cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CWDPRNP: a tool for cervid prion sequence analysis in program R.

Summary Chronic wasting disease is a fatal, neurological disease caused by an infectious prion protein, which affects economically and ecologically important members of the family Cervidae. Single nucleotide polymorphisms within the prion protein gene have been linked to differential susceptibility to the disease in many species. Wildlife managers are seeking to determine the frequencies of disease-associated alleles and genotypes and delineate spatial genetic patterns. The CWDPRNP package, implemented in program R, provides a unified framework for analyzing prion protein gene variability and spatial structure. Availability and implementation The CWDPRNP package, manual and example data files are available at http://ecosystems.psu.edu/research/labs/walter-lab/additional-labs/population-genetics-lab. This package is available for all commonly used platforms. Contact wlm159psu@gmail.com.
Effect of inhaled iloprost on gas exchange in inhalation injury

Abstract Objective Inhalation injury is an independent risk factor for mortality in burn patients. The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of inhaled iloprost on gas exchange in patients with inhalation injury and acute respiratory failure as measured by an improved PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio. Methods Patients admitted to the burn intensive care unit from 2013 to 2014 meeting Berlin criteria for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with a diagnosis of inhalation injury and who received inhaled iloprost were included. Medical records were reviewed to collect patient demographics, characterize iloprost prescribing practices, and observe changes in oxygenation and hemodynamic status after iloprost administration. Differences were evaluated using a t -test with cluster corrected standard errors. Results A total of eight patients were included with 157 different PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratios calculated. All patients had moderate or severe ARDS with a baseline PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio of 131.9mmHg (IQR 119.3–197.3). Median duration of iloprost therapy was 5days (IQR±7). A statistically significant increase in PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio was observed after iloprost administration with a mean increase of 9.7mmHg (95% CI 1.8–17.7, p =0.023). Inhaled iloprost had no effect on hemodynamic parameters. Conclusions Inhaled iloprost for inhalation injury and ARDS after burn injury was associated with a small but statistically significant improvement in oxygenation.
Situated natural language interaction in uncertain and open worlds

As intelligent robots become integrated into society, it becomes important for them to be capable of natural, human-like human-robot interaction (HRI). While there has been some progress on enabling natural-language based HRI (Mavridis, 2015), most natural language enabled robots rely on highly scripted interactions, keyword spotting, and shallow natural language processing techniques. For many applications, these methods may be sufficient to achieve the desired behavior, which may be restricted to a small class of tasks. Such methods, however, are not helpful for the development of robots that are generally and flexibly taskable, that can learn about new entities and concepts on the fly, and that are capable of engaging in truly natural human-like HRI.
RefugeeǀCitizen: Mediating Testimony through Image and Word in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina

When journalists reporting on the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 referred to Black residents of New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast as “refugees,” they claimed that the nam...
Complexity Framework for the Project Management Curriculum

Universities' core project management courses address the key principles and best practices of project management methodologies, while elective courses are utilized to introduce alternative project frameworks. The concept of project complexity can be taught to strengthen competency in project managers and enhance the success of the projects they manage. Previous instruction methods were evaluated to determine the key concepts that pertain to project complexity. This article proposes a preliminary framework for the development of an elective course on project complexity.
In-Situ X-Ray Characterization of Fiber Structure during Melt Spinning

The properties of a polymer are strongly influenced by its morphology. In the case of fibers from semi-crystalline polymers this consists of the degree of crystallinity, the spacing and alignment o...
What features of the built environment matter most for mobility? Using wearable sensors to capture real-time outdoor environment demand on gait performance.

Abstract Background A growing body of research has demonstrated relationships between built environment characteristics and outdoor mobility. However, most of this work has relied on composite scores of the built environment. Research question Which properties of the outdoor built environment are associated with the greatest change in gait metrics in a real-world setting? Methods 25 community-dwelling adults from Southeast Michigan were equipped with mobile inertial measurement units and walked a 1300-meter outdoor course with varying environmental demands. Environmental properties were documented in sections of the course using the Senior Walking Environmental Assessment Tool. Gait speed, left foot cadence, and stride length were used to identify the built environment properties under which mobility was most challenged using linear mixed models. We hypothesized that subjects would adapt to demanding environments by decreasing gait speed, increasing cadence, and shortening stride length. Results Properties of the built environment were significantly associated with changes in gait speed, left foot cadence, and stride length. Properties that were most important for predicting gait speed included slope, sidewalk condition, and presence of holes. Sidewalk slope, bumps, and the presence of a curb cut were all significant predictors of left foot cadence. Mean stride length of the outdoor course was significantly associated with the section’s condition, slope, holes, bumps, width, and the presence of grooves and bumps at a curb. Significance Associations between environmental properties and gait parameters were differential across the three mobility outcomes. When examining which properties of the built environment are challenging to navigate it is important to understand the relative influence of specific properties on gait metrics. Knowledge of which built environment properties are barriers for walking behavior is critical for the design of inclusive sidewalks and streets.
Remote sensing and geographic information systems techniques in studies on treeline ecotone dynamics

We performed a meta-analysis on over 100 studies applying remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) to understand treeline dynamics. A literature search was performed in multiple online databases, including Web of Knowledge (Thomson Reuters), Scopus (Elsevier), BASE (Bielefeld Academic Search Engine), CAB Direct, and Google Scholar using treeline-related queries. We found that RS and GIS use has steadily increased in treeline studies since 2000. Spatial-resolution RS and satellite imaging techniques varied from low-resolution MODIS, moderate-resolution Landsat, to high-resolution WorldView and aerial orthophotos. Most papers published in the 1990s used low to moderate resolution sensors such as Landsat Multispectral Scanner and Thematic Mapper, or SPOT PAN (Panchromatic) and MX (Multispectral) RS images. Subsequently, we observed a rise in high-resolution satellite sensors such as ALOS, GeoEye, IKONOS, and WorldView for mapping current and potential treelines. Furthermore, we noticed a shift in emphasis of treeline studies over time: earlier reports focused on mapping treeline positions, whereas RS and GIS are now used to determine the factors that control treeline variation.
Changes in the control of obstacle crossing in middle age become evident as gait task difficulty increases.

Abstract Background Age-associated physiological changes result in modified gait, such as slower speed, for older adults. Identifying the onset of age-related gait changes will provide insight into the role of aging on locomotor control. It is expected that a more challenging gait task (obstacle crossing) puts more demands on physiological systems, and may reveal gait modifications in a middle-aged group that are not evident in an easier gait task (level walking). Research question To identify the effect of advancing age on gait as a function of increasing locomotor challenge during an obstacle crossing task. Methods Three age groups (young, middle-aged, and older adults) stepped over an obstacle placed in a 15 m walkway. Task challenge ranged from low to high in four conditions: unobstructed gait, 3, 10, and 26 cm obstacles. Gait measures were calculated during the approach and crossing steps. Results Significant interactions were observed for gait speed (age by height by step, p Significance Multiple gait changes were observed as early as middle-age, and changes in speed and foot clearance became more evident as task difficulty increased. The increased gait challenge placed more demands on the neuromuscular system, revealing age-related gait modifications that were not evident in the level walking gait task.
Sterol carrier protein-2 suppresses microsomal acyl-CoA hydrolysis

Although sterol carrier protein 2 (SCP-2) has long been regarded primarily as a sterol transfer protein, its actual physiological function is not known. The recent discovery that SCP-2 binds long chain fatty acyl-CoAs (LCFA-CoAs) with high affinity suggests additional roles for SCP-2 in cellular utilization of LCFA-CoAs for synthesis of glycerides and cholesterol esters. Concomitant to these anabolic pathways, LCFA-CoAs are also degraded by cellular hydrolases. The purpose of the work presented herein was to determine if SCP-2 altered the aqueous pool of LCFA-CoA by (i) extracting LCFA-CoA from microsomal membranes, and (ii) protecting LCFA-CoA from microsomal hydrolase activity. The data demonstrated for the first time that SCP-2 increases the aqueous pool of oleoyl-CoA by increasing the aqueous/membrane distribution oleoyl-CoA by 2.4-fold. In addition, SCP-2 inhibited the hydrolysis of oleoyl-CoA by microsomal acyl-CoA hydrolase 1.6-2.4 fold, depending on the concentration of oleoyl-CoA. By simultaneously extracting LCFA-CoA from membranes and inhibiting LCFA-CoA degradation SCP-2 may potentiate LCFA-CoA transacylation and modulate the role of LCFA-CoAs as intracellular signaling molecules.
Circulating Tumor Cells and Transforming Growth Factor Beta in Resected Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Abstract Background Portal vein (PV) circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and elevated peripheral blood (PB) levels of biomarkers have been associated with poor outcomes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Although transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) is associated with CTCs in breast cancer, there are limited data evaluating a comprehensive biomarker panel and CTCs in PDAC patients. The authors hypothesized that tumor progression biomarkers would be associated with PV CTCs. Methods PDAC patients at one institution were enrolled January to August 2018 and underwent preincision PB draws (T0) and on postoperative day 1 (T3), plus intraoperative PV draws before tumor manipulation (T1) and after resection (T2). CTCs were detected using CellSearch. Plasma biomarker levels (pg/mL) were measured with a multiplex bead assay. Patients were divided into two groups: high (≥3 CTCs/7.5 mL blood) versus low ( Results Fourteen had complete blood draws with PDAC resection, with five demonstrating high CTCs. Fewer patients in the high-CTC group received preoperative radiation (78 versus 20%), whereas more of the high-CTC had pT3 tumors (80 versus 11%) (all P Conclusions PDAC patients with high CTCs demonstrated a distinct biomarker profile with elevated PB and PV levels of immunosuppressive cytokines (TGFβ-2 and TGFβ-3). These exploratory results prompt further study into interrupting TGFβ signaling.
SINONASAL SPINDLE CELL CARCINOMA ARISING FROM INVERTED PAPILLOMA IN A PATIENT WITH HISTORY OF RADIOTHERAPY FOR SINONASAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

Carcinosarcoma or carcinoma with spindle cell/sarcomatoid features of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses is an exceedingly rare malignancy. We report a case of carcinosarcoma with synchronous inverted papilloma developing in the left nasal cavity and maxillary sinus, in a 72-year-old male with a history of radiation therapy for sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma, 30 years ago. The patient's chief complaint was left nasal obstruction. He also reported purulent nasal drainage, impaired sense of smell and occasional epistaxis. CT imaging showed lobular growth of soft tissue narrowing nasopharyngeal airway with extensive palatal erosion. Endoscopic sinonasal surgery was performed to remove the sinonasal mass. Grossly, the tumor had a white fleshy appearance with tumor necrosis. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of pleomorphic epithelial and spindle cells with frequent mitoses and tumor necrosis. Residual inverted papilloma (IP) with high-grade dysplasia, and foci of keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) component (2%) was present at the edge of the main tumor. A transition of SCC to spindle cell carcinoma was present confirmed by focal p63 positivity in both components. The pleomorphic sarcomatoid tumor was positive for vimentin and negative for P40, CK5/6, AE1/AE3, p16, S-100, CD34, CD31, ERG1, SMA, desmin, Sox10, and myogenin with Ki67 highlighting 70% of tumor cells. A final diagnosis of sinonasal sarcomatoid carcinoma associated with residual transformation from IP to SCC was rendered. Due to rarity of such a case, the prognosis and response of treatment is uncertain. So far, no effective targeted therapy has been reported. The patient is currently being treated with aggressive chemotherapy. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the second case of sinonasal carcinosarcoma arising from inverted papilloma with high-grade dysplasia and transition to sarcomaitoid SCC. Perhaps the previous radiation therapy played a role in the development of the sarcomatoid variant of SCC.
A Multi-Level Theoretical Model of CEO Dark Triad Personality on Subordinate And Firm Performance

Chief executive officer (CEO) personality has emerged as a key predictor of firm performance. However, scholars have failed to illuminate the “black box” of processes that explain how and why CEO p...
Early Teen Years

The transition from childhood to teenager and becoming an adolescent was smooth, rather uneventful, and gradual. I don’t remember any major event that made me feel I was no longer a child.
“Leadership as a social problem”: A conversational engagement with the ideas of Alvin Gouldner:

Sociologist Alvin W. Gouldner’s (1950) book of original and previously published chapters collected under the title Studies in Leadership: Leadership and Democratic Action opens with the proclamati...
Adipose-Derived Inflammatory and Coagulant Mediators in Patients With Sepsis.

ABSTRACT Results from preclinical sepsis studies using rodents are often criticized as not being reproducible in humans. Using a murine model, we previously reported that visceral adipose tissues (VAT) are highly active during the acute inflammatory response, serving as a major source of inflammatory and coagulant mediators. The purpose of this study was to determine whether these findings are recapitulated in patients with sepsis and to evaluate their clinical significance. VAT and plasma were obtained from patients undergoing intra-abdominal operations with noninflammatory conditions (control), local inflammation, or sepsis. In mesenteric and epiploic VAT, gene expression of pro-inflammatory (TNFα, IL-6, IL-1α, IL-1β) and pro-coagulant (PAI-1, PAI-2, TSP-1, TF) mediators was increased in sepsis compared with control and local inflammation groups. In the omentum, increased expression was limited to IL-1β, PAI-1, and PAI-2, showing a depot-specific regulation. Histological analyses showed little correlation between cellular infiltration and gene expression, indicating a resident source of these mediators. Notably, a strong correlation between PAI-1 expression in VAT and circulating protein levels was observed, both being positively associated with markers of acute kidney injury (AKI). In another cohort of septic patients stratified by incidence of AKI, circulating PAI-1 levels were higher in those with versus without AKI, thus extending these findings beyond intra-abdominal cases. This study is the first to translate upregulation of VAT mediators in sepsis from mouse to human. Collectively, the data suggest that development of AKI in septic patients is associated with high plasma levels of PAI-1, likely derived from resident cells within VAT.
“American Sickos”: The Rise of Digital Mobilization During the G.W. Bush Administration

In this chapter, I use archival data, interviews, and participant observation data to examine the ways in which the rise of the internet and other digital technologies impacted grassroots mobilization efforts within the Single Payer Movement. During this era, which occurred during the G.W. Bush administration, the Single Payer Movement experienced a resurgence in collective activity oriented toward mobilizing support for single-payer legislation. I discuss several shifts in the environment of opportunity that facilitated this resurgence—including opportunity that arose to mobilize using the Michael Moore film SiCKO.
The role of fluoroscopy in diagnosing a Killian–Jamieson diverticulum

A Killian-Jamieson diverticulum is a 'false' diverticulum on the lateral side of the proximal cervical esophagus. They are much rarer than Zenker diverticula and can be difficult to diagnose. They are best visualized using fluoroscopy studies, however, the workup for patients admitted with dysphagia can be sometimes extensive and unnecessary, leading to costly hospital stays, longer admissions and exposure to excessive radiation. Herein, we present a patient previously diagnosed with a Killian Jamieson diverticulum, who presented with worsening dysphagia, odynophagia and neck swelling, and was found to have an unusual inferior extension of the diverticulum. This paper will recognize the role of fluoroscopy in diagnosing diverticula and identifying causes of dysphagia, and to also recognize the use of American College of Radiology 'ACR' Appropriateness Criteria to minimize unnecessary studies.
On the Distortion of Pulse-Width-Modulated Seven- Level Asymmetric Multilevel Inverters

As DC-based energy sources, such as solar panels, battery storage, fuel cells, and other technologies become more prevalent, the demand for DC-to-AC inverters will continue to increase. Power electronic based multilevel inverters offer several advantages compared to other inverter technologies, including reduced overall system size, weight, and cost, as well as higher efficiencies. However, harmonic distortion continues to be an issue limiting the adoption of multilevel inverters on a large scale. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the body of knowledge on the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) produced by a seven-level Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) asymmetric Cascaded H-Bridge (CHB) inverter. Analytical expressions for the inverter output waveform are obtained using a double Fourier integral technique. These results were then verified by comparing to simulated results, using Matlab, and to experimental results. Moreover, these expressions allowed the ideal ratios of asymmetry to be determined to achieve minimum THD for various amplitude modulation index values.
Пользовательский опыт в электронной коммерции

Сегодня массовую популярность получает клиентоцентричная модель ведения бизнеса, в основе которой лежит формирование запоминающегося пользовательского и клиентского опыта при коммуникации клиента и компании. В данной статье мы поговорим о подходах к анализу пользовательского опыта и попытаемся ответить на вопросы, что такое UX, почему красивый сайт не всегда означает хороший и как UX-дизайн связан с успехом бизнеса.
Pour une chôralogie de l’invention poétique

This essay argues that Plato’s reflection on the nature of material becoming constitutes an important origin of the Western notion of poetic invention. In the Timaeus, Plato develops the enigmatic concept of chora, a Greek word (χώρα) containing, variously, the meanings land, country, terrain, landscape, and farmland, as well as matrix, mother, and nurse, but most often translated by philosophical tradition as place or space. Plato employs chora to signify what he calls the « receptacle of becoming », the phenomenon through which the intelligible realm of the Idea is given perceptible form in the world of matter, the location-less location where the paradigm becomes world. Because, however, it has no being of its own and belongs to neither the intelligible nor the sensory, chora is counterintuitive. It is situated outside of logic and reason, between the idea and its material shape. It therefore requires, in Plato’s telling, a language of poetry and myth to account for its creative force: chora is poetic to the extent that it, like poetry, gives expression to the inexpressible. The Timaeus allows us to rethink the relations between text and space in a way that, though perhaps surprising, is faithful to the Platonic concept of chora: instead of imitating or reproducing each other, poetic writing and the material world become together through a tertiary principle – Plato calls chora “a third kind” – that gives conceptual shape to both physical and abstract phenomena.
Integration in PVS: Tables, Types, and Model Checking

We have argued previously that the effectiveness of a verification system derives not only from the power of its individual features for expression and deduction, but from the extent to which these capabilities are integrated: the whole is more than the sum of its parts [19,21]. Here, we illustrate this thesis by describing a simple construct for tabular specifications that was recently added to PVS. Because this construct integrates with other capabilities of PVS, such as typechecker-generated proof obligations, dependent typing, higher-order functions, model checking, and general theorem proving, it can be used for a surprising variety of purposes. We demonstrate this with examples drawn from hardware division algorithms and requirements specifications.
Dynamic and Scalable Evolutionary Data Mining: An Approach Based on a Self-Adaptive Multiple Expression Mechanism

Data mining has recently attracted attention as a set of efficient techniques that can discover patterns from huge data. More recent advancements in collecting massive evolving data streams created a crucial need for dynamic data mining. In this paper, we present a genetic algorithm based on a new representation mechanism, that allows several phenotypes to be simultaneously expressed to different degrees in the same chromosome. This gradual multiple expression mechanism can offer a simple model for a multiploid representation with self-adaptive dominance, including co-dominance and incomplete dominance. Based on this model, we also propose a data mining approach that considers the data as a reflection of a dynamic environment, and investigate a new evolutionary approach based on continuously mining non-stationary data sources that do not fit in main memory. Preliminary experiments are performed on real Web clickstream data.
Frequency Importance Functions in Quiet and Noise for Adults With Cochlear Implants.

Purpose Several studies have been devoted to understanding the frequency information available to adult users of cochlear implants when listening in quiet. The objective of this study was to construct frequency importance functions for a group of adults with cochlear implants and a group of adults with normal hearing both in quiet and in a +10 dB signal-to-noise ratio. Method Two groups of adults, 1 with cochlear implants and 1 with normal hearing, were asked to identify nonsense syllables in quiet and in the presence of 6-talker babble while “holes” were systematically created in the speech spectrum. Frequency importance functions were constructed. Results Results showed that adults with normal hearing placed greater weight on bands 1, 3, and 4 than on bands 2, 5, and 6, whereas adults with cochlear implants placed equal weight on all bands. The frequency importance functions for each group did not differ between listening in quiet and listening in noise. Conclusions Adults with cochlear implants assign ...
Different perceptions of self‐handicapping across college and work contexts

We investigated the effectiveness of self-handicapping as an impression management strategy in college and work contexts. In contrast to past research in which college students are both targets and perceivers, we tested whether target status and perceiver status moderate perceptions of self-handicappers. To this end, we manipulated whether the target was a college student or an adult worker, and we recruited as perceivers both college students (Study 1) and adult workers (Study 2). We additionally manipulated the target’s behavior (self-handicapping vs. control) and outcome (success vs. failure). The results revealed that self-handicapping protected a student target (but not a worker) from negative evaluations (e.g., ability attributions) in the eyes of college students, particularly males. However, adult workers consistently judged self-handicapping negatively. Self-handicapping is a self-protective mechanism in which people seek or create obstacles that interfere with their performance (Berglas & Jones, 1978). This process seems counterintuitive at first because sabotaging one’s own performance is self-destructive rather than self-protective. However, the self-handicap is protective because subsequent failure can be attributed to the self-handicap rather than to the person’s ability (Arkin & Baumgardner, 1985). Alternatively, if the person succeeds in spite of the self-handicap, that same obstacle enhances perceptions of the person’s ability given that he or she succeeded under conditions that should have promoted failure. Self-handicapping can protect ability attributions made by both the self and others. Intrapersonally, Berglas and Jones (1978) argue that people are motivated to self-handicap to protect their self-esteem from a potential threat of failure by deflecting attributions for failure away from the self (also see McCrea & Hirt, 2001; Rhodewalt, Morf, Hazlett, & Fairfield, 1991). Interpersonally, Kolditz and Arkin (1982) emphasize that self-handicapping is a strategy to maintain a favorable impression of one’s ability in the eyes of others. There is evidence that self-handicapping serves both these selfprotective (McCrea & Hirt, 2001) and impression management (Hirt, McCrea, & Boris, 2003) functions. In the present study, however, we focused solely on the impressions people form of self-handicappers and investigated whether self
Transcription factors AP-3 and AP-2 interact with the SV40 enhancer in a mutually exclusive manner

The 'core' sequence is critical for efficient transcriptional activity of the SV40 enhancer. Moreover, the core was shown to be involved in a signal transduction pathway elicited by treatment of cells with phorbol ester tumor promoters. We report here the identification and characterization of activator protein-3 (AP-3), which recognizes the core element. AP-3 was purified to near homogeneity and identified as a 48K polypeptide. The purified protein is an efficient transcriptional activator in vitro. In addition, we show that AP-3 and a second factor that recognizes the SV40 enhancer, AP-2, interact in a mutually exclusive manner. These studies should facilitate understanding of the mechanism by which the SV40 enhancer achieves its characteristic broad cell-type specificity.
A test of deep water Rytov theory at 284 Hz and 107 km in the Philippine Sea.

Predictions of log-amplitude variance are compared against sample log-amplitude variances reported by White, Andrew, Mercer, Worcester, Dzieciuch, and Colosi [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 134, 3347–3358 (2013)] for measurements acquired during the 2009 Philippine Sea experiment and associated Monte Carlo computations. The predictions here utilize the theory of Munk and Zachariasen [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 59, 818–838 (1976)]. The scattering mechanism is the Garrett–Munk internal wave spectrum scaled by metrics based on measured environmental profiles. The transmitter was at 1000 m depth and the receivers at nominal range 107 km and depths 600–1600 m. The signal was a broadband m-sequence centered at 284 Hz. Four classes of propagation paths are examined: the first class has a single upper turning point at about 60 m depth; the second and third classes each have two upper turning points at roughly 250 m; the fourth class has three upper turning points at about 450 m. Log-amplitude variance for all paths is predicted to be 0.04–0.09, well within the regime of validity of either Born or Rytov scattering. The predictions are roughly consistent with the measured and Monte Carlo log-amplitude variances, although biased slightly low. Paths turning in the extreme upper ocean (near the mixed layer) seem to incorporate additional scattering mechanisms not included in the original theory.
Picosecond transient backward stimulated Raman scattering and pumping of femtosecond dye lasers

Abstract We report studies of transient, backward stimulated, Raman scattering (TBSRS) in solvents with a 10 Hz, 27 ps, 532 nm pump laser. The TBSRS effect was used to create pulses at 545 nm and 630 nm with durations of 2–3 ps and 5–10 μJ of energy. The duration, energy and fluctuations of the Raman pulse were studied as a function of pump energy and focal parameters. A 5 μJ Raman pulse was amplified in either a Raman amplifier or two stage dye amplifier to 1 mJ levels. A 545 nm pulse of 3 ps duration was generated in CCl 4 and was then used to pump a short cavity dye laser (SCDL). The SCDL oscillator and a 5 stage dye amplifier provided a pulse of 700 fs and 400 μJ that was tunable near 590 nm.
Using an integrated platform for learning/spl trade/ to reinvent engineering education

The most pressing and critical needs for engineering graduates in 2013 and beyond are to be natural innovators who are able to integrate their knowledge to solve complex engineering problems. This paper introduces an integrated platform for learning/spl trade/ as a solution to meet these needs. The platform for learning provides an environment for innovation, while integrating a curriculum into a coherent whole.
Synoptic distribution of crab larvae near the mouth of Delaware Bay: Influence of nearshore hydrographic regimes

Abstract In this paper we describe results of a study designed to test the hypothesis that coastal regions with weak subtidal flow (i.e., coastal null zones) may serve as retention areas for estuarine larval forms. Our investigation assessed the distribution of 3 taxa of crab larvae ( Callinectes sapidus , Uca spp., and Hexapanopeus angustifrons ) within a 200-km 2 region encompassing the mouth of Delaware Bay (ca. 39° N, 75° W). Previous studies had shown that larvae of C. sapidus and Uca spp. are exported to the coastal ocean, while larvae of H. angustifrons are retained within the estuary. In the present investigation, we conducted simultaneous plankton tows at 3 stations during peak spawning season. Samples were collected from a depth of 1 m every 30 min throughout a complete tidal cycle. One station was located 15 km within the bay and was subjected to strong flow at tidal frequency. A second station was located within a southward-flowing coastal current near the southern terminus of the bay at Cape Henlopen. A final station was located in a coastal area of weak subtidal flow near Cape May at the northern terminus of the bay. Results provide a unique synoptic view of larval distributions in 3 distinct hydrographic regimes in the mouth of a major estuary. The coastal-current station was characterized by low concentrations of newly hatched C. sapidus and Uca zoeae, while the null-zone station had high densities of both early and advanced larval stages of these two taxa. In contrast, the station located within the bay had few C. sapidus or Uca zoeae and was dominated by both early and advanced stages of the mud crab H. angustifrons . These data provide clear evidence for the retention of exported larval forms in a coastal null zone associated with the circulation of a large estuary and thus are consistent with our hypothesis.
Developmental Changes in Newborn Lamb Brain Mitochondrial Activity and Postasphyxial Lipid Peroxidation

Previously, our laboratory has demonstrated inhibition of mitochondrial state 3 (ADP-dependent) respiration 5 min after resuscitation from an asphyxial insult in lambs less than 3 days of age. Older lambs were resistant to this transient mitochondrial dysfunction. This study was designed to examine if age-related differences in baseline state 3 mitochondrial respiration, electron transport chain activity, or susceptibility to oxygen free radical-mediated lipid peroxidation were related to the previously observed differences in postasphyxial mitochondrial respiration. Mitochondrial respiration was measured in 24 nonasphyxiated control lambs aged 1-10 days using four different substrates. Electron transport chain activity was assessed in 15 of these lambs, and lipid peroxidation measured as conjugated diene production was measured in 11 of these lambs. These lambs were all ventilated to maintain normal blood gases for a time period equal to the length of the hypoxic insult in asphyxiated lambs (see below), after which samples of brain were removed for isolation of mitochondria. A second group of 11 lambs (seven 3 days of age) were asphyxiated. The insult was a 75-to-90-min episode of hypoxia and hypercarbia that resulted in bradycardia and systemic hypotension over the final 15 min of the insult. At the end of asphyxia, the lambs were resuscitated and returned to control ventilator settings. Samples of brain were removed 5 min after resuscitation. Postasphyxia electron transport chain activity and lipid peroxidation were measured. All measurements described above were done in both nonsynaptic (primarily glial in origin) and synaptic mitochondria. State 3 mitochondrial respiration varied significantly with age, decreasing by an average of 41.2% +/- 11.1% (mean +/- SEM) from Day 2 to Day 5-6 and then increasing back to levels similar to Day 2 by Day 8-10 in nonsynaptic mitochondria. State 3 respiration in synaptic mitochondria decreased 60.6% +/- 5.2% from Day 2 to Day 5-6 before returning to levels similar to Day 2 by Day 8-10. Resting (nonADP-dependent) state 4 respiration demonstrated similar developmental patterns. Electron transport chain activities did not vary with age in the nonasphyxiated control animals. In addition, an asphyxial insult did not diminish electron transport chain activities in either lambs 3 days of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Extensive accessory pulmonary arteries in the presence of relatively normal primary pulmonary arteries.

Abstract A child with tetralogy of Fallot and extensive accessory atrial circulation to the lungs is represented. The accessory circulation consisted of huge bronchial arteries in spite of relatively normal pulmonary arteries.
Computer-assisted spectral design and synthesis

In this paper, we propose a computer-assisted approach for spectral design and synthesis. This approach starts with some initial spectrum, modifies it interactively, evaluates the change, and decides the optimal spectrum. Given a requested change as function of wavelength, we model the change function using a Gaussian function. When there is the metameric constraint, from the Gaussian function of request change, we propose a method to generate the change function such that the result spectrum has the same color as the initial spectrum. We have tested the proposed method with different initial spectra and change functions, and implemented an interactive graphics environment for spectral design and synthesis. The proposed approach and graphics implementation for spectral design and synthesis can be helpful for a number of applications such as lighting of building interiors, textile coloration, and pigment development of automobile paints, and spectral computer graphics.
Contrasting actions of dieldrin and aldrin-transdiol, its metabolite, on cat CNS function.

Abstract Dieldrin and aldrin-transdiol were administered to cats to test whether dieldrin is directly active or whether it requires conversion to aldrin-transdiol for CNS effects. In cats 2–4 mg/kg dieldrin produced convulsive activity in 2–15 min. This was preceded by changes in the EEG and in responses evoked by sensory stimuli consistent with changes produced by pentylenetetrazol-type convulsants. Aldrin-transdiol in doses up to 20 mg/kg was without effect in cats. No convulsions were observed. No evidence of CNS action could be discerned from examination of the EEG or from responses to sensory stimulation. The results are consistent with the idea that dieldrin is directly active in the mammalian CNS. Its metabolite, aldrin-transdiol, when injected directly into the blood stream is either inactive or is incapable of entering the CNS from this route. The former alternative appears most likely.
Detonation tube studies of aluminum particles dispersed in air

A 5.487-m vertical detonation tube of 152-mm inside diameter instrumented to monitor both shock front (piezoelectric transducers) and reaction front (fiber-optic/light-detector probes) was used to study the detonation of both flake and atomized aluminum powders dispersed in air. Effects of concentration, surface-to-mass ratio, aluminum oxide coating, and type of initiation were evaluated. Flake-aluminum powder with a surface-to-mass ratio of 3 to 4 m 2 /g was readily detonated with detonation velocities as high as 1.65 km/sec and detonation pressures of about 5 MPa (compared to the Chapman-Jouguet values of 1.85 km/sec and about 2.5 MPa). The nominal 5-μm, 0.34 m 2 /g atomized-aluminum powder was also detonated, but with greater difficulty and some loss in detonation characteristics; i.e. maximum detonation velocities of 1.35 km/sec and detonation pressures of at most 3 MPa. Furthermore, in the case of the flake aluminum the induction times between shock and reaction fronts were often in the range characteristic of homogeneous detonations, approaching the limits of the instrumentation (about 1 μsec) whereas the atomized aluminum consistently gave substantially higher values: e.g., 14 μsec being the lowest. Increasing the aluminum oxide coating of either powder caused deterioration of detonation characteristics and tended to decouple, the shock and reaction fronts. Detonability and detonation characteristics were very sensitive to surface-to-mass ratio and rather insensitive to overall concentration. Spinning detonation was identified in all instances investigated for this phenomenon. Initiation of detonation in all cases required shock wave energy as obtained from the detonation of small charges of high explosive.
Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectra of herbaceous and woody pre- and post-digested plant material

Filtrate from pre- and post-digested plant material was exposed to 355-nm pulsed laser light and the subsequent laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) was recorded. Similarities and differences among spectra from 20 materials are discussed. Each material was replicated once, dried, ground, and exposed to chloroform (CHCl3) for 24 h. The material represented aged (1 to 18 years old) plants from different herbaceous (grasses and forbs) and woody plant life forms. Mean peak fluorescence recorded among materials differed (P<0.0001) in both wavelength and peak amplitude (counts) across the spectral range (387 to 788 nm). Peak fluorescence was evaluated within each of three arbitrary color categories, blue near 455 nm and red near 674 nm, while only 16 of the materials produced a green peak near 528 nm. In general, the blue and green fluorescence peaks were broad while the red peak was narrow. Mean peak counts were largest in the red range. Varying amounts of laser beam absorption occurred among the materials evaluated due to different concentrations of filtrate and different absorption efficiencies; therefore, amplitude data (counts) were not used to determine statistical differences among materials. To overcome difficulties attributed to the raw count data, red/blue, red/green and blue/green count ratios within replicates were calculated. Using all three count ratios in a multivariate analysis of variance, the 16 materials could be separated into nine different (P<0.05) material groupings. The LIF technique may provide a reliable means to separate ground pre- and post-digested plant materials following further research into determining what fluorophores are producing the spectral signatures and how sample preparation affect peak wavelengths.
Modeling the lasing mode in a three-dimensionally confined Fabry-Perot microcavity

The lasing mode in a 3D confined Fabry-Perot microcavity with an optically thin dielectric aperture is analyzed using a quantitative model which includes accurately the boundary conditions of the cavity reflectors. The model can be applied to both guiding and antiguiding phenomena. Self- consistent calculation of the lasing field gives the eigenmode field profile, frequency, and threshold susceptibility. The analysis illustrates that the frequency is related to the lateral field distribution which is set by the lateral optical confinement of the thin dielectric aperture, the mirror reflectivity and the cavity length of the Fabry-Perot microcavity. The eigenmode frequency can be related to its loss rate.
Applying the neoadjuvant paradigm to ductal carcinoma in situ

Local treatment options for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) are virtually identical to those for early invasive breast cancer, despite the fact that the survival from this condition is much higher. Our ability to more appropriately tailor therapy for DCIS is hampered by a lack of understanding of the natural history of DCIS, our limited ability to predict the rate of progression to invasive cancer and the response to therapy, and the absence of tools to follow patients who have not had invasive treatments. Neoadjuvant therapy, which has been proven to be both safe and effective in tailoring treatments for invasive cancer, could be ideally suited to DCIS. However, neoadjuvant therapy requires that doctors and patients delay surgical treatment that has known benefits. In order to successfully introduce this approach into clinical practice, risk assessment and decision support tools will be needed to help physicians and patients feel comfortable that they are not being exposed to unnecessary or excessive risk. In addition, we need better imaging to track extent and progression of disease. Among the possible benefits of the neoadjuvant approach, we may discover that many lesions are responsive and some even reversible, leaving us with treatments that might be tailored to biology and with important clues for breast cancer prevention in high-risk women.
Teacher training in the use of a three-dimensional immersive virtual world: Building understanding through first-hand experiences.

This study offers recommendations and a model for other teacher educators who are interested in training teachers in the use of three-dimensional (3D) immersive virtual worlds (IVWs) for their own teaching. Twelve special education teachers collaboratively explored the usability of Second Life (SL) for special education by completing a full inquiry cycle to develop the ability to make informed decisions about the affordances and challenges of virtual world teaching and to help identify effective components for virtual worlds teacher training. Ten educational SL islands were explored critically. Mixed-methods data analysis and triangulation were based on the analysis and synthesis of a preliminary survey, a mid-reflection after several virtual explorations, the collaborative analysis of an existing SL lesson plan, the collaborative development of a SL lesson plan, a post-reflection, and a post-survey. Several key benefits of 3D IVWs for special education students emerged from the qualitative analyses, namely social skills practice, collaborative learning towards a joint goal with a competitive element, and increased motivation to participate, especially for topics that would otherwise be perceived as boring. The qualitative data informed the development of guidelines for virtual worlds teacher training and the elements of an ideal SL island designed for special education. The change of attitude towards the usability of virtual worlds in education as a result of the workshop was not statistically significant.
Effects of uniform dc electric fields on multiphoton ionization of cesium atoms

Multiphoton ionization of cesium atoms shows pronounced two-photon resonances at the nd states and, to a much smaller extent, at the ns states. A dc electric field augments the ns resonances and, for a complementary reason, induces resonances at the np and nf levels. A scaling law for field-induced signals, as a function of principal quantum number, is reported. Field ionization of high Rydberg states is also conveniently studied and quantified with our technique.
Biological Cell Injection Using an Autonomous MicroRobotic System

Recent advances in microbiology, such as cloning, demonstrate that increasingly complex micromanipulation strategies are required for manipulating individual biological cells. In this paper, we present a microrobotic system capable of conducting automatic embryo pronuclei DNA injection cell injection. Conventionally, cell injection has been conducted manually, however, long training, low success rates from poor reproducibility in manual operations, and contamination all call for the elimination of direct human involvement. To automate cell injections, a microrobotic system is developed that is capable of performing automatic embryo pronuclei DNA injection autonomously through a hybrid visual servoing control scheme. A Hough transform is used to detect the nuclei of embryos. Sum-of-squared-differences optical flow is used to track injection pipette motion, and auto focusing is implemented to determine the relative depth of subcellular structures. A hybrid control scheme is developed to fulfill the cell injection task. Upon the completion of injection, the DNA injected embryos are transferred into a pseudo-pregnant foster female mouse to reproduce transgenic mice for cancer studies. The experimental result shows that the injection success rate is 100%.
Geochemical changes in crude oil spilled from the Exxon Valdez supertanker into Prince William Sound, Alaska

Abstract North Slope crude oil spilled from the T/V Exxon Valdez in March 1989 and contaminated about 500 km of Prince William Sound shoreline. Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in oil samples collected in August 1990 and June 1992 from beaches on six islands impacted by the spill have been compared with the hydrocarbons from North Slope crude oil taken from the stricken tanker. Degradation processes have changed the physical appearance of this residual spilled oil; the beached oil as collected ranged from a light brown color, to a heavy black viscous oil, to a black, powder-like residue. In these physically different samples, terpane, sterane, and aromatic sterane distributions, as well as carbon isotope values, are similar and correlate with the original Exxon Valdez oil. On the other hand, n -alkanes, isoprenoids, and many of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which are present in the original crude oil are dramatically altered in the oil samples collected from the beaches.
Arteriography and radiology of impotence

Both arterial and venous dysfunction are now recognized as significant causes of organic impotence. Numerous therapeutic modalities are currently available, including surgical bypass, venous ligation, transluminal angioplasty, and transcatheter vessel occlusion. The specific nature of this patient population requires correlation of angiographic findings with the patient’s history and physical examination to determine the appropriate intervention and obtain a satisfactory outcome.