cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
All-optical switch using multi-terabit/sec pulses

Summary form only given. The demand for communications bandwidth is growing rapidly necessitating novel all-optical devices. Optical signal processing will be needed for many functions such as regeneration, clock extraction, and switching. In particular devices that are compatible with optical fibers are desirable. Optical switching in dual-core or multiple-core nonlinear fibers is being examined extensively. A significant area of work has been in soliton or solitonlike pulses. The optical power is exchanged between the coupled waveguides because of the weak overlap of the evanescent fields. The nonlinear directional coupler functions in the following manner; for low input power the light beam is transferred from one waveguide to the other but for high input power the light beam remains in the same waveguide. The result is power dependent all-optical switching. To date results have been presented for picosecond (and /spl sim/100 femtosecond) duration pulses. The optical switching process is described by coupled nonlinear Schrodinger equations including self-phase modulation (SPM), group velocity dispersion (GVD), cross phase modulation (XPM), and a linear cross-coupling coefficient. However, as bit rates extend into the multi-Tb/s region, ultrashort pulses (<100 fs) are required, and higher-order terms must be included in the coupled equations. Using the numerical beam propagation method we have shown multi-terabit/sec (i.e. pulse durations below 100 fs) all-optical switching in a dual core dispersion-flattened fiber. These devices may play a role in ultrahigh bit rate communications systems.
Risk and protective factors for nonmedical use of prescription stimulants and methamphetamine among adolescents.

Abstract Purpose This article reports on correlates of past-year nonmedical use of prescription stimulants and methamphetamine among adolescents aged 12 to 17 years. Methods Data from the 2002 National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) were used to conduct logistic regression analyses of the demographic, psychosocial, and behavioral correlates of illicit stimulant use. The sample size was 17,709. Results Analyses revealed that mental health treatment utilization and use of marijuana and other illegal drugs were correlated with nonmedical use of prescription stimulants and methamphetamine among adolescents. Females and adolescents who reported low religiosity, binge drinking, and selling drugs were more likely to use methamphetamine than were males or individuals who did not report these attitudes or behaviors. Additionally, black adolescents were less likely than white adolescents to use methamphetamine. Alternatively, adolescents who reported high family conflict and sensation-seeking were more likely than their counterparts to use prescription stimulants nonmedically, and Hispanic adolescents were less likely to use prescription stimulants nonmedically than white adolescents. Conclusions Risk for illicit use of stimulants varies by demographic, psychosocial, and behavioral factors. Different intervention mechanisms, populations, and settings should be targeted to prevent nonmedical use of prescription stimulants versus methamphetamine among adolescents.
Trade space exploration: New Visual Steering features

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University has a long history of developing software tools to support decision-making within the conceptual stage of complex systems design. Previous research introduced a new approach to trade space exploration called Visual Steering. This approach combines exercising a design model and analyzing the results into a tightly coupled loop that lets decision makers rapidly explore the trade space in real time while simultaneously forming preferences so that the “best” design based on evolving preferences can be chosen. This paper expands upon previous work in Visual Steering by introducing new features that ARL has added to its ARL Trade Space Visualizer (ATSV) Exploration Engine, the interface software that facilitates the coupled loop between design and analysis critical for realizing the Visual Steering concept. Specifically, new wizards that facilitate easy linking between models and the ATSV Exploration Engine are described, and example models showing the wizards in use are presented. 12
Empowerment through group support: Adult women who are survivors of incest

This article describes the need for professional recognition of the magnitude of the problem of incest and the long-term effects on the lives of survivors. It suggests that women can be empowered to make positive lifestyle changes through long-term support. The educational opportunity provided for graduate students is also addressed. The intake process and the three phases of the group which extend over 56 sessions are described in detail.
Triazolam-induced amnesia and the word-frequency effect in recognition memory: Support for a dual process account

Abstract Acute administration of the benzodiazepine hypnotic drug triazolam induces temporary amnesia. The present double-blind, placebo-controlled, repeated-measures experiment used triazolam-induced amnesia to test predictions of the dual process account of the word frequency effect in recognition memory (the reliably observed finding that low frequency words have higher hit rates and lower false alarm rates than high frequency words) in 28 healthy adult volunteers. According to the dual process account ( Joordens & Hockley, 2000 ; Reder et al., 2000 ), the hit rate component of the word frequency effect is driven by recollection, whereas the false alarm rate component is driven by familiarity. Based on evidence that triazolam produces relatively greater impairment in recollection-based recognition than in familiarity-based recognition, the dual process account would predict that the hit rate effect should be eliminated or reversed in the triazolam condition, but that the false alarm rate effect should be relatively unaffected by drug condition. These predictions were confirmed.
Congenital fusion of the scaphoid and trapezium—Case report

This report describes a rare anomaly, congenital fusion of the scaphoid and trapezium in one wrist and painful incomplete fusion in the opposite wrist. A brief review of carpal synostoses is given.
A Solvatochromic Model Calibrates Nitriles’ Vibrational Frequencies to Electrostatic Fields

Electrostatic interactions provide a primary connection between a protein’s three-dimensional structure and its function. Infrared probes are useful because vibrational frequencies of certain chemical groups, such as nitriles, are linearly sensitive to local electrostatic field and can serve as a molecular electric field meter. IR spectroscopy has been used to study electrostatic changes or fluctuations in proteins, but measured peak frequencies have not been previously mapped to total electric fields, because of the absence of a field-frequency calibration and the complication of local chemical effects such as H-bonds. We report a solvatochromic model that provides a means to assess the H-bonding status of aromatic nitrile vibrational probes and calibrates their vibrational frequencies to electrostatic field. The analysis involves correlations between the nitrile’s IR frequency and its 13C chemical shift, whose observation is facilitated by a robust method for introducing isotopes into aromatic nitriles....
Neural activity from motor cortex in visuobehavioral deprivation.

Abstract Visually evoked slow-wave and single-unit activity were recorded from motor cortex in nonanesthetized and chloralose-anesthetized cats with a history of monocular lid closure ranging from 11 to 18 months. In the deeply anesthetized cat no differences were found between the responses evoked from the deprived and nondeprived eyes. During light anesthesia and in the awake cat a robust single-unit and slow-wave response was evoked from the nondeprived eye compared to the weak response evoked from the deprived eye. When the awake cat used only its previously deprived eye, the amount of unit activity in motor cortex was less than the amount of activity present when the cat used only the nondeprived eye. The results indicate deficits in the ability of deprived eye-stimulation to activate the motor cortex. The comparison of responses between deep and light anesthesia and the lower neural activity level observed when subjects use only the deprived eye suggests that these effects may arise in part from changes in the relationship between the deprived eye and arousal mechanisms.
Holocene alluvial geology and geoarchaeology of the San Xavier reach of the Santa Cruz River, Arizona

The 15-km segment of the Santa Cruz River, traversing the San Xavier Indian Reservation, near Tucson, Arizona, has undergone major environmental changes during the past 8,000 yr. The Holocene alluvial sequence for this segment, called the "San Xavier reach" of the Santa Cruz River, shows three major episodes: aggradation until 8000 yr B.P. by a braided stream; channel erosion from 8000 to 5500 yr B.P.; and subsequent vertical aggradation of the flood plain, punctuated by short periods of arroyo cutting. The major changes in the fluvial regime were probably the result of climatic changes, but cycles of arroyo cutting and filling during the past 2,500 yr were probably the result of unstable internal geomorphic conditions, flooding, and human impacts on the flood plain. The alluvial history of the San Xavier reach had a pronounced effect on the preservation of archaeological remains. Environmental changes on the flood plain, including arroyo cutting and filling, cienega formation and destruction, and sand-dune development, led to the disruption and reorganization of Hohokam settlement and subsistence patterns between 1150 and 500 yr B.P.
Exploring ocean waves from asteroid impacts

An asteroid the size of the Roman Coliseum crashes into the ocean somewhere on Earth, producing a transient cavity miles across. The spectacular collapse launches tsunamis in all directions, casting the asteroid's impact energy far and wide. Everyone living on these shores may be in for a bad day. Based partly on the assumption that relatively minor asteroid impacts spawn dangerous tsunamis, the National Research Council has recommended that NASA and the National Science Foundation design and build a Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) to image the entire sky every 7 days and detect thousands of asteroids to the 24th magnitude, especially those down to 300-m diameter on near-Earth orbits. The LSST will have many astronomical uses apart from asteroid hunting; nevertheless, before $100 million to $200 million gets spent, one must examine the justifications. Are sub-kilometer asteroids really a significant threat? If not, then existing survey telescopes are adequate to catalog −98% of the 1100±100 near-Earth asteroids larger than 1 km diameter in the next few decades. Of these, half have been detected so far, and most of the rest have orbits that are harder to discover from Earth. Perhaps the LSST money should instead be dedicated to a space-borne observatory for bagging “holdouts” larger than a kilometer, those capable of causing global catastrophe.
Laser velocimeter used to find transition region

Laser velocimeter application to laminar-turbulent flow transition at glass tube centerline
Seasonal Changes in Water Potential and Turgor Maintenance in Sorghum and Maize under Water Stress

Leaf water (Ψ) and solute (ψ) potential were measured in field sorghum and maize under well irrigated (I) and dryland (NI) conditions throughout a season. Despite decreases in ψ due to slow soil water depletion and to apparent increases in liquid phase plant resistance, midday leaf turgor (ψp) in the NI sorghum was maintained at similar levels as in the I treatment throughout the season due to concomitant decreases in ψs. Osmotic adjustment was also observed in maize, although ψp was significantly lower in the NI treatment as compared to I during the final stages of grain filling. A seasonal shift in the ψ vs. relative water content relation of NI sorghum leaves was observed, more water being retained by the older leaf at any particular ψ. The major factor for turgor maintenance was a net increase in solutes per unit of tissue. The role played by increases in the proportion of tissue volume occupied by cell wall was also evaluated. No stomatal closure due to water stress was found in NI sorghum even though leaf ψ reached —20 bars late in the season. Under similar conditions, stomata closed at —14 to —16 bars in younger plants where water stress was made to develop much faster.
Recent Developments in Multivitamin/Mineral Research

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee was charged with the task of investigating the effects of multivitamin/mineral supplements on healthy populations and also on those with chronic disease. The evidence from which the committee prepared its conclusions was graded on 5 fundamental criteria: quality, consistency, quantity, clinical impact, and generalizability. The committee concluded that for the general healthy population, evidence was insufficient to make a multivitamin/mineral recommendation. On the other hand, the committee noted the value of some supplemental nutrients for at-risk populations such as iron, folic acid, and vitamin B-12. However, most of the studies referenced for the research used the conventional, all-encompassing, and oversimplified definition of a multivitamin/mineral as being a supplement containing 3 or more vitamins with or without minerals. In the few years since the committee released its 2010 report, several randomized clinical trials showing the benefits of daily multivitamin/mineral supplementation have been completed using supplements containing at least 10 or more vitamins and/or minerals, but there also continues to be some reports that do not find benefit from such supplements. Furthermore, several steps have been taken to advance the science behind these supplements so that consumers, physicians, and government agencies can all have more confidence in understanding the role of supplemental nutrition in the American diet. This review provides new evidence from 2010 onward addressing the committee’s primary concerns about multivitamin/mineral research in regard to improving public health. It also includes several recent studies that may be of interest to future committees indicating the potential benefits of these supplements on improving the cognitive performance and mental well-being of healthy populations.
Phytate Quantification using HPIC in the Presence of Iron and Aluminum

Phytate is an organic form of P that is difficult to analyze in complex matrices. To test if high concentrations of aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) hinder accurate quantification of phytate in dairy manure and broiler litter when measured by high-performance ion chromatography (HPIC), researchers spiked dairy manure and broiler litter samples with Al, Fe, and phytate. Samples were alkaline extracted, acidified, and filtered, and then phytate spike recovery was analyzed with HPIC. High concentrations of Fe did not hinder phytate recovery in manure or litter samples. While phytate recovery was complete at typical manure and litter Al concentrations, high concentrations of Al inhibited phytate recovery in litter samples and in some manure samples. Overall, alkaline extraction of dairy manure and broiler litter and analysis with HPIC proved to be relatively accurate, fast, and cheap within normal Al and Fe ranges, compared to the commonly used nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method.
The identification and evaluation of exemplar intensity in the classroom teaching and learning of concepts

Abstract The teaching and learning of concepts in the social studies classroom have been recognized as critically important. Numerous models for this type of instruction are available to teachers, and these models generally follow a similar pattern or format. They have all been built on a sound research base. However, these models are perceived as assuming “exemplar equivalence” which simply means that they assume all positive exemplars of a particular concept are equally useful as teaching or evaluating tools. This project sought to establish an affective concept exemplar variable called exemplar intensity , a characteristic that would challenge the notion of equivalence by its impact on cognitive gain. Evaluation of this variable was the focus of the study. The variable exemplar intensity was developed along the lines of the paradigm used by R. D. Tennyson and R. C. Boutwell (1971, NSPI Journal, 10 , 5–10) for their concept of difficulty . During the course of the investigation, ratings for intensity were determined and compared to difficulty to assure that these were two separate and independent variables. Once that had been established, two lessons differing in their exemplar intensity were designed. One contained high-intensity positive exemplars, and one had low-intensity positive exemplars. A control which had no instruction whatsoever helped determine that the two lessons had indeed caused learning to take place, but no differences between the two lessons were found. Thus, the hypothesis that the high-intensity exemplars would increase the cognitive achievement of learners above that of those receiving low-intensity exemplars was not supported. Exemplar intensity does not affect learning of concepts. During the course of the study, data were gathered that allowed a comparison between the use of the instructional model advocated by the author and the use of the definition alone. There was substantial evidence supporting the traditional notion that use of the model results in higher achievement than use of the definition alone.
Use of Differential Spectroscopy to Evaluate the Structure and Reactivity of Humics

Differential absorbance spectroscopy is a powerful tool for monitoring transformations in the chemical state of humic species (HS). Differential spectra for halogenation of HS are remarkably similar for a wide range of raw and treated waters but are dramatically different from those of model compounds such as resorcinol. These differences might be related to the larger size of the HS molecules and the consequent inter-chromophore interactions. The shape of the spectra provides information about the chemical nature of the reactive chromophores. The formation of chlorinated disinfection by-products such as CHCl 3 is strongly correlated with the magnitude of the differential absorbance.
Purification, crystallization and molecular symmetry of CDP‐d‐glucose 4,6‐dehydratase from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

The enzyme CDP-d-glucose 4,6-dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.45) is an NAD+-dependent oxidoreductase which catalyzes the irreversible conversion of CDP-d-glucose to CDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-d-glucose. The product of this reaction is an intermediate in the synthesis of all CDP-­linked 3,6-dideoxyhexoses, an important class of antigenic determinants found in the lipopolysaccharide layer of Gram-negative bacteria. Crystals of a recombinant form of this enzyme from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis have been grown in two crystal forms, both possessing pseudo-translational non-crystallographic symmetry, with dramatically different diffraction characteristics. A complete 1.8 A data set has been collected from the primitive orthorhombic crystal form, for which the non-crystallographic symmetry is described in detail.
The Effectiveness of Regionalized Burn Care: An Analysis of 6,873 Burn Admissions in North Carolina from 2000 to 2007

Background The effectiveness and benefits of regionalized trauma care are well substantiated; however, the effectiveness of regionalized burn care and potential benefits of burn center verification have not been fully validated. Study Design This was a retrospective study of all acute burn admissions using a statewide discharge database from October 1, 2000, to Septmber 30, 2007. Demographics, referral patterns, care practices, and outcomes were compared between 2 American Burn Association (ABA)–verified burn centers (VBCs) and the remaining 107 nonburn centers (NBCs) in North Carolina. Results Overall, 6,873 adult burn patients required admission, with 79% of them meeting ABA burn center referral criteria. Of the 5,402 patients meeting ABA referral criteria, 43% were admitted to an NBC, and 25% of all NBC patients had burn operations. Burns admitted to NBCs tended to involve the hand/wrist and lower extremities. Older patients with comorbidities/concomitant trauma were more likely to be admitted to NBCs (p Conclusions This is the most comprehensive study of its kind and demonstrates that ABA burn center referral criteria are not always used for effective regionalized burn care or to ensure the best possible outcomes. Even with establishment of the burn center verification process, the mere presence of a VBC is insufficient for effective regionalized care. A greater emphasis is needed on the development of burn care systems.
Bi-direction synthesis for reversible circuits

Quantum computing is one of the most promising emerging technologies of the future. Reversible circuits are an important class of quantum circuits. In this paper, we investigate the problem of optimally synthesizing four-qubit reversible circuits. We present an enhanced bidirectional synthesis approach. Due to the super-exponential increase on the memory requirement, all the existing methods can only perform four steps for the CNP (Control-Not gate, NOT gate, and Peres gate) library. Our novel method can achieve 12 steps. As a result, we augment the number of circuits that can be optimally synthesized by over 5/sup */10/sup 6/ times. Moreover, our approach is faster than the existing approaches by orders of magnitude. The promising experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.
A vector-valued ground motion intensity measure consisting of spectral acceleration and epsilon

The ‘strength’ of an earthquake ground motion is often quantified by an Intensity Measure (IM), such as peak ground acceleration or spectral acceleration at a given period. This IM is used to predict the response of a structure. In this paper an intensity measure consisting of two parameters, spectral acceleration and epsilon, is considered. The IM is termed a vector-valued IM, as opposed to the single parameter, or scalar, IMs that are traditionally used. Epsilon (defined as a measure of the difference between the spectral acceleration of a record and the mean of a ground motion prediction equation at the given period) is found to have significant ability to predict structural response. It is shown that epsilon is an indicator of spectral shape, explaining why it is related to structural response. By incorporating this vector-valued IM with a vector-valued ground motion hazard, we can predict the mean annual frequency of exceeding a given value of maximum interstory drift ratio, or other such response measure. It is shown that neglecting the effect of epsilon when computing this drift hazard curve leads to conservative estimates of the response of the structure. These observations should perhaps affect record selection in the future. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Liquidus temperature measurements for modeling oxide glass systems relevant to nuclear waste vitrification

Liquidus temperatures (TL) were measured, and primary phases were determined for 50 (from an initial test matrix of 76) compositions within the Al2O3–B2O3–CaO–Na2O–SiO2 glass-forming system and its constituent ternary subsystems. Strong linear correlations have been found between composition and TL for melts within the same primary phase fields. The TL and primary phase data are being used to develop and refine a modified associate species model (ASM). The impacts of Fe2O3, Li2O, NiO, ZrO2, Cr2O3, ZnO, and MnO additions on the TL of two baseline glass compositions are reported. These data are intended as benchmarks for further expansion of the ASM or other silicate melt solution models of nuclear waste glasses.
Expression Analysis and Knockdown of Two Antennal Odorant-Binding Protein Genes in Aedes aegypti

The presence and expression of odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) in the olfactory organs suggest that they play an important role in mosquito olfaction. However, no direct evidence has been found for their involvement in the host-seeking behavior of mosquitoes. It is important to establish a method in which a loss-of-function test can be performed to determine the possible role of these genes in olfaction. In this study, a double subgenomic Sindbis virus expression system was used to reduce the expression of two Obp genes in Aedes aegypti L (Diptera: Culicidae), AaegObp1 and AaegObp2. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed predominant expression of both genes in the female antennae, the primary olfactory tissue of mosquitoes. Moreover, at 11 days post virus-inoculation, the mRNA levels of AaegObp1 and AaegObp2 were significantly reduced in olfactory tissues of recombinant virus-inoculated female mosquitoes compared to that of controls by approximately 8 and 100-fold, respectively. These data suggest that the double subgenomic Sindbis virus expression system can be efficiently used to knockdown Obp gene expression in olfactory tissues of mosquitoes. We discuss the potential for a systematic analysis of the molecular players involved in mosquito olfaction using this newly developed technique. Such analysis will provide an important step to interfere with the host-seeking behavior of mosquitoes to prevent the transmission of diseases.
Artificial color image logic

Artificial Color is simply biomimetic spectral sensing and processing to achieve spectral discrimination. Using Artificial Color means to construct image plane filters; we can then perform logic operations on those filters before applying them to scenes. Boolean and fuzzy logic can both be used. We illustrate the concept by the Boolean AND of two such masks applied to a complex scene.
The RXR ortholog USP suppresses early metamorphic processes in Drosophila in the absence of ecdysteroids.

The steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) initiates metamorphosis in insects by signaling through the ecdysone receptor complex, a heterodimer of the ecdysone receptor (EcR) and ultraspiracle (USP). Analysis of usp mutant clones in the wing disc of Drosophila shows that in the absence of USP, early hormone responsive genes such as EcR, DHR3 and E75B fail to up-regulate in response to 20E, but other genes that are normally expressed later, such as (b)-Ftz-F1 and the Z1 isoform of the Broad-Complex (BRC-Z1), are expressed precociously. Sensory neuron formation and axonal outgrowth, two early metamorphic events, also occur prematurely. In vitro experiments with cultured wing discs showed that BRC-Z1 expression and early metamorphic development are rendered steroid-independent in the usp mutant clones. These results are consistent with a model in which these latter processes are induced by a signal arising during the middle of the last larval stage but suppressed by the unliganded EcR/USP complex. Our observations suggest that silencing by the unliganded EcR/USP receptor and the subsequent release of silencing by moderate steroid levels may play an important role in coordinating early phases of steroid driven development.
Toward a Deeper Level of Programming Expertise for Engineering Students

This paper describes the experience and results obtained in teaching non-common Java features, in advanced undergraduate object-oriented programming courses. The teaching approach proposed helps students to reach a deeper level of programming expertise, while accomplishing specific assignments that integrate a class framework that supports implementation of small and medium size client-server applications
Evaporation of strange matter in the early Universe.

Strange matter, a stable form of quark matter containing a large fraction of strange quarks, may have been copiously produced when the Universe had a temperature of \ensuremath{\sim}100 MeV. We study the evaporation of lumps of strange matter as the Universe cooled to 1 MeV. Only lumps with baryon number larger than \ensuremath{\sim}${10}^{52}$ could survive. This places a severe restriction on scenarios for strange-matter production.
Increasing network throughput by integrating protocol layers

Integrating protocol data manipulations is a strategy for increasing the throughput of network protocols. The idea is to combine a series of protocol layers into a pipeline so as to access message data more efficiently. This paper introduces a widely-applicable technique for integrating protocols. This technique not only improves performance, but also preserves the modularity of protocol layers by automatically integrating independently expressed protocols. The paper also describes a prototype integration tool, and studies the performance limits and scalability of protocol integration. >
Developing Students’ Understanding of Co-opetition and Multilevel Inventory Management Strategies in Supply Chains: An In-Class Spreadsheet Simulation Exercise

Instructors look for ways to explain to students how supply chains can be constructed so that competing suppliers can work together to improve inventory management performance (i.e., a phenomenon known as co-opetition). An Excel spreadsheet-driven simulation is presented that models a complete multilevel supply chain system—customer, retailer, wholesaler, distributor, and manufacturer—for up to six competing products. Students are provided the opportunity to compare the inventory cost and other key performance metrics of the alternative multilevel supply chain structures. This article explains the simulation model, describes the instructional approach, and presents assessment results from students in an introductory operations management course. Students find that the simulation is easy to use and helps them understand the performance impact of strategic supplier collaborations on supply chain operating performance.
Formation of ferrobasalt at East Pacific Midocean Spreading Centers

A numerical modeling using a least squares petrologic mixing program demonstrates that ridge ferrobasalts from three east Pacific regions are generated from normal midocean ridge balsalt by crystal fractionation of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, and minor olivine at shallow mantle depths. Clinopyroxene is an important fractionating phase in this model in contrast to most previously proposed fractionation models. Calculations demonstrate that the ferrobasalts represent a much smaller percentage of residual liquid than has previously been proposed. Implications of extensive shallow crystal fractionation for the determination of depths of magma generation are discussed. The different fields on an anorthite-olivine-hypersthene ternary diagram for basalts from east Pacific fast and moderate spreading ridges can be explained by variable degrees of shallow crystal fractionation rather than by different depths of magma generation as suggested by Bass (1971) and Scheidegger (1973).
Impact of RAP on the Volumetric, Stiffness, Strength, and Low-Temperature Properties of HMA

The increasing cost of virgin asphalt and aggregate has increased the interest in using higher percentages of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) in hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures. The purpose of this research project was to gain a better understanding of how the addition of RAP affects interaction among the aged and virgin binders and the overall properties of HMA. The effects of the addition of RAP were evaluated on a macroscopic scale by comparing the volumetric properties, dynamic modulus, and strength parameters of a series of specimens containing different percentages of RAP from two different sources. Also, the viscoelastic properties of the blended or rejuvenated binder in the recycled mix were back-calculated from the macroscopic properties of the mix using the Hirsch model. Studies have shown that this back-calculation method offers advantages like elimination of the need for extraction of blended binder, the ability to use indirect tension test specimens, and the use of a mechanistic based approach. The back-calculated viscoelastic properties were subsequently used to determine the low-temperature performance grade of the binder in the recycled mix. This research project showed that the percentage of RAP affects the properties of the mixture with respect to mixture volumetrics, dynamic modulus, and strength.
Power optimization in adaptive arrays: A technique for interference protection

A weight control algorithm that may be used in a two-element adaptive array to protect a desired signal from an interference signal is described. The algorithm is a constrained gradient technique that either maximizes or minimizes array output power. It is shown that by choosing appropriately between minimization and maximization, a useful desired signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio can be maintained at the array output over a wide range of signal powers.
Performance analysis of accelerated image registration using GPGPU

This paper presents a performance analysis of an accelerated 2-D rigid image registration implementation that employs the Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) programming environment to take advantage of the parallel processing capabilities of NVIDIA's Tesla C870 GPU. We explain the underlying structure of the GPU implementation and compare its performance and accuracy against a fast CPU-based implementation. Our experimental results demonstrate that our GPU version is capable of up to 90x speedup with bilinear interpolation and 30x speedup with bicubic interpolation while maintaining a high level of accuracy. This compares favorably to recent image registration studies, but it also indicates that our implementation only reaches about 70% of theorectical peak performance. To analyze our results, we utilize profiling data to identify some of the underlying limitations of CUDA that prohibit peak performance. At the end, we emphasize the need to manage memory resources carefully to fully utilize the GPU and obtain maximum speedup.
Integral action based Dirichlet boundary control of Burgers equation

Modeling and boundary control for the Burgers equation is studied in this paper. Modeling has been done via processing of numerical observations through singular value decomposition with Galerkin projection. This results in a set of spatial basis functions together with a set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) describing the temporal evolution. Since the dynamics described by Burgers equation is nonlinear, the corresponding reduced order dynamics turn out to be nonlinear. The presented analysis explains how boundary condition appears as a control input in the ODEs. The controller design is based on the linearization of the dynamic model. It has been demonstrated that an integral controller, whose gain is a function of the spatial variable, is sufficient to observe reasonably high tracking performance with a high degree of robustness.
Co-design of reliable signal and power interconnects in 3D stacked ICs

With the rapid advance of die stacking and through-silicon-via fabrication technologies, the era of 3D ICs is near. Yet, the knowledge base of 3D IC design techniques is still not matured enough. In this paper, we investigate the design issues raised during the system-level integration of signal and power interconnects in 3D ICs. Routing congestion and power noise are analyzed, and various factors that affect performance and reliability metrics are identified.
Dynamic power optimization of active filters with application to zero-IF receivers

This paper describes the use of dynamic impedance scaling and dynamic biasing to dynamically optimize the power dissipation of filters depending on the inband signal level. Transients due to the dynamical changes inside the filter are prevented thanks to the implementation of appropriate switching algorithms. To illustrate the concept, a fifth-order Chebychev low-pass active-RC filter with 100-kHz cutoff frequency, designed for partial channel selection in a zero-IF GSM receiver, is presented. The filter is fabricated in a standard 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS process and uses a 1.2-V power supply. It consumes 2.22-mA supply current during the presence of the minimum receivable signal. The power dissipation decreases by a factor of 2 as the desired signal strength increases by 3 dB, until it reaches its minimum possible value of 0.46 mW. There are a total of five power settings in the filter.
Multiscale Model of Proton Transport in Perfluorosulfonic-Acid Membrane

Author(s): Crothers, AR; Radke, CJ; Weber, AZ | Abstract: Ionic conductivity in phase-separated polymer-electrolyte-fuel-cell membranes is limited by the multiple scales via which protons travel. The interactions of protons in the conducting pores determine the mobility at the nanoscale, while the tortuosity of the conductive phase dictates the macroscopic conductivity. Previous efforts to model transport in this multiscale network have relied on assumptions of the morphology. In this paper, direct imaging of a hydrated membrane is used to construct a realistic network through which transport occurs. Results indicate that pore-level proton conductivity is lower than the corresponding bulk-solution conductivity due to hydronium solvation at negative moieties of the polymer sidechains. Free protons in the pores diffuse at nearly bulklike rates. The distribution of sizes of the hydrophilic transport domains leads to inhomogeneous transport pathways across the network.
Boundary Work and the Construction of Scientific Authority in the Vaccines-Autism Controversy

The controversy about vaccines and autism presents an opportunity to explore how science is constructed in public debates about health and medicine. Rhetors who argue against a connection between v...
Restructuring Financial Regulation

In the wake of the global financial crisis in 2009 that followed the near collapse of the U.S. financial system in 2008, Obama urged Congress to pass a legislation that will eliminate systemic failure of the financial market. As a result, Democrats in the House passed legislation in December of 2009. In conjunction with the House bill, the Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd introduced a Democratic bill (the “Dodd Bill”) on March 15, 2010. However, Republicans blocked the bill from going to the Senate floor for debate by uniting in opposition to vote against the legislation. In response, Democrats have expressed their willingness to negotiate and make changes to the bill to earn votes from Republicans to start the debate process. This posed a difficult challenge for both sides because the Republicans introduced a competing financial bill. In general, both Democrats and Republicans have agreed in their respective bills to prevent future bailouts, increase capital requirements, protect consumers and disclose information on complex financial products and contracts; however, they disagree significantly on the details as to how to carry out these provisions. Despite differences on certain issues, the Republicans in the Senate voted unanimously to stop the filibuster and begin the debate on April 28th 2010 following mounting political pressure from President Obama and the Democrats. But Republicans still disagree with Democrats on many aspects of the bill so there is a high likelihood that Republicans will prevent the bill from being adopted through controlling votes. This paper will address the two main provisions of the bill, namely bailouts and derivatives because they are the most controversial issues among all provisions.
Abstract TP330: TIA A Shorter Stay

Background: In the United States, between 200 and 500 thousand Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAS) are reported yearly, only 50% report symptoms to their physician. Rapid action is of critical import...
LC-MS/MS Method for the Determination and Quantitation of Penicillin G and Its Metabolites in Citrus Fruits Affected by Huanglongbing

In this study, we developed and validated a method for the extraction, identification, and quantitation of penicillin G and its metabolites (penilloic acid and penillic acid) in a variety of citrus fruits by employing sequential liquid/liquid and solid-phase extraction techniques in conjunction with UHPLC-MS/MS. Two product ion transitions per analyte were required for identification, which contributes to a high degree of selectivity. Corrected recoveries of penicillin G using an isotopically labeled internal standard were 90-100% at fortification levels of 0.1, 0.25, 1, and 10 ng/g. Absolute recoveries for penillic acid and penilloic acid were 50-75% depending on the matrix used. The limit of detection (LOD) of penicillin G and its metabolites was found to be 0.1 ng/g when 2 g of citrus was extracted. This method is useful in determining residue levels of penicillin G and its metabolites in citrus trees infected with huanglongbing bacteria after antibiotic treatment.
Facilitating the Transition of Nurse Clinician to Nurse Scientist: Significance of Entry PhD Courses

Transitioning into the role of nurse scientist requires the acquisition of new knowledge but also involves the development of new scholarly skills and the appropriation of the unique values and goals of the new role. Students engaged in doctor of philosophy education in all practice disciplines are confronted with a necessary shift in perspective and identity from that of the practice expert to the research scientist and experience a tension referred to as the research–practice dualism. The purpose of this article is to examine the ramifications of this identity shift in nursing doctor of philosophy education and to detail one program's strategy to address the inherent tension. This transition into the role of nurse scientist includes learning to value scholarly literature, expanding one's philosophical and disciplinary vocabulary, cultivating disciplinary inquisitiveness, learning scholarly communication and dissemination skills, and developing new collegial relationships. It is essential that this process of transitioning from clinician to scholar be purposively supported from the outset of the program. Faculty must critically examine current educational strategies and design new approaches to more effectively integrate the practice and science worlds, thereby enhancing program completion and graduating nurse scientists who are equipped to contribute to the knowledge of the discipline.
Red Blood Cell Storage in Transfusion-Related Acute Gut Injury

Transfusion-related acute gut injury is defined as the occurrence of necrotizing enterocolitis 48 hours or less after a packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion for marked anemia in older, low-risk infants born at extremely low gestational ages (
Binding Mechanism of the N-Terminal SH3 Domain of CrkII and Proline-Rich Motifs in cAbl

Abstract The N-terminal Src homology 3 (nSH3) domain of a signaling adaptor protein, CT-10 regulator of kinase II (CrkII), recognizes proline-rich motifs (PRMs) of binding partners, such as cAbl kinase. The interaction between CrkII and cAbl kinase is involved in the regulation of cell spreading, microbial pathogenesis, and cancer metastasis. Here, we report the detailed biophysical characterizations of the interactions between the nSH3 domain of CrkII and PRMs in cAbl. We identified that the nSH3 domain of CrkII binds to three PRMs in cAbl with virtually identical affinities. Structural studies, by using x-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy, revealed that the binding modes of all three nSH3:PRM complexes are highly similar to each other. Van 't Hoff analysis revealed that nSH3:PRM interaction is associated with favorable enthalpy and unfavorable entropy change. The combination of experimentally determined thermodynamic parameters, structure-based calculations, and 15 N NMR relaxation analysis highlights the energetic contribution of conformational entropy change upon the complex formation, and water molecules structured in the binding interface of the nSH3:PRM complex. Understanding the molecular basis of nSH3:PRM interaction will provide, to our knowledge, new insights for the rational design of small molecules targeting the interaction between CrkII and cAbl.
Influence of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia viability on murine pulmonary microRNA and mRNA expression following subchronic inhalation exposure.

SummaryBackground Personal exposure to fungal bioaerosols derived from contaminated building materials or agricultural commodities may induce or exacerbate a variety of adverse health effects. The genomic mechanisms that underlie pulmonary immune responses to fungal bioaerosols have remained unclear. Objective The impact of fungal viability on the pulmonary microRNA and messenger RNA profiles that regulate murine immune responses was evaluated following subchronic inhalation exposure to Aspergillus fumigatus conidia. Methods Three groups of naive B6C3F1/N mice were exposed via nose-only inhalation to A. fumigatus viable conidia, heat-inactivated conidia (HIC), or HEPA-filtered air twice a week for 13 weeks. Total RNA was isolated from whole lung 24 and 48 h postfinal exposure and was further processed for gene expression and microRNA array analysis. The molecular network pathways between viable and HIC groups were evaluated. Results Comparison of data sets revealed increased Il4, Il13 and Il33 expression in mice exposed to viable vs. HIC. Of 415 microRNAs detected, approximately 50% were altered in mice exposed to viable vs. HIC 48 h postexposure. Significantly down-regulated (P ≤ 0.05) miR-29a-3p was predicted to regulate TGF-β3 and Clec7a, genes involved in innate responses to viable A. fumigatus. Also significantly down-regulated (P ≤ 0.05), miR-23b-3p regulates genes involved in pulmonary IL-13 and IL-33 responses and SMAD2, downstream of TGF-β signalling. Using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, a novel interaction was identified between viable conidia and SMAD2/3. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance Examination of the pulmonary genetic profiles revealed differentially expressed genes and microRNAs following subchronic inhalation exposure to A. fumigatus. MicroRNAs regulating genes involved in the pulmonary immune responses were those with the greatest fold change. Specifically, germinating A. fumigatus conidia were associated with Clec7a and were predicted to interact with Il13 and Il33. Furthermore, altered microRNAs may serve as potential biomarkers to evaluate fungal exposure.
Rule-Based Modeling and Simulation for Beginners: Intuitive Graphical Interface within Virtual Cell

Rule-based modeling approach is invaluable when a number of possible species and reactions in a model becomes too large to allow convenient manual specification. It provides a model description that is capable of accounting for all the potential molecular complexes and interactions among them that can be generated during a response to a signal without explicit enumeration. In this approach, molecular interactions and their effects are represented in the form of reaction rules that serve as generators of molecular species and reactions. Despite powerful descriptive and simulation capabilities, one obstacle to the acceptance of this approach is the lack of user-friendly model specification. Requirement to script rules remains a burden for users of rule-based modeling tools.Here, we present a new graphical user interface for rule-based modeling and simulation. It is integrated into the popular Virtual Cell modeling and simulation framework and allows a classical explicitly specified network model to be combined with a rule-based modeling approach. The interface allows the user to specify and visualize rule-based models without the need to script anything. The extended framework uses BioNetGen (Faeder et al., 2009) and NFSim (Emonet et al., 2011) simulation engines to perform network generation and network-free simulation respectively. Any reaction network model can be enriched by adding a multivalent multistate molecular structure for every species; the resulting model may be simulated as a reaction network using powerful Virtual Cell deterministic and stochastic simulators and protocols. Here we describe the technology underlying rule-based features of Virtual Cell and present an example model that makes use of them.