cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Self-phase-locked divide-by-2 optical parametric oscillator as a broadband frequency comb source

We investigate coherence properties of a degenerate synchronously-pumped optical parametric oscillator (SPOPO) as a divide-by-2 subharmonic generator. Type 0 (e-ee) periodically-poled MgO : LiNbO 3 was used as a nonlinear gain crystal and a femtosecond mode-locked Ti:Sapphire laser at 775 nm - as a pump source. We observed that the SPOPO longitudinal modes at degeneracy were phase-coherent with that of the pump. The self-phase-locking and self-stabilization effect can be explained in terms of mutual injection locking between the signal and the idler frequencies of the SPOPO. We confirmed the phase-locking effect by performing interference between pump and frequency-doubled output, as well as beat frequency measurements between the SPOPO output and (i) the pump laser and (ii) an independent continuous-wave (CW) laser. A frequency locking range around SPOPO degeneracy Δ f was measured as a function of pump power, when the SPOPO operated in the phase-locking regime. We have found that Δ f increased monotonically with the pump power and decreased with the cavity Q, in good accord with our theoretical model based on coupled nonlinear optical wave equations. When the proper regime was chosen, the SPOPO remained phase-locked to the pump without any active stabilization even in the presence of environmental noise. At degeneracy (around 1550 nm), the SPOPO produced 70-fs output pulses with the FWHM spectral width of 210 cm -1 that is 2.6 times broader than the spectrum of the pump laser.
CHRONIC EFFECTS OF PLANT ALLELOCHEMICS ON INSECT NUTRITIONAL PHYSIOLOGY

A number of plant allelochemics have been bioassayed with black cutworm larvae. In some cases inhibition of growth was found to be due primarily to an inhibition of ingestion. In other cases growth inhibition was due to an inhibition of assimilation or the efficiency of conversion of assimilated material, or both. Dietary moisture levels strongly influenced larval growth through effects on amount of diet eaten and efficiency with which diet was converted into insect tissue. RESUME EFFETS CHRONIQUES DES SUBSTANCES ALLELOCHIMIQUES VEGETALES SUR LA PHYSIOLOGIE NUTRITIONNELLE DES INSECTES Le degre d'humidite de la nourriture est probablement un facteur important dans les interactions plante-insecte. Les larves d'Agrotis ipsilon, bien que tres polyphages, ne sont apparemment capables de croitre que sur des plantes ayant des degres d'humidite relativement eleves. Le degre d'humidite est peut-etre meme un facteur utile dans la resistance de la plante-hote. Les substances allelochimiques des plantes peuvent inhiber la croissance des insectes de differentes facons. Parmi les composes biotitres avec des larves d'A. ipsilon, la plupart de ceux ayant un effet inhibiteur sur la croissance agissaient par interference avec la physiologie nutritionnelle de l'insecte, au moins en partie, plutot qu'en provoquant un changement de comportement, a savoir une reduction de l'ingestion. Pour avoir un tableau complet, il faudrait sans doute integrer avec soin dans la dietetique d'une interaction plante-insecte particuliere de nombreux aspects de la nutrition, du comportement et les effets des substances non nutritives sur la physiologie nutritionnelle.
System considerations for wireless capacitive chip-to-chip signaling

Using capacitive-based chip-to-chip signaling in large-scale systems offers an interesting tradeoff between design and packaging complexity versus power consumption and performance. Placing chips together in close proximity offers low energy-per-bit costs and high I/O density, and therefore enables off-chip bandwidth levels far beyond those offered by traditional packaging and I/O technologies. Much of the previous published work on capacitive Proximity I/O has focused on mechanical methods for accurate chip alignment. In this paper we discuss some system design considerations unique to Proximity I/O. First, we compare and contrast circuit and layout techniques that optimize signal-to-noise ratio under expected chip misalignments. Next, we evaluate methods for establishing appropriate DC bias levels across a chip-to-chip capacitive link. Finally, we show a full Proximity I/O implementation to enumerate the required system overheads for clocking and misalignment compensation, and discuss how current trends in memory bandwidth and density are driving large-scale systems towards such solutions.
Diagnostic Tests and Treatment Options in Glomerular Disease: 2014 Update

Glomerular diseases historically have been challenging disorders to comprehend and treat for patients and physicians alike. Kidney biopsy is the gold standard of diagnosis, but the link between pathophysiology and the histologic representation of kidney injury has remained elusive in many of these diseases. As a result, treatment of glomerular disease usually involves therapies that are not specific to disease pathogenesis, such as blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and various immunosuppression regimens. Recent research has resulted in greater insight into some glomerular diseases, leading to the hope that new diagnostic tests and treatments targeting disease-specific mechanisms are on the horizon. We review recent progress on the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of 4 glomerular diseases: immunoglobulin A nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, the C3 glomerulopathies, and idiopathic membranous nephropathy.
Deformation of peridotite at high pressure in a new molten salt cell: comparison of traditional and homologous temperature treatments

Abstract We have conducted a series of constant strain-rate experiments on a synthetic peridotite composed of isostatically hot-pressed olivine and orthopyroxene, over a pressure range of 700–2200 MPa and a temperature range of 1250–1700 K. By using a sample assembly in which specimens are surrounded by molten salt, the data are of much higher quality than previously obtained in solid pressure-medium apparatus. We find that both the temperature and pressure dependence of creep in our experiments can be combined quantitatively as the homologous temperature dependence of creep. This quantitative relationship between creep and melting greatly simplifies the thermodynamic treatment of creep, and provides a simple model for the extrapolation of laboratory creep data for peridotite to conditions throughout the Earth's upper mantle.
Positional disorder in superconducting wire networks and Josephson junction arrays

We report the results of mean-field simulations of superconducting wire networks with positional disorder. The nodes of square wire arrays were displaced with either Gaussian or truncated uniform distributions on two different types of unit cells. Using the linearized Ginzburg-Landau equations we have numerically determined the transition temperature, T/sub c/, as a function of the average number of magnetic-flux quanta per unit cell, f/sub 0/, for different amounts of disorder. T/sub c/(f/sub 0/) exhibits decaying oscillations, periodic in f/sub 0/, whose amplitude goes to zero at a disorder-dependent critical field, f/sub c/. Our calculated value of this critical magnetic field is in good agreement with our experimental magnetoresistance measurements on Josephson junction arrays.
The PHILCOM Division of the ICA as Seen from the Margins by a Formerly Fem-us Rebellious Ragamuffin: A Personal Reflection

Brenda Dervin was president of The International Communication Association from 1985–86. This essay is her personal recollection as a participant on the margins and a witness of the founding of the organization's Philosophy of Communication Division, the first of the divisions in ICA which broke with the then normative attentions of that association to quantitative bench science.
An Investigation of Water as a Refrigerant

This paper explores some of the basic thermodynamic and technical considerations involved in using water as a working fluid for refrigeration and heat pump cycles down to its freezing point of 0 C. It is first shown how the integration of the functions of refrigerant and heat transfer fluid can lead to energy savings, especially for the case of ice production. Next, the two fundamental requirements that the compressor must fulfill -- handling a very large volume flow and achieving a large compression ratio -- are described. A thermodynamic analysis of multistage compression follows to investigate the adiabatic head requirements and the large desuperheating irreversibility. It is concluded that a radically new type of vacuum compressor must be developed in order for water to be used as working fluid in vapor compression refrigeration cycles.
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering by cyanine chloride

Abstract Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of 1,1′-diethyl-2,2′-cyanine chloride (cyanine), on both a silver electrode and colloidal silver, using argon ion 488 nm laser excitation, has been observed. Measurements of relative intensity of Raman bands that are partially reabsorbed by solution cyanine upon scattering indicate that cyanine is adsorbed to the Ag surface and that (for the electrode system) increasing negative potential, within a range, promotes adsorption The relative enhancement factor for cyanine on an Ag (Ag sol) is found to be ≈ 100. SERS intensity versus potential experiments are also discussed and interpreted in terms of the concept of adatom stabilization by applied potential and ions in solution.
Science and neoliberal globalization: a political sociological approach

The political ideology of neoliberalism is widely recognized as having influenced the organization of national and global economies and public policies since the 1970s. In this article, we examine the relationship between the neoliberal variant of globalization and science. To do so, we develop a framework for sociology of science that emphasizes closer ties among political sociology, the sociology of social movements, and economic and organizational sociology and that draws attention to patterns of increasing and uneven industrial influence amid several countervailing processes. Specifically, we explore three fundamental changes since the 1970s: the advent of the knowledge economy and the increasing interchange between academic and industrial research and development signified by academic capitalism and asymmetric convergence; the increasing prominence of science-based regulation of technology in global trade liberalization, marked by the heightened role of international organizations and the convergence of scientism and neoliberalism; and the epistemic modernization of the relationship between scientists and publics, represented by the proliferation of new institutions of deliberation, participation, activism, enterprise, and social movement mobilization.
Platelet-Coagulant Protein Interactions in Contact Activation

Previous studies have suggested that human platelets can promote the activation of factor XI by two different mechanisms, one requiring factor XII and ADP-treated platelets and the other requiring collagen-treated platelets in the apparent absence of factor XII. To investigate these hypotheses, isolated platelets were tested for their capacity to promote the activation and cleavage of purified factors XII and XI in various mixtures of purified factor XII, kallikrein, high molecular weight kininogen, and factor XI. That ADP- or collagen-treated platelets can promote the proteolytic activation of factor XII in mixtures containing kallikrein and HMW kininogen was shown by (1) the proteolytic cleavage of factor XII, (2) the development of factor XIIa coagulant activity, and (3) the proteolytic cleavage of 125I-labeled factor XII. Platelets treated with collagen or thrombin were shown to both coagulant assays and cleavage studies to participate with HMW kininogen and kallikrein in the proteolytic activation of factor XI by mechanisms that are partially dependent upon and partially independent of factor XII. These studies demonstrate that platelets can promote the proteolytic activation of factor XII by kallikrein and of factor XI by both factor XII-dependent and factor XII-independent mechanisms.
Oxidation rates of common organic compounds in supercritical water

Abstract Supercritical water oxidation is a rapidly emerging thermal waste-processing technology with potential as a hazardous-waste-treatment method for a variety of industrial chemicals ranging from common organic solvents to complex industrial formulations. An important design consideration in the development of supercritical water oxidation is the optimization of reactor operating temperature and feed preheat temperatures. In this paper, the temperature dependence of the oxidation in supercritical water of seven common organic compounds is examined over a temperature range of 430–585°C and reaction times ranging from 7 to 30 s at 27.6 MPa (4000 psi). The reactants are examined at approximate concentrations of 0.4 wt.% at conversion efficiencies from 50% to >99.9%. The materials examined were methanol, phenol, methyl ethyl ketone, ethylene glycol, acetic acid, methylene chloride, and 1,1,1-trichloroethane. The conversion of these compounds was monitored using total organic carbon and gas chromatography on liquid effluent samples. The results indicate that for most compounds, temperatures over 550°C and residence times near 20 s afford conversion efficiencies of greater than 99.95% based on total organic carbon.
Effect of soil moisture and sample depth on pesticide photolysis.

The effects of soil depth and moisture on pesticide photolysis were studied. Moist soil at depths of 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1, and 0.5 mm were each dosed at 2.5 μg/g with 14C-niclosamide and photolyzed under a xenon lamp at constant temperature. Samples were removed after 20, 40, 110, and 153 h of continuous irradiation. The decrease in percent of niclosamide and the appearance of degradates were followed by analyzing the soil extracts by HPLC. A corresponding set of experiments used air-dried soil. An experiment was also performed using initially moist soil which was permitted to dry during photolysis but returned to moist conditions at each sampling. Qualitative and quantitative differences were found in the rate and route of degradation of niclosamide under these conditions. These differences have resulted from a combination of reduced photochemical activity and microbial population in dry soil. The half-lives of niclosamide in the dry soils were 2 to 5 times longer than those in the moisture-maintained soil....
Observations of a Possible Foraging Tool used by Common Ravens

Abstract Common Ravens (Corvus corax) are opportunistic generalist foragers. Ravens during winter, in some portions of their range, rely heavily on meat scavenged from carcasses. Ravens use a variety of strategies to find carcasses on the landscape, including keying on audible cues that suggest the presence of a food source. I documented Common Ravens investigating a simulated animal distress call on 13 of 17 trials, suggesting that investigating animal distress vocalizations may be one tool in the suite of foraging strategies used by ravens.
Teratogen update: Radiation and chernobyl

The 1986 nuclear reactor acci- dent at Chernobyl caused nonuniform radiocontamina- tion of air and land, primarily within regions of the former Soviet Union and Western Europe. Major expo- sure groups included the reactor workers, villagers evacuated from within 30 km of the accident, the ''liquidators'' who decontaminated the evacuation zone afterward, those in radiocontaminated villages not evacuated, and ''others'' not in the latter categories. The possibility of being exposed to radiation caused considerable anxiety, especially among pregnant women. Were teratogenic levels of radiation ($0.1 Gy) exposure attained? To date there is no consistent proof that this level of radiation exposure was received. Nevertheless, thousands of induced abortions were performed. Radioiodine (I-131) caused thyroid cancer in young children in portions of Belarus, the Ukraine, and Russia. It is not known but very possible that I-131 fetal thyroid exposure contributed to this observation. The relationship between mental retardation and radia- tion exposure has not been confirmed. Leukemia and other cancers, while predicted for the liquidators (mainly males), has not been found in the other exposure groups at this time. Investigations of aborted fetuses and newborns in Belarus showed an increase in the frequency of both congenital and fetal abnormalities in high and low Cs-137 contaminated regions. This study is unreliable due to detection and selection biases. Accident and environmental factors unrelated to radia- tion doses may have contributed to these observations. Occasional positive teratogenic studies in less contami- nated regions of Western Europe are suspect because of the low radiation doses received. There is no substantive proof regarding radiation-induced terato- genic effects from the Chernobyl accident. Teratology 60:100-106, 1999. r 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The semiautomatic Wisconsin general test apparatus

A semiautomatic version of the Wisconsin General Test Apparatus is described along with circuitry. Comparison data are provided for the semiautomatic and manual WGTA obtained under comparable procedures and conditions. Response latencies are given for go/no-go object discrimination problems and subsequent retention tests.
A Facile and Mild Synthesis of 1-D ZnO, CuO, and α-Fe2O3 Nanostructures and Nanostructured Arrays

ZnO nanowires, CuO nanowires, and α-Fe2O3 nanotubes as well as their corresponding arrays have been successfully synthesized via a low cost, generalizable, and simplistic template method. Diameters of one-dimensional (1-D) metal oxide nanostructures (∼60−260 nm), measuring micrometers in length, can be reliably and reproducibly controlled by the template pore channel dimensions. Associated vertically aligned arrays have been attached to the surfaces of a number of geometrically significant substrates, such as curved plastic and glass rod motifs. The methodology reported herein relies on the initial formation of an insoluble metal hydroxide precursor, initially resulting from the reaction of the corresponding metal solution and sodium hydroxide, and its subsequent transformation under mild conditions into the desired metal oxide nanostructures. Size- and shape-dependent optical, magnetic, and catalytic properties of as-prepared 1-D metal oxides were investigated and noted to be mainly comparable to or bett...
A numerical method to simulate turbulent cavitating flows

Abstract The objective of this paper is to develop a numerical method for simulating multiphase cavitating flows on unstructured grids. The multiphase medium is represented using a homogeneous mixture model that assumes thermal equilibrium between the liquid and vapor phases. We develop a predictor–corrector approach to solve the governing Navier–Stokes equations for the liquid/vapor mixture, together with the transport equation for the vapor mass fraction. While a non-dissipative and symmetric scheme is used in the predictor step, a novel characteristic-based filtering scheme with a second order TVD filter is developed for the corrector step to handle shocks and material discontinuities in non-ideal gases and mixtures. Additionally, a sensor based on vapor volume fraction is proposed to localize dissipation to the vicinity of discontinuities. The scheme is first validated for simple one dimensional canonical problems to verify its accuracy in predicting jump conditions across material discontinuities and shocks. It is then applied to two turbulent cavitating flow problems – over a hydrofoil using RANS and over a wedge using LES. Our results show that the simulations are in good agreement with experimental data for the above tested cases, and that the scheme can be successfully applied to both RANS and LES methodologies.
The preparation and properties of single crystals of the 1S and 2S polymorphs of tantalum disulfide

Abstract Tantalum disulfide crystallizes in several different polymorphs, all of which consist of close-packed sulfur atom layers with the tantalum atoms occupying the interstices in alternate layers. Single crystals of two TaS 2 polytypes, one containing Ta atoms in octahedral vacancies and one in which the Ta atoms are situated in trigonal prismatic sulfur environment, have been prepared by chemical transport, and their electrical, magnetic, and optical properties have been examined. The 1 S (octahedral) polytype is a diamagnetic semiconductor of very low resistivity, whereas the 2 S (trigonal prismatic) form exhibits metallic properties. The metallic characteristics of 2 S -TaS 2 are consistent with energy band models that have been applied to other layered transition metal disulfides, but the semiconducting 1 S -TaS 2 is not adequately described by these models.
The impact of age on the quality of life in persons with HIV infection.

The authors administered the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS 20) Short Form Health Survey to 369 persons with HIV disease. The MOS survey measures six domains of health: physical function, role function, social function, mental health, health perception, and pain. Additional data included sociodemographics, HIV risk group, time since HIV diagnosis, symptoms (dyspnea, diarrhea, fever, chills, sweats, weight loss, weakness, numbness, memory trouble, seizures), and CD4 lymphocyte count within 3 months of the MOS survey. Bivariate analyses revealed worse MOS scores associated with older age in five health domains: physical function (p < .01), health perception (p < .10), role function (n.s.), social function (n.s.), and mental health (n.s.). Older subjects reported less pain. When controlling for CD4 count and for sociodemographic and clinical variables, older age was significantly (p <.05) associated with worse MOS scores in physical function, social function, and health perception, nonsignificantly associated w...
Timing of limited irrigation and N-injection for grain sorghum

When subsurface irrigation sources are lacking in humid and subhumid regions, high yearly precipitation may allow for storage of surface water in farm ponds and lakes for irrigation. Irrigation at selected growth stages may avoid critical stress for crops with some drought tolerance, such as grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. Because grain sorghum is responsive to N, injecting fertilizer N through the irrigation system also may improve production. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of timing of limited-amount irrigation and N fertigation on grain sorghum yield; yield components; grain N content; and N uptake at the 9-leaf, boot, and soft dough stages. The experiment was conducted from 1984 to 1986 on a Parsons silt loam (fine, mixed, thermic, Mollic Albaqualf). The experiment was designed as a 6 × 2 factorial plus two reference treatments. Six timings for irrigation were targeted at the 9-leaf (9L), boot (B), soft dough (SD), 9L-B, 9L-SD, and B-SD growth stages. N application systems were either 112 kg N ha−1 surface-banded preplant or 56 kg N ha-1 preplant and 56 kg N ha−1 injected through the irrigation at a rate of 28 kg N ha−1 per 2.5 cm of irrigation. Two reference treatments included were one receiving N but no irrigation and one receiving neither N nor irrigation. In 1984, irrigation generally increased grain sorghum yield by nearly 1 Mg ha−1. However, yield was not affected by selection of irrigation timing, N application method, or the interaction of the two factors. This was partly because early irrigations increased kernels/head, whereas later irrigations increased kernel weight. Above average rainfall during the growing season, especially just prior to the 9-leaf, boot, and soft dough growth stages, resulted in no irrigations in 1985. In 1986, yield was increased by early (9-leaf) irrigations as compared to soft dough irrigations. Early irrigations resulted in higher kernels/head; however, rainfall after the soft dough irrigation may have masked any treatment effect on kernel weight. As in 1984, N application method did not affect grain sorghum yields, even though yield was reduced to less than 3 Mg ha−1 with no N nor irrigation. In both 1984 and 1986, N uptake at succeeding growth stages appeared to respond to irrigations made at previous growth stages. Injecting half of the fertilizer N through the irrigation system did not affect N uptake compared to applying all N preplant. The lack of response to fertigation may be related to the low leaching potential of the soil used in this study.
Immunosuppressive therapy for multiple sclerosis.

The rationale for treating multiple sclerosis (MS) with immunosuppressive therapy rests on the hypothesis that MS is an inflammatory, cell-mediated, autoimmune disease, affecting the central nervous system. Elevation of interferon-y, endothelial-cell activation with expression of class II and adhesion molecules, and macrophage-mediated destruction of myelin via receptor-mediated endocytosis provide evidence that MS is an inflammatory disease. Further evidence for a Th1- or cell-mediated autoimmune process includes interleukin 2 expression and B7-1 upregulation within active lesions. Therapy with drugs that have pronounced anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects has been used for the treatment of non-neoplastic diseases in which autoimmune mechanisms are considered important in the pathogenesis.
A PHOTOACOUSTIC DEPTH PROFILE OF β‐CAROTENE IN SKIN

— Photoacoustic spectroscopy has been used to observe a qualitative depth profile in vitro in mouse skin. Because the photoacoustic response is a vector quantity, it can be used to qualitatively determine the depth of a chromophore in skin. The spectrum of an induced layer of β-carotene in albino mouse skin was separated from the spectrum of hemoglobin. Dyes were then used to determine more precisely the position of the β-carotene in the epidermis. The spectrum of melanin was also separated from that of the underlying hemoglobin in pigmented mouse skin.
Purified RNA polymerase III accurately and efficiently terminates transcription of 5s RNA genes

RNA polymerase III was purified to about 90% homogeneity from ovarian tissue of Xenopus laevis. The enzyme accurately initiates and terminates transcription of 5S RNA synthesis in isolated nuclei, but not when naked 5S DNA is used as a template. A sensitive hybridization technique was used to demonstrate that the purified polymerase, even when supplemented with a transcription factor that binds specifically to the 5S RNA gene internal control region, is unable to initiate synthesis at the start site of the 5S RNA gene. However, the polymerase alone terminates transcription at precisely the same site that is recognized in vivo and in complete transcription extracts. The purified polymerase distinguishes between weak and strong terminator sequences with the same relative efficiency as the enzyme in complete extracts. We conclude that the pure enzyme can recognize the simple consensus sequence found at the end of genes transcribed by RNA polymerase III.
Binder Distribution in Ceramic Greenware During Thermolysis

Capillary forces were shown to influence the distribution of polymer-plasticizer mixtures within ceramic green bodies during binder thermolysis. Isothermal thermogravimetric analysis was performed on tape-cast sheets of an alumina-poly(vinyl butyral)-dibutyl phthalate composite and direct observations were made of the binder distribution and pore growth after partial pyrolysis. This led to the investigation of a model system, an alumina-eicosane composite, by similar experimental techniques. The early stage of binder removal was found to be similar to the drying of particle beds in which capillary forces draw liquid into the smaller pores at the surface. The morphology of the binder distribution produced by these processes dictates which mass-transfer resistances may be controlling in binder burnout. A model is described that determines the length scale over which capillarity acts based on measurable physical parameters of the binder system and the packing of the ceramic particles.
Uniqueness and Existence of Equilibrium in Auctions with a Reserve Price

Abstract We prove existence and uniqueness of equilibrium for a general class of two-player bidding games. We apply our results to the first price auction, the combination of first and second price auctions, the war of attrition, the all pay auction, as well as combinations of the latter two auction forms. We also treat the first price auction without risk neutrality. Our results deal with the asymmetric, affiliated common values environment. In the case where signals are independent our results apply to all equilibria. When signals are not independent, our uniqueness results hold in the class of nondecreasing strategy equilibria. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Number: D44.
Metalinguistic features for formal parallel-program transformation

A set of metalinguistic features and their applications in formal parallel-program transformation are described. Program transformation is an effective methodology for developing correct and efficient parallel programs. However, manually carrying out the transformation is usually very cumbersome and error-prone. These metalinguistic features provide convenient language constructs for expressing and automating transformation steps. These features include a rationalized version of quoting and unquoting, a set a constructors, selectors, and predicates, and a collection of semantics preserving operators. The authors describe the metalinguistic features, illustrate how Crystal programs are conveniently manipulated with these meta constructs, and present a formal denotational semantics of the rationalized quoting and unquoting. They demonstrate the applications of these metalinguistic features by formally deriving a class of parallel palindrome recognition programs. >
Open Class-an Important Component of Teachers' in-Service Training in China

Researches on teachers' training and practice have reached an agreement that incorporating teacher collabora- tion with teaching practice helps teachers learn and as a result produces effective teaching. However, nationwide in the US, most of teachers still work alone and have no opportunities to work collaboratively with other teachers. This norm of teaching practice needs to be changed in order to improve quality of teaching. As an in-service training tool, open class is introduced to provide a vision of possible change in teacher training in the US. What is open class? How is open class structured to improve teachers' teaching? What are the effects of open classes on teachers' professional development? Based on the data of twenty interviews with the teachers in China, this article provides a picture how open class as an im- portant component of teachers' in-service training works effectively on improving teachers' teaching in China. This model of open class is worth to be considered and tried on in the U.S. teachers' in-service training.
Trends in Recorded Influenza Mortality: United States, 1900–2004

Objectives. I sought to describe trends in historical influenza mortality data in the United States since 1900 and compare pandemic with nonpandemic influenza seasons.Methods. I compiled a database of monthly influenza-classed death rates from official US mortality tables for the years 1900 to 2004 (1905–1909 excluded), from which I calculated adjusted influenza season (July 1–June 30) mortality rates.Results. An overall and substantial decline in influenza-classed mortality was observed during the 20th century, from an average seasonal rate of 10.2 deaths per 100 000 population in the 1940s to 0.56 per 100 000 by the 1990s. The 1918–1919 pandemic stands out as an exceptional outlier. The 1957–1958 and 1968–1969 influenza pandemic seasons, by contrast, displayed substantial overlap in both degree of mortality and timing compared with nonpandemic seasons.Conclusions. The considerable similarity in mortality seen in pandemic and non-pandemic influenza seasons challenges common beliefs about the severity of ...
Demo: toward a data-driven generative behavior model for human-robot interaction

Socially assistive robots are designed to help people through interactions that are inherently social, such as tutoring, coaching, and therapy. Because they operate in social environments, these robots must be programmed to recognize, process, and communicate social cues used by people. For example, non-verbal behaviors like eye gaze and gesture can provide significant communication in social interactions. However, identifying the correct non-verbal behavior to perform in a given context is a non-trivial problem for social robotics. One approach for designing robot behaviors is data driven, that is, reliant on actual observations of human behavior rather than pre-coded heuristics. This approach involves collecting data from natural human-human interactions, and then training a model based on that data. From this model, we can begin to generate non-verbal robot behaviors for known contexts, as well as identify the context given observations of new non-verbal behaviors. In this talk, I outline my current research designing data-driven generative behavior models for tutoring tasks. I also touch on the challenges of real-world robotics and how those challenges overlap with those faced by mobile augmented reality systems.
Adaptive digital predistortion linearization of frequency multipliers

A novel technique to linearize frequency multipliers for use in high-frequency transmission of digitally modulated signals is presented. Using this technique, a bandpass signal containing both amplitude and phase modulation can be translated without distortion to a higher frequency via nonlinear frequency multiplication. A theoretical analysis is performed to identify the bandpass transformation of the signal envelope in highly nonlinear devices in a manner such that its inverse transformation may be estimated. The theory was validated on a 2.46-GHz Schottky-diode frequency tripler constructed by the authors and on an 820-MHz commercially available frequency doubler. As predicted by the theory, the devices showed highly nonlinear characteristics in terms of their AM/AM, AM/PM, and PM/PM distortions. Adaptive lookup-table- and polynomial-based predistortion systems were designed and constructed to linearize the frequency multipliers. The predistortion results show a fair amount of improvements in adjacent-channel power ratio and error vector magnitude.
Yasmin: a component based architecture for software applications

Object-oriented programming (OOP) has changed the way we produce software applications significantly, and has allowed many problems that affected traditional programming to be overcome. Unfortunately, several object-oriented frameworks have misused OOP techniques, failed to address issues such as application extensibility, and have produced monolithic systems that are hard to manage and tailor. This paper describes Yasmin, a new object-oriented component-based architecture for software applications. It allows one to build applications which use system resources efficiently and which can be easily extended and configured, in addition to being simple to program and to compose. This is achieved by means of droplets, a new type of software components that can be replaced and modified at run-time and by exploiting novel techniques such as collaboration and delegation.
An error and sensitivity analysis of the atmospheric- and soil-correcting variants of the NDVI for the MODIS-EOS

Several soil- and atmospheric-correcting variants of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) have been proposed to improve the accuracy in estimating biophysical plant parameters. In this study, a sensitivity analysis, utilizing simulated model data, was conducted on the NDVI and variants by analyzing the atmospheric- and soil-perturbed responses as a continuous function of leaf area index. Percent relative error and vegetation equivalent "noise" (VEN) were calculated for soil and atmospheric influences, separately and combined. The NDVI variants included the soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAVI), the atmospherically resistant vegetation index (ARVI), the soil-adjusted and atmospherically resistant vegetation index (SARVI), the modified SAVI (MSAVI), and modified SARVI (MSARVI). Soil and atmospheric error were of similar magnitudes, but varied with the vegetation index. All new variants outperformed the NDVI. The atmospherically resistant versions minimized atmospheric noise, but enhanced soil noise, while the soil adjusted variants minimized soil noise, but remained sensitive to the atmosphere. The SARVI, which had both a soil and atmosphere calibration term, performed the best with a relative error of 10 percent and VEN of /spl plusmn/0.33 LAI. By contrast, the NDM had a relative error of 20 percent and VEN of /spl plusmn/0.97 LAI. >
Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis in a Social Work Sample

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire (EBPQ). The 24-item EBPQ was developed to measure health professionals’ attitudes toward, knowledge of, and use of evidence-based practice (EBP). A confirmatory factor analysis was performed on the EBPQ given to a random sample of National Association of Social Work members (N = 167). The coefficient alpha of the EBPQ was .93. The study supported a 23-item 3-factor model with acceptable model fit indices (χ² = 469.04; RMSEA = .081; SRMR = .068; CFI = .900). This study suggests a slightly modified EBPQ may be a useful tool to assess social workers’ attitudes toward, knowledge of, and use of EBP.
Anomalous Paleomagnetic Pole from Isotopically Dated Cambro-Ordovician Intrusives in Colorado

Paleomagnetic data from isotopically dated Cambrian and Ordovician plutons in central Colorado indicate a Cambrian-Ordovician paleopole close to the late Paleozoic pole position. Samples were partially demagnetized by both ac and thermal techniques. Magnetic directions were essentially the same regardless of treatment. Polished section and Curie temperature analysis indicate that the principal magnetic phase is low-titanium titanomagnetite. In many samples, titanomagnetite is the only magnetic iron oxide; in some samples, hematite occurs additionally. However, those samples containing hematite show the same remanent directions as those containing only titanomagnetite. All of our studies indicate that the magnetization is thermoremanent magnetization (TRM) acquired during the Cambrian and Ordovician. Our results suggest that either little polar wandering occurred between the early and late Paleozoic or, if substantial wandering did occur, by late Paleozoic time the paleopole has returned to a position that was nearly coincident with that of the early Paleozoic.
Making connections: teaching writing to engineers and technical writers in a multicultural environment

Teaching writing to engineering students representing Indian, Middle Eastern, Asian, and American cultures can be daunting as their cultural perceptions of time, gender, source of authority, individualism and risk taking, affect learning styles. However, despite cultural differences, many International students have no difficulty with much of American instruction and, in some cases, perform better than American students. Their ability to adapt to American instruction appears to depend primarily on the educational goals of their cultures.
Electrochemical detection of salivary RNA

Electrochemical biosensor for salivary RNA detection with high sensitivity is presented. The complexity of saliva and the low concentration of salivary RNA require both high sensitivity and specificity. In this study enzyme amplification is applied to achieve high signal intensity. In order to increase the current signal, effective hybridization and electron transfer are both required. Electrochemical studies on the location of anchor label and report label have been carried out. Results indicate the hybridization efficiency and the surface hindrance to enzyme amplification are the two major factors contributed to the detected current signal. Human salivary IL-8 RNA has been detected. For oligonucleotide target, the limitation of detection (LOD) is about 1 fM, while the LOD for IVT RNA is about 50 pM.
Synthesis of Phosphoryl Fluoride and μ-oxo-bis(Phosphoryl difluoride)

Abstract Phosphoryl fluoride and [F2P(O)]2O have been synthesized from PF5 and oxygen in the presence of magnesium at 300°.
Controllability, observability and the jump linear quadratic problem in continuous time

This paper is concerned with the controllability and observability of continuous-time linear systems that possess randomly jumping parameters which can be described by finite-state Markov processes, and with the relationships between these properties and the solution of the infinite time jump linear quadratic (JLQ) optimal control problem. The solution of the continuous-time Markov JLQ problem with finite or infinite time horizons is known. In this paper a definition and algebraic test of controllability for continuous-time Markovian jump linear systems are given. This condition is related to the existence of finite cost steady-state JLQ solutions.
Flexibility and Fairness in Liberal Market Economies: The Comparative Impact of the Legal Environment and High-Performance Work Systems

This paper compares management flexibility in employment decision making in the United States and Canada through a cross-national survey of organizations in representative jurisdictions in each country, Pennsylvania and Ontario, respectively, that investigates the impact of differences in their legal environments. The results indicate that, compared to their Ontario counterparts, organizations in Pennsylvania have a higher degree of flexibility in employment outcomes, such as higher dismissal and discipline rates, yet do not experience any greater flexibility or simplicity in management hiring and firing decisions. One explanation for this result may lie in the finding that organizations in Pennsylvania experience greater legal pressures on decision making, reflecting the generally more intense conflict in the employment law system in the United States. By contrast, high-performance work systems, which some have looked to as a possible management-driven mechanism for enhancing fairness in employment, had more modest effects.
Methodology of protistan discovery: from rRNA detection to quality scanning electron microscope images

Each year, thousands of new protistan 18S rRNA sequences are detected in environmental samples. Many of these sequences are molecular signatures of new protistan species, classes, and/or kingdoms that have never been seen before. The main goal of this study was to enable visualization of these novel organisms and to conduct quality ultrastructural examination. We achieved this goal by modifying standard procedures for cell fixation, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and by making these methodologies work in concert. As a result, the same individual cell can now be detected by 18S rRNA-targeted fluorochrome-labeled probes and then viewed by SEM to reveal its diagnostic morphological characteristics. The method was successfully tested on a wide range of protists (alveolates, stramenopiles, kinetoplastids, and cryptomonads). The new methodology thus opens a way for fine microscopy studies of many organisms previously known exclusively by their 18S rRNA sequences.
The Round Earth Project-collaborative VR for conceptual learning

The Round Earth Project is a collaboration among researchers in computer science, education, and psychology. It investigates two alternative pedagogical strategies for teaching children that the Earth is spherical and the implications of that fact. One strategy, which we term the transformationalist approach, attempts to effect conceptual change by breaking down the children's prior models. In contrast, the selectionist strategy attempts to effect learning in an alternative setting (in our case, a small-diameter asteroid), free of preexisting biases, and to relate that learning back to the target domain-the Earth. Virtual reality (VR) technologies support both pedagogical strategies. In the transformationalist approach, VR simulates the launching of a spacecraft from the Earth's surface and subsequent exploration within a fixed-height orbit. In the selectionist approach, VR simulates a small-diameter asteroid.
Interconnect-Centric Computer Architectures

Portable multimedia systems are becoming increasingly important as applications that handle image, video and audio dominate processor workloads. Low-cost portable communication devices such as cellular phones are already commonplace, and the extension to more capable devices that handle electronic video will be inevitable. The proliferation of these multimedia systems is on the verge of a growth rate that will match the desktop computer industry’s success. To lower cost for the mass consumer market, these systems require efficient system performance because of stringent resource limitations in portable environments. Processor architectures must provide high computation throughput while minimizing chip area and power.
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Arrhythmia by Oxidative Stress.

Current therapies for arrhythmia using ion channel blockade, catheter ablation, or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator have limitations, and it is important to search for new antiarrhythmic therapeutic targets. Both atrial fibrillation and heart failure, a condition with increased arrhythmic risk, are associated with excess amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS). There are several possible ways for ROS to induce arrhythmia. ROS can cause focal activity and reentry. ROS alter multiple cardiac ionic currents. ROS promote cardiac fibrosis and impair gap junction function, resulting in reduced myocyte coupling and facilitation of reentry. In order to design effective antioxidant drugs for treatment of arrhythmia, it is essential to explore the molecular mechanisms by which ROS exert these arrhythmic effects. Activation of Ca2+/CaM-dependent kinase II, c-Src tyrosine kinase, protein kinase C, and abnormal splicing of cardiac sodium channels are among the recently discovered molecular mechanisms of ROS-induced arrhythmia.
An Evaluation of Handle Shapes and Sizes

In many industries there are numerous hand tools in use which vary considerably in handle size and shape with no apparent reasons. This research sought to investigate capabilities of males and females on two thrust maximum force tests, using various shapes and sizes of handles. To accentuate the characteristics of each size and shape, the force tests were conducted with the coefficient of friction between the hand and the handle surface reduced by the use of a disposable plastic glove and the application of a slippery film.
Diagnostic Mycobacteriology: Current Challenges and Technologies

Tuberculosis (TB) has reemerged as a major public health problem worldwide. Although traditional acid-fast smears and cultures remain important tools for laboratory diagnosis of TB, these methods are not adequate to meet the challenges of the current crisis. In response to urgent needs for more rapid and sensitive diagnostic methods in mycobacteriology, several innovative procedures have been developed. Radiometric, molecular, biochemical, and chromatographic techniques have been introduced successfully in clinical laboratories, and others continue to be investigated. I review the newer technologies that provide laboratories with the tools necessary to achieve rapid detection, identification, and susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis .
Systematic design of photonic crystal demultiplexers based on superprism effect

Recently, photonic crystals (PCs), because of their anomalous dispersion properties, have been proposed for realizing demultiplexing operations inside the PC. Up to now, the basic implementation has been demonstrated and some limitations and issues have been addressed. In order to effectively use these devices for demultiplexing purposes, the first step is to recognize the effect of different design parameters and design goals.