cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical Benefit of Cardiorenal Effects of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors: JACC State-of-the-Art Review

Abstract Changes in the regulatory guidelines by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medical Agency requiring large-scale trials that study the cardiovascular safety of new glucose-lowering drugs have improved our understanding of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Unexpectedly, these trials demonstrated that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors reduce adverse cardiovascular outcomes. This second part of this 2-part review summarizes the findings of recent clinical trials and their clinical implications and describes ongoing trials and future areas of research.
Feedback kernel approximations and sensor selection for controlled 2D parabolic PDEs using computational geometry methods

This paper presents a computational geometry approach for the approximation of full state feedback controllers by static output feedback for a class of 2D parabolic partial differential equations. First, the controller is designed with the assumption that the full infinite dimensional state is available for measurement and then it is approximated by a static output feedback controller which requires only few sensor measurements to be realized. The problem of sensor selection is solved by using computational geometry methods. This is achieved by using the feedback kernel to decompose the spatial domain in cells with the property that the volume of the feedback kernel over each cell is the same and equal to a fraction of the volume of the kernel over the entire spatial domain. A sensor is allocated in each of these cells and the subsequent gain optimization is achieved by minimizing the difference of the full state feedback and the approximate static output feedback, in a variational sense. Extensive numerical studies are included to highlight the various aspects of the proposed tessellation-based controller approximation and sensor selection.
Association of butterflyfishes and stony coral tissue loss disease in the Florida Keys

Since 2014, stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has rapidly spread throughout the Florida reef tract infecting and killing dozens of coral species. Previous studies have found that corallivorous fishes, such as butterflyfishes, are positively correlated with coral disease prevalence at both local and regional scales. This study investigates the association of SCTLD infection and butterflyfish abundance and behaviors on ten reefs in the middle Florida Keys. Divers conducted video surveys of reef fish abundance and disease prevalence in June 2017, 2018, and 2019; before, during, and after the outbreak of SCTLD infections. SCTLD prevalence increased from 3.2% in 2017 to 36.9% in 2018 and back to 2.7% in 2019. Butterflyfish abundances also showed a similar pattern with a twofold increase in abundance in 2018 over abundances in 2017 and 2019. To better understand the association of individual species of butterflyfishes and diseased corals, 60 coral colonies (20 healthy, 20 diseased, 20 recently dead) were tagged and monitored for butterflyfish activity using both diver-based AGGRA fish counts and 1-h time-lapse videophotography collected in the summers of 2018 and 2019. All reef fishes were more abundant on corals with larger surface areas of live tissue, but only the foureye butterflyfish preferred corals with larger surface areas of diseased tissues. Estimates of association indicate that foureye butterflyfish were found significantly more on diseased corals than either healthy or recently dead corals when compared with the other species of butterflyfishes. Foureye butterflyfish were observed to feed directly on the SCTLD line of infection, while other butterflyfish were not. Furthermore, association of foureye butterflyfish with particular diseased corals decreased from 2018 to 2019 as the SCTLD infections disappeared. Our findings suggest that foureye butterflyfish recruit to and feed on SCTLD-infected corals which may influence the progression and/or transmission of this insidious coral disease.
Design of a GaN HEMT High Efficiency High Power Frequency Tripler Using a Class-F Technique

The properties of Gallium Nitride HEMT technology allow for higher performance spacecraft RF payloads with lower size, weight and power. In this paper, we present a high efficiency, high output power, low phase noise class-F frequency tripler utilizing a GaN HEMT device. This frequency tripler converts a 750MHz input frequency into a 2.25 GHz output frequency. This paper applies the class-F design technique, conventionally used for high efficiency power amplifiers, to the design of frequency multipliers. An active harmonic load-pull system was built and utilized to explore the desirable harmonic load impedances presented to the GaN HEMT device, to achieve class-F operation for optimal RF/DC power efficiency. The results obtained from active load-pull tests show that the load network of the tripler should aim to achieve impedance match for the 3rd harmonic, while simultaneously maintaining an open for other odd harmonics and a short for even harmonics. Consequently, the drain voltage waveform is shaped as a square wave, and the drain current waveform is shaped as a half-sine wave at the 3rd harmonic. Based on the class-F harmonic tuning approach described above, a class-F frequency tripler was fabricated using a Cree CGH40006 GaN HEMT. Hardware measurements demonstrate that the tripler features a PAE of 23%, an unprecedented output power of 29.4 dBm, and a conversion gain of 8.1 dB. The designed tripler provides a minimum harmonic rejection of 7.3 dB at the fundamental frequency. The rejection at the higher order harmonics were all greater than 30dB. In addition, residual phase noise was measured to be less than −146 dBc/Hz at 10KHz.
Long-term Variability in the Length of the Solar Cycle

ABSTRACT.The recent paucity of sunspots and the delay in the expected start of Solar Cycle 24 have drawn attention to the challenges involved in predicting solar activity. Traditional models of the solar cycle usually require information about the starting time and rise time as well as the shape and amplitude of the cycle. With this tutorial, we investigate the variations in the length of the sunspot number cycle and examine whether the variability can be explained in terms of a secular pattern. We identified long-term cycles in archival data from 1610–2000 using median trace analyses of the cycle length and power spectrum analyses of the (O−CO−C) residuals of the dates of sunspot minima and maxima. Median trace analyses of data spanning 385 years indicate a cycle length with a period of 183–243 yr, and a power spectrum analysis identifies a period of 188 ± 38 yr188±38 yr. We also find a correspondence between the times of historic minima and the length of the sunspot cycle, such that the cycle length in...
Hot Chips 2020 Posters

The emergence of data parallel architectures have enabled new opportunities to address the power limitations and scalability of multi-core processors, allowing new ways to exploit the abundant data parallelism present in emerging big-data and machine learning applications. This transition is getting a significant boost with the advent of RISC-V with its unique modular and extensible ISA, allowing a widerange of low-cost processor designs. In this work, we present Vortex, a full-stack RISC-V GPGPU processor with OpenCL support. The Vortex platform is highly customizable and scalable with a complete open-source compiler, driver, and runtime software stack to enable research in GPU architectures. We evaluated this design using 15 nm technology. We also show the preliminary performance and energy numbers of running them with a subset of benchmarks from the Rodinia Benchmark suite.
Ascaris and Toxocara as foodborne and waterborne pathogens

This is a review on the current status of Ascaris and Toxocara as agents of disease as a foodborne pathogen that is often transmitted onto produce via contaminated water. The paper introduces the parasites, their biology, disease caused, and mode of transmission. It summarizes recent research on methods for the detection of the parasites on crops, their prevalence in recent surveys of ready to eat plants in different parts of the world, and potential aspects of their means for remediation on vegetable crops. Also discussed is the ubiquitous nature of the presence of these eggs in the environment due to the many humans infected and means currently underway to control these parasites though improve water quality, sanitation, and hygiene.
Study of Layout Dependent Radiation Hardness of FinFET SRAM using Full Domain 3D TCAD Simulation

Due to the emerging of novel technologies, such as stacked horizontal nanowires, and novel 3D integration schemes, such as stacking PMOS on top of NMOS, multiple transistors in a SRAM cell might be struck simultaneously by a single Alpha particle. This may result in worse radiation hardness of SRAM. We show that if the access transistor (A-NMOS) and pull-down transistor (PD-NMOS) are struck at the same time, bulk MOSFET SRAM (L g,eff = 25nm) will be ~20% more susceptible to Single Event Upset (SEU). Full domain 3D TCAD simulation of L g =25nm FinFET SRAM cell is then performed to confirm that such scenario is possible even in a standard SRAM layout and the radiation hardness is reduced by as much as 50%. Therefore, DTCO of 3D integration should take radiation effect into account for critical mission applications.
Organization of parietoprefrontal and temporoprefrontal networks in the macaque

The study of cortical connectivity is crucial for understanding brain function and disease. We show that temporofrontal and parietofrontal networks in the macaque can be described in terms of circu...
Lupusnephritis

Eine Nierenbeteiligung ist bei systemischem Lupus erythematodes (SLE) haufig. Sie kann sich nur als Protein- und/oder Hamaturie ausern, aber auch schwere Verlaufe sind moglich. Beim Vorliegen einer Hamaturie und/oder Proteinurie bei SLE ist eine gezielte nephrologische Organdiagnostik indiziert. Zur Diagnosesicherung und Schweregradbeurteilung (Einteilung nach WHO) der Lupusnephritis muss eine Nierenbiopsie durchgefuhrt werden. Bei Lupusnephritis Typ 1 ist aufgrund der exzellenten renalen Prognose keine spezielle Behandlung erforderlich. Auch bei WHO-Typ 2 und 3A ist zunachst keine Therapie notwendig, jedoch muss engmaschig kontrolliert werden. Bei Typ 3B dagegen sind eine intensive immunsuppressive Behandlung sowie eine konsequente Blutdruckeinstellung wichtig. Bei Typ 4 kann es ohne adaquate immunsuppressive Therapie rasch zum terminalen Nierenversagen kommen. Typ-5-Patienten profitieren daneben von einer ACE-Hemmer-Gabe. Typ 6 stellt einen Restzustand im Sinn einer Narbe dar, eine Intensivierung der Immunsuppression ist nicht sinnvoll. Bis zu 20% der padiatrischen Patienten mit Lupusnephritis werden dialysepflichtig, wobei sich die Nierenfunktion zumindest teilweise wieder erholen kann.
Study on Energy Efficiency and Green Activity Trends in Bangladesh

This chapter attempts to ascertain the trends in energy consumption pattern of inhabitants of typical apartment housing in Dhaka, Bangladesh across the parameters water, gas and electricity. With the rise in urbanization and a high concentration of industries in Bangladesh, green activities are rising over the last decade. In order to enable and ensure it continues to grow, some facilitating factors are examined in this chapter. The awareness level of the inhabitants is one of the key determinants of market readiness of green practices in the country. To articulate this, the energy consumption pattern are extracted from households in Dhaka over two years across a decade in 2011 and 2019. Since the city and the environment are a symbiosis and not an in lieu of the other, a demand in rehabilitation of the city is always parallel in motion to the development of the city. The human dynamic is assessed by summarizing inhabitants’ response in a quest to collate that indeed humans are the important determinant in structuring or destroying the city. This study over a decade can conclude that being conscious citizens and starting change with one person is the key to make a shift locally, nationally and globally.
Where have all the children gone? A review of the presence of children under 6 years in leisure publication outlets

We conducted a focused search of nine pre-determined leisure journals to (1) determine the prevalence and scope of research on children younger than 6 years (i.e., young children) published in leis...
Two cases of thrombosis in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies during treatment of immune thrombocytopenia with romiplostim, a thrombopoietin receptor agonist

Abstract Introduction Romiplostim is a thrombopeitin-receptor agonist approved for raising platelet counts in patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Several hematologic adverse effects have been reported including acute myeloid leukemia, myelofibrosis, and thrombosis. Methods We report two cases, one pediatric and one adult patient, who had antiphospholipid antibodies and received romiplostim for ITP. Additionally, we conducted medline, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Events reports website, and manufacturer׳s adverse events database. Results Both patients developed thrombosis with evidence for catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) after treatment with romiplostim. No reports or events were found from literature and database searches in regards to thrombosis associated with romiplostim in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome. Conclusion These cases illustrate the potential for thrombosis with the administration of romiplostim. The administration of this drug to patients with a history of an autoimmune disease, especially those with positive antiphospholipid antibodies, should be done with caution.
Interpretation of subthreshold swing and threshold voltage in solution-processed zinc oxide TFTs

Subthreshold conduction in amorphous and nanocrystalline transparent conductive oxide (TCO) thin film transistors (TFTs) is routinely evaluated using equation frameworks based on weak inversion borrowed from those used in conventional MOSFETs [1]. Unlike traditional MOSFETs, the electrostatics of TCOs are overwhelmingly determined by the properties of localized states that predominantly consist of charged acceptors exponentially distributed in energy below the conduction band edge [2]. Furthermore, TFTs operate in accumulation, and switching occurs at the flatband voltage, where the depletion charge also vanishes. This suggests that, unlike traditional MOSFETs, no significant diffusion current is expected, since the ratio of diffusion current to the drift current is proportional to the ratio of depletion charge to the electron concentration [3]. In this work, we estimate the depletion charge and electron concentration obtained from quasi-static capacitance-voltage (QSCV) data and demonstrate that the ratio of the depletion charge to the electron concentration becomes negligibly small at and above the flatband voltage. In doing so, we provide experimental evidence demonstrating the limited contribution of diffusion current in these systems, contrary to commonly used equation frameworks, e.g. [4]. Furthermore, based on the proposed transport behavior, we propose a consistent threshold voltage definition. Recently, Qiang et al defined threshold voltage using the point of degenerate conduction, although the tail state concentrations used in their work may be substantially lower than those observed experimentally [5]. We instead offer a definition of threshold voltage that is consistent with an experimental derived density of states, namely, using the intersection between the extended and localized states, corresponding to a Mott transition (occurring at lower voltages) [6] rather than a degeneracy transition (occurring at higher voltages). This is thus more consistent with transport mechanisms in these systems in the on-state.
PROSPECT improves cis-acting regulatory element prediction by integrating expression profile data with consensus pattern searches

Consensus pattern and matrix-based searches designed to predict cis-acting transcriptional regulatory sequences have historically been subject to large numbers of false positives. We sought to decrease false positives by incorporating expression profile data into a consensus pattern-based search method. We have systematically analyzed the expression phenotypes of over 6000 yeast genes, across 121 expression profile experiments, and correlated them with the distribution of 14 known regulatory elements over sequences upstream of the genes. Our method is based on a metric we term probabilistic element assessment (PEA), which is a ranking of potential sites based on sequence similarity in the upstream regions of genes with similar expression phenotypes. For eight of the 14 known elements that we examined, our method had a much higher selectivity than a naive consensus pattern search. Based on our analysis, we have developed a web-based tool called PROSPECT, which allows consensus pattern-based searching of gene clusters obtained from microarray data.
The NASA Solar Probe Mission: In Situ Determination of Interplanetary Out-of-the Ecliptic and Near-Solar Dust Environments

The NASA Solar Probe mission will be one of the most exciting dust missions ever flown and will lead to a revolutionary advance in our understanding of dust within our solar system. Solar Probe will map the dust environment from the orbit of Jupiter (5 AU), to within 4 solar radii of the sun’s center. The region between 0.3 AU and 4 Rs has never been visited before, so the 10 days that the spacecraft spends during each (of the two) orbit is purely exploratory in nature. Solar Probe will also reach heliographic latitudes as high as ∼ 15° to 28° above (below) the ecliptic on its trajectory inbound (outbound) to (from) the sun. This, in addition to the ESA/NASA Ulysses mission, will help determine the out-of-the-ecliptic dust environment. A post-perihelion burn will reduce the satellite orbital period to 2.5 years about the sun. A possible extended mission would allow data reception for 2 more revolutions, mapping out a complete solar cycle. Because the near-solar dust environment is not well understood (or is controversial at best), and it is very important to have better knowledge of the dust environment to protect Solar Probe from high velocity dust hits, we urgently request the scientific community to obtain further measurements of the nearsolar dust properties. One prime opportunity is the July 1991 solar eclipse.
The Oocyte as an Endocytic Cell

Oocytes of Xenopus laevis grow primarily by sequestering vitellogenin (VTG) selectively from the maternal bloodstream. Morphological observations have demonstrated that an endocytic system is responsible for VTG uptake. Binding studies indicate the presence of 2-28 X 10(10) surface VTG receptors per oocyte. These are continuously internalized into endosomes whether or not they are occupied by VTG, and other macromolecules may become trapped in the process. VTG-containing endosomes give rise to dense transitional yolk bodies; these fuse with yolk platelets only after the cleavage of vitellogenin. In the absence of VTG, endosomes appear to fuse directly with yolk platelets. From these observations it is postulated that receptor occupancy can act as a transmembrane signal which directs the postendocytic compartmentation of proteins. Yolk platelet proteins do not undergo subsequent turnover, whereas adventitiously incorporated protein is gradually lost from the oocyte by a dual mechanism which may involve both lysosomal proteolysis and secretion from the oocyte as a consequence of membrane recycling. Although these observations may not apply to all growing oocytes, the X. laevis oocyte nevertheless appears to be a particularly attractive experimental system for studies of endocytic compartmentation and membrane receptor recycling.
Profitability and Resource Allocation Among Cotton and Peanuts When Considering Planting and Harvest Timeliness

Harvest timeliness is a continual problem in the rotation of cotton and peanuts. Efficient allocation of land and labor resources during production of cotton and peanuts requires decisions be made on allocating resources throughout the growing season. Of particular concern is efficient allocation during planting and harvesting. Through economic analysis and linear programming optimization, planting and harvesting timeliness issues are addressed and compared with prevailing practices. Results for a representative farm indicate that cotton planting should increase during the early period of the planting season as compared with current practice, and most cotton should be harvested before peanut harvest begins.
Peeling Back the Layers in Earth's Mantle

Seismic studies are providing ever more detailed information about the structure of Earth9s mantle. But as Vidale explains in his Perspective, knowledge of the mantle is still patchy and new data can provide surprises. He discusses the results of Deuss and Woodhouse, who have studied a weak boundary in the mantle. The new results help to constrain the temperature and composition in a difficult-to-study depth range but do not match expectations from other geophysical models, possibly leading to new insights.
Recovering Risk-Neutral Densities: A New Nonparametric Approach

This paper proposes a novel nonparametric method to recover the implied risk-neutral density (RND) from option prices. The main advantages of this method are that it 1) is almost completely agnostic about the true underlying process, 2) controls against overfitting while allowing for small samples, 3) always results in sensible arbitrage-free distributions, 4) estimates the RND over the observable range of strikes only, without involving any extrapolation of density in the tails, 5) is computationally very simple, and 6) can be used to estimate multivariate RNDs. In an empirical application, the new method is implemented on the S&P Index options data over the period from 1991 to 1995. To characterize shapes of the Index's RNDs the paper uses the percentile moments which overcome unobservability of the tails of a distribution. The implied RNDs exhibit persistent negative skewness and excessive peakedness. The departures from lognormality become more pronounced as option maturity increases. Day-to-day variation of the RNDs is found to be related to the recent performance of the Index. In particular, on trading days when the Index declines the implied RNDs are more skewed and peaked than when the Index advances. Finally, the implied probabilities of extreme outcomes are also estimated.
The PEP-II collider and commissioning detectors

PEP-II will collide 9 GeV e − with 3.1 GeV e + at high luminosity on the(4 S ) resonance to produce B -meson pairs for study of CP-violation. Progress on its design and construction at SLAC is reported. Since PEP-II has a complicated interaction region and high beam currents, and will be completed before the new B a B ar detector is available, a set of smaller detectors will be used to measure the beam-induced backgrounds during PEP-II commissioning.
Advances in series resonant inverter technology and its effect on spacecraft employing electric propulsion

The efficiency of transistorized Series Resonant Inverters (SRIs), which is higher than that of silicon-controlled rectifier alternatives, reduces spacecraft radiator requirements by 40% and may eliminate the need for heat pipes on 30-cm ion thruster systems. Recently developed 10- and 25-kW inverters have potential applications in gas thrusters, and represent the first spaceborne SRI designs for such power levels. Attention is given to the design and control system approaches employed in these inverter designs to improve efficiency and reduce weight, along with the impact of such improved parameters on electric propulsion systems.
Some tilings of the plane whose singular points are uncountable and unbounded

Let I be a tiling of the plane such that for every tile T of I there correspond a tile T′ of I (not necessarily unique) and an integer k(T, T′) (depending on T and T′), k(T, T′)>2, such that T meets T′ in k(T, T′) connected components. Tiles T and T′ satisfying this condition are called associated tiles in I. Various properties concerning I and its singular points are obtained. First, it is not possible that every tile in I have a unique associated tile. In fact, there exist infinite families of tiles {F′} ∪ {F n:n≥1} such that F′ is the unique associated tile for every F n. Next, if x is a singular point of I, then every neighborhood of x contains uncountably many singular points of I. Finally, the set of singular points of I is unbounded.
Elevated serum thyroxine concentration in patients receiving “replacement” doses of levothyroxine

It is commonly believed, as previous reports have indicated, that physiological replacement doses of oral levothyroxine in adults with hypothyroidism generally range between 0.15 and 0.20 mg daily, and that when this dose is administered, serum thyroxine (T4) concentrations are almost always within the normal range. Nonetheless, in two groups of patients receiving suppressive or replacement doses of Synthroid® or Letter®, serum T4 concentrations in more than half were above the normal range for the two different radio immunoassay (RIA) methods employed for analysis. More extensive studies in a group of 28 additional patients receiving Synthroid®, all of whom were euthyroid by clinical criteria, revealed similarly frequent elevations of serum T4 concentration, often of substantial degree. In this group, the level of the serum T4 was not significantly correlated with age, sex, dose per unit weight, or diagnosis. Comparative studies in sera from these patients, and from patients with hyperthyroidism or normal controls, revealed close concordance between values for the serum T4 concentration yielded by two RIA methods and one competitive protein-binding assay. These and other studies provided no evidence that substances other than T4 itself were contributing to the elevations of serum T4 concentration found in patients receiving levothyroxine. Mean values for the resin T3 uptake and free T4 index (FT4I) were increased. Despite elevations in serum T4 concentration and the FT4I, serum 3, 5, 3′-triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations were within the normal range, T3 /T4 concentration ratios in patients receiving Synthroid® being significantly lower than in normal controls. Serum 3, 3′, 5′-T3 (reverse T3, rT3) concentrations displayed a highly significant correlation with serum total T4 concentrations, and the mean value for the group as a whole was significantly elevated. The discordance between the present and previous findings with respect to the serum T4 concentration is ascribed to methodological errors introduced by the methods of measurement employed in earlier reports. It is concluded that, in patients receiving levothyroxine therapy, the serum T3 concentration correlates better with the clinical state than the serum T4 concentration does. Elevations of serum T4 concentration in patients receiving levothyroxine therapy do not necessarily indicate that the dosage is excessive.
Low-power pervasive wi-fi connectivity using WiScan

Pervasive Wi-Fi connectivity is attractive for users in places not covered by cellular services (e.g., when traveling abroad). However, the power drain of frequent Wi-Fi scans undermines the device's battery life, preventing users from staying always connected and fetching synced emails and instant message notifications (e.g., WhatsApp). We study the energy overhead of scan and roaming in detail and refer to it as the scan tax problem. Our findings show that the main processor is the primary culprit of the energy overhead. We propose a simple and effective architectural change of offloading scans to the Wi-Fi radio. We design and build WiScan to fully exploit the gain of scan offloading. Our experiments demonstrate that WiScan achieves 90%+ of the maximal connectivity, while saving 50-62% energy for seeking connectivity.
Avian heterophils and monocytes : phagocytic and bactericidal activities against Salmonella enteritidis

The ability of heterophils and monocytes from domestic chickens and turkeys to phagocytize and kill Salmonella enteritidis (SE) was investigated using both a standard plate count (chickens only) and direct microscopic examination by staining with acridine orange (both chickens and turkeys). Optimal phagocytosis of SE by both chicken and turkey phagocytes required opsonization of the bacteria by antibodies as determined by both assays. However, heterophils from both the turkeys and chickens phagocytized more SE than did monocytes from either type of fowl. Regardless of the presence or absence of antibodies, heterophils were more efficient bactericidal cells than were the monocytes since only heterophils killed the intracellular bacteria while the majority of nonopsonized SE survived in the monocytes. Phagocytosis of SE did not result in an increase in the amount of superoxide anion released by the heterophils suggesting that the ultimate fate of the bacteria in these cells was not related to an oxygen-dependent mechanism.
Advances in research on homelessness: An overview of the special issue

Homelessness continues to be a vexing social problem that concerns many community psychologists and other professionals, as well as the general public. Responding to the obvious need, research has progressed rapidly over the past decade. The eight papers in this Special Issue provide examples of the many methodological and conceptual advances that have been made in the recent research on homelessness. The papers provide policy analysis, develop measures and methods for collecting representative samples, compare important subgroups in the homeless population, conduct longitudinal investigations, and describe and evaluate innovative interventions. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Ion-induced electrostatic charging of ice

Abstract We studied electrostatic charging on amorphous ice films induced by the impact of 100 keV Ar+ ions at 45° incidence. We derived the positive surface electrostatic potential from the kinetic energy of sputtered molecular ions. Measurements were performed as a function of film thickness, ion flux and accumulated fluence. The main results are (a) films charge up to a saturation value, following an exponential time dependence. (b) The time constant for charging is approximately proportional to the reciprocal of the ion flux. (c) The maximum surface voltage depends on film thickness and ion flux. (d) Charging does not occur for films thinner than the maximum range of projectile. (e) Dielectric breakdown is observed for surface potentials above ∼100 V. We explain the measurements with a model in which charges can drift into the substrate or be trapped temporarily near the ionization range of the projectiles. A charge can be released from the trap by the electric field produced by a nearby charge injected by subsequent projectiles.
Incarceration, Health, and Racial Disparities in Health

This article addresses two basic questions. First, it examines whether incarceration has a lasting impact on health functioning. Second, because blacks are more likely than whites to be exposed to the negative effects of the penal system—including fractured social bonds, reduced labor market prospects, and high levels of infectious disease—it considers whether the penal system contributes to racial health disparities. Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and both regression and propensity matching estimators, the article empirically demonstrates a significant relationship between incarceration and later health status. More specifically, incarceration exerts lasting effects on midlife health functioning. In addition, this analysis finds that, due primarily to disproportionate rates of incarceration, the penal system plays a role in perpetuating racial differences in midlife physical health functioning.
Comparison of Spectral Temporal Mapping to the Time Domain Signal‐Averaged Electrocardiogram in Normal Subjects and in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease and Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia

Spectral temporal mapping is a new form of analysis for signal-averaged electro-cardiography, which has the goal of improving the sensitivity and specificity of traditional time domain analysis. Our objective in this study was to determine the effectiveness of one form of spectral temporal mapping, in the face of conflicting results that have so far been reported with this approach. We prospec-tively performed both spectral temporal mapping and time domain analysis on 50 patients with a history of coronary artery disease and inducible sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (Group 1) and on 25 normal subjects with normal electrocardiograms and no history of heart disease (Group 2). We found that for the 40 Group 1 patients without bundle branch block (Group lA), the sensitivity of spectral temporal mapping was lower than that for time domain analysis (45% vs 80%, P < 0.005). The results of spectral temporal mapping for Group lA patients were similar to that for all of Group 1. The sensitivity of spectral temporal mapping was 60% (n = 10) for patients with bundle branch block (Group IB). The specificity noted in Group 2 was 88% by each means of analysis; however, no one In Group 2 had an abnormal finding by time domain and spectral temporal mapping. Attempts to optimize the criteria for an abnormal spectral analysis did not identify criteria that were superior to those currently in use. We conclude that spectral temporal mapping using Haberl's method is inferior to time domain analysis in identifying patients with sustained ventricular tachycardia, but may be of value in conjunction with the traditional approach in identifying normal subjects.
Plasma-Activated Ion Beam Reactive Sputtering of NbN Thin Films

In order to better study and control the processes occurring in a reactive sputtering situation, a unique deposition method has been used in which the Ar-ion-beam sputtering of an elemental Nb target is combined with an auxiliary Ar/N2 plasma at the substrate. The ion source allows independent control of the sputtering parameters (ion flux, energy). The magnetically enhanced triode plasma provides a source of ionized and excited nitrogen at the film surface, and allows independent control of the substrate plasma parameters. A conductance-limiting enclosure surrounds the substrate, resulting in a pressure differential of nearly an order of magnitude between the substrate and target regions. This enables us to separate the substrate and target reaction regimes at low nitrogen flows. NbN has been investigated because of its technological importance and the fact that it is representative of transition metal nitrides. With the substrate plasma off and N2 provided at the substrate, the cubic superconducting NbN (5 phase) is produced even at low N2 flows, when the target is in the unreacted, metallic state. Upon increasing the N2 flow, the nitrogen content of the films abruptly increases as the target reaction proceeds. The addition of the substrate plasma results in the nonsuperconducting hexagonal δ’ phase, which to our knowledge has not previously been produced as a single-phase thin film. The electrical properties of the δ’ phase are reported.
Theoretical and experimental determination of dosimetric characteristics for ADVANTAGE™ Pd-103 brachytherapy source

ADVANTAGE Pd-103 brachytherapy source has been recently introduced by IsoAid for prostate permanent implants. Dosimetric characteristics (Dose rate constant, radial dose function, 2D-, and 1D-anisotropy functions) of this source model have been determined using both theoretical and experimental methods, following the updated TG-43U1 protocol. Derivation of the dose rate constant was based on recent NIST WAFAC calibration performed in accordance with the 1999 Standards. Measurements were performed in Solid Water using LiF TLD chips and the theoretical calculations were performed in Solid Water and liquid water phantom materials using PTRAN Monte Carlo code. The results of the Monte Carlo simulation have shown a dose rate constant of 0.69 cGyh(-1) U(-1) in liquid water and 0.67 cGyh(-1) U(-1) in Solid Water medium. The measured dose rate constant in Solid Water was found to be 0.68+/-8% cGyh(-1) U(-1), which is in a good agreement (within +/-5%) to the Monte Carlo simulated data. The 2D- and 1D-anisotropy functions of the ADVANTAGE Pd-103 source were calculated for radial distances ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 cm. Radial dose function was determined for radial distances ranging from 0.2 to 8.0 cm using line source approximation. All these calculations are based on L(eff) equal to 3.61 cm, calculated following TG-43U1 recommendations. The tabulated data for 2D-anisotropy function, 1D-anisotropy function, dose rate constant and radial dose function have been produced for clinical application of this source model.
A high-performance liquid chromatography method for the purification and analysis of insect ecdysones: Application to measurement of ecdysone titers during pupal-adult development of Heliothis zea

Abstract A new method has been devised for the purification and analysis of ecdysones of insect origin. The system uses high-performance liquid chromatography for both purification and analysis, thus allowing a rapid determination of both α- and β-ecdysone in extracts of whole insects. Ecdysone levels analysed during the 12 days of pupal-adult development of Heliothis zea showed a sharp rise in α-ecdysone production one day after larval-pupal ecdysis and a peak concentration 3.5 days after ecdysis. A parallel increase in the titer of β-ecdysone occurred approximately 24 hr later. The concentrations of α and β-ecdysone quickly dropped to low levels on days 5 and 6, respectively, and neither ecdysone was detectable during the latter phase of adult development.
Sterenes in suspended particulate matter in the eastern tropical North Pacific

Particulate matter in the oceans is operationally partitioned into two pools. Large (≳ 32 µm) particles, such as zooplankton faecal pellets and marine snow, sink rapidly and dominate the vertical flux of organic matter in the oceans1–4. These relatively rare particles, usually collected in sediment traps, sink at rates of tens to hundreds of metres per day5–8 leading to a significant flux of labile particulate organic matter from sites of production in the euphotic and mesopelagic zones to the deep ocean9–14. Finer (≲ 2 µm) suspended material, on the other hand, dominates the standing stock of particulate matter1. Sinking rates of only a few metres per day for small particles result in long residence times in the water column during which major transformations of the suspended organic matter may occur. Source and transformation processes involving particulate organic matter in seawater and Recent sediments may be traced by studying various classes of specific organic marker compounds, including the steroids9,11,15–18. We report here the apparent production of sterenes (steroidal alkenes) on suspended particulate matter within the oxygen minimum zone in the equatorial Pacific Ocean off central Mexico; this provides further evidence of the importance of water column processes on early stages of the transformation of biogenic sterols to the steranes present in mature sediments.
Automated QA framework for PetaScale data challenges

Over the lifetime of the STAR Experiment, a large investment of workforce time has gone into a variety of QA efforts, including continuous processing of a portion of the data for automated calibration and iterative convergence and quality assurance purposes. A rotating workforce coupled with ever-increasing volumes of information to examine led to sometimes inconsistent or incomplete reporting of issues, eventually leading to additional work. The traditional approach of manually screening a data sample was no longer adequate and doomed to eventual failure with planned future growth in data extents. To prevent this collapse we have developed a new system employing user-defined reference histograms, permitting automated comparisons and nagging of issues. Based on the ROOT framework at its core, the front end is a web based service allowing shift personnel to visualize the results, and to set test parameters and thresholds defining success or failure. The versatile and flexible approach allows for a slew of histograms to be configured and grouped into categories (results and thresholds may depend on experimental triggers and data types) ensuring framework evolution with the years of running to come. Historical information is also saved to track changes and allow for rapid convergence of future tuning. Database storage and processing of data are handled outside the web server for security and fault tolerance.
The ASSISTments Ecosystem: Building a Platform that Brings Scientists and Teachers Together for Minimally Invasive Research on Human Learning and Teaching

The ASSISTments project is an ecosystem of a few hundred teachers, a platform, and researchers working together. Development professionals help train teachers and get teachers to participate in studies. The platform and these teachers help researchers (sometimes explicitly and sometimes implicitly) simply by using content the teacher selects. The platform, hosted by Worcester Polytechnic Institute, allows teachers to write individual ASSISTments (composed of questions with answers and associated hints, solutions, web-based videos, etc.) or to use pre-built ASSISTments, bundle them together in a problem set, and assign these to students. The system gives immediate feedback to students while they are working and provides student-level data to teachers on any assignment. The word “ASSISTments” blends tutoring “assistance” with “assessment” reporting to teachers and students. While originally focused on mathematics, the platform now has content from many other subjects (e.g., science, English, Statistics, etc.). Due to the large library of mathematics content, however, it is mostly used by math teachers. Over 50,000 students used ASSISTments last school year (2013–4) and this number has been doubling each year for the last 8 years. The platform allows any user, mostly researchers, to create randomized controlled trials in the content, which has helped us use the tool in over 18 published and an equal number of unpublished studies. The data collected by the system has also been used in a few dozen peer-reviewed data mining publications. This paper will not seek to review these publications, but instead we will share why ASSISTments has been successful and what lessons were learned along the way. The first lesson learned was to build a platform for learning sciences, not a product that focused on a math topic. That is, ASSISTments is a tool, not a curriculum. A second lesson learned is expressed by the mantra “Put the teacher in charge, not the computer.” This second lesson is about building a flexible system that allows teachers to use the tool in concert with the classroom routine. Once teachers are using the tool they are more likely to want to participate in research studies. These lessons were born from the design decisions about what the platform supports and does not support. In conclusion, goals for the future will be presented.
An examination of the relationships among career decision-making self-efficacy, career salience, locus of control, and vocational indecision.

Abstract The present study continued the exploration of the relationship between career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE) and vocational indecision as well as examined the relationship between the concepts of CDMSE, career salience, and locus of control. Subjects, 203 female and 204 male college students, were administered a demographic questionnaire and measures of career decision-making self-efficacy, occupational self-efficacy, locus of control, career salience, and career indecision in counterbalanced order. Results confirmed previous research findings that CDMSE was found to be moderately and negatively related to vocational indecision and locus of control whereas a moderate positive relationship was found between CDMSE and vocational decidedness and occupational self-efficacy. No relationship was observed between CDMSE and career salience nor were gender differences observed. Results of the stepwise discriminant analyses which examined the distinctions between students who had selected an academic major or career choice, had made a tentative selection, or were undecided indicated greater career decision-making self-efficacy; career salience and lower vocational indecision were associated with having made a selection. Career decision-making self-efficacy was found to be the only significant predictor of vocational indecision in college students. Results and implications for future research and for counseling interventions are discussed.
Incremental learning of mixture models for simultaneous estimation of class distribution and inter-class decision boundaries

In this paper, we propose a novel design of high performance Bayes classifier from a small number of observations. The two main challenges to obtain the classifier are the lack of the true functional form of the class-conditional density and the lack of enough data to estimate the parameters of the classifiers. Incremental learning of Gaussian mixture model (GMM) is used to mitigate the lack of the true functional form. Moreover, the classifier uses the training samples from all classes to evaluate the goodness of a particular mixture to be used as the classifier for a specific class. This selection process eases the difficulty of the accurate parameter estimation. Thus, the important trait of the proposed classifier is being able to estimate simultaneously class-conditional density and inter-class boundaries to arbitrary precision. Our experimental results show that the proposed classifier not only has better performance than the conventional classifiers but also requires fewer parameters.
Comparison of the vector analysing powers of the mirror reactions 2H(d, p)3H and 2H(d, n)3He

Abstract The vector analysing power of the reaction 3 H( d ,n) 4 He has been measured for laboratory angles between 25° and 155° at deuteron energies of 6 MeV and 10 MeV. For the mirror reaction 3 He( d ,p) 4 He, measurements were performed at the same deuteron energies for laboratory angles between 105° and 150°. For the angles between 105° and 150° the average ratio of the vector analysing power of 3 He( d ,p) 4 He to that of 3 H( d ,n) 4 He is 1.016 ± 0.015 at 6 MeV and 1.035 ± 0.020 at 10 MeV. At all angles the measured vector analysing power of the 3 H( d ,n) 4 He reaction agrees to within ± 0.025 with results previously obtained at this laboratory for the 3 He( d ,p) 4 He reaction.
The chronology of North American late pleistocene extinctions

Abstract For more than two decades, it has been assumed that all or virtually all North American terminal Pleistocene extinctions occurred between 12,000 and 10,000 years ago. However, analysis of the North American radiocarbon chronology shows that there are only 71 taxon dates pertaining to these genera that appear valid. These dates apply to nine genera, of which only seven have been dated to the terminal Wisconsin; 40 of these 71 taxon dates are for mammoth and Shasta ground sloth. The dates suggest that many of the extinctions may have occurred before 12,000 years ago, and show that most practitioners continue to extract dates of doubtful validity.
Effectiveness of Hotline, Advocacy, Counseling, and Shelter Services for Victims of Domestic Violence A Statewide Evaluation

The authors report the results of an evaluation of services provided by 54 Illinois domestic violence agencies. In collaboration with the University of Illinois at Chicago evaluation team, domestic violence advocates identified services to be evaluated, specified desired outcomes of those services, and participated in developing measures of those outcomes in both English and Spanish. With in the limitations of the study, outcomes were positive in all four program areas: hotline, counseling, advocacy, and shelter. The authors then discuss implications for evaluation of domestic violence programs that maintain victim safety as a guiding principle.