cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Life history trade‐offs and senescence in plants

An increasing number of studies have shown that senescence, the functional decline in traits and increased risk of mortality with increasing age, occurs in organisms in wild populations, but there is a wide range of diversity in the patterns of senescence across species. The antagonistic pleiotropy and the disposable soma theories of senescence predict that there will be life‐history trade‐offs between performance at early‐ and late‐life stages. Plants show variation in senescence patterns and thus provide an opportunity to evaluate life‐history trade‐offs and senescence. Many plant species can be easily followed demographically and their environments, resources and allocation to reproduction can be manipulated, which makes them particularly good models to address these questions. We compared the results from 22 studies of plant senescence in the wild and compiled 20 examples of life‐history trade‐offs in plants. Some of the unique features of plants that may influence senescence patterns and trade‐offs in the wild are highlighted through the results. We found all three age‐specific patterns: age decline, age improvement and no change with age for plants in the wild. Most species showed an age‐dependent decline in at least one trait but, even within a species, the age‐specific patterns of traits varied. Results also showed that trade‐offs vary across environments and that plants can manipulate their resource pool through increases in photosynthesis, which will influence the manifestation of trade‐offs. We conclude that aspects of plant biology including dynamic resource pools, the impact of size, dormancy and below‐ground storage may influence both the patterns of senescence and life‐history trade‐offs. The diversity of plant life forms and life cycles provide a wealth of opportunities to experimentally study senescence in the context of life‐history trade‐offs. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Numerical Simulations of the Soil Moisture Retrieval by Measuring Angular Dependence of the Reflection Coefficient

With the advent of small unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAV) it became relatively easy to make small-scale propagation experiments by mounting a low-power transmitter on one UAV and a receiver on the other. By hovering over an area of interest one measures an interference pattern formed by a direct- and a surface-reflected signal. The depth of the interference fringes is directly related to the modulus of the reflection coefficient from the soil. By changing separation between the copters one can measure the angular dependence of the modulus of the reflection coefficient on the incidence angle. In this paper numerical experiments on retrieval of a soil moisture profile in the soil based on such dependence are presented which demonstrate feasibility of the approach.
Effects of Control-Display Mapping and Spatially Dependent Gain on Supported Free-Hand Gesture Pointing Performance:

While gesture controls will be important as future computing input modalities, they are limited by reduced performance and increase ergonomic risk. Performance of pointing in free-hand gestural con...
Letting judges breathe: Queer survivance in the book of Judges and Gad Beck’s An Underground Life: Memoirs of a Gay Jew in Nazi Berlin1:

Scholars typically describe the book of Judges as encompassing a cyclical transgress–suffer–prosper–transgress–again trope. Although Israelite peace and autonomy are maintained at various moments t...
The Effect of Tracking and Reflecting on Study Habits on Study Behavior and Grades

Many college students struggle to adjust academically because they never learned how to study effectively. In our first study, we developed a web-based application that enabled students to record when and how long they were studying. 29 college undergraduates used this tracking application for two weeks, then reflected on how the app affected their self-awareness and/or behavior. Analyses of participant diaries and application logs indicate that tracking applications are far from accurate, but the act of tracking itself, paired with analysis of one’s own data through reflection, enables students to have stronger self-awareness of their studying habits. Our second study, a 13-week long field experiment with 162 first-year students participating in 5 groups with varying combinations of tracking and reflection, showed that the tracking+ self-reflection group scored significantly higher on their final exam than tracking with social reflection.
Fungal Biovalorization of a Brewing Industry Byproduct, Brewer's Spent Grain: A Review.

The beer industry is a major producer of solid waste globally, primarily in the form of brewer’s spent grain (BSG), which due to its low value has historically been diverted to livestock as feed or to landfills. However, its high moisture content and chemical composition positions BSG as an ideal candidate for further processing with microbial fermentation. Recent research has focused on filamentous fungi and the ability of some species therein to degrade the predominant recalcitrant cellulolignin components of BSG to produce valuable compounds. Many species have been investigated to biovalorize this waste stream, including those in the genuses Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhyzopus, and Trichoderma, which have been used to produce a wide array of highly valuable enzymes and other functional compounds, and to increase the nutritional value of BSG as an animal feed. This review of recent developments in the application of filamentous fungi for the valorization of BSG discusses the biochemical makeup of BSG, the biological mechanisms underlying fungi’s primacy to this application, and the current applications of fungi in this realm.
Assessment of nitrogen–fluorine-codoped TiO2 under visible light for degradation of BPA: Implication for field remediation

Synthesized nitrogen–fluorine–codoped-TiO2 (N–F–TiO2) nanoparticles, in comparison to commercial Sigma TiO2, were used to investigate the photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) as a model pollutant in aqueous solutions responding to visible light. The photocatalytic activities were first evaluated by studying the degradation of BPA under simulated sunlight (SSL) and visible light (VL). The light absorption of N–F–TiO2, in relation to the undoped TiO2, shifted to the visible light region. The visible-light-driven-degradation of BPA with N–F–TiO2 was much higher (61.2%) after 4 h of irradiation than that with Sigma TiO2 (19.2%), (p < 0.01). Moreover, the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was also investigated. Superoxide (O2−) was recognized to be the major ROS in degrading BPA under visible light. The correlation between visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation and the physicochemical properties of N–F–TiO2 is discussed as well. In this study, enhanced catalytic activity under visible light was found to be strongly dependent on surface-area-to-volume-ratio, visible light absorption, and superoxide formation, induced by N- and F-doping. In addition, the potential field application of N–F–TiO2 was investigated with river water. The results highly demonstrated the use of N–F–TiO2 in environmental remediation as a green and sustainable alternative technology.
Mixed-signal implementation of a nonlinear decoder for delta-sigma encoded stream

A mixed-signal implementation of an iterative bound-based nonlinear data acquisition decoding algorithm for first-order delta-sigma (/spl Delta//spl Sigma/) analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) is discussed. The design is partitioned into analog and digital sections which optimize the design objectives of very small area while maintaining low power and high speed. The circuit has been realized using 0.7mm/sup 2/ in 0.5/spl mu/m CMOS technology and is estimated to occupy 0.44mm/sup 2/ without test circuits.
Pathways of assimilatory sulphate reduction in plants and microorganisms

Assimilatory sulphate reduction, largely restricted to plants and microorganisms where it provides reduced sulphur for the formation of amino acids and proteins, nucleic acids, and various sulphur-containing coenzymes, begins with the activation of sulphate through reaction with ATP to form adenosine 5'-phosphosulphate (APS) and adenosine 3'-phosphate 5'-phosphosulphate (PAPS). Two pathways of assimilatory sulphate reduction are known. One, found in some blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) and in all oxygen-envolving eukaryotes, begins with APS where the sulpho group is transferred via APS sulphotransferase to a thiol acceptor (glutathione (G-S-) in Chlorella) to form the organic thiosulphate (G-S-SO-3). The organic thiosulphate appears to be reduced further by an organic thiosulphate reductase employing reduced ferredoxin to form G-S-S-. The terminal sulphur is then thought to be reductively transferred to O-acetylserine via O-acetylserine sulphydrase to form cysteine. A second pathway, found in bacteria and fungi, begins with PAPS where the sulpho group is transferred via PAPS sulphotransferase to an acceptor thiol to form an organic thiosulphate. Since thioredoxin is indispensable, this molecule may be the carrier or may serve to reduce the carrier. NADPH via thioredoxin reductase or glutathione and glutathione reductase reduces thioredoxin. These reactions release sulphite which is further reduced to sulphide by sulphite reductase, employing NADPH. Sulphide is then thought to react with O-acetylserine to form cysteine via O-acetylserine sulphydrase. The cellular location and evolution of these pathways is discussed.
Model Identification and Control of A Semibatch Chemical Reactor

Two consecutive, irreversible chemical reactions are conducted in an isothermal, liquid-phase, semibatch chemical reactor. To drive the reactions forward, a strong base is added. Overaddition of base results in total loss of batch. A controller is desired for addition of base that will achieve high conversion in minimum time without overshooting the endpoint. The controller is derived as the solution of a nonlinear programming problem. To prevent overshoot despite model parameter uncertainty, the nonlinear program enforces constraints not only on the predicted states but on an estimate of state uncertainty at the final time.
'The Shirley Letters': A Critical Analysis

“The Shirley Letters” are a collection of 24 epistles written by Dame Shirley to her sister Molly in New England between September 1851 and November 1852. Based on the contents of each letter, it appears that Dame Shirley (Louise A.K.S. Clappe), hereafter referred to as Louise Clappe, has laboriously attempted to convey a clear picture of her experience in California during its early Gold Rush beginnings and Statehood. Thus, it can be said that the circumstances that primarily contributed to the inception of these letters was the California Gold Rush, which resulted in the relocation of thousands of settlers from cities within and outside the United States, one of which was Louise Clappe. Given this backdrop, this essay will examine those events, described in Louise Clappe’s letters that adequately demonstrate the historical significance these collections of epistles represent.
Appropriate Ambient Illumination and Pupillary Dilation for Calibration of an Eyegaze Response Interface Computer Aid

The illumination and pupillary dilation requirements for calibration on an eyegaze response interface computer aid (ERICA) were studied. The purpose of this study was to determine whether decreases in ambient illumination level would facilitate calibration and increase the probability of use by subjects. Monocular versus binocular calibration was also studied to determine whether the occlusion of one eye would cause the pupil of the other to dilate, therefore allowing the use of a higher level of illumination during calibration. Twenty subjects (10 monocular and 10 binocular) were tested at four ambient illumination levels (10, 50, 100, and 210 lux) in both ascending and descending orders of presentation. Analyses of frequency and pupil diameter data revealed a statistically significant increase in calibration at lower levels of illumination. An increased frequency of calibration for monocular (versus binocular) viewing conditions was also found.
Temperature-sensitive neuromuscular transmission in Kv1.1 null mice: role of potassium channels under the myelin sheath in young nerves.

In mammalian myelinated nerves, the internodal axon that is normally concealed by the myelin sheath expresses a rich repertoire of K channel subtypes thought to be important in modulating action potential propagation. The function of myelin-covered K channels at transition zones, however, has remained unexplored. Here we show that deleting the voltage-sensitive potassium channel Kv1.1 from mice confers a marked temperature-sensitivity to neuromuscular transmission in postnatal day 14 (P14)–P21 mice. Using immunofluorescence and electrophysiology, we examined contributions of four regions of the peripheral nervous system to the mutant phenotype: the nerve trunk, the myelinated segment preceding the terminal, the presynaptic terminal membrane itself, and the muscle. We conclude that the temperature-sensitive neuromuscular transmission is accounted for solely by a deficiency in Kv1.1 normally concealed in the myelinated segments just preceding the terminal. This paper demonstrates that under certain situations of physiological stress, the functional role of myelin-covered K channels is dramatically enhanced as the transition zone at the neuromuscular junction is approached.
An integrated navigation system manager using federated Kalman filtering

A federated Kalman filter architecture has been developed in which the Kalman filter processing is distributed among the navigation sensors to be integrated. Each navigation sensor with its Kalman filter can, in conjunction with the reference INS (Inertial Navigation System), be considered as a subsystem which functions as an independent manager. A central data fusion function is used to integrate the information from these navigators. Such a federated architecture can offer a number of advantages over one with a single central Kalman filter. These advantages include improved failure detection and correction, improved redundancy management, and lower costs for system integration. GEC Avionics has developed a system for the integration of INS with GPS (Global Positioning System) and TRN (Terrain Referenced Navigation), together with other navigation aids. Results are presented to demonstrate the performance and the benefits of using a federated approach. >
Adsorptive fractionation of HDO on JSC MARS-1 during sublimation with implications for the regolith of Mars

Abstract A chamber was constructed to simulate the boundary between the ice table, regolith and atmosphere of Mars and to examine fractionation between H2O and HDO during sublimation under realistic martian conditions of temperature and pressure. Thirteen experimental runs were conducted with regolith overlying the ice. The thickness and characteristic grain size of the regolith layer as well as the temperature of the underlying ice was varied. From these runs, values for the effective diffusivity, taking into account the effects of adsorption, of the regolith were derived. These effective diffusivities ranged from 1.8 × 10−4 m2 s−1 to 2.2 × 10−3 m2 s−1 for bare ice and from 2.4 × 10−11 m2 s−1 to 2.0 × 10−9 m2 s−1 with an adsorptive layer present. From these, latent heats of adsorption of 8.6 ± 2.6 kJ mol−1 and 9.3 ± 2.8 kJ mol−1 were derived at ice-surface temperatures above 223 ± 8 K and 96 ± 28 kJ mol−1 and 104 ± 31 kJ mol−1 respectively for H2O and HDO were derived at colder temperatures. For temperatures below 223 K, the effective diffusivity of HDO was found to be lower than the diffusivity of H2O by 40% on average, suggesting that the regolith was adsorptively fractionating the sublimating gas with a fractionation factor of 1.96 ± 0.74. Applying these values to Mars predicts that adsorbed water on the regolith is enriched in HDO compared to the atmosphere, particularly where the regolith is colder. Based on current observations, the D/H ratio of the regolith may be as high as 21 ± 8 times VSMOW at 12°S and LS = 357° if the regolith is hydrated primarily by the atmosphere, neglecting any hydration from subsurface ice.
Molecular Basis SetsA General Similarity-Based Approach for Representing Chemical Spaces

A new method, based on generalized Fourier analysis, is described that utilizes the concept of “molecular basis sets” to represent chemical space within an abstract vector space. The basis vectors in this space are abstract molecular vectors. Inner products among the basis vectors are determined using an ansatz that associates molecular similarities between pairs of molecules with their corresponding inner products. Moreover, the fact that similarities between pairs of molecules are, in essentially all cases, nonzero implies that the abstract molecular basis vectors are nonorthogonal, but since the similarity of a molecule with itself is unity, the molecular vectors are normalized to unity. A symmetric orthogonalization procedure, which optimally preserves the character of the original set of molecular basis vectors, is used to construct appropriate orthonormal basis sets. Molecules can then be represented, in general, by sets of orthonormal “molecule-like” basis vectors within a proper Euclidean vector s...
Interference by lipids in the determination of protein using bicinchoninic acid

Bicinchoninic acid forms the basis of an analytical method for the determination of protein. The reagent produces a purple complex with cuprous ion (Cu+) in an alkaline environment and is the basis for the monitoring of cuprous ions produced in the reactions of proteins with alkaline Cu2+. This method of protein determination was reported to have greater tolerance to many commonly encountered interfering compounds, when compared to the Lowry technique. However, we have found the bicinchoninic acid technique to produce erroneously high values for protein when common membrane phospholipids were included in the assay. Phospholipids in the presence of bicinchoninic acid produced an absorbance peak similar to that produced by protein. This absorbance was linear with concentration, however, the slope varied for individual phospholipids. The combined absorption of phospholipid and protein was not strictly additive. The results indicate that the presence of appreciable quantities of lipid in samples can cause significant error in the analysis of protein by the bicinchoninic acid procedure.
Drinking of high concentrations of ethanol versus palatable fluids in alcohol-preferring (P) rats: valid animal model of alcoholism.

A genetically based animal model of alcoholism has been characterized in Wistar-derived rats in terms of their preference (P rats) or lack of preference (NP rats) for 10% ethanol over water. The present experiments were designed to determine: 1) whether a.10% solution of ethanol is the optimal concentration for differentiation of these lines: 2) what concentrations of ethanol are maximally preferred by P and NP rats; and 3) whether highly palatable fluids presented simultaneously with each rat's preferred solution of ethanol would alter the patterns of drinking by either the P or NP or both lines of rats. A three-bottle procedure was used to establish preference for ethanol in the presence of water as well as highly palatable solutions. The results showed that, when concentrations ranging from 3–30% were presented over a 12-day test interval, the mean absolute intake of ethanol of the P rats was 6.7 g/kg per day, with a maximum intake of 10.9 g/kg per day at the 25% concentration. These levels of intake wee significantly higher than the 4.3 g/kg per day consumed during the presentation of the commonly used constant concentration of 10%. Similarly, the mean absolute intake of ethanol by the NP rats was also elevated significantly at concentrations of 15–30% (2.0 g/kg per day) above the consumed at the 10% concentration (0.4 g/kg). The mean absolute intake by each P rat of the maximally preferred solution of ethanol tested in the presence of an artificially sweetened fluid (Nutrasweet) or a nurtitionally fortified, highly palatable chocolate drink (Slender) rose to 7.8 and 7.7 g/kg per day, respectively, which was significantly higher than the mean intakes during the 10 and 3–30% preference tests. Thus, P rats show a preference for pharmacologically significant amounts of ethanol at concentrations above the commonly used 10%, which is sustained when an alternative highly preferred palatable fluid is simultaneously available. Therefore, on the basis of previous studies and the present findings on the profile of ethanol self-selection, it is concluded that the P line of rats clearly represents a valid genetic animal model of alcoholism. Furthermore, because the profile of drinking of the P rat closely resembles that of rats injected intracerebrally with THP or 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), it is envisaged that a common neurochemical perturbation of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system may underlie the aberrant consumption of ethanol by these animals.
Geometric properties of leptodermous distributions with applications to nuclei

Abstract Relationships between geometrical properties of leptodermous distributions are employed in the interpretation of experimentally determined nuclear density distributions and optical-model potential wells. It is found that nuclear sizes imply a density for neutral symmetric nuclear matter corresponding to r0 = 1.16 fm (krmf = 1.31 fm−1) and that the densities and potentials can be related to each other by means of a saturating two-body interac1tion.
Plasma Ropivacaine Levels During Awake Intracranial Surgery

Abstract: Plasma ropivacaine levels produced by routine scalp infiltration for field block were assayed in eight patients undergoing awake intracranial surgery. Levels peaked within approximately 13 minutes, indicating rapid systemic absorption of ropivacaine. Potentially toxic plasma drug levels were achieved in three of eight patients, although no untoward effects attributable to elevated levels of ropivacaine were observed. Clinical vigilance is indicated during scalp infiltration with ropivacaine.
A retrospective review of the effect of surgeon specialty on the management of 190 benign and malignant pediatric and adolescent adnexal masses.

Abstract Study Objective To investigate the impact of operating surgeon specialty on rates of ovarian preservation, and to explore differences in surgical management when malignant lesions are identified. Design Retrospective study. Setting Education and research hospitals. Participants Between January 1, 2003 and January 1, 2009, all female patients ≤ 20 years of age undergoing surgery with pathologically confirmed ovarian or fallopian tube tissues removed were evaluated. Interventions Demographic, operative, and pathologic data were abstracted. Main Outcome Measures Rates of ovarian preservation with benign lesions, and rates of appropriate surgical staging when malignant lesions were identified. Results The mean age was 11.9 ± 4.4 years. Malignant lesions were larger than benign masses, 17.3 ± 7.1 cm versus 8.8 ± 7.1 cm respectively (P Conclusion Ovarian conservation should be prioritized in cases with benign lesions, whereas complete and accurate surgical staging is imperative when malignancy is identified.
Exciton-acoustic-phonon linewidths in GaAs bulk and quantum wells

Experimental results have shown that the acoustic phonon contribution to the homogeneous exciton linewidth increases substantially in going from GaAs quantum wells to bulk GaAs. Perturbation theory for acoustic phonon scattering using the deformation potential interaction and parabolic exciton dispersion accounts for experiment in quantum wells, but it fails by nearly an order of magnitude for bulk GaAs. Here we develop a theory of exciton-acoustic-phonon homogeneous linewidths using the anisotropic exciton dispersion, and we find for bulk GaAs that the piezoelectric interaction dominates the scattering. These results show that perturbation theory including these effects accounts well for the low temperature exciton linewidth in bulk GaAs as well as that in GaAs quantum wells. This approach also accounts for the available experimental results for exciton linewidths in bulk ZnSe and in ZeSe quantum wells.
Dynamically partitioning applications between weak devices and clouds

Mobile cloud computing applications run diverse workloads under diverse device platforms, networks, and clouds. Traditionally these applications are statically partitioned between weak devices and clouds, thus may be significantly inefficient in heterogeneous environments and workloads. We introduce the notion of dynamic partitioning of applications between weak devices and clouds and argue that this is key to addressing heterogeneity problems. We formulate the dynamic partitioning problem and discuss major research challenges around system support for dynamic partitioning.
Ion chromatographic method for determination of oxyanions in solutions equilibrated with soils

Abstract Methods based on simultaneous determination of oxyanions in soil solution are needed for studies of competitive adsorption of several oxyanions by soils. An accurate and precise ion Chromatographie (IC) method was developed for simultaneous determination of PO4 3‐, AsO4 3% SeO4 2‐, WO4 2‐, and MoO4 2‐ in solution equilibrated with soil. The water extract obtained was analyzed by a Dionex 2002i IC after filtering (0.45‐μm membrane filter). The IC unit was fitted with a guard column (AG‐3), a separator column (AS‐3), a 50‐μL injection loop, and a micromembrane suppressor system eluted with 12.5 mM H2SO4. A solution made 3.0 mM NaHCO3 + 6.0 mM Na2CO3 was used as an eluant, and conductivity was used as the mode of detection. The proposed method was tested by analyzing soil extracts obtained after equilibrating soils with a series of solutions containing mixtures of these oxyanions. Results showed that the elution times for PO4 3‐, AsO4 3‐, SeO4 2‐, WO4 2‐, and MoO4 2‐ were 1.8, 2.5, 4.1, 6.6, and 8.0...
Improved yields of the extracellular domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor produced using the baculovirus expression system by medium replacement following infection

The extracellular domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was expressed using the baculovirus expression vector system. The maximum level of the EGFR extracellular domain secreted into the medium in Sf-9 (Spodoptera frugiperda or fall armyworm) cell batch culture was approximately 2.5 μg ml−1. In order to increase this yield, a process was developed that included the following sequence of steps: batch growth to maximum cell density, infection of the cells with recombinant virus, and replacement of spent medium. By using this process, the specific yield of recombinant protein, which in batch culture drops when infection is carried out at densities greater than 3 × 106 cells ml−1, can be maintained at a maximum in cultures infected at densities of 107 cells ml−1 or greater. The process, when applied to 3-1 and 11-1 bioreactor cultures, allowed a maximum volumetric yield of triple the maximum value attainable in batch culture. Spent-medium analysis indicates that medium replacement provides certain nutrients that could otherwise be limiting for recombinant protein production.
Further Studies on the Alkaloids of Argemone Hispida

Abstract Further structural studies have been carried out on two new alkaloids isolated from Argemone hispida . The name “argemonine” hts been recommended for the alkaloid melting, when dried, at 152.5 to 153°. “Norargemonine” has been recommended as the name for the alkaloid melting at 238°. The data reported serve to add to the knowledge of the structure of argemonine and norargemonine but do not enable the writing of structural formulas at the present time.
Capturing the effects of context on human performance in mobile computing systems

Many real world mobile device interactions occur in context-rich environments. However, the majority of empirical studies on mobile computing are conducted in static or idealized conditions, resulting in a deficit of understanding of how changes in context impact users’ abilities to perform effectively. This paper attempts to address the disconnect between the actual use and the evaluation of mobile devices by varying contextual conditions and recording changes in behavior. A study was performed to investigate the specific effects of changes in motion, lighting, and task type on user performance and workload. The results indicate that common contextual variations can lead to dramatic changes in behavior and that interactions between contextual factors are also important to consider.
Effects of the neurotensin NTS1 receptor agonist PD149163 on visual signal detection in rats

Antipsychotic drugs provide limited efficacy for cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Recent studies have found that the neurotensin NTS1 receptor agonist and putative atypical antipsychotic drug PD149163 reverses deficits in sensory-gating and novel object recognition, suggesting that this compound may have the potential to improve cognitive functioning in schizophrenia. The present study sought to extend these investigations by evaluating the effects of PD149163 on sustained attention using a visual signal detection operant task in rats. PD149163, the atypical antipsychotic drug clozapine, and the dopamine D2/3 receptor antagonist raclopride all significantly decreased percent “hit” accuracy, while none of these compounds altered “correct rejections” (compared to vehicle control). Clozapine and raclopride significantly increased response latency, while high doses of PD149163 and raclopride significantly increased trial omissions. Nicotine, which was tested as a positive control, significantly improved overall performance in this task and did not affect response latency or trial omissions. The present findings suggest that neurotensin NTS1 receptor agonists, like antipsychotic drugs, may inhibit sustained attention in this task despite having different pharmacological mechanisms of action.
Modeling and validation of full fabric targets under ballistic impact

Abstract The impact of three different projectiles (0.357 Magnum, 9-mm FMJ and 0.30 cal FSP) onto Kevlar® was modeled using a commercial finite-element program. The focus of the research was on simulating full-scale body armor targets, which were modeled at the yarn level, by reducing to a minimum the number of solid elements per yarn. A thorough validation of the impact physics was performed at the yarn level, single-layer level, and a full body armor system. A verification was performed by checking the numerical model against analytical predictions for yarn impact. For one-layer and multiple-layer targets validation consisted on matching experimental data of pyramid formation recorded by an ultra-high-speed camera. The full-scale targets were also instrumented with nickel–chromium wires that stretch with the yarn during the penetration event. The wires provided a second validation data set since the numerical model can reproduce the signal recorded by the wires. The third and final validation of the model is provided by a comparison of the ballistic limit predicted by the model and data obtained in tests. This is a check of the failure model used in the numerical simulations. This paper shows that the main features of the impact physics are well reproduced by the finite-element model. Prediction of ballistic limits for the 9-mm FMJ and FSP projectiles were within the scatter of the tests, while for the 0.357 projectile the difference was only 15%.
Phage Display in Molecular Imaging and Diagnosis of Cancer

New peptide-based probes to facilitate the molecular imaging of disease are rapidly evolving due to implementation of combinatorial chemistry and bacteriophage (phage) display. Phage display is a powerful technique that allows vast sequence space screening, providing a means to improve peptide affinity and generate unique peptides that bind any given target. Since its inception in 1985, many thousands of peptides have been isolated and investigated using phage display. Such peptides are being explored in vaccine development, enzyme inhibition, inflammation, plant pathology, cardiovascular disease, cancer, etc. The purpose of this review is to analyze and describe those peptides obtained from phage display that have been used successfully in the past five years in both radio- and optical in vivo tumor imaging. New tumor targeting agents are required to advance cancer diagnosis and treatment and phage display selected peptides may be an attractive means to obtain such agents. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the hundreds of peptides selected against tumor antigens have not been shown to function as cancer molecular imaging agents in vivo. Recently, progress has been made in translation of the peptides from in vitro to in vivo applications. Not only have the peptides displayed on phage been employed in vivo as tumor imaging agents, but the phage themselves have been used in imaging with a number of labeling platforms. The integration of phage as not only vehicles for peptide discovery but also as a nanomaterial has wide-ranging applications. Phage display technology is emerging as a powerful, economical, rapid, and efficacious approach to develop new agents for the molecular imaging and diagnosis of cancer.
Right ventricular architecture responsible for mechanical performance: unifying role of ventricular septum.

The right ventricle (RV) is composed of a free wall containing a wrap-around circumferential muscle at its base and a septum composed of helical fibers that are oblique and cross each other at 60° angles. This structure is defined by the helical ventricular myocardial band and defines RV function because the wrap-around transverse fibers constrict or compress to cause the bellows motion responsible for 20% of RV output, whereas the oblique fibers determine shortening and lengthening that produces 80% of RV systolic function. Clinical shortening is quantified by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and measured by echocardiography. Destruction of the free wall by electrocautery or patch replacement does not alter RV function if the septum is intact. Conversely, septal damage causes RV dysfunction if pulmonary vascular resistance is increased. The interaction between structure and function to cause RV failure and how these factors become corrected is defined for RV failure, RV relationship to LV failure, resynchronization, pacing, RV dysplasia, left ventricular assist device, intraoperative septal injury during myocardial protection, the septal role in tricuspid insufficiency, pharmacologic decisions on altering pulmonary vascular resistance in RV failure, congenital heart disease, and adult heart disease is considered in this overview. These structure–function relationships emphasize why clinical decisions must be based on knowledge of normality, recognizing how disease offsets normality, and introducing actions that rebuild normality.
Cuphea viscosissima mutants with decreased capric acid

The range of medium-chain oils produced by Cuphea viscosissima Jacq., a naturally rich source of capric acid (10:0), can be broadened by developing lines with increased caprylic (8:0), lauric (12:0), or myristic (14:0) acid. Our objectives were to (i) describe the inheritance of a series of mutants with decreased 10:0 (CPR-1, CPR-2, CPR-4, CPR-5, and CLM-1) and (ii) develop lines with fatty acid compositions different from other mutant lines. CPR-1, CPR-2, and CPR-5 had ∼ 310 g kg -1 less 10:0 than the wild type (WT), whereas CPR-4 had 62 g kg -1 less 10:0 and CLM-1 had 50 g kg -1 less 10:0 than the wild type. We assayed the fatty acids of 100 progeny from 10 F 2 populations segregating for one or more mutations. CPR-1, CPR-2, and CPR-5 produced three non-overlapping capric acid classes and segregated as single incompletely dominant mutations. CPR-1 x CPR-2 and CPR-1 x CPR-5 F 2 progeny had continuous 8:0 and 10:0 distributions. The CPR-1 x CPR-5 cross produced several F 2 progeny with atypical 8:0 and 10:0 phenotypes, while the CPR-1 x CPR-2 cross produced no F 2 progeny different from either parent. CPR-1 and CPR-2 seem to be allelic mutations affecting the cpr locus. CPR-5 could be an allele of the cpr locus or of a locus tightly linked to cpr. CPR-4 x WT and CLM-1 x WT F 2 progeny had continuous 10:0 distributions. CPR-1, CPR-4, and CLM-1 seem to be non-allelic mutations. VS-320, an F 3 line developed from the CPR-1 x CLM-1 F 2 population, had 334 g kg -1 8:0 and 396 g kg -1 10:0. VS-321, an F 3 line developed from the CPR-4 x CPR-5 F 2 population, had 247 g kg -1 8:0 and 361 g kg -1 10:0. The 8:0 or 10:0 contents of these lines are lower or higher than previously reported for C. viscosissima.
Automated Measurement of Peak Widths for the Determination of Peak Capacity in Complex Chromatograms

The peak capacity was measured for an ultrahigh-pressure gradient elution chromatogram of a fluorescently tagged tryptic digest of ovalbumin. The peak widths in the chromatogram were determined by measuring the peak height and the second derivative at the peak maximum. This approach for measuring peak widths was programmed into a computer, and the software accurately determined the general progression of peak widths by measuring 47 peaks throughout the chromatogram in under 10 s. Peak capacity was determined by taking the definite integral of the plot of reciprocal base peak width versus retention time. This calculation of peak capacity is a linear transformation with respect to separation space, so the method is more rigorously accurate than previous methods. The peak capacity for the chromatogram was calculated to be 316.
Tuning coupling: discrete changes in runaway avalanche sizes in disordered media.

Hysteretic systems may exhibit a runaway avalanche in which a large fraction of the constituents of the system collectively change state. It would be very valuable to understand the role that interaction strength between constituents plays in the size of such catastrophic runaway avalanches. We use a simple model, the random field Ising model, to study how the size of the runaway avalanche changes as the coupling between spins, J, is tuned. In particular, we calculate P(S), the distribution of size changes S in the runaway avalanche size as J comes close to a critical value J_{c}, and find that the distribution scales as P(S)∼S^{-τ}D(S^{σ}(J/J_{c}-1)), with τ and σ critical exponents and D(x) a universal scaling function. In mean field theory we find τ=3/2, σ=1/2, and D(x)=exp[-(3x)^{1/σ}/2]. On the basis of these results and previous studies, we also predict that for three dimensions τ=1.6 and σ=0.24. Language: en
Schemes to measure available bandwidth and link capacity with ternary search and compound probe for packet networks

Accurate measurement of network parameters such as available bandwidth (ABW) and link capacity are needed for analyzing network performance. Active measurement is an attractive approach as it has the advantage of controllability and flexibility for performing network measurement. However, it can affect both the data traffic and the measurement process itself, affecting the accuracy of the measurement if significant amount of probe traffic is injected into the network. Furthermore, measurement must be completed in short time to effectively monitor the network state. In this paper, we present two new measurement schemes: one for measuring ABW, and the other for measuring per-hop link capacities of an end-to-end path. The ABW measurement scheme performs measurement in short period of time and with small amount of probe traffic, and it achieves accuracy comparable to that of IGI and Pathload. The link-capacity measurement scheme provides immunity to cross traffic. We present ns-2 simulation results of the ABW and link-capacity measurement schemes to show their performance.
Catalytic pyrolysis of biomass for biofuels production

Abstract Fast pyrolysis bio-oils currently produced in demonstration and semi-commercial plants have potential as a fuel for stationary power production using boilers or turbines but they require significant modification to become an acceptable transportation fuel. Catalytic upgrading of pyrolysis vapors using zeolites is a potentially promising method for removing oxygen from organic compounds and converting them to hydrocarbons. This work evaluated a set of commercial and laboratory-synthesized catalysts for their hydrocarbon production performance via the pyrolysis/catalytic cracking route. Three types of biomass feedstocks; cellulose, lignin, and wood were pyrolyzed (batch experiments) in quartz boats in physical contact with the catalysts at temperature ranging from 400 °C to 600 °C and catalyst-to-biomass ratios of 5–10 by weight. Molecular-beam mass spectrometry (MBMS) was used to analyze the product vapor and gas composition. The highest yield of hydrocarbons (approximately 16 wt.%, including 3.5 wt.% of toluene) was achieved using nickel, cobalt, iron, and gallium-substituted ZSM-5. Tests performed using a semi-continuous flow reactor allowed us to observe the change in the composition of the volatiles produced by the pyrolysis/catalytic vapor cracking reactions as a function of the catalyst time-on-stream. The deoxygenation activity decreased with time because of coke deposits formed on the catalyst.
On second-order sigma-delta modulators

Abstract The state equations of second-order sigma-delta modulators are investigated. The necessary and sufficient conditions for existence of a general class of limit cycles of the state vectors are determined. The conditions involve restrictions on the system input and initial vector of the limit cycle. Some examples are also given.
A description of the extreme aged population based on improved Medicare enrollment data.

The mortality and size of the extreme aged population can be studied most accurately with Medicare enrollment data from the Social Security Administration’s Master Beneficiary Record after certain types of questionable records are eliminated. With the improved data base we find that mortality rates at the very old ages are higher than published rates, we are more confident of the reality of the race crossover, and we can estimate the number of centenarians more accurately. Furthermore, a large matched-records study shows close agreement on age at death between the Master Beneficiary Record and the death certificate.
The Genealogy of APREA

At a Peanut Research Conference organized by Mr. John T. Phillips, Jr. and held in Atlanta, February 21-22, 1957, the following resolution was passed: "That a well qualified and experienced person be engaged to serve as the coordinator of all research and research information relating to peanuts and peanut products in all its phases, from the breeding of the peanut to its consumption." This resolution was transmitted to the Resolutions Committee of the National Peanut Council. There was no recommendation regarding the source of the coordinator's salary or his relationship to the universities, the USDA or the National Peanut Council.
449 JEJUNOILEAL GRADIENT OF SUCRASE ACTIVITY IS PROGRAMMED IN FETAL RATS IN UTERO

Sucrase activity is absent in the small intestine of fetal rats, but it increases during the weaning period. At the same time, its jejunoileal gradient, known to exist in most adult mammals, appears. Mechanisms leading to the expression of biochemical specialization of individual sections of the small intestine are not clear. Fragments of fetal rat jejunum and ileum (21-day old, CDF strain Charles River Farm) implanted under the kidney capsula of adult rats (Gastroent. 64:292 and J. End. 74:145) were assayed after 4 and 6 weeks for sucrase activity and compared with small intestine developing in situ. Results demonstrate that expression of jejunoileal gradient of sucrase activity is not dependent on direct contact of food; this factor as well as gastric, duodenal and pancreatic secretion might be responsible for its magnitude. (Support: NIH grant #AM HD 14531).
Malposition of A Transvenous Cardiac Electrode Associated with Amaurosis Fugax

A 55-year-old male received a transvenous ventricular pacemaker for sick sinus syndrome. After pacemaker insertion, he developed recurrent episodes of amaurosis fugax. The source of thromboemboli was the pacemaker electrode malpositioned in the left ventricle. Position of the electrode was diagnosed correctly by two-dimensional echocardiography. The malposifioned electrode was successfully removed with cessation of recurrent thromboembolic phenomenon.
The GAAP in Quality Measurement and Reporting

CATALYZED BY EVIDENCE OF POOR-QUALITY CARE AND remarkable variations in processes and outcomes, the interest in quality measurement has increased exponentially. Manifestations of this interest include widespread promulgation of quality measures, an increase in public reporting of these measures, and early experiments in paying for quality. Now that quality of care is being measured rather than assumed, there seems little doubt that better quality scores will lead to major competitive advantages for clinicians and organizations. Although many quality measures are used internally by health care organizations to improve quality of care, an increasing number of measures are being reported publicly. Yet the measurement of quality in health care is neither standardized nor consistently accurate and reliable. Because any organization or company can advertise the quality of its products, it is important to hold health care quality measures to a higher standard than claims about, for example, household products. Without such assurances, publicly reported quality measures may misinform and possibly erode the trust that underlies the medical profession. If patients cannot trust what is reported, they may lose confidence in the quality of care that is provided. Invalid publicly reported quality-of-care measures pose significant risks to patients, clinicians, and potentially to payers. Patients might choose care according to misinformation and make poor decisions. Health care organizations may become overconfident about the quality of care provided and reduce or eliminate improvement efforts and introduce preventable harm. Payers may mistakenly provide financial rewards, channel patients to low-quality clinicians, or make inaccurate inferences about the value (quality per cost) they purchase.
Robust Control of Time-Delay Systems With Application to a Supercavitating Vehicle

Traditional underwater vehicles are limited in speed due to dramatic friction drag on the hull. A supercavitating vehicle exploits supercavitation to induce a gaseous cavity that contains most part of the vehicle and separates the vehicle hull from its surrounding water. Thus friction drag is substantially reduced. A supercavitating underwater vehicle can achieve very high speed, but also poses technical challenges in stability, control, and maneuvering due to various characteristics such as instability in open-loop dynamics, nonlinearity, cavity memory effect, etc. Among the existing literature on the control design for supercavitating vehicles, the cavity memory effect is often neglected to simplify system dynamics. In this paper, we take into account the cavity memory effect and model the supercavitating vehicle as a time-delay Quasi-Linear-Parameter-Varying system. Then a robust controller is designed to handle the switched, time-delay dependent behavior of the vehicle. The uncertainties considered in the presented control design include both parameter and planing force modeling uncertainties.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Polarization Estimation through Computational Sensing

A computational approach for estimating the degree of polarization from the speckle fluctuations of total intensity data is proposed. Maximum likelihood estimators are studied, and their performances are compared to algebraic estimators and Cramer-Rao bounds.