cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High resolution rotational CARS spectrum of oxygen

Abstract A low frequency, high resolution CARS spectrometer is described which has been used to resolve the closely spaced Δ N = 2, Δ J = 2 triplets of oxygen in the pure rotational Raman spectrum. The transition frequencies and intensities from N = 1–19 are extracted from the experimental data with the aid of spectral simulation routines that account for the ∥χ∥ 2 interference effects and the contribution of various line broadening mechanisms to the CARS spectrum. The frequencies match well those predicted using molecular constants obtained from magnetic dipole microwave studies and a Hamiltonian appropriate to a coupling scheme intermediate between Hund's cases (a) and (b). A small, systematic discrepancy is observed between experimental and theoretical intensities which may result from a J dependent linewidth variation within each triplet.
Counter-current chromatography: simple process and confusing terminology.

Abstract The origin of counter-current chromatography is briefly stated, followed by a description of the mechanism of elution of solutes, which illustrates the elegance and simplicity of the technique. The CCC retention equation can be mentally derived from three facts; that a substance with a distribution coefficient of 0 elutes at the mobile phase solvent front (one mobile phase volume); and one with a distribution coefficient of 1 elutes at the column volume of mobile phase; and solutes with higher distribution coefficients elute at additional multiples of the stationary phase volume. The pattern corresponds to the classical solute retention equation for chromatography, VR = VM + KCVS, KC not being limited to integer values. This allows the entire pattern of solute retention to be visualized on the chromatogram. The high volume fraction of stationary phase in CCC greatly enhances resolution. A survey of the names, symbols and definitions of several widely used chromatography and liquid–liquid distribution parameters in the IUPAC Gold Book and in a recent summary in LC–GC by Majors and Carr revealed numerous conflicts in both names and definitions. These will retard accurate dissemination of CCC research unless the discordance is resolved. It is proposed that the chromatography retention parameter, KC, be called the distribution coefficient and that a new biphasic distribution parameter, KΔ(A), be defined for CCC and be called the species partition ratio. The definition of VM should be clarified. VH is suggested to represent the holdup volume and VX is suggested for the extra-column volume. HV and HL are suggested to represent the volume and length of a theoretical plate in CCC. Definitions of the phase ratio, β, conflict and should be clarified.
Fundamental modular region, Boltzmann factor and area law in lattice theory

Abstract The thermodynamic limit of lattice gauge theory is derived in a gauge which is optimized to make all link variables as close to unity as possible. The derivation rests upon (1) a precise bound on the fundamental modular region and (2) a direct evaluation of the functional integral of the Wilson lattice by the saddle-point method that is valid in the thermodynamic limit. The result confirms the calculational scheme obtained previously, which differs from the Faddeev-Popov scheme by the incorporation of non-perturbative effects, but which remains perturbatively renormalizable. The lattice Faddeev-Popov propagator, which appears in the modified action, acquires a dipole singularity at zero momentum, characteristic of long range correlation. This is sufficient to produce an area law for Wilson loops, provided that unevaluated terms do not cancel the effect found.
Brief Robust output tracking for uncertain/nonlinear systems subject to almost constant disturbances

In this paper, we consider uncertain/nonlinear systems subject to unknown constant disturbance inputs. We wish to design state feedback controllers which ensure that the system output asymptotically tracks a specified constant reference signal and all states are bounded. The controllers we consider are PI in the sense that they consist of a piece which depends linearly on the state and another piece which depends on the integral of the output tracking error. Our main result reduces the original problem to a stabilization problem for an associated augmented system which we call the derivative augmented system. We obtain controller design procedures for specific classes of uncertain/nonlinear systems. Then we extend these results to the situation in which the reference signal and the disturbance are not necessarily constant but asymptotically approach a constant.
Pulse radiolysis study of the mechanism of electron trapping in alcohol glasses at 77°K

Abstract Trapped electron spectra in pulse-irradiated 2-propanol glass at 77°K shift toward the blue on a μsec timescale. Solute effects indicate that molecular reorientation around the electron is responsible for the transient spectral shift rather than a redistribution of electrons among traps.
Asymmetry requirements in the photosynthetic reaction center of Rhodobacter capsulatus

Nine large-scale symmetry reaction center mutants were constructed in Rhodobacter capsulatus by replacing segments of the M subunit gene with the homologous region of the L subunit gene. Between them, the mutations resulted in symmetrization of essentially the entire region from the carboxy terminal portion of the C helix through most of the E helix. The amino acids in this region define about 80% of the environment of the reaction center cofactors. These studies show that roughly 80% of the amino acids that come in close contact with the cofactors involved in initial electron transfer can be made symmetric in a piecewise manner without loss of the ability to grow photoheterotrophically. However, the amino acid regions near the quinones and iron atom are much more sensitive to symmetrization and most of the large-scale changes in this region resulted in the loss of photosynthetic viability, probably due to loss of stable reaction centers from the photosynthetic membrane. More detailed analysis of the isolated photosynthetic membranes from these mutants showed that in all cases but one, there was some amount of charge separation occurring in the mutant reaction centers. This bank of mutants serves as a useful starting point for more detailed studies of the differential molecular interactions which occur between the two reaction center subunits and their associated cofactors.
Role of Cysteine Residues in Pseudouridine Synthases of Different Families

The pseudouridine synthases catalyze the isomerization of uridine to pseudouridine in RNA molecules. An attractive mechanism was proposed based on that of thymidylate synthase, in which the thiol(ate) group of a cysteine side chain serves as the nucleophile in a Michael addition to C6 of the isomerized uridine. Such a role for cysteine in the pseudouridine synthase TruA (also named Psi synthase I) has been discredited by site-directed mutagenesis, but sequence alignments have led to the conclusion that there are four distinct "families" of pseudouridine synthases that share no statistically significant global sequence similarity. It was, therefore, necessary to probe the role of cysteine residues in pseudouridine synthases of the families that do not include TruA. We examined the enzymes RluA and TruB, which are members of different families than TruA and each other. Substitution of cysteine for amino acids with nonnucleophilic side chains did not significantly alter the catalytic activity of either pseudouridine synthase. We conclude, therefore, that neither TruB nor RluA require thiol(ate) groups to effect catalysis, excluding their participation in a Michael addition to C6 of uridine, although not eliminating that mechanism (with an alternate nucleophile) from future consideration.
Plasma line shapes for selected transitions in hydrogen-, helium- and lithium-like ions

Abstract We give a description of a simple set of computer programs that may be used to calculate spectral line shapes for selected transitions of H-like, He-like and Li-like ions. The transitions are calculated in the standard quasi-static ion and impact electron approximations, which will give accurate profiles over most of the regions of temperature and density of interest. The programs run extremely rapidly on large-scale mainframe computers and may also be used to perform these calculations efficiently on small desk-top computers without loss of accuracy.
Studies on the stereoselective hydroboration of vinyl ethers

Abstract The diastereoselective hydroboration/oxidation of several asymmetric vinyl ethers is presented.
The solubility of high molecular weight n-alkanes in supercritical carbon dioxide at pressures up to 50 MPa

Abstract Solubilities of n -tetracosane, n -pentacosane, n -hexacosane, n -heptacosane and n -nonacosane in supercritical carbon dioxide were measured in the pressure range 10–50 MPa and 313 K. The solubility data were found to be internally self-consistent according to the theory of dilute solutions. Krichevskii parameters were calculated from the data and exhibited regular trends with the carbon number of the n -alkane. The Krichevskii parameter vs carbon number behavior was also consistent with that found in our earlier work for mixtures of low and high molecular weight n -alkanes in carbon dioxide.
Noise Management in Twenty-First Century Libraries: Case Studies of Four U.S. Academic Institutions

University libraries have had to provide acceptable noise levels for many years and this pressure has not diminished in the twenty-first century. Library space has to be utilized to ensure noise levels are best managed. A study was undertaken across four university libraries in South Florida to determine how universities utilized their limited space to satisfy both individual and collaborative study needs of their students. Directors and key librarians were surveyed and interviewed, and on-site visits were conducted. Results supported findings from the literature indicating that it is best to observe students’ natural use of library space and designate those areas accordingly. Additionally, it was found that current pedagogical practices place a greater need for group study spaces, which compete against the vital need for quiet study areas. It was also discovered that designated floor levels used to separate sound are compromised by popular open mezzanine designs that allow sound to permeate between floor...
Novel stent and delivery systems for the treatment of bifurcation lesions: porcine coronary artery model.

Abstract Background In percutaneous treatment of bifurcation coronary lesions , side-branch restenosis remains a significant limitation in current therapeutic approaches. Coronary stents with a side aperture and a sleeve may be clinically advantageous to maintain access to side branch, stabilize the side-branch orifice, and deliver the appropriate drug to the side-branch ostium. Methods A novel stent system (PETAL stent; Advanced Stent Technologies, Pleasanton, CA), incorporating a side aperture with deployable struts, was compared within porcine coronary model to the prior stent version having only the side aperture (SLK-View stent). In six pigs, each stent was implanted either in the left anterior descending coronary artery or the left circumflex coronary artery with adjunctive kissing balloon dilatation . At 28-day follow-up, coronary angiography was performed. Result A total of six SLK-View stents and six PETAL stents were implanted in coronary arteries without any complication, and adjunctive kissing balloon dilatations were successful in all lesions. Quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) data at 28 days showed that PETAL stents exhibited superior QCA in mean diameter compared with SLK-View stents for side branch, inferring efficacy of PETAL ostial struts. Conclusion AST-PETAL stent has the potential to be a new solution for treatment of bifurcation lesions. Antirestenosis drug elution should be considered with this successful platform.
Salient Features of the Harnischfeger-Wiley Model

tutional characteristics of schools merits the attention of both researchers and educators. Its implications for policy at all levels of the educational sphere deserve the serious consideration of persons whose decisions are aimed at increasing the academic achievement of schoolchildren. The Harnischfeger-Wiley model focuses on the amount of instructional time to which students are exposed in school and the amount of time they actually spend learning. Exposure to learning is related to institutional factors and teacher characteristics which determine the organization of curricular activities in a child's day. The amount of time actually spent learning is associated with pupil characteristics and with exposure to instruction. In the first section of the paper, I will explicate the model and point out its properties, underlying assumptions, and location in the literature on achievement. In the second section I will describe and critique
Lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV): subgenomic mRNAs, mRNA leader and comparison of 3'-terminal sequences of two LDV isolates.

Abstract The 3'-terminal 1314 nucleotides of the genome of one isolate of lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus, LDV-P, has been derived by sequence analyses of cDNAs from several genomic libraries and compared to that of another LDV isolate, LDV-C (Godeny et al. (1990) Virol. 177, 768–771). The 3'-non-coding segment of 80 nucleotides of the two LDV genomes is identical, whereas marked, but varying nucleotide and amino acid divergence is apparent in the three upstream overlapping open reading frames (ORF). The third ORF from the 3'-end exhibits only 82% nucleotide and 90% amino acid identity, whereas the 3'-terminal ORF, which encodes the nucleocapsid protein, exhibits approximately 99% amino acid identity. The second 3'-terminal ORF encodes an 18.8 kDa protein which lacks N-glycosylation sites but possesses 2 or 3 potential transmembrane helices in the N-terminal half of the molecule. A similar membrane organization is observed for the corresponding protein of equine arteritis virus and the M protein of mouse hepatitis virus. The sequence analyses combined with Northern hybridization analyses of RNA from LDV-infected macrophages and spleens of LDV-infected mice indicate that the three ORFs encoded by the 3'-terminal end of the LDV genome are expressed via the three smallest mRNAs (mRNAs 6–8) of the seven subgenomic mRNAs of LDV (mRNAs 2–8), which range in size from about 0.8 to 3.6 kb. All mRNAs have been shown to carry poly(A)-tracts and a common leader sequence. The seven mRNAs were produced in infected macrophage cultures concomitantly with genomic LDV RNA. Maximum LDV RNA synthesis was observed between 6 and 8 h post-infection. The same seven subgenomic mRNAs were detected in macrophages infected with three different isolates of LDV, but different relative amounts of some of the mRNAs were produced. The relative proportions of molecules of mRNAs 1–8 present in 6 h LDV-P-infected macrophages were about 13, 5, 5, 8, 6, 11, 11 and 27% of the total, respectively.
Powers of discerning: challenges to understanding dispersal processes in natural populations

In this issue of Molecular Ecology, authors Robledo-Arnuncio & Garcia present a compelling approach for quantifying seed dispersal in plant populations. Building upon methods previously used for quantification of pollen dispersal, the authors not only examine the behaviour of the model with respect to sample sizes, dispersal distance, and the kurtosis of the dispersal function but also provide an empirical example using Prunus mahaleb.
Is a good elementary teacher always good? Assessing teacher performance estimates across subjects

Abstract In most elementary schools, teachers are responsible for several subjects. Various personnel policies, such as evaluating teachers based on value-added estimates aggregated across subjects or departmentalizing teachers, implicitly make assumptions about how closely teacher effectiveness is aligned across subjects. This paper reports on research exploring these issues using student–teacher linked data from North Carolina to assess the correlation of teacher productivity across math and reading. We find correlations of value-added estimates of about 0.6 and correlations in the underlying teacher effectiveness of 0.7–0.8. Assigning teachers to teach particular subjects based on their measured productivity could yield modest student achievement benefits.
A comparison of ethnic groups in the treatment of bulimia nervosa

This exploratory study investigated whether White and ethnic minority bulimic participants differ on key features of eating psychopathology and treatment outcome. Data from a randomized controlled multi-site study comparing the efficacy of either cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy (IPT) for 219 women with bulimia nervosa were analyzed. A significant baseline ethnic difference for body mass index (BMI) (p<.001) was found as well as an ethnicity by center interaction for a prior history of depression (p<.05). In addition, there was a significant ethnic difference for the Weight Concerns subscale of the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE). However, once BMI was controlled, this difference did not retain significance. At post-treatment, while all ethnic groups responded with higher abstinence rates to CBT than IPT, an ethnicity by treatment effect was found for the reduction of objective binge eating episodes. Black participants, compared to other groups, showed greater reductions in binge eating episodes when treated with IPT than CBT. Other findings related to secondary outcome measures, though limited by small sample size, are discussed as providing directions for future research.
Sociodemographic and Cultural Determinants of Sleep Deficiency: Implications for Cardiometabolic Disease Risk

Sleep is a biological imperative associated with cardiometabolic disease risk. As such, a thorough discussion of the sociocultural and demographic determinants of sleep is warranted, if not overdue. This paper begins with a brief review of the laboratory and epidemiologic evidence linking sleep deficiency, which includes insufficient sleep and poor sleep quality, with increased risk of chronic cardiometabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension. Identification of the determinants of sleep deficiency is the critical next step to understanding the role sleep plays in human variation in health and disease. Therefore, the majority of this paper describes the different biopsychosocial determinants of sleep, including age, gender, psychosocial factors (depression, stress and loneliness), socioeconomic position and race/ethnicity. In addition, because sleep duration is partly determined by behavior, it will be shaped by cultural values, beliefs and practices. Therefore, possible cultural differences that may impact sleep are discussed. If certain cultural, ethnic or social groups are more likely to experience sleep deficiency, then these differences in sleep could increase their risk of cardiometabolic diseases. Furthermore, if the mechanisms underlying the increased risk of sleep deficiency in certain populations can be identified, interventions could be developed to target these mechanisms, reduce sleep differences and potentially reduce cardiometabolic disease risk.
An Introduction to Mass Spectrometry Applications in Biological Research

Mass spectrometry involves the measurement of the mass-to-charge ratio of ions. It has become an essential analytical tool in biological research and can be used to characterize a wide variety of biomolecules such as sugars, proteins, and oligonucleotides. In this review, a brief history of mass spectrometry is discussed, and the basic principles of the technology are introduced. A summary of some current applications is provided, as are examples of recently published research. The current methods used to identify, quantify, and characterize proteins and peptides are then reviewed. The range of applications of mass spectrometry is considerable and only promises to grow as the technology continues to improve.
SU-GG-J-129: Dosimetric Correction for Lung Aperature Used in Mouse Irradiation Experiments for a 250 KVp Orthovoltage Unit

Purpose: Mouse lung irradiation experiments are being carried out to investigate radiation induced pulmonary fibrosis. The irradiation setup involves a mouse pie cage device to irradiate 10 mice simultaneously with concentric radiation shields to protect critical organs and a plastic bag containing anesthetic isoflurane gas. The objective is to provide accurate dosimetric evaluation for irradiating mouse lungs with the above setup. Method and Materials: The irradiator is a Philips RT‐250 orthovoltage unit. A 12.5 cm diameter cone and 250 kVp X‐rays were used for irradiation. The procedure for evaluating dose rate consists of: dose calibration for the open cone as per standard protocol, output factor measurement of the shielded field, and percentage depth dose (PDD) comparison of the concentric aperture versus the open cone. The actual mouse irradiation setup also involves a ∼1.0 cm airgap, off‐axis prescription point, and the plastic bag. These dosimetric effects were accounted for as correction factors in the formulism for irradiation time calculation. Dose enhancement at the surface caused by photoelectrons and Compton electrons from the shielding material was also studied. Results: Results showed a cumulative 21.3% drop of dose rate due to attenuation from the bag (1.2%), inverse square law fall‐off (6.3%), and output ratio of the narrow aperture contributing the remaining 13.8% drop. The off‐axis effect found was minimal. Also there was a drop in PDD due to the reduced field size. An increased surface dose from electronsscattered off the shield was noticed from the surface dose profile. This extra surface dose was reduced by the airgap and plastic bag, thereby providing skin sparing for small animal irradiation. Conclusion: More accurate dose delivery will be achieved when the correction factors are applied. By adding a thin attenuating material and airgap, surface dose due to Compton electrons and photoelectrons can be reduced.
Mating behavior and methyl farnesoate levels in male morphotypes of the spider crab, Libinia emarginata (Leach)

Abstract We presently recognize at least six male morphotypes in Libinia emarginata which differ with respect to their appearance and reproductive behavior. The primary reproductives have a large carapace, large claws and their exoskeletal epicuticle is worn away, giving them an “abraded” appearance. These animals also have large reproductive system indices (RI), and high methyl farnesoate (MF) blood levels. Smaller abraded males with short claws do not compete with the larger aggressive ones, but employ alternative tactics such as “sneak mating” and female mimicry. They also have large RIs and high levels of MF in their blood. Unabraded morphs of any size do not attempt to mate. Their MF levels are lower (usually one half that of the abraded males) as are their RIs, suggesting that they are in a state of reproductive diapause. Incompletely abraded males have intermediate levels of MF and will attempt mating in the absence of the large-claw abraded ones. This relationship between behavior and hormone level suggests that MF may be involved in determining the type of mating behavior displayed by the different male morphotypes.
Primary Prevention of Chronic Disease among Children: The School-Based "Know Your Body" Intervention Trials

The "Know Your Body" project, initiated in 1975 with funding from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood and the National Cancer Institutes, was developed in response to the empirically-validated suggestion that the primary prevention of chronic disease should begin in childhood. The aim of the program is to favorably modify the population distributions of risk factors for these diseases through changes in their behavioral antecedents. The program is classroom-based and teacher-delivered, and consists of three primary intervention foci: diet, physical activity, and cigarette smoking prevention. The program was subjected to a field trial among two demographically dissimilar populations of schoolchildren in the New York City area. After five years of intervention in one of the populations, the program was associated with significant favorable changes in blood total cholesterol levels and dietary intake of total fat and carbohydrate. In both populations, the program was associated with significant favorable changes in knowledge. After six years of intervention, the program was associated with a significant net reduction in the rate of initiation of cigarette smoking. If these findings can be replicated among diverse populations of schoolchildren, they suggest that such programs may be effective in reducing the population risk for the future development of chronic disease.
Analysis of large head-neck motions.

Abstract An eleven-element lumped-parameter two-dimensional model of the human head-neck system was developed to predict the motion of the head and neck under impact loadings and upper torso accelerations that represent “whiplash” conditions. This model incorporates mechanical analogies for the intervertebral disks, muscles, ligaments and articular facets. These simulations are composed of springs and dashpots with both linear and nonlinear moduli. The forces developed in these substructures are calculated as functions of the deformation of the system, and employed in the equations of motion. The model was tested by comparing the experimental and analytical results for the head motion determined from force inputs and data reported by other researchers for three different experiments. In general, highly satisfactory agreement was found to exist between predictions and data despite parameter matching problems. The forces and stresses extant in the individual subsystems were also examined for one of the test runs. Force histories were plotted for elements which were representative of the maximum force levels calculated. A procedure was also developed to approximate the strain in the spinal nerve. Strains greater than the current biological material test ranges were predicted, indicating the need for extended testing of these materials and the acquisition of more accurate element strength parameters. Methods to improve and expand the model are discussed, with particular reference to the extension of the model to three dimensions.
Properties of the rank transformation in factorial analysis of covariance

Real world data often fail to meet the underlying assumption of population normality. The Rank Transformation (RT) procedure has been recommended as an alternative to the parametric factorial analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The purpose of this study was to compare the Type I error and power properties of the RT ANCOVA to the parametric procedure in the context of a completely randomized balanced 3 × 4 factorial layout with one covariate. This study was concerned with tests of homogeneity of regression coefficients and interaction under conditional (non)normality. Both procedures displayed erratic Type I error rates for the test of homogeneity of regression coefficients under conditional nonnormality. With all parametric assumptions valid, the simulation results demonstrated that the RT ANCOVA failed as a test for either homogeneity of regression coefficients or interaction due to severe Type I error inflation. The error inflation was most severe when departures from conditional normality were extreme. Al...
Burns, biofilm and a new appraisal of burn wound sepsis.

Purpose: Following a burn, the wound may become colonized and septic complications may ensue. Many organisms, commonly isolated from burn wounds produce biofilms, which are defined as a collection of organisms on a surface surrounded by a matrix. Biofilms are associated with development of antibiotic resistant organisms and are refractory to the immune system. The presence of biofilm in the burn wound has not been documented. Methods: A study was undertaken using light and electron microscopy to determine the presence of biofilm in the burn wound. Specific stains were used to detect the presence of micro-organisms and associated carbohydrate, a major constituent of the biofilm matrix. A concurrent microbiological study of the burn wound was also carried out. Results: Biofilm was detected in ulcerated areas of the burn wound. Bacterial wound invasion with mixed organisms was also commonly detected. Conclusions: The finding of biofilm in the burn wound has significance in our understanding of burn wound sepsis and supports the evidence for early excision and closure of the burn wound. Due to the recalcitrant nature of biofilm associated sepsis and the difficulty in disrupting biofilm it has implications for the future development of wound care dressings.
Interspecific Variation in Primate Countershading: Effects of Activity Pattern, Body Mass, and Phylogeny

Countershading is defined as an animal displaying a dark dorsal and light ventral surface. This color pattern is found in numerous species, yet there are relatively few quantitative tests that examine its potential adaptive nature. The most frequently employed explanation for countershading is its ability to increase crypsis. I used a comparative approach to test 2 predictions of this hypothesis in primates. First, diurnal species should exhibit stronger countershading versus nocturnal species because light levels are low at night, reducing the benefit of countershading. Second, the degree of countershading should decrease as body mass increases because large animals should have a lower predation risk. I collected data from 171 museum specimens representing 63 primate species. Using digital photography, I quantified the average luminance values on the ventral and dorsal surfaces of each specimen and defined the degree of countershading as the ratio of these values. Nocturnal primates displayed similar levels of countershading compared to diurnal species. Previous studies have shown that some nocturnal primates are more active when moonlight levels are high, suggesting that countershaded pelages may act as an antipredator adaptation. I also found support for a negative relationship between body mass and the degree of countershading using both species values and phylogenetically independent contrasts. There were some exceptions to this pattern, including low levels of countershading for most callitrichine species, which may be due to the vertical positional behavior of many callitrichines, thereby reducing any benefit gained from countershading. In sum, variation in primate countershading is related to body mass and phylogeny, but not to activity pattern.
Relational Framing Theory: Utterance Form and Relational Context as Antecedents of Frame Salience

Using relational framing theory, this article examines the influence of utterance type and relational context on the salience of relational frames. The authors report the results of two studies that used scenarios to manipulate utterance form and information about the relationship between interactants. Participants rated the relevance of dominance-submissiveness and affiliation-disaffiliation frames to interpreting the hypothetical interactions. Results showed that judgments of dominance-submissiveness frame salience were sensitive to variations in utterance type and relational context, but the results were mixed for the affiliation-disaffiliation frame. The authors discuss the implications for relational framing theory and the possibility of an affiliation bias.
A design exercise for electives in control systems

At the University of Nevada, Reno, we strongly believe that effective control system education must include experimental exercises that complement the theory presented in lectures. Preferably, the exercises should include the design and implementation of a control system. Limited resources and a cap on the number of credit hours required for the undergraduate degree make it impossible to offer a laboratory course with every control class in most electrical engineering curricula. We have solved this problem by including a laboratory project in each of our two senior electives. Each project is a comprehensive modeling, analysis, design and implementation of a physical control system. The students are divided into groups and each group must independently complete the design project and submit a formal report summarizing their results and experiences. Each student must submit an individual commentary on the exercise and the experimental results obtained. Student feedback indicates an increased appreciation of the lecture material and an awareness of the limitations of the theory and simulation that was lacking prior to the introduction of laboratory exercises.
Poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma arising from a cervical bronchial cyst presenting as a thyroid mass

Bronchogenic cysts are a rare, benign congenital malformation derived from the embryonic foregut and occur most commonly in the mediastinum in close proximity to the thoracic trachea. They are thought to be derived from abnormal sequestrations or budding of the tracheal primordia which are pinched off at the time of fusion of the mesenchymal bars of the sternum, which leaves respiratory tissue outside the thorax.1 Ectopic locations in the neck, though rare, have been described mostly in the pediatric population.2 In adults, cervical bronchial cysts have been reported in the paratracheal, cutaneous, lingual, and supraclavicular areas.2 Malignant change within a bronchial cyst arising in the neck has never been reported. We present the first case of a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma arising from a cervical bronchial cyst and describe this disease in a patient presenting with a thyroid mass, cervical lymphadenopathy, and a preoperative needle biopsy suggestive of well differentiated thyroid carcinoma.
Simulation and sensitivity analysis of transmission line circuits by the characteristics method

In this paper we use the method of characteristics to derive a new simulation model of lossy transmission lines, and we present the sensitivity analysis in the time-domain. The simulation model is as fast as the recursive convolution model based on moment matching and Pade' approximation, but does not have the stability problem. The sensitivity analysis model is particularly useful for transmission line circuits containing nonlinear elements, and is believed to be the first time- domain model. Both the simulation and sensitivity analysis models are applicable to uniform and nonuniform transmission lines with arbitrary nonzero initial states. Also we show that any nonlinear circuit element has a very simple linear model in sensitivity analysis. Furthermore, we demonstrate that for any circuits, the modified nodal admittance(MNA) matrices in simulation and in sensitivity analysis equations are the same, therefore no LU decomposition is needed in sensitivity analysis. The contributions in this paper have been implemented into a general-purpose program CSSC(Circuit Simulation and Sensitivity Analysis with Characteristics) which shows excellent accuracy and efficiency in both simulation and sensitivity analysis of transmission line circuits.
Unlocking of remanent magnetization of pole heads by "rumble strips"

Perpendicular recording generally uses a "single pole" head, which acts on a recording medium with a perpendicularly oriented storage layer and a magnetically soft underlayer (SUL). The role of the SUL is to enforce the write field and is an essential part of a perpendicular recording system. The pole geometry gives rise to new phenomena, which can cause severe problems for disk drive applications. One such effect is a delayed relaxation of the magnetization of the pole tip after information has been written. The permanently magnetized pole tip erases the magnetization pattern written on the disk and hence this effect has been termed "erase-after-write" (EAW). The present contribution deals with the investigation of EAW phenomena.
Accelerating the local outlier factor algorithm on a GPU for intrusion detection systems

The Local Outlier Factor (LOF) is a very powerful anomaly detection method available in machine learning and classification. The algorithm defines the notion of local outlier in which the degree to which an object is outlying is dependent on the density of its local neighborhood, and each object can be assigned an LOF which represents the likelihood of that object being an outlier. Although this concept of a local outlier is a useful one, the computation of LOF values for every data object requires a large number of k-nearest neighbor queries -- this overhead can limit the use of LOF due to the computational overhead involved.Due to the growing popularity of Graphics Processing Units (GPU) in general-purpose computing domains, and equipped with a high-level programming language designed specifically for general-purpose applications (e.g., CUDA), we look to apply this parallel computing approach to accelerate LOF. In this paper we explore how to utilize a CUDA-based GPU implementation of the k-nearest neighbor algorithm to accelerate LOF classification. We achieve more than a 100X speedup over a multi-threaded dual-core CPU implementation. We also consider the impact of input data set size, the neighborhood size (i.e., the value of k) and the feature space dimension, and report on their impact on execution time.
Morphology of Mycoplasma laidlawii Type A II. Effect of Glucose on Growth and Cellular Morphology

Abstract Anderson, D. L. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis), M. E. Pollock, and L. F. Brower. Morphology of Mycoplasma laidlawii type A. II. Effect of glucose on growth and cellular morphology. J. Bacteriol. 90:1768–1777. 1965.—Cells of Mycoplasma laidlawii A grown in soy peptone-yeast extract (SP-YE) broth reached higher maximal titers than cells grown in SP-YE supplemented with 0.2% glucose, and remained viable longer than glucose-grown cells. Moreover, addition of glucose to SP-YE markedly affected the morphological developmental sequence of the organism. The diameter of glucose-grown cells at 28 to 40 hr was often two to four times that of cells grown without glucose; these large glucose-grown cells deteriorated progressively, and presumably liberated 0.1- to 0.25-μ small bodies. In contrast, pleomorphic 22- to 28-hr cells grown in SP-YE without glucose gave rise to uniform bodies 0.5 to 1.0 μ in diameter; limited numbers of 0.1- to 0.25-μ small bodies were also liberated in nonglucose cultures after 45 to 64 hr. Electron-microscopic counts of 16- to 64-hr cultures agreed well with counts of colony-forming units (CFU) when organisms larger than 0.25 μ were included in the microscopic counts. Small bodies, 0.1 to 0.25 μ in diameter, apparently did not contribute substantially to numbers of CFU. Droplet patterns of cells grown in Arginine Assay Medium and L15 Tissue Culture Medium were cleaner than patterns of cells grown in SP-YE.
Endocytosis of Cadherin from Intracellular Junctions Is the Driving Force for Cadherin Adhesive Dimer Disassembly

The adhesion receptor E-cadherin maintains cell-cell junctions by continuously forming short-lived adhesive dimers. Here mixed culture cross-linking and coimmunoprecipitation assays were used to determine the dynamics of adhesive dimer assembly. We showed that the amount of these dimers increased dramatically minutes after the inhibition of endocytosis by ATP depletion or by hypertonic sucrose. This increase was accompanied by the efficient recruitment of E-cadherin into adherens junctions. After 10 min, when the adhesive dimer amount had reached a plateau, the assembly of new dimers stalled completely. These cells, in a striking difference from the control, became unable to disintegrate both their intercellular contacts and adhesive dimers in response to calcium depletion. The same effects, but after a slightly longer time course, were obtained using acidic media, another potent approach inhibiting endocytosis. These data suggest that endocytosis is the main pathway for the dissociation of E-cadherin adhesive dimers. Its inhibition blocks the replenishment of the monomeric cadherin pool, thereby inhibiting new dimer formation. This suggestion has been corroborated by immunoelectron microscopy, which revealed cadherin-enriched coated pit-like structures in close association with adherens junctions.
Holographic optical metasurfaces: a review of current progress

In this article, we review recent developments in the field of surface electromagnetic wave holography. The holography principle is used as a tool to solve an inverse engineering problem consisting of designing novel plasmonic interfaces to excite either surface waves or free-space beams with any desirable field distributions. Leveraging on the new nanotechnologies to carve subwavelength features within the large diffracting apertures of conventional holograms, it is now possible to create binary holographic interfaces to shape both amplitude phase and polarization of light. The ability of the new generation of ultrathin and compact holographic optical devices to fully address light properties could find widespread applications in photonics.
Delayed Adaptation of the Heart to Stress Late Preconditioning

The early phase of preconditioning (PC) lasts 2 to 3 hours and protects against myocardial infarction, but not against stunning. In contrast, the late phase of PC lasts for 3 to 4 days and protects against both myocardial stunning and infarction, making this phenomenon more clinically relevant. Late PC is a genetic reprogramming of the heart that involves the activation of several stress-responsive genes, which ultimately results in the development of a cardioprotective phenotype. Sublethal ischemic insults release chemical signals (nitric oxide [NO], adenosine, and reactive oxygen species) that trigger a series of signaling events (eg, activation of protein kinase C, Src protein tyrosine kinases, Janus kinases 1/2, and nuclear factor-κB) and culminates in increased synthesis of inducible NO synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, heme oxygenase-1, aldose reductase, Mn superoxide dismutase, and probably other cardioprotective proteins. In addition to ischemia, heat stress, exercise, and cytokines can also induce a similar series of events. Perhaps most importantly, many pharmacologic agents (eg, NO donors, adenosine receptor agonists, endotoxin derivatives, or opioid receptor agonists) can mimic the effects of ischemia in inducing the late phase of PC, suggesting that this phenomenon might be exploited therapeutically. The purpose of this review is to summarize the mechanisms that underlie the late phase of ischemic PC.
Human Experimental Endotoxemia in Modeling the Pathophysiology, Genomics, and Therapeutics of Innate Immunity in Complex Cardiometabolic Diseases

Inflammation is a fundamental feature of several complex cardiometabolic diseases. Indeed, obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic dyslipidemia, and atherosclerosis are all closely linked inflammatory states. Increasing evidence suggests that the infectious, biome-related, or endogenous activation of the innate immune system may contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Here, we describe the human experimental endotoxemia model for the specific study of innate immunity in understanding further the pathogenesis of cardiometabolic disease. In a controlled, experimental setting, administration of an intravenous bolus of purified Escherichia coli endotoxin activates innate immunity in healthy human volunteers. During endotoxemia, changes emerge in glucose metabolism, lipoprotein composition, and lipoprotein functions that closely resemble those observed chronically in inflammatory cardiovascular disease risk states. In this review, we describe the transient systemic inflammation and specific metabolic consequences that develop during human endotoxemia. Such a model provides a controlled induction of systemic inflammation, eliminates confounding, undermines reverse causation, and possesses unique potential as a starting point for genomic screening and testing of novel therapeutics for treatment of the inflammatory underpinning of cardiometabolic disease.
Predictors of Growth and Distress Following Childhood Parentification: A Retrospective Exploratory Study.

While most of the existing literature has focused on the risks associated with parentification, we examined the potential benefits (i.e., posttraumatic growth) associated with parentification. Predictors of posttraumatic growth explored in our study included: attachment, differentiation of self, parentification, and resiliency. Partial support was found for the predictor variables leading to posttraumatic growth, with resilience emerging as the strongest predictor; resilience explained 14% of the variance in posttraumatic growth. These findings suggest that future research might explore additional resiliency factors that explain positive psychological outcomes related to childhood parentification.
A neural network aid for the early diagnosis of cardiac ischemia in patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain

Abstract Study objective: Chest pain is the second most common chief complaint presented to the emergency department. Although the causes of chest pain span the clinical spectrum from the trivial to the life threatening, it is often difficult to identify which patients have the most common life-threatening cause, cardiac ischemia. Because of the potential for poor outcome if this diagnosis is missed, physicians have had a low threshold for admitting patients with chest pain to the hospital, the vast majority of whom are found not to have cardiac ischemia. In an earlier study with a large chest pain patient registry, an artificial neural network was shown to be able to identify the subset of patients who present to the ED with chest pain who have sustained acute myocardial infarction. The objective of this study was to use the same registry to determine whether a network could be trained accurately to identify the larger subset of patients who have cardiac ischemia. Methods: Two thousand two hundred four adult patients presenting to the ED with chest pain who received an ECG were used to train and test an artificial neural network to recognize the presence of cardiac ischemia. Only the data available at the time of initial patient contact were used to replicate the conditions of real-time evaluation. Forty variables from patient history, physical examination, ECG, and the first set of chemical cardiac marker determinations were used to train and subsequently test the network. The network was trained and tested by using the jackknife variance technique to allow for the network to be trained on as many of the features of the small subset of ischemic patients as possible. Network accuracy was compared with 2 existing aids to the diagnosis of cardiac ischemia, as well as a derived regression model. Results: The network had a sensitivity of 88.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 84.8% to 91.4%) and a specificity of 86.2% (95% CI 84.6% to 87.7%) for cardiac ischemia despite the fact that a mean of 5% of all required network input data and 41% of cardiac chemical marker data were missing. The network also performed more accurately than the 3 other tested approaches. Conclusion: These data suggest that an artificial neural network might be able to identify which patients who present to the ED with chest pain have cardiac ischemia with useful sensitivities and specificities. [ Ann Emerg Med. 2002;40:575-583.]