cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intravenous dexmedetomidine sedation for magnetoencephalography: A retrospective study.

Background Magnetoencephalography (MEG) plays a preponderant role in the preoperative assessment of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). However, the magnetoencephalography of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy can be difficult without sedation and/or general anesthesia. Our objective is to describe our experience with intravenous dexmedetomidine as sedation for magnetoencephalography and its effect, if any, on the ability to recognize epileptic spikes. Methods In this retrospective study, we reviewed the records of 89 children who presented for Magnetoencephalography/electroencephalography (EEG) scans between August of 2008 and May of 2015. Data analyzed included demographics and the frequency of epileptic spikes. Sedated magnetoencephalography recordings were compared to nonsedated video-electroencephalography (vEEG) recordings in the same patients to determine the impact of dexmedetomidine. Results Spike frequency between magnetoencephalography with sedation and video-electroencephalography without sedation was compared in 85 patients. Magnetoencephalography and video-electroencephalography were considered clinically concordant in 80 patients (94.1%) and discordant in 5 patients (5.9%), all with less spikes during Magnetoencephalography. The median (range) bolus dose of dexmedetomidine was 2 (1-2) mcg/kg. The median (range) infusion rate of dexmedetomidine was 2 (0.5-4) mcg/kg/h. All patients experienced reductions in heart rate after administration of dexmedetomidine; these reductions were statistically, but not clinically, significant. Conclusions Our results suggest that dexmedetomidine-based protocol provides reliable sedation in children undergoing MEG scanning because of the high success rate, limited interictal artifacts, and minimal impacts on spike frequency.
Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Storage in Natural and Prop-Scarred Thalassia Testudinum Seagrass Meadows

Seagrass meadows are carbon (C) sinks and nitrogen (N)-limited ecosystems that experience degradation from climate change and anthropogenic stressors, including prop-scarring disturbances by boating vessels. To better understand the variability in C and N pools of undisturbed seagrass soils and the recovery of these pools following boat propeller scarring, we quantified organic carbon (Corg) and N pools within the top 1 m of soils in undisturbed Thalassia testudinum seagrass beds of the Lower Laguna Madre (LLM), Texas, USA—a sub-tropical, uniquely hypersaline, and heavily used recreational boating lagoon—and used a chronosequence approach to compare these undisturbed soil pools to those in different aged prop scars (1–3, 4–6, 7–9, and 10+ years). We found that undisturbed soils stored 108.41 ± 2.93 and 6.65 ± 0.26 Mg (megagram) ha−1 of Corg and N, respectively, in the top 1 m, with ~ 30% of these pools stored within the top 20 cm. Scarring impacted these shallow, organic-rich pools, exposing higher bulk density (BD) mineral soils with lower %Corg and %N. Consequently, young scars (1–3 years) had significantly lower %Corg and %N values in the top 20 cm of soil compared with undisturbed soils, but the greater BD offset these changes, leading to no differences in total Corg and N pools in the top 1 m between scarred and undisturbed soils. Scars 10+ years had similar %Corg, %N, and BD soil characteristics to undisturbed soils, producing similar Corg and N pools in both upper and lower soil horizons. These findings indicate that recovery of Corg and N pools of prop-scarred seagrass soils within T. testudinum beds of the LLM will likely recover a decade or more post-disturbance. Our findings contribute to the growing global database on seagrass C and N storage and demonstrate the rate at which seagrass meadows recover post-disturbance.
P84 Perceived Healthfulness of Environment of Low-Income Communities by Community Extension Nutrition Educators

Background The environment in which people live affects food and physical activity decisions, but low-income communities often lack the resources to support more healthful choices. Understanding the perceived barriers and facilitators to engaging in healthful practices in communities is an important first step in developing targeted interventions to improve health. Objective To determine Extension nutrition educators’ perceptions about the healthfulness of the environment in the communities they serve. Study Design, Setting, Participants Focus groups (n = 16) and in-depth interviews (n = 6) were conducted in English (n = 11) and Spanish (n = 5) with Extension nutrition educators (n = 84) working in low-income communities in Kansas, Florida, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Trained focus group moderators used a semi-structured script to ask questions about the healthfulness of the community environment in which they work. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Audio recorded focus groups and in-depth interviews were transcribed verbatim and content analyzed to identify themes. Results Across all states, participants described a healthy lifestyle as a multifaceted approach to wellness that promotes healthy eating, physical activity, and mental and spiritual health. Perceived barriers for English and Spanish participants included the lack of access to and availability of healthy food and public transportation; lack of nutrition education and nutrition resources; and limited mental health resources. Spanish participants emphasized the need for culturally and linguistically appropriate nutrition materials and suggested that participant attrition from education programs was due to the increased anxiety related to participants’ immigration status. Perceived facilitators were limited but included access to trustworthy education resources and food banks/pantries. Conclusions Extension nutrition educators across several states listed similar barriers and facilitators to a healthy lifestyle for low-income individuals. Data will be used to develop focus group questions for low-income community residents with a long-range goal of developing a survey to measure perceived healthfulness of low-income communities.
A linear mixed model formulation for spatio-temporal random processes with computational advances for the product, sum, and product–sum covariance functions

Abstract To properly characterize a spatio-temporal random process, it is necessary to understand the process’ dependence structure. It is common to describe this dependence using a single random error having a complicated covariance. Instead of using the single random error approach, we describe spatio-temporal random processes using linear mixed models having several random errors; each random error describes a specific quality of the covariance. This linear mixed model formulation is general, intuitive, and contains many commonly used covariance functions as special cases. We focus on using the linear mixed model formulation to express three covariance functions: product (separable), sum (linear), and product–sum. We discuss benefits and drawbacks of each covariance function and propose novel algorithms using Stegle eigendecompositions, a recursive application of the Sherman–Morrison–Woodbury formula, and Helmert–Wolf blocking to efficiently invert their covariance matrices, even when every spatial location is not observed at every time point. Via a simulation study and an analysis of temperature data in Oregon, USA, we assess model performance and computational efficiency of these covariance functions when estimated using restricted maximum likelihood (likelihood-based) and Cressie’s weighted least squares (semivariogram-based). We end by offering guidelines for choosing among combinations of the covariance functions and estimation methods based on properties of observed data and the desired balance between model performance and computational efficiency.
On the Apportionment of Electoral Votes to Counties

ObjectiveThe Electoral College methods improperly represent voters, and previous elections reveal numerous counties where the popular vote in said counties are not the same as the popular vote in the state. We test a novel method to engender increased fairness in Presidential elections.MethodsThe Hill-Huntington method was applied to apportion electoral votes to counties based on each county’s recent population size. The winner-take-all method was employed for each county.ResultsAnalyzing the 2000 and 2008 elections reveals the consistency of county-apportionment with those election outcomes. Regarding the 2016 election, county-apportionment reveals the significance of the disparity between the popular vote and Electoral College results. The method provides insight into the reason such disparity exists. Across all three elections, voter representation increased under county-apportionment.ConclusionCounty-apportionment increases voter representation and can be accomplished absent Constitutional amendment by reforming electoral methods at the state level.
Dynamically measuring the holo-information of light fields in three-dimensional space using a periodic polarization-structured light

Spatially structured light field has attracted great attention due to its novel properties and application potential in numerous fields. Among them, the most striking one is the polarization-structured light, known as the vector beam. Here, using a periodic polarization-structured light, we propose a method to dynamically measure the holo-information of light fields, including the amplitude, phase, and polarization distributions, in three-dimensional (3D) space. The measurement system is composed of a Mach-Zender interferometer involving a liquid crystal polarized grating in the reference arm, which is simple, stable, and easy to operate. Featuring the single-shot measurement, this method supports observing the dynamic variation of object light fields. The accuracy, 3D polarimetry, and dynamic observation of this method are validated by measuring a calibrated quarter-wave plate, a vector vortex beam, a Poincare beam, and a stressed polymethyl methacrylate sample.
Grid Frequency Regulation Based on Point of Common Coupling Angle Deviation Control of Distributed Energy Resources With Fully Active Hybrid Energy Storage System

This article proposes an architecture that controls hybrid energy storage system (HESS) integrated photovoltaic distributed energy resource (as a dc-microgrid) and achieves grid frequency regulation by capturing voltage angle deviations ( $\Delta \delta$ ) at the microgrid point of common coupling (PCC). The proposed architecture is an optimal controller that augments the conventional bidirectional control of the HESS and serves as a supervisor to ensure optimal dispatch of HESS for inertial support. The architecture is tested on a modified IEEE 123 bus power distribution system, where three dc-microgrids are integrated at different buses using three-phase d–q voltage source inverters. Power-sharing determined by the minimization routine is based on the relative angle sensitivity at PCC. Unlike, frequency-droop approach the proposed architecture shares power depending on the proximity of fault/dynamics location from the microgrid of interest. Both inertial and secondary frequency responses are supported by individual dc-microgrids by locally detected ( $\Delta \delta$ ) deviations and the demonstration shows that the architecture shows an improvement of more than 20% in comparison to the conventional frequency-droop method.
The Impact of the New Deal on Economic Liberties During the Great Depression

The Great Depression is among the most consequential periods in American history. The collapse that began in 1929, and the economic, social, and political consequences of the subsequent decade, have been an enormously popular subject for historians and economists. Yet, despite this significant scholarly achievement, curiously little research has been advanced at the intersection of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal policies and economic liberties. Through a review of the economic history of the Great Depression, and in the context of the contemporary political environment and legal framework, this paper seeks to understand the impact of FDR’s interventionist economic policies on economic liberties, principally freedom of contract and private property. The Roosevelt administration used deliberately crafted war analogies to draw upon and expand pre-existing emergency powers for political and economic aims. This expansion of a national security justification into the economic realm clashed with a decades-long period of heightened protection for economic liberties. The result was a significant increase in centralized and arbitrary executive power outside of the wartime environment at the expense of economic liberty. Furthermore, the exercise of these policies established and expanded political and legal precedents that governments would not hesitate to use in the future—and continues unabated today.
Oil immersed lossless total analysis system for integrated RNA extraction and detection of SARS-CoV-2.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed difficulties in scaling current quantitative PCR (qPCR)-based diagnostic methodologies for large-scale infectious disease testing. Bottlenecks include lengthy multi-step processes for nucleic acid extraction followed by qPCR readouts, which require costly instrumentation and infrastructure, as well as reagent and plastic consumable shortages stemming from supply chain constraints. Here we report an Oil Immersed Lossless Total Analysis System (OIL-TAS), which integrates RNA extraction and detection onto a single device that is simple, rapid, cost effective, and requires minimal supplies and infrastructure to perform. We validated the performance of OIL-TAS using contrived SARS-CoV-2 viral particle samples and clinical nasopharyngeal swab samples. OIL-TAS showed a 93% positive predictive agreement (n = 57) and 100% negative predictive agreement (n = 10) with clinical SARS-CoV-2 qPCR assays in testing clinical samples, highlighting its potential to be a faster, cheaper, and easier-to-deploy alternative for infectious disease testing. Bottlenecks in qPCR-based COVID-19 diagnostics include the lengthy multistep process and reagent shortages. Here the authors report OIL-TAS which integrates RNA extraction and detection into a single device.
The low glutamate diet improves cognitive functioning in veterans with Gulf War Illness and resting-state EEG potentially predicts response.

Objectives: Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic, multi-symptom disorder with underlying central nervous system dysfunction and cognitive impairments. The objective of this study was to test the low glutamate diet as a novel treatment for cognitive dysfunction among those with GWI, and to explore if baseline resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) could predict cognitive outcomes.Methods: Cognitive functioning was assessed at baseline, after one-month on the diet, and across a two-week double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover challenge with monosodium glutamate (MSG) relative to placebo.Results: Significant improvements were seen after one-month on the diet in overall cognitive functioning, and in all other domains tested (FDR p < 0.05), except for memory. Challenge with MSG resulted in significant inter-individual response variability (p < 0.0001). Participants were clustered according to baseline resting-state EEG using k-means clustering to explore the inter-individual response variability. Three distinct EEG clusters were observed, and each corresponded with differential cognitive effects during challenge with MSG: cluster 1 had cognitive benefit (24% of participants), cluster 2 had cognitive detriment (42% of participants), and cluster 3 had mild/mixed effects (33% of participants).Discussion: These findings suggest that the low glutamate diet may be a beneficial treatment for cognitive impairment in GWI. Future research is needed to understand the extent to which resting-state EEG can predict response to the low glutamate diet and to explore the mechanisms behind the varied response to acute glutamate challenge.
Desensitizing nano powders to electrostatic discharge ignition

Abstract Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a main cause for ignition in powder media ranging from grain silos to fireworks. Nanoscale particles are orders of magnitude more ESD ignition sensitive than their micron scale counterparts. This study shows that at least 13 vol. % carbon nanotubes (CNT) added to nano-aluminum and nano-copper oxide particles (nAl + CuO) eliminates ESD ignition sensitivity. The CNT act as a conduit for electric energy and directs electric charge through the powder to desensitize the reactive mixture to ignition. For nanoparticles, the required CNT concentration for desensitizing ESD ignition acts as a diluent to quench energy propagation.
Tactical Conflict Detection Methods for Reducing Operational Errors

Operational error rates in the U.S. have increased significantly over the past few years. This paper presents a new decision support tool called TSAFE (Tactical Separation Assisted Flight Environment) that could eventually replace Conflict Alert, the legacy software that is intended to detect and warn controllers of imminent conflicts. To account for uncertainties in pilot intent, TSAFE generates two predicted trajectories for each aircraft and checks all four combinations of trajectories for each pair of aircraft. One of the trajectories is synthesized based on the flight plan, tracking data, and atmospheric data. The other is a “dead-reckoning” trajectory, a short-range projection based on the current velocity. Methods were also developed to predict critical leveloff maneuvers and to detect and model unplanned turns. Official reports and tracking data were obtained for 58 actual operational error cases, and an automated system was set up to test TSAFE by replaying the tracking data for each case. The re...
Erodibility of Coarse Sand-Clayey Silt Mixtures

This paper presents results of a laboratory study concerning the erosion characteristics of soil mixtures composed of a uniform coarse sand mixture with various percentages of a silty soil.
Effects of Air Leaks on the Phase Content, Microstructure, and Interfacial Behavior of CVD Zirconia on SiC Fiber

A slight increase in the rate of air leaks into the CVD-ZrO 2 process appeared to mitigate the nucleation of tetragonal ZrO 2 phase. Without the nucleation of the tetragonal phase, the ZrO 2 layer was well bonded to the SiC fiber surface and exhibited no delamination at the fiber/coating interface region. This strong bonding at the fiber/coating interface could significantly decrease, depending on the ZrO 2 coating thickness, the tensile failure load of the coated SiC fiber tows. In contrast, ZrO 2 coating specimens, produced at the lower air leak rates, contained the tetregonal ZrO 2 phase. For these specimens, delamination occurred within the ZrO 2 coating, and the coating did not decrease the fiber tow failure load. These results suggest that such a small change in the air leak rate could significantly change the nucleation behavior of ZrO 2 and consequently its interfacial properties as a fiber coating for SiC/SiC composites.
Irradiation Performance of Metallic Driver Fuel in Experimental Breeder Reactor II to High Burnup

The Experimental Breeder Reactor II Mark-II metallic-driver-fuel element has been irradiated to high burnup to assess element lifetime and performance reliability. The purpose of this paper is to describe the irradiation performance of the Mark-II fuel element to 10 at.% burnup. Fission gas behavior, fuel deformation, fuel-cladding chemical interaction, fuel-cladding mechanical interaction, and cladding dilation are examined for their effect on Mark-II behavior. 27 refs.
Design methodology for identifying optimum photovoltaic system configuration at UNC Charlotte

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems provide an environmentally friendly method to harvest energy. Incorporating a PV system onto a campus building would help offset energy costs. UNC Charlotte identified the Colvard building roof as a promising candidate for solar panels. In this paper, the feasibility of placing a PV array on the roof is investigated. Six system configurations were identified as: (i) micro-inverter and grid tie (ii) micro-inverter with grid tie and battery backup (iii) micro-inverter and battery (stand-alone), (iv) central/string inverter with grid-tie, (v) central/string inverter with grid tie and battery backup, (vi) central/string inverter and battery (stand-alone). The designs were systematically eliminated based on the benefits of (a) micro-inverters, (b) battery bank, (c) AC coupling and (d) grid interconnections. Micro-inverters were ruled beneficial based on literature review and also the expansion opportunities they afforded. The battery bank was ruled unnecessary based on power reliability data obtained from Facilities Management. AC coupling was also deemed an inefficient way to couple a battery bank based on both cost and losses in efficiency. A grid tie was chosen over a stand-alone setup due to the power reliability of on-campus power and the unjustified cost a battery bank posed. Thus, the study found that a grid-tie system with micro-inverters is the most suitable configuration for the Colvard roof space at UNC Charlotte. The study also found that laying the PV panels flat maximized yearly power output for the roof. A novel way to mount the panels by point-loading was devised, allowing additional weight to be added without compromising the roof's structural integrity.
Experimental atherosclerosis in rabbits fed cholesterol-free diets. 5. Comparison of peanut, corn, butter, and coconut oils.

Abstract Four groups of Dutch belted rabbits were fed a semipurified diet containing 40% sucrose, 25% casein, and 14% fat for 10 months (without added cholesterol). The fats were peanut oil (PNO), corn oil (CO), butter oil (BO), and coconut oil (CNO). All diets were hyperlipidemic and hyperlipoproteinemic. The highest serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were observed in the CNO groups, 330 and 286 mgm/dl, respectively. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the other groups (mgm/dl) were: PNO-205 and 51; CO-152 and 28; BO-292 and 48. The serum of α β lipoprotein cholesterol ratios were: PNO-0.28; CO-0.28; BO-0.19, and CNO-0.13. This ratio is about 0.35–0.40 in normal Dutch belted rabbits. Liver cholesterol levels were similar in all groups (1.35 ± 0.5 gm/100 gm). Liver triglyceride levels were (gm/100 gm): PNO-0.37; CO-0.55; BO-0.66; CNO-0.39. The most severe gross atherosclerosis was observed in the CNO group (25% of surface area) and the least in the CO group (2%). The involved surface area in the other two groups was: PNO-10% and BO-14%. Microscopic evaluation of the severity of the aortic lesions indicated that the rabbits fed CNO, BO, and PNO had the most frequent and severe lesions. In contrast, the animals fed CO consistently showed much less aortic disease. Gross aortic examination revealed distinct differences in the characteristics of atherosclerotic lesions induced by the four dietary fats. The most extensive lesions, observed in rabbits fed CNO, were characterized by intimal proliferation spread over the area of lipid deposition. BO tended to produce aortic lesions rich in lipid but a relatively small number of cells and little collagen deposition. The aortic lesions in rabbits fed PNO contained relatively little lipid and were characterized by thick fibrous plaques due to prominent intimal proliferation and a high proportion of collagen. The rabbits fed CO developed few aortic lesions, with minimal intimal proliferation and very little lipid. The relative atherogenicity of PNO was an unexpected finding.
Reagents for Synthesis of Organoselenium Compounds: Diphenyl Diselenide and Benzeneselenenyl Chloride

Reagents for synthesis of organoselenium compounds: diphenyl diselenide and benzeneselenenyl chloride product: diphenyl diselenide product: benzeneselenenyl chloride product: C6H5SeBr product: C6H5SeNa product: C6H5SeH Keywords: Grignard and related reactions; oxidation, miscellaneous; reduction, miscellaneous; selenium compounds, toxicity
Variance of complete cancer prevalence at all ages

Cancer prevalence is the proportion of people in a population diagnosed with cancer in the past and still alive. One way to estimate prevalence is via population-based registries, where data on diagnosis and life status of all incident cases occurring in the covered population are collected. In this paper a method for the estimation of the variance of complete prevalence at all ages combined has been investigated. The proposed solution consists of estimating an upper bound of the variance of interest. Simulations show that the upper bound works well, however a theoretical proof has not been found. The paper is organized as follows: after a brief introduction in section 1, the problem is illustrated in section 2; a new solution is proposed in section 3 and applied to a simulated data set in section 4; and finally some technical advice on how to modify the existing software is proposed in section 5.
Data Flow Programming Languages

The advancement of the speed of computers has been phenomenal over the past two decades. There have been several orders of magnitude improvement, so that now processors exist with cycle times of a few nanoseconds that can execute several million instructions in a second. Nevertheless, the demand for computing cycles has outstripped even these gains. Compute bound jobs such as weather prediction, simulation, and monte-carlo analysis can require execution speeds in the billions of instructions per second. Therefore the search for faster computers goes on.
Production of Helium in Massive Objects

The production of helium within supermassive stars, supermassive disks, and ‘little bangs’ is discussed. The conclusions are summarized at the end of the paper.
Optimization of genomic selection training populations with a genetic algorithm

In this article, we imagine a breeding scenario with a population of individuals that have been genotyped but not phenotyped. We derived a computationally efficient statistic that uses this genetic information to measure the reliability of genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV) for a given set of individuals (test set) based on a training set of individuals. We used this reliability measure with a genetic algorithm scheme to find an optimized training set from a larger set of candidate individuals. This subset was phenotyped to create the training set that was used in a genomic selection model to estimate GEBV in the test set. Our results show that, compared to a random sample of the same size, the use of a set of individuals selected by our method improved accuracies. We implemented the proposed training selection methodology on four sets of data on Arabidopsis, wheat, rice and maize. This dynamic model building process that takes genotypes of the individuals in the test sample into account while selecting the training individuals improves the performance of genomic selection models.
Sequence Stratigraphy of Upper Mississippian Strata in the Central Appalachians: A Record of Glacioeustasy and Tectonoeustasy in a Foreland Basin Setting

The Upper Mississippian Hinton, Princeton, and Bluestone formations of southern West Virginia constitute a westward-thinning wedge of strata that filled the central Appalachian basin over approximately 7 m.y. Up to 17 transgressive-regressive sequences comprise the study interval in the basin depocenter. High-frequency, fourth-order (~400 k.y.) sequences vary with regard to the degree of basal incision, the overall thickness, and the character of the dominant facies. Five sequence types are recognized in the outcrop belt: (1) major incised valley fill to coastal plain, (2) major incised valley fill to deltaic, (3) minor incised valley fill, (4) coastal plain, and (5) marine-dominated sequences. Sequence development is ascribed to glacioeustasy during the early stages of the Permian-Carboniferous Gondwanan glaciation.
Development of hemorheology: perspective in instrumentation development.

New viscometers for blood viscometry, improved intravital microscope, and related instruments, which are capable of measuring important rheological factors for microcirculatory research were developed and applied for hemorheological studies. As the results, four major determinants of the suspension viscosity were determined and the role of suspension viscosity of the blood as a function of microcirculatory flow was clarified. Meanwhile, the use of fluorescence microscopy and digitized video microscopic techniques has allowed the investigation of the structure and function of cells at the level of the single intact living cell. In addition, the developments and applications of laser confocal microscopy provided for not only three-dimensional image construction, but also four-dimensional image construction. In recent years, the dramatic advances in molecular biology and instrumental technology have made it possible to probe the structural and functional bases of cellular events at the molecular level. The ultimate understanding of biorheological behavior is dependent upon a molecular basis. In the future, the use of molecular biological techniques and nanotechnology (e.g., laser tweezers, atomic force microscopy and near-field microscopy, etc.) will allow the understanding of normal and abnormal rheological properties of cells, tissues, organs, and systems at the molecular level, and will contribute to progress in biomedical science.
Going global-a methodology for shaping students for the global workplace

Many programs are seeking ways to become 'global'. The Aviation Technology (AT) department at Purdue University began this process by discussing what traits make someone 'global'? How is a program shaped to produce students for whom a global perspective is second nature? Should we be trying to make students global? In response, a committee of faculty and industrial members were gathered in June 2000 to begin answering those questions. The group began by discussing what globalization meant to the industrial members. From these discussions, a Vision Goal emerged and four subset areas of further study were identified: business relationships, technical, education-business and cultural, and regulatory. Next, a process for obtaining information from a number of locales pertinent to these subsets was laid out. Third, involve the AT Industrial Advisory Committee in a parallel process to provide input and feedback on suggested curriculum changes. Fourth, develop methods meeting the identified needs and working them into the academic curriculum.
Design, Modeling and Performance Evaluation of A Novel Large Motion SMA Actuator

Presented are a number of novel designs for large-motion shape-memory alloy (SMA) actuators that may minimize the performance constraints associated with such actuators. Shape-memory alloy (SMA) actuators suffer from two performance constraints, namely small strains (epsilon) , such that (epsilon) <EQ 6%, and heat transfer problems in computer- controlled ohmic heating of contractile SMA fiber bundles to induce contraction and/or expansion type linear actuators. Intelligent material systems and structures have become important in recent years due to some potential engineering applications. Accordingly, based on such materials, structures and their integration with appropriate sensors and actuators, novel applications, useful for a large number of engineering applications have emerged. In the present paper a number of conceptual designs and their respective mathematical models are presented for large motion SMA actuators. The dynamic modeling is preceded by a model of a small motion SMA linear actuator. This model considers the dynamic response of contractile fiber bundles embedded in or around elastic springs that are either linear helical compression springs or hyperelastic springs such as rubber-like materials. The proposed theory presents a description of such processes for resilient shape-memory alloy fiber bundles. We consider the fiber bundle of SMA to be either in a serial configuration with a linear tension spring or a parallel configuration circumscribed inside a helical compression spring with flat heads or in parallel with a number of helical compression spring, end-capped by two parallel circular plates with embedded electrodes to which the ends of the SMA fibers are secured. Thus, the fibers can be electrically heated and subsequently contracted to either expand the tension spring or compress the helical compression spring back and forth. Design details are first described. In essence the dynamic behavior of the actuator depends on the frictional interference effects as well as the interaction between the current supplied to the wires and the heat transfer from the wires. Further, a mathematical model is presented to simulate the electro-thermomechanics of motion of such actuators. The proposed model takes into account all pertinent variables such as the strain (epsilon) , the temperature of the fibers T(t) as a function of time t, the ambient temperature T0, the martensite fraction (xi) , the helical compression spring constant k, the frictional effect and the coefficient of friction (mu) and the overall heat transfer coefficient h. Numerical simulations are then carried out and the results are compared with experimental observations of a number of fabricated systems.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Quantitative Analysis of Synthetic Gene Delivery Vector Design Properties

As intracellular gene delivery pathways are highly complex combinations of multiple potentially rate-limiting cellular and molecular processes, approaches to the design of synthetic delivery vectors focusing on any single barrier individually will likely be suboptimal. We offer here an "integrative systems" approach to vector characterization and design, combining quantitative experiment and computational modeling studies of vector uptake and trafficking kinetics. This model is validated using data for delivery of a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-encoding plasmid by means of Lipofectamine, permitting specification of model parameter values. The model is then used to make a priori predictions on the effect of polymer length in polyplex vectors, with additional parameter values determined from previous independent experimental studies of plasmid release. Comparison with data on GFP expression via these polyplex vectors shows that the model successfully predicts an experimentally observed biphasic dependence of expression efficiency on polymer length and quantifies the contributions of competing effects yielding the optimal intermediate polymer length. Finally, we use the model to predict potential effects of incorporating nuclear localization sequences in these kinds of synthetic vectors, and find that the degree of benefit from these will depend on the values of other key system properties including the vector unpackaging rate constant. Thus, we demonstrate the usefulness of a bioengineering, integrative-systems modeling approach to improved vector design and analysis.
Coarctation of the aorta associated with abnormal digits, ovarian insufficiency and shortness of stature.

IN describing a syndrome characterized by primary ovarian insufficiency and decreased stature, Albright, Smith and Fraser (1) noted the presence of coarctation of the aorta in 1 patient of 11. In 5 others the diastolic blood pressure was 90 mm. of mercury or more. Pich (2), Ornstein (3) and Wilkins and Fleischmann (4) each recorded a case exhibiting ovarian insufficiency, decreased stature and coarctation. Lisser and his associates (5), in a group of 25 patients with congenitally aplastic ovaries and other associated abnormalities, described coarctation of the aorta in 1 and an anomalous toe in another. We have recently studied 9 males and 5 females affected with coarctation of the aorta (6). We were impressed with finding that 4 of the females manifested shortness of stature and abnormal digits, and that the 3 who were adults showed clinical evidence of ovarian hypofunction. Two of these exhibited diastolic blood pressures over 90 mm. of mercury.
Progress toward a high-performance neural prosthetic

Recent demonstrations have shown conclusively that intracortical signals recorded from paralyzed subjects will provide the substrate to restore natural hand and arm function with high- performance prosthetic devices.
Creating Discussions with Classroom Voting in Linear Algebra.

We present a study of classroom voting in linear algebra, in which the instructors posed multiple-choice questions to the class and then allowed a few minutes for consideration and small-group discussion. After each student in the class voted on the correct answer using a classroom response system, a set of clickers, the instructor then guided a class-wide discussion of the results. We recorded the percentage of students voting for each option on each question used in 18 sections of linear algebra, taught by 10 instructors, at 8 institutions, over the course of 5 years, together recording the results of 781 votes on a collection of 311 questions. To find the questions most likely to provoke significant discussions, we identify the six questions for which votes were most broadly distributed. Here we present these questions, we discuss how we used them to advance student learning, and we discuss the common features of these questions, to identify why they were so good at stimulating discussions.
DRAWN VERSUS VERBAL FORMATS FOR MATHEMATICAL STORY PROBLEMS

The major focus of this study was the effect on performance of two problem formats: the usual words-and-numerals-only (verbal) format vs. a line-drawing-with-numerals-and-minimal-verbiage (drawn) format. Figure 1 gives an example of the two formats for the same problem. The literature suggests that certain trait variables, field independence-dependence and spatial visualization in particular, may be related to format differences. The exploration of these relationships formed the second focus of the study.
Combined forced and free convection in the boundary layer flow of a micropolar fluid on a continuous moving vertical cylinder

Abstract The buoyancy effects on the forced convective micropolar fluid flow and heat transer on vertical continuous moving cylinder are studied using the theory of micropolar fluids formulated by Eringen. The governing momentum, angular momentum and energy equations have been solved numerically. Missing values of the velocity, angular velocity and thermal functions are tabulated for a range of values of the material parameters and transverse curvature parameter. It is observed that the wall shear stress and surface heat transfer rate increase with increasing buoyancy force and increasing transverse curvature of the surface.
The Nuclear Science Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame

The Nuclear Science Laboratory (NSL) at the University of Notre Dame (ND) is a mid-sized accelerator laboratory, situated 100 miles east of Chicago, serving the local nuclear physics group and a large growing national and international user community [1]. The research focus of the ND nuclear physics group is on nuclear astrophysics, nuclear structure, and reaction physics. This is complemented by new initiatives in the development of accelerator applications and in questions associated with nuclear reactions in plasma environments. The NSL faculty has also continued to be very successful in the development of new instrumentation, and substantial improvements to the laboratory infrastructure. Presently the laboratory supports seven tenure track faculty members, five research faculty, six postdoctoral associates, seven technical and administrative personal, and thirty-three graduate students.
Network analysis as a tool for assessing and building community capacity for provision of chronic disease services.

A network analysis was conducted in spring 2000 by the Southwest Center for Health Promotion in the U.S. Mexico border community of Douglas, Arizona. The purpose of the analysis was to assess the level of collaboration among the 23 public and not-for-profit agencies that provided health and human services for a broad range of chronic disease prevention, screening, and treatment services. Data were also collected on levels of trust and anticipated outcomes (benefits and draw-backs) of collaboration. The article presents the findings of the network analysis, focusing on its usefulness as a tool for evaluating efforts at building community capacity through enhanced interagency collaboration.
Contrast of response to dacarbazine, mitomycin, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (DMAP) plus GM-CSF between patients with advanced malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumors and patients with other advanced leiomyosarcomas.

Background. Previous observations have suggested that leiomyosarcomas, and especially gastrointestinal leiomyosarcomas, may be less responsive to cancer chemotherapy than other histologic types of non-osseous sarcomas; however, this difference has not been characterized well until quite recently, with the recognition of the special identity of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Prior to the general acceptance of this new histologic classification, we decided to study patients with gastrointestinal leiomyosarcomas in concert with other leiomyosarcomas for relative responsivity to a combination cytotoxic regimen developed specifically for leiomyosarcomas.Patients and Methods. Adult patients with advanced leiomyosarcomas received intravenous chemotherapy as outpatients with dacarbazine 750 μg/m2, mitomycin 6 mg/m2, doxorubicin 40 mg/m2, and cisplatin 60 mg/m2 on day 0, with granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF, sargramostim) 250 mcg/m2 given SC every 12 hr on days −6 to −3 and on day...
Sulfur poisoning of cobalt and iron fischer-tropsch catalysts

Abstract A cobalt/silica and four iron catalysts (unsupported, silica-supported, K-promoted and borided) were exposed to 0.5–8 ppm H 2 S either in situ in a 2/1 H 2 /CO reaction mixture or in pure hydrogen. Catalyst activity and selectivity were monitored as a function of sulfur coverage. Monolayer surface sulfides are formed on the iron catalysts at H 2 S concentrations below 2 ppm at 500 K, while bulk sulfides are formed at higher sulfur concentrations or lower temperatures. Loss of activity is greater during in situ poisoning compared to presulfiding for equivalent S/metal coverages. Iron boride is significantly more resistant to sulfur poisoning than unpromoted iron. At sufficiently low H 2 S concentrations the CO hydrogenation activity of iron boride increases with time. The average molecular weight of hydrocarbons produced by cobalt increases through a maximum with increasing in situ exposure to H 2 S. The product distribution of iron catalysts is essentially unaffected by su fur poisoning.
DHCAL Response to Positrons and Pions

Abstract The large Digital Hadron Calorimeter (DHCAL) prototype was constructed and has been tested in several test beam campaigns in the FTBF test beam in Fermilab since October 2010. The active medium is Resistive Plate Chambers (RPCs) and the readout is segmented into 1 x 1 cm 2 pads, each with a single bit resolution, resulting in about 0.5 million readout channels in less than 2 m 3 of detector volume. In this paper we report on results from a first look at the DHCAL data to assess the calorimetric properties of the DHCAL. We present preliminary results from the analysis of both positron and pion events of momenta between 2 and 60 GeV/c. These results are considered to be a first validation of the viability of the DHCAL concept.
Magnetic scattering and unusual behavior of the critical fields and other parameters: Application to borocarbides

The pair-breaking effect and its impact on the properties of borocarbides is studied. The pair-breaking effect caused by localized magnetic moments drastically affects the superconducting properties. Interaction between the magnetic moments and the resulting ordering trend lead to a behavior entirely different from the conventional picture. The main focus is on the behavior of the upper ( H c2 ) and lower ( H c1 ) critical fields. In addition, the temperature dependence of several quantities (penetration depth, coherence length, etc.) has been calculated. The theory has been applied to the borocarbide LuNi 2 B 2 C and is in very good agreement with the recent experimental data.
Multiband solar concentrator using transmissive dichroic beamsplitting

Significant efficiency increases in photovoltaic power conversion are due to improved absorption over the broad spectrum of the sun. Semiconductors have an efficiency peak at a specific wavelength associated with the material band gap. The current trend towards high-efficiency photovoltaics involves multi-junction cells where several semiconductors are grown on top of one another creating a layered device with a broad spectral response. Fabrication is a difficult and expensive process that results in small area solar cells. An alternative approach uses dielectric mirrors to optically separate the incident light by reflecting one spectral band while transmitting another. Spectral splitting is simulated within a 10x non-imaging concentrator. The optical system may be concatenated into large arrays and incorporates two separated ray paths exiting at a common plane. Optimized photovoltaic cells can be interleaved on a single circuit board, improving packaging and thermal management compared to orthogonal arrangements. The entire concentrator can be molded from glass or acrylic and requires a dichroic coating as the only reflector. Average collection efficiencies above 84% are realized within 40°x16° angular acceptance.
THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND TEMPERATURE AND GALACTIC EMISSION AT 8.0 AND 8.3 GHz

Wereportballoon-bornemeasurementsat8.0and8.3GHzofGalacticemissionandoftheradiometrictemperature of the cosmic microwave background, the results from the first flight of the ARCADE 2 (Absolute Radiometer for Cosmology, Astrophysics, and Diffuse Emission) instrument. We find the Galactic free-free emission intensity in the plane to be two-thirds as high as that predicted by a naive extrapolation of 2003 WMAP K-band data, a result consistent with 2006 WMAP findings, and find the Galactic synchrotron emission intensity to be approximately as high as that predicted by a naive interpolation of Haslam all-sky survey and WMAP K-band data. We find TCMB to be 2.90 � 0.12 K at 8.0 GHz and 2.77 � 0.16 K at 8.3 GHz. Subject headingg cosmic microwave background — Galaxy: general — instrumentation: detectors
Ecological and economic analysis of lake eutrophication by nonpoint pollution

The hypothesis that economic damage due to nonpoint pollution exceeds costs of mitigation can be tested by ecologists, economists, and resource managers working at the spatial scale of watersheds for periods of years to decades. We present a framework for combining ecological and economic information to compare management scenarios for nonpoint pollution. Eutrophication of lakes caused by nonpoint phosphorus pollution, a common environmental problem, is the focus of our approach. Economic advantages of mitigating nonpoint pollution increase as the uncertainty of ecological predictions decreases. Uncertainty is measured by the prediction variance of nonpoint pollution models. A major source of variance in nonpoint pollution predictions is the effect of land use change on phosphorus transport. This variance is often large because calibration data sets do not have sufficiently wide ranges of land use variables. Ecological predictions and the resulting economic assessments could be improved by comparative studies of watersheds with contrasting land uses, and by viewing nonpoint pollution management as a large-scale experiment.