cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Management and Support of Shared Integrated Library Systems

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) University Libraries has hosted and managed a shared integrated library system (ILS) since 1989. The system and the number of partner libraries sharing the system has grown significantly over the past two decades. Spurred by the level of involvement and support contributed by the host institution, the authors administered a comprehensive survey to current Innovative Interfaces libraries. Research findings are combined with a description of UNLV’s local practices to provide substantial insights into shared funding, support, and management activities associated with shared systems.
Four Classwide Peer Tutoring Models: Similarities, Differences, and Implications for Research and Practice

ABSTRACT In this special issue, readers were introduced to three powerful, evidence-based instructional practices that hold great promise for ameliorating many of the reading difficulties encountered by pupils in 21st century classrooms. Peer Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS), ClassWide Peer Tutoring (CWPT), and START tutoring have emerged from over twenty years of solid empirical research as potentially effective tools in the fight to prevent/remediate reading failure, particularly among our most fragile learners (e.g., pupils with special needs, English Language Learners, and children from poverty and abuse). Here, we introduce a fourth peer teaching model, Classwide Student Tutoring Teams, that may be an appealing alternative for classroom teachers. We then provide a comprehensive analysis of common and divergent programmatic components across all four models and discuss the implications of this analysis for researchers and practitioners alike.
Study of causality constraint on feedforward active noise control systems

Feedforward active noise control (ANC) systems function as adaptive system identification, thus able to control both broadband and narrowband noises. When the acoustic/electric delays in the noise cancelling subsystem exceed the acoustic delay of the primary path, the causality constraint will be violated. We present a performance analysis of the feedforward ANC system for ducts (one-dimensional acoustic field) under the noncausal condition. The bandwidth of the noise controllable by the ANC system decreases as the degree of noncausality increases. Noise with narrower bandwidth can be more effectively cancelled out by the ANC system with a given degree of noncausality. Analysis also shows that the convergence speed for the adaptive weight vector is independent of the degree of noncausality.
Effect of alfalfa and corn moisture level on whole corn mastication

Abstract Steers fitted with esophageal cannulas were used in three trials to measure reduction of whole corn when fed at different moisture levels and with no roughage or with alfalfa hay (AH), alfalfa silage (AS), or AH with water added to increase moisture level to that of silage (AHH2O). Feeding roughage (Trial 1) with whole corn decreased (P
The psychosis-like effects of Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol are associated with increased cortical noise in healthy humans.

Abstract Background Drugs that induce psychosis may do so by increasing the level of task-irrelevant random neural activity or neural noise. Increased levels of neural noise have been demonstrated in psychotic disorders. We tested the hypothesis that neural noise could also be involved in the psychotomimetic effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9 -THC), the principal active constituent of cannabis. Methods Neural noise was indexed by measuring the level of randomness in the electroencephalogram during the prestimulus baseline period of an oddball task using Lempel-Ziv complexity, a nonlinear measure of signal randomness. The acute, dose-related effects of Δ 9 -THC on Lempel-Ziv complexity and signal power were studied in humans ( n = 24) who completed 3 test days during which they received intravenous Δ 9 -THC (placebo, .015 and .03 mg/kg) in a double-blind, randomized, crossover, and counterbalanced design. Results Δ 9 -THC increased neural noise in a dose-related manner. Furthermore, there was a strong positive relationship between neural noise and the psychosis-like positive and disorganization symptoms induced by Δ 9 -THC, which was independent of total signal power. Instead, there was no relationship between noise and negative-like symptoms. In addition, Δ 9 -THC reduced total signal power during both active drug conditions compared with placebo, but no relationship was detected between signal power and psychosis-like symptoms. Conclusions At doses that produced psychosis-like effects, Δ 9 -THC increased neural noise in humans in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, increases in neural noise were related with increases in Δ 9 -THC-induced psychosis-like symptoms but not negative-like symptoms. These findings suggest that increases in neural noise may contribute to the psychotomimetic effects of Δ 9 -THC.
Damping mechanisms in light and heavy-doped dual-ring and double-ended tuning fork resonators (DETF)

We present models and measurements of lightly-doped and heavily-doped dual ring/dual-bar and double-ended tuning fork (DETF) resonators. Both models and measurements indicate that the Q of these resonators is only slightly impacted by the doping level, despite being dominated by thermoelastic dissipation (TED), which has a strong dependence on doping-dependent material properties. We compare experimental measurements of Q over a range of temperatures with models for TED, anchor damping and squeeze film damping. We found that the Q of light and heavily-doped resonators can be accounted for by a combination of TED and anchor or squeeze film damping. These results indicate that it is possible to fully account for the damping mechanisms in MEMS resonators if temperature-dependent measurements of Q are compared with models of the important mechanisms including the temperature-dependent materials properties.
Bisphenyl-Polymer/Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Composite Compared to Titanium Alloy Bone Implant

Aerospace/aeronautical thermoset bisphenyl-polymer/carbon-fiber-reinforced composites are considered as new advanced materials to replace metal bone implants. In addition to well-recognized nonpolar chemistry with related bisphenol-polymer estrogenic factors, carbon-fiber-reinforced composites can offer densities and electrical conductivity/resistivity properties close to bone with strengths much higher than metals on a per-weight basis. In vivo bone-marrow tests with Sprague-Dawley rats revealed far-reaching significant osseoconductivity increases from bisphenyl-polymer/carbon-fiber composites when compared to state-of-the-art titanium-6-4 alloy controls. Midtibial percent bone area measured from the implant surface increased when comparing the titanium alloy to the polymer composite from 10.5% to 41.6% at 0.8 mm, P < 10-4, and 19.3% to 77.7% at 0.1 mm, P < 10-8. Carbon-fiber fragments planned to occur in the test designs, instead of producing an inflammation, stimulated bone formation and increased bone integration to the implant. In addition, low-thermal polymer processing allows incorporation of minerals and pharmaceuticals for future major tissue-engineering potential.
Social Errors in Four Cultures: Evidence about Universal Forms of Social Relations

To test the cross-cultural generality of relational-models theory, four studies examined the social errors of Bengali, Korean, Chinese, and Vai (from Liberia and Sierra Leone) subjects resident in the United States. Few of the subjects understood or spoke English well or participated substantially in American culture. Subjects reported errors in which they called someone they knew by the wrong name, misremembered with whom they had done something, or mistakenly directed an action at an inappropriate person. As predicted in all four cultures, people making these errors tend to substitute someone with whom they have the same basic kind of relationship. This effect of the four relational models is strongest in the least acculturated subjects. This effect is generally independent of tendencies to confuse people of the same age, gender, or ethnicity, or the tendency to confuse people whom subjects encounter in similar situations or refer to by the same role or kin term. These findings support the hypothesis th...
A Formal Concept Analysis Approach to Data Mining: The QuICL Algorithm for Fast Iceberg Lattice Construction

Association rule mining (ARM) is the task of identifying meaningful implication rules exhibited in a data set. Most research has focused on extracting frequent item (FI) sets and thus fallen short of the overall ARM objective. The FI miners fail to identify the upper covers that are needed to generate a set of association rules whose size can be readily exploited by an end user. An alternative to FI mining can be found in formal concept analysis (FCA). FCA derives a lattice whose concepts identify closed FI sets and connections identify the upper covers. However, most FCA algorithms construct a complete lattice and therefore include item sets that are not frequent. An iceberg lattice, on the other hand, is a lattice whose concepts contain only FI sets. This paper presents the development of the Quick Iceberg Concept Lattice (QuICL) algorithm. QuICL uses recursion instead of iteration to navigate the lattice and establish connections, thereby eliminating costly processing incurred by past algorithms. The QuICL algorithm was evaluated against a leading FI miner and lattice construction algorithms using cited benchmarks. Results demonstrate that QuICL provides performance on the order of FI miners yet additionally derive the upper covers. Beyond this, QuICL has proved to be very efficient, providing an order of magnitude gains over other lattice construction algorithms.
AN EXPLORATORY EXAMINATION OF PERSON-ORGANIZATION FIT: ORGANIZATIONAL GOAL CONGRUENCE

Relationships between organization members’agreement on organizational goats and their attitudes and intentions regarding the organization were investigated in this study. A constituency approach was used to operationalize the organization into meaningful units as the basis for comparison between organizational members. Specifically, the congruence between hierarchical levels (supervisor-subordinate) and within a level (member-constituency) was examined. Both types of congruence were hypothesized to relate positively to job satisfaction and organizational commitment and negatively to intention to quit. The hypotheses were tested using data from 356 principals and 14,721 teachers, each rating the importance of goals for their school. The results confirmed the hypotheses regarding goal congruence among members of a constituency (teachers) and between hierarchical levels (principals and teachers), with member-constituency congruence having the greater impact on teachers’attitudes and intention to quit.
A National Picture of Talent Search and Talent Search Educational Programs

This article presents a comprehensive portrait of talent search testing and associated educational programs in the United States, now some 35 years after Dr. Julian Stanley originated the concept. Survey data from the six major talent search centers in the United States were used to examine the scope of talent search educational offerings, including accelerated summer, distance education, Saturday and weekend, and leadership programs. Reported data reveal that over 3 million students have participated in talent search testing since these programs' inception, and subsequently thousands of these students participate each year in other educational programs offered by these organizations. In addition to above-level test scores, data used to prequalify students to participate include on-level standardized achievement tests, teacher or parent nominations, and portfolios. Disproportional representations within talent search testing and educational programs by racial and household income levels were addressed with a need for more financial support and collaborative work between talent search centers and local schools for more students to benefit from the talent search model.
Multisensor bearings-only tracking using the MDL criterion

The problem of multitarget tracking using bearings-only measurements is addressed, when the number of targets is unknown a-priori. The minimum description length (MDL) criterion of Rissanen (1983) is first chosen as a natural way to determine the number of targets when a prior distribution is unavailable. However, it is shown that the MDL criterion lends to overestimate the number of targets, and hence a modified criterion is proposed. The resulting algorithm corresponds to the computation of joint maximum likelihood estimates of target states and associations, with an additional penalty term to prevent overparameterization. The problem of data association is solved using a set of parallel simulated annealing algorithms over the sensors and scans. As the associations are formed by annealing, a conventional nonlinear programming algorithm simultaneously estimates the target states (position and velocity). The consistency of the new estimation criterion is proven analytically in the case of a clean environment. Simulation results are presented which compare the tracking performance of the MDL and modified estimation algorithms, for cases with and without clutter. >
Testing the association between health status amd an environmental index

The design and analysis of a study to examine the association between a time series response collected on n subjects and an index are presented. Applications of this methodology to environmental health studies such as investigations into the relationship between air pollution levels and daily respiratory symptoms are indicated
Time motion studies in healthcare

Display Omitted We evidenced the discrepancies regarding the meaning of "Time Motion Studies" (TMS).A detailed description of methods classified as TMS is delivered.We present a disambiguation for "Time Motion Studies".Specific descriptor "continuous observation TMS" is proposed. Time motion studies were first described in the early 20th century in industrial engineering, referring to a quantitative data collection method where an external observer captured detailed data on the duration and movements required to accomplish a specific task, coupled with an analysis focused on improving efficiency. Since then, they have been broadly adopted by biomedical researchers and have become a focus of attention due to the current interest in clinical workflow related factors. However, attempts to aggregate results from these studies have been difficult, resulting from a significant variability in the implementation and reporting of methods. While efforts have been made to standardize the reporting of such data and findings, a lack of common understanding on what "time motion studies" are remains, which not only hinders reviews, but could also partially explain the methodological variability in the domain literature (duration of the observations, number of tasks, multitasking, training rigor and reliability assessments) caused by an attempt to cluster dissimilar sub-techniques. A crucial milestone towards the standardization and validation of time motion studies corresponds to a common understanding, accompanied by a proper recognition of the distinct techniques it encompasses. Towards this goal, we conducted a review of the literature aiming at identifying what is being referred to as "time motion studies". We provide a detailed description of the distinct methods used in articles referenced or classified as "time motion studies", and conclude that currently it is used not only to define the original technique, but also to describe a broad spectrum of studies whose only common factor is the capture and/or analysis of the duration of one or more events. To maintain alignment with the existing broad scope of the term, we propose a disambiguation approach by preserving the expanded conception, while recommending the use of a specific qualifier "continuous observation time motion studies" to refer to variations of the original method (the use of an external observer recording data continuously). In addition, we present a more granular naming for sub-techniques within continuous observation time motion studies, expecting to reduce the methodological variability within each sub-technique and facilitate future results aggregation.
Classifying Induced Damage in Composite Plates Using One-Class Support Vector Machines

For many engineering and aerospace applications, detection and quantification of multiscale damage in fiber-reinforced composite structures is increasing in importance. Consequently, the development of an efficient and cost-effective diagnosis scheme that can accurately sense, characterize, and evaluate the existence of any form of damage will offer significant potential for improving the performance, reliability, and extending the operational life of these complex systems. We present an approach to characterize and classify different damage states in composite laminates by measuring the change in the signature of the resultant wave that propagates through the anisotropic media under forced excitation. The wave propagation is measured using surface-mounted piezoelectric transducers. Sensor signals collected from test specimens with various forms of induced damage are analyzed using a pattern-recognition algorithm known as the one-class support vector machines. The one-class support-vector-machine algorithm performs automatic anomaly detection and classification of damage signatures using various features from the sensor readings. The results obtained suggest that the one-class support-vector-machine algorithm, along with appropriate preprocessing techniques, can often achieve better accuracy than the popular k-nearest-neighbor method in detecting and classifying anomalies caused by structural defects, even when the perturbations caused in the sensor signals due to different damage states are minimal.
PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS OF CONGENITAL ADRENAL HYPERPLASIA (21-HYDROXYLASE DEFICIENCY) BY HLA TYPING

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (C.A.H.) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency is an HLA-linked recessive disorder. HLA-A and B antigens are expressed on amniotic cells. Prenatal diagnosis of C.A.H. by HLA typing of families and amniotic cells was attempted in two at-risk families. In one family HLA typing indicated that the fetus would have C.A.H., and this prediction was confirmed after birth. In the second family, HLA typing indicated that the fetus would be an unaffected, phenotypically normal carrier of the disease gene, and this prediction was also confirmed after birth.
Pharmacodynamic Characterization of Ceftobiprole in Experimental Pneumonia Caused by Phenotypically Diverse Staphylococcus aureus Strains

Ceftobiprole (BPR) is an investigational cephalosporin with activity against Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains. The pharmacodynamic (PD) profile of BPR against S. aureus strains with a variety of susceptibility phenotypes in an immunocompromised murine pneumonia model was characterized. The BPR MICs of the test isolates ranged from 0.25 to 2 μg/ml. Pharmacokinetic (PK) studies were conducted with infected neutropenic BALB/c mice; and the BPR concentrations were measured in plasma, epithelial lining fluid (ELF), and lung tissue. PD studies with these mice were undertaken with eight S. aureus isolates (two methicillin-susceptible S. aureus strains, three hospital-acquired MRSA strains, and three community-acquired MRSA strains). Subcutaneous BPR doses of 2 to 125 mg/kg of body weight/day were administered, and the change in the number of log10 CFU/ml in lungs was evaluated after 24 h of therapy. The PD profile was characterized by using the free drug exposures (f) determined from the following parameters: the percentage of time that the concentration was greater than the MIC (T > MIC), the maximum concentration in serum/MIC, and the area under the concentration-time curve/MIC. The BPR PK parameters were linear over the dose range studied in plasma, and the ELF concentrations ranged from 60 to 94% of the free plasma concentration. fT > MIC was the parameter that best correlated with efficacy against a diverse array of S. aureus isolates in this murine pneumonia model. The 80% effective dose (ED80), ED50, and stasis exposures appeared to be similar among the isolates studied. BPR exerted maximal antibacterial effects when fT > MIC ranged from 6 to 22%, regardless of the phenotypic profile of resistance to β-lactam, fluoroquinolone, erythromycin, clindamycin, or tetracycline antibiotics.
A Lightweight Model for End Users&#146; Domain-Specific Data

Many end user programming tools lack adequate support for domain-specific data. We will design a lightweight representation for categories of data, called "topes," and develop simple methods that end users and system administrators can use to define new topes. To evaluate this approach, we will improve programming tools so end users can write programs that recognize data as instances of topes and manipulate them accordingly. We expect that these enhancements will help end users produce higher quality software.
Do English and Mandarin speakers think about time differently

Time is a fundamental domain of experience. In this paper we ask whether aspects of language and culture affect how people think about this domain. Specifically, we consider whether English and Mandarin speakers think about time differently. We review all of the available evidence both for and against this hypothesis, and report new data that further support and refine it. The results demonstrate that English and Mandarin speakers do think about time differently. As predicted by patterns in language, Mandarin speakers are more likely than English speakers to think about time vertically (with earlier time-points above and later time-points below).
Coagulopathy and traumatic shock: characterizing hemostatic function during the critical period prior to fluid resuscitation.

Aims Identifying early changes in hemostatic clot function as a result of tissue injury and hypoperfusion may provide important information regarding the mechanisms of traumatic coagulopathy. A combat-relevant swine model was used to investigate the development of coagulopathy during trauma by monitoring hemostatic function during increasing severity of shock.
A microwave technique for characterization of SNS and grain-boundary junctions

We have utilized a magnetic field modulated microwave absorption technique for characterizing SNS and grain-boundary junctions. The technique is based on the measurements of the first derivative microwave absorption P, with respect to an applied magnetic field B at 9.5 GHz, as a function of dc magnetic B/sub dc/. A homodyne detection system is used. Due to flux quantization in a non-uniform junction a series of equally spaced microwave absorption lines can be observed for B/sub dc/ and, in strongly coupled junction cases, the dependence of I/sub c/ on magnetic field and temperature can be extracted. Both the intra-grain boundary in a melt-textured YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub x/ bulk material and thin film single grain boundary junction (GBJ) YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub x/ were investigated. The result of the measurements agrees with a model in which the grain boundary consists of several sub-junctions in parallel. >
Targeted therapies for the treatment of cancer.

Abstract Background In contrast to conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiation therapy, a new method of targeted cancer therapeutics is being directed towards molecular pathways that underlie the malignant phenotype. These therapies target specific tumor cell receptors or signaling events that are critical to tumor progression while reducing toxicity to normal cells. Data sources The purpose of this review is to highlight several examples of novel targeted therapeutics that are currently approved by the FDA for treatment of patients with cancer. Rituxan is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to the CD20 antigen present on B cell lymphomas and is currently approved for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory low-grade CD20 positive follicular lymphoma. The humanized anti-HER-2/neu herceptin is approved for use in patients with metastatic breast cancer that demonstrates overexpression of HER-2/neu. Finally, Gleevec is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that inhibits abl -specific phosphorylation and is approved for use in select patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia that is refractory to interferon therapy. Conclusions The lessons learned from the use of these therapeutics will add to the growing knowledge of mechanistic approaches to the treatment of patients with cancer based upon targeted therapies, and herald a bright future that will improve the lives of patients with cancer.
A Bifunctional Mechanism for Ethene Dimerization: Catalysis by Rhodium Complexes on Zeolite HY in the Absence of Halides

We acknowledge DOE Basic Energy Sciences for support (Contract No. FG02-04ER15513) and acknowledge beam time and support of the DOE Division of Materials Sciences for its role in the operation and development of beam line MR-CAT at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory.
Tracking of Moving Objects from a Moving Vehicle Using a Scanning Laser Rangefinder

The capability to use a moving sensor to detect moving objects and predict their future path enables both collision warning systems and autonomous navigation. This paper describes a system that combines linear feature extraction, tracking and a motion evaluator to accurately estimate motion of vehicles and pedestrians with a low rate of false motion reports. The tracker was used in a prototype collision warning system that was tested on two transit buses during 7000 km of regular passenger service
Root Respiration for Agave deserti: Influence of Temperature, Water Status and Root Age on Daily Patterns

Root respiration, measured as C02 efflux, was studied for a succulent perennial from the Sonoran Desert, Agave deserti, with a new technique using individual, attached roots. The daily patterns of root respiration closely followed the daily patterns of root temperature for both established roots and rain roots, with higher rates during the day when root temperature averaged 27 °C and lower rates at night when root temperature averaged 17 °C. When root temperature was raised from 5°C to 40 °C, root respiration increased about 7-fold; from 45 °C to 55 °C, root respiration decreased about 2-fold, except for old established roots. Root respiration per unit dry weight for both root types decreased with age, the initial decrease being greater for rain roots than for established roots. Root respiration rates for rain roots were reduced to zero at a soil water potential (ipsM) of — 0-9 MPa and did not recover upon rewatering. Upon drying, root respiration rates for established roots were maintained at about 12% of maximum, even when ii/soU fell to —1-6 MPa, and fully recovered 1-5 d after rewatering the soil. Such responses of rain and established roots must be taken into account when assessing the carbon costs for the root system.
Structurally Similar Woodchuck and Human Hepadnavirus Core Proteins Have Distinctly Different Temperature Dependences of Assembly

ABSTRACT Woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV), a close relative of human hepatitis B virus (HBV), has been a key model for disease progression and clinical studies. Sequences of the assembly domain of WHV and HBV core proteins (wCp149 and hCp149, respectively) have 65% identity, suggesting similar assembly behaviors. We report a cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the WHV capsid at nanometer resolution and characterization of wCp149 assembly. At this resolution, the T=4 capsid structures of WHV and HBV are practically identical. In contrast to their structural similarity, wCp149 demonstrates enhanced assembly kinetics and stronger dimer-dimer interactions than hCp149: at 23°C and at 100 mM ionic strength, the pseudocritical concentrations of assembly of wCp149 and hCp149 are 1.8 μM and 43.3 μM, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that wCp149 assembles into predominantly T=4 capsids with a sizeable population of larger, nonicosahedral structures. Charge detection mass spectrometry indicates that T=3 particles are extremely rare compared to the ∼5% observed in hCp149 reactions. Unlike hCp149, wCp149 capsid assembly is favorable over a temperature range of 4°C to 37°C; van9t Hoff analyses relate the differences in temperature dependence to the high positive values for heat capacity, enthalpy, and entropy of wCp149 assembly. Because the final capsids are so similar, these findings suggest that free wCp149 and hCp149 undergo different structural transitions leading to assembly. The difference in the temperature dependence of wCp149 assembly may be related to the temperature range of its hibernating host. IMPORTANCE In this paper, we present a cryo-EM structure of a WHV capsid showing its similarity to HBV. We then observe that the assembly properties of the two homologous proteins are very different. Unlike human HBV, the capsid protein of WHV has evolved to function in a nonhomeostatic environment. These studies yield insight into the interplay between core protein self-assembly and the host environment, which may be particularly relevant to plant viruses and viruses with zoonotic cycles involving insect vectors.
A novel introductory graduate course for electrical engineers

An introductory course intended to enhance the experimental skills, computer application skills, and communications skills of graduate students is described.
Fractal: a mobile code based framework for dynamic application protocol adaptation in pervasive computing

The rapid growth of heterogeneous devices and diverse networks in our daily life, makes it is very difficult, if not impossible, to build a one-size-fits-all application or protocol, which can run well in such a dynamic environment. Adaptation has been considered as a general approach to address the mismatch problem between clients and servers; however, we envision that the missing part, which is also a big challenge, is how to inject and deploy adaptation functionality into the environment. In this paper we propose a novel application level protocol adaptation framework, Fractal, which uses the mobile code technology for protocol adaptation and leverages existing content distribution networks (CDN) for protocol adaptors (mobile codes) deployment. To the best of our knowledge, Fractal is the first application level protocol adaptation framework that considers the real deployment problem using mobile code and content distribution networks. To evaluate the proposed framework, we implement an adaptive communication optimization protocol by dynamically selecting four communication protocols, including Direct sending, Gzip, Bitmap, and Vary-sized blocking. In the comparison with the static and centralized protocol adaptation approaches, evaluation shows good results on both the client side and server side. For some clients, the total communication overhead reduces 41% compared with no protocol adaptation mechanism, and 14% compared with the static protocol adaptation approach.
Response of antelope bitterbrush to repeated prescribed burning in Central Oregon ponderosa pine forests

Antelope bitterbrush is a dominant shrub in many interior ponderosa pine forests in the western United States. How it responds to prescribed fire is not well understood, yet is of considerable concern to wildlife and fire managers alike given its importance as a browse species and as a ladder fuel in these fire-prone forests. We quantified bitterbrush cover, density, and biomass in response to repeated burning in thinned ponderosa pine forests. Low- to moderate-intensity spring burning killed the majority of bitterbrush plants on replicate plots. Moderately rapid recovery of bitterbrush density and cover resulted from seedling recruitment plus limited basal sprouting. Repeated burning after 11 years impeded the recovery of the bitterbrush community. Post-fire seed germination following the repeated burns was 3–14-fold lower compared to the germination rate after the initial burns, while basal sprouting remained fairly minor. After 15 years, bitterbrush cover was 75–92% lower on repeated-burned compared to unburned plots. Only where localized tree mortality resulted in an open stand was bitterbrush recovery robust. By controlling bitterbrush abundance, repeated burning eliminated the potential for wildfire spread when simulated using a customized fire behavior model. The results suggest that repeated burning is a successful method to reduce the long-term fire risk imposed by bitterbrush as an understory ladder fuel in thinned pine stands. Balancing the need to limit fire risk yet provide adequate bitterbrush habitat for wildlife browse will likely require a mosaic pattern of burning at the landscape scale or a burning frequency well beyond 11 years to allow a bitterbrush seed crop to develop.
A resonant pad for ESD protected narrowband CMOS RF applications

As CMOS applications move into the 5.6 GHz UNII band and approach the 10 GHz X-band, the opposing cost and performance design criteria collide. CMOS is extremely susceptible to damage from electro-static discharge (ESD) because CMOS devices are inherently capacitive. Unfortunately, the ESD structure typically used to protect CMOS integrated circuits contributes substantial parasitic capacitance to an RF signal path and is a major impediment to performance. The ESD protection circuitry adversely affects the performance of the low noise amplifier (LNA), often the most critical component in an RF CMOS receiver chain. This paper considers the novel approach of placing a second bond wire acting as an inductor in parallel with the parasitic capacitance of the ESD structure to effectively tune it out. All of the important parasitic effects are modeled and a procedure to incorporate them into the design of a resonating pad is described. Results from simulations using SpectreRF (a Cadence Design Systems simulation tool) show marked improvement in the LNA performance when using the resonating pad compared to conventional pad/ESD designs.
Interleukin-13 and transforming growth factor-β1 inhibit spontaneous sleep in rabbits

Proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha are involved in physiological sleep regulation. Interleukin (IL)-13 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 are anti-inflammatory cytokines that inhibit proinflammatory cytokines by several mechanisms. Therefore, we hypothesized that IL-13 and TGF-beta1 could attenuate sleep in rabbits. Three doses of IL-13 (8, 40, and 200 ng) and TGF-beta1 (40, 100, and 200 ng) were injected intracerebroventricularly 3 h after the beginning of the light period. In addition, one dose of IL-13 (200 ng) and one dose of TGF-beta1 (200 ng) were injected at dark onset. The two higher doses of IL-13 and the highest dose of TGF-beta1 significantly inhibited spontanenous non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) when they were given in the light period. IL-13 also inhibited NREMS after dark onset administration; however, the inhibitory effect was less potent than that observed after light period administration. The 40-ng dose of IL-13 inhibited REMS duration during the dark period. TGF-beta1 administered at dark onset had no effect on sleep. These data provide additional evidence for the hypothesis that a brain cytokine network is involved in regulation of physiological sleep.
The VR Scooter: Wind and Tactile Feedback Improve User Performance

We present an experiment using the VR scooter in an Immersive Virtual Environment (IVE). The scooter is used for traveling naturally and easily in large scale Virtual Environments. Vibrotactile tactors are mounted on the VR scooter to simulate motion speed, and a fan is used to simulate wind blowing when the VR scooter is in motion. We compared user performance (time to complete a task) with and without the tactors and fan, and we observed reduced time with these additions. While they were originally designed to make the experience more realistic and convincing, we found that they also improved user performance.
Philadelphia Freedom: Memoir of a Civil Rights Lawyer

Philadelphia Freedom, Memoir of a Civil Rights Lawyer analyzes and critiques civil rights law, practice and history from the perspective of a civil rights lawyer and in the form of a memoir. It takes the reader inside the lawyer's (David Kairys) head - it is a memoir - as he searches for arguments, theories, remedies and solutions first in 1968 as a novice public defender and later as a partner in a small civil rights firm. This excerpt is chapter 1 (along with the short introduction and the table of contents), "Georgia on My Mind," about a convicted murderer who escaped from a Georgia chain gang in 1945 and was discovered almost 25 years later gainfully employed in construction and living with a wife and four children in Philadelphia. After a series of sometimes wild theories and strategies and unpredictable events, the governor of Pennsylvania refused Georgia's extradition request, a first in Pennsylvania's history. Cover comments: "David Kairys is one of the grand long-distance runners in the struggle for justice in America. His brilliant legal mind and superb lawyerly skills are legendary. This marvelous book is his gift to us!"-Cornel West, Princeton University, award-winning author of Race Matters; "With engaging, insider stories of innovative legal strategies of a truly creative lawyer, this book evokes the ebullient spirit of progressive social change launched in the 1960s and should be read by aspiring and practicing lawyers as well as anyone interested in American social history. Philadelphia Freedom reads like a suspense novel and reveals how novel legal and political thinking can and does make a real difference to individuals and to the quality of justice."-Martha L. Minow, Harvard Law School.
Learning and Training to Search

Developing and supporting human search capabilities is at least equally important as developing the capabilities of search engines. Existing academic research suggests that particularly inexperienced users searching the Web utilize only a modest subset of the capabilities that the tools offer and are weak at understanding their real information needs, articulating them in a way that allows for effective searches, and interpreting search results in the context of those needs. This clearly suggests that training users to become better searchers is a worthwhile effort, and that understanding what makes certain search interventions successful and others not is vitally important for enabling users to make effective use of their time.
RBCC Ejector Mode Operating Characteristics for Single and Twin Thruster Configurations

This paper summarizes recent experiments with a rocket-based combined cycle (RBCC) test article operating in the ejector mode. The test article is a modular, two-dimensional, optically accessible, heat-sink copper duct based on the geometry of a 1960s Marquardt ramjet test article. Either one or two gaseous oxygen/gaseous hydrogen (GCVGHb) rocket thrusters can be integrated into this duct. These thrusters are fired to simulate ejector mode operation at nominal flight conditions from Mach 0 (sea-level static) to Mach 1.9. The focus of the current work is to examine the effects of multiple hot gas streams on the mixing and pumping processes using the twin thruster configuration. The vertical spacing between the thrusters can be varied to allow a parametric investigation of the geometric effects. While only one of three possible twin thruster spacing options has been investigated, the results indicate that the twin thruster configuration entrains more air (~ 15%), mixes with that air in a shorter distance (~ 50%), and produces a higher static pressure rise from ambient in the duct (~ 26%) than the single thruster configuration at the same operating point. In addition, the results for this twin configuration indicate that the mixing layer grows more rapidly toward the top and bottom duct walls than it does toward the duct centerline.
Defining Area in Polar Coordinates

(1986). Defining Area in Polar Coordinates. The College Mathematics Journal: Vol. 17, No. 5, pp. 414-416.
Impact of index finger force on motor unit recruitment pattern in flexor digitorum superficialis

Objective To detect the recruitment pattern of motor unit in human flexor digitorum superficialis(FDS) at different force levels produced by the index finger.Methods Eight subjects were recruited to produce a certain force level with the index finger to match the ordered force level(20%,40%,60% maximum voluntary contraction).During the force tracking task,the multi-channel surface electromyography(sEMG) signals were recorded on FDS using 8×1(row×column) electrode-array.The motor unit action potential(MUAP) information was extracted by Fast Independent Component Analysis(FastICA),and then the correlation between MUAP pattern and force level was analyzed.Results Four different types of MUAP were extracted successfully by FastICA from original sEMG signals and the total number of MUAP showed an increasing trend with the force level increasing.At different force levels,the proportion of different types of MUAP was different,showing different trends with change of the force level.Conclusions At different levels of the finger force,the recruitment pattern of motor unit in FDS will be changed so as to produce the force accordingly.
Effects of nicotine in combination with drugs described as positive allosteric nicotinic acetylcholine receptor modulators in vitro: discriminative stimulus and hypothermic effects in mice

Some drugs that are positive allosteric nAChR modulators in vitro, desformylflustrabromine (dFBr), PNU-120596 and LY 2087101, have not been fully characterized in vivo. These drugs were examined for their capacity to share or modify the hypothermic and discriminative stimulus effects of nicotine (1mg/kg s.c.) in male C57Bl/6J mice. Nicotine, dFBr, and PNU-120596 produced significant hypothermia, whereas LY 2087101 (up to 100mg/kg) did not. Nicotine dose-dependently increased nicotine-appropriate responding and decreased response rate; the respective ED50 values were 0.56mg/kg and 0.91mg/kg. The modulators produced no more than 38% nicotine-appropriate responding up to doses that disrupted operant responding. Rank order potency was the same for hypothermia and rate-decreasing effects: nicotine>dFBr>PNU-120596=LY 2087101. Mecamylamine and the α4β2 nAChR antagonist dihydro-β-erythroidine, but not the α7 antagonist methyllycaconitine, antagonized the hypothermic effects of nicotine. In contrast, mecamylamine did not antagonize the hypothermic effects of the modulators. The combined discriminative stimulus effects of DFBr and nicotine were synergistic, whereas the combined hypothermic effects of nicotine with either dFBr or PNU-120596 were infra-additive. PNU-120596 did not modify the nicotine discriminative stimulus, and LY 2087101 did not significantly modify either effect of nicotine. Positive modulation of nicotine at nAChRs by PNU-120596 and LY 2087101 in vitro does not appear to confer enhancement of the nAChR-mediated hypothermic or discriminative stimulus effects of nicotine. However, dFBr appears to be a positive allosteric modulator of some behavioral effects of nicotine at doses of dFBr smaller than the doses producing unwanted effects (e.g. hypothermia) through non-nAChR mechanisms.
Abnormal skin development in pupoid foetus (pf/pf) mutant mice

At 13 days of development the epidermis of mice homozygous for the pupoid foetus ( pf/pf ) mutation varies in thickness between one and ten cell layers. By 16 days of development cells from the dermis have invaded the epidermis and may be found throughout the epidermis and on its surface. Among these cells are nerve fibres and Schwann cells as well as other unidentified cells. Antibodies directed against fibronectin bind to these abnormal groups of cells in the mutant epidermis and on its surface. A basal lamina, as determined by ultrastructure and by the immuno-fluorescent localization of laminin, was always found at the interface of the mutant epidermis and the invading cell population. By 19 days of development the mutant epidermis is thickened and is permeated by a network of cells including nerve fibres, Schwann cells, blood vessels, and collagen and fibronectin-secreting cells. A basal lamina always separates these groups of invading cells from the epidermal cell population.
Serial Multiple-Site Biopsies in Patients with Bladder Cancer

A prospective study was done on 52 patients with bladder cancer to determine the incidence of atypia, carcinoma in situ and carcinoma in selected site biopsies from normal-appearing mucosa at the time of initial and subsequent endoscopy. Biopsies at initial endoscopy revealed abnormalities in 33 per cent of the patients, while 77 per cent of 43 patients undergoing 3-month selected site biopsies had at least 1 abnormal biopsy during a 1-year period.
Determining the Competitiveness of Wholesale Electricity Markets

In this paper, I examine market definition in the context of FERC’s assessment of the competitiveness of wholesale electricity markets as part of its mandate to ensure “just and reasonable” rates under the Federal Power Act. The Commission has the statutory obligation to determine the competitiveness of wholesale electricity markets in two contexts: (1) in order to ensure “just and reasonable” rates under Section 205 of the Federal Power Act and (2) to determine the effect of a merger or acquisition on competition in the affected markets under Section 203 of the Federal Power Act. In both cases, it needs to define the product and determine the geographic scope of the market in order to make that determination.
Recycling of carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite wastes from the aerospace industry:

Post-industrial trimmings and off-cuts of carbon fiber/polyether ether ketone composite were successfully recycled into new composite products. The original composites were thermally characterized by dynamic thermomechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. Melt-bonding and thermoset adhesives were used to bond the carbon fiber/polyether ether ketone. Performance of the bond was evaluated through double lap-shear tests. The carbon fiber/polyether ether ketone scraps were mechanically refined to a variety of elemental sizes, subsequently subjected to high-temperature hot pressing to form panel composites. The influences of element size and processing temperature were evaluated through mechanical testing.
Modern Travel on the Fringes of Empire

As ‘armchair travellers’, eighteenth and early-nineteenth century readers of women’s travel writing were assumed to be living vicariously through books by Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762), Lucie Duff-Gordon (1821–1869), and Hester Stanhope (1776–1839), whose journeys were enabled by male relatives in diplomatic service. By the 1880s, aristocratic authors were increasingly eclipsed by prominent middle-class women writers who travelled brazenly unaccompanied by British men. Travel books in turn gained a set of different functions, representing experiences newly within the reach of middle-class readers. Cook’s Tours to the once impossibly exotic regions of Egypt and the Middle East, for instance, became popular in the 1870s and 1880s. And since traveling inherently involves negotiating one’s independence, the genre also emerged as an ideal medium for challenging the very idea of gendered spheres of authority for women. As Sara Mills indicates, women’s travel books were ‘potentially extremely subversive since they portray women characters as strong, active individuals in stark contrast to their representations in novels, plays, and poetry of the time’. These books created a new legitimacy and widespread respect for women travellers and new roles for women in an age of unprecedented imperial expansion, to which scientific exploration and travel in the late Victorian era were inextricably linked.