cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improved Process for Floodplain Delineation from Digital Terrain Models

Flooding is a hazard with serious socioeconomic consequences for all activities and infrastructure within an affected floodplain. Accurate delineation of flood extents and depths within the floodplain is essential for flood management officials to make sensible and fair decisions regarding construction, insurance, and other regulated practices on land and property potentially affected by flooding. Traditional methods for manually delineating flood extents from computed hydraulic models are tedious, subjective, and prone to mistakes. With the advent of high-powered computers and accurate digital terrain models, the possibility of automating floodplain delineation is achievable. An improved process is presented for delineating floodplains accurately from a digital terrain model (DTM) and hydraulic model in an automatic environment and providing the flexibility of incorporating professional judgment in the process. The most significant improvements are (1) use of georeferenced water levels from different sources; (2) a refined water levels selection procedure for interpolation such as the use of quadrant, flow path, and flow distance; and (3) incorporating user-defined flood barriers. The outcome of these improvements is a flexible, easy-to-use floodplain delineation process that is independent of hydraulic modeling systems, water-level sources, and DTM data structures and maintains hydraulic connectivity over the floodplain. The use of georeferenced water levels also makes the process capable of integrating 1D and 2D model results in floodplain delineation.
Molecular dynamics modeling of the sub-THz vibrational absorption of thioredoxin from E. coli.

Sub-terahertz (THz) vibrational modes of the protein thioredoxin in a water environment were simulated using molecular dynamics (MD) in order to find the conditions needed for simulation convergence, improve the correlation between experimental and simulated absorption frequencies, and ultimately enhance the predictive capabilities of computational modeling. Thioredoxin from E. coli was used as a model molecule for protocol development and to optimize the simulation parameters. The empirically parameterized software packages Amber 8 and 10 were used in this work. Using atomic trajectories from the constant energy and volume MD simulations, thioredoxin’s sub-THz vibrational spectra and absorption coefficients were calculated in a quasi-harmonic approximation. An optimal production run length ∼100 ps was found, in agreement with experimental data on thioredoxin relaxation dynamics. At the same time, a new procedure was developed for averaging correlation matrices of atomic coordinates in MD simulations. In particular, the open source package ptraj was edited to improve a matrix-analyzing function. Averaging only six matrices gave much more consistent results, with absorption peak intensities exceeding those from the individual spectra and a rather good correlation between simulated vibrational frequencies and experimental data.
I Feel Your Pain : The effects of observing ostracism on the ostracism detection system

Abstract Ostracism—being ignored and excluded—is a painful experience with negative psychological consequences. Social psychologists ( Kerr and Levine, 2008 , Spoor and Williams, 2007 ) argue humans have an evolved system for automatically detecting cues of ostracism and exclusion. Detection elicits pain and threats to fundamental needs. We hypothesize simply observing ostracism will cause negative affect and need threat in the observer. Participants observed a three-player Cyberball game; a target player was included or ostracized, and participants were either instructed to take the perspective of this player or given no such instructions. Participants observing ostracism reported negative affect and need threat. Our results indicate that ostracism detection is even more powerful than previously suggested, because vicariously, we feel the pain of others’ ostracism as our own.
Female Deputies and Cabinet Members in Quebec: Past and Present

(1992). Female Deputies and Cabinet Members in Quebec: Past and Present. American Review of Canadian Studies: Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 329-350.
Generation of unagglomerated, Dense, BaTiO3 particles by flame‐spray pyrolysis

Fine particles of dense, high-purity, crystalline BaTiO 3 were produced by flame-spray pyrolysis. A 0.5-M (Ba:Ti = 1:1) solution of barium acetate, titanium lactate, and water was aerosolized using an ultrasonic generator and the droplets were delivered into the core of an annular diffusion flame (H 2 /air) reactor. For all investigated temperatures [∼1,000- ∼2,000°C adiabatic], the generated powders were chemically pure, crystalline (primarily tetragonal phase with hexagonal and cubic polymorphs), and unagglomerated. At a low-flame temperature (∼1,000°C ad.), the particles produced were hollow and irregularly shaped. Particles produced at higher flame temperatures ( > ∼1,500°C ad.) were dense and homogeneous. Particles showed a transition from a nonspherical porous morphology to a spherical dense morphology with increasing temperature. By increasing residence time, the temperature at which particles became spherical and dense was reduced. Flame-spray pyrolysis provides a useful method for forming dense particles of high melting point materials by aerosol-phase densification.
Potassium Accumulation Dominates Short-Term Depression of Neurohypophysial Excitability

Excitability of the axons and nerve terminals in the mammalian neurohypophysis strongly depends on the temporal pattern and intensity of stimulation. Within a given stimulus train, excitability tends to facilitate initially and begins to depress significantly during persistent stimulation. In this work we present both experimental evidence and numerical simulations indicating that depression of neurohypophysial excitability is dominated by activity-dependent potassium accumulation.Using high speed optical recordings and fast potentiometric dyes (di-4-ANEPPDHQ), we monitored the tissue-averaged changes in excitability of the intact neurohypophysis during trains of action potentials. We examined the effects of three interventions, each supporting the potassium accumulation model. First, we increased and decreased the potassium concentration of the bathing solution. At low [K+], the depression was diminished, and at higher [K+], the depression was more prominent. By bathing the preparation in a hypertonic saline solution, we examined the effect of increased interstitial space on the modulation. With a greater volume into which the potassium dilutes, depression was noticeably reduced. Finally, we applied ouabain to inhibit the Na+ / K+ pumps. The reduced ability to clear accumulating potassium resulted in increased depression.Potassium accumulation also resulted in changes to the waveform of the optically recorded action potential. Aside from the net loss of AP amplitude within a train of stimuli, the AP after-hyperpolarization vanishes and the action potential broadens. Numerical simulations of the effects of K+ accumulation on action potential waveforms, using established properties for neurohypophysial Na+ and K+ ion channels, reproduced the experimentally observed behavior.
Defective Killing of Candida albicans Hyphae by Neutrophils from Beige Mice

The candidacidal activity of neutrophils from BALB/c, C.B-17 +/+, C.B-17 scid/scid, scid/scid-bg/bg, C57BL/6 bg/+, C57BL/6 bg/bg, NIH III bg/bg-nu/+, and bg/bg-nu/nu mice was assessed. Killing of blastoconidia was moderately deficient with neutrophils from 2 strains of homozygous beige mice; however, neutrophils from all homozygous beige strains had a significantly decreased capacity to kill Candida albicans hyphae. This is the first demonstration of a decreased capacity of beige mouse neutrophils to kill C. albicans hyphae. The latter defect could be related to the enhanced susceptibility of beige mice to candidiasis.
Safety and efficacy of everolimus-eluting stents compared with first-generation drug-eluting stents in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Abstract Objective To assess the safety and efficacy everolimus-eluting stents (EES) compared with first-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Background EES have been associated with improved clinical outcomes compared to paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) and with similar outcomes compared to sirolimus-eluting stents (SES). Methods A total of 520 patients who presented with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) from 2003 to 2013, who underwent primary PCI with DES, were retrospectively analyzed. Of these, 247 received SES, 136 PES, and 137 EES. Patients were followed up to 2years for major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Univariate and multivariate models detected correlates to outcome. Results EES implantation, compared with PES and SES, resulted in comparable rates of MACE (8.8% vs. 16.2%, p=0.06 and 8.8% vs. 12.6%, respectively, p=0.26), stent thrombosis, MI, and target lesion revascularization. Patients who received EES had lower rates of all-cause mortality (3.7% vs. 12.6% vs. 9.4%, p=0.03) at 1-year follow up. However, in the univariate and multivariate analyses, stent type was not independently associated with the primary outcome or with all-cause mortality. Diabetes mellitus and number of stents implanted were independently associated with the primary outcome. Conclusion While EES seem to be associated with better outcome when compared to PES, the main correlates of STEMI patients are the presence of diabetes and number of stents implanted, and not the type of stent used for intervention.
Magnetic Properties and Interstitial Atom Effects in the R(Fe,M)12 Compounds

Permanent magnets are now widely used in motor, generator, telecommunication, and control devices, and are considered as indispensable materials in everyday life. Until now, the intermetallics composed of the rare earth and 3d elements have been mainly developed as high-performance permanent magnets, such as SmCo5, Sm2 (Co,Fe)17 and Nd2Fei4B (Stmat et al., 1967; Ojima et al., 1977; Buschow, 1977; Mishra et al., 1981; Sagawa et al., 1984; Croat et al., 1984; Hadjipanayis et al., 1984; Sellmyer et al., 1984). As the main, components Sm and Co are particularly expensive, and therefore it is desirable to use the less costly iron-based Compounds in place of the cobalt-based Compounds. Despite the initial promise of the Nd2Fe14B magnet, Problems associated with its poor temperature stability and corrosion resistance have ensured that the search for even better permanent magnetic materials continues unabatedly. Since 1987, worldwide efforts have been made to investigate the magnetic properties of R(Fe1−x M x )12 (M = Ti,V,Mo, Cr,Mn,W, AI or Si)(Yang et al., 1981; Buschow, 1988, 1991; Li and Coey, 1991; Suski, 1996, and references therein). Among them, Sm(Fe,M)12 seems to be the best potential candidate for permanent magnet applications (Schultz and Katter, 1991a). Unfortunately, Sm(Fe,M)12 appears to offer less practical use than Nd2Fe14B. The Curie temperature is almost the same as that of Nd2Fe14B, but its Saturation magnetization is lower than the Sm(Fe,M)12, which leads to the conclusion that the theoretical maximum energy product (BH)max of Sm(Fe,M)12 is only half that of Nd2Fe14B.
Optimal management of testicular cancer: from self-examination to treatment of advanced disease

Germ-cell cancer is the most common solid tumor in men aged 15 to 35 years and has become the model for curable neoplasm. Over the last 3 decades, the cure rate has increased from 15% to 85%. This improved cure rate has been largely attributed to the introduction of cisplatin-based chemotherapy. In stage I seminoma and nonseminoma, cure rates approach 100% and treatment is governed by patient choice based on the perceived morbidities of each therapy and personal preferences. For seminoma, treatments include surveillance, radiotherapy, and single course carboplatin. For nonseminoma, treatments include surveillance, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND), and adjuvant chemotherapy. Low volume ( 3 cm) stage II and stage III disease treated with chemotherapy. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging can differentiate active cancer versus necrosis for postchemotherapy residual masses. PET-positive masses are managed with either surgery or second-line chemotherapy. Low volume (<5 cm) stage II nonseminoma with normal serum tumor markers may be managed with either RPLND or chemotherapy. Patients with persistently elevated serum tumor markers and larger volume stage II and stage III disease are managed with systemic chemotherapy. As with seminoma, good risk patients are typically treated with 3 courses of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) and intermediate and poor risk patients are treated with 4 courses. Residual postchemotherapy masses should be resected due to the uncertainty of the histology with 50% to 60% harboring residual teratoma or active cancer. The majority of patients completing initial therapy who relapse do so within 2 years. A minority of patients (2%–3%) recur after 2 years and this phenomenon is termed late relapse. Excluding chemonaive patients, late relapse disease is typically managed surgically with 50% being cured of disease. Current therapeutic challenges in testis cancer include the accurate prediction of postchemotherapy histology to avoid surgery in patients harboring fibrosis only, improved therapy in platinum-resistant and platinum-refractory disease, and the understanding of the biology of late relapse.
Traditional and Online Support Networks in the Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Chinese International Students in the United States

This study investigates the relationships between sociocultural and psychological aspects of cross-cultural adaptation of Chinese international students in the United States, and the support that they perceive they receive from traditional support networks and online ethnic social groups. An online survey was conducted among 135 Chinese students who attended universities in the United States. The results suggest that perceived support from interpersonal networks in the host country and from online ethnic social groups was negatively related to social difficulties, while perceived support from interpersonal networks and long-distance networks in the home country was negatively associated with mood disturbance. The study also found that, compared to those who had lived in the United States for a longer period of time, new arrivals reported higher perceived support from online ethnic social groups. In addition, the more students perceived receiving support from these groups, the more likely they were to be actively engaged in online group activities.
Prices of Raw Materials in the 1953-54 U.S. Recession

URING THE 1953-54 RECESSION, U.S. industrial production declined by about 10 per cent from the peak it had reached in the second quarter of 1953; but while the volume of total imports declined at roughly the same rate, wholesale prices as well as import prices (average values) advanced slightly.1 The decline in the volume of imports was well in line with the developments that are usual when U.S. business activity slackens; there had been similar movements in previous recessions. But the failure of prices to decline was in sharp contrast to their customary behavior. As shown in Table 1, the decline in the volume of manufacturing production and of imports in the 1953-54 recession was roughly the same as in 1948-49, and much less severe than in 1937-38. Whereas the 1937-38 downturn affected imports in all major commodity groups, the decline in the volume of imports in the two postwar recessions was concentrated largely in raw materials; food imports do not appear to have been affected, and imports of manufactured goods declined only slightly. The behavior of prices, however, differed sharply from that in 1937-38 and in 1948-49, and indeed from the customary pattern observed in most U.S. recessions. The U.S. wholesale price index and the unit value of imports advanced slightly, in contrast to the declines of 1937-38 and 1948-49. The rise in the over-all level of import prices, and to some extent also in wholesale prices, is partly accounted for by the sharp advance in coffee prices.2 There were also some price increases in various groups of manufactured goods which, as a rule, are less sensitive than primary products to fluctuations in demand. The main divergence from the customary behavior of prices was in the comparative stability of the prices of industrial raw materials: the market price index (for sensitive commodities) declined no more than 5 per cent, compared with a
Role of sensory C fibers in hypoxia/reoxygenation-impaired myogenic constriction of cerebral arteries.

Abstract Objective: Hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) associated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation disrupts cerebral autoregulation. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. The present study was designed to investigate the role of sensory C-fibers in myogenic responsiveness of cerebral arteries. Methods: Arterial diameter and intraluminal pressure were simultaneously measured in vitro on rat posterior cerebral arteries. Results: Cerebral arteries constricted in response to graded increase in intraluminal pressure (20–100 mmHg, in 20 mmHg increments). In vitro C-fiber desensitization with capsaicin (1 μmol/l, 20 minutes) significantly suppressed myogenic constriction by over 50%, but did not affect 5-hydroxytryptamine (0·01-10 μmol/l) and KCl (120 mmol/l)-induced constriction. Capsazepine (5 μmol/l, 30 minutes), a selective blocker of neuronal vanilloid receptor TRPV1, had similar inhibitory effect on cerebral myogenic constriction to elevated pressure. Cerebral myogenic constriction ...
Langevin Dipoles Model for ab Initio Calculations of Chemical Processes in Solution: Parametrization and Application to Hydration Free Energies of Neutral and Ionic Solutes and Conformational Analysis in Aqueous Solution

A new parametrization of the Langevin dipole (LD) model is developed for ab initio calculations of chemical processes in aqueous solution. This parametrization is implemented in both the iterative (ILD) and noniterative (NLD) versions of the LD model. The training set for the new parametrization encompassed solvation free energies of 44 neutral and 39 ionic solutes that contained the C, O, N, P, S, F, and Cl atoms. The performance of the model is assessed by examining its ability to represent the overall training set, pKa differences of structurally related compounds, and conformation-related changes in the solvation energy of 1,2-ethanediol (glycol). The effects of solute polarization and electron correlation are also discussed. The overall performance of the model is found to be comparable or slightly better than the PCM continuum model of Tomasi and co-workers. However, the simplified explicit representation of solvent molecules of the LD model may allow one to gain a somewhat clearer insight into the ...
Politics and Metaphors in Police Studies

No generally accepted theory of policing now exists. We possess minimally a social science for the police, working ideas designed to solve "practical" police problems, but no independent analytic framework, a social science of the police. The absence of a theory of policing means that multiple metaphors organize policy papers, social reforms, textbook analyses, and research itself. Shifts in the popularity of metaphors indicate social and political changes and cast new light on previously obscured facets of policing. In this review, I reflect on the emerging metaphoric meanings of policing and suggest something of the changes in police research in the last 20 years.
Effect of Substrate Orientation on Interfacial and Bulk Character of Chemically Vapor Deposited Monocrystalline Silicon Carbide Thin Films

The high breakdown electric field, saturated electron drift velocity, and melting (decomposition) point of SiC have given continual impetus to research concerned with the development of thin films having minimum concentrations of line and planar defects and electronic devices for severe environments. To this end, epitaxial growth via chemical vapor deposition of monocrystalline films of β-SiC on Si (100) and 6H-SiC {0001} substrates and 6H-SiC on vicinal 6H-SiC {0001} substrates have been conducted. High concentrations of stacking faults, microtwins, and inversion domain boundaries were produced in films grown directly on Si (100) as a result of a lattice parameter difference of ∼ 20% and the presence of single (or odd number) atomic steps on the substrate surface. Growth on Si (100) oriented 3° to 4° toward [011] completely eliminated the IDBs (but not the other defects) due to the preferential formation of double steps with dimerization axes on the upper terraces parallel to the step edges. Growth of β-SiC films on 6H{0001} lowered the density of all defects but resulted in the formation of a new defect, namely, double positioning boundaries. The latter were eliminated by using 6H{0001} oriented 3° toward [1120]. The defect density in these last films, relative to those grown on on-axis Si (100), was reduced substantially (to ∼105 cm/cm3). However, the resulting film was 6H-SiC. Significant improvements in electrical properties of simple devices were obtained as the defect density was progressively decreased.
About two cluster generating algorithms

Two original algorithms used to generate n-element clusters in a rectangular lattice are presented. The first algorithm, suitable for simulations related to thermodynamic investigations of metastable cluster systems [V.A. Shneidman, G.M. Nita, On the critical cluster in the 2-dimensional Ising model: computer-assisted exact results, J. Chem. Phys. 121 (11232) 2004], is able to generate all distinguishable cluster configurations with a given number of elements. The maximum number of elements forming such two dimensional configurations is limited only by the computational time involved, which is shown to be essentially improved by using a parallel processing approach. The complete results up to 17 cluster elements are presented. The second algorithm, suitable for dynamic simulations [V.A. Shneidman, G.M. Nita, Modulation of the nucleation rate preexponential in a low-temperature Ising system, Phys. Rev. Lett. 89 (2002) 025701; Phys. Rev. E, 68 (2003) 021605], is able to generate full or partial nucleation chains up to a maximum cluster size limited by the computational time and the virtual memory available. For illustration purposes, the complete nucleation chains up to a 5 elements and partial nucleation chains up to 13 elements are presented in detail, although complete results up to 10 elements and partial nucleation chains up to 100 elements were successfully produced using this algorithm.
Sixty Years of NAMES: A Journal of Onomastics

AbstractThis succinct history of NAMES: A Journal of Onomastics discusses its founding in Detroit, Michigan, December 29 1951 and the subsequent creation and publication of its academic journal NAMES in 1953. It provides an enumeration of the Society’s founders and officers, the contents of the first issue, and a listing of famous and frequent contributors to the journal. Maney Publishing is now digitizing all of the contents of NAMES from the first issue (March 1953) to date, which will make these valuable research articles available to the scholars and to the public. A selection of eight important articles published in the journal since 2009 will be available gratis to the public.
A Rapidly Responding Narrow-Band Infrared Gaseous CO2 Analyzer for Physiological Studies

The rapid determination of CO2 in expired air is one of the more important measurements in respiratory physiology. Of the CO2 transducers currently employed, the condenser microphone and thermal conductivity types have several disadvantages. The former is sensitive to mechanical and acoustical vibrations. The latter is sensitive to other gases and lacks response time. In most cases the over-all reliability leaves something to be desired. The CO2 transducer developed to alleviate these difficulties employs a Fabry-Perot type interference filter and a lead selenide photoconductive infrared detector. The resulting device has rapid response time, is stable mechanically, and is simple electronically.
Microarray analysis of genes preferentially expressed in differentiating xylem of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda)

Wood formation (xylogenesis) is a critical developmental process for all woody land plants. As an initial step to understand the molecular basis for temporal and spatial regulation of xylogenesis and the effect of the expression of individual genes on physical and chemical properties of wood, we compared transcript profiles of differentiating loblolly pine xylem with needles, megagametophytes, and embryos. A microarray containing approximately 1500 ESTs with putative functions of interest, selected from loblolly pine normal wood, compression wood, late wood and planings (deeper cell layers) xylem cDNA libraries, was constructed and screened. Using a P-value = 0.01, 440 genes in the xylem versus megagametophyte, 401 genes in the xylem versus embryo and 191 genes in the xylem versus needle tissue comparisons were identified as differentially expressed genes. Among these, 204 genes in the xylem versus megagametophyte, 178 genes in the xylem versus embryo and 85 genes in the xylem versus needle tissue comparisons were identified as genes preferentially expressed in xylem. Real-time RT-PCR was used to test overall validity of the microarray data.
Decoupling design of multivariable generalised predictive control

For many multivariable systems, because of the strong cross coupling between controlled variables, it is important to design the decoupling controller. The paper presents a decoupling design of multivariable generalised predictive control by combining feedforward control with multivariable generalised predictive control, which can realise decoupling control for systems with arbitrary time delay structure.
Synchronous and metachronous colon lesions in squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal

The charts of 79 patients with a histologic diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal were reviewed to determine the incidence of synchronous and/or metachronous colon lesions. Forty-six patients underwent an adequate preoperative evaluation of the colon and rectum. Ten patients underwent colonoscopy, 33 patients underwent a barium enema, and three patients underwent colonoscopy and a barium enema. In this group six adenomatous polyps and three hyperplastic polyps were discovered. An adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon was found in another patient six months prior to the diagnosis of a squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal. Twenty-three patients had follow-up evaluation of the large bowel for metachronous lesions following treatment of the squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal. Ten patients underwent colonoscopy, three patients had a barium enema, and ten autopsies were available for analysis. In this group metachronous lesions consisted of two adenomatous polyps and one hyperplastic polyp.
An ADR procedure for loss allocation in a joint defense agreement

Successful joint defense agreements require a procedure by which settlements or adverse judgments can be allocated among the participating defendants. Such agreements usually preclude inter-defendant argument during the principal trial; as a result, neither a judgment nor the terms of a prudential settlement are useful as a guide to allocating the joint loss among the participants. Submitting claims (for contribution) to formal litigation after the principal trial defeats the purpose of the joint defense agreement vis-a-vis future plaintiffs. Hence the need for a private ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) procedure. The following pages outline an ADR procedure specially tailored to the needs of multi-party or multi-chemical toxic tort litigation. The components of the process are largely well known ADR techniques, supplemented by a novel science process that addresses the unique characteristics of the allocation problem in instances of scientific uncertainty or disputed scientific causality. The process is only partly binding; while it permits litigation as a last resort, it imposes sanctions on its use. The multiple-defendant and often multiple-chemical dimensions of the underlying litigation also call for practical groupings of interests, to keep the complexity of the process manageable. How those groups are assembled, when necessary, is a matter of negotiation in each case. Other selected features of the process are discussed in additional, although still brief, detail in these pages.
New tools for the design of kinetically controlled reactive distillation columns

Abstract Reactive distillation is an emerging technology that has great potential as a process alternative for carrying out liquid phase chemical reactions. Systematic design methods for reactive distillation systems have only recently begun to appear, and so far these have been restricted to systems at chemical equilibrium. It is not always economical, however, to operate reactive distillation columns close to reaction equilibrium conditions. In this paper we present a design procedure for kinetically controlled reactive distillation columns, and demonstrate the concepts for reactions of the type 2C ⇔ A + B. We show that the amount of liquid holdup per stage has a significant effect on the design, and that there is a sharp minimum in the total column holdup, at fixed product compositions, as the liquid holdup on each stage is varied.
High Brightness Plasma-Based Soft X-Ray Lasers and Applications

Plasma-based X-ray lasers are ultra-bright, compact sources with continued improvements in efficiency, output energy, repetition rate, coherence and related characteristics. Results are presented for recent developments in sources and applications.
The NOxN2O fixation ratio from electrical discharges

Abstract For energies between 0.005 and 0.1 J, it was observed that NOx (NO + NO2) production was approximately linear with electrical discharge energy. This was the case when either the discharge voltage or capacitance was varied. However, N2O production was highly dependent on the discharge conditions (capacitance and voltage). When the discharge capacitance was increased, keeping the discharge voltage constant, N2O production decreased relative to increased discharge energy. When the capacitance was held constant and the discharge voltage varied, the N2O production increased with increased discharge energy. Therefore, different amounts of N2O could be produced from electrical discharges of the same energy. In conclusion, the N2O produced was much less than NOx, however the ratio of the two species was not constant in relation to energy, but depends on the discharge conditions.
Synthesis of thermally stable, high surface area, nanocrystalline mesoporous tetragonal zirconium dioxide (ZrO2): Effects of different process parameters

Abstract Nanocrystalline mesoporous zirconium dioxide powder with high surface area and remarkable thermal stability was synthesized using ethylene diamine and zirconyl chloride octahydrate. Ethylene diamine used as precipitating agent also acted as a colloidal protecting agent. The material retained high surface area (193.1 m 2 /g) mesoporous structure even after calcination at 900 °C with the surface area of the as-prepared material exceeding 440 m 2 /g depending upon the preparation conditions. Effects of different process parameters such as digestion time, pH, precursor concentration and calcination temperature on structural properties of the material were studied. These preparation conditions significantly affected the structural stability, crystal size and the crystal phase of the final material. The material was characterized by nitrogen adsorption–desorption, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The final material has very high tetragonal phase stability even after calcination at 1000 °C temperature.
Enhanced electrocaloric and pyroelectric response from ferroelectric multilayers

Room temperature pyroelectric properties and adiabatic temperature change of (001)-textured ferroelectric multilayers on Si are computed by taking into account electrostatic interlayer interactions and thermal strains. We show that by adjusting internal electrical fields through changing relative thicknesses in a multilayer ferroelectric construct, electrothermal properties can be significantly enhanced. A quantitative analysis is provided for BaTiO3-PbZr0.2Ti0.8O3 (BTO-PZT) and SrTiO3-PbZr0.2Ti0.8O3 (STO-PZT) multilayers. For instance, 0.74 × BTO-0.26 × PZT and 0.35 × STO-0.65 × PZT bilayers show ∼120% and 65% increase in electrocaloric response, respectively, compared to PZT films on Si for ΔE = 500 kV/cm.
Contrast tuning, image reversal, and automated track developing

An experiment was conducted to determine if contrast tuning could be performed on an automated track developer using a standard spray versus an ultrasonic nozzle. GaAs wafers were patterned with a linear variable neutral density filter (LVNDF) and developed by spray and an ultrasonic nozzle. The ultrasonic nozzle produced a lower chemical contrast than the standard spray development. This lower chemical contrast used in conjunction with image reversal makes photoresist sidewalls more retrograde, which is advantageous in GaAs processing for metal liftoff. In addition to contrast tuning, the LVNDF technique is described that was used to quickly and easily compare the contrasts of the two development systems. With the LVNDF mask, chemical contrast as well as process uniformity could be quickly measured. >
Sources of Fine Organic Aerosol. 7. Hot Asphalt Roofing Tar Pot Fumes

The organic compounds present in fine particulate roofing asphalt tar fumes are characterized using GC/MS techniques. Most of the compound mass identified consists of n-alkanes (73%). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and thia-arenes (S-PAH) contribute nearly 8% of the identified compound mass and account for 0.57% of the total mass emissions. When compared to the PAH mass fraction determined in fine particulate exhaust emitted from catalyst-equipped automobiles (∼0.5%) and heavy-duty diesel trucks (∼0.1%), roofing tar pot aerosols show a PAH content similar to that of vehicular exhaust.
Measuring learned skill behaviors post-MOOC

A team of ten engineers, instructional designers, and subject matter experts designed, built, and ran a Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) during a 6-week period in mid-2012 to teach search skills. We report on the attendance patterns of students in the MOOC and our first measures of the efficacy of teaching in this style. Of the 23,087 students who completed the entire class, we were able to show a clear 40% average improvement in their skills between the beginning and end of their MOOC experience. We were also able to show that for students who successfully completed the MOOC, their search behavior was substantially--and persistently--improved for the two-week period following the class. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the changes last for months afterwards as well.
Heat transfer in pyrolytic graphite - A hybrid computer simulation.

I view of the large temperature variations commonly experienced in the re-entry environment, nonlinearities in the material properties in heat shields cannot be neglected. The nonlinear parabolic partial differential equations which comprise the mathematical model for the study of temperature distributions pose serious difficulties when studied using conventional analog or digital computers. This Note describes a special-purpose hybrid computer system in which the problem is programmed for digital computer solution, but an analog network consisting of an array of electrical resistors and sample-hold units serves as a subroutine to accelerate the solution of the finite-difference equations at each time level. To illustrate the technique, the temperature distribution in a slab of pyrolytic graphite has been determined.
Myocardial adrenergic denervation supersensitivity depends on a postreceptor mechanism not linked with increased cAMP production.

BACKGROUND Two major hypotheses have been proposed to explain catecholamine supersensitivity after myocardial denervation, but neither sufficiently explains certain features of the phenomenon. In addition, a nonsurgical method for long-term myocardial adrenergic denervation is desirable but has not been accomplished or described with respect to catecholamine supersensitivity. METHODS AND RESULTS We have accomplished chronic myocardial adrenergic denervation by using 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Sixteen weeks after 6-OHDA administration to newborn pigs, we found substantial myocardial adrenergic denervation associated with beta-adrenergic receptor (beta AR) downregulation. Despite decreased beta AR number, the dose of isoproterenol yielding 50% maximal heart rate change (ED50) was decreased, and heart rates during exercise showed increased responsiveness despite decreased circulating catecholamines. Thus, stimulation of fewer receptors yielded an increased response, implying improved signal transduction efficiency. Competitive binding studies with isoproterenol showed an increased proportion of beta AR with high-affinity binding in myocardial membranes from 6-OHDA pigs, suggesting that interaction between beta AR and cardiac G, may contribute to improved signal transduction efficiency. However, measures of adenylyl cyclase activity indicated marked reduction in beta AR-dependent and G2-dependent cAMP production in myocardial membranes from denervated animals despite a normal amount of cardiac Gs and decreased Gi. CONCLUSIONS We have demonstrated that substantial, long-term myocardial adrenergic denervation is possible using 6-OHDA. Denervation supersensitivity in this model does not depend on enhanced cAMP stimulation but rather depends on postreceptor elements in the beta AR-responsive pathway that may be independent of Gs-activated adenylyl cyclase activity. In this model of adrenergic denervation supersensitivity, beta-receptors, through Gs, may be linked to an alternative effector that drives heart rate responsiveness.
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES FOR ADVANCED PROSTATE CANCER

This article reviews complementary and alternative therapies for advanced prostate cancer. This is not a comprehensive survey of nontraditional therapies for prostate cancer. Rather, this review focuses on alternative and complementary therapies with published studies to evaluate efficacy and safety. Three areas are addressed: alternative forms of hormonal therapy, management of side effects of hormonal therapy, and management of skeletal complications.
Mitochondrial malic enzyme: The source of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate for steroid hydroxylation in bovine adrenal cortex mitochondria

Abstract Studies have been carried out to determine the distribution of malic enzyme activity in bovine adrenal cortex. An enzyme which catalyzes this activity has been found in the mitochondrial fraction, differing in its chemical and kinetic properties from the cytosol enzyme. Some properties of these two enzymes are compared. Measurement of malic enzyme activity in the presence of dicumarol and dinitrophenol revealed that these respiratory uncouplers inhibited this activity. Measurements of intramitochondrial malic enzyme activity concomitant with 11β-hydroxylation in bovine adrenal cortex have been undertaken with malate and succinate as the source of reducing equivalents. The results obtained are considered to provide strong evidence that intramitochondrial malic enzyme activity is the major source of NADPH for 11β-hydroxylation in bovine adrenal cortex when either malate or succinate are the source of reducing equivalents. The role of malic enzymes in transferring reducing equivalents from the cytosol to mitochondria via a “malate shuttle” is proposed.
Nursing studies laid end to end form a circle.

As early as 1915, leaders in the nursing profession were concerned with the "image problem of nurses," which they saw as needing improvement. Since then, countless studies, reports, and commissions have attempted to explain and solve perceived shortages of registered nurses, which have occurred regularly after brief periods of quiescence or oversupply. Usually, their recommendations have hinged on nurses changing their image. In fact, few of these studies have dealt with the real issues of nursing work, which are a narrow pay range, little extra pay for working on undesirable shifts, disincentives for full-time work, pay unrelated to education, and education unconnected to job level. The multiple studies and commissions do nothing more than recycle data and in the process obscure fundamental problems. Educational funding has been no more successful. Their ineffectiveness suggests the need for less "image enhancement" and more support from physicians and employers to bring about systemic reform. This includes licensing nurses according to their education, assigning them according to their competencies and education, and paying accordingly. These measures, and only these, will eventually curtail the cycles of nursing "shortages."
Early childhood malaria prevention and children's patterns of school leaving in the Gambia

Background Early childhood malaria is often fatal, but its impact on the development and education of survivors has not received much attention. Malaria impacts cognitive development in a number of ways that may impact later educational participation. Aims In this study, we examine the long-term educational effects of preventing early childhood malaria. Does intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) during early childhood reduce the risk of dropout? If so, does this effect vary by school type – government school versus madrassa? Sample We use data from a 2001 follow-up of a 1985–1987 malaria prevention randomized controlled trial in the Gambia. The sample consists of 562 youth born between 1981 and 1986. Methods We use discrete-time survival analysis to identify the impact of the intervention on dropout risk over time. Results We find that IPT has a positive impact on dropout for government school students, but not for madrassa attendees. The difference was striking: in government schools, the odds of dropout in the treatment group were one third of those in the control group. Conclusions Our findings suggest that preventing early childhood malaria may reduce dropout at a relatively low cost. In this intervention, the drugs cost less than one dollar per year per child. While IPT is no longer practised in many countries due to concerns over drug resistance, these results support the conclusion that any type of effective malaria control programme protecting young children, such as consistent and correct use of bed nets, could improve educational attainment in areas where malaria is prevalent.
Regulation of eye formation by the Rx and pax6 homeobox genes

The Rx and pax6 homeobox genes are among the earliest genes expressed in the eye primordia and play crucial roles in the specification of ocular fate. These genes exhibit strong conservation of sequence and expression patterns among vertebrates. As transcription factors, Rx and Pax6 exert their effects through the activation and repression of downstream targets. Overexpression of each protein induces ectopic retinal tissue formation, as well as induction of the other. pax6 gene mutations have been correlated with an array of human diseases, and a similar array of mutations potentially exists for the human Rx gene. Based on functional studies, the vertebrate Rx and pax6 genes are likely to regulate cell proliferation and are required for the initial commitment to retinal and lens cell fate, respectively, while pax6 appears to play additional roles in the formation of the retina and cornea.
The Proper Writing of Ionic Charges

This paper traces the evolution of the symbolism for ionic charges as well as some common textbook errors associated with this topic.
Epidural analgesia in a patient with an intrathecal catheter and subcutaneous pump to deliver baclofen

Baclofen is used for the treatment of spasticity. Small doses administered intrathecally achieve high cerebrospinal fluid concentrations with reduced side-effects. Pediatric anesthesiologists are often reluctant to consider epidural analgesia in children receiving baclofen via an intrathecal catheter and subcutaneous pump. This reluctance is based on concerns for damaging the intrathecal catheter and introducing infection. In addition, the acute cessation of intrathecal baclofen can precipitate a life-threatening withdrawal state. We report a case of successful epidural analgesia in a patient receiving intrathecal baclofen and discuss the steps we took to minimize the chance of harm with this technique. We conclude that an intrathecal catheter and subcutaneous pump to deliver baclofen should not preclude the use of an epidural catheter for perioperative analgesia.
Flexible Soft Real-Time Processing in Middleware

As desktop computer computational power continues to increase dramatically, it is becoming commonplace to run a combination of deadline-sensitive applications. Despite the proliferation of computational power, the detailed nature of these applications causes new problems for the system resource allocation mechanisms. First, these applications are designed to meet their deadlines as long as nearly all the system’s resources are available to them; once the system approaches saturation, the collective applications will fail to meet their deadlines. To aggravate the situation, conventional best effort managers will allocate resources to the competing applications based on a static form of equitability rather than addressing the dynamic relative benefit provided by each application. Second, the applications differ from conventional real-time applications: though members of this new class of desktop applications are sensitive to deadlines, their constraints are non-critical. They are also typically designed to use the full spectrum of functions provided by a general purpose system call interface rather than the more limited interface of a real-time operating system (OS). This paper describes a flexible soft real-time system design that addresses these two problems. The CPU scheduling strategy accommodates the community of applications by taking application benefit into account during times of heavy load. Applications are written to use the full interface of a general purpose system call interface, yet the system is able to schedule them according to their deadlines and resource reservation and availability. This paper describes the theoretical foundation of the approach, additional application responsibilities, the design of a middleware system to implement the approach, and then it presents an extensive set of experimental studies that demonstrate the behavior of the approach. The Dynamic QoS Manager middleware (implemented on top of two different versions of Unix), is shown to be a highly effective system for supporting contemporary soft real-time desktop applications.