cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Velocity characteristics of reacting and nonreacting flows in a dump combustor

A two-component laser Doppler anemometer (LDA) was used to measure mean and turbulent velocities in an axisymmetric dump combustor. Data were acquired for the axial and tangential components and provide a comparison between combusting and isothermal flows. Inlet profiles were carefully documented to provide a suitable boundary condition for future comparison to predictive models. The results show significant differences between the reacting and nonreacting flows. One large-scale observable effect was the difference between the recirculation regions for each case. Combustion decreased the length of the region by approximately 50%, while increasing the maximum velocities. This made for a more compact, but stronger, recirculation region. The reduction in recirculation zone size is recommended as a benchmark criterion in modeling studies. The presence of reaction caused higher turbulent fluctuations near the expansion, and lower fluctuations in downstream regions. The turbulence was observed to be nonisotropic in both the reacting and nonreacting cases.
Prospective investigations in asthma. What have we learned from longitudinal studies about lung growth and senescence in asthma

The natural history of lung growth and senescence in individuals with variable air flow obstruction or clinical asthma has been given less attention than the natural history of chronic airflow obstruction. This article reviews the information available on lung growth during childhood in persons with asthma and on the rate of decline of lung function during adult life in individuals with asthma or bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Lung growth appears to be relatively normal in most children with asthma but is reduced throughout childhood and adolescence in those with severe and persistent symptoms. It is not known if this reflects a failure to reach full growth or reversible bronchoconstriction. During adult life, clinical asthma is associated with a slight increase in the rate of decline in FEV1. In the middle-aged and elderly smoker it is virtually impossible to separate chronic bronchitis and asthma. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness appears to be associated with an increase in the rate of decline of lung function but it is not clear if this is a result of airway disease due to smoking or a true risk factor. Further research needs are identified.
A sensitivity study on BGA package parameters that affect pin capacitance

To reduce the degradation of signal integrity in substrate-based, chip-on-board (COB), ball grid array (BGA) packages caused by excessive trace capacitance, a sensitivity study on package trace capacitance is presented. A test vehicle was designed and simulated for the sensitivity study using Ansoft high frequency structure simulator (HFSS) [1]. Nine potential package parameters that can affect trace capacitance are varied from their nominal values, and the variation in trace capacitance is analyzed. These nine parameters are narrowed down to four parameters that result in the highest impact to trace capacitance and simulated in a typical COB BGA design using Ansoft turbo package analyzer (TPA) [1]. The impact of the parameters' variations on pin capacitance is compared. Measured results show that the memory device in the package contributes to pin capacitance significantly and reduces impact by more than 50%. Comparing the measures implemented in the improved package design show an average pin capacitance reduction of 20%. With a memory die in the package, percentage reduction is diminished to 7.7%.
β-Catenin Affects Androgen Receptor Transcriptional Activity and Ligand Specificity

beta-Catenin is a multifunctional molecule with important roles in intercellular adhesion and signal transduction. We reported previously that beta-catenin is mutated in human prostate cancer. In this study, we investigated the role of beta-catenin mutations on androgen receptor (AR) signaling. beta-Catenin significantly enhanced androgen-stimulated transcriptional activation by the AR. beta-Catenin also increased AR transcriptional activation by androstenedione and estradiol and diminished the antagonism of bicalutamide. Coimmunoprecipitation of beta-catenin with AR from LNCaP prostate cancer cells showed that the two molecules are present in the same complex. The amount of beta-catenin in complex with AR was increased by androgen. These findings implicate beta-catenin in the regulation of AR function and support a role for beta-catenin mutations in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer.
Innovative and easy-to-deploy communication networking laboratory experiments for electrical and computer engineering students

This paper describes a set of new laboratory experiments developed for the senior level undergraduate networking course at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University. These experiments differ from existing networking experiments in that they emphasize the understanding of the dynamics of network protocols in addition to their applications, which makes them more suitable for ECE curricula. Students learn through these experiments a wide range of networking aspects including the design and the limitations of protocols, simulation and performance evaluation techniques, interpretation of data, packet analysis and network programming. They are also required to read standardization documents in order to put them in a realistic engineering situation. All the experiments are software based, and the resource required is a workstation with C compiler and some public-domain software like Ethereal, so there is virtually no costs in deploying the experiments, and they can be done in almost any general-purpose computer laboratory.
Going to extremes: contrasting rates of diversification in a recent radiation of new world passerine birds.

Recent analyses suggest that a few major shifts in diversification rate may be enough to explain most of the disparity in diversity among vertebrate lineages. At least one significant increase in diversification rate appears to have occurred within the birds; however, several nested lineages within birds have been identified as hyperdiverse by different studies. A clade containing the finches and relatives (within the avian order Passeriformes), including a large radiation endemic to the New World that comprises ∼8% of all bird species, may be the true driver of this rate increase. Understanding the patterns and processes of diversification of this diverse lineage may go a long way toward explaining the apparently rapid diversification rates of both passerines and of birds as a whole. We present the first multilocus phylogenetic analyses of this endemic New World radiation of finch relatives that include sampling of all recognized genera, a relaxed molecular clock analysis of its divergence history, and an analysis of its broad-scale diversification patterns. These analyses recovered 5 major lineages traditionally recognized as avian families, but identified an additional 10 relatively ancient lineages worthy of recognition at the family level. Time-calibrated diversification analyses suggested that at least 3 of the 15 family-level lineages were significantly species poor given the entire group's background diversification rate, whereas at least one—the tanagers of family Thraupidae—appeared significantly more diverse. Lack of an age-diversity relationship within this clade suggests that, due to rapid initial speciation, it may have experienced density-dependent ecological limits on its overall diversity. (Concatenation; concordance; congruence; diversification; gene tree; New World; Passeriformes.)
Novel ways of improving cooperation and performance in ensemble classifiers

There are two common methods of evolving teams of genetic programs. Research suggests Island approaches produce teams of strong individuals that cooperate poorly and Team approaches produce teams of weak individuals that cooperate strongly. Ideally, teams should be composed of strong individuals that cooperate well. In this paper we present a new class of algorithms called Orthogonal Evolution of Teams (OET) that overcomes the weaknesses of current Island and Team approaches by applying evolutionary pressure at both the level of teams and individuals during selection and replacement. We present four novel algorithms in this new class and compare their performance to Island and Team approaches as well as multi-class Adaboost on a number of classification problems.
Nanoscale thermoreflectance with 10mK temperature resolution using stochastic resonance

We present 2D temperature measurements with 250nm spatial and 10mK temperature resolution using thermoreflectance microscopy. We measure the temperature-induced reflectivity change with an accuracy better than /spl Delta/R/R=2/spl middot/10/sup -6/ using a 12bit CCD, which has a quantization limitation of /spl Delta/R/R=2.5/spl middot/10/sup -4/. The dynamic range is thus expanded from 72dB to 114dB, equivalent to more than 18 effective bits. We quantitatively explain this dramatic improvement using the concept of stochastic resonance. In addition, we optimize the thermoreflectance calibration coefficient K/spl equiv/R/sup -1//spl middot/ R/T by matching the illumination wavelength to a combination of the thermoreflectance coefficient spectrum R/T and the reflectivity spectrum R. For gold illuminated with a 467nm LED, we obtain the extraordinarily large value /spl kappa/ =3.3/spl middot/10/sup -4/ K/sup -1/. This calibration coefficient yields a temperature resolution of better than 10mK.
Requirements-Driven Log Analysis Extended Abstract

Imagine that you are tasked to help a project improve their testing effort. In a realistic scenario it will quickly become clear, that having an impact is difficult. First of all, it will likely be a challenge to suggest an alternative approach which is significantly more automated and/or more effective than current practice. The reality is that an average software system has a complex input/output behavior. An automated testing approach will have to auto-generate test cases, each being a pair (i, o) consisting of a test input i and an oracle o. The test input i has to be somewhat meaningful, and the oracle o can be very complicated to compute. Second, even in the case where some testing technology has been developed that might improve current practice, it is then likely difficult to completely change the current behavior of the testing team unless the technique is obviously superior and does everything already done by existing technology.
New cationic group 4 metal alkyl complexes

Cationic group 4 metal alkyl complexes containing tetradentate Schiff base ligands, (acen) Zr(R)+ and (F6-acen) Zr(R)+, are prepared by protonolysis of suitable neutral dialkyl precursors. These complexes display electrophilic behavior and are moderately active ethylene polymerization catalysts in the presence of 1 molar equivalent of AlR3.
Development of an Instrument to Measure Web Site Personality

ABSTRACTA Website Personality Scale (WPS) was developed and validated through a multi-phase process. We investigated the presence of human and brand personality attributes as well as information characteristics in over one hundred websites. A strong presence of information characteristics was found, verified along dimensions of content quality, access, and time. A number of traditional human and brand personality attributes also were present. These attributes correlated with overall attitude and liking of the websites, which helped to validate the scale. There was little evidence to support the presence of interactivity, real time, and customization-characteristics believed to be central to the Internet and Web technology. The findings suggest that the WPS is both a reliable and valid measure of website personality.
Multiplicative bases in matrix algebras

Abstract In a finite-dimensional algebra over a field F, a basis B is called a multiplicative basis provided that B ∪ {0} forms a semigroup. We will describe all multiplicative bases of Fn, the full algebra of n × n matrices over a subfield F of the real numbers. Every such basis is associated with a nonsingular zero–one matrix via a lattice order on Fn. This association is a one-to-one correspondence after identification of isomorphic semigroups and identification of the zero–one matrices that have just permuted rows and columns. This correspondence yields an enumeration method for nonequivalent multiplicative bases of Fn. The enumeration is done for n ⩽ 5.
Of Men and Mice: C. S. Lewis on Male–Female Interactions

Questions of gender are frequently bracketed when discussing C. S. Lewis's life and works. Perhaps most evade the issue because the distinctions are so sharply drawn—either Lewis is a misogynist or he is a product of his time. The issue of women in Lewis's works, however, should not be ignored. In this article, I focus both on Lewis's portrayals of the emancipated woman in his nonfiction writing (particularly ‘Modern Man and His Categories of Thought’, The Four Loves, and ‘Priestesses in the Church?’) and in his fictional writing (particularly ‘The Shoddy Lands’, That Hideous Strength, and Till We Have Faces). I argue that Lewis's frequently problematic portrayals of women in his fiction grow not only out of his theoretical dislike of the emancipated woman but also out of his theological understanding of gender. Building on the biblical image of the relationship of God and humanity as one of a marriage, Lewis casts his fictional couples as representations of the relationship between the masculine divine and the feminine mortal. While focusing on communicating spiritual truths, however, Lewis loses sight of social realities. In his final novel, Till We Have Faces, Lewis is able to get at the theological level by moving away from social context into the realm of myth.
Dynamic Localization of Protein Phosphatase Type 1 in the Mitotic Cell Cycle of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Protein phosphatase type I (PP1), encoded by the single essential gene GLC7 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, functions in diverse cellular processes. To identify in vivo subcellular location(s) where these processes take place, we used a functional green fluorescent protein (GFP)–Glc7p fusion protein. Time-lapse fluorescence microscopy revealed GFP–Glc7p localizes predominantly in the nucleus throughout the mitotic cell cycle, with the highest concentrations in the nucleolus. GFP–Glc7p was also observed in a ring at the bud neck, which was dependent upon functional septins. Supporting a role for Glc7p in bud site selection, a glc7-129 mutant displayed a random budding pattern. In α-factor treated cells, GFP–Glc7p was located at the base of mating projections, again in a septin-dependent manner. At the start of anaphase, GFP–Glc7p accumulated at the spindle pole bodies and remained there until cytokinesis. After anaphase, GFP–Glc7p became concentrated in a ring that colocalized with the actomyosin ring. A GFP–Glc7-129 fusion was defective in localizing to the bud neck and SPBs. Together, these results identify sites of Glc7p function and suggest Glc7p activity is regulated through dynamic changes in its location.
Auditory evoked averaged responses in monkeys.

Averaged responses evoked by tone-bursts were investigated in the alert, anesthetized, and sedated Rhesus monkey. Identified were a short latency (peak 13.5 msec) triphasic extracranial response and a longer latency (P1 38 msec, N1 93 msec, P2 152 msec, N2 199 msec) polyphasic intracranial response. The early and late components of the intracranial response seemed to originate in different auditory centers. It was concluded that, with intracranially implanted electrodes, determining averaged response thresholds for tone-bursts in the monkey sedated with phencyclidine hydrochloride is a reasonably accurate method of estimating behavioral thresholds of hearing.
Nutritional Deficiencies and Excesses

Dietary derangement as an agent of teratogenesis has special significance in the history of teratology. The production of congenital anomalies by deficiences of vitamin A and riboflavin marked the beginning of the experimental stage of this science. Since then, these and other nutritional manipulations have served as valuable tools in the development of models, as well as providing information of intrinsic interest in relation to both basic and clinical questions.
Structural basis for phosphomannose isomerase activity in phosphoglucose isomerase from Pyrobaculum aerophilum: a subtle difference between distantly related enzymes.

The crystal structure of a dual-specificity phosphoglucose/phosphomannose isomerase from the crenarchaeon Pyrobaculum aerophilum(PaPGI/PMI) has been determined in complex with glucose 6-phosphate at 1.16 A resolution and with fructose 6-phosphate at 1.5 A resolution. Subsequent modeling of mannose 6-phosphate (M6P) into the active site of the enzyme shows that the PMI activity of this enzyme may be due to the additional space imparted by a threonine. In PGIs from bacterial and eukaryotic sources, which cannot use M6P as a substrate, the equivalent residue is a glutamine. The increased space may permit rotation of the C2-C3 bond in M6P to facilitate abstraction of a proton from C2 by Glu203 and, after a further C2-C3 rotation of the resulting cis-enediolate, re-donation of a proton to C1 by the same residue. A proline residue (in place of a glycine in PGI) may also promote PMI activity by positioning the C1-O1 region of M6P. Thus, the PMI reaction in PaPGI/PMI probably uses a cis-enediol mechanism of catalysis, and this activity appears to arise from a subtle difference in the architecture of the enzyme, compared to bacterial and eukaryotic PGIs.
Synthesis, crystal structure, vibrational spectroscopy, optical properties and theoretical studies of a new organic-inorganic hybrid material: [((CH3)2NH2)(+)]6·[(BiBr6)(3-)]2.

A new organic-inorganic hybrid material, [((CH3)2NH2)(+)]6·[(BiBr6)(3-)]2, has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy and UV-Visible absorption. The studied compound crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1¯ with the following parameters: a=8.4749(6)(A), b=17.1392(12)(A), c=17.1392(12)(A), α=117.339(0)°, β=99.487(0)°, γ=99.487(0)° and Z=2. The crystal lattice is composed of a two discrete (BiBr6)(3-) anions surrounded by six ((CH3)2NH2)(+) cations. Complex hydrogen bonding interactions between (BiBr6)(3-) and organic cations from a three-dimensional network. Theoretical calculations were performed using density functional theory (DFT) for studying the molecular structure, vibrational spectra and optical properties of the investigated molecule in the ground state. The full geometry optimization of designed system is performed using DFT method at B3LYP/LanL2DZ level of theory using the Gaussian03. The optimized geometrical parameters obtained by DFT calculations are in good agreement with single crystal XRD data. The vibrational spectral data obtained from FT-IR and Raman spectra are assigned based on the results of the theoretical calculations. The energy and oscillator strength calculated by Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) results complements with the experimental findings. The simulated spectra satisfactorily coincide with the experimental UV-Visible spectrum. The results show good consistent with the experiment and confirm the contribution of metal orbital to the HOMO-LUMO boundary.
Race, Family Income, and Low Birth Weight

The relations among race, family income, and low birth weight were examined using information obtained from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, which conducted yearly interviews with a nationally representative sample of young women identified in the late 1970s. Data were available for these women and their offspring from 1979 through 1988. Maternal education, maternal age, age/parity risk, marital status, and smoking during pregnancy served as covariates in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. The risk of low birth weight among births to black women and white women who were poor was at similarly high levels regardless of whether poverty was determined prior to study entrance or during the study period. Longitudinal analyses showed an exceptionally large increase in risk of low birth weight among children born to women whose prior pregnancy ended in a low-birth-weight infant. These two findings emphasize the importance of factors antecedent to the pregnancy in the genesis of low birth weight.
Type 1 Diabetes—Reaping the Rewards of a Targeted Research Investment

The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) precipitated a major research effort to develop new approaches to achieve near-normal glycemic control in real-world settings in people with type 1 diabetes. Toward that end, a unique funding stream from the U.S. Congress-the Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes Research-has provided nearly $2.5 billion for research into the prevention, cure, and treatment of type 1 diabetes since 1998. This funding generated a targeted, sustained investment in type 1 diabetes research with six specific goals: identifying new therapeutic targets through the understanding of disease etiology and pathogenesis, preventing or reversing the disease, developing cell replacement therapy, improving management and care, preventing or reducing the complications, and attracting new talent and applying new technologies to type 1 diabetes research. This Perspective describes exciting results that have emerged from the investment and further advances on the horizon, including artificial pancreas technologies, new therapies for diabetic retinopathy, and breakthroughs in laboratory production of β-cells. The recent program extension enables us to build on this foundation and pursue key new initiatives to harness emerging technologies and develop the next generation of type 1 diabetes researchers.
Notes from the Field: Digging through a Revolution

When I tell people that I am an archaeologist, many times their first response is to ask about my favorite type of dinosaur. After rectifying that misconception--explaining that I’m more like Indiana Jones than Jurassic Park--people ask where I have worked. Although I have worked in a number of places, the majority of my excavation experience comes from Egypt. When people hear that, most of the time they express their life-long dreams to go on an excavation in the Saharan desert, where they are certain gold, mummies, curses and fame await. The air of mystery and intrigue that surrounds Egypt is a result of the enduring majesty of the Great Pyramids of Giza, Howard Carter and his excavation of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, and the more recent Indiana Jones movies, but the fervor of their sentiment is still apparent. Archaeological excavation in Egypt is unlike most other excavation work done today throughout the world. In Egypt, there is still a sense of the Victorian mentality, where local workmen do the digging while out-of-country archaeologists stand over the site, dictating what to do next. It is an antiquated system, but one which is the lifeblood for many people, including both Egyptians and non-Egyptians. Some of the best archaeologists are the local workmen, whose communities have been looking at the different colors of these sands for generations. The non-Egyptians who work in Egypt call themselves Egyptologists rather than archaeologists who simply excavate in Egypt. Egyptologists tend to focus more on historical texts and leave the heavy lifting of actual archaeological fieldwork to the local workmen. An excavation in Egypt tends to be unlike any other excavation, which can be a jarring experience for those trained
The selective catalytic reduction of NOx over Ag/Al2O3 with isobutanol as the reductant

Abstract This study investigates the potential of isobutanol (iBuOH) as a reductant for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx over 2 wt% Ag/Al2O3 between 150 and 550 °C and gas hourly space velocities (GHSV) between 10,000 and 35,000 h−1. The feed gas consists of 500 ppm NO, 5% H2O, 10% O2, and 375–1500 ppm iBuOH (C1:N ratios of 3–12); additionally, blends of 24 and 48% v/v iBuOH in gasoline are evaluated. Over 90% NOx conversion is achieved between 300 and 400 °C using pure iBuOH, including a 40% peak selectivity toward NH3 that could be utilized in a dual HC/NH3-SCR configuration. The iBuOH/gasoline blends are only able to achieve greater than 90% NOx conversion when operated at a GHSV of 10,000 h−1 and employing a C1:N ratio of 12. Iso-butyraldehyde and NO2 appear to function as intermediates in the iBuOH-SCR mechanism, which mirrors the mechanism observed for EtOH-SCR. In general, the performance of iBuOH in the SCR of NOx over a Ag/Al2O3 catalyst is comparable with that of EtOH, although EtOH/gasoline blends display higher NOx reduction than iBuOH/gasoline blends. The key parameter in employing alcohols in SCR appears to be the C OH:N ratio rather than the C1:N ratio.
The Global Cryosphere, Past, Present and Future

In the preface to THE GLOBAL CRYOSPHERE is the following: “This is the first textbook to address all the components of the Earth's cryosphere—all forms of snow and ice, both terrestrial and marine....
Establishment and potential snow storage capacity of willow (Salix spp.) living snow fences in south-central Minnesota, USA

Living snow fences (LSFs) are a cost-effective windbreak practice designed to mitigate blowing and drifting snow problems along transportation routes. Shrub-willows (Salix spp.) have been proposed as a LSF species to provide multiple benefits, given their potential to reach effective heights and densities soon after planting and provide a marketable biomass product. However, information regarding their establishment and snow storage capacity in LSF settings is limited. We investigated establishment and potential snow storage capacity of three shrub-willow varieties in LSF planting arrangements of two and four rows after one growing season post-coppice on a two-year-old root system in south-central Minnesota, USA. We found willows had an average survival of 89 %, an average height of approximately 1 m, and potential snow storage capacities ranging from 1 to 9 t m−1. Compared to the mean annual snow transport of the south-central region (39.9 t m−1), none of the willow LSF varieties and planting arrangements were able to trap all of the predicted blowing snow at the study site after two growing seasons post-coppice. However, using willow LSF models, we observed that willow LSFs could exceed local snow transport after 2–3 growing seasons post-coppice. Additionally, four-row willow LSF arrangements trapped approximately 20 % more snow than to two-row arrangements, and willow variety did not affect snow storage. These results add to the limited literature on shrub-willow LSFs and can guide the design of effective willow LSFs.
An Optimization Platform for Digital Predistortion of Power Amplifiers

The article introduces an integrated hardware/software codesign and test platform for the digital predistortion and power amplifier blocks of radiofrequency transceivers. The platform allows evaluation and optimization of system performance with minimum computational resources, contributing to higher design flexibility. The platform is demonstrated on a variety of power amplifiers.
Metabolic regulation of carbon flux during C4 photosynthesis

The potential for glycolate and glycine metabolism and the mechanism of refixation of photorespiratory CO2 in leaves of C4 plants were studied by parallel inhibitor experiments with thin leaf slices, different leaf cell types and isolated mitochondria of C3 and C4Panicum species. CO2 evolution by leaf slices of P. bisulcatum, a C3 species, fed glycolate or glycine was light-independent and O2-sensitive. The C4P. maximum and P. miliaceum leaf slices fed glycolate or glycine evolved CO2 in the dark but not in the light. In C4 species, dark CO2 evolution was abolished by the addition of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)4. The addition of maleate, a PEP carboxylase inhibitor, resulted in photorespiratory CO2 efflux by C4 leaf slices in the light also. However, PEP and maleate had no effect on either glycolate-dependent O2 uptake by the C4 leaf slices or on glycolate and glycine metabolism in C3 leaf slices. The rate of photorespiratory CO2 evolution in the C3Panicum species was 3 times higher than that observed with the C4 species. The ratio of glycolate-dependent CO2 evolution to O2 uptake in both groups was 1:2. Isolated C4 mesophyll protoplasts or their mitochondria did not metabolize glycolate or glycine. However, both C3 mesophyll protoplasts and C4 bundle sheath strands readily metabolized glycolate and glycine in a light-independent, O2-sensitive manner, and the addition of PEP or maleate had no effect. C4 bundle sheath- and C3-mitochondria were capable of oxidizing glycine. This oxidation was linked to the mitochondrial electron transport chain, was coupled to three phosphorylation sites and was sensitive to electron transport inhibitors. C4 bundle sheath- and C3-mitochondrial glycine decarboxylation was stimulated by oxaloacetate and NAD had no effect. In marked contrast, mitochondria isolated from C4 mesophyll cells were incapable of oxidizing or decarboxylating added glycine. The results suggest that in leaves of C4 plants bundle sheath cells are the primary site of O2-sensitive photorespiratory CO2 evolution and the PEP carboxylase present in the mesophyll cells has the Potential for efficiently refixing CO2 before it escapes out of the leaf. The relative role of the PEP carboxylase mediated CO2 pump and reassimilation of photorespiratory CO2 are discussed in relation to the apparent lack of photorespiration in leaves of C4 species.
OPTIMAL SIZING OF A PROOF-MASS ACTUATOR

A proof-mass actuator is a linear machine which is mounted to a structure for the purpose of acting as a linear force actuator to damp out vibrations in the structure, brought on by impulsive disturbances. Historically, such actuators have been designed under the constraints of damping improvement, by phase compensation, and the maximization of the actuator’s linear range of operation. Issues concerning the nonlinear behavior of the actuator, most notably its finite stroke length, have been addressed entirely by nonlinear control solutions. Here, it is shown that, at the natural frequency of a shingle-mode structure, the nonlinear behavior due to force saturation of the machine is highly dependent on the linear system design. A method is proposed whereby the actuator’s finite stroke length, and correspondingly its operating region which does not result in stroke saturation, are made constraints of the linear control system design. This method leads to a procedure to size a proof-mass actuator. Based on constrained optimization, the algorithm weighs the importance of stroke length, machine mass, and rated force-against the constraints of desired damping, linear region size, and operating region size.
Co-clustering of diseases, genes, and drugs for identification of their related gene modules

Finding gene clusters that can be shared between drugs and diseases plays an important role in drug discovery. Targeting disease causing genes directly in drug development can increase the chance of drug approval through the clinical phase. This paper introduces a new co-clustering approach on the tripartite graph of genes, drugs, and diseases. As a result of co-clustering, gene modules and their related drugs and diseases are identified. It is shown that identified gene modules are functionally related. In addition the resulted gene modules are closely connected to each other in the protein-protein interaction network compared to that of random gene selection. The resulting gene modules can be used for investigating the genes that can be targeted with new drugs for treatment of diseases that are co-clustered with them. The proposed method is scalable and can be used for other multi-view graph co-clustering applications like social networks.
Pharmacodynamic Study of Different Extract Parts of Mongolian Medicine Anari Bawei Powder

Objective: To study the main pharmacological effects of different extract parts of Mongolian medicine Anari Bawei powder. Methods: with the animal models of the gastric emptying, intestinal propulsion and gastric ulcer induced by pyloric ligation, the main pharmacological effects of different extract parts of Mongolian medicine Anari Bawei powder were studied .Results: the volatile oil part , the alcohol extract part and the water extract part of Anari Bawei powder could promote gastric emptying, promote intestinal propulsion and inhibit gastric ulcer formation; the alcohol extract part and the water extract part could inhibit rat gastric juice secretion, reduce gastric juice free acidity and total acidity, especially the amount of free acid in the acid. Conclusion: All the three extract parts of Mongolian medicine Anari Bawei powder are the active ingredients and should be retained when changing the pharmaceutical dosage form.
Tissue Testosterone and Dihydrotestosterone from Bilateral Testis Biopsies in Males with Varicocele

Nine males with varying degrees of subfertility with left varicocele underwent bilateral testicular biopsy for determination of testicular testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) content. Testicular tissue T and DHT levels varied greatly, and there was no significant difference when the group T and DHT content of the left testis was compared with that of the right testis. When the respective mean preoperative sperm count was compared with the bilateral tissue T and DHT content, no consistent relationship was found.
Whole-body Simultaneous Time-of-flight PET-MRI: Clinical Comparison with PET-CT

1853 Objectives Recently, a whole-body simultaneous system with time-of-flight (TOF) PET has been developed. We have compared the results of this new system with PET-CT in a cohort of clinical patients scanned with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). Methods All patients underwent a single-injection of FDG, with a dual-imaging protocol consisting of a PET-CT followed by PET-MRI scan. After standard diagnostic PET-CT examination, patients were then transferred to the TOF PET-MRI scanner, where whole body imaging was performed. Two radiologists evaluated MRI image quality on a 4 point scale (0 non-diagnostic; 1 poor; 2 good; 3 excellent). On both PET-MRI and PET-CT images, regions of FDG uptake suspicious for malignancy were identified by two readers independently, and categorized into 3 groups (identified on both PET-MRI and PET-CT, on PET-MRI but not on PET-CT, and on PET-CT but not PET-MRI) by consensus. Results Twenty-five oncologic patients (average age 64±15 yrs) were enrolled in the study. PET-CT occurred 72±14 min after injection of 10±1 mCi of FDG. The PET-MRI scan occurred 146±24 min after injection of FDG. The average length of the PET-CT scan was 21±7 min, while the average length of the PET-MRI scan was 56±19 min. All MRI images were rated as diagnostic; 64% as excellent, 32% as good, and 4% as poor; lower scores were related to motion and body size, with no specific artifacts attributable to the PET hardware. 82% of suspicious FDG lesions were observed prospectively in the same location for both PET-CT and PET-MRI. We also observed that TOF reconstruction improved conspicuity of FDG avid lesions. Conclusions TOF PET-MRI provided comparable image quality and diagnostic ability as PET-CT, despite imaging at a later time point. However, current PET-MRI protocols required longer acquisition times compared with PET-CT. TOF PET-MRI demonstrates great promise for clinical imaging. Research Support Research Grant, General Electric Company
Severe compensatory hyperhidrosis after thoracic sympathectomy.

A man was evaluated at age 35 years for burning/shooting pain in his left chest and drenching sweats affecting the lower trunk and legs since bilateral T2-T6 sympathectomy at age 22 for palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis. Thermoregulatory sweat test showed anhidrosis above T5/6 (sparing the left T2 dermatome) with rapid and profuse sweating elsewhere (figure). Severe compensatory hyperhidrosis is a known complication of extensive sympathectomy. Limited sympathotomy (disruption of fibers between stellate and T2 ganglia) or sympathectomy (e.g., T4 ganglionectomy) might be preferred for medically refractory palmar hyperhidrosis, maximizing palmar dryness, minimizing compensatory hyperhidrosis, and rarely causing intercostal neuralgia or Horner syndrome.1,2 Medical therapy for hyperhidrosis, whether primary or compensatory, may include topical agents, oral medications with anticholinergic properties, or botulinum toxin injections; all were unsuccessful or not tolerated in this patient.
An EKF-based algorithm for PN code tracking in the presence of narrowband interference and multipath

A code-tracking algorithm based on the extended Kalman filter (EKF), that provides both code synchronization and joint estimates of interferer and channel parameters is described. It is assumed that the interference in direct sequence spread spectrum communications can be modeled by an N-th order autoregressive (AR) process and the channel by a finite impulse response (FIR) filter. A composite channel, equivalent to the convolution of the AR coefficients alpha /sub n/ and channel coefficients f/sub n/ is constructed, yielding a set of parameters beta /sub m/. The received waveform is shown to be a linear function of the alpha and beta coefficients, which can be directly estimated by a Kalman filter. The code delay tau is viewed as a nonlinear parameter, which can likewise be estimated after an appropriate linearization, using the EKF. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated by computing the average bit-error rate (BER) of a digital RAKE receiver that uses the joint delay, channel, and interferer estimates derived from the EKF. >
PDGFRβ + /c-kit + pulp cells are odontoblastic progenitors capable of producing dentin-like structure in vitro and in vivo

Successful pulp regeneration depends on identification of pulp stem cells capable of differentiation under odontoblastic lineage and producing pulp-dentinal like structure. Recent studies demonstrate that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) plays an important role in damage repair and tissue regeneration. The aim of this study was to identify a subpopulation of dental pulp cells responsive to PDGF and with dentin regeneration potential. Pulp tissues were isolated from 12 freshly extracted human impacted third molars. Pulp cells were sorted by their expression of PDGFRβ and stem cell marker genes via flow cytometry. For the selected cells, proliferation was analyzed by a colorimetric cell proliferation assay, differentiation was assessed by real time PCR detection the expression of odontoblast marker genes, and mineralization was evaluated by Alizarin Red S staining. GFP marked PDGFRβ+/c-kit+ pulp cells were transplanted into emptied root canals of nude rat lower left incisors. Pulp-dentinal regeneration was examined by immunohistochemistry. PDGFRβ+/c-kit+ pulp cells proliferated significantly faster than whole pulp cells. In mineralization media, PDGFRβ+/c-kit+ pulp cells were able to develop under odontoblastic linage as demonstrated by a progressively increased expression of DMP1, DSPP, and osteocalcin. BMP2 seemed to enhance whereas PDGF-BB seemed to inhibit odontoblastic differentiation and mineralization of PDGFRβ+/c-kit+ pulp cells. In vivo root canal transplantation study revealed globular dentin and pulp-like tissue formation by PDGFRβ+/c-kit+ cells. PDGFRβ+/c-kit+ pulp cells appear to have pulp stem cell potential capable of producing dentinal like structure in vitro and in vivo.
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Modeling

A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is a complex system consisting of different components, in which interconnected physical phenomena occur simultaneously and contribute to determine the global thermo-electrochemical response of the system. The simulation and prediction of the response of an SOFC are of paramount importance for the analysis of possible applications without resorting to extensive experimental investigations. Simulating the SOFC response requires to develop reliable models that can describe the significant phenomena occurring in the system. Different approaches can be followed for the SOFC modeling, depending on the goals of the model. This chapter will provide an introduction to SOFC modeling focusing on a macroscopic, physically based approach.
“Cleansing the air at the expense of waterways?” Empirical evidence from the toxic releases of coal-fired power plants in the United States

Environmental policies in the United States have primarily taken the form of media-specific regulations that emphasize end-of-pipe pollution control. This can lead to the shifting of pollution across environmental media, thereby having the potential to solve one environmental problem by creating a new problem. This study uses data from 228 coal-fired power plants that report to the Toxics Release Inventory to conduct an empirical examination of the extent to which media-specific regulation has caused power plants to shift their toxic air releases to waterways, land, or transfers for offsite recycling facilities. Controlling for plant-level fixed effects, scale of production, and environmental inspections and enforcement under air regulation, this study finds that adopting tougher air pollution regulation that designates counties as being in nonattainment status with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards significantly increased toxic releases to waterways and land.
Evaluating Electroencephalography Engagement Indices During Video Game Play.

Given the growing popularity of video gaming and off-the shelf electroencephalographic (EEG) devices like the Emotiv, there is a growing need for methods of measuring gamer experience in realtime. Engagement indices developed to monitor human engagement have yet to be implemented with the Emotiv. In this study, we compared three different engagement indices during various video game modalities using the Emotiv device. EEG data was collected from 30 participants during video game play of Super Meat Boy. Two EEG indices – frontal theta and the ratio of beta to (alpha+theta) showed a significant difference in engagement level among the different gaming modalities with the increasingly difficult cognitive demand. Our findings suggest that the Emotive EEG can be to measure a player’s varying levels of engagement as they play a video game.
Therapeutic Potential of Peptides Derived from Intrinsically Disordered Protein Regions

The conformational duality of the prion protein translates into strikingly distinct fates this protein can impart on the living systems. In one case, the outcome is the irrevocable neurodegeneration and fatal disease. In stark contrast, the cellular form of the prion protein (PrPc) partakes in life-sustaining cellular functions that include neuroprotection, signal transduction, and angiogenesis. Importantly, PrPc has been shown to be involved in a natural response to vascular injury, with the cell damage and death due to stroke being significantly increased in its absence. In vascular injury, including stroke, one of the key cell death-triggering events is the release of toxic levels of free hemin. A potential solution to this damage is a peptide therapeutic agent that would neutralize hemin, thus reducing deleterious effects of bleeding. Both the hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke (with “microbleeds” inflicting secondary damage) would benefit from this approach. Using biophysical methods, we have identified a peptide derived from the intrinsically disordered PrPc N-terminus and tested a hypothesis that this hemin-sequestering fragment could bind and neutralize hemin leading to reduction in brain damage due to bleeding. We employed fluorescence, surface plasmon resonance, and a well-established mouse model of intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke (ICH) to carry out these studies. Neurological/behavioral deficiencies and brain tissue damage caused by stroke were tested in the presence and absence of the peptide treatment. Our results indicate that the peptide derived from the intrinsically disordered prion domain binds hemin and reduces deleterious effects of stroke in-vivo, making it a strong candidate for further development as a novel therapeutic intervention in vascular injury events.
Cannabinoid Receptor 1 Gene by Cannabis Use Interaction on CB1 Receptor Density.

Abstract Background: Because delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, binds to cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors, levels of CB1 protein could serve as a pote...
Detecting Below 3 nm Particles Using Ethylene Glycol-based Ultrafine Condensation Particle Counter

An ethylene glycol based ultrafine condensation particle counter (EG- UCPC) was developed by modifying the laminar flow ultrafine condensation particle counter which was originally developed by Stolzenburg and McMurry (1991) (1). Prior to experiments, theoretical analyses were performed using different working fluids to predict activation efficiency and condensational growth after activation. Ethylene glycol was chosen as the working fluid since it is less toxic than other compounds investigated and it has a predicted 50% cutoff diameter is below 2 nm. Experiments were performed using sodium chloride, ammonium sulfate, and silver as test aerosols. To obtain the activation efficiency from the experimental data we have accounted the size dependence of input particle size distribution and particle penetration within the diffusion-broadened mobility window of transfer function of the DMA. The 50% cutoff sizes of negatively charged particles are 1.3, 1.3, and 1.5 nm mobility diameter for sodium chloride, ammonium sulfate, and silver, respectively. The lower cutoff size for the first two compounds suggests that ethyl- ene glycol vapor heterogeneously nucleates more easily on hygroscopic material.
Crumb Rubber as a Sustainable Aggregate in Chip Seal Pavement

The U.S. companies need to mine billions of tons of raw natural aggregates each year. In the same time, billions of scrap tires are going to landfills every year which makes the replacement of using natural aggregate with recycled and sustainable one is more beneficial to both industry and environment. This paper presents an extensive study on the performance of the chip seal pavement surfaces in terms of aggregate retention and performance. This study introduces a new eco-friendly chip seal by implementing the crumb rubber made of recycled tires as aggregates for such surface dressing. Twenty four specimens of chip seal were prepared and tested under three tests investigating the aggregate retention. The tests included the standard Vialit test, modified Vialit test, and sand patch test. Two types of emulsions, two types of binders, and three types of aggregates including the crumb rubber were examined in the tested specimens. This study revealed that the crumb rubbers from recycled tires would be used in the chip seal as aggregates but it is preferable to be used in conjunction with the conventional aggregates. The crumb rubber showed a remarkable performance in aggregate retention. This performance was mainly because of the low weight of the crumb rubber and its rough surface, which increased holding the crumb rubber into the asphalt emulsion or binder. In addition, crumb rubber as a partial or total replacement for the mineral aggregate was successfully implemented in the field using the traditional procedure and equipment.
State Mindfulness as a Mediator of the Effects of Exposure to Nature on Affect and Psychological Well-Being

Abstract Participants (N = 94) were randomly assigned to one of two experimental conditions, watching a brief video of a nature scene or of an urban scene. Following the video exposure, participant...