cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimization of microwave-enhanced methanolysis of algal biomass to biodiesel under temperature controlled conditions.

Abstract The effect of a “controlled temperature” approach was investigated in the microwave-enhanced simultaneous extraction and transesterification of dry algae. Experimental runs were designed using a response surface methodology (RSM). The process parameters such as dry algae to methanol ratio, reaction time, and catalyst concentrations were optimized to evaluate their effects on the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) yield under the “controlled temperature” conditions. Thermal energy associated with the microwave transesterification process was calculated at various temperature levels using the optimized process parameters. Algal biomass characterization and algal biodiesel analysis were carried out using various analytical instruments such as FTIR, TEM, GC–MS and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis under both nitrogen and oxygen environments was performed to examine the thermal and oxidative stability of the algal fatty acid methyl esters.
Ionic Segregation on Grain Boundaries in Thermally Grown Alumina Scales

This study first examined segregation behaviour in the alumina scale formed after 100 h at 1100 C on bare and MCrAlYHfSi-coated single-crystal superalloys with {approx}10 ppma La and Y. For the bare superalloy, Hf and Ti were detected on the grain boundaries of the inner columnar alumina layer. Increasing the oxidation temperature to 1200 C for 2 h did not change the segregation behavior. With the bond coating, both Y and Hf were segregated to the grain boundaries as expected. However, there was evidence of Ti-rich oxide particles near the gas interface suggesting that Ti diffused from the superalloy through the coating. To further understand these segregation observations with multiple dopants, other alumina-forming systems were examined. Alumina scale grain boundary co-segregation of Ti with Y is common for FeCrAl alloys. Co-segregation of Hf and Ti was observed in the scale formed on co-doped NiAl. No La segregation was detected in the scale formed on NiCrAl with only a 19 ppma La addition, however, the scale was adherent.
Machine Functionalism: Brains as Computing Machines

Machine functionalism, or, the computational theory of mind, states that the inner workings of the brain are akin to the information processing of a computer. There are numerous faults with this view. Not only are computers inaccurate models for brain states, but also consciousness--as understood as generating appropriate (behavior) outputs to corresponding inputs--can’t be generated through mechanical means.
Children's perceptions of peer influence on eating concerns

This study explored how children's perceptions of peer influence were associated with their eating and body image concerns and how children's eating concerns and perceptions of peer influence differed by grade and gender. Children's perceptions of peer messages (e.g., being teased about one's weight), peer interactions (e.g., talking about food or dieting), and peer likability (i.e., the belief that being thin will increase how much peers like them) were measured with the Inventory of Peer Influence on Eating Concerns. This inventory, along with the Body Image and Eating Questionnaire, and 3 scales of the Eating Disorder Inventory for Children, were administered to third- and fifth-grade children (n = 264). Results indicated that likability was the major contributor in predicting eating and body concerns; messages and likability related significantly with the eating and body image concern measures; and girls reported more eating-related concerns than boys. Results are discussed in terms of the potential role that peers play in children's eating-related concerns.
Superluminescent diodes using quantum dots superlattice

Abstract We report a broadband superluminescence diode using InGaAs/GaAs self-assembled quantum dots structure grown by atomic layer molecular beam epitaxy. This two-section SLD consists of weakly guided-rib-waveguide gain section (4 μm wide) butt-connected to a broad-area photon absorber (50 μm wide) to minimize optical feedback and to suppress lasing action. The fabricated device produces a low ripple spectrum (
Neurobehavioral assessment of infants born at term and in utero exposure to serotonin reuptake inhibitors

Background Some studies report neurobehavioral symptoms in neonates exposed to serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) in utero. However, maternal psychiatric illness during the last trimester of pregnancy, as a confounding factor, has not always been assessed.
Fine structure of the eyes of the interstitial gastropod Fartulum orcutti ( Gastropoda, Prosobranchia)

The structure of the ocelli of the interstitial gastropod Fartulum orcutti was studied using light and electron microscopy. Each eye is composed of pigmented, rhabdomeric, and ciliated cells. The pigmented cells contain many electron-dense granules and form a cup that shades the sensory cells from all light except that entering from a dorsal-anterior direction. The rhabdomeric cells are similar to the photosensory cells described for other gastropods. They contain photic vesicles and are characterized by an array of microvilli that project into the interior of the eyecup. In the ciliated cells, the ciliary membranes are greatly expanded and form whorls that lie at the front of the eye, opposite the pigment cup. Axons from the bases of rhabdomeric cells have been traced into the optic ganglion, whereas nerve connections from the ciliated cells have not been observed. We suggest that both the rhabdomeric and ciliated cells are photosensory based on their morphological similarities to eyes in other invertebrates. The significance of ocelli with two types of sensory cells is discussed with regard to 1) phylogenetic schemes based on photoreceptor morphology, and 2) the function of such eyes in the interstitial habitat. In addition, the structure of the eye in Fartulum is compared with the description at the light microscopical level of the eye of a related interstitial gastropod.
Analysis of Tamm-Horsfall protein by high-performance liquid chromatography with native fluorescence.

Tamm-Horsfall (TH) is a large glycoprotein which originates in the kidney and is very abundant in the urine. This protein has been measured mainly by immunoassays. Here we describe a different approach for its measurement based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a molecular exclusion column with native fluorescence detection in the ultraviolet range. This method in addition to measuring the level of the protein has the advantage of detecting changes in size or aggregation. Urine, 1 ml was mixed with 100 μl of 30% NaCI and left at 37 C for 30 min. The urine was centrifuged at 12 000 rpm for 20 s. The precipitate was vortex-mixed and dissolved in a triethanolamine buffer. A 20 μl aliquot was injected on a Macrosphere GPC column which was eluted with phosphate buffer and the effluent was detected by a fluorometer set at 280 nm for excitation and 325 nm for emission. Since the protein has a very large molecular mass compared to other urinary and serum proteins we did not experience any interference. It elutes as the first peak (in ∼2.5 min on a 500 A and 2.7 min on 1000 A). The protein precipitates rapidly <60min at 37°C. The detection in the UV is sensitive for this protein down to I mg/l in absence of any concentration steps. The method was linear between 1 and 100 mg/l. The R.S.D. was 10.4% (mean 62, n = 10). The mean level in 42 normal individuals was 31 mg/g creatinine and in 30 patients with proteinuria (different renal disorders) was 23 mg/g creatinine.
A kinematic model of the city of Miami ocean outfall plume behavior

Abstract A kinematic model is developed to predict the movement of effluent from the City of Miami ocean outfall. The outfall terminates at the 5 m isobath in the near vicinity of three tidal inlets opening into Biscayne Bay. Due to the shallow, uncomplicated topography and oscillatory coastal currents a linear bottom friction law is valid, which justifies the use of a potential flow model. The inlets are modeled as sinks and the outfall as a source discharging into a uniform coastal current. The model predicts that effluent will enter Biscayne Bay in approximately 3 h during flood tide for coastal current headings within an arc of 210° to 40°. Dye-tracking experiments were in good agreement with the model results. Local wind records suggest that sewage effluent enters Biscayne Bay on about 80% of the flood tides, or roughly 11 times per week.
Maximum Power Point Tracking for Photovoltaic System Using Adaptive Extremum Seeking Control

In order for photovoltaic (PV) systems to maximize their efficiency of power generation, it is crucial to locate the maximum power point (MPP) in real time under realistic illumination conditions. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of PV devices are nonlinear, and the MPP may vary with intrinsic and environmental conditions. Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control is expected to seek the MPP regardless of the device and ambient changes. This brief presents the application of the adaptive extremum seeking control (AESC) scheme to the PV MPPT problem. A state-space model is derived via averaging method, with the control input being the duty ratio of the pulse-width modulator of the dc-dc buck converter. To address the nonlinear PV characteristics, the radial basis function neural network is used to approximate the unknown nonlinear (I-V) curve. The convergence of the system to an adjustable neighborhood of the optimum is guaranteed by utilizing a Lyapunov-based adaptive control method. The performance of the AESC is verified with simulation.
General methods for analysing repeated measures

We present an overview of issues and methods for analysing repeated measures of a continuous random variable. We discuss modelling the mean vector and covariance structure, statistical efficiency, regression diagnostics, and discrepancies between longitudinal and cross-sectional methods. We illustrate key points with examples and discuss areas requiring further development.
Usefulness of Variations of the Timed Up and Go in Apparently Healthy Individuals

The Timed Up and Go (TUG) assesses functional mobility. The clinical usefulness and interpretation of cutoff scores for the original TUG, however, is unclear with community ambulators. Adding a cognitive or manual task to the TUG or manipulating the test environment might better identify functional limitations in this population. The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of the TUG as a screening tool in apparently healthy individuals by examining the ability of one or more TUG variations to challenge these individuals. Young (n = 69, mean age = 25) and old subjects (n = 67, mean age = 78) performed the TUG and 7 variations in random order including combinations of cognitive and manual tasks and a compliant surface. Time on the TUG and accuracy of the cognitive task were analyzed using an ANOVA for repeated measures. All participants except two in the older group performed the TUG faster than the 20-second cutoff score. Older subjects were slower and less accurate than younger subjects. Fo...
Regulation of the rat aromatase gene in ovarian granulosa cells and R2C Leydig cells.

Abstract Aromatase cytochrome P 450 is regulated in granulosa cells of ovarian follicles by the synergistic action of FSH and steroids. The effect of FSH can be mimicked by forskolin suggesting that transcription of the aromatase gene is regulated by cAMP. In contrast, aromatase is constitutively expressed in the rat R2C Leydig cells. To characterize the functional regions of the promoter in these two cell types, a fragment containing 534 bp of the aromatase promoter sequence and various deletion mutants were ligated to a reporter gene, chloramphenicol acetyl transferase and used in transient transfection assays. The results suggest that the region between −176 and −31 bp is essential both for cAMP regulation in granulosa cells and constitutive expression in R2C cells. Nuclear proteins from granulosa and R2C cells specifically bind the −176 fragment in an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Binding was completed by an oligonucleotide (−90/−66 bp) containing a hexameric sequence, AGGTCA, which has been found in the promoters of other steroidogenic genes. These results suggest that cAMP regulation and constitutive expression of the rat aromatase promoter requires sequences between −176 and −31 bp, particularly the sequence AGGTCA at −82/−77 and nuclear proteins binding to these sequences.
Influence of dissolved humic materials on carbon assimilation and alkaline phosphatase activity in natural algal‐bacterial assemblages

SUMMARY. Mixed natural assemblages of algae and bacteria exhibited lower rates of 14C assimilation and high rates of dissimilation of recent photosynthate when amended with low concentrations (7.2 mg 1-1) of unfractioned dissolved humic materials (DHM). The extent of the inhibition or stimulation was greatest in the smaller (1–5 μm) assemblage particles. In different algal-bacterial assemblages, additions of DHM markedly enhanced community alkaline phosphatase activity (APA), particularly under low light regimes, DHM of low apparent molecular weight was much more stimulatory to both 14C assimilation and APA than DHM of high apparent molecular weight, supporting the belief that DHM molecular weight is an important determinant of DHM interactive capacity. Higher concentrations of D HM (either unfractionated, or molecular weight fractionated) produced greater APA responses. Addition of phosphate enhanced the disparity in rates of 14C assimilation of samples incubated under low and high light regimes, increased the rates of 14C assimilation, and depressed APA. There were indications of interactions between DHM and phosphorus in several experiments. Two hypotheses were invoked to explain increases in APA in response to DHM: (1) increased competition between algae and bacteria for phosphate following bacterial release from substrate limitation, or (2) DHM may have acted as a sequestering agent for organophosphorus compounds, and in so doing, gradually depleted available phosphate. In either case, it is clear that DHM alters phosphorus cycling. This DHM characteristic may be ecologically as important as its ability to complex trace metals.
An Oligochaete as a Potential Food Source for Fish in Aquaculture

Abstract The oligochaete Aeolosoma heinprichi was successfully cultured in an aquatic environment with single-cell protein as its sole food source. Aeolosoma heinprichi grew throughout a pH range of 5.0–7.0 and a temperature range of 20–32°C. Decreased pH caused an increased doubling time (DT), i.e., a decreased reproductive rate. Increased temperatures resulted in decreased DT; growth was similar between 25 and 32°C. At pH 7.0 and 25°C, minimum DT was 36 h. Population densities depended on the bottom area of the culture vessel and reached a maximum of 330 organisms/cm2. Moderate concentrations of inorganic ions were toxic to the organism. The oligochaete proved to be an adequate food for fry and adult guppies (Poecilia reticulata) and adult golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas).
Octet-decuplet baryon mass splittings from self-consistent one-loop perturbation theory

The bag model of confined relativistic quarks in chiral-invariant interaction with scalar, pseudoscalar, vector, and pseudovector mesons, as well as gluons, is used to calculate the masses and wave functions of the spin-1/2 baryon octet and spin-3/2 decuplet, using selfconsistent Brillouin-Wigner bound state perturbation theory. Chiral symmetry breaking is invoked with the sigma model. SU (6) and SU (3) symmetries are broken by the experimental meson spectrum, and a strange quark mass. Mass corrections are calculated to one loop order, limited to the baryons of the octet and decuplet and the lowest lying mesons. Encouraging results are obtained, especially for theΔ — N and theΣ — Λ splittings. Convergence and stability have not been demonstrated, but are evidently improved by the self-consistency requirement. An initial parameter tuning gives a fit to all the octet and decuplet masses within ≦0.02 GeV, at the price of choosing the bag radius, the non-strange baryon input bag mass, and the strange quark mass. Even these small discrepancies can be dramatically reduced by fine-tuning the vector meson coupling and including an instanton contribution peculiar to theΛ.
Survey and Examination of Various CBTC Data Communications Subsystems

This paper will survey and describe the various data communication subsystems (DCSs) used on many communications based train control (CBTC) system projects planned and in service throughout North America, Europe and Asia. The paper will focus on the RF characteristics of the DCS so as to highlight the similarities and common challenges that all DCSs face with a view to presenting best practice and innovative design.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Employment status as a confounder when assessing occupational exposures and spontaneous abortion

Studies of occupational exposure and spontaneous abortion may use pregnancies during which the mother was unemployed as part or all of the unexposed comparison group. Any type of maternal employment, however, may be a risk factor for spontaneous abortion, and potential confounder in occupational reproductive studies. This study evaluates the effect of employment in a cohort of pregnancies of 1535 women. Employed pregnancies had a significantly higher rate of spontaneous abortion (14.5%) than unemployed pregnancies (11.7%) (RR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.02, 1.49). Gravidity acted as an effect modifier, as the employment effect was seen only in multigravidous pregnancies (RR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.11, 1.72) and not primigravidous pregnancies (RR = 0.96). The effect persisted when an independent sample of one randomly selected pregnancy per woman was used for the analysis (RR = 1.27, 95% CI = 0.90, 1.79). The data were examined for confounding by other factors which could explain the excess in spontaneous abortion among employed pregnancies. The employment effect persisted with adjustment for other risk factors including maternal age, education, income, maternal diabetes, race, alcohol usage and smoking, and prior pregnancy ending in induced abortion. Stratifying by prior pregnancy loss eliminated the employment effect among those with prior loss (RR = 1.03) but enhanced the effect among those multigravidous without the risk factor (RR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.15, 1.97). Selection bias, also, was explored as a possible explanation of this employment effect, but could not be substantiated. Assessment of a true exposure effect requires consideration of a potential employment effect either in the design or analysis.
Signal transduction and the ras gene family: Molecular switches of unknown function

Abstract The ras family consists of 20 or more genes that encode small GTP/GDP-binding proteins, of 20–26 kDa, the functions of which are unknown. This article discusses possible roles of the ras proteins in signal transduction and the interaction of p21 ras and other members of the ras family with GTPase-accelerating proteins (GAPS) that may be regulatory elements of the signaling machinery.
Phonon dispersion curves in bismuth

Dispersion curves for phonons propagating in the trigonal direction in bismuth at room temperature and at 75°K have been obtained in a neutron inelastic scattering experiment. Observed frequencies (units 1013 rad/sec) at 75°K are as follows: at the zone center, ωTO = 1.40 ± 0.02, ωLO = 1.89 ± 0.02; at the zone boundary in the trigonal direction, ωTA = 0.73 ± 0.01, ωLA = 1.12 ± 0.02, ωTO = 1.91 ± 0.02, ωLO = 2.03 ± 0.02. At room temperature, the observed frequencies were about 1.5 percent lower. Data were also obtained for longitudinal phonons propagating in the binary direction at 75°K. It is interesting to note that the splitting between the zone boundary frequencies for the optical and acoustic branches for each polarization is quite large. This splitting is difficult to understand if bismuth is thought of as a slightly distorted simple cubic lattice. The experimental results may be qualitatively understood if bismuth is considered to be made up of a series of double layers normal to the trigonal axis. The atoms in each double layer form a crinkled hexagonal net with strong, probably covalent, bonds between atoms. The forces between atoms on adjacent double layers are relatively weak. This model is consistent with the easy cleavage of bismuth normal to the trigonal axis. Analysis of the trigonal dispersion curves in terms of a linear chain model indicates that there are significant forces connecting a given atom with atoms situated on the four planes on either side of it.
Advanced IR detector devices and concepts for remote sensing

In the Advanced Detectors Research Group within the Space-Based Optical Sensing Center of Excellence in the Spacecraft Technology Division of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate, we look to enhance existing detector technologies and develop new detector capabilities for future space-based surveillance missions. To that end, we present some ideas for tuning the wavelength response of detectors throughout the IR (using applied electric or magnetic fields or via a lateral biasing technique). We also present a concept for detecting the full polarization vector of a signal within a single pixel of a quantum well detector.
Selective macrophage suppression during sepsis

Polymicrobial sepsis induces suppression of macrophage function as determined by a reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokine production upon re-exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro. We examined whether macrophages were refractory to only LPS challenge or if they were immunoparalyzed and unable to respond to other stimuli such as lipoteichoic acid (LTA) or zymosan (ZYM). This study evaluated the capacity of peritoneal macrophages to produce pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines as well as chemokines following mild or severe sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Peritoneal macrophages were isolated 29 h after CLP and challenged with different stimuli. LPS was a more potent stimulus for cytokine induction than LTA or ZYM in both mild and severe sepsis. In mild sepsis, the macrophage cytokine response to LPS was selective and less refractory than in severe sepsis. While production of IL-6 and KC was reduced, secretion of TNF-alpha and MIP-1alpha was enhanced in those cells isolated from mice with mild sepsis. Production of IL-10 and the IL-1 receptor antagonist , MIP-2, and MCP-1 in response to LPS stimulation was equivalent to the amount produced by naive macrophages. Our results indicate that macrophages are not immunoparalyzed during sepsis and may still be induced to secrete some inflammatory mediators.
The investigation and the use of high flow column-switching LC/MS/MS as a high-throughput approach for direct plasma sample analysis of single and multiple components in pharmacokinetic studies.

Recently direct plasma injection LC/MS/MS technique has been increasingly used in pharmaceutical research and development due to the demand for higher throughput of sample analyses. In this work, two on-line extraction methods including high flow LC/MS/MS and high flow column switching LC/MS/MS were investigated. The evaluations were conducted and focused on their performances with respect to peak responses, separation efficiency, and signal to-noise ratio in a multiple-component LC/MS/MS assay. Two HPLC pumps were used-with one for high flow delivery and one for gradient elution. A CTC autosampler was used to inject plasma samples. High flow LC was achieved by the use of 4 ml/min flow rate on a 1 x 50 mm Waters Oasis column. A 2 x 100 mm YMC column was coupled via a column-switching valve. The extracted analytes were analyzed in multiple-reaction-monitoring (MRM) mode using a triple quadrupole MS/MS. As a rapid and simple procedure, vortex-mixing plasma and internal standard directly in sample vials completed sample preparation. The high flow column switching method (two-column system) provided sharper peak shape than the conventional high flow method. This effect increased analyte signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity. Narrower peak width resulted in much better separation efficiency, which was required for multiple compound (N-in-1) analysis. A 2 mm I.D. column resulted in better peak shape and resolution than using a smaller I.D. column. The selected method achieved acceptable recoveries for most of the compounds tested, and it was successfully applied to a 10-in-1 pharmacokinetic (PK) study. The results showed that the dynamic range, lower limit of quantitation, assay accuracy and precision were acceptable for all compounds. Rapid sample preparation eliminated labor intensive and time consuming processes and improved productivity. This high throughput on-line extraction high flow column switching method has been proven particularly useful for multiple component analysis in PK studies.
Peach Springs Tuff: Its Bearing on Structural Evolution of the Colorado Plateau and Development of Cenozoic Drainage in Mohave County, Arizona

The Peach Springs Tuff, a welded ash flow of Miocene age, formerly blanketed a minimum area of 2,000 sq mi on both sides of the western edge of the Colorado Plateau in Mohave County, Arizona, and filled northeast-trending, pre–Colorado River canyons cut through the Paleozoic rocks. Paleomagnetic direction, petrography, and field relations indicate that the tuff is a single cooling unit of trachytic composition and normal polarity. It was erupted across the region prior to the last major movement of the plateau marginal faults, the completion of a significant amount of Basin and Range block faulting, and development of the existing topographic relief. A pre-tuff period of uplift and erosion exposed the Precambrian basement rocks directly west of the plateau. Gravel buried in canyons beneath the tuff on the edge of the Hualapai Plateau is evidence of northeast-flowing, incised drainage, in pre-tuff time, which probably continued northward along the Hurricane fault zone across the region where the younger canyon of the Colorado River is now. This ancient drainage system was disrupted by faulting, volcanism, and localized fluvial aggradation, followed by gradual incision of the modern Colorado River drainage. South of the Truxton Valley, there is evidence of a pre–middle Miocene drainage divide along the edge of the present plateau. All geologic evidence points to an early to middle Pliocene age for the modern Colorado River and associated tributary drainage on the Hualapai Plateau west of the Hurricane fault.
Color Separation near the Cutoff of Low-Beam Headlamps

AbstractProjector low beams are subject to color separation near the vertical cutoff caused by dispersion of light when passing through the lens. Color separation is especially of concern with high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, because the resulting changes in color appearance to oncoming drivers likely contribute to the discomfort-glare complaints for HID lamps.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent and magnitude of color separation in HID and tungsten-halogen projector low beams. Specifically, we made colorimetric measurements near the cutoff of 8 projector HID and 4 projector tungsten-halogen lamps. For experimental control, we also evaluated 9 nonprojector HID and 5 nonprojector tungsten-halogen lamps.Major color changes were present for 38 percent of the HID projector lamps, 50 percent of the tungsten-halogen projector lamps, and (as expected) for 0 percent of the HID or tungsten-halogen nonprojector lamps. Transformation of the chromaticity data into a perceptually uniform color spa...
The Effect of the Ensiling Process on Wild Onion and Ragweed Flavors in Silage and in Milk

Summary The ensiling process did not destroy the substance causing the onion flavor nor reduce it to a nondetectable level. It appears that in this trial the ensiling process either destroyed the substance causing ragweed flavor or reduced it to a level that could not be observed in the silage or milk.
Compatibility of partnered students in computer science education

This paper details the results of an investigation into the compatibility of partnered computer science students. The study involved approximately 290 students at the University of Virginia (UVA). This study builds on the work of researchers at North Carolina State University (NCSU). NCSU researchers have conducted a number of studies on the compatibility of pair programmers. We examined many of the factors that the NCSU researchers explored in their studies (including personality type, learning style, skill level, programming self esteem, work ethic, and time management choices) in order to determine whether the conclusions of the research at NCSU also hold true at UVA. Consistent with the NCSU studies, we found that skill level continues to be the most important factor in student compatibility.
The Iosipescu shear test method as used for testing polymers and composite materials

This paper describes a shear test method for polymers and composite materials, based on the Iosipescu (1967) shear test which was originally developed for use with homogeneous isotropic metals. Special attention is given to the loading fixture for the test, the standard specimen design and shear stress measurements. The range of the test applications is indicated. The method is in the final stages of being accepted as an ASTM standard.
Role for Rab3a in oligodendrocyte morphological differentiation

Rab3a, a small GTPase important for exocytosis, is uniquely up-regulated as oligodendrocytes enter terminal differentiation and initiate myelin biosynthesis. In this study, we analyze the role of this protein in oligodendrocyte morphological differentiation by using Rab3a overexpression and siRNAi-mediated Rab3a silencing. We found that Rab3a silencing delayed mature oligodendrocyte morphological differentiation but did not interfere with lineage progression of OL progenitors; this is consistent with the high levels of Rab3a expressed by mature oligodendrocytes compared with progenitor cells. Overexpression of GTP-bound, but not that of wild-type, Rab3a delayed OL morphological differentiation; this suggests that expression of a GTP-bound Rab3a mutant interferes with the normal function of endogenous Rab3a. We have also identified in oligodendrocytes two other exocytic small GTPases, Rab27B and RalA. Together, these findings indicate that Rab3a specifically stimulates morphological differentiation of mature oligodendrocytes and thus may be part of the necessary machinery for myelin membrane biogenesis.
Shape sensitivity analysis using low- and high-order finite elements

A general procedure to perform the sensitivity analysis for the shape optimal design of elastic structures is proposed. The method is based on the implicit differentiation of the discretized equilibrium equations used in the finite element method (FEM). The so-called semianalytical approach is followed, that is, finite differences are used to differentiate the finite element matrices. The technique takes advantage of the geometric modeling concepts typical of the computer-aided design (CAD) technology used in the creation of a compact design model. This procedure is largely independent of the types of finite elements used in the analysis and has been implemented in ah-version andp-version finite element program. Very accurate and stable shape sensitivity derivatives were obtained from both programs over a wide range of finite difference step sizes. It is shown that the method is computationally efficient, general, and relatively easy to implement. Some classical shape optimal design problems have been solved using the CONLIN optimizer supplied with these gradients.
Reliability of a self-pulsating CD laser for fiber optic data links

A 780 nm self-pulsating compact disc (CD) laser has been incorporated into both 266 and 220 megabits/second (Mb/s) optical data links by IBM Rochester to interconnect computer systems. Fiber optic data links based on this short wavelength (SW) laser not only meet the cost and performance requirements of the data communications, but also overcome the major challenges of laser reliability and modal noise. To satisfy the stringent reliability requirements of data communication, standard CD lasers are screened through wafer selection and device burn-in procedures. Present lifetest results with more than 20,000 hrs of accelerated aging at 85 degree(s), 75 degree(s), and 65 degree(s)C indicate that the average failure rate of the screened CD laser can be less than 0.03% per khrs in a typical computer machine application. Additionally, because of the short coherence length, self-pulsating CD laser structures have solved the modal noise problem when this laser is used in conjunction with multimode optical fibers.
Performance assessment in IEA studies

Abstract The International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) has been using performance assessment items in its multi-national studies of educational achievement for nearly thirty years. Performance assessment items have been used in studies in mathematics, science, written composition, French and English as foreign languages, computers in education and reading. The reason for using such items is that the specifications for the tests in each area called for constructed responses on the part of the examinee. This chapter furnishes a number of examples of such items and a discussion of the experience gained from using them. In some cases, the use of such items worked well while in other cases a number of problems were encountered. Some suggestions regarding the use of performance items are offered.
All-Optical Correlator for High-Speed OOK and DPSK Signals

We describe a novel high-speed temporal correlator based on linear optical components. We demonstrate operation with 100-Gb/s OOK packets, and our modeling indicates that this system can also function with DPSK signals.
Family-centered care and evidence-based medicine in conflict: lessons for pediatricians.

In contemporary medical education and pediatric practice, “family-centered care” and “evidence-based medicine” (EBM) are frequently promoted simultaneously, as if the 2 are natural partners in the provision of high-quality care. These 2 concepts appear side by side in clinic and hospital mission statements, medical school course aims, and pediatric residency milestones. In fact, the 2 paradigms approach medical practice from radically divergent perspectives. Family-centered care rests on a biopsychosocial model of healing, is fundamentally holistic, and prioritizes the perspectives of patients and families in medical care, whereas EBM is, at its essence, the systematic application of science to practice. For most providers, EBM connotes provision of the highest-quality care based on the available medical science and is intended to minimize unwarranted variation in care that might result in patients receiving therapies that are unsafe, ineffective, costly, or untimely, compared with the gold standards of care derived from scientific evidence and ideally randomized controlled trials, in which “bigger” often means “better.” EBM has gradually supplanted experience-based medicine of decades past, wherein the “experience” is that of the physician. In both evidence- and experience-based systems, the provider is still at the center of the medical encounter. The following case explores several interrelated conflicts during a seemingly routine admission for febrile neutropenia, chiefly between family-centered care and EBM, but which also involved Western biomedicine and alternative healing practices, and social and medical models of disability. A 3-year-old boy with Down syndrome and high-risk pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia presented to our oncology clinic for a transfusion, after routine blood counts. He had been diagnosed 8 months previously and had received chemotherapy with vincristine and PEG-asparaginase 2 days previously. Although he had been feeling well at home, his temperature in clinic rose to 101°F and his absolute neutrophil count (ANC) was 10 cells/ µ L. …
Morphological and biochemical responses of cultured thyroid cells to thyrotropin.

In the thyroid gland, TSH stimulates cAMP formation, exocytosis of precursor (noniodinated) thyroglobulin, endocytosis of thyroglobulin, and proteolytic processing of the thyroglobulin to form thyroid hormones. In this report we describe TSH effects on cAMP levels, microtubules, microfilaments, myosin fibrils, and the morphology of cultured thyroid follicle cells. The cells were normally cultured in the presence of 10 mU/ml TSH, and fresh TSH produced no stimulation when assayed for cAMP production in a 15-min assay. When such cells were cultured for up to 72 h in the absence of TSH and then assayed for cAMP production, the basal levels were much reduced, but fresh TSH stimulated cAMP levels half-maximally at 1 mU/ml and up to 50-fold at 20 mU/ml. Microtubules, myosin fibers, and microfilaments were demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescent staining. Fluorescent staining of fibers was observed in cells fixed before lysis and in cells lysed before fixation. In control cells grown without hormone, microtub...
Change-based threat detection in urban environments with a forward-looking camera

Roadside explosive threats continue to pose a significant risk to soldiers and civilians in conflict areas around the world. These objects are easy to manufacture and procure, but due to their ad hoc nature, they are difficult to reliably detect using standard sensing technologies. Although large roadside explosive hazards may be difficult to conceal in rural environments, urban settings provide a much more complicated background where seemingly innocuous objects (e.g., piles of trash, roadside debris) may be used to obscure threats. Since direct detection of all innocuous objects would flag too many objects to be of use, techniques must be employed to reduce the number of alarms generated and highlight only a limited subset of possibly threatening regions for the user. In this work, change detection techniques are used to reduce false alarm rates and increase detection capabilities for possible threat identification in urban environments. The proposed model leverages data from multiple video streams collected over the same regions by first applying video aligning and then using various distance metrics to detect changes based on image keypoints in the video streams. Data collected at an urban warfare simulation range at an Eastern US test site was used to evaluate the proposed approach, and significant reductions in false alarm rates compared to simpler techniques are illustrated.
Role of quality of service metrics in visual target acquisition and tracking in resource-constrained environments

Implementation of an intelligent, automated target acquisition and tracking systems alleviates the need for operators to monitor video continuously. This system could identify situations that fatigued operators could easily miss. If an automated acquisition and tracking system plans motions to maximize a coverage metric, how does the performance of that system change when the user intervenes and manually moves the camera? How can the operator give input to the system about what is important and understand how that relates to the overall task balance between surveillance and coverage? In this paper, we address these issues by introducing a new formulation of the average linear uncovered length (ALUL) metric, specially designed for use in surveilling urban environments. This metric coordinates the often competing goals of acquiring new targets and tracking existing targets. In addition, it provides current system performance feedback to system users in terms of the system's theoretical maximum and minimum performance. We show the successful integration of the algorithm via simulation.
Understanding focus in projection lithography systems

Characterizing best focus for lithographic patterns is a very common task. It has been observed that the estimated best focus changes considerably with substrate type and substrates change quite frequently in process development. Such effects are seen even when the resist thickness is not altered. In this paper we will present data to identify the cause of the change and throw some light on the interaction between substrate and scanner leveling system.
Dispersion-managed soliton interactions in optical fibers.

We simulated dispersion-managed soliton propagation and interaction in optical fibers. The energy-enhancement factor, together with the time–bandwidth product and the stretching factor, were calculated as a function of the difference in absolute values of accumulated dispersion in the fiber spans. The interaction strength of the dispersion-managed solitons was found to depend on the stretching factor. When this factor is less than 1.5, the interaction is weaker than for ideal solitons. When it is more than 1.5, there is a strong interaction between the pulses, which constrains the energy enhancement for practical applications.
CAM3 bias over the Arctic region during northern winter studied with a linear stationary model

This study builds upon two prior papers, which examine Arctic region bias of CAM3 (NCAR Community Atmosphere Model version 3) simulations during winter. CAM3 output is compared with ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) 40 year reanalysis (ERA-40) data. Our prior papers considered the temperature and the vorticity equation terms and demonstrated that diabatic, transient, and linear terms dominate nonlinear bias terms over most areas of interest. Accordingly, this paper uses a linearized form of the model’s dynamical core equations to study aspects of the forcing that lead to the CAM3 biases. We treat the model’s long term winter bias as a solution to a linear stationary wave model (LSWM). Key features of the bias in the vorticity, temperature, and ln of surface pressure (=q) fields are shown at medium resolution. The important features found at medium resolution are captured at the much lower LSWM resolution. The Arctic q bias has two key features: excess q over the Barents Sea and a missing Beaufort High (negative maximum q bias) to the north of Alaska and eastern Siberia. The forcing fields are calculated by the LSWM. Horizontal advection tends to create multi-polar combinations of negative and positive extrema in the forcing. The positive and negative areas of forcing approximately match corresponding areas in the bias. There is a broad relation between cold bias with elevated q bias, as expected from classical theory. Forcing in related quantities: near surface vorticity and surface pressure combine to produce the sea level pressure bias.
Warfarin management using point-of-care testing in a university-based internal medicine resident clinic.

Abstract Introduction The primary endpoint was to determine whether point-of-care (POC) International Normalization Ratio (INR) testing would increase the percentage of patients in the therapeutic range. The secondary endpoint was to determine how POC Testing (POCT) would affect the time to intervention (the amount of time it took to contact a patient who had an INR outside the therapeutic range and make the appropriate warfarin adjustment). Methods Over an 11-month time period, the authors implemented an anticoagulation-focused quality improvement initiative based on the internal medicine resident continuity clinic. The initiative was designed as a single site before and after study. Results The proportion of INR values within the therapeutic range before the implementation of POCT (predesign phase) was 25%. After the implementation of POCT (postdesign phase), the percentage of therapeutic INR was 50% ( P = 0.005). The time to intervention in the predesign phase was 4 days while intervention was accomplished during the same visit that the blood was sampled in the postdesign phase of this study. The number needed to treat was 4 to obtain a therapeutic INR. Conclusion The results of this quality improvement study showed significant improvement in the percentage of patients who were in the therapeutic range with the use of POCT. Time to intervention was also markedly improved with the addition of POCT. The authors believe that this is the first study showing such results in an internal medicine academic clinic.
Sex Differences in Risk Taking: Repeated Sessions on a Computer-Simulated Task

ABSTRACT Two experiments were conducted to investigate sex differences in risktaking behavior on a computer-generated and controlled task. Male and female subjects faced a video display of simulated mine fields with varying numbers and patterns of dots representing mines in the fields. In Experiment 1, they estimated the probability that a tank might successfully cross 100 mine fields when starting from an unknown point below each field. This was followed by the risk-taking task in which they decided whether to send a tank across each of the fields. The participants were tested on the risk-taking task once in Experiment 1 and over four separate sessions in Experiment 2. Scores, based on decision outcomes, and decision latencies were recorded. No significant sex differences were found in the participants' ability to estimate probabilities or in their total scores for decisions made on the risk-taking task. In low probability-of-success situations, women initially took greater risks than men but took longer...
Langerhans Cells in Acute and Chronic Epidermal Lesions of Atopic Dermatitis, Observed by L-Dopa Histofluorescence, Glycol Methacrylate Thin Section, and Electon Microscopy

Since epidermal Langerhans cells are known to play an immunopathologic role in allergic skin diseases, we explored the histological features of Langerhans cells associated with epidermal lesions in acute and chronic stages of atopic dermatitis.The L-dopa histofluorescence method, introduced by Falck and others in 1976, has provided a new approach to visualization of Langerhans cells in normal and pathologic skin of both experimental animals and human beings. We used this technique for skin biopsy specimens from normal individuals and patients with atopic dermatitis. We also used embedding of thin sections in glycol methacrylate, electron microscopy, and autoradiography of 3H L-dopa to observe morphological characteristics of Langerhans cells in these skin specimens. We observed a few Langerhans cells in the spongiotic epidermis of acute erythematous lesions, but many fluorescent infiltrating mononuclear cells were also present in both epidermal and subepidermal layers. In chronic lichenified lesions significantly increased numbers of Langerhans cells were distributed throughout acarithotic epidermis, but the numbers of infiltrating mononuclear cells in the epidermis were greatly reduced. Focal accumulations of both Langerhans cells and monocytic cells were occasionally found in the epidermis of chronic lesions; these accumulations are thought to be recurrent inflammatory foci in the chronic lesions. The use of L-dopa histofluorescence to study epidermal Langerhans cells demonstrates Langerhans cells more clearly than other histological means.
Highly efficient distributed Raman amplification system in a zero-dispersion-flattened transmission line

We propose a distributed Raman-amplified zero-dispersion-flattened transmission line. It has a high Raman gain efficiency and restricts the impairment in signal quality.