cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fabrication methods for a gel-based separation-free device for whole blood glucose detection

Abstract In this paper, we describe two fabrication methods (well array-based and biopsy punching-based) of gel disks to construct a gel-based point-of-care (POC) diagnosis device for direct colorimetric measurement of human whole blood glucose without any extra blood separation step. The gel disks are made of Polyethylene glycol (PEG) diacrylate (PEG-DA) containing immobilized glucose colorimetric assay reagents. The performances of three types of PEG-DA gel (molecular weight: 575, 3,400, and 10,000) based sensors as well as the two fabrication methods were investigated. • The fabricated devices enabled colorimetric whole blood glucose sensing assay without the need for blood cell separation • The biopsy punching-based gel disk fabrication method provided less variation on the fabricated gel disks
The omnigenic model and polygenic prediction of complex traits

Summary The omnigenic model was proposed as a framework to understand the highly polygenic architecture of complex traits revealed by genome-wide association studies (GWASs). I argue that this model also explains recent observations about cross-population genetic effects, specifically the low transferability of polygenic scores and the lack of clear evidence for polygenic selection. In particular, the omnigenic model explains why the effects of most GWAS variants vary between populations. This interpretation has several consequences for the evolutionary interpretation and practical use of GWAS summary statistics and polygenic scores. First, some polygenic scores may be applicable only in populations of the same ancestry and environment as the discovery population. Second, most GWAS associations will have differing effects between populations and are unlikely to be robust clinical targets. Finally, it may not always be possible to detect polygenic selection from population genetic data. These considerations make it difficult to interpret the clinical and evolutionary meanings of polygenic scores without an explicit model of genetic architecture.
Fiscal Conservatism and Fiscal Conservatives

Fiscal conservatism is a political and economic philosophy favoring low taxation, low government spending and low government debt. Originally known as classical liberalism, this philosophy came to be known as conservatism during the 1930s in order to distinguish itself from the emerging interventionist, regulatory, welfare state policies then becoming known as liberalism.
4.06 – Mechanisms for Friction of Rock at Earthquake Slip Rates

At seismic slip rates, a variety of weakening processes may occur that do not operate at the slow slip rates at which most laboratory rock friction data have been acquired until recently. These weakening mechanisms may cause substantial reductions of the coefficient of friction from its typical experimental value of 0.6. Proposed mechanisms include dynamic normal stress reduction or loss of contact due to normal interface vibrations, dynamic normal stress reduction from elastic or permeability mismatch, acoustic fluidization, elastohydrodynamic lubrication, thermal pressurization of pore fluids, mineral breakdown-induced pressurization of pore fluid, local ‘flash’ weakening/melting at asperity contacts, interfacial lubrication by frictional melt, interfacial lubrication by thixotropic silica gel, and rapid superplastic deformation of fine-grained material. Although these mechanisms are understood to varying degrees, based on theoretical and/or experimental studies, much more remains to be understood about all of them. It is not known whether many of these potential weakening mechanisms operate during earthquakes, and some are more likely to be important than others, but it would be surprising if weakening due to one or more of them were not important. If so, the effective dynamic friction coefficient, the shear stress divided by the normal stress, may reach very low values, ranging from essentially 0 to 0.2 during coseismic slip. This would have many important implications for earthquake mechanics, including the magnitude of earthquake stress drops and a greater tendency for ruptures to propagate as self-healing slip pulses and for the magnitude of strong ground motions and the magnitudes and orientations of stress in the crust.
Transformation Through Self-Study

This chapter is designed to highlight how self-study can lead to transformation in preservice teachers’ thinking. It examines how telling one’s story can create spaces for rethinking, revising, and digging more deeply to uncover personal theories, beliefs, and contradictions (Ritchie and Wilson, 2000). The chapter focuses on the self-study research conducted by eight preservice teachers in a two-year master’s program. Drawing upon a wide range of data sources (philosophies of education, reflective journals, critical incidents, action research papers, lesson plans, and videotapes of their teaching), the preservice teachers systematically analyzed their teaching and learning experiences over a two year period. Using the method of constant comparison (Glaser and Strauss, 1967), I analyzed the students’ master’s papers for themes and emerging patterns. The analyses revealed themes such as the following: theory and practice contradictions, fear of failure, classroom management issues, and the shift from self to students. The chapter concludes with a discussion of how I, the teacher educator, reframed my understanding of what learning to teach looks like through preservice teachers’ lenses. The chapter also discusses how the students’ self-studies will be used as a teaching text: a text for future preservice teachers to learn from the voices of other preservice teachers who honestly and articulately shared their stories of learning to teach.
Chapter 8 The Role of Knowledge in Comprehension: A Cognitive Control Perspective

Publisher Summary This chapter presents conflicting views over the importance of top-down processes that emerge from a failure to fully appreciate context-sensitivity of the processes that guide comprehension. Much of the recent research on how prior knowledge and context influence comprehension has centered on issues of lexical access. The chapter provides a unifying perspective from which it makes sense to talk about contextual effects that influence the use of prior knowledge at the lexical, sentence, and passage levels. The research on the role of top-down processing from the lexical to the passage level, and evaluation of different theories of knowledge organization in light of recent research are described in the chapter.
Constraint effects on the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature of ferritic steels: a Weibull stress model

This study examines crack front length and constraint loss effects on cleavage fracture toughness in ferritic steels at temperatures in the ductile-to-brittle transition region. A local approach for fracture at the micro-scale of the material based on the Weibull stress is coupled with very detailed three-dimensional models of deep-notch bend specimens. A new non-dimensional function g(M) derived from the Weibull stress density describes the overall constraint level in a specimen. This function remains identical for all geometrically similar specimens regardless of their absolute sizes, and thus provides a computationally simple approach to construct (three-dimensional) fracture driving force curves σw vs. J, for each absolute size of interest. Proposed modifications of the conventional, two-parameter Weibull stress expression for cumulative failure probability introduce a new threshold parameter σw−min. This parameter has a simple calibration procedure requiring no additional experimental data. The use of a toughness scaling model including σw−min>0 increases the deformation level at which the CVN size specimen loses constraint compared to a 1T SE(B) specimen, which improves the agreement of computational predictions and experimental estimations. Finally the effects of specimen size and constraint loss on the cleavage fracture reference temperature T 0 as determined using the new standard ASTM E1921 are investigated using Monte Carlo simulation together with the new toughness scaling model.
Concentration-dependent oligomerization and oligomeric arrangement of LptA

Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli have an inner membrane and an asymmetric outer membrane (OM) that together protect the cytoplasm and act as a highly selective permeability barrier. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the major component of the outer leaflet of the OM and is essential for the survival of nearly all Gram-negative bacteria. Recent advances in understanding the proteins involved in the transport of LPS across the periplasm and into the outer leaflet of the OM include the identification of seven proteins suggested to comprise the LPS transport (Lpt) system. Crystal structures of the periplasmic Lpt protein LptA have recently been reported and show that LptA forms oligomers in either an end-to-end arrangement or a side-by-side dimer. It is not known if LptA oligomers bridge the periplasm to form a large, connected protein complex or if monomeric LptA acts as a periplasmic shuttle to transport LPS across the periplasm. Therefore, the studies presented here focus specifically on the LptA protein and its oligomeric arrangement and concentration dependence in solution using experimental data from several biophysical approaches, including laser light scattering, crosslinking, and double electron electron resonance spectroscopy. The results of these complementary techniques clearly show that LptA readily associates into stable, end-to-end, rod-shaped oligomers even at relatively low local protein concentrations and that LptA forms a continuous array of higher order oligomeric end-to-end structures as a function of increasing protein concentration.
High throughput modular chambers for rapid evaluation of anesthetic sensitivity.

Anesthetic sensitivity is determined by the interaction of multiple genes. Hence, a dissection of genetic contributors would be aided by precise and high throughput behavioral screens. Traditionally, anesthetic phenotyping has addressed only induction of anesthesia, evaluated with dose-response curves, while ignoring potentially important data on emergence from anesthesia. We designed and built a controlled environment apparatus to permit rapid phenotyping of twenty-four mice simultaneously. We used the loss of righting reflex to indicate anesthetic-induced unconsciousness. After fitting the data to a sigmoidal dose-response curve with variable slope, we calculated the MACLORR (EC50), the Hill coefficient, and the 95% confidence intervals bracketing these values. Upon termination of the anesthetic, Emergence timeRR was determined and expressed as the mean ± standard error for each inhaled anesthetic. In agreement with several previously published reports we find that the MACLORR of halothane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane in 8–12 week old C57BL/6J mice is 0.79% (95% confidence interval = 0.78 – 0.79%), 0.91% (95% confidence interval = 0.90 – 0.93%), and 1.96% (95% confidence interval = 1.94 – 1.97%), respectively. Hill coefficients for halothane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane are 24.7 (95% confidence interval = 19.8 – 29.7%), 19.2 (95% confidence interval = 14.0 – 24.3%), and 33.1 (95% confidence interval = 27.3 – 38.8%), respectively. After roughly 2.5 MACLORR • hr exposures, mice take 16.00 ± 1.07, 6.19 ± 0.32, and 2.15 ± 0.12 minutes to emerge from halothane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane, respectively. This system enabled assessment of inhaled anesthetic responsiveness with a higher precision than that previously reported. It is broadly adaptable for delivering an inhaled therapeutic (or toxin) to a population while monitoring its vital signs, motor reflexes, and providing precise control over environmental conditions. This system is also amenable to full automation. Data presented in this manuscript prove the utility of the controlled environment chambers and should allow for subsequent phenotyping of mice with targeted mutations that are expected to alter sensitivity to induction or emergence from anesthesia.
A unique lab experience helps young PT students relate to older adults

ity in coping with the pain was reported by 60%, poor mental health by 27% and low health related life quality by 25%. Conclusion(s): This is the largest study of patients in primary physiotherapy practice in Denmark. Almost half of symptom complaints were related to low back and neck. A large proportion of the patients had long-term pain, pain in several regions at the same time, sleep problems, fear avoidance behavior and perceived inability to handle the pain. Furthermore, patients’ psychological well-being and quality of life are affected. The vast majorities of patients were in activity and work despite pain and experienced only mild to moderate disabilities in everyday life. These parameters must be considered important indicators of the development of more targeted interventions and future quality development of physiotherapy assessment and treatment in primary practice. Implications: Knowing the patient profile, we intend to analyse collected data and register data in order to understand the possible prognosis of these patients. Furthermore we wish to introduce the use of an international diagnostic coding system (ICPC), and promote a development of ongoing longitudinal data collection in primary care physiotherapy, integration into national databases.
THE 11MPC Hα AND ULTRAVIOLET GALAXY SURVEY

We introduce 11HUGS (11Mpc Hα and Ultraviolet Galaxy Survey), an out- growth of the recently completed 11MPC Survey, a ground-based Hα and R- band imaging program of a volume-limited sample of 367 spiral and irregular galaxies within a distance of 11 Mpc. As such, the 11HUGS galaxies are a complete subset of the 11MPC Survey catalog which avoid the Galactic plane (|b| > 30 ◦ ) and are observable by GALEX. The goal of 11HUGS is to charac- terize the demographics and star formation properties of nearby galaxies, with an emphasis on the dwarf galaxies which dominate the sample population. The data also provide a foundation for follow-up studies of the HII region popu- lations, star formation, chemical abundance, and ISM properties of the galaxy sample. The combination of Hα imaging, which provides snapshots of the on- going star formation, and UV imaging, which traces star formation over a much longer timescale, will yield powerful constraints on the systematic errors in the inferred star formation related quantities.
Some Mechanisms of Extraction of M(II), (III), (IV), and (VI) Metals by Acidic Organophosphorus Extractants

In general, the mono-acidic phosphates and phosphonates are dimeric and the di-acidic phosphates and phosphonic acids are polymeric in the diluents commonly employed in metal extraction studies. Th...
Position/force control of robot manipulators without velocity/force measurements

In this paper, we consider the problem of designing a position/force controller for robot manipulators during constrained motion. The proposed controllers are based on exact knowledge of the system dynamics and do not require measurements of link velocity and end-effector force. The elimination of velocity measurements is accomplished by two different methods: 1) a model-based velocity observer, and 2) a high-pass filtering technique. Both of the controllers also include an open-loop force control strategy to achieve semi-global exponential end-effector position/velocity/force tracking.
NPP VIIRS Geometric Performance Status

Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument on-board the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project (NPP) satellite is scheduled for launch in October, 2011. It is to provide satellite measured radiance/reflectance data for both weather and climate applications. Along with radiometric calibration, geometric characterization and calibration of Sensor Data Records (SDRs) are crucial to the VIIRS Environmental Data Record (EDR) algorithms and products which are used in numerical weather prediction (NWP). The instrument geometric performance includes: 1) sensor (detector) spatial response, parameterized by the dynamic field of view (DFOV) in the scan direction and instantaneous FOV (IFOV) in the track direction, modulation transfer function (MTF) for the 17 moderate resolution bands (M-bands), and horizontal spatial resolution (HSR) for the five imagery bands (I-bands); 2) matrices of band-to-band co-registration (BBR) from the corresponding detectors in all band pairs; and 3) pointing knowledge and stability characteristics that includes scan plane tilt, scan rate and scan start position variations, and thermally induced variations in pointing with respect to orbital position. They have been calibrated and characterized through ground testing under ambient and thermal vacuum conditions, numerical modeling and analysis. This paper summarizes the results, which are in general compliance with specifications, along with anomaly investigations, and describes paths forward for characterizing on-orbit BBR and spatial response, and for improving instrument on-orbit performance in pointing and geolocation.
A subgroup analysis in hispanic patients with allergic rhinitis of fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray for sinus pain and pressure caused by nasal congestion

Abstract Rationale Sinus pain and pressure (SP+P) is a common symptom of allergic rhinitis. Fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray (FP) has been shown to reduce SP+P associated with allergies. Most research studies report findings for Caucasian and African American subgroups. Few research studies report findings for Hispanic patients, a growing population in the United States. Methods Two multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group studies compared daily dosing of FP 200μg (FP200QD) or placebo in 401 patients (age 12-74) with moderate-to-severe SP+P and nasal congestion. Of these, 115 Hispanic patients received either FP200QD (n=53) or placebo (n=62). Patients used a 100mm visual analog scale each evening to assess the severity of SP+P experienced over the day. Mean change from baseline for SP+P was determined over the 14-day treatment period. Descriptive statistics were displayed for the Hispanic subgroup and the magnitude of improvement was compared to the total population. Results Mean (SE) SP+P scores at baseline were similar for the total populations and Hispanic subgroups ranging from 71.0 (1.98) to 80.3 (2.10). Over the 14-day treatment period, mean changes (SE) from baseline in Study FNM40184 and FNM40185, respectively, were -19.6 (2.41) and -17.8 (2.10) for placebo compared with -26.4 (2.20) and -27.8 (2.41) for FP200QD in the total population (p Conclusions These studies suggest that FP200QD improves sinus pain and pressure in Hispanic patients with allergic rhinitis.
Willingness to communicate: A potential confounding variable in communication research

Informed consent provisions of regulations involving use of human subjects in communication research have resulted in virtually all subjects in communication research being volunteer subjects. Since communication research often requires subjects to be involved in actual communication, an individual's willingness to communicate may have an important impact on whether the individual will be willing to volunteer for research in communication. This study reported that people who are highly willing to communicate, compared to those less willing, are significantly more likely to agree to participate in a communication study, are more likely to appear as scheduled for participation, and are more likely ultimately to participate after persistent efforts to obtain their participation.
Characteristics of Rural Appalachian Women who Enroll in a Tobacco Dependence Treatment Clinical Trial

Introduction: Clinical trials are needed to inform evidence-based smoking cessation approaches in rural and Appalachian women, but trial enrollment in these groups is sparse. Little is known about factors associated with enrollment of Appalachian women in tobacco dependence treatment randomized clinical trials (RCT). We report a comparison of Appalachian women enrolling in a tobacco dependence treatment RCT to those declining and identify correlates to enrollment.
New record of the tropical swallowtail moth Lyssa zampa (Butler) (Lepidoptera: Uraniidae) from mainland Japan

The tropical swallowtail moth Lyssa zampa (Butler) (Lepidoptera: Uraniidae) was recorded for the first time from mainland Japan. A male specimen of this species was captured in Amakusa, western Kyushu, on the night of 19 May 2006. An analysis of typhoon data suggests that this individual is likely to have reached the western coast of Kyushu from the Philippines, being transported over a distance of approximately 3000 km by typhoon no. 1 of 2006.
Simplified kinematic analysis of bevel epicyclic gear trains with application to power-flow and efficiency analyses

A kinematic analysis technique is introduced to find the angular velocities of all links in bevel epicyclic gear trains. The method relies on previous work in graph theory. It improves on existing techniques used for analysis of planar geared mechanisms in its ability to accurately solve the kinematics of spatial geared mechanisms, particularly bevel gear trains, in a simpler manner. Usefulness of the method is demonstrated through its application to power-flow and efficiency analyses as well as its implementation in computer software. This discussion is limited to gear trains whose input and output axes are collinear, such as automotive automatic transmissions.
Evaluation of bendway weir bank stabilization techniques for stream restoration

In this study, velocity distribution patterns in a stream in the presence of bendway weirs were assessed for their effectiveness in bank stabilization in a demonstration site in the Las Vegas Wash, Nevada, USA. Streambanks of the target stream had been stabilized previously by longitudinal stone toe protection (LSTP) and stone spur dikes. Stone toes are meant to protect the toe of streambanks. Similarly, stone spur dikes consist of a series of dikes (of a crest relatively higher than that of the bendway weirs) protruding at right angles from the convex side of the streambanks. Velocity measurements were taken to evaluate the velocity field in the channel in the following three different cases: Case 1, channel with LSTP and the pre-existing spur dikes; Case 2, channel with LSTP with no deflecting structures (spur dikes removed); and Case 3, channel with LSTP and bendway weirs. The results suggested that bendway weirs caused a reduction in the uncontrolled high-velocity flow near the outer bank (right bank)...
Solar UV irradiance measurements: The UARS and EOS SOLSTICE

Abstract Solar radiation at wavelengths below 300 nm is almost completely absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere, becoming the dominant direct energy source and playing a major role in atmospheric chemistry and dynamics. Even small changes in this incoming radiation field will have both direct and indirect influences on atmospheric processes, and perhaps will affect climate as well. The SOLSTICE on NASA's UARS has made daily measurements since October 1991 and continues operation today. A second generation SOLSTICE is being developed, and it will be launched on NASA's SORCE mission in July 2002. There is every expectation that the UARS and SORCE observation programs will overlap, providing an uninterrupted data series for almost twenty years.
Using JavaScript to build a psychology practice exam

The present paper introduces JavaScript scripting in an applied context for social scientists. First, basic JavaScript features are presented. Second, the paper describes a JavaScript application that permits students of psychology to take up to three practice exams. The students are presented with a Web page that poses three sets of five multiple-choice exam questions (in random order). The student is asked to answer each question and is given immediate feedback about his/her performance. In addition, a running total of the correct answers is updated each time the student answers a question, giving the student feedback on overall performance. The application is easily customizable to allow instructors to add, change, or delete questions.
Tutorial Dialogue as Adaptive Collaborative Learning Support

In this paper we investigate the role of reflection in simulation based learning by manipulating two independent factors that each separately lead to significant learning effects, namely whether students worked alone or in pairs, and what type of support students were provided with. Our finding is that in our simulation based learning task, students learned significantly more when they worked in pairs than when they worked alone. Furthermore, dynamic support implemented with tutorial dialogue agents lead to significantly more learning than no support, while static support was not statistically distinguishable from either of the other two conditions. The largest effect size in comparison with the control condition of individuals working alone with no support was Pairs+Dynamic support, with an effect size of 1.24 standard deviations.
A new synthesis of lysophosphatidylcholines and related derivatives. Use of p-toluenesulfonate for hydroxyl group protection.

A new stereoselective synthesis of lysophosphatidylcholines is reported. The synthesis is based upon (1) the use of 3-p-toluenesulfonyl-sn-glycerol to provide the stereocenter for construction of t...
Interpersonal comparison versus persuasive argumentation: A more direct test of alternative explanations for group-induced shifts in individual choice

Abstract One class of theories explains group induced shifts in individual choice in terms of interpersonal comparison process. By comparing himself with others a member finds out that his position is uncomfortably discrepant, e.g., he is overly “cautious” or overly “risky”. Knowledge of this discrepancy presumably is necessary and sufficient to induce him to change his initial choice. Another class of theories holds that merely knowing one is different from others is unimportant. Shifts in choice occur because during discussion a member is exposed to persuasive arguments which prior to discussion were not available to him. Thus, if in a factorial design one independently varied (a) the number of others' choices available for comparison and (b) the number of arguments others presented in support of these choices, interpersonal comparison theories would predict the magnitude of the shift to be a function of (a) and not of (b), while theories of persuasive argumentation would predict the opposite. When such an experiment was performed the only reliable main effects were based on the number of arguments, (b), as predicted by persuasive arguments. In no instance did effects involving (a) approach significance.
Assessing the effectiveness of coding and non-coding regions in antisense ribosome inhibition of gene expression in Tetrahymena.

Abstract In Tetrahymena thermophila, an “antisense ribosome” technology has been developed for inhibiting gene expression and generating novel mutants. Short segments of genes are inserted in antisense orientation into an rDNA vector in a region corresponding to an external loop of the folded rRNA. DNA segments derived from the 5′-ends of genes have proven most effective in reducing cognate gene expression. To investigate the efficacy of other genic regions, we generated Tetrahymena cell lines with antisense ribosome constructs containing 100-bp DNA segments derived from the 5′-ends, 3′-ends, and internal coding regions of two non-essential genes, granule lattice protein 1 and macronuclear histone H1. The 5′- and 3′-end constructs inhibited gene expression, but antisense ribosomes derived exclusively from coding regions had little effect.
Serum magnesium increases following severe hemorrhage in dogs blocked by verapamil treatment.

Abstract The opening of voltage sensitive calcium channels is an important event in the progression of irreversible shock, allowing the entry of toxic amounts of calcium (Cal 2+ ) into the cells. Because intracellular magnesium (Mg 2+ ) can efflux thrqugh these same channels, changes in serum Mg 2+ may reflect the patency of these channels. In this study, electrolytes and selected serum enzymes were monitored in chronically instrumented conscious dogs to follow the progression of shock following a fixed volume hemorrhage. Plasma enzymes indicative of liver damage were elevated only in the terminal phase of hemorrhagic decompensation. A significant increase in serum Mg 2+ was evident 60 min following hemorrhage, even though arterial pressure was still recovering. Serum Mg 2+ continued to rise throughout the recovery and decompensating phases of shock. Verapamil treatment, which increased survival time and survival rate, significantly attenuated the changes in serum M 2+ which normally followed hemorrhage. These results indicate that serum Mg 2+ may be a useful indicator of the severity and the progression of hemorrhagic shock.
Complexity classes of provable recursive functions

Abstract Complexity measures and provable recursive functions (p-functions) are combined to define a p-measure as a measure for which Blum's axioms can be proved in a given axiomatic system. For p-measures, it is shown that the complexity class of a p-function contains only p-functions and that all p-functions form a single complexity class. Various other classes and a variation of a complexity measure, all suggested by the notion of provability, are also investigated. Classical results in complexity theory remain true when relativized to p-functions.
Time-domain radiative properties of a single subwavelength aperture surrounded by an exit side surface corrugation

Using experiment and simulation, we describe the radiative properties of a single subwavelength aperture surrounded by concentric annular grooves on the exit surface using terahertz (THz) time-domain techniques. The approach allows for the unique determination of the contribution from each exit surface annular groove to the radiated THz temporal waveform. Based on a simple model, we discuss why the grooves on the exit surface necessarily enhance the time-integrated THz power radiated from the metal structure relative to an equivalent bare aperture. Each exit side groove is shown to produce a time-delayed replica of the total THz pulse that is evanescently coupled through the subwavelength aperture. These replicas are coherently superposed on each other and temporally shifted from one another in accordance with the spatial distance between the grooves. The use of patterns incorporating double-sided surface corrugation therefore allows for greater flexibility in generating complex temporal THz pulse shapes.
Wind velocities determined from the surface textures of sand grains

Krinsley and Smalley1 suggested that ‘upturned plates’, a surface texture that is represented on quartz sand surfaces by a series of thin parallel plates, either continuous or discontinuous parallel to r(10¯11) and z(01¯11), cause the frosting observed on desert sand grains. As these plates depend on the extent of physical abrasion2, the spacing between individual plates might be related to the velocity of the wind which last transported the grains. The technique described here attempts to relate experimental and modern aeolian sand grain surface textures to wind velocity via scanning electron microscopy (SEM)3.
A mathematical model of the middle and high latitude ionosphere

A time-dependent three-dimensional model of the middle and high latitude ionosphere is described. The density distributions of six ion species (NO+ , O 2 + , N 2 + , O+ , N+ , He+) and the electron and ion temperatures are obtained from a numerical solution of the appropriate continuity, momentum and energy equations. The equations are solved as a function of height for an inclined magnetic field at E and F region altitudes. The three-dimensional nature of the model is obtained by following flux tubes of plasma as they convect or corotate through a moving neutral atmosphere. The model takes account of field-aligned diffusion, cross-field electrodynamic drifts, thermospheric winds, polar wind escape, energy-dependent chemical reactions, neutral composition changes, ion production due to solar EUV radiation and auroral precipitation, thermal conduction, diffusion-thermal heat flow and local heating and cooling processes. The model also takes account of the offset between the geomagnetic and geographic poles. A complete description of the ionospheric model is given, including a derivation of the relevant transport equations, formulas for all of the chemical and physical processes contained in the model, a discussion of the numerical technique, and a description of the required model inputs. The effects that various chemical and physical processes have on the ionosphere are also illustrated.
Understanding the Language Difficulties of Children With Specific Language Impairments

Many children with specific language impairment (SLI) demonstrate deficits in both verbal working memory (VWM) and language. Among child language researchers, the debate continues whether these two...
Teaching the Psychology of Food and Culture

Increasingly, psychologists practicing as clinicians, researchers, and educators are concerned about nutrition, obesity, dieting, and body image. This article describes the development and teaching of an interdisciplinary undergraduate class on the Psychology of Food and Culture. I describe the course philosophy and curriculum as well as make recommendations to educators interested in developing a similar course. I also include recommendations for those who want to integrate components of this course into other psychology classes.
Metaphysics on the internet

Metaphysics annotations on Internet topics are looked with quoted sentences and phrases derived from Heidegger (H) and Leibniz (L)
Consistent parameter estimation and convergence properties analysis of hammerstein output-error models

This paper presents an on-line bias-compensating recursive least squares (BCRLS) identification algorithm for Hammerstein output-error models disturbed by non-martingale difference sequence noise. By introducing an auxiliary vector uncorrelated with the noise, the consistent parameter estimation is obtained without the strictly positive real (SPR) condition. Convergence analysis of the recursive algorithm is performed using the ordinary differential equation (ODE) method. The simulation results validate the algorithm proposed.
Fractionation and biochemical characterization of moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia L.) proteins

Abstract Moth bean seeds contained 24 g/100 g protein (micro-Kjeldahl N×6.25) on a dry weight basis. Among the solvents tested, 0.1 mol/l NaOH and 0.1 mol/l sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.5) were the most effective in solubilizing the seed flour proteins. Native isoelectric focusing of the total soluble proteins indicated moth seed proteins to be acidic (pI range 4.55–
Secure RTOS Architecture for Building Automation

Building Automation System (BAS) is a computer-based control system that is widely installed in office buildings and laboratories for monitoring and controlling mechanical/electrical equipment. With the advancements in Cyber-Physical System (CPS) and Internet of Things (IoTs), BAS is in the process of becoming more intelligent by merging computing resources and network communication with physical control. Along with potential benefits, it also brings tremendous risks of security breaches and safety violations, especially when it comes to Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). In this paper, we systematically analyze biocontainment laboratory control models based on real case scenarios from Biosecurity Research Institute (BRI) at Kansas State University. We present a vision for a new secure Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) architecture, which leverages various technologies, including microkernel structure, Trusted Platform Module (TPM), proxy-based policy enforcement, and formal verification. The secure RTOS architecture is designed specifically to work with embedded controllers which are widely used in BAS and other CPS to achieve a highly secure and trustworthy control system.
Induction of Vascular Progenitor Cells From Endothelial Cells Stimulates Coronary Collateral Growth

Rationale:A well-developed coronary collateral circulation improves the morbidity and mortality of patients following an acute coronary occlusion. Although regenerative medicine has great potential in stimulating vascular growth in the heart, to date there have been mixed results, and the ideal cell type for this therapy has not been resolved. Objective:To generate induced vascular progenitor cells (iVPCs) from endothelial cells, which can differentiate into vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) or endothelial cells (ECs), and test their capability to stimulate coronary collateral growth. Methods and Results:We reprogrammed rat ECs with the transcription factors Oct4, Klf4, Sox2, and c-Myc. A population of reprogrammed cells was derived that expressed pluripotent markers Oct4, SSEA-1, Rex1, and AP and hemangioblast markers CD133, Flk1, and c-kit. These cells were designated iVPCs because they remained committed to vascular lineage and could differentiate into vascular ECs and VSMCs in vitro. The iVPCs demo...
Cost Analysis of Carotid Endarterectomy: Is Age a Factor?

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in elderly patients. Our aim was to analyze and compare outcome and cost of CEA in both elderly and younger patient groups. A total of 125 consecutive patients who underwent CEA were examined retrospectively and grouped according to age (<80 years old, n = 95; and ≥80 years old, n = 30). The actual total costs and itemized costs were analyzed, and diagnosis-related group (DRG) code payor mix were identified. Patient demographics and risk factors were similar except for a greater incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in the ≥80 group than in these <80 (43.3% vs. 21.1%, p < 0.05). Patients had similar minor complication rates; however, the ≥80 group had higher perioperative major complications (16.7% vs. 1.1%, p < 0.01). There were no deaths and there was one perioperative stroke, which occurred in the <80 group. Mean length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) LOS, and ICU admissions were greater in the ≥80 group. Cost figures were normalized to a base value of $100 to maintain proprietary data. Actual total costs of CEA were $131.50 for the ≥80 group and $100 for the <80 group (p < 0.001). Significant cost differences were found in ICU room costs, and costs for clinical laboratory, radiology imaging, other specialty consults, operating room, and ancillary services in the ≥80 group compared with the <80 group. These results show that the cost of CEA in the elderly is significantly greater than that for younger patients. This difference can be attributed to a greater number of major complications in the more elderly group, who require increased ICU stay, and thus require more clinical laboratory, radiology imaging, and specialty consult service resources. Consideration should be given for a DRG modifier code to increase hospital reimbursement for increased associated costs in elderly patients undergoing CEA.
Latent egg capsule catechol oxidase in the little skate (Raja erinacea)

Abstract 1. 1. Treatment of crude catechol oxidase from Raja erinacea nidamental gland with α-chymotrypsin reduced the latency period following o- diphenol addition and increased initial rates of substrate oxidation [Koob and Cox (1985) Bull. Mt Desert Is. Biol. Lab.25, 132–134; Koob and Cox (1988) Biol. Bull.175, 202–211]. 2. 2. Nidamental gland extracts prepared wth proteinase inhibitor cocktail or with phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride alone displayed rates of 4-methylcatechol oxidation 17 and 13% those of control values, respectively. 3. 3. Initial lag period duration was increased more than 10-fold in these extracts. 4. 4. α-Chymotrypsin had little effect on lag period or oxidation rates of extracts containing proteinase inhibitors. 5. 5. Likewise, α-chymotrypsin did not induce catechol oxidase activity in dialyzed inhibitor extracts. 6. 6. These results indicate that a serine enzyme is required for catechol oxidase activation and that α-chymotrypsin does not act directly on the latent oxidase, but rather upon another factor(s) involved in activation. 7. 7. Activation of this latent catechol oxidase therefore appears to involve a multi-step cascade which could serve to regulate catechol oxidase activity precisely during skate egg capsule formation.
Neutron activation analysis of aerosolized sodium chloride to simulate size-fractionation of plutonium in a glovebox

Open front hoods are routinely used to mitigate a worker’s inhalation hazard. However, it has been shown that these hoods leak contaminates, especially when a worker is performing work in the hood. Quantitative measurement performed in the past does not reflect actually working conditions, but instead tends to conservatively bias the measurement by placing the sampler inside the hood or forcing the air-stream out of the hood toward the sampler. In order to accurately measure the amount of material routinely leaking from an open front hood, an air sampler was positioned in front of the hood opening and samples were taken while a routine sample digestion process was done. The digestion process involved the heating of a surrogate mixture to dryness. Samples were taken with and without a worker present during the digestion process. The samples were then analyzed at the University of Texas using neutron activation analysis. The detection level using this method was low enough to measure the amount of aerosol escaping the hood. Based on these measurements, the capture efficiency of open front hoods for PuO2 is 84%.
Integral input-to-state stable saddle-point dynamics for distributed linear programming

This paper studies the robustness properties of a class of saddle-point dynamics for linear programming. This dynamics is distributed over a network in which every node controls one component of the optimization variable. In this multi-agent setting, communication noise, computation errors, and mismatches in the agents' knowledge about the problem data all enter into the dynamics as unmodeled disturbances. We show that the saddle-point dynamics is integral input-to-state stable and hence robust to disturbances of finite energy. This result also allows us to establish the robustness of the dynamics when the communication graph is recurrently connected because of link failures. Several simulations illustrate our results.
An Overview of the Maturation of SiC Optics Fab

L-3 SSG has been developing SiC optical systems for space-based applications for >20 years. Over this time significant advances have been made in SiC manufacturing. We provide data which illustrates the maturation of this technology.
GENDER DIFFERENCES IN WORK-TRIP LENGTH: EXPLANATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Many studies have shown that women work closer to home than do men, but few have probed the reasons for this persistent finding and none has done so at the metropolitan scale or considered the link between journey-to-work patterns and the occupational segregation of women. We first review the various possible reasons for women's shorter journeys to work and then examine each of these with data from the Baltimore, Maryland SMSA. We compare the work-trip distances and times of 303 employed women with those of 484 men, drawn from the 1977 Baltimore Travel Demand Data. As expected, women's work trips are significantly shorter than men's in both travel time and distance Women's lower incomes, their concentration in female-dominated occupations, and their greater reliance on the bus and auto passenger modes all help to explain their shorter work trips Male-female differences in part— versus full-time work status, occupational group, and, most surprisingly, household responsibility, did not, however, contribute ...
An inverse computer graphics problem

The goal of a conventional computer perspective algorithm is to assist in the establishment of a scaled perspective view of a real or conceptual geometric object. The purpose of this paper is to present the required conditions for the inverse transformation; that is, given the perspective of an object, establish the required parameters used in generating the perspective and to a more restrictive extent, establish the original geometric definition of the object. Because this inverse mapping is from a two to three dimensional space, the method is approximate and is accomplished by the method of least squares based on certain a priori information regarding the geometrical object. The method does require a considerable amount of numerical computation, but is particularly well suited to a digital computer solution.
Chord length distributions between hard disks and spheres in regular, semi-regular, and quasi-random structures

Abstract In binary stochastic media in two- and three-dimensions consisting of randomly placed impenetrable disks or spheres, the chord lengths in the background material between disks and spheres closely follow exponential distributions if the disks and spheres occupy less than 10% of the medium. This work demonstrates that for regular spatial structures of disks and spheres, the tails of the chord length distributions (CLDs) follow power laws rather than exponentials. In dilute media, when the disks and spheres are widely spaced, the slope of the power law seems to be independent of the details of the structure. When approaching a close-packed arrangement, the exact placement of the spheres can make a significant difference. When regular structures are perturbed by small random displacements, the CLDs become power laws with steeper slopes. An example CLD from a quasi-random distribution of spheres in clusters shows a modified exponential distribution.
Time Resolved Energy Migration in an Energetically Disordered Molecular Crystalt

Abstract Time resolved emission spectroscopy is used to monitor triplet exciton migration in p-dichloro-benzene-p-dibromobenzene mixed crystals. The migration efficiency is varied by adjusting the concentration and the temperature (2–12°K). Long range migration is found even though the static energy disorder parameter W is much larger than the exciton band width B. Because of exciton tunneling, the range of the transfer is only limited by the maximum lifetime of an exciton. These results illustrate the importance of at least six key parameters in determining the efficiency of long range exciton migration; B, W, the range of transfer, the temperature, the exciton lifetime and the topology of the excitation exchange interactions through its effect on the long range connectedness of the system.
Henry Cavendish: An early case of Asperger’s syndrome?

Is autism compatible with major creativity or genius? Henry Cavendish (1731–1810) made fundamental advances in many scientific areas, ranging from his discovery of hydrogen to his famous (and remarkably accurate) weighing of the earth and estimation of its density. He showed (by sparking hydrogen and oxygen together) the composition of water; he showed that air was a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen, and also that it contained a minute amount of another substance, which was identified a century later as argon. He discovered specific and latent heats, the cooling and heating of air with expansion and compression, and how the electrical conductivity of solutions varied with their concentration. He discovered eutectic mixtures and supercooling; he discovered an inverse-square law of electrostatic attraction and repulsion, and made exact investigations of what would later be called chemical equivalents. He was the first to realize that a fish, the torpedo, could generate electricity (and a form of electricity quite different from static electricity—electrical currents were unknown at the time). He united extraordinary intuitive powers with great experimental ingenuity and consummate mathematical skill, in a manner perhaps unequalled since Newton. Yet even in his lifetime, his peculiarities were the stuff of legend. He did all his work alone, in complete …