cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
WCET-aware dynamic code management on scratchpads for Software-Managed Multicores

Software Managed Multicore (SMM) architectures have advantageous scalability, power efficiency, and predictability characteristics, making SMM particularly promising for real-time systems. In SMM architectures, each core can only access its scratchpad memory (SPM); any access to main memory is done explicitly by DMA instructions. As a consequence, dynamic code management techniques are essential for loading program code from the main memory to SPM. Current state-of-the-art dynamic code management techniques for SMM architectures are, however, optimized for average-case execution time, not worst-case execution time (WCET), which is vital for hard real-time systems. In this paper, we present two novel WCET-aware dynamic SPM code management techniques for SMM architectures. The first technique is optimal and based on integer linear programming (ILP), whereas the second technique is a heuristic that is suboptimal, but scalable. Experimental results with benchmarks from Malardalen WCET suite and MiBench suite show that our ILP solution can reduce the WCET estimates up to 80% compared to previous techniques. Furthermore, our heuristic can, for most benchmarks, find the same optimal mappings within one second on a 2GHz dual core machine.
Transient analysis of sliding contact of layered elastic/plastic solids with rough surfaces

Based on the boundary element method (BEM) and a variational principle, a numerical model is developed to analyze the time – transient sliding contact of two layered elastic/plastic solids. Two cases are considered: one is the loading/sliding/unloading of a rough surface on a smooth surface, and the other is of two rough surfaces. Contact statistics, contact pressure profile and stress distribution are predicted at each time step with updated surface roughness. The results are used to study the effect of surface roughness, physical properties of the layer and the substrate, and lubricant film thickness on friction, stiction, and wear. Discussion on the integration of this contact model into advanced tribological models, e.g., wear model, is also presented.
Evaluating the Readiness of Special Education Doctoral Students to Apply the Standards of Evidence-Based Practice to Single-Case Research

How well doctoral students in special education are prepared to evaluate research as evidence-based practice (EBP) is likely to impact their careers, as well as the teachers they will train. In developing a method for evaluating the readiness of small cohort groups of doctoral students to apply a research-based model of EBP, an instrument and procedure were refined in a pilot evaluation and implemented within a multiple baseline design across participants. Participants’ independent and instrument-guided performance in rating published research was compared to the ratings of two experts in single-case research design, yielding proportions of agreement across evaluation conditions. Results indicated group readiness to independently conduct the EBP evaluation and individual differences in readiness indicating the need for remediation.
Should My Provider Pray with Me? Perspectives of Urban Adolescents with Asthma on Addressing Religious and Spiritual Issues in Hypothetical Clinical Settings

This qualitative study examined the preferences of urban adolescents with asthma for including religious/spiritual (R/S) inquiry in a variety of hypothetical clinical encounters. Twenty-one urban adolescents (M age = 15.6 years, 52 % female, 81 % African American) with asthma participated in a semi-structured interview. Interviews were transcribed and underwent a thematic analysis. R/S preferences were contextual rather than personal, driven by: (1) acuity of the hypothetical clinical context; (2) nature of the patient–provider relationship; and (3) level of R/S intervention/inquiry. Most adolescents welcomed prayer if near death, but did not see the relevance of R/S in a routine office visit.
Neural Networks for Rapid Design and Analysis

Artificial neural networks have been employed for rapid and efficient dynamics and control analysis of flexible systems. Specifically, feedforward neural networks are designed to approximate nonlinear dynamic components over prescribed input ranges, and are used in simulations as a means to speed up the overall time response analysis process. To capture the recursive nature of dynamic components with artificial neural networks, recurrent networks, which use state feedback with the appropriate number of time delays, as inputs to the networks, are employed. Once properly trained, neural networks can give very good approximations to nonlinear dynamic components, and by their judicious use in simulations, allow the analyst the potential to speed up the analysis process considerably. To illustrate this potential speed up, an existing simulation model of a spacecraft reaction wheel system is executed, first conventionally, and then with an artificial neural network in place.
The nephrotic syndrome: pathogenesis and treatment of edema formation and secondary complications

Nephrotic syndrome is an important clinical condition affecting both children and adults. Studies suggest that the pathogenesis of edema in individual patients may occur via widely variable mechanisms, i.e., intravascular volume underfilling versus overfilling. Managing edema should therefore be directed to the underlying pathophysiology. Nephrotic syndrome is also associated with clinically important complications related to urinary loss of proteins other than albumin. This educational review focuses on the pathophysiology and management of edema and secondary complications in patients with nephrotic syndrome.
Analyzing Location-Based Accessibility to Dental Services: An Ohio Case Study

Oral health is important to overall health. Therefore, dental services should be available and accessible in order for patients to receive care. Objective: This study aims to identify regional inequities in dental provider location and suggest an innovative methodology that could be useful in establishing new dental facilities that are geographically accessible. Methods: Using a census of dentist locations for the state of Ohio in 1998, geographical accessibility to dental care was analyzed. A geographic information systems (GIS)-based model to evaluate the regional distribution of dentists was developed. In this article, it is applied to estimate the number of new dental facilities needed based on the geographical proximity or distance to nearest dentist or dental facility. Results are interactively displayed and mapped with GIS for visualization. Results: Four hundred thirteen of 1,008 zip codes in Ohio did not have dentists. Using a service standard of S=5 (all zip codes without dentists must be within 5 miles of a zip code with a dentist), 307 zip codes were not served by dentists. With a standard of S=10, only 45 zip codes in Ohio were not served by dentists, with only 24 additional offices needed to be located to allow accessibility to a dentist within 10 miles. Conclusions: Using GIS and geographical techniques to reveal and solve the potential locational inequities in accessibility to dental care, this work links oral health policy with geographical techniques.
Automated spectral analysis I: Formation of a priori information by spectral simulation

A spectral simulation method is described for generating a priori information for use in parametric spectral analysis. The method makes use of GAMMA (S. A. Smith, T. O. Levante, B. H. Meier, R. R. Ernst, J. Magn. Reson., 106A, 75-105, 1994), a programming environment that facilitates simulation of magnetic resonance phenomena. The input parameters consist of the chemical shifts and scalar spin-coupling constants for the compounds to be analyzed, the acquisition pulse sequence, and the field strength used. The resultant spectral information consists of the relative amplitude, frequency, and phase of all resonances, which are stored in a spectral database. This procedure can be rapidly and conveniently modified to reflect different acquisition parameters and data analysis requirements.
Genetics of transfusion recipient alloimmunization: can clues from susceptibility to autoimmunity pave the way?

The search for genetic determinants of alloimmunization in sickle cell disease transfusion recipients was based on two premises: i) that polymorphisms responsible for stronger immune and/or inflammatory responses and hemoglobin βS mutation were co-selected by malaria; and ii) that stronger responder status contributes to development of lupus. We found a marker of alloimmunization in the gene encoding for Ro52 protein, also known as Sjogren syndrome antigen 1 (SSA1) and TRIM21. Surprisingly, the nature of the association was opposite of that with lupus; the same variant of a polymorphism (rs660) that was associated with lupus incidence was also associated with induction of tolerance to red blood cell antigens during early childhood. The dual function of Ro52 can explain this apparent contradiction. We propose that other lupus/autoimmunity susceptibility loci may reveal roles of additional molecules in various aspects of alloimmunization induced by transfusion as well as during pregnancy.
Optimizing Hydrogen-Bonding in Creating Miscible Liquid Crystalline Polymer Blends by Structural Modification of the Blend Components

Our recent experimental results have shown that a miscible blend containing a liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) and an amorphous copolymer, both capable of self-association and interassociation by hydrogen-bonding, can be created by slight structural modification of the amorphous polymer. The results also show that an optimum amount of intermolecular H-bonding can be formed in the blend by systematically varying the distance between the hydrogen-bonding groups on the copolymer chain. It was found that the system with the optimum amount of intermolecular hydrogen-bonding is also the system with the broadest miscibility window. In this paper, this work is extended by examining the effect of elimination of self-associating hydrogen bonds in the LCP on the intermolecular hydrogen-bonding and on the phase behavior of these blends. FTIR and phase behavior results show that this modification results in increased intermolecular hydrogen-bonding and a broader miscibility window than the blend that contains the orig...
EUV and FUV emission from cool stars and stellar systems

Abstract Cool stars represent a rich source of extreme ultraviolet radiation promising unique information on physical processes relevant to stellar atmospheres, magnetic activity, mass transfer, and mass loss. Hot plasma may be associated with cool stars in stellar chromospheres and coronae, in disk structures surrounding cool stars, in magnetically confined material, and as a result of pulsation and shock phenomena in stellar atmospheres. We consider four types of cool stars that are of particular interest since recent observational and theoretical advances suggest that FUV/EUV observations will be rewarding. These stars are: cool stars with accretion disks; stars that flare; giant and supergiant stars; binary systems containing cool stars and extended coronas.
Engineering a discipline-specific communication course in chemical engineering

The ability to communicate technical information is a critical engineering skill underemphasized in many programs. A base for successful technical communication is often established through a required course early in engineering curriculum. However, these courses are frequently taught by English/communication instructors, and the content is neither integrated into subsequent curriculum nor applied in an engineering-specific context. While technical courses may incorporate writing assignments, evaluation focuses on the technical content, not presentation. It is presentation, however, that can distinguish young engineers professionally. We have developed a discipline-specific pilot elective course that focuses on personal development of communication skills through writing exercises, presentations, and professional material preparation. Emphasis is on being able to create appropriate communication materials with thorough understanding of audience and purpose. While originally listed as a one-time offering, the course is now slated for Spring 2015, ideally becoming an established component of our department and/or the college in time. The perception that engineers are poor communicators continues to exist, suggesting that young engineers need better developed communication skills. We believe this course is the start of a curriculum that better integrates an emphasis on technical and professional communication for engineers, a topic of growing importance as communication methods evolve.
Photovoltaic properties of ZnO/p-CdTe thin film heterojunctions☆

Abstract ZnO thin films were deposited on a quartz substrate by an inexpensive technique of spray CVD using an ionic solution of zinc acetate. With the proper deposition parameters such as Tsub = 380 °C, solution flow rate of 1.9 ml min−1 and post heat treatment in dry nitrogen, ZnO films with optical transmission of more than 81% and a sheet resistance of 30 Ω cm−2 have been obtained. The p-CdTe film (1.5 μm thick) was deposited by co-evaporation in high vacuum using effusion cells. This heterojunction was illuminated in back wall configuration. An open circuit voltage Voc between 0.48 V and 0.53 V, short circuit current density Jsc = 12.5 mAcm−2, and an electrical conversion efficiency η better than 3.7% have been achieved (for a device 1 cm2 in area). If compared with a similar device reported on a single crystal p-CdTe, poor fill factor is mainly responsible for the low efficiency of the present device, and the p-CdTe layer needs improvement. The dark I–V and 1 C 2 −V measurements are also shown.
Organ and Tissue Weight Presentation in Rat Populations

Multiple ways of reporting organ weights are sources of confusion in literature. This study was designed to determine if there is a linear relationship between body weights and selected organ and tissue weights in groups of rats after different liquid feeding options. A randomized 2 x 2 x 2 factorial, randomized block design was used with 40 postpubescent male rats with two levels of feeding schedules, kilocalorie levels, and fiber contents. In addition to a skeletal muscle, 13 abdominal and thoracic organs or tissues were weighed. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients and regression analyses were completed to determine the relationship between these weights and the final body weights. Findings support the need to use different approaches in order to accurately report various organ and tissue weights.
Toward a science for future NoC design

Traditionally, the design space exploration for systems-on-chip has focused on the computational aspects of the problem at hand. However, as the number of components on a single chip and their performance continue to increase, the design of the communication architecture plays a major role in defining the area, performance, and energy consumption of the overall system. From a technology point of view, this paradigm shift is meant to mitigate the problem of interconnects, keep the design complexity under control, and reduce costs. Since neither point-to-point, nor bus-based communication scale well in terms of power and performance figures, the network-on-chip architecture has been suggested as a promising solution for future multicore systems. In this talk, we plan to address the concept of “network” in multiprocessor systems-on-chip and identify specific design principles and optimization techniques that are relevant to our research community. More precisely, we plan to discuss fundamental mathematical techniques that can be used to design, control, and optimize such networks in a rigorous manner at nanoscale. At the same time, we plan to also highlight alternatives to the conventional paradigm of network design. This new vision is based on rigorous developments in the field of statistical physics and information theory that allow us to model the network as a thermodynamical system. The hope is that this new modeling paradigm can enable not only capturing the intrinsic interactions among various network components, but also developing powerful techniques for predicting and optimizing the on-chip network behavior.
Therapeutic Misconceptions and Misestimations in Oncology: A Clinical Trial Nurse's Guide

Therapeutic misconceptions and misestimations occur frequently in oncology clinical trials and can potentially compromise informed consent. Despite the increased awareness of these issues in medical literature, many practitioners and nurses continue to be unfamiliar with these concepts. This article will define therapeutic misconceptions and misestimations, explore contributing factors, and explain how they can be prevented by clinical trial nurses.
Cognitive incrementalism: The big issue

Neural organization raises, in an especially clear way, a major problem confronting contemporary cognitive science. The problem (the “big issue” of my title) is: What is the relation between the strategies used to solve basic problems of perception and action and those used to solve more abstract or “cognitive” problems? Is there a smooth, incremental route from what Arbib et al. call “instinctual schemas” to higher-level kinds of cognitive prowess? I argue that, despite some suggestive comments, Arbib et al. do not resolve this issue.
Anisotropic Damage Mechanics Modeling of Concrete under Biaxial Fatigue Loading

An anisotropic damage mechanics model is presented to describe the behavior and failure of concrete under biaxial fatigue loading. Utilizing the approach of bounding surfaces, the limit surface becomes a special case when the number of loading cycles is set to one. By increasing the number of loading cycles, the strength of concrete gradually decreases and the limit surface is allowed to contract and form new curves representing residual strengths. The magnitude of loading, load range, and the load path are known to influence the fatigue life and hence are addressed in this formulation. In this paper, a strength softening function is proposed in order to address the reduction in the strength of concrete due to fatigue. Separate softening functions are also proposed to account for the deformation characteristics in concrete under cyclic loading. Numerical simulations predicted by the model in both uniaxial and biaxial stress paths show a good correlation with the experimental data available in the literature.
Working with Potentially Violent Clients in Their Homes

Abstract Social workers have a long history of working with clients in their homes. The mission and values of the profession support community-based service. Child welfare workers, in particular, routinely make home visits to clients. Social workers are at times at risk of violence when they work to assess and treat child welfare clients in their homes. Threats of and actual incidents of violence against social workers are increasing. Because of the current concern about violence toward social workers, practical strategies are suggested for reducing risks and maintaining personal safety while carrying out child welfare responsibilities.
Identification of novel double-stranded RNA mycoviruses of Fusarium virguliforme and evidence of their effects on virulence

Virulence and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) profiles of 44 isolates of Fusarium virguliforme were compared. When grouped according to dsRNA profiles, isolates with large dsRNAs were significantly (P≤0.05) less virulent than isolates without dsRNAs. High-throughput sequence analysis of total RNA prepared from cultures with large dsRNAs identified two novel RNA viruses with genome sequences of approximately 9.3 kbp, which were named Fusarium virguliforme dsRNA mycovirus 1 and Fusarium virguliforme dsRNA mycovirus 2. The new viruses were most closely related to a group of unclassified viruses that included viruses of F. graminearum and Phlebiopsis gigantea and are related to members of the family Totiviridae.
A vinylsilane route to trans-7a-methylhydrind-4-en-1,6-dione

Abstract A stereoselective synthesis of the title compound is described. The overall yield is 34% starting with 2-methyl-2-cyclopentenone. The trans ring-fusion stereochemistry is established by a conjugate addition/trapping sequence.
Simulation and optimization of basic movements in FES-driven paraplegics

In this study, a computer platform for investigating optimal trajectories of FES-induced motion was developed. Similar to a gait analysis program, this system interprets body segment lengths and joint angle trajectories for a subject undergoing an arbitrary movement, and displays that movement, along with a center of mass and time plot of the moment about the knee joint on-screen. Movements to be optimized in the near term are sit-to-stand transitions, stand-to-sit transitions, shifting weight side-to-side while seated, and single steps over small architectural barriers. These motions will be optimized for stability, efficiency, safety, and stress, as applied to a T-10 paraplegic human subject undergoing FNS of ten motor nerves in each leg. The program was demonstrated to work for sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit motions, and is now used to optimize those transitions.
Quantitative Genetic Variation of Odor-Guided Behavior in a Natural Population of Drosophila melanogaster

Quantitative genetic variation in behavioral response to the odorant, benzaldehyde, was assessed among a sample of 43 X and 35 third chromosomes extracted from a natural population and substituted into a common inbred background. Significant genetic variation among chromosome lines was detected. Heritability estimates for olfactory response, however, were low, as is typical for traits under natural selection. Furthermore, the loci affecting naturally occurring variation in olfactory response to benzaldehyde were not the same in males and females, since the genetic correlation between the sexes was low and not significantly different from zero for the chromosome 3 lines. Competitive fitness, viability and fertility of the chromosome 3 lines were estimated using the balancer equilibrium technique. Genetic correlations between fitness and odor-guided behavior were not significantly different from zero, suggesting the number of loci causing variation in olfactory response is small relative to the number of loci causing variation in fitness. Since different genes affect variation in olfactory response in males and females, genetic variation for olfactory response could be maintained by genotype X sex environment interaction. This unusual genetic architecture implies that divergent evolutionary trajectories for olfactory behavior may occur in males and females.
Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone and gamma-aminobutyric acid neurons in the medial preoptic area are synaptic targets of dopamine axons originating in anterior periventricular areas.

The aim of this study was to characterize further the transmitter content and the location of the parent cells of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive boutons terminating on luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone- and glutamic acid decarboxylase-immunoreactive neurons in the rat medial preoptic area. Electron microscopic immunostaining for luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, tyrosine hydroxylase or glutamic acid decarboxylase was performed on desipramine-pretreated (to protect norepinephrine and epinephrine axons) rats which received a stereotaxic injection of 6-hydroxydopamine into the medial preoptic area anteroventral periventricular nucleus 48 h prior to sacrifice. This treatment induced acute degeneration of dopamine axon terminals characterized by the development of autophagous cytolysosomes, an early morphological sign of catecholamine axon degeneration. To further define the cells of origin of these dopamine boutons, the anterograde marker Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin was iontophoretically applied to the zona incerta. Six days later, rats received a 6-hydroxydopamine injection into the zona incerta or the lateral ventricle, and 48 h later, double immunostaining was performed for Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin and tyrosine hydroxylase, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, or glutamic acid decarboxylase on preoptic area vibratome sections. Following the 6-hydroxydopamine injection into the anteroventral periventricular nucleus, autophagous cytolysosome-containing degenerated axons were found in synaptic contact with both luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone and GABA neurons in the medial preoptic area, confirming that these are dopaminergic connections. Following the double injection treatment, 6-hydroxydop-amine-induced degenerated, Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin-labeled dopamine axons originating in the zona incerta were not found to contact luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone-containing or GABA cells. Instead, many degenerated, Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin-immunopositive boutons were observed in the dorsomedial and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus. These observations indicate that tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive fibers terminating on the medial preoptic area luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone and GABA cells are dopaminergic and most probably originate from dopamine neurons located in anterior periventricular areas of the hypothalamus.
More Effective Choice in the Prisoner's Dilemma

This study reports and analyzes the results of the second round of the computer tournament for the iterated Prisoner's Dilemma. The object is to gain a deeper understanding of how to perform well in such a setting. The 62 entrants were able to draw lessons from the results of the first round and were able to design their entries to take these lessons into account. The results of the second round demonstrate a number of subtle pitfalls which specific types of decision rules can encounter. The winning rule was once again TIT FOR TAT, the rule which cooperates on the first move and then does what the other player did on the previous move. The analysis of the results shows the value of not being the first to defect, of being somewhat forgiving, but also the importance of being provocable. An analysis of hypothetical alternative tournaments demonstrates the robustness of the results. THE TOURNAMENT APPROACH This article reports and analyzes the results of the second round of the Computer Tournament for the Prisoner's Dilemma. The object of the study is to gain a deeper understanding of how to perform well in such a Prisoner's Dilemma setting. The Prisoner's Dilemma game is justifiably famous as an elegant embodiment of the tension between individual rationality (reflected in the incentive of both sides to be selfish) and group rationality (reflected in the higher payoff to both sides for mutual cooperation). A typical
A Comparative Study of Psychosocial Development in Nontraditional and Traditional College Students

Students who do not fit the definition of the traditional student are becoming an increasingly large segment of the college population. In order to effectively promote retention in today's college ...
Pancreatitis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Frequency and Associated Factors — A Review of the Hopkins Lupus Cohort

Objective. Pancreatitis is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Vasculitis of the gastrointestinal tract is the most commonly proposed mechanism. We determined the frequency of SLE-related pancreatitis in the Hopkins Lupus Cohort. Methods. A large prospective cohort of 1811 patients with SLE was reviewed and clinical and laboratory measures of SLE patients who developed pancreatitis were compared to patients who did not develop pancreatitis. Results. Four percent of patients with SLE had pancreatitis due to SLE. The best multivariate model of clinical and laboratory associations included hypertriglyceridemia, psychosis, pleurisy, gastritis, and anemia. Conclusion. Hypertriglyceridemia appears to be a strong associate of pancreatitis in SLE, but antiphospholipid antibodies are not. SLE patients with psychosis and pleurisy are at increased risk for pancreatitis.
The global metastasis of the Marlboro Man.

He is the quintessential symbol of rugged American individualism: the Marlboro Man. Astride his horse, he overlooks a wide open prairie with a seemingly infinite horizon that promises a subtle and seductive freedom. In point of fact, however, he offers only a killing enslavement. Americans have come to know this. Gradually, their increasing health sophistication has encroached on the Marlboro Man’s territory at home. Fenced in, the world’s most famous cowboy has pulled up on the reins and his horse has jumped the fence. The prairies he views today are no longer exclusively in America’s wild west. Rather, the Marlboro Man rides the range in Japan and Taiwan, Korea and China. He is in Poland and Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union. Tomorrow he will settle around a soothing campfire on the plains of Africa. Marlboro, the Philip Morris Company boasts, is the world’s largest selling cigarette. It is the biggest, and it’s getting bigger. The World Health Organization recently estimated that, worldwide, 2.5 to three million people die annually as a result of using tobacco. In little more than a quarter century, that figure is projected to escalate to 10 million. Perhaps still more shocking is the estimate that of all the people now populating the globe, fully 500 million will be killed by tobacco. Most will come from the developing countries.’
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS ON TORSIONAL APPARATUS FOR MEASURING PLASTICITY1

A critical study of the apparatus has been carried on to reduce variations in results due to manipulation. Specimens were made by squeeze molding in saturated plaster molds instead of forming in the hands. The loading device was changed so that the stress could be increased continuously instead of intermittently as heretofore. The specimens were designed so that the ratio of the maximum stress in the outer fibers of the circular section was to that of the square section as 3.8 is to 1. Clays having the same water content were compared by studying the slopes of the stress-strain curve sup to the proportional limit.
Endocrine Control of Avian Carbohydrate Metabolism

Abstract THE topic at hand is somewhat overwhelming in its naivety considering the fact that rarely does an organism restrict its nutritive intake and attendant metabolism to only one form of substrate, in this case carbohydrate. Of necessity, therefore, some interrelationships with lipid and protein metabolism will be considered in the following discussion of carbohydrate metabolism in pre- and post-hatch avian forms. Unfortunately, most of the significant data available on this topic are those drawn from one or two avian species and therein our general understanding of avian carbohydrate metabolism may well be a very restricted one indeed. A. EMBRYO METABOLISM The earliest detection of plasma glucose in chick embryos has been approximately day 4 of incubation and the values obtained at this stage of development (80 mg.%) progressively rise until by hatching time they are essentially “adult” levels of 190 mg.% or more. While a rather prolonged plateau in plasma…
Structural counterfactuals: A brief introduction

Recent advances in causal reasoning have given rise to a computational model that emulates the process by which humans generate, evaluate, and distinguish counterfactual sentences. Contrasted with the “possible worlds” account of counterfactuals, this “structural” model enjoys the advantages of representational economy, algorithmic simplicity, and conceptual clarity. This introduction traces the emergence of the structural model and gives a panoramic view of several applications where counterfactual reasoning has benefited problem areas in the empirical sciences.
A new technique for imaging the logic state of passivated conductors: biased resistive contrast imaging (CMOS devices)

A scanning electron microscopy imaging technique to examine the voltage level of conductors on passivated CMOS integrated circuits is discussed. Biased resistive contrast imaging uses a modified resistive contrast imaging system to acquire image data on powered circuits. The image is generated by monitoring small fluctuations in the power supply current of an integrated circuit as an electron beam is scanned over the circuit surface. The images resemble voltage contrast data from circuits with the passivation removed and the surface topography subtracted. Nondestructive applications of this imaging method to functional and failed integrated circuits are described. Possible irradiation effects and methods to minimize them are also discussed. >
An instantaneous photomultiplier tube gain-tuning method for PET or gamma camera detectors using an LED network

A photomultiplier tube (PMT) gain can change with many environmental factors, such as room temperature, patient load, short-term or long-term radiation exposure, and time. Unbalanced PMT gains degrade the image resolution and quality in a positron emission tomography (PET) camera or a gamma camera. This paper presented a new method to instantaneously recover the original manufacture PMT gain setting using a blue light-emitting diode (LED) network. Each LED shines directly into the center of a scintillation crystal block from the PMT side, and the light is collected by the surrounding PMTs. The gain tuning is done by changing the gains of these surrounding PMTs or their following amplifiers to have the same signal output. An LED has well-known problems of large light-yield varieties and is very sensitive to temperature. To overcome these problems, the light outputs of two neighboring LEDs are aligned first by a shared PMT. Each LED flashes at 250-KHz pulse rate, the data acquisition for the gain tuning can be finished within a very short time so the LED temperature effect can be ignored. The amount of LED light output is set as close as possible to the amount of scintillation light by programming the width or height of the pulses; therefore, the same electronics can be used for data acquisition and tuning. We estimated a 12 module PET camera with 924 PMTs in a PMT-quadrant-sharing design can be tuned in 1 min.
Catastrophe theory in social psychology: Some applications to attitudes and social behavior

Much past mathematical modeling of psychological processes has assumed (a) smooth and continuous change in behavior or cognitions or, if not, (b) simple step functions or thresholds. Many psychological phenomena which are not smooth and continuous, or do not meet the assumptions of simple step functions, seem to demonstrate the properties of the cusp or butterfly catastrophes. Catastrophe models have already been proposed for many psychological phenomena. In this paper catastrophe models are proposed for social behavior, attitude change, and some other related processes. These models synthesize many diverse and sometimes seemingly contradictory findings and suggest some unique hypotheses. The difficulties of testing catastrophe models are discussed and some means for improving empirical tests are suggested. It is concluded that catastrophe models hold promise for theoretical development in social psychology wherever high quality measurement and scaling techniques are available or can be developed.
Two methods for Toeplitz-plus-Hankel approximation to a data covariance matrix

Recently, fast algorithms have been developed for computing the optimal linear least squares prediction filters for nonstationary random processes (fields) whose covariances have (block) Toeplitz-Hankel form. If the covariance of the random process (field) must be estimated from the data, the following problem is presented: given a data covariance matrix, computer from the available data, find the Toeplitz-plus-Hankel matrix closest to this matrix in some sense. The authors give two procedures for computing the Toeplitz-plus-Hankel matrix that minimizes the Hilbert-Schmidt norm of the difference between the two matrices. The first approach projects the data covariance matrix onto the subspace of Toeplitz-plus-Hankel matrices, for which basis functions can be computed using a Gram-Schmidt orthonormalization. The second approach projects onto the subspace of symmetric Toeplitz plus skew-persymmetric Hankel matrices, resulting in a much simpler algorithm. The extension to block Toeplitz-plus-Hankel data covariance matrix approximation is also addressed. >
N-(2-Bromoallyl)Ethylamine

N-(2-bromoallyl)ethylamine product: N-(2-bromoallyl)ethylamine Keywords: replacement reactions, halogen by amino; N-(2-bromoallyl)ethylamine, irritant; 2,3-dibromopropene, lachrymator
Massive retinal gliosis. A reactive proliferation of Müller cells.

• Both Muller cells and astrocytes have been implicated in the dispute over the histogenesis of massive retinal gliosis. We studied three cases of massive retinal gliosis by light and electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry. Spindle fibrillary glial cells were joined by zonulae adherentes resembling those of the external limiting membrane of the retina. Furthermore, these cells produced a continuous basement membrane around an extracellular space filled with fine filaments, which was highly suggestive of vitreous cavity. In the proliferating cells, immunoperoxidase technique disclosed the presence of carbonic anhydrase isoenzyme C, characteristically found only in Muller cells. The glial cells in the preretinal membrane away from the gliotic nodule showed similar characteristics. We concluded that both the nodule of massive retinal gliosis and the associated preretinal glial membrane resulted from the proliferation and migration of Muller cells.
Effect of Horizontal Transfer of Barrier Insecticides to Control Argentine Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract Horizontal transfer of three contact insecticides, bifenthrin, β-cyfluthrin, and fipronil, was tested in laboratory colonies. Donor ants were exposed for 1 min to insecticide-treated sand substrates and placed with unexposed ant colonies at two different temperatures. Mortality was monitored to compare the ability of donors to transfer lethal doses of these insecticides to untreated individuals. Treated donor insects, live or dead, were added into colonies to determine the importance of donor behavior on lethal transfer. Fipronil was readily transferable between individuals, resulting in high mortality rates. Bifenthrin and β-cyfluthrin were less transferable, exhibiting moderate-to-low mortality rates similar to the controls. Greater mortality occurred at 27–29°C than at 21–23°C for bifenthrin, but not the other treatments or controls. Colony mortality did not significantly increase when adding live donors, suggesting that necrophoresis was probably an important donor behavior in addition to gro...
Adoptive T Cell Therapies: A Comparison of T Cell Receptors and Chimeric Antigen Receptors

The tumor-killing properties of T cells provide tremendous opportunities to treat cancer. Adoptive T cell therapies have begun to harness this potential by endowing a functionally diverse repertoire of T cells with genetically modified, tumor-specific recognition receptors. Normally, this antigen recognition function is mediated by an αβ T cell receptor (TCR), but the dominant therapeutic forms currently in development are synthetic constructs called chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). While CAR-based adoptive cell therapies are already showing great promise, their basic mechanistic properties have been studied in less detail compared with those of αβ TCRs. In this review, we compare and contrast various features of TCRs versus CARs, with a goal of highlighting issues that need to be addressed to fully exploit the therapeutic potential of both.
Die Zahl argentaffiner Zellen des menschlichen Verdauungstraktes unter normalen und pathologischen Bedingungen

Bei 70 Patienten, welche an den Folgen verschiedener Krankheiten oder Unfalle verstorben sind, wird die Anzahl der argentaffinen Zellen des gesamten Magen-Darmtraktes auf durchschnittlich 20 Stufen bestimmt, wobei die Zahlen im Magen auf 100 Gesichtsfelder, im Darm auf 100 langsgetroffene Krypten bezogen werden. Da die argentaffinen Zellen unter dem Einflus der Autolyse rasch schwinden, kann nur Gewebe verwendet werden, welches spatestens innerhalb von 3 Std nach dem Tod fixiert wird. Der Durchschnittswert der Vergleichsgruppe (14 Unfalltodesfalle und 25 Patienten, welche an kardiovascularen Leiden starben) betragt 100 argentaffine Zellen pro 100 Krypten oder Gesichtsfelder. Hohe Werte werden in den oralen Abschnitten, wie in der Pylorusschleimhaut des Magens und im juxtapylorischen Anteil des Duodenums, ferner im Rectum festgestellt. Innerhalb eines recht grosen Streuungsintervalls von ca. ±40% verhalten sich die Zahlen der argentaffinen Zellen bei verschiedenen pathologischen Zustanden auffallend konstant. So finden sich bei Patienten mit Lebercirrhose, primaren malignen Tumoren des Magen-Darmtraktes und bei Patienten mit Nierenleiden, welche zu einer Uramie fuhrten, keine signifikanten Abweichungen von den Werten der Vergleichsfalle. Signifikante Vermehrungen der argentaffinen Zellen um 50% sind bei Patienten mit Nierenveranderungen ohne Uramie und extrem hohe Werte bei 2 Fallen mit langerer peroraler Nahrungskarenz nachweisbar. Eine signifikante Verminderung um ca. 50% liegt dagegen bei Patienten mit extraabdominalen Primartumoren vor. Ursache der Verminderung durfte in erster Linie eine unspezifische Einwirkung auf das Verdauungsepithel sein.
Miniaturized Disk-Bend Testing of Ni3 Al: Effect of Stoichiometry and Boron Content

The results of miniaturized disk-bend tests on samples of Ni 3Al of different stoichiometry and boron content are presented. The yield strengths and ductilities of alloys containing 24, 25 or 26 %Al. either boron-free or doped with 0.3 or 0.35 %B, were measured. Specimens 3 mm in diameter and approximately 200 μm thick were tested, some of these having been cut from the grip sections of previously tested tensile bars. The yield strengths were in excellent agreement with the results obtained from the uniaxial tensile tests. The load-displacement curves for the brittle alloys (all but the boron-doped 24 %Al alloy) exhibited a maximum load corresponding to crack initiation. The shapes of the deformed specimens confirmed the assumption that they deform as if they were clamped even though they are not. The fracture surfaces of the brittle alloys are consistent with intergranular failure. Nevertheless, the ductility of the alloys increases with decreasing Al content and decreasing grain size, even for the boron-free alloys which are all brittle. The fracture stress of the boron-doped 26 %Al alloy is about 30% greater than that of the boron-free alloy. It is argued that this is most likely a consequence of the depletion of aluminum at grain boundaries, coupled with boron segregation. Independent evidence suggests that this should increase the cohesive strength of grain boundaries in the boron-doped 26 %Al alloy.
Chemically defined dietary media for larvae of the mosquito Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae): effects of colloid texturizers.

Aseptic, fully-defined dietary media which support growth of Culex pipiens from egg to adult are described. Unless low concentration of certain colloid texturizers was incorporated in media, development was slow with heightened mortality. Agar was the best of 3 colloids studied, having an optimal effect at a concentration of about 0.08%; such agartexturized media supported growth rates and development over larval cycle comparable to good growth rates typical in crude culture. Methylcellulose, optimally effective at concentrations of 0.05 to 0.2%, also greatly improved development, though it was inferior to agar. Polyhall, a polyacrylamide viscosizer, improved development only moderately, with an optimal effect at about 0.4%. Because the major effect of colloids was to increase larval growth rates rather than to much increase the average stage of development ultimately achieved, and because comparative short-duration feeding tests indicated that media were ingested more efficiently when containing colloid, it is concluded that improved overall development in colloidtexturized media resulted mainly from a mechanical facilitation of feeding. Larvae were able to ingest dissolved nutrients at a rate approaching that necessary for normal growth. It is to be noted that these synthetic diets are possibly deficient in some, as yet, unrecognized trace nutrient(s), since adults obtained are weak and short-lived.
Application of Tendon Stem/Progenitor Cells and Platelet-Rich Plasma to Treat Tendon Injuries.

Tendon injuries such as tendinopathy are a serious health care problem in the United States. However, current treatments of tendon injuries are largely palliative. Biological treatments, including tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSCs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) hold great potential to effectively treat tendon injuries. TSCs are tendon-specific stem cells and have the ability to differentiate into tenocytes, the resident tendon cells responsible for tendon homeostasis and tendon repair in case of an injury. TSCs can also self-renew and thus, can replenish the tendon with tendon cells (TSCs and tenocytes) to maintain a healthy tendon. The action of PRP can be complementary; PRP can augment and accelerate tendon healing by supplying abundant growth factors contained in platelets, and fibrin matrix, which functions as a natural conducive scaffold to facilitate tissue healing. This article provides a summary of the findings in recent basic and clinical studies on the applications of TSCs and PRP to the treatment of tendon injuries. It also outlines the challenges facing their applications in clinical settings. In particular, the controversy surrounding the efficacy of PRP treatment of tendon injuries are analyzed and solutions are suggested.
Call for Papers: Journal of Chemical Education Special Issue on Polymer Concepts across the Curriculum

The Journal of Chemical Education announces a call for papers for an upcoming special issue on Polymer Concepts across the Curriculum.
Higgs-like boson at 750 GeV and genesis of baryons

We propose that the diphoton excess at 750 GeV reported by ATLAS and CMS is due to the decay of an ${\it exo-Higgs}$ scalar $\eta$ associated with the breaking of a new $SU(2)_e$ symmetry, dubbed ${\it exo-spin}$. New fermions, ${\it exo-quarks}$ and ${\it exo-leptons}$, get TeV-scale masses through Yukawa couplings with $\eta$ and generate its couplings to gluons and photons at 1-loop. The matter content of our model yields a $B-L$ anomaly under $SU(2)_e$, whose breaking we assume entails a first order phase transition. A non-trivial $B-L$ asymmetry may therefore be generated in the early universe, potentially providing a baryogenesis mechanism through the Standard Model (SM) sphaleron processes. The spontaneous breaking of $SU(2)_e$ can in principle directly lead to electroweak symmetry breaking, thereby accounting for the proximity of the mass scales of the SM Higgs and the exo-Higgs. Our model can be distinguished from those comprising a singlet scalar and vector fermions by the discovery of TeV scale exo-vector bosons, corresponding to the broken $SU(2)_e$ generators, at the LHC.