cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retrieval practice over the long term: Should spacing be expanding or equal-interval?

If multiple opportunities are available to review to-be-learned material, should a review occur soon after initial study and recur at progressively expanding intervals, or should the reviews occur at equal intervals? Landauer and Bjork (1978) argued for the superiority of expanding intervals, whereas more recent research has often failed to find any advantage. However, these prior studies have generally compared expanding versus equal-interval training within a single session, and have assessed effects only upon a single final test. We argue that a more generally important goal would be to maintain high average performance over a considerable period of training. For the learning of foreign vocabulary spread over four weeks, we found that expanding retrieval practice (i.e., sessions separated by increasing numbers of days) produced recall equivalent to that from equal-interval practice on a final test given eight weeks after training. However, the expanding schedule yielded much higher average recallability over the whole training period.
Does the Surgical Apgar Score measure intraoperative performance

Objective:To evaluate whether Surgical Apgar Scores measure the relationship between intraoperative care and surgical outcomes.Summary Background Data:With preoperative risk-adjustment now well-developed, the role of intraoperative performance in surgical outcomes may be considered. We previously de
Assessing Differential Item Functioning in Direct Writing Assessments: Problems and an Example

The recent emphasis on various types of performance assessments raises questions concerning the differential effects of such assessments on population subgroups. Procedures for detecting differential item functioning (DIF) in data from performance assessments are available but may be hindered by problems that stem from this mode of assessment. Foremost among these are problems related to finding an appropriate matching variable. These problems are discussed and results are presented for three methods for DIF detection in polytomous items using data from a direct writing assessment. The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of using different combinations of internal and external matching variables. The procedures included a generalized MantelHaenszel statistic, a technique based on meta-analysis methodology, and logistic discriminant function analysis. In general, the results did not support the use of an external matching criterion and indicated that continued problems may be expected in attempts to assess DIF in performance assessments. As performance assessment methods have gained greater acceptance for highstakes measurement applications, the validity and measurement properties of these types of assessments have come under closer scrutiny. One area of research that is of considerable interest and importance concerns the effects of these types of measures for different examinee subgroups. Expectations of greater fairness and equity that have been associated with performance-based assessment (e.g., National Commission on Testing and Public Policy, 1990; Wiggins, 1989) need to be evaluated empirically. Assessment of differential item functioning (DIF) should be a central part of this research. However, there are a number of problems in applying DIF methodology developed for conventional multiple-choice tests to performance assessments. First, there is the obvious need for procedures that can effectively identify DIF in polytomous item responses. More important, however, are problems that stem from the fact that performance assessments will not always provide sufficient information in and of themselves to effectively match examinees on ability, so that direct extensions of existing methodology which relies on such matching may not be possible. This article addresses these problems and provides an example involving data from a large-scale direct writing assessment. This example is, in many respects, typical of extended response assessment and is presented to exemplify the magnitude of the problems that may be faced in attempts to assess DIF in performance assessments. All current approaches to DIF detection are based on a conditional definition
Chronic post-traumatic neck and head pain.

Objective.—This is a review of current concepts of chronic post-traumatic neck and head pain. In this article, I will emphasize the physiological and sociological aspects of these disorders. Background.—The pathophysiology of chronic post-traumatic neck and head pain has not been well understood. Some have emphasized the organic factors and others the psychogenic aspects of these conditions. Only in recent years have this dichotomy been integrated with sociocultural concepts. Methods.—The history of chronic post-traumatic head and neck pain is reviewed. Paradoxes are discussed, ie, the great differences in prevalence around the world, the inconsistent relationship of symptoms to degree of trauma, the curious phenomena of structural disease without symptoms, and symptoms without structural disease. The organic and pathophysiologic factors are reviewed, then those factors that modulate pain in these conditions are discussed. Conclusion.—Chronic post-traumatic neck and head pain is rarely either organic or psychogenic. Rather physiological, social, and cultural factors play major roles in modulating pain and either perpetuate or ameliorate these chronic pain conditions.
A multifunctional in situ catalyst characterization apparatus

Abstract Experimental work in heterogeneous catalysis routinely requires the use of several diverse laboratory techniques. Frequently, the catalytic materials are hygroscopic, easily oxidized or contaminated at ambient conditions. Therefore, it is desirable to isolate the samples from the environment as they are handled between tests. A multifunctional apparatus has been designed to permit in situ studies of catalyst samples under controlled atmospheres. Several useful catalyst characterization techniques are integrated into one apparatus, namely, gas pulse chemisorption and titration, temperature programmed desorption, temperature programmed reduction and a recirculation gradientless reactor for reaction kinetics evaluation. Using this configuration, studies such as sintering, characterization and pulse or continuous reaction determinations can be performed. The apparatus described here was constructed and tested successfully for each of the techniques mentioned.
Demonstration of a 13 keV Kr K-shell X-Ray Source at the National Ignition Facility

We report 3% conversion efficiency of laser energy into Kr K-shell (≈13 keV) radiation, consistent with theoretical predictions. This is ≈10× greater than previous work. The emission was produced from a 4.1-mm-diameter, 4-mm-tall gas pipe target filled with 1.2 or 1.5 atm of Kr gas. 160 of the National Ignition Facility laser beams deposited ≈700 kJ of 3ω light into the target in an ≈140 TW, 5.0-ns-duration square pulse. The Dante diagnostics measured ≈5 TW into 4π solid angle of ≥12 keV x rays for ≈4 ns, which includes both continuum emission and flux in the Kr He_{α} line at 13 keV.
Magnetoconductance of Tl2Ba2CaCu2Ox films in the fluctuation regime.

Magnetoconductance (MC) has been measured above the mean-field transition temperature ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ in the highly anisotropic high-temperature superconductor ${\mathrm{Tl}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}$${\mathrm{CaCu}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{\mathit{x}}$ for fields parallel and perpendicular to the CuO plane. Recent theoretical expressions for the magnetoconductance in the layered superconductors provide a good fit for the temperature range ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$+10 KT160 K. Using the additional constraint of the zero-field fluctuation conductivity, we obtain the in-plane coherence length ${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{\mathit{a}\mathit{b}}$(0)\ensuremath{\approxeq}11.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4 \AA{} and a linear temperature dependence for the phase relaxation rate, with 1/${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\tau}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\varphi}}}$\ensuremath{\approxeq}(3.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{13}$ ${\mathrm{sec}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ at ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$. For ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$T${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$+10 K, we found a significant enhancement of the negative MC compared to the prediction based on the Gaussian approximation. A possible origin of such deviation is discussed.
Circular dichroism studies on the structure and the photochemistry of protochlorophyllide and chlorophyllide holochrome.

Abstract On the basis of absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectral measurements, we conclude that the photoreduction of protochlorophyllide to chlorophyllide in homogenates of etiolated bean seedlings ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) involves two light steps in series. Before illumination, the active protochlorophyllide occurs in a dimeric form in the holochrome protein. The initial light reaction converts one of the protochlorophyllide molecules and forms a chlorophyllide-protochlorophyllide holochrome intermediate with a weak, characteristic CD spectrum. The second light reaction subsequently converts the second protochlorophyllide in a less efficient reaction that is temperature dependent. This produces a chlorophyllide holochrome which exhibits a strong double CD characteristic of dimers and which is stable below 1°C. At higher temperatures this dimeric chlorophyllide transforms in the dark to a monomeric form with low CD amplitude. Sucrose at high concentrations (2 M) alters the chlorophyllide holochrome CD spectrum and prevents the final dark dissociation step. Analysis of the photochemical kinetics confirms the occurrence of the two-step photoreduction and supports the stoichiometry of two (proto)chlorophyllides per holochrome protein.
A novel particle engineering technology to enhance dissolution of poorly water soluble drugs: spray-freezing into liquid.

Abstract A novel cryogenic spray-freezing into liquid (SFL) process was developed to produce microparticulate powders consisting of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) molecularly embedded within a pharmaceutical excipient matrix. In the SFL process, a feed solution containing the API was atomized beneath the surface of a cryogenic liquid such that the liquid-liquid impingement between the feed and cryogenic liquids resulted in intense atomization into microdroplets, which were frozen instantaneously into microparticles. The SFL micronized powder was obtained following lyophilization of the frozen microparticles. The objective of this study was to develop a particle engineering technology to produce micronized powders of the hydrophobic drug, danazol, complexed with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) and to compare these SFL micronized powders to inclusion complex powders produced from other techniques, such as co-grinding of dry powder mixtures and lyophilization of bulk solutions. Danazol and HPβCD were dissolved in a water/tetrahydrofuran cosolvent mixture prior to SFL processing or slow freezing. Identical quantities of the API and HPβCD used in the solutions were co-ground in a mortar and pestle and blended to produce a co-ground physical mixture for comparison. The powder samples were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy, surface area analysis, and dissolution testing. The results provided by DSC, XRD, and FTIR suggested the formation of inclusion complexes by both slow-freezing and SFL. However, the specific surface area was significantly higher for the latter. Dissolution results suggested that equilibration of the danazol/HPβCD solution prior to SFL processing was required to produce the most soluble conformation of the resulting inclusion complex following SFL. SFL micronized powders exhibited better dissolution profiles than the slowly frozen aggregate powder. Results indicated that micronized SFL inclusion complex powders dissolved faster in aqueous dissolution media than inclusion complexes formed by conventional techniques due to higher surface areas and stabilized inclusion complexes obtained by ultra-rapid freezing.
Myeloperoxidase metabolizes thiocyanate in a reaction driven by nitric oxide.

We examined the potential physiological relevance of myeloperoxidase (MPO)−nitric oxide (NO) interactions as they may relate to the cosubstrate, pseudo halide thiocyanate (SCN-), and substrate switching. Direct spectroscopic and rapid kinetics studies revealed that SCN- interaction with MPO facilitates formation of the MPO catalytic intermediate Compound II, limiting overall activity. However, a physiological NO concentration (2 μM or less) dramatically influences the build-up, duration, and decay of the steady-state level of MPO Compound II during the metabolism of SCN-, allowing the enzyme to function at full capacity. At higher NO concentrations, we observed significant increases in the rate of MPO Compound II formation, along with proportional increases in its duration as determined by the time elapsed during catalysis. Surprisingly, the decay rate of MPO Compound II remained unaltered as NO concentrations were increased. Computer simulations were carried out to model the kinetics of MPO Compound II f...
Self-assembly of phospholipid-PEG coating on nanoparticles through dual solvent exchange

We coated nanoparticles including iron oxide nanoparticles and quantum dots with phospholipid-PEG using the newly developed dual solvent exchange method and demonstrated that, compared with the conventional film hydration method, the coating efficiency and quality of coated nanoparticles can be significantly improved. A better control of surface coating density and the amount of reactive groups on nanoparticle surface is achieved, allowing conjugation of different moieties with desirable surface concentrations, thus facilitating biomedical applications of nanoparticles.
Epidemiology of alzheimer's disease: Research trends in the united states

In the absence of a peripheral biochemical marker of Alzheimer's disease, case identification in community epidemiologic studies has to rely on a probabilistic diagnosis based on the exclusion of other causes of dementia. This article is a review of the advances made in the successive steps of this diagnostic process. Representative epidemiologic studies on diagnosis, prevalence, incidence, lifetime cumulative risk, mortality, risk factors, prognosis, and the overlap of dementia and depression are reviewed and discussed. Differences in case ascertainment and the methods used have, at times, led to conflicting findings. The recognition of these differences and the experience gained by the studies done so far are paving the way for new initiatives aimed at a better understanding and resolution of the issues left unsettled.
Embracing Both a Constructivist Counseling Approach and a Specific Religious Tradition: Is It a Leap of Faith?

Given that constructivist approaches to counseling and religious faith traditions have divergent views regarding the understanding and perception of reality, the question arises, “Can a counselor embrace both a constructivist counseling approach and a particular religious tradition?” Using a diversity within unity perspective, the author argues that embracing both a constructivist counseling approach and a particular religious tradition does not require the leap of faith that one might initially believe.
Auger and radiative transition probabilities of high Rydberg states

Abstract The dependence of the Auger and radiative transition probabilities of high Hydberg states on their principal and orbital quantum numbers n and l is studied. Based on explicit calculations, a simple empirical l -dependence of the gaussian type is obtained, which differs drastically from any of the previously assumed behavior.
An NAD- and NADP-dependent malic enzyme with regulatory properties in rat liver and adrenal cortex mitochondrial fractions.

Abstract The NAD- and NADP-dependent malic enzymes from rat liver and adrenal mitochondrial fractions were separated and partially purified by gel filtration on Sepharose 6B. Two activity peaks were observed. The first contained a malic enzyme capable of reducing either NAD or NADP. This enzyme showed sigmoid kinetics in plots of activity versus the malate concentration. Succinate was an allosteric activator and ATP was a competitive inhibitor of malate. The second peak showed hyperbolic kinetics in plots of activity versus the malate concentration and was unaffected by either succinate or ATP. The relative activities of the two malic enzymes were quite constant in the adrenal mitochondrial fractions. In the liver mitochondrial fractions, the activity of the first peak varied and was sometimes absent while the activity of the second peak was quite constant. The kinetic properties of the first malic enzyme implicate it as an important regulator of malate oxidation.
Tumor-inhibitory effects of combinations of the vinca alkaloids with actinomycin D.

Abstract Combinations of vinblastine and actinomycin D exhibited synergistic tumor-inhibitory activity against the ascitic form of Ehrlich carcinoma and sarcoma-180 when given daily to mice by intraperitoneal injection for 6 to 10 days. Against L1210 ascites tumor the combination produced approximately additive increases in survival time. Single large doses of vinblastine were much less effective than chronic treatment. Antitumor effects of combinations of single doses of vinblastine and actinomycin D were not significantly greater than those produced by actinomycin D alone, unless the drugs were administered in a sequence, 24 hr apart, initiated with vinblastine. Vincristine was not a very effective inhibitor of the three tumors examined, and in combination with actinomycin D, showed additive or subadditive effects against L1210 and sarcoma-180 ascites tumors. Biochemical studies using the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma indicated that therapy with vinblastine produced an increase in cell size coupled with elevation of the cellular contents of DNA, RNA, and protein. Super-imposition of actinomycin D did not affect the increases in protein or cell size, but largely prevented the increase in DNA per cell and reduced the level of RNA. Incorporation of 3H-uridine into RNA was depressed by treatment with actinomycin D; further reduction in the uptake of isotope by superimposing single doses of vinblastine was achieved only if treatment with the vinca alkaloid preceded actinomycin therapy by 24 hr.
Rapid separation of 5-phospho-α-d-ribose-1-diphosphate from its metabolic derivatives

Abstract A simple procedure for separation of 5-phospho-α- d -ribose-1-diphosphate (PRibPP) from its metabolic derivatives is reported. The method is based on the affinity of 5-phosphoribosyl derivatives for N-[N′-(m-dihydroxyborylphenyl)-succinamyl]aminoethylcellulose (DBAE cellulose) through the 1,2-cis-diol interaction, whereas PRlbPP exhibits no affinity for this resin. The method can be used to assay for any of the family of phosphoribosyltransferase enzymes and is capable of producing PRibPP of high purity from commercially available sources.
Surface tension of homologous series of liquids

Abstract Literature data for the surface tensions of several homologous series of alkane derivatives, including compounds of the types R-X, X-R-X and R-X-R where R is an n-alkyl residue, as well as the interfacial tensions against water of n-alkanes, alkyl benzenes and dimethylsiloxanes, have been collected. It was found that in nearly all cases the surface or interfacial tensions are linear in M − 2 3 , where M is the molecular weight. The extrapolated infinite-molecular-weight surface or interfacial tensions (i.e., at M − 2 3 = 0 ) are nearly the same for all the alkane derivatives. This functional dependency is that which we had previously found for the surface tension of several series of polymer liquids.
What's wrong with the liberal documentary

I'm a documentary filmmaker and teacher who has been making films independently since 1967 and teaching filmmaking at a university since 1989. I've been thinking for a long time that the progressive or liberal documentary is an inadequate form—a relatively useless cultural product, especially for political change. Its basic strategy is description, and it makes arguments by organizing visual evidence, expressive local testimony and expert technical testimony into a deceptively satisfying emotional form. These standard filmic conventions do little to inform the audience of its own role in socially oppressive relationships and conditions, or to rouse the audience from its implicit complacency with the status quo. This essay will consider new forms of documentary which challenge current non‐fiction film practice and which link the documentary form more closely with political action.
Psychosis and vulnerability to ECT-induced seizures.

Medical records of patients with major depressive disorders who had received electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for the first time were studied to test the hypothesis that psychotic patients are more vulnerable to seizures than nonpsychotic patients. This hypothesis was based on studies suggesting a putative purinergic deficiency in psychosis. Results showed that the duration of ECT-induced seizures as a measure of seizure vulnerability was significantly longer in psychotic than in nonpsychotic depressive patients. The association applied for the first ECT as well as for the course of eight ECTs. These findings were still present when covariates such as age, electrical energy applied, dosage of methohexital and succinylcholine, and psychotropic medications such as neuroleptics, benzodiazepines, and tricyclics were included in the statistical analysis. The results are discussed in the context of the role of neurotransmitters such as glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid, adenosine, and dopamine on seizure vulnerability and psychosis.
Statistical Accuracy of iPad Applications: An Initial Examination

With the recent advent of the iPad, statistics-related applications (apps) have begun development. Given their newness, statistical accuracy is a concern. This study assessed the accuracy of the following iPad apps: Data Explorer, StatsMate, Statistics Visualizer, and TC-Stats. Early and recent versions of Excel were also included for comparative purposes. Accuracy was considered in two ways. First, the National Institute of Standards and Technology Statistical Reference Datasets (StRD) were used to benchmark accuracy. Analyses included univariate summary statistics (means, standard deviations), analysis of variance (ANOVA; F statistics), and linear regression (regression coefficients, standard deviations). The log relative error was computed for each dataset (comparing the “certified” values from StRD against the app actual values). Second, Wilkinson's tests were conducted to assess app “pass” rates (rounding, scatterplot, univariate, regression, overall). The results suggest the following: (a) the most ...
Structural vibration suppression using PZT patches and higher-order saturation phenomena

This paper presents the study of controlling steady-state vibrations of a cantilevered skew isotropic plate using higher-order saturation phenomena. PZT (lead zirconate titanate) patches are used as control actuators, and a laser vibrometer (measuring velocities) or PZT patches (measuring displacements) are used as sensors. Modal testing, finite element analysis, and a scanning laser vibrometer are used to reveal the plate's bending-torsional dynamic characteristics due to non-rectangular geometry. Results show that a mode shape can be significantly different from the corresponding operational deflection shape under the excitation of a PZT patch at the modal frequency. The control method uses linear second-order controllers coupled to the plate via different low-order nonlinear terms to establish energy bridges between the plate and controllers. Each linear second-order controller is designed to have a 1:2 or 1:3 or 1:4 internal resonance with one of the plate vibration modes and hence is able to exchange energy with the plate at or around the specific modal frequency. Because of nonlinearities and internal resonances, different orders of saturation phenomena exist and are used to suppress modal vibrations. Several nonlinear saturation controllers are designed and analyzed to show their feasibility and efficiency. Both perturbation analysis and direct numerical integration are used, and some experiments are performed to validate these saturation controllers.
A Discussion of the Chemical Structure of the Organic Matter in Green River Oil Shale

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to question the idea that the organic matter in Green River oil shale is a macromo-lecule or polymer-like material and to present evidence taken from the literature that describes its composition. The paper (1) discusses the composition of kerogen and bitumen and (2) attempts to show that Green River kerogen is a complex mixture of organic compounds, rather than a macromolecule or polymer-like material.
High-performance liquid chromatography using continuous on-line post-elution photoirradiation with subsequent diode-array UV or thermospray mass spectrometry detection

The use of HPLC with continuous on-line post-elution photoirradiation followed by either diode-array UV or thermospray mass spectrometric detection is presented. These tandem techniques can greatly increase specificity of analysis, as demonstrated by select compounds whose UV or thermospray mass spectra are highly similar under lamp off conditions but significantly different after photoirradiation. The utility of the above approach for various compounds of forensic interest is presented.
The Nifedipine-Total Ischemia Awareness Program: a national survey of painful and painless myocardial ischemia including results of antiischemic therapy.

Abstract The Nifedipine-Total Ischemia Awareness Program was designed to evaluate the prevalence, prognostic implications and effect of therapy on painful and painless myocardial ischemic episodes in a nationwide study of patients with angina pectoris. Three hundred forty-eight patients with at least 2 anginal attacks/week while taking antianginal medications were enrolled at 53 participating centers between September 1, 1986 and March 31, 1988; 312 of the 348 patients formed the study group, while 36 patients formed the control group. At least 1 episode of ST-segment depression during two 48-hour periods of Holter monitoring was present in 136 of the 312 patients in the study group. In these 136 patients, there was a total of 372 episodes of ST-segment depression, of which only 69 (18%) were painful; 85% of the 136 patients had either painless episodes only or both painless and painful episodes. Despite apparently adequate antianginal therapy, 48 patients had ≥3 episodes of ST-segment depression/48 hours of ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring, and 38 patients >60 minutes of ST-segment depression. After nifedipine was administered, there was a 23% reduction in the mean number of episodes of ST-segment depression (2.7 ± 0.3 to 2.1 ± 0.2, p
On the neurophysiology of consciousness: I. An overview.

How certain neural mechanisms (Mc) momentarily endow with subjective awareness (C) percepts and affects represented elsewhere is more likely to be clarified when structures essential to Mc are identified. The loss of C with bilateral thalamic lesions involving the intralaminar nuclei (ILN) contrasts with retention of C after large cortical ablations depriving C of specific contents. A role of ILN in the perception of primitive (i.e., not cortically computed) sensations is suggested by their afference of directly ascending pathways. A role for ILN in awareness of cortical activity is suggested by their widespread afference from cortex, a property shared with striatum. A role for ILN in volition is suggested by their heavy projection to striatum. Unlike striatum, ILN also project widely to almost all neocortex, enabling an effect on ideation; this last property is in common with other structures (e.g., locus coeruleus) but none of them has the same direct cortical afference. And passage through the reticular nucleus (nRt) of ILN efferents to cortex could impact the attention-selective action of nRt. It is suggested that the quickest route to a better understanding of C involves more intensive study of ILN. No other structure seems, in the light of our current knowledge, a more likely site for Mc.
Network fault localization with small TCB

Clear evidence indicates the existence of compromised routers in ISP and enterprise networks. Fault localization (FL) protocols enable a network to localize specific links of compromised routers sabotaging network data delivery and are recognized as an essential means to enhancing network availability in the face of targeted attacks. However, theoretically proven lower bounds have shown that secure FL protocols in the current network infrastructure inevitably incur prohibitive overhead. We observe the current limits are due to a lack of trust relationships among network nodes. We demonstrate that we can achieve much higher FL efficiency by leveraging trusted computing technology to design a trusted network-layer architecture, Tru eN et, with a small Trusted Computing Base (TCB). We intend Tru e N e t to serve as a case study that demonstrates trusted computing's ability in yielding tangible and measurable benefits for secure network protocol designs.
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and the Inflammatory Basis of Metabolic Disease

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the major site in the cell for protein folding and trafficking and is central to many cellular functions. Failure of the ER's adaptive capacity results in activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR), which intersects with many different inflammatory and stress signaling pathways. These pathways are also critical in chronic metabolic diseases such as obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. The ER and related signaling networks are emerging as a potential site for the intersection of inflammation and metabolic disease.
PC-CARD APPLIED NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND ITS COMMUNICATION FUNCTION ENHANCEMENT : MIUT WITH MOBILE MULTIMEDIA TECHNIQUES

Abstract The high-mobility work force find their in-vehicle-use computers to be very effective business tools and now anticipate a mobile computer with the location or map navigation function. Denso has thus developed a Mobile Information Unit and Terminal (MIUT) targeted to an entirely new market segment in addition to the in-vehicle navigation sector: people who want their office on wheels. The MIUT comes with two PC-card slots, one for hard-disk (HD)-applied navigation function, the other for a digital communication card for tele-data function, both in direct contact with the MIUT Information Center. The present report provides information on the new system, based on enhanced vehicle communication, thanks to its on-site/communication ability and flexibility in the use of standardized PC-card interface with Mobile Multimedia Techniques.
Remarks on the boundary conditions at the liquid-vapor interface for the continuum vapor region

An attempt is made to determine boundary conditions for the continuation flow in the vapor region by making certain assumptions concerning the distribution function of evaporating particles. Assuming that the temperature parameter of these particles is equal to the temperature of the liquid at the interface, other parameters of the distribution function are determined so as to satisfy the conservation laws and boundary conditions at the edge of the continuum region.
Conceptual design metrics for daylighting

Daylight is a key component of green building; however, no prevailing metric has emerged to help identify buildings that are well-daylit buildings. This paper proposes a ‘daylighting dashboard’; a ...
Hyperfine structure constants of (d+s)3 states in La I and the Zr II and Hf II isoelectronic sequences

Accurate results for hyperfine structure (HFS) constants of (d+s)n states often require the inclusion of both correlation and relativistic effects. Without these, Dirac–Fock HFS constants may have the wrong sign, the energies of uppermost dn levels may be wrong by over 1 eV. Here, we demonstrate that these problems persist well into an isoelectronic sequence, and identify the principle configurations needed to achieve accurate results. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 65: 555–564, 1997
Educational Leadership in Policy Contexts That Strive for Equity

In North America and elsewhere, the students educated in public schools have long been diverse along dimensions of race/ethnicity, national origin, native language, socioeconomic status, gender, and physical ability. Even so, social and cultural diversity is accelerating, so that most teachers and schools, whether located in urban, suburban, or rural contexts, can now expect to encounter students from widely varying backgrounds (Natriello, McDill, & Pallas, 1990; Nieto, 1999; Riehl, 2000). Diversity in student enrollment has virtually always led to unequal levels of educational achievement and attainment for students from different backgrounds. Increasingly, however, public officials, advocates, and others are challenging the inevitability of this result and are crafting policies to hold schools and school systems accountable for equitable learning for all students
Malicious data attacks against dynamic state estimation in the presence of random noise

State estimation in a discrete-time linear dynamical system is considered in the presence of random process noise, in addition to a malicious adversary able to manipulate some measurements of the system. The adversary has access to only a subset of the measurements, but the particular subset is unknown, and it may adjust these measurements in an arbitrary fashion. A specific attack is proposed that gives a lower bound on the mean squared error for any estimator. Two estimators are proposed; one based on a non-convex optimization problem using sparsity constraints, the second a convex relaxation using a mixed l1/l2 norm. The performance of both estimators are studied using simulations.
Principles and theory of resonance power supplies

The resonance power supply is being used for accelerator magnet excitation. A mathematical method which describes the operation of the resonance power supply is outlined. The power supply operation consists of distinct periods, and each period represents a state of the system. The cyclic operation of the power supply can be described by the transition from one state to the other. Each period can be described by a set of state equations. The state space method simplifies the computation and provides insight into the physical phenomena. >
The Wald Statistic in Proportional Hazards Hypothesis Testing

In survivorship modelling using the proportional hazards model of Cox (1972, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series B, 34, 187–220), it is often desired to test a subset of the vector of unknown regression parameters β in the expression for the hazard rate at time t. The likelihood ratio test statistic is well behaved in most situations but may be expensive to calculate. The Wald (1943, Transactions of the American Mathematical Society 54, 426–482) test statistic is easier to calculate, but has some drawbacks. In testing a single parameter in a binomial logit model, Hauck and Donner (1977, Journal of the American Statistical Association 72, 851–853) show that the Wald statistic decreases to zero the further the parameter estimate is from the null and that the asymptotic power of the test decreases to the significance level. The Wald statistic is extensively used in statistical software packages for survivorship modelling and it is therefore important to understand its behavior. The present work examines empirically the behavior of the Wald statistic under various departures from the null hypothesis and under the presence of Type I censoring and covariates in the model. It is shown via examples that the Wald statistic's behavior is not as aberrant as found for the logistic model. For the single parameter case, the asymptotic non-null distribution of the Wald statistic is examined.
Optimizing science return from Titan aerial explorers

This paper explores the scientific challenges of post-Cassini exploration of Titan, Saturn's giant, hazy moon. In particular, the scientific objectives are addressed, and the vehicle types that might be most appropriate are considered, paying particular attention to the energy required for mobility, for acquiring data, and downlinking it to Earth, and to the rate at which science data can be acquired. While many mission types are possible, a helicopter mission, flying only 10% of the time, may offer the best overall scientific return.
High Performance Dimension Reduction and Visualization for Large High-Dimensional Data Analysis

Large high dimension datasets are of growing importance in many fields and it is important to be able to visualize them for understanding the results of data mining approaches or just for browsing them in a way that distance between points in visualization (2D or 3D) space tracks that in original high dimensional space. Dimension reduction is a well understood approach but can be very time and memory intensive for large problems. Here we report on parallel algorithms for Scaling by MAjorizing a Complicated Function (SMACOF) to solve Multidimensional Scaling problem and Generative Topographic Mapping (GTM). The former is particularly time consuming with complexity that grows as square of data set size but has advantage that it does not require explicit vectors for dataset points but just measurement of inter-point dissimilarities. We compare SMACOF and GTM on a subset of the NIH PubChem database which has binary vectors of length 166 bits. We find good parallel performance for both GTM and SMACOF and strong correlation between the dimension-reduced PubChem data from these two methods.
URINARY FREE CORTISOL EXCRETION IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERSEROTONINAEMIA FROM THE CARCINOID SYNDROME

SUMMARY To determine if patients with chronic hyperserotoninaemia from the carcinoid syndrome have increased basal adrenocortical function, I have determined the urinary free Cortisol excretion of seventeen patients with carcinoid tumours and the carcinoid syndrome, twelve patients with carcinoid tumours without the carcinoid syndrome and seventeen normal subjects. There was no significant difference in the urinary free Cortisol excretion of the patients with carcinoid tumours and the carcinoid syndrome (133±20±0 nmoles/24 h), patients with carcinoid tumours without the carcinoid syndrome (115±29 nmoles/24 h) and the normal subjects (96 ±r 9 nmoles/24 h). There was no correlation between the urinary free Cortisol secretion and urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid or serum serotonin concentration in the patients with the carcinoid syndrome. There was a suggestion that patients with 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) secreting carcinoid tumours had higher urinary free Cortisol excretion than patients with predominantly serotonin (5-HT) secreting carcinoid tumours. This may be due to the fact that the non-polar 5-HTP molecule penetrates the blood-brain barrier more effectively than the polar 5-HT molecule. 5-HTP is then converted to 5-HT within the brain. None of the twenty-nine patients with carcinoid tumours had clinical or laboratory evidence of the ectopic ACTH syndrome.
Absence of lutein, violaxanthin and neoxanthin affects the functional chlorophyll antenna size of photosystem-II but not that of photosystem-I in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii double mutant npq2 lor1 lacks the beta, epsilon-carotenoids lutein and loroxanthin as well as all beta,beta-epoxycarotenoids derived from zeaxanthin (e.g. violaxanthin and neoxanthin). Thus, the only carotenoids present in the thylakoid membranes of the npq2 lor1 cells are beta-carotene and zeaxanthin. The effect of these mutations on the photochemical apparatus assembly and function was investigated. In cells of the mutant strain, the content of photosystem-II (PSII) and photosystem-I (PSI) was similar to that of the wild type, but npq2 lor1 had a significantly smaller PSII light-harvesting Chl antenna size. In contrast, the Chl antenna size of PSI was not truncated in the mutant. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis qualitatively revealed the presence of all LHCII and LHCI apoproteins in the thylakoid membrane of the mutant. The results showed that some of the LHCII and most of the LHCI were assembled and functionally connected with PSII and PSI, respectively. Photon conversion efficiency measurements, based on the initial slope of the light-saturation curve of photosynthesis and on the yield of Chl a fluorescence in vivo, showed similar efficiencies. However, a significantly greater light intensity was required for the saturation of photosynthesis in the mutant than in the wild type. It is concluded that zeaxanthin can successfully replace lutein and violaxanthin in most of the functional light-harvesting antenna of the npq2 lor1 mutant.
A wafer-scale 3-D circuit integration technology

The rationale and development of a wafer-scale three-dimensional (3-D) integrated circuit technology are described. The essential elements of the 3-D technology are integrated circuit fabrication on silicon-on-insulator wafers, precision wafer-wafer alignment using an in-house-developed alignment system, low-temperature wafer-wafer bonding to transfer and stack active circuit layers, and interconnection of the circuit layers with dense-vertical connections with sub-Omega 3-D via resistances. The 3-D integration process is described as well as the properties of the four enabling technologies. The wafer-scale 3-D technology imposes constraints on the placement of the first lithographic level in a wafer-stepper process. Control of wafer distortion and wafer bow is required to achieve submicrometer vertical vias. Three-tier digital and analog 3-D circuits were designed and fabricated. The performance characteristics of a 3-D ring oscillator, a 1024 times 1024 visible imager with an 8-mum pixel pitch, and a 64 times 64 Geiger-mode laser radar chip are described
A time domain transmission sensor with TDR performance characteristics

Abstract Time domain reflectometry (TDR) has become a standard method for determining water content in soils. However, the cost of instrumentation and the level of user-ability required often limit its application, especially for agricultural and urban soil water management. The objective of this paper is to report on a new, lower cost time domain transmission (TDT) sensor and to demonstrate that it has the performance characteristics of commonly used TDRs. We approximate the sampling volume of the TDT sensor and compare it to that of TDR. We demonstrate that the sensor accurately determines permittivity from travel time measurements by comparing the TDT sensor with two TDR instruments, and a network analyzer providing measurements of frequency-dependent permittivity. Both TDRs and the TDT operated within ±3 permittivity units of each other across the permittivity range of 9–80. The reported rise time of the TDT sensor is 180 ps, which suggests a frequency bandwidth and upper frequency limit similar to TDR. We determined the maximum passable frequencies of all three instruments in non-relaxing media and demonstrate that they are in fact quite similar with the average maximum passable frequencies of the two TDR systems being 1.64 and 1.45 GHz, and the average maximum passable frequency of the TDT being 1.23 GHz. In addition to having accuracy and frequency characteristics similar to TDR, the TDT sensor offers the advantage of having the pulse generating and sampling electronics mounted in the head of the probe which reduces attenuation and overcomes the constraint that prevents TDR being used with long coaxial cables and multiplexers connecting the instrument to TDR probes.
Dependence of film surface roughness on surface migration and lattice size in thin film deposition

This work focuses on the study of the dependence of film surface roughness on surface migration and lattice size in thin film deposition processes. Two different models of thin film deposition processes, in both one-dimension and two-dimensions, are considered: random deposition with surface relaxation model and deposition/migration model. Surface roughness is defined as the root-mean-squares of the surface height profile and is found to evolve (starting from a flat initial surface zero value) to steady-state values at large times. A linear and a logarithmic dependence of surface roughness square on lattice size are observed in the one-dimensional and two-dimensional lattice models, respectively, in both the random deposition with surface relaxation model and the deposition/migration model with zero activation energy contribution from each neighboring particle. Furthermore, a stronger lattice-size dependence is found in the deposition/migration model when the migration activation energy contribution from each neighboring particle becomes significant.
Infinite Time Turing Machines

Infinite time Turing machines extend the operation of ordinary Turing machines into transfinite ordinal time. By doing so, they provide a natural model of infinitary computability, a theoretical setting for the analysis of the power and limitations of supertask algorithms.
Influence of the Lactose Plasmid on the Metabolism of Galactose by Streptococcus lactis

Streptococcus lactis strain DR1251 was capable of growth on lactose and galactose with generation times, at 30°C, of 42 and 52 min, respectively. Phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase activity for lactose and galactose was induced during growth on either substrate. This activity had an apparent K m of 5 × 10 −5 M for lactose and 2 × 10 −2 M for galactose. β-d-Phosphogalactoside galactohydrolase activity was synthesized constitutively by these cells. Strain DR1251 lost the ability to grow on lactose at a high frequency when incubated at 37°C with glucose as the growth substrate. Loss of ability to metabolize lactose was accompanied by the loss of a 32-megadalton plasmid, pDR 1 , and Lac − isolates did not revert to a Lac + phenotype. Lac − strains were able to grow on galactose but with a longer generation time. Galactose-grown Lac − strains were deficient in β-d-phosphogalactoside galactohydrolase activity and phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase activity for both lactose and galactose. There was also a shift from a predominantly homolactic to a heterolactic fermentation and a fivefold increase in galactokinase activity, relative to the Lac + parent strain grown on galactose. These results suggest that S. lactis strain DR1251 metabolizes galactose primarily via the tagatose-6-phosphate pathway, using a lactose phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase activity to transport this substrate into the cell. Lac − derivatives of strain DR1251, deficient in the lactose phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase activity, appeared to utilize galactose via the Leloir pathway. Images
A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in critically ill patients to evaluate the dose-response effect of erythropoietin.

The use of erythropoietin in critically ill patients has been investigated in multiple randomized clinical trials and its role in decreasing the number of units of blood transfused has been demonstrated in some trials. A meta-analysis was conducted to determine the pooled estimate of the decrease in number of units of blood transfused with the use of erythropoietin and investigated its dose-response effect. A systematic search was performed of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Current Controlled Trials Register to identify randomized clinical trials investigating the role of erythropoietin in critically ill patients. Of 664 studies identified in the search, 5 randomized clinical trials met the inclusion criteria. The pooled estimate of the decrease of number of units of blood transfused was —1.64 (95% CI —2.6 to —0.67). Sensitivity analysis to establish the influence of temporal bias, quality of the study and comorbidities such as age and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score were un...