cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Review of NASA's Radiation-Hardened Electronics for Space Environments Project

NASA's Radiation Hardened Electronics for Space Exploration (RHESE) project develops the advanced technologies required to produce radiation hardened electronics, processors, and devices in support of the requirements of NASA's Constellation program. Over the past year, multiple advancements have been made within each of the RHESE technology development tasks that will facilitate the success of the Constellation program elements. This paper provides a brief review of these advancements, discusses their application to Constellation projects, and addresses the plans for the coming year.
Quantitative Analysis of Permeation Peptide Complexes Labeled with Technetium-99m: Chiral and Sequence-Specific Effects on Net Cell Uptake

This study investigated sequence-specific cell uptake characteristics of Tat basic domain and related permeation peptides with an emphasis on residue chirality, length, and modified side chains. Ef...
Determination of oxygen profiles and diffusivity in encapsulated biomass k-carrageenan gel beads

Biofiltration is a popular method for removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). One promising medium for biofilters is biomass encapsulated gel beads. Like any other biodegradation system, oxygen concentration is an important factor affecting microbial activities in gel beads and thus the VOC removal efficiency. This paper summarizes the studies on oxygen distribution and diffusivity in k-carrageenan gel beads using oxygen microelectrodes to measure oxygen profiles. By using a reaction-diffusion model and the concentration measurements obtained, a homogeneous diffusivity constant and an oxygen consumption rate constant in k-carrageenan gel beads were estimated. The estimated oxygen diffusivity in the gel bead is 46.3% of the value in water when the bead is immersed in water and 53.9% that of water when the bead is in air with a thin liquid film surrounding it. To provide more information for the design and operation of biofilters using biomass-loaded gel beads, we also investigated and report on effects of biomass immobilization time, TCE influent concentration and TCE gas flow rate on oxygen concentrations in the gel bead.
On the group of units of a finite R-algebra

All rings considered in this paper are assumed to be commutative with an identity. By a ring homomorphism we shall mean one that transforms the identity element into the identity element. We shall denote rings by R, algebras over R by A, the Krull dimension of A by dim. A, and the group of units of A by A*. Let R be a ring, by a finite R-algebra we shall mean, a ring A containing R and which is at the same time a finitely generated R-module. By an order of A we shall mean a subalgebra of A which has the same rank as A over R. Our main objective in this paper shall be to establish an analog of Dirichlet’s unit theorem in the global-fields case for the group of units of a finite R-algebra A (R denoting a principal ideal domain all of whose residue fields are finite). We shall prove a conjecture1 (Theorem 1.2.1) specifying the rank of the above mentioned group. The first section of this paper contains some preliminary results on finite R-algebras. We prove here that if B is any order of a free R-algebra A of rank n, R a principal ideal domain, then
Altered dexamethasone responsiveness and loss of growth control in tumorigenic mouse lung cell lines.

Glucocorticoid hormones induce differentiation, inhibit proliferation, and, in mice, reduce carcinogen-induced tumorigenesis of lung epithelial cells. Therefore we examined dexamethasone effects on tumorigenic and non-tumorigenic mouse lung epithelial-derived cell lines. Non-tumorigenic cells were growth inhibited and exhibited CAT activity in pMMTV-CAT transfectants in response to dexamethasone. Tumorigenic cell lines exhibited a range of responses to dexamethasone. While one tumorigenic line was growth-inhibited and responsive in CAT assays, 2 other tumorigenic cell lines were unresponsive both in CAT and in growth assays. A fourth tumorigenic cell line exhibited intermediate sensitivity in CAT assays and was actually growth-enhanced by dexamethasone. Although no difference between cell lines was observed in the abundance of glucocorticoid receptor protein on Western blots, the least dexamethasone-responsive tumorigenic lines exhibited very little binding of 3H-dexamethasone. Clones of turnorigenic lines stably transfected with the rat glucocorticoid receptor gene were more dexarnethasone-sensitive in CAT assays and were growthinhibited by dexamethasone. These data suggest that the neoplastic progression of cell lines derived from mouse lung frequently involves the acquisition of diminished glucocorticoid responsiveness.
Physiological responses of field-grown strawberry (Fragaria × Ananassa duch.) exposed to acidic fog and ambient ozone

Abstract Physiological responses of field-grown strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch. Chandler) were monitored to examine the mechanistic basis of acidic fog and ambient ozone (O3) impacts on growth and yield. Strawberry plants were exposed to simulated fog (pH 7.24, 2.69, or 1.68) twice weekly for 11 weeks, singly or in combination with ambient levels of O3 in open-top field chambers. Applications of highly acidic fog (pH 1.68) caused significant reductions in growth, but leaf gas exchange process rates on a leaf area basis were not significantly affected despite the development of interveinal necrosis. However, calculated rates of whole-plant photosynthesis were associated with the observed negative impacts of pH 1.68 fog on vegetative growth. In contrast, plants grown in ambient O3 (whole-study 12 hr average of 66 ppb) exhibited no significant alterations in growth, but yields were higher than in plants exposed to charcoal-filtered air. Exposure to ambient O3 induced depressions in leaf gas exchange on a unit areas basis (i.e. net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance of water vapor, and transpiration), but calculated whole-plant photosynthesis was similar in charcoal-filtered air and O3-exposed plants due to differences in leaf area per plant (i.e. 14% higher in O3-exposed plants). It is concluded that acidic fog-induced alterations in strawberry growth were predicated upon the development of extensive foliar injury leading to the inhibition of whole-plant photosynthesis. However, in O3-exposed plants, whole-plant photosynthetic rates were conserved, suggesting that impacts on assimilate partitioning may play a more prominent role.
The lens epithelium and radiation cataract. IV. Ultrastructural studies of interphase death in the meridional rows.

The effect of radiation upon the differentiating meridional row cells of the rat lens epithelium was studied by electron microscopy. X-irradiation of rat lenses was shown to disrupt the nuclear and, in some instances, the cytoplasmic organization of these cells.
Role of androgen ablation with low-dose-rate brachytherapy in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Background: Androgen ablation is often used in addition to low-dose-rate brachytherapy in the treatment of prostate cancer, particularly for disease with adverse features. We report a single-institution experience and analysis of the role of androgen ablation with brachytherapy in patients with prostate cancer. Methods: A cohort of 189 consecutive patients receiving low-dose-rate brachytherapy for prostate cancer at our institution who had demographic, disease and treatment information and a minimum of 2 years of follow-up available, constituted the analysis study group. This cohort was divided into two major categories based on the use of androgen ablation. Using two successive prostate-specific antigen (PSA) rises above 1 ng/mL as the definition of failure, biochemical failure-free survival (BFFS) curves were constructed for the androgen ablation and no-androgen ablation groups and compared using the log rank test; additionally, a multivariate analysis of all major disease and treatment factors was performed using the Cox proportional hazards model. These analyses were conducted for the whole cohort as well as for subgroups defined by the use of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Results: The 4-year BFFS in the androgen ablation versus no-androgen ablation groups was 76% versus 70% (p = 0.230) for the whole cohort, 75% versus 62% (p = 0.182) for EBRT patients, and 75% versus 82% (p = 0.764) for no-EBRT patients. For the whole cohort, the use of EBRT was the only factor reaching significance on multivariate analysis (p = 0.040). When analysing the EBRT and no-EBRT subgroups separately, no factor, including androgen ablation, reached significance on multivariate analysis. Conclusion: In our study, addition of androgen ablation conferred no biochemical control advantage when added to low-dose-rate brachytherapy for the treatment of patients with prostate cancer.
Highly active and durable templated non-PGM cathode catalysts derived from iron and aminoantipyrine

article i nfo Highly active and durable non-platinum group metal (non-PGM) cathode catalysts were synthesized using a sacrificial support method (SSM) from iron-aminoantipyrine (Fe-AAPyr) derived materials. The prepared materials have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), surface area analysis (BET), and rotating disk electrode (RDE) methods. It was found that main experimental parameters that affect catalytic activity on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are heat treatment temperature and the ratio of iron to aminoantipyrine. The activity of the Fe-AAPyr catalysts was found to be comparable to commercial Pt/C cat- alysts and state-of-the-art non-PGM catalysts. Accelerated durability RDE tests (cycling between 0.2 and 1.1 V) revealed high stability of synthesized materials in acid media.
New Mechanisms of 5-Nitrofuran Toxicity

Phenotypic screens and the target identification that follows can lead to surprising new connections between small molecules and targets. In this issue of Chemistry & Biology, Zhou and colleagues seek to understand the pigmentation of fish skin and end up uncovering an interesting clinical hypothesis about the trypanocidal compound nifurtimox.
Force transmission dynamics of joint and tendon

The force transmission dynamics of a cat's muscle tendon and ankle joint were studied in vivo using electrical muscle stimulation as the activation mode. The orderly recruitment of motor units and their firing rate were varied sinusoidally to evoke sinusoidal muscle force oscillations over a range of frequencies from 0.4 to 6 Hz. The effect of tendon viscoelasticity was studied by performing this procedure on the tibialis anterior with the entire length of the tendon and with the tendon shortened by 2 cm. Joint dynamics were explored by repeating the procedure on the medial gastrocnemius, recording the force from a paw force transducer and a tendon transducer. The data suggest that tendon viscoelasticity has an insignificant effect on the force transmission, behaving as a stiff spring. They also suggest that joint dynamics play an important role in determining the dynamic behavior of muscle-joint system. >
Radioguided Detection of Lymph Node Metastasis in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background The detection of micrometastases in thoracic lymph nodes may improve the staging of non-small cell lung cancer patients. Methods Ten patients with resectable lung cancers were enrolled in this pilot study. Every patient had preoperative positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and mediastinoscopy. Patients were injected with 10 mCi of F18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) on the day of surgery, within 4 hours of the planned surgical procedure. A handheld device detected increased FDG uptake (gamma emission) within thoracic lymph nodes during pulmonary resection procedures. The lymph nodes that demonstrated increased FDG uptake, but were nonmalignant by conventional hematoxylin and eosin staining, underwent further serial sectioning and immunohistochemical staining. Results The handheld probe detected all FDG-avid lesions on PET imaging. In 3 patients (30%), the probe led to the detection of FDG-avid lymph nodes harboring micrometastases missed by conventional pathologic analysis. A fourth patient had aortopulmonary nodes that were FDG-avid on PET and showed metastases by hematoxylin and eosin staining, but the probe detected adjacent nodes in the same station with micrometastases. Three nodes were false-positive by gamma probe. Conclusions It is feasible to detect occult metastases in lymph nodes by using an FDG-sensitive intraoperative gamma probe, resulting in upstaging of patients. A larger study is indicated to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and clinical utility of such a device.
Surface reconstruction in parallel

By exploiting the structure of a directed toroidal graph, the authors have developed a parallel solution to find the shortest path. A parallel dynamic programming solution to finding the minimum cost path is presented. First the authors map the toroidal graph to a planar graph, whose structure is exploited to form a parallel algorithm suitable for a message-passing parallel architecture. The problem has applications in surface reconstruction, where contours of a surface are represented as graphs. Finding the shortest-path in these graphs corresponds to finding a best-fit surface over the contours. By parallelizing the solution, the authors have obtained a significant speedup to a computationally intensive problem. Since generic message passing is used for interprocessor communication, the proposed algorithm can be implemented in any distributed or parallel environment. In a heterogeneous environment, relative processor speed and memory would have to be considered for load balancing. >
Carbohydrate Use in the Flight Muscles of Manduca Sexta During Pre-Flight Warm-Up

Although fat is the principal fuel for flight in moths and butterflies, some use of carbohydrate fuels during activity would be predicted on energetic and biochemical grounds, particularly in nectivores. The present study evaluates the use of carbohydrate fuels during pre-flight warm-up in the endothermic sphinx moth Manduca sexta (L.). Carbohydrate content of moths was measured at intermediate points during the pre-flight warm-up cycle and at take-off. Muscle glycogen content declined during the initial phases of warm-up, whereas glucose and trehalose concentrations were unchanged. Abdominal carbohydrates were not mobilized during warm-up. Energy budget analysis suggests that glycogen oxidation supplies about 39% of the energy needed for the initial phase of warm-up and about 6% of the total cost of warm-up. Glycogen use during warm-up may be correlated with the capacity for endothermic warm-up at low ambient temperatures. Carbohydrates appear to be more important as fuels for activity in some lepidopterans than has been previously reported for other members of this diverse Order. Note: Present address: Department of Entomology and Economic Zoology, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Cook College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA.
Sustainable photosynthetic biocathode in microbial desalination cells

Microbial desalination cells (MDCs) provide for simultaneous wastewater treatment and desalination while producing clean electricity from the organic wastes. However, one major drawback with MDCs technology is its unsustainable cathode chamber where expensive catalysts and toxic chemicals are employed for electricity generation, similar to other bioelectrochemical systems. Introducing biological cathodes may enhance the system performance in an environmentally-sustainable manner. This study describes the use of algae as sustainable biocatalyst/biocathode in photosynthetic MDCs. Since alga is a photosynthetic microorganism, the availability of light as well as the electron-donating anodic process may have significant effects on the biocathode performance. A series of experiments evaluating these effects proved that algae perform better under natural light/dark cycles and that higher COD concentra- tions do not necessarily improve the power density. A maximum power density of 1.1 W/m 3 NCC
Intraannual and long-term variations of the carbonate system of the aerobic zone in the black sea

We provide an expert quality assessment of the data for 1932�1993 and used these data to perform the numerical analysis of the carbonate system of the aerobic zone in the Black Sea. The intraannual and long-term variations of the carbonate system are studied in the abyssal part of the sea for 1960–1993. We propose explanations of the intraannual variations of the analyzed system for various layers of the aerobic zone and reveal long-term variations of the pH values, total alkalinity, and the ratios of the components of the carbonate system. We discover and explain the observed increase in the concentrations of
Readability of urologic pathology reports: the need for patient-centered approaches.

Abstract Introduction The pathology report informs a patient׳s prognosis and treatment options. However, pathology reports are written using complex medical vocabulary. We evaluated the readability of pathology reports for common urologic cancers (prostate, bladder kidney, and testicular) to identify sources of confusion that could be addressed through modified patient-centered pathology reports. Methods Pathology reports from 5 cases of each of the following procedures were analyzed: partial nephrectomy, radical nephrectomy, radical prostatectomy, ultrasound-guided prostate needle biopsy (PNBx), radical cystectomy, transurethral resection of bladder tumor, radical orchiectomy, and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Reports were edited for grammar and syntax, and the Flesch-Kincaid readability software calculated the reading level. Modifications were performed to identify sources of obstruction to readability. We compared modified and base reports using independent samples t tests. Results Bladder cancer pathology had the highest readability index; radical prostatectomy and PNBx pathology reports had the lowest average readability indices. Modified reports that both omitted gross pathologic and immunohistochemistry content and also replaced oncologic and histology terms with lay terminology had significantly lower reading levels than base reports (P Conclusions Pathology reports are written at reading levels above the average reading capability of most Americans. Deleting descriptive pathologic terms and replacing complex medical terminology with lay terms resulted in improved readability for some urologic oncology reports but complicated readability for others. Our findings may guide the development of patient-centered pathology reports.
Enzyme/Prodrug-Based Tumor Vaccination: All Politics (and Immunity) Are Local

A major focus of gene therapy for cancer has been the effort to introduce into cancer cells a number of foreign genes that encode enzymes that will selectively convert nontoxic prodrugs into toxic compounds, producing high local concentrations that result in tumor cell killing—so-called “suicide” gene therapy. A number of enzyme/prodrug systems have been described [reviewed in (1)], including herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase (HSV-tk)/ganciclovir (GCV) and Escherichia coli cytosine deaminase (CD)/5-fluorocytosine. A surprising early observation in many of these systems was that not every cell in a tumor need express the transgene to achieve meaningful cell killing and tumor regression (2,3). This phenomenon, the bystander effect, is defined as the ability of the genetically modified cells, in the presence of the prodrug, to cause cytotoxic effects in cells that lack the suicide gene. The result is that the fraction of cells killed is in excess of the fraction in the tumor that actually expresses the suicide gene (4). The bystander effect is a powerful enhancement of many suicide gene/prodrug systems that compensates for the inability of current vector systems to transduce all but a small fraction cells in a given tumor (5). The degree and mechanism of the bystander effect differ with various cell lines and the enzyme/prodrug system studied. At the cellular level, several explanations have been advanced for the bystander effect; however, current evidence supports direct transfer of activated prodrug from the transgene-expressing cells to untransduced wild-type cells (6–8). In the HSV-tk/GCV system, in which the activated prodrug is highly ionized and is unable to diffuse across cell membranes, the bystander effect appears to be mediated by transfer of phoshorylated GCV through cellular gap junctions (6,8,9). Nonadherent cells and those with few gap junctions do not exhibit a significant HSVtk/GCV bystander effect. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), the activated prodrug of the CD/5-fluorocytosine system, is a small nonpolar molecule that passively diffuses across the cell membrane down its concentration gradient, from CD+ cells to untransduced cells (7,10). The clinical importance of the bystander effect is illus-
Are reaction rate coefficients additive? Revised transition state theory calculations for OH + alkane reactions

Recent shock tube measurements [1,2] of the reactions of OH radicals with various hydrocarbons provide the incentive for revising an earlier model [3] used to carry out thermochemical transition state theory calculations for the reaction rate coefficients of OH radicals with alkanes. In this article, details of the revised model are presented and calculations are described and compared with experiments. Of particular interest is the question of the reliability of an additive formulation for H atom abstraction rate coefficients; i.e., can we evaluate the total rate coefficient as the sum of site-specific rate coefficients, ktotal = Σinki, where we sum either over primary, secondary, and tertiary H atoms or over some larger number of classes of atoms? It is argued that there are two major reasons for expecting different primary, secondary, or tertiary H atoms to have different rate parameters: (1) activation energies may depend on next-nearest neighbors and (2) activation entropies can be mass-dependent. In principle the first factor invalidates the common procedure of treating the total rate coefficient for OH + RH H abstraction processes as the sum of invariant primary, secondary, and tertiary rates multiplied by the respective number of such H atoms in the molecule. The second factor places limits on the accuracy of any additive formulation. A separate question is whether there is sufficient experimental evidence to justify these distinctions, or whether, given experimental and theoretical uncertainties, it is adequate to treat them all as equivalent. It is concluded that (1) mass-dependent variations are just barely discernible; and (2) there are measurable differences among various primary H atom abstractions, and possibly among secondary atoms, but the data base does not justify distinguishing among tertiary H atoms.
Intercity cooperation increases

Tennessee Valley communities, stimulated by great power development, progress rapidly in joint action and self-improvement efforts; urban-rural understanding improved.
Analogies and Reconstruction of Probability Knowledge

The effectiveness of utilizing analogies to effect conceptual change in students' alternative probability concepts was investigated. Forty-one senior high school mathematics students were engaged in a knowledge reconstruction process regarding their beliefs about common everyday probability situations, such as sports events or lotteries. The students were given situations similar to those shown in previous research to reveal alternative mathematical conceptions. They were also given analogous researcher-generated anchoring situations that had been pretested and found to elicit mathematically acceptable responses. The cognitive dissonance produced by the conflicting responses motivated students to reconstruct their knowledge. The results of the investigation showed that analogies can be effective in producing a desired conceptual change in high school students' probability concepts.
Observations on Normal Skeletal Muscle of Mature Dogs: A Cytochemical, Histochemical, and Morphometric Study

Cytochemical, histochemical, and morphometric features of skeletal muscle were evaluated in 140 specimens from five appendicular muscles of 28 dogs which were free of neuromuscular disease. Dogs ranged from six months to 15 years of age. Evidence of degeneration and regeneration, cell reactions and architectural change was found but with an incidence of less than 1% of the total myofiber population in any muscle. The number of fibers with internal nuclei never exceeded 1%. The only changes that appeared to be age-related were fiber size variation associated with the presence of small angular type IIA fibers in muscles of dogs seven years of age and older. Percentages of type I, type IIA, and type IIC fibers remained relatively constant in the various muscles in the age range examined. Type I fibers predominated in medial head of triceps brachii and superficial digital flexor muscles, whereas type IIA fibers were more numerous in biceps femoris and long head of triceps brachii muscles. An approximately equal ratio was found in gastrocranius muscles. In any given muscle, type IIC fibers represented less than 2% of the fibers. Statistically significant differences were found in values for fiber size between groups of dogs weighing more than (mean diameter range = 40 to 50 microns) and less than (mean diameter range = 30 to 40 microns) 15 kilograms.
Anti-inflammatory Effects of Resveratrol in Lung Epithelial Cells: Molecular Mechanisms

Resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene) is a polyphenolic stilbene found in the skins of red fruits, including grapes, that may be responsible for some of the health benefits ascribed to consumption of red wine. Resveratrol has been shown to have antioxidant properties and can act as an estrogen agonist. This study examined the anti-inflammatory effects of resveratrol on human airway epithelial cells. Resveratrol and the related molecule quercetin, but not deoxyrhapontin, inhibited IL-8 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor release from A549 cells. Neither the estrogen receptor antagonist tamoxifen nor the glucocorticoid antagonist mifepristone altered the inhibitory effect of resveratrol. The mechanism of resveratrol action was investigated further using luciferase reporter genes stably transfected into A549 cells. Resveratrol and quercetin inhibited NF-kappaB-, activator protein-1-, and cAMP response element binding protein-dependent transcription to a greater extent than the glucocorticosteroid dexamethasone. These compounds also had no significant effect on acetylation or deacetylation of core histones. Resveratrol, but not estradiol or N-acetyl cysteine, inhibited cytokine-stimulated inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and nitrite production (IC50 = 3.6 +/- 2.9 microM) in human primary airway epithelial cells. Resveratrol also inhibited granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor release (IC50 = 0.44 +/- 0.17 microM), IL-8 release (IC50 = 4.7 +/- 3.3 microM), and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in these cells. This study demonstrates that resveratrol and quercetin have novel nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory activity that may have applications for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Perceptual Learning and Auditory Training in Cochlear Implant Recipients

Learning electrically stimulated speech patterns can be a new and difficult experience for cochlear implant (CI) recipients. Recent studies have shown that most implant recipients at least partially adapt to these new patterns via passive, daily-listening experiences. Gradually introducing a speech processor parameter (eg, the degree of spectral mismatch) may provide for more complete and less stressful adaptation. Although the implant device restores hearing sensation and the continued use of the implant provides some degree of adaptation, active auditory rehabilitation may be necessary to maximize the benefit of implantation for CI recipients. Currently, there are scant resources for auditory rehabilitation for adult, postlingually deafened CI recipients. We recently developed a computer-assisted speech-training program to provide the means to conduct auditory rehabilitation at home. The training software targets important acoustic contrasts among speech stimuli, provides auditory and visual feedback, and incorporates progressive training techniques, thereby maintaining recipients' interest during the auditory training exercises. Our recent studies demonstrate the effectiveness of targeted auditory training in improving CI recipients' speech and music perception. Provided with an inexpensive and effective auditory training program, CI recipients may find the motivation and momentum to get the most from the implant device.
Application of Thermal Analysis as a Substitute for Standard ASTM Polymer Characterization Tests

Thermal analysis techniques have for some time been used in the field of materials characterization (1). The data obtainable from such procedures can be applied directly to the study of polymer physical properties such as phase changes, stability measurements, mechanical effects, and thermodynamic data. The ability of modern commercially available Thermal Analysis Systems to provide accurate and precise data has been accepted in both the academic and industrial research environments. In the field of polymer quality control,however there are many techniques still widely used which do not adequately define the physical property being monitored. It is the purpose of this paper to present data which illustrates the advantages of the thermal analysis technique of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) over the more traditional procedures used for determining polymer melting behavior. Correlations are presented between data obtained using the DuPont Thermal Analysis System and that from standard ASTM methods used in the polymer industry. Illustrations are also given of several instances in which typical DSC procedures can simultaneously provide additional data which can also be used to evaluate other parameters significant in the characterization of the product.
Automated steady-state analysis of switching power converters using a general-purpose simulation tool

The paper describes methods for automated steady-state analysis of switching power converter systems using a general-purpose simulator such as PSpice. The convergence to steady-state is accelerated using quasi-Newton iteration in a steady-state solver implemented in Mathematica. The solver updates initial conditions in the circuit netlist description and launches the simulator to obtain the system response over a switching period. The main advantage of this approach is that steady-state converter characteristics can be obtained efficiently for any converter configuration and any model complexity supported by the general-purpose simulator. Several application examples using PSpice and PETS simulation tools are included.
Generalised moment methods in electromagnetics

An effort to unify three major numerical methods in electromagnetics is presented. Harrington's direct method of moments, the iterative methods, and the reaction integral equation method are shown to be generally equivalent and are unified as the generalised method of moments. It is shown that the reaction integral equation method is in general a moment method, and that the moment method, when defined in a symmetric space, generally satisfies the reaction theorem, and therefore reciprocity. A broad, though limited, equivalence between the moment and the iterative methods is also demonstrated. A numerical example is discussed to illustrate these and other points.
Lightness, wildness, and ambivalence: China and new media studies

China was first connected to the internet in 1994. In 1997, there were only about 670,000 users. By June 2011, China had over 485 million internet users, accounting for nearly 40 percent of the population. The rapid diffusion of the internet has had profound influences on all aspects of Chinese life. Scholars both in China and outside have responded to these new developments by producing a large amount of research. Not surprisingly, due to the internet’s connections with broad fields of social life, scholarly research on the topic is interdisciplinary, or rather, multi-disciplinary. Anthropologists (Zhou, 2006), political scientists (Zhang and Zheng, 2009; Zheng, 2008), communication scholars (Hu, 2008; Qiu, 2009), sociologists (Yang, 2009) have all contributed book-length studies. Their topics range from internet use among intellectuals (Zhou, 2006), migrant workers (Qiu, 2009), the impact of the internet on state–society relations (Zheng, 2008), internet governance and expression (Hu, 2008), to online activism (Yang, 2009). In addition, there are numerous journal articles and book chapters, as well as frequent international conferences. The five books under review here represent the most recent additions to this lively field. All published since 2010, they cover some new issues and phenomena. Liu’s book on internet experiences among urban youth and Voci’s on digital videos, for example, are both notable as the first systematic studies of their respective subject matters. The authors of the five books come from different disciplinary backgrounds (film studies, education, as well as communication) and do not necessarily share the same theoretical concerns. 425146 NMS14110.1177/1461444811425146Review essaynew media & society 2011
Robot motion planning with nonholonomic constraints

A study is made of a fundamental problem in dextrous manipulation by a robot hand: the motion of two rigid bodies rolling relative to one another. A systematic procedure for deriving the configuration space of contact and the differential equation for rolling is presented. This approach is applicable to objects of arbitrary shapes and contact constraints. An algorithm that determines the existence of an admissible path between two contact configurations is given. First, the distribution generated by the two constrained vector fields is computed. One then checks to see if the distribution is nonsingular. If so, an admissible path exists between any two contact configurations. It is also shown that the path-finding problem is equivalent to a nonlinear control problem. Thus, existing work in nonlinear control theory can be used. A geometric algorithm that finds a path when one object is flat is given. >
Nonlinear amplifier effects in communications systems

This paper introduces a figure-of-merit to investigate tradeoffs between amplifiers and modulation waveforms in complex digital communications systems. Class-AB amplifiers are investigated with a variety of modulation schemes to better understand the relations between amplifier efficiency, amplifier distortion, signal in-band and adjacent channel interference, and power consumption. The goal is to better understand the tradeoffs needed to design low-energy communications systems.
Comparison of optimal scalar electrocardiographic, orthogonal electrocardiographic and vectorcardiographic criteria for diagnosing inferior and anterior myocardial infarction

Abstract A scalar electrocardiogram (ECG), orthogonal ECG and vectorcardiogram (VCG) were recorded in 46 normal persons, 38 patients with inferior myocardial infarction (MI) and 22 patients with anterior MI proved at cardiac catheterization. The diagnostic information provided by the scalar ECG, orthogonal ECG and VCG was quantitatively analyzed and the optimal criteria for diagnosing inferior and anterior MI exhibited by each method were identified. The optimal scalar electrocardlographic, orthogonal electrocardiographic and vectorcardiographic criteria, respectively, are: For inferior MI: initial superior duration in lead aVF >30 ms (sensitivity 63%, specificity 100%), superior/inferior amplitude ratio in lead Y ≥0.2 (sensitivity 63%, specificity 96%), initial superior duration >29 ms or initial superior distance >0.4 mV in the frontal plane loop (sensitivity 68%, specificity 100%). For anterior MI: initial anterior duration in lead V2 0.01, respectively).
Reply to “Comment on ‘Evaluating Interactions between Groundwater and Vadose Zone Using the HYDRUS-based Flow Package for MODFLOW’” by Navin Kumar C. Twarakavi, Jirka Šimůnek, and Sophia Seo

[Niswongerand Prudic (2009)][1] commented on the comparison of the UZF1 ([Niswonger et al., 2006][2]) and HYDRUS ([Seo et al., 2007][3]) packages and their ability to incorporate vadose zone flow processes into the MODFLOW model, presented in our manuscript ([Twarakavi et al., 2008][4]). [Niswonger
Driving engineering of novel antimicrobial peptides from simulations of peptide–micelle interactions

Simulations of antimicrobial peptides in membrane mimics can provide the high resolution, atomistic picture that is necessary to decipher which sequence and structure components are responsible for activity and toxicity. With such detailed insight, engineering new sequences that are active but non-toxic can, in principle, be rationalized. Armed with supercomputers and accurate force fields for biomolecular interactions, we can now investigate phenomena that span hundreds of nanoseconds. Although the phenomena involved in antimicrobial activity, (i.e., diffusion of peptides, interaction with lipid layers, secondary structure attainment, possible surface aggregation, possible formation of pores, and destruction of the lipid layer integrity) collectively span time scales still prohibitively long for classical mechanics simulations, it is now feasible to investigate the initial approach of single peptides and their interaction with membrane mimics. In this article, we discuss the promise and the challenges of widely used models and detail our recent work on peptide–micelle simulations as an attractive alternative to peptide–bilayer simulations. We detail our results with two large structural classes of peptides, helical and beta-sheet and demonstrate how simulations can assist in engineering of novel antimicrobials with therapeutic potential.
PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION OF WAVE HEIGHT IN FINITE WATER DEPTH

This paper presents probability density functions applicable to peaks, troughs and peak-to-trough excursions of coastal waves with finite water depth in closed form. It is found that for a non- Gaussian waves for which the skewness of the distribution is less than 1.2, the probability density function of peaks (and troughs) can be approximately represented by the Rayleigh distribution with a parameter which is a function of three parameters representing the non-Gaussian waves. The agreement between the probability density functions and the histograms constructed from data obtained by the Coastal Engineering Research Center is satisfactory.
Folate Derivatives in Human Cells: Studies on Normal and 5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase-Deficient Fibroblasts

The distribution of folylpolyglutamates in normal and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase-deficient human fibroblasts cultured in medium containing folic acid or 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid has been determined. Human fibroblasts concentrated these folates to higher levels than in the medium, an effect that was more pronounced with methyltetrahydrofolate as the folate source. Over 95% of the intracellular vitamin derivatives were polyglutamates of chain length 2 to 10. The major derivatives were hexaglutamates in cells cultured with folic acid and heptaglutamates in cells cultured with methyltetrahydrofolic acid. No significant differences were detected in the polyglutamate distribution between normal and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase-deficient fibroblast. Excess medium methionine reduced cell growth rates and intracellular vitamin levels and changed the predominant polyglutamate in cells cultured with methyltetrahydrofolate from hepta- to hexaglutamate. No significant differences were seen between the overall folate polyglutamate distributions of different one-carbon folate pools of normal fibroblasts, although slight changes in the proportions of individual polyglutamate forms were detected in the different pools.
Investigation of Short-term Reinforced Training for Improving Skills of Physical Examination in Medical Students

Objective:To explore the effective method of clinical skill training and the method of improving clinical practice ability of Medical Students.Methods:92 Pediatric students were trained by being examined before training,observing,exercising,appraising and being examined again after training.The teachers trained students in full-time.The scores before and after the training were compared.Results:Specification level,dexterity degree,validity degree,overall degree and total score of physical examination maneuvers were significantly improved(P0.05);Most students applauded this training manner.Conclusion:Short-term reinforced Training is an advantage for improving students' skills of physical examination rapidly.
The impact of tabalumab on the kidney in systemic lupus erythematosus: results from two phase 3 randomized, clinical trials.

IntroductionTabalumab is a monoclonal antibody that neutralizes membrane and soluble B-cell activating factor. Two 52-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled phase 3 trials evaluated the...
L’évasion de l’être. Jean-Paul Sartre and the Phenomenology of Temporality

Sartre fits fully within the phenomenological tradition inaugurated by Husserl, although he somewhat reelaborates it in an original way, on the basis of Heidegger’s philosophy, with the aim of outlining, in a first stage of his thoughts dating back to the publication of Being and Nothingness (1943), the features stemming from his peculiar atheistic existentialism. Subsequently, in the mature stage of his intellectual itinerary, Sartre will attempt to combine the existentialist ideas with the basic principles of Marxism, a synthesis that will create important works such as Search for a Method (1957) and Critique of Dialectical Reason (1960). This chapter analyses time from the phenomenological perspective of the Sartrean ontology of temporality. This analysis allows to conceive the typically human “existential time” as a permanent existence out of oneself. For this purpose, we will retrace the fundamentals of Sartre’s phenomenological ontology outlined in his most important work of 1943, Being and Nothingness, focusing in particular on the structures of consciousness understood as “etre-pour-soi” (“being-foritself”), i.e. the conditions of man’s “absolute freedom”, which Sartre refers to when he shows the one “pour-soi” as the being who is pure nothingness.
Spanish Influenza Sweeps the Country

The pandemic in the United States is succinctly described in three sets of figures: the numbers of flu and pneumonia deaths, week by week, of the three great categories of Americans in 1918: sailors, soldiers, and civilians. It might be better to use the statistics on cases, rather than deaths, as our measure, but influenza wasn't made a reportable disease for civilians in most parts of the nation until after the pandemic was in full flame, and even after that the case statistics were collected and sent to the Census Bureau from areas where only 77.8 percent of the estimated civilian population lived. The best weekly mortality statistics we have are for 45 of the nation's largest cities. The rises and declines of these latter statistics probably preceded those of the entire population by several days and more, because the pandemic penetrated and then departed from the rural areas later than the cities: but these numbers are good enough for our purpose, if their limitations are kept in mind. The pandemic struck the two armed services earlier and more severely than the civilian population: and, to a considerable extent, the armed services were the foci from which the civilian population received the disease. The belief that the nation's protectors were now the source of its greatest immediate danger was common enough for some civilians to regard the military with fear. J. W. Inches, Commissioner of Health of Detroit, Michigan, sent off telegrams to the commanders of all army and navy camps in the Middle West informing them that Detroit, as of Ocober 19, would be off limits to all military personnel except those in perfect health on necessary military business and carrying a letter from a superior officer to that effect.
Contribution of Caudal Müllerian Duct Mesenchyme to Prostate Development

A fundamental understanding of prostate development and tissue homeostasis has the high potential to reveal mechanisms for prostate disease initiation and identify novel therapeutic approaches for disease prevention and treatment. Our current understanding of prostate lineage specification stems from the use of developmental model systems that rely upon the embryonic preprostatic urogenital sinus mesenchyme to induce the formation of mature prostate epithelial cells. It is unclear, however, how the urogenital sinus epithelium can derive both adult urethral glands and prostate epithelia. Furthermore, the vast disparity in disease initiation between these two glands highlights key developmental factors that predispose prostate epithelia to hyperplasia and cancer. In this study we demonstrate that the caudal Mullerian duct mesenchyme (CMDM) drives prostate epithelial differentiation and is a key determinant in cell lineage specification between urethral glands and prostate epithelia. Utilizing both human embryonic stem cells and mouse embryonic tissues, we document that the CMDM is capable of inducing the specification of androgen receptor, prostate-specific antigen, NKX3.1, and Hoxb13-positive prostate epithelial cells. These results help to explain key developmental differences between prostate and urethral gland differentiation, and implicate factors secreted by the caudal Mullerian duct as novel targets for prostate disease prevention and treatment.
3D Printing and Anticipatory Business Ethics

3D printing (or “additive manufacturing”) is already beginning to change the nature of how businesses produce artefacts. The nature of 3D printing technology is changing as rapidly as it can be developed. From the perspective of business, 3D printing replaces earlier methods of manufacturing so that rather than cutting material away in order to make products, it produces artefacts by adding material in layers. This method of manufacturing creates alterations at a number of levels when compared with traditional manufacturing. It greatly reduces the amount of waste created by traditional manufacturing. It allows precise control over the material composition of products. It exerts an influence upon the design of products that allows for rapid designing, prototyping, and redesigning. It allows for the production of items where no assembly is required while also allowing compact, portable manufacturing (Lipsom and Kurman, Fabricated the new world of 3D printing. Wiley, Indianapolis, 2013, pp. 20–23). While 3D printing has the potential for altering the nature of business practices it has already begun to shift the traditional models of production for businesses and individuals. There are alterations related to the product design process and as well as economies of scale. 3D printing allows the development of a business model that combines aspects of mass production and artisan individual production. Anticipatory ethics provides a basis for addressing a variety of important questions about 3D printing and the alterations in business it stands to create. This paper will describe how 3D printing will create alterations in business, and attempt to anticipate some of the ethical issues that may arise for businesses as a result of 3D printing.
Disrupting Terrorist Assassinations Through Situational Crime Prevention

This article uses environmental criminology and situational crime prevention (SCP) to devise a series of hypotheses to determine the factors that distinguish successful from unsuccessful assassination incidents. We analyzed a random sample of 100 successful and 100 unsuccessful assassination incidents from the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) that occurred between 2005 and 2014. We then consulted open sources to create new SCP variables that we added to the original GTD data. The hypotheses were tested in a binary logistic regression. Results show that successful assassinations are associated with several SCP measures, including weapon type, fatalities, terrorist proximity to target, and attack and target location.