cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantifying Bulk and Surface Recombination in CdTe Solar Cells Using Time-Resolved Terahertz Spectroscopy

Understanding the nature of recombination mechanisms is essential for higher power conversion efficiency in photovoltaic (PV) devices. Here we use a combination of time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy and numerical modeling to determine the bulk Shockley-Read-Hall lifetime and interface and back surface recombination velocities in CdTe thin film stacks. The measurement was facilitated by fabricating wire-grid device structures using conventional laser scribing. Evaluation of a glass/FTO/SnO 2 /CdS/CdTe stack treated with CdCl 2 allowed separation of the CdTe absorber bulk lifetime, 1.6 ns, from the back surface recombination velocity, ~6x104 cm/s, and indicated that CdTe/CdS interface recombination velocity had no significant impact on carrier dynamics.
Data Management: State-of-the-Practice at Open-Science Data Centers

Recent advancements in the field of instrumentation and the computational breakthroughs have enabled researchers to gather increasingly large datasets. In order to efficiently process, analyze, and store such large datasets, High Performance Computing (HPC) systems are needed. Various institutions provide HPC resources and services to the scientific community for doing open-science research, often without any direct cost to the community. However, maintaining large datasets (in the range of TBs and above) for in-place processing and analyses is usually not an option in open-science data centers because the resources are shared amongst multiple projects and the disk-space owned by any user-account is limited. Therefore, for storage of large volumes of data that could be of short-term, mid-term or long-term retention value, large capacity online disks and/or tape-based archival systems are used. The data is moved between storage and computational resources as needed. Given such a scenario, optimal strategies for data movement, data archiving, and data preservation are crucial. In this chapter, we discuss state-of-the-practice in data storage infrastructure, data movement, data archiving, and data preservation at open-science data centers supporting data-intensive computing.
Plastic network for predicting the Mackey-Glass time series

A novel plastic network is introduced as a tool for predicting chaotic time series. When the goal is prediction accuracy for chaotic time series, local-in-time and local-in-state-space plastic networks can outperform the traditional global methods. The key ingredient of a plastic network is a model selection criterion that allows it to self organize by choosing among a collection of candidate models. Among the advantages of the plastic network for the prediction of (chaotic) time series are the simplicity of the models used, accuracy, relatively small data requirement, online usage, and ease of understanding of the algorithms. When reporting prediction results on chaotic time series, a careful analysis of the data is recommended. Specifically for the Mackey-Glass time series, the authors find that different forward lead size can result in different prediction accuracy. >
EVIDENCE FOR AN EXOCELLULAR SITE FOR THE ACID PHOSPHATASE OF SACCHAROMYCES MELLIS

Abstract Weimberg, Ralph (Northern Regional Research Laboratory, Peoria, Ill.), and William L. Orton. Evidence for an exocellular site for the acid phosphatase of Saccharomyces mellis. J. Bacteriol. 88:1743–1754. 1964.—Evidence is presented which demonstrates an exocellular location for acid phosphatase in Saccharomyces mellis. Derepressed intact cells exhibit acid phosphatase activity. The properties of the system are similar to those shown by the enzyme in cell-free extracts. There is no increase in total activity when cell-free extracts are prepared. Enzymatically active cell walls were prepared by leaching acetone-dried cells of this yeast in dilute acetate buffer (pH 6.5) plus β-mercaptoethanol. The insoluble residue, consisting mainly of cell-wall material and containing the phosphatase, was treated with a variety of hydrolytic enzymes and other chemicals. Only papain and crude snail gut extracts dissociated the enzyme from the particulate fraction in nearly quantitative amounts. The mechanism of release by these two enzymes probably differs. Of all enzymes tested, only the snail gut extract digested the cell walls. By dividing the procedure for making protoplasts of S. mellis into two steps, acid phosphatase may be dissociated from resting cells and recovered as an active soluble enzyme. The first step is to pretreat the cells with a thiol reagent. The second step is to digest the cell wall by enzymes present in crude snail gut extracts. Arsenite must be included in the second step to protect the phosphatase from inactivation. The phosphatase is quantitatively released before the cell becomes osmotically fragile.
Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis: a complex defect in immune responsiveness to human papillomavirus‐6 and ‐11

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a rare disease of the larynx caused by infection with human papillomaviruses (HPV) -6 or -11, associated with significant morbidity and on occasion mortality. Here we summarize our current understanding of the permissive adaptive and innate responses made by patients with RRP that support chronic HPV infection and prevent immune clearance of these viruses. Furthermore, we provide new evidence of T(H)2-like polarization in papillomas and blood of patients with RRP, restricted CD4 and CD8 Vbeta repertoires, the effect of HPV-11 early protein E6 on T-cell alloreactivity, enriched Langerhans cell presence in papillomas, and evidence that natural killer cells are dysfunctional in RRP. We review the immunogenetic mechanisms that regulate the dysfunctional responses made by patients with RRP in response to HPV infection of the upper airway. In addition, we are identifying T-cell epitopes on HPV-11 early proteins, in the context of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles enriched in RRP that should help generate a therapeutic vaccine. Taken together, RRP is a complex, multigene disease manifesting as a tissue and HPV-specific, immune deficiency that prevents effective clearance and/or control of HPV-6 and -11 infection.
High performance Graphene and ITO-based electro-optic modulators and switches

High-Performance electro-optical devices based on the TCO ITO and Graphene are discussed and benchmarked. These devices allow breaking classical energy-speed and modulation efficiency-loss tradeoffs of EO devices.
A neural network integrated circuit utilizing programmable threshold voltage devices

A reconfigurable neural network architecture suitable for CMOS VLSI fabrication is introduced. Essential elements of this architecture, including a novel and compact programmable synaptic element and a summing/thresholding amplifier, are presented and analyzed. The progress made towards the fabrication of this design by the MOSIS 2- mu m, double-poly, p-well process is discussed. >
Achilles Tendon Disorders in Athletes

Achilles tendon disorders are among the more common maladies seen by sports medicine physicians. Understanding the anatomy and biomechanics of the Achilles tendon and contiguous structures is essential to the diagnosis and treatment of Achilles tendon overuse injuries. Posterior heel pain is multifactorial and includes paratenonitis, tendinosis, tendinosis with partial rupture, insertional tendinitis, retrocalcaneal bursitis, and subcutaneous tendo-Achilles bursitis. Each of these entities is distinct, but they often occur in combination. Although most cases of this disorder are successfully treated nonoperatively, a small subgroup of recalcitrant cases may benefit from surgical intervention. Complete ruptures in active, athletic persons should be treated operatively in most cases and result in predictably good outcomes. There may be some cases that escape early recognition and require a reconstructive procedure to salvage a potentially severe functional deficit.
On the Benefits of In-Flight System Identification for Autonomous Airdrop Systems

A unique feature of airdrop systems is the inherent and large variability in flight dynamic characteristics. The same physical article dropped on two different occasions will exhibit significantly different dynamic response. The problem only becomes worse for different test articles. Control systems for autonomous airdrop systems explicitly or implicitly assume knowledge of the flight dynamic characteristics in some way, shape, or form. A question facing autonomous airdrop designers is whether to use precomputed dynamic characteristics inside the control law, or to compute the needed flight dynamic characteristics in-flight and subsequently employ them in the control law. This paper establishes conditions when in-flight identified characteristics, with a focus on the turn rate dynamics, should be used, and when it is better to use precomputed results. It is shown that with expected levels of system variability, sensor noise, and atmospheric wind, in-flight identification generally produces significantly more accurate dynamic behavior of the lateral dynamics than a precomputed model of the nominal system, even when the in-flight identification is performed with highly inaccurate sensor data. The only exception to this rule observed in this work is the situation where atmospheric winds are high and a direct heading measurement is not available. In this situation, a precomputed estimate of the time constant of the lateral dynamics is more accurate than an in-flight estimate. These conclusions are reached though a comprehensive simulation study using a validated airdrop flight dynamic model applied to both a small and large parafoil.
Effects of cholesterol on the infrared dichroism of phosphatide multibilayers

Abstract 1. 1. We have obtained polarized infrared spectra from multibilayers of lecithin ± cholestero , lysolecithin and phosphatidylethanolamine deposited on AgCl plates. 2. 2. The ester CO stretching band (1730 cm−1), the PO stretching absorption (1250-1220 cm−1) and the [C]OP deformation band (960 cm−1) are found to be dichroic. 3. 3. In the presence of cholesterol the P=O frequency shifts to lower frequency ( 1230 cm −1 ) suggesting hydrogen bonding between the phosphatide PO and the cholesterol hydroxyl. 4. 4. Analysis of the dichroism indicates that addition of cholesterol to lecithin multibilayers induces a configurational rearrangement of the polar head groups. In this transition vectors for the CO, PO and [C]OP bands change from 45° to 41°, 49° to 53° and 60° to 49°, respectively. 5. 5. Owing to the hydrogen bonding the cholesterol ring portion would extend to carbon 6 from the ester linkages of lecithin, rigidifying the proximal apolar acyl chain segments.
Character Coding and Inapplicable Data

Inapplicable character states occur when character complexes are absent or reduced in some of the taxa. Several approaches have been proposed for representing such states in a character matrix so that the inapplicable condition has no effect on the placement of taxa and/or the applicable states are independent and not redundant. Here we examine each of these approaches and demonstrate that all have shortcomings. Coding inapplicables as “?” (reductive coding), although flawed, is currently the best way to analyze data sets that contain inapplicable character states.
Effects of hypoxia and sedimentary naphthalene on the activity of N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase in the epidermis of the brown shrimp, Penaeus aztecus.

The brown shrimp, Penaeus aztecus, is subject to dual stresses of environmental hypoxia and contamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The effects of hypoxia and sedimentary naphthalene, administered alone and in combination, on epidermal activity of N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (NAG), a biomarker for molt-interfering effects in P. aztecus, were investigated. It was found that hypoxia and sedimentary naphthalene, when given simultaneously, significantly inhibited epidermal NAG activity, suggesting that these two environmental stressors together can have adverse effects on molting of the brown shrimp. The results of this study also show that sedimentary naphthalene potentiates hypoxia effects on epidermal NAG activity.
Primary Care Physicians’ Selection of Verbal Compliance-Gaining Strategies

Past research on physicians' use of methods to increase patients' compliance with directions seldom considers physicians' use of verbal compliance-gaining strategies. This study explored primary care physicians' reports of their compliance-gaining message strategy selection. The investigation found that physicians report use of expertise strategies more than other types of compliance-gaining strategies. Physicians also report that they exert more verbal effort to increase compliance by patients who have potentially severe illnesses and a history of noncompliance. Finally, in those situations in which the physician does not rely on expertise compliance-gaining strategies, the use of verbally aggressive strategies is more likely during initial interactions with patients rather than subsequent interactions. Implications for communication theory and the medical field are discussed.
Instabilities in a two-component, species-conserving condensate

We consider a system of two species of bosons of equal mass, with interactions ${U}^{a}(|\mathbf{x}|)$ and ${U}^{x}(|\mathbf{x}|)$ for bosons of the same and different species, respectively. We present a rigorous proof valid when the Hamiltonian does not include a species-switching term showing that, when ${U}^{x}(|\mathbf{x}|)g{U}^{a}(|\mathbf{x}|),$ the ground state is fully ``polarized'' (consists of atoms of one kind only). In the unpolarized phase the low-energy excitation spectrum corresponds to two linearly dispersing modes that are even and odd under species exchange. The polarization instability is signaled by the vanishing of the velocity of the odd modes.
An energy band calculation of linear chain transition metal complexes

Abstract The energy band structure of a class of linear chain compounds is investigated using a modification of the Green's Function Method. A discussion of the implications of the band structure to the properties of compounds in this class is presented.
Monochromator-induced glitches in EXAFS data II. Test of the model for a pinhole sample

Abstract Monochromator-induced glitches in the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) are studied using a pinhole sample. We have collected more detailed beam-profile data that enabled us to do a better simulation of the glitch shape. Applying the model we developed earlier, we obtain excellent agreement between the simulation and the experimental pinhole glitch. We point out that the EXAFS glitch is not caused by the crystal glitch alone, but is induced by the vertical movement of the glitch in space across the beam, as the energy is changed when the sample is non-uniform. Several methods have been suggested to minimize the glitch amplitude. Here we note that glitches can be reduced using two double-monochromators or a pair of strip array detectors for the incident and transmitted beams.
Of Hobbes and Hospitality in Diderot's Supplement to the Voyage of Bougainville

The Enlightenment philosophe Diderot's Supplement to the Voyage of Bougainville offers rich possibilities for theorizing relations among nations and encounters among mutually foreign peoples. In the Supplement and related texts, Diderot takes hospitality as the paradigmatic standard for all human sociability. Consequently, he uses practices of hospitality as the standpoint from which to criticize French colonization of inhabited land. Diderot presents “Hobbist” French colonial practices in the figure of the French explorer Bougainville, whose hospitable reception by native Tahitians did not prevent him from violating a host/guest relationship in claiming Tahiti for the French crown. Starting from Diderot's comparison of Bougainville to Hobbes, this essay puts Diderotian hospitality into relief through an extended contrast between it and Hobbesian anarchy.
Magnetostatic modes in an infinite circular disk

Abstract The frequencies and spin configuration of magnetostatic modes in an infinite film perpendicularly magnetized are calculated using circular-cylindrical coordinates, and the results are applied to finite circular disks. Dillon's observation that the first resonance in an imperfect disk was a single line, the second a double line, etc., is explained.
A 50nm 8Gb NAND Flash Memory with 100MB/s Program Throughput and 200MB/s DDR Interface

A 3.3V 8Gb NAND flash memory with a synchronous double-data-rate (DDR) interface is designed and fabricated using 3M 50nm technology to meet the requirements of the markets. This paper achieves a NAND flash program throughput of 100 MB/s with quad-plane operation, which is 5x previously reported. I/O read/write throughput of 200MB/s is achieved using a newly developed DDR interface and data path. The chip features a dual interface, supporting both the newly developed synchronous DDR interface as well as the standard, asynchronous NAND flash interface.
Autonomy Support and Structure Enhance Children's Memory and Motivation to Reminisce: A Parental Training Study

Thirty parents observed their preschoolers (M age = 4;2) experience a standardized laboratory event and discussed the event with their child later that day. Children's memory for this event was subsequently tested at two delay intervals. Prior to the laboratory event, parents were randomly assigned to receive either autonomy-support training (Condition A) or elaborative-structure training (Condition B); training followed the event. Autonomy support-trained parents became more autonomy-supportive following the training; structure-trained parents became more structurally elaborative. Short-term experimenter–child memory interviews took place 2 weeks after the laboratory event; children of autonomy support-trained parents appeared more engaged in this memory interview, while children of structure-trained parents provided more recall and more thematically coherent memory narratives. Long-term experimenter–child interviews took place 8 months after the laboratory event; children of autonomy support-trained par...
Factors Affecting Microstructural Scale in Liquid Crystalline Materials

Light microscopy was used to study the effects of molecular weight and chain flexibility on micro-structural scale in liquid crystalline materials. Studies of poly(p-hydroxybenzoic acid) oligomers ...
Dietary protein-induced colitis in breast-fed infants.

Six infants are reported who developed an inflammatory proctocolitis in the first month of life while being breast fed exclusively. All had been born at term and had normal perinatal courses. None had growth failure or constitutional symptoms other than bloody diarrhea. No toxic, bacterial, viral, or parasitic cause was established. Rectal inflammation was suggested by the presence of fecal leukocytes and was confirmed by sigmoidoscopic observation of focal ulcerations, edema, and increased friability. Rectal biopsies demonstrated a wide spectrum of acute and chronic inflammatory changes. All infants responded clinically to initiation of feeding with either a hydrolyzed casein or a soy protein-based formula. Breast-feeding was subsequently resumed in five of the six infants; all experienced immediate recurrence of symptoms. Elimination of cow milk protein from the maternal diet led to tolerance of breast-feeding in two infants but there was no change in the other three. We believe that dietary protein-induced enterocolitis, previously reported in formula-fed infants, occurs occasionally in the exclusively breast-fed infant as well.
Neutron resonance capture in 2s-1d shell nuclei

Studies of gamma-ray spectra following thermal neutron capture have been illuminating and fruitful. While tremendous losses in intensity occur in experiments using resonance neutrons there are distinct advantages, such as the availability of resonances of known spin and parity to serve as initial states. Thus, since the identity of final state spins and parities are also frequently known, unique multipolarity and absolute reduced radiative partial widths can be obtained. In addition it is found that capture studies illuminate new resonances that are at best difficult to observe in transmission measurements. A third motivation to study resonance capture spectra is that it might help shed light on the importance of the direct capture mechanism in thermal neutron capture.
Inhibition of apoptosis in serum starved porcine embryonic fibroblasts

In nuclear transplantation, serum starvation is a general method to synchronize donor cells at the quiescent stage (G(0)) of the cell cycle. However, serum starvation during culture of mammalian cells may induce cell death, especially through apoptosis, thus contributing to the low efficiency of nuclear transplantation. This study was performed to characterize apoptosis during serum starvation and to determine the effects of apoptosis inhibitors such as a protease inhibitor [alpha(2)-macroglobulin (MAC)] and antioxidants [N-acetylcysteine (NAC), glutathione (GSH)] on serum starved porcine embryonic fibroblasts (PEF). PEF, collected from day 25-30 porcine fetuses, were cultured for 5 days in media containing 0.5% FBS to induce quiescence. Serum starved PEF showed typical morphology of apoptotic cells and stained for DNA fragmentation by TUNEL assay (26.7%). All apoptosis inhibitors tested in this study significantly (P < 0.05) reduced apoptosis of serum starved PEF, with antioxidants having better results (MAC: 7.4% vs. NAC: 1.0%, and GSH: 0.8%). Equally and importantly, the treatment with apoptosis inhibitors did not change the proportion of G(0)/G(1) stage cells. Therefore, the addition of MAC and antioxidants during serum starvation of PEF reduces apoptosis of quiescent fibroblasts and may contribute to increasing the efficiency of nuclear transplantation by improving the quality of donor nuclei.
Combined excitation emission spectroscopy of defects for site-selective probing of ferroelectric domain inversion in lithium niobate

Abstract We review our detailed optical characterization of Er and Cr defects in LiNbO 3 and utilize the obtained knowledge for the investigation of ferroelectric domain inversion. We present a novel method for imaging of ferroelectric domain walls that is based on spectroscopic changes of the defects and allows noninvasive study of the domain inversion process and its dependence on defect/domain wall interaction with high spatial and spectral resolution. We find that defect dipoles and their relative orientation are influenced within a region of 20 μm around the domain wall. The location of the Er ion on Li-site is modified from its position in the bulk within a region of 4 μm of the domain wall.
Evaluation of diastolic function.

Abnormalities of diastolic function are increasingly recognized as important components of the abnormal physiology in many patients with heart failure. In order to better understand the role of abnormalities of individual parameters or diastolic function affecting filling of the left ventricular a broader understanding of the relationship of systolic and diastolic performance on overall left ventricular pump performance should be considered. While measurement of diastolic function noninvasively has become the predominant way of assessing diastolic performance, invasive evaluation remains important. Moreover, understanding the physiology of diastolic performance remains essential to proper diagnosis and management.
A comparison of stress and velocity measurements in PBX-9404 explosive

We measure the stress and particle velocity histories of Lagrangian points in a plane initiation wave in PBX-9404 explosive. Stress histories calculated from velocity histories agree well with experiment and indicate that both types of gauges record faithfully in reactive flow. The inverse calculation is more difficult since errors accumulate in the computation. We describe and compare two computational methods: pathline and direct analysis. Our results show that a complete gauge analysis should use multiple bare velocity gauges, companion experiments with single insulated stress gauges and pathline analysis.
Multifunctional Inorganic Nanoparticles for Imaging, Targeting, and Drug Delivery

Drug delivery, magnetic resonance and fluorescence imaging, magnetic manipulation, and cell targeting are simultaneously possible using a multifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticle. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocrystals were encapsulated inside mesostructured silica spheres that were labeled with fluorescent dye molecules and coated with hydrophilic groups to prevent aggregation. Water-insoluble anticancer drugs were delivered into human cancer cells; surface conjugation with cancer-specific targeting agents increased the uptake into cancer cells relative to that in non-cancerous fibroblasts. The highly versatile multifunctional nanoparticles could potentially be used for simultaneous imaging and therapeutic applications.
Efficient Photoelectrolysis of Water using TiO2 Nanotube Arrays by Minimizing Recombination Losses with Organic Additives

Electron−hole (e-h) recombination loss is a major practical problem in using TiO2 as a photocatalyst. This paper describes the use of organic additives to reduce e-h recombination losses which significantly improved the photocurrent density of the integrated TiO2 nanotube/Ti photoanode. Studies on photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation using nanotubular arrays of TiO2 photoanodes were carried out in 1 M KOH with the addition of three different organic additives, namely, methanol (one hydroxyl group), ethylene glycol (two hydroxyl groups), and glycerol (three hydroxyl groups) using a simulated solar light. Ethylene glycol was found to be the best among the investigated organic additives to reduce electron hole recombination. The addition of ethylene glycol produced a photocurrent density of 3.3 mA/cm2 at 0.2 VAg/AgCl compared to 0.87 mA/cm2, using a 87 mW/cm2 light intensity in 1 M KOH solution. On the other hand, methanol and glycerol showed a photocurrent density of 2.43 and 2.55 mA/cm2 under the same ...
Strain differentiation of epidemic typhus rickettsiae (Rickettsia prowazekii) by DNA restriction endonuclease analysis

DNA from five isolates ofRickettsia prowazekii of diverse origin were analyzed by restriction endonuclease digestion followed by electrophoresis. Reliable differentiation between two human isolates was possible withSacI endonuclease digestion. DNA patterns from two strains ofR. prowazekii isolated from North American flying squirrels and one strain isolated from a cattle tick were remarkably similar to those from the human isolates, whereas allR. prowazekii DNA patterns were readily distinguishable from that of a heterologous species (R. typhi). Restriction endonuclease analysis of rickettsial DNA provides a reproducible means for establishing the intraspecies identity of typhus rickettsiae isolates.
Reduced Type I and Type III Procollagens in Photodamaged Adult Human Skin

We have quantitatively assessed the relation between type I and type III procollagen precursor levels and the severity of clinical photodamage in human skin. Levels of procollagen, pN collagen (collagen without the carbroxypropeptide), and/or pC collagen (collagen without the aminopropeptide) were determined by radioimmunoassay, Western blot, and immunohistology in punch biopsy specimens from mildly and severely photodamaged forearm skin and from sunprotected underarm and buttock skin of the same subjects. Collagen precursor levels in forearm and underarm skin were expressed relative to buttock levels for comparison. In the mildly photodamaged group, collagen precursors in the forearm did not differ from those in the underarm by any measurement, except for type I collagen precursors measured by radioimmunoassay, which were reduced 16%. In severely photodamaged forearm skin, both type I and type III collagen precursor levels, measured by radioimmunoassay, were significantly reduced (approximately 40%). Western analysis revealed similar significant reductions in type I and type III collagen precursor levels in severely photodamaged forearm skin compared with the sun-protected underarm. Immunohistology localized both type I and III pN collagens predominantly to the extracellular papillary dermis. Relative staining intensities of type I and type III pN collagen were also significantly reduced in severely photodamaged forearm skin. Multiple linear regression modeling of all data demonstrated that reductions in collagen precursor levels were significantly correlated (p < 0.03) with the severity of photodamage, but not with chronologic age. These data demonstrate, by three independent methods, coordinate reductions of both type I and type III collagen precursors in photodamaged human skin, and the degree of reduction correlated with the degree of photodamage. It is likely that such changes in collagen precursors lead to reduced levels and/or altered organization of fibrillar collagen, and thus may contribute to the wrinkled appearance of photodamaged human skin.
The control of robot manipulators with bounded input: Part II: Robustness and disturbance rejection

In this paper we continue the investigations begun in [13] and [14] on the control of robot manipulators. Using the theory of uncertain dynamical systems developed in [4], [5], [16], [17] we derive a robust nonlinear control strategy with guaranteed tracking properties which can be quantified given bounds on the extent of model uncertainty, sensor noise, input disturbances, etc. We also extend the class of pointwise optimal control strategies of [13] to the case of systems with uncertainty in order to treat the problem of input constraints within the context of uncertain systems.
Potential applications of bio-ligninolytic systems

Abstract Members of various fungal taxa and actinomycetes have been shown to degrade lignin at least partially. The white-rot wood-decomposing basidiomycetes completely metabolize the complex polymer, exhibit the highest reported rates, and are the most studied. Evidence indicates that their degradation of lignin involves oxidative, non-specific reactions, but the nature of the catalysts and the reactive species remain undefined; the catalysts have not been separated from living cells. Culture conditions optimal for lignin metabolism by white-rot fungi have been described, and several potential applications of whole ligninolytic cultures have been explored preliminarily: (a) partial delignification for the production of cellulosic products (bio-mechanical pulping, bio-bleaching); (b) conversion of lignocellulosics (improving ruminant digestibility, cultivating edible mushrooms) into feed and food; and (c) treatment of lignin-derived wastes (decolorizing, removing BOD, COD). The possibility to biomodify by-product lignins to yield valuable polymeric or low molecular weight chemicals has not been approached experimentally, but is another area of potential application. Improved waste treatment processes might well be the first intentional application of bioligninolytic systems.
Classification of Gibbs adsorption isotherms

Abstract The current IUPAC classification of gas–solid adsorption isotherms has two deficiencies: it is incomplete and it gives the incorrect impression that adsorption isotherms are always monotonically increasing functions of pressure. However, there are many isotherms that are not monotonic and show maxima. The reason for this deficiency is that the IUPAC classification is based conceptually on ideas about the `absolute' adsorption rather than on the Gibbs adsorption. It is shown here that supercritical gases show adsorption isotherms which are fundamentally different from those in the IUPAC classification. There are experimental data for hydrocarbons, inert gases, nitrogen, carbon oxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and others on microporous and macroporous adsorbents for supercritical temperatures showing nonmonotonic isotherms with maxima. It also is shown that the Ono–Kondo lattice model is able to predict all known types of adsorption behavior. By changing two energetic parameters (energies for adsorbate–adsorbate and adsorbate–adsorbent interactions), one can obtain smooth or stepped multilayer adsorption isotherms for macroporous adsorbents. It also is possible to describe adsorption on microporous adsorbents by imposing the appropriate boundary conditions. The Ono–Kondo model also predicts steps in isotherms similar to those observed in high resolution measurements for nitrogen and oxigen on zeolites. The monolayer version of the Ono–Kondo theory gives all known types of monolayer adsorption isotherms.
Online News Credibility: An Examination of the Perceptions of Newspaper Journalists

This study examines print and online daily newspaper journalists’ perceptions of the credibility of Internet news information, as well as the influence of several factors—most notably, professional role conceptions—on those perceptions. Credibility was measured as a multidimensional construct. The results of a survey of U.S. journalists (N = 655) show that Internet news information was viewed as moderately credible overall and that online newspaper journalists rated Internet news information as significantly more credible than did print newspaper journalists. Hierarchical regression analyses reveal that Internet reliance was a strong positive predictor of credibility. Two professional role conceptions also emerged as significant predictors. The populist mobilizer role conception was a significant positive predictor of online news credibility, while the adversarial role conception was a significant negative predictor. Demographic characteristics of print and online daily newspaper journalists did not influence their perceptions of online news credibility.
Observations on the course and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Long-term clinical and laboratory studies of 24 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus provide additional information concerning the nature of this polysymptomatic disease. Positive rheumatoid serologic tests were observed in 28 per cent of patients tested. Antimalarial drugs seemed to benefit most patients. Perdurative studios clinic e labotatorial in 24 casos de systemic lupus erythematose provide informationes additional in re le natura de iste morbo polysymptomatic. Le tests rheumatoserologic esseva positive in 28 pro cento del casos assi studiate. Drogas antimalarial pareva beneficiar certes del patientes.
Uptake of soil capillary water by ghost crabs

SEVERAL semiterrestrial crabs, including some ghost crabs (genus Ocypode) can extract interstitial water from damp sand1–3. This enables them to offset their high evaporative losses even in habitats lacking surface water. The mechanism involved has remained unknown, although there have been a few observations of how Gecarcinus lateralis takes up droplets of water applied to its venter4. I have found that uptake of soil water by Ocypode quadrata, the common ghost crab of Caribbean and temperate Atlantic North American beaches, is accomplished by a mechanism involving capillary attraction and the production of a substantial vacuum.
Concerns About Aspects of Harm Reduction and the Overselling of Evidence-Based Practices in the Treatment of Alcohol/Other Drug Problems

This opinion piece addresses concerns about the negative impressions offered by some harm reduction advocates about historical alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment and abstinence-based programs, as well as advocates who would insist that only evidence-based practices be used in AOD treatment.
Adolescent Fathers Who Are Incarcerated Juvenile Offenders: Explanatory Study of the Co-Occurrence of Two Problem Behaviors.

We identify explanatory risk variables associated with the co-occurrence of two problem behaviors: juvenile offending and adolescent fatherhood. Data were gathered from a 5-year prospective, longitudinal study of 531 incarcerated juvenile offenders as they transitioned from youth correction facilities back into the community. Of the total sample, 125 (28.3%) of the male participants reported fatherhood before their 20th birthday. Six risk variables were predictive of adolescent fatherhood in this sample: (a) gang member, (b) resided with non-biological parent as primary caretaker, (c) low SES, (d) child of parent with alcoholism, (e) low mother education, and (f) family member convicted of a felony. These variables were then placed in individual, family, and social domains. Cumulative probabilities identified family related variables as the primary domain contributing to the predictive multivariate model. These results provide support for the development of prevention and interventions strategies focused across multiple ecological contexts, focusing specifically on the family unit.
Abdominal diameter index and 12-year cardiovascular disease incidence in male bridge and tunnel workers

A recent study has suggested that abdominal diameter index (ADI), that is, the supine sagittal abdominal diameter divided by thigh circumference, may be a better measure of the increased risk of abdominal adiposity for prevalent ischemic cardiovascular disease (CVD) than body mass index or waist circumference. The risk associated with all of these measures is believed to arise from the link between visceral obesity and insulin resistance. Male bridge and tunnel workers in New York City without ischemic CVD in the highest and lowest quartiles of ADI (n=218) in a 1993–1994 cross-sectional study of risk factors and prevalent coronary heart disease were administered telephone follow-up questionnaires after 12 years (2005–2006) to assess incident ischemic CVD (new-onset angina, coronary revascularization, myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral vascular disease and cardiovascular death). In the univariate analysis of 111 participants able to be contacted, study members in the highest quartile vs the lowest quartile of ADI had a significantly increased cumulative incidence of ischemic CVD (Relative risk (RR)=7.9, P=0.002). In a logistic regression analysis controlling for other cardiovascular risk factors including age, smoking, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure and glucose, ADI lost statistical significance (RR=4.37, P=0.063), suggesting that ADI may be an anthropometric surrogate for these cardiovascular risk factors. ADI is a powerful anthropometric index for 12-year cumulative incidence of ischemic CVD in working men in New York City.
Reading up books: A review of circuit analysis texts: Text selection for circuit analysis classes can be difficult. The emergence of texts that can be used by students as learning aids may provide one answer

Guidance in selecting texts for circuit analysis classes is provided. The emergence of many good textbooks which may be used as learning aids by students is seen as an answer. Seven particular texts are reviewed.
Microprocessors in a computer science curriculum

In computer technology one of the most important developments in recent years is that of microprocessors. Thousands and thousands of microcomputers, which use microprocessors as their central processing units, have been marketed today.We will discuss the actual course implementation of microprocessor topics in a typical undergraduate computer science curriculum. At the beginning, we will discuss how a microcomputer system is used in various aspects of computer science education. Then we will discuss how the subject matter of microprocessors can be integrated into an existing curriculum. In addition, a separate course sequence is suggested to provide good training for computer science majors who are seriously interested in microprocessor applications.
A new method for the Boolean ring based theorem proving

Abstract A new method for first-order theorem proving based on the Boolean ring approach is proposed. The method is an extension of Hsiang's N-Strategy in two aspects: (1) When the input polynomials are derived from clauses, our method is reduced to a more restricted (but still complete) version of N-Strategy: Only maximal atoms in an N-rule are considered for generating new inferences. (2) When the input polynomials are derived from non-clausal formulas, no new inference rules are needed in our method for ensuring the completeness. Unlike Kapur and Narendran's method which considers every pair of polynomials for superposition, our method restricts the pairs to those one of which consists of an odd number of monomials. The completeness proof of our method with the integration of reduction is also provided and is done by using the technique of semantic trees. The same technique is used to prove the completeness of N-strategy with reduction (using only N-rules and P-rules) for clausal theorem proving, thus it settles a longtime open problem.
A Performance Prediction Model for Low-Speed Centrifugal Fans

A generalized model for mapping the trend of the performance characteristics of a double-discharge centrifugal fan is developed based on the work by Casey and Robinson (C&R), which formulated compressor performance maps for tip-speed Mach numbers ranging from 0.4 to 2 using test data obtained from turbochargers with vaneless diffusers. The current paper focuses on low-speed applications for Mach number below 0.4. The C&R model uses four nondimensional parameters at the design condition including the flow coefficient, the work input coefficient, the tip-speed Mach number, and the polytropic efficiency, in developing a prediction model that requires limited geometrical knowledge of the centrifugal turbomachine. For the low-speed fan case, the C&R formulas are further extended to a low-speed, incompressible analysis. The effort described in this paper begins by comparing generalized results using efficiency data obtained from a series of fan measurements to that using the C&R model. For the efficiency map, the C&R model is found to heavily depend on the ratio of the flow coefficient at peak efficiency to that at the choke flow condition. Since choke flow is generally not applicable in the low-speed centrifugal fan operational environment, an alternate, but accurate estimation method based on fan free delivery derived from the fan test data is presented. Using this new estimation procedure, the modified C&R model predicts reasonably well using the double-discharge centrifugal fan data for high-flow coefficients, but fails to correlate with the data for low-flow coefficients. To address this undesirable characteristic, additional modifications to the C&R model are also presented for the fan application at low flow conditions. A Reynolds number correction is implemented in the work input prediction of the C&R model to account for low-speed test conditions. The new model provides reasonable prediction with the current fan data in both work input and pressure rise coefficients. Along with the developments for the efficiency and work input coefficient maps, the use of fan shut-off and free delivery conditions are also discussed for low-speed applications.
Protracted continental collisions argue for continental plates driven by basal traction

Abstract In plate tectonic theory, collision between two continents should quickly terminate because of continental buoyancy. If convergence is to continue, it should do so at a new subduction zone where oceanic crust can be consumed. The protracted continental collisions in the Alps, Zagros, and Himalayas, which have continued to deform continental crust since the early or middle Cenozoic, are therefore anomalies in standard plate tectonic theory. It is commonly held that plates are driven by slab pull, but this does not account for the continuing Tethyan collisions where the descending slab has detached from the subducting continent. These protracted continental collisions are better explained by horizontal traction of the mantle on the base of deep continental roots, dragging the northern and southern continents together along a Tethyan axis of mantle convergence. “Continental undertow” thus resolves the collision anomaly in plate tectonics.
Institutions for global environmental change

Abstract The Brundtland Report (1987) is always worth re-reading. From p 316 onwards, the Brundtland Commission sought to establish leadership and coordination within the UN. Using diplomatic language, it was clearly irritated by the failure of most, if not all, UN initiatives to promote sustainability and to establish high-level centres of leadership and expertise linked to the much manipulated programme and budget allocation process. The Commission saw the need for a powerful supervisory function for all this coordination at the very apex of the UN. The Commission allocated a UN Board of Sustainable Development (p 318) with the capacity to assess, advise, assist and report on progress made and needed on sustainable development. The Board should be chaired by the Secretary General with supreme powers to create interagency commitment and coordination to sustainable development. In the event, the 1992 Rio conference fudged it. The Commission on Sustainable Development is a lower rank body with limited powers to coerce and cajole the cumbersome UN process. Whether it can manage to bring the 180-odd states into line remains to be seen. Yet it is in place and countries are reporting. What remains inevitably unclear is whether the UN system as a whole really knows what sustainable development actually means for democracy and civil rights and what it takes to achieve it. Tim O'Riordan and Andrew Jordan
Psychology Students' Knowledge and Use of Mnemonics

Mnemonics are strategies that can enhance learning and memory of course material. An online survey examined psychology students’ metacognitive awareness and self-reported behaviors regarding mnemonics. Results showed that most participants could define mnemonics, but only a minority could describe the cognitive mechanisms involved. Participants were more familiar with some mnemonics (acronyms and acrostics) compared to others (pegword); further, the most common sources of mnemonics were those created by the students themselves and those provided by the instructors. Usefulness of mnemonics was rated at a moderate level compared to other common study strategies. Finally, the ratings for mnemonics were positive and correlated with independent measures of metacognition as well as psychology course experience. Findings are discussed in the context of increasing mnemonics in psychology education.
Implementing object equivalence in Java using the template method design pattern

A standard practice in object-oriented programming is to implement an operation, called equals in Java, for testing the equality of two objects. The equals method should be defined for every new Java class, but because of the intricacies of inheritance, casting, and dynamic typing, equals is often quite difficult to write correctly. And unfortunately many textbooks present flawed implementations of this operation. In this paper, we present a semantically correct technique for testing object equivalence, a technique that simultaneously brings together important mathematical foundations (equivalence relations), practical programming issues (inheritance, casting, dynamic typing), and sound software design (design patterns) in a natural and compelling way. While Java is used to demonstrate how the semantic flaws are corrected and the design improved using our techniques, the design is general enough that it will be clear how the same ideas could easily be extended to other languages such as C++.