cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Achieving the Millennium Development Goals — The Case of Malaria

Malaria kills up to 3 million people per year worldwide. Jeffrey Sachs writes that the goals of the U.N. Millennium Project will not be met in large areas of the world if we continue with business as usual.
Exploring virtual fetal pig dissection as a learning tool for female high school biology students

This study attempted to determine if a virtual fetal pig dissection can be used as a viable alternative for an actual dissection for females enrolled in high school biology classes, by comparing the knowledge acquisition between the experimental and control groups. Two hundred and twenty-four students enrolled in biology classes in an all-girl parochial high school participated in this study. Students who completed the virtual dissection scored significantly higher on practical and objective tests that were used to measure knowledge acquisition. Further research is suggested to determine if a virtual laboratory experience can be a substitute for actual dissections.
Vaccinia virus vectors utilizing the β-galactosidase assay for rapid selection of recombinant viruses and measurement of gene expression

Abstract Plasmids were constructed fusing vaccinia transcriptional regulatory sequences (promoters) to the lacZ gene of Escherichia coli . These recombinant plasmids were used to compare relative promoter strengths in transient expression assays and to construct recombinant vaccinia viruses producing β-galactosidase (βGal). Viruses synthesizing βGal were determined by utilizing the chromogenic substrate, 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indoyl-β- d -galactoside to form blue plaques. A recombinant virus producing βGal was then used to select a second recombinant virus. This was accomplished via in vivo recombination replacing the lacZ gene with a sequence coding for the gp85 protein of Friend murine leukemia virus. The recombinant virus was selected by its inability to form blue plaques under appropriate conditions.
Determination of Critical Supersaturation from Microdroplet Evaporation Experiments

In this work, we identified a single critical supersaturation, the level of supersaturation above which nucleation will occur instantaneously, for each of a range of compounds: the amino acids glycine and l-histidine, the pharmaceutical paracetamol, the inorganic compound silicotungstic acid (STA), and the protein hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL). Using an evaporation-based microdroplet crystallization platform, we measured the time required to visually detect the first crystal. Crystals were observed to form at increasingly higher levels of supersaturation as the rate of evaporation was increased or as the initial solute concentration was reduced. Through extrapolation of all data of each compound to a nucleation time of zero, we identified a single point of high concentration, the critical supersaturation, which we found to be independent of the rate of solvent evaporation. Using the classical nucleation theory and thermodynamics, we correlated this critical supersaturation with surface tension between th...
Clustering-Based Discriminant Analysis for Eye Detection

This paper proposes three clustering-based discriminant analysis (CDA) models to address the problem that the Fisher linear discriminant may not be able to extract adequate features for satisfactory performance, especially for two class problems. The first CDA model, CDA-1, divides each class into a number of clusters by means of the k-means clustering technique. In this way, a new within-cluster scatter matrix Swc and a new between-cluster scatter matrix Sbc are defined. The second and the third CDA models, CDA-2 and CDA-3, define a nonparametric form of the between-cluster scatter matrices N-Sbc. The nonparametric nature of the between-cluster scatter matrices inherently leads to the derived features that preserve the structure important for classification. The difference between CDA-2 and CDA-3 is that the former computes the between-cluster matrix N-Sbc on a local basis, whereas the latter computes the between-cluster matrix N-Sbc on a global basis. This paper then presents an accurate CDA-based eye detection method. Experiments on three widely used face databases show the feasibility of the proposed three CDA models and the improved eye detection performance over some state-of-the-art methods.
Microprocessor design: An integrated multidisciplinary approach

Abstract Traditional manufacturing-oriented education in the field of mechanical engineering includes topics like moulding, casting, metallurgy, special materials and machining. For a mechanical engineering graduate to be prepared to face the modern computerized assembly line or to design a microprocessor based product, microprocessor education is essential. This paper presents a brief summary of the microprocessor graduate and undergraduate laboratories and lectures as taught at the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering of the Georgia Institute of Technology. The approach taken emphasizes an integrated approach in which hardware design, software design, and traditional mechanical engineering topics are combined in the instructional program. Four final projects drawn from the class archives illustrate this integrated approach to engineering design and manufacturing education.
Towards energy awareness in Hadoop

With the rise in the use of data centers comprised of commodity clusters for data-intensive applications, the energy efficiency of these setups is becoming a paramount concern for data center operators. Moreover, applications developed for Hadoop framework, which has now become a de-facto implementation of the MapReduce framework, now comprise complex workflows that are managed by specialized workflow schedulers, such as Oozie. These schedulers assume cluster resources to be homogeneous and often consider data locality to be the only scheduling constraint. However, this is increasingly not the case in modern data centers. The addition of low-power computing devices and regular hardware upgrades have made heterogeneity the norm, in that clusters are now comprised of several logical sub-clusters each with its own performance and energy profile. In this paper we present eSched, a workflow scheduler that profiles the performance and the energy characteristics of applications on each hardware sub-cluster in a heterogeneous cluster in order to improve the application-resource match while ensuring energy efficiency and performance related Service Level Agreement (SLA) goals. eSched borrows from our earlier work, φSched, a hardware-aware scheduler, that improves the resource--application match to improve application performance. We evaluate eSched on three clusters with different hardware configurations and energy profiles, where each sub-cluster comprises of five homogeneous nodes. Our evaluation of eSched shows that application performance and power characteristics vary significantly across different hardware configurations. We show that the hardware-aware scheduling can perform 12.8% faster, while saving 21% more power than hardware oblivious scheduling for the studied applications.
Fracture of the base of the little finger metacarpal: importance of the "ball-catcher" radiographic view.

Abstract A case of fracture of the base of the little finger metacarpal is presented. These unusual fractures are not easily detected on the routine three-view “hand-series.” Physicians should be aware of the AP oblique (Norgaard, or “ball-catcher's”) view, which is helpful in detecting these fractures.
Application of laser tweezers for material science studies

Experimental results on laser tweezers technology application for material science researche performed at the Institute for Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics, University at Buffalo, SUNY are presented. Computer controlled dual-beam laser tweezers for highly efficient trapping and manipulation of micron and sub-micron size objects was designed and built. A novel technique for the calibration of laser tweezers that utilize two-photon excited fluorescence of commercial dye stained microspheres has been demonstrated. Laser tweezers technology has been used to monitor the bulk solution viscosity during the sol-gel gelation process at different depths from an interface. The gelation rate is the same in depth ranges 2 - 20 microns from the bounding surface. Optical trapping and manipulation of transparent microparticles suspended in a thermotropic nematic liquid crystals with small and large birefringence was also demonstrated. We employ the particle manipulation to measure line tension of a topologically stable disclination line and to determine colloidal interaction of particles with perpendicular surface anchoring of the director. Fast scanning beam multiple trap option of laser tweezers to construct and dynamically control micro-array structures was developed and characterized. Main parameters of scanning multiple trap setups were studied and optimized. Combination of optical trapping with the hot fluorescence phenomena has been used for local temperature monitoring in liquid samples,with under micron size resolution.
Shubnikov–de Haas oscillations in GaAs quantum wells in tilted magnetic fields

We report on quantum magneto-oscillations in an ultrahigh mobility GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well at very high ($\ensuremath{\geqslant}{87}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$) tilt angles. Unlike previous studies, we find that the spin and cyclotron splittings become equal over a continuous range of angles, but only near certain, angle-dependent filling factors. At high enough tilt angles, Shubnikov--de Haas oscillations reveal a prominent beating pattern, indicative of consecutive level crossings, all occurring at the same angle. We explain these unusual observations by an in-plane field-induced increase of the carrier mass, which leads to accelerated, filling-factor-driven crossings of spin sublevels in tilted magnetic fields.
Confused by confounding

Many studies in the health sciences are designed to examine the relation between some “exposure” variable of interest and a particular disease or disorder. For example, it may be of interest to determine whether vitamin E supplementation reduces the occurrence of coronary heart disease (CHD). In this example, the goal is to determine whether the risk of CHD varies according to whether on not individuals use vitamin E supplements. Figure 1 presents (hypothetical) data from a study that examined the association between vitamin E supplementation and the risk of CHD. In that study, 1000 participants between the ages of 50 and 55 y, who were initially free of CHD, were followed for 15 y. Those who developed CHD during the 15-y study were identified. Study participants also were classified according to their use of vitamin E supplements (the “exposure” variable). On the surface, it may appear that the question of scientific interest can be readily addressed by simply comparing the risk of CHD during the 15-y interval in the two groups of individuals defined by their use of vitamin E supplements. Indeed, analysis of the data in Figure 1 indicates that the risk of CHD for those who used vitamin E supplements is approximately 0.09 (or 50 in 550), whereas the corresponding risk for those who did not use vitamin E supplements is approximately 0.15 (or 66 in 450). Thus, there appears to be an association between the use of vitamin E supplements and the risk of CHD. This association can be expressed in terms of the odds ratio (OR),1 i.e., the odds of developing CHD among those who use vitamin E supplements relative to those who do not. The estimated OR based on the data in Figure 1 is
Peripheral corneal relaxing incisions combined with cataract surgery

Abstract Purpose To analyze the effectiveness of peripheral corneal relaxing incisions (PCRIs) in correcting corneal astigmatism during cataract surgery. Setting Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. Methods In 115 eyes of 94 patients (mean age 69 years ± 12 [SD]), cataract surgery was combined with PCRIs. The PCRIs were created according to a nomogram based on age and preoperative keratometric astigmatism. Postoperative keratometric astigmatism was measured at 1 day and 1 and 4 months. Vector analyses using the Holladay-Cravy-Koch formula and Alpins method were performed. Results The PCRIs significantly decreased keratometric astigmatism in patients with preexisting with-the rule (WTR) or against-the-rule (ATR) astigmatism and increased the percentage of the eyes with lower keratometric astigmatism in each group. Four months postoperatively in patients with WTR astigmatism, single and paired 6.0 mm PCRIs induced mean with-the-wound minus against-the-wound changes (WTW–ATW) of −0.55 diopter (D) and −1.18 D, respectively. In eyes with ATR astigmatism, the mean WTW–ATW changes induced by single 4.5 mm, single 6.0 mm, and paired 6.0 mm PCRIs were −2.18 D, −2.02 D, and −2.72 D, respectively. These mean WTW–ATW changes did not significantly regress from 1 day to 4 months postoperatively. Conclusions Peripheral corneal relaxing incisions were effective in reducing preexisting astigmatism during cataract surgery. A modified nomogram is proposed. The long-term effect of PCRIs should be evaluated.
Orientations of the tryptophan 9 and 11 side chains of the gramicidin channel based on deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to investigate the orientations of the indole rings of Trp9 and Trp11 in specific indole-d5-labeled samples of gramicidin A incorporated into dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine bilayers in the beta 6.3 channel conformation. The magnitudes and signs of the deuterium quadrupolar splittings were fit to the rings and assigned to specific ring bonds, using a full rotation search of the chi 1 and chi 2 angles of each Trp and a least-squares method. Unique assignments were obtained. The data and assignments are in close agreement with four sets of (chi 1, chi 2) angles for each Trp in which the indole N-H is oriented toward the membrane's exterior surface. (Four additional sets of (chi 1, chi 2) angles with the N-H's pointing toward the membrane interior are inconsistent with previous observations.) One of the sets of (chi 1, chi 2) angles for each Trp is consistent with the corresponding Trp orientation found by Arsen'ev et al. (1986. Biol. Membr. 3:1077–1104) for gramicidin in sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles. Together, the 1H and 2H nuclear magnetic resonance methods suggest that the Trp9 and Trp11 side chain orientations could be very similar in dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine membranes and in sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles. The data for Trp11 could be fit using a static quadrupolar coupling constant of 180 kHz under the assumption that the ring is essentially immobile. By contrast, Trp9 could be fit only under the assumption that the quadrupolar splittings for ring 9 are reduced by approximately 14% due to motional averaging. Such a difference in motional averaging between rings 11 and 9 is also consistent with the 15N data of Hu et al. (1993. Biochemistry. 32:7035–7047).
Review of Conscious Discipline: 7 Basic Skills for Brain Smart Classroom Management

(2008). Review of Conscious Discipline: 7 Basic Skills for Brain Smart Classroom Management. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas: Vol. 81, No. 6, pp. 282-283.
Collaboration Modality, Cognitive Load, and Science Inquiry Learning in Virtual Inquiry Environments

Educational multi-user virtual environments (MUVEs) have been shown to be effective platforms for situated science inquiry curricula. While researchers find MUVEs to be supportive of collaborative scientific inquiry processes, the complex mix of multi-modal messages present in MUVEs can lead to cognitive overload, with learners unable to effectively process the rich information encountered in virtual space. In this study, we investigated the effect of communication modality on cognitive load and science inquiry learning in students completing a science inquiry curriculum in an educational MUVE. Seventy-eight undergraduate education majors from a large southwestern university participated in this control-treatment study. Significant positive results were found for reducing cognitive load for participants communicating through voice-based chat, although this reduction was not found to influence learning outcomes. We conclude that use of voice-based communication can successfully reduce cognitive load in MUVE-based inquiry curricula.
Supersonic turbulent flow past a 3-D swept compression corner at Mach 3

Experimental and theoretical studies are presented on the three-dimensional shock wave-turbulent boundary layer interaction generated by a swept compression corner at Mach 3 for compression angle of 24 deg, sweep angle of 60 deg, and Reynolds numbers from 140,000 to 900,000. Two theoretical approaches were used, both of which utilize the full mass-averaged compressible three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations but differ in the choice of turbulence model (the Baldwin-Lomax, 1978, and the Jones-Launder, 1972, model, respectively). The features of the computed mean flow structure were found to be qualitatively the same for both the Baldwin-Lomax and Jones-Launder models.
Optimality in Municipal Debt

The recent financial pressure an cities has renewed interest in the management of municipal debt. The concepts of optimum municipal debt and optimum municipal capital stock are examined here. Several popular misconceptions about local debt management are discussed, and counter-assertions are made. A model is proposed for minimization of local debt costs, and it is suggested that municipal investment, rather than municipal indebtedness, ought to be limited.
Positron scattering from atoms and molecules using a magnetized beam

The development of buffer-gas trapping and magnetized beam formation has provided positron beams with significantly improved energy resolution (ΔE≤0.025 eV) compared to those available previously. Analysis techniques havebeen developed to take advantage of the fact that the beam is in a magnetic field of ∼0.1 T. This has enabled scattering experiments at lower energies and with significantly improved state selectivity for excitation experiments than had been possible previously. A detailed description of these techniques is presented. Data are presented for a variety of cross sections for scattering of positrons from atomic and molecular targets.
Simultaneous analysis of flunixin, naproxen, ethacrynic acid, indomethacin, phenylbutazone, mefenamic acid and thiosalicycic acid in plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography—mass spectrometry

Simple and reproducible high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) and gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) methods have been developed for the simultaneous analysis of several acidic drugs in horse plasma and urine. Although the capillary GC-MS column provided better separation of the drugs than the reversed-phase C8 (3 microns, 75 mm) HPLC column, the total analysis time with HPLC was shorter than the total analysis time with GC-MS. The HPLC system equipped with a diode-array detector provided simultaneous screening (limit of detection 100-500 ng/ml) and confirmation (limit 1.0 micrograms/ml) of the drugs. The HPLC system equipped with fixed-wavelength ultraviolet and fluorescence detectors provided a relatively sensitive screening [limit of detection 50-150 ng/ml for ultraviolet and 10 ng/ml for fluorescence (naproxen only) detectors] of the drugs. However, the positive samples had to be confirmed by using either the diode-array detector or the GC-MS system. The GC-MS system provided simultaneous screening and confirmation of the drugs at very low concentrations (20-50 ng/ml).
Analysis of axisymmetric shell structures under axisymmetric loading by the flexibility method

A method is developed for the static stress and deformation analysis of axisymmetric shells under axisymmetric loading by reduction of the shell to ring sections. In particular, the wall thickness of the shell may vary and the method is applicable to the analysis of shells with irregular meridional geometry. Explicit expressions for the influence coefficients for each ring element are derived. In the development of these expressions, exact evaluation of stresses in the circumferential direction of the ring is used. The distribution of stresses in the meridional direction of the ring element is assumed to be linear with each element. By using the derived influence coefficients, the unknown forces at the junctures of the ring elements are found by the standard flexibility method of indeterminate structural analysis. Subsequently, the displacements and internal stresses are determined. Example solutions for a flat circular plate under transverse loading and for a cylindrical shell under a boundary edge loading show excellent agreement with solutions found by solving the governing differential equations.
Alterations in vasopressin and angiotensin II receptors and responses during culture of rat liver cells.

Abstract Vasopressin and angiotensin II binding and responses were studied in hepatocytes in primary culture for 4 h and 24 h. After 24 h of culture, angiotensin II was completely ineffective in elevating cytosolic [Ca2+], whereas the maximum [Ca2+] response to vasopressin was decreased by 66% and the sensitivity to the hormone was decreased approx. 20-fold compared with values after 4 h of culture. The dissociation constant (KD) for vasopressin binding to the cells was not significantly changed during 24 h of culture, but the Bmax was decreased by 63% compared with 4 h of culture. There was also no change in the KD for angiotensin II binding from 4 h to 24 h, but the Bmax was decreased by 90%. After 24 h of culture, there was no change in the plasma membrane concentration of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate or in the basal cell concentration of inositol trisphosphate. However, the trisphosphate did not increase with 100 nM angiotensin II and the response to 100 nM vasopressin was reduced by 66% compared with that at 4 h. The effect of guanosine 5′-(3-O-thiol) triphosphate on the polyphosphoinositide phospholipase C activity of liver cell plasma membranes was also measured. There was no decrease in the degree of stimulation of the phospholipase by this nucleotide after 24 h of culture. It is concluded that the loss of vasopressin and angiotensin II responses in cultured liver cells is due in part to changes in receptors and also in their coupling to a guanine nucleotide binding protein.
Postural variability: an effective way to reduce musculoskeletal discomfort in office work.

Objective:This article investigates whether different interventions aimed at promoting postural change could increase body movement throughout the shift and reduce musculoskeletal discomfort.Backgr...
Pharmacokinetics of hydromorphone hydrochloride in healthy dogs.

Abstract Objective To assess the pharmacokinetics of hydromorphone administered intravenously (IV) or subcutaneously (SC) to dogs. Study design Randomized experimental trial. Animals Seven healthy male neutered Beagles aged 12.13 ± 1.2 months and weighing 11.72 ± 1.10 kg. Methods The study was a randomized Latin square block design. Dogs were randomly assigned to receive hydromorphone hydrochloride 0.1 mg kg−1 or 0.5 mg kg−1 IV (n = 4 dogs) or 0.1 mg kg−1 (n = 6) or 0.5 mg kg−1 (n = 5) SC on separate occasions with a minimum 14-day washout between experiments. Blood was sampled via a vascular access port at serial intervals after drug administration. Serum was analyzed by mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined with computer software. Results Serum concentrations of hydromorphone decreased quickly after both routes of administration of either dose. The serum half-life, clearance, and volume of distribution after IV hydromorphone at 0.1 mg kg−1 were 0.57 hours (geometric mean), 106.28 mL minute−1 kg−1, and 5.35 L kg−1, and at 0.5 mg kg−1 were 1.00 hour, 60.30 mL minute−1 kg−1, and 5.23 L kg−1, respectively. The serum half-life after SC hydromorphone at 0.1 mg kg−1 and 0.5 mg kg−1 was 0.66 hours and 1.11 hours, respectively. Conclusions and clinical relevance Hydromorphone has a short half-life, suggesting that frequent dosing intervals are needed. Based on pharmacokinetic parameters calculated in this study, 0.1 mg kg−1 IV or SC q 2 hours or a constant rate infusion of hydromorphone at 0.03 mg kg−1 hour−1 are suggested for future studies to assess the analgesic effect of hydromorphone.
Multiplicative Forests for Continuous-Time Processes

Learning temporal dependencies between variables over continuous time is an important and challenging task. Continuous-time Bayesian networks effectively model such processes but are limited by the number of conditional intensity matrices, which grows exponentially in the number of parents per variable. We develop a partition-based representation using regression trees and forests whose parameter spaces grow linearly in the number of node splits. Using a multiplicative assumption we show how to update the forest likelihood in closed form, producing efficient model updates. Our results show multiplicative forests can be learned from few temporal trajectories with large gains in performance and scalability.
AdCom takes a stand against IEEE Honoring William Shockley

After a spirited discussion at its April 11 meeting in Denver, the Administrative Committee of the Acoustics Speech and Signal Processing Society voted unanimously to disassociate itself from the award of the IEEE Medal of Honor to William Shockley. The formal motion (which appears in the Minutes of the AdCom Meeting, see page 24) is based on the observations that Shockley has already been honored very widely for his electronics research which took place long ago and that he has used his prestige to gain support for a eugenics program which the AdCom views as contrary to basic principles of human rights. This program has two aspects: first to prove that Blacks and others are biologically inferior and then to enact measures to restrict their reproduction. Although several AdCom members expressed reservations about involving the Society in politics, the prevailing feeling was that the IEEE Board of Directors, in making this award, had raised a fundamental issue involving the human rights of our members and that the need to respond was compelling. Indeed, the Board of Directors has itself set a precedent of putting human rights issues above technical considerations in suspending the exchange between the IEEE and the Soviet Union's Popov Society. In coming to its decision, the AdCom amended an original motion in order to make it clear that it was acting as a Committee and not speaking for the entire Acoustics Speech and Signal Processing Society. Meanwhile several speakers expressed the hope that Society members would express their own disapproval of the award.
Automated Deployment Support for Parallel Distributed Computing

Heterogeneous distributed computing platforms continue to require substantial effort in terms of software installation and management for efficient use, often necessitating manual intervention by resource providers and end-users. In this paper we propose a novel model of resource sharing that is a viable alternative to that commonly adopted in the grid community. Our model shifts the resource virtualization and aggregation responsibilities to software at the client side, taking these burdens away from resource providers. Following this model, we have designed the Zero-Force MPI toolkit that automates installation, run, and post-processing stages of HPC applications, thus allowing application scientists to focus on using computational resources instead of managing them. Through the provided console, MPI can be soft-installed across a set of distributed resources with just a few commands. The prototype implementation of the ZF-MPI toolkit is based on FT-MPI. To evaluate the toolkit, we conducted experiments with deploying and executing the NAS Parallel Benchmarks. Results demonstrate that the run-not-install approach exemplified by ZF-MPI is effective and may substantially increase productivity of application execution
44 GHz fully integrated and differential monolithic VCOs with wide tuning range in AlInAs/InGaAs/InP DHBT

A fully integrated and differential AlInAs/InGaAs/InP DHBT voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) with wide tuning range and integrated divide-by-2 static divider was demonstrated for 44 GHz wireless and optical communication applications. To our knowledge, these 44 GHz ICs are the highest frequency fundamental mode fully integrated and differential VCOs with wide tuning range ever reported. The 44 GHz fundamental VCO delivers a typical differential output power of +4 dBm at a center frequency of 44 GHz with a tuning range of up to 4.5 GHz. The measured phase noise shows better than -100 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset and better than -80 dBc/Hz at 100 kHz offset. We have achieved more than 6 dB improvement in phase noise performance over the differential SHBT VCO results that we reported last year (A. Kurdoghlian et al., IEEE GaAs IC Symp. Dig., pp. 129-132, 2001).
DistEdit: a distributed toolkit for supporting multiple group editors

The purpose of our project is to provide toolkits for building applications that support collaboration between people in distributed environments. In this paper, we describe one such toolkit, called DistEdit, that can be used to build interactive group editors for distributed environments. This toolkit has the ability to support different editors simultaneously and provides a high degree of fault-tolerance against machine crashes. To evaluate the toolkit, we modified two editors to make use of the toolkit. The resulting editors allow users to take turns at making changes while other users observe the changes as they occur. We give an evaluation of the toolkit based on the development and use of these editors.
Molecular dynamics study of the persistence lengths of a new class of polyimide fibers

The transformation matrix method and the concept of virtual bonds has been applied to the study of the persistence lengths of two recently developed polyimide fibers, PMDA-PFMB, synthesized from pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and 2,2'-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4,4'-diaminobiphenyl (PFMB), and BPDA-PFMB, synthesized from 3,3',4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) and PFMB. The elements of the averaged transformation matrices are obtained from a molecular dynamics trajectory of 1 ns and from a consideration of the symmetry of the torsion potential energy function for selected bonds. The persistence length is found to be ∼496 A for PMDA-PFMB and ∼66 A for BPDA-PFMB. The large persistence length of PMDA-PFMB, comparable to that of the rodlike polymer poly(benzobisoxazole) (PBO), is caused by the colinearity of the virtual bonds in the chain and the stiffness of the bond angles. The inclusion of the electrostatic interactions does not seem to affect the result significantly, although a very slight decrease (∼ 5%) of the persistence length was detected. The effect of substitution of methyl groups for the trifluoromethyl groups in these polyimide fibers is also studied, with an increase of ∼14% in the persistence length of PMDA-PFMB and ∼1.4% in the persistence length of BPDA-PFMB. Since a good solvent that would be appropriate for use in a light scattering measurement has not been found for either of these polyimide fibers, the theoretical estimates of the persistence length cannot be compared with experiment.
A PLA emulation laboratory

In a typical undergraduate logic design course, programmable logic arrays, (PLAs) are usually a non-trivial topic of discussion. PLA design and PLA programming concepts are very likely to be discussed at length in the classroom. Most logic design courses have a corresponding laboratory component and most classroom topics are reinforced in the laboratory. An exception to this is the PLA and other programmable hardware devices. PLA's are typically not presented in laboratory settings. The reason for this omission is likely to be the lack of ability to program PLAs due to the hardware configurations of typical undergraduate logic design laboratories. The author discusses the issue of PLA omission from the typical undergraduate logic design laboratory. Then he describes a PLA emulation laboratory that can be performed in the typical laboratory using only basic logic gates. The emulated PLA is not only built by students in the laboratory but also programmed and reprogrammed by students as well. >
Genome-Wide Association Studies Identify New Targets in Cardiovascular Disease

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to increase worldwide, highlighting the need for new therapeutic strategies. A recent meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of over 100,000 individuals published in Nature identified 59 new loci associated with lipid traits; of these, a locus on chromosome 1p13 was most strongly associated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. An accompanying study in Nature identified SORT1 as the causal gene at the 1p13 locus and showed that increased expression of sortilin-1 protein in liver was associated with lower LDL-C levels and a reduced risk of myocardial infarction. Together, these studies provide strong validation of the utility of GWASs in identifying biological pathways relevant to CVD pathogenesis and perhaps treatment.
Molecular Pathophysiology of Cerebral Hemorrhage Secondary Brain Injury

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is an often fatal type of stroke that kills ≈30 000 people annually in the United States. If the patient survives the ictus, then the resulting hematoma within brain parenchyma triggers a series of adverse events causing secondary insults and severe neurological deficits. This article discusses selected aspects of secondary brain injury after ICH and outlines key mechanisms associated with hematoma toxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Finally, this review discusses the relevance of hematoma resolution processes as a target for ICH therapy and presents potential clinically relevant molecular targets that could be harnessed to treat secondary injury associated with ICH injury.
Interdisciplinary research redefined: Multi‐skill, problem‐focussed research in the STRAP framework

A new framework for the study of interdisciplinary research processes is presented ‘STRAP’ emphasizes the combination of identifiable skills—substantive knowledge and techniques—that must come together to solve a complex research problem. This framework holds promise of better accommodating non-academic settings and yielding new insights into the management of complex R&D projects.
Evolution of mate choice and the so-called magic traits in ecological speciation

Non-random mating provides multiple evolutionary benefits and can result in speciation. Biological organisms are characterised by a myriad of different traits, many of which can serve as mating cues. We consider multiple mechanisms of non-random mating simultaneously within a unified modelling framework in an attempt to understand better which are more likely to evolve in natural populations going through the process of local adaptation and ecological speciation. We show that certain traits that are under direct natural selection are more likely to be co-opted as mating cues, leading to the appearance of magic traits (i.e. phenotypic traits involved in both local adaptation and mating decisions). Multiple mechanisms of non-random mating can interact so that trait co-evolution enables the evolution of non-random mating mechanisms that would not evolve alone. The presence of magic traits may suggest that ecological selection was acting during the origin of new species.
A Standardized Shipboard Data Acquisition System

A simple digital data transmission standard is described which is suitable for acquisition and distribution of local sensor data aboard ship, at per sensor throughputs of several samples per minute or less. The standard protocol, using bit serial ASCII characters and a polled address control structure, allows a two wire current loop to serve as a multi-access channel for transmission of ship parameter data. Sensors and display devices are located at convenient points throughout the ship and interfaced to the loop with modular low-cost microprocessor hardware, using a well-defined interface specification. Data are acquired from and distributed to these modules by a centrally located controller, which can be any one of a wide variety of devices. Interface modules, controllers and other equipment conforming to the standard can be freely interchanged among users, ships and institutions, allowing a data acquisition system to be easily created by interconnecting functional elements. A system has been designed using the proposed standard and installed aboard the R/V Atlantis H. Several months' experience with the system verifies that the design concepts are valid. Operation is extremely simple and good quality data has been acquired reliably under varying conditions over a period of several months.
Ultrastructural variability in the locomotor cortex of the ciliated protozoa, Mytilophilus pacificae.

. Mytilophilus pacificae is an endocommensal ciliate found in the mantle cavity of the Pacific Coast mussel Mytilus californianus. In this paper we report our findings on pellicular organization of this species. Transmission and scanning electron microscope examination of the somatic cortex revealed that a number of different types of kinetids, i.e. monokinetids, dikinetids, and polykinetids are found in the locomotor cortex. The type and distribution of the kinetids are described. Surprisingly, the locomotor region was found to be highly variable among individuals with respect to its kinetid distribution; each cell appears to have its own characteristic kinetid pattern. Some cells have mostly monokinetids and dikinetids in their locomotor cortex, while others may have dikinetids and polykinetids but very few monokinetids. In contrast to the locomotor region, the thigmotactic field (a region specialized for attachment) is exclusively composed of dikinetids and shows no heterogeneity. The finding of ultrastructural variability in the locomotor cortex was unexpected since, in the view of the structural conservation hypothesis, the somatic cortex is seen as a “stable” element. These observations raise new questions with regard to cortical pattern formation in this organism.
Pharmaceutical Advertising: A Federal Trade Commission Perspective

I am delighted to have the opportunity to discuss the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) present advertising enforcement program and how that program affects over-the-counter (OTC) drug advertising in particular. By way of introduction, I want to lave no doubt about the importance that the Bureau of Consumer Protection attaches to OTC drug advertising generally. In 1990 alone, consumers spent almost $10.6 billion on nonprescription dmgs, and industry sources predicted a "major wave of new over-the-counter medications" in the next 5 years (1,2). The advertising of these products is clearly of major importance. In 1990, more than $1 billion was spent on advertising OTC products (3). And by providing information that allows consumers to select medication and to treat the symptoms of minor illnesses safely and efficiently, OTC advertising can play a major positive role in keeping health care costs from rising at a time when they are already frustratingly high.
Intakes of Several Nutrients Are Associated with Incidence of Arsenic-Related Keratotic Skin Lesions in Bangladesh

Risk of skin lesions due to chronic arsenic exposure can be further affected by nutrient intake. We prospectively evaluated the association of nutrient intake and gender with incident skin lesions using data from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS) in Araihazar, Bangladesh. Discrete time hazard models were used to estimate these effects in stratified analyses based on skin lesion severity. Overall, we observed significant associations between low intakes of various nutrients (retinol, calcium, fiber, folate, iron, riboflavin, thiamin, and vitamins A, C, and E) and skin lesion incidence, particularly for keratotic skin lesions. Associations for vitamins C and E showed significant linear trends. Gender-specific analyses revealed an inverse association between the lowest quartile of nutrient intake and keratotic skin lesion incidence for retinol equivalents, calcium, folate, iron, and fiber among women. Interactions by gender were observed for retinol equivalents (P-interaction = 0.03), calcium (P-interaction = 0.04), vitamin A (P-interaction = 0.03), and riboflavin (P-interaction = 0.04) with the incidence of keratotic skin lesions. Understanding differential susceptibility to skin lesion incidence based on nutrient intake will help researchers develop targeted interventions to prevent health consequences of arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh and beyond.
Asymptotically optimal energy-aware routing for multihop wireless networks with renewable energy sources

In this paper, we develop a model to characterize the performance of multihop radio networks in the presence of energy constraints and design routing algorithms to optimally utilize the available energy. The energy model allows us to consider different types of energy sources in heterogeneous environments. The proposed algorithm is shown to achieve a competitive ratio (i.e., the ratio of the performance of any offline algorithm that has knowledge of all past and future packet arrivals to the performance of our online algorithm) that is asymptotically optimal with respect to the number of nodes in the network. The algorithm assumes no statistical information on packet arrivals and can easily be incorporated into existing routing schemes (e.g., proactive or on-demand methodologies) in a distributed fashion. Simulation results confirm that the algorithm performs very well in terms of maximizing the throughput of an energy-constrained network. Further, a new threshold-based scheme is proposed to reduce the routing overhead while incurring only minimum performance degradation.
Expectancy Effects in Forensic Evidence Handling: Social Psychological Perspectives

Expectancy effects in forensic evidence handling pose a serious threat to the validity of analyses conducted by forensic examiners. This questionable validity creates an impasse regarding key assumptions of law involving the admissibility of scientific and expert testimony. The history of specific rules of law governing the use of scientific evidence in the courtroom is detailed, followed by a review of social psychological concepts that provide a foundation for understanding how expectancy effects occur. The following review of theories of self and identity, and group theory will address the phenomena of expectancy effects from a social psychological perspective. This discussion emphasizes the need for review of forensic practices due to the human influence that examiners impart on the evidence, and the impact outside social forces exert on the examiners themselves.
Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization and K-Means Analysis for Bridge Clustering Based on National Bridge Inventory Data

AbstractBecause of budget constraints for maintaining highway bridges in the United States, it is necessary to accurately monitor bridge structures so that repair and rehabilitation strategies can be performed. In this paper, an optimization approach based on the hybrid of the metaheuristic particle swarm optimization and the k-means method (KPSO) in data clustering is presented. The goal is to group bridges by similar structural deficiency attributes by minimizing the sum of squares error associated with assigning data points to each cluster and the determination of the most suitable number of clusters. The presented approach was compared to the basic version of particle swarm optimization (PSO) and the traditional clustering method k-means. The algorithms were tested using the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) database. The results show that KPSO provides better results in terms of the objective function as well as showing an opportunity to implement optimization techniques for data analysis in civil infr...
The Cure for the Cynical Prosecutors’ Syndrome: Rethinking a Prosecutor’s Role in Post-Conviction Cases

One of the biggest challenges facing the criminal justice system is dealing with the growing tide of post-conviction petitions claiming wrongful conviction. Each year, the number of exonerees grows. In 2014, an unprecedented 125 exonerations were recorded in the United States. In analyzing how post-conviction matters are handled, it becomes apparent that one of the key roadblocks to remedying these injustices is not, as some have suggested, the attitude of young prosecutors. Rather, senior prosecutors also suffer from a type of “Cynical Prosecutors’ Syndrome” that impairs their ability to play a constructive role in the exoneration process. This article discusses the role of prosecutors in the post-conviction process, analyzes current studies of prosecutorial attitudes, and proposes reforms to ensure that meritorious post-conviction challenges are handled properly.
Extrapolation in time of fields with stationary increments as applied to the impact point prediction of free rockets

The approach of Kolmogoroff and Yaglom is used to characterize nonstationary random processes possessing stationary increments. Structure functions are introduced and used to extend Wiener's extrapolation theory to this class of processes. The results obtained are applied to the prediction of the angle at burnout of a free (unguided) rocket from continuous wind-velocity measurements taken at various elevations and interrupted a short time before the firing of the rocket. The mean square of the error involved is shown to depend upon the cross- structure function of the wind-velocity field. The proposed method does not require the identification and elimination of the linear trend usually present in such a field.
The tail at store: a revelation from millions of hours of disk and SSD deployments

We study storage performance in over 450,000 disks and 4,000 SSDs over 87 days for an overall total of 857 million (disk) and 7 million (SSD) drive hours. We find that storage performance instability is not uncommon: 0.2% of the time, a disk is more than 2x slower than its peer drives in the same RAID group (and 0.6% for SSD). As a consequence, disk and SSD-based RAIDs experience at least one slow drive (i.e., storage tail) 1.5% and 2.2% of the time. To understand the root causes, we correlate slowdowns with other metrics (workload I/O rate and size, drive event, age, and model). Overall, we find that the primary cause of slowdowns are the internal characteristics and idiosyncrasies of modern disk and SSD drives. We observe that storage tails can adversely impact RAID performance, motivating the design of tail-tolerant RAID. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the most extensive documentation of storage performance instability in the field.
A Strained Criticism of Wave Theory

In the deepest depths of my Cold War childhood, I recall asking my father “what is Communism?” It was in school, on television, in comic books, and on the radio. The American anti-Communist crusade...
Conceptual Model of Risk Versus Threat and Risk Management Versus Risk Reduction

The concept of risk is defined differently across diverse disciplines, such as mathematics, law, engineering, business, and even art and religion (Althaus, Risk Analysis, 25:567–588, 2005). Given that the field of sexual offender risk assessment and treatment sits at the crossroads of several disciplines (e.g., criminology, psychology, sociology, law, public administration), it is not surprising that risk is discussed in a variety of ways. The differences are often subtle and implicit, yet meaningful because they are sources of confusion and obstacles to constructive discussions about how best to assess, treat, and manage risk.