cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Monocyte Activation in On-Pump Versus Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Objective: Monocyte activation plays a key role in amplifying both inflammatory and coagulopathic sequelae in patients undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Off-pump CABG diminishes, but does not eliminate, the systemic inflammatory response and its influence on monocyte activation remains unclear. This study was performed to determine if off-pump CABG suppresses all features of monocyte activation. Design: Prospective, controlled, clinical study. Setting: University-affiliated veterans affairs hospital and laboratory. Participants: Twenty-two patients scheduled to undergo primary CABG surgery (11 on-pump and 11 off-pump). Interventions: On-pump and off-pump CABG surgery was performed via median sternotomy. Anticoagulation and heparin reversal were identical. Moderate hypothermia (28°-30°C) was used for on-pump CABG surgery, whereas temperature was maintained above 35.5°C for off-pump CABG. No antifibrinolytic agents were used. Measurements and Main Results: Perioperative monocyte changes were assessed by using cellular (CD11b, monocyte-platelet conjugates) and secreted markers (plasma IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10) measured at 6 time points before, during, and after CABG surgery. Off-pump CABG surgery completely blocked the increases in monocyte CD11b expression (p < 0.001) and monocyte-platelet conjugate formation (p < 0.001) observed in the on-pump group. In contrast, plasma interleukin levels were significantly elevated in both groups, although off-pump CABG surgery resulted in lower levels (p < 0.001) and a delayed time course. Conclusions: Off-pump CABG surgery attenuates monocyte secreted cytokines and completely suppresses activation-dependent monocyte cell-surface changes (CD11b, monocyte-platelet conjugate formation). Whether these pathophysiologic differences in monocyte activation translate into a reduction in adverse events after CABG surgery warrants a larger, randomized, outcomes study.
Deciding in the dark: Age differences in intuitive risk judgment.

Elevated levels of risky behavior in adolescence may signal developmental change in unconscious appraisal of risk. Yet, prior research examining adolescent risk judgment has used tasks that elicit conscious deliberation. The present study, in contrast, attempts to characterize age differences in (less conscious) intuitive impressions of risk. Participants (N = 282; ages 10-30) were presented with depictions of a range of risky and nonrisky activities. They were given 2.5 s to rate each activity on a continuous scale ranging from "bad idea" (low-risk favorability) to "good idea" (high-risk favorability). A curvilinear pattern was found, such that favorability ratings increased across adolescence and peaked around age 20. These results pose a challenge to developmental models that view early adolescence as the period of greatest predisposition toward risk taking; however, they are fairly consistent with age patterns for actual risk taking, at least with respect to crime, binge drinking, and unwanted pregnancy.
Seasonal Variation in the Environmental Effects of Toll Collection. Evidence from the Garden State Parkway

Previous studies have shown that electronic toll collection (ETC) can have a positive impact on air quality compared with manual toll collection. However, many toll collection systems are subject to seasonal fluctuations in demand. As a result, the percentage of road users taking advantage of ETC changes throughout the year. Any decrease in the ETC participation rate will increase the amount of pollution created. This article quantifies the pollution effects of this seasonality. The authors use the Garden State Parkway (GSP) in New Jersey as a case study. Because of seasonal changes in ETC participation rates, they find that the quantity of pollution created by toll collection on the GSP increases significantly during the summer months. This seasonal change is caused by travel to the resort areas of the Jersey shore in the summer months. Unfortunately, the reduction in the efficiency of the ETC system occurs during the months when pollution abatement is most needed. These findings suggest that policy makers should take action to encourage ETC as a means of minimizing pollution. These measures could include lowering the cost of attaining a transponder or standardizing technology so that causal users from one area could use the transponder from their home region.
Properties and Reactivity Patterns of AsP3: An Experimental and Computational Study of Group 15 Elemental Molecules

Facile synthetic access to the isolable, thermally robust AsP3 molecule has allowed for a thorough study of its physical properties and reaction chemistry with a variety of transition-metal and organic fragments. The electronic properties of AsP3 in comparison with P4 are revealed by DFT and atoms in molecules (AIM) approaches and are discussed in relation to the observed electrochemical profiles and the phosphorus NMR properties of the two molecules. An investigation of the nucleus independent chemical shifts revealed that AsP3 retains spherical aromaticity. The thermodynamic properties of AsP3 and P4 are described. The reaction types explored in this study include the thermal decomposition of the AsP3 tetrahedron to its elements, the synthesis and structural characterization of [(AsP3)FeCp*(dppe)][BPh4] (dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane), 1, selective single As-P bond cleavage reactions, including the synthesis and structural characterization of AsP3(P(N(iPr)2)N(SiMe3)2)2, 2, and activations of A...
Energy levels of quark atoms.

We assume that free quarks exist in nature. The energy levels of atoms composed of these quarks and various nuclei are calculated. We note some important aspects of these energies.
Determination of copper and zinc in metallurgical products by automatic derivative spectrophotometric titrations

Abstract Direct automatic derivative spectrophotometric titration procedures for copper and zinc in brasses and bronzes are described. Copper reacts with excess iodide and the liberated iodine is automatically titrated with thiosulfate using the UV absorption band of iodine for end-point detection. Total copper and zinc is automatically titrated with EDTA using PAN as indicator, and zinc is found by difference. 'I'he automatic termination of the titrations eliminates the subjective evaluation of the end-points, and the entire procedure is simple, precise and accurate. The total time required for determining copper and zinc in brass or bronze is about twenty minutes.
Collaborative learning with intelligent tutoring systems

Collaborative learning has been used in education since ancient times. However, students need to learn how to work effectively in a collaborative learning environment. Intelligent Tutoring Systems have traditionally tutored individual students working on a single computer or terminal. The methodology for designing group support systems is provided by the area of Computer-Supported Cooperative Work. This dissertation describes an Intelligent Collaborative Learning System (ICLS) and its Group Leader which are based on these three research areas. The ICLS supports students working in a networked collaborative learning environment. The Group Leader paradigm of pedagogical expertise coaches, monitors, and tutors students to learn collaborative skills as they work on the task and discussion levels. We discuss the model, design, implementation, and prototype of the ICLS and its Group Leader. The results of qualitative experimental research show that students were satisfied with the system and thought that it was useful and successful for their collaborative work.
Moments when utilities are functional.

Individual patients’ values and preferences are critical to patient-centered decisions. When dealing with health outcomes on an interval scale, where many intermediate outcomes must be considered, it can be helpful to encourage the patient decision maker to consider what functional form may be specified and parameterized for a given outcome attribute. This assessment problem is described in Keeney and Raiffa’s classic book. 1 For simplicity, let us restrict ourselves to unidimensional settings. We are asked first to specify an attitude toward risk (risk neutral, risk averse, or risk seeking) and then subclassify attitudes depending on whether the risk attitude is constant, absolutely decreasing, or relatively decreasing, in the case of the most common attitude, risk aversion. These questions then often specifyafunctionalformforthepatient’sutilityfunction,whichcanbeparameterizedonthebasisofalimited number of responses from the patient decision maker. This approach tends to consider just risk aversion, the curvature of the utility function as determined by the ratio of its second to its first derivative. That curvature can be quantified by the Pratt-Arrow measure of risk aversion, 2 u 2 /u 1 , although other measures, such as the stronger Ross measure of risk aversion, 3–6 are sometimes used. We use the notation u i to denote the ith derivative of u(x), d i u(x)/dx i . For utilitydistribution functions,onecanconsider either utility density functions (udfs) or their integrals, cumulative utility functions (cufs), analogous toprobabilitydensity functions (pdfs) and cumulative distribution functions (cdfs). For density functions, shape can be described by the function’s moments (e.g., 0-mean, 1-slope, 2-variance, 3-skewness, 4-kurotosis,andhigherunnamedmoments).Normatively, utilities with positive skewness are preferred by individuals whose utility function has u 3 . 0, whereas low kurtosis should be preferred by individuals whose utility function has u 4 \0. 7
Influence of Cannabis Use on Severity of Hepatitis C Disease

Background & Aims: Complications of HCV infection are primarily related to the development of advanced fibrosis and whether cannabis use is a risk factor for more severe fibrosis is controversial. Methods: Baseline data from a prospective cohort study of 204 persons with chronic HCV infection were used for analysis. The outcome was fibrosis score on biopsy, and the primary predictor evaluated was daily cannabis use. Results: The median age of the cohort was 46.8 years, 69.1% were male, 49.0% were white, and the presumed route of infection was injection drug use in 70.1%. The median lifetime duration and average daily use of alcohol were 29.1 years and 1.94 drink equivalents per day, respectively. Cannabis use frequency (within prior 12 months) was daily in 13.7%, occasional in 45.1%, and never in 41.2%. Fibrosis stage, assessed by the Ishak method, was F0, F1–2, and F3–6 in 27.5%, 55.4%, and 17.2% of subjects, respectively. Daily compared with non-daily cannabis use was significantly associated with moderate to severe fibrosis (F3–6 vs F1–2) in univariate (odds ratio [OR], 3.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20–8.56, P = .020) and multivariate analyses (OR, 6.78; 95% CI, 1.89–24.31, P = .003). Other independent predictors of F3–6 were ≥11 portal tracts (compared with P = .021) and lifetime duration of moderate to heavy alcohol use (OR per decade, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.02–2.90, P = .044). Conclusions: Daily cannabis use is strongly associated with moderate to severe fibrosis, and HCV-infected individuals should be counseled to reduce or abstain from cannabis use.
Narrow linewidth 1.52 µm InAs/InP quantum dot DFB lasers

We have grown, fabricated, and tested single mode ridge-waveguide distributed feedback lasers utilising InAs/InP quantum dots as the gain medium. The growth of quantum dots on InP substrates allows us to reach the important 1.55 µm telecommunications wavelength range, in this case lasing at 1.52 µm. The quantum dot gain medium was grown using chemical beam epitaxy, and the top cladding regrown after grating patterning using metal-organic-chemical vapour-deposition. No shift in the photoluminescence peak wavelength of the dots was observed following top cladding regrowth. Ridge waveguide lasers were fabricated with ridge widths of 3 µm and cleaved to 500 µm and 1 mm cavity lengths. The facets were coated to provide reflectivities of 65% and 2%. In continuous wave (cw) operation single-mode output was observed with a side mode suppression ratio greater than 61 dB, and an output power of 9.7 mW at an injection current of 150 mA. Operation up to 80°C was achieved. The relative intensity noise was measured to be less than −154 dB/Hz from 10 MHz to 10 GHz, and the optical linewidth to be less than 150 KHz for the best devices.
Intensities of rotation and vibration-rotation Raman transitions in asymmetric top molecules†

The derivation of the intensities of rotation and rotation-vibration Raman transitions for asymmetric top molecules is given, based on irreducible spherical tensor formalism. A computer program package written to calculate such intensities is described. Its use is demonstrated by reproducing the observed contours of the pure rotational band and the asymmetric stretching vibrational band in the Raman spectrum of the SO2 molecule. The polarizability tensor component ratio required to simulate the pure rotational contour is combined with literature values for mean polarizability and depolarization ratio to obtain the principal values of the SO2 polarizability tensor. A correlation of the polarizability tensor component ratio with band types is discussed for totally symmetric bands which have been reproduced using our program and those of others.
POSE: power optimization and synthesis environment

Recent trends in the semiconductor industry have resulted in an increasing demand for low power circuits. POSE is a step in providing the EDA community and academia with an environment and tool suite for automatic synthesis and optimization of low power circuits. POSE provides a unified framework for specifying and maintaining power relevant circuit information and means of estimating power consumption of a circuit using different load models. POSE also gives a set of options for making area-power trade-offs during logic optimization.
A combined direct numerical simulation-particle image velocimetry study of the turbulent near wake

We investigate the near wake of a cylinder at values of Reynolds number corresponding to the onset and development of shear-layer instabilities. By combining quantitative experimental imaging (particle image velocimetry, PIV) and direct numerical simulations at Re = 3900/4000 and 10000, we show that the flow structure is notably altered. At higher Reynolds number, the lengths of both the wake bubble and the separating shear layer decrease substantially. Corresponding patterns of velocity fluctuations and Reynolds stress contract towards the base of the cylinder. The elevated values of Reynolds stress at upstream locations in the separated layer indicate earlier onset of shear-layer transition. These features are intimately associated with the details of the shear-layer instability, which leads to small-scale vortices. The simulated signatures of the shear-layer vortices are characterized by a broadband peak at Re = 3900 and a broadband high spectral-density 'plateau' at Re=10000 in the power spectra. The shear-layer frequencies from the present direct numerical simulations study agree well with previous experimentally measured values, and follow the power law suggested by other workers.
Prostaglandins PGE2 and PGI2 promote endothelial barrier enhancement via PKA- and Epac1/Rap1-dependent Rac activation

Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and prostacyclin are lipid mediators produced by cyclooxygenase and implicated in the regulation of vascular function, wound repair, inflammatory processes, and acute lung injury. Although protective effects of these prostaglandins (PGs) are associated with stimulation of intracellular cAMP production, the crosstalk between cAMP-activated signal pathways in the regulation of endothelial cell (EC) permeability is not well understood. We studied involvement of cAMP-dependent kinase (PKA), cAMP-Epac-Rap1 pathway, and small GTPase Rac in the PGs-induced EC barrier protective effects and cytoskeletal remodeling. PGE(2) and PGI(2) synthetic analog beraprost increased transendothelial electrical resistance and decreased dextran permeability, enhanced peripheral F-actin rim and increased intercellular adherens junction areas reflecting EC barrier-protective response. Furthermore, beraprost dramatically attenuated thrombin-induced Rho activation, MLC phosphorylation and EC barrier dysfunction. In vivo, beraprost attenuated lung barrier dysfunction induced by high tidal volume mechanical ventilation. Both PGs caused cAMP-mediated activation of PKA-, Epac/Rap1- and Tiam1/Vav2-dependent pathways of Rac1 activation and EC barrier regulation. Knockdown of Epac, Rap1, Rac-specific exchange factors Tiam1 and Vav2 using siRNA approach, or inhibition of PKA activity decreased Rac1 activation and PG-induced EC barrier enhancement. Thus, our results show that barrier-protective effects of PGE(2) and prostacyclin on pulmonary EC are mediated by PKA and Epac/Rap pathways, which converge on Rac activation and lead to enhancement of peripheral actin cytoskeleton and adherens junctions. These mechanisms may mediate protective effects of PGs against agonist-induced lung vascular barrier dysfunction in vitro and against mechanical stress-induced lung injury in vivo.
A computational model for impact failure with shear‐induced dilatancy

It has been observed in plate impact experiments that some brittle solids may undergo elastic deformation at the shock wave front, and fail catastrophically at a later time when they are shocked near but below the apparent Hugoniot elastic limit. Because this phenomenon appears to have features different from those of usual inelastic waves, it has been interpreted as the failure wave. To design an effective numerical procedure for simulating impact failure responses, a three-dimensional computational damage model is developed in this paper. The propagation of the failure wave behind the elastic shock wave is described by a non-linear diffusion equation. Macroscopic shear-induced dilatancy is assumed and treated as a one-to-one measure of the mean intensity of microcracking. The damage evolution in time is determined based on the assumption that the deviatoric strain energy in the elastically compressed material (undamaged) is converted, through the damaging process, into the volumetric potential energy in the comminuted and dilated material. For the ease in large-scale simulations, the coupled damage diffusion equation and the stress wave equation are solved via a staggered manner in a single computational domain. Numerical solutions by using both the finite element method and the material point method, i.e. with and without a rigid mesh connectivity, are presented and compared with the experimental data available. It is shown that the model simulations capture the essential features of the failure wave phenomenon observed in shock glasses, and that the numerical solutions for localized failure are not mesh-dependent.
Direct displacement measurements of submerged objects

The direct measurement of displacement time histories, obtained by tracking illuminated targets located on the exterior surface of submerged objects, has significant advantages for large-scale model tests. Many problems of interest require the simultaneous measurement of three-dimensional motions at several elevations on the same body or on several bodies in close proximity. Thus, optical tracking of targets in air or water or some combination of the two required the development of a general analytical formulation capable of converting local data measured from multiple camera locations to a global coordinate system for further analysis. The formulation presented is quite general and allows one to study the displacement behavior of single or multiple targets located on the same object or on different moving objects. As part of the analysis, calibration issues, possible sources of error and the optimal choice of camera location are discussed in detail. Data obtained from a large-scale model test of deepwater platform TLP tendons subjected to random design seas is used to illustrate the methodology. In the example, four different cameras were used to record the tendon displacements. To illustrate the methodology, five different camera combinations were used to compute the target location. The results indicate that the formulation is quite robust and that, although only a two-camera system is required to resolve the three-dimensional global coordinates of a single target, the use of a third camera can enhance the accuracy of the results. Guidelines for using cameras to track target motion were developed and are presented.
Variability of diurnality in laboratory rodents

The locomotor activity rhythms of domestic mice, laboratory rats, Syrian hamsters, Siberian hamsters, Mongolian gerbils, degus, and Nile grass rats were compared. Running-wheel activity was monitored under a light–dark cycle with 12 h of light and 12 h of darkness per day. Nile grass rats were found to be reliably diurnal, whereas laboratory rats, Siberian hamsters, domestic mice, and Syrian hamsters were reliably nocturnal. Both diurnal and nocturnal subgroups were observed in Mongolian gerbils and degus. A downward gradient of diurnality was observed from Mongolian gerbils classified as diurnal, degus classified as diurnal, gerbils classified as nocturnal, and degus classified as nocturnal. Nocturnal degus remained nocturnal when tested with an infrared motion detector without running wheels. Thus, although the diurnal–nocturnal dichotomy could be applied to some of the species, it was not appropriate for others. The dichotomy may reflect researchers’ needs for systematization more than a natural distinction between species. Through mechanisms as yet poorly understood, the balance between entraining and masking processes seems to generate a gradient of temporal niches that runs from predominantly diurnal species to predominantly nocturnal species with many chronotypes in between, including species that exhibit wide intra-species gradients of temporal niche.
Amperometric biosensor for diamine using diamine oxidase purified from porcine kidney

Abstract Diamine oxidase was purified over 2300-fold from porcine kidney to a specific activity of 1 U mg−1. The final preparation exhibited a single 103 kDa protein band and contained relatively large amounts of Asx and Glx acidic residues. When stored at −80°C, soluble enzyme retained its original catalytic activity for at least five months. The optimal pH and temperature of the enzyme immobilized by intramolecular cross-linking via glutaraldehyde 3ctivation and deposited onto a preactivated nylon membrane were 7.4 and 60°C with cadaverine as substrate. The apparent Km″ values (Michaelis-Menten constants) of immobilized diamine oxidase with histamine, putrescine, and cadaverine as substrates were estimated to be 0.27, 3.2, and 0.64 m m , respectively. Artificial mediators such as ferrocene derivatives, 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol, potassium ferricyanide and 4-animodiphenylamine were not observed to facilitate electron transfer from the reduced enzyme to the electrode. The biosensor using the immobilized diamine oxidase and a platinum working electrode (poised at +700 mV vs Ag AgCl for determination of hydrogen peroxide released from the enzymatic oxidation) was linear up to 6 m m histamine, cadaverine, or putrescine with a lower detection limit of 25 μ m . Each analysis could be performed in 3 min including washing and time for the current to return to baseline. The enzyme membranes were stable at 5°C for at least two months and could be used for more than 60 repeated analyses without significant loss of sensitivity.
Correlates of Symptom Reduction in Treatment-Seeking Survivors of Torture

While a growing body of literature addresses the psychological consequences of torture and war trauma, there are few empirical examinations of treatment for survivors of torture. This study offers a program evaluation of a comprehensive torture treatment program in New York City. We present literature surrounding the interdisciplinary “wraparound” approach to treating survivors of torture, and examine the relationship between clinical services and symptom reduction in a multinational sample of refugees (N 172) receiving treatment over a 6-month period. Clients were administered the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) during their intake interview and six months later. We found that approximately 45% (n 77) of treated clients displayed clinically significant improvement on either the HTQ, or the BSI subscales of Depression, Anxiety, or Somatization, over the six months following their intake evaluation. Generalized linear models revealed that gaining secure immigration status was the strongest correlate of clinical improvement. However, psychotherapy and attendance at educational sessions predicted improvement in symptoms beyond adjusting to a more secure immigration status. While this study’s correlational design does not establish that treatment caused the observed improvement, results point to the pivotal role of both clinical and “nonclinical” services and provide preliminary support for the value of an interdisciplinary approach. More research is needed to understand mechanisms of change and improvement in this sensitive population.
DATA FLOW: Visualising Information in Graphic Design. Edited by Robert Klanten, Nicolas Bourquin, Thibaud Tissot, and Sven Ehmann.

(2010). Data Flow: Visualising Information in Graphic Design. Edited by Robert Klanten, Nicolas Bourquin, Thibaud Tissot, and Sven Ehmann. Geographical Review: Vol. 100, No. 1, pp. 131-133.
Deciphering the Lapita Code: the Aitape Ceramic Sequence and Late Survival of the ‘Lapita Face’

Archaeological and ethnographic evidence from the Sepik coast of Papua New Guinea documents the survival in the western Pacific of a stylized symbol or motif — the so-called ‘Lapita face’ — on pottery and possibly other kinds of material items (such as wooden bowls and serving platters) for at least 3300 years. A plausible reason for the persistence of this iconography is that it has referred to ideas about the living and the dead, the human and the divine, and the individual and society that remained socially and spiritually profound and worth expressing long after the demise of Lapita as a distinct ceramic style. We detail evidence for saying that the ‘faces’ on Lapita vessels from thousands of years ago and certain stylized designs on historic and modern carved wooden bowls and platters from this coast are historically linked ways of alluding to sea turtles, creatures figuring prominently in the lore and cosmology of Pacific Islanders. Here we describe four prehistoric wares (or ‘phases’ or ‘periods’) in the Aitape ceramic sequence on the Sepik coast that, considered in series, fill the temporal gap between practices and beliefs in Lapita times and present-day realities in this part of the world.
TRiP: Tracking Rhythms in Plants, an automated leaf movement analysis program for circadian period estimation

A well characterized output of the circadian clock in plants is the daily rhythmic movement of leaves. This process has been used extensively in Arabidopsis to estimate circadian period in natural accessions as well as mutants with known defects in circadian clock function. Current methods for estimating circadian period by leaf movement involve manual steps throughout the analysis and are often limited to analyzing one leaf or cotyledon at a time. In this study, we describe the development of TRiP (Tracking Rhythms in Plants), a new method for estimating circadian period using a motion estimation algorithm that can be applied to whole plant images. To validate this new method, we apply TRiP to a Recombinant Inbred Line (RIL) population in Arabidopsis using our high-throughput imaging platform. We begin imaging at the cotyledon stage and image through the emergence of true leaves. TRiP successfully tracks the movement of cotyledons and leaves without the need to select individual leaves to be analyzed. TRiP is a program for analyzing leaf movement by motion estimation that enables high-throughput analysis of large populations of plants. TRiP is also able to analyze plant species with diverse leaf morphologies. We have used TRiP to estimate period for 150 Arabidopsis RILs as well as 5 diverse plant species, highlighting the broad applicability of this new method.
Lateral carbon nanotube field emission devices for integrated electronics operating in harsh environments

Since their discovery by Iijima in 1991 [1], carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been the focus of significant research due to their unique physical, mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties. CNTs have very high aspect ratios, inherent chemical and mechanical strength, and large current carrying capability. Suggested applications have included sensors [2–5], nanoscale interconnects [2, 6, 7], high strength polymers and composites [8, 9], high performance transistors [10, 11], and field emitters [12–16]. In this work, we propose the development of CNT-based devices that utilize field emission as the electron transport mechanism and a lateral (in-plane) emission geometry that will enable integration and production advantages over more typical vertical emission sources [17, 18]. Compared to vertical CNT emitter structures, lateral emitters offer simpler fabrication and are attractive due to the versatility of the electrode geometries that can be created. By choosing the proper geometry, the gate-to-cathode and gate-to-anode capacitances can be minimized allowing for high frequency operation with low power consumption. These devices, because they rely on field emission, have the added benefit of possessing a very weak temperature dependence which enables operation over a wide temperature range (×20–1000 Kelvin) without appreciable changes in performance. By comparison, silicon-based semiconductor technology typically fails at temperatures above 300–350°C without supplementary cooling systems. In this work we will discuss electrical and thermal results for both diode and triode configurations, as well as potential applications to integrated circuits.
Dynamic plasmapause model based on THEMIS measurements

This paper presents a dynamic plasmapause location model established based on 5 years of Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) measurements from 2009 to 2013. In total, 5878 plasmapause crossing events are identified, sufficiently covering all 24 magnetic local time (MLT) sectors. Based on this plasmapause crossing database, we investigate the correlations between plasmapause locations with solar wind parameters and geomagnetic indices. Input parameters for the best fits are obtained for different MLT sectors, and finally, we choose five input parameters to build a plasmapause location model, including 5 min-averaged SYM-H, AL, and AU indices as well as hourly-averaged AE and Kp indices. two out-of-sample comparisons on the evolution of the plasmapause is shown during two magnetic storms, demonstrating good agreement between model results and observations. Two major advantages are achieved by this model. First, this model provides plasmapause locations at 24 MLT sectors, still providing good consistency with observations. Second, this model is able to reproduce dynamic variations of the plasmapause on timescales as short as 5 min.
Visualizing Trials with Large DNA Databases

This essay seeks to help the reader follow the analysis by Ayres and Nalebuff of the use of probability theory in assessing DNA evidence drawn from large databases. I first guide the reader through visualizing a simpler paradox of probability theory: the rare disease test. I then offer a visual understanding of their paradigmatic setting: DNA evidence from a large database identifies an individual, but a deceased prime suspect also exists whose DNA is not available. A third unknown perpetrator whose DNA is not in the database is also a possibility. Consider the three possible scenarios. In the first scenario, the deceased prime suspect is the perpetrator, and the DNA test produces a false positive identification. In the second scenario the unknown perpetrator is guilty, and again the court observes a false positive. The third scenario has the perpetrator in the database, and the court observes a true positive. Effectively, the court needs to ascertain the probability of the third scenario, which turns out to be highly likely. This approach makes visible the possibility of a false positive after a false negative.
Defects in the Adaptive Immune Response Leading to Recurrent Infections

The adaptive immune system functions efficiently to eliminate potential pathogens that escape innate host defenses. Unfortunately, defects of the adaptive system can result in overwhelming infections with a variety of microorganisms. These defects may be either congenital or acquired. Prior to the availability of antibiotics, sporadic observations of children with histories involving recurrent infections appeared in the French, German, and English literature. The first description of a congenital immunodeficiency disease is generally attributed to Col. Ogden Bruton in 1952 with his publication of a case report of an 8-year-old boy with X-linked agammaglobulinemia. Since 1952 a large number of patients with different congenital immunodeficiencies have been reported: these include failure of the thymus to develop or function properly, antigen-presenting cells that failed to HLA molecules, and individuals presenting with a total lack of both T and B lymphocyte-mediated immunity. All of these diseases are rare. Finally in 1981 a report of recurrent and unusual infections in a group of homosexual males ushered in the realization that immunodeficiency could be acquired as a result of a viral infection. The information obtained from the study of both congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies has provided a wealth of information about the development and functioning of the normal immune system.
A Study of the Immunologic Aspects of Chronic Ulcerative Colitis and Transmural Colitis

The etiology of chronic ulcerative colitis (CUC)* remains unknown. However, increasing evidence has come forth in recent years indicating that immunologic mechanisms deserve an important consideration in the pathogenesis of this disorder. Such evidence includes: (1) a significant association of ulcerative colitis with various hypersensitivity disorders such as erythema nodosum, urticaria, vasculitis, a peculiar type of arthritis, conjunctivitis, renal disease, liver disease, periarteritis nodosa, and systemic lupus erythematosus; (2) demonstration of colonic antibodies in the sera of patients with ulcerative colitis by Broberger and Perlmami;' and (3) the beneficial effect of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy in this disease. I t is generally agreed that the circulating colonic antibody described by Broberger and Perlmami is not itself a pathogenic agent in ulcerative colitis. However, its possible role as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in this disease remains unclear. In another colonic inflammatory disease, transmural colitis (TMC),* the evidence for participation of immunologic mechanisms is less convincing. The significance of colonic antibodies in this disease is also not clear, and comparative studies of the immunologic mechanisms present in CUC and TMC have not been made. The clinical and pathologic distinction between CUC and TMC is difficult at times, and recently Hawk and asso-
Excitation Functions, Recoil Ranges, and Statistical-Theory Analysis of Reactions Induced in Zr 90 with 25- to 80-MeV Helium Ions

Excitation functions and mean recoil ranges have been measured for radioactive products resulting from the helium-ion bombardment of natural zirconium and targets which were isotopically enriched in ${\mathrm{Zr}}^{90}$. Helium-ion energies varied between 25 and 80 MeV. Products observed were ${\mathrm{Mo}}^{90}$, ${\mathrm{Nb}}^{90}$, ${\mathrm{Zr}}^{89}$, ${\mathrm{Zr}}^{88}$, ${\mathrm{Y}}^{88}$, ${\mathrm{Zr}}^{87}$, ${\mathrm{Y}}^{87}$, ${\mathrm{Zr}}^{86}$, and ${\mathrm{Y}}^{86}$. The excitation function was also measured for the production of ${\mathrm{Y}}^{87}$. The recoil ranges are compared with the range theory of Lindhard, Scharff, and Schiott to determine the energy ranges over which the production of the nuclide is consistent with major contributions from a compound-nucleus mechanism. Excitation functions for products with $A\ensuremath{\ge}87$ were compared with the statistical model to investigate the influence of shell structure on level densities. The level-density models used were those due to Newton and to Rosenzweig in addition to the standard Fermi-gas level density. Rosenzweig's model gave the best over-all agreement with the experimental results, with the standard Fermi-gas level density a close second. Several excitation functions were calculated using the $s$-wave approximation to estimate the effect of $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray de-excitation due to angular-momentum restrictions. Threshold position and excitation-function widths were found to agree quite satisfactorily with experimental values when this was done.
Comparison of anti-reflective properties of single layer anatase and rutile TiO2 on GaAs based solar cells

Anatase and rutile titanium dioxide thin films grown by a low temperature process are investigated for their use as a single layer antireflection coating for GaAs solar cells. The thin films are obtained by spin coating a layer from the TiO2 sol-gel and subsequently annealing at 150 °C. The sol-gel is synthesized by the hydrolysis of titanium isopropoxide in the presence of an acid or a base. By controlling the pH of the sol-gel during growth, pure anatase and rutile phases are obtained. A pH of around 3.0 yields anatase phase while a pH of 9.0 yields pure rutile phase TiO2. The two different phases of TiO2 are characterized by measuring the Raman scattering spectra. The optical constants, thickness and reflectance of the thin films on GaAs are obtained using a spectroscopic ellipsometer. The sol-gel is spin coated on GaAs based solar cells and annealed at 150 °C to form the anti-reflective layer. The performance of the solar cells is evaluated before and after coating with the TiO2 films. The anatase TiO2 anti-reflective films performed better than the rutile with a maximum power conversion efficiency enhancement of 50%. Quantum efficiency enhancement of 58% and 25% are obtained with anatase and rutile phase films respectively. The performance enhancement of the solar cells using these thin films can be attributed to the destructive interference of light associated with a single layer coating on the solar cell surface.
The Traditional Account of Knowledge

This chapter introduces the traditional account of knowledge. First, three main kinds of knowledge are distinguished: acquaintance knowledge, knowledge-how, and propositional knowledge. The nature of each of these kinds of knowledge and their differences from one another are illuminated. It is also made clear that scientific knowledge is best understood as a particular variety of propositional knowledge. After clarifying the differences between these kinds of knowledge the chapter turns to a brief examination of the traditional account of propositional knowledge. This traditional account holds that in order for one to have knowledge of a particular proposition three conditions must be satisfied: the proposition must be true, one must believe the proposition, and one must have justification for believing the proposition. The discussion of the traditional account of knowledge in this chapter sets the stage for the more in-depth examination of the general features of knowledge that is the focus of the remaining chapters in this section of the book.
Forces and Stress

Material volumes interact by exerting forces on one another and it is through the actions of these forces that motion of a material volume occurs. Forces can be categorized either as body forces that act at a distance, such as the gravitational forces of attraction that exist between any two material volumes, or as surface forces that two material volumes exert on one another when they are in contact. An important concept in the analysis of forces is that of the free body and the identification of forces as either internal or external relative to a free body. Any material volume can be identified as a free body. Then, any forces exerted by one portion of the free body on another portion of the free body are said to be internal relative to the free body. Forces exerted on the free body by other material volumes that are not part of the free body are external relative to the free body. Whether a force is internal or external will depend on what material volume one chooses to be the free body. Whereas external body forces act, in general, on all the material points of a free body, external surface forces only act on material points on the free body’s boundary.
Clarity of Responsibility, Accountability, and Corruption

Corruption is a significant problem for democracies throughout the world. Even the most democratic countries constantly face the threat of corruption and the consequences of it at the polls. Why are some governments more corrupt than others, even after considering cultural, social, and political characteristics? In Clarity of Responsibility, Accountability, and Corruption, the authors argue that clarity of responsibility is critical for reducing corruption in democracies. The authors provide a number of empirical tests of this argument, including a cross-national time-series statistical analysis to show that the higher the level of clarity the lower the perceived corruption levels. Using survey and experimental data, the authors show that clarity causes voters to punish incumbents for corruption. Preliminary tests further indicate that elites respond to these electoral incentives and are more likely to combat corruption when clarity is high.
International Financial Institutions

At the very heart of the international financial system are several institutions whose main purpose is to aid in the international payments mechanism. Because of their diverse natures, these entities are difficult to categorise but they do nevertheless share common traits. In a structural sense, their common denominator is a transnational character that spans national boundaries.
Application of a Quantum-Well Silicon NMOS Transistor as a Folding Amplifier Frequency Multiplier

This paper reports on the use of a single quantum well (QW) silicon NMOS transistor to generate a folded current–voltage transfer function that enables frequency doubling and tripling. The QW NMOS device is fabricated entirely on an industrially standard 45 nm technology node CMOS processing line. Quantum transport through the QW results in negative differential transconductances that fold the $I_{DS}$ – $V_{G}$ function. Using two such folds, time domain data shows frequency doubling up through the kHz range at room temperature, and Fourier analysis confirms that the output is dominated by the second harmonic of the input. Total harmonic distortion is approximately -14 dB. De-embedding the frequency response from parasitic cable and contact impedances suggests that the intrinsic doubling bandwidth of a QW NMOS transistor could be as high as 10 GHz if monolithically integrated into a circuit. The high frequency performance of the QW NMOS is limited by the relatively high transresistance magnitude of the device. Frequency tripling can also be shown using a single QW NMOS with three folds. This work helps establish the high frequency performance limitations of a QW NMOS device. It is also the first example of a silicon quantum device fabricated by mainstream CMOS technology being used in a circuit application.
Internet routing registries, data governance, and security

Routing is fundamental to the workings of the internet, yet the basic routing protocol, Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), is known to be insecure. This paper uses institutional economics to examine internet routing registries, which are used by network operators to mitigate the security flaws in BGP. Secure routing of internet traffic is characterised as a problem in the distributed governance of data. The highly distributed and decentralised exchange of routing announcements and routing policy data among network operators affords many opportunities for error or manipulation. This paper considers various solutions to the data governance problems associated with routing, in light of actors’ incentives and collective action problems. We compare IRRs to other methods of governing routing data in a way that enhances internet security, such as Resource Public Key Infrastructure and Border Gateway Protocol Security, Mutually Agreed Norms on Routing Security, and a blockchain supported routing registry.
Label-free hyperspectral imaging and quantification methods for surgical margin assessment of tissue specimens of cancer patients

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a relatively new modality in medicine and can have many potential applications. In this study, we developed label-free hyperspectral imaging for tumor margin assessment. HSI data, hypercube (x,y,λ), consists of a series of images of the same field of view that are acquired at different wavelengths. Every pixel in the hypercube has an optical spectrum. We collected surgical tissue specimens from 16 human subjects who underwent head and neck (H&N) cancer surgery. We acquired both HSI, autofluorescence images, and fluorescence images with 2-NBDG and proflavine from the specimens. Digitized histologic slides were examined by an H&N pathologist. We developed image preprocessing and classification methods for HSI data and differentiate cancer from benign tissue. The hyperspectral imaging and classification method was able to distinguish between cancer and normal tissue from oral cavity with an average accuracy of 90±8%, sensitivity of 89±9%, and specificity of 91±6%. This study suggests that label-free hyperspectral imaging has great potential for surgical margin assessment in tissue specimens of H&N cancer patients. Further development of the imaging technology and quantification methods is warranted for its application in image-guided surgery.
The Impact of U.S. Prospective Payment on Hospital Capital Formation: An Initial Analysis of the 1991 Change in Medicare Reimbursement for Capital Costs

In 1991 the Health Care Financing Agency (HCFA) changed the reimbursement system for hospital capital costs from a costs-paid basis to one with a prospective basis, as part of the ongoing battle to control health care costs. This followed the 1984 change for patient costs from a Fee-For-Service basis to one based on DRGs, a prospectively determined amount for specific diagnosis categories. The capital cost reimbursement allowances in 1996, for example, had a $462 base amount, which was pro-rated with an adjustment for patient-specific DRGs. Previous empirical research has shown that hospitals increased net fixed capital when the proportion of Medicare discharges increased, and as the market became less concentrated. In this paper we develop a model of hospital behavior in which non-profit hospitals maximize some combination of quantity, quality and profits; for-profits maximize the more traditional economic concept of profit. Hospitals differ by the number of Medicare and Medicaid patients, concentration of the market in which they are located, and other hospital-specific factors. Using annual Medicare Cost Report data, provided by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), we estimate the annual change in real fixed assets, or hospital net investment, in a fixed effects model for Pennsylvania hospitals. These estimates are then used as inputs to measure both the effect of the percentage of Medicare discharges and market concentration on hospital net investment in the 1980s and 1990s. Our results show that hospital capital formation responded in a directly (i.e., positively) to more competitive markets, even after capital reimbursement was restricted/tightened intentionally, via the 1991 payments system change.