cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence-based instruction: a classroom experiment comparing nominal and brainstorming groups

Interactive brainstorming groups consistently produce fewer ideas, and fewer high quality ideas, than nominal groups, whose members work alone before pooling their ideas. Yet, brainstorming continues to be regarded as an effective method for enhancing creativity. This paper describes an engaging classroom “experiment” that reliably demonstrates the superiority of nominal over brainstorming groups for generating more ideas. Analyses of data from 105 student groups, collected from 12 classes, show that typical differences between the two group methods are sizable. Beyond lessons about group techniques, this exercise shows students the limits of intuition and the value of evidence-based management practices.
A Review of “What If All the Kids Are White?: Anti-bias Multicultural Education With Young Children and Families (Early Childhood Education Series)”

On a particular day, as the discussion began, one student asked, “What if all the kids are White?” referring to the practicum class in which she had been placed. This was a Culturally Relevant Teac...
A 3-D finite element mesh generator for complex volumes

A 3-D mesh generator for finite element analysis of electromagnetic field problems has been developed. The software is capable of handling complex topologies such as the organs of the human body. The grid is optimized by performing Delaunay correction. The use of digital image processing techniques is suggested to extract topological information from images. This information is used for identifying the regions of the model by plating initial nodes on the surfaces. An application example shows a simplified model of the human thorax created using the grid generator. It should be noticed that this problem includes most of the difficulties encountered in 3-D mesh generation for the finite element method. >
The utility of regional Chinese seismograms for source and path studies in central Asia

Regional surface waves recorded at the Urumchi station located about 700 km north of the Tibetan Plateau in the Sinkiang Province are used to study East Kazakh explosions and wave propagation in central Asia. The data consist of broadband (flat to displacement between 0.1 and 10 Hz), photographic records from an SK Kirnos galvanometric system. Simultaneous inversion of Rayleigh wave phase and group velocities for the path from East Kazakh through the Dzhungarian Basin yields a crustal model dominated by the presence of very low velocities and a strong positive velocity gradient above 15 km depth. Velocities below 15 km depth are not significantly different from other continental structures underlain by Paleozoic or Precambrian basement. This model is consistent with geologic evidence indicating that most of the path is characterized by the presence of up to 10 km of sediments overlying a Paleozoic basement. Source studies were made on seven East Kazakh explosions detonated in the time period between June 1980 and April 1981. These studies involved estimation of seismic moments using models of explosion sources with associated tectonic release. The largest explosion studied occurred on 9/14/80 and had an m/sub b/ of 6.2 and a seismic moment of 2.7more » x 10/sup 23/ dyn-cm. The observed amplitude spectra of Rayleigh waves are richer in high frequencies than predicted by explosion source models with tectonic release. This could be caused by a path effect involving seismic wave focusing by the large sedimentary basin between East Kazakh and the Urumchi station, although source medium effects cannot be ruled out. 30 references, 5 figures, 2 tables.« less
Experimental Observation of a Very High Second Electron Affinity for ZrF6 from Photodetachment of Gaseous ZrF62- Doubly Charged Anions

We report a photodetachment photoelectron spectroscopy study of a doubly charged anion, ZrF62-, in the gas phase at two photon energies: 193 and 157 nm. The adiabatic detachment energy, i.e., the second electron affinity of ZrF6, was measured to be extremely high, 2.9 (0.2) eV. The vertical detachment energy (VDE) was measured to be 3.4 eV. Two excited states were also observed for the ZrF6- singly charged anion with VDE's at 4.0 and 4.6 eV, respectively. The repulsive Coulomb barrier, and hence the intramolecular Coulomb repulsion in ZrF62-, was estimated from the photon-energy-dependent spectra to be {approx}2.4 eV. The ZrF62- dianion was observed to be metastable with a half-life of {approx}4 seconds under our experimental conditions, confirming theoretical predictions that ZrF62- is thermodynamically unstable against loss of an F-, despite of its extremely high electronic stability. We also performed experiment for the singly charged ZrF5-, but could not observe photodetachment even at 157 n m, the highest photon energy available to us. Thus, we estimated that the electron affinity of ZrF5 is larger than 7.8 eV, the highest electron affinity confirmed experimentally.
Alternate windows for multi-window spectral analysis

Spectral analysis is concerned with estimating a signal's power distribution as a function of frequency. D.J. Thomson's multi-window method (1982) is one approach to this problem that uses the discrete prolate spheroidal sequence family of windows which maximize total sidelobe energy. This criterion is inflexible and inappropriate for some applications. An alternate window family based on a weighted peak sidelobe amplitude criterion is proposed. These windows offer greatly reduced peak sidelobes and afford precise control of the sidelobe envelope structure. A design procedure is presented along with examples of the new window family. >
Neural processes underlying self- and other-related lies: An individual difference approach using fMRI

Two hypotheses were tested using a novel individual differences approach, which identifies rate-limiting brain regions, that is, brain regions in which variations in neural activity predict variations in behavioral performance. The first hypothesis is that the rate-limiting regions that support the production of lies about oneself (self-related) are partially distinct from those underlying the production of lies about other individuals (other-related). The second hypothesis is that a cingulate-insular-prefrontal network found to be rate-limiting for interference tasks is involved in both types of lies. The results confirmed both hypotheses and supported the utility of this individual differences approach in the study of deception in particular, as well in the study of complex cognitive phenomena more generally.
Abnormal phenylalanine hydroxylation and tyrosine oxidation in a patient with acute fulminant liver disease with correction by liver transplantation

Abstract Phenylalanine hydroxylation, tyrosine oxidation, and plasma appearance of phenylalanine and tyrosine were evaluated in a 49-yr-old woman with fulminant non-A, non-B hepatitis and encephalopathy using a continuous intravenous infusion of l-[ring-D 5 ]phenylalanine and l-[U- 14 C]tyrosine. Despite marked elevations in plasma phenylalanine and tyrosine appearance and normal apparent albumin synthetic rates, phenylalanine clearance and hydroxylation to tyrosine were only 12% and 60%, respectively, of values observed in individuals with normal liver function. Three days after orthotopic liver transplantation, plasma phenylalanine and tyrosine appearances were not markedly changed. Phenylalanine clearance and conversion to tyrosine, however, were restored to normal. In addition, tyrosine oxidation and apparent albumin synthesis were increased. This case report represents the first in vivo demonstration of a selective diminution of enzyme function in an individual with fulminant liver disease. Liver replacement restored aromatic amino acid degradative capacity and increased albumin synthesis.
Cost analysis of alternative approaches to colorectal screening in familial adenomatous polyposis

Abstract Background & Aims: The commercial availability of gene testing for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) represents an important advance in screening for inherited colon cancer. We investigated the financial impact of this diagnostic tool on colorectal screening for FAP. Methods: Decision analysis was used to compare per-person costs with third-party payers of three colorectal screening strategies used to diagnose FAP in at-risk persons. The strategies included conventional serial flexible sigmoidoscopy and two different APC gene testing approaches. Results: For 1 at-risk relative who begins screening at age 12 years, average screening costs are $2625 when genotyping the proband first, $2674 when genotyping the at-risk relative first, and $3208 for conventional sigmoidoscopy. The cost advantage of genotyping increases as the pedigree size increases. For a pedigree of 5 at-risk relatives, sigmoidoscopy would have to cost less than $85.60 (professional plus facility fee) for conventional screening to compete with genotyping. The cost advantage of genotyping is diminished for at-risk relatives who begin FAP screening at older ages. Conclusions: The choice of least expensive FAP screening strategy depends on the cost of flexible sigmoidoscopy, patient age when screening starts, and pedigree size. Genotyping can substantially reduce the cost of FAP screening and, when possible, should start with the proband. GASTROENTEROLOGY 1998;114:893-901
Estrogen-dependent hypotensive effects of ethanol in conscious female rats.

This study investigated the role of estrogen in the acute hemodynamic responses to intragastric (i.g.) ethanol in conscious female rats. Changes evoked by ethanol or equal volume of water in mean arterial pressure, heart rate, cardiac index, stroke volume (SV), and total peripheral resistance were followed in sham-operated, ovariectomy (OVX) vehicle-treated (OVX-veh), and OVX 17beta-estradiol (E2)-treated (OVX-E2) Sprague-Dawley rats. Plasma norepinephrine (NE) was measured as an index of sympathetic activity. In sham-operated rats, ethanol caused significant decreases in mean arterial pressure that were associated with significant reductions in cardiac index and SV, whereas total peripheral resistance was not changed. Measured plasma NE levels were not affected by ethanol except for a significant reduction observed one time. OVX abolished the hypotensive effect of ethanol and the associated decreases in cardiac output, SV, and plasma NE. Treatment of OVX rats with E2 restored the hypotensive and sympathoinhibitory (decreases in plasma NE) responses to ethanol. Blood ethanol concentrations were not affected by OVX or subsequent E2 administration. These findings suggest that intragastric ethanol elicits estrogen-dependent decreases in blood pressure in female rats, which results mainly from a reduction in cardiac output. The mechanism by which ethanol elicits E2-dependent hypotension remains to be determined.
Comparison of preoperative and postoperative pressure transmission ratio and urethral pressure profilometry in patients with successful outcome following the vaginal wall patch sling technique

Aims We studied preoperative and postoperative pressure transmission ratio (PTR) and urethral pressure profilometry in patients undergoing the vaginal wall patch sling technique as a first surgical approach for genuine stress incontinence (GSI) with urethral hypermobility. The specific aims were to determine the exact urodynamic parameters, if any, that may be improved postoperatively and to report the urodynamic outcome of the vaginal wall patch sling technique in successful cases. Methods Preoperatively, all patients had a positive standing stress test, urethral hypermobility on Q-tip testing, and normal postvoid residual volume. On urodynamics, all patients had equalization of maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) on cough profilometry, and absence of detrusor contractions on subtracted cystometry. The PTR for each cough was calculated. Cough spikes were assigned locations in the first, second, third, or fourth quartile of the functional urethral length (FUL). Urethral pressure profilometry was performed at bladder capacity in the sitting position. All urodynamic tests were repeated 3–6 months postoperatively. A two-tailed t-test was used for statistical analysis. Results Forty-eight patients demonstrated successful outcome at initial follow up and constituted the study population. There was a statistically significant increase in MUCP at stress as well as a statistical increase in PTR in the first, second, and third quartiles of the FUL postoperatively. Conclusions The vaginal patch sling technique appears to restore continence both by buttressing the urethra at times of stress as well as repositioning the proximal urethra into the intra-abdominal pressure zone, thus, enhancing pressure transmission to the proximal urethra. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Interaction of Metadiscourse and Anxiety in Determining Children's Learning of Social Studies Textbook Materials

The role of attitudinal, voice, and informational metadiscourse characteristics and level of student anxiety were studied as they affect learning from social studies textbooks for 120 sixth-graders. Analyses of covariance, controlling for reading ability, revealed significant interaction effects involving metadiscourse and anxiety. As expected, high anxious students showed their best performance with first person voice and no attitudinal metadiscourse while low anxious students showed the opposite effect. The importance of studying the joint effects of metadiscourse and anxiety as determinants of textbook reading is discussed. The present study examines the effects of adding metadiscourse characteristics to a text on children's understanding of social studies textbook materials as a function of their level of test anxiety. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first experimental investigation systematically studying metadiscourse variables in a fully crossed orthogonal design. It is also the first attempt to relate evaluation anxiety to metadiscourse characteristics and social studies textbook learning and retention.
Aurora-A Kinase Is Essential for Bipolar Spindle Formation and Early Development

Aurora-A is a conserved kinase implicated in mitotic regulation and carcinogenesis. Aurora-A was previously implicated in mitotic entry and spindle assembly, although contradictory results prevented a clear understanding of the roles of Aurora-A in mammals. We developed a conditional null mutation in the mouse Aurora-A gene to investigate Aurora-A functions in primary cells ex vivo and in vivo. We show here that conditional Aurora-A ablation in cultured embryonic fibroblasts causes impaired mitotic entry and mitotic arrest with a profound defect in bipolar spindle formation. Germ line Aurora-A deficiency causes embryonic death at the blastocyst stage with pronounced cell proliferation failure, mitotic arrest, and monopolar spindle formation. Aurora-A deletion in mid-gestation embryos causes an increase in mitotic and apoptotic cells. These results indicate that murine Aurora-A facilitates, but is not absolutely required for, mitotic entry in murine embryonic fibroblasts and is essential for centrosome separation and bipolar spindle formation in vitro and in vivo. Aurora-A deletion increases apoptosis, suggesting that molecular therapies targeting Aurora-A may be effective in inducing tumor cell apoptosis. Aurora-A conditional mutant mice provide a valuable system for further defining Aurora-A functions and for predicting effects of Aurora-A therapeutic intervention.
Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme patterns of prostatic cancer and hyperplasia

Electrophoresis using agarose and lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) film plus scanning fluorometry provide a simple, fast method for precise and accurate measurement of serum and tissue LDH isoenzymes. Via this method prostate tissue LDH isoenzy mes were determined for over 200 patients with either hyperplasia or cancer. Increased LDH isoenzyme V activities generally selected out the cancer patterns, whereas peak isoenzyme I values did not distinguish between the two groups as well. The LDH index (I/V) only confirmed the LDH V values. That the metabolic changes of neoplasia precede histologic changes is suggested by two patients in whom repeat biopsies demonstrated cancer following elevated isoenzyme V levels in tissue originally considered benign.
Off-hour presentation and outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective To assess the association between off-hour (weekends and nights) presentation, door to balloon times, and mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Data sources Medline in-process and other non-indexed citations, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus through April 2013. Study selection Any study that evaluated the association between time of presentation to a healthcare facility and mortality or door to balloon times among patients with acute myocardial infarction was included. Data extraction Studies’ characteristics and outcomes data were extracted. Quality of studies was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. A random effect meta-analysis model was applied. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Q statistic and I2. Results 48 studies with fair quality, enrolling 1 896 859 patients, were included in the meta-analysis. 36 studies reported mortality outcomes for 1 892 424 patients with acute myocardial infarction, and 30 studies reported door to balloon times for 70 534 patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Off-hour presentation for patients with acute myocardial infarction was associated with higher short term mortality (odds ratio 1.06, 95% confidence interval 1.04 to 1.09). Patients with STEMI presenting during off-hours were less likely to receive percutaneous coronary intervention within 90 minutes (odds ratio 0.40, 0.35 to 0.45) and had longer door to balloon time by 14.8 (95% confidence interval 10.7 to 19.0) minutes. A diagnosis of STEMI and countries outside North America were associated with larger increase in mortality during off-hours. Differences in mortality between off-hours and regular hours have increased in recent years. Analyses were associated with statistical heterogeneity. Conclusion This systematic review suggests that patients with acute myocardial infarction presenting during off-hours have higher mortality, and patients with STEMI have longer door to balloon times. Clinical performance measures may need to account for differences arising from time of presentation to a healthcare facility.
Potentiation of a sodium–calcium exchanger in the nuclear envelope by nuclear GM1 ganglioside

Calcium is recognized as an important intracellular messenger with a pivotal role in the regulation of many cytosolic and nuclear processes. Gangliosides of various types, especially GM1, are known to have a role in some aspects of Ca2+ regulation, operating through a variety of mechanisms that are gradually coming to light. The present study provides evidence for a sodium–calcium exchanger in the nuclear envelope of NG108-15 neuroblastoma cells that is potently and specifically activated by GM1. Immunoblot analysis revealed an unusually tight association of GM1 with the exchanger in the nuclear envelope but not with that in the plasma membrane. Exchanger and associated GM1 were located in the inner membrane of the nuclear envelope, suggesting this system could function to transfer Ca2+ between nucleoplasm and the envelope lumen. The GM1-enhanced exchange was blocked by cholera toxin B subunit while C2-ceramide, a recently discovered inhibitor of the exchanger, blocked all transfer. Exchanger activity was significantly elevated in nuclei isolated from cells that were induced to differentiate by KCl + dibutyryl-cAMP, a treatment previously shown to promote up-regulation of nuclear GM1 in conjunction with axonogenesis. Similar enhancement was achieved by addition of exogenous GM1 to nuclei from undifferentiated cells. These results suggest a prominent role for nuclear GM1 in regulation of nuclear Ca2+ homeostasis.
Guillain–Barre Variant in the Deployed Setting

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a pleomorphic condition with multiple clinical presentations. Atypical presentations may elude diagnosis particularly in the deployed setting or austere environment where diagnostic resources are limited. I describe a soldier who developed an unusual GBS variant while deployed to Iraq. Diagnosing and treating GBS in the deployed setting or in a rural, austere environment is challenging, but there are clinical guidelines that can help determine who can be treated locally and who needs evacuation. Recognizing the natural course of the disease and being able to prognosticate progression of the disease is crucial in deployed settings/austere environments. The diagnostic and therapeutic approach to GBS in the deployed setting and potential criteria for theater evacuation are reviewed.
Exchange coupled SrFe 12 O 19 /Fe-Co core/shell particles with different shell thickness

SrFe12O19/Fe-Co core/shell particles with different shell thickness were synthesized by polyol reduction of Fe and Co ions at 180°C with SrFe12O19 particles dispersed in solvent. The core/shell structure is formed by magnetic self-assembly due to the remanent magnetization of SrFe12O19 particles. Within a limited concentration range, the shell thickness could be controlled by regulating the concentration of Fe and Co ions. Core/shell structured SrFe12O19/Fe-Co particles showed more effective exchange coupling effects between hard and soft phases than physically mixed SrFe12O19 and Fe-Co particles.
Time-Lapse Imaging of Cell Death

The best approach to distinguish between necrosis and apoptosis is time-lapse video microscopy. This technique enables a biological process to be photographed at regular intervals over a period, which may last from a few hours to several days, and can be applied to cells in culture or in vivo. We have established two time-lapse microscopy methods based on different ways of calculating cell death: semiautomated and automated. In the semiautomated approach, cell death can be visualized by staining with combinations of Alexa Fluor 647-conjugated Annexin V and Sytox Green (SG), or Annexin V(FITC) and Propidium iodide (PI). The automated method is similar except that all cells are labeled with dyes. This allows faster quantification of data. To this end Cell Tracker Green is used to label all cells at time zero in combination with PI and Alexa Fluor 647-conjugated Annexin V. Necrotic cell death is accompanied by either simultaneous labeling with Annexin V and PI or SG (double-positive), or direct PI or SG staining. Additionally, necrotic cells display characteristic morphology, such as cytoplasmic swelling. In contrast to necrosis where membrane permeabilization is an early event, cells that die by apoptosis lose their membrane permeability relatively late. Therefore, the time between Annexin V staining and PI or SG uptake (double-positive) can be used to distinguish necrosis from apoptosis. This protocol describes the analysis of cell death by time-lapse imaging of HT1080 and L929 cells stained with these dyes, but it can be readily adapted to other cell types of interest.
Killing in the Name of Love. Violence against Women in Italy

23 November 2006 was the international Day on Violence against Women. It was also the day that the Italian National Statistics Institute (ISTAT) published its Report on Violence and maltreatments against women in and outside the family. The report covered a five year period of research, and documented some alarming statistics,revealing that women in Italy are increasingly more vulnerable as targets of psychological and physical violence inflicted by their male partners and spouses. This widespread contemporary social phenomenon has been called ‘femicide’. In order to inform and educate the audience, since 2007, RAI 3 has broadcast Amore criminale/Criminal Love, a weekly series featuring cases of women killed or severely injured by their husbands or partners. Furthermore, in 2012 RAI 1 produced the mini-series Mai per amore/Never for Love. Four films: Troppo amore/Too Much Love directed by Liliana Cavani; Ragazze in web/Girls in Web and Helena & Glory by Marco Pontecorvo; and La fuga di Teresa/Theresa’s Escape by Margarethe von Trotta, were presented to raise awareness of the escalating incidence of the murder of women. The purpose of this article is first to elucidate the phenomenon of femicide in Italy; and second, to examine how RAI and Cavani’s, Pontecorvo’s and von Trotta’s visually dramatic narratives address the cultural and sociological factors related to these forms of violence against women in Italy.
A silicon micromachined sensor for shear stress measurements in aerodynamic flows

This paper describes a new microsensor for the noninvasive and direct measurement of low magnitude shear stress in laminar and turbulent air flows. The sensing scheme detects the flow-induced in-plane displacement of a microfabricated floating-element using integrated photodiodes. The sensors were fabricated using a waferbonding micromachining technology. The calibration of the packaged sensors was performed in a custom designed laminar flow cell. The sensors have shown the ability to transduce shear stresses of 0.01 Pa and lower during tests in a laminar boundary layer. The shear stress spectrum in a turbulent boundary layer was measured with a 500 um x 500 um sensor.
Epitaxial Growth of (110) KnbO3 Films on (100) MgO Substrates via Sol-Gel Processing

Epitaxial, single phase (110) KnbO3 films were grown on (100) MgO substrates using a sol-gel process employing ethoxide precursors in methanol. The degree of epitaxy was dependent on both the annealing temperature and the amount of potassium in the film. Excess potassium in the sol-gel solution (K/Nb = 1.2) was necessary to produce single phase films. An amorphous or polycrystalline MgO interfacial layer was observed in some films, postulated to have developed after nucleation of KnbO3 and due to a highly defective surface layer.
Getting Hands-On Experience From Simple Experiments and Model Development in Thermal-Fluid Courses

When the engineering students transition from their sophomore to junior year, they start experiencing a large number of abstract concepts each semester. For most of students who do not have much experience in engineering, it is difficult to link these new concepts to physical problems, and the formulas associated with the new concepts make little or no sense to them. To help students get more experience, hands-on experiments can be effective. This paper first describes several simple experiments that can be demonstrated in classroom and conducted at home. Fluid Mechanics was chosen as a trial course in this study. The experiments are designed to cover the important aspects of Fluid Mechanics such as the minor/major loss of a pipe flow, the drag of an immersed object, and the application of linear momentum equations. The second approach to enhance the learning experience is to make a physical model. For both fluid mechanics and thermodynamics, an open-ended course project was assigned to the students, and the project required the students to develop a system model and complete the analysis. The outcome was evaluated through the student feedback as well as coursework, and the results indicate that this practice can help the students understand the concepts better and sustain their interest in the topics.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Power Efficient Trim Solutions for the Hybrid Wing Body in Approach Conditions

The presence of control redundancy in configurations such as the Hybrid Wing Body can result in non-unique trim trim solutions. This can be taken advantage of to minimize a secondary metric in addition to balancing the forces and moments acting on the vehicle. In a previous study, drag was investigated as a secondary metric and was found to work well for several flight conditions. For the approach flight condition, however, the minimum drag solution was found to require a thrust below an assumed approach idle throttle. A different metric must be used in the presence of an active throttle constraint during optimization. Actuation power requirements are known to be a subject of much uncertainty and high risk for the Hybrid Wing Body configuration. Trim solutions that help keep actuation power requirements low are therefore worth investigating. A metric based on control surface hinge moments was developed and used for trim optimization analyses. Under the assumption of electrical actuation systems, it can be used as a stand-in for steady state power in early design phases. The metric was successfully used to identify trim solutions that will likely have low steady state power requirements. The optimizer was able to achieve low power trim solutions by allowing several elevons to float to their neutral hinge moment positions, while using a single pair of elevons to trim the remaining pitching moments. The sensitivity of the minimum power trim solution to deflection limits and the use of trim-only devices was also investigated.
Investigation of concentration of nitrite in salted vegetables in Jiande

Objective:To investigate the concentration of nitrite in salted vegetables.Methods:Four sorts of 325 salted vegetables in bag and in bulk were selected from market in Xin anjiang area.Results:Contents of in bulk were higher that in bag,and the contents of acid-vegetable and preserved mustard were rather high,it had statistical significance.96.67 percent of the contents of selected samples in bag were less than 20 mg/kg,and 98.62 percent of the contents of selected samples in bulk were less than 20 mg/kg.
The Preparation and Performance Study of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer for Purification of Emodin

The molecularly imprinted polymer(MIPs),1,8-Dihydroxy-anthrachinon as template elements,acrylamide as function monomer and ethylene glycol methyl acrylate as the cross-linker,was synthesized by means of bulk polymerization.And its absorption properties and selective recognition for emodin were studied.The result shows that this MIPs has a better selectivity to emodin.
Study on the Moving Bed Gasification Character of Jinxi Anthracite

Jingxi Anthracite has the common characters as other anthracites, such as without caking property, less content of volatile. Besides, it has some special features, for example, lower ash fusibility and worse thermal stability. Jinxi anthracite gasification character research has been conducted in the 600 mm ID moving bed gasifier. The result is shown that, the ash is easy to soften and melt into lump. The environment was destroyed and reduces the gas quality. While, if increasing the saturation temperature the operation situation in the gasifier can be improved. If increasing the layer of coal, the feed coal can be preheated fully in drying layer. Thus, heat shock to the anthracite may decrease and the effect of thermal explosion on the gasification process may also weaken.
Stability Assessment and Treatment for Sanjiadi Landslide in Wenchuan Earthquake Area of Southern Gansu Province

The "5·12" Wenchuan earthquake induced a large number of landslides,which had directly threatened the safety of human lives and properties.The old Sanjiadi landslide in Southern Gansu Province experienced large-scale collapse in foreside and a long,and through cracks formed owing to the front traction during Wenchuan earthquake,which could seriously jeopardize the safety of 1 732 people of the village on it.It is therefore very important to understand adequately and maintain effectively the stability of the landslide.Based on field investigation,indoor test and related studies on Sanjiadi landslide,the basic characteristics and formation mechanism were elaborated.Assuming different working conditions,the stability and stress-strain features were calculated and analyzed by adopting transfer coefficient analysis and numerical simulation.The results show that the integral stability coefficients of the old landslides ranged 1.30～1.36,implying a steady state in the normal condition.Under rainstorm and seismic conditions,the stability coefficients of landslide were 1.02～1.09,indicating an unstable state.Finally,relevant engineering strengthening measures were provided based on the formation mechanism and quantitative evaluation results of the landslides.
Keynote: The promises and pitfalls of open urban data

Open data portals are springing up around the world. Municipalities, states and countries have made available data that has never been as accessible to the general public. These data have led to many applications that have informed the public of new urban conditions or provided information to make urban life easier. However, it should be clear that these data have limitations in the effort to solve many urban problems because in may cases they do not provide all of the information that is needed by government and NGOs to get at the cause or at least correlations of the problem at hand. It is still necessary to have access to data that cannot be made public to address some of most serious urban problems. While this seems just to apply to public access, it is also the case that government employees or those with legitimate access to the necessary non-open data lack access because of legal, organizational, privacy, or bureaucratic issues. This limits the promise of increasing data-driven efforts to address the most critical urban issues. Solutions to these problems in the context of ethical behavior will be discussed.
The Distraction of Full Autonomy & the Need to Refocus the CCW LAWS Discussion on Critical Functions

The United Nations (UN) Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) discussions on lethal autonomous weapons (LAWS) have been confused, not constructive, and largely for the same definitional reasons identified two years ago. This paper attempts to address why the dialogue at the UN LAWS dialogue has proceeded as it has and proposes how it should proceed at the likely group of government expert meetings in 2017-2018. This paper focuses on the problems created by framing the LAWS discussion in terms of full autonomy and suggests that CCW States Parties refocus on the critical functions of selecting and engaging targets. The full autonomy framework both confuses and distracts – and has driven the dialogue in an unproductive circular direction. To explain why framing the discussion in terms of full autonomy dooms the LAWS discussion to be perpetually circular in nature, Part I of this paper explores the challenges in trying to define and otherwise categorize system autonomy. This includes why distinguishing systems based on whether a human is in/on/out of loop, or whether a system is automated, automatic, or autonomous, is only of minimal, descriptive, utility. Part II then applies the concept of autonomy to weapon systems, focusing first on the reality that weapons systems capable of selecting and engaging targets without further human intervention have existed for decades and then on explaining why full autonomy is a distractor. Part III then emphasizes the need to refocus the LAWS conversation within the purpose of the CCW, following which the paper concludes.
Central Asia: Afghanistan

Abstract Records of snow leopard in Afghanistan first appeared in scientific reports in the late nineteenth Century, but coherent and systematic efforts to conserve the species have only got underway in the last decade. Although no accurate population and distribution estimates for snow leopard exist, the best current estimate based on assessments from elsewhere is somewhere between 50 and 200 individuals with an approximate range of 107,000 km 2 . Though laws in Afghanistan protect the snow leopard, its population appears to have declined over the past three decades and it is threatened by hunting, loss of prey, and livestock encroachment. Since 2006, the Afghan government and its international conservation partners have developed a comprehensive strategy that balances research with protection and threat mitigation efforts with the result that the current population of northeast Afghanistan appears stable.
Children who Qualify for LD and SED Programs: Do They Differ in Level of ADHD Symptoms and Comorbid Psychiatric Conditions?:

Questions have been raised about the implications of the use of the psychiatric diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the decision process for serving children in special ...
Global Trends in Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Today, the highest number of deaths from CV disease is seen in countries undergoing a recent economic transition such as India, China, and Russia. The reason for this uptrend in CV disease is thought to be economic prosperity, which is associated with a high fat diet, obesity, diabetes mellitus, tobacco use and a sedentary lifestyle, all well-defined risk factors for developing CV disease. In the West, we have observed a steady decline in rates of CV mortality over the last four decades, which is secondary to a number of factors such as changes in population risk factors and improved health care. However, low rates in France and Japan and the recent uptrend of CV mortality rates in Russia cannot be fully explained. According to the multicenter INTERHEART trial, a case–control study involving 52 countries, the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) in nearly 90% of the cases can be explained by nine risk factors – apolipoprotein B/AI ratio, smoking, psychosocial factors, abdominal obesity, hypertension, fruit and vegetable consumption, exercise, diabetes, and alcohol consumption. Any minor change in the distribution of these risk factors across the population translates into a major effect on overall disease prevalence rates across that population. Offering treatment to at-risk individuals is deemed to be palliative as opposed to a curative step which doesn't address the underlying causes of diseases rates. Preventive health policies should be aimed at social and environmental rather than biomedical factors, in order to change the recent uptrends in cardiovascular disease.
Hepatocellular adenoma with severe fatty change in a male Spontaneously Diabetic Torii rat

The Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) rat is a rat model of nonobese type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hepatocellular adenomas have not been reported in this model. We report a hepatocellular adenoma with severe fatty change in a male 42-week-old SDT rat fed a high-fat diet. At necropsy, the animal had a whitish nodular mass of approximately 2 cm in diameter in the right medial lobe. Histologically, the mass was well demarcated from the surrounding tissues, slightly compressing the adjacent hepatic parenchyma and widely compartmented by fibrous connective tissues. The mass consisted of vacuolated tumor cells resembling hepatocytes with a solid and occasionally trabecular growth pattern. Abundant neutral lipids, which were positive for fat with Oil Red O stain and which ultrastructurally had moderately dense material, were contained within the vacuoles of the tumor cells. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells showed an increase in immunoreactivity or number for Cytokeratin 8/18 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen but were negative for mesenchymal markers. From these findings, the mass could be distinguished from hepatocellular hyperplasia and was diagnosed as hepatocellular adenoma. In rats, hepatocellular adenoma accompanied by severe fatty change is rare, and this is the first report of a hepatocellular tumor with severe fatty change in a SDT rat.
Low glycemic index treatment for seizure control in Angelman syndrome: A case series from the Center for Dietary Therapy of Epilepsy at the Massachusetts General Hospital

The low glycemic index treatment, a dietary therapy that focuses on glycemic index and reduced carbohydrate intake, has been successful in reducing seizure frequency in the general epilepsy population. Epilepsy is a common feature of Angelman syndrome and seizures are often refractory to multiple medications, especially in those with maternal deletions. Dietary therapy has become a more frequently used option for treating epilepsy, often in combination with other antiepileptic drugs, due to its efficacy and favorable side effect profile. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the low glycemic index treatment for seizure control in Angelman syndrome. Through a retrospective medical record review of 23 subjects who utilized the low glycemic index treatment at the Clinic and Center for Dietary Therapy of Epilepsy at the Massachusetts General Hospital, we found that the high level of seizure control and favorable side effect profile make the low glycemic index treatment a viable treatment for seizures in Angelman syndrome. The majority of subjects in our cohort experienced some level of seizure reduction after initiating the diet, 5 (22%) maintained complete seizure freedom, 10 (43%) maintained seizure freedom except in the setting of illness or non-convulsive status epilepticus, 7 (30%) had a decrease in seizure frequency, and only 1 (4%) did not have enough information to determine seizure control post-initiation. The low glycemic index treatment monotherapy was successful for some subjects in our cohort but most subjects used an antiepileptic drug concurrently. Some subjects were able to maintain the same level of seizure control on a liberalized version of the low glycemic index treatment which included a larger amount of low glycemic carbohydrates. No correlation between the level of carbohydrate restriction and level of seizure control was found. Few subjects experienced side effects and those that did found them to be mild and easily treated. The efficacy of the low glycemic index treatment and its favorable side effect profile make it an excellent alternative or supplement to antiepileptic drug therapy for the treatment of seizures in Angelman syndrome.
Practical aspects of the DesignDEVS simulation environment

DesignDEVS is a simulation development environment based on the Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) formalism. This paper provides an in-depth overview of the software while focusing on the ...
Fostering Twins’ Identity Development: A Family Issue

Families who have twins encounter unique needs and circumstances. Insight into issues twins encounter can improve parental and counseling treatment of twins as well as foster a healthy identity for...
Progress in monolithic, broadband, widely tunable midinfrared quantum cascade lasers

We present recent progress on the development of monolithic, broadband, widely tunable midinfrared quantum cascade lasers. First, we show a broadband midinfrared laser gain realized by a heterogeneous quantum cascade laser based on a strain balanced composite well design of Al0.63In0.37As/Ga0.35In0.65As/Ga0.47In0.53As. Single mode emission between 5.9 and 10.9 μm under pulsed mode operation was realized from a distributed feedback laser array, which exhibited a flat current threshold across the spectral range. Using the broadband wafer, a monolithic tuning between 6.2 and 9.1 μm was demonstrated from a beam combined sampled grating distributed feedback laser array. The tunable laser was utilized for a fast sensing of methane under pulsed operation. Transmission spectra were obtained without any moving parts, which showed excellent agreement to a standard measurement made by a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer.
The School Psychologist and Other Supportive Personnel: A Contemporary Behavioral Perspective

Publisher Summary This chapter explains the roles that may be realized uniquely by school psychologists. Traditionally, schools have relegated psychologists to two functions — administering standardized and projective tests for classification purposes and fixing or passing opinions on “bad behavior.” Tests are important but they take on different functions from both a behavioral selection perspective and the new role for school psychologist — the same holds true for the analysis and treatment of bad or “aberrant” behavior. In addition to changes in these two functions, the behavioral school psychologist has a host of new roles that result from the science. These roles embrace social skills instruction, professional collaboration with teachers, community services, and parents that is instructionally-based; the insistence on data-driven procedures; and the need to serve the range of needs of children. The use of the term bad behavior as opposed to terms such as behavioral disorders, emotional disturbances, hyperactivity, and attention deficit syndrome, among other common professional terms, is only partially tongue-in-cheek. When bad behavior is viewed from an instructional perspective — one grounded in a strategic science of pedagogy and behavior analysis — one can proceed with systemic and data-driven solutions and preventative actions.
T -matrix approach to quark-gluon plasma

A self-consistent thermodynamic $T$-matrix approach is deployed to study the microscopic properties of the quark-gluon plasma (QGP), encompassing both light- and heavy-parton degrees of freedom in a unified framework. The starting point is a relativistic effective Hamiltonian with a universal color force. The input in-medium potential is quantitatively constrained by computing the heavy-quark (HQ) free energy from the static $T$-matrix and fitting it to pertinent lattice-QCD (lQCD) data. The corresponding $T$-matrix is then applied to compute the equation of state (EoS) of the QGP in a two-particle irreducible formalism, including the full off-shell properties of the selfconsistent single-parton spectral functions and their two-body interaction. In particular, the skeleton diagram functional is fully resummed to account for emerging bound and scattering states as the critical temperature is approached from above. We find that the solution satisfying three sets of lQCD data (EoS, HQ free energy, and quarkonium correlator ratios) is not unique. As limiting cases we discuss a weakly coupled solution, which features color potentials close to the free energy, relatively sharp quasiparticle spectral functions and weak hadronic resonances near ${T}_{\mathrm{c}}$, and a strongly coupled solution with a strong color potential (much larger than the free energy), resulting in broad nonquasiparticle parton spectral functions and strong hadronic resonance states which dominate the EoS when approaching ${T}_{\mathrm{c}}$.
Can Biosignals be Expressive?: How Visualizations Affect Impression Formation from Shared Brain Activity

We are exploring the concept of expressive biosignals: leveraging wearable technologies to introduce sensed physiological data as cues for social perception. Biosignals can help us achieve a deeper understanding of each other by revealing or clarifying the psychological processes that underlie our subjective experience. We conducted an exploratory study investigating expressive biosignals, comparing the influence of a variety of brain activity visualizations on impression formation. Results revealed that while participants readily infer emotional and cognitive states from visualized brain activity, the ambiguity of the data can lead to diverse perceptions and interpretations. Participants also expressed concerns that the observation of another individual's data during interaction might be invasive or distracting. We present a set of design considerations addressing issues of interpretability, integration, and privacy of biosignals in interpersonal contexts.
Public scholars, legitimation, and the “subject of history” predicament*

This essay explores recent trends in contemporary educational studies that have focused on developing closer partnerships between university-based scholars and school practitioners and community-based organizers. With a focus on the antidote, as seen in the 2016 American Educational Research Association’s conference theme to recalibrate university-based education scholars as professional educational researchers in the service of the public, the author exposes how the contemporary trend, although running counter to, cannot be extricated from the Marxian problematic concerning the subject of history.