cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulating thermokarst lakes

Thermokarst lakes, which form from thawing permafrost, alter landscapes and hydrology and can release significant amounts of methane to the atmosphere. To learn more about the dynamics of thermokarst lakes, Kessler et al. created a three-dimensional numerical model of these lakes that includes the surrounding topography. They simulated 10,000 years of evolution of two small thermokarst lakes on the northern Seward Peninsula in Alaska and studied the pattern of methane production and emission over time. They found that the rate of methane production depends on the rate of expansion of thermokarst lakes into ancient permafrost and that local topography strongly influences the rate of expansion and drainage of the lakes. One lake, located in relatively flat surroundings, expanded rapidly and drained many times, while the other, surrounded by steeper slopes, grew more slowly and drained only partially. Thus, topography is an important control on thermokarst lake dynamics and methane emission. (Journal of Geophysical Research-Biogeosciences, doi:10.1029/2011JG001796, 2012)
Linear stability analysis of the three‐dimensional thermally‐driven ocean circulation: application to interdecadal oscillations

What can we learn from performing a linear stability analysis of the large-scale ocean circulation? Can we predict from the basic state the occurrence of interdecadal oscillations, such as might be found in a forward integration of the full equations of motion? If so, do the structure and period of the linearly unstable modes resemble those found in a forward integration? We pursue here a preliminary study of these questions for a case in idealized geometry, in which the full nonlinear behavior can also be explored through forward integrations. Specifically, we perform a three-dimensional linear stability analysis of the thermally-driven circulation of the planetary geostrophic equations. We examine the resulting eigenvalues and eigenfunctions, comparing them with the structure of the interdecadal oscillations found in the fully nonlinear model in various parameter regimes. We obtain a steady state by running the time-dependent, nonlinear model to equilibrium using restoring boundary conditions on surface temperature. If the surface heat fluxes are then diagnosed, and these values applied as constant flux boundary conditions, the nonlinear model switches into a state of perpetual, finite amplitude, interdecadal oscillations. We construct a linearized version of the model by empirically evaluating the tangent linear matrix at the steady state, under both restoring and constant-flux boundary conditions. An eigen-analysis shows there are no unstable eigenmodes of the linearized model with restoring conditions. In contrast, under constant flux conditions, we find a single unstable eigenmode that shows a striking resemblance to the fully-developed oscillations in terms of three-dimensional structure, period and growth rate. The mode may be damped through either surface restoring boundary conditions or sufficiently large horizontal tracer diffusion. The success of this simple numerical method in idealized geometry suggests applications in the study of the stability of the ocean circulation in more realistic configurations, and the possibility of predicting potential oceanic modes, even weakly damped, that might be excited by stochastic atmospheric forcing or mesoscale ocean eddies. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0870.2001.00526.x
Nitric oxide-related inhibition of carotid chemosensory nerve activity in the cat

The hypothesis that endogenous nitric oxide may play a physiological role in the regulation of carotid chemosensory activity was tested in this study. The nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors, L-nitro-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME, 25-200 microM) and NG-monomethyl-L-arginine acetate (L-NMMA, 50 and 100 microM) were used to study its effects on the chemosensory activity of perfused and superfused cat carotid bodies (n = 21) in vitro at 37-37 degrees C. L-NAME elicited slow excitation of the sensory activity as did L-NMMA. The peak-response was dose-dependent, and approached saturation around 200 microM. The excitation by L-NAME showed the following characteristics (mean +/- SEM): latency of response, 2.2 min +/- 0.3 min; time to peak response, 5.5 min +/- 1.0 min and the peak response increased to 407 +/- 42 imp/sec from 88 +/- 13 imp/sec. The peak response was significantly different (P < 0.05) from the baseline activity. L-arginine (50-500 microM) only briefly reversed the stimulation. Hypoxia enhanced the excitation by L-NAME. On the other hand, sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 0.5-10 microM) which supplies NO, terminated the excitatory effect of L-NAME. The results provide evidence in favor of an inhibitory role of endogenous NO in the carotid body, and exogenous application of NO confirms the inhibitory effect.
The Role of Frugivorous Bats in Tropical Forest Succession

Discussion of successional change has traditionally focused on plants. The role of animals in producing and responding to successional change has received far less attention. Dispersal of plant propagules by animals is a fundamental part of successional change in the tropics. Here we review the role played by frugivorous bats in successional change in tropical forests. We explore the similarities and differences of this ecological service provided by New and Old World seed-dispersing bats and conclude with a discussion of their current economic and conservation implications. Our review suggests that frugivorous New World phyllostomid bats play a more important role in early plant succession than their Old World pteropodid counterparts. We propose that phyllostomid bats have shared a long evolutionary history with small-seeded early successional shrubs and treelets while pteropodid bats are principally dispersers of the seeds of later successional canopy fruits. When species of figs (Ficus) are involved in the early stages of primary succession (e.g. in the river meander system in Amazonia and on Krakatau, Indonesia), both groups of bats are important contributors of propagules. Because they disperse and sometimes pollinate canopy trees, pteropodid bats have a considerable impact on the economic value of Old World tropical forests; phyllostomid bats appear to make a more modest direct contribution to the economic value of New World tropical forests. Nonetheless, because they critically influence forest regeneration, phyllostomid bats make an important indirect contribution to the economic value of these forests. Overall, fruit-eating bats play important roles in forest regeneration throughout the tropics, making their conservation highly desirable.
An in vitro injury model for SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells: effect of strain and strain rate.

There is a great need to have in vitro cell injury model wherein a wide range of strain (ɛ) and strain rate (e˙) can be precisely and independently applied. Such a model will enable exploration of various biomechanical loading conditions cells normally encounter during either blunt or blast impact-induced traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). In combination with a highly automated data acquisition and analysis system, this method can quickly generate a large data set of experimental results to yield identification of bio-mechanical and chemical sequelae following injury. A proper understanding of these sequelae will enable the discovery of the time window of opportunity available for pharmacological interventions. In this study we present such an injury model, a modified version of the Cultured Axonal Injury (CAI) device, and demonstrate its efficacy through viability of SH-SY5Y cells at different ranges of strain (0-140%) and strain rate (15-68 s⁻¹). We identified three different regimes in the stretch-induced dose-response of curves of SH-SY5Y cells, with a very sharp decline from live to dead in a narrow range of strain (30-55%). The effect of strain rate is minimal when the final strain in the cells was fixed at 50%. The model further shows that time-after-injury plays a vital role in the determination of recovery-deterioration pathways and the biological selection depends on the severity of initial injury. These data point out the initial strain level is vital to the cell fate and emphasize the need to study the various mechanisms triggered by different magnitudes of initial injuries.
Sodium Sensitivity in Normotensive and Borderline Hypertensive Humans

The responses to sodium depletion and repletion were studied in subgroups of 92 normotensive and 65 borderline hypertensive individuals. The borderline hypertensives were characterized by significantly higher blood pressure, weight, cardiac output, hematocrit and decreased density of conjunctival capillaries and venules. Sodium-sensitivity was defined as an increase in mean arterial blood pressure exceeding 5% during sodium repletion. The prevalence of sodium-sensitivity was higher in blacks than in whites and greater in hypertensives than in normotensives. Sodium-sensitive individuals were characterized by significantly increased forearm vascular resistance and decreased plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentration. The resemblance of these changes to those reported in the Dahl salt-sensitive rat suggests a genetic basis for the response to sodium.
Clear-Cornea Cataract Extraction in Eyes with Functioning Filtering Blebs

In 22 glaucomatous eyes with functioning filtering blebs and adequately controlled intraocular pressures (LT22 mm Hg) that underwent clear-cornea cataract extraction, the intraocular pressure remained controlled in 20 (91%). Seven of the 21 eyes, however, required an increased dosage of antiglaucoma drugs. Sixteen eyes had final visual acuities between 6/6 and 6/9 (20/20 and 20/30) and only four eyes had final visual acuities worse than 6/60 (20/200). The only intraoperative complication was a ruptured lens capsule. Postoperative bullous keratopathy developed in two eyes, both of which had had corneal edema preoperatively. A third eye, which had undergone filtering surgery 17 years earlier, had vitreous incarceration after the sutures were removed.
Anodic deposition of a robust iridium-based water-oxidation catalyst from organometallic precursors

Artificial photosynthesis, modeled on natural light-driven oxidation of water in Photosystem II, holds promise as a sustainable source of reducing equivalents for producing fuels. Few robust water-oxidation catalysts capable of mediating this difficult four-electron, four-proton reaction have yet been described. We report a new method for generating an amorphous electrodeposited material, principally consisting of iridium and oxygen, which is a robust and long-lived catalyst for water oxidation, when driven electrochemically. The catalyst material is generated by a simple anodic deposition from Cp*Ir aqua or hydroxo complexes in aqueous solution. This work suggests that organometallic precursors may be useful in electrodeposition of inorganic heterogeneous catalysts.
Understanding and Optimizing the Performance of Extended Ensemble Algorithms

There has been a lot of debate about the relative performance of different extended-ensemble methods. We discuss the relationship of different methods and argue that in the long-time limit most methods that use the same biasing parameter and target distribution should have similar dynamic behavior. Under the approximation that the bias parameter is a fast variable, we show how to analyze the performance of different methods as applied to any particular system. We present comparisons of this theory and biological simulations. We discuss how this type of analysis can be used for optimization of these types of method.
Nondestructive Color Measurement of Fresh Broccoli

A major limitation in the calorimetry of sfresh broccoli has been the curvature of the head. Total chlorophyll concentration and visual appearance have thus been the methods of choice for color measurement. Samples from six cultivars selected for obvious visual color differences were presented to an older (Gardner C-4) and a newer (Gardner XL-845) generation calorimeter using both whole head and shaved floret sample presentations. No significant differences were observed in the total chlorophyll concentrations of the cultivars, but distinction was made among the cultivars using the shaved floret presentation for the older model and the whole head presentation for the newer model. Newer generation calorimeters thus provide a rapid nondestructive means of assessing fresh broccoli color.
Role for two conserved intermembrane space proteins, Ups1p and Up2p, in intra-mitochondrial phospholipid trafficking

Mitochondrial membranes maintain a specific phospholipid composition. Most phospholipids are synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and transported to mitochondria, but cardiolipin and phosphatidylethanolamine are produced in mitochondria. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, phospholipid exchange between the ER and mitochondria relies on the ER-mitochondria encounter structure (ERMES) complex, which physically connects the ER and mitochondrial outer membrane. However, the proteins and mechanisms involved in phospholipid transport within mitochondria remain elusive. Here, we investigated the role of the conserved intermembrane space proteins, Ups1p and Ups2p, and an inner membrane protein, Mdm31p, in phospholipid metabolism. Our data show that loss of the ERMES complex, Ups1p, and Mdm31p causes similar defects in mitochondrial phospholipid metabolism, mitochondrial morphology, and cell growth. Defects in cells lacking the ERMES complex or Ups1p are suppressed by Mdm31p overexpression as well as additional loss of Ups2p, which antagonizes Ups1p. Combined loss of the ERMES complex and Ups1p exacerbates phospholipid defects. Finally, pulse-chase experiments using [14C]serine revealed that Ups1p and Ups2p antagonistically regulate conversion of phosphatidylethanolamine to phosphatidylcholine. Our results suggest that Ups proteins and Mdm31p play important roles in phospholipid biosynthesis in mitochondria. Ups proteins may function in phospholipid trafficking between the outer and inner mitochondrial membranes.
Solvability of multivariate interpolation by radial or related function

Abstract Let X be a linear space, and H a Hilbert space. Let N denote a set of n distinct points in X designated by x1, ..., xn (these points are called nodes). It is desired to interpolate arbitrary data on N by a function in the linear span of the n functions, [formula] where yk are n distinct points in X (called knots), Tv are linear maps from X to H, and Fν are some suitable univariate functions. In this paper, we discuss the solvability of this interpolation scheme. For the case in which the nodes and knots coincide, we give a convenient condition which is equivalent to the nonsingularity of the interpolation matrices. We obtain some sufficient conditions for the case in which the nodes and knots do not necessarily coincide.
Weak-interaction rates in 16 O

We describe a full nonspurious 4\ensuremath{\Elzxh}\ensuremath{\omega} shell-model calculation that successfully reproduces the low-lying spectrum of $^{16}\mathrm{O}$, including the superdeformed ${0}^{+}$ (6.05 MeV) state, and discuss its connection with the coexistence model. This treatment provides a realistic microscopic framework for discussing various electroweak processes: E2 transitions in $^{16}\mathrm{O}$, the role of exchange currents and the pseudoscalar coupling constant in the ${0}^{+}$\ensuremath{\leftrightarrows}${0}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ \ensuremath{\beta}-decay and \ensuremath{\mu}-capture transition, and the evaluation of the Gamow-Teller inclusive response function.
New Insights Into Lipid Metabolism in Chronic Kidney Disease

Disorders in lipid levels in kidney disease consist of alterations both in the levels of the differing lipoprotein classes as well as alteration in their structures. Triglycerides (TGs) are increased, and both high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels are reduced. HDL fails to mature normally primarily as a consequence of decreased activity of lecithin cholesterol ester transfer protein (LCAT), and HDL levels are reduced because of increase clearance. The HDL that is present consist of small pre-β discoid HDL that fails to function as an antioxidant. All of the apo B containing lipoproteins exhibit decreased clearance in part because of increased levels of the lipoprotein lipase inhibitory apolipoproteins apo C I and apo C III. The concentration of oxidized LD, an athorgenic risk factor, is increased, in part because of the inability of the HDL that is present to reduce oxidized LDL and in part because of the increased LDL residence time effected by decreased clearance.
Radiative cooling by stratospheric water vapor: Big differences in GCM results

The stratosphere has been cooling by about 2K/decade at 30–60 km over the past several decades and by lesser amounts toward the tropopause. Climate model calculations suggest that stratospheric water vapor is an important contributor to the observed stratospheric cooling, but there are large differences among recent GCM simulations for prescribed changes in stratospheric water vapor, which point to problems with the current GCM treatment of the absorption and emission by stratospheric water vapor. We show that the correlated k-distribution treatment with sufficient resolution is capable of simulating accurately cooling by stratospheric water vapor. We obtain equilibrium cooling of about 0.3K that extends from 20 km to the top of the atmosphere, and adjusted radiative forcing of 0.12 Wm−2, for a stratospheric water vapor increase of 0.7 ppmv which has been estimated for the period 1979–1997.
Resolution of an averaging paradox in the analysis of switched-mode DC-DC converters

The validity of an intuitive averaging method for estimating the low-frequency signals in switch-mode systems is rigorously examined It is shown that the approach may lead to erroneous results because it violates the Nyquist sampling theorem and that the resulting aliasing effects may interfere with the estimate of the low-frequency component of the signal. A procedure is proposed to estimate the expected error. >
Determining the Local Abundance of Martian Methane and its 13-C/l2-C and D/H Isotopic Ratios for Comparison with Related Gas and Soil Analysis on the 2011 Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Mission

Understanding the origin of Martian methane will require numerous complementary measurements from both in situ and remote sensing investigations and laboratory work to correlate planetary surface geophysics with atmospheric dynamics and chemistry. Three instruments (Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (QMS), Gas Chromatograph (GC) and Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS)) with sophisticated sample handling and processing capability make up the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) analytical chemistry suite on NASA s 2011 Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Mission. Leveraging off the SAM sample and gas processing capability that includes methane enrichment, TLS has unprecedented sensitivity for measuring absolute methane (parts-per-trillion), water, and carbon dioxide abundances in both the Martian atmosphere and evolved from heated soil samples. In concert with a wide variety of associated trace gases (e.g. SO2, H2S, NH3, higher hydrocarbons, organics, etc.) and other isotope ratios measured by SAM, TLS will focus on determining the absolute abundances of methane, water and carbon dioxide, and their isotope ratios: 13C/12C and D/H in methane; 13C/12C and 18O/17O/16O in carbon dioxide; and 18O/17O/16O and D/H in water. Measurements near the MSL landing site will be correlated with satellite (Mars Express, Mars 2016) and ground-based observations.
Islet transplantation in the future: Use of a bioartificial pancreas

Tight glycemic control effectively delays the onset and slows the progression of diabetic complications in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Successful pancreas transplantation corrects abnormal glucose metabolism but subjects patients to morbidity and mortality associated with chronic immunosuppression. Immune exclusion devices containing pancreatic islets (bioartificial pancreas devices) are designed to provide glycemic control through islet transplantation without immunosuppression. The immune exclussion is achieved by separating allogeneic or xenogeneic islets from the host by semipermeable membranes that allow only small molecules, such as glucose, insulin, and nutrients, to pass through. Immune lymphocytes and immunoglobulins are excluded by the membrane and are unable to cause destruction of the islets. This report provides a brief review of three types of bioartificial pancreas devices used for the treatment of diabetes, i.e., perfusion-based vascular devices, diffusion-based chambers and microcapsules, and describes recent progress in each area.
Design Analytics in Consumer Product Design: A Simulated Study

A growing area of research in the engineering community is the use of data and analytics for transforming information into knowledge to design better systems, products, and processes. Data-driven decisions can be made in the early, middle, and late stages in a design process where customer needs are identified and understood, a final concept for a design is chosen, and usage data from the deployed product is captured, respectively. Design Analytics (DA) is a paradigm for improving the core information-to-knowledge transformations in these stages of a design process resulting in better performing and functioning products that reflect both explicit and implicit customer needs. In this paper, a simulator is used to model usage of a hypothetical refrigerator and generate artificial data driven by four different customer behavior profiles with variation. The population of customers is randomly divided among the four behavior profiles so that the underlying customer preferences are unknown to the experimenter prior to data analysis. The purpose of the simulation is to illustrate the use of DA in the late stage of a design process to improve the transition from an existing product to the next generation product. Metrics are developed to analyze the product usage data, and both prevailing and subtle usage trends are identified. After conclusions are made, the study proceeds to the early and middle stages of a subsequent design process where a hypothetical next-generation refrigerator is conceptualized.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Interaction of drugs and retinol

In liver microsomes of ethanol-fed rats, retinol competitively inhibited the hydroxylation of aniline, the demethylation of dimethylnitrosamine, and the oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde, whereas the inhibition of benzphetamine demethylation was of the mixed type in microsomes of phenobarbital-treated, ethanol-treated or control rats. Conversely, benzphetamine exerted a striking inhibition of the 4-hydroxylation of retinol in microsomes of phenobarbital-treated rats. At the concentration used, ethanol (100 mM) and dimethylnitrosamine (10 mM) had no such effect. In vivo administration of phenobarbital resulted in a 9-fold increase in the Vmax of the microsomal retinol 4-hydroxylase activity, with a 3-fold increase of the Km, whereas ethanol feeding resulted in a doubling of the Vmax with no significant change in the Km. The induction of this microsomal retinol-metabolizing system may contribute to the hepatic vitamin A depletion that has been reported previously after either ethanol or drug administration. Conversely, the observed inhibition, by retinol, of microsomal drug metabolism, including the demethylation of dimethylnitrosamine, may be of significance with regards to the interaction of retinol with carcinogenesis.
The utilitarian fallacy

The utilitarian fallacy, most egregiously committed by J. S. Mill but perpetuated ever since, consists of supposing that “pleasure”, being a noun, is, in every true statement in which it occurs, the name of afeeling, and that “pleasant”, in any such statement, means that whatever is so described is conducive to that feeling. In fact, “pleasant” is more commonly used as a positive term of appraisal, indicating that the thing so described is liked, and usually liked for its own sake, and “pleasure” typically has a similar use. These terms thus resemble words like “awful”, “wonderful” and so on, which typically donot mean evocative of awe, wonder and so on. What follows from this is that the feeling of pleasure, while perhaps good for its own sake, is not uniquely so. Almost anything correctly described as pleasant is apt to be such. Similar observations apply to the term “happiness”. Therefore utilitarianism, according to which there is only one thing good as an end, or for its own sake - namely, pleasure or happiness - is false as a philosophical theory of ethics.
A collaborative foraging approach to web browsing enrichment

As the amount of Web content grows and diversifies, traditional organizational structures such as keyword search engines and static directories become less useful and comprehensive, requiring more user effort to find relevant information. Information foraging theory [4] and collaborative filtering [6] address this problem in different but compatible ways. This paper introduces an approach called collaborative foraging that applies the biological metaphors of information foraging to the cooperative filtering. The approach assumes that humans best pursue relevent Web content according to optimal foraging behavior, collaborating with communities of like-minded foragers. This paper gives preliminary results of a limited implementation.
Adapting arcade games for learning

Although memory exercises and arcade-style games are alike in their repetitive nature, memorization tasks like vocabulary drills tend to be mundane and tedious while arcade-style games are popular, intense and broadly addictive. This suggests an opportunity to modify well-known, existing arcade games for the purpose of memorization and learning. A key challenge to modifying any existing arcade-style game is the incorporation of learning on top of an already fast-paced, mentally demanding game. This paper presents a web-based vocabulary-drill game, based on Tetris and augmented with speech recognition (Figure 1). To help adult learners acquire new vocabulary, we embed an in-game mechanism that presents vocabulary items to be learned via word-picture associations. Using our working speech recognition prototype, we investigate the extent to which retrieval practice, an educationally effective but cognitively demanding strategy, impacts learning and engagement in this fast-paced game environment.
Acid to base phosphorylation and membrane integrity in plastids of greening maize

Abstract Fully or partially green chloroplast fragments from maize are capable of synthesizing ATP upon transfer from an acidic to an alkaline environment. It has not been possible to demonstrate this activity in membranes of maize etioplasts. Evidence is presented which shows the development of the capacity to perform acid to base phosphorylation can occur without parallel chlorophyll formation. Acid to base phosphorylation capacity can develop in darkness after brief illumination. The acid to base capacity seems to have at least two prerequisites: (a) the presence of osmotically responsive internal spaces; and (b) a lamellar component which can be removed by treatment with EDTA. Etioplast fragments possess the EDTA-removable component, but they cannot respond osmotically to changes in the sucrose concentration of their environment. It is suggested that the etioplast's failure to catalyze acid to base phosphorylation is at least in part related to its lack of capacity to exhibit osmotic responsiveness.
Concerning the mass of the photon

Abstract Even in gauge theories, the photon may be given a mass without disrupting the usual phenomenology.
Participating in civil society: the case of networked communities

A community computer network facilitates civic participation by providing pervasive local resources online and by connecting people to local communication and discussion channels, public and non-profit organization leaders and members, and many other civic resources. We present findings from longitudinal data (two rounds between 2001 and 2002) of a stratified random survey of 100 households in a mature community network, the Blacksburg Electronic Village (BEV). We offer exploratory and confirmatory analyses, including a 'civic effects' model, that show demographic characteristics (education, age) and psychological factors (extroversion) explain staying informed, collective efficacy, group membership, activism, and using the Internet for civic and political purposes. The model further explains differences in respondents' involvement in local issues once they go online. Informed activists with multiple group memberships become more involved in local issues once going online, whereas informed non-activists become less involved once online. Our study suggests that in order to play a constructive role in creating a more civil society, community networks should explicitly pursue strategies that encourage community activism. One way to do this, given the strong role of association membership in activism, is for ISPs to offer bundled standard Internet applications at low cost to non-profit community groups (e.g. email for leadership, online discussion for members, web space). Community networks should also promote and support the use by local groups of innovative tools for non-experts, such as easy collaborative web-based tools for information production and collaboration.
Changes in prealbumin, nutrient intake, and systemic inflammation in elderly recuperative care patients.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between prealbumin, nutrient intake, and indicators of inflammation for recuperative and rehabilitative care patients. DESIGN: Prospective cohort. SETTING: Recuperative Care Unit within a Veterans Administration Nursing Home Care Unit. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred eleven men (100 white; mean age 80, range 64–93). MEASUREMENTS: Prealbumin and seven markers of inflammation (C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and their soluble receptors) were measured at admission and discharge (median length of stay 23 days, interquartile range 15–40 days). Detailed calorie counts were performed daily, and intake was expressed as a percentage of estimated requirements for protein (1.5 g/kg body weight per day) and energy (Harris-Benedict equation). The study objective was examined using least-squares regression analysis. RESULTS: Discharge prealbumin and the change in prealbumin were positively correlated with protein and energy intake and inversely correlated with markers of inflammation, particularly CRP and IL-6. When all covariates were included in a multivariable regression analysis, the markers of inflammation predominantly accounted for the variance in prealbumin change (56%), whereas discharge protein intake accounted for 6%. CONCLUSION: For older recuperative care patients, prealbumin and its change during hospitalization are positively associated with protein intake, but inflammation or changes in inflammation appear to exert a much more-powerful influence on prealbumin concentration. Given the potential confounding effects of inflammation, monitoring the change in prealbumin is not an adequate substitute for a more-detailed nutritional assessment in this population.
Effect of cooling rate on interfacial fatigue-crack growth in Sn-Pb solder joints

The effect of the cooling rate after the reflow on the behavior of fatigue crack growth along Cu/Sn-Pb interfaces was examined in solder joints. Flexural peel specimens made from eutectic Sn-Pb solder alloy and Cu were cooled down from reflowing to room temperature using furnace cooling, air cooling, and water quenching. Kinetics of fatigue crack growth along the solder/Cu interface were measured from the flexural peel specimens as a function of strain energy release rate. The effect of cooling rate was found to depend on the level of strain energy release rate. Increasing the cooling rate from furnace cooling to water-quenching enhanced the fatigue crack growth resistance by up to more than 50% at low strain energy release rates, but reduced the fatigue crack growth resistance by up to 100% at high strain energy release rates. The enhanced fatigue crack growth resistance at the low strain energy release rates is shown to result from roughening of the interface with increasing cooling rate, while the reduction in the fatigue crack growth resistance at very high strain energy release rates followed the change in crack growth mechanisms from cohesive to interfacial.
Novel techniques for millimeter-wave packages

A new millimeter-wave package architecture with supporting electrical, mechanical and material science experiment and analysis is presented. This package is well suited for discrete devices, monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC's) and multichip module (MCM) applications. It has low-loss wideband RF transitions which are necessary to overcome manufacturing tolerances leading to lower per unit cost. Potential applications of this new packaging architecture which go beyond the standard requirements of device protection include integration of antennas, compatibility to photonic networks and direct transitions to waveguide systems. Techniques for electromagnetic analysis, thermal control and hermetic sealing were explored. Three dimensional electromagnetic analysis was performed using a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) algorithm and experimentally verified for millimeter-wave package input and output transitions. New multi-material system concepts (AlN, Cu, and diamond thin films) which allow excellent surface finishes to be achieved with enhanced thermal management have been investigated. A new approach utilizing block copolymer coatings was employed to hermetically seal packages which met MIL STD-883. >
Adaptive arrays for communication systems: An overview of research at the Ohio State University

Adaptive array research at The Ohio State University is presented in a summary form. The main objective of the research was to assess the capabilities of adaptive arrays for communication systems in real environments. Consequently the theoretical work was often corroborated by experimental implementation and testing of proposed techniques. Specifically, three systems in which adaptive arrays were successfully incorporated are described, a single channel spread spectrum communication system, a TDMA satellite communication system, and a remote sensor communication system. Numerous other adaptive array studies are briefly summarized.
High stakes: designing a privacy preserving registry

This paper details our experience designing a privacy preserving medical marijuana registry. In this paper, we make four key contributions. First, through direct and indirect interaction with multiple stakeholders like the ACLU of Washington, law enforcement, the Cannabis Defense Coalition, state legislators, lawyers, and many others, we describe a number of intersting technical and socially-imposed challenges for building medical registries. Second, we identify a new class of registries called unidirectional, non-identifying (UDNI) registries. Third, we use the UDNI concept to propose holistic design for a medical marijuana registry that leverages elements of a central database, but physically distributes proof-of-enrollment capability to persons enrolled in the registry. This design meets all of our goals and stands up in the face of a tough threat model. Finally, we detail our experience in transforming a technical design into an actual legislative bill.
A Naive Technique Correcting Time-Series Data for Recognition Applications

Wireless sensor data collected under real world conditionscan contain a variety of errors and inconsistenciesthat can affect pattern recognition algorithms. We describea naive method for correcting wireless sensor data collectedvia non–real–time platforms and visualize the results usingwireless accelerometer data.
The (not so) unbearable fuzziness of natural language: The ontological semantic way of computing with words

Extending the idea of computing with words in place of numbers to computing with words in a free, unstructured text, the paper presents the ontological semantics theory, methodology and technology for accessing, formally representing, and computing natural language to achieve a near-human understanding of it. It also demonstrates how ontological semantics handles various types of uncertainty, fuzziness, and vagueness that are built into natural language and are mostly happily ignored by the native speakers. The paper appears to be the first attempt ever to directly relate fuzzy sets/logic to the fullscale meaning-based approach to natural language and it computational processing.
Redistribution of implanted species in polycrystalline silicon films on silicon substrate

Redistributions of implanted species after thermal annealing in polycrystalline silicon (poly-silicon) were studied by secondary ion mass spectrometry. Ten different elements were implanted into poly-silicon films grown on Si substrates. The implanted energies were chosen such that the expected ion range is within the poly-silicon film. Thermal anneals were carried out at temperatures between 300°C and 1000°C in flowing high purity Ar gas. Three different diffusion behaviors have been observed for these elements. For Be, Na, Ga, and Cr, most of the implanted ions diffused out to the surface of the poly-silicon film after anneal at 1000°C. For K, Ca, Ti, and Ge, the impurity ions diffused deeper into the bulk after anneal at 1000°C. For Cl and Mn ions, the concentration distributions became narrower when annealed at high temperatures.
International Organization and Attitude Change: A Re–examination of the Functionalist Approach

This study examines the functionalist approach to international relations, focusing on the proposed relationship between experience in international organizations and attitude change of the participants. The functionalist thesis on attitude change is amplified by reference to social–psychological work on the subject. In terms of functionalist theory, attitude change is essentially seen to be the product of socialization into the international organization. Empirical studies of the attitudes of participants to various international organizations are then evaluated for the extent to which they support the functionalist hypothesis. The evidence indicates that while socialization processes produce some attitude change toward the adoption of an “internationalist outlook,” the likelihood and nature of attitude change is also significantly affected by conflict processes within the organization. The functionalist approach is found to be inadequate in dealing with conflict in the organization as well as in need of greater elaboration with respect to socialization. Revisions are suggested which take into account variations in the sociological structure of international organizationsin addition to processes of socialization and organizational conflict as factors affecting attitude change.
Input/output linearization: A nonlinear analog of placing poles at process zeros

This paper deals with SlSO nonlinear processes and their control with nonlinear static state feedback. The Byrnes-lsidori concept of nonlinear zeros is first reviewed and illustrated with two chemical engineering examples. This concept is then used to interpret input/output linearizing state feedback as a nonlinear analog of placing poles at the process zeros. This interpretation leads to closed-loop internal stability conditions for nonlinear processes under input /output linearizing state feedback.
Newton-Krylov Methods for Low-Mach-Number Compressible Combustion

Fully coupled numerical techniques are used to compute steady-state solutions to a combusting, low-Mach-number compressible flow through a channel. The nonlinear governing equations are discretized on a staggered mesh via integration over discrete finite volumes. The resulting nonlinear algebraic equations are linearized with Newton's method and solved with a preconditioned Krylov algorithm. The selected Krylov solver is the generalized minimum residual algorithm. A matrix-free Newton-Krylov method and a modified Newton-Krylov method are employed as a means of reducing the required number of expensive Jacobian evaluations. The matrix-free implementation is shown to be superior to the modified Newton-Krylov method when starting from a poor initial guess. The technique of mesh sequencing is shown to provide significant CPU savings for fine grid calculations. Additionally, the domain-based multiplicative Schwarz preconditioning strategy was found to be more effective than incomplete lower-upper factorization type preconditioning at lower Mach numbers.
Cooling Rates of Green Cheddar Cheese under Normal Conditions and under Immersion in Brine

Abstract Cooling rate of warm, freshly pressed Cheddar cheese curd from 32 to 8 C when placed in a curing room (held at 7.2 C) or immersed in a brine tank (held between 4.4 and 72 C) was determined by an automatic recording system. Measurements were made on 4- and 20-hr pressed 18.2- and 9.1-kg blocks. For the 18.2-kg blocks, cooling rates were followed on a single isolated block on the curing-room shelf and when blocks were stacked two or more high and packed closely together. A single 4-hr pressed 18.2-kg cheese block placed on the curing-room shelf required 65 hr to cool to 8 C; when pressed for 20 hr, the cooling time increased to 150 hr. Blocks pressed for 4 hr and immersed in brine cooled down to 8 C in 25 hr; 20-hr pressed cheese cooled by brine needed 45 hr to reach 8 C. Similar-sized blocks stacked together two or more high in the curing-room required a minimum of 165 hr to cool to 8 C for both 4- and 20-hr pressing. In contrast, 9.1-kg cheeses required only 120 hr in the curing-room and 20 hr in the brine tank to attain 8 C. In all trials, rapid decline in temperature occurred during the first 60 hr and beyond that the temperature decreased very gradually. The results indicate that cooling rates of cheese blocks are influenced by their size, method of stacking, and the air circulation around them.
DSL implementation using staging and monads

The impact of Domain Specific Languages (DSLs) on software design is considerable. They allow programs to be more concise than equivalent programs written in a high-level programming languages. They relieve programmers from making decisions about data-structure and algorithm design, and thus allows solutions to be constructed quickly. Because DSL's are at a higher level of abstraction they are easier to maintain and reason about than equivalent programs written in a high-level language, and perhaps most importantly they can be written by domain experts rather than programmers.The problem is that DSL implementation is costly and prone to errors, and that high level approaches to DSL implementation often produce inefficient systems. By using two new programming language mechanisms, program staging and monadic abstraction, we can lower the cost of DSL implementations by allowing reuse at many levels. These mechanisms provide the expressive power that allows the construction of many compiler components as reusable libraries, provide a direct link between the semantics and the low-level implementation, and provide the structure necessary to reason about the implementation.
The combined effect of ratee's bodyweight and past performance information on performance judgments

Few studies have examined how various biases operate in combination to influence performance judgments. Along these lines, the current study used experimental methods to test four competing models of the combined influence of ratee's bodyweight and past performance information on performance judgments. Results were consistent with an additive model, such that ratee's bodyweight and information about ratee's past performance combined independently to affect performance judgments. Consistent with a double disadvantage effect, the least favorable performance judgments were made for an overweight ratee with poor previous performance. Finally, mixed evidence was obtained for the interaction of ratee's bodyweight and perceptions of ratee's physical attractiveness, such that high-perceived attractiveness buffered against the otherwise negative performance ratings associated with overweight status.
Re-evaluation of the Diceroprocta delicata (Homoptera: Cicadidae) Species Complex

The Diceroprocta delicata species complex is currently composed of D. delicata (Osborn, 1906) and D. delicata variety aurantiaca Davis, 1938. We described the species distribution, made morphological measurements of nine structural characters, analyzed the calling songs, and determined the thermal responses for each species. Our collections and analyses show that there are significant differences in the biogeography, morphology, and acoustics, which suggest a reorganization of the complex. We suggest that there are in fact two separate species and that the current variety be elevated to species rank with the name Diceroprocta aurantiaca Davis, 1938.
Strain Gage and Thermocouple Measurements of Hyper Compressor Packing Cups to Study Pressure Sealing Performance

Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) production involves reactors operating at up to 3,000 bar pressure or even higher. The final stage of gas compression is done with a plunger-type machine called a “Hyper Compressor”. A “packing stack” for pressure sealing consists of multiple bronze packing rings and oil lubrication injection points; which are positioned in place by numerous packing cups. The distribution of pressure drop in a new cylinder and the changes in sealing behavior over its life are critical to design, but have long been prohibitively difficult to verify experimentally.Four cylinders were extensively instrumented; two in each of two successive test campaigns over four years’ time. Strain gages were located at the outside diameter of each packing cup to infer internal dynamic pressure across the packing stack. Included also in the high-speed data acquisition were strain gages on numerous additional components, thermocouples on packing cup faces, a pressure transducer in the low-pressure lubrication line, and existing eddy-current proximity probes on the plunger rods. Continuous monitoring was performed from the initial installation to final removal of each cylinder. Analysis of this high speed data along with long-term trends led to several conclusions regarding the design and operation of the Hyper cylinder. Testing also revealed various unusual events that can be further studied to better understand some of the unique behaviors that take place in the highly complex cylinder design of Hyper compressors.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
End in Sight for Housing Troubles

A historical relationship between home prices and family income is examined based on more than 40 years of data. A new home affordability ratio based on the average home price, family income and mortgage rates is analyzed in the historical context. This indicator is used to gauge the current state of the residential housing market in the United States. Historical data points to an imminent but slow recovery in the housing market over the next few years.
Broadband Dielectric Relaxation of Polymer Composite Films

The broadband dielectric relaxation of a BaTiO3-polymer composite film was studied. The complex dielectric constant data from 10-4 Hz to 1010 Hz reveals the existence of relaxation process at frequency of 10 MHz in the polymer composite. On the basis of Cole-Cole analysis, the relaxation time of the system is of order of 10-8 s. The understanding of the broad dispersion in dielectric behavior of polymer composite materials is needed to support next generation electronic devices used in wireless communication and related applications.