cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptive channel estimation in decode and forward relay networks

Channel state information is vital for exploiting diversity in cooperative networks. The existing literature on cooperative channel estimation assumes block lengths are long and that channel estimation takes place within a fading block. To reduce the forwarding delay, short block lengths are preferred and adaptive estimation through multiple blocks is required. In this paper, we consider estimating the relay-to-destination channel in decode-and-forward relay systems for which the presence of training data is probabilistic since it is unknown whether the relay participates in the forwarding round. A detector is used before the update of the least mean square channel estimate so that an update is made only when the detector decides the presence of training data. We use the generalized likelihood ratio test and focus on the detector threshold for deciding whether the training sequence is present. To improve the convergence speed and reduce the estimation error, a heuristic objective function is proposed which leads to an proper threshold. Extensive numerical results show the superior performance of using this threshold as opposed to fixed thresholds.
Influence of grounding ice on the Arctic shelf of Alaska

Abstract Alaska's Beaufort Sea shelf is characterized by small-scale relief with an average amplitude of 1–2 m and wavelength of 50–100 m. Diving observations confirm that much of the bottom roughness reflects the action of grounded ice. Except for areas in the shadow of islands, bars, and offshore bathymetric highs, the entire shelf surface from the beach to at least the 75-m contour is now or has been modified by ice gouging. Ice contact with the bottom is more common, and rates of sedimentation higher on the inner shelf than on the outer shelf; the density of gouge features is about equal in both areas. Therefore, the chances are that an area of gouging on the inner shelf contains younger gouges than a similar area on the outer shelf. When ice grounds, it becomes an important agent in the sedimentary and morphologic environment of the Arctic shelf, directly by deforming bottom deposits and secondarily by affecting the current regime near the sediment/ice contact. While bulldozing action and rafting do not seem to contribute significantly to the direct transport of sediment, re-suspension of bottom material during bulldozing, which makes sediment available for transport, may be significant.
A report on the performance of an implementation of Strassen's algorithm

Abstract We report some experimental results on the performance of several sequential and parallel programs implementing the tensor product formulation of Strassen's matrix multiplication algorithm that we presented recently in this journal [1].
Carboxy-terminal sequence divergence and processing of the polyprotein antigen from Dirofilaria immitis☆

Abstract A polyprotein composed of multiple units arranged in direct tandem arrays has been identified in parasitic and free living nematodes. Analysis of previously cloned units from the Dirofilaria immitis polyprotein antigen (DiPA) indicated the units were nearly identical but here we demonstrate that they segregate into two related families. The consensus repeats, DiPA-CR1 and CR2, derived for each family are 80% identical. However, the repeats at the C-terminus of the polyprotein have diverged from DiPA-CR1 and CR2. This was shown by DNA sequence and Southern blot analysis of a 1.9 kb cDNA clone that encodes 4.4 C-terminal repeats (DiPA-TR1 through TR5). DiPA-TR3 through TR5 show 27–52% amino acid identity with the consensus repeats and 31–35% amino acid identity with one another. Metabolic labeling studies have shown that cleavage of DiPA generates a protein ‘ladder’ from 14 to > 200 kDa. RRKR, a cleavage motif of subtilisin-like proprotein convertases, was identified as the natural cleavage site. In vitro digestion experiments with proteinase K suggest a structural model for DiPA consisting of protease resistant cores joined by protease sensitive linkers containing the RRKR site. This motif is absent between DiPA-TR3 and TR4 and has been altered to KR between DiPA-TR4 and TR5. An immunoblot of D. immitis extract probed with anti-DiPA-TR4/5 serum demonstrates the absence of cleavage at these sites. These divergent repeats provide an opportunity to investigate processing of the D. immitis polyprotein in vivo.
Effect of secondary alcohol ethoxylates on behavior of triolein-water-surfactant systems

Study of the equilibrium phase behavior of systems containing water, triolein and secondary alcohol ethoxylates showed that a D or microemulsion phase, which solubilized significant amounts of triolein, formed at temperatures as low as 25°C when the surfactant was a suitable mixture of TERGITOL 15-S-3 and 15-S-5 (Union Carbide, Charleston, WV) with average ethylene oxide numbers of 3 and 5, respectively. In previous work with pure C12 linear ethoxylates and triolein, the D phase had formed only at temperatures above about 55°C. Based on the earlier studies, formation of the D phase would be expected to improve soil removal from synthetic fabrics by a solubilization-emulsification mechanism. When sufficient oleyl alcohol was mixed with triolein, the D phase was observed at 25°C with Tergitol 15-S-5 alone. Observation of dynamic behavior in this system for triolein-oleyl alcohol drops injected into surfactant-water mixtures revealed that intermediate phases frequently formed near the drop surfaces and that considerable spontaneous emulsification of triolein occurred for appropriate drop compositions. Experiments with drops initially attached to individual polyester fibers confirmed that little oil remained on the fibers when emulsification was extensive. This mechanism involving spontaneous emulsification provides a means for soil removal different from that found previously in other systems, where the soil was solubilized into an intermediate phase, and this phase was emulsified by externally imposed agitation.
Assessing risks and preventing disease from environmental chemicals.

In the last 25 years there has been considerable concern expressed about the extent to which chemical agents in the ambient and work environments are contributing to the causation of disease. This concern is a logical extension of our increased knowledge of the real and potential effects of environmental chemicals and the methodological difficulties in applying new knowledge that could help prevent environmentally induced disease.
Effects of altered gene order or orientation of the locus control region on human β-globin gene expression in mice

The five human β-type-globin genes, e, Gγ, Aγ, δ and β, are close together and are regulated by a locus control region (LCR) located at the 5′ end of the locus1,2. Here we investigate the functional consequences of this organization with respect to temporal regulation of the individual genes, by using recombination techniques to invert the order of either the genes or the LCR in vivo. Our analysis of transgenic mice bearing either normal or mutant transgenes leads to two new observations. First, the position of the e-globin gene next to the LCR is mandatory for its expression during the yolk-sac stage of erythropoiesis. Second, LCR activity is orientation dependent, and so the LCR does not act as a simple enhancer to stimulate transcription of the globin genes. Thus, in the absence of any change in transgene integration position, transgene copy number, trans-acting factors or other resident genetic information, simple inversion of the human genes or the LCR fundamentally alters the transcription of β-type globin genes.
Parole release decisions: Impact of victim input on a representative sample of inmates

Abstract Positive and negative input, in both verbal and written forms, was studied for a representative sample of 820 parole-eligible adult inmates in New Jersey to determine the extent to which victim participation and the provisions of victim input policies affect contemporary parole release practices. Victim input was not found to be a significant predictor of parole release. Measures of institutional behavior, crime severity, and criminal history were significant. Verbal input had a greater affect than written input. In the short-term, parole administrators should develop guidelines to clarify procedures and create a more uniform and transparent application of victim input. In the long-term, the receipt of victim input should be used to identify victims who have not yet found closure so that appropriate support services can be provided prior to most inmates’ eventual releases from prison.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor Measurements in the Evaluation of Growth Hormone Secretion

The measurement of circulating levels of the insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II) in the evaluation of GH secretion is discussed. GH is an important regulator of circulating IGF-I levels in
Database Usage and Title Analysis on a CD-ROM Workstation

The addition of CD-ROM indexes in libraries represents one such "dramatic change." From a relatively stable and slow-changing collection of paper indexes to a new set of growing and expanding CDROM indexes, the correlation between a library's indexes and its journals appears uncertain and in flux. As David Trithart states, "It is commonly believed that the advent of indexes on CD will contribute to the demand for articles not in the local collection. ,,2 Near the end of her article, Sheila Creth comments that "information technology is only a tool in the service of learning, experimentation, creativity, and the organization of knowledge .... ,,3 Microcomputers definitely are one tool made to help us gather data. 4 In 1981, before CD-ROMs became readily available, Barbara Carr discussed an index correlation study conducted at her university. At one point she stated that searching commonly requested topics in coreperiodical indexes eventually led to the selection of several frequently cited titles? If an accumulation of citations could be saved in a file on a hard disk, a CD-ROM
System Electronics and DAQ for the Silicon Vertex Detector Upgrade for PHENIX

The PHENIX experiment at RHIC will be upgraded with a silicon vertex detector (VTX). The VTX is comprised of 4 barrels of silicon detectors. The inner two barrels will be implemented with pixel detectors read out using the ALICE1LHCb readout chip. The pixel detectors and readout chips are mounted on a high density interconnect (PIXEL bus) allowing data to be read out at 10 MHz. The outer two barrels will be implemented with a novel stripixel sensor designed by the Brookhaven National Laboratory Instrumentation Division. Each stripixel sensor will be instrumented with 12 SVX4 readout chips and controlled by a custom ASIC designed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory allowing for high speed read out. We will report of the design and status of the read out and Data Acquisition system for PHENIX VTX detector.
On the stability of solitary waves of a generalized Ostrovsky equation

We consider the stability of ground state solitary waves of the generalized Ostrovsky equation $$( u_t - \beta u_{xxx} + f(u)_x)_x = \gamma u$$ , with homogeneous nonlinearities of the form $$f(u)=a_e|u|^p+a_o|u|^{p-1}u$$ . We obtain bounds on the function $$d$$ whose convexity determines the stability of the solitary waves. These bounds imply that, when $$2\le p<5$$ and $$a_o<0$$ , solitary waves are stable for $$c$$ near $$c_*=2\sqrt{\beta \gamma }$$ . These bounds also imply that, for $$\gamma >0$$ small, solitary waves are stable when $$2\le p<5$$ and unstable when $$p>5$$ . We also numerically compute the function $$d$$ , and thereby determine precise regions of stability and instability, for several nonlinearities.
Natal attraction: allomaternal care and mother–infant separations in wild bottlenose dolphins

Abstract To determine whether allomaternal care occurs among bottlenose dolphins, we examined patterns of association and mother–infant separations for eight infants (164.4 focal h) during the first 3 months of life. During the first week of life, three inexperienced females (nullipara and mothers of infants that did not survive the newborn period) attempted to take infants from their mothers 13 times. Mothers responded by rapidly retrieving the infant and threatening the female. By the second week, mothers consistently allowed the same females to escort their infants to tens of metres away from them, suggesting that such separations were no longer risky, possibly because infants had imprinted on their mothers. To determine whether escorts benefited mothers after the first week, we compared maternal behaviour when infants were away from their mothers, but alone (solitary separations), to when infants were away, but with escorts (social separations). Mothers were less likely to forage and were more likely to engage in non-foraging activities (socialize, rest or travel) when infants were with young escorts (other dependent infants) compared with when infants were alone. When infants were with older (juvenile or adult) escorts, maternal activity did not differ significantly compared with when infants were alone. This result suggests that escorts did not benefit mothers by allowing them to forage. Inexperienced females that never raised an infant were more likely to escort newborns than were parous experienced females, supporting the ‘learning to parent’ hypothesis.
Failed Antigen Presentation After UVB Radiation Correlates With Modifications of Langerhans Cell Cytoskeleton

Acute low-dose ultraviolet B radiation (UVR) impairs contact hypersensitivity (CH) induction in genetically defined strains of mice by a mechanism triggered by cis-urocanic acid (UCA) and dependent upon tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- α ). UVR, TNF- α , and cis -UCA cause similar morphologic changes among Langerhans cells, which spawns the speculation that UVR impairs CH induction in part by altering the Langerhans cell cytoskeleton. To examine this speculation, we studied the expression of vimentin in Langerhans cells after treatment with UVR, TNF- α , and cis -UCA. All treatments caused a reduction in expression of vimentin within the cytoplasm of Langerhans cells. Because partial loss of detectable vimentin may correlate with cytoskeletal disruption, we evaluated the effects of vinblastine, an agent that disrupts the cytoskeleton by disassembling microtubules, on Langerhans cell density and morphology. Epicutaneous treatment with vinblastine caused a reduction in Langerhans cell density, a loss of dendrites, and a reduction in vimentin expression. When dinitrofluorobenzene was painted on vinblastine-treated skin of BALB/c or C3H/HeN mice, only feeble CH was induced. Consequently, we propose that UVR prevents CH induction in susceptible mice by disrupting the cytoskeleton of Langerhans cells, thereby preventing them from carrying out their crucial role as antigen-presenting cells.
The “critischer musikus” as keyboard transcriber? Scheibe, Bach, and Vivaldi

(1990). The “critischer musikus” as keyboard transcriber? Scheibe, Bach, and Vivaldi. Journal of Musicological Research: Vol. 9, No. 4, pp. 255-271.
Complications of interval laparoscopic tubal sterilization: findings from the United States Collaborative Review of Sterilization.

Abstract Objective: To estimate the risk of intraoperative or postoperative complications for interval laparoscopic tubal sterilizations. Methods: We used a prospective, multicenter cohort study of 9475 women who had interval laparoscopic tubal sterilization to calculate the rates of intraoperative or postoperative complications. The relative safety of various methods was assessed by calculating overall complication rates for each major method of tubal occlusion. Method-related complication rates also were calculated and included only complications attributable to a method of occlusion. We used logistic regression to identify independent predictors of one or more complications. Results: When we used a more restrictive definition of unintended major surgery, the overall rate of complications went from 1.6 to 0.9 per 100 procedures. There was one life-threatening event and there were no deaths. Complications rates for each of the four major methods of tubal occlusion ranged from 1.17 to 1.95, with no significant differences between them. When complication rates were calculated, the spring clip method had the lowest method-related complication rate (0.47 per 100 procedures), although it was not significantly different from the others. In adjusted analysis, diabetes mellitus (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 4.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.3, 8.8), general anesthesia (OR 3.2; CI 1.6, 6.6), previous abdominal or pelvic surgery (OR 2.0; CI 1.4, 2.9), and obesity (OR 1.7; CI 1.2, 2.6) were independent predictors of one or more complications. Conclusion: Interval laparoscopic sterilization generally is a safe procedure; serious morbidity is rare.
A regularization approach to continuous learning with an application to financial derivatives pricing

We consider the training of neural networks in cases where the nonlinear relationship of interest gradually changes over time. One possibility to deal with this problem is by regularization where a variation penalty is added to the usual mean squared error criterion. To learn the regularized network weights we suggest the Iterative Extended Kalman Filter (IEKF) as a learning rule, which may be derived from a Bayesian perspective on the regularization problem. A primary application of our algorithm is in financial derivatives pricing, where neural networks may be used to model the dependency of the derivatives' price on one or several underlying assets. After giving a brief introduction to the problem of derivatives pricing we present experiments with German stock index options data showing that a regularized neural network trained with the IEKF outperforms several benchmark models and alternative learning procedures. In particular, the performance may be greatly improved using a newly designed neural network architecture that accounts for no-arbitrage pricing restrictions.
Effects of Perceived Discrimination and Length of Residency on the Health of Foreign-Born Populations

This study explores the relationship between chronic conditions, perceived discrimination, and length of residency among three racial groups of foreign-born respondents: Afro-Caribbean, Asian, and Latino Americans. Analysis utilized Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys (CPES) merged data from the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS) and the National Survey of American Life (NSAL). Afro-Caribbean subgroups were more likely than Asian and Latino American subgroups to report perceived discrimination. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine which groups within the model were more likely to report chronic health conditions. Perceived discrimination was found to vary by race and was inversely associated with chronic respiratory conditions for Afro-Caribbeans. In general, years of US residency were associated with health across all chronic conditions where those in the USA longer were more likely to experience health-related problems. Perceived discrimination revealed mixed results.
Water relations, ethylene production, and morphological adaptation of Fraxinus pennsylvanica seedlings to flooding

Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh. seedlings that were 150 days old adapted well to flooding of soil with stagnant water for 28 days. Early stomatal closure, followed by reopening as well as hypertrophy of lenticels and formation of adventitious roots on submerged portions of stems appeared to be important adaptations for flood tolerance. Leaf water potential (ψ1) was consistently higher in flooded than in unflooded seedlings, indicating higher leaf turgidity in the former. This was the result of (1) early reduction in transpiration associated with stomatal closure, and (2) subsequently increased absorption of water by the newly-formed adventitious roots as stomata reopened and transpiration increased. Waterlogging of soil was followed by large increases in ethylene content of stems, both below and above the level of submersion. Formation of hypertrophied lenticels and adventitious roots on flooded plants was correlated with increased ethylene production. However, the involvement of various compounds other than ethylene in inducing morphological changes in flooded plants is also emphasized.
The Necessity of Establishing a Regional Marine Research Program for the U.S. West Coast

The welfare of the marine environment of the U.S. West Coast of California, Oregon, and Washington is hindered by insufficient understanding of ecosystem dynamics and human pressures. Greater coordination, integration, and support of mutually identified research priorities across research organizations on the West Coast are necessary. This level of collaboration is essential to responding to regional ecosystem threats, such as the impacts of human occupation of coastal areas, over-harvesting of marine resources, and climate change. To address this need for collaboration and build on the accomplishments of existing research organizations, this article advocates the establishment of a West Coast regional marine research program (RMRP).
Numerical analysis of the M.P.P. model of turbulence

Abstract Two different numerical schemes are proposed for the study of the behavior of a viscous incompressible fluid in a turbulent regime using the M.P.P. model. They differ in their treatment of both velocity and turbulent kinetic energy at the time discretization stage. The first, a Gear scheme, is fully implicit, while the second is of the alternate direction type. In both, the Lagrangian coordinate is calculated by applying an explicit Lax—Wendroff scheme. Various numerical experiments showed good agreement between the two schemes.
Impact of ideal versus estimated body weight on haemofiltration dosing in critically ill patients with AKI

Acute kidney injury (AKI) in the critically ill is an independent risk factor for adverse outcome [1]. Previously, it was suggested that high-volume haemofiltration (HVHF) may confer a mortality benefit and lead to a reduction in organ failure compared with standard ultrafiltration rates (UF) [2]. This was not confirmed by a recent investigation [3]. It has also not been determined whether ideal (IBW) or estimated/actual body weight (E/ABW) was used to calculate UF rates. We sought to determine what impact different weight calculations have on delivered UF rates.
Sm–Nd garnet dating of polyphase metamorphism: northern Coast Mountains, south‐eastern Alaska, USA

Sm–Nd ages of garnet from the northern Coast Mountains of south-eastern Alaska, USA, constrain the timing of thermal events in polyphase metamorphic rocks of the western metamorphic belt and provide new data on the spatial extent of Cretaceous regional metamorphism. Bulk garnet–whole-rock Sm–Nd ages for a sillimanite-zone amphibolite (Taku Inlet) and a biotite-zone metapelite (Tracy Arm) are 77±17 Ma and 59±12 Ma, respectively. Garnet core–whole-rock (80±9 Ma), core–matrix (84±9 Ma), rim–whole-rock (59±4 Ma) and rim–matrix (62±4 Ma) ages were obtained from a sample collected 200 m west of a Palaeocene Coast plutonic–metamorphic complex sill-like pluton that separates medium-grade metamorphic rocks from high-grade metamorphic rocks and voluminous Tertiary plutons in the core of the orogen. The garnet core ages of c. 80 Ma indicate that the regional metamorphic grade reached garnet zone prior to the intrusion of the plutons and high-grade metamorphism of rocks to the east. Similar ages for the younger plutons, the youngest garnets and the rim of a multistage garnet (c. 59 Ma) indicate a later episode of contact metamorphic garnet growth. Documentation of pre-71 Ma garnet-zone metamorphism along the western edge of the Coast plutonic–metamorphic complex confirms that Albian to Late Cretaceous metamorphism associated with crustal thickening affected this part of the orogen. The similarity of garnet Sm–Nd ages to independent age estimates for metamorphic events confirms that this technique provides useful estimates for the timing of Late Cretaceous to Tertiary thermal events. The c. 20 Myr difference between garnet core and rim ages suggests that the Sm–Nd isotope systematics of a single garnet grain can be used for distinguishing between multiple metamorphic events.
Use of fluorescent probes to monitor molecular order and motions within liposome bilayers

This article reviews the use of fluorescent probes to monitor the order and dynamics within the acyl chain region of liposome lipid bilayers. Fluorescence anisotropy is first defined and the theoretical framework that allows interpretation of steady-state or dynamic measurements in terms of molecular details is reviewed. The general advantages and/or limitations of fluorescent versus other methods of monitoring membrane order and dynamics are discussed. The properties of two classes of fluorescence probes are then described. The linear probes 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and parinaric acid (PA) and their derivatives are seen as particularly useful when quantitative interpretation of observations in terms of details of bilayer dynamics and order are critical. Of these, DPH is the more widely and easily used, although parinaric acid has advantages for certain applications. The non-linear probes considered include the anthroyloxyl fatty acids and the recently introduced fluorenyl fatty acid probes. While the geometry and electronic configurations of these probes do not allow for detailed molecular interpretations, these probes can provide unique qualitative information about the state of the lipid bilayer at various positions along the acyl chains.
Super-Resolution Microscopy Techniques in the Neurosciences

This PDF file contains the editorial “Super-Resolution Microscopy Techniques in the Neurosciences” for JBO Vol. 20 Issue 01
Hemodynamic predictors for weaning patients from ventricular assist devices (VADs).

In order to find hemodynamic parameters that can accurately predict whether patients can be successfully weaned from ventricular assist de vices (VADs), we studied data from 17 patients supported with Pierce-Donachy VADs [11 left VAD (LVAD); 6 right VAD (RVAD)] following cardiogenic shock for periods from 1.3 to 22 days (mean 5.4). Myocardial recovery was determined by daily measurements of "pump on pump off" parameters, and the data from the 8 LVAD patients and 3 RVAD patients whose hearts recovered were compared to the data from those whose did not.In this study, daily pump on pump off hemodynamic measurements were found to be predictive of success for weaning patients from VADs. In particular, the most significant predictors were: increases in mixed venous oxygen satura tion, cardiac index, mean arterial pressure and ventricular ejection fraction, as well as decreases in atrial pressures. An index for measuring hemodynamic function with the VAD off is proposed, as are models of recovery. Seventy per ce...
Prediction of severe coronary artery disease by combined rest and exercise radionuclide angiocardiography and tomographic perfusion imaging with technetium 99m-labeled sestamibi: A comparison with clinical and electrocardiographic data

The purpose of this study was to compare the incremental value of clinical information, electrocardiographic data, myocardial perfusion imaging, and radionuclide angiography for predicting severe coronary artery disease at a single testing interval. Clinical information, treadmill exercise studies, radionuclide angiography, and myocardial perfusion imaging are important predictors of severe coronary artery disease. However, the relative and absolute diagnostic importance of each of these methods has not been addressed at a single testing interval. A same-day rest/treadmill exercise perfusion and function study was performed in 167 patients within 90 days of coronary angiography. A multivariable regression model was used to assess the independent informational content of these predictors. Clinical and electrocardiographic data were related strongly to the presence of severe coronary artery disease (χ2=12.2 and p<0.001; χ2=11.8 and p<0.001, respectively). Combined perfusion and functional studies contributed 31% of the diagnostic information beyond that provided by clinical and electrocardiographic data alone (p<0.05). These data demonstrate that combined studies of myocardial perfusion and left ventricular function are able to improve prediction of the extent of coronary artery disease, even when clinical and electrocardiographic data are also available.
A Compatibilist-Friendly Rejection of Prepunishment

In a series of recent papers, Saul Smilansky has argued that compatibilists have no principled way of resisting the view that prepunishment is at least sometimes appropriate, thus revealing compatibilism to be a radical position, out of keeping with our ordinary moral judgments. Recent attempts to resist this conclusion seem to have overlooked the biggest problem with Smilansky’s argument, which is this: Smilanksy argues that the most obvious objection to prepunishment—namely, that it is inappropriate because it involves punishing the innocent for crimes they have not committed—is unavailable to compatibilists. If compatibilism is true, he says, then if it is causally determined that someone is going to commit a crime, the fact that one has not yet done so is a mere temporal matter bearing no moral significance. I argue that there is no reason for compatibilists to accept this point. Compatibilists can (and should) resist Smilansky's claim that one’s not yet having committed a crime is morally insignificant and so resist the temptation to prepunish.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCUS OF CONTROL AND EXTRAVERSION-INTROVERSION IN PREDICTING ACADEMIC BEHAVIOR

To investigate the interactive effects of internal-external locus of control and extraversion-introversion on test-taking behavior 58 college students were assigned to four groups according to Rott...
Electrically Driven On Demand Oil System for Gas Turbine Engines

An on demand oil system, based on electrically driven lube and scavenge pumps, for use in gas turbine engines has been developed. The need to optimize gas turbine engine performance, coupled with ‘electrification’ of aircraft systems, as on the Lockheed F35 and Boeing 787 in order to maximize efficiency and flexibility, created an opportunity to develop a ‘smart’ electrically driven lubrication system for gas turbine engines. Spytek’s electric oil system, developed for use on its 400lbt ATG-2 engine platform, ascertains the operating condition of the gas turbine engine, including speed, pressure, bearing temperatures and determines the amount of lubrication required for each bearing zone. The system has the benefit of better thermal control of engine bearings, lower system weight and power use, with flexibility in the placement of the system on the engine/airframe combination. The system has been successfully demonstrated on the Spytek Aerospace ATG-2/J304 gas turbine engine series.Major areas addressed in the development of the system were the selection of reliable, gas turbine engine compatible feed and scavenge pumps, control systems sensoring and feedback, variable feed of oil to the individual sump wells, as well as systems durability and operating parameters. Various gas turbine engine platforms can require altered oil system duty cycles, including pre-oiling or post run down-oiling, high flow oil conditions, features not readily available in traditional mechanical systems but easily implemented using the Spytek on-demand oil system.In the project effort, evaluation of the existing prototype system was used as a system design baseline. Data on pump wear, filter performance and oil supply degradation was available and used in refining the oil system design. The ATG-2 system was modified to take advantage of a full proportional integral derivative controlled oil system with system demonstrations made on a gas turbine engine, demonstrating oil supply on demand capability and full bearing thermal management system control.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Directed-sensing strategies for feature-relative navigation

Many important applications of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) require operations in close proximity to man-made objects or natural bottom topography. In these situations, the vehicle must adapt its trajectory on-line in response to current threats and mission objectives. To provide this capability, we are developing a sonar-based navigation technique that emulates the manner in which a person navigates through an unknown room in the dark: by reaching out for and establishing contact with walls, tables, and chairs, managing transitions from one object to the next as one moves across the room. Our intuition here is that, in many ways, sonar is more like touch than vision. It may be possible to build a vehicle that can effectively use its sonar to `grab' an object of interest, say a cylindrical post for docking, and then `reel itself in' by feeding back sonar range measurements from the object to its dynamic controller. We envision an AUV that can establish `virtual tethers' with arbitrary objects in the water column or on the seabed. Fast, local processing can maintain `contact' with the objects or surfaces of interest. Control laws can be established to utilize streams of measurements from these features to achieve local, feature-relative navigation. While our research is driven by the severe challenges of the subsea environment, we anticipate that the approach will also be useful in land robot applications.
Factor analysis of elevated plus-maze behavior in adolescent and adult rats.

Abstract The elevated plus-maze (EPM) is among the most popular behavioral models of anxiety. While numerous experiments have validated this test hormonally, pharmacologically, and with factor analysis in adult rodents, few studies have explored use of the EPM to examine ontogenetic differences in anxiety. Given the growing interest in adolescence and the mixed findings to date regarding age-related differences in anxiety, validation of the EPM model for use in adolescence is important. Therefore, the present experiment employed factor analysis to examine underlying EPM behavioral components in adolescent and adult male and female Sprague–Dawley rats across three separate data sets. Results of the analyses conducted across both age and sex produced a 3-factor solution, with the primary component of EPM behavior consisting of anxiety-related behaviors in both adolescent and adult males and females. Within the age analyses, the second and third factors were comprised largely of activity- and risk-related behaviors, respectively. Sex analyses revealed a similar pattern in females, with some behaviors comprising the second and third factors reversed in males. Taken together these results confirm use of the EPM in adolescent and adult rats and demonstrate slight differences in the underlying components of EPM behavior in males versus females.
Hyperinsulinuria in patients with renal calculi

Abstract Low molecular weight proteinuria, including hyperinsulinuria, is a characteristic of renal tubular dysfunction. A radioimmunoassay of urine is described, using Dextran-coated charcoal in the presence of carrier proteins to separate free from antibody-bound labeled insulin. Excretion of insulin was increased in 14 of 18 non-obese, non-diabetic patients with renal calculi. Hyperinsulinuria was independent of hyper-insulinemia, suggesting an element of renal tubular dysfunction in most patients with renal calculi. Measurement of immunoreactive urinary insulin provides a simple and accurate technique for screening patients with renal calculi and other renal disease to select those in whom further evaluation of renal tubular function may be indicated.
Close Relationships and Attributions for Peer Victimization among Late Adolescents.

This study examined the effect of close relationships (best friendship and romantic relationship) on late adolescents' casual attributions for peer victimization. A total of 1106 twelfth grade students completed self-report measures of perceived peer victimization, self-blame attribution, psychological maladjustment (loneliness and social anxiety), and quality of close peer relationships. Results indicated that self-blame partly mediated the link between peer victimization and psychological maladjustment. Relationship quality moderated the victimization-self-blame relation. Participants were more likely to endorse self-blame attributions for peer victimization when they had a negative relationship with a best friend or romantic partner. The moderated effect of negative best friendship quality was only significant for girls, whereas the moderated effect of negative romantic relationship quality was only significant for boys. Implications of these findings for future research on close relations during adolescence and for interventions to reduce the effects of peer victimization were discussed.
Aromatherapy massage seems to enhance relaxation in children with burns: An observational pilot study

a b s t r a c t Objective: This observational pilot study investigated effects of aromatherapy massage in paediatric burn patients. Methods: The setting was a 17 beds level I burn unit in Cape Town, South Africa. Between January and October 2009 heart rates and respiratory rates of patients who underwent aromatherapy massage sessions were read before and after the sessions. Primary outcomes were decline in heart rates and respiratory rates, a sign of relaxation. Behavioural responses (sleep/awake state, facial expression, body posture) were documented as secondary outcomes. Results: A convenience sample of 71 paediatric burn patients (median age 3 years) underwent a total of 126 massage sessions. Mean heart rate decreased significantly from 118 (SD 20) to 109 (SD 21), t = 9.8, p < 0.001. Mean respiratory rate decreased significantly from 34 (SD 8) to 30 (SD 8), t = 10.2, p < 0.001. Most massage sessions (92.8%) elicited positive behaviour to the massage, e.g. the child fell asleep, calmed or asked to continue. Nine patients (7.2%) with a median age of 15 months who underwent a single massage session did not show positive
Exascale opportunities and challenges

Despite the availability of petascale systems for scientific computing, demand for computational capability grows unabated, with areas of national and commercial interest including global climate change, alternative energy sources, defense and medicine, as well as basic science. Past growth in the high end has relied on a combination of faster clock speeds and larger systems, but the clock speed benefits of Moore's Law have ended, and 200-cabinet petascale machines are near a practical limit. In future computing systems, performance and energy optimization will be the combined responsibility of hardware and software developers. Since data movement dominates energy use in a computing system, minimizing the movement of data throughout the memory and communication fabric are essential. In this talk I will describe some of the hardware trends and open problems in developing and using an exascale system. In particular, how will an energy-constrained design affect the architecture, which in turn affects algorithms and programming models. In addition to these universal problems, fault resilience is a problem at the high end that will require novel system support, possibly propagating up the software stack to user level software and algorithms. Overall, the trends in hardware demand that the community undertake a broad set of research activities to sustain the growth in computing performance expected by users.
Identification of foodborne pathogens by nucleic acid hybridization

During the past decade, food microbiologists have become increasingly interested in testing bacteria isolated from foods for their ability to cause disease in humans Although traditional taxonomic identification remains important, additional emphasis is now placed on determining the effect of foodborne microbial contaminants on the public health. This elevated level of concern has generated a need for more rapid methods to evaluate the virulence of strains isolated from foods and prompted an increase in the research required to develop these techniques.
Cancer genomics: Small RNAs with big impacts

Although they are tiny, microRNAs can have large-scale effects because they regulate a variety of genes. These minuscule molecules are now definitively linked to the development of cancer.
Integrated Modular Motor Drive Design With GaN Power FETs

This paper explores the use of GaN power FETs to realize an integrated modular motor drive (IMMD) with an induction motor. A structure in which inverter modules are connected in series is proposed to reduce the module maximum voltages and to offer an opportunity to utilize low-voltage wide-band-gap GaN devices. With the superb switching performance of GaN power FETs, a reduction in IMMD size is achieved by eliminating inverter heat sink and optimizing dc-link capacitors. Gate signals of the IMMD modules are interleaved to suppress the total voltage ripple of dc-link capacitors and to further reduce the capacitor size. Motor winding configurations and their coupling effect are also investigated as a part of the IMMD design. The proposed structure and design methods are verified by experimental results.
Radiative corrections to positronium decay

In this work a method for calculating radiative corrections to positronium decay is presented that is direct, and allows for a systematic extension applicable to the calculation of corrections beyond the first (o(..cap alpha..)) correction. An expression for the decay amplitude in terms of the Bethe--Salpeter is employed. The Bethe--Salpeter wavefunction is evaluated perturbatively in a scheme having a lowest-order bound state equation that is exactly soluble. The decay amplitude is evaluated in Coulomb gauge, without the introduction of a photon mass. One-loop renormalization in Coulomb gauge is shown to be consistent. Using this method the known analytic result for the o(..cap alpha..) correction to the parapositronium decay rate is obtained. The same method is applied to orthopositronium, and the existing theoretical discrepancy in the value of the o(..cap alpha..) correction to the decay rate is resolved. This o(..cap alpha..) correction is obtained with an error which corresponds to an uncertainty in the total rate much smaller than ..cap alpha../sup 2/GAMMA/sub LO/ (where GAMMA/sub LO/ is the lowest-order rate). Also, the o(..cap alpha..) correction to the differential decay rate is computed for the first time.
Roles of bioavailable iron and calcium in coal dust-induced oxidative stress: possible implications in coal workers' lung disease

Marked regional differences in prevalence of pneumoconiosis are apparent in the US despite comparable dust exposure. In the present study, we examined the ability of 28 coal samples to release bioavailable iron (BAI) and calcium, as well as other metals such as Cr, Ni, Cu, and Co, from three coal mine regions in Utah (UT), West Virginia (WV), and Pennsylvania (PA), respectively. BAI is defined as iron (both Fe2+ and Fe3+) released by the coals in 10 mM phosphate solution, pH 4.5, which mimics conditions of the phagolysosomes in cells. We found that coals from the UT, WV, and PA regions released average levels of BAI of 9.6, 4658.8, and 12149 parts per million (ppm, w/w), respectively, which correlated well with the prevalence of pneumoconiosis from that region (correlation coefficient r = 0.92). The low levels of BAI in the UT coals were due to the presence of calcite (CaCO3), which was shown to be preferentially acid solubilized before iron compounds. Release of iron by two coal samples from the PA and UT regions was further examined in vitro in human lung epithelial A549 cells. We found that the coal from PA, with a high prevalence of pneumoconiosis, released BAI in a dose-dependent manner, both in tissue culture media and in A549 cells. At 2 microg/cm2, levels of lipid peroxidation induced by the PA coal were increased 112% over control cells at 24 h treatment, and were sustained at this level for 3 days. The coal from UT, with a low prevalence of pneumoconiosis, induced a marginal increase in cellular iron at 5 and 10 microg/cm2 treatments and had no effect on lipid peroxidation. Calcium levels in the cells treated with the PA and UT coals were 8.6 and 11.5 micromoles/10(6) cells, respectively, and were significantly higher than that in the controls (5.3 micromoles/10(6) cells) [corrected]. Our results suggest that the differences in the BAI content in the coals may be responsible for the observed regional differences in the prevalence of pneumoconiosis. Therefore, BAI may be a useful characteristic of coal for predicting coal's toxicity.
Test input generation using dynamic programming

Constraint-based input generation is an effective technique for testing programs, such as compilers and web browsers, which have complex inputs. However, efficient generation of such inputs remains a challenging problem. We present a novel input generation technique that takes constraints written as recursive predicates in the underlying programming language and uses dynamic programming to solve the constraints efficiently. Our key insight is to leverage the recursive structure of desired inputs and partition the problem of generating an input into several sub-problems of generating smaller inputs that exhibit the same structure, and then to use dynamic programming -- a well-known problem solving methodology designed to exploit common sub-problems -- to combine them. A lazy initialization strategy and symbolic execution optimize our basic technique. Our technique provides not only bounded exhaustive input generation but also enables random input generation. We show the correctness of our technique. Furthermore, we present an experimental evaluation, which shows that our technique can provide over an order of magnitude performance improvement for input generation compared to Korat (an efficient solver for structural constraints) and Pex (a state-of-the-art tool for symbolic execution). Finally, we use our technique to effectively find bugs in production versions of Google Chrome and Apple Safari web browsers.
Programming Languages: Boolean matrix methods for the detection of simple precedence grammars

The use of decision tables as a tool in systems analysis and for program specification is now becoming accepted. Rules on redundancy, contradiction, and completeness for limited entry tables were published in 1963. These are usually used for checking, preceded if necessary by a conversion from extended to limited entry form. Processors which automatically translate tables to more conventional program usually base their diagnostic facilities on these rules. In this paper it is suggested that these rules are unsatisfactory and that the important aspect of checking is to eliminate ambiguity from tables. Ambiguity is defined and discussed, and a procedure for producing checked-out decision tables is proposed. The theoretical basis of the algorithm used is established. The importance of well-designed diagnostic facilities in decision table processors is emphasized.