cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Penalty and partitioning techniques to improve performance of QUBO solvers

Abstract Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) modeling has become a unifying framework for solving a wide variety of both unconstrained as well as constrained optimization problems. More recently, QUBO (or equivalent − 1 ∕ + 1 Ising Spin) models are a requirement for quantum annealing computers. Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) computing refers to classical computing preparing or compiling problem instances for compatibility with quantum hardware architectures. The process of converting a constrained problem to a QUBO compatible quantum annealing problem is an important part of the quantum compiler architecture and specifically when converting constrained models to unconstrained the choice of penalty magnitude is not trivial because using a large penalty to enforce constraints can overwhelm the solution landscape, while having too small a penalty allows infeasible optimal solutions. In this paper we present NISQ approaches to bound the magnitude of the penalty scalar M and demonstrate efficacy on a benchmark set of problems having a single equality constraint and present a QUBO partitioning approach validated by experimentation.
Anaerobic storage and conversion of microalgal biomass to manage seasonal variation in cultivation

Seasonal variation in microalgal biomass production is a well-known challenge when optimizing economics for algal fuel conversion, especially given the fluctuation in biomass production between win...
Self-focusing in the ocean using out-of-band phase conjugation

Abstract Phase conjugation methods have been used in underwater acoustics because of their remarkable spatial self-focusing performance in inhomogeneous, dynamically changing environments. However, phase conjugation devices have stringent constraints such as acoustic transmitters and receivers working simultaneously in the same frequency band, which complicates the implementation of these devices and prevents their wide deployment in the ocean. Here, we introduce the out-of-band phase conjugation (OBPC) for ocean acoustics through which phase conjugation waves are generated at integer multiples of the incident wave frequency. The different bands translate into remarkably simple implementations while maintaining excellent spatial focusing in challenging shallow ocean environments. Furthermore, the resolution of OBPC is significantly higher than that of conventional phase conjugation. An interesting phenomenon typical to out-of-band phase conjugation is the generation of phantom paths along which some of the energy in the phase conjugated wave is focused.
Economic determinants of public support for European integration, 1995–2018:

European support for integration is shaped by a range of economic, cultural, and political factors. However, in recent decades, scholars have argued that utilitarian calculations have become less i...
Pictorial essay: How co-registered BOLD fMRI and DTI data can improve diffusion tensor tractography

Abstract Diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) and blood oxygen level dependent fMRI are tools frequently used in the preoperative evaluation of patients with brain tumors. A major limitation of DTT is difficulty in obtaining a relatively complete, useful representation of a white matter tract of interest due to challenges with artificial truncation of tracts. This pictorial essay will illustrate how coregistration of fMRI and DTI can be performed in clinical practice to obtain better, more complete tractograms of the pyramidal tract and arcuate fasciculus in patients with brain tumors.
A Systematic Review of the Effects of Skin-to-Skin Contact on Biomarkers of Stress in Preterm Infants and Parents.

Background Premature infants and their parents experience significant stress related to separation and lifesaving procedures. While evidence suggests that skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is a stress-reducing intervention for both neonates and parents, the mechanisms that underlie its efficacy are not well understood. Objective Purpose of this systematic review is to summarize the current state of knowledge on changes in biomarkers (ie, oxytocin [OT], cortisol, hypoxanthine, xanthine, uric acid, and allantoin), associated with SSC in premature infants and parents, that may reflect physiologic responses to stress. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted from 1990 to 2020. Studies were selected using prespecified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results Of the 175 studies identified, only 19 are included in this review. Ten studies evaluated only infants, 2 evaluated only parents, and 7 evaluated for changes in biomarkers in both infants and parents. Cortisol was the most common biomarker evaluated. While changes in infants' cortisol levels were highly variable, in 55% of the parent studies, parent cortisol levels decreased following SSC. In both parents and infants, OT levels decreased following SSC. Only 1 study found that allantoin levels were significantly lower in infants who received SSC. Implications for practice and research While evidence suggests the numerous benefits of SSC, additional research is needed to identify the optimal biomarker to determine the mechanisms that underlie these effects. The use of novel biomarkers (eg, gene expression changes microbiome) may provide new insights into the mechanisms that underlie the efficacy of SSC.Video Abstract available at:https://journals.lww.com/advancesinneonatalcare/Pages/videogallery.aspx.
A Revised Incremental Conductance MPPT Algorithm for Solar PV Generation Systems.

A revised Incremental Conductance (IncCond) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm for PV generation systems is proposed in this paper. The commonly adopted traditional IncCond method uses a constant step size for voltage adjustment and is difficult to achieve both a good tracking performance and quick elimination of the oscillations, especially under the dramatic changes of the environment conditions. For the revised algorithm, the incremental voltage change step size is adaptively adjusted based on the slope of the power-voltage (P-V) curve. An accelerating factor and a decelerating factor are further applied to adjust the voltage step change considering whether the sign of the P-V curve slope remains the same or not in a subsequent tracking step. In addition, the upper bound of the maximum voltage step change is also updated considering the information of sign changes. The revised MPPT algorithm can quickly track the maximum power points (MPPs) and remove the oscillation of the actual operation points around the real MPPs. The effectiveness of the revised algorithm is demonstrated using a simulation.
ONE DIMENSIONALITY OF DEUTERON VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION FOR CLUSTER-IMPACT FUSION

In cluster-impact fusion, the width of the proton energy spectrum gives information about the temperature of the fusing deuterons, and its shape reflects the dimensionality of their velocity distribution. The observed symmetrical spectrum implies a one-dimensional distribution, whereas a three-dimensional distribution would result in a skewed spectrum. One dimensionality implies either extremely rapid thermalization in the beam direction, or the possibility of beam ion fusion.
Molecular biology of the growth hormone-prolactin gene system.

Publisher Summary Both have assumed distinct physiological profiles. The expression of each depends on appropriate developmental differentiation of somatotrope and lactotrope cells in the anterior pituitary and of syncytiotrophoblasts in the placenta. Expression of these hormones is controlled primarily at the level of gene transcription. Alternative processing of the GH and Prl RNA transcripts increases the complexity of the encoded protein products. Physiological functions of GH and Prl depend on expression of appropriate cognate receptors on the surfaces of target tissues. The GH and Prl receptors are expressed in a wide range of tissues, and the transcripts are subject to alternative RNA processing. Naturally occurring mutations have been identified that interfere with differentiation of somatotropes and lactotropes that specifically block expression of the GH gene, or that block expression of fuctional GH receptors. The phenotype for Prl deficiency has not yet been described, although children deficient in Prl gene expression have been identified. Thus, the physiological, biochemical, and genetic studies on the GH and Prl gene system have generated an interlocking set of data that forms a firm foundation for future investigations and serves as a prototype for studies of related systems.
On the Genesis of Inflated (and Deflated) Judgments of Responsibility: Egocentrism Revisited

Prior research has found that people tend to overestimate their relative contributions to joint tasks (e.g., Ross & Sicoly, 1979). In the present research we investigate one of the causes of this bias, and in doing so, identify an important moderator of the effect. In three studies we demonstrate that when people estimate their relative contributions to collective endeavors they focus on their own contributions and give less consideration to the contributions of their collaborators. This can cause overestimation of relative contributions when absolute contributions are numerous, but underestimation of relative contributions when absolute contributions are few. These results extend Ross & Sicoly's (1979) original egocentrism analysis of bias in responsibility attributions, but also suggest that the tendency to overestimate one's relative contributions to collaborations is not as ubiquitous as once thought.
CORONAL DIAGNOSTICS WITH COORDINATED RADIO AND EUV/SOFT X-RAY OBSERVATIONS

A brief review is provided of what has been learned about the solar corona from existing coordinated radio and EUV (or soft X-ray) observations. Topics include: introduction to radio thermal bremsstrahlung and thermal gyroemission; two-dimensional coronal magnetography measurements; measurements of coronal elemental abundances; measurements of physical properties of quasitransverse (QT) layers in the coronal magnetic field; and three-dimensional coronal magnetography measurements (the primary subject of this Chapter). Results from these studies are used to help focus on coronal diagnostics that can be performed with similar coordinated observations involving FASR, as well as to recommend FASR instrument requirements.
Fetal hemoglobin as an index of maturity.

Abstract The percentage of fetal hemoglobin was determined in 200 samples of cord blood and an attempt was made to correlate this percentage with fetal age and weight. In the term group fetal hemoglobin varied from 55 to 95 per cent with an average of 73.3 per cent. The preterm group averaged 80.6 per cent with a range of 66 to 92 per cent, while the postterm group had an average of 67.6 per cent with a range of 42 to 80 per cent. The average per cent of fetal hemoglobin in infants weighing between 2,500 grams and 4,000 grams was 74.1 per cent. Those infants below 2,500 grams had an average of 84.6 per cent and those over 4,000 grams had an average of 66.2 per cent.
Acquiescence, Objection and the Death of Customary International Law

This piece, which appeared in a colloquium commenting on Curtis Bradley & Mitu Gulati, Withdrawing from International Custom, 120 Yale L.J. 202 (2010), focuses on whether customary international law (CIL) norms can ever be supplanted. This essay examines the phenomenon of persistent objection in the formation of CIL rules, as well as the potential for such norms to enter desuetude or to be affirmatively altered. The essay offers a coherent theory for CIL formation and dissolution, consistent with the underlying dynamism and legitimacy of this source for international legal obligation. Parts of this essay appeared in the author's recent volume, CUSTOM AS A SOURCE OF LAW (Cambridge University Press 2010).
Effects of Antioxidants and Pro-oxidants on Cytotoxicity of Dihydroartemisinin to Molt-4 Human Leukemia Cells

BACKGROUND The objective of the present study was to investigate how oxidative status influences the effectiveness of cytotoxicity of artemisinin towards cancer cells. It is hypothesized that antioxidants would reduce, whereas pro-oxidants would enhance, cytotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS Molt-4 human leukemia cells were incubated with vitamins C, E, D3, dexamethasone, or hydrogen peroxide alone or in combination with dihydroartemisinin (DHA). Concentrations of these compounds studied were similar to those achievable by oral administration. Viable cell counts were performed before (0 h) and at, 24 and 48 h after treatment. RESULTS Vitamin C, vitamin D3, dexamethasone, and H2O2 caused significant Molt-4 cell death. Vitamin E caused an increase in Molt-4 cell growth. Vitamin C and vitamin D3 significantly interacted with DHA at the 48-h time point and with H2O2 at both 24-h and 48-h time points. CONCLUSION Cellular oxidative status could alter the potency of artemisinin in killing cancer cells.
NAIL-ing the Diagnosis: Real Neurologists Pay Attention to the Nails (P1.030)

OBJECTIVE: To review important diagnostic clues that can be gleaned by the neurologist from examination of the nails. BACKGROUND: Nails are the cutaneous appendages at the dorsal terminus of each digit, that protect the ends of the digits and assists in grasping. Minimal attention is paid to teaching medical students, interns, and neurologists how to recognize disorders of the nails, despite the obvious clinical importance. As such, many neurologists neglect examining the nails, with potentially serious consequences (e.g. missing a subungual melanoma, an underlying collagen vascular disease, occult malignancy, or a treatable nutritional deficiency). Further, many neurologists may be unable to recognize the precise nail abnormality or correctly communicate these findings (or at least, search for it on the internet). DESIGN/METHODS: We reviewed the literature for information regarding nail disorders that may occur in neurologic disorders, or in systemic conditions that may result in neurological manifestations. RESULTS: Nail abnormalities can offer important signs of a patient9s overall health, nutritional state, psychological state, drug/toxin exposure, occupation, and hobbies. Salient clues about neurologic and neurocutaneous disorders, as well as rheumatologic, dermatologic, cardiopulmonary, oncologic, and systemic conditions that may be associated with neurological complications. CONCLUSIONS: Examination of the nails should be considered part of the neurological examination. Since nails grow at about 0.1mm/day, the 10 cm2 that constitutes the fingernails record the last 6 months of an adult9s medical history; as such, the nail plate chronicles any disorder that affects the regenerative ability of the nail matrix (not unlike how tree rings reflect environmental perturbations). As such, a neurologist may obtain not only vital clues regarding the nature of an underlying disease, but also the approximate date of onset of that illness. Study Supported by: not applicable Disclosure: Dr. Beh has received research support from Biogen Idec. Dr. Frohman has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec, Novartis, Acorda Therapeutics, and Questcor. Dr. Conger has nothing to disclose. Dr. Conger has nothing to disclose. Dr. Balcer has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec, Questcor, Novartis, and Vaccinex. Dr. Calabresi has received personal compensation for activities with Abbott and Vertex. Dr. Calabresi has received research support from Bayer, Abbott, Novartis, Biogen Idec, and Vertex. Dr. Zee has received personal compensation for activities with Sun Pharma and Abbott. Dr. Zee has received royalty payments from Oxford University Press. Dr. Frohman has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec, Teva Neuroscience, Acorda, Novartis, Astellas, and Abbott.
A Creep Model for Solder Alloys

Demand for long-term reliability of electronic packaging has lead to a large number of studies on viscoplastic behavior of solder alloys. Various creep models for solder alloys have been proposed. They range from purely empirical to mechanism based models where dislocation motion and diffusion processes are taken into account. In this study, most commonly used creep models are compared with the test data and implemented in ABAQUS to compare their performance in cycling loading. Finally, a new creep model is proposed that combines best features of many models. It is also shown that, while two creep models may describe the same material stress–strain rate curves equally well, they may yield very different results when utilized for cycling loading. One interesting observation of this study is that the stress exponent, n., also depends on the grain size.
Long-Term Appreciation of Owner-Occupied Single-Family House Prices in Milwaukee Neighborhoods

Annual price indices of owner-occupied single-family houses are estimated for 111 neighborhoods in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for the period of 1971-1993 using hedonic price methods controlling for quality differences across housing units. The rates of price appreciation vary significantly from neighborhood to neighborhood. During the 22-year study period, nominal house prices in some neighborhoods increased more than 500%, whereas those in others decreased. In general, the neighborhoods close to each other exhibit similar price movements. In some cases, however, there are sharp differences between the neighborhoods when strong boundaries, such as a river or an expressway, exist between them even though the physical distance between them is small. Poor neighborhoods generally have experienced low appreciation rates, although the racial composition and the crime rate in the neighborhood seem to contribute the differential as well.
Social approval and trait self-esteem.

Abstract Interpersonal theories of self-esteem that tie self-esteem to perceptions of one’s acceptability to other people suggest that self-evaluations should predict global self-esteem to the degree to which an individual believes that a particular attribute is important for social approval. In the present study, participants completed a measure of global self-esteem, rated themselves in five domains, and indicated how important those domains were for approval or disapproval. The results showed that, in four of five domains, the interaction between self-evaluations and the perceived approval-value of that domain aided in the prediction of global self-esteem. Generally, for participants who rated themselves positively in a domain, those who believed that the domain was important in affecting social approval or disapproval had higher self-esteem than those who did not believe it would influence acceptability.
Radiative capture of in-flight pions by /sup 15/N

In-flight radiative capture cross sections have been studied for the process $^{15}\mathrm{N}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+},\ensuremath{\gamma})^{15}\mathrm{O}(\mathrm{g}.\mathrm{s}.)$. Total and differential cross sections have been calculated, and the effects of pion distortions, of higher order photoproduction operators, and of nuclear structure have been examined. The Blomqvist-Laget photoproduction operator has been used in an appropriately time-reversed form, the Stricker, McManus, and Carr pion optical potential has been used to account for pion distortions, and the nuclear structure information has been stipulated by use of simple shell model wave functions or by fitting recent electron scattering form factors. Particularly interesting interference effects due to the pion propagator and enhanced isobar contributions are revealed by this study.
Generation of lightning in Jupiter's water cloud

Lightning is a familiar feature of storms on the Earth, and has also been seen on Jupiter and inferred indirectly to occur on Venus and Neptune. On Jupiter, lightning may be important as a source of energy to drive chemical reactions in the atmosphere, perhaps determining the abundances of molecules such as CO, HCN and C2H2. Lightning may be generated in Jupiter's water clouds by a mechanism similar to that which operates in terrestrial thunderstorms. Here we investigate the development of lightning by modelling the thunderstorm separation of electrical charge on precipitating ice particles at varying depths in Jupiter's atmosphere. We find that lightning can indeed be generated in the jovian water clouds, and that--in agreement with estimates from the analysis of Voyager images--it is most likely to occur at the 3- or 4-bar pressure level. Our model also predicts that a condensed-water abundance in the range of at least 1-2 g m-3 is required for lightning to occur in jovian thunderstorms--a prediction that may be tested when the Galileo probe arrives at Jupiter on 7 December 1995.
Selected eicosanoids increase the proliferation rate of human colon carcinoma cell lines and mouse colonocytes in vivo.

Eicosanoids have been implicated in colon carcinogenesis, but their role remains unclear. The levels of PGE2 are elevated in colon cancer tissues and in blood draining colon tumors. The effect of eicosanoids on the proliferation of colonic cells is unknown. We studied the effect of several prostaglandins (PGs) and leukotriene (LT)B4 on the proliferation rate of the human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines SW1116 and HT-29 and of 16,16-dimethyl PGE2 (dmPGE2) on the colon of BALB/c mine. PGs E2, F2α, I2, the methyl ester of, PGE2, dmPGE2, and LTB4 (10−10, 10−8, 10−6 M), administered for up to 72 h, stimulated cell proliferation in SW1116 cells and all t but PGF2α and PGI2 stimulated proliferation in HT-29 cells. The proliferative effect was time- and concentration-dependent. However, in SW1116 cells the response to PGs was ‘bell-shaped’, being maximal at 10−8 M, with the 10−10 and 10−6 M concentrations being less effective. In HT-29 cells, the addition of methyl groups to the PGE2 molecule increased the proliferative affect. None of these eicosanoids affected the distribution of these cells in the cell cycle or their rate of programmed cell death (apoptosis). dmPGE2 stimulated 3.6-fold the proliferation of colonocytes in normal BALB/c mice. This was determined by bivariate flow cytometric analysis of the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in virtually pure populations of mouse colonocytes. dmPGE2 did not alter the cell cycle distribution of these cells. We conclude that several PGs as well as LTB4 stimulate the proliferation of human colon carcinoma cells in vitro, while dmPGE2 has a similar effect on mouse colonocytes in vivo. These findings raise the possibility that eicosanoids may contribute to colonic carcinogenesis by stimulating the proliferation rate of tumor cells in the colon.
Quantification of high dimensional uncertainty in propagation over random terrain

Efficient calculation of expected (mean) propagation factor for wave propagation above a random long-range terrain is achieved. An adaptive sparse grid collocation algorithm (ASGC) is applied for interpolating each component function from an adaptive high dimensional model representations (HDMR) decomposition. The decomposition reveals significant elimination of redundant sampling. The obtained results are compared with the reference solution obtained with a large set of samples simulated with Monte-Carlo method.
Crystal growth in high gravity

Theoretical analysis on crystal growth under centrifugation is presented. Centrifugation leads to a favorable condition of supersaturation and high pressure at the bottom of centrifuge tube. A new method of crystal growth in a membrane cell is proposed, where the pressure and the concentration profile can be controlled independently.
Photoelectric Thresholds of Elements Under Ordinary Conditions

Photoelectric thresholds for sandpapered commercial samples of fifteen metals and graphite. Light from a carbon arc, sometimes with cored carbons, after dispersion by a mirror monochromator with a fluorite prism, was focussed through a fluorite window on the slit of the evacuated photoelectric cell containing a strip of the element being studied connected to a sensitive string electrometer, and the saturation photocurrent as a function of wave-length was determined. Scattered light was reduced to a minimum by the use of screens, and the effectiveness of these was tested by introducing filters. This method eliminates many of the usual difficulties. Commercially pure samples were tested with surfaces cleaned by sandpapering only. The fairly great intensity of the arc even to 2600 A gave reasonably large photocurrents as soon as the threshold wave-length was passed and enabled it to be determined from within ±30 A at 2600 A to ±100 A at 3600 A, corresponding to from ±.06 to ±.10 equivalent volts, as determined by the formula V = hv0/e. The results in Angstroms for Ag, Al, Bi, C (graphite), Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Pt, Se, Sn, Th, W and Zn are respectively: 3390, 3590, 2980, 2615, 4000, 3130, 2665, 2870, 3050, 2980, 2780, 2670, 3180, 3460, 2615, and 3420. These results are compared with those of others.This research was undertaken with a view to determining directly the limiting frequencies for the various elementary metals under ordinary conditions. The principle of the method adopted was to use a source giving an approximately continuous spectrum extending over the experimental range of the limiting frequency for an element and to determine the threshold value by plotting the last values of the diminishing saturation photocurrents against the increasing wave-length of the incident light, or simply to take the average of the various wave-length limits observed in different determinations.No special preparation of the metallic surfaces was made save that of rubbing with sandpaper, blowing with dry air, and placing them in the photoelectric cell which was immediately evacuated to a pressure of about 0.006 mm of mercury.
Neoadjuvant Radiation Therapy Prior to Total Mesorectal Excision for Rectal Cancer is Not Associated with Postoperative Complications Using Current Techniques

Background Neoadjuvant radiation therapy (RT) downstages rectal cancer but may increase postoperative morbidity. This study aims to quantify 30-day complication rates after total mesorectal excision (TME) using current techniques and to assess for an association of these complications with neoadjuvant RT.
Elevated plasma monoamine metabolites in eating disorders

Mean fasting plasma homovanillic acid (HVA) levels were elevated in females hospitalized with eating disorders (both anorexia and bulimia nervosa) compared with females hospitalized with adjustment disorder. Fasting plasma 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) was elevated in anorectic patients only. Five patients with eating disorder and psychosis had higher values for HVA and MHPG than the remainder of the patients with eating disorder.
Combustion of Mechanically Alloyed Al∙Mg Powders in Products of a Hydrocarbon Flame

Burn times and temperatures were measured optically for a set of mechanically alloyed Al·Mg powders injected into a laminar and a turbulent air-acetylene flame. Magnesium concentrations varied from 10 to 53 mole%; particle sizes were in the range of 1–50 μm. Emission from the burning particles at 700 nm, 800 nm, and 900 nm was captured using three filtered photomultiplier tubes. The burn times were correlated with particle sizes using measured statistical distributions for both times and sizes. The measured trends for burn times, t, as a function of particle size, d, for all alloys were approximated by a t = a·dn law, where the exponent n varied from 0.6 to 1. Shorter burn times were measured in more turbulent flows; respectively, the values of pre-exponent, a, decreased and exponent, n, increased slightly with an increased level of turbulence. An increase in Mg concentration led to longer burn times for the alloy particles for all flame conditions. For all compositions, alloy particles burned longer than...
Region-enhanced imaging for sparse-aperture passive radar

We present the application of a recently-developed region-enhanced synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image reconstruction technique to the problem of passive radar imaging. One goal in passive radar imaging is to form images of aircraft using signals transmitted by commercial radio and television stations, which then get reflected from the objects of interest. This involves reconstructing an image from sparse samples of its Fourier transform. Due to the sparse nature of the aperture, a conventional image formation approach based on direct Fourier transformation results in quite dramatic artifacts in the image, as compared to the case of active SAR imaging. The region-enhanced image formation method we consider appears to significantly reduce such artifacts, and preserve the features of the imaged object. Furthermore, this approach exhibits robustness to measurement noise. We demonstrate our results using data based on electromagnetic simulations.© (2004) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Stimulus and response contributions to the children's reaction-time repetition effect.

Abstract Adults and 8-, 10-, 12-, and 14-year olds completed a serial reaction-time task with two stimuli mapped to each of two responses and 100-, 500-, and 1000-msec response-stimulus intervals (RSIs). Trials were classified as (1) identical (same stimulus and same response on two consecutive trials), (2) response equivalent (different stimulus but same response on two consecutive trials), or (3) different (different stimulus and different response on two consecutive trials). Identical and different trials were compared as a general indication of repetition effects. Response-equivalent minus identical reaction time identified stimulus contributions, and different minus response-equivalent reaction time identified response contributions. Adults received a repetition advantage at all RSIs and children received a repetition advantage at 500- and 1000- but not 100-msec RSIs. Stimulus contributions accounted for the repetition effect for both adults and children. At the 500- and 1000-msec RSIs, both the overall repetition effect and stimulus contribution were positive and decreased in magnitude as age increased. The response contribution was independent of RSI and was negative for 8- and 10-year-olds and near zero or positive for older performers. At the longer RSIs, positive stimulus contributions were sufficient to overcome the negative response contributions present for younger children.
Seed maturity, storage time and temperature, and media treatment effects on germination of two wild sunflowers

Dormancy in achenes (seeds) of wild sunflower (Helianthus) species ensures that they do not germinate in temperate climates until conditions are optimal for seedling survival. However, high achene dormancy results in low germination of achenes, preduding utilization of many wild species for domestic purposes. Interest in the use of native Helianthtus species for domestic purposes such as low-maintenance ornamentals, revegetation, cut flowers, and genetic improvement of cultivated sunflower has recently increased. The objectives of this study were to evaluate germination media to overcome dormancy and enhance germination of two annual species, H. annuus L. and H. petiolaris Nutt., and to evaluate the influence of achene maturity and storage time and temperature on germination. A 1 mM gibberellic acid (GA3) medium was the most effective stimulant in laboratory tests for enhancing germination of H. annuus. Germination of treated achenes was 81%, compared with 38% for the control. Germination of H. petiolaris achenes was 60% with the 1 mM GA3 medium, compared with 9% for the water control. This GA3 medium enhanced germination regardless of achene maturity, storage time, or storage temperature. When averaged over all media, achene maturities, and storage times and temperatures, H. annuus had a germination of 41%, compared with only 21 % for H. petiolaris. The age of the achenes at harvest influenced germination. Achenes harvested 20 d after flowering generally had greater germination than those harvested 40 d after flowering, especially for H. petiolaris. Storage time and temperature could not overcome the dormancy imposed prior to germination in either species. Utilization of germination media to enhance germination of wild Helianthus species will facilitate their use for domestic purposes.
On-Line Force Ripple Identification and Compensation in Precision Positioning of Wafer Stages

This paper presents the design and implementation of a composite controller to reduce the effect of force ripple in a linear motor wafer stage system. The composite controller consists of two components: 1) a PID feedback controller and 2) an adaptive feedforward compensator. The feedback controller is tuned to achieve good transient response and enhanced robustness of the system. Force ripples are a major source of tracking error in linear motor precision positioning systems. An approximation of the nonlinear force ripple model can be obtained by expressing the ripple as the sum of a sequence of sinusoidal harmonics, multiplied by the motor current. The force ripple is first approximated by on-line adaptive estimation of the unknown coefficients associated with each harmonic, and then compensated with a feedforward term. Experimental results on a prototype single degree of freedom wafer stage are presented to show the performance improvement obtained by the proposed control scheme.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Vaccination with Live Leishmania major and CpG DNA Promotes Interleukin-2 Production by Dermal Dendritic Cells and NK Cell Activation

Cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania major is an emerging, chronic parasitic disease that causes disfigurement and social stigmatization. Drug therapy is inadequate, and there is no vaccine. Inoculation of virulent parasites (leishmanization) is the only intervention that has ever provided protection, because it mimics natural infection and immunity, but it was discontinued due to safety concerns (uncontrolled vaccinal lesions). In an effort to retain the benefits (immunity) while avoiding the side effects (lesions) of leishmanization, we immunized C57BL/6 mice with L. major and CpG DNA (Lm/CpG). This combination prevented lesions while inducing immunity. Also, the vaccination with live parasites and the Toll-like receptor 9 agonist enhanced innate immune responses by activating dermal dendritic cells (DCs) to produce cytokines. Here we report that the Lm/CpG vaccine induced dermal DCs, but not bone marrow-derived DCs, to produce interleukin-2 (IL-2). The release of this unusual DC-derived cytokine was concomitant with a peak in numbers of NK cells that produced gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and also enhanced activation of proliferation of IFN-γ+ CD4+ T cells. Parasite growth was controlled in Lm/CpG-vaccinated animals. This is the first demonstration of the ability of dermal DCs to produce IL-2 and of the activation of NK cells by vaccination in the context of leishmaniasis. Understanding how the Lm/CpG vaccine enhances innate immunity may provide new tools to develop vaccines against L. major, other chronic infectious diseases, or other conditions, such as cancer.
Dynamic Aeroelastic Instabilities of an Aircraft Wing with Underwing Store in Transonic Regime

The research used the transonic small disturbance theory to better understand the dynamic aeroelastic phenomena and factors that affect the onset of flutter and store induced limit-cycle oscillations (LCO) in the transonic regime. Several parametric studies of the flutter and LCO of an aircraft wing with underwing store in the transonic regime were conducted, as well as an investigation of the effect of inclusion of store aerodynamics on the onset of flutter. The flutter sensitivity was analyzed for the following store parameters: (1) location of underwing store center of gravity with respect to aerodynamic root chord; (2) location of underwing store along the span of the wing; and (3) underwing clearance (pylon length). The parametric studies indicated that as the store center of gravity is moved fore of the elastic axis, the flutter velocity of the wing increased. Also, as the store is moved towards the aerodynamic tip chord, the flutter velocity of the wing decreased. The research work also concluded t...
Multi-Fidelity Approach to Estimate Heating for Three-Dimensional Hypersonic Aeroshells

In the early stages of aeroshell shape design, it is important to strike an appropriate balance between analysis fidelity and computational effort. Because the prediction of aerodynamic heating for axisymmetric flows is significantly faster than for three-dimensional flows, it is advantageous to employ an axisymmetric analysis method. The current work couples an equivalent axisymmetric body technique with different axisymmetric analysis methods, using a series of axisymmetric bodies to approximate the three-dimensional heating. Three levels of fidelity are considered: 1) a Newtonian inviscid solution coupled with an axisymmetric integral boundary layer approach, 2) an Euler solution coupled with an axisymmetric integral boundary-layer approach, and 3) a Navier–Stokes solution applied to each equivalent axisymmetric body. Approximate solutions for three-dimensional flows were compared with high-fidelity computational and experimental data, establishing the accuracy for various levels of fidelity. The multi...
Simian AIDS—Evidence for a retroviral etiology

This paper reviews the major features of a simian model of acquired immunodeficiency (‘SAIDS’), SAIDS occurs endemically in colonies of macaque monkeys in the United States and resembles AIDS in humans in overall clinical manifestations, pathology, and immune deficiency. An infectious type D retrovirus, related to but distinct from the Mason-Pfizer monkey virus, has been identified as the primary cause of SAIDS. The relevance of these findings for human AIDS is discussed.
Optical size determination for single cubic particles suspended in a laser beam

Abstract An experimental technique by which the angular distribution of light scattered from individual cubic NaCl particles suspended in a laser beam can be measured and correlated with their size is described. This method takes advantage of the fact that the growth of an inorganic salt aerosol by water vapor condensation can be predicted from theory. In practice, the salt particle is exposed to a predetermined constant humidity and grown to a solution droplet in equilibrium with its environment. Since the optical and thermodynamic properties of the NaCl-H 2 O system are well known, the size of the solution droplet is readily calculated from Mie theory. The actual volume of the dry salt particle, which is unambiguously determined from the size and composition of the solution droplet, may then be compared with the optical size deduced from the light scattering data assuming a sphere of equal volume. Good agreement is obtained in the size range of 0.5 to 0.7 μm in diameter.
Diffusion in polyelectrolyte solutions

Diffusion in polyelectrolyte solutions was studied. The mass transfer was determined by an electrochemical technique which involved transport from the fluid to the tube wall. It was found that diffusion behavior depended on the ionic nature of the diffusing species. Neutral molecules showed an increase in diffusion coefficients. This was apparently due to both solvation of solvent molecules and extension of polymer molecules. Ionic diffusing species showed a decrease in diffusion coefficients. The greater the ionic strength, the greater the decrease. The effect was most likely due to ionic interaction with the polyelectrolyte molecules.
A reduced protein model with accurate native-structure identification ability.

A protein model that is simple enough to be used in protein-folding simulations but accurate enough to identify a protein native fold is described. Its geometry consists of describing the residues by one, two, or three pseudoatoms, depending on the residue size. Its energy is given by a pairwise, knowledge-based potential obtained for all the pseudoatoms as a function of their relative distance. The pseudoatomic potential is also a function of the primary chain separation and residue order. The model is tested by gapless threading on a large, representative set of known protein and decoy structures obtained from the "Decoys 'R' Us" database. It is also tested by threading on gapped decoys generated for proteins with many homologs. The gapless threading tests show near 98% native-structure recognition as the lowest energy structure and almost 100% as one of the three lowest energy structures for over 2200 test proteins. In decoy threading tests, the model recognized the majority of the native structures. It is also able to recognize native structures among gapped decoys, in spite of close structural similarities. The results indicate that the pseudoatomic model has native recognition ability similar to comparable atomic-based models but much better than equivalent residue-based models.
The cyclic and evolutionary response to approach the attraction loops under stress controlled isothermal conditions for a multi-mechanism based multi-axial SMA model

Abstract The main focus in the present work has been on studying the evolutionary responses of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) materials under isothermal, cyclic loading conditions. To this end, predictions of a recently-developed SMA material model by the authors is used here to carry out the qualitative comparisons to some of the available experimental results in the literature for SMA material responses under different uniaxial and multi-axial conditions of stress-control, both in the pseudoelastic and the pseudoplastic regimes. In the formulation of this model, the significant roles played by the internal state variables, underlying the inelastic mechanisms in the model to regulate the material’s evolutionary response under extended cycles, are emphasized. The results presented have led to a number of important conclusions. First, the evolutionary character for pseudoelasticity is markedly different from that occurring in the pseudoplastic regime. Second, the virgin material response under minor loop cycles is dramatically different from its pre-cycled counterpart for which a prior major loop was established. Third, the careful selection of the loading-control variable such as magnitudes of the mean stress and stress amplitude plays a major role in dictating the amount of strain and detailed shapes of the saturated stress–strain loop achieved, as well as the number of cycles required to reach the saturation. Lastly, multi-axial load cycling under conditions of combined tension/compression/shear leads to a faster approach to the saturated states compared to the uniaxial load condition.
A system for program visualization in the classroom

This paper describes the use of a system which will allow effortless visualization and animation of standard C/C++ programs. The system brings alive programs so that students in CS 1 and CS 2 classes can more easily see each instruction and its effects. They can also see the effects of larger entities such as functions. The system serves as an excellent instructional tool and debugger.
Expression, purification, and physical characterization of Escherichia coli lipoyl(octanoyl)transferase.

Abstract Lipoic acid is a sulfur-containing 8-carbon fatty acid that functions as a central cofactor in multienzyme complexes that are involved in the oxidative decarboxylation of glycine and several α-keto acids. In its functional form, it is bound covalently in an amide linkage to the e-amino group of a conserved lysine residue of the “lipoyl bearing subunit,” resulting in a long “swinging arm” that shuttles intermediates among the requisite active sites. In Escherichia coli and many other organisms, the lipoyl cofactor can be synthesized endogenously. The 8-carbon fatty-acyl chain is constructed via the type II fatty acid biosynthetic pathway as an appendage to the acyl carrier protein (ACP). Lipoyl(octanoyl)transferase (LipB) transfers the octanoyl chain from ACP to the target lysine acceptor, generating the substrate for lipoyl synthase (LS), which subsequently catalyzes insertion of both sulfur atoms into the C-6 and C-8 positions of the octanoyl chain. In this study, we present a three-step isolation procedure that results in a 14-fold purification of LipB to >95% homogeneity in an overall yield of 25%. We also show that the protein catalyzes the transfer of the octanoyl group from octanoyl-ACP to apo-H protein, which is the lipoyl bearing subunit of the glycine cleavage system. The specific activity of the purified protein is 0.541 U mg−1, indicating a turnover number of ∼0.2 s−1, and the apparent Km values for octanoyl-ACP and apo-H protein are 10.2 ± 4.4 and 13.2 ± 2.9 μM, respectively.
COBOL for business applications

Abstract The use of Micro Focus' CIS (compact interactive standard) COBOL for creating and manipulating business records is described. CIS COBOL can be used in any microcomputer using an Intel 8080 or a Zilog Z80 CPU and such a system not only gives the convenience of COBOL for business use but also fully exploits the interactive nature of microcomputer hardware.
Optimum Composite Designs

Four types of composite designs are optimized using the |X′X| criterion. These designs are: 1. A “symmetric” composite design (a composite design with “star point” distance equal to ±α) 2. A “symmetric” smallest composite design (a saturated composite design) 3. An asymmetric composite design (an asymmetric composite design has star point distance equal to (+l, −α)) 4. An asymmetric smallest composite design The comparison of these designs with other optimum designs is discussed. It is shown that symmetric composite designs are nearly optimum for experiments on a hypercube.
Association of an isozyme locus and strawbreaker foot rot resistance derived from Aegilops ventricosa in wheat.

Thirty lines from a cross between VPM/ Moisson 421 and Selection 101 were used in the study to determine whether strawbreaker foot rot resistance derived from Aegilops ventricosa was associated with an allele for endopeptidase. The progeny examined for foot rot lesions represented F2 derived F5 lines and enzyme assays were done on F6 seedlings. The results indicate that the wheat and ‘VPM/Moisson 421’ endopeptidase alleles are distinctly different. The endopeptidase allele frequencies of 30 lines were compared with strawbreaker foot rot resistance as measured by the lesion severity index. The results demonstrate a close association between the gene for strawbreaker foot rot resistance and the endopeptidase allele derived from Ae. ventricosa.
Two New Topologically Ordered Glass Phases of Smectics Confined in Anisotropic Random Media

Smectics in strained aerogel exhibit two new glassy phases. The strain both ensures the stability of these phases and determines their nature. One type of strain induces an `` $\mathrm{XY}$ Bragg glass,'' while the other creates a novel, triaxially anisotropic `` $m\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}1$ Bragg glass.'' The latter exhibits anomalous elasticity, characterized by exponents that we calculate to high precision. We predict the phase diagram, and numerous other experimentally observable scaling laws, for the system.