cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In situ surface X-ray scattering observation of long-range ordered (√19 × √19)R23.4°-13CO structure on Pt(111) in aqueous electrolytes

Presented herein is the experimental observation of the long-range ordered (√19 × √19)R23.4°-13CO structure on Pt(111) in aqueous electrolytes by in situ surface X-ray scattering. The results confirmed the presence of two mirrored domains suggested earlier on the basis of scanning tunneling microscopy and infrared measurements. Based on the weak intensity of the second order adlattice reflections and earlier results obtained by other techniques, a further refinement of the (√19 × √19) structure with tilted CO molecules is proposed. The hystereses observed in transitions between (2 × 2 )- 3 CO and (√19 × √19)R23.4°-13CO phases, as well as in CO adsorption and stripping, with change in electrode potential are discussed.
EPR properties of mixed-valent mu-oxo and mu-hydroxo dinuclear iron complexes produced by radiolytic reduction at 77 K.

Radiolytic reduction at 77 K of oxo/hydroxo-bridged dinuclear iron(III) complexes in frozen solutions forms kinetically stabilized, mixed-valent species in high yields that model the mixed-valent sites of non-heme, diiron proteins. The mixed-valent species trapped at 77 K retain ligation geometry similar to the initial diferric clusters. The shapes of the mixed-valent EPR signals depend strongly on the bridging ligands. Spectra of the Fe(II)OFe(III) species reveal an S = 1/2 ground state with small g-anisotropy as characterized by the uniaxial component (gz-gav/2 0.03) and are observable only below 30 K. Annealing at higher temperatures causes structural relaxation and changes in the EPR characteristics. EPR spectral properties allow the oxo- and hydroxo-bridged, mixed-valent diiron centers to be distinguished from each other and can help characterize the structure of mixed-valent centers in proteins.
Role Reversal: The Problems of a Spanish-Speaking Anglo Teaching Spanish to english Dominant Puerto Rican Children.

This article describes the unique situation of an Anglo, Spanish-speaking teacher who is assigned to teach Spanish to a group of non-Spanish-speaking youngsters of Puerto Rican descent. The irony is that the children have been raised in the dominant Anglo culture of the mainland United States and are in Puerto Rico against their wishes. Broken families and relocations have caused tremendous strife and have hindered the children's acceptance of the culture and Spanish language. Successfull strategies that overcame the socio- and psycho-linguistic barriers are listed as the teacher describes how she created a non-threatening learning environment.
Strain effects on thermal transitions and mechanical properties of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers

Abstract An investigation on the effect of strain on the domain structure of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPEs) is reported. Thermal characterization utilizing differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) is presented along with mechanical properties of model TPEs before, and after, varying degrees of strain aging. Model TPEs were subjected to tensile strains between 100 and 400% elongation and aged for varying lengths of time at ambient and elevated temperatures. DSC and DMA were utilized to investigate the changes in morphology that occurred as a result of strain elongation. The effect of strain aging on the TPEs mechanical properties such as abrasion resistance is also discussed. DSC results indicated that the polymer undergoes morphology changes due to strain, resulting in some degree of phase mixing. DMA data indicated that polyester TPEs and polyether TPEs respond differently to induced strain, suggesting that domain re-ordering in these materials may occur by different mechanisms.
Parallel load balancing for dynamic execution environments

The development and implementation of a new method for parallel dynamic load balancing is presented. The load balancer uses an octree-based method to calculate the amount of imbalance and determine a new partitioning for the hybrid mesh. The balancer is designed to redistribute the work when the loads on the processors change due to local mesh adaptation or to changes in the parallel execution system. For the case of a dynamic parallel system, the loads on the processors are determined by run time measurements and the balancer redistributes the work based on these timings. Since the load balancer uses the same octree-based technique employed by the partitioner, the overall change in the partitions is minimized and a reduced amount of data migration is realized. The qualities of the partitions are maintained even after multiple load balancings. The effectiveness of the dynamic load balancer is demonstrated via parallel execution times for adaptive turbulent flow simulations.
Inhibition of ceramide production reverses TNF-induced insulin resistance.

Ceramide has been implicated as a mediator of insulin resistance induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) in adipocytes. Adipocytes contain numerous caveolae, sphingolipid and cholesterol-enriched lipid microdomains, that are also enriched in insulin receptor (IR). Since caveolae may be important sites for crosstalk between tyrosine kinase and sphingolipid signaling pathways, we examined the role of increased caveolar pools of ceramide in regulating tyrosine phosphorylation of the IR and its main substrate, insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). Neither exogenous short-chain ceramide analogs nor pharmacologic increases in endogenous caveolar pools of ceramide inhibited insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the IR and IRS-1. However, inhibition of TNF-induced caveolar ceramide production reversed the decrease in IR tyrosine phosphorylation in response to TNF. These results suggest that TNF-independent increases in caveolar pools of ceramide are not sufficient to inhibit insulin signaling but that in conjunction with other TNF-dependent signals, caveolar pools of ceramide are a critical component for insulin resistance by TNF.
Reprint The Standard Language Myth

(2000). Reprint The Standard Language Myth. Voice and Speech Review: Vol. 1, Standard Speech, pp. 23-30.
An update on feline infectious peritonitis: Virology and immunopathogenesis

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) continues to be one of the most researched infectious diseases of cats. The relatively high mortality of FIP, especially for younger cats from catteries and shelters, should be reason enough to stimulate such intense interest. However, it is the complexity of the disease and the grudging manner in which it yields its secrets that most fascinate researchers. Feline leukemia virus infection was conquered in less than two decades and the mysteries of feline immunodeficiency virus were largely unraveled in several years. After a half century, FIP remains one of the last important infections of cats for which we have no single diagnostic test, no vaccine and no definitive explanations for how virus and host interact to cause disease. How can a ubiquitous and largely non-pathogenic enteric coronavirus transform into a highly lethal pathogen? What are the interactions between host and virus that determine both disease form (wet or dry) and outcome (death or resistance)? Why is it so difficult, and perhaps impossible, to develop a vaccine for FIP? What role do genetics play in disease susceptibility? This review will explore research conducted over the last 5 years that attempts to answer these and other questions. Although much has been learned about FIP in the last 5 years, the ultimate answers remain for yet more studies.
Law & Psychiatry: Treatment of Incompetent, Dangerous Criminal Defendants: Parsing the Law

The case of Jared Lee Loughner, who killed or wounded 19 people in a shooting rampage in Tucson, demonstrates the confusion inherent in current rules for the treatment of defendants with mental illness. Found incompetent to stand trial and committed for treatment, Jared Loughner refused medication. However, when he became dangerous and suicidal, the facility treated him. Loughner's attorneys objected, arguing that the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sell v. United States entitled him to a judicial hearing. The lack of clarity over the rules that should govern such cases stems from the court's failure to make explicit the rationale for its landmark decision. (Psychiatric Services 63:630–632, 2012; doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201200630)
Effects of thermal treatment of biaxially oriented poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Two distinguishable effects of thermal exposure of biaxially oriented poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) have been observed in the temperature range from room temperature to 140°C. Upon heating above the glass transition temperature Tg of the film an irreversible shrinkage of a few percent occurred with a concomitant decrease in the rate of creep. Some loss of orientation in the noncrystalline phase with an attendant slight increase in density is believed to be responsible. Since the film was anisotropic in its plane, different amounts and rates of shrinkage were observed along with differing thermal expansion coefficients in various directions relative to the primary optic axis. Upon cooling the 50% crystalline PET from above Tg to lower temperatures, reversible “physical aging” was observed. Creep rates were found to decrease with the residence time below Tg. As with purely amorphous polymers, the effects of the aging are removed by heating the specimen above Tg where the density of the amorphous phase achieves equilibrium values.
On-line system identification and control design of an extrusion cooking process: Part I. System identification

Abstract A systems analysis of an extrusion cooking process for puffed corn snack products revealed that the specific mechanical energy (SME) and screw speed (SS) was a desirable pairing of measured and manipulated variables, respectively for regulating extrudate density. To facilitate the design of an SME model-based control system, a discrete-time transfer function that depicts the dynamic response of motor load (ML) to changes in SS is required. The research literature describes several off-line techniques for developing such transfer function models but no methods for on-line system identification were found. This paper represents the first of two articles that describe our investigations into the use of on-line system identification for automatic tuning and adaptive control of a high-shear twin-screw extrusion process. This paper reports results for using various system identification schemes in combination with relay-feedback as a way to derive, in real-time, a transfer function model that accurately depicts the dynamical behavior of an extrusion cooking process. A Wenger TX-52 co-rotating twin screw extruder was subjected to relay feedback during the processing of cornmeal for a breakfast cereal formula under different moisture and screw speed conditions. The data obtained from these experiments were used to derive first-, second- and third-order discrete-time transfer functions. An analysis of the resulting transfer functions revealed that a first-order lead-lag transfer function structure adequately described the dominant dynamic behavior of the process in all cases. Next, batch and recursive implementations of least-squares, extended least-squares, output error, maximum likelihood, Box–Jenkins and predictive error algorithms were used to derive parameters for the first-order transfer function. Overall, the batch output error method provided good transfer function estimates over the range of product and process conditions studied.
Molecular Dynamics Study of Ca2+ Binding Loop Variants of Silver Hake Parvalbumin with Aspartic Acid at the “Gateway” Position

Abstract The helix-loop-helix (i.e., EF-hand) Ca2+ ion binding motif is characteristic of a large family of high-affinity calcium ion binding proteins, including the parvalbumins, oncomodulins and calmodulins. In this work we describe a set of molecular dynamics computations on the major parvalbumin from the silver hake (SHPV-B) and on functional fragments of this protein, consisting of the first four helical regions (the ABCD fragment), and the internal helix- loop-helix region (the CD fragment). In both whole protein and protein fragments (i.e., ABCD and CD fragments), the 9th loop residue in the calcium ion binding site in the CD helix-loop-helix region (the so-called “gateway” position) has been mutated from glutamic acid to aspartic acid. Aspartic acid is one of the most common residues found at the gateway position in other (non-parvalbumin) EF-hand proteins, but has never been found at the gateway position of any parvalbumin. (Interestingly, aspartic acid does occur at the gateway position in the c...
Seasonal heat flux properties of an extensive green roof in a Midwestern U.S. climate

Abstract Green roofs, or vegetated roofs, can reduce heat flux magnitude through a building envelope as a result of insulation provided by the growing medium, shading from the plant canopy, and transpirational cooling provided by the plants. This study quantifies the thermal properties of an inverted 325 m2 retro-fitted extensive green roof versus a traditional gravel ballasted inverted roof in a Midwestern U.S. climate characterized by hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. In autumn, green roof temperatures were consistently 5 °C lower than corresponding gravel roof temperatures. Even during chilly and moist conditions, the heat flux leaving the building was lower for the green roof than the gravel roof. Temperatures at the top of the insulation layer were more variable for both green roof and gravel roof on winter days with no snow cover than on days with snow cover. Variation in temperatures between roof types in spring was similar to those in autumn. Peak temperature differences between gravel and green roof were larger in summer than other seasons (sometimes by as much as 20 °C). Over the course of a year (September 2005–August 2006), maximum and minimum average monthly temperatures and heat fluxes were consistently more extreme for the gravel roof than the green roof.
Systolic Blood Pressure and Mortality After Stroke Too Low, No Go?

Background and Purpose—Recent studies suggest a J-shaped association between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and cardiovascular events. The optimal SBP target after stroke remains unknown. We assessed the link between SBP and mortality after stroke. Methods—We included adults (≥20 years) with self-reported stroke who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1998 to 2004, with mortality assessment in 2006. Baseline SBP was categorized as low to normal (<120 mm Hg), normal (120–140 mm Hg), and high (≥140 mm Hg). Independent relationships between baseline SBP and all-cause and vascular mortality were assessed using Cox proportional hazards. Results—Of 31 126 adult participants, 455 had self-reported stroke and baseline BP readings: 19% had low to normal, 31% had normal, and 50% had high SBP. Two years after assessment, the low to normal SBP group tended to have the highest cumulative all-cause mortality (11.5%), compared with mortality rates of 8.5% and 7.5% in the normal and high ...
Performance of APD-based, PPM free-space optical communication systems in atmospheric turbulence

In this paper, we characterize the performance of a direct-detection, avalanche photodiode-based free-space optical (FSO) communication system in terms of the overall bit-error rate. The system of interest uses pulse-position modulation (PPM) and is subjected to scintillation due to optical turbulence. Two scenarios are considered. In one case, a weak turbulence (clear-air) scenario is considered, for which the received signal intensity may be modeled as a log-normal random process. In the other case, we consider a negative exponentially distributed received signal intensity. To arrive at the desired results, it is assumed that the system uses a binary PPM (BPPM) modulation scheme. Furthermore, it is assumed that the receiver thermal noise is nonnegligible, and that the average signal intensity is large enough to justify a Gaussian approximation at the receiver. Union bound is used to assess the performance of M-ary PPM systems using the results of the BPPM scenario. Numerical results are presented for the BPPM case to shed light on the impact of turbulence on the overall performance.
Diagnosing clostridial enteric disease in poultry

The world's poultry industry has grown into a multibillion-dollar business, the success of which hinges on healthy intestinal tracts, which result in effective feed conversion. Enteric disease in poultry can have devastating economic effects on producers, due to high mortality rates and poor feed efficiency. Clostridia are considered to be among the most important agents of enteric disease in poultry. Diagnosis of enteric diseases produced by clostridia is usually challenging, mainly because many clostridial species can be normal inhabitants of the gut, making it difficult to determine their role in virulence. The most common clostridial enteric disease in poultry is necrotic enteritis, caused by Clostridium perfringens, which typically occurs in broiler chickens but has also been diagnosed in various avian species including turkeys, waterfowl, and ostriches. Diagnosis is based on clinical and pathological findings. Negative culture and toxin detection results may be used to rule out this disease, but isolation of C. perfringens and/or detection of its alpha toxin are of little value to confirm the disease because both are often found in the intestine of healthy birds. Ulcerative enteritis, caused by Clostridium colinum, is the other major clostridial enteric disease of poultry. Diagnosis of ulcerative enteritis is by documentation of typical pathological findings, coupled with isolation of C. colinum from the intestine of affected birds. Other clostridial enteric diseases include infections produced by Clostridium difficile, Clostridium fallax, and Clostridium baratii.
Momentum transport from tearing modes in the mst reversed field pinch

Summary form only given. Transport of parallel momentum during reconnection events has been investigated in the Madison Symmetric Torus reversed field pinch (MST RFP). The events are characterized by a sudden increase of resistive tearing magnetic fluctuations and change in the plasma rotation. The parallel plasma velocity abruptly decreases in the core and speeds up in the edge which results in the flattening of the parallel momentum profile. The parallel velocity in the core is reconstructed from the poloidal velocity of bulk plasma measured with the Rutherford scattering diagnostic and the toroidal phase velocity of the core resonant resistive tearing modes measured with an edge array of magnetic pickup coils. The edge flow is measured by the Mach probe. The transport of parallel momentum can be understood within the framework of two-fluid turbulent relaxation theory and from detailed MHD calculations of fluctuation induced Maxwell and Reynolds stresses resulting from multiple tearing modes. Previous measurements show the Maxwell stress to be a factor of ten larger than either the inertial or the viscous terms in the momentum balance equation both in the edge and in the core. Recently, measurements of the Reynolds stress have been performed in the edge plasma of MST. The Reynolds stress is shown to balance the Maxwell stress and the difference of the two stresses is approximately equal to the rate of change of plasma momentum. Reduction of magnetic fluctuations, achieved by an inductive control of the plasma current profile, results in a significant decrease of the momentum transport in agreement with previously observed reduction of particle and energy transport. This was established by transiently applying an external torque to the plasma edge with biased electrodes. Application of the edge torque during improved confinement induces a fast edge rotation, but the change in the core rotation remains small, which is an indication of a reduced inward momentum transport.
A targeted apolipoprotein B-38.9-producing mutation causes fatty livers in mice due to the reduced ability of apolipoprotein B-38.9 to transport triglycerides.

Nonphysiological truncations of apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 cause familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL) in humans and mice. An elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the FHBL phenotypes may provide valuable information on the metabolism of apo B-containing lipoproteins and the structure-function relationship of apo B. To generate a faithful mouse model of human FHBL, a subtle mutation was introduced into the mouse apo B gene by targeting embryonic stem cells using homologous recombination followed by removal of the selection marker gene by Cre-loxP-mediated site-specific recombination. The engineered mice bear a premature stop codon at residue 1767 and a 42-base pair loxP inserted into intron 24 of the apo B gene, thus closely resembling the apo B-38.9-producing mutation in humans. Apo B-38.9 was the sole apo B protein in homozygote (apob 38.9/38.9 ) plasma. In heterozygotes (apob +/ 38.9 ), apo B-100 and apo B-48 were reduced by 75 and 40%, respectively, and apo B-38.9 represented 20% of total circulating apo B. Hepatic apo B-38.9 mRNA levels were reduced by 40%. In culturedapob +/ 38.9 hepatocytes, apo B-100 was produced in trace quantities, and the synthesis rate of apo B-38.9 relative to apo B-48 was reduced by 40%. However, almost equimolar amounts of apo B-38.9 and apo B-48 were secreted into the media. Pulse-chase studies revealed that apo B-38.9 was secreted at a faster rate and more efficiently than apoB-48. Nevertheless, bothapob +/ 38.9 andapob 38.9/38.9 mice had reduced hepatic triglyceride secretion rates and fatty livers. Thus, low mRNA levels or defective secretion of apo B-38.9 may not be responsible for the FHBL phenotypes caused by the apo B-38.9 mutation. Rather, a reduced capacity of apo B-38.9 for triglyceride transport may account for the fatty livers in these mice.
Housing policy in developing countries : the importance of the informal economy

All countries have a formal economy and an informal economy. But, on average, in developing countries the relative size of the informal sector is considerably larger than in developed countries. This paper argues that this has important implications for housing policy in developing countries. That most poor households derive their income from informal employment effectively precludes income-contingent transfers as a method of redistribution. Also, holding fixed real economic activity, the larger is the relative size of the informal sector, the lower is fiscal capacity, and the more distortionary is government provision of a given level of goods and services, which restricts the desirable scale and scope of government policy. For the same reasons, housing policies that have proven successful in developed countries may not be successful when employed in developing countries.
A Meta-Analysis of School-Based Bullying Prevention Programs' Effects on Bystander Intervention Behavior

This meta-analysis synthesized bullying prevention programs' effectiveness at increasing bystander intervention in bullying situations. Evidence from 12 school-based programs, involving 12,874 stud...
Six centuries of changing oceanic mercury

Mercury (Hg) is a global and persistent contaminant, affecting human health primarily via marine fish consumption. Large anthropogenic releases of Hg to the atmosphere by mining and coal combustion have resulted in a significant perturbation to the biogeochemical cycling of Hg. The magnitude of this perturbation and the relative roles of the ocean and land as sinks for anthropogenic Hg remain unclear. Here we use a 3-D global ocean biogeochemical model to show that surface ocean Hg concentrations have increased fourfold over the last 600 years. We find that anthropogenic Hg enters the ocean's interior predominantly by absorption onto sinking organic matter particulates, which decompose and release Hg at a depth of 500–800 m, implying that the human perturbation is largest in subsurface waters of biologically productive regions. Our model simulation predicts that over the last six centuries half of emitted anthropogenic Hg has accumulated in the oceans and marine sediments.
Group consensus review minimizes the diagnosis of "follicular lesion of undetermined significance" and improves cytohistologic concordance.

We conducted a group consensus review of thyroid aspirates that were previously interpreted as “atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance” (AUS/FLUS) and followed by surgical interventions. The study aimed to investigate if consensus review would minimize the diagnosis of AUS/FLUS with an optimal interobserver agreement and also promote a better cytohistologic concordance. A group of reviewers who were blinded to the corresponding histologic findings simultaneously evaluated a total of 50 aspirates at a multiheaded light microscope. Using the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology as a guideline, a consensus interpretation was reached upon review of each aspirate. Interobserver agreement was calculated and recorded. The cytohistologic correlation was then performed between the consensus interpretation and the corresponding histologic diagnosis. The consensus review reclassified 26 (52%) aspirates as non-neoplasia/benign, 10 (20%) as follicular neoplasm/suspicious for a follicular neoplasm, 1 (2%) as papillary thyroid carcinoma, and 2 (4%) as nondiagnostic. Eleven (22%) aspirates remained AUS/FLUS. The interobserver agreement across the five diagnostic categories ranged from 71.6% to 100% with an average level of 88.8%. Cytohistologic concordance was achieved in 24 of 26 (92.3%) and 9 of 11 (81.8%) aspirates that were reclassified as non-neoplasia/benign and neoplasia/malignancy, respectively. A diagnostic accuracy of 89.2% (33/37) was obtained in reclassified cases. In conclusion, the group consensus review minimized AUS/FLUS, offered an optimal level of interobserver agreement, and most importantly, promoted excellent cytohistologic concordance in reclassified cases and, therefore, could play a substantial role in the future in reducing reaspiration and/or unnecessary surgeries. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2012. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc
Persistence of the Gift: Tongan Tradition in Transnational Context

Persistence of the Gift: Tongan Tradition in Transnational Context. Mike Evans. Waterloo, ON: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2001. ix. 208 pp., figures, tables, notes, references, index.
Application of combined discrete-event simulation and optimization models in semiconductor enterprise manufacturing systems

It is a common practice to use simulation for validating different types of control and planning algorithms. However, the science of how to rigorously integrate simulation and decision models is not well understood and becomes critically important as the complexity and scale of these models increase. In our research, we have developed a methodology for integrating different types of models using a Knowledge Interchange Broker (KIB). In this paper we describe a supply-chain semiconductor application where the KIB has been used as an integral part of developing and deploying a commercial Model Predictive Control model for use in operating a multi-billion dollar supply chain. The simulation based experiments facilitated developing and validating the controller design and data automation for a real-world semiconductor manufacturing system.
BeWell24 : development and process evaluation of a smartphone “app” to improve sleep, sedentary, and active behaviors in US Veterans with increased metabolic risk

Lifestyle behaviors across the 24-h spectrum (i.e., sleep, sedentary, and active behaviors) drive metabolic risk. We describe the development and process evaluation of BeWell24, a multicomponent smartphone application (or “app”) that targets behavior change in these interdependent behaviors. A community-embedded iterative design framework was used to develop the app. An 8-week multiphase optimization strategy design study was used to test the initial efficacy of the sleep, sedentary, and exercise components of the app. Process evaluation outcomes included objectively measured app usage statistics (e.g., minutes of usage, self-monitoring patterns), user experience interviews, and satisfaction ratings. Participants (N = 26) logged approximately 60 % of their sleep, sedentary, and exercise behaviors, which took 3–4 min/day to complete. Usage of the sleep and sedentary components peaked at week 2 and remained high throughout the intervention. Exercise component use was low. User experiences were mixed, and overall satisfaction was modest.
Near field assisted magnetic recording

A surface plasmon and magnetic field applicable synchronously hybridized (SMASH) head that generates magnetic field and surface plasmon at nanosized region is proposed. The capability of the SMASH head for the near-field assisted magnetic recording is demonstrated . The near-field assisted magnetic recording was performed with a spin-stand tester equipped with the SMASH head and the TbFeCo medium. The linear velocity was 0.9 m/s and the write current for the laser-assisted magnetic recording was 100 mA. An irradiating laser power for write process was 8 mW.
A new method for extracting base resistance in bipolar transistors

The base resistance extraction method presented by Linder and coworkers (2001) requires an array of dual-base npn test structures to separate the intrinsic base resistance from its extrinsic counterpart (denoted as R/sub BI/ and R/sub BX/, respectively). This requirement imposes real-estate constraints, especially when the nonproduct silicon area is limited. In contrast, we propose a new technique for R/sub BI/ and R/sub BX/ extraction using only one (rather than multiple) dual-base devices. The physics behind this technique is that current injection swings from one side of the emitter window to the other as a result of a polarity switch of the dc bias difference (/spl Delta/V/sub B/) between the two separate bases. Specifically, as a constant current I/sub E/ is pulled out of the emitter, the emitter voltage (V/sub E/) is monitored as a function of /spl Delta/V/sub B/. A closed-form solution for the partial derivative of V/sub E/ with respect to /spl Delta/V/sub B/ is derived from a physics-based model. The solution predicts that k/sub 1/+k/sub 2/=1 and R/sub BI//R/sub BX/=k/sub 1//k/sub 2/-1, where k/sub 1/ and k/sub 2/ are defined as the asymptotic values of the V/sub E/ versus /spl Delta/V/sub B/ slopes at very high positive and negative /spl Delta/V/sub B/, respectively. A dual-base test structure with an emitter size of 0.4/spl times/4.0 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ is fabricated using a self-aligned, double-poly process, and k/sub 1/=0.85 and k/sub 2/=0.15 are extracted. As a result, we obtain R/sub BI//R/sub BX/=4.67 and an intrinic base sheet resistance of 15.7 k/spl Omega///spl square/.
Rates of pitch canker induced seedling mortality among Pinus radiata families varying in levels of genetic resistance to Gibberella circinata (anamorph Fusarium circinatum)

Abstract Pitch canker, caused by Gibberella circinata Nirenberg & O’Donnell, is a problem for pines in both native and planted stands. The aerial phase of the disease results in shoot and canopy dieback, whereas soil or seedborne inoculum can cause damping off of emerging seedlings. Based on the extent of lesion development on inoculated shoots, families of Pinus radiata have been shown to differ significantly in resistance to pitch canker. This study was undertaken to determine if these same families also differ in mortality caused by G. circinata at the seedling emergence stage. For this purpose, seeds treated with a suspension of G. circinata spores were planted in a greenhouse and rated for pitch canker induced mortality. Variation between families, in mortality of emerging seedlings, was significant but the observed variation was not significantly correlated with measures of resistance based on stem inoculation tests. This suggests that mechanisms limiting the development of stem lesions do not confer measurable resistance to the seedling phase of the disease and therefore that early exposure to the pathogen may compromise selection for resistance to pitch canker in stands of Pinus radiata.
HYPOXIA AND ISCHAEMIA IN BUFFER-PERFUSED TOAD HEARTS

Previous studies on the effects of ischaemia or hypoxia in ectothermic vertebrate hearts have generally used preparations that were not performing at physiological levels of pressure and flow. The conclusions that ischaemia or hypoxia are not stressful to these organisms were examined in another species, Bufo marinus, in which a buffer-perfused heart was performing physiological levels of work. The in situ preparation demonstrated the Frank-Starling relationship and mechanical characteristics similar to the hearts of intact animals. The hearts recovered from 60 min of ischaemia and reperfusion with no reduction in pressure, flow or heart rate parameters. Hearts exposed to 30 min of hypoxia at physiological filling and diastolic afterload pressures ceased generating a continuous cardiac output during the hypoxia. In most cases, there was a gradual reduction of cardiac output to zero, but in 27% of the hearts studied, intermittent beating was observed. During reoxygenation, the hearts recovered 50-90% of their prehypoxic function and were damaged. Hearts exposed to hypoxia with reduced filling and diastolic afterload continued to develop a cardiac output throughout the hypoxia and demonstrated an overshoot phenomena with the onset of reoxygenation. If demand is in the normal range at the onset of hypoxia, the hearts intrinsically reduce demand either by reducing pressure development or by conversion to intermittent beating. Toad hearts appear not to be damaged by ischaemia, a condition in which demand is low.
Ellipsis in Wh-in-Situ Languages: Deriving Apparent Sluicing in Hindi-Urdu and Uzbek

wh-in-situ languages have a special role to play in investigating the relation between the wh-syntax of a language and the availability of sluicing-like constructions (slcs). Van Craenen- broeck and Liptak (2013) propose that whether a language exhibits genuine sluicing should be predictable from the syntax of a languages wh-questions in non-elliptical contexts. We refine this formulation by considering slcs in two contrasting wh-in-situ languages, Uzbek and Hindi- Urdu. Hindi-Urdu wh-movement occurs in the narrow syntax, but is obscured by PF processes; in Uzbek, no narrow syntax dependency is involved. Correspondingly, only Hindi-Urdu slcs involve genuine sluicing. Uzbek slcs are derived from reduced copular clauses. Thus, narrow syntax wh-movement may be obscured by lower-copy pronunciation in non-elliptical environ- ments; the head of the wh-chain is then pronounced only in combination with ellipsis, but not otherwise. What we demonstrate here is that the availability of genuine sluicing in Hindi-Urdu and Uzbek corresponds directly to the specific properties of their wh-systems, but not neces- sarily to the surface position of wh-material in a typical constituent question.
Pakistan in 2011: Ten Years of the “War on Terror”

Abstract Pakistan came into sharp conflict with the U.S. and the international community in 2011 over its long-standing support of Islamist militants. The killing of Osama bin Laden left many speculating whether Pakistan9s intelligence agencies were either complicit in harboring him or incompetent. Pakistan9s various conflicts, as well as Pakistan Taliban violence, continue to claim thousands of lives. Economic growth remains inadequate to provide jobs for its ever-growing population, and both the civilian and military leaderships appear unwilling to make structural economic changes to attract vital international developmental aid.
Situated Learning: A Legitimate Peripheral Participation in Learning Mathematics in Public Schools

In this reflection, the author seeks to highlight the concept of Situated Learning as legitimate peripheral participation in learning mathematics in public schools. In doing this, the author defines and explains situated learning and legitimate peripheral participation theory (Lave & Wenger, 1991) and communities of practice (Wenger, 1998); and explains the concept of mathematics learning as participation in the school's context (Quintos & Civil, 2006).
Reduced cost mission design using surrogate models

Abstract This paper uses surrogate models to reduce the computational cost associated with spacecraft mission design in three-body dynamical systems. Sampling-based least squares regression is used to project the system response onto a set of orthogonal bases, providing a representation of the Δ V required for rendezvous as a reduced-order surrogate model. Models are presented for mid-field rendezvous of spacecraft in orbits in the Earth–Moon circular restricted three-body problem, including a halo orbit about the Earth–Moon L 2 libration point (EML-2) and a distant retrograde orbit (DRO) about the Moon. In each case, the initial position of the spacecraft, the time of flight, and the separation between the chaser and the target vehicles are all considered as design inputs. The results show that sample sizes on the order of 10 2 are sufficient to produce accurate surrogates, with RMS errors reaching 0.2 m/s for the halo orbit and falling below 0.01 m/s for the DRO. A single function call to the resulting surrogate is up to two orders of magnitude faster than computing the same solution using full fidelity propagators. The expansion coefficients solved for in the surrogates are then used to conduct a global sensitivity analysis of the Δ V on each of the input parameters, which identifies the separation between the spacecraft as the primary contributor to the Δ V cost. Finally, the models are demonstrated to be useful for cheap evaluation of the cost function in constrained optimization problems seeking to minimize the Δ V required for rendezvous. These surrogate models show significant advantages for mission design in three-body systems, in terms of both computational cost and capabilities, over traditional Monte Carlo methods.
Unexpected Formation of Chiral Pincer CNN Nickel Complexes with β-Diketiminato Type Ligands via C–H Activation: Synthesis, Properties, Structures, and Computational Studies

Reaction of lithiated chiral, unsymmetric β-diketimine type ligands HL2a–e containing oxazoline moiety (HL2a–e = 2-(2′-R1NH)-phenyl-4-R2-oxazoline) with trans-NiCl(Ph)(PPh3)2 afforded a series of new chiral CNN pincer type nickel complexes (3a–3e) via an unexpected cyclometalation at benzylic or aryl C–H positions. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis established the pincer coordination mode and the strained conformation. Chirality, and in one case, racemization of the target nickel complexes were confirmed by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Electronic structure and band assignments in experimental UV–vis and CD spectra were discussed on the basis of Density Functional Theory (DFT) and time-dependent (TD) DFT calculations.
CLASSIFICATION OF COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND INSTITUTIONAL WATER USERS THROUGH CLUSTERING OF PROPERTY APPRAISER AND WATER BILLING DATA

The US EPA and the Water Research Foundation have identified as a major research need, the development of a standardized methodology to classify commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) water users. Schemes to classify CII customers differ greatly and often lack adequate disaggregation, making evaluations of CII water use across sectors difficult. The primary challenge in evaluating CII water use and classifying its customers is that water use patterns vary widely because of the diversity within the CII sectors such as retail stores which range from small convenience stores to regional shopping malls. This large water use variability is driven by differences in water use processes and technologies, varying employee and visitor occupancy patterns, and seasonal effects driven by fluctuations in populations and climatic factors. In order to overcome these complex challenges, this methodology proposes the use of utility water billing data spatially linked to property appraiser data to arrive at a detailed understanding of how CII customers use water. In order to arrive at a standardized approach that can be applied across the United States, this methodology uses clustering techniques to arrive at homogeneous CII categories. For this analysis, actual billing and property appraiser data for nearly 7,000 CII customers from Florida and Texas will be used. This will provide a large enough sample by which to cluster on the intensity of water use (liters per square meter of building area per day), and property appraiser attributes such a land use classification and heated building area. A standardized classification methodology to separate CII into homogeneous groups would allow a utility to better evaluate their CII sectors for water conservation, as well as project future water demands with greater certainty.
A Psychophysical Protocol to Develop Ergonomic Recommendations for Sitting and Standing Workstations

Objective:The aim of this study was to determine user self-selected setup for both sitting and standing computer workstations and identify major differences.Background:No current ergonomic setup guideline for standing computer workstations is available.Methods:Twenty adult participants completed four 45-min sessions of simulated office computer work with an adjustable sit-stand computer workstation. Placement and relative position of all workstation components, including a cordless mouse, a cordless keyboard, a height-adjustable desk, and a 22-inch monitor mounted on a mechanical-assisted arm were recorded during the four sessions, which alternated between sitting and standing for each session. Participants were interrupted four times within each session, and the workstation was “reset” to extreme locations. Participants were instructed to adjust the location to achieve the most comfortable arrangement and to make as many adjustments during the session to achieve this goal.Results:Overall, users placed th...
Advances in Real-World Sensor Network System

Abstract Significant advancements in wireless communication, microelectronic technologies, and distributed systems have revealed the great potential of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) for pervasive applications. Sensor networks are being increasingly used for sensing, monitoring, and controlling in various application fields. In the past decade, sensor network technology has stimulated much research interest from the academia to the industry. The technology development is now matured to a point, where real-world and business applications are emerging, and the engineers and investors are increasingly getting involved into its development. This chapter surveys the existing state-of-the-art of real-world sensor network system designs and their application. The authors of this chapter have also described their own hands-on experience and lessons when applying the sensor network technologies in real-world application. The chapter mainly consists of survey of the practical system contributions in: (a) different layers of sensor networks (such as transport layer, network layer and link layer), (b) operating system and software development, middleware of WSN (such as network management, neighbor discovery, topology control, energy management, data storage, localization, time synchronization, and security), and (c) experience and lessons from real-world sensor network deployment and maintenance. Finally this chapter concludes with brief comments on current state of the Sensor Network technologies, its challenges and future opportunities.
Effect of Percutaneous Nephrostolithotomy on Renal Function

AbstractIn 15 patients with 17 stone-containing renal units renal function studies were performed before and 2 to 3 months after percutaneous nephrostolithotomy. The creatinine clearance of the operated renal units was calculated from the total creatinine clearance and differential renal function was obtained with radionuclides. Changes in the cortical images of the operated kidney also could be determined from the radionuclide scans. There was no significant change in the creatinine clearances when all of the operated kidneys were considered. However, there was significant improvement in the function of 12 units containing infectious stones in which preoperative function was reduced. Percutaneous nephrostolithotomy preserves or improves renal function and can be used for all types of renal stones.
Engineering Heteromaterials to Control Lithium Ion Transport Pathways

Safe and efficient operation of lithium ion batteries requires precisely directed flow of lithium ions and electrons to control the first directional volume changes in anode and cathode materials. Understanding and controlling the lithium ion transport in battery electrodes becomes crucial to the design of high performance and durable batteries. Recent work revealed that the chemical potential barriers encountered at the surfaces of heteromaterials play an important role in directing lithium ion transport at nanoscale. Here, we utilize in situ transmission electron microscopy to demonstrate that we can switch lithiation pathways from radial to axial to grain-by-grain lithiation through the systematic creation of heteromaterial combinations in the Si-Ge nanowire system. Our systematic studies show that engineered materials at nanoscale can overcome the intrinsic orientation-dependent lithiation, and open new pathways to aid in the development of compact, safe, and efficient batteries.
Attentional updating and monitoring and affective shifting are impacted independently by aging in macaque monkeys

One hallmark of the normal cognitive aging process involves alterations in executive function. Executive function can be divided into at least three separable components, including set shifting, attentional updating and monitoring, and inhibition of prepotent responses. The ability to study the neural basis of cognitive aging has been enriched by the use of animal models such as the macaque monkey. In aged macaques, changes in attentional updating and monitoring systems are poorly understood compared to changes in shifting and inhibition. A partial explanation for this is the fact that the tasks designed to study executive function in aged monkeys, to date, primarily have probed shifting and inhibition processes. Here we examine how aging impacts attentional updating and monitoring processes in monkeys using an interference task designed after a paradigm used to examine multi-tasking in older humans. Young and aged macaque monkeys were tested on this interference task as well as on an object reversal learning task to study these processes in the same animals. Relative to the young monkeys, aged animals were impaired on both tasks. Proactive and retroactive interference did not differ between age groups on an array of 40 object pairs presented each day in the object reversal learning task. The levels of performance on the interference task were not correlated with levels of performance in the object reversal task. These results suggest that attentional updating and monitoring and affective shifting are separable functions in the macaque, and that normal aging affects these mental operations independently.
The System Approach: Applied System Theory

The system approach can rightfully be called applied system theory (applied ST). Therefore it is important to provide the reader with a basic understanding of the emerging science of systems.
Brouwer in Dimension Two

In dimension two the Brouwer Fixed-Point Theorem states that every continuous mapping taking a closed disc into itself has a fixed point. In this chapter we’ll give a proof of this special case of Brouwer’s result, but for triangles rather than discs; closed triangles are homeomorphic to closed discs (Exercise 2.2 below) so our result will be equivalent to Brouwer’s. We’ll base our proof on an apparently unrelated combinatorial lemma due to Emanuel Sperner, which—in dimension two—concerns a certain method of labeling the vertices of “regular” decompositions of triangles into subtriangles. We’ll give two proofs of this special case of Sperner’s Lemma, one of which has come to serve as a basis for algorithms designed to approximate Brouwer fixed points.