cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Monte Carlo Study of the Crystalline and Amorphous NaK Alloy

Abstract Metropolis Monte Carlo simulations of the eutectic NaK alloy are performed using the Second Moment Approximation (SMA) model potential across a wide range of temperatures at constant pressure. The alloy structure and thermodynamics are analyzed along with the atomic level structures using a variety of structure identification methods. Both enthalpy and density are followed along an annealing process that reveals a clear melting point around 260 K. At lower temperatures, two thermodynamic branches are identified as crystalline and amorphous solids.
Towards ontology-based software architecture representations

In order to support a community-wide infrastructure for software architecture research and collaboration, an essential requirement is interoperability of architecture descriptions and representations at both syntactic and semantic levels. Previous research efforts in using various architecture description languages (ADL) have not met this requirement in part due to the lack of standardization, supporting tools, and industry acceptance. This paper makes a case for leveraging the Web Ontology Language (OWL) standard from the Semantic Web community as an underpinning medium for architecture representation and interchange. The paper presents a high level framework for modeling software architectures with ontologies that can be used not only for architecture description and maintenance, but also automated reasoning and analysis of architectural concerns. Illustrative examples for some use cases are given using a simple architecture ontology. With its wide adoption and a rich set of supporting tools, the OWL standard can help rally the academic community around a common platform, as well as bridging the gap with the software industry at large.
Flight trajectory tracking and recovery in presence of large disturbances

We present a modified trajectory tracking controller based on a novel re-parameterization of the reference trajectory with respect to an independent variable whose dynamics can be controlled. A hybrid controller is designed so that the dynamics of both the robot and the reference parameter can respond to disturbances. The proposed hybrid controller is more robust to large disturbances, and hence is less prone to cause the robot to collide with obstacles and avoids skipping large segments of the trajectory. We demonstrate our controller through simulations and real-world experiments on a quadrotor.
MECHANISMS OF THERMAL TOLERANCE IN NON-HIBERNATING ENDOTHERMS

Mechanisms of thermal tolerance to cold have been investigated primarily in laboratory animals. The question now, is whether or not these mechanisms are “universal,” thus extrapolation of these findings to other animals can be made without debate. Limited studies on acclimation and/or acclimatization of wild small animals suggested that extrapolation of available data must be made with caution. Physiological strategies and dicotomy of thermal tolerance to cold can be better understood with additional studies using wild animals and simulating field conditions. In other words, continuous exposure (24 hr) to cold may result in physiological responses that are peculiar to this type of cold stress. Still open to investigation is the role of the kidney, the gastrointestinal tract, and the immune response in physiological adaptations to cold. Additionally, further work on physiological and biochemical responses of large arctic animals to heat is urgently needed, since these animals may suffer from overheating during migration in winter or during the summer season.
Economic Rationality in Law and Economics Scholarship

Judge Richard A. Posner - the doyen of the law and economics movement - is probably the leading proponent of the hypothesis that legal subjects act as if they were economically rational. Over the years, however, Posner's conception of rationality has devolved from end-means reasoning by a conscious individual human actor, to unconscious instinct which is, nevertheless, beneficial to an individual subject (animal or human) to the mechanistic reproductive activity of individual genes which may or may not be beneficial to either the organism of which the gene is a part - or even to the gene itself. Indeed, all that seems to be left of the "rational" component of Posnerian rationality might be the positive normative connotations of the term itself. At the turn of the millennium the law and economics movement is over a quarter of a century old. It is time to unpack Posner's rational choice baggage to see what remains inside. Prof. Schroeder explicates the internal contradictions of Posner's account of rational choice theory and contrasts his attempt to bolster his theory through the adoption of arbitrary and ad hoc ancillary hypotheses with the methodology of social science. She challenges Posner's presentation of himself as a proponent of mainstream economic theory. In this Article, Prof. Schroeder contrasts Posner's conception of rational choice theory with those of a number of Nobel Prize laureates who accept some variation of the rationality postulate - Gary Becker, Ronald Coase, Paul Samuelson, George Stigler - as well as two who are critical of rational choice literature - Amartya Sen and Herbert Simon. She also tentatively offers some suggestions from Lacanian psychoanalytic philosophy as to the appeal of certain notions of "rationality."
Religion in Schools

Scholars agree that religious liberties should extend into secondary schools and that students benefit from education about religion. However, there remains debate regarding how religious freedoms should be accommodated and how pedagogy about religion should proceed. Questions concerning religion in schools are complicated by several factors, including the principle of state neutrality, an increasing level of religious diversity, and debates regarding educational authority. Solutions to dilemmas concerning religion in schools are ultimately determined by the cultural and educational context in which the dilemmas occur as well as by the relevant jurisprudence.
Creative Pseudo-Reality as a Defensive Factor in Jewish Wit: A Dialectical Perspective

Theoretical dynamics of ethnic humor are juxtaposed with Jewish wit, showing that there is a distinct factor which operates in the Jewish humor response to oppression. Drawing from Ziv's (1986) rich anthology of research and case studies, this factor is conceptualized as creative pseudo-reality. It is hypothesized that Jewish wit features this element of self-effacing humor besides the factors which it shares with the ethnic humor of other marginal groups. The implicit ability to construct a perceived environment which is bound neither to reason nor to logic, is seen as the last line of defense for an oppressed minority whose other options have been denied. Irony and triumph, suggested as key elements in this factor, are illustrated in annotated stereotypical excerpts of Jewish wit. Throughout the analysis, the dialectic principle—maintaining the co-existence of inconsistent dynamics—is highlighted in contrast to the reductionistic either/or approach commonplace in psychological and sociological discourse.
Robust Estimation of Battery System Temperature Distribution Under Sparse Sensing and Uncertainty

Thermal management is a critical task of battery control to ensure the safe, efficient, and enduring performance of the battery system, which can be considered as an interconnected thermal network of cells. The basis of thermal management is the estimation of temperature and its gradient across the battery system, which has received extensive attention in the literature. However, existing works neglect two important constraints in practical battery systems: 1) limited number of available sensors and 2) presence of system uncertainty such as parameter error. This paper is the first to investigate robust battery system temperature estimation under sparse sensing and system uncertainty. We first propose a framework consisting of optimization problems at three different levels: 1) evaluation of the worst case estimation performance (error) under uncertainty; 2) robust observer design to minimize the worst case error; and 3) optimization of sensor locations. Two robust estimation methods are then used to solve the problem. The system uncertainty considered in this paper is the unknown resistance variability among battery cells, but the methodology can be applied to address other types of uncertainty. It is shown that the designed observers could guarantee and improve the robustness and reliability of estimation by significantly reducing the worst case estimation errors induced by uncertainty.
Cellular Compartmentation and the Redox/Nonredox Functions of NAD.

Significance: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) spans diverse roles in biology, serving as both an important redox cofactor in metabolism and a substrate for signaling enzymes that regulate protein post-translational modifications (PTMs). Critical Issues: Although the interactions between these different roles of NAD+ (and its reduced form NADH) have been considered, little attention has been paid to the role of compartmentation in these processes. Specifically, the role of NAD+ in metabolism is compartment specific (e.g., mitochondrial vs. cytosolic), affording a very different redox landscape for PTM-modulating enzymes such as sirtuins and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases in different cell compartments. In addition, the orders of magnitude differences in expression levels between NAD+-dependent enzymes are often not considered when assuming the effects of bulk changes in NAD+ levels on their relative activities. Recent Advances: In this review, we discuss the metabolic, nonmetabolic, redox, and enzyme substrate roles of cellular NAD+, and the recent discoveries regarding the interplay between these roles in different cell compartments. Future Directions: Therapeutic implications for the compartmentation and manipulation of NAD+ biology are discussed. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 31, 623-642.
Deadly Proliferation and Transformation of Pilocytic Astrocytoma in Pregnancy.

Background Intracranial tumor growth associated with pregnancy is not an uncommon phenomenon. Pilocytic astrocytoma is typically considered to be an indolent tumor with little to no risk of progression to higher-grade lesion. We present a rare case of cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma transformation to hemorrhagic high-grade glioma during pregnancy. Case Description Patient EK was a 32-year-old female with neurofibromatosis type 1 and known cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma. For nearly a decade before her pregnancy, her cerebellar tumor was stable on imaging. Routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head obtained at 20 weeks’ gestation continued to demonstrate tumor stability. At 24 weeks’ gestation, the patient had sudden, severe headaches. MRI of the head showed evidence of significant tumor expansion. The following day, the patient was found unresponsive. Computed tomography of the head demonstrated hemorrhage within the tumor and tonsillar herniation. Her neurologic examination revealed no brainstem reflexes; however, given her age and pregnancy, she underwent emergent decompression and tumor debulking. Unfortunately, she never improved neurologically. Final pathology identified the lesion as high-grade glioma with anaplastic changes and hemorrhagic conversion. Conclusions This is a unique case of indolent cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma that transformed to high-grade glioma during pregnancy, proven by tumor growth on MRI and anaplasia on pathology. We hypothesize that increased levels of pregnancy hormones (progesterone, vascular endothelial growth factor, placental growth factor, among others) likely contributed to tumor growth. We recommend that all glial tumors be monitored extremely closely throughout pregnancy, and perhaps one should consider surgical treatment (if possible) before patients become pregnant.
“We Are Seneca Lake”: Defining the Substances of Sustainable and Extractive Economics Through Anti-Fracking Activism

Scholars of environmental communication have had difficulty discerning whether and how nature should be considered as an economic resource for humans. This article examines how strategic definitions of environmental substance can forward a rhetorical vision of sustainable economics. Turning to a successful anti-fracking campaign, it illustrates the definitional means through which activists challenge fossil fuel dependence with an ecological perspective of economic and environmental health. Contextual, nutritive, and directional substance in New York’s “We Are Seneca Lake” campaign together constitute the Finger Lakes’ local economy as a blueprint for a sustainable future. This article contributes to scholarship and advocacy at the intersections of environmental activism and industry rhetoric.
The imperative for an updated cirrhosis surgical risk score

The burden of cirrhosis is increasing, as is the need for surgeries in patients with cirrhosis. These patients have increased surgical risk relative to non-cirrhotic patients. Unfortunately, currently available cirrhosis surgical risk prediction tools are non-specific, poorly calibrated, limited in scope, and/or outdated. The Mayo score is the only dedicated tool to provide discrete post-operative mortality predictions for patients with cirrhosis, however it has several limitations. First, its single-center nature does not reflect institution-specific practices that may impact surgical risk. Second, it pre-dates major surgical changes that have changed the landscape of patient selection and surgical risk. Third, it has been shown to overestimate risk in external validation. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the score does not account for differences in risk based on surgery type. The clinical consequences of inaccurate prediction and risk overestimation are significant, as patients with otherwise acceptable risk may be denied elective surgical procedures, thereby increasing their future need for higher-risk emergent procedures. Confident evaluation of the risks and benefits of surgery in this growing population requires an updated, generalizable, and accurate cirrhosis surgical risk calculator that incorporates the type of surgery under consideration.
Impact of nulliparity, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and gestational diabetes on vasomotor symptoms in midlife women.

Objective To determine whether women with a history of nulliparity, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have a higher odds of reporting vasomotor symptoms (VMS) at midlife. Methods A longitudinal analysis was performed with 2,249 women with pregnancy history data in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. Women were classified as nulliparous, no HDP/GDM, or a history of HDP/GDM. VMS (hot flashes, night sweats) were assessed separately at baseline and at each follow-up visit. VMS was recorded as any versus none; 0 , 1-5 , 6+ days in past 2 weeks. Pregnancy history was examined in relation to each VMS (hot flashes, night sweats) using generalized estimating equations adjusting for age (time-varying), site, race/ethnicity, education, financial strain, smoking, and body mass index. Models excluded women with hysterectomy/bilateral oophorectomy and observations with hormone therapy use. Results Women in the HDP/GDM group (n = 208, 9%) were more likely to be Black, financially strained, and overweight. Compared to women with no HDP/GDM, women with HDP/GDM had greater odds of reporting any hot flashes (OR:1.27; 95% CI:1.05-1.53). Nulliparous women had lower odds of any hot flashes (OR:0.64; 95% CI:0.51-0.80) and night sweats (OR:0.73; 95% CI:0.58-0.93) in age-adjusted models. Similar patterns were observed for frequency of hot flashes and night sweats; associations were attenuated to nonsignificance after adjusting for covariates. Conclusions History of HDP/GDM may be associated with more VMS and nulliparity with fewer VMS, but not independently of sociodemographic factors. Our findings underscore the importance of social and economic disparities in both reproductive outcomes and VMS. : Video Summary:http://links.lww.com/MENO/A631.
Does Symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Increase the Risk of Periprosthetic Joint Infection After Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty

Abstract Background Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is among the leading causes of failure in total joint arthroplasty. A recently proposed risk factor for PJI is symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (sBPH). This study aims to determine if sBPH is associated with PJI following primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods Using the Mariner all-payer claims database, 1745 patients with sBPH undergoing primary THA were propensity-matched with 3490 controls, and 3053 patients with sBPH undergoing primary TKA were propensity-matched with 6106 controls. Additionally, the same 1745 patients with sBPH undergoing THA were compared to 317,360 prematched controls, and the same 3053 patients with sBPH undergoing TKA were compared to 557,730 prematched controls. Univariate analysis was conducted using chi-squared or ANOVA where appropriate. Results At two years postoperatively, patients with sBPH were not at significantly increased risk for PJI following primary THA (1.54% vs 1.43%; P = .745) and TKA (1.99% vs 2.14%; P = .642) relative to postmatch controls. Compared to matched controls, THA patients with sBPH had an increased 90-day incidence of anemia (P Conclusion In primary THA and TKA, sBPH does not appear to be an independent risk factor for PJI within two years postoperatively. However, clinicians should be cognizant of the significantly increased risk for postoperative UTI in this patient population.
Symbol Generation and Frame Synchronization for Multipulse-Pulse Position Modulation over Optical Channels

This paper explores symbol generation and frame synchronization of multipulse-pulse position modulation techniques to transmit binary data over noisy optical communication channels. Pulse modulation techniques characteristically inhibit frame synchronization; therefore, we integrate concepts such as added-bit framing, inclusion of periodic markers, and self-synchronizing codes to reduce the inherent frame synchronization challenges associated with pulse position modulation. Through the development of four symbol generation constraints and the introduction of standard symbol variables, we propose a method to create symbols based on various transmitter, channel, or receiver’s operating characteristics. We present simulated results that tabulate symbol size based on practical transmission characteristics and provide a solution set of nonoverlapping symbols available for transmission over optical channels. Simulations using low bit-count messages demonstrate successful transmission with channel interference modeled by a Poisson random process with an arrival rate of 0.32.
Entitlements and Fairness: An Experimental Study of Distributive Preferences

Under three different rules for allocation of initial income we elicit experimental subjects' preferences for income redistribution using an incentive compatible elicitation mechanism. The three income allocation rules are designed to capture preferences for distributive justice among subjects. The concern is motivated by claims in some of the experimental economics literature that non-self-interested motives often underlie individual behavior. We cannot reject self-interest in favor of any redistribution motives based on our observations. Almost all individuals chose the income distribution which maximized their own income ---high income individuals chose no redistribution and low income individuals chose perfect equality in income distribution. Keyword(s): Equity; Distribution; Justice; Fairness; Experiments
Asian American Candidate Preferences: Evidence from California

The diversity of the Asian American population presents challenges for theories of bloc voting, partisan voting, and descriptive representation. What cues (if any) do Asian American voters rely on? How informative are racial and partisan cues to Asian American voters. This article looks at the candidate preferences of Asian American voters in the 2018 election. I look at elections where an Asian American candidate was on the ballot and compare outcomes within district to the gubernatorial race (a race with no minorities on the ballot). I use surname-coded voter registration records and precinct-level vote returns to estimate Asian American candidate preferences as a racial group and by national-origin. I find strong evidence of national-origin preferences (i.e. Vietnamese for a Vietnamese candidate) among Asian American voters. In instances where the national-origin of the candidate and the national-origin of the voter did not align, voters seem to rely on partisan cues. National-origin preferences are sufficient enough that in one instance voters switched parties within the same election to vote for a candidate of the same national-origin. These findings have implications for theories of minority vote choice and challenges the existing literature on the strength of partisan cues (replication data can be found at: https://sites.google.com/view/vivienleung/research ).
Parameterizing spectral contrast effects in vowel categorization using noise contexts.

When spectra differ between earlier (context) and later (target) sounds, listeners perceive larger spectral changes than are physically present. When context sounds (e.g., a sentence) possess relatively higher frequencies, the target sound (e.g., a vowel sound) is perceived as possessing relatively lower frequencies, and vice versa. These spectral contrast effects (SCEs) are pervasive in auditory perception, but studies traditionally employed contexts with high spectrotemporal variability that made it difficult to understand exactly when context spectral properties biased perception. Here, contexts were speech-shaped noise divided into four consecutive 500-ms epochs. Contexts were filtered to amplify low-F1 (100–400 Hz) or high-F1 (550–850 Hz) frequencies to encourage target perception of /ɛ/ (“bet”) or /ɪ/ (“bit”), respectively, via SCEs. Spectral peaks in the context ranged from its initial epoch(s) to its entire duration (onset paradigm), ranged from its final epoch(s) to its entire duration (offset paradigm), or were present for only one epoch (single paradigm). SCE magnitudes increased as spectral-peak durations increased and/or occurred later in the context (closer to the target). Contrary to predictions, brief early spectral peaks still biased subsequent target categorization. Results are compared to related experiments using speech contexts, and physiological and/or psychoacoustic idiosyncrasies of the noise contexts are considered.
Iron oxide-modified nanoporous geopolymers for arsenic removal from ground water

Abstract Composite materials of hierarchically porous geopolymer and amorphous hydrous ferric oxide were produced and characterized as a new potentially cost-effective arsenic adsorbent. The arsenic removal capabilities of the iron (hydr)oxide (HFO) media were carried out using batch reactor experiments and laboratory scale continuous flow experiments. The Rapid Small-Scale Column Tests (RSSCT) were employed to mimic a scaled up packed bed reactor and the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test of arsenic adsorbed solid material was carried out to investigate the mechanical robustness of the adsorbent. The best performing media which contained ~20 wt% Fe could remove over 95 µg of arsenic per gram of dry media from arsenic only water matric. The role of the high porosity in arsenic adsorption characteristics was further quantified in conjunction with accessibility of the adsorption sites. The new hierarchically porous geopolymer-based composites were shown to be a good candidate for cost-effective removal of arsenic from contaminated water under realistic conditions owing to their favorable adsorption capacity and very low leachability.
Extruded Blends of Chitosan and Ethylene Copolymers for Antimicrobial Packaging

SUMMARY Chitosan was melt-processed with an ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer ionomer and with an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer to create antimicrobial extruded films. The key to obtaining a successful antimicrobial blend was the use of solid chitosonium acetate that remained after evaporation of water from the chitosan solution. When solid free-flowing powders of chitosonium acetate were formed by spray drying chitosan solutions, blended in an extruder (at 2.5% and 4% chitosan) with Elvax® 3175 ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, and extruded through a film die onto a chill roll to form films, the films exhibited antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli 25922, Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis NalR, and Listeria monocytogenes Scott A. The log10 reductions in CFU/ml after 24 h in a shake-flask test were near 2 for films containing 4% chitosan. This melt-blending/extrusion approach is expected to open applications for chitosan-based antimicrobial packages and articles that were impossible or impractical with chitosan coatings. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Overview: Spatial control of signal transduction by caveolae and lipid rafts

Abstract Several lines of investigation connect FC homeostasis and signaling via caveolae and lipid rafts. Caveolae appear to represent a stabilized, three-dimensional evolution of rafts, that can control their FC content dynamically, both during signal transduction and in response to lipid loading. In the normal dividing cell, this system limits signaling from the cell surface except to initiate the cell cycle, and retains FC as required for cell membrane synthesis, despite the presence of extracellular lipoprotein FC acceptors. In the aging cell, these mechanisms are deranged and while caveolin accumulates in intracellular vesicles, rather than in cell surface caveolae, and caveolin palmitoylation is inhibited. A detailed study of the relationship between palmitoylation status and caveolar function would be of great interest. Studies of the molecular basis of these effects should also offer many opportunities to understand the role of the plasma membrane in aging.
THE EFFECT OF THE AVAILABILITY OF A SIMILAR TOY ON COMPLIANCE WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO SURRENDER A TOY AMONG PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

We evaluated the effect of the availability of a similar toy on compliance with an instruction to surrender a toy among three preschool children. First, high-preference and medium-preference toys were identified for each participant. During the treatment evaluation, reversal designs were used to examine compliance with an instruction to surrender these toys when a toy similar to the target toy was added to the environment. The results indicated that, for two participants, the similar toy intervention increased compliance to moderate levels; a consequence-based intervention was then added to the similar toy intervention and resulted in high levels of compliance. For the third participant, the similar toy intervention did not increase compliance. A separate consequence-based intervention was necessary to increase compliance and to demonstrate experimental control. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Data and Safety Monitoring Committees in Clinical Trials

Praise for the first edition: "Given the author’s years of experience as a statistician and as a founder of the first DMC in pharmaceutical industry trials, I highly recommend this book—not only for experts because of its cogent and organized presentation, but more importantly for young investigators who are seeking information about the logistical and philosophical aspects of a DMC." -S. T. Ounpraseuth, The American Statistician In the first edition of this well-regarded book, the author provided a groundbreaking and definitive guide to best practices in pharmaceutical industry data monitoring committees (DMCs). Maintaining all the material from the first edition and adding substantial new material, Data and Safety Monitoring Committees in Clinical Trials, Second Edition is ideal for training professionals to serve on their first DMC as well as for experienced clinical and biostatistical DMC members, sponsor and regulatory agency staff. The second edition guides the reader through newly emerging DMC responsibilities brought about by regulations emphasizing risk vs benefit and the emergence of risk-based monitoring. It also provides the reader with many new statistical methods, clinical trial designs and clinical terminology that have emerged since the first edition. The references have been updated and the very popular end-of-chapter Q&A section has been supplemented with many new experiences since the first edition. New to the Second Edition: Presents statistical methods, tables, listings and graphs appropriate for safety review, efficacy analysis and risk vs benefit analysis, SPERT and PRISMA initiatives. Newly added interim analysis for efficacy and futility section. DMC responsibilities in SUSARs (Serious Unexpected Serious Adverse Reactions), basket trials, umbrella trials, dynamic treatment strategies /SMART trials, pragmatic trials, biosimilar trials, companion diagnostics, etc. DMC responsibilities for data quality and fraud detection (Fraud Recovery Plan) Use of patient reported outcomes of safety Use of meta analysis and data outside the trial New ideas for training and compensation of DMC members Jay Herson is Senior Associate, Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health where he teaches courses on clinical trials and drug development based on his many years experience in clinical trials in academia and the pharmaceutical industry.
A magnetic isolation and pointing system for the astrometric telescope facility

The astrometric telescope facility (ATF), a 20-meter telescope designed for long-term detection and observation of planetary systems outside of the solar system, is scheduled to be a major user of the Space Station's payload pointing system (PPS) capabilities. However, because the ATF has such a stringent pointing stability specification (as low as 0.01 arcsec error over the frequency range from 5 to 200 hertz) and requires +/- 180-degree roll rotation around the telescope's line of sight, the ATF's utilization of the PPS requires the addition of a mechanism or mechanisms to enhance the basic PPS capabilities. The results of a study conducted to investigate the ATF pointing performance achievable by the addition of a magnetic isolation and pointing (MIPS) system between the PPS upper gimbal and the ATF, and separately, by the addition of a passive isolation system between the Space Station and the PPS base are presented. In addition, the study produced requirements on magnetic force and gap motion as a function of the level of Space Station disturbance. These results were used to support the definition of a candidate MIPS. Pointing performance results from the study indicate that a MIPS can meet the ATF pointing requirements in the presence of a PPS base transitional acceleration of up to 0.018g, with reasonable restrictions placed on the isolation and pointing bandwidths. By contrast, the passive base isolator system must have an unrealistically low isolation bandwidth on all axes (less than 0.1 hertz) to meet ATF pointing requirements. The candidate MIPS is based on an assumed base translational disturbance of 0.01g. The system fits within the available annular region between the PPS and ATF while meeting power and weight limitations and providing the required payload roll motion. Payload data and power services are provided by noncontacting transfer devices.
Stereovision for 3D Information

Stereovision is a technique aimed at inferring depth from two or more cameras. It plays an important role in computer vision. Single image has no depth or 3D information. Stereovision takes two images of a scene from different viewpoints usually referred to as left and right images using two cameras. Stereovision is similar to the binocular (two-eyed) human vision capturing two different views of a scene and brain processing and matching the similarity in both the images and the differences allow the brain to build depth information. OpenCV Library is used to compute the output of stereovision process—disparity and depth map.
Force control of a linear variable reluctance motor with magnetically coupled phases

The problem of force control is addressed for a type of three-phase linear variable reluctance motor that exhibits strong magnetic coupling between its phases. The force produced is a quadratic function of phase currents with coefficient matrix proportional to the spatial derivatives of inductance. The magnetic coupling leads to a non-diagonal inductance matrix, so all possible products of phase currents are involved in the production of force. Constrained optimization is used to determine phase currents that produce a desired force with minimum power dissipation. The new optimal force controller is shown to be related to an existing force controller that applies to classical synchronous reluctance motors.
Performance comparison under failures of MPI and MapReduce: An analytical approach

MPI has been the de facto standard of parallel programming for decades. There has been an increasing concern about the reliability of MPI applications in recent years, partially due to the inefficiency of parallel checkpointing. MapReduce is a new programming model originally introduced to handle massive data processing. There are numerous efforts recently that transform classical MPI based scientific applications to MapReduce, due to the merits of easy programming, automatic parallelism, and fault tolerance of MapReduce. However, the stricter synchronization primitive supported by MapReduce also imposes considerable overhead. While the failure-free performance comparison between MPI and MapReduce has been investigated, there exists little work in comparing the two programming models under failures. In this paper, we propose an analytical approach to quantifying the capabilities of the two programming models to tolerate failures for a comparison. We also carry out extensive numerical analysis to study the impact of different parameters on fault tolerance. This work can be used by the HPC community for various purposes in making critical decisions. For example, it helps algorithm designers to answer the question such as, at which scale should we give up MPI and use MapReduce as the programming model for a better performance under the presence of failures?
The enzymatic synthesis of a glucomannan

Abstract The mannose moiety of GDP- D -mannose- 14 C is transferred by a particulate enzyme from mung bean seedlings into a glucomannan. The product was characterized by isolation of a number of oligosaccharides after treatment of the product with a partially purified β-mannanase. Several of these oligosaccharides contained glucose and mannose in the approximate ratio of 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 or 4, respectively. Since glucose- 14 C was found in the hydrolysis products of the oligosaccharides, it can be assumed that the particulate enzyme contains an epimerase that converts GDP- D -mannose- 14 C to GDP- D -glucose- 14 C.
Increasing Evapotranspiration from the Conterminous United States

Abstract Recent research suggests that evapotranspiration (ET) rates have changed over the past 50 years; however, some studies conclude ET has increased, and others conclude that it has decreased. These studies were indirect, using long-term observations of air temperature, cloud cover, and pan evaporation as indices of potential and actual ET. This study considers the hydrological cycle more directly and uses published precipitation and stream discharge data for several large basins across the conterminous United States to show that ET rates have increased over the past 50 years. These results suggest that alternative explanations should be considered for environmental changes that previously have been interpreted in terms of decreasing large-scale ET rates.
Pulmonary lobectomy patient care pathway: a model to control cost and maintain quality.

Background. Cost containment is a reality in thoracic surgery. Patient care pathways have proved effective in cardiac surgery to reduce length of stay and control costs. Methods. A multidisciplinary team formulated a pulmonary lobectomy patient care pathway to standardize care, reduce length of stay and costs, and maintain quality. Variance codes were developed to collect data prospectively on reasons for prolonged stay. A patient satisfaction survey was instituted to learn patients' responses to their hospitalization. Results. One hundred forty-seven patients underwent lobectomy in 1995 before institution of the pathway with a mean length of stay of 10.6 days and a mean cost of $16,063. The lobectomy pathway was instituted at the beginning of 1996. One hundred thirty patients underwent lobectomy in 1996 with a mean length of stay of 7.5 days ( p = 0.03) and a mean cost of $14,792 ( p = 0.47). Readmission and mortality rates were unchanged. Eighty-eight of 130 patients (68%) were able to be discharged by the target length of stay of 7 days in 1996 as opposed to 76 of 147 patients (52%) in 1995. The most common reason for delayed discharge was inadequate pain control. The majority of patients felt prepared for discharge by the seventh postoperative day (70 of 96 patients, 73%). Conclusions. The institution of a lobectomy patient care pathway appeared to reduce length of stay and costs. The pathway provided a framework to begin systematic quality control measures to enhance patient care.
Divertor Thomson scattering on DIII-D

Abstract In this paper we describe the newly installed divertor Thomson scattering system for the DIII-D tokamak and present initial results from plasma discharges. Measured plasma densities have ranged from 5 × 1018 to 5 × 1020 m−3 and divertor plasma temperatures from 1 to 500 eV. These data are compared with earlier Langmuir probe data and qualitatively compared with UEDGE computer simulations. The divertor Thomson system uses one of the eight existing core Thomson scattering lasers (1 J, 20 Hz) which has been re-directed to probe the divertor region of the DIII-D vessel. Scattered light from this multipulse Nd:Yag laser is viewed with an f/6.8 collection optics system which provides eight spatial channels from 1–21 cm above the vessel floor (divertor target), each with 1.5 cm vertical resolution. Translating the plasma across the vessel floor using position controls provides a full scan of the divertor plasma.
Reducing values: dinitrosalicylate gives over-oxidation and invalid results whereas copper bicinchoninate gives no over-oxidation and valid results

Abstract A comparative study was made between two carbohydrate reducing value methods, a relatively old, highly alkaline, 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNSA) method and a relatively newer, low alkaline (pH 10.5), copper bicinchoninate (CuBic) method. Reducing values for a series of equimolar amounts of maltose−maltohexaose, isomaltose−isomaltohexaose, and cellobiose−cellohexaose were compared by the two methods. The DNSA method gave over-oxidation for equimolar amounts of all three of the oligosaccharide series. The amount of oxidation increased as the sizes of the oligosaccharides increased, giving inflated, inaccurate reducing values. The CuBic method gave constant reducing values, for equimolar amounts of the oligosaccharides, indicating that there was no over-oxidation, as the sizes of the oligosaccharides were increased. The two methods were used to determine the number average molecular weights (MW n ) for six polysaccharides. The DNSA method was not able to determine the MW n for any of the polysaccharides tested due to the low sensitivity of the method, compared with the CuBic method that did not give over-oxidation and gave reasonable MW n values for all six of the polysaccharides tested.
Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsyin horseshoe kidneys

Using the Dornier HM-3 lithotriptor, 10 patients (11 renal units) with calculi in horseshoe kidneys were treated with extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and ancillary procedures. Six renal units (55%) underwent pre-ESWL manipulation consisting of a Double J stent, ureteral catheter, or percutaneous nephrostomy. The "blast path" was employed to treat five renal units which could not be positioned at F2. Good initial stone fragmentation was obtained in eight renal units (73%). There were two episodes of post-ESWL obstruction requiring intervention; both occurred in the same patient. A total of seven post-ESWL procedures were performed on two renal units. After all procedures, eight renal units (73%) were rendered stone-free, six (55%) with ESWL alone. The average follow-up interval was twelve months (range 1-28 months). ESWL can be used effectively to treat some patients with calculi in horseshoe kidneys. The ectopic location of these renal units may make it difficult to position calculi at F2, thus necessitating treatment on the blast path or placement of the patient in prone position. Multiple ancillary procedures may be necessary.
Polarization characteristics of water-leaving radiance: application to separation of fluorescence and scattering components in coastal waters

Previously, it was shown that it is possible to separate the elastic scattering from the chlorophyll fluorescence signal using a polarization discrimination technique. The separation procedure depends however fundamentally on the degree of polarization of the water leaving radiance. In this paper, we study this dependence by simulating the total and polarized reflectance of waterleaving radiances originating from elastic scattering in case 1 and case 2 waters, by superimposing upon these reflectances the contribution of known fluorescence spectra, and by using our procedure to invert the resulting data back into fluorescence spectra. It is shown that the results of this retrieval compare well with the input values of fluorescence spectra for a wide range of underwater light scattering conditions. We show also that height baseline method, which is frequently used for the retrieval of fluorescence, can lead to significant overestimation of fluorescence for coastal zone conditions. The effects of different depths, surface roughness and bottom albedo are also analyzed. It is shown that in most cases fluorescence can be successfully retrieved with acceptable accuracy.
An evaluation of landscape units for watershed similarity analyses

Abstract The landscape unit approach to land classification was applied through the use of aerial imagery interpretation to Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas. The delineated units were evaluated for uniqueness on the basis of their percentage composition in three attributes: vegetative cover, slope class and geologic parent material. Major watersheds within the park were then characterized in terms of their percentage composition with respect to the delineated landscape units. Simultaneously, watersheds were characterized using traditional hydrologic inventory and description data such as: areal extent, Miller's circularity ratio, basin perimeter, drainage density, main channel length, mean channel slope, maximum—minimum elevations, vegetative composition, geologic composition and slope class composition. Using the two different data bases (i.e. traditional approach variables and landscape unit composition) a similarity index computer program was then employed to examine all possible pairs of watersheds and to determine the twenty most similar pairs in each case. These pairs were further examined to develop clusters of highly similar watersheds. Comparison of the similar watershed lists and the clusters developed from the two data bases indicated very favorable results. The time and effort to obtain clusters of highly similar watersheds by means of the hydrologic variable analyses approach exceeded the landscape unit approach by a factor of ten. This reduction in cost coupled with the favorable comparison of the final results indicates a potential for increased use of the landscape unit analysis approach to identify drainage basins which could be expected to respond more or less uniformly to particular management prescriptions.
Antitumor activity of Bursera schlechtendalii (burseraceae): isolation and structure determination of two new lignans.

Bursera schlechtendalii (Burseraceae) has shown antitumor activity against the 9KB (adenocarcinoma of nasal pharynx) test system. Two new lignans isolated from the biologically active plant fraction were identified as (—)-trans-2-(3″,4″,5″-trimethoxy-benzyl)-3-(3′,4′-methylenedioxybenzyl)butyrolactone and (—)-trans - 2 - (3″,4″ - dimethoxybenzyl) - 3 - (3′,4′ - methylenedioxybenzyl)butyrolactone. In addition, the triterpene α-amyrin was isolated from the active fraction.
Perspective and Principles for the Evaluation of Special-Service Programs

A conceptual perspective and set of principles are offered for the evaluation of special-service programs in public school settings. Special-service program evaluation is seen as a process of obtaining and reporting information on a program's adequacy, process, efficiency, and impact. The evaluation perspective and five evaluation principles set forth serve to guide the evaluation process, enabling the evaluator to (a) accurately identify the information (evaluation) needs of the decision maker(s), (b) design and conduct an evaluation study focused on these needs, and (c) assess the contribution of the evaluation to programmatic decision making.
Synthesis, Stability, and Sulfation Properties of Sol−Gel-Derived Regenerative Sorbents for Flue Gas Desulfurization

The sol−gel method is applied to prepare γ-alumina-supported copper oxide and calcium oxide sorbents containing 10−50 wt % active species. The prepared sorbents are characterized for their pore texture, dispersion of active species on the surface of support, and desulfurization properties. The sol−gel-derived alumina-supported sorbents have a relatively large surface area (>200 m2/g) and pore volume (>0.3 cm3/g) and uniform pore size distribution (20−60 A). Thermal and chemical stability of the sol−gel-derived sorbents is studied by comparing the pore texture data of the sorbents before and after several different heat treatments. The stability results show that the pore structure of the sol−gel-derived sorbents is stable in the normal conditions of the flue gas desulfurization process. It is found that CuO/γ-Al2O3 sorbent containing 20 wt % of CuO coated as a monolayer or submonolayer on the surface of support has the highest SO2 sorption capacity (22.5 wt % at 500 °C). The sol−gel-derived CuO/γ-Al2O3 so...
A FAMILY OF FINITE DE MORGAN AND KLEENE ALGEBRAS

The algebra of truth values for fuzzy sets of type-2 consists of all mappings from the unit interval into itself, with operations certain convolutions of these mappings with respect to pointwise max and min. This algebra generalizes the truth-value algebras of both type-1 and of interval-valued fuzzy sets, and has been studied rather extensively both from a theoretical and applied point of view. This paper addresses the situation when the unit interval is replaced by two finite chains. Most of the basic theory goes through, but there are several special circumstances of interest. These algebras are of interest on two counts, both as special cases of bases for fuzzy theories, and as mathematical entities per se.