cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Qualitative behavior of vanadium ions in Nafion membranes using electron spin resonance

Abstract Nafion 117 membranes for applications in Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFBs) are characterized using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). EPR can directly detect the V(II) and VO2+ ions, but in the battery environment the membrane is directly exposed to V(II–V). The use of nitroxide spin probes such as 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidone N-oxide (TEMPONE) allows observations of changes in the fluid channels of the membrane as it is exposed to all possible ionic species. These observations can give a clearer picture of the effect of the ions on the ion exchange membrane and serve as a basis of comparison in developing membranes with lower vanadium crossover.
Psychometric and clinimetric validity of the 20-Item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-20)

A valid measure of rhinosinusitis health status and quality of life is required for the complete assessment of treatment effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to analyze the psychometric and clinimetric validity of the 20-Item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-20), a disease-specific, health-related quality-of-life measure for rhinosinusitis. The SNOT-20 is a modification of the 31-Item Rhinosinusitis Outcome Measure, and it contains 20 nose, sinus, and general items. To complete the instrument, patients indicate how much they are affected in each area and identify the 5 most important items. The SNOT-20 was completed by 102, 72, and 46 patients at the initial visit and at 6 months and 1 year after treatment commencement, respectively. Cronbach's alpha was 0.9; test-retest scores were highly correlated (r = 0.9). Patients who were more affected had greater SNOT-20 scores (P < 0.002), and patients who had improved had greater change scores (P < 0.04). Items identified as important had greater scores (P < 0.0001) and showed greater change scores (P < 0.0002). The SNOT-20 is a valid outcome measure for patients with rhinosinusitis; it describes the health burden and is sensitive to clinical change.
Effect of positioning, scan plane, and arthrography on visibility of periarticular canine shoulder soft tissue structures on magnetic resonance images.

This study was performed to determine the effect of shoulder extension and flexion, imaging plane, and intra-articular paramagnetic contrast medium administration on the visibility of soft tissue structures surrounding the canine shoulder joint using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Eight dogs without shoulder disease were imaged using a 1.5 T MR scanner. In all dogs, T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo sequences in sagittal, transverse, and dorsal planes, and a sagittal short tau inversion recovery (STIR) sequence were acquired with the shoulder joint in extension. In five dogs, postintravenous contrast medium T1-weighted images were obtained and in five dogs, MR arthrography was performed in flexion and extension. Each specific soft tissue structure was assigned a visual assessment score of 0–3 and descriptive statistics were calculated. The biceps brachii, supraspinatus, and teres minor muscles and tendons, and the biceps tendon sheath were best seen in the sagittal and transverse planes. The infraspinatus was well-visualized in all planes, the subscapularis was best seen in the transverse and dorsal planes, and the capsuloligmentous complexes were best seen in the transverse and dorsal planes. Limb extension improved conspicuousness of the medial capsuloligamentous stuctures. Arthrography resulted in greater conspicuousness of the biceps brachii tendon, biceps tendon sheath, infraspinatus, supraspinatus, subscapularis, medial joint capsule, medial glenohumeral ligament, and the lateral joint capsule–glenohumeral ligament complex. The major periarticular anatomic structures of the normal canine shoulder were consistently identified using the protocols described in this investigation, but arthrography with the joint in extension resulted in the best visualization of all structures.
Design and development of a stochastic high-level Petri net system for FMS performance evaluation

The main thrust of this study was to develop and implement a Petri net model for performance evaluation of FMS in the early systems design stage. A utilization estimate of each machine is essential for this stage of system design. The main purpose was to develop a methodology for obtaining utilization rate of stations in FMS. In addition, bottleneck station, throughput rate and time in system were also points of interest. In this paper, Petri nets are used as a basic tool to evaluate the performance of an FMS. How to construct Petri nets automatically is a key issue for this investigation. Since high-level Petri nets provide the power of automatic construction of an entire Petri net from the description of the modelled system, it is adopted as the basis of the FMS performance evaluation system. The advantages of high-level Petri nets are presented. Examples are provided to illustrate the mechanism of the system.
Relation between spasticity and strength in individuals with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy

The relation between spasticity and strength in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) has not been extensively researched. Knee and ankle spasticity and strength were quantified in a retrospective analysis of 60 individuals with spastic diplegic CP (mean age 12 years, range 3 to 38) and a group of 50 individuals without disabilities (WD group; mean age 12 years, range 4 to 36). Spasticity was measured using a KinCom dynamometer that stretched the passive knee flexors or ankle plantarflexors at different speeds and recorded the amount of resistive torques. For the strength tests, the participant performed a maximum contraction of the knee flexors/extensors and ankle plantarflexors/dorsiflexors throughout their range of motion at a speed of 10°/s on the dynamometer. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to determine if a relation existed between spasticity and strength within the same muscle group and in opposing muscle groups at the knee and ankle joints. A t-test was performed to determine if greater spasticity and less strength existed at the ankles compared with the knees in those with CP. Results show that there was no relation between spasticity and strength either within the same muscle group or at opposing muscle groups at the knee and ankle joints in persons with CP. Individuals with spastic diplegic CP were more involved (greater spasticity, less strength) distally at the ankles compared with the knees. The findings conflict with the literature, which contains several assumptions, one of which is that a spastic muscle is a strong muscle and that spasticity causes weakness in the opposing muscle group. We found no relation between spasticity and strength in individuals with CP. Our findings support the literature, which states that individuals with spastic diplegic CP are more involved distally compared with proximally in the lower extremities.
Teaching Information Literacy and Computing Ethics: Are They the Same Thing?

Le processus d'enseignement en culture de l'information doit inclure l'enseignement d'une ethique de l'information, les technologies de l'information relevant par nature de l'ethique. L'A. definit la notion d'ethique de l'information en se placant dans le cadre de la pensee de Ralph Waldo Emerson, avant d'expliquer ce que culture de l'information et ethique ont en commun. La mise en place sur le web d'un programme de culture de l'information comportant ces questions d'ethique lui permet d'examiner l'impact de ses theories.
The Effect of Wavelet Families on Watermarking

With the advance of technologies such as the Internet, Wi-Fi Internet availability and mobile access, it is becoming harder than ever to safeguard intellectual property in a digital form. Digital watermarking is a steganographic technique that is used to protect creative content. Copyrighted work can be accessed from many different computing platforms; the same image can exist on a handheld personal digital assistant, as well as a laptop and desktop server computer. For those who want to pirate, it is simple to copy, modify and redistribute digital media. Because this impacts business profits adversely, this is a highly researched field in recent years. This paper examines a technique for digital watermarking which utilizes properties of the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT). The digital watermarking algorithm is explained. This algorithm uses a database of 40 images that are of different types. These images, including greyscale, black and white, and color, were chosen for their diverse characteristics. Eight families of wavelets, both orthogonal and biorthogonal, are compared for their effectiveness. Three distinct watermarks are tested. Since compressing an image is a common occurrence, the images are compacted to determine the significance of such an action. Different types of noise are also added. The PSNR for each image and each wavelet family is used to measure the efficacy of the algorithm. This objective measure is also used to determine the influence of the mother wavelet. The paper asks the question:“Is the wavelet family chosen to implement the algorithm of consequence?” In summary, the results support the concept that the simpler wavelet transforms, e.g. the Haar wavelet, consistently outperform the more complex ones when using a non-colored watermark.
Buddhists and Violence: Historical Continuity/Academic Incongruities

Within the last several decades, there has been a surge in Buddhist-influenced conflicts in places like the Tibetan region of China, Myanmar, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Every religious system has had violent instances. In many ways, the phenomenon speaks more about the nature of humanity than it does about religion. People have violent tendencies making violence present in all religious traditions. One prominent challenge in the study of religion and violence is defining the parameters for violence. As perpetrators of violence rarely locate themselves as aggressors or see themselves as deficient in moral justifications, this essay treats violence as the act of harming oneself and/or others. However, it also outlines the ways in which Buddhists see intentionality as influential in the ethics of such acts. Although scholars of religion and violence have critically shown how religiously-motivated violence is multidimensional and a multi-determined phenomenon (e.g., Aho 1994; Juergensmeyer 2000; Jones 2008), there persists global patterns to align religious traditions like Islam as a cause for violence and others like Buddhism as an explanation of peace. Such wide-sweeping comparisons are at best superficial assessments that draw upon limited evidence. There may be a rash of contemporary examples of Buddhist-inspired violence in places like Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, and China, but this does not make Buddhism any more violent than other religions. However, incidents like recent Buddhist attacks in Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand are important pieces to the puzzle of Buddhism and violence. On the most basic of levels, they dispel the ahistorical myth that Buddhists are wholly peaceful.
Multiple DNA Damage Signaling and Repair Pathways Deregulated by Simian Virus 40 Large T Antigen

We demonstrated previously that expression of simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen (LT), without a viral origin, is sufficient to induce the hallmarks of a cellular DNA damage response (DDR), such as focal accumulation of gamma-H2AX and 53BP1, via Bub1 binding. Here we expand our characterization of LT effects on the DDR. Using comet assays, we demonstrate that LT induces overt DNA damage. The Fanconi anemia pathway, associated with replication stress, becomes activated, since FancD2 accumulates in foci, and monoubiquitinated FancD2 is detected on chromatin. LT also induces a distinct set of foci of the homologous recombination repair protein Rad51 that are colocalized with Nbs1 and PML. The FancD2 and Rad51 foci require neither Bub1 nor retinoblastoma protein binding. Strikingly, wild-type LT is localized on chromatin at, or near, the Rad51/PML foci, but the LT mutant in Bub1 binding is not localized there. SV40 infection was previously shown to trigger ATM activation, which facilitates viral replication. We demonstrate that productive infection also triggers ATR-dependent Chk1 activation and that Rad51 and FancD2 colocalize with LT in viral replication centers. Using small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown, we demonstrate that Rad51 and, to a lesser extent, FancD2 are required for efficient viral replication in vivo, suggesting that homologous recombination is important for high-level extrachromosomal replication. Taken together, the interplay of LT with the DDR is more complex than anticipated, with individual domains of LT being connected to different subcomponents of the DDR and repair machinery.
Adaptation of cyanobacteria to the sulfide-rich microenvironment of black band disease of coral

Black band disease (BBD) is a cyanobacteria-dominated microbial mat that migrates across living coral colonies lysing coral tissue and leaving behind exposed coral skeleton. The mat is sulfide-rich due to the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria, integral members of the BBD microbial community, and the sulfide they produce is lethal to corals. The effect of sulfide, normally toxic to cyanobacteria, on the photosynthetic capabilities of five BBD cyanobacterial isolates of the genera Geitlerinema (3), Leptolyngbya (1), and Oscillatoria (1) and six non-BBD cyanobacteria of the genera Leptolyngbya (3), Pseudanabaena (2), and Phormidium (1) was examined. Photosynthetic experiments were performed by measuring the photoincorporation of [14C] NaHCO3 under the following conditions: (1) aerobic (no sulfide), (2) anaerobic with 0.5 mM sulfide, and (3) anaerobic with 0.5 mM sulfide and 10 μM 3-(3′,4′-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU). All five BBD cyanobacterial isolates tolerated sulfide by conducting sulfide-resistant oxygenic photosynthesis. Five of the non-BBD cyanobacterial isolates did not tolerate sulfide, although one Pseudanabaena isolate continued to photosynthesize in the presence of sulfide at a considerably reduced rate. None of the isolates conducted anoxygenic photosynthesis with sulfide as an electron donor. This is the first report on the physiology of a culture of Oscillatoria sp. found globally in BBD.
The West Mariana Ridge, western Pacific Ocean: Geomorphology and processes from new multibeam data

The western flank of the West Mariana Ridge and the distal Parece Vela Basin have been mapped for the first time using a modern multibeam echosounder. The new data reveal the Ridge to be composed of 82 volcanic peaks, of which 25 have summits with water depths of <1000 m and 11 have summits with depths of <500 m deep. Five of the volcanoes have summit craters, and two are guyots; the remaining 75 seamounts are peaked volcanoes. One volcanic peak has a summit water depth of 16 m, and two in the central region have summits as shoal as ∼7 m. The erosional character of the volcanoes suggests a younging toward the south. The western flank of the West Mariana Ridge is buried by a sediment apron that merges with the distal Parece Vela Basin. The sediment apron is incised by a series of canyon-channel systems that head on the upper flank or summit of the West Mariana Ridge and trend downslope to the west. Several of the channels are sediment filled with an incised thalweg, suggesting a multiphase evolution to the channel systems. None of the channels have a pelagic drape, whereas the seafloor adjacent to the channels does, suggesting recent activity. The lack of guyots, the apparent younging of the volcanoes to the south, and the youth of channel activity suggest the West Mariana Ridge may be either recently or is presently tectonically active with the evidence suggesting uplift.
Practical adaptive control of actuated spatial mechanisms

A new model referenced adaptive control scheme for a general actuator-link assembly based on the Lyapunov stability criterion is presented. A general model of the actuator and link dynamics and constraints is formulated as an integral structure. Application of a state feedback gain introduces the adjustable system. The model and control are formulated to address such physical considerations as motor saturation, static friction, unknown loads and uncertain plant parameters. This control scheme is shown to solve several current problems in application of adaptive control to a manipulator system; namely it accounts for the effects of actuator dynamics and constraints, and the static error due to friction and uncertain steady state loads. This scheme has been simulated and demonstrated to be robust over a variety of practical conditions. Finally the practical realization of this algorithm is discussed with reference to the Pennsylvania Anthropomorphic Robot Manipulator currently under construction.
Radiogenic transmutation effects in a crystalline aluminosilicate ceramic : a TEM study.

We demonstrate the use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to study the effects of beta-decay of radioactive 137Cs to 137Ba in crystalline pollucite (CsAlSi2O6). Most prior work on radiation effects in materials has focused on structural damage from alpha radiation. Beta radiation, on the other hand, causes little atomic displacement, but the decay transmutation, that is, the radioactive decay of a radioisotope to an isotope of another element, results in progeny with different the valence and ionic radius. Cesium-137, a fission product of uranium, is a major contaminant at U.S. Department of Energy production facilities. Pollucite is an aluminosilicate ceramic with potential use for long-term storage of 137Cs. We focused on one of several available 137Cs sources originally fabricated in the 1970s and 1980s. These sources were small, sealed, stainless steel capsules containing pollucite in which varying amounts of the natural Cs had been replaced by radioactive 137Cs (t 1/2 = 30.13 years). The sample chosen for TEM examination, aged for nearly 20 years, contained the most radiogenic barium and was expected to show the largest radiation effects. Bright field transmission images revealed a homogeneous crystalline matrix, with no evidence of distinct Ba phases or ex-solution phenomena resulting from the 137Cs transmutation. Electron diffraction patterns obtained from several portions of the sample were consistent with literature values for pollucite. These data suggest that little substantial damage was done to the crystal structure of this sample, despite the transmutation of nearly 1.5% of the total cesium to barium over the elapsed 20 years. Although our observations are limited, to our knowledge these are the only available data in which transmutation effects have been isolated from other radiation damage phenomena.
CORPS: Event-driven mobility model for first responders in incident scene

Mobility patterns of first responders (FRs) have distinct properties from other well-studied networks, such as vehicular and campus networks. FRs are mission-oriented. They are organized, cooperative and responsive to emergency situations. In this paper, we propose a novel mobility model, CORPS, which captures both environmental and operational determinants for FR's movement. CORPS is an event-driven mobility model with event-oriented characterization. We also integrate CORPS mobility model in CORPS MobiGen architecture, an automated and easy-to-use mobility pattern generation tool. Experiments show that CORPS reflects operational logistics of FRs and yields distinct topology characteristics and routing protocol performance.
Theoretical analysis of a magnetophoresis-diffusion T-sensor immunoassay

We present the analytical investigation of a microfluidic homogeneous competitive immunoassay that incorporates antibody-conjugated superparamagnetic nanoparticles and magnetophoretic transport to enhance the limits of detection and dynamic range. The analytical model considers the advective, diffusive, and magnetophoretic transport of the antibody-coated nanoparticles relative to the labeled and sample antigens of interest in a T-sensor configuration. The magnetophoresis-diffusion immunoassay identified clear improvements to the assay response and reductions to the limit of detection for increased magnetophoretic velocities and larger nanoparticles. The externally applied magnetophoretic transport enriched the antibody-antigen accumulation region, while larger nanoparticles led to decreased diffusive peak broadening. The integration of nanoparticles to the diffusion immunoassay (NP-DIA) demonstrated an approximately 3-fold improvement to the limit of detection of the basic antibody/antigen system, while the integration of superparamagnetic nanoparticles and magnetophoretic transport (MIA) established an order of magnitude improvement in sensitivity as well as means to greatly reduce response time. The implementation of an external magnetic force enabled the detectable antigen size spectrum to extend from small molecules i.e., 10's Da to 100's Da, up to large proteins and macromolecules, i.e., 50 kDa to 150 kDa, for a single class of binding species, i.e., superparamagnetic nanoparticle. This investigation provides guidelines for the design and development of a magnetophoresis-diffusion T-sensor immunoassay, and clearly identifies the regimes for optimal operation.
Modeling Technology Integration for Preservice Teachers: A PT3 Case Study

This case study describes the outcomes of 4 years of professional development funded by a PT3 grant. Participants included general education university faculty members, teacher education faculty members, school administrators, and K-12 teachers. All professional development activities were based on the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS-T). Findings show that all participants modeled Standards 1-5 of NETS-T. Discussion includes the absence of modeling of Standard 6 and levels of cognitive skills required by students to engage in technology integration activities. Based on this study, it is recommended that professional development in the area of technology integration for university faculty members and for K-12 teachers should stress uses of software and hardware for analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of information and concepts. Understanding the stages of adoption and their relationships to cognitive skills may help instructors reflect on personal practice and move through the stages more quickly. Special attention should be paid to NETS-T, Standard 6, to ensure understandings of ways in which specific pieces of software and specific pedagogical practices can empower and disempower groups of diverse learners.
A hybrid fuzzy/neural system used to extract heuristic knowledge from a fault detection problem

Neural net have proven to be capable of solving the motor monitoring and fault detection problem using an inexpensive, reliable and noninvasive procedure. The neural net, unfortunately, cannot provide heuristic knowledge about the motor or the fault detection process. This paper introduces a novel hybrid fuzzy/neural fault detector that uses the learning capabilities of the neural net to detect if a motor has an incipient fault. Once the fuzzy/neural fault detector is trained, heuristic knowledge about the motor and the fault detection process can also be extracted. With better understanding of the heuristics through the use of fuzzy rules and fuzzy membership functions, we can have a better understanding of the fault detection process of the system; thus we can design better motor protection systems. The electric motors in industry are exposed to a wide variety of environments and conditions. These factors, coupled with the natural aging process of any machine, make the motor subject to incipient faults. These incipient faults, left undetected, contribute to the degradation and eventual failure of the motors. With proper monitoring and fault detection schemes, the incipient faults can be detected; thus maintenance and down-time expenses can be reduced while also improving safety. In this paper, motor bearing faults in single-phase induction motors are used to illustrate this novel system. This illustration demonstrates the successful training of a hybrid fuzzy/neural system that can provide accurate fault detection, and gives the heuristic reasoning for the fault detection procedure. >
A Computer Simulation Model of the Textile Industry

Abstract A nine-equation econometric model of the U. S. textile industry is presented to explain the behavior of the industry during the period 1953 through 1962. The endogenous variables of the model include apparel output and demand, textile mill products output and demand, employment, wages, profit, and investment. A computer program was written to simulate the behavior of the textile industry between 1953 and 1962 on the basis of the behavioral relationships implied by the nine-equation model. Three different techniques were used to compare the simulated data generated by the model of the textile industry with actual observed data—graphical analysis, spectral analysis, and total variance analysis.
Congenital cytomegalovirus infection following first trimester maternal infection: Symptoms at birth and outcome

Background: The relationship between gestational age at time of maternal cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and outcome of fetal infection is not well defined because the timing of maternal infection is usually not known. Objective: To determine whether congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection following primary maternal infection during the first trimester of pregnancy is more likely to lead to central nervous system (CNS) sequelae than fetal infection due to maternal infection later in pregnancy. Study design: Using serum collected during pregnancy from mothers of newborns with congenital CMV infection, maternal infection was categorized as first trimester (<13 weeks) or later based on dates and results of IgG and IgM assays for CMV antibody. Outcome of congenital CMV infection was assessed by longitudinal fotlow-up of the infected cohort. Results: Sensorineural hearing loss was found in 8/34 (24%) of children in the first trimester group, compared with 1/40 (2.5%) in the later infection group (P = 0.01, relative risk, 9.6). Considering any CNS sequela (hearing loss, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, seizures, chorioretinitis) 11/34 (32%) first trimester cases were affected compared with 6/40 (15%) in the later infection group ( P = 0.07, relative risk 2.2). None of the later group had more than one sequela, compared with 4 (12%) of the first trimester group ( P = 0.04). Conclusions: Children with congenital CMV infection following first trimester maternal infection are more likely to have CNS sequelae, especially sensorineural hearing loss, than are those whose mothers were infected later in pregnancy. However, some degree of CNS impairment can follow even late gestational infection. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Selection of Long-Term Reference Frames in Dual-Frame Video Coding Using Simulated Annealing

In dual-frame video coding, both encoder and decoder store a short-term reference (STR) and a long-term reference (LTR) frame for motion compensation. In past work, LTR frames at regular intervals were assigned higher quality than the other frames to improve overall video quality. In this letter, we present a method of LTR frame selection using simulated annealing, and we show that PSNR is improved compared to the case of evenly spaced LTR frames. To reduce delay and computational complexity, we consider a constraint on the size of the look-ahead window.
Quantum dot/liquid crystal composite materials: self-assembly driven by liquid crystal phase transition templating

The isotropic to nematic liquid crystal (LC) phase transition is used to create organized assemblies of CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots (QDs). Under controlled conditions, well dispersed QDs are expelled from the ordered domains of nematic LC into the remaining isotropic domains. The final LC phase produces three dimensional QD assemblies that are situated at the defect points in the LC volume. Through the luminescence of the QDs we are able to track the movement of the nanoparticles as the phase is formed as well as spectrally probe the resulting QD assemblies. Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) measurements, combined with small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data reveal that the QD assemblies have a consistent inter-particle spacing of approximately 7.6 nm. Additionally, the location of the assemblies is shown to be controllable by utilizing beads as defect nucleation points.
Gender, education, background and career progression: case study of Radcliffe College graduates

This study explores the professional development of female graduates of Radcliffe College, an Ivy League college in the USA. A secondary statistical analysis of the 1977 Radcliffe Centennial Survey shows how changing social, political, institutional, and economic forces influenced the post-graduate career pathways of female alumnae. Independent of era, a Radcliffe degree could propel most women to the second tier professional status level of managers. Regardless of social class background, the women experienced similar career trajectories. However it was extremely rare for these women to climb to the highest step on the career ladder, indicating the difficulties of overcoming institutional and social barriers to advancement.
Evaluation of limit feeding varying levels of distillers dried grains with solubles in non-feed-withdrawal molt programs for laying hens

ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted with 672 Hy-Line W-36 Single Comb White Leghorn hens (69 wk of age) to evaluate the effects of feeding varying levels of corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) with corn, wheat middlings, and soybean hulls on long-term laying hen postmolt performance. The control molt treatment consisted of a 47% corn:47% soybean hulls (C:SH) diet fed ad libitum for 28 d. Hens fed the other 7 treatments were limit fed 65 g/hen per day for 16 d, and then fed 55 g/hen per day for 12 d. Hens on treatments 2 and 3 were fed 49% C:35% wheat middlings (WM) or SH:10% DDGS diets (C:WM:10DDGS, C:SH:10DDGS). Hens on treatments 4 and 5 were fed 49% C:25% WM or SH:20% DDGS diets (C:WM:20DDGS, C:SH:20DDGS). Those on treatments 6 and 7 were fed 47% C:47% DDGS (C:DDGS) or 47% WM:47% DDGS (WM:DDGS) diets. Those on treatment 8 were fed a 94% DDGS diet. At 28 d, all hens were fed a corn-soybean meal layer diet (16% CP) and production performance was measured for 36 wk. None of the hens fed the molt diets went completely out of production, and only the C:SH and C:SH:10DDGS molt diets decreased hen-day egg production to below 5% by wk 4 of the molt period. Postmolt egg production was lowest (P 0.05) in egg weights were detected among treatments throughout the postmolt period. In addition, no consistent differences were observed among treatments for egg mass throughout the postmolt period. Overall results of this study indicated that limit feeding diets containing DDGS at levels of 65 or 55 g/hen per day during the molt period did not cause hens to totally cease egg production.
Modeling of Cu IMD-TDDB caused by extrinsic defects

In this paper, a prediction method for degradation failure ratio (B-mode) of Cu IMD-TDDB is studied. In this study, B-mode failure is assumed to be caused by dielectric thinning due to random defects (thinning model). Its probability is calculated by Critical Area Analysis (CAA). Prediction is in good agreement with measurement results. This method can be applied to estimate reliability of various LSI products.
Radiation Growth of HCP Metals under Cascade Damage Conditions

Models of radiation growth proposed to date are all based on the assumption that the primary damage is produced by neutron irradiation in the form of single defects. These models do not account for the features of the cascade damage: intra-cascade clustering of self-interstitial atoms (SIAs) and their one-dimensional diffusion. During the last twenty years, a ‘Production Bias Model’ has been developed, which shows that the damage accumulation in cubic metals depends crucially on the cascade properties. The cascades in hcp zirconium are similar to those in cubic crystals; hence the model can provide a realistic framework for the hcp metals as well. In this work we present such a model in application to low-temperature (below 300°C) radiation growth.
Rapid change in the germinable fraction of the weed seed bank in crop rotations

Abstract The dynamics of soil seed banks in crop rotations of corn, soybean, and winter wheat were investigated to determine whether weed seed inputs associated with the winter wheat phases of the rotation were present in the readily germinable fraction of the seed bank in subsequent phases. Two studies were conducted, each in chisel-plowed systems. In one study, we compared seed banks in plots after 8 yr of corn grown continuously and with rotation that included winter wheat and soybean. A second study followed seed bank composition and abundance for 3 yr in plots that were planted to corn and soybean in successive years after planting to winter wheat. Seed banks were measured by direct germination in a heated greenhouse. In the first study, seed banks in plots planted to continuous corn (never planted to winter wheat) and the corn phase of the rotation (winter wheat planted 3 yr earlier) did not differ in species composition or abundance despite significant differences in seed banks in plots that had be...
The Two Faces of Uncertainty Avoidance: Attachment and Adaptation

The authors used a sample of 155 field sales personnel from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand to examine attachment and adaptation as two ways of addressing individual uncertainty avoidance. Results suggest that both attachment and adaptation are used to reduce uncertainty avoidance in the workplace. Individuals low on uncertainty avoidance had no need to attach with their group or adapt to their environment. Those high on uncertainty avoidance used both techniques to deal with risk. Individuals reporting moderate levels of uncertainty avoidance primarily used adaptation rather than attachment to deal with risk.
Immune Depression and Sepsis Following Injury: The Role and Identity of Circulating Mediators

It is well known that profound immunological disturbances often occur as a result of thermal or traumatic injuries (1,2). These changes, which include serum protein alterations (e.g. complement activation, fibronectin depletion, and the generation of immune complexes) as well as compromise of cellular functions (e.g. depressed neutrophil chemotaxis and intracellular killing, suppressor T-cell activation and depression of lymphocyte blastogenesis), have been summarized elsewhere (3). Immune problems in patients are so far reaching that it has been cynically suggested that the study of any immunologic parameter following injury is sure to reveal defects of potential clinical importance. Unfortunately, this statement is basically true. In general, the greater the extent of the injury, the greater the likelihood that clinically significant immunological depression will occur. In burn patients, this means that all patients with a greater than 40% body surface area injury can be expected to have serious, multiple immunological problems and, therefore, be at high risk to sepsis.
Vitamin D Supplementation Modulates T Cell-Mediated Immunity in Humans: Results from a Randomized Control Trial.

Context: Although studies have linked vitamin D deficiency with immune-mediated diseases, data demonstrating a direct effect on T-cell function are sparse. Objective: Our objective was to determine whether oral vitamin D3 influences T-cell activation in humans with vitamin D deficiency. Design: This was a single-center ancillary study within Vitamin D Therapy in Individuals at High Risk of Hypertension, a double-blind, multicenter, randomized controlled trial. Setting: This study was undertaken in a single academic medical center. Participants: Adults with vitamin D deficiency and untreated pre- or early stage I hypertension were included. Intervention: In Vitamin D Therapy in Individuals at High Risk of Hypertension, participants were randomized to either low- (400 IU daily) or high- (4000 IU daily) dose oral vitamin D3 for 6 months. In this ancillary study of 38 patients, we measured CD4+ T-cell activation estimated by intracellular ATP release after stimulation of whole blood with plant lectin phytohem...
Determination of Inheritance of Single Congenital Portosystemic Shunts in Yorkshire Terriers

A hereditary basis for congenital portosystemic shunts (PSS) in Yorkshire terriers was explored through record and pedigree analysis and a breeding trial. The odds ratio for PSS in Yorkshire terriers was 35.9 times greater than for all other breeds combined. Wright's coefficient of inbreeding was approximately twice as high for Yorkshire terriers with PSS as compared to normal members of the breed (P=0.09). No common ancestors were found that were significant to the PSS group. Two affected Yorkshire terriers were bred and produced two normal puppies. Congenital PSS appears to be hereditary in Yorkshire terriers; however, the mechanism of inheritance has yet to be elucidated.
Wealth, Financial Intermediation, and Saving in Latin America and the Caribbean

After constructing a broad and novel database of 52 countries over 2001-11, this study assesses the link between financial intermediation and saving. The study finds that the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region lags well behind other regions in terms of financial depth, as measured by gross private domestic financial assets. LAC countries also have a larger share of bank deposits and cash in the private sector portfolio, compared to non-bank assets (bonds and shares). Moreover, within the institutional investor industry, pension funds are relatively developed in the region, although they grew out of the compulsory pension systems in several countries that date back to the 1980s and 1990s. The findings also indicate that LAC countries have about 40 percent of gross private financial wealth invested abroad, but just 4 percent of gross private liabilities have that origin, which attests to region's obstacles in tapping international markets. The countries in general present a small share of household and business saving being intermediated through the financial system. In the specific case of bank deposits, just 5 percent of household saving and 3 percent of business saving are kept in the banking system.
MDL-based Hierarchical Clustering

This paper presents a new hierarchical clustering algorithm based on the use of the Minimum Description Length (MDL) principle. The clusters are created by recursively splitting the data using the values of an attribute (similarly to decision tree learning), so that each cluster contains the instances that have the same value for this attribute. Attributes are chosen to minimize the MDL evaluation measure of the clustering they create. The algorithm's computational complexity is linear in the number of data instances and quadratic in the total number of different attribute-values in the data and can be substantially reduced by an efficient implementation using bit-level parallelism. We empirically evaluate the algorithm on 20 datasets from the UCI ML repository and show that it compares favorably to k-means and EM.
Perioperative Factors and Their Effect on the Fibrinolytic System in Arthroplasty Patients.

Background:Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) patients are mostly of advanced age and with comorbidities such as increased body mass index (BMI) and impaired glucose tolerance. These factors and type o...
Issues of Community Control in the Administration of Justice

The degree of community concern, involvement, and participation in issues which cause citizens to interact with its police, courts, or correctional agencies will reflect upon the sentiments of that community as to just how much control should be exercised over its Administration of Justice System.
The Effect of Herbal Based Potent Antioxidants on Chemotherapy Resistant Ovarian Adenocarcinoma Cell Lines

This study investigates conventional delivery of thymoquinone (TQ) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) when applied to Caov-3 and SK-OV-3 ovarian like cell lines. Culturing the cells and assessment of functional activities were conducted following standard lab protocols. The results revealed: (1) an increase in the SK-OV-3 cell protein levels following treatment with TQ+EGCG which was statistically different (p
Distribution and drug-resistance of pathogenic bacteria in children with appendicitis

Objective:To investigate the kinds,distribution and antibiotic drug-resistant condition of pathogenic bacteria in children with appendicitis. Methods:303 clinical isolates were separated from pus samples collected during the surgical operations of appendicitis and identified,and their drug sensitivity tests were performed by Microscan-wolk/40.Results:In 303 clinical isolates,the main gramnegetive bacilli included E.coli,P.aeruginosa and K.pneumoniae,while S. aureus,Ec faecalis and Ec faecium were the main gram-positive cocci.Imipenem/cilastatin(tienam)was below 10% drug-resistance,and cefoxitin and ciprofloxacin were relative less on gram-negetive bacilli in vitro,S.aureus was no drug-resistance on vancomycin.Imipenem/cilastatin(tienam),ciprofloxacin,sulfamethoxazole,meropenem,rifampin and oxacillin were below 10%drug-resistance.Conclusion:E coli,P.aeruginosa,K.pneumoniae,S.aureus,Ec faecalis and Ec faecium propagating in appendix were the main factors of appendicitis attacking.It was very important to investigate the distribution and drug-resistance of pathogenic bacteria in appendicitis for preventing wound infection and guiding the rational use of antibiotics.
Yakuza Past, Present and Future: The Changing Face of Japan's Organized Crime Syndicates

While Japanese crime syndicates are deeply entrenched in the history and culture of Japan, much of what is known in the Western world about the Yakuza is primarily the result of stereotyping generated by mediadriven sensationalism and lowbudget motion pictures. Judgment on the crime syndicates' continued existence, modes of operation, and relatively high visibility in Japan is oftentimes passed based on sociocultural perceptions of deviance that differ from those in Japanese culture. Taking the form of a book review essay, this paper aims to re-introduce the reader to Japan's crime syndicates with the goal of replacing stereotypes and myths with factual information. Utilizing two seminal works written by authorities of the field, the paper chronicles the history of the Yakuza's origins and evolution, outlines their organizational structures, describes the groups' past and current operations, and provides a brief overview of the crime syndicates' likely future.
Polyps and carcinoma of the colon.

The concept of a polyp-cancer sequence in the colon as well as risk factors for carcinoma such as genetic predisposition, diet, and socioeconomic status are explored. Sigmoidoscopy and testing the stool for occult blood are currently the best techniques for screening high-risk populations and, by the early detection of polyps in the colon, can interrupt the polyp-cancer sequence and prevent carcinoma.
Current Management of Cancer of the Skin

With proper treatment, one can expect cure rates on the order of 95 percent for basal cell and squamous carcinomas of the skin of the head and neck. To a large extent, tumor size and location determine which of the several methods of treatment will be best. Methods in use include curettage and electrodesiccation, surgical excision, x-ray therapy, cryosurgery, and Mohs' chemosurgery. With the last technic, surgical excision is guided by microscopic study.
Theory and implementation of a distributed event based platform

This paper presents theory and an implementation of a Distributed Event Based System (DEBS) platform. The theory is based on a simple model that forms the basis of the implementation. Though this paper is about a DEBS platform, a description of the theory and model provides the motivation for the design.Many software libraries operate on "data at rest', i.e. fixed data structures such as arrays and graphs. By contrast, DEBS systems operate on "data in motion," i.e., data structures that change, in increments, over time. Many software libraries are designed for sequential execution or synchronous parallel execution. By contrast, DEBS systems have multiple agents executing asynchronously. The paper presents sufficient conditions that enable programs operating on data at rest to be reconfigured as networks of asynchronous agents operating on data structures that change incrementally as time progresses.The paper provides a brief description of a DEBS platform, called StreamPy, implemented in Python. StreamPy enables the use of libraries designed to operate on data at rest --- particularly for data analytics, artificial intelligence, and scientific computation --- for data in motion. An event is either defined by a pre-specified pattern or an event is learned from data. Learning what is, and what is not, an event requires the use of machine learning algorithms. A goal of StreamPy is to incorporate machine learning into data streaming to obtain a DEBS platform that learns what is an event and then to continually improve this learning.
Problem Solving: Some Thoughts and Activities.

Since the beginning of our system of formal education, the major focus of the mathematics curriculum has been on computation, not on problem solving. Technology, however, has progressed to the point that computation alone is not a salable skill. Machines can handle computation easily and efficiently, but problem solving is still a capability of the human mind. The recent National Assessment of Educational Progress confirms that, in general, although the public can compute, its problem-solving skills are poor. Many attempts have been made over the years to define problem solving and then to isolate a heuristic or algorithm (a step-by-step procedure) for solving any given problem. These efforts have not produced a well-recognized set of specific pedagogical techniques that are likely to make a student a successful problem solver. If we assume that extensive experience in solving different kinds of problems is perhaps the most important prerequisite of problem solving, then we can begin to link the following problem-solving skills with some activities for students.
Department of Energy Nuclear Weapons Complex network

The Nuclear Weapons Complex (NWC) of the US Department of Energy (DOE) is a collection of 11 government-owned, contractor-operated facilities operated by nine different contractors and the US DOE Albuquerque Operations Office. An effort is under way to automate the exchange of product-definition data between members of the Nuclear Weapons Complex (NWC). A description is presented of network components, their interaction and some of the efforts to ensure security. The NWC network is a computer network that will allow the facilities to exchange, store, and manage shared information. The networking and storage capabilities are enhancements of systems available from commercial sources and from specific systems in use at Los Alamos National Laboratory. >
Pre-emptive avoidance strategy 2016: update on pediatric contact dermatitis allergens

While there are thousands of chemicals known to be skin sensitizers, it is notable that less than 100 account for the majority of reactions [1]. A significant proportion of these sensitization reac...