cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Paper 10: The Influence of Moisture on the Efficiency of a One-Third Scale Model Low Pressure Steam Turbine

The rapid increase in blade-tip diameters and peripheral speeds of low pressure turbines in large 3000 rev/min turbo-generators has presented the designer with many difficult mechanical and aerodynamic problems.To assist in the aerodynamic development of such blading, design studies on an experimental low pressure (l.p.) turbine were started early in 1959. Economic and technical considerations limited the choice to a one-third scale model steam turbine capable of running at three times the normal rotational speed to preserve full-scale working Mach numbers on the blading. Overall output and steam consumption were measured on a hydraulic dynamometer and by volumetric tanking respectively. The inlet steam temperature was controlled by a direct injection desuperheater so that the expansion could be kept dry for traversing or reduced to design inlet temperatures for normal wet running.Three multi-stage sets with last row blade diameters corresponding to 90-in, 120-in, and 136-in full-scale turbines have now b...
Effect of creep on the reliability of sawn lumber and wood-composite I-beams

Elastic displacement of wood is considered within current and envisioned structural design methods in the U.S.A., but viscoelastic displacement is treated only by rule of thumb. This study examined the reliability of wood as a viscoelastic material, based on the premise that timber structural members have two failure modes: (1) serviceability and (2) ultimate collapse. In the laboratory, full-scale solid sawn lumber and wood-composite I-beams were loaded for 110 days in a controlled environment. Data on initial elastic and creep displacements were recorded and fitted to a four-element mechanical analog to model creep. The mathematical description of the four-element mode was then used as the failure surface in a second-moment reliability analysis. Reliability was shown to be a function of time for lumber and I-beams when the limit state was serviceability; however, reliability may not have changed or may have changed at a different rate when the limit state was ultimate failure. It seems reasonable to expect reliabilities to change over time in viscoelastic materials whose serviceability state precedes ultimate failure.
Alternative exon splicing within the amino-terminal nontriple-helical domain of the rat pro-alpha 1(XI) collagen chain generates multiple forms of the mRNA transcript which exhibit tissue-dependent variation.

Type XI collagen is an integral, although minor component of cartilage collagen fibrils. We have established that alternative exon usage is a mechanism for increasing structural diversity within the amino-terminal non-triple helical domain of the pro-α1(XI) collagen gene. cDNA clones spanning the amino-terminal domain were selected from a rat chondrosarcoma library, and were shown to contain two major sequence differences from the previously reported human sequence. The first difference was the replacement of sequence encoding an acidic domain of 39 amino acids in length by a sequence encoding a 51-amino acid basic domain with a predicted pI of 11.9. The second difference was the absence of a sequence that would translate into a highly acidic 85amino acid sequence downstream from the first variation. These two changes, expressed together, result in the replacement of most of the acidic domain with one that is smaller and basic. These two sequence differences serve to identify subdomains of a variable region, designated V1 and V2, respectively. V1a is defined as the acidic 39-amino acid sequence element and V1b is defined as the 51-amino acid basic sequence. Analysis of genomic DNA revealed that both V1a and V1b are encoded by separate adjacent exons in the rat genome and V2 is also encoded in a single exon downstream. Analysis of mRNA from cartilage-derived sources revealed a complex pattern of α1(XI) transcript expression due to differential exon usage. In non-cartilage sources, the pattern is less complex; the most prevalent form is the one containing the two acidic sequences, V1a and V2.
Mapping the orientation of an antigenic peptide bound in the antigen binding groove of H-2Kb using a monoclonal antibody.

Summary The major histocompatibility complex class I molecules are receptors for intracellular peptides, both of self and non-self origin. When non-self peptides (eg., pathogen derived) are bound to the class I molecules, they form ligands for T cell receptors resulting in antigen specific lysis of the infected cells by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Therefore, an understanding of the process of antigen recognition requires the precise definition of the structural features of the bimolecular complex formed by a single well defined antigenic peptide bound to the class I molecule. A strategy using antibodies was developed to probe the structural features of the H-2K b containing a defined peptide in the antigen cleft. We report that the binding surface area of a K b specific monoclonal antibody (28-13-3s) includes residues in the α1 (Gly56 and Glu58) and α2 (Trp167) helices of K b thus, binding across the antigen binding groove. When cells treated with the antigenic peptide of vesicular stomatitis virus, N52-59, and its alanine substituted analogs were tested for 28-13-3s binding, it was found that position 1 of the peptide also forms a part of the antibody binding site. This finding strongly supports the positioning of the N-terminus of N52-59 proximal to pocket A, thus, assuming an orientation parallel to the a 1 helix.
A 240 kd multisubunit protein complex, CBF3, is a major component of the budding yeast centromere

A key protein component (CBF3) of the budding yeast (S. cerevisiae) centromere/kinetochore has been purified and characterized. CBF3 is a 240 kd multisubunit protein complex that binds specifically to the yeast wild-type centromere DNA (CEN), but not to nonfunctional CEN DNA containing a single base substitution in the critical CDEIII consensus sequence. When purified by affinity chromatography, CBF3 contains three protein components: CBF3A (110 kd), CBF3B (64 kd), and CBF3C (58 kd). Highly purified CBF3 requires the presence of a separate assembly factor or chaperone activity to bind to CEN DNA. Treatment with phosphatase inactivates CBF3, indicating that at least one of the CBF3 subunits must be phosphorylated for DNA binding to occur. A 56 bp region including the 26 bp CDEIII consensus is protected from DNAase I cleavage in the CBF3-CEN DNA complex.
Environmental Triggers for IBD

The fundamental elucidation of how environmental influences provoke the initiation of disease as well as flares of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains incomplete. The current understanding of these diseases suggests that ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) result from poorly defined interactions between genetic and environmental factors which culminate in the pathologic effects and clinical manifestations of these diseases. The genetic variant appears not sufficient itself to lead to the development of the clinical disease, but likely must combine with the environmental factors. The intestinal microbiome is pivotal to IBD development. A greater understanding of the contribution of these factors to dysbiosis is critical, and we aspire to restoring a healthy microbiome to treat flares and ideally prevent the development of IBD and its complications. This article aims to place the environmental influences in the context of their potential contribution to the development of the pathophysiology of IBD.
Detailed Mass Transfer Distribution in Rotating, Two-Pass Ribbed Coolant Channels With Vortex Generators

Local and global effects of cylindrical vortex generators on the mass transfer distributions over the four active walls of a square, rib-roughened rotating duct with a sharp 180° bend are investigated. Cylindrical vortex generators (rods) are placed above, and parallel to, every other rib on the leading and trailing walls of the duct so that their wake can interact with the shear layer and recirculation region formed behind the ribs, as well as the rotation-generated secondary flows. Local increases in near-wall turbulence intensity resulting from these interactions give rise to local enhancement of mass (heat) transfer. Measurements are presented for duct Reynolds numbers (Re) in the range 5000–30,000, and for rotation numbers in the range 0 to 0.3. The rib height-to-hydraulic diameter ratio (e/Dh) is fixed at 0.1, while the rib pitch-to-rib height ratio (P/e) is 10.5. The vortex generator rods have a diameter-to-rib height ratio (d/e) of 0.78, and the distance separating them from the ribs relative to the rib height (s/e) is 0.55. Mass transfer measurements of naphthalene sublimation have been carried out using an automated acquisition system and are correlated with heat transfer using the heat/mass transfer analogy. The results indicate that the vortex generators tend to enhance overall mass transfer in the duct, compared to the case where only ribs are present, both before and after the bend at high Reynolds and Rotation numbers. Local enhancements of up to 30% are observed on all four walls of the duct. At low Reynolds numbers (e.g. 5,000) the insertion of the rods often leads to degradation. At high Reynolds numbers (e.g. 30,000) the enhancement due to the rods occurs on the surfaces stabilized by rotation (trailing edge on the inlet pass and leading edge on the outlet pass) and the side walls.. The enhancement is more pronounced as the Rotation number is increased. The detailed measurements in a ribbed duct with vortex-generator rods clearly show localized regions of enhanced mass (heat) transfer at Reynolds and Rotation numbers within the envelope of practical interest for gas-turbine blade cooling applications.Copyright © 1999 by ASME
Hydrogenase Activity in Deeply Buried Sediments of the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans

The goal of this study was to measure hydrogenase activity in oceanic sediments of the Lomonosov Ridge (Arctic Ocean) and of the Porcupine Seabight (North Atlantic), and to understand how its distribution varied depending on geochemical and lithological characteristics of the sediment. Hydrogenase activity was found at all sites, and absolute values and downhole distributions varied widely within and between sites. At the Lomonosov Ridge, hydrogenase was below detection in the top 190 meters of sediment, but high levels were measured in the organic carbon-rich layers below this depth. Activity at Challenger Mound, Porcupine Seabight (Site 1317) was one to two orders of magnitude higher than the upslope or downslope sites (1318 and 1316, respectively), and was higher in the mound than below the mound base. Consistent with the interpretation of hydrogenase as an indicator of microbial activity, cells were present in all hydrogenase-positive samples or in nearby horizons. Cell-specific activity values were a...
Fatiguing inspiratory muscle work causes reflex reduction in resting leg blood flow in humans.

1. We recently showed that fatigue of the inspiratory muscles via voluntary efforts caused a time-dependent increase in limb muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) (St Croix et al. 2000). We now asked whether limb muscle vasoconstriction and reduction in limb blood flow also accompany inspiratory muscle fatigue. 2. In six healthy human subjects at rest, we measured leg blood flow («Q L) in the femoral artery with Doppler ultrasound techniques and calculated limb vascular resistance (LVR) while subjects performed two types of fatiguing inspiratory work to the point of task failure (3–10 min). Subjects inspired primarily with their diaphragm through a resistor, generating (i) 60 % maximal inspiratory mouth pressure (P M) and a prolonged duty cycle (TI/TTOT = 0.7); and (ii) 60 % maximal PM and a TI/TTOT of 0.4. The first type of exercise caused prolonged ischaemia of the diaphragm during each inspiration. The second type fatigued the diaphragm with briefer periods of ischaemia using a shorter duty cycle and a higher frequency of contraction. End-tidal P CO2 was maintained by increasing the inspired CO2 fraction (FI,CO2 ) as needed. Both trials caused a 25–40 % reduction in diaphragm force production in response to bilateral phrenic nerve stimulation. 3. «Q L and LVR were unchanged during the first minute of the fatigue trials in most subjects; however, «QL subsequently decreased (_30 %) and LVR increased (50–60 %) relative to control in a time-dependent manner. This effect was present by 2 min in all subjects. During recovery, the observed changes dissipated quickly (< 30 s). Mean arterial pressure (MAP; +4–13 mmHg) and heart rate (+16–20 beats min _1 ) increased during fatiguing diaphragm contractions. 4. When central inspiratory motor output was increased for 2 min without diaphragm fatigue by increasing either inspiratory force output (95 % of maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP)) or inspiratory flow rate (5 w eupnoea), «Q L, MAP and LVR were unchanged; although continuing the high force output trials for 3 min did cause a relatively small but significant increase in LVR and a reduction in «Q L. 5. When the breathing pattern of the fatiguing trials was mimicked with no added resistance, LVR was reduced and «Q L increased significantly; these changes were attributed to the negative feedback effects on MSNA from augmented tidal volume. 6. Voluntary increases in inspiratory effort, in the absence of diaphragm fatigue, had no effect on «Q L and LVR, whereas the two types of diaphragm-fatiguing trials elicited decreases in «QL and increases in LVR. We attribute these changes to a metaboreflex originating in the diaphragm. Diaphragm and forearm muscle fatigue showed very similar time-dependent effects on LVR and «Q L.
The Economics of Agricultural R&D

Agricultural research has transformed agriculture and in doing so contributed to the transformation of economies. Economic issues arise because agricultural research is subject to various market failures, because the resulting innovations and technological changes have important economic consequences for net income and its distribution, and because the consequences are difficult to discern and attribute. Economists have developed models and measures of the economic consequences of agricultural R&D and related policies in contributions that relate to a very broad literature ranging across production economics, development economics, industrial organization, economic history, welfare economics, political economy, econometrics, and so on. A key general finding is that the social rate of return to investments in agricultural R&D has been generally high. Specific findings differ depending on methods and modeling assumptions, particularly assumptions concerning the research lag distribution, the nature of the r...
Agrobacterium -mediated transformation and assessment of factors influencing transgene expression in loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.)

This investigation reports a protocol for transfer and expression of foreign chimeric genes in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). Transformation was achieved by co-cultivation of mature zygotic embryos with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 which harbored a binary vector (pBI121) including genes for b-glucuronidase (GUS) and neomycin phosphotransferase (NPTII). Factors influencing transgene expression including seed sources of loblolly pine, concentration of bacteria, and the wounding procedures of target explants were investigated. The expression of foreign gene was confirmed by the ability of mature zygotic embryos to produce calli in the presence of kanamycin, by histochemical assays of GUS activity, by PCR analysis, and by Southern blot. The successful expression of the GUS gene in different families of loblolly pine suggests that this transformation system is probably useful for the production of the genetically modified conifers.
New Approaches to Controlling Health Care Costs: Bending the Cost Curve for Colonoscopy

26. Wooldridge J. Econometric Analysis of Cross Section and Panel Data. 2nd ed. Cambridge,MA:MIT Press; 2010. 27. Tu H, Felland L, Ginsburg PB, Liebhaber A, Cohen G, Kemper N. Sacramento: Powerful Hospital SystemsDominate a StableMarket. California Healthcare Foundation; July 2009. http://www.chcf .org/~/media/MEDIA%20LIBRARY%20Files/PDF/A /PDF%20AlmanacRegMktBriefSacramento09.pdf. Accessed July 24, 2015.
Robotic Excision of Recurrent Renal Cell Carcinomas With Laparoscopic Ultrasound Assistance

Objective To report our experience with the first application of minimally invasive robotic resection of solitary recurrences of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and our use of laparoscopic ultrasound to localize such tumors. Patients and Methods Three patients presented with isolated retroperitoneal recurrences of RCC on surveillance imaging up to 5 years after previous nephrectomy. One patient who originally had caval extension of RCC to the right atrium presented with retrocaval lymphadenopathy consistent with RCC on biopsy. The second patient had a growing lesion in the renal fossa that could not be found during open exploration before referral. The third patient had an enlarging retroaortic mass resected 2 years after left nephrectomy with negative lymphadenectomy. A transperitoneal robotic approach was used in all cases with laparoscopic ultrasound localization. Results Procedures were completed robotically in 194, 191, and 85 minutes. Recurrent RCC tumors were resected with negative margins. The first patient had 10 benign nodes removed, the second patient underwent robotic mesh repair of a flank hernia, and the third patient had a retroaortic lesion excised despite benign pathology on prior biopsy. Both ambulated and tolerated diet immediately and were discharged on the first postoperative day without complications. Neither patient had recurrence with at least 2 years of follow-up. Conclusion Isolated RCC recurrences are rare with the limited available data advocating surgical resection. We describe the first report of robotic resection of these tumors with excellent surgical and midterm oncologic outcomes.
Thought Calibration: How Thinking Just the Right Amount Increases One’s Influence and Appeal

Previous research suggests that people draw inferences about their attitudes and preferences based on their own thoughtfulness. The current research explores how observing other individuals make de...
Protein Kinase D Orchestrates the Activation of DRAK2 in Response to TCR-Induced Ca2+ Influx and Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Generation

DRAK2 is a serine/threonine kinase highly enriched in lymphocytes that raises the threshold for T cell activation and maintains T cell survival following productive activation. T cells lacking DRAK2 are prone to activation under suboptimal conditions and exhibit enhanced calcium responses to AgR stimulation. Despite this, mice lacking DRAK2 are resistant to organ-specific autoimmune diseases due to defective autoreactive T cell survival. DRAK2 kinase activity is induced by AgR signaling, and in this study we show that the induction of DRAK2 activity requires Ca(2+) influx through the Ca(2+) release-activated Ca(2+) channel formed from Orai1 subunits. Blockade of DRAK2 activity with the protein kinase D (PKD) inhibitor Go6976 or expression of a kinase-dead PKD mutant prevented activation of DRAK2, whereas a constitutively active PKD mutant promoted DRAK2 function. Knockdown of PKD in T cells strongly blocked endogenous DRAK2 activation following TCR ligation, implicating PKD as an essential intermediate in the activation of DRAK2 by Ca(2+) influx. Furthermore, we identify DRAK2 as a novel substrate of PKD, and demonstrate that DRAK2 and PKD physically interact under conditions that activate PKD. Mitochondrial generation of reactive oxygen intermediates was necessary and sufficient for DRAK2 activation in response to Ca(2+) influx. Taken together, DRAK2 and PKD form a novel signaling module that controls calcium homeostasis following T cell activation.
Tempest: Soft state replication in the service tier

Soft state in the middle tier is key to enabling scalable and responsive three tier service architectures. While soft-state can be reconstructed upon failure, replicating it across multiple service instances is critical for rapid fail-over and high availability. Current techniques for storing and managing replicated soft state require mapping data structures to different abstractions such as database records, which can be difficult and introduce inefficiencies. Tempest is a system that provides programmers with data structures that look very similar to conventional Java Collections but are automatically replicated. We evaluate Tempest against alternatives such as in-memory databases and we show that Tempest does scale well in real world service architectures.
Central Leptin Regulation of Obesity and Fertility

The current obesity epidemic and lack of efficient therapeutics demand a clear understanding of the mechanism underlying body weight regulation. The cloning of leptin, a key body weight regulating adipokine released in proportion to the adipose tissue mass, has revolutionized our understanding of the mechanism by which body weight is controlled. It is now well established that the brain, especially the hypothalamus, maintains body weight homeostasis by effectively adjusting food intake and energy expenditure in response to changes in levels of various nutritional status indicators, including leptin. In addition, one major defect in physiology associated with obesity is reduced fertility. Defects in leptin action result in both obesity and infertility, suggesting that leptin may serve as a link between nutrition supply and reproduction. This review reports recent research advance in neural pathways underlying leptin action on body weight and fertility, and discusses the remaining outstanding challenges.
Using Virtual Technology to Enhance Field Experiences for Pre-Service Special Education Teachers:

Teacher educators of pre-service teachers of students with special needs face challenges in providing the unique knowledge and skills required of highly qualified special education teachers. The emerging use of various forms of virtual technology, however, offers realistic solutions to these problems. This systematic review of literature examines 14 studies that utilized these virtual technologies to increase learning outcomes for pre-service special education teachers during field experiences or courses that prepared them for such experiences. Included studies examined the efficacy of learning from digital case studies, supervision via videoconferencing, audio-cued coaching, and participation in virtual reality activities. Results confirmed that these types of technologies can greatly enhance field-based learning opportunities for pre-service special education teachers.
Interleukin-21: Basic Biology and Implications for Cancer and Autoimmunity*

Interleukin-21 (IL-21), a potent immunomodulatory four-α-helical-bundle type I cytokine, is produced by NKT and CD4+ T cells and has pleiotropic effects on both innate and adaptive immune responses. These actions include positive effects such as enhanced proliferation of lymphoid cells, increased cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, and differentiation of B cells into plasma cells. Conversely, IL-21 also has direct inhibitory effects on the antigen-presenting function of dendritic cells and can be proapoptotic for B cells and NK cells. IL-21 is also produced by Th17 cells and is a critical regulator of Th17 development. The regulatory activity of IL-21 is modulated by the differentiation state of its target cells as well as by other cytokines or costimulatory molecules. IL-21 has potent antitumor activity but is also associated with the development of autoimmune disease. IL-21 transcription is dependent on a calcium signal and NFAT sites, and IL-21 requires Stat3 for its signaling. ...
Wayne V. Burt (1917–1991)

Wayne V. Burt, 74, professor emeritus and founder of the Oceanography Department at Oregon State University, died of a heart attack while fishing near Newport, Oreg., on August 24. Burt was born in 1917 in South Shore, S.Dak., and moved to Oregon in 1924. He earned a B.S. degree in mathematics from Pacific College in 1939 and taught mathematics and physical science in rural Oregon high schools until 1943 when he was commissioned in the U.S. Navy and trained as a meteorologist. He received a Certificate of Meteorology from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1944 and served as a meteorologist in the South Pacific. He was sent to Scripps Institution of Oceanography to study wave forecasting in anticipation of an amphibious invasion of Japan. When the war ended, Burt returned to Oregon to study mathematics at the University of Oregon but, fortunately for many of us, he returned to Scripps to enter its first organized class of oceanographers in fall 1946. Burt received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California at Los Angeles for his studies at Scripps. The Ph.D. was awarded in 1952 for his work in underwater light transmission. Burt was a faculty member of the Johns Hopkins University and Chesapeake Bay Institute until 1953 and a research oceanographer at the University of Washington from 1953 to 1954.
A 409 GOPS/W Adaptive and Resilient Domino Register File in 22 nm Tri-Gate CMOS Featuring In-Situ Timing Margin and Error Detection for Tolerance to Within-Die Variation, Voltage Droop, Temperature and Aging

This paper presents an adaptive and resilient domino register file design featuring in-situ timing margin and error detection for the performance-critical domino read path. Voltage/frequency is adapted for slow-changing variations such as low-frequency supply noise, temperature fluctuation, and aging-induced degradation. Dynamic adaptation is combined with error detection and recovery for fast voltage droops and random data access patterns in the presence of within-die process variations. Throughput and energy efficiency gains are higher than the replica/canary based critical path approach. Timing margin is tracked by double-sampling the read output and its delayed version at the same clock edge. Timing errors are detected by double-sampling and comparing the read output within a clock window. The sensing errors in the precharge/evaluate domino read path are converted into timing errors using a conditional delayed-bitline precharge technique that does not impact the subsequent precharge operation. The proposed techniques incur 6–13% area overhead and 0.2–0.3% power overhead for a 4 Kb sub-array. The measurement results from a 22 nm tri-gate CMOS testchip demonstrate 21% throughput and 67% energy efficiency improvement with a peak energy efficiency of 409 GOPS/W.
The Evolved Human Social Condition

In this chapter I will extend the argument begun in Chapter 4 to aspects of human behavior that involve the interaction of organisms with other organisms, all coping with the demands of the environment. These aspects often are considered to require a set of emergent cultural mechanisms freed from biology.
Structurally Time Optimal Control for Linear Systems with Bounded Control and Bias Disturbance

We consider the development of structurally optimal algorithms in the minimum time optimal control setting. That is, we develop control laws capable of producing bang-bang and bang-intermediate control. Of interest are systems that are linear in the state and decoupled from the scalar, bounded control; the presence of an unknown, bias disturbance in the state equations is assumed. The developed algorithms utilize Lyapunov optimizing control and trajectory following minimization techniques to preserve optimal structure while creating sub-optimal, closed-loop controls. The derivation considers target stability in the presence of the unknown disturbance and chatter due to actuator saturation.
Another perspective on gasoline price responses to crude oil price changes

The effects of oil price volatility on the responses of gasoline prices to oil price shocks have received little attention in discussions on the relationship between the prices of crude oil and gasoline. In this paper we consider such effects by using a bivariate structural vector autoregression which is modified to accommodate GARCH-in-mean errors. Our measure of oil price volatility is the conditional variance of the oil price–change forecast error. We isolate the effects of volatility in the price of oil on the price of gasoline and employ simulation methods to calculate nonlinear impulse response functions (NIRFs) to trace any asymmetric effects of independent oil price shocks on the conditional means of gasoline prices. We test whether the relationship between the prices of crude oil and gasoline is symmetric using tests of the null hypothesis of symmetric impulse responses. Based on monthly U.S. data over the period from 1978:1 to 2014:11, our empirical results show that gasoline prices respond asymmetrically to positive and negative oil price shocks. We also find that oil price volatility has a positive effect on the price of gasoline and it contributes to the asymmetries in the transmission of oil price shocks.
An Examination of the Web-Based Strategies of the Top 100 U.S. Retailers

This article presents a two-stage study examining the Web-based strategic objectives of the top 100 u.s. retailers. In-depth interviews, Web site observation and a review of the Web-based literature were used to ascertain the strategic objectives of retailers establishing Web sites. Three strategic objectives were found: online sales, communication, and customer service. The second study content analyzed the Web sites of the top 100 U.S. retailers. Results indicate that a majority of these retailers are utilizing their Web sites for advertising, public relations and customer service access.
SMIS PBX-9502 Test Report

Two impact experiments in the Specific Munitions Impact Scenario (SMIS) configuration [1{3] were performed on September 3 and 4, 2013 at Lower Slobbovia ring site. Targets of the high explosive PBX-9502 were impacted with 1/2-inch diameter low-carbon steel spheres red from a 30-mm powder gun at velocities of approximately 2.5 km/s. In one experiment the target was cased in a steel cylinder with steel end plates, and in the second the target was cased in a plastic cylinder with a thin steel front cover plate and a thick steel rear plate. In neither experiment did the PBX-9502 detonate, though some material reacted in the impact
Vitamin E Differentially Destabilizes Bilayer Structure of Docosahexaenoic and Oleic-Acid Containing Model Membranes

Vitamin E (α-tocopherol) is a lipid-soluble antioxidant that has a primary role of protecting polyunsaturated phospholipids from oxidation in membranes. Whether there is preferential interaction between α-tocopherol and polyunsaturated phospholipids to optimize this function has been a longstanding question. Here we compare the effect of α-tocopherol on the molecular organization of polyunsaturated 1-palmitoyl-2-docosahexaenoyl-sn-glycerophosphatidylethanolamine (16:0-22:6PE, PDPE) and monounsaturated 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycerophosphatidylethanolamine (16:0-18:1PE, POPE) in mixtures with sphingomyelin (SM). By solid-state 2H NMR spectroscopy, we directly observed POPE-d31 and PDPE-d31 (analogs of POPE and PDPE with a perdeuterated sn-1 chain) in the mixed membranes. In supplementary X-ray diffraction experiments, we further probed membrane architecture. At higher temperatures (>20 °C), the spectra observed for POPE-d31 in POPE/SM/α-tocopherol (2:2:1 mol) and for PDPE-d31 in PDPE/SM/α-tocopherol (2:2:1 mol) consist of a superposition of two spectral components that we ascribe to α-tocopherol promoting a transition from lamellar (Lα) to inverted hexagonal (HII) phase. This interpretation is confirmed by X-ray diffraction data. Analysis of depaked spectra shows that the amount of HII phase increases with temperature. The increase ranges from 7 to 28% between 31 and 55 °C for POPE-d31, while for PDPE-d31 the increase is less and ranges from 6 to 20% over the same temperature range. A more modest increase in acyl chain order is also seen for PDPE-d31 (3%) than POPE-d31 (8%) remaining in the Lα phase (37 °C). The molecular origin of the differential in bilayer stability between the two mixed membranes will be discussed in terms of the greater disorder of PDPE and its ability to accommodate α-tocopherol.
The enhancements of broken bar fault detection in induction motors

Fault diagnosis of electric motors is still a challenging task for researchers. Various rotor cage faults detection techniques for electric motors have been proposed during the last two decades. One of these techniques widely used is the one based on the stator current spectral analysis which is still an open topic of research. This paper focusses on this technique; which has proven to be simple and very practical for broken rotor bar faults diagnosis; but by adding further enhancements; particularly for incipient faults; so as to achieve better diagnosis reliability. The proposed enhancements are the design and realization of a low-pass filter, the development of a maximum localization algorithm and the use of a Hanning window in the PSD estimation. Some experimental results are presented and discussed to highlight the impact and merits of these enhancements on broken bar faults diagnosis.
Prevalence of group B Streptococcus colonization in subsequent pregnancies of group B Streptococcus-colonized versus noncolonized women.

Objective To determine whether group B Streptococcus (GBS)-colonized pregnant women have an increased prevalence of GBS colonization in subsequent pregnancies. Study Design This retrospective cohort study compared the prevalence of GBS colonization in initial and subsequent pregnancies of 158 women with two or more deliveries at a Midwest institution since the initiation of universal screening for GBS. Results The GBS colonization rate in index pregnancies was 20%. Colonization rate in subsequent pregnancies for initially GBS-colonized women was 42% compared with 19% for women who were not colonized with GBS in the index pregnancy (p = 0.009). The relative risk for GBS-colonized women to be GBS-colonized in subsequent pregnancies was 2.2 (confidence interval = 1.3 to 3.8). Conclusion Previous GBS colonization is a risk factor for GBS colonization in subsequent pregnancies. Consideration of intrapartum chemoprophylaxis in women with a history of GBS colonization, assuming current colonization status is unknown, warrants further investigation.
FIB-assisted Pt Deposition for Carbon Nanotube Integration and 3-D Nanoengineering

In this study, the Focused Ion Beam (FIB) instrument has been used for carbon nanotubes integration and nanoegineering studies. Results of thorough investigation (electrical, structural and chemical) of ultra-thin Pt contact lines and pads fabricated by the FIB, along with evaluation of nanomodification of the carbon nanotubes under the Ga+ ion beam and during Pt deposition are presented. The initial stages of FIB-assisted Pt deposition on multi-wall nanotubes are studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The FIB parameters are optimized to provide non-destructive imaging and controllable Pt deposition with minimal damage on the nanotubes. We have demonstrated effective use of FIB-fabricated Pt pads as means of attaching the nanotubes to the substrate for atomic force and ultrasonic force microscopy studies.
Second-Stage Music Teachers’ Perceptions of Their Professional Development

In recent years, professional development has become a topic of an increasing amount of research. However, studies are often general in nature or focused on beginning teachers specifically. Recently, researchers have begun to explore professional development over the course of a teacher’s entire career. The purpose of this study was to investigate the professional development needs of a particular population of experienced teachers: those known as second-stage teachers, commonly defined as teachers who have experience of 4 to 10 years and have passed the “survival years.” Research questions were as follows: (a) How do second-stage music teachers describe their professional development experiences? and (b) How do second-stage music teachers perceive their professional development needs? Findings are organized into the following themes: forms of professional development, professional development needs at different times, obstacles to professional development, and concerns about a lack of professional develo...
ESTABLISHMENT OF DNA FINGERPRINTING DATABASE FOR PARENTAL LINES OF HYBRID RICE

In this study,we performed SSR(simple sequence repeats) analysis of 133 hybrid parental rice varieties with 48 SSR core primer pairs recommend by GB/T20396-2006.Based on polymorphism among the materials,we built molecular ID and fingerprint for each variety.The ID was constructed by 48 digit numbers and letters,which represent the detail polymorphism on certain variety.Combined the SSR polymorphism and anatomical information,a searchable SSR fingerprinting database was built.This database could be used to identify the basic information,molecular ID and similarity of varieties.Furthermore,it also could be applied in seed purity examining,parental similarity testing to support the rice hybrid breeding.This database not only sets a sharing platform for examination institutes or breeders,but also technically supports the breeding,testing,managing and judging on rice varieties.
The Application of Genetic Algorithm to the Artificial Intelligence

In this paper the author introduces the basic conception of genetic algorithm(GA for short),the feature of GA and the calculation steps.We can also get a general idea of the development in the machine learning,Parallel Processing,artificial Life,and the integration of evolutionary rules and strategies.At last,the application of GA to artificial neural networks is discussed,especially the application of GA to the study of neural networks weight and the neural network topology.
Abstract PR18: Survival of ARHI-induced dormant autophagic cell death in vivo requires permissive levels of VEGF, IL-8, and IGF-1 in the tumor microenvironment.

Among gynecological cancers, ovarian cancer has the worst prognosis. One of the most important factors contributing to poor outcomes is the ability of drug resistant ovarian cancer cells to remain dormant for years after treatment, only to grow progressively and kill their host. Judging from sites of recurrence, most dormant ovarian cancer cells are found on the surface of the peritoneal cavity, often in small, poorly vascularized collagenous scars observed at second look operations. Our group has found that autophagy and tumor dormancy can be regulated by an imprinted tumor suppressor gene, ARHI (DIRAS3), which is downregulated in 60% of ovarian cancers and in cancers from several other sites. Re-expression of ARHI induces autophagy by inhibiting PI3K and mTOR signaling, displacing Bcl-2 from Beclin1to form the autophagy initiating complex, inducing ATG4, decorating the autophagosome membrane and co-localizing with LC3II. Re-expression of ARHI in ovarian cancer cells in culture produces cell death within 72 hours, whereas re-expression of ARHI in xenografts produces cell growth arrest and tumor dormancy. When ARHI levels are reduced once again in vivo, xenografts grow promptly to kill the host. Outgrowth of dormant xenografts is markedly delayed, but not prevented by treatment with chloroquine, a functional inhibitor of autophagy. The clinical relevance of this dormancy model is supported by previous studies that found ARHI expression in ovarian cancer cells was significantly increased in 90% of cases where small, dormant nodules of drug resistant ovarian cancer removed from the peritoneal surface at second-look operations, but in only 40% of the primary specimens from the same patients from initial cytoreductive surgery. In this study, we have measured Ki67 and microvascular density (MVD) in the same set of primary human ovarian cancers and in matched positive second look specimens. Second look specimens exhibited significantly lower Ki-67 (p This abstract is also presented as Poster A36. Citation Format: Zhen Lu, Aaron F. Orozco, Hailing Yang, Margie N. Sutton, Yan Wang, Weiqun Mao, Douglas A. Levine, Robert C. Bast, Jr., Robert C. Bast, Jr.. Survival of ARHI-induced dormant autophagic cell death in vivo requires permissive levels of VEGF, IL-8, and IGF-1 in the tumor microenvironment. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research: Exploiting Vulnerabilities; Oct 17-20, 2015; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2016;22(2 Suppl):Abstract nr PR18.
Determination of Semduramicin Sodium in Poultry Liver by Liquid Chromatography with Vanillin Postcolumn Derivatization

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method is described for the quantitative determination of semduramicin sodium in broiler liver when administered under projected use conditions. For this procedure, semduramicin sodium is extracted from liver with methanolic ammonium hydroxide, separated and concentrated by solid-phase extraction steps, and determined by LC with postcolumn derivatization with vanillin. The mean recovery of drug was 95% over the 40-320 ng/g range, the coefficient of variation was +/- 10% or better, and no interference was observed from commercial polyether ionophores. The minimum level of detection for semduramicin sodium in broiler liver is 25 ng/g.
Bifurcation of Autonomous Planar Equations

In this chapter, we consider three different types of perturbation problems for the two dimensional system $$ \dot x = f(x,\mu ),f(x,0) = g(x) $$ (1.1) .
Optimal design of personalized prostate cancer therapy using Infinitesimal Perturbation Analysis

Abstract The standard treatment for advanced prostate cancer is hormone therapy in the form of continuous androgen suppression (CAS), which unfortunately frequently leads to resistance and relapse. An alternative scheme is intermittent androgen suppression (IAS), in which patients are submitted to cycles of treatment (in the form of androgen deprivation) and off-treatment periods in an alternating manner. In spite of extensive recent clinical experience with IAS, the design of ideal protocols for any given patient remains a challenge. The level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) is frequently monitored to determine when patients will be taken off therapy and when therapy will resume. In this work, we propose a threshold-based policy for optimal IAS therapy design that is parameterized by lower and upper PSA threshold values and is associated with a cost metric that combines clinically relevant measures of therapy success. We use a Stochastic Hybrid Automaton (SHA) model of prostate cancer evolution under IAS and perform Infinitesimal Perturbation Analysis (IPA) to adaptively adjust PSA threshold values so as to improve therapy outcomes. We also apply this methodology to clinical data from real patients, and obtain promising results and valuable insights for personalized IAS therapy design.
Absolute single photoionization cross-section measurements of Rb2+ ions: Experiment and theory

Author(s): Macaluso, DA; Bogolub, K; Johnson, A; Aguilar, A; Kilcoyne, ALD; Bilodeau, RC; Bautista, M; Kerlin, AB; Sterling, NC | Abstract: Absolute single photoionization cross-section measurements of Rb2+ ions were performed using synchrotron radiation and the photo-ion, merged-beams technique at the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Measurements were made at a photon energy resolution of 13.5 2.5 meV from 37.31 to 44.08 eV spanning the 2P ground state and 2P metastable state ionization thresholds. Multiple autoionizing resonance series arising from each initial state are identified using quantum defect theory. The measurements are compared to Breit-Pauli R-matrix calculations with excellent agreement between theory and experiment.
Successful CT guided cryoablation of phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor in the soft tissues causing tumor-induced osteomalacia: a case report

We report the case of a 25-year-old male patient with tumor-induced osteomalacia from a 1.8-cm phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor in the right distal thigh, who was treated at our institution with a single session of CT-guided cryoablation in December 2015, which resulted in biochemical and clinical resolution. We present the clinical history, physical examination, biochemistry, functional imaging, anatomic characterization, and follow-up for clinical outcome. The response to treatment was documented in terms of normalization of serum fibroblastic growth factor 23 (FGF23) and phosphorous levels, symptomatic improvement, as well as normalization of bone mineralization on femur radiographs 3 months after the procedure. Although the first-line treatment for phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor-induced osteomalacia is wide surgical excision, CT-guided cryoablation widens the array of treatment options, especially in those patients who decline surgery or who are otherwise poor surgical candidates.
Transmitter design for analog beamforming aided spatial modulation in millimeter wave MIMO systems

The distinct ability of spatial modulation (SM) to effectively utilizing spatial degrees of freedom with only a single radio frequency chain renders it promising for millimeter wave (mmWave) communications. In this work we investigate the transmitter design employing the SM concept in mmWave multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. To introduce beamforming gain while maintaining the advantages of SM, we apply the virtual antenna concept to SM and construct spatial signatures with the aid of analog beamforming. For a given configuration of the space-signal constellation, we formulate an optimization problem for designing the analog beamforming matrix and propose two approaches via exploiting characteristics of mmWave channel and transmitter architecture to acquire effective solutions with low complexity. To further improve the performance, we optimize the configuration of the spacesignal constellation by selecting the optimal sizes of spatial and signal constellations while guaranteeing the transmission rate requirement. The overhead and design complexity of proposed design approaches are analyzed. Besides, we exploit simulations to evaluate the proposed designs, and briefly compare between analog beamforming aided SM-MIMO and conventional MIMO to show advantages of our designs.
Collaborative Librarianship: Five Years and Counting

This issue completes five full years of publishing Collaborative Librarianship. Not only does the journal publish articles on collaboration, it also represents in practical terms some of the best practices in library collaboration. The tireless work of an impressive team from the United States and around the world has brought this journal to reality and this team has sustained it over these years. The journal also champions the highest values in scholarly communication that include free and open access to knowledge and scholarship. Its mission is to share and develop ideas regarding library resources and services, to mentor new librarians and budding scholars, and to explore the ways together we do better and accomplish more than we do individually. A deeply felt “thanks” goes out to our editorial and management team and to our esteemed Advisory Board.