cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crossing the bridge from WebCT 2.x to 3.x

In December 2000, California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) began the process of migrating 175 courses from WebCT version 2.x to version 3.x. This six-month process began with the implementation of a test server along with hands-on "WebCT Changes" workshops. The test server was used to troubleshoot bugs on the version of WebCT to which we were migrating. Next, the actual migrations were performed by faculty and the WebCT administrator. Validation and fine-tuning of course material completed this transition. We had two major goals. One was to minimize the difficulties encountered by faculty as they migrated their courses. The other goal was to assist faculty in embracing the new features of WebCT. This poster session will focus on the process of migrating; what worked, what didn't work, and lessons learned.
The Effect of Amplitude (Power) Variations on Beam Combining Efficiency for Phased Arrays

In coherent beam combining (phased arrays), control of the relative amplitudes (powers) of array elements is needed to maximize the beam combining efficiency. Here, expressions are derived for the efficiency in approaches that use interferometric combiners such as diffractive optical elements or fiber couplers. The beam combining efficiency is relatively insensitive to small power errors. In the case of dropped elements, the efficiency is equal to the fraction of operating elements. The beam combining efficiency is equivalent to the Strehl ratio for a tiled aperture.
Ambient Air Pollution and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review of Epidemiologic Research

Recent experimental and epidemiologic studies have suggested air pollution as a new risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We conducted a systematic review of the epidemiologic studies on the association of air pollution with T2DM and related outcomes published by December 2013. We identified 22 studies: 6 prospective studies on incident T2DM; 2 prospective study on diabetes mortality; 4 cross-sectional studies on prevalent T2DM; 7 ecological studies on mortality or morbidity from diabetes; and 3 studies on glucose or insulin levels. The evidence of the association between long-term exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) and the risk of T2DM is suggestive. The summary hazard ratio of the association between long-term PM2.5 exposure and incident T2DM was 1.11 (95% CI, 1.03-1.19) for a 10 μg/m3 increase. The evidence on the association between long-term traffic-related exposure (measured by nitrogen dioxide or nitrogen oxides) and the risk of T2DM was also suggestive although most studies were conducted in women. For short-term effects of air pollution on diabetes mortality or hospital/emergency admissions, we conclude that the evidence is not sufficient to infer a causal relationship. Because most studies were conducted in North America or in Europe where exposure levels are relatively low, more studies are needed in recently urbanized areas in Asia and Latin America where air pollution levels are much higher and T2DM is an emerging public health concern.
Perturbation theory in light-cone quantization

Abstract A new algorithm for the automatic computation of Feynman diagram amplitudes in quantum field theory is presented. Once the topology of a diagram is defined, the algorithm constructs all corresponding light-cone time-orderings. We explore the method for two- and three-loop calculations in QED.
Weather Resistant Covering for Line Wires

Previous to the last two years, development of weather resistant covering for line wires lay in the hands of the manufacturer and was centered upon meeting the demand for a cheaper product. This resulted in a decreasing life of the covering. Research described in this article points the way to a greatly improved covering which, although slightly more expensive to produce, can be justified economically by its longer life and higher insulating quality. Specifications for the saturant of such a covering are presented herewith.
Statically typed string sanitation inside a python

Web applications must ultimately command systems like web browsers and database engines using strings. Strings derived from improperly sanitized user input can as a result be a vector for command injection attacks. In this paper, we introduce regular string types, which classify strings constrained statically to be in a regular language specified by a regular expression. Regular strings support standard string operations like concatenation and substitution, as well as safe coercions, so they can be used to implement, in an essentially conventional manner, the pieces of a web application or framework that handle strings arising from user input. Simple type annotations at function interfaces can be used to statically verify that sanitization has been performed correctly without introducing redundant run-time checks. We specify this type system first as a minimal typed lambda calculus, lambdaRS. To be practical, adopting a specialized type system like this should not require the adoption of a new programming language. Instead, we advocate for extensible type systems: new type system fragments like this should be implemented as libraries atop a mechanism that guarantees that they can be safely composed. We support this with two contributions. First, we specify a translation from lambdaRS to a calculus with only standard strings and regular expressions. Then, taking Python as a language with these constructs, we implement the type system together with the translation as a library using typy, an extensible static type system for Python.
Phase Transition and Compressibility in Silicon Nanowires

Silicon nanowires (Si NWs), one-dimensional single crystalline, have recently drawn extensive attention, thanks to their robust applications in electrical and optical devices as well as in the strengthening of diamond/SiC superhard composites. Here, we conducted high-pressure synchrotron diffraction experiments in a diamond anvil cell to study phase transitions and compressibility of Si NWs. Our results revealed that the onset pressure for the Si I-II transformation in Si NWs is approximately 2.0 GPa lower than previously determined values for bulk Si, a trend that is consistent with the analysis of misfit in strain energy. The bulk modulus of Si-I NWs derived from the pressure-volume measurements is 123 GPa, which is comparable to that of Si-V NWs but 25% larger than the reported values for bulk silicon. The reduced compressibility in Si NWs indicates that the unique wire-like structure in nanoscale plays vital roles in the elastic behavior of condensed matter.
Ion beam modification of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in [Co/Pt]n multilayers and FePt thin films

ABSTRACT For [Co(3A)/Pt(10A)] n multilayers and FePt(111) L1 0 ordered films exposed to energetic ion beam irradiation, we haveexperimentally determined the dependence of the perpendicular coercivity on ion dose, for a variety of ion species andenergies. A simple model based on ballistic displacement of Co (or Fe) atoms from ordered configurations is presented,which predicts an exponential decline of anisotropy with ion dose. The perpendicular coercivity for these samples isindeed found to decline in this way. The ballistic displacement model, evaluated using SRIM Monte Carlo simulation,roughly reflects the observed dependence on ion species and energy. However, the experimental data would demand adisplacement probability per incident ion many times larger than that obtained from SRIM .Keywords: Magnetic storage media, ion beam, FePt, Co/Pt multilayer 1. INTRODUCTION In order to achieve magnetic disk storage densities in the region of >100 Gb/in 2 , attention has turned to the concept ofpre-patterned magnetic thin film media. In its simplest form, each stored bit would be constituted by a sharply defineddot among an ordered array of such dots on the disk, separated by surface areas having no magnetic response. Dotdimensions of the order of tens of nm would be required. In order to fabricate such structures efficiently, an alternative tostandard subtractive photoresist lithography of a continuous magnetic film has been reported
As Singular as a Delta Function [AP-S Turnstile]

Discusses the beliefs of P. A. M. Dirac about quantum electrodynamics and a new biography about the man.
PERCEPTUAL EFFECTS ON REMEMBERING : RECOLLECTIVE PROCESSES IN PICTURE RECOGNITION MEMORY

In 3 experiments, the effects of perceptual manipulations on recollective experience were tested. In Experiment 1, a picture-superiority effect was obtained for overall recognition and Remember judgements in a picture recognition task. In Experiment 2, size changes of pictorial stimuli across study and test reduced recognition memory and Remember judgements. In Experiment 3, deleterious effects of changes in left-right orientation of pictorial stimuli across study and test were obtained for Remember judgements. An alternate framework that emphasizes a distinctiveness-fluency processing distinction is proposed to account for these findings because they cannot easily be accommodated within the existing account of differences in conceptual and perceptual processing for the 2 categories of recollective experience: Remembering and Knowing, respectively (J. M. Gardiner, 1988; S. Rajaram, 1993).
Quantum phase transitions in mesoscopic systems.

Quantum phase transitions in mesoscopic systems are studied. It is shown that the main features of phase transitions, defined for infinite number of particles, $N\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$, persist even for moderate $N\ensuremath{\sim}10.$ A Landau analysis of first order transitions is done and a ``critical'' exponent at the spinodal point is defined. Two order parameters are introduced to distinguish first from second order transitions. Applications to atomic nuclei, molecules, atomic clusters, and finite polymers are mentioned. Experimental evidence in atomic nuclei is presented.
Near-quadratic bounds for the L 1 Voronoi diagram of moving points

Given a set of n moving points in the plane, how many topological changes occur in the Voronoi diagram of the points? If each point has constant velocity then there is an upper bound of O(n3) (Guibas et al., 1991) and an easy lower bound of Ω(n2). It is widely believed that the true upper bound should be close to O(n2). We show this belief to be true for the case of Voronoi diagrams based on the L1 (or L∞) metric; the number of changes is shown to be O(n2α(n)) where α(n) grows so slowly it is effectively a small constant for all reasonable values of n.
Using simulation to compare different automated storage/retrieval system designs

Abstract The Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) are highly specialized material handling systems that are becoming increasingly popular for high capacity, effective use of warehouse space, and smoothing the flow of operations. In order to avoid expensive over-building, and even more expensive bottlenecks due to poorly designed systems, a simulation model is developed that evaluates the behavior of the system under some realistic assumptions. The model employs random inter-arrival time for storage and retrieval, and for assignment of unit loads to storage locations, and uses such parameters as S/R cycle time, conveyor speed and number of I/O buffers to study the system performance. The result of this study is a better understanding of the affect of different parameters on the effectiveness of the system and its overall cost performance.
The extent to which a position-based explanation accounts for binaural release from informational masking.

Detection was measured for a 500Hz tone masked by noise (an “energetic” masker) or sets of ten randomly drawn tones (an “informational” masker). Presenting the maskers diotically and the target tone with a variety of interaural differences (interaural amplitude ratios and/or interaural time delays) resulted in reduced detection thresholds relative to when the target was presented diotically (“binaural release from masking”). Thresholds observed when time and amplitude differences applied to the target were “reinforcing” (favored the same ear, resulting in a lateralized position for the target) were not significantly different from thresholds obtained when differences were “opposing” (favored opposite ears, resulting in a centered position for the target). This irrelevance of differences in the perceived location of the target is a classic result for energetic maskers but had not previously been shown for informational maskers. However, this parallellism between the patterns of binaural release for energet...
Scratch n’ Screen for Inhibitors of Cell Migration

Yarrow et al. have identified a small molecule inhibitor of cell migration, 3-(4-pyridyl)indole ("Rockout"), that targets Rho-kinase via a novel screening method using a scratch wound healing assay adapted to a high-throughput format and automated microscopy.
Dual keel Space Station payload pointing system design and analysis feasibility study

A Space Station (SS) attached Payload Pointing System (PPS) was designed and analyzed. The PPS is responsible for maintaining inertially fixed payload pointing in the presence of disturbances applied to the SS. The payload considered in this analysis, the Solar Optical Telescope (SOT), was attached to the SS via a 3-axis gimbal system. NASTRAN structural models were developed assuming the SS to be a flexible structure while the gimbal mechanism and SOT were assumed to be rigid bodies, and a state space description of the plant (SS + Gimbal + SOT) was formulated. A digital controller was designed and a linear stability analysis of the overall control loop was performed. Finally, system performance was evaluated via digital time simulations by applying various disturbance forces to the SS including crew motions, centrifuge, thruster firing, and Space Shuttle docking. The PPS met the SS articulated pointing requirement for all disturbances except Shuttle docking and some centrifuge cases.
What do I lose if I lose my bilingual school? Students’ and teachers’ perceptions of the value of a Slovene language maintenance program in Italy

The Italian–Slovenian border represents a dynamic vantage point from which to observe how cultural and linguistic contact takes place and how minority groups have created educational strategies to ...
Colorimetric determination of water in acetone

Abstract A colorimetric method utilising dithizone for the determination of water in acetone is described. The method is based on the change of color with water content, which is possibly due to keto-enol formation of the dithizone. Calibration curves at 608 nm are linear at low water concentrations ; the absorbance decreases with increasing water concentration. A detection limit of 0.02 g of water per 100 ml of solution was obtained. The method is applicable to the determination of water of hydration in metal salts that do not react with dithizone.
All-Knowing or All-Nurturing? Student Expectations, Gender Roles, and Practical Suggestions for Women in the Classroom*

Student evaluations of teaching (SETs) often have important effects on promotion, tenure, and merit raises, even if only through the negative effects that poor evaluations can have on these decisions (Langbein 1994). SETs can be affected by student characteristics (class, GPA, major, expected grade, gender), class characteristics (size, required, discipline, quantitative), and professor characteristics (age, gender, race, ethnicity, personality traits). Both experiments and analysis of end-of-semester SETs in a range of disciplines and institutional settings have been used to examine the effects of each of these characteristics and the interactions among them to understand the factors that produce higher SETs.
Frequent derepression of G6PD and HPRT on the marsupial inactive X chromosome associated with cell proliferation in vitro.

Abstract X chromosome dosage compensation in Marsupials is like that in eutherian mammals except that the paternal X chromosome is always inactive, and silence of this chromosome is not well maintained. We previously showed that the unstable inactivation of the paternal G6PD allele is associated with the lack of DNA methylation in the 5′ CpG cluster. Even though this CpG island is unmethylated, the paternal allele (marked by an enzyme variant) is at least partially and often severely repressed in most tissues of the opossum, so that factors other than methylation must inactivate the locus. Here we report that when cell cultures are established from these tissues, the silent G6PD locus is derepressed. Although often complete, the extent of derepression differs among tissues and within different cell types in the same tissue, and is not accompanied by obvious changes in the pattern of chromosome replication. Studies of the HPRT locus in these cells show that the paternal HPRT allele also derepresses in cultured cells. These observations suggest that without DNA methylation to maintain the silence of the locus, tissue or cell-specific factors act to repress the silent locus, but are unable to maintain inactivity through cell division, or are lost as cells proliferate in culture.
NATO in the 1990s: An American perspective

(1993). NATO in the 1990s: An American perspective. Paradigms: Vol. 7, The Trans Atlantic Relationship, pp. 1-21.
An Auto-Multi-Stimulation Reaction Board for Use with Sub-Human Primates

(1935). An Auto-Multi-Stimulation Reaction Board for Use with Sub-Human Primates. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 123-127.
Primers for amplification of mt SSU rDNA, and a phylogenetic study of Botryosphaeria and associated anamorphic fungi.

Two PCR primers (MSU1 and MSU7) were designed to amplify part of the mt SSU rDNA gene from filamentous ascomycetes. The MSU1-MSU7 and MSU1-NMS2 primer pairs were tested with 32 isolates of 23 species in 10 genera. Minimum evolution, parsimony, and likelihood methods were used for the phylogenetic analyses of mt SSU rDNA sequences from Botryosphaeria species and related taxa. These analyses indicated that: Botryosphaeria is not monophyletic; the separation of Botryosphaeria from Guignardia is supported; except for B. vaccinii, other Botryosphaeria species and related taxa form a monophyletic group with strong jackknife support; Diplodia pinea f. sp. cupressi is different from RAPD marker groups A and B of Sphaeropsis sapinea; the anamorph genera Sphaeropsis and Diplodia are not indicative of close relationships among different species; and the name B. stevensii may have been applied to more than one species. Botryosphaeria needs additional study and substantial taxonomic revision.
Prenatal diagnosis of disorders of fatty acid transport and mitochondrial oxidation

Fatty acid transport and mitochondrial oxidation (FATMO) is a complex pathway that plays a major role in energy production during fasting or when illness and stressful situations require higher energy consumption. After long-chain fatty acids are mobilized from adipose tissue, taken up by liver and muscle cells, and activated to coenzyme A esters, they are transported into mitochondria by the sequential action of carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) I, carnitineacylcarnitine translocase, and CPT II (Bonnefont et al., 1999). Fatty acids are then oxidized in a cyclic fashion by four sequential reactions, each catalyzed by one of multiple enzymes with overlapping substrate chainlength specificity: FAD-dependent acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, enoyl-CoA hydratase, NAD-dependent L-3hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, and ketoacyl-CoA thiolase. Each cycle of the pathway produces a molecule of acetyl-CoA and a shortened fatty acid that re-enters the cycle until it is completely metabolized. In the liver, acetyl-CoA constitutes the building block for the synthesis of ketone bodies, which serve as fuels for production of energy in other tissues. Inherited FATMO disorders represent a rapidly expanding class of metabolic diseases (Bennett et al., 2000). Signs and symptoms may vary greatly in severity and typically include hypoketotic hypoglycemia, transient to fulminant liver disease, skeletal myopathy, cardiomyopathy, and sudden and unexpected death in early life. Symptoms may appear at any age, from birth to adult life, and in variable combinations, frequently leading to life-threatening episodes of metabolic decompensation. To date, all known FATMO disorders are inherited as autosomal recessive traits, with a recurrence risk of 25%. Although prenatal ‘screening’ could occasionally be informative (Nada et al., 1996; Chalmers et al., 1997), the pursuit of a prenatal diagnosis after an index case with an unspecified diagnosis should be limited to special circumstances, recommending instead aggressive preventive treatment and a thorough evaluation of the newborn immediately after birth. The prenatal diagnosis of FATMO disorders raises both ethical and medical issues. On one hand, parents face the option of abortion for a treatable disorder like MCAD deficiency or carnitine uptake defect, having experienced the sudden death of one or more children. At the other end of the clinical spectrum are disorders like glutaric acidemia type 2 with congenital anomalies and neonatal CPT II deficiency, characterized by very poor prognosis and outcome, and obvious candidates for prenatal diagnosis. Another unique aspect of prenatal diagnosis for FATMO disorders is the associated risk of maternal
The Cytoplasmic Domain of Rat Synaptotagmin I Enhances Synaptic Transmission

Synaptotagmin, an integral membrane protein of synaptic vesicles, functions as a calcium sensor in the temporal control of neurotransmitter release. Although synaptotagmin facilitates lipid membrane fusion in biochemical experiments, overexpression of synaptotagmin inhibits neurotransmission. A facilitatory effect of synaptotagmin on synaptic transmission was never observed. To determine whether synaptotagmin may accelerate synaptic transmission in vivo, we injected the cytoplasmic domain of rat synaptotagmin I (CD-syt) into crayfish motor axons and tested the effect of CD-syt on synaptic response. We confirmed that CD-syt accelerates neuromuscular transmission. The injected preparation had larger synaptic potentials with shorter rise time. Experiments with varying calcium concentrations showed that CD-syt increased the maximum synaptic response of the neuromuscular synapses. Further tests on short-term plasticity of neuromuscular synapses revealed that CD-syt increases the release probability of the release-ready vesicles.
Some concepts of perceived control and their relationship to bodily self-control.

Four cognitive models relating to concepts of perceived control are summarized. Some implications of the models for biofeedback-assisted self-regulation are outlined and related experimentation in this area is reviewed with suggestions for further research.
Tuberculosis, the adirondacks, and coming of age for thoracic surgery

"The Captain of all these men of death," wrote John Bunyan in 1680, "that came against him to take him away, was the Consumption, for it was that that brought him down to the grave." Until the twentieth century tuberculosis, or the Consumption, was the foremost cause of death among adults. It had not been recognized as a specific infectious process until 1882. The sanatorium movement for segregation and treatment of tuberculous patients originated in the late nineteenth century. Locations in the mountains were thought to be especially favorable, for the sake of fresh air, sunshine, and the aromas of pine and spruce. Long before the epidemic of lung cancer, or the possibilities of correction for cardiac disease, development of thoracic surgery was closely intertwined with the history of the sanatoriums. All of them had disappeared, however, soon after the middle of the twentieth century.
Predictive validity of the pain and impairment relationship scale in a chronic nonmalignant pain population

Abstract Objective: To examine the predictive and incremental validity of the Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale (PAIRS) and to determine its ability to measure changes in pain beliefs following interdisciplinary treatment. Design: A before-after treatment design. Setting: A comprehensive interdisciplinary pain center at a large midwest university medical center. Interventions: A cognitive-behavioral approach to pain management. The day-long program lasted 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Interventions were designed to improve physical functioning, reduce use of health care, and improve pain coping. Main Outcome Measures: Six-month follow-up outcome measures included interference with daily activity, pain severity, and life control as measured by the Multidimensional Pain Inventory, medication use measured by the Medication Quantification Scale, depression measured by the Beck Depression Inventory, and the number of health care visits and pain-related hospitalizations. Results: Pretreatment PAIRS scores correlated significantly with interference with daily activities, pain severity, life control, health care visits, and depression. Stronger correlations were obtained between posttreatment PAIRS scores and all follow-up outcome measures. Posttreatment PAIRS scores accounted for a significant portion of the variance beyond that in demographic variables and pretreatment PAIRS scores in all but one of the follow-up measures. PAIRS scores changed significantly ( p Conclusions: The PAIRS has excellent predictive validity, and can be used effectively to monitor individual and programmatic changes.
Morphological Studies on Holotrichous Ciliates of the Family Hysterocinetidae. II. Craticuloscuta escobari Gen. Nov., Sp. Nov., and Epicharocotyle kyburzi Gen. Nov., Sp. Nov.

SYNOPSIS. Two species of hysterocinetids occur in the alimentary tract of Drilocrius breymanni, an aquatic oligochaete collected in Departamento del Valle, Colombia. The suckers of both species are unusual for their complexity. In Craticuloscuta escobari gen. nov., sp. nov., the sucker is a shallow oval concavity with longitudinal and transverse supporting elements. About one-fifth of the area of the sucker, in its posterior portion, is ciliated, but argyrophilic punctations, which probably represent kinetosomes, are distributed in a regular pattern over most of its surface. In Epicharocotyle kyburzi gen. nov., sp. nov., the oval major portion of the sucker is deep, and continuous with a short trough which extends posteriorly and bends toward the left. Veil-like flanges, bordered by a fringe of thick, inactive cilia, arise from the margins of the sucker on either side. In the region of the trough, the flanges may overlap in such a way that the trough is almost completely covered. The trough and a small area of the major portion of the sucker anterior to it are ciliated. However, argyrophilic punctations which probably represent kinetosomes are distributed over most of the surface of the sucker. The pattern of longitudinal and transverse supporting elements found in the sucker itself extends into the flanges. In both Craticuloscuta and Epicharocotyle, the arrangement of the adoral and buccal ciliary organelles is essentially like that in Hysterocineta, Ptychostomum, and other ciliates of the family Hysterocinetidae.
"The Feeling's Mutual": Student Participation in Leadership as a Cooperative Effort.

This article stems from a grounded theory study of leadership among urban youth. It reports the perspective of students in a college preparation program by examining how they participated in leadership. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and field observations of 20 incoming college freshmen. Students conceptualized their participation in the program's leadership practice as a process of purpose-driven cooperative reciprocity. The findings suggested that all members of educational organizations make contributions to their organizations' total leadership capacity. The study concludes by encouraging further empirical work that explores leadership contributions by followers in urban educational organizations.
Is the First to Market the First to Fail? Empirical Evidence for Industrial Goods Businesses

Abstract When entering a new market, the first entrant typically faces the greatest market and technological uncertainties. Memorable phrases reflect the associated survival risk, such as “the first to market is the first to fail” and “the pioneer is the one with the arrows in its back.” Although research estimates the market pioneer’s survival rate, the typical pioneer survival rate has not been compared with that of early followers. The authors’ study compares survival rates for 167 first-entrant market pioneers versus 267 early followers. For these industrial goods businesses, 66% of the pioneers versus 48% of the early followers survived at least ten years. The main conclusion is that the pioneer’s temporary monopoly over the early followers plus its first-mover advantages typically offset the survival risks associated with market and technological uncertainties. These results are consistent with previous research in the sense that first-mover advantages that increase a pioneer’s market share also hel...
Psychological Treatments for Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most prevalent eating disorder in adults, and individuals with BED report greater general and specific psychopathology than non-eating disordered individuals. The current paper reviews research on psychological treatments for BED, including the rationale and empirical support for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), behavioral weight loss (BWL), and other treatments warranting further study. Research supports the effectiveness of CBT and IPT for the treatment of BED, particularly for those with higher eating disorder and general psychopathology. Guided self-help CBT has shown efficacy for BED without additional pathology. DBT has shown some promise as a treatment for BED, but requires further study to determine its long-term efficacy. Predictors and moderators of treatment response, such as weight and shape concerns, are highlighted and a stepped-care model proposed. Future directions include expanding the adoption of efficacious treatments in clinical practice, testing adapted treatments in diverse samples (e.g., minorities and youth), improving treatment outcomes for nonresponders, and developing efficient and cost-effective stepped-care models.
Multivariate Parameter Sets for Optimal Synthesis of Compliant Mechanisms

This paper will propose the use of control maps along with discretized elements or meshes in the design parameter set for optimizing compliant mechanisms. The use of control maps will be demonstrated to encode the motion of groups of nodes or control points within a compliant mechanism design with simple mapping rules. The technique will serve as an alternative to increased mesh size or node wandering techniques that have been proposed to increase the number of alternative design shapes that may be considered. As an alternative approach, the proposed control map parameterization has the significant benefit that it minimizes the number of design parameters necessary (parameters increase linearly with the mesh size) in describing a given design making it computationally efficient. A limited number of tiles can produce a map that has a significant effect on the final shape. If the tiles are chosen appropriately, the problems such as material overlap and non-convex mesh elements are avoided automatically. This paper will describe the implementation of these control maps and provide several examples showing their implementation in the compliant mechanism topology synthesis process.
Synthesis and Structure of Molybdenum and Tungsten Bisphosphine Carbonyl Dimers

The synthesis of two bisphosphine ligands (R2P)2C6H4 with a para-disubstituted phenyl moiety is described (R = Cy (3), i-Pr (4)). Solutions of M(CO)3(C7H8) (C7H8 = η6-cycloheptatriene, M = Mo and W) and 3 or 4 were reacted under CO affording dimeric compounds of the general formula [M2(CO)8((R2P)2C6H4)2] (M = W, R = Cy (5); M = Mo, R = Cy (6); and M = W, R = i-Pr (7)). When the same reactions are carried out in the presence of H2, similar W−H2 analogues of the general formula [W2(CO)6((R2P)2C6H4)2(H2)2], R = Cy (8), R = i-Pr (9), can be observed by 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy. Compounds 8 and 9 are not isolable, due to facile ligand redistribution forming 5 and 7, respectively.
The Role of Models in Women's Professional Development*

If modeling represents a significant process in socializing candidates to professions, the question arises as to how young women have negotiated the acquisition of professional identities in fields...
The Impact of New Employers From the Outside, the Growth of Local Capitalism, and New Amenities on the Social and Economic Welfare of Small Towns

The purpose of this study was to determine if the outcomes of economic development result in the anticipated economic and social benefits.The authors differentiated between the proximal outcomes of...
Metrics with Prescribed Ricci Curvature of Constant Rank

In this paper, we give local existence results in the real-analytic category for the non-linear partial differential equation arising from the problem of finding Riemannian metrics with prescribed Ricci curvature. Let R be a given symmetric 2-form on a real-analytic manifold X of dimension n 3; we seek (locally) a Riemannian metric g whose Ricci curvature Ric(g) is equal to R, that is, we wish to solve the equation
Comments on “Empirical predictions of the new monetary economics: Perspectives on velocity”§

The purpose of the article by Cowen and Kroszner (this issue; henceforth, C and K) is to conduct, or at least design , some empirical tests of the approach to monetary analysis that has come to be termed the new monetary economics (NME). This objective is highly commendable-and is also rather intriguing, since most of the existing NME contributions have concerned themselves with hypothetical economies that seem very different from any that exist today . I But of course C and K are correct in their implicit suggestion that a major purpose of economic analysis is to generate predictions of outcomes that would be obtained if policies or institutions were very different than they are at present , or ever have been. The task faced by C and K is, however , especially difficult. One problem that arises at the outset' is the extreme heterogeneity of views that are held by writers identified as proponents of the NME. My own reaction would have been to say that the views on monetary theory held by Fischer Black, Bob Hall, Leland Yeager, and Neil Wallace are so diverse that it would be pointless to try to find much common ground. By contrast , C and K admit that much heterogeneity exists , but nevertheless put forth several propositions that they view as generally representative of the approach and then try to develop evidence relating to their validity . The first of these propositions can be stated as a prediction that "in the absence of legal restrictions on intermediation, an economy would
Thin Film Infrared Laser Pyrolysis Studies of Thermal Decomposition Mechanisms in Nitramine Propellants

Thin films of RDX (1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine) have been prepared by vapor deposition onto a 77 K substrate window and pyrolyzed with a pulsed CO2 laser. Each sample is rapidly quenched after the laser pulse by heat conduction into the cold substrate, and the initial reaction products are trapped on the window for examination by transmission FTIR spectroscopy. We have detected N2O4, the dimer of nitrogen dioxide, as an initial condensed phase pyrolysis product, confirming that scission of one of the N-N bonds is the first step in the reaction mechanism. No evidence was found for formation of methylene nitramine via a proposed concerted depolymerization pathway.
Commentary: Using Psychological Theory in Help‐Seeking Research

In commenting on Henshaw and Freedman-Doan’s (2009) article, we note that the topic is significant because treatment rates for mental health problems remain relatively low; we agree that theory-based research is needed to better understand and remediate this. We discuss dual-process models of health behavior, including heuristic-based as well as reasoned or rational information processing, and the role of informal networks and social comparison processes in symptom labeling and help seeking decisions. We suggest how social-cognitive theory may be useful for further research, and we note the low rates of help seeking for posttraumatic stress disorder as a particularly important problem for researchers and practitioners.
Frontal P300 decrements in antisocial personality disorder.

Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 83, 21- to 25-year-old nonalcoholic men varying in alcoholism vulnerability due to the presence/absence of an alcoholic family history or a personal history of antisocial personality disorder. ERPs were elicited by a visual oddball task in which the target was presented more frequently than the nontarget, in order to elicit impulsive or perseverative responding. Analyses of N200 and P300 revealed no group differences in the nontarget response. However, analyses of the target response revealed a significantly smaller P300 in the antisocial personality (ASP)+ group compared with the ASP- group. The P300 decrement was limited to frontal electrode sites and is interpreted as indicating the presence of subtle anterior brain dysfunction among ASP+ subjects.
ANGULAR DISTRIBUTIONS OF SELECTED N2 AUGER TRANSITIONS

The angular distribution of Auger electrons produced in the collision of 1634-eV electrons with ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ is reported. The angular distributions are measured relative to the internuclear axis of the molecule from 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} in 6\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} steps. When an Auger transition occurs to an unstable doubly ionized state the molecular ion dissociates into two ${\mathrm{N}}^{+}$ fragments. Because the time required for dissociation of the ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}^{2+}$ ion is much less than that for rotation of the ion, the axial recoil approximation holds to first order, and detecting one of the ${\mathrm{N}}^{+}$ ions determines the orientation of the target molecule at the time of the projectile-molecule collision. Therefore, a coincidence experiment between the Auger electrons of appropriate energy and the ${\mathrm{N}}^{+}$ fragments is devised. The rotation of the ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}^{2+}$ ions during the course of the dissociation process has been taken into account as a second-order approximation. As a result of this rotational effect, the predicted angular distribution function is smeared out by an amount depending on the different ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}^{2+}$ final states. The data are analyzed in terms of a two-center model in which prolate spheroidal coordinates are used.
Behavioral effects of methyl parathion on social groups of bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)

The behavioral effects of three sublethal concentrations of methyl parathion on social groups of bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) were examined. Consistently similar hierarchies were formed in all test groups, allowing for comparison both before and after toxicant administration. Significant increases in comfort movements and respiratory disruptions and decreases in aggressive behaviors were observed after methyl parathion was added to treatment tanks. Changes in the frequencies of the affected behaviors occurred primarily within the first 24 h of the treatment period. In every treatment, the most subordinate and dominant individuals were affected more pronouncedly than were intermediately ranked fish. Consequently, differential, contaminant-induced responses associated with rank should be considered when conducting bioassays and perhaps ultimately examined in the field when dealing with species which form social hierarchies. Examination of this factor could help clarify the relative roles of social stress and toxicant stress in producing an effect.
trp RNA-binding attenuation protein-mediated long distance RNA refolding regulates translation of trpE in Bacillus subtilis.

Expression of the trpEDCFBA operon is regulated at both the transcriptional and translational levels by thetrp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP) ofBacillus subtilis. When cells contain sufficient levels of tryptophan to activate TRAP, the protein binds to trpoperon transcripts as they are being synthesized, most often causing transcription termination. However, termination is never 100% efficient, and transcripts that escape termination are subject to translational control. We determined that TRAP-mediated translational control of trpE can occur via a novel RNA conformational switch mechanism. When TRAP binds to the 5′-untranslated leader segment of a trp operon read-through transcript, it can disrupt a large secondary structure containing a portion of the TRAP binding target. This promotes refolding of the RNA such that thetrpE Shine-Dalgarno sequence, located more than 100 nucleotides downstream from the TRAP binding site, becomes sequestered in a stable RNA hairpin. Results from cell-free translation, ribosome toeprint, and RNA structure mapping experiments demonstrate that formation of this structure reduces TrpE synthesis by blocking ribosome access to the trpE ribosome binding site. The role of the Shine-Dalgarno blocking hairpin in controlling translation oftrpE was confirmed by examining the effect of multiple nucleotide substitutions that abolish the structure without altering the Shine-Dalgarno sequence itself. The possibility of protein-mediated RNA refolding as a general mechanism in controlling gene expression is discussed.
Total intestinal absorption of glucose and L-methionine in broilers infected with Eimeria acervulina, E. mivati, E. maxima or E. brunetti.

The in vitro absorption of glucose and L-methionine in the intestine of broiler chickens was measured 7, 14 and 21 days post-inoculation (p.i.) with sporulated oocysts of Eimeria acervulina, E. mivati, E. maxima or E. brunetti. The small intestine of each bird was divided into 8 regions of equal length and absorption was measured on 3 tissue disks of equal size from each region. The absorption rate of each substrate with each coccidial species was measured based on (1) an equal area from each region, (2) an equal weight from each region, (3) the total absorption in each region, and (4) the total potential absorption in the intestine. Comparisons of absorption rate of equal areas in each intestinal region demonstrated that infected birds at 7 days p.i. absorbed significantly less substrate per unit area in the regions of maximum infection than uninfected controls. Malabsorption was less apparent when the weight of the region was used as the unit of measurement. Compensatory absorption was seen in some uninfected regions with E. acervulina. The total potential intestinal absorption at 7 days p.i. was reduced with E. mivati, E. maxima and E. brunetti but not with E. acervulina. At 14 days p.i., total L-methionine and glucose absorption in some regions of the intestine was significantly increased with E. acervulina but not with E. mivati, E. maxima or E. brunetti. No absorption differences were seen at 21 days p.i. with any species.
Laboratory tests for detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection.

phocytes (39). These cells are crucial for the induction and regulation of the immune response. Their progressive depletion by the virus causes irreversible disruption of normal immune function, leading to immunosuppression and the subsequent development of AIDS (38). Early medical intervention reducestheriskofverticallytransmittedinfectionfrommother to infant (27a) and delays progression to AIDS (88). This necessitates early detection of the infection, which may be asymptomatic for a prolonged time (70). Infection can be established by direct or indirect laboratory tests. Direct tests detect the presence of the whole virus, its proteins, or its genetic components. They include the p24 antigen capture assay,viralculture,andPCR.Indirecttestsdetectthepresence of antibodies to HIV-1, thus indicating exposure to and infectionbythevirus.Theseincludeenzymeimmunoassay(EIA)or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blotting (WB; immunoblotting), indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA). This minireview describes the principles, characteristics, and indications for the use of indirect tests. Antibody (indirect) detection tests comprise screening and confirmatory (supplemental) assays which are characterized by their high degrees of sensitivity and high degrees of specificity, respectively. Screening tests include ELISAs or EIAs and simple and rapid tests. Confirmatory tests include WB, IFA, and RIPA.
Nontechnical skills in pediatric surgery: Factors influencing operative performance

Technical competence is an essential aspect of intraoperative performance but is in itself insufficient to ensure an optimal surgical outcome. A list of other skills complement technical ability and these relate, among others, to surgical judgment and intraoperative decision-making processes as well as the role of the operating surgeon as leader of the surgical team. This article outlines the composite set of nontechnical skills (NTS) and the factors which influence surgical performance by virtue of this skill set. A framework has been developed to allow identification, teaching, and assessment of NTS known as Nontechnical Skills for Surgeons (NOTSS), and the relevance and influence of NOTSS during the intraoperative performance of pediatric surgery is presented.
Development of spatiotemporal mechanisms in infant vision.

Abstract In adult spatiotemporal vision information is processed in parallel by a number of mechanisms tuned for orientation and spatial frequency. An examination of infant neuroanatomical data suggests that three major factors are involved in the development of these mechanisms (1) Growth of foveal cone outer segments causes an increase in mechanism sensitivity. (2) Migration of foveal cones produces a change in spatial scale and a progressive shift of mechanism tuning towards higher spatial frequencies. (3)Development of cortical inhibition transforms low-pass into bandpass spatial frequency and orientation tuning. These changes are developed into a quantitative model which is shown to provide a coherent interpretation of many of the psychophysical data on infant vision.
Exceptional Flexibility in the Sequence Requirements for Coronavirus Small Envelope Protein Function

The small envelope protein (E) plays a role of central importance in the assembly of coronaviruses. This was initially established by studies demonstrating that cellular expression of only E protein and the membrane protein (M) was necessary and sufficient for the generation and release of virus-like particles. To investigate the role of E protein in the whole virus, we previously generated E gene mutants of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) that were defective in viral growth and produced aberrantly assembled virions. Surprisingly, however, we were also able to isolate a viable MHV mutant (DeltaE) in which the entire E gene, as well as the nonessential upstream genes 4 and 5a, were deleted. We have now constructed an E knockout mutant that confirms that the highly defective phenotype of the DeltaE mutant is due to loss of the E gene. Additionally, we have created substitution mutants in which the MHV E gene was replaced by heterologous E genes from viruses spanning all three groups of the coronavirus family. Group 2 and 3 E proteins were readily exchangeable for that of MHV. However, the E protein of a group 1 coronavirus, transmissible gastroenteritis virus, became functional in MHV only after acquisition of particular mutations. Our results show that proteins encompassing a remarkably diverse range of primary amino acid sequences can provide E protein function in MHV. These findings suggest that E protein facilitates viral assembly in a manner that does not require E protein to make sequence-specific contacts with M protein.