cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teaching & learning in makerspaces: equipping teachers to become justice-oriented maker-educators

Making and makerspaces are becoming increasingly popular in K-12 schools. However, professional development on making for practicing teachers is under researched. We present case studies of two tea...
Hippocampal theta sequences in REM sleep during spatial learning

ABSTRACT Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is known to play a role in hippocampally-dependent memory, yet the activity and development of hippocampal neuronal ensembles during this state is not well understood. Here we investigated patterning of CA1 place cell activity by theta oscillations, a shared electrophysiological hallmark of both waking behavior and REM sleep, in male rats learning a spatial memory task. We report the existence of REM theta sequences, sequential reactivations of place cells in REM theta that parallel waking theta sequences. REM and wake theta sequences develop rapidly with experience, recapitulating behavioral sequences of compressed space in forward and reverse directions throughout learning. REM sleep exhibited a balance of forward and reverse sequences in contrast to predominantly forward wake theta sequences. Finally, we found that a CA1 neuronal population known to shift preferred theta phases in REM exhibited differential participation in wake and REM theta sequences. In particular, this phase-shifting population showed an increased contribution to REM theta sequence representations after behavioral performance asymptotes and the task is learned, supporting a previously hypothesized role in depotentiation. These findings suggest a role for REM associated theta sequences in state dependent memory functions of the hippocampal circuit, providing evidence that REM sleep is associated with sequence reactivation that can support consolidation of representations necessary for memory guided behavior.
The One Minute Examination

Most beef practitioners have found beef herd record-keeping to be a chore, too technically demanding for the results achieved. Practice Tip: during a one-minute pregnancy examination, enough information can be collected to provide a rewarding summary of the herd. It may also be a toe-in for other herd health or production management visits.
Rapid refeeding does not worsen anxiety in adolescents with anorexia nervosa: a pilot study.

The study aimed to describe the progression of state anxiety in adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) hospitalized on a high calorie refeeding (HCR) protocol. Participants, 12–21 years, admitted f...
HARI: Characteristics of a new defined lifestyle (DL) retirement planning product

Approximately 16% of the world's population lives in countries with some concept of a financial retirement plan. Of the remaining population, many do not have access to a Western-style retirement system, and the concept of Dharma subliminally influences them. Dharma, an Eastern philosophical system, recommends Sanyasa (renunciation), instead of comfortable retirement life, as a life goal. This paper proposes a new defined lifestyle retirement planning instrument, referred to as Holistic Annual Retirement Investment (HARI), a standardized, tradable, futures contract that can alter the way individuals think of and plan for their retirement according to their belief system. HARI is a hypothetical product based on the Eastern value system and needs improvement ideas from other researchers. So, the reader is urged to be imaginative and forgiving.
Semantic segmentation of mouse jaws using convolutional neural networks

Defects in tooth enamel are associated with a multitude of health conditions. An ongoing push to improve our understanding of enamel formation is generating a large number of mutant mouse lines to map protein function and create an Enamel Atlas. Reproducible analysis of a large amount of micro-CT data to compare these mouse lines necessitates an automated, high-throughput method of segmenting enamel, bone, and dentin. Neither simple binary segmentation nor region growing algorithms are effective for enamel in continuously growing mouse incisors due to the gradient in mineral content. To overcome these limitations, we have trained and validated a 3D convolutional neural network (CNN) to semantically segment mouse jaws. The network adopted a UNet architecture and incorporated training data from synchrotron- and laboratory-based sources. We evaluated the performance of the 3D CNN for the wildtype by comparing segmented outputs to ground truth labels and to outputs from a similarly trained 2D network. Next we tested the adaptability of the network by segmenting mutant tissues displaying phenotypes ranging in severity. Finally, we will demonstrate the use of CNN-segmented datasets to calculate metrics for quantitative comparison of the 3D mineral distribution between wildtype and mutant genotypes. We will discuss segmentation of the incisor, which allows us to track changes in the mineral during each developmental stage of enamel production. Our results show that the CNN-based segmentation and quantification pipeline is a versatile tool that will empower enamel researchers, help delineate mechanisms of disease, and enable the development of new approaches of intervention.
The microbiome, gastrointestinal cancer, and immunotherapy.

The gastrointestinal tract greatly contributes to global cancer burden and cancer-related deaths. The microbiota represents the population of microorganisms that live in and around the body, located primarily in the gastrointestinal tract. The microbiota has been implicated in colorectal cancer development and progression, but its role in cancer therapy for the gastrointestinal tract is less defined, especially for extra-intestinal cancers. In this review, we discuss the past 5 years of research into microbial involvement in immune-related therapies for colorectal, pancreatic, hepatic, and gastric cancers, with the goal of highlighting recent advances and new areas for investigation in this field.
Sexual Shame as a Unique Distress Outcome of Morally Incongruent Pornography Use: Modifications and Methodological Considerations.

Researchers focused on the model of pornography problems due to moral incongruence (PPMI) have suggested that perceptions of addiction, stemming from a misalignment between one's moral values and online sexual behavior, may lead to heightened sexual shame. Even so, it has been suggested that the associations found in previous models of PPMI may have been inflated by the inclusion of the emotional distress subscale in the widely used Cyber Pornography Use Inventory (CPUI-9), leading many to use the abridged 4-item version (i.e., the CPUI-4), which excludes emotional distress. Prior models assessing sexual shame have yet to fully address this potential methodological limitation. Considering advances in the conceptualization of PPMI and recommendations concerning best practices, a sample of participants (N = 296) that reported using pornography in the last six months was utilized to compare findings from two moderated mediation models. The first model assessed the differential strength of effects when the subscales of the CPUI-9 were assessed as separate mediators of the associations between moral incongruence and sexual shame, while the second model examined whether such associations persisted when using the recommended CPUI-4. Model results provide further justification for previous findings, indicating that associations between constructs were not the sole result of emotional distress, which supports the utility of the CPUI-4 in models that include sexual shame. Findings provide added support for sexual shame as a unique outcome among those who, due to moral incongruence, perceive that they are addicted to Internet pornography.
The Effect of Lactic Acid on Mast Cell Function

THE EFFECT OF LACTIC ACID ON MAST CELL FUNCTION By Andrew Jason Spence, Bachelor of Science in Biology A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Biology at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2014 Major Director: John J. Ryan, Ph.D., Professor of Biology This study shows for the first time the effect that L-(+)-lactic acid has on mast cell activation. Lactic acid is a byproduct of anaerobic glycolysis and is associated with inflammatory environments such as wounds, tumors and, asthma. In this study, pre-treatment with lactic acid altered cytokine production by bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC). Specifically, lactic acid enhanced cytokine secretion following IgE cross-linking, but decreased IL-33 mediated cytokine production. These effects were altered by genetic background, since C57BL/6 mast cells demonstrated the aforementioned result, but lactic acid had no effect on IgE-mediated cytokine production in 129/SvJ mast cells. The affected cytokines included IL-6, TNF, MCP-1, MIP-1α, IL-13, and VEGF. Lactic acid pretreatment promoted a G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. Investigation into the IL-33 signaling pathway showed lactic acid decreased TAK1 and JNK phosphorylation, while increasing phosphorylated AKT levels. Blocking JNK and TAK1 with a small molecule inhibitor mimicked the effects of lactic acid. Interestingly, lactic acid significantly increased IL-33 mediated VEGF. An in vitro angiogenesis assay confirmed that mast cells were pro-angiogenic in a lactic acid-rich environment. Taken together, these data show that lactic acid impacts mast cell function, possibly promoting a pro-angiogenic, antiinflammatory phenotype.
On the Modeling of Accounting Information Systems and Auditing

The design of accounting systems and the design of auditing procedures and programs have generally been looked at as independent challenges. Accounting systems deal with recording of transactions while auditing focuses on test compliance. Consequently, the design of accounting systems and the design of auditing programs have been considered almost orthogonal processes. The development of databases and data processing systems have made this view of the world untenable because commonsense controls that make manual accounting systems amenable to efficient audits are not available in accounting systems. It is imperative that one unified model form the basis for the design of accounting systems and auditing programs. We present the criteria for such a model with illustration of Petrinet. The model is informed by developments in databases, workflow modeling in Information Engineering, Role Based Access Control modeling in computer systems, and the principles of mandatory and discretionary controls in security systems.
Feature construction in structural decision trees

STRUCT is a system that learns structural decision trees from positive and negative examples. The algorithm uses a modification of Pagallo and Haussler's FRINGE algorithm to construct new features in a first-order representation. Experiments compare the different feature construction strategies. The results show that a modified FRINGE algorithm improves accuracy, but that it is sensitive to the distribution of the examples.
Topological spin Hall effect resulting from magnetic skyrmions

The intrinsic spin Hall effect originates from the topology of the Bloch bands in momentum space. The duality between real space and momentum space calls for a spin Hall effect induced from a real space topology in analogy to the topological Hall effect of skyrmions. We theoretically demonstrate the topological spin Hall effect in which a pure transverse spin current is generated from a skyrmion spin texture.
The Serendip II Design

Serendip II is an automated system designed to perform a real time search for narrow band radio signals in the spectra of sources in a regularly scheduled, non-Seti, astronomical observing program. Because we expect Serendip II to run continuously without requiring dedicated observing time, we hope to survey a large portion of the sky at high sensitivity and low cost. Serendip II will compute the power spectrum using a 65,536 channel fast Fourier transform processor with a real time bandwidth of 128 KHz and 2 Hz per channel resolution. After searching for peaks in a 100 KHz portion of the radio telescope’s IF band, Serendip II will move to the next 100 KHz portion using a programmable frequency synthesizer; when the whole IF band has been scanned, the process will start again. Unidentified peaks in the power spectra are candidates for further study and their celestial coordinates will be recorded along with the time and power, IF and RF frequency, and bandwidth of the peak.
On the Application of Inertial Microfluidics for the Size-Based Separation of Polydisperse Cementitious Particulates

The early‐age performance of concrete is determined by the properties of the cementitious binder and the evolution of its chemical reactions. The chemical reactivity, and to some extent, the composition of cementitious particles can depend on particle size. Therefore, it is valuable to physically separate cementing minerals into well‐defined size classes so that the influences of both particle size and composition on reaction progress can be studied without the confounding effects of a broad particle size distribution. However, conventional particle separation methods (e.g., density fractionation, wet sieving, field-flow extraction, ultrasonification-sedimentation) are time-consuming and cumbersome and result in poor particle yields and size-selectivity, thus, making them unsuitable for processing larger volumes of cementitious powders (on the order of grams). This study applies a novel inertial microfluidics (IMF) based procedure to separate cementitious powders on the basis of their size. Special attention is paid to optimizing operating variables to ensure that particles in a fluid streamline achieve unique equilibrium positions within the device. From such positions, particles can be retrieved as per their size using symmetrical outlet configurations with tuned fluidic resistances. The approach is critically assessed in terms of: (1) its ability to separate cementitious powders into narrow size bins, and therefore its feasibility as a fractionation procedure, and (2) quantitatively relating the operating parameters to the particle yield and size selectivity. The study establishes metrics for assessing the ability of IMF methods to classify minerals and other polydisperse particles on the basis of their size.
A genetic algorithm based finger selection scheme for UWB MMSE rake receivers

Due to a large number of multipath components in a typical ultra wideband (UWB) system, selective rake (SRake) receivers, which combine energy from a subset of multipath components, are commonly employed. In order to optimize system performance, an optimal selection of multipath components to be employed at fingers of an SRake receiver needs to be considered. In this paper, this finger selection problem is investigated for a minimum mean square error (MMSE) UWB SRake receiver. Since the optimal solution is NP hard, a genetic algorithm (GA) based iterative scheme is proposed, which can achieve near-optimal performance after a reasonable number of iterations. Simulation results are presented to compare the performance of the proposed finger selection algorithm with those of the conventional and optimal schemes.
Forensic Uses of Clinical Assessment Instruments

Archer, Stredny, Wheeler, Introduction to Forensic Uses of Clinical Assessment Instruments. Sellbom, Anderson, The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2. Ben-Porath, The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form. Archer, Handel, The Minnesota Multiphasic Inventory-Adolescent. Morey, Meyer, The Personality Assessment Inventory. Craig, The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III: Uses in Forensic Settings. Weiner, The Rorschach Inkblot Method. Hare, Black, Walsh, The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised: Forensic Applications and Limitations. Book, Forth, Clark, The Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Youth Version. Zillmer, King, Forensic Neuropsychological Assessment. Achenbach, Rescorla, The Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA): Applications in Forensic Contexts. Abidin, Flens, Austin, The Forensic Uses and Limitations of the Parenting Stress Index.
Explosive-induced damage in porous sandstone

We have conducted a combined laboratory and computational effort to study the effect of overburden pressures on explosively damaged porous sandstone. We found that it was difficult to establish a dependence on confining pressure. The predominant effect of the explosion was compaction around the cavity, and macroscopic fractures were conspicuously absent.
Hypoplastic anemia in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: evolution of T cell-mediated suppression of erythropoiesis in early-stage and late-stage disease.

To define further the role of marrow T suppressor lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of the hypoproliferative anemia in all Rai clinical stages of B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), marrow erythroid progenitor cell (CFU-E and BFU-E) frequency, marrow T gamma lymphocyte frequency per 1,000 nucleated marrow cells, and T cell-erythroid progenitor cell interactions were examined in 30 CLL patients and normal control subjects. As compared with control subjects, decreased numbers of CFU-E and BFU-E were found in patient marrow depleted of neoplastic B cells in all Rai stages of the disease. As a group, Rai stage III through IV patients with or without aplasia (CLL-aplasia) had significantly fewer CFU-E and BFU-E than did Rai O through II stage patients. The numbers of T gamma cells infiltrating CLL marrows were increased 3, 9, and 20 times normal in Rai O through II, Rai III through IV, and CLL-aplasia groups, respectively. Removal of T cells from marrow increased growth of CFU-E and BFU-E in all Rai O through IV patients, but the increase was significant in the CLL-aplasia group only (P less than .05). However, autologous coculture of marrow T cells or T gamma cells but not B cells with marrow B + T-depleted null cells at ratios of 0.2:1 to 1:1 suppressed CFU-E and BFU-E growth in all three patient groups. We conclude that the hypoproliferative anemia occurring in the course of B cell CLL is due to gradual accumulation in the marrow of T gamma lymphocytes which suppress erythroid progenitor cell growth. T gamma cell suppression of erythropoiesis and marrow T gamma cell expansion is detectable in the earliest Rai stages of the disease.
Kinematics of Extragalactic Bulges: Evidence that some Bulges are Really Disks

Recent wor& on the dynamics of galaxy bulges has been dominated by two themes. (1) Bulges share the richness in kinematic structure that is currently being discovered in elliptical galaxies. This includes kinematic evidence for triaxiality and for accretion (counterrotating gas and stellar components). (2) The main subject of this paper is observational and theoretical evidence that some “bulges” are built secularly out of disk material. Many bulges show photometric and kinematic evidence for disklike dynamics. This includes (i) velocity dispersions σ much smaller than those predicted by the Faber-Jackson σ — M B correlation, (ii) rapid rotation V(r) that implies V/σ values well above the “oblate line” describing rotationally flattened, isotropic spheroids in the V/σ — ellipticity diagram, and (iii) spiral structure dominating the r 1/4 part of the galaxy. In these galaxies, the steep, r1/4-law central brightness profiles belong not to bulges but to disks. That is, some galaxy disks have central brightness profiles that are much steeper than the inward extrapolation of an exponential fit to the outer parts. These observations and n-body simulations of gas flow in nonaxisymmetric galaxies imply that high-central-concentration, flat components can be formed out of dis& gas that is transported toward the center by bars and oval distortions. The n-body models suggest further that some “bulges” are built of disk stars heated in the axial direction by resonant scattering off of bars. These effects are signs that important secular evolution processes are at work in galaxy disks.
Modelling the three dimensional structure of velocity storage in the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR)

It is shown that velocity storage can be generalized to three dimensions to explain the cross-coupling from horizontal slow phase velocity to vertical and roll eye velocity. The key conclusion is that the eigenvalues and the orientation of the eigenvectors of the system matrix associated with the velocity storage integrator are closely linked to the gravitational field. Gravity appears to maintain the eigenvectors with the smallest eigenvalues, i.e. the principal axes of storage, close to the spatial vertical regardless of head orientation. >
Diastolic Function in Heart Failure

Heart failure has reached epidemic proportions, and diastolic heart failure or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) constitutes about 50% of all heart failure admissions. Long-term prognosis of both reduced ejection fraction heart failure and HFpEF are similarly dismal. No pharmacologic agent has been developed that actually treats or repairs the physiologic deficit(s) responsible for HFpEF. Because the physiology of diastole is both subtle and counterintuitive, its role in heart failure has received insufficient attention. In this review, the focus is on the physiology of diastole in heart failure, the dominant physiologic laws that govern the process in all hearts, how all hearts work as a suction pump, and, therefore, the elucidation and characterization of what actually is meant by “diastolic function”. The intent is for the reader to understand what diastolic function actually is, what it is not, and how to measure it. Proper measurement of diastolic function requires one to go beyond the usual E/A, E/E’, etc. phenomenological metrics and employ more rigorous causality (mathematical modeling) based parameters of diastolic function. The method simultaneously provides new physiologic insight into the meaning of in vivo “equilibrium volume” of the left ventricle (LV), longitudinal versus transverse volume accommodation of the chamber, diastatic “ringing” of the mitral annulus, and the mechanism of L-wave generation, as well as availability of a load-independent index of diastolic function (LIIDF). One important consequence of understanding what diastolic function is, is the recognition that all that current therapies can do is basically alter the load, rather than actually “repair” the functional components (chamber stiffness, chamber relaxation). If beneficial (biological/structural/metabolic) remodeling due to therapy does manifest ultimately as improved diastolic function, it is due to resumption of normal physiology (as in alleviation of ischemia) or activation of compensatory pathways already devised by evolution. In summary, meaningful quantitative characterization of diastolic function in any clinical setting, including heart failure, requires metrics based on physiologic mechanisms that quantify the suction pump attribute of the heart. This requires advancing beyond phenomenological global indexes such as E/A, E/E’, Vp, etc. and employing causality (mathematical modeling) based parameters of diastolic function easily obtained via the parametrized diastolic function (PDF) formalism.
Effects of Zinc Deficiency on the Oxidation of Retinol and Ethanol in Rats

The zinc metalloenzyme alcohol dehydrogenase was assayed in subcellular fractions of liver and retina from zinc-deficient and control rats using retinol and ethanol as substrates. When the zinc concentrations of these tissues were reduced because of feeding inadequate dietary zinc, alcohol dehydrogenase was significantly lowered, and the retinol-retinal as well as the ethanol-ethyladehyde conversion was significantly reduced. While in older rats no changes occurred in liver zinc and alcohol dehydrogenase, the retina was more sensitive to the lack of dietary zinc than the liver. Young rats nursed by zinc-deficient dams showed the most severe changes in both tissues. The data suggest that zinc deficiency affects the utilization of vitamin A as well as the catabolism of ethanol.
Sea lice control. I. Description of a low maintenance, photomechanical device for use as an alternate control for sea lice, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, in marine aquaculture

ABSTRACT An inexpensive, low maintenance light-trap was developed for use in determining the distribution and abundance of marine larvae in regions where conventional methods may not be used. The light trap was a portable system (0.021 m3 total volume) designed to attract positively phototropic animals to a small region of strongest illumination, from which they could be captured. The filter system was a cylindrical, opaque vessel to which a 150 μ m mesh filter, airlift system (2.768 L/minute water flow), and omni-directional 40 W halogen light were attached. Water flow was provided by an airlift system constructed of a standard fine pore diffuser (5 cm X3.75 cm), 12 V battery operated air pump (0.5 A, 3.3 L/minute airflow at 100 PSI), average eduction pipe length was 50 cm (1 cm diameter). The calculations, along with the laboratory and field trials indicated that a light trap was a useful tool to determine the distribution and abundance of photo-sensitive marine larvae. The research showed a trap effica...
Exploratory Data Analysis

This book is about the statistical analysis of financial markets data such as equity prices, foreign exchange rates, and interest rates. These quantities vary randomly thereby causing financial risk as well as the opportunity for profit. Figures 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3 show, respectively, time series plots of daily log returns on the S&P 500 index, daily changes in the Deutsch Mark (DM) to U.S. dollar exchange rate, and changes in the monthly risk-free return, which is 1/12th the annual risk-free interest rate. A time series is a sequence of observations of some quantity or quantities, e.g., equity prices, taken over time, and a time series plot is a plot of a time series in chronological order. Figure 4.1 was produced by the following code:
Benefits of the uncertainty management intervention for African American and white older breast cancer survivors: 20-Month Outcomes

In a 2 x 2 randomized block repeated measure design, this study evaluated the follow-up efficacy of the uncertainty management intervention at 20 months. The sample included 483 recurrence-free women (342 White, 141 African American women; mean age = 64 years) who were 5-9 years posttreatment for breast cancer. Women were randomly assigned to either the intervention or usual care control condition. The intervention was delivered during 4 weekly telephone sessions in which survivors were guided in the use of audiotaped cognitive-behavioral strategies and a self-help manual. Repeated measures MANOVAs evaluating treatment group, ethnic group, and treatment by ethnic interaction effects at 20 months indicated that training in uncertainty management resulted in improvements in cognitive reframing, cancer knowledge, and a variety of coping skills. Importantly, the 20-month outcomes also demonstrated benefits for women in the intervention condition in terms of declines in illness uncertainty and stable effects in personal growth over time.
Dependence of Lettuce Seed Germination on Actinomycin D‐resistant RNA Synthesis

The response of Grand Rapids lettuce half seed and intact seed to different nucleic acid and protein synthesis inhibitors was studied. 6-azauracil, 2-thiouracil and cycloheximide were strong inhibitors of germination of intact seed as well as of radicle elongation of half seed. Inhibition by 6-azauracil and 2-thiouracil was reversed by uracil but not by orotic acid, thymine or deoxycytidine. Actinomycin D and puromycin were ineffective suggesting that actinomycin D-resistant RNA synthesis possibly controls both germination of intact seed and radicle elongation of half seed. The requirements of RNA synthesis for the elongation of radicle in half seed in light and in the presence of gibberellic acid was the same. Such was not the case in the germination of intact seed which had different requirements of RNA synthesis in light and in presence of gibberellic acid. It is concluded that the mechanism of gibberellic acid and light in the intact seed germination, in so far as it involves the regulation of RNA synthesis, depends on the integrity of the seed coats.
Optimization of Lithium Titanate Electrodes for High-Power Cells

A full-cell mathematical model is used to compare the performance of graphite (Li{sub x}C{sub 6}) and lithium titanate (Li{sub 4+3x}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 12}) negative electrodes, with a doped lithium manganese oxide (Li{sub y+0.16}Mn{sub 1.84}O{sub 4}) positive electrode. The cell designs are optimized over electrode thickness and porosity, and several particle sizes are examined for the lithium titanate/manganese oxide system. Although the graphite-based cell contains a higher specific energy than the titanate-based cell, the latter performs better at high rates (>12C) when submicrometer particle sizes are used for both the positive and negative electrode. In light of this and several life-related advantages possessed by the Li{sub 4+3x}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 12} electrode, it is recommended for development as a high-power energy storage system.
An FPGA implementation of low-density parity-check code decoder with multi-rate capability

With superior error correction capability, low-density parity-check (LDPC) has initiated wide scale interests in wireless telecommunication fields. In the past, various structures of single code rate LDPC decoders have been implemented for different applications. However, in order to cover a wide range of service requirements and diverse interference conditions in wireless applications, LDPC decoders that can operate in both high and low code rates are desired. In this paper, a new multi-rate LDPC decoder architecture is presented and implemented in a Xilinx FPGA device. Through selection pins, three operating modes with the irregular 1/2 rate, regular 5/8 rate and regular 7/8 rate are supported. The measurement results show LDPC decoder can achieve BER below 10/sup -5/ at SNR of 1.4dB in the most critical case with the irregular 1/2 mode.
On the Repetitive Impact Dynamics of One and Two Degree of Freedom Systems

Repetitive collision occurring between structural and machine components is a topic of practical and scientific importance. Some types of machinery are inherently susceptible to impacts because of the small clearances present between adjacent components, thermal expansion, and relative motion as in gear trains. One can observe repetitive impacts in milling machines, shakers and off-shore structures. Energy transfer between components that are subjected to repetitive impacts is a complex phenomenon that often exhibits deceptive and non-intuitive behavior. Even in seemingly simple structures, period-doubling bifurcations, sub-harmonic resonances, and chaotic responses occur. This paper presents detailed experimental data obtained from an impact vibration test stand that was instrumented for displacement, velocity, and impact force measurements. In addition, the apparatus was fabricated in such a way to allow for precise positioning of the impact point, and varying of the gap distance between impacting components. The paper includes companion simulation results obtained from a model for the repetitive impact dynamics of otherwise linear single or multiple degree of freedom discrete structures. Simulation results are presented for the effect of natural frequency placement, model dimension, and gap clearance on the qualitative and quantitative character of the response. Of particular interest is the transition of behavior as the system’s model is augmented from having one to several degrees of freedom.© 2005 ASME
Prompt fission neutron energy spectra induced by fast neutrons

Abstract Prompt fission neutron energy spectra for 235 U and 239 Pu have been measured for fission neutron energies greater than the energy of the incident neutrons inducing fission. The measurements were undertaken to investigate the shape dependence of the fission neutron spectra upon both the incident neutron energy and the mass of the nucleus undergoing fission. Measurements were made for both nuclides at incident neutron energies of 0.50, 1.50, 2.50 and 3.50 MeV. The data are presented either as relative yields or as ratios of measured spectra to that of 235 U at 0.50 MeV. Incident neutrons were produced by the 7 Li(p,n) 7 Be reaction using a pulsed, bunched proton beam from the 5.5 MV Vand de Graaff accelerator at the University of Massachusetts Lowell Radiation Laboratory. Fission neutrons were detected by a thin liquid scintillator with good time resolution capabilities. Neutron energies were determined by time-of-flight techniques with pulse-shape discrimination to reduce gamma-ray background levels. The measurements are compared to calculations using the Los Alamos model of Madland and Nix to test the predictive capabilities of the model. The calculations were performed prior to the measurements. The data are fit by the Watt equation to determine the mean energy of the spectra and facilitate comparison of the results to previous measurements.
Reactivity to smoking cues: mediating roles of nicotine dependence and duration of deprivation.

Abstract This study examined the roles of nicotine dependence and duration of smoking deprivation as mediators of smoking cue reactivity in 117 individuals enrolled in treatment. Participants were randomly assigned to 15, 90, or 180 min of deprivation; all were exposed to smoking cues (observing a research assistant smoke a cigarette) while a variety of self-report, behavioral, and psychophysiological measurements were obtained. Results indicated that in general, psychophysiological reactivity to smoking-relevant cues was greater with increasing deprivation; heart rate analysis revealed an interaction between nicotine dependence and duration of deprivation, Smoking desire, negative affect, physical withdrawal symptoms, and other ratings were interrelated during cue exposure, and generally demonstrated predicted relationships with the independent variables. Multiple regression analysis revealed that desire to smoke during cue exposure was predicted by a combination of psychophysiological, self-report, and demographic variables. These findings have implications for methodological considerations and theoretical underpinnings of smoking cue reactivity research.
TH-SAM-304A-02: Digital Detector QC, Tips and Problems

Digital mammography has become the technology of choice for breast imaging with several FDA‐approved systems already available and more on the way. Digital detectors in mammography have different characteristics compared to the traditional screen‐film systems and require different quality control tests by the FDA approval process. This lecture is going to discuss the practical issues for the medical physicist who wants to learn the differences in these Quality Control tests and how they impact the mammography facility and ACR accreditation. The lecture will be broken into several parts. The first will review currently available FFDM equipment and their respective Quality Control tests. The second part will compare similar QC tests and discuss the key differences. The third part will look ahead to the new FFDM QC program being developed by the ACR. Learning Objectives: 1. To describe current quality control procedures for FFDM systems. 2. To review the impact of QC on ACR accreditation for FFDM systems. 3. To preview the forthcoming ACR FFDM QC program.
Assaying autophagic activity in transgenic GFP-Lc3 and GFP-Gabarap zebrafish embryos

Autophagy mediates the bulk turnover of cytoplasmic constituents in lysosomes. During embryonic development in animals, a dramatic degradation of yolk proteins and synthesis of zygotic proteins takes place, leading to intracellular remodeling and cellular differentiation. Zebrafish represents a unique system to study autophagy due in part to its rapid embryonic development relative to other vertebrates. The technical advantages of this organism make it uniquely suited to various studies including high throughput drug screens. To study autophagy in zebrafish, we identified two zebrafish Atg8 homologs, lc3 and gabarap, and generated two transgenic zebrafish lines expressing GFP-tagged versions of the corresponding proteins. Similar to yeast Atg8 and mammalian LC3, zebrafish Lc3 undergoes post-translational modification starting at the pharyngula stage during embryonic development. We observed a high level of autophagy activity in zebrafish embryos, which can be further upregulated by the TOR inhibitor rapam...
Humeral head osteonecrosis: Clinical course and radiographic predictors of outcome

Forty-two patients (65 shoulders) with osteonecrosis of the humeral head were reviewed. Minimal follow-up was 2 years or until shoulder arthroplasty was performed for persistent severe pain and disability not responsive to conservative treatment. Thirteen shoulders had surgery shortly after presentation, whereas 22 others initially treated conservatively required surgery. Thirty shoulders in 20 patients have been treated without surgery and were evaluated at an average of 10 years after initial presentation. Fifteen shoulders are doing satisfactorily, whereas 15 others are doing presentation. Overall, 37 (71%) shoulders had clinical progression of disease requiring shoulder arthroplasty or resulting in severe pain and disability. All had radiographic stage III, IV, or V, and 41 (85%) had articular surface incongruity of 2 mm or greater. Humeral head drilling was not effective in preventing clinical or radiographic progression in stage III disease. Radiographic stages of III or greater and documented radiographic disease progression were significantly associated with a poor outcome.
DETERMINATION OF HEXOSAMINES IN CHITIN BY ION‐EXCHANGE CHROMATOGRAPHY

An ion-exchange chromatography method is described for the determination of glucosamine and galactosamine hydrolyzed from fungal chitin. The method was designed to handle relatively large samples and to minimize the volume of hydrolyzate needed to be evaporated. Final extracts were analyzed on an automatic amino acid analyzer programmed to inject samples alternately onto two columns. Analysis time on the analyzer was 30 mm per sample. As little as 30 μg of glucosamine per gram of sample was detected.
Synthesis, spectroscopic studies and crystal structure of cadmium nitrosylpentacyanomanganate (I) pentadecahydrate

Abstract The structural analysis of Cd3[Mn(CN)5NO]2·15H2O using single-crystal diffractometry and full-matrix least-squares refinement has yielded residuals of 0.027 (R) and 0.034 (Rw) based on 2659 observed reflections. The nitrosyl complex crystallizes in the centrosymmetric triclinic space group P 1 with cell parameters a=7.8349(9), b=9.6412(7), c=12.7208(7) A, α=99.022(5), β=106.591(6), γ=102.152(7)°, V=875.8(1) A3 and Z=1. The observed density is 1.99(1) g cm−3 (Dc=1.97(1) g cm−3). A thermogravimetric study reveals 14–15 water molecules per formula unit. Both Cd and Mn atoms have slightly distorted octahedral geometries and are linked by cyanide bridging. Within any given chain of CdMnCdmnCd, the end cationic Cd atoms are fac-coordinated by three cyanide groups and three water molecules. Whereas, the central Cd atom is ligated to four cyanide groups and two trans-oriented water molecules. The Mn atoms are bonded to five cyanide bridging groups and one nitrosyl group. Notable bond lenghts are: CdN(mean) =2.28(4), Cd(mean)O=2.37(4), MnC(mean) 1.99(2), MnNO=1.645(4), NO=1.174(7) and C=N(mean)=1.144(7) A. Infrared spectroscopic data are presented.
Perceived usefulness of Technological Forecasting techniques

Abstract Although there are a number of powerful technological forecasting (TF) techniques, not all of them are perceived equally useful, nor are they applicable in all situations. The technique used depends on the forecasting objectives of the firm, which in turn depend on the nature of the firm or industry. In this article, the perceived usefulness of some of the common TF techniques (based on a survey) is analyzed. The results lead to the categorization of the techniques into two distinct groups. The relationship between the industry and its preference for a specific category of TF is suggested. Some suggestions are offered for increasing the usefulness of TF within a firm.
In pursuit of the knowledge worker: educating for world risk society

Higher education within the USA is increasingly perceived to be in a state of crisis. This crisis exposes the USA and its citizens to risks that spell out disaster whether it is from a loss of national global competitiveness, a reduction in the standard of living and/or deep challenges to social cohesion. The suggested remedy to this condition is to transform current educational practices and institutions to better produce ‘knowledge workers’ who in turn may harness the limitless potentials of a ‘global knowledge economy’. While this vision of education seems compelling we argue that the transition to a ‘knowledge economy’ is more fiction than fact. Instead we suggest that the ‘knowledge economy’ is better understood as part of risk society where education does not reduce the anxiety associated with developed post‐industrial economies, but serves to exasperate it.
Studies on the orientations of the mitochondrial redox carriers. I. Orientation of the hemes of cytochrome c oxidase with respect to the plane of a cytochrome oxidase-lipid model membrane.

Abstract The liganded derivatives of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase have been prepared in hydrated oriented multilayers of membranous cytochrome c oxidase. The optical spectra of the liganded derivatives recorded at an angle of 45° between the incident light beam and the normal to the planes of the membranes in the multilayers show dichroic ratios of almost 2 in the visible region and 1.2–1.4 in the Soret region. The dichroic ratios were found to be similar for both cytochromes a and a 3 . Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of the azide, sulfide, and formate complexes of cytochrome c oxidase obtained as a function of the orientation of the applied magnetic field relative to the planes of the membranes in the multilayer confirm the optical data and demonstrate that both hemes of cytochrome c oxidase are oriented such that the angle between the heme normal and the membrane normal is approximately 90°.
A queer analysis of HBO's Flight of the Conchords

The purpose of this paper was to engage in a queer theoretical reading of the HBO original comedy series Flight of the Conchords. We examine the ways that assumptions of heterosexuality and traditional gender roles are challenged, and show how alternative ways of performing gender and straightness are presented through the analysis of episodes and songs from the show. Both male and female characters serve as examples of the queering of established gender roles. Although the depiction of sex and gender in Conchords occasionally serves to maintain gender norms, on the whole, it presents viewers with challenges to heteronormative standards and gender norms. Flight of the Conchords also offers a critique of heterosexuality through its parody of heteronormative performance. The many queer moments that occur in the show call our attention to the gendered presuppositions that underlie our everyday framework of understanding. Unlike many traditional sitcoms that uphold norms by laughing at characters who challeng...
The relationship between state attachment security and daily interpersonal experience

Abstract Although past research suggests that state attachment security fluctuates in relation to daily interpersonal events, information on this relationship is limited. This study aimed to replicate and extend previous findings. The study followed 30 participants for 4 consecutive weeks, requiring them to report recent interpersonal events they experienced and their current attitudes toward attachment relationships twice each week. The results indicate that state attachment security fluctuated with daily interpersonal experience. Specifically, state attachment anxiety increased the greater the reported number of negative interpersonal events or perceived interpersonal losses, and decreased as participants perceived greater interpersonal gain from positive interpersonal events.
Mouse Models of 22q11 Deletion Syndrome

22q11 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is caused by an interstitial chromosomal microdeletion that encompasses about 40 genes. It is the most common of the microdeletion syndromes. The clinical phenotype, which is complex and variable, includes specific congenital defects of the cardiovascular system, craniofacies, and immune system. In early childhood, patients manifest cognitive impairment, behavioral disorders, and delays in motor development and language acquisition. Adult patients have a high risk for developing serious psychiatric disorders, especially schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder. The great majority of patients have an identical or near identical chromosomal deletion, and genotype–phenotype correlations have not been established. Indeed, little progress was made toward resolving the complex clinical phenotype until the deletion was successfully modeled in the mouse. In recent years, through a variety of mouse mutants that carry multigene and single gene mutations, we have learned that mutation in a single gene, Tbx1, is responsible for most of the congenital defects seen in the mouse models and in patients. We now face a greater challenge as we attempt to use the mouse to address the pathogenesis of the behavioral and psychiatric disorders associated with 22q11DS. Significant progress has already been made, and recent studies in the mouse suggest that several genes from the deleted region affect behavior and might contribute to disease burden in patients.
Additive and multiplicative mixed normal distributions and finding cluster centers

Mixed normal distributions are considered in additive and multiplicative forms. While the weighted arithmetic mean of the probability density functions typically demonstrates several peaks corresponding to the parent sub-distributions, their weighted geometric mean is always expressed in one unimodal multivariate normal distribution. Estimation of the cluster center parameters from such a synthesized distribution is considered. The problem is solved by a non-linear least squares optimization yielding the cluster centers and sizes. The relationship to factor analysis by unweighted least squares and generalized least squares is noted, and numerical results are discussed. The described approach uses only the sample variance–covariance matrix and not the observations, so it can be applied for difficult clustering tasks on huge data sets from data bases and for data mining problems such as finding the approximation for the cluster centers and sizes. The suggested techniques can enrich both theoretical consideration and practical applications for clustering problems.
Science capabilities of the DS3 mission

The DS3 mission will launch a space optical interferometer into heliocentric orbit, for observation of 50-100 sources on baselines up to 1000-2000 m. The detection threshold will be visual magnitude 12-13, and the angular resolution in the 500-900 nm passband will be approximately ≈100 microseconds. Interesting science targets which could be imaged include: Cyg X-1, Wolf-Rayet stars, and FU Ori stars. With a modest improvement in sensitivity, the structure of the broad line emission regions of a few bright AGNs could be measured.