cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some majorant robustness results for discrete-time systems

Abstract This paper uses majorant bounding techniques to develop robust performance bounds and stability conditions for linear discrete-time systems expressed in a basis in which the state matrix is block-diagonal. Performance is measured in terms of the time-dependent behavior of the system outputs. This performance criterion is not considered explicitly by other robustness results. Two sets of robustness results are developed. The second set is able to capture the intuitive effect that increasing the distance between the subsystems increases the magnitude of nondestabilizing uncertain coupling allowed between the subsystems. In addition, the developments demonstrate that alternative representations of a given uncertain system can lead to significantly different robustness bounds.
Factors Associated with Volunteer Behavior Among Community Dwelling Older Persons

Abstract Relatively little is known about the potential value of volunteerism for late-life fulfillment for community living aged. Utilizing a multidimensional four-factor conceptual model anchored in prior research and sociological role theory, this paper explores the factors associated with volunteer behavior for a sample of 356 older persons who participated in a face-to-face interview. Results provided by logistic regression analysis suggest that individuals who have volunteered in the past, those who perceive opportunity to exist for volunteer activities, those with higher income and those who perceive volunteerism to be important are more likely to engage in volunteer activities. The results indicate that a multidimensional approach to understanding predictors of volunteerism is effective. Further, more emphasis should be placed on factors other than personality traits, such as altruism, for recruiting older volunteers.
Rheological and yield stress measurements of non-Newtonian fluids using a Marsh Funnel

Abstract Accurate and simple techniques for measurement of fluid rheological properties are important for field operations in the oil industry, but existing methods are relatively expensive and the results can be subjective. This is particularly true for measurements of fluid yield stress, which are notoriously difficult to obtain. Marsh Funnels are popular quality-control tools used in the field for drilling fluids and they offer a simple, practical alternative to viscosity measurement. In the normal measurements, a single point (drainage time) is used to determine an average viscosity; little additional information is extracted regarding the non-Newtonian behavior of the fluid. Here, a new model is developed and used to determine the rheological properties of drilling muds and other non-Newtonian fluids using data of fluid volume collected from a Marsh Funnel as a function of time. The funnel results for viscosity and shear-thinning index compare favorably to the values obtained from a commonly-used Fann 35 viscometer. More importantly, an objective, static method for determining yield stress is introduced, which has several advantages over dynamic, extrapolation techniques used for rheometer data.
Synthesis, characterization and photophysical properties of polyfunctional phenylsilsesquioxanes: [o-RPhSiO1.5]8, [2,5-R2PhSiO1.5]8, and [R3PhSiO1.5]8. compounds with the highest number of functional units/unit volume

The availability of pure samples of o-Br8OPS, 2,5-Br16OPS, and Br24OPS provides a rare opportunity to synthesize sets of corresponding stilbene derivatives: o-RStyr8OPS, RStyr16OPS, and RStyr24OPS where R = 4-methyl (Me), Boc-protected 4-amino (NBoc), or 4-acetoxy (Ace). These derivatives show unique UV-Vis absorption and photoluminescent behavior that points to interesting interactions between the organic tethers and the silsesquioxane cage. o-RStyr8OPS shows blue-shifts in the absorption spectra compared to p-MeStyr8OPS, suggesting that the stilbene groups sit over and interact with the face of the electrophilic silsesquioxane cage as is the case with the parent molecule, o-Br8OPS. The emission spectra of o-RStyr8OPS are similar to p-MeStyr8OPS indicating similar excited states involving the core LUMO. RStyr16OPS exhibits absorption and emission spectra as well as ΦPL similar to 1,4-distyrylbenzene, pointing to disruption in conjugation with the silsesquioxane cage because of steric interactions. RStyr24OPS offers absorption maxima that are blue-shifted and emission maxima that are red-shifted relative to RStyr16OPS. We speculate that RStyr24OPS is so sterically hindered that interactions with the cage face must occur. NBocStyr24OPS and AceStyr24OPS show moderate ΦPL and high two photon cross-section values, leading us to conclude that there are two excited states of nearly equivalent energy in these molecules with similar decay rates: a normal radiative π–π* transition and charge transfer involving the silsesquioxane cage. These same functional groups can be anticipated to offer much greater two photon absorption if different methods can be found for protecting the free amine from oxidation or replacing the acetoxy group (e.g. perhaps using alkyl or aryl groups).
Endoscopic management of sinus disease with frontal lobe displacement.

BackgroundAdvanced inflammatory disease of the paranasal sinuses may result in erosion of the skull base with frontal lobe impingement. We present a series illustrating minimally invasive managemen...
Karol Estreicher (1827–1908) and his Bibliografia polska: Negotiating a National Bibliography in Nineteenth-Century Poland

Karol Estreicher (1827–1908) compiled Bibliografia polska [Polish bibliography], an extraordinary retrospective national bibliography of the body of written works of Poland. Chronologically covering the entire history of printing in Poland up to 1900, it consisted of three distinct parts: the nineteenth century; a universal chronological bibliography of Polish publications; and pre-nineteenth century, conventionally called Bibliografia staropolska [Bibliography of old Poland]. So far a total of 56 volumes of Bibliografia polska have been published. That total includes the 35 volumes that constitute parts 1, 2, and 3; the four volumes that, covering 1891–1900, were published outside the framework of the three parts; and the seventeen volumes that constitute the second edition of part 1, the nineteenth-century bibliography. It was an exhaustive but also complicated bibliographic opus. A prolific writer and literary scholar himself, Estreicher devoted—with remarkable endurance and resilience—50 years of his ...
Direct Reference, Empty Names and Implicature

Angle Grinder Man removes wheel locks from cars in London. He is something of a folk hero, saving drivers from enormous parking and towing fi nes, and has succeeded thus far in eluding the authorities. In spite of his cape and lame tights, he is no fi ction; he’s a real person. By contrast, Pegasus, Zeus and the like are fi ctions. None of them is real. In fact, not only is each of them different from the others, all differ from Angle Grinder Man. After all, Zeus throws thunderbolts but doesn’t remove boots from cars; unlike Superman, Angle Grinder Man couldn’t leap over a parked Mini, and all sightings suggest that he is a human being, not a horse. According to the charmingly austere theory of Direct Reference, a proper name’s meaning is simply its referent. Two proper names with
A 'type one' servo explicit model following adaptive scheme.

This paper describes 'type 1' servo techniques applied to explicit model following systems. The advantages of using these are: (1) steady-state decoupling is provided for the controlled state variables as determined by a reference input (the pilot command for example), (2) overall stability of the decoupled adaptive scheme is guaranteed, (3) a zero steady-state error for those state variables incorporating integral feedback, to a constant input reference, and (4) improved transient performance. Example calculations have been performed using a mathematical model for a typical fighter aircraft and a desired performance reference model based on satisfactory aircraft flying qualities. Numerical results are given.
Moderate volatility analyte transport behavior with membrane desolvation reversed-phase liquid chromatography-helium microwave-induced plasma atomic emission spectroscopy

Abstract The transport behavior of moderately volatile analyte in a membrane desolvation system is examined. With the goal of atomic emission determination of liquid chromatographic analytes, a tubular polytetrafluoroethylene membrane desolvator interface was used to enhance the performance of a 120 W helium microwave-induced plasma atomic emission detector. To monitor organo-chlorine compounds, Cl emission was observed at 479.5 nm. Membrane desolvator conditions such as temperature, solvent composition and counter current gas flow were optimized. Converse to required conditions for non-volatile inorganic compounds, semi-volatile organic compound transport was maximized at lower membrane desolvator temperatures. Analyte transport was enhanced by modifying the solvent with dilute H2SO4. Low vapor pressure H2SO4 minimized analyte diffusion across the membrane and helped linearize the calibration plot. The detection limit of 2,6-dichlorobenzamide in pure methanol using ultrasonic nebulization and membrane desolvation with microwave-induced plasma detection was 2 ppm. Chromatographic separation and detection was demonstrated with 2,6-dichlorobenzamide and 4-chlorobenzamide.
Magnetoquantum oscillations and confinement effects in arrays of 270-nm-diameter bismuth nanowires

We present a study of the electrical transport properties of 270-nm-diameter bismuth nanowire arrays embedded in an alumina matrix which are capped with layers of bulk Bi to produce a very low contact resistance. The resistance of the Bi nanowires has been measured over a wide range of temperatures (1.8--300 K) and magnetic fields (-8--8 T) for the longitudinal and transverse orientation. At low magnetic fields, the longitudinal magnetoresistance exhibits field-periodic modulations whose periods are consistent with theoretical predictions for the Aharonov-Bohm ``whispering gallery'' modes of electrons with long mean free path. At high magnetic fields, as the carrier cyclotron radius becomes smaller than the wire diameter, we observe Shubnikov--de Haas oscillations associated with both holes and electrons. These represent a detailed study of magnetoquantum oscillations in high-density nanowire arrays. Overall, the hole periods are increased by 5% and the carrier density is decreased by 13% from the values for bulk Bi, which is consistent with recent theoretical estimates of the effect of confinement on the carrier's Fermi surface.
Further Evidence that Carbohydrates are the Immunodeterminant Structures of Blood Group M and N Specificities

Terminal beta-D-galactopyranosyl (Gal) groups are implied in blood group N but not M specificity by the following findings: (a) Rabbit anti-asialoganglioside sera specific for terminal beta-Gal-(1 leads to 3)-GalNac agglutinate human group 0 M and N erythrocytes, the latter to a significantly higher titer, while rabbit anti-ganglioside GMl sera, whereas sialic acid modifies the antibody specificity, do not. The agglutination score with N erythrocytes was about twice that with M red blood cells. The asialoganglioside antibodies were readily absorbed by group 0 N erythrocytes, which were up to 10 times more efficient than group 0 M erythrocytes. Erythrocyte agglutination by the anti-asialoganglioside sera was inhibited by M and N antigen preparations isolated from group 0 red cells ghosts. N antigen was a better inhibitor. Asialoganglioside effectively inhibited the red cell agglutinations by anti-asialoganglioside serum. Ganglioside GMl did not inhibit. (b) Horse anti-pneumococcus Type XIV serum, which has anti-beta-Gal specificity, precipitated highly active N but not M substances. This precipitation was specifically inhibitable by oligosaccharides with terminal beta-Gal. (c) Beta galactosidase specifically inactivated native N and "acid-produced' N substances with the release of about three moles Gal per subunit of N antigen. It did not affect M antigen.
Extended‐chain crystals. I. General crystallization conditions and review of pressure crystallization of polyethylene

This is the first paper of a series of reports concerning extended-chain crystals of flexible, linear high polymers. The general conditions for crystal growth are discussed. Polymer crystallization is described as a two-step process: nucleation of each crystallizing molecule to a folded-chain conformation, followed by an increase in fold length in a solid-state reorganization step. This reorganization step is enhanced in the case of polyethylene by crystallization at high temperature under elevated pressure. Mechanical deformation during crystallization is also able to produce extended-chain crystals. The most promising method, however, is crystallization during polymerization. Previous work on crystallization of polyethylene under elevated pressure is critically reviewed.
Adsorption systems at temperatures below the freezing point of the adsorptive

Abstract Isothermal adsorption studies and the measurement of dimensional changes below the bulk freezing point of the adsorbate indicate that substances adsorbed in porous solids are unable to freeze in situ. The difference between the vapour pressure or free energy of the unfrozen adsorbate and that of the bulk adsorptive outside of the porous system is resolved by a desorption process; the desorbed matter freezes outside of the system while the vapour pressure of the adsorbate remaining in the pores decreases through meniscus formation. Mechanical breakdown of the system occurs only then, when this process cannot be completed and an equilibrium state is not attained. This mechanism was found to be valid for porous silica glass, hydrated cement paste, bricks, and even for biological substances such as animal and plant tissue, and foodstuff. This understanding has led to the development of new methods for testing the durability of building materials, clarification of some problems of the BET surface area determination method and it suggests an explanation for the action of cryoprotective agents.
Race, Space, and Violence: Exploring Spatial Dependence in Structural Covariates of White and Black Violent Crime in US Counties

To join the literature on spatial analysis with research testing the racial invariance hypothesis by examining the extent to which claims of racial invariance are sensitive to the spatial dynamics of community structure and crime. Using 1999–2001 county-level arrest data, we employ seemingly unrelated regression models, spatial lag models, and geographically weighted regression analyses to (1) compare the extent of racial similarity/difference across these different modeling procedures, (2) evaluate the impact of spatial dependence on violent crime across racial groups, and (3) explore spatial heterogeneity in associations between macro-structural characteristics and violent crime. Results indicate that spatial processes matter, that they are more strongly associated with white than black violent crime, and that accounting for space does not significantly attenuate race-group differences in the relationship between structural characteristics (e.g., structural disadvantage) and violent crime. Additionally, we find evidence of significant variation across space in the relationships between county characteristics and white and black violent crime, suggesting that conclusions of racial invariance/variation are sensitive to where one is looking. These results are robust to different specifications of the dependent variable as well as different units of analysis. Our study suggests the racial invariance debate is not yet settled. More importantly, our study has revealed an additional level of complexity—race specific patterns of spatially heterogeneous effects—that future research on social structure and racial differences in violence should incorporate both empirically and theoretically.
The treatment of meningitis due to Hemophilus influenzae (Pfeiffer's bacillus)

Summary Meningitis due to H. influenzae is relatively common in children. Excluding tuberculous meningitis, it is the commonest cause of meningitis in children under 2 years of age. The average age in this series of 108 patients was 2.14 years. The treatment of this type of meningitis with specific serum and human complement intrathecally, intravenous serum, with adequate supportive treatment consisting of transfusions, fluids, and vitamins, has reduced the mortality percentage from 97 to 83. By adding sulfanilamide and sulfapyridine to the above, the mortality for thirteen cases has been further reduced to 54 per cent.
Influence of physician attitudes on willingness to perform abortion.

Abstract Objective: To survey attitudes about abortion in a sample of physicians practicing in the Bronx, New York, identify factors associated with those attitudes, and investigate how attitudes about abortion influence willingness to do it. Methods: A questionnaire mailed to obstetricians and gynecologists affiliated with a medical school in the Bronx elicited information on attitudes about abortion and the willingness to do it. Attitude scores were measured on a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5, with 5 indicating a proponent attitude about abortion. The practice score ranged from 0 to 2, with 2 indicating proponent attitude about practicing abortion. Results: The median attitude score was 3.8. Physicians were receptive to reasons for abortion that were medically indicated. A proponent attitude was found in non-Catholics and those who were trained in residency programs that required observing abortions. The median practice score was 1.2. The most important personal factors influencing a physician’s decision not to perform abortions included lack of proper training and ethical and religious beliefs. There was a significant positive correlation between the attitude score and practice score ( r = .42, P Conclusion: Personal beliefs and past experience with abortion are associated with attitudes about abortion that, besides competence doing them, influence physicians’ willingness to do them. Offering training in abortion might benefit physicians who are proponents and willing to perform abortions.
Abstract A108: Predictors of hormone receptor status in ovarian cancer: results from the Nurses’ Health Study

Abstracts: Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research 2008 A108 Predictors of hormone receptor status in ovarian cancer: results from the Nurses’ Health Study Background Hormone receptor expression in tumors may offer etiologic information for ovarian cancer, particularly in light of known associations with hormonal and reproductive risk factors. Methods TMAs were constructed using triplicate core samples extracted from 157 paraffin-embedded blocks of confirmed epithelial ovarian tumors collected from participants in the Nurses’ Health Study and stained for estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα) and progesterone receptor (PR). We examined receptor expression by stage, grade and histologic subtype. Multivariate unconditional logistic regression was used to evaluate whether various hormonal, reproductive and anthropometric risk factors differed by ERα and PR expression among cases, and whether these exposures are differentially associated with the risk of developing receptor-positive or receptor-negative ovarian cancer compared to controls. Results PR expressing tumors were less likely to be invasive ( P = 0.05) and more likely to be of a lower grade ( P < 0.001) compared with PR- tumors. ERα status was not associated with any pathological features of the tumor ( P ≥ 0.76). In the case-control analysis, increasing age, being postmenopausal, and PMH use were associated with an increased risk of developing ERα+, but not ERα-, ( P for heterogeneity = 0.001, 0.06, and 0.06, respectively) and PR-, but not PR+, tumors ( P for heterogeneity = 0.08, 0.003, and 0.40, respectively), while height was only associated with the risk of developing PR- disease ( P for heterogeneity = 0.08). There were no clear differential associations of OC use, parity, adolescent or adult BMI, or physical activity with expression of either receptor. Results were similar in the case-case analysis. Conclusion Despite limited statistical power, our findings suggest that various risk factors are only associated with certain tumor subtypes based on hormone receptor expression, thus providing mechanistic evidence regarding these relationships in the etiology of ovarian cancer. Given our small sample size, confirmatory studies are required to further delineate these relationships. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2008;1(7 Suppl):A108.
Mechanical Properties of the Avena Coleoptile As Related to Auxin and to Ionic Interactions.

1. BRIAN, P. W. and HEMMING, H. G. The effect of gibberellic acid on shoot growth of pea seedlings. Physiol. Plantarum 8: 669-681. 1955. 2. LANG, A. Induction of flower formation in biennial Hyoseyamus by treatment with gibberellin. Naturwiss. 43: 284-285. 1956. 3. LOCKHART, J. A. Reversal of the light inhibition of pea stem growth by the gibberellins. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., U.S. 42: 841-848. 1956. 4. LONA, F. and BOCCHI, A. Interferenza dell'acido gibberellico nell'effecte della luce rossa e rossaestrema sull'allungamento del fusto di Perilla ocymoides L. L'ateneo Parmense 27: 645-649. 1956. 5. PATON, D. M. and BARBER, H. N. Physiological genetics of Pisumn. I. Grafting experiments between early and late varieties. Australian Jour. Biol. Sci. 8: 231-240. 1955. 6. PHINNEY, B. 0. Growth response of single-gene dwarf mutants in Maize to gibberellic acid. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., U.S. 42: 185-189. 1956. 7. THIMANN, K. V., ed. The Action of Hormones in Plants and Invertebrates. Pp. 1-288. Academic Press, Inc., New York 1952. 8. WENT, F. W. Transplantation experiments with peas. Amer. Jour. Bot. 25: 44-55. 1938. 9. WEST, C. A. and PHINNEY, B. 0. Properties of gibberellin-like factors from extracts of higher plants. Plant Physiol. 31 (Suppl.): xx. 1956.
Bottles as a minimal interface to access digital information

We present the design of a minimal interface to access digital information using glass bottles as "containers" and "controls". The project illustrates our attempt to explore the transparency of an interface that weaves itself into the fabric of everyday life, and exploits the emotional aspects of glass bottles that are both tangible and visual. This paper describes the design of the bottle interface, and the implementation of the musicBottles installation, in which the opening of each bottle releases the sound of a specific instrument.
Controlling the growth of a cyanobacterial contaminant, Synechoccus sp., in a culture of Tetraselmis chui (PLY429) by varying pH: Implications for outdoor aquaculture production

Abstract In aquaculture, large volumes of phytoplankton are often grown outdoors to reduce costs. However, growing microalgae in an environment not as well-controlled as in the laboratory can lead to unwanted phytoplankton, including cyanobacteria, contaminating a culture. A cyanobacterial contaminant was isolated from an outdoor culture of Tetraselmis chui (PLY429) at the Milford Laboratory. This study investigated the growth of PLY429 and the cyanobacterium in pure cultures and a mixed culture in a pH range of 6.5–9.5. The division of PLY429 was greater at a pH range of 7.0–8.0; whereas, for the cyanobacterium, higher growth was obtained at pH 8.0–9.0. Results from combined cultures of PLY429 and the cyanobacterium grown at various pHs indicated that maintaining pH near 7.1 yields higher growth of PLY429 than those of the cyanobacterium. These findings suggest that controlling pH may reduce the population of a cyanobacterial contaminant in an aquaculture feed culture.
Degree of visibility in experiments of induced coherence without induced emission : a heuristic approach

In experiments on induced coherence without induced emission performed under conditions of minor losses and good alignment, the measured visibility has been well below the predicted value of 1. The quantitative understanding of this visibility is crucial in the interpretation of this phenomenon that has no classical counterpart. An explanation for the reduced visibility is proposed here that involves the ratio of the coherence area of light emitted from a crystal 1 to the source area on a crystal 2, together with the fraction of spatially distinguishable light occurring immediately after a crystal 2.
TOP PREDATORS CONSTRAIN THE HABITAT SELECTION GAMES PLAYED BY INTERMEDIATE PREDATORS AND THEIR PREY

Effects of predators on prey habitat selection, and reciprocal effects of prey on predator habitat selection, have been analyzed using game theory. In the absence of predators, models predict that prey (e.g., herbivores) will aggregate strongly in habitats where their resources (e.g., plants) are abundant. However, game theoretic models predict that in the presence of predators, prey use of resource-rich habitats declines. Paradoxically, it is instead predators that are predicted to be mostly strongly aggregated in areas where the prey's resources (plants) are abundant, even though the predators themselves do not utilize these resources. This striking result has been dubbed the "leapfrog effect" by Sih (1998, 2004). Here I explore the possibility that predictions for predator and prey habitat selection are sensitive to the assumption that predators forage free from any predation risk of their own. I contrast the predictions of a 3-trophic level model with those of a 4-trophic level model, and show that in...
The risk of gastrointestinal perforation and/or fistula in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer receiving bevacizumab compared to standard chemotherapy: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract Objective To determine the rate of gastrointestinal perforation and/or fistula in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer treated with and without bevacizumab. Methods A retrospective chart review from January 2004 to August 2007 identified two cohorts of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer: 1) patients who were receiving bevacizumab either alone or in combination with standard chemotherapy; 2) patients who were receiving standard chemotherapy alone. Gastrointestinal toxicity (perforation and fistula) was assessed using NCI Common Toxicity Criteria. Relative risk and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Chi square test and student's t test were used for statistical analysis. Results Sixty-eight patients receiving bevacizumab for recurrent ovarian cancer were identified. 67% of these patients received chemotherapy in combination with bevacizumab. For comparison, 195 patients receiving standard chemotherapy alone for recurrent ovarian cancer were identified. A history of previous gastrointestinal resection (40% vs. 37%; p =0.79) and gastrointestinal obstruction (30% vs. 27%; p =0.74) was similar in both cohorts. Five patients (7.2%) developed a gastrointestinal perforation and/or fistula in the bevacizumab cohort compared to 13 patients (6.5%) in the chemotherapy alone cohort. The relative risk for developing a perforation and/or fistula is 1.09 (95% CI, 0.40 to 2.96). Conclusions Although a substantial number of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer experience gastrointestinal obstruction, the rate of gastrointestinal perforation and/or fistula is relatively low. Treatment with bevacizumab does not significantly increase gastrointestinal toxicity compared to standard salvage chemotherapy.
Hafnia alvei: Respiratory Tract Isolates in a Community Hospital Over a Three-Year Period and a Literature Review

In a retrospective review, a group of seven patients were found to have a sputum culture positive for Hafnia alvei. Hafnia alvei is a Gram-negative enteric and oropharyngeal bacillus and usually is nonpathogenic. All our patients had a chronic underlying illness and one of the patients was endotracheally intubated at the time of the isolation of this organism. Six of seven patients had other organisms isolated along with H alvei, and only one patient had a pure growth of H alvei confirmed by a culture obtained from a bronchoscopic protected brush specimen. All isolates displayed resistance to conventional antibiotics including cephalosporins and penicillins. Although rare, H alvei may be a potential pathogen in a patient with a chronic underlying illness.
Stacking the nines: relativistic steps to the stars

A pedagogical illustration of special relativity is presented using an example of relativistic space travel. Travel times to several destinations in the cosmos are calculated given a spacecraft with specific force/mass ratio of one-g. Practical limitations are discussed, where new technologies may one day enable humans to travel to the nearest stars and beyond.
The decline in average annual hours worked in the United States, 1947–1979

Using data from government agencies, a survey of 200 “Fortune 500” type companies, and data derived by the IRU, the average number of hours worked annually 1947–1979 was examined and found to have declined significantly. Because the workweek has remained stable and does not reflect the dramatic rise in paid time off since 1947, the workyear is now a more valid standard of measurement. To compensate for lost production hours, many firms have taken steps to raise the productivity of hours worked, including increased overtime and shift work, the introduction of automation and other technological advances, and flexible manufacturing systems.
The termini of VSV DI particle RNAs are sufficient to signal RNA encapsidation, replication, and budding to generate infectious particles

Abstract Infectious defective interfering (DI) particles of the negative-stranded RNA virus vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) havebeen recovered from negative-sense transcripts of a plasmid that contains a full-length cDNA derived from the DI-T particle genome. In order to determine the cis-acting sequences necessary for RNA replication, encapsidation, and budding and to approximate the minimal size of RNA that can be packaged into infectious particles, we constructed a series of internal deletions in the DI cDNA to generate plasmids that could be transcribed to yield RNAs which ranged in size from 2209 nucleotides down to 102 nucleotides. All the deletion plasmids retained at least 36 nucleotides from the 5′-terminus and 51 nucleotides from the 3′-terminus of the DI genome. In cells expressing the five VSV proteins, the deleted DI RNAs were examined for their ability to be encapsidated, to replicate, and to bud to produce infectious DI particles. An RNA as small as 191 nucleotides, which contained 46 nucleotides from the 5′-end and 145 nucleotides from the 3′-end of the DI genome was encapsidated, replicated, and budded at least as efficiently as the full-length wild-type DI RNA. In contrast, a 102-nucleotide RNA that contained only the 51 nucleotides from the 5′-end of the DI RNA and its perfect 51-nucleotide complement at the 3′-end replicated poorly and failed to bud infectious DI particles. However, an RNA with an insertion of 1499-nucleotide “stuffer” sequences of non-VSV origin between the two 51-nucleotide complementary termini not only replicated but also budded infectious particles. These data show that the signals necessary for RNA encapsidation, replication, and packaging into infectious DI particles are contained within the 5′-terminal 36 nucleotides and the 3′-terminal 51 nucleotides of the DI RNA genome. Furthermore, the results show that a heterologous sequence can be replicated and packaged into infectious particles if it is flanked by the DI RNA termini.
Harmonic peaks of stripe phases in cuprates

We calculate the relative intensities of the main incommensurate and third harmonic peaks expected from elastic neutron scattering for various stripe phases observed in nickelates and some cuprate superconductors. We consider vertical and diagonal stripes and compare both site- and bond-centered configurations of the domain walls. Upon comparing the calculated ratio of the main incommensurate peaks to the next harmonic peaks in these configurations to the background and errors in neutron scattering experiments, we conclude that in most cases in the cuprates, the harmonic peaks expected from stripes are too weak to be detected.
The Influence of Attributions on the Relevance of Negative Feelings to Personal Satisfaction

This investigation examined the influence of emotional attributions on the relevance of current feelings to judgments of personal satisfaction. In the first three studies, subjects were led to make different attributions for their naturally occurring feelings and then asked to judge their personal satisfaction. Satisfaction was higher after situational and specific attributions than after general and self-referential attributions, but only in domains that were unrelated to the causes to which subjects attributed their feelings. Study 4 tested whether affective states such as emotions with clearly defined causes are less relevant to judgments of life satisfaction than more diffuse states such as moods. Satisfaction was elevated after a laboratory mood induction only when subjects were led to focus on their moods in ways characteristic of emotional states (by articulating specific causes and labels for their feelings). These studies illuminate the role of emotional attribution in judgments of personal satis...
Identification and Analysis of Bioactive Components of Fruit and Vegetable Products.

Many small-molecule antioxidants found in whole fruits and vegetables are analyzed and identified in this laboratory module for upper-division biochemistry courses. During this experiment, students develop their knowledge of the bioactivity of fruit and vegetable products while learning techniques to identify vitamins and nutritionally derived secondary metabolites. Students first develop skills by analyzing well-studied fruit and vegetable juice products prior to development of a multicomponent fruit and vegetable superjuice displaying maximal antioxidant capacity. Antioxidant capacity is measured using ascorbic acid standardized ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, and both aqueous and lipophilic small molecules are identified using reverse-phase, high-performance liquid chromatography. Final analyses include correlation of whole fruit and vegetable products with antioxidant capacity and vitamin content using basic statistical analysis, and identification and characterization of antioxidant c...
First Report of Gliocephalotrichum bulbilium Causing Cranberry Fruit Rot in New Jersey and Massachusetts.

Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) fruit were collected as part of a fruit rot survey conducted in September 2010 on farms in New Jersey and Massachusetts. There are more than 20 fungal species reported as causing fruit rot (2) and symptoms are generally not diagnostic. The rotted fruit were surface sterilized in a 10% bleach solution for 5 min, sliced in half, and plated on V8 agar (nonclarified). A novel, fast-growing fungus that produced sporulating orange-brown colonies emerged from 5% of the fruit collected on three of the farms included in the survey. The fungus was notable as the only species present in the rotted fruit, suggesting it may be pathogenic. The conidia were produced as gloeoid masses on phialidic conidiogenous cells arranged in a polyverticillate penicillus. The conidiogenous cells were subtended at variable distances by zero to four sterile appendages that formed on the lightly pigmented conidiophore. On the basis of these characteristics, the fungus was identified as a species of Glio...
Modeling defect spatial distribution

The center-satellite model for describing the distribution of defects on wafers is discussed. This model assigns each defect to a cluster. The distribution of cluster centers on a wafer is one basic component of the model. The other basic component is the distribution of defects (satellites) about the cluster centers. Physical justification for the model is provided. Current yield models are quite accurate for VLSI designs without redundancy. A more flexible model is needed to evaluate the redundancy techniques that will be an integral part of WSI. An example is provided to demonstrate the type of analysis necessary to analyze fault-tolerant designs using the model. Empirical research needed to obtain parameters for the model is commented on, as is the need to reevaluate prior empirical research in which assumptions were made that are relaxed by the center-satellite model. >
Multiple access interference resistant channel acquisition for wideband CDMA signals

The problem of acquiring the channel parameters of a new user on the reverse link is considered for a wideband CDMA signal received in a frequency selective fading environment with multi-access interference. Following a minimum mean squared error (MMSE) strategy for suppressing the multi-access interference, the parameter estimation problem is posed in a maximum-likelihood framework. To reduce complexity, the solution is implemented in two stages: first the estimated tap delays are restricted to be at chip spacings, and then the number of taps is reduced by allowing for arbitrary spacing between them. The performance of the proposed techniques is studied through numerical simulations.
Perioperative risk of major non-cardiac surgery in patients with severe aortic stenosis: a reappraisal in contemporary practice

Aims Severe aortic stenosis (SAS) is a major risk factor for death after non-cardiac surgery, but most supporting data are from studies over a decade old. We evaluated the risk of non-cardiac surgery in patients with SAS in contemporary practice. Methods and results SAS patients (valve area ≤1 cm2, mean gradient ≥40 mmHg or peak aortic velocity ≥4 m/s) undergoing intermediate or high-risk surgery were identified from surgical and echo databases of 2000–2010. Controls were matched for age, sex, and year of surgery. Post-operative (30 days) death and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including death, stroke, myocardial infarction, ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation, and new or worsening heart failure, and 1-year survival were determined. There were 256 SAS patients and 256 controls (age 76 ± 11, 54.3% men). There was no significant difference in 30-day mortality (5.9% vs. 3.1%, P = 0.13). Severe aortic stenosis patients had more MACE (18.8% vs. 10.5%, P = 0.01), mainly due to heart failure. Emergency surgery, atrial fibrillation, and serum creatinine levels of >2 mg/dL were predictors of post-operative death by multivariate analysis [area under the curve: 0.81, 95% confidence intervals: 0.71–0.91]; emergency surgery was the strongest predictor of 30-day mortality for both SAS and controls. Severe aortic stenosis was the strongest predictor of 1-year mortality. Conclusion Severe aortic stenosis is associated with increased risk of MACE. In contemporary practice, perioperative mortality of patients with SAS is lower than previously reported and the difference from controls did not reach statistical significance. Emergency surgery is the strongest predictor of post-operative death. These results have implications for perioperative risk assessment and management strategies in patients with SAS.
Special session - developing heuristics for curriculum reform

Curriculum reform is a complex process. It is commonplace to focus on the proposed content of curricular change, and certainly effective change requires a well-conceived core. Yet the factors leading to successful curricular reform extend far beyond the content and organizational structure of the new curriculum. In this special session, we will use a case-based approach to examine threats to the success of curricular reform and to develop heuristics that increase the probability of success.
Non-Uniform Object-Space Pixelation (NUOP) for Penalized Maximum-Likelihood Image Reconstruction for a Single Photon Emission Microscope System

This paper presents a non-uniform object-space pixelation (NUOP) approach for image reconstruction using the penalized maximum likelihood methods. This method was developed for use with a single photon emission microscope (SPEM) system that offers an ultrahigh spatial resolution for a targeted local region inside mouse brain. In this approach, the object-space is divided with non-uniform pixel sizes, which are chosen adaptively based on object-dependent criteria. These include (a) some known characteristics of a target-region, (b) the associated Fisher Information that measures the weighted correlation between the responses of the system to gamma ray emissions occurred at different spatial locations, and (c) the linear distance from a given location to the target-region. In order to quantify the impact of this non-uniform pixelation approach on image quality, we used the modified uniform Cramer-Rao bound (MUCRB) to evaluate the local resolution-variance and bias-variance tradeoffs achievable with different pixelation strategies. As demonstrated in this paper, an efficient object-space pixelation could improve the speed of computation by 1-2 orders of magnitude, whilst maintaining an excellent reconstruction for the target-region. This improvement is crucial for making the SPEM system a practical imaging tool for mouse brain studies. The proposed method also allows rapid computation of the first and second order statistics of reconstructed images using analytical approximations, which is the key for the evaluation of several analytical system performance indices for system design and optimization.
Experiments and Simulations of Directionally dependent Fracture along Copper/Sapphire Interfaces

To test the hypothesis that the brittleness and ductility of crystalline materials are controlled by a competition between dislocation nucleation and cleavage failure at a crack tip, Rice et al. [1] designed a four-point bend copper/sapphire bicrystal which has two cracks that propagate along the interface in opposing directions. They predicted, on the basis of the Rice-Thomson model [2], that the specimen would exhibit a directionally dependent fracture behavior; that is, one crack would propagate more readily than the other. Beltz and Wang [3] carried out the experiments and reported that the specimen exhibits a directionally dependent fracture behavior in accordance with the predictions. In the present work, these experiments are repeated independently and it is shown that the orientation of the experimentally observed directionally dependent behavior is opposite that of the predicted orientation. Furthermore, we show that Beltz and Wang incorrectly measured the orientation of the directional dependence in their experimental results. A correct interpretation of their results is consistent with the present work. Taking advantage of the transparent sapphire, the normal crack opening displacement (NCOD) profile of both cracks is measured with optical interferometry. The measurements show that, away from the very tip of the crack, the NCOD takes the form of a constant angle, irrespective of load level. The opening angle of the apparently brittle crack is smaller than that of the apparently ductile crack. Complementary measurements of the very tip of the crack with Atomic Force Microscopy show that the near-tip crack opening profiles of the brittle and ductile cracks differ significantly. The specimen is analyzed with the Finite Element Method, taking into account the elastic and plastic properties of the single crystal constituents. Since the very essence of the observed phenomenon is one of crack growth, the two cracks are simulated as they grow quasistatically along the interface. The asymptotic deformation fields, characteristic of single crystals, of the growing interfacial cracks are identified. The stress and strain fields, as well as the NCOD, are calculated. We present a plausible explanation of the directional dependence of fracture on the basis of the continuum plastic fields surrounding the quasistatically growing cracks.
Tuning of the Nickel Silicide Schottky Barrier Height on p-Type Silicon by Indium Implantation

In this letter, indium (In) implantation is introduced as a method to tune the Schottky barrier height of nickel silicide (NiSi) contacts formed on p-type silicon. Indium implantation is performed prior to NiSi formation and the implant conditions are chosen such that the implanted region is entirely consumed by the silicide. During silicide formation, some of the indium segregates at the NiSi-Si interface and can have a significant impact on the Schottky barrier height. It is shown that the barrier height decreases almost linearly with the In dose from 0.37 eV on p-type Si to 0.16 eV with an In dose of 1 times 1014 cm-2 on p-type Si.
Classification of strong current events based on Gulf of Mexico BOEM NTL dataset

Strong currents are a matter of great concern for the maritime industries in the Gulf of Mexico. Oil industry operators working in the gulf are required to measure ocean current profiles and transmit these data in near-real-time. The data are collected primarily using TRDI ADCPs mounted on the structures or nearby. The individual data ensembles are sent to NDBC where they are processed, quality checked, archived and made available to the public through the NDBC website. In 2011, Woods Hole Group Inc. (WHG) was contracted by DeepStar Technology Development for Deepwater Research to create a database of deep ocean currents for the Gulf of Mexico. One of the objectives of the project was to identify and make plots of strong current (“energetic”) events. WHG performed a thorough inspection of the data, including a review of the temporal and spatial continuity of the data, cross-check between neighboring stations and between current data and satellite altimetry charts. Based on this extensive dataset, a total of 560 strong current events were identified and classified according to the candidate mechanisms that cause these current intensifications.
Modulation of angiotensin II signaling following exercise training in heart failure

Sympathetic activation is a consistent finding in the chronic heart failure (CHF) state. Current therapy for CHF targets the renin-angiotensin II (ANG II) and adrenergic systems. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and ANG II receptor blockers are standard treatments along with β-adrenergic blockade. However, the mortality and morbidity of this disease is still extremely high, even with good medical management. Exercise training (ExT) is currently being used in many centers as an adjunctive therapy for CHF. Clinical studies have shown that ExT is a safe, effective, and inexpensive way to improve quality of life, work capacity, and longevity in patients with CHF. This review discusses the potential neural interactions between ANG II and sympatho-excitation in CHF and the modulation of this interaction by ExT. We briefly review the current understanding of the modulation of the angiotensin type 1 receptor in sympatho-excitatory areas of the brain and in the periphery (i.e., in the carotid body and skeletal muscle). We discuss possible cellular mechanisms by which ExT may impact the sympatho-excitatory process by reducing oxidative stress, increasing nitric oxide. and reducing ANG II. We also discuss the potential role of ACE2 and Ang 1–7 in the sympathetic response to ExT. Fruitful areas of further investigation are the role and mechanisms by which pre-sympathetic neuronal metabolic activity in response to individual bouts of exercise regulate redox mechanisms and discharge at rest in CHF and other sympatho-excitatory states.
HIV Risk-Reduction Strategies for Substance Abusers: Effecting Behavior Change

Substance abuse has a strong link to HIV/AIDS in the United States. Use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs often reduce inhibitions and encourage engagement in high-risk sexual behaviors that can ultimately result in HIV and AIDS. The HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States has disproportionately affected minorities with African Americans being the group hardest hit. This article presents some of the behavioral, social, and psychological factors that influence the risk for drug use. It highlights and assesses the effectiveness of HIV risk-reduction strategies developed for drug-using populations and makes recommendations for a more holistic and integrated approach utilizing multiple interventions at multiple levels.