cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Manganese mineral formation by bacterial spores of the marine Bacillus, strain SG-1: Evidence for the direct oxidation of Mn(II) to Mn(IV)

Abstract The spores of a marine Bacillus bacterium, strain SG-1, are able to oxidize Mn (H) over a wide range of temperatures (0–80°C) and Mn (II) concentrations ( 25 mM), in both low ionic strength N- (2-hydroxyethyl) piperazine-N′-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) buffer (HB) and in HEPES-buffered seawater (SW). Using SG-1 spores as a catalyst for manganese mineral formation, and by varying the temperature and Mn (II) concentration at pH 7.4–8.0, a variety of manganese oxide and manganate minerals were formed under environmentally relevant conditions in HB and SW. In general, mixed phases of lower valence state minerals (hausmannite, Mn304; feitknechtite, βMnOOH; and manganite, γMnOOH) formed in HB and SW at high Mn (II) concentrations (10 mM initial), or at high temperatures (70°C), by two weeks. βMnOOH was favored at low temperatures (3°C) and Mn3O4 at higher temperatures (55–70°C). After 1 year of aging, yMnOOH became the dominant or only mineral present at 25 and 55°C. At lower Mn (II) concentrations (initial concentrations ≤100 μM in HB and ≤1 MM in SW), Mn(IV) minerals precipitated. In HB the Mn(IV) minerals most often resembled sodium buserite, evidenced by collapse of a 10 to 7 A phase with air drying at room temperature. In SW both buserite and Mg-rich noncollapsible 10 A manganates were formed. The Mg-rich 10 A manganates did not collapse to 7 A even with baking at 100°C. The oxidation state of the minerals were generally higher in SW (as high as 3.7) than in HB (3.2). Mn (IV) minerals also formed at higher Mn (II) concentrations in SW than in HB. These observed differences between SW and HB may have resulted from differences in the chemical milieu, or because of the marine adapted physiology of the bacterial spores. Under a variety of conditions (HB and SW, 3–55δC) Mn (IV) mineral formation often occurred at pH and Mn (II) concentrations too high to be favorable for the disproportionation of Mn304, or βMnOOH to Mn (IV). The results strongly suggest direct oxidation of Mn(II) to Mn(IV) by SG-1 spores without lower valence intermediates. Considering the environmental relevance of these experiments, direct oxidation of Mn (II) to Mn (IV) by microbes is probably a common process in natural environments.
Fluidized-bed incineration of solid pellets: combustion and co-combustion

The UIC experimental facility for combustion of materials in a fluidized-bed combustor is described. The combustion and co-combustion studies made in a heated inert bed, of wood, refuse-derived fuel, peanut-hull, paper, cellulose and cardboard pellets are reviewed and discussed. Coal and propane are used as auxiliary fuels. The investigations cover a range of gas velocities, combustion temperatures, fractional excess air values and solid pellet feed rates. The emission of carbon monoxide in the flue gas is monitored, and for most conditions, its value is well within the limit set by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The carbon combustion efficiency values are found to be quite high, 99.8 + percent, validating the thermal degradation capability of the fluidized-bed incinerator. Further, the thermal combustion efficiencies are also equally high, which reinforces the concept of waste to energy generation.
Spiral Patterns of Dislocations at Nodes in (111) Semi-coherent FCC Interfaces

In semi-coherent interface, a superposed network of interface dislocations accommodates the attendant coherency strains in the adjacent crystals and their intersections (referred to as nodes) can act as sinks and sources for point defects because of the low formation energy. Nodes in {111} semi-coherent interfaces are characterized with a spiral pattern (SP), wherein the line direction of each dislocation entering a node curves. The structure of SP nodes is able to switch between condensed and expanded by either reaction with point defects or mechanical deformation. Due to the switching of the node structures, point defect formation energies at nodes can be significantly reduced. Combining atomistic simulation and dislocation theory, these features are proven universal corresponding to the node density and the character of interface dislocations.
Validation and Calibration of an Accelerometer in Preschool Children

Objective: Obesity rates in young children are increasing, and decreased physical activity is likely to be a major contributor to this trend. Studies of physical activity in young children are limited by the lack of valid and acceptable measures. The purpose of this study was to calibrate and validate the ActiGraph accelerometer for use with 3- to 5-year-old children. Research Methods and Procedures: Thirty preschool children wore an ActiGraph accelerometer (ActiGraph, Fort Walton Beach, FL) and a Cosmed portable metabolic system (Cosmed, Rome, Italy) during a period of rest and while performing three structured physical activities in a laboratory setting. Expired respiratory gases were collected, and oxygen consumption was measured on a breath-by-breath basis. Accelerometer data were collected at 15-second intervals. For cross-validation, the same children wore the same instruments while participating in unstructured indoor and outdoor activities for 20 minutes each at their preschool. Results: In calibrating the accelerometer, the correlation between Vo2 (ml/kg per min) and counts was r = 0.82 across all activities. The only significant variable in the prediction equation was accelerometer counts (R2 = 0.90, standard error of the estimate = 4.70). In the cross-validation, the intraclass correlation coefficient between measured and predicted Vo2 was R = 0.57 and the Spearman correlation coefficient was R = 0.66 (p < 0.001). Cut-off points for moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity were identified at 420 counts/15 s (Vo2 = 20 mL/kg per min) and 842 counts/15 s (Vo2 = 30 mL/kg per min), respectively. When these cutpoints were applied to the cross-validation data, percentage agreement, kappa, and modified kappa for moderate activity were 0.69, 0.36, and 0.38, respectively. For vigorous activity, the same measures were 0.81, 0.13, and 0.62. Discussion: Accelerometer counts were highly correlated with Vo2 in young children. Accelerometers can be appropriately used as a measure of physical activity in this population.
Online education in community colleges

This chapter explores the tremendous growth in the use of the Internet to deliver distance education at community colleges. The author examines various definitions of online education, including the types of courses, programs, and degrees available and the types of community colleges that offer greater amounts of online programming. Considerations for the future growth of online education are provided.
Lunar granulites and their precursor anorthositic norites of the early lunar crust

Lunar granulities, which are ancient and KREEP-free, represent the best samples of early lunar crust. They can be divided into ferroan and magnesium groups, and each group can be subdivided on the basis of mineral composition and REE concentrations. It is shown that some of the granulites may be derived from distinct anorthitic norite precursors, while some others are clearly polymict, though it is believed that even these granulites had anorthositic norites as their dominant precursors. The granulites have compositions similar to those of the two lunar meteorites, one of which is ferroan, the other magnesian. These meteorites are soil breccias from an unknown location distant from the Apollo landing sites and contain anorthositic norites as abundant clasts. Granulite and lunar-meteorite compositions more closely resemble the average composition of lunar highlands than those of any other returned lunar samples. The predominance of plutonic anorthositic norite precursors in material having the composition typical of highlands suggests that plutonic anorthositic norites were more abundant in the early lunar crust than is implied by their scarcity in Apollo pristine rocks.
Can Secular Liberal Politics Be Reincarnated in India

This article examines the possibilities of reviving secular liberal politics in India after the defeat of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Hindu fundamentalist group, in the 2004 national election. The research begins with a historical analysis of the ideals of secularism and liberalism in Indian politics. The success of the Hindutva movement was built on the failure of previous regimes to implement secular principles in politics and in society. The underlying premise is that while secular politics was (and is) based on the norms of exclusion, communal politics has succeeded in incorporating the norms of inclusion. The success of Hindutva should be taken seriously and secular liberal ideology has much to learn from the logic and grammar of the rules of inclusion.
Simultaneous high‐pressure liquid chromatographic determination of niacin and niacinamide in multivitamin preparations: Reversed‐phase, ion‐pairing approach

A high-pressure liquid chromatographic procedure for the simultaneous determination of niacin and niacinamide in multivitamin preparations was developed and evaluated. Reversed-phase liquid chromatography with dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate in the mobile phase is utilized for the analysis. The accuracy and precision of the procedure were compared with those of the currently official procedure.
A chromatic dispersion estimation method for arbitrary modulation formats

Simulations show that a modulation-format-independent method for estimating chromatic dispersion from the phase of a coherently-received signal at four frequencies can estimate 3000 ps/nm of dispersion to within 2% at an OSNR of 10 dB.
Closure of ascites leaks with fibrin glue injection in patients with end-stage liver disease.

Abstract Background: Ascites leaks (AL) in patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality regardless if they are medically or surgically managed. Patients and Methods: In a pilot study, 14 ESLD patients with AL underwent treatment with fibrin glue injection around the leak after failing conservative therapy. The end point of this study was the cessation of AL in the short term and the maintenance of a leak-free abdomen in the long term, allowing for medical optimization of the patients. Results: Median age of the 10 men and 4 women was 50 (range 26–67) years. Underlying ESLDs were chronic hepatitis C (n=5), alcoholic LD (n=2), cryptogenic cirrhosis (n=2), and miscellaneous (n=5). There were six leaking incisions posthernia repair (three umbilical and three inguinal), two leaking/ruptured umbilical hernias, four leaking paracentesis sites, one leaking Jackson–Pratt (JP) drain canal, and one leaking laparoscopic trocar site. Average AL volume per day was...
Sublethal effects of lead on northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) tadpoles

Northern leopard frogs (Rana pipiens) were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of lead in water (3, 10, and 100 μg/L as lead nitrate) from the embryonic stage to metamorphosis. Survival, growth, deformity, swimming ability, metamorphosis, and lead tissue concentrations were evaluated. Tadpole growth was significantly slower in the early stages (Gosner stages 25–30) in 100 μg/L treatment. More than 90% of tadpoles in the 100 μg/L treatment developed lateral spinal curvature, whereas almost all the tadpoles in the other groups were morphologically normal. Spinal deformity was associated with abnormal swimming behavior. Maximum swimming speed of tadpoles in the 100 μg/L treatment was significantly lower than that in the other groups. No significant effect of lead exposure was found on percentage metamorphosis, snout-vent length, mortality, and sex ratio of metamorphs. Time to metamorphosis was delayed in 100 μg/L treatment. Lead tissue concentrations in the tadpoles ranged from 0.1 to 224.5 mg/kg dry mass, were positively related to lead concentrations in the water, and fell within the range of tissue concentrations of wild tadpoles found in previous studies. According to our results, the current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency freshwater-quality chronic criterion for lead (2.5 μg/L) is appropriate to protect northern leopard frog larvae.
A Hybrid Kirchhoff Migration Direction-of-Arrival Method for Underwater Imaging of Complex Objects Using Sparse Sensor Arrays

This paper considers the problem of imaging a complex object submerged in shallow waters using a sparse surface sensor array and a hybrid signal processing method. This method is constructed by refining the Kirchhoff migration technique to incorporate a zoning of the sensors and an analysis of multiple reflections, and combining it with the direction of arrival estimation method. Its performance is assessed and analyzed with the shape identification of a mockup submarine by numerical simulation. The obtained numerical results highlight the potential of this approach for detecting underwater intruders.
Baroclinic Transport Time Series of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current Measured in Drake Passage

Fil: Chidichimo, Maria Paz. University of Rhode Island. Graduate School of Oceanography; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas; Argentina. Ministerio de Defensa. Armada Argentina. Servicio de Hidrografia Naval. Departamento Oceanografia; Argentina
Whose Vote Should Count More: Optimal Integration of Labels from Labelers of Unknown Expertise

Modern machine learning-based approaches to computer vision require very large databases of hand labeled images. Some contemporary vision systems already require on the order of millions of images for training (e.g., Omron face detector [9]). New Internet-based services allow for a large number of labelers to collaborate around the world at very low cost. However, using these services brings interesting theoretical and practical challenges: (1) The labelers may have wide ranging levels of expertise which are unknown a priori, and in some cases may be adversarial; (2) images may vary in their level of difficulty; and (3) multiple labels for the same image must be combined to provide an estimate of the actual label of the image. Probabilistic approaches provide a principled way to approach these problems. In this paper we present a probabilistic model and use it to simultaneously infer the label of each image, the expertise of each labeler, and the difficulty of each image. On both simulated and real data, we demonstrate that the model outperforms the commonly used "Majority Vote" heuristic for inferring image labels, and is robust to both noisy and adversarial labelers.
A class of polynomially solvable linear complementarity problems

Although the general linear complementarity problem (LCP) is NP-complete, there are special classes that can be solved in polynomial time. One example is the type where the defining matrix is nondegenerate and for which the n-step property holds. In this paper we consider an extension of the property to the degenerate case by introducing the concept of an extended n-step vector and matrix. It is shown that the LCP defined by such a matrix is polynomially solvable as well.
Effects of Interferential Current Stimulation for Treatment of Subjects with Recurrent Jaw Pain

This study evaluated the effectiveness of interferential current stimulation (ICS) to decrease recurrent jaw pain and to increase maximum vertical jaw opening. Forty subjects with either a history of recurrent jaw pain of three months' duration or of constant, chronic jaw pain that recurred within the preceding two months participated in the study. Twenty subjects received three 20-minute treatments of ICS, and 20 other subjects received three 20-minute treatments with a placebo procedure. The intensity of jaw pain and the amount of maximum vertical jaw opening were the dependent measures. Scatter diagrams indicated no relationship between the intensity of jaw pain and amount of vertical jaw opening before or after treatment. Statistical tests (p less than .05) showed no significant differences in the level of jaw pain or the amount of maximum vertical jaw opening between the ICS and Placebo Groups. We concluded that a short-term ICS treatment proved no more effective than a placebo treatment for decreasing jaw pain or for increasing vertical jaw opening.
Bronchogenic Cyst Causing a Unilateral Ventilation-Perfusion Defect on Lung Scan

A 37-year-old woman had pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea, and normal findings on chest roentgenogram. Lung scan showed markedly diminished perfusion to the right lung with a matched ventilatory defect. Further evaluation revealed a bronchogenic cyst. After resection, the lung scan was normal. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a bronchogenic cyst causing a reversible, unilateral ventilation-perfusion defect on lung scan.
Quality Assessment of HF Radar–Derived Surface Currents Using Optimal Interpolation

AbstractThis study investigates the applicability of the optimal interpolation (OI) method proposed by Kim et al. for estimating ocean surface currents from high-frequency radar (HFR) in the northeastern Chukchi Sea, where HFR siting is dictated by power availability rather than optimal locations. Although the OI technique improves data coverage when compared to the conventional unweighted least squares fit (UWLS) method, biased solutions can emerge. The quality of the HFR velocity estimates derived by OI is controlled by three factors: 1) the number of available incorporating radials (AR), 2) the ratio of the incorporating radials from multiple contributing site locations [ratio of overlapping radial velocities (ROR) or radar geometry], and 3) the positive definiteness [condition number (CN)] of the correlation matrix. Operationally, ROR does not require knowledge of the angle covariance matrix used to compute the geometric dilution of precision (GDOP) in the UWLS method and can be computed before site s...
Effects of underrepresented hydrometeor variability and partial beam filling on microwave brightness temperatures for rainfall retrieval

[1] Cloud models run at 3 km resolution (typical resolution used for microwave radiative transfer applications) apart from ignoring subgrid variability (< 3 km); they also underrepresent variability of cloud particles between the scales of 3 and 15 km. In a previous study by the authors, evidence was presented that neglecting subgrid variability in modeled clouds results in considerable biases in microwave radiance computations. In this paper we present evidence that biases of the same order (−2 to −3 K for 10.7 GHz and + 4 to 5 K for 85.6 GHz) can result from underrepresented variability at scales of 3–15 km. In addition, this study reveals significant differences between modeled and observed precipitating fields at the “edges” of the storm (regions that border on zero precipitation) and documents the effects that these differences have on radiative transfer computations. It is found that biases due to underrepresented variability within the storm body are of the opposite direction to biases due to “edge” effects where partial beamfilling occurs over a field of view, and can counteract to give a misleading overall insignificant bias. However, having these two types of biases present in the (Tb-R) databases (formed by radiative transfer through 3 km modeled clouds) can have a significant effect on rainfall retrievals and can be the source of drastically different and apparently unexplainable biases from region to region and storm to storm.
Airway level at which edema liquid enters the air space of isolated dog lungs

To identify lung units associated with liquid leakage into the air space in high-pressure pulmonary edema, we perfused air-inflated dog lung lobes with albumin solution to fill the loose peribronchovascular interstitium. Next, we perfused the lobes for 90 s with fluorescent albumin solution then froze the lobes in liquid nitrogen. This procedure confined the fluorescent perfusate to the liquid flux pathway between the circulation and the air space and eliminated the previously filled peribronchovascular cuffs as a source of the fluorescence that entered the air space. We divided each frozen lobe into three horizontal layers and prepared fluorescence-microscopic sections of each layer. In the most apical layers where alveolar flooding was minimal, 10.6 +/- 21.0% (SD) of alveolar ducts were either fluorescence filled or air filled and continuous with fluorescence-filled alveoli. In the same layers, 11.0 +/- 19.0% of respiratory bronchioles were similarly labeled. No terminal bronchioles in these layers were fluorescence labeled. This suggested that the fluorescent albumin entered the air space across the epithelium of respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, or their associated alveoli. To simulate an alternative explanation, i.e., that fluorescence first entered central airways then flowed into peripheral air spaces, we prepared two additional lobes that we first partially inflated with fluorescent albumin then filled to capacity with air. This pushed the fluorescent solution along the airways into the lung periphery. In these lobes the ciliary lining of bronchi and terminal bronchioles was fluorescence coated. By comparison, cilia in fluorescence-perfused lobes were not coated. We conclude that alveolar flooding in hydrostatic pulmonary edema occurs across the epithelium of alveolar ducts, respiratory bronchioles, or their associated alveoli.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Genetic Requirements for Virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans

With over 100 years of clinical and experimental experience, it is clear that Cryptococcus neoformans has become the “premier basidiomycete pathogen” to infect humans (Mitchell and Perfect 1995). It is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that is worldwide in distribution and can cause disseminated infections in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients. However, its rise in clinical importance has dramatically mirrored the panepidemic of HIV infection, increasing solid organ transplantation and the frequent use of immunosuppressive regimens such as corticosteroids for a variety of medical disorders. This fungus has acquired the ability to infect susceptible hosts, produce life-threatening meningitis, and despite several successful treatment strategies, still produces 10–25% acute mortality for meningitis even in countries with advanced medical infrastructures. Without specific antifungal treatment, meningoencephalitis is uniformly fatal.
Erratum: search-related suppression of hippocampus and default network activity during associative memory retrieval

Episodic memory retrieval involves the coordinated interaction of several cognitive processing stages such as mental search, access to a memory store, associative re-encoding, and post-retrieval monitoring. The neural response during memory retrieval is an integration of signals from multiple regions that may subserve supportive cognitive control, attention, sensory association, encoding, or working memory functions. It is particularly challenging to dissociate contributions of these distinct components to brain responses in regions such as the hippocampus, which lies at the interface between overlapping memory encoding and retrieval, and “default” networks. In the present study, event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and measures of memory performance were used to differentiate brain responses to memory search from subcomponents of episodic memory retrieval associated with successful recall. During the attempted retrieval of both poorly and strongly remembered word pair associates, the hemodynamic response was negatively deflected below baseline in anterior hippocampus and regions of the default network. Activations in anterior hippocampus were functionally distinct from those in posterior hippocampus and negatively correlated with response times. Thus, relative to the pre-stimulus period, the hippocampus shows reduced activity during intensive engagement in episodic memory search. Such deactivation was most salient during trials that engaged only pre-retrieval search processes in the absence of successful recollection or post-retrieval processing. Implications for interpretation of hippocampal fMRI responses during retrieval are discussed. A model is presented to interpret such activations as representing modulation of encoding-related activity, rather than retrieval-related activity. Engagement in intensive mental search may reduce neural and attentional resources that are otherwise tonically devoted to encoding an individual’s stream of experience into episodic memory.
Fibroblast heterogeneity in the periodontium and other tissues

Fibroblasts are the major resident cells which inhabit the periodontal tissues. As such, they are crucial for maintaining the connective tissues which support and anchor the tooth. Little is known of their origins, synthesis of regulatory cytokines and growth factors in health and disease, and importance in soft tissue regeneration. An emerging concept is that fibroblasts are not homogeneous, but instead consist of subsets of cells which can regulate bone marrow-derived cells such as T lymphocytes. Fibroblasts can be separated into subsets on the basis of morphology, size and expression of intermediate filaments as well as collagen subtypes. Differential surface marker expression has also been a key feature to distinguish fibroblast subsets from many tissues. Antigens such as Thy-1, class II MHC, and C1q are among those surface proteins which have been employed successfully to separate fibroblasts. Importantly, these fibroblast subsets are not only antigenically diverse, but also possess distinct functions. Thy 1+ pulmonary fibroblasts can display class II MHC antigens, synthesize IL-1 and can activate T lymphocytes, whereas the Thy 1+ subset is devoid of these functions. Recently, fibroblasts from the human orbit have also been shown to be separable on the basis of Thy 1 surface marker expression. Fibroblasts derived from human gingiva and periodontal ligament also appear to be composed of subsets with a heritable pattern of surface markers which will permit their separation into functional subpopulations. This paper will review findings of fibroblast heterogeneity in periodontal and other tissues. Evidence will be presented for the use of surface markers to delineate functional subsets. The ability to discriminate subsets of fibroblasts will aid in studies of periodontal disease pathogenesis and wound healing.
The Role of Race in the Association between Corporal Punishment and Externalizing Problems: Does Punishment Severity Matter?

Parental corporal punishment is frequently associated with emotional and behavioral problems among youth. Some researchers propose that this association does not exist in African–American families, although the literature is mixed. Among recent studies, there is a lack of standardization in the measure of corporal punishment, which may help explain the inconsistent findings. The present study used a community sample (N = 106, 34 % African–American, 48 % female) to test for racial differences in the association between corporal punishment and youths’ aggression and delinquency, while examining different corporal punishment types separately by severity level. The three corporal punishment variables were spanking, severe corporal punishment (hitting and hitting with an object), and total corporal punishment (a composite of spanking, hitting, and hitting with an object). Regression analyses revealed that race moderated the association between corporal punishment and delinquency, although this moderation was contingent upon the corporal punishment variable. Specifically, severe corporal punishment and total corporal punishment were associated with delinquency only for Caucasian and not African–American youth. The model testing spanking and delinquency was not moderated by race. Additionally, race moderated the association between severe corporal punishment and youth aggression. Findings suggest that corporal punishment is associated with youth externalizing problems, but that this varies based upon race, severity of corporal punishment, and type of externalizing problem.
Detection of 10–100 MeV γ-Rays from the Crab Nebula Pulsar NP 0532

Pulsed γ-ray emission from NP 0532 has been detected up to 100 MeV. For the main pulse from 10 to 30 MeV the signal to noise is (5–6σ). The energy spectrum of the main pulse from 1 keV to 100 MeV can be fitted by a single power law of index (−0.9).
The Political Economics of Population Growth: The Case of China

Some economists argue that high population density and rapid population growth are not in themselves impediments to economic development. On the basis of a quantitative analysis of historical data, Simon Kuznets, for instance, concludes that, historically, rates of economic development have not significantly correlated, either positively or negatively, with rates of population growth. Similarly, E. E. Hagen observes that “nowhere in the world has population growth induced by rising income been sufficient to halt the rise in income. … The historical record indicates that rise in income in these societies has failed to occur not because something thwarted it, but because no force has been present to cause income to rise.
Acoustic sensitivity of fiber-optic interferometric sensors

Acoustically induced phase modulation in single-mode optical fibers has been of growing interest since potential use of fibers as acoustic sensors has been established. The acoustic sensitivity of multilayer fibers is studied in detail as a function of the elastic coefficients of the fiber coatings. The analytic results are utilized to identify coating properties which optimize the fiber acoustic sensitivity.
Study on the process of double-electrode gas metal arc welding system

A novel prccess,referred to as Double-Electrode Gas Metal Arc Welding and introduced the basic principles of it.Through large amount of experiments,the geometrically matched paramenters in torchset up of DE-GMAW (double electrode-gas metal arc welding) were found,designed of welding electrical signal acquisition system and the welding voltage waveforms,welding current waveforms,and welding seam without defects were obtained.Based on these test results,the reason that DE-GMAW can realize high-efficiency welding were explained.Extensive studies have been conducted to uncover the fundamental characteristics of the DE -GMAW process.Double-bypass MIG arc welding is a kind of improved arc welding by its nature,the productivity of welding process has been effectively improved by substantially increase the deposition rate on the premise of the ensurence of the quality of welding.
The Maternal Legacy: Female Identity Predicts Offspring Sex Ratio in the Loggerhead Sea Turtle

In organisms with temperature-dependent sex determination, the incubation environment plays a key role in determining offspring sex ratios. Given that global temperatures have warmed approximately 0.6 °C in the last century, it is necessary to consider how organisms will adjust to climate change. To better understand the degree to which mothers influence the sex ratios of their offspring, we use 24 years of nesting data for individual female loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) observed on Bald Head Island, North Carolina. We find that maternal identity is the best predictor of nest sex ratio in univariate and multivariate predictive models. We find significant variability in estimated nest sex ratios among mothers, but a high degree of consistency within mothers, despite substantial spatial and temporal thermal variation. Our results suggest that individual differences in nesting preferences are the main driver behind divergences in nest sex ratios. As such, a female’s ability to plastically adjust her nest sex ratios in response to environmental conditions is constrained, potentially limiting how individuals behaviorally mitigate the effects of environmental change. Given that many loggerhead populations already show female-biased offspring sex ratios, understanding maternal behavioral responses is critical for predicting the future of long-lived species vulnerable to extinction.
Freeform multifocal lenses designed with the SQM: geometry and diffraction

Design of freeform refractive lenses is known to be a difficult inverse problem. But solutions, if available, can be very useful, especially in devices required to redirect and reshape the radiance of the source into an output irradiance redistributed over a given target according to a prescribed pattern. In this report we present results of theoretical and numerical analysis of refractive lenses designed with the Supporting Quadric Method. It is shown that such freeform lenses have a particular simple geometry and qualitatively their diffractive properties are comparable with rotationally symmetric lenses designed with classical methods.
The Validity of the Comparative Interrupted Time Series Design for Evaluating the Effect of School-Level Interventions.

Objective:In this article, we examine whether a well-executed comparative interrupted time series (CITS) design can produce valid inferences about the effectiveness of a school-level intervention. This article also explores the trade-off between bias reduction and precision loss across different methods of selecting comparison groups for the CITS design and assesses whether choosing matched comparison schools based only on preintervention test scores is sufficient to produce internally valid impact estimates.Research Design:We conduct a validation study of the CITS design based on the federal Reading First program as implemented in one state using results from a regression discontinuity design as a causal benchmark.Results:Our results contribute to the growing base of evidence regarding the validity of nonexperimental designs. We demonstrate that the CITS design can, in our example, produce internally valid estimates of program impacts when multiple years of preintervention outcome data (test scores in th...
Sequential release of multiple drugs from flexible drug delivery films

ABSTRACTSequential release of drugs aligned with the phases of tissue healing could reduce scarring. To achieve this aim, layered film devices comprising cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) and Pluronic F-127 (Pluronic) were loaded with ketoprofen, quercetin, and pirfenidone. Citrate plasticizers were added to impart flexibility. Release of two or three drugs in sequence over several days was obtained for all multilayered devices tested. Mechanical analysis showed that elongation increased and modulus decreased with the increasing plasticizer content. Release profiles can be tailored by order of layers, plasticizer concentration, and drug loading, making CAP–Pluronic an appealing system for inhibiting scar tissue formation.
Compositionally Induced Twin Defects Control the Shape of Ternary Silver Halide Nanocrystals

We demonstrate that the anion composition of ternary silver bromoiodide, AgBr1–xIx, nanocrystals determines their shape through the introduction of twin defects as the nanocrystals are made more iodide-rich. AgBr1–xIx nanocrystals grow as single-phase, solid solutions with the rock salt crystal structure for anions compositions ranging from 0 ≤ x < 0.38. With increasing iodide content, the morphology of the nanocrystals evolves from cubic to truncated cubic to hexagonal prismatic. Structural characterization indicates the cubic nanocrystals are bound by {100} facets, whereas the hexagonal platelet nanocrystals possess {111} facets as their top and bottom surfaces. Calculations based on first-principles density functional theory show that iodide substitution in AgBr stabilizes {111} surfaces and that twin defects parallel to these surfaces possess a low formation energy. Our experimental observations and calculations are consistent with a growth model in which the presence of multiple twin defects parallel...
Abstract A15: Development of anin vitro3D vessel-spheroid model for investigating cancer metastasis

During metastasis, cells break free from the primary tumor, migrate through the stroma and enter either the vascular or lymph systems to disseminate into secondary sites. To better understand this process, many groups have developed in vitro models of cancer metastasis using microfluidic based platforms to mimic the tumor microenvironment and the intravasation/extravasation of tumor cells. While these models have provided significant new insights into the mechanisms by which metastatic cells move across the endothelium, they are most often focused on the movement of single cells. Notably, there is significant clinical evidence to suggest that tumor cells can travel collectively though the stroma and can circulate as cell aggregates in the vasculature. Recent advances in the understanding of cancer metastasis have shown that cancer may move more aggressively as a collection of cell when traversing the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the tumor microenvironment as opposed to more studied singular cellular motif. To better mimic these collective movements, we have developed a model that incorporates the following essential elements that exist in the tumor microenvironment: a cylindrical channel lined with a confluent monolayer of endothelial cells, a metastatic tumor analog in close proximity to the channel, the ability to incorporate flow with tunable properties to simulate shear stress due to blood flow, and a tunable collagen microenvironment. Briefly, in a 3D printed cube, Type 1 collagen is added at physiological stiffness. As the collagen is polymerizing in the device, a metastatic tumor analog (spheroid) consisting of labeled MDA-MB-231 cells is placed in proximity of the vessel that is lined with endothelial cells. The platform allows for the visualization of metastatic cell intravasation using confocal microscopy. Notably, this model is easy to build and implement with fairly accessible tools and without the use of a clean room or microfabrication facilities. Importantly, going forward this model has the ability to study the cellular behavior post-intravasation due to the incorporation of physiological flows within the channel. Citation Format: Adam Munoz, Joseph Miller, Cynthia A. Reinhart-King. Development of an in vitro 3D vessel-spheroid model for investigating cancer metastasis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Engineering and Physical Sciences in Oncology; 2016 Jun 25-28; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A15.
Catalyst deactivation and regeneration in low temperature ethanol steam reforming with Rh/CeO2–ZrO2 catalysts

Rh/CeO2–ZrO2 catalysts with various CeO2/ZrO2 ratios have been applied to H2 production from ethanol steam reforming at low temperatures. The catalysts all deactivated with time on stream (TOS) at 350 °C. The addition of 0.5% K has a beneficial effect on catalyst stability, while 5% K has a negative effect on catalytic activity. The catalyst could be regenerated considerably even at ambient temperature and could recover its initial activity after regeneration above 200 °C with 1% O2. The results are most consistent with catalyst deactivation due to carbonaceous deposition on the catalyst.
Sensitive and predictable separation of microfluidic droplets by size using in-line passive filter.

Active manipulation of droplets is crucial in droplet microfluidics. However, droplet polydispersity decreases the accuracy of active manipulation. We develop a microfluidic “droplet filter” that accurately separates droplets by size. The droplet filter has a sharp size cutoff and is capable of distinguishing droplets differing in volume by 20%. A simple model explains the behavior of the droplets as they pass through the filter. We show application of the filter in improving dielectric sorting efficiency.
Beam tracking for mobile millimeter wave communication systems

Millimeter wave (mmWave) is an attractive option for high data rate applications. Enabling mmWave communications requires appropriate beamforming, which is conventionally realized by a lengthy beam training process. Such beam training will be a challenge for applying mmWave to mobile environments. As a solution, a beam tracking method requiring to train only one beam pair to track a path in the analog beamforming architecture is developed. Considering its low complexity which is suitable for mobile settings, the extended Kalman filter is chosen as the tracking filter. Several effects impacting the performance of the proposed tracking algorithm, such as the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and array size, are investigated. It is found that at the same SNR, narrower beams, which are more sensitive to angular changes, can provide more accurate estimate. Too narrow beams, however, degrade tracking performance because beam misalignment could happen during the measurement. Finally, a comparison to prior work is given where it is shown that our approach is more suitable for fast-changing environments thanks to the low measurement overhead.
Use of Psychiatric Medications During Pregnancy and Lactation

Mental health disorders have the potential to profoundly impact maternal and fetal outcomes. Major depression can be screened for using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Bipolar disorder is characterized by depression and mania [1].
Adaptive Persistence for Search Effectiveness Measures

Many search effectiveness evaluation measures penalize the importance of results at lower ranks. This is usually explained as an attempt to model users' persistence when sequentially examining results---lower ranked results are less important because users are less likely persistent enough to read them. The persistence parameters are usually set to cope with the target cohort and tasks. But during a particular evaluation round, the same parameters are applied to evaluate different ranked lists. In contrast, we present work that adapts the persistence factor according to the ranking and relevance of the ranked lists being evaluated. This is to model that rational users change their browsing behavior according to the search result page, e.g., users avoid wasting time (a low persistence level) if the results look apparently off-topic. Experimental results show that this approach better fits observed user behavior and correlates with users' ratings on their search performance.
Quantum State Engineering of a Hubbard System with Ultracold Fermions

Accessing new regimes in quantum simulation requires the development of new techniques for quantum state preparation. We demonstrate the quantum state engineering of a strongly correlated many-body state of the two-component repulsive Fermi-Hubbard model on a square lattice. Our scheme makes use of an ultralow entropy doublon band insulator created through entropy redistribution. After isolating the band insulator, we change the underlying potential to expand it into a half-filled system. The final many-body state realized shows strong antiferromagnetic correlations and a temperature below the exchange energy. We observe an increase in entropy, which we find is likely caused by the many-body physics in the last step of the scheme. This technique is promising for low-temperature studies of cold-atom-based lattice models.
The Use of Sodium Carbonate Peroxyhydrate to Treat Off-Flavor in Commercial Catfish Ponds

Sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate (SCP) was applied to seven commercial catfish ponds in Mississippi to study the effects of treatment on fish flavor and pond ecology. The seven ponds were treated on alternate days in the morning with two doses of SCP at 55 kg hectare−1 (average depth 1-1.6 m). In three of the ponds, a potent 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) producing planktonic Oscillatoria chalybea -like species that was initially present was absent from the water column after treatment. In addition, the fish from two of these ponds were judged on-flavor 7 to 10 days after treatment. The off-flavor chemicals in three other ponds were diminished when measured seven days after treatment and fish were harvested from two of these ponds 10-14 days after treatment. The fish from the other two ponds were harvested 21 days after treatment. In the sixth pond, the predominant algal species was a 2-methylisoborneol producing O. chalybea -like species at 380 cells ml−1 and the treatment was ineffective. The treatment was most successful when off-flavor was less than two months duration and where application of the chemical was accomplished uniformly over the entire pond surface.
Mental Retardation in Juvenile Fiction

As the process of mainstreaming gathers momentum, educators are beginning to evaluate the initial results of this integration movement, hoping to capitalize on demonstrated gains and minimize or redirect unproductive procedures. As with many social changes, philosophical and legal advances have preceded the field’s readiness to accommodate recommended adjustments. This lack of congruence between theory and practice has resulted in many damaging placements of special needs children.
Revisionism, Magical Thinking, and Hokey-Pokey Objectives in the Anti-Smoking Movement

All of us tend to see the world from the viewpoint of what we’ve been trained to see. Unconventional propositions and ideas can cause discomfort to those who rule and determine the status quo. Progress toward solving problems becomes even more frustrating when the causes are known-or recognized by even a few people—and the solutions are staring us straight in the face.
Therapeutic Applications and Dosimetry of Radiopharmaceuticals with the Help of Compartmental Analysis

The successful application of radiopharmaceuticals requires a patient-specific optimization of the activity to be administered, in order to deliver the desired therapeutic dose to the target organ while saving the healthy tissues. For a therapy specifically tailored on the characteristics of the patient, the correct knowledge of the morphology of the regions of interest, of the fractional uptake and of the related kinetics is necessary.
Mitigating steel corrosion in reinforced concrete using functional coatings, corrosion inhibitors, and atomistic simulations

Abstract We describe new approaches based on compositional manipulation of the cementitious binder, and its geometrical arrangement, to mitigate steel corrosion in concrete, and a new ability to study corrosion processes from a fundamental point of view. First, we present a new approach to mitigate/delay corrosion initiation using calcium aluminate cement (CAC) and Ca(NO3)2 based functional coatings by replacing a fractional thickness of the ordinary portland cement (OPC) concrete cover. Second, within a related framework, we demonstrate how tailoring the binder chemistry to produce enhanced quantities of AFm phases is a significant means to immobilize Cl− ions while actively generating corrosion inhibiting species; thereby delaying corrosion initiation. Finally, we offer new insights from reactive force field molecular dynamics (ReaxFF-MD) simulations as a means to interrogate and explain electrochemical processes at the atomistic scale. We present examples of how atomistic simulations can uncover the origins of passivity and Cl− induced corrosion at a molecular level and how such understanding can accelerate the development of new corrosion resistant materials and mitigation strategies.
Implementation of a Direct Oral Anticoagulation Screening Service at a Large Academic Medical Center Provided by a Pharmacist-managed Antithrombosis Clinic as a Method to Expand Antithrombotic Stewardship Efforts.

Background:How and when to monitor direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for safety and efficacy is a question many anticoagulation clinics are trying to answer. A pharmacist-led antithrombosis clinic...