cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computing controllability of systems on SO(n) over graphs

In this paper, we present a new algebraic framework that provides an effective approach to investigate controllability of systems defined on the special orthogonal group. The central idea is to map Lie bracket operations of the vector fields governing the system dynamics to permutation multiplications in a symmetric group, so that controllability and controllable submanifolds can be characterized by permutation cycles. This new notion enables a visualization of controllability analysis over an undirected graph and facilitates the design of efficient computational algorithms to examine controllability and identify the controllable submanifold by computing permutation cycles. Furthermore, the developed methodology reveals the relationship between controllability of a system and connectivity of the associated graph, which renders a transparent way to understand controllability over graphs. The method is directly applicable to characterize the degree of controllability and reachability of systems defined on compact Lie groups and on graphs, such as quantum networks, multi-agent systems, and Markov chains.
Preliminary Results from the GATE Acoustic Echo Sounder

An acoustic echo sounder mounted on the NOAA ship Oceanographer during GATE proved to be a valuable tool for investigating the structure and dynamics of the tropical marine boundary layer up to 800 m in height. Under suppressed weather conditions the facsimile-recorded echo intensity returns depicted a mixed layer characterized by convective plumes rising from the surface of the water to 400 m. Disturbed weather events resulted in a substantial modification of the boundary layer; layered structures formed that at times limited the depth of the mixed layer to 100 m. The Doppler frequency shift of the acoustic returns made it possible to determine the vertical velocity field.
Trans fats, the rational consumer, and the role of government.

It is difficult to argue that consumers are maximizing their welfare by consuming trans fats, particularly because the production and taste costs of replacing them do not outweigh the health benefits. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Implantation des sites de soins communautaires en République Démocratique du Congo: consécration d'un double standard dans l'accès aux soins

Depuis 2005, la Republique Democratique du Congo a amorce l’implantation des sites de soins communautaires. Cette strategie a pour objectif de rapprocher les services de sante des populations eloignees. Bien que cela parte d’une bonne intention, elle resulte, a notre sens, en une consecration d’un systeme de sante a deux vitesses. En effet, les populations vivant en ville ont acces a des soins prestes par des agents de sante formes alors que celles vivant en milieu rural recule ont pour prestataires de soins des relais communautaires. Cette situation marginalise encore plus des populations dont la situation geographique est deja preoccupante. Pourtant, la population est prete a parcourir des kilometres en echange d’un service qu’elle estime de qualite.
In vivo utilization of oxygen and glucose by neoplastic tissue.

The biological role of oxygen utilization and glucose consumption in the survival and growth of tumors was first emphasized by Warburg (1,2). For many years the experimental approach in this field relied upon manometric techniques, tissue slices, and homogenates. The overriding preoccupation of investigators was the aerobic glycolysis as a lesion pathognomonic of neoplastic transformation. Only in 1961 (3) was a tumor preparation developed which permitted measurements of oxygen and glucose consumption by solid tumors in vivo following standard physiological procedures (4–9).
Bird Songs and Avian Systematics

Song has been used widely in the systematic study of bird species and their relationships in the past two decades. The similarity of songs among different populations provides a test of the species identity of isolated or remote populations. As song is used in social and sexual behavior, we can test whether different populations respond to each other’s behavior. Systematists have used song differences and experiments to determine species limits among remote populations (Rowley, 1970; Lanyon, 1978; Martens, 1980, 1982; Payne, 1973a, 1982). The conditions under which song is a reliable guide to species relationships have not generally been considered. How similar must songs be for populations to be considered conspecific, or how different to support a hypothesis of species distinctiveness? How reliable are song playback experiments? How adequate are studies that compare songs alone? What effect does song learning have on the usefulness of song as a guide to species limits? In addition, systematists are interested in song as a guide to relationships among species. Several reviews of song in systematics have indicated that song may be more useful at the species level than at higher levels (Mayr, 1956; Lohrl, 1963; Thielcke, 1964; Lanyon, 1969; Selander, 1971). Is song a reliable guide to the phylogenetic history of speciation? Has cultural evolution within related species obscured their biological relationships?
An Artificial Circadian System for a Slow and Persistent Robot

As robots become persistent agents in natural, dynamic environments, the ability to understand and predict how that environment changes becomes more valuable. Circadian rhythms inspired this work, demonstrating that many organisms benefit from maintaining simple models of their environments and how they change. In this work, we outline an architecture for an artificial circadian system (ACS) for a robotic agent. This entails two questions: how to model the environment, and how to adapt robot behavior based on those models. Modeling is handled by treating relevant environment states as time series, to build a model and forecast future values of that state. The forecasts are considered special percepts, a prediction of the future state rather than a measurement of the current state. An ethologically-based action-selection model incorporates this knowledge into the agent’s decision making. The approach was tested on a simulated precision agricultural task - pest monitoring with a solar powered robot - where it improved performance and energy management.
Interrogating the conformational dynamics of BetP transport

Secondary active transporters are exquisite biological machines that finely tune the chemical composition of cells. They can extract a substrate that may be at a low concentration in the surrounding environment, such as a nutrient or amino acid, and sequester it into the cell against its
Bug Hide-and-Seek: An Educational Game for Investigating Verification Accuracy in Software Tests

This Innovative Practice Full Paper describes a pedagogical technique for introducing unit testing within software engineering courses. The Bug Hide-and-Seek educational game reinforces testing principles by requiring students to develop some correct solutions as well as some other solutions that intentionally contain bugs. While developing the correct and buggy solutions, students also write corresponding tests that should identify whether each solution contains bugs or exhibits acceptable behavior. Consequently, the first goal of the game is to hide a clever bug that will trick other students’ tests into passing the implementation, despite the hidden bug. The second goal is to write thorough tests that can accurately differentiate correct from incorrect software behavior. We introduce the motivation, pedagogy, and preliminary analysis of two variations of the Bug Hide-and-Seek game, while comparing their tradeoffs. The between-subject variation considers each student’s test suite in its entirety. The within-subject variation requires more sophisticated analysis, but considers each individual function along with its corresponding tests, which provides more granular insight and specific feedback to students. We conducted a pilot study of both variations over two semesters of students (n=87) playing the Bug Hide-and-Seek game. We found that students’ test True Positive Rate and True Negative Rate at verifying implementations are both significant predictors of a lack of bugs in their own solution.
Hematology and hemostasis in the horse: normal functions and common abnormalities.

Normal erythrocyte and leukocyte kinetics and normal hemostatic function are reviewed with emphasis on those aspects that are clinically significant. Common abnormalities of erythrocytes, leukocytes and hemostasis in horses, and laboratory tests appropriate for detecting and evaluating these changes are discussed. Interpretation of the results of these tests is emphasized.
Dementia, Healthcare Decision Making, and Disability Law

Persons with dementia often prefer to participate in decisions about their health care, but may be prevented from doing so because healthcare decision-making law facilitates use of advance directives or surrogate decision makers for persons with decisional impairments such as dementia. Federal and state disability law provide alternative decision-making models that do not prevent persons with mild to moderate dementia from making their own healthcare decisions at the time the decision needs to be made. In order to better promote autonomy and wellbeing, persons with dementia should be accommodated and supported so they can make their own healthcare decisions.
Simulated Photovoltaic Solar Panels Alter the Seed Bank Survival of Two Desert Annual Plant Species

Seed bank survival underpins plant population persistence but studies on seed bank trait-environment interactions are few. Changes in environmental conditions relevant to seed banks occur in desert ecosystems owing to solar energy development. We developed a conceptual model of seed bank survival to complement methodologies using in-situ seed bank packets. Using this framework, we quantified the seed bank survival of two closely related annual desert plant species, one rare (Eriophyllum mohavense) and one common (Eriophyllum wallacei), and the seed bank–environment interactions of these two species in the Mojave Desert within a system that emulates microhabitat variation associated with solar energy development. We tracked 4860 seeds buried across 540 seed packets and found, averaged across both species, that seed bank survival was 21% and 6% for the first and second growing seasons, respectively. After two growing seasons, the rare annual had a significantly greater seed bank survival (10%) than the common annual (2%). Seed bank survival across both species was significantly greater in shade (10%) microhabitats compared to runoff (5%) and control microhabitats (3%). Our study proffers insight into this early life-stage across rare and common congeners and their environmental interactions using a novel conceptual framework for seed bank survival.
Freire's Conscientization, Dialogue, And Liberation: Personal Reflections on Classroom Discussions of Marginality

Using Freire's notions of conscientization, dialogue, and liberation, the author reflects on how he has engaged a student-centered dialogue in his teaching in general and in discussions of sexism, heterosexism, homophobia, and transphobia in particular. More specifically, he examines how this dialogic process enables his students and himself to (re)discover ways in which they can liberate themselves by exposing normalizing discourses and dominant ideologies, examining the relationship between oppressor and oppressed, shifting from object to subject positions, and (re)negotiating power relations.
Bicycle Wheel System Identification and Optimal Truing Control for Mechatronic Systems

This work utilizes system identification methods to develop an empirical model of a spoked bicycle wheel. The model is employed to determine the optimal tension adjustments necessary to align the wheel in lateral and radial directions while maintaining uniform spoke tension. The technique allows the mean tension of the spokes to be adjusted independently from variations around the mean. Additionally, a control algorithm is developed that uses lateral feedback and predicted intermediate wheel states to bring the wheel into alignment to a desired tension. Experimental validation of the algorithm is demonstrated on a poorly tensioned and misaligned wheel.
Montage: A General System for Buffered Durably Linearizable Data Structures.

The recent emergence of fast, dense, nonvolatile main memory suggests that certain long-lived data might remain in its natural pointer-rich format across program runs and hardware reboots. Operations on such data must be instrumented with explicit write-back and fence instructions to ensure consistency in the wake of a crash. Techniques to minimize the cost of this instrumentation are an active topic of research. We present what we believe to be the first general-purpose approach to building buffered durably linearizable persistent data structures, and a system, Montage, to support that approach. Montage is built on top of the Ralloc nonblocking persistent allocator. It employs a slow-ticking epoch clock, and ensures that no operation appears to span an epoch boundary. It also arranges to persist only that data minimally required to reconstruct the structure after a crash. If a crash occurs in epoch $e$, all work performed in epochs $e$ and $e-1$ is lost, but work from prior epochs is preserved. We describe the implementation of Montage, argue its correctness, and report unprecedented throughput for persistent queues, sets/mappings, and general graphs.
“Here I Don’t Feel Like a Stranger”: Adolescents’ Perspectives on School-Based Health Centers:

This study explored adolescent perspectives on school-based health center (SBHC) services and how services differed from school nurses and community agencies. Six focus groups were conducted with a...
Moving talk forward: novice science teachers approximate the practice of leading science discourse

Effective classroom discourse is a critical yet complex component to learning science [Achieve. (2013). Next generation science standards: For states, by states. The National Academies Press]. This...
Efficacy of Hypochlorite in Disinfesting Non-fungal Plant Pathogens in Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Production: A Meta-analysis.

Bleach products containing hypochlorite are commonly used as disinfestants to eliminate non-fungal plant pathogens from production surfaces, tools, plant surfaces, irrigation water, and produce dum...
IoT based Incentivized Tech Bins for Smart Cities

With the growing population, the amount of waste generated by the public also increases drastically. Without a proper solution, waste is being thrown by passersby in open areas in the public. This leads to the accumulation of waste in random areas and it becomes tedious to clear up later on. This also becomes a growing hazard for the environment and the living organisms. It inhibits the growth of flora and fauna and becomes a breeding ground for numerous diseases and pests. This has a direct effect on the health of the population and may lead to permanent damage to the earth. This should hence be controlled as soon as possible to avert immense consequences. In today's world, many systems are being IoT automated. This helps reduce the amount of human effort that is required to operate and maintain systems which in turn reduces human error. With the involvement of IoT, a mass amount of data is also being produced in real-time and the proper interpretation of this data should be done. An interface that has ways to interpret and depict this data is very useful. This will help interpret and analyze the data and conclude various inferences that help in decision-making and future development. This interface should be simple and user-friendly so that people can operate it with minimal requirements or qualifications. This system provides a solution to waste management wherein the citizens of the country are encouraged to throw waste in the waste bins through incentivized technology. The users can find out suitable locations to throw away their waste using IoT components embedded in the dustbins that indicate the status of the dustbins in the locality and also calculate various other data. The Raspberry Pi enables the data to be collected which can then be sent to the cloud to be further processed over the cloud server. This data is then administered by the admin who then takes the appropriate decisions on when to deploy the garbage collecting trucks when suitable.
Electronic Structure of Non-Stoichiometric Transition Metal Hydrides

We review the theoretical work concerning the effects of non-stoichiometry on the electronic spectra of transition metal hydrides. The treatment of these effects generally falls outside the scope of the conventional Bloch band theory. However, the recently developed techniques of band theory of random alloys can be applied to this problems by modelling the metal-hydrogen system as an “alloy” of hydrogen atoms and vacancies. This approach involves the use of the average t-matrix (ATA) and coherent potential (CPA) approximations within the Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker framework. We discuss the premises underlying such a scheme and the progress that has been possible on this basis in understanding the metal-hydrogen system.
A 1.8V three-stage 25GHz 3dB-BW differential non-uniform downsized distributed amplifier

A three-stage nonuniform downsized distributed amplifier is realized in a 0.18/spl mu/m SiGe process, using CMOS transistors only. The amplifier achieves the differential forward gain of 7.8dB over a 25GHz bandwidth and an IIP3 of +4.7dBm. The 1.025/spl times/1.29mm/sup 2/ chip dissipates 54mW from a 1.8V supply.
Artifactual Symbols: The Catalytic Role of Material Culture in the Emergence of Symbolic Thought

The emergence of symbolic representation during human evolution is a central topic for evolutionary cognitive archaeology. Symbols appear to be intimately related to the behavioral modernity that emerges in human groups after c.500,000 years ago. Archaeologists have traditionally applied theoretical conceptualizations of symbolic representation borrowed from semiotics or cognitive science. I argue that these concepts are not applicable in Pleistocene archaeology. In fact, they also neglect the essential characteristic of symbols: tangibility or potential tangibility. Symbols are artifacts. I propose an artifactual symbol concept. A focus on tangibility provides insight into how symbols scaffolded an enhancement of analytical thinking that ultimately supported the traits associated with behavioral modernity.
Hypothalamo-adenohypophyseal-thyroid interrelationships in the chick embryo. VI. Midgestational adenohypophyseal sensitivity to thyrotrophin-releasing hormone.

Abstract The functional abilities of 9.5-, 10.5-, 11.5-, and 12.5-day-old chick embryos to respond to exogenous thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) were evaluated by means of changes in plasma total thyroxine (T 4 ). T 4 concentrations were determined 3.0, 6.0, 12.0, and 24.0 hr after TRH treatment. The data of the present investigation show that chick embryo adenohypophyseal sensitivity to exogenous TRH, as evidenced by changes in plasma T 4 levels, increase during the 10.5- to 12.5-day incubation interval; however, the pattern and magnitude of plasma T 4 response to administered TRH change markedly between Days 10.5 and 11.5 of development. This modification of the adenohypophyseal response pattern corresponds in embryonic time with the previously reported increases in immunocytochemically demonstrable TSH cells within the adenohypophysis ( R. C. Thommes, J. B. Martens, W. E. Hopkins, D. A. Griesbach, D. J. Williams, M. J. Sorrentino, P. Wernke, and J. E. Woods, 1981 , In ‘Ninth International Symposium of Comparative Endocrinology”; R. C. Thommes, J. B. Martens, W. E. Hopkins, M. J. Sorrentino, J. C. Caliendo, and J. E. Woods, 1983 , Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 51 , 434–443).
Effects of strain and age on prophylaxis and co-carcinogenesis of urethan-induced mouse lung adenomas by butylated hydroxytoluene.

A single i.p. injection of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) 6 h before a single urethan injection had varying effects on lung tumorigenesis in mice of different strains and ages. Strains exhibiting both high (A/J, SWR/J) and low (BALB/cByJ, 129/J, C57BL/6J) susceptibility to urethan tumorigenesis were tested in this study. BHT treatment decreased tumor multiplicity by an average of 32% in adult A/J mice but acted as a cocarcinogen by increasing tumor number 48% in adult SWR/J mice, 240% in adult C57BL/6J mice, 655% in adult 129/J mice, and 38% in 14-day-old A/J mice. The numbers of both alveolar type 2 cell-derived and bronchiolar Clara cell-derived lung adenomas were similarly affected by these BHT treatments. Such BHT pre-treatment had no effect on adenoma multiplicity in either young or adult BALB/cByJ mice. Multiplicity in young BALB/cByJ mice was also unaffected by chronic BHT administration following urethan, even though multiplicities increased several-fold with such treatment in adult mice of this strain. Since the mice showing co-carcinogenesis by BHT include strains which are both highly susceptible and relatively resistant to urethan induction of lung tumors, our results support a distinction between genes regulating susceptibility to urethan carcinogenesis and to tumor modulation by BHT.
School-level economic disadvantage and obesity in middle school children in central Texas, USA: a cross-sectional study.

Although children of lower socio-economic status (SES) in the United States have generally been found to be at greater risk for obesity, the SES-obesity association varies when stratified by racial/ethnic groups-with no consistent association found for African American and Hispanic children. Research on contextual and setting-related factors may provide further insights into ethnic and SES disparities in obesity. We examined whether obesity levels among central Texas 8th grade students (n=2682) vary by school-level economic disadvantage across individual-level family SES and racial/ethnicity groups. As a secondary aim, we compared the association of school-level economic disadvantage and obesity by language spoken with parents (English or Spanish) among Hispanic students. Multilevel regression models stratified by family SES and ethnicity were run using cross-sectional baseline data from five school districts participating in the Central Texas CATCH Middle School project. For family SES, independent multi-level logistic regression models were run for total sample and by gender for each family SES stratum (poor/near poor/just getting by, living comfortably, and very well off), adjusting for age, ethnicity, and gender. Similarly, multi-level regression models were run by race/ethnic group (African American, Hispanic, and White), adjusting for age, family SES, and gender. Students attending highly economically disadvantaged (ED) schools were between 1.7 (95% CI: 1.1-2.6) and 2.4 (95% CI: 1.2-4.8) times more likely to be obese as students attending low ED schools across family SES groups (p<.05). African American (ORAdj =3.4, 95% CI: 1.1-11.4), Hispanic (ORAdj=1.8, 95% CI 1.1-3.0) and White (ORAdj=3.8, 95% CI: 1.6-8.9) students attending high ED schools were more likely to be obese as counterparts at low ED schools (p<.05). Gender-stratified findings were similar to findings for total sample, although fewer results reached significance. While no obesity differences across school ED categories were found for Hispanic Spanish-speaking students, Hispanic English-speaking students (HES) attending high ED schools were 2.4 times more likely to be obese as HES students at low ED schools (p=.003). Findings support the need to prioritize economically disadvantaged schools for obesity prevention efforts and support further exploration of school SES context in shaping children’s physical activity and dietary behaviors.
The Relative Roles of Syntax and Prosody in the Perception of the /š/ -/č/ Distinction

A silent interval that cues the /s/-/c/ distinction in many contexts is less likely to do so when it coincides with certain boundaries. In natural speech these boundaries are generally marked by both prosody and syntax. We independently varied syntax and prosody to assess their contributions to the phonetic interpretation of silences occurring at these boundaries. We used a set of four sentences, four durations of silence, and two prosodic patterns (Experiment I). We constructed sentences using three techniques that differed in the amount of prosodic control and in naturalness: synthesis by rule, concatenation of naturally produced syllables, and cross-splicing of naturally produced utterances. Silence duration had a strong effect on the perception of the /s/-/c/ contrast in all conditions. For the Synthetic Condition, we also found a strong effect of the prosodic pattern. We found no evidence of any purely syntactic effect. In Experiment II, the two syllables surrounding the silence were excised from the...
Metabolism of Acylanilide Herbicides1

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the transformations of acylanilides, as mediated by microorganisms and other biological systems, and results of studies at the enzyme level. It presents an unexpected type of metabolic product, which is used to support generalizations concerning the influence of molecular configuration on the biochemical transformation of acylanilides and related herbicides. The pathways proposed for acylanilide metabolism are applied in part to the metabolism of other compounds that also contain a substituted aniline moiety. Biochemical and ecological pathways are proposed for the production and movement of metabolites of the herbicides in various environments, and their biological activities are described and discussed. Some novel reactions and unexpected products have been observed. The pathways of acylanilide metabolism are still incompletely defined, but according to present knowledge, they terminate with various aniline complexes and azo compounds. Since some anilines and azo compounds have undesirable biological effects constitute a health hazard, recognition of their existence as environmental pollutants constitutes an obligation to further investigation and to a clarification of their ultimate fate.
WE‐AB‐BRB‐03: Investigation of a Small Photomultiplier‐Based Probe for Use in Beam Diagnostics and Medical Dosimetry

Purpose: Investigate the use of a small photomultiplier-based probe as a possible beam diagnostic and medical dosimetry tool. Methods: Cerenkov emission produced by clinical accelerator beams was detected by a small photomultiplier tube (PMT). Measurements of Clinac beams were made both in air and by inserting the PMT directly into a water phantom. A conical collimator placed in front of the PMT reduced the angular acceptance and the detection of scattered light. With this arrangement, we obtained response curves as a function of depth along the central axis similar in shape and magnitude to those obtained with ionization chambers. Subsequent measurements were made with the PMT covered in aluminum foil, obtaining a signal arising primarily from direct Cerenkov light produced in the glass entrance window. With an oscilloscope and amplifier/MCA system, we were able to monitor the response to individual beam pulses and observe variations in the beam pulse shape and magnitude as a function of dose rate. Results: Using Cerenkov signals detected by a PMT, we were able to obtain reasonable beam quality metrics, and the response was found to be linear over a range of dose rates. The fast response of the PMT allowed for the observation of small changes in the shape and magnitude of the beam pulse. With this system we were able to detect small changes in the dose per pulse delivered by the accelerator. Conclusion: A small PMT probe has shown promise as a beam diagnostic and medical dosimetry tool. Its fast response allows for real time beam pulse monitoring, and the integrated response can yield relative and perhaps even absolute dose information with a properly calibrated system. For accelerator diagnostics, monitoring of the beam pulse shape can aid in beam tuning, particularly in electron mode, where no target current pulse is available.
The Landscape of Urban Preservation: A Spatial Analysis of Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credits in Richmond, Virginia

Historic preservationists tout the federal historic rehabilitation tax credit (RTC) as one of the nation’s most successful urban revitalization programs, but minimal research exists on the local us...
Measuring acculturative stress with the SAFE: Evidence for longitudinal measurement invariance and associations with life satisfaction

Abstract International graduate students in the U.S. (N = 468) completed the Social, Attitudinal, Familial, and Environmental Acculturative Stress Scale (SAFE; Mena, Padilla, & Maldonado, 1987) three times in successive semesters. Confirmatory analyses of competing measurement models led to a revised version of the scale that was further supported through tests of longitudinal measurement invariance. Associations between acculturative stress (General stress, Family stress) and life satisfaction generally revealed significant inverse relations both within and between time-points.
Transoral resection of the odontoid

Abstract The odontoid process is located in a critical area of the spine and is part of a complex structure, the atlanto-axial junction. This C1-2 junction allows for a great deal of cervical mobility in planes of rotation, flexion, and extension. Lesions of the odontoid process and associated ligaments can result in compression of the brainstem, cervicomedullary junction, and spinal cord. Resultant symptoms include weakness, spasticity, lower cranial nerve palsies, including difficulty in swallowing, phonation disorders, Bell's cruciate paralysis, and breathing disorders. Patients with lesions in this area require a thorough neurological and otolaryngologic evaluation. The reducibility of the lesion needs to be determined as an operative prerequisite. Extensive multimodality radiographic imaging may be required pre-, intra-, and postoperatively. Transoral surgery of the odontoid is technically demanding and requires a thorough understanding of the relevant anatomy and pathology. Perioperative and intraoperative adjuncts such as the operating microscope, fluoroscopy, image guidance instruments, high-speed air drills, and somatosensory-evoked monitoring help to expedite the surgery and reduce the risk of complications. Postoperative instability must be assessed and treated. A team consisting of a spine surgeon, anesthesiologists, otolaryngologists, and critical care physicians skilled in managing patients with similar conditions may provide the best possible outcome for these patients. This article reviews the pertinent patient evaluation, imaging studies, surgical indications and techniques, and post-operative management.
Knowledge-based control systems for single stem rose production. Part I : Systems analysis and design

Systems analysis was performed to develop knowledge-based control systems (KBS) for single stem rose production. System components and control strategies for the KBS were identified from the analysis. The control strategy for daytime temperatures was derived by balancing the conflicting goals of rose production and costs of environmental modification. Nighttime temperature control strategy was determined through qualitative reasoning of the relationship between the plant’s photosynthetic efficiency and respiratory energy metabolism. A fuzzy inference paradigm was applied to facilitate system design. Two fuzzy inference systems (FIS) were designed to determine the daytime and nighttime greenhouse set point temperatures. A set of experiments was conducted to obtain the information on dimensional measurements of single stem rose (Rosa hybrida L., cv. Lady Diana) and the corresponding stem dry weight. An adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) was devised that predicted the dry weight for single stem roses from simple nondestructive measurements. An on-line computational algorithm for greenhouse heating and ventilation costs was developed according to the daily energy consumption of each component of heating and ventilation equipment. Two sets of rule bases were derived for daytime and nighttime temperature settings.
Do we understand the inner magnetotail dynamics during substorms

Abstract Substorm evolution of the near-Earth (|X| E ) plasma sheet has been emphasized recently because the inner tail is thought to link closely to the substorm auroral activity in the ionosphere during the early stage of substorms. In this paper, we discuss how the inner tail substorm phenomena during the late substorm growth phase and early expansion phase are accounted for by the two prevailing substorm models, namely, the near-Earth neutral line model and the current disruption model. We find that the late growth phase features are more satisfactorily accounted for by the current disruption model than by the near-Earth neutral line model. In addition, detailed observations on current disruption show evidence inconsistent with the proposed idea of dipolarization being due to plasma flow braking from reconnection in the mid-tail region, which poses a difficulty to the near-Earth neutral line model as well.
Regulation of Cisplatin Cytotoxicity by Cu Influx Transporters

Platinum drugs are an important class of cancer chemotherapeutics. However, the use of these drugs is limited by the development of resistance during treatment with decreased accumulation being a common mechanism. Both Cu transporters CTR1 and CTR2 influence the uptake and cytotoxicity of cisplatin. Although it is structurally similar to CTR1, CTR2 functions in a manner opposite to that of CTR1 with respect to Pt drug uptake. Whereas knockout of CTR1 reduces Pt drug uptake, knockdown of CTR2 enhances cisplatin uptake and cytotoxicity. CTR2 is subject to transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation by both Cu and cisplatin; this regulation is partly dependent on the Cu chaperone ATOX1. Insight into the mechanisms by which CTR1 and CTR2 regulate sensitivity to the Pt-containing drugs has served as the basis for novel pharmacologic strategies for improving their efficacy.
Error Analysis and Uncertainty in the Determination of Aerosol Optical Properties Using Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy, Integrating Nephelometry, and the Extinction-Minus-Scattering Method

Despite the substantial improvements in the measurements of aerosol physical and chemical properties and in the direct and indirect radiative effects of aerosols, there is still a need for studying the properties of aerosols under controlled laboratory conditions to develop a mechanistic and quantitative understanding of aerosol formation, chemistry, and dynamics. In this work, we present the factors that affect measurement accuracy and the resulting uncertainties of the extinction-minus-scattering method using a combination of cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) and integrating nephelometry at a wider range of optical wavelengths than previously attempted. Purely scattering polystyrene latex (PSL) spheres with diameters from 107–303 nm and absorbing polystyrene spheres (APSL) with 390 nm diameter were used to determine the consistency and agreement, within experimental uncertainties, of CRDS and nephelometer values with theoretical calculations derived from Mie theory for non-absorbing spheres. Overall ...
Stress-corrosion crack growth of Si-Na-K-Mg-Ca-P-O bioactive glasses in simulated human physiological environment.

This paper describes research on the stress-corrosion crack growth (SCCG) behavior of a new series of bioactive glasses designed to fabricate coatings on Ti and Co-Cr-based implant alloys. These glasses should provide improved implant fixation between implant and exhibit good mechanical stability in vivo. It is then important to develop an understanding of the mechanisms that control environmentally-assisted crack growth in this new family of glasses and its effect on their reliability. Several compositions have been tested in both static and cyclic loading in simulated body fluid. These show only small dependences of stress-corrosion crack growth behavior on the composition. Traditional SCCG mechanisms for silicate glasses appear to be operative for the new bioactive glasses studied here. At higher velocities, hydrodynamic effects reduce growth rates under conditions that would rarely pertain for small natural flaws in devices.
Electron temperature and radiative attachment continua in enclosed inductively coupled plasma in argon and chlorine

Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) discharges in chlorine, argon, and their mixtures sustained inside a spherical quartz container at atmospheric pressure have been investigated. Continua of radiative attachment of a free electron to a chlorine atom in ICP are elucidated and are utilized to derive a spatial profile of electron temperature. A qualitative picture of elementary processes in enclosed ICP is given. Differences between electron and gas temperatures are discussed. Electron temperature is maximum in a periphery layer near the induction coil that is chosen for impurity determination. Concentrations of carbon and metal impurities are estimated.
Vagal control of left ventricular contractility is selectively mediated by a cranioventricular intracardiac ganglion in the cat.

Abstract Activation of the vagus nerve leads to decreases in sinoatrial (SA) rate, atrioventricular (AV) conduction, and myocardial contractility. Previous data are consistent with the hypothesis that vagal control of cardiac rate and AV conduction are mediated by two anatomically separated and physiologically independent parasympathetic intracardiac ganglia located in fat pads on the surface of the right and left atria, respectively. These data suggested that vagal control of ventricular contractility might be mediated through another intracardiac ganglion. We examined the ventricles of cat hearts histologically for the presence of ganglia. Multiple small basophilic ganglia composed of a few neurons, and an occasional larger ganglion were found embedded in the epicardial fat surrounding the cranial margin of the anterior surface of the left ventricle, near the juncture with the right ventricle, which we refer to as the CV ganglion. In anesthetized cats, right cervical vagal stimulation decreased SA rate by 44±5%, decreased the rate of AV conduction by 68±14%, and reduced ventricular contractility by 19.5±5.7%. Vagally induced negative inotropism was almost completely prevented by microinjection of a ganglionic blocking drug into the CV ganglion. However, these injections into the CV ganglion did not significantly effect vagally induced decreases in either SA rate or AV conduction. We conclude: (1) that ganglia are found in a fat pad on the surface of the left ventricle of the cat heart and (2) that the CV ganglion selectively mediates the negative inotropic effect of vagal stimulation on the left ventricle. Greater understanding of the physiological functions of intracardiac neuronal circuits may help in developing new strategies to treat disorders of cardiac contractility such as congestive heart failure.
Analysis of antibody reactivities in ELISA using protein blots as antigen substrates: S-ELISA☆

We describe here a novel immunoassay procedure, designated strip-ELISA (S-ELISA), in which specific antigens are purified by SDS-PAGE, transferred to support membranes, and utilized in situ as substrate in routine ELISA procedures. Using two different lentivirus systems, simian immunodeficiency virus and equine infectious anemia virus, we demonstrate the utility of S-ELISA for screening hybridoma supernatants during production of monoclonal antibodies and for the dissection of polyclonal antibody responses into defined antigen specificities. The data presented here indicates that the S-ELISA combines the sensitivity of conventional ELISA with the specificity afforded by Western blotting procedures, producing a relatively simple and versatile assay for evaluating antibody reactivities.
The hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor.

Asialo- (i.e., galactose-terminal) glycoproteins are specifically and avidly recognized by a mammalian hepatic parenchymal cell receptor. This receptor, itself a glycoprotein, binds ligand molecules and directs their delivery to lysosomes for catabolism. The receptor is reutilized during this process of receptor-mediated endocytosis. Ligand specificity is conferred by galactose or N-acetyl-galactosamine at the nonreducing termini of the oligosaccharide chains. The receptor appears to be a transmembrane protein and is localized both to the cell surface as well as to several membranous intracellular compartments.
Reactions of urocanic acid (UCA) methyl esters with singlet oxygen and 4-methyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (MTAD)

Abstract Singlet oxygen adds to the imidazole ring of cis- and trans-methyl urocanate (MUC) to yield the corresponding 2,5-endoperoxides, which are modestly stable at low temperature but decompose upon warming to form complex reaction mixtures. MTAD, a singlet oxygen mimic, reacts with cis- and trans-MUC to yield stereospecific [4+2] reaction products involving the olefinic side chain and the C4–C5 double bond of the imidazole ring. trans-MUC forms a 1:2 MTAD adduct while the cis isomer yields only the 1:1 adduct at 25 °C. The stereospecificity and absence of MeOH trapping adducts indicate that these reactions may not involve open or trappable dipolar intermediates.
A self-correcting and self-checking gas turbine meter

A new metering concept of a self-correcting and self-checking turbine meter is described in which a sensor rotor downstream from the main rotor senses and responds to changes in the exit angle of the fluid leaving the main rotor. The output from the sensor rotor is then electronically combined with the output from the main rotor to produce an adjusted output which automatically and continuously corrects to original meter calibration accuracy. This takes place despite changes in retarding torques, bearing wear and/or upstream conditions occurring in field operations over those which were experienced during calibration. The ratio of the sensor rotor output to the main rotor output at operating conditions is also automatically and continuously compared with that at calibration conditions. This provides an indication of the amount of accuracy deviation from initial calibration that is being corrected by the sensor rotor. This concept is studied theoretically and experimentally. Both the theory and test results (laboratory and field) confirm the concept's validity and practicability.
Drivers of customer satisfaction for software products: implications for design and service support

We study the key determinants of customer satisfaction with software products. Our analysis, based upon a large sample of over 2,500 customer responses, suggests that capability and usability are the critical drivers of overall customer satisfaction. We also find that the importance of seven key satisfaction factors differs across customer and product segments. Our results have significant implications for Quality Function Deployment in making design and service support choices for software products.
Constitutive activation and uncoupling of the atrial natriuretic peptide receptor by mutations at the dimer interface: Role of the dimer structure in signaling

The crystal packing of the extracellular hormone binding domain of the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) receptor contains two possible dimer pairs, the head-to-head (hh) and tail-to-tail (tt) dimer pairs associated through the membrane-distal and membrane-proximal subdomains, respectively. The tt-dimer structure has been proposed previously (van den Akker, F., Zhang, X., Miyagi, M., Huo, X., Misono, K. S., and Yee, V. C. (2000) Nature 406, 101-104). However, no direct evidence is available to identify the physiological dimer form. Here we report site-directed mutagenesis studies of residues at the two alternative dimer interfaces in the full-length receptor expressed on COS cells. The Trp74 to Arg mutation (W74R) or D71R at the hh-dimer interface caused partial constitutive guanylate cyclase activation, whereas mutation F96D or H99D caused receptor uncoupling. In contrast, mutation Y196D or L225D at the tt-interface had no such effect. His99 modification at the hh-dimer interface by ethoxyformic anhydride abolished ANP binding. These results suggest that the hh-dimer represents the physiological structure. Recently, we determined the crystal structure of ANPR complexed with ANP and proposed a hormone-induced rotation mechanism mediating transmembrane signaling (H. Ogawa, Y. Qiu, C. M. Ogata, and K. S. Misono, submitted for publication). The observed effects of mutations are consistent with the ANP-induced structural change identified from the crystal structures with and without ANP and support the proposed rotation mechanism for ANP receptor signaling.
Compression of the superior vena cava and right atrium in cardiac tamponade

Abstract In an attempt to identify specific angiographic patterns which might be useful in distinguishing cardiac tamponade from constrictive pericarditis and other causes of right atrial hypertension, we studied the angiographic and hemodynamic characteristics of 10 patients with cardiac tamponade and compared these with similar characteristics in a comparable group of patients with either constrictive pericarditis, effusive-constrictive pericarditis, or pericardial effusion with left ventricular failure. Two predictive angiographic patterns of cardiac tamponade were noted: (1) a tapering or local lateral indentation of the intrapericardial portion of the superior vena cava, and (2) an exaggerated phasic variation in the diameter of the superior vena cava at its junction with the right atrium. Using the ratio of the minimum-to-maximum diameter of the intrapericardial superior vena cava (caval compression ratio), a stepwise logistic regression indicated that when this ratio was
Effective Therapeutic Exercise Prescription: The Right Exercise at the Right Dose

The prescription of an effective therapeutic exercise program requires the right dosage of the right exercise, at the right time for that patient. The therapist must understand and apply training principles effectively in the presence of pathology, injury, or otherwise unhealthy tissue. The intervention goal is to close the gap between current performance and the desired goal or capacity. Although there may be a preferred linear path from current performance to optimal outcome, complexities of the human body, internal factors, and external variables may create barriers to this direct path. Successful programs include key program design considerations such as ensuring a stable baseline before progression, treating the right impairments and activity limitations, understanding contextual factors, considering the principles of specificity and optimal loading, and applying dosing principles. Program progression can be achieved through increases in total exercise volume and/or through manipulation of exercise challenges at the same exercise volume. Effective application of these principles will guide patients toward their goals as quickly and efficiently as possible.