cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimization of α-Ketooxazole Inhibitors of Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase

A series of α-ketooxazoles containing conformational constraints in the flexible C2 acyl side chain of 2 (OL-135) and representative oxazole C5 substituents was prepared and examined as inhibitors of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). Exceptionally potent and selective FAAH inhibitors emerged from the series (e.g., 6: Ki = 200 and 260 pM for rat and rhFAAH). With simple and small C5 oxazole substituents, each series bearing a biphenylethyl, phenoxyphenethyl, or (phenoxymethyl)phenethyl C2 side chain was found to follow a well-defined linear relationship between −log Ki and Hammett σp of a magnitude (ρ = 2.7–3.0) that indicates the substituent electronic effect dominates confirming its fundamental importance to the series and further establishing its predictive value. Just as significantly, the nature of the C5 oxazole substituent substantially impacts the selectivity of the inhibitors whereas the effect of the C2 acyl chain was more subtle, but still significant even in the small series examined. Combination of these independent features, which display generalized trends across a range of inhibitor series, simultaneously improve FAAH potency and selectivity and can provide exquisitely selective and potent FAAH inhibitors.
Richard courant and the finite element method: A further look

Abstract The finite element method has in recent years become one of the most popular and effective numerical procedures for boundary value and eigenvalue problems. In the early 1960s it was found that the method was an independent rediscovery of a simpler idea proposed in 1943 by Richard Courant. The importance of Courant's 1943 paper has been emphasized by G. Strang in 1973 and by others. This note seeks to describe briefly Courant's finite element work which led to his publication of 1943. It is shown that Courant used the finite element ideas as early as 1922 in a proof employing Dirichlet's principle.
The Invisibility of LGBT Individuals in Black Mega Churches: Political and Social Implications

This qualitative research explores the disconnect that exists between the African American lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community and the Black Church. Specifically, we focus on the subtle unification efforts made by Black Mega Churches, in particular The Potter's House church, while highlighting the perpetuated invisibility of this population within these congregations. This research is a result of contextual analysis of Potter's House sermons, interviews with the pastor of The Potter's House, and Potter's House programs that target its African American LGBT congregation members. In addition, comparisons are made between the Potter's House and gay-affirming churches with primarily African American members.
Recent advances in the molecular simulation of chemical reactions

This special issue is a selection of 15 papers reflecting recent advances in the molecular simulation of chemical reactions.The first part of this issue is devoted to new developments and applicati...
Purification, properties, and kinetic mechanism of coenzyme A-linked aldehyde dehydrogenase from Clostridium kluyveri.

Abstract Coenzyme A-linked aldehyde dehydrogenase from Clostridium kluyveri was purified from the soluble fraction of crude extracts and its physical and kinetic properties were studied. The enzyme was purified approximately 90-fold over crude extracts to a specific activity of 50 units/mg protein and was estimated to be 40% pure by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. From active enzyme centrifugation studies, aldehyde dehydrogenase was found to have a sedimentation coefficient of s 20, w = 7.4. The Stokes radius of the enzyme was determined by gel filtration and found to be 9.5 nm in the presence of substrates and 11.0 nm in the absence of substrates. Using the values found for the sedimentation coefficient and the Stokes radius, the molecular weight of the enzyme in the presence of substrates was calculated to be 290,000 and the frictional ratio, 2.2. Aldehyde dehydrogenase can utilize thiols other than CoA as acetyl acceptors. A number of methods were employed in order to exclude the possibility that these thiols act merely by recycling nonenzymatically trace amounts of CoA that might be in the enzyme preparation. From steady-state kinetic measurements, a ping pong mechanism was proposed in which NAD + binds to free enzyme, acetaldehyde binds next, and NADH is released before CoA binds and acetyl-CoA released. At K m levels of other substrates, substrate inhibition by CoA was observed. The nature of the substrate inhibition is discussed.
Influence of estradiol on P32 uptake by the uterus.

Summary1. The preferential localization of radioactive phosphorus is enhanced in the uterus of the immature rat by the administration of estradiol. 2. P32 becomes bound in the estradiol primed uterus as evidenced by the increase of P32 in the acid insoluble fraction. 3. The liver is not influenced in this process, indicating that the proliferating cells in a hormone treated target organ influence the uptake of P32. 4. The data indicate a suggested approach to the treatment of genital malignancies.
Periodontal disease and preterm birth: results of a pilot intervention study.

Background: Previous case-control and prospective studies have shown an association between the presence of periodontitis and the risk of preterm birth (PTB). The goal of this pilot trial was to determine the feasibility of conducting a trial to determine whether treatment of periodontitis reduces the risk of spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB). Methods: Three hundred sixty-six (366) women with periodontitis between 21 and 25 weeks' gestation were recruited and randomized to one of three treatment groups with stratifi- cation on the following two factors: 1) previous SPTB at <35 weeks and 2) body mass index <19.8 or bacterial vaginosis as assessed by gram stain. The treatment groups consisted of: 1) dental prophylaxis plus placebo capsule; 2) scaling and root planing (SRP) plus placebo capsule; and 3) SRP plus metronidazole capsule (250 mg t.i.d. for one week). An additional group of 723 pregnant women meeting the same criteria for periodontitis and enrolled in a prospective study served as an untreated refe...
Recovery of escape locomotion following a CNS lesion in Aplysia

The recovery of escape locomotion in Aplysia following a CNS lesion was investigated. The connectives between the cerebral and pleural ganglia were crushed in anesthetized animals, producing a specific behavioral deficit. Animals with lesions failed to initiate escape locomotion in response to tail shock. Tail withdrawal and inking which were also evoked by tail shock were still present. Other behaviors such as normal locomotion and feeding were not impaired. There was gradual recovery from the effects of the lesion. Animals with lesions began to respond to tail shock with weak pedal waves at long latencies after 7–13 days. The responses grew more vigorous and the latencies decreased over subsequent days. Full escape locomotor responses were observed as early as 15 days postlesion. By Postlesion Day 27, all of the animals had completely recovered and gave full escape responses. The mean latency of the escape locomotor response in recovered animals was not significantly different from prelesion control values. In behaviorally recovered animals, retrograde tracing from a point distal to the lesion site stained neurons in the cerebral ganglion. Intracellular dye injections of individual neurons revealed sprouting of new processes. Stimulation of the tail nerve and individual neurons demonstrated synaptic connections between cerebral and pleural ganglia neurons. These results suggest that the observed behavioral recovery was due to pleural ganglia neurons regenerating and forming appropriate synaptic connections in the cerebral ganglion.
Neutral hydrolases of rat brain preliminary characterization and developmental changes of neutral β-N-acetylhexosaminidases

The bulk of rat brain neutral β-N-acetylhexosaminidases (2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-hexoside acetamidodeoxyhexohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.52) were present in the cytosol fraction. They were not bound by concanavalin A-Sepharose while the acid β-N-acetylhexosaminidases were all bound. The neutral β-N-acetylglucosaminidase had a pH optimum of 5.2 and Km of 0.57 mM, while the neutral β-N-acetylgalactosaminidase had the highest reaction rate at pH 6.0 with a Km of 0.12 mM. No divalent ions activated either of the enzymes. The glucosaminidase lost more than 90% of the activity in 30 min at 50°C. The galactosaminidase was heat-stable and lost only 10–20% of its activity after 3 h at 50°C. The neutral glucosaminidase was inhibited by free N-acetylglucosamine but not by N-acetylgalactosamine. The reverse was found for the neutral β-galactosaminidase. Two enzymes were separated almost completely by hydroxyapatite chromatography. Heat stability of the separated activity peaks suggested that the neutral β-N-acetylgalactosaminidase, which was not bound to hydroxyapatite, may be specific to the galactosaminide substrate. The neutral β-N-acetylglucosaminidase may, on the other hand, have some activity toward the galactosaminide substrate. Both of the neutral enzyme activities were highest during the first postnatal week in rat brain in contrast to the acidic enzyme which showed peak activities during the second and third weeks. These results confirmed and expanded earlier observations by Frohwein and Gatt in calf brain. The relationship of these enzymes to the hexosaminidase C in human tissues is less certain at the present time.
Measurement of the nonlinear, coupled stiffness characteristics of the human knee

Abstract The structural characteristics of the human knee have been determined using the stiffness influence coefficient method. The nonlinear load-displacement data is approximated by a least squares polynomial and differentiated to determine the stiffness coefficient as a function of displacement. Cross axes coupling produces a full matrix and individual stiffness curves are seen to be a function of the initial displacement state of the joint. The resulting data provides a complex, but accurate description of joint stiffness in a format consistent with matrix structural analysis. The methods are described in detail; the data is taken from a single fresh human knee.
Shock waves in ideal fluid mixtures with several temperatures

In this article we consider the behavior of plane shock waves propagating in an ideal mixture of elastic fluids where each fluid of the mixture is allowed to have its own temperature. In addition, we account for the effects of diffusion but neglect the influences of heat conduction and the presence of chemical reactions. Restricting our consideration to the case in which each constituent of the mixture is at rest with constant density and temperature, which we assume to be the same for all the constituents, we derive the governing differential equations which the jumps in specific volumes of the constituents of the mixture associated with a shock must obey. Of course, the behavior of these jumps cannot be arbitrary. Indeed, we show that if the jump in specific volume of a particular constituent is known, then the jumps in specific volume of all the other constituents can be determined, and their time rates of change are related to that of the known jump. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of our results is that, contrary to the well known results of a single elastic fluid, the Second Law of Thermodynamics does not rule out the possibility that the jumps in specific volume of some of the constituents be expansive. Indeed, in the present situation we only need to require that at least one of the jumps in specific volume associated with the shock be compressive. Another interesting aspect of our results is that due to the transfer of energy and momentum between the constituents critical jumps in specific volume gradients now exist. They, in turn, serve to characterize the local behavior of the jumps in specific volume associated with the shock. Indeed, the behaviors of compressive and expansive jumps are opposite in character. Finally, we show that while every constituent initially has the same temperature the passage of the shock can drive the constituent temperatures apart.
Electromigration in gold-silver alloys

Abstract Electromigration of gold and silver in gold-silver alloys was studied under isothermal conditions. An analysis was developed to determine the effective charges of the migrating gold and silver ions, employing inert markers and an electron-beam microprobe. The effective charge, q *, of both gold and silver was found to be independent of composition across the the entire phase diagram at temperatures near 930°C. The effective charge of silver is equal to that of gold within the accuracy of the experiment; the average value is −9 e . No temperature dependence of the average effective charge could be detected in a 50-50 at.% alloy in the temperature range 860–940°C. The current density employed in this investigation was about 10 4 amp/cm 2 .
DETERMINATION OF FIBER CHARGE DENSITY OF ELECTRET FILTERS

ABSTRACT Particle collection in electret filters is enhanced by electrostatic forces resulting from the embedded charge on the fibers of the filters. Currently, there is no simple method available for determining the charge density on the electret fibers. Since charge on the fibers can degrade with loading or during storage, a simple evaluation technique is desirable. Aerosol consisting of organic oil mist generally used for testing HEPA filters should not be used for evaluating electret filters since organic aerosol droplets rapidly degrade the electrostatic charge effect. In this study experimental measurements of penetration were made on electret filters challenged with monodisperse, polystyrene latex spheres, PLS, of known size and charge. The experimental data on penetration were used to separate the contributions of the individual collection parameters and to determine the effective density of charge on the fibers. Collection efficiency due to mechanical filtration mechanisms was measured using filt...
Photoionization and photodissociation properties of Tl2 observed in a hypersonic beam

Abstract The presence of molecular thallium, most probably Tl2 in a hypersonic beam was verified by two methods: time-of-flight mass spectroscopy of ions resulting from excitation using pulsed lasers, and dependence of the photoionization signals on the Tl vapor pressure in the beam oven. The results of photoionization spectroscopy provide tentative confirmation of previous reports on the absorption spectrum of Tl2. An attempt to observe laser-induced dissociation of TI2 into an excited atomic state was unsuccessful, indicating that a previous report of this process was incorrect.
Vacancy formation enthalpy in polycrystalline depleted uranium

Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy was performed as a function of temperature and beam energy on polycrystalline depleted uranium (DU) foil. Samples were run with varying heat profiles all starting at room temperature. While collecting Doppler-Broadening data, the temperature of the sample was cycled several times. The first heat cycle shows an increasing S-parameter near temperatures of 400K to 500K much lower than the first phase transition of 941K indicating increasing vacancies possibly due to oxygen diffusion from the bulk to the surface. Vacancy formation enthalpies were calculated fitting a model to the data to be 1.6± 0.16 eV. Results are compared to previous work [3,4].
Exponential random graph estimation under differential privacy

The effective analysis of social networks and graph-structured data is often limited by the privacy concerns of individuals whose data make up these networks. Differential privacy offers individuals a rigorous and appealing guarantee of privacy. But while differentially private algorithms for computing basic graph properties have been proposed, most graph modeling tasks common in the data mining community cannot yet be carried out privately. In this work we propose algorithms for privately estimating the parameters of exponential random graph models (ERGMs). We break the estimation problem into two steps: computing private sufficient statistics, then using them to estimate the model parameters. We consider specific alternating statistics that are in common use for ERGM models and describe a method for estimating them privately by adding noise proportional to a high-confidence bound on their local sensitivity. In addition, we propose an estimation algorithm that considers the noise distribution of the private statistics and offers better accuracy than performing standard parameter estimation using the private statistics.
Intercultural interaction and collaboration in a virtual world

This is preliminary research as to whether cross-cultural interactions or collaboration within a virtual world hinders or promotes cultural understanding or interest.
Changes in Sexual Behavior and Attitudes Following Class Study of the Kinsey Report

(1951). Changes in Sexual Behavior and Attitudes Following Class Study of the Kinsey Report. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 131-141.
Anguilla rostrata glass eel ingress into two, U.S. east coast estuaries: patterns, processes and implications for adult abundance

A time series of American eel Anguilla rostrata glass eel abundance, timing and size from Little Egg Inlet, New Jersey (16 years) and Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina (18 years) was used to provide a better understanding of ingress patterns at two, U.S. east coast estuaries. There was no evidence of synchronous declines in abundance between the two locations; however, at the Little Egg Inlet site, glass eels arrived later in the season and at significantly smaller sizes over the duration of the series. One significant linkage between sites was revealed: abundance was positively correlated with winter precipitation. Precipitation differed between sites annually and was correlated with El Nino at Beaufort Inlet and, to a lesser extent, the North Atlantic Oscillation at Little Egg Inlet. It is hypothesized that glass eels may use freshwater signals to enhance recruitment to local estuaries, thus influencing year-class strength, yet the relationship between year-class strength and adult abundance remains unresolved.
Gluing a mountain pass solution to a minimum

This paper presents a variational method for constructing solutions of a pendulum model equation that shadow a mountain pass solution glued to a minimum of the associated functional. It allows for more degenerate situations and gives more qualitative information than the classical Poincare-Birkhoff-Smale theory.
Ferromagnetism of two-dimensional electron systems

Abstract The ground state energies of (1) an ideal two-dimensional electron gas, (2) a quasi-two dimensional electron system resembling electrons trapped on a liquid helium surface, (3) a quasi-two dimensional electron system resembling inversion layers of Si(100)SiO 2 system, and (4) an ideal three-dimensional electron gas are obtained by numerically evaluating the sum of “ring diagrams” contributions to the correlation energies for all magnetizations and a wide range of electron densities. The transition from nonmagnetic to ferromagnetic state is abrupt in (1) and (2) and gradual in (3) and (4).
COOPERATIVE SUBSTITUENT EFFECTS ON THE EXCITED STATES OF COPPER PHENANTHROLINES

Copper phenanthrolines are attractive as potential photosensitizers because of the ready availability of the metal, but efficient nonradiative decay including a solvent-induced quenching phenomenon ordinarily limits their utility. However, the present studies show that the addition of methyl substituents in the 3,8-positions of 1,10-phenanthroline can enhance the protective effect that bulky groups in the 2,9-positions have on the reactive charge-transfer excited state of a bis-ligand copper(I) derivative. Thus, the photoexcited Cu(dbtmp)2+ complex has a lifetime of 920 ns in dichloromethane, whereas the parent complex without the methyl substituents has a lifetime of only 150 ns under the same conditions (dbtmp = 2,9-di-n-butyl-3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline). In dichloromethane, the complex with the 2,9-diphenyl-3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline ligand also exhibits a long lifetime (480 ns). Even more importantly, the latter combination of substituents appears to eliminate the problem of ...
Thermal aspects of ductile mode micro laser assisted machining

This paper presents the simulation work performed to study an innovative process called micro‐Laser Assisted Machining (μ‐LAM). μ‐LAM is being used for machining hard and brittle semiconductor and ceramic materials such as Silicon Carbide. Numerical simulations were carried out using the commercial software AdvantEdge Version 5.4. The cutting tool is modeled as a single point diamond tip. The workpiece material (4H‐SiC) is heated locally during the actual machining process by a laser beam, which passes through the diamond tool tip. The workpiece is heated beyond the thermal softening point in order to study the effect of increased temperature on the machining process. The initial work started with an approximate thermal softening curve to ensure that thermal effects can be incorporated in the simulation model. A new thermal softening curve was developed based upon experimental data and implemented in the material model. A thermal boundary was provided on the workpiece top surface to simulate the effect of...
Motivation for treatment: Antecedents of the therapeutic process in different cultural settings

Summary This paper deals with motivation for treatment, with those operations which occur in the patient prior to the formal inception of the therapeutic process, and upon which the success of the process appears contingent. A concept of a “non-adapted state” is proposed which is viewed as the universal substratum of illness, the raw material out of which the notion of illness is constructed. This state may be described as existing in a person with the subjective experience of distress and the objective evidence of disability; it involves no presumptions as to etiology. Education in a theory of illness transforms the behavior of a person suffering in the “non-adapted state” into that of a “sick” person. This theory provides an explanation of the origins of the “non-adapted state,” and of the means for its resolution. Furthermore, it defines an appropriate attitude toward the “non-adapted state” which consists of a conviction of undesirability, a feeling of personal helplessness, and a belief in the possibility of help by a culturally defined expert.
Microwave-Assisted In Situ Synthesis of Poly L-Lactic Acid with Nanoparticles of Calcium Phosphate

A microwave reactor was used to polymerize lactic acid and/or calcium lactate in the presence of phosphoric acid or ammonium hydrogen phosphate. The polar nature of lactic acid makes it a strong absorber of microwave radiation, and when present in a nonpolar solvent such as chloroform, it is possible to conduct the polymerization reaction in a microwave reactor. Using calcium lactate and ammonium hydrogen phosphate it is possible to create nanoparticles of calcium phosphate within the matrix of poly lactic acid in situ during the polymerization. FTIR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography were used to follow the polymerization process, and transmission electron microscopy was used to determine the size distribution of the calcium phosphate particles.
Increased death of adipose cells, a path to release cell free DNA into systemic circulation of obese women

Remodeling of adipose tissue is required to support the expansion of adipose mass. In obesity, an increased death of adipocytes contributes to the accelerated cellular turnover. We have shown that obesity in pregnancy is associated with metabolic and immune alterations in the adipose tissue. In this study, we characterized the mechanisms responsible for increased death of adipose cells of pregnant obese women and its functional consequences. We postulated that a higher turnover of dead cells in white adipose tissue of obese women would translate into release of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) into their systemic circulation. Increase in adipose mass of obese compared to lean women results from a lesser number of hypertrophic adipocytes and an accumulation of macrophages in the stromal vascular fraction (SVF). The adipocytes of obese displayed enhanced necrosis with a loss of perilipin staining at the plasma membrane. Apoptosis was prominent in SVF cells with an increased expression of caspase 9 and caspase 3 and a higher rate of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labeling (TUNEL) positive CD68 macrophages in obese vs. lean. Whereas circulating fetal cfDNA concentrations were not changed, there was a twofold increase in circulating glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) cfDNA and adipose tissue GAPDH mRNA in obese women. The maternal systemic GAPDH cfDNA was positively correlated with BMI and gestational weight gain. These data suggest that the active remodeling of adipose tissue of obese pregnant women results in an increased release of cfDNA of maternal origin into the circulation.
High-grade carcinoma of the prostate: a comparison of current local therapies

Objectives. To determine the impact of either single or combined local therapeutic modalities for poorly differentiated (Gleason score 8 to 10) prostate cancer. Methods. Between 1987 and 1996, 156 patients were diagnosed with biopsy proven, poorly differentiated (Gleason score 8 to 10), clinically localized prostate cancer. Of these patients, 87 were treated with radical prostatectomy alone, 19 with radiotherapy, and 24 with both prostatectomy and postoperative radiotherapy. Results. The median follow-up time was 74.6 months. The 5-year biochemical progression-free survival (PFS) for patients with a Gleason score of 8 to 10 was 65%, 30%, and 20% for patients treated with surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy, radiotherapy alone, and surgery alone, respectively (P <0.0001 between postoperative radiotherapy and all other groups, P = 0.6131 between surgery and radiotherapy). The 5-year clinical PFS was 80%, 60%, and 35% for patients treated with surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy, radiotherapy alone, and surgery alone (P <0.0001 between postoperative radiotherapy and all others, P = 0.1975 between surgery and radiotherapy). The independent prognosticators for biochemical failure included serum prostate-specific antigen level greater than 20 ng/mL and seminal vesicle invasion; only seminal vesicle invasion was prognostic for clinical failure. Conclusions. Patients with high-grade prostate cancer (Gleason score 8 to 10) have uniformly poor, but apparently similar, biochemical and clinical PFS rates when treated by either prostatectomy or radiotherapy alone. The addition of postoperative radiotherapy in the treatment of these patients may be associated with improved biochemical and clinical PFS compared with either modality alone.
Headaches: On Teaching and Teacher Education

(1989). Headaches: On Teaching and Teacher Education. Action in Teacher Education: Vol. 11, Teacher Education Today: A Status Report, pp. 1-7.
An Optimal Least Significant Bit Based Image Steganography Algorithm

In this paper, we propose an effective Least Significant Bit (LSB) based steganography algorithm. The new algorithm is based on the classic K-means algorithm. We split bits of a secret message into clusters so that clusters of bits can be assigned to replace the LSB of each pixel of a cover image. To successfully use K-means we define a function to calculate the distance between the bits and the clusters. Bits can be moved among neighboring clusters based on the distance to the centroids of clusters. Since the classic K-means algorithm converges to an optimum, our approach leads to an optimized stego-image, compared to results of other LSB based approaches. Real test cases show that this approach can hide 60% of the size of the cover image without any noticeable visual artifacts.
Embrittlement of a ferrous alloy in a partially dissociated hydrogen environment

Quenched and tempered steel, investigating embrittlement as function of temperature in partially dissociated atomic hydrogen environment
Standard for Solar Array Arc-Prevention in LEO - NASA STD-4005

Spacecraft charging in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is commonly caused by the high voltage (> 55 V) solar array power system. Conversely, arcing on the solar arrays is an undesirable consequence of the spacecraft charging. The new NASA Low Earth Orbit Spacecraft Charging Design Standard and Information Handbook (NASA STD-4005) presents a standard and all the necessary background information to understand how to eliminate solar array arcing on LEO spacecraft in the design stage, before the spacecraft is built, and before costly retrofits are needed.
There is more to climate than carbon dioxide

Discussion of climate change on a range of time scales has tended to focus on carbon dioxide and a changing greenhouse effect. Because carbon dioxide couples climate to ocean, land, and biota, it has appealed to scientists with an interest in the whole Earth system. Carbon dioxide has left a geological record in fossils, isotopes, and sediments, so we can reasonably expect to reconstruct its history. While important questions of detail remain to be resolved, many published applications of carbon cycle modelling suggest that we understand the biogeochemical cycles of carbon well enough to estimate carbon dioxide concentrations in the past and the future. Furthermore, we have an excellent instrumental record of recent changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide. While these considerations make carbon dioxide attractive to paleoclimatologists, they do not necessarily make it a major component of climate change. I shall argue in this paper that clouds deserve much more attention than they have been getting.
Flexible displays: concept interfaces for future force warrior

The present paper begins with a look at early display concepts to emerge from the soldier-as-a-system program that focused on the future warrior. In these early advanced technology demonstrations the dominant visual display was the head- or helmet-mounted display (HMD). These displays evolved from aviator-like HMDs with CRTs to miniature lighter weight liquid crystal and active matrix electro-luminescent displays. It took some time before alternative display forms were more seriously considered as developers and researchers gained a better understanding of how displays best work for a wide variety of military operators. Considering this history, the challenges faced by flexible display technology include the search for appropriate devices and form factors for application. This paper outlines how developers might more rapidly conceptualize innovative, yet functional, design concepts to address the requirements of the future dismounted soldier.
Haystack: a platform for creating, organizing and visualizing information using RDF

The Resource Definition Framework (RDF) is designed to support agent communication on the Web, but it is also suitable as a framework for modeling and storing personal information. Haystack is a personalized information repository that employs RDF in this manner. This flexible semistructured data model is appealing for several reasons. First, RDF supports ontologies created by the user and tailored to the user's needs. At the same time, system ontologies can be specified and evolved to support a variety of high-level functionalities such as flexible organization schemes, semantic querying, and collaboration. In addition, we show that RDF can be used to engineer a component architecture that gives rise to a semantically rich and uniform user interface. We demonstrate that by aggregating various types of users' data together in a homogeneous representation, we create opportunities for agents to make more informed deductions in automating tasks for users. Finally, we discuss the implementation of an RDF information store and a programming language specifically suited for manipulating RDF.
A thermodynamic description of the binding of iron to ferrioxamine B in aqueous solutions

Abstract The iron exchange reaction between nitrilotriacetate (NTA) and ferrioxamine B (DFO) has been investigated with titration calorimetry. Using characterization models for the initial and final states of the reaction solution based on the determination of the mole fractions of the individual species as a function of pH, the concentration of each participating species was calculated (B. L. Gould, 1980, Masters Thesis, Utah State University, Logan) . The contribution of each component reaction to the overall exchange at various pH values was used to determine the enthalpy change for each of these individual reactions. The values determined for the enthalpy and entropy changes are shown below. An analysis of the thermodynamic parameters of the iron exchange system indicated the following interactions among the hydroxamate groups of the ferrioxamine B: (1) The ionization of the individual hydroxamate protons occurs independently with the same enthalpy change for each ionization, and (2) the heat of binding a hydroxamate group to the iron is dependent on the number of previously bound hydroxamates.
Robust Localization in Wireless Sensor Networks through the Revocation of Malicious Anchors

In a wireless sensor network (WSN), the sensor nodes (SNs) generally localize themselves with the help of anchors that are pre-deployed in the network. Time of Arrival (ToA) is a commonly used mechanism for SNs localization in WSNs. In ToA, the SNs localize themselves using the positions of the anchors and the time difference between the receipt of a radio and ultrasound signal transmitted by each anchor. In this setting, the localization process has a high risk of being subverted by malicious anchors that lie about their position and/or distance from the SNs. In this paper, we propose an efficient scheme that helps identify and revoke these malicious anchors. We use a mobile verifier (MV) that moves throughout the network, in some pre-determined manner, and obtains multiple location references from each anchor. For each anchor, the MV tests the mean and the variance of the collected sample to identify if the anchor is malicious. We show through simulations that our scheme successfully identifies more than 80% of malicious anchors with less than 60 references from each. Also, the percentage of false positives is close to 0.
Characterizing Intra-Car Wireless Channels

This paper describes the methodology and results of a series of experiments performed to characterize intra-car wireless channels. Specifically, the experiments target parameters such as the coherence time, statistics of channel loss, and fade statistics. Based on previous experiments, flat fading is assumed; the methodology is developed, and the results are interpreted in this context. These efforts are motivated by the end goal of designing an intra-car wireless sensor network; therefore, some of the implications of results in practical design are discussed. It is found that although the in-vehicle channels exhibit a very large amount of power loss, robust system design can be achieved by utilizing the results of these experiments.
Parallel waveform-Newton algorithms for circuit simulation

The parallelization of the waveform-relaxation-Newton (WRN) method for circuit simulation is described. The techniques are applied at three levels of granularity: subcircuits are processed in parallel for large-grain parallelism, time points are processed in parallel for medium-grain parallelism, and devices are processed in parallel for fine-grain parallelism. The effectiveness of each of these approaches is demonstrated with the PSPLAX program (which is a parallel version of a WRN program called SPLAX) using a number of industrial examples. Currently, PSPLAX is implemented on an Alliant FX/80 with eight processors. The results indicate that the combination of these approaches should be effective on larger systems. >
Cognitive profile of Turner syndrome

Turner syndrome (TS) is a relatively common neurogenetic disorder characterized by complete or partial monosomy-X in a phenotypic female. TS is associated with a cognitive profile that typically includes intact intellectual function and verbal abilities with relative weaknesses in visual-spatial, executive, and social cognitive domains. In this report, we review previous and current research related to the cognitive profile of TS. We also discuss how cognitive impairments in this syndrome may reflect integrative rather than modular deficits. For example, the less commonly reported areas of verbal difficulty in TS and certain visual-spatial deficits seem significantly influenced by impairments in executive function and spatially loaded stimuli. We provide a summary of cognitive testing measures used in the assessment of visual-spatial and executive skills, which includes test domain descriptions as well as a comprehensive examination of social cognitive function in TS. This review concludes with a discussion of ecological interpretations regarding the meaning of cognitive deficits in TS at the individual level.
Age-dependent alterations in fibrillar collagen content and myocardial diastolic function: role of SPARC in post-synthetic procollagen processing

Advanced age, independent of concurrent cardiovascular disease, can be associated with increased extracellular matrix (ECM) fibrillar collagen content and abnormal diastolic function. However, the ...
Parallelism extraction and programme restructuring of VHDL for parallel simulation

The authors obtained an overall increase in parallelism during VHDL simulation by decomposing simulation models into smaller computational units to be executed in parallel and by parallelizing the simulation support functions. The authors implementation targeted massively parallel architectures. Simulation experimentation and instrumentation was done on the SIMD Connection Machine. >
Comprehensive evaluation of cardiac function and detection of myocardial infarction based on a semi-automated analysis using full-volume real time three-dimensional echocardiography.

Objective Quantitative left ventricular mass (LVM) as well as regional strain values may be obtained from full-volume real time 3D echocardiography data via semi-automated feature tracking and represent indices of heart function, both in health and disease. Methods Fresh adult porcine and ovine hearts were passively pumped to simulate normal cardiac motion at stroke volumes (SVs) varying from 30 to 70 mL. A 3V-D Matrix probe, interfaced with a GE Vivid E9 ultrasound system, was used to image each heart at baseline conditions and after simulated myocardial infarction (MI). The 4D LV quantification function of EchoPAC PC was used to quantify the LVM and longitudinal and circumferential strain (LS & CS) of LV segments at each SV prior and subsequent to simulated MI. LVM was validated by volumetric displacement, while LS and CS values were compared to sonomicrometry-based strain. Results Linear regression analyses show excellent correlations in LVM, LS, and CS between the 4D echo and volumetric/sonomicrometric displacement with R2 values of 0.99, 0.88, and 0.67, respectively. Bland–Altman analyses for all variables validate the compatibility of both methods. It was also determined that EchoPAC PC was able to detect a decrease in LS and CS in the relevant segments between pre- and post-MI at all SVs (P < 0.05). Conclusions EchoPAC PC is a robust utility with the ability to accurately obtain quantitative LVM, LS, and CS values from 4D echo volumes and has the potential to improve the yield of clinical studies in cases of suspected MI.
Comfort and Struggle: Emotion Work in Family Life:

Though family life is typically associated with emotion rather than work, the concept of emotion work reveals the effort behind family feeling. Existing literature on family emotion work emphasizes caregiving and interpersonal support—activities associated with the housewife ideal of the industrial age. This article examines not only such caregiving and support activities but also several other forms of emotion work that become visible when we consider families whose lives diverge from this privileged ideal.
Antimicrobial Prophylaxis for Appendectomy and Colorectal Surgery

Current opinion favors the use of antimicrobial prophylaxis in all operations for acute appendicitis. In clinical trials with placebo controls, the reduction in the rate of postoperative infectious complications is most apparent in perforated and/or gangrenous appendicitis, but benefits are also seen in nonperforated appendicitis and even in those with a normal appendix. In elective colorectal operations, it has been established that all patients should receive prophylactic antibiotics. The choices are an oral bowel preparation consisting of neomycin or kanamycin combined with erythromycin or metronidazole; a parenteral antimicrobial drug such as cefoxitin or cefotetan; or a combined oral/parenteral regimen. Risk factors for postoperative wound infection include a prolonged duration of surgery (greater than 3.5 hours) and rectal resection. The most popular prophylactic regimen employed by American surgeons, particularly in the presence of adverse risk factors, is oral neomycin/erythromycin along with a short course (one to three doses) of a systemic cephalosporin active against anaerobes.
Design of a Reversible ALU Based on Novel Programmable Reversible Logic Gate Structures

Reversible logic is widely being considered as the potential logic design style for implementation in modern nanotechnology and quantum computing with minimal impact on physical entropy. Recent advances in reversible logic allow for improved quantum computer algorithms and schemes for corresponding computer architectures. Significant contributions have been made in the literature towards the design of reversible logic gate structures and arithmetic units, however, there are not many efforts directed towards the design of reversible ALUs. In this paper, we propose the design of two programmable reversible logic gate structures targeted at ALU implementation and their use in the realization of an efficient reversible ALU is demonstrated. The proposed ALU design is verified and its advantages over the only existing ALU design are quantitatively analyzed.
Innovative Yield Modeling using Statistics

Yield loss in semiconductor manufacturing has been a concern since the invention of the integrated circuit by Kilby, et. al (1958). There has often been contentious disagreement in the literature on the subject of yield modeling. From a business perspective, the utility of accurately describing past yields and predicting the future yield of a product is obvious. It is arguably the single most influential metric to gauge the financial success of a product, process, and manufacturer. Unfortunately, simple models fail to accurately describe the actual mechanisms of yield loss, and models with good fidelity can be extremely complex, thus difficult to implement and sustain. Most parsimonious die yield models use the Poisson distribution as the base. It has been and is well known that certain Poisson assumptions, e.g. spatial independence of faults, are frequently and violently violated. These violations often cause systematic bias in yield estimations using these models, to the point of making the model predictions grossly inaccurate, usually in the unoptimistic direction. Yield modeling "state-of-the-art" now uses other distributions almost exclusively, of which the negative binomial is the most popular. The only additional term that needs definition from the previous Poisson distribution is the clustering parameter, alpha. This clustering parameter ranges from 1, which indicates a high degree of fault clustering, to infin, which indicates no clustering at all...random faults. The International Technical Roadmap for Semiconductors (2005) recommends this yield model with a clustering parameter of 2, but this value is a sweeping generalization that simplifies the model, but may or may not represent the yield of a certain process or product with acceptable fidelity. This presentation discusses studies using the negative binomial yield model with innovative spatial statistics using Markov random fields and nonlinear regression adaptations to directly estimate both D0 and a simultaneously. It discusses the coupling of statistical, mathematical, and fuzzy logic approaches to scaling those estimates to other products and technologies. These procedures can be employed to accomplish an accurate comparison of product yields, make design recommendations, and to forecast yields for products even when they have yet to be manufactured. Model fidelities and predictions have been proven very accurate. The presentation also presents an innovative approach to the prediction of yield over time that utilizes a modified logistic model, to estimate yield learning rates and quantify the speed and acceleration of yield improvements
Predictive analysis of a wavefront application using LogGP

This paper develops a highly accurate LogGP model of a complex wavefront application that uses MPI communication on the IBM SP/2. Key features of the model include: (1) elucidation of the principal wavefront synchronization structure, and (2) explicit high-fidelity models of the MPI-send and MPI-receive primitives. The MPI-send/receive models are used to derive L, o, and G from simple two-node micro-benchmarks. Other model parameters are obtained by measuring small application problem sizes on four SP nodes. Results show that the LogGP model predicts, in seconds and with a high degree of accuracy, measured application execution time for large problems running on 128 nodes. Detailed performance projections are provided for very large future processor configurations that are expected to be available to the application developers. These results indicate that scaling beyond one or two thousand nodes yields greatly diminished improvements in execution time, and that synchronization delays are a principal factor limiting the scalability of the application.
An investigation of the cost and performance of a solar-powered LED light designed as an alternative to candles in Zambia: A project case study

The economic, health, and environmental costs of kerosene, candles, and other fuel-based lighting are well-documented. As a result of efforts by the World Bank and other organizations, numerous lighting products incorporating solar photovoltaic and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have been introduced in Sub-Saharan Africa. The category of solar portable lights is increasingly popular, in part because the lower retail price of these lights can make them more affordable to lower-income households. The UC Davis Lighting the Way Zambia project sought to explore the minimum costs and performance requirements for a solar portable light targeting candle and kerosene users in Zambia. This paper discusses the product design process, including the establishment of performance requirements and metrics, as well as a cost-optimization exercise used to evaluate key electronic components. The cost structure of the final design is presented with end-user costs and actual manufacturing costs. The results suggest that an 18-lumen solar portable light with a 4-h run time would meet many users’ needs and can be manufactured for less than US$9 per unit, with a cost of $0.34 per 1000 l m-h and a payback period of around 6 months.