cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cryocooler Applications for High-Temperature Superconductor Magnetic Bearings

The efficiency and stability of rotational magnetic suspension systems are enhanced by the use of high-temperature superconductor (HTS) magnetic bearings. Fundamental aspects of the HTS magnetic bearings and rotational magnetic suspension are presented. HTS cooling can be by liquid cryogen bath immersion or by direct conduction, and thus there are various applications and integration issues for cryocoolers. Among the numerous cryocooler aspects to be considered are installation; operating temperature; losses; and vacuum pumping.
Hydrogen uptake mechanism of a silicone-rubber DEB getter mixture

The kinetics of the hydrogen getter 1,4-bis(phenylethynyl)benzene (DEB) blended with carbon-supported Pd (DEB-Pd/C) dispersed uniformly in silicone [DEB-Pd/C-poly(dimethyl siloxane)] were studied with a thermogravimetric method as a function of the hydrogen pressure and temperature. A diffusion-controlled reaction model was developed to explain the experimental results. The diffusion coefficient, solubility coefficient, and permeability of hydrogen through silicone rubber were determined. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 39: 425–431, 2001
Long-term treatment of human immunodeficiency virus-infected cells with antisense oligonucleotide phosphorothioates.

Abstract The antiviral activity of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide phosphorothioates complementary to the tat gene, the gag mRNA, and the rev mRNA were studied in a long-term infection model. Three antisense oligonucleotides directed to the splice-acceptor site of the tat gene failed to suppress human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication at 1 microM concentration in long-term culture. In contrast, two oligodeoxynucleotide phosphorothioates (28-mer) complementary to the gag and the rev mRNAs inhibited viral replication for > 80 days, and the antiviral activity was sequence- and length-dependent. In addition, after pretreatment of cells we could reduce the concentration of the antisense oligodeoxynucleotides by > 10-fold and still maintain the inhibition of viral replication. These results suggest that chemotherapy for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection with antisense oligodeoxynucleotide phosphorothioates may be achieved by an initial high-dose treatment followed by a lower maintenance dose.
At a crossroads in oncology

We survey the current paradigm for cancer therapy and offer a perspective on the state of clinical oncology. Next, we address the key clinical and biological obstacles that have hampered progress to date. Recent insights into the true genetic complexity of cancer, the mixed clinical performance of targeted therapies, and the homogeneity of industry pipelines argue for new approaches to cancer therapy.
A content analysis of food references in television programming specifically targeting viewing audiences aged 11 to 14 years.

Abstract Objective Examine food in cable television programming specifically targeting 11- to 14-year-olds (“tweens”). Design Content analysis of food-related scenes (FRS)—in which food was shown, mentioned, and/or consumed—in 880 minutes of programming was conducted. Setting Five days of afternoon/early evening television programs on the Disney Channel. Main Outcome Measures and Analysis Food references were compared with USDA MyPlate and classified according to modified Ratio of Recommended to Restricted Food Components. Results The authors found 331 FRS, averaging 16.6 scenes/h. Preponderance of FRS was physiological needs (40.7%), followed by display (10%), party (8.5%), social event (8%), and retail store (6.6%). Snacks dominated 41% of FRS, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner were much lower in frequency. Half of FRS was visual only, followed by verbal only. Food references were not congruent with MyPlate recommendations; 42% of food items did not fit into MyPlate food groups. Only 24% of food items were fruit or vegetables, which is considerably less than recommended by MyPlate guidelines. Using modified Ratio of Recommended to Restricted Food Components, 66% of food items scored Conclusions and Implications Tween television programming regularly includes non-nutritious food, which likely influences tweens' attitudes and behaviors. Television programming may consider past approaches to tobacco smoking and health messages on television. More attention is warranted regarding television programming by nutrition educators, researchers, health professionals, and industry specialists.
Differential Feedback Regulation by 17β-Estradiol of LH Production and LHRH-Responsiveness in Adenohypophyseal Cell Cultures

To evaluate the direct effects of 17β-estradiol (E2) on pituitary LH release, cellular LH content, and LHRH-gesponsive-ness, physiological doses of E2 (10−10, 10−9, or 10−8M) were tested in pituitary monolayer cultures of female rats. The effects of E2 appeared to be dose-related. After a4 h incubation, basal LH release was significantly stimulated by lO−10M E2 (176% of control level) whereas 10−10M or 10−8M had no effect. The cellular LH content was significantly stimulated by 10−8M E2 (127% of control level) but not by the lower doses of E2. Both 10−8M and 10−9m E2 but not 10−10M E2 stimulated LH production (sum of LH contents in medium and cells). When the cultures were incubated with 10−8M LHRH, cellular LH content was depressed (76% of control level) by 10−8M E2 coincubation, whereas LH release was not altered. To further explore the interaction between E2 and LHRH, extended preincubation times with 10−8M E2 were used to test its effect on the subsequent LHRH-responsiveness. After a lag period, prein...
Progressive Random Sampling With Stratification

A number of applications, including claims made under federal social welfare programs, requires retrospective sampling over multiple time periods. A common characteristic of such samples is that population members could appear in multiple time periods. When this occurs, and when the marginal cost of obtaining multiperiod information is minimum for a member appearing in the sample of the period being actively sampled, the progressive random sampling (PRS) method developed by the authors earlier can be applied. This paper enhances the progressive random sampling method by combining it with stratification schemes; the resultant stratified progressive random sampling (SPRS) technique is shown to provide significant improvement over traditional sampling techniques whenever stratification is appropriate. An empirical example based on a data transformation of a real-world application is provided to illustrate the practical application of the technique.
Analysis of fuel preference for onboard generation of hydrogen using cold plasma

This paper discusses the optimization of onboard generation of hydrogen fuel using cold plasma. First, a review of the efficiency of a hydrogen fuel cell using this technology is given. The major focus is the optimization of fuel type to the cold plasma chamber. The energy input needed and carbon dioxide emissions of different fuel types to be used in this procedure are discussed. As hydrogen storage and production continues to be an impediment to the application of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, this paper strives to give a better understanding of how on-board generation of hydrogen can be a solution to this problem.
Measurements of the capacitance and the response time of solid-state potentiometric sensors by an electrochemical time-of-flight method

A micro-electrochemical time-of-flight technique relying on galvanostatic ion generation and potentiometric sensing (P-ETOF) has been developed in order to characterize dynamic properties of solid-state potentiometric sensors and to measure their capacitance. Lithographically-fabricated generator-sensor devices featuring 10 μm-wide micro-electrodes spaced by 20–50 μm are used in either an open face mode, where hemi-cylindrical diffusion governs mass transport of generated ions, or in a narrow channel mode, where linear diffusion describes transport of ions between the generator and sensor micro-electrodes in a thin (~3 μm) layer of electrolyte. P-ETOF-open face mode is capable of generating silver ions or protons at a rate equivalent to a current density of 10 A/cm2. This induces a maximum, mass transport controlled rate of a sensor potential rise of ~80 V/s. P-ETOF was used to characterize anodically electrodeposited iridium oxide film pH micro-sensors. Their maximum rate of potential change was determined to depend inversely on the oxide film’s thickness and varied from 34 V/s for 40 nm-thick films to 9 V/s for the 650 nm-thick iridium oxide films. The capacitances of these pH micro-sensors were determined to depend linearly on their thicknesses, with a slope of 3 μF cm−2 nm−1 and a specific capacitance of 30 F/cm3. These results point to slow proton transport in the bulk of the oxide film as a mechanistic element of their pH response.
Regioselective C-4 Bromination of Oxazoles: 4-Bromo-5-(Thiophen-2-yl)Oxazole

5-(Thiophen-2-yl)oxazole 2-Thiophenecarboxylaldehyde Tosylmethylisocyanide 4-Bromo-5-(thiophen-2-yl)oxazole Lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide N-Bromosuccinimide Keywords: C-4 Bromination; Regioselctive; Oxazoles; Suzuki-Miyaura coupling; Negishi coupling; Iodination; Solvents; Bromooxazoles; Waste disposal
On-demand Therapy for Hereditary Angioedema

Consensus guidelines on hereditary angioedema (HAE) recommend that all patients have access to on-demand treatment of acute attacks. A recent patientcentric guideline recommended that at least 2 on-demand therapies be available because patients often have heterogeneous responses to different medications. Self-administration of therapeutic agents, or administration under supervision by a health care provider in the home setting, is the preferred treatment approach. Future studies are needed to show the benefits of acute on-demand therapies at improving quality of life and reducing morbidity and mortality in patients with HAE.
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE EARLY STAGES OF GENETIC SALT - STRESS RESPONSES IN SALT - TOLERANT LOPHOPYRUM ELONGATUM, SALT-SENSITIVE WHEAT, AND THEIR AMPHIPLOID

Eleven unique cDNA clones corresponding to genes showing enhanced mRNA accumulation in the early stages of salt stress (early salt stress induced, ESI) were previously isolated. The accumulation of these mRNAs in Lophopyrum elongatum (Host) A. Love, salt-sensitive wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and their amphiploid is compared. The accumulation of ESI mRNAs was much greater in the L. elongatum roots than in the shoots. Additionally, mRNA accumulation in the roots of the three genotypes showed a biphasic response. The first phase occurred within a few hours after the onset of stress and had a large osmotic shock component, as indicated by induction of the accumulation of these mRNAs by a nonsaline osmoticum. The ion-specific component, however, also played a role. External Ca2+ reduced this response. The second phase was characterized by either constantly elevated mRNA levels or gradually increasing mRNA levels. The same biphasic response was elicited by exogenous abscisic acid (ABA). The response of all mRNAs to ABA closely approximated the response to 250 mM NaCl treatment in all three genotypes. The differences among the three genotypes in response to NaCl and ABA treatments were largely confined to the first phase of the response, in which mRNA levels were highest in L. elongatum and lowest in wheat. The levels of ESI mRNAs in the amphiploid closely approximated levels calculated on the basis of the doses of wheat and L. elongatum genomes in the amphiploid, which indicated an additive contribution of the genomes to early salt stress response in the amphiploid. The inducer of the ESI mRNA accumulation in response to NaCl and other osmotica is produced in the stressed roots and shows only minor, if any, translocation. A putative candidate for this inducer is root ABA.
Increment in dialysate sodium with sodium chloride or bicarbonate addition.

: Hemodialysis was performed in 12 patients for 2 weeks each utilizing acetate dialysate containing 134 mEq/L sodium and dialysate containing 143 mEq/L sodium, achieved by the addition of sodium chloride or sodium bicarbonate to the acetate dialysate. Intradialytic morbidity was lower, dialysis hypoxemia less marked, and predialysis blood pH higher with the bicarbonate-than with the chloride-added dialysate. The long-term use of sodium bicarbonate-added dialysate in three patients was safe. Dialysate pH adjustment was not required. These findings suggest that the addition of sodium bicarbonate (50–75 g) to acetate dialysate may be preferred to sodium chloride for increasing dialysate sodium in selected patients.
Clockless pipelining for coarse grain datapaths

In this paper, we present two novel synchronization approaches to support data flow in clockless designs using single-rail encoding. Both approaches are based on self-resetting stage logic in which a pipeline stage resets itself before starting the next execution cycle. As such, a stage goes through a reset and an evaluate phase to complete a single period. While in the first approach synchronization is controlled between neighboring stages, the last stage of the pipeline in the second approach controls the synchronization of all the stages in the pipeline. Concept designs of both pipelines are presented to illustrate the inner workings of self-resetting stage logic and its data-flow synchronization mechanism. Implementation results show that both pipelines can reach throughputs up to 1.4 Giga outputs per second.
Switching motor control: an integrated amplifier design for improved velocity estimation and feedback

In this paper we propose an integrated motion control architecture based on a full third order motor model. We investigate the advantages and feasibility of controlling a motor using very fast (MHz) switching using digital components in place of traditional amplifiers. A switching controller combines the current and encoder (position) feedback paths into a single loop, and a model based observer estimates the unsensed motor velocity. When compared to second order controllers built with traditional amplifiers, the proposed design promises increased performance, better efficiency, and unproved velocity estimation. Advances in semiconductor technology facilitate the implementation of these fast switches and the required logic using relatively standard components. Preliminary experiments verify good behavior of a DC motor driven up to 5 MHz.
Immunization with high-molecular-weight adhesion proteins of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae modifies experimental otitis media in chinchillas.

Prevention of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae otitis media by vaccination is an important health care goal. Proteins important in bacterial adherence deserve consideration as potential vaccine candidates. Two colleagues and I previously identified a family of immunogenic high-molecular-weight proteins important in adherence of nontypeable H. influenzae to human epithelial cells (J.W. St. Geme III, S. Falkow, and S.J. Barenkamp, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90:2875-2879, 1993). In the work described here, I determined whether immunization with two such adherence proteins, HMW1 and HMW2, purified from prototype nontypeable Haemophilus strain 12, would modify the course of experimental otitis media caused by the homologous strain. Chinchillas received three monthly subcutaneous injections with 40 microgram of an HMW1/HMW2 protein mixture in Freud's adjuvant. One month after the last injection, animals were challenged by intrabullar inoculation with 300 CFU of nontypeable H. influenzae 12. Infection developed in five of five control animals versus 5 of 10 immunized animals (P = 0.08, Fisher exact, one-tailed). Among infected animals, bacterial counts in middle ear fluid specimens 7 days postchallenge were significantly greater in control animals than in immunized animals (P = 0.014, Mann-Whitney U test). Serum antibody titers following immunization were comparable in uninfected and infected animals. However, infection in immunized animals was uniformly associated with the appearance of bacteria downregulated in expression of the high-molecular-weight proteins, suggesting bacterial selection in response to immunologic pressure. Although protection following immunization was incomplete, these data suggest that the high-molecular-weight adhesion proteins are potentially important protective antigens which might represent one component of a multicomponent nontypeable Haemophilus vaccine.
Epigenetic Regulation as a New Target for Breast Cancer Therapy

Most cancers in humans occur as a result of a multi-step process that generally consists of initiation and progression. As a result of repeated insults, malignancy occurs. Mutations are clearly imp...
Memory Enhancement Strategies: What Works Best for Obtaining Memory Goals?

Adults of all ages experience difficulties remembering important information at times, and these difficulties occur more often as we grow older. Fortunately, a variety of easy-to-use strategies can be used to help people improve their learning and retention of a wide array of to-be-learned materials. In this chapter, we describe (a) many of these strategies, (b) why they work, and (c) how to apply basic principles of memory to adapt strategies to effectively learn and remember in novel contexts. Given that these strategies are often best suited for a single task or context, we also briefly discuss techniques that show promise for helping adults’ memory (and cognition) function effectively across many contexts.
Towards user-independent classification of multimodal emotional signals

Coping with differences in the expression of emotions is a challenging task not only for a machine, but also for humans. Since individualism in the expression of emotions may occur at various stages of the emotion generation process, human beings may react quite differently to the same stimulus. Consequently, it comes as no surprise that recognition rates reported for a user-dependent system are significantly higher than recognition rates for a user-independent system. Based on empirical data we obtained in our earlier work on the recognition of emotions from biosignals, speech and their combination, we discuss which consequences arise from individual user differences for automated recognition systems and outline how these systems could be adapted to particular user groups.
Biology of chemokine and classical chemoattractant receptors: differential requirements for adhesion-triggering versus chemotactic responses in lymphoid cells

Several chemoattractant receptors can support agonist-induced, integrin-dependent arrest of rolling neutrophils in inflamed venules in vivo, as well as subsequent crawling into tissues. It has been hypothesized that receptors of the Galpha(i)-linked chemoattractant subfamilies, especially receptors for chemokines, may mediate parallel activation-dependent arrest of homing lymphocyte subsets. However, although several chemokines can attract subsets of B or T cells, robust chemoattractant triggering of resting lymphocyte adhesion to vascular ligands has not been observed. To study the biology of individual leukocyte chemoattractant receptors in a defined lymphoid environment, mouse L1/2 pre-B cells and/or human Jurkat T cells were transfected with alpha (IL-8 receptor A) or beta (MIP-1alpha/CC-CKR-1) chemokine receptors, or with the classical chemoattractant C5a (C5aR) or formyl peptide receptors (fPR). All receptors supported robust agonist-dependent alpha4beta1 integrin-mediated adhesion of lymphocytes to VCAM-1. L1/2 cells cotransfected with fPR and beta7 integrin were also induced to bind MAdCAM-1, suggesting common mechanisms coupling chemoattractant receptors to activation of distinct integrins. Adhesion was rapid but transient, with spontaneous reversion to unstimulated levels within 5 min after peak binding. When observed under flow conditions, alpha4beta1-mediated arrest occurred within seconds after initiation of contact and rolling of IL-8RA transfectants on VCAM-1/IL-8 co-coated surface; and arrest reversed spontaneously after a mean of 5 min with a return to rolling behavior. Each of the receptors also conferred agonist-specific chemotaxis; however, whereas strong adhesion required simultaneous occupancy of many receptors with maximal responses above the Kd, chemotaxis in each case was suppressed at high agonist concentrations. The findings indicate that alpha and beta chemokine as well as classical chemoattractant receptors can trigger robust adhesion as well as directed migration of lymphoid cells, but that the requirements for and kinetics of adhesion triggering and chemotaxis are distinct, thus permitting their independent regulation. They suggest that the discordance between proadhesive and chemoattractant responses of circulating lymphocytes to many chemokines may reflect quantitative aspects of receptor expression and/or coupling rather than qualitative differences in receptor signaling.
Sustainable production and consumption: a vision for the electronics industry

Sustainable production and consumption (SP&C) emerged as an international priority at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. Since then, policy makers have called on the business sector to play a major role in promoting greater efficiencies in the life cycles of goods and services. This paper summarizes international policy developments in sustainable production and consumption from the perspectives of governmental organizations and business. The paper then examines strategies in the electronics industry that move towards SP&C, and make recommendations on how the electronics industry can achieve further progress in achieving SP&C objectives.
Effect of horn fly (Haematobia irritans) control on growth and reproduction of beef heifers

The influence of horn fly control with commercially available ear tags was studied on beef replacement heifers (n = 670) for growth and reproductive performance. The study was conducted at five sites in Louisiana over 3 yr. Heifers used were yearling replacement females that were exposed to fertile bulls during a limited spring breeding season that coincided with the horn fly season. In mid to late May of each year, heifers were randomly assigned to one of two horn fly treatments: untreated and treated for horn fly control. The trial continued each year until September or October at the end of fly season. Pregnancy status was determined by rectal palpation. Horn fly populations were controlled on the treated heifers at moderate levels (84%). Total weight gain of treated heifers was 14% greater than for untreated heifers. Horn fly treatment had no effect on pregnancy rate (78% and 75% for untreated and treated heifers, respectively). Treatment differences for weight gain were of greater magnitude for heifers failing to conceive than for heifers that became pregnant. Weight gains of nonpregnant treated heifers were 33% greater than for nonpregnant untreated heifers, whereas weight gains of pregnant treated heifers were 8% greater than for pregnant untreated heifers. In conclusion, horn fly control on yearling beef replacement heifers improved weight gain but had no effect on first exposure reproduction.
Culex restuans (Diptera: Culicidae) Relative Abundance and Vector Competence for West Nile Virus

The abundance and vector competence of Culex restuans Theobald and Culex pipiens L. were compared to determine the relative importance of these species as West Nile virus (WNV) vectors in the northeastern United States. Abundance was estimated from egg raft collections at 12 sites in Albany, Suffolk, and Richmond counties, New York, during July, August, and September 2002 and 2003. Cx. restuans was more abundant than Cx. pipiens in both urban and rural areas, comprising 86% of 1,623 egg rafts collected. Vector competence for WNV was estimated after feeding on an artificial bloodmeal and in vitro transmission assays. The vector competence of the two species for WNV was similar, but the dynamics of infection seems to be mosquito species dependent. These findings suggest an important role for Cx. restuans in WNV transmission cycles in New York.
Intermedia Transport Modeling in Multimedia Systems

The hazardous potential of chemical pollutants in the environment depends upon the degree of multimedia exposure of human and ecological receptors to these chemicals and the associated health effects. Therefore, a multimedia understanding of pollutant fate and transport in the environment is essential for the early assessment of the associated environmental impact.
Information Property: Rights and Responsibilities

Many scholars criticize what they perceive to be a dangerous trend towards the 'over-propertization' of valuable information in the digital age. One of their concerns has been the failure of current laws to strike an appropriate balance between competing interests in valuable information. Historically, we have tended to rely on 'fair use' exceptions to information property rights, and/or restrictions on their scope to achieve some balance here. This paper suggests an alternative way of striking such a balance. We might learn from the traditional theories of 'property' in this context. Traditional property theory can teach us some useful lessons about how the law can balance competing interests in valuable assets. The 'bundle of rights' idea of property, for example, contemplates not only rights in property, but also obligations owed to others in respect of property (such as the obligation to maintain premises in good repair). We may be able to create some information age equivalents to some of the more traditional obligations of property ownership, particularly to deal with situations involving competing interests in propertized information. Information property owners could be made liable for legal and financial burdens inherent in facilitating the exercise of identified competing interests in relevant property, such as personal privacy rights in information, moral rights of authors of 'information works', cultural rights in relation to certain information products, and/or access and use rights for scientists, researchers and educators. Any new system for balancing competing interests in information assets should require the government to monitor and enforce the performance by information property holders of their legal duties. This will match what has historically been the case in relation to real property rights and duties. In any event, where a government has created, or supported the creation of, private property rights in information, it should be prepared to create and support concurrent legal duties imposed on information property holders.
Benchmark Schedules for Subcontracted Operations: Decentralization Inefficiencies that Arise from Centralization, Competition and First-Come-First-Served Processing

Subcontracting has become a prominent business practice across many industries. Subcontracting of industrial production is generally based on short-term need for additional processing capacity, and is oftentimes employed by manufacturers to process customer orders more quickly than using only in-house production. In this article we study a popular business model where multiple manufacturers, each capable of processing his entire workload in-house, have the option to subcontract some of their operations to a single third-party with a flexible resource. Each manufacturer can deliver customer orders only after his entire batch of jobs, processed in-house and at the third-party, is completed. The third-party facility is available to several manufacturers who compete for its use. Current business practice of First-Come-First-Served (FCFS) processing of the subcontracted workloads as well as the competitive Nash equilibrium schedules developed in earlier studies result in two types of inefficiencies; the third-party capacity is not maximally utilized, and the manufacturers incur decentralization cost. In this article we develop models to assess the value created by coordinating the manufacturers' subcontracting decisions by comparing two types of centralized control against FCFS and Nash equilibrium schedules. We present optimal and/or approximate algorithms to quantify the third-party under-utilization and the manufacturers' decentralization cost. We find that both inefficiencies are more severe with competition than they are when the third-party allocates capacity in a FCFS manner. However, without centralized control, a larger percentage of the players prefer Nash equilibrium schedules to FCFS schedules. We extend our analysis to incomplete information scenarios where manufacturers reveal limited demand information, and find that more information dramatically benefits the third-party and the manufacturers, however, the marginal benefits are decreasing.Finally, we discuss an extension wherein each manufacturer's objective takes into account asymmetries in subcontracting, in-house processing, and delay costs. Finally, we discuss an extension wherein each manufacturer’s objective takes into account asymmetries in subcontracting, in-house processing, and delay costs.
Exact vs. asymptotic spectral densities in the Garg-Onuchic-Ambegaokar charge transfer model and its effect on Fermi’s golden rule rate constants

The Garg-Onuchic-Ambegaokar model [J. Chem. Phys. 83, 4491 (1985)] has been used extensively for benchmarking methods aimed at calculating charge transfer rates. Within this model, the donor and acceptor diabats are described as shifted parabolas along a single primary mode, which is bilinearly coupled to a harmonic bath consisting of secondary modes, characterized by an Ohmic spectral density with exponential cutoff. Rate calculations for this model are often performed in the normal mode representation, with the corresponding effective spectral density given by an asymptotic expression derived at the limit where the Ohmic bath cutoff frequency is much larger than the primary mode frequency. We compare Fermi’s golden rule rate constants obtained with the asymptotic and exact effective spectral densities. We find significant deviations between rate constants obtained from the asymptotic spectral density and those obtained from the exact one in the deep inverted region. Within the range of primary mode frequencies commonly employed, we find that the discrepancies increase with decreasing temperature and with decreasing primary mode frequency.
Developing a hardware laboratory for computer science: poster session

This paper describes a project to develop a hardware laboratory for Computer Science students. A series of hardware courses can be immediately supported by the hardware laboratory such as Digital Logic, Introduction to Assembly Language, Computer Architecture, and Robotic Systems. The required equipment and software packages will broaden the knowledge for all the students and make them more employable. This project has been supported by the Louisiana Board of Regents [1] in the 2006 - 2007 fiscal years.
A strain energy method for elastic-plastic analysis of notches under shear loading

Abstract Neuber’s rule and the equivalent strain energy density (ESED) method are two well-known approximate approaches for elastic–plastic notch analysis. Neuber’s rule often overestimates whereas the ESED method underestimates the values of notch root stresses and strains. In the present study an approximate method has been proposed, which is based on the strain energy density analysis for notches under shear loading. The proposed method has been assessed against the FEA results from the literature and a good agreement has been observed. Besides predicting notch strains for loading with predominant plastic zone, a significant improvement is found in contrast with those estimated by the Neuber’s rule or the ESED method.
Seedling Root Morphology of Six Alfalfa Populations

Seedling root morphology plays a crucial role in seedling survival and stand establishment. Naturalized yellow-flowered alfalfa (YFA) (Medicago sativa subsp. falcata) has demonstrated adaptation to semiarid conditions of the Northern Great Plains and tolerance to grazing. Seedling stage root morphology is poorly defined. Our objective was to compare morphological traits of seedling roots for six alfalfa populations. Six entries were evaluated: one M. sativa population as a control, two M. falcata entries, with reported “spreading characteristics” and three naturalized YFA populations. Uniform seeds of each entry were scarified with 320 grade sand paper and inoculated with rhizobium before planting. A V-shaped plexiglass rootview growth box (48cm long X 27cm wide X 40cm deep) was divided into six compartments with aluminum foil, each filled with Miracle-Gro potting soil. Ten seeds per population were planted (1.5 cm deep) at 1.5 cm intervals against the Plexiglass wall. The rootview growth box was maintained in a growth chamber (24±3°C; 16h light/8h dark). Soil moisture was maintained with daily misting for 26 days. M. sativa and YFA populations had faster primary root emergence (2-3 d) than M. falcata populations (8 d). Primary root elongation rate was greater for M. sativa (3-4cm/d) than M. falcata and YFA populations (1.8-2.6cm/d) for the first 7 days. First lateral root emerged when primary root length reached 10-14 cm for all populations. The first lateral root emerged 2-3cm below the root-stem junction with the exception of one M. falcata population (5cm). SEEDLING ROOT MORPHOLOGY OF SIX 44
Diel Periodicity and Circadian Control of Oviposition by Cryptophlebia illepida (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Oviposition rhythms were determined for Cryptophlebia illepida Butler under different photoperiods. When the photoperiod was 12:12 or 15:9 (L:D) h at 22.5°C, ≈88.4 and 87.9% of oviposition occurred during the photophase. However, when the photoperiod was 10:14 (L:D) h, only 51.8% of the eggs were laid during the photophase. Oviposition occurred primarily within 2 h before the onset of the scotophase in all tests with cyclic photoperiods. In addition, C. illepida adjusted their oviposition timing to accommodate a shortened photoperiod. When the photoperiod of 15:9 (L:D) h was shortened during testing by starting the scotophase 3 h earlier, C. illepida resynchronized oviposition within 3 d so that 88.5% of their eggs were laid during the photophase. Oviposition of C. illepida was shown to be under circadian control with a 23.0-h free-running period in complete darkness.
Real Options Analysis: Can It Improve Infrastructure Development Decisions?

Increasingly, infrastructure owners worldwide are turning to the private sector to help finance needed infrastructure expansion and modernization. BOT arrangements are one mechanism for utilizing private capital for public purpose, but frequently, these projects possess managerial options, which are not directly valued by either the government or the private concessionaire because conventional valuation methods fail to capture flexibility’s value. Real options analysis (ROA) has emerged over roughly the last two decades to address this limitation. Four prevailing ROA methods, which are briefly described, have surfaced from the related but independent fields of finance and decision theory, but application of these techniques to infrastructure projects remains problematic. Specifically, their assumptions and mechanics appear to limit their value to the infrastructure community. These circumstances have motivated an ongoing research program to assess the utility of ROA methods during infrastructure development decisions. A case study of the Dulles Greenway provides a forum for: (a) discussing the research program’s objectives and methods, (b) illustrating the classic and the marketed asset disclaimer (MAD) approaches to value a deferment option embedded within the project, and (c) providing a preliminary assessment of whether ROA is a promising complement to traditional project analysis methods. The provisional conclusions are that ROA methods are promising for both strategic insights and credible valuation.
Electrocerebral activity and epileptic attacks at various blood sugar levels; with a case report.

Several aspecls of our present knowledge on (A) the relations of blood sugar to brain waves and on (B) the occurrence of epileptic attacks at different blood sugar levels are summarized first with reference to the literature. A case report on a child with diabetes and epilepsy is presented next. Clinical observations on this patient, which were published earlier, are integrated herein with the pathological findings. The role played by exogenous hyperinsulinism in bringing about epilepsy is reemphasized. The results of profile studies carried out during several 24,hour periods on the case reported are then given, in conjunction with a summary of statistical analyses. These results reveal a significant positive correlation between the electroencephalographic 21/2 per second wave and spike on one hand and the blood sugar level on the other. It is also noted, that whereas hypoglycemia subsequent to insulin administration may give rise to epilepsy by brain damage, the mechanism which precipitates seizures in such a damaged brain is neither hypoglycemia nor hyperglycemia, per se.
An Open Problem of China's Investment Fund

With China's entry into WTO, inverstment fund is beconimg an important subject of the security market's development, research on how to open and take what actions, which will have great importance for the development of the security market and investment fund.
Race-ing Choreographic Copyright

In 2002, a Federal District Court in New York awarded the copyrights to most of white modern dance legend Martha Graham’s choreographic works to the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance, rather than to Graham’s heir, Ronald Protas. The case and the ruling set off a flurry of debate and discussion in the modern dance community about the ownership of choreographic works. Some celebrated the decision for enabling the Graham Company to continue performing works from the Graham repertory after a hiatus of several years. Others in the modern dance world, however, greeted the decision with grave concern. For this camp, the court’s finding that Graham was an employee of the non-profit corporation she set up in 1948, and therefore not in a position to bequeath the rights to her choreography to Protas, set off alarms. How could the most towering figure in American modern dance, widely considered an artistic ‘genius,’ not own her own choreography (Van Camp, 2007)?
Perceived Instrumentality and Career Aspirations in CS1 Courses: Change and Relationships with Achievement

We explored CS1 students' perceived instrumentality (PI) for the course and aspirations for a career related to CS. Perceived instrumentality refers to the connection one sees between a current activity and a future goal. There are two types of PI: endogenous and exogenous. Endogenous instrumentality refers to the perception that mastering new information or skills is important for achieving distal goals. Exogenous instrumentality refers to the perception that obtaining an external reward (such as a grade) is essential for obtaining future goals. We investigated (1) how students' PI and career aspirations changed over the course of a semester, (2) how these changes differed as a function of course enrollment and major (CS or not), (3) the relationship between PI and career aspirations, and (4) whether PI and career aspirations predicted academic achievement. Overall and for most subgroups, exogenous instrumentality increased significantly and endogenous instrumentality decreased significantly across the semester, though the degree of change varied among some subgroups. Career aspirations decreased overall and for most subgroups, but CS majors showed a much smaller decrease than non-majors, and students in a CS/business honors course showed an overall increase in career aspirations. Finally, students' achievement outcomes were predicted by their PI and career aspirations. These findings contribute to the literature on motivation in CS1 courses and points to PI as a promising avenue for influencing student motivation. Implications for student motivation and retention in CS and other STEM courses are also discussed.
Esophagectomy for Failed Anti-reflux Therapy: Indications, Techniques, and Outcomes

Weekly reflux symptoms occur in approximately 20–30% of the United States population [1, 2]. The standard surgical management of reflux is laparoscopic fundoplication, with 43% of patients continuing anti-reflux medication use after surgery, and 3–18% of patients requiring reoperation, most commonly for reflux and dysphagia [3–5]. In addition to intractable recurrent symptoms, other complications after anti-reflux surgery include severe dysphagia and strictures. Thus, long term outcomes are not ideal in either medically or surgically treated patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Cephalexin plus trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was not superior to cephalexin alone for the treatment of outpatient non-purulent cellulitis

Commentary on: Moran GJ, Krishnadasan A, Mower WR, et al . Effect of cephalexin plus trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole vs cephalexin alone on clinical cure of uncomplicated cellulitis: a randomised clinical trial. JAMA 2017;317:2088–96. Skin infections are one of the most common infections in ambulatory medicine. Yet, despite the high incidence of these infections, there remain questions about optimal treatment of cellulitis without abscess. Cellulitis without abscess is particularly challenging, as the aetiology of this infection remains relatively elusive. Studies employing molecular diagnostic techniques for bacteria from needle biopsies of cellulitis have failed to determine the aetiology of cellulitis without abscess. Current thinking is that cellulitis is usually caused by Group A Streptococcus and occasionally Staphylococcus aureus , possibly including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). However, the relative contribution of these pathogens is unclear and the need to include anti-MRSA therapy as part of treatment for …
Beyond the “Haves and Have Nots”: Using an Interdisciplinary Approach to Inform Federal Data Collection Efforts with Indigenous Populations

This study demonstrates how multiple methods can inform national survey data collection efforts for Indigenous populations using Pacific Islanders as a case study. National data surveys are oftentimes limited in how they collect data on small populations due to data suppression, and they lack nuance in how they aggregate distinct populations. I conduct linear regression models of U.S. Census data to demonstrate that Pacific Islanders lag behind Whites in income, even after controlling for household characteristics and geography. Further analyses of oral histories and interviews with Pacific Islanders demonstrate that income disparities exist in part because of remittances, competing financial demands, and citizenship status. I argue that it is important to add survey questions that capture migrant experiences to improve national data survey collection efforts. By utilizing and improving both types of data collection, researchers can better comprehend the barriers and opportunities for decreasing the racial income and wealth gap, which will strengthen the economic stability of Pacific Islanders in the United States.
A weak Galerkin finite element method for the Navier–Stokes equations

Abstract This paper introduces a weak Galerkin (WG) finite element method for the Navier–Stokes equations in the primal velocity–pressure formulation. Optimal-order error estimates are established for the corresponding numerical approximations. It must be emphasized that the WG finite element method is designed on finite element partitions consisting of arbitrary shape of polygons or polyhedra which are shape regular. Numerical experiments are presented to support the theoretical results.
SPECIES RICHNESS AND CALIFORNIA VOLES IN AN ANNUAL AND A PERENNIAL GRASSLAND

Populations of a common burrowing rodent, Microtus californicus (the California vole), thrive in ungrazed or lightly grazed grasslands in coastal California. Two sites ungrazed by livestock, one dominated by native perennial grasses and another dominated by invasive annuals, were evaluated over 2 consecutive years for the relation- ship between plant species richness and location of M. californicus burrow entrances (burrows). Plant species and bur- rows were sampled as present or absent in contiguous 1-m2 quadrats on a 100-m2 grid. Quadrats with burrows averaged significantly more plant species than quadrats without them (11.3 vs. 9.9 species, P < 0.001). Burrows found in 1996 were not correlated with species richness in 1995, suggesting that voles affect richness rather than seek it out. Vole bur- row locations showed significant clumping on the annual site and trended toward clumping on the perennial site in both 1995 and 1996. Because voles seem to create a clumped pattern with their burrow entrances, the associated increase in plant species richness may have a strong effect on the overall structure of the plant community. A quantitative compari- son of the 2 sites showed that the plant matrix of the perennial site contained flora of the annual site. This similarity in plant species composition may allow for similar treatment of our 2 types of sites and potentially other California grass- lands. Undetected increases in vole populations with livestock grazing reduction may account for the erratic results from grasslands management research and the inconsistent success of derived management practices.
The Smithsonian Institution's “Greatest Treasures”: Valuing Museum Objects in the Specimen Exchange Industry

In the nineteenth century, the exchange of anthropological specimens between museum curators and collectors was a widespread practice used to fill gaps in collections. Within the specimen exchange industry, one's ability to exchange required a steady supply of described or catalogued artifacts considered duplicates. Exchanging duplicates allowed anthropological specimens to move through institutional and personal scientific collections over time. Italian zoologist and anthropologist Enrico Giglioli relied on the practice of specimen exchange to build his personal collection of “stone age” tools from Indigenous peoples, sourced from a worldwide network of museums and collectors, including the Smithsonian Institution. As a master negotiator, Giglioli was remarkably successful in procuring valuable specimens from major museum collections. Analyses of the negotiation of exchanges by museum-based anthropologists reveals the intersection of object value as produced by museums, agents' desire for rare and underrepresented objects, and professional standards of anthropological practice in the late nineteenth century. [exchange and value, duplicate, Smithsonian Institution, Enrico Giglioli]