cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SAGNAC Effect Fiber Ring Gyro with Electronic Phase Sensing

A Sagnac effect interferometer gyro using an optical fiber solenoid ring is delineated where electronic phase detection is employed as opposed to observing an optical fringe shift indicative of rotation. A balanced double-heterodyne system is employed to detect the counter-circulating optical waves derived from a single red He/Ne laser source. The laser output is frequency shifted to provide the counter-circulating signals and the heterodyne local oscillator. Two Bragg-type elasto-optic frequency shifters are employed using Te0:Si02 centered at 70 MHz, the difference of which is the IF frequency in the 10 - 100 KHz range. Hard-limited IF amplification is employed before phase detection. The rotation-induced phase shift (Sagnac effect) appears as a balanced differential phased shift between the channels. Interferometer operation using both quasi single-mode and multi-mode optical fibers with 6328A radiation has been demonstrated. High visibility Fresnel fringes due to the Sagnac effect have been observed using a 1 Km length of multi-mode fiber and a 0.46 Km length of quasi single-mode fiber. Using the 0.46 Km long fiber at 6328A with 9dB/Km loss where its single-mode cutoff is at 9400A, rotational rates of less than 0.1 degrees rotation per second are easily discerned using the balanced double-heterodyne system with electronic phase sensing.© (1978) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Acid/base transport across the midgut of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Larval Lepidoptera generate a large pH gradient across the midgut epithelium. The in vitro rate of luminal alkalinization ( JOH2) and hemolymph acidification (JH+) under nominally CO2-free conditions was measured in the three morphologically distinct regions of the tobacco hornworm midgut. Under open-circuit conditions, the highest JOH2 and JH+ was observed in the anterior section and the lowest was in the middle section. In all three sections the JH+ was equal to JOH2 indicating transepithelial movement of acid or base equivalents. Furthermore, the rate at which the midgut transported acid or base was the same under open- and short-circuit conditions, indicating that acid/base transport is an active process. Although the inhibitors, acetazolamide and ethoxyzolamide, inhibited the activity of carbonic anhydrase in tissue homogenates, they had no effect on JOH2, JH+, or transepithelial potential. Therefore, under the nominally CO2-free conditions of this study, it is unlikely that hydration of CO 2 and the formation of HCO3 2
Measuring Component Effects in Constrained Mixture Experiments

In a mixture experiment, the response to a mixture of q components is a function of the proportions x 1, x 2, …, x q of components in the mixture. The proporitons satisfy the constraint Σx i = 1, and the nature of a particular situation may impose other restrictions. The problem considered is the measurement of the effect each component has on the response. A new mixture component effect measure is presented and compared to previously suggested measures. This new measure incorporates more information concerning the size, shape, and location of the constraint region than do the previous suggestions. A distinction between partial and total effects is made, and the uses of these effects in modifying and interpreting mixture response prediction equations are considered. The methods of the article are illustrated in an example from a glass development study in a waste vitrification program.
A comparative histological study of mammalian bone.

This report adds to the available information on comparative histology of mammalian bone and introduces a semi-quantitative approach to its study. Bone samples consisted of large fragments of rib tibia and/or femur from humans, laboratory rodents and from animals that died at the Bronx Zoological Gardens. A total of 44 bone specimens representing six mammalian orders were available. Decalcified paraffin-embedded 10 μm histological cross-sections were examined at × 320. Qualitative observations were supplemented with measurements of the frequency and size distributions of Haversian and non-Haversian canals. The relative distribution of lacunae was also ascertained. The standard textbook description of mammalian bone as consisting mainly of secondary osteons was not generally seen except in Primate (especially human) bone. Rats showed a few scattered osteon-like structures, but bones of Marsupialia, Insectivora, Artiodactyla and Carnivora were entirely devoid of them. Generally, vascular bone with longitudinal canals was seen except in Lorisidae which showed a reticular type of bone. The distribution of primary longitudinal canals and the number of “filled” or “apparently empty” lacunae/unit area of bone varied both inter-species and among different areas in the same bone. Large areas of acellular and non-vascular bone were encountered in all specimens. This preliminary study revealed that species differences i bone microstructure involve the relative distribution of the same basic components which lend themselves to quantitative treatment. Comparative investigations of bone histology at many ontogenetic and phylogenetic levels should yield significant quantitative information in bone biology.
Investigation of the impact of fiber Bragg grating bandwidth on the efficiency of a Raman resonator

Significant spectral power leakage was found to occur around the high reflectivity fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) defining a 1121 nm Raman resonator cavity comprised of PM 10/125 germanosilicate fiber. This cavity was part of a Raman system pumped with broad linewidth 1069 nm and seeded with narrow linewidth 1178 nm. The 1069 nm upon entering the resonator cavity was Raman converted to 1121 nm which then amplified the 1178 nm as it passed through the cavity. Spectral leakage of 1121 nm light from the resonator cavity resulted in sub-optimal amplification of 1178 nm which forced usage of longer resonator cavities having a decreased threshold for Stimulated Brillouin Scattering. Upon study of 1121 nm linewidth broadening as a function of resonator length for cavities employing 3 nm FBGs, differences in the percentage of 1121 nm power spectrally leaking past the output FBG as a function of the 1121 nm intracavity power propagating in the forward direction are not experimentally discernible for resonator cavities longer than 40 m. But, for cavity’s shorter than 40 m, the percentage of 1121 nm power spectrally leaking past the output FBG decreased significantly for similar 1121 nm intracavity power levels. For all cavity lengths, a nearly linear relationship exists between percent 1121 nm power leakage and intracavity power levels. Also, cavities employing broader bandwidth FBGs experience less 1121 nm power leakage for similar 1121 nm intracavity power levels. Finally, modeling predictions of Raman system performance are greatly improved upon usage of experimentally derived effective FBG reflectivities.
Ultrafast superconductor digital electronics: RSFQ technology roadmap

This paper gives a brief review of the Rapid Single-Flux-Quantum (RSFQ) logic family which leads the race toward practical ultrafast superconductor digital electronics, with an attempt to sketch a “roadmap” for the RSFQ technology and compare it to the renowned National Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors.
Sample Size Requirements in Studies of the Etiologic Fraction

This paper outlines methods of determining sample size for epidemiologic research in studies of the etiologic fraction. The basic model with a dichotomous disease and a single dichotomous exposure factor is considered. To determine sample size, the researcher must specify: the magnitude of the etiologic fraction e to be detected as statistically significant, the level of significance α, the power 1 - β of the test, p the proportion of the population exposed to the risk factor and R the proportion of the population with the disease. Sample size formulas and tables are presented for the case-control, cohort and cross-sectional designs. Optimal allocation considerations are examined to minimize cost for a specified power. Extensive use is made of Walter's results concerning the asymptotic variance of the maximum likelihood estimator of the etiologic fraction for the three epidemiologic study designs.
Angular Velocity Determination Directly from Star Tracker Measurements

Introduction Star trackers are increasingly used on modern day spacecraft. With the rapid advancement of imaging hardware and high-speed computer processors, current trackers are small and routinely achieve arc-second attitude accuracy. Typical sampling rates for these trackers range from 1 to 10 Hz. As computer processor technology advances these frequencies will increase, leading to filter designs that provide even more accurate results. The body angular velocity can be derived using a derivative approach in the attitude kinematics model. For example, if the attitude quaternion q and it’s derivative q (which is usually approximated by a finite-difference) are known, then the angular velocity ω can be computed from the kinematics equations, with ω = 2 Ξ (q) q, where Ξ(q) is a 4× 3 matrix function of the quaternion (see Ref. [2] for more details). However, this approach requires knowledge of the attitude, which is determined from the star reference and body measurement vectors. In this note a new and simple approach to determine the angular velocity is shown that depends only on knowledge of the body vector measurements, which are obtained directly from the star tracker. Therefore, angular velocities can still be determined in the event of star pattern recognition anomalies, which may be used to control the spacecraft in the event of gyro failures.
Effect of intravenous immunoglobulin with or without cytotoxic drugs on pemphigus intercellular antibodies

Background Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg)–a relatively new approach to treat pemphigus–lowers serum levels of pemphigus antibodies; however, the optimal way to use this agent is unknown. Objective We sought to examine whether coadministration of a cytotoxic drug to patients with pemphigus improves the ability of IVIg to decrease serum levels of intercellular (IC) antibodies. Methods In this retrospective study, we analyzed changes in IC antibody levels in 20 patients with pemphigus who were treated with 24 courses of IVIg administered alone (n = 10) or with a cytotoxic drug (n = 14). Each course of IVIg consisted of 400 mg/kg daily of immunoglobulin given over 5 days every other week; this cycle was repeated 3 to 4 times. Serum levels of IC antibodies were measured at baseline, before treatment, and 1 week and 1 month after the last IVIg cycle. Results One week after the last IVIg cycle IC antibodies decreased by an average of 77% in the group treated with IVIg and cytotoxic drug compared with 48% in the group treated with IVIg alone ( P = .54), and by 90% versus 43% 1 month later ( P = .03). Limitations A larger sample size is suggested for future studies. Conclusions These observations confirm that IVIg can rapidly lower serum levels of autoantibodies in patients with pemphigus and its ability to do so is improved by the coadministration of a cytotoxic drug. These findings imply that the clinical effectiveness of IVIg in treating pemphigus, and possibly other autoantibody-mediated diseases, may be improved by the concurrent administration of a cytotoxic drug.
Treatment of urinary incontinence.

The treatment of urinary incontinence is a dynamic and evolving field. New therapies, techniques, and procedures, as well as some subtle refinements in treatments currently used, offer hope for the millions of people suffering from this condition. Recent attention has been directed toward reevaluating the efficacy and durability of some standard treatments for stress urinary incontinence, including pelvic floor exercise, bladder neck suspensions, and pubovaginal slings. Occlusive or supportive devices have evolved into a suitable alternative in some patients. Extracorporeal magnetic therapy and alternative periurethral injectable agents may offer additional treatment strategies for the relief of symptomatic stress urinary incontinence. New drugs for the treatment of overactive bladder and urge urinary incontinence have been introduced recently and, in combination with neuromodulation, offer the first new treatments for this condition in over 25 years. Yet, as rapidly as new therapies become available for the treatment of urinary incontinence, problems have become evident with some that were introduced just a short time ago. Thus, cautious skepticism regarding these “new and improved” treatments should be maintained until long-term data become available with respect to safety, efficacy, and durability.
The Poly(C) Binding Protein Pcbp2 and Its Retrotransposed Derivative Pcbp1 Are Independently Essential to Mouse Development

RNA-binding proteins participate in a complex array of posttranscriptional controls essential to cell type specification and somatic development. Despite their detailed biochemical characterizations, the degree to which each RNA-binding protein impacts mammalian embryonic development remains incompletely defined, and the level of functional redundancy among subsets of these proteins remains open to question. The poly(C) binding proteins, PCBPs (αCPs and hnRNP E proteins), are encoded by a highly conserved and broadly expressed gene family. The two major Pcbp isoforms, Pcbp2 and Pcbp1, are robustly expressed in a wide range of tissues and exert both nuclear and cytoplasmic controls over gene expression. Here, we report that Pcbp1-null embryos are rendered nonviable in the peri-implantation stage. In contrast, Pcbp2-null embryos undergo normal development until midgestation (12.5 to 13.5 days postcoitum), at which time they undergo a dramatic loss in viability associated with combined cardiovascular and hematopoietic abnormalities. Mice heterozygous for either Pcbp1 or Pcbp2 null alleles display a mild and nondisruptive defect in initial postpartum weight gain. These data reveal that Pcbp1 and Pcbp2 are individually essential for mouse embryonic development and have distinct impacts on embryonic viability and that Pcpb2 has a nonredundant in vivo role in hematopoiesis. These data further provide direct evidence that Pcbp1, a retrotransposed derivative of Pcpb2, has evolved an essential function(s) in the mammalian genome.
The study on the effect of lane change maneuvers on a simplified car-following theory

A recent paper by Newell proposed a simplified car-following theory based on a novel logic. The basic assumption for this theory is that spacing and vehicle velocity are linearly related. Several other researchers studying wave speeds through the traffic stream have since found empirical evidence supporting Newell's simplified car-following theory. However, these earlier efforts have not explicitly verified the aforementioned basic assumption and in fact they have found that Newell's theory fails in the presence of frequent lane change maneuvers without providing detailed analyses. Taking a different approach, our paper studies the spacing velocity relationship using vehicle trajectory data collected during congestion, upstream of an on-ramp, where lane changing is infrequent. The empirical results show that a lane change maneuver perturbs the linear spacing velocity relationship. However, despite the disturbances from lane change maneuvers, the assumption of the linear relationship between spacing and velocity is reasonable most of the time for the vehicles on the study segment.
Partial Factor Modeling: Predictor-Dependent Shrinkage for Linear Regression

We develop a modified Gaussian factor model for the purpose of inducing predictor-dependent shrinkage for linear regression. The new model predicts well across a wide range of covariance structures, on real and simulated data. Furthermore, the new model facilitates variable selection in the case of correlated predictor variables, which often stymies other methods.
Modifications of Antibody Synthesis by Chloramphenicol

When chloramphenicol (CM) is given in sufficient quantity before immunization or early in the inductive phase of antibody synthesis, there is an attenuation of antibody formation. This has been shown in animals and in cultures of lymphoid tissue [1–8]. Despite these studies, there is little information about the cellular aspects of the immune process in the presence of CM.
Adult dispersal of Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and its implications for resistance management in Bt-maize

Dispersal of European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner was examined by release and recapture of the dye marked adults and by capture of the feral adults in and around the large 50 ha center pivot irrigated fields of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize. Pheromone and black light traps were used to catch the adults. In 1999, 15 094 marked males and 7993 marked females were released, and in 2001, 13 942 marked males and 9977 marked females were released. In 1999, maximum mean recapture beyond the release point was 1.95 and 1.67% for males and females, but in 2001, the recapture rate was 9.97 and 4.37% for males and females. Few males (3.8%) and females (2.07%) were recaptured in neighbourhood maize fields. An exponential decay function explained recapture of marked adults across the dispersal distance. More than 90% of marked adults were recaptured within 300 m of the release point. Large numbers of feral adults were captured throughout the study fields. Feral adult dispersal could be fitted to a linear model. Virgin females (20% marked and 8% feral) were captured throughout the study fields. The recapture of marked insects suggests that the dispersal was limited. However, capture of feral adults throughout Bt-maize fields indicate that the actual dispersal may be more extensive than indicated by recapture of marked adults. Potential refuge sources for the feral adults were 587-1387 m from the edge of the study fields. It is not clear if the dispersal recorded in this study is extensive enough to support the current resistance management strategy for corn borers. There appears to be some dispersal of corn borers from the non-transgenic refuge fields into the transgenic fields that allows some genetic mixing of the two populations.
A predictive control scheme for minimizing power losses in flexible Shunt Switching Compensator system

A scalable predictive controller is proposed for coordinating multiple Shunt Switching Compensators (SSCs) to serve flexible compensation objectives while minimizing the power losses. A strategy utilizing Current Physical Component (CPC) theory and Recursive Discrete Fourier Transformation is used to orthogonally decompose the SSC reference currents into individual physical components. These components are associated with scaling coefficients which define the percentage of each desired component within the SSC compensated current, and therefore, providing flexibility and controllability for different compensation objectives. The proposed supervisory controller aims at computing each individual SSC's contribution to the compensation task based on their power ratings and then reflects the interaction of SSCs on the scaling coefficients. The proposed Model-Based Predictive control scheme provides automatic, fast, and real time computation of the reference current coefficients to ensure that energy management application employing this control scheme gives maximum power effectiveness in distributed power compensators system, such as electric shipboard system. MATLAB/Simulink simulation results of a two SSC system are presented and discussed.
Transcriptional activation of HIV by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in human monocytes

Recently it has been shown that infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis increases the replication of HIV in mononuclear cells. The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism(s) of up-regulation of HIV in primary human monocytes. Monocytes from healthy subjects were infected with HIV in vitro and then cultured with purified protein derivative (PPD) of M. tuberculosis. Culture supernatants were assessed for HIV p24 and cytokines. HIV expression was assessed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). PPD induced HIV-infected monocytes to increased expression of HIV RNA and production of HIV p24. This effect correlated with production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in monocyte cultures. However, neutralizing antibody to TNF-α only partly abrogated the PPD-induced HIV p24 in these cultures. Also, PPD and culture filtrate of M. tuberculosis induced HIV mRNA expression. Further, using an adenovirus infection system containing an HIV long-terminal repeat (LTR) reporter plasmid, we showed that M. tuberculosis and its PPD induced HIV LTR. Therefore, the effect of M. tuberculosis and its PPD on HIV replication in monocytes is primarily one of transcriptional activation.
Identifying Resistance to Powdery Mildew Race 2W in the USDA-ARS Watermelon Germplasm Collection

Powdery mildew caused by Podosphaera xanthii has recently become an important disease of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai] in the United States. The disease can be controlled with fungicides, but it would be more economical and environmentally safe to use genetic resistance. Here, we report sources of resistance to powdery mildew race 2W identifi ed in the evaluation of the entire U.S. watermelon Plant Introduction collection made of four Citrullus Schrad. ex. Eckl. & Zeyh. species and Praecitrullus fi stulosus (Stocks) Pangalo species. A total of 1654 PI accessions, cultivars, and breeding lines (hereafter collectively referred to as cultigens) were tested in the greenhouse using at least seven replications. From that, 54 cultigens including the 44 most resistant and 10 susceptible checks were retested in greenhouse and fi eld experiments. All cultigens showed symptoms of powdery mildew. Resistance was identifi ed in wild PI accessions. Eight cultigens had high resistance and 21 had intermediate resistance. Leaf and stem disease severity ratings were positively correlated (r = 0.86, P < 0.0001). Data were summarized from the screening and retest studies, and the most resistant cultigens were PI 632755, PI 386015, PI 189225, PI 346082, PI 525082, PI 432337, PI 386024, and PI 269365. The most susceptible cultigens were PI 222775 and PI 269677. Many of the resistant cultigens originated from Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
Software cost model for quantifying the gain with considerations of random field environments

In this paper, we present a software gain model under random field environment with consideration of not only time to remove faults during in-house testing, cost of removing faults during beta testing, risk cost due to software failure, but also the benefits from reliable executions of the software during the beta testing and field operation. To our knowledge, this is the first study that incorporates the random field environmental factor into the cost model. We also provide an optimal release policy in which the net gain of the software development process is maximized. This gain model can help managers and developers to determine when to stop testing the software and release it to beta testing users and to end-users.
Report of the Dark Energy Task Force

Dark energy appears to be the dominant component of the physical Universe, yet there is no persuasive theoretical explanation for its existence or magnitude. The acceleration of the Universe is, along with dark matter, the observed phenomenon that most directly demonstrates that our theories of fundamental particles and gravity are either incorrect or incomplete. Most experts believe that nothing short of a revolution in our understanding of fundamental physics will be required to achieve a full understanding of the cosmic acceleration. For these reasons, the nature of dark energy ranks among the very most compelling of all outstanding problems in physical science. These circumstances demand an ambitious observational program to determine the dark energy properties as well as possible.
POLICY-MAKING IN THE AMERICAN STATES: TYPOLOGY, PROCESS, AND INSTITUTIONS

The three levels of government in the U.S. federal system maintain a different set of policy priorities because they operate under varying environmental constraints and resources. Efforts to categorize and specify the politics in terms of policy types have been particularly fruitful at both the federal (e.g., Lowi) and the local (e.g., Peterson) levels. At the state level, however, the typology perspective has yet to be more fully developed. This paper makes a preliminary effort to construct a typology framework in understanding state politics and policy. First, politics can be differentiated between growth and redistribution in the structural economic context. While redistributive politics are largely structured by class-oriented issues, growth politics are predominantly shaped by territorial concerns that temper class and ideological differences. Equally important, the growth-redistribution distinction can be supplemented by the politics of routine services, such as public education. The latter remains dominated by service-provider groups. Moreover, based on an empirical analysis of hundreds of bills in one state legislature, these political differences are found to have contributed to variations in policy consensus among lawmakers as well as interest group representation in agenda setting and legitimation across policy arenas. Our findings also suggest limitations to the typology framework.
Structural relations for time-dependent intermediate shocks

A quantitative description of time-dependent (MHD) intermediate shocks is formulated. In non-coplanar Riemann problems, time-dependent 2 yields 3 intermediate shocks evolve in time as a localized self-similar structure whose strength decreases as 1/sq rt t, and whose width expands as sq rt t. We derive structural relations, similar to Rankine-Hugoniot relations, between the plasma properties and the magnitude of the transverse magnetic field, which we hope can help identify time-dependent 2 yields 3 intermediate shocks at the magnetopause, in the solar wind, and elsewhere in space. The analytic forms of the structural relations agree with our numerical results.
Innate antimicrobial activity of nasal secretions.

Minimally manipulated nasal secretions, an accessible form of airway surface fluid, were tested against indigenous and added bacteria by using CFU assays. Antimicrobial activity was found to vary between donors and with different target bacteria and was markedly diminished by dilution of the airway secretions. Donor-to-donor differences in electrophoresis patterns of nasal secretions in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and acid urea-PAGE analyses were readily observed, suggesting that polymorphic genes encode the secreted proteins. Three donors (of twenty-four total), whose nasal fluid yielded similar protein band patterns and did not kill indigenous bacteria, were determined to be heavy nasal carriers of Staphylococcus aureus. Their fluid was deficient in microbicidal activity toward a colonizing strain of S. aureus but the defect was corrected in vitro by a 1:1 addition of nasal fluid from noncarriers. The microbicidal activity of normal fluid was inactivated by heating it for 10 min to 100°C and could not be restored solely by the addition of two major nasal antimicrobial proteins, lysozyme and lactoferrin. Several other known antimicrobial proteins and peptides, including statherin, secretory phospholipase A2, and defensins, were identified in nasal secretions and likely contribute to their total antimicrobial properties. Nasal fluid may serve as a useful model for the analysis of lower-airway secretions and their role in host defense against airway colonization and pulmonary infections.
Observer-Based Monitoring of Synchronous Generator Winding Health

On-line monitoring of synchronous generators can be effective in minimizing overall maintenance costs and downtime associated with the operation of these machines. Faults in the armature and field windings of the synchronous generator are two of the most common failure modes associated with the synchronous generator. Thus, early detection and tracking of these faults has the potential to reduce overall maintenance cost and system downtime. In this paper, an observer is developed to monitor synchronous generator field and armature circuit health. The proposed observer is shown to be capable of detecting the onset of such faults, measure the relative severity of the fault, and differentiate between armature and field faults
Comparison of gas permeation in vinyl and vinylidene polymers

The gas transport properties of several simple vinyl and vinylidene polymers are compared to examine the effect of pendant group type (H, CH3, F, Cl) and symmetry of placement. The literature contains extensive information about these polymers, which has been critically reviewed to obtain consistent data for interpretation of the effect of structure on gas permeability. The gas transport data available for many of these polymers are quite variable because of differences in additives, thermal history, and crystallinity. The values used here are from studies where the physical properties of the film were reported along with the transport data. The appropriate data were not available for poly(vinyl fluoride) or poly(vinylidene chloride). For poly(vinyl fluoride), permeability measurements and thermal analysis were done to supply this information. Results for poly(vinylidene chloride) were obtained by extrapolation of copolymer permeation properties. Estimates of the permeability of oxygen in the amorphous phase of each polymer are discussed in terms of the estimated fractional free volume of that phase. In this way, the intrinsic effects of molecular structure on gas permeation exclusive of crystallinity effects have been evaluated.
Distributed Geodesic Control Laws for Flocking of Nonholonomic Agents

We study the problem of flocking and velocity alignment in a group of kinematic nonholonomic agents in 2 and 3 dimensions. By analyzing the velocity vectors of agents on a circle (for planar motion) or sphere (for 3-D motion), we develop a geodesic control law that minimizes a misalignment potential and results in velocity alignment and flocking. The proposed control laws are distributed and will provably result in flocking when the underlying proximity graph which represents the neighborhood relation among agents is connected. We further show that flocking is possible even when the topology of the proximity graph changes over time, so long as a weaker notion of joint connectivity is preserved
An Amorphous Indium–Gallium–Zinc–Oxide Active Matrix Electroluminescent Pixel

In this study, an active matrix pixel was fabricated and characterized using indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) thin-film transistors and a novel electroluminescent (EL) Eu:IGZO thin-film phosphor. The results show that even large and unoptimized IGZO devices are capable of modulating at the frequencies necessary for modern display technology. Furthermore, we demonstrate a rare-earth doped amorphous-oxide semiconductor (AOS) EL phosphor that can be modulated via a TFT.
Electrophysiological insights into the processing of nominal metaphors

We used event-related potentials (ERPs) to examine the time-course of processing metaphorical and literal sentences in the brain. ERPs were measured to sentence-final (Experiment 1) and mid-sentence (Experiment 2) critical words (CWs) as participants read and made plausibility judgments about familiar nominal metaphors ("A is a B") as well as literal and semantically anomalous sentences of the same form. Unlike the anomalous words, which evoked a robust N400 effect (on the CW in experiments 1 and 2 as well as on the sentence-final word in experiment 2), CWs in the metaphorical, relative to the literal, sentences only evoked an early, localized N400 effect that was over by 400ms after CW onset, suggesting that, by this time, their metaphorical meaning had been accessed. CWs in the metaphorical sentences also evoked a significantly larger LPC (Late Positive Component) than in the literal sentences. We suggest that this LPC reflected additional analysis that resolved a conflict between the implausibility of the literal sentence interpretation and the match between the metaphorical meaning of the CW, the context and stored information within semantic memory, resulting from early access to both literal and figurative meanings of the CWs.
Modelo mecanístico para predecir la eficiencia de separación natural en fondo de pozo

Este articulo presenta un modelo mecanistico para predecir la eficiencia de separacion natural en el fondo del pozo. Basado sobre el modelo drift-flux. se desarrollo una formulacion matematica para estimar la eficiencia de separacion natural. El nuevo modelo considera la existencia de la velocidad de deslizamiento no solo en la direccion vertical. sino tambien en la direccion radial. El nuevo modelo es funcion de importantes variables, tales como: las caractensticas geometricas del fondo del pozo, la velocidad de deslizamiento en la direccion radial y vertical. y las tasas de gas y liquido. Se utilizo data experimental disponible para obtener una correlacion para estimar el radio de arrastre de las burbujas, como una funcion de la tasa de gas. Las predicciones del modelo fueron comparadas y verificadas con data experimental, obteniendose buenos resultados
Skin test results in related and unrelated persons with allergic rhinitis.

Background First degree relatives of patients with allergic rhinitis are at increased risk of having the disorder. It is not yet clear whether or not two such related persons with allergic rhinitis are more likely to be skin test positive to the same specific allergenic extracts than unrelated persons with allergic rhinitis. Objective To determine whether or not first degree relatives (parent and child or full siblings) with allergic rhinitis are more likely to be skin test positive to the same allergen extracts than unrelated persons with the disease. Methods A retrospective chart review of Allergy Clinic patient was performed. Skin test results for 12 common aeroallergen extracts were compared in 32 pairs of genetically related subjects and 32 pairs of age-matched and sex-matched unrelated subjects, all with allergic rhinitis. The percent of concordant results (both members of a pair skin test positive or both negative) were calculated and compared for related and unrelated groups. Also, the expected rates of positive concordance (both skin tests positive) based on the prevalence of skin test positivity in the two groups were calculated and compared with the corresponding observed rates. Results Results were concordant in 242 of 384 skin tests (63%) in related pairs versus 233 of 384 skin tests(61%) in unrelated pairs (P = .28, not significant). The expected and observed rates of positive concordance were not significantly different in the related (P = .38) or unrelated ( P = .49) groups. When the groups were subdivided into parent-child pairs and sibling pairs, a similar lack of significant differences between the groups was found. Conclusions It is concluded that first degree relatives, both with allergic rhinitis, are no more likely to be skin test positive to the same allergen extracts that unrelated persons with this disease. Further, it seems appropriate to advise patients with allergic rhinitis that their first degree relatives who also have the disorder will not necessarily have the same specific allergies.
On the Nature of Light and the Problem of Matter

A very old, yet unresolved problem in physics concerns the basic nature of light. Through the various periods in the history of science, since the days of antiquity, new insights have been gained and earlier concepts rejected. At the present stage of contemporary physics we have learned a great deal about phenomena concerned with the nature of light; still, logical dichotomy and mathematical inconsistency remain in the usual answers to the question: What, precisely, is light? It will be my thesis in this paper that the persistence of these difficulties standing in the way of answering the question satisfactorily have something to do with present-day problems in providing a fundamental description of matter — that, indeed, only a resolution of the problem of matter may lead to a resolution of the problem of light.
Hidden Curriculum in the Classroom

The hidden curriculum refers to student learning that takes place in school as a result of actions by school personnel, parents, students, and other community agents. What is learned in the classroom is a function of the prevailing school conditions and classroom dynamics and such demographic factors as social class, race, ethnicity, gender, and condition of disability of school participants. The hidden curriculum is often referred to as the ‘covert’ or the ‘informal’ curriculum. Often the hidden curriculum is antithetical to the formal curriculum. Working class schools generally impart the value of passivity and obedience, while elite schools impart independence and inquisitiveness. Cultural minorities are adversely affected by the hidden curriculum and so are students with disabilities. To offset the adverse effects of the hidden curriculum, it is suggested that new instructional approaches be introduced in the classroom. These include ‘cooperative learning,’ whereby students are asked to cooperate with their peers and teachers and not to compete with each other; ‘peer tutoring,’ whereby more advanced students help other students to perform academically; and ‘portfolio assessment’ whereby student performance is not based solely on traditional tests but on nonformal instruments such as course related work that demonstrates the true abilities of each student, kept in a portfolio.
Atrial septal angulation varies widely in patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation.

Purpose Transseptal puncture (TSP) allows left atrial access for curative procedures. Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) provides direct visualization of the interatrial septum (IAS), but adds time and expense. We reviewed 100 cardiac multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scans of patients undergoing AF ablation to determine if the angulation and orientation of the IAS are conserved or variable. Significant variability may suggest a potential role for direct visualization of the IAS during TSP. Methods We reviewed 100 MDCT scans obtained prior to AF ablation. The IAS plane at the fossa ovalis was identified in axial and coronal images. We measured the angle of the septum relative to an orthogonal plane. Optimal needle orientation was defined as perpendicular to the fossa ovalis. Results The mean axial plane angle was -60.6 ± 10.6°; range, -29.5° to -88.7°). The mean coronal plane angle was 142.6 ± 9.1°; range, 115° to 162°). The axial angle corresponded to variation in the "clock-face" orientation of the needle during puncture, and was calculated between 4 and 6 o'clock. Coronal plane angulation corresponds to the curvature of the needle tip, which varied by 47°. We found no association between patient characteristics and IAS angle. Conclusion The septal orientation in the axial plane varied widely and was not predicted by clinical variables such as atrial size or prior valve surgery. The high degree of interpatient variability observed suggests that direct visualization of the septum may be helpful in the performance of TSP.
A Simplified Drained Analysis for Wave-Induced Liquefaction in Ocean Floor Sands

The wave induced cyclic shear stresses in oceanfloor sands may cause a progressive build up of pore water pressure, leading to instability of the bed. This may constitute an important consideration in the analysis and design of various offshore engineering facilities. This paper presents a simplified procedure for the analysis of wave-induced pore pressure in the oceanfloor sands. A simple model for the generation of pore water pressure is used and the effect of its simultaneous dissipation, is also included in the analysis. Numerical solution is also presented in a set of curves which can be conveniently used to evaluate the wave-induced liquefaction potential of an offshore site with deep cohesionless sediments.
CRT-200.91 Long-Term Use of Dual Antiplatelets for the Secondary Prevention of Atherothrombotic Events: Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

The potential benefit of long-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for secondary prevention of atherothrombotic events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is unclear. Data from different randomized controlled trials (RCT) using different agents in different subgroups showed inconsistent
Is Spinal Cord Injury an Autoimmune Disorder

Cross-talk between cells of the nervous and immune systems is an emerging concept in neurotrauma research. Previously, neuroimmunological approaches in brain and spinal cord injury have focused on the functional consequences of macrophage and microglial activation. These cells constitute the natural, or innate, branch of CNS immunity and respond to injury or infection in a nonspecific fashion. Recent evidence, however, has shown that T-lymphocytes may also play a significant role in spinal cord injury. Once activated, T- and B-lymphocytes orchestrate the complex functions of the inflammatory response. Acquired immunity is readily induced against “non-self,” or foreign, antigens, although “self-reactive” lymphocytes are present in normal individuals, providing the potential for the onset of autoimmunity. Trauma to or infection in the CNS may release “self” antigens normally sequestered behind the blood-brain barrier that can trigger lymphocyte activation. This article addresses the potential pathological a...
Embryology policy: Revisit the 14-day rule

Studies of human development in vitro are on a collision course with an international policy that limits embryo research to the first two weeks of development, warn Insoo Hyun, Amy Wilkerson and Josephine Johnston.
Physical Attributes and Transaction Premiums in Properties Earmarked for Conversion

In previous discussions of condo conversions, data included either survey responses or macroeconomic sources limiting support for explanations related to market activity and property value. This st...
Essentially Embodied, Desire-Based Emotions

The guiding thesis of this book is that conscious, intentional creatures like us are essentially embodied, and that one fundamental manifestation of our essential embodiment is our experience of emotion. Insofar as the body is the place where we feel affected by the world, and through which we engage and seek to alter our surroundings or situation, emotion is a bodily activity through and through. In short, the current of activity that flows toward the world and back toward the emotionally conscious subject passes through the body (Noe, 2009, p. 76). As Colombetti (2007) rightly points out, it seems that the emotions can serve as privileged philosophical tools in the attempt to bridge the mind–body divide by virtue of the fact that ‘they appear as simultaneously mental and bodily’ (p. 527). However, emotion theory has not yet fully taken up the essentially embodied view of the mind discussed in the previous chapter. Instead, much of emotion theory assumes that appraisal takes place in the head, and that bodily events and arousal count simply as an ‘objective index of emotion’ rather than as a process of lived bodily experience (Colombetti, 2007, p. 529). Like Colombetti, I wish to move away from these long-standing assumptions, and to reject the view that the cognitive and bodily aspects of emotion are distinct or separable. In my view, there is no such thing as wholly emotionless cognition.
High temperature spectroscopy of fluorescent materials for thermometry

Materials that fluoresce efficiently and quench at high temperatures are useful for high temperature thermometry and other sensor usage. As temperature is increased above the quenching threshold, the fluorescence intensity and lifetime decrease as a simple well-behaved function of temperature. This paper discusses the spectroscopy of several rare earth-doped materials, in phosphor of crystal-line form, which belong to this class of materials. In applications, a layer of phosphor or microcrystals is applied to the surface whose temperature is to be diagnosed. The light source and detector are located remotely. Applications may involve environments with high luminous backgrounds such as in combustion engines or materials processing ovens. The surface may be rotating at high speeds. Temperature is usually determined from a measurement of the lifetime (τ) of the fluorescence but can also be ascertained from the ratio of two emission lines. Figure 1 shows portions of calibration curves (τ vs temperature) for several representative materials. It is possible to cover a wide range of temperatures by selection of the appropriate material.
“Why can’t we all get along?” A conceptual analysis and case study of contentious energy problems

Abstract Energy policy and research span multiple objectives, disciplines, methodologies, and data sets. This breadth of research results in conflicting analyses and proposals, which enable various parties to leverage these conflicts to further their vested interests. This paper explores these issues caused by differing research methodologies. It examines a recent proposal to search for common ground regarding contentious energy problems that emphasizes the use of different analytical frames as major sources of disagreement, and a case study regarding a dispute on how to conduct cost-benefit analyses of energy efficiency programs. Resolving differences among the research community and energy analysts requires a collaborative effort of painstaking research and debate. This paper articulates four policy implications. First, energy analysts should not be inexorably bound to their analytical frames. Second, analysts should not encroach on the role of policymakers by being asked to resolve questions that involve tradeoffs among fundamental values. Third, analysts have an important role helping to inform policymakers of the implications and limitations of various types of analyses of energy and environmental issues. Fourth, analysts need to develop a research program that is able to answer particular questions from multiple research frames in order to assess the robustness of their findings.
Pensamento e ação política no teatro negro da “Companhia dos Comuns”

Este trabalho discute negritude, engajamento politico e producao teatral a partir de alguns aspectos do trabalho artistico realizado pelo grupo carioca Companhia dos Comuns. O artigo discute o valor das praticas teatrais na constituicao dos pertencimentos etnico-raciais e na reflexao acerca da posicionalidade do sujeito negro no mundo. O objetivo desta abordagem visa pensar sobre os efeitos que a experiencia de uma criacao teatral critica e reflexiva tem enquanto uma ferramenta de de reinvencao dos sujeitos politicos.
Socratic Virtue: Happiness, virtue, and pleasure

We now come to know Socrates' thoughts on the NGNB rather well. We have analyzed Socrates' description of it in the Gorgias and Euthydemus , we have seen how it informs his discussion of friendship in the Lysis , and we have noted its operation as a background assumption in the Charmides . We have also seen that it allows us to discern an appropriate Socratic connection between virtue and happiness. In this chapter, we will look at yet another dialogue in which Socrates' views on the NGNB loom large, despite the fact that there is no direct mention of it. We will see that Socrates' assertions in the Protagoras , that pleasure is what is good and pain is what is bad, also get their stark and elegant structure from his thesis concerning the good, the bad, and the NGNB. Once we recognize that Socrates' discussion of pain and pleasure in the Protagoras contains both the structure and the substance of his views on the NGNB, we will begin to at least approach an answer to the question of what Socrates thought happiness was. PAIN AND PLEASURE IN THE PROTAGORAS We have already discussed Protagoras 351b–358e as our source for Socrates' rejection of synchronic belief akrasia and knowledge akrasia (77–81).