cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative performance measurement: a view from florida’s city managers

Comparative performance measurement (CPM) is a tool that is increasingly advocated by both academics and practitioners yet its systematic implementation via consortium participation is rare. Using logistic regression and content analysis of survey results from Florida’s 297 city managers, the authors found support for performance measurement but limited belief in the utility and cost-effectiveness of CPM in their jurisdictions. Support for performance measurement as a management tool, organizational capacity, and belief in the Tiebout Hypothesis were found to be significant drivers of support for CPM. Graduate education was a significant predictor of assigning high priority to CPM, but community budget format was insignificant. These findings were consistent across both large and small cities. Respondents were skeptical regarding the benefits that might accrue to their jurisdictions relative to the time and resources needed for implementation.
A comparative study of name resolution and routing mechanisms in information-centric networks

Abstract Information-Centric Networking (ICN) is an innovative paradigm for the future internet architecture, which addresses IP network limitations in supporting content distribution and information access by decoupling content from hosts and providing the ability to retrieve a content object by its name (identifier), rather than its storage location (IP address). Name resolution and routing is critical for content retrieval in ICN networks. In this research, we perform a comparative study of two widely used classes of ICN name resolution and routing schemes, namely flooding and Distributed Hash Table (DHT). We consider the flooding-based routing in Content-Centric Networks due to its wide acceptance. For the DHT scheme, we design a multi-level DHT that takes into account the underlying network topology and uses name aggregation to further reduce control overhead and improve network efficiency. Then, we compare the characteristics and performance of these two classes of name resolution and routing through extensive simulations. The evaluation results show that the performances of these two approaches are reliant on several factors, including network size, content location dynamics, and content popularity. Our study reveals insights into the design tradeoffs and offers guidelines for design strategies.
A 69-to-79GHz CMOS multiport PA/radiator with +35.7dBm CW EIRP and integrated PLL

Low-cost mm-wave silicon integrated signal generation and processing enable many applications, such as silicon-based automotive radars for self-driving cars and wireless communications. Some challenges encountered in commercialization of such systems are the high packaging and testing costs and high sensitivity to antenna parameters, which can diminish the advantage of integrated silicon solutions. On-chip antennas have been proposed as a solution to reduce the packaging costs [1,2]. Link budget analysis of systems (e.g., radar) necessitates high-power (high EIRP) transmitters while system resolution analysis suggests higher frequency of operation for better spatial resolution. The scaling of CMOS transistors facilitates the latter requirement, but, unfortunately, the lower breakdown voltage of the transistors reduces their maximum power handling capabilities at a given radiator impedance. Several approaches have already been implemented to address this issue, each with its own shortcoming. Power-combining multiple PA outputs with passive on-chip power combiners [3] adds extra loss and reduces the overall efficiency, spatial power combining using phased arrays [4] consumes a large die area. Power combining at the antenna [5,6] has been proposed as an approach to address these challenges. In this paper, we propose a spatial PA/radiator power combining approach with optimal PA-load design using strongly coupled antennas in close proximity. This approach utilizes techniques of power combining in free space resulting in favorable drive-point impedance design and using on-chip PAs and radiators to achieve high radiated output power.
The response of the central and peripheral tremor component to octanoic acid in patients with essential tremor.

Abstract Objective To investigate the effect of octanoic acid (OA) on the peripheral component of tremor, as well as OA’s differential effects on the central and peripheral tremor component in essential tremor (ET) patients. Methods We analyzed postural tremor accelerometry data from a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study evaluating the effect of 4 mg/kg OA in ET. The weighted condition was used to identify tremor power for both the central and peripheral tremor components. Exploratory non-parametric statistical analyses were used to describe the relation between the central and peripheral component of tremor power. Results A peripheral tremor component was identified in 4 out of 18 subjects. Tremor power was reduced after OA administration in both the central and the peripheral tremor component. There was a positive correlation of tremor power between the central and peripheral component, both after placebo and OA. Conclusions When present, the peripheral component was closely related to the central tremor component. We hypothesize that the magnitude of the peripheral mechanical component of tremor is determined by that of the central component. Significance Both central and peripheral component of tremor are reduced after OA, with the central component providing the energy driving the peripheral component.
Low-level exposures to chemical carcinogens: mutational end points.

The choice of a mutational end point has an important bearing on both: (1) extrapolation from relatively high doses in laboratory animals to the much lower doses that are typical in environmental situations and (2) extrapolation from laboratory test systems to humans. Extrapolation from relatively high doses to the low doses typical in environmental situations is dependent on the shape of the dose-response curve. In vivo mutagenesis in eukaryotes usually consists of describing the relation of exposure of the whole organism to the mutation frequency. This conventional approach has the effect of placing the entire organism in a “black box” in which there are no intermediate determinants between exposure of the entire organism and observed mutation frequency in succeeding generations. To avoid combining physiological differences with mutagenic differences, I will distinguish between the dose to the target of interest — DNA — and exposure of a whole organism. In previous publications (Lee, 1976, 1978 and 1983) we have discussed the partitioning of the exposure to genetic response curve into an exposure-dose response curve and a dose-genetic response curve. The importance of this partitioning is to enable one to study physiology separately from the mutation process.
Catastrophe Theory and Hysteresis in Macroeconomics

The Great Depression stimulated a major outbreak of theorizing with respect to the origins of macroeconomic fluctuations. Of course the dominant work of this period was Keynes’ (1936) The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money which inspired the view that such business cycles could be eliminated by the appropriate application of finely tuned aggregate demand management policies.1 Both bitter historical experience, as well as a variety of theoretical critiques, have since seriously weakened the most optimistic version of this view that held sway in the 1960s. Whether these cycles are exogenous or endogenous, regular or irregular, rational or irrational, or whatever, few are now so sanguine regarding our ability to utterly eliminate them.2
Intrinsic and environmental drivers of growth in an Alaskan rockfish: an otolith biochronology approach

Otolith growth-increment chronologies provide an approach for evaluating the impacts of both high-frequency (e.g., interannual) and low-frequency (e.g., interdecadal) climate variability on fish growth. A growth-increment biochronology spanning six decades, spanning several warm and cold climate regime periods, was developed for a commercially important species of rockfish, Sebastes polyspinis, in the Gulf of Alaska. To confirm that all increments were correctly identified and placed in time, we borrowed the technique of crossdating from the tree-ring science of dendrochronology, which ensured high data quality. We then used a mixed effects model to partition variance in otolith growth-increment width among intrinsic (e.g., age-related) and extrinsic (e.g., climate-related) factors. This biochronology was contrasted with one recently developed for S. alutus, a closely-related species which exhibited a significant change in growth following the late 1970s North Pacific climate regime shift. Both species generally showed positive relationships between warm climate conditions and growth, though S. polyspinis experienced a relatively smaller step-increase in growth following the regime shift. The new S. polyspinis otolith biochronology represents a long-term record of growth that extends well before biological specimens were first collected in the Gulf of Alaska, providing a potential tool for fisheries managers to evaluate the effects of climate variability on growth and biological reference points.
Instability of thin steel cylindrical shells under bending

Abstract Bending of steel cylindrical shells is generally characterized by the interaction among ovalization, bifurcation, and material plasticity when the slenderness of the shell is relatively low. It is a nonlinear phenomenon, which is dictated by buckling-sensitivity of the shells to imperfections. The behavior of cylindrical shells under bending and its imperfection sensitivity have not been yet fully understood for all the range of dimensions. This study investigates the buckling behavior and imperfection sensitivity of thin steel cylindrical shells under pure bending, focusing on a specific range of slendernesses, which are commonly found in energy structures such as tall wind turbine towers ( 60 R / t 120 ) . The inelastic localized buckling instability is studied using computational methods to assess the critical load of the thin steel cylindrical shells. One of the main goals is to predictively describe the buckling sensitivity of the shells and to the provide relationships between the knockdown factor and geometric imperfections. In addition, an extensive study has been done to investigate the impact of steel strain-hardening models on the bending behavior. Four types of plasticity models are utilized to observe the effect of strain-hardening models on the bending behavior and imperfection sensitivity of the thin steel cylindrical shells: a bilinear and three versions of the Ramberg-Osgood plasticity model.
Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of L-ascorbic acid from Adansonia digitata (Linn.) and evaluation of its antityrosinase activity

Background: Adansonia digitata (Linn.) is a widely distributed tree and its edible fruit pulp is well known to have L-ascorbic acid (AA) in high amounts. AA is essential for collagen biosynthesis and has been reported to have antioxidant and skin-lightening properties. Objectives: The aim of this study was to optimize the extraction of AA from the fruit pulp of A. digitata by ultrasound-assisted extraction and to evaluate the antityrosinase activity of the extract. Materials and Methods: A rotatable central composite design was used to investigate the effect of process variables by surface response methodology. The effect of key parameters of extraction temperature (30°C–40°C), extraction time (12–28 min), and ratio solvent to material (7–13 mL/g) was investigated on AA content. Then, mushroom tyrosinase was used to evaluate the antityrosinase activity of the extract. Results: The optimal conditions were obtained with a temperature of 43.4°C, in 23.5 min with a ratio solvent to material of 15.04 mL/g. Under these conditions, AA content from A. digitata (167.4 ± 5.724 mg AA per 100 g dry weight) was determined. Antityrosinase activity of A. digitata extract containing AA was 31.36% ± 1.65%. After degradation of AA, tyrosinase activity decreases to 24.21% ± 1.43%. Conclusion: AA contained in A. digitata extract show to increases significantly the inhibition of enzymatic tyrosinase activity. This extract may have a potential impact on skin depigmentation for the treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders.
Mass Spectrometry Imaging enables Discrimination of Renal Oncocytoma from Renal Cell Cancer Subtypes and Normal Kidney Tissues

Precise diagnosis and subtyping of kidney tumors are imperative to optimize and personalize treatment decision for patients. Patients with the most common benign renal tumor, renal oncocytomas, may be overtreated with surgical resection because of limited preoperative diagnostic methods that can accurately identify the benign condition with certainty. In this study, desorption electrospray ionization (DESI)-mass spectrometry (MS) imaging was applied to study the metabolic and lipid profiles of various types of renal tissues, including normal kidney, renal oncocytoma, and renal cell carcinomas (RCC). A total of 73,992 mass spectra from 71 patient samples were obtained and used to build predictive models using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso). Overall accuracies of 99.47% per pixel and 100% per patient for prediction of the three tissue types were achieved. In particular, renal oncocytoma and chromophobe RCC, which present the most significant morphologic overlap and are sometimes indistinguishable using histology alone, were also investigated and the predictive models built yielded 100% accuracy in discriminating these tumor types. Discrimination of three subtypes of RCC was also achieved on the basis of DESI-MS imaging data. Importantly, several small metabolites and lipids species were identified as characteristic of individual tissue types and chemically characterized using tandem MS and high mass accuracy measurements. Collectively, our study shows that the metabolic data acquired by DESI-MS imaging in conjunction with statistical modeling allows discrimination of renal tumors and thus has the potential to be used in the clinical setting to improve treatment of patients with kidney tumor. SIGNIFICANCE: Metabolic data acquired by mass spectrometry imaging in conjunction with statistical modeling allows discrimination of renal tumors and has the potential to be used in the clinic to improve treatment of patients.
Late-onset laryngeal paralysis: Owner perception of quality of life and cause of death.

Background Late-onset laryngeal paralysis (LoLP) is an idiopathic disease of older dogs, and is common in the Labrador Retriever. Owner perspective of how LoLP affects their pet's quality of life (QOL), the degree to which LoLP is perceived to be a life-limiting disease, and how a glottic opening procedure affects these perceptions is not known. Objectives (a) To determine owner's perception of late-onset laryngeal paralysis (LoLP) with respect to their dog's QOL; (b) To determine whether LoLP is considered by owners to be a life-limiting disease; (c) To evaluate whether a glottic opening procedure altered QOL and perceived cause of death in affected dogs. Methods Owners of Labrador Retrievers with LoLP completed a questionnaire. Questions were asked pertaining to a dog's LoLP, including clinical progression and perception of cause of death, and whether a glottic opening procedure was undertaken. Owners also completed a pet-owner administered QOL survey. Results Seventy-six owners participated. Overall, 94% of owners felt their dog's LoLP affected QOL, and 47% of owners felt LoLP was a large contributing factor in their dog's death. Dogs that underwent a glottic opening procedure were reported to have a better QOL, and the contribution of LoLP towards their death was less than dogs that did not have surgery. Conclusion Owners of Labrador Retrievers with LoLP perceive LoLP to be a life-limiting disease that negatively impacts their dog's QOL. Arytenoid lateralization surgery had a positive impact on QOL in affected dogs.
Health Literacy and Outcomes Among Patients With Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine if health literacy is associated with mortality, hospitalizations, or emergency department (ED) visits among patients living with heart failure (HF). Background Growing evidence suggests an association between health literacy and health-related outcomes in patients with HF. Methods We searched Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and EBSCO CINAHL from inception through January 1, 2019, with the help of a medical librarian. Eligible studies evaluated health literacy among patients with HF and assessed mortality, hospitalizations, and ED visits for all causes with no exclusion by time, geography, or language. Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality of the identified studies. Results We included 15 studies, 11 with an overall high methodological quality. Among the observational studies, an average of 24% of patients had inadequate or marginal health literacy. Inadequate health literacy was associated with higher unadjusted risk for mortality (risk ratio [RR]: 1.67; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18 to 2.36), hospitalizations (RR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.09 to 1.29), and ED visits (RR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.32). When the adjusted measurements were combined, inadequate health literacy remained statistically associated with mortality (RR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.88) and hospitalizations (RR: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.25). Among the 4 interventional studies, 2 effectively improved outcomes among patients with inadequate health literacy. Conclusions In this study, the estimated prevalence of inadequate health literacy was high, and inadequate health literacy was associated with increased risk of death and hospitalizations. These findings have important clinical and public health implications and warrant measurement of health literacy and deployment of interventions to improve outcomes.
Making Data Reports Useful During the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, anxiety regarding hospitals resulted in patients risking their lives and not seeking emergency medical care when needed. Early into the pandemic, hospital emergency room utilization plummeted more than 40% in some hospitals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As COVID-19 outbreaks intensified in the Western regions of the country, emergency room census began to increase significantly in the middle of June. Local safety net health care resources were struggling with the increase in emergency room utilization and scrambled to increase patient care capacity, especially their emergency rooms and intensive care units. The data collected during this time is of great value. Unfortunately, it is often poorly reported, overlooked, and ignored when it should be used to make better decisions and allocations. During the pandemic, underserved populations were especially impacted, overwhelming safety net health organizations. The findings from a simple data analysis provide a template for resource acuity among communities and depict the importance of health equity.
Abstract P218: Dietary Prescription in the Coronary Care Unit, Missed Opportunity to Improve Care?

Introduction: A notable portion of the excess burden of cardiovascular disease [CVD] risk factors in African Americans [AA] is believed secondary to the diet. Hypothesis: Dietary assessment and pre...
Comparing spontaneous and stimulus frequency otoacoustic emissions in mice with tectorial membrane defects.

Abstract The global standing-wave model for generation of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) suggests that they are amplitude-stabilized standing waves and that the spacing between SOAEs corresponds to the interval over which the phase changes by one cycle as determined from the phase-gradient delays of stimulus frequency otoacoustic emissions (SFOAEs). Because data characterizing the relationship between spontaneous and evoked emissions in nonhuman mammals are limited, we examined SOAEs and SFOAEs in tectorial membrane (TM) mutants and their controls. Computations indicate that the spacing between adjacent SOAEs is predicted by the SFOAE phase-gradient delays for TM mutants lacking Ceacam16, where SOAE frequencies are greater than ~20 kHz and the mutants retain near-normal hearing when young. Mice with a missense mutation in Tecta (TectaY1870C/+), as well as mice lacking Otoancorin (Otoa−/−), were also examined. Although these mutants exhibit hearing loss, they generate SOAEs with average frequencies of 11 kHz in TectaY1870C/+ and 6 kHz in Otoa−/−. In these animals, the spacing between adjacent SOAEs is larger than predicted by the SFOAE phase delays. It is also demonstrated that mice do not exhibit the strong frequency-dependence in signal coding that characterizes species with good low-frequency hearing. In fact, a transition occurs near the apical end of the mouse cochlea rather than at the mid-point along the cochlear partition. Hence, disagreements with the standing-wave model are not easily explained by a transition in tuning ratios between apical and basal regions of the cochlea, especially for SOAEs generated in TectaY1870C/+mice.
Synthesis of High-Order Continuously Tunable Low-Pass Active-R Filters

This work discusses the synthesis and design methodology of high-order and frequency-tunable low-pass active-R filter architectures for multi-standard wireless applications. Active-R filters use the inherent integrator-like behavior of amplifiers to realize their frequency response. The main advantages of this type of filter are high-frequency performance and a low integrated area. Active-R filters only need the Miller capacitor used in internally compensated amplifiers. In this work, amplifiers with configurable unity-gain frequencies enable the continuous tuning of active-R filters. Three different filter architectures realize a fifth-order Butterworth prototype tunable in the 1–50 MHz frequency range. These filters are designed, fabricated, and tested using the TSMC 0.18 ${\mu }\text{m}$ process. Each fifth-order filter consumes power in the range 7.45 mW to 9.38 mW from a 1.8 V supply and has an integrated area ${\leq }~0.33$ mm2. Compared with state-of-the-art active filters, the filters presented in this work have the largest tuning range without linearity degradation and the smallest area per tuning range ratio. Also, the measured filters show a competitive FoM 153.3 dB/J when operating at high frequencies.
The Dynamic Structure of U.S.-China Trade

The aim of this paper is to identify structural developments in China’s external sector that have significantly influenced that country’s large and growing merchandise trade surplus vis-a-vis the United States. To reach its objective, this paper will decompose U.S.-China trade flows according to a series of independent and interdependent criteria, using highly disaggregated 1995-2004 customs data that the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) recently acquired from official sources in China. This paper will serve as the first of many USITC research products on the dynamics of China’s trade experience over the past decade. An extensive research agenda has already been scheduled to follow the publication of this paper, which will include collaborative research with Dr. Judith Dean, Dr. Michael Ferrantino, Ms. Joanne Guth, Dr. Zhi Wang, and myself (all from the USITC), as well as our organization’s academic collaborators Dr. K.C. Fung (UC Santa Cruz), Dr. Lawrence Lau (Stanford University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong), and Dr. Shunli Yao (Peking University). For this paper, the comments of Dr. Judith Dean were particularly useful in adding structure to the study’s scope, clarity to its method of presentation, and precision to its underlying analysis. After providing an overview of China’s merchandise trade balance with the United States in Part I of this analysis, Part II will identify structural developments in bilateral trade flows using independent classifications of the customs data. Specifically, it will expose patterns that have emerged by decomposing merchandise trade flows one factor at a time, starting with the ownership structure of the considered firms, then their “customs regime”, “incentive scheme”, and finally, the type of goods being traded. Part III will then build upon those findings by decomposing the structures of the fastest growing product categories in bilateral trade, according to the firm-specific criteria identified above. By constructing a multi-dimensional profile of these product drivers and comparing those results to the profile of China’s overall trade with the United States (as well as to other identified product trade drivers), we will gain deeper insight into the important factors that have influenced trade flows between the two countries. Part IV will then identify the single-greatest multi-dimensional contributor to China’s latest export and imports to/from the United States. Finally, the last part of this analysis will provide recommendations for subsequent research.
Conceptualization of e-servicescapes in the fitness applications and wearable devices context: Multi-dimensions, consumer satisfaction, and behavioral intention

Abstract Based on the environmental psychology theory, this research conceptualizes and investigates the dimensions of e-servicescapes, and examines how each dimension influences fitness application and wearable device users’ emotions, satisfaction, and behavioral intention to continuously work out via the technology. This study employed three waves of surveys within the United States to collect data (N = 343), and conducted a path analysis to rigorously assess the proposed paths between identified constructs. The empirical findings revealed the significant determinants of negative emotion (i.e., usability, security, customization, entertainment value, interactivity, originality of design, relevance of information, and social factors) and positive emotion (i.e., usability, customization, entertainment value, interactivity, and relevance of information). Also, satisfaction was significantly impacted by both positive emotion and negative emotion, and behavioral intention was significantly influenced by positive emotion and satisfaction. Based on these findings, this study suggests theoretical (i.e., classification of the e-servicescape dimensionality and integration of the environmental psychology theory with the two-factor theory of motivation, focusing on a digital environment) and practical implications (i.e., ways to increase levels of consumer satisfaction with the technology and intention to continuously exercise with the technology) for scholars and practitioners in the fitness and mobile application/wearable device industries.
Searching for Subsurface Oceans on the Moons of Uranus Using Magnetic Induction

Icy moons around the ice giant planets may contain subsurface oceans. Their oceans could be detected and characterized using measurements of magnetic fields induced by the host planet’s time-varyin...
Competitive advantage of oxygen-tolerant bioanodes of Geobacter sulfurreducens in bioelectrochemical systems

Oxidative stress greatly limits current harvesting from anode biofilms in bioelectrochemical systems yet insufficient knowledge of the antioxidant responses of electricigens prevents optimization. Using Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA as a model electricigen, we demonstrated enhanced oxygen tolerance and reduced electron losses as the biofilms grew in height on the anode. To investigate the molecular basis of biofilm tolerance, we developed a genetic screening and isolated 11 oxygen-tolerant (oxt) strains from a library of transposon-insertion mutants. The aggregative properties of the oxt mutants promoted biofilm formation and oxygen tolerance. Yet, unlike the wild type, none of the mutants diverted respiratory electrons to oxygen. Most of the oxt mutations inactivated pathways for the detoxification of reactive oxygen species that could have triggered compensatory chronic responses to oxidative stress and inhibit aerobic respiration. One of the mutants (oxt10) also had a growth advantage with Fe(III) oxides and during the colonization of the anode electrode. The enhanced antioxidant response in this mutant reduced the system's start-up and promoted current harvesting from bioanodes even in the presence of oxygen. These results highlight a hitherto unknown role of oxidative stress responses in the stability and performance of current-harvesting biofilms of G. sulfurreducens and identify biological and engineering approaches to grow electroactive biofilms with the resilience needed for practical applications.
Signaling under Threat: Evidence of Voluntary Disclosure in Contested Takeovers Forthcoming at Journal of Accounting, Auditing & Finance

We investigate voluntary disclosure strategies in contested takeovers and the associated economic consequences. Using a difference-in-differences research design and propensity score matching, we find that, relative to friendly takeovers, target management in contested takeovers provides more earnings guidance and conveys more good news during the takeover. Moreover, voluntary disclosure helps contested targets negotiate a better offer and the results are stronger for targets with more information asymmetry. Collectively, targets adopt voluntary disclosure and alter their strategies under the threat of contested takeover to enhance their bargaining power. Voluntary disclosure by contested targets serves as a negotiation tactic that potentially benefits target shareholders.
MaAST: Map Attention with Semantic Transformers for Efficient Visual Navigation

Visual navigation for autonomous agents is a core task in the fields of computer vision and robotics. Learning-based methods, such as deep reinforcement learning, have the potential to outperform the classical solutions developed for this task; however, they come at a significantly increased computational load. Through this work, we design a novel approach that focuses on performing better or comparable to the existing learning-based solutions but under a clear time/computational budget. To this end, we propose a method to encode vital scene semantics such as traversable paths, unexplored areas, and observed scene objects–alongside raw visual streams such as RGB, depth, and semantic segmentation masks—into a semantically informed, top-down egocentric map representation. Further, to enable the effective use of this information, we introduce a novel 2-D map attention mechanism, based on the successful multi-layer Transformer networks. We conduct experiments on 3-D reconstructed indoor PointGoal visual navigation and demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach. We show that by using our novel attention schema and auxiliary rewards to better utilize scene semantics, we outperform multiple baselines trained with only raw inputs or implicit semantic information while operating with an 80% decrease in the agent’s experience.
A New Class of Smart Automotive Active Suspensions Using Piezoceramic Actuation

This study investigates the possibility of realizing controlled wheel motion for an active suspension using a class of smart materials, namely piezoceramics. The proposed concept deviates significantly from conventional practice of using heavier, hydraulic actuators. Rather than accomplishing the wheel motion using the direct stroke of an actuator, the motion is to be realized by actively modifying the effective stiffness of the suspension system using piezoceramic sensing and actuation. Piezoceramic actuators have been typically waived as totally unacceptable for such large stroke, load carrying applications, since these actuators have always been limited to micro-motion ranges. A strategic combination of elastic and piezoceramic layers is shown to have the potential to meet this challenge. Preliminary analysis and experimentation have been conducted in order to demonstrate the feasibility of the concept. A candidate design is analytically investigated using composite piezoceramic suspension elements. It is shown that piezoceramic actuation has the potential to control suspension system deflections through sufficient motion ranges. A prototype actuator demonstrating larger stroke actuation has also been designed, fabricated, and tested. For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 875861.
Variable capacity for persistent infection and complications of gram-positive cocci: Streptococci and Staphylococci.

This chapter focuses on two clinically important gram-positive genera, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus, and the complications and persistent infections caused by these bacteria. Many streptococci are part of the normal flora of the mouth, skin, intestine, and upper respiratory tract. In the clinical laboratory, streptococci are differentiated based on their hemolytic properties on blood agar plates. Beta-hemolytic streptococci fully break down red blood cells, leaving a clear zone of true hemolysis around colonies. Beta-hemolytic streptococci are further divided into separate groups based on their Lancefield antigens. As with other streptococci, peptidoglycan and teichoic acid are the principal constituents of the pneumococcal cell wall. Non-dextran-producing streptococci may produce infective endocarditis (IE) in humans and adhere to artificial fibrinplatelet surfaces in vitro, which suggests that other characteristics are required. Ubiquitous colonizers of the skin and mucosa of most animals, the staphylococci are gram-positive cocci found singly, in pairs, or in grape-like clusters. Persistent infection is heavily mediated by the ability to elaborate biofilm. Biofilm-producing staphylococci are described primarily as coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), and they are implicated in colonization and persistence on catheters and other prosthetic materials. Prosthetic devices can become contaminated with staphylococci at the time of insertion or due to contiguous spread of infection or through hematogenous seeding at the time of S. aureus bacteremia. The most important predictors of complicated S. aureus infection include persistent fever or bacteremia.
Characterizing Convergence Rates for Multiresolution Approximations

Abstract. Characterizations of convergence rates of multiresolution and wavelet approximations with respect to the supremum norm are given for functions in the L2-Sobolev spaces Hs. Under certain assumptions on the homogeneous Sobolev space Hhs to which the basic wavelet ψ or scaling function ϕ belongs, it is shown that the error at level n for f ∈ Hs is given by sup x f x − P n f x ≤ C 2 − ns f H s , where Pn is the projection onto the scaled space at resolution level n. In other cases, rates of convergence depend on the homogeneous Sobolev class of ϕ or ψ and not on f. Necessary and sufficient conditions on the wavelet, scaling function, and operator I − Pn are provided for a given rate of convergence. Finally, these conditions are related to the Strang-Fix conditions.
Left-Right Gauge Symmetry at the TeV Energy Scale

Two first examples beyond the standard model are given which exhibit left-right symmetry (g_L = g_R) and supersymmetry at a few TeV, together with gauge-coupling unification at around 10^{16} GeV.
Efficient turing-universal computation with DNA polymers

Bennett's proposed chemical Turing machine is one of the most important thought experiments in the study of the thermodynamics of computation. Yet the sophistication of molecular engineering required to physically construct Bennett's hypothetical polymer substrate and enzymes has deterred experimental implementations. Here we propose a chemical implementation of stack machines -- a Turing-universal model of computation similar to Turing machines -- using DNA strand displacement cascades as the underlying chemical primitive. More specifically, the mechanism described herein is the addition and removal of monomers from the end of a DNA polymer, controlled by strand displacement logic. We capture the motivating feature of Bennett's scheme: that physical reversibility corresponds to logically reversible computation, and arbitrarily little energy per computation step is required. Further, as a method of embedding logic control into chemical and biological systems, polymer-based chemical computation is significantly more efficient than geometry-free chemical reaction networks.
Examination of the Relation between an Assessment of Skills and Performance on Auditory-Visual Conditional Discriminations for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The current investigation evaluated repertoires that may be related to performance on auditory-to-visual conditional discrimination training with 9 students who had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The skills included in the assessment were matching, imitation, scanning, an auditory discrimination, and a visual discrimination. The results of the skills assessment showed that 4 participants failed to demonstrate mastery of at least 1 of the skills. We compared the outcomes of the assessment to the results of auditory-visual conditional discrimination training and found that training outcomes were related to the assessment outcomes for 7 of the 9 participants. One participant who did not demonstrate mastery of all assessment skills subsequently learned several conditional discriminations when blocked training trials were conducted. Another participant who did not demonstrate mastery of the auditory discrimination skill subsequently acquired conditional discriminations in 1 of the training conditions. We discuss the implications of the assessment for practice and suggest additional areas of research on this topic.
The production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against enkephalins.

Abstract The hybridoma technology of Kohler and Milstein (1975) was utilized to produce monoclonal antibodies against the enkephalins. Two hybridomas, AD4 and DB4, produced monoclonal antibodies of the IgG type 1 class against Leu 5 -enkephalin that were highly specific for Leu 5 - and Met 5 -enkephalin. AD4 exhibited almost equal reactivity with either Leu 5 - or Met 5 -enkephalin, whereas DB4 exhibited only a 20% cross-reactivity with Met 5 -enkephalin. The IC 50 of these monoclonal antibodies were approximately two orders of magnitude greater than the IC 50 a polyclonal antiserum against enkephalins (A206; Miller et al 1978) used routinely in many immunochemical and immunocytochemical studies. The monoclonal antibodies, AD4 and DB4, exhibited specific sequence and size requirements for binding enkephalin-related peptides. The amino acid sequence Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu or Gly-Gly-Phe-Met was essential for recognition by AD4 and DB4. However, Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe which lacks Leu or Met in the fifth position did not react with our monoclonal antibodies. Moreover, enkephalin-related peptides in which the enkephalin sequence was situated at the amino terminus and which contained six or more amino acids did not react significantly with AD4 or DB4. In particular, unlike the polyclonal antiserum A206, our monoclonal antibodies do not react with dynorphins 1–6 or 1–13. However, when the monoclonal antibody (AD4) was used to localize immunohistochemically the population of enkephalinergic amacrine cells in the chicken retina, it provided a staining pattern quite comparable to that observed in previous studies (Watt et al. , 1983) using the polyclonal enkephalin antiserum A206. This finding therefore demonstrates that the immunoreactive products visualized in the enkephalin-immunoreactive amacrine cells of the chicken retina with the polyclonal antiserum correspond to authentic enkephalin or peptides very closely related to the enkephalins.
Towards Single-Molecule Diagnostics Using Microfluidic Manipulation and Quantum Dot Nanosensors

In this report, we review several single-molecule detection (SMD) methods and newly developed nanocrystal-mediated single-fluorophore strategies for ultrasensitive and specific analysis of genomic sequences. These include techniques, such as quantum dot (QD)-mediated fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology and dual-color fluorescence coincidence and colocalization analysis, which allow separation-free detection of low-abundance DNA sequences and mutational analysis of oncogenes. Microfluidic approaches developed for use with single-molecule detection to achieve rapid, low-volume, and quantitative analysis of nucleic acids, such as electrokinetic manipulation of single molecules and confinement of sub-nanoliter samples using microfluidic networks integrated with valves, are also discussed.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Convex synthesis and limitations of mean-square stabilizing controllers for MIMO systems over packet drop networks

In this paper, we investigate synthesis of linear mean-square stabilizing controllers for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) discrete time linear systems over packet drop networks. We consider independent packet drop channels on both the actuator and sensor side of the controller. The main result of this paper is to show that, assuming a delayed acknowledgment from the actuator receiver is available to the controller, a pair of LMI feasibility problems can be used to obtain the mean-square stabilizing controller given fixed channels as well as numerically derive the limitations of mean-square stabilizability in terms of maximal dropout probabilities.
Pegylated brain-derived neurotrophic factor shows improved distribution into the spinal cord and stimulates locomotor activity and morphological changes after injury.

Abstract The neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) shows promise for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) trauma and disease. Effective delivery methods are required, however, for BDNF to be useful as a therapeutic agent. To this end, we examined the penetration of intrathecally infused N-terminal pegylated BDNF (peg-BDNF) compared to similar infusion of native BDNF after spinal cord injury (SCI). Pegylation dramatically improved delivery of BDNF to the spinal cord and induced the expression of Fos in spinal cord neurons. To test whether enhanced delivery would improve the modest effects on behavioral recovery and axonal outgrowth observed with native BDNF infusion, we assessed the efficacy of 2-week 25-μg/day peg-BDNF treatment, beginning 12–24 h (early) or 15 days (delayed) after midthoracic spinal contusion. Similar to native BDNF, early treatment with peg-BDNF accelerated the recovery of stepping in the open-field and acutely stimulated locomotor central pattern generator activity, as seen by the activation of hindlimb airstepping during either period of administration. The infusion of peg-BDNF, regardless of the timing of delivery, was related to enhanced sprouting of putative cholinergic fibers, like that observed after high dose native BDNF treatment. Despite improved delivery, however, neither axonal responses nor the extent of locomotor recovery were enhanced compared to native BDNF treatment. This suggests that alternative strategies, such as neurotrophin treatment in conjunction with cell transplantation techniques, or treatment nearer the cell bodies of target neurons might be employed in an attempt to effect significant repair after SCI.
Identifying, rating, and remembering environmental sound events.

Sound events are sequences of closely grouped and temporally related environmental sounds that tell a story or establish a sense of place. The goal of our project was to create a set of sound events depicting various scenarios (such as a car accident, cooking breakfast, and walking outdoors) and to gather normative data about how people understand them. Samples of college students listened to 22 sound events over headphones in three self-paced, computer-based studies. In theIdentification Task, 43 participants used text boxes to type descriptions of what was happening in the sound events. In theRating Task, 39 participants used Likert scales to rate the sound events on the attributes of familiarity, complexity, and pleasantness. In theMemory Task, 42 participants answered two multiple-choice questions immediately after listening to each sound event. Detailed tables are provided for the following: (1) Description of the sound events and their components; (2) accuracy and response time measurements for each of the 22 sound events across the three studies; and (3) rank-orderings of the sound events by ease of identification, recognition of details, and rated familiarity, complexity, and pleasantness. Digital files of the stimuli, which may be of interest to auditory cognition researchers and clinical neuropsychologists, may be downloaded from either www.psychonomic.org/archive or www.cofc.edu/~marcellm/sound event studies/sndevent.htm.
One foot on the dock and one foot on the boat: Differences among preservice science teachers' interpretations of field-based science methods in culturally diverse contexts

To support lasting change in science classrooms, efforts must be made to assist teachers in understanding the outcomes of their pedagogical choices. The process of reflection is not limited to experienced teachers' experiences, though we must recognize that preservice teachers do not draw upon the same vast repertoire and knowledge. The purpose of this study was to investigate preservice science teachers' beliefs about science teaching and learning through reflections on their own teaching with lower track science students. Using the major data sources of videotapes of teaching, stimulated recall interviews, and student journals we studied preservice teachers enrolled in a field based secondary science methods course working predominantly with rural Black children. Initially, preservice science teachers demonstrated similar practices, made similar inferences about teaching and learning, and relied upon similar domains of knowledge to gauge their teaching. By the end of the study, two discrete categories of preservice teachers emerged: (1) those who demonstrated an ability to reflect on and revise their practices and engage in the production of new teacher knowledge and (2) those who seemingly deflected efforts to shift their thinking and instead reproduced their own educational experience with a new student population. Implications for teacher education and research are discussed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed87:390–418, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/sce.10057
Fast component labelling and convex hull computation on reconfigurable meshes

Abstract Traditionally, buses have been used exclusively to support fast communication and data transfer needs within a parallel machine. We demonstrate novel uses for buses in a multiprocessor reconfigurable architecture. Specifically, we show that buses can be successfully used both as topological descriptors and as powerful computational devices. This new paradigm affords us fast algorithms to solve a number of fundamental image processing and computer vision tasks, including connected component labelling and computing the convex hull of every object in a given image. On a binary image of size √n × √n stored one pixel per processor, both our component labelling and convex hull algorithms run in O(log n) time and O(itlog su2 n)it time, respectively. In fact, our convex hull algorithm applies to ordered points in the plane as well: with an ordered set S of n such points stored one per processor in a reconfigurable mesh of size √ × √n, our algorithm computes the convex hull of S in O(log2 n).