cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Applied Digital Signal Processing: Theory and Practice

Master the basic concepts and methodologies of digital signal processing with this systematic introduction, without the need for an extensive mathematical background. The authors lead the reader through the fundamental mathematical principles underlying the operation of key signal processing techniques, providing simple arguments and cases rather than detailed general proofs. Coverage of practical implementation, discussion of the limitations of particular methods and plentiful MATLAB illustrations allow readers to better connect theory and practice. A focus on algorithms that are of theoretical importance or useful in real-world applications ensures that students cover material relevant to engineering practice, and equips students and practitioners alike with the basic principles necessary to apply DSP techniques to a variety of applications. Chapters include worked examples, problems and computer experiments, helping students to absorb the material they have just read. Lecture slides for all figures and solutions to the numerous problems are available to instructors.
Response to Intervention: Conceptual and Methodological Issues in Implementation

Thomas R. Kratochwill, PhD, is Sears–Bascom Professor, School Psychology Program, University of Wisconsin–Madison. tomkat@education.wisc.edu Melissa A. Clements, PhD, is a Research Scientist at the Wisconsin Center for Educational Research, University of Wisconsin–Madison. maclements@wisc.edu Kristen M. Kalymon, MS, is a graduate student in the School Psychology Program, University of Wisconsin–Madison. kmkalymon@wisc.edu
Comparison of MPI Implementations on a Shared Memory Machine

There are several alternative MPI implementations a vailable to parallel application developers. LAM MPI and MPICH are the most common. System vendors also provide their own implementations of MPI. Each version of MPI has options that can be tuned to best fit the c haracteristics of the application and platform. The parallel application developer needs to know which implementation and options are best suited to the problem and platform at hand. In this study the RTCOMM1 communication benchmark from the Real Time Parallel Benchmark Suite is used to collect performance data on several MPI implementations for a Sun Enterprise 4500. This benchmark provides the data needed to create a refined cost model for each MPIimplemen tation and to produce visualizations of those models. In addition, this benchmark provides best, worst, and t ypical message passing performance data whhic is of particular interest to real-time parallel programmers.
Predictive Maintenance in semiconductor manufacturing

Over the past two years the Predictive Maintenance (PdM) capability in semiconductor manufacturing has migrated from Proof-of-Concept (PoC) and univariate Fault Detection (FD) extrapolation mechanisms to fab-wide solutions that are (1) robust to typical process and equipment disturbances, (2) extensible so as to provide solution approaches that are portable across instances of a tool type and across tool types, and (3) maintainable so as to provide solutions that are useful for long periods of time. A number of advancements have facilitated this advancement including solutions for porting modeling components across process and equipment types, mechanisms for incorporating process and equipment knowledge into models, mechanisms for determining model context (e.g., recipe) dependency, methods for model optimization to fab financials, and methods for rejecting run-time disturbances in PdM modeling. As a result of these and other innovations, the landscape of PdM in semiconductor manufacturing has rapidly advanced to the point that, from a technical perspective, solutions are now available for fab-wide PdM realization.
The effects of etching enamel with acid on human dental pulp: A preliminary study

Enamel acid-etching has become a widespread, popular clinical procedure in recent years. Numerous studies have investigated the nature of the acid-treated enamel. However, little or no information is presently available pertaining to the effects of acid treatment upon dental pulp tissue. A limited investigation was carried out on bilateral orthodontic extraction cases to determine the effects of enamel acid-etching upon healthy dental pulp. In each of five cases one premolar served as the experimental tooth, while the contralateral premolar served as the control. After a 24-hour postoperative interval there appeared to be no basic histologic difference between the experimental and control groups.
The role of chlorophyll b in photosynthesis: Hypothesis

Background The physico-chemical properties of chlorophylls b and c have been known for decades. Yet the mechanisms by which these secondary chlorophylls support assembly and accumulation of light-harvesting complexes in vivo have not been resolved.
pac-1 enhances Ras-Raf-Erk Signaling in C.elegan Vulval Cell Fate Patterning

The Ras-Raf-Erk signaling pathway is essential for proper vulva development in C.elegans and proper response to stimuli in human cells. The importance of the conservation of these pathways shows how vulva development and cancer cells function like each other. The effect of Ras-Raf-Erk signaling in vulva development was examined by targeting pac-1 with RNAi and then quantifying the number of vulva protrusions. The results from the experiment showed that the loss of pac-1 inhibits ERK signaling in vulva development by decreasing the amount of vulva protrusions. This determined that normally pac-1 increases ERK signaling in vulva development. The Ras-Raf-Erk pathway is activated in cancer and further understanding of the targets of this pathway will help us better understand how cancer develops.
The PowerPC 601 microprocessor

A highly integrated, single-chip microprocessor is described that combines a powerful reduced instruction set computer (RISC) architecture with a superscalar machine organization and a versatile, high-performance bus interface. The PowerPC 601 microprocessor contains a 32-kbyte cache and is capable of dispatching, executing, and completing up to three instructions per cycle. The bus interface can be configured for a wide range of system bus interfaces, including pipelined, nonpipelined, and split transactions. In addition, the processor is equipped with features suitable for symmetric multiprocessing applications. The result is a cost-effective, general-purpose microprocessor solution that offers very competitive performance. >
Properties of the O18 exchange reaction catalyzed by heavy meromyosin.

Heavy meromyosin (H-meromyosin) in the presence of Mg/sup ++/ catalyzes the incorporation of O/sup 18/ from solvent water into the P/sub i/ released from adenosine triphosphate (ATP), dATP, and cytidine, inosine, uridine, and guanosine triphosphates. Tripolyphosphate under the same conditions does not undergo the O/ sup 18/ exchange reaction with either myosin or H-meromyosin. The H-meromyosin catalyzed O/sup 18/ exchange with Mg/sup ++/ ATP is independent of hydrogen ion concentration between pH 5.5 and pH 9.3. The ATPasedependence of H-meromyosin on divalent metal ion radius and on pH has been found to correspond to that of myosin systems. A rough correlation was found between the divalent metal ions required for contraction, for optimal O/sup 18/ exchange, and for strong complexing with ATP/sup -4/. A parallelism exists between the substrates giving the maximal amount of tension and those giving the maximal amount of exchange. It is suggested that some amino acids at the active site of myosin are common to the exchange reaction and the contractile process. (auth)
The influence of stereospecific assignments on the determination of three-dimensional structures of proteins by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Application to the sea anemone protein BDS-I.

The influence of the stereospecific assignments of β-methylene protons and the classification of χ1 torsion angles on the definition of the three-dimensional structures of proteins determined from NMR data is investigated using the sea anemone protein BDS-I (43 residues) as a model system. Two sets of structures are computed. The first set comprises 42 converged structures (denoted STEREO structures) calculated on the basis of the complete list of restraints derived from the NMR data, consisting of 489 interproton and 24 hydrogen bonding distance restraints, supplemented by 23 ϕ backbone and 21 χ1 side chain torsion angle restraints. The second set comprises 31 converged structures (denoted NOSTEREO structures) calculated from a reduced data set in which those restraints arising from stereospecific assignments, and the corresponding χ1 torsion angle restraints, are explicitly omitted. The results show that the inclusion of the stereospecific restraints leads to a significant improvement in the definition of the structure of BDS-I, both with respect to the backbone and the detailed arrangement of the side chains. Average atomic rms differences between the individual structures and the mean structures for the backbone atoms are 0.67±0.12 A and 0.93±0.16 A for the STEREO and NOSTEREO structures, respectively; the corresponding values for all atoms are 0.90±0.17 A and 1.17±0.17 A, respectively. In addition, while the overall fold remains unchanged, there is a small but significant atomic displacement between the two sets of structures.
Effects of supplementation of whole corn germ on reproductive performance, calf performance, and leptin concentration in primiparous and mature beef cows.

A 2-yr study using primiparous and multiparous, spring-calving, crossbred beef cows was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplemental whole corn germ on reproductive performance, calf performance, and serum leptin concentrations. Each year, cows were blocked by age and BCS and assigned randomly to one of three treatments: PRE (n = 115) cows received 1.14 kg/d (DM basis) of whole corn germ for approximately 45 d before calving; POST (n = 109) cows were fed 1.14 kg/d of whole corn germ for approximately 45 d after calving; and control cows (n = 118) were fed similar energy and protein from dry-rolled corn (1.82 kg of DM/d) for 45 d before and after calving. Additionally, PRE cows were grouped with controls after calving, and POST cows were grouped with control cows before calving, so that corn germ-supplemented cows received the control supplement in the alternate feeding period. Cow BW (538 +/- 13 kg) and BCS (5.4 +/- 0.13) did not differ among treatments at any time during the experiment. Calf birth weight (39 +/- 2 kg), weaning weight (225 +/- 7 kg), and age-adjusted weaning weight (234 +/- 8 kg) did not differ because of dam supplementation regimen. Treatment did not affect the proportion of cows exhibiting ovarian luteal activity before the start of the breeding season (67%) or pregnancy rate (91%). The interval from exposure to bulls until subsequent calving did not differ (P = 0.16) among PRE (298 +/- 2.3 d), POST (303 +/- 2.6 d), and control (304 +/- 2.3 d) cows. Leptin concentrations did not differ among treatments and were 2.15 +/- 0.75, 1.88 +/- 0.76, and 1.91 +/- 0.75 ng/mL for control, POST, and PRE cows, respectively. Age and week relative to calving influenced leptin concentration. Primiparous cows had similar leptin concentrations to 3-yr-old and mature cows for wk -7 and -6 relative to calving, but lower (P 0.12) with weekly measures of serum leptin concentration. Supplementing beef cows with whole corn germ had no effect on cow performance, calf performance, or serum leptin concentrations of cows.
How Long Do We Have to Play the 'Great Game'?

The thesis of this brief response to Cain and Davidoff Solomon's "Great Game" is that the phenomena reported for the period 2005 to 2011 are likely to fade in the face of evolving developments in law and practice affecting shareholder class and derivative litigation. Most notably, the rise of exclusive forum charter and bylaw provisions is likely to alter the extent of jurisdictional competition and the effects of that competition that "Great Game" reports. In addition, the uncertain and still unfolding evolution of other charter and bylaw provisions affecting shareholder litigation (notably fee-shifting provisions) is also likely to alter the picture reported in "Great Game."
Ridge to reef modelling for use within land–sea planning under data‐limited conditions

Soil erosion associated with land-use change is considered one of the greatest human threats to coral reef ecosystems globally. To account for sediment runoff in land–sea planning, spatially and temporally dynamic models are needed that predict where soil loss is occurring, in addition to where sediments are travelling and settling in coastal marine areas. This assessment is particularly difficult given the complex three-dimensional movement of sediment in water bodies. This study assessed the vulnerability of key marine resources to sedimentation in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, by developing a coupled terrestrial and marine model that relied primarily on global datasets. The model predicted the quantities of sediment at river mouths, and the spatial extent over where this sediment disperses in the ocean. In total, 1850 km2 of coral reefs, marine protected areas, dive sites, pearl farms, and other benthic habitats in Raja Ampat were found within sediment plumes with varying degrees of impact. Two hypothetical land-use scenarios were created to illustrate the sensitivity of sedimentation on marine resources to development, and to compare future alternative management scenarios. The model provides a powerful tool for planners to understand how land management, and land-use change might affect marine resources, particularly in data-limited regions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
RELATION OF THE TRAIL MAKING TEST TO MENTAL RETARDATION.

This study investigated the relationship between IQ and performance on the Trail Making Test (TMT) and attempted to determine the discriminatory power of the test at various IQ levels. There was a significant correlation between IQ and TMT performance, but this relationship was the result of very high correlations at the lower IQ levels and low or nonexistent correlations at the upper IQ levels investigated. The TMT did not differentiate between brain-damaged patients and functionally retarded patients at low level ranges (IQ < 70), but did discriminate between these groups at the higher IQ level investigated (IQ = 70–89). These findings were discussed in relation to earlier research indicating the influence of psychotic symptomatology on TMT performance, and it was concluded that the TMT may be a useful addition to a screening battery for identification of patients with organic brain pathology, providing that the patient is free of serious intellectual impairment and psychotic symptoms.
Once a Broker, Always a Broker: Non-Professional Interpreting as Identity Accomplishment in Multigenerational Italian-English Bilingual Family Interaction.

This paper explores interpreting in three-generational Italian-English bilingual families as a complex language brokering activity. Recent studies approach non-professional interpreting as language brokering in which bilinguals (often children) interpret for non-bilinguals (adults) in institutional settings (Hall 2004; Valdes 2003). These studies focus on brokering between minority group 'insiders' and majority group 'outsiders'. My research extends these approaches, focusing on brokering in Italian-English bilingual family meal-time conversations. Second-generation family members have served as interpreters for their parents in institutional contexts since migrating as children over fifty years ago. They extend this practice to the family context, brokering between first- and third-generation family members in two ways. Triggered interpreting occurs when speakers verbally request clarification or when second-generation family members perceive conversational sequence problems. Non-triggered interpreting is neither requested nor sequentially triggered. Second-generation family members report playing an intermediary role unifying flanking generations. They act to bridge perceived linguistic and cultural gaps between their Italian-dominant immigrant parents and their English-dominant Canadian/US-born children. Interpretation in multi-generational conversations is one way through which these bridging roles and identities are accomplished locally in mundane interaction. The analysis includes an examination of spontaneous conversational data and participants' metacommentary and retrospective accounts of language brokering.
Ground-state spectral features of molecular clusters RDX excited at THz frequencies

Abstract Calculations are presented of ground state resonance structure at THz frequencies for molecular clusters of the high explosive RDX using density functional theory (DFT). The spectral features of this resonance structure are due to coupling of resonance modes for ground state excitation. In particular, the coupling among ground state resonance modes provides a reasonable molecular level interpretation of spectral features associated with THz excitation of molecular clusters. THz excitation is associated with frequencies that are characteristically perturbative to molecular electronic states, in contrast to frequencies that can induce appreciable electronic state transition. Owing to this characteristic of THz excitation, one is able to make a direct association between local oscillations about ground-state minima of molecules, either isolated or comprising a cluster, and THz excitation spectra. The DFT software GAUSSIAN was used for the calculations of ground state resonance structure presented here.
School Violence in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of Current Interventions.

This article reviews school violence prevention programs that were published between the years of 1990 and 1999. All the interventions fitting inclusion criteria involved being implemented in a school setting, using a control group, and including a quantitative methodology. Effect sizes were calculated for the final sixteen articles that were reviewed in the meta-analysis. A process of inspection was used in order to come up with treatment characteristics most common to each prevention program. Each study was thus described according to six categories: theoretical base, setting, age group, leader training, duration, and random assignment. Four studies resulted with strong effect sizes; however, a regression analysis was not conducted due to inadequate sample size. A review of the literature suggested that program impact could be significantly affected by the use of cognitive-behavioral strategies, multi-setting atmosphere, and primary (elementary school) prevention. In addition, intuitive support (common knowledge in the social science field) indicated that a qualified program leader and longer length of program could also contribute to the influence of a program. Future researchers are encouraged to use a more comprehensive literature review (e.g., past 20 years) in terms of conducting meta-analyses in order to provide a larger sample size adequate enough to see the true effects of different intervention components on outcomes (regression analysis; i.e., additive component effects).
A Phantasmic Experience: Narrative Connection of Dead Celebrities in Advertisements

AbstractFeaturing dead celebrities in current advertisements has become a well-known practice in contemporary advertising techniques. Marilyn Monroe sells Sunsilk, John Lennon is a spokesman for One Laptop per Child, Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor demonstrate the roominess of a Jetta's now larger backseat. To unearth the viability of re-structuring dead celebrities into new advertisements, this article analyzes how phantasms – visual and vocal recordings – speak to the living consumer through the construction of emplotment, a main element of Paul Ricoeur's narrative theory. Particularly, Ricoeur's work on mimesis, metaphors, and memories direct this inquiry for these terms shape a phenomenological understanding of temporality and connectivity with a disembodied other. The goal of such exploration aims to link dead celebrities with the construction and transmission of persuasive messages within an advertising narrative framework.
Special analytical properties of ultrastrong coherent fields

Emerging ultrastrong-laser capabilities that can reveal details of vacuum structure have intensified research into the fundamentals of quantum electrodynamics. It has been more than half a century since relativistic nonperturbative methods were introduced into the study of strong-field phenomena. Much of the early progress remains of fundamental relevance, but is known to only a small group of researchers. The aim of this paper is to reveal some of that work and to show how it impacts on current investigations. A basic result is that it has been shown that strong, single-mode fields (i.e. laser fields) can be treated by relativistic quantum mechanics with results identical to fully quantized electrodynamics. Attention is drawn to the existence of a Volkov Green’s function that has a clear physical interpretation as predicting several series of relativistic Floquet sideband states. It is more transparent and informative than the Volkov Green’s function of Schwinger. It is also shown that the fundamental experiments performed at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center in 1997 on photon-multiphoton pair production could not be a high-order perturbative result, as was presumed by the investigators. The intensity employed was beyond the radius of convergence of perturbation theory, and the seeming perturbative increase in rate with intensity is an artifact. Of particular significance is the demonstration that a free electron in a strong plane-wave field (a “Volkov electron”) exists in an intensity-dependent superposition of angular momentum states, and is no longer a simple spin-1/2 particle.
Muscle fiber branching -- difference between grafts in old and young rats

Large numbers of branched muscle fibers occur in the freely grafted rat extensor digitorum longus muscle. The ratio of branched/non-branched muscle fibers in grafts is much higher in old (24 months) than in young (4 months) host rats. Cross-age transplants show that the proportion of branched muscle fibers is related to the age of the grafted muscle and not to the age of the host. This is in contrast to mass and maximum isometric tension, in which the age of the host, rather than the age of the grafted muscle, is the determinant of the success of the muscle graft.
THE POSSIBLE VICARIOUS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PITUITARY AND THYROID GLANDS

If it is accepted that the iodine-containing body in the thyroid—the “iodothyrin” or “thyroiodin”—represents its physiological active principle, diminution or absence of which in the system leads to the various symptoms of hypo-thyroidism, then our failure to detect iodine in the pituitary following thyroidectomy may be taken as evidence against the theory of compensation. That is the assumption on which our experiment is based; but although it is supported by much of the evidence, it cannot be said to be absolutely established. If it should turn out after all to be incorrect—if the relation of the iodine to the thyroid is merely an accidental one, as it is claimed to be by many,—then the result of our experiment would prove nothing against a possible vicarious function of the pituitary. But even if the thyroid function is bound up with the presence of an iodine-containing body, it cannot be claimed that the experiment as it stands is a conclusive one; for, in the first place, a single negative result is of little value as an argument, and, in the second place, the experiment may have been of too short duration. If it had been carried on longer it is possible that the pituitary would in time have been able to lay up a store of iodine. Possibly the very absence of iodine is significant, for it may be that on the removal of the thyroid the first thing the organism did was to seize upon and use up the small store of iodine which we found the normal pituitary to contain. With time and opportunity it might next have proceeded to lay past a supply for the future. It is our purpose, therefore, to repeat the experiment on a larger scale, and with due attention to the possibilities of error which have been suggested to us by the present attempt. In the meantime, however, we have deemed it advisable to put our investigations on record for the benefit of those who may be especially interested in this line of work.
Topical application of α-tocopherol modulates the antioxidant network and diminishes ultraviolet-induced oxidative damage in murine skin

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of topical α-tocopherol application on epidermal and dermal antioxidants and its ability to prevent ultraviolet (UV)-induced oxidative damage. Hairless mice received topical applications of α-tocopherol 24 h before a single. acute UV irradiation (10 x minimal erythemal dose). The four major antioxidant enzymes (catalase. superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase), hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants, and lipid hydroperoxides, markers of oxidative damage, were assayed in both epidermis and dermis of hairless mice. Topical α-tocopherol treatment increased dermal superoxide dismutase activity by 30% (P<0.01) and protected epidermal glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase from depletion after UV irradiation. Total and reduced glutathione levels in the epidermis increased by 50% after the topical treatment (P< 0.05), as did dermal ascorbate levels (by 40%; P< 0.01). The topical treatment increased α-tocopherol levels both in the epidermis (62-fold) and the dermis (22-fold; P<0.001 in each layer). Furthermore, α-tocopherol treatment significantly reduced the formation of epidermal lipid hydroperoxides after UV irradiation (P<0.05). These results demonstrate that topical administration of α-tocopherol protects cutaneous tissues against oxidative damage induced by UV irradiation in vivo, and suggest that the underlying mechanism of this effect involves the up-regulation of a network of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants.
Shaping humoral responses against mini-libraries of HIV env antigens via lipid nanoparticle vaccine delivery

Background Humoral immune responses elicited by an HIV vaccine would ideally be comprised of durable high titers of broadly neutralizing antibodies. Importantly, recent studies of broadly neutralizing antibodies isolated from infected patients have suggested that high degrees of somatic hypermutation (SHM) are a common feature of antibodies with high potency and good breadth. Thus, a successful vaccine will likely require both immunogens capable of focusing the humoral response against conserved neutralizing epitopes and appropriate adjuvants/delivery systems capable of promoting elevated SHM and lasting responses against these epitopes.
SU‐FF‐T‐119: Optimization of Basis Function Sets to Represent IMRT Intensity Patterns in Inverse Planning

Purpose: To investigate the use of mathematical basis functions instead of discrete or smoothed beamlets to represent and optimize IMRT beams in inverse planning in order to reduce the degrees of freedom required for producing high quality IMRT plans. Method and Materials: Our in‐house beamlet‐based optimization system was extended to support the optimization of basis function coefficients in order to represent IMRT beams by mathematical surfaces. Comparison studies were performed using a phantom and a prostate case. Four methods were compared; (1) beamlet optimization, (2) beamlet optimization incorporating smoothing in the cost function, (3) Basis function optimization (BFO) using a radial basis function grid (optimization variables are individual function weights), and (4) BFO using polynomials(optimization variables are term coefficients). Results were compared using dose and dose‐volume metrics, beam modulation, MU, and robustness to geometric deviations. Results: In the phantom, BFO plans were comparable to beamlet plans in terms of dose and dose‐volume metrics and superior in terms of using 75–90% fewer optimization variables, requiring 26% fewer MU, containing 38% less plan modulation, and demonstrating improved target coverage when subjected to geometric shifts. Beamlet‐based plans that incorporated smoothing met the clinical objectives, with a 16% reduction in MU compared to beamlets. In the prostate, method (3) resulted in a 24% MU reduction compared to method (1) and was less sensitive to geometric changes. Method (2) also produced favorable results in the prostate with a 19% reduction in MU. Conclusion: BFO plans were clinically comparable to beamlet plans and superior to beamlet plans with smoothing in terms of MU reduction and lessened geometric sensitivity. The use of basis function sets to represent and optimize IMRT intensity patterns is a promising method to reduce IMRT beam complexity and its implications. Supported in part by NIH P01‐CA59827.
Similarity renormalization group evolution of many-body forces in a one-dimensional model

Abstract A one-dimensional system of bosons with short-range repulsion and mid-range attraction is used as a laboratory to explore the evolution of many-body forces by the Similarity Renormalization Group (SRG). The free-space SRG is implemented for few-body systems in a symmetrized harmonic oscillator basis using a recursive construction analogous to no-core shell model implementations. This approach, which can be directly generalized to three-dimensional nuclei, is fully unitary up to induced A -body forces when applied with an A -particle basis (e.g., A -body bound-state energies are exactly preserved). The oscillator matrix elements for a given A can then be used in larger systems. Errors from omitted induced many-body forces show a hierarchy of decreasing contribution to binding energies. An analysis of individual contributions to the growth of many-body forces demonstrates such a hierarchy and provides an understanding of its origins.
Photoelectrochemical water splitting for hydrogen production using combination of CIGS2 solar cell and RuO2 photocatalyst

Abstract This paper presents the development of photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell for water splitting setup using multiple band gap combination of CuIn1−xGaxS2 (CIGS2) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) cell and ruthenium oxide (RuO2) photocatalyst. FSEC PV Materials Lab has developed a PEC setup consisting of two illuminated CIGS2 cells, a ruthenium oxide (RuO2) anode deposited on titanium sheet for oxygen evolution and a platinum foil cathode for hydrogen evolution. With this combination, a PEC efficiency of 4.29% has been achieved. This paper also presents the research aimed at further improvements in the PEC efficiency by employing highly efficient photoanode that can be illuminated by photons not absorbed at the PV cell and by increasing the concentration of electrolyte solution (pH 10). The former will be achieved by employing a p-type transparent and conducting layer at the back of PV cell to transmit the unabsorbed photons, and the latter will reduce the resistance offered by the electrolyte. Concentration of the electrolyte was increased by five times, and the I–V characteristics of both RuO2 and RuS2 were measured with and without illumination. The results indicate that PEC efficiencies of over 9% can be achieved using RuS2 with illumination and five times concentrated pH 10 solution instead of pH 10 with normal concentration.
The ins and outs of GroEL-mediated protein folding.

Abstract Two papers recently published in Cell investigate the role of protein encapsulation by GroEL in assisting folding. The first shows how encapsulation can "smooth" the folding landscape, accelerating folding of some proteins. The second defines a confinement-independent pathway, which allows GroEL to assist folding of substrates too large to be encapsulated.
Development of highly sensitive fluorescent assays for fatty acid amide hydrolase

Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is a pharmaceutical target whose inhibition may lead to valuable therapeutics. Sensitive substrates for high-throughput assays are crucial for the rapid-screening FAAH inhibitors. Here we describe the development of novel and highly sensitive fluorescent assays for FAAH based on substituted aminopyridines. Examining the relationship between the structure and the fluorescence of substituted aminopyridines suggested that a methoxy group in the para position relative to the amino group in aminopyridines greatly increased the fluorescence (i.e., quantum yields approach unity). These novel fluorescent reporters had a high Stokes' shift of 94 nm, and their fluorescence in buffer systems increased with pH values from neutral to basic. Fluorescent substrates with these reporters displayed a very low fluorescent background and high aqueous solubility. Most importantly, fluorescent assays for FAAH based on these substrates were at least 25 times more sensitive than assays using related compounds with published colorimetric or fluorescent reporters. This property results in shorter assay times and decreased protein concentrations in the assays. Such sensitive assays will facilitate distinguishing the relative potency of powerful inhibitors of FAAH. When these fluorescent substrates were applied to human liver microsomes, results suggested that there was at least one amide hydrolase in addition to FAAH that could hydrolyze long-chain fatty acid amides. These results show that these fluorescent substrates are very valuable tools in FAAH activity assays including screening inhibitors by high-throughput assays instead of using the costly and labor-intensive radioactive ligands. Potential applications of novel fluorescent reporters are discussed.
Simulated Urban Climate Response to Modifications in Surface Albedo and Vegetative Cover

Abstract Three-dimensional meteorological simulations have been conducted to investigate the potential impact of urban surface characteristic modifications on local climate. Results for a base case simulation for the Los Angeles basin are compared to results from cases in which urban albedo or vegetative cover are increased. The methodology for determining the distribution and magnitude of these simulated surface modifications is presented. Increasing albedo over downtown Los Angeles by 0.14 and over the entire basin by an average of 0.08 decreased peak summertime temperatures by as much as 1.5°C. This level of albedo augmentation also lowered boundary layer heights by more than 50 m and reduced the magnitude and penetration of the sea breeze. A second simulation, in which vegetative cover was increased, showed qualitatively similar impacts. The results from these simulations indicate a potential to reduce urban energy demand and atmospheric pollution by 5%10% through application of reasonable surface mo...
Long-term time-share guarantees are necessary for wireless LANs

Wireless local area networks (WLANs) based on a family of 802.11 technologies are becoming ubiquitous. These technologies support multiple data transmission rates. Transmitting at a lower data rate (by using a more resilient modulation scheme) increases the frame transmission time but reduces the bit error rate. In non-cooperative environments such as public hot-spots, individual nodes attempt to maximize their achieved throughput by adjusting the data rate or frame size used, irrespective of the impact of this on overall system performance.In a series of experiments, we demonstrate that the existing distributed MAC protocol encourages non-cooperative nodes to use globally inefficient transmission strategies that lead to degraded aggregate throughputs. We also show that by establishing independence between the allocation of the shared channel time and the strategies used by individual nodes, an improved MAC protocol can lead rational but non-cooperative nodes to make choices that increase aggregate throughputs by as much as 30% under some conditions.
On-line computer controlled automatic sample changer for use with a total gamma absorption tank

Abstract An automatic sample changer is described that selects a sample under computer control and inserts it through 34″ of travel inside of a 1.25 m dia. neutron capture gamma ray total absorption tank.
Chemical Analyses of Sol/Gel Surfaces and Thin Films

The application of surface analysis techniques to the characterization of sol/gel surfaces and thin films is described. Secondary-ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and sputter-induced photon spectroscopy (SIPS) are used to measure the composition of multicomponent silicate films, the relative water content of alumina films, the nitrogen content of ammonia treated silica films, and the depth profiles for films on black chrome. The determination of chemical structure using XPS and SIMS is also discussed. Finally, a brief introduction to temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and its potential for studying surface chemical reactions, in situ, is presented.
Rural maternity care: new models of access.

ABSTRACT: b Despite huge health care expenditures, many rural areas of the United States are without adequate access to basic maternity services. Hospital closures and changes in reimbursement have created new threats, even in areas with functional systems of delivering maternity care. New models of care must be developed that take advantage of attributes of low-volume rural maternity units, increase the number of collaborative practices among various providers of maternity services, and judiciously apply new technologies to bring perinatal expertise into the rural hospital when appropriate. Local access to maternity care in rural communities is essential to improve birth outcomes and lower costs. Standardization of management of obstetric emergencies and advances in telecommunication technology may make these low-technology, isolated communities safer than they have been in the past. Changes in health care financing, particularly managed care with capitation, may further support these changes.
The Liouville–Bratu–Gelfand Problem for Radial Operators

Abstract We determine precise existence and multiplicity results for radial solutions of the Liouville–Bratu–Gelfand problem associated with a class of quasilinear radial operators, which includes perturbations of k-Hessian and p-Laplace operators.
Startle potentiation and heart rate as affected by fear and hunger.

In a widely cited, unpublished study, abstracted at length herein, Meryman in 1952 reported that the acoustic startle response of the rat was potentiated by conditioned fear, by food deprivation, and summatively by both combined. Whereas others have verified the action of fear on startle, only scattered support has been obtained for the conclusion that startle can be potentiated by an appetitive variable. Because of the significance of this matter for general drive theory, further study is imperative. The present experiment, a replication and extension of Meryman's, was guided by a design in which two levels of fear and two of food deprivation were combined factorially. Two groups of rats, one deprived for 40 hr. and one for 1 hr., were shocked in a stabilimeter chamber to condition fear to the cues of that situation. Two other, nonfearful groups, one of which was deprived for 40 hr. and the other for 1 hr., were never shocked in the stabilimeter. Instead, they were shocked in a distinctively different ch...
Optimization of blow molded part performance through process simulation

In this work, a gradient-based numerical optimization scheme is proposed to determine the optimal process operating conditions to produce a blow molded part by with a given performance. Finite element simulations are used to relate the part performance to the processing conditions. A performance optimization is first performed to find the minimum part thickness distribution that minimizes the part weight while satisfying mechanical performance constraints such as maximum part deflection or maximum stress for an applied load. Then a process optimization finds the optimal operating conditions, e.g. the die gap opening profile, that minimize the part weight while respecting the minimum thickness distribution dictated by the performance optimization. The results show that the optimization scheme minimizes the part weight with minimal constraint violation. The addition of a constraint associated with process stability is proposed.
Help wanted: developing clinician leaders

Because healthcare faces challenges, such as ensuring quality and access and controlling cost, effective leadership is needed at every level of healthcare organizations. Yet, physicians are trained in clinical and scientific skills but not in leadership competencies. Furthermore, clinicians often feel ill-prepared to assume managerial and leadership roles. To close this gap, training in leadership competencies, such as emotional intelligence, communication, teamwork, and change management, is urgently needed for physicians and clinicians of all disciplines. Leadership training should be multidisciplinary and should begin early in clinicians’ careers.
ASCEND: an object-oriented computer environment for modeling and analysis: The modeling language

Abstract ASCEND (Advanced System for Computations in ENgineering Design) is a new rapid model building environment for complex models comprising large sets of simultaneous nonlinear algebraic equations. In ASCEND the definition of a model is separated from the solving of it. This paper presents the ASCEND modeling language; a companion paper will describe the tools available to aid in debugging and solving models. The ASCEND language is a type definition language that uses and extends object-oriented concepts, including refinement hierarchies, generalized arrays, part/whole modeling, partial and complete merging, deferred binding and universal types. Dimensional consistency is required among all the equations. This paper discusses the need for a modeling environment like ASCEND to aid the design process, comparing its functional requirements to earlier approaches. It then presents an informal definition of the syntax and associated semantics for the language. An example for solving mixed sets of ordinary differential and algebraic equations using a two-point boundary value approach illustrates the modeling power of the language.
Treatment of Infections in the Patient With Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Modern technology has led to a contemporary medical practice that must be able to manage a variety of opportunistic infections in the immunocompromised host. The most common causes of immune suppression are immunosuppressive therapy after organ transplantation, granulocytopenia secondary to cancer chemotherapy, and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). All of these forms of immunosuppression predispose patients to a wide variety of opportunistic infections caused by reduction in T- and B-cell lymphocyte function as well as depression of neutrophils. However, the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has presented the clinician with the greatest challenge in this area. Therefore, it is imperative that physicians and other health care professionals have a comprehensive understanding of the recommended therapy as well as the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and diagnosis of the various infections in these patients. (Arch Intern Med. 1994;154:949-973)
Measurements and calculations of rough-wall heat transfer in the turbulent boundary layer

Abstract Experimental Stanton number results from aerodynamically smooth, transitionally rough, and fully rough turbulent boundary layer flows are presented for four surfaces—three rough and one smooth. The rough surfaces are composed of 1.27 mm diameter hemispheres spaced in staggered arrays 2, 4, and 10 base diameters apart, respectively, on otherwise smooth walls. Stanton number data are reported for zero pressure gradient incompressible turbulent boundary layer air flows which give Rex up to 10000 000. These data are compared with previously published results on another, similar rough surface, and it is shown that some conclusions about heat transfer behavior based on data from that single rough surface do not extend to these new surface geometries. A refined roughness element energy transport model for use in the previously published discrete element prediction method is also presented. Calculations are compared with data from the four rough surfaces with well-defined roughness elements for both constant pressure and accelerated flow cases, and it is shown that the predictions are in excellent agreement with the data.
Surgical approaches and outcomes in the treatment of gastric cancer.

Resection with extended lymphadenectomy in obtaining local-regional control with negative margins remains the only potentially curative modality in the treatment of gastric cancer. Complete (RO) resections, along with depth of invasion and adequate nodal staging, remain the most important prognostic factors. Because current chemotherapy regimens have limited benefit in advanced disease, the effectiveness of local-regional modalities takes on greater significance. The extent of surgical resection varies with the size, depth, location of the primary tumor, and the stage of disease. Studying patterns of recurrent disease and elucidating the impact of positive margins have led to insights into the biology of the disease and the limitations of local-regional therapies. Considerable controversy surrounds the notion of what defines an adequate lymph node dissection (LND). The recommendation of routine extended (D2) lymphadenectomy (ELND) is difficult to justify based on available randomized studies, but ELND may benefit selected patients when performed by surgeons who can accomplish the dissection with acceptable morbidity/mortality rates. An extended LND results in improved staging, allowing standardization of prognostic factors and survival data worldwide. Patient selection remains critical, limiting the role of surgery in advanced disease and reserving aggressive surgical resection for patients with high curative potential.
Tipifarnib sensitizes cells to proteasome inhibition by blocking degradation of bortezomib-induced aggresomes

In this report, we investigated the mechanism responsible for synergistic induction of myeloma cell apoptosis induced by the combination of tipifarnib and bortezomib. Immunofluorescence studies revealed that bortezomib alone resulted in an accumulation of puncta of ubiquitinated proteins that was further enhanced by the addition of tipifarnib. These data suggest inhibition of the degradation of bortezomib-induced aggresomes; and consistent with this possibility, we also observed an increase in p62SQSTM1 in cells treated with the combination. However, autophagy in these cells appears to be normal as LC3BII is present, and autophagic flux appears to be unaffected as demonstrated by the addition of bafilomycin A1. Together, these data demonstrate that tipifarnib synergizes with bortezomib by inducing protein accumulation as a result of the uncoupling of the aggresome and autophagy pathways.
Arcjet component conditions through a multistart test

A low power, dc arcjet thruster was tested for starting reliability using hydrogen-nitrogen mixtures simulating the decomposition products of hydrazine. More than 300 starts were accumulated in phases with extended burn-in periods interlaced. A high degree of flow stabilization was built into the arcjet and the power supply incorporated both rapid current regulation and a high voltage, pulsed starting circuit. A nominal current level of 10 A was maintained throughout the test. Photomicrographs of the cathode tip showed a rapid recession to a steady-state operating geometry. A target of 300 starts was selected, as this represents significantly more than anticipated (150 to 240), in missions of 10 yr or less duration. Weighings showed no apparent mass loss. Some anode erosion was observed, particularly at the entrance to the constrictor. This was attributed to the brief period during startup the arc mode attachment point spends in the high pressure region upstream of the nozzle. Based on the results obtained, startup does not appear to be performance or life limiting for the number of starts typical of operational satellite applications.