cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
I/Q imbalance mitigation for time-reversal STBC systems over frequency-selective fading channels

This work studies the effect of in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) imbalance on time-reversal space-time block coded (TR-STBC) communication systems operating over frequency-selective fading channels. The transceiver I/Q imbalance in a 2 × 1 TR orthogonal STBC (TR-OSTBC) system is studied in detail, and low-complexity mitigation solutions are proposed by exploiting the special structure of the received data. Our results show that the proposed solutions both in time domain and in frequency domain can effectively mitigate the I/Q distortion in such a system.
A STUDY OF SPHEX BREVICEPS (SMITH) (HYMENOP.)

The digger wasp, S. breviceps , has been encountered frequently in the field while studying nesting bees and wasps. Ammophila pruinosa Cress., A. varipes Cress., and A. comanche Cam., according to Professor Fernald, must be considered as synonyms. It is a specics of considerable morphological variation with all intergrades occuring between the extremes. It is not a large insect but it makes up in numbers, it would seem, for what it lacks in individual size.
Fixed-flux convection in a tilted slot

We study fixed-flux convection in a long, narrow slot which is inclined to the horizontal. (Gravity is in the vertical direction, and horizontal is perpendicular to this.) Because of the fixed-flux boundary conditions the convective modes have much larger lengthscales in the along-slot direction than in the transverse direction. In the case of a horizontal slot this disparity in scales has been previously exploited to obtain an amplitude equation for the single mode which first becomes unstable as the Rayleigh number is increased above critical. When the slot is tilted we show that there is a distinguished limit in which there are two active modes in the slightly supercritical regime. This new limit is when the horizontal wavenumber, the supercriticality, and the tilt of the slot away from vertical, are all small. A modification of the well-known expansion for fixed flux convection in a horizontal slot leads to a coupled system of partial differential equations for the amplitudes of the two modes.Numerical solution of this system suggests that all initial conditions eventually evolve into one of the two states, both of which consist of a single, steady roll in the cavity. The states are distinguished by the direction of circulation of the roll, and by the buoyancy fields, which are quite different in the two cases.
Bearing-only target tracking using a bank of MAP estimators

Nonlinear estimation problems, such as bearingonly tracking, are often addressed using linearized estimators, e.g., the extended Kalman filter (EKF). These estimators generally suffer from linearization errors as well as the inability to track multimodal probability density functions (pdfs). In this paper, we propose a bank of batch maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimators as a general estimation framework that provides relinearization of the entire state history, multi-hypothesis tracking, and an efficient hypothesis generation scheme. Each estimator in the bank is initialized using a locally optimal state estimate for the current time step. Every time a new measurement becomes available, we convert the nonlinear cost function corresponding to this relaxed one-step subproblem into polynomial form, allowing to analytically and efficiently compute all stationary points. This local optimization generates highly probable hypotheses for the target trajectory and greatly improves the quality of the overall MAP estimate. Additionally, pruning and marginalization are employed to control the computational cost. Monte Carlo simulations and real-world experiments show that the proposed approach significantly outperforms the EKF, the standard batch MAP estimator, and the particle filter (PF), in terms of accuracy and consistency.
Prolonged gestation in the PMSG-treated immature rat.

The length of gestation in immature rats treated with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) to induce ovulation and mating was 22.9 and 24.8 days for rats receivin7 15 IU and 30 IU of PMSG. respectively. These values were significantl greater than the normal length of gestation for the adult rat (21.4 (lays), and were a function of the amounts of PMSG administered. The time of blastocyst implantation in the PMSG treate(l rats (lid not differ from that of the normal rat. It was concluded that the prolonged gestation was due to a delay in time of onset of parturition resulting from increased numbers of corpora lutea formed from the superovulated ovaries leading to changes in steroid production liv the ovary.
Outline of an explanatory account of cladistic practice

A naturalistic account of the strengths and limitations of cladistic practice is offered. The success of cladistics is claimed to be largely rooted in the parsimony-implementing congruence test. Cladists may use the congruence test to iteratively refine assessments of homology, and thereby increase the odds of reliable phylogenetic inference under parsimony. This explanation challenges alternative views which tend to ignore the effects of parsimony on the process of character individuation in systematics. In a related theme, the concept of homeostatic property cluster natural kinds is used to explain why cladistics is well suited to provide a traditional, verbal reference system for the evolutionary properties of species and clades. The advantages of more explicitly probabilistic approaches to phylogenetic inference appear to manifest themselves in situations where evolutionary homeostasis has for the most part broken down, and predictive classifications are no longer possible.
A Historical Review of Changes in Nutrition Standards of USDA Child Meal Programs Relative to Research Findings on the Nutritional Adequacy of Program Meals and the Diet and Nutritional Health of Participants: Implications for Future Research and the Summer Food Service Program

Background: The USDA child meal programs (CMPs) (National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) were established in 1946 (NSLP) and 1975 (SBP and SFSP) to improve the diet and nutritional health of US children. There is concern that participation in these programs may in fact be a contributor to the current childhood obesity epidemic. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if the CMPs are meeting their intended goal by reviewing the historical changes to nutrition standards of the CMPs in correspondence with the literature that examines the nutritional adequacy of meals served as part of these programs, as well as the dietary intakes and nutritional status of participants. Methods: Public Law and the Federal Register were reviewed and websites and online databases were systematically searched. Results: NSLP and SBP first underwent updates to the nutrition standards in 1994 and subsequently 2010, whereas SFSP last underwent modifications in 2000. The majority of data, all collected prior to 2010, demonstrate that meals served as part of the NSLP and SBP are not meeting nutrition standards. In addition, the dietary intakes of NSLP and SBP participants are high in calories, fat, saturated fat, and sodium, and low in fiber. Studies examining the weight status and other nutrition-related health outcomes of NSLP and SBP participants have produced mixed results. In contrast, no studies published in the peer-reviewed literature have been conducted examining the nutritional adequacy of SFSP meals or the dietary intakes or nutritional health of SFSP participants. There are public reports available on the nutritionally adequacy of SFSP meals, however, they are severely outdated (1988 and 2003). Due to this dearth of information, a case study on a sample SFSP menu from summer 2015 was conducted; results showed that the meals are high in carbohydrate and protein content and insufficient in vegetable servings. Conclusions: There is critical need for policy change that would enable updates to the SFSP nutrition standards to match those of the NSLP and SBP. In addition, strategies are needed to facilitate development of CMP menus that meet current nutrition standards. Finally, rigorously designed studies are needed to understand the direct impact of CMP participation on child diet and health, particularly the SFSP for which there is limited published data.
Chapter 42 – Pluto

Pluto is the prototype of the dwarf planets so common in the Kuiper Belt and beyond. It is in an elliptical, 248 year orbit that ranges from 29.6 to 48.8 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun. Its largest satellite, Charon, is close enough to Pluto in size that the pair is widely considered to be a double planet. Pluto's four other known satellites, which orbit beyond Charon but in Charon's orbital plane, are relatively small. Almost nothing is known about these moons save their orbits, approximate sizes, and their neutral, Charon-like colors. Both Pluto and Charon are rich in ices, but their surface compositions, albedos, and colors are very different. Unlike Charon, Pluto is known to possess distinct surface markings, polar caps, and an atmosphere. Major questions under study about the Pluto system include the fate of Pluto's atmosphere, the degrees of internal activity Pluto and Charon exhibit, and the origin of the system.
High complete response (CR) rate in patients (pts) with esophageal carcinoma (EC) undergoing neoadjuvant combination of docetaxel and cisplatin (DC) ± cetuximab(DCE) chemoradiation therapy—a retrospective analysis

15093 Background: EC is a highly lethal disease with 5 year survival less than 15%. Surgery offers a chance for cure in early disease. Still, fewer than 20% of pts treated with surgery alone are al...
In Vitro Efficacy of Antiviral Compounds against Enterovirus D68

In 2014, the United States experienced a large outbreak of severe respiratory illness associated with enterovirus D68 (EV-D68). We used a homogeneous, cell-based assay to assess the antiviral activity of compounds developed for EV/rhinovirus infection or other indications. Three of 15 compounds were highly active against all four strains tested (the prototype and three 2014 strains), with 50% effective concentrations of 0.0012 to 0.027 μM. Additional studies are needed to assess their in vivo efficacy against EV-D68.
Aid relief in Haiti after the earthquake: Haitians’ preferences for food and other basic commodities

The earthquake that struck Haiti at the start of 2010 led to impressive international solidarity in the recovery effort. Despite the tons of aid sent to Haiti, relatively little is known about the effectiveness of the aid or about the continuing needs of the Haitians. Using data collected from in-person surveys with over 1,000 Haitians in two major cities, we sought to quantify some of the impacts of the earthquake while determining people's relative preferences for food and other basic needs in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. The results indicate that almost two thirds of Haitians lost a friend to the earthquake, and nearly half lost a family member. People reported spending more on food in the aftermath of the earthquake, and the level of food aid received does not appear to have any impact on food expenditures. Among different types of aid, Haitians stated being most in need of a job—something difficult for international aid agencies to supply over the long run. They also indicated that quality of life would be most improved by education. The lessons learned in Haiti may prove useful in addressing future natural disasters.
NRC-IRC computer controlled acoustic measurement and quality system

The architecture, development, and functionality of acoustics software developed at the National Research Council Canada is described. The software incorporates methods to formalize data verification and data approval for quality control along with performing data storage functions. The software has been designed to allow the user to access various data results quickly and efficiently, while providing a quick visual reference to users. The use of the software helps the user to review any test result or the raw data from which result has been derived. All calculated or measured values are stored in an Oracle database, while the raw unprocessed data are stored on a secure backed-up disk system. The system design includes a relational database with the capability of linking the contract, specimens, and test data together.
Pecan Weevil: Feeding and Initial Oviposition as Related to Nut Development

Individual unmated males, unmated females, and pairs of Curculio caryae (Horn) were confined to nut clusters on ‘Stuart’ variety pecan trees in 1972 to study feeding damage and oviposition in relation to nut development. Through Aug. 14, male weevils penetrated the nut shell and caused immature nuts to fall; thereafter, as the shells hardened, males penetrated through the shucks only. Virgin females caused slightly more fallen nuts (drops) over a longer period. The majority of nuts punctured before Aug. 18 fell in 6–15 days; nuts punctured after Aug. 18 remained green and adhered to the tree past normal harvest. Individual male and female pecan weevils destroyed an average 0.23 and 0.29 nuts/day, respectively, July 26–Aug. 14. Mated females began oviposition Aug. 18, the date when a thin cotyledonous layer formed inside that seed coat. Effective oviposition started Aug. 23.
Goodyear Medalist Lecture. Goodyear Medalist Lecture Towards Understanding of the Rheology of Rubber Compounds and their Processing

Abstract The problems of the rheological properties of rubber compounds and the understanding of the processing operations that are used to produce rubber products have received relatively little study in the literature compared to thermoplastics. This seems in part due to an almost 200 year old tradition of industrial secrecy and the vertically integrated nature of the synthetic rubber producer — tire manufacturer combines in the USA. Thus while abundant information has always been available from thermoplastics suppliers on processing technology, little has been available on rubber. Because I began my professional career in the rubber industry and became from an early age concerned with its technical problems, I have not been swayed to the same extent by the thermoplastics dominated technical literature as others in the polymer community.
Advanced Oxidation Protection System for Carbon-Carbon Composites

Carbon-carbon composites possess a number of desirable attributes including low density, high strength and stiffness at temperatures well beyond the capabilities of refractory alloys, low thermal expansion coefficient, tailorable orthotropic properties, absence of strategic materials, and resistance to thermal shock, fatigue, and brittle failures. However, for many applications of interest (such as aircraft and aerospace vehicle structure and engines) resistance to oxidation in high-temperature air or engine exhaust streams is a requirement which is not satisfied by unprotected carbon-carbon composites. The elements of an advanced oxidation protection system for carbon-carbon composites are described in this paper. The system is comprised of both an oxidation resistant coating intended to provide the primary barrier to oxygen ingress and inhibitors added to the matrix of the carbon-carbon composite to increase its oxidation resistance without significant losses in mechanical properties. The composite inhibition system is designed to be complementary to the coating and to enhance its long-term performance. A description of the principal elements of the system is presented along with recent test data and current research directions.Copyright © 1989 by ASME
Decomposing hospital productivity changes, 1985–1988: A nonparametric Malmquist approach

Annual data on U.S. hospitals from 1985–1988 are evaluated by ownership type—profit, nonprofit, state and local government, and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)—for changes in hospital productivity over time. Distance functions are used to measure Malmquist indices of productivity change, which are then decomposed into indices of efficiency change and technology change. In contrast to previous studies using this approach, we allow for variable returns to scale and use both input and output orientations. We find that changes in technology dominate changes in inefficiency in determining changes in productivity.
Endothelial cell calcium increases during flow-induced dilation in isolated arterioles

The influence of flow on endothelial intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was determined in intact, isolated arterioles by selectively loading endothelial cells with the calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye fura-2. A fluorescence microscope coupled to a digital image processor was used to simultaneously measure fura-2 fluorescence and microvessel diameter. Flow through the arteriole significantly increased endothelial [Ca2+]i and dilated arterioles. Acetylcholine also increased in endothelial [Ca2+]i and caused vasodilation. In comparison, adenosine did not alter endothelial [Ca2+]i but dilated arterioles. Removal of the endothelium abolished the responses to flow and acetylcholine but not adenosine. These results provide strong support for the involvement of calcium in endothelium-dependent dilation of isolated arterioles by flow and agonists and emphasize the importance of studying endothelial function in intact vessels.
Pharmacophore Model of Endothelin Antagonists

Endothelin (ET) is a 21-amino acid peptide, and its receptor belongs to a family of Gprotein-coupled receptor. ET antagonist is expected to be a therapeutic agent for disease including myocardinal infarction, hypertension and restenosis. In an attempt to design new antagonists we have created a pharmacophore model using active antagonists with the consideration of conformational flexibility of molecules in which DISCO was applied. A new hydrogen bond donor site was identified in the model, and was utilized successfully in the design of highly active antagonists.
Reflections on a Thirty Five Year Experience with Adolescent Group Psychotherapy

The adolescent therapist must possess certain personality characteristics that are important in treating adolescents so that the teenagers will experience therapy in a meaningful and constructive manner, and thus be less resistant to participating actively in the treatment modality. These factors are particularly important when leading an adolescent therapy group because of the therapeutic impact of helping teenage patients share and work toward resolving the conflicts which they are experiencing. The differences in input of the therapist treating adolescents and the therapist treating adults are addressed. Vignettes of interesting clinical cases are presented.
Stone Disease Imaging: There Is More to X-Rays Than What We See!

Urolithiasis is the condition where kidney stones are formed anywhere along the course of the urinary tract. Diagnostic imaging is used in patients with symptoms suggestive of renal stones to confirm that Urolithiasis is the source of the patient’s pain and to identify the location, size and possible complications of the kidney stones. It will also dictate the most appropriate treatment to follow [1].
Aligning with lives of faith

The philosophical and theological discussion regarding religious faith has primarily concerned itself with the abstract issues of what faith is, whether it can be rationally held, and how an agent can acquire, sustain, or deepen faith. The issue of how we should orient ourselves to the faith of others and the role such orientation might play in the religious life hasn’t been much discussed. It is this topic that I propose to address in this essay. I do so by considering a little-known nineteenth-century saint of the Eastern Orthodox church, St. Jacob of Alaska, exploring the ways in which the liturgy calls for its participants to engage with St. Jacob’s life of faith. I develop and defend the claim that it calls for the religiously committed to align their lives with the lives of exemplars such as St. Jacob.
Automated Off-label Drug Use Detection from User Generated Content

Off-label drug use refers to using marketed drugs for indications that are not listed in their FDA labeling information. Such uses are very common and sometimes inevitable in clinical practice. To some extent, off-label drug uses provide a pathway for clinical innovation, however, they could cause serious adverse effects due to lacking scientific research and tests. Since identifying the off-label uses can provide a clue to the stakeholders including healthcare providers, patients, and medication manufacturers to further the investigation on drug efficacy and safety, it raises the demand for a systematic way to detect off-label uses. Given data contributed by health consumers in online health communities (OHCs), we developed an automated approach to detect off-label drug uses based on heterogeneous network mining. We constructed a heterogeneous healthcare network with medical entities (e.g. disease, drug, adverse drug reaction) mined from the text corpus, which involved 50 diseases, 1,297 drugs, and 185 ADRs, and determined 13 meta paths between the drugs and diseases. We developed three metrics to represent the meta-path-based topological features. With the network features, we trained the binary classifiers built on Random Forest algorithm to recognize the known drug-disease associations. The best classification model that used lift to measure path weights obtained F1-score of 0.87, based on which, we identified 1,009 candidates of off-label drug uses and examined their potential by searching evidence from PubMed and FAERS.
Branched-Chain Amino Acids: The Metabolic Link Between Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiovascular Disease?

See Article by Tobias et al Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is an independent risk factor for CVD, including stroke and heart disease.1,2 Both CVD and T2D share many risk factors, such as obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and hypertension, which led to the hypothesis that both conditions have common genetic and environmental origins,3 but the biological underpinnings establishing the link have not been fully elucidated. Despite the number of traditional risk factors used in current prediction models, a large proportion of CVD events occur in individuals with low predicted risk.4 Therefore, novel biomarkers are needed to improve risk stratification and enhance the opportunity for early intervention. Emerging technologies, such as high-throughput metabolomics and proteomics, can now provide unique insights into mechanisms underlying T2D and CVD by quantifying hundreds of metabolites or proteins across multiple pathways in a single measurement. Recently, these platforms have garnered much attention in the area of CVD biomarker discovery. Comprehensive metabolomic profiling led to the identification of a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) signature (isoleucine, leucine, valine) with insulin resistance.5 The association of BCAAs with T2D has been confirmed in multiple epidemiological studies.6,7 In addition, BCAAs have been associated with CVD.8,9 However, it is unknown whether …
Vitamin D Regulation of the Uridine Phosphorylase 1 Gene and Uridine-Induced DNA Damage in Colon in African Americans and European Americans.

Background & Aims African Americans have the greatest colorectal cancer (CRC) burden in the United States; interethnic differences in protective effects of vitamin D might contribute to disparities. 1α,25(OH)2D3 vitamin D (the active form of vitamin D) induces transcription of the uridine phosphorylase gene (UPP1) in colon tissues of European Americans but to a lesser extent in colon tissues of African Americans. UPP1-knockout mice have increased intestinal concentrations of uridine and Deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP), have increased uridine-induced DNA damage, and develop colon tumors. We studied 1α,25(OH)2D3 regulation of UPP1 and uridine-induced DNA damage in the colon and differences in these processes between African and European Americans. Methods We quantified expression and activity of UPP1 in response to 1α,25(OH)2D3 in young adult mouse colonic cells, human CRC cells (LS174T), and organoids (derived from rectosigmoid biopsy samples of healthy individuals undergoing colonoscopies) using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunoblot, and immunocytochemistry assays. Binding of the vitamin D receptor to UPP1 was tested by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Uridine-induced DNA damage was measured by fragment-length analysis in repair enzyme assays. Allele-specific 1α,25(OH)2D3 responses were tested using luciferase assays. Results Vitamin D increased levels of UPP1 mRNA, protein, and enzymatic activity and increased vitamin D receptor binding to the UPP1 promoter in young adult mouse colonic cells, LS174T cells, and organoids. 1α,25(OH)2D3 significantly reduced levels of uridine and uridine-induced DNA damage in these cells, which required UPP1 expression. Organoids derived from colon tissues of African Americans expressed lower levels of UPP1 after exposure to 1α,25(OH)2D3 and had increased uridine-induced DNA damage compared with organoids derived from tissues of European Americans. Luciferase assays with the T allele of single nucleotide polymorphism rs28605337 near UPP1, which is found more frequently in African Americans than European Americans, expressed lower levels of UPP1 after exposure to 1α,25(OH)2D3 than assays without this variant. Conclusions We found vitamin D to increase expression of UPP1, leading to reduce uridine-induced DNA damage, in colon cells and organoids. A polymorphism in UPP1 found more frequently in African Americans than European Americans reduced UPP1 expression upon cell exposure to 1α,25(OH)2D3. Differences in expression of UPP1 in response to vitamin D could contribute to the increased risk of CRC in African Americans.
The 100th Meridian Initiative in Nevada: Assessing the westward movement of the Zebra mussel to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha, are a concern for all bodies of water in North America. East of the 100 Meridian, zebra mussels have infested the waters and dramatically changed the natural ecosystems. The US Fish and Wildlife Services set up the 100 Meridian Initiative project to monitor the boat traffic to and from infested and non-infested waters of the United States and Canada. Surveys were conducted from October 19, 2002 through March 31, 2003, focusing specifically on the Lake Mead National Recreation Area (LMNRA) for the scope of this thesis. This study addresses the movement of trailers, boats, and other watercraft that enter the LMNRA. Specifically, we addressed three items 1) the origin of trailers that come to the LMNRA, 2) the three previous boat launch sites (ex. Michigan, Idaho, and California) of boats launching at the LMNRA, and 3) the boat cleaning strategies of anglers, pleasure, jet skis, canoes, and other boaters. A total of 4739 trailers were surveyed with a total of 4152 (at 88%) from Nevada, California, and Arizona with a total of 587 (at 12%) from other recorded states; while a total of 177 contact interviews were performed. Descriptive statistics and Chi Square analysis were completed to test the differences from our expected results. A vast majority of the boats surveyed at LMNRA came from local states and non-infested waters; and pleasure boaters were identified as the subgroup of boaters who clean their boats more regularly. Based on the launch locations records of infested states, personal interviews, and cleaning practices the risk of zebra mussel transport to the LMNRA is low.
Surviving Castle Rock: the Human Rights of Domestic Violence

In 2005, the Supreme Court of the United States decided Town of Castle Rock v. Gonzales and held that Jessica Gonzales did not have a constitutional right to police enforcement of a restraining order. The decision highlighted the Court’s reluctance to recognize citizens’ affirmative rights, fortifying a deeply ingrained conceptualization of the Constitution of the United States as a “Negative Constitution” that creates a government with restraints on its actions and extremely limited obligations to its citizens. In August 2011, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights released a report publicizing its finding that by failing to take affirmative measures to address domestic violence, the United States had violated the human rights of Jessica Gonzalez as well as human rights belonging to abuse survivors across the country. This essay will build on the Commission’s report by pinpointing the extent and cause of these human rights violations and the systematic oppression of American women and minority populations that cannot incite necessary change through the exercise of financial and political power. This essay will focus on solutions stemming from modern American jurisprudence and present opportunities to curb the economic, reputational, and expressive fallout of domestic violence in the United States.
Particle Drift Near an Oscillating Cavity

Different mechanisms for the generation of light by a sonoluminescent bubble have been proposed, which involve the shape of the bubble near the time of its minimum radius. Since the shape is difficult to observe directly, the author has suggested obtaining further information by studying the drift motions in the fluid surrounding the bubble, which should be observable out to distances of many times the bubble radius. In this paper two theoretical models are considered. In one, a spherical cavity oscillates both radially and laterally, with amplitude comparable to the mean radius of the bubble. This is shown to produce steady drift motions having the form of an axial dipole flow. The strength of the dipole, however, is many times smaller than that seen in recent observations. In the second model the bubble is assumed to collapse asymmetrically, with one wall hitting the opposite wall at high velocity. This again produces a dipole flow in the far field, and the strength of the flow is compatible with that observed.
Non-nesting spin-density-wave antiferromagnetism in FeAs from first principles

The antiferromagnetic (AFM) state of FeAs is very different from that of the FeAs-based superconductor parent compounds, and it is rather complicated, with the Fe spins forming an incommensurate magnetic spiral pattern with a wavelength of about 15 A. To model this, we perform first-principles calculations and find the nearest-neighbor AFM ordering to be energetically favorable, with the lowest-energy pattern reproducing the experimentally found nearest-neighbor correlations. Other AFM orderings are also very stable, although higher in energy. Unlike in the superconductor parent compounds, the Fermi-surface geometry thus plays a small role. We calculate the bare Lindhard susceptibility in the AFM state and find that the observed spin-density-wave ordering vector Q $\ensuremath{\simeq}(0,0,0.4)$ is not that given by this calculation. This is again unlike the superconductor parent compounds, which generally show a magnetic pattern matching the Lindhard susceptibility maximum. Thus in FeAs, the observed pattern must be due to a subtler mechanism.
LONG TERM EVALUATION OF PRECOATED CANINE FEMORAL PROSTHESIS

ABSTRACT Precoating of a canine femoral hip prosthesis with PMMA cement has been investigated in order to minimize incidence of implant loosening. A bilateral implantation, one for the uncoated, the other for the coated prosthesis was made using the same bone cement used to precoat. After 1, 3, 6, and 13 months both femora were excised and sectioned for mechanical push-out test to assess the interfacial strengths among bone, cement and prosthesis. The precoated prostheses had twice higher interfacial shear strength (12.3 MPa) between prostheses/cement interface than the uncoated implants at all implant period. The interfacial shear strengths of the bone/cement of the precoated implant had much higher value up to 6 months (2 MPa) but became close to the value of the uncoated implants after 13 months (0.7 MPa) due to the bone remodelling process. The present results indicate that the loosening of implant/cement interface can be minimized by precoating but the initial better fixation at the bone/cement interface will diminish to that of uncoated impalnts after 13 months.
Spallanzani's Mouse: A Model of Restoration and Regeneration

The ability to regenerate is thought to be a lost phenotype in mammals, though there are certainly sporadic examples of mammalian regeneration. Our laboratory has identified a strain of mouse, the MRL mouse, which has a unique capacity to heal complex tissue in an epimorphic fashion, i.e., to restore a damaged limb or organ to its normal structure and function. Initial studies using through-and-through ear punches showed rapid full closure of the ear holes with cartilage growth, new hair follicles, and normal tissue architecture reminiscent of regeneration seen in amphibians as opposed to the scarring usually seen in mammals. Since the ear hole closure phenotype is a quantitative trait, this has been used to show—through extensive breeding and backcrossing—that the trait is heritable. Such analysis reveals that there is a complex genetic basis for this trait with multiple loci. One of the major phenotypes of the MRL mouse is a potent remodeling response with the absence or a reduced level of scarring. MRL healing is associated with the upregulation of the metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 and the downregulation of their inhibitors TIMP-2 and TIMP-3, both present in inflammatory cells such as neutrophils and macrophages. This model has more recently been extended to the heart. In this case, a cryoinjury to the right ventricle leads to near complete scarless healing in the MRL mouse whereas scarring is seen in the control mouse. In the MRL heart, bromodeoxyuridine uptake by cardiomyocytes filling the wound site can be seen 60 days after injury. This does not occur in the control mouse. Function in the MRL heart, as measured by echocardiography, returns to normal.
Effects of increasing levels of corn or beet pulp on utilization of low-quality crested wheatgrass hay by lambs and in vitro dry matter disappearance of forages.

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of corn or dried beet pulp on intake and digestibility of forage by lambs and on IVDMD. In Trial 1, 16 lambs (average BW = 41 +/- .9 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design with eight lambs per block. Lambs were fed a crested wheatgrass hay (7.5% CP) and received either no supplement (NS), a protein supplement (PS), or protein supplements with various levels of corn or beet pulp. Corn supplements supplied 1.75 (PCL), 3.5 (PMC), and 5.25 (PHC) g of corn/kg of BW, whereas beet pulp supplements supplied 2.1 (PLBP), 4.2 (PMBP), and 6.3 (PHBP) g of beet pulp/kg of BW. All supplemented lambs received .128 g of CP/kg of BW. Hay DMI decreased linearly (P .71). Supplemental corn increased (P = .03) apparent diet DM digestibility (DMD), whereas supplemental beet pulp did not affect (P > .32) diet DMD. Lambs whose diet was supplemented with beet pulp had greater (P = .010) estimated hay DMD than lambs whose diet was supplemented with corn. In Trial 2, 48-h IVDMD was determined on each of three forages mixed with either corn or beet pulp. The crude protein content of the three forages was 4.9, 9.4, and 12.2% for low-, medium-, and high-quality forages, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Obstructing the cascade: motivational system coactivation dampening defensive reactions to threat and disgust

This study uses the limited capacity model of motivated mediated message processing (LC4MP; Lang, 2006) as a framework to study coactivation of fundamental motivational systems elicited by common m...
EFFECT OF CUSTOMER SERVICE QUALITY ON CONSUMER SATISFACTION: A CASE OF THE NIC BANK LIMITED

Purpose : The purpose of the study was to establish the effect of customer service quality on consumer satisfaction, a case of the NIC bank limited. Methodology : The descriptive survey research design was preferred for the study. The population of the study was over 10,000 credit card holders in NIC Bank. Snow balling sampling technique was appropriate for this study because credit card customers were not keen on cooperating because of the sensitivity of information gathered and only cooperated on referral from friends. Fishers’ formula was used for calculating the sample size of an infinite population which amounted to 384 but for the purpose of improving the response rate, the study added 16 more respondents to total up to 400. The study used primary data. The study used a questionnaire as the preferred data collection tool. Information was sorted, coded and input into the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) for production of descriptive statistics. The results were presented using tables and pie charts to give a clear picture of the research findings. Results : Based on the findings, the study conclded that organizations must offer their customers quality service. It was also possible to conclude that customer service was the base for business expansion because of the stiff competition prevalent in the banking industry. Results also led to conclusion that the survival of banking business is dependent on customer service. Results also led to conclusion that the customers give firms the chance to correct a service failure. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: Based on the findings, the study recommends that banks should emphasize that the credit customer service operatives are honest. In addition the study recommends that the banks should give customers a chance to suggest on noted service failure.
The Effectiveness of the Omnidirectional Illumination in Full-Ring Photoacoustic Tomography

Given that breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in the United States, it is necessary to continue improving the sensitivity and specificity of the breast imaging systems that diagnose breast lesions. Photoacoustic (PA) imaging has been shown to provide functional information during in-vivo studies and can augment the structural information provided by ultrasound (US) imaging. Our research demonstrated a novel PA tomography (PAT) imaging system based on a full-ring, breast encircling, illumination source and a full-ring US receiver. In addition, we compared the full-ring illumination with single point illumination system. Our findings show that full-ring illumination increases the uniformity of the PA signals with respect to the depth of the object image and has great potential for future beast imaging.
A survey of policies and local ordinances supporting physical activity in Hawaii counties.

BACKGROUND: Features of the built environment that influence physical activity behavior characterize Active Community Environments. CONTEXT: Whether Active Community Environments policies exist in the state of Hawaii's four counties is unknown. The purpose of this study was to provide a baseline assessment of these policies in Hawaii. METHODS: A survey assessing policies in six domains (i.e., sidewalks, bike lanes, greenways, recreational facilities, commercial buildings, and shared-use paths) was completed by employees of Hawaii planning departments. CONSEQUENCES: Honolulu County had the most policies (n = 13), followed by Maui County (n = 6), Kauai County (n = 2), and Hawaii County (n = 1). Written policies were most prevalent in Honolulu County (n = 15), followed by Kauai County (n = 14), Hawaii County, (n = 4), and Maui County (n = 3). Sidewalk policies were reported for Honolulu County, Maui County (no written policies were found for Maui County), and Kauai County. Bike lane and greenway policies were found for Honolulu County (reported and written) and Kauai County (written). Recreation facility and pedestrian shared-use path policies existed for all counties, although only Honolulu and Kauai counties had written policies for commercial buildings (Maui County reported having policies). Few policies directly addressed physical activity promotion. INTERPRETATION: The most populous county, Honolulu, had the most policies in place, although discrepancies existed between reported and written policies. This baseline measure of physical activity-related policies will help focus efforts of county coalitions to increase opportunities for physical activity. Additional policies should be tracked with population behavior surveillance. Language: en
Transient dynamic analysis of cracked structures with multiple contact pairs using generalized HSNC

The development of efficient computational methods for cracked structures is critical in the fields of civil, mechanical, and aerospace engineering since the influence of cracks on structural dynamics can play an important role in design, prognosis, and health monitoring. The nonlinearity caused by the intermittent contact on the crack surfaces typically excludes the use of fast linear methods, without which the computation of the dynamics of complex cracked structures becomes very challenging. In this paper, an efficient computational scheme for predicting both the transient and steady-state responses of cracked structures with multiple contact pairs is introduced. The new algorithm is referred to as the generalized hybrid symbolic–numeric computational (HSNC) method. The generalized HSNC method extends the original HSNC method, which was recently developed for bilinear systems, to general piecewise-linear nonlinear systems. This work also combines the HSNC with the $$\hbox {X}-\hbox {X}_{r}$$ method, a reduced-order modeling technique for cracked structures, to efficiently predict the dynamics of complex structures with cracks. The generalized HSNC approach is based on the idea that the nonlinear response of a cracked structure with multiple contact pairs can be obtained by combining linear responses of the system in each of its linear states. These linear responses can be symbolically expressed as functions of the initial conditions at starting time points in each time range where the system behaves linearly. The transition time where the system switches from one linear state to another is found using a nonlinear optimization solver with the initial values provided by an incremental search process. The method is able to individually track status of each contact pair; therefore, it can be used to predict the dynamics of the system when the crack surfaces are not completely open or closed. Moreover, both the transient and steady-state responses of complex cracked structures under various forcing conditions can be captured by the new method. The generalized HSNC method provides a flexible computational framework that is several orders of magnitude faster than traditional numerical integration methods. The dynamics of a spring–mass system and cantilever beam models that contain one crack and multiple cracks are investigated using the proposed method.
Cherenkov imaging for total skin electron therapy (TSET)

Background Total skin electron therapy (TSET) utilizes high-energy electrons to treat malignancies on the entire body surface. The otherwise invisible radiation beam can be observed via the optical Cherenkov photons emitted from interactions between the high-energy electron beam and tissue. Methods and materials With a time-gated intensified camera system, the Cherenkov emission can be used to evaluate the dose uniformity on the surface of the patient in real time. Fifteen patients undergoing TSET in various conditions (whole body and half body) were imaged and analyzed. Each patient was monitored during TSET via in vivo detectors (IVD) in nine locations. For accurate Cherenkov imaging, a comparison between IVD and Cherenkov profiles was conducted using a polyvinyl chloride board to establish the perspective corrections. Results and discussion With proper corrections developed in this study including the perspective and inverse square corrections, the Cherenkov imaging provided two-dimensional maps proportional to dose and projected on patient skin. The results of ratio between chest and umbilicus points were in good agreement with in vivo point dose measurements, with a standard deviation of 2.4% compared to OSLD measurements. Conclusions Cherenkov imaging is a viable tool for validating patient-specific dose distributions during TSET.
Experimental analysis of the size and shape of time reversal chaotic cavities for nondestructive evaluation

Time reversal may be used as an energy-focusing technique. It is applied in many different ways including, for example, nondestructively evaluating cracks in structures, reconstructing a source event, and providing an optimal carrier signal for communication. In nondestructive evaluation applications, it is often of interest to study small samples or samples that do not lend themselves to the bonding of transducers to their surfaces. A chaotic cavity provides space for the attachment of transducers as well as a more reverberant environment, which is critical to the quality of time reversal focusing. Transducers are attached to the chaotic cavity which is attached to the sample under test. The goal of this research is to explore the dependence of the quality of the time reversal focusing on the size and shape of the chaotic cavity used. An optimal chaotic cavity will produce the largest focusing amplitude, best spatial resolution, and most linear focusing of the time reversed signal. The presentation will provide experimental results for time reversal focusing experiments conducted on various sized and shaped aluminum blocks.
Investigation of tofu products coagulated with trimagnesium citrate as a novel alternative to nigari and gypsum: Comparison of physical properties and consumer preference

Abstract This paper investigates the potential of trimagnesium citrate (TMC) as an alternative tofu coagulant, comparing it with the traditional coagulants used in industry as a means to address shortcomings of the two most common traditional coagulants: nigari (NGR) which has a high cost, but good organoleptic properties, and gypsum (GYP) which is inexpensive, but yields an undesirable taste/texture. Yield, water-holding capacity (WHC), texture profile analysis (TPA), confocal microscopic analysis, and sensory evaluation were conducted to compare raw and cooked tofu made from different coagulants. Use of TMC had no effect on yield but did influence several textural properties. For example, hardness and chewiness of TMC-tofu were significantly lower than both traditional products, while the cohesiveness of TMC-tofu and NGR-tofu samples were similar, being slightly lower than the GYP-tofu values. The rate of centrifugal water expression had no difference among the coagulants, but WHC of TMC-tofu was lower than NGR-tofu but similar to GYP-tofu. Structurally, TMC-tofu was similar to NGR-tofu, having numerous, irregular-shaped, small pores. In sensory comparisons, panelists preferred raw TMC-tofu over NGR-tofu and cooked TMC-tofu over GYP-tofu. Therefore, TMC, at the 0.35% range used in this study, should easily be suitable to replace or supplement traditional coagulants.