cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Flexible Labview Based Experimental Modules for Teaching Engineering Fundamentals

A set of experimental education modules were developed as tools to be used in instrumentation and other engineering courses. These modules consist of National Instruments data acquisition system, sensors modules and Labview based software for controlling the experiments and acquiring data. The mechanical system, the focus of the experiment, consisted of a structure that is best described as a cantilevered beam, with strain gages to acquire strain signal, LVDT for acquiring deflection, and an eccentric motor to generate excitation of the free end of the beam. The experimental modules were developed with several objectives in mind, but they all use the same mechanical system to study different aspects. One was to have students use ready made Labview programs that acquire, store and display the data, like displacement and strain under either dynamic or static loading. The students would use the data to compare with theoretical bases. Other modules contain more complex requirements such as the students modifying the Labview programs to display and store the data in different formats and post process some of the output through additional programming in order to learn more about Labview programming. In a course like vibration or system dynamics, the students would utilize the same module to extract the damping characteristics of the structure, natural frequencies and steady state vibration characteristics. This educational module is an effective tool to teach instrumentation, programming and to provide data to support theoretical engineering concepts.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Serum and milk concentrations of leptin in gilts fed a high- or low-energy diet during gestation

Concentrations of leptin in serum and milk were assessed in gilts fed diets during gestation that differed in energy level. Beginning at day 45 and continuing throughout pregnancy, gilts received either a high-energy (6882 kcal metabolizable energy (ME) per day) or low-energy (5221 kcal ME per day) diet (n = 9 per group). All gilts had ad libitum access to a standard lactation diet throughout a 21 day lactation. During gestation, gilts consuming the high-energy diet gained more body weight (P 0.1), were greater for gilts fed the high-energy, versus the low-energy, diet during gestation. Gilts that were fed the low-energy diet during gestation consumed more feed during week 2 of lactation (P = 0.06). Our results suggest that altering the level of energy in the diets of gestating swine can influence circulating and milk concentrations of leptin, as well as feed consumption, during lactation.
Photonuclear Fission from High Energy Electrons from Ultraintense Laser-Solid Interactions

A new regime of laser-matter interactions in which the quiver motion of plasma electrons is fully relativistic, with energies extending well above the threshold for nuclear processes, is studied using a petawatt laser system. In solid target experiments with focused intensities exceeding 10(20) W/cm(2), high energy electron generation, hard bremsstrahlung, and nuclear phenomena have been observed. We report here a quantitative comparison of the high energy electrons and the bremsstrahlung spectrum, as measured by photonuclear reaction yields, including the photoinduced fission of 238U.
Prostaglandins and renal function. II. The effect of prostaglandin inhibition on autoregulation of blood flow in the intact kidney of the dog.

Abstract In order to evaluate the effect of prostaglandin release on renal autoregulation in the intact kidney of the dog, pressure-flow curves were obtained before and after the administration of either indomethacin or meclofenamate, two potent prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors. After drug administration renal venous prostaglandin E decreased in each of eight studies with a mean change from 286 to 141 pg/ml (p δ F δ P and the percent change in renal resistance were not significantly different after prostaglandin inhibition when compared to control values in the same animals. The magnitude of the pressure range over which autoregulation was maintained was also similar in the two groups although both the initial and lowest level of autoregulation were slightly higher after prostaglandin inhibition. It is concluded that the administration of these prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors does not significantly impair renal autoregulation in the intact dog kidney.
Fish community and bioassessment responses to stream network position

AbstractIf organisms move beyond the boundaries of local sampling units, regional metacommunity dynamics could undermine the ability of bioassessment studies to characterize local environmental quality. We tested the prediction that fish dispersal influences local fish community structure and bioassessment metrics as a function of site position within stream networks. We evaluated fish community data from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program in West Virginia, USA, to compare the influences of stream network position, ecoregion, basin, and stream size on local fish community composition. We assigned sites to 1 of 3 stream network positions: 1) main channels (MC, n = 12) encompassed streams with upstream catchment areas >200 km2, 2) mainstem tributaries (MT, n = 43) flowed into MC-sized confluences within 15 fluvial km, 3) headwater tributaries (HT, n = 31) lacked such riverine confluences within 15 fluvial km. MT and HT sites had similar up...
Thromboxane-induced renal vasoconstriction is mediated by the ADP-ribosyl cyclase CD38 and superoxide anion

The present renal hemodynamic study tested the hypothesis that CD38 and superoxide anion (O2·−) participate in the vasoconstriction produced by activation of thromboxane prostanoid (TP) receptors in the mouse kidney. CD38 is the major mammalian ADP-ribosyl cyclase contributing to vasomotor tone through the generation of cADP-ribose, a second messenger that activates ryanodine receptors to release Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in vascular smooth muscle cells. We evaluated whether the stable thromboxane mimetic U-46619 causes less pronounced renal vasoconstriction in CD38-deficient mice and the involvement of O2·− in U-46619-induced renal vasoconstriction. Our results indicate that U-46619 activation of TP receptors causes renal vasoconstriction in part by activating cADP-ribose signaling in renal resistance arterioles. Based on maximal renal blood flow and renal vascular resistance responses to bolus injections of U-46619, CD38 contributes 30–40% of the TP receptor-induced vasoconstriction. We also found that the antioxidant SOD mimetic tempol attenuated the magnitude of vasoconstriction by U-46619 in both groups of mice, suggesting mediation by O2·−. The degree of tempol blockage of U-46619-induced renal vasoconstriction was greater in wild-type mice, attenuating renal vasoconstriction by 40% compared with 30% in CD38-null mice. In other experiments, U-46619 rapidly stimulated O2·− production (dihydroethidium fluorescence) in isolated mouse afferent arterioles, an effect abolished by tempol. These observations provide the first in vivo demonstration of CD38 and O2·− involvement in the vasoconstrictor effects of TP receptor activation in the kidney and in vitro evidence for TP receptor stimulation of O2·− production by the afferent arteriole.
Leveraging social network information to recognize people

Correctly identifying the observed subjects is an important problem camera networks. Prior art[1, 5] has demonstrated that this data association problem is indeed very difficult when working solely with visual information provided by the cameras, because the appearance of the subjects are highly variable. Visual data provided by surveillance cameras are in general noisy, low resolution, prone to degradation due to lighting and other adverse effects. We hypothesize that knowing the social associations of people can improve the recognition performance of a given visual-only matching metric. We cast the problem as bipartite graph matching problem between the observed people in the camera network and a database of identities and appearance models with an additional pairwise configuration cost on the set of identities. The effectiveness of our claim is demonstrated on a dataset synthesized from UC Irvine Pedestrian Recognition Dataset (VIPeR[3]) (for visual data) and Enron Email Dataset (for social network data).
Class Dependent Kernel Discrete Cosine Transform Features for Enhanced Holistic Face Recognition in FRGC-II

Face recognition is one of the least intrusive biometric modalities that can be used to identify individuals from surveillance video. In such scenarios the users are under the least co-operative conditions and thus the ability to perform robust face recognition in such scenarios is very challenging. In this paper we focus on improving the face recognition performance on a large database with over 36,000 facial images from the Face Recognition Grand Challenge Phase-II data collected by University of Notre Dame. We particularly focus on Experiment 4 which is the most challenging and captured in uncontrolled conditions where the baseline PCA algorithm yields 12% verification rate at 0.1% FAR. We propose a novel approach using class-dependent kernel discrete cosine transform features which improves the performance significantly yielding a 91.33% verification rate at 0.1% FAR, and we also show that by working in the DCT transform domain for obtaining non-linear features is more optimal than working in the original spatial-pixel domain which only yields a verification rate of 85% at 0.1% FAR. Thus our proposed method outperforms the baseline by 79.33% in verification rate @0.1% False Acceptance Rate.
A Thermally Actuated Microelectromechanical (MEMS) Device For Measuring Viscosity

A thermally actuated non-cantilever-beam microelectromechanical viscosity sensor is presented. The proposed device is based on thermally induced vibrations of a simple silicon diaphragm and its damping due to the surrounding fluid. This vibration viscometer device utilizes thermal actuation through an in situ resistive heater and piezoresistive sensing, both of which utilize CMOS compatible materials leading to an inexpensive and reliable system. Thermal analysis was performed utilizing temperature diodes in the silicon diaphragm to determine the minimum heater voltage pulse amplitude and time in order to prevent heat loss to the oil under test that would lead to local viscosity changes. Viscosity measurements were performed and compared to motor oil measured on a commercial cone-and-plate viscometer.
Selective Area Omvpe Growth of GaInP on Patterned GaAs Substrates Using Semimetallic Amorphous Carbon Mask

In this study, we have investigated the effectiveness of semimetallic, amorphous carbon films as a liftoff mask in the selective growth, by OMVPE, of GaInP epitaxial layers, on (001) oriented GaAs substrates. Scanning electron microscopy, cathodoluminescence spectroscopy and EDX analysis have been employed to characterize the epitaxial material. Our results show excellent selectivity with little nucleation taking place on the amorphous carbon mask in the region of the patterned openings. Liftoff of the carbon mask was very easily achieved, leaving no unintentional nucleation on the substrate below. Investigations in the AlGaAs/GaAs system did not yield the same degree of selectivity with this mask, but the polycrystalline film that deposited on the mask was cleanly lifted from the substrate by the liftoff of the mask.
On high-level programming systems for structured display programming

The main topic of the paper is to introduce a concept for structured display programming in interactive computer graphics and to discuss the suitability of FORTRAN, ALGOL, PL/I, and APL as the host language for such a programming system. To this end, the interrelationship between picture structures, data structures, and language structures is first established. Based on the obtained conclusions, a model language for interactive display programming (GRIP) is introduced. The suitability of the above mentioned languages is discussed, and experiences with the implementation of the GRIP philosophy in some of these languages are communicated.
A computationally tractable multivariate random effects model for clustered binary data

SUMMARY We consider a multivariate random effects model for clustered binary data that is useful when interest focuses on the association structure among clustered observations. Based on a vector of gamma random effects and a complementary log-log link function, the model yields a likelihood that has closed form, making a frequentist approach to model fitting straightforward. This closed form yields several advantages over existing methods, including easy inspection of model identifiability and straightforward adjustment for nonrandom ascertainment of subjects, such as that which occurs in family studies of disease aggregation. We use the proposed model to analyse two different binary datasets concerning disease outcome data from a familial aggregation study of breast and ovarian cancer in women and loss of heterozygosity outcomes from a brain tumour study.
Pluripotency and Nuclear Reprogramming

Pluripotency is a “blank” cellular state characteristic of specific cells within the early embryo (e.g., epiblast cells) and of certain cells propagated in vitro (e.g., embryonic stem cells, ESCs). The terms pluripotent cell and stem cell are often used interchangeably to describe cells capable of differentiating into multiple cell types. In this review, we discuss the prevailing molecular and functional definitions of pluripotency and the working parameters employed to describe this state, both in the context of cells residing within the early embryo and cells propagated in vitro.
The effects of rotation on salt fingers

The effects of rotation on a salt-fingering interface between two mixed layers are studied experimentally. It is found that rotation causes an interface to thicken more rapidly than it does in the corresponding non-rotating experiment. In order to interpret this result, the collective-instability model of Stern (1969, 1975) is extended to include the Coriolis effect and the neutral-stability condition is derived. Rotation stabilizes the fingers, the degree of stabilization being dependent on the wavenumber of the perturbation. By assuming equal fluxes in the rotating and non-rotating experiments, the interface thickness data are found to be consistent with the extended collective-instability model.
Genetic Diversity and Evolution of Closteroviruses.

The family Closteroviridae comprises more than 30 plant viruses with flexuous, filamentous virions and includes representatives with either mono- or bipartite positive-strand ssRNA genomes. Closteroviruses are transmitted semipersistently by insects from three families of Homoptera, in infected plants are associated with phloem tissue, and demonstrate an astonishing genetic diversity that suggests extensive, on-going evolution. Phylogenetic analyses of their replicative genes as well as the conserved HSP70 demonstrate that closteroviruses co-evolved with their insect vectors, resulting in three major lineages, i.e. aphid-, mealybug-, and whitefly-transmitted viruses. Closteroviruses apparently represent an ancient and diverse virus family that may pose threats to agriculture and needs serious attention.
Ecstasy Exposure & Gender: Examining Components of Verbal Memory Functioning

Objective: Studies have demonstrated verbal memory deficits associated with past year ecstasy use, although specific underlying components of these deficits are less understood. Further, prior research suggests potential gender differences in ecstasy-induced serotonergic changes. Therefore, the current study investigated whether gender moderated the relationship between ecstasy exposure and components of verbal memory after controlling for polydrug use and confounding variables. Method: Data were collected from 65 polydrug users with a wide range of ecstasy exposure (ages 18–35; 48 ecstasy and 17 marijuana users; 0–2310 ecstasy tablets). Participants completed a verbal learning and memory task, psychological questionnaires, and a drug use interview. Results: Increased past year ecstasy exposure predicted poorer short and long delayed free and cued recalls, retention, and recall discrimination. Male ecstasy users were more susceptible to dose-dependent deficits in retention than female users. Conclusion: Past year ecstasy consumption was associated with verbal memory retrieval, retention, and discrimination deficits in a dose-dependent manner in a sample of healthy young adult polydrug users. Male ecstasy users were at particular risk for deficits in retention following a long delay. Gender difference may be reflective of different patterns of polydrug use as well as increased hippocampal sensitivity. Future research examining neuronal correlates of verbal memory deficits in ecstasy users are needed.
Turnout, Polarization, and Duverger's Law

We reexamine the impact of abstention due to alienationon policy outcomes and the choices of strategic candidates. We establish the existence of a unique equilibrium under plurality rule in which only two candidates enter, choose divergent policy positions, and deter subsequent entry. This equilibrium is simultaneously consistent with the dual empirical regularities of Duverger's Law and policy divergence. Driving our results is the observation that when abstention is included, a third candidate optimally enters the election by differentiating himself from the incumbent candidates, consistent with entry observed in practice. Our results confirm that not only are the platforms of candidates important to the turnout decisions of voters, but that the turnout decisions of voters are important to platform positions. The model provides a causal mechanism linking these two variables, offering a theoretical basis for the decrease in turnout and increase in polarization experienced in the United States after the 1...
Robust control of predator-prey-hunter systems

We explore the use of robust control techniques to manage conflicting economic and ecological goals and constraints that naturally arise in many predator-prey-hunter systems. In particular, we focus on a general predator-prey-hunter system in which both the predator and prey may be harvested. Our goal is to design and test a controller that can maintain populations at prescribed target levels in the presence of uncertainty in the system dynamics and noisy measurements, while rejecting external disturbances. The dynamic equations of the model are based upon Brown et al. (2005, Marine Resource Economics), suitably modified for control systems design. Given this specification, we define a robust control problem and simulate its properties using the set of parameters for which performance of the closed-loop system is worst. One of the main advantages of using a robust control approach is that it provides deterministic tools for analysis of sensitivities and robustness to multiple uncertain parameters and affords the designer a framework to balance competing objectives. Simulations of the controlled system show promising results, with policy implications not only for managing existing predator-prey-hunter systems, but also for the planning of sustainable reintroduction efforts involving large, mammalian carnivores.
Bit Error Rate Locked Loops Using Log-likelihood Decoders

An automatic feedback control system that maintains an average bit error rate (BER) on decoded code words is proposed for log-likelihood ratio (LLR)error correction code (ECC) decoders. The input to the controller is the LLR output of the decoder, while the controller output is the decoder iteration parameter. The loop error signal is constructed by computing the difference between the scaled decoder LLR of codeword estimates and an ideal LLR value derived from a target BER. The discrete time transfer function of a proposed proportional-integral (PI) loop filter with integrator feedback using ideal linear analysis is presented, followed by loop simulation results using the decoder.
Regional analysis of hippocampal activation during memory encoding and retrieval: fMRI study.

Investigators have recently begun to examine the differen- tial role of subregions of the hippocampus in episodic memory. Two distinct models have gained prominence in the field. One model, outlined by Moser and Moser (Hippocampus 1998;8:608 - 619), based mainly on animal studies, has proposed that episodic memory is subserved by the posterior two-thirds of the hippocampus alone. A second model, derived by Lepage et al. (Hippocampus 1998;8:313-322) from their review of 52 PET studies, has suggested that the anterior hippocampus is activated by memory encoding while the posterior hippocampus is activated by mem- ory retrieval. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have tended to show limited activation in the anteriormost regions of the hippocampus, providing support for the Moser and Moser model. A potential confounding factor in these fMRI studies, however, is that susceptibility artifact may differentially reduce signal in the anterior versus the posterior hippocampus. In the present study, we examined activation differences between hippocampal subregions during encoding and retrieval of words and interpreted our findings within the context of these two models. We also examined the extent to which susceptibility artifact affects the analysis and interpretation of hippocampal activation by demonstrating its differential effect on the anterior versus the posterior hippocampus. Both voxel-by-voxel and region-of-interest analyses were conducted, allowing us to quantify differences between the anterior and posterior aspects of the hippocampus. We detected significant hippocam- pal activation in both the encoding and retrieval conditions. Our data do not provide evidence for regional anatomic differences in activation between encoding and retrieval. The data do suggest that, even after accounting for susceptibility artifact, both encoding and retrieval of ver- bal stimuli activate the middle and posterior hippocampus more strongly than the anterior hippocampus. Finally, this study is the first to quantify the effects of susceptibility-induced signal loss on hip- pocampal activation and suggests that this artifact has significantly biased the interpretation of earlier fMRI studies. Hippocampus 2003;13:164 -174.
Molecular identification of microorganisms associated with the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana

Background: Prior research on the microorganisms associated with the brine shrimp, Artemia franciscana, has mainly been limited to culture-based identification techniques or feeding studies for aquaculture. Our objective was to identify bacteria and archaea associated with Artemia adults and encysted embryos to understand the role of microbes in the Artemia life cycle and, therefore, their importance in a hypersaline food chain. Results: We used small subunit (SSU) 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing to identify bacteria and archaea associated with adults and encysted Artemia embryos from one of their natural environments – Great Salt Lake (GSL), Utah, USA. We found that bacterial sequences most closely related to the genera Halomonas and Vibrio were commonly extracted from GSL adult Artemia, while bacterial sequences most similar to the genera Halomonas, Psychroflexus and Alkalilimnicola dominate in GSL water. Encysted embryos (cysts) yielded bacterial sequences from the genera Idiomarina and Salinivibrio, which were absent from adults and water. Common archaeal sequences in adults were most closely related to the genera Haloterrigena and Haloarcula, while all of the archaeal sequences from GSL water were most similar to the genus Halogeometricum. Cyst derived archaeal sequences were most closely related to the genera Halorubrum and Haloarcula. Conclusions: In addition to identifying microbial rRNA sequences that are specific to different stages of the Artemia life cycle, we observed striking differences in the sequences associated with the adult Artemia population in samples collected from GSL at different times and locations. While our study was limited in scope and the sample was small, our findings provide a foundation for future research into how the bacteria and archaea associated with Artemia influence the Artemia life cycle, and GSL food web.
Resistance training and human cervical muscle recruitment plasticity

Conley, Michael S., Michael H. Stone, Michael Nimmons, and Gary A. Dudley. Resistance training and human cervical muscle recruitment plasticity. J. Appl. Physiol. 83(6): 2105–2111, 1997.—This study...
"Not statistically different" does not necessarily mean "the same": the important but underappreciated distinction between difference and equivalence studies.

Researchers often want to evaluate whether a new medical or surgical treatment is equivalent to an existing treatment. The new treatment may be preferred if its results are equivalent to those of the existing approach in terms of complications or outcomes but it is superior in terms of ease of use, safety, or cost. However, many researchers are unaware that the equivalence of two interventions cannot be established by failing to find a statistical difference between them. This somewhat subtle detail of research design and statistical analysis has very important clinical implications. The goal of this brief paper is to explain the distinctions between the familiar difference trial (or superiority trial) study design and the often more appropriate but much less familiar equivalence study design. These designs have different underlying hypotheses, power calculations, statistical analyses, and conclusions. Claiming the equivalence of two interventions on the basis of a nonsignificant difference in the results of a difference trial and analysis, as is unfortunately common, may lead to incorrect conclusions and inappropriate changes in clinical practice1,2. Erroneous equivalence claims in the medical literature have been reviewed by Greene et al.3. The examples presented in the present paper hinge on two fundamental statistical concepts that warrant description, specifically type-I and type-II errors4. A type-I error, or false positive, is an error in which the null hypothesis is rejected when, in fact, the null hypothesis is true. For example, a type-I error has occurred if researchers declare that two treatments produce different outcomes when, in reality, no difference exists. The probability of a type-I error is denoted by α. A type-II error, or false negative, occurs when researchers fail to reject the null hypothesis when, in fact, the null hypothesis is false. For example, a type-II …
Non-Conventional Approaches To Property Value Assessment

Lack of precision is common in property value assessment. Recently non-conventional methods, such as neural networks based methods, have been introduced in property value assessment as an attempt to better address this lack of precision and uncertainty. Although fuzzy logic has been suggested as another possible solution, no other artificial intelligence methods have been applied to real estate value assessment other than neural network based methods. This paper presents the results of using two new non-conventional methods, fuzzy logic and memory-based reasoning, in evaluating residential property values for a real data set. The paper compares the results with those obtained using neural networks and multiple regression. Methods of feature reduction, such as principal component analysis and variable selection, have also been used for possible improvement of the final results. The results indicate that no single one of the new methods is consistently superior for the given data set.
A self-adaptive clustering based algorithm for increased energy-efficiency and scalability in wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) represent a new dimension in the field of networking. The collaboration of large numbers of networked sensors revolutionizes the multitude of applications where WSNs can be applied, in the near future. In this paper we suggest a self-adaptive clustering based scheme for WSNs. A dynamic clustering scheme for the self-configuration of nodes in the WSN is discussed. We also outline a self-adapting algorithm for optimizing the sleep times of the nodes in the cluster by adapting to varying traffic loads. Our discussion aims to produce a reliable and robust sensing network, that promises more energy saving, scalability, and increased lifetime for the WSN. We do not base our discussion in this paper on any specific application, and expect our scheme to hold for all generic applications where WSNs can be used.
Secure Location Verification with Randomly-Selected Base Stations

In some networks, a mobile node must be located securely as well as accurately. One way to locate is for base stations to use time-difference-of-arrival multilateration. An attacker that can transmit at different times in different directions may falsify its position with respect to known base stations. Previous work proposed hiding the base stations, following a model of "security through obscurity." We propose randomly selecting a set of base stations such that even if their locations are known, the attacker has at most a 50% chance of succeeding in one trial. Through iteration we reduce the likelihood of success to an arbitrarily small probability.
Analysis of Approaches Used in Studying Differentiation of the Cellular Slime Mold

AbstractTwo approaches currently utilized in studying intracellular regulation of differentiation in D. discoideum have been analyzed. One tends to implicate transcription and translation as the most critical types of control during differentiation. The other approach assumes a priori that no single cellular event or component has inherent causal significance, but rather attempts to assess various factors limiting the rate of differentiation through a kinetic analysis of the relationships between enzymes, metabolites, and in vivo reaction rates. We have attempted to justify our prejudice for the latter approach, and have presented a kinetic analysis of the metabolism involved in the synthesis of carbohydrate end products. In addition, data pertaining to the control of energy metabolism are discussed in considering directions for expansion of the kinetic model.
The Autonomy and Explanation of Mystical Experience

William Alston has articulated a powerful defense of the claim that mystical perception generates prima facie justified beliefs about God. At the heart of his defense is the claim that mystical perception is 'innocent until proven guilty'; that is, Alston claims that the practice of forming beliefs on the basis of putative perceptions of God should be accorded the same presumptive innocence we accord to other standard ways of forming beliefs like sense perception, memory and introspection. But Alston employs a strategy for defending mystical perception that seems to obviate the possibility of criticizing mystical perception and thus that renders otiose Alston's claim that that practice is innocent only until proven guilty. I argue that this appearance is deceptive; Alston's strategy does not render effective criticism of mystical perception unreasonably difficult. I further argue that granting the legitimacy of Alston's strategy is essential to a fair, measured criticism of mystical perception.
Oviposition and Fecundity of Boll Weevils in Mass-Rearing Laboratory Cultures

By using new techniques and complete mechanization to mass produce eggs of the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, more than 1 million eggs per week were obtained at a cost of less than 10 cents per thousand. Of 9 diets tested, 2 containing soybean protein were most satisfactory. Diets, formulated into pellets that also served as oviposition sites, were placed in wire baskets raised 3/16 inch above a screen-bottomed rearing cage designed with solid top and sides so that all light came from below the cage.
The growth of tubercle bacilli on fractions of EGG.

4noted that the growth of avian, human, and bovine tubercle bacilli on an egg white medium was extremely poor while acidfast saprophytes grew more profusely. The addition of sufficient egg yolk stimu­ lates growth of the pathogenic species. A crude phosphatide fraction of the yolk contains a growth stimulant, and lecithin also promotes growth. Since egg yolk in itself is a good nutrient for small plants of mammalian tuber­ cle bacilli while egg white is a poor nutrient, it appeared desirable to study the conditions under which the yolk maintains its nutrient properties. It was believed that such a study might lead either to the preservation of the growth-supporting material in the egg medium or to a method of enhancing its effects. It is now known, from observations to be reported shortly, that long incubation-storage of egg yolk medium at 37 C. results in a slow but definite and gradual deteriora­ tion of the nutrient materials which does not occur at refrigerator temperature. Relative dehydration of the medium during incubation does not account for the deleterious influence of incubation at 37 C. upon the nutrient value of egg yolk medium.
IRON OXIDE LABELING OF HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELL-DERIVED CARDIOVASCULAR CELLS: A NOVEL METHOD OF TRACKING STEM CELLS IN VIVO

Stem cell therapy provides a potential opportunity to treat patients with heart disease given the limited regenerative capacity of the heart. However, no reliable imaging technique exists to longitudinally assess their engraftment after transplantation. This study sought to determine the utility of
Comparison of pulsed versus continuous convective flow for central nervous system tissue perfusion: laboratory investigation.

Object Although pulsatile and continuous infusion paradigms have been described for convective delivery of drugs, the effectiveness and properties of each flow paradigm are unknown. To determine the effectiveness and properties of pulsatile and continuous convective infusion paradigms, the authors compared these convective flow methods in the gray and white matter of primates. Methods Six primates (Macaca mulatta) underwent convective infusion of Gd-DPTA (5 mM) into the cerebral gray matter (thalamus) or white matter (frontal lobe) using pulsed (intermittent pulses of 15 μl/min) or continuous (1 μl/min) convective flow. Results were assessed by clinical MRI and histological analyses. Results Distribution of Gd-DTPA infusate in gray and white matter by pulsed and continuous flow was clearly identified using MRI, which revealed that both convective flow methods demonstrated an increase in the volume of distribution (Vd) with increasing volume of infusion (Vi) in the surrounding gray and white matter. Althou...
Mariners and Machines: Resistance to Technological Change in the American Navy, 1865–1869

IN his perceptive investigations of America's affair with technology, Elting E. Morison suggested that military organizations are exceptionally good subjects for the clinical study of social interaction. They are societies in miniature, "more definite, clear, unqualified than those in civil life. The military world in peace is a little like the real world put under laboratory conditions." Morison observed that in particular the American navy immediately following the Civil War "is a paradise for the historian or sociologist in search of evidence bearing on a society's response to change."1 Morison examined a dramatic instance of resistance to technological progress in the post-Civil War navy. A special Board on Steam Machinery, chaired by Rear Admiral Louis M. Goldsborough, among the oldest and most respected senior line officers in the service, condemned the design of the U.S.S. Wampanoag in September 1869. The ship was the creation of Benjamin F. Isherwood, chief of the Bureau of Steam Engineering (1861-1869). In 1868 the Wampanoag had established a world's steam speed record, not to be equalled by another vessel, commercial or national, for over a decade to come.2 The ship was, in the words of the commanding officer during her sea trials, "faultless in her model, and, as a steamship, the fastest in the world."3 Nevertheless, the majority of
SPERM AND ANTIBODY PRODUCTION IN RABBITS FOLLOWING IMMUNIZATION WITH SPERM AND SEMEN.

SummaryRabbits were immunized with rabbit or human seminal plasma and/or sperm in complete adjuvant. Sperm counts and semen volumes were not depressed nor were testicular changes produced. Antibody studies using hemagglutination and Ouchter-lony technics indicated that: a) rabbit sperm was not antigenic in rabbits, b) rabbit seminal plasma was weakly antigenic in some rabbits, non-antigenic in others, c) human sperm was not antigenic in rabbits, d) human seminal plasma was antigenic in rabbits, and e) human kidney shared a common antigen with human seminal plasma.
Life span of rat erythrocytes as determined by Cr51 and differential agglutination methods.

SummarySurvival of rat erythrocytes has been studied by simultaneous use of 2 methods, Cr51-labeling and differential agglutination. Results suggest that random destruction of rat erythrocytes did not occur and that the extinction of radioactivity of Cr51-labeled cells is a valid criterion for determination of erythrocyte life span. Both methods suggested a life span of about 65 days.
The animate – inanimate relationship

AbstractThis paper defends two beliefs denied by many scientists. The first is a belief in an alternative hypothesis to that of the prevailing view of life’s origin from existing inanimate matter. In defence of the need for an alternative we call attention to evidence that precludes the prevailing view. Our second defended belief is for the existence of a life force. In its defence, we cite what is known physiology concerning catabolic and anabolic aspects of metabolism.
Advance directives for patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection

A consensus has emerged in recent years that decisions about life-sustaining treatment made by informed, competent patients should be respected. Advance directives are expressions of a patient's preferences regarding life-sustaining treatments made while the patient is still competent, to be used if the patient loses competence. Patients infected with HIV have a high mortality rate and frequently lose competence as their disease progresses to AIDS. Therefore, the completion of advance directives in this patient group is vitally important.
Preparing CLS professionals to be consumers and producers of research.

Research proficiency is part of the curriculum in all NAACLS accredited CLS programs. Learning the basic research tools enables students to understand and interpret published research as informed consumers of research. This paper describes an improved and innovative approach to prepare future CLS professionals to be both analytical consumers and active producers of pertinent research. ABBREVIATIONS:CLS: Clinical Laboratory Science, NAACLS: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science, UTEP: University of Texas-El Paso, TACLS: Texas Association for Clinical Laboratory Science
GIS-based biomass assessment and supply logistics system for a sustainable biorefinery: a case study with cotton stalks in the Southeastern US.

Abstract Envisioning a sustainable biorefinery requires reliable information on the sustainable availability of biomass, optimal plant location and delivered cost. In this paper, we have developed an integrated Geographic Information System (GIS) based sustainable biomass assessment, site optimization and supply logistics cost model to assess the spatial and temporal availability of crop residues, to identify optimal plant sites and to calculate the delivered cost. The grid-level (30 × 30 m) assessment model was developed for crop residues using three primary sustainability indicators: (1) Soil Erosion (SE), (2) Soil Conditioning Index (SCI) and (3) Crop residue yield ⩾2.5 dry Mg/ha. The Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) prediction models for each indicator were developed and implemented in the GIS platform to assess sustainably available crop residues. A multi-criteria geospatial analysis was used to identify suitable plant sites. GIS-based location-allocation model was used to site biorefineries/plants at optimal locations and generate feedstock supply curves. The developed model was demonstrated with the sustainable assessment of cotton stalk (CS) to produce fuel pellets in the study region (Georgia, USA). The model has estimated that about 1.6 million dry Mg of CS is available annually to support seven pellet plants with an average annual plant capacity of 200,000 dry Mg. The average delivered cost of CS ranged between 68 and 75 $/dry Mg delivered as large rectangular bales with the transport radii ranged from 31 to 60 km. The spatial and temporal variations in the topology and crop yield directly influenced the sustainable availability of CS, the optimal plant location and its capacity and the delivered cost. However, the changes in the optimal plant location and delivered cost were minimal for large capacity plants (>400,000 dry Mg). The developed model can be used to assess multiple crop residues, to manage and control feedstock supply risks and delivered cost variations for a sustainable biorefinery.
Local biotic adaptation of trees and shrubs to plant neighbors

Author(s): Grady, Kevin C; Wood, Troy E; Kolb, Thomas E; Hersch-Green, Erika; Shuster, Stephen M; Gehring, Catherine A; Hart, Stephen C; Allan, Gerard J; Whitham, Thomas G
Cross-cutting exposure on Facebook and political participation: Unraveling the effects of emotional responses and online incivility.

Abstract. This experiment (N = 193) explores the effects of cross-cutting exposure via social media on two types of political participation. The results reveal that exposure to cross-cutting social media news can motivate cheap participation better than costly participation. Moreover, the mobilizing effects of cross-cutting exposure are mediated by anger and anxiety, as suggested by affective intelligence theory and appraisal theories of emotion. The mediating effects of anxiety are also moderated by online incivility. Implications are discussed in terms of the role of social media use and cross-cutting exposure in participatory democracies.
A High-Efficiency Hybrid Resonant Converter With Wide-Input Regulation for Photovoltaic Applications

A microconverter serves as a front-end dc–dc stage of a microinverter to convert the power from a photovoltaic module to a dc bus. These front-end microconverters require isolation, high-boost ratio, wide-input voltage regulation, and high efficiency. This paper introduces an isolated resonant converter with hybrid modes of operation to achieve wide-input regulation while still maintaining high efficiency. The proposed converter is designed as a series resonant converter with nominal-input voltage and operates under two additional modes: a boost converter with low-input voltage and a buck converter with high-input voltage. Unlike conventional resonant converters, this converter operates at discontinues conduction mode with a fixed frequency, simplifying the design and control. In addition, this converter can achieve zero-voltage switching (ZVS) and/or zero-current switching (ZCS) of the primary-side MOSFETs, ZVS and/or ZCS of the secondary-side MOSFETs, and ZCS of output diodes under all operating conditions. Experimental results using a 300-W prototype achieve a peak efficiency of 98.1% and a California Energy Commission efficiency of 97.6% including all auxiliary and control power at nominal-input voltage.
Does Maternal Body Mass Index Have an Effect on the Accuracy of Ultrasound-Derived Estimated Birth Weight?: A Retrospective Study

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the maternal body mass index (BMI) and the accuracy of ultrasound-derived birth weight. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed on women who had an ultrasound examination between 36 and 43 weeks' gestation and had complete delivery data available through electronic medical records. The ultrasound-derived fetal weight was adjusted by 30 g per day of gestation that elapsed between the ultrasound examination and delivery to arrive at the predicted birth weight. Results A total of 403 pregnant women met inclusion criteria. Age ranged from 13–44 years (mean ± SD, 28.38 ± 5.97 years). The mean BMI was 32.62 ± 8.59 kg/m2. Most of the women did not have diabetes (n = 300 [74.0%]). The sample was primarily white (n = 165 [40.9%]) and Hispanic (n = 147 [36.5%]). The predicted weight of neonates at delivery (3677.07 ± 540.51 g) was higher than the actual birth weight (3335.92 ± 585.46 g). Based on regression analyses, as the BMI increased, so did the predicted weight (P < .01) and weight at delivery (P < .01). The accuracy of the estimated ultrasound-derived birth weight was not predicted by the maternal BMI (P = .22). Maternal race and diabetes status were not associated with the accuracy of ultrasound in predicting birth weight. Conclusions Both predicted and actual birth weight increased as the BMI increased. However, the BMI did not affect the accuracy of the estimated ultrasound-derived birth weight. Maternal race and diabetes status did not influence the accuracy of the ultrasound-derived predicted birth weight.
Comparative efficacy of steroid-sparing therapies for non-infectious uveitis

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Non-infectious uveitis encompasses a group of inflammatory eye diseases that can cause irreversible vision loss if left untreated or undertreated. In cases requiring systemic treatment, a step-wise treatment approach is often employed starting with corticosteroids for severe active disease, followed by initiation of steroid-sparing therapies to maintain inflammatory control and avoid the abundant complications of long-term corticosteroid use.Areas covered: We review the current high-quality evidence comparing the efficacy of various systemic steroid-sparing agents in the treatment of non-infectious uveitis.Expert commentary: Given the rarity of uveitis and the heterogeneity of uveitic diseases, there are few randomized controlled studies that directly compare the relative efficacy of the various steroid-sparing immunosuppressive agents. Therefore, current treatment strategies are based mainly on data from observational series.