cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterisation of metal mirrors on GaAs

The authors describe a Fabry-Perot technique for determining the reflectivity and the phase of the interface between semiconductor and a multilayer metal structure as it will be realised in actual device fabrication. The reflection coefficients of GaAs to Ti/Au, Pd/Au, Au and Ag interfaces are measured at 1.55 /spl mu/m.
Phase 1/2 clinical trial of interferon α2b and weekly liposome-encapsulated all-trans retinoic acid in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma

To evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and biologic effects of weekly liposome-encapsulated all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA-IV) plus interferon α2b (IFN) in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Twenty-six patients with metastatic RCC were treated on a phase 1/2 trial with weekly ATRA-IV
Games of life and death: antibiotic resistance and production through the lens of evolutionary game theory

In this review, we demonstrate how game theory can be a useful first step in modeling and understanding interactions among bacteria that produce and resist antibiotics. We introduce the basic features of evolutionary game theory and explore model microbial systems that correspond to some classical games. Each game discussed defines a different category of social interaction with different resulting population dynamics (exclusion, coexistence, bistability, cycling). We then explore how the framework can be extended to incorporate some of the complexity of natural microbial communities. Overall, the game theoretical perspective helps to guide our expectations about the evolution of some forms of antibiotic resistance and production because it makes clear the precise nature of social interaction in this context.
Analysis of RR Lyrae Stars in the Northern Sky Variability Survey

We use data from the Northern Sky Variability Survey (NSVS), obtained from the first-generation Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment (ROTSE-I), to identify and study RR Lyrae variable stars in the solar neighborhood. We initially identified 1197 RRab (RR0) candidate stars brighter than the ROTSE median magnitude V = 14. Periods, amplitudes, and mean V magnitudes are determined for a subset of 1188 RRab stars with well-defined light curves. Metallicities are determined for 589 stars by the Fourier parameter method and by the relationship between period, amplitude, and [Fe/H]. We comment on the difficulties of clearly classifying RRc (RR1) variables in the NSVS data set. Distances to the RRab stars are calculated using an adopted luminosity-metallicity relation with corrections for interstellar extinction. The 589 RRab stars in our final sample are used to study the properties of the RRab population within 5 kpc of the Sun. The Bailey diagram of period versus amplitude shows that the largest component of this sample belongs to Oosterhoff type I. Metal-rich ([Fe/H] > -1) RRab stars appear to be associated with the Galactic disk. Our metal-rich RRab sample may include a thin-disk, as well as a thick-disk population, although the uncertainties are too large to establish this. There is some evidence among the metal-rich RRab stars for a decline in scale height with increasing [Fe/H], as was found by Layden. The distribution of RRab stars with -1 < [Fe/H] < -1.25 indicates that within this metallicity range the RRab stars are a mixture of stars belonging to halo and disk populations.
Creating a molecular microbiology laboratory

Abstract Molecular methods have changed the practice of clinical microbiology and infectious disease. The technology has created bothnew challenges in laboratory practice and new opportunities for laboratories to impact patient care. This article describes some of the issues that should be considered as laboratories create new molecular diagnostics sections or expand their capabilities in this area.
Measurement of preferential solvation of some glucans in mixed solvent systems by gel‐permeation chromatography

Preferential solvation of the glucans amylose, pullulan, and dextran in binary dimethyl-sulfoxide/water (DMSO/H2O) solvent mixtures has been measured using gel-permeation chromatography. The preferential solvation behavior of the three glucans in DMSO/H2O solvent mixtures is indistinguishable in the experiments reported. In solvent mixtures with mol ratio DMSO/H2O less than 1:2, all three glucans are solvated preferentially by H2O. The maximum extent of preferential solvation by H2O is about 2.5 mol H2O/mol of glucose residues. When the DMSO/H2O mol ratio exceeds 1:2, DMSO solvates the glucans preferentially to a maximum extent of about 1 mol DMSO/mol of glucose residues. An interpretation of the change in preferential solvation with mixed solvent composition is suggested in terms of the known characteristics of the binary solvent system, and the relationship of preferential solvation, reported here, to the absolute solvation of the glucan chains is discussed.
Histochemical identification of cultured cells from human endometrium

Histochemical techniques have been applied to the identification of cell types cultured from human endometrium. Previous work from this laboratory characterized two principtal cell types found in cultures of endometrium: a mature epithelial cell and another cell which was classified as the endometrial stromal cell based on light and electron microscopy. In this report we compare the histochemical staining of endometrial tissue in frozen sections to that of cultured cells. These results confirm the epithelial and stromal nature of the respective cell types. Several markers were found that could distinguish between cells of epithelial and stromal origin. The enzymes alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase, peroxidase, and β-glucuronidase were localized in glandular and surface epithelia in frozen sections and in colonies of epithelial cells in culture. Stroma in frozen sections and cultured stromal cells contained leucine aminopeptidase and fibronectin. Epithelial sections and in culture could also be distinguished from cells of stromal origin by preferential binding of lotus and peanut lectin. Several other markers were found in both endometrial epithelium and stroma.
SNR and Spectral Broadening in Turbulence Structure Measurement Using a cw Laser.

A symmetrical method of optical heterodyning of the doppler shifted signal has been developed possessing minimal instrumental spectral broadening and high SNR. These advantages can be gainfully employed in measuring turbulence structure using a cw laser. The method employs two beams incident on the moving scatterer. The doppler signal frequency is independent of the scattering angle and the signal possesses no receiving aperture broadening. Typical values of signal-to-noise ratio are around 30 dB for a signal strength of 3 × 10−9 W. Optical alignment is simple. Relative merits of this technique compared to the local oscillator heterodyning method are briefly described.
Redox-silent tocotrienol esters as breast cancer proliferation and migration inhibitors

Tocotrienols are vitamin E members with potent antiproliferative activity against preneoplastic and neoplastic mammary epithelial cells with little or no effect on normal cell growth or functions. However, physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties greatly limit their use as therapeutic agents. Tocotrienols' chemical instability, poor water solubility, NPC1L1-mediated transport, and rapid metabolism are examples of such obstacles which hinder the therapeutic use of these valuable natural products. Vitamin E esters like α-tocopheryl succinate were prepared to significantly improve chemical and metabolic stability, water solubility, and potency. Thus, 12 semisynthetic tocotrienol ester analogues 4-15 were prepared by direct esterification of natural tocotrienol isomers with various acid anhydrides or chlorides. Esters 4-15 were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the proliferation and migration of the mammary tumor cells +SA and MDA-MB-231, respectively. Esters 5, 9, and 11 effectively inhibited the proliferation of the highly metastatic +SA rodent mammary epithelial cells with IC(50) values of 0.62, 0.51, and 0.86μM, respectively, at doses that had no effect on immortalized normal mouse CL-S1 mammary epithelial cells. Esters 4, 6, 8-10, and 13 inhibited 50% of the migration of the human metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells at a single 5μM dose in wound-healing assay. The most active ester 9 was 1000-fold more water-soluble and chemically stable versus its parent α-tocotrienol (1). These findings strongly suggest that redox-silent tocotrienol esters may provide superior therapeutic forms of tocotrienols for the control of metastatic breast cancer.
Capillary concentrators for synchrotron radiation beamlines

Capillary concentrators condense x-rays by multiple reflections down a gradually tapering capillary. They can provide sub-micron beam spots, and are promising candidates for use in the next generation x-ray microprobe beamlines. The weak energy dependence of their properties make them especially useful for energy scanning applications such as micro-XAFS. This paper examines the potential performance of capillary optics for an x-ray microprobe, as well as some practical issues such as fabrication and alignment. Best performance at third generation sources requires long capillaries, and we have been using fiber optics techniques to fabricate capillaries up to one meter in length. The performance of shorter (less than about 0.5 m) capillaries has often been found to agree well with the theoretical calculations, indicating the inner surface is a high quality x-ray reflector. These capillaries have been tested at the NSLS for imaging and micro-XAFS down to 2.6 micrometers resolution with excellent results. On an unfocused bend magnet line flux density approaching 106 ph/sec/micrometers 2 has been achieved. While nearly optimum profiles have been achieved for longer capillaries, the results have been disappointing, and alignment problems are suspected. The dramatic improvement in performance possible at third generation synchrotrons such as the APS is discussed along with improvements possible by using the capillaries in conjunction with coupling optics.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Building the virtual state ... or not?: a critical appraisal

In this article, the author advances four arguments about Building the Virtual State. First, it is ahistorical and fails to take into account the rich and rewarding literature about information technology (IT) and government developed over the past 3 decades. Second, its theory of IT enactment is little more than a repackaging of the dominant extant theory in the field, sociotechnical systems theory. Third, evidence provided from the three case studies in the book is insufficient to test enactment (or any other) theory of IT and government. Finally, although the book claims to be about the virtual state, only one of the case studies addresses the movement of government services onto the Internet (the author's definition of the virtual state), and the other two cases do not address it at all. For these reasons, Building the Virtual State is a disappointment, and it delivers a good bit less than it promises.
Structural health monitoring of bridges with piezoelectric AE sensors

Abstract Monitoring the health of structures using acoustic emission technique offers many advantages such as early and quick detection of damage in real-time inexpensively. This paper is concerned with health monitoring of infrastructure hardware like highway bridges using this technique for timely intervention preventing catastrophic failure. Both experimental and numerical investigations were undertaken to determine the effectiveness and applicability of the method in the case of bridge superstructures. Three types of representative bridge girders of steel, reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete were designed, fabricated and monitored in the laboratory for structural integrity under cyclic loads with the help of an acoustic emission sensor system. After laboratory work, wavelet and Fourier transform techniques were applied to the recorded signals for de-noising and to diagnose the damaged state of the structure. Finally the locations of the cracks were determined by using the artificial neural network (ANN) approach.
Rasburicase improves hyperuricemia in infants with acute kidney injury

Recent data suggest that elevated levels of uric acid (UA) might contribute to the progression of renal disease. Rasburicase, recombinant urate oxidase, is a highly safe and efficacious hypo-uricosuric agent for treatment of elevated UA levels from tumor lysis. We adopted the use of rasburicase for management of hyperuricemia in infants with acute kidney injury (AKI) and, herein, report our experience. We conducted a retrospective chart review of infants with hyperuricemia (UA > 8 mg/dl) secondary to AKI (serum creatinine > 1.5 mg/dl) treated with rasburicase. Seven infants (mean age 34 ± 55 days, six male), with a mean weight of 3.2 ± 1.2 kg, were identified. Rasburicase was administered intravenously as a single, onetime, bolus of 0.17 ± 0.04 mg/kg body weight. Within 24 h, serum UA had decreased from 13.6 ± 4.5 mg/dl to 0.9 ± 0.6 mg/dl (P < 0.05), creatinine had decreased from 3.2 ± 2.0 mg/dl to 2.0 ± 1.2 mg/dl (P < 0.05), and urinary output had increased from 2.4 ± 1.2 ml/kg per hour to 5.9 ± 1.8 ml/kg per hour (P < 0.05). Continued improvements in UA, creatinine, and urinary output were observed in the week following administration of rasburicase, without rebound of the UA. We observed no treatment-related side effects. All patients demonstrated a normalization of uric acid level without need of renal replacement therapy. In conclusion, a single intravenously administered bolus of rasburicase appears to be a novel treatment for hyperuricemia in infants with AKI.
Audiogenic kindling increases neuronal responses to acoustic stimuli in neurons of the medial geniculate body of the genetically epilepsy-prone rat.

Abstract Frequent repetition of audiogenic seizure (AGS) (‘AGS kindling’) in the severe substrain of genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPR-9s) results in the appearance of cortical epileptiform electrographic activity, increases of seizure duration and additional convulsive behaviors. These findings suggest that the initial AGS network, which is located primarily in the brainstem, has undergone expansion to the forebrain. The medial geniculate body (MGB) is a thalamic structure that is the first major auditory nucleus efferent to the AGS-initiating site in the inferior colliculus. The MGB is not required for AGS induction, but it has been implicated in the expanded AGS network in GEPR-9s based on focal, pharmacological blockade experiments. The present study examined changes in acoustically evoked MGB neuronal responses in awake and behaving GEPR-9s and in anesthetized GEPR-9s after 14 repetitive AGS-inducing stimuli given daily. An elevated number of action potentials was observed in the MGB neuronal responses after AGS kindling in GEPR-9s. This increase of MGB neuronal responses was associated with a loss of habituation and lasted for at least 28 days after the 14th AGS. An increase in the incidence of sustained acoustic responses in MGB neurons was observed after repetitive AGS in GEPR-9s. Increases in the peak latency and threshold of MGB neuronal responses were also observed after AGS kindling. MGB neurons exhibited a rapid tonic firing during tonic seizures in behaving GEPR-9s, suggesting that the MGB may be implicated in the propagation of seizure activity. However, MGB neuronal firing was silent during post-tonic clonus, a behavior seen in GEPR-9s only after AGS repetition, suggesting that MGB does not play a direct role in the generation of this convulsive behavior. Thus, changes in neuronal firing in nuclei efferent to the MGB, in the expanded neuronal network for repetitive AGS, may be responsible for the generation of post-tonic clonus in GEPR-9s.
What happens to terrestrial organic matter in the ocean

The title of this session, What happens toterrestrial organic matter in the ocean? comesdirectly from the title of a paper published by Hedgeset al. (1997) and continues to be a topic of greatdiscussion. The annual flux of organic matter (~0.5 PgC) from the terrestrial to marine environment issubstantial and an important component of the globalcycles of carbon and other bioactive elements. JohnHedges first pondered the fate of terrestrial organicmatter in the ocean in the early 1970s as a graduatestudent at the University of Texas Marine ScienceInstitute in Port Aransas, Texas. As a student, Johndeveloped methods for using lignin-derived phenolsas unique biomarkers of terrestrial plants (Hedges,1975; Hedges and Parker, 1976). He investigated theabundance and distribution of terrestrial organiccarbon (TOC) in Gulf of Mexico sediments usinglignin phenols in combination with bulk stable Cisotopes as tracers of TOC. His pioneering applicationof lignin phenols as biomarkers of terrestrial materialwas the beginning of a lifelong pursuit. John’s studies,as well as those of many others using a variety ofapproaches, lead to the general conclusion that a largefraction of the TOC discharged from rivers isremineralized within ocean margins (Hedges et al.,1997).1. What is terrestrial organic carbon?The term terrestrial organic carbon has variousconnotationsanddefinitions.Tosome,thetermimpliesorganic carbon that is bfixedQ or biosynthesized in theterrestrial environment. To others, the term implies allorganic carbon discharged from rivers to the coastalocean. Organic carbon in seawater and marine sedi-mentsisoftenconsideredtobeofterrestrialoriginonlyif it has characteristic chemical or isotopic signaturesthat are indicative of a vascular plant origin. However,thebroadestdefinitionsofTOCincludeorganiccarbonthat spans the entire spectrum of biological sources,physical forms, and chemical and isotopic composi-tions. This spectrum of biological sources includesvascularplants,nonvascularplants(bryophytes),algae,fungi, protozoans, bacteria, archaea, viruses andanimals, as well as an equally dizzying array ofbiochemical and isotopic diversity. In addition to thiscomplexity, relic forms of organic carbon, such askerogen,coalandpetroleum,andcombustionproducts,
The hypophysis and hypothalamo‐hypophysial system in the chimaeroid fish Hydrolagus colliei (Lay and Bennett) with a note on their vascularization

The pituitary of Hydrolagus is divided into four parts: the rostral pars distalis, the proximal pars distalis, neurointermediate lobe and an oral or pharyngeal component the Rachendachhypophyse. The Rachendachhypophyse may be comparable to the ventral lobe of elasmobranchs, in their position, histology and post- embryonic structure. A well defined hypothalamo- hypophysial neurosecretory system demonstrable with aldehyde fuchsin is present. The nucleus lateralis tuberis is long and seems to extend from the posterior region of the optic chiasma to the median eminence. The nucleus preopticus is situated anterodorsal to the optic chiasma. The bulk of the neurosecretory axons enter the neurointermediate lobe and have perivascular endings. At least some axons seem to terminate in median eminence, and this region is intimately connected with the pars distalis by a network of capillaries, suggesting the presence of a hypothalamo- hypophysial portal system. The presence of median eminence and hypothalamo- hypophysial portal system in elasmobranchs, and its apparent occurrence in Hydrolagus, seem to necessitate modification of earlier views concerning the phylogenetic derivation of the tetrapod neurohypophysis.
The use of hemostatic agents and sealants in urology.

Purpose: While hemostatic agents and sealants have long been used in the fields of surgery and urology, confusion persists about their indications for use and the optimal agent choice. We comprehensively defined and evaluated the scientific basis for hemostatic agent and sealant use in urology, and provide a conceptual framework for future research and discussion.Materials and Methods: A MEDLINE search of all available literature concerning hemostatic agents in urology was performed, including topical hemostats, anti-fibrinolytics, fibrin sealants and matrix hemostats. Select references were also chosen from the broader surgical literature. Animal studies, case reports, retrospective and prospective studies, and opinion articles were reviewed.Results: Hemostatic agents include a wide range of components. Recent literature has focused on fibrin sealants and matrix agents. Two main indications exist for hemostatic agents, including 1) hemostasis and 2) sealant. The best evidence for efficacy and safety exis...
More on Folk Zoological Life‐Forms

This note serves two purposes: (1) to revise details of the folk zoological life-form encoding sequence (Brown 1979) in light of recent crosslanguage research, and (2) to respond to Thomas Riley's (1980) comments concerning the relationship of ecological factors and biological life-form growth. Since publication of the study treating animal life-form growth (Brown 1979) I have substantially augmented the number of Type A language cases bearing on the proposed encoding sequence.' Of the original sample of 112 language cases, the vast majority (78) are from dictionaries (i.e., Type B cases) and the remainder (34) from nondictionary sources (Type A) such as reports of firsthand field investigation of folk zoological classification. To date, I have added approximately 110 Type A cases. For the most part these additional cases support the broad outline of encoding regularities described earlier. They do indicate, however, that constraints on zoological life-form encoding are not quite as severe as originally reported. In the original formulation of the encoding sequence WUG (fourth to be encoded) precedes MAMMAL (last to be encoded). WUG and MAMMAL are residual life-form categories encompassing creatures left over after encoding the distinct discontinuities BIRD, FISH, and SNAKE. Furthermore, they partition residual creatures by size creating the binary contrast "small residual creature" (WUG)/"large residual creature" (MAMMAL). The additional Type A cases indicate that nei her of these residual classes is more likely than the other to be encoded immediately aft r the triad FISH, BIRD, and SNAKE. In other words, there are no reasons for postulating that WUG precedes MAMMAL or vice versa. However, the new evidence adds further strong support to the bservation that both residual categories are r gularly encoded after FISH, BIRD, and SNAKE.
How Twin Cities Neurologists Treat Ischemic Stroke: Policies and Trends

• Objective. —To examine community practices. Design. —Physician practice policies were surveyed using case vignettes in which evaluation for carotid endarterectomy or use of anticoagulation therapy was at issue. Virtually the same group was surveyed in 1988 and again in 1991, after publication of carotid endarterectomy trials in symptomatic patients. Setting. —Greater Metropolitan Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Participants. —Community and academic neurologists in practice of general adult neurology. Measurement. —Percentage of respondents who would recommend the management option in question for each vignette. Results. —Ninety-eight percent favored evaluation for carotid endarterectomy in appropriately symptomatic "good risk" patients in 1988 before proof of efficacy became available. Proof increased the percentage (from 67% to 92%) favoring evaluation in older, sicker, symptomatic patients but not the percentage of those favoring evaluation of bruit patients (1988: 33%; 1991: 24%). In 1991, a lower percentage recommended warfarin therapy after noncardioembolic transient ischemic attack; this was especially apparent in the vertebrobasilar case (1988:59%; 1991: 37%). Both years, nine of 10 neurologists recommended heparin therapy for progressing stroke, while half to three-fourths used it after partial stroke or transient ischemic attack. Almost all would use anticoagulants for secondary prophylaxis after suspected cardioembolic stroke. Conclusion. —The results reflect a treatment-oriented empirical approach in this community and document quick clinical application of scientific evidence when it became available.
Hybrid Adaptive Friction Compensation of Indirect Drive Trains

This paper investigates the friction compensation topic for indirect drive trains in the absence of precise end-effector measurements. Friction, one of the main factors that diminish control performance, is investigated and compensated by manipulating the reference trajectory as well as the torque input. The motor side torque compensation utilizes the modified LuGre model to design an adaptive friction observer, while the motor side reference is modified by injecting the estimated load side friction. A hybrid controller structure is proposed to engage or disengage the load side compensator. Both methods are combined to effectively reject the friction effects in indirect drive trains. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is experimentally verified.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Slow feedback loops for a Landau cavity with high beam loading

Equilibrium bunch shapes for bunches stretched with a higher-harmonic cavity are sensitive functions of beam and RF parameters. This paper gives results of calculations of equilibrium bunch shapes as a function of Landau-cavity phase, the relationship between the stretched-beam phase and slow feedback controls for the cavity is described, and a control system capable of stretching, compressing, controlling the cavity phase arbitrarily (within the limits of the power amplifier), and operating without beam for use in the NSLS Vacuum-Ultraviolet (VUV) ring is presented. The last is compared with the existing RF controls for the VUV-ring harmonic cavity.
Chapther 9 Divergence and reconvergence: multielectrode analysis of feedforward connections in the visual system

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses multi-electrode recording, which is rapidly becoming a standard tool in systems neurophysiology. Its main advantage over single electrode recordings is that temporal relations among the firing patterns of two or more neurons can be examined. The study of temporal relations between neurons can serve two purposes: (1) explore the connectivity or synaptic physiology of neurons in a circuit, and (2) elucidate strategies of neural processing or encoding by an ensemble. These two aspects of multi-electrode recording is exemplified in numerous studies of the mammalian visual system. The chapter explains the strategy employed in the pathway from retina to thalamus (lateral geniculate nucleus or LGN) to visual cortex in the cat. Temporal relations between neurons can be characterized in simple ways, such as with cross-correlation analysis of a pair of neurons, or the analysis of how several neurons respond in a correlated fashion to a sensory input. Correlations among multiple neurons are used to analyze patterns of firing and their relation to sensory stimuli.
Inelasticity and Material Failure

The load-displacement diagrams for simple springs shown in Fig. 6.2 (page 248) have their counterpart (as was already noted in Example 6.1.2, page 251) in stress-strain diagrams. These represent the properties of the material for, on the one hand, uniaxial normal stress (tensile and compressive) and the conjugate longitudinal strain and, on the other hand, shear stress and the conjugate shear strain. Such diagrams may represent linearly elastic, nonlinearly elastic or inelastic behavior, as discussed in Sect. 6.1.
Performance surface prediction for WAN-based clusters

The last five years have been a period of exponential growth in the number of machines connected to the Internet and the speed at which these machines communicate. The infrastructure is now in place to consider a nationwide cluster of workstations as a viable parallel processing platform. In order to achieve acceptable performance on this kind of a machine, performance prediction tools must provide information on where to place computational objects. Incorrect object placement can result in poor performance and congestion in the network. This research develops a new paradigm for predicting performance in the wide area network (WAN) based cluster arena. Statistical samples of the performance of clusters and applications are used to build characteristic surfaces. These surfaces are then used to provide guidance in the placement of new applications. This prediction method is intended to minimize both the execution time of the application and the impact of the application on the nationwide virtual machine. Performance prediction tools are an important prerequisite to effectively utilizing WAN-based clusters.
In search of the biology of systems

This paper propose to do as von Bertalanffy once did, and that is to draw on the biological sciences, now hugely advanced beyond that ever imagined by von Bertalanffy and his peers, and use its findings, architectures and emergent behaviors, to argue for a biology of technology and enterprise systems. We seek a science and approach that we believe will provide richer insight into system failure, 'health' maintenance, repair, replication, growth, and mutation, all those features of the evolution of systems which constantly challenge us and which thus far we have only been able to explain via macro-level models and tools. We propose to go deeper into the structure of these systems and to discover the "DNA" (building blocks) of these systems. Thus establishing a foundation to understand their behavior using biological analogies which we believe will turn out to be more than metaphors. We assert that these systems have micro-structures which explain their individual life cycle and their communal ecology.
Digital control of tunneling accelerometer

A controller for a tunneling accelerometer has two tasks: to establish tunneling and to maintain tunneling during acceleration. This paper describes the design and implementation of a digital controller that accomplishes these tasks and provides the appropriate gain switching. The control law is based on a standard configuration of an observer and state feedback. A digital controller is implemented because the controller parameters can be easily adjusted, thereby allowing for rapid prototyping. The design methodology presented here can be used as a general plug-and-play controller platform for a range of MEMS sensors. The performance of the digital controller is illustrated experimentally using metrics such as tracking response, drift, noise floor and response linearity.
Possible anaphylactic reaction to abciximab.

We report a patient who experienced a severe anaphylactic reaction during coronary artery stenting. Subsequent to administration of a weight-adjusted dose of abciximab, the patient developed profound hypotension and severe, acute airway obstruction. The reaction was successfully reversed with a 16-hr infusion of epinephrine, steroids, and an H1 blocker. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 48:71–73, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Organizational behavior in the new organizational era.

▪ Abstract Changes in contemporary firms and their competitive environments translate into a new focus in organizational research. This chapter reviews organizational behavior research reflecting the shift from corporatist organizations to organizing. Key research themes include emerging employment relations, managing the performance paradox, goal setting and self-management, discontinuous information processing, organization learning, organizational change and individual transitions, and the implications of change for work-nonwork relations. Research into organizing is building upon and extending many of the field's traditional concepts. This chapter suggests that some assumptions of organizational behavior research are being superseded by those more responsive to the new organizational era.
Back to the Beginning: European Labor, U.S. Influence, and the Start of the Cold War

The events of 1989-90 have transformed the political landscape of Europe. Indeed, when considered with the current increment of integration through the expanded European Community (EC), they make the years 1989-92 into one of the several great constitution-making moments ?moments of concentrated transcontinental upheaval, in which one framework of practice and belief is replaced by another?in modern European history. Yet, after the massive popular democratic mobilizations of the immediate revolutionary transitions in Eastern Europe, there has been a surprising lack of volatility, with the exceptions of those states where the complete anticommunist rupture has yet to occur, including to some extent Bulgaria and especially Albania and Yugoslavia. By contrast with the two previous moments of this kind in the twentieth century ?1917-23 and 1945-49 ?the radical openness of the situation has been disciplined into a single frame remarkably quickly, both by the headlong Eastern European rush to the market and by West Germany's effortless annexation of the former German Democratic Republic. Whereas in
Bioengineering of photosynthetic membranes. Requirement of magnesium for the conversion of chlorophyllide a to chlorophyll a during the greening of etiochloroplasts in vitro

The massive conversion of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) and the massive conversion of chlorophyllide a (Chlide a) to chlorophyll a (Chl a) are two essential conditions for the ALA-dependent assembly of photosynthetic membranes in vitro. In this work, the authors describe the development of a cell-free system capable of the forementioned biosynthetic activities at rates higher than in vivo, for the first 2 h of dark-incubation. The cell-free system consisted of 1) etiochloroplasts prepared from kinetin and gibberellic-acid-pretreated cucumber cotyledons, and 2) cofactors and additives described elsewhere and which are needed for the massive conversion of ALA to Pchlide, 3) high concentrations of ATP, MgCl/sub 2/, and an isoprenol alcohol such as phytol, were required for the massive conversion of Chlide a to Chl a. An absolute and novel requirement of Mg/sup 2 +/ for the conversion of Chlide a to Chl a was also demonstrated. In addition to the role of phytol as a substrate for the conversion of Chlide a to Chl a, the data suggested that this alcohol may also be involved in the regulation of the reactions between ALA and Pchlide. It is proposed that during greening, the conversion of Chlide a to Chlmore » a may follow different biosynthetic rates, having different substrate and cofactor requirements, depending on the stage of plastid development.« less
Energy efficient fixed-priority scheduling for real-time systems on variable voltage processors

Energy consumption has become an increasingly important consideration in designing many real-time embedded systems. Variable voltage processors, if used properly, can dramatically reduce such system energy consumption. In this paper, we present a technique to determine voltage settings for a variable voltage processor that utilizes a fixed priority assignment to schedule jobs. Our approach also produces the minimum constant voltage needed to feasibly schedule the entire job set. Our algorithms lead to significant energy saving compared with previously presented approaches.
Interaction of Pasteurella multocida with Free-Living Amoebae

Pasteurella multocida is a highly infectious, facultative intracellular bacterium which causes fowl cholera in birds. This study reports, for the first time, the observed interaction between P. multocida and free-living amoebae. Amoebal trophozoites were coinfected with fowl-cholera-causing P. multocida strain X-73 that expressed the green fluorescent protein (GFP). Using confocal fluorescence microscopy, GFP expressing X-73 was located within the trophozoite. Transmission electron microscopy of coinfection preparations revealed clusters of intact X-73 cells in membrane-bound vacuoles within the trophozoite cytoplasm. A coinfection assay employing gentamicin to kill extracellular bacteria was used to assess the survival and replication of P. multocida within amoebae. In the presence of amoebae, the number of recoverable intracellular X-73 cells increased over a 24-h period; in contrast, X-73 cultured alone in assay medium showed a consistent decline in growth. Cytotoxicity assays and microscopy showed that X-73 was able to lyse and exit the amoebal cells approximately 18 h after coinfection. The observed interaction between P. multocida and amoebae can be considered as an infective process as the bacterium was able to invade, survive, replicate, and lyse the amoebal host. This raises the possibility that similar interactions occur in vivo between P. multocida and host cells. Free-living amoebae are ubiquitous within water and soil environments, and P. multocida has been observed to survive within these same ecosystems. Thus, our findings suggest that the interaction between P. multocida and amoebae may occur within the natural environment.
Predation, scramble competition, and the vigilance group size effect in dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis)

In socially feeding birds and mammals, as group size increases, individuals devote less time to scanning their environment and more time to feeding. This vigilance “group size effect” has long been attributed to the anti-predatory benefits of group living, but many investigators have suggested that this effect may be driven by scramble competition for limited food. We addressed this issue of causation by focusing on the way in which the scan durations of free-living dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis) decrease with group size. We were particularly interested in vigilance scanning concomitant with the handling of food items, since a decrease in food handling times (i.e. scan durations) with increasing group size could theoretically be driven by scramble competition for limited food resources. However, we showed that food-handling scan durations decrease with group size in an environment with an effectively unlimited food supply. Furthermore, this food-handling effect was qualitatively similar to that observed in the duration of standard vigilance scans (scanning exclusive of food ingestion), and both responded to changes in the risk of predation (proximity of a refuge) as one might expect based upon anti-predator considerations. The group size effects in both food-handling and standard scan durations may reflect a lesser need for personal information about risk as group size increases. Scramble competition may influence vigilance in some circumstances, but demonstrating an effect of competition beyond that of predation may prove challenging.
Performance of a variable tillage system based on interactions with landscape and soil

Understanding tillage system interaction with landscape variability is important in prescribing appropriate tillage systems that are profitable and environmentally sound. A three-year (1997–1999) study was conducted on a gently sloping, poorly drained lacustrine landscape to evaluate tillage, landscape, and soil interactions on grain yield. Tillage systems investigated were a reduced tillage (RT) system [no-tillage after soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr), fall chisel plowing after corn (Zea mays (L.) var. mays)], and a conventional tillage (CT) system (fall chisel plowing after soybean and fall moldboard plowing after corn). Fall primary tillage was followed with a pre-plant field cultivation in the spring. Runoff and pollutant losses from the two tillage systems were also measured under a 63 mm h−1 simulated rainfall. Runoff and pollutant (total solids, chemical oxygen demand, total P, dissolved molybdate reactive P) losses were similar, or lower (6.6, 8.0, 7.7, 5.5, and 4.1 times, respectively) in the RT than the CT system. Tillage system, landscape elevation, and soil type interactions on crop yield varied depending upon whether it was a wet or dry growing season. Using the interactions, soybean yield differences among the modeled fixed-RT, fixed-CT, and variable tillage (VT) systems in a wet year were less than 0.1 Mg ha−1. During a dry year, corn yield was higher in the RT and the VT systems than in the CT system. When no new purchase of tillage equipment(s) is necessary to implement the RT, VT, or CT system, the modest yield benefits during relatively dry years, plus the improved runoff water quality by using reduced tillage system in all or part of the landscape, would justify the use of RT and VT systems over the CT system in the lacustrine landscape.
Dopamine modulates an mGluR5-mediated depolarization underlying prefrontal persistent activity

The intrinsic properties of neurons that enable them to maintain depolarized, persistently activated states in the absence of sustained input are poorly understood. In short-term memory tasks, individual prefrontal cortical (PFC) neurons can maintain persistent action potential output during delay periods between informative cues and behavioral responses. Dopamine and drugs of abuse alter PFC function and working memory, possibly by modulating intrinsic neuronal properties. Here we used patch-clamp recording of layer 5 PFC pyramidal neurons to identify a postsynaptic depolarization that was evoked by action potential bursts and mediated by metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5). This depolarization occurred in the absence of recurrent synaptic activity and was reduced by a dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) protein kinase A pathway. After behavioral sensitization to cocaine, the depolarization was substantially diminished and D1R modulation was lost. We propose that burst-evoked intrinsic depolarization is a form of short-term cellular memory that is modulated by dopamine and cocaine experience.
The Long Peace in Pennsylvania

Our understanding of the Long Peace in Pennsylvania has shifted from a focus on Quakers as the purveyors of peaceful relations in the mid-Atlantic region before the Seven Years’ War to a deeper examination of Indian-white relations, which helped make and unravel peaceful coexistence from the late seventeenth century to the 1750s.
Joint Link Scheduling and Routing for Directional-Antenna Based 60 GHz Wireless Mesh Networks

Since the unlicensed 60 GHz band has the extensively wide continuous spectrum and its corresponding millimeter-wave signal has high directivity gain, the 60 GHz band is a good option for the broadband wireless mesh networks. This paper focuses on link scheduling and routing over the 60 GHz multi-channel wireless mesh networks, where each mesh router has multiple radios and multiple directional antennas. We formulate a linear programming based framework, which incorporates multi-channel and multi-radio, directional antenna, and 60 GHz millimeter-wave communications, to model the network throughput of the directional antenna based 60 GHz mesh networks. Under this framework, we derive the solution to the problem of maximizing the network throughput subject to the fairness constraint and the directional-antenna based wireless channel interference constraint. Then, we design a heuristic joint link scheduling and routing scheme which aims at approximately attaining the optimal solution to the joint optimization problem under our proposed framework. We conduct extensive simulations to validate and evaluate our proposed scheme.
RNA Sequencing and its Applications in Cancer Diagnosis and Targeted Therapy

High throughput DNA and RNA sequencing (DNA-Seq and RNA-Seq) is increasingly impacting the clinical practice of medicine. RNA-Seq has so far had a smaller role in the clinical practice, but it has advantageous features and is complementary to DNA-Seq. RNA-Seq can profile the abundance and composition of the entire transcriptome, including both mRNA and non-coding RNA. It is thus capable of revealing diverse functional and structural changes affecting genes, such as gene overexpression, silencing and various abnormalities and alterations among which may be substitutions, deletions, inversions, alternative splicing and gene fusions. As cancers are characterized by many of these changes, RNA-Seq can be valuable for diagnosing and characterizing tumors. Here we will describe the use of RNA-Seq in cancer diagnosis and personalized therapy, with an emphasis on the detection of fusion transcripts, which are frequently associated with cancer and are often drug targets for cancer therapy.
Introduction to the Technologies for Healthy Aging Minitrack

The rise of the Internet of Things and the InstrumentedLifestyle has continued to push the boundaries of howwe can provide health care support people throughouttheir lives. These new technologies require an InformationTechnology based approach to deploying and understandinghealth care delivery in Healthy Aging. To achieve resultsin this specialized Healthcare IT field, a blend of clinicalconcepts, gerontology, sociology, smart environments, andmobile platforms are being brought to bear. This mini-trackon Technologies for Healthy Aging presents design, socialaspects, and engineering processes that are needed to makethese technologies successful among our communities.
T- maze learning as a joint function of probability and magnitude of reward

Rats were trained on a position discrimination. The experimental design involved simultaneously manipulating per cent and magnitude reward given for the correct response. Learning-rate was found to be a negatively accelerated growth function of reward magnitude for both of the reward schedules used. The results are interpreted as support for the treatment of reward magnitude as a special case of reinforcement probability.
Case report: pelvic congestion syndrome as an unusual etiology for chronic hip pain in 2 active, middle-age women.

Context: The past 2 decades have shown a dramatic increase in the number of pelvic and hip injuries in female athletes. Accurate diagnosis of hip pain in active women has proven to be a challenge, as there is an extensive differential including both musculoskeletal and visceral problems. While the incidence of pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) is not known, this condition may manifest as chronic hip pain in this patient population.
Nanopillar lasers directly grown on silicon with heterostructure surface passivation

Single-crystalline wurtzite InGaAs/InGaP nanopillars directly grown on a lattice-mismatched silicon substrate are demonstrated. The nanopillar growth is in a core–shell manner and gives a sharp, defect-free heterostructure interface. The InGaP shell provides excellent surface passivation effect for InGaAs nanopillars, as attested by 50-times stronger photoluminescence intensities and 5-times greater enhancements in the carrier recombination lifetimes, compared to the unpassivated ones. A record value of 16.8% internal quantum efficiency for InGaAs-based nanopillars was attained with a 50-nm-thick InGaP passivation layer. A room-temperature optically pumped laser was achieved from single, as-grown InGaAs nanopillars on silicon with a record-low threshold. Superior material qualities of these InGaP-passivated InGaAs nanopillars indicate the possibility of realizing high-performance optoelectronic devices for photovoltaics, optical communication, semiconductor nanophotonics, and heterogeneous integration of ...
A Medium for the Isolation of Bacillus Pertussis

Two methods are available for the laboratory diagnosis of pertussis: the original method of Bordet and Gengou,1 the plating of sputum from suspected cases, and the cough plate method devised by Chievitz and Meyer.2 The disadvantages of both methods lie in the time necessary for the appearance of colonies of B. pertussis. The medium universally employed for the isolation of. the organism is the original medium of Bordet and Gengou or slight modifications of it.3 On this medium, colonies of B. pertussis may be recognized after three days' incubation, although in some instances colonies may be made out at the end of forty-eight hours. A medium on which B. pertussis would grow more rapidly than on the Bordet-Gengou medium would be of aid in the diagnosis of pertussis. The medium to be described, which in reality is a modification of the original Bordet-Gengou agar, overcomes, in a certain measure, the difficulties of the original medium.