cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of a virtual project team environment on communication-related project risk

Abstract Over 150 Information Technology practitioners participated in a study of differences in communication risk between traditional project teams and those that operate virtually, with some team members physically remote. Contrary to prior research, results indicate the level of risk from inadequate communication is not significantly greater when team members are not grouped in one location. Further, despite increased dependence of virtual teams on technology for communication, there was no evidence of significantly more project risk due to technological failure. However, virtual team projects exhibited notably more risk due to insufficient knowledge transfer. A plausible explanation is decreased implicit or informal knowledge transfer in virtual environments. We conclude that the possibility of insufficient knowledge transfer should be included in virtual project risk management plans, and consideration should be given in such projects to the extent to which knowledge that is traditionally shared implicitly might be shared explicitly through electronic means.
Using Single-Case Design and Personalized Behavior Change Projects to Teach Research Methods

Students in research methods courses, especially those taught in an intense format, might be hard pressed to actually conduct research studies due to logistics and time constraints. I describe the use of single-case research design and a personalized behavior project as an alternative research project for students in an undergraduate psychology methods course. Students were able to complete the project, including the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, within the confines of an intensive, 6-week course.
When should we perform prophylactic antibiotics in elective cesarean cases

The aim of this study was to determine whether the timing of prophylactic antibiotics at cesarean delivery influences maternal and neonatal infectious morbidity. This was a prospective, randomized trial. Four hundred patients that underwent elective cesarean section between June and December 2007 formed the study population. Eleven patients were excluded from the study because they needed transfusion during the cesarean section. The population was divided into two groups: Group A, antibiotic prophylaxis was applied to 194 women before skin incision and Group B, antibiotic prophylaxis was applied to 195 women after umbilical cord clamping. The occurrence of endomyometritis/endometritis, wound infection, febrile morbidity, total infectious morbidity, and neonatal complications were compared. There were 389 patients enrolled. No demographic differences were observed between groups. No significant difference was found between the groups for total infectious morbidity [relative risk (RR) 1.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71–2.69] and endometritis (RR 1.40, 95% CI 0.43–4.51). There was no increase in neonatal sepsis (RR 1.47, 95% CI 0.61–3.53), sepsis workup (RR 1.35, 95% CI 0.75–2.42), need for neonatal intensive care (RR 1.77, 95% CI 0.51–6.16), and intensive care stay period (P = 0.16). Time of antibiotic prophylaxis application does not change maternal infectious morbidity in cesarean section deliveries. Preoperative prophylaxis application does not affect neonate morbidity rates as stated in literature.
Adapting Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is currently ranked the third leading cause of disability in the world. Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) causes the majority of MDD's disability. Strikingly, 50% of individuals with MDD will fail to remit with two adequate trials of antidepressant medications, thus qualifying as treatment resistant. Current pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatment strategies for TRD are limited in effectiveness so new interventions are needed. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a new psychotherapeutic treatment with established efficacy in preventing relapse of depression for individuals in complete remission. MBCT is a group-based, 8-week intervention that uses mindfulness meditation as its core therapeutic technique. It teaches people to have a different relationship to depressive thoughts and feelings. Strategies are focused on decreasing rumination, enhancing self-compassion, increasing acceptance and decreasing avoidance. This modified version of MCBT, which includes the use of metaphor and adaptations of the original intervention will be discussed through the clinical case of a woman with long-standing TRD. A brief review of the current MBCT literature and future directions for the treatment of TRD are discussed.
Lumbar Pseudarthrosis: Diagnosis and Treatment

Lumbar pseudoarthrosis is one of the most common complications of spine surgery. The prevalence of lumbar pseudarthrosis following instrumented lumbar fusion in adults is highly variable across studies with lower back pain being the most common complaint. Some researches believe that spinal instability is directly responsible for the painful symptoms sometimes associated with pseudarthoses. However, this point has also been debated. Diagnostic work-up of these cases include flexion and extension radiographs and CT scans. MRI can also be helpful to identify any residual or new areas of nerve compression. The most definitive test to identify a pseudoarthosis is an exploration of the fusion. This is performed when there is sufficient clinical and radiographic data to suggest the presence of a non-union. Given the associated morbidities and high financial expense, careful thought must be exercised by the responsible physician in the selection of the appropriate patient population for revision surgery. Prior to attempted salvage of arthrodesis, other causes of persistent low back pain should be ruled out and more conservative measures of treatment should be tried first. The following manuscript provides an in-depth discussion on the clinical signs and symptoms of lumbar pseudoarthoses as well as a plan for the diagnostic work-up and treatment of these patients.
Combine labeled and unlabeled information for hyperspectral image classification

In hyperspectral image classification, semisupervised learning can be applied when labeled samples are limited. By utilizing unlabeled information, classification accuracy generally can be improved. Graph-based regularization is a widely used semisupervised learning technique, where graph construction with both labeled and unlabeled samples is very computationally expensive. In reality, samples are highly correlated; so it may be unnecessary to use all the unlabeled samples. Appropriate selection of unlabeled samples can not only help improve classification but also significantly reduce the computational cost. In this paper, we propose an unlabeled sample selection algorithm. The preliminary result from a semisupervised graph-regularized kernel classifier demonstrates its effectiveness.
Fiber Sources for Complete Calf Starter Rations

Complete calf starter rations containing either 1) alfalfa hay, 2) cottonseed hulls, or 3) alfalfa-beet pulp as sources of fiber were fed to Holstein heifer calves at two locations on a limited milk program from 3 days to 12 wk of age. Rations were isonitrogenous and similar in content of crude fiber and acid detergent fiber. Although growth and development were normal on all rations, calves fed the cottonseed hull ration consumed more starter and gained more body weight than calves fed the other sources of fiber. The similarity of feed efficiencies, rumen pH, and molar ratios of volatile fatty acids between rations indicated no appreciable differences in rumen development or function. The growth response of calves fed the cottonseed hull ration appeared to be a result of better ration acceptability for which no reason was evident. Calves raised at Puyallup gained more body weight than calves at Pullman, and these gains were made more efficiently. These location effects may be related to seasonal differences and greater demands for production of body heat. Although the incidence of scours was less for calves fed alfalfa hay starter, the incidence and severity of bloat were higher for that ration.
Stereoselective effects of methylphenidate on motor hyperactivity in juvenile rats induced by neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine lesioning.

Rationale: The psychostimulant dl-threo-methylphenidate is commonly used to treat attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Consistent with its effects in ADHD patients, racemic methylphenidate antagonizes behavioral hyperactivity in several animal models of ADHD, including juvenile rats with neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions of forebrain dopamine projections. The enantiomers of methylphenidate differ markedly in stimulant potency but have not been compared in the 6-OHDA lesion model. Objective: Locomotor-inhibiting effects of methylphenidate enantiomers were compared in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats to test the hypothesis that d-methylphenidate is more potent than dl- and l-methylphenidate. Methods: Selective dopamine lesions were made using 6-OHDA (100 µg, intracisternal, IC) on postnatal day (PD) 5 after desipramine (25 mg/kg, SC) pretreatment to protect noradrenergic neurons. Effects of d-, l- and dl-threo-methylphenidate on locomotor activity of lesioned and sham control rats were quantified at PD 23–27. Results: Lesioning yielded robust motor hyperactivity at PD 23–27. Both d- and dl-methylphenidate stimulated locomotor activity in intact rats, and inhibited activity in lesioned rats. l-Methylphenidate did not affect locomotor activity in either lesioned rats or controls. d-Methylphenidate (ED50=1.66 mg/kg) was 3.3 times more potent than dl-methylphenidate (ED50=5.45 mg/kg) in reducing locomotor hyperactivity in lesioned rats. In addition, pretreatment of lesioned rats with l-methylphenidate significantly reduced the motor inhibiting effects of d-methylphenidate. Conclusions: The more active enantiomer, as predicted, was d-methylphenidate, but the l-enantiomer interfered with its effects, suggesting that clinical potency of d-methylphenidate may be more than twice that of the racemate.
Storage organization in programming systems

The system of program and data representation that has been in use on the Rice University computer for five years is described. Each logical entity in storage occupies a block of consecutive memory locations. Each block is labeled by a codeword and may contain a program, a data vector, or codewords which in turn label blocks to form arrays. This storage arrangement is discussed with its realized advantages in programming systems: simplicity of programmed addressing, flexibility of data structures, efficiency of memory utilization, variability of system composition during execution, means of linkage between programs and from programs to data, and basis for storage protection. The application of labeled blocks may be extended to areas of time-sharing and multi-media storage control. On the basis of experience at Rice, some ideas on such extensions are presented.
The Appropriateness of Management-By-Objectives For Development and Research Personnel

The differential e fects of a management by' objectives (MBO) program on the work satisfaction of development and research employee groups were examined. Analyses indicated that these two groups differed in perceptions of their respective work group climates and that facets of MBO explained significantly different amounts of variance of the groups' work satisfaction. Implications and suggestions for accommodating MBO for use with development and research personnel are discussed.
The effects of attendance and effort on outcomes among older adults in a long‐term exercise program

To determine if attendance and effort could differentiate changes in cognitive and physical functioning, 66 older adults received a prescription heart rate to be achieved during supervised regular exercise sessions over a 9-month period. These 30-min sessions of aerobic training on a cycle ergometer were conducted three times per week. Cognitive variables and physical functioning were measured at baseline and following 4.5 months and 9 months of training. Attendance and effort scores (ATTEFF) were used to divide subjects into low ATTEFF (N = 29) and high ATTEFF (N = 37) groups. Following 9 months of training these groups were significantly different on life satisfaction and selected measures of health perception, but not on measures of either mental status or submaximum or resting heart rate. Maximum physical functioning improved within both groups, although the high ATTEFF group had improved more than the low ATTEFF group at posttest. Attendance and effort appear to differentiate older adults on selected measures of health perception and maximum physical functioning following a 9-month exercise program.
Measuring the homogeneity of ceramic superconductors by eddy current probing

The homogeneity of a bulk YBa2Cu3Ox sample prepared by standard methods has been determined. Measurements of the conductivity, Tc (by induction), and x‐ray analysis showed no deviation from bulk material previously characterized as ‘‘homogeneous’’ in the literature; the sample was shown to be inhomogeneous by the eddy current method. We use the sample’s response to multifrequency eddy current probing as a measure of homogeneity. This response is calculated from measurements of the complex impedance of a coil, which contains the sample, as a function of frequency. The homogeneity of the sample after being quenched in air from three successively higher temperatures (650, 700, 800 °C) has also been determined. A rough conductivity profile in one dimension is obtained for all four sample conditions.
An expert system for an idiosyncratic domain: love, intimacy, and friendship

Expert systems conceived and developed thus far have dealt with problems, such as medical diagnosis, circuit design, and mineral exploration, which have objective solutions. Humans, however, are also experts in reasoning about domains where the key concepts are not objectively fixed. We do form subjective, but sound, judgments about idiosyncratic--i.e., person-specific-- domains. One such domain is that of love, intimacy, and friendship. Despite the fact that our notions of love, intimacy, and friendship vary greatly and that these relationships have been the subject of poets, novelists, biographers, psychologists, and other students of human nature for centuries, there is enough of a common consensus to make communication and, very frequently, common judgments about this domain possible.
Characterizing and improving the use of demand-fetched caches in GPUs

Initially introduced as special-purpose accelerators for games and graphics code, graphics processing units (GPUs) have emerged as widely-used high-performance parallel computing platforms. GPUs traditionally provided only software-managed local memories (or scratchpads) instead of demand-fetched caches. Increasingly, however, GPUs are being used in broader application domains where memory access patterns are both harder to analyze and harder to manage in software-controlled caches. In response, GPU vendors have included sizable demand-fetched caches in recent chip designs. Nonetheless, several problems remain. First, since these hardware caches are quite new and highly-configurable, it can be difficult to know when and how to use them; they sometimes degrade performance instead of improving it. Second, since GPU programming is quite distinct from general-purpose programming, application programmers do not yet have solid intuition about which memory reference patterns are amenable to demand-fetched caches.In response, this paper characterizes application performance on GPUs with caches and provides a taxonomy for reasoning about different types of access patterns and locality. Based on this taxonomy, we present an algorithm which can be automated and applied at compile-time to identify an application's memory access patterns and to use that information to intelligently configure cache usage to improve application performance. Experiments on real GPU systems show that our algorithm reliably predicts when GPU caches will help or hurt performance. Compared to always passively turning caches on, our method can increase the average benefit of caches from 5.8% to 18.0% for applications that have significant performance sensitivity to caching.
From Sensors to Systems: CMOS-Integrated Electrochemical Biosensors

Novel electronic detection techniques are being increasingly sought as components of highly scalable technologies for high-throughput biosensing applications. Among the techniques being considered, electrochemical detection offers an attractive alternative. Advancement in nanoscale electrochemistry makes this an opportune moment to consider the prospects of its integration with CMOS processes. This paper focuses on the new properties and challenges that emerge from the downscaling of electrode dimensions, focusing, in particular, on redox-cycling-based approaches to nanoscale electrochemical devices. We explore the possibilities of interfacing arrays of such devices with CMOS process technology to create highly parallelized integrated platforms. We cite selective examples to provide a qualitative overview of the general design constraints that attend any system-level integration process. We also discuss several challenges that limit the scalability of such platforms and that need to be overcome to create reliable and robust CMOS-integrated electrochemical biosensing platforms.
Analysis of an improved survival rate for congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Abstract Background/Purpose: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a condition associated with significant mortality. This study examines the survival rate of neonates with CDH treated by a multidisciplinary team in a single pediatric hospital. Actual survival rate is compared with predicted outcome based on severity of illness. Methods: A consecutive series of neonates with CDH was evaluated beginning January 1, 2000. There were no excluded patients. A treatment protocol emphasizing minimal barotrauma and control of pulmonary hypertension was used. Predicted survival rate was estimated using birth weight and Apgar score at 5 minutes per the logistic regression equation published by the CDH Study Group. Actual survival rates were calculated and compared with predicted values using a one sample binomial test with significance deemed to be present at P less than.05. Results: Thirty-six of 39 (93%) neonates with CDH survived, whereas the predicted survival rate for this cohort was 68% ( P P Conclusions: Using a simple analysis, centers may now objectively compare their CDH survival rates with predicted outcomes adjusted for disease severity. This technique confirmed that a consecutive series of neonates with CDH, treated in one hospital, had a significantly higher than predicted survival rate. Thus, it may be possible to identify other centers with higher than expected survival rates and to define common therapeutic strategies associated with decreased mortality. J Pediatr Surg 38:729-732. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Crystal structures of ligand-bound saccharopine dehydrogenase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Three structures of saccharopine dehydrogenase (l-lysine-forming) (SDH) have been determined in the presence of sulfate, adenosine monophosphate (AMP), and oxalylglycine (OxGly). In the sulfate-bou...
Functional and immunological responses of Jurkat lymphocytes transfected with the substance P receptor.

1. We have transfected the rat substance P receptor (SPR) cDNA into the leukemic T-lymphocyte cell line Jurkat (J-wt) in order to study the effects of substance P (SP) on lymphocyte signaling mechanisms and the resultant neuropeptide-induced immunological changes. 2. The SPR cDNA was transfected into J-wt by the method of electroporation. Clones expressing SPRs were selected using a functional assay that measured SP-induced mobilization of intracellular Ca2+([Ca2+]i) in a fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) and by their expression of specific125I-SP binding. 3. One clone, J-SPR, was identified and shown by Northern blot and125I-SP saturation binding techniques to express the 2.2-kb SPR message and approximately 50,000 SPRs/cell with aKd of 0.3 nM, respectively. Stimulation of J-SPR by SP resulted in the rapid mobilization of [Ca2+]i. This response was dose dependent in the range 10−11–10−6M SP and was maximal at 10−7M SP, with an EC50 of 0.3–0.5 nM SP. We further demonstrated that the SPR is rapidly desensitized following SP stimulation and by activation of the cell's T-cell receptor (TCR). Whole-cell patch-clamp experiments on J-SPR show that SP stimulation induces a Cl− current by a Ca2+ mediated process dependent on Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK). 4. Stimulation of J-SPR by SP results in changes in the cell surface expression of a number of molecules that play important roles in cell adhesion and activation: the expression of LFA-1 is decreased, and CD2 and IL-2 receptors are increased by 30 min, 6 hr, and 24 hr, respectively, following stimulation, as assessed by antibody staining in a FACS. 5. The expression of functional SPRs in Jurkat lymphocytes will now permit a detailed examination of how the activation of SPRs result in altered immune responses and further elucidate the role this neuropeptide receptor plays in inflammation.
Sediment in Streams: Sources, Biological Effects, and Control

(1997). Sediment in Streams: Sources, Biological Effects, and Control. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society: Vol. 126, No. 6, pp. 1048-1051.
THE LOW CYCLE IMPACT FATIGUE PROPERTIES OF PEARLITIC PLAIN CARBON STEELS

The results of Stan ton and Bairstow (1908) have been reanalyzed to yield information on the composition dependence of the low cycle impact fatigue properties of pearlitic plain carbon steels. It has been found that the energy absorbed per impact, Ei, and the number of impacts are failure, Nf, are related by the equation: In this equation q is determined by the carbon, manganese and silicon contents of the steel; Eo is the impact endurance limit; and C and D are constants. The curve represented by this equation intersects that representing the Johnson-Keller high cycle impact fatigue equation at a value of logeNf equal to 1/C. Thus, the transition from low to high cycle impact fatigue occurs at this value of logeNf.
Carnegie's new community engagement classification: Affirming higher education's role in community

In 2005, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching (CFAT) stirred the higher education world with the announcement of a new classification for institutions that engage with community. The classification, community engagement, is the first in a set of planned classification schemes resulting from the foundation’s reexamination of the traditional Carnegie classification system. The new classifications are intended to provide flexibility, closer match of data with purpose, and a multidimensional approach for better representing institutional identity. The first of those new schemes, community engagement, has prompted a flurry of inquiry, self-assessment, documentation, and development of engagement practices as educators in colleges and universities strive to qualify for the classification.
Measuring efficiency by a fuzzy statistical approach

Methods of measuring economic efficiency of input-output systems by employing a fuzzy statistical approach are explored here in the context of the recent technique of data envelopment analysis, which utilizes a nonparametric approach to measure efficiency. Three applied fuzzy measures are illustrated here, e.g., fuzzy linear programs, fuzzy linear regressions and finally the fuzzy entropy measures in the context of a two-person game theory model.
Deficient Bernstein polynomials

On presente une demonstration simplifiee d'un theoreme sur les polynomes de Bernstein d'une fonction lineaire par morceaux ayant des changements de variations en des points particuliers qui sont en relation avec le degre du polynome. On donne une reciproque partielle de ce theoreme
Interpretation as Historical, Constructivism, and History

Interpretation is construed, here, as synonymous with hermeneutics: understood as a source of knowledge – perhaps, after the apparently irremediable decline of epistemological foundationalism, the main modern epistemological strategy. In this sense, there is no difference in principle between epistemology and interpretation; the first is a form of the second.
Effect of caloric restriction on basal insulin levels and the in vivo lipogenesis and glycogen synthesis from glucose in the Koletsky obese rat

Abstract Fasting plasma immunoreactive insulin levels increased with age in hyperinsulinemic Koletsky obese rats, being almost four times as high as in lean siblings at 3 mo (40 ± 5 μU/ml) and rising steadily to 82 ± 4 μU/ml at 6 mo (about seven times higher than lean siblings). Restricting the food intake of the obese rats markedly reduced but did not normalize the hyperinsulinemia, which in these rats was accompanied by normal plasma glucose concentrations. The incorporation in vivo of D-U- 14 C-glucose into tissue lipids and glycogen was measured 1 hr after the intravenous injection of 1 g glucose (containing 100 μCi D-U- 14 C-glucose) per kg body weight in obese rats eating ad libitum, obese rats after 3 mo on a restricted food intake, and lean siblings. All tissues (heart, diaphragm, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissues and liver) of obese rats exhibited a significantly greater lipogenesis from glucose than those of lean siblings. Dietary restriction of the obese rats reduced the 14 C incorporation into lipid to levels not significantly different from lean controls in all tissues except skeletal muscle and liver, where, although greatly reduced, lipogenesis was still significantly higher than in lean rats. Glycogen synthesis tended to be greater in all tissues of obese rats than in lean animals. Dietary restriction of obese rats did not greatly affect glycogen synthesis.
Intelligent processing of focal plane arrays: sensors and controls for (Hg,Cd)Te LPE

Liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) is the preferred technique for growth of high quality (Hg,Cd)Te films for focal plane array applications. Successful implementation of this process in a manufacturing environment requires development of advanced sensors and process controls to increase yields and reduce costs. This paper will review progress on Ti's Intelligent Processing of Focal Plane Arrays program*. (Hg,Cd)Te LPE films are grown on (111)B-oriented (Cd,Zn)Te substrates in vertical dipping reactors in large (4500 g) molten solutions of mercury and cadmium in tellurium. Multiple (up to 8) substrates, for a total area of 54 cm2, can be run in a single growth cycle. The sensors and controls under development for this process include: (1) eddy current analysis (ECA) for detection of the liquidus temperature of the LPE growth solution, (2) electron beam microprobe/wavelength dispersive x-ray analysis (WDX) for rapid measurement of the film composition immediately after growth, (3) UV/visible optical absorption spectroscopy for determination of the mercury partial pressure over the growth solution, and (4) an RTD based precision temperature control system capable of improving capability from +/0.1 to +I- 0.02 C. ECA was found to be sensitive to the onset of crystallization on cooling in sample LPE melts. The WDX technique was found to be a rapid and accurate method for in-process film composition measurements. The impact of these IPFPA sensors and controls on total yield and producibility is discussed.
Recognizing acid lakes and groundwaters in the rock record

Abstract Permian red beds and evaporites in the midcontinent of the United States were formed and altered under the influence of extremely acidic (some with pH
Viviparity: The Maternal-Fetal Relationship in Fishes

SYNOPSIS. Viviparity in the vertebrate line first makes its evolutionary appearance among fishes. It has independently evolved in a number of divergent piscine lineages. The 54 families of extant fishes that bear living young include 40 families of chondrichthyans (sharks and rays), one montypic family of coelacanths ( Latimeria ), and 13 families of teleosts. There is fossil evidence for viviparity in holocephalans and chondrosteans. Viviparity predominates among sharks and rays (40 families, 99 genera, 420 species) but is less widespread among teleosts (13 families, 122 genera, 510 species). Following an historical introduction, the organization of the female reproductive system, sites of gestation, developmental sequences and superfetation are considered. The evolution of viviparity establishes specialized maternal-fetal relationships, viz. , 1) developmental, 2) morphological, 3) trophic, 4) osmoregulatory, 5) respiratory, 6) endocrinological, and 7) immunological. While the latter four categories are briefly noted the major emphasis is on the trophic relationship and its morphological and developmental basis. First, a general overview is presented and then the maternal-fetal trophic relationships in each of the major groups of fishes are systematically reviewed. Pertinent anatomical, histological, ultrastructural, developmental, physiological, and biochemical studies are considered. Viviparous fishes are either lecithotrophic, i.e. , exclusively yolk dependent, or matrotrophic, i.e. , in receipt of a continuous supply of maternal nutrients during gestation. Nutrient transfer is accomplished by 1) oophagy and adelphophagy, 2) placental analogues, and 3) the yolk sac placenta. Placental analogues include: external epithelial absorptive surfaces, e.g. , skin, fins, gills; trophonemata, modifications of the uterine epithelia for the secretion of histotrophe or “uterine milk”; branchial placentae, close apposition between gill epithelia and either uterine or ovarian epithelial villi; the yolk sac; pericardial amnion and chorion; follicular pseudoplacenta, close apposition between follicle cells and embryonic absorptive epithelia; hypertrophied gut; and trophotaeniae, external rosette or ribbon-like projections of the embryonic gut. Among chondrichthyans, the yolk sac placenta (840–1,050%), trophonematal secretion and embryonic absorbtion of histotrophe (1,680–4,900%) and oophagy and adelphophagy (1.2 × 106%) are the most efficient methods of nutrient transfer. Among teleosts, the follicular pseudoplacenta (1,800–3,900%), trophotaeniae (8,400%) and absorption of ovarian histotrophe through surface epithelia and a hypertrophied gut (1,100–34,000%) are the most efficient. These values stand in contrast to the 30%40% loss of dry weight characteristic of oviparous fishes and viviparous lecithotrophes.
Development of dual-function microbeads embedded with quantum dots and iron oxide nanocrystals for biomedical applications

Nanomaterials, such as semiconductor Quantum Dots (QD) and Iron Oxide nanocrystals possess unique properties that are not available in their bulk phase. Some of these properties include the narrow emission spectra, superior brightness and higher photostability of QDs, and the superparamagnetic properties of Iron Oxide nanocrystals. In the past decade, these two nanomaterials have separately seen widespread use in a variety of biomedical applications ranging from multiplexed biomolecular detection to isolation and magnetic manipulation of disease cells and molecules respectively. Here, we describe a method for combining QDs and Iron Oxide nanocrystals into a micron-sized host material in a rapid fashion. The resulting beads are dual functional, i.e. they are optically encoded, and can be manipulated with a permanent magnet. The beads have great potential in biomedical applications because of the combined ability to enrich and detect multiple target molecules from heterogeneous and diluted biological samples. The development of multifunctional composite materials by combining novel nanomaterials is bound to open avenues for ultrasensitive and quantitative bioassays.
Vibrational analysis of peptides, polypeptides and proteins. XII—fermi resonance analysis of the unperturbed ND stretching fundamental in polypeptides

We have obtained the spectrum of β-poly(L-alanine-ND), and find three bands in the ND stretching region. By comparison with Fermi resonance analyses of deuterated derivatives of polyglycine I as well as with α-poly(L-alanine-ND), we conclude that a three-level Fermi resonance is involved in the β polypeptide, and that the unperturbed ND stretch fundamental occurs near 2428 cm−1.
Development of Mg-Based Additive to Control Corrosion and Fouling in Heavy Crude Oil for Gas Turbine Power Plants Applications

The trend to use heavy crude oil in gas turbine power generation plants is the driver to develop and offer more effective chemical solutions to this particular market. Due to increased use of new heavy opportunity crude oils in these applications, there is a continuous need to improve and optimize the chemical programs implemented to minimize corrosion induced by vanadium. In addition to their anticorrosive function (to avoid the formation of V2 O5 corrosive species), the additive chemistry for this application must be stable in the presence of water, acids, and a CO2 environment. Furthermore, it needs to minimize deposit formation, either organic or inorganic in nature, on the pre- and post-combustion equipment to maintain high conversion efficiencies, reduce the need for cleaning, and avoid damage. This paper presents a new chemical product that offers excellent corrosion inhibition and superior water tolerance. The new additive is designed to inhibit vanadium induced corrosion and ash fouling. The product is robust and can be applied to multiple applications and has a broad spectrum of use.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Quantitative metrics of spinal cord injury recovery in the rat using motion capture, electromyography and ground reaction force measurement.

Abstract Toward improving the quantitative tools available for evaluation of locomotion after a spinal cord injury, we characterized selected biomechanical and physiological parameters that could be used to assess the level of recovery of locomotion after a mid-thoracic spinal cord lateral hemisection. Specifically we defined quantitative measures of muscle activation and coordination, body weight support, propulsive force, and pre-toe contact activation. Generation of this ensemble of recovery measures was based on kinematics, ground reaction forces, and EMG in rats from the hindlimb ipsilateral to the hemisection during quadrupedal running on a trackway. We derived muscle activation levels using inverse dynamics and static optimization applied to a model of the hindlimb musculoskeletal system. Rats exhibited a phased recovery pattern: progressive recovery of general muscle activity beginning within 2–3 days post-injury, followed by recovery of propulsive force and intralimb coordination of antagonistic muscles 12–13 days post-injury. Even at 12–13 days post-injury however, body weight support and the normal pre-paw contact EMG burst were significantly impaired. These data are consistent with a differential rate of recovery of general motor pool recruitment, and coordination among motor pools. The results demonstrate the discriminative potential of these physiologically based measures in quantifying the progressive recovery of gait performance after a lateral spinal cord hemisection.
Size effects on impact response of composite laminates

Delamination was known to be one of the most important damage modes in composite laminates subjected to impact loading. In an effort to further understand the impact response of composite laminates, various degrees of impact ranging from subperforation to perforation were introduced to glass/epoxy laminates through an instrumented drop-weight impactor. In addition, composite laminates of various in-plane dimensions and thicknesses were examined for in-plane dimensional and thickness effects, respectively. Experimental results showed that in-plane dimensional effect was not as significant as thickness effect. The impacted composite laminates were then subjected to compression after impact (CAI) tests for characterizations of residual mechanical properties. Experimental results showed that perforation was the most important damage stage in composite laminates subjected to impact loading since impact characteristics (peak force, contact duration and absorbed energy) and mechanical properties degradation (residual compressive maximum force and residual compressive absorbed energy) of composite laminates became stable once perforation took place. However, it was also found that delamination played a very important role in the characterizations of mechanical properties degradation. Since the impact response of composite laminates is due to plate bending to some extent, bending analysis was used to explain the greater influence of thickness effect to in-plane dimensional effect. It was also found that bending analysis was feasible for interpretation of delamination in mechanical properties degradation.
Fatigue crack detection in thick steel structures with piezoelectric wafer active sensors

ABSTRACT This paper presents a set of numerical and experimental results on the use of guided waves for structural health monitoring (SHM) of crack growth during a fatigue test in a thick steel plate used for civil engineering application. The capability of embedded piezoelectric wafer active sensors (PWAS) to perform in situ nondestructive evaluation (NDE) is explored. Numerical simulation and experimental tests are used to prove that PWAS can perform active SHM using guided wave pitch-catch method and passive SHM using acoustic emission (AE). Multi-physics finite element (MP-FEM) codes are used to simulate the transmission and reception of guided waves in a 1-mm plate and their diffraction by a through hole. The MP-FEM approach permitted that the input and output variables be expressed directly in electric terms while the two-ways electromechani cal conversion was done internally in the MP-FEM formulation. The analysis was repeated for several hole sizes and a damage index performances was tested. AE simulation was performed with the MP-FEM approach in a 13-mm plate in the shape of the compact tension (CT) fracture mechanics specimen. The AE event was simulated as a pulse of defi ned duration and amplitude. The electrical signal measured at a receiver PWAS was simulated. Daubechies wavelet transform was used to process the signal and identify its Lamb modes and FFT frequency contents. Experimental tests were performed with PWAS transducers acting as passive receivers of AE signals. The 8-mm thick flange of an I beam was instrumented on one side with PWAS transducers and on the other side with conventional AE transducers (PAC R15I) acting as comparison witnesses. An AE source was simulated using 0.5-mm pencil lead breaks; the PWAS transducers were able to pick up AE signal with good strength. Subsequently, PWAS transducers and R15I sensors were app lied to a 13-mm CT specimen subjected to accelerated fa tigue testing. The PWAS and R15I transducers signals were collected with PAC data acquisition system using the AE-win software. Comparative results of AE hits and source localization from the PWAS and R15I sensors are given. Active sensing in pitch catch mode was applied between the PWAS transducers installed on the CT specimen and damage indexes were calculated and correlated with physical crack growth as measured optically. The paper finishes with summary, conclusion, and suggestions for further work. Keywords : Acoustic emission, finite element modeling, fatigue test , crack, piezoelectric, stru ctural health monitoring.
The Effects of Past Computer Experience on Computerized Aptitude Test Performance

This study investigated the effects of past computer experience on the computerized aptitude test performance of college students. Subjects were 92 undergraduates. All subjects completed an arithmetic reasoning test by computer and a Computer Experience Questionnaire. Past computer experience did account for a significant amount of variance on the arithmetic reasoning test. Suggestions regarding the future use of computerized aptitude tests are given.
Long-range transport of North African dust to the eastern United States

The long-range transport of North African dust to the Middle East, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean has been well documented during the past 25 years. With the advent of routine collection and analysis of fine aerosols at national parks, monuments, and wilderness areas in the continental United States, these North African dust incursions can now be tracked, characterized, and quantified across much of the eastern half of the United States. Identification of the North African source of these dust episodes is confirmed by mass distribution measurements, a characteristic Al/Ca ratio, isentropic backward air mass trajectories, and sequential plots of the spatial distribution of the dust plumes. North African dust incursions into the continental United States persist for ∼10 days and occurred, on average, 3 times per year from 1992 to 1995. Fine soil mass usually exceeds 10 μg m−3 during these dust episodes and dominates local fine soil dust by an order of magnitude or more, even in the so-called “dust bowl” states of the central United States. Size-resolved measurements of elemental composition taken during July 1995 indicate that the mass mean diameter of the transported North African dust is <1 μm. The high mass scattering efficiency and abundant particle surface area associated with these submicron soil aerosols could have important consequences for both the radiative balance of the region and the chemistry of the local aerosols during summer when the long-range transport of North African dust to the United States is most common.
Effects of loading and size on maximum power output and gait characteristics in geckos

Stride length, stride frequency and power output are all factors influencing locomotor performance. Here, we first test whether mass-specific power output limits climbing performance in two species of geckos (Hemidactylus garnoti and Gekko gecko) by adding external loads to their bodies. We then test whether body size has a negative effect on mass-specific power output. Finally, we test whether loading affects kinematics in both gecko species. Lizards were induced to run vertically on a smooth wooden surface with loads of 0‐200% of body mass (BM) in H. garnoti and 0‐100% BM in G. gecko. For each stride, we calculated angular and linear kinematics (e.g. trunk angle, stride length), performance (maximum speed) and mean mass-specific power output per stride. The addition of increasingly large loads caused an initial increase in maximum mass-specific power output in both species, but for H. garnoti, mass-specific power output remained constant at higher loads (150% and 200% BM), even though maximum velocity declined. This result, in combination with the fact that stride frequency showed no evidence of leveling off as speed increased in either species, suggests that power limits maximum speed. In addition, the large gecko (G. gecko) produced significantly less power than the smaller H. garnoti, despite the fact that both species ran at similar speeds. This difference disappeared, however, when we recalculated power output based on higher maximum speeds for unloaded G. gecko moving vertically obtained by other researchers. Finally, the addition of external loads did not affect speed modulation in either species: both G. gecko and H. garnoti increase speed primarily by increasing stride frequency, regardless of loading condition. For a given speed, both species take shorter but more strides with heavier loads, but for a given load, G. gecko attains similar speeds to H. garnoti by taking longer but fewer strides. Summary
Visualizing the behavior of massively parallel programs

Programs for massively parallel SIMD computers are difficult to write, understand, and debug -much more so than serial programs running on a conven­ tional computer. The barriers to understanding and debugging SIMD programs may be lowered by graph­ ically visualizing these programs as they execute. This paper describes a conceptual framework for monitoring the execution of SIMD programs in a non­ invasive fashion, and characterizes the user-interaction paradigm of a novel computer-aided design system for creating new visualizations. These ideas, and the im­ portance of visualization for SIMD programming and debugging, are illustrated in an actual debugging sce­ nario that was recorded during the use of the Inte­ grated Visualization Environment (IVE), a prototype system being developed at Harvard University and the Lockheed Palo Alto Research Labs., Advanced Com­ putation Lab.
Opinions of Early Head Start Staff about the Provision of Preventive Dental Services by Primary Medical Care Providers

Objective: This study investigates the opinions of the Early Head Start (EHS) staff about physicians and nurses providing preventive dental services for children in EHS. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken of the EHS staff having contact with families in EHS programs in North Carolina (NC). A self-completed questionnaire solicited their opinions (agree, disagree, don't know) about whether physicians and nurses can “provide preventive dental care” and “identify dental problems” in infants and toddlers. Staff knowledge (four items) and attitudes (five items) were tested for their association with whether staff had an opinion (agree/disagree versus don't know) and if so, what that opinion was (agree versus disagree) using the generalized estimating equation method. Results: Questionnaires were completed by 476 staff (98 percent response) in 18 programs (100 percent response). The majority of staff believed that physicians and nurses can provide preventive dental services (66 percent) and identify dental problems (52 percent). Staff placing importance on ensuring access to dental care and who were knowledgeable about fluoride uses were more likely to have an opinion. Among staff with an opinion, those familiar with the NC program where these services are provided in medical offices were more likely to agree that physicians and nurses can provide preventive services and identify problems. Conclusions: Although the opinions of the majority of the EHS staff are not a barrier to using primary medical care providers to deliver preventive dental care, education is needed for staff who are unfamiliar with this approach.
Reactive Power Considerations in Reliability Analysis of Photovoltaic Systems

Abstract-Reactive power is very essential in maintaining voltage stability of power systems. The voltage constraint at network nodes due to reactive power deficit or insufficiency of reactive power sources restricts active power delivery to the loads and could result in forced load curtailment. Limited attention has been given to reactive power aspect in reliability evaluation of power systems with penetration of renewable energy sources. The reactive power issues become more significant in distributed generation using renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic (PV) Cells, which operate mostly at unity power factor. This paper investigates the effect of reactive power shortage on reliability of power systems with significant penetration of PV cells. The IEEE 14-Bus system is utilized to perform this study. A measure of Expected Energy Not Supplied (EENS) on account of reactive power shortage and voltage violation in network is calculated. By using conventional Monte Carlo simulation, the results are compared with the case without taking into account reactive power and voltage violation constrains. This paper suggests that placement of the PV in the network can greatly reduce active and reactive power shortage during the contingencies. The reactive power is studied here from design and planning perspectives for reliable and stable power system operation when high penetrations of PV energy sources are present.