cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Beamsteering in Pattern Reconfigurable Arrays Using Directional Modulation

An array with pattern-reconfigurable elements is used to generate a digital modulation by switching the elements for every symbol. This technique is known as directional modulation. Because the modulation is generated at the antenna level, it gives control over the directions in which data is sent, unlike baseband modulation which transmits the same data in all directions at different power levels. A procedure for determining how to switch the elements to transmit only in a specified direction is outlined. Results indicate that compared to a traditional reconfigurable array, the directional modulation array allows information to be sent over a narrower beamwidth. Additionally, the method provides more selectivity in the possible transmit angles. Measured and calculated results from a four-element reconfigurable array are presented.
An investigation on the effect of a small mass impact on sandwich composite plates

This paper investigates the high strain rate response of polymer matrix sandwich composites utilizing foam-filled honeycomb cores by means of a small mass impact. The reinforcement fiber chosen for use in this paper is a simple weave carbon fiber. This paper also investigates the effects of utilizing different laminate configurations in conjunction with investigation of the effectiveness of such laminate during impact loading. In an effort to ascertain more information about the impact situation, compression after impact tests are performed to determine the extent of the damage by observing the degradation of strength associated with the impact event.
Determination of In-Shell Peanut Oil and Fatty Acid Composition Using Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy

NIR reflectance spectroscopy was used to analyze the total oil and fatty acid concentration of Virginia and Valencia types of in-shell peanuts rapidly and nondestructively. NIR absorbance spectra were collected in the wavelength range from 400 to 2,500 nm using a NIR instrument. Average total oil concentrations of all samples were determined by a standard Soxtec extraction method. Fatty acids were converted to the corresponding methyl esters and measured using gas chromatography. Partial least squares analysis was performed on the calibration set, and models were developed for predicting total oil and fatty acids. The best model was selected based on coefficient of determination (R2), standard error of prediction, and residual percent deviation (RPD) values. Virginia-type in-shell peanuts had RPD values of >5.0 for both absorbance and reflectance models, indicating that the method could be used for quality control and analysis. Valencia peanuts had an RPD value of 3.01, which indicates that the model is good for initial screening purposes. For both types of peanuts, fatty acid prediction gave RPD values of <5 for all the models, indicating they could be used for initial screening purposes.
Improving Face Recognition via Narrowband Spectral Range Selection Using Jeffrey Divergence

In order to achieve improved recognition performance in comparison with conventional broadband images, this paper addresses a new method that automatically specifies the optimal spectral range for multispectral face images according to given illuminations. The novelty of our method lies in the introduction of a distribution separation measure and the selection of the optimal spectral range by ranking these separation values. The selected spectral ranges are consistent with the physics analysis of the multispectral imaging process. The fused images from these chosen spectral ranges are verified to outperform the conventional broadband images by 3%-20%, based on a variety of experiments with indoor and outdoor illuminations using two well-recognized face-recognition engines. Our discovery can be practically used for a new customized sensor design associated with given illuminations for improved face-recognition performance over the conventional broadband images.
Low-Temperature III–V Direct Wafer Bonding Surface Preparation Using a UV-Sulfur Process

A technique for direct wafer bonding of III–V materials utilizing a dry sulfur passivation method is presented. Large-area bonding occurs for GaAs/GaAs and InP/InP at room temperature. Bulk fracture strength is achieved after annealing GaAs/GaAs at 400°C and InP/InP at 300°C for times less than 12 h without large compressive forces. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements of the treated, bonded, and subsequently delaminated surfaces of GaAs/GaAs confirm that sulfide is present at the interface and that the oxide components show a reduced concentration when compared with samples treated with only an oxide etch solution.
Indole-3-carbinol inhibited tobacco smoke carcinogen-induced lung adenocarcinoma in A/J mice when administered during the post-initiation or progression phase of lung tumorigenesis

We studied the chemopreventive efficacy of indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a phytochemical found in cruciferous vegetables, to inhibit tobacco carcinogen-induced lung adenocarcinoma in A/J mice when given following post-initiation or progression protocol. Moreover, we assessed the potential mechanisms responsible for the anticancer effects of I3C. Post-initiation administration of I3C decreased the multiplicity of surface tumors as well as all forms of histopathological lesions, including adenocarcinoma, whereas administration of the compound during tumor progression failed to decrease the multiplicity of surface tumors and early forms of microscopic lesions but reduced the frequency of adenocarcinoma. Mechanistic studies in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells indicated that the lung cancer preventive effects of I3C are mediated, at least in part, via modulation of the receptor tyrosine kinase/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
The Effect of Age-Dependent Increase in Fat Mass on Peripheral Insulin Action is Saturable

Insulin resistance and increased fat mass (FM) are common in human aging. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the age-dependent increase in FM and insulin resistance (by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique), in a homogenous rodent model. The decline in insulin responsiveness was linear until late adulthood when body weight, FM, and epididymal fat reached a critical amount (r > .750, for all). Above this critical point, there was no further decline in insulin responsiveness with aging and with increased BW (p < .00001 for all spline curve analyses). This decline in insulin-mediated glucose uptake was accounted for by a decrease in whole body glycolytic rate with no change in the rate of glycogen synthesis. Thus, in this homogenous model, an early increase in FM is associated with impairment in insulin action until a critical FM is achieved, after which there is no additional insulin resistance with aging. We suggest that decreasing insulin responsiveness, in a heterogeneous group such as humans, will only occur within a specific accretion of visceral or total FM.
Myomaker is essential for muscle regeneration

Regeneration of injured adult skeletal muscle involves fusion of activated satellite cells to form new myofibers. Myomaker is a muscle-specific membrane protein required for fusion of embryonic myoblasts, but its potential involvement in adult muscle regeneration has not been explored. We show that myogenic basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors induce myomaker expression in satellite cells during acute and chronic muscle regeneration. Moreover, genetic deletion of myomaker in adult satellite cells completely abolishes muscle regeneration, resulting in severe muscle destruction after injury. Myomaker is the only muscle-specific protein known to be absolutely essential for fusion of embryonic and adult myoblasts.
Variation in Length of the Estrous Cycle in Mice Due to Former Intrauterine Proximity to Male Fetuses

Female mouse fetusesoccupying an intrauterine position between male fetuses exhibit longer estrouscyclesin adulthood than do females formerly residing in utero next to other female fetuses. This differenceinadult cyclelength was observed consistentlywhen the two types of females were maintained under a variety of socialconditions.Thus, these data suggest a fundamental biasing of the intrinsictiming of the estrous cycle by former intrauterineproximity to males in thisand possiblyother speciesin which more than one fetus is present inthe uterus.
"electroencephalogram "eeg" Mental Task Discrimination",digital Signal Processing -- Master Of Science , Cairo University

"ElectroEncephaloGram "EEG" Mental Task Discrimination", Master of Science dissertation, Cairo University, 2010. Recent advances in computer hardware and signal processing have made possible the use of EEG signals or "brain waves" for communication between humans and computers. Locked-in patients have now a way to communicate with the outside world, but even with the last modern techniques, such systems still suffer communication rates on the order of 2-3 tasks/minute. In addition, existing systems are not likely to be designed with flexibility in mind, leading to slow systems that are difficult to improve. This Thesis is classifying different mental tasks through the use of the electroencephalogram (EEG). EEG signals from several subjects through channels (electrodes) have been studied during the performance of five mental tasks: Baseline task for which the subjects were asked to relax as much as possible, Multiplication task for which the subjects were given nontrivial multiplication problem without vocalizing or making any other movements, Letter composing task for which the subject were instructed to mentally compose a letter without vocalizing (imagine writing a letter to a friend in their head),Rotation task for which the subjects were asked to visualize a particular three-dimensional block figure being rotated about its axis, and Counting task for which the subjects were asked to imagine a blackboard and to visualize numbers being written on the board sequentially. The work presented here maybe a part of a larger project, whose goal is to classify EEG signals belonging to a varied set of mental activities in a real time Brain Computer Interface, in order to investigate the feasibility of using different mental tasks as a wide communication channel between people and computers.
Psychiatric Comorbidity and Pharmacological Treatment Patterns among Patients Presenting with Insomnia

Background: Epidemiological studies reveal that approximately one-third of the US adult population experiences insomnia, and that nearly 10% report it to be a serious or chronic problem. Little is known as to the extent of physician diagnosis of the underlying illness, or the prescribing of pharmacotherapy for this complaint.
Primary Hepatic Small Cell Carcinoma: Two Case Reports, Molecular Characterization and Pooled Analysis of Known Clinical Data

Primary hepatic small cell carcinoma (HSCC) is a rare malignancy that has previously been described in only few case reports. The clinicopathological course, natural history, molecular markers and ideal treatment strategy for this tumor have not been fully elucidated. Herein, we report on two cases of spontaneously arising, metastatic primary HSCC that were treated at our Institution. Both patients succumbed to their disease within two months of initial presentation. Both cases underwent postmortem examination and no evidence of a pulmonary or other non-hepatic small cell primary was found. Unlike pulmonary small cell tumors, these two hepatic primaries showed only locoregional spread and very few distant metastases. Formalin-fixed samples were obtained at autopsy and sequenced using single-nucleotide polymorphism arrays and whole-genome sequencing. Four mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene known to be associated with response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) were detected in one of the two HSCC samples. A systematic review and pooled analysis of all previously reported cases of primary HSCCs was conducted. The median overall survival was estimated at 4 months. Surgical resection was significantly associated with longer overall survival (hazard ratio =0.13, 95% confidence interval=0.03-0.69). Although several case reports of primary HSCC have been reported prior to this publication, to our knowledge this is the first time that molecular and systematic analysis has been conducted in order to more fully characterize this rare disease. Our results indicate that surgical resection, when feasible, may be a valid option in primary HSCC, and that some tumors may respond to TKIs against EGFR.
Exploring the Parallels Between a Hospital Pharmacy and a Distribution Center

We study the pharmaceutical supply chain from a pharmaceutical distributor to a patient. In doing so, we make comparisons between a traditional distribution center and a hospital pharmacy and discuss the technologies used in both facilities, with special emphasis on the order-fulfillment process. We review analytical models for order-fulfillment technologies prevalent in pharmaceutical distribution, including models for A-Frame systems, carousel systems, picking machines, unit-dose repackaging technologies, and automated dispensing cabinets. Finally, we provide conclusions and future research directions.
The ecology of arts and humanities education: Bridging the worlds of universities and museums:

In recent years, colleges and universities have been talking seriously about civic learning, but other stakeholders, particularly public arts, culture, and humanities institutions, must be part of ...
Perceptual Learning of Intonation Contour Categories in Adults and 9‐ to 11‐Year‐Old Children: Adults Are More Narrow‐Minded

We report on rapid perceptual learning of intonation contour categories in adults and 9- to 11-year-old children. Intonation contours are temporally extended patterns, whose perception requires temporal integration and therefore poses significant working memory challenges. Both children and adults form relatively abstract representations of intonation contours: Previously encountered and novel exemplars are categorized together equally often, as long as distance from the prototype is controlled. However, age-related differences in categorization performance also exist. Given the same experience, adults form narrower categories than children. In addition, adults pay more attention to the end of the contour, while children appear to pay equal attention to the beginning and the end. The age range we examine appears to capture the tail-end of the developmental trajectory for learning intonation contour categories: There is a continuous effect of age on category breadth within the child group, but the oldest children (older than 10;3) are adult-like.
Further Tests with Power Dusting to Control the Sheep Ked

Power dusting of shorn sheep in spring with 2% diazinon, 1.5% dieldrin, or 1% ronnel completely eliminated infestations of the sheep ked, Melopliagus ovinus (L.). Though 0.5% coumaphos, 2% dioxathion, and 4% malathion reduced ked numbers 87% or better, they did not eradicate infestations. A 4% carbaryl dust reduced keds by only 60%. Sheep ked infestations were more difficult to eradicate in fall by power dusting. Of the insecticides tested, diazinon was the only one to eradicate infestations of keds consistently at this time of year. Concentrations of 3%, 4%, and 5% were equally effective. A 2% concentration fell short of complete control but did reduce numbers 98%.
Book Review: Brown at Sixty: The Case for Black Reparations

Reviewing Boris Bittker’s 1973 work suggesting reparations for school segregation, the article examines how to use such an approach to attack the “re segregation” of African American children which has taken place since Brown was first decided. The article highlights such practices as tracking, special education mis-classification, and the disparate application of suspension and expulsion to minority students.
Impunity and multisided violence in the lives of Latin American women: El Salvador in comparative perspective

Women in El Salvador experience some of the highest levels of violence in the world in the form of feminicides: killings of women in a context of impunity. This trend is widespread, and this article contributes to a broader explanation of it through a case study of El Salvador in comparison to other Latin American countries. Although El Salvador has created institutions and laws to combat these crimes and ratified the 1994 Convention of Belem do Para, crimes against women have continued undiminished. The authors argue that impunity and violence in El Salvador are deeply intertwined, with roots in multisided violence – a potent combination of structural, symbolic, political, gender and gendered, and everyday forms of violence. While much previous research has focused on individual acts of aggression, the authors advance an analysis of the extrapersonal structures that create and exacerbate the conditions that permit violent acts and impunity to persist.
Chronic cobalt causes hypertrophy of glomus cells in the rat carotid body

We tested the hypothesis that chronic cobalt administration would induce carotid body cellular response along with polycythemia as found in chronic hypoxia if common oxygen-sensitive mechanisms were involved in the two instances. Morphometric studies were performed on carotid bodies in male rats that were chronically treated with cobalt chloride (0.17 mumol/kg, ip, daily for 6 wk) and in control rats that received blank saline injections. The rats were anesthetized, blood samples were collected for hematocrit, and the carotid bodies were surgically exposed and were perfused and superfused with the buffered fixative (3% glutaraldehyde plus 1% paraformaldehyde, pH 7.40, 330-340 mosM). The carotid bodies were processed, and ultrathin sections were cut for electron microscopy and morphometry of type I (glomus) and type II cells. Hematocrit increased from 44% in the control to 74% in the cobalt-treated rats, and the mean volume of type I cells increased from 424 to 1,061 microns 3. Type II cells did not show any significant change in size. The results suggest that cobalt stimulated oxygen-sensitive mechanism in the glomus cells of the carotid body and that the glomus cell is a site of oxygen chemosensing.
Analysis of WB banding patterns and CD4+T cells in 140 HIV-1-positive cases

Objective:To understand the changes of characteristics in immunology and serology of different groups of people at different phases through analyzing the antibody WB banding patterns and the number of CD4+T cells of the 140 newly identitfied cases of HIV-1-positiveperson in the laboratory.Methods:Detecting the number of antibodies and CD4+T cells inside the body of the infected through western blot test and with flow cytometry.Results:Western blot(WB) bands of the samples infected through different infection routes present no obvious differences,but the numbers of CD4+T cells have statistical significance.Of the HIV-1-positive persons,the percentages of samples with all bands(9bands) and p55 bands in the group aged 40 and bolow are respectively higher than those in the group aged over 40.Reaction of the entire banding patterns of WB,the occurance of p55 bands,and the differences of the numbers of CD4+T cells of AIDS patients and(HIV-1 infected persons) have Statistical significances.Conclusion:Reaction of the entire banding patterns of WB and numbers of CD4+T cells have differences at different degrees.This indicator provides bases for tracking the Source of HIV-1 infection,route of transmission,clinical stage and disease prognosis.
Interactive training improves workplace climate, knowledge, and support towards domestic violence.

BACKGROUND: As Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) affects the workplace, a supportive workplace climate is important. The study evaluated the effectiveness of an "IPV and the Workplace" training on workplace climate towards IPV. METHODS: IPV training was provided to 14 intervention counties and 13 control counties (receiving training 6 months delayed). Measures included workplace climate surveys, IPV knowledge test, and workplace observations. RESULTS: (i) Training significantly improved supervisor knowledge on IPV and received positive evaluations, (ii) training improved workplace climate towards IPV significantly which was maintained over time, and (iii) after the training, supervisors provided more IPV information to employees and more IPV postings were available in the workplace. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides evidence to support on-site interactive, computer based training as a means for improved workplace safety. IPV and the Workplace training effectively increased knowledge and positively changed workplace climate. Am. J. Ind. Med. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Language: en
Ethanol Production Using Corn, Switchgrass and Wood; Biodiesel Production Using Soybean

In this analysis, the most recent scientific data for corn, switchgrass, and wood, for fermentation/distillation were used. All current fossil energy inputs used in corn production and for the fermentation/distillation were included to determine the entire energy cost of ethanol production. Additional costs to consumers include federal and state subsidies, plus costs associated with environmental pollution and/or degradation that occur during the entire production process. In addition, an investigation was made concerning the conversion of soybeans into biodiesel fuel.
The selective polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) degranulation as the probable additional mechanism of the hemodialysis (HD)-induced complement activation.

The intracellular lysozyme and beta-glucuronidase contents were estimated in PMN isolated from peripheral blood before HD and those from the first portion of full blood leaving the dialyser. The ly...
Asset Management Industry in Asia: Dynamics of Growth, Structure and Performance

We examine the industrial organization and institutional development of the asset management industry in Asian developing economies - specifically in China, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Thailand. We focus on the size and growth of the buy-side of the respective financial markets, asset allocation, the regulatory environment, and the state of internationalization of the fund management industry in its key components - mutual funds, pension funds and asset management for high net worth individuals. We link these the evolution of professional asset management in these environments to the development of the respective capital markets and to the evolution of corporate governance. We find that the fund management industry occupies a very small niche in domestic financial systems that are dominated by banks. At the same time, we find that its growth has been very rapid in the early 2000s and we suggest that this is likely to persist as the demand for professional management of financial wealth in the region develops and as the pension fund sectors of the respective economies are liberalized to allow larger portions of assets to be invested in collective investment schemes.
Improvements in laser flare removal for particle image velocimetry using fluorescent dye-doped particles

Laser flare, or scattering of laser light from a surface, can often be a major issue in particle image velocimetry (PIV) involving solid boundaries in the flow or a gas–liquid interface. The use of fluorescent light from dye-doped particles has been demonstrated in water applications, but reproducing the technique in an airflow is more difficult due to particle size constraints and safety concerns. The following work presents fluorescent Kiton Red 620 (KR620)-doped polystyrene latex microspheres as a solution to this issue. The particles are small and narrowly distributed, with a mean diameter of 0.87 and diameter distribution standard deviation of 0.30 . Furthermore, the KR620 dye exhibits much lower toxicity than other common fluorescent dyes, and would be safe to use in large flow facilities. The fluorescent signal from the particles is measured on average to be 320 ± 10 times weaker than the Mie scattering signal from the particles. This reduction in signal is counterbalanced by greatly enhanced contrast via optical rejection of the incident laser wavelength. Fluorescent PIV with these particles is shown to eliminate laser flare near surfaces, allowing for velocity measurements as close as 100 to the surface. In one case, fluorescent PIV led to velocity vector validation rates more than 20 times that of the Mie scattering results in the boundary layer region of an angled surface.
A Daily Diary Study of Rumination and Health Behaviors: Modeling Moderators and Mediators

Objective Rumination, thinking about a negative mood repetitively, is a common cognitive process that may affect health behavior engagement or avoidance. Little research has examined relations between rumination and health behaviors. Purpose We aimed to test links between rumination and health behaviors as well as possible moderators and mediators of those links. Methods We used an 11-day online daily diary design. Health behavior outcomes included fruit intake, vegetable intake, exercise, alcohol intake, sexual risk taking behavior, and cigarette smoking. Results Rumination was related to alcohol intake at the within-person level. Using multivariate modeling, we found that significant within-person mediators for rumination to health behaviors included impulsivity, amotivation, self control, and using health behaviors as coping, with each of these mediating relationships for one to four out of the five health behavior outcomes. A significant between-person moderator includes perceived behavioral control for alcohol intake only, and intention was not a significant moderator of the rumination to health behavior relationships. Conclusions Rumination affects various maladaptive health behaviors differentially, through a number of mechanisms and under a moderating condition whereby those who feel more control are better able to buffer rumination's deleterious effects. Future interventions can apply the results to individual and multiple behavior change interventions for chronic disease prevention, especially for those who are particularly suffering from ruminative thoughts.
Remote Vibration Estimation Using Displaced-Phase-Center Antenna SAR for Strong Clutter Environments

It has been previously demonstrated that it is possible to perform remote vibrometry using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) in conjunction with the discrete fractional Fourier transform (DFrFT). Specifically, the DFrFT estimates the chirp parameters (related to the instantaneous acceleration of a vibrating object) of a slow-time signal associated with the SAR image. However, ground clutter surrounding a vibrating object introduces uncertainties in the estimate of the chirp parameter retrieved via the DFrFT method. To overcome this shortcoming, various techniques based on subspace decomposition of the SAR slow-time signal have been developed. Nonetheless, the effectiveness of these techniques is limited to values of signal-to-clutter ratio ≥5 dB. In this paper, a new vibrometry technique based on displaced-phase-center antenna (DPCA) SAR is proposed. The main characteristic of a DPCA-SAR is that the clutter signal can be canceled, ideally, while retaining information on the instantaneous position and velocity of a target. In this paper, a novel method based on the extended Kalman filter (EKF) is introduced for performing vibrometry using the slow-time signal of a DPCA-SAR. The DPCA-SAR signal model for a vibrating target, the mathematical characterization of the EKF technique, and vibration estimation results for various types of vibration dynamics are presented.
A Program Evaluation of Home and Center-Based Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder

The present study aimed to retrospectively compare the relative rates of mastery of exemplars for individuals with ASD (N = 313) who received home-based and center-based services. A between-group analysis found that participants mastered significantly more exemplars per hour when receiving center-based services than home-based services. Likewise, a paired-sample analysis found that participants who received both home and center-based services had mastered 100 % more per hour while at the center than at home. These analyses indicated that participants demonstrated higher rates of learning during treatment that was provided in a center setting than in the participant’s home.
Relationships Among Caregiving, Income, Gender, and Health: A Cross-Sectional Examination of a Representative Sample of Older Americans

ABSTRACTAlthough there is substantial evidence to support the effect of burden on caregivers, few studies have compared caregivers to their noncaregiving counterparts on the basis of health and well-being outcomes. This study examines the relationship between caregiving and health and whether other factors may have stronger influence on well-being measures. Using a nationally representative sample of older adults in the United States (N = 3,005), this study examines relationships between caregiving status, gender, and income, and 9 outcomes (self-rated physical and mental health, time since seeing a doctor, time since most recent pap smear or prostate-specific antigen [PSA] test, depression, loneliness, stress, anxiety), using logistic and linear regression models. Results support that paradoxically, caregiving was associated with increased likelihood of PSA test in male caregivers, although data also indicated higher levels of anxiety and stress, as might be expected. Income was associated with 8 of 9 ou...
Health effects following subacute exposure to geogenic dust collected from active drainage surfaces (Nellis Dunes Recreation Area, Las Vegas, NV)

The specific health effects of direct inhalation of fine minerogenic dusts generated by natural soil surfaces remain poorly known and relatively little researched. To learn more about this exposure and its contribution to human health effects, we surveyed surface sediment and characterized dust from the Nellis Dunes Recreation Area (NDRA) in Clark County, Nevada, a popular off-road vehicle (ORV) recreational site. Dry drainage systems at NDRA are commonly used as natural trail systems for ORV recreation; these surfaces also are characterized by high concentrations of heavy metals. Geogenic dust with a median diameter of 4.05 μm, collected from drainage surfaces at NDRA contained a total elemental concentration of aluminum (79,651 μg/g), vanadium (100 μg/g), chromium (54 μg/g), manganese (753 μg/g), iron (33,266 μg/g), cobalt (14 μg/g), copper (37 μg/g) zinc (135 μg/g), arsenic (71 μg/g), strontium (666 μg/g), cesium (15 μg/g), lead (34 μg/g), and uranium (54.9 μg/g). Adult female B6C3F1 mice exposed via oropharyngeal aspiration to 0.01–100 mg dust/kg body weight, four times, a week apart, for 28-days, were evaluated for immuno- and neurotoxicological outcomes 24 h after the last exposure. Antigen-specific IgM responses were dose-responsively suppressed at 0.1, 1.0, 10 and 100 mg/kg. Splenic lymphocytic subpopulations, hematological and clinical chemistry parameters were affected. In brain tissue, antibodies against NF-68, and GFAP were not affected, whereas IgM antibodies against MBP were reduced by 26.6% only in the highest dose group. A lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) of 0.1 mg/kg/day and a no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of 0.01 mg/kg/day were derived based on the antigen primary IgM responses after subacute exposure to this geogenic dust.
Aquaculture Technology Adoption by Fadama III Farmers in Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract This study was conducted in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Delta States of the Niger Delta, Nigeria. It examined the level of adoption of aquaculture technologies by Fadama III beneficiaries and assessed the differences in adoption levels on sate basis. Five fish farmers were randomly selected on multiple stage bases from 18 Fadama Users' Groups (FUGs) amounting to 90 farmers as the sample size for this study (n=90). Structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from respondents. Data collected were measured using descriptive and adoption Sigma method analysis. Results obtained revealed that of the 12 selected aquaculture based technologies recommended by Fadama III, the ratio of adoption skills ranged from 1 high: 7 medium: 5 low. The adoption levels followed a sequence of earthen ponds preparation being the highest, and stocking density techniques being the lowest. The overall adoption level was 4.20 which implied that the aquaculture farmers were categorized as medium adopters using the Sigma method scale. It was recommended that farmers with adoption levels at medium and low ranges should be focused upon with more teaching sessions by community facilitators and that other extension workers should emulate the strategies used by Fadama III in developing farmers.
Stabilization of Elastic Systems by Means of Computer Vision Feedback

Abstract In this paper, the use of computer VlSlon in the feedback stabilization of elastic systems arising in large space structures is explored. In particular, a spaceborne antenna with a large flexible reflector surface is considered. First, suppose that the reflector is coated with a light reflecting material, and is illuminated by a light source. From the intensity data of the reflector image obtained by a computer vision system, the displacement and velocity of the surface are estimated using a suitable reflectance model. Next, the estimation of surface motion with the aid of special markings is considered. From the image of the deformed markings, the displacement and velocity of the surface are constructed. Various methods for obtaining stabilizing feedback controls from the estimated displacement and velocity of the surface are discussed. The paper concludes with some experimental observations and a discussion of the application of computer vision feedback in controlling other types of distributed systems
Multiple Cyclanilide Applications Promote Branching of Woody Ornamentals

Abstract Multiple weekly or biweekly applications of 0, 100, 200 or 300 ppm cyclanilide (CYC), a bioregulator effective in stimulating branching of apple and cherry trees and select woody ornamental shrubs, were applied foliarly to eight species or cultivars of woody landscape shrubs, five of which showed increased branching in response to treatment. Shoot number increases were concentration and species dependent, and compared to untreated controls, branching at 60 days after first treatment (DAFT) with three weekly applications of 100 to 300 ppm CYC in 2005 increased from 1400 to 1900% in ‘Brandy's Temper’ sasanqua camellia, 114 to 175% in ‘Sky Pencil’ holly, 385 to 458% in ‘Foster’ holly, 166 to 335% in Eleanor Taber™ Indian hawthorn, and 1885 to 2230% in ‘Olivia’™ Indian hawthorn. In 2006, branching 60 DAFT with three biweekly applications of 100 to 300 ppm CYC increased 34 to 73% in ‘Foster’ holly, 268 to 413% in Eleanor Taber™ Indian hawthorn, and 2540 to 4440% in Olivia™ Indian hawthorn. Plant size ...
Hyperbolic caching: flexible caching for web applications

Today's web applications rely heavily on caching to reduce latency and backend load, using services like Redis or Memcached that employ inflexible caching algorithms. But the needs of each application vary, and significant performance gains can be achieved with a tailored strategy, e.g., incorporating cost of fetching, expiration time, and so forth. Existing strategies are fundamentally limited, however, because they rely on data structures to maintain a total ordering of the cached items. Inspired by Redis's use of random sampling for eviction (in lieu of a data structure) and recent theoretical justification for this approach, we design a new caching algorithm for web applications called hyperbolic caching. Unlike prior schemes, hyperbolic caching decays item priorities at variable rates and continuously reorders many items at once. By combining random sampling with lazy evaluation of the hyperbolic priority function, we gain complete flexibility in customizing the function. For example, we describe extensions that incorporate item cost, expiration time, and windowing. We also introduce the notion of a cost class in order to measure the costs and manipulate the priorities of all items belonging to a related group. We design a hyperbolic caching variant for several production systems from leading cloud providers. We implement our scheme in Redis and the Django web framework. Using real and simulated traces, we show that hyperbolic caching reduces miss rates by ∼10-20% over competitive baselines tailored to the application, and improves end-to-end throughput by ∼5-10%.
Impact of Rapid Cycling Strategy on Reductant Effectiveness During NO x Storage and Reduction

Performance studies of rapid lean-rich cycling over a NO x storage and reduction monolithic catalyst are described. The impacts of reductant type, specifically carbon-free (hydrogen (H2)), olefin (propylene (C3H6)), and alkane (propane (C3H8)) on the NO x and reductant conversions and product yields are reported over a range of feed temperature (T f), catalyst temperature (T s), and cycle time. The NO x conversion is enhanced at elevated temperatures (T f >350 °C) independent of reductant type by decreasing the cycle time from 70 to 7 s for a fixed rich duty cycle (14%). This is in contrast with a noted dependence on reductant type at intermediate temperatures (T f = 250–325 °C), with C3H8 exhibiting a detrimental effect of cycle time but C3H6 exhibiting an enhancing effect. The high temperature enhancement is contributed in part to an increased generation of active surface intermediates, more frequent regeneration of NO x storage sites, and from exothermic heat effects of the reductant oxidation. The opposite, intermediate temperature trend observed with C3H8 is attributed to kinetic limitations of C3H8 dehydrogenation. The contrasting features obtained with H2, C3H6, and C3H8 during cyclic operation and steady-state in situ Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS) help provide a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanism. Surface intermediates are identified with C3H6 that are not observed with C3H8. Experiments with mixtures of C3H6 and C3H8 reveal NO x conversion enhancement of up to 50% when substituting only a small amount of C3H6 into C3H8. This enhancement results from the lower feed temperature light-off of C3H6 compared to C3H8.
Sum frequency generation holography (Conference Presentation)

We demonstrate a sum frequency generation (SFG) holographic imaging method by integrating the capabilities of holography and SFG spectroscopy. SFG can probe the molecular vibrational resonance in non-centrosymmetric media. Holographic recording can capture both the amplitude and the phase of the SFG signal, thus leading to label-free spectroscopic three-dimensional imaging.
Internal Motions of Basic Side Chains of the Antennapedia Homeodomain in the Free and DNA-Bound States.

Basic side chains play crucial roles in protein–DNA interactions. In this study, using NMR spectroscopy, we investigated the dynamics of Arg and Lys side chains of the fruit fly Antennapedia homeodomain in the free state and in the complex with target DNA. We measured 15N relaxation for Arg and Lys side chains at two magnetic fields, from which generalized order parameters for the cationic groups were determined. Mobility of the R5 side chain, which makes hydrogen bonds with a thymine base in the DNA minor groove, was greatly dampened. Several Lys and Arg side chains that form intermolecular ion pairs with DNA phosphates were found to retain high mobility with the order parameter being <0.6 in the DNA-bound state. Interestingly, some of the interfacial cationic groups in the complex were more mobile than in the free protein. The retained or enhanced mobility of the Arg and Lys side chains in the complex should mitigate the overall loss of conformational entropy in the protein–DNA association and allow dyn...
Predicting Adverse Drug Effects from Literature- and Database-Mined Assertions

Given that adverse drug effects (ADEs) have led to post-market patient harm and subsequent drug withdrawal, failure of candidate agents in the drug development process, and other negative outcomes, it is essential to attempt to forecast ADEs and other relevant drug–target–effect relationships as early as possible. Current pharmacologic data sources, providing multiple complementary perspectives on the drug–target–effect paradigm, can be integrated to facilitate the inference of relationships between these entities. This study aims to identify both existing and unknown relationships between chemicals (C), protein targets (T), and ADEs (E) based on evidence in the literature. Cheminformatics and data mining approaches were employed to integrate and analyze publicly available clinical pharmacology data and literature assertions interrelating drugs, targets, and ADEs. Based on these assertions, a C–T–E relationship knowledge base was developed. Known pairwise relationships between chemicals, targets, and ADEs were collected from several pharmacological and biomedical data sources. These relationships were curated and integrated according to Swanson’s paradigm to form C–T–E triangles. Missing C–E edges were then inferred as C–E relationships. Unreported associations between drugs, targets, and ADEs were inferred, and inferences were prioritized as testable hypotheses. Several C–E inferences, including testosterone → myocardial infarction, were identified using inferences based on the literature sources published prior to confirmatory case reports. Timestamping approaches confirmed the predictive ability of this inference strategy on a larger scale. The presented workflow, based on free-access databases and an association-based inference scheme, provided novel C–E relationships that have been validated post hoc in case reports. With refinement of prioritization schemes for the generated C–E inferences, this workflow may provide an effective computational method for the early detection of potential drug candidate ADEs that can be followed by targeted experimental investigations.
Facilitating community partnerships to reduce opioid overdose: An engaged department initiative.

Abstract Background The opioid crisis is a major public health priority for most United States communities and requires multi-disciplinary and multi-pronged approaches. Despite this, there is considerable unfulfilled potential for engagement of academic pharmacy with community partners to form mutually-beneficial relationships. Objectives This study sought to determine how an opioid-focused Engaged Department Initiative might increase partnerships with rural community members and positively impact faculty teaching, service, practice and research while addressing a critical public health crisis in northern Minnesota. Methods A multidisciplinary department at a College of Pharmacy participated in an 18-month Engaged Department Initiative focused on building community partnerships to address the opioid crisis in rural communities of northern Minnesota. This initiative included internal, departmental-specific components, as well as external components focused on meeting opioid-related needs in the community. Results This initiative resulted in statistically significant increases in faculty understanding of and appreciation for community engagement, as well as the creation of impactful community-led programming focused on prevention and intervention of opioid use disorder. The community partnerships that were formed and strengthened throughout the Engaged Department Initiative have led to continuing opioid-related engagement activities with an ever-increasing number of surrounding communities. Conclusion An Engaged Department process allowed one department to bring a higher level of attention to community engagement to the entire College of Pharmacy and to incorporate goals and initiatives related to community engagement into a new collegiate strategic plan.
PET Studies of Local Brain Metabolism During Sensory and Motor Tasks: Strategies, Results and Applications in Neurologic and Psychiatric Diseases

Positron emission tomography (PET) provides a means of studying local sensory, motor, memory, and cognitive functions in normal subjects in vivo. Such tasks have been used to define the functional neuroanatomy of the human brain. Once consistent and interpretable data from normal individuals have been obtained, these can be applied in abnormal populations to test the functional reserve and recovery capacity of patients with various types of neurological and psychiatric disorders. In our laboratory we have begun to put together relevant data on normal populations in various stimulated and resting states [5–15]. These investigations reflect four specific aims: 1. To accumulate data in populations of normal subjects using the most accurate measurement specifications possible (e.g., the highest spatial resolution available) 2. To explore normal cerebral responses to sensory, motor, memory, and cognitive tasks 3. To design, develop, and validate the stimulation tasks and the resultant normal data base to use as probes in studying patients with minimal abnormalities seen on “resting” PET studies 4. To use these probes as a means of studying the functional recovery or maintenance of cerebral processes following brain injury. Hence, these investigations are a necessary prelude to the full exploitation of PET metholodology in patients, while simultaneously providing previously unavailable information about normal cerebral function.
The Combinatorics of Rooted Graphs

Formally a rooted graph is simply a graph H with a designated subset R of vertices, called the roots. We allow the degenerate case R = O but not R = V(H). The rooted graph is denoted by the pair (R, H) . For our purposes rooted graphs are a convenient notation for discussing the extension statements Ext(R, H) defined in Section 1.3 and our definitions will be meant to reflect the almost always character of random graphs. But we also feel that the theory of rooted graphs is a fascinating combinatorial structure of interest in its own right.
Tools and Recent Progress in Studying Gene Flow and Population Genetics of the Bemisia tabaci Sibling Species Group

The use of molecular markers in the Bemisia tabaci complex has been a definitive step in identifying the enormous genetic diversity hidden behind the morphological likeness among its members (see Gill and Brown, Chapter 1), and in determining interrelationships. The presence of biologically-based biotypes in B. tabaci was first realized in the 1950s by Bird (Bird 1957; Bird and Maramorosch 1978), who found that morphologically indistinguishable populations of the whitefly differed substantially in biological and ecological traits, including host range, adaptability to different hosts, and plant virus-transmission efficiencies. Later studies used ecological and biological experiments to examine mating compatibilities as well as differences among distinct populations in phytotoxic induction, insecticide resistance, behavior (Brown et al. 1995b).