cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Approaches to robotic teleoperation in a disaster scenario: From supervised autonomy to direct control

The ability of robotic systems to effectively address disaster scenarios that are potentially dangerous for human operators is continuing to grow as a research and development field. This leverages research from areas such as bimanual manipulation, dexterous grasping, bipedal locomotion, computer vision, sensing, object segmentation, varying degrees of autonomy, and operator control/feedback. This paper describes the development of a semi-autonomous bimanual dexterous robotic system that comes to the aid of a mannequin simulating an injured victim by operating a fire extinguisher, affixing a cervical collar, cooperatively placing the victim on a spineboard with another bimanual robot, and relocating the victim. This system accomplishes these tasks through a series of control modalities that range from supervised autonomy to full teleoperation and allows the control model to be chosen and optimized for a specific subtask. We present a description of the hardware platform, the software control architecture, a human-in-the-loop computer vision algorithm, and an infrastructure to use a variety of user input devices in combination with autonomous control to compete several dexterous tasks. The effectiveness of the system was demonstrated in both laboratory and live outdoor demonstrations.
Propagation of VLF emissions in the magnetosphere and the ionosphere

Abstract Comparison of the low altitude polar orbiting Injun 5 Satellite data with the ground VLF data has revealed that there is a definite scarcity of VLF/ELF emissions at the ground level compared with the extent to which they are present at or above the auroral altitudes. Reasons for this have been investigated by performing ray path computations for whistler mode VLF propagation in an inhomogeneous and anisotropic medium, such as the magnetosphere and the ionosphere. Based on wave normal computations in the lower ionosphere, it has been found that many of the near-auroral zone VLF/ELF events are frequently either reflected from, or heavily attenuated in, the lower ionosphere. Besides collisional loss, severe attenuation of VLF signals in the lower ionosphere is also caused by the divergence of ray paths from the vertical (spatial attenuation). Cone of wave normal angles for the wave, within which VLF/ ELF signals are permitted to reach the ground, has been established. Wave normals lying outside this transmission cone are reflected from the lower ionosphere and do not find exit to the Earth-ionosphere cavity. Computations for VLF signals produced at auroral zone distances in the equatorial plane of the magnetosphere indicates that these signals are more or less trapped in the magnetosphere at altitudes > 1 R E .
Development, inequality, health care, and mortality at the older ages: a cross-national analysis.

We examine mortality at ages 50 and above in female populations of 38 countries and control for variation in quality of the mortality data. We find that economic development, economic distributional inequality, and basic primary health care have independent cross-national effects on cause of death structures and that these effects are not uniform across the age intervals of interest. As improvements occur in level of living and heath care, age-specific death rates decline except at the oldest ages, at which point they may increase. Our results are interpreted in terms of their relevance for mortality research, theory, and policy.
Left atrial isomerism detected in fetal life

Left and right atrial isomerism, comprising congenital heart defects with disturbances in normal left-right asymmetry, are phenotypically distinct after birth, although animal models suggest a common embryologic origin. We postulated that the prenatal phenotype may indeed be similar in both syndromes but that differential fetal loss is responsible for the distinct postnatal phenotypes. Distinctive fetal echocardiographic features of these syndromes have not been described in detail. We therefore sought markers of left atrial isomerism that could be recognized prenatally by echocardiography and compared our results with postnatal data to identify unique intrauterine features. We reviewed 10 cases at our center and 28 published cases of cardiac malformations with atrial isomerism detected by fetal echocardiography. Postnatal imaging and autopsies provided definitive diagnoses. Ninety-five percent of cases exhibited left atrial isomerism and formed the primary study population. Echocardiographic markers included a large azygos continuation of an interrupted inferior vena cava, atrioventricular block with structural heart disease, and viscerocardiac heterotaxy. At least 1 of these markers was seen in all of our center's cases. The incidences of most cardiac lesions detected prenatally were similar to those detected postnatally. However, although the incidences of atrioventricular septal defect and pulmonary outflow obstruction in live births were 50% and 45%, respectively, they were found much more frequently among stillbirths (80% each). In summary, we identified key fetal echocardiographic features highly sensitive for left atrial isomerism. Fetal loss selects against certain lesions such as atrioventricular septal defect. The spectrum of cardiac disease suggests a greater primitivity of the fetal heart than previously shown; the typical cardiac phenotypes are closer to right atrial isomerism than are their extrauterine presentations.
Communication patterns of primary care physicians.

Objectives. —To use audiotape analysis to describe communication patterns in primary care, to relate these to ideal relationship types as described in the literature, and to explore the patterns' relationships with physician and patient characteristics and satisfaction. Design. —Description of routine communication in primary care based on audiotape analysis and patient and physician exit questionnaires. Setting. —A total of 11 ambulatory clinics and private practices. Participants. —The participants were 127 physicians and 537 patients coping with ongoing problems related to disease. Main Outcomes Measures. —Roter Interactional Analysis System (RIAS) and patient and physician exit satisfaction questionnaires. Results. —Cluster analysis revealed 5 distinct Communication patterns: (1) "narrowly biomedical," characterized by closed-ended medical questions and biomedical talk occurring in 32% of visits; (2) "expanded biomedical." like the restricted pattern but with moderate levels of psychosocial discussion occurring in 33% of the visits; (3) "biopsychosocial," reflecting a balance of psychosocial and biomedical topics (20% of the visits); (4) "psychosocial," characterized by psychosocial exchange (8% of visits); and (5) "consumerist," characterized primarily by patient questions and physician information giving (8% of visits). Biomedically focused visits were used more often with more sick, older, and lower income patients by younger, male physicians. Physician satisfaction was lowest in the narrowly biomedical pattern and highest in the consumerist pattern, while patient satisfaction was highest in the psychosocial pattern. Conclusions. —Primary care communication patterns range from narrowly biomedical to consumerist patterns and parallel the ideal forms of patient-physician relationships described in the literature.
JNK/SAPK mediates doxorubicin-induced differentiation and apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Pharmacologic induction of cancer cell differentiation has potential in the treatment of breast cancer. Doxorubicin, a widely used anthracycline antibiotic, was previously reported to induce differentiation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. We demonstrate in this study that inhibition of MCF-7 breast cancer cell growth by low dose doxorubicin (0.01 µg/ml) was accompanied by an increase in cytokeratin 8/18 and milk fat globule membrane protein expression, biomarkers for differentiation of breast cancer, as well as an increase in JNK/SAPK phosphorylation. High dose doxorubicin (10.0 µg/ml) induced apoptosis in these cells. Overexpression of dominant-inhibitory forms of JNK1 and c-Jun blocked both the differentiation and apoptotic effects of doxorubicin. These results suggest that JNK/SAPK pathway signaling plays a prominent role in doxorubicin-induced cell cycle withdrawal, differentiation and control of apoptosis in this cell system. These findings support the possibility that JNK/SAPK pathway activation may be a means of therapeutic intervention in breast cancer.
INFLUENCES OF RESPIRATORY CYCLE ON SIMPLE REACTION TIME.

The effect of respiration on simple auditory reaction time was studied. In the first study, reaction times and respiratory phase data were collected during spontaneous breathing; in Study 2, a warn...
Increased frontal cortical folding in autism: a preliminary MRI study

The gyrification index (GI), the ratio of total to outer cortical contour, was applied to measure the cerebral folding patterns in autism. GI was examined on a frontal coronal slice obtained from MRI scans of 30 nonmentally retarded individuals with autism and 32 matched healthy controls. In the autistic group, left frontal GI was higher in children and adolescents but not in adults. Cortical folding was decreased bilaterally with age in the total autistic sample but not in controls. These preliminary findings suggest that the gyrification patterns in autism may be abnormal, which could be related to the various cortical anomalies observed in this disorder.
Design guidelines for anisotropic conductive adhesive assemblies in microelectronics packaging

The multiple parameters that are involved in the design of anisotropic conductive adhesive (ACA) assemblies, and the overlapping influences that they have on the final electrical contact resistance, represent a difficult challenge for the designers. The most conflicting parameters include initial bonding force F, number of particles N, adhesion strength GA , and modulus of elasticity E of the cured resin. It is well known that as the bonding force increases, the contact resistance decreases. However, when the bonding force reaches a certain maximum value, the contact between conductive particle and conductive track is disrupted due to delamination of the cured resin during the elastic recovery. The authors have shown in previous studies that the delamination is caused by high residual stresses and that it depends largely on the adhesion strength of the assembly and on the modulus of elasticity of the cured resin. Additionally, the authors have provided a methodology to quantify the maximum threshold value of the bonding force for different numbers of particles trapped between mating conductive tracks. In this paper, the relationships between contact resistance R and each one of these conflicting parameters are systematically combined to create design diagrams that give regions of robust design. It is found, for example, that for particles of radius 5μm, E = 0.9 GPa, GA = 50 J/m2 , and 2 ≤ N ≤ 5, the required bonding force to achieve contact resistance within the range 7 < R < 40 mω, is 2.5 < F < 20mN.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
HIV-1 tat protein induces the production of interleukin-8 by human brain-derived endothelial cells

This study focused on the role of the HIV-derived viral protein, tat, in activating central nervous system (CNS)-derived endothelial cells (EC) to produce interleukin-8 (IL-8), a stimulator and chemoattractant for neutrophils and lymphocytes. Human CNS-EC treated with tat (100 ng/ml) demonstrated a 2 to 3 fold upregulation in IL-8 mRNA and protein. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) and tat were found to act additively in upregulating IL-8 production. In contrast, transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta), appeared to down modulate tat-induced IL-8 production. These data suggest that extracellular tat, especially in the presence of TNF, may be responsible for the local production of IL-8.
Design of equipment for rapid handling of irradiated solutions

Abstract Details and operating experience are presented for a rapid handling system designed to transfer irradiated solutions and liquids from irradiation containers to apparatus for subsequent chemical processing. The system described is the receiver station for a pneumatic tube which runs between the M.I.T. Reactor and adjoining Nuclear Chemistry Laboratories. Handling times as short as 2 sec are achieved with minimal manipulation and with safety to operating personnel. The transfer is accomplished by piercing the irradiation container with a needle assembly and drawing the liquid into an evacuated system.
Incidental findings in the use of DNA to identify human remains: an ethical assessment.

DNA analysis is increasingly used to identify the remains of victims of conflicts and disasters. This is especially true in cases where remains are badly damaged and fragmented, or where antemortem records are unavailable. Incidental findings (IFs)—that is, genetics-related information for which investigators were not looking—may result from these identification efforts employing DNA analysis. Because of the critical role played by family members of the missing in identification efforts, as well as the familial nature of DNA, identification initiatives employing DNA analysis are particularly prone to reveal IFs about familial relationships, such as misattributed paternity or false beliefs about sibling relationships. Despite forensic scientists’ widespread awareness of the possibility of generating IFs, to date there has been relatively little explicit guidance about their management. This paper fills that gap. It offers substantive guidance about the ethical management of IFs in this context. To ensure that the analysis addresses actual needs and practices in the field, one author (JDA) conducted semi-structured interviews with key informants from six regionally diverse organizations involved in post-conflict or post-disaster identification efforts. The paper first describes how methods of DNA analysis give rise to IFs. Next, it explains the importance of developing an ethically justified general policy for managing IFs and discusses features of DNA identification efforts that are relevant to such a policy. Then it presents an argument in support of a general policy of nondisclosure—specifically, that considerations of fair access to the individual and social benefits of identification efforts, and the concern to minimize and fairly distribute the risks of participation, support a policy of nondisclosure. It concludes by considering some implications of this argument for the choice among scientific practices involved in using DNA analysis to identify human remains, as well as for managing non-genetic incidental findings.
Locomotive Idle and Start-Up Exhaust Emissions Testing

The objective of this project was to quantify locomotive idle and start-up emissions, to answer the question: “At what point is it preferable from an emissions standpoint to idle a locomotive engine rather than shut down the engine and restart it when needed?” Idle and restart emissions tests were performed on two Tier 0 emission locomotives; a 1,120 kW EMD MP15-DC Switcher (UPY1378) and a 3,280 kW line-haul GE Dash9-44CW (BNSF4373). The results of the testing showed that continuous idling emissions of NOx and PM were greater than the start up emissions from the two test locomotives. The only exception was the 15-minute restart on the line haul locomotive BNSF4373, but this was envisioned to be due to a non-typical operational cycle of the GE AESS. The results of the extended idle tests showed that the older locomotive (UPY1378) operates at a relatively consistent idle emissions output through the four hours of extended idle. However, idle emissions from BNSF4373 varied over the idle period as the engine speed changes in response to on-board computer controls to accomplish engine warm-up and a series of other locomotive functions.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Fusion neutron induced radioactive emissions from surfaces

Abstract Neutron induced direct nuclear recoil sputtering ratios have been measured for a variety of 14.8 MeV (d, t) neutron induced reactions in Nb, Mo, V and 316 SS. Absolute recoil sputtering ratios for forward and backward sputtering are reported. Forward sputtering ratios are typically in the range of 10 −9 –10 −7 recoil atoms per (d, t) neutron while backward sputtering ratios are usually several orders of magnitude lower. Some of the implications of radioactive particle ejection in the first wall region of fusion reactors are discussed. It is shown that radioactivity ejected into the fusion reactor coolant channels by direct nuclear recoil and by lattice dynamic neutron sputtering, may have a significant effect on the design and maintenance of fusion reactors.
Building conditions, 5-HTTLPR genotype, and depressive symptoms in adolescent males and females.

Abstract Purpose Emerging work suggests that both environmental and genetic factors contribute to risk of depression in adolescents, and that these factors may differ between genders. We assessed whether features of the social environment (SE), measured at varying levels, and genetic factors jointly contribute to the risk of depression in adolescent males and females. Methods Using data from a national survey of U.S. adolescents, we applied cross-sectional, multilevel mixed models to assess the contribution of: (i) 5-HTTLPR genotype and respondent-level building conditions to depressive symptom score (DSS); and (ii) 5-HTTLPR genotype and neighborhood-level building conditions to DSS. Models testing potential gene-SE interactions were also conducted. All models were stratified by gender and adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, family structure, parental education, and social support. Results Among females, adjusted analyses indicated that sl genotype carriers enjoyed a marginally significant ( p = .07) protective effect against higher DSS in models assessing respondent-level building conditions. In contrast, among males, adjusted analyses predicted significantly higher DSS for residents of neighborhoods with relatively poor building conditions ( p Conclusions These results suggest that adverse, macro-level SE factors increase risk of depression to a greater extent in adolescent males than in females. Intervention strategies designed to improve mental health in adolescent populations should consider a growing body of work suggesting that the contextual factors conferring increased risk of depression differ among males and females.
Josephson vortices and solitons inside pancake vortex lattice in layered superconductors

In very anisotropic layered superconductors a tilted magnetic field generates crossing vortex lattices of pancake and Josephson vortices (JV's). We study the properties of an isolated JV in the lattice of pancake vortices. JV induces deformations in the pancake vortex crystal, which, in turn, substantially modify the JV structure. The phase field of the JV is composed of two types of phase deformations: the regular phase and vortex phase. The phase deformations with smaller stiffness dominate. The contribution from the vortex phase smoothly takes over with increasing magnetic field. We find that the structure of the cores experiences a smooth yet qualitative evolution with decrease of the anisotropy. At large anisotropies pancakes have only small deformations with respect to position of the ideal crystal, while at smaller anisotropies the pancake stacks in the central row smoothly transfer between the neighboring lattice positions forming a solitonlike structure. We also find that even at high anisotropies pancake vortices strongly pin JV's and strongly increase their viscous friction.
Laterality, frequency and replication of rTMS treatment for chronic tinnitus: pilot studies and a review of maintenance treatment.

This manuscript reports on findings of three open-label, pilot studies and it reviews studies using rTMS as a maintenance treatment for any disorder. The first pilot study examined whether a patient's original treatment response to 1 Hz rTMS over temporal cortex could be replicated by stimulating a homologous region of the opposite hemisphere. The second study examined whether a patient's response to 1 Hz rTMS could be replicated by applying 10 Hz rTMS over the same treatment site. The third study applied a 3-day course of maintenance rTMS, either at 1 or 10 Hz, when subjects indicated that the benefit of their last course of treatment was waning. Patients with bilateral subjective tinnitus of at least 6 months duration were recruited from a prior, sham controlled study with treatment crossover that applied 1 Hz rTMS over temporal cortex. Both treatment responders and non-responders were recruited. Results indicated, first, that the original treatment response, both positive and negative, is replicated after stimulating a homologous region of the opposite hemisphere; second, patients respond similarly to 1 and 10 Hz stimulation of the same treatment site (an exception was one patient who initially failed 1 Hz stimulation but responded positively to 10 Hz stimulation); and, third, maintenance rTMS had a sustained and additive benefit for tinnitus among treatment responders. Conclusions are that rTMS-induced effects on tinnitus are neither hemisphere specific nor frequency dependent; although, different frequencies of rTMS may have greater potency for a given subject. Maintenance treatment is a well tolerated approach with demonstrated feasibility for managing chronic tinnitus in persons who respond positively to an initial course of treatment.
Influence of concentrative and dilutive internal concentration polarization on flux behavior in forward osmosis

Osmosis through asymmetric membranes has been studied as a means of desalination via forward osmosis and power generation through a process known as pressure retarded osmosis. The primary obstacle to using asymmetric membranes for osmotic processes is the presence of internal concentration polarization, which significantly reduces the available osmotic driving force. This study explores the impact of both concentrative and dilutive internal concentration polarization on permeate water flux through a commercially available forward osmosis membrane. The coupling of internal and external concentration polarization is also investigated. A flux model that accounts for the presence of both internal and external concentration polarization for the two possible membrane orientations involving the feed and draw solutions is presented. The model is verified by data obtained from laboratory-scale experiments under well controlled conditions in both membrane orientations. Furthermore, the model is used to predict flux performance after hypothetical improvements to the membrane or changes in system conditions.
Impact of Melting Temperature on Poly(Tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene) Solubility in Supercritical Fluid Solvents

Experimental cloud-point data to 2800 bar and 250 °C are presented for binary mixtures of partially crystalline poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-19 mol % hexafluoropropylene) (FEP19) and amorphous FEP48 with CF4, CO2, and SF6. It takes less pressure and lower temperatures to dissolve FEP48 compared to FEP19 in CF4 and in SF6. The sharp increase in the FEP48−CO2 cloud-point curve occurs at 20 °C lower temperature than the increase for the FEP19−CO2 system. Since the addition of hexafluoropropylene groups is not expected to significantly change the type of interactions between an average segment of the copolymer with that of the solvent, the increased ease of dissolving FEP48 is associated with the greater free volume expected for this more highly branched amorphous copolymer.
Functional relationships among selenium concentrations in the diet, target tissues, and nondestructive tissue samples of two species of snakes

Nondestructive sampling methods, such as removal of feathers for contaminant analysis, are desirable in ecological monitoring programs that seek to minimize the impacts of harvesting organisms. Although many reptiles are declining worldwide, nondestructive sampling techniques seldom have been employed for assessing contaminant exposure in these organisms. In this study, we examined the utility of nondestructive tissue sampling for assessing Se exposure in reptiles. We describe the functional relationships among dietary Se concentrations, target tissue Se concentrations, and Se concentrations in nondestructive tissue samples (blood and tail tissue biopsy) in two species of snakes that had been exposed to Se under very different experimental protocols. Using nonlinear regression, we found strong positive correlations (r2 > 0.92) in all comparisons among Se concentrations in nondestructive tissues, diet, and target tissues. Moreover, equations describing these relationships can be used to estimate concentrations of Se in diet and target organs, from known concentrations of Se in nondestructive tissue samples. Although the current paucity of toxicity data on reptiles precludes tests of our models, we demonstrate how the equations describing these relationships might be used to make predictions about Se accumulation in target organs for risk assessment. Future studies on reptiles that examine these relationships under different Se exposure conditions, and those that document physiological responses of reptiles to various concentrations of Se, will help to refine our models and test their efficacy for predicting health risk.
Distortion in Linear Passive Networks

It is well known that distortion is suffered by a modulated wave in passing through a practical transmission network. The increasing use of frequency modulation in television relays and other uses where high fidelity is important has made the problem of FM distortion of current interest. One of the earliest analytical approaches to the problem was by Carson and Fry and later applied by Jaffe to single- and double-tuned circuits. The Carson and Fry method depends on a series solution to obtain numerical results. The theory to be developed is based on a series solution of the superposition integral. A recent approach along this line is by Bradley. He obtained a rapidly convergent series that is useful when the network transfer function is in a form which permits separation of attenuation and phase of the network and can be differentiated conveniently. It is the purpose of this paper to provide a method of calculating distortion, when the transfer function is known in pole and zero form, that is rapidly convergent under most cases considered in practice.
Modification to Scott's method for direct integration of gaseous transmission to improve speed and accuracy

Two limitations to the method of Scott for rapid direct integration of gaseous transmission in a finite spectral interval over an inhomogeneous optical path are discussed. One of these is the inability to use a precomputed form of the Voigt line shape, which can be parameterized via the linewidth alone. This is rectified using the Voigt shape approximation of Kielkopf, which involves a linear combination of three functions which can be pre-computed: the Lorentz shape, the Doppler shape and a correction function. The other limitation involves situations where lines must be treated individually, either line positions must be known with great precision or a uniform value for the widths of all lines in the spectral interval does not describe the transmission adequately. In this case, the strongest lines are treated individually, while the remainder are treated assuming uniform line widths and line positions coincident with positions on the frequency grid, i.e. following Scott's method directly.
Cloning and sequence analysis of a hemolysin-encoding gene from Pseudomonas paucimobilis

Abstract We report the cloning, expression and nucleotide (nt) sequence of a β-hemolysin-encoding gene, termed hlyA, from Pseudomonas paucimobilis. A genomic DNA library of the pseudomonad was constructed in Escherichia coli using the plasmid vector, pUC19. The My A gene was cloned by screening for a β-hemolytic phenotype in E. coli transformants and was mapped to a 1100-bp Pstl-Smal fragment. The nt sequence analysis of the 1100-bp insert revealed a 789-bp open reading frame which is preceded by a 10-nt purine-rich sequence with a possible ribosome-binding site of GGA. The ORF terminates with a single UGA stop codon and is immediately followed by a large inverted repeat with 27-bp arms which may serve as a Rho-factor-independent transcriptional terminator. The hlyA gene codes for a protein of 263 amino acids (aa) residues with a deduced relative molecular mass (Mr) of 29695 and a predicted pI value of 11.5. Expression of hlyA from recombinant DNA in E. colioccurred regardless of insert orientation in the vector and produced a 29-kDa protein. Confirmation of P. paucimobilis as the source of the cloned hlyA gene was determined by DNA hybridization. A search of various nt and aa sequence databases revealed no homologues to hlyA or its encoded protein.
High-resolution maser studies of galactic nuclei

Water vapour masers are proving to be remarkably useful probes of the neutral accretion discs surrounding black holes at radii of a few tenths of a parsec. This paper describes the observational results on NGC 4258, including measurements of the magnetic field (less than 300 mG), the accelerations of the high–velocity features (−0.8 to 0.4 km s−1yr−1), and the distance (7.2±0.5 Mpc). The status of measurements of other masers with resolved structure is also described.
Biology and management of Phalaris minor in wheat under a rice/wheat system

Summary Germination of Phalaris minor declined with the increase in duration of imbibition in water from 30 min to 72 h at temperatures above 22 °C. Germination was reduced down to 10 cm and 2 cm soil depth by wheat straw burning in puddled and non-puddled soil, respectively, with maximum reduction near the soil surface. The dormancy of P. minor seed was not more than 60 days under field conditions. In puddled soil, 38–60% of the viable seeds of P. minor remained concentrated in the upper 5-cm layer. Germination decreased with an increase in soil depth. In total, 15% of seeds stored in the laboratory emerged from 10-cm depth, whereas seeds did not germinate below 4.2-cm depth under field conditions. Depth of emergence of P. minor was shallower in zero tillage compared with the conventional method of wheat sowing. The seeds retrieved from rice soils kept under continuous submergence for 60 days exhibited 26% and 57% loss of germination over semi-submergence and semi-wet conditions respectively. There was 100% loss of germination in 10-month-old seeds retrieved from the soil under rice-growing conditions. Plant density of P. minor was lower in zero tillage than with the conventional method of wheat sowing. Cross-ploughing in the upper 2–5 cm of soil (shallow tillage) and drill-sowing of wheat 1 week after shallow tillage reduced germination of P. minor by 44% and 37% and increased grain yield by 21% and 47% over zero-tillage and conventional methods respectively.
The evolution of systems analysis and control: a personal perspective

The foundations of systems analysis and control as we know them today were laid for the most part at MIT's Radiation Laboratory during World War II and a period thereafter. Most of the founders-both in the United States and abroad-are no longer with us. As one who had the privilege of knowing Wiener, Bode, Nyquist, Guillemin, Gordon Brown, Sam Mason, John Coales, Aizerman, Pontryagin, Letov, Bellman, and many others, I present some personal perceptions and reminiscences in this paper. However, in view of the vastness of the subject, I touch upon only a small subset of the issues and events that were at the center of attention.
Isolation of proteins associated with kinetoplast DNA networks in vivo.

Abstract Kinetoplast DNA (kDNA), the mitochondrial DNA of trypanosomes, is a highly condensed disc-shaped network of catenated DNA circles consisting of maxicircles, the equivalent of conventional mitochondrial DNA, and several thousand smaller circular DNAs termed minicircles. Upon cell lysis, kDNA expands, giving rise to a two-dimensional network of catenated circles with an overall diameter close to that of the whole cell. To identify proteins associated with the condensed form of kDNA in the cell, proteins were reversibly crosslinked to kDNA in whole cells of Crithidia fasciculata by formaldehyde treatment. Crosslinked networks were purified and found to retain a condensed structure which becomes fully expanded upon proteinase K treatment or reversal of the crosslinks by heating at 65 degrees C. Five low molecular weight proteins released from the kDNA by heat treatment were purified by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and their amino-terminal sequences were determined. PCR amplification and sequence analysis of cDNA sequences between these amino-terminal sequences and the miniexon (spliced leader) sequence present at the 5' end of all C. fasciculata mRNAs predicts the presence of 9-amino acid presequences with features characteristic of mitochondrial presequences on three of the proteins. Two of these proteins are lysine-rich basic proteins. These findings suggest that basic proteins may play a role in the condensation of kDNA in the kinetoplast and that these proteins are imported into the kinetoplast by a mechanism involving a cleavable presequence.
Immunogenicity of collagenous implants

Abstract Collagenous biomaterials have been used in our laboratory for treatment of decubitus ulcers, tendon/ ligament repair and nerve regeneration. Results of previous studies suggest that implants containing bovine type I collagen enhance repair and regeneration of connective tissue found in different organs. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the immunological response to type I collagen that is cross-linked using either glutaraldehyde or cyanamide treatment. Humoral and cell mediated responses to type I collagen are evaluated in a rabbit model. Results obtained in this study suggest that antibody levels and cell-mediated response to type I collagen are highest in animals exposed to uncross-linked implant materials and these responses are increased by booster injections of the antigen. Antibody titres to cross-linked collagen are significantly lower than those observed for uncross-linked material. Extensive implant cross-linking does not totally eliminate the humoral response and may lead to a cell-mediated reaction.
Cerebral desaturation events in the intensive care unit following cardiac surgery.

Abstract Purpose Patients may be at high risk for hemodynamic instability in the early postoperative period, with subsequent poor cerebral perfusion and the development of postoperative cerebral oxygen desaturation events (CDEs). Intraoperative CDEs have been associated with postoperative adverse events. However, none of these studies examined the incidence of early postoperative cerebral desaturations. This study was designed to identify the incidence of CDEs (defined as a decrease in SctO 2 to less than 60% for at least 60 seconds) in the immediate postoperative period following cardiac surgery. Methods Fifty-three moderate to high-risk patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery were enrolled in this observational study. Cerebral oximeter monitors were placed on all patients prior to induction of anesthesia and remained in place for 6 hours or until the patients were extubated postoperatively, whichever occurred first. Data were recorded from the cerebral oximeter, physiologic monitor and ventilator during the study period. Data were analyzed to identify the incidence of early postoperative CDEs, as well as association with subsequent clinical events. Results The incidence of early postoperative CDEs was 53%. Sixty-four percent of these CDEs lasted for more than 1 hour. Patients with postoperative CDEs were more likely to have had intraoperative CDEs (P P = .053). Conclusion A high incidence of CDEs (53%) was found in the early post-cardiac surgery period. Larger studies are needed to determine whether postoperative CDEs are correlated with various physiologic events or are associated with adverse patient outcomes.
Vertical distributions of the early life stages of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) in the Southeastern Bering Sea

The present study examines vertical distributions of the early life stages of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) in the Southeastern Bering Sea to assess ontogenetic and diel vertical migration in relation to development and habitat. Walleye pollock demonstrated a decrease in the depth of occurrence following hatching, indicating an ontogenetic change in vertical distribution. Eggs occurred deepest in the water column and early juveniles occurred shallowest. Vertical distributions were related to the date of collection, water column depth, and thermocline depth. Non-feeding stages (eggs and yolksac larvae, <4.5 mm standard length [SL]) did not exhibit diel vertical migration. Feeding larvae exhibited diel vertical migration, although patterns varied between two feeding stages. Preflexion stage larvae (4.5–9.9 mm SL) were concentrated between 10 and 20 m during the day and deeper at night. Postflexion stage larvae (flexion and postflexion, 10.0–24.5 mm SL) underwent regular diel migrations (0–20 m, night; 10–40 m, day). Low sample sizes limited our ability to assess diel vertical migration in early juveniles, but this stage tends to occur in the upper 20 m of the water column, regardless of time of day. These results suggest that vertical distributions and diel migration potentially are driven by prey availability at sufficient light levels for preflexion larvae to feed and a trade-off between prey access and predation risk for postflexion larvae. Vertical distributions of eggs and preflexion larvae varied with habitat examined (on the continental shelf versus over the continental slope). Vertical distributions of walleye pollock eggs, yolksac larvae, and preflexion larvae in the Bering Sea are different from distributions in other ecosystems, which can impact transport and modeling efforts.
The Derivation of Coronary Sinus Flow During Elevation of Right Ventricular Pressure

The derivation of coronary sinus flow during increased pulmonary and right ventricular pressures was resubmitted to experimental study. The primary reduction and subsequent augmentation in coronary flow following pulmonary artery constriction and the persistence of a greater flow after release preclude the concept of a variable contribution via thebesian channels from the right ventricular cavity. When the magnitude of the increase is also considered, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that drainage from the right ventricle is also involved. The use of coronary sinus blood in studies of metabolism of the left ventricle under various dynamic conditions seems precarious.
A robust method for fault isolation

This work concerns fault classification in the model based directional residual approach. To achieve a balance between optimality and robustness, a minimax method is suggested, which minimizes the maximum expected loss from misclassification. An application example is provided to illustrate the use of this method.
Identification of Secondary Crashes on a Large-Scale Highway System

Freeway incidents are major sources of nonrecurrent congestion, and resultant secondary crashes can prolong traffic impact and increase costs. Research on secondary crashes to support statewide transportation system management has been limited. In this study, a two-phase automated procedure was developed to identify secondary crashes on large-scale regional transportation systems. In the first phase, a crash-pairing algorithm was developed to extract spatially and temporally nearby crash pairs. The accuracy and efficiency of the algorithm were validated by comparing it to an ArcGIS-based program. In the second phase, two filters were proposed to reduce the crash pairs for secondary crash identification: the first filter selected crash pairs whose earlier crashes were on mainline highways; the second filter selected crash pairs whose later crashes happened within the dynamic impact areas (i.e., backup queues) of the earlier crashes. Shockwave theory was used to model the dynamic impact of a primary inciden...
Cold-Working and Annealing of L10-Ordering Iron-Palladium Base Intermetallics

Alloys based on FePd in the vicinity of the equiatomic composition are good model systems to study the microstructrual and phase transformation behavior of the class of technologically interesting ferromagnetic L10-intermetallics that includes also FePt and CoPt. Here, thermo-mechanical processing, involving cold-work and annealing at temperatures below the ordering temperature was used to control microstructures and to improve properties of FePd. L10- ordered FePd with ultra-fine grain sizes and up to about 8-fold increased coercivity compared with conventionally processed material has been obtained. Relationships between processing condition, microstructure (scale, morphology and texture) and the magnetic properties are discussed.
Combined Cooling, Heating, and Power (CCHP) Systems

Combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) systems are characterized by a decentralized power generation source where a portion of the heat released as a byproduct of generation is recovered rather than rejected to the atmosphere. This typically wasted thermal energy is then used for space heating, hot water, or for space cooling. The process can be a highly efficient use of input energy and may result in economic savings, reduced emissions, reduced overall primary energy consumption (PEC), and other benefits for the energy consumer when compared with a traditional separate heat and power system, whereby electricity is produced at a central power plant and thermal demand is met using separate on-site equipment. This article presents a general description of CCHP systems as well as benefits that could be obtained from the CCHP system operation. Some of these benefits include the operational costs, carbon dioxide emissions, and PEC. The ability to gain the benefits described above by using CCHP systems depends on the type of prime mover used to generate power, the characteristics of a variety of system components, the method of operation, and the location of the system. The different prime movers and cooling technologies that can be used on these systems are discussed in this article. In addition, the system's operational strategies such as operating following the electric load, thermal load, base loading, or a combination of them are discussed in this article. Finally, state-of-the-art ideas for improving and optimizing CCHP systems are described for their potential toward further development of the technology worldwide. Keywords: CCHP systems; cogeneration; CHP systems; power generation unit; emissions reduction
A software defined radio architecture model to develop radio modem component classifications

We present an architecture for organizing the programmable sub-systems necessary to configure and operate software defined radio modems. To aid in the architectural organization a classification system for modem components is developed. The architecture also addresses the organization of software components registered within the system. Library modules are developed to aid in the component management and organization. The architectural model addresses the of life-cycle issues of managing, configuring and operating programmable radio components
Buckling of HDPE liners under external uniform pressure

Lining of underground pipeline networks with deformed/reformed high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liners is a trenchless technique frequently specified for rehabilitation. According to the current design practice, a liner can be structurally designed as a flexible pipe, rigid pipe, or composite pipe, depending on installation conditions. One of the most important design considerations of a confined liner is its buckling under a uniform pressure similar to that exerted by ground water seeping through the deteriorated host pipe. Because long-term testing of a lining system is both time-consuming and expensive, it becomes extremely important to establish a design criteria for long-term conditions more quickly and economically. In the reported study, over 200 short-, medium- and long-term tests were performed to examine the effects of the diameter, thickness, and deformities on the buckling characteristics of a HDPE liner pipe. Based on the findings of the study, some recommendations were proposed for the design and testing of plastic liners under short- and long-term loading conditions.
Kalirin, a Cytosolic Protein with Spectrin-like and GDP/GTP Exchange Factor-like Domains That Interacts with Peptidylglycine α-Amidating Monooxygenase, an Integral Membrane Peptide-processing Enzyme

Although the integral membrane proteins that catalyze steps in the biosynthesis of neuroendocrine peptides are known to contain routing information in their cytosolic domains, the proteins recognizing this routing information are not known. Using the yeast two-hybrid system, we previously identified P-CIP10 as a protein interacting with the cytosolic routing determinants of peptidylglycine α-amidating monooxygenase (PAM). P-CIP10 is a 217-kDa cytosolic protein with nine spectrin-like repeats and adjacent Dbl homology and pleckstrin homology domains typical of GDP/GTP exchange factors. In the adult rat, expression of P-CIP10 is most prevalent in the brain. Corticotrope tumor cells stably expressing P-CIP10 and PAM produce longer and more highly branched neuritic processes than nontransfected cells or cells expressing only PAM. The turnover of newly synthesized PAM is accelerated in cells co-expressing P-CIP10. P-CIP10 binds to selected members of the Rho subfamily of small GTP binding proteins (Rac1, but not RhoA or Cdc42). P-CIP10 (kalirin), a member of the Dbl family of proteins, may serve as part of a signal transduction system linking the catalytic domains of PAM in the lumen of the secretory pathway to cytosolic factors regulating the cytoskeleton and signal transduction pathways.
Effect of co-solvents on the controlled release of calcitonin polypeptide from in situ biodegradable polymer implants.

The objective of this study was to design an in situ biodegradable polymer implant controlled-release drug delivery system, using novel combinations of co-solvents and a model polypeptide, calcitonin (CT), and to assess the release of drug as a function of these co-solvents. Formulations were prepared by dissolving/ suspending CT polypeptide in poly-(lactic acid) (PLA) polymer solutions/suspensions containing combinations of a hydrophobic (benzyl benzoate, BB) and a hydrophilic (benzyl alcohol, BA) solvent. The CT-PLA mixtures were each injected into test tubes containing phosphate buffered saline solution to form the in situ implant and sampling was conducted over a 28-day period. The samples were analyzed for drug content using a modified Lowry protein assay procedure. Cumulative drug release demonstrated a rank-order correlation depending on the amount of the hydrophobic (BB) and hydrophilic (BA) solvents within each system. Increasing the amounts of the hydrophobic solvent, BB, in formulations demonst...