cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surfactant-less alkali-cosolvent-polymer floods for an acidic crude oil

Abstract Alkali-surfactant-polymer floods can increase the oil recovery in many reservoirs by lowering interfacial tension (IFT). Surfactants are the most expensive chemicals in these processes. However, surfactant requirement is low in case of crude oils which contain naphthenic acids. These acids with the addition of an alkali generate in-situ soap which results in lowering the oil-water IFT. The goal of this work is to investigate if surfactants can be eliminated from the formulation in case of sufficiently acidic crude oils to reduce the cost. Low IFT formulations were obtained by varying the alkali concentration in the absence of synthetic surfactants. A cosolvent was added to lower the viscosity of microemulsions and to obtain the low IFT region in the desired salinity range. Various cosolvents were systematically tested to obtain the desired phase behavior. For comparison, alkali-surfactant-polymer (ASP) and alkali-cosolvent-polymer (ACP) formulations were developed for the same crude oil using synthetic surfactants. One-dimensional ASP and ACP corefloods were performed in sandstone cores to test these formulations. The ASP coreflood showed 84.5% oil recovery and 0.1 mg/g-rock surfactant retention in a Berea core. ACP corefloods showed 80–90% oil recovery in Berea cores and minimal cosolvent retention, and 97% recovery in a Boise core. The study shows that comparable oil recoveries could be obtained from ASP and ACP corefloods for a sufficiently acidic crude oil, provided the cosolvent selection is performed carefully.
THE GREAT AMERICAN INTERCHANGE – AN INVASION INDUCED CRISIS FOR SOUTH AMERICAN MAMMALS

During the Age of Mammals, South America was an isolated continent until the emergence of the Panamanian land bridge about 3.0 Ma; thereafter an intermingling of the long-separated North and South American faunas occurred. This, The Great American Interchange , is the most spectacular and best documented record of a reciprocal invasion of long separated continental faunas. In an attempt to understand short and long term consequences of faunal invasions of this magnitude taxonomic evolution (i.e. measurements of changes in number or frequency of different taxa) based on range distributions of families and genera of fossil mammals in South America is analyzed.
Endoscopic optical coherence tomography enables morphological and subnanometer vibratory imaging of the porcine cochlea through the round window.

A highly phase stable hand-held (HH) endoscopic system has been developed for optical coherence tomography and vibrometry. Designed to transit the ear canal to the middle ear space and peer through the round window (RW), it is capable of imaging the vibratory function of the cochlear soft tissues with subnanometer scale sensitivity. A side-looking, 9 cm long rigid endoscope with a distal diameter of 1.2 mm, was able to fit within the RW niche and provide imaging access. The phase stability was achieved in part by fully integrating a Michelson interferometer into the HH device. Ex vivo imaging of a domestic pig demonstrated the system’s ability for functional vibratory imaging of the cochlea via the RW.
‘(New) Woman’ as a Flashpoint Within the Nation: The Border as Method in Tales of Modernity

Using the idea of a border as a method, this chapter examines three late twentieth- to early twenty-first-century literary and news stories that narrate the ‘New Woman’ as a signifier that destabilizes established meanings of femininity within India. Gulnari (Partap Sharma’s Days of the Turban, 1986) breaks codes of respectability when she joins the Akali movement as a revolutionary and interacts with men of different castes and faiths. Akhila (Anita Nair’s Ladies Coupѐ, 2001), a 45-year-old income-tax clerk, breaks conservative Tamilian Brahmanical norms governing her behaviour when she decides to explore if a woman can live feasibly without marriage. In news stories of the Park Street rape case (2012), Suzette Jordan—a single, working mother—challenged a number of norms when she was gang raped: her right to be out late, to accept drinks at a bar, and get a ride home without being raped. These women’s choices serve as flashpoints within a nation, problematizing its self-definition as modern.
History and Method of Scan

In the late 1940’s, radionuclides from the Oak Ridge reactor were made available for medical use. Up to that time, most nuclear medical experience had been with the application of phosphorus-32 (32-P) to hematologic diseases and iodine-131 (131-I) to thyroid problems. Both of these radionuclides were found to have valuable therapeutic applications in addition to their diagnostic uses.
Mending the heart and mind during times of loss: A review of interventions to improve emotional well-being during spousal bereavement.

Spousal loss is one of life’s greatest stressors. Bereaved spouses are at risk for aberrant cognitive and affective processing. Recent work in psychoneuroimmunology and cognitive neuroscience reveals physiological biomarkers and neural mechanisms underlying acute distress and grief during bereavement that may represent targets for future interventions. We review evidence from existing pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatment approaches for normal bereavement, complicated grief, and bereavement-related depression. We propose promising future directions, namely the development and empirical validation of novel, personalised cognitive and neurostimulatory interventions to promote adaptive emotion regulation and reduce depressive symptoms following spousal loss. Future work may substantiate which interventions to improve emotional and physical health will be best matched to the needs of a particular surviving spouse.
Abstract 90: Geometric Characteristics of Middle Cerebral Artery Atherosclerosis and Clinical Stroke

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the geometric characteristics of middle cerebral artery (MCA) atherosclerosis and their clinical relevance. Methods: Vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging was o...
Contract discovery from black-box components

Complex computer-controlled systems are commonly constructed in a middle-out fashion where existing subsystems and available components have a significant influence on system architecture and drive design decisions. During system design, the architect must verify that the components, put together as specified in the architecture, will achieve the desired system behavior. This typically leads to further design modifications or adjustments to requirements triggering another iteration of the design-verify cycle. For software components that are acquired from third-parties, often the only definitive source of information about the component's system-relevant behavior -- its contract -- is its object code. We posit that existing static and dynamic analysis techniques can be used to discover contracts that can help the system designer and specifically discuss how symbolic execution of object code may be particularly well-suited for this purpose.
Clustering and rapid long-range motility behavior of bacteria by type IV pili

Many organisms coordinate to move and colonize over surfaces. Bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibit such surface motility as a precursor step to forming biofilms. Here we show a group surface motility where small groups of P. aeruginosa use their type IV pili (TFP) appendages over long- distances. Small cell clusters employ their TFP to move multiple cell lengths in fractions of a second and form new multicellular groups. Given the length scale and speed of displacement, cells appear to snap to a new position and then resume their previous behavior. The same long range TFP action also leads to rapid community contraction of sparsely arranged cell clusters. Cluster development and snapping motility does not require exogenous DNA or extracellular polysaccharides.
Multiphonics as a Compositional Element in Writing for Amplified Guitar (2)

Multiphonics on the classical guitar is currently being researched by the present authors in regard to the reproducibility of the sounds originated and the suitability of the technique as a compositional element in writing for amplified guitar. Our hypothes es are to be tested, for which criteria for the data collection and treatment were established and are here detailed.
Trade-off between spatial details and motion artifact in multi-detector CT: A virtual clinical trial with 4D textured human models

In Computed Tomography (CT) imaging, high pitch and wide beam collimations accelerate imaging acquisitions and thus reduce motion artifacts. However, increasing pitch and collimation impact acquisition geometry and thus spatial quality of the images. The purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of pitch and beam collimation on image quality using a realistic virtual clinical trial (VCT) construct. The study used extended-cardio torso (XCAT) phantoms enhanced by synthesizing intra-organ heterogeneities within the lungs and bones. Different amounts of cardiac and respiratory motion were simulated, including heart rates of 0, 60, 90, 120 beats per minute, and respiratory rates of 0, 8, 12, 16 breadths per minute. Each case was imaged using a realistic, scanner-specific, and rapid CT simulator setup based on the geometry and physics of a commercial CT scanner (Siemens Definition Flash), at 120 kV, under multiple pitch values, beam collimations, all at the same dose levels. With the knowledge of the ground truth, the quality of the acquired images was quantified by measuring root mean squared error (RMSE) in the lungs. In general, results indicated that RMSE was higher for the phantoms with more respiratory or cardiac motions. For the pitch experiment, images with higher pitch values had less in-plane motion artifacts. RMSE also increased with increasing the pitch. However, the slope of this trend was found to be a function of motion profile, showing the trade-off between motion artifacts and spatial detail loss. For the beam collimation experiment, no major change was observed in in-plane motion artifacts with changes in the beam collimation. RMSE was almost constant with the increase in beam collimation. This study demonstrates the utility of a realistic VCT construct in quantitative evaluation and optimization of CT imaging protocols, when designing such a trial is ethically-prohibitive, costly, and time-consuming.
Strange bedfellows at the end of the Cold War: the Letelier assassination, human rights, and state sovereignty

Based in part on newly released documents and interviews, this article asks about the impact of the 1976 assassination of Chilean exile Orlando Letelier in Washington. It finds that the case contri...
Central Nervous System Involvement by Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma after a Myxoma-Related Embolic Event

Involvement of the central nervous system by chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma is exceedingly rare, and currently no risk factors have been described. We report the case of a patient with concomitant chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma and an embolic cerebrovascular accident related to a cardiac myxoma, who developed parenchymal central nervous system involvement of lymphoma on the ischemic bed. The patient was successfully treated with a high-dose fludarabine-based chemotherapy regimen, achieving a sustained remission. We propose that embolic breakage of the blood-brain barrier may be a major risk factor in producing central nervous system involvement. We also propose that a high-dose fludarabine-based chemotherapy regimen may be adequate to achieve a better CNS penetration and improved outcomes.
Understanding Transport in Hole Contacts of Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells by Simulating TLM Structures

Silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cell device structures use carrier-selective contacts that enable efficient collection of majority carriers while impeding the collection of minority carriers. However, these contacts can also be a source of resistive losses that degrade the performance of the solar cell. In this article, we evaluate the performance of the carrier-selective hole contact—hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H)( i )/a-Si:H( p )/indium tin oxide (ITO)/Ag—by simulating transport in SHJ solar cell transfer length method structures. We study contact resistivity behavior by varying the a-Si:H( i ) layer thickness, ITO( n+ ) and a-Si:H( p ) layer doping, temperature, and interface defect density at the a-Si:H( i )/ crystalline silicon (c-Si) interface. In particular, we consider the effect of ITO/a-Si:H( p ) and the a-Si:H( i )/c-Si heterointerfaces on contact resistivity as they play a crucial role in modulating transport through the hole contact structure. Transport models such as band-to-band tunneling, and thermionic emission models were added to describe transport across the heterointerfaces. Until now, most simulation studies have treated the ITO as a Schottky contact; in this article, we treat the ITO as an n-type semiconductor. Our simulations match well with corresponding experiments conducted to determine contact resistivity. As the a-Si:H( i ) layer thickness is increased from 4 to 16 nm, the simulated contact resistivity increases from 0.50 to 2.1 Ωcm2, which deviates a maximum of 8% from the experimental measurements. It should be noted that we calculate the contact resistivity for the entire hole contact stack, which takes into account transport across the a-Si:H( p )/c-Si and ITO/a-Si:H( p ) heterointerface. Corresponding experiments on cell structures showed a fill factor degradation from 77% to 70%. Our simulations indicate that a highly doped n-type ITO layer facilitates tunneling at the ITO/a-Si:H( p ) heterointerface, which leads to low contact resistivities.
Pre-service Science Teachers as Curriculum Designers: Learning Opportunities Afforded in Task Selection

Instructional reforms in science education require changes in the type of intellectual work students are engaging in. This study explored the cognitive demand of tasks pre-service teachers selected...
Medication Treatment and Health Care Use Among Adolescents With Opioid Use Disorder in Ohio.

Abstract Purpose The opioid epidemic impacts both adolescents and adults, and overdose deaths continue to rise. Two medication treatments (buprenorphine and naltrexone) are effective for treating opioid use disorder (OUD) in office-based settings but are seldom prescribed to adolescents. The present study describes medication treatment for OUD and other care received by adolescents with OUD in a state at the center of the opioid epidemic. Methods This retrospective cohort study included adolescents (aged 12–18 years) enrolled in Ohio Medicaid with an index OUD diagnosis (August 1, 2012, to May 31, 2016). Analyses describe the proportion of adolescents who received medication for OUD, health care (general medical outpatient, behavioral health, hospitalization, and emergency department), and other medications (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and opioid analgesics) within 3 months after OUD diagnosis. The results are compared by age group (12–15 and 16–18 years). Results Among 626,508 adolescents enrolled in Medicaid, 2,097 met inclusion criteria. Overall, 4.6% received medication for OUD, whereas 9.8% received an opioid analgesic, within 3 months after OUD diagnosis. The proportion of older adolescents receiving medication for OUD was significantly higher than younger adolescents (5.9% vs. 1.2%; p Conclusions Although a large proportion of adolescents with OUD have subsequent visits in outpatient settings, few receive medications to treat OUD.
Predictors of lymph node metastases in patients with mucinous appendiceal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND Lymph node metastasis (LN+) is a prognostic factor in appendiceal cancers, but predictors and outcomes for LN+ in mucinous appendiceal adenocarcinoma (MAC) remain poorly defined. METHODS Patients were identified from the 2010 to 2016 NCDB who underwent surgical resection as first-line management for Stage I-III mucinous appendiceal cancer. A LN+ risk-score model was developed using multivariable regression on a training data set and internally validated using a testing data set. Three-year overall survival (OS) was analyzed by Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS Of 1158 patients, LN+ (N = 244, 21.1%) patients were more likely to have higher pT group and grade of disease, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and positive margins on univariate analyses. Predictive factors associated with LN+ on multivariable analysis included positive surgical margins (odds ratio [OR] 3.00, P <.0001), higher grade (moderately differentiated: OR, 2.16, P < .0001; poorly or undifferentiated: OR, 3.07, P < .0001), and LVI (OR, 7.28, P < .0001). A validated risk-score model using these factors was developed with good performance (AUC 0.749). LN+ patients had a worse 3-year OS compared with LN- patients (17.4% vs 82.6%, hazard ratio 1.96, P = .001). CONCLUSIONS LN+ is associated with worse survival in patients with MAC. A risk-score model using margin status, LVI, and grade can accurately risk stratify patients for LN+.
Peer-led team learning for introductory biology: relationships between peer-leader relatability, perceived role model status, and the potential influences of these variables on student learning gains

Student-instructor interactions have an influence on student achievement and perceptions of learning. In college and university settings, large introductory STEM courses are increasingly including Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL), an evidence-based technique associated with improved student achievement, recruitment, and retention in STEM fields, especially for underserved populations. Within this technique, peer leaders hold a unique position in a student’s education. Peer leaders have relevant experience in that they have had recent success in the courses in which they facilitate student learning, yet, compared to student-faculty or student-teaching assistant relationships, there is minimal imbalance of authority or power. Students might find their peer leaders to be more relatable than faculty or graduate teaching assistants, and may even consider them to be role models. We explored students’ perceptions of peer leader relatability and role model status in relation to students’ achievement and their perceived learning gains in the context of an introductory biology course with an associated PLTL program. The final course grades and self-assessed learning gains of PLTL students who felt they related to their peer leader were compared to those who did not. We also compared final course grades and self-assessed learning gains between PLTL students who viewed their peer leader as a role model versus those who did not. Self-reported learning gains were significantly higher for students who relate to their peer leader, as well as for students who viewed their peer leaders as a role model. There is some support that this trend is stronger for STEM majors versus those who are not enrolled in a STEM program, though the interaction is not significant. Significant differences in overall course grade were only observed between students who reported that they related to their peer leader versus those who did not relate to their peer leader.
Comparatıve assessment of thermal ınjury ınduced by bıpolar electrocautery systems ın a porcıne model.

Background Bipolar electrocautery systems used during neurosurgical procedures have been shown to induce thermal injury to surrounding tissue. The goal of this study was to compare the thermal injury induced by two different systems commonly used in neurosurgical procedures (Silverglide by Stryker Corporation and SpetzlerMalis by Codman Neuro), with that of a newly introduced device (TRIOwand by NICO Corporation). Methods A farm swine underwent craniectomy and durotomy with subsequent exposure of cortical brain tissue. Electrocoagulation for the duration of 3 s was conducted with three different bipolar systems under comparable power settings. The maximal depth of thermal injury and mean area of injury in Hematoxylin and Eosin stained slides were quantified using Image J. The tissues were evaluated for vacuolization and ischemic damage. One-way ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey test was utilized for statistical analysis. Alpha level was set at 0.05. Results TRIOwand lesions showed less depth of injury when compared to both Spetzler-Malis (P < 0.001) and Silverglide lesions (P = 0.048). Silverglide lesions showed significantly less depth of injury when compared to SpetzlerMalis lesions (P < 0.001). The injury area induced by the TRIOwand was significantly less than that of Spetzler-Malis (P < 0.001) and Silverglide systems (P < 0.001). Ischemic changes and vacuolization were seen in all three groups. Conclusion Thermal damage is induced to varying extents by all bipolar systems. In this porcine model and under the conditions tested, bipolar cauterization with the TRIOwand resulted in less depth and decreased mean area of injury. Further studies are needed to characterize the injury caused by different bipolar systems with other settings and under surgical conditions in humans.
Comparative Analysis of the Feature Extraction Approaches for Predicting Learners Progress in Online Courses: MicroMasters Credential versus Traditional MOOCs

Although MicroMasters courses differ from traditional undergraduate level MOOCs in student demographics, course design, and outcomes, the various aspects of this type of program have not yet been sufficiently investigated. This study aims to pave the path towards enhancing the design of constituent courses of MicroMasters programs with the focus on the application of Machine Learning algorithms. Thereby, we use a large-scale clickstream edX database to explore the trends in the online engagement of learners in a MicroMasters program, detect clickstream events that are highly correlated with the students' progress, and investigate how the engagements differ from those in a classic individual MOOC. Contrary to the previous application of machine learning algorithms in learning analytics, we implement various well-known machine learning approaches such as stepwise regression and tree-based algorithms, evaluate their performance, and propose the best-performed approach. We elaborate on noticeable differences between the engagements of the considered two groups.
Glass—The Material of Clarity

This chapter begins by describing the decorative use of glass. Because of its fluidity when hot glass can be blown, twisted, and wound into an infinite array of shapes. Using transition metals, rare earth elements, and colloids glass can be made in a rainbow of colors. But glass is not just for the artistic. As lenses glass has opened up the exploration of both the microscopic and macroscopic worlds. Microscopes and telescopes require glasses of high purity and transparency. But one application above all others that relies on glass with unparalleled transparency is as optical fibers. With an innovative approach to making glass fibers, we now have a fiber-based network that spans the world.
Intraoperative bile duct cultures in patients undergoing pancreatic head resection: Prospective comparison of bile duct swab versus bile duct aspiration.

Abstract Background Postoperative surgical site infection is a major source of morbidity after pancreatic head resections, and data suggest bacterobilia as a leading cause. Some centers use intraoperative bile duct cultures to guide postoperative antimicrobial prophylaxis. This prospective study evaluates culture differences between traditional bile duct swab versus bile duct aspiration intraoperative samples. Methods Prospective patients undergoing pancreatic head resection with both bile duct swab and bile duct aspiration were included. Cultures were reviewed for organism characteristics. Any growth of organisms was considered a positive culture. Bile duct swab yield and characteristics were compared with bile duct aspiration. Postoperative surgical site infection complications were compared to bile duct culture results. Results Fifty patients were included. Bile duct aspiration resulted in a significantly higher median number of organisms compared to bile duct swab (6 vs 3; P Conclusion Use of bile duct aspiration improves intraoperative bile duct culture organism yield over bile duct swab and may improve tailoring of antibiotics in patients undergoing pancreatic head resection.
MO‐E‐BRB‐04: Real‐Time Exit‐Fluence Delivery Validation

Recent high profile reports of technical failures and human errors causing severe radiation- induced injuries and deaths come in support of the sustained efforts to ensure patient safety in the delivery of radiation treatments. In addition, highly conformal radiation therapies and escalated fraction doses mandate increased and sustained accuracy of the entire radiotherapy process. Consequently, and as a Result of AAPM and ASTRO led efforts patient specific quality assurance for specialized radiation treatments such as IMRT, SRS/SBRT and Arc Therapy had become a three-tier process: Pre-treatment, during treatment, and post treatment patient specific QA. Traditional patient QA consists of pre-treatment data transfer integrity dosimetric verifications and during-treatment geometric verifications. However, as treatment adaptation becomes closer to deployment in the clinics, during treatment validation via exit detectors had become a realistic QA option, permitting plan assessment in near real time. Post-treatment, machine logs allow comparisons of a range of mechanical parameters. A combination of these techniques could be used in evaluating inter-fraction, and intra-fraction delivery over a long time period such as an year, to evaluate the significant errors per site, per treatment technique. This type of data mining over longer periods of time provides the potential to recognize suboptimal radiation treatments, while allowing to identify systematic, possibly significant errors. This would allow creation of a data base of realized errors, small and large in dosimetry that could be for process or equipment improvement. This educational symposium will describe and review patient QA techniques, results, and strategies for patient specific quality assurance. Learning Objectives: 1. review the goals of pre-treatment QA for various specialized procedures 2. review methods and means for pre-treatment QA, limitations and tolerances 3. review the scenarios where Varian/Tomo Log files could be used. 4. review error detection via log file analysis 5. Learn how exit detector signal recorded in log file could be used to improve patient safety 6. understand real-time EPID-based transmission dosimetry methods 7. understand the goals of real-time delivery monitoring CMS Innovation grant. Rapid response supportive and palliative care program for patients with advanced cancer, starts July, 2012; Accuray Inc. Exit detector based QA software evaluation, Sept, 2012-Sept, 2013; ROI GRant from ASTRO “Safety and Quality: IMRT treatment delivery accuracy”
Two algorithms that learn DNF by discovering relevant features

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses two methods that adaptively enlarge the set of primitive attributes from which a test at a decision node can be selected, namely, FRINGE and GREEDY3. A commonly studied class of target concepts in empirical learning is the class of concepts that have a small disjunctive normal form representation. Concepts with a small DNF description do not always have a concise decision tree representation when the tests at the decision nodes are limited to the primitive attributes. The representational complexity arises because the tests to verify if an instance satisfies a term or not are replicated in the tree. To learn decision trees from examples, traditional methods choose the test to place at each decision node from a predefined set of variables. It is in this regard, where FRINGE and GREEDY3 gain important use. FRINGE builds a decision tree using the primitive attributes, and analyses this tree to define new useful attributes. GREEDY3 builds a restricted type of decision tree called a decision list, and each attribute at a decision node is defined by a greedy top-down sample refinement method. The performance of a learning algorithm may be measured by the classification accuracy on unseen instances of the target concept. Also, parity and majority concepts with a large number of inputs are hard for decision trees.
D-3He burning, second stability region, and the Ignitor experiment

The Ignitor experiment has been designed to achieve fusion burn and ignition conditions in a high-density deuterium-tritium (D-T) plasma with a compact high magnetic field confinement configuration. The recent addition of a powerful system of radio-frequency heating to the design of Ignitor allows the investigation of physics issues relevant to advanced D-[sup 3]He reactors and the second stability region for finite-[beta] plasmas. To maximize the production of D-[sup 3]He power, a lower density regime is considered (e.g., n[sub 0] [approx equal] 3 x 10[sup 20] m[sup [minus]3]) than that found to be optimal for D-T ignition (n[sub 0] [approx equal] 1 x 10[sup 21] m[sup [minus]3]). This allows a relatively large population of [sup 3]He nuclei at high energies [ge] 0.65 MeV to be produced by a high density of injected power at the [sup 3]He ion cyclotron frequency (up to 18 MW injected in the plasma column of volume [le] 10m[sup 3]). The investigation of second stability region access can be carried out in relatively low magnetic field and plasma current regimes with the added benefit that the duration of the plasma discharge can be extended over relatively long times. In fact, the Ignitor magnets can be brought downmore » to an initial temperature of 30 K by gas-helium cooling. The low aspect ratio ([approx equal]2.8) and elongated plasma cross section of Ignitor make it suitable to reach both finite-[beta] conditions and interesting plasma regimes at the same time. The Candor concept is the next step in the evolution of the Ignitor program. Candor is capable of producing plasma currents up to 25 MA with toroidal magnetic fields B[sub T] [approx equal] 13 T. Unlike Ignitor, Candor would operate with values of [beta][sub p] around 1.5 and with the central part of the plasma column in the second stability region. 40 refs., 16 figs., 7 tabs.« less
Energy Storage in the Future Grid [Viewpoint]

ne of the main challenges with the electric power system today is that it is relatively difficult and expensive to store electricity. electricity is best used immediately after it has been generated and transmitted to the loads. in the current power system, energy storage is typically provided on the primary fuel side of generation. this could be in the form of uranium fuel rods for nuclear plants, coal piles for coal plants, underground or tank storage for natural gas and oil, or water reservoirs for hydrostations. once these primary energy sourc
Cultures in Orbit: Satellites and the Televisual by Lisa Parks

Cultures in Orbit: Satellites and the Televisual, by Lisa Parks, is a fascinating look at satellites and satellite television from the viewpoint of five distinct applications, in an effort to help ...
SEX DIFFERENCES IN HELP SEEKING FOR MOOD AND ANXIETY DISORDERS IN THE NATIONAL COMORBIDITY SURVEY-REPLICATION

BACKGROUND: Past research has consistently found that men are less likely to seek help for mental disorders than women. However, the reasons for this difference are not clear. This study explored whether sex differences in attitudes toward help seeking, perceived interference caused by mental disorders, and attending routine medical visits could explain sex differences in help seeking. METHODS: Analyses focused on 1,963 participants who met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for a 12-month mood or anxiety disorder in the National Comorbidity Survey-Replication (NCS-R). Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine sex differences in help seeking from different types of providers after adjusting for attitudes toward help seeking, perceived interference in functioning, attending routine medical visits, and sociodemographic factors. RESULTS: While men were less likely than women to seek help from health care providers, this difference was limited to seeking care from medical doctors and informal services. Men were as likely to seek help from mental health professionals as women. Men's lower likelihood of attending routine medical visits as compared with women partially explained the sex difference in help seeking from medical doctors. In contrast, attitudes toward help seeking did not explain much of the sex differences in help seeking from medical doctors. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts aimed at reducing attitudinal barriers toward treatment seeking for mental disorders may not effectively reduce the sex disparity in mental health help seeking. The results highlight the importance of encouraging men to attend routine medical visits, as medical doctors are a key gateway to mental health services. Language: en
Fooled by Our Perceptions

Many people enjoy watching magicians perform magic acts and seemingly do the impossible. In many of these acts, magicians use sleight of hand, trickery, and special tools. There are, however, other occasions in which audience perceptions are used to make them see things differently. This exploits people's tendencies to see things based on their expectations and prior experience. One of these is perceptual readiness, the tendency for people to see what they expect or want to see. This article describes an exercise that illustrates that perceptions can be misleading.
Cell fate and organogenesis in bacteria

Intercellular signaling through the Notch receptor and its ligands leads to the spatial differentiation of cell fate in vertebrates and invertebrates. In Myxococcus xanthus, fruiting-body development requires the transmission of a cell-bound intercellular signal by the protein called C-factor, which is functionally equivalent to the eukaryotic Notch ligands. Functional parallels between these two signaling systems include strong positive and negative feedback, and a consequent role in spatial differentiation. Consideration of these parallels enables us to make testable experimental predictions about Notch and C-signaling.
SLA–chlorophyll-a variability and covariability in the Algero-Provençal Basin (1997–2007) through combined use of EOF and wavelet analysis of satellite data

Data reduction and signal decomposition techniques have been applied to a large bio-physical remotely sensed dataset covering the decade 1997–2007. The aim was the estimation of the spatial (basin and sub-basin scales) and temporal (seasonal and interannual) variability of sea level anomalies and chlorophyll-a concentration in the Algero-Provencal Basin, as well as the study of their covariability. Empirical orthogonal functions, wavelet analysis, singular value decomposition and correlation maps have been successfully used to individuate the patterns of (co)variability of the investigated fields. The seasonal variability of the phytoplanktonic biomass is divided in two distinct modes, timewise and spacewise separated. Positive interannual events are related to anomalies in 1999 and 2005, while the main (negative) anomaly is that of summer 2003, associated to the European 2003 heatwave. The analysis of the sea level anomalies shows a minimum in the formation of anticyclonic Algerian eddies during that period. The largest anticorrelation between sea level anomalies and phytoplanktonic biomass is found in the central zone of the basin, suggesting a clear biological response to the shoaling/deepening of the isopycnae and so to the nutrient injection into the euphotic layer. The analysis suggests that the driver of the variability of the nutricline depth in this central area is the displacement (seasonal) of the North Balearic Front and the formation/action of the frontal eddies.
Disparities in prostate cancer in African American men: what primary care physicians can do

African American men have a higher incidence of prostate cancer than white men, and also a higher rate of death due to prostate cancer. Although both biologic and socioeconomic factors may be to blame, better screening in this population may help to close the gap.
Reaktionen von α-Brom-propionaldehyd und dessen Diäthylacetal mit Triäthylphosphit und Triphenylphosphin

α-Brom-propionaldehyd-diathylacetal (1) reagiert mit Triathylphosphit beim Erhitzen uber primar entstandenen [2-Brom-propen-(1)-yl]-athylather (3) zum α-athoxymethylen-athanphosphonsaurediathylester (4). Die Hydrolyse von 4 fuhrt zu α-Formyl-athanphosphon-saurediathylester (5). Aus α-Brom-propionaldehyd (7) und Triathylphosphit entsteht der Phosphorsaure-[propen-(1)-yl]-diathylester (8). – 1 und Triphenylphosphin liefern in Saure-katalysierter Reaktion beim Erhitzen in absol. Benzol Triphenylphosphinoxid (12), Triphenyl-athyl-phosphoniumbromid (13) und als Folgeprodukt neben wenig 3 [2-Methyl-penten-(3)-al]-diathylacetal (10). 3 gibt mit Triphenylphosphin in absol. Benzol das Triphenyl-[1-athoxypropen-(1)-yl-(2)]-phosphoniumbromid (14), dessen Hydrolyse zu Triphenyl-[1-formyl-athyl]-phosphoniumbromid (15) fuhrt. Aus 7 entsteht mit Triphenylphosphin Triphenyl-[propen-(1)-yloxy]-phosphoniumbromid (17). Die Reaktionsmechanismen werden diskutiert. Reactions of α-Bromopropionaldehyde and its Diethylacetal with Triethylphosphite and Triphenylphosphine α-Bromopropionaldehyde diethylacetal (1) reacts with triethylphosphite on heating via [2-bromopropene-(1)-yl]-ethyl ether (3) to yield diethyl-[α-ethoxymethylenethane]-phosphonate (4). Hydrolysis of 4 leads to diethyl-[1-formylethane]-phosphonate (5). From α-bromopropion-aldehyde (7) and triethylphosphite, diethyl-[propene-(1)-yl]-phosphate (8) is obtained. – Triphenylphosphine oxide (12) and triphenylethylphosphonium bromide (13) are formed by an acid catalyzed reaction of 1 with triphenylphosphine on heating in benzene. As byproducts 3 and [2-methylpentene-(3)-al-(2)]-diethylacetal (10) are isolated. 3 reacts with triphenylphosphine in benzene to give [1-ethoxypropene-(1)-yl]-triphenylphosphonium bromide (14), whose hydrolysis yields 1-formylethyl-triphenylphosphonium bromide (15). From 7 with triphenyl-phosphine [propene-(1)-yl-oxy]-triphenylphosphonium bromide (17) is formed. The reaction mechanisms are discussed.
Scanning tunneling microscopic analysis of Cu (In,Ga) Se2 epitaxial layers

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) measurements have been made on single-crystal epitaxial layers of CuInSe2 grown on GaAs substrates. Results were obtained for as-grown, air-exposed, and cleaned surfaces; in situ cleaved surfaces; surfaces sputtered and annealed in the STM system; and samples prepared by a light chemical etch. Conventional constant-current topographs, current-voltage curves, and current imaging tunneling spectroscopy (CITS) scans were obtained. Topographic images show that the surfaces appear rough on the atomic scale and often exhibit regular features consistent with a previously proposed surface ad-dimer reconstruction. CITS scans show a spatially varying energy gap consistent with band-edge fluctuations on a scale of a few atomic spacings. Energy variations were observed in both band edges. Although quantitative description of the magnitude of these fluctuations is difficult, the fluctuations on the atomic scale appear much larger than observed by methods such as photoluminescence, w...
A bacterial TMAO transporter.

Abstract Trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) acts as an osmolyte in a wide variety of marine organisms, but little is known about the mechanisms by which it accumulates in certain tissues. To determine whether a TMAO-specific transporter occurs in Nature, we examined a bacterium Aminobacter aminovorans that is known to be able to subsist on methylamine as the sole carbon source. We found that A. aminovorans is also able to grow on TMAO as the sole carbon source, and that it takes up [14C]labeled TMAO at a rate of approximately 50 pmol min−1 mg protein−1. TMAO uptake was strongly inhibited by unlabeled TMAO (5 mM) but not by related compounds such as methylamine, betaine or γ-amino-n-butyric acid (GABA), indicating that a TMAO-specific transporter is present. The TMAO transporter appears to have an ATP requirement but no ion exchange requirement. This appears to be the first evidence of a TMAO-specific transporter in any organism. The TMAO-grown cells also expressed transporters that were specific to betaine and trimethylamine. Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, which have a betaine transporter that is also capable of transporting GABA, were unable to take up TMAO.
Sorption of propane in poly(ethyl methacrylate) near Tg

The sorption of propane in poly(ethyl methacrylate) was investigated above and below the polymer Tg and the dual-mode sorption model parameters were evaluated. The Langmuir capacity decreased as the temperature was raised to Tg and the apparent Henry's law constant exhibited a discontinuity at Tg. The enthalpy of microvoid filling ΔHH is more exothermic than the enthalpy of dissolution at T < Tg by about 8 kJ/mol.
Reference Service: A Field with a View.

Summary The advent of new technologies raises a question of the value of one-on-one personalized interaction in the reference environment. The first part of this paper briefly surveys leading library literature; the second part reports results of an informal survey of practitioners in the field, designed to elicit their views on the influence of theoretical models and new technologies on reference service. It is suggested that while there is no necessary conflict between integration of technology and existing structures in the reference environment, new technology does raise issues that need to be thoughtfully addressed.
Rights Protection in Japan: The Political Dimension

Security of rights against oppressive government was one of the major goals of the American occupiers who drafted the 1947 Japanese Constitution. The framers expected that the judiciary in Japan would play the same role in protecting individual rights that the courts played in the United States. After six decades of experience, however, it is clear that the Japanese Supreme Court refuses to emulate the US Supreme Court. This paper examines the extent to which political institutions and political processes have stepped into the void left by the judiciary's attitude of deference to the government. Political will in this area of public policy, however, is weak, and new efforts to secure and extend individual rights depend largely on external pressure.
Agricultural lenders' diagnostic system (ALDS)

ALDS is a user-friendly decision support system designed to help agricultural lenders score and rank loan applications. The system includes a number of predefined categories for evaluating the client. In contrast to most loan scoring models, ALDS evaluates both quantitative financial ratios and qualitative characteristics. Moreover, the ranking procedures can be adapted to fit the views of an individual bank or lender. Through the use of 'pop up' windows and an editing feature, the user can modify the weights on the various categories, financial ratios and qualitative characteristics. This flexible system also allows multiple lenders to identify their own scoring weights and save them in an individual file. The program generates a 0 to 10 score for each client. Final scores can be used in considering the risk of an individual loan application or in comparison with a number of applications. The lender can also examine strengths and weaknesses of particular loan applications by observing the score associated with the various categories used in the decision support system. Printed reports of individual financial records and multiple client scores are available as output from the model.
Electron-microscopic mapping of the hinge region of myosin

The trypsin-sensitive sites in the labile hinge region of the myosin molecule are located with heightened accuracy (±2 nm) by electron microscopy as lying at 70, 85, 95, and 103 nm from the C-terminus of the rod section of the molecule.
Novel circuit topology synthesis method using circuit feature mining and symbolic comparison

This paper presents a reasoning-based approach to analog circuit synthesis using ordered node clustering representations (ONCR) to describe alternative circuit features and symbolic circuit comparison to characterize performance trade-offs of synthesized solutions. Case studies illustrate application of the proposed methods to topology selection and refinement.
Assessing methane release from the colossal Storegga submarine landslide

[1] Marine slope failure involving methane-gas-hydrate-bearing sediments is one mechanism for releasing enormous quantities of methane to the ocean and atmosphere. The Storegga Slide, on the Norwegian margin, is the largest known Holocene-aged continental margin slope failure complex and is believed to have occurred in sediments that may have initially contained gas hydrate. Here, we report pore water sulfate gradient measurements that are used as a proxy for the relative amounts of methane that exist in continental margin sediments associated with the colossal Storegga Slide. These measurements suggest that a considerable inventory of methane occurs in sediments adjacent to, and unaffected by, the Storegga Slide events, but indicate that methane is notably absent from sediments on the sole of the slide and distal deposits created by the slide events. Either methane was lost during previous Pleistocene failure events or was never present in significant concentrations within the sediments that failed.
Somatosensory and brainstem auditory evoked potentials in alcoholic liver disease with and without encephalopathy.

Abstract Median somatosensory and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (SEP and BAEP) were studied in chronic alcoholics with and without complications of alcoholic liver disease. The alcoholics were divided into 4 groups: Group 1 with minimally abnormal liver function tests; Group 2 with hepatic failure; Group 3 with mild to moderate hepatic encephalopathy; and Group 4 with severe encephalopathy. A control group consisted of age-matched normal subjects. In the alcoholic groups, BAEPs showed a significant prolongation in the latencies of peaks III to VI and interpeaks I–III, III–V, and I–V. The peak latency prolongation was associated with a reduction in all peak amplitudes. In median SEPs, the cervical N13 and cortical N20 latencies were significantly delayed in the alcoholic groups. The amplitude of all cortical SEP components within 150 msec analysis time was also significantly reduced. In addition, the alcoholic groups had slowing in median nerve conduction and prolongation in central conduction time (N13 to N20 interpeak latency). In both BAEPs and SEPs, there were no differences in the peak amplitude and the peak latency among the alcoholic groups except for the late cortical SEP components which showed progressive prolongation and eventual absence from Groups 2 to 4. The present data indicate that chronic alcoholics have subclinical dysfunction in the central somatosensory and brainstem auditory pathways irrespective of the complications of alcoholic liver disease. However, the late components of the cortical SEPs can be affected in hepatic failure and hepatic encephalopathy.