cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chairman’s Remarks

There are five papers presented in the morning session on ice/structure interaction. There was good interest in all of the papers and significant discussion followed each paper.
Structures of medium-sized silicon clusters

Silicon is the most important semiconducting material in the microelectronics industry. If current miniaturization trends continue, minimum device features will soon approach the size of atomic clusters. In this size regime, the structure and properties of materials often differ dramatically from those of the bulk. An enormous effort has been devoted to determining the structures of free silicon clusters1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22. Although progress has been made for Sin with n < 8, theoretical predictions for larger clusters are contradictory2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22 and none enjoy any compelling experimental support. Here we report geometries calculated for medium-sized silicon clusters using an unbiased global search with a genetic algorithm. Ion mobilities23 determined for these geometries by trajectory calculations are in excellent agreement with the values that we measure experimentally. The cluster geometries that we obtain do not correspond to fragments of the bulk. For n = 12–18 they are built on a structural motif consisting of a stack of Si9 tricapped trigonal prisms. For n ⩾ 19, our calculations predict that near-spherical cage structures become the most stable. The transition to these more spherical geometries occurs in the measured mobilities for slightly larger clusters than in the calculations, possibly because of entropic effects.
Technology infusion in career services at United States institutions of higher education in the Southwest

The purpose of this study was to examine the use of computer and communications technologies at four-year public/private college and university career centers that are members of the Southwest Association of Colleges and Employers (SWACE). The findings of this study reveal that (a) all career centers are now using computer and telecommunications technologies for at least one office function; (b) small institutions do not use technologies as much as large institutions because they have fewer financial resources, less technical support from institutions, fewer personnel, and they also need time to learn to use technologies effectively; (c) public career centers are more willing to explore new technologies but private career centers mostly adopt and implement proven technologies; (d) career education does not utilize technologies as much as career counseling or job placement functions; (e) lack of financial resources and lack of technical support are major barriers to a technological infusion; and (f) technologies, including electronic student databases, computerized presentations with the network connection, and OCR scanners, will be needed in the near future.
Endogenizing the order of moves in matrix games

Players often have flexibility in when they move and thus whether a game is played simultaneously or sequentially may be endogenously determined. For 2 × 2 games, we analyze this using an extended game. In a stage prior to actual play, players choose in which of two periods to move. A player moving at the first opportunity knows when his opponent will move. A player moving at the second turn learns the first mover's action. If both select the same turn, they play a simultaneous move subgame.
Status of the FAA flight loads monitoring program

In support of the Federal Aviation Administration Aging Aircraft Research Program, the Agency has established a Flight Loads Data Collection Program for Commercial Aircraft. The objectives of this Program are as follows: (1) review existing data collected by other sources including but not limited to U.S., Foreign, Military, etc.; (2) collect current operational usage data from both large and small transport aircraft; and (3) develop criteria for future generations of transports. This paper presents the status of the various programs which are completed, underway or planned. The FAA will be collecting, storing, and analyzing the data which characterize typical commercial transport operations. The airframe manufacturers will handle the task of calculating the loads and stresses.
Formant representation of parameters for a channel vocoder

Formant tracking and synthesis from formant information has been applied to a channel vocoder. The speech spectrum is first estimated with a 29 channel vocoder analyzer. Four crude formant values are obtained by processing the analyzer outputs. In the serial formant approach bandwidths and center frequencies for each formant are then computed by parabolic interpolation of neighboring channels. After normalization, bandwidths are recomputed so as to give a better match between measured and derived formant amplitudes. Finally, a spectrum derived from four formant frequencies, four formant bandwidths plus a single gain factor replaces the measured spectrum and the speech is synthesized by the spectrally flattened channel vocoder synthesizer. In the parallel formant approach, four formant frequencies, four formant amplitudes plus the amplitudes of the first and last channel are transmitted. The remaining channel signals are computed at the receiver by parabolic interpolation. Preliminary listening results indicate that these representations can be effective in reducing the bandwidth of a channel vocoder.
Visualization of mesoscale flow features in ocean basins

Environmental issues such as global warming are an active area of international research and concern today. This case study describes various visualization paradigms that have been developed and applied in an attempt to elucidate the information provided by environmental models and observations. The ultimate goal is to accurately measure the existence of any long term climatological change. The global ocean is the starting point, since it is a major source and sink of heat within our global environment. >
Immunoglobulin E Anti-Candida Antibodies and Candidiasis

Elevated levels of immunoglobulin E anti-Candida antibodies were observed in the sera of patients with systemic and vaginal candidiasis and in cervicovaginal washings of the latter.
Hyperpolarized [(13)C]ketobutyrate, a molecular analog of pyruvate with modified specificity for LDH isoforms.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate 13C hyperpolarization of α-ketobutyrate (αKB), an endogenous molecular analog of pyruvate, and its in vivo enzymatic conversion via lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) using localized MR spectroscopy. Methods Hyperpolarized (HP) 13C MR experiments were conducted using [13C]αKB with rats in vivo and with isolated LDH enzyme in vitro, along with comparative experiments using [13C]pyruvate. Based on differences in the kinetics of its reaction with individual LDH isoforms, HP [13C]αKB was investigated as a novel MR probe, with added specificity for activity of LDHB-expressed H (“heart”-type) subunits of LDH (e.g., constituents of LDH-1 isoform). Results Comparable T1 and polarization values to pyruvate were attained (T1 = 52 s at 3 tesla [T], polarization = 10%, at C1). MR experiments showed rapid enzymatic conversion with substantially increased specificity. Formation of product HP [13C]α-hydroxybutyrate (αHB) from αKB in vivo was increased 2.7-fold in cardiac slabs relative to liver and kidney slabs. In vitro studies resulted in 5.0-fold higher product production from αKB with bovine heart LDH-1, as compared with pyruvate. Conclusions HP [13C]αKB may be a useful MR probe of cardiac metabolism and other applications where the role of H subunits of LDH is significant (e.g., renal cortex and brain). Magn Reson Med, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Low-temperature silicon epitaxy on hydrogen-terminated Si(001) surfaces

Si deposition on H terminated Si(100)-2x1 and 3x1 surfaces at temperatures 300-530 K is studied by scanning tunneling microscopy. Hydrogen apparently hinders Si adatom diffusion and enhances surface roughening. The post-growth annealing effect is analyzed. Hydrogen is shown to remain on the growth front up to at least 10 ML. The dihydride units on the 3x1 surfaces further suppress the Si adatom diffusion and increase surface roughness.
Investigation of the structural arrangement of the protein subunits of mitochondrial ATPase.

Abstract The structure of initochondrial ATPase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated to establish spatial relationships among the peptide components of this enzyme complex. Reagents which reversibly cross-linked adjacent polypeptides in complex structures were used to propose tentative assignments of neighboring polypeptides both in F1 ATPase and in the oligomycin-sensitive ATPase complex. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of cross-linked and dissociated samples of the enzyme was used to analyze the sizes and subunit compositions of oligomers formed by cross-linking reactions. Two of the nine major peptide components of the ATPase complex were labeled with [3H]amino acids in the presence of cycloheximide. Analysis of association of these labeled components with other peptides of the complex was therefore facilitated by autoradiographic techniques. The cross-linking studies give rise to a suggested structural model for ATPase.
The need for effective biomedical imaging education

There are several challenges to producing high-quality BMI education programs. These include limited opportunities for hands-on education; a dearth of textbooks targeted toward engineers, especially undergraduate engineers; and, like many fields, advancements so rapid that textbooks and other educational resources become out of date quickly, often before being released. Although there are many challenges to BMI education, there are many resources available that support its success. Many of these resources are Web based, including textbooks, tutorials, simulators, and teaching files. One online tutorial for ultrasound was shown to be as effective and more efficient than lectures in helping BME students learn the basics of ultrasound. Logical organization of imaging knowledge can be another learning resource by drawing out the parallels and hierarchy of concepts. Research on human learning and its implications for instruction, indicates that instruction designed around "anchored inquiry" of interesting challenges is particularly effective. Students' inquiry processes can be guided by an instructional sequence around a learning cycle called the "legacy cycle". Looking toward the future the trends indicate that demand for persons trained in BMI is increasing and can be expected to continue to increase in the foreseeable future. With increased demand for personnel and growing complexity of the field, the need for effective and efficient educational techniques will become more and more important. Online educational resources, allowing anytime/anywhere learning with the potential for educational interaction, will continue to grow in importance for BMI education. However, without a clear revenue model and with the volatility of the medium, it is uncertain that such online educational resources will ever attain the stature, prevalence, and continued utility of printed textbooks. Whatever the medium, hands-on learning exercises, simulators, and challenge-based learning should be included wherever possible to improve the effectiveness of BMI education.
Performance Evaluation of Hospitals’ Emergency Departments using a Modified American Productivity and Quality Center Approach

Presented is a modification of the American Productivity and Quality Center (APQC) approach to the performance evaluation of hospital emergency departments. This modified approach allows individual hospitals to make better estimates of cost containment and productivity relative to an industry-wide benchmark, by using patient acuity to convert conventional performance data into two measurements: an efficiency indicator and a price recovery ratio to better facilitate the establishment of a cost-quality connection.
Reduced Hyperalgesia in Nerve-Injured WLD Mice: Relationship to Nerve Fiber Phagocytosis, Axonal Degeneration, and Regeneration in Normal Mice

The pathogenesis of neuropathic pain states is influenced by inflammatory factors associated with nerve injuries and may be mediated in part by the macrophage-dependent process of Wallerian degeneration. Macrophages play a dominant role in the Wallerian (axonal) degeneration that characterizes the painful chronic constriction injury model of neuropathy by liberating proinflammatory cytokines at the site of nerve injury. These cytokines directly affect the structural integrity of neural systems and have been implicated in the development of hyperalgesic states. We hypothesized that interference with the pathologic process of Wallerian degeneration would alter the development of the neuropathic pain state. To test this hypothesis, we studied the development of thermal hyperalgesia in the chronic constriction injury model of neuropathy using normal mice and mice of the WLD strain in which recruitment of macrophages to the site of nerve injury and Wallerian degeneration are delayed. We compared the onset and magnitude of the hyperalgesia with quantitative measures of nerve injury including the phagocytic cellular activity associated with Wallerian degeneration. In C57BL/6J (6J) mice, hyperalgesia peaked 3-10 days after placement of the ligatures, qualitatively matching the response previously reported for rats. In C57BL/WLD (WLD) mice, there was reduced hyperalgesia temporally associated with reduced numbers of phagocytic cells in the injured nerve. In injured WLD nerves there was a reduced rate of axonal degeneration compared to similarly injured 6J nerves. Regeneration was correspondingly delayed in the WLD animals. The results suggest that the process of Wallerian degeneration is a key factor in the pathogenesis of hyperalgesia. Continued development of mouse models of neuropathic pain will be important in exploring the molecular basis of neuropathic pain. Interference with the cellular mediators of Wallerian degeneration may be a useful therapeutic strategy that might modulate the onset and magnitude of hyperalgesia following nerve injury.
Raw hides: Hegemony and cattle in Guatemala’s northern lowlands

Abstract As a microcosm of the global livestock-climate problem, this tale of two hegemonies explores how and why two critical constituencies—development planners and conservation professionals—have failed to see the “raw hides” of cattle’s impact on the Maya Biosphere Reserve in northern Guatemala. Based on ethnographic research carried out between 1993 and 2007, this paper seeks to explain the idealization, persistence, and normalization of cattle as a land use in Peten from the colonial period to the present. Framed with a Gramscian analysis of the critical role of organic intellectuals in catalyzing social change, I explore the mental feedback loops reinforcing other social and environmental causes of land degradation in this region. After presenting data on the historical expansion of cattle into the Guatemalan lowlands through government colonization programs, I describe how multilateral lending agencies like the World Bank continue to corral development plans in the region. The next part of the paper explores the complex and ambiguous relations between conservation professionals and the ranching sector. I then conclude with a discussion of how global trade and infrastructure projects such as the Puebla to Panama Plan and the Central America Free Trade Agreement will further mask the hegemonic hides of cattle.
Rhythmic regulation of retinal melatonin: metabolic pathways, neurochemical mechanisms, and the ocular circadian clock.

1. Current knowledge of the mechanisms of circadian and photic regulation of retinal melatonin in vertebrates is reviewed, with a focus on recent progress and unanswered questions. 2. Retinal melatonin synthesis is elevated at night, as a result of acute suppression by light and rhythmic regulation by a circadian oscillator, or clock, which has been localized to the eye in some species. 3. The development of suitablein vitro retinal preparations, particularly the eyecup from the African clawed frog,Xenopus laevis, has enabled identification of neural, cellular, and molecular mechanisms of retinal melatonin regulation. 4. Recent findings indicate that retinal melatonin levels can be regulated at multiple points in indoleamine metabolic pathways, including synthesis and availability of the precursor serotonin, activity of the enzyme serotoninN-acetyltransferase, and a novel pathway for degradation of melatonin within the retina. 5. Retinal dopamine appears to act through D2 receptors as a signal for light in this system, both in the acute suppression of melatonin synthesis and in the entrainment of the ocular circadian oscillator. 6. A recently developedin vitro system that enables high-resolution measurement of retinal circadian rhythmicity for mechanistic analysis of the circadian oscillator is described, along with preliminary results that suggest its potential for elucidating general circadian mechanisms. 7. A model describing hypothesized interactions among circadian, neurochemical, and cellular mechanisms in regulation of retinal melatonin is presented.
Using Regression Discontinuity to Test the Impact of a Tier 2 Reading Intervention in First Grade

Abstract Multitiered systems of reading instruction and intervention, including response to intervention, are widely used in early reading by schools to provide more intense services to students who need them. Research using randomized controlled trials has compared innovative Tier 2 interventions to business-as-usual Tier 2 approaches and established a number of important components that compose effective Tier 2 interventions in early reading. The purpose of this study was to test the impact of a Tier 2 intervention with Tier 2 compared to Tier 1 instruction alone using regression discontinuity. A cut score was used to assign first-grade students at risk for reading difficulties to Tier 2 intervention plus Tier 1 instruction. Students who missed the cut score in the control group received Tier 1 instruction only. Students in the treatment group, just below the cut score, made greater gains on the SAT10 total score and the individual subtests than students just above the cut score. Outcomes were not signi...
Exploratory analytics on patent data sets using the SIMPLE platform

Abstract Exploratory Analytics is the process of analyzing data for the purpose of forming hypotheses. Patent data sets, because they are relatively large and diverse and because they consist of a mixture of structured and unstructured information present a formidable challenge and a great opportunity in applying exploratory analytics techniques. In this paper we describe methods we have implemented for effective exploratory analytics on patent data sets using an interactive approach and a web based software tool called SIMPLE. We use real-world case studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of our exploratory analytics approach in the discovery of useful information from the patent corpus.
Recent GRC Aerospace Technologies Applicable to Terrestrial Energy Systems

An overview of a wide range of recent aerospace technologies under development at the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field, in collaboration with other NASA centers, government agencies, industry, and academia is provided. The focused areas are space solar power, advanced power management and distribution systems, Stirling cycle conversion systems, fuel cells, advanced thin-film photovoltaics and batteries, and combustion technologies. The aerospace-related objectives of the technologies are generation of space power; development of cost-effective and reliable, high-performance power systems; cryogenic applications; energy storage; and reduction in gas-turbine emissions, with attendant clean jet engines. The terrestrial energy applications of the technologies include augmentation of bulk power in ground power distribution systems and generation of residential, commercial, and remote power, as well as promotion of pollution-free environment via reduction in combustion emissions.
Superficial warming of epoxy blocks for cutting of 25-150 m sections to be resectioned in the 40-90 nm range.

An improved method is described in which tissue areas can be initially identified in thick sections by light microscopy and isolated for subsequent ultrathin sections and observation by electron microscopy. This is achieved by embedding in hard Epon which can be sectioned at 25–150 μm on a sliding microtome after softening the blockface by applying a 60–70 C tacking iron to its surface immediately before each section is taken. The thick sections are then mounted on plastic slides to enable light microscopic selection of areas to be observed by electron microscopy. The selected areas are remounted on faced Epon blanks and resectioned at less than 50 nm. This technique makes it possible to obtain thick sections while maintaining an Epon hard enough for good serial ultrathin sections.
Variation modes of vehicle acceleration and development of ideal vehicle acceleration

Vehicle acceleration is one of the key characteristics that influence customer satisfaction. Pedal displacements and vehicle speeds are necessary to represent the performance of acceleration: how much acceleration a vehicle is capable of if the acceleration pedal is displaced at a certain speed. The result of varying the acceleration pedal is called the acceleration response surface in three-dimensions. The current approach utilizes a few discrete levels of acceleration response surface for engineering specification because of the three-dimensional nature of the acceleration response surface (ARS), and thus may under-represent the entire acceleration response surface. The underlying variation modes of the acceleration response surface among 92 vehicles are identified by applying principal component analysis in which the entire ARS is analyzed. The 92 vehicles are specifically between the 2006- and 2007-model years with automatic transmission and 4-, 6-, and 8-cylinder engines. Two variation modes are iden...
Vocabularies of Victimization: Toward Explaining the Deviant Victim

What can the sociology of deviance contribute to victimology, the sociology of social problems, and social movements scholarship? Drawing on the foundational deviance literature on vocabularies of motive, aligning activities, and accounts, I conceptualize the social construction of victims and victimization as deviant, and how deviant identities are managed in different definitional realms, from micro-level self-processes through the cultural change new social movements seek to foster. I also explore how these “vocabularies of victimization” in different definitional realms may inform one another. To illustrate, I offer a brief but suggestive exemplar from my previous research on intimate stalking victimization.
Bayesian site selection for fast Gaussian process regression

Gaussian Process (GP) regression is a popular method in the field of machine learning and computer experiment designs; however, its ability to handle large data sets is hindered by the computational difficulty in inverting a large covariance matrix. Likelihood approximation methods were developed as a fast GP approximation, thereby reducing the computation cost of GP regression by utilizing a much smaller set of unobserved latent variables called pseudo points. This article reports a further improvement to the likelihood approximation methods by simultaneously deciding both the number and locations of the pseudo points. The proposed approach is a Bayesian site selection method where both the number and locations of the pseudo inputs are parameters in the model, and the Bayesian model is solved using a reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo technique. Through a number of simulated and real data sets, it is demonstrated that with appropriate priors chosen, the Bayesian site selection method can produce a ...
The primary structure of rat ribosomal protein S9.

Abstract The amino acid sequence of the rat 40S ribosomal subunit protein S9 was deduced from the sequence of nucleotides in a recombinant cDNA. Ribosomal protein S9 has 193 amino acids, the NH 2 -terminal methionine is removed after translation of the mRNA, and has a molecular weight of 22,360. Hybridization of the cDNA to digests of nuclear DNA suggests that there are 14 to 16 copies of the S9 gene. The mRNA for the protein is about 1,000 nucleotides in length in part because of an especially long 5′ noncoding region (103 nucleotides). Rat S9 is related to ribosomal proteins from other eukaryotes, Saccharornyces cerevisiae YS11 and Dictyostelium discoideum rp 1024, and to the eubacterial, archaebacterial, and chloroplast family of S4 ribosomal proteins. We have identified the product of the Trypanosoma brucei gene U as the homolog of rat ribosomal protein S9.
A recurrent neural net approach to one-step ahead control problems

In this paper, we present a recurrent neural net technique to provide control actions for nonlinear dynamic systems. In most current neural net control approaches, two nets are usually required. One acts as a system emulator, and the other one is a controller network. Rather than using two nets, our system requires only one net which is the system emulator. In our proposed system, a neural net is used to learn the forward dynamics of the system, and the control signal is evolved from the output of the same net with use of an equation of motion. There is no need to learn the control law from another neural net, such as a system inverse net. The use of the proposed algorithm is illustrated with an example. >
On the role of transients in trapping eastern boundary currents

Abstract By eliminating the off-shore component of velocity but not the along-shore component, a vertical boundary produces an anisotropy in the normal component of the Reynolds' stress in an ocean containing transients. An analytical study is used to show that this anisotropy, in a quasi-geostrophic transient field, concentrates the Sverdrup flow near the eastern boundary current even when the wind forcing is zonally independent. This eastern boundary current is shifted poleward from the latitude of maximum wind stress curl. In a continuously stratified ocean the eastern boundary current consists of a surface flow and an undercurrent. Some support for the mechanism may be found in eddy-resolving primitive equation models.
Biodiesel Blends in Space Heating Equipment: January 31, 2001 -- September 28, 2001

This report documents an evaluation of the performance of blends of biodiesel and home heating oil in space heating applications.
Nanopores: Graphene opens up to DNA

It might be possible to sequence DNA by passing the molecule through a small hole in a sheet of graphene.
High-data-rate systems for space applications

High data rate communications systems will soon be needed for space applications. Technology and applications which support high data rates are already in place for ground- based telecommunications, or will be in the future. The advantages of an optical system over a traditional RF link for free space communications are particularly compelling for high data rates. We have been developing the necessary technology to demonstrate the feasibility of high rate free-space optical communications technology at 1.5 micrometers . The existence of a large, mature technology base at 1.5 micrometers developed for the telecommunications industry has allowed us to focus our development effort on two key technologies needed for space applications that have not been developed for the ground: a 1 Watt class optical power amplifier and a near quantum limited receiver. This paper will describe the overall system design for a high data rate optical communications system and present experimental results demonstrating < 50 photons/bit sensitivity at 10 Gbps with 1 Watt of optical power. The existence of a feasibility demonstration at this data rate enables downward scalability to data rates of 1 Gbps or less with small, inexpensive terminals.
An identity for normal-like operators

Forλeσ(A) (A a bounded linear operator on a Hilbert space) withλ a boundary point of the numerical range, the ‘spectral theory’ forλ is ‘just as ifA were normal’. IfA isnormal-like (the smallest disk containingσ(A) has radiusr=inf z ‖A − z‖), then also sup {‖Ax‖2 − |〈x.Ax〉|2:‖x‖=1}=r 2.
Localization of LAT in glycolipid-enriched microdomains is required for T cell activation.

LAT, a transmembrane adapter protein found in glycolipid-enriched microdomains (GEMs), is essential for T cell activation. In this study, we have utilized a LAT-deficient mutant of the Jurkat T cell line, J.CaM2, to explore various requirements for LAT function. First, we demonstrate that LAT must be present in GEMs for coupling T cell receptor (TCR) engagement to activation of the Ras signaling pathway, increases in intracellular Ca(2+), and induction of the transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T cells (NF-AT). Second, we show that the extracellular and transmembrane domains of LAT are dispensable for these TCR-mediated events once LAT has localized to GEMs. These results provide important insights into both the structural domains of LAT and its subcellular localization that are required for effective TCR signaling.
Visual space perception on a computer graphics night visual attachment

A series of experiments was conducted to compare five psychophysical methods of measuring how people perceive visual space in simulators. Psychologists have used such methods traditionally to measure visual space perception in the real world. Of the five tasks - objective-size judgments, angular-size judgments, shape judgments, slant judgments, and distance judgments - only the angular-size judgment task proved to be of potential use as a measure of simulator realism. In this experiment pilots estimated the relative angular size of triangles placed at various distances along a simulated runway. Estimates made when the display was collimated were closer to real-world performance than estimates made with an uncollimated display.
An experimental analysis of the effect of refrigerant charge level on an automotive refrigeration system

Abstract The performance of an automotive refrigeration system is dependent on the refrigerant charge level. Due to inevitable leaks in the system, the amount of refrigerant will decrease over time and thus ultimately reduce the system's performance. A reduction in the amount of refrigerant charge results in excessive compressor cycling, a lower condenser pressure, a higher refrigeration temperature, and an increase in the amount of superheat. This paper identifies and quantifies the individual component losses in an automotive refrigeration system as a function of the refrigerant charge level. A second law analysis, based on nondimensional entropy generation, is carried out to quantify the thermodynamic losses. A passenger vehicle with a cycling-clutch, orifice tube refrigeration system was instrumented to measure various temperatures and pressures, and relative humidity. The data were collected at idle conditions. Thermodynamic equations, which are used to determine the system's thermal performance, are presented. The system's second law efficiency increases 26 % as the amount of refrigerant charge decreases by 44 %. Also the individual component losses are quantified as a function of the refrigerant charge level. The compressor and the condenser losses account for the largest percentage of the total losses, and are of similar magnitude. The evaporator–accumulator and the orifice tube losses account for a smaller percentage of the total losses, and are also of similar magnitude. With a reduction in the refrigerant charge level of 44 %, the losses in the compressor, the condenser, the evaporator–accumulator, and the orifice tube decrease 13 %, 8 %, 10 %, and 33 %, respectively.
Urinary N-Acetyl-β-D-Glucosaminidase Changes in Relation to Age, Sex, Race, and Diastolic and Systolic Blood Pressure in a Young Adult Biracial Population the Bogalusa Heart Study

Increased urinary activity of N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) has been reported in many clinical conditions, including essential hypertension. Since hypertension is increasingly recognized as beginning in childhood, we hypothesized that urinary NAG changes with increasing blood pressure may start early in life and may also be the evidence of the existence of early hypertensive disease. We analyzed the urinary NAG changes in 980 young adults, ages between 18 to 32, in relation to age, race, sex, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. We observed that black women had the highest level of NAG, with or without adjustment for creatinine. With aging, urinary NAG significantly increased in men. As blood pressure increased, urinary NAG excretion appeared to increase, and this was more apparent in black women (P < .05). Significant correlations between NAG excretion and systolic (r = 0.12, P = .04) and diastolic (r = 0.18, P = .003) blood pressures existed in the oldest age group, 28 to 32 years old. These findings show that a significant association between urinary NAG and blood pressure exists in normal young adults and changes in urinary NAG may be evidence of early hypertensive disease.
Modeling best-effort and FEC streaming of scalable video in lossy network channels

Video applications that transport delay-sensitive multimedia over best-effort networks usually require special mechanisms that can overcome packet loss without using retransmission. In response to this demand, forward-error correction (FEC) is often used in streaming applications to protect video and audio data in lossy network paths; however, studies in the literature report conflicting results on the benefits of FEC over best-effort streaming. To address this uncertainty, we start with a baseline case that examines the impact of packet loss on scalable (FGS-like) video in best-effort networks and derive a closed-form expression for the loss penalty imposed on embedded coding schemes under several simple loss models. Through this analysis, we find that the utility (i.e., usefulness to the user) of unprotected video converges to zero as streaming rates become high. We then study FEC-protected video streaming, re-derive the same utility metric, and show that for all values of loss rate inclusion of FEC overhead substantially improves the utility of video compared to the best-effort case. We finish the paper by constructing a dynamic controller on the amount of FEC that maximizes the utility of scalable video and show that the resulting system achieves a significantly better PSNR quality than alternative fixed-overhead methods.
Clustering high-dimensional data using an efficient and effective data space reduction

This paper introduces a new algorithm for clustering data in high-dimensional feature spaces, called GARDENHD. The algorithm is organized around the notion of data space reduction, i.e. the process of detecting dense areas (dense cells) in the space. It performs effective and efficient elimination of empty areas that characterize typical high-dimensional spaces and an efficient adjacency-connected agglomeration of dense cells into larger clusters. It produces a compact representation that can effectively capture the essence of data. GARDENHD is a hybrid of cell-based and density-based clustering. However, unlike typical clustering methods in its class, it applies a recursive partition of sparse regions in the space using a new space-partitioning strategy. The properties of this partitioning strategy greatly facilitate data space reduction. The experiments on synthetic and real data sets reveal that GARDENHD and its data space reduction are effective, efficient, and scalable.
Conductive High Temperature Nylon

Increasing the thermal and electrical conductivity of typically insulating polymers, such as nylons, would open new markets. A thermally conductive resin could be used for heat sink applications. An electrically conductive resin could be used in static dissipative and Electromagnetic Interference/Radio Frequency Interference shielding applications. This research focused on adding conductive fillers (namely carbon black and Thermocarb, a high quality synthetic milled graphite) and a chopped glass fiber to high temperature nylon. These materials were extruded and injection molded into test specimens. Tensile tests as well as in-plane electrical resistivity, in-plane thermal conductivity, and through-plane thermal conductivity tests were conducted.
The role of biomarkers in the assessment of lupus

Although considered a prototypic autoimmune disease, the hallmark of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is its heterogeneity. Accordingly, manifestations can vary widely from person to person, with the potential involvement of virtually any bodily organ. Furthermore, the genetic abnormalities underlying this condition are complicated, with diverse genetic polymorphisms described in different ethnic groups, strongly suggesting that the actual pathology underlying the immunologic disarray might not be the same for each patient. Evolving concepts of genetics and immunity have clarified that patients can carry unique arrays of exacerbating and protective factors. These factors, in conjunction with variable environmental triggers for SLE, probably determine the sequelae that an individual experiences. Therefore, it is not surprising that the clinical manifestations are diverse, the temporal sequence of organ involvement often unpredictable, and that the flares of inflammatory activity that characterize SLE can either remit without consequence or leave permanent damage in their wake. It is widely accepted that the current standard of care for SLE patients is inadequate. Programs to develop and test new drug and/or device therapies have been ongoing since the mid-1990s but have encountered formidable obstacles. With the current burst of drug discovery and the advent of several large international trials of promising new agents, the challenge to overcome these obstacles has never been greater. A burgeoning literature in the past decades nevertheless suggests that despite the complexities of the many immunologic pathways that impact on SLE, characteristic biologic markers are emerging as potential signposts that can characterize patient subgroups, predict prognosis, mark the exacerbations and remissions of SLE flares, and serve as endpoints in the determination of the dosing and timing of immune-modulating treatments. Several of the promising biomarkers are addressed in this chapter.
DYNAMIC GRAPHICAL ASSESSMENT OF INTERACTION EFFECTS IN DESIGN OF EXPERIMENTS

Design of experiments has been and continues to be employed successfully for the robust design of products/processes. A principle contention in these areas of application concerns whether or not interactive effects should be estimated. The arguments, for and against, hinge on an experimenter's understanding of the interaction concept and on the value added that is derived from the increased effort required for assessing such effects. We propose an interactive graphics approach that assesses whether and which interactive effects to estimate. Our methodology yields several additional benefits to the experimenter that include prototype simulation and unique learning opportunities for augmenting process knowledge in post-analysis.
X-ray absolute calibration of the time response of a silicon photodiode

The time-dependent response of a 1-mm2 silicon photodiode was characterized by use of pulsed synchrotron radiation in the 4- to 16-nm-wavelength range. Modeling the input radiation pulse and the electrical response of the photodiode allowed the photodiode’s capacitance as a function of wavelength and applied bias voltage to be determined. The capacitance was in the 7- to 19-pF range and resulted in response fall times as small as 0.4 ns. The capacitance determined by pulsed x-ray illumination was in good agreement with the capacitance determined by pulsed optical laser illumination. The absolute responsivity was measured by comparison with the responsivity of a calibrated photodiode.
Predictability of the Atlantic Overturning Circulation and Associated Surface Patterns in Two CCSM3 Climate Change Ensemble Experiments

AbstractPredictability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) and associated oceanic and atmospheric fields on decadal time scales in the Community Climate System Model, version 3 (CCSM3) at T42 resolution is quantified with a 700-yr control run and two 40-member “perfect model” climate change experiments. After taking into account both the mean and spread about the mean of the forecast distributions and allowing for the possibility of time-evolving modes, the natural variability of the AMOC is found to be predictable for about a decade; beyond that range the forced predictability resulting from greenhouse gas forcing becomes dominant. The upper 500-m temperature in the North Atlantic is even more predictable than the AMOC by several years. This predictability is associated with subsurface and sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies that propagate in an anticlockwise direction along the subpolar gyre and tend to be prominent during the 10 yr following peaks in the amplitude of AMOC anom...
Fine structure of sensory ganglia during experimental scurvy.

The cells of the dorsal root ganglia of scorbutic guinea pigs were characterized by a number of changes. In the animals that were sacrificed at 22–27 days following the ascorbic acid deficient diet, the sensory ganglion cells showed a complete breakdown of Nissl substance, a loss of neurofilaments and neurotubules, and swollen mitochondria. There was an increase in agranular and coated vesicles, alteration in dense bodies, some cytoplasmic sequestration. The periphery of some cells appeared profusely vacuolar. Cellular debris surrounding these cells was probably due to degenerating satellite cells. Severe cellular damage was noted in existing satellite cells. No collagen fibrils were seen in the endoneural spaces.
The differential importance of marital experiences for the well-being of women and men: A research note

Abstract Previous research has demonstrated that part of the association between sex and emotional distress is due to the different role incumbencies of men and women. In this report, we analyze data from married respondents in a national sample of residents of the United States in order to further understand why the marital role is more beneficial to the well-being of men than of women. Women's experience of marriage is more negative and this accounts for some of the difference between men and women in well-being. More importantly, the associations between various measures of well-being and marital experiences are significantly stronger for women than for men. Among those who report low levels of negative marital experiences, differences between men and women are virtually nonexistent, but among those who report high levels of negative marital experiences, the differences are rather pronounced. Contrary to expectations, we find no evidence that alternative roles diminish the effect of negative marital experiences on the well-being of women.
Painless primary herpes

An adolescent male developed painless but severe genital ulcerations. Evaluation confirmed primary herpes. The medical literature describes the classical presentation of primary genital herpes infection as multiple ulcerations and severe pain, but 5% of male patients present without pain. Consequently, the differential diagnosis of painless genital ulcerations should include Herpes progenitalis.
Equatorial Kelvin waves: A UARS MLS view

Data from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instrument on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) are used to compare two periods of Kelvin wave activity during different stages of the equatorial quasi-biennial oscillation. The analysis is carried out using an asynoptic mapping technique. A wide bandpass filter is used to isolate the frequency bands where Kelvin waves have been identified in previous studies. Time-height and time-latitude plots of the bandpassed data are used to identify Kelvin wave activity in the temperature and ozone fields. Frequency spectra of temperature and ozone amplitudes are constructed to further analyze the latitudinal and meridional distribution of Kelvin wave activity in zonal wavenumbers 1 and 2. The characteristics identified in these plots agree well with theoretical predictions and previous observations of middle atmosphere Kelvin waves. The time-height and time-latitude plots support the existence of Kelvin waves in discrete frequency bands; the slow, fast, and ultrafast Kelvin modes are all identified in the data. The characteristics of these modes do not vary much despite different mean flow conditions in the two periods examined. For the Kelvin wave-induced perturbations in ozone, the change from a transport-dominated regime below 10 hPa to a photochemically controlled regime above 10 hPa is clearly apparent in the height dependence of the phase difference between temperature and ozone. The ratios of the ozone perturbation amplitude to the temperature perturbation amplitude for the various observed Kelvin wave modes are in agreement with model estimates and LIMS (Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere) observations in the lower half of the region sampled but appear to be too large in the upper stratosphere and lower mesosphere.
Proton Extrusion by Wheat Roots Exhibiting Severe Aluminum Toxicity Symptoms

The mechanisms of Al rhizotoxicity are not known, but disruption of membrane function has been a persistent hypothesis. The objective of this study was to establish whether cells of Al-cultured wheat roots (Triticum aestivum L. cv Tyler) exhibiting severe Al toxicity symptoms were capable of vigorous proton extrusion. The membrane electrical potential difference (Em) was measured in individual cells throughout the first centimeter of root tips during perfusion with Al solutions similar to or more concentrated than those of the culture medium. For both Al-cultured and control roots the resting Em was −100 millivolts, and 1 millimolar acetic acid induced cyanide-sensitive hyperpolarizations to −180 millivolts at a maximum rate of −30 millivolts per minute. Al, like Ca2+, enhanced the negativity of the Em of cells already treated with acetic acid. Both acetic acid and fusicoccin stimulated net proton extrusion from Al-cultured and control roots, both of which also extruded protons in the absence of these stimulants. These results demonstrate that wheat roots exhibiting severe Al toxicity symptoms had an undiminished capacity to extrude protons, that the membranes were intact, and that ATP synthesis was sufficient to supply the proton-translocating ATPases.
Non-line-of-sight ultraviolet communication based on DHT ACO-OFDM

Free space optical (FSO) communication has attracted tremendous research interest in the recent year. Most existing works focus only on the line-of-sight (LOS) transmission by infrared (IR) or visible light lasers/LEDs, while this article suggested a framework of non-line-of-sight (NLOS) FSO, motivated by our recent experimental results on the successful transmission of NLOS ultraviolet (UV) beams for up to kilometers, which is comparable to the typical distance a LOS FSO transmission. The NLOS provides an alternate path when the LOS path is shadowed or is highly attenuated. In order to mitigate the multipath dispersion of the NLOS FSO, a baseband orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation scheme was proposed, based on Discrete Hartley Transform (DHT) and asymmetric clipping to guarantee the positive-realness of the transmitted optical intensity. The proposed system could reduce the hardware complexity of transmitter and receiver. Minimum mean square error (MMSE) precoder was applied before the DHT to remove the crosstalk between subcarriers, i.e. the frequency domain orthogonality of OFDM was preserved. Performance of the BPSK modulated communication system was given under lognormal atmospheric turbulence for demonstration of the feasibility of the proposed method.