cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Entropy and emittance of particle and photon beams

The emittance as the available phase space area is defined as the product of the elementary cell area /spl delta//spl Omega/ and exp(S), where S is the normalized entropy of a particle beam. The definition is based on the fact that the factor exp(S) can be interpreted as the number of the occupied cells. For particle beams, a closed expression for the emittance in terms of the phase space distribution function is obtained which is independent of /spl delta//spl Omega/. To compute the emittance of the radiation beam, it is necessary to find the eigenvalues of the correlation operator. An explicit solution is found for the case of a partially coherent radiation beam which is a stochastic superposition of coherent Gaussian beams with a Gaussian probability distribution. Such a beam is a reasonable model for undulator radiation by beam of electrons. From the requirement that the radiation emittance reproduces the particle beam emittance in the incoherent limit, the elementary cell area /spl delta//spl Omega/ is determined unambiguously to be /spl lambda/, the radiation wavelength. The emittance in the coherent limit then becomes /spl lambda/.
On the small and finite deformation thermo-elasto-viscoplasticity theory for strain localization problems: Algorithmic and computational aspects

This work is focused on the numerical implementation of thermo-elasto viscoplastic constitutive equations in small and finite strain contexts using the FEM. A length-scale parameter is introduced implicitly through viscosity in order to address strain localization and material instability in the (initial) boundary value problems. According to the second law of thermodynamics a dissipation inequality described in the rotated material coordinate system is developed by Voyiadjis et al. (2004), which was used along with the principle of maximum dissipation to formulate a viscoinelastic model. In order to check the effectiveness of the present framework a set of numerical examples under strict deformation conditions are presented. These numerical examples prove the excellent performance of the present framework in describing the strain localization problem and in obtaining mesh-independent results.
Optimal Peer-to-Peer Technique for Massive Content Distribution

A distinct trend has emerged that the Internet is used to transport data on a more and more massive scale. Capacity shortage in the backbone networks has become a genuine possibility, which will be more serious with fiber-based access. The problem addressed in this paper is how to conduct massive content distribution efficiently in the future network environment where the capacity limitation can equally be at the core or the edge. We propose a novel peer-to-peer technique as a main content transport mechanism to achieve efficient network resource utilization. The technique uses multiple trees for distributing different file pieces, which at the heart is a version of swarming. In this paper, we formulate an optimization problem for determining an optimal set of distribution trees as well as the rate of distribution on each tree under bandwidth limitation at arbitrary places in the network. The optimal solution can be found by a distributed algorithm. The results of the paper not only provide stand-alone solutions to the massive content distribution problem, but should also help the understanding of existing distribution techniques such as BitTorrent or FastReplica.
The depth of cure of clear versus opaque sealants as influenced by curing regimens.

ABSTRACT Background The authors conducted a study to test the hypothesis that light-curing regimens affect depth of cure of clear versus opaque sealants. Methods The authors light-cured samples of one clear and two opaque sealants at 20 seconds, 0 millimeters; 40 seconds, 0 mm; and 40 seconds, 2.2 mm (n = 5 each). They assessed the depth of cure with Knoop hardness at 0.5-mm increments five minutes and one hour after curing. The authors used analysis of variance. Results Curing regimens and sealant types affected the depth of cure. The clear sealant maintained a greater hardness than did the opaque sealants through a depth of 3 mm ( P P P = .34), but it reduced the cure depth of the opaque sealants ( P P Conclusions A clear sealant cured deeper than did opaque sealants. Curing duration is crucial to achieve an adequate depth of cure. A 20-second duration may not suffice. Light source distance affected the depth of cure for the opaque sealants, but not for the clear sealant with sufficient curing duration. Clinical Implications The authors advocate a curing duration of longer than 20 seconds to ensure thorough polymerization at the interface between the sealant and tooth. Insufficient curing could contribute to failure of the sealants, especially the opaque sealants, under clinical conditions that restrict the light tip position.
Quantitative Proteomics Reveals That the Specific Methyltransferases Txr1p and Ezl2p Differentially Affect the Mono-, Di- and Trimethylation States of Histone H3 Lysine 27 (H3K27)

Nuclear DNA in eukaryotic cells is assembled into the hierarchical chromatin structure via a process that is dynamically affected by the combinatorial set of post-translational modifications (PTMs) of histones in a dynamic manner responsive to physiological and environmental changes. The precise quantification of these complex modifications is challenging. Here we present a robust MS-based quantitative proteomics method for studying histone PTMs using 15N metabolically labeled histones as the internal reference. Using this approach, we identified Tetrahymena trithorax related 1 (Txr1p) as a histone methyltransferase in Tetrahymena thermophila and characterized the relationships of the Txr1p and Ezl2p methyltransferases to histone H3 modification. We identified 32 PTMs in more than 60 tryptic peptides from histone H3 of the ciliate model organism Tetrahymena thermophila, and we quantified them (average coefficient of variation: 13%). We examined perturbations to histone modification patterns in two knockout strains of SET-domain-containing histone methyltransferases (HMT). Knockout of TXR1 led to progressively decreased mono-, di-, and tri-methylation of H3K27 and apparent reduced monomethylation of H3K36 in vivo. In contrast, EZL2 knockout resulted in dramatic reductions in both di- and tri-methylation of H3K27 in vivo, whereas the levels of monomethylation of H3K27 increased significantly. This buildup of monomethyl H3K27 is consistent with its role as a substrate for Ezl2p. These results were validated via immunoblotting using modification site-specific antibodies. Taken together, our studies define Txr1p as an H3K27 monomethylation-specific HMT that facilitates the buildup of H3K27 di- and trimethylation by the canonical H3K27-specific HMT, Ezl2p. Our studies also delineate some of the interdependences between various H3 modifications, as compensatory increases in monomethylation at H3K4, H3K23, and H3K56 were also observed for both TXR1 and ELZ2 mutants.
OpenNF: enabling innovation in network function control

Network functions virtualization (NFV) together with software-defined networking (SDN) has the potential to help operators satisfy tight service level agreements, accurately monitor and manipulate network traffic, and minimize operating expenses. However, in scenarios that require packet processing to be redistributed across a collection of network function (NF) instances, simultaneously achieving all three goals requires a framework that provides efficient, coordinated control of both internal NF state and network forwarding state. To this end, we design a control plane called OpenNF. We use carefully designed APIs and a clever combination of events and forwarding updates to address race conditions, bound overhead, and accommodate a variety of NFs. Our evaluation shows that OpenNF offers efficient state control without compromising flexibility, and requires modest additions to NFs.
Screening for drug and alcohol abuse among older adults using a modified version of the CAGE

This study examined the sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves of a modified version of the CAGE, a screening measure used in the detection of older alcohol- and drug-abusing individuals. In a retrospective review of clinical records of 976 patients screened by a geriatric substance abuse program, the authors examined patients' responses on a modified version of the CAGE that included queries regarding drug use. The CAGE was administered to individuals age 50 or over draw from three diagnostic groups: alcohol abuse/dependence, drug abuse/dependence, and normal controls. Analysis of variance and discriminant function analyses revealed that the modified CAGE was able to discriminate both alcohol and drug abusers from controls. Analyses examining test sensitivity, specificity, and ROC curves revealed the CAGE to demonstrate excellent sensitivity but poor specificity. Omitting the "cut down'' item from the CAGE significantly improved specificity with only a modest drop in sensitivity. Given the ease of administration and sensitivity to both alcohol and drug abuse, these data suggest that the modified CAGE is well suited as a screening instrument for geriatric drug and alcohol abuse.
Optimal control of observable continuous time Markov chains

This paper considers the optimal control of time varying, finite horizon, continuous time Markov chains under the assumption that their behavior can be influenced by the adjustment of selected transition rates. We assume a quadratic penalty on the amount of the rate adjustment and that the system is completely observable. We derive an ordinary differential equation whose solution gives the minimum return function and describe how the optimal feedback control law is obtained from it. The results bear some resemblance to the solution of the quadratic regulator problem for linear systems, but because of the bilinear structure of these problems, the details are significantly different.
Effects of Cocoa Extracts on Endothelium-Dependent Relaxation

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of procyanidins derived from cocoa on vascular smooth muscle. Two hypotheses were tested: 1) extracts of cocoa, which are rich in procyanidins, cause endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR), and 2) extracts of cocoa activate endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS). The experiments were carried out on aortic rings obtained from New Zealand White rabbits. The polymeric procyanidins (tetramer through decamer of catechin) caused an EDR. In addition, the Ca(2+)-dependent NOS activity, measured by the L-arginine to L-citrulline conversion assay, was significantly increased in aortic endothelial cells exposed to polymeric procyanidins, whereas monomeric compounds had no such effect. These findings demonstrate that polymeric procyanidins cause an EDR that is mediated by activation of NOS.
Structural Basis of Caspase-7 Inhibition by XIAP

The inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins suppress cell death by inhibiting the catalytic activity of caspases. Here we present the crystal structure of caspase-7 in complex with a potent inhibitory fragment from XIAP at 2.45 A resolution. An 18-residue XIAP peptide binds the catalytic groove of caspase-7, making extensive contacts to the residues that are essential for its catalytic activity. Strikingly, despite a reversal of relative orientation, a subset of interactions between caspase-7 and XIAP closely resemble those between caspase-7 and its tetrapeptide inhibitor DEVD-CHO. Our biochemical and structural analyses reveal that the BIR domains are dispensable for the inhibition of caspase-3 and -7. This study provides a structural basis for the design of the next-generation caspase inhibitors.
Image-based target tracking using least-squares trajectory estimation without a priori knowledge

Accurate object tracking has become increasingly important with developments in Lidar and high-resolution camera systems for remote surveillance. Typical methods utilize Markov Chain state estimation paired with Kalman or particle filters. These methods, however, are susceptible to loss of track if an error is encountered or a loss of image occurs. We developed a set of algorithms built on more recent efforts that have been aimed at reconstructing the three-dimensional trajectory of the object. These methods typically require a priori information about the target being tracked when using a single camera. We attempt to accomplish trajectory reconstruction without information about the system beyond a known camera matrix. Using feature locations extracted from a series of images combined with the associated camera matrices, we generate a linear system of equations relating the image coordinates in two-dimensional projective space to the real-world three-dimensional coordinates. We use this system of equations to generate a least-squares polynomial fit for the data. The resulting system of equations successfully recovers polynomial equations of motion and outperforms Taylor approximations of equal degree outside of the convergent region. Introducing translational errors causes the error-minimizing angle combination to differ from the single most likely analytic angle combination. We employ a mean-approximating method to generate an adjusted angular value and demonstrate this represents an improvement in accuracy over the analytic solution.
Interaction of Prevotella intermedia Strain 17 Leucine-Rich Repeat Domain Protein AdpF with Eukaryotic Cells Promotes Bacterial Internalization

Prevotella intermedia is an oral bacterium implicated in a variety of oral diseases. Although internalization of this bacterium by nonphagocytic host cells is well established, the molecular players mediating the process are not well known. Here, the properties of a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain protein, designated AdpF, are described. This protein contains a leucine-rich region composed of 663 amino acid residues, and molecular modeling shows that it folds into a classical curved solenoid structure. The cell surface localization of recombinant AdpF (rAdpF) was confirmed by electron and confocal microscopy analyses. The recombinant form of this protein bound fibronectin in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the protein was internalized by host cells, with the majority of the process accomplished within 30 min. The internalization of rAdpF was inhibited by nystatin, cytochalasin, latrunculin, nocodazole, and wortmannin, indicating that microtubules, microfilaments, and signal transduction are required for the invasion. It is noteworthy that preincubation of eukaryotic cells with AdpF increased P. intermedia 17 internalization by 5- and 10-fold for HeLa and NIH 3T3 fibroblast cell lines, respectively. The addition of the rAdpF protein was also very effective in inducing bacterial internalization into the oral epithelial cell line HN4, as well as into primary cells, including human oral keratinocytes (HOKs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Finally, cells exposed to P. intermedia 17 internalized the bacteria more readily upon reinfection. Taken together, our data demonstrate that rAdpF plays a role in the internalization of P. intermedia 17 by a variety of host cells.
Effects of intravenous glucose and lipids on innate immune cell activation in healthy, obese, and type 2 diabetic subjects

Atherosclerosis/cardiovascular disease are major causes of morbidity/mortality in obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D), and have been associated with activation of innate immune cells, their diapedesis to the arterial intima and formation of the atherosclerotic plaque. While in obesity/T2D immune cell activation likely depends on dysregulated metabolism, the interaction between individual metabolic factors typical of these conditions (hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia), innate immune cell activation, and the progression of atherosclerosis remains unclear. We, therefore, measured by flow cytometry cell surface expression of CD11b, CD14, CD16, CD62L, and CD66b, known markers of granulocyte (Gc) and monocyte (Mc) activation, in five healthy, five obese, and five T2D subjects, during 4-h i.v. infusions of 20% dextrose (raising blood sugar levels to ~220 mg/dL), 20% Intralipid (raising trygliceride levels to ~6 mmol/L), or a combination of the two. We hypothesized that both glucose and lipids would increase Gc/Mc surface marker expression, and simultaneous infusion would have an additive or synergistic effect. Surprisingly, though, infusion of glucose alone had little effect, while lipids, alone or combined with glucose, significantly increased expression of several markers (such as CD11b in Gc and Mc, and CD66 b in GC) within 60-90 min. Less pronounced increases in systemic inflammatory cytokines also occurred in obese and T2D subject, with no acute changes in gene expression of the the proinflammatory genes NFκB and CCR2. Our results suggest that lipids may be stronger acute contributors to innate cell activation than acute hyperglycemia per se, possibly helping shape more effective preventive dietary guidelines in T2D.
Successful Thermal Management of a Totally Implantable Ventricular Assist System

Thermal management of the implantable ventricular assist system (VAS) is important not only from the pathophysiological point of view but also from the standpoint of system endurance. The heat distribution within the Baylor VAS was measured using different motor housing materials and environmental conditions. The temperature of the circulating water in the mock loop was set at 37 degrees and 42 degrees C. A polycarbonate motor housing was not a suitable material because of the high temperature development in the actuation system. An anodized aluminum housing demonstrated excellent heat conductivity. The surface temperature of this motor housing was 41.6 degrees C when immersed in circulating water at 42 degrees C. Heat conduction from the motor to the circulating blood revealed an effective thermal path. In the worst case, the heat flux of the motor to the circulating blood revealed an effective thermal path. In the worst case, the heat flux of the motor housing was calculated to be less than 0.062 W/cm2--an acceptable level for the surrounding tissues.
Specialization Does Not Predict Individual Efficiency in an Ant

The ecological success of social insects is often attributed to an increase in efficiency achieved through division of labor between workers in a colony. Much research has therefore focused on the mechanism by which a division of labor is implemented, i.e., on how tasks are allocated to workers. However, the important assumption that specialists are indeed more efficient at their work than generalist individuals—the “Jack-of-all-trades is master of none” hypothesis—has rarely been tested. Here, I quantify worker efficiency, measured as work completed per time, in four different tasks in the ant Temnothorax albipennis: honey and protein foraging, collection of nest-building material, and brood transports in a colony emigration. I show that individual efficiency is not predicted by how specialized workers were on the respective task. Worker efficiency is also not consistently predicted by that worker's overall activity or delay to begin the task. Even when only the worker's rank relative to nestmates in the same colony was used, specialization did not predict efficiency in three out of the four tasks, and more specialized workers actually performed worse than others in the fourth task (collection of sand grains). I also show that the above relationships, as well as median individual efficiency, do not change with colony size. My results demonstrate that in an ant species without morphologically differentiated worker castes, workers may nevertheless differ in their ability to perform different tasks. Surprisingly, this variation is not utilized by the colony—worker allocation to tasks is unrelated to their ability to perform them. What, then, are the adaptive benefits of behavioral specialization, and why do workers choose tasks without regard for whether they can perform them well? We are still far from an understanding of the adaptive benefits of division of labor in social insects.
Analog Giant Resonance Excitation via the (N,p) Reaction

The direct (n,p) reaction is a selective tool for studying isovector transitions which are induced by an isovector interaction and in which there is a transfer of one unit of isospin to the target. Furthermore the (n,p) selection rule ?T3 = ?T = +1 implies that only T=T0 (tgt) + 1 states (the analogs of T0 + 1 states of the target) are excited. Our measurements of (n,p) spectra on selected targets ranging from 4He to 209Bi reveal that the excitations of the analogs of giant resonance states particularly the "E1" GDR and "M1" are strong for light nuclei. Essentially 100% of the GDR sum rule, as given by the Goldhaber-Teller (GT) model, is exhausted. For M1 transitions the use of matrix elements from s-decay allows the central S=1 part of the isovector interaction to be determined. A larger-than-expected N-Z dependence is found for the Ni(n,p) cross sections of the even Ni isotopes. For heavy nuclei the filling of neutron ahead of proton orbitals produces the expected blocking of (n,p) to the analog GDR excitations, and low-lying resonances in 209Bi(n,p) appear to be isovector E2 analogs.
Ballistocardiogram Artifact Removal in EEG-fMRI Signals Using Discrete Hermite Transforms

Simultaneously recorded electroencephalogram (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is rapidly emerging as a powerful neurophysiological research and clinical tool. However, the quality of the EEG, recorded in the MRI scanner, is affected by the ballistocardiogram (BCG), which is an artifact related to the cardiac cycle. The BCG has a complete spectral overlap with the EEG and is nonstationary over time, making its suppression a signal processing challenge. We propose a novel method for the identification and suppression of this artifact using shape basis functions of the new dilated discrete Hermite transform. The BCG artifacts are modeled continuously, using these discrete Hermite basis functions and are subsequently subtracted from the ongoing EEG. Experimental EEG data was recorded within and outside a 3 Tesla MRI scanner, from a total of 6 subjects under a variety of experimental conditions. The efficiency of this algorithm was quantitatively assessed by adding known BCG templates, at varying Signal to Noise Ratios (SNRs), to EEG recorded outside the scanner. Significant suppression of the BCG artifact (p<0.05) was achieved without distorting the underlying EEG. Using EEG data recorded inside the MR scanner, this method was compared with existing BCG artifact removal techniques and its performance was found to be superior to the Average Artifact Subtraction (AAS) method and comparable to the Independent Component Analysis (ICA) based methods. The computational simplicity of this technique allows for real time implementation.
Effect of migraine treatment on heart.

A 59-year-old woman presented for evaluation of palpitations, orthopnoea, and dyspnoea on exertion. On examination, the patient was found to have an apical holosystolic murmur suggestive of mitral regurgitation. She had no history of rheumatic heart disease but had experienced migraine headaches for which she started taking methysergide when she was 51 years old. She stopped using the methysergide at age 53, when …
An efficient preconditioner for electromagnetic integral equations using predefined wavelet packet basis

An approximate-inverse preconditioner based on the predefined wavelet packet (PWP) basis is proposed for the fast iterative solution of electromagnetic integral equations. The PWP basis is designed to achieve a sparse representation of the moment matrix and the preconditioner is constructed by inverting the block-diagonal approximation of the PWP-based moment matrix and transforming the results into the space domain. Numerical results show that the PWP preconditioner is effective in accelerating the convergence rate of iterative solution to moment equations. It is also demonstrated that by properly designing the block-diagonal matrix and computing the matrix elements, the total computational complexity and memory costs for the preconditioner can be kept to O(NlogN).
Temperature Dependence of Low Cloud Optical Thickness in the GISS GCM: Contributing Mechanisms and Climate Implications

Abstract A current-climate simulation of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) GCM, which includes interactive cloud optical properties that depend on the predicted cloud water content, is analyzed to document the variations of low cloud optical thickness with temperature in the model atmosphere. It is found that low cloud optical thickness decreases with temperature in the warm subtropical and tropical latitudes and increases with temperature in the cold midlatitude regions. This behavior is in agreement with the results of two observational studies that analyzed satellite data from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project and Special Sensor Microwave/Imager datasets. The increase of low cloud optical thickness with temperature in the midlatitudes is due to vertical extent and cloud water increases, whereas the decrease with temperature in the warm latitudes is due to decreases in cloud water content and happens despite increases in cloud vertical extent. The cloud processes that pr...
Human niches, abandonment cycling, and climates

The stressors associated with the amount of water available to a society and its engineered landscape are shown to affect cultural longevity in a region. The long-term affects of aridity may actually accommodate occupation and reoccupation of a previously established human niche constructed and built by a significantly different cultural group following the abandonment of that setting by the earlier colonizers. Cultural turnover can be rapid and turbulent. On the other hand, wetter semitropical regions are suggested to be yet more vulnerable to cultural "cycling" and result in extended periods of fragmentation and abandonment if an occupying population does not maintain a previously altered or human niche constructed setting. Here, the longevity of a society is maintained through deep time and space, with the original colonists responsible for continuous and frequently a low-density residency. What is then identifiable as Maya or Khmer has a less interrupted culture history than that of a Near Eastern Assyrian or Babylonian culture history.
Analgesic medication use and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in African American women

Existing literature examining analgesic medication use and epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) risk has been inconsistent, with the majority of studies reporting an inverse association. Race-specific effects of this relationship have not been adequately addressed. Utilising data from the largest population-based case–control study of EOC in African Americans, the African American Cancer Epidemiology Study, the relationship between analgesic use (aspirin, non-aspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and acetaminophen) and risk of EOC was estimated by multivariate logistic regression. The association of frequency, duration, and indication of analgesic use on EOC risk was also assessed. Aspirin use, overall, was associated with a 44% lower EOC risk (OR=0.56; 95% CI=0.35–0.92) and a 26% lower EOC risk was observed for non-aspirin NSAID use (OR=0.74; 95% CI=0.52–1.05). The inverse association was strongest for women taking aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease and women taking non-aspirin NSAIDs for arthritis. Significantly decreased EOC risks were observed for low-dose aspirin use, daily aspirin use, aspirin use for <5 years, and occasional non-aspirin NSAID use for a duration of ⩾5 years. No association was observed for acetaminophen use. Collectively, these findings support previous evidence that any NSAID use is inversely associated with EOC risk.
Effects of Tacton Names and Learnability

Increasing robotic capabilities and a strong impetus for mixed-initiative Soldier-Robot teaming is pushing the boundaries of current communication paradigms. These future teams are expected to perform along a continuum of operating environments, in which traditional auditory and visual modalities may be hindered or unavailable. The tactile modality offers an alternative means for a robot to communicate words, phrases, or cues to a Soldier, providing an additional channel to facilitate more robust multimodal communications. However, fundamental research is still needed to understand how to design tactile icons called “tactons.” In order to better understand the relationship of a tacton and their assigned names, this paper presents results from an experiment comparing the ability of participants to classify existing tactons from the literature using original versus nonsense-syllable labels.
Efficacy of sleep education in a Dominican Republic neighborhood through training of community health promoters

Abstract Introduction The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Global Health Allies program in the Dominican Republic trains nine health promoters (HPs) in various health subjects with the goal to educate the community. This time we evaluated our teaching session on sleep and sleep disorders. Methods Questionnaires were randomly administered to HPs, and community members in the Dominican Republic before and after the HP educational intervention. Nine HPs already enrolled in the CHOP program, received a 4-hour training session in sleep and sleep disorders. HPs were then instructed to educate the community as they usually do during their supervised weekly home visits. Results The nine HP demonstrated knowledge of sleep disorders in their post-training assessment. In the community, 93 adults responded to the initial questionnaire. Although 92 (99%) stated that sleep is important, very few knew about obstructive sleep apnea (n = 17; 18%) and narcolepsy (n = 11; 12%). The post-education questionnaire revealed no statistically significant change in the knowledge about sleep and sleep disorders in the community. Conclusion The HP knowledge about sleep disorders improved after a 4-hour training session. The community knowledge did not change after education by HPs. Barriers to community education must be explored and the need for other forms of community education about sleep and sleep disorders should be addressed.
Arrogant but not Ignorant? How CEOs Manage Their Own Hubris with Conservative Coping Mechanisms

Hubris has often been portrayed as a hallmark of prideful CEOs who destroy firm value through ego-driven bias. In this study, we challenge this notion by arguing that although highly hubristic CEOs...
Nonlinear analysis of piezoelectric energy harvesters from ambient and galloping vibrations

The concept of harvesting energy from ambient and galloping vibrations of a bluff body with a triangular cross-section geometry is investigated. A piezoelectric transducer is attached to the transverse degree of freedom of the body in order to convert these vibrations into electrical energy. A coupled nonlinear distributed-parameter model is developed that takes into consideration the galloping force and moment nonlinearities and the base excitation effect. The aerodynamic loads are modeled by using the quasi-steady approximation. Linear analysis is performed to determine the effects of the electrical load resistance and wind speed on the global damping and frequency of the harvester as well as on the onset of instability. Then, a nonlinear analysis is performed to investigate the impacts of the base acceleration, wind speed, and electrical load resistance on the performance of the harvester and the associated nonlinear phenomena that take place. The results show that depending on the interaction between the base and galloping excitations and the considered values of the wind speed, base acceleration, and load resistance, different nonlinear phenomena arise and other ones disappear. Shortand open-circuit configurations for different wind speeds and base accelerations are determined. The results show that maximum levels of harvested power are accompanied by a minimum transverse displacement when varying the electrical load resistance.
IMPROVEMENT IN FREQUENCY DOMAIN LEAST SQUARES SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION VIA THE COHERENCE FUNCTION

To design feedback control systems for vibration suppression and high precision pointing, an accurate model is imperative, especially if using modern analytical design approaches, e.g., pole placement/observer designs or Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG). For complex systems, such as flexible space structures, models developed using dynamics and kinematics approaches or finite element techniques often do not have the fidelity to design control systems for achieving performance goals. An alternate approach to model development is system identification (ID), which is the process of collecting experimental input and output data and numerically computing the parameters of a model. A problem encountered in system ID is that experimentally measured data will be corrupted with noise that can be from disturbance signals or errors in measurements. The main thrust of this paper is two-fold: (1) to present a frequency domain least squares system identification technique to produce linear, time-invariant (LTI), discrete transfer function models that can be used to design digital controllers;
On Equal Sums of Squares

have been discussed* by various writers. The methods used apply for the most part to the special equations considered by each writer. In this paper we shall give a complete parametric solution of the above equation. In section 1 we first develop a new treatment of the linear homogeneous Diophantine equation in n variables. In section 2 we consider the above equation for m = n and give a complete parametric solution in terms of an arbitrary integral vector and an arbitrary integral skew-symmetric matrix. The number of parameters in this solution may be reduced if we use the results of section 1, though a certain simplicity of form is lost in this way. In section 3 the system of equations
TOWARD DEVELOPMENT OF AN EMPLOYEES' RIGHTS SCALE

(1978). TOWARD DEVELOPMENT OF AN EMPLOYEES' RIGHTS SCALE. Free Speech Yearbook: Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 119-124.
HIV/AIDS-related high risk behaviors among Vietnamese cross-border floating population in the frontiers of Guangxi Province

Objectives To understand the HIV/AIDS-related high risk behaviors among Vietnamese cross-border floating population in border areas of Guangxi for providing relevant intervention strategies. Methods Using the standard questionnaire in Guangxi Autonomous Regions, the bilingual outreach workers were trained and the face-to-face survey among Vietnamese cross-border workers and long-distance truck drivers was conducted. Their commercial sex characteristics were analyzed. Results Eight hundred and seven Vietnamese floating workers were investigated,and 14.92% of male workers had commercial sex behavior in the last year.The proportion of insisting on using condoms among male workers who had commercial sex behavior in the last year was 52.43%, and 84.47% of male workers used condoms in the last commercial sex behavior,and 91.66% of participants were aware of HIV/AIDS. These three proportions were higher significantly in Vietnamese long-distance truck drivers than other workers. The univariate analysis of logistic model showed that the type of work, age, educational level and HIV infection were associated with commercial sex behavior. Conclusion Vietnamese floating cross-border population with high proportion had commercial sex behavior. The different characteristics among cross-border population should be paid attention to. Relevant condom promotion should be conducted in the future for prevention of HIV/ AIDS transmission.
Drivers of spring and summer variability in the coastal ocean offshore of Cape Cod, MA

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2016. This article is posted here by permission of [publisher] for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 121 (2016): 1789–1805, doi:10.1002/2015JC011252.
Detection of fresh bruises in apples by structured-illumination reflectance imaging

Detection of fresh bruises in apples remains a challenging task due to the absence of visual symptoms and significant chemical alterations of fruit tissues during the initial stage after the fruit have been bruised. This paper reports on a new structured-illumination reflectance imaging (SIRI) technique for enhanced detection of fresh bruises in apples. Using a digital light projector engine, sinusoidally-modulated illumination at the spatial frequencies of 50, 100, 150 and 200 cycles/m was generated. A digital camera was then used to capture the reflectance images from ‘Gala’ and ‘Jonagold’ apples, immediately after they had been subjected to two levels of bruising by impact tests. A conventional three-phase demodulation (TPD) scheme was applied to the acquired images for obtaining the planar (direct component or DC) and amplitude (alternating component or AC) images. Bruises were identified in the amplitude images with varying image contrasts, depending on spatial frequency. The bruise visibility was further enhanced through post-processing of the amplitude images. Furthermore, three spiral phase transform (SPT)-based demodulation methods, using single and two images and two phase-shifted images, were proposed for obtaining AC images. Results showed that the demodulation methods greatly enhanced the contrast and spatial resolution of the AC images, making it feasible to detect the fresh bruises that, otherwise, could not be achieved by conventional imaging technique with planar or uniform illumination. The effectiveness of image enhancement, however, varied with spatial frequency. Both 2-image and 2-phase SPT methods achieved the performance similar to that by conventional TPD. SIRI technique has demonstrated the capability of detecting fresh bruises in apples, and it has the potential as a new imaging modality for enhancing food quality and safety detection.
Treatment of the Infected Total Knee Arthroplasty

Infection after total knee arthroplasty represents perhaps the worst complication of this operation that a surgeon must treat. Only through identification of various risk factors and development of prophylactic regimens has the incidence of infection decreased. Successful treatment depends on a team approach, with cooperation of an orthopaedic surgeon, plastic surgeon, and an infectious disease specialist.
Identification of the molecular defect in the erythrocyte membrane skeleton of some kindreds with hereditary spherocytosis.

We have localized the molecular alteration in the membrane skeleton of two of four kindreds with hereditary spherocytosis (HS) to an alteration in the spectrin-protein-4.1 interaction due to a defective spectrin molecule. The defective spectrin-protein-4.1 interaction in these kindreds (referred to as type I HS) leads to a weakened spectrin- protein-4.1-actin ternary complex, which in turn may lead to the friable membrane skeleton and suggested membrane instability related to this disorder. Type I HS spectrin binds approximately 63% as much protein-4.1 as normal spectrin (with equal affinity). This defect does not correlate with splenic function or erythrocyte age in the circulation. However, the approximately 37% reduction in binding of protein-4.1 to HS spectrin approaches the theoretical value of 50% expected in this autosomal dominant disorder. All other type I membrane skeletal interactions (spectrin-syndein, spectrin heterodimer- heterodimer, syndein-band-3) were found to be normal. It would appear therefore that the defective HS spectrin-protein-4.1 interaction in type I hereditary spherocytosis may be the primary molecular defect rather than a secondary phenomena.
Postsocialist informality: The making of owners, squatters and state rule in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (1989–1993)

In this paper, I analyze struggles over land in the capital city of Phnom Penh in the course of Cambodia's postsocialist transition. In 1989 Cambodia's socialist regime adopted a set of liberal reforms including comprehensive land reform. While land reform was a source of authority for the regime, the rapidity and unevenness of the land reform process created deep divisions within its state apparatus itself. Drawing on land disputes filed with the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia in 1992 and 1993, I document shifting conditions of ownership and authority in the city. I first discuss the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia land dispute files in general, before analyzing two, group disputes over formerly state lands in detail. Struggles over formerly state lands were particularly contentious, as who could claim, govern, and allocate these lands was an open question in the transitional period. I argue that these struggles were integral to the remaking of state rule. I use the t...
The Ectodomain of Glycoprotein from the Candid#1 Vaccine Strain of Junin Virus Rendered Machupo Virus Partially Attenuated in Mice Lacking IFN-αβ/γ Receptor

Machupo virus (MACV), a New World arenavirus, is the etiological agent of Bolivian hemorrhagic fever (BHF). Junin virus (JUNV), a close relative, causes Argentine hemorrhagic fever (AHF). Previously, we reported that a recombinant, chimeric MACV (rMACV/Cd#1-GPC) expressing glycoprotein from the Candid#1 (Cd#1) vaccine strain of JUNV is completely attenuated in a murine model and protects animals from lethal challenge with MACV. A rMACV with a single F438I substitution in the transmembrane domain (TMD) of GPC, which is equivalent to the F427I attenuating mutation in Cd#1 GPC, was attenuated in a murine model but genetically unstable. In addition, the TMD mutation alone was not sufficient to fully attenuate JUNV, indicating that other domains of the GPC may also contribute to the attenuation. To investigate the requirement of different domains of Cd#1 GPC for successful attenuation of MACV, we rescued several rMACVs expressing the ectodomain of GPC from Cd#1 either alone (MCg1), along with the TMD F438I substitution (MCg2), or with the TMD of Cd#1 (MCg3). All rMACVs exhibited similar growth curves in cultured cells. In mice, the MCg1 displayed significant reduction in lethality as compared with rMACV. The MCg1 was detected in brains and spleens of MCg1-infected mice and the infection was associated with tissue inflammation. On the other hand, all animals survived MCg2 and MCg3 infection without detectable levels of virus in various organs while producing neutralizing antibody against Cd#1. Overall our data suggest the indispensable role of each GPC domain in the full attenuation and immunogenicity of rMACV/Cd#1 GPC.
Opsoclonus-Myoclonus Outcome

The developmental outcome of 11 patients with opsoclonus-myoclonus, 8 having occult neuroblastoma, is reported from the Division of Pediatric Neurology, Children’s Memorial Hospital, Chicago.
Accessmath: Indexing and retrieving video segments containing math expressions based on visual similarity

AccessMath project is a work in progress oriented toward helping visually impaired students in and out of the classroom. The system works with videos from math lectures. For each lecture, videos of the whiteboard content from two different sources are provided. An application for extraction and retrieval of that content is presented. After the content has been indexed, the user can select a portion of the whiteboard content found in a video frame and use it as a query to find segments of video with similar content. Graphs of neighboring connected components are used to describe both the query and the candidate regions, and the results of a query are ranked using the recall of matched graph edges between the graph of the query and the graph of each candidate. This is a recognition-free method and belongs to the field of sketchbased image retrieval.
A map of the phosphoproteomic alterations that occur after a bout of maximal-intensity contractions.

The maintenance of skeletal muscle mass is essential for health and quality of life. It is well recognized that maximal-intensity contractions, such as those which occur during resistance exercise, promote an increase in muscle mass. Yet, the molecules that sense the mechanical information and convert it into the signalling events (e.g. phosphorylation) that drive the increase in muscle mass remain undefined. Here we describe a phosphoproteomics workflow to examine the effects of electrically evoked maximal-intensity contractions (MIC) on protein phosphorylation in mouse skeletal muscle. While a preliminary phosphoproteomics experiment successfully identified a number of MIC-regulated phosphorylation events, a large proportion of these identifications were present on highly-abundant myofibrillar proteins. We subsequently incorporated a centrifugation-based fractionation step to deplete the highly-abundant myofibrillar proteins and performed a second phosphoproteomics experiment. In total, we identified 5,983 unique phosphorylation sites of which 663 were found to be regulated by MIC. GO term enrichment, phosphorylation motif analyses, and kinase-substrate predictions indicated that the MIC-regulated phosphorylation sites were chiefly modified by mTOR, as well as multiple isoforms of the MAPK's and CAMK's. Moreover, a high proportion of the regulated phosphorylation sites were found on proteins that are associated with the Z-disc, with over 74% of the Z-disc proteins experiencing robust changes in phosphorylation. Finally, our analyses revealed that the phosphorylation state of two Z-disc kinases (striated muscle-specific serine/threonine protein kinase (SPEG) and obscurin) was dramatically altered by MIC, and we propose how these kinases could play a fundamental role in skeletal muscle mechanotransduction. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
An Intelligent Approach to Robust Real-time Trajectory Control for Advanced Flight Vehicles

Abstract This paper presents a new flight control method that is generally applicable to tracking control problems with nonlinear dynamics, model uncertainty, multiple constraints, and bounded disturbances. This approach uniquely combines intelligent optimization methods with Lyapunov stability theory in order to perfonn robust real-time trajectory control. The efficiency of an intelligent approach, and the theoretical guarantees of an analytical method, are both achieved. This method is applied to the flight control of air-breathing hypersonic vehicles.
Neural-network-based fuzzy logic tracking control of mobile robots

In this paper, a novel hybrid biologically inspired neural network based fuzzy logic tracking control method to real-time navigation of a nonholonomic mobile robot is proposed by combining a fuzzy logic technique and a biologically inspired neural network model. The tracking control algorithm is derived from the error dynamics analysis of the mobile robot and the stability analysis of the closed-loop control system. The stability of the robot control system and the convergence of tracking errors to zeros are guaranteed by a Lyapunov stability theory. Unlike some existing tracking control approaches for mobile robots whose control velocities have velocity jumps, the proposed neurodynamics-based approach is capable of generating smooth continuous robot control signals with zero initial velocities. Moreover, the issue of large tracking error is resolved by the proposed fuzzy logic and biologically inspired neural network method. The effectiveness, robustness, and efficiency of the proposed neurodynamics-based fuzzy tracking control of mobile robots are demonstrated by simulation and comparison studies. The simulation studies are performed on the ROS environment. The effectiveness of the proposed control scheme have been validated by both simulations and experiments.