cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stability and Change in Children's Intelligence Quotient Scores: A Comparison of Two Socioeconomically Disparate Communities

The authors estimated the influence of familial factors and community disadvantage on changes in children's intelligence quotient (IQ) scores from age 6 years to age 11 years. Data were obtained from a longitudinal study of the neuropsychiatric sequelae of low birth weight in two socioeconomically disparate, geographically defined communities in the Detroit, Michigan, metropolitan area. Representative samples of low birth weight and normal birth weight children from the City of Detroit (urban) and nearby middle-class suburbs (suburban) were assessed at age 6 years (in 1990-1992) and age 11 years (in 1995-1997) (n = 717). Children's IQs were measured using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. The familial factors considered included maternal IQ, education, and marital status. Multiple regression analysis applying generalized estimating equations was used. The IQs of urban children, regardless of birth weight, declined from age 6 years to age 11 years. The downward shift increased by 50% the proportion of urban children scoring 1 standard deviation below the standardized IQ mean of 100. A negligible change was observed in suburban children. Maternal IQ, education, and marital status and low birth weight predicted IQ at age 6 years but were unrelated to IQ change. Growing up in a racially segregated and disadvantaged community, more than individual and familial factors, may contribute to a decline in IQ score in the early school years.
Direct numerical simulation of turbulence in injection-driven three-dimensional cylindrical flows

Incompressible turbulent flow in a periodic circular pipe with strong injection is studied as a simplified model for the core flow in a solid-propellant rocket motor and other injection-driven internal flows. The model is based on a multi-scale asymptotic approach. The intended application of the current study is erosive burning of solid propellants. Relevant analysis for easily accessible parameters for this application, such as the magnitudes, main frequencies and wavelengths associated with the near-wall shear, and the assessment of near-wall turbulence viscosity is focused on. It is found that, unlike flows with weak or no injection, the near-wall shear is dominated by the root mean square of the streamwise velocity which is a function of the Reynolds number, while the mean streamwise velocity is only weakly dependent on the Reynolds number. As a result, a new wall-friction velocity , based on the shear stress derived from the sum of the mean and the root mean square, i.e. , is proposed for the scaling of turbulent viscosity for turbulent flows with strong injection. We also show that the mean streamwise velocity profile has an inflection point near the injecting surface.
Small intestinal submucosa as a bioscaffold for biliary tract regeneration.

Results. Fourteen out of 15 dogs survived and were healthy at the time of killing. The one failure was a result of a bile leak in a patched animal. The SIS showed signs of incorporation with infiltration of native fibroblasts, blood vessels, and biliary mucosa within 2 weeks. Within 3 months the SIS graft was replaced with native collagen covered with a biliary epithelium. No changes occurred at 5-month followup. One animal with an interposition graft developed a stricture at the proximal anastomosis within 2 months. In the remaining dogs, liver enzymes were normal, and the caliber of the common bile duct remained normal. Conclusions. SIS can be used for regeneration of bile duct tissue in a canine model. In 13 of 15 dogs SIS resulted in regeneration of canine common bile duct when used as a patch or as an interposition graft. The potential for the use of SIS as a patch for biliary stricturoplasty, or as an interposition graft for repair of complex biliary injuries is encouraging. (Surgery 2002;132:480-6.)
The effect of time-delayed feedback controller on an electrically actuated resonator

This paper presents a study of the effect of a time-delayed feedback controller on the dynamics of a Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) capacitor actuated as a resonator by DC and AC voltage loads. A linearization analysis is conducted to determine the stability chart of the linearized system equations as a function of the time delay period and the controller gain. Then the method of multiple-scales is applied to determine the response and stability of the system for small vibration amplitude and voltage loads. It is shown that negative time-delay feedback control gain can lead to unstable responses, even if AC voltage is relatively small compared to the DC voltage. On the other hand, positive time delay can considerably strengthen the system stability even in fractal domains. We also show how the controller can be used to control damping in MEMS, increasing or decreasing, by tuning the gain amplitude and delay period. Agreements among the results of a shooting technique, long-time integration, basin of attraction analysis with the perturbation method are achieved.
Universal lossless source controlled channel decoding

This paper proposes the use of universal lossless compression techniques based on probability assignment to utilize source redundancy and improve performance of channel decoding techniques when channel coded sequences contain redundancy.
Functional Coupling between Neurons and Glia

Neuronal–glial interactions play an important role in information processing in the CNS. Previous studies have indicated that electrotonic coupling between locus ceruleus (LC) neurons is involved in synchronizing the spontaneous activity. The results of the present study extend the functional electrotonic coupling to interactions between neurons and glia. Spontaneous oscillations in the membrane potential were observed in a subset of glia. These oscillations were synchronous with the firing of neurons, insensitive to transmitter receptor antagonists and disrupted by carbenoxolone, a gap junction blocker. Hyperpolarization of neurons with [Met]5enkephalin blocked the oscillations in glia. Selective depolarization of glia with a glutamate transporter substrate (l-α-aminoadipic acid) increased the neuronal firing rate, suggesting that changes in the membrane potential of glia can modulate neuronal excitability through heterocellular coupling. Dye-coupling experiments further confirmed that small molecules could be transferred through gap junctions between these distinct cell types. No dye transfer was observed between neurons and oligodendrocytes or between astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, suggesting that the junctional communication was specific for astrocytes and neurons. Finally, immunoelectron microscopy studies established that connexins, the proteins that form gap junctions, were present on portions of the plasmalemma, bridging the cytoplasm of neurons and glia in LC. This heterocellular coupling extends the mechanisms by which glia participate in the network properties of the LC in which the degree of coupling is thought to influence cognitive performance.
Histological changes and antioxidant enzyme activity in signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) associated with sub-acute peracetic acid exposure.

Peracetic acid (PAA) is a powerful disinfectant recently adopted as a therapeutic agent in aquaculture. A concentration of 10 mg L(-1) PAA effectively suppresses zoospores of Aphanomyces astaci, the agent of crayfish plague. To aid in establishing safe therapeutic guideline, the effects of PAA on treated crayfish were investigated through assessment of histological changes and oxidative damage. Adult female signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus (n = 135) were exposed to 2 mg L(-1) and 10 mg L(-1) of PAA for 7 days followed by a 7 day recovery period in clean water. Superoxide dismutase activity was significantly lower in gill and hepatopancreas after three days exposure to 10 mg L(1) PAA than in the group treated with 2 mg L(-1) PAA and a control in only clean water. Catalase activity in gill and hepatopancreas remained unaffected by both exposures. Glutathione reductase was significantly decreased in gill of 10 mg L(-1) PAA treated crayfish and increased in group exposed to 2 mg L(-1) compared to control after 7 days exposure. Antioxidant enzyme activity in exposed groups returned to control values after recovery period. Gill, hepatopancreas, and antennal gland showed slight damage in crayfish treated with 2 mg L(-1) of PAA compared to the control group. The extent and frequency of histological alterations were more pronounced in animals exposed to 10 mg L(-1). The gill was the most affected organ, infiltrated by granular hemocytes and displaying malformations of lamella tips and disorganization of epithelial cells. After a 7 day recovery period, the infiltrating cells in affected tissues of the exposed crayfish began to return to normal levels. Results suggested that the given concentrations could be applied to signal crayfish against crayfish plague agent in aquaculture; however, further studies are required for safe use.
A critical evaluation of drug delivery from ligand modified nanoparticles: Confounding small molecule distribution and efficacy in the central nervous system

In this work, we sought to test how surface modification of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles with peptide ligand alters the brain specific delivery of encapsulated molecules. For biodistribution studies, nanoparticles modified with rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG29) were loaded with small molecule drug surrogates and administered to healthy mice by lateral tail vein injection. Mice were perfused 2h after injection and major anatomical regions of the CNS were dissected (striatum, midbrain, cerebellum, hippocampus, cortex, olfactory bulb, brainstem, and cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral spinal cord). For functional studies, surface modified nanoparticles were loaded with the chemotherapeutic camptothecin (CPT) and administered to mice bearing intracranial GL261-Luc2 gliomas. Outcome measures included tumor growth, as measured by bioluminescent imaging, and median survival time. We observed that small molecule delivery from PLGA nanoparticles varied by as much as 150% for different tissue regions within the CNS. These differences were directly correlated to regional differences in cerebral blood volume. Although the presence of RVG29 enhanced apparent brain delivery for multiple small molecule payloads, we observed minimal evidence for targeting to muscle or spinal cord, which are the known sites for rabies virus entry into the CNS, and enhancements in brain delivery were not prolonged due to an apparent aqueous instability of the RVG29 ligand. Furthermore, we have identified concerning differences in apparent delivery kinetics as measured by different payloads: nanoparticle encapsulated DiR was observed to accumulate in the brain, whereas encapsulated Nile red was rapidly cleared. Although systemically administered CPT loaded nanoparticles slowed the growth of orthotopic brain tumors to prolong survival, the presence of RVG29 did not enhance therapeutic efficacy compared to control nanoparticles. These data are consistent with a model of delivery of hydrophobic small molecules to the brain that does not rely on internalization of polymer nanoparticles in target tissue. We discuss an important risk for discordance between biodistribution, as typically measured by drug surrogate, and therapeutic outcome, as determined by clinically relevant measurement of drug function in a disease model. These results pose critical considerations for the methods used to design and evaluate targeted drug delivery systems in vivo.
Thematic Cartography and Federal Science in Antebellum America

Among the earliest applications of thematic cartography in the United States was in the study of weather. Inspired by Humboldt, scientists in Federal agencies – primarily the Naval Observatory, the Smithsonian, and the Army – believed that mapping environmental patterns might solve longstanding puzzles such as the causes of storms or the relationship between climate and disease. But this depended on the accumulation of data. Beginning in 1819, the Army began to record rain, wind, and temperature, and disease at its forts and posts. By the 1850s, efforts such as these yielded an enormous amount of information that could only be understood through cartographic tools. Analyzing and generalizing from this mass of information was a daunting task that required extensive coordination. Yet the effort was plagued by rivalries when each agency sought to take the lead. For instance, when Smithsonian chief Joseph Henry fired Blodget for insubordination in 1854, the latter took his talents and data directly to Army Surgeon General Thomas Lawson. Lawson jumped at the opportunity to publish Blodget’s maps and charts of rainfall and temperature, which in turn enraged Henry, who spent the next few years trying to discredit Blodget’s work. Henry knew these maps and charts were not just illustrations of the research, but the product itself, for without them the data had no meaning. Bureaucratic infighting and interagency rivalry fueled cartographic innovation on the eve of the civil war, yet we know little about either the causes or the consequences of this innovation.
Radiotherapy: killing with complement.

Radiation therapy has been used for more than 100 years to treat human disease with some of the first applications to cancers in the 1890s. Radiotherapy delivers ionizing radiation to target tissues leading to fragmentation and ionization of biomolecules, water, oxygen and other chemicals that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Direct and indirect ROS-mediated damage to DNA, membranes, proteins and other cellular components lead to cell death. Cancer tissues are more sensitive to this damage. The exact mechanism and mode of cell death, and the basis for selective cancer toxicity are still areas of active investigation.
Materials for the Study of Contemporary Japan: Japanese Press Clipping Files and Reduced Size Newspaper Reprints

UNKNOWN even to many Japanese there exist in Japan two excellent press clipping files,' which contain a wealth of material on most facets of contemporary Japan, systematically arranged by topic and date. Their use will substantially facilitate research in this -field. In describing these valuable sources we also refer briefly to the newspaper reprints which are particularly useful for those who must carry on their research outside Japan.
A Child With Kawasaki Disease and Yersinia enterocolitica Infection: A Closer Look at Pathogenesis.

Kawasaki disease (KD), also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome and infantile polyarteritis nodosa, is a febrile illness manifested by a vasculitis that can potentially affect the coronary arteries. The etiology of KD has long been investigated, and to this day, there is no known single causative agent. The diagnosis of KD remains a clinical one with algorithms established for incomplete cases that include additional laboratory criteria.1 Different infections and inflammatory conditions may present with manifestations that may mimic KD. Among these, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection has long been reported in Japanese children with KD including those who developed coronary artery lesions.2,3 We describe a child who developed all clinical manifestations of KD including a retropharyngeal phlegmon during the course of Yersinia enterocolitica gastroenteritis.
Agent Performance, Incentives, and Ownership

Real estate agents are paid in two ways. One way is from a split percentage of the individual's generated revenue. The other is from an ownership share of the firm's profit from all agents. Tests are performed on whether having ownership increases individual agent performance as measured by the number of transactions, average transaction size, gross sales, and income. For agents in the United States in 2007, ownership raises the volume of transactions among partners and stock holders. Ownership increases gross sales and income by partners but not necessarily among stock holders.
Visual and absorbance analyses of admixtures containing vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam at commonly used concentrations.

Purpose The compatibility of vancomycin and piperacillin–tazobactam in concentrations typically used in extended-infusion dosing schemes was evaluated. Methods Piperacillin–tazobactam was reconstituted and diluted to concentrations of 33.75, 45, 50, 60, 67.5, 80, and 90 mg/mL. Vancomycin was diluted to concentrations of 4–8, 10, and 12 mg/mL. The resultant admixtures were visually observed after preparation against black and white backgrounds each hour between hours 1 through 4 and after 24 hours. Frozen products of each medication and brand-name Zosyn powder for reconstitution also were studied. Each combination of products and concentrations was tested for precipitation using simulated Y-site administration. Absorbance and microscopic analyses were performed to discern less perceptible incompatibilities in combinations that did not result in visual precipitation. Changes in absorbance were evaluated using two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance with post hoc Bonferroni corrections. Results No tested concentrations of piperacillin–tazobactam showed precipitations with vancomycin up to concentrations of 7 mg/mL. Piperacillin–tazobactam 80–90 mg/mL formed reversible precipitation with vancomycin 8 mg/mL. All tested concentrations of piperacillin–tazobactam formed a reversible precipitate with vancomycin 10 mg/mL. Irreversible precipitation was noted with all combinations of piperacillin–tazobactam and vancomycin 12 mg/mL. No significant changes in absorbance analyses were identified for all tested piperacillin–tazobactam concentrations and vancomycin 4–10 mg/mL compared with 0.9% sodium chloride injection ( p > 0.05). Similar results were observed using frozen preparations and brand-name Zosyn. Conclusion Visual, microscopic, and absorbance analyses showed no evidence of incompatibility when piperacillin–tazobactam 33.75–90 mg/mL was combined with vancomycin ≤7 mg/mL. Reversible and irreversible precipitates formed when piperacillin–tazobactam was combined with vancomycin ≥8 mg/mL.
Antecubital Cysts in Rheumatoid Arthritis-A Corollary to Popliteal (Baker's) Cysts

Antecubital dissecting cysts complicating severe rheumatoid arthritis of the elbow are described in two patients. The mechanism of their formation is presumed to be similar to that producing popliteal dissecting cysts of the knees.
Organic Wastes and Soil Additives as Producers of Hippelates Eye Gnats (Diptera-Chloropidae)

Hippelates eye gnats breed heavily in damp, sandy soils where plant and animal materials arc incorporated during tillage, disturbance, or renovating of the breeding sources. In laboratory studies, various plant material such as Bermuda grass tops, carrot tops, cornstalk stubble, sugarbeet plant leaves, broccoli leaves, and onion tops incorporated into soil medium supported eye gnat development and emergence. Bermuda grass tops and corn stubble produced the fewest eye gnats, and the leafy plant tops produced greater numbers. Steer manure, chicken manure, and blood meal also yielded large numbers of eye gnats, but nitrohumus supported no eye gnat development to the emerging stage. In field studies, steer manure, chicken manure, and alfalfa hay produced substantial numbers of eye gnats. Extent of production was directly proportional to the concentration of steer and chicken manures. Nitrohumus and a chemical fertilizer (ammonium sulfate) sustained little or no eye gnat development and emergence. These two materials can be used as soil amendments without breeding pestiferous eye gnats.
Nicotinic- and muscarinic-evoked release of canine adrenal catecholamines and peptides

The tissue content and overflow of norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (Epi), dopamine (DA), Met-enkephalin (Met-Enk), and neuropeptide Y (NPY) from isolated, retrogradely perfused dog adrenal glands were studied. Under resting conditions, approximately 25% of the overflow of autocoids from the glands was Ca2+ dependent; the cholinergic antagonists hexamethonium and atropine had no effects on basal efflux. Stimulation with the nicotinic agonist 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium iodide (DMPP; 3 or 50 microM) or with the muscarinic agonist pilocarpine (50 microM or 1 mM) evoked releases of autocoids. These releases were blocked or dramatically reduced by appropriate antagonists or by the removal of Ca2+ from the perfusate. Expressed as percentages of tissue stores, the rank order of overflow of autocoids was E approximately DA much greater than NE during resting conditions, DA much greater than E approximately NE during stimulation with 50 microM DMPP, and DA greater than Epi greater than NE during stimulation with 1 mM pilocarpine. These data are consistent with different mechanisms of release for the catecholamines, perhaps from different cell populations. The data support corelease of peptides and catecholamines, although clear pairing of autocoids could not be confirmed.
Variability of structural and electronic properties of bulk and monolayer Si2Te3

Silicon telluride has diverse properties for potential applications in Si-based devices ranging from fully integrated thermoelectrics to optoelectronics to chemical sensors. This material has a unique layered structure: it has a hexagonal closed-packed Te sublattice, with Si dimers occupying octahedral intercalation sites. Here, we report a theoretical study of this material in both bulk and monolayer form, unveiling an array of diverse properties arising from reorientations of the silicon dimers between planes of Te atoms. The band gap varies up to 30% depending on dimer orientations. The variation of dimer orientations gives rise to thermal contraction, arising from more dimers aligning out of the plane as the material is heated. Strain also affects the dimer orientations and provides a degree of control of the materials properties, making Si2Te3 a promising candidate for nanoscale mechanical, optical, and memristive devices.
Investigation on the infection status of hosts of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Lishui

Objective:To understand the distribution and infection status of common hosts of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Lishui.Methods: Investigate the infection rate and infectiosity of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in the Ampullaria gigas and rodent of nine counties.Results: Ampullaria gigases collected from Liandu,Qingtian,Shuichang,Jinning and Qingyuan counties were infected by Angiostrongylus cantonensis Larvae,the average infection rate and infectiosity of the whole city was 3.27% and 2.8 strip/ind respectively.Rodents collected from Liandu,Qingyuan,Longquan,Jinning and Yunhe counties were infected by Angiostrongylus cantonensis,the average infection rate and infectiosity of the whole city was 3.61% and 2.39 strip/ind respectively.Conclusion: All counties of Lishui City has become the natural foci of Angiostrongyliasis except for Songyang and Jinyun Counties.
A tumour promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, increases cellular 1,2-diacylglycerol content through a mechanism other than phosphoinositide hydrolysis in Swiss-mouse 3T3 fibroblasts

Treatment of Swiss-mouse 3T3 fibroblasts with a tumour-promoting phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), increases the absolute amount of 1,2-diacylglycerol (1,2-DG) in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Within 1 min of TPA (0.1 microM) addition to confluent monolayer cells, cellular 1,2-DG content increases significantly, and reaches a value nearly 4-fold above control at 10 min. The content of 1,2-DG then falls, but still remains at twice the basal value for up to 60 min. The effect of TPA on 1,2-DG content is dose-dependent, with a half-maximal effect obtained with 6 nM. Studies with a series of tumour promoters have revealed that stimulating effect on 1,2-DG formation is closely related to their relative potency as a tumour promoter, as well as their mitogenic effect on 3T3 cells. TPA does not have any stimulatory effect on phosphoinositide turnover, which is a major mechanism of 1,2-DG formation by natural agonists, including a peptide mitogen, bombesin, but significantly inhibits bombesin-induced phosphoinositide turnover. Nevertheless, the content of 1,2-DG is even higher in cells treated with both bombesin and TPA than in cells treated with bombesin alone. In addition, a diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor, R59022, increases 1,2-DG content synergistically with bombesin, but not with TPA. Measurements of the absolute amounts of various phospholipids show that TPA does not increase phosphatidic acid, despite a remarkable increase in 1,2-DG. Further studies on phospholipid metabolism reveal that TPA stimulates metabolic turnover of phosphatidylcholine (PC), without changing the mass of PC. TPA stimulates the incorporation of both [3H]choline and [32P]Pi into PC, and the release of [3H]choline metabolites from prelabelled cells. These findings suggest that TPA increases cellular 1,2-DG content mainly via increased PC turnover and diacylglycerol kinase inhibition. The present study provides evidence for a novel effect of TPA on the metabolism of 1,2-DG in Swiss-mouse 3T3 cells.
Relaxation Effects on Binding Energy Shifts in Barium and Some of its Compounds

The removal of charge from a metal atom during, for example, an oxidation process normally causes a shift in binding energy of the remaining core electrons to higher energies due to the reduction in screening of the nuclear charge. The size of this shift is reduced by the counteraction of the surrounding electrons; i.e., both interatomic and extra-atomic relaxation effects. The case of barium is unusual in that a slight negative binding energy shift is observed in some cases, most notably in going from the metal to the oxide. These measurements have been made using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy following the 3d and 4d Ba lines during oxidation of clean thin films. Some discussion of why these relaxation effects outweigh the charge transfer effect in Ba oxides will be given.
Inactivation of Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes in cantaloupe puree by high hydrostatic pressure with/without added ascorbic acid

Abstract The objective of this research was to evaluate and develop a method for inactivation of Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes in cantaloupe puree (CP) by high hydrostatic pressure (HHP). Cantaloupe being the most netted varieties of melons presents a greater risk of pathogen transmission. Freshly prepared CP with or without 0.1% ascorbic acid (AA) was inoculated with a bacterial cocktail composed of a three serotype mixture of S. enterica (S. Poona, S. Newport H1275 and S. Stanley H0558) and a mixture of three strains of L. monocytogenes (Scott A, 43256 and 51742) to a population of ca. 108 CFU/g. Double sealed and double bagged inoculated CP (ca. 5 g) were pressure treated at 300, 400 and 500 MPa at 8°C and 15 °C for 5 min. Data indicated increased inactivation of both Salmonella and Listeria spp. with higher pressure. Log reduction for CP at 300 MPa, 8°C for 5 min was 2.4 ± 0.2 and 1.6 ± 0.5 log CFU/g for Salmonella and Listeria, respectively. Survivability of the pathogens was significantly compromised at 400 MPa and 8 °C, inactivating 4.5 ± 0.3 log CFU/g of Salmonella and 3.0 ± 0.4 log CFU/g of Listeria spp. Complete inactivation of the pathogens in the puree (log reduction > 6.7 log CFU/g), with or without AA, was achieved when the pressure was further increased to 500 MPa, except that for Listeria containing no AA at 8 °C. Listeria presented higher resistance to pressure treatment compared to Salmonella spp. Initial temperatures (8 and 15 °C) had no significant influence on Salmonella log reductions. Log reduction of pathogens increased but not significantly with increase of temperature. AA did not show any significant antimicrobial activity. Viable counts were about 0.2–0.4 log CFU/g less in presence of 0.1% AA. These data validate that HHP can be used as an effective method for decontamination of cantaloupe puree.
The Reinforcement of Ableism: Normality, the Medical Model of Disability, and Humanism in Applied Behavior Analysis and ASD

Abstract The field of educating individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder has ever been rife with controversy regarding issues ranging from etiology and causation to effective intervention and educ...
Specimen Size Effect on Stress-Strain Response of Foams Under Direct-Impact

Stress-strain response of rigid closed-cell polymeric foam under direct impact loading conditions is investigated, focusing on the specimen size effects. Cylindrical specimens with two different length-to-diameter ratios are impacted at different projectile velocities. Stereovision high speed photography in conjunction with 3D digital image correlation is utilized to study the full-field deformation of specimens under impact loading. A non-parametric analysis is then conducted to extract the local stress-strain curves within specimens. The proposed analytical method takes into account the concurrent influences of inertia stresses and material compressibility. The inertia stress within the area of interest is evaluated using the full-field distributions of acceleration and density. The calculated inertia stress is then superimposed with the stress measured at the boundary to enable the determination of full-field stress distribution over the entire gauge area. The results obtained in this work confirm that the effects of inertia stresses become more pronounced as specimen length-to-diameter ratio increases; whereas the degree of strain and strain rate variability is also elevated.
Response of distribution feeder microgrids to system-level reserve requests

The ability of distribution feeder microgrids to operate as a controllable entity and participate in system-level services is assessed in this paper. The concept of distribution feeder microgrid is introduced. A control mechanism that fits this architecture and fulfills performance criteria as well as stability requirements is discussed in detail. Distribution feeder microgrids when equipped with the proposed control mechanism is shown to have the potential for increasing the heterogeneity of generation-mix and unveiling the hidden capacity of under-utilized resources that can be used in essential power system services. Simulation results verify the envisioned advantages of the application.
Complexities of normal bases constructed from Gauss periods

Let q be a power of a prime p, and let $$r=nk+1$$ be a prime such that $$r\not \mid q$$ , where n and k are positive integers. Under a simple condition on q, r and k, a Gauss period of type (n, k) is a normal element of $${\mathbb {F}}_{q}^{n}$$ over $${\mathbb {F}}_q$$ ; the complexity of the resulting normal basis of $${\mathbb {F}}_{q}^{n}$$ over $${\mathbb {F}}_q$$ is denoted by C(n, k; p). Recent works determined C(n, k; p) for $$k\le 7$$ and all qualified n and q. In this paper, we show that for any given $$k>0$$ , C(n, k; p) is given by an explicit formula except for finitely many primes $$r=nk+1$$ and the exceptional primes are easily determined. Moreover, we describe an algorithm that allows one to compute C(n, k; p) for the exceptional primes $$r=nk+1$$ . Our numerical results cover C(n, k; p) for $$k\le 20$$ and all qualified n and q.
A finite God reconsidered

Le concept d'un dieu limite a ete soutenu par David Ray Griffin. Deux autres auteurs defendent ce concept : l'idealiste Edgar Sheffield Brightman ainsi que Platon dans une version qui remonte au Timee et qui constitue la version la plus seduisante de toutes. Ces auteurs partagent trois caracteristiques : la creation n'est pas une creation ex nihilo, le monde est co-eternel a Dieu, Dieu a un pouvoir limite pour traiter le probleme du mal.
Modeling Spiritual Formation from a Distance: Paul's Formation Transactions with the Roman Christians

This article proposes that Paul's letter to the church in Rome can identify processes involved in offering a spiritually formative education from a distance. When Paul wrote the letter to Rome, he ...
Diffusing wild type and sterile mosquitoes in an optimal control setting.

Abstract This paper develops an optimal control framework to investigate the introduction of sterile type mosquitoes to reduce the overal moquito population. As is well known, mosquitoes are vectors of disease. For instance the WHO lists, among other diseases, Malaria, Dengue Fever, Rift Valley Fever, Yellow Fever, Chikungunya Fever and Zika. [ http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs387/en/ ] The goal is to establish the existence of a solution given an optimal sterilization protocol as well as to develop the corresponding optimal control representation to minimize the infiltrating mosquito population while minimizing fecundity and the number of sterile type mosquitoes introduced into the environment per unit time. This paper incorporates the diffusion of the mosquitoes into the controlled model and presents a number of numerical simulations.
Metabolic Engineering of Methanotrophic Bacteria for Industrial Biomanufacturing

CH4 offers a promising, high-volume petroleum replacement for fuel and chemical bioprocesses. Recent advances in gas recovery technologies have facilitated access to previously inaccessible natural gas reserves, while biogas generated from anaerobic digestion of waste streams offers a versatile, renewable CH4 source. Importantly, CH4 is also the second most abundant greenhouse gas (GHG), with nearly 60% of emissions derived from anthropogenic sources. However, the gaseous state of CH4 makes for a lack of compatibility with current transportation and industrial manufacturing infrastructure, limiting its utilization as a transportation fuel and intermediate in biochemical processes. Resurgent interest in CH4 upgrading has pushed microbial conversion of CH4 to fuels and value-added chemicals to the forefront of industrial bioprocessing. CH4 bioconversion offers both CH4 valorization and GHG emission reduction potential and importantly offers a scalable, modular, and selective approach to CH4 utilization compared to conventional physical and chemical conversion strategies. However, as noted above, advances in CH4 biocatalysis have been constrained by limited genetic tractability of natural CH4-consuming microbes. In this chapter, we review recent advances in methanotrophic genetic and genomic tool development and metabolic engineering.
Recruitment Strategies for Cancer Prevention Trials

A prevention trial based on solid preclinical or clinical data may fail without a well-thought-out strategy for recruitment, retention of subjects, and sufficient expenditure of resources. Ruffin and Baron (1) point out that less than 10% of subjects identified as eligible for the trials are ultimately recruited. Since prevention trial subjects are well, they may feel that they have little to gain by participating. Concerns over waiting, travel time, costs, and fear of randomization are some of the barriers to recruitment. In addition, failure to recognize the importance of health care providers in recruitment and overly complex trial designs may also delay or inhibit accrual goals. In studies involving hereditary high-risk subjects, participants may not wish to enroll because of fear of loss of employment or loss of insurability.
A Global-local Approach to Nonlinear System Identification

We present the basic components of a time-domain nonlinear system identification (NSI) method with promise of applicability to a broad class of smooth and non-smooth dynamical systems. The proposed NSI method is based on the close correspondence between analytical and empirical slow-flow dynamics, and relies on direct analysis of measured time series without any a priori assumptions on the system dynamics. The central assumption is that the measured time series can be decomposed in terms of a finite number of oscillating components that are in the form of fast monochromatic oscillations modulated by slow amplitudes. The empirical slow-flow model of the dynamics is obtained from empirical mode decomposition, and its correspondence to the analytical slow-flow model establishes a local nonlinear interaction model (NIM). A NIM consists of a set of intrinsic modal oscillators (IMOs) that can reproduce the measured time series over different time scales and can account for (even strongly) nonlinear modal interactions. Hence, it represents a local model of the dynamics, identifying specific nonlinear transitions. By collecting energy-dependent frequency behaviors from all identified IMOs, a frequency-energy plot (in the modal space) can be constructed, which depicts global features of the dynamical system.
ON A PROTOTYPE SOLID DESICCANT AIR-CONDITIONER AND ITS PERFORMANCE DATA

ABSTRACT This paper presents a prototype solid desiccant air-conditioner and its performance data. The prototype incorporates a latent heat exchanger (desiccant wheel), a sensible heat exchanger and two humidifiers. The designed cooling capacity for the prototype is 2.3 kW (2000 kcal/hr) at JIS standard rating condition for electrical air-conditioners (27 °C/50%RH indoor and 35 °C/40%RH outside) (JIS: Japanese Industrial Standard). Smaller cooling capacity was chosen to fit one or two rooms of light cooling load as in Japan. The temperature of the heat source fed to the unit was chosen to be lower than usual in order to utilize solar energy as efficiently as possible. The desiccant wheel (ϕ600 mm × 200 mm) is made of plastic non-woven cloth, and lithium chroride is permeated into the matrix as desiccant. The matrix of the sensible heat exchanger (ϕ550 mm × 200 mm) is made of thin aluminum sheet. Each of the two humidifiers has an endless belt type filter of nylon through which air passes. All of these components are accommodated in one compact unit (w670 mm × d640 mm × hl800 mm, excluding the heat source unit). As the result of calorimetry, it turned out that the designed performance of the prototype was cleared, although the prototype has a number of points to be improved. The prototype air-conditioner was installed in a solar house which has solar thermal collectors of 44 m2 and solar photovoltaic cells of 25 m2, and at present it is under field test.
Syntheses, Structures, and Thermal Properties of Gyroscope-like Complexes Consisting of PtCl2 Rotators Encased in Macrocyclic Dibridgehead Diphosphines P((CH2)n)3P with Extended Methylene Chains (n = 20/22/30) and Isomers Thereof

Reactions of P((CH2)mCH═CH2)3 (2.0 equiv; m = 9 (f), 10 (g), 14 (k)) and PtCl2 in toluene give trans-PtCl2(P((CH2)mCH═CH2)3)2 (trans-1f,g,k; 63–49%). Reactions of trans-1f,g with Grubbs first generation catalyst (CH2Cl2/reflux) followed by hydrogenations (cat. PtO2) afford chromatographically separable gyroscope-like trans-PtCl2(P((CH2)n)3P) (trans-2f,g, 3–19%; from interligand metathesis) and trans-PtCl2(P((CH2)n−1CH2)(CH2)nP((CH2)n−1CH2)) (trans-2′f,g, 25–12%; from inter- and intraligand metathesis), where n = 2m + 2. Under analogous conditions, trans-1k gives only cis-PtCl2(P((CH2)30)3P) (cis-2k, 39%), but when o-C6H4Cl2 solutions are kept at 180 °C, trans-2k forms (quantitative by 31P NMR; 72% isolated). In contrast, a similar sequence with the Hoveyda–Grubbs second generation catalyst gives only trans-2k (8%). The stability order cis > trans is established for 1g and 2′f,g in CH2Cl2 (61–56:39–44; months at RT), but the opposite is found for 1g and 2′f in toluene (9–7:91–93) or 2′f in o-C6H4Cl2 (7:93)...
Path Planning in an Uncertain Environment Using Approximate Dynamic Programming Methods

Routing in uncertain environments is challenging as it involves a number of contextual elements, such as different environmental conditions (forecast realizations with varying spatial and temporal uncertainty), changes in mission goals while en route, and asset status. In this paper, we use an approximate dynamic programming method with Q-factors to determine a cost-to-go approximation by treating the weather forecast realization information as a stochastic state. These types of algorithms take a large amount of offline computation time to determine the cost-to-go approximation, but once obtained, the online route recommendation is nearly instantaneous and several orders of magnitude faster than previously proposed ship routing algorithms. The proposed algorithm is robust to the uncertainty present in the weather forecasts. We compare this algorithm to a well-known shortest path algorithm and apply the approach to a real-world shipping tragedy using weather forecast realizations available prior to the event.
Characterization of the Volatile Compounds in Raw and Roasted Georgia Pecans by HS‐SPME‐GC‐MS

Volatile compounds are responsible for the characteristic aroma of raw and roasted pecans. Yet, much is unknown about the specific effects of roasting on pecan volatiles. In this study, the volatiles of raw "Desirable" pecans from Georgia and 3 roasted pecan samples (175 °C for 5, 10, and 15 min) were determined by HS-SPME coupled to GC-MS using stable deuterium-labeled volatiles as internal standards for quantitation. As expected, roasting markedly impacted the volatile profile of pecans: a total of 63 flavor-active compounds were identified in roasted samples, including 9 compounds not detected in raw "Desirable" pecans. Pyrazines, notable indicators of the Maillard reaction, were found only in roasted samples and demonstrated continual increases throughout observed roasting times. Furthermore, it was noted that hydrocarbon derivatives showed substantial increases with roasting, likely a result of the degradation of nonvolatile lipids. The observed changes correspond well to prior sensory investigations concerning the impact of roasting on pecan flavor, and explain increases in intensity for roasted, nutty, buttery, and sweet sensory traits. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The results of this study document the volatile constituents generated during the roasting of pecans, and this may help formulators, who are trying to develop natural and artificial pecan flavors in new food products.
Annual Residency Patterns and Diet of Phoca vitulina concolor (Western Atlantic Harbor Seal) in a Southern New Jersey Estuary

From 1996 to 2011, researchers observed Phoca vitulina concolor (Western Atlantic Harbor Seal) on regional overwintering grounds in the Great Bay–Mullica River estuary in southern New Jersey. Over this 15-y time series, 299 observations were completed, with maximum local abundance increasing from 100 individuals in 1996 to 160 individuals in 2011. Our study did not document the presence of Atlantic Harbor Seal pups. In addition, we analyzed 142 scat samples, resulting in 1419 sagittal fish otoliths recovered and identified. Dominant recovered otoliths were as follows: 48% Phycidae (Urophycis regia [Spotted Hake]/Urophycis chuss [Red Hake]; 25% Clupeidae (Clupea harengus [Atlantic Herring], Alosa sapidissima [American Shad], Brevoortia tyrannus [Atlantic Menhaden], A. pseudoharengus [Alewife], and A. aestivalis [Blueback Herring]); 13% Ammodytidae (Ammodytes americanus/A. dubius [sandlance]); 6% Pseudopleuronectes americanus (Winter Flounder); and 4% Scophthalmus aquosus (Windowpane Flounder). Average back-calculated prey lengths across all prey groups (min–max = 5–41 cm, average = 19.75 cm) indicated that Western Atlantic Harbor Seals might utilize both estuarine and ocean environments for foraging. This temperate estuary currently represents the southern limit of routine Western Atlantic Harbor Seal occupancy in the Northeast. As such, our results are valuable in monitoring future changes in habitat use potentially resulting from climate change.
The Effectiveness of Setting Governmental Accounting Standards: The Case of Michigan Governments in Fiscal Distress

The purpose of setting accounting standards is to improve the quality of the financial statements on which users base their decisions. The financial reporting model set up by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) is comprehensive and complex, as are the governments on which these statements report. We provide a framework for evaluating whether financial statements are used and understood by decision makers and explain the components of the GASB Statement No. 34 financial reporting model introduced in 1999. We present financial indicators from the Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports for 12 Michigan governments over three points in a 10-year period, along with an indication of whether trends are favorable or unfavorable. We suggest that governing bodies assess to what extent their members use financial statements in making decisions. If officials are trained to monitor financial performance on a regular basis, then decision-making may improve and fiscal crises may be averted.
The Fracture Callus Is Formed by Progenitors of Different Skeletal Origins in a Site‐Specific Manner

We evaluated repair following a mid-diaphyseal fracture of the tibia in 3-month-old mice. We observed differences in the repair process at three different sites of the callus. Site 1: bone developing from the outer layer of the periosteum of the cortex; site 2: bone developing within the bridge/central region of the fracture; and site 3: bone developing within the marrow of the ends of broken bones. We characterized these sites by correlating datasets from X-ray CT and histology. Correlated data demonstrated the involvement of different cells and different rates of mineralization. The origin of the progenitors and mechanism of progenitor differentiation involved at these sites was then evaluated using lineage tracing of cells expressing Prx1 and Col.2. The Prx1 progeny contributed to intramembranous bone formation (IBF) at site 1 and endochondral bone formation (EndoBF) at site 2 but not to intramedullary bone formation (IMBF) at site 3. IBF at site 1 was confirmed without a chondrocyte intermediate unlike EndoBF at site 2. Additionally, the presence of Col.2 progeny contributed to EndoBF in site 2 and IMBF in site 3 but not to IBF in site 1. However, the Col.2 progeny in IMBF in site 3 appeared to come from Col.2-expressing osteocytes originating in the cortices of the ends of the fractured bone. In conclusion we have identified three sites of bone fracture repair that differ in their origin of cells and their mechanisms of bone formation. © 2019 The Authors JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Engineering Capstone Design Education: Current Practices, Emerging Trends, and Successful Strategies

Capstone design courses play an important role in the preparation of engineering students for professional practice and career success. They allow students to apply what they have learned prior to their senior year along with newly developed skills relating to the solution of real-world design problems, often in a team environment with external clients. Team-based capstone design courses provide opportunities for students to develop teamwork and communication skills. In the United States, accredited engineering programs are required to offer a major design experience; most programs fulfill this requirement through a capstone design course. Differences in course learning outcomes, management, structure, duration, projects, student teams, and required deliverables exist among institutions. This chapter presents the current state of engineering capstone design education and highlights changes to capstone design practices in the U.S. over the past 25 years, based on extensive, seminal surveys of capstone design programs. It discusses current practices and successful strategies in engineering capstone design education. The chapter includes perspectives and feedback from hundreds of engineering capstone design faculty regarding their personal experiences with capstone design programs. This chapter also provides recommendations for supporting engineering capstone design experiences based on the authors’ vast experience teaching and managing capstone design courses and engaging with the capstone design community. These recommendations include scaffolding the design curriculum, fostering industry involvement in capstone design courses, keeping courses and faculty up-to-date with current design practices, obtaining organizational support for capstone design courses, sourcing capstone design projects, and preparing students for professional practice.