cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On Teaching Signals & Systems in a Project-Based Learning Environment

Project-based learning is a form of active learning where large-scale projects provide context for technical learning. Along with background information, this paper examines teaching and learning of signals and systems in the context of two ABET accredited project-based learning programs. Examples of projects, deep learning activities and classroom activities are provided.
Identifying and Engaging Neuronal Oscillations by Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized, Crossover, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Pilot Study.

Abstract Chronic pain is associated with maladaptive reorganization of the central nervous system. Recent studies have suggested that disorganization of large-scale electrical brain activity patterns, such as neuronal network oscillations in the thalamocortical system, plays a key role in the pathophysiology of chronic pain. Yet, little is known about whether and how such network pathologies can be targeted with noninvasive brain stimulation as a nonpharmacological treatment option. We hypothesized that alpha oscillations, a prominent thalamocortical activity pattern in the human brain, are impaired in chronic pain and can be modulated with transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). We performed a randomized, crossover, double-blind, sham-controlled study in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) to investigate how alpha oscillations relate to pain symptoms for target identification and whether tACS can engage this target and thereby induce pain relief. We used high-density electroencephalography to measure alpha oscillations and found that the oscillation strength in the somatosensory region at baseline before stimulation was negatively correlated with pain symptoms. Stimulation with alpha-tACS compared to sham (placebo) stimulation significantly enhanced alpha oscillations in the somatosensory region. The stimulation-induced increase of alpha oscillations in the somatosensory region was correlated with pain relief. Given these findings of successful target identification and engagement, we propose that modulating alpha oscillations with tACS may represent a target-specific, nonpharmacological treatment approach for CLBP. This trial has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03243084). Perspective This study suggests that a rational design of transcranial alternating current stimulation, which is target identification, engagement, and validation, could be a nonpharmacological treatment approach for patients with CLBP.
Keystone: Exploring Pediatric Residents' Experiences in a Longitudinal Integrated Block.

Problem: Residency training in many specialties has traditionally been divided into short, discrete, single-specialty rotations. Although providing the learner with in-depth exposure to a specific ...
Stress-Driven Spending: Correlates of International Students’ Adjustment Strains and Compulsive Online Buying

We investigated international students’ stress-driven spending behavior by focusing on the psychological and behavioral consequences of the strains they experience during the adjustment process in the U.S. We found that certain adjustment strains significantly lowered international students’ self esteem, which further affected their happiness and engagement in compulsive online buying. This study highlights the importance of understanding underlying drivers and consequences of international students’ adjustment strains to facilitate better adaptation to a foreign culture and to prevent negative consumption tendencies.
Influence of optical constants in carbon-based dispersions for enhanced solar evaporation

Carbon-based nano- and microfluid dispersions show promise as effective media for solar-assisted desalination. They act as strong solar absorbers in the base fluid and increase its temperature by volumetrically heating the bulk of the fluid, leading to faster vapor generation. This radiative heating depends on the fraction of the solar radiation absorbed by the fluid dispersion system. This in turn depends on the optical constants, i.e., refractive index and attenuation (absorption) coefficient of the particles. Different carbon materials exhibit different values of the optical constants when exposed to the solar spectrum and so, the evaporation efficiency is different for different particles. An attempt is made to explore the influence of these optical constants on the evaporation rate and evaporation efficiency of water. The values chosen are within the upper and lower bounds of the refractive index ( $$1\le n \le 3$$ ) and attenuation coefficient ( $$0.001\le k \le 1$$ ), which are typical of carbon-based materials. It was found that the evaporation rate is higher for large attenuation coefficient for any refractive index. Also, at a relative refractive index of 1, the solar absorption coefficient is comparatively smaller than for other values, due to lower scattering efficiency. At high refractive index, the evaporation efficiency remained almost constant for volume fractions less than $$10^{-4}$$ (or 0.01%). In summary, water evaporation rate and evaporation efficiency are strongly influenced by the optical constants.
HTS Quadrupole Magnet for the Persistent Current Mode Operation

In this study, a new high-temperature superconducting (HTS) quadrupole magnet with circular coils was designed and built at Fermilab. Several HTS coils were also investigated at the temperature of liquid nitrogen. The main goal of this activity was to investigate the coils and magnet operation in a persistent current mode to reduce accelerator magnets’ capital and operational expenses. To accomplish this, HTS short-circuit coils were used. In the paper, HTS coils and magnet design, fabrication, and tests were discussed. The magnetic field in the magnet aperture and the field decay when the magnet operated in the “frozen flux” mode were measured. The test and simulation results were compared, confirming the advantages of the proposed approach.
Fourth Order Inverse Eigenvalue Problems

A well posed inverse eigenvalue problem is discussed here. It i s assumed that two positive sequences λ 1 2 … and ϕ 1 , ϕ 2 , … are given which have prescribed asymptotic forms. Construction of unique coefficients A(s) ɛ C 3 [0,1], B(s) ɛ C 1 [0,1] which depend continuously on the sequences λ i , ϕ i , i = 1,2,3 …, is given. The λ i 's and ϕ i 's are the eigenvalues and normalization constints for the problem y 4 + (Ay (1) ) (1) + By - λy = 0, y(0) = y (1) (0) = 0, y (2) (0) = 1, y(1) = y (1) (1) = 0 An integral relation ship assumption between solutions of the derived problem and a known eigenvalue problem yields uniqueness. Interpretation of this relationship is given.
Clinical and pathological analysis of cutaneous mastocytoma: report of 12 cases

Objective To investigate the clinical and histopathological features of cutaneous mastocytoma. Methods Clinical and histopathological data were collected from 12 patients with cutaneous mastocytoma. Results Among the 12 patients, there were 7 males and 5 females with an average age of 6.8 months. The average course of disease was 6.5 months. Eleven patients presented with skin lesions at birth, which were mainly located on the trunk and extremities. Skin lesions were single or multiple, brown or orange-colored plaques and nodules of different sizes. Vesicles appeared in 6 patients, and ulcers in 1 patient during disease progression. Darier′s sign was positive in 10 patients. Histopathological examination was carried out in 12 patients, and showed a dense infiltration of many mast cells in uniform size and shape in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, which were stained with toluidine blue and positive for CD117. Three cases showed substantial eosinophilic infiltration with the formation of subepidermal vesicles. "Flame figures" were seen in 1 patient. The patients usually received symptomatic treatment with antihistamines. Skin lesions became smaller or subsided leaving local hyperpigmentated or depigmentated macules in all the 10 patients who received 2-6 years of follow up. Conclusions The diagnosis of mastocytoma is mainly based on clinical and pathological examination. Most cases of childhood mastocytoma have a favorable prognosis, and can disappear spontaneously after several years. Key words: Mastocytoma, skin; Critical pathways; Pathology
What do we know about the diagnosis and management of mirror syndrome

Mirror syndrome is a rare disease associated with high fetal mortality of up to 67.2%. It is thought to be underdiagnosed and is often associated with preeclampsia. Mirror syndrome is characterized...
Bankruptcy & Bailouts; Subsidies & Stimulus: The Government Toolset for Responding to Market Distress

In this article, I attempt to clarify the appropriate government tools for responding to different forms of market distress in times of crisis. I provide my analysis in the context of the United States responses to market distress related to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the exception of measures related to financial markets, those responses formed a chaotic mix of disconnected half measures that neither stabilized the economy nor provided meaningful relief to those most affected. While that failure may be attributable in part to general government dysfunction and legislative gridlock, a large part of the problem arises from the lack of a clearly identified purpose and framework to guide government responses. The lesson here is that the tools deployed by governments to alleviate a crisis should depend on the nature of the specific problem at hand, and scattershot approaches are unlikely to work. As obvious as that principle may seem, it was largely ignored in 2020, and much of the confusion in the pandemic responses can be attributed to attempts to use the wrong tools and from implementation of measures that lacked any clear purpose. After reviewing the actual response, I lay out a framework for identifying the right tools. I suggest four types of market distress--specific economic, systemic economic, specific financial, and systemic financial--each with a corresponding category of appropriate government responses (respectively): direct subsidies, general stimulus, bankruptcy proceedings, and financial bailouts. I describe the relationship between the category of tools and the type of distress. I also provide a close look at and place special emphasis on the interaction between pandemic responses and bankruptcy law as bankruptcy’s role has been the most obviously misunderstood and provides the starkest example of confused analysis.
Multi-Institutional Prospective Randomized Control Trial of Novel Intracorporeal Lithotripters: ShockPulse-SE vs Trilogy Trial.

Introduction: Currently, there are multiple intracorporeal lithotripters available for use in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of two novel lithotrip...
Recent progress in the application of plasma-activated water (PAW) for food decontamination

Plasma-activated water (PAW) is a novel and promising alternative to traditional food sanitizers. Recently, the inactivation efficacy of PAW has been demonstrated on a wide range of food products against foodborne pathogens, spoilage microorganisms, and harmful chemicals. The effectiveness of PAW relies on various factors related to the plasma generation mechanisms, the target microorganisms, and the food matrix. The inactivation mechanisms of PAW are attributed to the damage of cell integrity and intracellular components by various reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). Utilization of plasma-activated liquids and hurdle technologies can enhance the inactivation efficacy and diversify the application of this technology. Scaling-up of PAW is still at the very beginning stage and needs further studies before industrial application.
Multi-objective Design Optimization of a Blended Permanent Magnet Assisted Synchronous Reluctance Machine

In this paper, the design and optimization process of a novel PM-assisted synchronous reluctance machine (PMASynRM) made of a blend of permanent magnets (Ferrite and NdFeB) will be presented. The design is targeting traction application and will be compared to a double-layer v-shaped IPM made of NdFeB magnets. The proposed design as well as the baseline design have the same stator and same thermal management approach. The main goal is to reduce rare-earth material content. The main challenges when it comes to reducing the rare-earth content are: (1) Maintaining the same rated torque as the baseline design (2) Eliminating the risk of demagnetization due to the lower coercivity of ferrites especially at low temperatures. The paper will focus on the optimization process with emphasis on evaluating the permanent demagnetization risk as well as design modifications considered to minimize/eliminate risk. The paper will also present a comprehensive comparison between the optimized design and the baseline design. It will be shown that around 40% reduction of rare-earth material can be achieved while maintaining the same average torque as the baseline design while minimizing/eliminating the demagnetization risk at the extreme low operating temperature of −20 °C. The paper includes details of the optimization process including sample results, evaluation of demagnetization risk and comparison of promising designs vs. the baseline design.
Impact of a pharmacist driven anticoagulation reversal program at a large academic medical center.

In major/life-threatening bleeding, administration of timely and appropriate reversal agents is imperative to reduce morbidity and mortality. Due to complexities associated with the use of reversal agents, a clinical pharmacist-driven anticoagulation reversal program (ARP) was developed. The goal of this program was to ensure appropriateness of reversal agents based on the clinical scenario, optimize selection and avoid unintended consequences. This study describes the impact of a pharmacist-driven anticoagulation program on patient outcomes and cost. A single center retrospective chart review of adult patients whom the ARP was consulted from October 2018 to January 2020 was performed. Patients were included in the efficacy analysis if they were > 18 years of age and presented with acute bleeding. Patients were excluded from the efficacy analysis if the recommended reversal agent was not administered, if a repeat head CT was not available for patients who presented with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), or if the patient was not bleeding. All patients were included in the economic evaluation. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients who achieved effective hemostasis within 24 h of anticoagulation reversal. Secondary outcomes include incidence of thromboembolic events, in-hospital mortality, and cost avoidance. One hundred twenty-one patients were evaluated by the ARP with 92 patients included in the efficacy analysis. The primary sites of bleeding were ICH in 46% and gastrointestinal (GI) in 29%. Hemostasis was achieved in 84% of patients. Thrombotic events occurred in 7.4% of patients and in-hospital mortality was 26.4%. Total cost avoidance was $1,005,871.78. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-driven ARP on clinical and economic outcomes. Implementation of a pharmacist-driven ARP was associated with favorable outcomes and cost savings.
Stigma among transgender and gender-diverse people accessing healthcare: A concept analysis

Aim To provide a timely analysis around the concept of stigma among transgender and gender-diverse people accessing healthcare. Background While research on stigma has been prolific in other disciplines, the literature on stigma-especially among transgender and gender-diverse people-have been limited in nursing. A clear definition of stigma among transgender/gender-diverse people is also lacking in the nursing literature. Design Walker and Avant's method of concept analysis. Data sources PubMed and CINAHL databases were used to retrieve English language records from February 2016 to February 2021. Influential literature from sociology and psychology and an online dictionary and thesaurus were also used to clarify the concept. Methods Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis was used to search the scientific literature to clarify and describe the antecedents, defining attributes, consequences and empirical referents of stigma among transgender/gender-diverse people accessing healthcare. Results A clear definition of stigma was identified. The defining attributes of stigma-labelling, stereotype, separation, status loss and discrimination-reflect its definition. Without asymmetrical power relationships, stigma will not exist. The consequences of stigma include negative and positive outcomes. Conclusion While this concept analysis provides clarification of stigma, further exploration of the concept is needed. Furthermore, this concept analysis illustrates how nurses are strategically positioned to disrupt the power structures that allow stigma to operate. Understanding the concept of stigma also enables nurses to create equitable and multifaceted inventions to improve healthcare access among transgender and gender-diverse people.
Annexin 1 Mimetic Ac2-26 Holds Promise for the Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy

In this issue of Diabetes , Wu et al. (1) report that in a high-fat diet/streptozotocin–induced diabetes model, global annexin 1 (ANAX1) deletion exacerbates diabetic nephropathy (DN), as indicated by increased albuminuria and macrophage infiltration, increased glomerular size, mesangial expansion, glomerular basement membrane thickness, and foot process effacement, increased tubulointerstitial injury, and fibrosis. They also detected lipid accumulation and mitochondrial abnormalities in the proximal tubule epithelial cells. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed a role of ANAX1 in lipid metabolism in the HFD/STZ-induced DN mice. Using a human immortalized proximal tubule epithelial cell line, HK-2 cells, they found that ANAX1 knockdown impaired mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation via a FPR2/AMPK/PPARα/CPT2b signaling pathway, leading to reduced intracellular lipid accumulation. ANAX1 knockdown also aggravated the lipid disorders in podocytes. Finally, administration of Ac2-26, an ANAX1 mimetic, ameliorated renal …
Short Course on Admissible Recursion Theory

Publisher Summary This paper consists of slightly expanded notes from my course of three lectures at the Second Symposium on Generalized Recursion Theory, held at the University of Oslo, June 13-17, 1977. I would like to thank the organizers and sponsors of the Symposium for making it possible for me to give these lectures. Although the lectures dealt only with admissible ordinals, the discussion was far from complete. My aim was to give, not a definitive treatment or even an over- I am preparing a book-length treatment which is to be pub- 'Preparation of this paper was partially supported by NSF Grant MF'S 76-05993. I n this section we define- the notion of a primitive recursively (p-r.) closed ordinal. theory (on the natural numbers) to an arbitrary p.r. closed ordinal. We then show how to generalize some theorems from ordinary recursion Let OR be the class of all ordinals. An n-ary function F : ORn -+ OR is said to be primitive recursive if it i s generable from the initial functions.
Online consensus and agreement of phylogenetic trees

Computational heuristics are the primary methods for reconstruction of phylogenetic trees on large datasets. Most large-scale phylogenetic analyses produce numerous trees that are equivalent for some optimization criteria. Even using the best heuristics, it takes significant amount of time to obtain optimal trees in simulation experiments. When biological data are used, the score of the optimal tree is not known. As a result, the heuristics are either run for a fixed (long) period of time, or until some measure of a lack of improvement is achieved. It is unclear, though, what is a good criterion for measuring this lack of improvement. However, often it is useful to represent the collection of best trees so far in a compact way to allow scientists to monitor the reconstruction progress. Consensus and agreement trees are common such representations. Using existing static algorithms to produce these trees increases an already lengthy computational time substantially. In this paper we present efficient online algorithms for computing strict and majority consensi and the maximum agreement subtree.
Circuit level modeling and simulation of mixed-technology systems

The goal of this paper is to describe a methodology for circuit level modeling and simulation of mixed-technology systems, which fits into a standard electronic design flow and allows one to model and simulate such systems in a standard circuit simulator. The basis for the methodology is the use of the model compiler that allows one to compile models written in high-level behavioral description language and make them available to a standard circuit simulator. For demonstration purposes, we consider two mixed-technology examples: an optoelectronic example (a laser diode circuit) and a thermo-electronic example (thermally coupled MOS inverter). We use model compiler MCAST developed in our group to compile VHDL-AMS models and make them available to SPICE circuit simulator. Our results demonstrate that model compiler technology allows one to perform simulation of mixed-technology systems in a circuit simulator. The methodology described here is general and can be used with various model compilers and circuit simulators, as long as good mathematical models for mixed-technology devices are available.
Principles and Practice of Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Over the past several years, the use of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has increased. The primary advantage of venovenous (VV) over venoarterial (VA) ECMO is preservation of the carotid artery. Its primary disadvantage is that it does not provide circulatory support. While VV ECMO is technically similar to VA ECMO, clinical application of VV ECMO is quite different from VA ECMO. Recent clinical data show that VV ECMO is safe and effective. The purpose of this review is to discuss these differences between VV and VA ECMO, to review the various forms of VV ECMO, and finally to offer recommendations on the safe clinical use of VV ECMO.
Everyday Discrimination Experienced by Conservative Christians at the Secular University

Two studies explore everyday discrimination experienced by conservative Christians in a secular university setting. In Study 1, 42 conservative Christian students documented 87 Anti-Christian incidents in one week of diaries. Incident frequency and type (e.g., Stereotyping, Hostility, and Interaction Difficulties) paralleled past research of more traditionally studied target groups (e.g.,Hyers, 2007a;Swim, Hyers, & Cohen, 1998). Unique patterns emerged as well (e.g., Overt Derogation and Belief Conflicts). In Study 2, a general sample of university students rated their sympathy for Anti-Christian, Sexist, and Anti-Black Racist incidents. Students had less sympathy for Anti-Christian incidents than for Anti-Black Racism and Sexism, though Christian students were more sympathetic to all types of prejudice. For Anti-Christian incidents, sympathy was highest for antagonistic types (e.g., Hostility and Teasing), moderate for Derogation, Belief Conflicts, and Stereotyping, and lowest for Interaction Difficulties. Implications for conceptions of everyday discrimination, diversity, and higher education are discussed.
Issues in the Measurement of Efficiency of American Dairy Farming, 1850–1910: A Comment

In two recent issues of this Journal Fred Bateman presented his evidence of improvements in American dairying during the years 1850 to 1910.1 In his first article Bateman analyzed the factors which caused an increase in average yield (output) measured in pounds of milk per cow per year. He found increases in yield to be a result of shifts of regional location of dairying, extension of the annual milking season, and development and adoption of better techniques in dairying. These results were convincingly derived and informative. They do not, however, support the conclusions he derived from them. Bateman saw his study as an opportunity to consider the sources of improvements in efficiency in an industry where there were no major advances in mechanization.2 Unfortunately the measure he chose to investigate efficiency changes does not substantiate the implications he derived from it. Average yield is not a productivity measure. (Bateman seemed to realize this point, since he did not use the term productivity in connection with his yield measure.) Yield is a measure of output, and output without any connection whatsoever to the quantity of inputs. It is a measure of the size of the production unit and not of its efficiency. To measure improvements in the efficiency of an industry this index of output must be compared to an index of inputs. Only this last procedure would verify that efficiency had increased. Bateman's demonstration of rising yields in the period from 1850 to 1910 is consistent with rising, constant, or even declining productivity in American dairy farming. The actual productivity trend would depend on whether the increase in inputs was less than, equal to, or greater than the increase in yield in this period. The finding of rising yields proves one thing. As the period progressed the average cow gave more milk. If the economic principle that the market selects the most efficient sized unit at any point of time is applied to this trend, it could be asserted that the optimum sized cow was increasing through time. But this is a long way from arguing that efficiency increased in the dairy industry. In his summary of his first article Bateman concluded: "Gradual im-
County-level analysis of the impact of temperature and population increases on California wildfire data

The extent to which the apparent increase in wildre incidence and burn area inCalifornia from 1990 to 2006 is aected by population and temperature increasesis examined. Using generalized linear models with random eects, we focus onthe estimated impacts of increases in mean daily temperatures and populationsin dierent counties on wildre in those counties, after essentially controlling forthe overall dierences between counties in their overall mean temperatures andpopulations. We nd that temperature increase appears to have a signicant posi-tive impact on both total burn area and number of observed wildres. Populationgrowth appears to have a much less pronounced impact on total burn area thando annual temperature increases, and population growth appears to be negativelycorrelated with the total number of observed wildres. These eects are especiallypronounced in the winter season and in Southern California counties.
Selenium: Inorganic Chemistry

Selenium is the first member of the group 16 elements O, S, Se, Te, and Po that shows some metallic character. The increasing metallic character in the series O, S, Se, Te, Po is reflected also in the lower electronegativity, in the less acid character of the oxides, and in the lower stability of the oxidation number +VI for selenium compared to sulfur. There is a large variety of compounds of SeII, SeIV, and SeVI with the electronegative elements N, O, F, Cl, and Br. Thus, there are six general types of compounds, and these will comprise the main sections in the article. They are cations, halides, oxides, haloselenates, oxohaloselenates, and the related compounds that form when both selenium and nitrogen are present in the molecule. Keywords: cycles; heterocycles; cations; halides; oxides; oxohalides; haloselenates; oxohaloselenates; amide; imide
The impact of the Madden-Julian Oscillation trend on the Arctic amplification of surface air temperature during the 1979-2008 boreal winter

[1] One of the most prominent and important features of climate change is that surface air temperature (SAT) change is greatest at high latitudes. The cause for this Arctic amplification of SAT is uncertain. Using ERA-Interim reanalysis data, we show that Arctic amplification during the past 30 years (1979 to 2008) is linked to the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), the primary mode of intraseasonal variability in the tropics. Specifically, it is shown that interdecadal changes in the frequency of occurrence of individual MJO phases have had considerable influence on the Arctic warming during the boreal winter. During that time period, MJO phases 4–6 exhibited a large increase and phases 1–2 a moderate decrease in their frequency of occurrence. Time lagged composites of the SAT show that MJO phases 4–6, which correspond to enhanced localized tropical heating, are followed 1–2 weeks later by Arctic warming. Similarly, MJO phases 1–2, which are associated with more zonally uniform tropical heating, are followed by Arctic cooling. These relationships between the Arctic SAT and the spatial structure of the tropical heating are consistent with the poleward propagation mechanism of Lee et al. (2011a, 2011b). By incorporating both the trend in MJO phase and the intraseasonal SAT anomaly associated with the MJO, it was found that the MJO-induced SAT trend accounts for 10–20% of the observed Arctic amplification over the Arctic Ocean.
Controlling the locomotion of a separated inner robot from an outer robot using electropermanent magnets

This paper presents the design, modeling, and experimental verification of a novel, programmable connection mechanism for robots separated by a surface. The connector uses electropermanent magnets (EPMs) [1] to establish a continuum of clamping force between the robots, enabling the motion of one robot to slave the other during a variety of maneuvers. The authors design a novel, solid-state EPM arrangement capable of generating up to an estimated 890N of clamping force under environmental loading conditions. A relationship between geometric and environmental variables and connection assembly performance is first modeled and subsequently experimentally characterized. By implementing these connectors in a custom manufactured pair of assembly robots, the authors demonstrate the connection assembly and magnetizing hardware can be compactly fit within an autonomous robot application. We offer this mechanism as a repeatable, easily-automated alternative to robotic systems that depend on mechanic means to regulate clamping force [2].
A novel approach for using polyphase filter bank in directly digital RF conversion from RF to baseband

Software defined radio (SDR) hardware platform is in high demand for ultra-wideband digital EW receiver to carry out different mission requirements. Due to the limitations of current Analog-to-Digital conversion (ADC) techniques, the ideal receiver structure of SDR, with digital RF frequency conversion, cannot be achieved. In this article, a new channelization technique called ADC polyphase fast Fourier transformation (ADC PFFT) filter bank channelization is demonstrated. The key concept is to separate the speed at which the two functional units of an ADC - the sample and hold and the quantizer - operate. The sample and hold unit operates at the sampling frequency fs and the quantizer (the speed limiting factor in ADCs) can operate at a much slower rate, fs/M, where M is the decimation factor for digital filter bank. By integrated this ADC PFFT technique in ultra-wideband digital channelized EW receivers, directly digital RF down conversion can be achieved. With the ADC PFFT channelization for RF down conversion and polyphase FFT channelization for IF down conversion, 2-18 GHz frequency coverage can be accomplished in such ultra-wideband digital channelized EW receivers without the requirement of EW receivers being time-shared among outputs from many subbands due to bandwidth limitation in digital IF channelized EW receivers. Because the frequency down conversion from RF to BB are all processed digitally, issues such as image rejection and I/Q imbalance due to analog mixing will be eliminated in the ultrawideband digital channelized EW receivers.© (2012) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Up or Down: Directional Stimulus-Response Compatibility and Natural Scrolling

The settings of scrolling direction (e.g., whether scrolling up or down to move the display content up) on current computer operating systems are discrepant, which may impair users’ performance and user experience. To evaluate the alternatives, we conducted two experiments. In Experiment 1, we simulated the way people read and scroll on a computer by asking participants to press the up-arrow or down-arrow key to scroll the screen. In Experiment 2, we eliminated the scrolling component by including only a location-judgment task. We examined directional stimulus-response compatibility in the scrolling task and the location-judgment task. Results showed that responses were facilitated when the control direction was compatible with the display content movement direction. This finding is consonant with the Mac OS X Lion operating system, which defines the default scrolling direction as “move content in the direction of finger movement.” We recommend that other systems adopt this directional compatible mapping.
Sequential analysis of autonomy‐interdependence and affiliation‐disaffiliation in couples' social support interactions

Sequential patterns of social support interactions between satisfied (n= 33) and dissatisfied (n= 23) husbands and wives were observed as the spouses took turns confiding about personal problems. The interactions were coded with an adaptation of Benjamin's Structural Analysis of Social Behavior, which evaluates interpersonal behaviors along two dimensions of independence-interdependence and affiliation-disaffiliation. Log-linear analysis verified expected complementary sequential exchanges of behaviors that fell in the mid-ranges of independence, interdependence, affiliation, and disaffiliation, although extreme forms of independent and interdependent behavior showed unexpected functional associations with non-complementary behaviors. Dissatisfied wives displayed imbalanced levels of independent and interdependent behaviors, and both spouses showed relatively less support for each other's independent initiative. Dissatisfied spouses also had difficulty providing and accepting assistance in affiliative ways. The findings are discussed in terms of the balance of autonomy and interconnectedness in marriage, and the implications for improving supportive interactions for dissatisfied couples.
ASEPS-0 Testbed Interferometer control system

The ASEPS-O Testbed Interferometer control system design presents new challenges as compared to previous generation instruments. Increased instrument complexity due to narrow-angle astrometric observing techniques, longer baselines, and increased user expectations due to computer technology advances all contribute to the size of the effort required to bring the instrument on- line. This paper discusses the design objectives for the computer systems and software for the instrument and how the architecture selected was driven by the objectives and by the resources available; one of the major design objectives was to come up with an architecture that keeps software, network, and communications issues separate from scientific and subsystem implementation issues, making the most effective use of both scientifically- oriented and computer-oriented developers. The paper then presents the architecture that has been implemented in detail.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
New thermotropic polyesters from distyrylbenzene bisphenols

New main-chain thermotropic liquid crystalline (lc) polymers based on four derivatives of 4,4′- (p-phenylenedi-1,2-ethenediyl)bisphenol have heen prepared by Schotten-Baumen polymerization. Fusibility and solubility were achieved through the incorporation of side groups and flexible methylene spacers. Both a model ester and polymers based on the unsubstituted bisphenol were thermotropic, but had melting points in the vicinity of decomposition. Methyl, methoxy, and ethoxy side groups were used to lower the melting transition. The liquid-crystallinity was investigated with polarized light microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction. Methyl substitution provided the model compound and polymers with the greatest number of mesophases. Chemical structure was analyzed by infrared and UV/visible spectroscopy, 1H NMR, and elemental analysis of monomers and model compounds. Intrinsic viscosities were measured in N-methylpyrrolidone (nmp) solution.
H3K27me3 and H3K4me3 Chromatin Environment at Super-Induced Dehydration Stress Memory Genes of Arabidopsis thaliana

Pre-exposure to a stress may alter the plant's cellular, biochemical, and/or transcriptional responses during future encounters as a 'memory' from the previous stress. Genes increasing transcription in response to a first dehydration stress, but producing much higher transcript levels in a subsequent stress, represent the super-induced 'transcription memory' genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. The chromatin environment (histone H3 tri-methylations of Lys 4 and Lys 27, H3K4me3, and H3K27me3) studied at five dehydration stress memory genes revealed existence of distinct memory-response subclasses that responded differently to CLF deficiency and displayed different transcriptional activities during the watered recovery periods. Among the most important findings is the novel aspect of the H3K27me3 function observed at specific dehydration stress memory genes. In contrast to its well-known role as a chromatin repressive mechanism at developmentally regulated genes, H3K27me3 did not prevent transcription from the dehydration stress-responding genes. The high H3K27me3 levels present during transcriptionally inactive states did not interfere with the transition to active transcription and with H3K4me3 accumulation. H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 marks function independently and are not mutually exclusive at the dehydration stress-responding memory genes.
Imaging of inflammatory processes with labeled cells

Radionuclide techniques for localizing inflammatory processes had relied heavily upon 67 Ga-citrate until McAfee and Thakur described the technique for the radiolabeling of leukocytes with 111 In-oxine. Since their initial description in 1976 there has been continued development of the radiopharmaceutical, as well as clinical efficacy. At present 111 In-labeled leukocytes continue to be handled as an investigational new drug but this has not greatly limited its clinical availability. Indium-111 leukocytes are the agent of choice for evaluation of patients with fever of unknown origin, osteomyelitis, and prosthetic graft infections; and preliminary data shows great promise in the area of detecting reocurrence of inflammatory bowel disease. This article attempts to review currently accepted uses of 111 In leukocytes as well as potential areas of application.
Is cardiac resynchronization therapy for right ventricular failure in pulmonary arterial hypertension of benefit

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a manifestation of a group of disorders leading to pulmonary vascular remodeling and increased pulmonary pressures. The right ventricular (RV) response to chronic pressure overload consists of myocardial remodeling, which is in many ways similar to that seen in left ventricular (LV) failure. Maladaptive myocardial remodeling often leads to intraventricular and interventricular dyssychrony, an observation that has led to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) for LV failure. CRT has proven to be an effective treatment strategy in subsets of patients with LV failure resulting in improvement in LV function, heart failure symptoms, and survival. Current therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension is based on decreasing pulmonary vascular resistance, and there is currently no effective therapy targeting the right ventricle or maladaptive ventricular remodeling in these patients. This review focuses on the RV response to chronic pressure overload, its effect on electromechanical coupling and synchrony, and how lessons learned from left ventricular cardiac resynchronization might be applied as therapy for RV dysfunction in the context of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
The gravity-perturbed Lambert problem: A KS variation of parameters approach

A new formulation is presented for the perturbed Lambert problem. The formulation employs the variation-of-parameters method in the KS transformed state space to determine perturbations of a Keplerian Lambert solution. The approach is universal (in that its validity is not restricted to a particular energy domain). For the case of the second zonal harmonic (oblateness) perturbation, first order perturbations are carried out entirely analytically; non-iterative corrections are determined through solution of a pair of algebraic equations. For more general perturbations, numerical quadratures are required.
FAULT DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION VIA MULTI-LEVEL HYPOTHESES TESTING †

Abstract This paper formulates a recursive algorithm of multi-level hypotheses testing for real-time detection and identification of potential faults from continuous sensor signals. The usage of the recursive algorithm is illustrated on a data set of temperature sensors, collected from an operating power plant.
Molecular cloning and chromosome assignment of murine N-ras

The murine N-ras gene was cloned by screening an EMBL-3 recombinant phage library with a human N-ras specific probe. Hybridization of two separate unique sequence N-ras probes, isolated from the 5' and 3' flanking sequences of the murine gene, to a mouse-Chinese hamster hybrid mapping panel assigns the N-ras locus to mouse chromosome three.
Development of an HIV Assessment Tool

The objective of this study was to establish the validity and reliability of a visual analog scale that rates HIV-related symptom severity and general well-being. Three groups of subjects completed the HIV Assessment Tool (HAT): uninfected subjects (n = 53); people with HIV infection (n = 60), and people with CDC-defined AIDS (n = 43) according to the 1987 criteria. Test-retest reliability was .96 and Cronbach's alpha was .92. Face, content, and construct validity were established. Significant differences were found between healthy subjects and those with HIV or AIDS supporting discriminant validity. Correlation of the Karnofsky performance status with the HAT was significant (r = .51, p < .001) which demonstrated concurrent validity. Factor analysis helped identify general well-being, general symptoms, and HIV-specific symptoms. The instrument can be used to relate HIV symptoms to disease progression, and to evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions.
Global aircraft aero-propulsive linear parameter-varying model using design of experiments

Abstract In this paper, applicability of modeling global aircraft aerodynamic-propulsive coefficients using a design of experiments technique based on a linear parameter-varying model is investigated. The proposed technique consists of a local estimation phase and a global identification phase. For the local estimation phase, a set of multiple orthogonal phase-optimized multi-sine inputs (elevator, aileron, rudder, and throttle) is executed at different locations over the operational flight envelope. The resultant aircraft responses are used to estimate the equivalent stability and control derivatives at each flight condition. Design of experiments is then employed to globally identify the stability and control derivative variations with velocity, altitude, aircraft mass, and center of gravity position. A sequential experiment using a factorial design and augmented face central axial points was employed to model the variation. For demonstrating technique feasibility, a nonlinear simulator for an F-16 was used to assess the proposed approach. The validity of the proposed method was evaluated by comparing the aircraft response based on the proposed aerodynamic-propulsive model with the actual model. The proposed technique has the capability to deliver a model for a computationally complex and large envelope aerodynamic-propulsive airframe system.
Comparative overwintering physiology of Alaska and Indiana populations of the beetle Cucujus clavipes (Fabricius): roles of antifreeze proteins, polyols, dehydration and diapause

The beetle Cucujus clavipes is found in North America over a broad latitudinal range from North Carolina (latitude approximately 35 degrees N) to near tree line in the Brooks Range in Alaska (latitude, approximately 67 degrees 30' N). The cold adaptations of populations from northern Indiana (approximately 41 degrees 45' N) and Alaska were compared and, as expected, the supercooling points (the temperatures at which they froze) of these freeze-avoiding insects were significantly lower in Alaska insects. Both populations produce glycerol, but the concentrations in Alaska larvae were much higher than in Indiana insects (approximately 2.2 and 0.5 mol l(-1), respectively). In addition, both populations produce antifreeze proteins. Interestingly, in the autumn both populations have the same approximate level of hemolymph thermal hysteresis, indicative of antifreeze protein activity, suggesting that they synthesize similar amounts of antifreeze protein. A major difference is that the Alaska larvae undergo extreme dehydration in winter wherein water content decreases from 63-65% body water (1.70-1.85 g H2O g(-1) dry mass) in summer to 28-40% body water (0.40-0.68 g H2O g(-1) dry mass) in winter. These 2.5-4.6-fold reductions in body water greatly increase the concentrations of antifreeze in the Alaska insects. Glycerol concentrations would increase to 7-10 mol l(-1) while thermal hysteresis increased to nearly 13 degrees C (the highest ever measured in any organism) in concentrated hemolymph. By contrast, Indiana larvae do not desiccate in winter. The Alaska population also undergoes a diapause while insects from Indiana do not. The result of these, and likely additional, adaptations is that while the mean winter supercooling points of Indiana larvae were approximately -23 degrees C, those of Alaska larvae were -35 to -42 degrees C, and at certain times Alaska C. clavipes did not freeze when cooled to -80 degrees C.
The impact of redefined species limits in Palame (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Acanthocinini) on assessments of host, seasonal, and stratum specificity

Assumptions about the host and stratum specificity of tropical insects are routinely incorporated into estimates of global species richness, but few empirical studies reliably assess tropical insect specificity. In French Guiana, cer-ambycid beetles in the genus Palame reproduce exclusively in trees belonging to the Brazil nut family (Lecythi-daceae). During a year-long rearing project, Palame anceps (Bates) emerged exclusively from a single host species, but P. crassimana Bates and P. mimetica Monne appeared to make seasonal changes in host affiliation. In the case of P. crassimana, dry season specimens could be distinguished from rainy season specimens by subtle differences in pubescence, but it was difficult to find diagnostic morphological characters supporting their delimitation as separate species. In order to detect genetic differentiation in Palame, 1049 bp of mitochondrial DNA (COI gene) were sequenced. The three nominal species of Palame yielded six haplotype groups, with sequence divergences among groups ranging from 8.27 to 17.56%. Species with apparent seasonal changes in host use included multiple distinct haplotype groups that I interpret to represent multiple species-level taxa. Insects considered generalized owing to temporal or geographical changes in host association may, with improved resolution in species limits, prove to be assemblages including relatively specialized cryptic species.