cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In the Beginning: Theories and images of creation in Northern Europe in the twelfth century

The twelfth century witnessed a phenomenal explosion of interest in creation theory, an interest that was accompanied by an equally phenomenal increase in creation imagery of almost 900 per cent over the previous century. Often taken at face value by scholars as straightforward creation scenes or as the unique iconographical expressions of various patristic or contemporary writers on creation without reference to the larger, on-going dialectical struggles of which these writings and the artworks were a part, these images should instead be seen as active factors in the process of forming elite opinion as a prelude to conditioning public opinion on a broader, lower level. © Association of Art Historians 1999.
Many-task computing for grids and supercomputers

Many-task computing aims to bridge the gap between two computing paradigms, high throughput computing and high performance computing. Many task computing differs from high throughput computing in the emphasis of using large number of computing resources over short periods of time to accomplish many computational tasks (i.e. including both dependent and independent tasks), where primary metrics are measured in seconds (e.g. FLOPS, tasks/sec, MB/s I/O rates), as opposed to operations (e.g. jobs) per month. Many task computing denotes high-performance computations comprising multiple distinct activities, coupled via file system operations. Tasks may be small or large, uniprocessor or multiprocessor, compute-intensive or data-intensive. The set of tasks may be static or dynamic, homogeneous or heterogeneous, loosely coupled or tightly coupled. The aggregate number of tasks, quantity of computing, and volumes of data may be extremely large. Many task computing includes loosely coupled applications that are generally communication-intensive but not naturally expressed using standard message passing interface commonly found in high performance computing, drawing attention to the many computations that are heterogeneous but not ldquohappilyrdquo parallel.
Diagnosis and Pathogenesis of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Tears

Ten cases of retinal pigment epithelial tears were observed in eight patients with serous pigment epithelial detachments associated with age-related macular degeneration. Eight of the ten tears were spontaneous and all occurred at the detachment margin. The resulting area of exposed choroid was sometimes initially mistaken for pigment epithelial atrophy. In two cases it was misdiagnosed as choroidal neovascularization and treated with laser photocoagulation. All but two patients suffered severe visual loss.
Streptokinase alters myocardial creatine kinase depletion after ischaemia and reperfusion in rabbits.

SUMMARY 1. The efficacy of streptokinase as an intracoronary thrombolytic agent is wellrecognized. The effect of streptokinase, distinct from its thrombolytic action, on ischaemic myocardium distal to an area of coronary artery occlusion when reperfusion occurs has not been well-defined. 2. In order to do this, myocardial creatine kinase depletion and the histopathology of infarctions produced in rabbits after 1 h of circumflex coronary artery occlusion and mechanical release of the occlusion were assessed. 3. Streptokinase or saline was infused intravenously for 1 h beginning 0.5 h after occlusion. Rabbits were divided into two time intervals: early (<10 h) and late (24 h) after release of coronary artery occlusion. 4. When streptokinase was infused in early infarctions, haemorrhage did not correlate with infarction cross-sectional area or myocardial creatine kinase depletion. However, myocardial creatine kinase depletion was 40% less when streptokinase was infused than when saline was infused, suggesting that streptokinase might limit infarct size. 5. In late infarctions, the degree of haemorrhage, infarction cross-sectional area, and myocardial creatine kinase depletion were similar after reperfusion with streptokinase or saline. By 24 h, the beneficial effect of a single dose of streptokinase given early in the course of occlusion-reperfusion myocardial injury was no longer evident in limiting infarct size.
Current Status of Clostridium difficile Infection Epidemiology

The dramatic changes in the epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) during recent years, with increases in incidence and severity of disease in several countries, have made CDI a global public health challenge. Increases in CDI incidence have been largely attributed to the emergence of a previously rare and more virulent strain, BI/NAP1/027. Increased toxin production and high-level resistance to fluoroquinolones have made this strain a very successful pathogen in healthcare settings. In addition, populations previously thought to be at low risk are now being identified as having severe CDI. Recent genetic analysis suggests that C. difficile has a highly fluid genome with multiple mechanisms to modify its content and functionality, which can make C. difficile adaptable to environmental changes and potentially lead to the emergence of more virulent strains. In the face of these changes in the epidemiology and microbiology of CDI, surveillance systems are necessary to monitor trends and inform public health actions.
CEPM 3: process mapping of residential foundation slab construction processes

With the purpose of mapping residential foundation slab construction processes, the authors collected the necessary process mapping information. After the completion of the process mapping for several common residential foundation slab construction processes, the team then used the process maps to identify potential process improvements and documented these in new, revised process maps. The residential foundation slab construction process mapping effort coupled with process simulation demonstrated the existence of opportunities for residential foundation slab construction process improvements. This has motivated the homebuilder partners to further pursue the issue by developing a residential foundation slab construction process to a stage where several prototype foundation slabs can be built. This report provides information on all steps accomplished and all issues involving the process mapping effort.
Learning prototype-selection rules for case-based iterative design

The first step for most case-based design systems is to select an initial prototype from a database of previous designs. The retrieved prototype is then modified to tailor it to the given goals. For any particular design goal the selection of a starting point for the design process can have a dramatic effect both on the quality of the eventual design and on the overall design time. We present a technique for automatically constructing effective prototype-selection rules. Our technique applies a standard inductive-learning algorithm, C4.5, to a set of training data describing which particular prototype would have been the best choice for each goal encountered in a previous design session. We have tested our technique in, the domain of racing-yacht-hull design, comparing our inductively learned selection rules to several competing prototype-selection methods. Our results show that the inductive prototype-selection method leads to better final designs when the design process is guided by a noisy evaluation function, and that the inductively learned rules will often be more efficient than competing methods. >
A captive behavioral enrichment study with Asian small‐clawed river otters (Aonyx cinerea)

Asian small-clawed river otters (Aonyx cinerea) were given the opportunity to hunt for and capture live crickets (Acheta domestica) in a public interactive display. The otters learned the experimental routine during the first day of exposure. Different response levels were recorded at each of three capture sites, A, B, and C. The animals showed continued motivation for hunting despite the fact that there was no deprivation and the crickets represented an insignificant part of the diet. Besides live crickets, other items—cat food, dead crickets, and gelatin capsules—were introduced for five days each. The otters made the most captures per opportunity for live crickets, followed, in order of preference, by dead crickets, cat food, and gelatin capsules. Although gelatin capsules were found to be the least motivating prey item, the otters hunted for them whenever they were offered. Thus, any active opportunity to produce a change in their environment was rewarding to the otters.
Communicating critical values in anatomic pathology.

Abstract Critical values in anatomic pathology are usually information sensitive, whereas most such values in laboratory medicine are time sensitive. However, there is an important time element in ...
Battling Stereotypes: A Taxonomy of Common Soldiers in Civil War History

This article explores how American historians have stereotyped Civil War soldiers as heroes, victims and villains, race warriors, and citizens at war to explain how these archetypes formed and propose methods that transcend them. The wealth of primary evidence from Civil War soldiers supports virtually any portrayal of them. Scholars influenced by current events and invested in academic debates have marshaled sources to honor courage, condemn war, remember the forgotten, or recreate society. While each camp has expanded our knowledge of soldiers, because Civil War history favors historiography over theory, the field perpetuates stereotypes that rob soldiers of their complexity. Three approaches could help scholars avoid stereotypes and the pitfalls of presentism: historians could emphasize soldiers’ individuality and not just their agency; they could study influential soldiers instead of searching for typical ones; and they could write narratives instead of monographs.
Detecting PE in COPD

▴ Monreal M, Munoz-Torrero JF, Naraine VS, et al . Pulmonary embolism in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or congestive heart failure. Am J Med2006;119:851–8. [OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4] Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a difficult diagnosis to make or exclude and there have been various pretest probability scoring systems developed to aid the clinician in this area. However, these scoring systems do not take into account underlying cardiopulmonary abnormalities. This interesting study by Monreal et al looked at … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DThe%2BAmerican%2Bjournal%2Bof%2Bmedicine%26rft.stitle%253DAm%2BJ%2BMed%26rft.aulast%253DMonreal%26rft.auinit1%253DM.%26rft.volume%253D119%26rft.issue%253D10%26rft.spage%253D851%26rft.epage%253D858%26rft.atitle%253DPulmonary%2Bembolism%2Bin%2Bpatients%2Bwith%2Bchronic%2Bobstructive%2Bpulmonary%2Bdisease%2Bor%2Bcongestive%2Bheart%2Bfailure.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1016%252Fj.amjmed.2005.11.035%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F17000216%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1016/j.amjmed.2005.11.035&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=17000216&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fthoraxjnl%2F62%2F3%2F247.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000240699600011&link_type=ISI
Engineering and scientific curriculum issues of including nanotechnology, robotics, life extension and virtual reality in basic requirements

It is argued that the existing engineering curriculum does not adequately prepare students to confront the technological changes of the 21st century. Accordingly, it is proposed that nanotechnology, robotics, life-extension, and virtual reality be included in the curriculum. It is concluded that the proposed additions to the current curriculum can create an educational environment for future engineers and scientists. >
VADE MECUM design study

This paper describes the objectives and work to date in the VADE MECUM ( Vehicle ATT Demonstrations, Evaluation and Monitoring on a European Corridor Uniting Member states) design study. The first part of the design study will be an affirmation of: 1) the topography, 2) road passenger and freight movements, 3) Advanced Transport Telematics (ATT) user needs, and 4) key players in the corridor. The second part of the study will be to design and specify demonstration proposals for the corridor. The third part of the study will develop some of the projects into outline specifications. The overall focus of VADE MECUM is on movements from region to region, the potential travel obstacles and the use of information that is generated.
Incomplete Contracts and Renegotiation

The parties to a contract typically make a lot of decisions during the time it is in force, and the paper is based on the premise that it takes time to be involved in any one of these decisions. Attempts to economize on decision-making time then imply that the parties may write a contract in which each cedes some decision rights to the other. The cost of the arrangement is that the information and preferences of the uninvolved party are neglected. We find that decisions are more likely to be left out of contracts if only one player attaches significant weight to them and simultaneously is well informed. While the direct effect of this may be small, it is dramatically amplified if the decision-maker can be disciplined by the threat of renegotiation. We identify a set of conditions under which the possibility of renegotiation allows the parties to leave all non-price decisions out of the contract. By thus arguing that the threat of renegotiation allows contractual incompleteness, the paper reverses the direction of causality stressed by the literature.
The Role of Lung Ultrasound in Diagnosis of Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Newborn Infants

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in newborn infants.
First Total Synthesis of Xestobergsterol A and Active Structural Analogues of the Xestobergsterols1

A novel pentacyclic polyhydroxylated sterol, xestobergsterol A (1a), has been synthesized in 24 steps and in good overall yield from stigmasterol 17. The key steps of the synthesis are the Breslow remote functionalization of the polyoxygenated steroid derived from 25 and the base-catalyzed epimerization−aldol condensation of the dione derived from 27.
Beam-based alignment technique for the SLC linac

It is pointed out that misalignments of quadrupole magnets and beam position monitors (BPMs) in the linac of the SLAC (Stanford Linear Accelerator Center) Linear Collider (SLC) cause the electron and positron beams to be steered off-center in the disk-loaded waveguide accelerator structures. Off-center beams produce wakefields which limit the SLC performance at high beam intensities by causing emittance growth. A general method is presented for simultaneously determining quadrupole magnet and BPM offsets using beam trajectory measurements. Results from the application of the method to the SLC linac are described. The alignment precision achieved is approximately 100 mu m, which is significantly better than that obtained using optical surveying techniques. >
Macroeconomic Aspects of Private Retirement Programs

Abstract The decline in importance of private defined benefit plans in relation to defined contribution plans in the United States is a major issue of interest to pension actuaries. This decline has been attributed to numerous factors: costs of government regulation, societal and cultural changes, changed employer attitudes, and employees’ lack of understanding of defined benefit plans. It has also caused some observers to proclaim the end of private defined benefit plans. This paper analyzes possible macroeconomic factors contributing to the crisis of defined benefit plans and proposes an alternative hypothesis for the cause of the crisis: the decline of the relative attractiveness of defined benefit plans in relation to defined contribution plans when these are viewed as investments, that is, as securities in capital markets.
The deductive synthesis of database transactions

Database programming requires knowledge of database semantics both to maintain database integrity and to explore more optimization opportunities. Automated programming of database transactions is desirable and feasible. In general, transactions use simple constructs and algorithms; specifications of database semantics are available; and transactions perform small incremental updates to database contents. Automated programming in such a restricted but well understood and important domain is promising. We approach the synthesis of database transactions that preserve the validity of integrity constraints using deductive techniques. A transaction logic for a fairly expressive class of transactions is developed as the formalism within which the synthesis is conducted
Comparison of the distribution of Actinomyces in dental plaque on inserted enamel and natural tooth surfaces in periodontal health and disease.

The distribution of Actinomyces naeslundii, Actinomyces viscosus and Actinomyces odontolyticus in healthy and diseased adult populations was studied in 3 different ways. First, supragingival plaque formation at 2 through 72 h was examined in 12 periodontally healthy adults using a removable pre-measured surface of enamel bonded to molars and premolars. Second, a cross-sectional examination of the composition of both supragingival and subgingival plaque of unknown age was conducted in 205 adults exhibiting periodontal health to moderate disease. Third, the effects of oral hygiene instruction and root planing on the subgingival micro-flora of a subset of 19 subjects with moderate periodontitis were examined. The evaluation of 12 adults revealed that the predominant species in early plaque formation (2, 4 and 8 h) was A. odontolyticus, A. viscosus and A. naeslundii were present in developing plaques in almost all subjects in 2-h plaque, but absent in half the subjects when 4-, 8- or 24-h plaque was examined. These two species significantly increased in numbers per mm2 enamel surface area in 48- and 72-h plaques. A. odontolyticus was not related to clinical signs of periodontal disease in 205 adults, and its subgingival proportions in plaque did not change following periodontal treatment of 19 individuals. A. naeslundii was found in significantly higher numbers in supragingival than subgingival plaques in the 205 adults examined. The mean proportion of A. naeslundii significantly decreased as the magnitude of probing depth and attachment loss increased. The proportions of A. naeslundii and A. viscosus were found to be significantly increased in subgingival plaques following periodontal treatment.
The diagnostic value of exfoliative cytology vs histopathology for ocular surface squamous neoplasia.

Purpose To determine the reliability and role of conjunctival exfoliative cytologic and histopathologic diagnosis of biopsied tissue in ocular surface squamous neoplasia. Design Retrospective review of an interventional case series of patients biopsied and treated for squamous conjunctival and corneal neoplasia. Methods Forty-nine patients who underwent conjunctival cytologic analysis (n = 36), conjunctival biopsy (n = 35), or both were evaluated. For the purposes of this study, three ocular pathologists reviewed the results of cytologic and biopsied tissue in a masked fashion. Results Evaluation of cytologic smears revealed a 91% concordance in interpretation of conjunctival cytologic material as no dysplasia vs dysplasia. The concordance dropped to 59% in grading the degree of dysplasia. The cytologic material was found to be inadequate for interpretation in 1 case. Evaluation of subsequent biopsy revealed a 98% concordance between the pathologists in interpretation of biopsied tissue as no dysplasia vs any degree of dysplasia. The concordance decreased to 83% in grading the degree of dysplasia. Cytologic evaluation was capable of distinguishing a neoplastic from nonneoplastic process before tissue biopsy in 80% of cases. Conclusions Ocular surface cytologic analysis is a simple, safe, and relatively noninvasive diagnostic tool. It was found helpful in detecting dysplasia before surgical resection. It was used in the settings of recurrent tumor and for follow-up care of patients treated with topical chemotherapy. Although cytologic smears cannot replace incisional or excisional biopsy for definitive diagnosis, exfoliative cytologic analysis can play an important role in the diagnosis and management of patients with ocular surface squamous neoplasia.
Functional characterization and molecular identification of vitamin C transporter (SVCT2) in human corneal epithelial (HCEC) and retinal pigment epithelial (D407) cells.

Purpose: The main goal of this study is to investigate the existence of sodium-dependent vitamin C transport system (SVCT2) and to define time-dependent uptake mechanism and intracellular regulation of ascorbic acid (AA) in human corneal epithelial (HCEC) and human retinal pigment epithelial (D407) cells. Methods: Uptake of [ 14 C] AA was studied in HCEC and D407 cells. Functional aspects of [ 14 C] AA uptake were studied in the presence of different concentrations of unlabeled AA, pH, temperature, metabolic inhibitors, substrates and structural analogs. Molecular identification of SVCT2 was examined with reverse transcription– polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: Uptake of [ 14 C] AA was observed to be sodium, chloride, temperature, pH and energy-dependent in both cell lines. [ 14 C] AA uptake was found to be saturable, with Km values of 46.14 ± 6.03 and 47.26 ± 3.24mM and Vmax values of 17.34 ± 0.58 and 31.86 ± 0.56 pmol/min/mg protein, across HCEC and D407 cells, respectively. The process is inhibited by structural analogs (L-AA and D-Iso AA) but not by structurally unrelated substrates (glucose and PAHA). Ca ++ /calmodulin and protein kinase pathways play an important role in modulating uptake of AA. A 626 bp band corresponding to a vitamin C transporter (SVCT2) has been identified by RT-PCR analysis in both the cell lines. Conclusion: This research article reports regarding the ascorbic acid uptake mechanism, kinetics and regulation by sodium dependent vitamin C transporter (SVCT2) in HCEC and D407 cells. Also, SVCT2 can be utilized for targeted delivery in enhancing ocular permeation and bioavailability of highly potent ophthalmic drugs.
Overexpression of the Cardiac Na+/Ca2+ Exchanger Increases Susceptibility to Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Male, but Not Female, Transgenic Mice

Abstract —Influx of Ca 2+ into myocytes via Na + /Ca 2+ exchange may be stimulated by the high levels of intracellular Na + and the changes in membrane potential known to occur during ischemia/reperfusion. This increased influx could, in turn, lead to Ca 2+ overload and injury. Overexpression of the cardiac Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger therefore may increase susceptibility to ischemia/reperfusion injury. To test this hypothesis, the hearts of male and female transgenic mice, overexpressing the Na + /Ca 2+ exchange protein, and hearts of their wild-type littermates, were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer and subjected to 20 minutes of ischemia and 40 minutes of reperfusion. Preischemic left ventricular developed pressures and +dP/dt max , as well as −dP/dt min , were higher in the male transgenic hearts compared with wild-type, implying a role for Na + /Ca 2+ exchange in the contraction, as well as the relaxation, phases of the cardiac beat. Postischemic function was lower in male transgenic than in male wild-type hearts (7±2% versus 32±6% of preischemic function), but there was no difference between female transgenic and female wild-type hearts, both at ≈30% of preischemic function. To assess whether this male/female difference was due to female-specific hormones such as estrogen, the hearts of bilaterally ovariectomized and sham-operated transgenic females were subjected to the same protocol. The functional recoveries of ovariectomized female transgenic hearts were lower (17±3% of preischemic function) than those of wild-type and sham-operated transgenic females. The lower postischemic functional recovery in the male transgenic and female ovariectomized transgenic hearts correlated with lower recoveries of the energy metabolites, ATP and phosphocreatine, as measured by 31 P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Alternans were observed during reperfusion in male transgenic and female ovariectomized transgenic hearts only, consistent with intracellular Ca 2+ overload. Western analyses showed that alterations in the expression of the Na + /Ca 2+ exchange or L-type Ca 2+ channel proteins were not responsible for the protection observed in the female transgenic hearts. In conclusion, in males, overexpression of the Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger reduced postischemic recovery of both contractile function and energy metabolites, indicating that the Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger may play a role in ischemia/reperfusion injury. From the studies of females, however, it appears that this exacerbation of ischemia/reperfusion injury by overexpression of the Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger can be overcome partially by female-specific hormones such as estrogen.
Re-evaluation of pH and Tonicity of Pharmaceutical Buffers at 37°

Commonly employed isotonic buffer mixtures of pharmaceutical interest were studied at body temperature with emphasis placed on the tonicity and pH of these preparations. Tonicity data interpreted from vapor pressure osmometer data are presented for the official phosphate buffers, boric acid buffer, and Palitzsch buffers. Human serum was also checked at this temperature to validate the accepted base line of 0.90% as being isoosmotic with body fluids. Interesting discrepancies between freezing point depression data and vapor pressure osmometer data are discussed. Reformulated isotonic Palitzsch and boric acid buffers at 37° are presented. A critical assessment of accepting tonicity values at 0° and extrapolating them to body temperature is attempted.
Multi-lingual Text Leveling

Determining the language proficiency level required to understand a given text is a key requirement in vetting documents for use in second language learning. In this work, we describe our approach for developing an automatic text analytic to estimate the text difficulty level using the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) proficiency scale. The approach we take is to use machine translation to translate a non-English document into English and then use an English language trained ILR level detector. We achieve good results in predicting ILR levels with both human and machine translation of Farsi documents. We also report results on text leveling prediction on human translations into English of documents from 54 languages.
An Ultrastructural Study of the Red Pulp of the Spleen in Malaria

An ultrastructural study was undertaken of the spleen of a rhesus monkey infected with Plasmodium knowlesi to determine whether the spleen is able to pit malaria parasites from red cells. It was found that in the spleen parasitized cells are: (1) phagocytized in toto by cordal macrophages, (2) pitted of parasites, and (3) hemolyzed in the splenic microvasculature. Phagocytosis of the entire parasitized red cell appears to occur most frequently of the three mechanisms and probably accounts for most of the anemia. Pitting of parasitized red cells may account in part for the hemolysis in excess of the number of parasitized red cells seen in malaria. The red cells that have had their parasites removed would become spherocytic and hence, would be more susceptible to removal from the circulation during subsequent passages through the spleen.
Diagnostic Tests and Treatment of Dyspepsia in Children

Dyspepsia – from the Latin word meaning “difficult (or abnormal) digestion” – is a symptom complex that encompasses, in variable combinations, such complaints as pain or discomfort localized in the upper abdomen, a subjective sense of bloating and/or an objective distension of the upper abdomen, nausea, early satiety and/or loss of appetite, regurgitation and/or vomiting, belching, and occasional heartburn. Children of preschool age usually cannot localize abdominal pain properly and cannot fully understand the concept of “nausea.” Small children usually report that they feel “sick” and/or “tummy/belly ache” and/or “butterflies in stomach” and/or other more or less imaginative definitions. Therefore, dyspepsia is more easily – and appropriately – diagnosed in school age children, where it appears to be a relatively common condition [1, 2]. Functional dyspepsia (FD) as defined by the Rome II criteria has a prevalence of 0.3% among children seen by primary care physicians in Italy and 12.5% to 15.9% among schoolchildren referred to tertiary care centers in the USA [3–5]. In any age group (including adulthood), the clinical manifestations of dyspepsia are entirely nonspecific and present a considerable overlap with manifestations related to conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (with or without esophagitis), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation, and gastrointestinal infections including gastritis due to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).
The Discourse of DNA: What Research Subjects Say About Participating (or Not) in a Genomic Biobank

This paper reports the results of a qualitative linguistic analysis of interviews with persons who were asked to contribute DNA samples to a genomic biobank. We compare this folk discourse of biobanking to the expert discourse reflected in an extensive biomedical literature. Our most significant finding concerns the social nature of giving informed consent: whereas medical research practice treats it as an event, our subjects talk about it as a discursive process. Our subjects also expound fascinating folk theories of genetics and discuss their views of the sample contribution itself, revealing some remarkable folk-legal theories of that transaction.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Theologians and the Mandatum

The title of my reflections is “Between a Rock and A Hard Place,” which I think aptly describes the situation of Catholic theologians in the United States since the bishops' meeting of November 1999. The imagery refers to the rock of Peter, the hard place to the problems the mandatum raises for ourselves and our Catholic colleges and universities. My question is: What can the social sciences tell us about our present dilemma? First, I will look at the history of the problem as we have experienced it in the U.S. Next, the bishops' document is now in the hands of the Roman Curia, so I will look at the role of that institution. And finally, I will review quickly events to date in the light of evidence from the social sciences and suggest a possible strategy to deal with the situation in our U.S. context.
Nationalism in the age of cinema

(1980). Nationalism in the age of cinema. The Philosophy Forum: Vol. 16, No. 3-4, pp. 169-185.
Model-Based Design of a New Light-weight Aircraft

This paper uses a combination of free and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) modeling and simulation software to simplify and accelerate the flight vehicle design process. Using an example of a new light-weight aircraft the paper shows how a vehicle’s geometry can be optimized, stability and control coefficients calculated, open-loop plant model created, flight controller designed, and closed-loop simulation run, all in a rapid iterative fashion, to confirm that system level requirements are satisfied.
Closing the Loop in Dynamic Soaring

This paper examines closed-loop dynamic soaring by small autonomous aircraft. Wind eld estimation, trajectory planning, and path-following control are integrated into a system to enable dynamic soaring. The control architecture is described, performance of components of the architecture is assessed in Monte Carlo simulation, and the trajectory constraints imposed by existing hardware are described. Hardware in the loop simulation using a Piccolo SL autopilot module are used to examine the feasibility of dynamic soaring in the shear layer behind a ridge, and the limitations of the system are described. Results show that even with imperfect path following dynamic soaring is possible with currently existing hardware. The eect of turbulence is assessed through the addition of Dryden turbulence in the simulation environment.
p-Type Dye-Sensitized NiO Solar Cells: A Study by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

This article presents a fundamental and systematic investigation of NiO based p-type dye-sensitized solar cells (p-DSCs) using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The Nyquist plot features two semicircles. By varying the electrocatalytic properties of the counter electrode and the illumination intensities, we have unambiguously assigned the two semicircles to the charge transfer process at the counter electrode/electrolyte interface and the hole recombination at the NiO/dye/electrolyte interface, respectively. Key recombination parameters, including the recombination resistance, chemical capacitance, and the hole lifetime, have been obtained under illumination and in the dark. Comparisons between the recombination process of the typical n-DSCs and p-DSCs show that the hole lifetime in our NiO p-DSCs is shorter than the electron lifetime in the TiO2 n-DSCs under the same voltages.
Single stage rocket options for future launch vehicles

The design of a single-stage, venical rake-off, horizontal landing rocket powered launch vehicle for both mwedand c q o missions is described. The strong influence.of operability and crew safety criteria on the design is also described. Post 2000 mission requirements which combine crew and c q o needs for delivery and r e m result in areference payload which is roughly half of the current shuttle payload. Conceptual design studies have examined flight performance for both nominal and abon trajectories. weights and sizing. propulsion mdes. configuntion aerodynamics. aerothermodynamics. and structural design. >lultidisciplinan, design optimization techniques have been applied to design trades studies to enhance the design process. Key technologies are identified. AMLS AT0 .ATS c.:. Lac ?.ID0 PLS RTLS SSME SSTO SSTO-R ssv STS TAL TSTO T N VTOKL NOMENCLATmE .Advanced Manned Launch System .Abort-io-orbit Access to Space :enter-of-gravity Langley Research Center Multidisciplinq design oprimization Personnel Launch Sysrem Return-to-launch-site abon Space Shuttle Main Engine Single-Stage-to-Orbit Access to Space Rocket SSTO Single Stage Vehicle space T h s p m t i o n System (Space Shutde) Trans-Atlantic abon landing Two-Stage-to-Orbit Thncjt to weight Vedcal Takeoff, Horizonmi I n d i n g 4 'Supenrisory Engineer, Space Systems Division. AIM Associate Fellow. **SeniorAerospace Engineer. Space Systems Divuion, AIM Member. ***Aerospace Engineer, Space Systems Division, A I M Member. Copyright
Chemotherapy of visceral leishmaniasis (Leishmania donovani) in the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus).

The relationship of the numbers of amastigotes in the liver to the duration of infection with two lines of a Khartoum strain of Leishmania donovani [designated the parent (P) line and the meglumine...
Isolation and Characterization of Mast Cells in Mouse Models of Allergic Diseases

After their activation, mast cells release a variety of bioactive mediators that contribute to characteristic symptoms of allergic reactions. Ex vivo analysis of mast cells derived from their progenitors or isolated from mice is an indispensable tool for the development of newer and more effective therapies of allergic syndromes. Here, we describe the differentiation and isolation of mouse mast cells from different sources including differentiation from bone marrow, differentiation from fetal liver, and isolation of residential connective tissue-type mast cells from the peritoneum. These techniques are valuable tools for the study of mast cell function and their contribution to allergic reactions.
Rück- und Ausblick

Das Standardmodell (SM) der Teilchenphysik, eine Zusammenfassung der Quantenfeldtheorien (QFT) der Elektroschwachen Wechselwirkung (Weinberg-Salam-Modell) und der Starken Wechselwirkung (Quantenchromodynamik (QCD)) hat sich bis zur Drucklegung dieses Buches als auserst erfolgreich erwiesen. Es gibt keine experimentellen Befunde, die wirklich im Widerspruch zu Voraussagen des SMs stehen. Die jungste Entdeckung des vom SM geforderten Top-Quarks (1994) stellt vorlaufig den kronenden Abschlus einer Serie bahnbrechender Experimente zur Physik des SMs dar. Zur Erinnerung seien noch einmal einige der hier im Rahmen der Diskussion des SMs behandelten Highlights genannt: Nachweis der Quarkstruktur der Hadronen und der Existenz der Gluonen durch tiefinelastische Lepton- Nukleon-Streu- und Elektron-Positron-Annihilationsexperimente, Entdeckung der neutralen Strome und die Erzeugung der intermediaren Vektorbosonen Z0 und W± der Elektroschwachen Wechselwirkung, Prazisionsmessungen zur Bestimmung charakteristischer Parameter des SMs und als Test der Auswirkungen von quantenfeldtheoretischen Strahlungskorrekturen.
Acting through the Camera Lens: The Global Imaginary and Middle Class Aspirations in Chinese Urban Cinema

AbstractMuch has been written about the social composition of China’s rising middle class and their political and economic stances; yet little critical attention has been paid to the visual representation of middle class sensibility in China’s neoliberal era. This article engages in a comparative reading of the actress-turned-director Xu Jinglei’s films My Father and I (2003) and Go Lala Go! (2010), and investigates how Xu’s movies both cultivate and mirror prevalent middle class sentiments by romanticizing and subtly transgressing heterosexual gender relations. It argues that the intertextual reference between Xu’s films, her stardom and social transformation not only projects the cultural aspirations and imaginaries of middle class audiences, but also illuminates the inherent affinity between middlebrow culture, gender dynamics and Chinese urban cinema.
Effects of combined exposure to metals, solvents, and noise on permanent threshold shifts.

Background Studies suggest metal and solvent exposure may damage hearing. This study evaluated the association between exposures classified as high for metals, solvents, and noise on permanent threshold shift (PTS) development. Methods A total of 1,546 personnel at an industrial shipyard were divided into five exposure groups based on level of concentration: high noise, high metals/solvents, high metals/noise, high metals/solvents/noise, and a low metals/solvents/noise reference group. Hearing threshold changes were analyzed to identify development of a PTS. Results Logistic regression indicated high metals/solvents and high metals/solvent/noise groups had significantly greater odds ratios of 2.4; 95%CI [1.02, 2.85] and 1.7; 95%CI [1.46, 3.94], respectively, compared to a reference group. Both groups were associated with PTSs while controlling for age, gender, and exposure duration. Conclusions Simultaneous exposures classified as high for metals and solvents may damage hearing. Results suggest the need for expanding hearing conservation programs to consider combinations of exposures to metals, solvents, and noise. Am. J. Ind. Med. 9999:1–12, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Moderate Substitution of Varying Compressed Natural Gas Constituents for Assisted Diesel Combustion

ABSTRACTThe recent growth of hydraulic fracking has made compressed natural gas (CNG) a viable option for fueling the United States transportation sector in a dual fuel scenario with ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD). To clarify literature trends, this effort investigates the influence of CNG speciation (methane, ethane, propane, and isobutane) by employing energy substitution rates (ESR) of 7%, 18%, and 40% (approximately) to prevent significant changes to ignition delay. Results demonstrate that maintaining hydrocarbon (HC) constituents within typical global levels has no noticeable bearing on the findings; however, added CNG does noticeably change the peak rate of heat release. Overall, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter emissions remained lower than ULSD values except for the highest load and ESR rate when NOx increased due to a significant growth of the premixed combustion phase. At all ESR values, methane and non-methane hydrocarbons increased subsequently leading to a decrease in combustion ...
Fetal hydantoin syndrome: inhibition of placental folic acid transport as a potential mechanism for fetal growth retardation in the rat.

Maternal hydantoin ingestion during pregnancy results in a well defined clinical entity termed ''fetal hydantoin syndrome''. The clinical characteristics of this syndrome includes growth retardation, and congenital anomalies. Because folic acid is essential for protein synthesis and growth, and since hydantoin interferes with intestinal transport of folic acid, the authors postulated that part of the fetal hydantoin syndrome may be due to inhibition of placental folic acid by maternal hydantoin. Therefore, they studied in vivo placental folate transport in a well-established model for fetal hydantoin syndrome in the rat. Our results indicate that maternal hydantoin ingestion, significantly decreased fetal weight and placental and fetal uptake of folate compared to controls. To determine whether maternal hydantoin ingestion has a generalized or specific effect on placental function, they examined placental and fetal zinc transport in the same model. Our results indicate that zinc transport is not altered by hydantoin ingestion. They conclude that maternal hydantoin ingestion results in fetal growth retardation which may be due in part to inhibition of placental folate transport.
Use of immersed conductive objects to enhance the burning rate of hydrocarbon pool fires

Abstract This study investigates the ability of thermally conductive nonflammable objects to enhance the steady state burning rate of hydrocarbon pool fires with the ultimate goal of designing a burner for faster clean-up of hazardous spills in offshore and other remote environments. In the initial set of small-scale experiments, a vertical 1 cm diameter solid aluminum cylinder with varying lengths is placed centrally in a 10 cm diameter pan fed with a continuous supply of hexane burning in quasi-steady state. The upper part of the cylinder, engulfed in the flame, heats up, and conducts heat to the lower submersed part, that transmits heat to the liquid below the pool surface. Tests reveal that the submersed lower part of the cylinder heats up sufficiently to sustain nucleate boiling, significantly increasing the burning rate, when compared to the baseline pool fire, where vaporization is achieved solely by radiative and convective heat transfer at the pool surface. The effects of cylinder length and multiple cylinders on burning rate are also characterized. To determine if the concept can also be applied to oil spill clean-up, a set of large scale tests is performed by burning crude oil/water mixtures in a 1-meter diameter pool. These tests show that burners with thermally conductive cylinders can be designed to effectively dispose of crude oil and oil/water mixtures.
Race and the Empire-state: Puerto Ricans’ Unequal U.S. Citizenship:

Contemporary theorizing regarding citizenship emphasizes the legal and social significance of citizenship status. Citizenship awards individuals a formal status and exclusive rights while also gran...
Ballistic Impacts on Bone: Effect of Preloading

An experiment to investigate the effect of preloading on bone impacts by projectiles was undertaken. During this experiment, a total of 59 bones were impacted. Red deer tibias were used, with impacts to the shaft under three different loading conditions. The purpose of the trial was to provide an indication on whether preloading a bone has an effect on chance of perforation, or type and level of fracture sustained. This is important because the United Kingdom (UK) Ministry of Defence (MOD) requires accurate injury models to aid with decision-making and risk analyses.
Calibration errors when neglecting crosstalk

While it is standard practice to omit isolation during Vector Network Analyzer calibration of measurement systems probing planar devices, the impact on measurement accuracy due to finite leakage between signal paths has not been quantitatively studied. In this paper a generalization of a calibration comparison method is used to determine error-bounds estimating the effect of neglecting cross-talk during calibration of a two-port VNA system.
Moving Beyond Widdowson and Howard: Traditional Knowledge as an Approach to Knowledge

Traditional Indigenous knowledge is increasingly recognised and incorporated both in and beyond the university. In Canada's Northwest Territories, this recognition has been manifest as policy mandating that scientists incorporate the knowledge of elders and hunters into their environmental and climate change research. However, the recognition of traditional knowledge has not always been met with acceptance and understanding. This article analyses the book Disrobing the Aboriginal Industry by Francis Widdowson and Albert Howard (2008), which is highly critical of traditional knowledge. Widdowson and Howard advocate for cultural assimilation by arguing that traditional knowledge is incompatible with, and inferior to, modern Western science. In their line of reasoning, the current application of traditional knowledge transplants ‗neolithic‘ culture into modernity and stunts the ability of Aboriginal peoples to participate in modern Canadian (and dominant Western) culture. While other critics argue against the racialised and inflammatory discourse, I try to salvage insight from the authors' misunderstandings; Widdowson and Howard's failed grasp on traditional knowledge actually illuminates a fundamental problem. The problem is not in meshing Indigenous and scientific knowledge; rather, the problem is in bridging the gap between Indigenous and scientific ways of knowing. I engage the work of A. Irving Halowell, Tim Ingold and scholars of Dene knowledge and traditional lifeways to discuss how Indigenous religion and worldview create a unique approach to knowledge.
Image Loading and Rendering

JPEG and PNG are some of the most popular digital image file types. Pixel values are compressed with some form of compression in these file, and as a result it is not possible to open a digital image file and directly read the pixel values. The image must be first be decoded, which returns the decompressed pixel values along with other necessary information such as image resolution. For this task, we use stb_image.h written by Sean Barrett which is an image loader library that can decode images and extract pixel values from JPEG and PNG files (https://github.com/nothings/stb).