cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The High Cost and the Gamble of the Witte System: A Chapter in the Industrialization of Russia

Students of the Five Year Plans are familiar with the overreach. Sing ambitions, the inflated claims, die disputed accomplishments, die misleading statistics, and the appalling human costs of “socialist industrialization” in Soviet Russia. They have generally ascribed these phenomena to Bolshevik dieory and practice. It comes as a surprise then to find die criticism of die early Five Year Plans foreshadowed, in almost identical terms, in die attacks made upon die earlier policy of rapid industrialization in Russia which is linked with the name of Sergei Witte, the Czarist Minister of Finance, 1891–1903. He, too, paraded seemingly impressive results and dubious figures, and he, too, was forced to exact dire sacrifices from popular welfare: Despite the profound dissimilarities between the Soviet system and die Witte era (they must go unstated here) there exists, it would seem, an underlying continuity, pointing to more fundamental necessities and profounder tragedies that backward countries widi strong nationalist and imperialist tendencies must face in die precipitous development of their resources. One special difference, however, should be noted in diis context. The distaste for die bitter fruits of forced industrialization, muted in Stalinist Russia, could frankly, although not entirely freely, be expressed in die eighteen nineties, when Witte's policies attained their full effect. The subsequent discussion of Witte's policies and their consequence is drawn from that public protest.
On the effects of a changing cylindrical surface on the nulls of a conformal beamforming array

Research results on the characteristics of a conformal beamforming array attached to a cylindrical-shaped surface with a changing radius is presented in this paper. In particular, the manner in which the nulls of two different beamformations change with the radius of the cylindrical surface is investigated. It will be shown, and validated with measurements, that if the radius of the surface is smaller than ≈ 2λ of the source, the nulls past ±50° can change by as much as 10°. This can have a significant impact on a wireless systems, especially if this direction is associated with an unwanted user or noise source.
Gold-coated polycarbonate membrane filter for pathogen concentration and SERS-based detection.

A SERS-based method for the concentration and detection of Giardia lamblia cysts in finished drinking water is reported. In this method, samples are concentrated with a membrane filter and then cysts captured on the filter surface are labeled with immunogold SERS labels and quantified via Raman spectroscopy. Anodisc® membrane filters, silver membrane filters, and electroless gold-coated polycarbonate track etched (PCTE) membrane filters were investigated for their compatibility with the SERS based detection strategy. The largest pore size Anodisc® membrane commercially available was too small for the proposed method because they led to physical retention of immunogold. When silver membrane filters were employed, cysts were difficult to distinguish from nonspecifically bound labels and cyst recovery from distilled water samples was only ∼12.3%. With gold-coated PCTE membranes, however, cysts were readily detectable and cyst recovery was ∼95%. This Raman based method simplifies Giardia detection and has potential to be extended to the simultaneous detection of numerous pathogenic organisms. To our knowledge, this is the first report coupling the use of membrane filters for the concentration and detection of organisms from water samples with a SERS based detection strategy.
Complications Associated With Percutaneous Placement of Venous Return Cannula for Venovenous Bypass in Adult Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

Percutaneous large bore cannula placement during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for use in venovenous bypass (VVB) has been reported to be a rapid and simple technique. It is, however, a technique that carries its own risks. The aim of the study was to investigate the incidence of complications related to the placement of a percutaneous venous return cannula and subsequent VVB in OLT. A retrospective review of 360 consecutive adult OLT patients during a period of 18 months (January 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004) was performed. The percutaneous venous cannula (18 Fr) was placed by an attending transplant anesthesiologist. The cannulation was attempted in 326 patients (90.6%). No cannulation was attempted on the subclavian veins. Internal jugular venous cannula placement was attempted but aborted in 6 patients (1.8%) due to technical difficulties. In 320 patients who received an internal jugular venous cannula, 313 (97.8%) underwent OLT without complication. The remaining 7 patients (2.2%) had complications. The operation was delayed for 1 patient due to suspected hemomediastinum. The other 6 complications were related to VVB: air embolism (2 patients), low flow rate (2 patients), hypotension (1 patient), and atrial fibrillation (1 patient). Successful OLT was eventually carried out in all the 7 patients and no mortality associated with internal jugular venous cannula placement or VVB was noted. In conclusion, percutaneous placement of a large bore venous return cannula for VVB during adult OLT can be performed with acceptable risk using a flexible 18-Fr cannula via the right internal jugular vein (IJV) by experienced attending transplant anesthesiologists.
Investigation of plutonium allotropic phase transformations through differential scanning calorimetry

Abstract The investigation of phase transformations in high purity plutonium metal using a differential scanning calorimetry technique is reported, as a function of both heating and subsequent cooling. Data obtained in this study is compared to previous literature values, showing reasonable agreement for the various measurements. The unique features of this investigation are the very high purity metal used for experimentation, the isolation and analysis of the δ ↔ δ′ transformation, and the reverse transformation behavior of the five solid–solid allotropic transformations upon cooling. It is believed this is the first time complete cooling curves have been published for plutonium phase transformations. The results confirm the slow kinetics of transformations below the δ phase and the unusual martensitic-like behavior of the δ → γ phase change.
Enhancement in Anti-proliferative Effects of Paclitaxel in Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells upon Co-administration with Ceramide using Biodegradable Polymeric Nanoparticles

Using a combination of paclitaxel (PTX), and the apoptotic signaling molecule, C6-ceramide (CER), the enhancement in anti-proliferative effect of human aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC) was examined by administering in polymeric nanoparticles. PTX- and CER-loaded poly(ethylene oxide)-modified poly(epsilon caprolactone) (PEO-PCL) nanoparticles were formulated by solvent displacement and characterized. The uptake and intracellular localization of the nanoparticle in SMC was examined using Z-stack fluorescent confocal microscopy. Anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of SMC were determined upon administration of PTX and CER, either as single agent or in combination, in aqueous solution and in PEO-PCL nanoparticle formulations. High encapsulation efficiencies (i.e., >95%) of PTX and CER at 10% (w/w) loading were attained in the PEO-PCL nanoparticles of around 270 nm in diameter. Fluorescence confocal analysis showed that nanoparticle delivery did facilitate cellular uptake and internalization. Additionally, combination of PTX and CER delivery in PEO-PCL nanoparticles was significantly more effective in decreasing the proliferation of SMC, probably by enhancing the apoptotic response. The results of this study show that combination of PTX and CER when administered in PEO-PCL nanoparticles can significantly augment the anti-proliferative effect in SMC. This strategy may potentially be useful in the treatment of coronary restenosis.
Flow-based network measures of brain connectivity in Alzheimer'S disease

We present a new flow-based method for modeling brain structural connectivity. The method uses a modified maximum-flow algorithm that is robust to noise in the diffusion data and guided by biologically viable pathways and structure of the brain. A flow network is first created using a lattice graph by connecting all lattice points (voxel centers) to all their neighbors by edges. Edge weights are based on the orientation distribution function (ODF) value in the direction of the edge. The maximum-flow is computed based on this flow graph using the flow or the capacity between each region of interest (ROI) pair by following the connected tractography fibers projected onto the flow graph edges. Network measures such as global efficiency, transitivity, path length, mean degree, density, modularity, small world, and assortativity are computed from the flow connectivity matrix. We applied our method to diffusion-weighted images (DWIs) from 110 subjects (28 normal elderly, 56 with early and 11 with late mild cognitive impairment, and 15 with AD) and segmented co-registered anatomical MRIs into cortical regions. Experimental results showed better performance compared to the standard fiber-counting methods when distinguishing Alzheimer's disease from normal aging.
Can We Afford Privacy from Surveillance

B ruce Schneier’s claim that privacy against surveillance is largely an economic question is sound1—perhaps making surveillance expensive is our best defense. But will it be good enough? Making surveillance expensive is itself costly. Can we afford to make surveillance expensive enough? Will the economics of improving IT lead us to more or less personal privacy? In this article, I address our ability to protect from surveillance the personal information we permit to be stored or transmitted digitally. To varying degrees, we might opt out of networked digital storage—live “off the grid.” That’s not my topic, and I don’t think it’s highly relevant for most people, especially going forward, as it is and will remain almost impossible to avoid digital storage and transmission of personal information. For example, electronic health records are now mandated, and few forms of economic activity (such as purchasing goods, services, and insurance; paying taxes; and using mediated communications) are without some kind of electronic record. My question isn’t whether we can afford to stay off the grid, but whether we can afford the privacy of our personal information that is on the grid.
Cotton Seed FAME Combustion and Emissions Research in a DI Diesel Engine

This study investigates the combustion characteristics of cotton seed fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), with C100 (100% cotton seed biodiesel) and C20 (20% cotton seed biodiesel, 80% ultra-low sulfur diesel #2), in a direct injection diesel engine and compares the results with ultra-low sulfur diesel #2 (ULSD#2). The dynamic viscosity of C100 was found to meet the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard. The lower heating value obtained for C100 was 37.7 MJ/kg, compared to 42.7 MJ/kg for ULSD#2. ULSD#2 and C100 displayed ignition delays of 9.6 crank angle degrees (CAD) and 7 CAD representing 1.14 ms and 0.83 ms respectively and a combustion time of 4ms (35 CAD) at 1400 rpm and 8 bar indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) (100% load). The apparent heat release of the tested fuels at 8 bar IMEP showed both a premixed and diffusion phase and produced maximum values of 122 and 209 J/CAD for C100 and ULSD#2 respectively, with a decreasing trend occurring with increase in percentage of FAME. The 50% mass burnt (CA50) for 100% biodiesel was found to be 3 CAD advanced, compared with ULSD#2. The maximum total heat flux rates showed a value of 3.2 MW/m2 for ULSD#2 at 8 bar IMEP with a 6% increase observed for C100. Mechanical efficiency of ULSD#2 was 83% and presented a 5.35% decrease for C100, while the overall efficiency was 36% for ULSD#2 and 33% for C100 at 8 bar IMEP. The nitrogen oxides (NOx) for C100 presented an 11% decrease compared with ULSD#2. Unburned hydrocarbons value (UHC) for ULSD#2 was 2.8 g/kWh at 8 bar IMEP, and improved by 18% for C100. The carbon monoxide (CO) emissions for C100 decreased by 6% when compared to ULSD#2 at 3 bar IMEP but were relatively constant at 8 bar IMEP, presenting a value of 0.82 g/kWh for both fuels. The carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for C100 increased by 1% compared with ULSD#2, at 3 bar IMEP. The soot value for ULSD#2 was 1.5 g/kWh and presented a 42% decrease for C100 at 8 bar IMEP. The results suggest a very good performance of cotton seed biodiesel, even at very high content of 100%, especially on the emissions side that showed decreasing values for regulated and non-regulated species.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Concluding Remarks: Trends in Vertebrate Morphology

The international organization of vertebrate morphologists has grown in both size and scope. Trends over the last few years show particular blossoming in three areas. First, computer modeling of animal function is no longer a sideline hobby, but rather is an essential approach to be combined with experimental and comparative observations. Second, the nervous system is a hotbed of research activity, with special progress in synthetic studies and in coupling cybernetics to animal mechanics. Finally, there is a new and pervasive emphasis on ontogeny and growth, and how they can be regulated at all stages of vertebrate life.
Photoconductivity study of semiconductors using the surface acoustic wave convolver

Abstract Photoconductivity study of a semiconductor using the SAW convolver is presented. The semiconductor is placed either on or a small distance above the SAW delay line. A fast rise time pulse of light is applied to the semiconductor surface through the piezoelectric substrate, and the resulting change in the semiconductor conductance is observed by the relaxation of the SAW propagation loss. This technique has the important advantage that no ohmic contact to the semiconductor is needed.
First Trimester Placental Growth Factor and Soluble Fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 1 and Risk for Preeclampsia

An imbalance of pro- and antiangiogenic factors may lead to preeclampsia (PE). In this prospective nested case-control study, we investigated whether first trimester serum levels of placental growth factor (PlGF), a potent angiogenic factor, and its soluble inhibitor, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt1), distinguished women who developed PE (n = 40) from those who developed gestational hypertension (n = 40), delivered a small for gestational age (SGA) newborn (n = 40), or completed a full term normal pregnancy (n = 80). Compared with controls, serum PlGF levels were lower among women who developed PE (23 ± 24 pg/ml vs. 63 ± 145 pg/ml; P < 0.01) or gestational hypertension (27 ± 19 pg/ml; P = 0.03), or who delivered a SGA newborn (21 ± 16 pg/ml; P < 0.01). In contrast, serum sFlt1 levels did not markedly differ between the groups: PE, 1048 ± 657 pg/ml; gestational hypertension, 942 ± 437 pg/ml; SGA newborns, 1011 ± 479 pg/ml; and normal controls, 973 ± 490 pg/ml. Multivariable analysis adjusting for...
Application of the extended Kalman filter to control of a shape memory alloy arm

In some SMA-actuated systems the stress of the SMA element changes as a result of the motion of the actuator. Such complex thermomechanical loadings, for example, take place in rotary SMA actuators. For this and similar SMA actuators, the phase transformation temperatures, that define the actuation of the SMAs, vary due to the change in the stress. The control problem for such systems is challenging and therefore sophisticated control algorithms are needed. This paper presents two nonlinear algorithms for control of a single-degree-of-freedom rotary manipulator actuated by shape memory alloy (SMA) wire. For this system the stress of the SMA wire changes as the arm moves upwards and the stress reaches its maximum at a certain angular position. Therefore, the transformation temperatures of the SMA wire, as the arm moves, increase, and after reaching the maximum stress position they decrease. The controllers designed in this study use the stress and temperature of the SMA wire while the only state variable that can be readily measured is the angular position of the arm. Due to measurement difficulties, the other three state variables, arm angular velocity and SMA wire stress and temperature, cannot be directly measured. Therefore, an extended Kalman filter (EKF) is used by the controllers to estimate the unmeasured state variables. As shown by simulations in this work, the controllers, which are also applicable for other SMA actuators under similar complex loadings, provide precise motion control for the SMA actuator.
Mapping the Structural Locations of Disease-Associated SNPS

Non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) are the greatest source of genetic diversity within humans. The random mutation approach evolution has taken to instill this diversity leaves its footprint throughout the human genome in the form of SNPs. Unfortunately, many nsSNPs manifest themselves phenotypically as genetic diseases harmful to their host. Nathan Stitziel demonstrated that many of these disease-associated SNPs map to voids or pockets, rarely observed to be within the interior of the protein, and furthermore, there is no tendency for disease SNPs to be located in conserved regions. Both conclusions ring counter to to a significant portion of disease SNP research as well as to intuitive logic, since one would expect a mutation on either a buried or highly conserved residue to have a destabilizing effect. In the time since N. Stitziel produced his conclusions, the two major sources of SNPs he used, dbSNP and OMIM, have seen explosive growth in size and scope. The current build of dbSNP contains 92.3 million SNPs, up from 4.8 million SNPS at the time of Nathan's research. I propose to revisit his work equipped with updated repositories of nsSNPs and see if his his conclusions hold given the new data available.
A Randomized Clinical Trial of Vitamin D Supplementation in Healthy Adolescents

Purpose: The most safe and effective dose of vitamin D supplementation for healthy adolescents is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of 200 IU versus 1,000 IU of daily vitamin D3 for supplementation in healthy adolescents with baseline vitamin D sufficiency. Methods: We conducted a double-blind, randomized clinical trial. Fifty-six subjects, ages 11e19 years, with baseline vitamin D sufficiency received 1,000 IU or 200 IU of daily vitamin D3 for 11 weeks. Compliance was assessed using MEMS6 Trackcaps and pill counts. Results: Fifty-three subjects completed the clinical trial. Subjects in the two treatment arms were similar in terms of age, race, gender, body mass index, and dietary calcium and vitamin D intake.
Observations of Stratospheric NO2 and O3 at Thule, Greenland.

Scattered sunlight and direct light from the moon was used in two wavelength ranges to measure the total column abundances of stratospheric ozone(O 3 ) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) at Thule, Greenland (76.5°N), during the period from 29 January to 16 February 1988. The observed O 3 column varied between about 325 and 400 Dobson units, and the lower values were observed when the center of the Arctic polar vortex was closest to Thule. This gradient probably indicates that O 3 levels decrease due to dynamical processes near the center of the Arctic vortex and should be considered in attempts to derive trends in O 3 levels. The observed NO 2 levels were also lowest in the center of the Arctic vortex and were sometimes as low as 5 x 10 14 molecules per square centimeter, which is even less than comparable values measured during Antarctic spring, suggesting that significant heterogeneous photochemistry takes place during the Arctic winter as it does in the Antarctic.
Progestin-induced enhancement of dexamethasone dissociation from glucocorticoid hormone receptors.

Abstract Several groups have reported that progesterone accelerates the rate of steroid dissociation from the agonist site of the glucocorticoid receptor. It has been proposed that this enhancement reflects the binding of progestins to a second steroid-binding site. Since progestins are frequently antagonists of glucocorticoid hormone action, we decided to characterize this site more fully. In particular, in this study, we investigated whether the cytosolic preparations of four separate glucocorticoid target tissues from the same species all contained this second site and whether it was similar in each case. Cytosolic extracts of rat heart, liver, kidney, and pancreas were examined. In each case it was found that the rate at which prebound tritiated dexamethasone dissociated from the glucocorticoid receptor was faster in the presence of nonradioactive progesterone. The magnitude of this effect was essentially the same in each case. These results indicated that the second site was present in each preparation. To determine if the site was similar in each extract, we studied the steroid specificity of the enhancement of dissociation. This was determined by quantitating the degree to which each of a series of test steroids could cause augmentation of dissociation. Progesterone, R-5020, medroxyprogesterone, deoxycorticosterone, 17-OH-progesterone, and cortexolone were evaluated. The results for all four cytosolic preparations showed that either progesterone or R-5020 was the most potent steroid while both cortexolone and 17-OH-progesterone were essentially without effect. Medroxyprogesterone and deoxycorticosterone were usually of intermediate potency. These results suggest that the cytosolic extracts of all glucocorticoid target tissues have a similar second steroid-binding site which demonstrates a preference for progestins and that interaction with this site causes the glucocorticoid receptor to decrease the affinity with which it binds agonists.
The use of an incremental repeated acquisition task to assess learning in children

The development of valid animal models of learning is especially important since learning is critical for nearly all aspects of human behavior and identifying appropriate surrogates provides additional opportunity to study various aspects of learning. Examining the factors that affect learning is often complicated by the need to administer the same task repeatedly across experimental conditions. Incremental repeated acquisition (IRA) tasks have been used extensively in animal research because they circumvent this problem by requiring a subject to learn different response chains repeatedly across sessions. The present study examined the association of age, sex of the participant, and IQ on the performance of an incremental repeated acquisition task in 837 children, aged 5–13 years. This task required children to learn to press four response levers in a specific sequence that was randomly chosen. Illumination of colored indicator lights signaled position in the required response chain. Initially, for the first link, only one of the four levers was correct: a response to it resulted in the delivery of a monetary reinforcer (5 cents). After mastery of the first link (i.e. three correct presses), the children were presented with a two-link response chain: a different lever had to be pressed before pressing the previously correct lever. After mastery of the two-link chain, the response chain length was once again increased, and so on until a response chain consisting of six links was completed or until the task timed out. Older children and children with higher IQs mastered longer response chain lengths and were more accurate in performance of this learning task than younger children. In addition, older children and children with higher IQs had higher effective response rates and lower ineffective response rates. No significant effects of the sex of the participant were demonstrated for any of the variables on this task, except overall response rate. The results indicate that this test is sensitive to developmental variables in children, with the degree of sensitivity of certain dependent variables being age-dependent. Characterization of performance of this task by humans facilitates comparisons with animal models employing the same task, thus enhancing its translational utility.
A simple method for the recovery of multiple fertile plants from individual somatic embryos of soybean [Glycine max (L.) merrill]

We describe a method for obtaining and proliferating multiple, fertile plants from somatic embryos of several experimental and commercial soybean varieties. Shoot-bud cultures were initiated by placing cotyledonary and torpedo-stage somatic embryos derived from immature seedling cotyledons onto Cheng’s basal medium (CBO) containing 0.5 to 2.5 mg/liter 6-benzyladenine (6-BA). Prolific masses of adventitious shoots were produced within 6 to 18 wk. These cultures can be propagated indefinitely with regular subcultures to CBO containing 0.5 mg/liter 6-BA. Individual shoots were separated from the clusters and were rooted on CBO medium without exogenous growth regulators. By this method any number of plants can be produced from individual somatic embryos. The risk of losing valuable genotypes (e.g., derived from in vitro selection or transformation) due to inefficient embryo germination and embryo-to-plant conversion is thus greatly reduced. Plants were established in the greenhouse and progenies were field tested. Progenies from shoot-bud culture-derived plants showed no somaclonal variation for the seven recessive marker traits or quantitative agronomic characters evaluated under field conditions.
System of sticking diffusion particles of variable mass

We construct a mathematical model of an infinite system of diffusion particles with interaction whose masses affect the diffusion coefficient. The particles begin to move from a certain stationary distribution of masses. Their motion is independent up to their meeting. Then the particles become stuck and their masses are added. As a result, the diffusion coefficient varies as a function inversely proportional to the square root of the mass. It is shown that the mass transported by particles is also characterized by a stationary distribution.
Generalization of the Derbenev-Kondratenko formula to arbitrary values of the particle gyromagnetic ratio.

The formula for the asymptotic degree of radiative polarization in a high-energy storage ring (the Derbenev-Kondratenko formula) was recently rederived and extended to first order in g-2. Here the formula is generalized to all values of g.
Optimal timing of comb construction by honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies: a dynamic programming model and experimental tests

Honeybee colonies, like organisms, should exhibit optimal design in their temporal pattern of resource allocation to somatic structures. A vital colony structure is the comb which stores honey for overwinter survival. However, the timing of comb construction poses a dilemma to a colony attempting to maximize its honey reserves. On the one hand, plenty of empty comb is needed for efficient exploitation of temporally unpredictable flower blooms. On the other hand, because comb is made from energetically expensive wax, its construction too early or in excessive amounts will reduce the amount of honey available for winter thermoregulation and brood-rearing. A dynamic optimization model concludes that colonies should add new comb only when they have filled their old comb with food and brood above a threshold level. The threshold increases with time until, at the end of the season, building is never an optimal behavior. The temporal pattern of construction predicted by the model – pulses of building coincident with periods of nectar intake and comb fullness – matches that seen in an actual colony observed over the course of an entire foraging season. When nectar sources are rich but temporally clumped, the model also predicts that bees should be sensitive to nectar intake, employing much higher thresholds on days when nectar is not available than on days when it is. Even under poorer and more dispersed nectar regimes, little fitness cost is paid by colonies replacing the optimal strategy with a simpler rule of thumb calling for new construction only when two conditions are met: (1) a fullness threshold has been exceeded, and (2) nectar is currently being collected. Experiments demonstrate that colonies do in fact use such a rule of thumb to control the onset of construction. However, once they have begun building, the bees continue as long as nectar collection persists, regardless of changes in comb fullness. Thus the onset and duration of comb-building bouts appear to be under partially independent control.
Relationship of hostility and white space responses on the Rorschach.

The present study was conducted to assess the relationship between hostility and white space responses on the Rorschach. The Rorschach was administered individually to 80 volunteer students on the university campus. 71 subjects were undergraduates and 9 were graduates. The mean age for the group was 24 yr. Among the males, 19 were white and 4 were non-white; among the females, 49 were white and 8 were non-white. Level of hostility was determined by Elizur's scoring of content and by adding all the weights for each subject's protocol. Percent was obtained for each subject by dividing the total of such responses by R or total number of responses. A significant correlation of .20 was obtained between level of hostility and white space responses. A correlation of .46 between total responses and white space responses was also significant. Gender and level of hostility correlated -.33. A multiple regression analysis gave an r of .51 for the combination of gender and total responses and level of hostility.
Factors affecting the growth of single crystal fibers of the superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8

Abstract While short sections of single crystal fibers of the 85 K bismuth compound superconductor can be produced by the miniaturized laser-heated float zone process, it is much more difficult to produce extended lengths without the introduction of additional grains. Part of the problem is related to the peritectic nature of the material. Detailed studies have been performed to determine the influence of growth rate, seeding, and laser power (melt temperature) fluctuations on grain structure and second phase inclusions in fibers grown from a Bi 2.1 Sr 1.8 Ca 1.1 Cu 2 O x starting material. It was found that as the fiber diameter decreases, the maximum allowable growth rate increases due to an increase in the axial temperature gradient. Thermal fluctuations were shown to introduce CaO inclusions. Grain structure is not altered unless the fluctuations produce a large amplitude diameter variation. Several seeding techniques are discussed.
Surface Electromyographic Control of a Humanoid Robot

This paper details the development of an open-source surface electromyographic interface for controlling 1-DOF for the DARwIn-OP humanoid robot. This work also details the analysis of the relationship between surface electromyographic activity of the Biceps Brachii muscle and the angle of the elbow joint for the pseudo-static unloaded arm case. The human arm was mechanically modeled for a two link system actuated by a single muscle. The SEMG activity was found to be directly proportional to joint angle using a combination of custom joint angle measuring hardware and a surface electromyographic measuring circuit. This relationship allowed for straightforward control of the robot elbow joint directly. The interface was designed around the Arduino Microcontroller; another open-source platform. Software for the Arduino and DARwIn-OP were drawn from open source resources, allowing the entire system to be comprised of open-source components. A final surface electromyographic measuring and signal conditioning circuit was constructed. Data recording and processing software was also coded for the Arduino, thus achieving control of the robotic platform via surface electromyography.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Quantification of benign lesion regression as a function of 532-nm pulsed potassium titanyl phosphate laser parameter selection.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Although the potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser is versatile, the variability in laser parameters for laryngeal pathologies and the lack of clinical efficacy data remain problematic. We provide preliminary data regarding these parameters for benign lesion regression. In addition, we describe a novel method for the quantification of the effects of the KTP laser on vocal fold (VF) lesions. Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Methods: Images were captured from examinations before and after in-office KTP treatment in patients with a range of benign lesions. Laser settings were noted for each patient. Imaging software was then used to calculate a ratio of lesion area to VF length. Ten percent of images were requantified to determine inter-rater reliability. Results: Thirty-two patients underwent 47 procedures for lesions including hemorrhagic polyp, nonhemorrhagic polyp, vocal process granuloma, Reinke's edema, cyst/pseudocyst, leukoplakia, and squamous cell carcinoma in situ. No statistically significant differences were observed with regard to the laser parameters used as a function of lesion type. Regardless, by 1 month following treatment, all lesions had significantly decreased in size, except nonhemorrhagic polyps. Similar data were obtained at 2-month follow-up. We then compared the pre-KTP lesion size with the smallest lesion size quantified during the 1-year follow-up period. All lesions were significantly smaller, with the exception of Reinke's edema. Inter-rater reliability was quite good. Conclusions: KTP laser effectively reduced VF lesion size, irrespective of the laser parameters used. In addition, our quantification method for lesion size appeared to be both viable and reliable.
Possible role for cyclic nucleotides and phosphorylated membrane proteins in postsynaptic actions of neurotransmitters

The postsynaptic actions of some neurotransmitters may be mediated through cyclic nucleotides and cyclic nucleotide-dependent phosphorylation of specific membrane proteins in postsynaptic cells. In addition to providing a molecular basis for the actions of several neurotransmitters and of certain drugs affecting behaviour, the model suggests a mechanism by which neurotransmitter signals may be converted into electrophysiological responses in postsynaptic cells.
The Mayo Lung Project lung cancer mortality findings are unlikely to be biased by a volunteer effect.

‘‘The final MLP report stated that 655 randomized non-volunteers refused screening and were excluded from the study, thus documenting violation of the rule that no selection should occur after randomization. After such selection and exclusion of candidates, an important methodological weakness, there is no guarantee that the screening and control groups at baseline were well matched for all known and unknown lung cancer risks.’’ We reviewed Woolner et al. [3] (the reference given for the final MLP report) and found that 655 participants were excluded for the reason ‘‘prevalence screening refused or incomplete’’ rather than ‘‘refused screening’’. The statement ‘‘655 randomized non-volunteers refused screening and were excluded from the study’’ should not be interpreted to mean that the 655 participants were excluded from only the intervention arm. If that had been the case, serious bias indeed would have been introduced. However, internal MLP documents indicate that the 655 participants were equally divided between the two trial arms (intervention arm—329; control arm—326). The reason for exclusion given in the internal documents was ‘‘incomplete initial screen, otherwise eligible’’. The reason for exclusion, while unclear, is inconsequential. The relevant question concerns whether the two arms, after exclusions, were balanced on potential confounders of the screeningmortality relationship. A previous report addresses that point and indicates that the MLP arms were balanced at baseline with respect to the two most powerful lung cancer risk factors, age and cigarette smoking history [4]. Furthermore, adjustment using multivariate models for those variables, as well as other potential confounders, did not change the finding of no mortality reduction with screening [4]. Confounding by unmeasured factors is a possibility, but we believe it to be quite unlikely that exclusion from the trial is a surrogate for a factor that is related to both screening and lung cancer mortality, and that the factor, should it exist, is differentially represented in 4,618 intervention arm and 4,593 control arm participants who were analyzed in the incidence portion of the MLP. P. M. Marcus (&) Division of Cancer Prevention, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892-7354, USA e-mail: marcusp@mail.nih.gov
Incidence and Progression of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in a Large Prospective Cohort of United States Men

Purpose: To support trials testing lifestyle interventions for lower urinary tract symptoms, often a consequence of benign prostatic hyperplasia, we estimated the incidence and progression rates of lower urinary tract symptoms in United States men unselected for benign prostatic hyperplasia.Materials and Methods: We studied men in the HPFS (Health Professionals Follow-Up Study) whom we asked to report periodically by mailed survey whether they had undergone surgery or used medications for lower urinary tract symptoms and to complete the International Prostate Symptom Score survey. For incidence we included 25,879 men with an International Prostate Symptom Score of 0 to 7 and no surgery history who were followed from 1992 to 2008. Incident moderate or worse lower urinary tract symptoms (6,058) were defined as an International Prostate Symptom Score of 15 or greater, surgery, or medication use. Modest or worse lower urinary tract symptoms were similarly defined but with an International Prostate Symptom Sco...
Sub-galactic clumps at a redshift of 2.39 and implications for galaxy formation

A large number of very faint, compact objects have been found at a redshift of 2.39 in optical images of the distant Universe. The objects appear to be star-forming spheroids smaller than the bulge of a spiral galaxy; they are much smaller and fainter than typical galaxies seen today. These objects may be part of a reservoir from which many of today's luminous galaxies were formed through repeated mergers.
Regression analysis with covariates that have heteroscedastic measurement error

We consider the estimation of the regression of an outcome Y on a covariate X, where X is unobserved, but a variable W that measures X with error is observed. A calibration sample that measures pairs of values of X and W is also available; we consider calibration samples where Y is measured (internal calibration) and not measured (external calibration). One common approach for measurement error correction is Regression Calibration (RC), which substitutes the unknown values of X by predictions from the regression of X on W estimated from the calibration sample. An alternative approach is to multiply impute the missing values of X given Y and W based on an imputation model, and then use multiple imputation (MI) combining rules for inferences. Most of current work assumes that the measurement error of W has a constant variance, whereas in many situations, the variance varies as a function of X. We consider extensions of the RC and MI methods that allow for heteroscedastic measurement error, and compare them by simulation. The MI method is shown to provide better inferences in this setting. We also illustrate the proposed methods using a data set from the BioCycle study. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficacy of Measuring Engagement during Computer-Based Training with Low-Cost Electroencephalogram (EEG) Sensor Outputs

The potential of Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) to influence learning may be greatly enhanced by the system’s ability to accurately assess a student’s cognitive state in real-time. For this to happen, interactions with, and reactions to, training content must be collected and assessed; data is then used to inform instructional adaptation within the system. Validated sensors are available for this purpose and have been shown to correlate with cognitive and affective states linked to learning. However, sensors used to inform student models are often expensive and impractical for wide-range use. In this paper the authors present a study evaluating the efficacy of using Emotiv’s Electroencephalogram (EEG) Affectiv Suite outputs to inform an ITS student model. In this experiment, seventy-three participants interacted with the Cultural Meeting Trainer (CMT), a web-based cultural negotiation trainer, while Emotiv’s engagement, short-term excitement, and long-term excitement metrics were indexed and logged. O...
Advancing behavior therapy means advancing behaviorism

Forsyth (1997) , a third-generation self-described member of the behavior therapy movement, suggests that behavior therapy has had a checkered history over the past 30 years: at times progressing, at times stagnating, and at other times regressing. He laments the decline of theory, and the lack of influence by basic research, as two primary elements missing from contemporary behavior therapy. I agree with almost everything Forsyth says, but would cast the problem in a somewhat different context. In this commentary I suggest that the problem is not the absence of theory in contemporary behavior therapy, but rather the absence of behaviorism. Behaviorism, in my view, is not a theory, but an epistemology that provides a methodology for studying and changing behavior. I do believe that there is very little in basic science that is relevant to the practice of behavior therapy, and that theory is all too plentiful, rather than absent. However, plentiful does not necessarily mean helpful.
An in-system reprogrammable 32 K*8 CMOS flash memory

The authors describe the design and performance of a 192-mil/sup 2/ 256 K (32 K*8) flash memory targeted for in-system reprogrammable applications. Developed from a 1.5 mu m EPROM base technology with a one-transistor 6*6- mu m/sup 2/ cell, the device electrically erases all cells in the array matrix in 200 ms and electrically programs at the rate of 100 mu s/byte typical. The read performance is equivalent to comparable-density CMOS EPROM devices with a chip-enable access time of 110 ns at 30-mA active current consumption. A command-port interface facilitates microprocessor-controlled reprogramming capability. Device reliability has been increased over byte-alterable EEPROMs by reducing the program power supply to 12 V. Cycling endurance experiments have demonstrated that the device is capable of more than 10000 erase/program cycles. >
Remote sensing and the Egyptian mummy

At Wesleyan University in Middleton, Connecticut (USA), scientists have used a CAT scanner to remote-sense a 2500 to 3000-year-old mummy (which was minding its own business while resting peacefully in their museum) and have found four mysterious objects in his abdominal cavity. The paper reported that the mummy has been at Wesleyan for over one-hundred years. The scientists would like to unravel the mystery of these objects by unwrapping the mummy and retrieving them from his abdominal tract, but the curator of the museum would not agree. Various theories have been put forwardt to explain the mysterious objects. The moral of the story is, of course, that all the speculative theories could easily be put to rest if we had available at our disposal truly reliable techniques for remote sensing. But alas, the present methods are a long way off from achieving perfection to the degree required for the job. So a call is made to the engineering community, those who write all these abstruse theoretical papers on inverse scattering, to 'get down to business' and solve some practical problems like the "Remote-sensing an Egyptian mummy."
High temperature aluminides and intermetallics

The present comprehensive evaluation of the development status of refractory aluminides and other structural intermetallics notes a resurgence of interest in such nickel aluminides as NiAl, and in the addition of Cr as a ternary component of all aluminides, due to numerous beneficial effects. Such novel intermetallics as MoSi2, NbSi2, Nb3Al, and NiBe are gaining increased attention, as are the ternary systems Nb-Al-Ti and Nb-Al-Cr. The excellent corrosion and oxidation resistance of iron aluminides have led to their use as coatings for titanium aluminides.
Involution of the mammary gland duct and lobule-alveolar systems in the mouse.

SummaryThe mammary glands of intact virgins and ovariectomized mice after 33 days had DNA levels essentially equal. Only after 150 days of involution was a significant decrease in DNA observed. Following the weaning of normal 20 day lactating mice, the DNA level was reduced from 21.35 mg/100 g to 9.95 mg after 5 days, a decrease of 53.4%. At 20 days of involution, DNA had decreased to 6.07 mg/100 g, a total decrease of 71.6%. This level of DNA is comparable to the virgin condition. Hydrocortisone acetate injected daily at 100 μg/day for 5 days or 250 μg/day for 10 days was effective in retarding involution.
Persistently active block sparsity with application to direction-of-arrival estimation of moving sources

In this paper, the problem of recovering inconsistent sparse models from multiple observations is considered. A new method is developed by introducing a novel objective function, which exploits both block-level and element-level sparsities and promotes persistence in activity within a block. Then, we use a SVD-based method to reduce its computational complexity. Application of the method to the Direction-Of-Arrival (DOA) estimation of moving sources using a sensor array is presented and a simulation example is shown as a demonstration of the promising performance of the method in a moving DOA setting, particularly when sources are very close to each other.
The Effect of Anxiety on the Cognitive Functioning in Non-clinical Schizotypal Individuals

Schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) is characterized by eccentric behavior and perceptual distortions that closely resemble the patterns observed in those with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia and related personality disorders (i.e., SPD) are associated with deficits in sustained attention, slower than normal reaction times, and manifestations of working memory deficits and erratic cognitive tasks. The present study used the schizotypal personality scale (STA) to compare cognitive abilities of self-reported low schizotypic tendency subjects with high schizotypic tendency subjects. The group scores on the STA differed significantly. Those with high STA scores also tended to have higher state and trait anxiety scores based on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The groups did not significantly differ on any of the demographic variables tested, including age, education, self-rated health status, and medication. Along with an executive function test, two computerized tasks tested subjects on reaction time and memory. Even when covariates (i.e., state, trait anxiety scores) were analyzed, there were no significant differences between the groups and tasks, although the gathered data showed trends in the expected direction.
Theromophotovoltaic Enhancement: 2D Photonic Crystals to Increase TPV Efficiencies

Here, we report on the enhancement of photon conversion by integration of photonic crystal (PhC) and surface plasmon (SP) structures into thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells. PhCs consisting of rods of air are incorporated into the base of semiconductor TPV cells to increase the duration of thermal photon absorption, thus significantly enhancing quantum and conversion efficiencies (QE and CE, respectively). The potential of PhCs to augment the CE of TPV cells for most IR wavelengths makes it a widely useful technology. The ability to turn waste heat into usable energy will improve efficiency in a variety of electrical and electromechanical systems.