cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
UBVRc Ic ANALYSIS OF THE RECENTLY DISCOVERED TOTALLY ECLIPSING EXTREME MASS RATIO BINARY V1853 ORIONIS, AND A STATISTICAL LOOK AT 25 OTHER EXTREME MASS RATIO SOLAR-TYPE CONTACT BINARIES

We present precision CCD light curves, a period study, photometrically derived standard magnitudes, and a five-color simultaneous Wilson code solution of the totally eclipsing, yet shallow amplitude (Av ~ 0.4 mag) eclipsing, binary V1853 Orionis. It is determined to be an extreme mass ratio, q = 0.20, W-type W UMa overcontact binary. From our standard star observations, we find that the variable is a late-type F spectral-type dwarf, with a secondary component of about 0.24 solar masses (stellar type M5V). Its long eclipse duration (41 minutes) as compared to its period, 0.383 days, attests to the small relative size of the secondary. Furthermore, it has reached a Roche lobe fill-out of ~50% of its outer critical lobe as it approaches its final stages of binary star evolution, that of a fast spinning single star. Finally, a summary of about 25 extreme mass ratio solar-type binaries is given.
Fenhexamid Resistance in Botrytis cinerea from Strawberry Fields in the Carolinas Is Associated with Four Target Gene Mutations.

Abstract Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of gray mold disease, is one of the most important pathogens of strawberry. Its control in commercial strawberry fields is largely dependent on the application of fungicides during bloom and fruit maturation. The hydroxyanilide fenhexamid is one of the most frequently used fungicides in the southeast of the United States for gray mold control. It inhibits the 3-ketoreductase (Erg27) of the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway and, due to this site-specific mode of action, is at risk for resistance development. Single-spore isolates were collected from 11 commercial strawberry fields in North and South Carolina and subjected to a conidial germination assay that distinguished sensitive from resistant phenotypes. Of the 214 isolates collected, 16.8% were resistant to fenhexamid. Resistance was found in three of four locations from North Carolina and in four of seven locations from South Carolina, indicating that resistance was widespread. Mutations in Erg27 (T63I, F412S...
Perceived Sources of Stress and Happiness in Married and Single College Students

Individual interviews were conducted with 34 married and 34 single college students concerning their perceived sources of stress and happiness as university students. While no significant mean differences in marital status or sex were observed in data from the interview or four inventories, significantly more sources of school happiness than of school stress were perceived by both married and single students. Perceived sources of school stress were not correlated with perceived sources of school happiness. Separate item analyses for the four groups are presented for the school stress and school happiness inventories.
Fluorescence Decay of Liquid Scintillator Systems After High-Energy Excitation

Abstract The development of fast electro-optical instrumentation over the last ten years1–9 has not only extended dynamic luminescence studies into the range of a few nanoseconds but also made such studies possible with low light intensities. Measurement of luminescence-decay curves over several decades of intensity variation are now feasible.
Atmospheric chloride: Its implication for foliar uptake and damage

Abstract Atmospheric chloride is inversely related to distance from the Texas coast; r 2 = 0.86. Levels of atmospheric chloride are higher in the early summer than in the winter because of salt storms. Leaf chloride l'evels of Tillandsia usneoides L. (Spanish moss) reflect the atmospheric chloride levels; r 2 = 0.78. The importance of considering the effect of atmospheric chloride on leaf damage to horticultural crops is discussed.
Three-Dimensional Flowfield Inside a Low-Speed Axial Flow Compressor Rotor

T HE velocity and pressure fields were measured across the entire rotor passage at six axial locations and five radial locations inside the passage of an axial flow compressor rotor. A rotating five-hole probe was used to measure the three components of velocity and the static pressure. Contents The objective of this investigation is to increase our un- derstanding of the nature of the three-dimensional flowfield, and to give us a comprehensive set of data for computer code verification. The measurements reported in this paper were performed using the axial flow compressor facility located in the Tur- bomachinery Laboratory of The Pennsylvania State University. The hub/annulus wall diameter ratio of the facility is 0.5 with the diameter of the annulus wall equal to 0.932 m. The operating conditions are as follows: flow coefficient based on tip speed, 0.56; stage loading coefficient based on the tip speed, 0.486; speed of the rotor, 1088 rpm. A rotating five-hole probe similar (but much smaller in size) to that used in Ref. 1 was employed for all of the measurements reported in this paper. The probe head had a diamond shape with a diagonal distance of 1.67 mm. The pressures measured by the five holes were used to determine the velocity and pressure field by interpolation of the calibration curves.
An algorithm for simulating permutation tests of graph-intersection measures of association

This paper proposes an algorithm for a randomization test of the graph-theoretic measure of association proposed by Friedman and Rafsky [1983. Graph-theoretic measures of multivariate association and prediction. Ann. Statist. 11(2), 377-391]. Treating the simulation as a random walk on the set of graphs isomorphic to the observed graph, the simulation can run with only one reference to the interpoint distance matrix used to form the graphs. This fact allows the randomization test for association to be run quickly for large, high-dimensional, sparse data. An example of a test for dependence between word use and time in US Supreme Court cases is presented.
The politics of heresy in medieval Khurasan: the Karramiyya in Nishapur

(1994). The politics of heresy in medieval Khurasan: the Karramiyya in Nishapur. Iranian Studies: Vol. 27, No. 1-4, pp. 37-51.
Contribution of protein charge to partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems.

Protein partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems based on phase-forming polymers is strongly affected by the net charge of the protein, but a thermodynamic description of the charge effects has been hindered by conflicting results. Many of the difficulties could be because of problems in isolating electrochemical effects from other interactions of phase components. We explored charge effects on protein partitioning in poly(ethylene glycol)-dextran two-phase systems by using two series of genetically engineered charge modifications of bacteriophage T4 lysozyme produced in Escherichia coli. The two series, one in the form of charged-fusion tails and the other in the form of charge-change point mutations, provided matching net charges but very different polarity. Partition coefficients of both series were obtained and interfacial potential differences of the phase systems were measured. Multi-angle laser light scattering measurements were also performed to determine second virial coefficients. A semi-empirical model accounting for the roles of both charge and non-charge effects on protein partitioning behavior is proposed, and the results predicted from the model are compared to the results from the experiments. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 59:461–470, 1998.
Literature search strategies for conducting knowledge-building and theory-generating qualitative systematic reviews

Aim To report literature search strategies for the purpose of conducting knowledge-building and theory-generating qualitative systematic reviews. Background Qualitative systematic reviews lie on a continuum from knowledge-building and theory-generating to aggregating and summarizing. Different types of literature searches are needed to optimally support these dissimilar reviews. Data sources Articles published between 1989-Autumn 2011. These documents were identified using a hermeneutic approach and multiple literature search strategies. Discussion Redundancy is not the sole measure of validity when conducting knowledge-building and theory-generating systematic reviews. When conducting these types of reviews, literature searches should be consistent with the goal of fully explicating concepts and the interrelationships among them. To accomplish this objective, a 'berry picking' approach is recommended along with strategies for overcoming barriers to finding qualitative research reports. Implications To enhance integrity of knowledge-building and theory-generating systematic reviews, reviewers are urged to make literature search processes as transparent as possible, despite their complexity. This includes fully explaining and rationalizing what databases were used and how they were searched. It also means describing how literature tracking was conducted and grey literature was searched. In the end, the decision to cease searching also needs to be fully explained and rationalized. Conclusion Predetermined linear search strategies are unlikely to generate search results that are adequate for purposes of conducting knowledge-building and theory-generating qualitative systematic reviews. Instead, it is recommended that iterative search strategies take shape as reviews evolve.
Expectancy Theory as a Predictor of Female Occupational Choice and Attitude Toward Business

The article presents the results of a study which assessed the validity of an expectancy model as a predictor of occupational attitudes and choices for female business and psychology majors. The hy...
A modular and distributed embedded control architecture for humanoid robots

In this paper we present a modular and distributed control architecture in order to achieve natural interaction and mobile manipulation task goals for a humanoid robot. We propose a hierarchically organized architecture with three levels and introduce the mapping of the functional features in this architecture into hardware and software modules. We also describe different functional features which have been realized and integrated into the whole control architecture.
Effects of endothelin-1 on its receptor concentration and thymidine incorporation in calf adrenal zona glomerulosa cells: a comparative study with phorbol esters.

Endothelin (ET-1) is a 21-amino acid peptide with potent vasopressor and vasoconstrictive properties. Specific, high affinity receptors for ET-1 have been found in the adrenal gland. The stimulation by ET-1 of aldosterone secretion in cultured calf zona glomerulosa cells was shown to depend on the serum used for culturing and was not related to the growthpromoting effects of serum or the response to another secretagogue, such as angiotensin-II. In this study, binding of [125I]ET-1 to crude membrane preparations from calf adrenal cortex slices showed that ET-1 binding was greater in the outer slices, corresponding to the zona glomerulosa, than in inner slices, corresponding to the zona fasciculata. ET-1 stimulated aldosterone, but not cortisol, biosynthesis. Adrenal zona glomerulosa preincubated with ET-1 resulted in homologous down-regulation. Since ET-1 action involves activation of protein kinase-C (PKC), we studied the effect of a phorbol ester (PMA) on the down-regulation of ET-1 receptors. PMA decrea...
Delayed Appearance of Tracer Lead in Facial Hair

Abstract Three adult men were fed 204 Pb– a rare, stable isotope of lead–daily for about 100 days. Simultaneous blood and facial hair measurements of this tracer and of total lead concentrations were made by mass spectrometric isotope dilution analysis. Although the blood showed an immediate response to the intake of the tracer, the facial hair showed a more gradual response and a delay of approximately 35 days. Since the pattern of appearance of lead in hair does not appear to represent a simple time delay of blood lead concentration, the existence of a physiological pool of lead fed by the blood and giving rise to the content in hair is suggested. Hair lead values should, therefore, be interpreted as the integral of the blood lead values over the mean life of this intermediate pool–about 100 days.
Fast phase unwrapping algorithm for interferometric applications.

A wide range of interferometric techniques recover phase information that is mathematically wrapped on the interval (-π,π] . Obtaining the true unwrapped phase is a longstanding problem. We present an algorithm that solves the phase unwrapping problem, using a combination of Fourier techniques. The execution time for our algorithm is equivalent to the computation time required for performing eight fast Fourier transforms and is stable against noise and residues present in the wrapped phase. We have extended the algorithm to handle data of arbitrary size. We expect the state of the art of existing interferometric applications, including the possibility for real-time phase recovery, to benefit from our algorithm.
Messenger RNA Expression Levels of CXCR4 Correlate with Metastatic Behavior and Outcome in Patients with Osteosarcoma

Purpose: To determine if osteosarcoma cells express chemokine receptors and if their presence or absence relates to clinical features. Experimental Design: Using fluorescent quantitative real-time PCR, the pattern of 17 chemokine receptors in 3 osteosarcoma cell lines and 68 osteosarcoma patient samples was analyzed. Results: The expression of the chemokine receptors was generally low among the cell lines. In the high-grade osteosarcoma patient samples ( n = 47), CXCR4 was the most commonly expressed (63%) and its expression level was inversely correlated to overall survival ( P < 0.0001), event-free survival ( P < 0.001), and metastasis-free survival (MFS; P = 0.002). There was also a correlation between the expression level of CXCR4 and the presence of metastasis at diagnosis ( P = 0.002). CCR7 was expressed in 43% of the samples and its expression level was inversely correlated with overall survival ( P = 0.03) and MFS ( P = 0.007). CCR10 mRNA expression level was inversely correlated with MFS ( P = 0.009). There was no association between the expression of CXCR4, CCR7, and CCR10. Of the 26 samples studied for stromal cell–derived factor-1 expression, 77% expressed it, but there was no correlation with the clinical variables or CXCR4 expression. Multivariate analysis revealed that mRNA expression level of CXCR4 was the only significant variable for overall survival ( P = 0.0006), event-free survival ( P = 0.004), and MFS ( P = 0.025). Conclusions: These data suggest that CXCR4 could be useful as a prognostic factor and as a predictor of potential metastatic development in osteosarcoma. If further studies confirm that it is relevant to metastases in this disease, it could represent a new therapeutic target.
Transcription factors IIE and IIH and ATP hydrolysis direct promoter clearance by RNA polymerase II

Using a defined RNA polymerase II (pol II) transcription system, we have investigated the roles of basal factors at discrete stages during the transcription cycle (e.g., initiation, promoter clearance, and transcript elongation). Abortive initiation assays revealed that TATA-binding protein, transcription factors TFIIB and TFIIF, and pol II were necessary and sufficient to form functional initiation complexes on both linear and supercoiled templates. By contrast, TFIIE, TFIIH, and ATP hydrolysis were additionally required during promoter clearance from linear templates, while negative supercoiling obviated the need for these auxiliary factors. Furthermore, TFIIE, TFIIH, and supercoiling were not required during elongation. Our results suggest a role for TFIIH-associated helicase activity or supercoiling during promoter clearance rather than open complex formation. These results establish abortive initiation as a useful assay for studying functional initiation complex formation in defined eukaryotic transcription systems and provide a framework for investigating regulation at different stages of the eukaryotic transcription cycle.
An evaluation of two methods for chronic central venous access device placement.

Abstract Background: Chronic venous access devices (CVADs), placed for phlebotomy and the administration of medications and nutrition, require fluoroscopy to confirm correct catheter position. Long-term central venous catheters placed using an electromagnetic catheter locating system (EMCLS) could result in decreased radiation exposure and decreased cost without compromising accuracy of position. Methods: Charts of patients who underwent placement of CVADs at University of New Mexico (UNM) Hospital or UNM Cancer Center were reviewed. Inclusion criteria included age >20 years and placement of a central CVAD utilizing fluoroscopy (group 1) or the EMCLS (group 2). Radiation exposure, complications, cost, and accuracy of placement were determined for each technique. Results: Between June 1996 and June 1998, 196 patients underwent placement of CVADs. Complete data sets were available for 46 patients in each group. There were no statistically significant differences in age, gender, complications, or operating room times ( P = 0.26). Fluoroscopy and EMCLS were equally accurate for the correct placement of the tip of the line ( P = 0.12). Mean patient radiation exposure was EMCLS, 30 mRem, and fluoroscopy, 771 mRem. EMCLS significantly decreased cost ( P = 0.025) when compared with fluoroscopic assisted catheter placement. Conclusions: The use of EMCLS for CVAD placement reduces radiation exposure and cost without compromising the accuracy of placement when compared with standard fluoroscopic-assisted placement.
WHAT TECHNOLOGY PLAYS SUPPORTING ROLE IN LEARNING CYCLE APPROACH FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION

There has been a movement nationally over past several decades to integrate technology into extent curriculum. This is true both at the K-12 level and in higher education. The purpose of this study is to show what role science education has played in this effort (i.e., what documents, research or associations provide positions on technology usage) and what role technology should or could play in a learning cycle approach in the light of current research. In this study, first of all, the concepts of technology and educational technology including a rationale for the use of technology in education were examined in historical perspective and then what relationship between “Learning Cycle approach” and educational technology in science education was showed. As a result, how we can create technology-based curriculum in our learning cycle approach and how we, as teachers, can use technology in learning cycle approach will shown.
Fate of flame retardants and the antimicrobial agent triclosan in planted and unplanted biosolid-amended soils.

A comprehensive understanding of the fate of contaminant-laden biosolids is needed to fully evaluate the environmental impacts of biosolid land application. The present study examined the fate of several flame retardants and triclosan in biosolid-amended soil in a 90-d greenhouse experiment. Objectives included evaluating the persistence of these compounds in soil, their phytoaccumulation potential by alfalfa (Medicago sativa), and potential degradation reactions. Concentrations of the polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners BDE-47 and BDE-209 and the antimicrobial triclosan declined significantly over time in biosolid-amended soil planted with alfalfa and then reached a steady state by day 28. In contrast, no significant losses of those analytes were observed from soil in nonvegetated pots. The amount of an analyte lost from vegetated soil ranged from 43% for the flame retardant di(2-ethylhexyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrabromophthalate to 61% for triclosan and was significantly and negatively related to the log octanol–water partition coefficient. Alfalfa roots and shoots were monitored for the compounds, but no clear evidence of phytoaccumulation was observed. Methyl triclosan formation was observed in the biosolid-amended soils during the study period, indicating in situ biotransformation of triclosan. The present study demonstrates that, although they are highly recalcitrant, PBDEs, selected alternate brominated flame retardants, and triclosan are capable of undergoing dissipation from biosolid-amended soils in the presence of plants. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:968–976. © 2014 SETAC
Standardization is superior to traditional methods of teaching open vascular simulation

Objectives Standardizing surgical skills teaching has been proposed as a method to rapidly attain technical competence. This study compared acquisition of vascular skills by standardized vs traditional teaching methods. Methods The study randomized 18 first-year surgical residents to a standardized or traditional group. Participants were taught technical aspects of vascular anastomosis using femoral anastomosis simulation (Limbs & Things, Savannah, Ga), supplemented with factual information. One expert instructor taught a standardized anastomosis technique using the same method each time to one group over four sessions, while, similar to current vascular training, four different expert instructors each taught one session to the other (traditional) group. Knowledge and technical skill were assessed at study completion by an independent vascular expert using Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill (OSATS) performance metrics. Participants also provided a written evaluation of the study experience. Results The standardized group had significantly higher mean overall technical (95.7% vs 75.8%; P = .038) and global skill scores (83.4% vs 67%; P = .006). Tissue handling, efficiency of motion, overall technical skill, and flow of operation were rated significantly higher in the standardized group (mean range, 88%-96% vs 67.6%-77.6%; P P = .182), creation of a secure knot at the toe of the anastomosis, fashioning an appropriate arteriotomy, better double-ended suture placement at the heel of the anastomosis (100% vs 62.7%; P = .07), and accurate suture placement (70% vs 25%; P = .153). Seventy-two percent of participant evaluations suggested a preference for a standardized approach. Conclusions This study demonstrates the feasibility of open vascular simulation to assess the effect of differing teaching methods on performance outcome. Findings from this report suggest that for simulation training, standardized may be more effective than traditional methods of teaching. Transferability of simulator-acquired skills to the clinical setting will be required before open simulation can be unequivocally recommended as a major component of resident technical skill training.
Different effects of RAD genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on incisions of interstrand crosslinks and monoadducts in DNA induced by psoralen plus near UV light treatment

— The RAD1, RAD2, RAD3 and RAD4 genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are required for incising DNA containing UV induced pyrimidine dimers or psoralen plus 360 nm light induced interstrand crosslinks. We have now determined if these genes are also required for incising DNA at psoralen plus 360 nm light induced monoadducts. For distinguishing between incision breaks occurring at crosslinks and at monoadducts. we have used the cdc9-2 mutant, defective in DNA ligase activity at the restrictive temperature, and the radl-2 cdc9-2, rad2-5 cdc9-2, rad3-2 cdc9-2 and rad4-4 cdc9-2 double mutant combinations. We conclude that the radl, rad2, and rad4 mutants are defective in incising DNA both at crosslinks and monoadducts, whereas the rad3 mutant is proficient in incising DNA at monoadducts but not at crosslinks.
Diagonal preconditioners for the EFIE using a wavelet basis

The electric field integral equation (EFIE) has found widespread use and in practice has been accepted as a stable method. However, mathematically, the solution of the EFIE is an "ill-posed" problem. In practical terms, as one uses more and more expansion and testing functions per wavelength, the condition number of the resulting moment-method matrix increases (without bound). This means that for high-sampling densities, iterative methods such as conjugate gradients converge more slowly. However, there is a way to change all this. The EFIE is considered using a wavelet basis for expansion and for testing functions. Then, the resulting matrix is multiplied on both sides by a diagonal matrix. This results in a well-conditioned matrix which behaves much like the matrix for the magnetic field integral equation (MFIE). Consequences for the stability and convergence rate of iterative methods are described.
Bilious Vomiting Does Not Rule Out Infantile Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis

Objective. To describe the incidence of bilious vomiting in infants with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis that presented to a pediatric emergency department. Methods. A retrospective medical record review included all infants who presented to our level 1 pediatric emergency department from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2009, who were diagnosed intraoperatively with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. Emesis was determined to be bilious if the vomit was described as “green,” “containing bile,” or “bilious.” Results. The authors identified 354 infants with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. The median age was 4 weeks 6 days (range = 11 days to 13 weeks). Bilious emesis was encountered in 1.4% (5/354; 95% confidence interval = 0.5% to 3.2%). The pyloric thickness measurements on ultrasound were significantly smaller in those with bilious emesis compared with those without bilious emesis (z score = 2.64; P = .014). Conclusion. Bilious emesis was the presenting symptom in a small prop...
Exchange perturbation theory calculations of the interaction energy between two ground-state hydrogen atoms†

We have carried out a series of calculations of the interaction energy between two hydrogen atoms in their ground states, using three kinds of exchange perturbation theory. One objective was to test the accuracy that could be achieved with these perturbation methods. A second was to see if the results were consistent with those for H. The perturbation equations were solved within the configuration interaction approximation, using 226 partially symmetry-contracted, two-electron basis functions. The set of Slater-type basis orbitals was chosen so that we could approximate within two percent the most accurate calculated interaction energies. We report here our second-order energies at a series of nuclear separations and compare them to the best values that have been published. Some of the published values are inaccurate. We also present the percent errors in the interaction energies approximated by summing through second and third orders. We discuss some general implications of our results.
Collateral Consequences and the Perils of Categorical Ambiguity

This chapter explores collateral sanctions’ awkward straddle of punitive and regulatory aims. In showing that these restrictions do not fit clearly into either category, I demonstrate what I believe are the real dangers of that ambiguity. The harmful consequences of our massive, murky, ill-defined collateral-sanctions regime extend well beyond those directly affected, rendering citizens unable to judge the efficacy of such restrictions and undermining core commitments of the American political order. While I conclude that many such restrictions seem unlikely to fulfill their purported objectives, my core claim is not that collateral sanctions are necessarily bad policy – but instead that our confusion over their character and purpose actually keeps us from knowing how to judge them in the first place.I begin with a detailed account of current U.S. collateral-consequence policies. The second section explains the ambiguity surrounding collateral consequences’ blend of regulatory and punitive elements, and shows that collateral sanctions do not fit comfortably into any of the frameworks by which we understand criminal justice or regulatory policies. I close the chapter by arguing that collateral consequences represent a new manifestation of a virulent exclusionary tradition in American citizenship law.
Towards Automatic Annotation of Clinical Decision-Making Style

Clinical decision-making has high-stakes outcomes for both physicians and patients, yet little research has attempted to model and automatically annotate such decision-making. The dual process model (Evans, 2008) posits two types of decision-making, which may be ordered on a continuum from intuitive to analytical (Hammond, 1981). Training clinicians to recognize decision-making style and select the most appropriate mode of reasoning for a particular context may help reduce diagnostic error (Norman, 2009). This study makes preliminary steps towards detection of decision style, based on an annotated dataset of image-based clinical reasoning in which speech data were collected from physicians as they inspected images of dermatological cases and moved towards diagnosis (Hochberg et al., 2014). A classifier was developed based on lexical, speech, disfluency, physician demographic, cognitive, and diagnostic difficulty features. Using random forests for binary classification of intuitive vs. analytical decision style in physicians’ diagnostic descriptions, the model improved on the baseline by over 30%. The introduced computational model provides construct validity for decision styles, as well as insights into the linguistic expression of decision-making. Eventually, such modeling may be incorporated into instructional systems that teach clinicians to become more effective decision makers.
High-Frequency Heterodyne Force Microscopy Investigations Of Copper Interconnects

A nondestructive methodology for characterizing Cu interconnects in integrated circuits (ICs) has long been sought and has motivated significant efforts regarding metrology tool development. Here, we present investigations of high-frequency heterodyne force microscopy (HFM) to investigate the acoustic response of damascene-processed Cu interconnects in a silicon oxide dielectric. HFM is a phase-resolved mechanical imaging technique that can, in principle, measure acoustic phase variations with nanometer spatial resolution. HFM measurements at carrier frequencies of 10.8 MHz and 72.5 MHz reveal phase differences of 0.5°-0.7° and 3.5°-4.5°, respectively, between the SiO2 and Cu regions of the IC test structure. Such phase differences are consistent with expected variations due to acoustic propagation time differentials between the Cu and SiO2 regions. Coupled with detailed mechanical measurements of the Cu and SiO2 regions this data may be used to extract spatial maps of acoustic phase delay and investigate subsurface features of similar IC test structures.
Bleeding in pregnancy due to retroplacental situation of guinea worms

Two cases of retroplacental guinea worms causing bleeding in the early and late months of pregnancy are reported. In one case, habitual abortions may have been due to the presence of a guinea worm. These situations and manifestations have not been previously reported. It is suggested that larval worms can invade the vagina, that the acid vaginal exudate destroys the Cyclops and releases the larvae which then penetrate the tissues and migrate to the retroplacental region corresponding to the migration from the stomach. This probably explains the higher incidence among females compared with males and of the pelvis over other regions.
Creating a Digital Homework Set for a Kinematics and Dynamics of Machinery Course

Dynamics of Machinery is a traditional engineering course; in fact kinematics was one of the earliest fields of study in engineering. The course relies on a strong combination of learning new theory and acquiring the skills to apply this theory through regular and repeated practice. This practice is commonly incorporated through homework sets, provided through a combination of book or instructor-given assignments. This homework includes testing conceptual understanding of key concepts, creating kinematic schematics, vector model construction, constructing equations, and performing mathematical analyses. The use of online, electronic tools for automating homework has been widely incorporated in K-12 education and in some college-level curriculum, but not, to the authors’ knowledge, significantly in a kinematics and dynamics of machinery class. This paper will present a framework for creating these problems, provide an overview of an entire set of problems associated with the common kinematics curriculum, and present an evaluation of this digitized coursework throughout four semesters of implementation.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
The Mass Spectrometric Determination of the Cs137 Half-Life

The half-life of Cs137 has been measured by observing the rate of growth of stable Ba137 from a known quantity of Cs137 by the use of isotope dilution mass spectrometry. The half-life thus obtained...
Watching time-evolving molecular structures with 2D IR spectroscopy

This tutorial will cover the use of equilibrium and transient 2D IR spectroscopy for studies of time-evolving molecular structures in chemical and biophysical dynamics, including experimental methods and modeling of the data.
Development of an Avionics System for a Blimp for Position Hold and Autonomous Waypoint Navigation

This paper presents the undergraduate level research being done at Cal Poly Pomona on the development of an avionics system for the position hold and autonomous waypoint navigation for a blimp using an 8 bit PIC microcontroller and MEMS based IMU module. The avionics system onboard the blimp transmits the data to a ground control station or can store the data onboard. Collected data is used in the identification of a model for the blimp. The model is then used for the design of controllers that will be a part of the proposed guidance, navigation, and control system for the blimp.
Weather influences on nest success of the endangered Puaiohi (Myadestes palmeri)

ABSTRACT The endangered Puaiohi (Myadestes palmeri) endemic to Kaua‘i is the island’s only remaining native thrush. Given its small population of ~500 birds, it is essential to understand conditions that affect the species’ recruitment and survival. Previous observations of Puaiohi suggested that weather may influence nest success and productivity, but no studies investigated this relationship empirically. Our goal was to investigate potential links between weather conditions (precipitation and temperature) in the Puaiohi’s range (~20 km2) and several measures of reproductive success, using published data from 1996–1998 and new data collected by the Kaua‘i Forest Bird Recovery Project from 2007–2009. Total rainfall in the previous wet season strongly and positively correlated with the majority of the nest success variables (three of four). Mean rainfall during the breeding season correlated positively with reproductive effort (attempts/season and length of breeding season) and with total reproductive outp...
The Clinical and Chromosome Karyotype Analysis in 34 Cases with Turner Syndrome

Objective To analyze the chromosome karyotype and clinical manifestations of Turner syndrome(Ts).Methods Karyotype analyses were performed and thyroid hormones,sex hormones and gonadotropins were measured in 34 children with Ts,and growth hormone drug provocation test was carried out in 15 cases.Analysis of clinical characteristics,evaluation of growth and development indexes and uterus and ovary color doppler ultrasound imaging were performed in these children.Results 34 cases were different from each other in karyotype,and 45,X0 was the typical karyotype.The children with Ts had features with short stature and physical deformities.The color dopplar ultrasound examination showed no uterine and ovary image in 2 cases and uterus and ovarian dysplasia in 32 cases.Serum estradiol levels significantly decreased and gonadotropin levels increased significantly in 34 cases,and 2 cases manifested growth hormone deficiencies and 3 cases manifested hypothyroidism.Conclusions The clinical manifestations of patients with Ts were relevant to chromosome karyotype.X chromosome abnormalities could cause ovarian hypoplasia and abnormal hormone levels in children.
Effect of space allowance on barrow performance to 136 kilograms body weight. NCR-89 Committee on Management of Swine.

Two experiments were conducted to examine the space requirements of barrows grown to 136 kg BW. In Exp. 1, barrows (initial BW 19.5 kg) were allowed .65, .84, or 1.02 m2/pig floor space in a fully slatted facility with 12 pigs/pen. In Exp. 2, conducted at three experiment stations in the north central region of the United States (Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska), barrows (initial BW 55.5 kg) were allowed .65, .93, or 1.20 m2/pig floor space in either partially or totally slatted facilities. In Exp. 1, there was a linear (P .10) on ADFI, last rib fat depth, or rate of lean gain. In Exp. 2, ADG improved linearly (P = .08) with increasing space (.836, .857 and .865 kg/d for the .65, .93, and 1.20 m2 treatments, respectively), with a quadratic (P = .07) response in gain:feed ratio (.270, .265, and .268, respectively). There was no effect of space allocation on uniformity of gain within a pen as measured by coefficient of variation for pig weights within a pen at the time of first pig removal. The results of these experiments suggest that performance of barrows grown to 136 kg BW was maximized with .84 to 1.0 m2 of floor space per pig.
Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction Secondary to Periureteral Lipoma

AbstractWe report a unique case of extrinsic ureteral obstruction secondary to a periureteral lipoma discovered during pyeloplasty for an apparent ureteropelvic junction obstruction. We discuss the importance of preoperative recognition of rare extrinsic causes of ureteropelvic junction obstruction.
Regulatory factors affecting larval mosquito populations in container and pool habitats: implications for biological control.

Empirical studies have shown that populations oflarval mosquitoes developing in ground pools are subjected to different mortality factors than populations developing in water-filled containers. In general, larvae in ground pools are limited by natural enemies whereas those in containers are limited by resource availability. Containers also are typically smaller than ground pools and lack appreciable internal primary productivity. These physical and biological features have significant implications for successful implementation of biological control agents. Island biogeography theory suggests that container habitats will support smaller populations of fewer species compared to ground pools, implying that it may be more difficult to establish natural enemies in container habitats. The lack of primary productivity within containers may limit the number of trophic levels and reduce the likelihood of establishing and maintaining predator populations. Most importantly, larval mosquito populations in containers are regulated by competitive interactions, and mortality from natural enemies is likely to be compensatory. These habitat and population characteristics, combined with difficulties in locating and treating containers, suggest that successful control of ground pool mosquitoes using biological control agents is more feasible.
Kalman filter estimation with edge detection-based hybrid sensing

A novel sensing and estimation scheme is introduced as an integrated part of a micro-stage based calibration method for a MEMS gyroscope. The proposed sensing scheme combines a periodically updating analog sensor with an event-based threshold sensor. A first derivative of Gaussian filter is applied to the threshold sensor signal to detect threshold crossings. A Kalman filter with the proposed sensing scheme is used to estimate the micro-stage's states. In the measurement update steps, analog sensor measurement is used when a threshold crossings event is not triggered, and the threshold sensor measurement is used when the crossing event is triggered. The impact of detection error of the proposed threshold detection technique on the estimation performance is evaluated with estimation error covariance analysis and simulations.
Photoenhanced oxidation of C60 aggregates (nC60) by free chlorine in water

While there have been a number of fundamental studies focused on the physical and biological behaviors of C60 aggregates (nC60) in model environmental and engineered systems, the aqueous reactivity of C60 (as nC60) is much less understood and remains a critical gap in accurate life cycle modeling. In this study, facile, photo-enhanced physicochemical transformations of nC60 in the presence of free chlorine, a globally applied disinfectant, are quantitatively described. Batch reaction kinetics between nC60 and free chlorine are explored and modeled for both the ground state (dark conditions) and the photo-excited state (light irradiation conditions, UVA) over a matrix of environmentally relevant conditions (e.g., redox potentials, dissolved oxygen, light irradiation). The resulting products are described using a suite of spectroscopy techniques, including FTIR, XPS, and UV-vis, demonstrating oxidized fullerene products with varied covalent addition(s) of oxygen and chlorine atoms depending on the reaction conditions. For all conditions, UVA light irradiation (351 nm, 2 mW cm−2) significantly enhances the oxidation of nC60 by free chlorine, as indicated by both higher reaction rates and product(s) oxidation extent. Aggregation kinetic studies indicate that the resulting oxidized products, as soft clusters, are relatively more stable, compared to the parent nC60, upon photo-oxidation in the presence of monovalent (NaCl) and divalent (MgCl2) ions (via critical coagulation concentration evaluations). Further, increased product surface hydrophilicity is also demonstrated through classic water–octanol partition (Kow) experiments.
On Metrics-Driven Homepages

As audience analytics systems have proliferated in newsrooms, scholars have expressed fears of, and in some cases assumed a shift toward, a metrics-driven workflow where certain gatekeeping decisions are made based on real-time measures of news consumption. This study evaluated the relationship between a news item’s popularity and its subsequent prominence through a two-month analysis of the homepages of 14 news organizations. The results indicated a large divergence between popular and prominent items and limited effects of an item’s popularity on its subsequent prominence and risk of removal from prominent areas of the homepage. The findings give pause to fears of an injudicious turn toward an “agenda of the audience,” at least in the context of content placement, and point to directions for future research on the content-related impacts of audience metrics and analytics.
Investigating Neighborhood Change in Airport-Adjacent Communities in Multiairport Regions, 1970–2010

This research generated new knowledge in the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of airport-adjacent communities to better understand patterns of exposure to the negative externalities of hub airports over time. The research asked the following question: How has the population of historically marginalized groups living near airports changed with the rise of the jet age? The spatial analysis and descriptive statistics showed that airport-adjacent communities in multiairport regions generally have increased numbers of persons of color and increased numbers of renters compared with their respective metropolitan regions. In addition, the communities often underperform socioeconomically with respect to their region. The study also tested three theories from the literature to explain the relationship between airport infrastructure and the airport’s surrounding communities: the “power to resist” effect, the “push–pull locally unwanted land use” effect, and the “airport-centric activity center” effect.
The impact of salinity on mycorrhizal colonization of a rare legume, Galactia smallii, in South Florida pine rocklands

The success of restoration plantings depends on the capacity of transplanted individuals or seeds to establish and reproduce. It is increasingly recognized that restoration success depends quite heavily upon biotic interactions and belowground processes. Under stressful abiotic conditions, such as soils salinized by storm surge and sea level rise, symbiotic interactions with soil microbes such as mycorrhizae may be critically important. In this study, we investigate the impact of salinity on percent colonization of roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, in addition to the impacts of this colonization on plant fitness under saline conditions. Fifty Galactia smallii plants from an ex situ collection were subjected to a salinity treatment for 6 weeks, and 50 plants were untreated. Plants were harvested and assessed for percent colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, nodule number, shoot and root dry biomass, and micronutrient content. Colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizae was higher in plants in the salinity treatment than in untreated plants; plants in the salinity treatment were also found to have a lower root:shoot ratio, and higher phosphorus and nitrogen levels. These results support the importance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in restoration efforts of endangered plants in fragmented and threatened ecosystems, such as pine rocklands.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board: Profiles of seven leaders

Abstract Since its inception over four decades ago, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has been led by seven individuals who have served as Board Chair. This paper includes a biographical sketch of the individuals, their terms of service, standards topics and some points of commonality and difference in their prior experience and Board service. This study provides a synoptic review to assist those interested in learning more about the Board Chairs, and to inform as to the role and style of each individual in contrast to the others. The paper provides a foundation for future research of these individuals, their activities and actions through other historical research such as oral histories, collections of writings and speeches and similar catalogues of activity.
Isotopic fractionation studies of uranium and plutonium using porous ion emitters as thermal ionization mass spectrometry sources

Abstract Investigations of the isotope fractionation behaviors of plutonium and uranium reference standards were conducted employing platinum and rhenium (Pt/Re) porous ion emitter (PIE) sources, a relatively new thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) ion source strategy. The suitability of commonly employed, empirically developed mass bias correction laws ( i.e. , the Linear, Power, and Russell's laws) for correcting such isotope ratio data was also determined. Corrected plutonium isotope ratio data, regardless of mass bias correction strategy, were statistically identical to that of the certificate, however, the process of isotope fractionation behavior of plutonium using the adopted experimental conditions was determined to be best described by the Power law. The fractionation behavior of uranium, using the analytical conditions described herein, is also most suitably modeled using the Power law, though Russell's and the Linear law for mass bias correction rendered results that were identical, within uncertainty, to the certificate value.
Pulmonary Artery Hypertension Model in Rats by Monocrotaline Administration.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a syndrome characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling and vasoconstriction, leading to increased pulmonary vascular resistance, right ventricular pressure overload and, eventually, to right ventricular failure and premature death. Animal models have been an essential tool for understanding pulmonary hypertension pathophysiology and for the discovery and development of novel therapies.MCT-induced PAH in rats leads to a significant increase in RV pressure and pulmonary vascular remodeling, as well as greater RV hypertrophy. In this chapter, we describe protocols for inducing and assessing the monocrotaline (MCT) rat model, the most classical and widely used in vivo model of PAH. Using this protocol, rats reproducibly develop pulmonary hypertension with a mean pulmonary pressure of ~40 mmHg approximately 4 weeks after single MCT administration.