cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bit-error-rate analysis and mixed signal triple modular redundancy methods for data converters

This paper analyzes the effect of bit error rate on ADC performance and presents triple modular redundancy method for data converters. A comparison among different analog to digital converters (including successive approximation register, algorithmic/cyclic, and pipeline ADC architectures) are discussed. It is shown that a multi-path architecture provides the ability to measure and correct bit errors, squaring the bit error performance without additional analog area or power. We provide a comparative study of bit error rate among the different architectures and an error power calculation method that may be applied to further variations on these architectures, without time-consuming transient simulations.
Biology of Isodontia (Murrayella) mexicana in Trap-Nests in Wisconsin (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

I. mexicana (Saussure) was the dominant species in the complex that used sumac trap-sticks; in each case of a mixed nest it superseded other species. During 1952-62, 117 sumac-stem traps containing its nests were obtained. A typical nest consisted of 3 cells separated by tightly coiled grass strands, and was plugged by similarly coiled grass, some of which was left protruding tuftlike from the orifice. In 6-in. holes there were 1-6 cells, but there was no apparent relation between diameter of the holes (3/16-5/16 in.) and number of cells. Cells were provisioned with Tettigoniidae and Gryllidae. Provisioning varied according to the species of prey and whether adults or juveniles were utilized; more juveniles than adults of Oecanthus were used. Neither number of prey nor their weights were associated with sex of the wasp, as none of the larvae in cells with these measurements were reared to maturity. Wasp larvae fed voraciously, holding the prey tightly while feeding. Development from young to last-stage larvae took 4-6 days at 22°C, and spinning a cocoon took about 1 day. The summer generation had a prepupal stage of about 1 day, followed by a 2-3 week pupal period. Last-instar larvae of the overwintering generation entered a diapause which lasted into the next summer. When cell contents were reared singly in glass vials, the sexes of reared wasps occurred in various combinations. Some nests had only females or only males; in nests containing both sexes cells with males never preceded cells with females. About 15% of the nests were contaminated with Diptera-the phorid Megaselia aletia (Comstock) and the sarcophagids Amobia distorta (Allen), Senotainia trilineata Wulp, and Sarcophaga sp. The sarcophagids were parasitized by Perilampus hyalinus Say. The role of the Diptera was not elucidated, but it is believed the maggots were parasitoid, either causing the death of the wasp egg or young larva directly, or indirectly by spoiling and consuming the provisions.
Research on Parameter Identification of Power System Stabilizer in Jiangsu Power Grid

A new method based on genetic algorithm for identifying parameters of the power system stabilizer is introduced in this paper.This method is used to convert the original model of the power system stabilizer to the standard model of the power system stabilizer.By building transfer function structure of the original model and the standard model,with the minimal difference between the output of the original model and the standard model as the goal,the parameters of the standard models are adjusted constantly with genetic algorithm.Finally,the most suitable parameters of the standard model of power system stabilizer can be obtained.The actual identification result shows that this method is able to obtain the accurate parameters of the standard model of power system stabilizer.
An Empirical Assessment of the Sensitivity of Mixture Models to Changes in Measurement.

This study explored the extent to which variations in self-report measures across studies can produce differences in the results obtained from mixture models. Data (N = 854) come from a laboratory ...
Measurement of agitation and aggression in adult and aged neuropsychiatric patients: review of definitions and frequently used measurement scales

Agitation and aggression in adult psychiatric patients with psychoses and in persons with dementia increase the burden of disease and frequently cause hospitalization. The implementation of currently available management strategies and the development of new ones is hindered by inconsistent terminology that confuses agitation with aggression. This confusion is maintained by many rating scales that fail to distinguish between these two syndromes. We review the frequently used rating scales with a particular focus on their ability to separate agitation from aggression. Agitation and aggression are two different syndromes. For example, reactive aggression is often precipitated by rejection of care and may not be associated with agitation per se. We propose, in treatment studies of behavioral symptoms of dementia and challenging behaviors in psychoses, that outcomes should be evaluated separately for agitation and aggression. This is important for investigation of drug effectiveness since the medication may be effective against one syndrome but not the other. Separate assessments of agitation and aggression should be a general principle of trial design with particular salience for registration studies of medications proposed for approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory bodies.
Diffuse Myocardial Fibrosis in Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: Linking Pathophysiology and Clinical Outcomes.

The success of surgical management of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) early in life has dramatically changed the demographics and natural history of this once nearly uniformly lethal congenital heart disease. As early mortality decreased from 50% in the 1950s and 1960s to <2% in the modern era,1,2 the population of repaired TOF (rTOF) survivors steadily grew, and by 2010, the number of adults with rTOF exceeded the number of children with rTOF.3,4 Currently, during the first 2 decades of life, not only is survival excellent, but also morbidity is rare. However, beginning in the third decade of life, rates of morbidity and mortality increase.5 In response to these trends, clinicians and researchers have turned their attention to the pathophysiology and management of adolescent and adult survivors of rTOF in an effort to reduce morbidity and prolong life. See Article by Yim et al Despite many refinements in the surgical management of TOF, the majority of patients continue to have residual hemodynamic and electrophysiological abnormalities, resulting in a complex pathophysiological cascade that ultimately leads to ventricular dysfunction, arrhythmias, exercise intolerance, heart failure symptoms, and premature death.6–9 In light of these observations, investigators have focused on measurements of biventricular volumes and function to guide management decisions, such as timing of pulmonary valve replacement.8 However, these parameters provide only limited insight into the pathophysiology of rTOF and ignore the composition and health of the myocardium. Given that patients with rTOF generally compensate well during the first 20 to 30 years of life and then exhibit biventricular dysfunction and heart failure symptoms, there is …
The French language, gender, and the discursive construction of sexuality in Morocco

This study looks at the evolution of the discourse of sexuality in the Moroccan women’s magazine Femmes Du Maroc [Women of Morocco] from 1997 to 2014 (Femmes du Maroc 1997–2014 ), specifically how sexuality is discursively constructed by Moroccans and how this discourse has changed over time. The results show that sexual topics have become more visible on the covers of the magazine and that women’s sexual language has shifted from a timid, euphemistic discourse around the medical aspects of sex to a more assertive expression of women’s sexuality emphasizing playfulness and pleasure.
Vesicovaginal Fistula: Epidemiology, Diagnostics and Robotic Assisted Repair with Peritoneal Flap Inlay

The Latin term for fistula is “pipe” or “tube” and means an extra-anatomic anastomosis between two hollow organs (or an hollow organ and the environment). A fistula between the lower urinary tract and the vagina is termed vesicovaginal (VVF) or vesicourethral fistula; in high income countries, both fistula are almost exclusively iatrogenic, but may also result from, malignancy, inflammation or appear as congenital fistula.
Welfarism's Envy Problem Extends to Popular Judgments

Economists use a welfarist approach to policy evaluation, but doing so can lead to recommendations that violate seemingly wise non-welfarist principles. I explore one example: the proper tax policy response to envy. Using a novel survey, I find that a majority of US respondents are skeptical of envy-based redistribution, even if they are told that its direct effect is to increase welfare. This skepticism is consistent with a long history of judgments by economists, including leading welfarists. Such conflicts between direct welfarist analysis and prevailing normative principles challenge economists to consider modifying our dominant method of policy evaluation.
SOLUTION OF A NONLINEAR TRICOMI EQUATION BY TAYLOR SERIES

A recursive relation between derivative terms can be derived from any given nonlinear PDE. This recursive relation can be used to construct a two-dimensional Taylor series which satisfies both the PDE and the boundary and/or initial conditions. The solution of a nonlinear PDE contains simple poles, or singularities, in the complex planes of the independent variables. The construction of the two-dimentional Taylor series must proceed with careful analysis of the positions of these simple poles, or singularities. Once their positions are known (or have been estimated), analytic continuation is used to avoid them in the nonlinear solution. We illustrate this solution method by solving a nonlinear Tricomi equation, y.u xx + u yy + u 2 = 0, with boundary conditions:- u(x,-1) = u(x,1) = x, u(0,y) = f(y), and u(1,y) = g(y). The functions f(y) and g(y) are eigen-functions compatible with the ramp-function boundary conditions. At the present stage of its development, the Taylor series method is capable of solving problems with arbitrary boundary conditions on only two sides. We shall also discuss the solution for the same Tricomi equation with boundary conditions u(x,-1) = u(x,1) = x–x 2 .
Fetal echocardiography. VII: Doppler color flow mapping: a new technique for the diagnosis of congenital heart disease

One of the difficulties for the fetal sonographer is the complete elucidation of structural defects of the cardiovascular system that are associated with intracardiac or great vessel flow disturbances. With the recent introduction of Doppler color flow mapping, in which blood flow is displayed in color superimposed on a real-time image, it has been impossible to identify flow disturbances in the pediatric and adult patient. This study was undertaken to determine whether Doppler color flow mapping could be used in the fetus to identify normal and abnormal cardiovascular anatomy. Thirty-five normal and high-risk fetuses were examined between 16 and 40 weeks of gestation. Doppler color flow mapping identified normal and abnormal anatomy (ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, endocardial fibroelastosis, dysplastic pulmonary valve, and tricuspid regurgitation). It appears that Doppler color flow mapping will add a new dimension to fetal cardiovascular imaging.
Criticality safety of low-density storage arrays.

This note proposes a straightforward and simple method for the criticality safety analysis of fissionable materials configured into large arrays of standard containers. While criticality-safe storage limits have been well-established for standard containers--even under flooded conditions, it is also necessary to rule out the potential for criticality arising from neutronic interactions among multiple containers that might build up over long distances in a large array. Traditionally, the array problem has been approached by individual Monte Carlo analyses of explicit arrangements of single units and their surroundings. Here, the authors show how multiple Monte Carlo analyses can be usefully combined for wide-ranging general application. The technique takes advantage of low average density of fissionable material in typical storage arrays to separate neutron interactions that take place in the neutron`s ``birth unit`` from subsequent interactions in a highly dilute array. Effects of array size, in particular, are conservatively calculated by straightforward analyses which simply smear array contents uniformly across the extent of the array. For given unit loadings in standard containers, practical expressions for neutron multiplication depend only on overall array shape, size and reflective boundary.
Low Amplitude Fatigue of Copper Crystals at Room Temperature

ABSTRACT Details of the surface structure of persistent slip bands were examined and their growth with increasing cumulative strain was followed. The results are not compatible with current theories of fatigue.
Predictors of Advising Learning.

Over 22,000 students in nine institutions rated their satisfaction with advising they receive in, and the importance of, five domains that constitute quality academic advising. They also indicated their agreement with four advising learning outcomes conceptually linked to retention. Regression analyses showed predictor variables (satisfaction ratings, importance ratings, interaction of satisfaction and importance ratings) were significantly associated with advising learning outcomes. Examination of effect sizes revealed outcomes were best predicted by advising satisfaction.
Depressed cytotoxic T-cell responses in previously treated Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients: Evidence for histamine receptor-bearing suppressor cells

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 62 previously treated Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients were tested for their ability to generate cytotoxic T lymphocytes in response to stimulation with allogeneic cells in mixed leukocyte culture. In most patients, including some in long-term unmaintained remission, extremely low cytotoxic responses were generated. To test whether these patients have circulating cells that suppress autologous lymphocytes from responding to alloantigens, patients' responding cells were passaged over columns of sepharose beads conjugated with histamine-rabbit serum albumin (Hist-RSA). This procedure has been shown to remove mouse suppressor cells and Concanavalin A(ConA)-induced human suppressor cells. Passage of patients' cells, prior to allogeneic stimulation, over columns of sepharose beads conjugated with Hist-RSA but not over control RSA columns, resulted in the isolation of lymphocytes that generated increased cytotoxic responses to alloantigens in 18 of 22 patients with initially low cytotoxic responses. These results suggest that the impaired ability of treated Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients' lymphocytes to differentiate into cytotoxic T lymphocytes is at least in part due to the presence of circulating suppressor cells that bear histamine receptors.
Creation, placement, and design of website indexes on university websites in the United States

Ilana Kingsley reports on her investigations into the creation and maintenance of A–Z indexes on US university websites, the value of such indexes compared with other navigational tools, and of sin...
Where Are We Going? Where Have We Been?: The Climate for Diversity within Urban Planning Educational Programs:

This paper summarizes findings from a nationwide survey of degree-seeking urban planning students regarding the climate for diversity within their degree programs. This study examines interactions ...
Abstract WMP19: Prediction of Subacute Infarction in Acute Ischemic Stroke Using Baseline Multi-modal MRI and Deep Learning

Objective: We aim to investigate if a deep learning algorithm can predict the location and size of subacute infarction in acute stroke patients using input data from baseline multimodal MRI. Method...
Machine Learning with Small Data for User Modeling of Watershed Stakeholders Engaged in Interactive Optimization

WRESTORE (Watershed REstoration using SpatioTemporal Optimization of REsources) (http://wrestore.iupui.edu), is a web-based environmental decision support system where stakeholders collaborate with an interactive optimization algorithm to design user-centric solutions of best management practices on a watershed landscape. WRESTORE utilizes the Soil and Water Assessment Tool hydrologic model for simulating the impact of landscape decisions on watershed processes. The WRESTORE system is one of many systems which interacts with users directly and thus is directly influenced by the quality and quantity of data in user feedback. The user modeling component within the WRESTORE decision support system utilizes neural network approaches, such as deep learning. Working with small data on user modeling is a non-trivial task which is examined in more detail in this study. We believe the originality of our approach centers on integrating user models with limited data in this application-specific interactive design and human-computer collaborative problem-solving approach. This paper thus has three objectives: i) describe the WRESTORE system and how it performs interactive optimization of watershed design, ii) outline current work in user modeling with limited data, and iii) describe our solutions for using and implementing accurate virtual stakeholder models based upon limited training samples.
Regional Disparities in Transplantation With Deceased Donor Kidneys With Kidney Donor Profile Index Less Than 20% Among Candidates With Top 20% Estimated Post Transplant Survival.

Introduction:The Kidney Allocation System in the United States prioritizes candidates with Estimated Post-Transplant Survival (EPTS) ≤20% to receive deceased donor kidneys with Kidney Donor Profile...
A case of Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker (GSS) disease with supranuclear gaze palsy.

Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease (GSS), an autosomal dominant prion disorder, usually presents as a slowly progressive cerebellar ataxia followed by later cognitive decline. We present a member of the GSS Indiana Kindred with supranuclear palsy, a less common feature in GSS. A 42-year-old man presented with 12 months of progressive gait and balance difficulty. Exam was notable for ataxia and cerebellar eye movement abnormalities. Genetic testing revealed a F198S variant in the prion protein (PRNP) gene, the pathological variant of GSS associated with his family, the Indiana kindred. Eighteen months after initial presentation supranuclear palsy developed. GSS is a neurodegenerative prion disease with diverse clinical presentations, and exhibits greater variability in disease phenotype compared to other inherited spongiform encephalopathies. GSS should be on the differential for patients with ataxia and supranuclear palsy, and it is important to assess both horizontal and vertical saccades and optokinetic nystagmus in patients with ataxia.
Positive Psychological Approaches to Disaster: An Introduction

This introductory chapter opens the volume on Positive Psychological Approaches to Disaster. The text is a natural extension of the special issue on disaster mental health and positive psychology that appeared in a 2016 issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychology. These areas of applied science have much to offer one another. A rationale and overview for the book is presented, along with a brief summary of the project’s origins. Specific attention is paid to Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning (1959) given its guiding role in the current endeavor. In many respects Frankl’s experiences and lifework anticipated the development, integration, and application of these fields of study and practice, areas essential to human health and well-being, with particular relevance for the occurrence of adversity. Contributions to the book are organized around the themes of meaning, resilience, and posttraumatic growth. The contexts considered are those that involve natural and/or technological disasters.
Trends and Associations of Menthol Cigarette Smoking Among US Middle and High School Students-National Youth Tobacco Survey, 2011-2018

Introduction Youth cigarette smoking decreased significantly over the last two decades in the United States. This study provides estimates and trends from 2011 to 2018 and factors associated with youth menthol and non-menthol smoking from 2016 to 2018. Methods Using data from the 2011-2018 National Youth Tobacco Surveys, past 30-day (current) menthol and non-menthol cigarette smoking were estimated for all youth (prevalence) and youth smokers (proportions). Trends were examined using Joinpoint regression, calculating the annual percent change (APC). Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified factors associated with menthol smoking. Results From 2011 to 2018, menthol cigarette smoking among current youth cigarette smokers significantly decreased from 57.3% to 45.7% (APC: -3.0%), while non-menthol (38.2% to 47.3% [APC: 2.9%]) and unknown menthol status (not sure\missing) (4.5% to 7.0% [APC: 7.1%]) significantly increased. Menthol cigarette smoking among high school, male, female, and non-Hispanic white current cigarette smokers decreased, but remained unchanged among middle school, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic smokers. Significantly higher proportions of menthol cigarette smokers smoked on ≥20 days, ≥2 cigarettes per day, and ≥100 cigarettes in their lifetime compared to non-menthol smokers. Among current cigarette smokers, non-Hispanic blacks, Hispanics, flavored non-cigarette tobacco users, frequent smokers (≥20 days), those smoking 2-5 cigarettes per day, and those living with someone who uses tobacco had higher odds of menthol cigarette smoking. Conclusions In 2018, nearly half of current youth cigarette smokers smoked menthol cigarettes. While menthol cigarette smoking declined from 2011 to 2018 among all youth and among youth smokers, there was no change in menthol cigarette smoking among non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and middle school cigarette smokers. Implications This study finds that overall cigarette and menthol cigarette smoking declined in youth from 2011 to 2018. However, menthol cigarette smoking among non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and middle school youth cigarette smokers did not change. Information from this study can help inform efforts to reduce menthol cigarette smoking among US youth, particularly racial/ethnic minority populations.
Investigating Messaging Protocols for the Internet of Things (IoT)

As the number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices proliferates, the magnitude and velocity of data continues to increase rapidly. IoT systems rely primarily on using messaging protocols for exchanging IoT data and there exists several protocols or frameworks that support distinct types of messaging patterns. Given that IoT devices typically have limited computational resources and processing power, choosing a lightweight, reliable, scalable, interoperable, extensible and secure messaging protocol becomes a very challenging task. As a result, it is not uncommon that IoT systems may employ multiple messaging protocols for supporting device heterogeneity and different message exchange patterns. In addition, basic similarities among existing several messaging protocols or frameworks that exist today for exchanging IoT data within IoT systems suggest the potential of interoperability. Given that IoT systems help facilitate the interconnectivity among distributed, heterogeneous entities, interoperability among existing messaging protocols will play an increasingly important role in simplifying the development and deployment of IoT systems. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of the existing messaging protocols that can be used in deploying IoT systems. Throughout this paper, we highlight the protocols' distinctive approaches and applicability of using them across various IoT environments. In addition, we highlight challenges, strengths and weaknesses of these messaging protocols in the context of IoT.
Chronic therapeutic anticoagulation is associated with decreased thrombotic complications in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Abstract Background Thrombotic disease complicates severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality Various anticoagulation strategies have been evaluated in hospitalized patients to prevent complications The impact of chronic anticoagulation prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection on the risk for subsequent thrombosis has not been systematically studied Methods This was a retrospective single center study All patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing from March 13, 2020 through May 6, 2020 at the University of Rochester Medical Center were identified We included all patients receiving therapeutic anticoagulation for at least one month prior to COVID diagnosis We documented the rate of thrombotic complications, type of anticoagulation, bleeding complications, and mortality Results A total of 107 SARS-CoV2 infected patients were chronically anticoagulated before SARS-CoV-2 testing with a median age of 78 Of those, 42 required hospital admission with 17 requiring intensive care No patients, inpatient or outpatient, were diagnosed with a new symptomatic thrombotic complication Three patients had minor bleeding in the hospital Thirteen (12%) patients died (69% male) Conclusion Our uncontrolled findings suggest that chronic anticoagulation at the time of infection may protect against thrombotic complications and decrease disease severity
Profiling commuters’ travel behavior in the pacific states of the continental U.S.

Abstract We develop a more nuanced understanding of commuters’ travel mode choices by generating detailed profiles that capture the travel behavior of commuters in the Pacific states of the continental US. These profiles are created by utilizing the US Census Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) data. The microdata sample set allows for the estimation of fine-grained models that showcase how individual commuters make travel mode choices. Our results show appreciable locational variation in mode choices and statistically significant differences in commuting profile across and within population segments. A key revealing finding demonstrates that across the three states analyzed, the total number of vehicles driven for any day of the week could be reduced by up to 10 million assuming the commuting patterns observed in San Francisco applies to the rest of the states. We conclude with insights and policy implications provided by the study on making transportation-related infrastructure decisions.
Successful implementation of SARS-CoV-2 testing in midst of pandemic with emphasis on all phases of testing.

From its humble beginnings as a zoonotic coronavirus infection originating in Wuhan, China, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has spread worldwide to become an international pandemic.1–3 The World Health Organization (WHO), given the highly contagious and potentially lethal nature of this widespread virus, has classified this pandemic as a global health emergency, with significant impact and infection within the USA.2 The extraordinary circumstances of the highly contagious SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have led the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve diagnostic assays for SARS-CoV-2 infection with emergency use authorisations (EUA).4 5 The use of EUA assays for a widespread pandemic in the absence of any non-EUA approved equivalent assays has led to an unprecedented situation for the clinical laboratory for which practical considerations of dealing with the aftermath have been described at a hospital in Singapore and in an abstract poster presentation of this manuscript’s data at the 2020 national meeting of the American Society for Clinical Pathology.5 6 However, a description of the practical considerations has not been similarly well described for the severely affected USA or even for that matter within its large and integrated Veterans Affairs Medical System Center (VAMC). Given the emergency requiring implementation of an in-house SARS-CoV-2 test to ensure adequate turnaround times (to allow clinical decisions to be influenced in a timely manner), several challenges arose. Initial challenges summarised in the valley of successful implementation (figure 1) included (1) selection of the testing platform(s), (2) ensuring that sufficient viral transport media (VTM) and reagent would be available for the selected testing platforms, (3) validating and composing standard operating procedures for assays despite the limited data presented by the EUA situation, (4) ensuring enough trained staff and (5) ensuring an appropriate environment with the appropriate biosafety level (BSL). As testing was being performed, additional …
Optimization of hole cleaning in horizontal and inclined wellbores: A study with computational fluid dynamics

Abstract The issues related to hole cleaning have long been stressed as being most noticeable and aggravating in horizontal or inclined wellbores; where cuttings accumulation on the low annular side of the wellbore lead to reduced flow and drilling complications. Experimental studies, mechanistic models, and field practices have attempted to address these issues but have failed in completely solving the problem. Considering the lack of matching results, limiting assumptions, and lack of general applicability, the question of efficient hole cleaning is still of concern. The main objective is to generate correlations and matrix tables pertaining to the optimization of various parameters including flow rates, pipe, cuttings, and fluid characteristics. Correlations for critical velocity and critical pressure gradient that could be used for field applications were developed through data analysis resulting from computational fluids dynamics simulations. A new, thorough investigation on level of turbulent flow for efficient hole cleaning in horizontal/inclined wellbores is conducted through a study of the behavioral pattern of the Reynold's number as a function of the critical velocity and critical pressure gradient. A Reynold's number matrix table is produced that could be used to define and tailor specific level of turbulent flows in the most uncommon field applications. Cutting density of 112.4 lb/ft3, section pipe length of 16 ft, cutting size of 0.25 in, and inclination of 60° are pivotal points, above which significant flow requirements are needed for effective cleaning; whereas fluid viscosity of 50 cP, fluid density of 12.5 ppg, and diameter ratio (outer pipe to inner pipe) of 1.54 are pivotal points, below which significant flow requirements are needed.
NOAA Polar Satellites: Optimizing the Present and Investing in the Future

In this presentation, we present details on ways that the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) Program uses its investments in environmental satellites to benefit not only the NOAA mission but other countries as well. The United States component of polar satellite, the NOAA-20 and the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) satellites continue to provide critical data and products to support user missions worldwide. New sensors are being built and integrated onto the next satellites in the JPSS Program. The JPSS Program is also starting to consider what its polar satellite program may look like after the last JPSS Satellite is launched.
Convergence of Trajectories for a Controlled Viscous Burgers’ Equation

In this paper we consider a boundary control problem for Burgers’ equation on a finite interval. The controls enter as gain parameters in the boundary conditions as in [1, 2]. The uncontrolled problem is obtained by equating the control parameters to zero while the zero dynamics system is obtained by equating the control parameters to infinity, or (intuitively) as the “high gain limit” of the system as the gains approach plus infinity. The main result of the paper is a nonlinear enhancement of the classical root locus result which states that the trajectories of the closed loop system converge to the trajectories of the zero dynamics system as the gains are increased to infinity.
Does Cardioembolic Stroke have a Neurologic Profile

The clinical symptoms at onset and neurological findings of 193 consecutive patients with an acute cerebral infarct were analyzed to determine if the frequency of their occurrence allowed one to distinguish among patients with a cardiac source of embolus (SOE) (106 patients), an aterial SOE (38 patients) or no demonstrable SOE (49 patients). Rapidity of onset and loss of consciousness at onset were the only symptoms significantly more frequent in the group of patients with a cardiac SOE.
Some Computational Aspects of Queueing Network Models

Queueing network models have emerged as useful models of computer systems. While such models have been known and studied for some time in the area of operations research, their application to the study of computers has stimulated further research, both into extending the basic results and into developing efficient techniques for their solution. Currently, there does not appear to be any “best” technique. This paper surveys three well-known methods for solving queueing network models and discusses their complexity, size and numerical properties.
Weighted-Average Methodologies for Evaluating Bar Examination Passage Rates

There are few truly “national” law schools in the United States. Most American law schools in the United States have a “dominant” state bar. A greater number of the graduates of nearly any law school take the bar examination administered by one state than any other bar examination. The American Bar Association and U.S. News and World Report's law school rankings rely on bar passage rates for the single largest cohort within any school’s graduating class. But the modal passage rate is misleading as a measure of any one school’s overall bar passage rates. The modal passage rate also fails to facilitate direct comparisons of bar examination performance at different schools.To evaluate the overall bar examination performance of the graduates of any law school, I propose the use of weighted-average methodologies. Ideally, we should be able to measure, by use of weighted averages, each school’s bar passage z-score. Since the data needed to conduct proper standard scoring is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to procure, I propose a simplified weighted-average methodology. The weighted average of school-specific bar passage rates by jurisdiction, minus the weighted average of passage rates from all jurisdictions where its graduates, enables us to evaluate each school's bar exam performance, relative to the bar passage rate in its modal state, and relative to the weighted average bar passage rate across the entire United States.In the interest of completeness, I propose two other methodologies. One of those methodologies is based on ratios, in emulation of U.S. News and World Report’s law school rankings. The other is based on what I consider a reasonable parametric estimate of standard deviations in state-wide bar passage rates weighted by school, through which we can estimate z-scores for bar exam passage rates for all states and all schools.
Constitutional Rights in Two Worlds: South Africa and the United States

1. Introduction 2. History and background 3. The death penalty 4. Gender equality 5. Gay rights 6. Affirmative action 7. Freedom of expression 8. Freedom of religion 9. Socioeconomic rights 10. Final thoughts.
Acetylhomoserine: AN INTERMEDIATE IN THE FUNGAL BIOSYNTHESIS OF METHIONINE

The acetyl ester of homoserine was found to be an intermediate in methionine biosynthesis in fungi, where it plays the role that O-succinylhomoserine does in bacteria. The latter is formed from succinyl coenzyme A and homoserine, and is decomposed by the replacement of succinate by cysteine to yield cystathionine. When grown in the presence of labeled homoserine, Neurospora accumulated labeled O-acetylhomoserine as well as larger amounts of the α-hydroxy analogue. A methionine-requiring mutant, me-5, which could grow when given acetylhomoserine in place of methionine, failed to accumulate it or to form labeled cystathionine when grown with labeled homoserine. A sensitive assay for hydroxyamino acid-acylating enzymes was devised, utilizing the observation that these enzymes catalyze exchange between alcohol and ester. Extracts of yeast and Neurospora were shown to catalyze homoserine exchange only with acetylhomoserine; extracts of Salmonella, only with succinylhomoserine. Homoserine acetylase was purified 60-fold from Neurospora. Acetyl-CoA could not be replaced by acetyl derivatives of phosphate, carnitine, or acyl carrier protein. The exchange rate was not affected by end product methionine. Although not leaky nutritionally, the me-5 mutant appears to produce a modified enzyme able to catalyze net acetylation but not exchange. Extracts of both fungi and bacteria can utilize either the succinyl or the acetyl ester of homoserine for cystathionine synthesis. In Salmonella this is due to the low specificity of the cystathionine γ-synthetase, but cystathionine synthesis from succinylhomoserine in Neurospora appears to be catalyzed by γ-cystathionase.
Costimulation of CD8 T Cell Responses by OX40

The persistence of functional CD8 T cell responses is dependent on checkpoints established during priming. Although naive CD8 cells can proliferate with a short period of stimulation, CD4 help, inflammation, and/or high peptide affinity are necessary for the survival of CTL and for effective priming. Using OX40-deficient CD8 cells specific for a defined Ag, and agonist and antagonist OX40 reagents, we show that OX40/OX40 ligand interactions can determine the extent of expansion of CD8 T cells during responses to conventional protein Ag and can provide sufficient signals to confer CTL-mediated protection against tumor growth. OX40 signaling primarily functions to maintain CTL survival during the initial rounds of cell division after Ag encounter. Thus, OX40 is one of the costimulatory molecules that can contribute signals to regulate the accumulation of Ag-reactive CD8 cells during immune responses.
Affinity labeling the DNA polymerase alpha complex. I. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate inhibition of DNA polymerase and DNA primase activities of the DNA polymerase alpha complex from Drosophila melanogaster embryos.

DNA polymerase alpha from Drosophila melanogaster embryos is a multisubunit enzyme complex which can exhibit DNA polymerase, 3′—-5′ exonuclease, and DNA primase activities. Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) inhibition of DNA polymerase activity in this complex is time dependent and exhibits saturation kinetics. Inhibition can be reversed by incubation with an excess of a primary amine unless the PLP-enzyme conjugate is first reduced with NaBH4. These results indicate that PLP inhibition occurs via imine formation at a specific site(s) on the enzyme. Results from substrate protection experiments are most consistent with inhibition of DNA polymerase activity by PLP binding to either one of two sites. One site (PLP site 1) can be protected from PLP inhibition by any nucleoside triphosphate in the absence or presence of template-primer, suggesting that PLP site 1 defines a nucleotide-binding site which is important for DNA polymerase activity but which is distinct from the DNA polymerase active site. PLP also inhibits DNA primase activity of the DNA polymerase alpha complex, and primase activity can be protected from PLP inhibition by nucleotide alone, arguing that PLP site 1 lies within the DNA primase active site. The second inhibitory PLP-binding site (PLP site 2) is only protected from PLP inhibition when the enzyme is bound to both template-primer and correct dNTP in a stable ternary complex. Since binding of PLP at site 2 is mutually exclusive with template-directed dNTP binding at the DNA polymerase active site, PLP site 2 appears to define the dNTP binding domain of the active site. Results from initial velocity analysis of PLP inhibition argue that there is a rate-limiting step in the polymerization cycle during product release and/or translocation.
Comparison of sedimentary petrologic sequences produced in Mesozoic extensional and convergent tectonic settings in North America

In eastern North America, two Mesozoic basins related to the early rifting phases of the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea are the Newark-Gettysburg Basin of the mid-Atlantic states and the Hartford-Deerfield Basin of New England. These basins show classic listric normal-fault, half-graben structure, with older back-tilted strata generally showing slightly more rotation with depth. The Newark and Hartford Basins were probably never depositionally connected, but they do show similar cyclic patterns of basin filling. Arkosic and lithic basin fill were dominated by alluvial fan deposition adjacent to border faults and braided stream deposition in proximal parts of basins. Sediment influx was dominantly from south to north in the Newark Basin during the Late Triassic. Distal and low lying areas of the basins were dominated by lacustrine deposition exhibiting Milankovitch-type lake-level cyclicity.
Skin Mapping With Punch Biopsies for Defining Margins in Melanoma: When You Don’t Know How Far to Go

Background Wide local excision of primary cutaneous melanoma usually provides clear margins and excellent local control. Nonclassical presentations of cutaneous melanoma, however, can challenge this treatment algorithm. Specifically, persistent melanoma-in-situ (MIS) at the margin not suspected clinically makes planning definitive wide local excision more difficult. We hypothesized that the use of punch biopsies as a mapping tool would allow us to obtain clear margins in these challenging cases.
Mechanisms of Psoralen Action in the Skin

The combination of psoralens and ultraviolet light (UVA, 320–400 nm), also referred to as PUVA, is a potent modulator of epidermal cell growth and differentiation. Although it has been postulated that PUVA exerts its actions by binding to DNA, our laboratory has obtained evidence that a specific, saturable, high-affinity receptor site independent of the DNA mediates the biologic actions of these drugs. This receptor is a 22,000 molecular weight protein present in membrane and cytoplasmic fractions of responsive cell types. Treatment of cells with psoralens followed by UV light causes activation of the receptor. This leads to specific cell surface membrane alterations, in particular, phosphorylation of the receptor for epidermal growth factor (EGF). The EGF receptor is a transmembrane glycoprotein possessing intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity. Modification of the EGF receptor leads to a loss in its ability to bind EGF, as well as an inhibition of its tyrosine kinase activity. These data indicate that the p...
The updated experimental proteinoid model

The experimental proteinoid model includes new results indicating that polymers sufficiently rich in basic amino acid catalyze the synthesis of peptides from ATP and amino acids and of oligonucleotides from ATP. The need for simulation syntheses of amino acids yielding significant proportions of basic amino acids is now in focus. The modeled simultaneous protocellular synthesis of peptides and polynucleotides is part of a more comprehensive proposal for the origin of the coded genetic mechanism. The finding of membrane and action potentials in proteinoid microspheres, with or without added lecithin, is reported. The crucial nature of a nonrandom matrix for protocells is developed.
Abnormal development of cultured rat embryos in rat and human sera prepared after vitamin A ingestion.

Human and rat sera were assayed for teratogenic activity using a whole rat embryo culture technique. Sera prepared from blood withdrawn 1–5 h after the ingestion of vitamin A capsules caused developmental retardation and craniofacial abnormalities. Control sera permitted normal growth and differentiation.
Infrared Spectroscopic Analysis of the Effects of Simulated Space Radiation on a Polyimide

Infrared spectroscopic techniques have been used to study the effects of electron radiation on the polyimide PMDA-p, p'-ODA. The radiation exposures were made at various dose rates for a total dose approximately equal to that for 30 years of exposure to electron radiation in geosynchronous Earth orbit. At high dose rates the major effect was probably the formation of a polyisoimide or a charged quarternary amine and at the low dose rates the effect was a reduction in the amount of aromatic ether linkage. In addition, the effects of dose rate for a small total dose were studied. Elevated temperatures occurred at high dose rates and were, in part, probably the cause of the radiation product. The data suggest that dose rates for accelerated simulations of the space environment should not exceed 105 rads/sec.
Double risk: immigrant mothers, domestic violence and public child welfare services in New York City.

This paper examines the experiences of Mexican immigrant mothers living in New York City who become involved with public child welfare services because of domestic violence and makes recommendations for evaluation of program services to immigrant mothers. A case study and the results of a focus group interview will be presented to illustrate the often conflicting cultural, social and political issues confronted by immigrant mothers as they negotiate the organization of services designed to address specific forms of domestic violence, i.e., the protection of children and the protection of women. Emergent themes point to the double risk faced by immigrant women—first at the hands of their partners and then by service providers who do not understand the cultural issues that surround domestic violence nor the implications that immigration status has for victims of abuse. After intervention, participants in this research study describe feeling both like ‘bad mothers’ who fail to protect their children and ‘bad women’ who turn family members over for deportation. Evaluation of services to immigrant mothers requires consideration not only of cultural and social issues that affect program outcomes but must also consider the larger implications that immigration status has on utilization of services by immigrant women. Immigrant women often face multiple risks when seeking help for family problems.
Air jet impingement heat transfer at low nozzle-plate spacings

The local heat transfer characteristics of air jet impingement at nozzle-plate spacings of less than one nozzle diameter have been examined experimentally using an infrared thermal imaging technique. Fully-developed nozzles were used in the study. The flow structure was investigated using laser-Doppler velocimetry and wall pressure measurements. The stagnation Nusselt number was correlated for nozzle-plate spacings of less than one diameter. The customary Nusselt number dependence on Re12 for impinging jet transport was observed. A power-law relationship between Nusselt number and nozzle-plate spacing of the form Nu0 ∼ (zd)−0.288 observed experimentally is explored from theoretical considerations. The effects of accelerating fluid between the nozzle-plate gap as well as a significant increase in local turbulence leads to substantially increased local heat transfer with decreased nozzle-plate spacing. A stagnation point minimum surrounded by an inner and outer peak in the local heat transfer was observed for nozzle-plate spacings less than zd = 0.25. These primary and secondary maxima are explained by accelerated radial flow at the exit of the jet tube and an observed local maximum in the turbulence, respectively. These conclusions are drawn from observations made relative to the turbulent flow structure and wall pressure measurements. The outer peak in local Nusselt number was found to move radially outward for larger nozzle-plate spacings and higher jet Reynolds numbers.
ONLINE SEARCH SERVICE AT THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY

An analysis is given of the various management decisions made at the Dallas Public Library since establishing online search service in 1974. Topics discussed include staffing, hours of service, the fee structure, and administrative records. The future outlook is briefly stated.