cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Voltage-Fed Converters and PWM Techniques

This chapter deals with the voltage-fed-type converters, which are most commonly used in power electronics. The power devices in voltage-fed converters are only forward blocking with a bypass diode (fast recovery) so that current can freely flow in the reverse direction. Voltage-fed inverters can either be square-wave type or pulse width modulation (PWM) type. The control of a square-wave inverter is simple and switching loss is low, but the penalty is the higher output harmonics demanding bulky filters. A number of phase-shifted bridge inverters can synthesize a multi-stepped wave that has low harmonic content and the switching loss is low because the devices switch at the fundamental frequency. However, there is a penalty of a heavy, low-frequency transformer. PWM inverters are extremely important for motor drives where the nominal motor leakage inductance filters the harmonics. PWM inverters can be operated in undermodulation as well as in overmodulation regions to extract the maximum fundamental voltage, but with the penalty of lower order harmonics in overmodulation. They are also used in uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems that have an extra filter, but the filter size is small. Among the different PWM techniques, sinusoidal and space vector PWM are very common. All the PWM techniques are also applicable to multilevel converters.
Gate oxide reliability of 4H-SiC V-groove trench MOSFET under various stress conditions

The authors reported the optimization of the 4H-SiC V-groove Trench MOSFET (VMOSFET) structure in a previous conference (ISPSD2015). The VMOSFET has the buried p+ regions in the epitaxial layer to protect the trench bottom oxide. In this study, we characterized the long-term gate oxide reliability of the VMOSFETs under various stress conditions such as the gate bias or the drain bias. The VMOSFETs showed the Qbd of 28 Ccm−2 under the constant current stress TDDB measurement at RT. The threshold voltage of the VMOSFETs did not change significantly (|ΔΚλ|< 0.12 V) under both the static and the switching gate bias conditions at 175oC for more than 1000 hours. The gate leakage current after the drain bias test did not change for over 6500 hours. In addition, the SCSOA of the VMOSFET was larger than 10 μsec.
A taxonomy for task allocation problems with temporal and ordering constraints

Previous work on assigning tasks to robots has proposed extensive categorizations of allocation of tasks with and without constraints. The main contribution of this paper is a specific categorization of problems that have temporal and ordering constraints. We propose a novel taxonomy that emphasizes the differences between temporal and ordering constraints, and organizes the current literature according to the nature of those constraints. We summarize widely used models and methods from the task allocation literature and related areas, such as vehicle routing and scheduling problems, showing similarities and differences.
Azerbaijan: Language Situation

A former republic of the Soviet Union, the Republic of Azerbaijan became independent in 1991. The main language of Azerbaijan is Azerbaijani (North Azerbaijani). Among the languages of the republic's residents, three main language groups are currently represented: Turkic, Russian, and Armenian, in addition to a number of smaller language communities. Public affairs and higher education require linguistic minorities to use Azerbaijani.
Solid-State Joining of Thick-Section Dissimilar Materials Using a New Friction Stir Dovetailing (FSD) Process

Solid-state joining of thick section aluminum to steel plate has been achieved using a new process called friction stir dovetailing (FSD). In FSD, a custom designed pin tool is used to flow a lower melting point material (AA6061) into dovetail grooves machined into the surface of an underlying material that has a higher melting point (rolled homogeneous armor [RHA]). Repeating dovetails form a mechanical interlocking structure akin to metallic Velcro. In this study, 38.1 mm (1.5 in.) thick AA6061 was joined to 12.7 mm (0.5 in.) thick RHA plates. The effectiveness of FSD is demonstrated through tensile test data that shows specimens failing in the processed aluminum rather than at the joint interface. Numerical simulations that highlight the importance of optimizing dovetail geometry are presented. The effect of process parameters on joint strength and microstructure also are discussed.
Self-adaptive dynamic decision making processes

Decision making is important for many systems and is fundamental for situation awareness and information fusion. When a decision making process is confronted with new situations, goals and kinds of data, it must evolve and adapt. Highly optimized processes and efficient data structures generally have the disadvantage of having little flexibility or adaptability when confronted with new forms of data and new or changing goals. Consequently, optimized processes may only be locally optimal and may deteriorate over time. The normal approach to changing conditions is to manually reconfigure and even redevelop the system, which can be costly and time-consuming. In this article. we propose an architecture for the self-adaptation of decision making processes using flexible data structures and a process that monitors and adapts the decision making process. The objective is to have the ability to adapt both data schemas and decision making processes so that they can be both responsive and efficient.
DNA damage and neurodegenerative phenotypes in aged Ciz1 null mice.

Abstract Cell-cycle dysfunction and faulty DNA repair are closely intertwined pathobiological processes that may contribute to several neurodegenerative disorders. CDKN1A interacting zinc finger protein 1 (CIZ1) plays a critical role in DNA replication and cell-cycle progression at the G1/S checkpoint. Germline or somatic variants in CIZ1 have been linked to several neural and extra-neural diseases. Recently, we showed that germline knockout of Ciz1 is associated with motor and hematological abnormalities in young adult mice. However, the effects of CIZ1 deficiency in much older mice may be more relevant to understanding age-related declines in cognitive and motor functioning and age-related neurologic disorders such as isolated dystonia and Alzheimer disease. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts from Ciz1−/− mice showed abnormal sensitivity to the effects of γ-irradiation with persistent DNA breaks, aberrant cell-cycle progression, and apoptosis. Aged (18-month-old) Ciz1−/− mice exhibited marked deficits in motor and cognitive functioning, and, in brain tissues, overt DNA damage, NF-κB upregulation, oxidative stress, vascular dysfunction, inflammation, and cell death. These findings indicate that the deleterious effects of CIZ1 deficiency become more pronounced with aging and suggest that defects of cell-cycle control and associated DNA repair pathways in postmitotic neurons could contribute to global neurologic decline in elderly human populations. Accordingly, the G1/S cell-cycle checkpoint and associated DNA repair pathways may be targets for the prevention and treatment of age-related neurodegenerative processes.
IVABRADINE AND INAPPROPRIATE SINUS TACHYCARDIA: A FUNNY TARGET FOR AN INAPPROPRIATE DISEASE

Inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) refractory to standard medical therapy and sinus nodal modification can be treated successfully with ivabradine. A 43-year-old female presented with complaint of palpitations and fatigue for 4 months. Her symptoms occurred with household chores. Her medical
Achieving aggressive goals through Lean Six Sigma: A case study to improve revenue collection

Lean Six Sigma is typically used to address tightly scoped issues through short-term projects (four–six months). Yet, many improvement efforts have aggressive goals that cannot be addressed in a sh...
Young's modulus evaluation of high burnup structure in UO2 with nanometer resolution

Abstract The mechanical properties of a well-characterized irradiated light water reactor fuel pin with an average burnup of 72 MWd/kgU were investigated by utilizing nano-indentation technique. Young's modulus and hardness are reported as functions of radial positions covering from mid radial position in the urania pellet to high burnup structure, fuel-cladding chemical interaction zone and zirconium-based cladding. By probing microstructure of the high burnup zone, the mechanical properties of sub-grains and the interaction between them were examined at the nanometer scale. Force-displacement curves from each of these individual sub-grains suggest they resemble single crystal UO2. However, these restructured grains are weakly bonded to their neighbors.
Modelling Natural Language, Programs, and their Intersection.

As computers and information grow a more integral part of our world, it is becoming more and more important for humans to be able to interact with their computers in complex ways. One way to do so is by programming, but the ability to understand and generate programming languages is a highly specialized skill. As a result, in the past several years there has been an increasing research interest in methods that focus on the intersection of programming and natural language, allowing users to use natural language to interact with computers in the complex ways that programs allow us to do. In this tutorial, we will focus on machine learning models of programs and natural language focused on making this goal a reality. First, we will discuss the similarities and differences between programming and natural language. Then we will discuss methods that have been designed to cover a variety of tasks in this field, including automatic explanation of programs in natural language (code-to-language), automatic generation of programs from natural language specifications (language-to-code), modeling the natural language elements of source code, and analysis of communication in collaborative programming communities. The tutorial will be aimed at NLP researchers and practitioners, aiming to describe the interesting opportunities that models at the intersection of natural and programming languages provide, and also how their techniques could provide benefit to the practice of software engineering as a whole.
Comparative and Evolutionary Perspectives on Human Brain Growth

This chapter draws on comparative information from human and primate biology to explore the influence of brain size and metabolism on human growth and development. It begins by examining how variation in brain size influences metabolic demands and dietary/nutritional patterns among modern primates. Next, it briefly considers the ecological and nutritional factors that have promoted the evolution of human brain size. The chapter then examines patterns of early life brain growth in humans and how they differ from those of other primates. Finally, it explores how the high energy demands of brain growth in early childhood shape nutritional needs and patterns of growth and development in body size and composition.
Timing Between a Large Impact and a Geomagnetic Reversal and the Depth of NRM Acquisition in Deep-Sea Sediments

The hypothesis that large meteorite impacts on earth may trigger geomagnetic reversals is partly based on the close stratigraphic occurrence of the Australasian microtektite layer to the Brunhes/Matuyama reversal boundary in deep-sea sediments. However, the precise timing between these two events is unclear because the original stratigraphic position of the microtektites has been altered by bioturbation and the position of the reversal boundary has been changed by post-depositional remanent magnetization. The palaeomagnetic stratigraphy and microtektite distributions from 20 deep-sea cores have been utilized to solve the problem. After correction for bioturbation, a model to account for the distance (Q) separating the microtektites and the reversal boundary includes the time difference (Δt) between the two events, the sediment accumulation rate (w), and an exponential term (n e-w) representing the depth of NRM acquisition in an expression:
In search of I/O-optimal recovery from disk failures

We address the problem of minimizing the I/O needed to recover from disk failures in erasure-coded storage systems. The principal result is an algorithm that finds the optimal I/O recovery from an arbitrary number of disk failures for any XOR-based erasure code. We also describe a family of codes with high-fault tolerance and low recovery I/O, e.g. one instance tolerates up to 11 failures and recovers a lost block in 4 I/Os. While we have determined I/O optimal recovery for any given code, it remains an open problem to identify codes with the best recovery properties. We describe our ongoing efforts toward characterizing space overhead versus recovery I/O tradeoffs and generating codes that realize these bounds.
Visual and keratometric outcomes of keratoconus patients after sequential corneal crosslinking and topography-guided surface ablation: Early United States experience.

Purpose To evaluate a sequential treatment algorithm for visual and keratometric improvement in keratoconus patients after corneal crosslinking (CXL) followed by topography-guided photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Setting Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island, Garden City, New York, USA. Design Retrospective case series. Methods This study reviewed patients with keratoconus who had CXL followed by custom topography-guided PRK between April 2016 and December 2016. The following data were collected at baseline, the time of CXL, and 3 months and 6 months after PRK: uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuities, keratometric astigmatism, spherical equivalent, maximum and mean keratometry readings, and corneal thickness at the cone apex. Demographic data, age at time of CXL and PRK, and time elapsed between CXL and PRK were analyzed for significance and a correlation with visual and astigmatic outcomes. Results The study comprised 56 patients (62 eyes), 34 who had both topographic and refractive treatment and 28 patients who had treatment of topographic irregularities only. The mean age was 38.08 years ± 13.07 (SD) at CXL and 40.33 ± 13.44 years at topography-guided PRK. Six months after PRK, there was a significant improvement in UDVA and CDVA in the refractive group (20/60 and 20/30, respectively) versus the nonrefractive group (20/100 and 20/40, respectively). Ninety-three percent of eyes that had refractive treatment had 20/40 or better CDVA. There were no significant adverse events in any case. Conclusions The data support the use of refractive treatment in addition to topographic treatment for visual improvement in patients with keratoconus having CXL and PRK.
Extending Proportional Fair Scheduling to Buffer-Aided Relay Access Networks

We investigate downlink scheduling in two-hop relay access networks with a central controller. To address the time-varying nature of wireless channels, a channel-aware scheduling scheme is proposed to exploit both spatial and multihop diversity. Given instantaneous channel state information, scheduling decisions are made at every time slot based on the designed priority indexes. The proposed scheme improves throughput and ensures fair transmission among all the active mobile stations in the system. In addition, with optimized scaling factors, the proposed scheme is shown to be close to Pareto-optimal.
Outcomes Using Narrow Band UVB Phototherapy for Acute Skin Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD) in Pediatric Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients

Acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD) is a significant complication of pediatric allo- BMT. Narrow band UVB (nbUVB) therapy allows targeted treatment without systemic immunosuppression, but data is limited for pediatric patients. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all pediatric allo-BMT patients from July 1, 2007- July 1, 2018. Seven patients (1 female, 6 male) with a median age of 12.9 years (range 3-20) received nbUVB therapy. Diagnoses included ALL (4), MDS (2), and NHL (1). Preparative regimens were TBI-based (5) or Bu/Cy (2). Donor sources included MSD (1), MUD (1), MMUD (4), and haplo (1). Three of the patients had unrelated female donors. All patients failed topical steroids prior to nbUVB. Treatment with nbUVB was initiated at a median of 48 days (range 44-77) post-BMT, requiring a median of 26 treatments (range 4-36) over a median of 11.5 weeks (range 3 – 17). One patient underwent a second trial of nbUVB due to recurrence. Complete response was noted in 75% of the 8 total nbUVB treatment courses with a mean cumulative dose of 364.5 J•cm−2 (range 234 – 1557). Partial response and no response each occurred in one treatment course (12.5%). Only two patients had aGVHD of other organs prior to nbUVB; however, all seven received IV/PO steroids during a portion of nbUVB treatment. Five patients remain alive without cGVHD at a median of 7 years (range 0.8-10) post-BMT. One patient with a TBI-based preparative regimen developed poikilodermatous radiation dermatitis 4 years post-BMT. No other additional treatment-related skin complications to date. Two patients developed overlap syndrome and cGVHD and died. There is scant published data regarding nbUVB use in pediatric aGVHD treatment. These results suggest that nbUVB is a highly effective second-line therapy for treatment of pediatric cutaneous aGVHD, and further research should be completed to elucidate its efficacy.
Prescription, cosmetic and chemical drug products liability in Australia and some Commonwealth jurisdictions

Today, the area of drugs and drug product liability is a complex, ever changing synthesis of medicine and the law. Drugs are now recognised as inherently dangerous with potential for causing harm. The majority of today's prescription drugs hardly existed twenty years ago. In this age of chemotherapy, masses of the population are vaccinated or innoculated against diseases, and few, if any, individuals, do not at some time or another make use of medical prescriptions. It is then only to be expected that courts will at one time or another be flooded with cases of alleged injuries suffered from the use of such drugs. Such an avalanche of litigation did occur in the United States of America, but did not materialise in Commonwealth jurisdictions.There appears to be no legal obligation on medical practitioners to report any adverse drug reactions, and the data on reported incidents must be considered incomplete. A number of reasons may be advanced for this lack of reporting.
Articulating Twintimacy as a Communicative and Cultural Perspective on Twinships

ABSTRACTUnlike any other family relationship, twins are culturally understood as uncommon, special, and unique, while simultaneously in need of intervention to become separate, healthy individuals....
Gastric food retention at endoscopy is associated with severity of liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal symptoms are prevalent in patients with cirrhosis. Cirrhotic patients have a known predilection to delayed gastric emptying compared to those without cirrhosis. However, the contributing factors have not been fully elucidated. Retained gastric food on esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) has been used as a surrogate marker for delayed gastric emptying with reasonably high specificity. Therefore, we hypothesize that the frequency of retained gastric food contents at EGD will be higher in a cirrhotic population compared to a control population without liver disease. Additionally, we hypothesize that increased frequency of gastric food contents will be associated with increased severity of cirrhosis. AIM To determine the relative frequency of delayed gastric emptying among cirrhotics as compared to non-cirrhotics and to identify associated factors. METHODS We performed a retrospective case-control study of cirrhotic subjects who underwent EGD at an academic medical center between 2000 and 2015. Three hundred sixty-four patients with confirmed cirrhosis, who underwent a total of 1044 EGDs for the indication of esophageal variceal screening or surveillance, were identified. During the same period, 519 control patients without liver disease, who underwent a total of 881 EGDs for the indication of anemia, were identified. The presence of retained food on EGD was used as a surrogate for delayed gastric emptying. The relative frequency of delayed gastric emptying among cirrhotics was compared to non-cirrhotics. Characteristics of patients with and without retained food on EGD were compared using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify associated factors. RESULTS Overall, 40 (4.5%) patients had evidence of retained food on EGD. Cirrhotics were more likely to have retained food on EGD than non-cirrhotics (9.1% vs 1.4%, P < 0.001). Characteristics associated with retained food on univariable analysis included age less than 60 years (12.6% vs 5.2%, P = 0.015), opioid use (P = 0.004), Child-Pugh class C (24.1% Child-Pugh class C vs 6.4% Child-Pugh class A, P = 0.007), and lower platelet count (P = 0.027). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, in addition to the presence of cirrhosis (adjusted OR = 5.83; 95%CI: 2.32-14.7, P < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (types 1 and 2 combined) (OR = 2.34; 95%CI: 1.08-5.06, P = 0.031), opioid use (OR = 3.08; 95%CI: 1.29-7.34, P = 0.011), and Child-Pugh class C (OR = 4.29; 95%CI: 1.43-12.9, P = 0.01) were also associated with a higher likelihood of food retention on EGD. CONCLUSION Cirrhotics have a higher frequency of retained food at EGD than non-cirrhotics. Decompensated cirrhosis, defined by Child-Pugh class C, is associated with a higher likelihood of delayed gastric emptying.
Recent Results with the ADMX Experiment

The ADMX experiment is an axion haloscope using a microwave cavity in a strong magnetic field to search for dark matter axions. I will present on results from our run 1A in which we excluded the range of axion–photon couplings predicted by QCD axions for axion masses between 2.66 and 2.81 μeV. These results marked the first time a haloscope experiment achieved sensitivity to the well-motivated DFSZ axion. In addition, I will provide updates on the search for axions in the 2.82–3.31 μeV madss range with the ADMX experiment.
Democratic (Dis)engagement in school district decentralization: A critical analysis of actors and coalitions

Leaders of education policy continue to decentralize school districts, particularly in predominately large urban districts, despite mixed results from this reform. In this article, we seek to expla...
Effects of monoclonal antibodies against amyloid-β on clinical and biomarker outcomes and adverse event risks: A systematic review and meta-analysis of phase III RCTs in Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract Objective To investigate the effects of monoclonal antibodies against Aβ on cognition, function, amyloid PET and other biomarkers, as well as risk for amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) and other adverse events, in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods Pubmed, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov and gray literature were searched for phase III RCTs and random-effects meta-analyses were performed. Results Seventeen studies (12,585 patients) were included. Antibodies statistically improved the cognitive outcomes ADAS-Cog {SMD = -0.06 [95 % CI (-0.10; -0.02), I2 = 0%]} and MMSE {SMD = 0.05 [95 % CI (0.01; 0.09), I2 = 0%]} by small effect sizes, but did not improve the cognitive/functional measure CDR-SOB {SMD = -0.03 [95 % CI (-0.07; 0.01), I2 = 18 %]}. Moreover, antibodies decreased amyloid PET SUVR {SMD = -1.02 [95 % CI (-1.70; -0.34), I2 = 95 %]} and CSF p181-tau {SMD = -0.87 [95 % CI (-1.32; -0.43), I2 = 89 %]} by large effect sizes. They also increased risk for ARIA {RR = 4.30 [95 % CI (2.39; 7.77), I2 = 86 %]} by a large effect size. Antibody effects on reducing amyloid PET SUVR were correlated with their effects on improving ADAS-Cog (r = +0.68, p = 0.02). In subgroup analyses by individual drug, Aducanumab improved ADAS-Cog, CDR-SOB, ADCS-ADL by small effect sizes and decreased amyloid PET SUVR and CSF p181-tau by large effect sizes. Solanezumab improved ADAS-Cog and MMSE by small effect sizes, and increased (improved) CSF Aβ1–40 levels by a moderate effect size. Bapineuzumab, Gantenerumab and Crenezumab did not improve any clinical outcomes. Bapineuzumab and Gantenerumab decreased CSF p181-tau by a small and large effect size, respectively. All drugs except Solanezumab increased ARIA risk. Conclusions In this meta-analysis of phase III trials in AD, we found that monoclonal antibodies against Aβ induced clinical improvements of small effect sizes, biomarker improvements of large effect sizes, and increases in risk for the hallmark adverse event, ARIA, by a large effect size, when all drugs were pooled together. Among individual drugs, Aducanumab produced the most favorable effects followed by Solanezumab. These findings provide moderate support for the continuous development of anti-Aβ monoclonal antibodies as a treatment for AD.
Decentralized online convex optimization based on signs of relative states

Abstract In this paper, we study a class of decentralized online convex optimization problems with time-varying loss functions over multi-agent networks. We propose a decentralized online subgradient method by using only the signs of the relative states of neighbors, which considerably reduces the sensing and communication requirements for the agents. We show that, despite the loss of information, the proposed algorithm can still achieve O ( T ) regret bound ( T is the time horizon), which matches that of the standard distributed online subgradient method with exact relative state information. We further investigate the scenario of using noisy signs, where the measurements of the directions of the relative states are perturbed by noise. We show that the regret bound is not affected as long as the noise is not too large, which manifests certain noise-tolerance property of the proposed algorithm. Additionally, we extend the algorithm to the case of bandit feedback, where only the values of the local loss functions at two points are revealed to agents at each time. We demonstrate that the regret bound is not influenced by bandit feedback in order sense. Finally, numerical experiments on decentralized online least squares and logistic regression are conducted to corroborate the efficacy of the proposed algorithms.
Adaptive Block Compressed Sensing Algorithm based on Integral Imaging

In order to effectively compress and reconstruct the elemental image array in integral imaging, an improved block compressed sensing algorithm based on integral imaging is proposed. The amount of elemental image data is large and the redundancy is high, so the image is first sampled by interlaced rows and columns, and then the discrete cosine transform (DCT) is performed. The block classification is based on the discrete cosine transform coefficient difference between adjacent pixels in the image block, and is divided into four sub-blocks according to the characteristics of the image. Use different sampling rates to measure samples for different types of sub-blocks. In the reconstruction stage, the total variation algorithm is used to reconstruct each sub-block, the sub-blocks are recombined together to obtain the entire image, and then the image is restored by extracting samples, and finally a complete reconstructed image is obtained. Experimental results show that the use of this algorithm to compress and reconstruct integral imaging images has a good effect.
Simultaneous Stress and Field Control of Sustainable Switching of Ferroelectric Phases

In ferroelectrics, manifestation of a strong electromechanical coupling is attributed to both engineered domain morphology and phase transformations. However, realization of large sustainable and reversible strains and polarization rotation has been limited by fatigue, nonlinearity and hysteresis losses. Here, we demonstrate that large strain and polarization rotation can be generated for over 40 × 106 cycles with little fatigue by realization of a reversible ferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transition in [011] cut Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (PIN-PMN-PT) relaxor ferroelectric single crystal. Direct tuning of this effect through combination of stress and applied electric field, confirmed both macroscopically and microscopically with x-ray and Raman scattering, reveals the local symmetry while sweeping through the transition with a low applied electric field (<0.2 MV/m) under mechanical stress. The observed change in local symmetry as determined by x-ray scattering confirms a proposed polarization rotation mechanism corresponding to a transition between rhombohedral and orthorhombic phases. These results shed more light onto the nature of this reversible transformation between two ferroelectric phases and advance towards the development of a wide range of ferroic and multiferroic devices.
Studies on T3-induced Ribonucleic Acid Polymerase III. PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE T3-INDUCED RIBONUCLEIC ACID POLYMERASE FROM BACTERIOPHAGE T3-INFECTED ESCHERICHIA COLI CELLS

Abstract A procedure for the isolation and purification of bacteriophage T3-induced RNA polymerase from T3-infected Escherichia coli cells is presented. The procedure described leads to the isolation of polymerase preparation that displays a single protein band by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and is free of detectable ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease activities. Other enzyme activities absent from such preparations include inorganic pyrophosphatase, nucleoside diphosphokinase, DNA polymerase, E. coli RNA polymerase, nucleoside triphosphatase, polynucleotide phosphorylase, polyriboadenylate polymerase, and polyphosphate kinase. T3-induced RNA polymerase has been characterized with regard to various biochemical parameters. The enzyme is a single polypeptide chain of molecular weight 105,000 ± 5,000. The enzyme activity is completely dependent on the presence of Mg2+, all four nucleoside triphosphates, and T3 DNA. T7 DNA shows only 2 to 5% of activity as that obtained with T3 DNA, while other native DNA preparations examined are inactive. The T3 RNA polymerase is highly sensitive to salt concentrations above 0.03 m or to reagents which react with sulfhydryl groups such as p-hydroxymercuribenzoate and N-ethylmaleimide. The enzyme catalyzes a T3 DNA-dependent 32PPi exchange into nucleoside triphosphates. However, no pyrophosphorolysis of free RNA can be demonstrated. The 32PPi exchange reaction can occur with GTP alone. The exchange reaction with the other three nucleoside triphosphates, present either alone or in combination, does not occur except when GTP is included in the reaction. The effect of E. coli RNA chain termination factor, p, on the T3 RNA polymerase reaction has been studied. It has been found that p factor has no effect on the rate, yield, or size of RNA formed in the T3 RNA polymerase-catalyzed reactions.
Non-distorting Flattening for Virtual Colonoscopy

In this paper, we consider a novel 3D visualization technique based on conformal surface flattening for virtual colonoscopy. Such visualization methods could be important in virtual colonoscopy since they have the potential for non-invasively determining the presence of polyps and other pathologies. Further, we demonstrate a method which presents a surface scan of the entire colon as a cine, and affords a viewer the opportunity to examine each point on the surface without distortion. From a triangulated surface representation of the colon, we indicate how the flattening procedure may be implemented using a finite element technique. We give a simple example of how the flattening map can be composed with other maps to enhance certain mapping properties. Finally, we show how the use of curvature based colorization and shading maps can be used to aid in the inspection process.
A time-interleaved parallel /spl Delta//spl Sigma/ A/D converter

A new architecture for Nyquist-rate analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion is presented. The new architecture combines the concept of time-interleaved A/D converters with the /spl Delta//spl Sigma/ A/D converter. For every doubling of the clock frequency, the resolution of the A/D converter improves by n bits, where n is the order of the /spl Delta//spl Sigma/ modulators. The advantage of the time-interleaved /spl Delta//spl Sigma/ A/D converter is reduced complexity of the digital filters. Another feature of this architecture is that the linearity of the converters depends on the linearity of each channel and is independent of the number of channels.
The Consultation Circle

ABSTRACT The Consultation Circle, an effective technique for developing peer consultation skills in field seminar, offers a structured process for giving and receiving feedback. This technique empowers students, who because of personality style, perceived gender constraints, or cultural norms, may be reticent to participate. Because peer consultation is rapidly becoming a feature of social service agency infrastructure for practice review and professional development, incorporating the Consultation Circle in field seminar enhances students' preparation for the realities of professional practice. Although use of the technique in field seminars is described in the paper, it has been used successfully in multi-disciplinary, multicultural agency settings.
Ethnomethodology and the Human Sciences

Ethnomethodology and the Human Sciences. Graham Button. ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991. 278 pp.
Intermolecular Cross-links in Reconstituted Collagen Fibrils EVIDENCE FOR THE NATURE OF THE COVALENT BONDS

Abstract Reduction of reconstituted native type collagen fibrils with sodium borohydride produced a firmly cross-linked polymer as determined by solubility, thermal shrinkage and dissolution, and renaturation studies, and by examination of the denatured protein by ultracentrifugation, gel filtration, polyacrylamide electrophoresis, and carboxymethyl cellulose chromatography. Maximum reduction occurred within 1 min after treatment of the reconstituted fibrils; approximately 1 mole of tritium was incorporated per mole of collagen when sodium borotritide was used. About 30% of the α chains and 30% of the β subunits were consumed in the reaction, yielding a heterogeneous population of higher molecular weight components. Chemical modification of the collagen aldehydes prevented cross-linking, as did limited modification of lysine or hydroxylysine e-amino groups. Lathyritic collagen also failed to cross-link, probably as a result of diminished aldehyde content. Maximum cross-linking occurred when the collagen was polymerized into native type fibrils. Collagen in solution did not cross-link, and collagen polymerized into other than native type fibrils underwent partial or minimal cross-linking. Borohydride reduction did not produce intramolecular bonds, and no relationship could be found between the degree of intramolecular cross-linking and the ability to form intermolecular cross-links. It is proposed that the effect of borohydride is due to the reduction of Schiff bases which form between the collagen molecules when they are aligned in native type fibrils.
La masonería en México, entre las sociedades secretas y patrióticas, 1813-1830

?Que distingue a la masoneria de otras sociedades secretas o de las sociedades patrioticas? ?Lo que hubo en Mexico entre 1823 y 1830, sigue siendo masoneria a pesar de su condicion de centros de accion politica? En este trabajo se intentara responder estas y otras preguntas que se desprenden del complejo accionar de los masones en Mexico durante las primeras decadas del siglo XIX, proponiendo algunas definiciones operativas, asi como aplicandolas a los casos concretos de las organizaciones masonicas, paramasonicas, sociedades patrioticas y secretas que funcionaron en el pais en esos anos.
The Complexity of Models of International Trade

We show a range of complexity results for the Ricardo and Heckscher-Ohlin models of international trade (as Arrow-Debreu production markets). For both models, we show three types of results: 1 When utility functions are Leontief and production functions are linear, it is NP-hard to decide if a market has an equilibrium. 1 When utility functions and production functions are linear, equilibria are efficiently computable (which was already known for Ricardo). 1 When utility functions are Leontief, equilibria are still efficiently computable when the diversity of producers and inputs is limited. Our proofs are based on a general reduction between production and exchange equilibria. One interesting byproduct of our work is a generalization of Ricardo's Law of Comparative Advantage to more than two countries, a fact that does not seem to have been observed in the Economics literature.
JTRS-an open, distributed-object computing software radio architecture

The Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) program is a 3-step process to define, standardize, and implement a software defined radio architecture. Step 1 resulted in a baseline architecture definition. In Step 2 the architecture definition will be developed and validated as the Software Communications Architecture (SCA) which will be the basis for future DoD software radios. The SCA is also expected to become the standard for Government and commercial software radios. Step 3 activities will result in procurement and integration of systems and waveforms that are compliant with the SCA and which satisfy individual DoD user requirements. During Step 3, the architecture will continue to evolve in response to new or changing warfighter requirements and technology advancements. The JTRS is defined in terms of its hardware, software, networking, and security architecture. This paper addresses the Software Communications Architecture.
Quality of life improvement from sinus surgery in chronic rhinosinusitis patients with asthma and nasal polyps.

Background It is unclear whether chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients with both nasal polyps and asthma have different quality of life (QOL) improvement after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). We aimed to determine whether CRS patients with asthma and nasal polyps had a greater QOL improvement after FESS compared to patients without asthma or polyps. Methods This retrospective analysis included adult CRS patients who underwent FESS between 2007 and 2011. QOL was measured using the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). Variables collected included baseline demographics, clinical factors, SNOT-22 scores before FESS, and 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months post-FESS. Groups tested were asthma alone, polyps alone, asthma and polyps, and no asthma or polyps. Linear mixed-effects regression model was performed to calculate β-coefficients, which represent the adjusted mean QOL differences. Results Among the 376 patients included, 40.16% had both asthma and polyps (n = 151), 14.36% had asthma alone (n = 54), 19.45% had polyps alone (n = 75), and 25.53% had no asthma or polyps (n = 96). After adjusting for all factors, there were significantly more QOL improvements in patients with both asthma and nasal polyps from baseline to 1-month (β-coefficient = −10.05; 95% CI, −15.86 to −4.23; p = 0.001) and 3-month follow-up (β-coefficient = −8.27; 95% CI, −14.98 to −1.56; p = 0.016), and patients with asthma alone from baseline to 6-month follow-up (β-coefficient = −8.78; 95% CI, −17.45 to −0.11; p = 0.047), when compared to patients without asthma or nasal polyps. Conclusion CRS patients with both asthma and nasal polyps or asthma alone experience a larger QOL benefit from FESS immediately after FESS compared to CRS patients without asthma or polyps.
MAPG: memory access power gating

In mobile systems, the problems of short battery life and increased temperature are exacerbated by wasted leakage power. Leakage power waste can be reduced by power-gating a core while it is stalled waiting for a resource. In this work, we propose and model memory access power gating (MAPG), a low-overhead technique to enable power gating of an active core when it stalls during a long memory access. We describe a programmable two-stage power gating switch design that can vary a core's wake-up delay while maintaining voltage noise limits and leakage power savings. We also model the processor power distribution network and the effect of memory access power gating on neighboring cores. Last, we apply our power gating technique to actual benchmarks, and examine energy savings and overheads from power gating stalled cores during long memory accesses. Our analyses show the potential for over 38% energy savings given "perfect" power gating on memory accesses; we achieve energy savings exceeding 20% for a practical, counter-based implementation.
Abstract 4187: A novel genome-wide assay identifies chromatin domains involved in stem cell behavior

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL The activity of DNA regulatory elements are often controlled by chromatin structure. Active regulatory elements are located within “open” or “accessible” chromatin. If a regulatory element is in a “closed” or “inaccessible” chromatin environment it is functionally silenced. We find that when permeabilized cells are treated with nuclease in situ, small DNA fragments, corresponding to accessible chromatin, can be readily isolated. These small DNA fragments, when analyzed by next-generation sequencing, provide a global map of active genomic regulatory domains. We used this technology to identify chromatin domains involved in stem cell behavior using NTera2 cells as a model system. By comparing differentiated and undifferentiated NTera2 cells we identified more than 500 genomic regions that are accessible only in undifferentiated cells. We then used these results, together with ENCODE data analyzing human embryonic stem cells and human cancer cells, to identify genomic regulatory regions that are active only in stem cells. Importantly, many of these regions are proximal to genes that are associated with cell “stemness” (NANOG and LIN28 are examples). In addition, several uncharacterized genes that have RNA expression characteristics similar to NANOG and LIN28 were identified. Interestingly, several stem-cell specific active regulatory domains were found adjacent to previously uncharacterized, stem-cell specific non-coding RNA transcript regions. These findings demonstrate that this approach can serve as a new discovery tool to identify chromatin regions that control stem cell behavior. In addition, chromatin regions associated with other biological or pathological states could also be identified using this approach. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4187. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4187
The quality parameter for digital ( t, m, s )-nets

The theory of continued fractions over finite fields has been used to identify good digital (t, m, 2)-nets. In this article, we generalize some techniques from real diophantine approximation which can be helpful for locating good candidates for (t, m, s)-nets for s ≥ 3. We include some computational results for binary (t, m, 3)-nets.
Motivational interviewing with injured adolescents in the emergency department: In-session predictors of change

This paper reports the process outcomes of a randomized trial of a one-session Motivational Interviewing (MI) intervention(1) conducted with youth (12-20 years) in a hospital emergency department (ED) while undergoing medical care for an injury. The interventions targeted six behaviors placing youths at high risk for injury. Those youth whose counselors perceived their readiness to increase between the start and end of the MI session were 4.5 times more likely to have improved their use of seat belts 6 months later compared with youth who were not perceived to have increased in readiness during the session.
The feasible solution in signal restoration

The feasible solution to the signal restoration problem is defined as the one which satisfies all constraints which can be imposed on the true solution. A very important set of constraints can be obtained by examining the statistics of the noise. These and other constraints can be described as closed convex sets. Thus, projection onto closed convex sets is the numerical method used to obtain a feasible solution. Examples of this method demonstrate its usefulness in one-and two-dimensional signal restoration. The limitations of the method are discussed.
Hydrodynamic evolution of picosecond laser plasmas

ABSTRACT The density profile evolution of picosecond laser-plasmas has been inferred from the angulardependence of the specular reflectivity of a probe picosecond pulse. Time-resolved density profiles,critical density scale-lengths as short as 3 nm and values for the plasma collisionality are presentedfor a gold target irradiated by a 580 nm, 0.8 p5 FWHM laser pulse with a peak intensity of up to2x1 013Wcm2. The results are best fitted at early times (<10 ps) by the self-similar isothermalexponential density profile and a critical density collision frequency of 0.3w, in good agreement with 1-D hydrodynamic simulations. I . INTRODUCTION The advent of high power, moderate energy and repetition rate picosecond lasers has spurred interest in table-top laser plasma research. Much of the effort has been directed towards producing a uniformsolid density high temperature plasma suitable for diagnosis.13 The difficulties associated with thisare twofold: the laser pulse duration must be short enough for efficient coupling to the solid target
802.11a/g WLAN Radio Transmission at 1.3 pm over 1.1 km Multi-mode and ≫30 km Standard Single-mode Fiber Using InP VCSEL

We demonstrate WLAN radio transmission at 2.4GHz and in 5GHz band over a record distance of 1.1km multimode and ≫30km standard single-mode fibers with low EVM ≪4.9%rms using a 1310nm high-speed single-mode AlGaInAs/InP VCSEL.
On the origin of the catalytic power of carboxypeptidase A and other metalloenzymes

Zinc metalloenzymes play a major role in key biological processes and carboxypeptidase-A (CPA) is a major prototype of such enzymes. The present work quantifies the energetics of the catalytic reaction of CPA and its mutants using the empirical valence bond (EVB) approach. The simulations allow us to quantify the origin of the catalytic power of this enzyme and to examine different mechanistic alternatives. The first step of the analysis used experimental information to determine the activation energy of each assumed mechanism of the reference reaction without the enzyme. The next step of the analysis involved EVB simulations of the reference reaction and then a calibration of the simulations by forcing them to reproduce the energetics of the reference reaction, in each assumed mechanism. The calibrated EVB was then used in systematic simulations of the catalytic reaction in the protein environment, without changing any parameter. The simulations reproduced the observed rate enhancement in two feasible general acid-general base mechanisms (GAGB-1 and GAGB-2), although the calculations with the GAGB-2 mechanism underestimated the catalytic effect in some treatments. We also reproduced the catalytic effect in the R127A mutant. The mutation calculations indicate that the GAGB-2 mechanism is significantly less likely than the GAGB-1 mechanism. It is also found, that the enzyme loses all its catalytic effect without the metal. This and earlier studies show that the catalytic effect of the metal is not some constant electrostatic effect, that can be assessed from gas phase studies, but a reflection of the dielectric effect of the specific environment. Proteins 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Life-cycle saving and dissaving in retirement

Abstract In a life-cycle saving model with no bequest motive, it is shown that aged persons may continue to accumulate wealth during the early years of retirement. The key features of the model are the lack of borrowing opportunities and the recognition of empirically based mortality probabilities.
An overview of charnockite

Abstract Charnockite, a quartzfeldspathic rock containing orthopyroxene, is an important component of high-grade, deep-crustal terrains. The origin of charnockite by both igneous and metamorphic processes, not yet clearly defined, has major bearing on the evolution of continents.