cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimate of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 using real time tracking of health care workers.

BACKGROUND: Whether and to what degree SARS-CoV-2 is spread via the airborne route is unknown. Using data collected from health care worker interactions with hospitalized patients with COVID-19 illness, we calculated the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 via the airborne route. OBJECTIVES/METHODS: Healthcare worker interaction with SARS-CoV-2 infected patients were tracked using a real time location system between March 18 and March 31. A value for q, the transmissibility expressed as quanta per hour, was estimated using a well-established model for airborne transmission. RESULTS: SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence among tracked HCWs was 2.21% (0.07-4.35). Transmissibility was estimated to be 0.225 quanta per hour, well below other well-characterized airborne pathogens. Simulations demonstrated that risk of infection is substantially reduced with increased ventilation of rooms. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 is not well transmitted via the airborne route in controlled conditions. We speculate that SARS-CoV-2 may be only opportunistically airborne, with most transmission occurring via droplet methods.
Practical Active Learning Stations to Transform Existing Learning Environments Into Flexible, Active Learning Classrooms

Contribution: Practical active learning stations (PALSs)-equipped classrooms function similar to prototypical active learning classrooms (ALCs). They support student collaboration and active learning pedagogies but at a fraction of the cost. Background: Active learning pedagogies and active learning technology are revitalizing STEM education and their use has led to an increase in student performance and satisfaction with the learning environment in postsecondary settings. An obstacle to increasing access to ALCs is the cost of constructing such learning environments. To address this challenge, a means to retrofit an existing computer laboratory into an ALC by making use of economy hardware and open-source software was devised. Intended Outcomes: In the context of an introductory sequence of programming courses (i.e., CS1 and CS2), students in a PALS-equipped classroom would perform as well as students in a prototypical ALC. Application Design: A quasi-experimental study was employed to compare the overall student performance across learning environments. Student performance was measured by the final exam score and overall course score. Throughout the study, the PALS-equipped classroom was paired five different times in head-to-head comparisons with either a prototypical ALC or a traditional classroom. Findings: The focus of the study was the potential effects of classroom type on students’ final exam score and the overall course score. A statistically significant effect was found for only one measure, which was that students in the PALS classroom in CS1 scored higher on their overall course score even when accounting for demographic differences and the pretest measure. There were no other significant effects for classroom type, either on the final exam score for either course or the overall course score in CS2.
Studies of Human Platelet α-Granule Release In Vivo

Abstract The clinical usefulness of measuring platelet factor 4 (PF4) and β-thromboglobulin (βTG) by radioimmunoassay in plasma, urine, and platelets has been evaluated in 105 normal subjects and 184 selected patients with suspected alterations in platelet reactivity. Since blood collection techniques are critical in minimizing in vitro artifact when measuring plasma PF4 and βTG, we developed a method for sampling and processing with respect to anticoagulant, inhibitory agents, temperature, centrifugation, and interval before processing. In 105 normal subjects, the levels of PF4 and βTG were 1.8 ± 1.0 (± 1 SD) and 6.0 ± 3.6 ng/ml, respectively, in plasma; 1.36 ± 0.24 and 4.29 ± 1.38 ng/fl × 10−6, respectively, in platelets; and 0.18 ± 0.16 ng PF4/mg creatinine in urine. Serum values for PF4 and βTG in these normal subjects, as well as in individuals with thrombocytopenia or thrombocytosis, correlated closely with the platelet concentration in whole blood (coefficient of correlation 0.947 and 0.826, respectively; p 0.2). Patients with acute events such as cardiopulmonary bypass showed parallel depletion of PF4 and βTG from platelets, striking elevation of these proteins in plasma and clearance of PF4 into urine. Untransfused, severely thrombocytopenic patients with aplastic anemia had low levels of PF4 and βTG in their plasma, i.e., 0.3 ± 0.3 (p 0.1). We conclude that measurements of PF4 and βTG in plasma and platelets and of PF4 in urine do not identify individuals with stable chronic atherosclerotic vascular disease and thus do not generally provide a means for identifying patients at risk or following the effects of therapy. In contrast, marked elevation in plasma levels and depletion of these proteins from circulating platelets occur with acute in vivo platelet activation and release.
Feedback Whole-Body Control of Wheeled Inverted Pendulum Humanoids Using Operational Space

We present a hierarchical framework for trajectory optimization and optimal feedback whole-body control of wheeled inverted pendulum (WIP) humanoid robot. The framework extends rapidly exponentially stabilizing control Lyapunov functions (RES-CLF) to operational space for controlling WIP humanoid robots while utilizing a hierarchical framework to compute an optimal policy. The upper level of the hierarchy encodes locomotion tasks, while the lower level incorporates the full system dynamics, including manipulation tasks to be performed. The framework computes an optimal policy directly in the operational space. Thus it avoids computing inverse kinematics or inverse dynamics explicitly. The framework can handle torque and task constraints while guaranteeing exponential convergence and min-norm control from RES-CLF. The efficacy of the framework is demonstrated on 18 degrees of freedom (DoF) WIP humanoid robot, Golem Krang, and 7 DoF planar WIP humanoid robot.
ADDENDUM TO ‘DID CICERO “PROSCRIBE” MARCUS ANTONIUS?’

This note adduces three passages in Seneca the Elder to reinforce a demonstration in CQ 69 (2019), 793–8001 that the text of Plin. HN 7.117 has suffered corruption in one of its clauses and requires emendation to restore Pliny's intent. This additional evidence concerns a trope employed by declaimers which could have predisposed a scribe to alter Pliny's text to state that Cicero proscribed Mark Antony. Such a statement has no place in a list of achievements that otherwise all belong to Cicero's consulship twenty years earlier in 63 b.c.
Mixed-Reality Simulation With Preservice Teacher Candidates: A Conceptual Replication:

Given the critical importance of discrete instructional practices in special education, teacher candidates must be prepared to implement them upon entering the classroom. In preservice teacher educ...
In Vitro Comparison of Different Nebulizers Delivering 7% Hypertonic Saline.

BACKGROUND: Nebulized 7% hypertonic saline is used to treat patients with cystic fibrosis. Clinical trials supporting its use were conducted with breath-enhanced nebulizers (BEN). It is not uncommon for the specific nebulizer used in studies or prescribed by a physician to be unavailable to patients. The investigator compared the aerosol characteristics of hypertonic saline delivered by nebulizers of different operating principles. METHODS: A continuous-output nebulizer (CON), a breath-actuated (BAN) jet nebulizer, and 2 brands of BEN (Pari LC Plus and Sidestream Plus) were tested. Airway delivery and aerosol characteristics of nebulizers loaded with 7% hypertonic saline were determined with 3 breathing simulations (ie, infant, child, and adult breathing patterns) and cascade impaction, respectively. Solutes were analyzed with freezing point osmometry. RESULTS: Aerosols generated with the BEN and BAN had similar mass median aerodynamic diameters (3.43–3.67 µm), geometric standard deviations (2.12–2.34), percentage of particles CONCLUSIONS: Hypertonic saline aerosols generated with the BEN and BAN devices were similar, while that generated with the CON was different. Airway delivery was similar between the BEN devices, but higher than that observed with the BAN and CON devices.
Structural variation calling and genotyping by moment-based deep convolutional neural networks

Structural Variation (SV) calling and genotyping remain an ongoing challenge using next generation sequencing technologies. The gold standard approach for genome consortia has been to utilise multiple SV calling algorithms and then merge the results based on SV type and coordinates and more recently to make use of multiple sequencing technologies for each sample cell line. This ensemble strategy provides more comprehensive SV calling but comes at the cost of high-compute run time. We make use of popular open-source machine learning libraries to formulate a new data representation suitable for mining whole genome sequences in a fraction of the ensemble time. We then compare the results to several well-established methods and ensembles. Our pure machine learning method demonstrates a new direction in technique, where feature selection and region filtering are no longer required to achieve desirable false positive rates.
Prediction of Interfacial Properties of High-Performance Polymers and Flattened CNT-Reinforced Composites using Molecular Dynamics

The next generation of ultra-high strength composites for structural components of vehicles for manned missions to deep space will likely incorporate flattened carbon nanotubes (flCNTs). With a wide range of high-performance polymers to choose from as the matrix component, efficient and accurate computational modeling can be used to efficiently down-select compatible resins, drive the design of these composites by predicting interface behavior, and provide critical physical insight into the flCNT/polymer interface. In this study, molecular dynamics simulation is used to predict the interaction energy, frictional sliding resistance, and mechanical binding of flCNT/polymer interfaces for epoxy, bismaleimide (BMI), and benzoxazine high-performance resins. The results indicate that the BMI has stronger interfacial interaction and transverse tension binding with flCNT interfaces, while the benzoxazine demonstrates the strongest levels of interfacial friction resistance. Comparison of these results with similar results from the literature for other high-performance resins indicates that BMI demonstrates the best overall compatibility with flCNTs for use in high-performance structural composites.
Drag Assisted Simulated Annealing Method for Geometry Optimization of Molecules

One of the methods to find the global minimum of a potential energy surface of a molecular system is simulated annealing. The main idea of simulated annealing is to start you system at a high temperature and then slowly cool it down so that there is a chance for the atoms in the system to explore the different degrees of freedom and ultimately find the global minimum. Simulated annealing is traditionally used in classical Monte Carlo or in classical molecular dynamics. In molecular dynamics, one of the traditional methods was first implemented by Woodcock in 1971. In this method the velocities are scaled down after a given number of molecular dynamics steps, let the system explore the potential energy surface and scale down the velocities again until a minimum is found. In this work we propose to use a viscous friction term, similar to the one used in Langevin dynamics, to slowly bring down the temperature of the system in a natural way. We use drag terms that depend linearly or quadraticaly on the velocity of the particles. These drag terms will naturally bring the temperature the system down and when the system reaches equilibrium they will vanish. Thus, imposing a natural criterion to stop the simulation. We tested the method in Lenard-Jones clusters of up to 20 atoms. We started the system in different initial conditions and used different values for the temperature and the drag coefficients and found the global minima of every one of the clusters. This method demonstrated to be conceptually very simple, but very robust, in finding the global minima.
Deep-sea migrobial energetics

Abstract Bacteria (dead and living) may be the main energy (food) source for benthic organisms — mainly because they are very nutritive in terms of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids (phosphate-rich), and ectocrine compounds. If methionine is an essential arnino acid for benthic organisms, then bacteria can supply this amino acid so that the protein synthesis can take place. A mechanism (substrate capture) by which bacteria can obtain substrates in a dilute energy environment is presented.
A closed-loop context aware data acquisition and resource allocation framework for dynamic data driven applications systems (DDDAS) on the cloud

A closed-loop integrated solution for maximizing the utility of information while minimizing data loss at the back-end.A centralized algorithm that attempts to maximize the overall quality of information for the whole network.A threshold based heuristic that helps system administrators to tune the algorithm.A proactive resource optimization framework that adaptively allocates resources. Various dynamic data driven applications systems (DDDAS) such as hazard management, target tracking, and battlefield monitoring often leverage multiple heterogeneous sensors, and generate huge volume of data. Not surprisingly, researchers are investigating ways to support such applications on the cloud. However, in such applications, the importance of a subset of sensors may change quickly due to changes in the execution environment, which often require adaptation of sampling rates accordingly. Additionally, such variations in sampling rates can create significant load imbalance on back-end servers, leading toward performance degradation. To address this, we investigate a closed-loop integrated solution as follows. First, we develop a centralized algorithm that attempts to maximize the overall quality of information for the whole network given the utility functions and the importance rankings of sensor nodes. Next, we present a threshold based heuristic that prevents omission of highly important nodes at critical times. Finally, a proactive resource optimization framework is investigated that adaptively allocate resources (e.g., servers) in response to changed sampling rates. Extensive evaluation on cloud platform for various scenarios shows that our approach can quickly adapt sampling rates and reallocate resources in response to the changed importance of sensor nodes, minimizing data loss significantly.
The teaching of African literature in anglophone African universities: An instructive canon

(1990). The teaching of African literature in anglophone African universities: An instructive canon. Wasafiri: Vol. 5, No. 11, pp. 13-16.
Phorbol ester stimulates calcium sequestration in saponized human platelets.

When platelets are activated by agonists, calcium (Ca2+) is released from an intracellular storage site. Recent studies using fura-2 show that, after thrombin stimulation, the rise in free calcium is transient and returns to base-line levels in 2-3 min, while the transient following ADP stimulation lasts only 15-20 s. We reported previously that the phorbol ester 12,13-phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), added at nanomolar levels after thrombin, immediately accelerated the rate of return of calcium to the base line severalfold (Yoshida, K., Dubyak, G., and Nachmias, V.T. (1986) FEBS Lett. 206, 273-278). In the present study, we used both intact and saponized platelets to determine whether this is due to stimulation of calcium sequestration. Using fura-2 and intact platelets, we found 1) that PMA stimulated the restoration of free Ca2+ levels after ADP as well as after thrombin, and 2) that H-7, an inhibitor of protein kinase C (Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent enzyme), slowed the return of Ca2+ to baseline levels. Using saponized platelets, we also found 3) that pretreatment of platelets with PMA before saponin treatment increased the ATP-dependent 45Ca2+ uptake 2-fold, with a half-maximal effect at 5 nm; 4) that most of the Ca2+ released by ionomycin or by myoinositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate; and 5) that a GTP-binding protein inhibitor, guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate), decreased basal or PMA-stimulated 45Ca2+ uptake in saponin-treated platelets. Our data suggest that activation of protein kinase C stimulates the sequestration of Ca2+ independently of cAMP or myoinositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate.
ULTRAVIOLET IRRADIATION OF NATIVE AND DENATURED TRANSFORMING DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID FROM HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE.

Abstract Cabrera-Juarez, Emiliano (Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Md.) and Roger M. Herriott. Ultraviolet irradiation of native and denatured transforming deoxyribonucleic acid from Haemophilus influenzae. J. Bacteriol. 85:671–675. 1963.—Two antibiotic-resistance markers in denatured deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from Haemophilus influenzae showed about the same sensitivity to ultraviolet irradiation as in native DNA. The resistance of markers in denatured DNA to ultraviolet (UV) light increases with alkalinity up to pH 12. New transforming markers or genetic “lethals” were not produced by in vitro irradiation of either native or denatured DNA. The UV irradiation of the denatured DNA reduces its capacity to form new markers with nitrous acid. Nitrous acid reactivated some of the intrinsic marker destroyed by UV irradiation of denatured transforming DNA.
EKG waveform recognition procedure

A fast, accurate, and robust EKG (electrocardiogram) waveform-recognition algorithm has been developed for a personal computer. The method uses the convolution of raw EKG data with one or more sample EKG waveform templates as a recognition signal. Recognition occurs when the convolution exceeds a user-defined reference level. This level can depend on the history of the recognition signal as well as on other physiological data. >
Model-Based Iterative Reconstruction (MBIR) for the Reduction of Metal Artifacts on CT.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to study the added value of model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) on metal artifact reduction on CT compared with standard filtered back projection (FBP). MATERIALS AND METHODS. Ex vivo imaging was performed on several metal implants. Datasets were reconstructed with standard FBP and MBIR algorithms. The sizes of the artifacts surrounding the metal implant were recorded and compared. In vivo imaging was performed on 62 patients with metal implants. Each dataset was reconstructed with FBP and MBIR algorithms. Objective image quality was assessed by measuring the size of the artifact generated by the metal implant. Subjective image quality was graded on a 3-point scale, taking into account the visibility of the bone-metal interface, as well as the visibility of the neighboring soft tissues. RESULTS. Ex vivo analysis yielded a reduction of 82% in the size of the artifact when using the MBIR algorithm, compared with the FBP algorithm. The mean (SD) size of the a...
Long-term dependence in common stock returns

The efficient market, martingale model of security price movements requires that the arrival of new information be promptly arbitraged away. A necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of an arbitraged price is that statistical dependence among prices must decrease very rapidly. If persistent statistical dependence is present, the arbitraged price changes do not follow a martingale and should have an infinite variance. Using a technique for detecting long-term dependence, called R/S analysis, 200 daily stock return series are studied; many series are characterized by long-term dependence. Thus, in the presence of long-term dependence, the martingale model does not hold. Also, the distribution of security returns is non-normal stable Paretian as opposed to Gaussian.
Quantitation of azadirachtins in insecticidal formulations by high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure for the quantitative determination of azadirachting A and estimates of other azadirachtins in insecticidal formulations is described. The procedure utilizes reversed-phase chromatography with detection by UV absorption at 215 nm. The quantitative method described has been found to be accurate to within ± 10% relative between the concentrations of 0.005 and 0.75% (w/w) azadirachtin A in insecticidal formulations of neem kernel extract. The lower limit of detection is 0.001% (w/w).
A dual-band architecture for multi-gbps communication in 60 GHz multi-hop networks

By utilizing abundant spectrum available at 60 GHz, millimeter wavelength (mmWave) radios can enable multi-gigabit per second (Gbps) link rates, but only over short distances. The limited range of mmWave radios can be extended to provide high throughput coverage to an entire home or office network using multi-hop communication. In this paper, we present a dual-band architecture that leverages the significant range advantage of low-cost commodity WiFi radios to control and coordinate scheduling/routing on a 60 GHz multi-hop network. The high pathloss and directionality of mmWave radio create significant opportunities for spatial reuse in these mmWave networks. By realizing these spatial reuse gains through effective scheduling/routing, this dual-band architecture can enable multi-Gbps end-to-end throughput in 60 GHz multi-hop networks.
Lethal effect of atrazine and other triazine herbicides on ungerminated conidia of Cochliobolus sativus in soil

Abstract The effect of atrazine and ten other triazine herbicides on conidia of Cochliobolus sativus exposed to fungistatic conditions in four soils was examined. Conidia borne on polycarbonate membranes were placed on the surface of soils (− 1 kPa matric potential) containing 25 μg g −1 herbicide and examined for germination on soil and for viability. Atrazine treatment caused germination and subsequent loss of viability of seven isolates of C. sativus on Boyer sandy loam (SL). However, it did not affect five other isolates of C. sativus , nor did it affect four isolates each of C. victoriae, C. heterostrophus or C. carbomun . Atrazine treatment also stimulated germination and resulted in a loss of viability of C. sativus in Capac loam and Colwood loam, but did not have these effects in Spinks SL. Moreover, the exposure of conidia of four isolates of C. sativus to 25 or 240 μg g −1 atrazine on Spinks SL increased their subsequent germinability on carbon-free salt solutions. Conidia did not germinate on nontreated soils, or lose any viability. Conidia which germinated on atrazine-treated soils lost viability within 3 days of germination on soil. Ametryn, cyanazine, prometon, simazine, prometryn, propazine and terbutryn, at 25 μg g −1 stimulated germination of two isolates of C. sativus on Boyer SL and decreased subsequent viability of their conidia, but not to the extent of 25 μg g −1 atrazine. Hexazinone, metribuzin and dipropetryn (25 μg g −1 ) did not stimulate germination of conidia on soil nor decrease their viability after 8 weeks.
Enantioselective catalytic intramolecular cyclopropanation of allylic α-diazopropionates optimized with dirhodium(II) tetrakis[methyl 2-oxazolidinone-4(S or R)-carboxylate]

Abstract High enantiocontrol, up to 85% ee, has been achieved in intramolecular cyclopropanation reactions of representative allylic α-diazopropionates with the catalytic uses of Rh 2 (4S-MEOX) 4 .
Relationship of surface electrogram recordings to activity in the underlying specialized conducting tissue.

Surface electrodes are widely used to study the electrophysiology of the A-V conducting system. The recording of activity from the human in-situ His bundle represents a practical, clinically useful adaptation of surface recording technics. The interpretation of data accumulated by this means must be considered in relation to the extent to which the surface recordings from the specialized conducting system accurately reflect activity in the underlying tissue. A combination of microelectrode technics to record transmembrane action potentials and surface recording technics on isolated preparations of canine conducting tissue were used to approach this question. Under many conditions the surface electrogram was found to be an accurate indicator of the presence and timing of impulses in the conducting system. However, during early premature activity, marked decreases or complete absence of surface electrogram voltage could occur at coupling intervals at which premature impulses were still able to propagate through tissue under the electrodes. In addition, early premature activity could be associated with reversal of polarity of the surface electrogram without reversal of the direction of propagation. Inaccurate relationships between the time of inscription of the surface recording and the time of passage of the propagating wavefront beneath the surface electrodes also occurred with early premature impulses. Finally, there is some evidence that surface electrograms primarily reflect that activity in the most superficial levels of tissue.
The Alcohol Problem—More of the Same?

Abstract In view of recent prevalence and other data regarding alcohol use by college students this article considers whether or not alcohol represents a problem or a changeable problem for these students and/or their colleges. On the one hand, drinking is deeply embedded in the traditions of college life; it does serve some beneficial purposes; and it is often regarded as an accepted, if not expected, part of adolescence. Furthermore, drinking behavior in college is a poor predictor of eventual alcoholism. On the other hand, both difficulty in identifying problem drinking and ambivalence over false positive diagnoses have contributed to a preoccupation with alcoholism, and a denial of subclinical or preclinical but nonetheless real problems. New ways of defining what constitutes an “alcohol” problem, as well as ways of remedying and preventing the problem are discussed. College health personnel are needed to continue their traditional diagnostic and referral functions, but must expand their roles to incl...
Recurrent cerebellar gliomas: salvage therapy with oral etoposide

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the toxicity and activity of chronic oral etoposide in the management of children with recurrent juvenile pilocytic cerebellar astrocytomas. Twelve children with recurrent juvenile pilocytic cerebellar astrocytomas, refractory to surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy were treated with chronic oral etoposide. Treatment related complications included alopecia, diarrhea, weight loss, and thrombocytopenia. Three children required transfusion and one child developed neutropenic fever. No treatment related deaths occurred. Six children demonstrated either a radiographic response or stable disease with a median duration of 7 months. Oral etoposide was well tolerated, produced modest toxicity, and had apparent activity in this small cohort of children with recurrent juvenile pilocytic cerebellar astrocytomas.
Miniaturizing RFID for magnamosis

Anastomosis is a common surgical procedure using staples or sutures in an open or laparoscopic surgery. A more effective and much less invasive alternative is to apply the mechanical pressure on the tissue over a few days [1]. Since the pressure is produced by the attractive force between two permanent magnets, the procedure is called magnamosis[1]. To ensure the two magnets are perfectly aligned during the surgery, a miniaturized batteryless Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) tag is developed to wirelessly telemeter the status of a pressure sensitive mechanical switch. Using the multi-layer circular spiral coil design, the diameter of the RFID tag is shrunk to 10, 15, 19 and 27 mm to support the magnamosis for children as well as adults. With the impedance matching network, the operating distance of these four RFID tags are longer than 10 cm in a 20 × 22 cm2 area, even when the tag's normal direction is 45° off the antenna's normal direction. Measurement results also indicate that there is no noticeable degradation on the operating distance when the tag is immersed in saline or placed next to the rare-earth magnet. The miniaturized RFID tag presented in this paper is able to support the magnamosis and other medical applications that require the miniaturized RFID tag.
Design and Performance of a Fuel Cell Plant Heat Recovery System

A 1 MW Direct Fuel Cell® (DFC) power plant began operation at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) in January, 2007. This plant is currently the largest fuel cell plant in the world operating on a university campus. The plant consists of four 250 kW DFC300MA™ fuel cell units purchased from FuelCell Energy, Inc., and a waste heat recovery system which produces dual heating hot water loops for campus building ventilation heating, and domestic water and swimming pool heating water for the University Student Union (USU). The waste heat recovery system was designed by CSUN’s Physical Plant Management and engineering student staff personnel to accommodate the operating conditions required by the four individual fuel cell units as well as the thermal energy needs of the campus. A Barometric Thermal Trap (BaTT) was designed to mix the four fuel cell exhaust streams prior to flowing through a two stage heat exchanger unit. The BaTT is required to maintain an appropriate exhaust back pressure at the individual fuel cell units under a variety of operating conditions and without reliance on mechanical systems for control. The two stage heat exchanger uses separate coils for recovering sensible and latent heat in the exhaust stream. The sensible heat is used for heating water for the campus’ hot water system. The latent heat represents a significant amount of energy because of the high steam content in the fuel cell exhaust, although it is available at a lower temperature. CSUN’s design is able to make effective use of the latent heat because of the need for swimming pool heating and hot water for showers in an adjacent recreational facility at the USU. Design calculations indicate that a Combined Heat and Power efficiency of 74% is possible. This paper discusses the integration of the fuel cell plant into the campus’ energy systems, and presents preliminary operational data for the performance of the heat recovery system.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Characterization of defective-interfering RNAs of rubella virusgenerated during serial undiluted passage

During serial undiluted passage of rubella virus (RUB) in Vero cells, two species of defective-interfering (DI) RNAs of approximately 7000 and 800 nucleotides (nts) in length were generated (Frey, T. K., and Hemphill, M. L., Virology 164, 22-29, 1988). In this study, these DI RNAs were characterized by molecular cloning, hybridization with probes of defined sequence, and primer extension. The 7000-nt DI RNA species were found to be authentic DI RNAs which contain a single 2500- to 2700-nt deletion in the structural protein open reading frame (ORF) region of the genome. The 800-nt RNAs were found to be subgenomic DI RNAs synthesized from the large DI RNA templates. Analysis of the extent of the deletions using a reverse-transcription-PCR protocol revealed that the 3' end of the deletions did not extend beyond the 3' terminal 244 nts of the genome. The 5' end of the deletions did not extend into the nonstructural protein ORF; however, DI RNAs in which the subgenomic start site was deleted were present. Following serial undiluted passage of seven independent stocks of RUB, this was the only pattern of DI RNAs generated. DI RNAs of 2000 to 3000 nt in length were the majority DI RNA species in a persistently infected line of Vero cells, showing that other types of RUB DI RNAs can be generated and selected. However, when supernatant from the persistently infected cells was passaged, the only DI RNAs present after two passages were 7000 nts in length, indicating that this species has a selective advantage over other types of DI RNAs during serial passage.
Direct Observation of Chloride Transfer across the Water/Organic Interface and the Transfer of Long-Chain Dicarboxylates

We have extended the negative side of the potential window by using the organic reference electrode Ag/AgTPB and a low supporting electrolyte concentration in the aqueous phase. We have observed directly, for the first time, the voltammetric wave of chloride transferring across the water(W)/1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) and the water/nitrobenzene (NB) interfaces. The standard potentials (and the standard Gibbs free energies of transfer) have been evaluated by consideration of half-wave potentials, the variations of the activity coefficients in both phases, and ion-pair formation. Our best estimate for the free energy of Cl- transfer to water-saturated 1,2-DCE is 45−46 kJ/mol, and for NB 38 ± 2 kJ/mol. The Gibbs free energies of transfer of a homologous series of long-chain dicarboxylates have also been obtained for the first time. They show a similar dependence on carbon number as monocarboxylates. The transfers of the singly and doubly ionized dicarboxylic acids can also be observed simultaneously when th...
A Review and Evaluation of Logistics Metrics

Performance measurement in the logistics function, like all business functions, begins at the individual metric level. A performance measurement system that is well designed at the strategic level can be flawed at the individual metric level; the Achilles' Heel of any measurement system. The pressing need is not for the development of novel performance metrics: there is a great abundance of sufficient metrics already in existence. Rather, there is a need for a method with which to evaluate existing metrics. This paper addresses this need by suggesting a set of evaluation criteria for individual logistics performance metrics and identifying the inherent trade‐offs. A taxonomy of logistics performance metrics, organized by process rather than by function, is also presented and the metrics are evaluated using the established criteria.
Stromelysin in tumor progression and metastasis.

There are several characteristics of stromelysin that suggest that expression of this enzyme may play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis; the stromelysin gene is expressed in response to stimulation by oncogenes and tumor promoters, and the protein product of this gene is a metalloproteinase capable of degrading multiple components of the extracellular matrix. Experimental evidence to support this hypothesis has been derived from several animal model systems, in which a positive correlation has been observed between stromelysin expression and tumor progression and metastasis. In addition, in vivo experiments in which the levels of TIMP, the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases, were altered also strongly suggest a causal role for metalloproteinases in tumor metastases. The expression of active stromelysin in tumor cells requires the fulfillment of several criteria, and this multistep process is reminiscent of the molecular events that are currently understood to contribute to tumor progression and carcinogenesis. Expression of stromelysin mRNA requires both a stimulus, a step which may correspond to the activation of an oncogene in multistep carcinogenesis, as well as the lifting of transcriptional repression, which may correspond to the loss of tumor suppressor function. Both positive and negative modulation of stromelysin transcription appear to utilize pathways that involve the protooncogenes c-fos and/or c-jun. The expression of active stromelysin expression of inhibitors and the levels of active enzyme. The multiple levels of stromelysin regulation support the concept of multistep carcinogenesis and may provide a tool for further understanding of the molecular nature of the events that lead to tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis.
Ventilatory response to CO2 in children with obstructive sleep apnea from adenotonsillar hypertrophy.

We measured the ventilatory response to CO2 as an indicator of respiratory control dysfunction in children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) scheduled for adenotonsillectomy.Measurements were performed in unpremedicated children via an endotracheal tube under 0.4%-0.5% end-tidal halothane anesthesia. Mean ventilatory CO2 response slopes for 11 children with OSA requiring adenotonsillectomy (Group I) were compared with those for 14 children without OSA requiring adenotonsillectomy (Group II) and 15 children without OSA requiring nonairway surgery (Group III). The mean ventilatory slope corrected for body surface area for Groups I, II, and III were 539 +/- 338, 828 +/- 234, and 850 +/- 380 mL [middle dot] min-1 [middle dot] mm Hg ETCO2-1 [middle dot] m-2, respectively (P 10 s, daytime hypersomnolence, and nocturnal enuresis-defined those with OSA. Obesity occurred more frequently in patients with OSA and with depressed ventilatory responses (P < 0.001). Children with OSA from adenotonsillar hypertrophy have a diminished ventilatory response to CO2 stimulation, compared with those without OSA symptoms. The depressed response may account, in part, for the reported increased risk of perioperative respiratory complications in this population. Implications: Children with obstructive sleep apnea undergoing adenotonsillar surgery are at risk of postoperative respiratory compromise. We found that patients with a clinical history suggesting obstructive sleep apnea have a diminished ventilatory response to CO2 rebreathing, compared with controls. (Anesth Analg 1999;89:328-32)
A gestational low-protein diet represses p21(WAF1/Cip1) expression in the mammary gland of offspring rats through promoter histone modifications.

Maternal exposure to environmental agents throughout pregnancy may change certain metabolic processes during the offspring's mammary gland development and alter the epigenome. This may predispose the offspring to breast cancer later in life. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of maternal protein restriction on the regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1 (p21) gene expression in the mammary gland of rat offspring. Timed-mated Sprague–Dawley rats were fed one of the two isoenergetic diets, control (C, 18 % casein) or low protein (LP, 9 % casein), during gestation. Compared with the C group, LP offspring showed a decrease of p21 in the mammary gland at both the mRNA and protein levels. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that the down-regulation of p21 transcription in LP offspring was associated with reduced acetylation of histone H3 and dimethylation of H3K4 within the p21 promoter region, but was not associated with acetylation of histone H4 or histone methylation. DNA methylation analysis using bisulphite sequencing did not detect differences in methylation at the p21 promoter between the offspring of the C and LP groups. We conclude that maternal protein restriction inhibits p21 gene expression in the mammary gland of offspring through histone modifications at the promoter region of the p21 gene.
Phase-Shifting And Fourier Transforming For Sub-Micron Linewidth Measurement

By using a translating phase mask, a Fourier-transforming lens and a spatial filter, we can process laser light reflected from a surface in such a way as to avoid the diffraction effects common in conventional imaging. This optical technique is thus inherently capable of measuring minute surface features such as the width of deposited or inscribed lines with better than Rayleigh resolution and should therefore be applicable for metrology of sub-micron features. The novelty of the technique is to transfer linewidth information into the zero-order spatial frequency component of the light reflected from the surface. We present analyses and computer simulations to detail the effects of such features of the system as the sharpness of a step edge in a phase-shifting mask, the magnitude of the phase shift introduced by the mask, the variation in reflectivity and height of various regions of the surface structure, and the effect of instrumental noise on the determination of linewidth. Experimental measurements were performed on specimens with large feature dimensions to verify the inherent capability of the technique. The results agree well with theoretical predictions. It is hard to validate this technique at smaller dimensions because of the necessity for precise lateral translation of the mask with respect to the surface and the sensitivity of the system to the mask-to-surface distance. We discuss modifications in the next-generation experimental set-up that will address both these issues. Current results indicate that this technique will be viable well into the submicron range.
Morphology of axosomatic endings in an avian cochlear nucleus: Nucleus magnocellularis of the chicken

The axonal endings formed on the somata of neurons in the brainstem auditory nucleus magnocellularis (NM) were measured and classified in thin-sectioned material from adult chickens. Degeneration of primary endings after destruction of the basilar papilla and labeling of cochlear nerve fibers by injection of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into the inner ear were used to determine which ending types arise from the cochlear ganglion. About 60% of the perikaryal surface is apposed by primary type terminals. These primary endbulbs are characterized by round clear synaptic vesicles distributed at an average density of 63 vesicles/micrometers 2 and a number of small, punctate, highly asymmetrical synaptic contacts. The primary type is the only class of endings which disappears after destruction of the basilar papilla and which is consistently labeled after HRP injections into the ear. These endings probably account for the "fast" EPSP seen in NM during stimulation of the cochlear nerve. NM neurons receive two types of nonprimary ending. About 13% of the perikaryal surface is apposed by a morphologically homogeneous class of small "symmetrical" endings; these are characterized by a flattened rhomboidal shape, numerous mitochondria, frequent coated vesicles, and small round or ovoid synaptic vesicles at an average density of 165 vesicles/micrometers 2. Most of the length of the apposition between ending and cell body is occupied by a synaptic complex with thin symmetrical presynaptic and postsynaptic densities. These endings were frequently found on short somatic processes. The second nonprimary axosomatic ending type in NM is most easily identified in experimental material; these endings occupy about 5% of the cell surface area and have a distinctly rounded profile in cross section. These endings typically exhibit clear round synaptic vesicles at a density of 111 vesicles/micrometers 2 arrayed before synaptic contacts which occupy a substantially larger fraction of the total apposition length than in the endbulbs. Many of these synaptic contacts show well-defined presynaptic grids and have postsynaptic densities intermediate in width between the endbulbs and the symmetrical endings. This second type of nonprimary ending may be responsible for the long-latency excitatory post-synaptic potentials seen in intracellular recordings from NM during electrical stimulation of the cochlear nerve. The morphology and distribution of the three ending types does not differ significantly along the posterior-to-anterior axis of NM.
The Study of Exceptional Talent

The Study of Exceptional Talent (SET) identifies students who exhibit extremely advanced mathematical and/or verbal reasoning abilities and helps them find the challenging educational programs they need to achieve their full potential. Specifically, students who score 700–800 on the mathematical or verbal portion of SAT I before the age of 13 are invited to take advantage of SET's counseling and mentoring opportunities. An ongoing longitudinal study tracks the progress of these students, and their achievements to date have been exceptional. SET students, as a group, participate in a variety of accelerated programs, attend highly selective colleges and universities and earn advanced degrees in large numbers. Those who have embarked on their careers appear to be excelling in their chosen fields as well.
SU‐E‐T‐283; Risks of Cardiac Toxicity in Pediatric Patients Receiving Photon Or Proton Radiotherapy

Purpose: To compare the predicted risk of developing radiogenic cardiac toxicity after photon versus proton radiotherapies for a pediatric patient with Hodgkin disease (HD) and a pediatric patient with medulloblastoma (MB). Methods: In the treatment plans, each patient heart was contoured in fine detail, including substructures of the pericardium and myocardium. Risk calculations took into account both therapeutic and stray radiation doses. We calculated the relative risk (RR) of cardiac toxicity using a linear risk model and the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) values using relative seriality and Lyman models. Uncertainty analyses were also performed Results: The RR values of cardiac toxicity for the HD patient were 7.27 (95% confidence interval (CI), 3.09 to 27.12) (proton) and 8.37 (95% CI, 3.46 to 31.70) (photon), respectively; the RR values for the MB patient were 1.28 (95% CI, 1.09 to 2.18) (proton) and 8.39 (95% CI, 3.46 to 31.78) (photon), respectively. The predicted NTCP values for the HD patient were 2.17% (proton) and 2.67% (photon) for the myocardium, and were 2.11% (proton) and 1.92% (photon) for the whole heart. The predicted ratios of NTCP values (proton/photon) for the MB patient were much less than unity. Uncertainty analyses revealed that the predicted ratio of risk between proton and photon therapies was sensitive to uncertainties in the NTCP model parameters and the mean radiation weighting factor for neutrons, but was not sensitive to heart structure contours. The qualitative findings of the study were not sensitive to uncertainties in these factors. Conclusion: We conclude that proton and photon radiotherapies confer similar predicted risks of cardiac toxicity for the HD patient and that proton therapy reduced the predicted risk for the MB patient relative to photon therapy.
Iterative carr-purcell trains

Iterative schemes have provided a new way to devise complex sequences of RF pulses. In broadband spin decoupling they offer a significant reduction in RF power deposition for a given operating bandwidth (I, 2) and much better tolerance of instrumental imperfections (3, 4). New composite pulses for broadband, narrowband, or band-pass inversion (5-8) or excitation (9, IO) have also been discovered. An iterative scheme defines an entire family of composite pulses at once, since many possibilities exist for the starting sequence and the iterative procedure can be terminated at different stages. It is, of course, necessary to terminate the procedure at some stage to obtain a composite pulse of finite duration. In this communication we show that iterative schemes can also be interleaved with data acquisition as multiple-pulse sequences and, as an example, discuss an iterative version of the Carr-Purcell train (II). Unlike the Meiboom-Gill modification (12), our sequences stabilize long-term behavior of both components of transverse magnetization under the sequence of 180” refocusing pulses. This multiple-pulse scheme defines an entire family of echo trains depending on the nature of the inversion pulse and degree of iteration; we demonstrate the technique using conventional 180” pulses. Neglecting relaxation, physical transport of the spins, and any time-dependent fluctuations in field, frequency, or amplitude, each 180” pulse in the echo train can be characterized by a unitary operator R and the pulses are identical except for the choice of RF phase. Pulses of different phase differ by a rotation about the z axis of the rotating reference frame, e.g., l? = exp(-i7rIZ)R exp(ia1,)