cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fast Pressure Quenches Near the λ- Line in 4He

The formation of topological defects during phase transitions was first discussed by Kibble1 within a cosmological context. The idea was further developed by Zurek2 for condensed matter systems, such as the λ-transition in 4He. The vortex density generated during a pressure quench through the transition is expected to be controlled by the quench rate, and can be determined from the attenuation of a second sound pulse. In previous experiments3 using mechanical means to generate the quench no vortex formation was observed. We increased the quench rate by four orders of magnitude using a hemispherical ugtrasonic transducer. No attenuation of second sound was observed, except for ambient conditions close to the λ-line and quench depth sufficient to also create cavitation.
The U.N. gears up

(1999). The U.N. gears up. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Vol. 55, Small Arms, Big Problem, pp. 58-60.
Mechanical stress considerations in thin-film devices

Abstract A general procedure for the measurement and control of the residual stress in vacuum-deposited films is given. Some results obtained for the metallic and dielectric films (e.g. silicon monoxide, lead, indium, and tin) commonly used in cryogenic devices are shown as an example.
Impact of altered loading conditions on ventricular performance in fetuses with congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation and twin–twin transfusion syndrome

Objectives In the fetus with a structurally normal heart, two conditions – giant chest mass, such as congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM), and twin–twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) – alter ventricular loading conditions and may result in cardiovascular compromise. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of cardiovascular dysfunction by comparing geometryindependent, Doppler flow-derived measures of ventricular performance in fetuses with altered loading conditions vs. those in normal fetuses. Methods Doppler flow-derived measures of myocardial performance index (MPI) as described by Tei, ventricular ejection force as described by Isaaz, and combined cardiac output (CCO) were obtained by echocardiography in fetuses with a normal cardiovascular system (n = 76) or CCAM (n = 36) and fetal partners with TTTS (n = 22). Results In the CCAM group, systolic performance as evidenced by the ejection forces was preserved, right ventricular (RV) MPI was increased and CCO diminished, suggesting diastolic dysfunction and poor filling secondary to cardiac compression and a tamponade effect. In TTTS, recipient twins exhibited greater left ventricular (LV) ejection forces and higher CCO than donor twins, and had abnormal RV and LV MPI, reflecting increased preload, preserved left systolic performance, but diastolic dysfunction. Donor twins had diminished ejection forces and CCO in comparison with normal controls and recipient partners, reflecting hypovolemia. Conclusions In both CCAM and recipient twins of the TTTS, diastolic dysfunction plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of each disorder and precedes changes in systolic performance. Measures of ventricular performance can help elucidate poorly understood mechanisms of cardiovascular compromise in the developing fetus. Copyright  2007 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Review: Management of soft tissue sarcomas of the extremity in adults

Concepts of the current management of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) of the extremities in adults are presented. The roles of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy as well as the combination of these modalities are reviewed. The addition of radiation therapy to less than radical surgery has resulted in higher rates of limb preservation and acceptable local control. A multi-disciplinary approach will help achieve optimal functional results with less morbidity. Treatment of systemic disease is poor with current methods. Innovative uses of existing systemic modalities or new modalities will be important to improve results in the management of these difficult tumors. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Support structure and particle size influences on the effect of adsorbed hydrogen on the magnetization of catalytically active nickel

Abstract Saturation magnetizations have been obtained for small particles of catalytically active nickel supported on silica gel and on gamma-alumina. The measurements were made in fields up to 17 koe, and in the temperature range 2 ° to 300 °K. The saturation magnetization of nickel under these conditions appears to be independent of particle size over the radius range 13 to 58 A as determined from low and high field magnetizations. There is no obvious effect on the saturation magnetization of changing the support from silica to alumina, although the absolute accuracy is poor owing to problems found in the chemical reducibility of the samples on alumina. The effect of adsorbed hydrogen in lowering the saturation moment of the nickel was determined for all samples. All samples on silica gave about the same effect, regardless of particle size. A possible influence of the alumina was shown in a diminished effect of hydrogen on the magnetization of alumina-supported samples. This is attributed to the change of metal particle size, shape, and size-distribution when the carrier is changed.
A small-angle neutron scattering study of the kinetics of phase separation in a supersaturated Ni-12.5 at. pct Si alloy

The kinetic behavior of precipitation in a supersaturated Ni-12.5 at. pct Si alloy single crystal has been studied by the small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) technique to supplement earlier transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) work. The SANS measurements performed at room temperature on quenched specimens subjected to isothermal anneals at 400, 450, 505, and 550 °C for various amounts of time have revealed the presence of an interference peak in the scattering function. The particle size, determined according to the Guinier approximation, is found to grow in accordance with the diffusion controlled model put forth by Lifshitz and Slyozov, and independently by Wagner. The activation energy for solute diffusion is determined using the rate constants governing the growth of particle size and the variation of the mean interparticle distance. Results are in agreement with the values given in the literature. Transition from an earlier growth stage has been observed, and enhanced diffusion is noted at temperatures below 505 °C; both observations are consistent with the previous X-ray results. The dynamical scaling law appears to be followed by the data obtained in the coarsening stage. A disruption of scaling occurs at the point when the particle growth changes from a parabolic rate behavior to a cubic coarsening rate. Dynamical scaling offers the potential for projecting the service lifetimes for components from experimental measurements carried out over a much shorter time interval. Discrepancies in the size parameters determined by different techniques are discussed.
Enhancement of horseradish peroxidase histochemistry and/or uptake with radiocontrast media

The effects of dissolving horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or HRP conjugated to wheatgerm agglutinin (WGA-HRP) in radiocontrast media (MD76) on the intraaxonal transport and enzymatic activity of these tracers were evaluated both in vivo and in vitro. The in vivo studies showed that more reaction product was visible in the L4 dorsal horn following soaking of the sciatic or peroneal nerve, or following cutaneous injection of WGA-HRP, when WGA-HRP was dissolved in MD76, as compared to dissolving WGA-HRP in distilled water. Additionally, there appeared to be an enhancement of anterograde transport and a reduction of retrograde transport of WGA-HRP when this tracer was dissolved in MD76, as compared to dissolving it in distilled water. The in vitro studies indicated that radiocontrast media increased the enzymatic activity of both WGA-HRP and HRP as compared to their enzymatic activity in distilled water when assayed spectrophotometrically. Data are presented that indicate some binding (about 4%) of HRP with MD76. This binding of HRP with organically bound iodine may account for the enhancement of anterograde transport and/or increased enzymatic activity.
An Approach to Improving Trust Estimation in Service-Based Systems

Service-based systems (SBSs) are distributed systems which have many advantages, including rapid composition of services for distributed applications. In these systems, various capabilities are provided by service providers as services interconnected by networks. It is important for users of SBSs to have confidence in the trustworthiness of service providers. Existing approaches to trust estimation for SBSs do not incorporate human factors, such as interpersonal relationships. In addition, the trust computation in existing trust models is based on pairwise relationship, which does not include the transitivity of trust. In this paper, an approach to improving the trust estimation for SBSs by incorporating two important aspects of interpersonal relationships is presented.
The Role of Coupled Sea Surface Temperatures in the Simulation of the Tropical Intraseasonal Oscillation

Abstract This study compares the tropical intraseasonal oscillation (TISO) variability in the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) coupled general circulation model (CGCM) and the stand-alone atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM). For the AGCM simulation, the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) were specified using those from the CGCM simulation. This was done so that any differences in the TISO that emerged from the two simulations could be attributed to the coupling process and not to a difference in the mean background state. The comparison focused on analysis of the rainfall, 200-mb velocity potential, and 850-mb zonal wind data from the two simulations, for both summer and winter periods, and included comparisons to analogous diagnostics using NCEP–NCAR reanalysis and Climate Prediction Center (CPC) Merged Analysis of Precipitation (CMAP) rainfall data. The results of the analysis showed three principal differences in the TISO variability between the coupled and uncoupled simulations. The ...
Correlative study of properties of water in biological systems using ultrasound and magnetic resonance.

Ultrasonic and nuclear magnetic resonance properties of media rich in water are investigated. The chemical shift of the water proton in pure water, aqueous solutions of tertiary butanol, and sodium chloride is shown to be linearly correlated to the reciprocal of sound speed in these media. A new method of determining the self-diffusion coefficient of water by using acoustic nonlinearity and sound speed is proposed. The method is tested on a on a variety of media that include pure water, aqueous solutions of glycerol, serum albumin, egg constituents, plant tissues, frog muscle and liver, and excised human tissues. In all the cases the results are found to compare closely to diffusion coefficients measured by magnetic resonance. The results presented here indicate that the acoustic and magnetic resonance modalities, though inherently different in their origin, can provide closely related information on the properties of water. © 1986 Academic Press, Inc.
Using the Eyes of the PC to Teach Revision

Abstract The author argues that writing teachers should seize the initiative and design pedagogically appropriate uses for word processing technology. Specifically, this article proposes a strategy for designing and employing usage checkers to improve sentence-level fluency. The research on usage checkers, sentence-level revision, and instructor intervention is discussed and suggestions on creating individualized style analysis programs are offered.
INTERMITTENT PERITONEAL DIALYSIS: UREA KINETIC MODELING AND IMPLICATIONS OF RESIDUAL KIDNEY FUNCTION

♦BackgroundIntermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD) is an old strategy that has generally been eclipsed, in the home setting, by daily peritoneal therapies. However, for a select group of patients wi...
Preparing Undergraduate Psychology Majors for Employment in the Human Service Delivery System

(1980). Preparing Undergraduate Psychology Majors for Employment in the Human Service Delivery System. Teaching of Psychology: Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 75-78.
The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921: Toward an Integrative Theory of Collective Violence

Studies of race riots have identified several underlying conditions that contribute to their onset. This study builds on previous research and introduces an integrative approach for examining riots that includes the role of population characteristics, contextual factors, and cultural ideologies. An integrative approach is applied through a case study of the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot. In addition to highlighting relevant structural and contextual under pinnings, this approach also emphasizes the role of racial frames, or lenses through which racial groups view and interpret events and conditions differenctially.
Renal vascular tachyphylaxis to angiotensin II: specificity of the response for angiotensin.

Abstract Hypotheses concerning angiotensin's role in states characterized by severe and sustained renal vasoconstriction, must account for the poorly sustained renal response to this agent in healthy animals and man. To assess the specificity of renal vascular tachyphylaxis to angiotensin II (AII), renal blood flow was measured with an electromagnetic flowmeter in eight anesthetized dogs. Bolus injections of AII and norepinephrine into the renal artery were adjusted to produce at least a 50% reduction in renal blood flow, and were followed by a continuous infusion of AII sufficient to reduce renal blood flow acutely by 60 ± 10%. The response to the continuous infusion was poorly sustained, blood flow returning to near baseline within 10 minutes: At this time the response to bolus administration of AII was lost, but the response to norepinephrine was sustained. At 30 minutes the response to norepinephrine was also reduced, and there was no response in three of the eight dogs. After stopping the AII infusion, renal vascular responsiveness to norepinephrine returned almost immediately, but 30–60 minutes were required before responsiveness to AII was restored. We conclude that there is true, specific renal vascular tachyphylaxis to AII--which may well reflect receptor modulation or occupation--and that with time an additional, non-specific vasodilator mechanism can come into play.
Reconstruction of contact pressures between flexible objects and rigid planes using friction data

Abstract This paper presents a tomographic technique of finding the contact pressures between flexible media and rigid planes. By pulling a series of parallel thin metal strips placed between the medium and the plane, a large number of friction data can be collected. These data are numerically processed using least-squares methods to obtain the contact pressure between the two objects. Some constraints are imposed on the least-squares problem to obtain more meaningful and accurate results. Numerical simulations of the reconstruction technique are shown in the paper. Experimental data from literature are also used to show the accuracy of the technique.
Director configurations of nematic-liquid-crystal droplets: Negative dielectric anisotropy and parallel surface anchoring

We have identified the director configurations n(r) of nematic droplets subjected to electric fields under conditions of negative dielectric anistropy and parallel surface anchoring. Drops are examined using polarization microscopy, with electric fields applied parallel or perpendicular to the light direction. The behavior of the resulting textures and defects is obtained by comparing the droplet appearance with computer simulated transmission patterns using intuitively obtained model director configurations. In the field-off state, the director is essentially azimuthal (concentric texture) near the surface, ``escaping'' to the axis direction (bipolar texture) along the droplet axis. For low fields, the director configuration becomes either more bipolar or more concentric depending on whether the droplet axis is initially parallel or perpendicular to the electric field. For high fields, the bipolar structure evolves into one in which the directors form planar bipolar sheets escaped at the poles (escaped planar bipolar texture). The concentric structure, however, becomes unstable and a novel transition to the more stable escaped planar bipolar structure is described.
Localized Conjunctival Amyloidosis

We treated a patient with localized amyloidosis of the bulbar conjunctiva, which strongly resembled a neoplastic growth. Although the patient suffered from a long-standing, debilitating rheumatoid arthritis, suggesting the possibility of a secondary systemic amyloidosis caused by the chronic effusive process, no specific clinical evidence of systemic amyloidosis was noted. The ocular lesion was, therefore, classified as a primary localized amyloidosis. However, the simple recognition of amyloid in the ocular adnexa should not be considered a complete diagnosis. For such cases in which a prominent underlying systemic disease is present, a thorough medical evaluation and future follow-up should be ensured to rule out the possibility that this represents the initial manifestation of a potentially life-threatening secondary systemic amyloidosis caused by rheumatoid arthritis.
Transanal minimally invasive surgery: a giant leap forward

Our novel approach is a hybrid between transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) and single-port laparoscopy that we have termed TransAnal Minimally Invasive Surgery (TAMIS). We report the clinical application of this technique and present preliminary data that show TAMIS to be an effective tool for resection of both malignant and benign lesions of the rectum. Over a 3-month period (May–July 2009) all patients with rectal lesions who were candidates for conventional transanal excision were offered the option to undergo TAMIS resection. Patients with biopsy-proven malignant lesions were required to undergo endorectal ultrasound preoperatively to determine tumor stage. To perform TAMIS, a single-incision laparoscopic surgery port (SILS Port, Covidien) is introduced into the anal canal by applying steady manual pressure. Once seated in position, endoscopic access to the rectal vault is gained and pneumorectum is established. With this access, ordinary laparoscopic instruments, including graspers, thermal energy devices, and needle drives, are used to perform the transanal excisions. Six patients, aged 43–85 years old (mean = 59.8), underwent TAMIS resection of rectal lesions. The average distance from the anal verge was 9.3 cm and the mean tumor diameter confirmed by pathology measured 2.93 cm. There were no conversions from TAMIS to conventional transanal excision. While the average operating time was 86 min, four of the six TAMIS resections (67%) were completed in less than 1 h. The mean set-up time was only 1.9 min and this may be one reason that the mean operative time was considerably less than the average operative time for TEM surgery (120–140 min). In short-term follow-up, there was no morbidity or mortality observed. TAMIS is a feasible alternative to TEM, providing its benefits at a fraction of the cost.
Neurocognitive predictors of performance on a telephone task following stroke

A growing body of evidence indicates that cognitive function is related to functional ability; however, little attention has been paid to which neuropsychological measures are predictive of specific daily tasks. The purpose of the current study was to determine the neurocognitive predictors of a performance-based telephone task in a sample of patients with recent stroke. A sample of 51 individuals with stroke completed a battery of neuropsychological measures and a telephone task. Regression analyses indicated that measures of visuoperception and global cognitive function were the best predictors of ability to use the telephone. Results are discussed in light of previous findings with different patient populations and different measures of functional ability.
Narrow bandgap semiconductor based THz-emitters

The emission of terahertz (THz)-radiation pulses from binary and ternary narrow bandgap semiconductors is discussed. Ga x In 1−x As:Fe is a THz-emitter material for time-domain THz systems with potentially ≈1mW of average THz-radiation power at MHz repetition rates.
Control of reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide oscillations in beef heart extracts. I. Effects of modifiers of phosphofructokinase activity.

Abstract Beef heart extracts showing cyclic oscillations in the level of reduced diphospho-pyridine nucleotide were studied with the objective of establishing the importance of phosphofructokinase (PFK) in the control of this cyclic phenomenon. The oscillations were influenced profoundly by changes in the hydrogen ion concentration as well as by the activity of PFK. Citrate and inorganic phosphate, known to affect the activity of the enzyme, also had a marked effect on the oscillations. The results obtained indicate the likelihood of PFK being the enzyme responsible for the oscillatory behavior observed to take place during the operation of the Embden-Meyerhof pathway in heart extracts.
Nutritional management of the home hospice patient

The primary goal of nutritional management in the home hospice setting is to improve the quality of life. This article provides helpful suggestions to be used based on the individual's needs. Included are ways to increase oral intake, calorie and protein density of foods; sample meals; time schedules; suggestions for family members; common problems; and treatment of those patients previously or currently on special diets.
Performance analysis for coded CDMA systems

This correspondence analyzes the bit-error rate (BER) performance of coded synchronous code-division multiple-access (CDMA) systems assuming perfect channel state information (CSI) and optimal joint multiuser detection/decoding (OJMUDD). Our analysis is conducted in the same framework as that of uncoded systems. First, we derive the precise probability of an error event, then we provide an upper bound on the BER based on the sum of pairwise error probabilities, and, finally, we tighten the upper bound by considering decomposable error events. Many new concepts unique to coded systems are introduced. We propose to use quasi parity checks for identifying permissible error events, introduce the concept of compatible probability of error matrices, extend the list of conditions for identifying decomposable error events, and introduce the concept of conjugate sets to explore the symmetry among indecomposable error events. Simulation results are given along with theoretical predictions.
Low-coherent WDM reflectometry for accurate fiber length monitoring

A fiber-optic low-coherent reflectometer was developed to accurately monitor fiber length variation. A large length-coverage range was obtained by using a fiber Bragg grating array in a wavelength-division-multiplexing configuration. The polarization mismatch-induced signal fading was eliminated by applying a polarization spreading technique at the optical receiver and, therefore, no active polarization adjustment was necessary for long-term measurement.
On prolonging network lifetime by adjusting sleep/awake cycles in wireless sensor networks

To save their energy, sensors spent most of their life in sleeping mode waking up for short intervals to achieve any required tasks. While performing their sensing and communicational obligations to the network and due to the random nature of sleep and awake cycles, sensors are usually assigned different workloads which in turn consume their energy unevenly. Eventually, the energy of those heavily loaded sensors will be totally depleted. This results in reducing network density around those sensors and creates energy holes that isolate the network into disconnected islands. These problems have their negative impacts on network durability and reliability. To avoid these problems, we propose and evaluate a distributed protocol that adjusts sensor sleep and wake up times based on the relative differences between sensor energy and the energy of surrounding sensors. Using simulation, we first show that during network lifetime, variations in sensors energy can be very large compared to what can be achieved using our proposed protocol. In addition to this, we show the impact of these variations on the network lifetime measured in terms of the number of tasks the network can perform till the network density goes below certain threshold.
Voicing Realities and Recommending Reform in PRWORA

This article represents the views of 12 women facing welfare reform under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 and 12 services providers of two state offices from a midwestern metropolitan area. The author used constructivist inquiry to understand their multiple constructions of reality associated with the "work first" provision of the law. Three aspects of work are discussed: preparation for work, nature of work, and consequences of work. The women and the services providers had some commonalities as well as differences in their perceptions about work first and their recommendations for changes. Although all the women facing reform identified some negative attributions of work first, not all services providers expressed negative views about work first. A majority of the women and a few services providers recommended that women need access to education and training to get better jobs and that they need more incentives to work. However, both groups recommended that they be included in future welfare reform decision making. Social workers need to carry these voices to the federal policymakers before this law is reauthorized in 2002.
Customer complaint situations: An equity theory perspective

The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of equity and outcomes in customer complaint situations. The study utilized a 2 × 2 within-subjects design with equity (inequity, equity) and outcomes (low, high) as the independent variables. The dependent variables were perceived equity, behavioral intentions, resentment, and guilt. Subjects were 128 students from a large western university. It was hypothesized that high outcome situations would be perceived as more equitable than low outcome situations, regardless of equity condition; high outcome situations would yield more favorable behavioral intentions, regardless of equity condition; subjects would perceive more resentment in inequitable, low outcome situations; subjects would perceive more guilt in inequitable, high outcome situations. Hypotheses 1, 2, and 3 were supported. Hypothesis 4 was not supported. Implications for customer complaint handling practices were discussed. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A nonparametric global optimization method using the rank transformation

A nonparametric multidimensional search method that is based on ranking the functional evaluations is proposed for constrained global optimization. The method yields favorable results on three standard 2D and 3D test functions. A fundamental property of the search method is that it gives equivalent results for any monotonic transformation of the objective function. >
Intraarticular induction of interleukin-1β expression in the adult mouse, with resultant temporomandibular joint pathologic changes, dysfunction, and pain

Objective. To examine the effects of intraarticular induction of interleukin-1 (IL-1) expression in adult mice. Methods. We used somatic mosaic analysis in a novel transgenic mouse with an inducible IL-1 transcription unit. Transgene activation was induced by Cre recombinase in the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) of adult transgenic mice (conditional knockin model). The effects of intraarticular IL-1 induction were subsequently evaluated at the cellular, histopathologic, and behavioral levels. Results. We developed transgenic mice capable of germline transmission of a dormant transcription unit consisting of the mature form of human IL-1 as well as the reporter gene -galactosidase driven by the rat procollagen 1A1 promoter. Transgene activation by a feline immunodeficiency virus Cre vector resulted in histopathologic changes, including articular surface fibrillations, cartilage remodeling, and chondrocyte cloning. We also demonstrated up-regulation of genes implicated in arthritis (cyclooxygenase 2, IL-6, matrix metalloproteinase 9). There was a lack of inflammatory cells in these joints. Behavioral changes, including increased orofacial grooming and decreased resistance to mouth opening, were used as measures of nociception and joint dysfunction, respectively. The significant increase in expression of the pain-related neurotransmitter calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the sensory ganglia as well as the auxiliary protein CGRP receptor component protein of the calcitonin-like receptor in the brainstem further substantiated the induction of pain. Conclusion. Induction of IL-1 expression in the TMJs of adult mice led to pathologic development, dysfunction, and related pain in the joints. The somatic mosaic model presented herein may prove useful in the preclinical evaluation of existing and new treatments for the management of joint pathologic changes and pain, such as in osteoarthritis.
Detached-Leaflet Evaluation of Tomato Germplasm for Late Blight Resistance and Its Correspondence to Field and Greenhouse Screenings

Breeding for disease resistance requires efficient techniques for screening large plant populations. Late blight (LB), caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans, is one of the most devastating diseases of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) worldwide, and there is a great interest in developing cultivars with resistance to this pathogen. Screening for LB resistance is commonly conducted under field or greenhouse conditions using whole plants. In a previous study, we demonstrated correspondence between field and greenhouse screening of tomato for LB resistance. Here, we report the use of a detached-leaflet assay for such screening. Seventy-two genotypes from two tomato species, varying in degree of resistance and susceptibility to LB, were evaluated in two replicated experiments for response to LB in a detached-leaflet assay, and the results were compared with those previously obtained from field and greenhouse screening of the same genotypes. There were significant (P < 0.001) positive correlations between replications (average r = 0.75) and experiments (average r = 0.72), suggesting that the detached-leaflet experiments were consistent. Further, there were significant (P < 0.001) positive correlations between responses in the detached-leaflet assay and those from field (r = 0.82) and greenhouse screenings (r = 0.84), suggesting reliability of the detached-leaflet assay. The results indicate the utility of the detached-leaflet assay for evaluating tomato for LB resistance, which may facilitate screening of large breeding populations.
Recovery of a gas-blown spark gap with preionization

The authors present a recovery model that explains the plateau that has been observed in the recovery of gas-blown and static pulse-charged spark gaps. By careful analysis of the characteristic breakdown curves, it has been established that the initial recovery of the gap represents the return of the gap's intrinsic breakdown strength, while final recovery corresponds to the return of an anomalously high overvoltage caused by significant statistical breakdown delay. >
Masked depth culling for graphics hardware

Hierarchical depth culling is an important optimization, which is present in all modern high performance graphics processors. We present a novel culling algorithm based on a layered depth representation, with a per-sample mask indicating which layer each sample belongs to. Our algorithm is feed forward in nature in contrast to previous work, which rely on a delayed feedback loop. It is simple to implement and has fewer constraints than competing algorithms, which makes it easier to load-balance a hardware architecture. Compared to previous work our algorithm performs very well, and it will often reach over 90% of the efficiency of an optimal culling oracle. Furthermore, we can reduce bandwidth by up to 16% by compressing the hierarchical depth buffer.
Synthesis of the conservation value of the early-successional stage in forests of eastern North America

As a result of changes in natural and anthropogenic disturbance regimes, the extent of early-successional forest across much of eastern North American is near historic lows, and continues to decline. This has caused many scientists to identify the conservation of early-successional species as a high priority. In this synthesis, we discuss the conservation implications of this loss of early-successional habitats using examples from the literature on songbirds. Early-successional “shrubland” bird species require conditions and resources present in recently disturbed sites. These conditions are ephemeral and change rapidly over time as sites become dominated by later-seral species. Historical disturbance regimes such as wind-throw, fire and flooding have been altered or suppressed in eastern forests through human activity such as conversion of forests to younger aged stands more resistant to wind, fire suppression and mesophication of fire-adapted communities, and suppression of beaver activity and flooding. Furthermore, anthropogenic disturbance has shifted over much of the region to types of land use that provide less shrubland habitat of lower quality than historically. Despite scientific evidence in support of this concern, there is still misunderstanding about the role of disturbance in maintaining biodiversity, and public opposition to management remains a challenge to conserving these communities. Contemporary approaches use natural disturbance regimes to inform management practices that employ historical agents where possible or surrogates when necessary to achieve desired future conditions defined on the basis of regional population or community status. Conservation of early-successional communities occurs within the context of other potentially conflicting ecological values, such as the conservation and enhancement of biologically mature forest. Recent findings, however, show shrubland habitat can augment diversity in forested landscapes by providing seasonal resources for mature-forest species, such as food or predator-free space for juvenile forest songbirds that seek out early-successional habitats during the transition to independence. Balancing the conservation of early-successional shrubland species with other, sometimes conflicting values is an active area of current conservation research. In some cases the conservation of shrubland birds can be coordinated with commercial activities like silviculture or maintenance of infrastructure (e.g. powerline corridors), although our work indicates that deliberate efforts expressly directed at conservation of early-successional shrubland species are more effective.
Efficient Incorporation of a PEC/PMC Plane in the Multiple-Grid Adaptive Integral Method

The multiple-grid adaptive integral method (MG-AIM) is extended for fast analysis of scattering from piecewise homogeneous structures on or above a perfect electrically/ magnetically conducting plane. Because the Green functions in the relevant integral equations contain (i) reflection terms that are in correlation form in the direction normal to the plane and (ii) direct terms that are in convolution form in all directions, the MG-AIM propagation stage gives rise to Hankel-(two level) block-Toeplitz matrices in addition to the usual (three level) block-Toeplitz matrices. These additional matrices are multiplied with trial vectors during the iterative solution stage by using FFTs; however, to improve efficiency, the FFTs computed for multiplying the direct terms are recycled. Numerical examples show that the proposed method requires (almost) half the number of computations and storage space compared to a brute-force imaging scheme for structures that terminate on the plane; larger gains are observed for structures residing above the plane.
AMERICAN MASTER NARRATIVES AND THE PROBLEM OF INDIAN CITIZENSHIP IN THE GILDED AGE AND PROGRESSIVE ERA

American Indian people fit poorly into the sweeping stories most commonly told about American history. Puritan-inspired stories of national origins and Turnerian frontier narratives cast Indians as outsiders whose role was to be dispossessed and then disappear. More recent counter-narratives of conquest and of redemptive struggles for citizenship allow Native actors important and autonomous roles, but are also premised on a teleology of assimilation and civil rights that flattens the complexity of Indian uses of U.S. citizenship rights. The history of the Society of American Indians, founded in 1911, shows how the paradox of Indian citizenship is central to stories about the broader sweep of U.S. historical practice.
Track Filtering via Iterative Correction of TDI Topology

We propose a new technique to clean outlier tracks from fiber bundles reconstructed by tractography. Previous techniques were mainly based on computing pair-wise distances and clustering methods to identify unwanted tracks, which relied heavy upon user inputs for parameter tuning. In this work, we propose the use of topological information in track density images TDI to achieve a more robust filtering of tracks. There are two main steps of our iterative algorithm. Given a fiber bundle, we first convert it to a TDI, then extract and score its critical points. After that, tracks that contribute to high scoring loops are identified and removed using the Reeb graph of the level set surface of the TDI. Our approach is geometrically intuitive and relies only on a single parameter that enables the user to decide on the length of insignificant loops. In our experiments, we use our method to reconstruct the optic radiation in human brain using the multi-shell HARDI data from the human connectome project HCP. We compare our results against spectral filtering and show that our approach can achieve cleaner reconstructions. We also apply our method to 215 HCP subjects to test for asymmetry of the optic radiation and obtain statistically significant results that are consistent with post-mortem studies.
A Woman Post Scalenectomy and First-Rib Resection With Dilated Vertebral Venous Plexus and a Facial Rash

Background Sickle cell disease (SCD) is found in many ethnic groups, with the highest prevalence of heterozygote carriers (sickle cell trait [SCT]) in African Americans. SCT is associated with an increased risk of fatal exertional heat illness, renal papillary necrosis, and splenic infarction. Since 2006, all infants born in the United States are required to be screened for hemoglobinopathies as part of newborn screening (NBS). In 2010, as part of a legal settlement, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) implemented SCT screening in division I athletes.
Comparison of 2 electrophoretic methods and a wet-chemistry method in the analysis of canine lipoproteins.

Background The evaluation of lipoprotein metabolism in small animal medicine is hindered by the lack of a gold standard method and paucity of validation data to support the use of automated chemistry methods available in the typical veterinary clinical pathology laboratory. The physical and chemical differences between canine and human lipoproteins draw into question whether the transference of some of these human methodologies for the study of canine lipoproteins is valid. Validation of methodology must go hand in hand with exploratory studies into the diagnostic or prognostic utility of measuring specific lipoproteins in veterinary medicine. Objective The goal of this study was to compare one commercially available wet-chemistry method to manual and automated lipoprotein electrophoresis in the analysis of canine lipoproteins. Methods Canine lipoproteins from 50 dogs were prospectively analyzed by 2 electrophoretic methods, one automated and one manual method, and one wet-chemistry method. Results Electrophoretic methods identified a higher proportion of low-density lipoproteins than the wet-chemistry method. Automated electrophoresis occasionally failed to identify very low-density lipoproteins. Conclusions Wet-chemistry methods designed for evaluation of human lipoproteins are insensitive to canine low-density lipoproteins and may not be applicable to the study of canine lipoproteins. Automated electrophoretic methods will likely require significant modifications if they are to be used in the analysis of canine lipoproteins. Studies aimed at determining the impact of a disease state on lipoproteins should thoroughly investigate the selected methodology prior to the onset of the study.
High adherence to all-oral directly acting antiviral HCV therapy among an inner-city patient population in a phase 2a study

Background As treatment for chronic hepatitis C (HCV) virus has evolved to all-oral, interferon-free directly acting antiviral (DAA) therapy, the impact of these improvements on patient adherence has not been described.
Λnn bound state with three-body potential

Formalism of the configuration-space Faddeev equations is applied to analyze the bound state problem of ΛNN system. The simulated NSC97f potential for ΛN interaction and semi-realistic NN potentials are used for calculations. We predict a broad Λnn resonance near threshold. A spin dependent three-body ΛNN potential has been proposed to explain experimental evidence for Λ 3 n bound state. The potential is defined by a Gaussian function of a hyper-radius. It was found that such potential with appropriate spin dependence does not support a bound state of Λ 3 n . A short range form of the potential generates non-physical solutions of the Faddeev equations.
38.—Development of Ideas concerning the Carbon Dioxide System in Sea Water up to 1940.

Marcet reported in 1822 that sea salt contained lime, and several investigators confirmed its presence in sea water in the 1830s. Darondeau found dissolved CO2 in sea water in 1838, and von Bibra in 1851 considered sea water to be slightly alkaline. Tornoe in 1880 pointed out that this condition required part of the CO2 to be bound chemically, and Hamberg applied the mass action law to the CO2-system in sea water in 1885. For nearly 50 years, however, despite the development of the concepts of pH and activity, attempts to apply the law in detail failed, first because the behaviour of H2CO3 and HCO3− as weak acids is strikingly different in pure water, sea water or NaCl solutions, and secondly because the presence and role of another weak acid, boric acid, was not recognised fully until 1933. Investigators often attributed their failures to some mysterious ability of the sea to disregard or evade the laws of physical chemistry. Buch in 1933 and 1938 finally laid this hobgoblin to rest, and his results are still accepted with only minor modifications.
The Cost of Increased Validity: Combining a Multiple Baseline Design with an ABAB Design

A previous feasibility study, degradation of pilot flight performance when transitioning from digital instrumentation to analog instrumentation for the first time, was replicated using two single case research designs (SCDs). The validity of SCDs has often been questioned by researchers who use between-group designs. However, within the research fields using single case research, it is suggested that the validity of SCDs can be improved by systematic replication of single case experiments. This study investigated whether validity could be improved by systematic replication of single case experiments by comparing two SCDs: the multiple baseline design (MBD), which increases replications across subjects to improve validity, and the combined design, which increases replications both across and within subjects and may provide greater improvement in validity. The two designs were compared in terms of results, validity, and cost. The results of the data analyses did not provide any significant advantages or disadvantages for either design, and the improvement in validity of the combined design came at a considerable increase in cost.
The Concept of Previewing: Introduction

Just as fairy tales of childhood begin with a predictable “once upon a time” and end with the familiar “they lived happily ever after,” so too does this book suggest that infant development is a tale whose beginning and end may be predicted.This book is an adventure story. It concerns two main characters—the mother and the infant, with the father as an occasional third protagonist. The adventure is about growth and change, which in the parlance of modern psychiatry is referred to as developmental processes. In particular, though, this book highlights both the phenomenon of growing up during the first two years of life, a period that has been labeled infancy, and introduces a new concept—previewing—which facilitates our understanding of how the transformations of maturation that occur during this period modify the relationship between mother and infant.
Classifying cultural food habits and meanings.

Old ideas and themes need to be challenged Fresh approaches are needed in dealing with problems of food habits so that ultimately scientific knowledge of cultural food habits can produce greater success in nutrition education programs.
Fiscal Federalism, Political Will, and Strategic Use of Municipal Bankruptcy

Municipalities in fiscal distress may seek to adjust debts under Chapter 9 of the Bankruptcy Code either because they are truly destitute or because they lack the political will to adopt difficult resource adjustments. Local officials of municipalities that enter bankruptcy proceedings nevertheless retain political authority over municipal fiscal affairs. The decision to enter bankruptcy, however, may have significant financial consequences for other municipalities or for more centralized levels of government. Those externalities induce central governments to consider bailouts for distressed municipalities. In order to avoid moral hazard problems, central governments typically impose harsh restrictions on local officials as a condition of bailout. This dual system of rescue for distressed municipalities—bailouts and bankruptcy—permits local officials to threaten to file under Chapter 9 and thus to impose costs on central governments, unless the latter modify the conditions of bailouts. In this Article, I suggest that allowing bankruptcy courts to impose resource adjustments serves to neutralize the strategic behavior of local officials and thus encourages localities to internalize the costs of their activities in a manner more consistent with the tenets of fiscal federalism.
The Use of Noble Gas Isotopes for Monitoring Leakage of Geologically Stored CO 2

This chapter focuses on the usage of noble gas isotopes for monitoring leakage of geologically stored CO 2 . One of the primary concerns in CO 2 storage is monitoring the storage site on a long-term basis for possible leakage of CO 2 . Concentrations of CO 2 vary widely in the Earth's crust, making detection of very small releases difficult. Small amounts of noble gas isotopes can be dissolved into the CO 2 being injected for storage and used as tracers to monitor CO 2 movement. Noble gases are chemically inert, environmentally safe, and are persistent and stable in the environment. The unique isotopic compositions that can be imparted to the CO 2 can be unambiguously identified during monitoring. Among the noble gases, xenon isotopes have commercial costs and availability suitable for use in large CO 2 storage operations. Required xenon volumes are low, simplifying handling and injection. Multiple batches of injected CO 2 at the same site could be imparted with different xenon isotopic compositions, making each of them identifiable with only a single xenon analysis. These characteristics are believed to make xenon a superior tracer to other option, SF 6 and 14 CO 2 .
Polymer processing: an overview

Particularites de la mise en œuvre des polymeres (ecoulements laminaires et rampants) par rapport aux autres substances chimiques. Manipulation de substances solides fusion, ramollissement et solidification des polymeres, pressurisation et pompage, melangeage, devolatilisation et procedes reactifs