cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A surrogate-model-based approach for estimating the first and second-order moments of offshore wind power

Abstract Power curve, the functional relationship that governs the process of converting a set of weather variables experienced by a wind turbine into electric power, is widely used in the wind industry to estimate power output for planning and operational purposes. Existing methods for power curve estimation have three main limitations: (i) they mostly rely on wind speed as the sole input, thus ignoring the secondary, yet possibly significant effects of other environmental factors, (ii) they largely overlook the complex marine environment in which offshore turbines operate, potentially compromising their value in offshore wind energy applications, and (ii) they solely focus on the first-order properties of wind power, with little (or null) information about the variation around the mean behavior, which is important for ensuring reliable grid integration, asset health monitoring, and energy storage, among others. In light of that, this study investigates the impact of several wind-and wave-related factors on offshore wind power variability, with the ultimate goal of accurately predicting its first two moments. Our approach couples OpenFAST—a multi-physics wind turbine simulator—with Gaussian Process (GP) regression to reveal the underlying relationships governing offshore weather-to-power conversion. We first find that a multi-input power curve which captures the combined impact of wind speed, direction, and air density, can provide double-digit improvements, in terms of prediction accuracy, relative to univariate methods which rely on wind speed as the sole explanatory variable (e.g. the standard method of bins). Wave-related variables are found not important for predicting the average power output, but interestingly, appear to be extremely relevant in describing the fluctuation of the offshore power around its mean. Tested on real-world data collected at the New York/New Jersey bight, our proposed multi-input models demonstrate a high explanatory power in predicting the first two moments of offshore wind generation, testifying their potential value to the offshore wind industry.
From the Editor: I'd Like to Hear From You

AALL Spectrum Editorial Director monthly column reflects on the transition of the editorial leadership of the journal and future of journal.
Toxic Release! The role of educational games in teaching and learning about hazardous pollution

The compounding elements of toxic releases make teaching and learning about them difficult. For example, toxic releases have multifarious source/sink dynamics, high-stakes risk profiles, complex timelines, and passionate stakeholders with conflicting concerns and objectives. Furthermore, the environmental and health-related impacts of hazardous releases are difficult to pin down and challenging for scientists to communicate to stakeholders. As a result, the management of toxic releases and associated processes of risk reduction and policy development are difficult to explore in conventional classroom settings. Toxic Release is a high-touch educational game created by students and faculty at SUNY Plattsburgh. The simulation is designed to overcome barriers to teaching and learning about toxics and environmental governance. The project is supported by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) University Challenge, an outreach program intended to spur creative research and education about the threats posed by hazardous pollutants. This brief pedagogical report outlines the history and details of the TRI, describes EPA’s TRI University Challenge program, and outlines the learning objectives of Toxic Release as well as preliminary observations about the project’s outcomes.
Tibial Eminence Fractures in Children: Prevalence of Meniscal Entrapment

BackgroundMeniscal entrapment under a displaced tibial eminence fragment may be a rationale for arthroscopic or open reduction in type 2 and 3 tibial eminence fractures.PurposeTo determine the prev...
Unternehmensweite Anwendungs-integration — Zentrale Anreizsetzung zur Realisierung von Netzwerkeffekten bei dezentralen Entscheidungsstrukturen

⊎ Entscheiden einzelne Geschaftsbereiche dezentral uber die Einfuhrung einer Middleware (MW), so kommt es oftmals nicht zu einer aus Sicht der Gesamtunternehmung optimalen Losung. In der Praxis ist dieses Problem durch rein dezentrale Abstimmungsprozesse erfahrungsgemas nicht oder nur sehr schwierig zu losen. Hier konnen zentrale Stellen, wie bspw. die Architekturabteilung, durch Koordination und Anreizsetzung in Form eines finanziellen Ausgleichs zur Losung beitragen. ⊎ Mit Hilfe eines im Beitrag entwickelten Algorithmus kann unter Berucksichtigung wichtiger Aspekte-wie z.B. der zeitlichen Sequenzialitat dezentraler MW-Entscheidungen oder den zukunftigen Veranderungen der Anwendungslandschaft (bspw. infolge Outsourcing)-die auszahlungsminimale Anreizsetzung sowie die zugehorige Reihenfolge der MW-Umstellungen ermittelt werden. Einige der Investitionshemmnisse, die bei dezentraler Entscheidungsfindung auftreten, konnen so uberwunden und die sich durch die Standardisierung ergebenden Netzwerkeffekte realisiert werden.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid Base Composition of Species in the Yeast Genus Kluyveromyces van der Walt emend. van der Walt

The deoxyribonucleic acid base composition (percent guanine + cytosine [GC]) was determined for 29 strains, representing 18 species of the genus Kluyveromyces. It was concluded that on the basis of GC content (47.4%) and other properties K. veronae occupies an uncertain position in the genus Kluyveromyces. The GC content of the remaining 17 species ranged from 35.3 to 43.4%, and three groups of species were recognized. The GC content of the first ranged from 35.3 to 38.0%; that of the second group from 39.5 to 41.7%; that of the third group from 42.4 to 43.4%. Several species revealed a nearly identical GC content. The GC contents do not correspond in all instances with the five groups of species proposed by van der Walt.
Endovascular Treatment of Venous Sinus Stenosis in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: Complications, Neurological Outcomes, and Radiographic Results

Introduction. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) may result in a chronic debilitating disease. Dural venous sinus stenosis with a physiologic venous pressure gradient has been identified as a potential etiology in a number of IIH patients. Intracranial venous stenting has emerged as a potential treatment alternative. Methods. A systematic review was carried out to identify studies employing venous stenting for IIH. Results. From 2002 to 2014, 17 studies comprising 185 patients who underwent 221 stenting procedures were reported. Mean prestent pressure gradient was 20.1 mmHg (95% CI 19.4–20.7 mmHg) with a mean poststent gradient of 4.4 mmHg (95% CI 3.5–5.2 mmHg). Complications occurred in 10 patients (5.4%; 95% CI 4.7–5.4%) but were major in only 3 (1.6%). At a mean clinical follow-up of 22 months, clinical improvement was noted in 130 of 166 patients with headaches (78.3%; 95% CI 75.8–80.8%), 84 of 89 patients with papilledema (94.4%; 95% CI 92.1–96.6%), and 64 of 74 patients with visual symptoms (86.5%; 95% CI 83.0–89.9%). In-stent stenosis was noted in six patients (3.4%; 95% CI 2.5–4.3%) and stent-adjacent stenosis occurred in 19 patients (11.4%; 95% CI 10.4–12.4), resulting in restenting in 10 patients. Conclusion. In IIH patients with venous sinus stenosis and a physiologic pressure gradient, venous stenting appears to be a safe and effective therapeutic option. Further studies are necessary to determine the long-term outcomes and the optimal management of medically refractory IIH.
Spectra of porphyrins: Part VII. Vapor absorption and emission of phthalocyanines

Abstract Absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra excited by the HeNe laser line at 633 mμ are reported for H 2 Pc, MgPc, and ZnPc in the vapor. CuPc showed no vapor emission. The yields of fluorescence are temperature dependent but relatively independent of the presence of the foreign gases Ar, N 2 , CF 2 Cl 2 . There is no evidence for resonance fluorescence. The implication of the observations for the theory of radiationless transitions is discussed.
Effects of post-detection response complexity on subsequent monitoring behavior.

This paper examines the effect of the complexity of the post-detection response demands on subsequent monitoring performance at two rates of target presentation. Three conditions requiring differentially complex post-detection responses were compared with a baseline condition in which no post-detection demands were made (save the simple detection-indicating response).The results indicated that two of the three complex conditions were accompanied by significantly less decrement in performance than that found in the baseline condition. The third was not significantly different from the baseline condition.“Arousal theory” could account for the results on the basis that there exists an optimal level of cortical arousal stemming from sensory variation provided by a task. If this hypothetical level is not reached or exceeded, a decrement in performance is to be expected.No clear answer was provided regarding an interaction between effects attributable to signal rate with effects attributable to response complexity.
Head and Neck Reconstruction: Local, Pedicled and Free Flaps; Facial Nerve Reanimation

Flap vascularization can be random with the flap blood supply dependant on the subdermal plexus or axial with a specific named artery supplying the entire flap. Transposition (linear configuration) is the most common type of local flap and is used for a variety of small to medium sized defects throughout the face and neck
Who Needs Parental Controls? Assessing the Relevant Market for Parental Control Technologies

Policy concerning parental control technologies should not be based upon usage rates of all U.S. households. The relevant number of households who potentially need parental control technologies is no greater than 32% of households with children. Moreover, the relevant universe of potential parental control users is likely much less than that because households with very young children or older teens often have little need for parental control technologies. Also, many households could use other methods of controlling access to media content, such as household rules. Three policy ramifications: - Regulation cannot be premised upon a lack of parental control uptake among all U.S. households. Policymakers and the courts should be skeptical of calls for regulation premised upon faulty statistical analysis and an over-estimation of the relevant universe of parental control users. - For those households in which children are present but which are not using parental control technologies, parents may need to be better informed about the existence of these tools and how to use them. Education and awareness-building efforts might help increase uptake of some of these parental control tools. - Even with efforts to promote more wide-spread usage of parental control tools, we should not be surprised if the increase in use is not substantial. Many parents believe that education and parenting represent the first and best approach to dealing with concerns about objectionable content or troubling communications. Indeed, at some point in these ongoing debates, parental responsibility has to come into the picture. Public officials should not act in loco parentis when parents have the power to make content and communications decisions on their own.
Design and implementation of position feedback controllers for an X-Y table

A circuit was designed for feedback modification of a computer controlled stepping motor positioning system. Instrumentation amplifiers were used to obtain the motor phase currents. The sum of the amplifier outputs was applied to an analog-to-digital converter. The converter data was multiplexed to a computer's parallel port inputs. Experiments were performed to find the correspondence between torque, current, and the converter output. A number of C language programs were written to modify the stepping of the motor in reaction to high torque. >
An improved procedure for solubilization and assay of blood and feces in liquid scintillation counting

A new procedure for solubilization of blood and feces using ammonium bicarbonate in the presence of Triton X-100 and trypsin with peroxide decolorization was tested and compared to conventional methods. The procedure gave two- to fourfold increases of efficiency and lower backgrounds approaching that of the cocktail alone within 2–4 h. Recovery of tritium radioactivity is equivalent to recovery by dry oxidation.
Metabolic consequences of accelerated urea synthesis during seasonal dormancy of spadefoot toads, Scaphiopus couchi and Scaphiopus multiplicatus

Scaphiopus couchi newly emerged from natural dormancy produce urea at a greater rate than dormant toads kept in moist soil. Energy budgets during dormancy of Scaphiopus couchi and S. multiplicatus were calculated by measuring protein, carbohydrate, lipid, ash, and DNA content of newly emerged toads and toads near the end of the natural activity period. Scaphiopus couchi uses 17% of the protein, 36% of the lipid, and 28% of the total energy reserves available at the start of dormancy, and S. multiplicatus uses 32% of the protein, 62% of the lipid, and 51% of the total energy reserves. If all of the nitrogen derived from protein catabolism were accumulated as urea, the minimum difference in body fluid concentrations before and after dormancy would be 167 mM for S. couchi and 341 mM for S. multiplicatus. Because these predicted increases are greater than normally observed in the body fluids of spadefoots at the end of dormancy, the toads apparently are obtaining sufficient part of their nitrogen wastes. Simultaneous O2 consumption, CO2 production, and nitrogen waste production measurements provide evidence for a shift from lipid to protein metabolism in S. couchi when osmotically stressed. During osmotic stress, S. couchi does not simultaneously achieve the reduced levels of O2 consumption associated with dormancy, and increased protein catabolism and urea synthesis. Feeding experiments show that protein, carbohydrate, and lipid and replenished in newly emerged. S. couchi in proportion to their representation in the diet.
Intelligent database design using the unifying semantic model

Research and development in the field of database systems has culminated in its widespread use. As usage has grown, the desire to link separate databases has resulted in substantial effort being directed towards the design of distributed database systems. A major research issue in designing such systems is the definition of a formal model that can be used to capture the semantics of the individual databases. This paper presents a semantic model called the Unifying Semantic Model (USM) and a software tool using it. The USM can be used for modeling the complex interrelationships and semantics found in a manufacturing environment. It is based on enhancements to existing semantic models. It can serve as a formal specification and documentation tool for databases. It can provide a means of specifying the Universe of Discourse for any interchange of information.
Mass spectra of polar organic compounds in aqueous solutions introduced into an inductively coupled plasma

Aerosols of 1.5% aqueous solutions of glycine, glucose and tartaric acid were introduced into an atmospheric pressure inductively coupled plasma that served as the ion source of a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Protonated water cluster ions were the major ions observed during nebulization of deionized water. Protonated molecular ions were observed at count rates in the range 1000-10000 counts s−1. Detection limits for [MH]+ ions of glycine, glucose and tartaric acid were 100, 2000 and 160 μg ml−1, respectively. Numerous fragment ions of the above compounds were observed. Both the number of fragment peaks and their count rates decreased as the forward power supplied to the plasma increased.
Enhancement of the non-tryptophan fluorescence of human lens proteins after near-UV light exposure.

. In this work, the non-tryptophan fluorescence (360 nm excited; 440 nm emitted) of human lens proteins was found to be intensified by exposing whole lens homogenates to near-UV light in the presence of tryptophan photoproducts. The induced fluorescence accumulates mainly in the soluble phase proteins, whereas in aging and brown cataractous lenses, the major fluorescence is found in the insoluble proteins. Using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with densitometric and fluorescence scanning techniques, the polypeptide chains of the three major protein fractions were analyzed for their specific non-tryptophan fluorescences. The same chains were found in all fractions. Two chains (11,000 and 45,000 daltons) were found to accumulate most of the induced fluorescence. These also contained the greatest intrinsic fluorescence initially. The data indicates that specific polypeptide chains in the lens proteins are most sensitive to modifications due to their exposure to near-UV light in the presence of tryptophan photoproducts.
Ageing of human erythrocytes: Effect on photosensitized hemolysis

Abstract The rate of hemolysis of human erythrocytes exposed to fluoranthene and near-ultraviolet light depends strongly on the age of the blood. It increases much more rapidly with with age in erythrocytes from freshly drawn blood than with packed cells kept stored in sealed bags in a blood bank. Erythrocytes from out-of-date packed cells give results reproducible over many days. Therefore, they are quite satisfactory and convenient for testing sensitizers for photodynamic damage to cell membranes.
Effects of feed form and dietary coarse ground corn on broiler live performance, body weight uniformity, relative gizzard weight, excreta nitrogen, and particle size preference behaviors

In this 14-d cage study, the effects of feed form (mash and crumble) and 6 coarse ground corn ( CC: ) inclusions [0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% CC that replaced fine corn ( FC: )] on broiler live performance, BW uniformity, gizzard weight, excreta nitrogen, and particle size preference were investigated. The geometric mean diameter by mass ( DGW: ) of mash diets increased from 422 μm to 431, 471, 509, 542, and 640 μm, respectively, as the percentage of CC increased. Feed intake and BW were decreased by CC and mash at 7 d. Interactions between feed form and CC were observed for feed conversion ratio ( FCR: ) at 7 d of age (P < 0.01), and feed intake (P < 0.05), BW (P < 0.01), and gizzard weight (P < 0.01) at 14 d of age. Feed intake for all CC inclusions in crumble diets was similar and exceeded (P < 0.01) that of mash diets at 14 d. Among mash diets, the 10 and 30% CC feed intake was greater (P < 0.05) than 40 and 50% CC with 0 and 20% CC intermediate. Crumble diets produced a similar BW but greater 14-d BW than mash diets (P < 0.01). Within mash diets, 40 and 50% CC produced a smaller BW (P < 0.01). The FCR at 7 d of CC inclusions in crumble diets was improved (P < 0.01) versus the same CC in mash diets. Within mash diets, 40% CC performed poorer than 0, 10, 20, and 30% CC diets with 50% CC diet intermediate (P < 0.01). Crumble diets improved FCR at 14 d, but CC worsened FCR. Gizzard weight at 14 d was not affected by CC in crumble diets, while it increased with CC in mash diets (P < 0.01). Excreta nitrogen was increased (P < 0.01) by crumble diets. These data demonstrated that pelleting and crumbling reduced the impact of CC, produced a more consistent feed intake, and reduced selective feeding, and that CC stimulated gizzard weight in a linear manner in mash diets.
Diagnostic issues in non-AD dementias

Abstract Disease diagnosis would be a relatively easy task for clinicians if there were biologic markers for the disease in question. However, there are no established markers for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) or non-Alzheimer's disease (non-AD) dementias. Identifying specific markers has proven to be severely hindered by the lack of awareness of reliable and valid diagnostic criteria for these diseases. This chapter focuses on a review of current criteria used for diagnosing non-AD dementias and a critical evaluation of their accuracy (i.e. sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values) and inter-rater reliability. This review emphasizes the critical need for prospective, longitudinal clinicopathologic studies in order to facilitate a comprehensive revision of the current strategies and criteria used for the diagnosis of non-AD dementias. Such investigations will not only help the clinician in making accurate diagnoses early in the disease process, but also enable future studies to identify possible biologic markers for non-AD dementias. This in turn may allow research to focus on possible cures for these diseases rather than solely on symptomatic treatment.
Nest-site biology of the California condor

A study of 72 historical and recent nests of the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) has revealed considerable variability in nest-site characteristics. This paper primarily summarizes the data on nest elevations and dimensions, entrance orientations, nest longevity and re-use, vulnerability of sites to natural enemies, and use of sites by other species. Although all known nests have been natural cavities, some have been little more than overhung ledges on cliffs, while others have been deep, dark caves with nest chambers completely concealed from the outside. Two sites have been cavities in giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum). Contrary to previous assumptions, condors do modify the characteristics of their nest sites significantly and commonly construct substrates of coarse gravel on which to rest their eggs. Many nests have been completely accessible to terrestrial predators, many have been poorly protected from avian predators, and some have had structural flaws leading directly to nesting failure. The use of suboptimal sites has not been clearly related to a scarcity of better quality sites.
A Postcolonial Feminist Social Work Perspective on Global Food Insecurity

A postcolonial feminist social work (PCFSW) perspective is an essential theoretical framework with which to analyze global food insecurity and proposed solutions to this urgent social problem. In t...
Sequential simplex optimization in a constrained simplex mixture space in liquid chromatography

Abstract The sequential simplex method is used in a constrained simplex mixture space to optimize the liquid chromatographic separation of five neutral organic solutes: uracil, phenol, acetophonenone, methylbenzoate, and toluene. The mobile phase composition is varied while column temperature, mobile phase flow-rate, and sample concentration are held constant. The chromatographic response function and the total analysis time are used in an overall desirability function to direct the progress of the sequential simplex optimization.
Parallel Analysis Criteria: Revised Equations for Estimating the Latent Roots of Random Data Correlation Matrices:

Regression equations may be used for estimating givenvalues to serve as parallel analysis criteria for determining the number of factors to retain. The accuracy of the first givenvalue's estimate directly influences the accuracy of subsequent estimates of given-values in regression equations derived to predict the latent roots of random data correlation matrices. Augmenting an equation presented by Allen and Hubbard (1986) with a variables-to-subjects ratio term leads to a significant improvement in predicting the first, as well as subsequent, givenvalues. Squared multiple correlations are .993 or higher for predicting all givenvalues. Parameter estimates for the augmented equation are presented to permit calculation of more nearly precise estimates of up to 48 givenvalues of a random data correlation matrix.
An investigation of the reliability of the Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration (P-F) Study, Children's Form.

Presents data on the retest and split-half reliability of the Rosenzweig PictureFrustration (P-F) Study, Children's Form, for two groups of subjects (aged 10-11 and 12-13 years, respectively), each group tested twice at an interval of three months. It was found that the retest reliability for all scoring categories (except O-D) were statistically significant (.01 or .05 level). GCR proved stable for the younger group (r = .53) but not for the older group. The difference here may be due to the less comfortable retest conditions prevailing for the older subjects. Reliability by retest was consistently higher than by the less appropriate split-half method, but the latter proved, nevertheless, to be in the main favorable.
NMR Characterization of the Higher Molecular Weight Byproducts Formed During the Synthesis of [PCl2N]3

The by-product chlorophosphazenes obtained from the reaction of PCl5 and NH4Cl at ∼ 140°, have been characterized by 2D 31P–15N HMQC and DOSY NMR spectroscopy. These NMR spectra show that the byproducts are a very complex mixture.
Emergence of choice strategies in the rat: Shift-stay differentiation precedes win-lose differentiation

The choice strategies of rat pups between 12 and 21 days of age were studied in a two-choice discrimination procedure that used access to a nonlactating anesthetized dam as a reward. After receiving a reward (win) or not receiving a reward (lose), a pup repeated a previous choice (stay) or made an alternative response (shift). At 12 and 15 days of age, pups demonstrated neither a stay nor a shift response strategy; at 18 and 21 days of age, pups had a robust tendency to shift. Winning or losing did not alter behavior until 21 days of age, at which point winning produced a greater tendency to return to the initially visited location for rats in the stay condition.
Individual differences in gender role beliefs influence spatial ability test performance

Abstract The gender role hypothesis posits that performance on a cognitive ability test is influenced by whether the test instructions frame the test as measuring a skill that is consistent or inconsistent with the test taker's gender role beliefs. The Bem sex role inventory was used to measure the gender role of female college students, and the group embedded figures test (GEFT) was used to measure their spatial ability. Masculine gender role women scored significantly higher on the GEFT when the test was described as measuring spatial ability, whereas feminine gender role women scored significantly higher when the test was described as measuring empathy. In a second experiment, men did not show the same effects. Implications of individual differences in gender role beliefs are discussed.
Airway smooth muscle in asthma--not just more of the same.

Airway smooth-muscle mass is increased in patients with asthma. This increase in muscle mass is quite marked in lung sections from patients who have died of asthma, but bronchial-biopsy studies indicate that even persons with mild-to-moderate asthma have increased airway smooth-muscle mass. Both hypertrophy and hyperplasia appear to contribute to this increase, and it is possible that airway smooth-muscle hyperplasia in asthma stems from the inflammatory milieu surrounding the asthmatic muscle. There are numerous smooth-muscle growth factors present in the asthmatic airway. Indeed, in culture, serum or bronchoalveolar-lavage fluid from patients with asthma causes greater proliferation of human airway smooth-muscle . . .
Scattering in (2+1)-dimensional Chern-Simons supergravity

Abstract We discuss the problem of two-superparticle scattering in the framework of (2 + 1)-dimensional gauge theory of N = 2 Poincare supergravity coupled to point sources. Our approach is the extension of our previous work for the case of (2 + 1)-dimensional Chern-Simons gravity, in which one of the particle is treated as a test particle scattering in the gravitational field of the other. We show that to relate the classical phase space of the particles to their space-time coordinates and momenta, it is necessary to take the gauge group to be the universal covering group of the N = 2 Poincare supergroup. We also show that in the test particle approach, one of the superparticles is effectively a spinless particle. We explicitly calculate the corresponding scattering amplitude.
Assignment of the cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase gene (CARS) to 11p15.5.

The attachment of each of the 20 naturally occurring amino acids to their cognate tRNA isoaccepting families is catalyzed by a specific aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. The structural genes encoding 10 of these enzymes have been assigned to specific human chromosomes. The HARS, LARS, RARS, and TARS genes, encoding histidyl-, leucyl-, arginyl-, and threonyl-tRNA synthetases, respectively, are all located on chromosome 5( 1, 5, 7, 9, 14). The MARS (methionyl-tRNA synthetase), NARS (asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase), VARS (valyl-tRNA synthetase), and WARS (tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase) genes have been assigned to chromosomes 12, 18, 6, and 14, respectively (3, 4, 6, 8). A gene originally identified as encoding glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase was mapped to chromosome 1q32-q42 (10). However, a recent study suggests that the product of this gene is, in fact, a multifunctional enzyme with both glutamyl- and prolyl-tRNA synthetase activities (2). The fact that 4 of the 10 aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase genes already mapped are located on chromosome 5 may be fortuitous but might also indicate an evolutionary or regulatory relatedness. It is therefore, of interest to map genes encoding other aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases to determine if additional examples of synteny exist. The recent isolation of cDNA and genomic DNA clones for human cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase has now enabled usmore » to map the CARS gene to segment p15.5 on chromosome 11 by fluorescence in situ hybridization.« less
Calling All Stakeholders Group-Level Assessment (GLA)—A Qualitative and Participatory Method for Large Groups

Group-level assessment (GLA) is a qualitative and participatory large group method in which timely and valid data are collaboratively generated and interactively evaluated with relevant stakeholders leading to the development of participant-driven data and relevant action plans. This method is useful across a wide range of evaluation purposes in many environments. GLA involves bringing a large group of participants together to build a common database through the co-identification of relevant needs, judgments, and priorities. The GLA process proceeds through the following seven steps: climate setting, generating, appreciating, reflecting, understanding, selecting, and action. This article describes the methodological development and process of conducting a GLA and its various applications across the evaluation spectrum. We highlight several exemplars where GLA was used in order to demonstrate the particular nuances of working with different sizes and types of groups and to elaborate on our learnings from the wide applicability of the method.
Effect of flupenthixol on subjective and cardiovascular responses to intravenous cocaine in humans.

The effects of oral flupenthixol and intramuscular (i.m.) flupenthixol decanoate in combination with intravenous (i.v.) cocaine were evaluated in male cocaine abusers. Participants resided at an inpatient research unit for 27 days followed by an 11-day outpatient period. Oral flupenthixol (2.5 or 5.0 mg; p.o.) followed by flupenthixol decanoate (10 or 20 mg; i.m.) and placebo were investigated in individuals who were randomly assigned to one of three groups under double-blind conditions (placebo, low or high dose flupenthixol). During the inpatient period, participants had four fixed cocaine dosing sessions; each session they were administered four doses of i.v. cocaine (approx. 48 mg/70 kg), spaced 14 min apart. These sessions occurred once before medication (baseline phase), once following oral medication (oral phase), and twice following intramuscular medication (IM phase). Out of 23 participants, 18 completed the study; 4 of the 5 non-completers were in the high dose flupenthixol group. Overall, there were few subjective, cardiovascular, or cocaine pharmacokinetic differences between the placebo group and the low dose flupenthixol group, indicating that the low dose of flupenthixol was well tolerated, but ineffective. In the high dose flupenthixol group, two out of seven individuals (29%) experienced a dystonic reaction following oral flupenthixol and were medically discharged. Taken together, these findings indicate that flupenthixol is not a good candidate for treating cocaine abusers.
Explicit self-tuning control for a class of non-linear systems

Abstract This paper is concerned with adaptive control of discrete-time linear systems having a polynomial input non-linearity. A new self-tuning control scheme is presented to implement adaptively the suboptimal control law derived in the previous work. By the on-line adaptation of the compensators P(q−1) and R(q−1), the difficulty of cautiously choosing P(q−1) and R(q−1) a priori to ensure the stability of the closed-loop system is thus circumvented. A simple locally convergent self-tuning algorithm and a globally convergent improved self-tuning algorithm are given which provide an efficient way to the control of this class of non-linear systems. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Origins of biological information and the genetic code.

Information, defined as the capacity of a molecule or system for selective interactions with other molecules or systems, is followed through its evolution from prebiological information to protoribosomes. Emphasis is on proteins and protein-like polymers, and later on ATP. The research will contribute more to the understanding of the essence of the genetic mechanism.
A Review of Desiccant Cooling Systems

This paper describes recent published design advances that have been made in desiccant cooling systems. In desiccant cooling cycles, the desiccant reduces the humidity of the air by removing moisture from the air. Then the temperature is reduced by other components such as heat exchangers, evaporative coolers, or conventional cooling coils. The main advantage that desiccant cooling systems offer is the capability of using low-grade thermal energy. Desiccant cooling systems for residential and commercial applications are now being used to reduce energy-operating costs. However, the initial costs are comparatively high. The focus of research for the past decade has been to develop desiccant systems with a high coefficient of performance. Recent studies have emphasized computer modeling and hybrid systems that combine desiccant dehumidifiers with conventional systems.
The influence of oxygen and total pressure on the surface oxidation rate of bituminous coal

The intrinsic reaction rates of several bituminous coals and a carbon black have been studied over a range of particle temperatures (1700–2200 K), total gas pressures (5.5–10 atm) and oxygen mole fractions (0.1–0.5) in a conventional shock tube. The surface reaction rates (based on external surface area) of the coals were observed to vary inversely with total pressure while no such dependence was noted for the carbon black. In conjunction with observations of reducing diameter burnout mode and large surface reaction rate Arrhenius activation energies, these results suggest the existence of a roughsphere kinetics regime. The true reaction order with respect to oxygen partial pressure measured at constant gas temperature is observed to be nearly 1/2; however, correction for the accompanying increase in particle temperature reduces the overall order to about 1/5. The true activation energies for both coals are about 34 kcal/mole over the temperature range studied. When corrected for pore penetration, the intrinsic reaction rates of the coals are observed to be greater than those measured for the carbon black and those predicted by a recent correlation in the temperature range of 1500 to 2100 K.
CP VIOLATION IN NEUTRAL B DECAYS ON THE ϒ (4S) WITH SYMMETRIC ENERGIES

The favored tests of CP violation in B meson decays give sin 2α and sin 2β, where α and β are angles in the unitarity triangle relating the Kobayashi–Maskawa matrix elements. In the classic B Factory experiment sin 2α or sin 2β is obtained by observing a time dependent CP violating asymmetry in the decay of tagged B0, pairs, mediated by mixing. The same measurement can be performed at a symmetric energy collider operating at the ϒ (4S) resonance, given sufficient luminosity and vertex resolution. That is, provided the vertical spread of the beam at the interaction point is small, for two-event subclasses the centroid separation in measurements of the observed midpoint between the heights of the two decay vertices is a good statistical estimator for the CP violation parameter sin 2α or sin 2β. With a typical detector the number of events needed is about three times what an asymmetric B Factory would require for the same accuracy.
Determining the optical properties in a fibrous turbid medium

Light propagation in fibrous biological tissue is quite different from that in isotropic medium. Several studies showed that the measured reduced scattering coefficient in fibrous tissue strongly depends on the measurement direction. In this study, we investigated the possibility of retrieving optical properties in anisotropic tissue using time-domain measurements. A Monte Carlo model was used to simulate light propagation in a fibrous tissue consisting of aligned cylinders and spherical shape scatters. An isotropic diffuse model was then used to determine the optical properties from simulated time-resolved reflectance. When the measurement position was parallel to the fiber direction, the derived reduced scattering coefficient had good agreement with the true background scattering coefficient values with a less than 10% error. In contrast, when measuring in a direction perpendicular to the cylinders, the derived reduced scattering coefficient was close to the summation of the reduced scattering coefficients of both cylinders and background only in samples with small cylinder diameters. If the fiber size in the medium is known, the reduced scattering coefficient associated with the cylinders can be derived by using a correction coefficient.
Subclinical Macular Findings in Infants Screened for Retinopathy of Prematurity with Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

Objective To evaluate subclinical macular findings in premature patients at risk of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) with the use of handheld spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Design Prospective, observational case series. Participants Forty-nine prematurely born neonates. Methods Forty-nine infants were imaged using a handheld SD-OCT. Images were acquired in nonsedated infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Some patients were followed and reimaged over the course of several weeks. A total of 300 total images were acquired and evaluated for cystoid macular edema (CME) and persistence of inner retinal layers. Main Outcome Measures In vivo determination of foveal retinal lamination, image analysis, and clinical observation. Results A total of 241 (80%) of the images from 46 patients were usable (defined as having scans passing through the fovea with clearly identifiable retinal layers). Persistence of 1 or more inner retinal layers was seen in 43 of the patients with usable images (93%). Of the patients with at least 1 persistent layer, 17, 4, 8, 12, and 1, had a maximum ROP stage of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4A, respectively. Cystoid macular edema was seen in 25 of the 46 patients (54%) during 1 or more imaging sessions. Cystoid macular edema was present in 9, 1, 5, 9, and 1 patient with maximum ROP stage of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4A, respectively. Conclusions Our data suggest there is persistence of inner retinal layers in premature infants regardless of maximal ROP stage. Subclinical CME is seen in premature infants; however, CME does not appear to be correlated with ROP stage. This suggests that there may be other causes for the CME seen in this patient population. Hand-held SD-OCT imaging is a viable technique for evaluating subclinical macular findings in premature infants, although larger datasets are needed from multiple centers to further evaluate the generalizability of these findings. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
A quasi-parametric algorithm for synthetic aperture radar target feature extraction and imaging with angle diversity

We present synthetic aperture radar (SAR) target feature extraction and imaging techniques with angle divesity. We first establish a flexible data model that describes each target scatterer as a two-dimensional (2D) complex sequence with arbitrary amplitude and constant phase in range and cross-range. A new algorithm, referred to as the QUasiparametric ALgorithm for target feature Extraction (QUALE), is then presented for SAR target feature extraction via data fusion through angle diversity based on the flexible data model. QUALE first estimates the model parameters, which include, for each scatterer, a 2D arbitrary real-valued amplitude sequence, a constant phase, and scatterer locations in range and cross-reange. QUALE then averages the estimated 2D real-valued amplitude sequence over range by making the assumption that the scatterer radar cross section is approximately consant. QUALE next models the so-obtained 1D sequence with a simple sinc function by assuming that the scatterer is approximately a dihedral (a trihedral is approximated as a very short dihedral) and estimates the relevant sinc function parameters by minimizing a nonlinear least-squares fitting function. Finally, the approximate 2D SAR image is reconstructed by using the estimated features. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the perfomance of the proposed algorithm.
Construction of direct selection vectors for use inBacillus sphaericus

Genetic manipulation in the mosquito larvicidal organismBacillus sphaericus has been hampered by a lack of effective molecular biological techniques and tools. Currently available vectors forBacillus subtilis are inappropriate as they are selected with antibiotics to whichB. sphaericus is naturally resistant. Construction of chimeras between theStaphylococcus aureus plasmid pE194 and theB. subtilis direct selection vector pBD214 permitted selection of plasmid transformants with erythromycin. As with pBD214, direct selection of recombinants is accomplished by insertional inactivation of the plasmid-borne thymidylate synthetase gene and subsequent selection with trimethoprim.
The action of anti-thyroid agents and thyroxine on tissue homogenates

Abstract Thiourea and, to a much greater extent, thiouracil inhibited the oxygen consumption of a number of tissue homogenates in the presence or absence of added substrates. l -Thyroxine, added in vitro at concentrations of 3–4 μg./ml., produced a moderate but consistent increase of the oxygen uptake. This effect was largely the same, or somewhat higher, in the presence of thiourea. The significance of these results is dicsussed.
The splitting number of the complete graph

If a given graphG can be obtained bys vertex identifications from a suitable planar graph ands is the minimum number for which this is possible thens is called the splitting number ofG. Here a formula for the splitting number of the complete graph is derived.
Phenomenological implications of an alternative Hamiltonian constraint for quantum cosmology

In this paper we review a model based on loop quantum cosmology that arises from a symmetry reduction of the self-dual Plebanski action. In this formulation the symmetry reduction leads to a very simple Hamiltonian constraint that can be quantized explicitly in the framework of loop quantum cosmology. We investigate the phenomenological implications of this model in the semiclassical regime and compare those with the known results of the standard Loop Quantum Cosmology.
Diversity ≠ Inclusion Promoting Integration in Higher Education

I argue that enrollment of a diverse student body is but a pragmatic first step toward the broader social goal of inclusion and ask whether motives for campus diversification are aligned with pedagogic goals. I address this question by focusing on inclusion, namely, organizational strategies and practices that promote meaningful social and academic interactions among students who differ in their experiences, views, and traits. After illustrating the contours and pace of diversification, I discuss challenges to achieving meaningful integration as campuses become more racially diverse by focusing on ethnic programming and evidence about students’ social interaction patterns. Integration is not an automatic by-product of campus diversity; therefore, to harness the benefits of diverse student bodies, institutional leaders must pursue deliberate strategies that promote inclusion.
Interfacing the Urban Land–Atmosphere System Through Coupled Urban Canopy and Atmospheric Models

We couple a single column model (SCM) to a cutting-edge single-layer urban canopy model (SLUCM) with realistic representation of urban hydrological processes. The land-surface transport of energy and moisture parametrized by the SLUCM provides lower boundary conditions to the overlying atmosphere. The coupled SLUCM–SCM model is tested against field measurements of sensible and latent heat fluxes in the surface layer, as well as vertical profiles of temperature and humidity in the mixed layer under convective conditions. The model is then used to simulate urban land–atmosphere interactions by changing urban geometry, surface albedo, vegetation fraction and aerodynamic roughness. Results show that changes of landscape characteristics have a significant impact on the growth of the boundary layer as well as on the distributions of temperature and humidity in the mixed layer. Overall, the proposed numerical framework provides a useful stand-alone modelling tool, with which the impact of urban land-surface conditions on the local hydrometeorology can be assessed via land–atmosphere interactions.
Comparison of fatty acid, cholesterol, vitamin A and E composition, and trans fats in eggs from brown and white egg strains that were molted or nonmolted

The impact of egg color, hen strain, and molting on the nutritional composition of eggs is limited. Therefore, this study compared nutritional composition and component percentages of cage-produced shell eggs with respect to egg color, hen strain, and molt. Four strains were selected from the North Carolina Layer Performance and Management Test: Hy-Line Brown (HB) and Bovans Brown (BB), and Hy-Line W-36 (HW) and Bovans White (BovW) were selected. Two groups from each strain were selected and 2 groups of molted HW and BovW were selected and compared with their nonmolted counterparts to examine the molt's impact. Two sets of eggs from each replicate were collected simultaneously at 101 wk of age. One sample of eggs was broken into a 12-egg pool stomached for 3 min (n = 12 samples), then divided into six 50-mL tubes, sealed, and frozen to be sent for cholesterol, n-3 fatty acids, saturated fat, monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, β-carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E analyses. The other set of 12 eggs was then assessed for component percentages. The HW eggs had a greater (P < 0.05) percentage of yolk than the BovW eggs of 28.12 versus 27.00%, respectively; however, the BovW eggs had 1.0% more albumen. The HB and BB egg components were not different. Brown eggs were heavier (P < 0.01) than white eggs. White eggs had greater (P < 0.0001) percent yolk and the brown eggs had greater (P < 0.0001) percent albumen. The eggs from molted hens had a greater (P < 0.001) percent shell. Total fat content in the samples was (P < 0.05) higher in white eggs by 0.70% than brown eggs due to increased saturated and polyunsaturated fats. The molting of hens reduced (P < 0.01) saturated fats by 0.21% in the egg. Vitamin A levels were higher (P < 0.0001) in white eggs, and vitamin E was higher (P < 0.0001) in brown eggs. Strain and molt appear to influence nutrient composition and component percentages in eggs produced from laying hens.