cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Model Fidelity Refinement for System-Level Design of a Reusable Launch Vehicle

This paper extends research in multidisciplinary reliability-based design optimization by using model uncertainty quantification to integrate multiple levels of design. The bi-level design of a reusable launch vehicle with a component fuel tank is studied from this perspective. The system design includes a conceptual, low-fidelity weights analysis with significant model uncertainty, while the tank design provides a more rigorous analysis for the weight of one component with significantly less uncertainty. Evaluating the uncertainties of the disciplinary analysis provides two important benefits. The first is as a metric for selecting appropriate disciplinary model(s) to integrate into the system-level analysis for a desired level of reliability. The second benefit is as the basis for iterating between design levels. Rather than fully integrating the system and component analyses, this method uses model uncertainty to leverage the component design to refine the system analysis. Thus the communication between design levels is less stringent than for fully-integrated reliability based optimization.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
On the number of 2n-p fractional factorials of resolution III

An algorithm is specified and demonstrated which will compute the total number of ways a 2n factorial design may be partitioned into 2p mutually exclusive 2n-p fractional factorial designs, each having resolution III. The results of its application to all designs possessing resolution III fractions for n=5,…,20 are also given.
Evidence for a charge-shift electrochromic mechanism in a probe of membrane potential

Extrinsic optical probes have become important tools for monitoring membrane potential, with probes now available for many tissue or cell suspension systems. In each case that has been studied in detail, it seems that the mechanism involves a shift in the equilibrium population of the probe from one chemical environment to another in response to the transmembrane potential; the environments perturb the probe's spectrum differently. As this indirect mechanism involves a redistribution of dye between chemical environments that are likely to vary if a given probe is transferred from one membrane to another, a potential probe that is effective and calibrated for all membrane systems has not been realised. We present here evidence for a direct response of a probe chromophore to the electric field across membrane systems. The results suggest it might be possible to develop a universal set of membrane probes.
On the computation of acceleration parallaxes

Rigorous formulas are derived with which one can compute from three observed (coplanar) directions the proper-motion components and the product of parallax and radial velocity of an object (star) which moves uniformly with respect to the observer (earth). The errors of the determination of distance by parallactic acceleration are analyzed and the possibility of determining distances by this method is discussed.
Relieving unnecessary, treatable pain for the sake of human dignity.

Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 29 (2001): 11–12. © 2001 by the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics. S ince 1995, the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics, with the generous and steadfast support of the Mayday Fund, has generated the research that is essential for changing public policy regarding effective pain relief. For all of us who have been involved since the beginning of these Mayday Projects at ASLME, this has been a labor of love and passion. All creative work requires inspiration, and the inspiration for this body of work is the stories the patients tell of the burden of unrelieved pain. Who can listen to this parent and not feel moved:
Affective and Instrumental Dimensions of Best, Equal, and Unequal Friendships.

This research examines the extent to which subjects discriminate among their equal, unequal, and best friendships on the basis of values exchanged—stimulation, ego support, and utility—and perceived attraction of the other—physical, task, and intimate. Implications of these results for research on communication in friendship are discussed.
Impact of a surgeon-trained observer on accuracy of colorectal surgical site infection rates.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were 1) to establish accurate and reproducible baseline surgical site infection rates for our department and 2) to identify risk factors associated with surgical site infection in patients undergoing surgery on a colorectal service. METHODS: Phase I—Surgical site infection grading between the surgeontrainer and the observer-trainee was validated using a four-point scale for wound evaluation previously used by our institution. Phase II—Patients undergoing colorectal surgery were prospectively monitored. The observed surgical site infection rate was compared with morbidity and mortality reports. Patient and perioperative variables were analyzed for their effect on surgical site infection using the chi-squared test. Risk factors approaching significance on univariate analysis (P<0.2) were entered into a multivariate stepwise logistic regression model. RESULTS: Concordance on surgical site infection grading between the surgeon-trainer and the observer-trainee improved from an initial 79 percent to 96 percent during the validation period. The surgeon-trained observer reported a surgical site infection rate of 7.2 percentvs. a morbidity and mortality reported rate of 3.3 percent. Among the variables examined, obesity and surgical procedure category were significantly associated with surgical site infection rates. The effect of prophylactic antibiotics and prior chemotherapy, radiation, or steroid therapy on surgical site infection rates approached significance. A logistic regression analysis incorporating these risk factors for surgical site infection accurately predicted infection status 93 percent of the time. CONCLUSION: Use of a surgeon-trained observer doubles the detection rate of postoperative surgical site infection. Accurate, prospective assessment identifies risk factors significantly associated with increased surgical site infection rates in colorectal surgical patients.
Comparative Material on Visual Evoked Potential Equipment

The following pages are designed to provide information to the potential buyer of visual evoked response equipment, which will allow him to preliminarily select the system(s) that might best serve his needs. The data presented here are necessarily incomplete, and the potential buyer should obviously follow-up on possible choices by writing for the company brochures, and then conducting discussions with company representatives and with users of the equipment. Ideally, he should see the equipment in operation. Some of the features and quirks of equipment of this complexity cannot be conveyed in lists of specifications, even the most complete, and neither the following descriptions nor the company brochures are complete. Also, the choice of equipment may depend to a great extent on its capabilities other than visualevoked response testing (ERG, EOG, AER, SER, EMG, EEG analysis, general computing), and these are listed but not elaborated on in the following descriptions. We have not listed every manufacturer of equipment that can be used to record VERso One can build such a system in many ways, even starting from the most basic components. Building one's own system provides the optimum system for the user's needs but takes a great deal of time and knowledge. It is obviously impractical to list every computer, amplifier, averager, or oscilloscope that could be used; therefore, we have restricted these pages to more or less complete systems for VER testing (although they may have other uses as well). Even in this respect, the list is incomplete. * We have found the listed systems by using personal knowledge, discussions with a few colleagues, and perusing the advertising pages of journals. Some of the companies did not reply to our re-
A reduced-form rapid economic consequence estimating model: Application to property damage from U.S. earthquakes

Modeling the economic consequences of disasters has reached a high level of maturity and accuracy in recent years. Methods for providing reasonably accurate rapid estimates of economic losses, however, are still limited. This article presents the case for “reduced-form” models for rapid economic consequence estimation for disasters, and specifies and statistically estimates a regression equation for property damage from significant U.S. earthquakes. Explanatory variables are of two categories: (1) hazard-related variables pertaining to earthquake characteristics; and (2) exposure-related variables pertaining to socioeconomic conditions. Comparisons to other available earthquake damage estimates indicate that our Reduced-Form Model yields reasonably good results, including several statistically significant variables that are consistent with a priori hypotheses. The article concludes with a discussion of how the research can be enhanced through the collection of data on additional variables, and of the potential for the extension of the reduced-form modeling approach to other hazard types.
Comparison of the interaction of tricyclic antidepressants with human polymorphonuclear leukocytes as monitored by the generation of chemiluminescence

The interaction of imipramine with human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) results in a chemiluminescence (CL) response which has been attributed to the electronic excitation of the imipramine molecule resulting from a reaction of the drug with reactive oxygen species. In order to determine what portion of the tricyclic molecule is involved in this reaction, the interaction of other tricyclics with PMNs was monitored by chemiluminescence. It was observed that tricyclic antidepressants having a carbon atom at position 5 of the ring moiety (amitriptyline, for example) did not yield CL with either resting or zymosan-activated PMNs. In fact this group of compounds inhibited the zymosan-induced CL response. However, CL was observed, with both resting and metabolically-activated PMNs, from several tricyclics having a heterocyclic nitrogen at position 5. These included imipramine, desipramine, opipramol and iprindole. Chlorimipramine, which has a chlorine atom at position 3 of the ring system, failed to yield CL with resting or stimulated cells. Similarly, imipramine N-oxide failed to yield CL with resting cells, but enhanced CL was observed with zymosan-activated PMNs. On the basis of these observations it appears that some aspect of the ring moiety, other than just a heterocyclic nitrogen, facilitates a reaction between these molecules and reactive oxygen which culminates in the generation of CL.
On the Stability of the Porous Plug Burner Flame

Abstract The results of a linear stability analysis of a stationary premixed plane flame attached to a porous plug burner are presented. A dispersion relation derived by Buckmaster (1983) is used to define the neutral stability curve in the wave number vs. Lewis number plane. The nature of this curve is analyzed as the characteristic parameters of the burner and the standoff distance of the flame are varied. It is shown that the neutral stability curve may have multiple branches where pulsating flames become unstable. Depending on the parameter values, the burner may have a stabilizing or destabilizing effect.
TH‐C‐AUD A‐09: Monte Carlo (MCNP5) Dose Calculation for Eye Plaque Therapy

Purpose: To model the geometry of eye plaque therapy using MCNP5 and study the dose distribution at specific points in the eye. Effects of tissue heterogeneity and coverage for small tumors (<10mm) which have poor clinical outcomes are concentrated. Method and Materials: Geometry of the eye plaque for eye plaque therapy is modeled using MCNP5. The dose at the tumor base and apex has been calculated and compared against published data. For this work, a simple geometry of the eye plaque has been studied. The eye diameter, tumor base diameter, plaque diameter, plaque thickness and depth are chosen to be in compliance with the COMS standards. This model uses 14 radioactive NASI MED 3631 A/M mode I‐125 seeds. The source energy distribution for this problem defines only the photon energies and not the beta energies as they are absorbed by the titanium capsule in the I‐125 seed. Results: Dose at the tumor apex was calculated using *F8 and F6 tallies in MCNP5. Results show that F6 tally gives more accurate results than *F8 for this problem. So, F6 tally was used further in this research. Dose at tumor base and depth dose profile were studied for this problem using F6 tally. 54540 source particles were simulated using MCNP5 and the resulting particle trace was obtained. Conclusion: The geometry of the eye plaque has been modeled using MCNP5 and the dose distribution at specific points of interest has been studied. The MCNP5 results were found to be agreeable with the published data for several treatment techniques. The effects of tissue/tumor heterogeneity have been studied and the reason for poor tumor control / toxicity outcomes for small tumors is found using Monte carlo dose calculation due to lack of coverage which could not be realized with 2D/3D planning.
Transient Analysis of Junction Transistor Amplifiers

An analysis of the transient response of transistor amplifiers necessitates the consideration of transit-time effects. Transit-time phenomena may be represented by a transmission line in the equivalent circuit of a transistor. However, such an equivalent circuit would lead to unwieldy algebraic expressions in network analysis. This paper illustrates an approximation technique which results in simple Laplace transforms in the transient-response calculations for junction-transistor amplifiers. Theoretical results based upon this analysis are in good agreement with experiment.
Nursing Graduates' Ability to Address Incivility: Kirkpatrick's Level-3 Evaluation

Abstract Background Addressing incivility in nursing education has an important twofold purpose, to increase civility within the nursing education experience and to lay the groundwork for creating cultures of civility in professional nursing practice. Given the serious impact of incivility, it is imperative to prepare students to foster civility in their nursing practice upon graduation. Methods In a previous article, the authors described how a classroom-centered, problem-based learning (PBL) scenario, simulating a nurse-to-nurse uncivil encounter, was used to assess student learning according to Level 1 and Level 2 of Kirkpatrick's Model of Evaluation. This subsequent article presents the findings of a 10-month follow-up study based on Level 3 of Kirkpatrick's Model of Evaluation, describing how knowledge gained from the PBL scenario impacted the nursing practice of new graduates in their workplaces. Results Themes are presented regarding the new graduates' experiences with incivility in their nursing practice, how they transferred the PBL knowledge presented in the classroom to their nursing practice, how their behavior has changed since participating in the PBL scenario, and the barriers and benefits to using the PBL scenario knowledge in the practice setting. Conclusions A classroom-centered PBL scenario was an effective teaching strategy for preparing new graduates to address nurse-to-nurse incivility in the practice setting.
Contribution of penicillium sp. to the flavors of brie and camembert cheese

Abstract Volatile flavor compounds produced by Penicillium caseicolum in domestic and French Brie cheese were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; they included carbon-5, carbon-7, Carbon-9, carbon-11 methyl ketones, and corresponding secondary alcohols, 2-octanone, 3-octanone, 1-octen-3-ol, 1,5-octadien-3-ol, 1,5-octadien-3-one, and 2-methylisoborneol. Lipoxygenase formation of the eight carbon compounds responsible for the mushroom, plant-like flavors of mold surface-ripened cheeses was enhanced either by the disruption of mold mycelia or the addition of specific ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acid precursors. The occurrence of 8-nonen-2-one in mold-ripened cheeses was associated with the β-oxidative conversion of a specific unsaturated fatty acid resulting from initial lipoxygenase attack on either linoleic or linolenic acids.
An econometric estimation of the aggregate import demand function for Bangladesh: some further results

This study empirically estimates some critical parameters of the aggregate import demand function for Bangladesh for Bangladesh using quarterly time series data and by applying the Johansen–Juselius multivariate cointegration technique. Cointegration results indicate that the import demand function is dominated by income and relative prices. The income elasticity is significantly positive and exceeds unity indicating that aggregate imports are to be considered as ‘luxury’ goods. The effect of the relative price variable is significantly negative but its elasticity coefficient is less than unity.
Vibrational circular dichroism of polypeptides. III. Film studies of several alpha-helical and beta-sheet polypeptides.

Vibrational CD (VCD) of amides A, I, and II vibrations of a variety of polypeptide films have been measured. VCD of films of α-helical and β-sheet structures are compared in the three regions. Reproducible spectra could only be obtained for thin films free of orientation dependence. The sign and band shape of the VCD of films are not always the same as that in solution. However, the magnitude of the observed VCD seems to correlate with the secondary structure such that α-helical molecules typically have much larger Δe/e values than do β-sheet molecules. The possibility of interference by artifacts owing to light-scattering effects is discussed.
Virtual trajectories, joint stiffness, and changes in the limb natural frequency during single-joint oscillatory movements

In the framework of the equilibrium-point hypothesis, virtual trajectories and patterns of joint stiffness were reconstructed during voluntary single-joint oscillatory movements in the elbow joint at a variety of frequencies and against two inertial loads. At low frequencies, virtual trajectories were in-phase with the actual joint trajectories. Joint stiffness changed at a doubled frequency. An increase in movement frequency and/or inertial load led to an increase in the difference between the peaks of the actual and virtual trajectories and in both peak and averaged values of joint stiffness. At a certain, critical frequency, virtual trajectory was nearly flat. Further increase in movement frequency led to a 180 degree phase shift between the actual and virtual trajectories. The assessed values of the natural frequency of the system "limb + manipulandum" were close to the critical frequencies for both low and high inertial loads. Peak levels and integrals of the electromyograms of two flexor and two extensor muscles changed monotonically with movement frequency without any special behavior at the critical frequencies. Nearly flat virtual trajectories at the natural frequency make physical sense as hypothetical control signals, unlike the electromyographic recordings, since a system at its natural frequency requires minimal central interference. Modulation of joint stiffness is assumed to be an important adaptive mechanism attenuating difference between the system's natural frequency and desired movement frequency. Virtual trajectory is considered a behavioral observable. Phase transitions between the virtual and actual trajectories are illustrations of behavioral discontinuities introduced by slow changes in a higher level control parameter, movement frequency. Relative phase shift between these two trajectories may be considered an order parameter.
Introduction to special issue of Cognition on lexical and conceptual semantics.

It is the fate of those who dwell at the lower employments of life, to be rather driven by the fear of evil, than attracted by the prospect of good; to be exposed to censure, without hope of praise; to be disgraced by miscarriage, or punished for neglect, where success would have been without applause, and diligence without reward. Among these unhappy mortals is the writer of dictionaries ... (Preface, Samuel Johnson's Dictionary, 1755).
A simple remote-controlled power switch for internalized bioelectronic instrumentation

The authors present a remote-controlled power switch for extending the battery life of biomedical instruments implanted into animals or humans. The switching action is controlled externally to the implant by an inductive link between two coils, one contained in the implant and one external to the implant. The external coil sends an electromagnetic pulse to the implant, triggering a CMOS D flip-flop connected as a toggle switch; its state is toggled on or off upon receiving the external pulse. The standby current drain of the switch is about 4 nA. The remote triggering range is approximately 20-50 cm. Testing of the switch, surgically implanted as part of a telemetry transmitter, is also discussed. >
Induced Innovation in U.S. Agriculture: Time-series, Direct Econometric, and Nonparametric Tests

The hypothesis of induced innovation is tested for U.S. agriculture using a high-quality state-level panel data set and three disparate testing techniques—time series, direct econometric, and nonparametric. We find little support for the hypothesis. That conclusion is robust across testing techniques. However, as with all empirical tests of this hypothesis conducted to date, ours focus only on the demand side of the hypothesis. The hypothesis could have been rejected simply because the marginal cost of developing and implementing input-saving technologies for the relatively expensive inputs is greater than for the relatively cheap inputs. Copyright 2009, Oxford University Press.
Relativistic Effects in Chemical Systems

Although the velocity of light c is finite in the real world, most calculations of theoretical chemistry make the approximation c = 00. This is usually a satisfactory approximation for systems of light atoms H, C, N, 0, etc, and for most properties of chemical interest. Where heavy elements are involved, however, the nonrelativistic (c = 00) approximation is not adequate. This review concerns the area where relativistic equations must be used for accurate calculations of properties of chemical interest. Only in the last decade have a large and diverse array of relativistic quantum chemical calculations been made. We define relativistic effects as the differences between calculations for the correct value ofthe velocity oflight and the results for c = 00. To obtain correct results even for c = 00, one must either use the Dirac equation, which yields electron spin, or supplement the Schr6dinger equation with an ad hoc assumption about spin. Both of these procedures yield the same
A PER2-Derived Mechanism-Based Bisubstrate Analog for Casein Kinase 1ε

Casein kinase 1e (CK1e) plays an important regulatory role in various cellular processes including circadian rhythms. Mutations in CK1e or the recognition site on its substrate PER2 result in modulation of the circadian period length. In particular, the tau mutation (R178C) in the catalytic domain of CK1e was identified as the molecular basis for a dose-dependent heritable shortened circadian period in hamsters. However, the biochemical basis for the physiological effects of the tau mutant remains unclear. It has been reported that the tau mutation has reduced in vitro activity against some substrates but increased in vitro activity against other substrates. To better understand the effects of the CK1e tau mutation, an ATP-phosphopeptide conjugate was synthesized to yield a transition-state bisubstrate analog. Kinase activity assays determined that the tau mutant has 80% reduced activity and a fourfold decrease in sensitivity to the bisubstrate analog compared to wild type. This confirms that Arg178 is important in the recognition of the preferred phosphosubstrates of CK1e.
A rugged, tunable, thermally stable X-band beacon magnetron

Packaged magnetrons, until a few years ago, had their weight reported in pounds. As the demand for miniaturization increased, however, it became desirable to incorporate ruggedness, tunability, and thermal stability into a magnetron weighing only a few ounces. This paper describes the development and achievement of such a tube: an X-band beacon magnetron, cylindrically shaped, which weighs less than six ounces. Particular attention will be paid to those phases of miniaturization which required revision of traditional design approaches.
Comparing native signers' perception of American Sign Language animations and videos via eye tracking

Animations of American Sign Language (ASL) have accessibility benefits for signers with lower written-language literacy. Our lab has conducted prior evaluations of synthesized ASL animations: asking native signers to watch different versions of animations and answer comprehension and subjective questions about them. Seeking an alternative method of measuring users' reactions to animations, we are now investigating the use of eye tracking to understand how users perceive our stimuli. This study quantifies how the eye gaze of native signers varies when they view: videos of a human ASL signer or synthesized animations of ASL (of different levels of quality). We found that, when viewing videos, signers spend more time looking at the face and less frequently move their gaze between the face and body of the signer. We also found correlations between these two eye-tracking metrics and participants' responses to subjective evaluations of animation-quality. This paper provides methodological guidance for how to design user studies evaluating sign language animations that include eye tracking, and it suggests how certain eye-tracking metrics could be used as an alternative or complimentary form of measurement in evaluation studies of sign language animation.
The Heat Transfer Problem for the Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition Process

The present work presents a three-dimensional time-dependent formulation of the heat transfer. The effects if variable properties and rotation are investigated for the case of a fast-moving torch. Analytical and numerical results are obtained in the high Peclet number limit and the effects of rotation are displayed in terms of the dimensionless parameter a{Omega}/U{sub 0}.
Erratum to “Does anti-Semitism among African Americans simply reflect anti-White sentiment?” [Soc. Sci. J. 46 (2009) 384–389]

The publishers regret that in the above published article, Table 1 in Appendix A was reproduced incorrectly. The correct version appears below.VariablesbS.E.Opposed to living in a neighborhood that...
Inhibition of angiogenesis by vitamin D-binding protein: Characterization of anti-endothelial activity of DBP-maf

Angiogenesis is a complex process involving coordinated steps of endothelial cell activation, proliferation, migration, tube formation and capillary sprouting with participation of intracellular signaling pathways. Regulation of angiogenesis carries tremendous potential for cancer therapy. Our earlier studies showed that vitamin D-binding protein-macrophage activating factor (DBP-maf) acts as a potent anti-angiogenic factor and inhibits tumor growth in vivo. The goal of this investigation was to understand the effect of DBP-maf on human endothelial cell (HEC) and the mechanism of angiogenesis inhibition. DBP-maf inhibited human endothelial cell (HEC) proliferation by inhibiting DNA synthesis (IC(50) = 7.8 +/- 0.15 microg/ml). DBP-maf significantly induced S- and G0/G1-phase arrest in HEC in 72 h. DBP-maf potently blocked VEGF-induced migration, tube-formation of HEC in a dose dependent manner. In addition, DBP-maf inhibited growth factor-induced microvessel sprouting in rat aortic ring assay. Moreover, DBP-maf inhibited VEGF signaling by decreasing VEGF-mediated phosphorylation of VEGFR-2 and ERK1/2, a downstream target of VEGF signaling cascade. However, Akt activation was not affected. These studies collectively demonstrate that DBP-maf inhibits angiogenesis by blocking critical steps such as HEC proliferation, migration, tube formation and microvessel sprouting. DBP-maf exerts its effect by inhibiting VEGR-2 and ERK1/2 signaling cascades. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of anti-endothelial activity of DBP-maf will allow us to develop it as an angiogenesis targeting novel drug for tumor therapy.
Characterization of single-waterjet-induced thermal profile for antipersonnel land mine detection and discrimination

IR imaging has been used for landmine detection and discrimination by exploiting the variations in temperature profile on the surface, which may be induced by natural phenomenon such as diurnal cycles or using artificial means such as heated waterjets. While the former method has, in general, not been able to reliably detect and discriminate for small antipersonnel mines, the latter suffers from poor response time. Our previous research has shown that, for waterjet induced thermal images, it takes approximately 15 minutes for the profile of the buried object before it is available on the surface. In this paper we explore the possibility of using thermal profile induced by a single heated water jet when viewed directly into the hole created by the waterjet. A heated waterjet, as it penetrates the ground cover, also digs a hole through which the heat radiates out. The spatial and temporal variation of the heat profile in and around the hole has shown to be rich in information about the buried object. Moreover, the response is much faster when compared to the conduction of heat through the soil to the surface. This paper will present the basic phenomenology and characterize such thermal images induced by single heated waterjet. The spatial and temporal variations are used to detect the presence of an object and its material type. Some possibility to measure the depth of the buried object is also explored.
What’s the Mtrr with Your Grandparents?

Reduced folate levels can cause developmental defects and megaloblastic anemia. Padmanabhan et al. (2013) show that mutation in mice of a folate metabolism gene, Mtrr, which encodes for methionine synthase reductase, causes developmental defects not only in the mutant progeny, but also in genetically wild-type descendants for up to four generations.
Casimir pistons with general boundary conditions

Abstract In this work we analyze the Casimir energy and force for a scalar field endowed with general self-adjoint boundary conditions propagating in a higher dimensional piston configuration. The piston is constructed as a direct product I × N , with I = [ 0 , L ] ⊂ R and N a smooth, compact Riemannian manifold with or without boundary. The study of the Casimir energy and force for this configuration is performed by employing the spectral zeta function regularization technique. The obtained analytic results depend explicitly on the spectral zeta function associated with the manifold N and the parameters describing the general boundary conditions imposed. These results are then specialized to the case in which the manifold N is a d-dimensional sphere.
Ethanol dual modulatory actions on spontaneous postsynaptic currents in spinal motoneurons

Recently we have shown that acute ethanol (EtOH) exposure suppresses dorsal root-evoked synaptic potentials in spinal motoneurons. To examine the synaptic mechanisms underlying the reduced excitato...
A comparison of geospatially modeled fire behavior and fire management utility of three data sources in the southeastern United States

Landscape-scale fire behavior analyses are important to inform decisions on resource management projects that meet land management objectives and protect values from adverse consequences of fire. Deterministic and probabilistic geospatial fire behavior analyses are conducted with various modeling systems including FARSITE, FlamMap, FSPro, and Large Fire Simulation System. The fundamental fire intensity algorithms in these systems require surface fire behavior fuel models and canopy cover to model surface fire behavior. Canopy base height, stand height, and canopy bulk density are required in addition to surface fire behavior fuel models and canopy cover to model crown fire activity. Several surface fuel and canopy classification efforts have used various remote sensing and ecological relationships as core methods to develop the spatial layers. All of these methods depend upon consistent and temporally constant interpretations of crown attributes and their ecological conditions to estimate surface fuel conditions. This study evaluates modeled fire behavior for an 80,000 ha tract of land in the Atlantic Coastal Plain of the southeastern US using three different data sources. The Fuel Characteristic Classification System (FCCS) was used to build fuelbeds from intensive field sampling of 629 plots. Custom fire behavior fuel models were derived from these fuelbeds. LANDFIRE developedmore » surface fire behavior fuel models and canopy attributes for the US using satellite imagery informed by field data. The Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment (SWRA) developed surface fire behavior fuel models and canopy cover for the southeastern US using satellite imagery. Differences in modeled fire behavior, data development, and data utility are summarized to assist in determining which data source may be most applicable for various land management activities and required analyses. Characterizing fire behavior under different fuel relationships provides insights for natural ecological processes, management strategies for fire mitigation, and positive and negative features of different modeling systems. A comparison of flame length, rate of spread, crown fire activity, and burn probabilities modeled with FlamMap shows some similar patterns across the landscape from all three data sources, but there are potentially important differences. All data sources showed an expected range of fire behavior. Average flame lengths ranged between 1 and 1.4 m. Rate of spread varied the greatest with a range of 2.4-5.7 m min{sup -1}. Passive crown fire was predicted for 5% of the study area using FCCS and LANDFIRE while passive crown fire was not predicted using SWRA data. No active crown fire was predicted regardless of the data source. Burn probability patterns across the landscape were similar but probability was highest using SWRA and lowest using FCCS.« less
Enhanced teleoperation for D&D

Remote systems are essential for reducing risk to human workers from hazardous radiation and difficult work environments, while improving productivity and reducing costs. The major drawback of currently available remote manipulator systems is that teleoperation is slow and imprecise. The presented work focuses on enhancing remote operation of tools for D&D tasks by introducing teleautonomy and telecollaboration. In teleautonomy, the robot performs a given task autonomously, while the human operator intervenes in the process as a supervisor. In telecollaboration, the human operator is passively constrained by a virtual fixture, but is responsible for the motion. This work, sponsored by the US Department of Energy (DOE) Environmental Management Science Program (EMSP), builds on a reactive, agent-based control architecture and robot control technology.
Plenary speaker: Era of SoCs: What is next?

SoC designs are bringing ever increasing functionality to the users fueled by smart devices and new user experiences made possible by such devices connected always and everywhere. As more and more functionality is integrated, delivering a complete hw/sw stack and solutions on an aggressive time scale is a challenging task. This talk will discuss where the trends are, what the next wave of innovations and challenges are across many vectors such as systems, system software, CAD, heterogeneity, and programming abstractions.
The effect of temperature on carotenoid photoprotection in the copepod Diaptomus nevadensis

1. 1. Adult Diaptomus nevadensis containing large and small amounts of carotenoid pigment were exposed to 1.2mW/cm2 of visible blue light at 8 and 20°C. 2. 2. Darkly pigmented copepods survived significantly longer than lightly pigmented copepods at both temperatures. 3. 3. Copepods survived longer at 8°C than at 20°C, in contrast to the results reported by investigators studying carotenoid photoprotection in bacteria.
The incorporation of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine into DNA of mammalian tumor cells.

Summary Treatment of L1210 mouse leukemia cells with 10 −6 M [ 3 h]5-fluoro-2′-deoxy-uridine resulted in the incorporation of radioactivity into DNA. The DNA hydrolysate was shown to contain [ 3 h]5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridylic acid by an unequivocal assay involving the formation of a tightly-bound complex with thymidylate synthetase in the presence of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate. The extent of incorporation was estimated to be 1 molecule of 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridylic acid per 10 DNA nucleotides.
Identification and partial DNA sequence of the gene for the α-subunit of the ATP synthase complex of Chlamydomonas reinhardii chloroplasts

The partial DNA sequences of two unidentified genes flanking the gene for the large subunit of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase of Chlamydomonas reinhardii have been reported [(1982) J. Mol. Biol. 162, 775-793]. Based on a comparison of the derived amino acid sequence of one of these genes with the corresponding sequences from Nicotiana tabacum chloroplast DNA and the E. coli atp (unc) operon, one Chlamydomonas gene is identified as coding for the alpha-subunit of the ATP synthase complex.
The aortic impression in inferior venacavography

Summary A review of one hundred abdominal aortograms showed that in 20 per cent the abdominal aorta curved convexly to the right. Four inferior venacavograms showing impressions caused by a tortuous but non-dilated aorta are presented. The appearance is similar to that noted in retroperitoneal tumours. The nature of the impression may be clarified by aortography.
Imperfect information: The persistence of price dispersion on the web

In this article, the authors empirically test the notion that as the mean price of durables increases, the degree of dispersion also increases. This effect holds even when they specifically consider variables such as the number of competitors and store quality. The authors suggest that an individual-level perceptual mechanism, the psychophysics of price, at the aggregate level helps explain continued price dispersion on the Web. These results are contrary to predictions from standard economic theory, which suggest that readily available price information will result in increased price competition and lower price dispersion. Two studies consistently demonstrate that as the mean price of an item increases, price dispersion also increases. These results provide evidence that, contrary to general economic expectations, the Internet has not commoditized products. Retailers and managers need to pay attention to Internet information but not be fearful of its impact on their pricing strategies.
A Plate Finite Element for Modeling Delaminations

Laminate constitutive relations are derived for a composite plate, the midplane of which is offset from the reference x-y plane. The equations are similar to the conventional laminates except that the definition of the [A], [B], and [D] matrices are different. This offsetting procedure is convenient for finite element modeling of delaminations. Starting with the three-dimensional J-integral, an expression for strain energy release rate for delaminations is derived. Unlike the crack closure method, the G can be derived with one single computation; further, the distribution of G along the delamination front can also be obtained. The method is illustrated for an anisotropic DCB specimen
The role of fibrocytes in fibrotic diseases of the lungs and heart

Fibrosis is the end result of a complex series of events that follow tissue injury and inflammation. Pathophysiologic fibrosis results in permanent scar formation, and can impair organ function. Fibrocytes are circulating, bone-marrow-derived progenitor cells that traffic from the bone marrow to the injured organ via the bloodstream, where they differentiate into fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, and play a pivotal role in both physiologic and aberrant fibrosis. In this review, we focus on the contribution of fibrocytes to fibrotic diseases of the lungs and the heart, including interstitial lung diseases, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, atherosclerosis and ischemic cardiomyopathy.
Poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide )-poly (ethylene oxide) block copolymer surfactants in aqueous solutions and at interfaces: thermodynamics, structure, dynamics, and modeling

Abstract The association properties of poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(propyleneoxide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEOPPOPEO) copolymers (commercially available as Poloxamers and Pluronics) in aqueous solutions, and the adsorption of these copolymers at interfaces are reviewed. At low temperatures and/or concentrations the PEOPPOPEO copolymers exist in solution as individual coils (unimers). Thermodynamically stable micelles are formed with increasing copolymer concentration and/or solution temperature, as revealed by surface tension, light scattering, and dye solubilization experiments. The unimer-to-micelle transition is not sharp, but spans a concentration decade or 10 K. The critical micellization concentration (CMC) and temperature (CMT) decrease with an increase in the copolymer PPO content or molecular weight. The dependence of CMC on temperature, together with differential scanning calorimetry experiments, indicates that the micellization process of PEOPPOPEO copolymers in water is endothermic and driven by a decrease in the polarity of ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO) segments as the temperature increases, and by the entropy gain in water when unimers aggregate to form micelles (hydrophobic effect). The free energy and enthalpy of micellization can be correlated to the total number of EO and PO segments in the copolymer and its molecular weight. The micelles have hydrodynamic radii of approximately 10 nm and aggregation numbers in the order of 50. The aggregation number is thought to be independent of the copolymer concentration and to increase with temperature. Phenomenological and mean-field lattice models for the formation of micelles can describe qualitatively the trends observed experimentally. In addition, the lattice models can provide information on the distribution of the EO and PO segments in the micelle. The PEOPPOPEO copolymers adsorb on both airwater and solidwater interfaces; the PPO block is located at the interface while the PEO block extends into the solution, when copolymers are adsorbed at hydrophobic interfaces. Gels are formed by certain PEOPPOPEO block copolymers at high concentrations, with the micelles remaining apparently intact in the form of a “crystal”. The gelation onset temperature and the thermal stability range of the gel increase with increasing PEO block length. A comparison of PEOPPO copolymers with PEOPBO and PEO PS block copolymers and CiEj surfactants is made, and selected applications of PEOPPOPEO block copolymer solutions (such as solubilization of organics, protection of microorganisms, and biomedical uses of micelles and gels) are presented.
History and Development of the Ureteroscope: What Does the Future Hold?

Ureteroscopy has grown from isolated incidental procedures to become a standard portion of urologic endoscopy, both for diagnosis and treatment. The development of fiber optics accelerated the development of the ureteroscope. Initially ureteroscopy was limited by the lack of irrigation, deflection, and working instruments. A major step in ureteroscopy came with distal ureteroscopy using rigid instruments. As the utility of these procedures became evident, there was a rapid development of more endoscopes and associated working instruments, specifically designed for the ureter. One of the major applications has been for urinary calculi. This has been assisted by the development of appropriate intraluminal lithotriptors. The limitations of rigid endoscopes became evident and a great deal of effort was put into developing functional, flexible ureteroscopes with channels adequate for irrigation and working instruments and deflection capabilities which increased access to the lower pole of the kidney. The main limitation is the cross-sectional size of the ureteroscope. The ureter does not accept large instruments easily. The ideal ureteroscope has yet to be made.
Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Commercial Broilers in Northeastern Georgia

SUMMARY. Staphylococcus aureus is an important opportunist that can cause superficial to life-threatening illnesses in a variety of animal species. In poultry, this organism has been implicated in osteomyelitis, synovitis, and cellulitis. Whereas most infections can be treated with antibiotics, because of the organism's propensity to acquire antimicrobial resistance, it is important to continually monitor antibiotic susceptibilities of clinical isolates. We surveyed 77 clinical poultry S. aureus isolates, collected from 1998 to 2000, for susceptibilities to a panel of 18 antimicrobial agents. Thirty-six percent of isolates were susceptible to all antibiotics. Forty-three and 16% of avian S. aureus were resistant to one and two antibiotics respectively. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were commonly resistant to tetracycline (40%; minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC]90 > 32 µg/ml), lincomycin (19%; MIC90 > 32 µg/ml), erythromycin (12%; MIC90 > 8 µg/ml), and kanamycin (8%; MIC90 < 128 µg/ml). All S. aureus ...
Regulation of transcription in mammalian cells by yeast Leu3p and externally supplied inducer

The Leu3 protein of yeast is a dual-function regulator, stimulating transcription when the inducer α-isopropylmalate (α-IPM) is present and suppressing transcription when the inducer is absent. Here we show that Leu3p retains both its positive and negative regulatory properties when expressed in mammalian cells or when added to a mammalian nuclear extract. α-IPM stimulates reporter gene expression 15–20-fold, both in vivo and in vitro. The concentration of α-IPM required for half-maximal stimulation in vitro is 2.5 × 10−4 M. No yeast-specific factors other than Leu3p itself are required for up- or down-regulation. Since α-IPM is not metabolized in mammalian cells, the Leu3p-α-IPM system might be useful in gene therapy and other studies as a highly specific, externally controlled on/off switch of gene expression.
The Influence of Primary Caregivers in Fostering Success in Twice-Exceptional Children

Using grounded theory, this study investigated primary caregivers’ perceptions of the role they play in influencing the academic success of students formally identified as twice-exceptional. Data f...
Effective end-user interaction with machine learning

End-user interactive machine learning is a promising tool for enhancing human productivity and capabilities with large unstructured data sets. Recent work has shown that we can create end-user interactive machine learning systems for specific applications. However, we still lack a generalized understanding of how to design effective end-user interaction with interactive machine learning systems. This work presents three explorations in designing for effective end-user interaction with machine learning in CueFlik, a system developed to support Web image search. These explorations demonstrate that interactions designed to balance the needs of end-users and machine learning algorithms can significantly improve the effectiveness of end-user interactive machine learning.