cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computations of Electromagnetic Wave Scattering From Penetrable Composite Targets Using a Surface Integral Equation Method With Multiple Traces

We present a surface integral equation domain decomposition method (SIE-DDM) for time harmonic electromagnetic wave scattering from bounded composite targets. The proposed SIE-DDM starts by partitioning the composite object into homogeneous sub-regions with constant material properties. Each of the sub-regions is comprised of two sub-domains (the interior of the penetrable object, and the exterior free space), separated on the material interface. The interior and the exterior boundary value problems are coupled to each other through the Robin transmission conditions, which are prescribed on the material/domain interface. A generalized combined field integral equation is employed for both the interior and the exterior sub-domains. Convergence studies of the proposed SIE-DDM are included for both single homogeneous objects and composite penetrable objects. Furthermore, a complex large-scale simulation is conducted to demonstrate the capability of the proposed method to model multi-scale electrically large targets.
Point spread function optimization for STORM using adaptive optics

Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM) requires a high Strehl ratio point spread function (PSF) to achieve high resolution, especially in the presence of background fluorescence. The PSF is degraded by aberrations caused by imperfections in the optics, the refractive index mismatch between the sample and coverslip, and the refractive index variations of the sample. These aberrations distort the shape of the PSF and increase the PSF width directly reducing the resolution of STORM. Here we discuss the use of Adaptive Optics (AO) to correct aberrations, maintaining a high Strehl ratio even in thick tissue. Because the intensity fluctuates strongly from frame to frame, image intensity is not a reliable measure of PSF quality, and the choice of a robust optimization metric is critical. We demonstrate the use of genetic algorithms with single molecule imaging for optimization of the wavefront and introduce a metric that is relatively insensitive to image intensity. We demonstrate the correction of the wavefront from measurements of single quantum dots.
Search for $\nu_{\mu}$ to $\nu_{e}$ oscillations in the MINOS experiment

The MINOS experiment uses the NuMI νμ beam to make precise measurements of neutrino flavor oscillations in the "atmospheric" neutrino sector. MINOS can also probe the yet-unknown neutrino mixing angle θ13 by searching for a νe appearance signal in the νμ beam. This paper reviews the techniques developed for the first νe appearance analysis in MINOS.
Spectra-structure correlations in crystalline alkyl—ammonium halometallates

Abstract Infrared and Raman spectra have been measured on 44 compounds of the general formula (AlkNH 3 ) 2 MX 6 where Alk = methyl through t -butyl, M  Sn, Pt and Pd, and X  Cl, Br. The internal modes of the crystalline compounds are mainly due to skeletal motions of the octahedral metal complex. Systematic shifts in vibrational frequencies can be related to changes in detailed crystal structure, particularly bond lengths and to the packing efficiency of the alkyl groups. The structures of the compounds are derivatives of the antifluorite structure. Force constants for the alkyl ammonium cation MX 6 −2 anion bonds were calculated using the normal coordinate model for the fluorite structure.
AUTOMATED IMPEDANCE: A CASE STUDY IN MICROPROCESSOR PROGRAMMING

Abstract An automated system for measuring biological impedances is described. A microcomputer system is utilized for experimental control, data acquisition, and data reduction. The developed software uses high-level languages and the ability to mix subroutines written in different languages, which are available for microcomputer systems. The software control of analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversions is also discussed. The pitfalls, as well as the advantages, of employing a microcomputer system in a task-dedicated laboratory system are presented.
Experiencing Reality in Management Education

Discusses the concepts for management and in management education which are in the process of development in the Management Laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's School of Indus...
Optical and Langmuir Probe Investigations of Excitation Temperatures in a Low-Pressure Glow Discharge with Variations in Discharge Gas Identity

Abstract In an effort to more fully understand the excitation and ionization mechanisms present in a low-pressure (0.3-3 Torr), low-current (0-5 mA), diode geometry glow discharge, preliminary studies of electron characteristics with variations in discharge pressure and fill gas identity were undertaken. For comparison, excitation temperatures were measured by both optical and Langmuir probe methods. Neither method showed electron excitation in the plasma to vary substantially with changes in discharge pressure or changes in discharge gas composition, including quenching with methane.
Effect of leucine supplementation on indices of muscle damage following drop jumps and resistance exercise

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of leucine supplementation on indices of muscle damage following eccentric-based resistance exercise. In vitro, the amino acid leucine has been shown to reduce proteolysis and stimulate protein synthesis. Twenty-seven untrained males (height 178.6±5.5 cm; body mass 77.7±13.5 kg; age 21.3±1.6 years) were randomly divided into three groups; leucine (L) (n=10), placebo (P) (n=9) and control (C) (n=8). The two experimental groups (L and P) performed 100 depth jumps from 60 cm and six sets of ten repetitions of eccentric-only leg presses. Either leucine (250 mg/kg bm) or placebo was ingested 30 min before, during and immediately post-exercise and the morning of each recovery day following exercise. Muscle function was determined by peak force during an isometric squat and by jump height during a static jump at pre-exercise (PRE) and 24, 48, 72, and 96 h post-exercise (24, 48, 72, 96 h). Additionally, at these time points each group's serum levels of creatine kinase (CK) and myoglobin (Mb) along with perceived feelings of muscle soreness were determined. None of the C group dependent variables was altered by the recurring testing procedures. Peak force was significantly decreased across all time points for both experimental groups. The L group experienced an attenuated drop in mean peak force across all post-exercise time points compared to the P group. Jump height significantly decreased from PRE for both the L and P group at 24 h and 48 h. CK and Mb was significantly elevated from PRE for both experimental groups at 24 h. Muscle soreness increased across all time points for the both the L and P group, and the L group experienced a significantly higher increase in mean muscle soreness post-exercise. Following exercise-induced muscle damage, high-dose leucine supplementation may help maintain force output during isometric contractions, however, not force output required for complex physical tasks thereby possibly limiting its ergogenic effectiveness.
The Euclidean distance completion problem: cycle completability

The Euclidean distance matrix completion problem asks when a partial distance matrix has a distance matrix completion, in the event that the graph of the specified data is chordal no additional information is needed. If the graph is not chordal, more must be known about the data. In the event the data comprises a full cycle, the additional conditions are quite simple. We characterize those graphs such that the "cycle conditions" on all minimal cycles imply that a partial distance matrix has a distance matrix completion. One description of these graphs is that they have chordal supergraphs in which no 4-clique includes an added edge, the same condition that appeared in the corresponding question about positive definite completions.
Teacher Incentives and the Future of Merit-Based Pay in Georgia

This study summarizes the empirical results of school-level research done in Georgia, one of the post-Soviet, Caucasian states, in October 2009. The findings drawn from qualitative and quantitative...
Pair-correlation functions and correlation energies of a quantum electron gas.

A method is presented for calculating at any temperature the pair-correlation functions of a quantum electron gas in thermal equilibrium. The Slater sum is approximated as a product of pair functions of the spatial coordinates which is in the form of a classical Boltzmann factor with an effective pair potential. The pair-correlation functions for the quantum system are then obtained by applying to this effective Boltzmann factor the powerful techniques developed for classical systems. The correlation energy of the ground state is calculated at several densities and is compared to the values obtained by other authors.
Functional forms and PPP: new evidence for eight Asian countries

This article applies the extended Box–Cox model to test functional forms of purchasing power parity (PPP) for eight selected Asian countries. Both the CPI and the PPI are considered. The relative price is the major determinant of the nominal exchange rate except for Malaysia when the CPI is used. The widely used double-log form for PPP can be rejected in seven of the eight countries when the CPI is used and in six of the eight countries when the PPI is used. The unitary elasticity cannot be rejected for Korea when the CPI is used and can be rejected for other cases. Hence, most countries have a nonlinear functional form of PPP and exhibit a nonunitary elasticity.
Noradrenergic vasorelaxation of porcine coronary arteries is enhanced by direct, acute exposure to 17β-estradiol

Abstract 1. 1. We tested whether responses of isolated coronary arteries to adrenergic agents are altered by overnight (18–22 hr) or acute exposure to physiological levels of 17β-estradiol. 2. 2. Sensitivity to relaxation by norepinephrine (-log M ED50) was enhanced significantly in isolated arteries after acute exposure to 10−9 M 17β-estradiol. Neither α-adrenergic contraction to norepinephrine, nor β-adrenergic relaxation to isoproterenol was affected by acute exposure to 17β-estradiol. 3. 3. Responses of coronary arteries to relaxation or contraction by norepinephrine, as well as relaxation by isoproterenol, were not altered by overnight incubation with 17β-estradiol or by removal of the endothelium. 4. 4. We conclude that relaxation of coronary arteries by norepinephrine is enhanced by acute, direct exposure to physiological levels of 17β-estradiol. This enhancement does not result from effects of estradiol to suppress α-adrenergic contraction to norepinephrine or increase coronary β-adrenergic receptor sensitivity.
Quantum disorder and Griffiths singularities in bond-diluted two-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnets

We investigate quantum phase transitions in the spin-$1∕2$ Heisenberg antiferromagnet on square lattices with inhomogeneous bond dilution. It is shown that quantum fluctuations can be continuously tuned by inhomogeneous bond dilution, eventually leading to the destruction of long-range magnetic order on the percolating cluster. Two multicritical points are identified at which the magnetic transition separates from the percolation transition, introducing a quantum phase transition. Beyond these multicritical points a quantum-disordered phase appears, characterized by an infinite percolating cluster with short ranged antiferromagnetic order. In this phase, the low-temperature uniform susceptibility diverges algebraically with non-universal exponents. This is a signature that the quantum-disordered phase is a quantum Griffiths phase, as also directly confirmed by the statistical distribution of local gaps. This study thus presents evidence of a genuine quantum Griffiths phenomenon in a two-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet.
The potential of higher manganese silicide as an optoelectronic thin film material

Every published study of higher manganese silicide (HMS) that has been concerned with its electronic band structure has affirmed its semiconducting nature. The results fall into two main camps: (1) it has a direct bandgap near 0.7 eV, or (2) it has an indirect gap near 0.4 eV. The difference is crucial because if the direct bandgap is correct, then HMS may be expected to have useful photoconductivity and luminescence efficiencies at important infrared wavelengths. This divergence of bandgap results for HMS may be due to fundamental structural variations, rather than experimental error: HMS is frequently referred to as “MnSi1.7” and may be either a continuum of ordered phases or perhaps a group of several distinct compounds. Furthermore, there are reasonable prospects for growth of large-area single crystal HMS films on (001) silicon substrates—using template techniques and surfactant-mediated growth. HMS offers a rich field for furthering our understanding of epitaxy on silicon, and directed research should reveal whether we will have a new and useful thin film optoelectronic material.
The "noble" sports fan: the relationships between team identification, self-esteem, and aggression.

Authors have disagreed on whether sports spectating has positive or negative consequences for individuals and society. Based on Smith's 1988 discussion of “the noble sports fan,” the current resear...
Quantum Support Vector Machine for Big Data Classification

Supervised machine learning is the classification of new data based on already classified training examples. In this work, we show that the support vector machine, an optimized binary classifier, can be implemented on a quantum computer, with complexity logarithmic in the size of the vectors and the number of training examples. In cases where classical sampling algorithms require polynomial time, an exponential speedup is obtained. At the core of this quantum big data algorithm is a nonsparse matrix exponentiation technique for efficiently performing a matrix inversion of the training data inner-product (kernel) matrix.
VEGF increases paracellular transport without altering the solvent-drag reflection coefficient

Abstract Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) increases microvascular permeability and has been implicated in the development of numerous pathologies including diabetic retinopathy (DR), hypoxia/ischemia, and tumor biology. The transport pathways by which water and solutes cross the endothelium in response to VEGF, however, are not completely understood. We measured, in real time, bovine retinal endothelial cell (BREC) hydraulic conductivity (Lp), 70 kDa dextran permeability (Pe), and the solvent-drag reflection coefficient ( σ ) before and after addition of 50 ng/ml VEGF. The diffusional permeability coefficient for dextran (Pd) was measured before pressure gradient application. The sudden application of a 10-cm H 2 O hydrostatic pressure gradient induced water and solute fluxes that decayed to steady-state values after approximately 2 h. Subsequently, the addition of VEGF significantly increased Lp and Pe by 4.3-fold ± 0.7-fold and 3.0-fold ± 0.3-fold, respectively, after 110 min; however, the reflection coefficient remained approximately constant throughout the experiment (approximately 0.8). These observations suggest that water and dextran utilize common paracellular channels across BREC monolayers. Furthermore, the addition of VEGF increases the number or availability of channels but does not alter the selectivity of the monolayer to 70 kDa dextran.
Reconsidering Academic Language in Practice: The Demands of Spanish Expository Reading and Students' Bilingual Resources

Efforts to improve educational outcomes for English learners often focus on “academic language,” but unfortunately the field lacks a clear, agreed-upon definition of the concept. This article reports on a design research study that focused on students' engagement in one academic practice over several months: reading and discussing expository science texts in Spanish. By looking closely at one practice, the research provides a grounded perspective on academic language and the bilingual resources that English learners bring to academic tasks.
Minimal error drift in frequency scalability for motion-compensated DCT coding

The authors mathematically analyze the drift of low-resolution images obtained from a smaller IDCT of a subset of the DCT coefficients of the full-resolution images in motion-compensated hybrid predictive/DCT coding such as MPEG-2, which allows for frequency scalability. Using this mathematical structure, they derive a low-resolution decoder that has the theoretically minimum possible drift, and propose techniques for implementation that produce substantial improvement in real sequences. The minimum drift can also be used as a milestone, to be compared with other techniques of drift reduction (of worse performance but lower complexity). For the case where leakage is used to reduce the drift, the authors determine a minimum-energy non-uniform DCT-domain leakage matrix which is no more complex than uniform leakage, but gives a substantial improvement. Finally, they note that DCT-based pyramidal coding is essentially the same as the drift case, and thus they use the same mathematical structure to derive the theoretically-best upward predictor in pyramidal coding. >
Evaluation of the genetic management of the endangered black‐footed ferret (Mustela nigripes)

Empirical support for the genetic management strategies employed by captive breeding and reintroduction programs is scarce. We evaluated the genetic management plan for the highly endangered black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) developed by the American Zoo and Aquarium Associations (AZA) as a part of the species survival plan (SSP). We contrasted data collected from five microsatellite loci to predictions from a pedigree-based kinship matrix analysis of the captive black-footed ferret population. We compared genetic diversity among captive populations managed for continued captive breeding or reintroduction, and among wild-born individuals from two reintroduced populations. Microsatellite data gave an accurate but only moderately precise estimate of heterozygosity. Genetic diversity was similar in captive populations maintained for breeding and release, and it appears that the recovery program will achieve its goal of maintaining 80% of the genetic diversity of the founder population over 25 years. Wild-born individuals from reintroduced populations maintained genetic diversity and avoided close inbreeding. We detected small but measurable genetic differentiation between the reintroduced populations. The model of random mating predicted only slightly lower levels of heterozygosity retention compared to the SSP strategy. The random mating strategy may be a viable alternative for managing large, stable, captive populations such as that of the black-footed ferret. Zoo Biol 22:287–298, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of the Cosmetic Patient

The management of the cosmetic surgery patient can be challenging. This chapter reviews the eight key psychological and contextual features to consider in the evaluation of the cosmetic patient: 1. Manage the balance of power. 2. Listen to the patient. 3. Ensure appropriate patient motivation. 4. Determine realistic surgical goals. 5. Screen out the difficult patient. 6. Conduct thorough informed consent. 7. Avoid surgical overcorrection. 8. Create an aesthetic environment.
Exact algorithms for integrated facility location and production planning problems

We consider a class of facility location problems with a time dimension, which requires assigning every customer to a supply facility in each of a finite number of periods. Each facility must meet all assigned customer demand in every period at a minimum cost via its production and inventory decisions. We provide exact branch-and-price algorithms for this class of problems and several important variants. The corresponding pricing problem takes the form of an interesting class of production planning and order selection problems. This problem class requires selecting a set of orders that maximizes profit, defined as the revenue from selected orders minus production-planning-related costs incurred in fulfilling the selected orders. We provide polynomial-time dynamic programming algorithms for this class of pricing problems, as well as for generalizations thereof. Computational testing indicates the advantage of our branch-and-price algorithm over various approaches that use commercial software packages. These tests also highlight the significant cost savings possible from integrating location with production and inventory decisions and demonstrate that the problem is rather insensitive to forecast errors associated with the demand streams. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 58: 419-436, 2011
Incidence of some surgically correctable congenital abnormalities in South Australia

Abstract A retrospective 5 yr survey of the incidence of some neonatal surgically correctable congenital abnormalities in South Australia has been carried out. Meaning-ful figures have been obtained for the incidence, in terms of the live birth rate, of obstructive malformation of the gastrointestinal tract, major abdominal wall and diaphragmatic defects, and some anomalies of the genitourinary system. In the main, the incidence of these malformations is similar to that reported from other centers. However the incidence of exomphalos and small bowel obstructions is lower in this series than in others, and the incidence of tracheoesophageal and anorectal anomalies appears to be slightly higher in South Australia than in Victoria. The incidence of diaphragmatic defects, excluding esophageal hiatus, is very similar to that ascertained by the perinatal mortality survey carried out by Butler and Claireaux. 20
SiGeC Cantilever Micro Cooler

The fabrication and characterization of SiGeC cantilever microcoolers are described. Silicon on insulator (SOI) was used as the substrate, and two layers of 3 µm p-SiGe0.07C0.0075 and 1.14 µm n-SiGe0.07C0.0075 lattice matched to silicon were grown using molecular beam epitaxy. The uni couple cooler was fabricated using conventional integrated circuit (IC) processing, and the cantilever structure was finally formed by removing the backside Si of SOI substrate by deep reactive ion etching. Devices with different n- and p-side length ratios were characterized. Cooling by 1.2K has been measured at room temperature. Modeling showed that the device performance was dominated by the smaller cooling temperature of the p-SiGeC leg of the cantilever structure. Parasitic heat conduction through the Si buffer layer is the main limitation to the device performance.
Compact table-based MOSFET model

A novel, compact representation for MOSFET devices is presented for use in table-based simulation. The structure of the current and charge surfaces is exploited to decrease storage requirements while retaining high accuracy. The model components are selected to track physically relevant parameters. >
Databases for outcomes research: what has 10 years of experience taught us?

This paper describes how the mission of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is being executed through the many programs that it has developed and implemented. The Evidence-based Practice Center program was developed to provide systematic reviews on common and expensive conditions and health technologies and to ensure that this information is used to improve health care outcomes and costs. The National Guidelines Clearinghouse provides an internet-based source of clinical practice guidelines that are produced by clinical specialty organizations for the primary purpose of improving health care delivery and outcomes. Relevant to this symposium on databases, AHRQ has supported the development of databases to track hospital utilization on a state-by-state basis. The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) allows comparisons between states and within regions of individual states. New initiatives have been launched to evaluate interventions across systems rather than focusing on the individual patient (Translating Research into Practice—TRIP). The Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) program was developed to conduct real world evaluations to better understand the benefits and risks of single and combined therapy. Both programs further the mission of the AHRQ to improve the outcomes and quality of health care, with additional focus on the cost-effectiveness, patient safety, and increasing access to care for all. Information on programs developed by the AHRQ is available in more detail at the Agency Web site http://www.ahrq.gov. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Depth Of Self-Disclosure As A Function Of Assured Confidentiality And Videotape Recording

Depth of self-disclosure in a dyadic interview situation was assessed as a function of assurance versus nonassurance of confidentiality and as a function of a videotape versus nonvideotape condition.
Design and verification of peripheral control circuits in Esterel

We present a case study showing how an existing concurrent programming language can be used to produce either efficient control-oriented circuits or embedded software from the same description. This description is also amenable to fully automatic formal verification and can be used to produce pairs of reconfigurable components which can be dynamically scheduled into either hardware or software resources. By using an existing concurrent language we increase the productivity because we can make use of readily available tools for debugging, analysis and verification. We believe that a language and a system that generates good software and hardware is a promising starting point for helping mainstream software developers target future manycore systems which will comprise a mixture of software and hardware components as well as provide a valuable technique for producing interchangeable reconfigurable components for run-time reconfigurable FPGAs. Copyright © 2007 S. Singh. [Correction made here after initial online publication] Revised version of Singh S. Hardware-software synthesis and verification using Esterel. In McEwan AA, Schneider S, Ifill W, Welch PH (eds). Communicating Process Architectures 2007. IOS Press: Amsterdam. Published with permission from IOS Press. This article was published online on 8 May 2009. An error was subsequently identified. This notice is included in the online and print versions to indicate that both have been corrected [18 June 2009].
Antisense Transcription Controls Cell Fate in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Summary Entry into meiosis is a key developmental decision. We show here that meiotic entry in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is controlled by antisense-mediated regulation of IME4 , a gene required for initiating meiosis. In MAT a/α diploids the antisense IME4 transcript is repressed by binding of the a1/α2 heterodimer at a conserved site located downstream of the IME4 coding sequence. MAT a/α diploids that produce IME4 antisense transcript have diminished sense transcription and fail to initiate meiosis. Haploids that produce the sense transcript have diminished antisense transcription and manifest several diploid phenotypes. Our data are consistent with transcription interference as a regulatory mechanism at the IME4 locus that determines cell fate.
State‐of‐the‐art paper: Therapeutic hypothermia in out of hospital cardiac arrest survivors

Out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is associated with an extremely poor survival rate, with mortality in most cases being related to neurological injury. Among patients who experience return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is the only proven intervention shown to reduce mortality and improve neurological outcome. First described in 1958, the field of TH has rapidly evolved in recent years. While recent technological advances in TH will likely improve outcomes in OHCA survivors, several fundamental questions remain to be answered including the optimal speed of cooling, which patients benefit from an early invasive strategy, and whether technological advances will facilitate application of TH in the field. An increased awareness and understanding of TH strategies, devices, monitoring, techniques, and complications will allow for a more widespread adoption of this important treatment modality.
Syntactic fault patterns in OO programs

Although program faults are widely studied, there are many aspects of faults that we still do not understand, particularly about OO software. In addition to the simple fact that one important goal during testing is to cause failures and thereby detect faults, a full understanding of the characteristics of faults is crucial to several research areas. The power that inheritance and polymorphism brings to the expressiveness of programming languages also brings a number of new anomalies and fault types. In prior work we presented a fault model for the appearance and realization of OO faults that are specific to the use of inheritance and polymorphism. Many of these faults cannot appear unless certain syntactic patterns are used. The patterns are based on language constructs, such as overriding methods that directly define inherited state variables and non-inherited methods that call inherited methods. If one of these syntactic patterns is used, then we say the software contains an anomaly and possibly a fault. We describe the syntactic patterns for each OO fault type. These syntactic patterns can potentially be found with an automatic tool. Thus, faults can be uncovered and removed early in development.
Development of the cone ERG in infants.

PURPOSE. To assess cone photoreceptor and cone-mediated postreceptoral retinal function in infants. METHODS. ERG responses to a 1.8-log unit range of long-wavelength flashes on a white, rod-saturating background were recorded in 4-week-old (n = 22) and 10-week-old (n = 28) infants and control adults and children, 8 to 40 years of age (n = 13). A model of the activation of cone phototransduction was fit to the a-waves. Sensitivity (SCONE) and saturated-response amplitude (RCONE) were calculated. The amplitude and implicit time of the b-wave were examined as a function of stimulus intensity. The cone photoresponse parameters were compared to the rod photoresponse parameters (SROD and RROD) in the same subjects. RESULTS. SCONE and RCONE in infants were significantly smaller than in the mature control subjects. The mean SCONE was 64% and 68%, and the mean RCONE was 63% and 72% in 4- and 10-week-olds, respectively. The mean rod photoresponse parameters were considerably less mature, as the mean SROD was 35% and 46%, and the mean RROD was 39% and 43% of mature values at 4 and 10 weeks. The b-wave stimulus—response functions in the 4- and 10-week-old infants did not show the photopic hill that was characteristic of the children's and adults' photopic b-waves. CONCLUSIONS. Peripheral cone function is relatively more mature than rod function in young infants. The lack of a photopic hill is hypothesized to result from immaturity in the relative contributions of ON and OFF bipolar cell responses.
How much will the data allow us to know

From the Division of Congenital Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Illinois, Peoria, Ill. Disclosures: Author has nothing to disclose with regard to commercial support. Received for publication Sept 28, 2015; accepted for publication Sept 29, 2015; available ahead of print Oct 29, 2015. Address for reprints: Karl F. Welke, MD, MS, Division of Congenital Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Illinois, 420 NE Glen Oak Ave, Suite 301, Peoria, IL 61603 (E-mail: karl.f.welke@osfhealthcare.org). J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2016;151:466-7 0022-5223/$36.00 Copyright 2016 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2015.09.123
Genetic mechanisms control the linear scaling between related cortical primary and higher order sensory areas

The neocortex is the most recently evolved part of the human brain. It is associated with higher thought processes, including language and the processing of information from our senses. Anatomically, the neocortex is organised into different regions called ‘primary areas’ and ‘higher order areas’, and perturbations to this organisation are associated with disorders such as autism. There are many more higher order areas than primary areas in a mammalian brain. But, while primary areas are known to be specified by developmental genes in the embryo, little is known about how the development of higher order areas is controlled. Recent findings suggested that primary areas might themselves influence the emergence of higher order areas via a series of developmental events. Now, Zembrzycki, Stocker et al. have investigated the developmental mechanisms that organise the mouse neocortex into its different regions. The experiments involved mouse mutants that produce either too much or too little of a protein called Emx2. This protein is known to determine the size and position of the primary visual area (commonly called V1) during embryonic development. In the mutant mice with too much Emx2, the primary visual area was about 150% larger than it should be, even though the neocortex was a normal size. Zembrzycki, Stocker et al. then went on to show that the higher order areas associated with the primary visual area also grew proportionally larger in these mutant mice. The opposite was true for mice that didn’t produce Emx2 in their brains, and these mice had a much smaller primary visual area than normal mice. Together, these findings reveal a previously unknown linear relationship between the size of the primary visual area and higher order visual areas that is controlled by the genes that pattern the neocortex during development. This and other new insights will inform future studies of the development and organization of the neocortex and our understanding of how it evolved.
Materials for High Density Magneto - Optic Data Storage

Exchange coupled layers are suggested as a viable approach to the problem of making a magneto-optic (MC) storage medium for high densities. The couple consists of a storage layer with the requisite square loop properties and a weak perpendicular layer with a large MO rotation at short wavelengths suitable for diffraction limited optics MO storage. The layer with good magneto-optic properties is used as a transducer to read out the information stored as magnetic domains in the storage layer. The dependence of the square loop and MO properties on the magnetic properties and thickness of the individual layers is discussed. The systems NdFeCo/TbFeCo and CoPd/TbCo are used as examples. In general, a domain wall will form at the interface between the two layers and the energy stored in this wall is an important factor determining the switching field of the couple. It has been found that when the read out layer thickness is comparable to the wall width, the spins in the wali also significantly contribute to the MO signal.
Sensitivity of yield determinants to potassium deficiency in ‘Nonpareil’ almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A.Webb)

SummaryThe objective of this multi-year study was to generate data linking potassium (K) deficiency to almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb) productivity. A range of tree K status (as indicated by leaf K concentrations) which encompassed the currently-accepted K deficiency/sufficiency range was established to assess the relative sensitivity to K deficiency of yield components (flower number, percentage fruit set, fruit size, and spur mortality) and to establish the time frame between the onset of K deficiency and yield reduction. Although large, statistically-significant differences in leaf K concentrations were detected in the year following the start of differential K fertilizer application, yield was not affected significantly until the third growing season (i.e. two years after the start of differential K fertilizer applications). Inadequate K-availability did not affect percentage fruit set or fruit size. Spur mortality following fruit maturation was (highly) significantly increased on fruit-beari...
Application of an Undertow Model to Irregular Waves on Barred Beaches

An undertow model calibrated for regular waves on plane beaches is applied to predict the irregular wave induced undertow for both plane and barred beaches and for both laboratory and field data sets. The model combines a logarithmic profile in the bottom boundary layer with a conventional parabolic profile in the interior. The height and period of the irregular waves are represented by the local root-mean-square wave height and spectral peak period, and the measured mean volume flux below trough level is used as input to the model. The model is capable of predicting the undertow profiles both inside and outside the surf zone, provided that the empirical coefficient associated with the mean bottom shear stress is adjusted at each measuring line. The model appears to give reasonable predictions of the bottom boundary layer thickness and shear velocity, although these predictions could not be verified due to a lack of data. To develop a predictive undertow model, a simple relationship with an adjustable coefficient is applied to predict the measured volume flux below trough level using the local wave height and water depth. The calibration coefficients involved in the predictive model are not universal among the lab and field conditions possibly due to the effects of wave directionality and longshore currents in the field measurements which are neglected in this paper.
From concord to confession: the Wittenberg Concord and the Consensus Tigurinus in historical perspective

The differences between the Wittenberg Concord (1536) and the Consensus Tigurinus (1549) reflect a change in the function of a confession from an earlier, consensus-building model to a later concern with drawing boundaries and establishing confessional identity. The Wittenberg Concord used ambivalent language and strategic silence to define the boundaries of orthodoxy. Its acceptance by the south German churches did not mean either their full acceptance of Luther's position or the Wittenbergers’ adoption of their position. The Swiss refusal to endorse the Wittenberg Concord confirmed Martin Luther's association of Zurich with heresy, and Jean Calvin's acceptance of it while in Strasbourg put him within the broad definition of evangelical orthodoxy that it set forth. In contrast, the Consensus Tigurinus contained terminology that made broad agreement with the Lutherans impossible. By moving Geneva out of fellowship with Wittenberg and into fellowship with Zurich, the Consensus Tigurinus created a Reformed ...
Study on knowledge about nutrition and diet behavior among employees in cafeterias of collective institutions in Beijing

[Objective]To investigate the knowledge about nutrition and diet behavior among employees in cafeterias of collective institutions in Beijing,analyze its influencing factors,and provide the basis for improving the ability of diet related services in cafeterias of collective institutions.[Methods]223 cafeteria employees from 19 collective institutions in Beijing were recruited,and the data were collected through questionnaire survey.The influencing factors of knowledge about nutrition and diet behavior were analyzed by non-conditional logistic regression.[Results]There were 208 complete and effective questionnaires,and the results showed that the nutrition knowledge level in employees who had learned the nutrition knowledge was higher than that in employees who had never learned the basic nutrition knowledge(P 0.01,OR = 4.36,95% CI 2.13-8.92),while their knowledge level was higher than that in employees who had never learned the knowledge about diet behavior and its related diseases(P = 0.043,OR = 2.26,95% CI 1.03-4.99).[Conclusion]The nutrition knowledge can improve the cognitive level among employees in cafeterias,and enhance their service ability,so it is necessary to strengthen nutrition knowledge training among cafeteria employees.
Epidemiological Analysis on Gonorrhea from 1993 to 2005 in Yueyang City

Objective To study the prevalence trend of gonorrhea from 1993 to 2005 in Yueyang and provide a scientific basis for the further control of gonorrhea.Method The data of the gonorrhea epidemic situation were collected and analyzed.Result 3 992 gonorrhea cases were reported in Yueyang from 1993 to 2005 and the annual incidence was 5.96 per 100 thousand residents.The incidence of gonorrhea in male was increased from 1996 to 2003 with the average incidence of 46.40% and was decreased in the last 2 years.While the incidence in female was increased from 1996 to 1998 but decreased gradually in the last 6 years.The incidence of gonorrhea in female was higher than that of male from 1997 to 1999.Most patients were farmers or workers who were middle school graduates and were mainly between 15 to 40 years old.The most popular way of transmission was through extramarital sex,accounted for 67.13%.Conclusion Gonorrhea is the predominant STD in Yueyang.Surveillance of gonorrhea,especially gonorrhea in male,should be strengthened and measures should be taken to control the disease effectively.
Application of advanced manufacturing technology in product modeling design

The individuality trending of people's consumption requests manufacturing firms to develop high quality products fast to respond the market demand and enhance competitive power.The application of advanced manufacturing technology in product modeling design cuts a rider space for industrial designers.This Paper discusses advanced manufacturing technology's using in product modeling design from the aspects of advanced manufacturing technics,computer assistant design,reverse engineering,rapid prototyping technology,virtual manufacturing,network engineering,concurrent engineering and so on.
Volatile Single-Source Precursors for the Low-Temperature Preparation of Sodium–Rare Earth Metal Fluorides

Heterometallic single-source precursors for the preparation of sodium–rare earth metal fluorides are reported. Fluorinated β-diketonates NaRE(hfac)4 (RE = Y (1), Er (2), and Eu (3); hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate) have been obtained on a large scale, in high yield, via one-pot reaction that utilizes commercially available starting reagents. The solid-state structures of the title complexes consist of 1D polymeric chains with alternating [Na] and [RE(hfac)4] units. Compounds 1–3 are highly volatile and exhibit a fair stability in open air. Mass spectrometric investigation indicates the presence of heterometallic fragments in the gas phase. The presence of heterometallic species in solutions of coordinating solvents has also been confirmed. Decomposition of heterometallic precursors in argon atmosphere was shown to yield phase-pure sodium–rare earth metal fluorides. Low decomposition temperature effectively allows for a high degree of control over the formation of both kinetic α-phases and thermodynamic β...
Modern management of recurrent ovarian carcinoma. A systematic approach to a chronic disease

The management of ovarian cancer entails a complex blend of medical and surgical interventions. Managing patients with recurrent ovarian cancer increases the complexity of therapies and adds palliative interventions. The presence of recurrent ovarian cancer is both emotionally and physically taxing for patients as well as their caregivers. With an increasingly informed patient population, a balance must be achieved between easily accessible information enabling patients to know that they now have an incurable disease and support for their hopes and desires to still overcome their cancer. The decision tree in the management of recurrent ovarian cancer blends many different factors. This discussion will separate those factors as if they are pure elements. We will address management based on response to primary therapy and time to recurrence, the location of recurrence, symptoms of recurrence, the patient's histopathology, and the patient's primary stage as it relates to the extent of disease present at the start of chemotherapy.
Determination of intramyocardial blood flow with xenon 127: new radionuclide with potential intraoperative application.

Although the use of radioactive microspheres in the quantitation of regional myocardial blood flow (RMBF) remains widely applicable to the experimental animal, this technique has a number of limitations and cannot be used in man. We have developed an alternative technique for the measurement of RMBF utilizing the intramural injection of a new radionuclide, xenon 127. This technique was evaluated in 20 anesthetized, open chest dogs. In six dogs (Group 1) a total of 104 RMBF determinations were made at 18 sites within the left ventricular wall with the blood pressure and heart rate stable. Five to eight repeated injections were made at each site with no histologic evidence of underlying myocardial damage. The variability of repeated injections at the same site was 8.6% ± 1.7% (mean ±SEM). In eight dogs (Group 2) the intramural and intracoronary determinations of RMBF were compared during control, hypotensive, and hypertensive states. The correlation coefficient between both modalities ranged from 0.88 to 0.99. In six dogs (Group 3) intramural washouts of 127Xe were compared to intramural washouts of a previously utilized radionuclide, xenon 133. Under control situations the variability of the repeated RMBF determinations with 127Xe was 8.2% ± 2.5% as opposed to a variability of 27.6% ± 3.9% with 133Xe (p = 0.003). During coronary occlusion, the variability with 127Xe was 14.4% ± 2.8% as opposed to a variability of 26.5% ±5.3% with 133Xe (p =0.02). We conclude that RMBF at specific sites within the myocardial wall can be reliably measured by the repeated intramural injections of 127Xe. This technique is potentially applicable to human subjects in the course of open cardiac operations.
Reminiscing in the elderly: Pastoral care of self-narratives.

Notes the presence of acts of reminiscing in older individuals and interprets this reality within a self-psychology perspective. Sees the functions of self narrative as (1) providing a continuity of the Self; (2) sustaining a meaning continuity of the Self; and (3) uplifting the Self via hope. Suggests implications for pastoral care in terms of story listening, story stimulating, and story enhancing.