cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Student Conference: A Model of Authentic Assessment

In the global marketplace, the ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, is a skillset demanded by employers. Unfortunately, typical academic exercises that involve written and oral communication are often just that â?¦ academic exercises. To provide a more authentic and robust experience, a student conference activity has been developed for use in a second-level physics course entitled Physics for a New Millennium (PNM) at American University (AU). This activity involves writing a formal research paper using professional guidelines. In addition, students present their research paper during a class event modeled after an actual professional conference. A focus of this paper is to discuss the assessment strategies developed for the conference paper activity. A major goal of the assessment strategies designed for the conference paper and the associated presentation is to better capture (and then assess) what students are actually learning in the course. This paper will provide an overview of the student conference paper activity with emphasis on its value as an alternative assessment tool. To that end, a synopsis of how the conference paper activity has been designed will be shared. This synopsis will begin with a general discussion of assessment, assessment methods, and the â??language of assessment.â? Following this synopsis a model of non-traditional assessment using the student conference paper will be highlighted. Subsequently a description of the course curriculum and the specific structure for the writing activity will be outlined as they relate to the learning outcomes for the course. Shadowing the presentation of the course-specific learning outcomes, a description of the strategies used to uncover student learning will be shared. These strategies provide an opportunity for multiple assessment â??snapshotsâ? to be made throughout various phases of the learning process. To illustrate these snapshots, examples from actual student work will be presented and discussed. The assessment strategies developed for the student conference paper can be used as an alternative, or as a supplement, to more traditional pencil and paper examinations, quizzes, and homework assignments. Whether used as a stand-alone assessment tool or coupled with more traditional measures, the model presented here can provide an enhanced and more authentic way to capture what students are actually learning while the learning is taking place.
Heterogeneous Expression of Voltage‐Gated Potassium Channels in the Heart: Roles in Normal Excitation and Arrhythmias

In the mammalian myocardium, there are marked regional differences in action potential waveforms and frequency dependences. This heterogeneity impacts the normal dispersion of ventricular repolarization and appears to reflect the differential expression of voltage-gated K+ channels. Multiple types of voltage-gated K+ currents have been distinguished in mammalian ventricles and, in many cases, the K+ (Kv) channel pore-forming (alpha) and accessory (beta) subunits encoding these channels have been identified. In the diseased myocardium, remodeling of voltage-gated K+ currents occurs, influencing propagation and rhythmicity, effects that can lead to increased dispersion of ventricular repolarization and create substrates for reentrant arrhythmias. Targeting the K+ channels that function to maintain the normal dispersion of ventricular repolarization could be effective in treating cardiac arrhythmias.
Phylogeographic relationships among Asian eggplants and new perspectives on eggplant domestication

The domestication history of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) has long been debated, with studies unable to narrow down where domestication occurred within a broad region of tropical Asia. The most commonly hypothesized region is India, however China has an equally old written record of eggplant use dating ca. 2000 years before present. Both regions have a high diversity of landraces and populations of putatively wild eggplant: Solanum incanum L. in India and Solanum undatum Lam. in SE Asia. An additional complication is that there is taxonomic confusion regarding the two candidate progenitors. Here, we synthesize historic, morphologic, and molecular data (nrITS sequence and AFLP) to interpret the phylogeographic relationships among candidate progenitors and Asian eggplant landraces in order to test theories of domestication. A minimum of two domestication events is supported: one in India and one in southern China/SE Asia. Results also support separate domestication of S. melongena subsp. ovigerum, a group of morphologically distinct eggplants found in SE Asia, and suggest Asian S. incanum and S. undatum may not be genetically distinct. Routes of the spread of eggplant cultivation throughout Asia are proposed, and evolutionary relationships among allied species are discussed.
Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Inhibits Cytokine-mediated Induction of Human Metalloelastase in Macrophages

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) have been identified in vulnerable areas of atherosclerotic plaques and may contribute to plaque instability through extracellular matrix degradation. Human metalloelastase (MMP-12) is a macrophage-specific MMP with broad substrate specificity and is capable of degrading proteins found in the extracellular matrix of atheromas. Despite its potential importance, little is known about the regulation of MMP-12 expression in the context of atherosclerosis. In this study, we report that in human peripheral blood-derived macrophages, MMP-12 mRNA was markedly up-regulated by several pro-atherosclerotic cytokines and growth factors including interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, macrophage colony-stimulating factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor-BB. In contrast, the pleiotropic anti-inflammatory growth factor transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) inhibited cytokine-mediated induction of MMP-12 mRNA, protein, and enzymatic activity. Analyses of MMP-12 promoter through transient transfections and electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicated that both its induction by cytokines and its inhibition by TGF-β1 depended on signaling through an AP-1 site at −81 base pairs. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of TGF-β1 on MMP-12 was dependent on Smad3. Taken together, MMP-12 is induced by several factors implicated in atherosclerosis. The inhibition of MMP-12 expression by TGF-β1 suggests that TGF-β1, acting via Smad3, may promote plaque stability.
Efficient hierarchical graph-based video segmentation

We present an efficient and scalable technique for spatiotemporal segmentation of long video sequences using a hierarchical graph-based algorithm. We begin by over-segmenting a volumetric video graph into space-time regions grouped by appearance. We then construct a “region graph” over the obtained segmentation and iteratively repeat this process over multiple levels to create a tree of spatio-temporal segmentations. This hierarchical approach generates high quality segmentations, which are temporally coherent with stable region boundaries, and allows subsequent applications to choose from varying levels of granularity. We further improve segmentation quality by using dense optical flow to guide temporal connections in the initial graph. We also propose two novel approaches to improve the scalability of our technique: (a) a parallel out-of-core algorithm that can process volumes much larger than an in-core algorithm, and (b) a clip-based processing algorithm that divides the video into overlapping clips in time, and segments them successively while enforcing consistency. We demonstrate hierarchical segmentations on video shots as long as 40 seconds, and even support a streaming mode for arbitrarily long videos, albeit without the ability to process them hierarchically.
Second-order shaped pulses for solid-state quantum computation

We present the construction and detailed analysis of highly optimized self-refocusing pulse shapes for several rotation angles. We characterize the constructed pulses by the coefficients appearing in the Magnus expansion up to second order. This allows a semianalytical analysis of the performance of the constructed shapes in sequences and composite pulses by computing the corresponding leading-order error operators. Higher orders can be analyzed with the numerical technique suggested by us previously. We illustrate the technique by analyzing several composite pulses designed to protect against pulse amplitude errors, and on decoupling sequences for potentially long chains of qubits with on-site and nearest-neighbor couplings.
Polychlorinated biphenyls in the global ecosystem.

Polychlorinated biphenyls are widely dispersed in the global ecosystem, and are powerful inducers of hepatic enzymes which degrade oestradiol. Together with other chlorinated biocides, such as DDT, they could account for a large part of the aberration in calcium metabolism which has been observed in many species of birds since the Second World War.
The NF-κB Factor RelB and Histone H3 Lysine Methyltransferase G9a Directly Interact to Generate Epigenetic Silencing in Endotoxin Tolerance

The interplay of transcription factors, histone modifiers, and DNA modification can alter chromatin structure that epigenetically controls gene transcription. During severe systemic inflammatory (SSI), the generation of facultative heterochromatin from euchromatin reversibly silences transcription of a set of acute proinflammatory genes. This gene-specific silencing is a salient feature of the endotoxin tolerant phenotype that is found in blood leukocytes of SSI patients and in a human THP-1 cell model of SSI. We previously reported that de novo induction of the NF-κB transcription factor RelB by endotoxin activation is necessary and sufficient for silencing transcription of acute proinflammatory genes in the endotoxin tolerant SSI phenotype. Here, we examined how RelB silences gene expression and found that RelB induces facultative heterochromatin formation by directly interacting with the histone H3 lysine 9 methyltransferase G9a. We found that heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) and G9a formed a complex at the interleukin-1β promoter that is dependent on the Rel homology domain (RHD) of RelB. RelB knockdown disassociated the complex and reversed transcription silencing. We also observed that whereas RelB chromatin binding was independent of G9a, RelB transcriptional silencing required G9a accumulation at the silenced promoter. Binding between RelB and G9a was confirmed by glutathione S-transferase pulldown in vitro and coimmunoprecipitation in vivo. These data provide novel insight into how RelB is required to initiate silencing in the phenotype associated with severe systemic inflammation in humans, a disease with major morbidity and mortality.
An application of a unified relaxation model to the aging of polystyrene below its glass temperature

Torsional creep measurements of physical aging in high-molecular-weight glassy polystyrene are presented. The data are analyzed using a relaxation model which has been successful in quantitatively describing a wide range of relaxation phenomena. The model predicts the time-functional dependences of the creep compliance and, upon physical aging, a possible systematic change of the functional dependence as creep is shifted to longer time scales. These features are established by experimental measurements. Good quantitative fits are found using a restricted application of the model in which all but one of the model parameters are held constant with annealing. Relations of the present study to other polymer relaxation phenomena are discussed.
Elastic-plastic behaviour of polycrystalline metals and composites

Stress-strain curves of polycrystalline metals and composites using single crystal elastoplastic model
Consumer perception and sensory effect of oxidation in savory-flavored yogurt enriched with n-3 lipids

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different oils (butter, fish, and oxidized fish) on sensory characteristics of a savory [chile-lime (CL)] low-fat yogurt using descriptive (unstructured line scales, 5 attributes) and affective (hedonic) sensory testing methods. Yogurts were each manufactured at low [1.1-1.2% total fat; 0.43% added oil (wt/wt)] or high [1.6% total fat; 1% added oil (wt/wt)] levels of fish oil, with high levels of fish oil targeted to deliver 145 mg of docosahexaenoic acid+eicosapentaenoic acid/170 g of yogurt. In a preliminary study, untrained panelists (n=31), using triangle tests, did not discriminate between low levels of fish and butter oils in unflavored yogurts but could discern yogurt with oxidized fish oil, even at the low level. Trained panelists (n=12) described lower lime and acid flavor characteristics in CL-flavored yogurts containing 1% oxidized fish oil compared with yogurts containing low levels of oxidized fish oil and low or high levels of butter and fish oils. Oxidized flavor was higher in CL-flavored yogurts with oxidized fish oil (low and high) and with the high level of fish oil. Consumer ratings (n=100; 9-point hedonic scale; 9="like extremely) of overall acceptability and flavor acceptability were bimodally distributed, with overall means between 4 and 5 ("neither like nor dislike") for CL-flavored yogurt with butter or fish oils (high level). The upper 50% of responses for yogurt with butter or fish oil were 6.51 and 6.31, respectively, for overall acceptability ("like slightly"), and 7.02 and 6.56, respectively, for flavor acceptability. A large segment of consumers may be interested in incorporating heart-healthy n-3 lipids in their diets through frequent consumption of a savory yogurt enriched with n-3 fatty acids.
Non-surgical treatment for liver metastases.

Abstract The liver is a common site for developing metastatic disease. Although any malignancy can spread to the liver, the direct passage of blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver via the portal circulation results in a high rate of liver metastasis from gastrointestinal tract tumours. Various radiographical tests including computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging can detect the majority of liver metastases. Surgical resection if feasible is the treatment of choice since it produces a 5-year survival rate of about 30%. However, the majority of the patients relapse after hepatic resection, 50% relapsing in the liver. Systemic chemotherapy produces response rates of 15–30% with a median survival of 10–12 months. It is estimated that 30 000 patients each year in the USA are candidates for regional hepatic therapy. Hepatic arterial chemotherapy, hepatic artery embolization, chemoembolization, cryosurgery, ethanol injection of the tumour and radiation therapy are being investigated as potential treatment options for such patients.
Bleaching of cellulose by hydrogen peroxide

Peroxides are important bleaching agents, industrially, for cellulosic products. They are also used in detergents. Peroxides can degrade cellulose as well as decolorize it and remove stains. Both free radicals and perhydroxyl anions have been suggested as the intermediates in the reactions occurring between cellulosic products and hydrogen peroxide. The proposed mechanisms are reviewed with emphasis primarily on cotton cellulose. Further work is required to establish unequivocally the mechanism of degradation and decolorization of cellulose products.
Factors on the third chromosome affect the level of cyp6a2 and cyp6a8 expression in Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract The expression of two second chromosome-linked cytochrome P450 genes, Cyp6a2 and Cyp6a8 , of Drosophila melanogaster was measured in various strains. Six different strains, including ry 506 and 91-C, showed low or undetectable levels of CYP6A2 and CYP6A8 mRNAs, suggesting that low expression is the wild-type phenotype of Cyp6a2 and Cyp6a8 genes. In the 91-R and MHIII-D23 strains, however, both these genes are overexpressed. In order to examine the genetic basis of Cyp6a2 and Cyp6a8 expression, CYP6A2 and CYP6A8 RNA levels were measured in the F1 hybrids of overproducer (91-R and MHIII-D23) and underproducer ( ry 506 and 91-C) strains. Results showed that the total amounts of CYP6A2 and CYP6A8 mRNAs in the F1 hybrids were lower than half the amounts of these RNAs found in the overproducer parental strains. This suggested that the underproducer strains carry loci which downregulate Cyp6a2 and Cyp6a8 gene expression. To determine the chromosome linkage of these loci, several stocks homozygous for the second chromosome of overproducer 91-R strain and, therefore, homozygous for the Cyp6a2-91R and Cyp6a8-91R alleles were synthesized. The third chromosomes in all these stocks were from the underproducer ry 506 strain. The levels of expression of both Cyp6a2-91R and Cyp6a8-91R genes in these three stocks were significantly lower than that observed in the 91-R strain. One of these stocks, named iso-2, showing reduced expression, was used to synthesize two new isogenic stocks by resubstituting the third chromosome of ry 506 origin with third chromosomes of the 91-R strain. Expression of both Cyp6a2-91R and Cyp6a8-91R alleles was found to be much higher in these two resubstituted isogenic stocks than in the progenitor iso-2 stock. Taken together, these results suggest that the second chromosome-linked Cyp6a2 and Cypa8 genes are regulated by loci present on the third chromosome, and the wild-type function of these loci is to repress these two Cyp genes. The data also suggest that Cyp6a2 and Cyp6a8 overexpression in the 91-R and MHIII-D23 strains is more likely due to mutation in the repressor locus (or loci) rather than in the cis -regulatory sequences of the Cyp6a2 and Cyp6a8 genes.
A Discussion of “Using Angler Characteristics and Attitudinal Data to Identify Environmental Preference Classes: A Latent-Class Model”

In the current issue of Environmental and Resource Economics, Morey et al. (2006) discuss a new approach to using attitudinal data in latent class modeling. We compare this approach with the one taken in Boxall and Adamowicz (2002), in the context of a discrete choice, random utility framework with heterogeneous preferences. We derive the respective likelihood functions of the two approaches to show that they are structurally similar, and discuss their implications for the use of attitudinal data. We conclude with a discussion comparing the relative merits of latent class and random parameters (mixed logit) modeling, offering the view that as a practical matter, choosing between them depends on the analyst’s judgment about the correlation of preference parameters.
Dehydroepiandrosterone restores immune function following trauma-haemorrhage by a direct effect on T lymphocytes.

Although a profound depression in immune function occurs following injury, the mechanism responsible for this is not fully understood. Furthermore, steroid hormones are known to be important mediators in the regulation of immune function. Although dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), the most plentiful steroid hormone, has been shown to stimulate immune function in normal animals, it is unknown whether DHEA has any salutary or detrimental effects on immune responses after trauma and haemorrhage. To study this, male mice were subjected to trauma, haemorrhage and resuscitation, following which they received either DHEA or vehicle subcutaneously. DHEA administration restored the normally depressed splenocyte proliferation as well as interleukin 2, interleukin 3, and interferon gamma elaboration following trauma and haemorrhage. In an attempt to determine the mechanisms mediating this effect, T cells were stimulated in vitro in the presence of DHEA and a variety of hormone antagonists. The stimulatory effect of DHEA on splenocyte proliferation was unaltered by the testosterone receptor antagonist flutamide, while the oestrogen antagonist tamoxifen completely abrogated its effect. In addition, DHEA administration normalized the elevated serum corticosterone level typically seen following injury. These results indicate, therefore, that DHEA improves splenocyte function after trauma and haemorrhage by directly stimulating T cells and also by preventing a rise in serum corticosterone.
Chromatin structure during bleomycin-induced DNA damage and repair.

Abstract We have demonstrated that treatment of human erythroleukemia (K562) cells with bleomycin, an agent known to create both double and single DNA breaks through an oxygen-radical-dependent mechanism, alters higher order chromatin structure (supercoiling) as shown by a reduction in the rate of sedimentation of nucloids from bleomycin-treated cells. This agent, however, did not appear to induce generalized changes in the organization of chromatin at the nucleosomal level as determined either by rates of digestion of nuclear DNA or by gel electrophoresis of DNA fragments obtained by limited digestion of nuclear DNA. We conclude that while higher chromatin structure is altered by bleomycin damage, organization at the nucleosomal level remains largely conserved.
LOCAL MALADAPTATION IN THE SOFT SCALE INSECT SAISSETIA COFFEAE (HEMIPTERA: COCCIDAE)

Local adaptation has often been documented in herbivorous insects. The potential for local maladaptation in phytophagous insects, however, has not been widely considered. I performed a two-generation reciprocal cross-transplant experiment with the generalist soft scale insect Saissetia coffeae (Hemiptera: Coccidae) on two common species of host plants in rain forest habitat in Costa Rica. In this system, S. coffeae showed significant local maladaptation at the level of the host species. Lineages originally collected from Witheringia enjoyed a strong advantage over those collected from Lomariopsis when both sets of lineages were placed on Lomariopsis; however, when both sets of lineages were raised on Witheringia, their fitnesses were statistically indistinguishable. While some aspects of the biology of S. coffeae may impair its ability to adapt to local selection pressures, scale insects are often locally adapted on fine spatial scales, and local maladaptation is therefore especially surprising. Other documented cases of local maladaptation in parasites appear to be due to evolution on the part of the host. The possibility that hosts or natural enemies may place local genotypes at a disadvantage, producing a pattern of local maladaptation, is one that deserves more consideration in the context of plant-insect interactions.
RNA interference and double-stranded-RNA-activated pathways

RNAi (RNA interference) has become a powerful tool to determine gene function. Different methods of expressing the short ds (double-stranded) RNA intermediates required for interference in mammalian systems have been developed, including the introduction of si (short interfering) RNAs by direct transfection or driven from transfected plasmids or lentiviral vectors encoding sh (short hairpin) RNAs. Although RNAi relies upon a high degree of specificity, recent findings suggest that off-target non-specific effects can be encountered. We found that transfection of siRNAs can results in an interferon-mediated activation of the JAK/STAT (Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription) pathway and global up-regulation of interferon-stimulated genes. This effect is mediated in part by the dsRNA-dependent protein kinase PKR, as this kinase is activated by the 21 bp siRNA, and is required in response to the siRNAs. However, the transcription factor IRF3 (interferon-regulatory factor 3) is also activated by siRNA as a primary response, resulting in the stimulation of genes independent of an interferon response. In cells deficient in IRF3, this response is blunted, but can be restored by re-introduction of IRF3. Thus siRNAs induce complex signalling responses in target cells, leading to effects beyond the selective silencing of specific genes.
Motivated attention: Incentive effects on attentional modification of prepulse inhibition

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle is greater for attended compared to ignored prestimuli, and, consistent with theories of motivated attention, initial evidence suggests that this effect is greater among participants given performance-based incentives. The present study examined a within-subjects incentive manipulation. Participants (n=41) completed two blocks of a tone discrimination task. During the incentive block, participants received trialwise feedback with small monetary incentives for task performance. Startle eyeblink EMG responses to auditory probes were assessed at 60-, 120-, and 180-ms tone-probe stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs). As predicted, PPI was enhanced during attended compared to ignored prestimuli only at the 120-ms SOA in the incentive condition. There was no evidence of attentional modification in the no-incentive condition. These data suggest that attentional modification of PPI is sensitive to within-subjects manipulations of incentive, providing a useful tool for testing models of motivated attention in psychopathology and psychopharmacology.
Hypothermia in the mouse as a bio-assay of endotoxin protection factor in impure penicillin.

Summary and ConclusionsThe endotoxin of Salmonella aertrycke injected intraperitoneally into mice caused a marked fall in body temperature. A certain phase of this hypothermia could be prevented to a significant degree by previous administration of impure penicillin. This phemomenon has been utilized for the quantitative assay of impure penicillin.A correlation was demonstrated between the antilethal and the anti-hypothermic action of the impure penicillin against bacterial endotoxin in mice.
Comparative Costs of Hazardous Waste Management for Selected Universities in the United States

Abstract This article presents data from 16 universities that responded to a survey relating to the quantity of hazardous (i.e., chemical) waste generated during calendar year 1991 and the cost expended to manage the waste. The data for each institution were reduced to a single unit value (i.e., cost per pound) to provide a basis for comparative analysis. The cost per pound represents the total cost of chemical waste management beginning at the time of pickup from an individual generator on campus to final disposition at a treatment or disposal facility. The range of unit cost values typical of most respondents was $2 to $4/lb. The arithmetic mean value was $3.99/lb but was found to be nonrepresentative of average cost. The median cost value was $2.87/lb and was found to provide a better indication of average cost than the arithmetic mean. The weighted unit cost (WUC) was found to provide the best indication of average cost. This WUC value was $2.85/lb. The defining characterstics of waste management prog...
Implementation of a package for optical limiter modeling

As our continuous effort to develop a package for modeling of beam propagation in nonlinear optical devices, we use different means to improve its user-friendliness, availability and capability. We have extended our model to include pulse propagation, i.e. 4-dimensional propagation of an optical beam. Currently, we have developed a few models for intensitydependent and fluence-dependent propagation of nonlinear wave, including various nonlinear absorption and refractive mechanisms such as thermal diffusion and reverse saturation absorption (RSA). These models can provide significant insight into the underlying optical processes which occur in nonlinear optical devices such as optical limiters. Here we will concentrate our discussion on thermal diffusion and reverse saturable absorption. To improve user-friendliness, availability and capability of the package, we have implemented two graphical user interfaces, a Internet version based on Hypertext Markup Language HTML/pen script and a standalone version based on TcIITk script. The two interfaces can be executed in a variety of computers (Macintosh, workstation or PC) while the actual simulation can be performed in a more powerful computer. The two interfaces have their own merits. The Tcl!Fk version can be easily modified and installed in a computer that has no access to the Internet. On the other hand, the web based version makes the package available to more users via world-wide web (WWW). The layouts of the interfaces are almost the same. They generate simulation results in text files for plotting as well as animation sequences which can be viewed with a free software, available from National Center for Supercomputing Applications.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Spatial mapping of oxygen levels in the brain using a digital micromirror device

Mapping of absolute oxygen levels in the brain is critical during stroke and other disorders. One of the standard methods for measuring oxygen tension is through oxygen dependent quenching of phosphorescence. Typically these measurements are limited to a single spatial location due to the need to measure phosphorescence lifetimes. We have developed an instrument to obtain spatial maps oxygen tension in the brain by combining a DMD with phosphorescence lifetime measurements. Blood flow is measured simultaneously with laser speckle contrast imaging. In this paper we describe this instrument and demonstrate its use in studying stroke progression in animal models.
Viral vectors and delivery strategies for CNS gene therapy

This review aims to provide a broad overview of the targets, challenges and potential for gene therapy in the CNS, citing specific examples. There are a broad range of therapeutic targets, with very different requirements for a suitable viral vector. By utilizing different vector tropisms, novel routes of administration and engineered promoter control, transgenes can be targeted to specific therapeutic applications. Viral vectors have proven efficacious in preclinical models for several disease applications, spurring several clinical trials. While the field has pushed the limits of existing adeno-associated virus-based vectors, a next generation of vectors based on rational engineering of viral capsids should expand the application of gene therapy to be more effective in specific therapeutic applications.
Polytopes of Polynomials with Zeros in a Prescribed Region: New Criteria and Algorithms

This paper is concerned with the robust stability problem of families of polynomials. Our main focus is on a general polytope of polynomials described by $$ {p^\varepsilon }\dot = \left\{ {p\left( {s,q} \right) = {p_0}\left( s \right) + \sum\limits_{i = 0}^n {{a_i}\left( q \right){s^i}:q \in \varepsilon Q \subset {R^m}} } \right\} $$ where p o(s) is the nominal polynomial of n-th order, q = [q1,q2,... q m ]’ is a vector of perturbation parameters, a i(q) are linear functions of q, Q is a prescribed polytope in R m containing the origin, and e ≥ 0 is a parameter which controls the size of Q. Given an open set D in the complex plane, our objective is to provide simple methods for determining the maximal e, call it e max, such that P e is D-stable (i.e., every polynomial in P e has all zeros interior to D) for all e < e max. This maximal size can be compared against any given varepsilon, the size of P e , to obtain the so-called robustness measure of P e . Our first result provides a closed-form description of e max using a “zero exclusion approach”. Then we give a simple computing algorithm for calculating e max which works effectively when the number of vertices of the P e is not too large. Our special attention then is paid to an important class of polytopes, called parallelotopes, of polynomials for which the set Q is a hyper-rectangle in R m . For a parallelotope of polynomials, a highly efficient algorithm is proposed. The computation is further reduced for the Hurwitz stability of a special polytope of polynomials which has a Kharitonov-like structure. Finally, extension of our main results is made to solving nonlinear coefficient perturbation problems, and some sufficient conditions are obtained.
Sedimentary features associated with channel overbank flow: examples from the Monterey Fan

Abstract Overbank flow of turbidity currents sweeping through the entrenched Monterey Fan Channel has generated erosional and depositional features along the channel walls and across the adjacent levees. These features, investigated with side-scan sonar, SeaBeam bathymetry, submersibles, and a towed camera sled include fields of sediment waves, overbank channels, gullied walls and terraces, and slump scars. Overbank flow occurs where the channel path is straight, but is accentuated along sharp outside bends. Along straight channel segments sediment waves trend oblique to the channel and are commonly present on the right-hand (when looking downstream) levee adjacent to the channel. Along curved segments of the channel path, large sediment waves, with crests sub-parallel to the channel and with wavelengths reaching 3 km, are present on the outside levee as far as 15 km from the channel. Commonly, a gully is present on the lee side of the sediment wave, near the mid-point of the wave crest. Gullies are the heads of a tributary system of overbank channels, which feed a larger trunk channel on the fan surface.
Quantum dot self-assembly in liquid crystal media

In recent years the dispersion and directed assembly of nano-particles in liquid crystal media has proved an interesting field for investigation and one that may yield new hybrid materials for optical applications and fundamental research. In this paper, we investigate the dispersion of quantum dots in different liquid crystal phases, looking at aggregation and pattern formation. Quantum dot self-assembly in liquid crystals is dependent on particle surface properties and concentration in the liquid crystal medium. By varying these parameters we observe some fascinating structures and phase behavior using polarized optical microscopy and fluorescence microscopy.
Theoretical Development of Stage-Discharge Ratings for Subcritical Open-Channel Flows

Ratings relating stage and flow discharge have been traditionally established through measurements of discharge and concurrent stage. Inherent in this approach are several difficulties and shortcomings that have resulted in widely recognized problems in developing and applying ratings, such as looped ratings. Purely empirical methods that attempt to improve the agreement between ratings and measurements have met with limited success. This paper suggests a theoretical basis for discharge ratings that reflects the hydraulics of unsteady, nonuniform, subcritical flow. Simplification of the Saint-Venant equations for rating applications results in an approximation of the dynamics of flow that is summarized in the hydraulic performance graph, from which discharge ratings can be developed and updated theoretically. The resulting ratings apply a quasi-steady approximation of the flow, along with semiempirical correction factors developed for the site to estimate the discharge using the same information that is n...
The Figure of Jesus in Matthew's Story: a Literary-Critical Probe:

Sur la base de la critique narrative, l'A. se propose de montrer que la christologie de Matthieu est eminemment une christologie du Fils de Dieu. Il degage ensuite la division en trois parties du recit mattheen: (1) presentation de Jesus au lecteur, 1:1-4:16| (2) ministere de Jesus aupres d'Israel et reponse d'Israel, 4:17-16:20| (3) voyage a Jerusalem, Passion, mort et resurrection de Jesus, 16:21-28:20. Le recit a trois moments forts: le bapteme de Jesus, 3:13-17, la confession de Pierre, 16:13-20, l'envoi en mission, 28:16-20. L'A. discute enfin l'usage que fait Matthieu du titre de Fils de l'Homme.
Academic Opportunities Outside the Land Grant System: Exploring a Niche Market for Agricultural Economics Ph.D. Students

Ph.D. students in agricultural economics, like any other discipline, face great uncertainty when pursuing academic employment. This is particularly true for those who want to pursue a position that is predominantly teaching. In this article, we explore the possibility of obtaining such a position within an economics department at a non-land grant academic institution. A survey was distributed to nearly 300 economics department chairs or heads at smaller colleges and universities. The results show that although gaining classroom experience of any sort is essential, it is most beneficial for the graduate student to have an independent teaching experience. We recommend that agricultural economics departments implement a mentoring program to guide students in developing their teaching skills.
Control with Bounded Inputs

We are concerned here with the linear control system $$u'(t) = Au(t) + Bf(t)$$ (1.1) where A is a (possibly unbounded) operator with domain D(A) in the Banach space E and range in E, B is a bounded operator from another complex Banach space F to E. As usual, we assume A to be the infinitesimal generator of a strongly continuous semigroup T(t), t > 0 ([4], Chapter VIII). If f( ∙) (the input or control) is any locally summable F-valued function and u is any element of E we define the “variation-of-constants” expression $$ u(t) = T(t)u + \int_o^t T (t - s)Bf(s)ds $$ (1.2) to be a solution of (1.1), where the integral-on the right-hand side of (1.2) is a Bochner integral ([8], Chapter III). The solution (or trajectory or output) u( ∙) of (1.1) is always continuous and takes the value u for t = 0; if u, f( ∙) are “smooth” in one sense or another then u( ∙) is a genuine solution, i.e., it is continuously differentiable and satisfies (1.1) everywhere, while it is only a generalized solution in the general case. Solutions of (1.1) with given input and initial condition are unique. (See [2] for further discussion on these questions.)
On the reorganization of fitness during evolutionary transitions in individuality.

SYNOPSIS. The basic problem in an evolutionary transition is to understand how a group of individuals becomes a new kind of individual, possessing the property of heritable variation in fitness at the new level of organization. During an evolutionary transition, for example, from single cells to multicellular organisms, the new higher-level evolutionary unit (multicellular organism) gains its emergent properties by virtue of the interactions among lower-level units (cells). We see the formation of cooperative interactions among lower-level units as a necessary step in evolutionary transitions; only cooperation transfers fitness from lower levels (costs to group members) to higher levels (benefits to the group). As cooperation creates new levels of fitness, it creates the opportunity for conflict between levels as deleterious mutants arise and spread within the group. Fundamental to the emergence of a new higher-level unit is the mediation of conflict among lowerlevel units in favor of the higher-level unit. The acquisition of heritable variation in fitness at the new level, via conflict mediation, requires the reorganization of the basic components of fitness (survival and reproduction) and life-properties (such as immortality and totipotency) as well as the co-option of lower-level processes for new functions at the higher level. The way in which the conflicts associated with the transition in individuality have been mediated, and fitness and general life-traits have been re-organized, can influence the potential for further evolution (i.e., evolvability) of the newly emerged evolutionary individual. We use the volvocalean green algal group as a model-system to understand evolutionary transitions in individuality and to apply and test the theoretical principles presented above. Lastly, we discuss how the different notions of individuality stem from the basic properties of fitness in a multilevel selection context.
Automation is the key to standardized semen analysis using the automated SQA-V sperm quality analyzer.

Objective To evaluate the performance of the automated semen quality analyzer system for assessing sperm quality. Design Double-blind prospective study. Setting Tertiary care hospital. Patient(s) Fifty healthy men donated semen samples. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Precision, accuracy and agreement between automated and manual semen analysis methods was assessed for sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and known concentrations of latex bead quality control media. Result(s) A good agreement was seen between the results of sperm concentration reported by the SQA-V automated analyzer (Spermalite/SQA-V; Medical Electronic Systems Ltd, Caesarea Industrial Park, Israel) and those obtained manually. A similar linearity was seen when the SQA-V results were compared with the manual data and also when the manual results of individual operators were compared with each other. The automated assessment of morphology showed high sensitivity (89.9%) for identifying percent normal morphology, and the precision of the SQA-V was considerably higher when compared with the manual method. The interoperator variability for manual assessment was significant. The automated analysis was quick compared with the manual method. Conclusion(s) The SQA-V can be used interchangeably with manual semen analysis methods for examining sperm concentration and motility. The automated SQA-V analyzer is more precise and shows the ability to accurately classify normal versus abnormal sperm morphology.
The maximum size of hypergraphs without generalized 4-cycles

Let f"r(n) be the maximum number of edges in an r-uniform hypergraph on n vertices that does not contain four distinct edges A, B, C, D with [email protected][email protected]?D and [email protected][email protected][email protected] This problem was stated by Erdos [P. Erdos, Problems and results in combinatorial analysis, Congr. Numer. 19 (1977) 3-12]. It can be viewed as a generalization of the Turan problem for the 4-cycle to hypergraphs. Let @f"[email protected]?sup"n"->"~f"r(n)/(nr-1). Furedi [Z. Furedi, Hypergraphs in which all disjoint pairs have distinct unions, Combinatorica 4 (1984) 161-168] observed that @f"r>=1 and conjectured that this is equality for every r>=3. The best known upper bound @f"r= 1 as r->~.
Effects of In-Plane Lateral Restraint and Post-Punching Capacity on Load-Carrying Capacity of Slab-Column Connections against Disproportionate Collapse

The overall goal of this research is to evaluate the potential of disproportionate collapse in older reinforced concrete flat plate buildings subjected to the loss of a supporting column. The research program considers testing of isolated slab-column connections that represent the connection near the lost supporting column. The goal of the tests is to evaluate the effects of in-plane lateral restraint and post-punching capacity. The experiments provide critical data for validating the mechanical model of slab-column connections used to examine the disproportionate collapse resistance of flat plate system. Five tests of restrained and unrestrained isolated slab column tests have been conducted at reinforcement ratio of 1.0% and 0.67%. The tests show that there is a marginal increase in punching shear capacity (2 to15%) due to the inplane restraint, but is highly dependent in the level of lateral restraint. The tests also show that there can be significant post-punching capacity if the top bars are well anchored into the slab.
The inhibitory effect of ω-amino acids and guanidino acids on the activation of α-chymotrypsinogen and trypsinogen

Abstract The effects of ω-amino acids and guanidino acids on the activation of α-chymotrypsinogen and trypsinogen, on the fibrinolytic system, and on the proteolytic activity of several enzymes have been studied. Both groups of acids inhibit the rapid and slow activation of α-chymotrypsinogen; and δ-aminovaleric acid and γ-guanidinobutyric acid are the most effective inhibitors in their respective groups. γ-Guanidinobutyric acid is more potent than δ-aminovaleric acid. The autocatalytic activation of trypsinogen and the activation by enterokinase, previously shown to be markedly inhibited by δ-aminovaleric acid, are blocked even more effectively by γ-guanidinobutyric acid. In contrast to their effect on the activation processes, δ-aminovaleric acid and γ-guanidinobutyric acid only weakly inhibit tryptic caseinolysis. The inhibition of chymotrypsinogen activation by δ-aminovaleric acid and γ-guanidinobutyric acid is of mixed type, while the inhibition of tryptic caseinolysis is noncompetitive in character. The inhibition of enterokinase by γ-guanidinobutyric acid is also noncompetitive. γ-Guanidinobutyric acid is inferior to ϵ-aminocaproic acid and δ-aminovaleric acid in inhibiting fibrinolysis. ω-Amino acids are without effect on the proteolytic activity of α-chymotrypsin, papain, and pepsin. Guanidino acids enhance the proteolysis by chymotrypsin and papain. δ-Aminovaleric acid does not interfere with the activation of pepsinogen.
Intelligent Control of Ventilation System for Energy-Efficient Buildings With ${\rm CO}_{2}$ Predictive Model

In this paper, an intelligent control strategy for ventilation systems in energy-efficient buildings is proposed. The design goal of the intelligent controller is to determine the optimal ventilation rate efficiently and accurately by maintaining the indoor concentration in the comfort zone with a reduced amount of energy consumption. In this study, the concentration is used as the indicator of human comfort in terms of indoor air quality. In addition, a predictive model is utilized to forecast the indoor concentration based on the occupancy pattern of buildings. Due to the high non-linearity of the model, particle swarm optimization (PSO) is applied to derive the optimal ventilation rate. Fuzzy technique is used to represent the relationship between the ventilation rate and the corresponding power consumption for mechanical ventilation systems. As compared with the traditional ON/OFF or fixed ventilation control scheme, the performance of the proposed intelligent control system has demonstrated its advantage in energy savings. Three case studies are analyzed in different situations and using different input parameters. The corresponding simulation results confirm the viability of the proposed intelligent control strategy for ventilation systems.
NUMERICAL AND FUNCTIONAL RESPONSES OF MIGRANT BALD EAGLES EXPLOITING A SEASONALLY CONCENTRATED FOOD SOURCE

Abstract We determined the numerical and functional responses of migrant Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) feeding on spawning kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) at Hauser Reservoir, Montana from 1991–1995. Number of Bald Eagles was positively correlated with the fluctuating number of salmon carcasses during four of five years. Immigration and emigration rates were similar across years and were facilitated by several behavioral and physical characteristics of eagles: group foraging, communal roosting, and keen eyesight. Number of subadult eagles showed closer synchrony with density of salmon carcasses than did adult eagles. Eagles scavenging for salmon exhibited a Type II functional response. Handling times of scavenging eagles remained constant across the range of salmon carcass densities, whereas daily attack rates increased. Functional responses of scavenging eagles differed between age groups; adults exhibited a Type I response, whereas that of subadults could not be characterized. Handling time...