cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A fault-tolerant GaAs/CMOS interconnection network for scalable multiprocessors

The design of an interconnection network (ICN) for a scalable multiprocessor system is presented. The tree-structured network (called SHUNT for scalable hierarchical unidirectional network topology) is organized so that it can be scaled not only in width (through the use of bit slicing), but also in number of ports and in data transfer speed. The network is made from three custom chip types: cluster controller, crossbar switch, and network interface. Implementation of the first prototype chips in 2- mu m CMOS is discussed, and the results of detailed circuit simulations for GaAs implementations are given. The network is fault tolerant and is able to detect and correct all single-bit transmission errors. In addition, it can detect failures and reconfigure to work around problems in controllers, port interfaces, or user processors. The network is part of the experimental decoupled computer architect project (DART) currently under study and development. >
Developmental Dynamics of Student Engagement, Coping, and Everyday Resilience

The goal of this chapter is to present a perspective on student engagement with academic work that emphasizes its role in organizing the daily school experiences of children and youth as well as their cumulative learning, long-term achievement, and eventual academic success. A model grounded in self-determination theory, and organized around student engagement and disaffection with learning activities, seems to offer promise to the study of academic development by specifying the dynamic cycles of context, self, action, and outcomes that are self-stablizing or self-amplifying, and may underlie trajectories of motivation across many school years. The study of ongoing engagement can be enriched by the incorporation of concepts of everyday resilience, focusing on what happens when students make mistakes and encounter difficulties and failures in school. The same personal and interpersonal resources that promote engagement may shape students’ reactions to challenges and obstacles, with academic coping an especially important bridge back to reengagement. Future research can examine how these motivational dynamics contribute to the development of durable academic assets, such as self-regulated learning and proactive coping, and an academic identity that allows students eventually to take ownership for their own learning and success in school.
Statistical Graphics in Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics: A Tutorial

OBJECTIVE:To discuss the use of statistical graphics in the analysis of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics data.METHODS:Information on graphic techniques and their application was retrieved from a MEDLINE search (January 1980–March 1997) of the English-language literature and bibliographic reviews of review articles and books. Data used to generate plots were extracted from some new drug applications submitted to the Food and Drug Administration and by simulation.DATA SYNTHESIS:In carrying out data analysis, we should look at data in several ways, construct a number of plots, and do several analyses, letting the results of each step suggest the next. The information from a plot should be relevant to the goals of the analysis. Thus, in choosing a graphic method, it is necessary to match the capabilities of the method to the need in the context of the application. For example, if linear relationships among variables in a set of multidimensional data are relevant, scatter plots such as the pairs plot with...
Sonification of remote sensing data: initial experiment

The author is generating music from a particular view of a multi-dimensional geographic information system (GIS) data set to alert a viewer to the existence of hidden clusters of data points. The author describes some results from an early experiment with generating music from a 2D slice of the data and testing whether these representations are easily understood by beginning users.
Maximizing the capacity of constrained systems that forbid two sequences

We solve the problem of finding the set {A, B} /spl sub/ {0, 1}/sup m/ that maximizes, among all 2-subsets of {0, 1}/sup m/, the Shannon capacity, H(A, B), of a constrained system of binary sequences that do not contain A or B as a contiguous subsequence.
Inhibition of presynaptic calcium transients in cortical inputs to the dorsolateral striatum by metabotropic GABAB and mGlu2/3 receptors

Key points Plastic changes at cortical inputs to the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) underlie skill learning and habit formation, so characterizing the mechanisms by which these inputs are regulated is important for understanding the neural basis of action control. We developed a novel approach using the genetically encoded calcium (Ca2+) indicator GCaMP6 and brain slice photometry to assess evoked presynaptic Ca2+ transients in cortical inputs to the DLS and study their regulation by GABAB and mGlu2/3 receptors. GABAB and mGlu2/3 receptor activation caused clear reductions in electrical stimulus-evoked presynaptic Ca2+ transients in corticostriatal inputs to the DLS. Functional P/Q-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels were required for the normal inhibitory action of corticostriatal mGlu2/3 receptors. We provide direct evidence of presynaptic Ca2+ inhibition by G protein-coupled receptors at corticostriatal projections. Abstract Cortical inputs to the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) are dynamically regulated during skill learning and habit formation, and are dysregulated in disorders characterized by impaired action control. Therefore, a mechanistic investigation of the processes regulating corticostriatal transmission is key to understanding DLS-associated circuit function, behaviour and pathology. Presynaptic GABAB and group II metabotropic glutamate (mGlu2/3) receptors exert marked inhibitory control over corticostriatal glutamate release in the DLS, yet the signalling pathways through which they do so are unclear. We developed a novel approach using the genetically encoded calcium (Ca2+) indicator GCaMP6 to assess presynaptic Ca2+ in corticostriatal projections to the DLS. Using simultaneous photometric presynaptic Ca2+ and striatal field potential recordings, we report that relative to P/Q-type Ca2+ channels, N-type channels preferentially contributed to evoked presynaptic Ca2+ influx in motor cortex projections to, and excitatory transmission in, the DLS. Activation of GABAB or mGlu2/3 receptors inhibited both evoked presynaptic Ca2+ transients and striatal field potentials. mGlu2/3 receptor-mediated depression did not require functional N-type Ca2+ channels, but was attenuated by blockade of P/Q-type channels. These findings reveal presynaptic mechanisms of inhibitory modulation of corticostriatal function that probably contribute to the selection and shaping of behavioural repertoires.
ATP sulfurylase from Penicillium chrysogenum: is the internal level of the enzyme sufficient to account for the rate of sulfate utilization?

The in vivo rate of sulfate activation in Penicillium chrysogenum (wild-type strain ATCC 24791) was determined to be 0.19 ± 0.09 μmol g−1 (dry weight) min−1 by the following methods. (i) The maximum growth of the organism in synthetic medium was a linear function of the initial Na2SO4 concentration between 0 and 8 × 10−4 Na2SO4. The growth yield was 1.64 × 10−2 g (dry weight) of mycelium per μmol of added sulfate, corresponding to a minimum sulfur requirement of 61 μmol/g (dry weight). Under these conditions (limiting sulfate) the minimum doubling time of P. chrysogenum in submerged culture was about 3.8 h, corresponding to a maximum exponential growth rate constant of 3.0 × 10−3 min−1. If all the sulfur in this mycelium passed through adenosine-5′-phosphosulfate, the rate of sulfate activation in vivo must have been 0.183 μmol min−1 g−1 (dry weight). (ii) In the presence of excess 35SO42−, the total organic 35S produced varied with the mycelial growth rate. However, until the culture approached maximum density, the product of [(growth rate constant) × (organic 35S content)] was nearly constant at 0.24 to 0.28 μmol min−1 g−1 (dry weight). (iii) A sulfur-starved mycelium pulsed with 10−4 M 35SO42− produced organic 35S at a rate of about 0.10 μmol min−1 g−1 (dry weight) under conditions where the internal concentrations of ATP and sulfate would permit ATP sulfurylase to operate at about 70% of its Vmax. Cell-free extracts of P. chrysogenum growing rapidly on excess sulfate contained 0.22 U of ATP sulfurylase per g (dry weight). Thus, in spite of the relatively low specific activity of homogeneous ATP sulfurylase (0.13 U/mg of protein, corresponding to an active site turnover of 7.15 min−1), the mycelial content of the enzyme was sufficient to account for the observed growth rate of the organism on inorganic sulfate as the sole sulfur source.
BEHAVIOR THERAPY, PSYCHOLOGY AND THE PSYCHIATRIST: CONTRIBUTIONS, EVALUATION AND OVERVIEW.

The origins, advantages, methodology and status of behavior therapy are briefly reviewed and certain misconceptions discussed. It is suggested that behavior therapy (as part of a general experimental-clinical psychology program) is more appropriate to the training and practice of the clinical psychologist than psychodynamic and other treatment methods of the psychiatrist.
Perinatal Developmental Changes in Expression of the Neuropeptide Genes Preoptic Regulatory Factor‐1 and Factor–2, Neuropeptide Y and GnRH in Rat Hypothalamus

The preoptic regulatory factor genes, PORF-1 and PORF-2, are expressed in the rat brain in a regional-, age- and gender-dependent fashion. They are also expressed in the testis, where PORF-2 mRNA localizes to dividing germ cells while PORF-1 mRNA is associated with newly differentiated sperm. This suggests that PORF-1 and PORF-2 may play distinct roles in cell growth and differentiation. Moreover, the two preoptic regulatory factors are also highly expressed in the immature and mature rat hypothalamus, and their expression is modulated by gonadal hormones. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the expression of these two factors in neuroendocrine regions of the developing rat brain by addressing the following questions. First, are PORF-1 and PORF-2 mRNAs expressed during perinatal development in the preoptic area-anterior hypothalamus (POA-AH) and medial basal hypothalamus (MBH), and how do their levels vary? Second, are there gender differences in their expression? We also compared expression of the PORF mRNAs with those of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which play critical neuroendocrine roles, in these brain regions. PORF-1, PORF-2, and NPY mRNAs in the POA-AH and MBH, and GnRH mRNA in the POA-AH, were quantified by RNase protection assay at embryonic day (E) 18-19, and postnatal days (P) 0, 5, 10 and 15 in male and female rats. The results show that the four neuropeptide genes are regulated differentially during the perinatal-prepubertal period. PORF-1 mRNA shows age-related increases in expression from E18-E19 to P15 in POA-AH and MBH, without significant gender differences. In contrast, PORF-2 mRNA shows both age and gender differences in expression in these brain regions, with decreases occurring during the same time period in development. NPY mRNA increases similarly in males and females with age in POA-AH and MBH during this period. GnRH mRNA does not change during this period. Taken together with previous studies, the results suggest possible roles for PORF-1 and NPY in the pubertal process, since their expression is maximal from the prepubertal to the early pubertal period. The observation of highest levels of expression of PORF-2 in embryonic neuroendocrine tissues suggests a possible involvement of this neuropeptide in prenatal/neonatal developmental events.
Parallelizing a sequential logic simulator using an optimistic framework based on a global parallel heap event queue: an experience and performance report

We have parallelized the Iowa Logic Simulator, a gate-level fine-grained discrete-event simulator, by employing an optimistic algorithm framework based on a global event queue implemented as a parallel heap. The original code and the basic data structures of the serial simulator remained unchanged. Wrapper data structures for the logical processes (gates) and the events are created to allow rollbacks, all the earliest events at each logical processes are stored into the parallel heap, and multiple earliest events are simulated repeatedly by invoking the simulate function of the serial simulator. The parallel heap allowed extraction of hundreds to thousands of earliest events in each queue access. On a bus-based shared-memory multiprocessor, simulation of synthetic circuits with 250,000 gates yielding speedups of 3.3 employing five processors compared to the serial execution time of the Iowa Logic Simulator, and limited the number of rollbacks to within 2,000. The basic steps of parallelization are well-defined and general enough to be employable on other discrete-event simulators.
Mechanism of RhoA/Rho kinase activation in endothelin-1- induced contraction in rabbit basilar artery

This study was undertaken to demonstrate the role of the RhoA/Rho kinase pathway in endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced contraction of the rabbit basilar artery. Isometric tension and Western blot were use...
Flow-controlled reactions in rock fabrics

The percolation of fluids through rock fabrics or through fracture networks, continued over millions of years, is associated with selective dissolution, cementation, fabric alteration in metamorphosis and the formation of certain massive ore deposits in specific locations. The degree of mineral alteration and its spatial distribution are both controlled by the patterns of interstitial flow and three distinct types of flow-controlled reactions are reviewed and analyzed. Isothermal reaction fronts propagate from mineralogical boundaries in the direction of flow at a speed proportional to but less than the fluid transport velocity; their occurrence can be recognized in banded or bimodal mineralogical patterns. Gradient reactions occurs pervasively throughout a fabric at rates proportional to the temperature and pressure gradients and the fluid velocity; they produce gradually changing mineral assemblages throughout, though their rates of reaction are greatest in high permeability lenses and in thermal boundary layers. Mixing zone reactions occur when two fluid masses intermingle and are usually highly localized. In each case, simple but general analytical expressions are given that express the rates of reaction in terms of the flow and geochemical variables.
The IDB and IEDB: intron sequence and evolution databases

A non-redundant database of nuclear, protein-encoding, genomic DNA sequences highlighting nuclear pre-mRNA introns was constructed using information contained in the SWISS-PROT and GenBank sequence databases. This Intron DataBase (IDB) contains information about (i) introns (including nucleotide sequence, location, phase, length, GC content and consensus-sequence rule violations), (ii) exons (including nucleo-tide sequence, length and GC content), (iii) protein coding regions (including amino acid sequence and length), and (iv) descriptive information about the source gene and organism (including gene designations and species taxonomy). The Intron Evolution DataBase (IEDB) provides a statistical analysis of the exon and intron sequences catalogued in IDB as well as data concerning intron penetration (relative number of coding regions with introns), density (number of introns per kb of total coding sequence DNA), distribution, and consensus sequences for each species present in IDB. This supplement is provided to furnish insights into the phylogenetic distribution and evolution of introns. Both databases are extensively cross-referenced to the SWISS-PROT and GenBank databases. IDB currently contains information on over 63 000 genes and 154 000 introns; IEDB summarizes information on over 2800 species. IDB and IEDB will be updated twice a year and are available via the internet (http://nutmeg.bio.indiana. edu/intron/index.html ).
Valuing Options in Regime-Switching Models

This paper presents a lattice-based method for valuing both European and American-style options in regime-switching models. In a numerical example, the Black-Scholes model is shown to generate significant pricing errors when a regime-switching process governs underlying asset returns. In addition, regime-switching option values are shown to generate implied volatility smiles commonly found in empirical studies. These results provide encouraging evidence that the valuation technique is important, and rich enough to capture salient features of traded option prices. Journal of Derivatives 6, 38-49, Fall 1998
In vitro and in vivo evaluation of albumin-encapsulated primaquine diphosphate prepared by nebulization into heated oil

Nebulization of an aqueous mixture of primaquine diphosphate and albumin into heated vegetable oil produces spherical particles with an average size of 6 µm. The microparticles are relatively stabile in buffers of pH 7.2 and 4.5 and completely degrade when exposed to proteolytic enzymes such as trypsin. Pharmacokinetic evaluation of the albumin-encapsulated primaquine diphosphate shows significantly higher levels in mouse liver tissue relative to free drug 2–48 h post-IP administration. Higher AUC (2.8x), lower steady-state volume of distribution (10x) and slower half-life (2.5x) relative to an equivalent dose of free primaquine diphosphate suggest liver targeting and sustained release of the drug from the microparticles.
Transesophageal echocardiographic detection of thrombus superimposed on metastatic left atrial tumor.

We present a 32-year-old male with metastatic thymic carcinoma invading the left atrium in whom two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography was able to differentiate a thrombus superimposed on the tumor. (Echocardiography 2011;28:591-592)
Lights on: Dye dequenching reveals polymersome fusion with polymer, lipid and stealth lipid vesicles

Abstract Herein we develop a quantitative dye dequenching technique for the measurement of polymersome fusion, using it to characterize the salt mediated, mechanically-induced fusion of polymersomes with polymer, lipid, and so-called stealth lipid vesicles. While dye dequenching has been used to quantitatively explore liposome fusion in the past, this is the first use of dye dequenching to measure polymersome fusion of which we are aware. In addition to providing quantitative results, dye dequenching is ideal for detecting fusion in instances where DLS results would be ambiguous, such as low yield levels and size ranges outside the capabilities of DLS. The dye chosen for this study was a cyanine derivative, 1,1′-dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethylindotricarbocyanine iodide (DiR), which proved to provide excellent data on the extent of polymersome fusion. Using this technique, we have shown the limited fusion capabilities of polymersome/liposome heterofusion, notably DOPC vesicles fusing with polymersomes at half the efficiency of polymersome homofusion and DPPC vesicles showing virtually no fusion. In addition to these key heterofusion experiments, we determined the broad applicability of dye dequenching in measuring kinetic rates of polymersome fusion; and showed that even at elevated temperatures or over multiple weeks' time, no polymersome fusion occurred without agitation. Stealth liposomes formed from DPPC and PEO-functionalized lipid, however, fused with polymersomes and stealth liposomes with relatively high efficiency, lending support to our hypothesis that the response of the PEO corona to salt is a key factor in the fusion process. This last finding suggests that although the conjugation of PEO to lipids increases vesicle biocompatibility and enables their longer circulation times, it also renders the vesicles subject to destabilization under high salt and shear (e.g. in the circulatory system) that may lead to, in this case, fusion.
The Definition of the Situation and the Resolution of Freshwater Conflicts in the Middle East

Despite the presence of significant material constraints that raised Jordanﾒs and Israelﾒs interest in reaching a peace agreement in 1994 that included arrangements for managing and distributing their shared water resources, material factors did not have a decisive impact. The material factors at work were formidable and produced a strong incentive to change the fundamental pattern of Israeli-Jordanian relations, yet were not so powerful or overriding as to foreclose any avenue but cooperation. Moreover, many of these material forces were of an enduring nature, thus begging the question: why did Jordan and Israel sign the peace treaty and related protocol over shared water resources when they did? The timing of their decision, I argue, is far better accounted for by the development of trust between the two co-riparian states. Israeli and Jordanian leaders had long been aware of convergent interests with respect to both natural resources and other areas of their bilateral relationship. However, their perceptions of each otherﾒs trustworthiness acted as a filter for how they understood their interests. Prospects for peace did not ripen until the negotiations fell under the purview of leaders who proved able to overcome the obstacles of the past through the strong sense of interpersonal trust they forged, reinforcing their determination to guide negotiations over water sharing to a successful conclusion.
The Hurst Exponent of Precipitation

Rescaled range analysis of precipitation in the sample period 1893-2014 for ten USHCN stations in five states of the USA does not provide evidence of dependence, long term memory, or persistence in the time series. All of the observed Hurst exponents of precipitation are indicative of Gaussian randomness. Therefore, multi-decadal and non-periodic drought and flood events observed at some of these stations are more likely to be irregular cyclical phenomena of nature than the random effects of persistence and long term memory in the data.
Mechanism of lipoplex gene delivery in mouse lung: binding and internalization of fluorescent lipid and DNA components

We introduce a lung inflation-fixation protocol to examine the distribution and gene transfer efficiency of fluorescently tagged lipoplexes using fluorescence confocal microscopy within thick lung tissue sections. Using this technique, we tested the hypothesis that factors related to lipoplex distribution were the predominant reason that intravenous (i.v.) administration of lipoplex was superior to intratracheal (i.t.) administration for gene transfer in the murine lung. Lipoplex distribution was analyzed using digitized images of overlapping fields, reconstructed to view an entire lung lobe. Intravenously administered lipoplexes were confined to the capillary network and homogenously distributed throughout the lung lobe. In contrast, i.t. administration resulted in regional distribution of lipoplex, concentrated around bronchioles and distal airways. Not all the bronchioles were stained with lipoplex, suggesting that the airway-administered solution became channeled through certain bronchiolar pathways. A fluorescent oligonucleotide was used as a marker for cytoplasmic release of nucleic acids. Quantification of the resulting fluorescent nuclei was used to define the relationship between cytoplasmic release of nucleic acids and gene expression. Endothelial cells were stained after i.v. administration, and epithelial cells were stained after i.t. administration. The delivery of nucleic acids was also more homogeneous with i.v. administration of lipoplex than with i.t. administration. After i.t. administration, it was notable that high concentrations of fluorescent nuclei correlated with low GFP expression. This suggested that toxicity was associated with high local concentrations of cationic lipoplexes. The ratio of GFP-expressing cells to fluorescent nuclei indicated that capillary endothelial cells were more efficient in gene expression per delivery event than were pulmonary epithelial cells. Thus, the greater gene expression efficiency of i.v. administered lipoplexes was due not only to the initial distribution but also to the greater efficiency of the vascular endothelial cells to appropriately traffic and express the foreign gene.
Effects of Estrogen Implant in Median Eminence on Serum and Pituitary Prolactin Levels in the Rat

SummaryRats with DMBA-induced mammary tumors were given an implant of EB or cholesterol in the ME, or an implant of EB in the cerebral cortex or under the skin. At 25-28 days after implantation, serum prolactin levels in rats with an EB implant in the ME were significantly higher than in the other groups. There were no significant differences among groups in pituitary prolactin concentration, but pituitary prolactin content in rats with an EB implant in the ME was significantly higher than in the other groups. Whereas an implant of EB in the ME resulted in continuous diestrus within a few days, the same dose of EB implanted elsewhere did not disrupt regular estrous cycles. These results indicate that an estrogen implant in the ME can promote pituitary prolactin secretion by direct stimulation of the hypothalamus, pituitary, or both.
Case Syncretism in Pennsylvania German: Internal or External Forces at Play?

Reduction of case morphology is not unusual in the history of languages, especially Germanic. What sets Pennsylvania German apart from an otherwise routine process is the fact that two distinct communities are reflecting two distinctly different developments in their case system—one group, the nonsectarians, is linguistically conservative; the other, the sectarians, is innovative. Therefore, it has been suggested that the internal argument for change is not applicable to Pennsylvania German; rather, the linguistic innovation of the sectarians is indicative of external pressure brought about by bilingualism. This paper argues that the reduction in case markings cannot neatly be assigned to one theory or another; instead, it is a combination of factors acting in tandem to bring about change. Data from Ohio, where case markings have been contracted more recently, provide the link, which points to “multiple causation” as the basis for morphological loss. Quantitative and qualitative evidence is presented from sectarian and nonsectarian groups in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Absorption of vitamin B12 from the cecum of the hen.

Summary1. Cecectomy did not shorten the time required to deplete the egg of vit. B12 when the hen was fed a corn-soybean meal type diet deficient in the vitamin. Thus it appears that the hen on a deficient diet does not derive any appreciable benefit from the B12 present in the ceca. 2. Following injection of Co-60 labeled vit. Bi2 into the occluded cecum of the hen7 small amounts of radioactivity, chromatographically similar to B12 were found in the tissues. The data indicate that this B12 was absorbed as the free vitamin and that the Bi2 retained in the cecum became bound. It is suggested that the vit. B12 normally present in the ceca of the hen is essentially unavailable for absorption. 3. When S-35 labeled methionine or sodium sulfate was injected into the cecum an average of 93 and 96%, respectively, of the dose was absorbed within 48 hours. Studies on the uptake of these 2 compounds in the blood show that they were rapidly absorbed.
Amorphous Silicon Sensor Arrays for Radiation Imaging

Large two-dimensional a-Si:H imaging arrays have applications in imaging of X-ray, gamma-ray and charged particle fluxes. Radiation imaging using a-Si:H p i n sensors together with a phosphor to transform the radiation into visible light is described, and some examples of images are shown. These arrays are very efficient in imaging large area diffuse sources, and the a-Si:H sensors have little radiation damage. The main limitation to the sensitivity of the array is the leakage current of the sensors, which is a source of noise and limits the integration time of the arrays. The contributions to the leakage current from bulk thermal generation and contact injection are discussed
Improving the detection of wind fields from LIDAR aerosol backscatter using feature extraction

The tracking of winds and atmospheric features has many applications, from predicting and analyzing weather patterns in the upper and lower atmosphere to monitoring air movement from pig and chicken farms. Doppler LIDAR systems exist to quantify the underlying wind speeds, but cost of these systems can sometimes be relatively high, and processing limitations exist. The alternative is using an incoherent LIDAR system to analyze aerosol backscatter. Improving the detection and analysis of wind information from aerosol backscatter LIDAR systems will allow for the adoption of these relatively low cost instruments in environments where the size, complexity, and cost of other options are prohibitive. Using data from a simple aerosol backscatter LIDAR system, we attempt to extend the processing capabilities by calculating wind vectors through image correlation techniques to improve the detection of wind features.
Raising Main Problems in Training Teachers and Putting Forward Some Countermeasures

Training teachers plays an extremely important role of subsistence and development of higher learning institutions. In this paper author has made an exploration into raising some problems in training teachers and putting forward some tentative solutions.
The magic of Beverly Sills

Ethnomusicologist Nancy Guy has made a major shift in research from her award-winning first monograph, Peking Opera and Politics in Taiwan (2005). In her introduction to The Magic of Beverly Sills ...
High cycle fatigue of structural components using critical distance methods

This study explores the high cycle fatigue strength of crack-like discontinuities in metallic structures as well as those made from powder metals using approaches that are based on theory of critical distances (TCD). The methods used in this study consist of (a) the point method, (b) the line method, and (c) the imaginary crack method. The effective parameter for the methods (a), (b), and (c) is the distance ‘d’ from the material surface, which is a material property and the reference parameter is the fatigue limit. The imaginary crack method involves introduction of a sharp crack at the root of a notch and the length of the crack, ‘lo’ assumed a material constant. In the imaginary crack method, the effective crack length is taken as the sum of the actual crack and the material parameter ‘lo’. It is concluded that the high cycle fatigue has a volumetric character and the proposed methods introduce the volume effect in the determination of stress and strain fields as well as the fatigue life. Using the material parameters from the various approaches, the number of cycles to initiate a fatigue has been determined for a number of materials and compared with experimental results.
A prática do profissional de História nos Arquivos Municipais: organização de acervos e docência.

O trabalho que se apresenta e resultado da analise das atividades desenvolvidas na disciplina Estagio em Historia IV, no Curso de Historia da Universidade de Caxias do Sul, com o acervo de obras raras do Arquivo Historico Municipal Joao Spadari Adami (AHMJSA). Iniciamos o texto com uma reflexao sobre o teor do Estagio em Historia IV e o seu papel na formacao do profissional de Historia. Na sequencia, tratamos brevemente da trajetoria do campo de estagio e apresentamos a proposta de trabalho com o acervo, quando socializamos o caminho percorrido pelos academicos. Por fim, apresentamos os resultados obtidos em dois aspectos: a) sobre a organizacao do acervo; b) e sobre as reflexoes e propostas dos academicos para o uso pedagogico do mesmo.
The surface-atmosphere exchange of carbon dioxide, water, and sensible heat across a dryland wheat-fallow rotation

Abstract Summer fallow – the practice of keeping a field out of production during the growing season – is a common practice in dryland wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping systems to conserve soil water resources. Fallow also depletes soil carbon stocks and thereby soil quality. The area of summer fallow has decreased by tens of millions of hectares since the 1970s in the northern North American Great Plains as producers have recognized that avoiding fallow usually confers both economic and soil conservation benefits. Observed summertime cooling across parts of this region has coincided with fallow reduction, suggesting that the role of fallow in atmospheric processes needs to be ascertained. We measured carbon dioxide, latent heat, and sensible heat flux across a winter wheat – spring wheat – fallow sequence in Montana, USA to determine the effects of dryland crop management on ecosystem carbon resources and energy partitioning at the surface-atmosphere interface. Winter wheat and spring wheat fields were carbon sinks (Fc = −203 ± 52 g C CO2 m−2 and −107 ± 29 g C CO2 m−2), respectively, during the April to September study period, but the fallow field was a carbon source of 135 ± 73 g C CO2 m−2. Evapotranspiration in the wheat crops was over 100 mm greater than the 275 ± 39 mm observed in the fallow field during the study period. Modeled maximum daily atmospheric boundary layer height was on average 210 m higher and up to 900 m higher in fallow compared to the spring wheat field with more crossings of the modeled atmospheric boundary layer and lifted condensation level, suggesting that regional studies of the effects of fallow on near-surface temperature and moisture are necessary to understand the effects of fallow reduction on regional climate dynamics. Results demonstrate that fallow has a detrimental impact to soil carbon resources yet is less water intensive, with consequences for regional climate via its impacts on atmospheric boundary layer development and global climate via its carbon metabolism.
Gender in Kazakh dombyra performance

ABSTRACTThis article discusses the gendering of the Kazakh plucked lute, dombyra, in the professional performance of kui, a genre of narrative pieces. Based on an ethnographic study of a male instrumental tradition among Kazakhs in western Mongolia and practice in Kazakhstan, I argue that, rather than resulting from Islamic religious prohibition or from social marginalisation of female musicians, the male exclusivity of art performance on the dombyra—a widely popular, non-gender exclusive instrument—arises from notions of gendered roles and identities historically formed among nomadic Kazakhs. Looking at instances of women dombyra players in kui narratives and history, I examine the intersection of gender with age, courtship and expression of sexuality in inter-gender youth contests, and gender role reversal in female instrumental musicianship. An overview of the social contexts and meanings of dombyra performance demonstrates the significance of this gendered music practice in sustaining the concepts and...
Patient-Specific Modeling for Critical Care

Decision-making in critical care occurs on a time scale of hours, minutes, or even seconds and requires synthesizing large amounts of patient-specific (PS) data. It is therefore sensible to make use of PS modeling applications in critical care since they offer tools for integrating disparate data into a single system view and leverage computing power to provide decision support information in a timely manner. PS modeling can be used to aid diagnosis, to estimate occult physiological variables, and to test potential therapies in silico before administering them to a patient. They can therefore help clinicians determine what happened to the patient in the past, what is happening in the present, and what will happen in the future.
Evaluation of a Personal Emergency Response System

Among the services thought to be essential to maintaining frail and vulnerable older adults in their own homes is emergency assistance when needed. A variety of electronic technological systems are now available to provide such a service. This paper reports some initial results from an evaluation of one program, Emergency Alert Response System (or EARS). The EARS program uses equipment from Lifeline Systems, Inc.
Creating Socialization and Intercultural Citizenship among Binational Volunteers: Mexican Volunteers' Perspectives on an Immersion Training Model.

ABSTRACTInternational non-profit organizations (INGOs) were traditionally established to facilitate dialogue and bridge cultures. In order for INGOs to successfully carry out their objectives, global activists must work together in a culturally sensitive and responsible manner. The current article examines a volunteer training model that was designed to promote meaningful interactions between binational volunteers. The training, based on a Spanish-immersion and homestay experience, was piloted among volunteers at an INGO on the Mexico-US border. Results suggest that the immersion training model allowed volunteers to reassess and ultimately strengthen their relationships with their international counterparts while developing intercultural citizenship skills.
False Fire: The Wartburg Book-Burning of 1817

A twenty-first-century visitor must find it difficult to imagine that the Thuringian city of Eisenach, lately known for its shopping, once held a place in the collective memory of Germans. On October 18, 1817, 450 students descended upon Eisenach for the Wartburg Festival, a two-day commemoration of the tricentenary of Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses and the fourth anniversary of the Battle of Leipzig. Drawing on the symbolic power of nearby Wartburg Castle, best known as Luther's hideout in 1521, the festival witnessed a number of songs and speeches calling peacefully for the introduction of reforms by German governments. But that was only part of the story. In a sideshow to the official proceedings, a handful of students also claimed to throw “reactionary” literature into a bonfire, thus interesting police across Europe.
Introduction to Taguchi Methods

We have seen how, using fractional-factorial designs, we can obtain a substantial amount of information efficiently. Although these techniques are powerful, they are not necessarily intuitive. For years, they were available only to those who were willing to devote the effort required for their mastery, and to their clients. That changed, to a large extent, when Dr. Genichi Taguchi, a Japanese engineer, presented techniques for designing certain types of experiments using a “cookbook” approach, easily understood and usable by a wide variety of people. Most notable among the types of experiments discussed by Dr. Taguchi are two- and three-level fractional-factorial designs. Dr. Taguchi’s original target population was manufacturing engineers, but his techniques are readily applied to many management problems. Using Taguchi methods, we can dramatically reduce the time required to design fractional-factorial experiments.
Present and future of modeling human brain development in 3D organoids

Three-dimensional (3D) brain organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells hold great potential to investigate complex human genetic states and to model aspects of human brain development and pathology. However, the field of brain organoids is still in its infancy, and their use has been limited by their variability and their inability to differentiate into 3D structures with reproducible anatomical organization. Here, starting from a review of basic principles of in vitro 'brain organogenesis', we discuss which aspects of human brain development and disease can be faithfully modeled with current brain organoid protocols, and discuss improvements that would allow them to become reliable tools to investigate complex features of human brain development and disease.
The Gender Gap in Business Leadership: Exploring an Affect Control Theory Explanation:

We use affect control theory (ACT) and its computer simulation program, Interact, to theoretically model the interactional dynamics that women and men business executives are likely to face in the ...
Anatomical Organisation of Internal Neuronal Circuits in the Motor Thalamus

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the findings on the ultrastructure of the cerebellar and basal ganglia afferent territories in the primate thalamus. There is a significant difference between the ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus and VA regarding the density of local circuit neurons (LCN), however, in the VL it is about three times higher than in the VA. This is also reflected in staining patterns for γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) in immunocytochemical preparations both at light and electron microscopic. According to current views, basic biophysical properties of all thalamic neurons are similar and determined by the state of ionic conductance on their membrane. Yet, the synaptic activity can influence these ionic conductances, and if the synaptic inputs are organized differently in different regions, the net effect on the firing pattern of thalamic cells can be different too. The data available so far provide anatomical basis for the functional diversity within the motor thalamus. At the same time, functional relevance of anatomically distinct subdivisions of the motor thalamus in primates can be correlated only indirectly with some clinical findings in parkinsonian patients and experimental behavioral studies utilizing lesions or recordings in different regions of the motor thalamus in monkeys.
Prophylactic IVC filter placement in bariatric surgery patients: results from a prospective filter registry

Bariatric surgery patients are at increased risk for VTE, but potential risks versus benefits of IVC filters in this group remain unclear. Indwelling filters may increase risk of VTE, and removal of filters in obese patients can be challenging. This study evaluated the incidence of VTE in select bariatric patients receiving prophylactic IVC filters, their risk of filter-related complications, and outcomes from attempted filter retrieval. Postsurgical DVT occurred in 3 patients within 3 months postoperatively (3%)(95%CI:1–9%), and 1 patient(1%)(95%CI:0–5%) developed acute low-risk PE at 31 days postoperatively, prior to filter removal. All VTE patients were successfully managed with therapeutic anticoagulation alone except one who required thrombolysis. Median filter dwell time was 54 days (range:22–1548), and there were no major filter-related complications (0%)(95%CI:0–3%). Retrieval was attempted in 104 cases (97%)(95%CI:92–99%) and successful in 104 cases (100%)(95%CI:97–100%). Thirty-three patients (32%)(95%CI:23–42%) required advanced techniques for filter removal, and there were no major procedural complications (0%)(95%CI:0–3%). Median follow-up occurred at 344 days (range:3–1570) days after filter retrieval. No cases of life-threatening post-op PE occurred in this cohort of high-risk bariatric surgery patients receiving prophylactic IVC filters in combination with mechanical and chemoprophylaxis. The risk of filter-related complications was low and retrieval success was high with adjunctive use of advanced techniques. NCT01158482
Exploration: Play in Engineering Education

How many rubber bands does it take to cause a watermelon to explode? How far away can you stand and still blow out a birthday candle? Why can’t you flip your iPhone end-over-end without causing it to do a somersault? Most students come to engineering with a wonderful combination of inspiration and wonder. Why are things the way they are? How can we make them better? As educators in the Internet era, our primary mission is to help students hone and direct these instincts, helping them ask better questions and develop the tools and vocabulary they need to synthesize the best answers—and in the process discover even more profound and provocative questions! Play is an essential element of this process of discovery.
Public confidences: Hazlitt’s “Table-Talk” and the Romantic familiar essay

The familiar essay is one of the most neglected genres of Romantic prose. Recent criticism of the essays of Leigh Hunt, Charles Lamb, and William Hazlitt, the familiar style’s most articulate defen...
Queuing at Intersections

The objective of this chapter is to develop a methodology to determine intersection delay which is the basis to evaluate intersection performance and determine level of service (LOS). Intersection delay can be determined by analyzing queuing at all approaches of the intersection where queuing theory becomes an essential tool. In addition, intersection delay can be obtained through traffic flow modeling using commercial traffic simulation software tools such as Synchro (Trafficware Synchro: https://www.trafficware.com/synchro.html), CORSIM (TSIS-CORSIM: https://mctrans.ce.ufl.edu/mct/index.php/tsis-corsim/), TransModeler (Caliper TransModeler: https://www.caliper.com/transmodeler/default.htm), etc. Moreover, intersection delay can be empirically measured from the field by following procedures developed in Manual of Transportation Engineering Studies by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) (The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), Manual of transportation engineering studies, ITE, Washington, DC, 2010).
Teaching the NAO Robot to Play a Human-Robot Interactive Game

This paper presents the background and methodologies used in programming and teaching the humanoid robot NAO to play the game of "Simon Says" with human players. Choreographe programming was used to provide the overall game logic and incorporate NAO's sensory capabilities. OpenPose pose detection and OpenCV APIs were used to develop the image processing components to convert the raw images captured by NAO for pose classification, and the Keras APIs were used to build the Convolutional Neural Network to classify and recognize the player poses.
A fiber optic sensor platform for smart hydrogel event detection

Abstract Stimuli-responsive hydrogels have emerged as innovative materials for sensors and actuators, and there is a need to develop a low-cost, simple, but sensitive sensor to detect hydrogel response events to external stimuli. This paper demonstrates a fiber optic sensor platform that can detect external stimulant events of a smart hydrogel. A tapered resonant fiber sensor was fabricated using arc-induced optical fiber tapering and liquid-based gold coating on the tip of the fiber sensor. Poly N-isopropylacrylamide (pNIPAAm)-based temperature-sensitive hydrogel was selected as a model sensing material. The sensing mechanism employs the volume change of the hydrogel when the external temperature induces the phase transition of the hydrogel. To implement this concept in the proposed fiber sensor, we have developed a reliable approach to create bilayered hydrogel and elastic polymer with the tapered fiber sensor. By embedding the fiber sensor in a thin elastic polymer layer and creating a strong bonding between the hydrogel and the elastic layer through porous elastic polymer interface, the sensor operates reliably over cyclic thermal experiments. The results indicate that our sensor can detect the threshold events of the hydrogel, where its maximum volume changes occur during external temperature changes. We envisage that similar platforms can be extended to other smart hydrogels and their optical sensing applications.