cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Microstructure, Phase and Ferroelectric Properties of PZT Thin Films on Oriented Multilayer Electrodes

Three kinds of oriented electrodes of Pt, Ir and Pt/Ir electrodes were prepared using electron beam evaporation techniques for deposition of PZT thin films. An oxide MOCVD reactor with liquid delivery system was used for the growth of PZT thin films. [Pb(thd) 2 ], Zr(TMHD) 4 and Ti(IPO) 4 were dissolved in a mixed solvent of tetrahydrofuran or butyl ether, isopropanol and tetraglyme to form a precursor source. The deposition temperature and pressure were 500 - 650°C and 5 - 10 Torr, respectively. The experimental results showed PZT thin film deposited on various electrodes had different phase formation, microstructure and ferroelectric property. The X-ray patterns showed the perovskite phase of PZT was formed on both Ir and Pt/Ir electrodes at 550°C. The grain size of the PZT thin film increases after a further, higher temperature annealing. The as-deposited PZT thin film on Pt electrode exhibits pyrochlore phase at 550°C. The phase is transformed to perovskite phase after 650°C annealing. The experimental results also indicated that the MOCVD PZT thin film on Pt/Ir exhibits better ferroelectric and electrical properties compared to those deposited on Pt and Ir electrodes. A 300 nm thick PZT thin film on Pt/Ir electrode has a square, well saturated, and symmetrical hysteresis loop with 2Pr value of 40 μC/cm 2 and 2Ec of 73 kV/cm at an applied voltage of 5 V. The hysteresis loop of the PZT thin film is almost saturated at 2 V. The leakage current of the film is 6.16 × 10 −7 A/cm 2 at 100 KV/cm. The electrode effects on ferroelectric properties of PZT thin films also have been investigated.
Catalyst Chelation Effects in Organocatalyzed Ring-Opening Polymerization of Lactide

(−)-Sparteine is a proven organocatalyst for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of l-lactide, which affords polymers of controlled molecular weight and narrow polydispersity. The recent worldwide shortage of (−)-sparteine has necessitated the identification of simple and cost-effective replacement ROP catalysts. A series of commercially available molecules was first identified through molecular modeling and then subsequently investigated for polymerizing l-lactide. The modeling proved very useful at predicting spatial relationships and nitrogen geometries that greatly aided in the rapid identification of various alkyl amines as alternative organocatalysts.
Employment Relations and the Social Sciences

The article reviews the book ‘Employment Relations and the Social Sciences,’ by Stephen M. Hills.
Growth of L cell suspensions on a Warburg apparatus.

SummaryA study was made of the growth of suspension cultures of L cells when agitated by a Warburg apparatus through use of specially designed holders for the culture flasks. The basal medium was supplemented with certain compounds as protectants for the cells. Logarithmic growth curves were obtained with serum-free and serum-containing cultures. Good reproducibility of growth curves of replicate cultures was obtained. Certain advantages for growing suspension cultures were realized.
Variation in prostate cancer treatment associated with population density of the county of residence

Variation in prostate cancer treatment associated with population density of the county of residence
Electrically Enhanced Deposition of a Confined Aerosol in the Presence of Ionizing Radiation

The effect of an electric field on the deposition of a confined aerosol in the presence of ionizing radiation is determined experimentally. A method to determine depositional rate coefficients from...
Integration of functional mock-up units into a dynamic power systems simulation tool

Modelica is an object oriented modeling language that allows straightforward specification of differential,algebraic and discrete equations in a standardized format. It has been used in a number of applications to support multi-domain system simulations such as are found in the automotive and aerospace industries. More recently it has begun to be used in the power systems industry. Modelica models can be compiled into functional mock-up interfaces(FMI) which contain standardized interfaces to the modeling equations and dynamically linked libraries which allow the coupling of models with each other or into other simulation software. The interface allows the decoupling of the model from the mathematical solver used for the simulation. In this document we describe in detail the coupling between functional mock-up units and GridDyn, a dynamic power system simulation tool, which incorporates a DAE solver and variable time step methods.
A high-yield isolation and enrichment strategy for human lung microvascular endothelial cells.

Vasculopathies, characterized by the formation of fragile and abnormal microvessels, are associated with the severity of many chronic lung diseases, including pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema/chronic ...
A robust M2M Gateway for effective integration of capillary and 3GPP networks

Machine to Machine (M2M) communication has gained much momentum in the recent past, both within academia and across different industries. Many of the M2M applications are required to send data to the M2M server connected directly or indirectly to the communication network such as 3GPP network. This requires connecting millions of M2M devices, apart from usual mobile devices, to the 3GPP network. However, this imposes a major deployment and management challenge, since the network was originally not designed to support billions of simultaneous connections. This paper discusses a practical M2M network deployment scenario and the architectural details. The paper provides a novel method to efficiently and effectively maintain and monitor multiplicity of M2M devices deployed for various applications such as monitoring, surveillance and tracking. Simulation result shows the benefits and practical uses of the proposed method.
Phase coherency of generated millimeter wave signals using fiber optic distribution of a reference

The work presented here is focused on analytical comparison of various methods of generating a low phase noise millimeter-wave local signal, from a frequency reference. Noise performance requirements of directly and externally modulated fiber optic distribution networks are considered. Four techniques of multiplication, phase-locked loop, injection locking, and injection locking with phase locked loop are compared in terms of system figures of merit.
Segmentation-free image processing and analysis of precipitate shapes in 2D and 3D

Segmentation based image analysis techniques are routinely employed for quantitative analysis of complex microstructures containing two or more phases. The primary advantage of these approaches is that spatial information on the distribution of phases is retained, enabling subjective judgements of the quality of the segmentation and subsequent analysis process. The downside is that computing micrograph segmentations with data from morphologically complex microstructures gathered with error-prone detectors is challenging and, if no special care is taken, the artifacts of the segmentation will make any subsequent analysis and conclusions uncertain. In this paper we demonstrate, using a two phase nickel-base superalloy microstructure as a model system, a new methodology for analysis of precipitate shapes using a segmentation-free approach based on the histogram of oriented gradients feature descriptor, a classic tool in image analysis. The benefits of this methodology for analysis of microstructure in two and three-dimensions are demonstrated.
Packed Bed Biofilm Reactors: Design

A simplified design method is applied to the design of submerged filter and expanded bed biofilm reactors. Typical design parameters as well as kinetic and mass transfer coefficients are listed for several bacterial reactions including fermentation, aerobic respiration, nitrification and denitrification. The Monod maximum utilization rate appears to be smaller for biofilm reactors than for suspended growth reactors. However, biofilm reactors have much larger substrate removal rates per unit volume than suspended growth reactors due to the larger organism concentration. The expanded bed reactor has greater substrate removal rates than the submerged filter due to larger surface areas, less trapping of influent suspended solids, and smaller stagnant liquid layer depths.
Hydride Transfer at the GaP(110)/Solution Interface: Mechanistic Implications for CO2 Reduction Catalyzed by Pyridine

Surface hydrides (H–*s) play a crucial role in one of the heterogeneous mechanisms proposed for pyridine-catalyzed CO2 reduction on p-GaP electrodes. In this mechanism, H–* is transferred to adsorbed pyridine (Py*) concomitant with aqueous proton addition to form the active catalyst adsorbed dihydropyridine (DHP*), which in turn transfers hydride to CO2 and leads to its reduction. In this contribution, we test the validity of these hypothesized hydride transfers, determining whether or not H–* can participate in the mechanism of CO2 reduction on p-GaP electrodes. To this end, we use our previously developed cluster models with hybrid density functional theory and a mixed implicit–explicit solvation approach to calculate the thermodynamic hydricity of relevant species involved in the proposed mechanism. Overall, the proposed heterogeneous mechanism is supported by the computed thermodynamic hydricities. However, computed reaction and activation energies for H–* transfer from the surface reveal that H–* can...
The Anatomy of Monoaminergic-Cholinergic Interactions in the Primate Basal Forebrain

All areas of the cerebral cortex receive a dense cholinergic innervation which arises from the medial septal nucleus (Ch1), vertical and horizontal limb nuclei of the diagonal band (Ch2 and Ch3), and nucleus basalis of Meynert (nbM, Ch4). Neuroanatomical experiments in the monkey have shown that the hippocampal complex receives its cholinergic input predominantly from Ch1 and Ch2 whereas the cerebral neocortex and amygdala receive their cholinergic inputs predominantly from Ch4. The cholinergic innervation of the cerebral cortex constitutes a major component of the Ascending Reticular Activating System and plays an important role in a variety of behavioral realms, including memory, learning, arousal, and attention.
Caregiver–Adolescent Disagreement on the Mental Health of Youth in Foster Care: The Moderating Role of the Caregiver Relationship:

It is not uncommon for caregivers and adolescents to provide different perspectives of adolescents’ mental health symptoms; however, few studies have examined these discrepancies, especially betwee...
Role of Nursing in the Management of Acute Heart Failure Syndromes

When patients are treated for severe acute heart failure (HF) syndromes in a HF clinic, they are either acutely symptomatic and in need of urgent therapies or recovering from an acute decompensation episode and in need of follow-up monitoring and treatments to prevent hospitalization and worsening clinical status. worsening clinical status. Many pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies can be delivered by nurses, especially advanced practice nurses with prescribing privileges. with prescribing privileges. This chapter focuses on two topic areas that affect the nursing care of patients with severe acute HF in a clinic setting. patients with severe acute HF in a clinic setting. First, nurse caregiver expectations should be developed to match a nurse’s education level and licensure. licensure. Second, nursing roles are based on the type and level of services offered and how well services specifically promote quality care and patient safety. patient safety. When nurses are active members in a collaborative team and have the autonomy to make treatment decisions based on consensus guideline evidence and best practices, patients’ conditions can steadily improve, resulting in decreased mortality and morbidity and a good quality-of-life outcome. quality-of-life outcome.
Inactivation of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis 197 and Francisella tularensis LVS in beverages by high pressure processing.

In 2003, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a new research program to develop technologies and strategies to prevent and minimize potential food safety and security threats. The threat of terrorist attacks against the nation's food supplies has created the need to study microorganisms not typically associated with foodborne illness. High-pressure processing has been proposed as a treatment to reduce Yersinia pestis and Francisella tularensis LVS levels in beverages. The objectives of this work were to determine the pressure resistance of Y. pseudotuberculosis 197 (surrogate for Y. pestis) and F. tularensis LVS (vaccine strain). For each bacterium, samples of ultrahigh-temperature pasteurized skim milk and pasteurized reduced-acid orange juice (pH ca. 4.2) were inoculated at a minimum level of 5 log CFU/ml. Ten-milliliter samples of the inoculated product were vacuum sealed in polyester pouches and subjected to pressures of 300 and 500 MPa for holding times ranging from 30 s to 6 mi...
Intravesical Thiotepa versus Mitomycin C in Patients with TA, T1 and TIS Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder: A Phase III Prospective Randomized Study

AbstractA prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted by the National Bladder Cancer Group to compare thiotepa and mitomycin C in ablating residual Ta, T1 and TIS transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Eight weekly instillations were given followed by cystoscopy 4 weeks after the treatment was stopped. The over-all complete response rate based on cystoscopy and either biopsy or cytology was 26 per cent for thiotepa versus 39 per cent for mitomycin C (p equals 0.08). The greatest efficacy was seen in the Ta group with mitomycin C demonstrating superiority over thiotepa.Patients with negative cystoscopy and biopsy but who had positive cytology were considered to be partial responders. When partial and complete responders were combined the over-all response rate was 53 per cent for thiotepa and 63 per cent for mitomycin C (p equals 0.23). Patients with TIS appeared to respond equally to thiotepa and mitomycin C. Toxicity included urinary frequency in 22 of the 73 patients in the thiotepa arm and...
Abstract 3272: Effect of Non-Soy Legume Consumption on Cholesterol Levels: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Studies evaluating the effect of legume consumption on cholesterol have focused primarily on soybeans, however non-soy legumes are more commonly consumed in the Western countries. We conducted a me...
Feminization imprinted by developmental growth hormone

Previously, we identified early developmental exposure to growth hormone (GH) as the requisite organizer responsible for programming the masculinization of the hepatic cytochromes P450 (CYP)-dependent drug metabolizing enzymes (Das et al., 2014, 2017). In spite of the generally held dogma that mammalian feminization requires no hormonal imprinting, numerous reports that the sex-dependent regulation and expression of hepatic CYPs in females are permanent and irreversible would suggest otherwise. Consequently, we selectively blocked GH secretion in a cohort of newborn female rats, some of whom received concurrent GH replacement or GH releasing factor. As adults, the feminine circulating GH profile was restored in the treated animals. Two categories of CYPs were measured. The principal and basically female specific CYP2C12 and CYP2C7; both completely and solely dependent on the adult feminine continuous GH profile for expression, and the female predominant CYP2C6 and CYP2E1 whose expression is maximum in the absence of plasma GH, suppressed by the feminine GH profile but more so by the masculine episodic GH profile. Our findings indicate that early developmental exposure to GH imprints the inchoate CYP2C12 and CYP2C7 in the differentiating liver to be solely dependent on the feminine GH profile for expression in the adult female. In contrast, adult expression of CYP2C6 and CYP2E1 in the female rat appears to require no GH imprinting.
SURVIVAL OF SALMONELLA PULLORUM ON THE SKIN OF HUMAN BEINGS AND IN EGGS DURING STORAGE AND VARIOUS METHODS OF COOKING1,2

S. Pullorum causes a dysentery-like disease in human beings. It seemed desirable to know its survival time under the conditions indicated above. No recovery could be made from the skin of the back ...
Orbits of Abelian Automaton Groups

Automaton groups are a class of self-similar groups generated by invertible finite-state transducers [11]. Extending the results of Nekrashevych and Sidki [12], we describe a useful embedding of abelian automaton groups into a corresponding algebraic number field, and give a polynomial time algorithm to compute this embedding. We apply this technique to study iteration of transductions in abelian automaton groups. Specifically, properties of this number field lead to a polynomial-time algorithm for deciding when the orbits of a transduction are a rational relation. These algorithms were implemented in the SageMath computer algebra system and are available online [2].
Child Life Specialists’ Experiences Addressing Social Determinants of Health: A Web-Based Survey:

We used Google Forms to survey 110 child life specialists on their experiences addressing family psychosocial issues. Most respondents were female (99%) and white (95%), with mean age 34 ± 10 years. Ninety-five percent reported addressing family psychosocial issues during the previous 3 months, including parental separation/divorce (71%), poverty/financial needs (64%), parental mental illness (59%), substance abuse at home (54%), homelessness/housing problems (54%), bullying (49%), physical neglect (46%), physical abuse (46%), unemployment (46%), emotional neglect (45%), and hunger/food insecurity (42%). Eighty-five percent of respondents reported addressing family psychosocial issues once per month or more often, with 80% providing coping strategies, 76% providing family support, 66% providing therapeutic play, and 66% providing psychological preparation. These findings indicate that child life specialists frequently address a range of family psychosocial issues. Further research is needed to clarify the role and impact of child life services on social determinants of health.
Process intensification of solar thermal power using hybridization, flexible heat integration, and real-time optimization

Abstract This work demonstrates process intensification of a solar thermal and natural gas hybrid power plant. Process intensification is achieved in three novel ways: 1- By synergistically designing the plant, the efficiency at which solar power is collected is dramatically improved. The plant uses a parabolic trough solar collector and combines it with natural gas for steam superheating and auxiliary power. 2- This work introduces the concept of Flexible Heat Integration (FHI) for solar thermal power plants. By designing the plant with the ability to deliver heat at various temperatures and to various processes (high, medium, and low temperature), radiative heat losses in the solar field can be drastically reduced. 3- In order to leverage the operational flexibility designed into the system, a real-time optimization scheme is added to determine the temperature at which to collect heat and the location for the heat delivery. While each of these features is novel, FHI has not been explored in this context, making its exploration the major contribution in this work. After applying each of these process intensification measures, the total solar energy collected relative to a solar only plant increases by 89.1%. Other results including efficiency, solar fraction, and economics are also evaluated.
Deep learning in medical and surgical instruments

Abstract Deep learning (DL) is a host of techniques used to implement machine learning on a grand scale. They have gained popularity for their accuracy in analysis and limited human intervention to prediction results. This chapter is a survey paper on DL for medical and surgical instruments. Medical and surgical instruments have been a part of our day-to-day lives for well-being of our species. They provide monitoring, diagnoses, and medical procedures based on different levels of illness. In the following sections, we review medical and surgical instruments in practice, followed by an expose on DL techniques and available commercial and research tools. Finally, we provide a summary of some of the recent key papers, which apply DL to the medical domain and its instrumentation.
Optimal Load Discharge of a Capacitive Energy Storage Device

This paper proposes a novel concept of optimizing the load profile for a given capacitive energy storage system using a Lyapunov based closed loop controller where the objective is to balance energy and power usage of a load. The energy storage source is modeled as a capacitor for simplicity to explore the theoretical and practical implications of the developed technique. After illustrating the control law experimentally, simulation and experimental results are presented to extrapolate its use to other conditions. Experimentally, the load is implemented with a controllable load instrument. Weights are used to emphasize different features of the optimal control law’s objective. When the objective is focused towards minimizing load voltage, the control law results in a simple, exponential discharge of the storage energy. In contrast, when load power is the objective, the majority of the storage energy is extracted in an initial pulse with a higher loss of energy through the system’s parasitic resistance. These two behaviors allow for a shaping of the storage power through closed loop load scheduling. Results show that the optimal discharge shape approaches that of a pulse load, and is applicable to pulse load applications such as rail guns and radar on electric naval ships.
The Importance of Social Identity in Feedback Seeking: A Race Perspective

This chapter presents an integration between feedback seeking and social identity literatures to highlight the importance of race in the feedback-seeking process. The feedback research up to this point has not explicitly considered the influence of race at a deep level, while trends such as increasing diversity in the workforce and less structured approaches to performance feedback underscore the need for attention to the topic of race. A conceptual model is presented to illustrate how the feedback-seeking process is influenced by distal factors including societal and organizational contexts, as well as more proximal influences such as the interactive effects of individuals, their coworkers, and the social identities of each. Important aspects of the feedback-seeking process are reviewed with a focus on generating testable propositions, which are informed by theoretical perspectives on race. Finally, potential areas of intervention are discussed.
Food Attribution and Economic Cost Estimates for Meat and Poultry Related Illnesses.

ABSTRACT The economic burden of foodborne illness has been estimated to be as high as US$90 billion annually. For policy purposes, it is often important to understand not only the overall cost of illness but also the costs associated with individual products or groups of products. In this study, I estimate the cost of foodborne illnesses from 29 pathogens associated with nongame meat and poultry products that are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. To complete this, I merge results from a food attribution model with results from an illness model and an economic burden of illness model. The food attribution model uses outbreak and expert elicitation data to attribute foods to pathogens. The illness model is a replication of the 2011 study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The economic cost model is an updated version of previously published studies that include costs for medical care, lost productivity, loss of life, and pain and suffering. The primary attribution model, based largely on Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration assumptions, estimates that meat and poultry products are vectors for 30.9% of all foodborne illnesses. This translates into 2.9 million annual illnesses, yielding economic costs of up to $20.3 billion. The costliest food-pathogen pairs include Campylobacter spp. in poultry ($6.9 billion), Salmonella spp. in chicken and pork ($2.8 and $1.9 billion, respectively), and Toxoplasma gondii in pork ($1.9 billion). Results based on alternative attribution and economic model assumptions are also presented, generating meat and poultry attribution estimates ranging from 27.1 to 36.7% and economic costs of $8.1 to $22.5 billion. HIGHLIGHTS
Pulsed Field Ablation Using a Lattice Electrode for Focal Energy Delivery: Biophysical Characterization, Lesion Durability, and Safety Evaluation.

Background: Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a nonthermal energy that may provide safety advantages over radiofrequency ablation (RFA). One-shot PFA catheters have been developed for pulmonary vein i...
Machine learning for composition analysis of ssDNA using chemical enhancement in SERS

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an attractive method for bio-chemical sensing due to its potential for single molecule sensitivity and the prospect of DNA composition analysis. In this manuscript we leverage metal specific chemical enhancement effect to detect differences in SERS spectra of 200-base length single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) molecules adsorbed on gold or silver nanorod substrates, and then develop and train a linear regression as well as neural network models to predict the composition of ssDNA. Our results indicate that employing substrates of different metals that host a given adsorbed molecule leads to distinct SERS spectra, allowing to probe metal-molecule interactions under distinct chemical enhancement regimes. Leveraging this difference and combining spectra from different metals as an input for PCA (Principal Component Analysis) and NN (Neural Network) models, allows to significantly lower the detection errors compared to manual feature-choosing analysis as well as compared to the case where data from single metal is used. Furthermore, we show that NN model provides superior performance in the presence of complex noise and data dispersion factors that affect SERS signals collected from metal substrates fabricated on different days.
Fishermen, the fishing industry and the Great War at sea: a forgotten history?: by Robb Robinson, Research in Maritime History no. 54, Liverpool, Liverpool University Press, 2019, viii + 202 pp., US $115.12 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-7869-4991-2

Robinson’s volume celebrates the contributions of fishermen to the United Kingdom’s effort in the First World War, a history which he feels has largely been forgotten. He provides a detailed accoun...
Does low self-control contribute to police officers’ procedurally unjust treatment of citizens? A unique test of Gottfredson and Hirschi’s generality hypothesis

Over the last decade, the American policing has endured a legitimacy crisis. During this time, many citizens – particularly citizens of color – have begun to lose trust and confidence in the police...
Zivilrechtliche Grundsätze des Organisationsverschuldens

Der Begriff des (medizinrechtlichen) Organisationsverschuldens ist bisher vor allem in der zivilrechtlichen Rechtsprechung von Bedeutung gewesen und hat in diesem Kontext auch eine eingehende Diskussion in der Literatur erfahren. Als Ausgangspunkt fur die nahere Auseinandersetzung mit einer strafrechtlichen Organisationshaftung sollen daher zunachst die zivilrechtlichen Grundsatze des Organisationsverschuldens und die in der Rechtsprechung anerkannten Fallgruppen eingehender betrachtet werden, um anschliesend ihre Ubertragbarkeit ins Strafrecht zu uberprufen.
Tree-based synthetic control methods: Consequences of relocating the US embassy

We recast the synthetic controls for evaluating policies as a counterfactual prediction problem and replace its linear regression with a nonparametric model inspired by machine learning. The proposed method enables us to achieve accurate counterfactual predictions and we provide theoretical guarantees. We apply our method to a highly debated policy: the relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem. In Israel and Palestine, we find that the average number of weekly conflicts has increased by roughly 103% over 48 weeks since the relocation was announced on December 6, 2017. By using conformal inference and placebo tests, we justify our model and find the increase to be statistically significant.
The Evolving Landscape of the American Board of Endodontics Certification Process: What it Means for the Future of the Specialty.

Abstract Introduction The American Board of Endodontics certification is an evolving process to ensure the continuing existence of the specialty of endodontics. Recent examination changes have resulted in greater numbers of Diplomates. To fully understand the implications of such changes and evaluate current Diplomates' views of the examination process, a specific set of questions was developed focusing on beliefs and perceptions, age relationships, test components, and hypotheticals for potential changes. An analysis of the examination process has never been reported in the literature, and, as such, the survey was designed to provide the endodontic community with critical information on the past, current, and potentially future examination process. Methods A Web-based survey consisting of 25 questions was e-mailed to 1522 Diplomates. Results A total of 736 Diplomates responded to the survey for a response rate of 48.4%. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis (p Conclusions A lack of perceived importance of being board certified was a major barrier. Respondents opposed de-emphasizing literature, offering the oral examination in a videoconferencing virtual format, eliminating mandatory recalls, and entirely removing 1 component of the examination to increase the numbers of Diplomates. Respondents supported reviewing the case history portfolio examination on a rolling basis. Respondents disagreed that molar cases alone demonstrated clinical competency. Older Diplomates felt the strongest that the meaning of being a Diplomate has been diluted by the changes in the certification process. The authors believe the American Association of Endodontists, program directors, and the College of Diplomates must continually emphasize the importance and value of board certification as the process continues to evolve.
Performance Verification and Testing of the COWVR Instrument Antenna

The Compact Ocean Wind Vector Radiometer (COWVR) is a technology demonstration mission, developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and scheduled for launch in 2016. The goal of COWVR is to provide the same windvector retrieval accuracy of other instruments, like WindSat, while reducing the total mass and using less power. In this paper, we present an overview of the COWVR instrument, and a detailed description of the EM (Electromagnetic) modeling of the antenna system and the test campaign carried out at JPL to assess its performance. Special emphasis has been placed on assessing the accuracy of the predictions made with the RF (Radio Frequency) model. We will show that the predicted radiation patterns are accurate enough so one can use them for orbit radiometer calibration.
Land Surveying and Land Registration

The most important problems of land surveying and land registration are (1) lack of certainty on the part of property owners concerning positions of monuments and boundaries on the ground including difficulties in re-establishment of lost corners; (2) insecurity of many title searches and abstracts together with uncertainty of court interpretations of title descriptions; and (3) dubious technical quality of many land surveys and their descriptions. The solution of the problems on a state-wide basis includes enactment of legislation covering (1) proper qualifications and licensing of those who perform land surveys; (2) establishing a state plane coordinate system and, over a period of years, requiring all land monuments to be tied to it; (3) a three-phase plan for surveying, describing, and recording each parcel of land so that simple guaranteed title certificates can replace cumbersome and unreliable abstracts of title; and (4) establishing a state administrative system on a county-by-county basis to supervise surveying and recording and to check accuracy of recorded facts. Clarification of present problems and establishment of the proposal will involve close, cooperation among engineers, lawyers, title abstractors, and legislators.
Chitin as a Matrix for Enzyme Immobilization

Chitin and its derivatives have been frequently used as a matrix for the immobilization of enzymes and cells. A thorough review on enzyme immobilization in chitin matrices is presented together with an assessment of their potential applications as industrial biocatalysts. Chitosan-immobilized fungal lactase is presented as a case study: the catalyst has been produced and used at pilot scale in the continuous hydrolysis of waste whey permeate to produce a sweet syrup for the dairy industry.
Democracy and Education

Is the lay sermon an apt style for a modern liberal? More nearly than one might think. A great deal of recent social and political writing has operated at one or the other extremes: a concentration on the legal framework of politics or a narrow focus on policy. This has left a substantial hole in the middle ground where Dewey operated. The lay sermon is at home in this middle ground; between pure philosophy and a policy paper lies the terrain of intelligent persuasion.
Reductive dehalogenation of chlorophenols by Desulfomonile tiedjei DCB-1.

Reductive dehalogenation of chlorophenols has been reported in undefined anaerobic cultures but never before in an anaerobic pure culture. We found that the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfomonile tiedjei DCB-1 reductively dehalogenates pentachlorophenol (PCP) and other chlorophenols. The maximum rate of PCP dechlorination observed was 54 mu mol of Cl- h-1 g of protein-1. 3-Chlorobenzoate appeared to serve as a required inducer for PCP dehalogenation; however, neither PCP nor 3-chlorophenol induced dehalogenation. Dehalogenation was catalyzed by living cells, and formate served as a required electron donor. D. tiedjei dehalogenated meta-chlorine substituents of chlorophenols (i.e., PCP was degraded to 2,4,6-trichlorophenol). Generally, more highly chlorinated phenol congeners were more readily dechlorinated, and 3-chlorophenol was not dehalogenated. Growing cultures dehalogenated PCP, but greater than 10 microM PCP (approximately 1.7 mmol g of protein-1) reversibly inhibited growth.
DnaX Complex of Escherichia coli DNA Polymerase III Holoenzyme THE χ·ψ COMPLEX FUNCTIONS BY INCREASING THE AFFINITY OF τ AND γ FOR δ·δ ′ TO A PHYSIOLOGICALLY RELEVANT RANGE

An artificial operon that contains tandem holC-holD genes was used to overproduce a complex of the χ and ψ subunits of the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme. Normally insoluble by itself, ψ forms a tight soluble complex with χ. A purification procedure that yields pure, active χ·ψ complex in 100-mg quantities suitable for biophysical studies is reported. Sedimentation equilibrium studies demonstrate that χ·ψ is a 1:1 heterodimer. The presence of χ·ψ dramatically lowers the level of δ·δ′ required to reconstitute holoenzyme to levels expected in vivo. That χ·ψ accomplishes this by binding to γ or τ and increasing their affinity for δ·δ′ was demonstrated by surface plasmon resonance using a Pharmacia BIAcoreTM instrument. In the absence of δ·δ′, χ·ψ binds to either the γ or τ DnaX protein with Kd = 2 nM.
Skin Allograft Rejection

Skin allograft rejection is a test of the competence of T lymphocytes to mediate in vivo tissue destruction, which in turn reflects their role in critical functions such as anti-viral and tumor immunity. The tail-skin graft procedure described here is useful predominantly because of the ease of preparation and resistance to ischemic (nonspecific) necrosis. Additionally, it is not necessary to sacrifice the donor mouse. However, rejection of tail-skin grafts should not be used to test for genetic homogeneity in breeding experiments or to detect minor histocompatibility (minor-H) antigens because tail skin is less sensitive than trunk skin in detecting such differences. The trunk-skin graft procedure detailed here more difficult to perform than the tail-skin graft. It requires extensive tissue preparation and is more susceptible to ischemic necrosis. Trunk-skin grafts are especially useful for detecting minimal histocompatibility differences.
Method for the preservation, of diagnostic sera for field and laboratory work.

Abstract Paper discs impregnated with antiserum, lyophilized, and stored at temperatures ranging from −21 to 33 C have yielded potent and specific reagents when rehydrated 370 days later. Applications are discussed.
Factors associated with seroconversion after standard dose hepatitis B vaccination and high-dose revaccination among HIV-infected patients.

AbstractBackground: Patients with HIV-infection often respond poorly to vaccination. We sought to determine rates of seroconversion among HIV-infected patients receiving the hepatitis B vaccine and for non-responders who received high-dose revaccination. Methods: A single-center retrospective chart review was performed. Patients received either a series of Engerix-B (20 mcg) or Twinrix (standard dose vaccine [SDV]). A subset of non-responders received a higher 40 mcg dose series of Engerix-B (high-dose revaccination [HDR]). Results: 215 patients received SDV with an overall response rate of 46.5%. Among the 115 non-responders, 30 received HDR with an overall response rate of 66.7%. Factors associated with response to SDV included younger age (odds ratio [OR]/1 year = 0.97, P = .03), higher CD4 at first dose (OR/100 CD4 = 1.13, P = .02), and receipt of Twinrix versus Engerix-B (OR = 2.3, P = .003). Higher CD4 at first dose was also associated with response to HDR (OR/100 CD4 = 2.0, P = .02). All factors re...
A Simple Solution to the Trivial Crossing Problem in Surface Hopping

Surface hopping studies on supramolecular and nanoscale systems suffer severely from the trivial crossing problem, arising due to high density of adiabatic potential energy surfaces. We present a straightforward solution to the problem by introducing a self-consistency test to the well-known fewest switches surface hopping (FSSH) procedure. If the test is failed, the hopping probabilities are corrected with a simple procedure. The novel self-consistent fewest switches surface hopping (SC-FSSH) approach is applied to the Holstein Hamiltonian to study the time-dependence of the electron population. Already in the five-state system, SC-FSSH allows us to reduce the simulation time 10(4)-fold to achieve the FSSH accuracy. The reliable performance and simple formulation of SC-FSSH greatly expands the applicability range of the surface hopping method.
Alternative Demetalation Method for Cu(I)-Phenanthroline-Based Catenanes and Rotaxanes

A new and less hazardous procedure for demetalation of Cu(I)-phenanthroline-based interlocked molecules, using aqueous NH4OH rather than toxic KCN, has been developed. The conditions are compatible with materials containing nucleophile-sensitive appended groups such as C60, and coordinating moieties such as zinc(II)-porphyrins.
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: a paradigm for biological therapies.

Mycosis Fungoides and Sezary Syndrome are the most common types of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. There is no current standard of care for Mycosis Fungoides/Sezary Syndrome, with a general tendency to rely on topical interventions for early disease delaying systemic, more toxic therapy until the development of extensive symptoms. Knowledge of the biological characteristics of this disease has allowed for the development of rational interventions and a significant advance in its treatment. Retinoids are active in Mycosis Fungoides/Sezary Syndrome with the newer rexinoids being available in topical and systemic forms. Interferon alpha remains one of the most active therapeutic agents for Mycosis Fungoides/Sezary Syndrome, especially in combination with other agents such as PUVA. The monoclonal antibody alemtuzumab leads to responses in at least half of patients with advanced disease with its side effect profile consisting mainly of immunosupression and infusion reactions. The recombinant IL2-diphteria toxin denileukin diftitox (Ontak) is active in this disease and appears to have a beneficial effect in symptoms relief and quality of life. Extracorporeal photochemotherapy as an immunostimulating intervention seems to be very effective in a subset of patients, but its availability is limited to less than a hundred centers worldwide. Experimental and less studied interventions include autologous and allogeneic peripheral stem cell transplantation, Interleukin-12, the histone-deacetylator depsipeptide and the synthetic deoxynucleotide CpG7909. Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma has served as a paradigm for the development of biological agents. Further knowledge of the signaling pathways in Mycosis Fungoides/Sezary Syndrome will allow for the development of more effective treatment strategies.
Case Study: Modeling the Lateral Mobility of the Rio Grande below Cochiti Dam, New Mexico

The Cochiti reach of the Rio Grande served as a case study to test the hypothesis that the lateral mobility of an alluvial river decreases as the river approaches equilibrium. The lateral mobility of the river was measured using a geographic information system from digitized aerial photographs of the nonvegetated active channel between 1918 and 2001. Reach-averaged lateral mobility was quantified in terms of width change, lateral migration, and total lateral movement. By 2001, the width of the Cochiti Reach was close to the expected equilibrium width indicating that the river had adjusted to the incoming water and sediment load. An exponential equation based on deviation from equilibrium width described 95–96% of the variance in channel width, 78–90% of variance in migration rates, and 92% of the variance in total lateral movement between 1918 and 1992. For validation of the model, the 2001 width and migration rates were predicted with errors as low as 19 and 8%, respectively. The exponential width model ...
Characterization of an extracellular factor that stimulates bile salt hydrolase activity in Lactobacillus sp. strain 100-100.

Bile salt hydrolase activity in Lactobacillus sp. strain 100–100 is strictly intracellular. The strain produces an extracellular factor that stimulates the intracellular hydrolase activity. The factor is inducible by conjugate bile salts, has an apparent molecular mass over 12 kDa but less than 25 kDa, is stable in air, and resistant to pronase and heat. It is partially extractable into organic solvents and inactivated by a sulhydryl group inhibitor. We postulate that the factor functions by a novel mechanism to facilitate entry of conjugated bile salts into the bacterial cells.
ppGpp: magic beyond RNA polymerase

During stress, bacteria undergo extensive physiological transformations, many of which are coordinated by ppGpp. Although ppGpp is best known for enhancing cellular resilience by redirecting the RNA polymerase (RNAP) to certain genes, it also acts as a signal in many other cellular processes in bacteria. After a brief overview of ppGpp biosynthesis and its impact on promoter selection by RNAP, we discuss how bacteria exploit ppGpp to modulate the synthesis, stability or activity of proteins or regulatory RNAs that are crucial in challenging environments, using mechanisms beyond the direct regulation of RNAP activity.
The Significance of Protein Maturation by Plastidic Type I Signal Peptidase 1 for Thylakoid Development in Arabidopsis Chloroplasts

Thylakoids are the chloroplast internal membrane systems that house light-harvesting and electron transport reactions. Despite the important functions and well-studied constituents of thylakoids, the molecular mechanism of their development remains largely elusive. A recent genetic study has demonstrated that plastidic type I signal peptidase 1 (Plsp1) is vital for proper thylakoid development in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) chloroplasts. Plsp1 was also shown to be necessary for processing of an envelope protein, Toc75, and a thylakoid lumenal protein, OE33; however, the relevance of the protein maturation in both of the two distinct subcompartments for proper chloroplast development remained unknown. Here, we conducted an extensive analysis of the plsp1-null mutant to address the significance of lumenal protein maturation in thylakoid development. Plastids that lack Plsp1 were found to accumulate vesicles of variable sizes in the stroma. Analyses of the mutant plastids revealed that the lack of Plsp1 causes a reduction in accumulation of thylakoid proteins and that Plsp1 is involved in maturation of two additional lumenal proteins, OE23 and plastocyanin. Further immunoblotting and electron microscopy immunolocalization studies showed that OE33 associates with the stromal vesicles of the mutant plastids. Finally, we used a genetic complementation system to demonstrate that accumulation of improperly processed forms of Toc75 in the plastid envelope does not disrupt normal plant development. These results suggest that proper maturation of lumenal proteins may be a key process for correct assembly of thylakoids.
God, Evil, and the Free Will Defence

The Free Will Defence, as we shall understand it here, is an attempt to show that (i) God exists and he is omnipotent, omniscient, and wholly good is logically consistent with (2) There is moral evil in the actual world. Now one way to show that (i) is consistent with (2) is to produce a third proposition whose conjunction with (I) is consistent and entails (2). And, the free will defence, as we construe it, sets out to provide this third proposi tion. On the other hand, exactly what this third proposition might be is not, at first blush, immediately obvious. And so a (preliminary) formulation of the free will defence is in order. By way of openers, then, we observe that the free will defence is usually stated in something like the following way. A world containing persons who are free and who freely perform more morally good than morally evil actions is more valuable, all else being equal, than a world containing no free persons at all. Of course, God can create free persons, but he cannot cause them to do only what is morally good. For if he does so, they do not perform morally good actions freely. To create persons capable of performing morally good actions, therefore, God must create persons capable of performing morally evil actions as well. But then God cannot create the possibility of moral evil and, at the same time, prevent its actuality. True, God did create free persons; but, as luck would have it, some of these free persons exercised their freedom to perform morally evil actions; and, hence, (2). The truth of (2), however, in no way counts against the truth of (i). Why so? Because an omnipotent, omniscient, and wholly good God can prevent the performance of morally evil actions only by preventing the possibility of the performance of morally good actions. Well, what we have so far is a nice enough story. But, what exactly, according to the above account, is the third proposition whose conjunction with (i) is consistent and entails (2) ? The answer, at first glance, is clear. The proposition in question is supposed to be none other than
Age of Labrador Anorthosites

THE age of the Nain anorthosite1,2 on the coast of Newfoundland–Labrador is probably the same as that of the Michikamau anorthosite (1,400 ± 80 m.y.) recently reported by Emslie3. The Nain anorthosite is flanked on the north side by the Kiglapait layered intrusion4,5, which shows no chill against anorthosite and is therefore thought to be barely younger than the anorthosite. The Kiglapait intrusion is invaded on its north margin by a granodiorite, possibly rheomorpbic, the biotite of which gives a potassium-argon age6 of 1,480 ± 50.m.y. This is therefore a minimum age for the Kiglapait intrusion, and also for the anorthosite.