cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lessons Learned from Teaching Cybersecurity Courses During Covid-19

The coronavirus pandemic brings tremendous challenges to teaching cybersecurity courses online, from learning how to use different online teaching platforms to innovative instruction methodologies within two weeks.In this paper, we will present the lessons we learned in teaching both graduate and undergraduate cybersecurity courses during Covid-19.
A Survey: Strategies for detection of Autism Syndrome Disorder

The Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is known to be characterized by decreased social interactions to stimuli, difficulties in communication, repetitive behaviours and physical movements, unusual or severely limited interests. Since it affects different individuals differently and to different extents, it is very challenging to diagnose and differentiate from other neurodevelopmental disorders. The earlier it is diagnosed, the better it is for the individual, as an intervention protocol can be charted at the earliest. Research shows that early intervention can be very beneficial in the long term as the affected individuals’ symptoms can be reduced to a great extent and in some cases they may not show up on the spectrum at all, but the lack of awareness and objective diagnostic tools makes it difficult to diagnose at an early age. The objective nature of the automated approaches to the screening of Autism Spectrum Disorder would be considered as a viable option for a second opinion and by an extension also an efficient screening process after which the patients would be referred to a therapist. Tests like eye tracking, detection of physical attributes via wearable and static IoT devices, classification on MRI scans and voice prosody detection techniques are easily reproducible and more time efficient than a one on one interview session with a therapist. In this paper we explore the various innovations made in automating the screening process. This paper lists the demerits of the subjective existing diagnosis systems and also surveys and complies the various eye gazing, voice prosody, wearable IoT modules, their contributions and their impacts in making the diagnosis process of Autism Spectral Disorder more objective and efficient.
Optical readout of electron spin states in diamond NV centers for quantum and nanoscale photonics

Nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond have been long used for spin-based optical sensing and also considered viable candidates for implementing quantum information protocols using their spin degree of freedom. Their nanoscale size and the possibility of optical spin readout make them particularly attractive for the use in integrated nanophotonic and quantum optical devices. We will discuss how the optical Purcell effect in plasmonic systems affects the NV spin readout signal and present the demonstration of this readout through optical plasmons in an integrated nanophotonic interface. We will show that spin relaxometry is a powerful tool that allows to probe the magnonic density of states and its electrical tuning with sub-um spatial resolution. Furthermore, we will discuss how spin signal readout sensitivity can be enhanced with the use of plasmonic nanostructures deterministically assembled on the nanoscale.
Complexity of bipartite spherical spin glasses

This paper characterizes the annealed complexity of bipartite spherical spin glasses, both pure and mixed. This means we give exact variational formulas for the asymptotics of the expected numbers of critical points and of local minima. This problem was initially considered by [Auffinger, Chen 2014], who gave upper and lower bounds on this complexity. We find two surprising connections between pure bipartite and pure single-species spin glasses, which were studied by [Auffinger, Ben Arous, Cerný 2013]. First, the local minima of any pure bipartite model lie primarily in a low-energy band, similar to the single-species case. Second, for a more restricted set of pure $(p, q)$ bipartite models, the complexity matches exactly that of a pure $p + q$ single-species model.
Churn Reduction via Distillation.

In real-world systems, models are frequently updated as more data becomes available, and in addition to achieving high accuracy, the goal is to also maintain a low difference in predictions compared to the base model (i.e. predictive ``churn''). If model retraining results in vastly different behavior, then it could cause negative effects in downstream systems, especially if this churn can be avoided with limited impact on model accuracy. In this paper, we show an equivalence between training with distillation using the base model as the teacher and training with an explicit constraint on the predictive churn. We then show that distillation performs strongly for low churn training against a number of recent baselines on a wide range of datasets and model architectures, including fully-connected networks, convolutional networks, and transformers.
Integrated Vehicle Routing and Monte Carlo Scheduling Approach for the Home Service Assignment, Routing, and Scheduling Problem.

We formulate and solve the H-SARA Problem, a Vehicle Routing and Appointment Scheduling Problem motivated by home services management. We assume that travel times, service durations, and customer cancellations are stochastic. We use a two-stage process that first generates teams and routes using a VRP Solver with optional extensions and then uses an MC Scheduler that determines expected arrival times by teams at customers. We further introduce two different models of cancellation and their associated impacts on routing and scheduling. Finally, we introduce the Route Fracture Metaheuristic that iteratively improves an H-SARA solution by replacing the worst-performing teams. We present insights into the problem and a series of numerical experiments that illustrate properties of the optimal routing, scheduling, and the impact of the Route Fracture Metaheuristic for both models of cancellation.
Identification of Words and Phrases Through a Phonemic-Based Haptic Display: Effects of Inter-Phoneme and Inter-Word Interval Durations

Stand-alone devices for tactile speech reception serve a need as communication aids for persons with profound sensory impairments as well as in applications such as human-computer interfaces and remote communication when the normal auditory and visual channels are compromised or overloaded. The current research is concerned with perceptual evaluations of a phoneme-based tactile speech communication device in which a unique tactile code was assigned to each of the 24 consonants and 15 vowels of English. The tactile phonemic display was conveyed through an array of 24 tactors that stimulated the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the forearm. Experiments examined the recognition of individual words as a function of the inter-phoneme interval (Study 1) and two-word phrases as a function of the inter-word interval (Study 2). Following an average training period of 4.3 hrs on phoneme and word recognition tasks, mean scores for the recognition of individual words in Study 1 ranged from 87.7% correct to 74.3% correct as the inter-phoneme interval decreased from 300 to 0 ms. In Study 2, following an average of 2.5 hours of training on the two-word phrase task, both words in the phrase were identified with an accuracy of 75% correct using an inter-word interval of 1 sec and an inter-phoneme interval of 150 ms. Effective transmission rates achieved on this task were estimated to be on the order of 30 to 35 words/min.
The Gracilis Muscle Flap

The gracilis muscle flap is a long muscle located in the medial thigh with one dominant pedicle and secondary pedicles. It is a Mathes–Nahai class II. It has a very reliable and consistent blood supply. It serves to flex the knee, adduct the thigh, and medially rotate the tibia on the femur. Harvesting the muscle leaves minimal to no donor site morbidity and makes it an excellent option for free tissue transfer. The gracilis muscle is about 25 cm long and, with the addition of the tendinous attachments, it gains an extra 10 cm for a total of 35 cm. It is 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick and is the flap of choice for narrow localized defects of the upper or lower extremity. A functional free gracilis flap has been used to restore upper extremity function. While we prefer to harvest it as a muscle flap, the flap can be harvested as a musculocutaneous flap from the medial thigh, with the skin being supplied by musculocutaneous perforators. We find that the island skin flap is unreliable and we choose to use different flaps when a cutaneous portion is needed. The gracilis muscle is innervated by the obturator nerve and can easily be harvested as a functional muscle flap. Given its tendon’s and anatomy, the gracilis muscle flap is our flap of choice when restoration of finger flexion, finger extension, or elbow flexion is desired. The gracilis muscle flap is an ideal flap for facial reanimation as well, but this is beyond the scope of this book. During flap harvest, proper identification of the gracilis muscle is of paramount importance to avoid dissection of the wrong muscle.
Biomimetic Lotus Effect Surfaces for Nanopackaging

This chapter addresses fundamentals on biomimetic nano Lotus surfaces, their chemistry, and nanostructure texture physics. In addition, preparation methodologies for various nano-textured superhydrophobic surfaces, their applications, and future researches are presented.
Elastic Fibers and Proteoglycans

Extracellular matrix (stroma) contains elastic fibers and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) that have long been identified histologically. Fibrillin is a major component of microfibrils that surround elastin in elastic tissues and, along with collagen, is an important component of the periodontal ligament. Section 1 describes how fibrillin was isolated, major features of its structure, and mutations that affect the face and oral cavity. Section 2 describes how elastin was isolated, the major features of its structure, the importance of copper in elastin processing and its contribution to stromal flexibility. Section 3 describes stromal glycosaminoglycan composition and synthesis. Section 4 describes the glycosaminoglycan proteins and their association with type II collagen in cartilage. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the structure and function of all collagen-glycosaminoglycan-associated proteins (Sect. 5).
Severity of illness scores and the outcome of acute tubular necrosis.

The outcome of patients with acute renal failure (ARF) due to acute tubular necrosis (ATN) was evaluated in this study. Two hundred and twenty-two patients with a mean age of 55.1+/-17.7 years (range 19-97 years; male 153, female 69) who developed ATN in the period from July 1991 through January 1997 were studied. Patients were divided into four groups according to their APACHE II scores at the time of the diagnosis of ATN. Group I included patients with an APACHE II score of 14 or less (n = 70), Group II with a score of 15-18 (n = 52), Group III with a score of 19-23 (n = 58), and group IV with a score of 24 or above (n = 42). The mean APACHE II score for each of the four study groups was 11+/-0.4, 16+/-0.2, 20+/-0.2, and 29+/-0.7, respectively. Patient survival was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier analysis with censorship at 12 months. Survival rates at 180 days were 67%, 47%, 39%, and zero%, for group I through IV respectively, chi2 = 27.99, p 365, 120, 31, and 11 days, for groups I through IV, respectively. For patients with oliguria (n = 88) survival at 180 days was 23% vs. 58% for patients without oliguria (n = 134), p 365 d, respectively. Finally, 6 months survival in patients with one (kidney only), two, three, and four organ failure was 76, 30, 11, and zero percent, respectively, p = 0.0001, median survival >365, 16, 11, and 12 days, respectively. We conclude that the use of the APACHE II score for the stratification of the severity of illness could be of clinical utility in predicting mortality in patients with ATN. Other predictors of poor prognosis include the need for dialysis, the presence of oliguria, the need for mechanical ventilation, the presence of sepsis, and the number of failed organs.
A New Suboptimal Filter and Numerical Solutions for the Cubic Sensor Problem

In this paper, we present a new suboptimal filter for the cubic sensor problem. Then we use this new suboptimal filter and Yau's method as well as the extended Kalman filter to obtain numerical solutions for the cubic sensor problem. Results show that both our new suboptimal filter and Yau's method work very well, but the extended Kalman filter fails to give an accurate estimation for the cubic sensor problem
Space-Time Error Representation and Estimation in Navier-Stokes Calculations

The mathematical framework for a-posteriori error estimation of functionals elucidated by Eriksson et al. [7] and Becker and Rannacher [3] is revisited in a space-time context. Using these theories, a hierarchy of exact and approximate error representation formulas are presented for use in error estimation and mesh adaptivity. Numerical space-time results for simple model problems as well as compressible Navier-Stokes flow at Re = 300 over a 2D circular cylinder are then presented to demonstrate elements of the error representation theory for time-dependent problems.
Validity of the Contextual Competence Scale for Engineering Students.

Background Engineering educators and practitioners increasingly value contextual competence. A psychometrically sound, practical, and useful scale for assessing undergraduate engineering students' contextual competence is needed. Purpose/Hypothesis This article provides comprehensive evidence of the content, structural, discriminant, and criterion-related validity of the contextual competence scale. Design/Method This study used student, alumni, and faculty survey data from a nationally representative sample of 120 U.S. engineering programs from 31 four-year institutions. Validity evidence was obtained by expert review of questions, a pilot test, factor analyses, and several analyses utilizing t-tests, correlations, and regression. Results Experts constructed the questions used in the scale (content validity). Those questions combined to measure a single concept (structural validity), the scale reliably measures (Cronbach's alpha = .91) that concept, and it focuses on contextual competence instead of other student outcomes (discriminant validity). The contextual competence scale varies according to students' characteristics and curricular experiences as well as similarities and differences in student and alumni levels of contextual competence in the same programs and institutions (criterion-related validity). Finally, the scale may be a more accurate measure of contextual competence than faculty members' perceptions of students' ability. Conclusions The contextual competence scale allows engineering programs to meet ABET and other self-study requirements or do large-scale research with relative ease and little expense. The process described in this article can be used by other researchers in engineering education for their scale development efforts.
Wall following robot

My robot is a battery-powered bulldozer controlled by a PIC chip and other circuitry, mounted on a breadboard.The goal of this project was to make my robot turn away from the wall as soon as it hit.In order for this project to work, I had to attach a "switch" to my robot. In other words, there is one wire going through a metal tube and when the wire going through hits the tube, it completes the circuit.Attached to the inside wire is some insulation in order to keep the wire from touching the tubing all of the time.One problem that I encountered while building the switch was making sure the wire inside the tube was not touching.Another problem was in the programming. My robot did not move away from the wall quick enough. I had to add many checks to my code in order to fix this problem.The actual switch is still a little testy. I have to make sure it is not touching before I start my robot.
Effect of Thymine Limitation on Chromosomal Deoxyribonucleic Acid Synthesis in Proteus mirabilis

Abstract The effects of thymine limitation on the rates of growth, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis, and increase in viable cell number for a thymine auxotroph of Proteus mirabilis were investigated. At thymine concentrations of 1.0 μg/ml and below, these rates were markedly decreased. After a reduction in thymine concentration from 10 μg/ml to 0.2 μg/ml, mass synthesis continued at the preshift rate for several hours. In contrast, the rate of DNA synthesis immediately decreased, resulting in a decrease in the DNA to mass ratio to about one-half of its normal level. Viable counts remained constant for several hours after the reduction in thymine concentration, and enlarged cells and multicellular “snakes” were formed. The rate of DNA synthesis was reduced at thymine concentrations below approximately 1.7 μg/ml. The addition of thymine to cultures which had been completely starved for thymine increased the rate of DNA synthesis to at least twice its normal value; this suggests that extra rounds of chromosome replication can be induced in P. mirabilis as previously observed in Escherichia coli.
On the properties of torsions in Riemann-Cartan space-times. III: Classification of torsion and general discussion

This is the third paper in a series of three papers which considers the physical properties of torsions in Riemann-Cartan space-timesU4. Paper III briefly considers some of the simpler generalizations of the ECSK theory together with their covering theories, and a simple classification scheme for torsions is introduced that depends in part on the Weyl conformal curvature tensor. Moreover, further consideration is given to the possible physical role of the third-order «spin» tensor of Lanczos and to observations that could be made with spinning and nonspinning test particles. In particular, we consider the possible importance of the LanczosV4 variational identity with Riemannian constraints in connection with speculations concerning the question of their microphysical significance.
Formate Dehydrogenase of Clostridium thermoaceticum: Incorporation of Selenium-75, and the Effects of Selenite, Molybdate, and Tungstate on the Enzyme

The formation of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent formate dehydrogenase in Clostridium thermoaceticum is stimulated by the presence of molybdate and selenite in the growth medium. The highest formate dehydrogenase activity was obtained with 2.5 x 10(-4) M Na(2)MoO(4) and 5 x 10(-5) Na(2)SeO(3). Tungstate but not vanadate could replace molybdate and stimulate the formation of formate dehydrogenase. Tungstate stimulated activity more than molybdate, and in combination with molybdate the stimulation of formation of formate dehydrogenase was additive. Formate dehydrogenase was isolated from cells grown in the presence of Na(2) (75)SeO(2), and a correlation was observed between bound (75)Se and enzyme activity.
Migration from a prototype ePR for IA-MISS system to alpha version

Last year we presented a paper that describes the design and clinical implementation of an ePR (Electronic Patient Record) system for Image-Assisted Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery (IA-MISS). The goal of this ePR is to improve the workflow efficiency by providing all the necessary data of a surgical procedure from the preparation stage until the recovery stage. The mentioned ePR has been implemented and installed clinically and it has been in use for more than 16 months. In this paper, we will describe the migration process from a prototype version of the system to a more stable and easily-to-replicate alpha version.
Beta likelihood models of probabilistic forecasts

Abstract A class of parametric likelihood models for continuous probabilistic forecasts of binary states is formulated based on the beta family of densities. Characteristics of the models deemed useful for applications are derived. These include: (i) parametric conditions for verifying the calibration and semicalibration properties of forecasts, (ii) procedures for constructing Forecast Sufficiency Characteristics (FSC) that enable one to establish the sufficiency relation between forecasts prepared by different forecasters, and (iii) parametric conditions (stronger than fsc ) for verifying the sufficiency relation. The models are illustrated with an application to real meteorologic forecasts.
Separation of Timescales for Endophilin Dimerization and Membrane Binding

The membrane association of endophilin is a pivotal step in clathrin-mediated endocytosis. In this process, the basis for the functional role of endophilin is believed to involve the promotion of membrane curvature, which in turn depends on membrane shaping by the dimeric structure of endophilin. Thus, the dynamic nature of endophilin-membrane association and dimerization are functionally important. However, little is known about the timescales and factors determining the kinetics of the interactions involved. To illuminate these aspects, we study the kinetics and equilibria of endophilin N-BAR dimerization and membrane binding. We determine the dimerization equilibrium constant by using subunit exchange FRET. We characterize N-BAR membrane association, under conditions where the dimeric species predominates, by stopped-flow, observing prominent electrostatic sensitivity. Our results suggest that membrane insertion of amphipathic helices rapidly follows association, in a non-rate-limiting manner. Relative to membrane binding, we find that dimerization is governed by far slower kinetics. Thus, monomer-dimer exchange does not contribute to the kinetic mechanism of membrane binding. These results underscore a separation of timescales for endophilin dimerization and membrane binding, which may facilitate temporal regulation of functional membrane processes.
Effect of hypotensive challenge on systemic hemodynamics and cerebral blood flow in persons with tetraplegia.

Individuals with tetraplegia have impaired central control of sympathetic vascular modulation and blood pressure (BP); how this impairment affects cerebral blood flow (CBF) is unclear. To determine if persons with tetraplegia maintain CBF similarly to able-bodied controls after a hypotensive challenge. Seven individuals with chronic tetraplegia and seven age-matched, non-SCI control subjects underwent a hypotensive challenge consisting of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition (1.25 mg enalaprilat) and 45° head-up tilt (HUT). Heart rate (HR), low frequency systolic BP variability (LFsbp), brachial mean arterial pressure (MAP) and middle cerebral artery CBF were measured before and after the challenge. Group differences for the baseline (BL) to post-challenge response were determined by repeated measures ANOVA. HR did not differ between the groups in response to the hypotensive challenge. LFsbp response was significantly reduced in the tetra compared to the control group (−38 ± 51 vs. 72 ± 93%, respectively). MAP did not differ between the groups at BL but was significantly lower in the tetra compared to the control group post-challenge (55 ± 13 vs. 71 ± 9 mmHg, respectively); the percent change in MAP was significantly greater in the tetra than in the control group (−29 ± 14.1 vs. −13 ± 9%, respectively). However, CBF did not differ between the groups at baseline or post-challenge; the percent change in CBF post-challenge was not different between the tetra and control groups (−29 ± 13.2 vs. −23 ± 10.3%, respectively). Despite impaired sympathetic vasomotor and BP control, CBF in persons with tetraplegia was comparable to that of control subjects during a hypotensive challenge.
Short-term memory for a pure-tone stimulus among mentally retarded and nonretarded persons

Abstract Two studies were conducted to determine whether short-term memory performance differences between mentally retarded and nonretarded persons can be attrubuted to the operation of structural features, as contrasted with strategic control processes. The task—discrimination of intensity differences between two pure tones—was selected as one which would minimize specific strategy utilization. In the first experiment normal children, normal adults, and retarded adults were presented with a standard tone and then a comparison tone after an interval of 1, 5 or 10s. Difference limens and constant errors were computed over a substantial number of trials. Measures of intra-individual variability were also obtained. Clear age and IQ-related threshold differences were obtained. Difference thresholds increased over intervals for all groups. However, the critical interaction that would support a theory of differential decay of the memory trace was not obtained. A second experiment, procedurally similar to the first, was conducted using signal detection methodology. The major findings were: (a) groups differed in sensitivity (d′); (b) d′ decreased with increasing separation of standard and comparison tones; (c) d′ increased as the intensity differences between standard and comparison tones increased; and (d) retarded subjects did not alter response bias to changing task requirements Again, however, the interaction of groups and retention interval was not significant. Intelligence and age-related differences in the task occur early in the information processing sequence and appear to be of a perceptual nature.
Optimally universal parallel computers

A key property of the von Neumann architecture for sequential computers is efficient universality. It can simulate arbitrary programs written in appropriate high-level languages in time proportional to that which they would take if special-purpose sequential machines were built for each of them. This makes possible standardized languages and transportable software, without which the level of pervasiveness that computers have now reached would be difficult to imagine.
Integrating Performance Information into Legislative Budget Processes

This paper examines the dilemma of integrating performance information into state and federal legislative budget processes. Typically performance information is presented in the executive budget report or in agency budget requests; however, existing literature on legislatures as well as an analysis of Georgia Appropriations Committee members' use of performance information shows that executive staff and agencies are not an especially trusted source of information for legislators. Although research in this area is thin, analytical information such as performance measures appears to enter legislative discourse through policy networks maintained by key committee staff. Alternatively, performance measures might have an impact on legislative decisions if the information influences constituent positions on the issues.
Assessment of sewer source contamination of drinking water wells using tracers and human enteric viruses.

This study investigated the source, transport, and occurrence of human enteric viruses in municipal well water, focusing on sanitary sewer sources. A total of 33 wells from 14 communities were samp...
Electronic women's grey literature in academic libraries

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand how electronic grey literature is being incorporated into Women's Studies collections at academic libraries.Design/methodology/approach – The electronic grey literature holdings of four American academic libraries at universities with graduate Women's Studies programs were collected and analyzed. This included: databases; digital special collections; web sites; and online course guides that the library had created for Women's Studies courses.Findings – Women's Studies International and GenderWatch were the two most popular databases, being available at three of the four libraries studied. The most popular web sites were University of Wisconsin – Women's Studies Librarian (www.library.wisc.edu/libraries/WomensStudies/) and WSSLinks: Women and Gender Studies web sites (http://libr.org/wss/wsslinks/index.html). Recommended web sites were overwhelmingly multidisciplinary in nature and covered a variety of topics related to Women's Studies such as business, ...
Simulating System Mean‐Time‐to‐Failure on a Personal Computer

Reliability is the probability that a component or system will operate successfully for a given length of time under specified conditions. Mean‐time‐to‐failure (MTTF) is the average life span of a typical representative of the system under study. We explore mathematical models of MTTF for frequently encountered configurations, including units in series, parallel, combinations, stand‐by, and m‐out‐of‐n systems. They then provide logic to simulate each of these and provide detailed examples of programs run on a personal computer. The application of such simulations provide a convenient method for evaluating and designing alternative systems. The procedures can be applied to assist managers in assessing risk and making system reliability decisions.
Contact deformation and cracking of zirconia/cement/foundation dental multilayers

The paper presents the results of combined experimental, analytical and computational studies of contact-induced deformation and cracking in zirconia/cement/foundation dental multilayers, where cement and foundation layers are commercially used dental adhesive and restoratives. Hertzian contact tests were performed on the multilayers. A novel technique, dual-beam focused ion beam and scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM) was used to examine the crack/microstructure interactions in the dental multilayer structures. The FIB/SEM images show sub-surface inter/intragranular cracking modes that have not been reported before. The critical loads corresponding to onset of sub-surface radial cracking were found to exhibit a strong dependence on the monotonic loading rates. A rate-dependent environmentally assisted slow crack growth (RDEASGG) model was used to predict the loading rate dependence of the critical loads. The implications of the results are discussed for the design of durable dental multilayers.
Trade and Political Dominion in South India, 1750–1790: Changing British—Indian Relationships

The English East India Company's Coromandel trade provided a spectacle of steady, if unspectacular, growth from its first inauguration early in the seventeenth century. It was not subject to the violent ups and downs, or the extremes of great success and utter failure that characterized the Company's trade in some other regions of India and Southeast Asia. An expanding trade on this coast was matched by an expanding presence. By the end of the century it was well-founded in two substantial Forts (St George and St David) and a number of residencies in important ports of outlet from Vizagapatnam in the north to Cuddalore in the south. By investment and enterprise, by diplomacy and force, English interests and influence on the coast grew and their settlements became nodal points of Indo-British exchange and interaction. The timely demonstration of controlled power, both when faced with threats from the ‘country’ powers of the hinterland and from European rivals on the seafront, helped in the growth of these settlements beyond mere centres of trade. Providing, as they did, not merely trade and investment, but also security of person and property, they were naturally an attraction to many groups in Indian society in the hinterland.
Adsorption of C1−C7 Normal Alkanes on BAX-Activated Carbon. 2. Statistically Optimized Approach for Deriving Thermodynamic Properties from the Adsorption Isotherm

A new stepwise (SW) statistically optimized model and also a virial-type (VT) model were correlated successfully with adsorption equilibria for the n-alkane series C1−C7 on Westvaco BAX-1100 activated carbon over a wide range of temperatures and pressures. Both models predicted reasonable temperature-dependent isosteric heats of adsorption, and from these slight dependencies, sensible deviations between the adsorbed- and gas-phase heat capacities were indicated. However, the SW model was more reliable under extreme conditions. The SW model also showed that the observed linear dependence of ln(P) on 1/T at constant loading, according to the Clausius−Clapeyron equation, only occasionally contributed to the overall description; statistically, more complicated temperature dependencies of ln(P) were revealed, indicating that the temperature dependence of the isosteric heat of adsorption can be easily overlooked. The ideal-gas assumption, inherent in the Clausius−Clapeyron equation, was also relaxed. The result...
Protoplasmic changes during zoospore encystment and cyst germination in Pythium aphanidermatum

The addition of nutrients to a suspension of zoospores of Pythium aphanidermatum induces immediate encystment followed by cyst germination. A combination of light and electron microscopic techniques shows that the changes associated with these events include an early loss of motility, loss of the characteristic zoospore shape, and rearrangement of protoplasmic organization. Secretion of a cyst coat is accompanied by the loss of large vesicles from the peripheral cytoplasm. Then coated invaginations appear on the plasma membrane, and a system of peripheral cisternae is gradually lost. Several minutes after the beginning of encystment, a cyst wall forms beneath the cyst coat. Meanwhile, a sequence of changes in the endomembrane-system provides for the modification or resorption of unused peripheral vesicles and the generation of a new polar growing region which becomes the incipient germ tube. Significant in the initiation of polarized growth is the peripheral accumulation of a cluster of secretory vesicles. The cell wall adjacent to this cluster of vesicles changes in stainability and then expands to form a germ tube which elongates and becomes a new hypha. The cluster of secretory vesicles is maintained in the growing apex by a continual supply of vesicles from the Golgi apparatus. Storage vacuoles with characteristic “fingerprint” inclusions then give rise to the first population of hyphal vacuoles, and the initiation of a growing mycelium is completed. The sequential appearance and disappearance of various cell components are correlated with developmental events during encystment and germination. These observations increase the understanding of the roles of endomembrane components in morphogenesis.
Molecular Ecology of Listeria monocytogenes: Evidence for a Reservoir in Milking Equipment on a Dairy Farm

A longitudinal study aimed to detect Listeria monocytogenes on a New York State dairy farm was conducted between February 2004 and July 2007. Fecal samples were collected every 6 months from all lactating cows. Approximately 20 environmental samples were obtained every 3 months. Bulk tank milk samples and in-line milk filter samples were obtained weekly. Samples from milking equipment and the milking parlor environment were obtained in May 2007. Fifty-one of 715 fecal samples (7.1%) and 22 of 303 environmental samples (7.3%) were positive for L. monocytogenes. A total of 73 of 108 in-line milk filter samples (67.6%) and 34 of 172 bulk tank milk samples (19.7%) were positive for L. monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from 6 of 40 (15%) sampling sites in the milking parlor and milking equipment. In-line milk filter samples had a greater proportion of L. monocytogenes than did bulk tank milk samples (P < 0.05) and samples from other sources (P < 0.05). The proportion of L. monocytogenes-positive samples was greater among bulk tank milk samples than among fecal or environmental samples (P < 0.05). Analysis of 60 isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) yielded 23 PFGE types after digestion with AscI and ApaI endonucleases. Three PFGE types of L. monocytogenes were repeatedly found in longitudinally collected samples from bulk tank milk and in-line milk filters.
EVIDENCE OF NONLINEAR SPECULATIVE BUBBLES IN PACIFIC-RIM STOCK MARKETS

Abstract Increased volatility of many stock markets in recent years has sometimes been associated with rapid increases or decreases in asset values that may contain elements of speculative bubbles not justified by the underlying fundamentals. This paper studies the behavior of daily stock returns from ten pacific-rim countries by using a regime switching model to detect trends. Residuals from a VAR model of daily stock indices and presumed fundamentals like exchange rates, Far East and the World stock indices used in a regime switching model point to the existence of bubbles. The ARCH and BDS statistics also indicate strong evidence of non-linearities in all of these countries.
Wavelet parameter and phase estimation using cumulant slices

A simple, closed-form expression relates one-dimensional output cumulant statistics with the parameters of a known-order moving-average wavelet. Based on this relationship the author obtains unique parameter and phase estimates of autoregressive moving-average seismic wavelets. The input reflectivity sequence is assumed to be non-Gaussian, independent, and identically distributed. The wavelet is not assumed to be minimum phase and is allowed to include all-pass factors. The seismogram is contaminated by additive-colored Gaussian noise. Simulations demonstrate that the algorithm works well for moderate-size data records with a relatively low signal-to-noise ratio. >
Radiation damage calculations with njoy

Abstract Atomic displacement, gas production, transmutation, and nuclear heating can all be calculated with the NJOY nuclear data processing system using evaluated data in ENDF/B format. Using NJOY helps assure consistency between damage cross sections and those used for transport, and NJOY provides convenient interface formats for linking data to application codes. Unique features of the damage calculation include a simple momentum balance treatment for radiative capture and a new model for (n,particle) reactions based on statistical model calculations. Sample results for iron and nickel are given and compared with the results of other methods.
Statistical and adaptive approaches for segmentation and vector source encoding of medical images

Statistical as well as adaptive clustering approaches are being currently used for both segmentation and vector quantization of medical images. However, a comparative evaluation of both approaches has rarely been done to identify the efficacy of such approaches to specific applications, for example, image segmentation and vector quantization. The rate distortion functions of three clustering algorithms, namely, the statistical based deterministic annealing, the adaptive fuzzy leader clustering algorithm, and LBG, have been computed for vector quantization using multi-scale vectors in the wavelet domain. Such comparative evaluation serves as a guide for proper selection of clustering algorithms for global codebook generation in vector quantization and for image segmentation.
Effect of the long-range potential on ion mobility measurements

The temperature dependence of ion mobilities in helium was studied by using the ion chromatography method to investigate the effect of long-range terms in the ion-buffer gas interaction. Experimental cross sections thus determined increased significantly as the temperature was lowered from 300 to 80 K for all ions investigated, which were fullerene C60+, cationized PEG polymers, cationized crown ethers, and protonated and sodiated oligoglycines. The temperature dependence of the collision cross sections was successfully modeled by employing simple atom-atom interaction potentials including a repulsive R−12 term and the attractive long-range R−6 and R−4 terms, R being the distance between the colliding particles.
Identification of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans: polymerase chain reaction amplification of IktA–specific sequences

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans has been strongly implicated in the etiology of localized juvenile periodontitis. Techniques used in the identification of this periodontal pathogen include cultural, biochemical, immunological and DNA hybridization analysis. In this study, we report the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify unique sequences of A. actinomycetemcomitans. Specific oligo-nucleotide primers LKT2 and LKT3 were designed to hybridize to the A. actinomycetemcomitans lktA gene, which encodes leukotoxin, a putative A. actinomycetemcomitans virulence factor. The LKT2 and LKT3 primers amplified lktA-specific sequences from all 12 A. actinomycetemcomitans strains tested. In another set of experiments, 13 other bacterial species, most of which are normal residents of the oral cavity, were tested with these primers. These PCR amplifications also contained 2 additional primers, RRN4 and RRN5, which served as positive controls; RRN4 and RRN5 were designed to amplify specific sequences of eubac-terial 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA). PCR amplifications of all bacterial species tested, including A. actinomycetemcomitans, yielded 16S rDNA-specific DNA fragments. Furthermore, each bacterial species tested, with the exception of A. actinomycetemcomitans, failed to amplify lktA sequences. The LKT and RRN primers were used in further PCR experiments to detect A. actinomycetemcomitans directly from gingival fluid samples. The results clearly demonstrate the simplicity, rapidity, specificity and accuracy of the LKT primers in the identification of A. actinomycetemcomitans.
Partial Reform Equilibrium, Chinese Style: Political Incentives and Reform Stagnation in Chinese Financial Policies

Incomplete financial reform in China is puzzling because Premier Zhu Rongji, a seemingly promarket technocrat, was largely insulated from explicitly rent-seeking pressure and leftist ideology when he carried out a massive restructuring of Chinese banks in 1997. Yet at the end of his tenure as premier, the financial sector continued to channel the bulk of savings toward the state. Given the complexity of Zhu's policies, we cannot begin analyzing them if we conceive reform as a neat, coherent policy shift. In this article, competing hypotheses of policy change are tested on Zhu's financial “reform,” which is conceptualized as a bundle of discrete policies, each having different and at times contradictory impact on the economy. With this conceptualization, banking centralization, the Herculean efforts to digest nonperforming loans, and stagnation in interest rate and private banking reform can best be understood as a coherent political survival strategy.
On the absolute configuration of organometallic compounds. X. A comparison of structures for racemic (η5-C5H5)Mo(CO)2SC(CH3)N[CH(C2H5)C6H5] and (+)579-(η5-C5H5)Mo(CO)2SC(α-C10H7)N[(S)-CH(CH3)C6H5]

Abstract The crystal and molecular structures of two compounds of composition (η-C 5 H 5 )Mo(CO 2 SC(R)N(R′) were determined by X-ray diffraction (MoKα) measurements carried out at room temperature. Compound (I), the racemic compound, with R = CH 3 and R′ = CH(C 2 H 5 )C 6 H 5 , crystallizes in space group P 1 (Z = 2) and cell parameters: a = 9.264(2), b = 9.350(2), c = 12.592(5) A , α = 76.24(3), β = 77.11(3) and γ = 58.83(2)°; V = 899.84 A 3 . A refinement of 284 parameters, using 3415 observed [I > 2σ(I)], gave the conventional agreement factors R = 0.028 and R ω = 0.035. The two enantiomers in the unit cell are assigned chirality indicators ( vide infra ) of (S; Mo)(S; C) and (R; Mo)(R; C). Compound (II), an optically pure diastereoisomer characterized by a (+) rotational strength at 578 nm, has R = α-C 10 H 7 -(naphthyl) and R′ = ( S )-CH(CH 3 )C 6 H 5 . It crystallizes in the space group P2 1 2 1 2 1 (Z = 4) with a = 10.028(3), b = 12.532(7) and c = 17.774(6) A ; V = 2236.46 A 3 . Refinement (171 variables using 3160 reflections having I > 2σ(I) gave R = 0.018 and R w = 0.019. The absolute configuration, determined by the Bijvoet method, assigns chirality indicators of ( R ; Mo)( S ; C) to the two sites of this, non- preferred, diastereoisomer.
Effect of Age, Sex and Individual Variability on Lymphoid Tissue of the Pancreas in White Leghorn Chickens,

Abstract EVALUATION of the extravascular lymphoid areas which occur in avian tissues long has been an enigma to histologists, especially in relation to hemopoiesis and to avian lymphomatosis. Many investigators have considered these areas normal in that they were thought to perform the functions of mammalian lymph nodes (Danchakoff, 1916; Mjassojedoff, 1926; Jordan, 1935, 1936; Gibbs and Johnson, 1935). It also has been suggested that these “normal” lymphoid areas become hyperplastic and eventually form the lesions characteristic of lymphomatosis (Jordan, 1936; Johnson, 1934; Gibbs and Johnson, 1935). It is common knowledge that extravascular lymphoid foci appear in chickens with no pathology generally regarded indicative of lymphomatosis. Jungherr (1934, 1935) reported equal frequencies of lymphoid areas in the brain in control birds and in birds inoculated with cell suspensions from lymphoid tumors considered characteristic of lymphomatosis. Mjassojedoff (1926) noted that lymphoid areas in chickens differed from mammalian lymph nodes in that they . . .
Use of Position and Feature Cues in Discrimination Learning by the Whiptail Lizard (Cnemidophorus inornatus).

Animals use a variety of cue types to locate and discriminate objects. The ease with which particular cue types are learned varies across species and context. An enormous literature contains comparisons of spatial cue use to use of other cue types, but few experiments examine the ease with which various nonspatial cues are learned. In addition, few studies have examined cue use in reptiles. Thus, the authors compared whiptail lizards' (Cnemidophorus inornatus) ability to learn and reverse a discrimination using either position (left or right) or visual feature cues. Lizards learned and reversed the task using position cues faster and with greater accuracy than using feature cues.
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant using mismatched/haploidentical donors.

Abstract Haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) provides an opportunity for nearly all patients to benefit from HSCT when a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotypically matched sibling is not available. Initial results with the use of mismatched allografts led to limited enthusiasm because of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and infectious complications, resulting in an unacceptable treatment-related morbidity and mortality. Recent advances with effective T cell depletion, the use of a "megadose" of stem cells, earlier detection of severe infections, combined with better antimicrobial therapy and reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) has significantly decreased the early transplant-related mortality and GVHD, whereas enabling prompt engraftment, hence advancing the therapeutic benefit of haploidentical transplantation. However, the cardinal problems related to delayed immune reconstitution allowing posttransplant infectious complications and relapse remain, limiting the efficacy of haploidentical HSCT. Preliminary data has demonstrated the potential for use of adoptive cellular immunity and selective allodepletion in rapidly reconstituting immunity without GVHD. The encouraging reports from haploidentical transplant using noninherited maternal antigen (NIMA)-mismatched or natural killer (NK) alloreactive donors may greatly increase the donor availability and open the way to more appropriate donor selection in HLA-haploidentical HSCT. Future challenges remain in determining the safest approach for haploidentical transplant to be performed with minimal risk of GVHD, whereas preserving effective graft-versus-leukemia activity and promoting prompt immune reconstitution.
Dielectric behavior of some fluorogases and their mixtures with nitrogen

Preliminary evaluations of new fluorogases indicate that the dielectric characteristics of many of the new fluorocarbons are superior to those of the halogenated gaseous compounds. However, it is often advantageous to mix these gases with nitrogen to lower the cost, reduce the condensation point, and obtain a more uniform breakdown characteristic in the nonuniform field.