cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of silicon carbide particulate reinforcement on quasi static and cyclic fatigue fracture behavior of 6061 aluminum alloy composites

In this paper, the quasi-static and cyclic fatigue fracture behavior of aluminum alloy 6061 discontinuously-reinforced with fine particulates of silicon carbide are presented and discussed. The discontinuous particulate-reinforced 6061 aluminum alloy was cyclically deformed to failure at ambient temperature under stress-amplitude controlled conditions. The influence of volume fraction of particulate reinforcement on high cycle fatigue response is presented. The underlying mechanisms governing the fracture behavior during quasi-static and cyclic fatigue deformation are discussed and rationalized in light of concurrent and mutually interactive influences of composite microstructural features, deformation characteristics of the metal matrix and reinforcement particulate, nature of loading and ductility of the microstructure.
It Isn’t Your Father’s Realtime Anymore: The misuse and abuse of a noble term

Isn’t it a shame the way the term realtime has become so misused? I’ve noticed a slow devolution since 1982, when realtime systems became the main focus of my research, teaching, and consulting. Over these past 20-plus years, I have watched my beloved realtime become one of the most overloaded, overused, and overrated terms in the lexicon of computing. Worse, it has been purloined by users outside of the computing community and has been shamelessly exploited by marketing opportunists. Adding to the humiliation, there is not even consistency of spelling: it variously appears as realtime (ACM Queue’s style preference), real-time (the author’s style preference), or real time.
A Survey of Computer Use by Public School Speech-Language Pathologists.

A questionnaire concerning computer applications was sent to 1,000 public school speech-language pathologists across the United States. Four hundred sixty-seven questionnaires were completed. Included in this article is an analysis of the applications for which computers are being used in the public schools, the types of hardware available, factors that public school speech-language pathologists feel are important in choosing software, and the types and degree of training public school speech-language pathologists have had concerning computer applications.
THE ENHANCEMENT OF PRODUCTION OF PHENYLALANINE BY EXTRACTIVE FERMENTATION WITH POLYMERIC BEADS

Extractive fermentation using uncharged polymeric beads (Amberlite XAD-16) was used for phenylalanine production. By compensating the adsorption of the hydrophobic nutrients by the polymeric beads, production of phenylalanine was increased due to the removal of phenylalanine inhibition on the growth of the bacteria. When the fed batch culture was performed at low bead concentration, the production of the phenylalanine increased about 30% compared to the control fermentation. An increase of production can be also achieved by using the pre-saturated beads with the hydrophobic nutrients. In addition, the adsorption isotherm in the fermentation medium was investigated. It was found that the adsorption of phenylalanine onto the beads decreased because the adsorption sites can be occupied by nutrients, but this competitive adsorption is not so drastic as to affect the adsorption of phenylalanine during fermentation. This knowledge will be useful when this technology is applied to actual commercial operation.
A new compound which reversibly arrests T lymphocyte cell cycle near the G1S boundary

A novel cell cycle blocking agent profoundly suppressed the proliferation of mitogen-stimulated T lymphocytes. The carboxythiazole derivative arrested cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle but did not inhibit the induction of cell surface receptors for either interleukin-2 or transferrin. The uncoupling of transferrin receptor expression from DNA synthesis indicated that a previously undefined restriction point in the cell cycle has been identified which occurs after transferrin receptor expression in late G1 and just prior to the initiation of DNA replication in S phase. T cells incubated in an inhibitory dose of the carboxythiazole derivative resumed cell cycle progression subsequent to its removal, indicating that the compound reversibly arrests cells at the late G1 restriction point. In contrast to other techniques which have been inefficient in achieving T cell synchronization, T cells released from the block mediated by the carboxythiazole compound progress through S phase with a considerable degree of synchrony.
Hessian fly-resistance gene H26 transferred from Triticum tauschii to common wheat

There is a continuing need for enhanced genetic diversity in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for resistance to the Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor Say). The objectives of this study were (i) to transfer a gene for Hessian fly resistance from the accession TA 2473 of the wild diploid goatgrass T. tauschii (Coss.) Schmal. into an elite, hexaploid wheat genotype and (II) to determine the chromosomal location of the gene [...]
Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Using a Clamped Circular Plate: Experimental Study

Energy harvesting using piezoelectric material is not a new concept, but its small generation capability has not been attractive for mass energy generation. For this reason, little research has been done on the topic. Recently, wearable computer concepts, as well as small portable electrical devices, are a few motivations that have reignited the study of piezoelectric energy harvesting. The theory behind cantilever type piezoelectric elements is well known, but the transverse moving circular plate elements, which can be used in pressure type energy generation is not yet fully developed. The power generation in a circular plate depends on several factors. Among them, the poling direction and the stress distribution is important as shown in previous research. Specifically, it has been shown theoretically that grouping electrodes and repoling some of the regrouped segments can lead to optimized energy harvesting in a clamped circular plate structure. This paper provides experimental validation of those results. In this paper, three circular plate piezoelectric energy generators (PEG), one unmodified and two different regrouped unimorph PEGs, were used to support the regrouped PEG energy generation theory. The experimental results of regrouped PEGs will be presented with an eye toward guidelines for design of a useful energy harvesting structure.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Decentralized deconfliction algorithms for unicycle UAVs

This paper provides an approach for the collision avoidance problem for a group of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) modeled as unicycles.We use a combination of navigation and swirling functions to direct the vehicles along the planned trajectories while avoiding inter-vehicle collisions. The main contribution is to propose deconfliction algorithms for unicycle vehicles that more closely capture the dynamics of constant speed UAVs as opposed to double integrator models. Moreover, we consider the issue of aircraft turn-rate constraints and proceed to explore the selection of key algorithmic parameters in order to minimize undesirable trajectories and overshoot induced by the avoidance algorithm. The avoidance and convergence analysis of the proposed algorithm is performed for two UAV deconfliction and simulation results are provided to support the viability of the proposed framework for more general mission scenarios.
Prediction of high lift: review of present CFD capability

Abstract A survey is conducted of CFD methods applied to the computation of high-lift multi-element configurations over the last 10–15 years. Both 2-D and 3-D configurations are covered. The review is organized by configuration, in an effort to glean useful insights with respect to particular successes or failings of CFD methods as a whole. In general, for both 2-D and 3-D flows, if certain guidelines regarding grid, transition, and turbulence model are followed, then surface pressures, skin friction, lift, and drag can be predicted with reasonably good accuracy at angles of attack below stall. Velocity profiles can generally be predicted in 2-D flow fields, with the exception of the slat wake, which tends to be predicted too deep by most CFD codes for a range of different configurations. CFD codes can usually predict trends due to Reynolds number in 2-D, but they are inconsistent in the prediction of trends due to configuration changes. On the whole, 2-D CFD is unreliable for predicting stall (maximum lift and the angle of attack at which it occurs); in most cases, maximum lift is overpredicted, but for some configurations the opposite occurs. However, there is some evidence that stall misprediction of nominally 2-D experiments may be caused by 3-D effects, which are obviously not modeled by 2-D CFD. In general, 3-D computations are also inconsistent with respect to computing stall, but there have been fewer of these applications to date. The paper concludes with a list of challenges that confront CFD at the start of the next decade, which should witness a dramatic increase in the number of CFD applications for 3-D high-lift configurations.
A multiobjective financial planning model for electric utility rate regulation

Abstract The interests of the three parties to the regulatory process—investors in an electric utility, consumers, and regulators—are often in conflict. Investors are concerned with shareholder wealth maximization, while consumers desire dependable service at low rates. If the desired end product of regulation is to establish rates that balance the interests of consumers and investors, then a financial planning model is needed that accurately reflects the multi-objective nature of the regulatory decision process. This article develops such a multi-objective programming model for examining the efficient trade-offs available to utility regulators in setting rates of return.
Conformational dependence of the Raman scattering intensities from polynucleotides.

The intensity of Raman scattering from the various Raman active vibrations of poly-(riboadenylic acid), poly(ribocytidylic acid), poly(ribouridylic acid), and poly(riboinosinic acid) in moderately dilute solutions were examined as the temperature was changed to alter their conformation. It was found that certain highly intense, highly polarized Raman bands from the totally symmetric, i.e., in-plane, ring vibrations of the nucleic acid bases become less intense as the chains become more ordered in solution. Since these vibrations occur at frequencies which are markedly different for each type of base, Raman spectroscopy appears to provide a new method for the characterizing of the average conformation of each of the bases in solution. A theory for the resonant Raman effect is given in which it is shown that, a decrease in resonant Raman intensity is to be expected if one obtains a decrease in the intensity of the corresponding ultraviolet absorption band with which the incident light is resonant. If it is assumed that certain Raman bands derive their intensity predominantly from the first few ultraviolet absorption intensities, then a qualitative explanation of our observed conformational dependence of the ordinary Raman intensities can be obtained.
Transcriptional Induction by Double-stranded RNA Is Mediated by Interferon-stimulated Response Elements without Activation of Interferon-stimulated Gene Factor 3

Many genes induced by type I interferons (IFNs) are also induced by double-stranded (ds) RNA. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of this induction process. Using cell lines from which the type I IFN genes have been deleted, we established that induction by dsRNA of the IFN-inducible 561 gene is direct and not mediated by the intermediate synthesis of IFN. Unlike 561 mRNA, the IFN-inducible 6-16 mRNA was induced poorly by dsRNA. Transfection studies demonstrated that the sequence difference between the core IFN-stimulated response elements (ISREs) of these two genes is not responsible for their differential inducibility by dsRNA. A point mutation in the 561 ISRE that abolished its response to IFN-α also made it unresponsive to dsRNA, thus demonstrating that the ISRE is the relevant cis-acting element for dsRNA signaling. The roles of different known ISRE-binding protein and tyrosine kinases in transducing the signal elicited by dsRNA were evaluated in genetically altered cell lines. dsRNA failed to induce 561 mRNA in cells expressing an antisense RNA for interferon regulatory factor 1, whereas it was induced strongly in cells expressing the corresponding sense mRNA. 561 mRNA was also induced strongly by dsRNA, but not by IFN-α, in mutant cell lines that do not express functional tyrosine kinases Tyk2 or JAK1 or ISRE binding protein, p48, or STAT2, all of which are required for IFN-α signaling. However, in cells devoid of functional STAT1, which is also required for IFN-α signaling, the induction of 561 mRNA by dsRNA was very low. Expression of transfected STAT1α protein, but not of STAT1β protein, in these cells greatly enhanced the dsRNA inducibility of the 561 gene. These studies indicate that the major ISRE-mediated signaling pathway used by dsRNA requires interferon regulatory factor 1 and STAT1α. This pathway, however, does not require the other known cytoplasmic components used for IFN-α signaling.
Structure in the subthreshold 232Th(n, f) cross section

Abstract The fission cross section of 232 Th has been measured over the neutron energy range 0.1 MeV to 30 MeV at the Livermore 100 MeV electron linac. The observed structure in the cross section between 0.7 MeV and 1.4 MeV, attributed to vibrational states in the second well of the double-humped fission barrier, is clearly correlated with the angular anisotropy of fission fragments measured by others.
Protostellar formation in rotating interstellar clouds. VII. Opacity and fragmentation

This paper investigates the effect of variations in the Rosseland mean opacity of dust grains on numerical models of three-dimensional protostellar collapse and fragmentation. In particular, it is found that increasing the dust grain opacity by factors of three to four has little effect upon the gross characteristics of protostellar fragmentation. Consequently, theoretical quantities such as the estimated minimum protostellar mass for Population I star formation are insensitive to the precise value of the opacity.
IDENTIFICATION OF SER-322 AS SPECIFIC SITE IN TAURINE TRANSPORTER (pNCT) THAT IS PHOSPHORYLATED BY PKC • 1657

IDENTIFICATION OF SER-322 AS SPECIFIC SITE IN TAURINE TRANSPORTER (pNCT) THAT IS PHOSPHORYLATED BY PKC • 1657
The role of water-borne chemical cues in mediating social interactions of the Texas blind salamander, Eurycea rathbuni

Association patterns and social interactions of salamanders vary given habitat heterogeneity and behavioural characteristics. Cave ecosystems are generally food limited and encountering mates may be rare. Little is known about the mode of social interactions and preferences in cave-adapted salamanders. We examined social interactions of the caveadapted, federally endangered, Texas blind salamander, Eurycea rathbuni , by examining sex-specific association patterns. We predicted that non-visual (chemical) cues would be an important mode of communication. We found no difference in association patterns between the sexes when presented with a single conspecific and no aggregative behaviours were detected. Interestingly, when given a simultaneous choice between a male or female, females preferred to associate with male conspecifics while males showed no clear preference. The results suggest that females of E. rathbuni use chemical cues to either seek males or avoid females and provide valuable insight into the little known social behaviour of this species and possibly other similar species.
Genomic instability due to germline p53 mutations drives preneoplastic progression toward cancer in human cells

Cells heterozygous for mutations in p53 demonstrate extreme genomic instability and develop mutations detectable at the chromosome level as well as the molecular level. This genomic instability causes initially nontumorigenic ras-expressing immortal LFS cells to progress to a tumorigenic state presumably due to additional mutational events. It is not surprising that LFS families with these p53 mutations develop the additional mutations necessary for cancer to occur at such high frequencies. This observation is consistent with increased cancer rates in these families being due to abrogation of a rate limiting step rather than a rate expected for one less step in a multistep carcinogenic process. Although p53 has been shown to be able to function as a transcription factor, mutations in p53 appear to affect genomic stability in LFS fibroblasts with double minutes and telomeric associations being prominent early events. One possibility is that p53 controls the expression of genes required for fidelity of replication or telomerase activity. Alternatively p53 may itself be a replication factor like the transcription factor CTF. In the future, we plan to investigate whether p53 plays a direct role in replication.
Scenarios that illuminate vulnerabilities and robust responses

Scenarios exist so that decision makers and those who provide them with information can make statements about the future that claim less confidence than do predictions, projections, and forecasts. Despite their prevalence, fundamental questions remain about how scenarios should best be developed and used. This paper proposes a particular conceptualization of scenarios that aims to address many of the challenges faced when using scenarios to inform contentious policy debates. The concept envisions scenarios as illuminating the vulnerabilities of proposed policies, that is, as concise summaries of the future states of the world in which a proposed policy would fail to meet its goals. Such scenarios emerge from a decision support process that begins with a proposed policy, seeks to understand the conditions under which it would fail, and then uses this information to identify and evaluate potential alternative policies that are robust over a wide range of future conditions. Statistical cluster analyses applied to databases of simulation model results can help identify scenarios as part of this process. Drawing on themes from the decision support literature, this paper first reviews difficulties faced when using scenarios to inform climate-related decisions, describes the proposed approach to address these challenges, illustrates the approach with applications for three different types of users, and concludes with some thoughts on implications for the provision of climate information and for future scenario processes.
Two-Phase Flows in Mini-/Micro-Gas Flow Channels of PEM Fuel Cells

In this paper, two-phase flow dynamics in a micro channel with various wall conditions are both experimentally and theoretically investigated. Annulus, wavy and slug flow patterns are observed and location of liquid phase on different wall condition is visualized. The impact of flow structure on two-phase pressure drop is explained. Two-phase pressure drop is compared to a two-fluid model with relative permeability correlation. Optimization of correlation is conducted for each experimental case and theoretical solution for the flows in a circular channel is developed for annulus flow pattern showing a good match with experimental data in homogeneous channel case.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Global forest carbon sequestration and climate policy design

Global forests could play an important role in mitigating climate change. However, there are significant implementation obstacles to accessing the world's forest carbon sequestration potential. The timing of regional participation and eligibility of sequestration activities are issues. The existing forest carbon supply estimates have made optimistic assumptions about immediate, comprehensive, and global access. They have also assumed no interactions between activities and regions, and over time. We use a global forest and land use model to evaluate these assumptions with more realistic forest carbon policy pathways. We find that an afforestation only policy is fundamentally flawed, accelerated deforestation may be unavoidable, and a delayed comprehensive program could reduce, but not eliminate, near-term accelerated deforestation and eventually produce sequestration equivalent to idealized policies – but with a different sequestration mix than previously estimated by others and thereby different forests. We also find that afforestation and avoided deforestation increase the cost of one another.
Theory of selective adsorption for He-LiF: Azimuthal and polar dependent intensities

An exact, nonperturbative calculation of the specular and diffracted intensities for He on LiF (001) accounts for all the features seen in the most recent experiments in the selective adsorption region for azimuthal and polar dependence. It is observed from the computed intensities that all of the family of beams having the same ${G}_{y}$ lead to the same shape of the resonant structure. In particular, the (0,0), ($\overline{1}$,0), and ($\overline{2}$,0) beams present minima in the azimuthal dependence and maxima in the polar one, while the ($\overline{1}$,1) and ($\overline{2}$,1) present the opposite shape. This behavior seems to be general, and applicable to other systems.
Computer-aided identification of prostatic adenocarcinoma: Segmentation of glandular structures

Background: Identification of individual prostatic glandular structures is an important prerequisite to quantitative histological analysis of prostate cancer with the aid of a computer. We have developed a computer method to segment individual glandular units and to extract quantitative image features, for computer identification of prostatic adenocarcinoma. Methods: Two sets of digital histology images were used: database I (n = 57) for developing and testing the computer technique, and database II (n = 116) for independent validation. The segmentation technique was based on a k-means clustering and a region-growing method. Computer segmentation results were evaluated subjectively and also compared quantitatively against manual gland outlines, using the Jaccard similarity measure. Quantitative features that were extracted from the computer segmentation results include average gland size, spatial gland density, and average gland circularity. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was used to combine quantitative image features. Classification performance was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and the area under the ROC curve (AUC). Results: Jaccard similarity coefficients between computer segmentation and manual outlines of individual glands were between 0.63 and 0.72 for non-cancer and between 0.48 and 0.54 for malignant glands, respectively, similar to an interobserver agreement of 0.79 for non-cancer and 0.75 for malignant glands, respectively. The AUC value for the features of average gland size and gland density combined via LDA was 0.91 for database I and 0.96 for database II. Conclusions: Using a computer, we are able to delineate individual prostatic glands automatically and identify prostatic adenocarcinoma accurately, based on the quantitative image features extracted from computer-segmented glandular structures.
The relationship of tarsal coalitions to ankle sprains in athletes

A review of charts and x-ray films of individuals who sustained ankle sprains was carried out to determine the presence of calcaneonavicular coalition. Coalitions were present in 63% of 215 patients with 223 ankle sprains. In 130 ankle sprains recorded as occurring directly in athletics, 65% of the x-ray films showed some degree of calcaneal navicular abnormality. This study found a much higher percentage of coalitions than anticipated in either the general population or the injured athletic population and reinforced the belief that there may be an underlying anatomic predisposition to ankle sprains.
The role of DNA microarrays in Toxoplasma gondii research, the causative agent of ocular toxoplasmosis.

Ocular toxoplasmosis, which is caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is the leading cause of retinochoroiditis. Toxoplasma is an obligate intracellular pathogen that replicates within a parasitophorous vacuole. Infections are initiated by digestion of parasites deposited in cat feces or in undercooked meat. Parasites then disseminate to target tissues that include the retina where they then develop into long-lived asymptomatic tissue cysts. Occasionally, cysts reactivate and growth of newly emerged parasites must be controlled by the host’s immune system or disease will occur. The mechanisms by which Toxoplasma grows within its host cell, encysts, and interacts with the host’s immune system are important questions. Here, we will discuss how the use of DNA microarrays in transcriptional profiling, genotyping, and epigenetic experiments has impacted our understanding of these processes. Finally, we will discuss how these advances relate to ocular toxoplasmosis and how future research on ocular toxoplasmosis can benefit from DNA microarrays.
Performance analysis of device state synchronisation for WiMedia MAC

In the UWB WiMedia MAC protocol, reservation slots called hard reservation slots and soft reservation slots allow for the medium to be used by the owner of the slots and also by non-owners while the owner is not accessing the medium. This raises a new problem: how do non-owners determine their device state in other owners' slots? Proposed is a mechanism for synchronising device states in hard and soft reservation slots. Performance analysis is presented showing that the mechanism prevents device energy waste and channel throughput degradation.
Fracture Toughness of Carbon Foam

Mode I fracture toughness of open cell carbon foam was measured using single edge notched four-point bend specimens. A micromechanical model was developed assuming a rectangular prism as the unit-cell. A small region surrounding the crack tip was modeled using finite elements. Displacement boundary conditions were applied to the boundary of the region based on linear elastic fracture mechanics for orthotropic materials. From the finite element results the Mode I stress intensity factor that will cause failure of a crack tip element was determined and it was taken as the predicted fracture toughness of the foam. A simpler model in which the foam consisted of struts of square cross section was also considered. The micromechanical simulations were used to study the variation of fracture toughness as a function of solidity of the foam. The good agreement between the finite element and experimental results for fracture toughness indicates that micromechanics can be an effective tool to study crack propagation in cellular solids.
Untangling compound documents on the web

Most text analysis is designed to deal with the concept of a "document", namely a cohesive presentation of thought on a unifying subject. By contrast, individual nodes on the World Wide Web tend to have a much smaller granularity than text documents. We claim that the notions of "document" and "web node" are not synonymous, and that authors often tend to deploy documents as collections of URLs, which we call "compound documents". In this paper we present new techniques for identifying and working with such compound documents, and the results of some large-scale studies on such web documents. The primary motivation for this work stems from the fact that information retrieval techniques are better suited to working on documents than individual hypertext nodes.
Activated eIF4E-binding Protein Slows G1 Progression and Blocks Transformation by c-myc without Inhibiting Cell Growth *

Translation initiation is poised between global regulation of cell growth and specific regulation of cell division. The mRNA cap-binding protein (eIF4E) is a critical integrator of cell growth and division because it is rate-limiting for translation initiation and is also rate-limiting for G(1) progression. Translation initiation factor eIF4E is also oncogenic and a candidate target of c-myc. Recently, an activated inhibitory 4E-binding protein (4EBP) that blocks eIF4E was used to study its regulation of Drosophila growth. We adopted this approach in mammalian cells after identifying an autosensing mechanism that protects against increased levels of 4EBP1. Increased 4EBP1 induced a quantitative increase in the inactivated phosphorylated form of 4EBP1 in vitro and in vivo. To overcome this protective mechanism, we introduced alanine substitutions at four phosphorylation/inactivation sites in 4EBP1 to constitutively activate a 4EBP mu to block eIF4E. Overexpression of activated 4EBP mu inhibited cell proliferation and completely blocked transformation by both eIF4E and c-myc, although it did not block all tested oncogenes. Surprisingly, expression of the activated 4EBP mu increased cell size and protein content. Activated 4EBP mu blocked both cell proliferation and c-myc transformation by inhibiting G(1) progression and increasing apoptosis, without decreasing protein synthesis. Our results identify mammalian eIF4E as rate-limiting for cell cycle progression before it regulates cell growth. It further identifies G(1) control by translation initiation factors as an essential genetic target of c-myc that is necessary for its ability to transform cells.
Hot water decontamination of beef carcasses for reduction of initial bacterial numbers.

Areas on freshly slaughtered beef carcasses were sprayed with hot (95°C), sterilized, distilled water in order to elevate carcass surface temperature to 82°C. A significant (P < 0·05) reduction in bacterial numbers was observed between control (prespray) and hot water treated carcass surfaces. These results indicate that microbial decontamination of beef carcasses with hot water will be effective if an approprite spraying apparatus is used.
Resolvability properties via independent families

Abstract The authors give a consistent affirmative response to a question of Juhasz, Soukup and Szentmiklossy: If GCH fails, there are (many) extraresolvable, not maximally resolvable Tychonoff spaces. They show also in ZFC that for ω λ ⩽ κ , no maximal λ-independent family of λ-partitions of κ is ω-resolvable. In topological language, that theorem translates to this: A dense, ω-resolvable subset of a space of the form ( D ( λ ) ) I is λ-resolvable.
Littlewood's correspondence between Schur polynomials and immanants

Littlewood's correspondence between Schur polynomials and immanants is discussed in the context of character theory. Some of the identities for immanants that result from the correspondence are used to prove inequalities involving immanants of positive semidefinite matrices.
Serotonin transporter and BDNF genetic variants interact to predict cognitive reactivity in healthy adults

Background Cognitive theory and empirical evidence both suggest that cognitive reactivity (the tendency to think more negatively when in a sad mood) is an important marker of depression vulnerability. Research has not yet determined whether genetic factors contribute to the expression of cognitive reactivity.
Investigation of systematic errors of an AC Josephson Voltage Standard

This paper presents results of experiments quantifying two systematic errors associated with the calibrations by use of an AC Josephson Voltage Standard: the change in the voltage leads error with the change in the level of probe immersion in the liquid helium, and the effect of the internal inductance of a Josephson array. The measurements were performed at frequencies 100 kHz and above, however, they can be used in evaluating an error budget at lower frequencies.
Teaching play skills to young children with autism

Background Play is critical for the development of young children and is an important part of their daily routine. However, children with autism often exhibit defi cits in play skills and engage in stereotypic behaviour. We reviewed studies to identify effective instructional strategies for teaching play skills to young children with autism. Method Empirical studies on teaching play skills to young children with autism published from 1990 to 2011 were located. These studies included single subject and group designs. Results Twenty-six studies were reviewed. The majority of studies on teaching play skills used combined interventions. Children with autism improved their play skills, with direct intervention embedding their interests during play. Improvements in play skills increased positive social interactions and decreased inappropriate behaviour as collateral effects. Conclusions Further research is needed to develop more effective play skill interventions that assess the functional use of play and are implemented in the natural environment.
The Cult of Emptiness: The Western Discovery of Buddhist Thought and the Invention of Oriental Philosophy, by Urs App, University Media: Rorschach, Switzerland, 2012

The Cult of Emptiness: The Western Discovery of Buddhist Thought and the Invention of Oriental Philosophy, by Urs App, University Media: Rorschach, Switzerland, 2012. Many modern historians of reli...
Canal seepage reduction by soil compaction.

Simple in situ vibratory soil compaction of earth lined canals was tested to determine the impact on seepage losses. Commercial equipment was used for vibratory compaction of long sections of five irrigation district earthen canals. Ponding tests were conducted before and after compaction. When the sides and bottoms of the canals were compacted, seepage reductions of about 90% were obtained; reductions of 16–31% were obtained when only sides were compacted.
Fundamental-transverse-mode high-power AlGaInP laser diode with windows grown on facets

The window-grown-on-facet (WGF) structure was first implemented to high power fundamental-transverse-mode AlGaInP lasers so as to reduce facet degradation. A kink-free CW maximum output power of 295 mW, about twice as much as for an identical non-WGF laser, was achieved at the wavelength of 680 mm; and fundamental-transverse-mode operation up to 150 mW was confirmed. Front and rear window layers are undoped (Al/sub 0.7/Ga/sub 0.3/)/sub 0.5/In/sub 0.5/P grown by MOCVD, while the internal laser was grown by solid-source MBE. The effect of the regrowth of the window layer was evaluated by time-resolved photoluminescence, and a threefold improvement in photoluminescence decay time was observed. >
Changes in Extracellular Space of the Mouse Cerebral Cortex During Hydroxyadipaldehyde Fixation and Osmium Tetroxide Post-Fixation

Perfusion of the cerebral cortex of mice with a 4.5 and 12.5% hydroxyadipaldehyde (HAA) solution in a cacodylate buffer caused a biphasic change in the tissue conductivity. After a latency of a fraction of a minute the cortical conductivity dropped markedly, reaching a minimum in 1.5-2 min. Then the conductivity increased again. Electron micrographs (EMs) of material perfused with HAA for 15-20 min and post-fixed with osmium tetroxide showed electron-transparent swollen structures, some of which could be identified as dendritic. The extracellular space consisted of 100-200 A slits between the tissue elements and larger spaces in bundles of small profiles (unmyelinated axons). Cortex frozen after 2 min perfusion with HAA and subjected to substitution in acetone containing 2 % OsO4 at -85 °C showed swollen (dendritic) structures and a paucity of extracellular material in accordance with the conductivity drop. Often tight junctions between the tissue elements were present. Tissue frozen after 15-20 min of HAA perfusion when the conductivity had increased again yielded EMs which were characterized by an abundance of extracellular space between the small profiles. The mitochondria in the swollen (dendritic) structures were enormously enlarged. Cortex perfused for 15-20 min with HAA, post-fixed with OsO4 and then freeze substituted produced EMs resembling those of tissue fixed in the same way but not subjected to freeze substitution. The examination of the fixation process by freeze substitution demonstrated a sequence of major changes in the fluid distribution of the tissue which precludes any direct relationship between the spaces in the normal and fixed tissue.
Energy-Based Position Estimation of Microphones and Speakers for Ad Hoc Microphone Arrays

We present a novel energy-based algorithm to estimate the positions of microphones and speakers in an ad hoc microphone array setting. Compared to traditional time-of-flight based approaches, energy-based approach has the advantage that it does not require accurate time synchronization. This property is particularly useful for ad hoc microphone arrays because highly accurate synchronization across microphones may be difficult to obtain since these microphones usually belong to different devices. This new algorithm extends our previous energy-based position estimation algorithm [1] in that it does not assume the speakers are in the same positions as their corresponding microphones. In fact, our new algorithm estimates both the microphones and speakers simultaneously. Experiment results are shown to demonstrate its performance improvement over the previous approach in [1], and evaluate its robustness against time synchronization errors.
Acute hematological effects of solar particle event proton radiation in the porcine model.

Acute radiation sickness (ARS) is expected to occur in astronauts during large solar particle events (SPEs). One parameter associated with ARS is the hematopoietic syndrome, which can result from decreased numbers of circulating blood cells in those exposed to radiation. The peripheral blood cells are critical for an adequate immune response, and low blood cell counts can result in an increased susceptibility to infection. In this study, Yucatan minipigs were exposed to proton radiation within a range of skin dose levels expected for an SPE (estimated from previous SPEs). The proton-radiation exposure resulted in significant decreases in total white blood cell count (WBC) within 1 day of exposure, 60% below baseline control value or preirradiation values. At the lowest level of the blood cell counts, lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes and eosinophils were decreased up to 89.5%, 60.4%, 73.2% and 75.5%, respectively, from the preirradiation values. Monocytes and lymphocytes were decreased by an average of ...
Identification of RANBP16 and RANBP17 as novel interaction partners for the bHLH transcription factor E12.

The ubiquitously expressed basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors E12 and E47, products of alternative splicing of the E2A/TCF3 gene, regulate diverse biological processes including cell growth, differentiation and development. To search for novel protein interactions for E12, we utilized the bHLH domain of E12 as a bait in yeast two-hybrid screening. Yeast two-hybrid, mammalian two-hybrid, and coimmunoprecipitation analyses demonstrate specific interaction of E12 with RANBP17, a novel member of the importin-b superfamily; this interaction maps to the CRM1 homology region of RANBP17. Ectopic expression of RANBP17 leads to a � 3-fold increase in E2A/MyoD mediated transactivation of an E-box regulated luciferase reporter gene. Interaction and transactivation studies also revealed similar functions for RANBP16/XPO7. Furthermore, ectopic expression of either RANBP16 or RANBP17 resulted in increased level of endogenous transcript for the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p21 Waf1/Cip1 , a well-characterized E2A target gene. Together, these biochemical and functional data reveal RANBP16 and RANBP17 as novel regulators of E2A protein action. J. Cell. Biochem. 111: 195‐206, 2010. 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Awards to individuals

Problems common to awards programs can be avoided by subjecting them to three tests of program effectiveness.
Research Methodology: An Innovative Approach to a Venerable Course

Th e introductory class in research methodology has been taught for many years at University of Michigan’s School of Public Health, and recently, a number of innovations have been introduced that have changed the course substantially. It has always been a challenging class for the instructors, in part because the students are so diverse academically; for example, this year our enrollment includes two physicians, 20 fi rst-year MPH-graduate students, halfa-dozen second-year MPH students, and an undergraduate in the accelerated BA-MPH program. Having taught the course recently as a team, we have now handed responsibility back to a single teacher (the fi rst author) and have collaboratively redesigned the curriculum to expand some of the innovations that were instituted over the years by the second author. Th e end result is a combination of a few traditions and a number of innovations that place the class squarely at the intersection of two important theories: evidencebased medicine (and the related discipline of evidence-based public health) and intrinsic motivation. And, as a recent article in Clinical and Translational Science points out, the eff ective education of new researchers is of critical interest to members of the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) community. 1
MUC-4 evaluation metrics

The MUC-4 evaluation metrics measure the performance of the message understanding systems. This paper describes the scoring algorithms used to arrive at the metrics as well as the improvements that were made to the MUC-3 methods. MUC-4 evaluation metrics were stricter than those used in MUC-3. Given the differences in scoring between MUC-3 and MUC-4, the MUC-4 systems' scores represent a larger improvement over MUC-3 performance than the numbers themselves suggest.
Can recent innovations in harmonic analysis 'explain' key findings in natural image statistics?

Recently, applied mathematicians have been pursuing the goal of sparse coding of certain mathematical models of images with edges. They have found by mathematical analysis that, instead of wavelets and Fourier methods, sparse coding leads towards new systems: ridgelets and curvelets. These new systems have elements distributed across a range of scales and locations, but also orientations. In fact they have highly direction-specific elements and exhibit increasing numbers of distinct directions as we go to successively finer scales. Meanwhile, researchers in natural scene statistics (NSS) have been attempting to find sparse codes for natural images. The new systems they have found by computational optimization have elements distributed across a range of scales and locations, but also orientations. The new systems are certainly unlike wavelet and Gabor systems, on the one hand because of the multi-orientation and on the other hand because of the multi-scale nature. There is a certain degree of visual resemb...
The intangibility of E-services: effects on artificiality, perceived risk, and adoption

This research focuses on perceptions and reactions to the intangible nature of newly digitized transaction processing systems. For many consumers, the intangibility of information system-based processes generates beliefs that they are fake, non-genuine, artificial and therefore inherently risky to use. This perceived artificiality phenomenon was shown to increase risk concerns, which in-turn inhibited system adoption. Investigating reactions to an e-service replacement of a paper process enabled testing of this proposed conceptual causal chain. Results suggest that the inherent intangibility of e-services creates concerns measured in raised perceived artificiality and perceived risk. Interestingly, mental rather than physical intangibility increased artificiality concerns. Perceived artificiality directly increased risk concerns and indirectly affected system evaluation and adoption, which were primarily affected by system perceived risk. This exploratory research suggests a research model that provides a first step towards understanding the effect of information systems? inherent intangibility on system evaluation and adoption, and may be utilized when testing riskreducing system enhancements.
Tracing Poverty and Inequality in International Development Discourses: An Algorithmic and Visual Analysis of Agencies’ Annual Reports and Occasional White Papers, 1978–2010

Noting limited attention by international development agencies to inequalities compared to global poverty, we ask how these two challenges have been framed in agencies’ policy publications during the past several decades. Following a recent application of algorithmic analysis to health policy narratives in the UK, we use text-mining software to compare the frequency of two alternative conceptualisations of poverty and inequality in three different document categories: the World Bank's World Development Reports, the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Human Development Reports and a set of white papers by bilateral donor agencies. In a second step, we visualise each document's degree of contextual similarity in using the two conceptualisations of poverty and inequality with all documents in the same source category. We find that while references to poverty have, on average, been twice as prominent as references to inequality, conceptualisations of poverty and inequality as well as the textual contexts in which they appear differ both temporally and substantively between agencies included in our sample. We show how such agency-specific framing patterns can be leveraged politically to forge more effective social policy coalitions. We also outline follow-up research capable of capturing the politics of language underpinning our observations.
Computational homogenization in RVE models with material periodic conditions for CNT polymer composites

Abstract RVE models with material periodic conditions are developed in generating a 3D network of fillers within the RVE. Computational homogenization in 3D RVE models is achieved using two approaches. In the first approach, statistical analysis with number of realizations is performed with increasing RVE size of randomly generated CNT within polymer. In statistical analysis, the filler that exceeds the RVE are translated until they find new spatial location within RVE. Simulations with increasing RVE size are performed until the standard deviation of computed apparent property for each RVE size is minimum to predict the critical RVE size. In the second approach, RVE models with material periodic boundary conditions are developed, which involve placing fillers that exceed the RVE into their respective position on the opposite face of RVE as if the RVE is part of a larger network of RVEs. Percolation threshold analysis of CNT filled polymer composites is presented using both computational homogenization approaches. It is demonstrated that computational homogenized models with material periodic conditions are independent of RVE size and provide homogenized results and are computationally efficient compared to statistical models.