cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A global search method for optimizing nonlinear systems

The theory and implementation of a global search method of optimization in n dimensions, inspired by Kushner's method in one dimension, are presented. This method is meant to address optimization problems where the function has many extrema, where it may or may not be differentiable, and where it is important to reduce the number of evaluations of the function at the expense of increased computation. Comparisons are made to the performance of other global optimization techniques on a set of standard differentiable test functions. A new class of discrete-valued test functions is introduced, and the performance of the method is determined on a randomly generated set of these functions. Overall, this method has the power of other Bayesian/sampling techniques without the need for a separate local optimization technique for improved convergence. This makes it possible for the search to operate on unknown functions that may contain one or more discrete components. >
Mott-Hubbard metal-insulator transition in nonbipartite lattices

We reinterpret the Hubbard model in terms of doubly occupied sites and empty sites with an attractive interaction U whose pairing leads to the Mott-Hubbard transition. We develop a mean-field theory for this pairing which in a triangular lattice at T=0 leads to a first-order transition from a spiral, incommensurate metal to a commensurate insulator at U\ensuremath{\simeq}5.27t where a charge gap (\ensuremath{\simeq}0.085t) opens up. We also discuss the effect of fluctuations.
EFFECT OF HIGH PARENTERAL DOSES OF VITAMIN-K ANALOGS AND SERUM ALBUMIN ON THE PROTHROMBIN LEVEL AND LIVER FUNCTION IN ALCOHOLIC CIRRHOSIS.

Vitamin-K analogs had no sustained effects on the prothrombin level in alcoholic cirrhosis. Three cases showed initial temporary improvement with phytonadione, while in 7 cases there was an initial decrease in prothrombin levels with menadiol sodium diphosphate. No deterioration of liver function was shown with their continued use. One patient had a decrease in serum bilirubin after phytonadione, and 4 patients showed a decrease after menadiol sodium diphosphate. Short-term use of infusions of serum albumin did not improve prothrombin time or liver function.
The influence of postovulatory ageing on the retardation of mouse oocyte maturation and chromosome segregation induced by vinblastine

Certain compounds can induce ovulated metaphase I (MI) oocytes. To study if these MI oocytes can overcome this blockage, ICR mice were given human chorionic gonadotrophin and 0.6 mg/kg vinblastine sulfate (VBS). Their ovulated oocytes were collected at 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25 h later. The results showed that the frequencies of MI oocytes decreased, the proportions of diploid metaphase II (MII) oocytes increased and the frequencies of hyperploid MII oocytes did not significantly differ (P > 0.05) among the five harvest or postovulatory times. We also found that the proportions of MII oocytes exhibiting premature anaphase II and premature centromere separation increased with postovulatory ageing, and that these frequencies were consistently higher in controls than in the VBS groups. These findings indicate that some of the oocytes blocked in MI can overcome this inhibition and produce primarily diploid MII oocytes. The ultimate fate of ovulated MI and diploid oocytes on aneuploid production hinges upon the formation of a functioning meiotic spindle, which is affected by both dosage and the specific chemical.
Adenovirus-mediated suicide gene therapy for experimental bladder cancer

Abstract Objectives To determine the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of suicide gene therapy using adenoviral-mediated herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene (HSV-tk) and the prodrug ganciclovir (GCV) in a murine model of human transitional cell carcinoma. Methods We used a replication-defective adenoviral construct containing the beta-galactosidase gene (ADV/ Rous sarcoma virus [RSV]-beta-gal) as a control or ADV/RSV-tk as the therapeutic vector under the transcriptional control of the RSV long-terminal repeat promoter. Transduction efficiency was assessed in vitro by infection of MBT-2 cells with ADV/RSV-beta-gal at various multiplicities of infection (MOI) utilizing 5-bromo-4-chlor-3-indolyl-beta- d -galactoside (X-gal) staining. Sensitivity of MBT-2 cells to the therapeutic vector was determined after infection with ADV/RSV-tk with or without GCV. Subcutaneous tumors were established in syngeneic C3H/He female mice with 5 × 105 MBT-2 cells. Optimal dosing of ADV/RSV-tk was determined by direct percutaneous tumor injection with increasing viral doses and treatment with GCV. Treatment efficacy, long-term survival, and toxicity were determined in separate, similar, controlled experiments. Results In vitro studies indicated greater than 95% transduction 96 hours after inoculation at an MOI of 3000 and a greater than 95% cell death rate with RSV-tk + GCV at an MOI of 61 or greater. In vivo experiments demonstrated an optimal viral dose of 3 × 108 plaque-forming units (pfu) and a greater than fourfold reduction in tumor growth for the animals treated with ADV/RSV-tk compared with control animals (P = 0.0013). Toxicity was limited to histologic evidence of hepatitis with ADV/RSV-tk doses greater than 3 × 108 pfu + GCV. Long-term survival of treatment animals was significantly increased over that of control animals (59%, P = 0.0001). Conclusions ADV/RSV-tk with GCV treatment results in efficient gene transfer in vitro and provides effective therapy in experimental murine bladder cancer by significantly inhibiting tumor growth and improving host survival.
Moderately ionized low pump energy extreme ultraviolet amplifiers

Low energy, pump-laser pulse lengths of 210 ps are found to create hotter plasmas for low-Z slab targets than 24 ps pulses. A survey of several elements has been conducted in order to identify suitable lasants for a table-top extreme ultraviolet laser. Transverse and longitudinal pumping of the lasant plasma has been investigated.
Hydrology-Based Approach to Storm Water Detention Basin Design Using New Routing Schemes

The design of a storm water detention basin requires both hydrologic and hydraulic information. The basic hydrologic data include the inflow hydrograph and the allowable release. The hydraulic information of a basin requires prior knowledge of the basin geometry and outlet structures. With a known storage-outflow curve, the performance of the basin can be examined using a reservoir routing procedure. During the planning stage, a series of feasible basin sites is typically investigated for comparison and selection. During a feasibility study, the engineer faces a challenge as to how to derive the required storage-outflow curve when little hydraulic information is known. This paper presents a hydrology-based approach by which the storage-outflow curve can be approximated from the inflow hydrograph to the basin and the maximum allowable release from the basin. This hydrologic procedure significantly simplifies the storm water detention modeling technique and is a useful tool for regional drainage planning and alternative studies. In addition, this paper rearranges the continuity principle to derive two new reservoir routing functions. Both functions provide a direct solution using all variables at the same time step without iteration. The selection of routing functions is a matter of mathematical convenience.
Reaction mechanism studies for platinum nanoparticle growth by atomic layer deposition

Mass spectrometry is used to study the reaction mechanism of platinum (Pt) atomic layer deposition (ALD) on large quantities of high surface area silica gel particles in a fluidized bed reactor. (Methylcyclopentadienyl)trimethylplatinum [(MeCp)PtMe3] and oxygen are used as precursors. Studies are conducted at a substrate temperature of 320 °C. The self-limiting behavior of ALD appears to be disrupted with overexposure of Pt precursor. The amount of the deposited Pt and the size of the Pt nanoparticles increase with an increasing overdose time of Pt precursor. This can be explained by the thermal decomposition of Pt precursor at the reaction temperature of 320 °C and the in situ sintering of Pt nanoparticles forming larger particles. This finding is significant and its understanding is essential for better control of Pt deposition to achieve desirable morphological and structural properties for different application requirements.
Epigenetics of Inflammation, Maternal Infection, and Nutrition

Studies have demonstrated that epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling are linked to an increased inflammatory response as well as increased risk of chronic disease development. A few studies have begun to investigate whether dietary nutrients play a beneficial role by modifying or reversing epigenetically induced inflammation. Results of these studies show that nutrients modify epigenetic pathways. However, little is known about how nutrients modulate inflammation by regulating immune cell function and/or immune cell differentiation via epigenetic pathways. This overview will provide information about the current understanding of the role of nutrients in the epigenetic control mechanisms of immune function.
Determinants of National Media Attention

This study employed two perspectives to investigate media attention given women congressional candidates. The first perspective is that media attention may be explained by typical and normal media processes, such as focusing on incumbents. The second perspective considers a partisan explanation in which media attention is weighted more to Democratic candidates than Republican candidates. This study employs two established sources, Vanderbilt's Television News Index and Abstract and Information Access's National Newspaper Index, to examine the national media attention of Democratic and Republican women congressional candidates in 1990 and 1992. The investigation determined that media attention is related to whether the candidates are running for the Senate or House, incumbency, and state population. The results also reveal that party is a statistically significant factor associated with media attention. The investigation also determined that ethnic candidates tend to receive slightly less attention from the print media than nonethnic candidates.
The Effects of Vehicle Redesign on the Risk of Driver Death

Objectives: This study updates a 2006 report that estimated the historical effects of vehicle design changes on driver fatality rates in the United States, separate from the effects of environmental and driver behavior changes during the same period. In addition to extending the period covered by 8 years, this study estimated the effect of design changes by model year and vehicle type.Methods: Driver death rates for consecutive model years of vehicle models without design changes were used to estimate the vehicle aging effect and the death rates that would have been expected if the entire fleet had remained unchanged from the 1985 calendar year. These calendar year estimates are taken to be the combined effect of road environment and motorist behavioral changes, with the difference between them and the actual calendar year driver fatality rates reflecting the effect of changes in vehicle design and distribution of vehicle types. The effects of vehicle design changes by model year were estimated for cars, ...
Reconfiguration Algorithms for Interconnection Networks

The correspondence examines the functional relations within a class of multistage interconnection networks. It is known that these networks are not rearrangeable. This fact has led to some research on interconnection network relations. The correspondence deals with one aspect of this research, namely, that of constructing an equivalence map between two interconnection networks. Procedures are given to test whether two such networks are equivalent. Whenever they are, these procedures also produce a map to conjugate one network onto the other.
Hardness of Nearest Neighbor under L-infinity

Recent years have seen a significant increase in our understanding of high-dimensional nearest neighbor search (NNS) for distances like the lscr1 and lscr2 norms. By contrast, our understanding of the lscrinfin norm is now where it was (exactly) 10 years ago. In FOCSpsila98, Indyk proved the following unorthodox result: there is a data structure (in fact, a decision tree) of size O(nrho), for any rho > 1, which achieves approximation O(logrho log d) for NNS in the d-dimensional lscr1 metric. In this paper, we provide results that indicate that Indykpsilas unconventional bound might in fact be optimal. Specifically, we show a lower bound for the asymmetric communication complexity of NNS under lscrinfin, which proves that this space/approximation trade-off is optimal for decision trees and for data structures with constant cell-probe complexity.
The Medieval Pattern in Luther's Views of the State

Nearly twenty-five hundred years ago an ugly old man sat in the market place of ancient Athens trying to teach his fellow citizens how to think. If we may believe Plato, his pupil, the wise old Socrates once observed that human beings were far too prone to assume that the mastery of one field of learning qualified them to speak with equal authority in all others. It was some similar modern rash generalizations in two recent publications which led to the present inquiry. With a natural aversion for polemics we shall, however, refrain from dealing with this controversial material but shall rather investigate our theme on the basis of the best available evidence from the sources and recent European scholarship.
Sigma-Delta ADC Based Distributed Detection in Wireless Sensor Networks

In the existing works on distributed detection in sensor networks, local sensor nodes either quantize the observation or directly scale the analog observation and then transmit the processed information independently over wireless channels to a fusion center. In this paper, we exploit the advantages of both of these two approaches by constructing an equivalent Sigma-Delta ADC across space over wireless sensor networks. Sensors are arranged in a mixing of parallel and serial topologies, enabling each sensor to transmit binary information to the fusion center, while in the meantime preserving the analog information through collaborative processing. Comparison with existing approaches demonstrates the superiority of our proposed scheme in both AWGN and fading channels in terms of the resulting detection error probability.
A nomenclature for X-linked amelogenesis imperfecta.

Abstract Mutations of the X-chromosome amelogenin gene (AMELX) are associated with amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) phenotypes (OMIM no. 301200). Currently, 12 different AMELX mutations have been identified in individuals with abnormal enamel characteristic of AI. A notable feature of AI is the variable clinical phenotype, spurring interest in genotype–phenotype correlations. It is important that researchers and clinicians have an informative and reliable means of reporting and communicating these molecular defects. Therefore, the purpose here was to present a systematic nosology for reporting the genomic, cDNA and protein consequences of AMELX mutations associated with AI. The proposed nomenclature adheres to conventions proposed for other conditions and can be adopted for the autosomal forms of AI as the molecular basis of these conditions becomes known.
Theoretical development and experimental verification of a novel, well‐mixed vessel

The mixing characteristics of a vessel containing no moving parts have been studied theroretically and experimentally. The vessel consists of two chambers separated by a porous barrier. Mixing results because elements of fluid permeating the barrier at various distances from the inlet reside for different periods of time within the vessel and combine with other elements having entered earlier and later. An apparatus was designed a priori and experimentally verfied to give a residence-time distribution function the same as a completely mixed vessel. The method was extended to show that in principle a vessel exhibiting any residence-time distribution function can be designed by modifying the geometries of the chambers and the porous barrier.
Polarization as a Function of Citizen Predispositions and Exposure to News on the Internet

Observers of democratic polities decry a seeming increase in social and political polarization. This article outlines the conditions under which Internet-based news exposure can facilitate polarization. Analyses of data from a nationally representative United States panel study reveal that frequency of news consumption over the Internet can widen disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over a wide range of social and political issues. The results reveal few signs of a similar Internet news exposure effect for disagreement linked to race and income. These findings point to some possible mechanisms of, and limitations to, processes driving social and political polarization.
Booster system design using mixed-integer quadratic programming

A mixed-integer quadratic programming problem is proposed to locate booster stations and to identify their dosage schedules for maintaining disinfectant residual in drinking water distribution systems. Optimal booster locations and disinfectant injections are found by minimizing the second moment of the system residual spatiotemporal distribution. Application of the method to an example network studies the trade-off between booster station number and system water quality improvements. As disinfectant is reallocated in the network by an increasing number of well-placed stations, residual spatial and temporal variability is decreased as much as 30 times smaller compared to a single source. Thus greater flexibility in booster system operation leads to more efficient maintenance of residuals at points of water consumption.
I'll be the judge of that: Diversity in social perceptions of (ING)

This article examines divergent listener perceptions with an expanded form of the Matched Guise Technique, using 32 matched pairs of short recordings of natural speech. Social evaluations were collected in open-ended interviews (N = 55) and an online experiment (N = 124). Three speakers are described who prompted disagreement about the English variable (ING). One's -ing use is seen by some as more intelligent and by others as annoying, less intelligent, and trying to impress. Another's -in guise is seen as compassionate by some and as condescending by others, while a third, when using -in, is seen by some as annoying and less masculine, while others describe him as a masculine “jock.” These findings show that listeners shift their interpretations of a linguistic resource, highlighting the ambiguous role intention plays in social meaning and calling into question long-held assumptions about the need for conscious introspection in sociolinguistic perception.
A Response to Matti Bunzl: Public Anthropology, Pragmatism, and Pundits

Discussing only two out of 11 chapters, Matti Bunzl argues that Why America's Top Pundits Are Wrong (2005) embodies an excessively deconstructive approach that undermines public anthropology by opposing all generalization. In fact, the contributors to the Pundits volume come from a variety of intellectual positions, some unfriendly to deconstructionism. In a book that is deliberately jargon free, the contributors are unified not by postmodernism but by pragmatism. They oppose generalizations that are manifestly ideological and untrue, not all generalizations. The point of the book is not to nitpick generalizations but to unmask media apologetics for neoliberalism and neoconservatism that misuse core terms (e.g., culture, ethnicity, human nature, gender) from the anthropological lexicon. We advocate a revitalized public anthropology based on grounded research, translation of sophisticated anthropological knowledge into accessible English, and a passionate concern for the well-being of those at the sharp end of neoliberal globalization.
Method of determining C-V profiles in semiconductor substrates and active layers

A method for calculating C-V profiles by transforming the one-dimensional Poisson equation from a two-sided boundary value problem to an initial value problem is described. An analytic solution is used outside a reference plane deep in the substrate, and the rest of the solution is obtained by numerically integrating outward to the surface. This strategy speeds the calculation of quantities such as the carrier density and the apparent density that would be measured by a C-V profiler. For the same computation time, errors are smaller than those of Newton-Raphson methods because of the inherent speed and accuracy of the predictor-corrector algorithms used. By fitting Q-V pairs to a cubic spline, the C-V profiles are obtained efficiently with a moderate number of integrations. C-V profiles and threshold voltages can be calculated rapidly and accurately by this technique for a variety of semiconductor structures. >
Optimization of vehicle-to-grid scheduling in constrained parking lots

An automatic Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology can contribute to the utility grid. V2G technology has drawn great interest in the recent years. Success of the sophisticated automatic V2G research depends on efficient scheduling of gridable vehicles in constrained parking lots. Parking lots have constraints of space and current limits for V2G. However, V2G can reduce dependencies on small expensive units in the existing power systems as energy storage that can decrease running costs. It can efficiently manage load fluctuation, peak load; however, it increases spinning reserves and reliability. As number of gridable vehicles in V2G is much higher than small units of existing systems, unit commitment (UC) with V2G is more complex than basic UC for only thermal units. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is proposed to solve the V2G, as PSO has been demonstrated to reliably and accurately solve complex constrained optimization problems easily and quickly without any dimension limitation and physical computer memory limit. In the proposed model, binary PSO optimizes the on/off states of power generating units easily. Vehicles are presented by signed integer number instead of 0/1 to reduce the dimension of the problem. Typical discrete version of PSO has less balance between local and global searching abilities to optimize the number of charging/discharging gridable vehicles in the constrained system. In the same model, balanced PSO is proposed to optimize the V2G part in the constrained parking lots. Finally, results show a considerable amount of profit for using proper scheduling of gridable vehicles in constrained parking lots.
EMERGING THEMES IN THE FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF PROBLEM BEHAVIOR

The functional control of problem behavior is generally conceptualized as involving attention, escape, sensory reinforcement, and tangible factors. Our analytic tools have now reached a level of sophistication that makes possible consideration of several new, emerging themes in the area of functional analysis. First, we need to examine other functional properties of problem behavior involving social avoidance, biological reinforcement, and respondent conditioning factors. Second, we need to explore the role of context, including social factors such as group interactions, sequencing of tasks and activities, presence or absence of specific individuals, and crowding; as well as biological factors, such as physical illness, exercise, and drugs. Finally, we must consider the multidimensional character of assessment in naturalistic settings and the practical need for developing descriptive analytic procedures that complement and produce results that are congruent with those obtained from traditional functional analyses.
Flight test of a receding horizon controller for autonomous UAV guidance

This paper describes autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) guidance technologies developed and demonstrated in a flight test sponsored by the DARPA software enabled control program. The flight experiment took place in June 2004 using a Boeing UAV testbed and demonstrated important autonomy capabilities enabled by a receding horizon guidance controller and fault detection filter. These technologies were implemented using an application programming interface developed for real-time receding horizon control applications (RHC API) under Boeing's open control platform (OCP) embedded software environment. This paper describes the receding horizon controller (RHC) design process and demonstration scenarios which were designed to exercise and evaluate the primary functionalities of the control system. Simulation results of the key capabilities are shown and compared with recorded flight data for evaluation purposes.
Blind CFO estimation in OFDM systems

We rely on a kurtosis-type criterion to derive blind carrier frequency offset (CFO) estimation algorithms for various orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. Identifiability and performance of the resulting blind CFO estimators depend on the channel's frequency selectivity and the input distribution. We also apply this approach to blind CFO estimation in multiinput multioutput (MIMO) OFDM systems. The effects of multiple antennas are addressed analytically and tested via simulations.
Roles of Three Transporters, CbcXWV, BetT1, and BetT3, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Choline Uptake for Catabolism

Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses the quaternary amine choline as a carbon source, osmoprotectant, and macromolecular precursor. The importance of choline in P. aeruginosa physiology is highlighted by the presence of multiple known and putative choline transporters encoded within its genome. This report describes the relative roles of three choline transporters, the ABC transporter CbcXWV and two symporters, BetT1 and BetT3, in P. aeruginosa growth on choline under osmotic conditions that are physiologically relevant to eukaryotic hosts. The increased lag phases exhibited by the ΔbetT1 and ΔbetT1 ΔbetT3 mutants relative to the wild type upon transfer to medium with choline as a sole carbon source suggested roles for BetT1 and BetT3 in cells newly exposed to choline. BetT3 and CbcXWV, but not BetT1, were sufficient to support growth on choline. betT1 and betT3 expression was regulated by the repressor BetI and choline, whereas cbcXWV expression was induced by the activator GbdR and glycine betaine. The data support a model in which, upon transfer to a choline-based medium, the glycine betaine derived from choline taken up by BetT1 and BetT3 promotes subsequent GbdR-mediated cbcXWV induction. Furthermore, growth data indicated that the relative contributions of each transporter varied under different conditions, as BetT1 and CbcXWV were the primary choline transporters under hypo-osmolar conditions whereas BetT3 was the major choline transporter under hyperosmolar conditions. This work represents the first systematic approach to unravel the mechanisms of choline uptake in P. aeruginosa, which has the most complex bacterial choline uptake systems characterized to date.
Specific elementary processes in the radiation chemistry of organic oxygen compounds.

A mechanism is proposed to explain the effects of highenergy radiation on oxygen-containing organic compounds. The mechanism is based on two premises: that reactions of the parent molecule-ion involving low-activation energies precede the neutralization of the radiation-produced ion, and that the reactions of the parent molecule-ion are strongly directed by the tendency of the O atom to comPlete its valence electron shell.
Low-noise CMOS preamplifier-shaper for silicon drift detectors

We have designed a 16-channel preamplifier-shaper for particle tracking using silicon drift detectors (SDD). The preamplifier, which is optimized for a detector capacitance of 0.2-0.8 pF, uses two new circuit techniques to achieve a low noise (ENC 120 e/sup -/+62 e/sup -//pF), high linearity (<0.5% to 50 fC), and good tolerance to process variations and temperature and power supply fluctuations. The circuit is continuously sensitive, has no digital signals on chip, and requires no external components or critical adjustments. The peaking time of the shaper is 50 nsec and the power dissipation, including an off-chip driver, is 6.5 mW/channel. The circuit is fabricated in 1.2 /spl mu/m CMOS and can accommodate detector leakage currents of up to 1.5 uA. Although the circuit was developed for use with particle tracking detectors, these techniques are also well-suited for the design of lower-noise preamplifiers for high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy systems.
Surface Engineering of Nano-fibrous Biodegradable Poly(L-lactic acid) Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering

The architectural design and surface properties of scaffolds are important aspects in tissue engineering. The porous scaffolds accommodate cells and guide their growth, while the surface nature of the scaffolds can directly affect cell attachment, proliferation, and ultimately neo tissue regeneration. In this work, a highly porous poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) scaffold with nano-fibrous pore wall architecture has been fabricated by mimicking the structure of natural collagen using a novel thermally induced phase separation method developed in our group. A universally effective surface modification method was developed, and gelatin was successfully grafted onto the surface of nano-fibrous PLLA scaffolds by entrapment procedure. The surface composition, morphology, and properties were examined using ATR-FTIR, XPS and SEM. The surface coverage of gelatin on the PLLA surface was as high as 39.4%. MC3T3-E1 osteoprogenitor cells were cultured for 6 weeks in solid-walled PLLA scaffolds, nano-fibrous PLLA scaffolds, and surface-modified nano-fibrous PLLA scaffolds, respectively. The osteoblasts proliferated in all three types of scaffolds, but the cell numbers were always significantly higher in the surface-modified nano-fibrous scaffolds than in the other two types of scaffolds, and the cell numbers in nano-fibrous scaffolds were higher than that in the solid-walled scaffolds. These results demonstrate that the surface-modified nano-fibrous architecture could serve as a superior scaffold for tissue engineering.
The Gold Deflation, France, and the Coming of the Depression, 1919–1932

The dissertation argues for a distinction between two varieties of price deflation, one offset by declining costs, the other induced by declining profits. Where the second type of deflation occurs, the usual result is contraction of output, income, and employment. We can roughly measure the relative amounts of cost and profit deflation underway in different situations. Price declines usually aggravate profit downturns, and in some cases directly cause them. An international profit deflation that (except for its milder consequences) anticipated that of 1929 to 1932 occurred during 1891 to 1896.
A necessary and sufficient condition for the blind identification of memoryless systems

The blind identification of multiple-input and multiple-output memoryless systems is considered. It is found that the system is identifiable with respect to uncorrelated sources if and only if the source signals have a distinct spectrum. A blind identification algorithm that is computationally simpler than previous ones is developed. >
DAILY EXERCISE ATTENUATES THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTERIAL BLOOD PRESSURE RELATED CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS IN HYPERTENSIVE RATS

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that daily spontaneous running (DSR) attenuates the development of blood pressure-related cardiovascular disease risk factors (BP-related CVD risk factors) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). After 8 weeks of DSR or sedentary control, rats were chronically instrumented with arterial catheters. Daily exercise attenuated the development of all measures of BP-related CVD risk factors. Specifically DSR attenuated the increase in systolic blood pressure (delta--22 mmHg), systolic blood pressure variability (delta--2.5 mmHg), and systolic blood pressure load (delta--27%). Similarly, DSR attenuated the increase in diastolic blood pressure (delta--15 mmHg), diastolic blood pressure variability (delta--1.19 mmHg), and diastolic blood pressure load (delta--17%). Finally, DSR attenuated the development of tachycardia (delta--63 bpm). These data demonstrate that daily exercise attenuates the development of hypertension and tachycardia in animals predisposed to hypertension.
Fortran subroutines for the solution of Toepltiz sets of linear equations

Two subroutines for the solution of a Toeplitz set of m linear equations are presented. The symmetric case requires 3m memory locations, while the nonsymmetric case requires 5m memory locations.
Applying the International Classification of Headache Disorders to the emergency department: an assessment of reproducibility and the frequency with which a unique diagnosis can be assigned to every acute headache presentation.

Study objective Although almost 2 decades have passed since the International Headache Society first introduced its International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD), the applicability of this classification scheme in the emergency department (ED) has not been assessed. As a first step toward identifying the role the ICHD should play in the ED, we address 2 questions: Can a structured interview and adherence to the ICHD allow ED headache patients to be classified in a reproducible manner? With the ICHD, how often can one specific diagnosis be assigned to each ED headache presentation? Methods This was a structured interview and medical record review of patients with nontraumatic headache, performed in an urban ED from March 2004 through August 2005. Using the data from the interview and the subject's ED record, 2 emergency medicine investigators independently classified each of the headaches twice: first, to determine presence or absence of a primary headache disorder, and then to determine presence or absence of a secondary headache disorder. If a primary headache was present, it was further classified as migraine, tension-type headache, trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia, chronic daily headache, or primary headache unclassifiable. Interobserver discordance was adjudicated by an experienced headache specialist. Results Four hundred eighty patients were enrolled in the study. The emergency medicine investigators had a high level of interobserver agreement on secondary headaches (agreement 94% [95% confidence interval (CI) 92% to 96%]) and primary headaches (agreement 91% [95% CI 88% to 93%]). Among the 480 subjects, 122 (25%) had a secondary headache disorder, 309 (64%) had a primary headache disorder, 49 (10%) had a coexisting primary and secondary headache, and for 95 (20%) subjects, neither a primary nor a secondary headache could be diagnosed. Of 309 subjects with a primary headache, 186 (60%) had migraine, 34 (11%) had tension-type headache, 2 (1%) had trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia, and 77 (26%) had an unclassifiable primary headache. Overall, a specific ICHD headache diagnosis could not be assigned to 36% of subjects either because a specific primary headache disorder could not be identified or because neither a primary nor a secondary headache disorder could be diagnosed. Conclusion Although a detailed structured interview in the ED and adherence to the ICHD resulted in reproducible classification of headache patients, more than one third of acute headache patients could not readily be given a specific ICHD diagnosis in the ED.
Evaluation of Enzyme‐Linked lmmunosorbent Assay for Detection of Molds in Foods

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect Al-ternaria alternata, Geotrichum candidum, and Rhizopus stolonifer in processed fruit and vegetable products, bread, and cottage cheese. ELISA readings correlated with the amount of added mold and generally low backgrounds were obtained from control food samples. For bread and cottage cheese, the dilution factor affected the efficiency of the assay. Both viable and nonviable molds could be detected. The ELISA method gave results that correlated with those of the Howard mold count. The assay was relatively specific, although cross reaction was observed among some molds. The major antigenic components were polysaccharide in nature.
Pseudohypoparathyroidism; report of a case showing bony demineralization.

IN 1942, Albright and associates first described 3 patients with a condition which they called pseudohypoparathyroidism (1). Up to the present time, only 9 similar patients have been mentioned in the English medical literature (2–9). The findings in pseudohypoparathyroidism are very much like those in nonsurgical or “idiopathic” hypoparathyroidism. Characteristically they include tetany with low serum calcium and high serum phosphorus values, a tendency to early cataract formation, delayed dentition with faulty enamel, mental retardation, usually increased bone density, and frequently metastatic calcification in the cerebral basal ganglia. Most of the patients have had “spells,” either epileptiform or tetanic in nature. According to the present concept of the mode of action of parathyroid hormone, its administration to patients with a parathyroid deficiency should result in an increased phosphorus output in the urine. This phenomenon has been repeatedly demonstrated in idiopathic hypoparathyroidism (1, 2,...
Characteristics and magnitude of sea turtle bycatch in US mid-Atlantic gillnet gear

From 1995 to 2006, US federal fisheries observers deployed aboard commercial fishing vessels in the US mid-Atlantic region documented captures of loggerhead Caretta caretta, green Chelonia mydas, Kemp's ridley Lepidochelys kempii, and leatherback Dermochelys coriacea turtles in commercial sink gillnet gear. Data collected by these observers were used to characterize sea tur- tle bycatch in sink gillnet gear, including the temporal and spatial distribution, fishing characteristics, species composition, and sizes of turtles captured. In addition, these data were used to develop a gen- eralized additive model to evaluate and predict bycatch rates (turtles per metric ton of fish landed) of sea turtles. These rates were then applied to commercial gillnet landings over the same time period to estimate total bycatch of loggerhead turtles. Bycatch rates of loggerheads were correlated with lat- itude, sea surface temperature, and mesh size. Highest predicted bycatch rates occurred in warm waters of the southern mid-Atlantic, in large-mesh gillnets. From 1995 to 2006, the average annual bycatch estimate of loggerheads was 350 turtles (coefficient of variation = 0.20, 95% CI over the 12 yr period: 234 to 504). Characteristics and magnitude of bycatch can help inform population assess- ments, while the distribution of bycatch rates can be used to help inform bycatch mitigation options.
Distributed Implementation of Wide-Area Monitoring Algorithms for Power Systems Using a US-Wide ExoGENI-WAMS Testbed

In this paper we address the problem of implementing wide-area oscillation monitoring algorithms for large power system networks using distributed processing of Synchrophasor measurements. We consider two computational approaches, namely decentralized least squares (DLS) and its recursive implementation (RLS). Both algorithms are executed using multiple phasor data concentrators (PDC), deployed as virtual computing machines communicating over a fiber-optic communication network. Results are demonstrated using the US-Wide ExoGENI communication network connected to a PMU test bed at NC State University, and analyze the end-to-end computational and communication delays for both algorithms.
Practical Optimization

The recent escalation in fuel costs has resulted in a host of optimization problems which were non-existent when fuel was relatively inexpensive. Coupled with the increased costs have been more difficult operational constraints imposed by fuel vendors. These problems are particularly acute in natural gas fired units which cannot rely on reserve storage of fuel to meet demand. This research addresses the problem of optimal system operation subject to more contemporary operating constraints. The solution algorithm is based on a new optimization algorithm termed "practical optimization".
Simulating Surface-Enhanced Raman Optical Activity Using Atomistic Electrodynamics-Quantum Mechanical Models

Raman optical activity has proven to be a powerful tool for probing the geometry of small organic and biomolecules. It has therefore been expected that the same mechanisms responsible for surface-e...
US nuclear weapons and non-proliferation Is there a link?

According to a widespread conventional wisdom, there is a link between US nuclear weapons and nuclear proliferation and, therefore, in order to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons to other states, the US government must first make changes to its own nuclear arsenal. This article challenges the notion that US nuclear posture has a significant bearing on the proliferation and non-proliferation behavior of other states. Contrary to the received wisdom in policy circles, this article maintains that state decisions on nuclear non-proliferation issues are driven by a range of other security, economic, and political factors and, once these considerations are taken into account, there is little if any remaining variance to be explained by US nuclear posture. Using a dataset on US nuclear arsenal size from 1945 to 2011, this article examines the relationship between the size of the US nuclear arsenal and a variety of nuclear non-proliferation outcomes. It finds that there is no evidence of a relationship between...
Long-wavelength optoelectronic integrated circuits

Since the first demonstration of an InP-based pin FET photoreceiver by Leheny in 1980,1 much effort has focused on the development of receiver optoelectronic integrated circuits (OEICs) (circuits that monolithically integrate a photodetector and an amplifier circuit on a single semiconductor chip) for long-wavelength optical communication systems. Monolithic integration offers significant advantages over hybrid circuits in compactness, reliability, performance improvements, and cost reductions. However, it has been more difficult to build high-performance receiver OEICs on InP substrates than on GaAs substrates2 because of the immaturity of growth and fabrication techniques for InP-based electron devices and photodetectors. Sensitivity and bandwidth, however, have been improved in recent years.
Energy-saving retrofit of boiler economizer in power plant

Economizer retrofit was carried out in a power plant for flue gas temperature increasing and economy decreasing, which was caused by small heating surface design value. Heat transfer calculation and ash fouling coefficient selection of the economizer are demon-strated. Feasible advice had been put forward and carried into execution in retrofits such as replacing economizer and raising heating surface areas of the economizer to reduce exhaust temperature. Gas shock wave soot-blower was installed according to the characteristics of ash deposition in economizer. After retrofit, the exhaust temperature has drop to the design value, ash deposition has been greatly improved, the economy of the boiler has risen consumedly, the hidden trouble of the boiler tube burst has been eliminated thoroughly, and the safety and economy of units operation has been improved.
Radiation properties, RTE solvers, and TRI models

Radiative heat transfer or thermal radiation is the science of transferring energy in the form of electromagnetic waves. Unlike heat conduction, electromagnetic waves do not require a medium for their propagation. Therefore, because of their ability to travel across vacuum, thermal radiation becomes the dominant mode of heat transfer in low pressure (vacuum) and outer space applications. Another distinguishing characteristic between conduction (and convection, if aided by flow) and thermal radiation is their temperature dependence. While conductive and convective fluxes are more or less linearly dependent on temperature differences, radiative heat fluxes tend to be proportional to differences in the fourth power of temperature (or even higher). For this reason, radiation tends to become the dominant mode of heat transfer in high-temperature applications, such as combustion (fires, furnaces, rocket nozzles), nuclear reactions (solar emission, nuclear weapons), and others. This chapter introduces the fundamentals of thermal radiation, and covers the radiative properties of combustion systems, spectral models and global models, radiative transfer equation solution methods, and turbulence–radiation interactions. Together with the material on combustion and turbulence–chemistry interactions in the previous chapter, this provides the foundation that is needed for the examples that are presented and discussed in subsequent chapters.
Efficient Transduction of Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Its Potential for Gene Correction of Hematopoietic Diseases

The ability to efficiently transduce hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) represents a powerful methodology by which to study the role of specific genes on HSC function, as well as to broaden the potential of gene therapy for hematopoietic related diseases. While retroviruses have been used extensively to transduce a variety of cell types, HIV-derived lentiviruses prove superior for transduction of quiescent HSC due to their ability to infect non-dividing cells. Quality of lentiviral supernatants and starting cells are vital to obtain reproducible consistent results, and therefore, here we describe the production of concentrated lentiviral preparations, the purification of HSC from total mouse bone marrow, and their transduction to obtain long-term HSC engraftment with persistent gene transfer and expression of the desired transgene.
Telecom market liberalization and service performance outcomes of an incumbent monopoly

Abstract Using data from a high-income, emerging market economy in the Middle East, this study examines changes in service performance outcomes of an incumbent monopoly during different periods in the phased liberalization of the country’s telecommunications market. The study draws on Structure-Conduct-Performance (SCP) theory and Social Exchange Theory (SET) to develop hypotheses about expected changes in four customer-based service performance outcomes—service quality perceptions, customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, and customer attitudes. These are tested using data collected in a longitudinal tracking study spanning different periods in the liberalization process. Results show that all four performance outcomes improved significantly during an early post-liberalization period when there was only one additional competitor in the market, but declined slightly during a later period when a second competitor entered the market. However, structural relationships among the outcomes themselves remained invariant across liberalization periods. Policy-making and theoretical implications of the results are outlined and discussed. Although the data come from a single industry in an emerging market economy, a particularly key implication is that while incumbent monopolies may initially harbor a preference for the comfort and ‘freedom’ that comes with being the only player in the market, under certain circumstances liberalization can actually benefit them through the impetus that it provides for their own service quality improvements.
Infant circumcision and adult penile sensitivity: implications for sexual experience

A recent study reported that neonatal circumcision is not associated with changes in adult penile sensitivity, leading to viral coverage in both traditional and online media. In this commentary the author questions the conclusions drawn from the study and explores the relationship between objective assessments of penile sensitivity and subjective sexual experience and satisfaction. The author concludes with suggestions for improving future research.