cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sustainable Engineering Science for Resolving Wicked Problems

Because wicked problems are beyond the scope of normal, industrial-age engineering science, sustainability problems will require reform of current engineering science and technology practices. We assert that, while pluralism concerning use of the term sustainability is likely to persist, universities should continue to cultivate research and education programs specifically devoted to sustainable engineering science, an enterprise that is formally demarcated from business-as-usual and systems optimization approaches. Advancing sustainable engineering science requires a shift in orientation away from reductionism and intellectual specialization towards integrative approaches to science, education, and technology that: (1) draw upon an ethical awareness that extends beyond the usual bounds of professional ethics or responsible conduct of research to include macroethics, (2) adopt anticipatory and adaptive approaches to unintended consequences resulting from technological innovation that result in more resilient systems, and (3) cultivate interactional expertise to facilitate cross-disciplinary exchange. Unfortunately, existing education and research training programs are ill-equipped to prepare scientists and engineers to operate effectively in a wicked problems milieu. Therefore, it is essential to create new programs of graduate education that will train scientists and engineers to become sustainable engineering science experts equipped to recognize and grapple with the macro-ethical, adaptive, and cross-disciplinary challenges embedded in their technical research and development programs.
Changing developmental perspectives in Down's syndrome.

Developmental expectations for those with Down's syndrome have remained low. This study of older Down's syndrome individuals at a large public institution represents both a wide and a heightened range of developments which are inconsistent with the low expectations usually voiced and practiced by professionals. This study strongly suggests that the old set of myths concerning individuals with Down's syndrome—from the prognosis of very low social-adaptive levels to the need for prompt and prolonged institutionalization—must be reevaluated.
Experiential Learning Based Engineering Curriculum to Develop Meta-Competencies

The competitiveness of the U.S., which is linked to our standard of living, is dependent on our ability to produce a large number of sufficiently innovative engineers prepared to address issues related to complex systems. Hence, our focus is on research and the associated development of curriculum and instructional activities that address the engineering competencies related to innovation. In this paper, we present a hierarchical curriculum design model, grounded in experiential learning. The model addresses curriculum design from multiple levels: design of experiential activities to provide targeted scaffolding and support for engineering students to develop competencies, then mapping the competencies at course, course sequence, and curriculum levels, for systemic development of competencies at higher order cognition. We illustrate the hierarchical approach for the design of a three-course sequence around the Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (FSAE) Racing team at University of Oklahoma, Norman, to foster meaningful learning, innovation, systems-level thinking, and the attainment of career-sustaining skills through authentic experiences. With a view to stimulating discussion, in this paper we highlight some of the salient features of our plan and some issues that warrant further investigation.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
The Fine Structure of the Microwave Absorption Spectrum of Oxygen

By means of a Zeeman modulation microwave spectrometer used with a lock-in amplifier, the 5 millimeter wave absorption lines of oxygen have been measured at low pressures, where they are completely resolved. Precise measurements of the frequencies of the lines have been made, and uniform deviations from the frequencies predicted by the theoretical formulas of Schlapp were found. The pressure variation of line-width has been measured for three of the observed lines, and found to be linear. The line-width parameter was found to vary with the rotational state. It is 0.053 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$/atmos. for $K=3$, and 0.021 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$/atmos. for $K=21$. Its order of magnitude is the same for low pressures (\ensuremath{\sim}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ mm Hg) as for high pressures (\ensuremath{\sim}1 atmos.).
Report of Exercise-Induced Wheeze Predicts Urgent Medical Visits for Asthma Among Inner-City Children

S A T U R D A Y 198 Association Between Asthma-Related Emergency Department Visits and Pollen Concentration in the Bronx, 2001-2008 Sayantani B. Sindher, MD, Sunit Jariwala, MD, Gabriele De Vos, MD, Jennifer Toh, Anna Tavdi, BA, David L. Rosenstreich, MD, FAAAAI; Albert Einstein/Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein/Montefiore Medical Center, New York, NY, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, Montefiore Medical Center, New York, NY, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Division of Allergy/Immunology, Albert Einstein / Montefiore Medical Center, NY. RATIONALE: To examine the relationship between asthma-related emergency department visits (AREDV) and the effect of pollen and mold concentrations in a high asthma prevalence area, Bronx, NY. METHODS: The numbers of daily adult and pediatric AREDV from 2001-2008 were obtained from two Bronx hospitals (Montefiore-Moses and Montefiore-Weiler). AREDV data were acquired through the Clinical Looking Glass data analysis software, which allowed a retrospective search of asthma-related patients by ICD-9 code. Daily counts for tree, grass and weed pollen along with mold (fungal spore) from 3/2001 to 10/ 2008 were obtained from the Armonk counting station located in close proximity to the Bronx. RESULTS: From 2001-2008, there were a total of 42,065 AREDV. In a prior analysis, a large spring increase in AREDV significantly correlated with high tree pollen counts.When theweed, grass and tree pollen datawas combined, therewas a significant positive correlation betweenAREDVand total pollen counts (rho50.3, p<0.001). An average of a 50% increase in AREDVwas found (frommean 10.4 +/SD 6.1 to 15.8 +/SD 8.1) if pollen counts exceeded 100 grains/mm (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrates a significant positive correlation between AREDVand total pollen counts in the Bronx. This may have prognostic value in anticipating increased asthma exacerbations. Early warning of pollen peaks based on ongoing surveillance could potentially guide clinical practice and minimize asthma-related emergency department visits in the Bronx.
Dancing with Social Ghosts: Performing Embodiments, Analyzing Critically

This study traces and analyses gestures, postures, and movements in hip-hop dance to examine circulations of physicalized histories, experiences, and affects of Black and Brown bodies as productions of knowledge. The significance of Black and Brown embodiments as excess that accumulates over time when their presence is undertheorized, concealed, or sidestepped is considered. At the intersection of theory and methodology, a framework of embodiment is presented toward imagining the possibilities that can be created in qualitative social science research when Black and Brown bodies are acknowledged as sites of knowledge production and when critical embodiments are accessed and confronted rather than evacuated.
MOSFET-Embedded Microcantilevers: An All-Electronic Label- and Optics-Free Signal Transduction Paradigm for Bio-Chem Sensing

We recently introduced all-electronic label- and optics-free detection paradigm for biochemical binding events on metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET)-embedded microcantilevers. Microcantilever bending as small as ~5 nm, leads to a measurable and reproducible change in the MOSFET drain current, which forms the basis for the microelectronics-based detection of molecular binding events. MOSFET-embedded microcantilevers are able to detect diverse probe-target binding events, ranging from DNA hybridization to protein-protein binding, at high sensitivity. Such label- and optics-free all-electronic MOSFET detection approach will bridge the current gap between integration of nano-bio nanostructures with microelectronics, and promises a universal and widely deployable bio-chem diagnosis platform, compatible with all the advantages of established CMOS technology for wide variety of biomolecular and chemical detection and diagnosis.
Simultaneous behavioral and neural (cochlear nucleus) measurement during signal detection in the rabbit.

Classical conditioning of the rabbit nictitating membrane (NM) response was adapted as a model system for simultaneous measurement of behavioral and neural responses in auditory signal detection. Animals were trained to a 36-dB spectral-level white-noise CS paired with a corneal airpuff US. The CS intensity was then reduced to threshold, using a modified staircase procedure, and responses on detect and nondetect trials were compared for the same stimulus intensities. At threshold, the behavioral NM response was dichotomous, being present on detect trials and completely absent on nondetect trials. In marked contrast, evoked neural unit activity to the CS recorded from the anteroventral cochlear nucleus was clearly present and identical on both detect and nondetect trials, suggesting that the detection “decision” is made more centrally than the cochlear nucleus.
Activity of lymantriid NPVS from the People's Republic of China against North American Lymantria Dispar

Six different geographical sources ofLymantria dispar (L.) andLymantria mathura (L.) in the People's Republic of China were sampled for nucleopolyhedrosis virus. Comparative bioassays of theL. dispar sources showed the U.S. Hamden standard to be more effective than the PRC nucleopolyhedrosis viruses. TheL. mathura NPV equalled the effectiveness of the Hamden standard even after 3 passages in lab rearedL. dispar larvae. This is the 1st report ofL. mathura NPV effect on a U.S. strain ofL. dispar.
Predictors of marijuana treatment outcomes: The role of self-efficacy

This study tested the ability of sets of demographic, socioeconomic, marijuana use/abuse, psychological distress, and self-efficacy variables to predict posttreatment indices of marijuana intake and problems related to use. Subjects were 167 adults who participated in one of two outpatient treatments for marijuana dependence and completed the 3-, 6-, and 12-month posttreatment follow-ups. Only pretreatment marijuana quantity-frequency of intake and self-efficacy variables made significant and consistent contributions to the regression equations predicting posttreatment frequency of use. In contrast, socioeconomic and severity of abuse indicators predicted posttreatment marijuana-related problems. Contrary to social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986), there was no evidence that self-efficacy mediated the effects of other predictors. Results are discussed in terms of the specificity of predictor-outcome relationships and the need for improvements in self-efficacy measurement.
Novel Near-Infrared Sampling Apparatus for Single Kernel Analysis of Oil Content in Maize

A method of rapid, nondestructive chemical and physical analysis of individual maize (Zea mays L.) kernels is needed for the development of high value food, feed, and fuel traits. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy offers a robust nondestructive method of trait determination. However, traditional NIR bulk sampling techniques cannot be applied successfully to individual kernels. Obtaining optimized single kernel NIR spectra for applied chemometric predictive analysis requires a novel sampling technique that can account for the heterogeneous forms, morphologies, and opacities exhibited in individual maize kernels. In this study such a novel technique is described and compared to less effective means of single kernel NIR analysis. Results of the application of a partial least squares (PLS) derived model for predictive determination of percent oil content per individual kernel are shown.
Optimal betting strategies for favorable games

We examine the problem of a gambler interested in maximizing the expected value of a convex utility function of his fortune after n plays of a game. We allow any probability distribution to rule the outcome of each play, and this distribution may change from play to play according to a Markov process. We present results regarding the existence of an optimal policy and its structural dependence on the gambler's fortune. The well-known results of Bellman and Kalaba for exponential and logarithmic utility functions and coin-tossing games are generalized. We also examine the situation of general stale spaces and show that the same structural results hold.
Oncology nurses' knowledge of suicide evaluation and prevention

BACKGROUND:: Cancer patients can present with a risk of suicide, making it important for oncology nurses to be knowledgeable about the high-risk factors for suicide in this population and to be competent in suicide detection and management. OBJECTIVE:: The aim of this study was to describe oncology nurses' identification of risk factors, knowledge, and skill at suicide evaluation and prevention based on evaluation of a vignette and to describe nurses' assessments and interventions for suicidal patients. METHODS:: As part of a larger exploratory, national study, clinical oncology nurses (n = 1200) from the Oncology Nurses Society responded to a knowledge survey; a total of 454 evaluable questionnaires (37% response rate) were returned. RESULTS:: Nurses reviewed a vignette of a suicidal patient and correctly identified these risk factors: widower (69.8%), wishes he/she were dead (82.8%), and gives away prized possessions (79.6%). Few nurses knew that ethnicity (0.4%), age (13.2%), or sex (16.4%) indicated suicide risk. Nurses incorrectly believed that worrying, crying, and executive position indicated suicide risk (40.6-42%). Most nurses rated themselves as having little to some skill and knowledge of suicide evaluation. CONCLUSION:: Oncology nurses were able to identify certain behavioral risk factors at acceptable rates but not demographic risk factors. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:: Oncology nurses are likely to interact with patients at suicide risk and would benefit from knowledge about behavioral and demographic risk factors that contribute to an oncology patient becoming high risk for suicide. Such knowledge could contribute to overall patient safety. Language: en
Alcoholism and Psoriasis

Using criteria for the diagnosis of alcoholism established by the National Council of Alcoholism and by scores on the Self-Administered Alcoholism Screening Test, we compared the prevalence of alcoholism in a group of 99 patients hospitalized for the treatment of psoriasis with that in an age- and sex-matched control group hospitalized for the treatment of other dermatologic disorders. Alcoholism was diagnosed in 11 psoriatic patients and 3 control patients (0.05 less than p less than 0.10); 10 of the 11 psoriatic patients were men, and 1 of the 3 control patients was a man (p less than 0.05). These differences, not noted in certain earlier studies, may reflect a basic association between the two diseases in males or indicate that alcoholism contributes to the morbidity of psoriasis.
Redistributive properties of the vesicular stomatitis virus polymerase.

Abstract The template for transcription of the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) genome consists of a negative-strand RNA (∼11 kb) tightly associated with ∼1250 copies of the nucleocapsid or N protein (N-RNA template). The interaction between the virion-associated polymerase and this template was probed with a novel assay using purified N-RNA complexes added to detergent-disrupted uv-irradiated standard virions or unirradiated defective interfering (DI) particles. In contrast to the well-known stability of assembled cellular transcription complexes, the VSV polymerase copied exogenously added templates efficiently and yielded products indistinguishable from control virus transcription. Addition of uv-irradiated N-RNA templates to unirradiated virus effectively competed for transcription of endogenous template indicating that most or all of the polymerase can freely redistribute. Furthermore preincubation of virus and added templates at high ionic strength to solubilize L and NS polymerase proteins did not release additional active enzyme for redistribution. Pretranscription of virus also had little or no effect on redistributed activity indicating that polymerase complexes are capable of multiple rounds of synthesis beginning at the 3′ end promoter. Unexpectedly, titration with saturating amounts of added N-RNA showed that active polymerase complexes are only in slight excess relative to template in standard or DI particles despite the large surplus of packaged L and NS polypeptides. Moreover, added standard virus templates competed equally well for the redistributing polymerase from DI particles or standard virus indicating no significant polymerase-binding preference for interfering templates. These findings bear important implications regarding mechanisms of VSV transcription and replication.
The RNA Polymerase II Core Promoter – the Gateway to Transcription

The RNA polymerase II core promoter is generally defined to be the sequence that directs the initiation of transcription. This simple definition belies a diverse and complex transcriptional module. There are two major types of core promoters - focused and dispersed. Focused promoters contain either a single transcription start site or a distinct cluster of start sites over several nucleotides, whereas dispersed promoters contain several start sites over 50-100 nucleotides and are typically found in CpG islands in vertebrates. Focused promoters are more ancient and widespread throughout nature than dispersed promoters; however, in vertebrates, dispersed promoters are more common than focused promoters. In addition, core promoters may contain many different sequence motifs, such as the TATA box, BRE, Inr, MTE, DPE, DCE, and XCPE1, that specify different mechanisms of transcription and responses to enhancers. Thus, the core promoter is a sophisticated gateway to transcription that determines which signals will lead to transcription initiation.
Soft tissue sarcoma. Integration of brachytherapy, resection, and external irradiation.

Between December 1981 and August 1988, 63 patients with clinically localized nonretroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas underwent 65 brachytherapy procedures in conjunction with conservative resection with (61 tumors) or without (four tumors) external beam irradiation. Implant doses of 1500 to 2000 cGy were combined with 4500 to 5000 cGy of external irradiation. External irradiation was given preoperatively for larger lesions near bone or neurovascular structures, whereas it was used postoperatively for smaller, more resectable lesions or those that had previously been inadequately excised. There were 47 high-grade tumors, 34 tumors greater than 5 cm, and nine patients with recurrent lesions (five with previous irradiation). With mean follow-up of 20 months, conclusions on local control are tentative, but only two of 56 tumors (4%) with brachytherapy as part of initial management had recurred locally and three of nine recurrent tumors had re-recurred locally. Only one of five local recurrences was within the implanted volume. Only two of 40 implantations (5%) performed at initial resection followed by postoperative external irradiation led to wound complications, whereas four of 16 implantations (25%) performed at resection after preoperative external irradiation were associated with wound problems. This technique does not increase local morbidity and may enhance localmore » tumor control in comparison with either external radiation or brachytherapy alone as an adjuvant to conservative resection. 15 references.« less
Letter by Baker et al regarding article, "benefits and risks of corticosteroid prophylaxis in adult cardiac surgery: a dose-response meta-analysis".

To the Editor: We read with great interest the meta-analysis by Ho and Tan1 on the impact of prophylactic corticosteroid use on atrial fibrillation in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. In their meta-analysis, Ho and Tan demonstrate that perioperative corticosteroid use significantly reduces the relative risk (RRR) of postoperative atrial fibrillation by 25%. They conducted subgroup analysis, stratifying studies to low-dose ( 10 000 mg) groups, and then used meta-regression to assess whether the antifibrillatory (among other) …
Do Tumors in the Lung Deform During Normal Respiration? An Image Registration Investigation

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate whether lung tumors may be described adequately using a rigid body assumption or whether they deform during normal respiration. Methods and Materials Thirty patients with early stage non–small-cell lung cancer underwent four-dimensional (4D) computed tomography (CT) simulation. The gross tumor volume (GTV) was delineated on the 4D CT images. Image registration was performed in the vicinity of the GTV. The volume of interest for registration was the GTV and minimal volume of surrounding non-GTV tissue. Three types of registration were performed: translation only, translation + rotation, and deformable. The GTV contour from end-inhale was mapped to end-exhale using the registration-derived transformation field. The results were evaluated using three metrics: overlap index (OI), root-mean-squared distance (RMS), and Hausdorff distance (HD). Results After translation only image registration, on average OI increased by 21.3%, RMS and HD reduced by 1.2 mm and 2.0 mm, respectively. The succeeding increases in OI after translation + rotation and deformable registration were 1.1% and 1.4% respectively. The succeeding reductions in RMS were 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm respectively. No reduction in HD was observed after translation + rotation and deformable image registration compared with translation only registration. The difference in the results from the three registration scenarios was independent of GTV size and motion amplitude. Conclusions The primary effect of normal respiration on lung tumors was the translation of tumors. Rotation and deformation of lung tumors was determined to be minimal.
Substrate Transformations dependent on Respiratory States of Mitochondria: Changes in Metabolic Control Sites of Rabbit Heart Mitochondria

Substrate Transformations dependent on Respiratory States of Mitochondria: Changes in Metabolic Control Sites of Rabbit Heart Mitochondria
Collection, storage, and electrophoretic analysis of nanoliter microdialysis samples collected from awake animals in vivo

Microdialysis sampling is an important tool for chemical monitoring in living systems. Temporal resolution is an important figure of merit that is determined by sampling frequency, assay sensitivity, and dispersion of chemical zones during transport from sampling device to fraction collector or analytical system. Temporal resolution has recently been improved by segmenting flow into plugs, so that nanoliter fractions are collected at intervals of 0.1–2 s, thus eliminating temporal distortion associated with dispersion in continuous flow. Such systems, however, have yet to be used with behaving subjects. Furthermore, long-term storage of nanoliter samples created by segmented flow has not been reported. In this work, we have addressed these challenges. A microdialysis probe was integrated to a plug generator that could be stably mounted onto behaving animals. Long-term storage of dialysate plugs was achieved by collecting plugs into high-purity perfluoroalkoxy tubes, placing the tube into hexane and then freezing at −80°C. Slow warming with even temperatures prevented plug coalescence during sample thawing. As a demonstration of the system, plugs were collected from the striatum of behaving rats using a 0.5-mm-long microdialysis probe. Resulting plugs were analyzed 1–4 days later by chip-based electrophoresis. To improve throughput of plug analysis over previous work, the speed of electrophoretic separation was increased by using forced air cooling and 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate as a separation buffer additive, allowing resolution of six neuroactive amino acids in 30 s. Concentration changes induced by K+ microinjections were monitored with 10 s temporal resolution. The improvements reported in this work make it possible to apply segmented flow microdialysis to the study of behaving animals and enable experiments where the analytical system cannot be placed close to the animal.
Non-coaxial Marx-bank driver for optical excitation of organic dye lasers

Abstract Construction details are given for a non-coaxial Marx-bank driver system for optical excitation of organic dye lasers. Coaxial flashlamps are used. The electrical characteristics of the driver system are discussed and performance characteristics for Rhodamine 6G are given. The system performs well for visible dyes.
The Stephan Curve revisited

The Stephan Curve has played a dominant role in caries research over the past several decades. What is so remarkable about the Stephan Curve is the plethora of interactions it illustrates and yet acid production remains the dominant focus. Using sophisticated technology, it is possible to measure pH changes in plaque; however, these observations may carry a false sense of accuracy. Recent observations have shown that there may be multiple pH values within the plaque matrix, thus emphasizing the importance of the milieu within which acid is formed. Although acid production is indeed the immediate proximate cause of tooth dissolution, the influence of alkali production within plaque has received relative scant attention. Excessive reliance on Stephan Curve leads to describing foods as “safe” if they do not lower the pH below the so-called “critical pH” at which point it is postulated enamel dissolves. Acid production is just one of many biological processes that occur within plaque when exposed to sugar. Exploration of methods to enhance alkali production could produce rich research dividends.
Sedimentation and liquid fluidization of solid particles of different sizes and densities

Abstract The sedimentation and fluidization of particles of mixed sizes and different densities were studied. A new concept—the apparent porosity of suspensions—was introduced, on the basis of which equations have been developed that are capable of predicting the settling velocities of individual types of particles in a suspension containing mixtures of particles. The validity of these equations was tested against experimental data in both sedimentation and fluidization.
Neural differentiation from pluripotent stem cells: The role of natural and synthetic extracellular matrix

Neural cells differentiated from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), including both embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, provide a powerful tool for drug screening, disease modeling and regenerative medicine. High-purity oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) and neural progenitor cells (NPCs) have been derived from PSCs recently due to the advancements in understanding the developmental signaling pathways. Extracellular matrices (ECM) have been shown to play important roles in regulating the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of neural cells. To improve the function and maturation of the derived neural cells from PSCs, understanding the effects of ECM over the course of neural differentiation of PSCs is critical. During neural differentiation of PSCs, the cells are sensitive to the properties of natural or synthetic ECMs, including biochemical composition, biomechanical properties, and structural/topographical features. This review summarizes recent advances in neural differentiation of human PSCs into OPCs and NPCs, focusing on the role of ECM in modulating the composition and function of the differentiated cells. Especially, the importance of using three-dimensional ECM scaffolds to simulate the in vivo microenvironment for neural differentiation of PSCs is highlighted. Future perspectives including the immediate applications of PSC-derived neural cells in drug screening and disease modeling are also discussed.
Identity of Eunice roussaei (Eunicidae: Polychaeta: Annelida) from the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas

The long discussion on the identity of the large Eunice species from the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas is a result of the broader discussion on the identity and synonymy of Eunice roussaei and Eunice aphroditois. Here we show that the species occurring in the Adriatic Sea is Eunice roussaei and how this species can be differentiated from Eunice aphroditois; we also characterize the Mediterranean Eunice roussaei.
Measurements of the atmospheric turbulence spectrum and intermittency using laser scintillation

Simultaneous measurements of the spatial intensity covariance of laser scintillation and the variance of integrated intensity collected by multiple circular apertures provide sufficient information to determine the form of the atmospheric turbulence spectrum over short spatial and temporal scales. This ensures local stationary of the turbulence. The estimated parameters of the turbulence spectrum (level of turbulence C2n and inner scale) over these stationary events provide accurate estimates of the intermittency of atmospheric turbulence. The advantages of laser scintillation measurements include spatial averaging that improves statistical accuracy, true measurements of spatial statistics without the need to convert temporal statistics to spatial using Taylor's hypothesis, remote sensing of atmospheric turbulence which reduces contamination by support structures, and rugged instrumentation for reliable measurements. New uses of laser scintillation measurements will be discussed.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Use of Deeply Integrated GPS/INS Architecture and Laser Scanners for the Identification of Multipath Reflections in Urban Environments

This paper investigates the constructive use of multipath reflections of Global Positioning System (GPS) signals for navigation in urban environments. Urban navigation applications are generally characterized by a significant presence of multipath signals. In order to maintain reliable and accurate navigation capabilities, it is critical to distinguish between direct signal and multipath. At the same time, multipath reflections can be exploited as additional measurements for those cases where the number of direct path satellites is insufficient to compute the navigation solution. The paper develops a method for the identification of multipath reflections in received satellite signals: i.e., multipath is separated from direct signal and a line-of-site between the GPS receiver and a multipath reflecting object is determined. Once multipath reflections are identified, they can be used constructively for navigation. The method presented in the paper exploits an open-loop batch-processing GPS receiver, laser scanner and inertial navigation system (INS) to identify multipath reflections in received satellite signals. Experimental GPS, inertial and laser scanner data collected in real urban environments are applied to demonstrate identification of multipath reflections.
Frequent oligonucleotides and peptides of the Haemophilus influenzae genome.

The complete Haemophilus influenzae genome (1.83 Mb, Rd strain) provides opportunities for characterizing global genomic inhomogeneities and for detecting important sequence signals. Along these lines, new methods for identifying frequent words (oligonucleotides and/or peptides) and their distributions are applied to the H.influenzae genome with some comparisons and contrasts made with frequent words of other bacterial genomes. Three major classes of frequent oligonucleotides stand out: (i) oligos related to the familiar uptake signal sequences (USSs), AAGTGCGGT (USS+) and its inverted complement (USS-), (ii) multiple tetranucleotide iterations and (iii) intergenic dyad sequences (ISDs) found as AAGCCCACCCTAC and its dyad form. The USS+ and USS- occur in almost equal counts, are remarkably evenly spaced around the genome, and appear predominantly in the same reading frame of protein coding domains (USS+ translated to Ser-Ala-Val, USS- translated to Thr-Ala-Leu). These observations suggest that USSs contribute to global genomic functions, for example, in replication and/or repair processes, or as membrane attachment sites, or as sequences helping to pack DNA. The long tetranucleotide iterations, virtually unique to H.influenzae (i.e., unknown in other prokaryotes), through polymerase slippage during replication and/or homologous recombination may produce subpopulations expressing alternative proteins. The 13 bp frequent IDS words, invariably intergenic, occur mostly in clusters and provide potential for complex secondary structures suggesting that these sequences may be important signals for regulating the activity of their flanking genes. The frequent oligopeptides of H.influenzae are principally of two kinds--those induced by oligonucleotide frequent words (USSs, tetranucleotide iterations), and those associated with ATP or GTP binding sites that are generally composed of three motifs: the A-box which contributes to delineating the binding pocket; the B-box which functions in hydrolysis; and the C-box whose function is unknown. The A-box occurs fairly universally in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The B- and C-motifs appear to be specialized to various functional groups (e.g., transport, recombination, chaperone activity). Other putative motifs correspond to homologs of Escherichia coli motifs, for example, are associated with proteins of transcriptional processing, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and proteins functioning in electron transfer.
A metal arrowhead from coryell county, Texas

A metal projectile point was rediscovered in an artifact collection during a survey project of Comanche traditional cultural properties at Fort Hood, Texas. Ethnographic and historical references to Comanche arrowheads were consulted to interpret this artifact. A growing literature on metal points enables comparative study which shows that the characteristics of the Fort Hood point are comparable to those of others discovered throughout Texas and the southern Great Plains. The study of this point reveals some of the opportunities and limitations of the documentary and artifact records when reconstructing tribal ranges and activities.
Learning, change, and the utopia of play

This article looks at some of the rhetoric surrounding video games and other forms of interactive software as additions or alternatives to school curricula. It focuses particularly on the need to articulate ways to “read” videogames in order to achieve significant cultural impact. Noting that reading, even as metaphor, tends to invoke inappropriate assumptions about writing and authorship, the article argues for a less backward-looking approach to newer forms.
Modafinil for Remitted Bipolar Depression with Hypersomnia

OBJECTIVE:To report 2 cases of bipolar disorder with recent depression in remission with prominent residual hypersomnia, responding well to the addition of the psychostimulant modafinil.CASE SUMMARIES:Two patients with bipolar disorder with recent depressive episodes in remission are presented. Despite the absence of prominent depressive symptoms, both patients had significant hypersomnia, with scores ranging from 15 to 20 (maximum 24) on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. The addition of modafinil to their medication regimen resulted in a decrease in hypersomnia and improvement in their level of functioning.DISCUSSION:This is the first report (MEDLINE search, October 7, 2003) demonstrating the use of modafinil in the treatment of hypersomnia in bipolar disorder while mood symptoms were in remission. Hypersomnia frequently occurs in depressive episodes and can be disabling when severe. The patients had optimal mood stabilization with mood stabilizers and antidepressants, but continued to experience excessive d...
Sturgeon rivers: an introduction to acipenseriform biogeography and life history

We present an overview of the global distribution of all 27 living species of Acipenseriformes in an attempt to understand their biogeographic history and the range of life history patterns displayed by different species. Our biogeographic analysis (based on the most recent phylogenetic analysis including fossil Acipenseriformes) suggests that Acipenseriformes originated in Europe, and that early diversification took place in Asia. Acipenseriformes do not have a common life history; variation within and between species is the rule rather than exception. The few relatively well-known case studies (e.g., Caspian Sea sturgeons, European Atlantic sturgeons in the Gironde system, and shortnose and North American Atlantic sturgeons in rivers of the east coast of America) greatly influence what we think we know about sturgeon biology. Our present level of phylogenetic understanding does not allow us to determine whether anadromy or potamodromy is the plesiomorphic life history pattern for Acipenseriformes. We propose that rivers in which spawning occurs must be the central unit for biogeographic analysis of living Acipenseriformes. After mapping these rivers, we recognized nine biogeographic provinces for acipenseriforms. Some repeated historical patterns emerge from this analysis, but, again, we are limited by our current understanding of phylogenetic relationships within the genus Acipenser in particular. Distribution and biogeographic data are central to deciding where to make new efforts to update existing status information for acipenseriform species. We single out a widely ranging and highly variable species, Acipenser ruthenus, as particularly intriguing, for it spans three of our nine biogeographic provinces, and apparently has different life history patterns in different river systems. Finally, we note new areas in need of basic research, particularly the need for more detailed descriptions and analyses of life histories of different populations of sturgeons.
The economic environment and the growth in reserves from known gas fields in the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract The vast proportion of yearly oil and gas reserve additions are accounted for by reserve changes in known oil and gas fields. For example, in 2008 approximately 96% of the dry natural gas reserve additions in the United States were accounted for by reserve changes in known fields. The increase in proved ultimate recovery that results from these reserve changes is known as reserve appreciation or reserve growth. Ideally, reserve growth should be measured by comparing the current known petroleum volumes equal to cumulative production plus remaining reserves of fields discovered in say, 1950, with their initial discovery sizes. Unfortunately, implementing the ideal is often not possible since the initial discovery sizes of fields discovered before 1975, or thereabouts, are many times unknown. Up to now, the standard solution to the problem has been based largely on the work of Arrington (1960) who developed a method to estimate reserve growth when initial discovery sizes are unknown and the number of time series observations is small. While the contribution of the economic environment to the growth process has been acknowledged by geologists, the application of the Arrington method presumes that growth is independent of the economic environment. In our view, this creates a bias. For example, if, as we suspect, the economic environment affects reserve growth, then an Arrington-based supply analysis will underestimate the response of supplies to higher prices. In this paper, we employ a rich database from the former United States Minerals Management Service (MMS) to evaluate the contribution of the economic environment to the reserve growth process. In contrast to Forbes and Zampelli (2009) which examined reserve growth at the individual field level, the analysis in this paper aggregates the field level data based on the year of first production. One advantage of this approach is that it has the potential to yield insights about the resource potential of a particular geologic province. The results strongly suggest that age is not the sole factor in explaining a field’s annual reserve growth. In particular, we find that the annual growth rate in the known petroleum volumes of a field is affected by the economic environment as proxied by price. Incorporation of this effect into the modeling process has the potential to improve the accuracy of resource assessments.
FPGA routing architecture analysis under variations

Systems with the combined features of ASICs and field programmable gate arrays(FPGAs) are increasingly being considered as technology forerunners looking at their extraordinary benefits. This drags FPGAs into the technology scaling race along with ASICs exposing the FPGA industries to the problems associated with scaling. Extensive process variations is one such issue which directly impacts the profit margins of hardware design beyond 65 nm gate length technology. Since the resources in FPGAs are primarily dominated by the interconnect fabric, variations in the interconnect impacting the critical path timing and leakage yield needs rigorous analysis. In this work we provide a statistical modeling of individual routing components in an FPGA followed by a statistical methodology to analyze the timing and leakage distribution. This statistical model is incorporated into the routing algorithm to model a new statistically intelligent routing algorithm (SIRA), which simultaneously optimizes the leakage and timing yield of the FPGA device. We demonstrate and average leakage yield increase of 9% and timing yield by 11% using our final algorithm.
Wayfinding and navigation in haptic virtual environments

Cognitive maps are mental models of the relative locations and attribute phenomena of spatial environments. The ability to form cognitive maps is one of the innate gifts of nature. An absence of this ability can have crippling effect, for example, on the visually impaired. The sense of touch becomes the primary source of forming cognitive maps for the visually impaired. Once formed, cognitive maps provide precise mapping of the physical world so that a visually impaired individual can successfully navigate with minimal assistance. However, traditional mobility training is time consuming, and it is very difficult for the blind to express or revisit the cognitive maps formed after a training session is over. The proposed haptic environment will allow the visually impaired individual to express cognitive maps as 3D surface maps, with two PHANToM force-feedback devices guiding them. The 3D representation can be finetuned by the care-giver, and then felt again by the visually impaired in order to form precise cognitive maps. In addition to voice commentary, a library of pre-existing shapes familiar to the blind will provide orientation and proprioceptive haptic-cues during navigation. A graphical display of cognitive maps will provide feedback to the care-giver or trainer. As the haptic environment can be easily stored and retrieved, the MoVE system will also encourage navigation by the blind at their own convenience, and with family members.
Study of Interrupted MOVPE Growth of lnGaAs/lnP Superlattice

Abstract The effects of growth interruption at the InGaAs/InP interface in metalorganic vapor phase epitaxial InGaAs/InP superlattice were examined with X-ray diffractometry and optical absorption spectroscopy. For superlattices grown with growth interruption in a phosphine ambient, both compressive strain and exciton absorption wavelength in the superlattice decrease with the interruption time. For superlattices grown with growth interruption in a hydrogen ambient, no significant change in compressive strain is observed. These results, combined with observations from a computer simulation of the X-ray rocking curve, indicate that, for our experimental configuration, the compositional graded InGaAs/InP interface extends widely into the subsequent InP and cannot be eliminated by short time growth interruption.
LOW MACH NUMBER MODELING OF CORE CONVECTION IN MASSIVE STARS

This work presents three-dimensional simulations of core convection in a 15 M ☉ star halfway through its main sequence lifetime. To perform the necessary long-time calculations, we use the low Mach number code MAESTRO, with initial conditions taken from a one-dimensional stellar model. We first identify several key factors that the one-dimensional initial model must satisfy to ensure efficient simulation of the convection process. We then use the three-dimensional simulations to examine the effects of two common modeling choices on the resulting convective flow: using a fixed composition approximation and using a reduced domain size. We find that using a fixed composition model actually increases the computational cost relative to using the full multi-species model because the fixed composition system takes longer to reach convection that is in a quasi-static state. Using a reduced (octant rather than full sphere) simulation domain yields flow with statistical properties that are within a factor of two of the full sphere simulation values. Both the octant and full sphere simulations show similar mixing across the convection zone boundary that is consistent with the turbulent entrainment model. However, the global character of the flow is distinctly different in the octant simulation, showing more rapid changes in the large-scale structure of the flow and thus a more isotropic flow on average.
Separation of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin from fibrinogen using a MEMS size exclusion chromatography column

This article reports a MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems)-based column separator designed for potential integration with portable medical point-of-care testing (POCT) devices. The MEMS column uses size exclusion chromatography (SEC) to pre-separate raw samples by size, and is made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fabricated on a glass slide. The MEMS SEC column separates 300 ng/mL of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), a cancer biomarker, from a fibrinogen-rich solution (20 μg/mL) in 10 min, showing 2.12 resolution and 0.036 mm plate height through fluorescent detection. Results are further verified by β-hCG and anti-β-hCG antibody conjugate using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The collected β-hCG-rich eluent at 8 min shows 11 mDeg of angle shift. The fluorescent detection and SPR results demonstrate the complete discrimination of β-hCG from fibrinogen using the MEMS SEC column, and illustrate its viability for integrating a sample preparation stage in POCT devices to assist cancer screening and prognosis.
Reverse Auctions: How Electronic Auctions Can Aid Governments in Significantly Cutting Their Procurement Spending and Introduce Greater Competition in Public Sector Contracting

This article examines the pressures affecting procurement practices in the federal government and how reverse auctioning represents a significant change in the way acquisition will be carried out going forward. Specifically, the article describes how a major federal agency has made use of a reverse auction-centered online marketplace to revamp its procurement processes. The researcher analyzed the agency’s spending data over the past four fiscal years, finding that the public–private partnership has mirrored results found across the public and private sectors. With the increased competition to be found by tapping into the power of the power of the competitive online marketplace with an ever-expanding network of suppliers, the agency has been able to achieve both significantly less reliance on sole sourced contracts and heightened participation of small and disadvantaged businesses. The agency has also seen significant improvements in its procurement processes and in the ability to better communicate and work with internal customers and suppliers. The implications of this shift are discussed.