with enlarged left ventricles in failure were subjected for 2 hours to an ambient temperature of 98° F. ± 1° and a comfortable relative humidity of 40 per cent ± 3. Ten additional control patients, who were studied only in a comfortable environment of 73° F. ± 1° and a relative humidity of 40 per cent ± 3, showed no significant changes in the various parameters which were measured. Exposure to the warm environment caused a significant decrease in the brachial artery pressure and in the splanchnic vascular resistance. There was no significant change in the estimated hepatic blood flow and in the calculated splanchnic oxygen consumption. The responses to heart were similar in the patients with normal hearts and in those with enlarged hearts, regardless of the state of compensation of the left ventricle.
Studies of N2O Adsorption and Decomposition on Fe–ZSM-5

The interactions of N2O with H-ZSM-5 and Fe-ZSM-5 have been investigated using infrared spectroscopy and temperature-programmed reaction. Fe-ZSM-5 samples with Fe/Al ratios of 0.17 and 0.33 were prepared by solid-state exchange. It was determined that most of the iron in the samples of Fe-ZSM-5 is in the form of isolated cations, which have exchanged with Bronsted acid H+ in H-ZSM-5. The infrared spectrum of N2O adsorbed on H-ZSM-5 at 298 K exhibits bands at 2226 and 1308 cm-1 associated with vibrations of the N-N and N-O bonds, respectively. The positions of these bands relative to those seen in the gas phase suggest that N2O adsorbs through the nitrogen end of the molecule. The heat of N2O adsorption in H-ZSM-5 is estimated to be 5 kcal/mol. In the case of Fe-ZSM-5, additional infrared bands are observed at 2282 and 1344 cm-1 due to the interactions of N2O with the iron cations. Here too, the directions of the shifts in the vibrational features relative to those for gas-phase N2O suggest that the molecule adsorbs through its nitrogen end. The heat of adsorption of N2O on the Fe sites is estimated to be 16 kcal/mol. The extent of N2O adsorption on Fe depends on the oxidation state of Fe. The degree of N2O adsorption is higher following pretreatment of the sample in He or CO at 773 K, than following pretreatment in O2 or N2O at the same temperature. Temperature-programmed decomposition of N2O was performed on the Fe-ZSM-5 samples and revealed that N2O decomposes stoichiometrically to N2 and O2. A higher activity was observed if the catalysts were pretreated in He than if they were pretreated in N2O. For the He-pretreated samples, the activation energy for N2O decomposition was estimated to be 42 kcal/mol and the preexponential factor of the rate coefficient for this process was found to increase with Fe/Al ratio. This trend was attributed to the increasing auto reducibility of Fe3+ cations to Fe2+ cations with increasing Fe/Al ratio.
Size Effect on Strength and Lifetime Distributions of Quasibrittle Structures

Engineering structures such as aircraft, bridges, dams, nuclear containments and ships, as well as computer circuits, chips and MEMS, should be designed for failure probability < 10−6 –10−7 per lifetime. The safety factors required to ensure it are still determined empirically, even though they represent much larger and much more uncertain corrections to deterministic calculations than do the typical errors of modern computer analysis of structures. The empirical approach is sufficient for perfectly brittle and perfectly ductile structures since the cumulative distribution function (cdf) of random strength is known, making it possible to extrapolate to the tail from the mean and variance. However, the empirical approach does not apply to structures consisting of quasibrittle materials, which are brittle materials with inhomogeneities that are not negligible compared to structure size. This paper presents a refined theory on the strength distribution of quasibrittle structures, which is based on the fracture mechanics of nanocracks propagating by activation energy controlled small jumps through the atomic lattice and an analytical model for the multi-scale transition of strength statistics. Based on the power law for creep crack growth rate and the cdf of material strength, the lifetime distribution of quasibrittle structures under constant loads is derived. Both the strength and lifetime cdf’s are shown to be size- and geometry-dependent. The theory predicts intricate size effects on both the mean structural strength and lifetime, the latter being much stronger. The theory is shown to match the experimentally observed systematic deviations of strength and lifetime histograms of industrial ceramics from the Weibull distribution.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Till Death Do Us Part: Contexts and Implications of Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage Across Adulthood

The marital tie is one of the most influential relationships in adulthood, with vast implications for well-being. This special issue uses diverse samples, examines individuals in different marital situations (engaged, married, divorced, and remarried), and considers martial situations with regard to several contexts (e.g., in-law relationships, marital happiness, support, caregiving, well-being) across the life span. This issue includes four articles examining several marital situations among different age groups. Articles examine formation of marital ties in early adulthood and implications for in-law relationships, the development of marital happiness over 16 years, the implications of marital quality for the divorce experience, and the caregiving experience among remarried caregivers. Overall, these studies highlight the complexity and the diversity of experiences in marriage, divorce, and remarriage which is especially critical given the increasingly complicated family structures individuals experienc...
Role of Interfacial Interactions on Mechanical Properties of Biomimetic Composites for Bone Tissue Engineering

Interfaces play an important role in controlling the mechanical properties of composites. Optimum mechanical strength of scaffolds is of prime importance for bone tissue engineering. In the present work, molecular dynamics simulations and experimental studies have been conducted to study effect of interfacial interactions on mechanical properties of composites for bone replacement. In order to mimic biological processes, hydroxyapatite (HAP) is mineralized in presence of polyacrylic acid (PAAc) (in situ HAP). Further, solid and porous composites of in situ HAP with polycaprolactone (PCL) are made. Mechanical tests of composites of in situ HAP with PAAc have shown improved strain recovery, higher modulus/density ratio and also improved mechanical response in simulated body fluid (SBF). Simulation studies indicate potential for calcium bridging between –COO− of PAAc and surface calcium of HAP. This fact is also supported by infrared spectroscopic studies. PAAc modified surfaces of in situ HAP offer means to control the microstructure and mechanical response of porous composites. Nanoindentation experiments indicate that apatite grown on in situ HAP/PCL composites from SBF has improved elastic modulus and hardness. This work gives insight into the interfacial mechanisms responsible for mechanical response as well as bioactivity in biomaterials.
Targets for therapy in ependymoma

Ependymomas are among the rarest type of glioma and display significant heterogeneity based on patient age and tumor location. Treatment strategies include surgery and radiation, but the use of chemotherapy remains more controversial. Chemotherapy has been widely utilized in the pediatric population due to more aggressive disease in this cohort, and has become of interest in the adult population as well. Unfortunately, relapses are common, and responses to cytotoxic chemotherapy are often disappointing. As a result, attention has turned to specific targets in the pathogenesis of ependymoma. This paper summarizes the current understanding of promising molecular pathways and targets under study for future application in ependymoma.
Use of coronal simultaneous optical coherence tomography/scanning laser ophthalmoscopy to demonstrate cystoid macular edema secondary to extrafoveal retinal hole.

Purpose—To describe a clinical appearance of macular edema secondary to extrafoveal retinal hole using coronal (en-face) optical coherence tomography/scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (OCT/ SLO) imaging. Method—Case report. Results—A 76-year-old man developed an extrafoveal retinal hole in his right eye after pars plana vitrectomy and epiretinal membrane removal 1 year after surgery. He complained of decreased central vision. Coronal scan showed extrafoveal retinal hole with multiple retinal cysts surrounding the retinal hole and communicating with the macular area.
Emergent L2 German writing ability in a curricular context: A longitudinal study of grammatical metaphor

Abstract The paper reports on a study of emergent adult instructed L2 German writing ability in a college-level program that developed an explicit curriculum-based approach to supporting L2 writing. It uses systemic-functional linguistics (SFL) as its theoretical framework and traces writing development through a central construct in the theory, the meaning-making resource of grammatical metaphor. The study observes the writing development of 14 writers longitudinally over three consecutive curricular levels, using both quantitative measures and in-depth qualitative observations regarding one learner's evolving abilities. The paper concludes with general observations about how an approach to L2 writing development that is informed by SFL can contribute to richer theoretical, empirical, and educational practices in support of learners’ literacy development.
Critical Inductance and Control Rectifiers

This paper explains the effect of a choke-input filter when used in connection with controllable rectifier tubes. Many of the difficulties experienced with instability and discontinuities of control of such rectifiers are due to an improper choice of input-choke inductance. A mathematical derivation of the proper value of inductance is given and a simple method of applying it to actual problems is illustrated.
Unexpected Electrophoretic Migration of RNA with Different 3‘ Termini Causes a RNA Sizing Ambiguity That Can Be Resolved Using Nuclease P1-Generated Sequencing Ladders†

It has been widely believed that the electrophoretic migration difference of otherwise identical RNAs with a P versus OH terminus would be the same as occurs for DNA, a fairly reproducible ∼1/2 nucleotide (nt) offset. RNA with a 5‘-OH indeed migrates ≤1 nt slower than if it had a 5‘-P. Surprisingly, however, RNA with a 3‘-OH terminus (generated by many cellular RNases of interest) migrates anywhere from ∼1/4 to ∼2 nts slower than the otherwise identical molecule with a 3‘-P or 2‘,3‘-cyclic-P terminus (as present on standard RNase-generated sequencing ladders). This previously unrecognized variability in electrophoretic migration offset causes a 1−2 nt ambiguity in a commonly used method of RNA size determination. We also show two ways to overcome this problem and enable rigorous sizing of 3‘-OH terminating RNAs. Most convenient is to use sequencing standards generated by nuclease P1, which is generally sequence-nonspecific but we show becomes G-specific or A-preferential under certain reaction conditions.
A Candidate X-linked Mental Retardation Gene Is a Component of a New Family of Histone Deacetylase-containing Complexes*

Eukaryotic genes are under the control of regulatory complexes acting through chromatin structure to control gene expression. Here we report the identification of a family of multiprotein corepressor complexes that function through modifying chromatin structure to keep genes silent. The polypeptide composition of these complexes has in common a core of two subunits, HDAC1,2 and BHC110, an FAD-binding protein. A candidate X-linked mental retardation gene and the transcription initiation factor II-I (TFII-I) are components of a novel member of this family of complexes. Other subunits of these complexes include polypeptides associated with cancer causing chromosomal translocations. These findings not only delineate a novel class of multiprotein complexes involved in transcriptional repression but also reveal an unanticipated role for TFII-I in transcriptional repression.
Habitat selection and juvenile persistence control the distribution of two closely related Caribbean damselfishes.

On many Caribbean fringing coral reefs, two closely related and ecologically similar damselfishes, the beaugregory (Stegastes leucostictus Muller and Troschel) and the cocoa damselfish (S. variabilis Castelnau), occupy nonoverlapping vertical distributions. In St. Croix (USVI), beaugregory are very abundant in shallow water back reef habitats (1–2 m depth) while cocoa damselfish are restricted to the base of the forereef (10–15 m depth).
Botulinum toxin type A combined with neurodynamic mobilization for lower limb spasticity: a case report.

Objective This case report describes a patient with severe lower limb spasticity treated with botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) and neurodynamic mobilization (NM).
A hematology survey of workers at a styrene-butadiene synthetic rubber manufacturing plant

A previous epidemiologic study of the U.S. rubber industry indicated that there has been an excess of leukemia and lymphoma mortality among hourly workers at one styrene-butadiene rubber manufacturing plant. This investigation was a combined industrial hygiene and hematology cross-sectional survey at the same plant. The objectives of the survey were to quantify exposure levels for styrene, butadiene, benzene and toluene, and to relate these levels to hematologic variation. Personal air samples and blood specimens were obtained from 157 production workers. All exposure levels for the four chemicals assayed were well below recommended standards. The highest mean styrene (13.67 ppm) and butadiene (20.03 ppm) concentrations were found in the Tank Farm area; in all other departments the mean levels for the four chemicals were less than 2 ppm. The Tank Farm workers had slightly lower levels of circulating erythrocytes, hemoglobin, platelets and neutrophils, and slightly higher mean corpuscular red cell volumes ...
Investigating Trends in Simulated Ignition Timing Across a Wide Range of Conditions Including Fuel Reactivity

Continued interest in kinetically-modulated combustion regimes, such as HCCI and PCCI, poses a significant challenge in controlling the ignition timing due to the lack of direct control of combustion phasing hardware available in traditional SI and CI engines. Chemical kinetic mechanisms, validated based on fundamental data from experiments like rapid compression machines and shock tubes, offer reasonably accurate predictions of ignition timing; however utilizing these requires high computational cost making them impractical for use in engine control schemes. Empirically-derived correlations offer faster control, but are generally not valid beyond the narrow range of conditions over which they were derived.This study discusses initial work in the development of an ignition correlation based on a detailed chemical kinetic mechanism for three component gasoline surrogate, composed of n-heptane, iso-octane and toluene, or toluene reference fuel (TRF). Simulations are conducted over a wide range of conditions including temperature, pressure, equivalence ratio and dilution for a range of tri-component blends in order to produce ignition delay time and investigate trends in ignition as pressure, equivalence ratio, temperature and fuel reactivity are varied. A modified, Arrhenius-based power law formulation will be used in a future study to fit the computed ignition delay times.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) for the determination of polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) in sewage sludge

An efficient microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method has been developed and evaluated for the quantification of eight major polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) in sewage sludge. The PBDEs were extracted from wet and dry sludge in a microwave extraction unit using a hexane/acetone mixture for 35 min at a controlled temperature of 130 °C. The extract was concentrated, cleaned up on a silica gel column, and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in the negative chemical ionization (NCI) mode. The MAE procedure exhibited higher extraction efficiency, specifically for BDE (brominated diphenylether) 209, than the conventional Soxhlet extraction. The test congeners were clearly separated under specific instrumental operating conditions, at a source temperature of 230 °C and a column length of 20 m. The present analytical method showed recovery efficiencies ranging from 80 to 110% when applied to the PBDE-free sludge spiked with eight PBDE congeners. The efficiency of the MAE method was confirmed using sludge obtained from four sewage treatment plants (STPs). The results indicate that BDE 47, 99, and 209 are the most abundant congeners present in these sewage sludges, which is consistent with previous reports.
Oropharyngeal airway diameter during sedation in children with and without developmental delay.

Abstract Study Objective: To determine whether children with developmental delay would have closer apposition of upper airway tissues during sedation, perhaps because of poor coordination of upper airway musculature. Design: Case-control and retrospective chart review. Setting: Tertiary-care pediatric teaching hospital. Patients: 40 children 3 to 6 years of age, with and without a diagnosis of developmental delay. Measurements: Subjects received only pentobarbital sedation by a protocol. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the head were reviewed, and transverse airway diameters at the soft palate and tongue were determined from midline sagittal images. Main Results: Age, weight, sedative dose, MRI window level, and window width were not different between patients with and without developmental delay. We found the airway diameter at the level of the soft palate was decreased 40% in children with developmental delay compared with those children without delay, 3 mm (1.4, 5.5 interquartile range) versus 5 mm (3, 8); p= 0.035, power 76%. Conclusions: The anteroposterior oropharyngeal airway diameter was smaller in children with developmental delay than in those without developmental delay, in static MRI images. It is possible that children with developmental delay are at higher risk for airway obstruction during sedation.
Destabilization of fatty acid-containing liposomes by polyamidoamine dendrimers

Polyamidoamine dendrimers have been shown to be very effective at transporting DNA across cell membranes in transfection experiments. To investigate the membrane interactions with dendrimers that could contribute to this efficacy, the ability of dendrimers to permeabilize lipid vesicles in suspension has been studied. Vesicles were prepared containing the self-quenching, membrane impermeant dye calcein, and were treated with dendrimers of different sizes. Increase in fluorescence was attributed to release of the dye. Membranes containing dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine and stearic or oleic acid, lipids with a preference for non-lamellar phases, were very susceptible to disruption by dendrimers, with larger dendrimers being more effective than smaller. However, membranes containing lipids with a preference for the lamellar phase (either pure phosphatidylcholine, or phosphatidylcholine:phosphatidylserine) were largely unaffected. The concentration dependence of the permeabilization strongly suggests an aggregation-mediated mechanism for membrane disruption. Requenching measurements using cobalt citrate showed that permeabilization did not occur uniformly among the vesicles, but rather was all-or-none, with a subpopulation of vesicles responsible for essentially all of the dye release. This is also suggestive of an aggregation-induced response. Lastly, although osmotic forces are thought to play an important role in dendrimer-mediated transfection, we observed no effect of osmotic pressure and membrane tension on the efficacy of dendrimers in solution. It is likely that, in cells, dendrimers traverse cell membranes via endosomes, and the entrapment of the dendrimer itself within the endosomal vesicle may be a key factor in its ability to cause rupture.
Fully Integrated Switch-LNA Front-End IC Design in CMOS: A Systematic Approach for WLAN

A fully integrated front-end IC is demonstrated for 802.11b/g transceivers with integrated power amplifiers. The SP3T-LNA architecture integrates Bluetooth® functionality with transmit and receive for wireless LAN. The transmit switch achieves a P1dB greater than 33.0 dBm at 2.5 GHz by employing a cross-biasing approach, transistor stacking and deep n-well process. Power handling techniques used for the switches and the associated performance tradeoffs are discussed. The measured noise figure of the LNA and the receive chain comprising both an LNA and a switch is 1.5 dB and 3.0 dB, respectively. The LNA achieves an IIP3 of 7.0 dBm while consuming 7.0 mA of current. The measured switching times are less than 350 ns. The front-end IC employs a 3.3 V supply and occupies 0.64 mm2 in 0.18 μm bulk CMOS technology.
Polypyrrole coatings on aluminum — synthesis and characterization

The electrodeposition of polypyrrole coatings on aluminum was carried out by cyclic voltammetry using oxalic acid as the electrolyte. The cyclic voltammograms show an anodic peak at around 0.0 V vs. SCE for very high scan rates (750 mV/s) at shorter cycles. With the increase in number of cycles (>10), the presence of this peak is no longer visible. This peak is related to the adsorption and oxidation of hydrogen. At shorter scan rates (50 mV/s), the length of time where the deposition of polypyrrole on the aluminum substrate takes place is much longer, and so the amount of polymer deposited in one cycle, is correspondingly more. The anodic peak at around 0.0 V vs. SCE was no longer visible after the first cycle in the cyclic voltammograms. The infrared spectroscopy of the coatings indicates that polypyrrole is in the doped form. The scanning electron micrographs show microspheroidal morphology of polypyrrole.
Dietary lipids are differentially associated with hippocampal-dependent relational memory in prepubescent children

Background: Studies in rodents and older humans have shown that the hippocampus—a brain structure critical to relational/associative memory—has remarkable plasticity as a result of lifestyle factors (eg, exercise). However, the effect of dietary intake on hippocampal-dependent memory during childhood has remained unexamined. Objective: We investigated the cross-sectional relation of dietary components characteristic of the Western diet, including saturated fatty acids (SFAs), omega-3 (n−3) fatty acids, and refined sugar, with hippocampal-dependent relational memory in prepubescent children. Design: Participants aged 7–9 y (n = 52) reported their dietary intake by using the Youth-Adolescent Food-Frequency Questionnaire and completed memory tasks designed to assess relational (hippocampal-dependent) and item (hippocampal-independent) memory. Performance on the memory tasks was assessed with both direct (accuracy) and indirect (eye movement) measures. Results: Partial correlations adjusted for body mass index showed a positive relation between relational memory accuracy and intake of omega-3 fatty acids and a negative relation of both relational and item memory accuracy with intake of SFAs. Potential confounding factors of age, sex, intelligence quotient, socioeconomic status, pubertal timing, and aerobic fitness (maximal oxygen volume) were not significantly related to any of the dietary intake measures. Eye movement measures of relational memory (preferential viewing to the target stimulus) showed a negative relation with intake of added sugar. Conclusions: SFA intake was negatively associated with both forms of memory, whereas omega-3 fatty acid intake was selectively positively associated with hippocampal-dependent relational memory. These findings are among the first to show a link between habitual dietary intake and cognitive health as pertaining to hippocampal function in childhood. The Fitness Improves Thinking Kids (FITKids) and FITKids2 trials were registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01334359","term_id":"NCT01334359"}}NCT01334359 and {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01619826","term_id":"NCT01619826"}}NCT01619826, respectively.
A phylogenetic analysis of the Neotropical riodinid butterfly genera Juditha, Lemonias, Thisbe and Uraneis, with a revision of Juditha (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae: Nymphidiini)

A cladistic analysis is presented for all twenty-four species in the Neotropical riodinid butterfly genera Juditha Hemming, Lemonias Hubner, Thisbe Hubner and Uraneis Bates based on sixty-nine characters of male and female morphology and external facies, and utilizing Audre domina Bates as the outgroup. All characters are illustrated. The analysis confirms the monophyly of Juditha and Uraneis, but indicates that Lemonias is polyphyletic and Thisbe is paraphyletic with respect to Uraneis, leading us to synonymize Uraneis with Thisbe (syn.n.). Juditha is found to be the sister clade to true Lemonias +( Thisbe + Uraneis). A revision of Juditha is presented which includes discussions on the taxonomy, biology and distribution of its species, and illustrations of the adults and male and female genitalia of all taxa and the early stages of an exemplar, J. caucana. Eight species are recognized in Juditha, including two, J. naza and J. inambari, which are described as new. The following new generic combinations are made: rubigo Bates is transferred from Juditha to Pachythone Bates; agave Godman & Salvin and leucogonia Stichel are transferred from Lemonias to Pseudonymphidia Callaghan; ochracea Mengel, theodora Godman and albofasciata Godman are transferred from Audre Hemming to Lemonias; fenestrella Lathy is transferred from Thisbe to Synargis Hubner; hyalina Butler, ucubis Hewitson and incubus Hall, Lamas & Willmott are transferred from Uraneis to Thisbe; and odites Cramer (= phylleus Auctt.) is transferred from Synargis to Juditha (comb.n.).
Hemlock Infestation and Mortality: Impacts on Nutrient Pools and Cycling in Appalachian Forests

Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carriere) trees serve an important ecological role in riparian ecosystems in the southern Appalachians. Signifi cant hemlock mortality is occurring due to infestation by the hemlock wool- ly adelgid (HWA) (Adelges tsugae Annand), a non-native invasive pest. Our objective was to quantify the impacts of HWA and hemlock mortality on nutrient cycling pools and processes. In 2004, we established eight research plots in riparian areas with >50% basal area in hemlock and four reference plots in riparian areas without hemlock (hardwood). All hemlock plots were infested with HWA. In four of the hemlock plots, all hemlock trees were girdled to induce defoliation and rapid mortality. By fall 2006, there was 90 and 10% mortality in the girdled and nongirdled hemlock plots, respectively. Measurements included soil temperature and moisture, nutrient pools, N transformations, litterfall and forest fl oor amount and chemistry, and throughfall and soil solution chemistry. From 2004 to 2008, litterfall composition changed, with an initial increase in the hemlock needle percentage followed by a decline. Hemlock plots had cooler spring soil temperatures than hardwood plots. Hemlock plots had greater surface soil and forest fltotal C than hardwood plots; soil C content did not change during the 4 yr of measurement. Th ere were no diff erences in N mineralization rates or soil solution N concentrations among treatments. Diff erences between litterfall and forest fl oor nutrient contents in hemlock and hardwood plots sug- gest that as hemlocks are replaced by hardwood species, nutrient cycling rates and processes will be similar to hardwood reference plots.
Pavement Preservation with Micromilling in Georgia: Follow-Up Study

The micromilling technique to mill asphalt surface mix continues to be studied in the state of Georgia as part of a pavement preservation treatment in conjunction with thin asphalt overlays. Earlier research showed the results of micromilling on a deteriorated open-graded surface, which was overlaid with a new open-graded surface on I-75, south of Macon, Georgia. The micromilling produced a much finer surface texture than did conventional milling, with a ridge-to-valley depth (RVD) of less than 3 mm, and the technique could more accurately mill the deteriorated open-graded layer. A new open-graded surface was placed on top of that layer with no need for a new dense- or gap-graded layer. The result was a large cost savings compared with conventional milling and overlay. This paper summarizes research performed on a micromilling and open-graded inlay project on I-95 near Savannah, Georgia, and compares the results with those from the previous research. The new research affirms that significant cost savings ...
Epithelial Conduction in Hydromedusae

Sarsia, Euphysa, and other hydromedusae have been studied by electrophysiological techniques and are found to have nonnervous conducting epithelia resembling those described earlier for siphonophores. Simple, non-muscular epithelia fire singly or repetitively following brief electrical stimuli. The pulses recorded with suction electrodes are biphasic, initially positive, and show amplitudes of 0.75–2.0 mv, durations of 5–15 msec, and velocities of 15–35 cm/sec with short refractory periods. In the swimming muscle (myoepithelium) 2.0–4.0 mv composite events lasting 150–300 msec are associated with contraction waves. Propagation in nonnervous epithelia is typically all-or-none, nondecremental, and unpolarized. The subumbrellar endoderm lamella conducts independently of the adjacent ectoderm. The lower regions of the tentacles do not show propagated epithelial events. The spread of excitation in conducting epithelia and associated effector responses are described. Examples are given of interaction between events seemingly conducted in the nervous system and those in nonnervous epithelia. Either system may excite the other. Spontaneous activity, however, appears to originate in the nervous system. Conduction in nonnervous tissues is unaffected by excess Mg++ in concentrations suppressing presumed nervous activity, although this may not be a wholly adequate criterion for distinguishing components of the two systems. Evidence from old work by Romanes is considered in the light of these findings and the general significance of epithelial conduction is discussed.
A new interpretation of translation invariant denoising

Translation invariant (TI) image denoising outperforms orthogonal wavelet thresholding by averaging a collection of denoised estimates from different orthogonal bases. The paper proposes a new perspective of TI processing as an average of a collection of cyclic-basis frame reconstructions, each a stationary signal estimate, contrasting with the nonstationary estimates of orthogonal wavelet thresholding. This viewpoint clarifies that certain characteristics of TI (i.e. reduced edge contour artifacts) are inherited from each cyclic-basis reconstruction, rather than from the process of averaging. We relate performance advantages of TI in smooth areas of images to statistical relationships of the cyclic-basis reconstructions. In edge regions, the quality of cyclic-basis reconstructions varies significantly with pixel position relative to the edge contour. These differences couple with convexity arguments to explain the large performance gains of TI in edge regions. They also suggest an improved approach to frame reconstruction, based on estimating relative location information, and identifying the best cyclic-basis reconstruction for the estimated pixel location.
SMAC — A Modular Open Source Architecture for Medical Capsule Robots:

The field of Medical Capsule Robots (MCRs) is gaining momentum in the robotics community, with applications spanning from abdominal surgery to gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. MCRs are miniature multifunctional devices usually constrained in both size and on-board power supply. The design process for MCRs is time consuming and resource intensive, as it involves the development of custom hardware and software components. In this work, we present the STORM Lab Modular Architecture for Capsules (SMAC), a modular open source architecture for MCRs aiming to provide the MCRs research community with a tool for shortening the design and development time for capsule robots. The SMAC platform consists of both hardware modules and firmware libraries that can be used for developing MCRs. In particular, the SMAC modules are miniature boards of uniform diameter (i.e., 9.8 mm) that are able to fulfill five different functions: signal coordination combined with wireless data transmission, sensing, actuation, powering and...
Protective Antigen Antibody Augments Hemodynamic Support in Anthrax Lethal Toxin Shock in Canines

Mortality in patients with shock during the 2001 US anthrax outbreak was high [1, 2]. Although the mechanisms and optimal management of this shock remain unclear, the risk of anthrax persists, as demonstrated by recent cases among injection drug abusers in Europe [3, 4]. Seventeen of 52 patients from this outbreak died, many with progressive shock despite standard intensive care unit (ICU) support. Anthrax bacilli produce 2 toxins: lethal toxin (LT) and edema toxin (ET) [5, 6]. Each is composed of a toxic moiety (lethal factor [LF] or edema factor [EF], respectively) and protective antigen (PA), a component necessary for LF or EF uptake by host cells. LF is a zinc endopeptidase that cleaves mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (MAPKK), whereas EF is a calmodulin-dependent adenyl cyclase. Of the two, LT is the more lethal and thought to play a central role in the pathogenesis of anthrax shock [7–20]. Despite the contribution of LT-induced shock to the pathogenesis of anthrax, its treatment has received little study. Conventional therapy for septic shock (which would include hemodynamic support with fluid and vasopressor administration titrated to physiologic endpoints like mean arterial pressure) has not been investigated in models of anthrax. In rats, fixed (nontitrated) doses of either normal saline or norepinephrine (NE) administered as 24-hour infusions were beneficial against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or Escherichia coli challenge, but not LT challenge [20, 21]. Notably, however, inability to titrate these therapies in the LT-challenged rodent model may have produced adverse effects that limited benefit. Besides hemodynamic support, toxin inhibition has also been proposed for the treatment of life-threatening anthrax infection. Both polyclonal (Anthrax Immune Globulin Intravenous [AIGIV], Cangene Corp, Winnipeg, Canada) and monoclonal (raxibacumab; Human Genome Sciences, Rockville, MD) antibody preparations, directed in part or solely against PA, have been added to the US Strategic National Stockpile. However, whether such preparations have additive benefit when combined with conventionally titrated hemodynamic support is not clear [21–27]. Defining the effects of titrated hemodynamic support, alone or together with protective antigen–directed monoclonal antibody (PA-mAb), for LT-associated shock is important. We previously developed a sedated, instrumented, and mechanically ventilated canine model in which LT, infused over 24 hours to simulate toxin release during infection, produced progressive hypotension and organ dysfunction [16]. We employed this model to investigate the effects of titrated hemodynamic support and PA-directed monoclonal antibody (raxibacumab) alone or together, for LT-induced shock. Although hemodynamic support was available (if indicated) from the start of toxin infusion, PA-mAb was administered either early at the initiation of toxin (0 hours), or later at 9 or 12 hours to investigate the effect of delayed treatment as might occur clinically.
IT-Related Material Weaknesses In Internal Control: Initial Evidence From SOX Section 404 Reports

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) requires auditors and managers to assess public companies’ internal control over financial reporting. Since some of the material weaknesses in internal control noted by auditors and management relate to IT issues, Section 404 reports offer a new opportunity to examine the types of IT-related control issues that public companies are struggling to address. This study presents a summary of the most commonly cited IT-related material weaknesses in internal control described in recent Section 404 internal control reports and describes the characteristics of companies with IT-related weaknesses. We also provide insights into companies’ remedial actions to correct their IT control weaknesses.
Spatiotemporal Heterogeneity in the Induction of Ventricular Fibrillation by Rapid Pacing Importance of Cardiac Restitution Properties

The mechanism by which rapid pacing induces ventricular fibrillation (VF) is unclear. We performed computerized epicardial mapping studies in 10 dogs, using 19-beat pacing trains. The pacing interval (PI) of the first train was 300 ms and then was progressively shortened until VF was induced. For each PI, we constructed restitution curves for the effective refractory period (ERP). When the PI was long, the activation cycle length (CL) was constant throughout the mapped region. However, as the PI shortened, there was an increase in the spatiotemporal complexity of the CL variations and an increase in the slope of the ERP restitution curve. In 5 dogs, we documented the initiation of VF by wavebreak at the site of long-short CL variations. Computer simulation studies using the Luo-Rudy I ventricular action potential model in simulated 2-dimensional tissue reproduced the experimental results when normal ERP and conduction velocity (CV) restitution properties were intact. By altering CV and ERP restitutions in this model, we found that CV restitution creates spatial CL variations, whereas ERP restitution underlies temporal, beat-to-beat variations in refractoriness during rapid pacing. Together, the interaction of CV and ERP restitutions produces spatiotemporal oscillations in cardiac activation that increase in amplitude as the PI decreases, ultimately causing wavebreak at the site of intrinsic heterogeneity. This initial wavebreak then leads to the formation of spiral waves and VF. These findings support a key role for both CV and ERP restitutions in the initiation of VF by rapid pacing.
Effects of interval duration on temporal processing in schizophrenia.

Abstract Introduction: Temporal processing has received scant attention in the literature pertaining to cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia. Previous research suggests that patients with schizophrenia exhibit temporal perception deficits on both auditory and visual stimuli. The current study investigated the effects of interval manipulation to (1) replicate the original findings with a larger sample and an increased number of trials (2) assess the degree to which both patients and controls can differentiate temporal changes in a range of experimental interstimulus intervals, and (3) explore whether different interstimulus interval durations pose different levels of difficulty for the patients with schizophrenia. Methods: Participants were asked to decide whether temporal intervals were shorter or longer than standard intervals on a computer-based auditory temporal perception task. The standard interval remained the same duration throughout the various tasks. The interstimulus interval separating the standard and experimental intervals varied in the range of 500, 1000, or 3000 ms. Data are presented for a sample of 16 patients with schizophrenia and 15 controls. Results: Data suggest that patients with schizophrenia exhibit deficits in differentiating interval durations across all paradigms compared to their control-group peers on a range of auditory tasks ( p Conclusions: These results are consistent with a general temporal deficit in schizophrenia. However, the roles of medication and localization are also addressed.
Numerical Simulation of Thermal Transit-Time Flow Meter for High Temperature, Corrosive and Irradiation Environment

In the environments of high temperature (>300 °C – 1000 °C), corrosive and even irradiation application, the challenges of providing reliable and accurate flow rate measurement is significant. In comparing with many other existing technologies for normal operation environments, correlated thermal transit-time flow meter show its advantages of resolving the challenges encountered in those harsh conditions. The correlated thermal signals can be detected by two separated thermal sensors (for example, thermocouples) in series alignment along the pipe, and derive the flow rate. It was evaluated to have accurate measurement for small pipe at slow fluid speed. In the higher flow rate and big pipe size application, this technology shows its weakness due to the limitations associated with slow response time of thermal sensor, dimension, and low strength of thermal signal. In this paper, we present a sophisticated layout of thermal transit-time flow meter with numerical simulation and experiments. By numerical results, we observed that the obtained flow in the bypass route is linearly proportional to the main flow over higher range of flows showing that the measured flow is successfully extended to high range and with stable and accurate measurement results.© 2013 ASME
Digitally intensive transmitter employing RF pulse width modulation for IoT applications

A CMOS RF-PWM transmitter with a Class-D power amplifier (PA) is proposed for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The transmitter utilizes two PLL-based PWM generators to convert baseband signals into an RF-PWM signal without an upconverter. For an LTE signal with a 1.4 MHz bandwidth and a 6.4 dB peak-to-average ratio (PAR), the RF-PWM transmitter achieves a power-added efficiency (PAE) of 17.5%, an error vector magnitude (EVM) of −24.9 dB, and an adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) of −31 dBc at an average output power of 16.1 dBm. The transmitter achieves a peak output power of 22.4 dBm with 46.6% PAE, and 38.8% efficiency for the full RF-PWM transmitter including PAs.
Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles and Bulk Cerium Oxide Leading to Different Physiological and Biochemical Responses in Brassica rapa

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2NPs) have been incorporated into many commercial products, and their potential release into the environment through the use and disposal of these products has caused serious concerns. Despite the previous efforts and rapid progress on elucidating the environmental impact of CeO2NPs, the long-term impact of CeO2NPs to plants, a key component of the ecosystem, is still not well understood. The potentially different impact of CeO2NPs and their bulk counterparts to plants is also unclear. The main objectives of this study were (1) to investigate whether continued irrigation with solutions containing different concentrations of CeO2NPs (0, 10, and 100 mg/L) would induce physiological and biochemical adjustments in Brassica rapa in soil growing conditions and (2) to determine whether CeO2NPs and bulk CeO2 particles exert different impacts on plants. The results indicated that bulk CeO2 at 10 and 100 mg/L enhanced plant biomass by 28% and 35%, respectively, while CeO2NPs at equiva...
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Related Chronic Leukemias

The treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and related chronic leukemias remains palliative, although long-term survival has been achieved for the subset of patients with hairy cell leukemia. Despite this, the past decade has seen tremendous advancements in the understanding and treatment of these diseases, with the advent of purine analogues, such as fludarabine and monoclonal antibodies, such as rituximab and alemtuzumab. This chapter focuses on recent developments in identifying prognostic factors in CLL, as well as advances in the treatment of these diseases. Particular emphasis is given to the expanding role of monoclonal antibody therapies in these diseases