cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Weld Penetration Sensing And Control

Penetration depth is a key variable, which needs to be controlled to ensure defect-free welds. One of the major problems involved with adaptive control penetration is the lack of suitable variables which can be viewed directly by the sensor. A proposed sensing technique is to relate the invisible variables, such as penetration depth and thickness of the welded steel plates, to visible variables of thermal images. The sensed infrared information was obtained through digital signal process of the thermal images associated with the high temperature of the molten metal pool and its vicinity during the welding process. Quantitative measurements were conducted to find a relationship between visible and invisible parameters. The thickness of plates being welded was varied and the corresponding changes in both penetration depth and surface temperature distributions were studied quantitatively. A least squares method was used to fit the obtained isotherms to an equation of an ellipse. The penetration depth and thickness of the materials being welded were found to be functions of the minor axes and the area of the ellipse for Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW). The experimental results can be used to achieve adaptive penetration depth control.
Primary preservation in ICC color management system

The saturation rendering intent in ICC color management system has never been practiced successfully. One of the reasons is that it is expected to have primary matching for this rendering intent, but the current ICC workflow makes this impossible. In this paper, three approaches to achieve primary matching for printing applications will be presented. We start with building a printer ICC profile that converts selected first and/or secondary primaries of the default monitor RGB color space to the corresponding printer primaries. If a source monitor RGB color space is different from the default RGB color space, a simple approach is to apply the default RGB color space for the saturation rendering intent for primary preservation. This is because the primary matching is more important than color accuracy for the saturation intent, and different source monitor RGB color spaces are not very different. For more accurate color transformation and still to preserve the primary matching, the source monitor RGB color space is adjusted so that the selected primaries are fully adapted to those of the default RGB color space and the adaptation is decreased gradually as the hue of a source color moves off the selected primaries. In a smart CMM environment, the primary matching can be achieved by hue rotation and gamut adaptation during the real-time linking.
Lattice Dynamics of Gold

The complete phonon dispersion relations for gold in the high-symmetry directions have been measured at room temperature by the coherent inelastic scattering of neutrons. It is found that the forces in gold are not homologous with the other noble metals, the frequencies of gold lying appreciably higher than those "scaled" from copper and silver. An analysis of the data in terms of different force-constant models reveals that a general tensor force is required for the first-neighbor interaction, whereas for neighbors beyond the first either general tensor or axially symmetric forces give an excellent fit to the data. The axially symmetric model alone does not adequately describe the data even when forces extending to ninth-nearest neighbors are included in the fit. In addition, simple screened-pseudopoential models were fit to the data and these results also indicate the need for the first-neighbor interaction to be general. Frequency distribution functions and related thermodynamic quantities were calculated from the various force-constant models. The Debye temperature ${\ensuremath{\Theta}}_{C}$ versus temperature curves obtained show an anomaly at low temperatures consistent with the ${\ensuremath{\Theta}}_{C}(T)$ obtained from specific-heat measurements. The relation between this anomaly and the character of the dispersion curves is given.
Theory and experiments on grating couplers for thin-film waveguides

A theoretical and experimental study is made of the grating couplers for thin-film waveguides. It is shown that the perturbation series expansion of the field based upon the Green's function approach can actually be summed to all orders to give an expression for the efficiency of grating couplers of arbitrary thickness. The results obtained by this theory are in good agreement with the experimental results obtained. It is also shown that the grating coupling efficiency depends strongly on the grating profile.
The Sexual Histories and Fantasies of Youthful Males: A Comparison of Sexual Offending, Nonsexual Offending, and Nonoffending Groups

The present clinical and theoretical literature suggests that adolescents' sexual histories and fantasies are factors contributing to the onset and perpetuation of criminal sexual behaviors. However, few data exist either to support or to refute such assertions. The purpose of the present study was to describe the self-reported sexual histories and fantasies of four groups: 104 incarcerated adolescent sexual offenders between 10 and 15 years of age, 198 16- to 20-year-old incarcerated sexual offenders, 124 incarcerated youth without a history of sexual offending, and 135 male nonoffending undergraduates. Youthful sexual offenders reported fewer consenting sexual experiences and more involvement in nonconsenting and paraphilic behaviors than both incarcerated nonsexual offenders and college males. Moreover, both sexual offenders and incarcerated nonsexual offenders reported more atypical and voyeuristic experiences, and fewer nondeviant sexual fantasies than college males. These results are discussed in terms of both social deficit and deviant conditioning models of sexual offending, leading to speculation that, contrary to clinical lore, criminal activity may be associated with suppressed levels of nondeviant fantasy rather than elevated levels of deviant fantasy.
Low Flammability and Thermal Decomposition Behavior of Poly(3,3`-dihydroxybiphenylisophthalamide) and Its Derivatives

The low flammability of poly(3,3‘-dihydroxybiphenylisophthalamide) (PHA) and its halogen, methoxy, phosphinate, or phosphate derivatives was characterized by multiple analytical techniques, emphasizing the thermal decomposition behavior is the basis for the polymer flammability. Pyrolysis gases from these polymers were identified by pyrolysis GC/MS. The residual chars were characterized by elemental analysis. Simultaneous thermal analysis was applied to study the thermal decomposition process, and flammability was measured by a milligram-scale pyrolysis−combustion flow calorimeter (PCFC). It has been found that PHA and its halogen derivatives have extremely low flammability. They all exhibit a two-stage thermal decomposition process, where the first stage corresponds to cyclization into a quasi-poly(benzoxazole) (PBO) structure and the second stage is the random scission of the PBO backbone. However, the methoxy, phosphinate, and phosphate derivatives exhibit very different behaviors in thermal decomposit...
Expression of the ribosomal DNA insertions in bobbed mutants of Drosophila melanogaster.

We have shown earlier that interrupted rRNA genes in Drosophila melanogaster do not contribute significantly to rRNA production by a splicing mechanism (Long and Dawid 1979). In the work reported here the expression of interrupted rRNA genes was tested in several stocks that carry bobbed mutations, i.e., have partial deletions of their rRNA gene clusters. Transcripts of the major 5 kb type 1 insertion are very rare in bobbed flies as they are in the wild type, occurring at a concentration in embryos of less than one copy per nucleus. Transcripts of short type 1 insertions are more abundant in certain bobbed stocks, especially those carrying the car bb chromosome. However, other severely bobbed flies have no increase in these insertion transcripts over the low wild-type levels. Type 2 insertions are transcribed into very rare RNA molecules in the wild type and in the bobbed genotypes that were studied. From these results we conclude that interrupted rRNA genes are not expressed through a splicing mechanism into mature rRNA in mutant or wild-type flies. Since even severely bobbed flies fail to utilize their interrupted rRNA genes, we suggest that these genes cannot be transcribed productively in D. melanogaster.
Effect of image compression for model and human observers in signal-known-statistically tasks

Previous studies have shown that model observers can be used for automated evaluation and optimization of image compression with respect to human visual performance in a task where the signal does not vary and is known a priori by the observer (signal known exactly, SKE). Here, we extend previous work to two tasks that are intended to more realistically represent the day-to-day visual diagnostic decision in the clinical setting. In the signal known exactly but variable task (SKEV), the signal varies from trial to trial (e.g., size, shape, etc) but is known to the observer. In the signal known statistically task (SKS) the signal varies from trial to trial and the observer does not have knowledge of which signal is present in that trial. We compare SKEV/SKS human and model observer performance detecting simulated arterial filling defects embedded in real coronary angiographic backgrounds in images that have undergone different amounts of JPEG and JPEG 2000 image compression. Our results show that both human and model performance at low compression ratios is better for the JPEG algorithm than the JPEG 2000 algorithm. Metrics of image quality such as the root mean square error (or the related peak signal to noise ratio) incorrectly predict a JPEG 2000 superiority. Results also show that although model and to a lesser extent human performance improves with the trial to trial knowledge of the signal present (SKEV vs. SKS task), conclusions about which compression algorithm is better (JPEG vs. JPEG 2000) for the current task would not change whether one used an SKEV or SKS task. These findings might suggest that the computationally more tractable SKEV models could be used as a good first approximation for automated evaluation of the more clinically realistic SKS task.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
LITE: results, performance characteristics, and data archive

The lidar in-space technology experiment (LITE) is a three- wavelength backscatter lidar which was flown on space shuttle mission STS-64 in September 1994. Observations of clouds and aerosols were acquired between 57 degrees N and 57 degrees S on 10 days of the mission. LITE provides a dataset with which to explore the applications of space lidar and to begin to develop and demonstrate the retrieval algorithms required for future space lidars. Results from a number of science investigations using LITE data will be discussed to illustrate system performance characteristics and capabilities. A LITE level 1 data product is being created and will be made available through the NASA Langley Distributed Active Archive Center.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Interactions of Cadmium and Nickel with K Channels of Vascular Smooth Muscle

Previous studies have shown that environmentally significant concentrations (<1 μM) of large divalent cations increased vascular tone in resistance arteries. Because K channels are important regulators of vasoactivity, we studied the interactions of Cd and Ni on K channels of smooth muscle from bovine mesenteric artery using the planar bilayer method. We describe one type of small, Ca-insensitive K channel (Ks), and two types of large, Ca-activated K channels ([BK(Ca)], Kc1 and Kc2, that were identical with respect to single-channel conductance and K/Cl selectivity, but differed in Ca/voltage sensitivity. Neither metal affected the open probability (po) of Ks but both Cd and Ni, in concentrations greater than or equal to 100 nM, similarly decreased po of Kc1 and Kc2 from the intracellular side of the channel in the presence of 1 μM Ca. The effects of both Cd and Ni were reversed by 0.1 mM Ca. It is concluded that Cd and Ni, in concentrations less than 1 μM, can interact with the Ca/voltage sensor and inhibit BK(Ca) channels of vascular smooth muscle. These effects may partially explain the vascular tension induced by large divalent cations.
Microstructure and magnetic properties of ferromagnetic Fe-Sn alloy thin films

FexSn1-x alloy thin films (0.3 < x < 0.7) were grown by DC-magnetron sputtering and analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM). Fe-rich films were essentially amorphous in the as-deposited state. The first phases identified in alloys with increasing Sn content were Fe3Sn2 and Fe3Sn embedded in an amorphous matrix. In Sn-rich films mixed FeSn, FeSn2, Fe3Sn and Fe3Sn2 phases were identified. The crystallite size varied strongly with composition, ranging from 1–2 nm (Fe-rich) to a maximum of ≈ 200 nm (Sn-rich). A detailed TEM study of the crystallization behavior of Fe-rich films using in-situ incremental annealing was also undertaken. For x = 0.65, annealing at 300°C caused the nucleation and growth of small amounts of the high-temperature compounds Fe3Sn and Fe3Sn2. Crystallization was rapidly completed above 400°C. The as-deposited magnetic properties of thicker films grown under identical sputtering conditions were measured by VSM. The films were found to be macroscopically ferromagnetic over the entire composition range and rather soft (Hc = 20 Oe). The saturation magnetization rapidly and smoothly increased with Fe content. Fe-rich films had their easy axis in the plane of the film. The forms of the hysteresis loops cannot be simply interpreted as they result from a mixture of ferromagnetic and nonferromagnetic phases which changes with film composition.
A test of relationships in a model of organizational cognitive complexity

We examined relationships in a model of organizational cognitive complexity (CC) via a field study. Results, based on a sample drawn from six organizations, indicate that problem familiarity (r=0.25, p<0.10) and variety of work experience (r=0.29, p<0.05) are related to the number of script tracks available for problem solving. In turn, script tracks are related to CC (r=−0.26, p<0.10). The relationship between CC and job level is statistically, significantly moderated by job complexity. Finally, chi-square analysis indicates that the data fit the model as proposed. The organizational implications of CC are discussed and suggestions for future research on the model are made. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Second BCEIA meeting

Abstract A report on the Second Beijing Conference and Exposition on Instrumental Analysis, held in Beijing, P.R.C., 20–23 October, 1987.
The Effects of Erythrocyte Membranes on the Nucleation of Sickle Hemoglobin

Pathology in sickle cell disease begins with nucleation-dependent polymerization of deoxyhemoglobin S into stiff, rodlike fibers that deform and rigidify red cells. We have measured the effect of erythrocyte membranes on the rate of homogeneous nucleation in sickle hemoglobin, using preparations of open ghosts (OGs) with intact cytoskeletons from sickle (SS) and normal adult (AA) red cells. Nucleation rates were measured by inducing polymerization by laser photolysis of carboxy sickle hemoglobin and observing stochastic variation of replicate experiments of the time for the scattering signals to reach 10% of their respective maxima. By optical imaging of membrane fragments added to a hemoglobin solution we contrast the rate of nucleation immediately adjacent to membrane fragments with nucleation in a region of the same solution but devoid of membranes. From analysis of 29,272 kinetic curves obtained, we conclude that the effect of AA OGs is negligible (10% enhancement of nucleation rates ±20%), whereas SS OGs caused 80% enhancement (±20%). In red cells, where more membrane surface is available to Hb, this implies enhancement of nucleation by a factor of 6. These experiments represent a 10-fold improvement in precision over previous approaches and are the first direct, quantitative measure of the impact of erythrocyte membranes on the homogeneous nucleation process that is responsible for polymer initiation in sickle cell disease.
Theory of routine mode choice decisions: An operational framework to increase sustainable transportation

A growing number of communities in the United States are seeking to improve the sustainability of their transportation systems by shifting routine automobile travel to walking and bicycling. In order to identify strategies that may be most effective at increasing pedestrian and bicycle transportation in a specific local context, practitioners need a greater understanding of the underlying thought process that people use to select travel modes. Previous research from the travel behavior and psychology fields provides the foundation for a five-step, operational Theory of Routine Mode Choice Decisions. Walking and bicycling could be promoted through each of the five steps: awareness and availability (e.g., offer individual marketing programs), basic safety and security (e.g., make pedestrian and bicycle facility improvements and increase education and enforcement efforts), convenience and cost (e.g., institute higher-density, mixed land uses, and limited, more expensive automobile parking), enjoyment (e.g., plant street trees and increase awareness of non-motorized transportation benefits), and habit (e.g., target information about sustainable transportation options to people making key life changes). The components of the theory are supported by in-depth interview responses from the San Francisco Bay Area.
Evaluation of Changes in a Suboptimal Economy

A large part of economic theory deals with specifying necessary conditions for optimal pricing with or without constraints. This theory is unquestionably useful. In many practical cases one can reasonably state the (constrained) optimization problem and attempt to achieve that optimum. However, there are also many cases where this is not practical. While the policy maker may be familiar with his current constraints (technological, market, organizational, political), he may find it difficult to specify them for " optima" that differ markedly from his past experience. Moreover, the organizational and/or political structure may be such that any really substantial change accomplished over a short time span is out of the question. In such cases, a more modest goal than optimality may be appropriate. The ability to evaluate whether any arbitrary moderate change (known to be feasible) is desirable or undesirable is clearly useful. This paper provides a methodology to assist in such evaluations.
Phosphorus-induced relaxation in an iron grain boundary: A cluster-model study.

The DMol molecular-cluster method, based on local density-functional theory, is employed to study the electronic structure and structural relaxation of a P impurity in the Fe Σ3 [110](111) grain boundary (GB). Large clusters (53 and 91 atoms) are used to simulate the local environment of the Fe grain boundary; by calculating the force on the nearby Fe atoms around the impurity and minimizing the total energy of the cluster, an optimized atomic geometry with minimum energy is obtained. In the pure grain boundary, the center Fe atoms above the GB core have the tendency to move toward each other keeping a bond length very close to the Fe bulk bond length
A 342mW mobile application processor with full-HD multi-standard video codec

Today's cellular phones must support full high-definition (full-HD) video in multiple video formats, such as H.264 and MPEG-2/-4, with low power consumption. Full-HD video processing requires six times the data bandwidth and is more computationally intensive than conventional standard-definition (SD) video. The trade-off between flexibility, performance and power consumption is a key focus of video-codec design. Homogeneous multi-core processors are power-consuming and achieving high-throughput is difficult [1]. While dedicated circuits can minimize power consumption, the dedicated decoders and encoders in previous reports [2, 3] have difficulty performing all of the media processing that is indispensable for a modern cellular phone [4]. In this paper, we have integrated a mobile application processor featuring a two-stage-processing video codec, tile-based address-translation circuits, and several audio/visual intellectual property (IP) modules.
The “first generation” of endovascular stent-grafts for patients with aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta

Abstract Objective: Our goal was to determine whether endovascular stent-grafting is feasible and effective for patients with aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta. Methods: Starting in July 1992, we conducted a prospective, uncontrolled clinical trial in 103 patients (mean age 69 years [range 34-89 years]) who underwent endovascular treatment of aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta using a custom-fabricated, self-expanding stent-graft device. Follow-up was 100% complete and averaged 22 months. Sixty-two patients (60%) were judged not to be reasonable candidates for a conventional "open" surgical procedure. Results: Complete thrombosis of the aneurysm was ultimately achieved in 86 (83%) patients. The early mortality rate was 9% ± 3% (±70% CL). Multivariable analysis revealed that myocardial infarction or stroke was linked with a higher likelihood of early death ( P = .001). Early serious complications included paraplegia in 3% ± 2% and stroke in 7% ± 3%. Actuarial survival estimates at 1 year and 2 years were 81% ± 4% and 73% ± 5% (±1 SE), respectively; being judged not to be a surgical candidate portended a higher probability of death ( P = .003). According to the intent-to-treat principle, "treatment failure" (including all late sudden unexplained deaths) occurred in 38 patients; 53% ± 10% of patients were free from treatment failure at 3.7 years. Stent-graft related complications occurred commonly and were linked with several anatomic, technical, and patient-related risk factors. Conclusions: This 5-year clinical trial involving use of a "first generation" device indicates that endovascular stent-grafting of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms is feasible with acceptable medium-term results. More refined, commercially developed devices available today offer less traumatic and more precise stent-graft deployment; these major technical advantages, coupled with important lessons we have learned over time and better patient selection, should be associated with more salutary clinical results in the future. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1998;116:689-704)
Sex differences in the foraging behavior of squirrel monkeys in a seasonal habitat

The effects of sex and seasonal changes in food abundance on foraging behavior was studied in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri oerstedi) in Costa Rica over an eleven-month period. Females searched for and ate food at significantly greater frequencies than did males throughout the study. The frequency of the specific foraging techniques used occasionally differed significantly within seasons, but not across the study period. Few differences were found in the foraging behaviors of nonreproductive sexually mature females compared to females that were pregnant or lactating. The major exception was that during the month following parturition reproductive females foraged for flowers and fruits more frequently than did non-reproductive females. The reduction of time spent by males in foraging activities gives them more time for other activities, especially anti-predator vigilance. Foraging techniques and the proportions of different food types in the diet changed seasonally. Foraging for arthropods was most frequent in the season when arthropod abundance was lowest, resulting in the amount of time spent eating arthropods to vary less across the seasons. Fruits and flowers were not eaten in a direct relationship to availability, but were used more than expected relative to availability when arthropod abundance was reduced. Individuals were more dispersed when foraging compared to other activities. Overall, there was little evidence of any direct foraging benefits for a squirrel monkey from being social.
Differential diagnosis of sclerosing cholangiocarcinomas of the common hepatic duct (Klatskin tumors).

Abstract Although it is recognized that some other lesion may be the cause, a presumptive diagnosis of Klatskin tumor is usually made when a focal stenotic lesion of the common hepatic duct is seen on a cholangiogram of a jaundiced patient. Biopsy is so often nondiagnostic that decisions about therapy are usually made on the basis of the imaging tests and lack of evidence for some other disease. Because the accuracy and consequences of this strategy have never been tested, we contrasted the preoperative diagnosis of Klatskin tumor with the final diagnosis in 98 consecutive patients treated from 1985 to 1990. Preoperative investigations included ultrasound and computed tomographic scans, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and angiography. Sclerosing cholangiocarcinomas of the bile duct were correctly diagnosed in 68 cases. The final diagnosis was other than a sclerosing adenocarcinoma in 30 (31%) cases. There were 5 papillary bile duct carcinomas, 12 gallbladder carcinomas invading the bile duct, 5 metastatic tumors to the bile duct, 2 cases of Mirizzi syndrome, 3 granulomas, and 3 cases of idiopathic benign focal stenosis. Patients with papillary adenocarcinomas had an extensive filling defect of the duct, which was often thought to be unresectable. However, four of these five lesions could be completely excised, and the tumor was confined to the duct wall in all four. The outcome of surgical treatment of the other eight patients with benign lesions was good in most cases. These findings demonstrate the pitfalls of assuming that a focal stenosis of the hepatic duct represents a sclerosing adenocarcinoma. The diagnosis is much less specific than is generally thought, so there is considerable opportunity for mismanaging such patients.
Proxy Reports About Household Members With Increased Confusion or Memory Loss, 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

To provide information about the effects of increased confusion or memory loss (ICML) in households in the United States, we describe primary respondents’ reports (proxy reports) about another person in their household experiencing ICML, using 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data. We used proxy reports on type of assistance needed, effects on functioning in daily activities, and whether confusion or memory was discussed with a health care professional, stratifying by age of the household member with ICML (18–50 y vs ≥65 y). About 3% (n = 3,075 households) of primary respondents reported living with a household member with ICML; 75% of these household members needed some type of assistance, and nearly 60% had discussed ICML with a health care professional. Collecting proxy data about individuals in households may help paint a clearer picture of the characteristics of those experiencing cognitive decline and the potential needs of individuals and families.
Does religion influence patient satisfaction

Objectives To determine if patient satisfaction varies by level of individual religiosity. Methods Data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative sample of older adults in the United States, were used to assess the relationship between religious salience (importance) and patients' satisfaction with their health care encounters. Results Higher levels of religious salience are significantly related to being very satisfied with one's health care, even after demographic, social, and health variables are taken into account. Conclusions Researchers, practitioners, and administrators should be aware that religion may significantly influence how patients rate their health care experiences.
Anomaly detection over independent processes: Switching with memory

The problem of sequential detection of anomalous processes among K independent processes is considered. At each time, only a subset of the processes can be observed, and the observations from each chosen process follow two different distributions, depending on whether the process is normal or abnormal. Each anomalous process incurs a cost per unit time until its anomaly is identified and fixed. Different anomalous processes may incur different costs depending on their criticality to the system. Switching between processes and state declarations are allowed at all times, while decisions are based on all past observations and actions. The objective is a sequential search strategy that minimizes the total expected cost, incurred by all the processes during the detection process, under reliability constraints. We develop a simple closed-loop policy (i.e., decisions depend on past observations and actions) for the anomaly detection problem. Asymptotic optimality of the proposed policy is shown when a single process is observed at a time and strong performance are demonstrated by simulation examples under multi-processes probing.
Implementation of distributed applications using Java

Java's portability, architectural neutrality, and support of network connectivity make it ideal for implementation of applications on networks. Java applets in particular are designed to interact with Web browsers to provide a variety of services over the network. Unfortunately, Java applet security constraints restrict the user's ability to connect with and transfer data to and from remote sites and thus limit the user's ability to utilize distributed applications. In this paper we explore ways to get around this limitation. Specifically, we propose to use an intermediate server to connect the user of the applet to remote sites that they wish to access.
The Politics of Uniqueness: Reflections on the Recent Polemical Turn in Holocaust and Genocide Scholarship

This article examines the debate over the uniqueness of the Holocaust as it has recently unfolded in the United States. It concentrates on two antagonistic camps: scholars such as Steven Katz, Deborah Lipstadt, and Daniel Goldhagen, who argue the Holocaust's uniqueness; and those like David Stannard, Ward Churchill, and Norman Finkelstein, who have recently attacked this notion. The latter have challenged the former in more sharply polemical terms than earlier critics, alleging that their position, among other things, reflects a Jewish ethnocentrism and implicitly denies the occurrence of other genocides (and is thus comparable to the work of Holocaust deniers). In order to elucidate this polemical shift, this article scrutinizes the origins and evolution of scholarly interest in the uniqueness concept. It concludes by evaluating the utility of the concept altogether.
Colors of the spectrum: Do you wonder where the yellow went?

The spectrum of white light dispersed by a prism or grating often appears as just three main colored bands, red, green, and blue, with yellow barely discernible. When this spectrum is compared with the appearance of narrow wavelength bands seen in isolation, the lack of color is surprising. An explanation is offered based on two factors: (1) The yellow-appearing wavelengths of the spectrum comprise only ∼ 5% of the whole and have a luminance comparable with that of the adjacent red and green portions and (2) the response of double-opponent cells, observed in the primate visual cortex, could enhance the red and green and obscure the yellow in the spectral image.
Programmed for Success: Educating Tomorrow's Workforce [From the Guest Editor]

I Recently Stepped down as chair of the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) Power & Energy Education Committee (PEEC) to take my place among a very dedicated group of past chairs and exemplary educators. I have been an active member of the PEEC since the start of my academic career 20 years ago in 1990. The education committee is comprised of educators and practicing engineers who are committed to power engineering career development, university education, and lifelong learning. The committee strives to address issues of whole-life education. This issue of IEEE Power and Energy Magazine has six feature articles that discuss power engineering education in all its many facets. I will provide a brief summary of each and describe how it relates to the mission of PEEC. I encourage you to take the time to read each article in full and give us your feedback and opinions:
Human cytomegalovirus virion proteins

Abstract Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the largest member of the family of human herpesviruses. The number of virus encoded proteins and the complexity of their functions in the life cycle of this virus are reflected in the size of its genome. There continues to be some controversy surrounding the exact protein coding capacity of the virus with estimates ranging from 160 open reading frames to more than 200 open reading frames. Very recent studies using mass spectrometry to determine the viral proteome suggests that the number of viral proteins may be even greater than previous estimates. The proteins of the virion capsid have readily identifiable homologous proteins in the capsid of the more extensively studied herpes simplex virus, likely because of similar capsid structure and assembly pathways. In contrast, the tegument and the envelope of HCMV contain a significant number of proteins that lack structural homology to proteins found in either α or γ-herpesviruses. This brief overview discusses some of the general features and possible functions of the HCMV virion structural proteins in the replicative cycle of this virus.
Management of hepatitis C: current and future perspectives.

Abstract Chronic hepatitis C is now a major cause of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In March 1997, the National Institutes of Health sponsored a Consensus Development Conference entitled "Management of Hepatitis C". The final statement from the Consensus Panel set forth clear, evidence-based guidelines and recommendations regarding the diagnosis, evaluation, prevention and therapy of hepatitis C. The conclusions of the Consensus Panel have been widely accepted and have brought some degree of uniformity to the management of hepatitis C. An important issue is how to keep such recommendations current in such a rapidly evolving area of medicine. In the 2 years since the Consenus Conference there have been important advances in the management of chronic hepatitis C. Two recommendations of the Consensus Panel deserve modification: first, on the clinical usefulness of genotyping of hepatitis C virus and second, on the optimal therapeutic regimen. Two large multicenter, prospective controlled trials have shown that the combination of alpha interferon with ribavirin provides higher sustained virologic responses than interferon alone and that optimal therapy is a 24-week course for patients with genotypes 2 and 3 and a 48-week course for patients with genotype 1. Furthermore, therapy can be stopped at 24 weeks if HCV RNA is still present. Many clinical challenges remain. Major current needs are for accurate means of assessing the grade and stage of disease, for the likelihood of disease progression and of response to therapy as well as for viral eradication by treatment. Also important are new therapies for hepatitis C that might be used alone or in combination with interferon and ribavirin; therapies that could be applied to a wide variety of patients, with different stages of disease and with other co-morbitities.
Phase II trial of topotecan in patients with cisplatin-refractory germ cell tumors

Fifteen patients with advanced, cisplatin-refractory germ cell tumors (GCT) were treated on a phase II trial with topotecan. None of the 14 evaluable patients achieved a complete or partial response. Myelosuppression was the major toxicity. The median nadir leukocyte count was 1.75 cells/mm3, neutrophil count was 1.55 cells/mm3, hemoglobin was 8.75 gm/dl, and platelet count was 20,500 cells/mm3. Topotecan is not efficacious in the treatment of cisplatin-refractory GCT.
Geochemical and Geochronological Constraints on Mineralization within the Hilltop, Lewis, and Bullion Mining Districts, Battle Mountain-Eureka Trend, Nevada

The Hilltop, Lewis, and Bullion mining districts, located within the northern Shoshone Range, Lander County, Nevada, are part of the greater Battle Mountain-Eureka trend. Historic production of mostly Ag with Au, Cu, Pb, and Zn from all three districts exploited ≤ 3-m-wide quartz veins hosted mainly within upper plate Ordovician-Devonian siliceous and siliciclastic rocks of the Roberts Mountains allochthon. Eocene felsic intrusive rocks, located both proximal and distal to the vein deposits, were emplaced throughout the northern Shoshone Range along a west-northwest trend; molybdenite mineralization is associated with some intrusive rocks, and some intrusive rocks host vein-type mineralization. New and previously published radiometric ages for primary igneous minerals from unaltered rocks within and/or proximal to mineralized areas are nearly coincident with published Re-Os ages for several northern Shoshone Range molybdenite occurrences (40.1 ± 0.6 Ma, avg), supporting a relationship between pluton emplacement and molybdenite mineralization. Age differences between quartz vein-hosted gold ± base metal mineralization (e.g., 38.3 ± 0.1 Ma: Gray Eagle mine, Bullion district) and nearby intrusive rocks (e.g., 39.0 ± 0.1 Ma: Granite Mountain) imply that vein mineralization probably formed during prolonged hydrothermal activity, synchronous with or subsequent to igneous rock emplacement, or from heat associated with a second, slightly younger phase of intrusive igneous activity. Primary fluid inclusion salinity (0–6.4 wt % NaCl equiv) and Th (115°–425°C) data from ore-bearing vein quartz, in conjunction with measured δ18OVSMOW data (−0.97 to +17.3‰), indicate that vein-forming fluids contained variable mixtures of magmatic and meteoric components (calculated δ18OVSMOW values of −16.0 to +13.3‰) and spanned the epithermal-porphyry temperature continuum. New and previously published stable isotope (C, O, and S) data from vein-hosted ore and gangue minerals, unaltered and altered siliceous (upper plate) host rocks, and unaltered carbonate (lower plate and upper plate) rocks indicate mixed and variable sources of vein-hosted ore and gangue components and variable interaction between some vein-forming fluids and nonsiliceous rock types (carbonates, bedded barite) that underlie the northern Shoshone Range. Large vein widths, high vein densities, and lack of evidence supporting fluid boiling in primary fluid inclusions suggest that vein deposits of the northern Shoshone Range probably formed at shallow depths (≤1 km) under lithostatic conditions. Geochronology and stable isotope data support a temporal and genetic link between Eocene magmatism, quartz vein-hosted precious and base metal mineralization, and molybdenite (porphyry) mineralization within the Hilltop, Lewis, and Bullion mining districts.
Public health issues in disasters

Objective:This article outlines a number of important areas in which public health can contribute to making overall disaster management more effective. This article discusses health effects of some of the more important sudden impact natural disasters and potential future threats (e.g., intentional
Structural and functional relationships between photoreceptor tetraspanins and other superfamily members

The two primary photoreceptor-specific tetraspanins are retinal degeneration slow (RDS) and rod outer segment membrane protein-1 (ROM-1). These proteins associate together to form different complexes necessary for the proper structure of the photoreceptor outer segment rim region. Mutations in RDS cause blinding retinal degenerative disease in both rods and cones by mechanisms that remain unknown. Tetraspanins are implicated in a variety of cellular processes and exert their function via the formation of tetraspanin-enriched microdomains. This review focuses on correlations between RDS and other members of the tetraspanin superfamily, particularly emphasizing protein structure, complex assembly, and post-translational modifications, with the goal of furthering our understanding of the structural and functional role of RDS and ROM-1 in outer segment morphogenesis and maintenance, and our understanding of the pathogenesis associated with RDS and ROM-1 mutations.
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin activity is increased in nasal polyps of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is associated with T H 2-dominant inflammation. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a cytokine that triggers dendritic cell–mediated T H 2 inflammatory responses and that enhances IL-1–dependent T H 2 cytokine production in mast cells. Although increased TSLP mRNA levels have been found in nasal polyps (NPs), expression of TSLP protein and its function in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) have not been fully explored. Objectives The objective of this study was to investigate the role of TSLP in patients with CRS. Methods We investigated the presence and stability of TSLP protein in NPs using ELISA and Western blotting and investigated the function of TSLP in nasal tissue extracts with a bioassay based on activation of human mast cells. Results Although TSLP mRNA levels were significantly increased in NP tissue from patients with CRSwNP compared with uncinate tissue from patients with CRS or control subjects, TSLP protein was significantly decreased in NP tissue, as detected by using the commercial ELISA kit. We found that recombinant TSLP was time-dependently degraded by NP extracts, and this degradation was completely inhibited by a protease inhibitor cocktail, suggesting that TSLP is sensitive to tissue proteases. Interestingly, NP extract–treated TSLP had higher activity in mast cells, although the amount of full-length TSLP was reduced up to 85%. NP extracts significantly enhanced IL-1β–dependent IL-5 production in mast cells compared with uncinate tissue homogenates, and responses were significantly inhibited by anti-TSLP, suggesting that NPs contain biologically relevant levels of TSLP activity. Conclusion TSLP and its metabolic products might play an important role in the inflammation seen in patients with CRSwNP.
Multiple chambered gas powered seismic source

A compressed-gas seismic energy source suitable for underwater prospecting. The device has two gas storage cylinders placed at the opposite ends of a shuttle. The shuttle seals both storage cylinders when seated at the end of its stroke and releases gas for the desired sonic pulse from both cylinders during its stroke. Design of the device provides for simplicity of operation, ready modification of the sonic signature, and reliability of moving parts.
Evaporation and Growth of Multicomponent Aerosols Laboratory Applications

Design equations for two types of devices used in aerosol growth and evaporation studies, the well-mixed vessel and the diffusion dryer, are developed and their use demonstrated for aqueous salt solution particles. The results of several common simplifying approximations are evaluated. An approximate method for determining residence times required for drying particles that exhibit a hysteresis effect, accurate to within several percent for the cases considered, is suggested.
Mapping North African landforms using continental scale unmixing of MODIS imagery

We describe the production of a landform map of North Africa utilizing moderate resolution satellite imagery and a methodology that is applicable for sub-continental to global scale landform mapping. A mosaic of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) apparent surface reflectance imagery was compiled for Africa north of 10° N. Landform image endmembers were chosen to characterize ten different types of vegetated and unvegetated desert surfaces: alluvial complexes, dunes, dry and ephemeral lakes, open water, basaltic volcanoes and flows, mountains, regs, stripped, low-angle bedrock surfaces, sand sheets, and Sahelian vegetation. Multiple Endmember Spectral Mixture Analysis (MESMA) was applied to the MODIS mosaic to estimate landform and vegetation endmember fractions. The major landform in each MODIS pixel was identified based on the majority endmember fraction in two- or three-endmember models. Accuracy assessment was conducted using two data sources: the historic Landform Map of North Africa [Raisz, E. (1952). Landform Map of North Africa. Environmental Protection Branch, Office of the Quartermaster General.] and Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data. Comparison with the Raisz landform map gave an overall classification accuracy of 54% with significant confusion between alluvial surfaces and regs, and between sandy and clayey surfaces and dunes. A second validation using 20 Landsat images in a stratified sampling scheme gave a classification accuracy of 70%, with confusion between dunes and sand sheets. Both accuracy assessment schemes indicated difficulty in vegetation classification at the margin of the Sahel. A comparison with minimum distance and maximum likelihood supervised classifications found that the MESMA approach produced significantly higher classification accuracies. This digital landform map is of sufficiently high quality to form the basis for geomorphic studies, including parameterization of the surface in global and regional dust models.
Bis(methylthio)(trimethylsilyl)methane

[37891-79-5] C6H16S2Si (MW 180.40) InChI = 1S/C6H16S2Si/c1-7-6(8-2)9(3,4)5/h6H,1-5H3 InChIKey = QEPMPXAUMUWNNO-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reagent used for synthesis of bis(methylthio)ketene acetals from aldehydes and ketones;1 acyl anion synthon for conjugate additions to enones and enoates;2 useful for one-carbon homologations3) Physical Data: bp 67–70 °C/10 mmHg. Solubility: insol H2O; sol organic solvents. Preparative Methods: prepared from lithiobis(methylthio)methane by silylation with chlorotrimethylsilane (eq 1).1 Both bis(methylthio)methane and Chlorotrimethylsilane are commercially available. (1) Handling, Storage, and Precautions: use in a fume hood.