cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Harmonic Compensation Control of Grid Interactive Inverters Based on Data-driven Harmonic State Space Modeling

This paper proposes a harmonic compensation control (HCC) scheme for grid-interactive inverters to ensure high-quality grid current injection under distorted grid voltage conditions. Firstly, a generic harmonic state-space (HSS) model of grid-tied inverters is derived to incorporate the harmonic features. Secondly, a data-driven harmonic calculation module (D-HCM) is designed and trained to estimate the harmonic spectrum of inverter voltage in HSS, which enables the closed-loop control of grid-tied inverters. Based on the obtained HSS model as well as the D-HCM, the HCC scheme is presented in details and the corresponding harmonic regulators are further developed. Finally, simulations are carried out in Matlab to verify the proposed D-HCM as well as the HCC scheme of grid-tied inverters. Specifically, numerical validation results verify that the trained D-HCM can achieve accurate harmonics estimation with very small mean squared error (MSE) and very high R value. Moreover, simulation results of the overall closed-loop controlled system including HSS modeling, D-HCM, and HCC verify that grid-tied inverters could present better harmonics disturbance rejection performance with the proposed HCC scheme under distorted grid voltage conditions.
Cell Wall Binding Properties of the Bacillus subtilis Autolysin(s)

Cell walls isolated from exponentially growing Bacillus subtilis have autolysin(s) attached to them. An autolysin can be released from the walls by incubation at 0 C with 3 m LiCl. The enzyme can reattach to walls when the salt concentration is reduced. The bound enzyme cannot be removed or destroyed by washing the walls with 8 m urea at 0 C. The binding of free enzyme to walls at 0 C can take place normally in the presence of 2 m urea.
Clear zone---A synthesis of practice and an evaluation of the benefits of meeting the ten-foot clear zone goal on urban streets

In urban communities, there are often limited amounts of right-of-way available for establishing a large setback distance from the curb for fixed objects. Urban communities must constantly weigh the cost of purchasing additional right-of-way for clear zones against the risk of fixed object crashes. From 2004 to 2006, this type of crash on curbed roads represented 15% of all fatal crashes and 3% of all crashes in the state of Iowa. Many states have kept the current minimum AASHTO recommendations as their minimum clear zone standards; however, other states have decided that these recommendations are insufficient and have increased the required minimum clear zone distance to better suit the judgment of local designers. This report presents research on the effects of the clear zone on urban curbed streets. The research was conducted in two phases. The first phase involved a synthesis of practice that included a literature review and a survey of practices in jurisdictions that have developmental and historical patterns similar to those of Iowa. The second phase involved investigating the benefits of a 10 ft clear zone, which included examining urban corridors in Iowa that meet or do not meet the 10 ft clear zone goal. The results of this study indicate that a consistent fixed object offset results in a reduction in the number of fixed object crashes, a 5 ft clear zone is most effective when the goal is to minimize the number of fixed object crashes, and a 3 ft clear zone is most effective when the goal is to minimize the cost of fixed object crashes.
Linkage and Segregation of Unselected Markers in Matings of Nocardia erythropolis with Nocardia canicruria

The segregation of unselected genes expressing resistance or susceptibility to acriflavine, erythromycin, streptomycin, and tetracycline was analyzed in selected prototrophic recombinants resulting from matings of Nocardia erythropolis and N. canicruria. The organisms were shown to be functionally haploid and appeared to contain not more than one genome. It was postulated that all observed genes were present in a linear linkage group. The ordering of the genes in N. erythropolis was: tetB10 eryB9 his-3 purA1 acr-2 strA1 (respectively, resistance to tetracycline and erythromycin, deficiency for histidine and for purine, and resistance to acriflavine and streptomycin). The ordering of the genes in N. canicruria was: purB2 tetA9 eryA7 acr-11 strB2 (respectively, deficiency for purine, and resistance to tetracycline, erythromycin, acriflavine, and streptomycin). Excluding the genes for acriflavine resistance, acr-2 and acr-11, resistance loci in N. erythropolis were not allelic to and showed lateral displacement from genes controlling phenotypically similar resistance in N. canicruria. Evidence for some lack of homology between N. erythropolis and N. canicruria genomes was found. Recombination phenomena between the nocardial species was postulated to occur as a result of formation of a heterogenomic zygote in which new combinations were produced. Production of selectable, haploid recombinants was ascribed to subsequent haploidization of the zygote.
Analyzing the benefits of pattern diversity for MIMO wireless systems

We investigate the benefits of pattern diversity from using reconfigurable antenna arrays relative to conventional non-reconfigurable arrays that use signal processing techniques such as antenna grouping. The performance of various MIMO antenna mode selection algorithms are experimentally analyzed and benchmarked. Our performance evaluation is based on a measurement campaign employing a software-defined-radio MIMO testbed. Our findings demonstrate relative performance improvements from using pattern diversity at certain conditions.
You're Asking Me to Believe in Sentient Meat

“You're asking me to believe in sentient meat.” — Terry Bisson In Terry Bisson's (1994) short story “They're Made Out of Meat,” 1 two extraterrestrials (ETs) have a conversation about their discove...
Probing Performance Gaps

Gender Differences in Mathematics. An Integrative Psychological Approach. Ann M. Gallagher and James C. Kaufman, Eds.. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2005. 367 pp. $70, £40. ISBN 0-521-82605-5. Paper, $25.99, £16.99. ISBN 0-521-53344-9. The contributors explore the question of why females consistently score lower than males on standardized tests of mathematics although such performance differences are not found in the classroom.
Sherlock Holmes Meets Pierre de Fermat

Given a curve, such as the one below, how can one locate its lowest point? This problem arose naturally in Chapter 1, along with the analogous problem of finding the highest point on a curve. Both problems can be solved by the same method, to which we now turn.
Electronic structure and spin polarization of Mn x Ga 1 − x N

We present ab initio pseudopotential--density-functional calculations for the electronic structure of the dilute magnetic semiconductor ${\mathrm{Mn}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{N},$ with a realistic $x=0.063,$ in its ordered ferromagnetic phase. We find that the introduction of Mn results in the formation of a 100% spin polarized $\ensuremath{\sim}1.5 \mathrm{eV}$-wide impurity band, primarily due to hybridization of Mn $3d$ and N $2p$ orbitals. This band renders the material half metallic and supports effective-mass transport within it. As such, ${\mathrm{Mn}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{N}$ is a highly suitable material for spin injectors. Coupled with the previously reported high Curie temperature and inherent compatibility with GaN technology of this material, it emerges as a serious candidate for the next generation of spintronic devices.
Null cones in Lorentz-Covariant general relativity

The oft-neglected issue of the causal structure in the flat spacetime approach to Einstein's theory of gravity is considered. Consistency requires that the flat metric's null cone be respected, but this does not automatically happen. After reviewing the history of this problem, we introduce a generalized eigenvector formalism to give a kinematic description of the relation between the two null cones, based on the Segre' classification of symmetric rank 2 tensors with respect to a Lorentzian metric. Then we propose a method to enforce special relativistic causality by using the gauge freedom to restrict the configuration space suitably. A set of new variables just covers this smaller configuration space and respects the flat metric's null cone automatically. Respecting the flat metric's null cone ensures that the spacetime is globally hyperbolic, indicating that the Hawking black hole information loss paradox does not arise in the special relativistic approach to Einstein's theory.
Differential effects of parenting strategies on child smoking trajectories: A longitudinal assessment over twelve years

Past studies exhibit mixed findings regarding the effect of parenting strategies on children's behavior. We propose that it is due to behavioral heterogeneity among children – they differ in sensitivity to parental influence – and simultaneously examine the effects of parenting strategies on a child's: (1) probability to follow a specific trajectory for smoking growth; (2) growth pattern within a particular smoking trajectory; and (3) tobacco dependence at adulthood. Using nationally representative longitudinal data gathered over twelve years, we reveal five distinct smoking trajectories, namely stable nonsmokers (62.5%), gradual escalators (17.5%), rapid escalators (9.4%), stable light smokers (9.3%), and quitters (1.2%). Parenting strategies have differential effects on these segments. The shapes of these trajectories, in turn, affect children's tobacco dependence at adulthood. This research provides a novel profiling approach to depict the “typical” child in each segment, and offers social workers and policy makers new avenues to design targeted tobacco prevention/cessation programs.
Vlasov simulations of electron heating by Langmuir turbulence near the critical altitude in the radiation-modified ionosphere

Abstract One-dimensional Vlasov equations are solved numerically for conditions appropriate to the ionospheric F-region during the initial stages of HF-radiation modification experiments at two altitudes: one at the critical altitude, the other approximately 1.5 km lower. Numerical simulations of wave growth and saturation with self-consistent evolution of particle distributions are run past the point at which a statistically steady state is reached. At the critical altitude the wave turbulence is dominated by coherent collapsing wave packets or ‘cavitons’ and at the lower altitude by a combination of coherent (strong) and incoherent (weak) turbulence. Our results are consistent with the predictions of Hanssen et al. [Journal of Geophysical Research, 97, 12,073 (1992)]. Semi-open boundary conditions, in which a small fraction of the hot electrons generated by interactions with the strong localized caviton fields are replaced by electrons from the cool background distribution, are employed to model a heated region of finite length that is large compared to the simulation domain. The resultant steady-state electron distributions are characterized by power-law tails of hot electrons superposed on an approximately Maxwellian bulk distribution. The Langmuir-wave dissipation spectra are found to be in good agreement with predictions based on linear Landau damping on the nonthermal electron tails.
Interfacial Sliding of Polymer Brushes: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation.

Polymers end grafted to a surface have recently been shown to have an anomalously low effective friction coefficient ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{b}$. To understand the origin of the observed reduction in friction, molecular dynamics simulations of polymers tethered at one end to a surface in a good solvent were carried out. As the surfaces are brought into contact, the normal force increases rapidly, while the shear force is found to be significantly smaller. For low shear velocity $v$, the surfaces slide past each other with no change in the chain's radius of gyration or the amount of interpenetration. In this regime the shear force increases linearly with $v$. For larger $v$, there is significant chain stretching and disentanglement.
Frost spectra: Comparison with Jupiter's Satellites

Abstract The near infrared spectral reflectance of pure CH 4 , CO 2 , H 2 O, H 2 S, NH 3 and NH 4 SH frosts has been measured. Comparison with recent Galilean satellite spectra indicates that H 2 O at approximately 150°K and with about 0.01 cm grain size is the major component on the surface of JII (Europa) and JIII (Ganymede); upper limits for the remaining frosts range from 5 to 28%. Materials other than these frosts must be present on the surface of JI (Io) and JIV (Callisto).
Open Fracture Management

Classification and management of open fractures are discussed with emphasis on wound debridement, microbial cultures, antibiotic therapy, and fracture fixation. Prognosis and complications associated with open fractures are outlined, and treatment options for the complications are provided.
Robust Gene Expression Programming

Abstract Genetic/evolutionary methods are frequently used to deal with complex adaptive systems. The classic example is a Genetic Algorithm. A Genetic Algorithm uses a simple linear representation for possible solutions to a problem. This is usually a bit vector. Unfortunately, the natural representation for many problems is a tree structure. In order to deal with these types of problems many evolutionary methods make use of tree structures directly. Gene Expression Programming is a new, popular evolutionary technique that deals with these types of problems by using a linear representation for trees. In this paper we present and evaluate Robust Gene Expression Programming (RGEP). This technique is a simplification of Gene Expression Programming that is equally efficient and powerful. The underlying representation of a solution to a problem in RGEP is a bit vector as in Genetic Algorithms. It has fewer and simpler operators than those of Gene Expression Programming. We describe the basic technique, discuss its advantages over related methods, and evaluate its effectiveness on example problems.
Clinicopathologic characteristics of primary pleural epithelioid hemangioendothelioma

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare vascular-derived malignancy. Within the thorax, EHE originating in the pleura is less often reported than EHE originating in the lung. Pulmonary EHE has been referred to as a borderline or low-grade malignancy that exhibits an unpredictable course. It often is associated with a long life expectancy and occasional spontaneous remission. Because the natural history of pleural EHE is less well understood, a literature review was conducted to investigate the characteristics of the disease. Twenty-two cases of pleural EHE were identified. The disease occurred more often in men than women, appeared in the right thorax more often than the left, exhibited a virulent course, was usually refractory to systemic therapy, and was often associated with a short survival. These characteristics differ substantially from those of pulmonary EHE and suggest that the clinician should approach pleural EHE anticipating an especially aggressive malignancy which likely will not respond to current therapeutic measures.
ASSOCIATIVE LEARNING BY MENTALLY RETARDED SS AS A FUNCTION OF GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURE OF PAIRS

Summary.-The facilitative effects of grammatical structure on learning in normal Ss has been demonstrated. The associative learning rate of 48 mentally retarded males was investigated as a function of grammatical strucrure of the pairs. Data analysis showed that S's acquisition rate did not vary as a function of the grammatical structure of pairs. Also, syntagmatic versus non-syntagmatic pairs, within each grammatical group, did not affect performance. There has been a great deal of discussion and research on the factors which may influence paired-associate learning by both normal and retarded Ss. Incerest areas have included meaningfulness of material (e.g., Lance, 1965; Prehm, 1966; Logan, 1969), associative strength of the pairs (e.g., Drew, Prehm, & Logan, 1968; Drew, 1969; Gallagher & Reid, 1970), and presentation rate (e.g., Logan, 1969), as well as various subject variables. Studies using word pairs with the mentally retarded have most often used noun-noun components or have unsystematically mixed components. Previous research concerned with the effects of grammatical structure on learning has primarily been conducced using Ss of normal intelligence. Results consistently indicate that syntax does influence the learning of groups or pairs of words. Miller and Isard (1963) conducted a study which suggested that the intelligibility of English words depends upon their conformity to linguistic rules known by the listener. Further, it has been reported that the recall of strings of words improves as their order or approximation to statistical patterns of English increases (Miller & Selfridge, 1950). In a stildy involving strings of words, Marks and Miller (1964) found that, when syntactic or semantic rules were disrupted, the least disrupted strings were the most easily recalled. Along these same lines, Epstein ( 1961 ) , using nonsense sentences, obtained evidence indicating that syncactical structure facilitates verbal learning apart from the conditions of meaningfulness, familiarity, and seq~~encial probability. In addition, there is some evidence to indicate that free recall in serial learning is also affected by structure (Deese & Kaufman, 1957). From these results it might be expected that grammatical structure would facilitate verbal learning by mentally retarded Ss as well. However, research concerned with the effects of grammatical structure on learning has primarily been conducced using Ss of normal intelligence. Since retardates are often characterized by deviant language patterns, it is quite possible that grammatical structure may have a different effect on their learning than on that of normals. The purpose of the present smdy was to investigate associative learning by retardates as a function of four syntactical conditions.
Minimizing radiated power variation in power amplifier FEMs with directional couplers

Directional couplers are used in GSM/EDGE and 3G power amplifier front end modules (PA FEMs) for radiated power detection and control. The radiated power varies with load VSWR. There are analyses on the power control mechanism in PA FEMs with directional couplers, and back-of-envelope calculations to estimate power variations in design practice. The objective of the paper is to provide engineering examples illustrating the pros and cons of various methods, and design considerations to compensate non-ideal factors in PA FEMs.
Where Are the Elements in Complex Aluminides? An Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of the Quasicrystalline Approximants, Mg2-y(ZnxAl1-x)3+y

The first detailed investigation of the crystalline R-phases in the Mg−Zn−Al ternary system is reported, which will assist with the interpretation and understanding of similar quasicrystalline phases in this phase diagram. Although “Mg32(Zn,Al)49” was originally reported by Bergman and Pauling in 1956, some details regarding its structure and the atomic arrangement remain to be solved. Single-phase product can be obtained from reaction compositions “Mg1.63(ZnxAl1-x)3.37”, 0.35 ≤ x ≤ 0.65. A combination of single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder neutron diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy, densities, and theoretical modeling is needed to elucidate a complete structural model for these phases. Single-crystal X-ray diffaction gave the R-phase structure (space group Im3, Z = 32) for three difference samples: Mg1.76(1)Zn1.46(6)Al1.65(3) (a = 14.364(3) A), Mg1.75(1)Zn1.80(2)Al1.31(1) (a = 14.212(1) A), and Mg1.73(1)Zn2.46(6)Al0.69(3) (a = 14.131(1) A). Neutron powder diffraction on three similar bulk...
Probe for polyanionic regions on the cell surface

The binding of polyuridylate to cells in the presence of proflavine may be used as a probe to provide relative estimates of exposed polyanionic regions on the external surface of the cell. This probe binds preferably to hydrophilic, polyanionic regions, and soluble polysaccharides containing either carboxylate or sulfate groups compete with the binding of this probe. Binding of the probe to protein and lipid regions is considerably weaker. Virustransformed human fibroblasts bind 10 times less of the probe than nontransformed cells when confluent monolayers are compared. However, as the cell density is decreased, the amount of probe bound per cell increases dramatically both for transformed as well as for normal cells. In fact, human fibroblasts (a) derived from normal donors, (b) from donors with different metabolic disorders, and (c) transformed by simian virus 40, all bind about the same amount of probe when compared at the same density. Populations of human fibroblasts aged in vitro, which contain high proportions of large cells and grow only to relatively low densities in monolayers, bind disproportionately large amounts of the complex.
Remembering the Launch of JQC, 1985–1991

Back in 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, brothers Wilber and Orville Wright endured mockery and derision from their fair share of skeptics. ‘‘It will never get off the ground,’’ they said of the Wright Brother’s odd-looking contraption, wishfully named the Flyer. ‘‘Man is not meant to fly,’’ insisted the critics. Of course, history proved the Wright doubters wrong. The same was said back in 1983 about the idea for launching a journal devoted to quantitative criminology, though the story is hardly of legendary significance. A survey of nearly 100 leading criminologists at the time, soliciting their thoughts about the prospects for such an initiative, strongly voiced the opinion that the publication too would never fly. History also has proven them wrong. What a difference a quarter century makes! The discipline of criminology, the existing body of research, and the toolkit of criminological research have changed dramatically since the March 1985 inaugural issue of the Journal of Quantitative Criminology. It wasn’t very long ago that statistical methods were viewed by leaders of the field with a mix of fear and disdain, but now these tools are considered a virtual necessity. And, not that long ago, at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, a prominent scholar who was serving as a panel discussant described statistics as ‘‘the black arts,’’ refusing to comment on one presenter’s paper just because it contained tables, charts and equations. Presently, entire panels at the ASC meetings are devoted to quantitative methods and applications. My remembrances of the early years of the Journal of Quantitative Criminology are distant but distinct. As founding editor through the publication’s fist 7 years, I constantly struggled with a pervasive degree of skepticism about the fledgling journal as well as the constant pressure to fill the quarterly page budget. Not only was I busy with the routine activities of editorship—assigning reviewers and playing referee on split decisions, but much of my time was devoted to recruiting potential contributors and submissions. These were the pre-Internet days, when exposure was a function of the subscription base. The number of institutional subscribers grew, but much too slowly for my comfort
Sodium-calcium exchange

During the past year, significant advances have been made in the investigation of molecular, kinetic and electrophysiological aspects of Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange. The cardiac and retinal exchangers have been cloned and structure-function studies have begun.
A Re-examination of Two Linear Pentapeptides Claimed To Be Serine Protease Mimics

The synthesis, characterization, and kinetic study of two linear pentapeptides l-threonyl-l-alanyl-l-seryl-l-histidyl-l-aspartic acid (TASHD) and l-seryl-γ-aminobutyryl-l-histidyl-γ-aminobutyryl-l-...
The Function of Allergy: Immunological Defense Against Toxins

This paper proposes that the mammalian immune response known as "allergy" evolved as a last line of defense against the extensive array of toxic substances that exist in the environment in the form of secondary plant compounds and venoms. Whereas nonimmunological defenses typically can target only classes of toxins, the immune system is uniquely capable of the fine-tuning required to target selectively the specific molecular configurations of individual toxins. Toxic substances are commonly allergenic. The pharmacological chemicals released by the body's mast cells during an IgE antibody-mediated allergic response typically cause vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, tearing, sneezing, or scratching, which help to expel from the body the toxic substance that triggered the response; individuals frequently develop aversions to substances that have triggered such responses. A strong allergic response often includes a decrease in blood pressure, which slows the rate at which toxins circulate to target organs. The imm...
Microstructures and Preferred Orientations of Experimentally Deformed Quartzites

An experimental study of the plastic deformation of quartzite has produced microstructures and preferred orientations similar to those found in many natural rocks, and has identified the operative orienting mechanisms in most cases. The microstructures vary widely with conditions and presumably are related to the deformation mechanisms. Below 850°C at 10−5/sec (or 650°C at 10−7/sec), no recrystallization occurs; the deformation of the original grains is very inhomogeneous and deformation lamellae of many orientations are observed. At higher temperatures or slower strain rates, grain boundary recrystallization is present; the original grains are continuously flattened with increasing strain and only basal and prismatic deformation lamellae are observed. Above 800°C at 10−7/sec, recrystallization is complete after low strain. Below 800°C at 10−5/sec (or 600°C at 10−7/sec), a maximum of c axes develops parallel to the compression direction (σ1), while at higher temperatures and slower strain rates, a small-circle girdle of c axes develops about σ1. The opening half-angle of this girdle ranges from 20° to 45° and increases with increasing temperature and decreasing strain rate. Super-imposed on both of these c axis patterns is a tendency for the poles to positive trigonal forms, and the pole to the second order prism to be aligned parallel to σ1. The preferred orientations of the c axes and the prisms are consistent with external rotations produced by the observed intragranular glide. The difference in the preferred orientations of the positive and negative forms is due to mechanical Dauphine twinning. Strong evidence exists that these same orienting mechanisms have operated in many naturally deformed rocks.
Acetylcholine actions in the dorsomedial striatum support the flexible shifting of response patterns

There is accumulating evidence that the dorsomedial striatum plays a significant role in the learning of a new response pattern and the inhibiting of old response patterns when conditions demand a shift in strategies. This paper proposes that activity of cholinergic neurons in the dorsomedial striatum is critical for enabling behavioral flexibility when there is a change in task contingencies. Recent experimental findings are provided supporting this idea. Measuring acetylcholine efflux from the dorsomedial striatum during the acquisition and reversal learning of a spatial discrimination shows that acetylcholine efflux selectively increases during reversal learning as a rat begins to learn a newly reinforced spatial location, but returns to near basal levels when a rat reliably executes the new choice pattern. Experimental findings are also described indicating that the blockade of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the dorsomedial striatum does not impair acquisition of an egocentric response discrimination, but impairs reversal learning of an egocentric response discrimination. Based on these results, increased cholinergic activity at muscarinic receptors is part of a neurochemical process in the dorsomedial striatum that allows inhibition of a previously relevant response pattern while learning a new response pattern. In situations that demand behavioral flexibility, muscarinic cholinergic activity in the dorsomedial striatum may directly influence corticostriatal plasticity to produce changes in response patterns.
Using Student-Generated Analogies to Investigate Conceptions of Energy: A multidisciplinary study

The concept of energy is widely employed in introductory science courses. However, the term energy is defined and utilized in different ways depending on the context, even within a given discipline. Through the lens of metaphor theory, these various definitions of energy are seen as metaphors that highlight and obscure characteristics of energy. Working under this framework, undergraduate students in introductory biology, chemistry, and physics courses were asked to write analogies that reflect their understanding of the role of energy in the context of ecosystems (n = 49), chemical reactions (n = 36), mechanical systems (n = 65), and electrical circuits (n = 44). These analogies were analyzed qualitatively using metaphor theory to gain understanding of how students conceptualize energy in these different contexts. The results of this study indicate that students use seven different conceptual metaphors to explain the role of energy in various scientific contexts: energy as a substance that can be account...
Soluble β-amyloid peptides mediate vasoactivity via activation of a pro-inflammatory pathway

Abstract Freshly solubilized β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides display vasoactive properties, increasing both the magnitude and the duration of endothelin-1-induced vasoconstriction. We show that Aβ vasoactivity is mediated by the stimulation of a pro-inflammatory pathway involving activation of secretory phospholipase A2 (PLA2), mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MEK1/2), p38 MAPK, cytosolic PLA2, and the release of arachidonic acid. Ultimately, arachidonic acid is metabolized into proinflammatory eicosanoids via the 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzymes, both of which we show to be required for Aβ vasoactivity. Accordingly, p38 MAPK activity is higher in the brains of transgenic mice that overproduce Aβ, and COX-2 immunoreactivity is increased in the cerebrovasculature of these transgenic animals. Taken together, our data show that freshly solubilized Aβ peptides can trigger a pro-inflammatory reaction in the vasculature that can be blocked by inhibiting specific target molecules, providing the basis for novel therapeutic intervention.
Eyes for automatons: Faster, more accurate, and more consistent than humans can hope to be, machine vision systems are on their way to broad application

The authors describe how machine vision adds a high level of flexibility to automation. They point out that only a few years ago, as robots begin replacing hard-automation machines-designed to carry out a specific task, many designers argued that robots did not need highly advanced `senses'. Once the position and orientation of parts as well as the timing of manufacturing steps had been determined, the designers felt, a robot could be programmed simply to reach and grasp blindly. The various applications of machine vision systems are surveyed. The authors explain how images are resolved into picture elements, how processing sharpens image boundaries, and how an image is `understood'.
The development of neurosurgical techniques: The postoperative notes and sketches of Dr. Harvey Cushing

In the early development of American neurosurgical techniques, Harvey Cushing is often considered the founding father. As an accomplished artist and prolific writer his original operative sketches and detailed notes at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital (1912–1932) are now being explored as early documentation of this pioneering surgeon's development of a field. We present four brain tumor cases with his unpublished sketches and direct quotations to illustrate both the trials and tribulations of those times and Cushing's innate surgical genius.
Combined Factors Influencing the Aggregation and Deposition of nano-TiO2 in the Presence of Humic Acid and Bacteria

This study investigates the contributions of natural organic matter (NOM) and bacteria to the aggregation and deposition of TiO2 nanoparticles (TNPs) in aquatic environments. Transport experiments with TNPs were conducted in a microscopic parallel plate system and a macroscopic packed-bed column using fluorescently tagged E. coli as a model organism and Suwannee River Humic Acid as a representative NOM. Notably, TNPs were labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate allowing particles and cells to be simultaneously visualized with a fluorescent microscope. Results from both experimental systems revealed that interactions among TNPs, NOM, and bacteria exhibited a significant dependence on solution chemistry (pH 5 and 7) and ion valence (K+ and Ca2+), and that these interactions subsequently affect TNPs deposition. NOM and E. coli significantly reduced deposition of TNPs, with NOM having a greater stabilizing influence than bacteria. Ca2+ ions played a significant role in these interactions, promoting formation ...
The effect of silicon and nickel additions on the sulfide spacing and fracture toughness of a 0.4 carbon low alloy steel

This paper discusses the effects of silicon and nickel additions on the mechanical properties of a 0.4 carbon low alloy steel. The four experimental steels used in the study were obtained by making additions of 1.5 wt pct nickel and 2 wt pct silicon, both separately and in combination, to a 0.4C/1.5Ni/1.0Cr/0.5Mn base steel. The base + Ni + Si steel, resulting from combined nickel and silicon additions, has a yield strength of 1682 MN/m2 and impact and fracture toughnesses of 65 J and 115 MN/m3/2, respectively. The other three steels have comparable strength levels but more typical impact and fracture toughnesses of about 30 J and 75 MN/m3/2, respectively. The microstructures of the four steels are almost identical. The only significant observed difference among the four steels is that the sulfides in the base + Ni + Si steel are almost three times as large as those in the other three steels. As the four steels have similar sulfide volume fractions, there is a similar difference in sulfide spacings. The improved toughness of the base + Ni + Si steel is attributed to the increased sulfide spacing due to the influence of combined nickel and silicon additions on the average sulfide size.
Chromatin structure of Drosophila nasutoides satellites as probed by cross-linking DNA in situ

Chromatin structure can be probed by cross-linking DNA in situ using trioxsalen and irradiation with UV light. Presumably DNA within a nucleosome is protected from cross-linking so that this region appears as a single-strand loop in the electron microscope under a condition in which single-strands and double-strands are distinguished. Unprotected regions appear as duplex due to cross-linking. We have used this approach to investigate the structure of chromatins containing satellite DNAs of Drosophila nasutoides. We have previously shown that D. nasutoides has an unusually large autosome pair which is almost entirely heterochromatic. Its nuclear DNA reveals four major satellite components amounting up to 60% of the total genome. All of them are localized in this large heterochromatic chromosome. We wish to ask whether chromatins containing different satellite sequences have different arrangements of nucleosomes. Our results from cross-linking experiments show that all DNA components including main band DNA have different patterns of protected and unprotected regions: (a) The length distributions of protected regions show multiple peaks with the smallest unit lengths being 200 nucleotides for main band DNA, 180 for satellites I, II and III, and 160 for satellite IV. (b) The amounts of unprotected regions, presumably internucleosome DNA, vary from 16% for main band DNA to 60% for satellite IV, suggesting that satellite chromatins have fewer nucleosomes per given length of chromatin than main band DNA chromatin. The spacings between nucleosomes appear to be random in satellite chromatins.
Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis: The Therapeutic Road to Infliximab

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that has significant morbidities in the pediatric population. Goals of medical therapy include induction and maintenance of remission while preserving the colon and it’s function, while minimizing the risk of treatment related morbidities. For those children who do not respond to initial therapies and progress to develop moderately-to-severely active UC, there has been a dearth of available treatments to help induce remission, necessitating long-term corticosteroid usage, with associated comorbidities of chronic steroid treatment. Significant advances have been made in medical management, including the use of biologic therapies, specifically anti-tumor necrosis factor-α monoclonal antibodies. With the Food and Drug Administration’s recent approval of the use of infliximab, a chimeric anti-tumor necrosis factor-α antibody, for children ≥6 years of age with moderately-to-severely active UC, care providers now have a new treatment regimen to offer this pediatric population.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy of depression and depressive symptoms during adolescence: A review and meta-analysis.

Objective Outcome studies support the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral approaches for treating depression among adults. The effectiveness of these approaches for adolescents, however, has received less empirical attention. This article critically reviews the literature on cognitive-behavioral therapy with depressed and dysphoric adolescents. Method A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effectiveness of these approaches and the stability of therapeutic gains. Results Fourteen posttreatment-control comparisons and 10 follow-up-control comparisons resulted from six studies containing 217 subjects. The overall effect size posttreatment was -1.02, whereas the overall effect size at follow-up was -0.61. The effect sizes in both of these analyses were homogeneous and were supported by Fail-Safe-N calculations. Conclusion Results suggest the short- and long-term effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral approaches for treating depressive symptoms with this population.
Expression of HLA-DR Antigen in Skin from Patients with Psoriasis

Using murine monoclonal antibodies against human HLA-DR antigen and against human T cells, we investigated the indirect immunofluorescence staining pattern of involved and uninvolved skin from patients with psoriasis. The staining pattern of involved psoriatic epidermis is different from the pattern seen in uninvolved skin from the same patient and consists of scattered, single HLA-DR positive cells alternating with groups of HLA- DR positive cells. These HLA-DR positive cell clusters can be seen at any level of the epidermis. In some patients, the dermis of involved skin shows prominent accumulations of T cells which are HLA-DR positive and thus represent activated T cells.
Topical Review Article: Brainstem Glioma: I. Pathology, Clinical Features, and Therapy:

Gliomas that arise in the brain stem have been associated with a poor prognosis. Diagnostic neuroimaging readily identifies the tumor as it extends between normal brainstem structures. Histologic sampling of tumor with stereotactic methods is notoriously unreliable in establishing a definitive prognosis. Clinical trials that incorporate high-dose chemotherapy, autologous bone marrow rescue, and irradiation hold promise of better tumor control by overcoming the inaccessibility of the central nervous system to standard doses of chemotherapy. We review the pathology, clinical features, neuroimaging features, and current therapeutic concepts relative to brainstem glioma. The pediatric neurologist has a pivotal role in identifying and monitoring children with this malignancy.
Approaching automation: A planning model for GPO tapeloading - one library’s experience

Given the availability of machine readable cataloging records for a significant number of United States federal documents, many libraries are either planning to include or have already begun to incorporate such materials in their online catalogs. After reviewing the literature, this article describes a model developed at San Jose State University for planning such automation and the resulting increased access. Model components include a description of the local situation and checklist questions used for a telephone survey. The article also describes the methodology followed in creating the final proposal for bringing federal documents records into the online catalog.
Melanoma in the elderly patient: relevance of the aging immune system

The rapidly expanding segment of the aging population with its rising incidence of cutaneous melanoma will present major challenges in therapeutic management. Immune strategies will be important in designing effective treatment of melanoma because it is a highly immunogenic tumor. Aging, however, is associated with dysregulation of the immune system and is likely to affect the success of melanoma treatment in the elderly population. This population represents an ideal in vivo model to study the effects of the aging immune system on the natural history of melanoma in the elderly. We review the epidemiology, histopathologic features, and treatment outcomes of elderly melanoma patients with reference to their immune function. Various components of the normal immune system are described, and the immune response to melanoma is recapitulated. Particular emphasis is placed on the growing understanding of the innate, adaptive, and regulatory arms of the aging immune system.
Resonant two photon ionization of phenanthrene via its transientS2 state

We report the vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectrum of phenanthrene obtained by two photon ionization via theS2 electronic state. The experiments were performed with picosecond laser pulses with a bandwidth sufficiently large to span a significant fraction of the intermediate resonance state. Therefore the photoelectron spectrum is dominated by signal corresponding to the unrelaxed intermediate resonance, in spite of this state's 420 fs lifetime.
SOVIET PSYCHOLOGY AND ITS VIEW OF AMERICAN BEHAVIORISM

-This paper discusses how Soviet psychologists view American Behaviorism, especially as represented by Watson and Skinner. Soviet psychology is described by representing a uniform ideological and theoretical position. While this is not true of American Behaviorism, Soviet psychologists tend to view it as representing a theoretically uniform position. Both psychological schools evolved as reaction to introspection and an "idealistic" orientation in psychology. Soviet psychology became "idealistic" by expressiog the need to create "a new man" and by becoming involved in the class struggle. Soviet psychology, as a Marxist science, takes the position that all phenomena are explainable, including consciousness, motives, and "purpose."
Autonomic Failure: A Textbook of Clinical Disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System, 4th edn

It is a pleasure to see the fouth edition of this well-regarded book on the autonomic nervous system. The book was first published in 1983 and has grown in size and scope with each succeeding edition. The present edition, with 55 chapters by 74 authors, incorporates the substantial advances made since 1992. It is divided into six parts. The first two parts contain accounts of the anatomy, physiology, pathology, and other basic aspects of the autonomic nervous system. They are followed by a section on clinical autonomic testing. The remaining three parts are clinically oriented and relate to primary autonomic failure syndromes, peripheral autonomic neuropathies, and other disorders associated with autonomic dysfunction. Most of the authors are from the United States or United Kingdom, with some from other European countries or Australia. A number of them are well-respected and widely known investigators or clinicians. The book is more wide-ranging in its coverage than is suggested by its title. For example, there are individual chapters on nerve growth factor and on genetic approaches to the autonomic nervous system, two chapters on the control of the cerebral circulation, and other chapters that focus on migraine, pain, shock, and sympathetic neural mechanisms in hypertension. Perhaps in consequence, the book sometimes appears to lack a certain cohesiveness. Would clinicians requiring further information on migraine or shock, for example, really think to turn to a book of this sort? It might have been preferable to maintain a rather more focused approach, in keeping with the original aims of the book as expressed in the preface. Furthermore, regardless of where they are placed in the framework of the book, many chapters provide only a general account of the subject, with little specific direction for clinicians who might turn to the book for practical advice or guidance. For instance, the index directs the reader seeking information on the postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome to only one page, where it is discussed in a few brief lines that provide little guidance about the management of affected patients. These are minor concerns that do not detract from the overall value of the book. The book continues to have a useful role in providing a convenient introduction to, and summary of, the rapidly accumulating literature on the autonomic nervous system, and will be useful to clinicians in many different fields. It is a handsome volume, with a clear typeface, good illustrations and tables, a useful list of abbreviations in the front-matter, and an adequate index. I shall consult it often and can strongly recommend it. BOOK REVIEW
Nurse-led heart failure management improved quality of life and was cost-effective.

P L Hebert Dr P L Hebert, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA; Paul.Hebert2@va.gov Is nurse-led heart failure management cost-effective? ### Design: cost-effectiveness analysis of a randomised, assessor-blinded, controlled trial with 1-year follow-up. ### Setting: 4 hospitals in Harlem, New York, USA. ### Patients: 406 community-dwelling adults (mean age 59 y, 54% men) with heart failure. 46% were non-Hispanic black, 33% were Hispanic, and 15% were non-Hispanic white. Follow-up was 81%. ### Intervention: nurse-led heart failure management (n = 203) or usual care (n = 203). The intervention consisted of 1 in-person visit and periodic telephone calls to educate patients about heart failure and encourage adherence to medications and a low-salt diet, and co-ordination with patients’ physicians to optimise heart failure medications. ### Outcomes: quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) calculated from quality-of-life scores on the Health Utility Index Mark 3 (HUI3) …
Shop floor control and tool loading policies in flexible manufacturing systems

Abstract We develop a classification scheme and taxonomy of operating decisions in flexible manufacturing systems (FMS). The taxonomy is used to identify a promising research area termed General FMSs (GFMS), where very little academic work has been reported to date in the prior literature. A decision framework for the development of tool loading and shop floor control policies in GFMS is also presented, and used to highlight specific future research directions. Strategic justification for developing operating policies for the GFMS classification is also provided.