cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Urban middle school students' reflections on authentic science inquiry

This study explores the experiences of six urban middle school students in an authentic science inquiry program. Drawing on data including teaching journal entries, student work folders, and semi-structured focus group interviews of six participants, the findings explore six dimensions of authentic science inquiry, an approach to science inquiry in which: (a) students develop authentic and personally relevant science knowledge; (b) students' funds of knowledge shape their inquiries; (c) students' relationships with science and sustained interest in science are transformed; (d) students' identities as potential scientists are affirmed; (e) students engage in science as a social enterprise; and (f) students develop a sense of agency. The findings situate authentic science inquiry as an individual and collective characteristic of learners and the learning community. We make the case that authentic science inquiry projects provide students with a greater sense of academic agency, afford students opportunities to gain expertise, and have the potential to challenge students' understandings of science, enhance how they see themselves in relationship to science, and improve their achievement in science. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 51: 1119–1149, 2014
Effects of inductance nonlinearities in a transformer-rectifier DC motor drive system on the AC side harmonic distortion using a time-stepping coupled finite element-circuit technique

The effects of the periodic nature of changes in the magnetic saturation in cores of transformers connected to rectifiers feeding DC motor type loads on performance of the AC side of the system are investigated. Performance issues pertaining to the AC side include harmonic contents of the AC current waveform and total harmonic distortion and their relationship to magnetic saturation effects in transformer cores, whose windings are connected to these rectifiers. The findings were obtained using the rigorous approach of time stepping coupled finite element-state space (TSCFE-SS) modeling and simulation technique, which couples the time-varying magnetic saturation conditions within cores of transformers to their external circuits. The results include TSCFE-SS simulation of the transformer-rectifier-DC-motor load and comparison to laboratory test results on a case study system. The system comprises a 1.5 kVA, 120/277 Volts transformer feeding a full-wave single-phase rectifier bridge which is supplying a 240 V, 7.75 A, 2-pole, separately excited DC motor. The simulation and test data confirm and quantify the significant impact of transformer time-variant core saturation on system currents and harmonic distortion.
Using Public‐Private Partnerships to Develop Local Economies

Throughout the 1980s, states experimented with enterprise zone programs aimed at alleviating fiscal distress in urban areas, by promoting the growth of private business. Together, public and private sectors supposedly function as partners to improve employment opportunities, especially for disadvantaged residents in designated zone areas. Today, however, questions continue to be raised regarding the impact of enterprise zone programs on financially depressed areas. This research provides a detailed investigation of the economic activities undertaken in the Kansas City and Cuba, Missouri enterprise zones to determine if a comparative employment advantage exists, and whether zone businesses fulfill their responsibilities with respect to hiring and training disadvantaged workers. The types of businesses attracted to the Kansas City and Cuba enterprise zones are identified to determine if either community has engaged in smokestack chasing. Finally, an urban-rural comparison is offered to help illuminate various factors affecting enterprise zone functions, including job creation capacity, in different socioeconomic settings.
Evaluation of juvenile salmon behavior at Bonneville Dam, Columbia River, using a multibeam technique

In recent years, with increased effort to bypass and guide fragile stocks of juvenile salmon in the Columbia Basin past hydroelectric projects, it has been increasingly important to obtain fine-scale fish behavior data in a non-intrusive manner. The Dual-Head Multibeam Sonar is an emerging technology for fisheries applications that addresses that requirement. It has two principal advantages over traditional hydroacoustic techniques: 1) it allows for simultaneous large-volume coverage of a region of interest, and 2) it affords three-dimensional tracking capability. The use of Dual-Head Multibeam Sonar in this study resulted in an unprecedented insight into fine-scale smolt behavior upstream of a prototype surface collector at the Bonneville Dam first powerhouse in 1998. Our results indicated that outmigrant juvenile salmon had an increased likelihood of milling or holding. This discovery will lead to better design criteria for future bypass and collector systems. Future fisheries multibeam sonar systems will likely be fully integrated systems with built-in real-time tracking capability. These systems may be used to track targets relative to physical guidance structures or other behavior-modifying stimuli such as light, turbulent flow, electrical/magnetic fields, or low-frequency sound and vibration. The combination of fine-scale fish behavior data and environmental parameters will yield better design criteria for the safe passage of listed or endangered species of Pacific salmon.
Differential Contributions of Alcohol and the Nicotine-Derived Nitrosamine Ketone (NNK) to Insulin and Insulin-Like Growth Factor Resistance in the Adolescent Rat Brain.

Aims Since epidemiologic studies suggest that tobacco smoke toxins, e.g. the nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone (NNK) tobacco-specific nitrosamine, can be a co-factor in alcohol-related brain disease (ARBD), we examined the independent and additive effects of alcohol and NNK exposures on spatial learning/memory, and brain insulin/IGF signaling, neuronal function and oxidative stress. Methods Adolescent Long Evans rats were fed liquid diets containing 0 or 26% caloric ethanol for 8 weeks. During weeks 3–8, rats were treated with i.p. NNK (2 mg/kg, 3×/week) or saline. In weeks 7–8, ethanol groups were binge-administered ethanol (2 g/kg; 3×/week). In week 8, at 12 weeks of age, rats were subjected to Morris Water Maze tests. Temporal lobes were used to assess molecular indices of insulin/IGF resistance, oxidative stress and neuronal function. Results Ethanol and NNK impaired spatial learning, and NNK ± ethanol impaired memory. Linear trend analysis demonstrated worsening performance from control to ethanol, to NNK, and then ethanol + NNK. Ethanol ± NNK, caused brain atrophy, inhibited insulin signaling through the insulin receptor and Akt, activated GSK-3β, increased protein carbonyl and 3-nitrotyrosine, and reduced acetylcholinesterase. NNK increased NTyr. Ethanol + NNK had synergistic stimulatory effects on 8-iso-PGF-2α, inhibitory effects on p-p70S6K, tau and p-tau and trend effects on insulin-like growth factor type 1 (IGF-1) receptor expression and phosphorylation. Conclusions Ethanol, NNK and combined ethanol + NNK exposures that begin in adolescence impair spatial learning and memory in young adults. The ethanol and/or NNK exposures differentially impair insulin/IGF signaling through neuronal growth, survival and plasticity pathways, increase cellular injury and oxidative stress and reduce expression of critical proteins needed for neuronal function.
Repeat prostate biopsy—when, where, and how

Patients who have a persistently elevated or a rising PSA level following a prior negative prostate biopsy can be a stressful situation for both the urologist and the patient. This will be a brief review of the indications and techniques in patients undergoing a repeat biopsy. In patients with a prior negative biopsy, assessing the adequacy of the initial biopsy is important. F/T PSA is currently the most useful marker in predicting cancer on repeat biopsy although newer markers, such as PCA3, are promising. Repeat biopsies should include a minimum of 14 cores, the 12 cores recommended for an initial biopsy and 2 additional cores obtained form the right and left anterior apex. In patients for whom repeat biopsies fail to identify cancer, yet the clinical suspicion remains high, consideration for a saturation biopsy approach seems warranted.
Physiologic, Metabolic, and Structural Alterations in Breast Cancer: Assessment via Optical Technologies

Optical spectroscopy was used to assess structural and functional changes which occur in breast tissue for the optical diagnosis of cancer in humans in vivo, and characterization of mammary tumor biology in animal models.
Anatomic Correlates of Stereotypies in Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration

Stereotypies are common in frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) however the anatomical correlates of stereotypies are unknown. We therefore set out to compare patterns of grey matter volume loss in FTLD subjects with and without stereotypies. Subjects with a diagnosis of FTLD that met international consensus criteria were prospectively recruited and separated into those with and without stereotypies. MRI and cognitive measures were obtained and voxel-based morphometry was used to assess the patterns of grey matter volume loss in those with and without stereotypies, compared to a group of age- and gender-matched controls. Demographic and clinical features were similar between subjects with and without stereotypies. FTLD subjects with stereotypies had greater volume loss in the striatum compared to those without stereotypies. Those without stereotypies showed a more widespread and typical pattern of cortical frontotemporal loss. Stereotypies in FTLD are therefore associated with a greater proportion of striatal to cortical volume loss than those without stereotypies.
DETECTION OF CONDENSATE VORTEX STATES

We discuss a detection scheme that reveals the existence of vortex states in a cylindrically symmetric condensate trap. It relies on the measurement of the second-order correlation function of the Schr\"odinger field and yields directly the topological charge of the vortex state, as well as direct evidence of the existence of persistent currents.
Infrared measurements of the chemical composition of C/2006 P1 McNaught

Abstract C/2006 P1 McNaught is a dynamically new comet from the Oort cloud that passed very close to the Sun, driving overall volatile production rates up to about 10 31 molecules s −1 . Post-perihelion observations were obtained in a target-of-opportunity campaign using the CSHELL instrument at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility atop Mauna Kea, Hawaii, on UT 2007 January 27 and 28. Eight parent volatiles (H 2 O, CH 4 , C 2 H 2 , C 2 H 6 , HCN, CO, NH 3 , H 2 CO) and two daughter fragments (OH and NH 2 ) were detected, enabling the determination of a rotational temperature and production rate for H 2 O on UT January 27 and absolute and relative production rates for all the detected parent species on UT January 28. The chemical composition measured in the coma suggests that this close perihelion passage stripped off processed outer surface layers, likely exposing relatively fresh primordial material during these observations. The post-perihelion abundances we measure for CO and CH 4 (relative to H 2 O) are slightly depleted while C 2 H 2 , NH 2 and possibly NH 3 are enhanced when compared to the overall comet population. Measured abundances for other detected molecular species were within the range typically observed in comets.
Personality and Fantasy Game Character Preferences

The present study examined the relationship between personality and character preferences in fantasy computer role-playing games. Subjects were required to complete two measures: The Big Five Inventory and a survey designed to determine character preferences in fantasy computer role-playing games as well as relevant fantasy/gaming experiences. Several correlations were observed that generally support the hypothesis that individuals choose characters that are reflections of their own personalities. For example, individuals who scored high on extraversion tended to prefer characters that were described as charismatic. Likewise, agreeableness was correlated with preferences for characters with helping occupations and negatively correlated with more deviant occupations.
Improving QA retrieval using document priors

We present a simple way to improve document retrieval for question answering systems. The method biases the retrieval system toward documents that contain words that have appeared in other documents containing answers to the same type of question. The method works with virtually any retrieval system, and exhibits a statistically significant performance improvement over a strong baseline.
Nonlinear complex response of a parametrically excited tuning fork

Innovative applications of parametrically excited structures have been proposed in microelectromechanical sensors and actuators. In parametrically excited systems, the dynamic response is a result of instability of the trivial equilibrium state. The response amplitude is determined by the nonlinearity of the structure as well as the system damping and forcing parameters. Previous studies on parametrically excited cantilever beams have shown that the agreement between the theory and the experiment is very poor. Even qualitative differences have been reported in the beam frequency response curves of the first mode. These discrepancies have led to more sophisticated models including quadratic dampings in the models. However, this treatment has been found unsatisfactory since it would require different nonlinear damping models for different modes. In this paper, we propose that much of the discrepancy can be attributed to the limited power of the shaker. In fact, the shaker dynamic responses are affected by the beam dynamics upon parametric instabilities. We first report qualitative discrepancies between the theoretical predictions and the experiments. We then propose as the explanation for the discrepancy the coupling between the beam lateral vibration and the shaker vibration amplitude. The coupling is more significant in shakers of limited powers. This finding is important in the design of parametrically excited systems for engineering applications.
Career Education for the Learning Disabled — Where are we Now?:

Meeting the unique career education needs of the learning disabled requires appropriate, systematic models for career education development. Currently, few such programs are available because of the reluctance of secondary learning disabilities teachers to abandon the remedial academic model. The author traces some of the current trends in career education for the learning disabled and presents a model for providing career education to secondary learning disabled students.
Preparation of protohemin monomethyl ester

Abstract A new and simple method for the preparation of protohemin monomethyl ester was described. The method is involved with the direct esterification of a propionic acid group of hemin, followed by column chromatography on silica gel. The physical properties (ir, solubility, tlc, etc.) of the product was intermediate between those of protohemin and protohemin dimethyl ester.
A remark on a generalized specification test

Abstract In testing orthogonality of a set of regressors when there exist other regressors known to be endogenous or exogenous, the appropriate test should be based on the difference between two estimators of the coefficients of regressors whose orthogonality is being tested.
Duration and Pattern of Follicular Evacuation during Ovulation in the Mare

Abstract The extent and pattern of follicular-fluid release at the time of ovulation was studied using transrectal ultrasonography in 12 mares. Mares with large (⩾ 35 mm) preovulatory follicles were administered human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) to induce ovulation. Each mare was examined beginning at 30 (n = 2), 34 (n = 3), 35 (n = 3), or 36 (n = 4) hours following hCG treatment. An examination schedule of every hour, half-hour, 9 to 16 min, or continuously was used to detect the onset of follicular collapse (duration of schedule, 6 to 12 h). In 10 of 12 mares, initial fluid loss occurred between examinations (range, 9 to 27 min), but residual fluid loss was followed continuously until: (1) no detectable fluid remained, (2) residual fluid had reached a minimal level (5% or less of original fluid area), or (3) no decrease was detected during 5 min of continuous examination. If it is assumed that the initial fluid loss occurred, on the average, midway between two examinations, there was a decrease of 81% of the original antral area in 7.3 min. During the subsequent continuous examinations, there was an average additional 16% area decrease in an average of 5.2 min. For the remaining two mares, follicular-fluid loss was observed continuously from preovulation to completion of fluid release. Two extremes of fluid loss patterns were observed in these two mares. One pattern was an abrupt loss of follicular fluid in which the majority (83% of the antral area) disappeared in less than 1 min. The other pattern was a slow, gradual loss of fluid which took 4 min for 83% of the area to be lost. However, the time required for evacuation of approximately 96% of the antral area in both mares was 6 min.
Human papillomavirus vaccine uptake and barriers: Association with perceived risk, actual risk and race/ethnicity among female students at a New York State university, 2010

Understanding human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake patterns is critical to improve vaccination levels. Approximately half (56%) of female undergraduate students surveyed at a large public university reported HPV vaccine series initiation, with 79% of initiators completing the three dose series. Predictors of series initiation included having a conversation with a health-care provider about the vaccine, reporting a history of sexual intercourse and receipt of the meningitis vaccine. Compared to whites, black/African-American women were 33% less likely to have initiated HPV vaccination. Common reasons for not receiving the HPV vaccine included concerns about vaccine safety and doctors' not recommending vaccination.
Erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp and nonscalp

Erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp is characterized by an idiopathic pustular eruption occurring in association with iatrogenic or incidental, antecedent trauma to actinically damaged skin. We present two cases of erosive pustular dermatosis, one of which occurred on the scalp, the other of which was primarily located on the face.
The impact of union-sponsored boycotts on the stock prices of target firms

An empirical analysis of the impact of union-sponsored boycotts on the stock prices of target firms strongly suggests that union boycott announcements initially lead to economically and statistically significant losses in the stock prices of the target firms. However, this short-term price decline is almost completely erased by rebounds in stock prices over the ensuing 15 trading days.
Use of 11C as a tracer for studying the synthesis of [11C] urea from [11C] cyanide

Abstract The use of reversed-phase liquid chromotography and radiochemical detection with carbon-11 (t 1 2 = 20.4 min ) as a tracer allowed the study of the preparation of [11C]urea from [11C]cyanide at no carrier-added concentrations. [11C]cyanate was readily prepared by permanganate oxidation of [11C]cyanide at 75°C. The conversion of NH4O11CN (≈0.03 mM) to [11C]urea in the presence of excess ammonium ions (0.28 M) was found to best fit pseudo first order reaction kinetics with a rate constant of 0.065 ± 0.008 min−1 at 75°C. Heating at higher temperatures (180–200°C) revealed that the conversion of NH4O11CN to [11C]urea occured in high yield in less than 3 min. The hydrolysis of [11C]cyanate to [11C]carbonate, a possible side reaction, was found to proceed at a rate of 0.010 ± 0.001 min−1 at 113°C.
Induction of circulating soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor and interleukin 1 receptor antagonist following interleukin 1α infusion in humans

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate circulating levels of tumour necrosis factor soluble receptor p55 (TNFsrp55) and interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) in cancer patients undergoing treatment with IL-1α. Patients were treated with 0.03 μg/kg IL-1α administered intravenously over a 30 min interval daily for five consecutive days. Plasma TNFsrp55 levels rose dramatically and peaked (24.5 ± 3.6 ng/ml) within 1 h after the first IL-1α infusion. Thereafter, the levels rapidly declined and reached baseline levels within 24 h. The increases observed on days 3 and 5 of treatment were less pronounced but the reductions in peak levels were not statistically significant. IL-1ra levels increased less abruptly after an IL-1α infusion than did TNFsrp55 levels and peaked (25.3 ± 5.1 ng/ml) within 2 h of the start of the IL-1α infusion. Levels then rapidly declined reaching baseline values within 24 h. As with TNFsrp55 levels, peak IL-1ra levels observed on days 3 and 5 of treatment were less than those measured on day 1. IL-1α and IL-1β levels were consistently below the threshold of detection of the RIAs employed in these studies. Likewise, with the exception of a single time point in one of the four patients studied, TNF-α was undetectable in all plasma samples assayed. These results indicate that TNF and IL-1 antagonists circulate in patients undergoing IL-1α immunotherapy at plasma concentrations likely to modulate the biological effects of the IL-1α administered as well as those associated with any endogenously produced IL-1β and TNF-α.
Carbon-13 magnetic resonance spectra of the tropane alkaloids: Cocaine and atropine

Complete Carbon-13 magnetic resonance spectral assignments of cocaine and atropine were made.13C Nmr spectra of atropine provides an interesting example of long range coupling on chemical shifts.
Percutaneous implantation of non-small-cell lung carcinoma: Technique and observations

Rationale and objectives. The authors performed this study to determine whether intrathoracic inoculation of non-small-cell lung carcinoma with fluoroscopic guidance would provide for more accurate implantation. Materials and Methods. A tumor cell inoculum (2 × 10 6 cells per 0.15 mL) was injected percutaneously under fluoroscopic guidance at the posterior midaxillary line in 22 athymic nude mice. The mice underwent imaging with a mammographic unit at 3, 5, and 8 weeks after implantation. The mice were sacrificed at 8 weeks, and autopsy was performed to determine tumor yield. Results. The use of a percutaneous technique under fluoroscopic guidance greatly facilitated the accurate implantation of xenografts. Tumor growth was seen at radiography in 18 of the 22 (82%) mice at 8 weeks. Necropsy revealed a 100% tumor yield. Histologic examination confirmed adenocarcinoma of the lung. The average number of tumors found in the lung parenchyma was 1.05 ± 0.35; the average number of tumors found in the mediastinum was 0.59 ± 0.67. The average tumor weight was 389 mg ± 64.3. The average tumor size was 300 mm 3 ± 66.23. Conclusion. With fluoroscopic guidance, percutaneous implantation of tumor cells in athymic nude mice is simple and effective.
Mobility and two-dimensional compressibility of Xe on the (110)plane of tungsten

Abstract The diffusion of Xe on the (110) plane of tungsten has been studied as functin of coverage by the field emission current fluctuation method. At θ = 0.3, Edif = 1.1 ± 0.3 kcal, D0 = 7 × 10−8 cm2s and atgq = 0.9, Edif = 1.1 ±0.3 kcal, D0 = 10−8 to 10−9 cm2/s. For θ = 0.5 no activation energy could be obtained because of anomalous temperature behavior of the apparent D values. The mean square fluctuations varied exponentially with temperature; the resultant energy parameters were 0.27 kcal for θ = 0.3 and 0.4 kcal for θ = 0.9, with the sign indicating repulsive interactions. For θ = 0.5 the value was −1 kcal, indicating apparently attractive interactions. It is speculated that the anomalous diffusion behavior and the sign of the interaction energy for θ = 0.5 correspond to incipient ordered phase formation of the Xe overlayer.
Differential regulation of catechol-O-methyltransferase expression in a mouse model of aggression

This study was designed to understand molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying aggressive behaviors in mice exposed to repeated interactions in their homecage with conspecifics. A resident–intruder procedure was employed whereby two males were allowed to interact for 10 min trials, and aggressive and/or submissive behaviors (e.g., degree of attacking, biting, chasing, grooming, rearing, or upright posture) were assessed. Following 10 days of behavioral trials, brains were removed and dissected into specific regions including the cerebellum, frontal cortex, hippocampus, midbrain, pons, and striatum. Gene expression analysis was performed using real-time quantitative polymerase-chain reaction (qPCR) for catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Compared to naive control mice, significant up regulation of COMT expression of residents was observed in the cerebellum, frontal cortex, hippocampus, midbrain, and striatum; in all of these brain regions the COMT expression of residents was also significantly higher than that of intruders. The intruders also had a significant down regulation (compared to naive control mice) within the hippocampus, indicating a selective decrease in COMT expression in the hippocampus of submissive subjects. Immunoblot analysis confirmed COMT up regulation in the midbrain and hippocampus of residents and down regulation in intruders. qPCR analysis of TH expression indicated significant up regulation in the midbrain of residents and concomitant down regulation in intruders. These findings implicate regionally- and behaviorally-specific regulation of COMT and TH expression in aggressive and submissive behaviors. Additional molecular and cellular characterization of COMT, TH, and other potential targets is warranted within this animal model of aggression.
High energy laser plasma accelerators

Intense colinear laser beams ω0, k0 and ω1, k1, shone on a plasma with a frequency separation equal to the electron plasma frequency ωpe are capable of creating a large coherent longitudinal electric field EL = mcωpe/e of the order of 1 GeV/cm for a plasma density of 1018 cm-3 by the laser beat excitation of plasma oscillations. Accompanying favourable and deleterious physical effects using this process for a high energy beatwave accelerator are discussed: longitudinal dephasing, pump depletion, transverse laser diffraction, plasma turbulence effects, self-steepening, self-focusing, etc. The basic equation, the driven nonlinear Schrodinger equation, is derived to describe this system. Advanced accelerator concepts to overcome some of these problems are proposed, including various forms of the plasma fiber accelerator. An advanced laser architecture suitable for the beat-wave accelerator is suggested. Accelerator physics issues such as the luminosity are discussed. Applications of the present process to the current drive in a plasma and to the excitation of collective oscillations within nuclei are also discussed.
Size distributions and fractal properties of particles during a simulated phytoplankton bloom in a mesocosm

Abstract Marine snow aggregates (>500μm) composed primarily of phytoplankton are known to have fractal dimensions of 1.52 to 1.72 and are assumed to form by the physical coagulation of smaller particles. In order to study the bulk fractal properties of these smaller particles during a coagulation event, concentrations of small particles (2 to 300 μm) were measured during a simulated phytoplankton bloom in a laboratory mesocosm. Particle concentrations were presented as size distributions in terms of either solid volume or average length. Both distributions indicated that particles were continuously coagulating throughout the bloom as evidenced by a greater increase in the concentration of larger particles (50 to 300 μm in average length) than smaller particles (2 to 50 μm), and decreases in fractal dimensions. Average fractal dimensions of all particles in the size range 20–200 μm were calculated using a new method called the particle concentration technique (PCT). The PCT required both solid volume and length size distributions on the same population of particles as input. As coagulation of phytoplankton and other particles in the tank proceeded during the phytoplankton bloom (7 to 11 days after inoculation), the average fractal dimensions of these particles decreased from D = 2.49 ± 0.41, a value close to the Euclidean value of 3 for a sphere, to D = 1.68 ± 0.08, a value typical of larger marine snow aggregates. This suggests that although marine snow-sized aggregates can appear to be dominated by non-fractal particles such as phytoplankton, they are primarily formed from many types of smaller aggregates present in the water column that, on average, can have low fractal dimensions.
Clarification of the effluent of refractories plants and dehydration of the sediment

Effluent containing clay and chamotte can be treated satisfactorily in a clarifier with a suspended layer of sediment. The content of suspended matter in the clarified effluent does not exceed 13 mg/liter. The flow velocity in the suspended layer and the concentration of the layer do not vary with the original concentration (within the investigated limits) of the solid phase in the effluent but depend on the height of the suspended layer and the physicochemical properties of the suspension. The sediment produced in the clarification of the effluent is readily dehydrated.
Analysis of water footprint of a photobioreactor microalgae biofuel production system from blue, green and lifecycle perspectives

Abstract Microalgae are currently being investigated as a feedstock for the commercial production of transportation fuels, due to their potential scalability and sustainability advantages over conventional feedstocks. The water consumption of microalgae has been postulated to be a resource barrier for large-scale production. This study presents an assessment of the water footprint (WF) of a closed photobioreactor-based biofuel production system, where microalgae cultivation is simulated with geographical and temporal resolution. The assessment focuses on the WF as modeled for four different fuel conversion pathways, and in 10 continental US locations corresponding to high productivity yields. The WF is comprehensively assessed using a hybrid approach which combines process and economic input–output lifecycle analysis method, using three metrics: blue, green and lifecycle WF. Results show that the blue WF of microalgae biofuels varies between 23 and 85 m 3 · GJ − 1 depending on process and geographic location. The green WF shows that microalgae cultivation may reduce the required local water withdrawals. Water credits from the co-products vary with allocation methods and end uses, from credits of less than 4 m 3 · GJ − 1 up to credits of 334 m 3 · GJ − 1 . Results for the net lifecycle WF with coproduct credits vary between 80 and − 291 m 3 · GJ − 1 . Discussion focuses on the sensitivity of microalgae biofuel WF and highlights potential local and national strain of water resources relative to other fuels and biofuels.
Group climate in an open-ended cancer support group

A number of well-described, controlled studies assessing cancer support group intervention support their effectiveness. All of these experimental groups have been close-ended and typically involve six to eight weekly sessions. Because many cancer patients are unable or unwilling to participate in closed, extended-session groups, there is particular need for analysis of the effectiveness of short-term, open-ended groups. Additionally, objective measures are needed to delineate the factors contributing to a successful outcome in cancer support groups. We used the Short Form of the Group Climate Questionnaire (GCQ-S) to characterize 23 sessions in an open-ended, short-term, Veterans Hospital based cancer support group. The cancer group scored significantly lower on the Avoiding and Conflict dimensions (p<.001) compared to a normative psychotherapy group sample. There was no difference on the Engaged dimension. This pilot study suggests that a cancer support group in this setting can create an environment where members are cohesive and take responsibility for their own change process, while keeping interpersonal conflict to a minimum. Based on these preliminary findings, we encourage controlled clinical trials examining the efficacy of open-ended cancer support groups.
Brief announcement: Cataclysm: handling extreme overloads in internet services

In this paper we present Cataclysm, a comprehensive approach for handling extreme overloads in hosted Internet applications. The primary contribution of our work is to develop an overload control approach that brings together admission control, dynamic provisioning of platform resources, and adaptive degradation of QoS into one integrated system. We implement a prototype Cataclysm hosting platform on a Linux cluster and demonstrate the benefits of our integrated approach using a variety of workloads.
A rotating-hinge knee replacement for malignant tumors of the femur and tibia

We evaluated the 2- to 7-year results of a rotating-hinge knee replacement after excision of malignant tumors of the knee joint. There were 25 distal femoral and 7 proximal tibial replacements. The 5-year prosthetic survival for distal femoral replacements was 88%, compared with 58% for proximal tibial replacements. Seven patients underwent prosthetic exchange: 1 for aseptic loosening, 2 for wound slough and perioperative infection, and 4 for articulating component failure. One patient underwent above-knee amputation owing to skin necrosis. The median functional scores at the latest follow-up were 27 by the International Society of Limb Salvage evaluation system and 80 by the Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Score system. This implant is a promising choice for joint reconstruction after excision of tumors at the knee joint.
Different responses of soluble whole nuclear RNA polymerase and soluble nucleolar RNA polymerase to divalent cations and to inhibition by α-ananitin

Abstract RNA polymerase activities of isolated nuclei and nucleoli and of the solubilized enzyme extracted from these organelles were examined in the presence of divalent cations and α-amanitin. The ratio of enzyme activity in presence of Mg 2+ to activity in presence of Mn 2+ and ammonium sulfate was higher for the enzyme preparations made from nucleoli than for the corresponding preparations made from whole nuclei. When incubated in presence of ammonium sulfate and Mn 2+ , the polymerase activities of the whole nuclei and of the soluble enzyme preparation made from whole nuclei were extensively inhibited by amanitin, whereas the polymerase activity of the nucleolar enzyme was only slightly affected by the toxin under the same conditions. From the differing degrees of response to amanitin and to Mg 2+ and Mn 2+ , it has been concluded that the RNA polymerase of nucleoli differs structurally from the chromatin-associated polymerase extractable from whole nuclei.
MORPHOMETRY, REPRODUCTION, DIET, AND EPIZOITES OF OVALIPES STEPHENSONI WILLIAMS, 1976 (DECAPODA, BRACHYURA)

ABSTRACT Morphometry, reproductive biology, diet, and epizoite infestation of Ovalipes stephensoni (Brachyura: Portunidae) are described. The results are based on observations of 347 specimens collected by demersal trawl on the continental shelf of the eastern United States from 13-198 m, between 28° and 37°N, and on 26 specimens from the National Museum of Natural History collections in Washington, D.C. All seven morphometric relationships observed (carapace length, body depth, propodal length, width and depth of crushing chela, and abdominal width) exhibited allometric growth to some extent. Sexual dimorphism was demonstrated for chelar propodal length and abdominal width. Prepubertal and pubertal molts were inferred from two changes in allometry of the male chelar propodal length and female abdominal width. Allometric maturity was correlated with gonad, pleopod, and gonopore development. Males reach full maturity at a carapace width of 61 mm; females complete maturation by the time they reach 51 mm in width. Ovalipes stephensoni is heterochelic and heterodontic with the crushing claw occurring on the right side in 91.6% of the specimens observed. There is little evidence that cheliped laterality changes with age (size). Although this species is an opportunistic carnivore, bivalve mollusks, cephalopods, and small crustaceans comprised the bulk of the diet. Relatively heavy infestations of lepadid barnacles, Octolasmis muelleri, were found in the branchial chamber. Lesions of the ciliated protozoan Synophrya hypertrophica were present in the gill lamellae.
Modeling the effects of material non-linearity using moving window micromechanics

Abstract In the analysis of materials with random heterogeneous microstructure the assumption is often made that material behavior can be represented by homogenized or effective properties. While this assumption yields accurate results for the bulk behavior of composite materials, it ignores the effects of the random microstructure. The spatial variations in these microstructures can focus, initiate and propagate localized non-linear behavior, subsequent damage and failure. In previous work a computational method, moving window micromechanics (MW), was used to capture microstructural detail and characterize the variability of the local and global elastic response. Digital images of material microstructure described the microstructure and a local micromechanical analysis was used to generate spatially varying material property fields. The strengths of this approach are that the material property fields can be consistently developed from digital images of real microstructures, they are easy to import into finite element models (FE) using regular grids, and their statistical characterizations can provide the basis for simulations further characterizing stochastic response. In this work, the moving window micromechanics technique was used to generate material property fields characterizing the non-linear behavior of random materials under plastic yielding; specifically yield stress and hardening slope, post yield. The complete set of material property fields were input into FE models of uniaxial loading. Global stress strain curves from the FE–MW model were compared to a more traditional micromechanics model, the generalized method of cells. Local plastic strain and local stress fields were produced which correlate well to the microstructure. The FE–MW method qualitatively captures the inelastic behavior, based on a non-linear flow rule, of the sample continuous fiber composites in transverse uniaxial loading.
On statistical searches for filaments

The presence or absence of an excess of filamentary structure in the galaxy distribution has important implications for the origin of such structure. In an attempt to answer this question, many statistics have been devised to quantify the visual impression of filaments seen in galaxy maps, but few of these are at all well understood. Two of these, a quadrupole elongation statistic and a nearest-neighbor alignment statistic, are analyzed in the common language of the irreducible N-point correlation functions of the galaxy distribution, and it is argued that there has as yet been no success in isolating filaments in particular from clustering in general.
Elliptic and parabolic problems in unbounded domains

We consider elliptic and parabolic problems in unbounded domains. We give general existence and regularity results in Besov spaces and semi-explicit representation formulas via operator-valued fundamental solutions which turn out to be a powerful tool to derive a series of qualitative results about the solutions. We give a sample of possible applications including asymptotic behavior in the large, singular perturbations, exact boundary conditions on artificial boundaries and validity of maximum principles. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
NCLB and Teacher Retention: Who Will Turn out the Lights?.

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB, 2001) is a landmark reform reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA, 1965). Its intent is to close achievement gaps among students who belo...
A novel mediator between activator proteins and the RNA polymerase II transcription apparatus

One gene activator protein may interfere with the effects of another in eukaryotic cells. We report here that a hybrid yeast-herpes gene activator protein inhibits transcriptional activation by a thymidine-rich DNA element in yeast. This example of activator interference can be faithfully reproduced in vitro. Interference is reversed by a partially purified yeast component, but not by RNA polymerase II or various polymerase II transcription factors. We conclude that the partially purified yeast component is a novel factor, and we suggest this factor mediates the transcriptional activation process.
Re-evaluation of the intercept temperature for HTS current leads based on practical and economical considerations

Abstract An optimization analysis was performed to determine the intercept temperature that minimizes the net room-temperature refrigeration requirements for a binary-type HTS current lead. Two types of HTS material systems were investigated: (1) Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2Ox (2212) melt-cast-processed tube and (2) Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox (2223) Ag–Au alloyed powder-in-tube tape. An example analysis was performed on a conduction-cooled HTS current lead using a cryocooler. The presence of a safety lead and a background magnetic field strongly influences the optimum intercept temperature. In addition, an analysis was performed to determine the optimal intercept temperature based on economic considerations. In the economic analysis, the optimal intercept temperature is determined by minimizing the capital investment cost of the HTS current lead and its corresponding refrigeration system. It was the economic impact that the intercept temperature has on combined system cost that provided the motivation for this analysis and may be of interest for commercial applications.
Synthesis of some N-methylated pteridines related to 7,8-dihydroxanthopterin

Seven methylated pteridines have been synthesized by condensation of a 4-chloro-5-nitropyrimidine with a β-ketoamine (or a blocked derivative), reduction of the nitro group, and subsequent ring closure. This scheme provides a new route to dihydroxanthopterin. Several cases are reported, however, in the uracil series where ring closure could not be effected.
Conformational changes in the Escherichia coli ATP synthase b-dimer upon binding to F1-ATPase

Conformational changes within the subunit b-dimer of the E. coli ATP synthase occur upon binding to the F1 sector. ESR spectra of spin-labeled b at room temperature indicated a pivotal point in the b-structure at residue 62. Spectra of frozen b ± F1 and calculated interspin distances suggested that where contact between b 2 and F1 occurs (above about residue 80), the structure of the dimer changes minimally. Between b-residues 33 and 64 inter-subunit distances in the F1-bound b-dimer were found to be too large to accommodate tightly coiled coil packing and therefore suggest a dissociation and disengagement of the dimer upon F1-binding. Mechanistic implications of this “bubble” formation in the tether domain of ATP synthase b 2 are discussed.
Sprouting and functional regeneration of an identified neuron in helisoma

Abstract A pair of identified neurons in the snail, Helisoma, rapidly regenerate after severance of their axons and functionally reinnervate their former target organs, the salivary glands. Functional reinnervation occured in 40% of the preparations within 6 days and in 93% of those examined on or after day 7 following axon severance. Neural regeneration is highly specific. For instance, in each case in which the salivary glands were found to be reinnervated and simultaneous records were taken from gland cells and their normal effector neuron, this neuron (neuron no. 4) was found to have reinnervated the glands. In addition, regeneration following total denervation of the feeding musculature can result in feeding movements which appear normal on visual inspection and by myographic recordings. Neural regeneration is manifested by extensive axonal sprouting. The site of initation of sprouts is a function of teh crush site, but sprouting is not totally restricted to the vicinity of the crush. In addition, the initial regeneration and axonal sprouting following severance of these axons is not dependent upon the presence of their original target organs.
Stability of pBR322-derived plasmids.

Abstract The stability of pBR322-derived plasmids was studied during growth of their Escherichia coli host in the absence of antibiotics. Plasmid pBR322, as well as its Δ rom and Δ bla derivatives, were lost from their host within 60 generations, but a number of Δ tet derivatives were quite stable under the same conditions. An evaluation of the data indicated that primary plasmid loss due to random partitioning corresponds to the generation of a plasmid-free cell about every 10 4 divisions (probability P 0 ; = “intrinsic” instability). Secondary loss of plasmid-carrying cells resulted from a growth advantage of the plasmid-free cells when bacteria die, perhaps due to unrepaired lethal damage in the DNA, under conditions of stationary incubation (= “apparent” instability). This cell death also occurred in the absence of plasmids but was accelerated by the presence of extra plasmid DNA in the cell and further accelerated by a functional tet gene. This was the reason for the differential apparent stabilities of Δ bla and Δ tet plasmids. There was no indication that an accumulation of plasmid multimers contributed to the plasmid instability, as has been suggested in the literature. The value of P 0 = 10 −4 is 14 orders of magnitude greater than expected under the assumption of a random (Poisson) distribution of plasmid copy numbers in a population of cells.