cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Speech Recognition: Keyword Spotting Through Image Recognition.

The problem of identifying voice commands has always been a challenge due to the presence of noise and variability in speed, pitch, etc. We will compare the efficacies of several neural network architectures for the speech recognition problem. In particular, we will build a model to determine whether a one second audio clip contains a particular word (out of a set of 10), an unknown word, or silence. The models to be implemented are a CNN recommended by the Tensorflow Speech Recognition tutorial, a low-latency CNN, and an adversarially trained CNN. The result is a demonstration of how to convert a problem in audio recognition to the better-studied domain of image classification, where the powerful techniques of convolutional neural networks are fully developed. Additionally, we demonstrate the applicability of the technique of Virtual Adversarial Training (VAT) to this problem domain, functioning as a powerful regularizer with promising potential future applications.
Design and control of a compact modular robot for transbronchial lung biopsy

Concentric tube and steerable needle robots provide minimally invasive access to confined or remote spaces in the human body. While the modeling and control of these devices has received a great deal of attention in the robotics literature, comparatively less attention has been paid to date to the design of the mechatronic system that grasps the tubes/needles at their bases and applies axial twists and telescopic motions to component tubes, which we refer to as an actuation unit. Toward moving these systems to clinical use, this paper explores the design of a new, compact modular robotic actuation unit that incorporates new approaches to homing and tool changes. In particular, we accomplish homing using sensors that require no moving wires, eliminating potential failure points on the robot. We also present a new quick-connect mechanism that enables a collection of tubes to be rapidly coupled to or decoupled from the robot. This paper describes our new actuation unit design, illustrating our new tube coupling and homing concepts.
On the Use of Acoustic Wind Tunnel Data for the Simulation of sUAS Flyover Noise

Acoustic measurements of a small, unmanned aerial system were recently acquired during a ground test campaign. The purposes of the ground test, conducted in the NASA Langley Low Speed Aeroacoustic Wind Tunnel, were to characterize the source noise in terms of its tonal and broadband content, and to identify conditions under which multirotor and rotor-airframe interactions are present. The focus of this work is to assess the effectiveness of using those data for the simulation of flyover noise at a ground observer. The assessment is made at two levels of fidelity using different sets of tools. In the first, 1/3 octave band spectra at a ground receiver will be simulated in a frequency domain approach using the NASA Aircraft NOise Prediction Program. In the second, the pressure time history at a ground receiver is simulated in a time domain approach using the NASA Auralization Framework. Various objective measures are used to verify the simulation process. Acoustic wind tunnel and flight test data are used to gain insight into perceptually important effects.
Health Care Utilization of Menthol and Non-menthol Cigarette Smokers.

Introduction To study the association between health care utilization and menthol cigarette use and whether the association differed between African American (AA) and non-AA smokers. Methods We analyzed the three most recent 2005, 2010, and 2015 National Health Interview Survey Cancer Control Supplements. After incorporating propensity score weights adjusting for observed differences between menthol and non-menthol users, we estimated Zero-Inflated Poisson models on hospital nights, emergency department visits, doctor visits, and home visits as a function of menthol use status and other covariates separately for current cigarette smokers and recent quitters (former smokers quitting cigarette smoking ≤ 4 years). Results Although current menthol smokers smoked fewer cigarettes per day than current non-menthol smokers, they did not differ from current non-menthol smokers in health care utilization. Among recent quitters, those who used to smoke menthol cigarettes had higher odds of having hospital nights than those who used to smoke non-menthol cigarettes. However, we did not find any significant association between menthol use and other health care utilization-emergency department visits, doctor visits, and home visits-among recent quitters. Moreover, compared with non-AA recent quitters, AA recent quitters had higher odds of having home visits, but fewer home visits, if they used to smoke menthol cigarettes. Conclusion Menthol use was associated with greater hospitalization among recent quitters, and the association between home visits and menthol use differed between AA and non-AA recent quitters. Implications This is the first study that used econometric models to study the association between health care utilization and menthol cigarette use and examine whether the association differed between AA and non-AA smokers. Our study found health care utilization did not differ by menthol use status for current smokers, although current menthol smokers smoked fewer cigarettes per day than current non-menthol smokers. However, we found menthol use was associated with higher odds of having hospital nights for recent quitters. We also found AA recent quitters had a different association between home visits and menthol use compared with non-AA recent quitters.
Psychiatry and the prison system.

The author explores the psychiatric aspects of imprisonment, stressing the psychic trauma that imprisonment imposes on the individual. The paper argues that the current structure of prisons makes rehabilitation virtually impossible and describes how prisons, in large measure, deal with psychiatrically disturbed individuals without adequate resources.
Genome wide association mapping and candidate gene mining for root architectural traits in rapeseed/canola (Brassica napus L.) at late growth stage

Rapeseed/canola (Brassica napus L.) root system varied widely among the winter and spring growth habits in late growth stages. In this study, we have phenotyped seven different root architectural traits with a diversity panel consisting of 224 B. napus accessions grown in greenhouse during 2015 and 2016. A genome-wide association study with 37,500 single nucleotide polymorphism markers was conducted to detect marker trait association. A total of 52 significant marker loci were identified at 0.01 percentile tail P value cutoff for different root traits, ten loci for root length (RL), eleven loci for root angle (RA), nine loci each for number of primary root branches (PRB) and root dry weight, seven loci for root vigor score (RVS), and six loci for root diameters at two points (R1Dia and R2Dia). Majority of those significant marker loci were distributed on five chromosomes, A01, A02, A04, C03 and C06. Twenty-two candidate genes related to root traits and root development were detected within 50 kbp upstream and downstream of different significant markers. Three of these candidate genes, P-glycoprotein 6 (PGP6), Tetraspanin 7 (TET7) and ARABIDILLO-2 were detected within the marker loci chrC03_12098594 (RL), chrA01_8813067 (PRB), and chrA04_rand_54410 (R1Dia). Multiple marker loci associated with different root traits were detected within a close physical distances on chromosome A01, A02, A04 and C03 referring possible co-localization of the loci for different root traits. Twelve significant markers were validated the marker-trait association for PRB, RVS, RL and RA in 20 germplasm accessions.
The Triumphs’ Golden Age: a comparison between three European translations of Ilicino’s Commentary.

During the last part of the fifteenth and the first decades of the sixteenth centuries, the dissemination of Petrarch’s Trionfi – the so-called ‘second wave’ of Petrarchism – was characterized by the extraordinary editorial success, in Italy as well as in the rest of Western Europe, of Bernardo Ilicino’s Commento on the Trionfi. By promoting an erudite, encyclopedic, and moralizing reading of Petrarch’s poem, Ilicino’s commentary effectively became a lens through which generations of European readers approached the text. Nonetheless, the dissemination of the commentary proved not to be immune from the influence of sixteenth-century lyrical Petrarchism, which started developing almost at the same time but would not reach peak until few years later. A comparative study of the three known translations of Ilicino’s Commento in Catalan, French and Spanish – even more so, vis a vis the translation of the poem without the commentary – allows us to identify similarities among these translations, as well as important differences. Some of these differences reveal that while the commentary was still sought after by early sixteenth-century readers of Petrarch’s poem, the general approach towards the poem was already starting to shift in the direction of Petrarchism. The three European translations of Ilicino’s Commentary, when organized chronologically, help shed light on how much the reception of the Triumphs was influenced at the time by the parallel development of European Petrarchism, which promoted a more direct, literary approach towards the poem.
Research on UHV DC Fault Form and Its Influence

Chinese energy resources and load are in reverse distribution, and it is necessary to vigorously develop UHV AC and DC technologies suitable for long-distance and large-power transmission. The pattern of UHV AC-DC hybrid power grid has been initially formed at present. However, the faults of UHV DC with large transmission power and complex fault forms have great impact on the power grid in both active and reactive power. In this paper, based on the analysis of the current situation and characteristics of UHV AC/DC power grids in China, the impact of UHV DC restart and commutation failure on the stability of the power grid is analyzed. The different types and triggering factors of DC commutation failures are analyzed, and the effects of single or multiple DC commutation failure types on the transient angle stability, the voltage stability and the transient overvoltage are simulated. The UHV DC restart fault time sequence is studied, and the effects of different restart modes on the system transient angle stability and transient overvoltage are demonstrated through simulation. The research results have laid the foundation for grasping the UHV DC fault morphology mechanism and the influence law on the stability of the power grid, and provided support for the safe and stable verification of the UHV AC/DC power grid.
ASCL1 represses a SOX9+ neural crest stem-like state in small cell lung cancer

ASCL1 is a neuroendocrine lineage-specific oncogenic driver of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), highly expressed in a significant fraction of tumors. However, ∼25% of human SCLC are ASCL1-low and associated with low neuroendocrine fate and high MYC expression. Using genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs), we show that alterations in Rb1/Trp53/Myc in the mouse lung induce an ASCL1+ state of SCLC in multiple cells of origin. Genetic depletion of ASCL1 in MYC-driven SCLC dramatically inhibits tumor initiation and progression to the NEUROD1+ subtype of SCLC. Surprisingly, ASCL1 loss promotes a SOX9+ mesenchymal/neural crest stem-like state and the emergence of osteosarcoma and chondroid tumors, whose propensity is impacted by cell of origin. ASCL1 is critical for expression of key lineage-related transcription factors NKX2-1, FOXA2, and INSM1 and represses genes involved in the Hippo/Wnt/Notch developmental pathways in vivo. Importantly, ASCL1 represses a SOX9/RUNX1/RUNX2 program in vivo and SOX9 expression in human SCLC cells, suggesting a conserved function for ASCL1. Together, in a MYC-driven SCLC model, ASCL1 promotes neuroendocrine fate and represses the emergence of a SOX9+ nonendodermal stem-like fate that resembles neural crest.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of ankle-brachial index screening in patients with coronary artery disease to optimize medical management.

Abstract Introduction Screening for peripheral artery disease (PAD) with the ankle-brachial index (ABI) test is currently not recommended in the general population; however, previous studies advocate screening in high-risk populations. Although providers may be hesitant to prescribe low-dose rivaroxaban to patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) alone, given the reduction in cardiovascular events and death associated with rivaroxaban, screening for PAD with the ABI test and accordingly prescribing rivaroxaban may provide additional benefits. We sought to describe the cost-effectiveness of screening for PAD in patients with CAD to optimize this high-risk populations’ medical management. Methods We used a Markov model to evaluate the ABI test in patients with CAD. We assumed that all patients screened would be candidates for low-dose rivaroxaban. We assessed the cost of ABI screening at $100 per patient and added additional charges for physician visits ($100) and rivaroxaban cost ($470 per month). We used a 30-day cycle and performed analysis over 35 years. We evaluated quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) from previous studies and determined the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) according to our model. We performed a deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses of variables with uncertainty and reported them in a Tornado diagram showing the variables with the greatest effect on the ICER. Results Our model estimates decision costs to screen or not screen at $94,953 and $82,553, respectively. The QALYs gained from screening was 0.060, generating an ICER of $207,491 per QALY. Factors most influential on the ICER were the reduction in all-cause mortality associated with rivaroxaban and the prohibitively high cost of rivaroxaban. If rivaroxaban cost less than $95 per month, this would make screening cost-effective based on a willingness to pay threshold of $50,000 per QALY. Conclusions According to our model, screening patients with CAD for PAD to start low-dose rivaroxaban is not currently cost-effective due to insufficient reduction in all-cause mortality and high medication costs. Nevertheless, vascular surgeons have a unique opportunity to prescribe or advocate for low-dose rivaroxaban in patients with PAD to improve cardiovascular outcomes.
Cell State Space and Simple Cell Mapping

In Section 1.4 we have mentioned certain physical and mathematical factors which provide motivations to consider a state space not as a continuum but as a collection of state cells, with each cell being taken as a state entity. There are many ways to obtain a cell structure over a given Euclidean state space. The simplest way is to construct a cell structure consisting of rectangular parallelepipeds of uniform size. Let x i , i = 1, 2,…, N,be the state variables of the state space. Let the coordinate axis of a state variable x i be divided into a large number of intervals of uniform interval size h i .
W3 - Applying Machine Learning to ITS Design/Construction

Machine learning is applicable to many aspects of ITS construction including student modeling, learning tutoring strategies, and providing education partners for a student. With respect to student modeling, learning techniques can be used to induce the student’s current state of knowledge. Learning teaching strategies promises to allow the development of more flexible systems that can adapt to the unique requirements of different populations of students, and to differences in individuals within those populations.
A DIGITAL MICROFLUIDICS PLATFORM FOR MULTIPLEXED EXPLOSIVE DETECTION

Portable and automated field screening equipment would be very effective in assessing contamination due to explosives at many defense sites. A droplet based microfluidic lab-on-a-chip utilizing electrowetting has been presented for fully automated detection of TNT. Microliter droplets of TNT in DMSO and KOH in water are reacted on a chip in a programmed way. The same platform has integrated colorimetric detection. The detection of TNT is linear in the range of 12.5–50 μg/mL.
Drop Them a Postcard

Abstract In the Lucy Scribner Library at Skidmore College, we have produced 11 different postcards to promote services and collections. We have discovered the advantages as well as the limitations of using postcards as marketing/instructional/informational tools. There have also been some practical lessons to be learned along the way.
Photojournalism: The Professionals' Approach

From flash powder to electronic flash covering an assignment spot news pictures - covering fires, accidents and crimes Government and organizational news finding features illustration photos for difficult-to-picture subjects people pictures capturing the action in sports special equipment and techniques the art of picture editing planning the picture page interview with W.Eugene Smith on the photo essay photographing within the bounds of the law ethics.
Genetics of bacteriophage P22. I. Isolation of prophage deletions which affect immunity to superinfection.

Two kinds of prophage deletions of the Salm.onella phage P22 were isolated. One type of deletion was isolated by simultaneously selecting for loss of a host gene (pro) adjacent to the integrated prophage and for survival at the nonpermissive temperature of a temperature-inducible (tse2) lysogen. The second type of deletion was isolated by transduction to tetracycline resistance using high-frequency-transducing lysates obtained by UV-induction of an unusual tetracycline-resistant (tet ~) P22 lysogen. In the pro- deletion strains, a continuous block of genes beginning beyond the left end of the prophage and including all or part of proA is deleted. The c-linked immunity region (immC) is deleted in all the pro-deletion strains. In contrast, in the tet R deletions a continuous block of genes beginning at the right (proC) end of the prophage is deleted. The ran-linked immunity region (immI) is deleted in all of the tet R deletions. These two sets of prophage deletions confirm the established prophage gene order and have been used to compile a comprehensive deletion map of the P22 prophage which includes many previously unmapped genes. The bipartite nature of immunity in P22 is confirmed by the observation that both pro- deletions, which laek immC but retain imrnI, and tet~ deletions, which lack immI but retain immC, are each sensitive to superinfection by homoimmune nonvirulent P22 phage.
The role of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in oncogenic signaling.

Abstract Oncogenic activation of genes that regulate cell proliferation and survival plays a central role in the development of human cancer. This activation is frequently achieved by the aberrant expression of oncogene products due to the gene amplification, enhanced transcription or stabilization of their mRNA or protein. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway(UPP) is the key player in the intracellular degradation of regulatory proteins in eukaryotes. UPP controls the abundance and activity of important protein regulators of cellular signal transduction including a variety of cellular proto-oncogenes. Alteration of ubiquitination and degradation of these proto-oncogene proteins often occurs during tumorigenesis and critically contributes to cell decisions as per proliferation/differentiation and survival/death. This article attempts to briefly overview the role of UPP in the regulation of several signal transduction pathways that contribute to development of cancer.
Ultra-broadband high-directivity directional coupler design

The theory and design of ultrabroadband high-directivity tapered-line directional couplers are discussed. Causes of imperfect directivity are examined from both a theoretical and experimental standpoint. This includes the effects of nonunity VSWR terminations and internal connections, unequal even-mode and odd-mode velocities, and unequal even-mode and odd-mode attenuation constants. Practical considerations in the design of asymmetrical tapered couplers are discussed. A design example is presented which displays a bandwidth that is believed to be approximately 1.7 octaves greater than any other coupler of comparable directivity. >
Cellular and Molecular Biology of Pneumocystis carinii

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses Pneumocystis carinii ( P. carinii ) and current concepts of the organism in three major areas: cell biology, molecular genetics, and interaction with the host. P. carinii exists primarily as an extracellular pathogen in mammalian alveoli, where clusters comprised of various morphological forms of the organism accumulate within the lumen. The two predominant forms of the organism are the small unicellular trophic form or trophozoite stage (1–4μm) and the larger, multinucleated cystic stage (5–8 μm). The cyst stage is the most easily recognized of the developmental stages of P.carinii. The cyst contains up to eight individual daughter forms, each complete with double-membrane envelopes, nuclei, mitochondria, free ribosomes, and endoplasmic reticula. Trophic forms may occur as individual entities, but are more commonly found in the clusters that populate the alveolar lumen. Two themes are common to almost all the life cycles of P.carinii: (1) replication of the trophic form by an asexual process such as binary fission and (2) a developmental pathway leading to cyst formation. The P. carinii genome is rich in adenine and thymine. The P. carinii genome contains a substantial amount of repetitive DNA, i.e., sequences that are present in more than one copy per genome.
The New Media Designs of Political Consultants: Campaign Production in a Fragmented Era

New media technologies have been lauded for their potential in de-monopolizing gatekeeper power and rejuvenating democracy. This research inquires into how those changes in the media environment are affecting (and being affected by) consultants involved in the production of political communication. Drawing on dozens of in-depth interviews with these elite operatives, this study highlights how strategies are developed, practices are executed, and messages are encoded given increasing fragmentation and narrowcasting. It examines these consultants' roles in managing the news agenda and political discourse by expanding partisan spaces online for content creation and narrowcasting more nuanced, flexible messages to targeted niches. This study concludes with consideration given to how these efforts might hinder certain public sphere ideals.
Methodological grounds for a reflexive science

An adequate methodology for a reflexive social science is both empirical and non-empirical, since it must recognize that social reality is constituted by judgments that refer to values that are not perceptually given. Moral judgments constitute the social world in the numberless evaluations of social actors yet these judgments are generally reconstructed by empirical social inquiry as if they were confused complexes of sentiment and logical inference which cannot be rationally justified. More fundamental social determinants, such as "class," or system "strains," are then used to explain the contextually understood act. In such explanations, the "fact" or constitutive moral discourse itself is made to appear irrelevant. Thus, the presupposition that values cannot be validated implies that it is irrelevant if one holds that racism is just or unjust the only problem is how these "values," "attitudes," "prejudices" are acquired and acted upon. The component of social action labelled " judgment" is reduced to behavioral principles of learning or described as emotivism and therefore incapable of being justified. These general, and dominant, perspectives screen out the senses in which moral-ethical judgment combines beliefs about facts with evaluations. Judgments of value, right, beauty combine organic impulses, psychic desires and verbal acts of speech which evaluate the particular in its pragmatic context. As such, judgments contain statements about facts, norms (e.g., legal frames) and moral prescriptions that are all capable of becoming the "object" of discursive analysis. The human social world is constituted by the reciprocity of reflexive normative obligations in that social interactions are generated by acts that presuppose mutual expectations and obligations. Moreover, any moral-ethical judgment is discoursable when they fail to meet mutual expectations. To claim, for example, that "A is a liar" is to say that the statements do not correspond with the facts as well as evaluating the veracity of "A." The presupposed standard for evaluation in this example is that personal
On the use of multi-cycle tests for storage of two-cycle broadside tests

Multi-cycle scan-based tests are useful for test compaction since, in general, a test with more clock cycles between its scan operations can detect more faults. For delay faults, test compaction is achieved by applying several consecutive clock cycles under a fast clock. This complicates the fault simulation and test generation processes. This paper describes a new approach that stores multi-cycle tests, but applies to the circuit tests that are effectively two-cycle broadside tests. The storage of multi-cycle tests allows the number of stored tests, and the input test data volume, to be reduced. Alternatively, for the same number of stored tests, it allows additional two-cycle tests to be applied. The application of two-cycle broadside tests allows fault simulation and test generation procedures for broadside tests to be used.
Soluble carbohydrates of dry and developing seeds

Abstract Sucrose was present in seeds of 31 species at all ages and stages of their development. The raffinose family of oligosaccharides is present in most mature and dry seeds; tomato and tobacco seeds contain planteose, whereas sesame seeds contain this sugar and a higher member of the planteose series. Cotton seeds contain raffinose, stachyose, verbascose and an unidentified ketose. Free monosaccharides were not detected in any of the dry seeds; although free glucose and fructose were detected in some immature seeds, these sugars decreased in amount and eventually disappeared during seed maturation. Sucrose, stachyose, raffinose and verbascose accumulated, in developing soybeans, in that sequence. Maltose, a sugar rarely found in plant tissues, is present in immature soybean and honey locust seeds but does not occur in the other seeds examined. It increases to a maximum during development, subsequently decreases in amount during maturation and ripening and eventually disappears completely. The petioles of old leaves and stems of the soybean plant contain maltose, but the petioles of young soybean leaves, empty pods, leaf blades and roots do not.
Designing inpatient technology to meet the medication information needs of cardiology patients

As patients are encouraged to become active participants in their own care, recent research has begun to explore the direct sharing of electronic health information with patients during hospital visits. The design of patient-facing views of clinical information is, however, a relatively recent line of inquiry. Research is needed to further understand guidelines for communicating specific types of information to hospital patients. In this work, we focus on cardiology patients' information needs related to their hospital medications. We assessed these needs to inform the design of interactive, electronic views of medication information for cardiology inpatients. We present results of in-situ interviews with 11 inpatients and 6 nurses in a cardiology step-down unit. Our findings suggest that cohesive trends in medication information needs exist across cardiology inpatients. We discuss interview results and their implications for the design of inpatient-facing information technology. We also discuss key ways in which electronic medication information, formatted for inpatient use, differs from that formatted for outpatient or transitional medication-management use.
The theoretical shape of sucrose crystals from energy calculations

Abstract The surface energies of individual crystallographic faces of crystalline sucrose were calculated using two forms of the 6-exp (Buckingham) potential. Hydrogen bond energies were calculated as a sum of O-H, O…H and O…O interactions where the Lippincott-Schroeder short-range potential was used for O-H and O…H pairs and the 6-exp potential for the non-bonded O…O interactions. Assuming that the surface energy equals half of the cohesive energy of the crystal, the attachment and surface energies of most of the faces found on as sucrose crystal were calculated. A computer program was written to draw the theoretical shape of crystals given the positions (central distances) of its faces. The resulting sucrose shapes are elongated along the c -axis. It is argued that the c -axis elongated habit is an intrinsic shape for vapor grown sucrose crystals (if realizable) and it is suggested that the usual shapes of solution grown sucrose crystals can be explained in terms of solvent (water) adsorption.
PROBING PHYCOBILISOME STRUCTURE BY IMMUNO‐ELECTRON MICROSCOPY1

By immuno-electron microscopy it was shown that phycoerythrin is located on the outer surface of the phycobilisome and allophycocyanin is on the inside near the photosynthetic membrane in the red alga Porphyridium purpureum (Bory) Drew & Ross (P. cruentum). These findings are consistent with the idea that the phycobilisome junctions as a light harvesting antenna and energy sink, which directs the energy to chlorophyll in the photosynthetic membrane. A technique was devised in which unfixed phycobilisomes, attached to thylakoid vesicles, were separately reacted with three monospecific antisera (to B-phycoerythrin, R-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin) and the reaction products were secondarily marked by reaction with ferritin-conjugated goat-antirabbit gamma globulin fraction. This was subsequently followed by glutaraldehyde fixation and staining with phosphotungstic acid. The entire procedure was carried out on an electron microscope grid. The results confirm the previously proposed phycobilisome structural model.
Improved Atrial Function in Bicaval Versus Standard Orthotopic Techniques in Cardiac Transplantation

Atrial geometry is preserved in the bicaval technique of cardiac transplantation. Using Doppler echocardiography, we investigated the impact of this technique on preservation of atrial function and found that echocardiographic indexes of atrial function are improved in bicaval cardiac transplants versus the standard orthotopic transplants.
Fluorinated silicate glass for conventional and holographic optical elements

This presentation is a survey of results of a long-term research at the laboratory of photoinduced processes at CREOL/UCF. A highly homogeneous and transparent sodium-zinc-aluminum-silicate glass doped with fluorine and bromine was developed. Glass is transparent from 220 to 2700 nm. It is a crown-type optical glass having refractive index at 587.5 nm nd=1.4959 and Abbe number νd=59.2. This glass shows low dependence of refractive index on temperature dn/dt<10-7 1/deg. Absorption coefficient in the near IR region is about 10-4 cm-1. Glass can withstand multi-kilowatt laser beams. Nonlinear refractive index is the same as for fused silica. Laser damage threshold for 8 ns is about 40 /cm2. This glass becomes a photosensitive one by doping with silver and cerium. It demonstrates refractive index decrement after exposure to UV radiation followed by thermal development and therefore is used for phase volume hologram recording. Spatial modulation of refractive index resulted from precipitation of nano-crystalline phase of sodium fluoride. The main mechanism of refractive index decrement is a photoelastic effect resulted from strong tensions generated in both crystalline and vitreous phases because of difference in their coefficients of thermal expansion. Volume Bragg gratings recorded in this glass, show extremely narrow spectral and angular selectivity and have low losses combined with high tolerance to laser radiation. These gratings possess a unique ability to produce laser beam transformations directly in angular space. This feature paves a way to creation of high power lasers with stable narrow emission spectra and diffraction limited divergence.
Measurements on halogen-quenched counters

Measurements have been made of the gas amplification factor of a cylindrical counter filled with neon-bromine and argon-bromine mixtures. Information has been obtained as to the mechanism of gas multiplication when the gas amplification is less than 100. The transit time of electrons across a tube of average dimensions operated in the proportional region was found to be less then 0.2 microseconds. The duration and the mechanism of the discharge build-up was found to change with the amount of bromine present in the counter.
Chelated Potassium and Arginine Supplementation in Diets of Pacific White Shrimp Reared in Low-Salinity Waters of West Alabama

Abstract Dietary supplements have been proposed as a potential remediation strategy to counteract mineral deficiencies in low-salinity well waters (LSWW) used for shrimp culture in Alabama. Existing strategies (i.e., application of fertilizers such as K-mag and muriate of potash) are costly to farmers attempting to raise levels of potassium (K+) in their ponds. Previous laboratory studies using dietary supplements of chelated K+ increased growth but not survival of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei reared in low-salinity water. To determine whether this approach is applicable in the field, two growth trials were conducted in flow-through outdoor tanks that used water from farm ponds. The first trial (6 weeks) was conducted simultaneously at two separate low-salinity farms in west Alabama and evaluated two practical diets, one with a chelated K+ supplement and one without. One of these farms supplements K+ to its water and is considered a low-stress environment (LSE), while the other farm does not ...
In vitro products of a membrane-free foot-and-mouth disease virus ribonucleic acid polymerase.

Abstract The foot-and-mouth disease virus-RNA polymerase complex was released from cytoplasmic membranes by the action of deoxycholate in the presence of dextran sulfate. The soluble polymerase complex synthesizes virus-specific RNA (37 S viral RNA, single-stranded; 20 S double-stranded RNA, and a RNA with heterogeneous sedimentation (s) rate). Analysis of the final products of the “soluble polymerase complex” directly without use of deproteinizing agents showed both virus-specific RNA and a new component with s-rate in the 50 S region. This component contains infectious RNA and is not seen after deproteinization. In addition, it is stabilized by magnesium ion. Analysis of the “soluble polymerase complex” pulse labeled for 5 min with UTP-3H in the cell-free system showed that the product (not deproteinized) was distributed in two s-rate classes, a 20–70 S and 100–300 S class. After deproteinization, all the RNA had an s-rate of less than 60 S. This RNA was heterogeneous in s-rate and it was partially resistant to ribonuclease. The 100–300 S component was concluded to be an intermediate in 37 S viral RNA synthesis and is postulated to be a complex of the polymerase with the replicative intermediate, or the so-called Franklin structure.
Hypomagnesemia masking the appearance of elevated parathyroid hormone concentrations in familial pseudohypoparathyroidism

A 21-yr-old postpartum woman was found to be hypocalcemic and hypomagnesemic with a normal serum immunoreactive parathormone level (hypomagnesemic hypoparathyroidism). She was treated with calcitriol, calcium and magnesium. Two yr later the patient's son presented with tetany, hypocalcemia and the physical changes of pseudohypoparathyroidism. Subsequently, the patient's niece and nephew were also diagnosed with pseudohypoparathyroidism (low serum calcium, high serum phosphorus, high circulating immunoreactive parathormone). Re-evaluation of the patient on the above medical therapy showed a normal serum calcium, phosphorus and magnesium levels and an abnormally high serum immunoreactive parathormone level. The patient's magnesium supplementation was discontinued. No change in serum calcium, magnesium or parathormone levels resulted. We think that this patient demonstrates that hypomagnesemia can mask the laboratory presentation of pseudohypoparathyroidism by suppressing secretion of parathormone and further demonstrates that in pseudohypoparathyroidism the parathyroid gland retains its physiologic response to hypomagnesemia.
Another View of the EIT Wave Phenomenon

This paper investigates three different EIT waves. The events occurred on 1997 November 3 at 10:31 UT, on 1998 January 27 at 22:19 UT, and on 1998 June 13 at 15:23 UT and were observed with EIT on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) using the 195 A filter that contains an Fe XII line. The three events show the following similar structures: A flare in an active region. A bright front that can lie at the same location for several hours. A first dimming located between the bright front and the flare. A second dimming located between the bright front and a magnetic dipole located in the opposite hemisphere. A third dimming located in an active region located in the opposite hemisphere. Brightenings or dimmings of transequatorial loops that connect the flaring active region to an active region located in the opposite hemisphere. We propose that the appearance of the above features is strongly related to magnetic field topology. Most of the EIT waves are associated with a coronal mass ejection (CME). Moreover, the presence of a flare is not a necessary condition to produce an EIT wave since only eruptive flares that are associated with CMEs are associated with a wave. Therefore, we suggest that the EIT-wave phenomenon is more closely related to the magnetic field evolution involved in CMEs than to wave propagation driven by solar flares.
Screening and Optimization of Ligand Conjugates for Lysosomal Targeting

The use of lysosome-targeted liposomes may significantly improve the delivery of therapeutic enzymes and chaperones into lysosomes for the treatment of lysosomal storage disorders. The aim of this ...
The effects of inhibitors of adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase on D. discoideum aggregation.

Abstract The action of two adenine analogues on the aggregation of D. discoideum amebae was examined. SQ22536 and SQ20009 are inhibitors of adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase, respectively, in higher eukaryotes. Both compounds are shown here to inhibit the differentiation of cells to aggregation-competence. SQ22536-treated cells exhibited normal accumulation of their adenylate cyclase activity as measured in cell lysates but the amebae did not synthesize cAMP. The ability of this drug to compete for cAMP surface-binding sites, and the observation that the effects of the drug could be reversed by imposed pulses of cAMP, suggest that SQ22536 functions as a cAMP antagonist. The effects of SQ20009 on cell differentiation did not appear to be mediated by an inhibition of phosphodiesterase activity or cAMP binding to the cell surface. Amebae were arrested at a very early stage in development and remained unresponsive to external cAMP.
VLSI design in the 3rd dimension

Abstract Recently, the need for increased circuit complexity has outpaced our ability to perform efficient routing and placement, while still maintaining small die sizes. Part of this problem can be attributed to the limits imposed by designing in two dimensions. Three-dimensional VLSI circuits, obtainable through using a transferred thin-film process, can provide a path for realizing complete structures, while reducing route lengths and die sizes. In this paper we report on our new three-dimensional design technology, devices which we have fabricated, and our move to an automated 3-D design path using Cadence and Synopsys design tools. We present both discussion of functional 3-D devices, and on-going work on VLSI design tools and the implementation of a 3-D microprocessor.
Note: A simple broad bandwidth undersampling frequency-domain digital diffuse optical spectroscopy system

Near-Infrared frequency-domain technologies, such as Diffuse Optical Spectroscopy (DOS), have demonstrated growing potential in a number of clinical applications. The broader dissemination of this technology is limited by the complexity and cost of instrumentation. We present here a simple system constructed with off-the-shelf components that utilizes undersampling for digital frequency-domain dDOS measurements. Broadband RF sweeps (50–300 MHz) were digitally sampled at 25 MSPS; amplitude, phase, and optical property extractions were within 5% of network analyzer derived values. The use of undersampling for broad bandwidth dDOS provides a significant reduction in complexity, power consumption, and cost compared with high-speed ADCs and analog techniques.
What Does Tympanostomy Tube Placement in Children Teach Us About the Association Between Atopic Conditions and Otitis Media

Otitis media is the most common infection second only to viral upper respiratory infection in the outpatient setting. Tympanostomy tube insertion (TTI) is the most common ambulatory surgical procedure in the USA. While many risk factors for otitis media have been identified, atopic conditions have been underrecognized as risk factors for recurrent and persistent otitis media. Given that asthma and other atopic conditions are the most common chronic conditions during childhood, it is worth examining the association between atopic conditions and risk of otitis media, which can provide insight into how atopic conditions influence the risk of microbial infections. This paper focuses its discussion on otitis media; however, it is important that the association between atopic conditions and risk of otitis media be interpreted in the context of the association of atopic conditions with increased risks of various microbial infections.
Moist Dynamics of Extended Monsoon Breaks over South Asia

Abstract In the present research to identify moist processes that initiate and maintain extended monsoon breaks over South Asia moisture and moist static energy (MSE) budgets are performed on the newly available European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Interim reanalysis (ERA-Interim) and ensemble integrations from a coupled model. The hypothesis that interaction between moist physics and regional circulation and the role of cloud–radiation feedbacks are important is tested. Budget diagnostics show that dry advection is the principal moist process to initiate extended breaks. Its sources are (i) regional anticyclonic circulation anomalies forced by equatorial Indian Ocean negative rainfall anomalies advect low MSE air from north to central India, and (ii) rainfall enhancement over tropical west Pacific forces cyclonic circulation anomalies to its northwest as a Rossby wave response, and the northerlies at the poleward flank of this circulation advect air of low MSE content from north. The domina...
Trend, Weather Variables, and the Distribution of U.S. Corn Yields

A Kalman filter algorithm and 1895–1988 data were used to estimate a U.S. corn yield model which incorporates a stochastic trend term and monthly weather indices. Yield growth peaked in 1964, with the annual increase now only 1.3 bushels per year. The empirical distribution of 1989 corn yield is derived and found to be skewed. The mean yield for 1989 was close to final USDA estimates.
Entrepreneurship as a Liberal Art

This article looks at the role liberal arts colleges or universities can play in developing individuals with a comparative advantage in new enterprise creation. The thesis is that entrepreneurship is a creative act and, as such, has more in common with the liberal arts than the narrower fields of both market economics and business. The article concludes by integrating entrepreneurship, creativity, and liberal arts. It is shown that entrepreneurship can be the foundation of a liberal education because: (1) entrepreneurship will create a distinctive competency and generate increased value added in the liberal arts experience of students; (2) entrepreneurship will promote learning through applications of the consilience of inductions; (3) it will integrate the curriculum, reduce time, and subject compartmentalization of the curriculum; and (4) entrepreneurship will minimize external competitive threats to the liberal arts college. Implications of this conclusion for the curriculum in American colleges are suggested.
Anticonvulsant Action of Diazepam: Increase of Cortical Postsynaptic Inhibition

SUMMARY The action of intravenously administered diazepam (Valium®) on postsynaptic inhibition was studied in cat motor cortex. The efficacy of postsynaptic inhibition of pyramidal tract cells was measured as the ability to suppress action potential generation. Diazepam increased the suppression of action potentials by inhibition. This effect may explain the anticonvulsant action of diazepam. RESUME On a etudie les effets du diazepam (Valium®) ad-ministre par voie intraveineuse sur l'inhibition post-synaptique sur le cortex moteur du chat. L'efficacite de l'inhibition postsynaptique sur les cellules pyramidales a eteevaluee en mesurant la capacitye de supprimer l'apparition des potentiels d'action. Le diazepam augmentait la suppression des potentiels d'action avec un mecanisme d'inhibition. Cet effet peut expliquer l'action anti-comitiale du diazepam. RESUMEN Se ha estudiado, en la corteza motora del gato, la accion inhibidora del Diazepan (Valium®) adminis-trado por via intravenosa. Se ha medido la eficacia de la inhibicion post-sinaptica de las neuronas piramidales manifestada por la capacidad de suprimir la generacion de un potencial de accion. El diazepan aumento mediante inhibicion, de la supresion de los potenciales de accion. Este efecto puede explicar la accion an-ticonvulsiva del diazepan. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Die Wirkung von intravenos verabfolgtem Diazepam (Valium®) auf die postsynaptische Hem-mung wurde am motorischen Cortex der Katze unter-sucht. Als Wirksamkeit der postsynaptischen Hem-mung der Pyramidenbahnzellen wurde die Fahigkeit gemessen, die Entstehung von Aktionspotentialen zu unterdrucken. Diazepam vermehrte die Unterdruck-ung der Aktionspotentiale durch Hemmung. Dieser Effekt kann die antikonvulsive Wirkung des Diazepam erklaren.
On relative stability and the Nyquist criterion for digital control systems

A particular form of the Nyquist criterion for relative stability is advocated for digital control systems. Allowed parameter values are read directly from the Nyquist mapping. The criterion is derived without resorting to the use of contours that extend to infinity.
U-government: a framework for the evolution of e-government

In this paper, we look at the next step for e-government where newer technologies (e.g. multi-level interfaces, wireless devices, and nanotechnologies) will enable ubiquitous government. Building on u-commerce concepts, we develop a framework of the enablers, barriers, and outcomes of u-government, and present propositions for future research.
Dipyrimidylamine and tripyrimidylamine as chelating N-donor ligands

Abstract Dipyrimidylamine (dipm) and tripyrimidylamine (tripm) are reported. A bidentate tripm ruthenium complex, [RuCl(η 6 - p -cymene)(κ 2 -tripm)]SbF 6 , is synthesized and structurally characterized. The presence of an intramolecular CH⋯N hydrogen bond is proposed between the cymene CH and a ring nitrogen in an uncoordinated pyrimidine ring. IR data on [Mo(CO) 4 (dipm)] suggest that the Tolman electronic parameter of the dipm ligand is similar to that of 2×PPh 3 . ML bonding may be weaker for pyrimidine versus pyridine because κ 2 -tripm complexation is apparently more favorable relative to the κ 3 -form than is the case for tripyridylamine.