cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ovarian teratoma. Ultrastructure and neural component.

The ultrastructural details of a malignant recurrent polycystic teratoma of the ovary in a child are presented. It is well recognized that brain is a common component of malignant ovarian teratomas. Even at the ultrastructural level no evidence of abnormality, other than degeneration, can be detected. The perfect replication of brain, even to the blood-glial relationships and synapses, is documented. Abnormal cilia are present on ciliated epithelium. The ultra-structural degenerative changes in the glia and neurons are indistinguishable from age changes seen in the human brain.
Clinical Outcome of Patients with T1 Micropapillary Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder

Purpose: We report cancer specific outcomes of micropapillary nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 36 cases restaged within 3 months of the initial diagnosis of micropapillary nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer. Early radical cystectomy within a 3-month landmark after restaging transurethral bladder tumor resection or conservative treatment with intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin, surveillance or deferred radical cystectomy was offered according to surgeon and patient preference. The cumulative incidence of cancer specific mortality and metastasis was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Differences in the cumulative incidence of cancer specific mortality and metastasis between the groups were tested using the log rank test.Results: Median patient age was 68 years (IQR 63–77). The male-to-female ratio was 3:1. At restaging all patients had cT1 disease or less. Early radical cystectomy was performed in 15 patients (42%) while 21 (58%) und...
Association of the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) with poor methylphenidate response.

ABSTRACT Objective This study attempted to relate the alleles of the D 2 ( DRD2 ), D 4 ( DRD4 ), and dopamine transporter ( DAT1 ) genes to the behavioral outcome of methylphenidate therapy. Method African-American children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder were treated with methylphenidate in doses not in excess of 60 mg/day. The dosage was increased until behavioral change was achieved, using a decrement in scores of less than or equal to 1 on a commonly used rating scale or until the maximum tolerated dose was achieved. Blood samples were obtained at that point, and genotypes for polymorphism at the respective genes were identified. Results Genotypes were then tested by χ 2 to assess the significance of any association with drug response. Only the dopamine transporter gene was found to be significant. Homozygosity of the 10-repeat allele was found to characterize nonresponse to methylphenidate therapy ( p = .008). Conclusions While the results suggest that alleles of the dopamine transporter gene play a role in methylphenidate response, replication in additional studies is needed.
Regularity of the complex monge-ampere equation for radially symmetric functions of the unit ball

Soit M l'operateur de Monge-Ampere complexe dans C n . Soit B la boule unite dans C n . Etant donnee f≥0 sur B, on cherche une fonction plurisousharmonique u∈C 2 (B) telle que: 1) Mu=f dans B, et 2) u=0 sur bB
The Assembly, Structure and Activation of Influenza a M2 Transmembrane Domain Depends on Lipid Membrane Thickness and Composition

The influenza A M2 protein is single-pass transmembrane protein that assembles in a tetramer, forming a pH-activated proton channel. It is essential for viral function. The tetramer of M2 transmembrane domain (M2TM), residues 22-46, is the minimal unit for proton conductance. Although substantial knowledge about M2-membrane interactions was accumulated, understanding the energy profile of the M2TM assembly and structural alterations upon channel activation in lipid membranes is incomplete.We utilized pulse ESR spectroscopy, DEER, with spin-labeling to study the AM2TM peptide (residues 21-49) in lipid membranes. A unique cysteine residue (L46C), introduced in M2TM, was spin-labeled with MTSL. The peptide was reconstituted in membranes of pure DLPC or DOPC, DLPC:DLPS or DOPC:POPS 85:15 mol%, and DLPC:DLPS:Cholesterol or DOPC:POPS:Cholesterol 65:15:25 mol% at peptide-to-lipid molar ratio 1:500. We measure inter-spin distances and distance distributions to monitor structural alterations in M2TM residing in different lipid environment, and also upon changing the acidity from pH 8 to 5.5. Based on the modulation depth of DEER signals and the reconstructed distance distributions, our results indicate that membrane-associated M2TM exists in various oligomerization states, most likely dimers and tetramers, supposedly relevant to M2 folding. The length of lipid hydrocarbon tail and cholesterol affect M2TM oligomer assembly: The DEER modulation depth for M2TM in DLPC corresponds to dimers, whereas the increased depth measured in POPC membranes and DLPC:DLPS:Cholesterol suggests a shifted equilibrium to tetramers. The distances in DOPC membranes at both pHs were shorter (maximum at 22 A), as expected from a closed M2 conformation. Longer distances, 27-40 A, due to channel opening at low pH were observed clearly only in the presence of charged lipid, indicating the role of these lipids in the activation of M2 channel.
Affiliation and alienation: hip‐hop, rap, and urban science education

The critiques of rap artists and other participants in hip‐hop culture provide data for teachers and researchers to investigate the attitudes of US urban youth towards schooling. This study explores the complex relationships between hip‐hop and science education by examining how rap lyrics project beliefs about schooling, the relevance of existing curriculum, and the intellectual capability of urban youth. These lyrics also provide a synopsis of this population’s alienation from schooling and from science education in particular. By examining student discourses in two US high schools, this study shows how co‐generative dialogues, and other classroom procedures derived from hip‐hop culture, may be used to modify teaching and learning in science and to ameliorate urban students’ alienation from schools.
On the equivariant Tamagawa number conjecture for A4-extensions of number fields

For a finite Galois extension K/k of number fields, with Galois group G, the equivariant Tamagawa number conjecture of Burns and Flach relates the leading coefficients of Artin L-functions to an element of K0(Z[G],R) arising from the Tate sequence. This conjecture is known to be true for certain non-abelian Galois extensions over Q with Galois group being the dihedral or quaternion group. In this article, we shall verify the conjecture for an A4-extension over Q, by explicitly constructing the Tate sequence using Chinburg's methods.
Inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) increases experimental stroke injury.

Abstract Background and purpose Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), particularly c-jun-N-terminal kinases (JNK) and p38 exacerbates stroke injury by provoking pro-apoptotic and pro-inflammatory cellular signaling. MAPK phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) restrains the over-activation of MAPKs via rapid de-phosphorylation of the MAPKs. We therefore examined the role of MKP-1 in stroke and studied its inhibitory effects on MAPKs after experimental stroke. Methods Male mice were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). MKP-1 knockout (KO) mice and a MKP-1 pharmacological inhibitor were utilized. We utilized flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Western blots analysis to explore MKP-1 signaling and its effects on apoptosis/inflammation in the brain and specifically in microglia after stroke. Results MKP-1 was highly expressed in the nuclei of both neurons and microglia after stroke. MKP-1 genetic deletion exacerbated stroke outcome by increasing infarct, neurological deficits and hemorrhagic transformation. Additionally, delayed treatment of the MKP-1 pharmacological inhibitor worsened stroke outcome in wild type (WT) mice but had no effect in MKP-1 KO mice. Furthermore, MKP-1 deletion led to increased c-jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation and microglial p38 activation after stroke. Finally, MKP-1 deletion or inhibition increased inflammatory and apoptotic response as evidenced by the increased levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), ratio of p-c-jun/c-jun and cleaved caspase-3 following ischemia. Conclusions We have demonstrated that MKP-1 signaling is an endogenous protective mechanism in stroke. Our data imply that MKP-1 possesses anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties by simultaneously controlling the activities of JNK and microglial p38.
Response of impulsively loaded cylindrical shells

Abstract Experiments were performed to identify the structural response modes of thin cylindrical shells, with and without internal pressure, subjected to external radial impulsive loads. For unpressurized shells the response modes consisted of dynamic pulse buckling followed by large inward deflections of the loaded surface. In shells with high internal pressure, these response modes were followed by an outward motion driven by the internal pressure. Energy balance equations were formulated which modelled the important features of the observed response mechanisms. These equations were then used to determine the shell load-damage relationships and to predict failure.
Detecting and Estimating Signals over Noisy and Unreliable Synapses: Information-Theoretic Analysis

The temporal precision with which neurons respond to synaptic inputs has a direct bearing on the nature of the neural code. A characterization of the neuronal noise sources associated with different sub-cellular components (synapse, dendrite, soma, axon, and so on) is needed to understand the relationship between noise and information transfer. Here we study the effect of the unreliable, probabilistic nature of synaptic transmission on information transfer in the absence of interaction among presynaptic inputs. We derive theoretical lower bounds on the capacity of a simple model of a cortical synapse under two different paradigms. In signal estimation, the signal is assumed to be encoded in the mean firing rate of the presynaptic neuron, and the objective is to estimate the continuous input signal from the postsynaptic voltage. In signal detection, the input is binary, and the presence or absence of a presynaptic action potential is to be detected from the postsynaptic voltage. The efficacy of information transfer in synaptic transmission is characterized by deriving optimal strategies under these two paradigms. On the basis of parameter values derived from neocortex, we find that single cortical synapses cannot transmit information reliably, but redundancy obtained using a small number of multiple synapses leads to a significant improvement in the information capacity of synaptic transmission.
Family Types, Direct Money Transfers from Parents, and School Enrollment among Youths.

Intrafamily resource transfers have not been studied extensively as a process that may help reduce the well-being disadvantage of stepchildren in parental remarriages relative to biological children in parental first marriages. The process is examined here by analyzing the link between direct parental money transfers and academic outcomes, as measured by enrollment. I develop and test two alternative hypotheses pertaining to a part of this link, which distinctly applies to children of remarried stepfamilies—the component not shared with children in intact families. An adaptive strategy hypothesis posits a well-being enhancing distinct component, operationalized as a positive interaction effect between measures of parental transfers × stepchildren in parental remarriages. A compromised use hypothesis posits a well-being compromising one, implying a negative interaction effect. Two sets of results from analyzing data on 18- to 21-year-olds over multiple years (Nyouth-age = 5,736, Nperson = 3,615) in the fir...
Private and public psychiatric hospitalization after Zinermon v. Burch

The Supreme Court's decision inZinermon v. Burch left unanswered a number of important questions. This paper discusses the case as it relates to competency to consent to voluntary psychiatric hospitalization, and examines the applicability of theZinermon ruling for private and public psychiatric facilities. The paper also looks at how courts have dealt with competency and voluntariness afterZinermon and the implications of the decision on mental health practice.
Optical absorption and photoconductivity in germanium selenide

Abstract Optical absorption was investigated in extremely thin single crystal specimens of GeSe. Absorption data at 300°K cover a wavelength range of 1.20 to 0.45 microns with the absorption coefficient changing from 30 to 1.2 × 105 cm−1. An analysis of the absorption edge for direct and indirect transitions is described. In the high absorption region a direct transition photon energy dependence of (hv−Eg) 3 2 with Eg = 1.53 eV was shown to give a good fit to the data over a considerably greater energy range than was found for ((hv−Eg) 1 2 . The spectral response curve for an evaporated film type photoconductive layer was obtained for the same wavelength range. This curve shows two bands of responsivity with the threshold energies corresponding closely to the energy gap values that were determined for the direct and indirect band transitions.
Experiment-specific cosmic microwave background calculations made easier - Approximation formula for smoothed delta T/T windows

Simple and easy to implement elementary function approximations are introduced to the spectral window functions needed in calculations of model predictions of the cosmic microwave backgrond (CMB) anisotropy. These approximations allow the investigator to obtain model delta T/T predictions in terms of single integrals over the power spectrum of cosmological perturbations and to avoid the necessity of performing the additional integrations. The high accuracy of these approximations is demonstrated here for the CDM theory-based calculations of the expected delta T/T signal in several experiments searching for the CMB anisotropy.
Edge Coloring of Embedded Graphs with Large Girth

Let G be a simple graph embedded in the surface Σ of Euler characteristic χ(Σ)≥0. Denote χ e (G), Δ and g the edge chromatic number, the maximum degree and the girth of the graph G, respectively. The paper shows that χ e (G)=Δ if Δ≥5 and g≥4, or Δ≥4 and g≥5, or Δ≥3 and g≥9. In addition, if χ(Σ)>0, then χ e (G)=Δ if Δ≥3 and g≥8.
"Self-control" concerns for men and women: refinement and extension of a construct.

This study develops and refines aspects of the construct of self-control according to a four-quadrant model: Assertive-positive, assertive-negative, yielding-positive, and yielding-negative. Twenty-six men and 78 women evaluated areas of their life in terms of the perceived degree to which they utilized these various dimensions of control. Results indicated that, depending on the specific area of clinical concern (e. g., interpersonal relationships, professional pursuits, emotional expression, health), there were significant differences in the kinds of self-control strategies that Ss tended to employ. From a clinical perspective, while Ss in this sample exercised a high degree of assertive-positive control in their professional lives, in the interpersonal and affective spheres they perceived themselves to be more out of control and exercising more negative-assertive control.
How the Packaging of Decision Explanations Affects Perceptions of Trustworthiness

We used an experimental vignette to examine how two aspects of a decision explanation's packaging—its language and labeling of the decision process—affected perceptions of a decision maker's compet...
Inverse photoemission in the UV

Abstract Inverse photoemission (or bremsstrahlung spectroscopy) is the time-reversed photoemission process. Electronic states are probed via radiative transitions of an incoming electron into unoccupied states. X-ray bremsstrahlung spectroscopy is a well-established technique but its extension to the ultraviolet (with electrons incident at about 4–30 eV energy) has only begun recently. With lower electron energies the surface sensitivity increases such that monolayers can be probed. Also, the momentum of electrons in a solid can be determined by angle-resolved inverse photoemission, i.e., energy band dispersions can be mapped. Unoccupied electronic states play an important role, e.g., in ferromagnetism (minority spin states), in chemisorption (electron acceptor states of adsorbates), and for semiconductors (conduction by electrons). A status report is given of the mapping of bulk energy bands, and the observation of surface states. Recent data from SiO 2 are used to make the connection with luminescence.
Bortezomib: clinical profile in lymphoproliferative malignancies

In addition to its efficacy in the treatment of multiple myeloma, the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib appears to be active against a variety of other haematological malignancies. In a phase II trial, bortezomib, given twice weekly for 2 weeks of a 3 week cycle to patients with relapsed, refractory or untreated indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) or mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), produced durable responses in 2/7 MCL patients and stable disease in five. Six of eight patients with follicular NHL achieved a durable response (1 CR, 5 PR). In another study, bortezomib was administered to patients with relapsed or refractory indolent or aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Durable responses were seen in 7/12 MCL patients, including three CR. This apparent activity in MCL is particularly encouraging, given its poor prognosis. These early trial results demonstrate that further clinical testing of bortezomib and additional exploration of the multiple biologic effects of proteasome inhibition are warranted in lymphoproliferative malignancies.
First Report of Ash Anthracnose Caused by Discula fraxinea in Oregon

Anthracnose on ash trees has been observed on landscape trees in western Oregon, yet there has been no formal report of the disease or its causal fungus. Anthracnose symptoms are observed annually in May and become severe by July when defoliation starts to occur. From 1989 to now, samples have been received from Benton, Josephine, and Marion counties, suggesting that ash anthracnose has been present throughout western Oregon for some time. To identify the causal agent, a fungus was isolated from acervuli on necrotic lesions on leaves of cultivated white ash (Fraxinus americana L.) trees in Benton County in July 2003. The acervuli produced hyaline, nonseptate, ellipsoid conidia 5 to 11 × 3.5 to 6 µm in diameter. The fungus was identified as Discula fraxinea (Peck) Redlin & Stack (teleomorph Gnomoniella fraxini Redlin & Stack) (2). The sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (GenBank Accession No. AY455814) and large subunit (GenBank Accession No. AY455818) nrDNA agreed with those of D. fraxinea from Maryland, except for three single-base substitutions and three insertions/deletions in ITS1. Ash anthracnose has been reported from the central and eastern United States and California, the prairie provinces in Canada, and recently, from British Columbia (1). A specimen (U.S. National Fungus Collections BPI 843391) and culture (Centraal Bureau voor Schimmelcultures CBS 114053) of D. fraxinea from Oregon were deposited. References: (1) D. F. Farr et al. Fungal Databases. Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory. On-line publication. ARS USDA, 2003. (2) S. C. Redlin and R. W. Stack. Mycotaxon 32:175, 1988.
Compact dual-mode elliptic-function bandpass filter using a single ring resonator with one coupling gap

A novel microwave dual-mode elliptic-function bandpass filter with one coupling gap structure is proposed. This filter has a 4.7% bandwidth at 1.805 GHz with 1.73 dB insertion loss. The filter provides less field perturbation of the ring resonator than conventional filters. Without the output coupling gap between the feed line and the ring resonator, a low insertion loss has been obtained. This compact, high performance filter is useful for mobile and personal communication systems.
Ultrasound-induced heart rate decrease: role of the vagus nerve

The goal of this study is to investigate the role of the vagus nerve (VN) in the ultrasound (US)-induced negative chronotropic effect (deceased heart rate). One of the functions of the VN is to mediate lowering of the heart rate. A previous study showed a decrease of ~20% in the heart rate but the mechanism of the effect was not investigated. Sprague Dawley rats (n = 20) were exposed transthoracically to ultrasonic pulses at an approximate duty factor of 1% with sequentially 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 MPa peak rarefactional pressure amplitudes (PRPAs). The ultrasonic exposure parameters herein were chosen to match those of the previous study to have confidence that an ultrasound-induced negative chronotropic effect would occur. For each of the three PRPA sequences, the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) started slightly greater than the rat's heart rate and then was decreased sequentially in 1-Hz steps every 10 s (i.e., 6, 5, and 4 Hz for a total duration of 30 s). The experiments were organized in a standard (2 × 2) factorial design with VN (cut versus intact) as one factor and US (on versus off) as another factor. VN (intact/cut) and US (on/off) groups were divided into four groups each consisting of 5 animals: 1) VN intact-US off, 2) VN intact-US on, 3) VN cut-US off, and 4) VN cut-US on. Two-way analysis of variance for repeated measures was used to compare heart rate, cardiac output, systolic volume, ejection fraction, end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, respiratory rate, and arterial pressure before and after ultrasound stimulation. In this study, the heart rate decreased ~4% for the non-vagotomy and vagotomy groups. The ultrasound effect was significant for heart rate (p = 0.02) and cardiac output (p = 0.005) at 3 min post US exposure; the vagotomy effect was not significant. For heart rate, the Bonferroni test showed no differences between the four groups. The vagotomy group showed similar ultrasound-induced cardiac effects compared with the non-vagotomy group, suggesting that the vagus nerve is not influenced by the ultrasound exposure procedures. The US application caused a negative chronotropic effect of the rat heart without affecting the hemodynamic conditions. The results at this point are suggestive for an alternative cardiac pacing capability.
Aeolian-climatic thresholds and sand dunes at the Hanford site, south-central Washington, U.S.A.

Aeolian-climatic thresholds are quantified using time sequence analysis of 1948-87 aeolian and climatic data from the Hanford Site, south-central Washington. Calculations indicate that 30 unvegetated sand dunes will maintain their total 1987 volume if they are exposed to a climate having an average annual precipitation, wind speed, and temperature of approximately 15·5 cm, 3·5 ms −1 , and 11·8°C, respectively. Calculations also show that if average 1948-87 climate conditions continue for the next approximately 10–15 years, the volume of unvegetated dune sand in the dunes studied will decrease by approximately 18%. Aeolian-climatic projections are based on the assumptions that there will be no major changes in human, animal, or botanical impact on the surface and no major variations from historical seasonal climatic patterns.
High strain-rate testing: Tension and compression

Details of the split Hopkinson pressure-bar method for obtaining complete stress-strain curves at strain rates on the order of 1000 sec−1 in either tension or compression are presented. In compression, a gage for measuring radial strain and, therefore, Poisson's ratio is also described. Some typical results are presented for aluminum, and various factors pertaining to the accuracy of the results are discussed.
Concepts of the person in the symbolist philosophy of Viacheslav Ivanov

Viacheslav Ivanov’s concept of person underwent significant development in the course of his career. In his earliest works the person is a transient form that is to be superseded by union with the supra-personal, transcendent self. In works of his middle period Ivanov posits the person as an image of the transcendent self. Lastly, in the 1910s Ivanov integrated these two concepts into a hermeneutic view of the person as an agent of transcendence.
Properties of an Associative Algebra of Tensor Fields. Duality and Dirac Identities

An algebra of forms in Minkowski space has been constructed. A multiplication between forms is defined as an extension of the quaternionic multiplications. The algebra obtained is associative with respect to this multiplication of order 16. Duality is expressed as (new) multiplication by a basis element. Vector identities in the algebra lead to a number of new trace identities. A new derivative operator expresses the four Maxwell equations in an especially transparent form.
Perinatal activities in the Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)

Births and postnatal behaviour were observed at a breeding assembly of Grey seals on North Rona. Birth is extremely rapid and the cow immediately turns to smell the pup. Smelling continues at intervals, particularly during the first 10 min after birth and allows the cow to establish the identity of her pup. She also smells the placenta and defends it against attack by gulls. Disturbance by gulls, neighbouring seals and human intrusion may lead to the cow failing to establish a bond with the pup and consequently abandoning it.
Recent measurements of oxidized nitrogen compounds in the troposphere

Abstract The role of active nitrogen in the photochemical production of ozone in the troposphere is thought to be well known. In rural and remote regions, a knowledge of the distribution of total odd nitrogen species (NOy) is critical to the analysis and development of global and regional atmospheric models. In the summer of 1986 a fairly comprehensive suite of measurements of NOx, NOy, HNO3, PAN, O3 and other species were made over the eastern Pacific in the middle free troposphere and boundary layer during the NASA GTE/CITE 2 program. More limited studies were made over the continental U.S. The measurements allow an examination of the partitioning of NOy into reservoir and active species and a comparison with results from earlier programs carried out in the fall of 1983 and spring of1984. More recently, the Mauna Loa Observatory Photochemistry Experiment (MLOPEX) was conducted in May and the first week of June 1988 at the NOAA GMCC station at 3.4 km altitude. Here measurements of NOx, NOy, HNO3, NO3−, O3, NMHCs, J(NO2), H2CO, HOOH, PAN, organic nitrates and other organic peroxides were measured around-the-clock. The experiment provided a large database from both upslope and downslope flow conditions. The results are contrasted with the aircraft flights and with multi-species measurement experiments organized by the NOAA Aeronomy Laboratory in the continental U.S. In particular, the ozone photochemical tendency, partitioning of NOx and NOy, and the role of measured organic nitrates are addressed.
Tracheostomy after cardiovascular surgery: An assessment of long-term outcome

Objective To ascertain long-term survival, identify risk factors for death, and document complications of tracheostomy after cardiovascular surgery. Methods Between January 1, 1998, and September 1, 2001, 188 (1.4%) of 13,191 patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery had tracheostomy for respiratory failure 5 to 79 days (median, 14 days) after surgery. Factors associated with mortality were identified in the hazard function domain, and mode of death and complications of tracheostomy were determined by follow-up. Results Survival was 75%, 50%, and 31% at 30 days, 3 months, and 2 years, respectively. The most important risk factors for death were older age ( P = .004) and variables representing deteriorating hemodynamic ( P P P = .0001) function between the index cardiovascular operation and tracheostomy. The mode of death was isolated respiratory failure in only 21 (16%) of 130 patients, but multisystem organ failure in 71 (55%). Follow-up of 58 survivors identified voice complaints in 13 (24%), tracheal stenosis in 5 (9.2%), and permanent tracheostomy in 3 (6%). Conclusions Only one third of patients undergoing tracheostomy after cardiovascular surgery survive, because it is used primarily in those with deteriorating function of multiple organ systems. Although tracheostomy may enhance patient comfort and simplify nursing care, selection algorithms need to be developed if survival is the goal of the intervention.
A moveable electrode for brain stimulation in fishes.

Abstract 1. 1. A simple, inexpensive moveable electrode for brain stimulation in fishes is described. 2. 2. The apparatus is lightweight and may also be used with other small aquatic animals. 3. 3. Details of construction, implantation and usage are given.
Monopedal running control: SLIP embedding and virtual constraint controllers

Two feedback controllers that induce stable running gaits on a three-degree-of-freedom asymmetric hopper, termed the asymmetric spring loaded inverted pendulum (ASLIP), see Fig. 1, are compared in terms of their steady-state and transient behaviors. In each case, feedback is used to create a lower-dimensional hybrid subsystem that determines the existence and stability properties of periodic motions of the full-dimensional closed-loop system. The first controller creates a one degree-of-freedom subsystem through imposing two suitably selected (virtual) holonomic constraints on the configuration variables of the ASLIP. The second controller asymptotically imposes a single (virtual) holonomic constraint to create a two-degree-of-freedom subsystem that is diffeomorphic to a standard spring loaded inverted pendulum (SLIP). The two controllers induce identical steady-state behaviors. Under transient conditions, however, the underlying compliant nature of the SLIP allows significantly larger disturbances to be accommodated, with less actuator effort, and without violation of the unilateral constraints between the leg end and the ground.
Computational Thinking in K–12 A Review of the State of the Field

Jeannette Wing’s influential article on computational thinking 6 years ago argued for adding this new competency to every child’s analytical ability as a vital ingredient of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning. What is computational thinking? Why did this article resonate with so many and serve as a rallying cry for educators, education researchers, and policy makers? How have they interpreted Wing’s definition, and what advances have been made since Wing’s article was published? This article frames the current state of discourse on computational thinking in K–12 education by examining mostly recently published academic literature that uses Wing’s article as a springboard, identifies gaps in research, and articulates priorities for future inquiries.
Dis-Service Courses

For many years the traditional engineering physics course was the pivotal subject in the engineering curriculum. It provided an adequate basis in macrophysics to support traditional engineering. The course is still offered, virtually unchanged for the past forty years except in minor details; the evolution of microphysics, structural chemistry, and physical metallurgy has made little impact upon this course. Engineering physics is now a sacred cow a dis-service course. This course has been cancelled at the University of Arizona and classical macrophysics is taught by the engineering departments in the various and usual subdivisions of mechanics, thermodynamics, electric and magnetic fields, and electric circuits. A new course, at the junior level, has been introduced by the Physics Department to cover Microphysics. It is offered under the title of "Structure of Matter" and covers electrons, atoms, chemical bonds, crystals, the energy band theory of crystals, and other topics from wave, statistical, and quantum mechanics. The course has been offered for three years. While it is under constant revision there is little doubt now that this represents a positive solution to a part of the problem posed to engineering educators by recent advances in contemporary science.
Combination of Forecasts: An Extension

Existing approaches to combining multiple forecasts generally offer either theoretical richness or empirical robustness, but not both together. In this paper, we propose a new method for combining forecasts which attempts to overcome this imbalance. The method allows easy inclusion of relevant subjective and empirical information about the forecasts, while providing weights which are: i intuitively meaningful, and ii not dependent upon large numbers of observations of prior forecast accuracy. Results of a simulation experiment show the method to be highly robust, and significantly superior to existing approaches under many conditions.
Pyrrolidine Dithiocarbamate and Diethyldithiocarbamate Are Active against Growing and Nongrowing Persister Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Diethyldithiocarbamate (DETC) and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) were highly active against tubercle bacilli, with MICs of 8 μg/ml and 0.13 μg/ml, respectively. DETC and PDTC were active against old cultures, enhanced pyrazinamide or pyrazinamide/rifampin activity, and had serum inhibitory titers of 1:2 and 1:4, respectively, in mice given 100 mg/kg orally.
On Testing Non-Testable Programs

It is widely accepted that the fundamental limitation of using program testing techniques to determine the correctness of a program is the inability to extrapolate from the correctness of results for a proper subset of the input domain to the program's correctness for all elements of the domain. In particular, for any proper subset of the domain there are infinitely many programs which produce the correct output on those elements, but produce an incorrect output for some other domain element. None the less we routinely test programs to increase our confidence in their correctness, and a great deal of research is currently being devoted to improving the effectiveness of program testing. These efforts fall into three primary categories: (1) the development of a sound theoretical basis for testing; (2) devising and improving testing methodologies, particularly mechanizable ones; (3) the definition of accurate measures of and criteria for test data adequacy. Almost all of the research on software testing therefore focuses on the development and analysis of input data. In particular there is an underlying assumption that once this phase is complete, the remaining tasks are straightforward. These consist of running the program on the selected data, producing output which is then examined to determine the program's correctness on the test data. The mechanism which checks this correctness is known as an oracle, and the belief that the tester is routinely able to determine whether or not the test output is correct is the oracle assumption.' • 2
Survey Research: An Effective Design for Conducting Nursing Research

An important advantage of survey research is its flexibility. Surveys can be used to conduct large national studies or to query small groups. Surveys can be made up of a few unstructured questions or can involve a large-scale, multisite longitudinal study with multiple highly validated questionnaires. Regardless of the study's degree of sophistication and rigor, nurses must understand how to properly conduct survey research. This article describes survey research, including design, methods, analysis, limitations, and implications for researchers.
Between Polish Positivism and American Capitalism: The Educational Agents' Experiment in the Polish-American Community, 1889-1914.

Those who think that the job of an intelligent agent of Mr. Paryski is limited to selling his books [and] his newspaper, collecting the money, attending to business and never showing up again are wrong indeed…. The true, intelligent agent of “Ameryka-Echo” has the responsibility to visit as many Polish families (or Lithuanian, Slovak, and Russyn) as possible, to encourage them to learn, to facilitate their learning through providing them with suitable inexpensive books and newspapers, getting to know their problems and needs, and giving them appropriate advice so that people can be brought out from their misery and degradation…. Whoever wants to effectively work for the people, needs to go among the people, get to know the people and then to begin the Positivist work (praca pozytywna).
An O(N) supply voltage assignment algorithm for low-energy serially connected CMOS modules and a heuristic extension to acyclic data flow graphs

In this paper, a novel algorithm is proposed for assigning supply voltages to serially executing functional units (FUs) in a digital system such that the overall dynamic energy consumption is minimized for a given timing constraint. Novel closed form expressions for optimum supply voltage values are presented. The computation time of the algorithm is O(N) for N FUs in series. An extension of the O(N) algorithm is proposed for optimizing the acyclic data flow graph associated with any given task. Given the number of FUs available for the task, the operations required for the task are scheduled on the FUs. Voltages are then assigned to the FUs on each path of the flow graph using the O(N) algorithm. Energy savings of 10-60% are achieved on DSP filter designs using the proposed high-level optimization methodology over single supply voltage designs.
Forward diffraction of Stokes waves by a thin wedge

The diffraction of a steady Stokes wave train by a thin wedge with vertical walls is studied when the incident wave is directed along the wedge axis (grazing incidence). Parabolic approximation applied recently by Mei & Tuck (1980) to linear diffraction is extended to this nonlinear case. Significant effects of nonlinearity are found numerically, in particular the sharp forward bending of wave crests near the wedge. The computed features are found to corroborate the existing experiments only qualitatively; the controlling factors in the latter being not completely understood. An analytical model of stationary shock is proposed to approximate the numerical results of Mach stems.
Memory T lymphocyte hyporesponsiveness to non-cognate stimuli: a key factor in age-related immunodeficiency.

Previous studies from our laboratory have suggested that aging leads to an accumulation of cells expressing high levels of CD44, thought to be a marker for memory lymphocytes, and that positively selected CD44hi T cells, from mice of any age, respond poorly to concanavalin A (Con A) in limiting dilution estimates of interleukin (IL)-2-producing cells. We now report the results of a more comprehensive analysis of memory T cell function, in old and young mice, to non-cognate activators (Con A and the staphylococcal enterotoxin SEB). We report that memory T cells, isolated by removing cells bearing the CD45RB determinant, contain very few cells able to respond to either Con A or SEB under limiting dilution culture conditions, whether the responses are measured by IL-2 or by IL-3 accumulation. As a control, we show that memory T cells do respond strongly, at limiting dilution, to recently encountered priming antigens, i.e. Schistosoma mansoni egg antigen; the limiting dilution culture protocol thus does not preclude activation of memory T cells when cognate stimuli are presented to antigen-specific cells. These data suggest that virgin and memory T cells may differ fundamentally in their activation requirements, and suggest further that the accumulation, with age, of memory T cells accounts for the low responsiveness of old mice to non-cognate mitogens.
Retrospective Studies and Chart Reviews

A retrospective study uses existing data that have been recorded for reasons other than research. A retrospective case series is the description of a group of cases with a new or unusual disease or treatment. With a case-control study, cases with and without the condition of interest are identified, and the degree of exposure to a possible risk factor is then retrospectively compared between the 2 groups. With a matched case-control study, control subjects are selected such that they resemble (match) the cases with regards to certain characteristics (eg, age, comorbidity, severity of disease). Retrospective study designs are generally considered inferior to prospective study designs. Therefore, a retrospective study design should never be used when a prospective design is feasible.
Electron spin resonance studies of carcinogenesis.

Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes the current status of the electron spin resonance (ESR) studies of carcinogenesis. Although ESR-carcinogenesis studies were initiated to study free radicals, such studies inevitably also provided information on other types of paramagnetic species. Changes in paramagnetic trace elements have turned out to be as prominent and interesting as free radical changes, and therefore many studies have emphasized this type of unpaired electron species rather than free radicals. The free radicals changes themselves are quite varied and complicated and do not closely correspond to the types of changes anticipated in the theoretical speculations that led to the ESR studies of carcinogenesis. Characteristic ESR changes are seen in most, but not all, mature malignant and benign tumors, including a decrease in free radical content and a change in the type and amount of paramagnetic trace elements. Certain ESR signals occurs spontaneously more frequently in tumors and/or are more easily induced in tumors, but are also seen in normal tissues under certain conditions. A role of free radical intermediates in chemical carcinogenesis is not established as a general phenomenon, but the carcinogenic properties of some classes of carcinogens appear to parallel the properties related to free radical formation.
A delay/Doppler radar altimeter for ice sheet monitoring

The new radar altimeter concept described exploits both Doppler beam sharpening and range curvature delay compensation to eliminate most of the disadvantages that plague satellite pulse-limited ocean sensing altimeters when observing polar ice sheets.
Design and implementation of time efficient trajectories for autonomous underwater vehicles

This paper discusses control strategies adapted for practical implementation and efficient motion of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). For AUVs we would like efficiency in both the measured time and the energy consumption, the mission dictating the weight to put on each of these cost. As a first approach to this problem, we focus in this paper on time minimization. Based on the structure of the time optimal trajectories and of the pure motions, we develop an algorithm to design time efficient trajectories corresponding to piecewise constant thrust arcs with few actuator switchings. We do that by solving a new optimization problem where the unknowns are the time period between two actuator switchings as well as the values of the constant thrust arcs. We apply a direct method to compute the solutions numerically. With our algorithm, we gain considerable computational time. Moreover, with as few as three actuator switchings, the duration of our trajectories is within 10% of the optimal trajectories. Since our control strategies have a simple structure they can be implemented on a test-bed vehicle. For the experiments displayed in this paper we use a spherical underwater vehicle which exhibits with almost no preference of direction or orientation for movement; this gives us a very controllable and versatile vehicle.
Surgical Pathology of the Parathyroid Glands

The parathyroid glands arise as paired structures from the third and fourth branchial pouches. The superior glands arise from pouch IV and assume their usual (approximately 80%) location at the cricothyroid junction or at the junction of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and inferior thyroid artery (see Figure 1a). The lower glands arising from pouch III have a more variable distribution. Usually the inferior glands are found at the lower pole of the thyroid lobe, but may be found at the level of the hyoid, within the mediastinum, and even within the pericardium (see Figure 1b). Most individuals (>90%)have the expected four parathyroid glands, but supernumery glands may be present with up to 12 glands reported in rare cases. These supernumery glands likely arise from embryologic rests of the developing glands, and most are found within the thymus, which arises from pouch III along with the inferior glands.
Overview of Sequencing Technology Platforms

The high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies are based on ­immobilization of the DNA samples onto a solid support, cyclic sequencing reactions using automated fluidics devices, and detection of molecular events by imaging. Featured sequencing technologies include: GS FLX by 454 Life Technologies/Roche, Genome Analyzer by Solexa/Illumina, SOLiD by Applied Biosystems, CGA Platform by Complete Genomics, and PacBio RS by Pacific Biosciences. In addition, emerging technologies are discussed.
Connected Yet Distracted: Multitasking Among College Students

In this study, 935 undergraduate college students from a regional four-year university responded to an online time-diary survey asking them to report their multitasking habits and practices while engaged in four main activities: reading voluntarily for fun, reading for academic purposes, watching television (TV), and using the Internet. Results showed that a majority of the students reported performing two or more tasks simultaneously, switching rapidly back and forth from one task to another. About half of the students also admitted that multitasking interfered with and influenced their ability to focus on core activities, such as reading for academic purposes. These findings have important implications for addressing media multitasking as a growing concern among college students.
Elbow and Forearm Injuries

The elbow is a synovial hinge joint formed by three articulations that arise from the juxtaposition of the humerus, ulna, and radius. The pool-shaped trochlea of the humerus articulates with the ulna to form the humeroulnar joint. The spheroidal capitellum articulates with the concave radial head to form the humeroradial joint. The third joint, radioulnar, is divided into superior and inferior portions. The elbow joint is surrounded by a fibrous capsule, which attaches to the articular margins of the joint and blends into fibers of the elbow’s two primary collateral ligaments: medial and lateral. 1.2 Nerves Three important nerves innervate the elbow joint: the median, radial, and ulnar. The ulnar nerve passes from posterior to anterior compartments through a dense sheet of fibrous tissue and continues along the posterior aspect of the medial condyle. It then passes through the cubital tunnel and provides motor innervation to the flexor carpi ulnaris. The median nerve crosses the elbow lateral the ulnar nerve. It dives through the intermuscular system and provides innervation to the anterior elbow and eventually the pronator teres. The radial nerve travels laterally along the spiral groove of the humerus to the lateral epicondyle after which it divides into deep and superficial branches. It eventually provides motor innervation to the wrist extensors and abductor pollicis longus. 1.3 Muscles Several muscles pass through the elbow joint that allow for flexion, extension of the elbow, and pronation and supination of the forearm. Although a weak flexor of the elbow, the pronator teres is a strong pronator of the forearm and is often injured by
A phase II trial of RAD001 in patients (Pts) with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC)

4530 Background: RAD001 an oral serine-threonine kinase inhibitor of mTOR, blocks progression from the GI to the S phase of the cell cycle by a mechanism of action that is unique for an anticancer ...