cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hits and Misses in Interpreting Patience’s Riddle

This essay won the 2005 Literature Compass Graduate Essay Prize, Medieval Section. I propose that Patience’s riddle in Piers Plowman (B.13.151–56) was misinterpreted for almost a century because of a misplaced hyphen in Walter Skeat’s 1886 edition of the poem. This hyphen joins two words –laumpe and lyne– which seem to mimic other alliterative connections. Though it may seem insignificant, this misplaced hyphen prompted a wild-goose chase for a non-existent “lamp-line”. Instead, as Andrew Galloway reveals in his 1995 study, the line in question is a reference to another riddle (in which laumpe and lyne belong to different subjects), casting Patience’s riddle as a poetic mise en abyme. The poem’s saturation with alliterative phrases seems to be one of the most obvious intrinsic guides to reading the poem; in this case, I argue, it is also one of the most deceptive. After examining the breadth of riddle scholarship, I conclude that that one of the inherent characteristics of the poem – alliteration – accounts for a majority of these mistaken solutions, and thus it is Langland’s propensity to word play that poses such a problem of translation and interpretation for contemporary scholars. Building on Galloway’s important article, I question why other parts of the riddle remain unsolved: do modern scholars lack a text or cultural reference that would help decipher the riddle? If so, would the riddle’s components have been familiar to Langland’s contemporary readers? Or was Langland as enigmatic to them as he is to us? To begin to answer these questions, I propose a cumulative understanding of the riddle based upon an investigation of its individual parts and offer possible explanations for its near-chronic misinterpretation. I also explore how these scholastic failures fit within in the greater context of the poem’s scholarship, since the riddle’s elements represent many of the poem’s larger thematic and technical components. My investigation of the language, imagery, grammar, and Latin code-switching reveals that, independent of the different interpretations of these elements, all scholars reach a collective agreement of the riddle’s “greater meaning.” This shared solution is indicative of an overarching characteristic of Piers Plowman: the poem speaks in multiple voices on tiered levels of complexity. In the same way, the simple and abstruse solutions of the riddle, and by extension, the poem, coincide, perhaps by the design of Langland himself.
Heated histoplasmin as a control for non-specificity in the complement fixation test for histoplasmosis

We present data in support of the use of a heated histoplasmin control for the complement fixation (CF) test for histoplasmosis to assist in the detection of the presence of h or m antibody.
Molecular Dynamic Simulations of Semiconductor Clusters

Molecular dynamics simulations are carried out for silicon clusters to analyze the effect of heating and cooling on their structural properties. The calculations are based on the Kaxiras and Pandey potential which has been derived from a microscopic calculation with the density functional method. Results for the cluster formation are presented for different rates of cooling and heating. Our simulations clearly show the dependence of the patterns on the cooling and heating rates as well as the way in which these clusters evolve. Our results indicate that the structures are most stable when the rate of loss of thermal energy is slow and the potential energy is lowest.
NADPH Oxidase 4: Walking the Walk With Poldip2

Over the last decade, the NADPH oxidases have been recognized as an important source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) involved in both normal physiologic redox-dependent processes, and in the generation of oxidative stress, with a role in the development of cardiovascular disease. As a multi-subunit enzyme complex, the NADPH oxidases have the unusual composition of multiple interchangeable homologs of the catalytic, or Nox (NADPH oxidase), subunit that directly interacts with membrane-bound p22phox. It is at the Nox subunit that NADPH binding leads to electron transfer via heme groups to oxygen resulting in the generation of superoxide anion. Recent investigations have identified seven distinct Nox subunits, some possessing multiple splice variants, but the real challenge has been to characterize the specific cellular functions and the regulation of the various Nox enzymes. The difficulty in doing so is partly due to the presence of multiple Nox isoforms within cells, the low and transient levels of ROS produced with Nox activation, limitations in the ability to detect protein levels of specific Nox enzymes, and the potential for one Nox protein to compensate for the change in expression or activity of a different Nox protein. Although significant progress has been made, it can be argued that our knowledge of the regulation of Nox activity has only partially extended beyond what could be inferred from the model of the phagocyte oxidase (i.e. gp91phox or Nox2), which has been characterized over the past twenty to thirty years.
Using acausal shaping techniques to reduce robot vibration

A method for generating shaped command inputs which reduce endpoint vibration is presented. The technique applies to both open- and closed-loop systems. The Draper Laboratory's Space Shuttle remote manipulator system nonlinear simulator is used to verify the substantial reduction of residual vibration. In addition, the shaped inputs have been designed to closely approximate the time-optimal input, therefore only a small move time penalty is incurred. >
Synthesis and characterization of modified nucleotides in the 970 hairpin loop of Escherichia coli 16S ribosomal RNA.

Abstract The synthesis of the 6- O -DPC-2- N -methylguanosine (m 2 G) nucleoside and the corresponding 5′- O -DMT-2′- O -TOM-protected 6- O -DPC-2- N -methylguanosine phosphoramidite is reported [DPC, diphenyl carbamoyl; DMT, 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl; TOM, [(triisopropylsilyl)oxy]methyl]. The availability of the phosphoramidite allows for syntheses of hairpin RNAs with site-selective incorporation of 2- N -methylguanosine modification. Four 18-nt hairpin RNA analogues representing the 970-loop region (helix 31 or h31; U960–A975) of Escherichia coli 16S rRNA were synthesized with and without modifications in the loop region. Subsequently, stabilities and conformations of the singly and doubly modified RNAs were examined and compared with the corresponding unmodified RNA. Thermodynamic parameters and circular dichroism spectra are presented for the four helix 31 RNA analogues. Surprisingly, methylations in the loop region of helix 31 slightly destabilize the hairpin, which may have subtle effects on ribosome function. The hairpin construct is suitable for future ligand-binding experiments.
Use of TRUS to predict pubic arch interference of prostate brachytherapy

Abstract Purpose: To demonstrate the potential for transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) to predict pubic arch interference of transperineal needle placement for prostate brachytherapy. Methods and Materials: TRUS and pelvic computerized tomography (CT) scans from 22 patients who had transperineal prostate brachytherapy at University of Washington were analyzed for pubic arch visualization and interference. The outer margins of the prostate and the inner margins of the pubic bones from each imaging modality were outlined and compared. Results: The pubic arch was readily visualized by TRUS in 21 of the 22 patients. There was good correlation between TRUS and CT for evaluating the amount of pubic arch interference ( r = 0.90). Conclusion: TRUS can be substituted for CT imaging to evaluate pubic arch interference of transperineal needle placement for prostate brachytherapy. Eliminating routine CT scanning would reduce the cost of treatment.
Seismic Energy Dissipation of Inelastic Structures with Multiple Tuned Mass Dampers

The ability to use multiple tuned mass dampers (TMDs) in improving inelastic structural performance to dissipate the earthquake input energy is investigated. Inelastic structural behavior is modeled using the force analogy method, which is the backbone of analytically characterizing the plastic energy dissipation in the structure. Both tuning period and placement of the multiple TMDs are studied to give the best structural performance in terms of plastic energy dissipation. Numerical simulations are performed to study the energy responses of structures with and without TMD installed, and the effectiveness of TMDs in the reduction of energy responses is also studied by using tuned mass spectra. Results show that the installation of TMDs gives the structure additional capability of dissipating a large amount of damping energy and at the same time reducing the amount of plastic energy demand and therefore reducing damage in the structure. More important, TMDs have the ability to draw the plastic energy dissipation at the lower stories and release it to the upper stories. This is particularly beneficial for structures that would otherwise suffer more damage at the lower stories than the upper stories. However, the reduction in plastic energy dissipation is quite sensitive to the earthquake vibration characteristics, and TMDs should not be used for structures with weak upper stories.
Ectopic pregnancy in 2 guinea-pigs:

The foetuses were completely developed and were found in the peritoneal cavities of strain 13/N guinea-pigs in their 3rd pregnancies. One foetal placenta was attached to the left side of the peritoneal wall, the other adhered to the pyloric region of the stomach.
Comparison of Serial Hepatitis C Virus Detection in Samples Submitted through Serology for Reflex Confirmation versus Samples Directly Submitted for Quantitation

Using real-time technology, we reliably identified chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and quantified virus from reflex samples originally submitted for serologic testing. There was no need to process specimens obtained directly for quantitation separately. Whether the initial source is a reflex sample or one obtained directly, a repeat HCV RNA test is needed before starting treatment.
Weight and mortality following heart failure hospitalization among diabetic patients

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes is an important risk factor for heart failure and is common among patients with heart failure. The impact of weight on prognosis after hospitalization for acute heart failure among patients with diabetes is unknown. The objective of this study was to examine all-cause mortality in relation to weight status among patients with type 2 diabetes hospitalized for decompensated heart failure. METHODS: The Worcester Heart Failure Study included adults admitted with acute heart failure to all metropolitan Worcester medical centers in 1995 and 2000. The weight status of 1644 patients with diabetes (history of type 2 diabetes in medical record or admission serum glucose 200 mg/dL) was categorized using body mass index calculated from height and weight at admission. Survival status was ascertained at 1 and 5 years after hospital admission. RESULTS: Sixty-five percent of patients were overweight or obese and 3% were underweight. Underweight patients had 50% higher odds of all-cause mortality within 5 years of hospitalization for acute heart failure than normal weight patients. Class I and II obesity were associated with 20% and 40% lower odds of dying. Overweight and Class III obesity were not associated with mortality. Results were similar for mortality within 1 year of hospitalization for acute heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanisms underlying the association between weight status and mortality are not fully understood. Additional research is needed to explore the effects of body composition, recent weight changes, and prognosis after hospitalization for heart failure among patients with diabetes.
Peak efficiency of multijunction photovoltaic systems

The maximum efficiency of multijunction photovoltaic systems is determined for independently connected solar cells that are optically in series. The maximum efficiency is computed as a function of solar concentration using both the Shockley-Queisser detailed balance radiative limit for the reverse saturation current density and a simple empirical expression for the reverse saturation current density obtained from published “state-of-the-art” solar cells performance characteristics. It is shown that there are an optimal number of junctions for peak efficiency after which the system efficiency will decrease as the number of junctions increases.
Unraveling the structural basis of HIV-1 neutralization.

Evaluation of: Tran EE, Borgnia MJ, Kybeda O et al. Structural mechanism of trimeric HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein activation. PLoS Pathog. 8(7), e1002797 (2012). New breakthroughs are needed in the ongoing struggle to develop an effective HIV vaccine. Chief among the challenges to obtaining an effective vaccine is the remarkable ability of the virus to evade humoral immune responses that arise in the infected host. Understanding how broadly neutralizing antibodies directed against the trimeric envelope glycoprotein of HIV (Env) work to overcome viral defenses is, therefore, a high priority. Tran and colleagues used high-resolution 3D cryoelectron tomography to define the conformation of Env when bound to soluble CD4 and to a series of monoclonal antibodies. The investigators demonstrate that antibodies binding to the CD4 binding site or coreceptor binding site of Env may lead to significantly different conformations of the trimeric Env complex. Remarkably, the broadly neutralizing antibody VRC01 locks the ...
Root responses along a subambient to elevated CO2 gradient in a C3–C4 grassland

Atmospheric CO2 (Ca) concentration has increased significantly during the last 20 000 years, and is projected to double this century. Despite the importance of belowground processes in the global carbon cycle, community-level and single species root responses to rising Ca are not well understood. We measured net community root biomass over 3 years using ingrowth cores in a natural C3–C4 grassland exposed to a gradient of Ca from preglacial to future levels (230–550lmol mol � 1 ). Root windows and minirhizotron tubes were installed below naturally occurring stands of the C4 perennial grass Bothriochloa ischaemum and its roots were measured for respiration, carbohydrate concentration, specific root length (SRL), production, and lifespan over 2 years. Community root biomass increased significantly (Po0.05) with Ca over initial conditions, with linear or curvilinear responses depending on sample date. In contrast, B. ischaemum produced significantly more roots at subambient than elevated Ca in minirhizotrons. The lifespan of roots with five or more neighboring roots in minirhizotron windows decreased significantly at high Ca, suggesting that after dense root growth depletes soil resource patches, plants with carbon surpluses readily shed these roots. Root respiration in B. ischaemum showed a curvilinear response to Ca under moist conditions in June 2000, with the lowest rates at Cao300lmol mol � 1 and peak activity at 450lmol mol � 1 in a quadratic model. B. ischaemum roots at subambient Ca had higher SRLs and slightly higher carbohydrate concentrations than those at higher Ca, which may be related to drier soils at low Ca. Our data emphasize that belowground responses of plant communities to Ca can be quite different from those of the individual species, and suggest that complex interactions between and among roots and their immediate soil environment influence the responses of root physiology and lifespan to changing Ca.
The Role of Social Contexts and Special Education in the Mental Health Problems of Urban Adolescents

We explored the perceptions that youth with and without self-reported mental health problems had of their social contexts (family, peer, and school) and the extent to which youth with mental health problems had received special education services in school. We examined data for 4,088 urban youth with self-reported externalizing, internalizing, comorbid, and no mental health problems in early adolescence. With regard to family context, students with comorbid problems reported significantly lower scores for parent attention to misbehavior than students without mental health problems, and students with internalizing problems reported significantly less positive parent‐child relations than those with externalizing problems. With regard to peer context, students with externalizing and comorbid problems reported that significantly greater numbers of their friends were involved in risky behavior than did members of the other groups. With regard to school context, students with internalizing and comorbid problems reported feeling more anonymous and less well-liked by peers and teachers than students with externalizing problems. Significantly more internalizers and members of the comorbid group were in special education classes than expected. The majority of the students with self-reported mental health problems received services for learning disabilities.
Structure of the 5′ Nontranslated Region of the Coxsackievirus B3 Genome: Chemical Modification and Comparative Sequence Analysis

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is a picornavirus which causes myocarditis and pancreatitis and may play a role in type I diabetes. The viral genome is a single 7,400-nucleotide polyadenylated RNA encoding 11 proteins in a single open reading frame. The 5' end of the viral genome contains a highly structured nontranslated region (5'NTR) which folds to form an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) as well as structures responsible for genome replication, both of which are critical for virulence. A structural model of the CVB3 5'NTR, generated primarily by comparative sequence analysis and energy minimization, shows seven domains (I to VII). While this model provides a preliminary basis for structural analysis, the model lacks comprehensive experimental validation. Here we provide experimental evidence from chemical modification analysis to determine the structure of the CVB3 5'NTR. Chemical probing results show that the theoretical model for the CVB3 5'NTR is largely, but not completely, supported experimentally. In combination with our chemical probing data, we have used the RNASTRUCTURE algorithm and sequence comparison of 105 enterovirus sequences to provide evidence for novel secondary and tertiary interactions. A comprehensive examination of secondary structure is discussed, along with new evidence for tertiary interactions. These include a loop E motif in domain III and a long-range pairing interaction that links domain II to domain V. The results of our work provide mechanistic insight into key functional elements in the cloverleaf and IRES, thereby establishing a base of structural information from which to interpret experiments with CVB3 and other picornaviruses.
Stating space in modern Mexico

Abstract This paper critiques the largely Anglophone “New Cultural History” (NCH) written on post-revolutionary Mexico, calling for a more robust theoretical and methodological approach to the state than scholars have thus far employed. Earlier trends, each of course inflected with the politics of their times, remained fastened upon the purportedly unified force of Mexican officialdom. Revisionist narratives tended to abstract the state from social and cultural belief and practice. As such, scholars' grasp of social change was weakened by their failure to see politics, culture, and society as interrelated processes. Nevertheless, the closer examination of popular culture stressed by some contemporary historians—an undeniably important analytical tack—still does not obviate the need for a solid, at times even central, focus on processes of state-formation. Herein, I review some of the critical contributions to a growing multidisciplinary field of state/culture studies, and from critical human geography, and suggest ways their insights might be useful for historians and historical geographers focusing on the post-revolutionary Mexican state.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION:AMENDING THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT TO RESTRICT RESTRAINT AND SECLUSION IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS

There are no federal laws restricting the use of restraint or seclusion in public or private schools. Such laws exist at the state level, but the specifics vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Federal legislation is necessary in order to ensure that students are not treated differently in each state based on legislative disparities between those states. The lack of a uniform standard for restraint and seclusion subjects students, a disproportionate number of whom have disabilities, to unreasonable physical control by other persons. These practices convey punishment, fear, abandonment, and provide little positive benefits. The amendment proposed in this Note will ensure that seclusion and restraint are only used when the student poses a direct threat to the health or safety of him or her self or others. Staff must be trained in the safe and proper use of these procedures so that they are performed in a reasonable manner, including utilization for a limited amount of time and the exhaustion of positive disciplinary alternatives prior to the utilization of these procedures. Furthermore, parental consent to the use of these procedures is imperative. fcre_1380 400..414
Activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in U937 leukemic cells induces phosphorylation of the amino terminus of the TATA-binding protein

Phorbol ester treatment of U937 leukemic cells results in the activation of numerous protein kinase pathways, followed by cell cycle arrest and differentiation into macrophage-like cells. Because major changes in gene transcription are associated with this process, the role of general transcription factors in the cell response to phorbol esters was examined. Experiments demonstrate that phorbol ester treatment of U937 cells stimulates the phosphorylation of the TATA-binding protein (TBP); this phosphorylation occurs within 30 mm and is still apparent, although greatly reduced, at 4 h. The following results demonstrate that TBP phosphorylation occurs as a result of activation of an extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) protein kinase: (a) overexpression of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 blocks phorbol 12-myristate 13acetate (PMA)-induced phosphorylation of TBP both in vitro and in vivo; (b) pretreatment with the ERK kinase kinase inhibitor PD098059 also blocks PMA-induced phosphorylation of TBP both in vitro and in vivo; and (c) phosphorylation of TBP is observed when serumstarved NIH 313 cells are stimulated with fresh serum, another activator of the ERK pathway. TBP can be phosphorylated in vitro by extracts of U937 cells or by
The Relationship between Family and Sibling Functioning in Families Raising a Child with a Disability

Although considerable research exists concerning families raising children with disabilities, relatively little work has examined the linkages between parent and sibling functioning. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to investigate the relationship between parental perceptions of family functioning and school-aged siblings' social skills and problem behaviors. A purposive sample of 78 sets of parents and their school-aged children participated. Half of the families were raising a child with a disability, and half of the families were not raising a child with a disability. Mothers and fathers completed the Porter-O'Leary Scale and Bloom's Family Functioning Measure. Teachers of the school-aged children completed a modification of the Gresham and Elliot Social Skills Rating System. Results indicated siblings of both groups demonstrate more social skills than problem behaviors, and siblings of children with disabilities were higher in cooperation and self-control than siblings of children without dis...
Regulation of Splicing Factors by Alternative Splicing and NMD Is Conserved between Kingdoms Yet Evolutionarily Flexible

Ultraconserved elements, unusually long regions of perfect sequence identity, are found in genes encoding numerous RNA-binding proteins including arginine-serine rich (SR) splicing factors. Expression of these genes is regulated via alternative splicing of the ultraconserved regions to yield mRNAs that are degraded by nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), a process termed unproductive splicing (Lareau et al. 2007; Ni et al. 2007). As all human SR genes are affected by alternative splicing and NMD, one might expect this regulation to have originated in an early SR gene and persisted as duplications expanded the SR family. But in fact, unproductive splicing of most human SR genes arose independently (Lareau et al. 2007). This paradox led us to investigate the origin and proliferation of unproductive splicing in SR genes. We demonstrate that unproductive splicing of the splicing factor SRSF5 (SRp40) is conserved among all animals and even observed in fungi; this is a rare example of alternative splicing conserved between kingdoms, yet its effect is to trigger mRNA degradation. As the gene duplicated, the ancient unproductive splicing was lost in paralogs, and distinct unproductive splicing evolved rapidly and repeatedly to take its place. SR genes have consistently employed unproductive splicing, and while it is exceptionally conserved in some of these genes, turnover in specific events among paralogs shows flexible means to the same regulatory end.
Salvage liver transplantation for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency ablation: A new strategy?

In this issue of the Journal, Dr. Nkontchou et al. describe the recurrence and survival outcomes of a retrospective cohort of 67 patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within the Milan criteria between 2000 and 2007, who were treated at a single center in France with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA), followed by close surveillance and salvage transplant for liver failure or recurrence [1]. Among the 64 patients who achieved complete response to RFA, 38 (59.4%) experienced recurrence within 5 years. Twenty-one patients with recurrence were treated by liver transplantation, 14 were ineligible due to recurrence outside of the Milan Criteria, and 3 declined transplant and were treated with repeat RFA. Three additional patients from the original cohort required transplantation for hepatic decompensation without recurrence. The 5-year overall and recurrence-free survival rates were 74% and 69%, respectively. The authors conclude that RFA as a first-line strategy reserving liver transplant as a salvage option achieves ‘‘survival figures that are as least as good as first line liver transplantation,’’ in patients with HCC within the Milan Criteria and Child Pugh A cirrhosis, and that this two-step strategy may help to conserve the scarce resource of liver allografts. Particularly when facing widespread organ shortages, there is great need for studies such as Nkontchou et al. which seek to identify those patients who will experience equivalent outcomes from loco-regional therapies as from transplantation, thereby safeguarding graft livers for patients most likely to benefit, including patients with other indications for transplantation for whom similar alternative treatment options may not be available [2,3]. It is clear that, although the Milan Criteria remain a worldwide standard for identifying appropriate candidates for liver transplantation, there are patients, whose tumors meet these
SEU-Aware High-Level Data Path Synthesis and Layout Generation on SRAM-Based FPGAs

Although triple modular redundancy (TMR) has been widely used to mitigate single event upsets (SEUs) in static random access memory-based field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), SEU-caused bridging faults between the triplicated modules do not guarantee the correctness of TMR designs under all SEUs. In this paper, we present a novel computer-aided design flow for redundancy-based applications on FPGAs in order to mitigate the impact of SEUs in the configuration bitstreams. We introduce the notions of modular redundancy conflicts and vulnerability-gap conflicts which maintain the fundamental assumption underlying the integrity of redundancy-based designs (i.e., self-containment of SEU-induced faults within a single replica of redundant resources). When the impact of SEU-induced bridging faults is considered in high-level synthesis as well as physical synthesis, on average more than 30% improvement in the number of potential SEU-induced bridging faults can be reached as well as improvements in the performance and area utilization, compared to post-synthesis TMR, in which the voters are applied to the feedback structures in the circuit. Compared to the extreme case of post-synthesis TMR in which the voters are applied at the end of every configurable logic block, we reach 38% (26%) improvement in performance(area) of the implemented circuits.
X-ray spectromicroscopic investigation of natural organochlorine distribution in weathering plant material

Natural organochlorine (Clorg) is ubiquitous in soil humus, but the distribution and cycling of different Cl species during the humification of plant material is poorly understood. Our X-ray spectromicroscopic studies indicate that the distributions of Clorg and inorganic Cl � (Clinorg) in oak leaf material vary dramatically with decay stage, with the most striking changes occurring at the onset of weathering. In healthy or senescent leaves harvested from trees, Clinorg occurs in sparsely distributed, highly localized ‘‘hotspots’’ associated with trichomes as well as in diffuse concentration throughout the leaf tissue. The Clinorg associated with trichomes exists either in H-bonded form or in a solid salt matrix, while the Clinorg in diffuse areas of lower Cl concentration appears exclusively in H-bonded form. Most solid phase Clinorg leaches from the leaf tissue during early weathering stages, whereas the H-bonded Clinorg appears to leach away slowly as degradation progresses, persisting through advanced weathering stages. In unweathered leaves, aromatic and aliphatic Clorg were found in rare but concentrated hotspots. In weathered leaves, by contrast, aromatic Clorg hotspots are prevalent, often coinciding with areas of elevated Fe or Mn concentration. Aromatic Clorg is highly soluble in leaves at early weathering stages and insoluble at more advanced stages. These results, combined with optical microscopy, suggest that fungi play a role in the production of aromatic Clorg in weathering leaf material. Aliphatic Clorg occurs in concentrated hotspots in weathered leaves as well as in diffuse areas of low Cl concentration. The distribution and speciation of Cl in weathering oak leaves depicted by this spectromicroscopic study provides new insight into the formation and cycling of Clorg during the decay of natural organic matter. � 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Fiber-radio antenna feeding for MIMO systems

We analyze the performance of MIMO systems fed by fiber-radio links and show that the separation of the MIMO antennas increases the overall coverage area and leads to improved throughput. The requirements on the optical radio feeding system are discussed and it is shown that optical loss imbalances critically affect the overall MIMO performance.
A COPPER MICROCHANNEL HEAT EXCHANGER FOR MEMS-BASED WASTE HEAT THERMAL SCAVENGING

The growing necessity for increased efficiency and sustainability in energy systems such as MEMS devices has driven research in waste heat scavenging. This approach uses thermal energy, which is typically rejected to the surrounding environment, transferred to a secondary device to produce useful power output. This paper investigates a MEMS-based micro-channel heat exchanger (MHE) designed to operate as part of a micro-scale thermal energy scavenging system. Fabrication and operation of the MHE is presented. MHE operation relies on capillary action which drives working fluid from surrounding reservoirs via micro-channels above a heated surface. Energy absorption by the MHE is increased through the use of a working fluid which undergoes phase change as a result of thermal input.In a real-world implementation, the efficiency at which the MHE operates contributes to the thermal efficiency of connected small-scale devices, such as those powered by thermoelectrics which require continual heat transfer. This full system can then more efficiently power MEMS-based sensors or other devices in diverse applications. In this work, the MHE and micro-channels are fabricated entirely of copper with 300μm width channels. Copper electro-deposition onto a copper substrate provides enhanced thermal conductivity when compared to other materials such as silicon or aluminum. The deposition process also increases the surface area of the channels due to porosity. Fabrication with copper produces a robust device, which is not limited to environments where fragility is a concern.The MHE operation has been designed for widespread use in varied environments. The exchanger working fluid is also non-specific, allowing for fluid flexibility for a range of temperatures, depending on the thermal source potential. In these tests, the exchanger shows approximately 8.7 kW/m2 of thermal absorption and 7.6 kW/m2 of thermal transfer for a dry MHE while the wetted MHE had an energy throughput of 8.3 kW/m2. The temperature gradient maintained across the MHE bottom plate and lid is approximately 30 °C for both the dry and wetted MHE tests though overall temperatures were lower for the wetted MHE.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Optical Radiation From The Atmosphere

The interface region which lies between the meteorological atmosphere of the Earth and "outer" space is a source of abundant optical radiation. The purpose of this paper is to provide the optical instrumentation engineer with a generalized understanding and a summary reference of naturally-occurring aerospace radiation phenomena. The colors of the radiation extend over the full optical spectrum from ultraviolet through the infrared. The emissions, observed during both day and night times, are rich in Zine and band spectra. The parameterization of atmospheric light by frequency (or photon energy) and by spectral radiance is discussed. The sources of the natural light from the gases of the atmosphere are grouped into four categories: (1) airglow mechanisms, (2) thermal processes, (3) scattering phenomena, and (4) auroral excitations. An overview of the characteristic spectral occurrences and intensities is given.
Using design pattern to develop the quality MSC simulator software in performance test for GSM and GPRS system

Design pattern is a solution in the structured format describing the problem and solution that can be applied in the new background. Global system for mobile communication (GSM) and general packet radio service (GPRS) are such backgrounds and they all need good MSC simulator software to guarantee the quality of performance test for the system. This paper introduces the method to develop the simulator software using several design patterns for MSC performance test in GSM and GPRS system. The usage of these patterns in the software is also depicted in detail, especially in the aspect of object-oriented design. From this paper, we can see that it is economical to achieve quality software by using design pattern, which makes the MSC performance test more efficient and economical. So, this paper is hopeful to benefit the other systems which needs software development with good quality and efficiency.
Variation in Shoot Density and Rhizome Biomass of Acorus calamus L. With Respect to Environment

Abstract In clonal plants, plasticity in spacer length and branching allows for placement of ramets in favorable microenvironments. We investigated shoot density, rhizome biomass, and leaf scars in populations of Acorus calamus L., an emergent macrophyte, in southeast Ohio. To evaluate the influence of edaphic factors on rhizome plasticity, soil, shoot density and rhizomes were sampled from A. calamus populations. MANOVA indicated no overall significant difference (λ = 0.29, P = 0.22) in most soil variables within a patch. However, there were significant differences among population patches in soil variables (λ = 0.00006, P < 0.001), shoot density and morphometric variables (λ = 0.45, P < 0.001). Correlation analysis suggests that rhizome length is correlated with soil calcium (r = 0.75, P < 0.01), aluminum (r = −0.55, P < 0.05) and magnesium (r = 0.55, P < 0.05). Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicates that rhizome length, biomass and total number of leaf scars are positively related to a soil calcium gradie...
Nonlinear Settling in Delta-Sigma Modulators

High linearity in data converters is an important feature for various applications such as instrumentation and data acquisition. However, a good handle on nonlinear effects is impaired by the lack of analytical models. This situation is worsened by the fact that nonlinearities from different origins contribute to the overall nonlinearity of the converter and it is difficult, if not impossible, to identify them individually during chip testing. Many authors circumvent this problem by either treating the nonlinear effect as a small perturbation to the ideal modulator or even as an additive white noise source. These methods do not establish a clear relationship between circuit parameters and overall non-linearity. Therefore, they can not provide a quantitative guide for oversampled converters design.
Gas-phase reaction products and yields of terpinolene with ozone and nitric oxide using a new derivatization agent.

Abstract The new derivatization agent, O-tert-butylhydroxylamine hydrochloride (TBOX) was used to investigate the carbonyl reaction products from terpinolene ozonolysis. With ozone (O3) as the limiting reagent, four carbonyl compounds were detected: methylglyoxal (MG), 4-methylcyclohex-3-en-1-one, (4MCH), 6-oxo-3-(propan-2-ylidene) heptanal (6OPH), and 3,6-dioxoheptanal (36DOH). The tricarbonyl 36DOH has not been previously observed. Using cyclohexane as a hydroxyl radical (OH ) scavenger, the yields of 6OPH and 36DOH were reduced indicating the influence secondary OH radicals have on terpinolene ozonolysis products. However, the MG yield increased and the 4MCH yield was unchanged when OH radicals were scavenged suggesting they are only made by the terpinolene + O3 reaction. The detection of 36DOH using TBOX highlights the advantages of a smaller molecular weight derivatization agent for the detection of multi-carbonyl compounds. The product yields from terpinolene ozonolysis experiments conducted in the presence of 20 ppb nitric oxide (NO) remained unchanged except for MG which decreased. However, in experiments where O3 was kept constant at 50 ppb and NO was varied (20, 50, 100 ppb) MG, 6OPH, 36DOH decreased with increasing NO while 4MCH increased with increasing NO. The use of TBOX derivatization if combined with other derivatization agents may address a recurring need to simply and accurately detect multi-functional oxygenated species in air.
Acute Action of Ammonia on Leucine Metabolism in Isolated Astrocytes, Neurons and Oligo Cells of Rat Brain

It is well known that in brain ammonia is detoxified by way of glutamine synthesis and this process requires glutamate as a precursor (Cooper et al., 1979, 1985; Cooper and Plum, 1987). Results obtained in the studies on metabolic compartmentation led to the belief that the glutamate required for this process is generated in the astrocytes by the reductive amination of α-ketoglutarate (KG) in the reaction mediated by glutamate dehydrogenase (Berl and Clarke, 1983). However, it was observed recently that the glutamate generated in this reaction may not be serving as the substrate for the synthesis of glutamine in brain either in normal or in hyper-ammonemic states (Cooper et al., 1979, 1985; Subbalakshmi and Murthy, 1983; Yudkoff et al., 1983; Yu et al., 1984). Hence, it was proposed that the pool of glutamate required for glutamine synthesis in brain may be generated from the transamination of branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleu-cine and valine; BCAA) with KG (Cooper et al., 1979, 1985; Duffy and Plum, 1982; Jessy and Murthy, 1985, 1988).
Extended discrete-time transfer matrix approach to modeling and decentralized control of lattice-based structures: Extended Discrete-Time Transfer Matrix Modeling and Control

Summary This paper presents the modeling and control of an aircraft wing structure constructed by lattice-based cellular materials/components. A novel model reduction process is proposed that utilizes the extended discrete-time transfer matrix method (E-DT-TMM). Through recursive application of the E-DT-TMM, an effective reduced-order model can be obtained in which a decentralized discrete-time linear quadratic regulator (LQR) controller can be designed. To demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed concept, a prototype wing structure is studied. The analysis and simulation results show that the performance of the proposed E-DT-TMM based decentralized LQR controller is comparable with that of the full-state continuous LQR controller. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dynamic Analysis of Cable Systems

The method incorporates a discrete parameter representation of cables and utilizes the Method of Imaginary Reactions to evaluate statical behavior and to determine the force-displacement characteristics of the system. The procedures presented make it possible to first evaluate statical system behavior and then to determine either its characteristic or force-motion response to a prescribed loading. Dynamic analysis can be carried out under any condition of loading or system deformation. As the basis of the dynamic method lies in the approach taken to statically analyze and compute the force-deformation characteristics of the structure, any system amenable to static analysis can be subject to dynamic analysis as well. By means of a linear transformation from the physical to a complex coordinate system, the method can accomodate the evaluation of force motion under linearly damped situations. The necessary fundamentals of the method are presented along with an illustrative example explaining its usage.
Hoarding, Body Mass Dynamics, and Torpor as Components of the Survival Strategy of the Eastern Chipmunk

Hoarding behavior, food consumption, body mass changes, and hibernating responses of eastern chipmunks ( Tamias striatus ) were observed from summer through spring under controlled conditions. Cyclicity was detected in the proportion of daily diet made up of cache food. Chipmunks demonstrated an ability to recognize cache food in the absence of spatial cues and to determine cache “ownership” on the probable basis of olfactory and/or gustatory cues. Hoarding rate was lower after a period of increased food availability and cache sizes of most individuals plateaued below maximum burrow capacity. There was an increasing trend from summer through winter in body mass for most females but not for most males, though food consumption rates for sexes were similar. Chipmunks which did not gain mass accumulated larger caches and consumed more food during winter (and less at other times) than mass-gainers and remained active during winter (most males) or became torpid (some females); there was evidence of semitorpidity among mass-gainers. Strategies are discussed for a species with individual behavioral and physiological variation involving both external (cache) and internal (body mass) storage for survival.
A randomized intervention study to evaluate whether electronic messaging can increase human papillomavirus vaccine completion and knowledge among college students.

Objective: To evaluate an intervention aimed at increasing human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine completion of the 3-dose series and knowledge. Participants: Two hundred sixty-four male and female US college students 18–26 years old who were receiving HPV vaccine dose 1. Methods: Students were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. Intervention participants received the electronic intervention (text/e-mail appointment reminders and education messages) and controls received standard-of-care. Baseline/follow-up survey data were collected. Main outcome measures included vaccine completion and knowledge. Results: HPV vaccine completion across groups were not significantly different for HPV dose 2 (53% vs 52%) and dose 3 (34% vs 32%). Mean knowledge score at follow-up for intervention group was significantly higher (p = .01) than at baseline. No significant differences in knowledge were found for the control group. The biggest predictor of HPV vaccine completion was female gender. Conclus...
A Message to SPIE Conference Presenters

This PDF file contains the editorial “A Message to SPIE Conference Presenters” for OE Vol. 55 Issue 04
Presence of Alcohol and Drugs in Hispanic Versus Non-Hispanic Youth Suicide Victims in Miami-Dade County, Florida

This study examines the association between the presence of drugs and alcohol at time of suicide in Hispanic versus non-Hispanic youth suicide victims in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The Medical Examiner’s records of 435 persons aged 24 years or younger classified as suicides in Miami-Dade County, Florida, from 1990 to 2011 were reviewed. Hispanic youth in Miami-Dade County, Florida were 1.62 times more likely than non-Hispanic youth to have used drugs and alcohol at time of suicide (OR 1.62; 95 % CI 1.07–2.04; p = 0.049). Firearm use was significantly associated with drug and alcohol use at time of death. Use of drugs and alcohol at the time of death are important risk factors for suicide in Hispanic youth.
274 QRS DURATION AND Q-TC INTERVAL DO NOT CORRELATE WITH SERUM MARKER OF MYOCARDIAL FIBROSIS IN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED SYSTOLIC HEART FAILURE.

Purpose QRS duration is currently used to select patients with advanced systolic heart failure (HF) for device therapy. Q-Tc prolongation has long been associated with increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias. We hypothesized that the degree of fibrosis within the myocardium may influence QRS duration and Q-Tc interval in patients with advanced systolic HF. Methods Thirty-six patients with systolic HF and EF Results The mean left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), QRS duration, and Q-Tc interval were 23.0 ± 5.4%, 125.8 ± 33.9 milliseconds, 487.6 ± 42.0, respectively. Mean PICP level was 997.4 ± 455.1 ng/mL. Conclusions In this small study of patients with advanced systolic HF, the degree of myocardial fibrosis as determined by serum levels of PICP did not correlate with QRS duration or Q-Tc interval. Q-Tc, on the other hand, significantly correlated with EF.
Choice of therapy and criteria for assessing treatment outcome in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy

The aims of treatment of Graves’ ophthalmopathy are discussed, and a framework for assessing treatment results is presented. Each of the currently available treatment modes and mechanisms is described in detail. Experimental immunotherapeutic approaches to the treatment of ophthalmopathy are discussed briefly.
Futurist Women in Florence, 1916–18

Futurism began in 1909 with Filippo Tommaso Marinetti’s manifesto published in Le Figaro, and ended with Marinetti’s death in 1944. In the interim, significant numbers of women joined the movement in different locations, including Italy, France, the United States and Russia. These women were important interlocutors for their male peers — because of their diverse cultural backgrounds, because of their vision of new female models, because of their political stance in a historical period spanning two world wars, and because of their creative experimentation in a variety of fields, including literature, visual art, theater, fashion and gastronomy.