cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An IntelliDrive application for reducing traffic congestions using agent-based approach

Traffic congestion on highways has increased dramatically in the last two decades. As more and more cars are put on the road each year, traffic congestion is becoming more complex and unpredictable than ever before as people try to avoid it by changing their schedules and routes. IntelliDriveSM is a suite of technologies and applications that use wireless communications to provide connectivity that can deliver transformational safety, mobility, and environmental improvements in surface transportation [11]. This paper will present an IntelliDrive agent-based model of traffic congestion and examine the impact of one vehicle on a system limited to a single traffic lane. The cars interaction is based on IntelliDrive vehicle-to-infrastructure communications. The mean speed of the cars is analyzed and the evolution of traffic congestion is observed with the passage of time. Can a single agent influence the dynamics of traffic flow on a complex network? Furthermore, can an “Intelligent-car” annul the oscillatory behavior (stop and go) resulting from the acceleration and deceleration of the other vehicles? Theoretical results are presented and a solution to reduce traffic congestions and also minimize accidents is also proposed, based on implementing one IntelliDrive-equipped vehicle, among a certain number of cars in a single-lane circuit. The approach that was finally selected and several other schemes that were considered are described.
Sulfur and carbon on the (110) surface of nickel

Abstract Auger electron spectroscopy has been used with low energy electron diffraction to determine the conditions giving rise to the appearance and/or disappearance of adsorbed sulfur and carbon on the (110) surface of nickel, and to correlate their presence with specific diffraction characteristics. In the case of these two elements it has been found that in situ surface cleaning techniques may remove one species while the other is subsequently increased. Heating at T > 400°C removes surface carbon but simultaneously increases surface sulfur, while Ar + bombardment removes sulfur but subsequent Auger analysis shows an increase in carbon. Both elements accompany diffraction anomalies in the Ni (110)-c (2 × 2) pattern in the vicinity of the centered spot of the basic Ni (110)-(1 × 1) pattern. Sulfur causes a splitting of the center spot in the (10) direction while carbon and/or sulfur cause a splitting in the (01) direction. In the absence of anomalous splitting a simple c(2 × 2) structure can be attributed to sulfur. The source of the sulfur is believed to be the bulk Ni while that of the carbon probably involves both the bulk and the ambient CO partial pressure. Carbon is removed from the surface at temperatures in excess of 450°C with a characteristic energy of 0.60 eV.
Sparseness prior based iterative image reconstruction for retrospectively gated cardiac micro-CT

Recent advances in murine cardiac studies with three-dimensional (3D) cone beam micro-CT used a retrospective gating technique. However, this sampling technique results in a limited number of projections with an irregular angular distribution due to the temporal resolution requirements and radiation dose restrictions. Both angular irregularity and undersampling complicate the reconstruction process, since they cause significant streaking artifacts. This work provides an iterative reconstruction solution to address this particular challenge. A sparseness prior regularized weighted l2 norm optimization is proposed to mitigate streaking artifacts based on the fact that most medical images are compressible. Total variation is implemented in this work as the regularizer for its simplicity. Comparison studies are conducted on a 3D cardiac mouse phantom generated with experimental data. After optimization, the method is applied to in vivo cardiac micro-CT data.
Integrator Windup Protection-Techniques and a STOVL Aircraft Engine Controller Application

Integrators are included in the feedback loop of a control system to eliminate the steady state errors in the commanded variables. The integrator windup problem arises if the control actuators encounter operational limits before the steady state errors are driven to zero by the integrator. The typical effects of windup are large system oscillations, high steady state error, and a delayed system response following the windup. In this study, methods to prevent the integrator windup are examined to provide Integrator Windup Protection (IW) for an engine controller of a Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft. An unified performance index is defined to optimize the performance of the Conventional Anti-Windup (CAW) and the Modified Anti-Windup (MAW) methods. A modified Genetic Algorithm search procedure with stochastic parameter encoding is implemented to obtain the optimal parameters of the CAW scheme. The advantages and drawbacks of the CAW and MAW techniques are discussed and recommendations are made for the choice of the IWP scheme, given some characteristics of the system.
Preferred orientations in purine stacking

Abstract The nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of purine as a function of temperature has been investigated. This study was conducted with the hopes of establishing a model for the stacking of purine in solution. As the probe temperature was lowered it was noticed that the ring protons (H-2, H-6, and H-8) moved upfield. This can be explained by a greater degree of association at lower temperature. It was further noticed that the ring protons do not move upfield equally, for H-2 and H-6 moved more rapidly than H-8. This leads us to believe that stacking with the hexagonal rings face to face and the pentagonal rings away from each other is the most favorable orientation. Models for trimers and other dimers are also discussed.
Adding Fuel to the Fire: Alcohol’s Effect on the HIV Epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa

Alcohol consumption adds fuel to the HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). SSA has the highest prevalence of HIV infection and heavy episodic drinking in the world. Alcohol consumption is associated with behaviors such as unprotected sex and poor medication adherence, and biological factors such as increased susceptibility to infection, comorbid conditions, and infectiousness, which may synergistically increase HIV acquisition and onward transmission. Few interventions to decrease alcohol consumption and alcohol-related sexual risk behaviors have been developed or implemented in SSA, and few HIV or health policies or services in SSA address alcohol consumption. Structural interventions, such as regulating the availability, price, and advertising of alcohol, are challenging to implement due to the preponderance of homemade alcohol and beverage industry resistance. This article reviews the current knowledge on how alcohol impacts the HIV epidemic in SSA, summarizes current interventions and policies, and identifies areas for increased research and development.
Allelic variants of SCN5A and risk of sudden cardiac arrest in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background Most sudden cardiac arrests occur in patients who have associated significant coronary artery disease (CAD), but current methods of risk stratification are inadequate. Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether allelic variation of SCN5A could determine risk of sudden cardiac arrest among patients with CAD. Methods This case-control study was conducted as part of the ongoing Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study (Ore-SUDS). Cases of sudden cardiac arrest with associated CAD were identified among residents of Multnomah County, Oregon (population 660,486). Geographically matched control subjects had significant CAD but no history of cardiac arrest, ventricular arrhythmia, or syncope. DNA was extracted from blood samples, and all 28 exons of SCN5A were screened for allelic variants using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography. All identified variants were confirmed by direct sequencing. Results Sixty-seven cases (mean age 65 ± 13 years, 18% female) and 91 controls (mean age 66 ± 12 years, 30% female) were compared. Race was known in 94% of all patients; 92% of case subjects and 89% of control subjects were Caucasian. No patient had clinically manifest familial long QT syndrome. Nonsynonymous nucleotide changes were found in 4% of cases and 1% of controls ( P = .31), with one novel mutation (G1291A) identified in one case subject. Synonymous nucleotide changes were found in 27% of cases and 21% of controls ( P = .45). Conclusion The overall prevalence of amino acid–altering polymorphisms of the SCN5A gene was relatively low in both groups. Allelic variants of SCN5A did not contribute to risk of sudden cardiac arrest in this primarily Caucasian population with significant CAD.
Observations on human isoagglutinins.

It has been known for a long time that there are certain exceptions to the common blood grouping. This was pointed out repeatedly by one of the writers1 as well as by others.2It did not seem worth while to describe in detail some observations which we have made along this line since, at the present time, there is no practicable way of comparing such disconnected findings with similar ones of other workers and properly classifying them.In our studies we have found instances of weak agglutination of a serum type I with another blood of the same type and recorded similar reactions with specimens of types II and III.The reactions were chiefly observed at a temperature of about 15° C. or less. At higher temperatures they became gradually weaker and disappeared. Several times the clumps contained rouleaux.The observation that at lower temperature atypical agglutinin reactions may occur between human bloods and sera of different individuals has already been described by Bialosuknia and L. Hirzfeld.3 While the co...
Re-conceptualizing fashion in sustainable HCI

As a starting point, this paper considers a compelling idea concerning fashion and sustainable HCI---rather than attempt to thwart fashion, or exhort people not to engage in fashion-related behavior, instead, based on a deeper understanding of the complexity of fashion, utilize this concept to design products and services so as to resonate with those dimensions of fashion that are most compatible with sustainability. Our ultimate vision is to provide mechanisms to allow designers to use fashion as a positive force for sustainable design, especially in the context of HCI and interaction design. As a step along the path between this starting point and our ultimate vision, this paper describes some related literature and thoughts about methods, reports on a collection of interviews and emergent insights, and several general design implications which link fashion positively to sustainable practices and futures. Moreover, we hope to inspire others to contribute to this idea and its potential for sustainable HCI.
Computer simulation of impact-collision ion scattering spectroscopy data using hitting-probability integrals

Abstract A simple model for calculating the flux distributions measured in impact-collision ion scattering spectroscopy (ICISS) is described and illustrated. This model is a straightforward modification of the hitting-probability integral calculation introduced by Tromp and van der Veen for medium-energy ion scattering. Such calculations allow direct comparison of experimental data with simulations based on proposed surface structures, whereby more quantitative analysis of ICISS data may be made than is possible with simple geometric arguments.
Dysmyelinated axons in shiverer mice are highly vulnerable to α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) receptor-mediated toxicity

Glutamate excitotoxicity plays a role in white matter injury in many neurological diseases. Oligodendrocytes in particular are highly vulnerable to excitotoxicity, mediated through activation of AMPA/kainate receptors. Myelin may also be injured independently via NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartic acid) receptors located on peripheral oligodendroglial processes. Central axons are susceptible to glutamate receptor activation in vivo, but it is unclear whether this is mediated directly by activation of receptors expressed on axons, or indirectly through glutamate toxicity of myelin or neighboring glial cells. We examined axonal vulnerability in mice deficient in myelin basic protein (shiverer), also expressing yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) in a subset of axons. YFP fluorescence, EM, and mouse behavior were assessed 24 h after microstereotactical injections of S-AMPA or NMDA into lumbar dorsal columns. S-AMPA injection led to impaired rotarod performance and widespread axonal degeneration and was more pronounced in shiverer mice than controls. In contrast, NMDA injection did not cause axonal injury or behavioral changes in either group. These results indicate that spinal cord axons in vivo are vulnerable to toxicity mediated by AMPA but not NMDA receptors. The presence of compact myelin is not required for excitotoxic axon damage, and its absence may increase vulnerability. Further understanding of AMPA receptor-mediated axonal toxicity may provide new targets for neuroprotective therapy in WM diseases.
Shake table response and analysis of a concrete-filled FRP tube bridge column

Abstract The seismic performance of a concrete filled fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) tube (CFFT) bridge column was studied through shake table testing and nonlinear dynamic analyses of a one-fifth scale two-column bridge pier that also incorporated a conventional RC column. The FRP tube in the CFFT column was a prefabricated composite pipe with glass fibers aligned in ±55° with respect to the tube axis to provide both hoop and longitudinal strengths. The columns had nearly the same flexural capacities. The accumulated dissipated hysteresis energy of the CFFT column normalized by steel ratio was 1.6 times larger than that of the RC column; yet, it remained visibly damage free up to a drift ratio of 7%. The CFFT column failed due to FRP tube rupture under 8.4% drift ratio. The equivalent plastic hinge length of CFFT column was found to be more than twice that of the RC column, which implies larger spread of plasticity and smaller local ductility demands. The nonlinear dynamic modeling of the pier response using OpenSees led to very good agreement with the measured response of the pier under moderate and large-amplitude motions.
Time Factors of Erythema and Pigmentation, Produced by Ultraviolet Rays of Different Wavelengths2

Three areas of the ultraviolet spectrum produce erythema and pigmentation in the human skin, as established by the original work of Hausser (K. W.), and Vahle1'2, Hausser (I)3, Henschke and Schultze4 and others. The three maxima of efficiency coincide with the wavelengths 254, 297, and about 365 m/z. The corresponding responses are named “short, “middle, “long ultraviolet” erythema and pigmentation in this paper. The three biological reactions vary significantly as to sensitivity, latency, duration, color, relative erythema and pigmentation, gradation (increase of reaction with increasing intensity) etc. While most of these factors are well established, the time elements of erythema and pigmentation are not yet well known. This lack is mostly due to the overlapping of the two reactions and the difficulty of their separation. Bode and Witte5 have made a spectral study of the skin reaction to ultraviolet exposure for the purpose of separating erythema and pigmentation. Their conclusions appear doubtful, however, due to a mathematical oversimplification of a highly complex situation (several types of pigment of different origin, different color, different time factors, and different response to various wavelengths). The title of their paper is misleading, since the exposure was made with an ultraviolet generator, neither specified nor spectrally analyzed. The method appears to the author as too complicated and not suited for mass application.
Regulation of phosphofructokinase activity by glucagon in isolated rat hepatocytes.

Abstract Glucagon addition to isolated hepatocytes from fed rats resulted in an inhibition of the activity of phosphofructokinase measured in extracts of the cells. Glucagon caused a shift in the fructose 6-phosphate concentration curve to the right resulting in an increase in the K 0.5 for F6P from 0.09 mM to 0.31 mM. No effect of glucagon was seen when the enzyme was assayed with saturating concentrations of fructose 6-phosphate or in the presence of 1 mM AMP. The effect of glucagon was seen within minutes and the concentration of hormone giving half-maximal inhibition was 0.2 nM. This effect of glucagon on phosphofructokinase activity may contribute to the effect of glucagon on substrate cycling at the fructose 6-phosphate-fructose bisphosphate level.
Accuracy of Computer-Navigated Total Hip Arthroplasty

Proper acetabular cup orientation is essential in total hip arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a particular imageless computer navigation system in determining cup position. Thirty-nine computer-navigated total hip arthroplasty intraoperative measurements of cup abduction and anteversion were compared with those from follow-up radiographs. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, prevalence-adjusted positive value (PPV), and negative predictive value were calculated for both navigation and radiographs. Navigation measurements had high specificity and PPV when assessing cup abduction and anteversion (specificity >90%, PPV >94%). In contrast, the system was not very effective in detecting suboptimal cup position (sensitivity abduction, 50%; anteversion, 33%). Intraoperative navigation readings in the safe zone have high probability of indicating correct placement. However, confirmation of suboptimal cup position intraoperatively requires additional diagnostic methods.
Synthesis and degradation of retinal proteins in darkness and during photic stimulation.

: Rabbit retinas were maintained in a physiological state in vitro and exposed to 0.5-h pulses of labeled leucine. Protein synthesis was determined from incorporation of the label, and degradation from its subsequent release. The retinas were treated as test-control pairs. The control retina remained in darkness while the test retina was subjected to photic stimulation, either during labeling to determine the effect on synthesis or after labeling to determine the effect on degradation. 3H and 14C alternated as test and control labels. The two retinas were combined for solubilization. Their proteins were separated according to size by gel electrophoresis. Each gel was cut into 95 slices and each slice was differentially counted. The isolated retinas synthesized new protein rapidly and reproducibly. The average S.D. of the isotope ratios measured on gel slices from replicate experiments was 2.2% of the mean. Retinas driven by flashing light of constant intensity exhibited a marked increase in ganglion cell firing and accumulated 38% more (p = 0.005) 2-deoxyglucose than their controls kept in darkness. However, they did not differ from the controls in the incorporation of labeled leucine into total protein or into any of the protein fractions separated on the gel, the largest deviation from unity in the 95 testcontrol ratios being 1.7%. Continuous light and flashing light of increasing intensity also markedly affected function and energy metabolism, but had no significant effects on leucine incorporation. None of the stimuli affected degradation, though the experiments would have been less sensitive to a change in degradation than to a change in synthesis. These results indicate that the synthesis and degradation of proteins are little affected by a marked increase in functional activity.
Antagonizing Arachidonic Acid-Derived Eicosanoids Reduces Inflammatory Th17 and Th1 Cell-Mediated Inflammation and Colitis Severity

During colitis, activation of two inflammatory T cell subsets, Th17 and Th1 cells, promotes ongoing intestinal inflammatory responses. n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid- (PUFA-) derived eicosanoids, such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), promote Th17 cell-mediated inflammation, while n-3 PUFA antagonize both Th17 and Th1 cells and suppress PGE2 levels. We utilized two genetic mouse models, which differentially antagonize PGE2 levels, to examine the effect on Th17 cells and disease outcomes in trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid- (TNBS-) induced colitis. Fat-1 mice contain the ω3 desaturase gene from C. elegans and synthesize n-3 PUFA de novo, thereby reducing the biosynthesis of n-6 PUFA-derived eicosanoids. In contrast, Fads1 Null mice contain a disrupted Δ5 desaturase gene and produce lower levels of n-6 PUFA-derived eicosanoids. Compared to Wt littermates, Fat-1 and Fads1 Null mice exhibited a similar colitic phenotype characterized by reduced colonic mucosal inflammatory eicosanoid levels and mRNA expression of Th17 cell markers (IL-17A, RORγτ, and IL-23), decreased percentages of Th17 cells and, improved colon injury scores (P ≤ 0.05). Thus, during colitis, similar outcomes were obtained in two genetically distinct models, both of which antagonize PGE2 levels via different mechanisms. Our data highlight the critical impact of n-6 PUFA-derived eicosanoids in the promotion of Th17 cell-mediated colonic inflammation.
Urban park tree inventories

Summary A survey of published reports on urban park tree inventories in the United States and the United Kingdom reveal two types of inventories: (1) Tree Location Inventories and (2) Generalised Information Inventories. Tree location inventories permit managers to relocate specific park trees, along with providing individual tree characteristics and condition data. In contrast, generalised information inventories do not allow for specific tree relocation, and often use sampling procedures to obtain stand characteristics and condition information. Various methods and specific examples of the two inventory types are discussed with the purpose of helping the reader decide which methods are most useful.
Correlation of endoscopic biopsy with tumor marker status in primary intracranial germ cell tumors

We retrospectively analyzed the results of eight patients who underwent endoscopic biopsy of a newly diagnosed primary intracranial germ cell tumor (GCT), and correlated tumor pathology with serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tumor markers and treatment outcome in order to determine the reliability of GCT sampling by this method. A biopsy diagnosis was made in each patient, and the tumor histology correlated with tumor marker measurements for all six patients diagnosed with germinoma and for one with a yolk sac tumor. One biopsy revealed only mature teratoma, an inconclusive result since the patient’s serum and CSF tumor markers were elevated. No morbidity was experienced as a result of the operative procedure. Five of six patients diagnosed with germinoma responded completely to radiation therapy and are without evidence of disease, while one suffered a likely germinoma recurrence and was subsequently successfully retreated. We conclude that endoscopic biopsy of marker-negative germ cell tumors is a safe, reliable method of establishing a diagnosis of germinoma. However, endoscopic biopsy may fail to yield an accurate diagnosis in cases of malignant non-germinomatous tumor. We would thus conclude that when primary germ cell tumor is considered, endoscopic tumor biopsy is recommended in patients with a negative biochemical analysis, but not suggested for patients presenting with elevated tumor markers.
Threats to Cyber Security: The Dangers of Malicious Mobile Code, Users, and the iPhone

The following article covers issues with the iPhone, along with the cyber threats associated with jailbreaking. The reader will be introduced to how technology has grown from its basic ideas and innovations to today's digital explosion of cyber technology and the associated colored hats that defend and shatter said technology. An overview of cyber security, malicious mobile code, jailbreaking, and personal interviews with hackers will also be presented.
‘Organic abundance’ report: fatally flawed

Fatal flaws in the recent report from Badgley et al. claiming that organic agriculture ‘could produce enough food on a global per capita basis to sustain the current human population, and potentially an even larger population, without increasing the agricultural land base’. Among the serious problems identified: over 100 non-organic yield studies were claimed as organic; organic yields were misreported; false comparisons were made to unrepresentative low non-organic yields; high organic yields were counted 2, 3, even 5 times by citing different papers that referenced the same data; favorable and unverifiable ‘studies’ from biased sources were given equal weight to rigorous university studies. This report is being submitted to the Editor of the journal, Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, for publication and response. It is only being released in the interest of public debate and discussion during the much-touted ‘organic fortnight’.
Marketing Digital Offerings Is Different: Strategies for Teaching About Digital Offerings in the Marketing Classroom

Digital offerings represent different challenges for marketers than do traditional goods and services. After reviewing the literature, the authors suggest ways that the marketing of digital goods and services might be better presented to and better understood by students. The well-known four challenges of services marketing model (e.g., intangibility) first proposed by Zeithaml, Parasuraman, and Barry (1985) is explored and adapted as an organizing framework for digital offerings. The authors also present specific suggestions for assignments and class discussions to foster students’ critical thinking about the marketing implications surrounding digital offerings.
The role of the gut hormone GLP-1 in the metabolic improvements caused by ileal transposition

Abstract Background Bariatric surgery alters the gastrointestinal hormonal milieu leading to improved glucose homeostasis, though the mechanism leading to these changes is poorly understood. Ileal transposition (IT) is a procedure that is neither restrictive nor malabsorptive but nevertheless produces profound improvements in glucose regulation. Ileal transposition involves a short segment of distal ileum being transposed to the proximal jejunum in an isoperistaltic direction, thereby avoiding any gastric resection or intestinal bypass. Methods Diet-induced obese rats underwent either ileal transposition (IT) or Sham procedures. The Sham operated rats were pair-fed to the IT surgical group to control for the effects of reduced food intake. Body composition data were recorded at specific time points, and glucose tolerance tests were performed at 5 and 6 wk, both in the presence and absence of Exendin 9-39, a known glucose-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor antagonist. A subset of naive rats were also maintained for comparison. Results IT and Sham operated rats had no differences in food intake and body weight, however, IT rats had a significant decrease in their body fat composition (P Conclusions The present work recapitulates what is seen in rodents and humans that IT improves glucose tolerance and body composition. The present data provide compelling evidence that these improvements are a product of increased GLP-1 secretion that results from placing the key GLP-1 secreting cells closer to chyme coming from the stomach. Such data support the notion that rather than restriction or malabsorption, the underling molecular mechanisms that mediate the potent improvements produced by bariatric procedures involve increased activation of GLP-1 signaling.
Common interferometer control systems architecture

Astronomical interferometry at the JPL has grown rapidly in the last two years. JPL is now engaged in a number of interferometry projects and is also developing a number of internal testbeds to support those projects. While each of these projects and testbeds has its own unique properties, they do share a lot of common features, and JPL is striving, through its interferometer technology program (ITP), to develop common components, software, and hardware that can be reused by multiple projects. The discipline where this commonality is probably most apparent is in the area of realtime control systems, specifically the software and electronics that drive the instrument control loops and sequence the subsystems. To this end, within the ITP, JPL has developed the realtime interferometer control systems testbed (RICST) as a facility where a common software and electronics core, essentially a control system for a generic interferometer, can be developed. The realtime control (RTC) team in the ITP program consists of about 20 full-time equivalent engineers, technicians, quality assurance personnel, architects, and managers. The remainder of this paper will describe the interferometry landscape at JPL, the RTC effort, an overview of the RICST testbed, and the generic interferometer control system architecture that has been developed.
Amplitude variations on the ExAO testbed

High-contrast adaptive optics systems, such as those needed to image extrasolar planets, are known to require excellent wavefront control and diffraction suppression. At the Laboratory for Adaptive Optics on the Extreme Adaptive Optics testbed, we have already demonstrated wavefront control of better than 1 nm rms within controllable spatial frequencies. Corresponding contrast measurements, however, are limited by amplitude variations, including those introduced by the micro-electrical-mechanical-systems (MEMS) deformable mirror. Results from experimental measurements and wave optic simulations of amplitude variations on the ExAO testbed are presented. We find systematic intensity variations of about 2% rms, and intensity variations with the MEMS to be 6%. Some errors are introduced by phase and amplitude mixing because the MEMS is not conjugate to the pupil, but independent measurements of MEMS reflectivity suggest that some error is introduced by small non-uniformities in the reflectivity.
Catabolite sensitive site of the lac operon.

A partial deletion in the lac p region makes the lac operon insensitive to catabolite repression.
Effect of pyrimidine and ribose modifications on the antiviral activity of synthetic polynucleotides.

Homo- and copolynucleotides derived from 3-methyluridine, 5,6-dihydrouridine and 2′-azido-2′-deoxyuridine (dUz) were prepared and evaluated for antiviral activity either as single strands or as double strands when complexed with complementary homopolynucleotides. The synthetic materials were not as active as (A)n · (U)n or (I)n · (C)n in inducing the interferon system. The antiviral activity of (A)n · (dUz)n was not affected by treatment with high concentrations of pancreatic RNase A, whereas this activity was totally abolished when (A)n · (dUz)n was digested with human serum.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery of Intracranial Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas

Depending on their location and angioarchitecture, intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVF) pose various neurologic symptoms as well as a risk of intracranial hemorrhage. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), microsurgery, and embolization play a role in the management of dAVF patients, and, at times, patients undergo a combination of approaches. Comparable to arteriovenous malformations, SRS offers a reasonable rate of angiographic obliteration and symptomatic improvement in selected patients with dAVF. Complications after SRS of dAVF are uncommon and generally manageable. Patients remain at risk for intracranial hemorrhage until the dAVF is completely obliterated.
Characterization of Mechanical Behavior of Polyurethane Foams Using Digital Image Correlation

Polyurethane foams have good energy absorption properties and are effective in protecting sensitive components from damages due to impact. The foam absorbs impact energy by crushing cells and undergoing large deformation. The complex deformation of the foam needs to be modeled accurately to simulate the impact events. In this paper, the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique was implemented to obtain the deformation field of foam specimens under compression tests. Images of foam specimen were continuously acquired using high-speed cameras. The full field displacement and strain at each incremental step of loading were calculated from these images. The closed-cell polyurethane foam used in this investigation was nominal 0.32 kg/m^3 (20 pcf). In the first experiment, cubic specimens were compressed uniaxially up to 60%. The full-field displacements and strains obtained using the DIC technique provide detailed information about the inhomogeneous deformation over the area of interest during loading. In the second experiment, compression tests were conducted for a simple foam structure - cubic foam specimens with a steel cylinder inclusion. The strain concentration at the interface between steel cylinder and foam was studied to simulate the deformation of foam in a typical application. In the third experiment, the foam was loaded from the steel cylinder during the compression. The strain concentration at the interface and the displacement distribution over the surface were compared for cases with and without a confinement fixture to study the effects of confinement. These experimental results demonstrate that the DIC technique can be applied to polyurethane foams to study the heterogeneous deformation. The experimental data is briefly compared with the results from modeling and simulation using a viscoplastic model for the foam.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Improving an unjustified common practice in Ex Post LMP calculation: An expanded version

A common practice for the Ex Post LMP calculation at a number of US ISOs uses a small constant range, typically from −2.0 MW to +0.1 MW, as each generator's lower and upper bounds. However, this paper shows that this common practice lacks theoretic justification and may lead to inconsistent results. For example, if the ex post dispatch results are identical to the ex ante dispatch schedules, it is expected that the Ex Post LMP must be identical to the Ex Ante LMP. However, this paper shows that this may not be directly achieved with the common practice. This paper further illustrates that the practice is unjustified, because the marginal units and the Ex Post LMP results may vary if the bounds are changed from [−2.0, +0.1] to other values. To improve the Ex Post LMP model, this paper proposes a simple yet effective approach based on a scaling factor applied to the ex ante model. Then, if the generation dispatches at ex post is the same as scheduled at ex ante, identical LMPs at ex post and ex ante will be ensured. Also, the Ex Post LMP results will not vary if a different scaling factor is applied.
Exploring Dynamic Biological Systems

In this chapter we return to the concepts and ideas presented in Chapter 1, and explore in more detail the dynamics of seemingly simple dynamic population models. In the process of developing and exploring these models, you will learn more about the features of the STELLA and MADONNA software packages. The findings of this exploration should sensitize your perception of dynamic processes and help you develop your dynamic modeling skills.
Protein Phosphatase 2A Reactivates FOXO3a through a Dynamic Interplay with 14-3-3 and AKT

Forkhead box transcription factor FOXO3a, a key regulator of cell survival, is regulated by reversible phosphorylation and subcellular localization. Although the kinases regulating FOXO3a activity have been characterized, the role of protein phosphatases (PP) in the control of FOXO3a subcellular localization and function is unknown. In this study, we detected a robust interaction between FOXO3a and PP2A. We further demonstrate that 14-3-3, while not impeding the interaction between PP2A and FOXO3a, restrains its activity toward AKT phosphorylation sites T32/S253. Disruption of PP2A function revealed that after AKT inhibition, PP2A-mediated dephosphorylation of T32/S253 is required for dissociation of 14-3-3, nuclear translocation, and transcriptional activation of FOXO3a. Our findings reveal that distinct phosphatases dephosphorylate conserved AKT motifs within the FOXO family and that PP2A is entwined in a dynamic interplay with AKT and 14-3-3 to directly regulate FOXO3a subcellular localization and transcriptional activation.
Life Span of Ventricular Fibrillation Frequencies

The nature and organization of electrical activity during ventricular fibrillation (VF) are important and controversial subjects dominated by 2 competing theories: the wavebreak and the dominant mother rotor hypothesis. To investigate spatiotemporal characteristics of ventricular fibrillation (VF), transmembrane potentials (Vm) were recorded from multiple sites of perfused rabbit hearts using a voltage-sensitive dye and a photodiode array or a CCD camera, and the time-frequency characteristics of Vm were analyzed by short-time fast Fourier transform (FFT) or generalized time-frequency representation with a cone-shaped kernel. The analysis was applied to all pixels to track VF frequencies in time and space. VF consisted of blobs, which are groups of contiguous pixels with a common frequency and an ill-defined shape. At any time t, several VF frequency blobs coexisted in the field of view, and the number of coexisting blobs was on average 5.9±2.1 (n=8 hearts) as they appeared and disappeared discontinuously...
The Aqualon SLT: a novel device for measuring hair stiffness and lubricity.

J. Cosmet. Sci., 60, 135–141 (March/April 2009) Synopsis The ability to quantify hair property changes in response to treatment is essential to the successful development of new formulations and benefiting agents. In the attempt to expand the toolbox of hair tress testing tools, we developed a device that allows hair scientists to measure hair tress changes in stiffness and lubricity. The tool is based on a system of pins mounted on free rotating bearings and is operated in two modes: rotating and stationary. The hair attributes are measured by threading a hair tress through the pin assembly and measuring the total work of pulling through in rotational and stationary modes (the latter mode is obtained by immobilizing pins by a retaining plate). The data thus obtained is de-convoluted into the work of apparent stiffness (rotational mode) and the work of the friction-on-pins or lubricity (stationary mode minus the apparent stiffness). The data can be further reduced to produce an apparent friction coefficient defined as a ratio of the apparent lubricity to the apparent stiffness. This work demonstrates the utility of the parameters measured by the Aqualon SLT and illustrates how the device can be used to predict and understand the impacts of various hair treatments.
An in vivo rat model for visualizing glioma tumor cell invasion using stable persistent expression of the green fluorescent protein

In our studies examining mechanisms of brain tumor cell migration/invasion into host tissue, the RT2 rat glioma cell line was stably transfected utilizing a green fluorescent protein (GFP) DNA construct. Stable transfected RT2 cells demonstrate high GFP expression at initial passages, maintain expression over 30 passages and have similar in vitro and in vivo growth patterns relative to controls. In rat brain tissue, individual tumor cells can be detected without any post-treatment. Using flow cytometry and cell sorting, we are able to retrieve and culture GFP positive cells from tumor core as well as adjacent tissue and contralateral hemisphere of tumor-bearing animals.
Computer generation of fast fourier transforms for the cell broadband engine

The Cell BE is a multicore processor with eight vector accelerators (called SPEs) that implement explicit cache management through direct memory access engines. While the Cell has an impressive floating point peak performance, programming and optimizing for it is difficult as it requires explicit memory management, multithreading, streaming, and vectorization. We address this problem for the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) by extending Spiral, a program generation system, to automatically generate highly optimized implementations for the Cell. The extensions include multi-SPE parallelization and explicit memory streaming, both performed at a high abstraction level using rewriting systems operating on Spiral's internal domain-specific language. Further, we support latency and throughput optimizations, single and double precision, and different data formats. The performance of Spiral's computer generated code is comparable with and sometimes better than existing DFT implementations, where available.
SEX DIFFERENCES IN SHORT-TERM MEMORY PROCESSING

Chiang and Atkinson (1976) reported evidence of sex differences in the correlation between information-processing speed and intelligence. For males, speed of information processing correlated positively with intelligence, as indicated by negative correlations between intercept and slope measures and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores; for females, speed of information processing correlated negatively with intelligence, as indicated by positive correlations between intercept and slope measures and SAT scores. To assess the findings of Chiang and Atkinson, an information-processing test battery and the Wesman Personnel Classification Test were administered to 28 female and 24 male undergraduate students. The results of the present study did not support the sex differences described by Chiang and Atkinson.
Expediting the Identification of Impaired Channels in Cochlear Implants Via Analysis of Speech-Based Confusion Matrices

There is significant variability in the benefit provided by cochlear implants to severely deafened individuals. The reasons why some subjects exhibit low speech recognition scores are unknown; however, underlying physiological or psychophysical factors may be involved. Certain phenomena, such as indiscriminable electrodes and nonmonotonic pitch rankings, might hint at limitations in the ability of individual channels in the cochlear implant and/or sensorineural pathway to convey speech information. In this paper, four approaches for analyzing the results of a simple listening test using speech stimuli are investigated for the purpose of targeting channels of concern in order for follow-on psychophysical experiments to correctly identify channels performing in an "impaired" or anomalous manner. Listening tests were first conducted with normal-hearing subjects and acoustic models simulating channel-specific anomalies. Results indicate that these proposed analyses perform significantly better than chance in providing information about the location of anomalous channels. Vowel and consonant confusion matrices from six cochlear implant subjects were also analyzed to test the robustness of the proposed analyses to variability intrinsic to cochlear implant data. The current study suggests that confusion matrix analyses have the potential to expedite the identification of impaired channels by providing preliminary information prior to exhaustive psychophysical testing.
Visual servoing to an arbitrary pose with respect to an object given a single known length

A method is presented to attach reference frames to piecewise planar objects in view a single camera. This method uses Euclidean homography relationships and a single known geometric length on a single object. By attaching reference frames to objects in the scene, the method is useful in position-based visual servo control, where it allows control of pose with respect to an object. The method is distinguished from methods that require a detailed model of the object/scene to give camera pose relative to an object, and it is distinguished from methods that can only give current camera pose with respect to a pose where a reference image was taken. Simulations of the method for camera-in-hand and camera-to-hand visual servo control tasks are presented. Experiments are presented where the reconstruction method is used to estimate the pose of a vehicle. These experiments represent the initial steps in a vision- based vehicle following controller.
Influence of Collector Region Design on High-Frequency Large-Signal Performance of SiGe Power HBTs

The impact of collector region design on the high-frequency large-signal power performance of common-emitter (CE) SiGe power HBTs is investigated. Load-pull measurements show that the large-signal power performance of low-breakdown-voltage devices is higher than that of the high-breakdown-voltage device under both class-A and class-AB operation modes. The study indicates that low-breakdown-voltage design is more suitable for CE SiGe HBTs that do not exhibit severe thermal effects to achieve higher power performance provided that sufficient mismatch ruggedness is ensured
Ultraviolet Communications: Potential and State-Of-The-Art

Motivated by the recent and rapid developments in deep ultraviolet LEDs, solar blind ultraviolet filters, and detectors, this article reviews wireless UV technology used for communications and sensing in either line-of-sight or non-line-of-sight channel conditions. We present the state-of-the-art of associated systems and their components and discuss related issues including communication link characterization, channel modeling, and link capacity study, as well as transceiver design, link duplexing, multiple access, and networking. We also envision applications in the commercial and military sectors.
Easily configured real-time CPOE Pick Off Tool supporting focused clinical research and quality improvement.

Real-time alerting systems typically warn providers about abnormal laboratory results or medication interactions. For more complex tasks, institutions create site-wide ‘data warehouses' to support quality audits and longitudinal research. Sophisticated systems like i2b2 or Stanford's STRIDE utilize data warehouses to identify cohorts for research and quality monitoring. However, substantial resources are required to install and maintain such systems. For more modest goals, an organization desiring merely to identify patients with ‘isolation’ orders, or to determine patients' eligibility for clinical trials, may adopt a simpler, limited approach based on processing the output of one clinical system, and not a data warehouse. We describe a limited, order-entry-based, real-time ‘pick off’ tool, utilizing public domain software (PHP, MySQL). Through a web interface the tool assists users in constructing complex order-related queries and auto-generates corresponding database queries that can be executed at recurring intervals. We describe successful application of the tool for research and quality monitoring.
Hydrocarbon vapor incineration kinetics. The authors propose a first‐order model for predicting the kinetics in afterburners—a key factor in emission control

A first-order model for predicting the kinetics in afterburners is proposed. Results of calculations in the study can be applied to the estimation of the incineration kinetics of a given hydrocarbon compound in an afterburner for temperatures in the range of 940 o 1140/sup 0/K. 14 references, 2 figures, 2 tables. (JMT)