cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hermeneutic Inquiry for Digital Games Research

Game Studies is a young research field compared to other media studies disciplines, such as literary theory and film studies. Games research has often struggled to balance the demands of modern constructivist perspectives on knowledge creation (Denzin and Lincoln in Handbook of qualitative research. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, 1994) against the long-standing traditions of humanities scholarship. Consequentially, games research is one of a new breed of natively interdisciplinary fields, with all of the challenges and opportunities that this entails. While there is much to be said for being able to draw on different methods and perspectives (Creswell in Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, 2003; Creswell and Clark in Designing and conducting mixed methods research. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, 2007), this inherent interdisciplinarity forces the games scholar into making a unique balancing act between often contradictory epistemological positions. It is often unclear what the subject of games scholarship is, or should be. Is it the lived experience of play? Is it the design of games for entertainment, learning, persuasion, or expression? Is it the role of games within a particular content domain? Is it the development of simulation techniques for modeling, manipulating, and understanding complex systems? Is it the social and cultural practices that arise around and are mediated by games? In this article I describe the application of the traditions of philosophical hermeneutics and close reading to the study of digital games as texts. This approach deals with the poetics of digital games, and with the scholarly practices of articulating how a game accomplishes its particular experiential outcomes, such that we might be able to derive useful principles for understanding the game as a cultural, aesthetic, and practical (“Practical” in the sense that hermeneutic inquiry often produces knowledge about how the text created its meanings, thus contributing to the development of craft and design knowledge.) artifact.
Linear Methods for Regression

A linear regression model assumes that the regression function E(Y|X) is linear in the inputs X 1,..., X p . Linear models were largely developed in the precomputer age of statistics, but even in today’s computer era there are still good reasons to study and use them. They are simple and often provide an adequate and interpretable description of how the inputs affect the output. For prediction purposes they can sometimes outperform fancier nonlinear models, especially in situations with small numbers of training cases, low signal-to-noise ratio or sparse data. Finally, linear methods can be applied to transformations of the inputs and this considerably expands their scope. These generalizations are sometimes called basis-function methods, and are discussed in Chapter 5.
Welding Superalloy Sheet for Superconducting Cable Jackets

JBK-75, an iron-based superalloy, has been selected for use as the cable jacket material for the Westinghouse magnet of the large coil project. Previous investigations of GTA welds of JBK-75 and its sister alloy, A-286, have shown that age-hardened weld metal has significantly lower yield and tensile strengths than comparable heat—treated base metal1. In this investigation of A-286 weldments the undermatching properties are shown to be the result of chemical segregation during weld pool solidification. This chemical segregation results in significant changes in the kinetics of precipitation of the gamma prime (γ’) hardening phase.
Financialization and Stagnant Corporate Investment in Korea Since the Asian Financial Crisis

The goal of this paper is to analyze the impact of financial and corporate sector restructuring programs on nonfinancial corporate fixed investment in Korea since the Asian Financial Crisis in the late 1990s. More specifically, the paper aims to examine the extent to which post-crisis policy-induced ‘financialization’ – increasing financial payments of nonfinancial corporations to financial markets and their excessive reliance on portfolio management – has negative impacts on real fixed investment of nonfinancial and manufacturing firms. Using both standard OLS and GMM econometric tests based on both macro (1976-2009) and firm level micro data (1Q2001-2Q2011), the paper finds that there has been statistically significant negative correlation between the measured financialization and nonfinancial and manufacturing corporate fixed investment in Korea. This observation raises important policy questions and provides a new angle through which we can critically evaluate the IMF’s austerity-oriented financial restructuring programs. From a theoretical point of view, this paper can also contribute to the existing body of Post Keynesian financialization and corporate finance literature that is broader in scope than New Keynesian partial emphasis on information asymmetry.
Variations in the transverse cervical artery (543.6)

The transverse cervical artery is typically seen in both the superficial back and posterior cervical triangle dissections in a human cadaver gross anatomy course. The two most commonly used referen...
Differential Effects of Continuous and Intermittent 17β-Estradiol Replacement and Tamoxifen Therapy on the Prevention of Glomerulosclerosis : Modulation of the Mesangial Cell Phenotype in Vivo

Female ROP Os/+ mice are partially protected by endogenous estrogens against progressive glomerulosclerosis (GS) during their reproductive period; however, ovariectomy accelerates GS progression. We examined the effects of continuous and intermittent 17β-estradiol (E2) replacement and tamoxifen therapy on the development of GS in ovariectomized (Ovx) ROP Os/+ mice. Continuous E2 replacement (CE2) throughout 9 months prevented microalbuminuria and excess extracellular matrix accumulation in Ovx ROP Os/+, not only compared to placebo-treated Ovx mice but also in comparison to intact female ROP Os/+. Tamoxifen had a similar effect, but of lesser magnitude. Intermittent 3-month on-off-on E2 did not reduce the kidney changes. Mesangial cells (MCs) from CE2 mice maintained their estrogen responsiveness. E2in vitro prevented transforming growth factor-β1 stimulation of a Smad-responsive reporter construct and increased MMP-2 expression and activity in MCs isolated from CE2 mice. MCs from mice on either placebo or intermittent E2 treatment did not respond to added E2, consistent with a stable alteration of their estrogen responsiveness. Tamoxifen protection against GS was less pronounced in ROP Os/+ mice. Thus, prolonged estrogen deficiency promotes GS and renders MCs insensitive to subsequent estrogen treatment. This underscores the importance of continuous estrogen exposure for maintaining glomerular function and structure in females susceptible to progressive GS.
Liquid crystal tunable plasmonic color

We demonstrate a liquid crystal-tunable reflective surface where the color of the metasurface is changed as a function of applied voltage. Reflection spectra are compared with finite-difference time-domain numeric simulations.
Effects of the reproductive cycle and age on calcium and phosphorus metabolism and bone integrity of sows

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of stage of the reproductive cycle and age on Ca and P metabolism and bone integrity of sows. Five-day balance studies were conducted with first- and fifth-parity sows, and sows were slaughtered during the last trimester of gestation, at the end of lactation, or during the last trimester of the subsequent gestation. First-parity sows were studied during their first gestation (n = 11), first lactation (n = 10), or second gestation (n = 10). Fifth-parity sows were examined during their fifth gestation (n = 10), fifth lactation (n = 9), or sixth gestation (n = 9). All sows were fed 1.9 kg/d of a common diet (.76% Ca and .63% P) during gestation and were allowed ad libitum access to the same diet during lactation. Digestibilities of Ca and P were much greater during lactation than during gestation. During gestation, young sows absorbed and retained more Ca and P than did mature sows. However, during lactation, mature sows consumed more feed, and therefore Ca and P, and retained more Ca and P than did young sows. Bones of mature sows were larger, more mineralized, and stronger than the bones of young sows. Bone weight and strength decreased during lactation and increased during the subsequent gestation. Changes in weight and strength were greater in young sows than in mature sows.
Characterizing the material properties of polymer-based microelectrode arrays for retinal prosthesis

The Retinal Prosthesis project is a three year project conducted in part at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and funded by the Department of Energy to create an epiretinal microelectrode array for stimulating retinal cells. The implant must be flexible to conform to the retina, robust to sustain handling during fabrication and implantation, and biocompatible to withstand physiological conditions within the eye. Using poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS), LLNL aims to use microfabrication techniques to increase the number of electrodes and integrate electronics. After the initial designs were fabricated and tested in acute implantation, it became obvious that there was a need to characterize and understand the mechanical and electrical properties of these new structures. This knowledge would be imperative in gaining credibility for polymer microfabrication and optimizing the designs. Thin composite microfabricated devices are challenging to characterize because they are difficult to handle, and exhibit non-linear, viscoelastic, and anisotropic properties. The objective of this research is to device experiments and protocols, develop an analytical model to represent the composite behavior, design and fabricate test structures, and conduct experimental testing to determine the mechanical and electrical properties of PDMS-metal composites. Previous uniaxial stretch tests show an average of 7% strain before failure more » on resistive heaters of similar dimensions deposited on PDMS. Lack of background information and questionable human accuracy demands a more sophisticated and thorough testing method. An Instron tensile testing machine was set up to interface with a digital multiplexor and computer interface to simultaneously record and graph position, load, and resistance across devices. With a compliant load cell for testing polymers and electrical interconnect grips designed and fabricated to interface the sample to the electronics, real-time resistance measurements were taken. Wafers of test structures were fabricated with variables such as lead width, pad to lead interface shape, PDMS thickness, metal (Ti and Au) thickness, and lead shape. Results showed that the serpentine shaped leads were 70% more effective, and that thicker adhesion layers of Ti were too brittle for testing. The other variables did not produce significant results. « less
An EGFR and AKT Signaling Pathway was Identified with Mediation Model in Osteosarcomas Clinical Study

Identification of correlation pattern and signal pathway among biomarkers in patients has become increasingly interesting for its potential values in diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. EGFR and p-AKT signaling in osteosarcoma (OS) patients were analyzed for its relationship with cancer cell proliferation maker, Ki-67, using causal procedures and statistical tests. A total of 69 patients were collected who present to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with newly diagnosed, previously untreated osteosarcomas during the clinical study period 1994 through 2003. Tissue microarrays were constructed for EGFR, p-AKT and Ki-67. The mediation model was constructed with structural equation model (SEM) for the causal analysis of the three biomarkers in osteosarcoma patients. The results suggested a mediating effect of p-AKT for the causal relationship between EGFR and Ki-67. The study also found significant associations between EGFR and Ki-67 (p = 0.002), EGFR and p-AKT (p = 0.027), and p-AKT and Ki-67 controlling EGFR (p = 0.004). After the impact of EGFR on Ki-67 was accounted for by p-AKT, the relation between EGFR and Ki-67 was no longer significant (p = 0.381). The mediating effect was confirmed with Sobel test (p < 0.001) and Goodman (I) test (p < 0.001). The study indicated that a mediation model could be an approach to exploring the correlation pattern of EGFR and AKT signal pathway for cancer cell proliferation in OS patients in clinical study.
Ultra-High Accuracy Masses of Eclipsing Binary Stars

New observational spectroscopic methods have made it possible to obtain radial velocities of eclipsing binary star components with unprecedented accuracy. Most of the improvement in accuracy is due to two techniques: (1) The use of optical fibers to scramble the spatial distribution of stellar brightness at the input end of the spectrometer, and to allow the spectrometer to be located off the telescope where its temperature and position can be stabilized. (2) The simultaneous exposure of the comparison emission-tube light through a separate fiber or pair of fibers adjacent to the stellar fiber continuously during the stellar exposure. Any changes in the response of the spectrometer during the exposure then affect the stellar and adjacent comparison spectra in almost exactly the same way.
Polish and American collaboration on zoonotic parasitic studies, 1960 to 1997.

The Marshall Plan of 1947 kindled interest in research in Europe. The U.S. Public Health Service encouraged the use of blocked national currencies to research disease problems. The parasitic diseases were epidemic/epizootic problems in Poland. The initial project was trichinellosis. The 10-year study emphasized the natural history, epidemiology, diagnosis, and therapy of trichinellosis in Poland. The wildlife source of trichinellosis was widespread. Clinical studies discounted the effectiveness of mebendazole but found steroids useful. Taenia saginata is common in Eastern Europe. T. saginata cystericosis in cattle is not easily diagnosed. Physical examination by meat inspectors missed 50% of the infected carcasses. Taenia solium is uncommon. Giardiasis is declining in Poland. The epidemiology of giardiasis in Poland is different from that in the United States, where water-borne infections are common. A study of toxoplasmosis revealed a low prevalence in women but a high prevalence in cats. No cases were identified in 4,311 newborns.
The identification and characterization of two cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases from bovine adrenal medulla

Abstract Two soluble cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activities, designated Peak I ( M r = 216,000) and Peak II ( M r = 230,000), have been isolated from bovine adrenal medulla by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Peak I has Ca 2+ -independent, cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase activity and Peak II has cGMP-stimulated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity. Peak I hydrolyzes cGMP with hyperbolic kinetics and demonstrates a K m of 23 μ m . Peak II hydrolyzes cGMP with hyperbolic kinetics but hydrolyzes cAMP with slightly sigmoidal kinetics and demonstrates K m values of 54 ± 0.7 μ m cGMP and 38 ± 6 μ m cAMP. Cyclic AMP and cGMP are competitive inhibitors of each other's hydrolysis, suggesting that these nucleotides may be hydrolyzed at the same catalytic site. Micromolar concentrations of cGMP cause a 5-fold stimulation of the hydrolysis of subsaturating concentrations of cAMP by the Peak II phosphodiesterase. Half-maximal activation occurs at 0.5 μ m cGMP and the result of activation is a decrease in the apparent K m for cAMP. Stimulation of the hydrolysis of subsaturating concentrations of cGMP by cAMP was also detected; however, cAMP is a less potent activator of the enzyme than cGMP. Cyclic AMP causes a 1.5-fold stimulation of cGMP hydrolysis and half-maximal activation occurs at 2.5 μ m cAMP.
The transition to turbulence

Fluid flows have been studied systematically for more than a century and their equations of motion are well known, yet the transition from laminar flow to turbulent flow remains an enigma. The difficulty lies in the intractability of the nonlinear hydrodynamic equations that express the conservation of mass, momentum and energy for a fluid continuum. Although these equations can be linearized and readily solved for a system near thermodynamic equilibrium, the solutions of the nonlinear equations—required to describe fluids far from equilibrium—are generally neither unique nor obtainable.
Critical behaviour of the site impure simple cubic Ising Model

Abstract A Monte-Carlo method has been used to study the simple cubic Ising Model containing up to 30% of random, quenched, non-magnetic impurities. The critical temperature is found to decrease linearly with increasing impurity content but no evidence was found for any significant changes in critical exponents.
Effect of dilation of the distal coronary bed on flow and resistance in severely stenotic coronary arteries in the dog

Studies were performed to evaluate the hemodynamic response of severely stenotic coronary arteries to dilation of the distal coronary bed. A critical stenosis was produced with an adjustable wire snare on the left anterior descending or circumflex arteries of open chest dogs. Coronary flow, distal coronary pressure and aortic pressure were measured. In one group of experiments, coronary arteriolar dilatation was induced by transient occlusion of the artery distal to the stenosis. After the release of a transient occlusion in vessels without a critical stenosis, flow increased (from 33 +/- 4 to 85 +/- 8 ml/min, P less than 0.01), distal pressure decreased slightly (from 86 +/- 4 to 80 +/- 4 mm Hg, P less than 0.01), and large vessel resistance did not change significantly (from 0.06 +/- 0.02 to 0.08 +/- 0.03 units). After the release of a transient occlusion in vessels with a critical stenosis, flow decreased (from 23 +/- 3 to 12 +/- 2 ml/min, P less than 0.01), distal pressure decreased to persistently low levels (from 63 +/- 2 to 29 +/- 2 mm Hg, P less than 0.01), and large vessel resistance increased (from 1.4 +/- 0.3 to 6.7 +/- 1.8 units, P less than 0.01). In a separate group of experiments, radio-opaque contrast medium was used to dilate the distal coronary bed. In these studies dilation of the distal coronary of arteries with a critical stenosis again resulted in a decrease in coronary blood flow (from 35 +/- 4 to 19 +/- 3 ml/min, P less than 0.01), a decrease in distal coronary pressure (from 84 +/- 6 to 35 +/- 6 mm Hg, P less than 0.01) and an increase in large arterial resistance (from 1.0 +/- 0.2 to 5.5 +/- 1.2 units, P less than 0.02). Therefore, in coronary vessels with severe stenosis, dilation of the distal coronary bed may result in a paradoxical decrease in coronary blood flow.
15N-enriched 5-fluorocytosine as a probe for examining unusual DNA structures.

Abstract A new method is presented for the synthesis of oligonucleotides containing 15N-enriched 5- fluorocytosine (FC). Due to the reduced pK of FC, the amino protons of an unpaired FC residue may be observed at lower values of solution pH. The labeled FC residue has been placed as a template base at a model DNA replication fork. The amino protons of the FC residue have been identified in isotope-edited NMR spectra. Data is presented for a template FC residue unpaired, paired with guanine, and mispaired with adenine. These studies demonstrate the utility of labeled FC in examining unusual DNA structures.
Synthesis of Metal-doped Cryptomelane Nanomaterials using Cross-linking Reagents

Three cross-linking reagents (PVA, glycerol and glucose) have successfully been used to synthesize non-doped and metal-doped nanosized cryptomelane materials via a solid-state preparation method. The 2×2 tunnel structure of cryptomelane was formed at 500 °C. FT-IR data show that no cross-linking reagent residues were found in the products after the reactions were complete at 800 °C. The metal dopants used were Fe, Ag, Co, Cu, Ni, and Zn. XRD data show that Fe and Co cations can be doped into the materials without the formation of additional phases. The tunnel structures of the nanosized materials exhibit long-range along the b axis, as indicated by transmission electron microscopy data. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy studies show that morphologies of the products are nanorods or nanofibers, depending on the cross-linking reagents used in the preparation. Thermogravimetric analyses indicate that these nanomaterials are thermally stable to 700 °C.
Quantitative ultrastructural changes associated with lead-coupled luxury phosphate uptake and polyphosphate utilization

Quantitative electron microscopy (stereology) was used to assess the ultrastructural response of three algae representative of the classes Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae, and Bacillariophyceae to lead-coupled polyphosphate degradation. The organisms were exposed to a culture medium concentration of 20 ppb Pb for 3 hr at the time of luxury phosphate uptake and subsequently transferred to phosphorus and lead-free medium. A differential sensitivity was observed as follows:Plectonema > Scenedesmus > Cyclotella. InPlectonema andScenedesmus, detrimental cytological changes were observed when the polyphosphate relative volume dropped below 0.5%, which was approximately the P-starvation level of polyphosphate. Few significant ultrastructural changes were observed inCyclotella after one week in P-deficient medium. At this time, the relative volume of polyphosphate was still 1.5%. Although a few significant ultrastructural changes occurred with phosphate deprivation, the greatest numbers of changes occurred in cells that had been exposed to a short-term (3 hr) low level of Pb. Changes in the relative volume of polyphosphate in all three organisms suggest thatPlectonema andScenedesmus have higher phosphate nutrient requirements thanCyclotella. The ecological implications of metal sequestering by polyphosphate are discussed.
Extranuclear projections of rNST neurons expressing gustatory–elicited Fos

Previous studies have demonstrated that gustatory stimulation evokes expression of the immediate-early gene, c-fos in the rostral division of the nucleus of the solitary tract (rNST) (Harrer and Travers [1996] Brain Res. 711:125-137; DiNardo and Travers [1997] J. Neurosci. 17:3826-3839; King et al. [1999] J. Neurosci. 19:3107-3121). The present investigation further defined the phenotype of those neurons by determining their projections, by using immunohistochemistry for the Fos protein and retrograde tracing with Fluoro-Gold. Tracer injections were made into the two major extranuclear targets of rNST, the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) and medullary reticular formation (RF). These structures are thought to play differential roles in higher-order discriminative and homeostatic (PBN) versus reflexive function (RF). After PBN injections, approximately 18% of the Fos-like immunoreactive (FLI) neurons were double-labeled; after RF injections the proportion was 9%. Because only a minority of FLI neurons appear to project to targets outside NST, this suggests that most of these cells have local, intranuclear projections. Comparable proportions of cells were double-labeled after sucrose or quinine, consistent with roles for both tastants in higher-order and reflexive function. On the other hand, regardless of stimulus, twice as many FLI neurons projected to the PBN as to the RF. This could suggest that more FLI neurons contribute to functions mediated by the ascending pathway. However, the results of a recent study prompted a different hypothesis: Because glossopharyngeal nerve section similarly devastates quinine-induced FLI and oral rejection but leaves discriminative function unimpaired, it was proposed that FLI neurons are more important in driving oral motor behavior than discrimination (King et al. [1999] J. Neurosci. 19:3107-3121). A plausible hypothesis for reconciling this apparent discrepancy is that many FLI neurons make local projections in rNST, that in turn give rise to RF connections.
Interactive three-dimensional visualization of seismic array data

Abstract We present a set of tools developed for the analysis of three-component seismic array data. The first tool involves the application of three-dimensional volume visualization techniques for displaying the results of single-component, array, slowness analysis calculations. This technique has proven useful for analysis of both body waves and surface waves recorded by broadband arrays with a wide range of apertures. The second tool presented is a tool for animation and interactive analysis of three-dimensional particle motions observed by an array of three-component instruments. This tool displays a three-dimensional track of particle motions over a specified time window as recorded by three-component array stations. In order to compare the amplitudes, waveforms, polarization and time delays of signals on different array stations the records are aligned by the time of arrival of a plane wave with the azimuth and the apparent slowness determined from two-dimensional semblance analysis. This technique provides an improved understanding of the spatial variability of seismic wave fields that is not possible with conventional, two-dimensional graphics.
Automated identification and characterisation of secondary and tertiary γ′ precipitates in nickel-based superalloys

AbstractThe use of different electron loss edges in energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) has allowed researchers to capture images of the morphology and size of precipitates in nickel-based superalloys. In this work, the authors discuss a computational methodology for automated detection of secondary and tertiary γ′ precipitates in EFTEM images. The optimum parameters for the automated region growing technique were identified using a combination of visual inspection and intensity information from the EFTEM images. The microstructural statistics obtained from the segmented γ′ precipitates agreed with those of the manually segmented precipitates. Then, automated segmented precipitates are used to extract microstructural information about the distributions of equivalent diameters of 656 tertiary precipitates along with the distances to the nearest secondary precipitates. The significance of this technique is its ability to automate segmentation of precipitates in a reproducible manner for...
Approximate occupation functions for density-functional calculations

The density-functional free energy can be written in a form that is stationary with respect to variations in the occupation function. For this reason it is useful to look for approximate occupation functions that are sufficiently close to the Fermi function that accuracy is not compromised and yet have advantages for computation. From a computational point of view it is useful to reduce the number of poles of the occupation function in the upper half of the complex energy plane and to locate the poles as far from the real axis as possible. A family of approximate occupation functions that economize computation is introduced. Their properties are discussed and illustrated for a model system.
Annual Review, 1993–1997: Work Attitudes and Outcomes

Abstract This article reviews the literature on work attitudes and outcomes for the years 1993-1997. Models of job satisfaction, organizational commitment, turnover intentions, and turnover behaviors were used to develop an organizational structure for the literature. Key constructs pertaining to individual and work environment characteristics, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and turnover intentions were reviewed and summarized. General conclusions and recommendations for future work are presented in the final section.
Live Performance and Yields of Broilers Provided Various Lighting Schedules

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to measure performance and carcass yield from broilers maintained on photoschedules that may influence incidence of leg disorders. Day-old male broilers were placed on litter floors of light-controlled chambers. Four chambers were randomly assigned to each of four light treatments: 1) 23 h light (L): 1 h dark (D) from 1 to 56 days of age (designated extended, E); 2) 1L:3D from 1 to 56 days (intermittent, I); 3) 6L:18D from 1 to 14 days and 1L.:3D) from 15 to 56 days (brief-I, BI): and 4) 6L:18D from 1 to 14 days and 23L:1D from 15 to 56 days (brief-E, BE). Mean (± SEM) light intensity was 5.4 ± .26 lx for all light treatments. At 13, 21, and 42 days of age, Treatments BI and BE had lower BW than Treatment E. The percentage of birds with leg abnormalities among treatments was greater at 56 days than at 42 days. The BI birds had significantly fewer leg abnormalities than E birds. There was an age by treatment interaction for the frequency of tibial dyschondroplasia (TD), with BI showing better recovery from TD at 56 days than other treatments. At 42 days of age, split breast yield (percentage of BW) was greater in E than I and breast yield (percentage of lean carcass) was greater in E and BI compared with I. At 56 days of age, yield (percentage of BW) of tenders was lower in I and BI compared with E and BE. Yield of wings (percentage of lean carcass) was greater in BI than BE, and yield of thighs was greater in BI than E.
A Quasi-inertial Attitude Mode for Orbiting Spacecraft

A method is presented for achieving quasi-inertial orientation of an orbiting spacecraft with minimal control effort. Spacecraft motion is a small-amplitude oscillation about the orbit normal with one principal axis held in the orbital plane. The nominal orientation of this axis is arbitrary, so that any spacecraft axis normal to it may be pointed arbitrarily on the celestial sphere and remain within a small neighborhood of the nominal orientation. Oscillation amplitude can be chosen to minimize control requirements for maintaining the mode and may range up to 18.8 deg depending on spacecraft inertia. The quasi-inertial mode would be an efficient means for maintaining a nominal solar orientation for NASA's Skylab configuration if the control-moment-gyros fail in the primary attitude control system. This approach, which utilizes the backup reaction thrust system, affords a substantial reduction in propellant requirements compared to that for a true solar inertial attitude hold.
Integrating Design and Design of Experiment in Mechanical Engineering Courses and Laboratories

Two important educational outcomes required of any engineering program, as per ABET 2000 Criteria 3, are the ability of engineering graduates to: 1) design a component, a system or a process to meet the desired needs within realistic constraints; and 2) design and conduct experiments, as well as analyze and interpret data. To achieve these requirements, engineering design and the design of experiments need to be integral parts of several mechanical engineering courses and laboratories throughout the curriculum. This paper presents examples of engineering design experience in the thermal science area, as well as the use of the design–build–test concept in developing experiments in a heat transfer laboratory.
Oxygen exposure promotes fuel diversity for Shewanella oneidensis microbial fuel cells

Miniature microbial fuel cells (mini-MFCs) were used to monitor the current generated by Shewanella oneidensis DSP10 under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions when exposed to glucose as a potential electron donor. In addition to glucose, other carbon fuels including fructose, sucrose, acetate, and ascorbic acid were also tested. When the anolyte containing S. oneidensis was grown in the presence of oxygen, power densities of 270+/-10, 350+/-20, and 120+/-10 W/m(3) were recorded from the mini-MFC for glucose, fructose, and ascorbic acid electron donors, respectively, while sucrose and acetate produced no response. The power produced from glucose decreased considerably (<or=100 W/m(3)) if strictly anaerobic conditions were maintained. Based on the previously published proteomic and genomic literature on S. oneidensis, this reduction in power output is most likely due to the differential expression of proteins by these bacteria when grown under oxygen-rich or anoxic conditions. The power densities generated from the mini-MFC exposed to oxygen led to significant changes in current production over time with repeated feedings of these carbon nutrients. This work expands the breadth of potential electron donors for S. oneidensis MFCs and demonstrates the importance of studying microbial anolytes under diverse environmental conditions.
Electron microscopic studies on granulocytopoiesis in the slender salamander.

The morphology of differentiating heterophils and eosinophils of the slender salamander, Batrachoseps attenuatus, was studied with electron microscopy. Enzymes of the granules of both cell types appear to arise from the Golgi cisternae. An agranular stem cell was not observed and the least differentiated cell type encountered was an “early” promyelocyte having small granules which are morphologically distinct from mature granules of either the heterophil or eosinophil series. Heterophil myelocytes and later stages contain only one population of granule which is fibrous in content. Eosinophils likewise possess but one type of granule; the granules are larger than those of heterophils, have a homogeneous content, and lack the crystallin core so characteristic of mammalian eosinophils.
New simulation methodology for risk analysis: genetic programming with monte carlo simulation for option pricing

I examine the role of programming parameters in determining the accuracy of Genetic Programming for option pricing. I use Monte Carlo simulations to generate stock and option price data needed to develop a Genetic Option Pricing Program. I simulate data for two different stock price processes - a Geometric Brownian process and a Jump-Diffusion process. In the jump-diffusion setting, I seed the Genetic Program with the Black-Scholes equation as a starting approximation. I find that population size, fitness criteria, and the ability to seed the program with known analytical equations, are important determinants of the efficiency of Genetic Programming.
The quantitative effect of terminal fluorine substituents on the rate of 5-hexenyl radical cyclization

Abstract Direct intramolecular competition experiments demonstrate that terminal fluorine-substitution has negligible effect on the rate of cyclization of 5-hexenyl radical.
The microbiology of metalworking fluids

Metalworking fluids (MWFs) are complex mixtures of chemicals and are indispensable materials in industry. They are used as cooling and lubricating agents in different machining process such as grinding, milling, and cutting. The quality of MWFs is affected by physical, chemical, and microbial contaminates. In particular, MWFs are highly vulnerable to microbial contamination, which may act both as potential pathogens and deteriorgens. Microbial contamination is of major concern due to potential health hazards such as skin dermatitis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The contaminated MWFs can exhibit high degrees of microbial loading, ranging from 10(4) to 10(10) colony-forming units (CFU)/ml. Wide varieties of microorganisms are reported to colonize MWFs. Traditional culturing techniques are not only laborious and time consuming but also underestimate the actual distribution of the microorganisms present in the contaminated MWFs. Therefore, rapid molecular methods such as real-time PCR and fluorescent in situ hybridization are implemented to monitor the microbial load. In industry, biocides are presently used to control microbial contamination. However, it has its own disadvantages and therefore, in recent years, alternative methods such as UV irradiation were evaluated to reduce microbial contamination in MWFs. Microbes inhabiting the MWF are also capable of forming biofilm which is detrimental to the MWF system. Biofilm is resistant to common disinfectant methods, and thus further research and development is required to effectively control its formation within MWF systems. This review is intended to discuss the overall microbiological aspects of MWF.
Vascular responsiveness and eicosanoid production in diabetic rats.

Vascular responsiveness to vasoactive eicosanoids as well as vascular prostacyclin and thromboxane production was investigated in 7–10 weeks alloxan-diabetic rats. Aortic rings from diabetic rats exhibited increased responsiveness to carbocyclic thromboxane A2, a thromboxane analogue, when compared to control rat aortae. Isolated perfused hearts of diabetic rats showed increased vascular responsiveness to 9,11-methanoepoxy PGH2 (U-46619), an endoperoxide analogue. Diabetes resulted in a reduction in prostacyclin generation by isolated incubated aortae which was overcome by the addition of arachidonic acid but not by homogenization of incubated aortic tissue. In contrast, prostacyclin, but not thromboxane, generation was elevated in isolated perfused hearts of diabetic animals in response to moderate doses of arachidonic acid, but at high doses of arachidonate, more thromboxane was formed by perfused hearts of diabetic rats. These results suggest that different vessels can either increase or decrease their prostaglandin production in response to diabetes. The alterations in prostanoid production may be due to differential changes in prostacyclin and thromboxane synthesis in vessels which, in turn, may be related to the changes in vascular responsiveness.
Radiofrequency ablation of brain tumours using MR guidance

SummaryMR-guided stereotactic thermal ablation was developed as a minimally invasive brain tumour treatment. Eighteen primary or metastatic brain tumours were treated in 15 patients. The entire procedure was performed under local anaesthesia in an MR suite. The outcome was analysed with 13-30 months of clinical follow-up. Local control was achieved in nine tumours in eight patients. Among them four patients with five tumours were disease-free for more than 22 months after the treatment. Four patients died from systemic disease or primary cancer while metastatic brain tumours were locally controlled. Local recurrence was seen in hypervascular metastatic tumours and a glioblastoma multiforme. For metastatic and primary brain tumours, MR provides not only accurate localization of brain tumour but also near real time thermal monitoring of acute tissue changes. This immediate imaging feedback facilitates safe and complete coagulation of the brain tumour. Based on our limited sample experiences, it is hoped tha...
Meanings of Smoking and Adolescent Smoking Across Ethnicities

Abstract Purpose To develop insight into population-specific meanings of smoking in our highly multicultural middle schools in order to provide effective and appropriate tools for smoking prevention efforts. Methods We used focus group interviews to develop the Meanings of Smoking Index (MSI), a nine-item scale that uses a "mark all that apply" strategy to assess what smoking means to children who have tried smoking as well as to those who are susceptible to smoking. In 24 public and parochial middle schools in the greater Los Angeles area, 2336 7th graders (1483 Latino, 565 Asian/ Pacific Islander and 288 white, 55.2% of the sample was female) completed the MSI as part of a school-based trial of culturally-targeted smoking prevention strategies. Items were rank ordered according to salience (rate of endorsement) and relevance (strength of relationship with lifetime smoking) across the entire sample and separately for Hispanic/Latino, Asian/Asian-American and white respondents. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to compare results between ethnicities. Results The most frequently endorsed meanings were similar across ethnicities. Magnitude of associations between smoking behaviors and meanings were dissimilar across ethnicities. The meaning with the strongest relationship to lifetime smoking for whites and Latinos was "it helps me study" (OR 3.4 and 2.6 respectively), and for Asians was "don't want to make another smoke alone" (OR 5.4). Conclusions We have shown previously that interventions on meanings of eating behaviors changed dietary behaviors in adolescents. The present findings suggest that meanings are powerful determinants of adolescent smoking in culturally diverse populations and could offer powerful intervention tools to prevent adolescent smoking.
Rupture of coronary vasa vasorum as a trigger of acute myocardial infarction

Some controversy has always existed regarding the presence and extent of the vasa vasorum--the nutrient vessels in the wall of the human aorta--in the coronary arteries. Now, cinemicrographic studies using silicone polymer injections in cleared human hearts have identified the vasa vasorum of coronary arteries, revealing evidence of neovascularization in the region of atherosclerotic plaques. These studies suggest an important role for the vasa vasorum in the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis and its sequelae, especially intramural hemorrhage and vascular spasm. The wall of the human coronary artery in regions of atherosclerotic injury may be particularly rich in capillary vessels of the vasa vasorum. From this, the evidence suggests that with the morning increase in blood pressure, fragile neovascular structures of the vasa vasorum may be more prone to rupture and may be responsible, in part, for the circadian variation in myocardial infarction.
Special Issue on Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI) Fires

Wildland–Urban interface (WUI) fires have caused significant destruction to communities in Australia, Greece, Portugal, Spain, and the USA. The 2003 Cedar Fire in California resulted in $2B in insured losses and destroyed more than 3,000 homes. The 2007 Southern California Fire displaced more than 300,000 people, destroyed over 1,000 structures, and resulted in $1B paid by insurers in 2007 alone [1]. WUI fires continue to burn in the USA and are rapidly getting worse; most recently in Texas in 2011 and Colorado, California in 2012. In 2009, fires in Victoria, Australia caused the death of more than 100 people, destroying more than 1,000 structures. The 2007 Fires in Greece destroyed several hundred structures and caused the deaths of more than 70 people. From a pragmatic point of view, the WUI fire problem can be seen as a structure ignition problem. In spite of these facts, little effort has been spent on understanding the processes of structure ignition in these fires. Scientifically based building codes and standards are needed to guide construction of new structures in areas known to be prone to these fires in order to reduce the risk of structural ignition. Proven, scientifically based retrofitting strategies are required for homes located in areas prone to such fires. Historically, fire safety science research has spent a great deal of effort to understand fire dynamics within buildings. Research into WUI fires, and how to potentially mitigate the loss of structures in such fires, is far behind other areas of fire safety science research. This is due to the fact that fire spread in the WUI is incredibly complex, involving the interaction of topography, weather, vegetation, and structures. The purpose of this special issue, the first devoted solely to WUI fire research in any peer-reviewed archival publication devoted to fire safety science, is to share recent scientific research on this important, emerging problem. A total of eight papers are included as part of this special issue. These papers are from around the world and include contributions from China, Portugal, and the USA. It is desired that this special issue brings more attention to the WUI fire problem and the fire safety science research community begins to focus more emphasis on this emerging, challenging, and multifaceted area.
Small angle X-ray scattering from an embrittling metallic glass

Abstract The metallic glass Fe 79.3 B 16.4 Si 4.0 C 0.3 was examined by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) in the as-quenched condition and after low temperature annealing. In all cases, the annealing temperature was well below the crystallization temperature of the material. There was no significant change in SAXS intensity as the sample transformed from the ductile to the brittle state. Partially crystallized specimens prepared by up-quenching were used as calibration samples to estimate an upper limit of 0.9 vol% of a possible second phase with the electron density of amorphous Fe 3 B in the most embrittled samples. It was concluded that phase separation is not the cause of annealing embrittlement in this system. The weak SAXS intensity suggests that the phase separation and chemical inhomogeneity in both the as-quenched and the annealed state are limited.
Using CiteSeer to analyze trends in the ACM's computing classification system

Classification systems for research publications are often based on taxonomies. The ACM society for computing and professionals provides a digital library whose cataloguing system is based on a taxonomy that has been continuously updated over the years. The CiteSeer collection contains a large collection of computer science research papers, many of which are tagged with categories from the ACM's taxonomy. By analyzing the small portion of CiteSeer's manually tagged documents and by considering different time frames, we extracted statistics that shows how the ACM's taxonomy covers the publications in computer and information science research sub-fields. We also studied size and growth of categories over the last four available years. These results allow us to reveal areas with higher or lower publication rate. We believe that these techniques could be exploited to quickly identify trends within taxonomies. This would greatly help to construct more efficient browsing and searching systems.
New Ru(bpy)2L2+ complexes where L is a linear oligoazine

Abstract A series of complexes, [Ru(bpy)2L]2+ where L is a linear oligoazine, was synthesized and studied by cyclic voltammetry, 1H NMR, emission, and UV–Vis spectroscopies. The UV–Vis spectra below 45 000 cm−1 were deconvoluted into seven Gaussian lineshapes. The electronic structure of these complexes, as calculated by the density functional theory, was able to account for the changes in the methyl group chemical shifts and the different features in the UV–Vis spectra as a function of the L ligand. The conjugation length in L is the primary factor in accounting for the observed changes. This gives a method to produce subtle changes in the MLCT transition found in this class of ruthenium complexes.
Pulse-Width Modulation of Hydrogen Delivery for PEM Fuel Cells

Pulse-width modulation of hydrogen delivery is proposed to accomplish better performance of PEM fuel cells. By evaluating power consumption patterns and time delays associated with hydrogen and air consumption, optimal functional feedback controllers are developed. By matching the ON and OFF times for the hydrogen and oxygen supply valves, in conjunction with a system fuzzy controller (1), the power output is matched to specific load requirements. The fluid transient behavior is also monitored, to develop functional relationships between the power curve, and the fluid conditions, in order to optimize the system performance. These functions are then used to update and improve the performance of the controller.Copyright © 2008 by ASME